Chapter 21: Operation: Bring Bells Back
"Troy, please-"
"I think it's best you leave," Troy cuts me off, a detached look on his face, one that he has never given me before -- in fact, I don't remember him ever being this angry.
"I'm going to slam the door shut in your face now," he tells me ahead of time.
Even when he's furious, I can't take him seriously.
"Troy," I protest, trying to talk him out of it, "don't-"
He slams the door shut anyway.
I glance at the closed door for a second or two longer before deciding that it's best to turn my back on the situation and move on.
"So that went well," Jay states sarcastically as I approach him. He knows that it went, in fact, quite the opposite.
According to him, he couldn't sleep last night. He feels sympathetic towards my situation, hence forcing me to come here this morning. He wants us to work things out because he knows how much her friendship affects me.
"She will barely even look at me, forget talk to me," I inform him, grumpy without my friend. I'm tired of losing people.
"She'll get over it," he reassures me and crosses his arms over his chest as he leans against his car. "And if she doesn't, then she's stupid." I turn my head away to smile, touched by his concern. He sees and raises an eyebrow at me. "And that look?"
"Oh, nothing," I reply, distracted, quickly changing the subject. I don't actually want to be here right now and Jay knows it. "So, its weekend and we should do something fun because I don't know about you, but I'm bored out of my skull."
Maybe I can still get out of this if I play my cards right.
"Aqueela," he says flatly, "you gotta face this. Trust me, running from your problems get you nowhere. Fix up the second you realize that you've messed up."
"I can't," I say helplessly.
He gives me a push, "The Aqueela I met in that store three months ago was feisty and determined. What happened to that girl? The Aqueela I knew then would have marched right back up to that front porch, knocked on that door until her knuckles bled and then barged right in anyway."
Our agreement was only for a month. He's lasted longer than I thought he would. He's still here, and he knows me well.
I give a lighthearted smile, agreeing with him. "True."
"You're giving up on your friend way too easily," he tells me, knowing how close we are.
The more he continues to lecture me, the more I zone out, and the more I zone out, the more it becomes clear to me that Jay is wrong -- I'm still me and I'm still right here. Nothing has changed.
So, well he continues on in his lengthy rant, I, being ever so polite, shove him out of my way and march right back up to the front porch. I begin to ring the buzzer and knock repetitively on the door until Troy has no option but to open the door again.
"New visitor!" he slams open the door wide in excitement, just missing my face in the process. He turns back to call upstairs, "Mommy," he purposely says as if to annoy her, "I think the circus is here!"
I cough. "Not quite."
His face drops when he sees that it's still me. "Would you quit ringing the bell? You know that Bells doesn't like bells. She gets jealous. Now beat it, bug-face," he says, highly irritated that I haven't listened to him.
I hold my position, resisting the urge to do as he says. "I refuse," I say bluntly. The fact that he's treating me this way, unhinges me. I've always considered him to be a brother, a stupid one, but one nonetheless. "Now, let me through."
"Don't make me slap you, Squirt," he tries to threaten me, knowing fully well that I will kick his ass. "I might do it."
"Move!" I demand at the top of my lungs.
He folds his arms across his chest stubbornly, blocking my path. "I don't think so."
"Well, I do!" I raise my tone in frustration, forcefully pushing him out of my way as I barge into the house. Troy all but loses his balance, stumbling backward, allowing Jay's entrance too. "Ah," I breathe out in relief, collecting myself, "there we go."
I turn back to find Troy giving me the 'I am going to kill you' stare. I take my chances and rush up the stairs, Troy following suit. I let out a squeal when he catches up to me and grabs a hold of my upper arm, failing to stop me.
"I'm not like the other guys in your life, Squirt," he warns, failing to come across as terrifying, "I will hurt you!"
I kick him in the stomach in response. He lets out an 'oomph' sound before collapsing on the stairs, wheezing like a beached whale. Still, it doesn't stop him from crawling up the stairs after me, grabbing a hold of my ankle as if to trip me.
"Let. Go!" I hiss at him, kicking again, feeling more than satisfied when I see him roll down the stairs in pain.
"I will not be stopped!" Troy shouts from the bottom of the stairs, still on the floor, as Jay begins to drag him away, giving me the time I need to make amends.
I sprint into Bell's room, only to find her snuggled deeply in all her blankets. There's an empty tub of Ben & Jerry's on the floor -- that being her guilty pleasure.
I shake my head, annoyed. I didn't ask for any of this. It's not like I control Mason. I mean, I could, being all-powerful and everything, but I make the choice not to, every single day of my life. Give me some credit. I'm the good guy here.
"Bells..." I start weakly, trailing off, at a loss for words.
"Go away, Aqueela," she murmurs hoarsely, taking it out on me.
I don't listen to her as I plop down onto the bed, pulling her into a hug, one that she doesn't return -- not that I expected her too. "I'm so sorry for how things turned out. I never meant to get involved-"
Bells cuts me off with a blunt remark. "I understand that he tried to kiss you and that you pushed him away. I understand that you never wanted him to kiss you or that you never wanted me to get hurt. I get that. What I don't get, is why you look at him the way you do. So be straight with me, do you have feelings for him?"
