this love- conrad fisher

ten

"So why don't you eat meat, Cam Cameron?" Jeremiah playfully asked. Katherine knew he wouldn't try to bug Sebastian much since they were already friends but apparently, Cam was not as lucky.

The boy shrugged, his eyes meeting Belly's fondly. "The meat industry is like the number one contributor to global warming... and, uh, I like animals."

"Just don't come for my leather jacket," Taylor chimed in with a smirk.

Steven, never one to miss an opportunity for a joke, laughed, "I'm pretty sure you mean pleather."

Katherine found herself flickering her eyes between Taylor and Steven, feeling a hint of satisfaction rise within her. She didn't like the idea of them flirting because of Shayla but there was a part of her that had always shipped her cousin with the girl.

Jeremiah, seemingly unaware of the tension, continued teasing, "But, you know, Belly eats meat. So, you let her kiss you with those lips?" Katherine shot him a wide-eyed look as Sebastian grinned.

The playful banter went back and forth until Cam leaned in and kissed Belly, leaving the room in complete silence. Katherine tried to mask her surprise, but her heart swooned at how adorable it was at the sight.

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand why someone would want to kiss somebody who once fully shat in the bathtub," Steven burst into laughter.

Katherine couldn't help but join in, shoving his shoulder playfully. "Oh, shut up, Steven. You're the one who peed in the fireplace and stunk up the house for days."

Everyone erupted into laughter, and Steven tried to look indignant, but a smile spread on his face. "We were drunk. We were drunk," he defended.

"I had to blame the neighbor's cat!" Susannah added, causing even more laughter.

"So Sebastian... that's your name, right?" Conrad interrupted before Sebastian could even respond. He kept on speaking without giving the other boy a chance to answer, "Are you just planning to lifeguard, or do you have bigger ambitions in life?"

"Conrad!" Katherine put her cutlery down, annoyed at his behavior. "Could you, for once, stop being yourself?"

"No, no, Katherine, it's cool," Sebastian said with a calm demeanor. He had a positive aura around him. "I'm planning to study computer science after I graduate high school."

Before Conrad could reply back with some snarky remark, Belly tried to break out of the chaos and suggested, "You know, I think maybe we should go to Nicole's party."

Katherine jumped up from her seat, feeling a surge of excitement and gratefulness. "Yes! Let's go!" 

Belly and Nicole had formed a new friendship, and while Katherine had no issues with the girl, she felt a pang of jealousy deep down. After all, it was hard to like the girl your ex-boyfriend, your first love, was now hooking up with. Anyways, Nicole seemed to like Belly more than she liked Katherine. To anyone paying attention, it was obvious that something lingered between Katherine and Conrad.

"Hey, Nicole. You look so pretty," Belly smiled.

"Me? Look at you. Oh my goodness. Are those real flowers?" Nicole pointed at the flower crowns on Katherine, Belly, and Taylor's heads.

"Yeah, Susannah picked them out," Katherine nodded.

"Incredible. Well, we have to show Gigi." Nicole linked arms with Belly.

"Yeah– yeah, totally," Belly nodded before turning to her friends. "You guys want to come?"

"Nah. You have fun over there," Katherine replied.