Chapter 7
Birthday girl
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The day of Belly's birthday had arrived, and the entire house was buzzing with excitement when Bonnie woke up. The girl would have been buzzing as well, but because of her fight with Conrad a while ago, she had been in a fouler mood than usual. She just wanted him to apologize so they could move forward but he's stubborn.
Over the past week or so, Conrad and Bonnie had avoided each other like the past week. For different reasons. Whilst Bonnie was angry and disappointed at Conrad for his immature and childish behaviour, Conrad was embarrassed at his drunk words.
He had been watching the girl sneak in and out of the house late at night, jumping into a certain dark haired boys' car. He had obviously glared as Dean pulled out of the driveway laughing with Bonnie as if they had known each other forever.
Bonnie sits up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the instant smell of sweet pancakes lingering. She gets up, her stomach rumbling at the thought of food, and completely disregards the fact that she was only dressed in a thin tank top and lose sleep shorts.
Susannah usually wakes up super early on Belly's birthday anyway.
She stumbles out of her room, nearly slipping over in the process and rushes towards the kitchen.
She walks into the kitchen, "Good morning, Bonnie." Susannah smiles, watching the girl take a seat at the counter.
"Morning." She says simply.
"How'd you sleep?" Susannah asks, flipping a pancake.
"Good." She lies, not wanting to worry Susannah about the fact the girl had been riddled with nightmares all night.
"Really?" The woman asks, turning around to face the girl.
"Yes, really." Bonnie says softly.
"Ok." Susannah smiles, handing a plate of pancakes to her, before excusing herself to her bedroom, "I'm just going to change."
"Ok." Bonnie smiles.
"Well good morning!" Conrad casually says, walking into the kitchen with a cocky smile on his face.
His plan is to act as though everything is fine and that nothing's wrong.
"Morning." She says bluntly, ignoring him and looking down at her food.
"So, what are your plans on this lovely day?" He asks, sitting right next to her at the counter.
She holds in her sigh as he looks at her waiting for an answer. "It's Belly's birthday. So, I'm gonna spend the day with her and Taylor." She says simply.
"Nice. Surprised you're not spending the day with Dean." He says, Shrugging his shoulders.
"Unless you're going to apologize Conrad, I don't really want to talk to you about my day." She shrugs, getting up from her seat.
"It was one fight! and I was drunk!" He says, following her.
"I don't care if it was one fight or ten! And you being drunk doesn't excuse anything."
"Look, I am sorry, ok?" He says, looking at her with regret. "I was a dick and you deserve to be angry. I just... I'm embarrassed about what I said." He fidgets with the table cloth as he talks, "Nothing I said was true. He won't break your heart. I was just acting like a douche." He looks down to his fingers, avoiding the girls eye contact.
"He's really nice, Conrad. And I think we could actually turn this into something." She says softly.
"I just don't want you to get hurt." Conrad mumbles, looking up at the girl and catching her eyes.
"I know." She smiles at him lightly.
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"Morning everyone." Belly smiles as she walks into the room bringing a loud chorus of hey's and hello's to burst around the room.
"There's the birthday girl, looking like a vision in floral." Susannah smiles, pulling the girl into a warm hug.
"Happy birthday, Bells!" Bonnie squeals, holding the girl in a tight hug.
"Thank you." Belly laughs, pulling away to embrace the others.
"Don't burn that Steven." Bonnie curses, grabbing the pan of bacon from his hand.
"Jeez, alright." He laughs, grabbing a piece before turning around to greet his sister. "Belly buttons getting old finally."
"Here." Bonnie grabs a plate, to place the bacon on before handing it to Conrad to put on the table as everyone else embrace Belly.
"Your mickey mouse pancakes are ready." Laurel says, smiling as Sophie puts them down on the table.
"Uh, actually, I'm not really that hungry." Belly says, looking away from the pancakes to her mom.
"Oh." Laurel says awkwardly.
"Uh, shall we open gifts?" Susannah suggests.
"Oh! You're gonna love mine." Jerimiah bursts.
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Belly quickly unwraps the books, inspecting it with a smile.
"It's a first edition. I got it from a rare book dealer." Laurel says excitedly, leaning forward in her seat.
"Thanks mom." Belly says gratefully.
"Turn to the bookmarked page." Laurel smiles. "It's your favourite poem." She says to Susannah.
"Oh, yeah! I remember Susannah teaching us to recite this."
""For whatever we lose... Like a you or a me... It's always ourselves we find in the sea." Everyone recites with small smile.
"Thank you." Belly laughs, "I love it."
"You're welcome."
"Ok, open mine now Belly." Susannah says, handing her a small present.
Inside laid a small velvet box with a pearl necklace on display inside. "Wow, they're gorgeous Susannah." Belly says.
"My mom gave me these pearls for my sweet sixteen. Along with the bracelet, of course." Susannah smiles at Bonnie from her spot. "Radiant, isn't she?" She says.
"They look great on you sweetheart." Laurel says.
"You look beautiful." Sophie smiles at Belly.
"Oh, I'm next!" Jerimiah says. "Here." He hands the girl a small green box
"Thank you." The girl blushes lightly, opening it to reveal a small key charm
"It's a good-luck charm to help you pass your driving test." Jerimiah explains
"Perfect. Thank you." Belly smiles, clipping it on to her bracelet.
"Think fast, Belly." Steven says, chucking a present her way.
"Steven."
"Wow, Steven, I can't believe you actually spent money on me." Belly scoffs, opening it to reveal a Princeton hoodie.
"Relax. I just didn't want you stealing mine next year when I get in." Steven rolls his eyes.
"I didn't know you were still considering Princeton." Laurel frowns lightly.
"You know, I-I think I'm gonna apply for some scholarships, and Dad thinks I can get some financial aid. I-I don't know. I'll see if I get in." Steven says, nodding his head at his now smiling mother.
"Okay."
"Ok, here." Bonnie hands Belly her present, watching the girl eagerly open it. "Figured you would want it on vinyl as well." She smiles, watching Belly squeal in delight.
"Thank you!" She yells, pulling her in for a hug.
If anything was known about Belly it was her love for Taylor Swift. So what better to get Belly's favourite album, Evermore, on a vinyl.
"I'm glad you like it." Bonnie laughs.
"Conrad do you want to give Belly your present?"
"Yeah, here." Conrad says as he chucks a beach towel at the girl.
"Thanks!" She smiles, unfolding it to reveal a sea turtle pattern on it.
"Cute!" Bonnie smiles.
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Boring chapter if I am honest :)