"Hey Bella" by Allison

Hey Bella

by Allison

Alice looked around making sure she had everything, she grabbed her cat and slowly made her way downstairs. She was sort of sad about leaving her best friend Claire, but they both had talked and they both knew that Alice would come back once she found more out about her parents. This wasn’t her first time trying to leave, but Stephenie caught her so mow it was getting harder to leave with Stephenie knowing. Alice was 14 had black spiky hair, pale skin, golden eyes, she was small for her age, had an enormous imagination, and was a fast runner. She only had one friend and was usually shy. She was about to put the note in the kitchen for Stephenie when suddenly she heard footsteps.
“Alice?” A groggy voice called. She tried to stay quiet and leave. No such luck. A cold hand suddenly grasped her shoulder. She turned around slowly to find the angry face of Stephenie. Stephenie was Alice’s caretaker; Alice didn’t like her much because she was mean, and had her do many chores. Stephenie acted like her mom, but Stephenie was only 28 so Alice thought she couldn’t be, although she was sort of motherly.
“Trying to sneak out again Alice.” It wasn’t a question as much as a statement.
“I wasn’t sneaking out I was just going out to the stables sorry.” She lied quickly.
“Sure anyway you should be sorry now make me breakfast, and then go clean out the stables.”
“Yes Stephenie, I’ll get right on it.” She went to her bedroom to put her things away then trudged to the kitchen to make breakfast.

After cleaning out the stables Alice walked to school. As she was closer to school she heard someone say to her friend loud enough for her to hear;
“Eww! What’s that smell?!”
“Oh don’t worry it’s probably just Alice.” Then they laughed (somewhat like witches). Alice wanted to go and say something very rude back to them, but she was to shy to so she just walked away. Then she saw her friend Claire and ran up to her.
Claire was her best friend. She had long wavy brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, pale skin, and was Alice’s age (14). They meet in Kindergarten and have been best friends ever since. “Hey Claire.” Alice said tonelessly.
“Hi Alice. Oh no offense but you reek! Did Stephenie make you clean the stables?”
“Yeah I tried to sneak out, but she caught me, so now I reek.”
“Tough. You should try hen she’s not there.”
“I know but now when she leaves she locks all the doors so I can’t leave.”
“Well come on we need to get to class.”
Then she started to slowly walk away waiting for Alice. As they were walking Claire said; “You know you’re lucky Stephenie isn’t at school or school would be totally horrid.” Then that’s when it hit her she stopped motionless right in the middle of the hall.
“Claire, I know how I’m going to leave.” Alice said a grin slowly forming on her face.

Mrs. Swan was still going on about Quadratic Equations when Jennifer nudged Alice bringing her back from her day dream.
“Alice.” Claire said quietly but urgently with big eyes. Alice slowly turned her head toward Claire.
“Well Alice, what’s the answer?” Mrs. Swan said impatiently. Then Alice realized that the teacher called on her, embarrassed Alice said in a quiet voice but still loud.
“I’m sorry could you please repeat the question?” She was blushing very much now and just wanted to disappear and go to a nice relaxing area.
“What is the Quadratic Equation Formula, Alice?”
“X equals opposite B plus or minus the square root of b square minus four AC divided by 2A.” Alice said in a meek voice.
“Thank you class dismissed, Alice I would like to see you up front please.” Alice trudged up to the front of the up to the front of the room. “Alice would you give this note to Stephenie for me?”
“Yes Mrs. Swan.” Alice took the note and began walking home. She knew it was wrong to read other people’s mail, but she could not resist. One little peek couldn’t hurt she decided, and slipped the envelope open with her finger and took out the letter before she read t she decided if it was too horrible and that Stephenie would be furious she would not give it to Stephenie. So she took the note unfolded it and pulled it up to her face the note read…


Dear Stephenie,
I would like to speak with you on
Tues. about Alice, please
Tell me if this does not work with your schedule.

Sincerely
Renee Swan

Even better now Alice had two ways to leave, but Stephenie probably would have someone with her when she left so Alice decided too leave tomorrow after school. So she got all her things in a bag and put it out under a tree so she could grab it when she left for school. After that she began to make dinner, Stephenie would be home soon.

