06. chapter six
—forgotten cumple

I USED TO ENVY summer birthdays. I used to daydream about what it would be like to have a pool birthday party or even a simple day at the beach while everyone tried their best to play nice. Maybe opening gifts on the porch and spending the evening drinking Belly's slushy specialty. Or just see the people I love on my special day.

But then I quickly realized that summer birthdays meant that I wasn't actually going spend my birthday with all the people I love, not completely I mean. It meant that I wasn't going to see my dad, that I would have to suffice with a simple phone call. My mom never put their differences aside, not even for my birthday.

It's bizarre to think that my dad has never stepped foot inside the place that has brought me my most important moments. When I first learned to swim, found my first camera, finding the perfect genre of books that changed my perception of reading, learning the meaning of friendship, and most importantly, love. Whether it'd be platonic or romantic.

I think my dad rather not hear about the last part of that.

He'd faint as soon as he heard that his little girl had her first kiss way before he had even allowed her to think about kissing. Twelve to be exact. It wasn't anything special, which I think would be the part my dad would faint. He'd say that I deserved a first kiss that only happened in books, which isn't what happened, like at all.

Mine came in the result of a certain someone trying to humiliate me, only to be proven wrong.

Kenny had invited me to his cousins birthday party. I remember him telling me that it was her first time ever being in Cousins. That they offered to take her for the summer because her moms had died a couple mouths prior. I was sickened by the thought of ever losing any of my parents, mom or dad. So much that I made Jeremiah, Steven, and even Conrad write invitations to anybody they knew in Cousins. Knowing that Kenny only ever talks to me when he's here.

It was known to me that Kenny would be leaving early that summer because Cecilia needed to settle in with their grandma. He told me that the court had given custody to their grandmother. She had only let Cecilia stay with them for a portion of that summer because she knew Cecilia needed some time away. But she also knew that Cecilia needed time to adjust to what would become her normal life.

I met Cecilia the day of her party, she never tagged along to the places I went with Kenny. I assumed it was because she didn't feel like going out, I mean who would? Just then I realized, this is probably the last thing she wanted, to be stuck with people she's never even met, people that weren't her moms.

When I asked Kenny where she was, he answered by pointing her out. She looked to be having fun playing soda-pong with a couple girls. I let out a breath of relief, thankful that I didn't ruin her birthday.

Many kids our age filled Kenny's backyard that night. Kenny's parents, Mila and Xavier (I liked to call him Javier), were stunned to see so many kids in their backyard. When they asked Kenny to invite kids their age, they didn't expect around thirty to arrive at their doorstep. To be fair, they expected me, and the rest that resided inside our beautiful beach house, including our moms.

It made me laugh that Kenny had exactly nothing to do with how many people were here.

As the night rolled along, me and Kenny ended up sitting on his porch, talking about this book I was reading. Well, in all honesty, maybe only I was talking about it. Kenny looked to be half asleep and bored out of his mind, all while pretending he was listening to every word I was saying. That's when I finally let my eyes drift off, and as I was doing so, I saw his cousin walk into his house.

"What is Cecilia doing?" I asked Kenny. I turned to look at him, to see if he saw what I saw, but dude was too busy with his eyes shut.

"Probably playing stupid soda-pong, why?"

"No reason." I let silence fall between us, watching the door, waiting for her to finally come out. But after ten or fifteen minutes, my patience died. I needed to see what was taking her so long, I needed to see if I had any to do with her not coming back out.

"Hey, I'm going to use the bathroom, be right back." Kenny waved me off, he was practically dragging me inside himself. I scoffed.

When I made it inside, it was silent, only the sound of loud chatter that came from outside was heard. Kenny was the youngest of four. His older brothers were off to college before I even met him. He was basically an only child, so this was normal for his house. But what wasn't normal was the sound of soft crying as I got closer to the room Cecilia was staying in.

I followed the soft cries before coming face to face with her. I'm not sure what I was expecting to see when I decided to check up on her. But I wasn't expecting her to be crying, let alone on her birthday. I shut my eyes, finally realizing something that was right in front me this whole time, how could I have been so blind and stupid? It is her first birthday without her parents.

