Isabella

The morning goes by fast due to the school’s first day’s commotion, and thankfully, it’s already lunchtime when the bell rings.

One quick trip to the cafeteria later, I meet my friends sitting at the tables in our usual spot outside the building—the grassy area. Some of the football players and cheerleaders are also sitting with them, who, by the way, greet me warmly as soon as I approach the group.

“Hi, Bella. I want you to sit here with me,” Collin says while pulling me down right next to him, forcing me to sit between Katy and him on the bench.

* * *

Thanks to our influential parents and current financial status, my brother and I have been friends with Zack, Katy, Brandon, Julie, and Collin since preschool, as their families are also among the wealthiest and most powerful in the country.

Zack is one of the most attractive boys at school. He’s tall, and his black hair and black eyes stand out in a way that’s almost too striking. His angelic face is spotless, and his smile is the kind that lights up a hallway. Not to mention his muscular build, which only adds to the whole “he-is-perfect” reputation he has going on. He also plays on the football team with my brother, which is why he became one of the most popular jocks right after Jus.

We dated for two years but broke up a few weeks ago. Honestly, I was the one who ended things because his behavior toward other people was unacceptable and disrespectful. Besides, I realized I wasn’t in love with him—and I don’t think I ever was.

As a result, Zack cried, yelled, and punched a few walls when I told him we weren’t working out as a couple anymore. He begged me to reconsider, but my mind was already made up, and his whole dramatic scene became nothing but a headache.

Our parents always assumed Zack and I would end up married since we have been best friends since we were little. What they didn’t count on was me kneeing him in the groin when he tried to kiss me minutes after we broke up. That pretty much shattered any hope they had for a reconciliation.

Katy has been my best friend since we were two, thanks to our parents’ friendship. We bonded the first time she came over and I handed her one of my dolls. Fifteen years later, we’re still inseparable. Even though she has the height and looks to become a model, she is more interested in rescuing stray animals than pursuing a modeling career. Her blue eyes and brown hair attract attention everywhere we go, although she’s already taken—she’s dating Brandon, my brother’s best friend and teammate.

Speaking of him, Brandon is tall and definitely has the athletic build that most of the guys on the team share. His black hair, hazel eyes, and tanned skin come together in a way that makes him look effortlessly handsome. His parents own a major grocery chain, but he’s still one of the kindest and most humble people I know, regardless of how wealthy his family is.

Julie is one of the few girls in our group. We met when we were four, and we were basically pushed into becoming friends by our parents’ shared connections. She’s stunning—she has short dark hair, brown eyes, and a flawless sense of fashion. She’s always dressed in the newest styles. But none of that changes the fact that she can be arrogant and downright insufferable toward students outside our circle.

To be honest, Julie is the only person in our group I don’t like. I brought it up to my parents once, but my father told me to smile and try to get along with her because she isn’t a bad person; she’s just a spoiled girl who has everything and everyone at her feet.

Collin is the most attractive boy in school, at least in my opinion. I swoon over his blond hair, blue eyes, and ridiculously gorgeous build—especially when he’s out on the field, as he looks unbelievably good when he’s focused and serious during games. He’s also smart, funny, caring, and always calm, no matter what chaos is happening around him. He comes from a political family, which is ironic because he despises politics.

We’ve been hanging out a lot lately and have grown much closer these past few weeks. The night I broke up with Zack, I called Collin at three in the morning and asked him to come over to comfort me, which he didn’t hesitate to do—that simple gesture only deepened the affection between us.

My group of friends is private, and we would protect one another no matter what, when, or where. We don’t let outsiders in—not even significant others—which is why we’re always at the center of school gossip and practically idolized by students who would do anything to be part of our elite circle.

* * *

“Look,” Zack sniggers, pointing at a group of students. “They must be the new kids from the scholarship program.” He grimaces in disgust.

I ignore my ex-boyfriend’s words and keep eating my salad, not even glancing at the students the jocks and cheerleaders around me are targeting.

“Bella, that boy won’t stop staring at you,” Katy smirks, pointing behind me.

“I don’t mean to sound like a brat, but what else is new?” I reply with a shrug before taking a sip of my lemonade.

“Well, even though he’s one of the new scholarship students, he’s adorable. Actually, he’s super handsome, like, seriously hot. He’s easily in the top three hottest boys in this entire school,” Katy remarks, her lips curling into a flirtatious smile.

I blink in surprise, my curiosity piqued, when I notice the blush creeping onto her cheeks, as she rarely blushes or openly checks out a guy. The next thing I know, I’m turning on the bench with as much grace as possible and look toward the students Zack is still pointing at—and the ones most of my friends are mocking without shame. 

