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When Conrad walked into the room, Liz lit up. A smile took over her features as he walked closer. Her happiness was quickly diminished when she saw the bruise blooming on his face, "What happened?"

"I found him." He says

"Conrad, what happened to your face?" She says cupping his face

"I'm fine." He reassures, "He was pissed when I got there, but we figured it out."

"What the hell? Did he punch you? What did he punch you for?"

"I will explain all of it. I promise." He says pulling her hands from his face, "I'm gonna go tell Belly he's here."

Liz's face falls, "What? Why do you have to be the one to tell her?"

"Because whatever is going on with her, needs to stop. If she loves Jeremiah, she needs to show him. Otherwise, she's gonna lose him." He says, "Maybe, if I'm the one to tell her nothing is here, she'll understand it. Clearly, you telling her, isn't helping."

Liz looks off past him. Conrad quickly cups her face and steps closer, "Hey. As soon as I'm finished, I'm coming back down. To you. You have nothing to worry about."

"It's not you I'm worried about."

Conrad leans down and kisses her slowly. He pulls away, but stays close, "I love you."

"I love you." Liz sighs

He steps back, "I'll be right back."

Liz sighs shakily as he walks away. Her heart thuds in her ears as she watches him disappear around the corner.

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Belly turns when she hears a knock at her door, "Come in." Her heart stops as Conrad steps into the room. He shuts the door behind him and shoves his hands in his pockets, "What happened to your face?"

"It's nothing." He shrugs, "Don't worry about it."

Belly looks down, "Why are you here?"

"Jere's back."

"I know." She nods, "Steven told me."

"Good." He nods back, "I also want to understand what's going on with you."

Belly gulps, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Belly. Don't play this game."

"I don't know." She says shaking her head, "I really don't."

"You might want to figure it out. You're getting married incase you forgot."

"Yes, I know."

Conrad sighs, "Listen, I've known you almost my whole life and you're a great person. But you're just my friend, Belly. Like a little sister and I've always seen you that way."

"What about a few summers ago?" She asks, "On the Fourth of July when we stayed out on the dock and talked? You didn't feel anything?"

"Nothing." He answers quickly, "We were friends and we talked, but the entire time we did, I was thinking about the conversation I had with Liz before you came out."

"All those times you helped me when I was younger. When you were there for me when Dakota and Steven were being mean-"

"I was trying to make things easier for you, Belly. I'm the oldest. It's always been my job to watch over and take care of everyone."

"The other day when I helped you after your surfing accident?"

"I appreciated your help. I did. I still do, but the second I woke up, I wanted Liz." He says, "Belly, I don't want to be a dick, but- it's always been Liz. It'll forever be Liz."

"Does she know about Christmas?" Belly asks. Conrad sighs shutting his eyes, "Because that was when I knew I still felt this way about you."

"Yes, she knows we ended up in the beach house at the same time." Conrad says, "That's all it was and I told her the night of. I didn't keep anything from her."

Belly's eyes well with tears, "So, you don't feel anything at all for me?"

"Not at all." He says, "And I'm sorry if you thought I was giving you hints or signs or leading you on, but my heart and everything that I live for is downstairs. And I'm only here because I don't want her to ever feel like anyone could take her place because there's not a single soul on this entire planet that can be what she is to me."

Belly sniffles as she looks down, "Well, she's really lucky."

A silence falls over them before Conrad sighs, "Jere loves you. I know he's made mistakes, but if you guys want to be together and think you can get through this, you should. But don't hold onto him if you know you can't give him your all."

"Okay." Belly nods

Conrad nods back before turning and walking out the door. Belly let out a deep sigh as the tears continued to fall.

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River and Liz stood with the rest of the guests. Dakota, Steven, and they could only assume Conrad, were pulled a little while ago. The more they stood around, the more annoyed River became.

"God, is this wedding ever gonna start?" She says, "I thought Jeremiah was here."

"That's what Conrad told me." Liz sighs

"What the hell is going on?" River complains as she looks around. Her eyes then land on Conrad and Dakota who rushed over to them, "Hey, what's going on?"

"It's not happening." Dakota says

Liz sits up, "What?"

"They called it off." Conrad says

The girls' eyes widen, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah." Dakota says, "Literally less than five minutes after Paige grabbed us, they called it off. Steven's with Jeremiah right now."

"Holy shit." River says, "What the hell? Are you serious?"

"I swear."

"Oh my god." Liz says, "Why?"

"I guess it's because of what Belly told Jere." Conrad shrugs, "That's the only thing I can think of."

"Okay, what did you tell her?" River asks, "When you went up there."

"I told her that whatever she's imagining or thinks is there, isn't. Liz is the only person I want and that it's not gonna change." He says, "But if she can't give Jere her all, don't marry him."

Liz smiles softly as River chuckles, "Holy shit."

"That's my boy." Dakota says shaking his shoulder

"I was just honest with her. Neither of them need to be together anyway." He says, "Not if it's going like this already."

"You're not wrong." Liz mutters

River turns to her with a smile, "So, it looks like you got out of the wedding after all."

Liz chuckles as Dakota agrees. She shakes her head, "I didn't want it to happen this way."

"Either way, it happened." Dakota says, "I say we celebrate and drink the fancy shit while we're here."

"I can't drink."

"We'll drink for you." He says, "You'll be drunk in spirit."

"You're such an asshole." Liz rolls her eyes earning a laugh from Conrad.

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