"Tyler stop!" Belle shouted scoldingly as he was about top throw a chair at a person she couldn't recognize, yet wasn't trying to at the moment.
"But- monster!" Tyler babbled.
The stranger (Is he really?) chuckled.
Belle knew that chuckle anywhere. "Tanner?"
"Reporting for duty sir!" Tanner said being a smart aleck and turned to face her saluting.
Tyler looked between the two confused. He shrugged and having a short attention span went to follow a bug.
Belle gasped seeing Tanner's face. "My god! What happened to you face?"
"It's a long painful story." Tanner said wincing by just touching his face. Anyone could see that Tanner's face was well partially bruised on one side.
Belle sighed. Well she's seen a lot worse at St. Mungo's she could definitely deal with this one. "Accio towel!" She muttered pointing her wand at a towel, then took out a healing potion from her pocket and put the towel on Tanner's face. She was a healer so she always kept those things head. "Hold it still there"
"How did you-?"
Belle cut Tanner off. "Just hold it there!"
"Ok fine! No need to get snippy about it!" Tanner muttered holding the towel to his face.
"So what happened to your face? I'm all ears." Belle said insistently.
"Well, you see … I came home really late one night, I suspected Trisha was asleep so I decided just to apparate. The house was dark Trisha got scared, thinking that I was a stranger she hit me hard with a baseball bat. Who knew a person would have that handy?"
Belle couldn't help, but laugh.
"Hey don't laugh it hurt!" Tanner said putting on a fake pout, which only made Belle laugh harder.
"Hold on why were you out so late?" Belle interrogated.
"Now that, Issa, is none of your buisness."
"Mm hmm I'm sure." Belle said nodding her head suspiciously.
"Belle what the hel- Oh hi Tanner." Jenna said awkwardly walking into the kitchen
"Hi.." Tanner said with a quick wave.
"I'm guessing this is a bad time? Ok good. Ok bye. Ok I'm leaving now. See you soon. Oh wait I'm still here… Bye!" Jenna said finally apparating out after quite an interesting goodbye.
Tanner laughed. "That was… weird."
"Yeah…"
"Anyway! You must be REALLY desperate, huh?" Tanner asked a question that really wasn't meant to be answered.
"You must be REALLY bored!" Belle said back.
"Now why do you say that?" Tanner asked.
"Well you know I didn't think you would actually come at least not that fast anyway." Belle said.
"Issa, I am shocked what kind of brother do you think I am?" Tanner asked pretending to be offended.
"Hello! Are you completely ignoring the fact that we are here at all!?" Ian shouted, both Ian and Dylan were still in the kitchen and probably the only remaining ones besides Tyler who was squashing a bug.
"Sorry didn't see you there! Still can't get a girl Ian?" Tanner joked.
Ian groaned. "No! They won't even talk to me. Women!"
Dylan sighed. "I'll say."
"Are you actually agreeing with me?" Ian asked.
"What? No of course not!" Dylan shook his head.
"Yes you did!"
"No I didn't!"
"Did!"
"Didn't!"
"Didn't!"
"Haha got you to say didn't!"
"Well as you see Nothing much has changed here" Belle said watching her brothers fight then led Tanner into the living room.
"So how's your annoy- I mean slu-" Belle just couldn't say it! "You know what I mean!"
"Trisha's fine apart from all the false accusations. I swear sometimes she's just…" Tanner trailed off.
"Wow Tanner accusations? How did you learn such a big word?" Belle joked.
"Cute, Issa, cute."
"You know what's cute how Belle looks at-"
"Shut up!" Belle cut Hayley off.
"Hi Hayley" Tanner grinned at Hayley who now was apparently in the kitchen.
"How long have you been here?" Belle asked Hayley annoyed.
"I'd have to say ever since I came from St. Mungos." Hayley said smiling.
"Good one!" Tanner said giving Hayley a high five.
"Hey everyone Tanner's here!" Hayley yelled.
In a matter of seconds a stampede of feet came down the stairs and everyone rushed over to greet Tanner.
"I thought you were a monster!" Tyler mused.
"Same here!" Tanner said "Just don't hit me with a chair ok?"
"Ok!" Tyler chirped.
"So why are you here all of the sudden?" Annabelle asked. That question was something that was running through everyone's minds.
"I'm here to help!" Tanner said proudly.
Justin laughed. "You're joking right?"
"Oh come on do you really think I can't do it?"
"Yes!" Everyone shouted.
"Wow thanks for the encouragement!" Tanner said sarcastically.
"Hey Ty I bet you 10 sickles that he can't do it!" Hayley whispered to Ty.
"I heard that!"
"You're no fun!" Hayley pouted.
"You've got the wrong person, that's Belle." Tanner nodded.
Knock Knock
"Ooh I'll get it! It's probably my patient. He's late!" Shannon said running to the door.
"Yeah if I wasn't so busy writing my romance novels I'd definitely write a biography on her." Annabelle interjected.
Tanner raised an eyebrow at her, but she didn't seem to notice.
"Uhh… Tanner Shelby's here?" Shannon called in a questioning tone.
"Shelby?" Belle questioned.
"I told her I was here just in case." Tanner explained.
Belle shrugged. "Ok…"
"Tell her she can come in!" Tanner called back to Shannon.
Moments later a petite looking girl stood in front of them. She had short curly brown hair, pale skin, and hazel eyes. She was of course none other than Shelby Williams. "Heey everyone! So good to see you again!" Shelby had a high pitched voice.
"Hey Shelby!" They all chorused together, all except for Tanner who said it in a mumble scratching the back of his head.
"Shelby!" Tyler chirped and ran to hug her.
"Hi there sweetie! Look at you, my you've grown! So big!" Shelby cooed.
Tanner cleared his throat which was the signal for everyone to give him and Shelby some privacy. Though, even if they are out of the room one of them at least is bound to eavesdrop.
They all glared at him, but obediently left, though some were more reluctant than others.
"I just wanted to thank you…" Shelby paused as if looking for the right words to say. "For just, well, being there."
Shelby smiled. "Yeah.."
"Well.. Whenever you need me I'll be here." Tanner said. "Unless of course Trisha needs me."
Shelby nodded.
"So how's buisness professor?" Tanner asked grinning, putting a big emphasis on the word professopr, punching her playfully in the arm.
Shelby made a face, the kind of face you make when you eat a disgusting flavor of Bertie Bott's every flavored bean. "Oh please don't call me that it makes me sound so… old."
"Have you ever thought that maybe you are old?" Tanner teased getting quite close to her.
"Oh haha clever then what would that make you ancient?" Shelby asked moving a bit closer. So close they could almost feel the other's breath on their neck.
"Tanner?"
The two jumped away from each other startled.
"Oh.. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything…" Belle said apologetically.
"Actually-" Tanner started, but Shelby cut him off.
"No not at all." Shelby said shaking her head.
"Ok good. I just got an emergency owl from St. Mungos one of the Healers got sick so I have to fill in for her." Belle explained.
"So?" Tanner asked.
Belle rolled her eyes. "So you have to take over for awhile you know taker care of things?"
"Are you kidding me?!" Tanner exclaimed.
"I trust you. I really have to go now bye!"
"Issa wait I-" Tanner started, but it was too late she had already left.
Shelby patted Tanner on the back. "Don't worry I can help you."