Arabella's POV

"Well, your dyslexia has improved," Mary told me as she shut her binder. "You're ability to read and write has gotten so much better."

I folded my arms at this, "but, I still struggle so much to read the simplest things."

"That's just what dyslexia does, sweetie," Mary told me and I sighed. "But, it has improved, trust me."

"Okay," I say and ruffled my hair. "I believe you."

I hate lying. I don't see any improvement, and it's bothering me so much. I'm in eleventh grade now and I can't read at the same level as everyone else; I struggle so much and it stresses me out.

"Good." She smiles and her phone beeps, meaning our session was over. "Looks like our time is up."

We went from one session a week to three a week, because of my dyslexia and also the voice lessons. Mary doesn't charge extra, so my dad is okay with it.

Speaking of singing, everyone was impressed by my voice and my dad is so proud of me. He isn't surprised that I can sing, because I'm Captain Man's daughter and it was expected that I was talented. I don't question his reasoning because he's my father and his egotistical.

I got up to leave and Mary followed, which confused me.

"Before you go, Bella." She stopped me and I looked at her. "How's your father doing?"

This surprised me and I smiled, "He's okay. He's always okay. Why?"

"No reason." She smiled and I saw her blush. "You know, he and I haven't really met and I feel like that's needed because he's the one paying for this."

I gave her a smirk and her blush increased. "Yeah, I can make that happen."

She smiled at me with joy. "Okay!"

I giggled at her excitement. "Aww, you have a crush."

Her cheeks were bright red and she turned away. "Get out of here you crazy kid. Go check up on your sick boyfriend."

I chuckled and grabbed my bag as I left.

"Crush!"

"Bella!"

I shut the door and laughed as I walked away.

I wouldn't mind if my dad and Mary dated, it would get my dad to stop flirting with Mrs. Hart and I could finally have a mother figure in my life.

——

For the past three days, I've been hanging around at Henry's house, because he's been sick and I feel so bad for him. I don't like seeing him this sick, it hurts me.

I walked into Henry's house and didn't see anyone so I just walked upstairs to Henry's room. His door was open and I saw Jasper making some weird liquid, and Henry was laying in bed with a nasal thermometer up his nose.

"Hey, hey, hey." I greeted as I walked in and Jasper smiled at me.

"Hey, Bella." He greeted and I turned to Henry, who looked as sick as dog and I pouted.

"Hey, babe." He greeted, weakly.

I kneeled down to his level. "Is my baby still sick?"

He nodded and I rubbed his cheek.

"I'm sorry, baby." I apologized. "In a bit, I'm gonna go to Sushi Dushi and get you food."

"Thanks, Airy." He told me and I smile sympathetically at him, before turning to Jasper.

"What are you making?" I asked him, investigating the odd food setup.

"A cure for Henry's cold," Jasper told me and I folded my arms.

"You can't cure a cold," Henry remarked.

"You can with this liquid cleanse I'm making." Jasper smiled as he squeezed an orange in the juicer.

"What's in it?" I asked, immediately regretting that question.

"A combination of orange juice, nut milk, fish oil, frankincense, tomato purée, mur, bee pollen, and liquid lard!" Jasper explained and I just stared at him.

"Wow," Henry said. "I am not drinking that."

"Yeah, he's not drinking that." I agreed.

"Drink it?" Jasper scoffed, "why would you drink it?"

"You said it was a cleanse." I remind Jasper.

"Yeah, but you don't swallow it." Jasper reasoned, "I use this to bathe you."

"Nope!" Henry and I denied as Jasper picked up the brown liquid and a sponge.

"Come on, don't be a baby!" Jasper smiled and Henry got out of bed, walking away. "Don't you wanna feel better?"

"No! I like being sick! Bye!" Henry denied, removing the thermometer out of his nose.

"Henry." Jasper smiled and gestured to the sponge. "Huh?"

"Jasper, no," I said and lowered his arms, before turning to Henry and his watch beeped.

"Oh, sorry, but I gotta take this, so..." Henry trailed off and Jasper turns away. I hop onto the platform in Henry's room as he answered my dad.

