I think the picking sides in tsitp is a little silly bc I feel like the narrative has always always set up one ship but what I just don't understand is?? People hating on Jeremiah bc he started liking her that summer? Just bc he didn't like her since he met her or sth doesn't make his feelings less valuable, I think it's sweet that he because best friends with her over the years and then he realizes that it might be more
Synopsis: You return to Cousin’s beach after three years and suddenly everything has changed. Torn between the two brothers, a complicated family and a new job you try to make the best of this summer, hoping that maybe different can be good.
Chapter 3 first scene sneak peek <3
Needless to say, you didn’t sleep well for the next couple days. Now that you had realised that you had feelings for Jeremiah you second guessed every interaction the two of you have had. You laid awake at night, replaying confident words and stolen glances over and over and before you had a chance to fully rest the sun began to rise outside.
This morning was Belly’s birthday but when you woke up from your dream (which was just Jeremiah with you in the car and his hand reached further up your thigh-) you knew that you were not not going back to sleep.
It was just after five. You had plenty of time to spare before starting breakfast for your family, so you rolled yourself out of bed itching to do something before facing your responsibilities.
You picked up the first hoodie you saw lying around, grabbed your headphones and keys and climbed back out your window for the upteenth time this summer.
Before you noticed where your feet were taking you, you clicked play on your Spotify. It was Dress by Taylor Swift (because of course it was) and the lyrics seemed to burn themselves into your skin when she sang ‘I don’t want you as a best friend, I only bought this dress so you could take it off’.
This was becoming really pathetic.
You were pining over Jeremiah FIscher, a boy who has never given you a second glance, a boy you have known for as long as you could remember. A boy who has always been by your side, whose presence you have never doubted.
When you arrived at the beach you sat down in the sand, not caring that you were still in your sleeping shorts and a hoodie you now realised was from him.
Over time more surfers came into the water and you just sat there until you saw someone who may or may not have been Conrad. With one glance at the time, now close to seven, you thought that it was time to start setting the table anyways and you got up, the waves of the ocean no longer washing your feelings away.
A/N: that's it for tonight!! I am so not giving up on this fic, but it's turning out a lot longer than expected :/ (please please feel free to send in asks with requests!! And just let me know what you thought, comments really do help:) )
I’m not sure if you write anymore but I would love to read more of your series! It’s so good 😩
First of all thank you sm!! I'm so very happy someone likes my silly little story :')
The truth is I have mapped this story out completely but my mental health has been a little shit so I had to stop before I just erased everything I had so far. Recently I have opened the doc again so maybe this week there will be an update, but I cannot guarantee anything. I'm really sorry.
I say this with my whole chest, write that daydream. Write the fic you think no one will care about. Publish the story you wrote at 2am because you had a middle of the night spark of inspiration.
No matter how insignificant or niche or obscure you think your words may be, write and post it anyways if you’re proud of it. You can’t know how people will react to it until you do so and you may just be surprised at the response you receive.
I don’t think your series is showing up in the tags. I just looked through the X reader tags and sorted it by most recent, your’s didn’t pop up. This also happened to a few other series I’ve been reading. It might just be my app being weird, but maybe check to see if it’s happening to you?
Ah!!! Thank you so much!! I might check that out and repost the new chapter on my laptop to see if it helps :)
Synopsis: You return to Cousin’s beach after three years and suddenly everything has changed. Torn between the two brothers, a complicated family and a new job you try to make the best of this summer, hoping that maybe different can be good.
Part 2: Summer days
Word count: 3.9k
A/N: Sorry for the long wait (but don’t fear I will finish this fic) Warnings for swearing and slightly mature content
Embarrassed that you somehow thought that you were going to wake up together you decided to change back into your jeans and get some breakfast. On the way down to the kitchen you saw that Belly was sitting out on the poarch, so you joined her.
“Good morning.”
“Hey.”
Sitting down next to her you saw her crestfallen expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to catch Cam before he went on his boat but I was too late and I’m considering becoming a debutante.”
“That’s a lot. Maybe you can set an alarm a little earlier tomorrow?”
“Yeah, maybe.”
While you waited for her somber expression to pass you couldn't get last night out of your mind. You had slept through the entire night and only woke up this morning. The warmth seemed to warm you still.
