(BRAD’S POV)It may be true that absence makes the heart grow fonder because after spending such a wonderful time with Bella at the lake yesterday evening, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It felt like it had been ages since we had seen. The homecoming dance would be holding tomorrow and after that there would be nothing preventing her from telling Olivia, hence we would be public.No hiding, No secret meetings anymore.That was what I was thinking about when I sat at the breakfast table drinking a glass of orange juice and eating sandwiches.I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize that my attention was being called at the table. Not until, Olivia nudged me. I snapped up and my sister had a mocking smile on her face.“Mum wants to know if you want her to pack up some sandwiches for you?” She asked me seeing as I was clueless.“I’m fine mum. Thanks.” I said giving my mum a smile.Olivia, Dad and I were seated around the table having breakfast. Dad had the newsp
(ISABELLA’S POV)The moment I saw Brad, I panicked. I knew that something was wrong and I hurried to him immediately he came in to sight. He was leaned against the hood of his car with a distant look on his face as he stared at nothing in particular.He didn’t even notice me walk out of the house.“Hey. What’s wrong?” I asked the moment I got to him. I stood on my tip toes so that I could cup his face gently with my hands . I didn’t even care that we were just standing right outside our houses and someone could see us.Brad smiled weakly at me and his face looked less troubled.“It’s nothing.” He said and then he stole a very quick glance around before surprising me by leaning in to kiss me.I blushed at the action and rested back on my feet. “Good morning.” He said softly.“Good morning.” I replied.“I’m sorry I had to call you out. I hope you didn’t rush through breakfast.” He said with a guilty look on his face.I had rushed through breakfast when Brad’s text came in. He had asked
(ISABELLA’S POV)Dave was walking towards me with a friendly smile on his face. I was surprised to see him.“Hi.” He said when he got to where I stood.“Hi.” I said back with a smile. “You’re quite early to school.” He said.It was true. The school grounds was still very scanty and I could imagine that the building scanty as well. “Yeah…. I was just on my way to the library. I have a couple of things to do.” I told him.“What a coincidence. I’m on my way to the library too.” He said. “Do you mind if we walk together?”I hesitated for a second and then I shrugged at him.“That’s fine.” I said.We walked side by side in to the building which was as scanty as I expected it to be. It was still early and very few to no one lingered in the hallways. Dave and I walked together quietly until he broke the silence. “So,” Brad said as he cleared his throat. “I have not properly apologized for what happened at the bonfire. I am really sorry. What happened wasn’t…” But I stopped him short.“Da
(ISABELLA’S POV)“Go Eagles!” Someone yelled from behind making me snap out of my thoughts.I looked around becoming more present in my environment. The loud drums were heard throughout the whole stadium. Mum was seated with Sandra, Brad and Olivia’s mum. They were both beside me giggling away like excited kids. Well, it really wasn’t just them.The excitement and anxiety was overwhelming the evening crowd that had gathered for the homecoming game.I was anxious too but for other reasons entirely at the moment.Since morning, I have been trying to get to Brad but to no avail. I sent him texts and I called him but i hadn’t gotten a response yet. I knew that he must have had a very busy day but Brad was not one to leave my calls or messages unanswered.I wanted to give him a heads up and let him know that I would not be waiting until after the homecoming dance to tell Olivia about our secret relationship. I would be telling her tonight.As the thoughts crossed my mind, I felt my chest
(BRAD’S POV)I have played a lot of games and I have felt urgent rushes of adrenaline before. Several of them in fact but the way I felt now was unexplainable. I have never felt such confusion and anxiety before.Pictures of Bella and Dave had been shown to me by Henry. Pictures of them together in school this morning, pictures of them at the game together…. I don’t believe that Bella would be seeing someone else. She loves me. She would not try to hurt me. But still, I needed to see her and my damned phone was no where to be found! I drove home straight after leaving the locker room, all to Henry’s disapproval. He was not happy that I was not making my way to the party but I had a more important thing to take care of.After I parked my car in the driveway, I rushed out to the front door of the Martinez and rang the doorbell. Victoria, Isabella’s mum opened the door and her eyes lit up when she saw me.“Well, if it isn’t the champion quarterback! You were glorious today, Brad.” She
(ISABELLA’S POV)I expected a silent drive to the party with Dave. I needed to see Brad urgently before I could speak to Olivia and I hoped that he would be at the party. He still wasn’t picking up or returning my calls and text messages. I was still very deep in thought and I didn’t even notice that Dave had parked the car by the side of the road. It was his touch on my hand that made me jerk out of my thoughts. I looked up and then around expecting to see us at the party.“I’m sorry I startled you.” I offered. “What’s wrong? Why did we stop here?” I asked sitting up.“I’m sorry. The party is two streets away I just wanted us to talk first before we get there.” He told me.“Okay. What’s up?” I said readjusting my sitting position so that I could face him better. Dave sighed and then he faced me properly too.“I told you something this morning, on our way to the library.” He said.I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully, was he talking about the phone call with Olivia that I didn’t kno
