when laurel told me they would leave at two, with or without me, i thought she was joking. when i came home five minutes after two i knew she wasn't.
i had my drivers test last month and passed. i got my granny's old car as an early birthday present, so i guess this year i would be driving on my own.
in situations like these i hate laurel. not her but her actions. and don't get me wrong she for sure is a lovely woman.
when my own parents abandoned me, she cared for me and let me live with them. and even though she's only my aunt and steven and belly are my cousins it felt good to have a family.
_
when i pulled into the driveway of the summer house i could already see that the others were greating each other.
i parked right next to laurels car, turned the music off and went out to say hi too.
i got off the car and the smell of salt air but also rust on my car door hit me. i would say Cousins was more home then home was. living starts when we're here.
"i can't believe you passed!" jeremiah said laughing when he hugged me tightly.
"believe it or not but i'm an excellent driver," i also laughed cause it was just so funny.
when we were younger jeremiah always thought i'd be the last one to pass.
"oh we believe you," susannah said when she hugged me.
she gave me a kiss on the head and whispered into my hair.
"i'm so happy to see you again, my sweet little girl."
susannah is the definition of safe place. she's been my rock since i can remember. when i had my firsy heartbreak she made me cookies and and talked with me for hours. when the boys excluded belly and me from their adventures she would take us to the mall and made us think that this was way more fun. i don't know what i would do without her.
"you've grown haven't you?" she asked me holding me by my shoulders away from her to check me out.
i haven't grown since last summer. in fact i haven't grown since i was twelve which was five years ago. and i never was tall. and susannah knew that. but she also knew that hearing that i'm taller made me proud.
"mom she obviously hasn't. but maybe you're shrinking," jeremiah noticed smirking.
she then gave him a light hit on the arm and laughed.
in that moment conrad came around the corner. he first welcomed belly then steven and laurel. conrad and i've never been close. our relation was more teasing and provocative so i didn't expect him to hug me like he did with the others.
and i was right, he didn't.
"guys i think it's time for a-" jeremiah started and finished his sentence together with steven.
"BELLYFLOP"
jere carried her by her shoulders and steven by her legs as they ran into the backyard to the pool.
conrad and i trailed a little behind them. then he talked to me as quiet as he could.
"so you're a blondie now?"
"i always was you just didn't notice," i snapped back.
"it was darker before."
i could tell that he was amused.
"i think it's time to change the tradition," conrad spoke up.
he then grabbed my waist and threw me into the pool right next to belly, who also was laughing while she sat herself on the edge.
for the first time this year i felt alive. i could feel the sun on my skin, smell the salt air and got my clothes sticking on me as my white top got see through.
