"So how is the life?"
An odd question, I know. But not surprising coming from an odd person: me.
Isabella blinks, startled, before turning to me from the window with a tentative smile.
"Good, I guess?" She says, innocent giggle and all.
"Anything interesting or new going on that you'd like to share?" I prod.
She takes a moment to think before simply shrugging with a small shake of her head and an even smaller smile, and turns back to the window.
I try my best not to sigh too loudly. It's always like this with Isabella. She's kind and sweet enough with good intentions, and my goodness can this girl dance...but trying to have a lasting conversation with her is like pulling teeth.
"Okay. Then how about something that's not particularly interesting or new but worth sharing?" I ask.
She looks my way again and opens her mouth to speak but I beat her to it.
"And just so you know Isabella, I am going to keep asking until you give me a real answer so save yourself the trouble of an unacceptable 'I don't know'" I say eyebrows raised.
She pauses, mouth still slightly open, studying me. As if she's trying to call my bluff. When she realizes I'm serious, she tilts her head back, and laughs.
What a beautiful sound. It's a pity I don't get to hear it more often.
She looks at me and gives me a genuine smile.
"Well, uh, my dog had puppies?" I feel my eyes widen in surprise.
"Girl if that doesn't fall into the 'interesting or new' category then I don't know what does! What breed? How old are they? Boys' or girls'?" This earns me another laugh. Good, we're making progress.
"Uh, beagles, three weeks, two girls and one boy. Did I get everything?" It's my turn to laugh.
"Yeah, I think. That's awesome!" She gets all flustered from the attention and looks down at her lap.
"Yeah I guess it is," she says with a smile, playing with the hem of her shirt.
"Hey, Isabella?"
"Yeah?" She replies without looking up.
"I'm sure you have your reasons for being shy, but Lauren's talked about you and said that you're really funny when you let her get to know you...and sort of a chatterbox," I add with a chuckle.
This gets her attention. "She said that?" Surprise subtley outlines the features of her face.
"Yeah...so how about for the sake of my sanity and what I would like to be our closer friendship, you let down your gaurd just a little bit and talk to me like you would talk to Lauren?" When she hesitates I add, "I promise I'm only a crazy drill sargent during practice."
"Well....I suppose it is my obligatory responsibility to preserve your sanity as a member of Hip-Hop 'cause who else is there to lead us, Zach?" A small smile hints at the edges of her lips. I snort at the thought - of Zach leading that is, not her smiling of course.
"I suppose."
"Meatball, Bongo, and Strawberry." Uh. I'm starting to question if it's my sanity we should be worrying about.
"What?" Once again she lets out a soft, angelic laugh. I would compare it to my own but I don't believe in laugh-shaming.
"My puppies. The eldest girl is Bongo, then the middle boy is Meatball, and the youngest girl is Strawberry. That's their names." I take all this in and then burst out laughing. Funny is an understatement.
YOU ARE READING
Muse
Teen FictionWe're both out of breath by the time the song ends. This is it, this is the one. He looks up at me and smiles, I return it ten times over. "You know, this song reminds me of you," He says. My brow furrows in confusion. "How?" I ask. He walks towar...