(ISABELLA’S POV)Dave’s eyes held a thousand and one things that he wanted to say to me but I just wanted to find Olivia now. I started walking towards the house and he followed me taking my hand in his.“Bella.” He called.“Yes.” I replied facing him.“I can’t believe it. You and Brad have something, don’t you?” He asked me and his eyes searched mine for the answer.I looked away feeling guilt creep in to my chest. “This is really unbelievable. How can you let him do this to you?” He said to me.I turned to him then. “What? What do you mean? He’s not doing anything to me.” I said shaking my head.“You can’t see that because you are way too nice!” He said and that further annoyed me.This was the same thing that Brad had said to me and hearing it twice in the same night was annoying. “I mean, you’re doing this behind Olivia’s back, I heard you. Don’t you think he’s just using you? No one who loves you would want to hide being with you or let you do any sort of secrecy .” He said and
(ISABELLA’S POV) My eyes flickered open as I blinked at the unfamiliar surrounding around me. I was laid back on my bed and I was trying to carefully lift myself up from the bed when I heard a sharp, cheerful and familiar voice.“Wakey, Wakey Sleeping Beauty!!” I turned sharply and that was when I saw Olivia looking at me with a wide smile on her face. I sat up in a start and looked around me. I was in a bedroom that I didn’t even recognize .“What’s going on here? What am I doing here Liv?” I asked as my mind spiraled in confusion.“Calm down okay?” Olivia said and moved closer to me so that she could put her arm around me.“I… I came to see you and then….” I was trying to jog back my memory.“And then you bumped in to the door and passed out. Hilary was the one who called me.” Olivia said sitting up. “She called you? But she told me you were here.” I said rubbing my eyes.“I was in some other room, she thought I was in here.” Olivia said and then she peered at me concerned. “Are
(TIARA’S POV)“That fucking Slut!” I yelled slamming my fist in to the steering wheel and causing the horn to go blaring off loudly. My brain did a replay of Orlando and Hilary entangled in each other’s stark naked embrace under the sheets. How dare she?! She had told me that Orlando was a college boy who has nothing to show except his love for drugs and sex. Yet she had the guts to smash him behind my back? He’s my own damned boyfriend!And what did she say to me when I confronted her in that room that was stinking of sex?“Come on, T! It’s just sex.” And then with a regular look on her psychotic face, she had added. “Are we still on for Taco Tuesday? I think my instagram needs more engagement.”That fucking bitch! I cursed inwardly as I remembered it all. Now here I was, parked outside the mall where I had shoplifted some ugly earrings with the hopes to make myself feel better. Rage coursed through my veins as I thought of a way to get back at her and then my mind gave me a good
(BRAD’S POV)I raised my fist to the door knocking as hard as I could. I was just about to raise my hand to the doorbell when I heard the movements in the lock and the door was opened. Victoria Martinez looked very surprised to see me.“Bradley. Hi.” She said looking at me with concern .“Hi ma’am.” I said and I suddenly realized that I must look like a wreck.I had not had my bath in days, I hadn’t eaten, I hadn’t even brushed my teeth nor combed my hair. I was standing looking tougher than a rouge with rumpled clothes and sleep deprived eyes.“I’m sorry to bother you ma’am. It’s just that, I would like to see Bella Please.” I said.I could hear the pleading tone in my own voice and I hoped that she would hear it as well. But the uncomfortable expression on her face made me start feeling discouraged. “I don’t know if she will open up for you, Brad. She didn’t even go to school today.” She told me sadly.My heart squeezed in pain but I did not want to give up just yet.“I could jus
(BRAD’S POV)I was laid down with my eyes starring blankly at the ceiling. It would be an understatement for me to say that I was feeling drained and emotionally overwhelmed. I felt so weak with a lot that was going on at the moment.I was bothered with the news my father had given to me yesterday but I would be lying if I said that the thought of Bella was not overpowering every other thought in my head. I could not stop thinking of who exactly had done that video compilation and played it. Who could hate Bella so much to do that? The knock on my door interrupted my thinking and I sighed tiredly. Mum had come to knock on my door earlier asking if I would be going to school and I had ignored her. What exactly was the point of even going to school when they were planning on sending me away next weekend?“Brad, honey you have a visitor.” She called softly.My hopes were lifted initially but then my heart sank in disappointment. There was no way Bella would miss school and so I knew t
