This takes place at the beginning of Book/Season 2, and the storyline is slightly different.

Belly hadn't talked to Conrad for what seemed like years, but it had only been a few months. Each day, Belly waited for something that didn't happen. Maybe that's how dreams die, quietly and slowly but painfully.

She sat on her bed at home, wishing she could turn back time and go back to Cousins, living in her fairytale just a little bit longer.

Looking at the pictures on her wall, she sighed; Conrad's picture was still up. She had thought about taking it down after they broke up, but she couldn't do it. It almost felt like her chest physically hurt just thinking about it. Taking his picture down would make it final, ending the chapter just like their relationship had ended a few months prior.

Thinking about everything that had changed in the last few months, she almost cried. After Susannah's death, the world seemed to stop. Time went by so slowly, and Belly felt like she couldn't breathe, wanting to run as far away as possible.

It was summertime, and she was supposed to be in Cousins, swimming, laughing with the others.

Looking out her window, she could see the sun setting. Sunsets weren't the same as in Cousins; everything seemed more dull, or maybe she just felt empty.

Steven was at some party, and her mother was in her room working. Her mother had changed over the course of the last few months. She didn't smile, barely reacted to anything, and Belly sometimes, selfishly, almost felt like her mother wasn't really there.

Belly needed to get out of this house; she couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed an overnight bag and just threw some clothes and toiletries in it. She wouldn't need much. Taking the car keys, Belly tiptoed downstairs so her mother wouldn't hear her.

Finally in her car, Belly started to drive, the sun just barely bright enough for her to drive with her headlights off. Maybe she was running away, but she couldn't care less.

Arriving at the Beach House, a wave of nostalgia hit her. The last time she was here, she was with Conrad, and they—she couldn't finish her thought because his car was in the driveway. Conrad was here. Fuck.

Belly thought about turning around, pretending she was never here. She didn't want to see him, but at the same time, she couldn't wait. Why did he still have this pull on her?

She parked her car, took her bag, and walked to the door. Was she supposed to ring the doorbell or knock? Conrad had taken the hidden keys, so there was no other way. Her heart was racing, feeling like it might explode at any given moment.

With shaking hands and not knowing what to expect, Belly knocked. She heard steps, and someone asked, "Who is this?" It was Conrad.

"It's me." Belly said, nearly swallowing the words.

The door opened, and there he was. Conrad. He had one of his Cousins Rowing shirts on, and his hair was messy, like he had been asleep. He looked tired.

They stood there for a few seconds, which felt like an eternity. Everything with Conrad always felt infinite. She walked inside, and Conrad just watched her, neither of them knowing what to say. They hadn't talked in months, the last time being a few weeks after his mother's funeral.

"What are you doing here?" Conrad asked. I could ask you the same question Belly wanted to say, but she bit her tongue. She didn't want to fight.

"I needed to leave." that was all Belly said, and Conrad didn't question it; he just nodded almost like he understood the words that were left unsaid.

Belly wanted to ask him what he was doing here, but she was scared. This situation was already hard enough for both of them.

They were still standing in the doorway, the light of the TV being the only source of light. "I'm gonna go up to my room, I need to bring my bag upstairs," Belly said, looking directly at Conrad, holding her bag up awkwardly.

She couldn't decipher the look on his face; his eyes looked almost empty. Conrad nodded, and Belly went upstairs.

As she entered her room, she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Seeing Conrad made her feel things she hadn't felt in months; she was still sad, empty, and broken, but there was this electric feeling that only Conrad ever made her feel.

Some time went by, and Belly just laid on her bed, scrolling through her phone and texting Taylor (who was, in fact, not happy about her being there with Conrad).

There was a knock on the door, and then Conrad appeared in her door frame.

"Are you hungry? I made some chicken." he said, half-smiling at her.

They hadn't talked about anything, the last time they talked, it wasn't talking; it was screaming.

Hurt, fear, and anger dominated their last conversation, so this was weird. She didn't know how to act, but seeing him smile weakly, she knew they didn't have to talk; maybe they could just pretend.

"Sure, I'll be right down," Belly answered, already getting up.

His food was delicious, she didn't know he could cook this well.

It almost felt like a grown-up meal, if there even is such a thing.

After, they sat on the couch, a few meters apart, watching a film, but it felt like neither of them really paid attention to it. They were both lost in their thoughts.

Belly turned her head to look at Conrad, and their eyes met. It felt like an electric jolt being sent through her body. She quickly looked away again.

"Belly?" Conrad broke the silence, and she could feel his eyes on her.

She turned to look at him. "Yes?" Belly replied, and for a few seconds, nobody said anything. She didn't know if he would continue talking, but he did. "I'm sorry." He didn't say what for or what exactly he meant, typical Conrad.

"Being here with you, I feel different than the last few months. You—" he stopped, contemplating if he should continue, but he did "—You make me feel happy, and I know this isn't how it's supposed to be, and I keep disappointing you, but I had to tell you." Conrad said, looking her straight in the eyes.

Belly's heart started to race again; she was speechless because this was the last thing she thought he would say.

"You didn't disappoint me, Conrad. When things get hard, you just shut me out, and that hurts. I wanted to be there for you, but you wouldn't let me. I can't even imagine the pain of losing your mother, but you didn't have to do it alone, if you would have just let me in." Belly couldn't believe she was saying all this, but it was true.

She felt a mixture of sadness, anger, and love. Her love for him hadn't changed, she wasn't sure if it ever could.

Conrad looked down and broke the distance between them by taking her hand. Her whole body was on fire.

"I'm really sorry. I was so overwhelmed, and I wanted to do it all by myself. I wanted to be strong," Conrad said.

"I started going to therapy."

Now Belly really was speechless. She had told him that he should consider it when they were still together, but he always refused. She smiled at him, stroking his hand. "That's amazing, Conrad," Belly said.

For the next few seconds, it was silent.

"I love you, Belly," Conrad said suddenly, and Belly thought she didn't hear him right.

She had dreamt of this since she was a kid, and here she was, Conrad Fisher, telling her he loved her? Even though they were together for a period of time, he hadn't said these words to her, words she had wanted so desperately to hear all her life.

She didn't care about all the things left unsaid; she needed him, wanting to kiss him, touch him.

She looked at him, and the next minutes were a blur. One minute they were kissing, slowly and carefully, scared of breaking each other, but then something changed, and the kisses were filled with want for one another.

The fire was still going in the background, and if she didn't need her mouth for kissing, Belly would have laughed, having a déjà vu.

Conrad's kisses were hungry, his hands under her shirt.

This was so different than the last time, Belly thought. They both needed this right now. Conrad stopped. "Belly, we shouldn't—" He said, but it was clear his heart and body were telling something different.

"Conrad, I need you," she said, and that was it for Conrad, he couldn't hold back, and every last rational thought went out the window.

The night was a blur, they both slept on the couch that night, needing each other, holding each other.

The moment would probably be over sooner than they wanted, but all they had was this night and Conrad made her feel like one night could last an eternity with him.

Maybe they were infinite after all.