The summer everything changed | C.F

    There was a knock on my door and I wiped my eyes with the heels of my palms. I turned and there stood Conrad looking down at me sitting on the floor. He furrowed his eyebrows. "You okay?" I sniffed through my nose.

"Yeah, yeah." I responded with a sigh. "Just got really upset, then really happy so." I shrugged. I wasn't exactly sure how to explain how I was feeling. I think I got a little overwhelmed honestly. The mix of emotions was a little insane. I had myself convinced that there was absolutely no way that they could convince Adam. I was prepared to leave right after that conversation. With my mom and my siblings. Never being able to return to this beautiful beach house. But they convinced him.

    "I get it." He walked in closing the door. Then he moved towards me sitting on the hardwood floor. It was cold to the touch from the fixed AC. "Maybe we should repaint the walls." He looked around at the pale pink walls.

I gasped. "Don't you dare." I threatened. He looked back at me confused and laughed a little.

"Why not it's been this color since you were four?" He looked around and I smiled.

    "Because Belly and I shared her room till then. When your mom cleaned out this room. She took me to  the paint store and let me pick out the color. Then we painted it together." I told him, I'm sure he remembered. Susannah panicked when I got paint in my hair and then washed the paint out in the shower out back. When I did it again she had Conrad stand and make sure I didn't try painting my hair again. Because he was the oldest even though we were all still so young.

    "I'm surprised you remember that." It dawned on him. That is one of my first memories I remember in this house. But it was definitely one of my favorites. "My dad is right she is everywhere in this house." He didn't fully smile but I could tell he could if he let himself.

     "She is and honestly I like it that way."

    "Okay no touching the paint, I'll make sure of it." He promised and I nodded with a smile. I moved closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder. "Your mom's leaving but Jere and I were planning on taking you guys home later. Jere is forcing me to study all night for my test tomorrow."

"You're gonna go back and take your test?" He nods. "Is that even possible? Not to discourage you or anything but."

"Well Jere refused to be the reason I miss out on going to Stanford." I shot my head up and looked at him.

"You told him?" I asked surprised.

"Yeah we talked right before I came in." I looked at him shocked but from the tone in his voice it must have been a good thing. "It went really well, so I'm going to study and hopefully get into Stanford." I hugged him knocking us down to the floor. Me falling on top of him. A huff left his mouth as a laugh followed it.

"I'm proud of you." He hugged me back till I went to sit up and he held me there longer. I looked and he shifted so he could se me.

"I'm glad." I smiled, my eyes focused on him and I move my hand to the floor holding myself up. Then again without thinking pressed my lips to his for a quick second. This is too soon, I know we kissed last night but that felt right. It felt like an apology almost. Right now it felt like when we were laying in the grass. Like I just want to kiss him just because I wanted to. Our first kiss felt like that, just because I really wanted to. Every other time it felt like it was for a different reason. So I quickly pulled away and looked at him. His eyes were more serious than soft now. He hummed softly his head leaning back against the floor.

He sat his head back up looking at me. "More." I almost thought I didn't hear him. His voice was so quiet and soft. I bit my inner cheek, my heart pounding so hard I figured he could probably feel it against his own chest. I didn't say anything for a second and he flipped us around so he was hovering over me. Making sure my head didn't hit the hardwood.

"Conrad, what if they walked in." I whispered. I'm not sure why but it felt wrong to talk loudly with how we were.

"Please, I want more." There was something about those words that made me cave immediately. I'm nervous and his touch was making my skin feel like there were tiny little sparks all over. I grabbed the back of his neck pulling him down our lips met again. It was a feeling I've never felt before. Not when I kissed Jeremiah and even times I've kissed him before. Not even our first kiss. That was saying something.

    His hands were planted against the floor and mine moved from the back of his neck to the sides of his face. Which was colder to the touch than my hands were, even though it was the middle of June. My thumb traced along his jaw just touching what I could. His lips and his body pressed right up against mine. I moved my hands again to his hair, it was soft. My cheeks were warm at this point it felt like it took over my whole face. His hand moved forward against the floor his thumb catching on the fabric of my shirt. I could feel the warmth of his thumb inches from my skin and I gasped when it touched my upper hip. His lips left mine and met my jaw and I had lost every rational thought left in my brain.

    Then to be the absolute death of me—there was a knock on my door. He didn't rush to get off me, his head dropped to my shoulder for a moment. He took a deep breath then he moved so he was sitting next to me. I laid there for a second then the door opened. I sat up hoping my cheeks weren't bright red. When I saw Belly in the doorframe, I pressed my lips together hopeful she wouldn't piece together what just happened. I hadn't even said anything about what happened last night.

    "Hey you wanna go on a quick road trip to help Conrad study?" She asked me and I looked over at him then nodded. I didn't want it to be awkward so I figured going to hang out with Belly would give us a chance to process what just happened.

    "Uh yeah you want me to drive?" I responded her nodding. I stood up, I was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. "Let me change and I will meet you outside." She looked over at Conrad who was looking blankly at the ground. Then back at me and nodded again, that makes me nervous.

    "Sounds good." She left me in the empty silent room once again alone with Conrad. I looked over at him and he gave me a gentle small smile.

    "I can go get your bag out of my car." He offered with a quiet tone.

    "Yeah that would be nice thank you." I responded not looking at him, he leaned over and pressed his lips against my cheek. Then stood up leaving me alone for a short period then returned with my bag. I grabbed it from his hand and then he held out his keys.

    "Why—"

     "Because I know you don't like driving Jere's jeep."

    "Con—"

    He cut me off again. "Please just take the keys, I know you're driving and I want you to be comfortable." I smiled grabbing the keys.

    "I was gonna say yes, Connie. Thank you." His face dropped with a oh shit look.

    "Right." He responded a little flustered like.