I fall silent in anger. I can't believe she has to even ask me that.
"Do you?!" she repeats, her tone rising an octave higher, making her all the more intimidating.
I can only be honest. That's my option.
"I wish I could look you in the eyes and say that I hate him..." I pause, working out what I need to say in my head, "but I don't," I admit.
She doesn't reply and merely stares at her bedroom floor in response.
"Bells?" I coax, urging a response. "I may not hate him, but that's not to say that I-"
"Get out."
"What?" I ask abruptly, hoping that I somehow heard wrong.
"Get out," she commands, animosity in her voice. "Now!"
With that tone, there's no need to tell me twice.
"Fine," I comply, leaving as quick as a bullet.
I walk back downstairs and grab Jay by his hand, dragging him out while ignoring Troy's furious protesting.
This isn't about Troy. It's a concept that he'll never be able to grasp.
*~*~*~**~*~*~*
"Why do you have to drag all of us into this?" Max asks, failing to sound irritable.
Who's he kidding? He is the most joyous from all of us. I admire his heart.
I don't answer and merely continue on in my brilliant plan.
"Got anything?" Max looks to Jay for an answer instead, realizing that he won't get anywhere with me.
Jay shrugs, leaning against the wall of his lounge as he stares upon the ultimate team, the team that I gathered, better said, the only people I know, ranging from 'Blubber the Great' to 'Simo the Semi-tolerant, and, of course, I had to throw Max and Jay into the mix too. It just wouldn't be the same without them.
"I still don't get why you called me. I barely know you."
Oh, and Grey -- Jay's not friend, but 'acquaintance'.
"Heck if I know. She didn't even tell me what's up. One second my house is empty and the next it's flooded with people," Jay replies back in nonchalance as if he couldn't care less. I suppose he really couldn't, that's how much he doesn't care. Impressive.
Grey argues, finding Jay's defense to be weak, "Yeah, but you're the one that is with her. I'm not. I have no obligation-"
"Grey," Jay gives him a look, signifying the importance of shutting up when told, "she's just progressed to 'friend' status, don't make me knock her down back to 'enemy'."
I'll kill Grey if he makes that happen. I will kill him!
I begin to explain, "As I was not saying, I have gathered you all here today on this fine evening-"
"It's five in the morning," Grey cuts in, checking the time on his cell phone. "I'm tired, irritable and still don't know why the hell I have to be here."
"Because I said so!" I huff, frustrated with his constant interruptions. "If I ever gave you the impression that you have a choice or that I care, then I am truly, sincerely sorry," I tell him, ignoring his glare of anger directed at me.
Did I call all of these people and wake them up? Maybe.
When they ignored me and hung up, did I personally track them down and wake them up face-to-face? Possibly.
Did I drag them back to Jay's house (Jay unaware of it all)? Could be.
Are they all incredibly mad? Hell yes!
Do I care? Hell no.
I brush the grump off. "Anyway, as I was saying-"
"Oooh, oooh, question! Question!" Max interrupts excitedly and all too eagerly as he jumps up and down like a little toddler on crack.
This better be good or he dies too.
I roll my eyes at his childishness. "What now?"
"Who is he?" Max asks and points at the familiar frown-faced man, the very same frown-faced man who served me when I went out with Dylan, the very same waiter who quit on me.
I made it my mission to seek him out, and so, I did. I found him and apologized. Caught off guard, he apologized too, telling me that his girlfriend dumped him. After some brief small talk, I got the guy smiling again with my spectacular charm. Next thing he knows, bam slam! He's Aqueela's new friend, and a good assest to the team, unlike Max!
It's unfortunate that he didn't realize that all of Aqueela's friends are included in her diabolical plans.
"His name is Benley," I answer, impatient, "and he's my new pal. Now, shut it, Max," I explain, ignoring everyone's confused glances. They might as well talk to each other and get to know one another because we have a long mission ahead of us. "So, the plan goes down like this-"
"Let me just get this straight, this plan is for your hot chica friend no?" Blubber is the one to interrupt this time.
"No, actually I believe she called it operation 'Bring Bells Back' or some junk like that," Benley corrects in a calmer manner than when we first met. "Banging alliteration in the op's name, by the way," he grins at me, "love it."
I don't really blame Benley for quitting on me. I mean, other than his girlfriend dumping him, he still had to deal with a wacko customer -- I would have felt the same if I had to serve Dylan. Speaking of Dylan, he might be a little annoyed when he finds out that I stole Simo from him.
"Sprinkle look fine," Simo winks at me flirtatiously, out of the blue.
I furrow my eyebrows in distaste at the suggestive grin he is so not pulling off.
Jay and Max seem to find it hilarious, that is until I shoot them my death stare which results in the both of them stepping back with raised hands and sheepish grins.
"Okay, so everyone knows what they're supposed to be doing, correct?" I ask, glancing around at all the faces, it suddenly occurring to me that I'm the only rose among all the prickly pears...now, why do I get the feeling like that's not the saying?