“Suzannah gave you an invitation too, you know?”
“Sorry?”
Belly turned to you, “To become a debutante.”
Ah. “I’m not sure, I have a lot to do with my job already this summer, you know?” Not to mention your mother and the fact that it would probably end up being expensive.
“Do you,” she looked to her hands which were fiddling with her bracelets, “Do you think it’s stupid for me to do that? I know that it’s outdated and all that but it also-”
“Seems like fun?” She nodded. “Then do it, don't listen to the others and just have fun. I’m sure you are gonna find some new friends as well.”
Belly smiled gratefully at you and you walked into the kitchen together after.
“Good morning.”
It was only Steven, Laurel and Jeremiah in the kitchen. When you saw the two of them in their work uniform you realised that today was your first day.
Belly had already sat down but you stood in the doorway still. “I forgot about work.”
“Clearly.” Steven said as he gestured to your outfit, still in Jeremiah’s hoodie and a pair of jeans.
Cursing under your breath you excused yourself and everyone said their goodbyes.
“Y/N wait!”, it was Jeremiah.
You turned around.
“I can come pick you up if you want. Then you have time to change if you want,” then he smiled in that mischievous way he always did when he was flirting and added, “not that I mind seeing you in my clothes.”
Not expecting that smile to ever be directed at you were at a loss for words for a second. “That,” you cleared your throat, “That would be great, thanks.”
He laughed at that but you wanted to fluster him too, so you stepped a little closer, your left hand hovering over his upper arm and the other one tucked a curl behind his ear while you said, “Maybe I wanted you to see me like that, in your bed.”
The sound of his spatula hitting the ground made you laugh but his flushed and slightly surprised and hopeful expression made you feel odd.
You waved goodbye and when he picked up his spatula again he waved back as if nothing had happened. He was the same old Jeremiah, undoubtedly used to others flirting with him, but you felt as if your world had been tilted on its axis.
You ran all the way home, showering quickly before putting on your uniform.
Jeremiah: we are hereee
Jeremiah: come outsidee
Jeremiah: oh, my lady, pleaseeee grace us with your presence
After saying goodbye to your family that was still sleeping you slipped out of the house and into the car. When Jeremiah gave you the aux even though you were in the backseat and Steven complained you put on the High School Musical 2 soundtrack, insisting that this fits perfectly.
~*~
You high five Steven when you are finally allowed on a break. Because you are a little early, you decide to scare Jeremiah.
“Yeah, totally, I would love to take you swimming sometime.” Steven threw you an amused look and you smiled back, even though you suddenly felt a lot heavier.
Then Steven grabbed the other boy’s shoulders and you all laughed until Jeremiah fixed Steven with a look and simply states, “Oh, you fucked up.”
“What? How-” he leaned his head down to look at himself, “how could I have already fucked up?”
“It’s the hairnet, I told you,” you added, pretending to be very serious.
Jeremiah’s gaze snapped to you and nodded his head. “Exactly. Nobody is going to want to hook up when they see you in this.”
Both of them argue about their jobs for a second, and you wanted to cut it when-
“Y/N, we need you here for a second.”
“Be right back,” you said to the others and you only got a slightly distracted ‘Bye’ back from both of them as they looked at all the people around the pool.
“Hey, sorry to call you back so soon,” it was David, another boy your age. “I just kinda cut myself on the glass but there are the people at the pool who really want their fifteenth towel of the day but I can’t really carry them right now.”
“Hey, no problem at all, are you okay? I can take care of the towels, just wash out your hand.”
He thanked you and ducked away into the bathroom. Taking two fresh towels from the pile you walked over to the now annoyed couple. Internally scoffing at their tone of language you made your way back to David when you overheard Jeremiah saying “Girls in sundresses are my kryptonite but I would never let one talk me into being an escort.”
The words stuck to you and you decided to wear a dress that evening to the book party.
“Is your hand okay?”, you asked David when he came out from the house they served food in.
“Yes, thank you again,” he looked at you, then somewhere behind you and back to you again. “Can I make it up to you somehow? Like with coffee or tea?”
Did he ask you out? Or were you reading too much into it? “You don't need to, it’s really fine.”
Then he looked at you, this time a lot more confident than before and added, “But I want to, really.”
