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Belly:Jere and I had gotten into a bad fight before spring break. Right before he went on a trip to Cabo with his frat brothers. I never would have believed that the two of us would fight, just like those couples in movies and shit.It was about Cousins. All I wanted was spring break in my favorite place on Earth with my favorite person. Instead, he went on a "too good to pass up" vacation in Cabo. I said that I wanted to go to just spend time with him, when I also really needed a reminder of Susannah. I think that was the exact opposite of what Jere wanted. All I knew was that it was now his second day in Cabo, and we hadn't said a word to eachother.That was until I got the text.I was moping around my dorm in the same t-shirt I had worn since Jere left my place after the fight, a navy blue Finch College crewneck that I had stolen from his closet just a few weeks prior. I wasn't expecting a text from him until after he got back on campus. I thought it was some sort of trick my brain was playing on me when I heard "Text from JereBear: For whatever we lose, like a you or a me, it's always ourselves we find in the sea." coming from my Airpods. Susannah's favorite poem. I immediately ran from my living room to my bed to grab my phone and call him. I knew it was pathetic, but I really missed him."Belly?" I heard from the other side of the phone."Yeah its me. Look I'm so-""Don't you dare apologize, Bells." He interupted me. "I should be the one saying sorry. I should have stayed with you. I never wanted to hurt you. I just couldn't deal with another reminder of my mom right now."That made me feel like an asshole. How could I not have realized that he was hurting? "I'm sorry that I didn't think to check on you, Jere" I said."Bells, no. Its not your fault." after a long pause he said. "Baby, I'm sorry, but I have to go surfing with the boys. I love you.""I love you, t-" I started, but got cut off by three beeps. Immediately, I felt like something was missing again. I knew it was selfish, but I kind of wanted him to spend the rest of his vacation talking to me.(Jeramiah's POV)On the car drive, I couldn't help but have a bittersweet feeling. I was glad that Belly and I were closer to being back to normal, but a two minute call didn't take away the pain that I felt while arguing with the love of my life. I just wanted to go back to the hotel and call her. Actually, I wanted to be with Belly right now, telling her how much I love her. But for now, I would have to surf with my brothers and this one really annoying sorority girl from the sorority that came with us. Her name was Lilly or maybe Stacy? No girls could ever compete with my Bells. I was just glad I only had to deal with three more days of being away from her.Surfing was a complete flop. I somehow managed to fall more times than I can count. We ended up just going back to the hotel where the rest of the guys were playing beer pong. I didn't want to drink that day, and contemplated going to the hot tub next to the pool, but decided to just go to my room. I wanted to call Belly so bad, but knew I would not be able to ever hang up. Instead I texted her:"hey bells :) i'm really tired and am gonna go to bed early. i love you! good night"It was an effort to tell her that I was thinking about her without sounding desperate.
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Jeremiah:I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stand being away from her any longer. Even though it was late at night, I called up Steven."Yooo" said a sleepy Steven. "What's up?""Hey Stevooo. Listen I need your help with something.""Sure, what is it?" He asked, sounding a little confused."Imma need you to pick me up from the airport in like, a day." I said."Can't Belly do," He trailed off. "Are y'all still fighting?"*Not after what I'm planning* I thought. "Don't worry about it." I had turned my brain on autopilot and it sounded kinda sketchy."Oookay." Steven sounded almost like he was trying to decypher what I was saying. "Listen, as much as I love talking to you, I gotta go.""YEAH HE'S GOT TO GOOO, JEREMY" Taylor yelled into the phone. That was my cue to hang up.I turned on "White noise with black screen," my favorite video of all time and fell asleep while dreaming of Bells. Shut up, I knew it was corny.The next morning, I found a shitty Spirit Airline flight for 12 AM. It was overpriced and definetly going to make me lose sleep, but I would have done anything to talk to Belly right in that moment.As I was about to take a nap, I heard a knock on my hotel door. I went to go look into the peephole and saw that girl who went surfing with us the day before. I just yelled, "I'M BUSY," and decided that since I already got interrupted, I just wouldn't sleep. I decided I was going to make one of those fancy poster boards with candy, like the ones people use for hoco and promposals. I went to a local convinience store and bought a tri-fold poster, tape, some markers and 10 bags of Sour Patch Kids.I went back to the hotel, and after looking at pinterest, I found the perfect cheesy line. I taped all of the Sour Patch Kids onto the board and in huge letter, I wrote "Bells, Life Would Be So Sour Without You. I LOVE YOU!" It was so cringey, but it was the truth.While packing all of my stuff up, I realized that I probably couldn't bring it on the flight along with my carry on. I wondered if I could put my carry on inside my bag, but nope, of couse not. After 1 hour, I managed to fit the poster inside my suitcase. I knew the security would have to take it out, but I chose to ignore that, very relevant, piece of knowledge.All that's left to do is wait. Oh, and text Belly! I sent her a short message so that I wouldn't end up spoiling the surprise."gm ish, bells! sorry, i woke up late"Now all that was left to do was wait. T-10 hours to get to the airport. Time for Roblox.(Belly's POV)I fell asleep at like 8 pm and didn't see Jere's texts until 2 pm the next day. I was still half-asleep when I responded with:"good afternoon jere :)"Although I love him so much, I was still really sad about the fight. I decided I was going to have a productive day. I grabbed some food and then went back to bed. Very productive.It was like 4 am when I heard a knock on my door. I, very slowly, went to open it. I didn't check throught the peephole or ask who it was, and I definetly could have gotten kidnapped. I opened the door to see a sleepy version of Jere."Jere?" I asked. I partially thought my mind was playing tricks on me."Hey Bells""What are you doing here so early?" I kind of sounded mean, but I was just really confused.
