BELLA’S NEW LOOK!

(ISABELLA’S POV)

I wished I could just pinch myself. Four whole years without seeing Brad and here he was standing in front of me exuding his Strong aura. He came even closer than I was already trying to handle and he took my hand gently in his.

“It’s been so long. You look so different.” He said taking in my appearance.

I withdrew my hand from his like it burned me. I didn’t like that I enjoyed the feel.

I’m supposed to be furious with him.

“Thank you.” I said. “I’m sorry but I have to get going home now.”

I tried to walk away but Brad pulled me back and I staggered backwards in to his waiting arms. His cologne filled my nose and I wanted to stay there with him holding me.

I lifted my head up to his and his eyes looked down at mine.

“I’ve missed you.” He said to me in a whisper.

It felt like I was swaying but I got a hold of myself and quickly stepped out of his embrace.

“I um… I have to leave.” I said turning around and walking away.

“Bella, wait.” He called softly after me but I did not wait.

I hurried out of there as fast as I could and rushed up to my room as if I wanted to get a panic attack. I was in my house and up to my room in a flash.

I could not believe it.

Brad was back? Olivia was drunk but she said Brad was back to stay and not back to visit.

I paced about my room for some time trying to think of what that could possibly mean and then settled in to bed trying to block out the main memory that were flooding in to my head.

Four years ago when Brad practically told his friends that I was nothing but a nerd.

I didn’t know when I slept off but I woke up to knocking on the door. I groaned in bed and didn’t call for whoever it was to come in but the door opened anyway and Mum poked her head around while Jeanie trotted in.

She jumped on my bed.

“Jeanie, easy your sister is still asleep.” Mum whispered to her urgently.

“I don’t think so, mum.” Jeanie said loudly. “She opened her eyes when I walked in.”

“Oh what are you both doing here?” I said sitting up in bed immediately and squinting as mum walked around and opened the windows for sunlight to stream in.

“Did I oversleep for a whole day? First day of school isn’t until tomorrow last I checked.” I said to mum giving her a dissatisfied look as she came to join Jeanie and I on the bed.

“You didn’t oversleep dear and ’m sorry that we had to wake you up.” Mum said. “I thought you were going to be back early yesterday so I could tell you about the day you’re having today.”

I narrowed my eyes confused. I looked at Jeanie and she had a very big smile on her face.

“What day am I having today?” I turned back to mum confused.

“A full body spa day, Hair day, skin treatments, oh you know the lot.” Mum said.

I looked at her even more confused.

“No mum, I don’t know the lot and I especially don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said.

Jeanie groaned and turned to mum. “I told you that she won’t be up for it. Can’t I just do it instead?” She pleaded joining her palms together and pouting at mum.

Mum gave her a glare and turned back to me.

“Honey, it’s your Junior year in high school. Soon you’ll be off to college and I would like for your confidence and charisma to grow.” She said putting an arm around me. “You are such a sweet girl and I really want you to grow in to how beautiful and confident you are.”

I looked down at my fingers which were intertwined with one another.

“I don’t think I’m beautiful mum.” I said.

“What? Don’t you ever say that?” Mum scolded immediately.

“None of the guys at school like me. They avoid me.” I said with a sad sigh. “You know I’ve never been asked out a date and I’m in my junior year already. It’s because I’m a fat nerd who wears glasses .”

“Don’t say that and please don’t think about those boys. Their immature and they don’t deserve you. And you’re not fat!” Mum said the last line with a laugh.

“Really?” I asked her. “So why are my boobs so big?”

Mum sighed but she touched my chin lovingly.

“There’s a lot I’m going to make sure you learn today. The most important is how to feel comfortable and how to love your body. It doesn’t matter if you’re slim or fat, what matters is how you feel about yourself.” She said to me. “A friend of mine who works at the top beauty salon and spa in town gave me some free vouchers.”

“Mum.” Jeanie expressed hurt at hearing that mum had the opportunity for more than one people.

“I want to make sure that you use one.” Mum said. “I would be very happy if you could just see how beautiful you can be. I want you to be confident because you are beautiful and you deserve to walk like you own the world.”

I smiled. Hearing those words from mum made me feel better . I gave her a hug and nodded in agreement.

“Okay.” I said.

“Yay!” Mum said and looked down at a frowning Jeanie. “Fine, get ready too. You can have a kiddies time.”

Jeanie was ecstatic as she danced away. Mum told us to meet her downstairs in fifteen minutes. I took twenty minutes even though as usual, I was spending more time in the front of the mirror as I tried to pick a nice top.

When we got to the beauty salon and I was told to sit on a chair. I stared at myself in the mirror for some time.

Plain face as well as plain long dark hair and my glasses. Mum came to stand behind me and she put her comforting hands on my shoulder.

“It doesn’t matter that you are about to have this transformation. You are beautiful either ways my love and I would like for your to see it.” Mum said to me.

We spent six whole hours in the beauty salon today and I don’t think I have ever been so tired of being pampered.

It seemed like I had every part of my body being attended to. My fingers, my toe nails, my hair, my face. It was a lot.

But then when I was turned around and looking at myself in the mirror, I could hardly believe it. I took hesitant steps forward towards the mirror as if I could not believe that I was really the person standing there.

My hand went up to my hair and touched it. My hair looked very good. It was shinier than ever and it was very glossy and layered. I was not wearing my glasses anymore and in place of it were transparent glassy contacts which made my blue eyes even more glassier than ever.

“Wow.” Jeanie said when she saw me.

“Yes baby. Wow.” Mum agreed looking on with admiration.

From there, we went to the mall and shopped for new clothes. Mum had a very long speech to me telling me of how I was supposed to be more confident and proud of myself.

The moment I got home, I took a picture of myself and sent it to Olivia.

OLIVIA: Omg! I’m here trying to get over a hangover and you went and had a make over? What happened? Is the world coming to an end?

ME: Hahaha! That’s very funny, laugh all you want. Mum was the one who made.

OLIVIA: Your mum is the babe! I am so happy that she did. You look absolutely gorgeous. What a perfect way to start the year! We are going to have a great year bestie. Speaking of, I’m sorry but you have to go to school on your own tomorrow morning. Remember I have cheerleading tryouts really early.

ME: Oh yeah! I actually forgot about that.

OLIVIA: I have a good feeling about this year….I do

I thought about Brad. There was so much that I wanted to ask Olivia.

Was he really back? Would he be in school tomorrow ? What would he think when he sees me,