Conrad breathed heavily as the waves crashed
"Conrad man what's going on?"Steven asked worried
"What happened?"Drew questioned as They walked closer to the boy
"Panic attack I'm fine I'll be fine."Conrad let out
"I'm going to get Jere."Steven stated
"No don't get Jere i just need a second."Conrad sighed
"Is there anything we can do to help?"Drew asked
"I don't know man just talk.Okay just talk about anything."Conrad yelled
"Um talk right the beach the first time you guys brought me here to surf man I was so freaked out you two and jere just had come back from some fancy surfing camp and you knew all these cool tricks i felt like such a little kid but you stayed and paddled with me till we caught a wave together i thought you were the coolest person in the world."Steven explained
"I guess you were wrong about that one."Conrad sighed
"No you're still the coolest."Steven responded
"You have these a lot?"Drew asked his brother
"Yeah more since mom died.I'm glad the two of you are here."Conrad stated
"So you want to tell me what got you all worked up? Or just be bros and pretend this never happened?"Steven questioned
"Found out I got into Stanford."Conrad announced
"What are you serious?"Steven asked
"Yeah man my mom has this fantasy about me finding myself on the west coast."Conrad mumbled
"Wait wait Connie this is a good thing man you've been dreaming about going there since you were ten years old."Drew stated
"Yeah yeah yeah I know but things are just starting to get better with Jere and he's going to finch in the fall which is close to brown and you're in brown Drew and it just doesn't make sense to transfer anymore."Conrad mumbled
"Hey dude dude dude you don't have to decide this second or anything okay? Just talk to Jere."Steven reassured
"He doesn't even know I applied man so please don't tell him."Conrad admitted
"I mean Stanfords not even an ivy so fuck em right."Steven smiled
"Let's go."Conrad sighed as they walked back
"Mmm did somebody get muffins?"Jeremiah smiled as the fisher brothers came back from surfing
"Hey Jeremiah."Skye greeted
"Hi."Jeremiah replied
"Conrad and Drew."Skye smiled
"Skye."The two boys let out
"You didn't tell me she was here too."Conrad mumbled
"It's they not she god I guess it's been like a decade since I saw you guys um how are you doing since your mom?"Skye questioned
"It's been rough."Jeremiah replied
"Rougher now that are aunts stealing our house."Conrad sighed
"I'm not stealing anything Conrad like it or not I get to choose what happens to this house and I choose to put in on the market you boys should get on the road beat the traffic back to Boston."Aunt Julia suggested
"No chance.We're staying for the open house."Drew spoke up
"Uh no no no i can't have a bunch of teenagers chasing everybody's away call your father because this isn't an aunt Julia problem."Aunt Julia defended
"Expect it is because you are the problem."Conrad argued
"I don't have time for this."Aunt Julia sighed as she walked away
"Conrad she's still your family."Belly spoke up
"Then why is she doing this to us?"Conrad questioned
"Really? Seems like she's doing this all pretty fucking easily."Conrad shot back
"He's grown into quite the asshole."Skye mumbled
"You have no idea."Jeremiah sighed
Belly was down at the door taking to a woman as Drew approached her
"I'm sorry who are you?"The woman questioned
"She's my girlfriend and she's um she's right the house is not for sale."Drew blurted out
"Drew fisher right? It's nice to see you i am sorry about your mom."The woman apologized
"Well clearly not sorry enough to pass up the opportunity to sell her house."Drew scoffed
"Im just doing my job."The woman defended
"Well consider this an unexpected day off."Drew smiled before Aunt Julia ran behind them
"Ignore them ignore them there will be an open house today but there does seem to be a minor problem with the ac it died."Aunt Julia sighed
"That is not a minor problem Julia it is supposed to hit 95 today."The woman yelled
"Yeah okay um let's chat outside for a minute."Julia mumbled as the Drew shut the door behind them
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to call you my girlfriend."Drew sighed
"Don't worry about it it's cool."Belly smiled
"Hey Is everything okay?"Jeremiah asked as Conrad walked in behind him too
