JEREMIAH

Disappointment, agony, sadness, anger, and even a little bit of "I knew it" were all written on Conrad's face. He stood there, just a couple of steps away from us. He hadn't said a word; I noticed he stopped breathing for a minute. You could see his jaw tighten as he pressed his hand against his chest. His hair blowing right into his eyes didn't bother him at all. He just stood there, looking at her—a mixture of heartbreak and despise, I suppose.

They've broken up, have been for a while. No brotherly bond has been broken. I know this is only post-breakup depression showing; there's no way real and honest feelings are behind them. What? Is she never allowed to date anyone again? They both hurt each other. Belly reassured me of this, taking a step closer to me, almost as if she was hiding from him. I don't blame her. She took my hand, and I felt how ice-cold it was.

"It's best if I leave you two alone," he finally spat out, shifting his now almost indifferent gaze towards me.

"Connie, I—" I started to speak, but Belly cut me off.

"Yes, you should give us some space," she said, exuding confidence, and she held my hand even tighter. Taking a step forward, she raising her voice.

"Excuse me for ruining your moment!" Conrad said, annoyed, as he turned around, about to leave.

Just as I was about to pull Belly closer to me, she took another step closer to him, letting go of my hand.

„And how will you get back to Boston?" She asked, out of the blue. Does that really matter to her now?

„What do you care?" He said angrily, turning around, noticing how close they now stood to each other. It was hard for me to watch. The girl I just kissed the shit out of, whose warm neck I still felt on my fingertips, standing just a few inches from Conrad.

„I don't but-" her voice cracked, I couldn't see her face, but it sounded as she was gasping for air a bit.

„Don't bother Isabel." Conrad said, almost in a whisper, looking down at her. If I didn't know better, I would mistake his allergies to actual tears building up. But I know he is over her. She is also over him. I know that.

Conrad turned around again, and with a couple of long strides, he had already disappeared from our sight. Belly stood there, frozen in place. She looked down at her feet, and I moved closer to her, placing my hand on her shoulder. She appeared almost sad. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face — her beautiful, soft face. Touching it only moments ago felt unreal; it meant everything. All the emotions I had kept hidden, all the feelings I had tucked away to protect myself, surged forth. But Belly, my Belly, wanted me. She cared about me and chose me. I have the privilege to hold her hand, offer comfort, cheer her on, and make her laugh. It's me.

„Let me bring you home, Laurel is counting on me." She nodded and turned around, walking towards the car. I ran in front of her and opened the door. She presented me with a weak smile. Why did he have to ruin the most meaningful, the most purest moment in my young life? It was Belly, my best friend Belly, and he had to be in the way, again.

—

I tried cheering her up on the way. I pulled out every trick there is. I got her favorite snacks from the gas station, pulled a blanket out of the trunk to keep her warm, played her favorite Taylor Swift songs — even the ones from "Evermore." How can anyone listen to this depressive shit? But nothing. Nothing seemed to get her to open up to me. She looked out of the window and gave me one-word responses. This wasn't the girl who had held onto me just moments ago. I understand, Conrad is the last person she wanted to see there, but she made up her mind. She chose me. I know she chose me. She told me she chose me. Right?

After what seemed like an eternity, I parked the car in front of her house. I turned my upper body to her and gave her an ever so soft kiss on her shoulder.

„Belly Button, don't let him get to you." I whispered.

„I'm not, it's just-" She tried to remain calm and collected. After one deep breath she continued.

„He's everywhere, he just didn't let me have this one thing." She mumbled.

„Belly I don't think he-" I tried to interrupt her.

„I was done. With the guessing game, with the „what is on Conrads mind" game, I made up my mind, he wasn't even able to tell me what he wants, what he feels, what he-"

„Belly." I interrupted her. „I don't want to make all of this about Conrad."

„But it's not, it's the least about him, he made it so."

"CONGRATULATIONS, SMART ASS!" A loud voice echoed from outside. It was Steven, walking away from the house with a wide smile and a Diet Coke in his hand. I rolled the windows down and gave him a weak smile. He looked confused, noticing that the backseats were empty and Conrad was nowhere to be found. I know he knows something is up; Steven always figures it out first.

„At least we know he passed." I said with a smirk on my face.

In that moment, her phone buzzed on her lap. I'm not the type of guy to look at someone else's phone. But his Name flashed with a wave emoji and I couldn't not see it. What could he possibly want from her?

...

I haven't published anything in years. This is the most fulfilling use of my free time; I realize that every time I grab my laptop to write.

Thank you infinitely for reading the first chapter. Whose POV would you like to read next? I would love to read your reviews and find out, together with you, where the journey takes my favorite characters.

Yes, I have read the books and I have enjoyed them very much. This is just me playing with my imagination, and maybe some of you will enjoy it too.