My eyes find four figures walking across the grassy area, visibly uncomfortable as they’re forced to endure the insults.

That’s when our gazes meet for the first time. His eyes, the most beautiful, magnetic, deep-blue ones I’ve ever seen, lock onto mine, and I can’t look away.

I keep staring at the boy with messy dark hair and striking features that seem to sharpen around those ocean-colored eyes. He’s tall, and even under the school uniform—black pants, white shirt, black tie, blue blazer—I can tell he’s fit.

He’s walking beside another boy and two girls. I recognize a couple of them from eleventh grade, and if I’m remembering right, they’re also part of the scholarship program. Even though they’re avoiding eye contact with my friends and me, I can still see the irritation and hurt in their eyes.

As they walk by, I look back at the boy with the blue eyes, whose gaze is still on me. Five seconds later, he gives me a small, shy smile, prompting me to smile back, my stomach fluttering. 

“What do you think you’re doing, Bella? Why are you smiling at that loser?” Zack hisses.

“What?” I turn to face him, annoyed by the anger radiating off him.

“Why are you smiling at that disgusting loser?” he repeats, pointing right at the boy who’s still looking my way.

“I’m not,” I scoff dismissively. “And even if I was, you’re the one who pointed him and his friends out in the first place.”

Zack sneers, “That kid is a nobody if he thinks he stands a chance with you. Why would someone like you pay attention to someone like him?”

His sickening words make my stomach churn, my fists clenching.

That’s it. I can’t sit here anymore.

I grab my lunch and my purse, stand up, and start walking away without looking back.

“Where are you going, Bella?” Collin calls after me, catching up and gently taking hold of my wrist.

“I’m going to sit with my brother. Excuse me,” I reply, my tone flat and emotionless. “I’ll see you later, okay?” I add, giving him a small smile before walking away from my friends, who always manage to irritate me whenever they disrespect people who haven’t had lives as fortunate as theirs.

I still can’t believe I actually dated Zack. Why on Earth did I do that? How did I not see who he really was? He’s an awful person, and I can’t respect him when he acts like a jerk.

I find my brother eating lunch with the rest of the football players in a different spot. As soon as he sees me, he shifts over and clears space on the bench beside him. I give him a grateful smile, sit down, and resume eating my salad.

“Isabella Williams is having lunch with us, the minions. That’s a miracle,” says Rachel, my brother’s girlfriend and one of the people I actually dislike, a condescending smile plastered on her face.

“Hey, Rachel.” I greet her politely before shoving a forkful of salad into my mouth, doing my best not to let irritation get the best of me.

“What happened to your friends? Why aren’t you sitting in the grassy area with them?” she pries, raising an eyebrow.

I would have cut you out of my life ages ago if you weren’t my brother’s girlfriend.

Rachel has been dating my brother for the past ten months, and honestly, I can’t stand her. Justin is brilliant, but wow, he has terrible taste in girls—his girlfriends are usually rude, clingy, overdramatic, overjealous, and, for whatever reason, they all seem to hate me.

Rachel is beautiful, sure, with her smooth skin, long curly brown hair, and hazel eyes. She’s eighteen, the same age as my brother, me, and most of my friends. But somehow, she still manages to be an abominable person, like she’s worse than Julie and Zack combined. She behaves as if she’s above everyone because her mother used to be an international supermodel and her father is a well-known actor. Her brother models too, though he lives abroad. Rachel follows in their footsteps, and I’ve seen her face in several fashion magazines. Even though I don’t like her, I admit she’s naturally talented in front of the camera.

Since she’s on the cheer squad, I’m forced to tolerate her as much as possible. On top of that, my brother is head over heels for her, and even though I’ve tried to knock some sense into him about her personality, his hormones always win over common sense, much to my disappointment.

“Isabella? Why aren’t you with your friends?” Rachel presses when I don’t answer her question.

I groan, “I just didn’t feel like sitting in the grassy area today.” 

“Did something happen? Did they upset you again?” Justin asks me, visibly worried.

I shake my head in response, shooting him an affectionate smile. “Everything’s fine, Jus. I just wanted to have lunch with my brother, that’s all.”

Justin’s eyes soften as he smiles back. “Good. I’m glad you’re here.” He slides his fries toward my salad, silently telling me to eat them before we head back to class.

We end up spending the rest of lunch talking about football and what we think senior year will be like. Before long, it’s time to return to class, and I can’t help groaning in annoyance when I remember I have math next—just thinking about it gives me a headache.

* * *