Laurel POV

I was just lounging around when I got a call from Belly. She was in Cousins right now so we would just meet her up there in two days. When I answered she sounded worried, saying she had news and asking for Steve on speaker phone.

"Well, it's kind of a long story, so don't interrupt me. And I'm not leaving out any details, just the truth. Here it goes. After final exams, Jere came to our dorm to celebrate. I was in the bathroom when he arrived, but when I came out we hugged like always. I took a deep breath and inhaled his scent, but it wasn't his, it was perfume, and not mine. I got extremely upset and started crying. Taylor and Anika were there, too, so they comforted me. All of a sudden Jeremiah put his hand in his pocket and something made a crunch. The room fell silent and I got up and stuck my hand in his pocket. I pulled out an empty condom wrapper. Guess the hook-up was a lot more than I thought. Taylor and I slapped him and Anika punched him in the gut. After I kicked Jeremiah out, I called Conrad. Immediately, he flew in from California. I took Taylor and Anika to Cousins with me. The next morning Conrad called when he was a half hour away, just like I'd asked. I sent Taylor and Anika away so I'd have the house to myself to tell Conrad. Next thing I know someone's knocking on the door. Apparently the house now gets the Sunday paper. Conrad called ten minutes later to say that he was there and did I get a new car. Taylor and Anika took my car so the only car there was Anika's, which he'd never seen before. I said no and then he said that we always take mine or Jere's car and this was not his either. I told him I'd be home soon and to knock first so he doesn't scare Anika. When he knocked and I opened the door, his mouth dropped. We said a couple things and then he asked me about Jere. I told him that that is why he was here. He took that as meaning Jere and I split, which we did, and he kissed me. After that I went inside to tell him the story. After he listened, I told him I was going for a swim and he could join me if he liked. Conrad took me up on the offer and got in. At the same time, we both said I still love you. That turned into a make-out session and all our clothes came off. We did it for the first time right there in the pool. Jeremiah must have just arrived at the summer house, where he was not invited, and walked in on us. Conrad and I slipped our clothes on, he got out. Con threw a punch and it soon turned into a fist fight. As both of you know, I very rarely bring out the f-word. I raced out of the pool and screamed stop, it didn't work so I said what the f*** do you two want from me, knowing that'd get their attention. Crying, I took Anika's keys and left. Tay, Anika, and I all met and I spilled everything. When we got back to the house, J and Con were arguing. I asked them what about and whatever Conrad was holding above his head flew into the French's yard. Con and Jere started fighting again, so I told the girls to break it up while I got whatever was in the neighbor's yard. I told Bethynie everything except about the fighting. She told me I could look for my thing. I finally found it in the rose bushes, of course. I fished it out and found out it was a jewelry box. I opened it and found an engagement ring. Since I was done in the French's yard, I walked back to ours. I saw Conrad had given up and Jeremiah was beating the crap out of him. Taylor was sitting on a lounge chair with a black eye and broken nose. I just couldn't stand it anymore so I threw the ring down, ran over, and kicked Jeremiah. He stumbled back a little then said nice try and went back to killing Con. I had no clue what else to do, so I called the police and told them my cousins were viciously fighting and wouldn't stop. A minute later I heard sirens down the road. Taylor, Anika and I all ran to the front of the house because I didn't tell the boys. Two cop cars and two ambulances showed up. They raced to the back and we followed. While paramedics were getting Conrad on a stretcher, cops hand-cuffed Jere. After telling both the paramedics and cops their full names and date of birth, J asked if he was going to jail. By that time Anika had already taken Taylor to the hospital. Officer Laughner said he would be in jail until a judge could see him. I'm at the hospital now, on my way to see Taylor. I just figured you should know."

Belly POV

There was silence on the other line for a moment, and then Steve clicked it off speaker and must have walked into another room, "Mom's pretty shook up, we'll be there ASAP."

"Ok, I don't know who Jere's gonna call, you or Adam, so stay there for 10 more minutes, ok?"

"Sure thing."

"I'll call Adam with the news."

"Ok, love you Belly."

"Love you, too, Steve-o."

After I hung up, I called Mr. Fisher and told him exactly every word I just told my mom and Steve. When I hung up, I went to the main desk in the emergency room.

"Hello Miss, what can I do for you?" A tall guy asked.

"Hi, I came here with my boyfriend, Conrad Fisher, and my best friend was involved in the same incident as he was, I was wondering where she was so I could talk to her. Her name is Taylor Jewel."

"Oh my, come with me..." "Isabel." "Right this way."

He led me into a small room. "You're Belly Conklin? You came here with Conrad Fisher?"

"Yes."

"Sit down." I sat. "Well, looks like I have some good news and bad news, which one do you want first?"

