CHAPTER 4: Looming past

I see the accusatory glances people shot my way throughout the rest of the day. 

The questions in their eyes and the hostility. Just last week I was Bella, the girl that failed a class yet no one really cared enough to make me the whole subject of the school. 

Did you see Bella making out with Luka in the hallway with his hands wrapped around her neck in that possessive fifty shades of grey way? 

I wanted to puke when I heard that in the restroom. 

The source of all my unwanted attention had somehow returned to class not sparing me even a single glance throughout. I couldn't help but to stare at him. 

I hated him. With his brown eyes and rich dad that could buy a building for his son. I hated the fact that he had it so easy. 

Immediately the bell rang I packed up and left. I was going to walk today. I needed the time alone to clear my head. 

I sent Jamie a quick text to let him know that I didn't need a ride. 

The walk home was long, but it helped me think. I stopped at the local basketball court and watched some guys throw down hoops a little even though I did not join but it calmed me. 

When I got home it was already a bit late but mom was home. She was standing at the sink, parboiling pasta.  

I rushed to her and hugged her from behind. Her presence was sure and calming. She smelled of cinnamon and sweet spices and I could lose myself in it. 

My display of emotions must have been confusing because she suddenly turned to me. 

"What is wrong Isabella?" A puckered shape frown marked her face and her mouth made a grim line. 

"Nothing mama. I just missed you this morning." I shrugged trying to play it down, refusing her gaze instead focusing on the white washed walls of our kitchen. 

Our new home was smaller than the last, yet comfortable. Even though we had stayed in this house for almost 2 years, it was still sparsely decorated. There were few homely pieces like pictures of all of us as a family that hung up on the wall and newer ones stuck on the fridge. Otherwise our home was done in shades of grey, white and black. 

The only bright coloured theme was Annie's room which was repainted in shades of purple. 

Mom gave me a shrewd look first before letting it go. "Wash your hands and roll up the meat in the blender into balls." 

I nodded happily. It was spaghetti and meatballs night and I loved it so much. 

"Annie!" I screamed. 

"Stop shouting my name." The little monster answered, appearing in the kitchen. 

"Annie!" I screamed again, this time around with a smile. 

"You're so annoying," she answered. 

Annie-Marie was in this phase, where she was acting like an adult. Albeit one stuck in a seven years old body. She was suddenly too grown for, 'yucky display of affections' as she called it. 

"What were you doing in your room?" I asked,as she began to lay out the cutlery for dinner. 

"Who made you the room police?" She rolled her eyes, sticking out her tongue. 

"Who exchanged you at birth with the soul of an eighth year old grandmother?" 

"How would I know, stupid? If I was eighty year old I would look old." She narrowed her eyes on me. 

"Hey! Don't call your sister stupid." Mom warned and she just shrugged. 

"We picked you up from the bush, you know?" I teased. She used to hate it when she was younger. 

"Shut up." She warned and I laughed, rolling the last bit of the ground chicken and coating it with breadcrumbs and egg. 

Dinner was easy and quick. After that We left mom alone, as she poured one of her cheap wines and watched one of her boring reality tv shows. This was time for her to unwind since she wasn't on night duty. 

My mom had left her nursing Job in a big hospital in New York to work as a nurse in an elderly home. 

Annie Marie was stuck with a school project and I had some school assignments, so I went back upstairs to my small room.

My room had a giant Stephen Curry and Denzel Washington poster on the wall. I wasn't like all the regular girls, pink and frilly didn't excite me so much. The only bright color in my room is the rose gold dresser table beside my bed. It doubled as my vanity and reading table.

I plopped down gently and exhaled loudly. 

Now that I wasn't stuck in the kitchen and I had time to think alone,the fears of the events of the day came rushing back in. 

I pulled out the old shoe box that sat under the bed frame. It contained all my memories. It was the only thing I kept carrying from place to place. 

The first thing that caught my eye was a small medal I won in track years ago. I traced my finger on the name inscribed in it- Samantha Edwards. 

I snapped the shoe box close and pushed it back under. I was Bella now. Isabella. Isabella Frances. 

Nobody was going to take that away from me. All I needed was to make sure those videos and pictures were not posted online. To do this, I needed Luka to help debunk the rumors. 

We were not making out. We were not friends, we just got into a little argument. I also needed him to help convince everyone to delete the footage they took. This way I was sure nothing could be used to trace us here.

I would just have to swallow whatever else I felt and talk to him tommorow.