Hey everyone sorry for the delay but university leaves so little time for writing, I'll try my darnedest to get these chapters up sooner.

Chapter 6

Somehow sitting on my bed looking out the window at the distant blue strip made me feel calmer. I can see now why sulking at sea water could be therapeutic. Conrad came up shortly after just as I was expecting he would, ashamed to admit- I don't need him to fight my battles. I felt his hand gently rub my back, I could feel sticky tears still on my face. Why had I been crying anyways?

"I'm sorry." He whispered close feeling his minty Colgate breath lingering in the air.

"It's not your fault." I said as I leaned against his shoulder, "I'm sorry for freaking out back there, I guess I overreacted."

"He just... loves you a lot." Gently wiping my tears away tenderly with his thumb. I froze, speechless. I was so unlike Conrad to ever mention his name let alone Jere and I's long ago, way- way, in the past relationship. "That's why he's acting like this, it's because he's still in love with you." Conrad said in a clear unwavering voice pulling me into his arms.

"No, no he's not." I denied pulling him around me but even I knew that was completely untrue. "Belly I'm fine, I'm not worried." He said whilst giving me a reassuring squeeze. "You're my wife now, what we have is forever... that's all that matters."

"Forever", I repeated casually back to Conrad, trying hard to hide my enormous smile growing within.

I followed him downstairs back into the living room where Jeremiah was still laying almost lifeless. Concern took a backseat to the giant annoyance of the whole situation. I tried so hard to remain positive, to keep myself from exploding with rage (again). I guess Steven had left after our somewhat disagreement, a downplay what had really occurred.

"I guess we have time to ourselves before he wakes up, why don't I start by making you breakfast." Conrad said sweet leading me to the almost empty fridge. "Well... we have two-night old Chinese food, an almost empty carton of milk and a really bruised, umm...sad apple, take your pick." giving his classic Conrad smirk. I couldn't help but smile. "I'll go out and pick us up some actual food." He added.

"That would be nice." I said pecking him on the cheek as he grabbed his keys off the counter. Just before he was about to leave, "oh I umm.. need my shirt back." He tugged me closer wrinkling his tee in his playful fist. I pulled it over my head and reached my arm out to give to back to him. "Here." "By the way, you look beautiful." So he had noticed. I wish this was his first reaction. "Thanks."

Just a quick few minutes later I heard the old muffler pulling up the driveway followed by the familiar shutting of the front door, I guess Conrad had just pulled in. I was in the middle of looking at our wedding photographs on the computer which Jill our wedding planner had just forwarded. Photographs of each and every combination, Con and I... Steven, Con and I... Steven, my mom and I... etc, etc and lastly a picture of all four of us- Conrad, Steven, Jeremiah and I. That one was my favorite, a keeper my dad would call it. In a single frame it manages to capture my entire life, my favorite people.

"Forget something", I asked as I heard Conrad re enter the room, except it wasn't Con it was Steven.

"Huh?" He asked confused, "Forget what?"

"Oh I thought you were Con." I answered startled, "He went out to buy stuff for breakfast."

"Great, I'm starving." He said rubbing his stomach in an over-exaggerating and completely annoying way. "Who says you're invited?!" I replied snarly. I was still mad that these two numb nuts had ruined what, up to that point, was the perfect morning.

Steven placed his hand over my shoulder spinning me around in the office chair towards him. "Look, I know you're mad- I said I was sorry. You're going to forgive me anyways so why not do it now?" Urg, it's times like these that Steven can be so aggravating. And what made it worst, is that he was actually right- cocky as hell. But right. I would forgive him eventually, I always did. He's my brother do I really have a choice? I thought to myself. "Excuse me, what makes you think I'll forgive you!?"

"Oh please Belly, this is you we're talking about. You can't stay mad, even if you wanted to." "Yes, I can!" I raised my voice, hovering over Steven who was now siting on the comfier seat next to mine. "Fine, you're forgiven. But you and Jere seriously need to get lost." I sighed in a breath of defeat, I hated being second born in situations such as these.

Conrad arrived back shortly after carrying a bag full of breakfast goods. Bacon, a carton of eggs, a loaf of white bread and a frozen can of orange juice quickly defrosting in the summer's early heat. I knew for a fact that Conrad didn't even like white bread; he said there was no nutrition in it and that even the bugs wouldn't eat that stuff. As he placed the two Wonderbread slices in the toaster for me, I couldn't help but love him more.

Jeremiah woke at the smell of bacon grease and went straight up to his room without saying a word. Not a "hello", not a "sorry", just the lingering seconds of absolute silence. Growing up Jere was always smiling, winning actual superlatives like class clown, biggest flirt and Mr. Congeniality in high school, which the last I think was a joke from his friends, but still very cool coming from a girl who'd only ever dreamed of getting one let alone three. Seeing Jere like this however... was depressing because that was never something Jeremiah was. My mind drifts back to a morning similar to this one, a perfect summer day. Except this memory had Susannah, when she had been alive, making her famous blueberry muffins. This was back when I was a clueless sixteen year old who never knew how much emptiness weighted, before anyone knew just how much everything was about to change forever. A tear begins to form in the corner of my eye. "You'll look after him, won't you." Her light voice softly reminiscent as clear as it was first spoken. "Yes". I whisper still holding on tight. And I did. I had been there for Conrad then, just like I had promised I would. Him? I thought again. And in that split moment I understood, "him", didn't just mean Conrad, it meant Jeremiah too. A friend who needed me and in spite of everything, I walked away.

"Promise me something."

"Anything."

"Promise me you'll never leave."

"I promise." she said without hesitation.