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

[instar]

"Been a week since you've been back in school," remarks Bella, when this statement comes true and he's at her door with blueberry cobbler.

[aeskhyne]

"Yep," he says. "You wanna grab this?"

[instar]

She touches the side of the pan to see if she will need oven mitts.

[aeskhyne]

Oven mitts are not strictly necessary, but might be advisable.

He laughs. "Sorry."

[instar]

She collects oven mitts and takes the cobbler. "It's fine. When you were still in the hospital you guessed it'd take you a week of being back in school, or so, to stop finding me scary."

[aeskhyne]

"Or so," he agrees. "I'm getting there."

[instar]

"Is there anything I can do that would help?"

[aeskhyne]

"Sure," he says. "Talk to me. Let me bake you things. Just - be around, be you, like you have been."

[instar]

"So nothing I'm not already doing."

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah."

[instar]

"Okay. That's easy," she shrugs. "Dinner is macaroni and sausage and cheese. And green beans instead of salad. Mom was in a cooking mood." (The oven is on; there are dishes in it.)

[aeskhyne]

"Sounds tasty."

[instar]

"Should be!"

[aeskhyne]

"Here's hoping. Hey, can I hug you?"

[instar]

"Sure."

[aeskhyne]

Hug! Happy beamy hug.

[instar]

Yes, hug.

[pandion]

"Awwwwww," says Andi from the threshold to the kitchen.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble giggles and hugs Bella some more. It's possible he shouldn't be doing that to his left arm, but if it hurts, he's not complaining.

[pandion]

"What'd we get today?" Andi wonders, when she has finished awwing.

[instar]

"Blueberry cobbler."

[aeskhyne]

"It's gonna be awesome," says Trouble, beaming at both of them.

[instar]

"I have every expectation that you are right."

[aeskhyne]

"Good, 'cause I am."

[instar]

"Then I will be neither surprised nor disappointed."