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Belly:"Bells," He paused. "I coulnd't stand fighting with you anymore. It was ruining me." Jere said, and I could tell he was holding back tears."You hurt me. Bad." I blurted out. "You made me feel so, so unhelpful. I know you had more of a connection with Susannah, but it was almost like you were saying that I wasn't greiving.""I am so sorry I made you feel that way, Belly. That was never my intention and I know you loved... love Mom." The way he couln't bear to use passed tense while talikng about her forced me to break my stubbornness and give him the biggest hug I could.Talk. That's what we needed to do. I went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a tub of rock road ice cream and the Sour Patch Kids. I walked to my room and sat on my bed. Jere followed as we sat, almost awkwardly, for a few minutes."So, are we gonna eat junk food and talk it out, or just sit here?" He asked."The first one was kind of my plan." I mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed. He noticed and motioned for me to come closer. We layed on my twin sized bed with his arm around me and my head on his chest for what felt like hours. We talked about our best and worst days in the summer house. We shared stories and memories. Soon both of us were sobbing. I grabbed his face and gave him a big wet kiss. We soon both fell asleep.I woke up with a call from Taylor."What's up?" I checked the time on the screen, 8:32."Hello to you too." She mumbled. "Care to tell me why Steven was picking up Jeremy from the airport? I'm coming over right now and you're gonna tell me everything.""I was wondering how he got here." I said, a little too loud."Did the little bitch rat me out? I was hoping for a full day just you and me." He looked as disapointed as a little puppy that didn't get a treat."Taylor, maybe tomorrow. I did kinda wanna spend the day with Jere." I said, trying not to sound mean."OoOoOoh," Taylor giggled. "I see you smelly Belly.""NOT LIKE THAT!!!" I yelled into the phone and hung up.When I put my phone down, Jere was laughing histerically. I couldn't help but start laughing too, even though I didn't know why we were in the first place.I realized that nothing mattered because I was with a guy who would fly halfway across the world for me.
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JeremiahA month and a half ago, I flew home from my spring break trip. A lot has happened since then to say the least.1. The president of my frat got busted for drunk driving and is currently in jail. I thought long and hard and decided to drop out of greek life completely because of the chaos that ensued.2. Belly and I have decided that we will stick together even when we fight. I bought her a 'pretty pink' promise ring (as tay-tay and belly like to call it) to show that.3. I moved into a dorm in the same building as Taylor and Belly. As much as Taylor complains about me taking her best friend away, it's helped Belly and I get closer.4. I tried to talk to Conrad more. I don't think he will ever be fully comfortable with Bells and me dating, but it's getting better to say the least.I have my final exam of the year tomorrow and its for one of the easiest classes at Fitch. Connie's all done with his work and so is Steven. We all plan to meet up at the beach house two days from now. I'm not missing another summer there. Mom would be so mad if I did.Study. I need to study. But man do I just want to smell the salty air while eating a fresh pie on the way to the beach house. Fuck english, I want that now. My summertime daydream was rudely cut short by a Fitch librarian telling me that the library closes in ten minutes. A poking feeling hit me in my stomach as I realized that all I've eaten is a protien smootie and a poptart. Because it was eight and I didn't feel like cooking, I Doordashed some Chinese food and practically begged Bells to stop whatever she was doing and come hang out with me."I need to pack for Cousins. We're going to be there almost all summer and I feel like I don't have enough clothes." She complained over the phone."I wouldn't mind if you didn't pack anything," There was no need for ESP when she could hear the grin in my voice. "Pretty please come over? I can help you pack after the test tomorrow." I asked.After some more back and forth, she agreed and was just in time for the food to arrive. We made a makeshift picnic spread on the fuzzy grey rug beside my bed. Was this the summer that everything would really fall back into place? I'll be at the summer house with the girl I love, one of my best friends, and my brother. Plus Taylor when she comes for Belly's birthday.Frankly, the brother part is the only thing I'm worried about. I realized that I spaced out and was looking out into the abyss. To break the silence, I blurted out, "Bring your clothes over and we can pack together." "Uhm, okay we can do that. Since we're both packed up to leave our dorms, we kinda can't make a big mess though." She said in between bites of vegetable lo mein. "I'll grab the box with my summer clothes. Be right back."She was gone for what felt like hours while I just stared at my clock and munched on two big egg rolls. Man what was taking so long. When the ten minute mark hit, I decided to just scroll through her reposts on tiktok.Before I could even watch the second video, she stumbled in, giggling and holding one of those plastic envelopes that you get when you order clothes online. "Whats that?" I questioned, careful not so sound like I was too bored when she was gone."A gift from Taylor. She says its for both of us? I don't really know what that's supposed to mean." Bells rips it open. "Stop. This is too Taylor." She laughed, holding up a red bathing suit. My cheeks turned equally as red, while my mind displayed an image of her at the beach in that bikini. "Well thats going with you. No question. At all." I mumble. Belly and I spend about 20 minutes packing all of my clothes before we take a whopping three hours to figure out her wardrobe. By the time we're done packing, it's past midnight. All I have to do is pass this exam and all of my worries will be gone by the time we start driving to our home away from home.