if i got three wishes, first i'd find out all about how wishes work

[self_composed]

Bella brings two blank notebooks to school the next day. Her old one is safely computerized and boxed up with its predecessors.

At lunch, she sits with Angela; Jessica and Eric and Lauren sit at the same table but mostly talk to each other, and Mike is nowhere to be seen.

Bella is just about on time to gym, thanks to an overnight icing that means she has to pick her way with extreme care across the slippery grass or the slick sidewalks. The second time she falls down, she gives up on attempting any dignity at all, and, cradling her thwacked elbow, scoots the rest of the way to the gym on her rear. This leaves her with damp jeans but no further injuries, and they were a little damp anyway from the falls.

She doesn't have time to do more than smile and wave at Alice on her way to get her mat and get out of the way of careening balls. She spends the class doing the subset of her safe activities that won't stress her elbow.

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yep. It's a talent."

He tags along beside her, not close enough to crowd.

[self_composed]

Bella makes it to the car - walking the final stretch with the intervening cars as supports - without falling over. She kicks her front tire until the slush is mostly off her boots, and gets in.

She again waits until Alice is buckled in before going anywhere.

[edgeofyourseat]

This time, he even puts his seatbelt on without prompting!

[self_composed]

Bella drives with care, although Forks of necessity is pretty good about plowing and salting. "Apart from it usually being father-infested and this being a good opportunity, is there anything particularly cool to do in your house besides inspect all the pretty things in it? I did that one time already."

[edgeofyourseat]

Father-infested. Good one. He laughs.

"We didn't actually see the whole basement," he offers. "Or my room. But my room might be boring, I dunno."

[self_composed]

"How come your mom skipped your room on the tour?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"She also skipped hers and Dad's. And Hilary's." He brightens a little. "Ooh, we can help Hilary cook, would that be fun?"

[self_composed]

"That could be fun!" Bella agrees. "I will copy all her recipes."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Okay. I'll ask her."

[self_composed]

Bella hums happily to herself. "My dad's having Hilary over on their coinciding day off next week. I think he intends to teach her to fish."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Sounds like fun."

[self_composed]

"Fishing is dull as a poorly maintained guillotine during the French Revolution," says Bella. "But perhaps they'll have fun chatting."

[edgeofyourseat]

...He cracks up.

[self_composed]

Bella giggles a bit too.

"What do you read about, when you read?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Pretty much whatever I pick up," he says. "If it's boring I put it down again."

[self_composed]

"Anything good lately?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"I have a favourite book!" he offers. "You wanna see my favourite book?"

[self_composed]

"Yes. Yes I do."

This is liable to be interesting.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Cool. I'll show you when we get there."

[self_composed]

And in due course... they get there.

[edgeofyourseat]

Alice rings the doorbell; his mother answers with suspicious promptness.

"Come in, come in!" she says, beaming at both of them, no less formally dressed than she was last time.

[self_composed]

"Hello, Mrs. Hammond," says Bella brightly.

[edgeofyourseat]

"It's nice to see you again." She steps back out of the doorway to let them in. "The man of the house is away on business, so you two have the run of the place," she adds, and winks.

...Alice laughs.

[self_composed]

Bella giggles softly. "I'm told I missed some basement."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Don't let me stop you," Mrs. Hammond says serenely, and sails away up the stairs.

Alice watches her go, shaking his head.

"I have known her my whole life and I still have no idea what it's like in there," he says. "So, basement or book?"