"Are you okay?" Is what I said. It was a stupid question because not only was she crying right in front of me, but her parents died. How could someone be okay after that? "Sorry, it was a stupid question. I always ask stupid questions."

She wiped her tears, finally taking in my presence. "Yeah, it really was a stupid question."

It took a second, but we both laughed a little. "In all seriousness, do you want to talk about it?" I said with a soft smile. "I know we've barely spoken all summer, but maybe that's a good thing, talking to someone you don't know?" I shrugged, not wanting her to feel pressured to talk to me.

She paused to think, to watch and see if she could really trust me. I gave her that because she deserved it. "Well, I'm sure you heard my mom's died in a car accident earlier this year." I sat down beside her, caught off guard that she didn't even take a breather. "I was adopted by them was I was four. They were everything to me, and to think, I'm alone again. I have been orphaned twice now... I didn't- I didn't even get to say goodbye."

She began crying again. One thing I've learned from Susannah is to hug people that are crying. I might not know Cecilia that well, but a hug can change how one feels, even if they aren't kin on touch, as am I.

My arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her towards me. With my other hand, I grabbed her hand, trying my best to comfort her in the best way I could.

"I just wish I could say goodbye, thank them for everything they've done for me." She gripped onto my hand, tight.

"They hear you. Tell them." Silence. "I think that where ever they are, where ever you believe they are, they can hear you. And the only way for you to be able to move on—not that you have to move on right now—is if you say goodbye.

"I bet they are nothing but grateful for you being in their life, I bet that if they had the chance, they'd thank you. Because I bet you were the best thing that has ever happened to them." Cecilia cried more, my chest tightened. "Did I say something wrong? I am so sorry."

"No," She let go of my hand and let my arm fall from her shoulders. Instead, she turned to look me, right in my eyes. "What you said is possibly the only thing that's someone has ever said to me that has actually helped me. Thank you. Thank you for being so kind to what's basically a stranger to you."

My hands found themselves on her shoulders. "You deserve such."

She smiled at me.

"Whenever you're ready, we can go out... together?" Cecilia nodded at my offer.

"Can you give me a moment?" I nodded, understanding. "I'll be right out."

I let myself out, a breath escaping, one that I didn't even know I was holding. I can't believe I actually came up with that. I've never really been good at comforting people. I guess I got to thank Laurel and Susannah for that.

Cecilia had two mothers, one was Kenny's aunt, Lina, sister to Mila. I've never met her. I only knew her by the way Kenny talked about her. He used to tell me that she was the sweetest person alive, that she was the best cook ever. He said that he wished I could taste her signature pasta. He also talked about Lina's wife, his other aunt, Alice. He said that she was the best baker ever. Kenny forgot to mention that they owned a restaurant together. One took care of the main course, while the other cared for the baking.

I have always wanted to meet them... but now, I guess it was too late for that.

Kenny was so hurt by their death. So hurt that it took him hours to be able to tell me what happened. He couldn't form the words, and when he did, I couldn't understand him because of his crying. I hated seeing him cry. I hate seeing people I care about cry.

I was finally pulled back, pulled back from the memory of holding Kenny so close and told him that I was right by his side. That I was never going to leave him. It was the sound of a voice, coming from Cecilia's room... it was Cecilia's voice actually. I knew not to barge in.

"I miss you both so much—" I rushed away from the door. I felt as I was was intruding on something that I shouldn't be listening in on. Something I wasn't supposed to let my eyes hear.

I let myself into the living room. I sat there on the couch, waiting for Cecilia to come out. After a couple moments passed, I knew she wasn't going to anymore. So I walked out onto the pouch, only to see people in a small circle.

I stopped in my tracks, confused. I saw four familiar faces around the circle.

My eyes landed on Kenny first. He looked terrified and so out of place. "Sonny, please save me! These freaks are forcing me to play truth or dare with them! Do they not know what consent is?"

I laughed at how dramatic Kenny was. He had always been that way.

Conrad was amongst the group as well. It didn't take him long before he had something to say. "Actually, I think it best for Sonny to sit right down with you, Kenny." He didn't even wait a second before he had to come along and challenge me.

