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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.
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self_composed
self_composed
"Hello again," Bella says cheerfully. "We made spaghetti and an evil cake."
edgeofyourseat
"Oooh," says Mrs. Hammond. "Well, I'm glad you've been keeping busy."
She takes her accustomed seat, as does Alice. Hilary sits beside Mrs. Hammond.
She takes her accustomed seat, as does Alice. Hilary sits beside Mrs. Hammond.
self_composed
Bella places the last fork and sits down. She splashed a little sauce on her hand during the cooking process - earning her a triangle and an early taste - and she knows exactly how nice this is going to be.
edgeofyourseat
It is exactly that nice.
"You're the best, Hilary," Alice declares after his first bite.
Hilary beams. Smugly. "I know."
"You're the best, Hilary," Alice declares after his first bite.
Hilary beams. Smugly. "I know."
self_composed
Bella giggles around a mouthful of spaghetti and nods enthusiastically.
edgeofyourseat
Dinner ensues. Apparently everyone is too busy with the deliciousness to talk much, because the conversation is almost nonexistent.
When all plates are empty and no one is eyeing the pot for seconds, thirds, fourths, or fifths, Hilary gets up to go fetch the cake. Contrary to last time, she serves it right at the table, which means everyone gets to request the size of their slice.
"Judith?"
Mrs. Hammond eyes the cake with mild trepidation. "Ooh, just a little one, please."
"There you go. Laney?"
He measures out dimensions in the air that amount to twice the cake his mother got.
"Done deal, you glutton. Bella?"
When all plates are empty and no one is eyeing the pot for seconds, thirds, fourths, or fifths, Hilary gets up to go fetch the cake. Contrary to last time, she serves it right at the table, which means everyone gets to request the size of their slice.
"Judith?"
Mrs. Hammond eyes the cake with mild trepidation. "Ooh, just a little one, please."
"There you go. Laney?"
He measures out dimensions in the air that amount to twice the cake his mother got.
"Done deal, you glutton. Bella?"
self_composed
"Mmm... I can take some home, you said. So somewhere between those two sizes."
edgeofyourseat
"Your wish is my command," says Hilary, causing Alice to giggle uncontrollably.
self_composed
Bella takes only a moment to grin at Alice before taking her first bite of cake. And oh, it is an evil cake.
edgeofyourseat
It is evilly delicious.
Hilary takes a slice about the size of Bella's and sits down again.
Hilary takes a slice about the size of Bella's and sits down again.
self_composed
Om nom nom nom.
"This is the best thing," Bella announces.
"This is the best thing," Bella announces.
edgeofyourseat
"It's pretty fucking good," Alice concurs. His mother rolls her eyes, but doesn't caution him about his language.
self_composed
"How much of it can I bring with me?" Bella asks. "I'm sure my dad will love it too."
self_composed
Bella is very pleased with this.
She finishes her slice and looks at Alice to see if he's still working on his.
She finishes her slice and looks at Alice to see if he's still working on his.
self_composed
"Up we go again?" Bella asks. She doubts that rules about asking to be excused apply when Mr. Hammond is gone.
edgeofyourseat
"Sure!" says Alice. "Bye guys!"
With a general wave, he departs the table. "Have fun," Mrs. Hammond calls after them, to a snort from Hilary.
With a general wave, he departs the table. "Have fun," Mrs. Hammond calls after them, to a snort from Hilary.
self_composed
Bella snickers. And goes up the stairs.
Back in the privacy of Alice's room, Bella says, "I shouldn't stay very late. Charlie'll worry. But let's think if there are any more urgent pentagon-level things to do besides the necklace. And..." She takes off one of her shoes and peels back her sock, revealing accumulated triangles. She puts them with the others.
Back in the privacy of Alice's room, Bella says, "I shouldn't stay very late. Charlie'll worry. But let's think if there are any more urgent pentagon-level things to do besides the necklace. And..." She takes off one of her shoes and peels back her sock, revealing accumulated triangles. She puts them with the others.
edgeofyourseat
"Nice," says Alice, perching on a corner of his bed. "Okay, so what kind of stuff would be urgent?"
self_composed
"Well, for example," Bella says, "it might turn out that the cipher is really complicated and takes me weeks to crack, or heavy-duty magic that I'm not currently ready to generate. You might want the pentagon for emergencies during that time. I'll give you some squares and triangles either way. In case you need them," she adds softly.
self_composed
"Mkay." Bella closes her eyes. "I wonder if the triangles can make any amount of progress on the cipher? If so I can probably do the whole thing with a pair of tweezers pulling out leg hairs or something. I honestly know nothing about cryptanalysis." She picks up one of the triangles that she brought into existence near her foot, and pulls out Elias's book and turns to the cipher/map.