Chapter six:

I looked over at Belly and smiled, "Ya know, you're gonna die from an intake of too much sugar." I said jokingly.

She laughed, "Jere, you can't die from too much sugar. Mow shut up and let me enjoy my popsicle."

She laid back on the blanket I had laid out on the sand for us to sit on. We were enjoying a very hot day at the beach, with popsicles and cherry cokes; Belly's favorite snack. She'd said she needed time away from Parker and I was happy to be giving her what she wanted. Stephanie had apparently been getting cozy with Steven; Belly wasn't too happy about it.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Belly asked, bringing me out of my little thought bubble.

"Steven and Stephanie."

Belly made a disgusted face, "Eck."

"Does Steven know she likes him?"

"Who knows? Who cares?"

"Shouldn't you?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows.

She frowned, "I guess I should since Steph's my bestie, but if she wants to go for Steven, I can't stop her."

"But are you going to be there for her if she gets her heart broken?"

"God, Jere, do you always have to act like you're Dr. Phil?" She said as if she meant it, but she had a joking like gleam in her eyes.

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do. It comes with the good looks."

She giggled and whacked my arm playfully. My heart felt like it swelled to sizes. She was the only girl who could do that.

"You're right, though."

"About the good looks?" I smiled brightly.

"No, I mean about Steph getting her heartbroken. Even though I don't think going after my man-whore of a brother is a good idea, it's her choice. Of course I'll be there to pick up the pieces when her world shatters; that's what friends are for." She slid her sunglasses on as she said this.

"What do you mean 'when her world falls to pieces'? How do you know he'll break her heart?"

"'Cause I know my brother. So do you."

"Yes, I do. I know your brother hasn't been the nicest guy to walk the planet when it comes to girls, but that doesn't mean he'll treat her that way. He could actually like her, ya know." I relaxed back against the blanket and closed my eyes, waiting for her to jump up and say something insulting about Steven; I knew it was coming.

"We both know my brother isn't capable of human feelings, considering he has no heart."

I laughed, despite myself. Belly could be rude, but never to me.

"You just don't believe in love, do you?"

"Not true. I do, I just don't believe guys like Steven can ever really love. It's not programmed into their little peanut brains. All they think about is sex, food, sex, and guess what? SEX."

She said the last part loud enough that a guy walking by stopped, turned our way and smiled, "Sure, when and where?" He asked.

Belly responded before I had a chance to, "Not in your dreams, honey."

He just there until I said, "Walk away now."

As soon as he was out of ear shot, Belly and I cracked up into a fit of laughter.

"He was so stunned I said that." She said, once we'd controlled ourselves.

I smiled, "I'm really starting to love this new Belly you brought this summer. Where has she been this whole time?"

"She's been buried deep, deep down inside me. At first, I never thought I'd let her break free, but then I decided what the hell? You only live once, right? Why not be bitchy and moody and talk back when you shouldn't? I've been this perfect little princess ever since my parents divorced a couple years ago. I thought that if I acted out or anything, it would just hurt my mom even more. She was going through a lot and she needed me, so I was there. Now, my senior year of high school, she doesn't need me anymore and I can be me."

I hadn't exactly expected for her to unload that on me, but this side of Belly, I've always known, the vulnerable one. She never let her guard down with anyone, except me; at least I don't think she lets anyone see this side of her.

"Well, that's a good excuse for being a bitch, can't wait to see if any girl can top that excuse."

She slapped me hard on the chest, stood up and ran for the ocean, with me right behind her.

CONRAD:

"Wanna come over to my place tonight? My parents are out of town." Nicole, a waitress at the Seafood Shack that Steven and I like to eat at, whispered in my ear as she sat our food on the table.

She was tall, long legged, and had a smokin' bod. We'd fooled around a couple of times over various summers. She was a year younger than me, which meant she was officially in college; no more high school. Which was good, because I didn't date or do girls in high school, they were all too clingy and emotional.

I looked up at her big brown eyes and obviously dyed blonde hair, "Howabout you find a friend of yours for my buddy here and we can do a movie at your place?" I glanced at Steven and shot me a look that said 'thanks bro'. I nodded in reply.

Nicole smiled real big and stood up straight, "I have the perfect girl for you, Steven." She looked at Steven, and he smiled back.

"I'll go call her and see if tonight's a go." She walked off through swinging doors to the kitchen.

Steven laughed, "Dude, I've never seen a girl so eager to let a guy in her pants before."

I smiled cockily, "We've done this before. We have an understanding. If were both not seeing anybody and were not gettin' sex, we get together."

"Nice, man. I wish girls back home were more like girls round here." He sighed, as if completely defeated or something. I could tell something was up.

