Chapter 17: The Talk
As they went into the house Zella was happier than she'd been since the accident. Even when Belle gave her a look that said she'd had some explaining to do.
Zella and Nashua hung their coats. All the while she was gaining strength she was losing confidence.
"Nashua, I don't think I can do this," She said a hour later. Sitting crosslegged on her bed playing dog-opoly. Zella leaned foreward rolling the dice, then moved her token to free barking.
"Zella?" Nashua warned, rolling the dice.
"What if she gives me a hard time?" Zella worried.
"Why would she give you a hard time?" He asked, gazing at her.
"I don't know," She moaned.
"Oh stop it, act like you're talking to Darrelle about it," Nashua said, watching her as she moved her token to his Great Dane who had a bone on it that costed 2,000 dollars.
Zella gathered up all her money including the money she mortgaged off all but one dog, "But Darrelle is my friend and she's my mother, that's hard. "Wait---how'd you know I told Darrelle?" Zella asked him.
"I saw her goofy expression at school a few weeks ago," Nashua replied.
"Oh," Zella sighed.
"Don't fret that pretty head of your's," Nashua kissed her forehead.
Pretty head? Ha her hair wasn't brushed and she hads a bald spot on her head from getting stitches.
"Zella! Can you come down here please?" Belle called down from the stairs.
Zella groaned getting up.
"You can do it," Nashua said, walking out to the hallway with her.
Zella headed down the stairs to the kitchen where Belle was making hot chocolate. Zella sat down taking her cup, "So what do you want to talk about?" She asked finally after fiddling with her cup a while.
"It's about you and Nashua, you two are acting fishy around each other," Belle said, looking straight into her eyes.
"Like?" Zella asked, not wanting to meet her eyes afraid that her eyes might give her away.
"Like two teenagers in love that's what," Belle raised a eyebrow.
Zella's stomach churned knowing what was coming, "You knew?"
"And you're not allowed to date until your 16," Belle added crushing her hopes.
She didn't know she dated Blake and she regretted it anyway. "But that's almost a whole year away," Zella yelped.
"I know and if he still likes you, you can go out with him, if not then he's just not the one for you," Belle said.
"But that's not fair! This is Nashua, not some stranger we don't know about," Zella cried out.
"And his father is crazy and an out of control man," Belle told her.
"What?!" Zella squaked, "Are you saying Nashua is like his dad?" Zella asked her in disbelief.
"No i;m only saying if he found out that you two were dating he might try to hurt you. Actually I don't think you need to be dating him at all."
Zella had had enough of this. She got up and ran up the stairs in angry tears.
"Zella!" Belle yelled.
Zella ran into Nashua.
"Whoa are you okay? What's wrong?" Nashua asked, alarmed by her expression.
He blocked her path she had no choice but to bull past him.
"Why are you fighting me? Stop it!" Nashua grabbed her wrists so her fists wouldn't beat him.
"Let me go, please!" She sobbed, tears streaming down. She tried to wrench away from him.
He lowered her arms down to her sides gently and held them there.
He was just way to strong to fight with. He could snap her wrists like tooth picks. She gave up feeling dizzy and weak. He let go of her but her knees buckled under her and she collapsed.
"Zella!" Nashua caught her before she hit the floor, "Are you okay?" He asked as her eyes flickered open a few seconds later.
"What happened?" Zella asked dizzily, realizing he was about to go to school.
"You fainted, that's what happened," Nashua said, seeing enough of this, "Okay that's it. You're going to lay down," He lifted her off her feet.
"Nashua! Put me down right now!" Zella protested, "I'm fine really."
Nashua ignored her protesting and layed her down on her bed. Nashua's jaw was set in a stubborn expression, "You better still be here when I get back," He checked his watch. "Bye," Nashua shut her door.
Zella growled.