(ISABELLA’S POV)Monday morning descended like a plague, an unwelcome and inescapable force after a weekend of turmoil.I stayed in bed unmoving as the events of Saturday evening replayed in my head. The humiliation was almost unbearable. So unbearable that I had refused to turn on my cellular data for fear of what I would see on the internet. I wished that I could turn off my phone completely but something in me was too weak to do that. I was hopeful for a call from Brad.The call never came and it worsened my situation shattering my heart even more. I had no more tears to cry and no more words to lament. I wished there was someone I could talk to but the only people I could talk to had abandoned me. How could I explain that I was only a victim of such cruel acts? My Alarm clock rang loudly for the hundredth time blasting me back in to my reality. I struggled to bring myself to my feet but thinking of going to school weakened me greatly, so I dragged myself downstairs instead.Dad
(HILARY’S POV)I screamed loudly the moment i was seated in the car with the door closed behind me. If the car was not sound proof then anyone from outside would have heard me. I rested myself back against the leather seat feeling exhausted but still my veins were throbbing with anger . How could he turn me down?! No one dared to turn me down! No one! What did that damned Fat Nerd have that I did not??I am Hilary Lockhart!! How the hell could he even think of turning me down?!“Miss Lockhart, is everything okay?” The private chauffeur asked looking at me through the mirror.I was very irritated and so I snapped at him.“Don’t you talk to me, you lowlife!” I exploded.“Sorry Miss.” He said politely.I stayed back trying to balance my unsteady breathing as I thought of what next to do. Rejection is something I was not used to. Rejection is something that I don’t take. “I want you to take me to see someone.” I said to the chauffeur and after giving him the address, I rested back aga
(BRAD’S POV)I would have thought that the day after would make me feel better. But it did nothing, in fact I felt worse than ever.The events of the night before kept on replaying in my head. How could such a beautiful night turn out to be so horrible?Thinking of Isabella tore me to pieces and remembering the horrible fight I had with my sister made me feel worse.It was like my head was throbbing intensely and I could get no sleep. Closing my eyes only made me remember the pictures on the screen. On one hand, I felt betrayed and hurt when I remembered her pictures with Dave and on the other, I still could not help but feel sorry for the public humiliation she had felt. I was aware that videos of last night were circulating the internet. I picked up my phone a number of times with the intention of calling her but I never got through with it. I was worried about her despite the fact that I felt hurt by her actions.So I made a call to someone I knew and paid a lot of money to make
(THIRD PERSON’S POV)“I’m so worried, George. I don’t know what to do.” Victoria Martinez announced as she walked in to the kitchen and dropped the breakfast tray she had arranged for Isabella.George Martinez lowered his newspaper and then when he saw that the tray was untouched, he sighed and dropped the now folded newspaper on the table.It was the next morning and falling asleep last night while knowing fully well that something had happened with Bella was not easy for them both. “She still didn’t open up?” He asked.It was a question but he knew the answer already and his wife confirmed by it by nodding her head at him.“She’s crying. I could hear her. She was also crying last night when I checked on her before going to bed and now I can’t help but wonder if she got any sleep at all or if she stayed crying all night.” Victoria said sadly. She was close to tears herself. “Damn it!” George cursed bringing his fist down at the table angrily.He could not handle the thought of hi
(THIRD PERSON’S POV) Brad had never felt so weighed down in his entire life. It was as though his heart was being shattered. He watched Bella leave and it felt like his soul was leaving as well. He staggered in weakness as he rested his back against the wall. “Brad?” He snapped out of his thoughts and straightened his posture immediately. Hilary cat walked towards him and she placed her perfectly manicured nails on her chest in worry. “Oh honey. I’m so sorry for whatever is going on with you.” She said with the sweetest voice she could come up with. Brad didn’t say a word, instead he sighed and started to walk on but Hilary was quick to follow him. “Brad. Come on, please wait up.” She begged. He stopped tiredly, waiting for her to catch on. “What do you want Hilary?” He asked her feeling the exhaustion weighing him down. All he wanted at this point was to get out of here and to go home straight.“Nothing much.” Hilary said still sounding as sweet as she could to him.“I do
(THIRD PERSON’S POV) “Ladies and gentlemen. Let me tell you a little about your homecoming queen.” There was a pin drop silence in the gym as everyone had eyes set on the large projected screen. Isabella and Brad turned as well both dealing with the same confused emotion. There was a sort of piercing sound from the speakers and then the electronic voice went on talking. “Most of you may think you know who Isabella Martinez is. A Nerd,” just then the projected screen started to reveal pictures of Isabella from when she was little and until she changed her dressing sense. She had her braces on, she played soccer, she wore larger clothes. There were giggles round the crowd as an animated picture of Isabella wearing large glasses and heavy braces came on. “Some people think she’s now changed, pretty, hot but guess what? I bet you didn’t know that she’s also a liar and a slut!” Isabella felt her body grow cold and her stomach drop. Brad was shocked as a video of the intimate tim