The unexpected !

*2024*

(ISABELLA’S POV)

There must be something wrong with my body. I thought as I took off the black shirt and tried a purple one with a higher neck line. I sighed in disappointment as my boobs still somehow popped up showing cleavage.

I sat down in my bed unable to think of what to do next and then I settled for a nice leather jacket. It was the last day of summer and thankfully the weather was not too warm for a jacket.

I didn’t need a jacket in relation to the weather but it made me feel less shy about my boobs pushing out. They had suddenly grown so much over the holiday and I would have thought it was because I added weight but the rest of my body didn’t explode as much. Well, except my bum and hips which I did not want to think too much about.

Knock!knock!knock!

“Bella?? Can I come in?!” It was the soft but demanding voice of my little sister, Jeanie.

I quickly picked a brush and began brushing my hair as I yelled back ‘Come in!’

I didn’t want her to come and see me inspecting my boobs like a weirdo.

“Can you help me tie my hair in to a bun please?” Jeanie asked. “Dad said he could do it but he looked like he would rather stick his head in the microwave. He also spent some minutes doing absolute nonsense.”

I stifled a giggle and ushered my eleven years old sister in to a chair at my dressing table.

“Now, don’t you just look gorgeous?” I said few minutes later when I was done with a perfect bun on her head.

“Thank you Bella.” Jeanie said giving me a hug and then she looked up at me in adoration. “You are so pretty.”

I smiled shyly. “Thank you. And you are way prettier.” I said tapping her nose as she giggled.

Everyone said Jeanie was like a Mini version of me without glasses and with blonde hair. Everything else was literally the same. The sharp blue eyes, slim pink lips, slim pointed nose and the apple shaped face.

Beautiful, my mother would say to me each chance she got. I don’t think I see myself as beautiful which was really funny considering I thought my mum and Jeanie were striking gorgeous. (They really are!)

The only thing that’s different from them about me, is my long dark hair and glasses. I got both from dad even though he doesn’t wear his glasses because he can see well enough without them and he never seems to know where he drops them.

I guess my glasses might be the main point about my low self esteem, added with the fact that everyone sees me as a nerd who is in to books and female soccer. That must be the reason why I am almost seventeen and I still haven’t been asked out by a single guy! Embarrassing, right? I know!

“Mum also said you should be down in ten minutes. I guess that means now.” Jeanie said as she left my room.

I pick up my phone and sneak a glance to be sure I wasn’t missing a text message from Olivia before going downstairs to Join my family as we left for the barbecue planned next door at the Johnsons.

The Johnsons, my second family welcomed us warmly as Mum presented a freshly baked casserole and Dad, bottles of wine. Jeanie and I followed the two mums closely in to the kitchen.

“Isabella is growing up to in to an even more beautiful girl.” Sandra Johnson said winking at me.

I blushed saying a thank you. Sandra is someone who would always shower me with compliments.

“Hy Victoria, Hy big girl” Olivia said giving a wink at Jeanie.

“Hy Olivia.” Mum and Jeanie said.

It had become sort of a tradition for our families to organize a barbecue during the summer preferably around the last days. We hosted last year and this year, The Johnson’s are hosting. We gathered around the table having fun, eating and drinking until evening came and Olivia sent me a text on iMessage.

Liv: There’s an end of summer party at the beach. Wanna come?

Me: lol…. if I say No, won’t you plead and beg until I say yes?.

Liv: Exactly!

Me: Then I have no choice.

Liv: Have I ever told you how much I love you?

Me: Yes, a thousand times. But hearing it one more time won’t hurt.

Liv: I love you.

“Mum there’s a small hangout at the beach. Can Bella and I go?” Olivia asked and her mum narrowed her eyes with a sigh.

“I guess if it’s okay with Victoria then it’s okay with me.” She said tiredly .

Olivia and I turned to mum expectantly and she shrugged.

“It’s fine with me.” She said.

Not surprising seeing as she tries very much to get me out of the house.

Excited, Olivia pulled me out of the house and we headed straight for the beach.

“Have I told you how amazing you look? Ugh! I can’t get over your body.” She said giving me a look over as we got to the beach .

“Thank you. Not like that’s going to change anything.” I said to her with a dry laugh.

“Don’t be negative baby. This is our junior year. If no one asks you out then we can say they don’t deserve you.” She said to me holding me to her. “By the way, thanks for coming to this beach party with me. I really needed to get out briefly.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked her worried.

“Not really.” She said with a sigh. “I’m surprised you didn’t notice mum and dad’s off mood because they had a big fight last night and an hour before you guys came over.”

“Oh my. Is everything okay?”

But I was interrupted when Felix, a guy from school came over to ask Olivia to dance.

“Is it okay if I go on?” Olivia asked with a sheepish smile.

“Of course. Go on.” I said.

“Are you sure? Or do you want me to talk to one of the cute guys for you?” Olivia asked with a wink.

“No please. I’m fine, I promise”. I told her with a laugh. It was bad enough not getting noticed, I didn’t need my best friend helping me talk to boys.

So, I stayed by myself and read an E-book on my phone. I could not help the feeling of loneliness that clouded me. Junior year was here already and next it will be senior year but my life would not really change.

It sucked more because I was such a sucker for romance and yet no one liked me. How could they? I wasn’t pretty as Olivia with her slim model like body and shoulder length dark curls. I shook the thought out of my head. I wasn’t jealous of my friend, I just wished I could be her sometimes.

We arrived back home and Olivia was a little bit tipsy because she had taken some root beer. I wished I had known to stop her but she came to me giggling like an oaf after the deed had been done.

So, I decided that I would just make sure she got to her room with no problem. Besides, she was not too tipsy to walk or speak apparently.

We went in through the back door and I was relieved to see that the house was quiet. As we got to Olivia’s room door , someone cleared a throat and I heard the flick of a light switch. In an instant, the hallway was flooded with light.

I froze in absolute shock as I stared at who it was. I didn’t have any alcohol to drink and yet, I suddenly felt light headed.