the departure

[instar]

Trouble did a very good job of not leaving breadcrumbs leading to the other Animorphs any more than was already inevitable. Still, the cops - who may or may not have been Controllers - talked to Bella just because Trouble has been known to hang out with her; they talked to Renée a little too. Bella thinks she did a good job of affecting ignorance and dismay. Andi didn't, but Andi defaults kind of expressionless anyway even though her braces have been off for a year and a half.

At school - now in its very last days - everyone knows that Trouble borrowed fifty dollars from Amber Jefferson and made off with it. Amber is very gossipy and can afford to lose fifty bucks; he chose well.

Bella hasn't heard from Trouble - or for that matter Aspret - yet.

Comments

[pandion]

<We need a way to refer to you on the phone.>

[aeskhyne]

He shrugs. "Make up another nickname, I guess, it's not like I can only have one."

[pandion]

<Okay, I'll think of something.> Write write.

[aeskhyne]

[pandion]

<Do you need anything while you're here?>

[aeskhyne]

"Something to eat would be nice."

[pandion]

<Okay. Andi, let's trade back, I think I can fool Mom but I'd rather not have to.>

Morphing occurs.

[instar]

And Bella goes down the stairs, and comes up with a Rubbermaid of tuna and bowl of strawberries.

[aeskhyne]

Om nom nom.

[instar]

"I could sneak you a brownie but then I wouldn't get one after dinner, how hungry are you?"

[aeskhyne]

"Pretty hungry. But I'd rather not steal your brownie."

[instar]

"I can get another brownie tomorrow, I don't even know what you're going to be able to find if you're hungry now, if you haven't been getting food on the regular."

[aeskhyne]

"I've mostly been eating as a pigeon. Seems like that - doesn't keep working. I'll take the brownie, I guess."

[instar]

Bella goes and gets him a brownie. There is a barely-audible conversation between her and Renée about the brownie. She comes back with the brownie and a glass of milk and a little bag of chips, and without Renée.

[aeskhyne]

"Thanks," says Trouble, smiling at her.

[instar]

"No problem."

[aeskhyne]

Mmm, food.

[instar]

"As long as you're going to be pigeoning around until we go get Charlie anyway, do you think you can scope out the known pool entrances and see who goes in?"

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah, I'll keep an eye out."

[instar]

Bella nods, glances over the last few pages of her notebook, and says, "Do Robin and Ethan know you're back yet?"

[aeskhyne]

"Yep."

[instar]

"Okay, cool. I'm worried Renée's going to start up the stairs and you won't have time to morph and get out of here; is there anything else that should be said sooner rather than later?"

[aeskhyne]

He shrugs. "Not that I can think of."

[instar]

"Okay. See you tomorrow? We can talk stowing away on the plane when we go to Forks, if you don't want to fly there as a pigeon again."

[aeskhyne]

"Stowing away on the plane sounds like way less of a hassle."