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“I think this is good enough, right?” Belly checked herself out in the mirror. She was wearing a white crop top with daisies adorning the seams of the bottom of it matching with jeans that fit her just right. With a last glance at the mirror, she grabbed her phone and left the room, ready for her first night out with Jeremiah.
Her mom had some trip with other book writers that Belly couldn't care less about the details of and Steven was in his room, calling with Taylor. As Belly tip-toed past his room, she would hear her best friend laugh at some joke her brother said.
Going down the stairs, Belly stepped on a loose tile that creaked which alerted Steven. She heard her brother shout through the door. “Where are you going? It’s getting late already.” Belly rolled her eyes and went back to his room. She slightly opened the door and Steven looked at her with his usual arrogant expression. Belly was annoyed, but she knew her brother was just trying to look out for her. “I’m just going out for a while. I’ll be back before midnight.”
Steven raised his eyebrows and Taylor cheered in the background. “Belly, you didn’t answer my question,” her brother told her. Before Belly could even reply, Taylor answered for her in a sing-song tone. “Isn’t it obvious? She’s going out with Jeremiah! I told you team Jellyfish wins!” Steven scoffed and before Belly was going to be dragged into their banter, she silently closed the door to his room with a small smile on her face and was extra careful not to make any noise this time when she was going down the flight of stairs.
Belly sat outside on the porch, twiddling with a lock of her hair. It felt like hours when she finally sees a familiar red car pull up on the driveway. She practically skips towards his car and is practically ecstatic when she sees Jeremiah on the other side of it, walking towards her.
"Bells! I've missed you!" Jeremiah half-screams, giving Belly one of his signature bear hugs and picks her off her feet, twirling her around like how he always did when he saw her. It made Belly a bit dizzy, but she always enjoyed her traditions with him.
"You're late, you know? It's five minutes past eight," she teased with a smile as he put her down. She pretended to be mad at him, putting her fists on her waist, but she knew Jeremiah caught the playful tone in her voice. Their ESP always worked, even during the most difficult times. "Well someone's been keeping track. Admit it, you've missed me too." Jeremiah still had his hands around her waist and pulled her closer to him. His ocean blue eyes stared intently into her earthy brown ones. Even if they were a couple months into their relationship, his touch, and everything about him, was electric to her. He brought this light into her life with his energetic and bubbly personality, and so everything was easy with him.
Belly smiled at him and shook her head. "I never said I didn't miss you too, dork." She snaked her arms around his neck and brought him in for a slow but passionate kiss. It wasn’t like the kisses they shared when they got together. It was innocent and pure, but she could still feel the sparks between them and how right it felt to be with him, kissing him. From how he held her and kissed her, she knew he felt the same.
“You don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to do that,” he whispered softly to her, as he caressed her cheek with his hand. She looked at him with a twinkle in her eyes as she tugged at his shirt slightly whining, “We have to go, don’t want to be late for the movie.” Jeremiah moved to open the passenger door for Belly and she couldn’t help but blush when she got in the car. He was always so sweet to her, she couldn’t believe she could call Jeremiah Fisher her boyfriend. The way he always acted like a gentleman made her feel like a princess. And it was perfectly fine, he is her prince in her eyes anyways.
Jeremiah got in the driver’s seat and started the engine. “Are you ready to have the best night of your life?” He asked with a hint of excitement in his eyes. She grinned from ear to ear at his question. “With you? I’m ready for anything.”
Silence filled the air in the car as she grabbed his hand and held it tightly. It was the kind of silence that they both were familiar with, but didn’t mind. In fact, they were more or less comfortable with it. It made Belly know for sure that the person she was sitting with in this car, in this moment, is the one she was destined to be with. When silent, uneventful days would still be meaningful to her just because she was spending it with him.
During the car ride, Belly noticed Jeremiah taking glances at her. “What is it? Do I have something on my face?” She giggled and put her free hand to her face, wiping her cheeks.
He blushed, a bit embarrassed that he got caught but wasn’t surprised. “No no, I just… Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?” Jeremiah had the knack for saying things at the right moment to make everything so much better than it already was. “And I’m just really happy about getting to do this with you. Feels unbelievable.”
She tightened her grip on his hand and smirked cheekily, “Well, you have to believe it. I’m here with you. And not anyone else.” He nodded and also gripped her hand tighter. Long ago, Jeremiah had already realized that being with her made his worries go away in a way that no one else had. She had this unsurprisingly large power to bring a real smile to his face, even when he didn’t feel truly happy. With Belly, nothing was superficial.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the drive-in. Jeremiah had planned the night out, so Belly wasn’t aware that West Side Story would be playing. It was a classic, with how the characters are inspired by Romeo and Juliet. This was one of the movie musicals Belly enjoyed watching with Laurel and Susannah, and was touched that Jeremiah had remembered, or even knew that information.
