Chapter Two
"Bella? Wh-what are you doing here at this time?" I'm standing at the door to Mo's house, dripping and cold. The minute Michael left, the slight drizzle turned into a heavy downpour, making my dress wet and clingy. I just want to go inside, and warm up. Hopefully their fire will be lit.
"Don't dawdle, Mo! I'm cold and wet. Can I please just come in?"
Mo laughs, and opens the door for me. Does he think that this is funny? My brother just left me out in the rain!
"C'mon in, Bella. What are you doing out here? Why?"
I hold up a finger, and I proceed to sit down in front of the (luckily) lit and warm fire.
"Bella, is that you? What are you doing here at this hour? Are you okay? Did something happen?" Mo's mom, Cornelia asks me with a worried frown on her face.
"Well," I sigh, "Geoffrey Landgraab is in my house, having dinner with Mom and Dad. Dad wanted me and Michael to leave, so Michael dropped me off here. He's gone to see his friends, so there's no point in ringing him. So, I walked up to the door, rang the doorbell and...here I am."
Cornelia frowns. "Oh, you poor thing! Let's get you cleaned up and warm. Go up, and take a shower. You'll catch a cold if you don't!"
I nod, even though I'm almost sure that I've caught a cold already. But Cornelia is being really nice, so I can't say no. And I can't deny a nice, warm shower either.
"Right then. Come on up with me, I'll show you how to work the shower. Mortimer, you stay down here, okay? No sneaking upstairs to catch a look at Bella naked." Cornelia smiles.
Mo gasps and blushes crimson. I laugh at the embarrassed look on his face. Cornelia gives me a little tug, and leads me up the stairs. My wet hair is dripping on the carpeted steps, leaving wet stains.
"It's okay," Cornelia smiles, "It'll wash out later."
***
"Thanks for lending me your clothes, Cornelia. Are you sure you don't mind?" I ask.
Cornelia shakes her head.
"No, I don't mind at all. But I do mind about what you're going to do. Are you going home, or are you staying here tonight?" I glance at Mo, raising my eyebrows in a silent question. He shrugs, then nods. "I'd like to stay here tonight " I reply, smiling at Cornelia, "Is that alright?" "It's fine. I'll ring Jocasta, let her know that you're okay. Until then, you and Mortimer can watch a movie. Then, it's off to bed, alright?"
Mortimer winces, embarrassed at being spoke to like a child. I don't mind, though. I like Cornelia being all motherly, especially since my mom hasn't been like that for a few months. In fact, my mom has been extremely distant for a while, not caring a lot about school, events, or our news. Even her garden has been neglected for some time.
Cornelia smiles at us, places a DVD in the DVD player, gets up and walks up the stairs to her bedroom. I imagine that she must be exhausted, especially after setting up the shower for me and making me some food. I do feel a twinge of guilt for making her do everything for me, but I push it aside as Mo starts up the movie.
"What movie is it?" I ask Mo curiously.
"Uhh..Planet of the PlantSims."
"Great! I love that one, my brother and I always used to watch it together."
Mo nods and smiles, then adapted a faraway look in his eyes that I know all too well. "Is there something wrong, Mo?" He glances at me and shakes his head. "No, no, of course not. Let's uh, let's watch the movie." I shrug.
Something was up with Mo, and I wasn't going to stop until I found out what.