Everyone shakes their heads in response.
My eyes widen in shock. "What! Why? I explained it like a billion times."
"A billion times too little apparently," Max states cheekily. "Oh, and by the way, who is he?" he motions to the filthy peasant beside me.
I shrug, clueless.
Max pulls a face, stunned. "How can you not know who he is?!"
"He had a cardboard box he was living in beneath the local bridge. He started following me one night so I started chatting with him. Apparently, his name is Oog," I reply just as Oog grins at them with his yellow teeth before nodding enthusiastically at them. "He's agreed to watch Jay's house while we're out," I tell the group.
Jay's head snaps to mine in fury. "The hell he is!" he raises his voice, unaware that he's offending Oog in the process. "I'm sorry, Aqueela, but I'm not having some hobo watch my house."
"Jay," I reprimand him, motioning down to Oog, "have some respect, it has feelings too! How on earth will you get along with him when you adopt him?"
Grey backs Jay up, despite the lie that they're not even friends. "You literally pulled the bugger out from underneath a bridge and you befriend him?" he interrogates me.
Oog, feeling overwhelmed, cowers behind me. I turn around and pat his head in sympathy. "It's okay, Oog. They're just being big meanies."
"Meanies. Is. Mean," he agrees in a caveman-like voice before reaching into his thick beard to take out a red lollipop, popping it into his mouth.
I laugh while everyone around me seems to be disgusted.
"What the heck does he have up all in there?" Benley asks, pulling a repulsed expression at the sight.
I roll my eyes at him. "Just a comb and some snacks, oh, and I think I saw a razor in there somewhere too."
"The irony," Grey comments, shaking his head.
Oog whimpers. I can't help but feel pity for him. I pat the top of his head again in order to calm him down. Unfortunately, Maxipad notices.
"He's not a pet," Max states, watching me with disbelief.
I ignore him and rub the grease from Oog's hair onto an unsuspecting Blubber who yelps and glares up at me much to my amusement. It's not my fault that his head was the closest to my hand.
"I don't care. I'm keeping him and I'm keeping him here at Jay's house," I retort, defensive and overprotective over Oog.
"It's like I get no say in this," Jay mutters, annoyed.
Grey smirks and mouths 'whipped' to him, clearly amused by it all.
Oog tugs at my hand as if wanting my full attention before eagerly pointing to Jay's cell phone lying on the table.
"Now now, Oog," I scold in a gentle manner, "I know you're a kleptomaniac but you need to promise me that you won't steal anything of Jay's while we're gone."
"A what now? In my house! Alone?!" Jay shouts, losing his temper entirely. "You've gone too far this time, Aqueela." He yanks me aside to speak to me in private. "We don't know anything about him," he starts naming things off his fingers, "he could be a criminal. He could have diseases. He could...I'm not letting some homeless caveman stay in my house!"
Oog growls at Jay after first eavesdropping on the lecture.
Jay arches a brow at him. "Wanna fight?"
"Oog!" I reprimand the miniature klepto. "We spoke about hostility!"
Grey interjects before I can, turning to face Jay, "She's insane. I hope you get that."
"Like, she's literally insane," Max adds, jumping onto Grey's side.
I scowl at him. Traitor!
"Fortunately, you, Jay, have no say," I address Taylor again, Oog nodding to everything that I'm saying.
"It's my house and I get no say?" Jay asks in disbelief, unimpressed.
I nod in clarification. "I couldn't have said it better myself." I hesitate, "I mean, I could have, but you did just fine," I assure him. "Besides, Oog promises he won't take anything. Right?" I say, glancing at Oog for some confirmation.
He nods fervently. "Pomise."
"See." I rest my case at his feet.
"No, I don't see, Aqueela," Jay replies back calmly, battling to keep his anger at bay, "all that I see is him crossing his fingers behind his back," he points out what I failed to observe.
"Oog!" I frown in horror. "No nixes!"
"Just get on with the plan so I can forget this all happened and hopefully move on with my life," Grey mumbles sleepily, still infuriated with me.
"Well," I huff, placing my hand son my hips, "someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."
My remark earns me a sharp glare from Grey himself as he defends his grumpy behavior, "You woke me up at 5 a.m.!"
"Aqueela. Plan," Max reminds me before I can get sidetracked again.
"You two," I point to Grey and Max, "keep Troy preoccupied. That's your job."
I turn to Simo and Blubber next, only to find Blubber sleeping with blobs of drool flowing down the side of his open mouth as loud snores escape him. I slam my fist down in front of him, the sound echoing loudly. He jumps up in a fright as a result, letting out a loud fart and not being bashful about it in the least.
Gross!
"Blubber and Sims, you two are on the 'kidnap Bells and bring her to Benley' mission. Benley, you up for keeping Bells busy whilst Jay and I do our bit of the mission?" I ask. Before he can answer, I talk over him, "Good! Then it's settled. We all have our part."
"How come you get to be with Cool Guy Jay?" Blubber asks with a girly pout, jutting his chubby lips out in a failed attempt to look cute.