"What's wrong?"

He looked me in the eyes and shook his head, "Nothin' man. Just this girl. She's kind of off limits."

I laughed, "That's never stopped you before."

He smiled, "True; but I mean this girl, is really off limits. If I touched her, I'd probably be decapitated."

I knew how he felt as an image of Belly popped up in my head. God, I need to stop thinking about her. I can't have and I know it. So why can't I get her outta my head?

Nicole flounced over to our table; suddenly I didn't really care whether I did her tonight or not. She wasn't the one I was thinking about anymore.

"Amy says she can come over 'round eight. Whatta bout you guys?" She smiled at me sweetly.

I faked one back, "Course. Fine with us."

"Awesome! See you fellas at eight."

Laughing, Steven said, "Fellas? No one's ever called me a fella. She definitely isn't from here. Is she?"

I shook my head, "She's from Texas. She moved her my sophomore year. We dated a little, right before I got lots of female attention. Her drawl and use of Texan words isn't as bad as it use to be. It use to be so obvious it was funny. She's hot thought, so I never really cared."

"Of course you didn't'. Conrad Fisher wouldn't let anything stop him from getting laid."

I faked a laugh. He was so wrong. Dead wrong. I was letting the one thing that shouldn't stop me, that's stopped me twice from getting laid.

If only he knew it was his sister and her sweet little body that I couldn't stop thinking about. He'd kill me if he knew that I was positive about.

BELLY:

My day at the beach with Jeremiah had been exactly what I needed. After what happened the other night with Conrad and Parker, I just needed time with my best friend since birth.

"Mom? Mom you here?" I yelled through the house as I walked into the kitchen, throwing the bag with everything we'd taken to the beach in it.

"I'm gonna go shower. I feel sticky."

I smiled, "Well that's your own fault. You're the one who decided to start the popsicle fight."

He laughed, "Whatever." And trudged up the stairs.

As I watched him go, I wondered why he didn't have a girlfriend. He was very good looking. Both fisher boys were; but Jere was sweet and kind too. It didn't hurt that he had nice abs too.

I can't believe I just thought that. Nice abs? Do I really think that? Well, yes I do. But in a sisterly way. Do sisters think their brothers have nice abs? I hope so, or I'm going to feel awkward around Jeremiah.

"Well hello." My mother said as she walked into the kitchen, a plate of cookies in tow.

"Hey."

"Did you have fun at the beach with Jere?"

"Course. We always have fun together."

She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"No mom, not like that. He's been my best friend forever. No matter what you and Susanne think that's not gonna change; ever."

She smiled, like she knew something I didn't, "Whatever you say Isabel."

"You've lost your mind, you know that?"

"No I think you have. What's all over you anyway?"

I looked down to see the blue and green popsicles stains all over my stomach and bathing suit.

"Jere and I had a little difficulty just eating the popsicles."

"Looks more like you threw it at each other."

I smiled, "We did."

She sighed, "I'm going back to my room. Susanne and I are going to have girls' night."

"Kay."

I opened the fridge and peered in, looking for something to eat. I heard the kitchen door open and I didn't have to guess who it was. I shut the fridge and turned around, expecting Conrad to be standing there with an 'all knowing' look on his face.

What I didn't expect was four other, hot looking guys to be with him. My brother was nowhere in sight. Good thing too, considering I was standing in the kitchen in only a blue strapless lace bikini from Victoria secrets, drenched in popsicle juice.

"Uhm, hi?" I offered lamely. Why was I got tongue tied around Conrad? God, he was annoying even when he was trying to me.

He didn't even glance my way, "Hey."

"Whose this?" one asked.

He looked at me then, "That's Belly. Family friend. They stay with us for the summer. Just ignore her."

I almost gasped at his rude comment, "Oh wow, Conrad, way to introduce me to your friends. You act like you didn't use to run around butt naked with me as kids, rolling in the mud."

I smiled at his friends, " and yes, he really did."

Conrad smirked, opposite effect I wanted on him, "What are you covered in?"

I could've been in embarrassed, but I just laughed, "Jeremiah and I went to the beach and got in a popsicle fight. Of course, I won."

"You sound proud of that."

He was trying to embarrass me, not gonna happen.

"I am." I turned to his friends, "I kick ass in popsicle fights." I joked.

The laughed at me and shook their heads, "I'm sure you do." One said.

Satisfied that I'd won this little battle we had going. I smiled as sweetly as I could at all of them, "Well if you'll excuse me, I need to wash the remains of my battle off of me. Nice meeting you all." I said as I ran up the stairs.

I glanced back, they were all staring at my butt. And Conrad didn't look happy.

HA, take that Mr. Know It All.