(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
(ISABELLA’’S POV)I stared at my reflection, my breath catching in my throat. Mum had outdone herself. The soft, flowing dress, a shade of blush pink, seemed to shimmer in the dim light of my bedroom. It clung to my curves in all the right places, accentuating my figure without being revealing. My long ebony hair, styled in loose waves, cascaded down my back, framing my made up face perfectly. A delicate pearl necklace, a gift from mum , completed the look.“Oh my goodness. My beautiful daughter, you are so beautiful. So gorgeous.” Mum said resting her hands on my shoulders.I looked at my mother through the mirror and saw that she had tears in her eyes. “Mum, are you crying?” I asked turning around to face her.Mum blew a raspberry and quickly wiped her eyes.“No! I’m not.” She lied. I smiled and took her hand in mine.“I’m just so happy. You are such a beautiful girl and I’m glad that you are more confident now. Confidence and change looks so good on you Bella. I am proud of you.”
(THIRD PERSON’S POV)“Oh my gosh!” Tiara exclaimed holding her glass and swirling its contents unconsciously as her eyes followed the new couple who made their way in to the school’s decorated gymnasium. It was not just Tiara or Hilary and Olivia whose eyes followed Brad and Isabella. It was everyone else in the gym.Isabella could feel the heaviness in their eyes and Brad could feel as her grip tightened in his hand.“Are you okay?” He asked lowering his head so he could bring his face closer to hers.She looked up at him with her eyes sheikh her discomfort and panic.“Everyone is watching us.” She whispered at him.Brad smiled then and he brushed her cheek affectionately. “Everyone is watching you.” Bella smiled shyly at his words.“No, they aren’t.” She said back with a giggle. She was already beginning to feel a little bit more relaxed. “Yes they are.” Brad said and he looked down at her beautiful face wishing he could curse out loud. “My goodness Isabella, you have no idea how
(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
(ISABELLA’S POV)It had been a week since the incident. By the incident, I mean the one that signalled the end of the nightmare. The day we had obtained an implicating recording of Hilary and Dave with the help of Tiara.Things were slowly beginning to settle down and get back to normal. My punishments had been reduced a little. I was still grounded but I was allowed to go out for a few hours a day.School which had been my most feared place was better than I had expected and hoped for. Brad and Olivia never left my side. Everyone knew the whole story now and as the days passed, their whispers and glances at us disappeared in to thin air. On this particular day, I felt great. My day at school was almost normal except for the bugging thought of Hilary that occasionally came to my mind.I had not seen her since that incident and I would not see her until the day I do in court. A day, I wasn’t looking forward to but was prepared to.I was at home reading a novel and laid back on my be
(BRAD’S POV)I sighed gathering enough courage and then I knocked on the door briskly. After a short moment, I rang the doorbell also and stepped back patiently.“Good afternoon. How may I help you please?” A maid dressed in black and white uniform was the one who answered the door.“I’m here to see Dave please.” I said.Just as the maid opened her mouth to answer me, someone emerged from the hallway.“What the hell are you doing here?” Dave’s angry voice came before his face came in to view.His hair looked rough and his clothes looked rumpled. He looked like he was going through hell.“I came to see you because I want to talk to you.” I said stepping in to the house.Dave glared at me but I was surprised to see that he didn’t tell me to get out as I took another step forward.“So what is it? What exactly do you want to say to me? You want to laugh at me? Mock me because I’ll be going to Jail soon?” He asked and the anger was evident in his voice.“I did not come to mock you.” I said
(ISABELLA’S POV)I wished that morning time would come as soon as possible but time seemed to be slower than ever. For the longest time it was only eleven thirty pm and I had no idea why sleep was not coming to me. I wanted so much to see Brad and I don’t know how I managed to wait till this time.The sound of a rattle at my window pane made me shake. I jumped to my feet again when I heard the sound at the window again. I had no doubt that it was Brad and when I pushed the curtains aside, his face warmed me up. He was downstairs and beckoning me to come too. I contemplated for a split second and then threw on a robe before heading downstairs.I went out as carefully as I could and dashed to the back where Brad was waiting for me. “Hey.” He said taking my hand in his.My heart felt so warm and I felt so happy. I hugged him immediately and he was stiff with shock at first but then he hugged me back tightly. There was something about his hugs that made me never want to leave. It mad