"Do I now," I said, not really in a questioning tone. I was annoyed most of all.

Jeremiah didn't let Conrad respond. "Come on, Sonny. If not for Conrad, then for me. Do you really want to see me sad?" He pretended to be sad, with his annoyingly blue eyes looking teary and everything.

"Fine, but I'm not doing it for either of you." I gave Conrad a side eye before sitting down between Kenny and Jeremiah.

Steven and the rest of the group cheered loud. "Where's Josh and Belly?" I asked.

"Too busy gawking at each other near the pool." Kenny responded, half joking because that's not even close to being true.

"Who's going first?" Leo asked, not wasting any time. I bet he was the mastermind of this, I heard him whispering to his friend Tyler about how much he'd die to kiss 'the birthday girl' which was kinda funny, since Cecilia wasn't even playing. I wonder if he even knows who the birthday girl is.

"Me!" Jeremiah yells, almost sounding like a elementary school girl.

"Cálmate güerito." I groaned, grabbing my ear. He was real enthusiastic about this, like he was for almost everything.

"Okay then," Leo started. "Spin the bottle, whoever it lands on, you have to kiss them."

"I thought we were playing truth or dare?" I asked, confused by the change.

"A little change of plans." Leo smirks a really gross looking smirk, one that didn't fit his face. Well, Leo wasn't a bad looking boy, he just acted like someone he wasn't, especially to look good in front of his friends.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. This is the last thing I wanted, to have my first kiss with some rando, or maybe even someone who I've known since I was a baby.

"Really? I didn't know we were in some cliché movie from the early 2000's." I was about the stand up, about to grab Kenny's hand and leave because this is not how I'm spending the rest of the night.

"Scared, Sonny?" Conrad asked from across me.

"Of course not. Some of us have actual things to do." I smiled a not so friendly smile at him. He only returned it.

"Like what? Talk about stupid books with your boyfriend?" Conrad nodded towards Kenny.

"Boyfriend?" I asked, almost laughing, like he was making a joke. But no, he was being serious. "Yeah, I'll much rather be with my boyfriend than spend my night being around you, Connie."

"I don't believe you." Conrad responded, his eyes narrow.

"You don't?" He shook his head. "Do you really think I'd rather spend my time with you, and all this immature boys—" I pointed towards the boys in the circle, not really paying any kind of attention to the girls because they knew I wasn't talking about them. "—rather than the boy you just called my boyfriend?"

Conrad sat there, his face blank. "No, that's not it." He said, finally. "I just don't believe a boy would actually want to be with you, much less kiss you in front of people. I'm sure he'd be embarrassed to be around you, I mean, I would."

"First, why are you even thinking about being with me, much less kissing me?" The circle went silent, ready for one of us to explode. I'd like to say his face went red, but it remained composed.

"Can I say something?" Kenny raised his hand. I almost laughed and poked fun at him about how we weren't in a classroom and they he could talk whenever he wanted. "I think Leo would say otherwise, about the whole... you know, kissing Sonny."

"Huh!" All three of us yelled, two of us confused, and the other embarrassed.

Steven looked amused. "Leo was talking about how much he wanted to kiss Sonny." Kenny said, clearly wanting to start more drama. He's always loved drama. It clicked that Leo was talking about me when he was referring to birthday girl. "Don't you Leo?"

Leo was bright red. It was honestly quite adorable. He grabbed the back of his neck, nodding very embarrassed.

Kenny leaned back on his arms, smirking. "So, I guess that disproves your whole theory about how no one would like to kiss her." He was one hundred percent going to talk about this for years, telling me that he was such a badass.

"Doesn't prove anything." Conrad said.

"You really hate being wrong." I said. "Well if this doesn't prove it, then I don't know what will." I don't know what happened. Once second I was sitting down, the next my face was in front of Leo Griffin. Our faces were nearly touching. I put my hand on his cheek, it was warm and surprisingly soft.

"Can—" I think he was going to ask if it was okay, but if I let him ask, I don't think I would've gone through with it. So instead, I softly put my lips on his. Our lips were so stiff on each other, it was easy to tell that we didn't know what we were doing.