"No the realtor just got here."Drew sighed
"Shit what are we going to do?"Jeremiah asked the boy
"I don't know what else we can do."Drew sighed
"Well maybe Skye has some information that could help us I don't if only we could get a moment alone with her."Belly suggested
"Them."Conrad added
"Right thanks."Belly mumbled
"Well good luck because those two are inseparable."Jeremiah sighed
"I don't fucking know."Conrad and Drew admitted as they walked into the kitchen
"It's so hot it's like 2000 degrees in here."Taylor sighed
"Aunt Julia said the ac is broken."Belly stated
"Oh what No way."Steven gasped
"Todays open house has been cancelled so I need you all out of the house while I get the ac guy here to do some work also uh who is the ac guy?"Julia announced
"Uh do you want me to look one up for you?"Skye questioned
"Uh no no that's okay I'm certain Susannah has her preferred technician and four approved backups right here."Julia mumbled
"Great now we don't have to lie about the black mold to the busters let's go to the beach."Jeremiah spoke up
"I'm not leaving."Conrad admitted
"Come on Conrad.We've won this round let's just get out of here."Jeremiah encouraged
"The mall has good Ac."Taylor added
"Cool have fun I didn't just ditch finals just to leave this for the taking by-"Conrad began
"Conrad I'm trying straining to keep my shit together you've already ruined my day the least you could do is get out of my hair for a few hours."Julia argued
"You think you're the only one-"Drew began as belly put her hand on his shoulder and stopped him
"What about the boardwalk?"Belly suggested
"Yeah the boardwalk thats a great idea."Jeremiah smiled
"Yeah I'm down."Steven agreed
"Yeah me too."Taylor added
"Hey you should come with us Skye."Belly smiled
"Oh um sounds very state fair I think I should just stay with you right?"Skye responded
"No wasn't my favorite but you might like it."Julia stated
"I shouldn't just stay with you?"Skye questioned
"No I'll be fine after this I'm going to go back to the hotel for a nap and a nan fan."Julia announced as she grabbed her phone
"Guess I'm coming with you guys."Skye sighed as they all left the house
They all arrived at the boardwalk
"See aren't you glad we came."Belly spoke up
"How is this any less hot than it would be inside."Conrad scoffed
"Because you have the magical sea breeze to cool you down."Belly laughed
"Cool breeze my ass I want some ice cream natures air conditioning."Taylor commented
"You know I'm kind of a natural introvert so I can't tell if this place is horrifying or if it's just like my lizard brain in action."Skye stated
"It's fun I promise."Belly reassured
"Fun? Because I seem to remember the last time we were here you were crying Belly was 12 and Drew beat her at shoot your shot and her penalty was to ride the tower of terror."Jeremiah explained
"Yep."Belly sighed
"Belly you were so scared that you threw up."Drew added
"I was sick."Belly defended
"Sick with fear."Drew laughed
"My mom had to throw out your clothes and carry you home in a caftan."Conrad stated
"Susannah used to force my mom to come here when they were kids my mom always hated it but Susannah loved it so much so."Skye announced
"You know what else my mom loved the beach house."Conrad argued
"My moms not evil Conrad and your mom wasn't a saint."Skye scoffed causing Jeremiah Drew and Conrad to share a look
"Skye have you ever played shoot your shot?"Belly questioned breaking the silence
"No and I'm fine keeping it that way."Skye mumbled
"We'll do you want to watch me beat Conrad's ass?"Belly argued causing everyone to laugh
"You could not do that."Conrad defended
"I wouldn't hate watching that."Skye laughed
"You think you still got it Conrad?"Belly questioned
"Okay no please not another great boardwalk showdown."Steven sighed
"Why not? Why not?"Belly asked
"So they used to do this big tournament on the boardwalk every year when they were kids I would get a um a riveting play by play as soon as belly got home."Taylor explained
"Well yeah every year until Belly and Conrad got too competitive."Drew added
And my mom banned us from ever playing again."Steven laughed
"Are you down Jere?"Conrad asked
"Uh hell yeah let's do it."Jeremiah laughed as the four boys cheered
"I should actually head out."Skye mumbled
"No you should stay its fun."Conrad smiled
