8. ISABELLE

Isabelle lay in bed, a small smile forming on her lips. Beautiful. That’s what he had called her. The boy from last night. He had thought she was beautiful.

No one thought she was beautiful. She was nice or the funny but never the beautiful girl, especially on a first impression.

It was pathetic how much their conversation had pleased her, but she couldn’t help it, for the first time in awhile she had something to smile about. The hole that was swallowing her up wasn’t as huge today.

She’d been outside last night to try and get her anxiety under control and procrastinating sleep where she’d seeing HIS face, twisted into an ugly mask of rage.

She forced herself onto her feet and turned to the mirror to inspect herself. Immediately her smile faded and she felt sick to her stomach.

There were still bruises colouring her face and she was still a mess. Especially on the inside. One week had passed since she had run from her life and hid herself away with her parents in this strange new coastal town.

Her dad still couldn’t look at her without getting a teary, and she couldn’t look at herself without swallowing down bile that came with how disgusted she was.

i***t. Who was she kidding? It was dark last night, he hadn’t really seen what she looked like. If he had there’s no way he’d even have spoken to her; not when she looked like that.

“Honey?” Isabelle jumped at her mums voice.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you, are you ok?”

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

Her mum gently traced the bruises along her face. “I wish you would let us press charges, I don’t care if it was an accident or not, there needs to be repercussions for those that think it’s ok to start fights at parties.”

Isabelle bit her lip until she tasted blood, trying to calm herself down and ignore the images flooding her brain before the panic attack struck full force.

“Mum, I’m fine. It’s just a few bruises, please stop worrying.”

She was pulled into a firm hug. “That’s a mother’s job and I know you’re not fine, you’ve been different the past week.”

Isabelle froze. Damn, she thought she’d been doing such a good job shielding her parents from how close she was to flying off the edge and never being able to return.

“I miss my friends, that’s all,” she said softly.

Her mum raised an eyebrow. “Well, I haven’t seen you touch your phone once in a week and your father says Tate has been trying to get in contact with you.”

Breathe, she reminded herself as equal parts of shame and guilt slammed into her.

“Did you two have a fight?” her mum asked gently.

“Yes,” she croaked. “I just need some time away from him.”

Her mum pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Don’t take too much time ok? Friendships like that are worth more than one petty fight.”

Isabelle nodded and forced a smile. “You’re right, I’ll call soon.”

“Good girl, now come downstairs, we’ve got a busy day.”

She waited for her mum to leave before she let the hysterical sobs wrack her body. How was she going to get through the rest of the school year when she couldn’t get it together for a day? She needed a plan.

As she sank onto her bed and drew her knees up to her chest her mind was completely blank. She had nothing, no grand plan and no way out of this.

A single tear fell down her cheek that she hastily brushed away. She was going to get no where being the world’s greatest sook. She would be fine, she just needed to start school and keep distracted from her thoughts. Maybe make some new memories to replace the old ones that haunted her every waking moment.

“Isabelle!”

She sighed and threw on shorts and a tank top. “I’m coming!”

She trotted down the stairs and headed towards the kitchen to find that her parents had company.

“Isabelle, our neighbours from next door came over to deliver some cookies and offer their help, isn’t that nice?” her mum asked, delighted.

Isabelle stopped short as she noticed the boy from last night smiling next to a girl who could only be his sister and another tall blonde boy.

“Hello, I don’t believe we’ve been formerly introduced.”

He held his hand out with a mischievous grin. “Isabelle is it? I’m Jace Scown, this is my sister Maia and my best friend Matt.”

Isabelle could only stare at the hand extended to her in complete shock. Was she dreaming?

Had her mind broken so completely that she couldn’t exist in reality without some form of dream present?

“Isabelle,” her father said sternly.

Snapping out of it and realising she was being insanely rude, she shook his hand quickly and nodded at all three of them.

“It’s so nice to have a girl join the neighbourhood,” the dark haired girl said brightly.

Isabelle stared at her. Beautiful would be putting it mildly. This girl belonged on the run way with her long, tanned legs, thin body and face that was both filled with angles and softness. She had incredible eyes like Jace, except instead of blue they were a deep, intense brown.

“It’s mainly just guys in the neighbourhoods and I am always left out,” Maia continued as she pushed her lips out in a pout.

Judging from the looks on the boys faces Isabelle felt it was pretty likely she had them under her thumb.

“Are you in year twelve this year?”

Isabelle turned her attention to the stocky blonde boy who had an interesting face, even if it wasn’t handsome.

“Yes,” she murmured.

“Brilliant, you going to going to Xavier College as well?”