"Because I am the leader, that's why!" I snap at him. "I am the Red Ranger and you are the pink one!"
No one is taking Jay away from me, not on my watch.
"Fine," he reluctantly agrees, "but I'm not promising that I won't make a move on Bell. I am definitely taking my chances," the kid insists to which I roll my eyes at him. As if he's a threat in any case...
"Touch her and I will personally cut off your fingers and feed them to your toes," I threaten him menacingly.
"Simo want be with Sprinkle," Simo insists as he wraps his chubby arms around me, lifting me completely up off the floor before carelessly spinning me around.
"Can't breathe," I heave out before being lowered back to the ground.
"And why do I have to be with scary, emo guy?" Max whispers rather loudly into my ear as he edges closer to me and further away from Grey, almost as if intimidated by the dark aura radiating off the beast of darkness.
"Scary, emo guy can hear you," Grey replies back knowingly, crossing his arms over his chest as he towers over Max and me threateningly.
"Grey is a softie, Max. He's just an 'act tough' kind of guy," I tell Maxi, purposely irritating Grey by doing so. I have him all figured out already.
"Why can't I go with JT? I know him best," Grey asks, finding Max to be just as unappealing.
"Because, as I recall, you and Jay aren't even friends," I point out, reminding him of his own words. "And Jay and I are most definitely friends," I inform him with a peppy grin, wrapping an arm around Jay's waist to tug him closer.
Jay shakes his head at Grey, saying nothing on the subject.
I quickly take out two criminal masks that I had made myself from black socks, showing them off to everyone. "Look, we even have the same masks!" I exclaim in excitement before giving Jay his one.
He stares down at me flatly for a second or so before snatching the mask from my hands.
"Put them on! Put them on!" Max chants.
I put mine on before forcing Jay's one over his head against his will. I place my head against his, both our masks on, taking delight in the moment. "Twinzies!" I shout aloud in joy. "Grab some Twinkies for the twinzies!"
"JT," Grey shakes his head as if he cannot believe what he's seeing, "what has happened to you?"
I pull a gangster look next, leaning back before placing my hands over my shoulders, my head angled to the side. "What up, dawgs!"
"Make it stop," Max whines, scarred.
"I'm going to kill her, I'm not even joking," Grey warns Jay, giving his 'acquaintance' the heads-up.
Jay pulls the mask off, his hair sticking up at every angle that it's comical, before sending me a narrowed glare. "You forgot to cut a breathing section in. I'll suffocate in here," he angrily tosses the mask back at me.
"Maybe it wasn't an accident," I lie, having truly forgotten to cut his breathing section in.
"Let's just get this over with," Jay scoffs with indignance, grabbing me by my upper arm before pulling me along, aware that he can't win this one.
Giddiness builds up in me as I shush him and the others. "Places! Places! Places! Places, everyone! Places."
Grey frowns in disapproval. "We're not even there yet. We haven't even left yet."
*~*~*~**~*~*~*
"I feel like some stalker," Jay mumbles from beside me, unhappy with his current circumstances.
I shush him as I peer through my binoculars into Bell's room from the tree beside her house. I clap my hands ecstatically and hand him the binoculars to take a look. "There she is!" I whisper excitedly.
"You say that like you weren't expecting her to be in her own house in her own room at 5:30 in the morning," Jay mutters under his breath, refusing to peer through.
"Meh," I wave him off, unfazed.
"And what's with all this war paint..." he trails off and motions to the dark green army lines painted across my face. "And is the camouflage really necessary?" he asks, motioning to the leaves in my hair and the leaf outfit I made. "You always have to go all out. You can never just be."
"And you're no fun. Ever," I mumble back distractedly, not really paying attention to what I'm saying.
"You think I'm no fun?" Jay queries, sounding a little offended.
Absentmindedly, I nod, still focusing on Bell's form. "You never want to do anything fun. You're always so boringly grown-up and too mature. I mean, let loose and go wild every once in a while. Live a little," I reply.
I don't hesitate to let out my high-pitched bird call, 'Cuckoo Cuckoo', as a signal for Grey and Max to distract Troy long enough for Blubber and Simo to sneak past and kidnap his sister.
"You're kind of fun just isn't my definition of fun. Sitting in a tree covered in leaves and paint isn't exactly appealing in my eyes," Jay snaps moodily and it's then that I realize that I may have hurt his feelings.
"Quick, Jay! She's looking! Jump!" I shout, ignoring his change of mood as I shove him, meaning to rush him to get down and totally not meaning to push him off the entire tree.
There's a loud clash from somewhere at the bottom of the tree trunk.
Uh-oh!
So that didn't go as planned...
"Jay?!" I whisper-shout, glancing to the bottom of the tree wearily. "If you're still alive, be prepared to catch me. I'm jumping!" I say and dive down the tree like a mad woman, just missing Bell's gaze.
I'm expecting to land in Jay's arms but instead, my face meets the ground...
I rub at my throbbing face from impact as I lazily sit up to find Jay beside me mirroring the same pained expression. He landed face-first too. Ha, in his face! Well, in both of our faces! His pained expression quickly turns into a blunt scowl in my direction at the sight of me.