"It's too late you're already on my team."Belly announced
"Fine you win but I don't do high fives I'm not going to like whoop in the air I don't trash talk the corners of my mouth might turn up just a little bit but I'm not gonna smile."Skye stated
"Deal."Belly replied
"Deal."Skye repeated
"So then what's the prize?"Skye questioned
"Losers have to buy the winners the biggest bag of candy of their choosing."Jeremiah announced
"Really? Candy? no I mean can't we think of something like sexier."Taylor laughed
"Candy's always been the prize I mean it was belly's choice obviously."Jeremiah replied
"We'll fine fine we can play the games but we start at the arcade because it's hot as balls out here.Okay?"Steven exclaimed as everyone began running into the arcade pushing each other out of the way.They all walked down seriously into the laser tag arena when everyone got ready.They all began yelling and flipping each other off
"All right everyone all right the games are best of five rounds the first and last rounds everyone plays the middle rounds it's a one on one competition so one of you boys are going to be unable to do that round so choose your best fighter."Belly explained
"Probably not gonna be me."Skye sighed
"Hey don't sell yourself short."Belly comforted
"All right you losers ready? 3 2 1 Go! First to 21 wins!"Jeremiah yelled
They all began running around and hid behind walls Jeremiah and Conrad Got Skye while Belly got Jeremiah Taylor got shot by Steven Skye shot Conrad while Drew shot Skye.It was the next round Taylor shot Steven belly ran up while Drew spotted her and Conrad came from another angle she stopped while Jeremiah grabbed her and span her causing Drew to shoot her and them winning.
"We won yes!"Jeremiah yelled as the three brothers cheered and Steven joined in too.They all began walking out
"Hey you know what we'll get them next time."Belly comforted her team
"Get them next time? Oh I think we're playing capture the flag next and if I remember correctly."Conrad began
"Oh yes I got this bro."Steven laughed as the three brothers walked off
"Hey guys."Skye greeted
"Hey."The three brothers replied
"Can I ask you three a question?"Skye asked causing them to nod
"Do you remember the last time we saw eachother?"Skye questioned
"I remember you were a lot smaller."Jeremiah laughed
"Ah yes thank you puberty um yeah it uh it was the Christmas just after grandpa died."Skye stated
"I remember you and your mom bailed Christmas morning my mom had cooked a huge breakfast she was heartbroken."Drew announced
"Yeah my mom was hoping it would be a chance to clear the air about all the shit from the past your mom wanted it to be picture perfect Christmas you know nothing ever happened so um they fought and we left my mom cried the whole plane ride home I mean we had pizza for Christmas dinner it became kind of a tradition call it shitmas."Skye explained
"I don't think mom was trying to shut your mom down I think she just wanted a fresh start."Conrad sighed
"Sucks our moms never got to work their shit out I mean the beach house is pretty cool would have been nice to spend to spend some time there with you guys."Skye smiled
Everyone walked over to climbing wall
"Oh my god you think I can do it right now?"Steven questioned as he began climbing the wall
"No no no you actually can't do that without a harness."Cam repeated
"Cam?"Belly questioned
"Cam Cameron?"Jeremiah questioned
"Wait are we in trouble?"Jeremiah asked
"I mean officially there's no horseplay on or around the rock wall but unofficially it's the most exiting thing to happen all day."Cam laughed
"What are you doing here? I thought Nicole said that you were doing some internship in a fancy whaling boat."Belly asked the boy as she walked over to him
"That fell through."Cam responded
"I'm sorry to hear that this uniform though super cool very official."Belly laughed
"Thanks Belly."Cam grinned causing the brothers to be jealous
"Skye! I forgot you haven't met cam yet um Skye this is cam Cameron.Cam Cameron this is Skye Conrad Drew and Jeremiah's cousin"Belly introduced
"Okay well great catching up with you seeing you again yeah but we have some unfinished business."Steven said eagerly
"Let's go! Yup."Taylor laughed
"It's you and me now Tay Tay."Steven smiled
"I always knew we'd end up here."Taylor announced
