Chapter 4- Mother...knows best!

My Jamaican Aunt always said, "walk away from trouble if you can". Staring down at my chemistry homework, I decided to walk. I slammed the book shut and slid off my bed. My room was a gigantic mess.

It was twice the size of a normal room, because it housed my studio. I was a part time model. It was nothing fancy but I had over 200,000 followers. No big deal, right. I had a classic tik toker set up: a camera, light on every inch of the room, a blank wall and some drapes and cushions. It was funny, because I didn't even use it. Talk about rich and privileged. I sighed, feeling displeased with myself.

Modelling was not something that I saw myself doing but I saw the chance to take some pressure off my mom. She worked tirelessly to provide for me. I admittedly believed that if I could help her out financially, she would spend more time with me. I was a stupid 15 year old and her close friend, Jax, was getting a little salty with his hair after months of trying and failing to get his designs seen.

Nobody believed that people would love his clothing. So I took initiative and became a social media teen icon. That started a few fashion trends when I teamed up with Jax and my mom signed. In the few months of my start, the three of us were inseparable...until we were. Jax and my mom drifted but he's still my designer and we're still friends but I am not as confident as I was then.

But it probably was just this town.

You could have only imagine my surprise when I walked into this 'ole town and was demoted to a troublemaking annoying loner, oh and hobo.

I rolled my eyes. I mean I wasn't the most tidy but I tried.

My phone pinged and I grabbed it. I opened it and checked my messages. There were roughly a thousand unopened messages but there were no recent ones. I heard another ping but it wasn't the one in my hand. I shook away my confusion and reached under my pillow for my other phone.

I opened it and was reborn.

I received a text message from Henry. I found myself squealing in excitement. I shook my head at my silliness. It was a reminder of the party this evening. Crap, what am I going to wear?

I walked out of my room and directly into the room across from me. It was empty.

"Hear kitty, kitty," I called walking towards the staircase that led towards the ground floor.

"Kat, where are you," I yelled, walking down the stairs.

I sighed, jumping down from the last step. My shoes made a thud that echoed through the big house. I walked through the door just under the staircase and found Katrina snuggled in the couch scrolling through I*******m. Her fingers slowed at a video showing a guy doing a popular Tik Tok trend.

"What are you watching," I asked, sitting beside her. She tilted the screen towards me and I rolled my eyes.

It was yet another 'Dimples' post. Fate was playing a cruel game or this town was just dull.

"You know there are more productive things to be doing," I stated.

"I don't get why you hate this guy," she commented, scrolling through the comments.

"You know why, he doesn't make any sense," I replied. It wasn't much of an explanation but a video of a guy singing a very demoralising song wasn't all that appealing.

"Well it kinda looks like he's trolling you," she stated.

I shuffled closer to her. "Isabella, you wanna come..." I trailed off with a cringe, "on this," I ended my statement while shaking my head.

"This must be his girlfriend or something," I said in disbelief, feeling a chill run down my spine.

Kat squinted her eyes at the screen. "He tagged you," she pointed out.

He had the audacity to say that and to tag me.

"I can report him, right," I asked Kat.

"He's the same age," she said with a nod, checking his bio.

"Why can't he just leave me alone," I said, sinking into the couch, wishing it would just swallow me up.

"Maybe he likes you," she commented, going back to scrolling through social media.

"Uh!"

I was not a likeable person. I was often described as antisocial and unapproachable. Why do you think that I didn't have any friends? I was a paranoid person with major trust issues. There was also my tendency to be fake at times. It wasn't my fault that I was thought to be kind and polite. Also my conscience wouldn't have it and my anxiety would kill me if I was ever my real self. Furthermore, how can you like someone you hardly know? Unless....

"Or maybe, he just wants more popularity." I whispered to myself. I mean he did right up a bio, which means mystery and popularity. Every girl would want to find him, which meant following his content.

"Kat, I can't have a repeat of Jay," I told her. Jay was a nightmare. My first boyfriend, he was fake and I didnt even get the chance to meet him.

Kat turned off her tablet and sat up. "There's no way that this guy could possibly figure out who you are. Part of your face is always obscured in your photos," she stated. Did I mention that I was insecure?

"Yeah, but not all of them. That little stunt he pulled cost Jax a lot of money and I was almost cancelled. I wouldn't have cared but that's not the point."

"Jay, was an asshole," Kat commented, most likely scarred by the memory of all his lies.

That...boy nearly ruined the fragile state of my family and friends (what little I had at the time). I couldn't let that happen again. I wasn't the kind of person to stir up drama. All my followers knew that. For me, it was just work.

I narrowed my eyes. "We need to find out who he is," I told Kat, who stared at me for a hot minute before nodding.

"I've got a plan but it will cost you since I'm not working for free anymore," she said sassily.

"Okay madame, speaking of work. Can you find me a dress? I'm going to a party," I said with an excited smile.

"Can I come," she asked hopefully.

I shrugged. "If you get permission," I said sadly, knowing that she would never get it. She attended a private school and her little cousins almost attended catholic school.

She sighed and got up from the couch. She stomped her way towards Raphael's home office.

I stood to my feet and went to the kitchen. As I walked through the door, my tummy began to make a big fuss. I plastered on a huge smile.

"Mother," I greeted, sitting on the stool across from her.

"Isabella," she retorted, her eyes focused on chopping up her vegetables.

"Lovely evening," I continued with the shenanigans.

"Child, what do you want," she broke first, glancing at me with her big brown eyes. I was proud to say that I got my good looks from my mom. She always left me shell shocked. I wonder if I have mommy issues now.

"Oh, I got invited to a party," I said, my eyes wondering over the veggies on the table. Was she cooking my favourite?

"Okay, you can go," she replied shortly.

"What really," I said shocked, suddenly I didn't want to go. "Why," I asked, eyeing her closely.

"Because ever since you got here, you haven't made any friends and you haven't left the house except for school. Cariña, I care a lot about your mental health and social life. I know that those two things influence each other in a teens life. Also, remember what your therapist said," she explained, maintaining eye contact every step of the way.

I smiled sadly at her wrinkled forehead and tired eyes. She was so tired yet she made time for her little sister.

"This is for auntie," I observed.

"Yes, and your dinner," she paused, walking towards the refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of green juice that I was genuinely afraid of. She handed it to me and I bit back my scowl. "Jax said that he needs you in the fitting room by next week and in the photo booth by the other. He needs some photos for his page in the High Stats fashion magazine," she said with a proud smile.

"Oh, he always wanted that," I said with a sigh. "I'm going to go get ready for my outing, au revoir," I said, sliding off the stool.

My heart felt torn and heavy.