Belly and I have never been able to hold grudges against one another. We'd go maybe an hour tops before getting over our petty fight and going back to normal. However, this fight felt different than the others; her words were harsher and have been replaying in my head for days, like a movie on repeat. She hasn't spoken to me in days, no matter how hard I try. Not even muffins from the good place in town could coax her into talking to me again. She merely pushed the box away before walking back upstairs.

Conrad and I haven't spoken either, and it's killing me. The thing is, I don't know what to say to him... I liked kissing him. I can't look at him without thinking about it, making me feel like an even worse sister. He tried talking to me the following day, and I had to pretend I had some writing thing to do and rush away. Since then, things have been awkward; I can't talk to him until I sort things out with Belly, making me unsure of how to act around him.

And today was the day I was going to turn things around. It's her birthday, her favourite day of the year. How could Belly stay mad at me when I'd woken up early to make her Mickey Mouse pancakes and decorate the table with flowers and balloons. We're all in the kitchen, waiting for her to come down. Mom's sticking candles into the stack of pancakes I made while Steven and Susannah set the table.

Conrad's sitting at the counter, his hair is falling over his forehead as he leans over, eating a bowl of cereal. Memories of how he looked the other night flooded my mind, his hair messy, his lips parted as he got his breath. I wish things were easier, that I could talk to him without having to worry about my little sister hating me forever. Instead, I stand near the coffee machine, watching as coffee pours into the pot, not daring to look over at Conrad out of fear of him catching me, "has Tripp talked to you since your date?" Jeremiah asks in a hushed tone, pulling down two coffee cups.

"Huh?" I look up at him, pulled away from my thoughts of his brother, "uh, no. Why?"

"You've just seemed kind of upset these last few days," He shrugs, a concerned smile on his face.

"I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed," I shrug, not a complete lie. Life has been very overwhelming lately. Between the deb, Conrad, Belly and writing my book, I felt like I had no time to just sit and relax. Today was my first day working with Cleveland, though, so hopefully, the sailing lessons will help me feel a bit more inspired.

"Well, if you ever need another milkshake drive to vent, I'm here."

For the first time in days, a genuine smile makes its way onto my face, "thank you, Jeremiah."

Before Jeremiah could say anything else, Belly walked into the kitchen, a broad smile on her face, "Morning, everyone." She greets. She chuckles as everyone greets her in unison, and for the first time in days, things feel somewhat normal with her.

"There's the birthday girl," Susannah rushes to hug her, "looking like a vision in floral."

Jeremiah leaves me to hug her, leaning down to be closer to her height, "Happy sweet 16, Bells."

"Now Belly Button's getting old finally," Steven teased, taking a bite of bacon, "happy birthday."

Mom moves to hug Belly, and I hesitantly walk up behind her, my hands anxiously clasped in front of me, "Happy birthday, sweetheart. Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready. I hope you're hungry."

Jeremiah walks up behind me, loosely swinging his arm over my shoulder, "Florence made them this year, and it's a birthday miracle she didn't burn the house down." He teases, ruffling my hair.

Belly finally looks over at me, and her impossibly happy grin falls, "Actually, I'm not really hungry," she looks away from me, replacing her bitter expression with a small smile. She doesn't say thank you or laugh at Jeremiah's joke about my terrible skills in the kitchen. Instead, she just looks away, pretending I don't exist.

"Shall we open gifts?" Susannah suggests, breaking the silence amongst us. Conrad looks up at me from his cereal. It's such a quick glance I almost don't notice it, but lately, I feel hyper-aware of everything Conrad does when he's in the room. Even when I'm not looking directly at him, I can sense his movements and when his eyes are on me.

"Oh," Jeremiah moves his arm off of me, "you're gonna love mine." He waves a green box that he's pulled out of his pocket in the air.

We all move into the living room, sitting around Belly with our presents. I sat next to mom and Susannah on the couch, gripping my present for Belly tightly in my hands. She was probably going to brush it off, but it felt wrong not to give her a present on her birthday. Even if she isn't talking to me, she opens mom's gift first, an original copy of Hemmingway poetry, with the poem Susannah used to recite for us as a kid bookmarked.

Susannah went next, handing her a small box wrapped in white paper, "Oh, wow." Belly gasped, chuckling happily, "They're gorgeous. Thank you, Susannah."

Susannah stood to help Belly put whatever she gave her on, pulling out a pearl necklace, "My mom gave me these pearls for my sweet sixteen," She explained to Belly, clasping the chain on for her. "They were a set; with the earrings I gave Flo for her sweet sixteen. So now you two can match." Instinctively, I reach up to touch the earrings I always wear. They were gold, with a white pearl hanging from them. Belly looks over at me, her happy smile fading for a brief moment, "Radiant," Susannah moves away from Belly, sitting back down beside mom, "isn't she."

Mom compliments Belly, who's already smiling again, "Oh, I'm next." Jeremiah stands, handing Belly the small green box in his hand. She opens it, revealing a charm for her bracelet, "it's a good-luck charm to help you pass your driving test." He explains as she connects the key-shaped charm to her bracelet.

Steven goes next, tossing Belly a gift. Shockingly, he actually spent money on her, claiming he only purchased her a Princeton sweatshirt so she wouldn't steal his when he got in. Conrad goes after him, handing her a card. Inside was a gift card to her favourite online store. There was no doubt Susannah helped him pick it out, but Belly's smile was extra-large as she opened it, just happy that Conrad got her a gift.

"Alright, Flo," Susannah looked over at me, her smile radiant, "your turn."

I pass the tiny box in my hand to Belly. It's wrapped in the same paper that both Jere and Steven used. But, unlike when they handed her their gifts, she didn't say thank you or smile. She barely looks at me as she tentatively tears the paper. She's silent as she opens the navy-blue box, staring at the jewelry inside, "it's matching with mine," I say, disappointment setting in. I bought it months ago after Belly gushed about loving the initial pendant I wear every day.

"That's really sweet," Susannah says, smiling over at me, "and very pretty."

Billy slams the jewelry box shut, placing it beside her. I don't expect a thank you, but it still hurts when she looks at Jere, "we should probably go," She says to him, "Taylor's gonna be at the bus station soon, and you promised I could practice driving."

"Right," Jeremiah looks over to me, confused.

"Perfect, let me just grab my shoes," Belly's smiling and leaving the room without another word, back to pretending like I don't exist.

"I have to go too," I stand, wanting to get away from everyone's stares. Belly's been pretty good at keeping her anger towards me subtle, but it was hard for everyone not to notice it now. I don't feel like getting into it with mom and Susannah, "I'm getting help with my novel today."

"Will you be home for dinner?" Susannah asks. She ordered us these custom flower crowns for Belly's birthday dinner, I was excited when she first bought them, but I don't think Belly wants me matching her anymore.

"I don't think we're learning much today," I shrug. Cleveland sent me a text last night, saying that he and the "sailing export" that my mom found for him were meeting today to learn about knots. I tried to insist that I didn't need to learn how to tie knots, but Cleveland's taken his role as my "mentor" very seriously and insisted it'd help immerse myself in the world of my characters better, "so I should be."

I look over at Conrad one last time before I go, only to find he's already looking back at me. He seems confused, and I wish I could tell him what went down the other night in Belly's room. I wish we could talk about everything, but we can't. I can't hurt Belly any more than I already have.     

Definitely just a filler chapter, but more drama and stuff is gonna happen in the next few. How are we all feeling about Cruel Summer so far? Is there anything y'all want to see happen? I love hearing from y'all, so don't forget to comment!