Belly's POV

There was a dream that I had when I was younger; the day after Jeremiah cut his knee on a broken seashell. In the dream I was holding a baby goat while walking along a street to a toll bridge. The guard at the bridge was a shaman who said that I owned him five thousand yen in exchange for a life token that I could cash in at a utopia of my choice. I sold him the goat and walked through the gateway to Conrad's bedroom. Then I woke up.

I had the dream again. You know when you repeat dreams that you had years ago? That's what just happened, except this time when I woke up I was really in Conrad's bed.

I turned to face him and he was snoring softly to himself, smiling. He was always so adorable when he slept, or at least I thought so. It was still fairly early in the morning so I was quiet as I jumped up and looked around. Conrad's room was filled with band posters and a few film ones too. I always thought that he'd make it big; that I'd tour with him and his band as a manger and groupie, wearing those tacky fashion scarves around my neck with an ear piece and a clipboard. That was the idea, anyways.

Things were different now. Conrad had stopped playing music (sans last night) and I could never get used to those ear-bud microphones like in-charge people wear. Here I was spending my first few weeks back in the states in the memory of summer's past. Cousin's Beach; home of the Fighting Sea Turtles.

Conrad exhaled and I stood still, waiting for him to move enough to jolt himself awake. Instead, he continued to sleep despite my wishes. Oh, well… I thought to myself. I decided to go downstairs to grab the morning paper and catch up on the national news. When I got to the front porch I noticed that there was mail from the last few days stuffed inside of it.

Bills, political advertisements, a plumbing promotion from Cam's work and a letter addressed to me from Spain. There was no other name on the envelope except for Isabel, but I recognized the handwriting immediately.

Conrad's POV

I was dreaming about lying out in the sun with me eyes glowing red from the heat when I was suddenly awoken by the blood curling scream of Belly. I jumped up immediately to find that she was no longer in my bedroom.

"The kitchen." I muttered to myself as I threw open the door. I saw Maria rushing down the stairs in a swift motion as she tied her satin robe around her waist. I followed close behind as I heard Steven and Jeremiah's doors open.

"Belly, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here." I heard Maria say as I found Belly collapsed on the floor crying. I hadn't even realized that Belly was now wearing makeup. She looked no different than yesterday, besides the smears, but I usually noticed stuff like that. I knew everything about Belly, or I thought so.

"M-Ma-Maria... It's him. I know it's him. I don't know how he got this address, but he did. Maria I can't- I can't. I just can't." Belly stuttered out. Maria rubbed her back and tried to comfort her with hushed whispers too inaudible to hear.

"What's going on?" I asked bewildered. Maria looked up at me worried. I had expected a glare as if to say 'this is a girl matter, butt off, Con' but she looked more like she was asking for help. "What's this letter here?" I noticed a thin yellowed envelope lying next to Belly's foot and picked it up. "A letter from Spain?"

"Don't let him read it, Maria. No one can read it. I can't read it. Just burn it, please…" She sobbed. I wondered what had upset her so much. Did Belly date some guy in Spain and thing's ended badly? Like, she fell in love and he broke her heart? Maybe the other way around. Jeremiah and Steven hurried down the stairs.

"What the hell is going on, guys? Can't a man sleep?" Steven yawned. I shot him a dirty look for his comment. I didn't know what was going on with Belly, but Steven should have the decency to not assume a wolf-cry when she was in obvious pain.

Maria shook her head and helped Belly to her feet. "Get me a pot of water on the stove, stat. I'll be helping Belly back up to her room in the meantime."

"She can go to my bedroom. The bed's larger. I won't need it till tonight anyways." I offered. Maria nodded and grabbed a box of tissues from the end table as she guided Belly upstairs. Without a moment's notice I was starting a pot of water and preparing Belly's favorite breakfast; scrambled eggs, triangular toast and thick-cut bacon. Jeremiah spoke up.

"Hey, what's going on? Why is Belly so upset?"

I turned on the stove top to fry the bacon, "I don't know," I said, "but I think it has something to do with that letter there." I gestured to the letter's position on the kitchen counter. Steven eyed it.

"Then we should read it to see what's going on."

"No. It's addressed to Belly. We can't open it. That's a federal crime."

Jeremiah interjected, "I don't think Belly is going to press charges. I'll read it." He snatched the envelope off the counter and ran his thumb along the inside of the pressed fold. I didn't want to read it when Belly had said that she didn't want us to, but curiosity and frustration got the better of me.

"It's from a guy named Ramon. He apologizes for the incidence at the festival and that he wants to explain everything. He's coming to America in five days." Jeremiah recited.

"When was it mailed?" Steven asked.

"Four days ago. Looks like he'll be here tonight or tomorrow."

My mind started buzzing with words, thoughts, and ideas almost instantaneously. What could have happened in Spain while Belly was abroad? Who was this guy Ramon? Belly never mentioned him.

I tried to think about how much Belly has changed. She now cared about fashion (somewhat) and makeup, so her appearance changed while she was away. Belly never used to be okay with being so close to me, even if in the end we haven't done anything. Maybe that's because of college.

I just couldn't figure out what it could be. I feared the worst but I didn't even want to have that thought, especially not without talking to Belly either.

Maria tiptoed down the stairs and spoke in a low, even tone, "Is the water boiling? I'm going to make her some tea." I gestured to the pot and noticed that the bacon was started to get over crispy.

"Shit. I'll eat these. Belly likes chewy bacon." I shoveled the pieces onto a cutting board that was handy and started another batch. "Maria, when can I go see Belly?"

She was pouring the steamed water into a mug, "I don't know. She told me before that she didn't want to tell you what happened, but maybe she'll change her mind. I guess she has to eventually. Do you have that letter?" I looked over at Jeremiah who held it up high.

"I have it. And we read it. Some guy named Ramon is coming to the beach house, seemingly uninvited. Should we call the cops?"

Maria looked horrified. "Ramon is coming here?" Jeremiah nodded. "I have to tell Belly. I'll be right back." She rushed back up the stairs and I followed after her quietly.

Once upstairs I heard Maria tell Belly the news. I felt bad for eavesdropping, but I had to know what was wrong. I had to help her.

I don't know exactly what I expected to hear, but I wasn't prepared for what I heard. In between the tears and sniffles I heard Belly mutter, "Maria, I don't remember much of that night… but I know Ramon attacked me. And I know he took it. When Conrad finds out he's going to kill me. And maybe Ramon."

So…. I took WAY too long to update this and I apologize for that! Just started my second year of college and free time is not my middle name. Nap time maybe, but not free time. Anyways, I PROMISE to update this within ten days of this update. Feel free to nag in a PM if I delay.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and want to see what happens next! You probably won't guess what the secret is. Maybe, but maybe not.