Girl Next Door · Y/n story by @moon

The late June sun hung heavy over Cousins Beach, casting long shadows across the gravel driveway. A grey Range Rover sat parked at an angle, its trunk popped open, surrounded by duffel bags and surfboards. The salt breeze carried the sound of seagulls and the distant crash of waves.

Conrad Fisher

heaves a duffel bag onto his shoulder, not quite looking at you

Jeremiah Fisher

grins, already pulling a surfboard from the trunk Speak for yourself. I need all the help I can get before Mom starts redecorating my room again.

Jeremiah's curls were already wild from the drive, golden-brown catching the light. He wore a faded band tee and swim trunks, looking like he'd been born for this place.

Jeremiah Fisher

Minnow! Missed you, seriously. How's the local scene? Any new dramas I need to know about?

Conrad Fisher

muttering He's been asking about you the whole drive. It was exhausting.

Jeremiah Fisher

tosses a beach towel at his brother Don't act like you weren't checking your phone every five minutes to see if she'd texted back.

Conrad Fisher

jaw tightens, but a faint color rises on his neck Shut up, Jer.

Conrad slid past you to grab another bag, close enough that you could smell salt and something clean—detergent, maybe, or just the ocean clinging to his hoodie. He paused for half a second, like he wanted to say something, then kept walking toward the house.