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

[pandion]

"Why do we have to have so many presidents, couldn't they have longer terms or something to be gentler on poor innocent high schoolers?" She flops onto the sofa next to Bella. "Whatcha talking about?"

[instar]

"The time Mrs. Cornell was suspicious of my bruising patterns, oddly enough."

[pandion]

"Yeah, that was weird, Mrs. Cornell knows Mom."

[aeskhyne]

[pandion]

"You okay, Trouble?"

[aeskhyne]

He grins. "Who, me? Peachy."

[instar]

"Also he made us a cake for after Chinese food," says Bella.

[aeskhyne]

"I did!" he beams. "It's going to be awesome."

[pandion]

"Ooooh, what kinda cake?"

[aeskhyne]

"Lemon. With buttercream frosting."

[pandion]

"Ooooooooh."

[instar]

"So don't fill up on all of the dumplings and leave none for me, this time, or you won't have room for cake."

[aeskhyne]

Trouble giggles.

[kindestgarden]

Soon enough, Renée comes home, carrying bags of Chinese takeout containers. "Hello, girls! Hello, Trouble - ooh, a cake, did you bring us dessert again? I hope Bella isn't extorting you or anything."

[aeskhyne]

He laughs. "Why, does she do that a lot?"

[instar]

"No! Mom!"

[kindestgarden]

"How else am I supposed to explain all the sugary presents?"

[pandion]

"Maybe he's sweet on her. So to speak."

[instar]

"Andi."

[aeskhyne]

...Trouble cracks up.

[instar]

"All of you shut up. Let's eat, I'm starving."

[pandion]

"Food!" crows Andi. "I won't eat all the dumplings, promise, but I hope you got lots."

[instar]

"Triple order."

[aeskhyne]

"I am totally in favour of eating," says Trouble.

[kindestgarden]

"Well then, let's," says Renée, and she directs the girls to set the table while she unpacks the takeout onto the counter.