the sharing

[instar]

Trouble is not back at school on Monday. At lunch, Bella sits with Andi who sits with Robin who sits with Ethan.

Comments

[palmofyourhand]

"Yeah, I might have a heart attack from shock and then their cult would never get me."

[pandion]

"Pffff."

[palmofyourhand]

He laughs.

[hold_infinity]

So does Robin, albeit a little reluctantly.

[pandion]

"At least it's not the kind of cult that's making him give up all his possessions and cut off his family? Like, it would be worse if he didn't call anymore at all."

[instar]

"I guess."

[hold_infinity]

"Hell of a silver lining," says Robin.

[instar]

Bella shrugs.

[pandion]

"He's still our dad, he's just being annoying."

[hold_infinity]

"Yeah," she sighs.

[pandion]

"Are you okay?"

[hold_infinity]

"Yeah, I just - this could be really bad," she says, somewhat inadequately.

[pandion]

"It could, but, like, the worst cult things aren't happening, Dad still has his job and his house and talks to us and stuff," says Andi.

[hold_infinity]

She sighs again, and nods.

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan pats her arm.

[instar]

Nothing more of moment happens until Thursday, but then Trouble's back. Bella spots him at lunch and sits next to him; Andi follows.

"Hey, you."

[aeskhyne]

"Hey yourself," he says, grinning. His left arm is still in a cast, but it doesn't appear to be slowing him down much. "So how was your week?"

[instar]

"Had a fight with Charlie. Otherwise nothing out of the ordinary."

[pandion]

"She's been researching his cult. It is pretty culty."

[aeskhyne]

"I forget the cult," says Trouble. "Tell me all about the cult."

[pandion]

"It's called the Sharing, and Dad joined up over the summer and then got really into it and now he wants us to join up to a local chapter."

[aeskhyne]

"The Sharing?" He blinks. "Huh. How 'bout that."

[instar]

"You know someone in it too?"

[aeskhyne]

He quirks a wry little smile. "I might."

[instar]

"But their membership might've lapsed without you being informed?"