“I don’t remember telling you about how much I enjoyed musicals,” Belly raised an eyebrow at him trying to hide her excitement for the film. Jeremiah teasingly rolled his eyes at her comment. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that one morning after you were binging movie musicals with my mom and Laurel. You were practically dancing around the kitchen singing, and even when Steven told you to shut up, you were still humming with a smile on your face.”
In response, Belly gaped at him shockingly, “That is so not true!” Although, she knew it was. She remembered when musicals were a big part of her younger teen years. She even remembered that specific morning, but was a bit embarrassed now that Jeremiah had mentioned it.
As if he had been reading her mind this entire time, he reassured her with his gentle tone. “Don’t worry, Bells. I found it cute either way,” he said with a wink and she felt any embarrassment she had washed away.
Not very long after, Jeremiah and Belly were singing along to the lyrics, pretending they could reach the low and high notes that the actors were reaching. Jeremiah was singing ‘Maria’ like his life depended on it while pointing at Belly, even saying “That one was for you” with a wink when the song finished. Likewise, Belly sang ‘I feel pretty’ with so much passion, it was interesting for Jeremiah to see her be in touch with her musical-loving side.
He watched as she started tearing up during the ending and snuck his arm around her shoulders for her to lean on him. “Sorry, it just gets me every time I watch it.” Belly quietly laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s okay, no need to apologize about it. They made the movie sad, anyways.” Jeremiah planted a kiss on her head and rubbed the side of her arm in comfort and she smiled at his efforts to cheer her up.
When the credits rolled, Jeremiah let Belly rest him for a few more minutes as he waited for the other cars to leave the site. Thankfully, it had been the last movie playing for the night, so others were going home already.
Belly felt him adjust out of their comfortable position and reach for something at the back of the car. “What are you doing?” Plastic rattled as Jeremiah silently grunted from the struggle and showed her the items in his hands.
“Tada! I told you tonight would be the best night of your life,” Jeremiah grinned as he waved the wrapped up picnic blanket and plastic of McDonald’s burgers in front of him. She allowed herself to laugh out loud and shake her head at him from how sweet he was.
Bringing the items out, he laid the blanket on the hood of the car and Belly found herself getting out of the car and following his lead. She leaned on the car as he placed the plastic bag on the vehicle and rushed back inside the car to bring out a bouquet of daisies.
She gaped at him, not being able to hide how giddy she felt. “Flowers for the beautiful lady with me tonight,” he held the flowers with both hands and handed it to her with a wink. Belly gladly took it from him and he laid down on one side of the blanket.
“Come on!” Jeremiah winked at her and tapped at the space beside him. Belly was still in shock that he planned out this entire night for her. She returned to his side, snuggling against him as he placed his arm under her head as her pillow with the bouquet on her other side.
She looked up at the stars, fascinated at how they shone particularly brighter and complemented the fullness of the moon. The silence of the night brought her a different kind of solace that the ocean did. The beach would always be so busy with how the waves crashed on the shore. Watching the night sky was different, she thought to herself.
“I brought you out here because I knew the sky’s much clearer. I just had to get the weather to cooperate with me.” She pressed her face to his chest and hugged him so tight she felt his ribs.
“I just… I can’t believe you really planned this out. Thank you, Jere. I love you so much,” she looked at him with a shy smile. Her heart felt so happy, she knew, from this moment forward, that Jeremiah would never do anything to hurt her. She’s always known, but now the feeling was more pronounced than ever.
Jeremiah looked down at her with a serious face. “Belly, I would give you the world if I could. I would give you anything at all if it meant you would be happy. You deserve everything, and I want to be the one that gives it to you because I love you.” From his words alone, all of Belly’s insecurities and worries turned to dust and floated away into the darkness of the night.
Belly grabbed his face and kissed her with everything she had and he kissed her back with just as much vigor. Now, finally, she was home. She was with the person who could make her feel okay to be herself, with all her imperfections. She could fall and trust that he would be there to catch her.
Jeremiah slowly pulled away with a soft look in his eyes, but Belly still reached over to leave a small peck on his lips. And just like that, Belly felt undeniably happier than she has ever been in her life.
“And just for the record, you are the brightest and most beautiful star here tonight,” Jeremiah casually stated to her with a smug but sincere look on his face, clearly proud of himself for his flirtatious line. Belly smacked him lightly on the chest with her cheeks flushed, but otherwise said nothing. She allowed herself to just be beside him, taking in the peace that he brought into her life. With him in her life, she truly felt alive.
“Jere?” She looked up at him with a smile that made his stomach do somersaults. The way her eyes glistened in the moonlight showed that they didn’t need to go stargazing; the stars were already in her eyes. “You’re right. This is the best night of my life.”
He looked at her with a softness in his eyes and a tender smile he had only shown to her and promised with a whisper, “This is just the start of many nights together.”