Chapter 1

"We're here, finally!" my mom exclaimed from the backseat as soon as she saw the beach house.

I parked in the driveway and mom, of course, was the first one out of the car. Jere and I both smiled at the sight of seeing her so happy. This was favorite place to be.

We got out of the car and mom said to us, "This place is more beautiful than last year, don't you boys think?"

I said, "Mom you say that every year."

"Well it's always true, each summer is better than the last" mom said with a smile.

That's something I've always loved about my mom, she is always so full of joy and always has a positive outlook. No matter how sick she is, she always smiling.

"Me and Con will get the bags mom, go ahead and go inside, I know your dying to go inside" Jere said.

"Oh you boys don't have to get them all, I can help. I'm not as fragile as you think", Mom said. But it was obvious that she was exhausted from the car ride. It was a wonder how she stayed awake the whole car ride. But I knew why she had fought to keep her eyes open; she didn't want to miss one moment from this summer.

I told her, "Its ok, mom. You should go rest. Don't worry we will wake you up when Laurel, Steven, and Belly get here. I promise."

"Alright Conrad, but remember the promise you boys made me". She then turned and went into the house.

Jere and I stood there in silence for a moment. It was Jere, who finally spoke, "Should we feel guilty about keeping mom's condition a secret from Belly and Steve all summer?"

"It's the way mom wants it, she doesn't want anything to ruin this summer. They'll understand when they find out", I replied while walking towards the car to unload the bags.

Jeremiah just nodded and started helping with the bags.

To myself I was thinking about how this summer might be the last one that we spend here. And I'm sure Jeremiah was probably thinking the same thing.

Around 3 o'clock Jere and I decided to sit on the porch and just wait for Laurel, Steven, and Belly to get here. Steven was our best friend that we've known for pretty much our whole lives. He was a brother to us.

Belly or Belly button, as we call her, was Steven's little sister and she was pretty much our little sister too. When we were younger Belly was always excluded whenever we went surfing, fishing, or went to bonfires. Over the years I've tried to include her when we went to hang out the beach. When she was younger she had a crush on me. I used to catch her looking at me all the time and anytime I went on a date I could tell she was jealous. I never let her know that I knew about her crush on me. I didn't want to embarrass her. I'm pretty sure she's gotten over her crush on me in the last few years. I mean I pretty much a brother to her, right?

Jere broke me out of my own thoughts talking about the new assistant football coach. Apparently he was a dick and I every guy on the team hated him. I used to play football, mostly because I wanted to impress my dad. But I realized he's not worth impressing….

So I quit. Jere gave me hell about, saying that I would be jealous when he became a better player than me.

I could tell he was a little glad that I quit though. I had been the star of the team, which I could tell Jere was jealous of. With me not on the team anymore, he could have his chance to be the star. Jere deserves to be the star, because he wanted it more than I ever did. He plays football because he loves it, not just to impress dad like I did.

I told Jere to just stick it out with new assistant coach.

I could tell Jere was about to argue, but then Laurel's car pulled up. And the horn beeped, telling us to come help with the bags.

Jere and I stood up and started walking towards the car.

Jere shouted, "Steve-o!" with his hands cupped around his mouth like a megaphone. And Steven ran up and hugged us both.

"Hey guys! Con, man, how does it feel to finally be done with high school?" Steven asked.

"Glad it's over, and glad to be going to Brown in the fall" I replied.

Just then Laurel, my second mother, walked up and hugged both me and Jere. Then she asked where our mom was. I told her she was upstairs taking a nap and she headed inside.

Jere asked Steven, "Where's the belly button", and just as he asked I saw her.

I didn't recognize her at first. She wasn't wearing glasses anymore and her legs were extremely long. She had her hair down and it had grown longer too. I looked at her face and she looked proud of her new appearance and a little nervous too. I realized I was checking her out like some random girl I saw on the beach. What am I doing? I asked myself. This is practically my sister.

I quickly looked away. I then got up to hug her.

I couldn't resist teasing her, "I liked you better with glasses."

She pushed me, "Well, too bad. My contacts are here to stay."

I grinned. Then I tapped her nose that is covered in freckles. She has always hated her freckles. I loved to tease her about them.

Jere walked up behind me and hugged Belly "Belly Button's all growed up", he crowed.

Belly laughed and said "Put me down," I told him. You smell like BO."

Jere laughed and said, "Same old Belly". He was staring at her, like he was looking all the changes in her. It looked like he was checking her out as I had been just a few minutes ago.

He then said, "Something looks different about you, Belly."

Belly, looking confused replied "What? I got contacts."

Jere said, "It's not that. You just look different."

She was different. I had never really paid much attention to the way she looked before, because she was pretty much a sister to me. But now I was looking at her like I would any other girl that I thought was attractive.

Ok, I'll admit it. She is pretty, no beautiful. I feel so wrong for thinking about her like this. I was practically a brother to her. I also didn't like how Jeremiah had been looking at her. Is it because it's wrong for him to be checking out a girl who is practically his sister? Or was it because I was jealous?

No I couldn't be jealous. She is like family to me. I shouldn't be thinking about her like this.

I then started helping Belly and Steven bring their bags in the house. After everything was brought inside, Belly disappeared into her room.

And I caught myself staring at her as she walking up the stairs. I still couldn't believe how beautiful she was.