Definitely asking you out then. For a second Jeremiah and the girl from the pool came to your mind but you squashed that down quickly. “Is that so?”, you asked with a smile.
He blushed a little and you thought that he was kind of cute. “I can give you my number and if you change your mind you don’t have to text me.”
You noted down his number and when you joined the other boys you started drafting your text with a smile on your face.
“Oh, who might you be texting, Y/N?”, Steven asked with raised eyebrows and a smirk.
Jeremiah came closer to look at your phone and put his arm around your shoulder. His bare skin seemed to burn through your white shirt.
“Who is more interesting than us…” he trailed off as he read the text that you still wanted to meet up and when he wanted to ask you who ‘David’ was he saw you turn your face to your coworker and wink at him.
He felt a little confused, never having considered the fact that you might have been with someone else over these past years, the fact that you might date someone else.
He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
You on the other hand felt a little excited about it all.
~*~
When Belly texted you that she was going on her date tonight you came over to help her pick an outfit. Suzannah was already there and you knocked on the door, not wanting to scare them.
Belly twirled around, “What do you think?”
“You look amazing!” and she really did. Blue was definitely her colour. At your response she smiled.
Then Laurel came in and you filled her in on the date and she and Suzannah talked a little about their high school before Laurel asked you if you were coming to her party tonight.
“Of course I am. I really want to meet the famous Laurel Park, famous author of ‘Party’s Over’,” you turned to Belly, “do you think i get to shake her hand?”
Laurel chuckled at your comment but said that you could even get a hug if you wanted to.
Then Suzannah cutted in, “Y/N I actually have something for you, do you wanna come downstairs for a second?”
Confused what she meant you agreed and followed her downstairs.
“You know, when we were shopping we really missed you and when Belly saw this and said that you would really like them we got them for you.”
You accepted the two bags she held out for you, a little bewildered. “For me? I’m not sure if I can pay you back right now, but in a month I get my paycheck and then-”
She interrupted you, “Nonsense. While I’m a little sad that you aren't going to be a debutante with Belly I still wanted to get you something.”
You both made your way to the stools and sat. “You are also like a daughter to me and I missed you over these past three years. I just wanted to give you something back for the way you have always treated my sons.”
Suddenly emotional you hugged her. “Thank you. Really. I’m happy to hear that you see me as your daughter.”
The two of you sat there for a while until she cleared her throat. “The red dress is for tonight, so come on and try it on, I’m sure you want to show it to Belly as well.”
With a last look that hopefully conveyed how touched you were at her gesture you changed in Belly’s room. When you walked back into Suzannah’s room to see Belly she was upstairs again, putting on her shoes.
“I knew the dress would look good on you!” Belly said as she walked over to you to get a proper look.
It was a flowy patterned green dress and you really did feel good in it. You smiled at her comment. “But you have to go now, right? Doesn't your movie start soon?”
Both of you made your way downstairs, but you realised that you forgot your phone upstairs when you overheard Jeremiah telling Belly that she looked hot. You really tried to ignore it, he had always been like that and it was true, Belly really did look good, but for some reason you were not so excited to go down after her.
So you did what you do best and avoid it and you chatted with the mom’s about their first dates until it was time to leave.
“It’s time to go, everyone! Conrad can you take Y/N and pick up the last order of the flowers? I already told Jeremiah to get the posters with Steven and I want to drive Laurel there as soon as possible.”
“Sure mom, whatever you need.”
Conrad came over while the other two still finished their round. “The dress really suits you,” he said when the Moms were out of ear range.
You looked at him in surprise, “Conrad Fisher, was that a compliment? Pigs might fly today at this rate.”
He fondly rolled his eyes but the other boy’s overheard the two of you. “He is right tho, she looks good, right?”, Steven asked, directing the question at Jeremiah.
The other boy paused for a second and you tried not to feel hurt at that. You knew you looked nice, he didn’t have to affirm it.
But then he looked directly at your eyes, “She definitely does.” Conrad nudged you and you followed him to the entryway until a hand on your arm stopped you. “Are you sure you aren’t going to be cold?”
It had been warm throughout the entire day but that comment made you pause. YOu had always run a little cold, but then an idea formed in your head and you leaned close to his ear, making sure that Steven would not see you, “Maybe I’m hoping for someone to keep me warm tonight,” then you leaned back, “with their jacket of course.” and disappeared through the door.