"Hey, Ray." Henry greeted, rubbing his nose.

"Hi, dad," I smiled.

"Hey, Henry. Hi, sweetie." My dad greeted.

"How you doing?" Henry asked him

"Hungry. Handsome and hungry." My dad answered.

"Typical," I mentioned.

Charlotte popped into view. "Hey, Henry and Bella.

"Oh, Char, you're already at work," Henry mentioned.

"Yes, she is and we want breakfast." My dad said, patting his belly. "So, on your way to work with Bella stop by Casa Da Waffles, pick up nine waffles, a dozen fat biscuits, some, uh-"

"Fresh fruit." Charlotte chimes in and my dad scoffed.

"Fresh fruit? I'm Charlotte and I want fresh fruit. Ne ne ne!" My dad mocked Charlotte and I rolled my eyes at his childish behavior.

I mean, I act the same, but that was just unnecessary.

"Listen, guys, I'm sorry, I'm still sick, I can't make it to work and Bella's here taking care of me," Henry informed my dad and I nodded, rubbing Henry's shoulders.

"Gotten make sure my baby gets healthy again." I grinned and Henry smiled back at me.

"Oh, it's been three days, maybe wanna see a doctor?" My dad advises him. "You're hogging my daughter for goodness sake."

"Awe, my dad is jealous." I grinned and my dad rolled his eyes.

"Ehh, I mean, it's just a cold." Henry shrugged, "but I still feel pretty bad and I got a fever, so I probably shouldn't come-"

"Hey, kid, I totally get it, just stay home, rest, and take care of yourself." My dad assured him and this confused me.

This seems a little off to me. I don't trust it.

"Thanks, man." Henry smiled

"Sure thing." My dad said

"Later," Henry said.

"Yeah, okay..."

Henry closed his watch and ended the call. He laid back down in his bed and gave me a sick look, opening his arms. Jasper had left during that time and I didn't bother asking where he went.

"Cuddle time?" He begged with the cutest look on his face.

"You're sick," I tell him, hopping off the platform.

"But you make me feel better." He pouted and I sighed at him.

"Henry, I'm sorry." I apologized and he continued to pout at me. "Don't give me that look."

"But, baby-"

"I'm gonna get you some food." I reasoned, cutting him off. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I want you more." He whined and I rolled my eyes at his adorable and childish behavior.

Must my boyfriend be so irresistible, I literally can't handle it.

"I'll be back." I walked by him and he reached for me, but I was out the door. "Get some sleep, Hen!"

"Airy! Wait!"

Henry gets so needy when he's sick.

——

I returned to Henry's house and immediately went up the stairs because I saw Piper and her father freaking out over a fire in the sink. I stopped in the middle of the stairs and recognized that fire as something Schwoz made. I leaned in closer and just knew those sparks were man-made, making me shake my head.

"Schwoz...what did you do?" I grumbled, before heading upstairs and into Henry's room. I walked in and saw Henry asleep in his room, making me smile.

"Aww..." I cooed and gently placed the sushi on his nightstand. "Adorable."

I didn't want to wake him because he was probably tired, but I didn't want his food to get old and soggy. I sat on the edge of his bed and softly shook him.

"Henry." I softly said. "Heny Bear."

Where did that come from? Heny Bear? It's cute, so whatever.

He didn't budge and I shook him again. He groaned softly and I leaned over to see him covering his face in his pillow.

"What?" He asked with a heavy groan and rolled over to see me sitting there. "Oh, hey, princess."

I blushed at the nickname and smiled warmly at him.

"Hey, baby." I greeted and rubbed his cheek. "I got you food if you want to eat it."

It was silent for a few moments until he pulled me over and into his arms. I yelped and he held me close, resting his chin on my head.

"Cuddles with my princess are better."

I went to protest, but I felt warm and comfortable in his arms and just wrapped my arms around his torso.

"I agree, cuddles are the best." I sigh and Henry tightens his grip on me, sighing happily.

If I get sick, it's worth it and that just means more cuddles with Henry.

——

I woke up after our nap and Henry asked for brown soup to go with his sushi. I was in the kitchen, making brown soup when I noticed a black thing on the self. I let the soup cook and went over to the black object, curious of what it is.

