"Have a good day, sweetheart." Angelo motioned for me to come closer to him in the car. I lean forward and he kisses my forehead. "Make sure you eat your lunch and work hard."
"It's work smart, not hard." I smile at him, and he laughs back.
"Of course it is. Bye Bella." I wave goodbye and shut the door. Eliza waves me over from across the car lot.
"Hey! I missed you so much!"
"We saw each other less than twenty-four hours ago." I deadpan.
"Er, so what? Can I not miss my best friend?" I shrug with a smile. 'Best friend'. It's been a while since I've had one.
"Come on, I want to put these heavy books away before first period." Eliza follows me to my locker, and then we go to hers. We get to class on time and settle down when the teacher arrives.
The first few lessons go by fast and before I know it, Eliza and I are eating chocolate outside in the cold. She brought two chocolate bars and gave one to me. In her words, she said: "I have way too much birthday chocolate than I know what to do with." I wish.
"As nice as this is, all it's giving me long term is acne." She says, laughing when I suddenly stop eating mid-bite.
"Really?" I didn't know this.
"Uh huh." She deadpans. "Wait," She stops when she realises I'm not laughing. "You didn't know that?" I shake my head. "Do you cleanse your face regularly?" I repeat the action.
"Oh my gosh! You need to listen very closely, Isabelle."
"Isabella."
"Hush- Now child, take a seat in my office and I shall inform you of everything you need to know about skincare." Eliza pulled me down onto an icy bench, babbling away as I took notes.
I have so much to buy!
-
"How was school, Bells?" Angelo picks me up nearly every day, sometimes Luca. I like it when my eldest brother does because he lets me choose the music on the ride home.
"It went by really quick but Eliza talked me into buying all these different cleansing products. I think I have enough saved." I say the last part to myself, glancing at my best friend getting into her brothers car down the lot.
"That's no problem, darling. Money isn't a worry for us so I'll pay. Just send me what you need." He takes one hand from the steering wheel and gives my leg a squeeze.
"Are you sure? They're not cheap." He smiles and nods his head. I guess that's that then.
It's then I realise Romeo isn't here. "He got a ride from a friend; he said he'd be home later tonight." My face shows suprise and I nod in understanding.
When we park up at home, I rush to get inside as the weather turned sour quickly on the drive back. Ange unlocks the door, pushing me inside. "God, it's freezing. I don't know how you kids keep warm with no coats on." I grimace. I always wear my coat so he shouldn't be directing that at me.
"Where's Bear?" Normally, my doggie comes running to me but I don't hear him. My heart rate elevates a little as I hear a loud bark coming from the yard.
"I don't know. I've been at work all day, babe." Angelo walks to the kitchen and I follow; eager to find out why Bear is barking. He doesn't bark unless I'm seizing.
"Bear?" I see Elijah messing around with the dog, playing fetch in the cold air. Why? It's so icy out there.
"He's here, Bella!" I'm glad I didn't take off my gloves in the car or my coat because I can just walk outside to say hello to my boy.
He comes running to me, pushing me over and licking my face until the cold air hits my wet cheek and freezes it. I laugh and Elijah comes over, I wipe my face clean. My brother throws Bear's ball far into the yard and my dog chases it with incredible speed.
"How was school, Iss?" Elijah asks, bringing me in for side hug and kisses my head.
"Meh, it was school." I smile at him. I'm feel like watching a good movie tonight but I'm not sure if I will be allowed.
"What's wrong, sweeheart?"
"Can I- can I um, watch a movie in the living room later? Only if it's no fuss, if you guys were planning to sit-" I'm rambling again.
"No, it's not a problem at all. If you want to watch something, we can make a night out of it, okay?" The corners of my lips tilt at his comment.
"I'd like that." I grin. Elijah returns the gesture and motions for me to follow him. Bear comes running back. I think he stopped to do a wee.
"What kind of movie were you thinking of?" We both sit down on a couch big enough to fit at least ten people. Bear sat on my lap.
I ponder for a moment. "How about Disney?" I'm not really into action and fighting. I wonder why?
Take a guess.
Your step-dad-
Well-fucking-done Betty.
"Hmm, whose your favourite princess?" Elijah draped an arm around the back of the couch behind me, and I let myself relax into his distant touch.
"Belle or Rapunzel." I answer immediately. They've always been my favs.
What are you, five?
Yes. Now be quiet.
"Why don't we watch both? It's only late afternoon anyway." I shrugged but smiled all the same. How could I pass up two awesome movies? There's only one thing missing.
"P-Popcorn?" My older brother grinned at me.
He gestured to his phone. "Already on it." Not a minute goes by, and Leonardo comes in; giant bowl of- what looks like- popcorn in hand. Nearly all of our family joins us, too.
"Did somebody call for popcorn?!" Leo squeals, making me laugh at his girly antics. Romeo also walks in, actually not having a face full of thunder for once.
"What movie are we watching then?" Romeo asks, dropping back into the loveseat. I try to give him a little smile. He pretends to not see it.
"Beauty and the Beast, and Tangled. Issy's choice. No arguing, this is her first time. Oh! Live action or animated?" Elijah directs the last part to me and Romeo scoffs yet stays.
I tell Eli to put on the live action version of B and B, and obviously Tangled is animated. I get thirsty and offer to get anyone a drink after debating to ask for a minute. Everyone being in one room is slightly overwhelming and intimidating.
When in the kitchen, I reach for the glass cup cabinet. As I'm opening it, the door is suddenly slammed shut. I gasp from the shock.
"Move." Romeo growls. He proceeds to push me to the side to get himself a glass before filling it up. I feel so small right now. It feels like I've been here before...
"I-" I can't even form a sentence. I'm so upset that he hasn't accepted me being here. Maybe he just doesn't like me? Maybe I'm the problem.
"I-I'm-" I get a mental block.
"Spit it out or shut your mouth!" I'm sorry? Why are you so angry? What the actual fuck..
I manage to gather enough strength to 'spit' something out. "Stop talking to me like I'm a piece of trash!" I ball my hands into fists and control myself before getting the urge to connect my hand with his jaw. I don't want to be like him.
"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it, bitch?" He gets up all in my face, to the point I could feel his hot breath. He's breathing rapidly, as if he had just fought someone or preparing himself to fight. It's scaring me.
"I didn't do anything wrong!" I defend myself, feeling my heart rate increase. Had no one heard him shouting at me? The kitchen and lounge aren't that far away.
Romeo shifts his gaze to the doorway and my eyes mulitple times prior to moving an inch from his spot. The first thing his glaring eyes land on is the glass sitting on the marble counter.
I was definitely not prepared for what he did next.
-
Fucking hell- its been a while
pls enjoy this masterpiece of a chapter i started and finished months apart!
i appreciate all of you who persevere and stuck with this story. i asure you, there will be plenty more updates in the summer. i just finished my 1st week of exams. it didn't go too badly ig.
pls lmk what u think of this rushed update x
1476 words
UNEDITED ;)