Chapter two

After Steven's big blow up about my clothes and Parker, Susannah called a family meeting. Family meetings were only necessary if there was a huge crisis; apparently this whole fight was considered one. Tuesday evening, my mother called, "Everyone downstairs now!" Susannah called out after her, "Family meeting!"

I heard the boys groan, and trudge downstairs. Stephanie opened my door, "Come on."

"I'll be down in a sec." She shrugged and closed the door. I thought about making a break for it out one of the windows. I didn't need Susannah and Laurel to remind me how embarrassing and rude the whole situation with Stevie was. After about five minutes of waiting Susannah called out to me, "Come on, belly."

Just to make sure Steven couldn't use what I was wearing against me, I pulled on my grey Old Town Hollister hoodie with my red Hollister cut offs. I walked down the stairs quietly and slowly, dreading what conversation lies ahead. When I made it downstairs, I rounded the corner to see Conrad, Jeremiah and Steven sitting on the tan couch against the wall. Steph was sitting on the floor, while my mother and Susannah stood, smiling at me. I decided to stay standing, close to at least 3 different doors, just in case I needed to escape.

"What's up?" I asked innocently, like I had no idea what the family meeting was about.

Susannah started in, "Well, your mother and I have been talking all day about how we're going to handle this clothes and… boys situation with you and Steven." I glanced around the room, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone.

She continued after eyeing Steven and myself, "We understand why Steven got so mad" -he smirked at me-"but Stevie; you have no right to judge your sister on what she wears." Steven's face fell, and anger flickered in his eyes. He stood up slowly, "Some guy had his hands all over her at the beach. I think we all know why he was paying special attention to Belly."

Susannah glanced at me, "Because he likes her." She finished, nodding her head. It was so Susannah to stand up for me; she was the only one in the house besides Jeremiah that I could completely trust to defend me. Steven grimaced, "No, because a guy would only pay attention to Belly for sex."

I felt like I had been slapped. I spoke before Susannah could, "So you're saying a guy can't like me for me? Or because he just thinks I'm pretty and wants to get to know me? He'd only be interested in me for my body?" I questioned, my eyes stinging as tears started to form.

"Yes! I know how guys think, Belly- all they want is sex!"

"So, you're saying no one's ever going to love me because they're only ever going to go out with me in the first place for sex?"

Steven hesitated and I didn't give him another chance to speak, "Thanks, Steven. Now I understand I have nothing going for me except my body and that's never going to get me anywhere in life except when I want to get laid." I snapped. I looked at the mothers, "Thanks guys, this meeting really cleared things up for me."

Before anyone could say anything I ran through the kitchen and out the back, toward my mom's SUV. I hopped in, knowing there was a spare key in the dash board, and I grabbed it and started the car. I pulled out quickly, and drove over the speed limit to the city.

When I made it, I pulled into the arcades parking lot. Stepping out of the car, I felt the cool night air hit me gently, making me feel at home. I walked into the arcade and headed straight for the Pac Man machine. It was my favorite game. I remember the boys use to pick on me when I was little because I'd always loose after the second or third level, when they made it to at least level eight.

I remember how calming it was to play as a kid. Even as the boys nagged at me, I'd tune them out and focus on the little yellow creature, trying to keep him alive. It gave me a weird feeling of power and control; I had control over whatever happened in the game. If the creature died, it was on me, and if he lived, it was because of me. No one controlled the situation but me. It was a rush because I'd never been in control of anything and as a little girl, I loved it.

I settled down on the little sit in front of the machine and slid a quarter threw the coin slot, waiting for the game to start. Once it did, I played till I died. Then I put another quarter in, and another and another and another. I couldn't stop playing; couldn't stop that rush I got from being in control. After I used up all the quarters I had I looked at my watch: It was one in the morning. I hadn't thought I'd been playing long, but the family meeting had been called around ten.

*fifteen minutes later*

I walked into the house, quietly shutting the door behind me, not wanting to wake anyone. To my surprise, everyone was still in the living room; sitting exactly where I had left them three hours earlier.

My mother cleared her throat, "Can we discuss this like adults now?" She questioned, standing up.

I wasn't in the mood to deal with this now. The way I felt like I had been slapped returned when I glanced at Steven who was looking at the ground. I assumed he'd probably got yelled at after I left. I shook my head, "No."

Laurel was a lot of things, but she wouldn't put up with being told no, "Now listen here, your brother shouldn't have said we he did, but you've kept us up till one and we're going to have this discussion."

