the graceless

[instar]

Bella sits out, this year as every year, from gym class. It's just asking for a lawsuit. She does stretches and crunches and push-ups in the corner.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

Trouble giggles.

[instar]

"Why are you so prematurely cynical, anyhow?"

[aeskhyne]

"Figure it out," he suggests jokingly. "I'll give you a lottery ticket."

[instar]

"Hmm."

Bella makes an unreadable marking in her notebook, and then she puts it away again.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble laughs. He doesn't even look at the notebook. "What's that supposed to mean?"

[instar]

"I write lots of things down. So I don't forget them. If I'm trying to solve a puzzle I may as well collect my clues in an organized fashion."

[aeskhyne]

"I'm a puzzle now?"

[instar]

"Did you not just declare yourself one?"

[aeskhyne]

"Guess I did," he says. "So what have you got on me so far?"

[instar]

"If I tell you are you going to be more careful about dropping hints?"

[aeskhyne]

"Why would I?" he laughs. "Lottery tickets are cheap."

[instar]

"Not much. But tentatively it might have to do with the way you shut down when I ask certain questions. I don't have a pattern on which questions yet."

[aeskhyne]

"Why, just 'cause that's the only other weird thing you know about me? There's plenty more where those came from."

[instar]

"Interconnected weird things are more likely than multiple independent weird things, or the things wouldn't be very weird."

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah," says Trouble. "The thing all my weird stuff has in common is me."

[instar]

"I don't think I would deserve a lottery ticket for figuring that out."

[aeskhyne]

He giggles.

[instar]

She puts her notebook away. "Well, me and Andi walk home, I guess I will see you at dinnertime with pie."

[aeskhyne]

"See you then," he agrees.

[instar]

And off Bella goes.

[aeskhyne]

At about a quarter past six, somebody rings her doorbell.

[instar]

Bella answers the door. "Hi, Trouble. Come on in."

[aeskhyne]

"Hi!" says Trouble. "Bella, meet pie. Pie, Bella."

He is carrying the pie, in a pie dish and wrapped in a towel. The visible edge of the crust looks perfect and the pie as a whole smells delicious.

[instar]

"Mmm, pie." She steps aside to let in him and the pie. "Mom, Andi, Trouble's here!"

[kindestgarden]

"That's such a peculiar nickname," remarks Renée, peering into the hall. "Hello, Trouble, I'm Bella and Andi's mom, Renée. Do you want to stay for dinner?"