An Imploding Star

Chapter Three

While Isabella was trying to calm down on the couch, the two men were talking to each other in the kitchen, trying to figure out ways to help her. Steve began commenting on things that had helped him when he came out of the ice, while Sam began talking about ways he had helped other veterans come to terms with their past and moving on. 

Neither man noticed the girl who was now sat barely moving, just breathing quietly staring at the wall directly in front of her. While the two men had been talking, she had zoned out and was now experiencing a weird out of body moment, where she felt like her eyes were watching everything unfold but she had nothing to do with it. 

She stayed like this for a while, until the men finally noticed the girl sat on the couch with her arms folded around her legs, head resting on her knees, keeping her as small as possible. 

"Hey Bells, you ok?" "Bells? You ok?" "Bella, are you ok?" "Isabella are you ok?" asked Sam progressively getting louder and closer to the girl.

"Huh?"

"Bella, are you ok?" asked Sam one final time

"Uh no, not really but, I guess yeah" 

With that response there was a knock at the door. Sam opened it and talked to their landlord about the electrical issues they were having. Though he seemed confused by the issues, their landlord had a look at the apartment's electrics and found no issues, other than the TV which had been on fire. He left, taking the burnt TV with him. 

"Ok, well that wasn't exactly helpful" responded Sam

"Agreed, Sammy, I know I'm not allowed out yet, but can we go on a walk?"

"Bells, you really shouldn't"

"Sammy, come on, just one walk, you can walk on the side that people walk on, so I don't come in contact with anyone"

"Bells"

"Why don't I come with you, if you don't mind, and then we can stand either side of you, so you don't come in contact with anyone" 

"Steve, would you mind? That would be amazing, I really just need to leave the house right now, why don't we go for a walk and then find somewhere to eat, I'll pay?"

"Bells, I'm not sure, what if something happens and you get tired or sick?"

"Sam, I need to leave, I'll be fine, and if I'm not, I have you to carry me home" she joked

After some more persuasion Isabella managed to convince Sam to go out. With that, the two best friends and their new addition left the apartment and began their walk. They ended up walking through the National Mall, where Sam and Steve had met earlier in the day. They found their way to a small Italian restaurant. Having been seated, Isabella ordered Spaghetti Pomodoro, Sam got Spaghetti Carbonara, and Steve ordered Spaghetti Bolognese. 

The three friends spent their dinner talking about everything, from past jobs, childhood, future jobs, likes, dislikes and much more. 

"So, how did you two become friends?" asked Steve

"That is a very long story, you see I don't remember my family very well, they couldn't look after me, so gave me to an orphanage for girls in Louisiana when I was 3, Sam and I went to elementary school together, he was my first friend, I found him sitting in the corner of the playground on my first day, crying because some kids had stolen his toy. So, me being the stubborn bitch I was, walked straight over, slapped him over the head and took it back, from then on we were together nonstop, hanging out at every break time. He was the only person who knew about all of the older girls who were taken by these men. My age group were too young to be taken, so we stayed."