Targets

Chapter Twelve Ending

“Look, onto the other matter. It might be a bit longer here. The place I want to get you into, there is a tenant leaving in three days with a fully fortified house that you would love. And it isn’t far from here. It’s actually a street away. You’d be welcome to visit anytime. The rent will be covered by me.” Matt said.

“I can’t ask you to do that.” Bella said.

“It’s fine.” Matt said.

“No, I mean because I made a few life altering decisions today.” Bella said.

Matt and Logan looked at Bella.

“Like what?” Matt asked.

“Like I plan to travel, I am getting a campervan and I am going to travel and go busking while I try to get as far away from my family. I want to celebrate my 18th as far away from here as possible.” Bella said.

“I heard the conversation today. The trainer told me, we can protect you.” Logan said.

“I’d have better luck throwing birds at them.” Bella said.

“Birds?” Matt asked.

“Phobia. Got to love when your father is scared of birds. I gave him one for his birthday. I released a few wild ones in his house. I waited for the screams and it was worth it.” Bella said.

Matt and Logan laughed.

“I bet.” Logan said.

“I’m going to hell for that.” Bella said.

“No, you’re too good for hell.” Logan said.

“Stop with the flirting.” Matt said.

“It’s just a compliment.” Logan said.

“Just don’t, it’s making Kieran react poorly. And soon he will invite some other random over and that is not what I want to deal with.” Matt said.

“I mean it, I’m not interested in dating anyone anytime soon.” Bella said.

“I believe you, and I heard what you told Milly. I heard you promise her that you’d consider giving them a chance in the future. All I ask, is that you wait until the three of you are 18.” Matt said.

“I said in the far future. At least a couple years away.” Bella said.

“That I can live with.” Matt said.

Matt smiled and he stood up.

“I’m going to play music before meeting Sam.” Bella said.

They watched her walk towards the parlour.

“She’s a f*cking gem, don’t rush things and lose her. The fact you aren’t freaked out from sharing food and drinks with her. It’s your body telling you that you love her. D*ckhead, you just met her and you are crumbling apart. You are weak near her. You need to find out who this BB is.” Matt said.

Logan nodded.

“I don’t love her, I just want to be with her a lot.” Logan muttered.

“Moron, that’s love.” Matt said.

Matt sighed as he walked away from Logan. They heard Milly squeal and they walked to the parlour to see Bella sitting on a chair.

“Bella’s playing two songs before she tucks me into bed.” Milly said.

Matt nodded. Bella played acoustic version of kiss from a rose by Seal and then the acoustic version of Dream of you by Josha Daniel.

When Bella finished, she looked at Milly with a raised eyebrow.

“Bed time little miss.” Bella said.

Milly ran to Bella and hugged Bella as Bella grabbed Milly to carry up the stairs.

Logan followed them with Matt. They watched as Bella tucked her in.

“Please read me a book.” Milly said.

“How about I tell you a story instead?” Bella asked.

Milly nodded. Bella laid next to her.

“This story is about a young girl who was hurt but learned that strength comes from pain.” Bella said.

Logan and Matt shared a look as they watched Bella.

“A little girl was walking down the street from her gymnastic studios when she was 10. She was thrown into a car. After kicking and trying to escape, she chose the worst time to throw the door open. It was nearly winter, it was raining and they were going up a cliff. The young girl fell down. The railing had been crushed by a falling rock previously. But this girl thought of her mother. How worried she would be. She had no one else. The only friend she had was her mother, so she kept thinking of her. And as she was tumbling down the cliff. She kept trying to grab every tree branch, every rock, grip every dent to try to hold on. She ended up falling into the water underneath her and she isn’t a good swimmer. This girl was being thrashed around. The little girl kicked and kicked repeatedly. Until she reached the surface. The cold water sent shivers down her body as she was feeling more exhausted. But the waterfall was approaching quickly.” Bella said.

“No! What happened!” Milly cried.

“You’ll see, trust me, Milly. There is a reason I am telling you this story.” Bella said.

Milly nodded. She threw her arms around Bella. Bella continued as Matt and Logan watched and listened.

“Well, as she got closer to the waterfall, she tried grabbing the rock near the top, but she missed and hit her head instead. She was left with a dent in the far top of her forehead. She went over the falls. She fell deep in the water. Scratching her butt on a sharp rock, at least that’s what she hoped it was. And not something trying to bite her. She floated as she was on the edge of giving up. But suddenly she felt arms pulling her out of the water. She was dragged to a camp fire, her clothes were ripped from the fall, and so she was given larger and bigger clothes to wear. The girl was taken care of by a boy 5 years older than her. This boy taught her to hunt. He tended to her injuries and if it wasn’t for this boy. This girl wouldn’t be alive to this day. She owes this boy her life. And one day, when she figures out a way to pay him back, she will. He taught her to defend herself, he taught her to safely get out of sticky situations. He also taught her how to survive in the woods, how to build tools out of wood and stone, and how to make shelter and a fire. If he didn’t teach her, when she was kidnapped again, at 14, she would have been hurt and killed. The men hired to take her, bragged about what they wanted to do. And she had the boy’s help to stop them. This man, brought his bow and arrows which is his signature hunting gear. And he shot them with his bow to protect her.” Bella said.

“How do you know he protected her?” Milly asked.

Bella stood up and lifted her pants most the way and Milly gasped.

“You’re the girl!” Milly shouted.

“Shh, no need to shout the house down. My friend helps me, and he keeps me safe. He protects lots of women. And I do the same. Even at school, I let people bully me so that they don’t bully others.” Bella said.

“Why did you tell me the story though?” Milly asked.

“Because I saw how you treat Kieran, and being mean has an impact on people. I wanted you to know that being good also has an impact. And if someone wasn’t good to me, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be frozen in the water. And if you keep being mean, you never know if Kieran might get into a car accident. And if that happens, the last thing you said was mean. You’d regret it. Family is more important. Please focus on family from now on, you never know how long they are around for. If there is one thing that I have learned, it’s that family means so much when you get older. But the older you get, the less time you have with them. Time is always taken for granted. Just think about it at least.” Bella said.

Milly nodded.

“I will, but what scarred your butt?” Milly asked.

“I don’t know. I think it was a rock, but I am scared to look at the scar.” Bella said.

She laughed as she tucked Milly in again. Bella closed the curtains for Milly and was walking to the door. Logan and Matt were already rushing down the stairs.

“Well, that was a bit too much information.” Matt said.

“I don’t care, I saw her ass.” Logan said.

“What?” Mitchell asked.

“It was one butt cheek, she was telling Milly a story about herself when she was first kidnapped. And she showed the scar from it. And Logan couldn’t take his eyes off her ass afterwards.” Matt said.

“I’m in heaven.” Logan said.

He sat down and sighed. Bella walked down the stairs with a bag and saw them.

“I have to meet Sam, I will see you all later. Nice seeing you again Mitchell and Vince. I will see you Saturday unless you see me somewhere else.” Bella said.

Bella went to head out. Logan was looking like he was in a daze.

“I think you two should head home, it’s getting late.” Matt said.

They nodded and left. Kieran looked at Logan.

“Seriously.” Kieran said.