I pulled away after three seconds. Gasps filled the circle, some clapped and wooed, then there was Steven and Jeremiah who pretended to gag.

"Does that prove it out to you, or do I actually need to spell it out for you?" Conrad didn't say anything, he looked... embarrassed.

I sat back down. Jeremiah spun the bottle only seconds after that. My eyes followed Jeremiah as he made his way towards this girl, who looked quite scared. It wasn't until after Jeremiah sat back down that I felt not one but two stares on me. Only one of them seemed to matter more to me than the other.

After everyone was pretty much bored with spinning the bottle, they all pretty much went their separate ways. But I remained sitting down on that porch, thinking about how I just let Leo Griffin have my first kiss. If it hadn't been for Conrad, would I have actually had my first kiss that night? Did he really have to ruin just about everything?

The following week consisted of only Kenny and Lia (Cecilia), knowing that they had to leave early that summer.

Our goodbye was bittersweet. She thanked me, told me that she was glad that I was being a complete stalker at her birthday party. We both laughed at that, right before we started crying. We didn't know if we were going to see each other next year.

I assumed we would, but she never show up the following year when Kenny first came to visit.

I woke up earlier than I would any other day. My alarm was set at exactly four in the morning. Today was like a sacred holiday. Everyone was awake before the special birthday girl, making sure everything was ready for when she would finally come out of her room.

Not even on a school day would I wake up this early, but I wanted to go on an early surf before the hectic day began. And I knew today was going to be hectic, every year proved it. But I've learned to love the chaotic mess that today brought.

Belly told me Taylor was coming over to celebrate. Don't get me wrong, I adore Taylor, Taylor adores me, but things get a bit rocky when she comes into town. Belly is always too stiff, too focused on whether or not Taylor will steal everyones attention.

Belly had always hated feeling left out, especially if it happened in a place she considered another home. A place she waited an entire year for.

I have always hated how the presence of Taylor made Belly feel so mediocre. Which, it doesn't exactly mean I hate Taylor. Taylor is Taylor. Nothing could compare. She was a good friend, a... protective one at that, but a good one.

Despite Taylors... protectiveness, we have always gotten along. My actual protectiveness for Belly somewhat fit into hers. Our relationship was like a senior taking in a freshman. In all honesty, if it hadn't been for Belly, if it hadn't been for Taylor's eagerness to visit Cousins, then we probably would have never even tried talking to each other.

But Belly did introduce us. It was an awkward introduction. I could tell that she wasn't exactly a fan of the idea that Belly was spending her summer with her other best friend, and not her. But soon she realized that I wasn't too bad. Then us girls began teaming against the guys.

Something I have noticed though, is the small glares Taylor would send my way when Steven and I got too close, or a bit too flirty. Even if it was all a joke—me and Steven would never get together, not in that way—Taylor would give me the cold shoulder.

I never really cared if she did or not, I and even Steven knew that me and him would never happen. Our relationship has always been rooted in the winks and kiss blowing, the ones Taylor wasn't so fond of. It was also just us poking fun for our mothers to gossip about. It had always been about which girl would end up with which boy. Sometimes me and Belly would talk about how they one hundred percent had a bet going on. Sometimes we even tried to guess which 'couple' they were rooting for.

All this worrying about Belly is making me want to surf a lot more than before. So, I finally got out of bed, and put on a bathing suit. I basically tiptoed my way out of the house, difficult with a surf board in one hand. Then I spent the rest of the time doing more walking and then finally, spend time in the water.

One of my favorite parts of surfing are the long silences that come between each and single wave. Because to me, surfing was much more than standing on a board, it's about patience, the anticipation of 'will I be ready for it'. Sometimes the wave never reaches, and there I wasted precious time. But I always come back for more. I can't help it, it's addicting.

Enough time had passed, I was sure that it had spent more time than I promised in the water.

When I got home, I made sure to shower the salt from my hair and the sand from my body in the outside shower. I dried myself down with my towel before making my way inside.

I walked in, the smell of Laurels pancakes filled my nostrils. Then soft orders from Laurel filled my ears. Jeremiah followed them and continued cutting the strawberries and bananas.

