AN ARRIVAL

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Betty Graham sat near the edge of the water, the morning breeze nipping at her skin as she took in the sight that never seemed to get old. She remembered when she was younger she would complain about living at the beach, she had been there her whole life... why couldn't she ever live somewhere else. And then she realized people came from all over to spend a summer there—so there must be something special about it. Ever since then she had found that special quality, and she had made sure to sit back and enjoy it at every chance she could. Plus at times like these she felt like she resonated with the water, calm waves breaking at the shore...treacherous storms ravaging the waters the further you went. It reminded her of the struggle she was in at the moment.

It wasn't as early as she usually came out, it was nearing noon, her stomach turning as she felt hunger start to grasp her. She had woken up late after ending her night in Robbies bedroom, safely tucked away into his king sized bed to sleep the alcohol off. When she had woken up, Robbie was snoring on the floor, and Betty refused to wake him up—so she walked home. She skipped going inside all together, heading straight to the beach in hopes of avoiding whatever strenuous errands her mother needed her to complete for the day. She hugged herself, her arms tightening around herself as she considered going home and changing and showering and starting her day.

Finally she let out a sigh and looked down, pushing herself up from the sand and dusting herself off. She started cast one final glance at the water and then started up the beach, her sweater sleeves hanging over her hands and helping to distract her from messing with the cut on her palm. Every time she remembered it was there or looked at it or thought about it she was reminded of him, and she  didn't want to think about him. She only wanted to move on. They had both confirmed they were fine...and so they were. 

A figured appeared on the path, followed by another figure, Betty knowing the only people that had access to this path was the Fishers. However the closer she got the faster she realized it was not a Fisher...but the two Conklin siblings, arguing over something she couldn't quite make out.

"Belly?!" Betty called excitedly, the girl feeling joy erupt in her when her eyes fell on the girl who had called for her.

"Oh my god Betty! Betty!" The Conklin girl broke into a full run, Betty jumping with excitement when they met. Their hug lasted only a second, but it was meaningful enough, Betty pulling back and looking at the girl with a raised eyebrow.

"Wow you look—you look a lot different. You weren't kidding when you said you grew boobs." Betty said, lowering her voice for the second part. Still it must've been too loud, Steven groaning as he approached the two girls.

"Ew stop. Please don't talk about boobs near me." He whined, Betty laughing lowly and rushing towards him. He pulled her into a hug and held her there for a moment, his lips turned up into a smile when they pulled back. Steven was a big fan of Betty's, the two of them texting probably the most out of any of the others. Betty and Belly texted a lot, Betty and Jere texted less, but Steven and Betty texted constantly...Steven insistent on keeping the contact due to the fact that the two of them were on the same motivational level. He was unsure of anyone else who understood his work ethic like she did, meaning they connected on levels that the others couldn't reach.

"Surprised you're not in France this year..." Steven said, shrugging his shoulder the girl as she stepped back and looked between the two of them. Belly's arms were crossed over her chest, her nose slightly scrunched as the sun hit her face. Betty shook her head and let out a small laugh, unsure as to why everybody had to bring this up.

"I went to France for one summer... everyone acts like I've gone for years or something."

"It was just a big deal that you skipped last year...that's all." Belly said, Betty once again being reminded of the fact she had made a big thing when she left.

"Well I'm here this year. My last summer before college—means you two will have to enjoy the end of summer festivities without me."

"Oh yeah Conrad said something about you leaving for college...you haven't even mentioned it. You know I'm considering Princeton." Steven dropped that information like it was nothing, Betty feeling a strange sensation in her stomach at someone else mentioning Conrad talking about her. She smiled at him, Belly studying the older girls face as she chose how to reply.

"You're the smartest person I know so...I'm sure it'll be great. And Belly you— are you still the volleyball captain?" Betty asked, shifting the conversation it Belly and giving her a kind smile. The younger girl nodded, cracking her knuckles as she spoke to Betty.

"Yeah it's pretty exciting. My coach said she'd figure I could be the captain all four years as long as I stay on track."

"Of course, yeah. You've got it in the bag I'm sure." Steven could hardly wait for Betty to finish answering the boy quickly jumping to the next question.

"Why you out here Bon?" She internally cringed at the nickname, her eyes resisting the urge to roll as she looked at him. She pointed towards the beach with her thumb, her lips parting to answer him.

"Spent the night at Robbie's and had to walk home...figured I'd come out and look at the beach before heading home."

"Ah the walk of shame...I'm sure that would've been fun to see." Steven said, Betty rolling her eyes at the insinuation that her and Robbie did anything but sleep in the same room. She felt her cheeks light up but she shook her head quickly, Steven thinking she looked funny blushing. Belly took her time to look over Betty's face while she spoke to her brother, seeing how she looked different than she did two summers ago. She looked a tad older, she had grown more. Her looks had become her and she seemed wiser, Belly wondering if it was her trip abroad that had weathered her.

"No...not a walk of shame—I was just too drunk to get home last night." She said, Belly tuning back in at the mention of her being drunk. Belly knew very well how much Betty liked to party, it was one of the most memorable things about her. When they used to be friends before, Belly had gotten into the habit of living vicariously through Betty because of her stories, and she only assumed they had gotten more wild since the last time they stood face to face. But Belly was determined to change that...the party she was invited to circling her mind.

"Same old Bon...too drunk to function." She didn't laugh at his comment due to the fact she was called that awful nickname again, the girl fighting with her smile to not drop. Finally she nodded and the shirt seemed to be picked up by the other two, Belly sighing and gesturing towards the direction they were headed.

"Listen we were headed down to the beach to look so if you wanna join us I'm sure—"

"No I spent some time out there earlier. I've gotta head home my brothers are probably thinking I'm dead by now." They both nodded, secretly relieved she had said no only because they didn't want to continue the formalities and have a stranger sit in on their ritual.

"Hey tell then I said hey and that I'll see them later alright?" Steven said walking past the girl, taking his steps backwards as she watched him go. Belly followed and Betty nodded, her lips tightening into a small smile as she gave a thumbs up.

"And tell Laurel I said hey." Betty called after the two, Belly giving the older girl a small wave before the tow of them turned away and hurried towards the beach and Betty headed back to her house. She kept her head down as she headed inside, hoping no one else was outside or looking around. She hurried towards the front door and attempted to make it up the stairs, but she didn't quite make it before her younger brother Nick stopped her on the stairs.

"And where have you been young lady?" The boy asked, her other brother jointing him as she turned back to look at them. The tone he held was serious and she found the humor in her younger brother acting like her dad...still she refrained from laughing.

"Crashed at Robbies because I was too drunk. Don't worry I'll be down to make lunch in a few." She started to go up the stairs again but Noah's words stopped her, the girl looking back at them.

"We made lunch for you...figured you'd need something in your stomach before you have to do it all again tonight." They were speaking of another party but Betty wasn't entirely sure she wanted to go. The interactions with people she didn't necessarily want to talk to had been a bit too much, and she only knew that the Fishers could not skip the party.

"I don't know if I wanna go."

"Fine by me...less people I have to worry about disappearing and not coming home till late." Betty rolled her eyes as she hurried up the rest of the stairs, thinking her brothers were absolutely ridiculous before she closed her bedroom door and slumped onto her bed.