The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

by anne.noonan05

Belly returns from her year abroad and her emotions are even more tangled than ever. However, she isn't the same Belly. She's changed but so have both Fisher boys.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Jeremiah:

I woke up with a wicked hangover. I didn't remember anything from last night. I touched my palm to my forehead and winced in pain. I was laying down in my bed at the fraternity. A girl from our sister sorority was also in my bed, only wearing a bra and underwear. I don't remember her name from last night. Beth? Betty? I was shirtless with only boxers on my lower half. I could pretty much guess what I did, or should I say who.

I stumbled out of bed, not caring if I woke up What's-Her-Face but she was out cold. I managed to make it down the stairs and to the kitchen. I immediately took an Advil and washed it down with whatever was in the red Solo cup next to the sink. It tasted like vodka. Next I stumbled into the shower. I could smell the alcohol coming out of my pores. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

By the time I got back to my room the girl was gone. I can't believe this is my life. I haven't talked to Conrad or Belly since the almost wedding. Last I heard Belly was spending a year abroad. I think she went to Europe somewhere. I have no clue what Conrad is doing and frankly, I don't care. I speak to Steven every once in a while but he's careful not to bring up either one of them. He knows that the subject is still a little touchy.

I collapse on my bed and let sleep take over. I have three alternating dreams. They never appear in a specific order but they are all so much better than reality. In one, Belly walks down the aisle wearing a white dress. She looks up and smiles at me, her eyes twinkling. Except, I wake up everyday just as we are about to kiss after saying, "I do." The other two are from when I was younger. My mom takes my hand and we walk along the beach. She hands me shells and tells me how much she loves me as she puts her hand on my cheek. Then she vanishes into thin air and I wake up. The last one is of all four of us, Conrad, Belly, Steven, and I. We are all sitting in the living room. Belly is on the couch reading a book, I can never make out the title, and Steven and Conrad are playing video games. They don't even notice I'm there. I just watch the scene from the sidelines. Conrad turns to me and says, "Your turn." while handing me the controller. I always wake up before I can reach out and take it from him.

Today I dream of Belly and our wedding.