"Good morning, Sonny," Susannah smiled. "Went out for an early morning swim?"

"Yes," I nodded. My eyes trailed around the kitchen, they looked like they needed help. "Need help with any—"

"Where were you?" My mom asks, walking into the kitchen with a bag of groceries. "I've been looking all morning for you. I thought I told you I wanted you to help with breakfast."

"I lost track of time." I shrugged.

She didn't seem too fond of that. "You can't follow a—"

"Alma," Susannah gave my mother a glare. "Today is supposed to be special, how about we spend it calm and happy, hm? Sonny was just offering to help. Will you help Jeremiah clean up the dinning room for later, sweetie?" She looked at me with her knowing look, her soft smile on her thin lips. She always knew how to defuse a fight that was about the erupt between me and my mom. And somehow, she always knew to hint that she was on my side each time. My mom hated that, but I loved it. And I loved Susannah for this simple act.

I nodded at her request, walking off and dragging Jere with me.

"What was that about?" He asked in his Jeremiah casual way.

I shrugged. "My mom has it out for me."

Jeremiah laughed, like it was supposed to be a joke. I joined in because it'd be awkward if he noticed that I was not joking.

"So, what did you get Belly?" He asked, changing the subject.

My eyes narrowed at him, reading his face. "Did you forget to give her something and are trying to share my gift, if so, absolutely not."

Jeremiah looked at me, completely offended. "How dare you think I forgot Bellys birthday! Do you really think that low of me, Sonny?" His jaw was dropped, stunned.

"Really?" I asked, genuinely. "Weren't you the one to ask that of me four years ago? You had quite literally gotten on your knees and begged for me to write your name on the birthday card I was going to give her. And then when I finally agreed, you went as far as giving her my present, so it looked like I had forgotten!"

"What!" Jeremiah looked betrayed, like he wasn't the one who put himself in this situation. "I didn't know what to give her, okay!I kept putting it off, and by the time I knew what to gift her, it was already too late. The store was closed for the week!"

"My point still stands," I hid my smile by turning toward the dinning room table. He acted like I had no reason to assume, it was funny.

"Well, if your point still stands, then let's do this, whoever's present Belly likes more, they win," Jeremiah said, holding his hand out for me to shake, to agree.

"Yeah? Well, what would I get when I win?" I asked, my head tilting. This intimidated him in a way.

"You won't," He paused, his lips forming a thin line. "But I'll let you decide that on your own." He held the smirk on his face. Did he really think he could win? He's going up against someone who has people gifts thought out a whole year before. "I know exactly what I want you to do."

I nodded, partly ignoring him because I was too busy coming up with something. "I do too, Jere. You better prepare, because Belly is going to love my present."

He laughed and walked out of the dinning room with some things in his hands. I stayed put, grabbing the last of the things on the table. Susannah had been persistent on wanting it completely cleared up before she started decorating it for later.

I made it back to the kitchen with my hands full.

Conrad was sitting, eating cereal on the island. Everyone was helping out, everyone except him. Steven was helping Laurel and my mom with Belly's Mickey Mouse pancakes, Susannah was setting the table for us to eat, Josh was no where to be seen, and Jere, well, he appeared to be just now wrapping his present.

"Jeremiah, what the heck man," I laughed while shaking my head, faking my disappointment. He jumped, not expecting me. He actually looked embarrassed, which was never normal. "Susannah, where do you want this?"

"Put it in the cabinet," She pointed in the direction of where she wanted me to set it. I did as I was told. "Thank you very much, honey." She sent a smile my way. Susannah's smiles always had a way of making you smile back, and actually meaning it.

"I don't understand what takes her so long!" Steven rants, to literally no one. "I swear I heard her awake at six in the morning."

"And it bothers you... how?" I asked, grabbing a strawberry and eating it.

"Here Sonny goes again... defending Belly like it's her duty." Steven continued. "Does my mother pay you for this, how much does she give you? Is this why you aren't working a summer job?"