"I didn't keep anyone up." I pointed out, "You stayed up yourself; besides Steven already made it clear that I'm only good for sex. I'd really rather not sit here and be told what I'm not good for."

Susannah jumped in before my mother could, "Honey, you're great for so many other things."

I looked at Steven and seethed, "I'm sure Steven would say the only good thing my mouths for is-" But I was cut off by Jeremiah, "Belly, stop! Steven didn't mean it like that. He meant most guys are only in it for sex. Not all. But boys your age, that's all they think about. They don't want a relationship with girls, they want their bodies. Steven is only trying to protect you from guys like that." He almost shouted.

I opened my mouth to say something, and then quickly closed it. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes again. I didn't have control of the situation like I wanted to. I thought I could, but then Jeremiah had to step in.

"I'm going to bed." I said quickly and ran up the stairs. I closed the door and let the tears fall. I cried about the fact that Steven called me a slut, which I couldn't even control my own problems and that Jeremiah had literally bitched me out. This summer wasn't starting off like I had planned. I started wishing I hadn't changed my clothes and stayed dorky old Bellybutton. But then I quickly changed my mind. I liked who I was. I liked the new me. And everyone was going to have to get use to it.

Conrad:

I weird feeling shot threw me as I watched Belly retreat to her room, tears threatening to fall. I looked over at my mother; she looked tired and sad.

"Mom, it's late. You should go to bed." I said as I stood up. Steven was still looking at the ground like he had been for the past hour. Jere was still standing, his emotion showed on his face; he felt bad for yelling at Belly.

Susannah nodded her head, "You're right. We should all go to bed." My mother grabbed Laurels hand and they walked down the hall toward their rooms. Stephanie, who I'd forgotten was even there, stood up quickly, "You could've been nicer about it all." She glanced at all of us, looking at Steven she said, "You know, Belly's a lot of things but she's definitely not a slut." With that, she left the room and headed up the stairs.

"I'm an ass, aren't I?" Steven asked, shaking his head.

"You were just trying to help." I offered, knowing it wouldn't help; but I didn't have anything else to say. Steven stood up without a word and left the room.

"Well, this summer isn't starting off very well." Jere commented, flopping onto the couch.

"You didn't help much by yelling at Belly." I snapped. Why was I defending her? I hadn't stood up for Belly since we were kids; I use to feel bad for her 'cause we boys always did our own thing, leaving Belly out. But now, Jeremiah was always the one to stand up for Belly. They were friends; best friends, even. So why the hell was he being so damn defensive?

Jeremiah glared at him, "Someone had to explain to her wait Steven meant. No one expected you to do it, so I had too."

I sighed, "No one needed to explain it to her, Jere. She understood and even if she didn't, she would have once she had time to think about it. All she wanted was to yell at someone to get her anger out. But now she's upstairs probably crying herself to sleep because you yelled at her."

Regret flashed over Jere's features'. "You're right. I'm the ass now, not Steven."

"Go talk to her." As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it. I didn't want Jere to comfort her. A picture of Belly in tight pajama shorts and a tank top with no bra on flashed in his head. Something sparked inside him; it took him a few seconds to realize what it was.

Jealousy. I was jealous of Jeremiah comforting Belly—being alone with Belly, in her skimpy pajamas.

Before I could change what I said, Jere jumped up from the couch and headed upstairs toward Belly's room, "You're right."

As I watched his shadow fade, I felt the spark inside me settle into a full blown fire of jealousy.

Jeremiah:

I knocked on her door quietly. I heard her whimper a soft, "Go away." I opened the door just enough to see her under the covers, her back toward me. She was curled up in a ball and I heard her sniffle.

"Belly…" I started. She sat up quickly, turning to look at me. She hesitated, trying to decide if she should let me comfort her or not. I stepped in through the door, closing it behind me.

"I am so, so sorry Belly…. I can't…. I'm sorry." it's all I could say, looking at her heartbroken face, messed with his head and he couldn't think of what to say.

"It's okay." She said as a fresh batch of tears slid down her face. I stepped toward her and climbed onto the bed. She easily wrapped her arms around my waist and I pulled her toward me; she rested her head on my chest and I rubbed her back.

"I know you're sorry, Jere. I forgive you."

"Good, because I can't stand the thought of you mad at me over something like that."

"I'm not." I felt her chest rise and fall as she sighed.

It reminded me of when we were kids and we use to sleep in the same bed every single night. We'd do this exact position, her head on my chest arms wrapped around me, my arms around her. We'd sleep like that all night never moving; to comfortable with each other to even want to move. I smiled and chuckled at a memory of her with drool coming out of her mouth, sound asleep.