"Um, good please."

"Taylor Jewel is in room 479 of the emergency department and will be let go today because her injuries are minor and untreatable."

"I have to hear the bad news now?"

He reached for my hand and I gave it to him. "Conrad Fisher has been moved into critical condition, we aren't quite sure he's gonna make it." My face fell and I broke out in sobs. "Tell everyone you need to that they should get here as fast as they can because we don't know if we can keep him. Also, you can go get Taylor and Anika; we'll let her out for this."

I called my mom and brother first, Jere hadn't called them yet so they were gonna leave right away, in tears. Next came Adam, he's coming right away, too. Finally, I called my dad, he was on his way. After, I went to Taylor and Anika's room and they were racing over to Conrad. "I'm gonna shoot over to see Jeremiah real quick to give him s**t, my mom, Steve, and Mr. Fisher are on their way.

I hopped in my car and sped over to the jail. There was a really pretty girl sitting at the front desk. "Hello Miss, how can I be of service?"

"I'm here to see Jeremiah Fisher, he just arrived today."

"Hm, you must this Belly girl he's been talking about."

"That's me, Isabel Conklin."

"Ok, right this way," she led me down the hall into a chat room and a guard brought Jeremiah in. Of course, the guard shut the door and watched through the window. I thought to myself, orange is not Jere's color.

"What do you want?" Jeremiah asked harshly.

"Before I tell you, promise you won't kill me."

"Bells, I'm not going to kill you, I love you."

"As you know, I went to the hospital with your brother, and Taylor's in there, too."

"Yeah, how is she?"

"You're not gonna be taking that attitude in a minute. They were gonna let her out this afternoon, but made an exception to do it now."

"Why, they thought she was cute?"

"No, because my mom, dad, Steven, and your dad are all on their way. They know you're in jail."

"Belly! I can't believe you told them."

"They're not coming because you're in jail."

"Then why are they coming?" He wasn't getting it so I guess I'll have to spell it out for him.

"Jeremiah, Conrad's dying in the hospital right now." He looked mad at first, then scared, and then just broke out in long hard sobs.

"This is all my fault, I should be dying, not him."

"I'm going to get you out so you can say good-bye."

I walked back down the hallway and when the desk saw me, she smiled and said "Alright sweetie?"

"No, actually, how much is Jeremiah's bail?"

She looked surprised, "we just had someone come in and evaluate that, hang on a moment while I check."

She typed on her computer, "looks likes it's $5,000."

Oh my god, that's a lot. I have to pay it, though. I handed her my mom's emergencies only credit card and she swiped it. "Thank you," I told her.

"Ernie, bring Jeremiah Fisher from cell 25 down here with all his belongings, please." She said into her walkie-talkie. Next thing you know Jeremiah appears in front of me.

"Sweetie, you've just been bailed," the desk lady said.

While Jere and I were driving to the hospital he started to say "Thank…" I held up my hand, "shut up, I don't wanna hear it."

When we got to the hospital, no one else had arrived yet. Jeremiah went into the restroom to change and Taylor and Anika were outside his door.

"What's going on?" I asked them.

"Personal stuff, close family only." Taylor answered.

"So I can go in?"

"Yes, Conrad said when you got back from making phone calls, which is what we told him you were doing, you were absolutely allowed in, no matter what." I smiled, that made me feel special.

I lowered my voice, "Jeremiah's changing in the bathroom, don't let him come in yet until I say so." They both nodded.

I knocked on the door, a nurse with a very high-pitched voice called out "do not come in unless Belly Conklin." She must be Chinese.

I entered and stuck out my hand for her to shake, "Isabel Conklin."

"Hi!" She grinned at me, "Julie Cho. You are a very special one to Conrad, consider yourself lucky."

Julie left and I looked down at Conrad. His eyes shifted to me. He looked awful. "Hi," he managed to say.

"Hey, Laurel, my dad, Steven, and your dad are on their way." He smiled a little, "good."

"Have you thought about Jere at all?"

"Yes, and I feel so awful about him being in jail, even though I may die because of him."

"Don't feel so awful. I wasn't making phone calls just now, I was visiting Jere." His eyes were wide. "I wanna see him."

"In jail?"

"It's just eating away at me that I don't get to see him and I may never again. I would do anything to see him."

"I need to go talk to Anika for a minute, hold tight."

I poked my head into the hallway, everyone was here, totally silent. I grabbed Jeremiah's hand, "Come with me." I took him into the room and Conrad's eyes lit up. Jere's on the other hand grew big at the sight of his brother. "I'll leave you two alone."

"Belly, wait," it was Conrad. "What?" "I want you by my side every second from now until I die, whenever that may be." I started crying and sat down next to him. We were all wondering the same thing, when will that be?