Isabella

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other again before you know it,” Hugo says, giving me a knowing smile before glancing at Daniel. “Isn’t that right, Dan?”

“I’m sorry you don’t feel comfortable here,” Daniel mumbles, frowning.

“Anyway, happy birthday, Daniel. Bye, Hugo.” I shoot both boys a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes, spin on my heels, and walk away from the party with Kim right behind me.

Once inside my car, I enter Kim’s address into the GPS so I can drive my new friend home safely—without losing myself in the city. Luckily, she doesn’t live too far from Daniel’s neighborhood, which makes things easier for me. Let’s just say I’m not the best driver in the world.

“Isabella, I’m sorry that Carol and Raymond were so mean to you today,” Kim begins as I pull away from the curb.

“Don’t worry about it,” I reply, my eyes fixed on the road. 

Sitting completely still as if afraid to touch anything, she continues, “Why didn’t you defend yourself? I don’t really know you, but I can tell you’re a good person, unlike what the students at the school say. I mean, you’re not some hollow, goody-two-shoes princess.” 

I don’t dare glance at her while I ponder what to say next, because I know my eyes will betray me and give my real feelings away. I do my best not to care about what other people think or say about me, but sometimes it’s hard to ignore the judgment and gossip surrounding my name for no reason.

“You can talk to me, Isabella. I would never judge you,” Kim insists.

I sigh. “I’m used to people talking to me the way Carol and Raymond did, and I rarely waste my time trying to explain that looks can be deceiving, or that I’m not the person everyone paints me to be. I’ve learned that some people will always believe what they want to, no matter what I say or do.”

“You said at the party that you don’t care if people talk badly about you. Is that true?” she presses.

“Yes, because my father taught me that my family and friends’ opinions are the only ones that truly matter.”

“I wish I had your confidence and self-esteem…” She trails off.

I stop at a red light and glance at her, noticing the troubled expression on her face as she looks out the window. 

“What do you mean? You are confident, aren’t you?” I ask, a hint of worry creeping in.

Kim turns to face me, her eyes welling up. “I don’t want to bother you with my problems,” she says, her voice cracking slightly.

“Oh my gosh, Kim. How many times do I have to say that you don’t bother me?” I roll my eyes as I speak, because it must be the tenth time I’ve told her that she doesn’t. Why does she feel like she does?

“It’s just that you’re… You know. You.” She gestures at me. “You’re so pretty, popular, powerful, and cool that I’m always afraid of disappointing you somehow,” she confesses, giving me an apologetic look.

“Is that really how you feel when you talk to me?” I frown, because her words bother me far more than anything Carol and Raymond said at the party.

“Pretty much.” Kim blushes and turns to stare out the window again.

“Please don’t,” I say softly. “I don’t want to be forced to stop being friends with you because I hate the idea of making you uncomfortable. And you should never be afraid of disappointing your friends just by being yourself, as real friends have to accept you for who you are.”

“It’s just hard for me to believe that a girl like you would genuinely want to hang out with someone like my friends and me,” she admits. “You’re a billionaire, and we barely have a place to live. Everyone knows your name, and I’m basically invisible at school…” 

I stay silent for a moment, carefully thinking about what to say, as the subject is a delicate one, and I don’t want to make her feel worse than she already does.

“I’m sorry, Isabella. I didn’t mean to offend you,” she mumbles, fidgeting with her hands.

“You didn’t.”

“It’s just… people always say you don’t talk to anyone except your friends. So why would you talk to me? Why would you talk to Dan?” she blurts out, like she has been holding the words in for too long.

I listen in silence again, still weighing my response.

“I remember your brother telling you about your friend’s yacht party,” she continues. “Why did you choose to go to Dan’s party instead, surrounded by strangers, in a place where you clearly don’t fit in?” 

Her questions keep piling up, and I know I need to say something before she thinks I’m ignoring her. Still, I only respond when I stop the car in front of her house. 

“People say many things about my brother and me, and we simply don’t care. We don’t give a damn about rumors, gossip, or people talking behind our backs because none of it means anything to us. The truth is, no one really knows us—not even our parents or our closest friends know us the way we know each other. I ignore people because it’s easier than dealing with them. And I talk to you and your friends because I want to. If I didn’t, I would have brushed you off just like everyone else. That’s it. That’s all you need to know about me. I’m not someone who pretends to be cool just to keep up an image, and I would rather be blunt than fake,” I assert.

Kim gapes at me.

