You've Got To Kill Her!

Bella stared at the phone screen as if she had turned into a statue, unable to pick up the phone.

"Bella, why didn't you pick up the call? It was Sean Spencer."

Harper's voice suddenly brought her back from her trance. She looked at Harper, blinking a few times before she finally answered the call.

"Hi, Bells, I'm sorry... I can only contact you now," Sean's voice sounded so guilty on the other end. "I miss you so much..."

Standing by the window, Bella held her cell phone tightly and responded calmly, "It's okay, Sean. I understand. Did your duty at basecamp settle?" she asked.

A half-smile appeared at the corner of Bella's lips. Even though she tried to speak to him casually, somehow, inwardly, she felt utterly awkward. 

"Yes," Sean answered happily, unable to detect the awkwardness in Bella's tone. "...Well, I'm getting two weeks off. I want to meet you and Dax. Where are you now?"