Isabel "Belly" Conklin stood on the edge of the beach, her bare feet sinking into the warm sand as she gazed out at the shimmering ocean. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over everything, making the world feel hazy and dreamlike. This place—Cousins Beach—had always been her haven, her escape. But this summer? This summer felt different. Everything was changing, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.
The lyrics from Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer" floated through her mind, echoing the tumultuous emotions that had been swirling inside her for weeks now: "It's a cruel summer with you... I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?" The line hit her hard, a reminder of the tangled mess of feelings she had for Conrad Fisher—and his brother, Jeremiah. Both boys had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember, but this summer, everything had become more complicated.
She felt her phone buzz in her pocket, and she pulled it out to see a message from Jeremiah.
Jeremiah: Hey, you want to meet up at the bonfire tonight?
Belly stared at the message, her heart doing that familiar fluttering thing it always did when she thought about Jeremiah. He had always been her friend, her confidant, the person who made her laugh when she needed it most. But recently, things had shifted between them. His teasing had taken on a different tone, his glances lingering a little too long. It was confusing, especially since her heart seemed to be caught between him and Conrad.
Conrad, who was currently sitting on the porch of the Fisher house, brooding as usual, his dark eyes distant. Belly had spent years pining for Conrad, waiting for the day he would notice her as more than just a little sister figure. And now, just when she thought there might be something real between them, he was pulling away again.
With a sigh, Belly typed a quick response.
Belly: Yeah, I'll be there.
She shoved her phone back in her pocket and started walking up the path toward the Fisher house, her thoughts racing. How had things gotten so complicated? This was supposed to be the best summer of her life—the summer she finally felt like she belonged, like she was more than just the awkward girl who tagged along with her mom to the beach house every year. But now, with her feelings all over the place, it felt more like a cruel summer than a magical one.
The Fisher house was bustling with activity when Belly arrived. Susannah, Conrad and Jeremiah's mom, was in the kitchen, preparing dinner with Belly's mom, Laurel. The two women were laughing and chatting, completely unaware of the emotional storm brewing between their kids.
As Belly walked in, she spotted Conrad sitting on the porch steps, his head down as he fiddled with the bracelet on his wrist. Her heart clenched at the sight of him—Conrad, who had always been so composed, so sure of himself, now seemed more distant than ever.
Taking a deep breath, Belly stepped outside and sat down beside him. The silence between them was thick, but she didn't know how to break it. She wanted to ask him what was going on, why he had been acting so cold lately, but the words wouldn't come.
Instead, she just sat there, the tension between them palpable.
After what felt like forever, Conrad finally spoke, his voice low and strained. "You going to the bonfire tonight?"
Belly nodded, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Yeah, Jeremiah asked me to go."
Conrad's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Belly thought he might say something—something important, something that would make all of this make sense. But instead, he just nodded and looked away.
"Cool," he muttered, his voice flat.
Belly's heart sank. She had been waiting for him to give her something—some sign that he felt the same way she did, that he cared. But all she got was indifference.
She stood up, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Conrad, what's going on with you? Why have you been acting like this?"
Conrad's shoulders tensed, but he didn't look at her. "Nothing's going on."
Belly crossed her arms, her voice rising in frustration. "That's not true, and you know it. You've been avoiding me all summer. You barely talk to me anymore."
Conrad finally turned to face her, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions Belly couldn't quite read. "I'm just dealing with some stuff, okay?"
Belly's heart ached at the distance between them. She wanted to help him, to be there for him like she always had been, but he was shutting her out. And she didn't know how to break through that wall.
"Fine," she said softly, stepping back. "If you don't want to talk to me, I won't force you."
She turned and walked back into the house, her chest tight with a mix of anger and sadness. Why did loving Conrad have to be so hard? Why did he always make her feel like she was chasing something she could never catch?
Later that night, Belly found herself at the bonfire, surrounded by the warm glow of the flames and the familiar sound of laughter from the other beachgoers. Jeremiah was by her side, his arm casually slung over her shoulders as they watched the fire crackle and spark in the night sky.
"So," Jeremiah said, his voice light and teasing, "you're awfully quiet tonight. What's going on in that head of yours?"
Belly smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just thinking."
"About Conrad?" Jeremiah asked, his tone softening. He knew her too well.
Belly sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Yeah. He's been so distant lately, and I don't know why."
Jeremiah was quiet for a moment, then he said, "You know he cares about you, right? He's just... Conrad. He gets in his own head sometimes."
Belly nodded, though she wasn't sure if that made her feel any better. "I just wish he'd let me in."
