🌟She's Special🌟

Trip Meetings

Monday, May 28th (The Trinity School) (5:55 PM) (Olivia's Perspective)
"Bella's school is really big, Mommy!" Leia said as I held her hand.
"Isn't it?" We each picked up a brochure. At the moment, Bella, Leia, and I were at a meeting for Bella's second senior trip. This time around the destination was LA. Even though we had an incident on her last trip, Elliot and I thought it'd be fair to give her one more chance, plus I wouldn't want her to miss out on such a great opportunity.
"Look, Paisley's over there!" Bella said excitedly. We took a seat by the Aberdeen's and I talked to Paisley and Paxton's mother before the presentation began.
"It's hard to believe that all of this is coming so quickly. Prom, then this trip. You know what comes after that." She gave me a bittersweet smile.
"They're growing up, Melody." I whispered.
"It's a good thing, we get to see them become themselves and turn into wonderful young adults." It feels like just the other day, I was dressing her for her 3rd-grade spring bash.
"Mommy, when is it going to start?" Leia asked impatiently.
"In a minute baby girl. If you sit still and relax we'll get some burritos."
"Okay, Mama."
"Good Evening parents and guardians of the class of 2023. I am honored to present to you our 2nd trip to Los Angeles, California." The slideshow began and I have to say this trip seemed very jam-packed.
"We will be embarking on this trip on June 11th and will be returning on the 15th." The principal stated.
"An entire week? Bella's lucky!" Leia whined.
"Remember what I said, pumpkin."
"This is boring." She buried her head into my chest and I kissed her.
"Thanks for letting me go, Mom!"
"Oh dear, the thanks are beginning already."
***************
Jake's House (Tuesday) (Bella's Perspective)
"Thank you, Mrs. Romano!" We chanted.
"You're welcome, guys! If you need anything else I'm downstairs!" I watched as Ethan wolfed down the hot wings.
"You're going to choke!" Ethan began to cough the moment Sapphire struck him across the back.
"Now he's really choking." Preston said.
"To be fair, he was already on his way there. Saph just accelerated the process." Paisley pointed out. I couldn't help but laugh. I have to say, it was a bit weird being in Jake's room after...everything. I've barely been able to keep a conversation with just him in days. It just gets all awkward and I get flustered and....yeah. We both don't know what to do, or where we are.
"Bella, why are you being so quiet?" Ethan asked before stealing my hot wing. I rolled my eyes.
"Give that back! And...I'm not being quiet."
"Sure." Eventually, my friends were going to be able to put two and two together. When? I don't know. I went on my phone to text Julie and Paisley wouldn't stop staring.
"Bella, are you okay? You've been zoning out a lot." She whispered.
"I'm fine. Just thinking about stuff."
"Ayo, look at this. They said that we need at least 6 pairs of underwear for the trip."
"No, it doesn't." Sapphire inspected the list.
"Okay, that's true... But my thing is..why do they have to tell us how much to pack?? I thought some of these things were just common sense."
"Because we have boys like Evan. If you didn't tell him he'd probably go days without showering."
"I love Evan but it's true. You boys are all disgusting."
"Wait, wait, wait! How does the discussion switch from it being an Evan problem to it be a universal boy thing?"
"He stinks half of the time and you guys never say anything."
"Because he doesn't smell that bad."
"See that's exactly the problem." I said. Jake glanced at me another time and I smiled.
"I pray for you guys."
"We have to start choosing our rooms for the trip. Fletcher said he's making lists tomorrow."
"I think we should do the same rooms from last time."
"Yeah, it's just easier that way. I feel bad though."
"Why?"
"Kylie's kind of singled out again and we're not seeing her next year."
"Yeah, but she can visit our room whenever she likes and even sleep in ours if she wants to."
"True. Omg, we need to go shopping this weekend."
"Why do you guys feel the need to shop for every trip we go on?" Jake asked.
"Because, who doesn't love to look nice?" I asked him.
"Can you guys stop weirdly having fake arguments with each other? We just ate." Preston said.
"You're just mad that you've yet to win one argument against Alexis."
"Ooo, burn."
**************
Mount Sinai Adolescent Center (6:45 PM) (Elliot's Perspective)
"An effective line of communication has to be made between the two of you." Dr. Langston said while jotting down some notes.
"That could never happen, all my Dad does is hide things from everyone." I raised my eyebrows.