"For your information, I'm not working this summer because I have worked literally all year, nine months is enough for me. And plus, some of us need a break, Steven." I fake smile. He does it back. I resist the urge to flip him off. "And to answer the first bit of your question, I do this for free. And I'll continue to do this for free because you as her brother, give her worse of a time then these two dumbasses combined."

"That's enough you two," My mom said, failing to hide her smile. She was definitely team Sonny and Steven.

"Well, if that isn't a great start to an amazing day," Laurel sighed, clearly so over us.

Everyone fell silent, too busy finishing their assigned tasks. I was put on cutting more fruit duty because I had basically eaten them all while we were waiting.

Out of nowhere came, "Good morning everyone." Everyone looked in her direction, swarming her in hugs.

First, it was Susannah. "There's the birthday girl." She gave Belly her Susannah hug that just made you feel like you were the most important person to ever exist on planet earth.

Then, Jeremiah quickly raced next for his hug. "Happy sweet sixteen, Bells." They pulled away.

"Now Belly Button's getting old finally, Happy birthday." Steven said.

I raced next. I grabbed both her shoulders, telling her, "Para mi pancita, feliz cumple. No crezcas mucho!" I waited a second. "To my Belly, happy birthday and don't grow too much." Belly pulled me into a hug before I could.

"I missed you last year." She whispered back. We stood there for exactly ten more seconds before I pulled away.

"I unfortunately have to share," I told her, everyone laughed.

My mom followed after me. She hugged Belly and quietly said something in her ear, something that made Belly laugh. "I'll keep that in mind," Belly said back. I wondered what that was about.

Laurel was next in line to give her a hug. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready."

"Actually, I'm really not, uh, hungry."

"Oh." Laurel sounded disappointed.

Susannah, like always, tried lightening the mood. "Shall we open gifts?"

"Oh, you're gonna love mine." Jeremiah said. "Way more than you're gonna like Sonny's gift because she's..." He continued by booing, which was actually kind of funny.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Yeah, whatever." I saw that they were already heading towards the living room, and my present was still upstairs. "Don't open anything without me! I left my present upstairs."

"We'll wait for you in the living room!" Laurel yells from downstairs.

I went to my bedroom and grabbed my gift before making an almost escape down the stairs. That's when I heard loud music coming from the room that Josh and Jeremiah shared. I knocked, but nothing.

The thing was, he was listening to his favorite Mexican artist. Most of his songs were about heartbreak and what it was like to be in love, it surprised me that he was listening to this stuff. This was the stuff I would listen to and he would make fun of me for.

I opened the door. "Turn that sad boy hour music off and let's go, we're opening presents."

"I'm not going." He said. We haven't spoken since the... well, you know. We've tried to avoid each other's paths, which was rare, even for us.

"The hell you are." I pulled him up from his bed, tripping over one of Jeremiah's shoes. Summer has barely started and Jere already had his mess building up on his side of the room. Thankfully, my mom taught Josh to be clean. "You're not ruining Belly's birthday because of that shitty mood you've been in lately. I'm sick and tired of it. Te levantas o te corto tu plan de teléfono. You know I have my moms password."

"Fine." He got up and went downstairs, me following him.

"I'm back, and look who I found." I pointed towards Josh, who was trying to hide his annoyed look on his face.

"She didn't find anything." He sat down on the floor beside Jeremiah. "But nonetheless, happy birthday to the nose picker of the house. Happy birthday, Belly." Today was the only day that Josh wasn't a complete dick to her. Out of the many days of summer, today was the day that he let Belly live without one of his snarky little comments.

Belly didn't say anything back, she only half smiled. I sat there, between Susannah and Laurel, confused. A concerned look on my face because Belly didn't clap right back at him. Telling him that he was the loud mouth of the house. I would've agreed.

Susannah urges Belly to start, she has always been a fan of presents, especially giving them. It could be on a random Monday, a day she'd gone out for groceries, and she'd come back with a small gift for at least one of us. The gifts were always out of the blue, something you never knew you wanted until she'd come back with it. Once, Susannah came back with two red, heart-shaped sunglasses for both me and Belly. We absolutely loved them, wore them each day of that summer.