Jeremiah shifted, pulling her a little closer. "You deserve someone who doesn't make you feel like you have to fight for their attention, Belly. Someone who sees how amazing you are without you having to prove it."
Belly's heart fluttered at his words, and for a moment, she felt the warmth of Jeremiah's affection wrap around her like a blanket. He had always been the one who made her feel safe, who made her laugh when she needed it most. And now, as she sat there with him by the fire, she wondered if maybe she had been looking in the wrong direction all along.
"Jeremiah," Belly said softly, lifting her head to look at him, "do you ever feel like... like we're meant to be more than just friends?"
Jeremiah's eyes widened slightly, but then he smiled, his expression warm and genuine. "Yeah, I do."
Belly's heart raced as she met his gaze, her mind spinning with the possibilities. Could it really be that simple? Could she let go of her complicated feelings for Conrad and just be with Jeremiah—the boy who had always been there for her, who made her feel special in a way no one else did?
Before she could overthink it, Jeremiah leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. Belly's breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, the world around her seemed to disappear.
When they pulled apart, Jeremiah's eyes searched hers, as if waiting for her reaction.
Belly smiled, her heart pounding. "That... wasn't what I expected."
Jeremiah laughed softly, his hand slipping into hers. "Good or bad?"
"Good," Belly said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Really good."
They sat there by the fire, hand in hand, the tension that had been hanging over Belly all summer finally starting to melt away. For the first time, she wasn't thinking about Conrad, about all the complications and heartbreak that had come with loving him. She was just here, in this moment, with Jeremiah—the boy who had been right in front of her all along.
As the summer stretched on, Belly found herself spending more and more time with Jeremiah. They went on long walks along the beach, had late-night talks under the stars, and laughed more than Belly could remember laughing in a long time. It felt easy, natural, like everything had finally fallen into place.
But even as she grew closer to Jeremiah, there was still a part of her that couldn't quite let go of Conrad. Every time she saw him—sitting on the porch, brooding by the ocean—her heart ached with the weight of all the unspoken things between them.
One evening, as the sun was setting over the water, Belly found herself standing by the edge of the beach, watching the waves roll in. Conrad was sitting on the steps of the house, and for the first time in weeks, he called out to her.
"Belly."
She turned, her heart skipping a beat. "Yeah?"
Conrad stood up, walking toward her with that familiar, serious expression on his face. When he reached her, he hesitated, as if searching for the right words.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, his eyes meeting hers. "For how I've been acting. I've been... dealing with some stuff, and I shouldn't have shut you out."
Belly's chest tightened at his words, the familiar mix of hope and frustration bubbling up inside her. She had waited so long to hear him say something like this, but now that he had, it didn't feel like enough.
"It's okay," Belly said softly. "I get it."
Conrad sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't want to lose you, Belly."
Belly's heart ached at his words, but she forced herself to stay grounded. She couldn't keep chasing after someone who didn't know what he wanted. She couldn't keep putting her heart on the line for Conrad.
"I don't want to lose you either," she said, her voice steady. "But I can't keep waiting for you, Conrad. I've spent so much time hoping you'd notice me, and now... I'm tired."
Conrad's expression faltered, and for a moment, Belly saw the vulnerability in his eyes—the part of him that had always scared her, the part of him that never let anyone in.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Belly nodded, her heart breaking a little as she looked at him—this boy she had loved for so long, who had never quite been able to love her the way she wanted. But she wasn't angry anymore. She wasn't sad.
She was ready to move on.
"It's okay," Belly said softly. "I think it's time for both of us to let go."
Conrad looked at her, his eyes filled with regret, but he didn't argue. He just nodded, accepting what she was saying.
And in that moment, Belly felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She had spent so much of her life chasing after Conrad, trying to make him see her, trying to make their story work. But now, she realized that she didn't need him to define her happiness.
She could find that on her own.
As the summer came to a close, Belly walked along the beach with Jeremiah, their hands intertwined as the sun set behind them. The air was warm, the sky painted with shades of pink and orange, and for the first time in a long time, Belly felt at peace.
"I'm glad we found each other," Jeremiah said, his voice soft as he glanced over at her.
Belly smiled, her heart full. "Me too."
They stopped by the edge of the water, the waves lapping at their feet, and Belly looked out at the horizon, feeling the gentle pull of the ocean. She had spent so many summers here at Cousins Beach, but this one? This one had changed her.
It had been a summer of heartbreak, of confusion, of letting go. But it had also been a summer of growth, of discovering who she really was, and of finding love in the most unexpected place.
As Jeremiah wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, Belly smiled to herself.
It might have been a cruel summer at times, but it was also the summer she found herself. And that made it worth every moment.