"Why the hell didn't you catch me?" I groan, rubbing at my swelling forehead. You'd think I'd be used to head pains by now.
"Why the hell did you push me out the tree?" he shoots back accusingly.
Touché. Although, this is payback for him dropping me down the stairs.
I blink twice, not knowing what to say to that. I end up repeating my first question, "Why the hell didn't you catch me?"
"Because I'm not fun," he answers blandly, dejectedly, making me feel a sense of guilt for my previous words. It's not like I meant it. Okay, so I did. I just sometimes wish he'd lighten up and let go for once. He's too uptight.
"You can't seriously be mad at me?" I ask, bewildered and puzzled by the offense taken to my mindless comment. He's usually not this thin-skinned.
"Forget it," he says and gets up to dust himself off, not bothering to help me up.
"By the way," I wince, "I think it was a false alarm."
He answers in sarcasm, "It's weird, you'd think she'd be awake and looking out the window at 5:30 in the morning."
"Exactly!" I reply, exasperated.
I glance sideways to see how the others are faring. In the distance, I spot Grey glaring at Troy while Max tries to make small talk with Troy in hopes of getting Blubber and Simo past. I should have really thought that one through. I should have sent Maxi and Grey to get Bells, and Blubber and Simo to distract Troy. After all, Bells actually likes Max and Blubber and Simo are too well-framed to fit through her door.
I edge closer, eavesdropping on the conversation. "So, um, Bells tells me that you are into cars. My ride isn't working and I was hoping you could check it out," Max tells Troy, not at all good at acting.
Troy likes to think he knows something about cars. You just gotta play to his ego.
"At five in the morning?" Troy asks, suspicious, as he glances from Max to Grey in confusion.
Max is quick to improvise, "You just seem like the fit and chilled dude to get up early and gym. You know what I mean?"
Good one, Max! Just compliment Troy and he will blindly follow you unto your death.
Troy flashes Max a grin before flexing. "It's true, I am fit," he agrees, easily manipulated. "Not to brag, but I've bench pressed a few cars here and there in my day."
What a liar. Troy never trains and he most certainly doesn't get up early. His wake up time is at least one in the afternoon, minimum.
Troy then nods in Grey's direction, silently approving of him. "What's the gist with him?"
Grey should speak up and speak for himself, but unfortunately, Max has to do all the work because Grey is a silent, stubborn, emo jerk-face!
"He's um...shy," Max utters nervously, earning him a sharp glare from Grey.
Troy, clueless as always, shrugs and follows after Max into the driveway, leaving the front door to the house completely open.
I whistle. Blubber and Simo hear the signal and sprint as fast as their stubby legs can carry them into the house. They run upstairs, and ten minutes later (much slower than the average human speed), they finally make it outside Bell's room, both of them panting, trying to regain their breathing.
I sigh. This might just take longer than expected. I'm just glad that Bell's parents are away for the weekend, that, and the fact that from where I stand in their backyard I can see everyone and everything.
My eyes move back to Maxi, Troy, and Grey. Grey remains silent whilst Max tries to explain what went wrong with his car in his apparent 'accident'.
I vaguely hear Troy talking. "It might be the back wheel overheating," he says, surveying the car carefully even though it is apparent that he has no idea what he's talking about. "It's a common problem in cars these days."
I don't miss Grey's 'what the hell' face. As a racer, he definitely knows about cars. Nonetheless, he chooses to stay silent, not breaking character.
Max humors Troy, almost believing him, "Perhaps."
"Well, here, let me try it out," Troy offers, hopping into the car before Max can protest, "of course, I will expect some payment of some sort."
He's about to start the engine when Max shoves him aside violently in a panic.
"No!" Max shouts and then coughs awkwardly to cover up his mistake as Troy raises his eyebrows. "I mean, rather not because if something is wrong with the engine it might just burst into flames and kill you-"
"It won't burst into flames," Troy replies back persistently. "I mean, I don't think it will. Will it?" he asks, unsure, stressing himself out.
Grey merely scoffs in attitude.
"But are you willing to take that risk?" Max asks, trying to convince Troy otherwise. "Are you willing to jeopardize this life you've been given?"
"I am," Troy answers in ease without having to think twice about it. "You bet I am! Death can't hold me!"
I tune out of the conversation, knowing that it's only a matter of time before Troy catches on -- by that, I mean a lot of time.
I watch in anticipation from Bell's window as Blubber sneaks in and blindfolds her. When she opens her mouth to yell, he sticks a dirty sock in her mouth, shushing her.
It doesn't stop there.
The 'crazy' in Bells is unleashed as she begins slapping the two, absolutely furious. Fortunately, she can't see them. Still, she holds her own well.
Eventually, Simo throws her small, delicate frame into a large black bag before zipping it closed. Blubber ties knots around her hands and feet before winking at her despite her not being able to see him. He goes as far as to blow a kiss at her. The little creep!
I roll my eyes. He's just lucky that I'm not up there in the room with them.
"Oh, Romeo, let down your hair!" I call up to them, growing impatient.
