A/N: Hey guys. I'm trying to update all my WIPS this week, cause I'm having surgery Friday (26th), nothing major, but it's gonna be a pain in the ass to type for awhile and I don't want to keep you guys waiting any longer.
Disclaimer: I do not own them, darnit.
Bella sat at her lunch table; a tray of half-eaten food sat in front of her. Her iPod was on and a Decemberist song played so loud that kids a table over could hear her. She doodled on the edge of her Physics paper. She sat cross-legged in the hard plastic chair. Her frayed jeans, Converse and 'Invader Zim' shirt sent off a 'Geek' vibe. Her head jerked up when a boy slid into the seat across from her.
Bella watched his mouth move, but couldn't make out the words. She pulled out one ear bud, "Huh?"
"I said, the Decemberists are a good band." He chuckled, unwrapping his turkey sub, "I like The Shins better, but the Decemberist are alright. I like 'Yankee Bayonet'."
"Well, 'Yankee Bayonet' is good, but 'O Valencia' is better. Ever heard it?" Bella asked.
"Nah." He shook his head.
"Are you kidding me?" She rolled her eyes, "C'mere." She motioned with her finger.
He scooted his chair around the edge of the table and leaned in next to her. She handed him an earbud and he slipped it in his left ear. They sat silently, tapping their feet to the rhythm and chewing methodically on their food. When the song ended, he removed the ear bud and handed it back to her.
"So?" She demanded.
"The Shins are still better." He grinned.
"Whatever." Bella rolled her eyes, "That's like saying The New Pornographers suck."
"That would be blasphemy." He chuckled, "I'm Luke."
"Bella." She extended her hand and he shook it.
"You're new here?"
"Yeah. Just moved here from Philly." Bella explained.
"Nice. Good music scene." Luke nodded, "You need help around school, let me know."
"Who are you? Rand McNally?"
"Rand and McNally were two different people." Luke chuckled.
"Anyone ever tell you that you're a pain in the ass?" Bella asked, the bell rang and she picked up her tray. Luke followed her to the trashcans, dumping their trays and setting them in the window for food services.
"What's your next class?" Luke asked, turning to walk backwards in front of her.
"AP English." Bella told him, glancing at her schedule, "With Harper."
"That's my class, c'mon, I'll show you." Luke said, taking her wrist and directing her through the crowds of people and up the stairs. They entered a classroom that looked different from the rest that Bella had been in. The cinder block white walls were covered with paintings and posters.
A man was sitting behind the desk, tapping away on the computer. He looked like he had tenured in the past decade; his hair was gray around the edges and his glasses slid down on his nose. He wore a plan white button down shirt and khaki pants with a navy blue tie.
"Mr. Harper, this is the new student, Bella." Luke explained.
"Hello Bella." Mr. Harper turned and shook her hand, "Luke, I trust you've recovered well from dying?"
"Oh yeah." Luke chuckled. When he noticed Bella's confusion, "I got killed last week in our Syntax lesson. Mr. H. was showing us what 'grinding' meant. So he grinded the sword into my chest."
"Nice." Bella chuckled.
"I'm glad you learned something last week, Luke." Mr. Harper chuckled.
"Always, Mr. H., always." Luke turned and went to his seat.
"Here is your Cliff Notes book and a copy of 'The Prince'." Mr. Harper handed it to her, "The lesson plan for the week is on the wipe-off board. And I'll set up a data folder for you."
"Thanks." Bella said, smiling.
"Why don't you take a seat next to Luke?" Mr. Harper guided her to the seat and then went to stand in the front of the class room.
--
The school bell rang at 3:30 and Bella followed the masses out of the front doors. She found a seat on the brickwall that bordered the entrance and waited on her mom to pick her up. Pulling her earbuds out of her pocket, she was just about to turn on her iPod when Luke popped up beside her.
"What do you want?" Bella asked, tucking one leg under her.
"You play guitar." Luke said.
"How'd you know that?" Bella asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Calluses." Luke pointed at her hands and then held up his own -his finger tips were callused, "I started playing when I was five, my dad owns a guitar shop."
