018 Broken Hearts

Once Jeremiah had stopped crying, Julia held his head up to look at her. She didn't know what to say, but when he put his lips to hers softly, she knew that words didn't matter right now. She kissed him back before she grabbed his hand.

"I'm sorry you had to miss the dance-"

"I don't care about it." Julia shook her head. "It's okay. You know that I would go to you if you needed anything." He nodded, her smiling softly at him. "Are you ready to go back?" She questioned, looking up at his red eyes. He nodded, lacing their fingers together before she walked with him back to the room.

When they had gotten back, the dance was already almost over, Susannah turning around in her seat as she saw the two.

"Where were you guys? You should be up there." Susannah looked over at Julia and Jeremiah, hurt clearly written on her features. Everyone at their family's table turned to the two.

"I-I ate something. I think maybe the shrimp was bad." Jeremiah lied, looking down at his mom, hurt still in his eyes as Julia watched him.

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." Susannah hunched her shoulders. "You know, the caterer is gonna be hearing from me." Susannah turned to Laurel, Laurel smiling.

"Okay, Karen." She muttered.

"I'll get you some ginger ale." Susannah stated as Julia still held Jeremiah's hand as they walked over to their seats. Julia looked over at Belly and Conrad, the only thing that could put a smile on her face at the moment. As the dance ended, everyone began applauding, Julia and Jeremiah staying with their hands in their laps.

As Susannah walked over to find Jeremiah a ginger ale, Jeremiah walked over to Conrad, Julia following behind him worriedly.

"Hey." Jeremiah grabbed Conrad's shoulder, turning him torwards him. Julia went next to her boyfriend, already knowing where this was going.

"Hey, where were you guys?" Belly questioned.

"We..." Before Julia could finish making an excuse, Jeremiah interrupted her, turning to Conrad.

"Conrad, we need to talk, all right?" Jeremiah said. "It's important. It's about Mom. I found something out." Julia sighed at his words, remembering reading the email Susannah's phone.

"Um... Yeah..." Conrad nodded slowly. "We'll- we'll talk about this later, okay?"

"No, it's important." Jeremiah begged.

"It's okay." Conrad stated, putting his hand on his brother's chest, and suddenly, it all clicked. Conrad had known this whole time, Julia muttered under her breath, now knowing why he was so different this summer, and she felt like crying. He had known and despite her trying to get him to tell her, he kept it to himself.

"You already know, don't you?" Jeremiah stated angrily, Julia exhaling slowly. "You've known this whole fucking time and didn't tell me?" Jeremiah raised his voice, Julia sighing next to Belly.

"Jere..." Conrad muttered, turning to Belly and Julia, then back to his brother. Jeremiah stood still for a few seconds before connecting his fist to Conrad's jaw, Julia letting out a shocked gasp as she stood back.

Everyone began looking at them, everyone exclaiming. Jeremiah then tackled his brother to the ground, Julia's eyes forming with tears. "Guys!" She yelled at them, but they continued to wrestle one another.

"Stop it." Susannah suddenly spoke harshly, pointing at her sons. "Both of you, stop it."

Conrad pushed Jeremiah off of him, both of them slowly standing up. Julia stood by Belly, everyone shocked as Laurel stepped over by them. Jeremiah continued to breath heavily as Julia looked up at him, not even knowing what to say.

"What is going on?" Susannah questioned with a raised tone, Julia turning her head at the mother, wanting to scream at her for keeping this a secret for the whole summer then acting like everything was fine.

"Mom..." Jeremiah's voice cracked as Julia closed her eyes, trying to hold her tears in before opening them again.

She watched as Jeremiah began crying again. "We know, Mom. We both know." Conrad said suddenly, Susannah and Laurel's faces both quickly falling into shock.

"Know what?" Belly questioned, Julia realizing she and Steven were the only ones who didn't know what had happened. Julia sighed, looking down at her dress in sadness.

***

Julia had been crying on her room after they left the ball, not wanting to interrupt Laurel with talking to her biological kids and not wanting to do the same with Susannah and the boys. She hated to be alone in a time like this, but she didn't want to make anything worse. She clutched her sides as she sat on the floor, sobbing quietly.

Julia didn't know how long she had been there for but when she heard her name called from downstairs, she wiped her tears away and walked down the stairs, although you could still clearly tell she had been crying, who hadn't?

She walk looking around for who called her when she stopped at a halt when she got to the living room, Jeremiah, Susannah and Conrad all sitting on the couch. She almost felt her heart break at the sight of them crying, knowing there was nothing she could do to make it better. Her eyes trailed to Jeremiah as he stayed staring at the floor, then looked up at her red eyes.

"Did you call me?" Julia asked with a sniffle.

When Susannah nodded, Julia stepped closer slightly, trying to hold her tears back. "Come here, sit with us." Susannah patted the couch by Jeremiah as she was crying, Julia looking at Conrad and Jeremiah before looking back at the mother.

"A- are you..."

"Come on." Jeremiah said, saving her a spot in between himself and his mom. When Julia sat down, she brought her knees to her chest, already feeling her tears coming back.

Julia tried to hold it back for the three but suddenly she began crying again, Susannah pulling the girl into her side. She continued to sob as Jeremiah held her hand, Susannah pulling Conrad over by her other side.

Jeremiah looked at his girlfriend before laying on her back, all of them now crying. Julia hated to cry in front of them, in front of anyone, but she couldn't help it because the thought of losing yet another motherly figure to her was too much.

"I'm sorry for failing you." Julia muttered through a cry, Susannah looking up at her in shock.

"Oh, honey, you didn't fail me." Susannah reassured.

"But this was your dream and I-I ruined it." Jeremiah held her hand tighter as her heard the pain in her voice, Susannah telling her how proud she was in her.

Once everyone been finished crying, Julia had still been glued to the couch, her knees still brought to her chest as she hugged them. Jeremiah came to sit by her after taking his tux off, leaving him on his white shirt and dress pants. He put his hand on her face, causing her to turn to him.

"Are you okay?" He muttered.

Julia shook her head before he pressed his lips to hers affectionate and innocently before pulling away and letting her lay her head on his shoulder.

They stayed like that for what felt like hours before Laurel called everyone down to eat. Julia sat between her boyfriend and her mom, Susannah and Belly at each end with Conrad and Steven took the other side.

Julia had forgotten that she was still in her dress, but she didn't care. She was glad to see everyone smiling and laughing, Belly hogging the ice cream. Julia took it from her, taking a huge bite before giving it back.

She knew one thing for certain, she didn't ever want to leave her family. She wanted to stay right where she was and never let go. She wanted to keep laughing with them and sharing stupid stories or stealing one another's food. She wanted to keep her family in the perfect little frame they were in, but it wasn't always going to be the case.

AUTHORS NOTE:
I loved writing this season of The Summer I Turned Pretty so much and I appreciate all of the love Ive been getting for it. Of course, when the new season comes out I will be writing it in this story, so be aware. Anyways, thank you all so much and I'll see you later.