☀️She's Extraordinary ☀️

Tell Me

1 Halsey Path (Southampton, NY) (2:35 PM)
(Olivia's Perspective)
"I thought you guys went to work. What are you doing here?" Bella asked.
"We just wanted to talk to you for a sec, can you sit?"
"What is it, are you going undercover for a couple of days? We don't have to talk about it. It wouldn't be the first time for either of you."
"No, that's not it."
"Okay... have you been snooping through my diary or something? Because that is a total invasion of privacy and I'm going to leave right now if that's the case."
"It's neither of those things. Remember your graduation? Where Maria completely overstepped her boundaries and dragged you to meet her parents?" Bella rolled her eyes.
"Why are we even talking about this? Let's just move on."
"Bella, we can't just move on. Who knows what else she could've done if Elliot hadn't found you." I could tell that Bella wasn't internalizing a thing we were saying. She was busy looking out of the window and playing with her ring.
"Bella, do you understand that she's putting your safety at risk?"
"Yes, I do. But why are we talking about it again?" I sighed internally. Bella and disregarding her emotions. It is so frustrating but I know she can't help it.
"Because, after everything that went down, your Mother and I decided that it would be best to file an order of protection for you from Maria." She stopped looking out of the window.
"You what?"
"Why would you do that??"
"Bella, we've been putting it off for a very long time. It was inevitable."
"I don't care. Why would you go and do that without telling me?? This isn't just some random person. You didn't even ask if that's what I wanted!"
"It had to be done urgently." Elliot said.
"I don't care about the circumstances. This is about me. You guys always make these big decisions about my life without consulting me when they directly effect me! It's like I'm some pawn in a game. Is it fun for you guys, playing with my emotions like this? And I'm just supposed to be okay with everything you do. You guys are just like her."
"Bella, there is no need to be disrespectful."
"I'm not being disrespectful, I haven't shown you disrespectful yet. You didn't even bother to ask me if it was okay, or how I felt about it. You guys suck, I hate you." Bella stormed out and I heard one of the doors downstairs slam.
"Bella-" Elliot grabbed my arm.
"Olivia, let her blow off steam. She'll calm down and eventually realize what we're doing for her."
"No, Elliot. She's right. We should've told her. And I told you that this would happen. I don't know what possessed you to go and do this without consulting me. So, let me go and talk to my daughter."
*********************
8th Street (Manhattan) (Kat's Perspective)
"Did you believe any of that?" I asked Fin.
"What do you think?" I laughed.
"The foolishness people will say when they think that we don't got they ass. Just wait until that autopsy report." My pocket began to vibrate.
"Hey-"
"Who is it?" He mouthed.
"Bella." I replied.
"Hey, calm down. Take a deep breath."
"Can I stay at your place for a couple of days? Please can you come pick me up?" I could hear her hyperventilating.
"Aren't you in Long Island right now? Why?"
"I don't want to be with my parents right now, I hate them!"
"What happened, why do you hate them?"
"What's going on?" Fin asked. I shrugged and put the phone on speaker.
"They filed a restraining order against Maria without telling me. They didn't even ask if that was okay with me."
"I thought that's what you wanted, you told me a couple of months ago-"
"Well, I changed my mind. Okay? You know what I don't want to talk about anymore. I can't tell you anything because I'll get in trouble."
"Bella, wait-" She hung up. I sighed.
"They filed for an order of protection?" I asked.
"Yeah, Elliot was talking about it after what went down at the graduation. I think it's the best idea, but they should've told her it was happening. At the end of the day, that is her biological mother."
"And she is going to have feelings." I said, completing his thought.
********************
Dinner (6:45 PM) (Leia's Perspective)
Dinner is weird. Mommy is mad at Daddy. Bella is mad at Mommy and Daddy. Noah is at a date. Eli is sleeping.
"So Leia, tell me what you and Lucy did today!" Daddy said excitedly. It feels weird. I don't know how to explain it. It's not like a normal dinner.
"Lucy and I went to the park and we went rollerskating." I said.
"Was it fun?" I nodded. Mommy's being really quiet.
