𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫.

001.

cindy and her mother sophia were just about to pull up to the beach house. laurel had called ten minutes ago that the family had arrived and were now waiting on the two.

as sophia parked her car next to laurel's vehicle, excitement bubbled up inside cindy. she knew that this summer was going to be special – the annual reunion with her closest friends, the familiar scent of the salty ocean air, and the lazy days spent basking under the sun. cousins held a special place in her heart.

with the engine silenced, the front door of the beach house flung open, and a burst of laughter and cheers filled the air. cindy couldn't help but smile as she saw jeremiah, belly, and steven come running out, with conrad strolling behind them, his smile already in place.

jere quickly ran up to cindy and spun her around. "i missed you cinderella." he gently put her back down on the ground. "you look beautiful."

"thanks jere!" she smirked and turned to look at belly.

she couldn't deny belly had glowed up.

"belly you look absolutely gorgeous." she hugged her as belly's smile grew even wider.

before when cindy would tell belly that she was pretty she knew that she just said it out of pity but belly could tell that this time she actually meant it.

"says the most beautiful person on this entire earth." belly complimented.

belly would never admit it but she was always jealous of cindy a bit. all of the past summers it was cindy that got all the attention from everyone. but this year she hoped it would be different.

"move, it's my turn." steven pushed through his sister and jeremiah. "hello cindy lou."

"shut up stevie wonder." the girl rolled her eyes as steven wrapped an arm around her. both of them grinned at the nicknames they had given each other when they were children.

finally, cindy's gaze shifted to conrad, the one who had always held a special place in her heart. their eyes locked, and a genuine smile lit up their faces as they walked closer to each other.

"hey," conrad whispered, pulling her into a tender embrace. "you look gorgeous, cinderella."

cindy couldn't help but return his smile. "you don't look too bad yourself, connie," she replied, her voice filled with warmth and affection.

the enchantment of the summer had only just begun, and cindy was ready to embrace it with open arms.

steven then said "hey, hey, guys, guys. I mean,
I-I don't know about you, but I... well, I-I think it's time for a... for a.." he pointed to his imaginary watch. "cindy and belly flop" steven and jeremiah yelled.

belly and cindy started running away but the boys caught up to them. steven and jeremiah grabbed belly from her arms and legs while conrad carried the brunette girl over his shoulder.

"one...two...three" they all yelled and threw the girls in the water.

belly quickly got out of the pool as cindy got an idea. "guys, I hurt my ankle." cindy told the boys but jeremiah and steven knew she didn't actually need help.

"come on" conrad tried to help but she pulled him in with her, making the two go underwater.

both of them hit the bottom of the pool and opened their eyes as they looked at their hands that were holding onto each other. cindy was the first to let go as they both reached the surface of the pool.

"just don't pull me in." jeremiah laughed as he extended his hand for the girl to take. she gladly accepted it and emerged from the pool.