#also i might make a taglist if u guys want 🫣 send me a message or ask if ur interested

[bellyfisher]

oh my god, my head hurts

read on ao3! 1.7k

summary: hurt/comfort fic. belly does something stupid as a gotcha to conrad. conrad does everything but says he actually cares about her. two idiot teenagers in love.

title from My Head Hurts by Little Hurt

for @kristtta i hope you like it!

Conrad always told me he would teach me how to surf while we’re at the summer house. However, I’m definitely not high on his priority list considering it’s been three years since he promised to teach me. Conrad much prefers to hang out with Red Sox Girl and drink himself to death these days.

I decided I was going to take matters into my own hands. I mean surfing can’t be that hard, right? Cousins isn’t known for its roaring waves. Thankfully, Susannah has an entire collection of surfboards ready to be used.

As I walk to the shed I hear somebody calling to me, “Hey Belly, what are you doing?” I turn around and it’s Jeremiah jogging to catch up with me.

“Oh uh I just figured I might go surfing today.” I shrug. I try to act nonchalant I can’t have Jeremiah running to tell Conrad. Although, I don’t know why I care so much since he clearly doesn’t either.

“But you’ve never been surfing before?” Jeremiah scrunches his face up in a quizzical way.

“Yeah I know. I was just going to take it easy. Just sit on the surfboard and get a feel for the water. I don’t think I’m gonna hit any waves.” I start spilling out. I hope Jeremiah doesn’t notice how nervous I am.

“Oh okay! Did you want me to come with you Bells?” Oh sweet Jere, always looking out for me.

“Nah that’s okay, I just kind of want some alone time.” I tuck my hair behind my ear as I walk in the shed to grab the surfboard.

“Alright, well let me know if you need anything. See ya later Belly.” Jeremiah taps my arm to say goodbye and I give him one last smile as I walk towards the beach.

I start to feel nervous, my body shivering. If anybody asks I plan on telling them I’m just cold. That’s believable in the summer, right?

Once I’m at the beachfront, of course Conrad is there with Red Sox Girl sitting on a beach blanket together. He’s too busy sucking her face off and I hope he doesn’t notice me. I start to quicken my pace, I don’t want a Conrad confrontation right now. He can be so condescending without even admitting why he cares so much.

“Oh is that Belly?” I hear the girl’s voice say. Shit.

I keep walking trying to reach the water before Conrad notices but of course Conrad, filled with athletic God genes, is up and running towards me. He’s already next to me, “What the hell are you doing, Belly?”.

I roll my eyes, “What does it look like I’m doing, genius?”.

He forcefully grabs my arm and turns me around, “You know I said I would teach you.”

“Yeah well we all say a lot of things. Clearly you didn’t mean it since you’ve been too busy sucking face and getting wasted everyday. It’s been three years, Conrad. I'm taking matters into my own hands.”

“You don’t know how to surf Belly! This is crazy! If you do it I’m telling Laurel!”

“Yeah well have fun telling her while I’m already out in the water!” I didn’t realize how loud I was.

“God why do you have to be such a brat!” He knows that’s my trigger word. I yank my arm out of his and run into the water. He wouldn’t follow me, I know him. I sit on the board and look to shore and sure enough he’s already back with Nicole.

Now I’m not sure what to do. A few small waves come and I don’t move from my sitting position. I’m terrified to be out here now but I’m not getting out until Conrad moves from the beach. I don’t want to hear his smug ‘I told you so’ but he won’t stop looking at me. God he can be so infuriating.

I’ve been sitting out in the ocean for about 20 minutes and the weather is starting to get rough. I need to head to shore but I’m still seething at Conrad. I thought things were changing between us this summer. When we had that moment while I was night swimming, I thought he would seek me out to teach me to surf. Typical Belly, expecting the best out of people who don’t care.

Fueled by anger, I test myself to stand up. I can still feel Conrad staring daggers at me. This will show him I’m not a baby anymore.

I stand up okay, definitely wobbly. A small wave comes and knocks me off the surfboard. It wasn’t too rough so I’m able to come back with no issues. I look towards the shore when I sit up on the board again. Huh, Red Sox Girl was stalking off. I wonder what Conrad said to piss her off. I figure I’ll give standing up one more go and I’ll go back to shore because the weather is cooling down and frankly I’m tired of being out in the water. Conrad be damned I don’t care.

