Chapter 10

"The War Is Over"

"This is for dumping me in the shower last night!"

Belly dunked my head under the water and tried to keep me down there. I submerged and twisted out of her grasp. "Hey, I was only trying to sober you up."

She smiled and flicked water at me. "I've missed this pool."

"Haven't you been staying here?"

"Yeah but I haven't been in the right um... mind to swim."

Meaning she'd been drinking all along. We were alike in so many ways I hadn't noticed before. I always thought we were polar opposites.

"Want to race?" she asked.

"I'll probably win."

"We'll see. Five laps. Ready? Go!" She swam forward and immediately changed into something else. I couldn't quite put my finger on the right word but she definitely stopped existing in this world as Isabel Conklin when she swam. I remembered we were supposed to be racing and attempted to catch up. A long time ago I might have made the effort to beat her but this time I didn't. She noticed because when it was over she frowned. "You didn't let me win, did you?"

"No way," I said.

"Do I get a reward for beating you then?"

I reached her in three long strokes and kissed her on the forehead.

xxx

"Great food," Belly said as she tore off a strip from a chicken breast.

I reached for the salad bowl. "I think I need to watch more Food Network to learn how to make other stuff besides grilled chicken."

"You should learn how to make pizza!"

"Let me rephrase that. I need to learn how to make other healthy food."

"Pizza can be healthy! Hold back on the cheese and add extra tomato sauce. Easy."

Belly's hair was still dripping from being in the pool all afternoon. She was wrapped in the teddy bear towel my mom gave her many years ago. How was it that just weeks ago I'd been longing to be with her and now she sat before me and I had the luxury of kissing her whenever I felt like it? I only arrived the night before and it was as if time hadn't passed. Once again we were two teenagers in love. But I wasn't a teenager anymore and soon Belly wouldn't be either.

"Everything alright?" She reached for my hand and grasped it.

"I was just thinking about how many new freckles you have on your nose," I teased.

She swatted at me. "Jerk."

I caught her hand and kissed it. Her cheeks burned a crimson red. Definitely, time was still on my side if I still had that kind of effect on her.

We spent the rest of the evening playing cards and watching the Food Network. Belly seemed different now that I thought about it. She wasn't as reserved as before. If not, I doubt she would have ever kissed me like she did in the morning. Had everything that happened with Jeremiah changed her? Although this change was in my favor, I wasn't all too happy about it. Something just didn't feel right. Even so I wasn't going to allow my mind to obsess over the matter. With the end of summer approaching I wanted to spend every last minute of it with no one but Belly.

xxx

The next day we got up early to surf. Belly wasn't all too great at it but she stuck it out. Every time a wave knocked her down she never failed to emerge with a smile, ready to tackle more. Watching her in that determined state was distracting me from catching good waves.

I thought I knew everything about her. I thought I'd done a decent job of observing her over the years. As August went on, I found myself learning more and more things about her. I didn't know just how much she likes to play the memory game of summers past, bringing up the most random moments. I had no idea that she still wore her glasses when she reads at night. It even startled me when I found out that she set out to do well in school to prove to me that she could be smart too. I never thought she wasn't smart. On the contrary, I believed Belly to be a very bright girl. The fact that I was like a piece of inspiration to her really shook me up. In a good way that is.

Our days were flying by quickly. Belly and I made sure to never get bored. We'd always find something entertaining to do and no one came to the house to disturb us except for the occasional pizza boy or take-out guy. It was all innocent fun that I'd been longing for without ever acknowledging it.

xxx

It was the first week of September. We were in the middle of watching an I Love Lucy Christmas special when Belly leaned her head against my shoulder.

"Conrad?"

"Yes?"

"Why haven't you asked me about Jeremiah?"

I tried to not show how I felt about that question. Honestly? I was more than curious to know but at the same time, I was afraid to hear it.

I shrugged. "I didn't think you'd want to talk about it."

"Oh," she said.

We sat there in silence for another five minutes when she spoke again.

"I was ready to forget about you. After you left. And then Jere came in, ready to get married. We argued and there was one thing he said that opened my eyes. He said that he wanted all of me and not just a part. I realized then that he never really had me to begin with. The only reason I started dating him was to spite you. As cruel as that sounds, it's true. I wasn't marrying Jere because I love him, I was marrying him because I love you." She covered her mouth with one hand. "I'm insane, aren't I?"

I shook my head. "Not any more than I am." I gently moved her so that she was no longer leaning against me. We kissed, slowly easing into a passionate embrace. She laid back on the couch as I held myself over her. Just as I was about to lean down to kiss her neck, a familiar melody rang within the house.

"Did you order food?" I asked Belly.

"Nope."

"Neither did I." I sat up. "Should I answer the door?"

"Let's check who it is first."

We were probably thinking the same exact thing, is it Jeremiah? Though why would he ring the doorbell?

Belly turned off the TV and left the rec room. I followed close behind. She stopped at the door and looked into the peephole. Her intake of breath put me on edge. She stepped aside so I could take a look. A man in a uniform was patiently waiting out on the porch.

Next chapter will be up soon~~~