the pie

[instar]

Gym class is mind-numbing. Bella spends it thinking about introversion - Andi finds it peculiar and kept asking her questions about it. Bella's not an extreme case of the type, but definitely qualifies. Andi always has more friends - needs more friends - than Bella does.

Comments

[instar]

"Where were you all day?" Bella inquires when she answers the door and waves him in.

[aeskhyne]

"At home," he says, shrugging. "Didn't feel like school today."

[instar]

"How do you get away with that?"

[aeskhyne]

He shrugs. "Nobody cares?"

[instar]

"Not even the school administration?"

[aeskhyne]

"I was," he makes air quotes, "'sick'."

[instar]

"Was this you faking it or did your parents want you home?"

[aeskhyne]

He shrugs. "I don't really have to fake it; if I wanna stay home, somebody'll cover me."

[instar]

"That's... convenient?"

[aeskhyne]

"Ain't it just?"

[instar]

"Potentially, at least. Anyway, why don't you put that on the counter, dinner's not for a little while. It's going to be takeout Chinese followed by the cake, Renée had a long day. Want to add anything to the order?"

[aeskhyne]

Trouble shrugs again and proceeds to the counter.

"I dunno, what have you got coming already?"

[instar]

"Shrimp fried rice, dumplings, hot and sour soup, beef-and-broccoli, crab rangoon. And the obligatory fortune cookies."

[aeskhyne]

"Sounds good to me."

[instar]

"Okay. Renée will probably also throw in an order of eggrolls with four people to feed, she likes them but me and Andi don't."

[aeskhyne]

"I'm fine with those," he says cheerfully, setting the cake down and stepping back to admire it. It is a good-looking cake.

[instar]

"The cake is really pretty - did you just carry it here from your house? Where do you even live?"

[aeskhyne]

"What else was I gonna do, levitate it?"

[instar]

"I mean, walking as opposed to getting a ride or taking a bus somewhere."

[aeskhyne]

"Oh. Nah, I took the bus," he laughs.

[instar]

"Where from?" Bella asks again.

[aeskhyne]

"Not that far."

[instar]

"Is there some reason I'm not allowed to know where you live?"

[aeskhyne]

"Yeah, nobody does."

[instar]

"Why?"