The Summer I Turned Pretty

01Blossoming Summer

Isabel 'Belly' Conklin had always found solace in the sun-kissed sands of Cousins Beach. It was a place that felt more like home than her actual house ever did. The beach house, a charming abode owned by Susannah, her mother's lifelong friend, was a haven where Belly could escape the monotony of her everyday life. It was a place where time seemed to stand still, where the laughter and joy of their annual family reunions echoed in every corner. Belly's older brother, Steven, was a constant presence in her life, albeit a dismissive one. He was often too engrossed in his own world to pay much attention to his younger sister. Susannah's sons, Conrad and Jeremiah, were more like brothers to Belly than mere family friends. Conrad, the elder of the two, was a quiet and thoughtful soul, often lost in his own thoughts. Jeremiah, in stark contrast, was a bundle of energy, always eager to include Belly in their summer escapades. Belly's feelings for Conrad were a tangled web of emotions. She had been drawn to his enigmatic and distant nature since she was a little girl. Yet, Conrad seemed to see her as nothing more than a kid sister, seemingly oblivious to the depth of her feelings for him. This unrequited love was a constant undercurrent in Belly's summer experiences, a poignant reminder of the bittersweet pain of first love. The summer at Cousins Beach was more than just a season of fun and frolic. It was a time of transformation for Belly, a period of growth and self-discovery. Each summer brought with it a new set of experiences, new insights, and new challenges that gradually molded Belly into the young woman she was evolving into. Amidst all the changes, one thing remained a constant - Belly's love for Conrad. It was a love as enduring as the summer sun, a love that was as much a part of her as the sand was a part of the beach.