Chapter Eighteen
EMMI STOOD IN FRONT OF BELLY, taking her hand. "Come on, Bells, I don't have an escort yet either. I'll dance with you." She offered
She and Conrad haven't talked since last night. It was killing her not knowing what Con was thinking about all of this. They had never made anything official, and that's what scared Emmi.
"What happened to Cam?" Em questioned, taking Belly's hand as they started the waltz.
"Six margaritas." Belly replied. "What about you, why don't you have an escort?"
"Don't know anyone that could take me." Emmilyn lied with a shrug. She really wanted Conrad to take her, but he was being so weird. "Might just go with Elijah."
"You're missing volleyball for this?" Belly asked her, mostly in surprise.
"Had to," Emmilyn replied. "Mom wanted me to deb, deb goes over volleyball. Plus, it's club volleyball, not the volleyball my scholarships rely on. So, I don't really care."
Belly nodded in understanding as Ms Covington corrected the moves they were doing. "God I hate the waltz." Belly whispered to her, making Emmi laugh and nod.
She felt bad not telling Belly about what was going on with her and Conrad; but even she didn't know. She didn't want to make a big deal about something that could be nothing. "Now that we have the steps, let's pick up the pace."
"It's okay," Emmi whispered to Belly as they did the steps faster. "Just imagine we're doing it with Susannah again."
Belly nodded at that. Susannah had taught all of them the waltz when they were younger. Jeremiah had struggled the most.
The curly haired boy walked up to them, smiling. "Mind if I have this dance?" He asked, taking Belly from Emmi.
"Hey Alexa," Jere called to the small device. "Play so pretty."
Enmilyn laughed loudly as Jeremiah started dancing to the song, dragging all of them in with him. He took Emmilyn's hand, holding her arms above her head as he danced with her. Emmilyn threw her head back with a laugh, popping her hips side to side.
"What is going on here?" Paige questioned, walking up to them. "Alexa stop." Emmi's smile dropped as the music stopped, sighing. "Jeremiah Fisher. Why aren't you at the pool?"
"We had a code brown," He responded. Emmi's nose crinkled up in disgust. "Yeah, we lost the keys to the chemical closet. "
Paige opened up a box, tossing him a set of keys. "There you go."
"Thanks." Jere spoke. "Catch you later Bells, Ems."
"Get going Jeremiah." Paige spoke, watching him walk away. Conrad made eye contact with Emmi, making her scowl. "Alright everyone, let's try that again, this time without the theatrics."
Conrad lifted his hand in a wave. Emmi held her middle finger up instead, watching as Nicole and Belly waved back with a frown. Emmi's phone dinged, making her take it out
connie
see you when you get back
emmi
u gonna walk away again?
Emmilyn frowned, putting her phone away. After their kiss, Conrad had walked inside and left Emmi alone on the gazebo. She grabbed Belly's hand, leading her into the waltz again with an unhappy sigh.
•••
Emmilyn brushed through her hair, frowning. Her hair dye was fading; she looked more and more like her mom everyday.
"Emmi," Elijah spoke, knocking on the door. "What's going on with you and Conrad?" At his sister's shocked face, he sighed. "I'm not blind, Em, I pay attention to my sister's life."
Emmilyn sighed at that, putting her hands on her thighs. "You can't tell Belly okay? She's like my baby sister, and it'll hurt her so bad."
Elijah nodded in understanding. "I know. We all know how much Belly likes Conrad. And she just finally got over you and Con sleeping together last year."
"We kissed last night." Emmilyn told him, her brother's eyes widening. "He kissed me. Said I was the only one he wants, not Nicole or Belly. But then he walked away."
Elijah sighed, shaking his head. "He's probably scared, Em." He told her. "Con was at the hospital when you were born. We were raised with him, our families spent Thanksgiving together. He doesn't want to fuck that up."
"I know, Lijah." She mumbled. "I'm scared too. But he keeps going back between me and Nicole, and I think Belly thinks he feels something for her too. I can't get played by him, not again.
"Just give him some time," Elijah offered. "He'll come around. He's Con. But if he hurts you, I'll beat him."
Emmilyn laughed. "God I think the scary older brother threat would be better coming from Steven or Jere." She laughed louder as Elijah threw a pillow at her. "He needs to come around before the deb ball, I can't go with my older brother."
