Lost in Love

Chapter 8 - Game and a Movie

By the time fifth period roles around, I am ready to get through the hour and get out of here. We have a full hour of note taking, which is a change from the last few days, and I'm okay with it. I can tell everyone else is just as bored, but we still have two days to get through this week.
When the bell rings, Ryan runs to the room across the hall to hand something in, while Bella and I pack up.
"So, I have a group project to do, and we're going to work at one of the guys places, since we need to record."
"Okay, Ryan and I will just head to his place then. Do you need us to come get you after?" I know him and I won't have a car, but we can at least walk over.
"No, it's fine, they don't live too far from his place."
"Okay, I'll see you in a bit, we'll make sure the door is unlocked for when you get back."
"Thanks. When does Ryan's mom get home?"
"She's normally home by 5:30."
"Okay, perfect. I'll be back before then."
We walk out the door, "I love you."
"I love you too," she kisses me quick and heads down the hall.
"Where's she off to?" I know he was trying to scare me, still didn't work.
"She has a project to work on at someone's house."
We leave the school and make our way to his place. He takes out his earbuds a few minutes into the walk, and nudges me to take one. We have a playlist made up on his phone, so he just puts it on shuffle for us. It's been a while since we've done this, and it's really quite relaxing.
We get to his place and run downstairs so I can drop my stuff down, then we head up to his room.
"So what do you want to do until Bella gets back?"
I cock a brow, "like you even have to ask."
A smirk appears on his face, as he passes me my controller and flops on the bed beside me. We play some tracks, with him slowing falling behind me in each round. He tries to nudge me, to make me fail, which doesn't work.
The front door opens after a while, "hello?"
"Up in Ryan's room," I quickly holler back, knowing Ryan will take any chances to get ahead during moments of distraction.
"Hi," I give her a quick smile, and scoot over. She sits down in the corner of the bed. When I hit the finish line, Ryan side eyes me and gets his lap done.
"Are we doing something else now?" Ryan looks between the two of us.
Bella turns around, "oh, no. Don't stop your game," she smiles at me, "I'm just glad you're cheering up."
I move my arms and the controller, and she leans back into me. We get another round going. And now, without Ry knowing, I've got my good luck charm.
"How'd the project go?"
"It was fine, I'm just glad it's done."
"You guys got done pretty quick."
"Yeah, well, that's what happens when one person needs everything to be their idea so the rest of us just sit there."
"Hey, at least that's easy for you," Ry pipes up.
"Yeah, but if it's bad, we all take the rap for it."
"That's very true."
We get into playing, with Bella trying it out a few times. After playing for a bit, we head downstairs to work on the homework from fifth period. It's honestly nice to basically have a study group under one roof.
Mrs. Jeffery gets home quite soon after we finish the work. We all go upstairs to eat.
"So, how was school today?"
We all respond, "good."
"Where's Mr. Jeffery?" He never misses dinner, so him not being here is strange.
"He left for a business trip earlier this afternoon."
"Oh, how long is he gone for?"
"He gets back on Saturday."
"Oh, okay."
Once we're finished, Bella and I go into the kitchen to clean dishes.
"You two don't need to do that," Mrs. Jeffery has been saying this to me for years, over me doing the dishes.
"You already did the cooking, honestly, it's no big deal."
"Well, thank you girls," she leaves the room.
"You wanna watch a movie when we're done?"
"Sure."
Once everything is cleaned up, we head downstairs, "they have a lot of movies," I pull open the cupboards beside the tv.
"So, what are we going to watch?"
"It doesn't matter to me, you can choose."
Bella goes to pick something, and puts it in the DVD player. She comes over to the couch and sits beside me. As the movie plays, Bella starts to lean more into me. After a while, I glance at her, and she has fallen asleep. It's only 8:30, but I'm just going to let her sleep. It's honestly been a long few days.
Ryan comes to the back of the couch and pokes his head over, "whatcha doing?"
"Watching a movie."
He looks at Bella, then back to me, "care if I join you?"
"Go ahead."
"Ok, hold on, just need to grab something."
He comes back a minute later and passes me a can, "thanks."
