It Started With Hello

Chapter 12- Family Dinner

Lincoln-

"Lincoln," Arabella calls knocking on my door.

"It's open." I call back writing in the journal. Trying to work out another song.

"Hey, are you busy?" She asks. "Dinner's ready, and we have some guests coming over. I just wanted to see if you were going to join us."

"Yeah, I'll be right there." I answer her closing the notebook and following her out. "How's your friend Jake?" I ask her.

"He's good. He's going to be staying a while. His family is at the hotel by Uncle Simon's studio, but we really just want to spend time together."

"So you two are close?"

"Really close, but we're just friends."

"You're lucky you've got a friend you're that close to."

"Yeah, I really am. It was hard for a while. When I first had to come stay here, Uncle Simon didn't want to have to pay tuition for me to go back to my boarding school. It would've meant that I wouldn't see him again. Finally he let me go back and pay the tuition with working at his office over breaks. That was for the first year. He stopped making me do it after that first year. As long as I didn't get into any trouble he said he'd pay my tuition."

"Hey Bellzies." Jake greets from the dining room table where everyone was already gathered. "Nice of you to finally join us."

"Sorry." She apologizes sitting next to Jake, they exchange a friendly smile and I take the last empty seat on the other side of Arabella.

"Five days until Christmas. What are your plans Bella?" Noah asks her.

"I've got some last minute shopping to do. So anyone who wants to come is welcome to come." She says.

"We'll go." Nolan says he's awful perky.

"Yeah, sounds like fun." Logan answers

"No press boys. So stay low." Simon says

"Don't worry Uncle Simon." Arabella says. "Jake and I will reign them in."

"Whoa, who said I was going?" Jake asks.

"Don't you wanna spend time with your best friend?" she asks him looking like a hurt kicked puppy. Jake's eyes soften.

"Why do you do that?" He asks her. She just keeps going until he caves. "Okay fine. I'll go. If only to get you to stop."

"Yay!" She hugs Jake and continues to eat. The doorbell rings. "I'll get it."

"Arabella, so nice to see you again." A boy's voice greets from the door.

"Mac. Tracy." She says. Jake's head jerks up and he looks over to where she went to the door. "So glad you could join us. Come in come in." She ushers a set of auburn haired twins into the dining room. "Uncle Simon, boys, Matty, Noah, Lacy, this is Mac and his sister Tracy. Tracy, Mac, this is everyone."

"Hi!" Tracy greets happily. Mac greets us politely before taking a seat next to Noah they immediately begin talking. Tracy sits next to Henrick and Nolan and puts a bit of food on her plate. She begins talking to Nolan animatedly about something.

"Surprise." She says to Jake as she sits back down next to him.

"Aw, thanks Bellzies." Jake tells her. She rolls her eyes and finishes eating. She begins to clear the table. Matt helps her and them both head to the kitchen at the same time after the table is cleared Arabella and Matt come back in and take their seats. Mr. Caswell excuses himself and heads out. Noah and Lacy seem unfazed by it. Arabella looks distraught but quickly covers it by smiling and talking to Jake and me.

Arabella-

"So, how long have you lived in Switzerland?" Lincoln asks Jake.

"I don't I'm on scholarship going to school." Jake answers.

"So it's like a college?" he ask him.

"Kinda, the headmaster of the academy heard about some of my skills and asked me to come study." Jake says, "Still don't know what I'm supposed to do. All I am is a started for the football team. Football has always come easy to me though. (AN: Remember they're in Europe so it's soccer for any Americans).

"I'm in a band." Lincoln says. "We're doing really well." Where is this coming from?

"I know. Bella told me all about your band and all the publicity you're getting right now."

"Lincoln, we're heading to the studio to record, come on." Nolan tells him coming up behind him.

"Can we come?" I ask.

"Yeah." Lincoln answers immediately. I look to the other boys who nod.

"Sure, the more the merrier." Nolan agrees. "Thanks for finding my book earlier. It has all our new songs in it."

"I'm sorry Farley like to grab things. Just keep things away from the edges of tables and you should be fine. He's not allowed to jump on the furniture."

"We finally came up with a band name. That's not just all our names together." Nolan tells me on our way to the car.

"What is it?" She asks curiously.

"World United."

"I like it." I tell them. "Easy to remember."

"That's the idea." Henrick says climbing in shot gun. Zander and Nolan climb in the very back. Luke and Lincoln climb in the third row. Leaving Jake and me the two single seats behind the driver and passenger.

~~

So, Jake and I were sitting listening to the band practice and record. Zander stayed outside the booth recording everything. Promising to sing his own part when the sound guy came in, he's running late. An hour late. I offer to record for them, but they don't believe I have enough experience, though I've recorded for other artists before. I have worked in a recording studio. The band is really good. I hear their voices and Zander singing quietly under his breath with his bandmates.

"Boys," My uncle's voice calls from the door. "I'd like to introduce you to your new sound guy, or girl." My uncle points in my direction. "She's got enough experience to work the equipment. The other guy quit. So until she goes back to school she'll be recording for you."

"Yes sir." All the boys answer perfectly in sync.

Ready or not world, here comes Bella Kennedy, World United's new sound girl.

AN: World United is on the side.