The waves have gotten bigger and choppier while I sat gaining the courage to try again. I can see Conrad trying to yell something at me but I can’t hear him over the wind.

I stand up on the surfboard again. Just as wobbly as the first time. Conrad has walked right to the water, standing on the edge his feet half in. He’s not taking his eyes off me, he looks angry but also scared?

It happens in slow motion. A huge wave comes crashing from behind and I’m not expecting it. I slip backwards on the surfboard and into the water. I cut my leg in the process but I don’t feel it because the snap in my neck is what grabs my attention. And then I’m in the water. I’m telling myself to kick up, get above to the air. My body can’t move. I feel myself sinking lower into the ocean. The choppy waters moving me from side to side. My head is feeling faint from the lack of oxygen on top of my injury. I feel an arm around me, pulling me to the surface. My guardian angel coming to rescue me.

I gasp for air when I hit the surface. I think I can feel tears forming in my eyes. I can feel myself being dragged to shore.

All I can hear is, “I’ve got you Belly.” But it’s barely above a whisper. I think I might be hallucinating. Once we get to where he is able to stand up, Conrad lifts me bridal style like I don’t weigh a thing.

“Conrad?” I mumble. Still reeling from what just happened.

“Hey don’t worry Bells. We’re good now, we’re good.” He says it like he’s trying to convince himself. I can feel his feet running and yet he still doesn’t seem out of breath. The next thing I know we’re at the house and he puts me down on the couch, “I’ll be right back I promise. I’m going to grab a first aid kit.”

I know Conrad moves fast but I’ve never seen him move that fast. He’s back by my side before I can even notice he’s gone, “Where are moms?“ I manage to wince out through the pain. My head is starting to feel better but my leg is in severe pain. I have a large gash on my calf which I know is going to scar.

I can’t help it, I start to cry, “Where does it hurt Belly?” I can sense Conrad’s anxiety skyrocketing.

“J-just my leg, but now I’m going to have an ugly scar!” I cover my face with my hands.

“Hey, scars are badass. Doesn’t matter what stupid thing you did in the process.”

“Stop I only did it because I didn’t want to hear the I told you so’s from you.”

“I know. That’s my fault, I’m sorry. I should have taken you out with me to learn by now. I’ve just been distracted.” Conrad looks away from me, that’s how I know he’s at his most vulnerable.

“Conrad, whatever’s wrong you can tell me.” I touch his face. He looks so young and scared right now.

“Belly- I can’t. I need to take care of you right now.” I can feel electricity pulsing through my body every time his hand softly touches my leg. Conrad works fast to cover the bleeding, “Don’t go to sleep okay? You might have a concussion.”

Conrad gets up to leave, I grab his arm, “Please stay.” I look up at him.

He nods, “Okay.” He sits on the couch and puts his arm around me. I nestle my head into his shoulder and he starts running his hand through my hair.

“I’m serious, if you don’t want to tell me what you’re going through you should tell someone. Maybe Steven?”

“I’ll be okay, Belly. I’m the oldest, I’ve learned how to be strong.”

“You shouldn’t have to be strong all the time.” I look into his eyes, I want him to know I mean it.

It feels like forever as we look at each other. I think I’m starting to imagine things as I can see his face moving closer to mine. If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up. I start moving my face closer to his until we’re kissing. Conrad is soft and gentle, careful not to break me. I start to deepen the kiss and Conrad responds in kind. I start to forget all about the gash in my leg until I want to reposition and suddenly I cry out from the pain.

Conrad pulls away faster than lightning, “I’m sorry.” He rushes out.

“No don’t be sorry! I did it to myself. And it was worth it anyways.” I taper off towards the end

“Maybe I should go.” Conrad starts to push himself up again and I pull him right back down.

“Stay until at least the moms get home please.” Conrad nods at me and I go back to my head on his shoulder. Conrad turns on the TV to some made-for-TV movie. We sit in silence.

Once moms get home, Conrad fills them in on what happened. He doesn’t look at me the whole time. Once my mom comes over to check me out, Conrad walks away, how he’s so good at that I’ll never know.

What just happened?