"What is-" I recognized it as a camera and my eyes grew. "Schwoz..."

I called my dad and he picked up.

"Hey, sweetie!" He greeted and I knew he was up to something. "How's it going?"

"Why is there a camera in Henry's house?" I asked him.

"Camera?" He laughed. "What camera?"

"The camera that Schwoz most likely placed in Henry's house," I remarked and glanced back at soup to make sure it doesn't bubble over.

"Schwoz didn't place cameras in Henry's house."

"Cameras?" I asked him. "There's more than one?"

"No!" He exclaimed and I just stared at the camera, until he gave him. "Fine! I'm spying on Henry."

I rolled my eyes. "Dad!"

"Don't snap at me, I'm just making sure Henry's not lying to me." He reasoned and I made a face of disbelief.

"Henry's not faking," I tell him and go up to the soup. "He's sick as a dog in bed."

He scoffed over the phone, "sick as a dog? Pfft! What a lie!

"Dad." I sighed at him. "It's rude to spy on him."

"It's rude to lie to your boss."

"Guess what else is rude?" I questioned him.

"What?"

I hung up on him, irritated, and poured the soup into a bowl for Henry. I grabbed a tray, placed the bowl on it, and turned off the oven.

"The nerve of that man," I grumbled as I placed the pot in the sink. "Doesn't he trust that his own sidekick is sick and wouldn't lie to him?"

I shook my head as I grabbed the tray and headed upstairs. I walked into Henry's room and smiled at him.

"I got your soup," I tell him and hand him the tray.

"Thank you, princess." He said as he took it and I sit down on the edge of his bed.

"Of course," I tell him as he sips on his soup and I looked around his room for a camera.

"What are you looking for?"

I turned back to him and shrugged.

"Nothing." I grin at him and glanced behind me to see a camera on the wall. "Just keeping eating your soup and sushi.

"Uh...okay." He said with uncertainty and continued to eat his food.

I'm gonna punish my father for this.

——

That night, Henry had to go do something and I stayed here to clean up the mess. Once Henry left his room, my watched beeped and I opened to have Charlotte appear.

"Hi, Charlotte."

"Bella, you have to warn Henry!" She warned me and I shook my head with a frown.

"Does this have something to do with my father spying on Henry?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Yes. How'd you know?" She asked me and I pointed to the camera in Henry's room.

"Schwoz put cameras in Henry's house to spy on him," I informed her.

"Ah." She nodded. "Anyway, Ray is gonna be at the diner to spy on Jasper and Henry, so you have to warn him about this. Jasper's gonna be wearing wire so your dad can hear everything."

"Okay. Thanks for the heads up." I tell her and she nods before I hung up and rushed down the stairs.

I saw Henry walk out the door and I followed him outside.

"Henry," I called and he turned to me as I closed the door.

"What's up, princess?" He asked me.

"Bad things. Bad things are up." I warn him.

"Why? What's wrong?" He asked me.

"My dad didn't believe you were really sick, so he sent Schwoz to your house, so he can install cameras with microphones," I explained to him.

"In my house?" He asked with disbelief.

"Yeah, and my dad and Schwoz have been spying on us all day watching everything, including you eating brown soup and sushi," I remarked.

"What?" Henry muttered and frowned. "But that was my private brown soup and sushi time!"

"And now, my dad's making Jasper wear a microphone, so he can meet you at the Parkway Diner to try to trick you into admitting you're not really sick!" I rambled.

"What? But I am sick, why would I-" Henry paused. "Wait, Jasper's gonna be wearing a wire?

"Yes! And my dad's gonna be at that diner, listening to every word you say." I remarked and Henry nodded.

"Oh, okay," Henry said. "Well, if Ray wants to listen to what I tell Jasper, then I'm gonna make sure I say something good!"

I smirked at this, "I love it when you do that."

"I know, baby." He winked at me and I giggled before he walked off the porch.

——

Welcome to book 2 and season 4! It's gonna be a roller coaster ride, so buckle up and get ready for the ride of your life.

Henry and Bella are not as perfect as they seem 🤭😉