Chapter - 2

Isabella's pov;

After getting busted by Mr Davis,

I whispered to Tracy, who was sitting beside me, "He's standing behind me, right?"

She nodded her head and greeted Mr Davis.

I let out a sigh and turned towards him to face him and apologised, "I'm sorry, Sir. I didn’t realise you were here, I hope you’ll forgive me. I promise it won't happen again, Sir.

"Whose class is it?"

"Um…"

While I was stammering about what to answer, Jose said, "It's your class, Sir."

Mr Davis said to me, "Bella, Come outside."

I looked at Jose and Tracy, they gave a thumbs up while I was leaving the class.

Outside the class, in the corridor, he asked, "Ms Garcia?"

"Yes, Sir?

"Did you complete your assignment which I gave you last monday?"

If you wouldn't appear now, I would have finished it by copying Jose's assignment. But how can I now?

"Not yet, Sir but I'm almost to the end…"

"Do you remember that you have to submit it today?"

"Yes, Sir. But…"

Before I finished, he said, "I don't want your excuses. What am I going to do with your excuses? Four times. This is the fourth time you aren't submitting your assignment on the due date."

"Sir, I will try to submit it next time…"

"Try to?" He let out a sigh and continued, "Ms Garcia, Spend my hour in the detention class and finish the assignment and submit it by tomorrow. No excuses."

"Yes, Sir. I'll…"

"Go to the detention room. Even if you come to my class, you're going to doze off in my class so better spend some time in detention." And walked back into the class.

In the detention room,

When I entered the class, Julian screamed my name, "Bella! Come here!" And signalled me to go to him.

I saw Julian sitting alone. And, I couldn't see Carlos and Gia. There weren't many people here today.

Since I took many days off (which no one in the house knows, I whine a lot to make them believe I'm having a hard time in school by being a good student but that was all a lie spun by me) To be honest, I had so many detentions. Eventually, the people who spent time in the detention room became my friends. In that line, Julian, Carlos and Gia became close to me and became my detention room friends. Even though they're my seniors in the business school, we're all the same age and it was easy to be friends with them for me.

Mr Thomas said, "Didn't expect you to be in the first class. Come in."

I walked to Mr Thomas's table and signed in the column where it had my name.

I took the seat near Julian and asked, "When did you come?"

Julian said, "I'm serving my three days of detention so I came straight here without going to my class."

"Don't you miss your friends?"

"They're on the way by the way."

"I asked about the ones in your class."

He looked at the time and said, "They must be in the playground right now practicing for the upcoming match."

"What was the reason this time?"

"I got caught while I was jumping over the wall."

I laughed and asked, "By who?"

"Drama Club president."

"Oooh. That one is really scary. I can't believe you got caught by her. By the way, what was she doing near the compound wall?"

"Hey, I didn't think about that. Yeah, what was she doing there?"

While I was talking to Julian, Carlos walked into the class. He dropped the bag on the table and asked, "What were you guys talking about?"

I said, "He was telling me how he got detention. Come and join the crew, mate."

"I already know about that. What about you? Why are you here this time?"

I let out a sigh and said, "I didn't submit my assignment four times in a row so Mr Davis sent me here."

They two laughed at me in a mockery way.

"Argh! You're teaming up against me. I miss Gia so much at this time.

"Did anyone call me?" Gia said while entering the class.

I hugged her and said, "These two are teasing me again, Gia. Save me from these guys."

Carlos said, "Hey, Gia! I thought you'll be in your music club right now. What are you doing here?"

Gia came closer to us and said, "I accidentally broke the violin."

"You got detention for breaking a violin?"

"The violin I broke belonged to the teacher so she got mad and screamed at me, telling me to go to the detention room."

I asked her, "Well, how did you manage to break it?"

Gia gave me a stare and said, "Didn't you listen to me? I said I accidentally… accidentally broke the violin."

"What was that accident?"

"She asked me to clean and tune up the violin. After cleaning, I tried to tune it up but it was so tight that I couldn't turn it and it broke somehow."

"That wasn't an accident at all!"

"Yeah, it is. I didn't do it deliberately."

"No, no. I mean… you didn't do anything. It was tight when you tried to tune-up, right? Someone must have turned it in the wrong direction and made it tight. That's why it broke when you tried to turn it up."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the culprit wasn't you. It must be someone else."

"Did I come here for nothing?"

Gia looked so pissed off.

Carlos said, "Woah! That was good. How did you find it? Do you know how to play the violin because only professional people can know about those things, right?"

"I don't know how to play the violin but I know how to investigate things. I like to find things out."

Julian said, "Then you must be in forensic studies. Why are you here? Studying business?"

"Did you forget my restaurant dream? Once I graduated, I'm going to…"'

Before I finished, Gia continued my phrase, "You're going to open a restaurant business in a popular street and run it with different themes according to the season and to your wishes and make the restaurant popular and to be well known. Going to make the restaurant popular among other restaurants."

I said, "Awww… You remember?"

Carlos said, "Even I can recite that since you're telling us almost every day."