"What? Where?"Steven laughed
"Me beating your ass into the ground."Taylor stated
"Oh please."Steven scoffed
"Oh come on Taylor you got this in the bag."Belly encouraged the girl
"Bring it home Steve-o."Jeremiah encouraged the boy
"First one to the flag wins and go!"Cam yelled as they began climbing up the wall Steven grabbed the flag
"Steven got it Steven wins.!"Cam yelled as he climbed down
"So where to next?"Cam questioned
"It's their call."Belly scoffed
"Well I don't know about you belly but I think it might be time to shoot your shot."Drew whispered
"Oh you're on."Belly smiled as they followed
Drew and Belly were infront of shoot your shot
"Too bad for you basketball is about angles."Drew argued
"Mm Too bad for you I had such a great trigonometry tutor."Belly shot back
"Thank you.learned from Connie."Drew pointed out
as Conrad laughed
"Okay five balls each most baskets win on your marks get set-"Cam began
"Come on Drew."Jeremiah cheered
"Come on Belly you got this!"Taylor cheered
"Shoot!"Cam yelled causing Drew to shoot and land the ball in the basket
"In your face!"Drew laughed
"All right okay I let you have that one so you don't weep when I win."Belly defended
"Okay sure you did yeah yeah yeah."Drew repeated as Belly shot and got it in Drew got it in again and Belly got it another time Drew shot it another time and got it in and so did Belly
"It's tied three to three!"Cam announced as Drew made eye contact with Belly and got it in Belly shot it again and got it in while Drew shot it and missed
"That is four for Drew this is the last shot will Belly take the five fecta and snatch the win?"Cam questioned
"You got nothing.You got nothing."Drew repeated as she shot it and got it in the basket
"Belly Conklin is the winner."Cam announced
"Boom guess you can't co-sign her angles."Skye argued to Drew
"Wait Skye did you just math taunt him?"Taylor asked
"I did and it was kind of fun."Skye smiled
"It was so good it was so good."Taylor laughed as they high fived
"Belly you know what heads up up ready?"Taylor asked as she threw up the basketball and she spiked it
"Perfect spike that's my killa b I knew you could do it you just had to stop overthinking and let instinct kick in you know what I mean?"Taylor laughed
"As much as it pains me to say it it was a good win."Drew admitted
"Thank you Drew."Belly laughed
"I think you get to pick a prize."Drew smiled as Belly looked over at Junior mint
———————————————
Conrad and belly arrived at the boardwalk
"Uh it's kind of crowded do you want to go sit on the pier instead?"Belly asked
"I was thinking we could play some ring toss and Drew's over there talking to his friend."Conrad stated while Belly smiled as she looked over at Drew
"Okay come with me."Belly ordered as she grabbed his hand and walked up to the ring toss but there was a line
"Hey guys."Drew laughed as he hugged Belly
"Hey Drew."Belly smiled while Conrad just stared at Angie
"Conrad?"Drew questioned
"Oh um hey man."Conrad smiled
"How many rings?"The girl asked
"We'll take three.I like your shorts."Belly smiled
"Thanks."The girl smiled back
"Yeah they're really nice."Conrad added
"I thought you said they were too short when I wore the exact same ones two days ago."Belly shot at the boy
"Do you think they're too short?"The girl questioned
"All right Con and Drew I'm gonna get a lemonade so win a prize okay?"Belly gave a sad smile as Drew looked at her sadly while Conrad began talking to the girl and Drew won. Belly got her lemonade she stood there and never came back and Drew stood next to her
"How come you never came back?"Drew asked
"The line for the Ferris wheel was really long."Belly stated
"Oh um well Angie said this was the best prize I thought you might like it."Drew exclaimed
"I'd rather have had the giraffe but thanks."Belly sighed as she walked off leaving the boy standing there
———————————————-
"Oh wow they haven't changed these prizes in years you can get junior mint a friend."Drew laughed
"Yeah you know what I'll take the giraffe thank you."Belly smiled as Drew looked at her sadly
"All right so we finally get to pick and I choose dancing."Belly announced causing everyone to go back inside the arcade
"Hey Belly Belly ready?"Taylor asked as she threw up the giraffe and Belly spiked it
"Are you gonnna be doing that all day is that gonna be like your thing all day?"Drew asked