Isabelle didn’t have to answer as her mum looked like she’d won the lottery and squealed in delight.

“Oh what great luck, now you’ll know some kids before you start school. She was so worried about fitting in,” she said softly to the trio.

Isabelle’s eyes widened in horror. “Mum, please stop.”

Jace smiled at her warmly. “It’s fine, I definitely feel lucky.”

Isabelle wanted to melt into the wall, here was this beautiful boy standing in her kitchen and she was wearing short shorts, a low cut tank top without her hair brushed or make up done and bruises marring her skin.

“Would you like us to help you unpack?” Maia asked politely, still smiling at Isabelle.

“Oh…I…”

“No that’s ok sweetie,” her mum said warmly. “It’s such a beautiful day. You kids go and have some fun for a few hours.”

Isabelle stared at her mum. Was she serious? Cleo Mason was not one to turn away free labourers. She must really be worried about her.

“Are you sure?” Jace asked sweetly.

“Absolutely, just be home for dinner at seven,” her mum said turning back to Isabelle.

“But mum, don’t you and dad need me?”

Her dad waved her concern away. “Truth be told we’ll probably get more work done without you sulking.”

He winked at the other three who chuckled lightly.

“Come on,” Jace said offering his hand. “I promise we don’t bite.”

“At least not on the first date,” Matt quipped.

Isabelle looked down at herself. “Maybe I should go and get changed…”

Jace shrugged. “What for? You look great, now quick before your parents change their minds and we’re stuck cleaning the bathroom.”

Her dad winked. “We’ll save that for when you get back.”

Isabelle felt trapped, she didn’t want to stay home with her parents and their questioning looks or whispered concerns, but she wasn’t too sure she wanted to spend time with the beauty twins and their best friend.

She was a mess, simple as that and if she had any hope of making any friends this year than she needed to learn how to conceal it.

Pressure filled her hand and she looked down in surprise to find that Jace had taken a hold of her. She pushed down the urge to flinch away from a very male touch.

“Come on, we’re not getting any younger.”

He pulled her a few steps forward and then muttered so only she could hear. “Isabelle’s a pretty name, suits you.”

Isabelle blushed but stopped fighting the pull and followed the three of them out of her house, stopping to slip her thongs on as they went.

“That was weirdly easy,” Matt said, his arm around Maia’s shoulders.

“It’s my cookies,” Maia replied.. “No one can resist.”

“I know,” Matt said, nuzzling her neck.

Isabelle paled, the show of affection wasn’t helping her block out memories of a sloppy mouth on her own neck.

“Ignore them,” Jace said, his hand still on hers. “They live to make everyone uncomfortable.”

Maia stuck her tongue out. “Oh you’re just jealous.”

Jace raised his hand. “Before you go and list why I’m jealous I’m going to stop you there and remind you I am your brother and there are some things better left unsaid.”

Maia sighed. “Yeah, yeah, anyway Isabelle, you’re going to love it here. We’ve got the beach and a couple cute café’s and bars and…we have a bowling alley.”

Matt laughed. “Great pitch babe.”

She hit his chest. “You’re making me look like an i***t in front of my new friend.”

Isabelle allowed herself a little smile as the couple began to bicker lovingly.

It made her feel at ease how they were themselves around her, they made it feel effortless for her to blend in with them.

“It’s really not so bad here,” Jace told her.

She gently pulled her hand away from his and crossed her arms around herself. “Well I do have a friendly spider man to keep me safe.”

His face lit up. “So you didn’t call me in then?”

“Not yet,” she responded lightly.

He bowed to her gracefully. “Thank you pretty lady, for your kindness.”

Isabelle smiled and pushed him away from her slightly. “You’re a bit strange.”

He shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”

Maia gave Matt a final push and then moved back to Isabelle. “Have you eaten yet?”

“Um…not yet, I only just got up,” she was slightly embarrassed, it was already past eleven.

Maia grinned. “Perfect, there’s the cutest pancake parlour on the beach that’s to die for.”

“Oh, I don’t have any money on me.”

Maia waved her words away. “You can buy me brunch next time.”

Isabelle looked at Jace for help but he put his hands up in defeat. “I wouldn’t even try arguing with her, she never learnt what ‘no’ means.”

Matt nodded enthusiastically.

Isabelle sighed. “Well, I guess I sort of have to don’t I?”

Maia beamed and linked her arm through Isabelle’s as she led her away. “That’s the spirit!”

Isabelle turned to Jace and just grinned gesturing her forward, it seemed that whether she wanted to or not she was going to make friends.