I laughed and said, "Well, I gotta catch some regular customers for my restaurant, right?"

Julian, "Regular customers? Bella, your restaurant is in your thoughts."

"You all make reservations to eat in a restaurant. Likewise, I'm pre-booking each one of you for my restaurant. Remember this, after I open the restaurant you all have to come and eat my food."

"What if it wasn't good?"

"Don't conclude before you even taste it."

"Oh, really, then I'm so waiting to taste the food that you're going to make. Wait, I'm going to become a critic and give you the least number of stars since I got to listen to your restaurant dream every day."

"A critic? Why are you coming to my restaurant then? There are so many restaurants out there to be evaluated. Why bother me?"

"Why? Are you scared that I'm going to give a bad review and make all your customers leave and not return to that restaurant after that?"

"Don't do that to my restaurant."

Gia pinched Julian's and my ears and said, "You two are in the first year of business school and right now in the detention room. Remember that, there's not a restaurant here yet."

After we nodded hurriedly, she let go of my ear and said to me, "You're here because of the assignment, right? Take it out and finish it. If you want to open a restaurant in the future, start it by finishing your assignment."

"Okay, senior."

"Don't act politely. We're all the same age."

"But you're still my senior, right senior?"

She smiled and said, "Write your assignment." And went back to her work.

After the first hour was over, I stood to leave the detention class.

Carlos asked, "Are you leaving already?"

I said, "I was told to be here for only the first hour. I'm not like you guys. Staying in the detention room all day long."

"Is that how you talk to your seniors?" Gia asked me.

"I'm sorry, Senior."

"I was just kidding. Are you free this evening?"

I thought for a while. Even if I took this assignment home, I know for sure I won't make it tonight.

While I was thinking, Carlos asked, "What's taking you so long to answer? Are you free or not?"

"I'm free."

Gia said, "Then let's head out to the nightclub."

"Who is coming apart from us?"

"Wouldn't you come with me if I didn't say the names of the people who are coming?"

"No, not like that."

"Then come with us. No excuses."

"Okay. Okay. See ya in the club."

In class,

"How was your detention? Did you have a good time with those guys?" Jose asked me as soon as I sat in my place.

"So good. We planned to go out tonight."

"With those Detention guys?"

"Yup!"

"Where are you going?"

I moved closer to him and whispered, "JL Nightclub in Tales square. Are you coming? More the merrier."

"I wish to but Tracy doesn't like those places, so I can't go."

I kept my face sad and teased him, "So sad

Someone got a strict girlfriend."

He went back to writing something in his notebook when the teacher for the next hour arrived at our class.

It's almost midnight,

After successfully sneaking out of Mr Martinez's house, I came to the nightclub,

Gia asked me, "What's with your outfit? Did you just get out of bed?"

I was wearing a white tee with blue jean shorts.

"I have to sneak through a small space in the backyard so if I wear pants, I would come to this place with shredded clothes."

"Fine. Let's go in. Everyone's waiting for us."

"Everyone? Who did you invite?"

Gia held my hand and took me into the club.

Inside the club, The interior is so much better than the outside view. The music was upbeat to where everyone was jumping on the dance floor since it was a mix of jazz and R&B songs mixed with techno bass and heavy thumping drums. A lot of people seemed drunk or tipsy, but some kids were too young for it all and were just enjoying themselves instead. The lights lit up the place beautifully with violet and pink colours. There were all sorts of people dancing around, drinks flowing freely as they made their way to the dance floor.

Gia said, "What are you looking at? Let's go in."

I nodded and walked behind her.

When I came to the table along with Gia, I saw Carlos and Julien at the table already.

Gia took the seat and said, "Have a seat."

"Where's everyone?"

Carlos said, "Everyone's here. Who do you expect to come?"

I turned to Gia and asked, "Did you trick me?"

She laughed and tapped on my shoulder saying, "Let's start drinking."

After ordering drinks, we started drinking till we got drunk.

I said, "It's enough for me. Don't pour drinks for me."

Carlos asked, "Why?"

"I have to go to my place."

"We can drop you. Come on, drink another one."

"I don't want to get drunk."

Gia asked, "Baby, I'll drop you at your place. Come on, one last glass. It's been weeks since we hung out together."

I said, "Fine but this is the last one. I won't drink anymore after this."

She poured me another glass of drink.

Alexander Martinez pov;

I signed the last document which was supposed to be checked and given approval for the day and gave it to Mr Johnson.

After Mr Johnson left, I looked at the time, it was 7 pm.

When I was about to walk into my room, I stepped back and headed to Isabella's room. When I opened the door, she was sleeping on the bed. Something doesn't seem right. I walked to her bed and took the blanket off, pillows again. Where did she go now?

Strange noises woke me up from school,

I woke up in the middle of the night hearing noises downstairs. It wasn’t loud enough to wake me but it was enough for my curiosity to get the better of me and I crept out of bed, walking past Isabella's room on the way downstairs to investigate. I came downstairs to check what noise it was. When I looked around, there wasn't anyone.l

I heard that disturbance again when I tried to climb the stairs to my room. But this time, it came from outside the house. I opened the door and looked outside, someone was making a commotion with the guards.