(OLIVIA’S POV)“Where are you going? Have you forgotten that you are grounded?” Mum asked interrupting me as I whistled and walked majestically to the door.“Oh. I know. I’m just going next door to apologize to Chris, Victoria and Bella.” I said with a hopeful smile.Mum rolled her eyes at me and then carried on with what she was doing which was setting flowers in a vase. I guess that meant I could carry on. Yes, I was grounded with a lot of limitations to phone, Tv and social events. After our hearty reconciliation last night, the punishments were next for Brad and I.Today is also the last day I’m allowed to skip school until I graduate. I guess my parents and Bella’s parents agreed on that since last night had been a whole lot.I was still whistling as I walked down the pathway leading to the Martinez house but then I noticed a black Camry car slowing down close to me.A sense of fear gripped me and I could not help but wonder if it was Hilary or Dave and if they were back to dea
(BRAD’S POV)I watched the closed door weakly. What did Dave mean by the things he had just said?. The look in his eyes seemed so intense, there had to be some meaning in his words.“Hey.” Bella’s soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts and I turned to see her wearing a weak smile.“Hey.” I replied softly .Seeing her ever beautiful face refreshed me and I felt as relieved as ever to know that we would be able to keep those videos away from the eyes of everyone.Bella was pulling me away with her and I could see that the police officers were making their way to Dave’s front door.I’m sure our parents had explained the situation and why they had to take action.“Hey.” Bella said again and her hand cupped my cheek briefly with affection. “Are you okay?” Her eyes searched mine earnestly.I managed a smile at her.“Yes. I think I’m okay.” I said and then I shook my head. “I know I’m okay. Everyone knows how we feel about each other and we dealt with the dark part of this whole thing.”The
(THIRD PERSON’S POV)Hilary cursed all the way from Tiara’s house as they were driven to Brad’s. Tiara hated that she had to keep her face in an encouraging mood, she hated that she had to join and speak to Hilary by cursing out Dave even more and she was thankful that she was one who spent most of her time tapping at her phone. It helped her to escape some of the conversations.Thankfully, Hilary was not one who noticed the emotions of others and she was so busy thinking of herself that she didn’t notice her friend’s forced attitude.“I’ll show the damned fool! He must be thinking I don’t have anything on him, but I do.” Hilary said storming out of the car the moment it was parked out in front of Dave’s house.She hurried up the front porch with Tiara trailing after her after quickly as she made sure her recording was starting.The door was opened by one of the maids of the house whom Hilary pushed aside rudely and stormed upstairs.She banged on Dave’s door countlessly and she fume
(TIARA’S POV)“T! There’s someone at the door for you!” My older brother Jude yelled from the doorway.It was a good thing I had just finished having dinner because then this person would have been coming at a wrong time.As I walked to the door, I wondered if it was my stupid boyfriend coming over to apologize.Never in my life did I expect to see Olivia Johnson and Isabella Martinez at the door.“Hi Tiara. I’m sorry for showing up unnannounced.” Olivia said with a shaky smile.“Leave Jude.” I said to my brother unable to ignore the way he was ogling at the girls who were waiting for me.Jude groaned disappointedly in reply and then he walked away muttering a curse at me. I folded my arms across my chest and looked challengingly at Olivia.“Bold of you to come here after the rude way you treated me. You shut the door in my face.” I pointed out.Olivia sighed and lost the smile she had been wearing.“You can’t blame me, can you? You were horrible to me.” She said.I shrugged and pushe
(BRAD’S POV)The tension in the room could be cut with a pair of sharp scissors. Everywhere was almost in a pin drop silence except for the voice of Mr George Martinez on the phone with the police officer.His voice echoed throughout the nearly silent room as everyone else avoided eye contact. I stole the thousandth glance at Isabella but she still wasn’t looking up.She had her eyes set on her fingers as she twisted them together in her lap. Olivia was faced sideways with her eyes on the portrait even though her mind was definitely elsewhere.My parents were seated together on the Chaise lounge and even though they were seated side by side, they seemed to be worlds apart.Victoria Martinez was seated on a couch right next to her daughter, Isabella and just like me, she kept stealing glances at Bella.“I’ve handled talking to Officer Tay. He’s very happy for us.” George Martinez said walking back in and making me turn my face away from Bella.He didn’t take a seat on any of the chairs
(THIRD PERSON’S POV)George Martinez was the only one who was pacing about. The other Adults were seated around. They were all in the Johnsons house where they had been since they noticed their daughters empty beds.The early hours of the morning had come and yet there was no news from their children. They were all weakened by scared thoughts that were racing through their minds and each was trying to manage it in their different ways “You may have to calm down George.” Victoria finally her husband weakly.George did not stop pacing but he looked in the direction of his wife as he did so “How can I calm down? My little girl could be anywhere. What if something terrible is happening to her?” He said with panic.He passed the panic throughout the whole room and there was a couple of sighs from the others.“They ran away from home. They weren’t kidnapped. You need to stop saying these things.” Victoria said sternly rubbing her forehead as if trying to soothe her troubled mind.It was n