Conrad watched the reunion from a distance, a small smile on his face as he saw Florence interact with their friends. He couldn't help but feel a little left out as they all greeted each other with excitement. However, he shook off the feeling and walked up to them, greeting Steven with a hug before turning to the girls.

"Hey," Belly smiled at him, greeting him as Flo joked around with Steven, stood beside her.

"Hey Belly," he replied with a smile, "think I liked you better with glasses."

"Too bad, I like me better without them," the girl replied with a confident smile, although his words had affected her, she refused to let it show.

Before Conrad can respond, Jeremiah and Steven exchanged mischievous glances, their eyes gleaming with excitement, "guys, guys, guys," Jeremiah interrupted, "I think...think it's time for the Belly flop!" he announced, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Belly's eyes widened in realization, and she quickly tried to dart away from her brothers. "No way! You guys always do this!" she protested, giggling as they chased after her.

Conrad watched the playful commotion with a smirk, his gaze shifting to Florence, a playful glint in his eyes.

Florence crossed her arms, a mock stern expression on her face. "Don't you dare!" she warned, pointing a finger at Conrad.

Conrad raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm innocent here," he said with a chuckle.

Jeremiah and Steven swiftly caught up to Belly, lifting her off her feet with ease. Despite her protests, they carried her towards the pool, her laughter filling the air.

Conrad and Florence followed closely behind, anticipation written on their faces. Just as the boys tossed Belly into the pool, she resurfaced, sputtering and scowling at her boys. "You guys are so dead!" she exclaimed, a mix of anger and amusement evident in her voice.

"Relax, Belly," Conrad laughed, "it's just harmless fun."

"Oh yeah, just harmless fun," Florence repeated, turning to Conrad with a smirk, "so you won't mind if I do this?"

Before Conrad could comprehend what she meant, the redhead walked closer to him and nudged him into the pool.

But as fate would have it, their hands locked together as Conrad's reflex kicked in, and both of them toppled into the water with a resounding splash.

Jeremiah and Steven burst into laughter as they watched Conrad and Florence fall into the pool, creating a big splash. Belly, still a bit annoyed, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"Looks like they got a taste of their own medicine," she remarked, grinning mischievously.

Underwater, time seemed to stand still as they fell into the water. Conrad's instinctual grip held onto Florence's waist as she steadied herself, their eyes locking in an unexpected moment of connection. The world faded away, and all that existed in that brief moment was the two of them, submerged in the pool. They looked into each other's eyes, both wondering what was happening and why both of them were feeling the way they were in this moment.

But their moment was abruptly interrupted as Jeremiah and Steven cannonballed into the water, creating a cascade of bubbles and breaking their spell. Florence and Conrad resurfaced, gasping for breath, looking anywhere but at each other.

"You guys never miss a chance to cause chaos, do you?" Florence quipped, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"We're just getting started," Jeremiah warned, "this summer, we're going freaking crazy!" he said, splashing water towards Florence, who squealed and shielded herself.

Conrad chuckled, water dripping from his hair. "It's all part of the summer fun, Flo. You can't blame us for that," Steven chimed in as he joined in the fun, splashing water in every direction. The pool quickly turned into a playful battleground as they engaged in a friendly water fight.

Between the laughter and splashing, Florence stole glances at Conrad. There was something different about their interaction this time. A spark that she couldn't quite put into words. She felt a sense of comfort and familiarity when they locked eyes underwater, even if it was just for a brief moment.

As the splashing subsided, they all gathered at the pool's edge, catching their breath. Wet hair clung to their faces, and their laughter echoed through the warm summer air. They knew that this summer would be unforgettable, filled with laughter, friendship, and maybe even a touch of romance.

As the sun continued to shine down on them, casting a golden glow on the water, they lingered by the pool, relishing in the joy of being together once again, ready to make the most of their summer at Susannah's beach house.

Florence stepped into the bathroom, after they had all gotten out of the pool, closing the door behind her. She turned on the shower, the sound of water cascading filling the room. As the warm water enveloped her, she couldn't help but let her mind wander back to the moments she shared with Conrad.

She replayed the scene in her mind when Conrad caught her from falling earlier. The way his arms wrapped around her, providing a sense of security, sent a shiver down her spine. And in the pool, their eyes locked for a brief moment underwater, creating a connection that she couldn't quite put into words. A connection she hadn't felt before.

She leaned against the shower wall, the water soothing her body as her thoughts continued to dance. There was something different about Conrad today, a certain energy that seemed to pass between them. It made her heart flutter, but she couldn't quite pinpoint what it meant.

Lost in her thoughts, Florence couldn't help but wonder if Conrad felt the same way. Did their interactions hold a deeper meaning for him? Was there a possibility of something more? She brushed off the idea, unsure if she was just reading too much into it or if there was truly something brewing between them.

Finishing her shower, Florence turned off the water and stepped out, dressing in comfortable clothes and drying off her hair when Belly entered the room with a knock, her hair drenched and a towel wrapped around her body.

"Where have you been all this time?" she asked as Belly tapped off water from her foot so the floors wouldn't get drenched.

"Oh, me and Jeremiah went for a swim in the ocean," Belly replied as Florence turned to face her, "we couldn't resist."

"You guys went without me?" Florence asked with a mock-hurt face, "ouch, it's like I'm not your best friend anymore."

"Quit being dramatic, Flo," Belly laughed, "you know you'll always be my best friend, no matter what. We're like mom and Susannah."

Florence hummed with a smile as she got up from the bed, "well, freshen up then. I'll go downstairs and see what the moms have planned for dinner."

Belly nodded as Florence left the room and the former jumped into the shower before their first summer dinner.

Belly stood under the refreshing spray of the shower, letting the water wash away the salt water and sand from her skin. As the water flowed over her, her mind drifted back to her interactions with Conrad earlier in the day. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment mixed with confusion.

Belly had harbored a crush on Conrad since she was twelve, and she had hoped that this summer would be the turning point in their relationship. She had imagined long walks on the beach, stolen glances, and maybe even their first kiss. But so far, Conrad had been acting differently than she had anticipated. Maybe all her summer dreams would only remain dreams, after all.

Replaying their conversations in her mind, Belly couldn't shake the feeling that Conrad wasn't fully present. He seemed distracted at times, as if his mind was elsewhere. It made her wonder if there was something bothering him or if it was just her imagination playing tricks on her.

And then there was the comment he made about her glasses. Although he may have brushed it off as a joke, it had stung deep inside. Belly had always been self-conscious about her appearance, and Conrad's words had hit a nerve. She wondered why he seemed to connect more with Florence than with her, making her question her place in his life.

She shook her head, trying to push the thought out of her mind. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that came with not being the one Conrad laughed with.

As the water began to cool, Belly turned off the shower and stepped out, wrapping herself in a towel. She couldn't dwell on her insecurities forever, she told herself, staring at her reflection in the fogged-up mirror. It was time to focus on enjoying the rest of the summer with her friends.