A few days pass uneventfully. Jules spends most of her time at the pool with Jeremiah (he had gotten her a visitor's pass) or on the beach alone. She gracefully avoids Conrad, which is easy said and done because he's never around. There was an empty sketchbook that Jules never had a chance to use, and now it's filled with sketches and watercolor paintings. Having no fixed schedule means freedom, which is nice, but it also makes Jules restless. Endless summer days turn out to be perfect for worrying about the future and dwelling on past mistakes.

On the 8th day of Endless Summer, Belly invites Jules for a sleepover. There was a time when the two would have sleepovers practically every other day, watching movies, eating junk food, giving each other makeovers and staying up way past bedtime. So, when the time comes to reinstate their tradition, Jules goes all out.

She walks into the Fisher house, already dressed in pink sleep shorts and an old t-shirt from her dance academy, equipped with everything from candy to ice cream, nail polish and glitter.

"You came prepared," Belly laughs as Jules pulls out an endless supply of colorful lipgloss and sour gummy worms.

"I wanted it to be like when we were kids!"

"I remember more Claire's makeup when we were kids, and less Fenty." Belly opens up a highlighter palette, swiping a little on her cheek. She turns to Jules and makes a pouty face. "I'm ready for you to transform me into a glitter monster." 

Jules rolls her eyes playfully, pulling out the last of her makeup and placing it on Belly's bed. "Let me put the ice cream in the freezer and then we'll see about your transformation."

Jules runs down the stairs to the kitchen, hearing video games being played in the living room. She rushes to put away the ice cream - in fear of running into you know who - and climbs back up to Belly's room in record time.

"I forgot how good you are at this," Belly says, trying to keep her eyes closed as Jules taps some glitter onto her eyelids.

"It happens when you're a dancer," Jules explains. "Knowing how to look dramatic for the stage." The number of hours she must have spent backstage piling foundation, using concealer to hide every flaw, making sure her eyeliner and lipstick was perfectly applied. It's funny how something that Jules once found fun, an outlet for creativity, started becoming a burden.

Jules hands Belly a mirror, and the girl opens her eyes. She moves her head back and forth, trying out the different angles. Jules had decided on a neutral gloss for Belly, with dark turquoise eyeshadow and gold highlights to compliment Belly's reddish-black hair.

"I look like a mermaid!" Belly smiles widely, and she looks even more radiant. "Remember that summer we spent searching for mermaids? Maybe the real mermaids were us all along." Belly lets out a giggle at her own joke.

Jules laughs along with her. "I think you might be right, Jelly Bean."

Belly places the mirror on her bedside table and moves to lay down comfortably on the bed, with Jules sitting cross-legged. Belly opens one of the candy packages - Fuzzy Peaches - takes one, and then hands the rest to Jules. Jules takes one hesitantly, and as soon as it hits her tastebuds, Jules is brought back to her childhood and summers spent just like this.

"Do you think you can do my makeup for the deb ball?" Belly asks, popping another gummy in her mouth.

"Definitely. How's that going, by the way?"

"Most days it's good. There's some annoying etiquette stuff that's a bit outdated and it can be overwhelming, but Nicole has been so sweet and is helping me a lot."

Jules eats three more Fuzzy Peaches, chewing thoughtfully, before saying: "I didn't know Nicole was a deb."

Belly shrugs. "She did it last year and now she's a mentor - like a big sister. Actually, Conrad took her to the ball last year."

"Oh."

Belly must have noticed how Jules shifted uncomfortably and started playing with the bracelet on her wrist. Belly places a hand on Jules' wrist to stop her.  "Hey - you don't have to worry. You'll always be my big sister."

"Oh," Jules says again. Shaking out of her daze, she offers Belly a small smile. "Forever and always."

"And Conrad's heart will always beat for you."

"Belly!" Jules throws a pillow onto Belly.

"What? That's what you were thinking!" Belly might be younger than Jules, but she was always perceptive - at least when it came to other people's lives.

"No, I wasn't," Jules scoffs, but it's with a smile. "Can we talk about something else, please? Like what color I'm going to paint your nails before we watch When Harry Met Sally."

Just like old times, only now they were older, their lives a bit more complicated. Belly was right about one thing, though: they'd always be sisters, no matter how many summers pass, no matter how things change.

Author's Note

This chapter is a bit of a filler, but I wanted to give a better sense of Jules and Belly's friendship. Thanks for reading and please remember to vote and comment, it means the world to me <3 Next chapter up soon!