"You're still going to bring me a pie, after I apparently upset you?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Most people do not bake for people whose only interaction with them ended badly."

"Uh-huh," says Trouble. "So like I said, why not?"

"Okay," he says cheerfully.

"And then I suppose I can tell you what she says tomorrow, or I could call you; I assume you're in the school directory?"

"Tell me tomorrow," he suggests.

"Okay. If I ask why about that, too, will you be upset again?"

"Probably."

"Is there some kind of pattern to these things I could learn so I don't have to pick it up case-by-case?"

"Probably," he says again, "but I couldn't tell you what it is."

"Maybe I will figure it out all by myself, if you bring me enough pie."

"Maybe you will," he says, shrugging.

The bell rings; Bella folds up her mat.

"See you tomorrow," says Trouble, and he takes off.

The following day, Bella has her answer; she'll tell him after gym if he doesn't approach her at lunch.

"Hi. Renée says you can come over with pie this afternoon, or tomorrow if that works better."

"And Bella has to share," pipes up Andi.

"I will share."

Trouble laughs. "Sure, today works."

"Okay." Bella writes down the Swan family address on a corner of notebook paper and hands it over.

"Cool," says Trouble. "I'll be there when the pie's done. Maybe sixish."