Our party was in full swing now, with people dispersed all around the backyard hanging out. I sat at a table, under a patio umbrella with Isla, playing cards. Typically, I'm very competitive and love to smack talk whenever I'm playing games, but right now, my eyes keep wandering from the game in front of me. As much as I want to focus on it, I can't ignore Nicole's flirtatious giggling coming from the pool.

Conrad and her were both in there, and while I couldn't hear a word of their conversation, I could hear Nicole's laughter, finding whatever he was saying hilarious. I must have been looking for longer than a second because Isla gently kicks me with her flip-flop-clad feet, "who is that?" She asks.

"Nicole," I explain, luckily, no one else sat near the two of us, and I can speak in a normal tone, "she and Conrad went to the ball together last summer... she claims they haven't spoken since."

"So Conrad is known for randomly cutting people off," Isla nods. I can tell she's analyzing him, trying to figure out exactly why Conrad is the way he is. I don't doubt that she'll have a full diagnosis of everyone for me before she goes home, "interesting."

"Maybe he didn't cut her off," I shrug, taking a sip of lemonade, "maybe she was just being dramatic cause she likes him like he forgot to answer a text or something, and she jumped to conclusions."

Isla looks over at the pair, and I pretend to be interested in the cards in my hand while looking out of the corner of my eye. Conrad's leaning on his arms, against the edge of the pool, with his shoulders out of the water. From here, I can see his side profile, his strong jaw and pouty lips. He nods along as Nicole speaks, and despite her giggly laughter, his expression remains natural, not smiley like it had been up in the guest room.

"He's not into her," Isla finally says, after a few seconds, looking back over at me, "you have nothing to worry about."

"Who said I was worried?" I scoff, taking a sip of lemonade.

"Maybe because you like him?" Isla suggests accusingly, "and you're jealous.

I choke on my lemonade at her words, the sour drink burning the back of my throat. I hadn't even been able to admit that to myself yet. I mean, sure, I'd been thinking about him a lot more, and not in the same way I used to. I thought about his smile and how, when it was gone, I longed to see it again. I thought of his smirky lips and how his warm hands made me want to melt into his arms.

Shit... Isla's right.

"I do not," I disagree with her, I don't even sound convinced by my words, and I can feel my cheeks growing warmer by the second, "I'm just..." I hesitate, "curious."

"Right," Isla nods, smirking, "because you like him."

"I-"I pause, as Isla wiggles her brows at me, smiling so big you'd think she'd just won the lottery. I've never been good at lying to Isla, and it seemed that she'd never believe me even if I was. So I guess I might as well be honest, "I might have feelings for him." I sigh, my head dropping onto my arms which are resting on the table.

"I knew it!" Isla exclaims quite loudly. This causes heads to turn toward us, curious about my best friend's sudden burst of excitement.

"It's confusing," I say, sighing, "I mean, it's Conrad, the guy I've known since we were in diapers. I just... I've never felt this way before."

"You should tell him," She encourages me, reaching over to squeeze my arm, "tonight, during the fireworks."

I laugh as if she's just said the most ridiculous joke I've ever heard, "and face the wrath of Belly... absolutely not. She spoke to me for the first time in weeks today. We're making progress; I'm not gonna mess that up."

Isla groans, but before she can reply, Mom approaches us, an empty plate in hand, "Florence, sweetie, would you mind cutting up some more watermelon?"

"Oh, I can do that, Miss. Park," Isla offers, already standing to reach for the plate.

"Don't be silly; you're our guest." Mom shakes her head, chuckling, "Florence can do it," She hands me the plate without a response from me.

And it's my birthday. I think as I take the plate from her, standing up. I shoot Isla what I hope is a reassuring smile before walking into the house, where the air conditioning greets me. It was hot out today, and I was longing to get in the pool. I was melting in my denim shorts, red bikini top and white overshirt, praying Nicole and Conrad would get out of the pool so that I could get in.

I take my time cutting up watermelon, enjoying the AC and being alone for a minute. As I walk to take them outside, I notice a familiar jacket discarded on the living room sofa. The last time I saw it, my fists gripped the fabric, holding Conrad close while he kissed me.

I doubt mom would be pleased to see one of our items lying around, so after placing the watermelon outside, I decide to carry the jacket upstairs, just in case mom gets annoyed with me for not picking up after the others.

I run up to Conrad's room, creaking open the door. Initially, I planned on throwing the jacket on his bed and leaving, but my gaze lingers on a small bag sitting on his bed, tissue paper tucked inside of it. It's none of your business, Florence. I mentally scold myself for being so curious, my feet carrying me into the room. Still, I sit on his bed, placing the small bag on my lap.

He got Isla to come here. Why would he get me another present? I think, my fingers carefully taking the tissue paper out. I let my curiosity get the better of me, hesitantly taking the velvet box out of the bag and opening it slowly as if I might get caught at any second.

A silver necklace sits in the box, an infinity charm hanging from the center. I allow my finger to trail along with the shape, a smile beginning to dance across my lips.

I can't believe he remembered this...