Simo quickly lifts Bells into his arms effortlessly. This is where Jay comes in. I turn, looking to see where Jay had walked off to minutes before, but he's nowhere in sight. "Jay!" I whisper-shout as the sun begins to rear its ugly head.
No answer.
Simo, like the giant idiot he is, drops Bells out the window without warning and without even checking to see if Jay is there to catch her. He just assuming that Jay's here.
So, as Bell's body comes flying out the window I cannot help but begin to panic. Her death will be on my hands. I sprint forward, trying to catch her in time, hoping that I'd at least break her fall.
It soon becomes obvious that I'll never make it.
My feet stop on their own accord as another person comes into view -- Jay.
"Well, it's about time," I hiss at him, trying to recollect myself.
I let out a breath of relief as he extends his hands, catching Bells just in time. He glances down at Bells and shakes his head before unzipping her face and removing the sock so that she at least has some air to breathe. I swear, Blubber and Simo don't think, like ever.
Jay turns to me and motions that it's go-time. He hands Bells to Benley who takes her effortlessly, openly admiring her beauty.
Meanwhile, Simo and Blubber, like morons, try to climb down the side of the two-story house instead of just taking the front door. They insist on being actual spies. Blubber loses his footing and ends up clambering down onto the floor, screaming to me to catch him.
Heck, no! I don't feel like being flattened today.
Simo happens to glance down to see what the commotion is about. In his distracted state of mind, he lets go and comes falling down right on top of Blubber, completely squashing him, never to be seen or heard from again.
I glance back to Troy and them to see Max performing some ritual, moon dance around Troy as a distraction method. Grey yawns and kicks at the car's tire in boredom.
It's official, I'm surrounded by idiots.
"You rolled me up into a human pancake!" Blubber yells at Simo, smacking him upside the head as Simo finally lifts himself off of Blubber, laughing hysterically.
Just sprinkle some cinnamon on him and he's good to go!
I end up pushing both Simo and Blubber to our getaway car where Jay is waiting impatiently. I open the back door for Benley and motion for him to get inside, along with the kidnapped. I don't waste time and shove Blubber and Sims in with them too. Lastly, I climb into the passenger seat beside our getaway driver. I'm barely in the car when Jay sets foot on the accelerator.
Through the rear-view mirror, I can spot Troy running after us as Max lies on the floor cradling his stomach. I can only guess what happened. Sorry, Maxipad. Nonetheless, sacrifices have to be made.
It's then that I see Max reaching out a hand to us, his mouth moving. I roll down the window to hear him shouting, "Go on without me!"
"We are!" I call back, pushing my head out the window.
"I didn't mean it, take me with you!" he yells back weakly, the wind having been knocked right out of him.
I ignore his shouts of desperation, tuning him out.
"Put your head back in the car!" Jay complains before I feel one of his hands curl around my wrist as he tugs at me, his eyes still on the road.
"Are we really just gonna leave him to the mercy of the crazy brother?" Benley asks, slightly concerned.
"Max would want this," I assure Benley in absolute confidence. "He'd want us to leave him behind. It's for the greater good and he understands that."
"Are we hearing the same person begging for us to go back?" Ben asks, referring to Max's continuous pleading.
The jig is up and I've left both Max and Grey at the mercy of Troy's hands, or should I say, I've left Max at the mercy of Grey and Troy's hands.
Speaking of Grey, he's nowhere in sight. I can only guess he got bored and stormed off. It's not like he was much help in any case. I just felt like including the poor sap and he seemed to appreciate it, sorta. He'll come round. They all do.
I motion to Blubber and Simo to 'zip' it. Bells is already squirming in agitation as is. Benley keeps his grip on her tight, patting her hair gently as if to soothe her. It somehow works.
I raise a curious eyebrow at him to which he simply shrugs and mouths 'magic touch'. I grin in response. If Max finds out about this 'magic touch' he won't be very happy.
The smile slips off my face when I hear sirens behind us. "The cops are onto us! They know that she's been taken! Whatever you do, don't pull over! We're fugitives on the run!"
"It also might be because I'm speeding," Jay corrects in sarcasm, slowing down. "And I'm going to pull over anyway," he turns to face me, directing the last part at me specifically, "just be normal. I got this."
I watch in dread as the officer steps out of his car and approaches us. This is what I get for involving a ragtag team of imbeciles meant for lesser things. Their failure is warranted.
"What are the chances, from one to ten, of us getting arrested for this?" I ask. "I mean, no cell can withstand me, but still, what are the chances that we get caught for this?" I repeat, gesturing to Bells squirming everywhere in the backseat in an attempt to break free from the restraints.
"A solid ten, Aqueela," Jay clarifies the problematic fate at our hands, rolling down his window when the officer knocks on the glass. "For sure a ten."
"Well, well, well," the officer removes his glasses to see Jay's face, "should've known that it would be a youngster speeding."
"Sorry, Billy, it's an emergency," Jay tells him, managing to remain cool and collected under the pressure.
"I've told you before, Jay, slow down or you'll land up in jail again," the officer scolds him, the two obviously having crossed paths before. "I'll let you off, but the next time I catch you, we're gonna have a repeat of last time."
