Isabella’s POV

“Can I walk you to your second class?” he asked me.

“Sure” I told Jackson. Even though my class was just on the last room. And I’m not really comfortable of him carrying my books. But I don’t want to offend him so I just let him do it.

“Here” he gave me my books and waved goodbye.

“Thank you, Jax”

I sat between my best friends Cindy and Erin.

“Still carrying your books for you?” Cindy told me.

“Sadly” I said.

“I don’t get you. If Jackson was into me, I would instantly say yes without him even asking me” Erin said.

“Well, he’s not into you. He likes Isabella so stop it”

They are always like this. They always have the opposite opinions when it comes to boys. And they are not actually friends. They just talk with each other when I’m around. I’ve known Cindy since I was eight. That’s when we moved here. She lives across mine. That’s why we became best friends. Erin and I on the other hand became friends when we both got in on the Volleyball team. She’s the Captain and made me her Co-Captain even though I told her a million times that I don’t want to.

“I don’t care if Jackson is not into me. I have a boyfriend and he is way hotter than Jackson”

“Yeah right” with Cindy rolling her eyes.

“Both of you stop. Why do you always have to argue when I’m in the middle?”

“You know I love you Belle, right? I just don’t understand why are you friends with this nerd”

I saw Cindy standing up and ready to confront Erin but I stopped her. I turned to Erin.

“Erin you have stop saying that about Cindy. We talked about this. You are both my best friends. And I know that you don’t like each other but you can at least be civil when I’m around?”

I looked at both of them. I was waiting for an answer.

“Okay” Cindy said.

“Just because you asked me to” Erin said.

Mr. Pedroso entered the room.

“Miss Elizalde, the Headmistress wants you after class”

I can’t help but sigh. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with me doing her a favor. She knows I

“So what did she want?” Erin and I are having lunch at the cafeteria.

“She wants me to assist a new student tomorrow”

“New student? It’s a bit late since we started a week ago” Erin said while chewing her salad.

“Is that gonna be enough for you?”

She looked at me like I said something wrong.

“Actually, this is already too much. I already ate an apple this morning”

I can’t help but sigh. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with me doing her a favor. She knows I can’t say no to her.

——————————

“Did your Nick said something again?” I asked.

“You are always asking the obvious”

Don’t get me wrong. Nick is a nice guy. But I can’t say the same with his words. He tends to say mean things. Especially to Erin.

"Stop starving yourself!” I am forcing her to eat a slice of my steak.

“Hi, Belle” I turned and saw Jackson standing beside me.

“Hi, Jax” I said.

“Have you seen Nick? I’ve been texting him but he’s not answering” Erin said while trying to finish her salad. I knew she was hungry.

“He’s in the field with the boys. Try outs are still on going” Jackson sat beside me.

“Then why are you here?” Erin asked.

“I’m no longer the Captain. Coach chose your boyfriend so he has to be there”

“Sorry to hear that” I said.

“Nah. It’s cool. I’ll have more time to hang with you” I just smiled at him.

Jackson is actually nice. I’ve known him since Freshman year. He was with Pia for two years but last summer they broke up. I don’t know the reason why. He told me she cheated on him. But Cindy told me that Jackson just didn’t talk to Pia over the summer and broke up with her through text. I don’t know what’s true. I’m afraid to ask him about it so I just didn’t think of it. He started texting me like a month ago. At first I thought he was just being friendly but since the school started, he just started hanging out with me. Walking me to my class. Carrying my books. Driving me to my house which I don’t get because I have my own car. He would just follow me with his own car which I find really weird. But he told me that he just wants to make sure I got home safe.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Belle” Jackson said while he was driving.

“See you” I waved goodbye.

I went inside and I was surprised to see my sister.

“Maddie?”

She turned around looked at me. She dyed her hair into blue. Last time I saw her it was green.

“Hey, Izzie”

Maddie and I are not really close. Well, we used to be. When we were kids. When I started high school and went to the same school with her, she started avoiding me. I didn’t know what I did but every time I ask her what happened between us, she would just say that we grew apart. She changed. She would go home late. She started drinking and smoking. She and mom would always fight about it. And I was no longer surprised when she decided to go to a College School in the city.

“What are you doing here? Is the semester over?” I asked.

“Nope. Didn’t enroll” she simply said.

“What?! Does mom and dad know?”

“They will later” then she went to her room.

I no longer asked any questions because I know I will get into her nerves. Yeah, she hates me that much.

——————————

The dinner was really awkward. We were all silent. No one even dared to talk. When mom and dad found out that Maddie was here, mom was really furious. I could hear them shouting at each other so I just stayed at my room.

I don’t have any homework right now since it’s just the second week. I grabbed my phone and saw a message from Jackson and Cindy.

Cindy: I saw Maddie a while ago. Guess she didn’t enroll this sem. Nice hair color btw.

Isabella: Guess you also heard the shouting?

Cindy: Nah. Blasting some Rihanna on my phone.

Isabella: Same. Not Rihanna though lol see you tomorrow!

Cindy: Gnite! See yah!

I don’t feel like talking to Jackson so I didn’t reply to him. I was about to lay on my bed when I saw the moon on my window. I opened my window and stared at it.

I’m glad Maddie is here. I feel like even just a little attention will divert to her. So I can breathe just for a minute. Ever since she left and went to college, all the attention was into me. I could really use a day without mom checking up on me.

I took a deep breath. “Breathe, Izzie. Just breathe” I told myself. I was about to close my window when something caught my attention. It was on the garden of our neighbor. I looked closely into it. It’s a person. Laying on the grass. I can tell it’s a girl because of the hair. But I can’t really see the face because of her hoodie. What is she doing there? Is she sleeping? Or maybe some drunk who couldn’t find her way home. I shook my head. Lucky her, the house is just a vacation home so mostly no one is around. She could be in trouble. I closed the windows and curtains. I lay on my bed and ready to sleep. I closed my eyes and I hope that tomorrow will be a bit different from today.