Isabella

TW: Bullying

As I finally step into the classroom, I notice I’m the only student who’s late. I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the many faces scrutinizing me from head to toe—even though I’m used to this, it still annoys me whenever I’m the center of attention.

“You’re late, Miss Williams,” the teacher scolds, scowling.

“I’m sorry,” I say, my tone apologetic, ignoring the snickering around the room.

“Don’t make it a habit,” he continues, his voice softening as he gestures for me to sit in the back.

I nod and immediately make my way to the assigned desk. The students who try to slip me notes with their numbers don’t go unnoticed, though I ignore them, pretending they don’t exist.

By the time I sit down and open my laptop to take notes, the teacher has already begun today’s lesson, which involves numbers, fractions, and other math stuff. I let out a deep sigh, focusing on the man doing his best to keep us interested. I don’t even mind glancing at who’s sitting next to me because it won’t make any difference.

Thirty minutes later, I close my eyes, trying to take a breather from the impossible equation on the board. “I hate math. Why do numbers even exist?” I grumble, pressing my thumbs to my temples.

A low chuckle beside me lets me know that someone heard my little tantrum, causing me to finally glance at whoever is sitting next to me. The next thing I know, I’m gasping as I find myself staring into two clear blue eyes—the same ones I noticed at lunchtime. 

Now that I’m closer, I can see how striking the new student is, and I can’t help staring a moment too long—until the girl behind him coughs and snorts, causing me to quickly turn back to the teacher, diving into the lesson again.

When the bell rings, I gather my things and head to my next class, deliberately avoiding a glance at the boy with the piercing blue eyes.

* * *

The rest of the day is uneventful but fun. I have a blast catching up with my friends and making plans for the future, even though I already know where I’ll study after high school and what degree I’ll pursue.

Once classes end, I head to the parking lot to meet Katy and my brother. But as I leave the building, I spot Rachel and her snobbish friends surrounding some students from the scholarship program—including the handsome boy with the ocean-blue eyes. I’m not sure what the girls are saying, but the expressions on the students’ faces make it clear they’re giving them a hard time.

I roll my eyes, trying to ignore the disgusting scene, as although I cannot stand Rachel, she’s still my brother’s girlfriend and we run in the same circles. However, as I pass her, the words “garbage” and “filthy poor” reach my ears, making my blood boil.

As a result, I’ve stepped into the commotion before I even realize it. “Hey, Rachel,” I say in a dry tone, stopping in front of her and her friends.

She spins around, her face going pale the second she realizes I heard her cruel words. She may not like me, but for some weird reason, she still respects me. 

“Are you greeting our new friends? You’re so sweet, aren’t you?” I continue, the sarcasm in my voice making her scowl in return. “Why are you and your little gang harassing them, anyway?” 

Recomposing herself, she points at a visibly shaken student and scoffs, “I’m just putting that thing in its place. Can you believe she dared to talk about my boyfriend?”

“What did she say?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

“She said Justin is the most handsome and attractive boy she’s ever seen,” Rachel replies, shooting the girl a mocking look.

I glance at the student, who has short blonde hair and brown eyes, now staring at her feet. Then, my gaze involuntarily flicks to the boy next to her—those beautiful, wary ocean-blue eyes meeting mine.

I bring my attention back to Rachel and her friends. “So, what’s the big deal if she finds Justin attractive? Most students at our school would agree, and that’s no secret.” 

“I don’t want that piece of garbage talking about my boyfriend. In fact, I don’t want it looking at him, and I don’t want it around because it’s nothing but trash,” Rachel sneers.

“First of all, do not refer to her as ‘it’ ever again because it’s downright disrespectful. Secondly, I wonder how my brother will react when he learns that his dear girlfriend has been bullying students just because they think he’s good-looking,” I smirk, arching an eyebrow defiantly.

“You wouldn’t dare tell him…” Rachel mumbles, glaring.

“Wouldn’t I?” I unlock my phone, my finger hovering over my brother’s name. “You do know how Jus feels about people who have no respect for others, right?” 

Rachel keeps glaring at me in silence; I can practically see the anger boiling under her skin, the rage radiating off her whole posture. After what feels like an eternity, she shoves past me, stomping away with her little group of snakes trailing behind her.

I let out a breath of relief once the girls disappear into the parking lot, as calling Justin to throw his girlfriend under the bus would have led to an argument between us, and I hate fighting with him.

“Are you all right?” I ask, turning to the students who were being bullied, fear and shock stamped on their faces as they stare at me. “I’m really sorry about Rachel. She can be a real pain sometimes.” I offer them a friendly smile.

“We didn’t need you to rescue us, princess,” the other girl—not the blonde one—smirks, her tone sharp with obvious hatred.

“I beg your pardon?” I furrow my eyebrows, confused by her hostility toward me.