"Maybe I don't know oh wait do you smell-"Belly began
"Smell what?"Drew questioned
"I think I smell a comeback."Belly laughed
"Oh do you?"Drew asked
"Oh yeah I do."Belly smiled
"You sure about that cause if you're sure I mean I'd be willing to make a little side bet."Drew began
"All right keep talking."Belly continued
"I was just thinking if you wanted maybe whichever one of us posted has to ride the tower of terror."Drew challenged
"You used to cry every time you looked at the tower of terror."Belly stated
"I- Okay fine you got me."Drew admitted
"I'm very excited to see it happen again."Belly smiled
"Okay you're on."Drew laughed as belly watched the boy walk off with a huge smile
They arrived at the dancing machine
"Right my moves are legendary."Jeremiah stated
"All right man you got this."Drew encouraged
"Skyes up."Belly announced
"Really not a great idea if we want to win."Skye sighed
"You'll be great at it it's basically math with your feet.They'll never see you coming this is how we win."Belly encouraged
"Bring it on cuz you know Skye I feel like we've gotten closer today it would be a shame if my dance moves were to affect our relationship."Jeremiah smiled
"We'll see."Skye mumbled as everyone encouraged them until Skye started getting perfect and Jeremiah was failing and Skye won
"Where to next?"Jeremiah asked
"Follow me."Belly ordered as they all walked out and went over to the race track
"And whether we win or lose we are worthy of that giant bag."Belly encouraged
"Oh you can be as inspirational as you want belly we're still going to kick your asses."Steven laughed as the boys jumped over the railings
"Shut up Steven."Belly threatened
They all gathered in their racing cars
"Drivers start your engines! First team with all their cars past the finish line wins.On your marks get set!Go!"Cam announced and they started racing Belly was at the front with Drew behind her
"I'm coming for you Belly!"Drew yelled Belly was still at the front with Drew behind her and Taylor and Skye behind him and at the end was Jeremiah and Steven
"Oh you're going down.Watch your back"Drew yelled at the girl
"Eat my fucking dust bro!"Belly laughed as Drew caught up to her and won past the finish line with Jeremiah and Steven behind him.
"Yeah!"Drew yelled
"No! Oh my god!"Belly sighed while they walked over to the shop.
Conrad and Drew came over to the group
"Sorry to interrupt."Conrad announced
"Is it time?"Belly questioned
"It is time the tower of terror awaits."Conrad announced
"I'm gonna get you a barf bag."Steven laughed
They all watched the ride in horror
"All right It's now or never I guess."Belly sighed
"Come on!"Everyone encouraged as Jeremiah and Belly got onto the ride the ride went up to the top for a moment until it suddenly dropped with Jeremiah and Belly holding hands and they got off causing everyone to cheer.They all walked back Cam,Taylor and Belly got into Jeremiah's car while Drew and Conrad got into Stevens car.They were driving back
"I cant believe I'm saying this but today was actually really fun."Steven announced
"Today was so much fun."Conrad replied
"Yeah."Drew added
"I don't know man I haven't seen you this happy in a long time."Steven smiled
"it felt good to feel like a kid again I'll tell you and I know that my mom only ever wanted us to be happy but it's been hard."Conrad stated
"Today was good."Drew smiled
"Okay look Drew not like I want you two to start things up again but-"Steven began
"What?"Drew questioned
"I just noticed there was a vibe between you and Belly earlier."Steven smiled
"I noticed that too man."Conrad agreed
"What?"Drew questioned
"It's Just an observation man."Steven smiled
"Well I appreciate your observation."Drew laughed as he smiled out the window everyone arrived outside the house
"Hey you dropped this."Drew announced as he threw over the giraffe to belly
"Oh Thank you."Belly smiled
"Do you have a name yet?"Drew asked
"Her name is Mildred."Belly stated
"Mildred I like it.Hey how come you didn't want another junior mint?"Drew questioned
"I'm not thirteen years old anymore Drew."Belly sighed leaving the boy standing there for a moment before walking in behind her
"What the fuck?"Jeremiah yelled as they entered the house there was nothing, no furniture everything was gone.