Little Miss Nosy

Chapter Twenty-Five: A Pawn for a Knight

- Edited - 

"I know you're watching me, so just come out already."

I made my way to the old playground in my neighborhood. It's not too far from my house and an easy walk back. The bright street lights provide a net of safety on this otherwise dark night. I know nothing bad will happen to me anyway. Not if what Jacob said is true.

If he's always watching, he knows I'm here.

Movement to the right catches my attention. A young girl jumps onto the mulch, stomping her way next to the jungle gym. She grasps a rung and searches the area frantically. As she turns I notice her red eyes, large and terrified.

What is someone so young doing out here so late and alone? "Hey-"

"Amy!" A louder, familiar voice outdoes my small greeting. We both flinch, the voice sending us into a frenzied state. The girl climbs to the top of the jungle gym. She perches on the top rung and waits on the approaching footsteps while I dash for cover behind the slide. "Amy get down from there right now!"

Bella emerges from behind the bushes, another little girl trailing alongside her. "No!"

Bella huffs. She holds onto the youngest, who points excitedly at the swing set. "Not now," she says gently, tugging her back. Then, more annoyedly at the one on the jungle gym, "Do you enjoy making my life hell?"

"No, but mom does," she retorts.

"And that's exactly what will happen if we're not back soon. She'll blame me, not you. So get down here!" The girl sticks out her tongue and crosses her arms defiantly. She's just as stubborn as her sister.

I don't know much about the Anderson family. They live on the opposite side of my neighborhood and Bella's mom is a single parent to three daughters who all share similar features: straight light brown hair with freckles to match. Sassy too, apparently. Oh, and they hate us.

Everything else is a mystery.

"Please?" Bella tries, and I have to shake my head to keep my jaw from hitting the ground. Bella and phrases like 'Please' and 'Thank you' don't go together. So hearing it straight from her mouth, although faint and forced, is very odd. "I don't like when mom yells either. Not at me. And especially not at you guys. That's why we need to stick together, alright? We're stronger as one."

It's eye opening to see how Bella acts when not surrounded by people she needs to impress. Like a queen plucked out of her castle, status doesn't matter when it's stripped away to reveal the most vulnerable parts of herself.

Her sister eases herself off the jungle gym then halts midway. "Only if we can make pizza bagels. The pepperoni ones."

Bella throws her head back and laughs. Laughs. Her bangs ripple in the wind as she confirms, "What are pizza bagels without pepperoni?" She helps her down the rest of the way before calling for the youngest.

I flick my gaze to her only for my blood to run cold. I gulp as the youngest holds my eyes in astonishment. I mean, I just so happen to be the only one with them on an otherwise empty playground looking like a creeper watching this tender moment, so I can't blame her reaction. She points to me, but just before she can get a word out, I hold up both hands. Stop!

A game. Kids like games, right? I'm certain she knows who I am but hopefully she doesn't hate me like her sister does.

I use the hand signal for keeping a secret, acting like I'm pulling a zipper over my lips. She hops giddily, a wide grin forming as she repeats the action. I've known Bella for about a decade now and even though we were never friends, there was a time where we could co-exist peacefully. This moment with her sisters reminds me of that time. A reminder that she's human with a home life that is apparently tougher than mine. She would pick on me ten times harder if she knew I was a witness to this.