When Alice woke up the sun was shinning, birds were chirping, and the sky was a bright blue. Perfect weather for walking she thought to herself. She hurriedly put on a comfortable shirt, and skirt, and went downstairs to get breakfast. Stephenie was down she looked up when Alice got there.
“Hello Alice, tonight I have a meeting a meeting with your teacher so you will go to Mrs. Flowerday’s. Maybe you could play with Leah and Kim.”- (those were her kids.)
“Yeah sure.” Although I won’t be here she thought to herself. After she finished she grabbed her books and went to school.
“Alice.” A cheerful voice said. Without looking up she could tell who it was.
“Hey Claire.” She said causally. “Alright well let’s go to class.”
The day seemed to drag on forever, but when the final bell rung Alice knew it was time to tell Claire.
“Claire I need to talk to you. Come on. Alright.” Once they were out of sight Alice began. “Claire I’m leaving and I’ll miss you terribly, but I promise I’ll come back.” They hugged once then Alice turned and walked away. She glanced over her shoulder; the last thing she saw of Claire was her still figure and a single tear on her cheek.
Once Alice was out of the city limits she took out her map. If she was going from Washington to Montana she should start heading east. She was sure she was almost to Idaho so she stopped in at a diner. She looked around there were about five people there, and they looked like they’d just come from a hard day at work. She went up to the counter, and sat down at a stool.
“Hello there sweetie what can I get for you?”
“Um… could I get some soup and hot chocolate?”
“Sure thing sweetie, it’ll be right up.” She went back to the kitchen and came back with a bowl and mug. “Here you go.” She said politely.
“Thank you.” Alice said in a small voice. She began to eat immediately even though the soup burned her throat, but she was so hungry. Once she was done with both the soup and hot chocolate she asked for the bill. “How much will that be?” She asked.
“That’ll be $10.59 please.”
“Here you go. Excuse me but do you know where I could stay for the night?”
“Oh, well I know a lady and her husband a few houses down. I’m sure you could stay with them.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like me to walk you over?”
“No thanks.” She hopped off the stool and headed for the door opened it then slowly shut it. The night was brisk, but she soon found the house. She knocked quickly on the door. It opened suddenly making Alice jump out of the way. There was a woman there so Alice began to talk; “Hello my name is Alice and I need a place to stay.” Once Alice said her name the women’s face suddenly became calm. The woman was not too young, but not to old probably around 50 or so, she had light wavy hair pulled back in a bun.
“Come in honey its cold out.”
“Thank you so much.” They walked some flights of stairs then came to a door.
“Here you go.” The room was purple with a brown bed and had blue covers, it had a closet, paintings, toys, and some windows it looked like it belonged to a before. “My name is Rebecca, my husband Jacob is out, but he’ll be back soon. Breakfast is at 8:30 but you can come down whenever I’m sure you’re exhausted from traveling.”
“How did you know I was traveling?”
“Oh Kim from the diner called. Well you get to sleep, goodnight.” As Alice got ready for bed she looked more around for some reason the room looked familiar to her. Oh well she would find more out in the morning she was so tired.

When she woke up the smell of bacon and eggs was in the air. She went downstairs and found Rebecca and her husband Jacob at the breakfast.
“Oh good morning Alice.” Rebecca said, and Jacob’s head popped up at her words. He stood shook her hand and said; “Good morning Alice, my name is Jacob.”
“Hello.”
“Well come and sit down we were just having breakfast.”
Alice sat down and Jacob put some eggs and bacon on her plate.
“So Alice after Jacob’s gone to work I need to clean, but I’m sure you could find something to do.” Alice had food in her mouth so she just nodded.
“Well goodbye honey,” Jacob said then he kissed Rebecca on the cheek, “and goodbye to you Alice.”
Alice was just scrapping the last bit of egg when Rebecca spoke.
“Okay Alice would you like us to go find something you to read.”
“Sure.” Alice said and hopped up.
“So sweet pea what kinds of books do you like?”
“Um… I like fantasy.” She said then she looked around the room.
“Do the paintings interest you?”
“Oh I’m sorry, but I feel like I’ve been here before.”
“Honey what’s you last name?”
“Weber, Alice Weber. Why?”
“Well honey I think you have been here before. Do you know someone named Stephenie?”
“Yes, why?”
“Oh yes I do believe you’ve been here, lit me tell you a story how `bout?” Alice simply nodded. “Okay well awhile back say 14 I believe there was a young girl about 15 years old she had long wavy blonde hair. She had good grades, good friends, but all that changed one day with news that she was pregnant. Everyone told her to have it taken out, but she said no, but when the day came she gave her baby to her parents and told them this, “Her name is Alice take care of her.” Then she finished high school and went to collage and she came back she said she was ready to take her child back her parents did give it to her, but said one thing “Here’s your child she’s 4, but she’ll be 5 soon, take care, and we love both of you Alice and Stephenie.”
It took Alice only a moment to realize.
“Oh my goodness so Stephenie is my mother and not some lady who found me abandoned in an alley?”
“Yes sweetie and I’m your grandma and Jacob’s your grandpa.”
“Wow. I need to go back.”
“Okay should we take the car it’ll be faster.”
“Yeah okay. Come on let’s go!

Once they were at Stephenie’s Alice knocked rapidly on the door. It took a moment, but then Stephenie answered.
“Hello?” She said. Slice immediately ran and hugged her.
“I’m back mom.” Stephenie looked to see who was with her.
“Mom?”
“Yes she knows now.” Then they hugged.

Epilogue
After that Jacob and Rebecca moved closer to Alice and Stephenie. Alice and Stephenie now are absolutely totally happy together. And everything is how it should have been in the beginning.