An Extraordinary Life

What More Can I Say

Isabella was nearly complete with her second week of school, feeling fairly confident about how everything had gone so far. Whenever Mary or one of the boys (not including Freddie) asked her if she'd made any friends or considered joining any extracurricular activities, Isabella would lie and tell them yes to both things.

To her, it was ok to lie in this way, because it was protecting them. If it made the adults feel better to assume she was acclimating beyond warming up a desk seat for eight hours before walking outside the moment the final bell rang, so be it.

After all, she was confident she'd be back home a bit after the new year, and she could make enough excuses until then to have them not meet her "friends." After all, in her mind, there was no way in hell Freddie would ever let her have a friend over, even if she had one. He barely tolerated her being there, and she couldn't imagine him opening the door wide enough to let another young body inside.

"Do you want to stop at Laurent's Cafe before I drop you off? It's Friday," Joe smiled as the two hit the road.

"Would love that," Isabella grinned back. "Is that why you served oatmeal and fruit this morning? You knew we'd stop?"

"Hell yeah. Porridge and fruit- Freddie's least favorite breakfast. And then when he gets back home from the bank with Mary, I'm gonna make sure there's an empty cup and a couple empty bags on the table so he knows we went but didn't bring him anything."

"And why are you egging him on?"

Joe honked his horn at the idle car in front of him. "Get a move on you dummy! I dunno, sometimes I like to piss him off."

"Is that all?" Isabella raised a brow.

"He could at least give you the time of day, and he hasn't," Joe leaned back in his seat a bit. "I don't get it, it's been two weeks now since he's gotten back from Munich. What is the hold up?"

That last bit finished as more of a question to himself than one to Isabella.

"Please don't tell Mary I said this, but I think he's pretty scary and he's only getting more scary every day."

Joe reached his free arm over and settled it on the back of Isabella's seat. "My dearest kiddo, that man wouldn't hurt a house spider. And I know that because Phoebe killed one once and he practically cried and wouldn't talk to the man for a whole day."

"So, what you're saying is, I matter less than a bug to Freddie Mercury," Isabella fake pouted her bottom lip.

"You get what I mean," Joe rolled his eyes. "I'm not saying you guys should be best friends by now, but I think you two could be really good for each other. You could give him... a purpose."

Isabella was truly confused now, choosing to stare out the window at the passing buildings and shops than look in Joe's direction. This was too heavy of a conversation for seven thirty in the morning.

"He has you guys, he has Garden Lodge, money, fame, talent... loved by thousands." Isabella visibly used her fingers to count each one. "I doubt Freddie needs any more purpose than he already has."

"I mean this nicely, kiddo, when I say I know him a lot better than you do."

Isabella reddened a bit. "True. Sorry for acting like I know everything."

"Don't be sorry!" The man pinched her cheek as they pulled into an open spot on the side of the road. "We'll resume this another time- let's kick it and get ourselves some croissants."

~~~

Isabella was in math class later that day when it all went sour.

"I'm going to count 1-5 as I point to each of you. Please pay attention and try to remember your number."