Bella's Hunt

TWENTY-SIX

I walk downstairs with a knot in my stomach. Everything is quiet, making me wonder where everyone is.

Cam's probably in his room, Linda's probably in her room finding an outfit for tonight. I walk through the foyer into the ginormous living room.

It's empty besides all the white furniture. I sit down on the loveseat and pull my phone from my pocket.

It's around four and I still haven't seen the step-siblings yet. I have three messages from Lydia, all of them telling me to call her back. I still haven't and I probably won't until later tonight so I can tell her about the stupid dinner I'm being forced to go to. I missed a call from mom, she probably wants to know if we made it.

I press my phone against my ear as it rings. "Bella?" I smile at the sound of my mom's voice.

"Hi, mom."

"How is it there? Is your dad there? Is Cammy okay?"

"We're fine mom." I smile while nodding, even though she can't see me. "We're just fine."

"Where is your brother at?"

"He's in his room."

"His room? Since when do you have rooms?"

"Since Linda gave us both rooms. His' is in the basement and mine's just upstairs. She decorated my room and everything."

"How did she decorate it?" Her tone of voice changes and I try not to laugh. "Gang signs, naked boy posters?"

"Fairy lights, mom. There are fairy lights hanging from my ceiling." I giggle. I hear her huff out a breath and her running around. "Mom, what are you doing?"

"Going to the store. I need fairy li- I need shredded cheese. Willow is coming over tonight and we're having a movie night." She tells me.

"Is Hunter going?" I ask.

"Um, no. I did invite him, but he said something about hanging out with this girl." She mumbles when she slams the door behind her.

Girl? What Girl?

"Oh. Did he say who?" I ask nervously.

"No, he didn't. Then Willow's getting a babysitter for Mickey. What are you up to there?"

I continue to frown at the thought of Hunter hanging out with another girl. Unless, of course, it's Lydia or Jade. Even Vanessa. But if it's some girl I don't know...

What if he hooks up with her?

Oh, my god.

Wait, Hunter wouldn't do that.

Actually... I don't know if he would do that. It's obvious that over the years that he's been gone, he has new hobbies and habits. So maybe he would.

"Bella?"

"Huh?" I shake the thought away. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"I asked you what you guys are doing."

"Oh, I think Cam is in the basement. Uh-We're going to dinner tonight. And I still haven't seen Beverly and James."

"Well, it sounds nice to have the house to yourself then."

"For now," I mutter.

"Um, baby, I have to go. But I want you to call me before you go to bed so I can say goodnight to your brother." She tells me.

"Okay, mom."

"Okay, I love you."

"Love you, mom." I smile. "Bye," I whisper before hanging up. As soon as my phone hits the cushion, the front door swings open and loudly hits the wall. My head snaps towards the foyer and I watch quietly as Beverly and her friends strut in with shopping bags hanging from their wrists.