A guard ran to me and asked, "Sir, It's Isabella. She looks like she's drunk."

When I took a look, I saw two people in distant stumbling on the ground.

"Who came with her?"

"Isabella mumbling something like a senior. That girl seems to be drunk too, Sir."

"Let them in."

"Yes, Sir."

When they came closer, I identified who it was. It's Gia. One of Isabella's seniors.

Gia was holding Isabella in her embrace while saying, "Can you please take her inside and please do it quietly. And, don't wake up Alexander."

"Okay."

I took Isabella and held her by putting her hands over my shoulder. Gia left after handing over Isabella to me.

I took Isabella inside the house and made her stand but she was slipping which made it hard to hold her so I carried her in my arms and climbed the stairs.

Isabella shouted inside my ears, "I don't want another drink. I'm already drunk." She continued, "I don't want to drink... Stop pouring it... Senior, I'm drunk... Dour pour anymore…"

"Okay. I won't."

After I replied, she stopped screaming and looked like she was about to faint.

I took her to her room and made her lie on the bed.

While I was leaving, she held my hand and said, "Where are you going?"

"To my room."

"Your room. When did you start sleeping in the club?"

Club?

She continued, "Can you take me to my place? I don't think I can go there by myself."

I moved closer to her and asked, "Who do you think I am?"

She placed her hands on both of my cheeks and pulled me close to her face and looked at me with those half-opened eyes and asked, "You look so handsome. Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Don't you know who I am?"

"How can I know that? I'm meeting you for the first time?"

"Do you really don't know who I am?"

"Why are you asking me again and again? I think you're even drunker than me." And laughed.

I took her hands off my face and tried to leave the room.

"Mr Martinez?"

Did she just call out my name? Does she recognise me now?

"What did you say?"

Isabella shouted my name, "Mr Martinez!"

"Yes?"

She stood on the bed and started shouting, "Mr Martinez! I'm not drunk! Please believe me. I won't get drunk again. Forgive me…" she pleaded while looking towards the window side.

I held her hand and made her lay on the bed but she didn't instead she pushed me away saying, "What are you trying to do to me?" And closed her chest with both of her hands.

I said, "I'm not trying to do anything. Get some sleep."

"I know what you are trying to do to me. Don't even try that."

"Please go to sleep."

"Then kiss me." Showed me her lips to kiss her.

"What?"

She kept her fingers on her lips and said, "Here. I want you to kiss me here. If you give me a kiss then I'll go to sleep. Up for a kiss?" And acted cutely.

You're testing my patience, Isabella.

"Say my name."

"How can I know some stranger's name? You didn't say your name yet. What's your name, stranger?"

"You don't recognise me, don't you? What if someone really comes up to you when you're being like this? What will you do then? Will you give yourself to them?"

"Does that matter to you?" She stood up from the bed and walked towards me saying, "A girl is asking for a kiss here, why are you hesitating? Come on, it's just a kiss. Come closer and give me a kiss."

When she tried to kiss me, I stopped by keeping my hands on my lips. She kissed the back of my hand and fell on me, losing her balance and whined, "Why are your lips so hard, Mr Martinez?"

I made her stand up while asking, "What did you just say?"

She broke out into laughter and asked, "I know it's you, Mr Martinez. Don't you like kissing me?"

"Don't play with me. You said I was some stranger."

"I was just kidding you." And let out a mischievous laugh.

I pulled her towards me and looked into her eyes and asked, "Do you recognise me now?"

"It's Alex. Isn't it?"

"What did you call me?"

"Don't I have the permission to call you by your name?"

I held her by her chin and asked, "How did you find that it's me?"

She smiled and placed her hand on my cheek, traced it upward and touched my hair. She used both her hands and parted my hair on the forehead and said, "See, there's a mark over here. And, the only person who has a mark here is Mr Martinez. Am I right?"

I touched her hand and asked, "You won't remember anything tomorrow, right?"

"Huh?"

She lost her balance and completely fell on me. I took her and made her lie on the bed.

"Why did you got wasted tonight?"

"My Senior asked me. How can I reject her? It's not good manners to reject someone's offers, particularly when they're older than you, Mr Martinez."

"Why did you reject me then?"

Her smile vanished and she gave out a blunt expression.

"When did I reject you? I never rejected you. Who could reject you?"

"Then why did you say you're not sure about our relationship?"

"Because I love you!"

"What?"

"I don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose someone I love again in my life. Once was enough for me, I'm not ready to lose again. I was broken once, if I lose again, I don't think I can stand it anymore. My heart is so weak to stand another heartbreak."

"I won't leave you. I will be beside you."

She laughed and said, "Do you think I'll trust you? You already lied and broke the trust, Mr Martinez. I don't want to believe you again and feel broken twice. Where were you when I needed you the most? You weren't there when I looked for you. You weren't there…" And started sobbing. She slept while she was sobbing.

I wiped her tears away and said, "Isabella, even if you tell me to stop loving you, I'm not going to. It's a promise."