"Mommy, can you pass the hot sauce please?"
"Of course, baby. Why do you like hot sauce on your steak so much?" I giggled in a nervous way.
"It's just yummy. Bella showed me it. She likes hot sauce too!"
"I know. You guys have so much in common that it's crazy."
"But I have dimples and she doesn't."
"That's right." I've gotta make Mommy and Daddy talk to each other. It's kinda weird like this.
"Mommy, Daddy, remember when we went to Pennsylvania?"
"Mhm."
"And we went to the water park! I was a little scared to go on the ride so you both went with me and then I felt a lot better."
"I do remember that."
"You were so scared, you thought you were going to fall off." Daddy said.
"But then we both held you and you realized just how fun it was."
"Because I felt safe. I feel safe when I'm with you. Not anybody else." Mommy smiled at Daddy. Maybe she's not angry at him anymore.
***************
Bontonelli's (Monday, July 1st) (12:35 PM) (Noah's Perspective)
Bontonelli's. The summer hangout. You get an Italian ice, you get a slice of pizza, and then you sit for hours telling about random shit.
"Can you believe that we're going to be 10th graders?" Ace asked.
"No way."
"My sister did say the four years fly by."
"Well they can't fly by too fast, I have some places that I wanna take you, things to do." I gave Morgan a quick peck.
"I feel like I'm third-wheeling." Violet said.
"Then leave." Morgan suggested.
"Whatever."
"I've got ideas of things we could do this summer." Ace said.
"Like what?"
"Mason's parents are going to Nicaragua for a couple of days, he's got the house to himself and he's going to going to have a party. Y'all saw his snap right??"
"Yessir, we're going. I don't have to ask any of y'all."
"I heard he throws the best parties." Alexis said.
"He does. Last time I went to one of his parties-"
"Wait...the last time. When the fuck was the last time." Ace shut his mouth instantly.
"So you mean to tell me, while we were here talking about ho we wanted to go to one of his parties, your ass already went."
"Well...it's not like that."
"Then what's it like?"
"It was a spontaneous thing with Brevin. We just sort of ended up there. It was epic though."
"I don't trust you." Morgan said while looking at him suspiciously.
"But this time we'll all go, and it'll be amazing."
******************
Our Backyard (July 2nd) (7:53 PM) (Olivia's Perspective)
"Bella, Lucy told me that you've been in the treehouse for 2 days now. I think it's time for you to come back inside. The sun is about to set and tonight it's going to be in the 50's. I don't know what you're sleeping with up there but you'll freeze." Bella peeped out.
"I'd rather freeze to death than talk to you!" I walked over to the treehouse and folded my arms.
"I bought your favorite meal as of late. Sushi and popcorn chicken from that sushi place. Lucy said you refused lunch and dinner." I knew she'd give in to that.
"Can I have some?" Didn't take much.
"Of course. Are you willing to talk to me for a sec?"
"Okay." She replied. I grabbed the food and climbed up. The treehouse wasn't the way I remembered it. There were art supplies, a speaker, a sleeping bag, and some food. That's how she's been living.
"I like your humble abode." Bella didn't reply and started to look into the bag.
"You bought ramune?"
"Hold on a second. We need to talk first." I moved the food over and looked at Bella.
"I am so sorry about the way this came about."
"I'm madder at you than Elliot. I thought you'd tell me, Mom. We've been dealing with the Maria thing for years. From the PI to the Christmas dinner. I thought you'd tell me."
"And I would've babe, but I didn't even know that Elliot filed for the order of protection until a while before we told you."
"So he did this behind both of our backs?" I nodded.
"I'm not surprised. That's how he is. He has the right intentions...but I hate the way he goes about things sometimes. That's why we argue sometimes." Bella's eyes started to water.
"I know, baby. But honey, why are you so opposed to it? Is something going on?"
"Because if that's the case, you can talk to me."
*****************
The Treehouse (Bella's Perspective)
"Bell, it's okay."

"It's okay." Maria said to me.
"Mommy, no! Please!" I screamed as the big men took me. She cried before taking the white powder.