But let's not even begin by talking about how excited she got for Belly's birthday. It finally gave her an excuse to buy Belly some over the top birthday present that Laurel couldn't say no to.

Belly started by unwrapping Laurel's gift. It was a book filled with poems, something that didn't really interest Belly, by the looks of it. She was really bad at pretending she liked it. Laurel noticed this and said, "Turn to the bookmarked page."

Belly did as she was told. "Oh I remember this," She said with a smile. Just then she started reciting a poem that Susannah taught us. We all had it memorized by heart.

For whatever we lose
Like a you or a me
It's always ourselves
We find in the sea.

Each one of us recited along with Belly, even Josh and Conrad.

Next was Susannah. Belly too, was excited. Only this time, she's excited to receive her gift, knowing that no one could top Susannahs.

It was handed to her in fancy wrapping paper. It was smaller than Laurel's, but nonetheless more valuable. She unwrapped it, revealing a small black velvet jewelry box. She opened it. Belly's eyes widened, looking up at Susannah and then back down. "Oh, wow," Belly said, with a surprised laugh. "They're gorgeous. Thank you, Susannah." At that point, everyone had their necks stretched, trying to see what it was.

Susannah stood up, her white sundress following quickly behind. She pulled out a pearl necklace from the black velvet box. "My mom gave me these pearls for my sweet sixteen." Susannah helped Belly put on the necklace. It made my heart warm, watching them both smile for their own reasons.

"Radiant, isn't she?"

"They look great on you, sweetheart." Laurel smiled, this time not fighting about how it was 'too much'.

Laurel saying that to Belly, it meant a lot to her. It was obvious because of how there was a small tint of red on her smiley cheeks.

"Oh, I'm next." Jeremiah clumsily gave Belly his  gift. Once she unwrapped it, he said, "It's a good luck charm to help you pass your driving test. Well thought out, huh, isn't it Belly?" He said, while turning in my direction. I couldn't help but laugh.

Belly automatically put it on the charm bracelet Susannah gave to her many years ago. "Perfect," Belly said, shaking her wrist back and forth. "Thank you."

"Think fast, Belly." Steven threw her his present. Laurel scolded him.

Belly caught it with zero to no ease. She then quickly unwrapped it, revealing a sweatshirt that said Princeton on it. She smiled, "Wow, Steven. I can't believe you actually spent money on me."

"Relax. I just didn't want you stealing mine next year when I get in." Steven responded.

Laurel didn't look too happy about it. "I didn't know you were still considering Princeton."

"You know, I think I'm gonna apply for some scholarships, and Dad thinks I can get some financial aid." Steven said. "I don't know. I'll see if I get in."

Laurel's thoughts got cut short by Susannah, once again saving the day. "Conrad, uh, Sonny... Do one of you want to give Belly your present?"

"I'll go!" I jumped up from the couch. I softly kicked Josh, only to move out of my way.

My mom didn't see that though. "Stop that," She whispered yelled. I ignored her, not really caring enough to listen, especially when I was giving Belly my present. I wasn't going to let her ruin it.

"Okay, it might not be glamorous like Susannah's, or somewhat cute like Jere's—"

Belly interrupted. "Just hand it over." She said, jokingly. "No matter what it is, no matter how much it costs you, I know I'm gonna love it, really." She looked at me with her serious Belly face.

I nodded while sitting down beside her. "Here."

I gave her my present. She unwrapped it, revealing a cardboard box.

"Wow." Jeremiah started. "That's... interesting. A cardboard box. I think I won?"

"Shut it, Jeremiah," I almost yelled. I turned back to Belly. I gave her a pair of scissors. "I'm not the best at wrapping things that aren't perfectly shaped squares or rectangles, sorry." Everyone laughed, possibly because they knew that I was being serious.

"It's fine." Belly said, struggling to get the box opened. But once she did, she looked inside. First, she grabbed the birthday card that was positioned on top.

"Don't read it out loud." I said, with a small smirk, knowing that they were going to hate me for it.

"Come on!" Everyone booed. Me and Belly laughed.

She took a couple moments to read it. It was silent, but her face said it all, her tears said something too. When she was done, she sighed, then turned towards me.