The officer is just about to step away from the car when he spots me. He raises an eyebrow, skeptical when seeing me fumble in anxiety, before looking back to Jay as if to get the answers he's now searching for.
Jay begins to talk, "She's a mental pati-"
"Kill him!" I yell aloud and throw an accusing finger at the cop, cracking under the officer's unwavering stare. "Kill him, Jay! Kill him with fire!"
"My point proven," Jay answers with an uncaring shrug, indifferent to the situation.
The officer frowns before he begins to circle the car like a shark would do before attacking.
"You couldn't last a minute, could you?" Jay scowls at me in irritation, his anger evident in his tone.
"Don't you use that voice on me, Mister!" I warn him, in turn. "He was staring at me. What did you expect? For me to just sit and act fine?"
"Yes!" he exclaims in exasperation. "Exactly that!" He sighs and hits his fist on the steering wheel. "You really like breaking down my will to live, don't you?"
"Stop being so rude, just look at what you're doing to Bells!" I raise my voice, gesturing to Bells and her muffled shouting as she tries to scramble away in an act to rescue herself.
"Hey!" he snaps at me, suddenly getting defensive over the matter. "Whatever is happening to her right now is completely on you!"
"Well, actually," Ben speaks up, "she's on me and she's currently hurting me."
"Quiet, Benley!" I shush him, not appreciating the interruption. "You'll give us away."
"Yeah like he hasn't noticed her already," Benley replies, sarcastic.
"What's that?" the officer asks, suddenly appearing at my window as he points to Bell's in the back.
"Alright, alright," I state calmly this time 'round, "we accept, we accept the terms of your surrender. We will not harm you for you have waved the white flag. Now hand yourself over to the relevant authorities. You have the right to shut up. Now put your hands up and turn yourself in."
Jay visibly nudges me, annoyed. "If anyone should be surrendering, it's us. We're outmatched when we're up against the law."
The officer sends me a flat look, waiting for an answer to his question. It's obvious he doesn't find us to be any sort of threat.
"A girl in a bag, what does it look like?" I answer bluntly.
Cash me ousside, howbow dah?
He glances to Jay for an explanation, having already figured out that I can't be trusted.
"Bachelorette party," Jay replies, thinking quickly on his feet.
"Oh," the officer nods in understanding. "Still, I'm going to need some verification-"
Next thing I know, we're speeding away again.
I shake my head at Jay and his recklessness. "How was that better than not stopping in the first place?"
He admits defeat. "Mistakes were made."
"How did I get involved in this mess again?" Benley questions, now nervous, literally on the edge of his seat.
"It was rather easy," I remind him of how it went down, "I just had to appeal to your vanity." I send him a cunning grin from the front seat, "You're full of yourself."
"Offense taken," he glowers at me, displeased, before totally losing his 'cool'. "Offense! Taken!"
Simo and Blubber remain unfazed. They have no idea what's going on. They're just weirdoes connecting with other weirdoes. They're of the same species and everything. It's beautiful.
"Benley, as someone that's experienced the occasional panic, the best thing to do in this sort of situation," I glance to Jay, Blubber and Simo as well, "and this can apply to all of you now," I turn back to Benley, "is to ignore it or turn the panic onto someone else," I tell them, ending my point on a strong note.
Benley simply stares at me.
"Well," Jay clears his throat when no one else speaks, "thanks for that senseless piece of advice, Aqueela. We'll be sure to never use it."
"You're welcome," I reply in pride, shooting him a small smile. "I know you guys would do the same for me. You'd all do anything for me."
"Let's not get crazy now," Jay teases, a smirk lining his lips.
"For example," I go on to explain, "you guys saw how I turned my panic onto the officer, making him panic instead. Thus, he surrendered himself to us and I accepted his surrender."
"That's," Jay furrow his eyebrows, taken aback by my bold statement, "that's not what happened."
"Disagree to disagree," I shrug carelessly. "You'll just have to take my word for it."
"Not really," Benley speaks up, "since we all saw it for ourselves."
"Whatever," I scoff, "I'm right and your opinions all suck."
*~*~*~**~*~*~*
It's officially six in the morning when we arrive at Jay's house. Benley carries Bell into the house and gently lowers her down onto Jay's couch. The rest of them join as I go prepare -- I am an original, creative monk!
I switch the lights off and then motion to Benley to untie her, remove her from the bag and take off her blindfold.
As soon as the blindfold is removed from her eyes, she immediately casts her gaze around the room to find out where she is. Her eyes finally find mine and burn in fury, the childlike innocence in her expression now leaving her.
"I figured as much," she says icily.
I hold up my hands in defense. "'Kay, so before you can-"
"What the heck, Aqueela? I knew you were behind this! I have been panicking for the past hour and you didn't think to clarify that it's you?! If this is your way of apologizing, you can forget it!" she shouts, her thunderous voice echoing around for all of us to hear.
My eyes widen in surprise as I flinch back, gulping, genuinely intimidated yet definitely expecting this reaction. Before I can say anything more, Blubber's already gone on with the plan, the slide show now playing.