~*~
Driving with Conrad was surprisingly nice. At first he seemed a little unsure what to say and mad at something that had nothing to do with you but you told him a few stories of the years he missed and he filled you in on his life as well.
Even if you had been closer to Jeremiah than Conrad before you and him were a lot more similar. More quiet and reserved but it had always been a nice friendship. You noticed that there was something actually bothering him but you knew that if he wanted to he will talk to you, so you gave him his space.
“Jere told me that you are going out with your coworker now.”
Were you? “I’m honestly not sure? We have a vague date planned but I don’t think I actually like him.”
“Really? He made it seem as if you guys were already halfway to your honeymoon.”
You chuckled fondly, “You know how he can be, really perceptive but dumb at the same time.”
Conrad finished parking and repeated the words “Really perceptive but dumb,” back to you. the eye contact made you feel a little weak. Had he always looked at you like that?
“We should really get those flowers. I don't want to be late,” you blurted when you noticed that both of you were moving closer. For a split second he was surprised at your change of subject but agreed and both of you got out of the car.
You closed the car door and took a deep breath. What was that?
Nonetheless both of you arrived on time and nothing else happened on the way there.
~*~
At the party you made sure to get your own signed copy by Laurel before joining the others in the corner. Conrad pouring himself yet another glass made you stop in your way to Steven and Jeremiah and you turned to him instead.
“Pouring one for me too?” you asked while taking his new drink out of his hand. You had to stop him from drinking before he did something stupid.
He tried to stop you from drinking it all at once, his hand on your arm but you downed the glass anyway.
“Fuck, that is actually kind of strong. How much of this have you had?”
“Two glasses.”
“That means that we are going to stay here for at least another hour before you drive us home.”
“What? No, it’s boring and Laurel said that we could go whenever.”
“I’m not risking my life because you try to drink too much because of whatever is eating you away. If you don’t stay voluntarily I’ll just hold you here.”
He raised his eyebrow at that, “Now that’s something I would like to see.”
“I can have Jeremiah and Steven help me. You are going to eat some of the cookies and drink a lot of water.”
“What will you do if I drink this instead?”, he asks, with a crooked smile on his face and the bottle still in his other hand.
“I’m going to match you sip for sip, but my tolerance is probably lower than yours, so you will have to deal with the fallout.”
“Fine.”
“Good.” You made your way to the other boys and Conrad’s hand wandered down to your wrist instead and he followed you there.
“Can you two watch him while I go look for some water and food?”
“I’m not your child,” Conrad looked at you as if you had lost your mind.
You just rolled your eyes and pushed him down next to Steven who immediately started talking to him about this new board he has been eyeing and when you made your way to the buffet.
A light hand on your lower hand scared you but when you turned around it was only Jeremiah who had tagged along.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Getting water? So that Conrad can sober up.”
His hand was now fully touching your back and you swore you could feel the warmth in the tips of your fingers. “No, I mean hanging out with him like that.”
You turned to him, confused. “Because I want him to get us home safely? Because he is my friend?”
“So you don’t like him?”
“What?” but suddenly your mind was filled with wavy hair, dark blue eyes, a hesitant smile and a quiet companion. Did you like him? You wanted to deny it immediately but the words didn’t come out of your throat. Your wrist and upper arm where he touched you seemed to burn now. “Why is that any of your business?”
Jeremiah seemed to look for something in your eyes but didn’t seem to find it. “It was just a question.”
Still confused by the entire situation and your own feelings you picked up two cups of water and pushed a plate of cookies in his hand before rushing over.
The others noticed the obvious tension between you and Jeremiah but no one commented on it.
When more than an hour and half passed you finally gave in and you and Conrad excused yourself from the party.
Jeremiah’s gaze followed you all the way to the door.
~*~
When you were almost at your house he asked you the question you hoped he wouldn’t ask you. “Why are you and Jere fighting?”
His words seemed to run on a loop in your head. “He just said something really dumb but I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I just, I don't know, I’m not sure what I’m feeling anymore, you know?”
His fingers drummed on the steering wheel. With your hand out the window, looking at the dark ocean you decided to fuck it. “He asked me if I liked you. As more than a friend.”
You knew that he was looking at you and you decided to meet his gaze head on. If this was going to break your friendship you wanted to shatter it into pieces.