Florence's Fifteenth Birthday

I leaned against the palm of my hands, the sand between my fingers. It was warm still, despite the sun setting hours before. Like most of my birthdays, we were ending the night with fourth of July fireworks on the beach. Our whole family spread around in beach chairs or lounging on towels, waiting for the show to begin.

"Steven, give them back," Belly squealed. He'd stolen her pink glasses frames right off her face, running down the beach with them held above his head. He'd hit a growth spurt recently and repeatedly reminded Belly and me of how short we are.

I watched as Steven tossed the glasses over to Jeremiah, who caught them with a leap. Having to jump to reach where Steven was aiming, the other two boys had grown much quicker than him, and it was something that I could tell Jeremiah hated, even if he'd never admit it out loud.

I couldn't help but smile as Conrad grabbed the glasses, handing them back over to Belly with a smile. He wore his black-rimmed glasses, and a maroon hat sat backwards on his head, covering his hair which he'd cut short recently. Belly shot Conrad a grin back in return, her braces-clad teeth on full display. "Steven, Jeremiah, leave Belly alone and go help the dads with fireworks," I yell as Steven reaches to annoy Belly again.

Satisfied, I smirked as the two younger boys ran in the other direction, over to where Adam and dad were setting up fireworks. Behind them sat Mom and Susannah. I was so used to seeing Susannah with her long blonde hair that fell to her hips, but her hair was still short, growing back from the chemo.

"Tell me you did not bring a book to the fireworks?" Conrad asked, sitting down beside me, his arm brushed against mine, cool from being so close to the water.

"Just in case I got bored," I shrug, looking down at the book resting on my lap. I've never been one to run and play around with the others, maybe because my asthma would not allow me, or maybe because I've just never been all that into games; because of that, I always have a book on hand.

"Ouch," Conrad holds his hand up to his heart, pretending to be wounded, "are you saying that you find hanging out with me boring?" Before I could respond, Conrad sat up straighter, "let's play a game."

"Does it involve running?" I sigh, and Conrad chuckles at my hatred of athletics.

"Nope," He shakes his head, smiling. Conrad holds his hand out and pulls me up so I'm no longer lying down. I raise my brow as he moves to sit behind me, his hands brushing my hair out of the way.

As soon as his fingers began tracing patterns on my upper back, I knew which game he wanted to play. When we were little and bored, Conrad and I would draw words or pictures along one another's skin, and the other would have to guess; whoever got the most correct won, which was typically Conrad, unfortunately.

"That tickles," I informed him, a giggle escaping past my lips. It felt like Conrad wasn't drawing a thing and was just violently moving his fingers along my skin to torture me. One look back at him and my assumption was made true. Conrad smirked, "You're hilarious." I say to him, trying to act unimpressed. Another giggle escapes past my lips, though, and Conrad laughs. "Just play the game, loser."

We play for a few minutes, with Conrad drawing impossible-to-guess things like American flags and sunset, but as he draws the third one, his fingers tracing loops delicately along my shoulder blades, I stop laughing at his ridiculousness, "Infinity?" I ask him questioningly.

Conrad hums, continuing to draw the sign even after I guessed it. I peek over my shoulder to look at him, lost in thought, "do you think we'll always be friends?" He asks me, completely changing the topic, "I mean, we can't spend every summer at Cousins for the rest of our lives... do you ever fear it might just stop one day?"

Conrad's hand falls from my back as I turn to face him. We're both sitting criss-cross, our knee's colliding, "where's this coming from?" I ask him, concerned and confused all at once.

If I were someone else, Conrad would probably just shrug it off and act like nothing's wrong, but I've been different. We've always been different. There isn't anything that I wouldn't tell Conrad and vice versa. Even during the rest of the year, he's one of the first people I go to for anything, "It's just... one day we're all gonna grow up, you're probably gonna be some rich author living in a big city apartment with her dogs and equally as rich husband." I laugh at his visions for my future, "I know we're only 15, but I don't want this to end."

"Summers at Cousins?"

"Us," He answers me, ducking his head, "I know, it's stupid to be so worried about it now, but I guess with mom being sick last summer, it got me thinking."

"It's not stupid," I place my hand on his knee, shaking my head. I've always had similar worries, especially when Susannah got sick. She was our rock, the glue that held us all together, and when it felt like we might lose her, it felt like maybe I'd lose Jeremiah and Conrad too. I begin tracing loops on Conrad's knee, the same pattern he'd been doing on my back moments ago, "but you're always gonna be my best friend, Con."

"Always?" He asks, chuckling at my exaggeration of the word, "even when you have your rich husband and small purse dog?"

His thoughts were my future was very different than what I had in mind, but I nodded anyway, "even then... This," I gesture between the two of us, lifting my hand off his knee, "is for forever. You're stuck with me, Fisher."

"For infinity?" He asks me, laughing. A firework finally goes off behind me, and I don't bother to turn around, too entranced by Conrad and this moment.

"For infinity."

Can we take a minute to appreciate how freaking cute this flashback is??

Sorry for the delayed chapter! hopefully I'll have another one up for ya within the day!