the experiment

[instar]

When Andi has gotten one of Charlie's friends to give her a ride to the grocery store and the unauthorized residents of the house can come out of hiding, Bella goes looking for Trouble, so to speak, and finds him in the kitchen.

"Hey," she says, "I have some more questions that I'd be asking Aspret if she was here. Charlie didn't have answers; Esclan wasn't the talkative type or the experimental type."

Comments

[aeskhyne]

"I'm good," he says sunnily. "I love you."

And now she knows what that feels like.

[instar]

She does. She blushes.

She steps back into her shoes once her feet are dried off on the rug.

And says, "If Ethan ever overdoes it - I don't know where you would actually draw the line, but if he ever stumbles over it - I will help you if I find out."

[aeskhyne]

"Thanks," he says, more surprised than he should be but an entirely appropriate amount of touched.

[instar]

Bella puts her hand on his shoulder briefly, then picks up the cake pan in one hand and the notebook in the other and lets herself out.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble just sits with it for a while. He doesn't know if this is ever going to happen again; every part of the experience is worth savouring.