"I don't know, I have pretty good dance moves." Elijah replied, starting to do the robot.
"Oh my god, Lijah, you're so embarrassing." Emmilyn laughed loudly, throwing her pillow at her brother. Elijah caught it, holding up an L sign at her. "Oh, shut up."
"Where's Scout?" Elijah questioned, looking around for the german shepherd.
"Belly and Cam Cameron took her for a walk." Emmi told him. She glanced out the window, sighing.
"I think Cam is really good for Belly," Elijah admitted. Emmi's eyes widened slightly. Eli was the oldest out of all of them; eighteen and a half. He protected the youngest fiercely. For him to approve of Cam was a lot.
"'Me too." Emmi told him, nodding.
"And I think Con is great for you." He continued. "I know I got upset at Thanksgiving, but seriously, I think you two would be really good for each other."
Emmi sighed, pushing her hair out of her face. She had feelings for Conrad, she couldn't deny that. But she didn't want to rush into a relationship. "Elijah, don't rush it."
Elijah pursed his lips, nodding. She knew it was killing him not to make a comment. "How's Lottie?" Emmi questioned. The girls had made up, but things were so awkward now they hardly talked.
"She's good," Elijah nodded. "She misses you."
"I figured," Emmi shrugged with a laugh. "Everybody misses me."
Elijah threw the pillow back at her, laughing as it hit her head. He shook his head fondly at her. "Talk to Lottie. Talk to Con. Get your shit worked out." He told her, walking out of her room.
She saluted, even though he couldn't see her. "Yes sir! Let Susannah paint your portrait!"
"Yeah, Elijah!" Susannah screamed upstairs. They were stoned, which was weird to Emmi. She had never seen Susannah not sober. "Let Susannah paint your portrait with Jeremiah!"
Elijah leaned his head back into Emmilyn's room, flipping her off. "Look what you have done!" He hissed. Emmilyn threw her head back with a laugh.
Emmilyn and Belly weren't getting their portraits painted until they were all ready for the deb ball. Susannah kept saying she was so excited to see them in white dresses, which confused Em. She would be there for their weddings; Emmilyn would postpone her wedding if Susannah couldn't be there. She was like her other mom.
Emmilyn grinned as Scout ran into her room, tailing wagging. "Hey, hey." She spoke, petting her head. "You have a good walk with Belly? Yeah?"
Belly smiled as she walked into the room. "She threw up, but I think it's just because of how much salt water she drank."
Emmi smiled, shaking her head fondly. "She does that. A lot."
Belly glanced around Emmi's messy room. "Can I help you clean?" She questioned, making Emmi laugh as she nodded.
Her phone dinged five minutes into cleaning. She picked it up, frowning as she saw Conrad on the notification.
connie
come outside
Emmilyn frowned. She'd make him wait; She wasn't going to come at his beck and call, especially after he walked away from her last night.
Belly, however, ran to the window to check if he was there. She opened the bedroom door with a short exhale, going downstairs.
Emmilyn sighed. Conrad needed to let her know what was going on between them so she could tell Belly gently. She didn't want to hurt the youngest Conklin, not again.
"What are we going to do Scout?" She asked, looking down at her puppy. "Yeah, what are we going to do?"
Emmi decided volleyball would help her find peace, pulling herself to her feet. "Come on, Scouty." She called, hitting her hands together. Scout trotted after her, tail wagging.
She headed out to the beach, grabbing her volleyball. Tomorrow was the benefit game. She didn't have an escort yet, which left playing with her to Elijah.
Enmilyn threw the ball up into the air, practicing her bumps. Scout watched the ball go up and down, tail wagging.
"How many scholarship offers do you have?" Conrad called as he walked down to her. Emmi sighed, not wanting to talk to him quite yet.
"A couple." She shrugged.
"Not chatty today, huh." Conrad nodded. "Fine, let's just play volleyball." Emmilyn bit back a remark, continuing her bumps. "Come on, Em." He sighed.
"No, no." Emmi shook her head, letting the volleyball drop. Scout jumped up, grabbing it. "You do not get to come on Em me. You fuck with my feelings, Conrad. You go between me, and Nicole, and fucking Belly too much."
Conrad took a step back as Emmi let it all out. "Let me know when you know what you want." She told him, stalking away.
She prayed he would want her.
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