I wanted to wipe those tears off her cheeks, but she engulfed me in a hug before I could.

She whispered, "You mean everything to me too." I wanted to cry then too because I wasn't expecting it. I was expecting a 'thank you' and little to no acknowledgement on how I completely wrote my heart out on that card, like I did so many times on my moms birthday. Only for her to say a simple 'thank you' back.

We finally pulled apart. "I lost, didn't I?" Jeremiah said, making everyone laugh.

"Dude, she didn't even open her real gift yet." Josh said, his ugly laugh following after.

Jeremiah punched his arm, giving something else for everyone to laugh at. "Okay, okay. Everyone be quiet so that Belly can open the rest of Sonny's gift."

Belly pulled out my scrapbook. It read, "OUR SUMMERS (after 2010)." She turned towards me again, and then backed down at the scrapbook that I spent the entire year making myself. Mostly to make up for missing last year's birthday.

Everyone rushed around us, trying to see it too.

She turned to the first page. They were pictures of a blurred Belly and Josh hugging one another when they were only about four. Yes, they actually liked each other enough to hug back then. "Are these the pictures you took on that disposable camera you found on the beach?"

"Yeah," I started. "All these pictures were taken on a disposable camera. I saved the each one I got on my birthday each year for the summer, thanks to Laurel."

"You got a disposable camera for your birthday each year?" Laurel asked. "Alva, that's so sweet of you."

I laughed at her joke. "Nice save, Laurel, but I know it has been you that's mailed one to me each year, no need in denying it now."

Laurel looked at me like I was crazy. She shook her head. "Sorry to disappoint, sweetheart, but it wasn't me." I laughed again, not really believing her because who else would it be. It couldn't have been Belly because she was only four. And Conrad... he wouldn't. Would he?

"I—" I looked across the room, to Conrad. He was still sitting on the armchair. I took in his expression, he looked perplexed, like he wasn't expecting this secret to come out, or maybe... not ready for it to come to light. How could a six year old send me a camera through the mail?

I didn't know what to say. I was actually speechless for once.

While everyone was looking through the scrapbook, I was too busy looking across the room. Too busy playing through all the times we've talked about those damn disposable cameras. Not once did he say anything to correct me on how terribly wrong I had been. For years, he kept playing along... Why didn't he say something, anything?

I was brought back to reality by someone talking really loudly in my ear. "You definitely won."

It took everything in me to stop myself from looking across the room again. Why didn't he say anything?

"Okay, who's next?" Susannah sang. "Conrad, you want to go?"

I finally looked back at him again, we made eye contact. I quickly looked away.

Even if I wasn't looking at him, I still expected him to walk up and give Belly his gift for her, but nothing, only silence followed. Everyone's attention was on him. That's when Belly's smile started to fade. "Sorry, I forgot."

She was speechless, as was I... again. "Uh, that's... that's good. Um... I wasn't really expecting anything anyway, so..." She tried so hard to pretend like she didn't care. Like it was nothing to her. But it was everything. Conrad, her best friend, just forgot her birthday.

"Also I gotta go. I promised Cleveland that I'd show him some knots today, so..." Conrad shrugged like it was nothing. Like he didn't just ruin Belly's entire mood. Conrad stood up from the chair and started walking towards the front door. Then he said a simple, "Happy birthday, Belly." That alone made me want to strangle him.

There is no way he could've forgotten.

I jumped at the sudden vibration of my phone. "Oh, shit." I whispered. Everyone's attention was on me now. "Belly, I am so sorry, but my..." I looked at my mom. "Never mind."

Josh's present was next, but it wasn't the same after that. Belly's smile wasn't as big as it was before. That alone made me want to kill him. How could he just forget Belly's birthday?

AUTHORS NOTE:
hey! it's been a while, i know. i feel terrible but it took me forever to come up with this. i was so unmotivated before, during, and after my trip. now, schools starting again in less than four days... yay life.

but maybe i can squeeze in an update before then?? don't count on it... but maybe??

i really hope you enjoyed this chapter... i fucked up my sleeping schedule to finish it, but anything for you all.

-ria

PS i literally love you for 8k :')