BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER, chris sturniolo

SIXTY - SIX

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
IRL

BELLA'S HEART WAS SO BEATING SO FAST she was afraid a heart attack was on its way. She had been outside her mom's- her house for 5 minutes. Just staring at the front door. She hadn't step foot into the house in a month or two and she wasn't sure if she even wanted to go back in.

She used to cherish her house, it being the place her dad spent his last few days of his life at. But those sweet memories of him were quickly washed away by her mom. She threw away all his pictures, all of his clothes, anything that belonged to him. Now all she thought about when she entered the house was the terrible memories from her mom's drunken behaviour. Marks on the walls from where Bella had to dodge many glasses being thrown at her. She began feeling sick at the sight.

Before she could turn away and run back to her real home, the front door opened. Her heart only sped up even more at the sight of the woman in front of her. She did look .. different? Healthier in a way, she was even wearing make up.

"Oh!" Bella's mom gushed, her hands covering her mouth "Oh, my beautiful, beautiful girl." She wailed, tears filling her eyes as she rushed over to her daughter. "My baby, i've missed you so much."

Bella went stiff under her mother's hold. She stood there, frozen in place, not having it in her to hug her back. She wasn't letting her guard down that quickly.

"Oh Bella." She spoke "Come, come inside!" She grinned, grabbing Bella's arm and pulling her into the house. "You like it? I redecorated it!"

Bella wasn't exactly amused by the new attire of the house, she had seen it change many times over the years. But something did catch her eye.

It was a picture of her and her dad, her eyes immediately tearing up as she picked the picture up. She stared at her dad's happy face, a smile painting her lips at the sight.

"I didn't throw everything away that night." She heard her mom whisper from behind her. "You can keep it if you like! Honestly, take it back ho- to the triplet's house." She added.

"Are you sure- you don't want it?" She spoke quietly, watching her mom shake her head from the corner of her eye. She was quick to place it carefully into her bag. Finally she had a picture of him, she was deprived of seeing him or even speaking about him for so long and nothing made her more happier in that moment.

"So, you'll take it back to the triplets?" Bella heard her say, as she continued to make her way through the house and into the kitchen. "Oh! Yes, i ordered us takeout. Chinese! You're favourite, right?"

When she was 12.

"Yes!" Bella said, faking a smile. "Yeah, it smells lovely, I haven't had it in so long."

"I was going to reserve a table at that restaurant- you know the one! The one we used to go to on Dad's birthday, every year!" She laughed, a genuine smile creeping onto Bella's lips at the memory.

"We were so happy." Her mom spoke softly, "I am so sorry Bells-."

"We should eat mom! Before it gets cold." Bella cut her off, wanting to put off that conversation as long as she could. "I'm starving."

"Of course! I'll- I'll get the plates, sit down honey."

There was a long moment of silence as she watched her mom set the food up and eventually sitting down to eat herself. Bella wasn't going to be the one to start the conversation as she genuinely had nothing to say to her.