“And do you?”, his eyes were so dark, the light of the stoplight just barely illuminating his face, his expression unreadable.
Ever since you had come back to these familiar streets you tried to ignore everything that had changed but this time you could no longer run from it. Conrad was sitting right next to you and yet he still felt out of reach. You wanted him closer.
The truth forced itself out of you, “I’m not sure.”
He didn’t give you a response, just looked at you until the light turned green. With his eyes on the road he asked, “Do you want to figure it out?”
Your mind kept replaying these past few days over a loop. Jeremiah’s bed, Conrad’s words, Jeremiah’s flirting, Conrad’s hands but you were just so confused. How could they be so similar and so different, so grown up and still the same boy you've always known.
“I do.” your voice didn’t shake but it was quieter than before.
When you looked back at him he seemed to consider your words. “Do you?”, you asked him.
“Ever since I saw you on that beach I’ve been asking myself the same question. Are we really just friends?”
You had nothing to say. The silence weighed on you until he pulled over a corner in front of your apartment.
Out of the now closed window you weren’t really able to see anything else, everything was dark. From the radio your music was still playing. Then he unbuckled his seatbelt and you mirrored his action.
“Are you sure about this?” and you only nodded.
He came closer and you reached out to touch his cheekbone. “I want verbal confirmation.”
“Kiss me, Conrad Fisher.”
That made him smirk and you really wanted to kiss that off his face. “I’ve been wanting to do that ever since you came back.” and he did.
Not really having much experience, you followed his lead. HIs lips were a little chapped but you didn’t really mind because it was Conrad. You were in his car, his admittedly very cold hands on your hip and on your jaw, your mind short cutting. The only thing you were certain of was that you wanted him closer still.
Parting for air you looked in his eyes, wanting to see if he had an answer to your original question but you felt as if you were being swallowed up by his widening pupil. When you both went in for another kiss and another one you bumped into the stick and you started laughing.
At first he chuckled with you but then he started nibbling on your lower lip, clearly wanting to go back to making out, but you said, “Stop,” and he immediately did.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just give me a second,” you looked down, a little embarrassed when you asked, “can I come over to you?”
When relief washed over his face he smiled that one crooked smile you really, really wanted to kiss off his face. “You want to climb in my lap?”
Deciding that you were not going to be embarrassed for asking you said, “Yes, or do you not want me to?”
Leaning closer to your ear he whispered, “All you had to do was ask.”
A shiver went down your spine. You were so in over your head.
He put his seat back a little more and helped you climb over inelegantly. You leaned your head on his shoulder and laughed again and this time he joined you. All of this was so ridiculous but you couldn’t bring yourself to regret it.
After collecting yourself you kissed his neck and you felt him sigh and when you scraped your teeth along the skin, not hard enough to leave any marks he sighed your name. Then he pulled your head away softly by your hair and kissed you again, this time more urgent than before.
You wound your hands in his hair, noting that it was not as soft as Jeremiah’s, but still pleasant to the touch. One of his hands wandered down from your waist to the edge of your dress where it had ridden up halfway on your thigh. That made you freeze for a second and he noticed it immediately.
“Do you want to stop?”
“No, it’s just that I’ve never gone further than this, and I don’t want to do anything more today” you admitted, a little ashamed because you had heard of his reputation.
He stroked your cheek just below your eye with his hand. “And we don’t have to. Don’t worry about it, okay?”
And you didn’t. You kissed for a while longer until you both grew tired and he drove you back to your apartment.
When you closed your bedroom door quietly behind you, you threw yourself on your bed, more confused than before.
Did you or did you not have feelings for Conrad?
~*~
But your dreams were filled with soft hair, freckled skin and familiar laughter beneath your hands, not dark eyes, cold hands and crooked smiles.
When you woke up the next day the reality of what had happened sunk in and you realised that you kissed the wrong brother.
You were so fucked.
----
That’s it for the new chapter!! Please let me know what you think because comments are always really motivating :)
“He asked me if I liked you. As more than a friend.”
You knew that he was looking at you and you decided to meet his gaze head on. If this was going to break your friendship you wanted to shatter it into pieces.
“And do you?”, his eyes were so dark, the light of the stoplight just barely illuminating his face, his expression unreadable.
