Summer, #1
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
Contents
chapter three
Overview
Belly gets pulled into the boys’ annual “Belly Flop,” but she plays along and cleverly drags Conrad into the pool too. Laughter gives way to a brief, charged pause between Belly and Conrad before he dunks her. The moment marks a shift from sibling-style teasing to emerging, complicated tension.
Summary
Belly heads to the pool where Jeremiah, Conrad, and Steven are lounging. Jeremiah announces the first “Belly Flop” of summer, and despite Belly’s protests, the boys grab her and toss her into the water, reviving a tradition that has long made her feel like an outsider.
Determined to be a good sport, Belly surfaces smiling and lures Conrad closer by faking an ankle twist. When Conrad offers a hand, Belly yanks him into the pool. The prank breaks the old pattern and has everyone laughing, including Conrad.
As Jeremiah and Steven walk back to the house, Conrad chases Belly in the water. He catches her foot in the diving well, and a sudden, uneasy stillness grows between them. Belly feels dizzy and nervous at the closeness, sensing a shift from childish games to something more complicated.
After a final warning, Conrad releases her—then dunks her, ending the moment with playfulness that conceals the tension. The scene underscores changing dynamics and Belly’s new willingness to assert herself within the group.
Who Appears
- BellyProtagonist; endures the boys’ belly flop, outsmarts Conrad by pulling him in, and feels new tension with him.
- ConradHelps toss Belly, gets dragged into the pool, shares a charged moment with Belly, then dunks her.
- JeremiahPlayful instigator; announces the tradition and helps throw Belly into the pool, laughing along.
- StevenBelly’s brother; joins the prank and teases her smugly before heading back to the house.