He sits with me until 9:30, knowing that his mom is super punctual on school nights.
He takes my empty can and puts a hand on my shoulder on his way out, "goodnight."
"Night."
I sit with Bella while letting the movie finish, as Mrs. Jeffery comes downstairs, "hun, do you want to go get some of your stuff when I'm done work tomorrow?"
"Sure, it's probably a good idea."
"Okay, if you just want to come by the cafe at the end of my shift, we can go from there."
"Perfect, thank you."
"Of course, sleep well."
"You too."
When the movie finishes, I start to turn stuff off.
"Bella?" She starts to wake up, "we should head to the room."
"Okay," she whispers, then sits up and stretches.
When we get into the room, I pass her a shirt to wear, and go out to the bathroom to change.
By the time I get back in, Luna is asleep on the bed. I leave the lamp on for a bit while I read. It isn't long before I put it down and go to sleep as well. I'm honestly surprised to be able to sleep tonight without problems.
By morning, I really don't feel like going to school, but there is no way I'm getting out of it being at Mrs. Jeffery's place. I do my best getting through the day. Which isn't too bad, mostly a lot of note taking.
When the bell goes at the end of the day, the three of us don't play around. We just worry about getting back and getting our homework done.
"Since we're done, I'm gonna go and game. You in?" Ryan gets up from the floor, stretching before taking his books.
"No, thanks. I'm going to get my stuff put away and get ready to go to the cafe."
Bella and I get up and head down the stairs.
"Alright, see you later."
"Yup."
When we get into the room, Bella lays over the bed, letting her head hang to look at me.
"So, when do we have to be at the cafe?"
I look to her with my brow cocked, "hmm?"
"To go get your stuff?"
"Oh, 5."
She nods at me and sits up.
"You know I'm going alone right?"
"No, after Tuesday, you are not going alone."
I stop for a moment, and lean my head against the bed. "I won't technically be alone, Mrs. Jeffery will be with me, and she's been dealing with my parents for years."
"Either way, I'm coming," she gets more serious with each word, which is quite intriguing to see her like this.
"Darling, I won't be gone long. So there is no point. I'll be in and out."
She sighs into her hands, "you know, I have stuff to grab too, right?"
At this point, I've just accepted that there is no way I'm getting out of this, "fine, but still, in and out."
"Okay," she seems genuinely excited to have finally got me to admit defeat.
"Well, I'm ready if you are."
She grabs her phone and nods.
While Bella gets her shoes and coat on, I run upstairs to tell Ry that we're leaving.
"Okay, you text me if you need help over there."
"I will, love you."
"Love you."
As soon as we walk out the door, I can feel myself beginning to panic at the thought of what may happen when we get to my place.
Bella takes my hand and smiles at me. I give her a quick smirk-there is no way it was believable.
"It's gonna be okay."
I want to fake everything and pretend that I agree, but I know my parents, and there is no way for this to go "okay."
"I'm not so sure about this."
She squeezes my hand as we walk up to the door.
"Hey, hun," Mrs. Jeffery is trying to clean up and get all the dishes. I look to Bella, then point to a seat, "here, sit. I'm just gonna help out quickly."
She sits and I can feel her eyes following me. When I grab a damp cloth and start wiping tables, my curiosity peaks, "what are you watching there?"
She grins, "you."
I let out a little chuckle, "why?"
"Because you're pretty."
"No way, I'm an absolute disaster right now," I can feel how gross I am between school and the walks to Ryan's and here, definitely showering once we get back.
"That doesn't change anything, you're still pretty."
I start to slowly shake my head, but can't help smiling.
After about 15 minutes, we are finally ready to go. Well... not mentally, but we are going anyway. It only takes 5 minutes to get to my house.
"Do you want me to come with you, hun?"
"No thanks, I'll be okay," I look at Bella, "are you sure you want to come in?"
"Yup, let's go."
When we get out of the car, I can't help looking at my parents truck. Of course they're home. I can't stop fidgeting. It's bad enough that I have to deal with them, but I'm going in there with Bella.
Bella grabs my hand again, "it's going to be okay."
"Yeah," I look at the house and take a breath, "in and out, that's it."