Targets

Chapter Twelve Part Two

“I know, I’ll work into it.” Matt said.

“Dad, I’m not kidding. Bella is all rainbows and unicorns. Happy endings. Logan’s job means moving a lot and the same as what happened to our mother. We can’t have that happen. So she needs to go.” Kieran said.

“Do not bring your mother into this, that was an accident and your grandfather apologised. Now shut up about it.” Matt said.

“Sir, dinner is served.” The servant said.

Matt nodded and walked into the dining room.

“Milly will be with Logan and Bella opposite you again.” Matt said.

“Dad, separate them.” Kieran said.

“Two more nights.” Matt said.

Kieran rolled his eyes.

The guys sat down. Bella sat down. She helped fill Milly’s plate while Logan filled her plate. Bella helped slice Milly’s meat and helped her with pouring her drink.

“Thank you, Logan.” Bella said.

“You’re welcome.” Logan said.

Matt was watching with a raised eyebrow. Logan filled his plate. Bella got a text message and looked at it.

"I have a text message from my band asking me to see Sam, she wasn’t at practice earlier. They want me to go over the practice with her tonight. I will be out late. Is that okay?" Bella asked.

“How late?” Matt asked.

“Maybe close to midnight? I can leave at 10pm.” Bella said.

“That’s okay with me. I’ll let the staff know to keep an eye out for you.” Matt said.

Bella nodded. Logan looked at Bella and smiled. Bella looked at Logan and smiled.

“You know what would be amazing, Fanta Zero.” Bella said.

“What?” Logan asked.

“Raspberry fanta, mixed with coke zero. You have 2 quarters of a cup filled with coke zero then add 1 quarter of raspberry fanta and 1 quarter of ice. It is amazing. It is a real mood changer.” Bella said.

“I’ll take your word for it.” Matt said.

“We can’t drink soda until we are a teenager.” Milly said.

Bella looked at Milly.

“I wasn’t allowed to until I could get a year’s worth of report cards being A’s. Jokes on them, I am a smart ass and the teachers love me. I can get away with watching movies from my phone.” Bella said.

“She does, has been for years.” Mitchell said.

“How?” Matt asked.

“Because I ask for a test and prove I know the knowledge in advance. So that they don’t bother me. The teachers assume I am a nerd. And I don’t even have to do the tests because I passed the one test one time. I outsmarted them. And I am guaranteed A’s. It also helps if you carry books a lot and keep books near you. They give the impression you are a nerd. All the teachers loved me.” Bella said.

“Damn, you beat the system. Teach me how?” Milly asked.

“No, you can work for it.” Matt said.

He was trying to not laugh at the girls.

“Bella, what was it that made you angry on Logan’s first day?” Vince asked.

Logan looked at Bella.

“Mrs Birch’s art class. You jumped out of the second story window.” Mitchell said.

“She mentioned family, and that means they sold my artwork without consent. They sold my hard work without permission. And I know, the one in question would have been valued at a minimum of $25,000. So I was mad. I told myself if I ever made art worth money, I’d put it to charity. That way no one has to struggle with the illness like my mother had. At least not with as much struggle.” Bella said.

Bella wiped Milly’s face as she had gravy on her nose. Milly laughed and smiled at Bella.

“I love you Bella.” Milly said.

“You tell her that a lot, get some new material.” Kieran said.

“Shut up asshole.” Milly said.

Kieran looked at Milly then Bella.

“Well?” Kieran asked.

Bella looked at him.

“What?” Bella asked.

“Are you going to ask Milly to not call me that? Are you going to make her apologise?” Kieran asked.

Logan smirked. Mitchell, Vince and Matt noticed.

“You complained that it was my fault she does. Now the minute you want her to, you ask me to. Why?” Bella asked.

Milly stuck her tongue out at Kieran. Matt tried to hide his smile behind his drink, at this scene unfolding in front of him.

“Because ever since you came here, your behaviour has made her more unhinged and reckless. Like you are rubbing off on her.” Kieran said.

“Tread lightly, I made a deal with Bella. But I will not tolerate you saying harsh things about her or to her.” Logan said.

His voice was cold.

Bella strangely felt drawn to his protective behaviour. She looked at him for a second and he looked back at her before looking back at Kieran. Bella grabbed his thigh which surprised Logan. He was confused. Bella typed in her phone.

[Calm down. Distract yourself, think of this. If the thought of a random touching your leg isn’t distracting, I’ll jab a fork into your leg. Calm down.] – Bella.

Logan read his text and calmed down. Matt raised his eyebrow and saw Logan lean closer to Bella. Logan leaned to her ear.

“Next time you touch my thigh, please don’t. For a guy like me, that’s a turn on.” Logan whispered.

Bella’s eyes went wide open. She looked at him shocked.

“Think like that again, and I, I, I will steal food from your plate.” Bella threatened in a whisper.

Logan laughed.

“Try it, I’ll steal yours back.” Logan whispered.

“No.” Bella said.

Logan laughed. Bella moved her hand from his thigh. She smacked him on his thigh before lifting her hand onto the table.

Logan gave her a look and then looked at her plate.

“That roast potato looks delicious.” Logan said.

“Back off bi*ch.” Bella said.

Logan laughed as he and Bella started using their forks to fight for the potato. Milly laughed as she watched them acting childish.

“See, this is what I was saying before.” Milly said.

Bella grabbed the potato with her other hand and shoved it in her mouth. Logan smirked.

“That won’t stop me.” Logan said.

