Isabelle

Chapter 1 - Isabelle

The wind was cool against her skin as she watched the clouds threaten to swallow the sun whole

She felt a complete sense of loss as she gripped the cool frame of the balcony. This was normally her hide out, her own place of solace when she needed to clear her head. Isabelle felt zero comfort now as she stood gazing up at the sky above her.

Maybe it was because she had too much going through her head or maybe she was too shattered but the usual calming effect of the sky above her was doing nothing.

She sighed deeply and wrapped her arms tighter around her chest, frantically searching for a way out of this mess her parents had dumped her in.

“What are you doing out here? It’s cold,” she heard a voice say behind her.

Isabelle spun around to face her mum then shrugged and turned away.

Warm arms wrapped around her shoulders. “Are you still sulking?”

“I just don’t understand why we have to leave now,” she replied.

There was a deep sigh behind her. “We’ve gone through this a hundred times. This is your father’s career.”

Isabella spun around. “And this is my life that you are ruining Mum! I have a year left of school, why can’t just we wait until then?”

“Try and understand,” her mum whispered. “You’ll make new friends and fit in like you always do.”

Tears threatened to fall as Isabelle met her mum’s stare. “I like the friends I have! Listen mum I’m not over reacting; I will be starting in term two. Those kids will already have their own friendship groups, their own formal partners. I will be the new kid forced to go stag to formal, and high school is brutal enough. If you won’t wait until I finish school why can’t you wait until I finish the term?” the desperation she was feeling melted into her words and Isabelle prayed that maybe this time her Mum could try and understand her, instead of brushing her concerns away.

“That’s enough! This move is happening and that’s the last I want to hear about it. Dinner is almost ready and you’ll catch a cold out here, come inside,” her tone made it incredibly clear the conversation was over, now and for good.

Isabelle turned away, defeated. “Yeah, soon.”

With an exhausted sigh her mum left her to watch as light slowly gave way to the darkness and Isabelle let the tears slowly fall.

*

The sun was bright the next morning even as the cool from last night remained. Isabelle felt absolutely nothing as she forced herself to smile at the passing students on her way in to school. She couldn’t even remember half of their names and now she’d never have to learn them. Yay for her.

“So, your brilliant plan of persuading your mum with attitude didn’t work out huh?” Isabelle’s best friend, Tate Stevens jabbed her with his elbow causing her to involuntarily smile.

Tate was undoubtedly the most important person in her life, her most trusted confidant and anchor when she felt like she was slipping away. Their dad’s had been childhood best friends. Which meant that every memory Isabelle had, no matter how early, Tate was a part of.

Their close knit, affectionate friendship had more than a few people scratching their heads and had been a pretty big issue for any one ballsy enough to try and get romantic with either of them. Not that Isabelle cared, Tate was family and family was forever.

“I am shocked, I mean the plan was flawless!” he added mockingly, although he didn’t need to - the sly smile of satisfaction said it all.

Isabelle smacked him lightly against the chest as his green eyes sparkled with mischief, catching her hand and entwining his fingers with hers as they continued to walk.

“Shut up, I never said it was a brilliant plan,” she said with a mock glare, pulling out of his grasp.

Tate slung his arm around her shoulders lazily as he directed them towards the school gates.

“You’ll be fine you know,” he said suddenly serious. “You always are.”

Isabelle raised her hazel eyes to meet the earnest green that were staring at her.

“You don’t get it; everyone loves you.”

And why wouldn’t they? With his brown hair, unusual green eyes, firm body added with his wealth, kindness and friendly persona he pretty much had everything going for him.

“Well, they’re only human,” he said jokingly.

“Tate, I’m being serious. I’m not going to fit in and I’m going to spend the rest of my high school life a miserable outcast. I feel like I’m drowning every time I walk into my room with the boxes strewn about.”

She didn’t look at him as she said this; just kept her eyes ahead.

Tate stopped and grabbed her shoulders. “How long have we been best friends for?”

Isabelle smiled. “Our whole lives.”

“Exactly, which means I know you better than anyone. I know that you are honest, kind hearted, funny and incredibly easy to love. You’ll do great ok?”

Isabelle sighed; his faith in her was completely unwarranted. “Ok.”

“Good, now enough of this pity party, we have some work we need to pretend to do.”

Isabelle smiled brightly and allowed Tate to tow her away. She felt better; Tate always had a knack of taking her foulest mood and switching it around.

“I hear you’re leaving.”

The words spoken behind her had every fibre in her body freeze.

“Yes, she is,” Tate said coldly, trying forcefully to move her.

“Wait, I just want to talk to her.”

That voice. How was she ever going to forget that voice? Or the smile? Or the way he used to make her feel?

Tears threatened to fall again.

Jason grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Tate so that she tripped and landed right into his arms.

“Let go of her!” Tate snapped, outrage colouring his normally tan cheeks.

“I just need five minutes,” Jason begged.

It stopped her dead. Jason never begged. Ever.

Isabelle looked at Tate and nodded slightly, hoping that by ignoring the knots in her stomach she wasn’t walking into a trap.