eek, monsters

[pandion]

Time goes by. Trouble keeps right on bringing desserts (and once a quiche and once a loaf of bread with nuts in it). The Swans are uncomplaining. On Christmas Eve he brings two kinds of cookies and an astonishingly edible fruitcake and stays overnight on the couch. (Andi, self-servingly, got him a little box of assorted Genuine Maple Products. Bella got him an inexpensive yet adorable miniature sewing machine.) Robin comes over too, Christmas day (Andi gives her a packet of guitar strings and sheet music for assorted Green Day songs. Bella gets her a tiny tape recorder.)

School is back in session in January, after New Year's. (The twins set off small fireworks in the driveway - well, Andi does. Robin is invited to this event; Trouble is not, it somehow does not seem wise.)

Now it is the first weekend after the resumption of school.

Robin's supposed to be over any minute for practice for Nameless Band Which Kind Of Needs A Third Person But Bella Doesn't Want To. Andi taps out beats on her drums. Taptaptap. Taptaptap-kish. Taptaptap. Taptaptapkish.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

"I have been awesome! I'd tell you the details, but you don't want 'em."

[instar]

"I will take your word on that."

[aeskhyne]

He laughs. "Because you know me."

[instar]

"I do."

[aeskhyne]

"You do," he sighs, hugging himself contentedly.

[instar]

"Why is that sighworthy?"

[aeskhyne]

"I like that you know me," he says. "And, you know, aren't running for the hills."

[instar]

"Well, I did suggest that maybe we shouldn't have you over to set off fireworks, but the hills seem uncalled for."

[aeskhyne]

He snorts.

"What do you think I'm gonna do, set you on fire? Not unless you ask nicely."

[instar]

"I just didn't want to find out experimentally how you and firework safety mix. Especially when it's my mom setting out the rules."

[aeskhyne]

"Mm, yeah," he says, conceding the point. "Me, rules, and explosives is a bad mix."

[instar]

"See," Bella says, "I know you."

[aeskhyne]

He laughs.

"I love you."

[instar]

[aeskhyne]

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww."

[instar]

Bella bursts into helpless giggles.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble beams at her.

[instar]

The rest of the school day elapses. Bella cooks - spaghetti, easy to make enough for a crowd.

[aeskhyne]

Trouble shows up first, with cake.

[instar]

"Hey you. You are the first to arrive."

[aeskhyne]

"I feel so special," he laughs.

[instar]

"Aren't you just. Plunk that down on the counter?"

[aeskhyne]

"Plunking!"

He goes forth and plunks.

[palmofyourhand]

And then Ethan turns up, with Robin.

[pandion]

"Hi guys! You are here just in time, Bella is saucing the pasta. Come on in."