Bella chewed quickly as she saw Logan eyeing her plate.

“Logan, what are you playing at?” Kieran asked.

“What do you mean?” Vince asked.

“Logan has a phobia of eating and drinking stuff that other people have touched. He’s acting fine with Bella. Something is going on.” Kieran said.

Bella was too distracted to hear him. Logan saw Bella look at the potato on his plate. He ate it quickly and she smirked.

“Tricked ya.” Bella teased.

She stabbed a piece of his chicken and ate it. Matt and Kieran gasped. Milly looked shocked as Logan stabbed some from her plate and ate it. The staff looked shocked as they were acting like children.

“Pause.” Logan said.

Bella paused.

Bella's fork was in his chicken while his fork was in a piece of the silverside. Logan looked opposite them.

“Who the f*ck just kicked me?” Logan asked.

“What are you doing?” Kieran asked.

“Clearly, we are having fun while eating.” Logan said.

Bella’s hand was under the table and she pinched Logan and smirked.

“Ready?” Bella asked.

“You are going to regret that.” Logan said.

“Nah, because chicken is my favourite.” Bella said.

Logan laughed and they continued. Matt saw Logan was having a lot of fun and for the first time, he could see Logan crying while laughing. He wasn’t sure if he should break them up.

“Just eat and ignore them.” Matt said.

“Dad.” Kieran said.

“Don’t disobey me. Just eat and ignore them.” Matt said.

Logan almost ate her whole plate while Bella ate all his chicken.

Bella drank her water and was still thirsty. She reached Logan's drink and was about to have a sip.

“Don’t drink his drink.” Kieran said.

“Oh you should. It will distract him.” Milly said.

Logan stopped and saw Bella drink from his cup. He just ate more of her food then drank from the same cup.

“How come you didn’t react?” Milly asked.

“Why would I? It’s Bella.” Logan said.

“Bella drank from it.” Kieran said.

“So, I saw that.” Logan said.

“Are you over your whole not sharing with others?” Matt asked.

Logan shook his head.

“It’s not the first drink we shared. We shared a shake before. And I’m not over it, but I can’t explain it. With Bella it feels different.” Logan said.

Bella sat still.

“You made her embarrassed again. Why can’t you and you shut up!” Milly snapped.

Her gaze shifting between Logan and Kieran.

“It’s okay Milly. I should behave, I am just a guest.” Bella said.

“You don’t have to be just a guest.” Milly said.

“Milly, stop.” Kieran said.

“How about we keep this conversation on dinner only?” Bella asked.

Milly sighed. She gave Kieran an angry look as she finished eating.

“If Milly could summon death, I’d be saying goodbye to Kieran tonight.” Matt said.

Mitchell and Vince laughed. Meanwhile Logan looked at Bella and leaned close.

“Relax, I’m sorry I took it too far. Now it’s your turn to relax and calm down.” Logan whispered.

Logan put his hand on her knee to distract her. Bella looked at him in shock. She was turning red slowly.

Bella grabbed more food for their plates. Logan smiled and ate with one hand. Vince noticed and opened his phone. He took a photo under the table to see Logan’s hand on Bella’s thigh, right next to her knee. He looked shocked and showed Mitchell in a text. Matt looked over his shoulder and rolled his eyes.

“Kieran, after dinner, can you and the others leave so I can speak to Bella and Logan alone at the table?” Matt asked.

Kieran nodded.

They continued to eat. Matt noticed Logan’s hand stayed still on Bella’s thigh, so Matt kept his gaze on Bella.

Bella was just enjoying her dinner and helping Milly. When she turned to help Milly, Logan’s hand slowly slipped higher. But when she sat back, she slipped hand back towards near her knee. He never intended to slide upwards. Logan ate as he watched Bella.

Bella was looking uncomfortable. The servant refilled the drinks.

Logan finished his plate and was still hungry. Bella had a few pieces of roast potato so she offered to share them and he ate them. Everyone finished and got up to leave, so only Matt was there with Bella and Logan. Matt's facial expression became serious.

“Why was your leg on her thigh?” Matt asked.

“It’s my fault.” Bella said.

Matt raised his eyebrow.

“How so?” Matt asked.

“When Logan yelled at Kieran, I texted him to calm down. I had put my hand near his knee, but on his thigh. Told him to use it as a distraction. And I said if it didn’t work, that I would stab him with a fork. He whispered that he would steal my food instead. And that’s what lead to the food fight. It was a distraction to calm him down. And then when I got embarrassed, he used my method to try to calm me down from feeling embarrassed. And that’s why he whispered he was sorry he took it too far when I moved because it accidentally slipped up a bit more.” Bella explained.

“I’m sorry, Logan apologised?” Matt asked.

“Yes, he has a couple times now.” Bella said.

Logan hid his head in his hands.

“I swear, I wasn’t doing anything s*xual. I’m not Kieran. I don’t jump at any girl. You know I don’t do that.” Logan said.

“I know, which is why I asked them to leave so I can ask you alone.” Matt said.

“I’m not s*xually active.” Bella and Logan said together.

Bella looked at Logan in shock.

“Wait a minute, you’re a virgin?” Bella asked.

“Yeah, don’t think that you are the only one.” Logan said.

“Touche.” Bella said.

“Just promise me, while Bella is here, there won’t be anything s*xual. I know you slept in the same bed.” Matt said.

“We didn’t have s*x. And Milly was in the bed as well. I promise, I am not going to break my vow.” Bella said.

Matt nodded.