"Nice." Bella told him, "I got my first acoustic for my fourteenth birthday, but I played around with my Dad's Fender for as long as I can remember."
"Awesome. Awesome." Luke nodded, "So, why'd you leave Philadelphia?"
"What is this, twenty questions?"
"You don't have to answer." Luke held his hands up in surrender.
"It's fine." Bella sighed, "I was living with my dad.... and now I'm not. I'm living with my mom."
"Oh." Luke said, "That's cool."
"How about you? You're parents still together?" Bella questioned.
"Since the flood." Luke chuckled, "Twenty...seven years now."
"Wow." Bella chuckled, "Any siblings?"
"I have an older sister, Kayla. She's twenty-five." Luke explained, "And a little brother, Austin. He's seven."
"Wow, they spaced you guys out."
"Oh yeah."
Bella's phone viberated in her pocket and she pulled it out, checking her messages. "Swamped. House is gonna pick you up. Love you."
"K. Love you too." Bella replied.
"Everything okay?" Luke asked.
"Just my mom." Bella shrugged, "She's swamped at work, so her boyfriend is gonna pick me up."
"Fun." Luke added dryly.
"He's actually pretty cool." Bella shrugged, "Better than my dad's new wife."
"Sorry." Luke muttered.
"Not your fault." Bella shrugged.
"What does your mom do?"
"She's a doctor." Bella explained, "Over at Princeton Plainsboro."
"Nice."
A Honda Fireblade pulled to a stop in front of the entrance and Bella slid down off the wall, swinging her bag over her shoulder, "That's my ride."
"Nice. Later Bella."
"See you, Luke." Bella smiled and gave a little wave.
Bella grabbed the extra helmet from the back of the bike and put it on her head, fastening the straps and swinging her leg over the back of the seat. She wrapped her arms around House's waist and the bike sped off.
--
"Who was the guy?" House asked after they parked.
"What do you care?" Bella asked, following him towards the hospital entrance.
"I don't." House shrugged.
"His name is Luke." Bella explained, "We had an argument over the Decemberists versus the Shins at lunch."
"The Shins."
"Guys are cracked." Bella rolled her eyes, "The Decemberists are and forever will be better."
"What grounds?"
"Uhm, Hey, Hi, Hello. Have you heard them!?"
"Yes I have." House grinned, tapping the button for the elevator with his cane, "And the Shins are still better."
"What grounds?" Bella asked, waving her hands violently.
"Better vocals."
"That's like saying you like Chase's voice better than Foreman's, when one has an accent and one doesn't." Bella ran through her hair, "What does my mother see in you?"
"You wound me."
"I try. Hard."
Bella said and lead the way down the hallway to his office. She walked in, collapsing on the couch and pulling out her homework. House walked over to his desk and turned on the TV.
Bella glared at him, "Do you mind?"
"Yes, I do." House told her.
"I hate you." Bella let out an exasperated sigh and gathered up her books, "If you need me, I'll be in the stairwell."
--
When Allison Cameron finally got off work, she'd officially been on for sixteen hours. Every bone in her body was protesting as she made her way up the stairs. It was nearing eleven o'clock and she hadn't seen her daughter since six that morning. She pulled open the door to House's office and smiled at the sight.
Bella's school books were stacked neatly on the floor next to the couch and her Converse rested next to them. Bella was stretched out on House's couch, his coat covering her up and her hands tucked under her chin.
"When did she fall asleep?" Cameron asked, walking over to sit on the edge of House's desk.
"Around ten." House looked up from his computer.
"Did she eat?" House nodded, "Is her homework done?"
"Relax. She's fine." House promised.
"Thanks for stepping up today." Cameron smiled, "I appreciate it."
"I meant what I said." House reminded her.
"I know." Cameron leaned in and kissed him.
A/N: Boom. Chapter five. I know House is terribly OOC in this chapter, but I'm grumpy and nothing was coming out like I wanted it too, but I wanted to post. so there.