Chapter 5: Project

Nessie

I practically threw myself onto my bed as soon as I got home from school that day. I had been mentally and physically exhausted. Not to mention that I had been assigned a pile of homework today. Homework that I was really dreading. My head had just hit the pillow when I heard the doorbell ring downstairs.

"Oh, hi, who are you?" I heard my mom ask whoever was at the door.

"I'm Bella. One of Nessie's friends. She invited me over. I hope that 's okay?" I heard Bella's beautiful bell-like voice ask.

Oh shit. I had completely forgotten that I had invited Bella over. Earlier in Biology we'd been assigned this project that was due in a few weeks. Bella had been assigned to be my partner on the project. An arrangement that she was ridiculously happy about. I had invited her over to start working on our project together. I had completely forgotten to ask my parents if that was okay. Shit.

I sprung out of bed and lost my balance. I caught myself before I hit the floor. I took each step down the stairs much more carefully. "Nessie why didn't you tell me that you invited a friend over?"

"I'm sorry mom. I forgot to tell you. Oh hi Bella," I waved sheepishly at her. "So is it okay if I have her over? We're working on a project together,"

"Sure," mom said. "Come on in sweetie,"

Even my mom didn't seem to be immune to Bella's charms or her beauty. It was kind of odd to see Bella by herself and not surrounded by her family. It almost seemed like she and Edward were glued together. But who am I to judge? I had a dog glued to me all the time. Except for right now. Ellie was playing with Bailey in the backyard.

"This is really a nice home you have here, Nessie," Bells said. I wanted to say it wasn't as nice as her house but I bit my tongue. "Thanks. My mom is really good at decorating. Anyway, want to go upstairs to my room?"

Bella nodded yes with a lot of enthusiasm. More enthusiasm than anyone should have. "So how was your first day at school? Did you like it?"

"Oh it wasn't too bad. Everyone kept staring though,"

"I noticed," I couldn't help but laugh. "But it's kind of hard not to notice you and your family,"

"Our family," she corrected me.

"Oh, yeah,"

"Have you told anyone yet?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure how I'm going to break that news. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it myself,"

Bella didn't say anything to that.

"Anyway this is my room here. Go ahead and make yourself at home. Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"What is this?" Bella asked. She had picked up my old stuffed reddish brown wolf that I left out on my bed every day. I blushed a bright deep red.

"Oh that old thing, well, it was one of the few things I had with me when they found me. I don't know how I got it or who gave it to me but I've always loved that old stuffed wolf. I know he's a bit old and tattered now but I just can't part ways with him. It's kind of embarrassing,"

Bella shook her head. "Don't be embarrassed, Nessie," she said. "I'm not going to judge you,"

An idea came to me just then. I walked over to my jewelry box and opened it. I found the necklace. Plus que ma propre vie. The words had always stuck with me. "There's something else that I have. I don't know who gave this to me either. But it's very beautiful,"

I showed Bella the necklace. Her hand flew to her mouth. I could swear that she was holding back tears. She gave it back to me without saying a word. "I had it the day I was found also. It's so beautiful that I refuse to get rid of it,"

"It is very beautiful," Bella said. "Nessie can I ask you something super personal?"

"Um, yeah, sure,"

"How was your life like here? I mean what has your life been like,"

I smiled. "It's been the best. I couldn't ask for a better family. My brother can be a pain in the ass sometimes but I love him. Hold on, let me show you something," I turned on my laptop and went to my photo albums. "My family is very photogenic. I basically have my entire life documented here in pictures," I laughed. I clicked on the first photo album which contained pictures of me just after I'd been adopted into the family. "These are photos of me not long after I'd been adopted into the family. It's kind of stupid really. It's just pictures of us at the park. My brother and I playing tag. I usually lost because I fell down a lot. I still do actually," I chuckled. I clicked on the next photo album. "This photo album is full of celebrations. Birthday parties were a bit interesting. Since we don't know when my actual birthday is, we just celebrated it on the anniversary of my adoption. In this photo album are pictures from my graduation from elementary school and middle school,"I blushed when I saw myself in cap and gown. "And this album is full of pictures we took on vacation trips. We've been to quite a few places. This is my brother and I in England standing in front of Big Ben. I think that trip was my favorite. And in this photo album are pictures taken of us celebrating Christmas. My mom and I love to bake. It's one of my fondest memories. Just growing up and baking with her it-"

Bella stood up really fast and ran out of the room. It sounded like she was sobbing. I waited a few minutes for her to come back but she didn't. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and go and check on her. I heard her crying in the bathroom. I knocked on the door. "Bella, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," her voice sounded chalky.

"Was it something I said or did? If it was I'm sorry,"

Bella opened the door. "It's not you Nessie. It's me. I just-sigh-let's just start working on the project,"

We spent the next hour or so brainstorming ideas and creating a plan of what we were going to do. We didn't stop until my mom came and told us that dinner was ready. "That's okay I don't want to impose. I'll just wait up here until Nessie is finished,"

"Nonsense if you're going to stay here and do homework with my daughter then you're getting fed," mom insisted. Bella reluctantly agreed.

My brother was already sitting at the table. A piece of steak and potato loaded with cheese, butter, and sour cream already on his plate. "Where's dad?"

"He had to stay late at the hospital so it'll just be us. Have a seat Bella. Nessie will get your food for you. I hope you like steak," Bella forced a smile. I served Bella her food first before getting my own. I started cutting my steak up right away.

"Do you like steak Nessie?" Bella asked. She still hadn't touched her food.

Mike snorted into his food. "You should ask her what food she doesn't like. It's probably a much shorter list,"

"Oh shut up Mike," I retorted. "I haven't seen you turn down food ever. Unless it has something green in it,"

"Food shouldn't be green. Peas, broccoli, all of that stuff is unnatural and does not taste good at all,"

"Yeah God forbid you eat something healthy,"

"Okay enough you two," mom said sternly. "I'm sorry Bella these two love to bicker over the stupidest things,"

Bella laughed.

"It's called sibling rivalry mom," I said.

"No, it's called annoying your parents. Now keep eating,"

I noticed that Bella just kept picking at her food rather than eating it. Odd because I didn't see her eat anything at lunch either. She should've been starving by now. It wasn't until my mom said something that she actually ate anything. She took a couple of bites of her steak and potato and then claimed that she was full. After dinner my mom brought out dessert. Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. I could see the dismay on Bella's face as she took one. She didn't eat lunch, she barely touched dinner, and now dessert brought on a round of dismay. It seemed like she just had an aversion to food altogether. That was weird. I thought about all of that as I bit into my chocolate chip cookie. What was the deal with food?