Chapter Six Isabella's POV

It's been a week since we had that stalking problem. Elly said that it was just her being paranoid and exaggerating things, but I know she is lying because she doesn't want me to get scared. She doesn't look good, and I can tell that by the way she is acting. She has been overprotective of me all the time. She hasn't left me alone, not even for a single second. I wish that she could talk to me like she used to before her mother died. I know that I should not push her to tell me how she feels and let her have her space, but my heart breaks when I hear her lock herself in the bathroom and cry and then come out as if nothing happened. She wants to act like she is fine, but I know that deep down she is screaming.

Since she was a kid, she has been the nicest person that I have ever met. We were in fifth grade when we met for the first time. I just got transferred to her school. One day, as I was going to the bathroom, I heard someone crying in the hall. Some kids were bullying her, and all she was doing was sitting on the floor and crying while this one kid was beating the shit out of her. I stood up for her, and since that day, we have become inseparable.

Growing up without a father was so difficult for her, but she got used to it and started defending herself as she became older. All the kids at school teased her for that and even beat the shit out of her a hundred times. She has been called so many nicknames, except her own name. I know that it is still difficult for her and she does her best to hide her pain, so I don't feel sad for her. She never wanted anyone to feel sorry for her. And after all, she has been through, she manages to be the most cheerful person on the planet.

Her life has been difficult. Her mother was diagnosed with cancer when she was in ninth grade. She has been returning home, seeing her mother unconscious on the floor, so many times that I lost track of it. Our houses were next to each other, so she came to us for help, and my parents helped her. She started working when she was 14 years old in three different jobs so she could pay for her mom's medications but still manage to be the best student at school so she could make her mama proud. Her mother passed away when she was 19, and since then she has become a different person. She doesn't talk to me as she used to, but I will be by her side every time she needs me. She is like my big sister, and I love her so much. I would do anything to make her happy. After all that she has been through, she deserves for people to love her. They all have to know how beautiful and kind she is. I am her only friend, and sometimes that makes me sad, but she doesn't want to socialize with anyone. She sometimes says that I am enough and that I am not just her best friend but her sister, but I know she has just struggled to make new friends. I want to see her happy, actually happy, not just pretending to be happy.

Today is her birthday, and I managed to wake up early and go buy us some coffee and something to eat in the morning. She begged me not to throw a party, and I didn't disagree with her this time, but I told her to take the day off so she could relax. She had been through so much in the past few weeks, and the least she could do for herself was get some rest.

First, I managed to sneak out of the house and take her car keys with me. I went to a cosmetic store and bought some stuff that we were missing in the make-up area, and then bought six bath bombs with coconut scent and some lotions, perfume, and scrubs with coconut scent too. She loves coconut so much that she doesn't get bored with it. As soon as you meet her, the first thing you notice about her is her scent. I bought some facemasks too and packed them in a box like a first gift. She made me promise that I wouldn't go throw a party, but that didn't mean I couldn't organize a girl's night.

After I finished with this, I went to pick up her birthday cake, and on the way back, I took our coffees and something to eat, then I went to my final stop. I know how much she loves pajamas, so I went to the first clothing store that my eyes could find and bought her three different types of them. I put all of them in the car and drove back home.

Finally, I managed to put everything in place and decorate the place. I did all the chores and cleaned the place, put some new flowers in the vase, lit two coconut-scented candles, and decided to watch some TV.

It's noon and Elly still hasn't gotten up, and I am starting to get worried about her. I quickly got up from the couch and rushed to her room and opened the door. Elly was still in bed when I approached her. From her facial expression, she didn't look good.

''What's wrong, honey?''

''Nothing, I just don't want to get up.'' She says as she covers her head with the blanket.

''Come on, Elly, you know you can talk to me. What is it, honey? I say, uncovering her head only to face her eyes ready to tear up.

''Hey hey. Why are you crying? What happened? Are you OK? " I say this as I get her to stand up a little, take a seat on the bed, and put her head on my legs.

''Is about that boy, isn't it?'' I say, wiping her tears from her face. From the first day she met him, she started to behave differently. I knew from the beginning that her feelings for him were not just that she had a fixation. I know this because the way she described me is not the way you describe a lover. She told me that he seemed so familiar to her as if she had met him before, but she could not remember when. She has always had difficulty talking to boys since she was a little girl. This is also the reason why she has never had a boyfriend. In high school, she had almost all the boys on their knees for her, but she always told me that the only thing they wanted from her was to get into her pants. But this one, this one was special, and I could see in Elly's eyes that she felt something more for herself, just that it was hard to accept. The way they were dancing in the club was like they belonged to each other.

"No, it's just that... Oh, just forget it, "she says, covering her head with the blanket once more.

"Elly, please don't be like this. You know that I don't want to see you sad. "

"I just miss her so much, Bella. I can't take this pain anymore. It hurts so much. Why don't I have a normal life? Why did my dad abandon me? Was it my fault? "She says, her voice coming through all muffled from the blanket.

"No, absolutely not. It wasn't your fault. You are the kid that every parent dreams of having, so if he abandoned you, it was his loss. You are the best, most careful, and most beautiful person that I have ever met, and is a blessing to be your best friend. " I say, uncovering her head and petting her face. "So don't ever blame yourself for him leaving," I say, seeing her dead in the eyes.

''Do you understand me?'' I say with a serious tone. She nods.

"Now come on, get up. You've had enough sleep. Go wash and come eat something so you don't starve to death,'' I said as she got up and went to the bathroom and closed the door. A message came to my phone, and I knew the girls were there. I know that she isn't a big fan of girls' night, but spending a day talking and discussing with girls about different topics will make her feel better. I got out of Elly's bedroom and closed the door carefully. I went to the main door and opened it.

'' Don't make a noise. She is in the bathroom and we have to be quick.'' I put the present that the girls got for Elly on the table next to my presents, then headed to the kitchen to get the cake, and went to the living room to wait for Elly to get out of there.

''Why the hell did you... "Elly says as she opens the door and freezes in place.

''HAPPY BIRTHDAY'' we all scream, laughing at Elly's facial expression when she saw us. We sang the happy birthday song to her, but I could see in her eyes that after the girls left, she was going to kill me for this.

''Omg. Thank you so much. I love you guys so much,'' she says as a fake tear falls down her cheek. That bitch should be working as an actor. I laugh at her reaction as we all went and hugged her at the same time.

''We love you too,'' I say, taking the cake and lighting up the candles.

''Now make a wish and blow up the candles.'' I could see the annoyed look on her face. To be honest, I know exactly what she wishes for. For a long time, she's been searching for her father, but till now we don't have any leads.

The rest of the day went by with us in our pajamas, watching films, drinking wine, doing facial masks, and doing our nails. Elly went through almost two bottles and a half of wine. I could tell that she was drinking to forget, and watching her that miserable broke my heart. She deserved so much better than this, but sometimes God has different plans for each of us, even if they could end badly.