“I’m sure you stepped in to keep your perfect image as the school’s little princess, but we know you’re just like your brother’s girlfriend,” the boy—not the one with the ocean-blue eyes—snorts, folding his arms in front of his chest.

I stay silent, studying the four faces in front of me. I won’t lie—their words sting, even though I’m used to hearing things like that. But at the same time, I don’t blame them for feeling that way. Still, regardless, I’ll never quite understand how keeping to myself automatically makes people assume I’m some snobby villain.

As I gaze at the boy and girl who seem to despise me the most, recognition suddenly hits me—we were in some of the same classes last year. 

Well, that explains a lot. They must have heard the rumors about me.

As I debate whether it’s worth responding to their assumptions, the blonde girl steps forward hesitantly. “I’m so sorry,” she mutters, her voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to offend your friend or your brother, I swear.”

My expression softens, as she has nothing to apologize for. Giving her a reassuring smile, I remark, “First of all, Rachel isn’t my friend. I’m stuck tolerating her because of certain circumstances, but I avoid her whenever I can. Second, you don’t need to apologize for saying my brother is handsome because you’re definitely not the only one who thinks that. Besides, Justin is my twin, and everyone says we look alike, which means you think I’m pretty too,” I joke gently, hoping to ease her nerves.

“Thank you for being so cool about this, and thank you for standing up to your brother’s girlfriend,” she says, smiling for the first time.

I look at the other two students, who are still glaring at me. “We had classes together last year, didn’t we?” I broaden my smile.

They gape at me, taken aback by my question, probably because they didn’t expect me to remember them. Their friends follow suit, watching me in silence, their eyes wide and mouths agape.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not going to bite you.” I chuckle.

“You’re intimidating,” the blonde girl replies shyly.

“Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Isabella Williams.”

“We know who you are…” She eyes me, her cheeks blushing.

“You do? How come?” I raise my eyebrows, pretending to be surprised.

The girl I had classes with snorts. “Of course we do, princess. You’re Isabella Williams—the most popular and beautiful girl in school. Your twin brother, Justin Williams, and your friends are as attractive and popular as you are. Everyone knows you, including us.” She gestures to herself and her friends. “The garbage people.”

I purse my lips at the nickname. “I don’t mean to be rude, but can you please stop calling me princess? My name is Isabella, and I don’t appreciate being called that stupid nickname,” I snap, unable to hold back anymore, as there’s only so much I can take.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. We commoners must obey your orders,” the boy who hates me sneers, ignoring my scowl.

Why should I bother? Nothing will change their minds about me, no matter what I say. 

Before I can come up with a response, Collin appears next to me, draping an arm around my shoulders and instantly brightening my mood with his dazzling smile. 

He tells me, “There you are, Bella. The guys are waiting in the parking lot because we’re heading to my place. My dad just got new seats for our home theater, and I’ve been dying to try them out.”

As I turn to leave with him, an annoying voice nags in the back of my mind, urging me to ask the boy with the ocean-blue eyes’ name. 

Before I know it, I’m blurting out to the four students, “What are your names?” 

They stare at me in silence for a moment until the blonde girl answers first, “My name is Kim Rowes.”

The redhead who dislikes me rolls her green eyes. “Carol Wood.”

The blond boy with hazel eyes hesitates. “Raymond Clark.”

I glance at the boy with the ocean-blue eyes, my heart thumping in my chest as I press, “And you are…?”

“Daniel Smith,” he mumbles, looking annoyed, averting his gaze from me.

“Bella, come on. Everyone’s waiting,” Collin complains, tightening his arm around my shoulders as if reminding me he’s still there.

“It was nice to meet you—Daniel, Kim, Carol, and Richard. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, my eyes lingering on Daniel a moment too long.

Collin pulls me away from the group, guiding me toward the parking lot. “What were you doing with the scholarship kids?” he asks, sliding his arm around my waist.

“Rachel and her friends were giving them a hard time, so I told them to back off.” I shrug. “And they have names, you know,” I add, giving him a scolding look.

“Hey, check this out. I found Bella talking to the scholarship students,” Collin announces when we approach our friends, who are waiting by our cars.

“What were you doing interacting with those people?” Zack growls, grabbing my wrist and yanking me away from Collin.

“Leave me alone, Zack. It’s none of your business,” I hiss, snatching my wrist from his grip and hopping into my car, refusing to give him another chance to touch me.

After a few more disapproving comments—muffled easily by my closed window—everyone finally gets into their own vehicles.

As I pull out of the parking lot, my eyes meet Daniel’s as he walks out the main gate with his friends, his mesmerizing gaze burning into me, making it impossible for me to look away.

Daniel is so handsome and so effortlessly charming. Why am I so intrigued by him? Yes, he’s ridiculously attractive, but so are Collin and Zack. And yet, I’ve never felt for them what I feel bubbling up inside me when Daniel looks at me. Why?

I nearly run over a student, snapping me out of Daniel’s inviting world and forcing me back to reality, prompting me to drive off.

* * *