“And what you said earlier about us living in different worlds is nonsense,” I add, gesturing at myself and then at her. “Money means nothing if you’re not a decent, caring person. That’s why I don’t choose my friends based on their financial situation or anything like that. The only exception is Julie, and that’s because my parents force me to be friends with her.” I stick my tongue out and grimace in disgust.

“But you are friends with those jocks and cheerleaders who humiliate my friends and me every time they see us at school,” Kim shoots back, immediately covering her mouth like she regrets saying it.

I chuckle in response because she isn’t wrong— Zack, Collin, and Julie are far from caring and even further from humble. Even so, they have been in my life since we were kids. Zack and Collin have always been there for me no matter what, and even though I feel like strangling them from time to time, I still care about them more than I would ever admit.

“To be honest, I’m friends with the jocks because they’re hot,” I joke, because my relationship with them is far too complicated to explain.

“I can’t disagree with you when you put it like that,” Kim says, giggling and blushing.

“Usually, I don’t explain myself to people, but your friendship is worth it. Besides, you’re the only one among your friends who believes I’m not a spoiled goody-two-shoes.” My tone is playful, though there is a hint of sorrow beneath it.

“That isn’t true. Daniel doesn’t think you’re a spoiled goody-two-shoes. In fact, can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” I reply, my heart beating faster at the mention of the blue-eyed boy.

“What do you think about Daniel?” she pries, clearly curious.

“Why do you ask?” Heat creeps up my cheeks, much to my frustration, as I can’t blush in front of her, or she’ll notice I have a crush on her friend.

Smiling mischievously, she explains, “I’m asking because I think Dan likes you. He can’t take his eyes off you whenever you’re around—like today, for example. He watched you like a hawk, even though Lucy was practically glued to him and wouldn’t let him step away. He watched you play with his sister, and I swear he wanted to spend the afternoon with you, but he’s too shy and insecure.” 

“That’s nonsense.” My face turns crimson. Damn it.

“Would you date Dan?” she asks bluntly, arching an eyebrow as she waits for my answer.

How am I supposed to reply without lying or giving too much away?

“Daniel is dating Lucy,” I mumble, dodging the question.

“Does that mean yes? That you would date him?” She practically jumps in her seat, excited.

“I didn’t say that,” I retort, chuckling at her reaction.

“But you didn’t say no either,” she claps back. “I’ve known Daniel for a week, but I already like him, just like I like you. You’d make a beautiful couple,” she adds, winking.

“You’re talking nonsense. Daniel already has Lucy.” I wave it off, hating how much it hurts to say it out loud.

“We’ll see about that… Anyway, thank you so much for bringing me home. You’re the best.”

She hugs me, catching me completely off guard. I stiffen—I’m not used to hugging people outside my closest friends and family—but I suppose I’ll have to get used to it, since Daniel’s friends and family seem to thrive on it.

Wait. Why am I even thinking about Daniel’s friends and family if I’m never seeing them again? 

The thought leaves me unsettled.

Kim pulls away, flashes me one last smile, and heads toward her house. I watch until she disappears through the front door, making sure she is safely inside. Then, a couple of minutes later, I’m driving back to my parents’ place, my interaction with her replaying in my mind.

Kim is kind and honest—nothing like Carol and Raymond, who judge and humiliate me without knowing me at all. She asked questions, but she listened to my answers and didn’t push, respecting my boundaries. 

Then Daniel’s face slips into my thoughts, dragging my focus with it.

I went to his party today, and I don’t even know why. What was I expecting? Was I hoping to get closer to him? To become his friend? Something more? Oh, gosh. Why can’t I stop picturing his smile?

The unwanted thoughts swirl all the way home, making me miss the turn to my parents’ house twice and throw a tantrum at my own pathetic self.

* * *

I find myself in the bathtub, enjoying the hot water and the soothing calm it brings as it relaxes my muscles and my troubled mind. All the questions and strange feelings surrounding Daniel have stressed me out, and I need to pull myself together before meeting my friends and my brother at the nightclub. Otherwise, my night will be ruined for no reason at all.

Once I look like a fish and the water has gone cold, I finally step out of the tub and into my walk-in closet to pick out an outfit for tonight.

“It has to be something bold yet fashionable. Collin will be there, and I have decided to give him a chance, considering we’re perfect for each other. As Daniel himself said, I don’t belong to his world, and we would never work anyway—especially since he already has Lucy, who is way prettier than I am,” I tell myself while scanning the dresses.

I’m right, aren’t I?

The doubt lingers at the back of my mind, but even so, I force myself to choose a red dress and a pair of stiletto heels, convincing my brain that this is the right—and most logical—decision.

* * *