Mr. I Don't Smile

04. the great ice cream tragedy

04. the great ice cream tragedy

Ciera

Theo and Rosalie had been here for a full week now, and they seemed to be adjusting as well as it got. Rosalie didn't talk much, but she didn't seem to hate it here either. And Theo was well, Theo. I had grown used to it.

It was Saturday morning, and I was walking to the kitchen when the doorbell rang. I went to answer it and saw a teenage boy. He had warm brown skin and dark curly hair. He seemed to be nervous and fidgeting, and it only intensified when Rosalie appeared beside me.

This was the fourth boy who had come by our house this week. And always to see Rosalie. She had so many admirers from school, and she seemed to be getting really close to throwing something at everyone who was showing up.

But just this once, she didn't look annoyed. "Hi, Logan," she greeted.

"Uh, h-hi, Rosalie," the boy said back. I couldn't tell if he had an actual stutter or if he was just that nervous around her.

"What are you doing here?" I turned to leave, not wanting to see how this conversation played out. I put two bagels in the toaster and started frying some bacon. I was done by the time the door closed and Rosalie walked back in.

I put the cream cheese and bacon on as I asked, "Who's Logan?"

"The only decent ninth grader at that school. He's my friend."

"Does he have a stutter?"

"I don't think so. It only happens sometimes."

"Around you?" I pushed. Rosalie just shrugged. I had a hunch Logan liked her, but I decided to change the subject. "I made you breakfast. You like a bacon bagel sandwich right?" She nodded and I slid a plate with the food across to her.

Rosalie gave me a small smile before saying, "Thanks." Then she went upstairs to eat by herself. Still, I felt like I was making some progress with the Chastain siblings and the ice surrounding them.

But when it turned to 12:32 p.m. and I still hadn't seen any sign of Theo, that former hope was squashed. He hadn't even come down to eat breakfast. I decided to go knock on his door. An annoyed "What?" came through.

"Get up and get dressed for the day. You too, Rosalie! It's time you both got a taste of what California is really like."

)()(

"This is really good!" Rosalie exclaimed, and I swore it was the loudest I had ever heard her talk. "We have burgers in France, but I've never tasted anything like this before." She had ordered one with ketchup, cheese, tomatoes, bacon (which she seemed to like), and two patties. She also had onion rings. The girl could eat.

Theo had ordered some cheeseburger sliders with a side of fries. I couldn't tell if he liked it or not because of his ever so silent demeanor.

"I usually never get to eat like this," Rosalie continued.

"What do you mean?" I asked, dipping a fry into the ketchup.

"I'm on a strict diet," she muttered. Theo sent her a glare from across the table and she went quiet. Great, more secrets. I knew Theo didn't know me or my family, but it was frustrating how he wouldn't share one thing. Rosalie was finally warming up to my company and all I had to do was buy her food! What would it take for Theo?

"Diet?" I reiterated.

"Forget it," she backtracked.

I was going to push some more when I noticed Theo's hand hovering over my fries. "Hey!" I yelled, slapping his hand away. "Stay away from my food. You have your own!"