The Summer Of Us (Summer I Turned Pretty FanFiction)

Chapter Two: Susannah

We kissed our families goodbye. My mother urging us multiple times to drive carefully. And each time I promised we would. The storm had gotten worse since the night began; raindrops were coming down in sheets, flying every which way in the indecisive wind. It was already agreed that Conrad and I would get the house all to ourselves that night and family would stay at a nearby inn still in Cousins. The summer house was only about fifteen minutes from the reception hall.

"And if it starts to rain hard you'll pull over, right?" she pleaded. Conrad just nodded back; giving her a reassuring glance.

Conrad always had this deep relationship with my mom, a loop that I wasn't apart of and could never really understand. She understood him in ways I didn't. She even knew him better at times than I think he knew himself. After Susannah's death, both Conrad and Jeremiah relied on my mom and my mom was happy to help them in any way she could. She would do anything for Beck's boys. As time passed they didn't need her as much but they were always keen to keep in touch. Conrad explained to me once that she was like a nice reminder of his mom. That my mom was the last connection he had to his. Despite the fact that Mr. Fisher tried his best to keep things running smoothly, he was the farthest thing from Susannah.

Conrad held the umbrella over my hair, trying to salvage the remaining ringlets that were still curled. I told him not to worry about it but he insisted on holding it anyways. Taylor, as my maid of honor, held my dress so that it wouldn't drag in the muddy puddles that were forming on the paved walkway. Conrad paused a moment feeling his pocket and said, "Be right back, forgot something." Which then he handed Taylor the umbrella and preceded on darting back inside. Taylor with difficulty juggled both the umbrella and my dress within her grip. "Here", I said reaching out my hand.

"No, this is my duty as maid of honor", she stated proudly in a proclaiming voice. A job she took very seriously which I couldn't help but smile over."It's the principle", she added, rolling her eyes when she saw me holding back laughter.

"You nervous?" She asked in a comforting voice like we were two sixteen-year-old girls again gossiping over boys we liked. Taylor, of course, was always more experienced when it came to everything like that. She was the one who got her license first, had her first kiss before mine, and was there on my front doorstep with all the details the morning after she lost her virginity, back in junior year. Between me and her there were no secrets, Taylor was there for all my life-changing moments just as I was there for hers.

"Yes and no; yes because it's my honeymoon and no because it's Conrad," I replied just as Conrad came back running. At the last minute, she whispered, "don't worry Belly, he'll take care of you", a reassurance that could only come from a best friend.  He apologized for taking so long, which he hadn't. And then we were off Conrad by my side; holding my hand. The future looked bright.

...

Conrad's POV:

I could tell Belly was pretty tired, excited but tired. But I really wanted to make a stop before heading to the house. I pulled into the women's shelter and Belly's eyes widened as if asking if this was okay. Even though it had been my idea, I gave her a little smile to tell her that I was fine. "I thought she should she be part of today," I said my voice breaking. Belly nodded in agreement. I got out and helped Belly out of the passenger seat. We headed towards the wooden bench in the middle of the garden. Directly underneath the bench was an engraved plaque, it read 'In memory of Susannah Fisher, forever in our hearts'- she really was. There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't think about her, I missed her terribly. It was painful to think that she was no longer with us, however, being with Belly made that ache of missing her feel a little less empty.

"I think she knew", Belly said to me in a quiet voice like she was twelve again.

"I think she did too," I said embracing her. She was crying softly in my arms; her face buried in my jacket.

My mom loved Belly as if she was her own, the daughter she never had. I think my mom always knew that Belly and I would end up together from the start. I think everyone kind of did. Belly was one determined girl and stubborn in the best way. Everyone knew she had a major crush on me since we were little even I did too. Steven had told me when I was about 13 years old, that she had a notebook where she used to write down Mrs. Conrad Fisher over and over with her favorite scented markers. When she finally confessed her feelings to me, the summer before my mother died, I didn't tell her at the time... but I already knew. However I never truly knew how much that really meant and I like the idiot I was I took advantage of it; of her. I learned later on just how completely amazing that was; to have someone like Belly be always on your side. And I learned that even a spark that strongly needed reciprocation in order to fully blossom. And from that, I learned that love is a fight and I was going to have to if I wanted Belly to love me again.

When she wasn't looking I grabbed her charm bracelet from my dampened pocket. "Here",  I said placing it gently in Belly's palm.

"What the-",  she began as she started examining the bracelet with a confused look on her face; touching each charm as she moved her finger across the cool metal. First the horseshoe, then the conch shell, the bathing suit, the sandcastle, the pair of sunglasses; all summer charms my mom had given her when she was eleven. Belly's face lowered when she touched the small silver key that Jeremiah had given her on her 16th birthday. I could tell that she missed him. In fact, I did too. She looked up with a surprised smile; holding tightly to her newest charm and letting out a tiny gasp. It was a gold heart with an elegant pink diamond centered in the middle, with today's date carefully crafted on the back.

"I feel like I should get to be represented too", I added, "now you don't always have to wear the necklace I gave you". Which no longer shone like it used to and was beginning to rust. She reached her hand up to her neck; stroking her infinity necklace and holding the charm bracelet tightly, pulling it in closer to her heart. She didn't need to tell me she loved it, I knew she did. She began kissing me, softly pecking my lower lip. We stood there kissing in the rain for what felt like forever neither of us pulling away.

...