One time, when I came over and played chess against Mortimer (and utterly lost), I found out that Mortimer wasn't very good at taking compliments.

"You know, you're a big nerd. Like, really smart and stuff." I told him, amused at the sight of my defeat in our game. I expected him to take it in, like my older brother does. And brag about it even afterwards. And gloat about it to everyone else. (News Flash; my brother's kind of snobby.)

But Mortimer didn't take it like that. At all. He became extremely flustered, and immRight,ediately started denying it.

"What? What do you mean, nerd? I'm not a nerd! I'm normal!" He got out of his seat and flailed his arms around. "See me? Nor-mal!"

His small episode caused me to laugh. "Not like that kind of nerd, the good nerd! Smart! But if you do that, I might not think you're normal!" My last statement caused Mortimer to turn red and simply mumble, "oh." He slumped back into his seat.

"So...that was a compliment, actually?" he mumbled, still a little bit embarrassed. I grinned at him. "Of course it was!" With that, his head fell. Behind him, I noticed Mortimer's dad staring at us. I was about to call him over, but walked off.

-:-)-

When I was eating dinner with the Goths (Spahgetti was 's favorite), whispered something into her son's ear. He looked comepletely mortified by whatever she had told him. His mother was giggling, and his father contently smiled.

"...how is your career going, ?" I asked him, masking my discomfort with enthusiasm. seemed delighted to answer. "It's going very well, thank you. How're your grades?" At this time, was teasing Mortimer over something he was embarrased about.

"My grades are doing well, especially with your son at my side." I smiled softly at Mortimer, who blushed and crossed his arms. "Right," he grumpily replied.

After a little bit, Mr. and left to the kitchen to bicker over who was going to wash the dishes. Mortimer and I were silent, and could hear the noticeable change from the couple bickering to them full-on arguing. The noise was agonizing.

I wanted to say something, but I put that off for a while just to stare at Mortimer, who was lowering his head (probably in shame or something). When I finally mustered the will to break the silence, he had already found something to say.

"Uh, Bella." he muttered. His head lowered even more. "You, uh, you-uh..." Mortimer couldn't seem to finish the sentence. I could tell he was trying to ask me something. I tried to help him out. "I...?"

"You...uh, you're...really, uh...really...pretty, er...and...-" When he stated this, the arguing in the back stopped. All was silent.

"...and, um...this is a compliment...because you complimented me...so thank you, and, uh...you're pretty. Yeah." Mortimer was probably about to fall out his seat or something with the way his head was lowered. I heard a facepalm come from the kitchen.

I was a bit taken back by this. To think I originally thought he was asking me to stay over tonight! "Do you mean it, or is it because your mom said to say that?" I could tell his parents were watching now-one of them said 'shit'.

"I'm saying it because I truly think you're beautiful." Mortimer confidently stared straight into my eyes, and I'm pretty sure if his eyes weren't so intent I'd say, "Gee, thanks!"

"T-this is really coming out of an eleven year old..." I breathed out. Finally, I regained my courage that had been taken for a second. "W-wow, Mort! You really had me going. If we get older you could really do something with that thing you just did. The eye thing. Like, my brother said something about some attractive guy being a 'sleaze'. You could be that!"

Mortimer finally took his eyes off me and gasped before falling to the floor. "Me...a sleaze..." he gasped.

His father dumped cold water on him as his mother sent me home with leftover spaghetti to give my family and gratefulness for a 'wonderful evening'.

So. Hello there. :-)

I decided to change the -bro- thing because it looked kind of distracting. This excerpt is kind of just about one evening Bella had at the Goth Manor! Next up will be about the Bachelor family, and their tight-knitedness. If that's a word-oh, a red squiggly line popped up, it's not.