Jeremiah
It's been a week since Belly disappeared. The black eye Steven gave me is almost healed, but I don't know if our friendship will. I tried explaining to him what happened, that I didn't even actually cheat on her, but he didn't want to hear it. Instead he called Conrad to see if she had called him. When I heard Connie's friend in the background, I thought it was Belly. I lost it a little.
If she had ran to him.. It would mean it was really over. But it was Aggie, his Chem partner. He'd told me about her before, and a part of me hopes he's into her. So he'll move on. And now he knows I fucked things up with Bells. That he might have a chance to get her back. I feel physically sick. I really messed things up. She's sent Steve and Tay a couple of messages, but it's still radio silence on my end. And they won't tell me anything.
Conrad got here Monday. He hasn't asked what happened, and I haven't offered any details. And I don't think anyone else has told him, or he probably would have hit me too.
Sighing, I take another shot. Fuck. I'm not going to be able to drive myself to my moms garden ceremony. I close my eyes, thinking of how Laurel is going to look at me when I can't tell her where Belly is. I literally didn't even cheat. The longer she's gone, and everyone is mad at me, the angrier I get at her. And I know that's not fair. I take another shot. Maybe if she had put out, I wouldn't have jumped at the first chance to get laid. I shake my head. Okay, that is really not fair to her. She's not ready, and that's okay. I would never pressure her.
"Jere, let's go." Steven said, grabbing my keys off the counter. "My mom will kill us if we are late." I nod, and drag myself out to the car. Taylor is already in the front and Conrad is driving his own car, so I just lay down across the back seat and close my eyes, hoping this night will be over quickly.
I groaned as the car came to a stop. I think Steven was driving like that on purpose, to make me feel even sicker. I lean against the car and try to stop the world from spinning, but Steve and Tay walk over to meet Conrad and the parents at the door. I sigh and stand up, determined to pull off being sober. And that's when I see her. My lifelong best friend, hugging my brother.. And at first, I didn't even recognize her.
Conrad
When I pulled into the parking lot, I could see Laurel standing at the door with my dad talking to a group of people. And standing next to her was Isabel. My Belly. She's changed so much in the last 6 months. There is no way that is the same girl I saw at Christmas. What did Jere do to her? Steven and Taylor both just shook their heads and said it wasn't their business to tell. Which means it was bad.
My chest hurts just looking at her. She is so fucking beautiful.
I get out of my car and jog over to greet her. She's wearing heels, and the type of elegant dress my mom would have picked out. It's tight around all her curves without being revealing. She's wearing light makeup and a pearl necklace from her 16th birthday. Not at all the Belly I know. But the biggest difference is her hair. Its shoulder length and styled in loose curls. She turns to look at me and my heart stops. Fuck. I'll never get over her.
I have no idea what he did, but I am going to kill my brother.
Taylor and Steven rush up just after I step back from hugging her. Jere was behind them. I thought she would look sad. But she just looked at him and looked away. Who is this strong woman?.
Belly
I got back on Tuesday night, but I went to my moms in Philly. I knew everyone else was already at the beach house and I just wasn't ready to face them yet. My mom had been at a book signing when I got there, so I put on an old shirt and curled up in her bed and went to sleep. When I woke up, she was lying in bed next to me, stroking my now short hair.
"My sleepy Belly," She said softly. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be at the beach house with the boys."
"Mommy," I said, my voice cracking as the tears started. "I just really needed you."
She pulled me against her. "I'm here Bellybutton. You can tell me anything. I know I am not Susannah, but you can talk to me." I started crying even harder. And so I told her everything that had happened in the last week. Even though she would be mad at me for taking off and for spending all my money. Even though she would be upset with Jere. I had to tell someone. And no one else loved Susannah's boys as much as my mother and I. And after I cried, she let me eat snacks in her bed and we watched musicals. Just like when I was little. I didn't realize how much I had missed her until now.
Saturday rolled around and it was time to get ready for Susannah's ceremony. The last week away has been like a secret retreat, no one knowing where I was. I left my phone turned off and just hid away with my mom, letting her take care of me. It was nice, but it wasn't reality.
Reality, however, just pulled up and rushed at me while I was talking to my mom and Adam. I'm going to throw up.
First, it was Conrad. He looked so handsome, but I couldn't make myself meet his eyes when he was talking to me and my mom. Then it was my brother and Taylor. I think they were equal parts mad at me and relieved to see me. But directly behind them was Jere. He was stumbling, clearly drunk. I scoffed, and turned back to Conrad. He was staring at me already, waiting for my reaction I think. Does he know?
I cleared my throat, "Connie," I said in a low tone. "Jere is supposed to accept the award for Susannah tonight. I don't think he's going to make it up on the stage."
He nods, "He's been drinking all day. I wrote my own speech for her after his first 7 or 8 shots."
I flinch. Jere's been taking shots all day? I look over at him again. He looks like he's going to cry. My heart hurts. No! I am not feeling sorry for Jeremiah cheating Fisher. I turn around and walk inside. Calm and collected. I would not ruin this night. And I won't let him ruin it either.
At least that's what I tell myself when Jere follows me inside and grabs my arm. I will not cause a scene.
"Please let go Jere," I said softly. I can see our family watching us, varying looks of pity and caution on their faces.
"I don't know how to let you go, Bells." He whispered. His eyes were bloodshot. "Where were you? I looked for you… I've been calling.."
"I know. I told you, I needed space."
"You cut your hair." This surprised me. And it pissed me off. "I loved your long hair." He sounds so sad, and it makes me feel good that he's hurting too.
"And I loved you." I said coolly, pulling my arm away from him.
"Loved?" He said, but it was too late. I was already walking away.
Jeremiah
Loved. Past tense. She cut her hair to spite me. I know she did. I asked her not to ever cut it, so she did it to prove she could. I watch her walk away. Fuck this.
I run my hands through my hair and head to the bar.
I watch my brother take my place on this stage. Fuck this whole night.
I order another drink. I watch Belly talk to my family. My dad. Aunt Julia. Skye. Conrad.
And another drink. She doesn't look my way once. Loved. My heart hurts. My head is spinning. Conrad keeps checking on me. Noone else talks to me. Another drink. People have started leaving. The bar is closing. I stumble to Taylors car, and I throw up in the parking lot. I pass out in the backseat.