All The Odds

Eighteen

//I don't admit it, I play it cool. But every minute, that I'm with you, I feel the fever and I won't lie, I break a sweat...// Fifth Harmony

With a chuckle Iverson threw an arm around Bella's shoulders and tried to carefully extricate the hot coffee mug from her hands before any accident, she held unto it tight.

Chanting, "Oh my God! Oh my God!" with heavy pants after squealing her lungs out. A tear roll down her right cheek and Iverson pressed a kiss to it.

"I should probably have warned you first." He said with a frown, only then remembering her reaction at the store when he first told her about his sister.

Marie Ivy made a disgruntled sigh to get their attention. "This has been fun and all, but I should let you know it's still night in LA and I'm unfortunately not powered by batteries. I need my beauty sleep."

She quirked up a side of her perfect pouty lips and Bella's heart dropped a little at the slightly irritated look that marred her beautiful face. She must think her a nuisance.

"I thought we agreed you'll try not be a bítch for fifteen seconds?" Iverson snapped at his sister to Bella's surprise, she had to swallow down the instant urge to defend her idol.

"Try, being the keyword. I failed." Marie shrugged with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Was it a bad time for her? Bella wondered, she was usually very down to earth on television.

Iverson watched his sister for a moment before shaking his head. "It's still a wonder to me how you have any fans at all, don't they see how stuck up you are?"

"Hey, I was only joking!" Marie exclaimed. "You don't have to appreciate my British sense of humour, but don't insult it."

"I'm laughing on the inside." Iverson said with a straight face.

"I'm so sorry." Bella spoke up, interrupting the sibling banter. At least she hope that was what it was.

"Oh my God, it's just....I'm just....I'm like your biggest fan, it's a little overwhelming to have you....just...there." She pointed lamely at the laptop, she could have sworn Marie scoffed a little and Bella's anxiety began to kick in as it dawned on her that Marie just didn't seem to like her at first glance.

She try to hide behind her mug, forgetting how hot the coffee was, she took a large gulp. It burned like hell and she hurriedly spat it back with an "Oww!" As if she hadn't embarrassed herself enough, she had to instinctively stick her scalded tongue out to lap some air, like a silly dog.

"Sorry." Iverson laughed and finally got the mug out of her hands. Marie wasn't the least bit amused however. She watched Bella keenly without betraying any emotion on her perfect face and even though it was through a stupid 15.6 inches screen, Bella had never felt smaller.

She didn't look away but Bella knew exactly when she got dismissed as insignificant. Her self esteem on the other hand, suffered a significant blow.

"Are you comfortable in your skin? There's going to be a pool side shoot." Marie said curtly, a challenging glint in her eyes as if she'd found something to scare her of.

Bella didn't remember giving Iverson her consent but she desperately wanted, no, needed to retain at least a molecule of self worth. Not only was that her idol on the damn screen but she was Iverson's sister also.

"Yes." She nodded, sitting straighter with feigned confidence. 'Comfortable in one's skin' was a long shot from how she would describe herself but she kept nodding anyways. "Very, very comfortable, absolutely, comfortable."

Iverson chuckled and pulled her further to his side, she almost gave in to the temptation of burying her face into his chest to escape Marie judgemental eyes.