She looked up at me, "What are you laughing about?"

"I was remembering how we use to sleep like this as kids. You use to drool; I'd always watch you in the mornings before you woke up."

She smiled, "That's kind of creepy; knowing you use to watch me."

"It's not like I'm a rapist or a pedophile."

"Well, that's how it starts off. You just watch your friends while they sleep and then… BAM. You're a creepy pedophile." She giggled softly against my chest, sending chills up my spine. I looked at her face; I mean, really looked at her. How could I not notice how pretty she was? How truly naturally pretty her face was? How did I not notice till now? This very second?

"Can you sleep with me tonight?" She asked, breaking my train of thought.

"Of course." I smiled, kissing the top of her head, like I did it every day. She didn't say anything, just snuggled closer. After about fifteen minutes of dead silence, her breathing slowed and I knew she was asleep. I, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. Not why my brain was overloading with the thought of actually having feelings for Belly. I mean, come on! It was Bellybutton, the girl who I knew my whole life, who is my best friend. I can't have feelings for her; but as she lay on my chest, I can't help but see us doing this in the future; her leaning over kissing his lips softly before snuggling up on his chest.

More crazy thoughts about the two of them ran through his head until he couldn't take it any longer and made himself close his eyes; within seconds he was asleep.

Conrad:

After watching TV until the firey pit of jealousy in his stomach went away, Conrad stood and made his way up the stairs to his room. He stopped at Jere's, whose was right beside belly's. Conrad's was across from her, Steph beside him, and Steven's at the end of the hall. The mother's slept downstairs. He opened the door and his heartbeat sped up.

Jere wasn't in his room. That only meant one thing: he was sleeping with Belly tonight. He moved toward her door, opening it silently. He peeked inside and for some odd reason his breathe caught; Jeremiah had his arms around Belly, her head resting on his chest. They were sound asleep, peaceful looking. His stomach felt weird, he backed out of the room, shutting the door he turned toward his own room.

He lie awake until about 4, finally feeling the utterly disturbing feeling in his stomach from seeing Belly in Jere's arms, subside; he finally dozed to sleep.

I woke up to the scent of pancakes filling my nostrils; mom was awake, downstairs making breakfast for everyone.

I grabbed a towel thinking I should shower before going downstairs. He stepped into the bathroom and froze; there stood Jeremiah with a towel around his waist. Belly had a robe on. Had they slept together? Showered together? With him right next door?

"The hell…" He mumbled to himself, feeling that odd spark in his stomach again.

Belly's eyes widened as she registered what he was suggesting, "No, no, no! Nothing like that. We took turns showering; I forgot my moisturizer and came back in here to get it."

Conrad's body flooded with relief. What, why was he relieved? Who cared if Belly and Jere got together? He sure as hell didn't.

"Con, you didn't actually think… we'd, er, ya know…" Jere said awkwardly smiling at Belly. I shook my head, "I was just surprised."

Belly smiled and left the bathroom; as soon as she did he couldn't help himself when the words slipped out, "Do you like her or something?" he asked Jeremiah.

Jeremiah looked confused, "No." and he simply left the room. But Conrad could tell his 'no' wasn't the truth. He could tell when his baby brother lied, hell, he'd been the one to teach him how to lie! Sighing, he showered and dressed in khakis and a light blue t-shirt with buttons at the top.

He ran down the stairs, his stomach growling as he smelled sweet blueberry pancakes.

"Glad you could finally join us." My mother joked, smiling. He smiled back and slid into his chair next to Steven. Jere was across from us, Laurel was at the head of the table; where was Stephanie or Belly?

He heard his mother gasp, looking up, he saw what she had gasp at. Belly was standing with Stephanie wearing a floral one shoulder romper, white sandals and her long wavy brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Her bangs were left down, covering her forehead, and shaped her face perfectly. She looked pretty. She looked amazing.

Amazing? Did he just say amazing? What was wrong with him? He needed to get over this weird obsession he'd gotten for Belly the minute she had arrived. He cleared his throat, "You two look nice." He then stared down at his blueberry pancakes and started eating, not looking up at anyone.

He was going to have to find some way to avoid Belly for a while. He needed to get rid of this fascination with her. Just because she dressed differently didn't mean he should treat her differently. She was still bellybutton, nothing more. He needed to be himself; rude, sarcastic, smirky Conrad. Not Conrad who drools over a girl who's two years younger than him and he grew up with. He needed guy time, at a bar; with a bunch of hot chicks. Yes, that was exactly what he needed.