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

[instar]

"You're still going to bring me a pie, after I apparently upset you?"

[aeskhyne]

"Sure, why not?"

[instar]

"Most people do not bake for people whose only interaction with them ended badly."

[aeskhyne]

"Uh-huh," says Trouble. "So like I said, why not?"

[instar]

"If you still want to bring me a pie, I can ask Renée this afternoon."

[aeskhyne]

"Okay," he says cheerfully.

[instar]

"And then I suppose I can tell you what she says tomorrow, or I could call you; I assume you're in the school directory?"

[aeskhyne]

"Tell me tomorrow," he suggests.

[instar]

"Okay. If I ask why about that, too, will you be upset again?"

[aeskhyne]

"Probably."

[instar]

"Is there some kind of pattern to these things I could learn so I don't have to pick it up case-by-case?"

[aeskhyne]

"Probably," he says again, "but I couldn't tell you what it is."

[instar]

"Maybe I will figure it out all by myself, if you bring me enough pie."

[aeskhyne]

"Maybe you will," he says, shrugging.

[instar]

The bell rings; Bella folds up her mat.

[aeskhyne]

"See you tomorrow," says Trouble, and he takes off.

[instar]

The following day, Bella has her answer; she'll tell him after gym if he doesn't approach her at lunch.

[aeskhyne]

He approaches her at lunch.

"Hi!"

[instar]

"Hi. Renée says you can come over with pie this afternoon, or tomorrow if that works better."

[pandion]

"And Bella has to share," pipes up Andi.

[instar]

"I will share."

[aeskhyne]

Trouble laughs. "Sure, today works."

[instar]

"Okay." Bella writes down the Swan family address on a corner of notebook paper and hands it over.

[aeskhyne]

"Cool," says Trouble. "I'll be there when the pie's done. Maybe sixish."

[pandion]

"Pie for dessert," beams Andi.