A Different Point of View

Too Loud

AN: In which Bella still has sensory overload, but doesn't know what it is or what causes it.

Childhood (8)

"Fourth of July! Fourth of July!" Bella chanted, cheering as she ran around with a sparkler in her hand.

"Fourth a' July! Fourth a' July!" Fiddleford repeated, giggling and running after his friend. It was just reaching dusk, and their families had decided that it was time to break out the sparklers. Fiddleford's older brothers also had sparklers, while their older sister sat at the table with the adults.

"Fidds Fidds, lookit this!" Bella called, drawing a flower in the air with her sparkler.

"Neat!" Fiddleford grinned. "Ah can write mah name, look!"

He wrote out 'Fiddleford' in the air just before his sparkler went out. Bella's went out at the same time and she dropped it in the grass. She hurried over to the table, climbing onto a chair and grabbing a slice of watermelon. She folded her feet underneath her after kicking off her flip-flops and began eating.

"I like watermelon," she voiced, smiling at Fiddleford. "But I don' like the seeds."

She picked out a few of the seeds and tossed them in the grass. Fiddleford watched, taking his own slice of watermelon.

"Ya know they don' really grow in yer stomach, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, I know," Bella shrugged. "That's dumb, they need light an'... water. And dirt! I jus' don't wanna choke on them."

"You won't choke on watermelon seeds," Rob said.

"I don't care!" Bella pouted, continuing to pick out the seeds. "I don't like 'em."

Fiddleford chuckled at his friend. Bella looked around as she sat back in the chair, setting her feet on the seat.

"Bella, sit like a lady," her mom scolded. "You're wearing a dress."

Bella groaned and put her feet down so they dangled off the edge. After a minute of fidgeting, she jumped down and stood on the ground.

"I can't sit... with my feet down," Bella said. "It's uncomfortable."

"Ah would think it would be more uncomfor'able ta sit on yer legs," Fiddleford mused.

"Nah, I'm used to it," Bella shrugged. She gasped suddenly, quickly setting her watermelon on the table. "Lightning bug!"

She ran off, chasing after a flashing green light. She closed her hand around it and giggled. She ran back over to Fiddleford, opening her hand and showing off the bug.

"Look! I caught it!" She smiled proudly.

"Cool," Fiddleford grinned. "Ya are good at catchin' 'em."

"I'm the lightning bug catching expert," Bella said. She frowned slightly. "Aw, I don't have anything to keep 'em in..."

"My ma said yer supposed ta let them go," Fiddleford said.

"But you're supposed to, keep them in a... holder, so you can keep them overnight," Bella said. "It's like a little... night light."

"Sorry kiddo, you'll just have to let them go tonight," Rob said.

"Aw..." Bella pouted and opened her hand. The lightning bug flew off, flashing.

"Don' worry, there'll be a lot more fireflies ta catch," Fiddleford assured.

"They're called lightning bugs," Bella corrected.

"Well Ah call 'em fireflies," Fiddleford shrugged.

"Well you're wrong," Bella argued. "My mommy says they're called lightning bugs. Right, Mommy?"

"Well, some people call them lightning bugs, and some call them fireflies," Nicole explained.

"What? But one thing can't have two names," Bella frowned. "That's dumb." She suddenly perked up and ran off. "Another one!"

Fiddleford giggled and ran after her, reaching to catch the glowing bugs.

The two kids chased after lightning bugs until it became too dark to do so. By then Fiddleford's parents had decided to start lighting the fireworks. Fiddleford laid out a blanket on the grass to sit on while watching.

"Ya wanna sit with me, Bella?" He asked.

"Uh, sure," the girl nodded, her earlier energy and joy suddenly gone. She sat criss-cross down next to Fiddleford, smoothing her dress out over her knees.

"Hey, are ya ok?" Fiddleford asked. "Ya seem scared'a somethin'."

"I don't really like fireworks," Bella mumbled. "They're too loud. And when they BOOM, it makes my chest feel funny."

"Well they're supposed ta do that," Fiddleford chuckled. "And it's fun when they're loud!"

"Well I don't like it," Bella pouted. "Loud makes me hurt."

"How?" Fiddleford asked, confused. "It's just a noise. It can' hurt ya."

"Well it does!" Bella whined. "I dunno why!"

Just then the first firework went off. Bella jumped and quickly covered her ears. No one else noticed though, as they were distracted by said firework. They continued to explode in the sky, causing Bella to screw up her face and dig her palms into her ears. She let out an "Ow!" every time a firework went off.

"Wow! Ain't they amazin'?" Fiddleford asked with a smile on his face. He turned to Bella, only to see her crying and seemingly rolled up into herself. "Hey, what's wron'?"

"Loud!" Bella said.

"Hey, they ain't that loud-" Fiddleford reached out to put a hand on Bella's arm, but she jumped away from him.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled.

"Bella? What's wrong?" Nicole asked, walking over.

"I wanna go home!" Bella sobbed, pushing her hands deeper over her ears.

"Well you'll have to wait until after the fireworks," Nicole said.

"No!" Bella protested. "I wanna go home now!"

Fiddleford frowned, standing nervously to the side. Nicole sighed, standing up and turning to her husband.

"Rob, let's go," she said.

"Already?"

Nicole nodded and took Bella's hand. The girl desperately tried to cover both her ears with only one hand, but it, of course, didn't work. Fiddleford watched as his friend left with her parents, frowning in confusion.

"Are fireworks really that bad?" He asked himself quietly.