Bell's eyes move off of mine and onto the screen in a puzzled manner. When the first picture of us comes up, a picture of when we were younger, her gaze softens a fraction, her glare faltering in my wake.
I let out a breath of relief. This might work after all.
The show goes on as pictures from our incredibly long past continue to flash across the screen with goofy captions underneath. I glance to Bell to find her eyes watering at the very last picture, that being us and our friendship bracelets, as the slide show finally comes to an end. One of our best memories to date.
The screen turns black as everyone remains silent, waiting for Bells to break the tense atmosphere. Eventually, she clears her throat and turns to face me. "Can we talk?"
I nod all too eagerly. "Everyone evacuate to Mars!" I holler before following Bells into the kitchen.
"What you did, kidnapping me, was not so great," Bell starts, "but this, what you've done now, is great."
I smile at her words. "Thanks."
"But..." she continues, my smile having been obliterated by the single word, "despite our 'ancient friendship', as you say, I just feel like you've betrayed me in a sense. Again, I know you never kissed Mason. I know you pushed him away and I know you never had any intentions of taking him away from me, but the fact of the matter is that you did."
"Let me fix it," I pipe up, "tell me what to do and I'll fix it. You want me to end him? I will. You know I will."
No matter how gentle Bell's words are, there is still a fierce force behind them.
A tear escapes her eye. "I'm sorry, Aqueela. I love you and I always will, but I just can't be friends with you right now. I need some time to adjust and figure out who I am without you and Mason and where it is that I'm at in life."
Join the club!
I nod, trying to understand. I really messed up this time. "I'm sorry," I mumble in the hopes of changing it all.
I knew this day would come and here it is.
We're not just friends, we're family.
I glance at Blubber sleeping on the kitchen counter, drooling everywhere, to distract me from the sting of rejection flowing through my veins. He's tired. The baby still needs his sleep. I woke him up too early. I still wonder how his parents don't notice his absence.
I return to the others once Bell has left. I don't miss Jay's concerned gaze trailing after me as I fall onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling in hopelessness, aware of the changes coming my way.
Oh man, school is going to be worse than before.
The others leave on their own accord, Blubber leaving with Simo only after Jay wakes him up, basically shoving him off of the counter.
It's only once they're all gone that Jay collapses down beside me. He knows that something is up. He's not used to my silence. He's used to my jibber-jabber and 'non-shutty upness'.
However, if anything, he looks mad, angry almost. Usually, he's a softie when I'm upset and all broody, but now he's giving me the cold shoulder, almost as if I've done something wrong. I can't help myself when I ask him, "What's wrong?"
"You," he answers coldly, agitated.
"What did I do?" I ask, ready to defend myself against whatever accusations he's about to toss my way.
"You keep saying you want me to react, to stop being so indifferent, well, fine, here it is. I don't like Montry and I don't like Bella. I don't like the power you've given them over your life. I don't like seeing their effect on you." He pauses, taking in a deep breath, before concluding, "I don't like seeing you down like this."
"Sorry," I mutter, uncertain of what else it is that I'm supposed to say to that.
"Don't apologize. They're the ones who should be apologizing to you," he replies, averting his eyes from mine, looking down at the floor instead. "You deserve better friends. They take advantage of your goodness."
"I get why you think friends are overrated now," I admit, finally seeing it from his perspective. "Maybe people are better off on their own."
"You're beginning to prove my theory wrong," he says quietly, fessing up. "Now we haven't been friends for very long, but if there's one thing I've come to know, it's that you're a real friend, a good one at that. Like I said, you deserve better than Bella. I don't like seeing her walk all over you. You're not her doormat."
He knows how to lift my spirits.
"For someone who hates friendship, you're pretty good at it yourself," I joke, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Yeah, well," he brushes it off smoothly, playfully popping his collar in pride, "I try."
"I don't have to," I brag, messing around, "it just comes naturally to me."
His mouth falls agape at my audacity. "Someone's incredibly humble about it."
"Yeah, well," I mimic him mockingly, "I try."
He chuckles before getting serious on me. "This is just one phase of your life, Aqueela. Don't dwell in it. There are better moments to come. Even if she doesn't come around, you'll be okay. I know that."
"Since when are you optimistic?" I ask, raising my eyebrows in bewilderment.
"I've been getting lessons," he winks at me teasingly before staring at the floor again, silent. He furrows his eyebrows, in deep thought, a frown finding it's way over his lips.
"Is everything alright, Jay?" I ask softly, worried.
He's most transparent when his guard is down.
"I'm fine," he lies before standing up, "it's just been quite a ride," he tells me before excusing himself.
I hear the fridge door open soon after his retreat. I can only guess what he's reaching for. He's probably doing it in some idle attempt to block out the darkness -- at least, that's why I drink. It's a terrible coping mechanism. It's seldom that I do it.
It's only much later that I discover Jay's more of a lightweight than me. I find myself eating my own words for breakfast, lunch, supper and even teatime -- Jay is a lot more fun than I ever realized.