"Eli-"
"It is true." Our first session was not going the best. Eli was bitter, but that was understandable. I haven't been the best father to him these past couple of years.
"I'll admit, I'm not one to be open about my feelings." I said truthfully. I want to prove to Eli that I do want to work on our relationship ship. I want things to change...for the better.
"Is there a reason why?" I sighed. Eli stared at me.
"My father, your grandpa, Grandpa Joseph was very tough growing up. He didn't approve of a single thing that I did, I mean one time in fifth grade I moved a stinking tree on my shoebox diorama and he beat me for it. My mother was also bipolar, and nearly killed me one time when she was manic. I learned to not discuss any of these things and that mentality followed me into adulthood."
"You never told me any of that."
"And that's my fault because I became less involved during the divorce. I admit that I haven't been the best father these past couple of years and I'm sorry for that, but Eli please let's just work on this."
"I want to but I'm not sure."
"What are you not sure about Eli?" Our therapist asked.
"Because Dad's fell through on other promises and I want to trust him. But I can't. There's like a wall, and I can't get past it. I just don't know if I could trust him."
************
The Squad-room (Wednesday, May 29th) (1:56 PM) (Leia's Perspective)
"Uncle Fin, what's a perp?" I asked him while doing my math homework. 3 /6 is a half!
"A perp is someone who's suspected of a crime. Let's say that someone ate my jar of cookies and I said you were the perp. That means I think that you ate them." I smiled.
"I think I'd be a cookie perp. You're right!" He laughed.
"Do you need help with that?"
"No thank you. Fractions are easy peasy!"
"You're doing fractions in the first grade?"
"Mhm. I get some advanced work because I have a big brain. See 8 is the numerator and 16 is the denominator."
"Good job!" He gave me a high five.
"Do you know where Aunty Kat is?"
"She's out with your Mommy doing some work."
"Oh." I got up and went over to Aunty Amanda. I studied the different things on her desk.
"Hmmm!"
"What is it, angel?"
"Why are there no picture of me?! I thought I was your favorite!"
"I don't have any favorites! Come here!" She sat me in her lap.
"I love you very, very much but I don't have a favorite out of you and your siblings. Okay?" I nodded. She tickled me and I smiled. Kat and Mommy came around the corner and they looked a bit down. Uh-oh. Something bad happened with the case.
"Hey Leia, how was school pretty girl?"
"Good. Why you look sad Mommy?"
"Mommy's fine, don't you worry. Can you go sit in my office and wait for me? I think I need to call Lucy." But we were supposed to have time together?
"But Mommy, we were supposed to go get ice cream." I pouted.
"We can go another time, Lucy will take you, sweet girl."
"But you're always saying that! I wish I had a Mommy and Daddy that would spend more time with me! You like your job more!"
"Leia, that's not-" I ran off to Mom's office and slammed the door.
"I'm sorry, excuse me, guys."
"Leia, what you just did was highly disrespectful. You do not yell at me or stomp off like that, especially in front of my colleagues. Do you understand me, little lady? When an adult talks to you, you say "yes" and follow the directions given to you, things will not always go your way and you need to learn that. The backchat is not needed."
"You really do care about your job more. You're supposed to understand me, not get angry with me because I'm your daughter. I wanna spend more time with you, Mommy."
"Leia, I've told you numerous times that yelling and stomping off is not the correct way to tell me how you feel. If I yelled at you out of nowhere, how would you feel?"
"Mad and sad. Because that isn't fair."
"That's exactly how I feel."
"I was holding that in for a long time, and I just got angry." Mommy put her arm around me.
"Then tell me before it gets to that point baby."
"It's hard to do that when you're not paying attention."
******************
The Basement (505 East 74th Street) (9:35 PM) (Bella's Perspective)
When I'm bored or need some space, I like to go down to our basement and learn dance combos or practice.
"Okay, fouetté, tendu, and.....-" I did the moves as I said them.
"Promenade." I dropped onto the floor out of sheer exhaustion and grabbed some water.
"Bella?"
"Yes, Lucy?"
"You never ate dinner, why is that?"
"I forgot, sorry! I was busy learning the choreography to this song from school." Lucy handed me a plate of tomato soup and mozzarella sticks.
"Thanks, you're the best!" She smiled.
"So what are you really doing down here? You only really come down here to get away."
"Aww, you're onto me."
"As always. I've known you since you were 5 years old Bell, I know your habits."
"I just keep thinking...so I came down here to dance hoping that it stops. But, I can't stop thinking about it."