"It's okay. Bell, it's okay!" One of the big men kissed me on the lips before taking off my dress.
"I want my Mommy. No, no!"

"No, it's not okay! IT'S NOT OKAY! NOTHING IS OKAY!" I pushed the supplies away and threw my sleeping bag out of the window.
"Bella, did you have a flashback?" Mom got up and rushed over to me. She held me firmly, but not tightly so that I wouldn't hurl objects anymore and you know what? I just broke down. I fucking lost it. I just kept rambling and I doubt any of that shit made sense to Mom, but I was tired of keeping it in.
"Whycan'tshejustgetoutofmyheadIhatehersodamnmuchbutatthesametimeifeelbadforherand-"
"Woah, shhh. I've got you. Slow down, sweet girl. Who do you hate? What have you been keeping inside of you for so long?" Mom's eyes started to water.
"You're gonna get mad at me, and you're gonna hate me. No, I can't tell you."
"Bella, I could never hate you! You could push me away, scratch me, throw your biggest insults at me and I'll still be right here. You know why? Because you are Bella Danielle Margaret Benson. You are my daughter, and I'll love you no matter what. We are family. Nothing will change that. I love you so much, Bella."
"I love you too, but I don't wanna hurt you. I love you too much to hurt you, Mama."
"You won't hurt me, babe. You can be honest with me." Mom was crying and I just felt really bad. I hugged her.
"Y-You know how I know that Maria was raped, and that's how I was conceived. Right, Mom?"
"Yes, honey. What is it, stellina?" I thought of how to word it in Italian for a second.
"And I never told you how I found that out. C-Can I tell you now?"
"Of course." I began hyperventilating again.
"You're gonna be mad at me."
^^^^^^^^^
After drinking water and Mom playing some music, I calmed down. I stopped shaking and my breaths were steadier.
"Take your time stellina." That means "little star" in Italian. Mom would call me that whenever I made up these imaginary stories, or whenever I was backstage at a dance competition. Because I "shined so brightly, like a star" as she'd say.
"I found out about that...through talking to Maria. I-I scheduled for us to meet at Central Park so that I could learn-" I hiccuped out of fear.
"I'm not angry, Bella." She reassured me.
"Learn why she took drugs. She told me the whole story and ever since... I couldn't look at her as the big bad wolf in my story, at least not fully. She's been hurt too. And I have dreams about it, I stay up at night thinking about it. Everything she's done since she's learned that you've taken care of me. Everything that happened at the warehouse. It all makes sense. Non credo di odiarla più così tanto." (I don't think I hate her that much anymore.)
"I certainly don't love her. I switch back and forth between hating and somewhat liking her. Is something wrong with me? Do I like to be in pain?"
"No sweetie. You're having conflicted feelings."
"But, you're my Mama! You're the one I run to when something is wrong! You're the one that helps with school, dance, and everything else. Not her."
"But, she is your Mom too. And there's no denying that. She will always have a place here." She pointed to my chest.
"I hated my Mom for a very long time too. But underneath all of that...the love was still there. That's nothing to feel guilty about. I feel horrible that you were scared to tell me. I could never be mad at you for that."
"But are you mad at me for arranging that meeting? I hid that from you."
"A little bit, because you did it without my permission and you had us worried sick...but I get it. I should've been more open to talking to you about her."
"You were only trying to protect me."
"But look at what that has done. I should have let you have supervised visits, something. Instead, I let you have them with your father without a second thought."
"I didn't want any visits with her then."
"Do you want them with her now? Be honest."
"No, because she makes me uncomfortable. She made me talk to my grandparents. They forced her to give birth to me when it should've been her choice. I felt so out of place and gross when with them. And, I'm tired of her popping up at school trying to talk to me or watching me with my friends. It's gross."
"So then, would you like to go ahead with the order of protection? At least temporarily until we foggier this out?" I nodded.
"Okay, sweetheart." Mom hugged me.
"And, if there's anything you want to talk about, concerning your Mother's case, anything relating to her, I'm here. Don't feel scared. I won't be offended." I nodded and we both just cried.