Belly's POV
"I'm going for a swim," I blurted out before my mind could comprehend what I was saying. "It was nice meeting you, Cynthia. I'm sure I'll see you again." I pulled on another fake smile before I turned the other direction and walked toward the water. Before I could let out a sigh of relief, I heard Conrad call my name.
"Hey, Belly! Hold up!" I heard him jogging over to me, and contemplated pretending that I didn't hear him. Just as I was about to take another step, he ran in front of me and grabbed my arms. Looking down at the place his hands held my arms, I asked, "What do you need?"
"Belly," he whispered, causing me to look up. His chest was rising and falling faster than normal. I assumed it was due to his jog over here. "Belly, I –"
"Conrad? We're going to be late! We better get going!" I turned my head at the sound of Cynthia's protests. She was standing a few feet from us, her right hand shielding her eyes from the sun.
"You better get ba—" I began before he cut me off, saying, "I'm sorry."
Turning to look back at his face, I asked him, "Why do you keep apologizing to me?" I felt his hands slip from my arms and he let out a frustrated sigh. Running his hands through his hair, he looked me in the eye.
"Belly, I…I… Look, I know how you feel about me." I stood in front of him for five seconds before his words registered. Taking a step backwards, I looked over his shoulder at the ocean. The waves were crashing, forming spouts of white foam. The setting sun caused a glare off the surface of the water and I closed my eyes, feeling the heat of it on my face.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, barely above a whisper.
"I know. How you feel. But, Belly, I feel th—"
"You don't know anything." Stepping around him, I made my way towards the water again.
Conrad's POV
I stood in the same spot for a few seconds before turning around and following Belly towards the water. Moving in front of her again, I said, "Will you let me finish a thought before you shut down? Just listen to me."
"Cynthia is waiting for you," she responded, not looking at me.
"I don't care about Cynthia." I said, simply. That got her to look at me and I smiled to myself. Small victories, I thought.
"What do you want, Conrad?" She asked me.
"You. I want you." I reached for her hand, but she pulled away. I felt my eyebrows pull in. "Belly, this past year, you're all I've thought about. And I know you feel the same way. I've known it for a while, I was just too stupid to realize how I felt about you. But I know now. It's you, Belly. It's just you."
She looked back at the beach and shook her head slightly. "Cynthia. You're with Cynthia." When she looked back at me, I saw tears spilling from her eyes. "I've been in love with you as long as I can remember. But it wouldn't be right. Not while you're with her. Especially since she was convinced you loved someone else while being with her the first time."
I shook my head and reached for her hands again. This time she didn't pull away. "Don't you understand? I'm not with her, Belly. She came here to try to get back together, but why would I want her when I can have you? And that girl – the one she thought I was in love with – that's you. It's always been you." I bent down and our faces were inches from each other. "Say yes, Belly. Please."
She moved her head closer to mine and whispered one little world. I felt my heart soar and then crash, landing somewhere in my rib cage. I moved to close the gap between our lips and she fell into my arms.
Belly's POV
Stars exploded. There was an earthquake somewhere caused by Conrad's kiss, that I was sure of. When he pulled back, I felt my heart hammering in my chest and put my hand over it, trying to catch my breath.
I looked into Conrad's eyes and saw his smile radiating from them. "How about that swim?" he asked, smiling wider.
I smiled, tugging on his hand. "I have a better proposal." I pulled him closer and our lips touched for a second time. If I expected this kiss to be any less spectacular than the first, I was mistaken.
Conrad's POV
We spent the rest of the night in fireworks.
Note: This is not the end! I hope you've enjoyed it thus far!