They said that I shouldn't trust him. That he had a way to break everyone that came into his life, without even slightly caring. They said that he was a monster.
But I just always kept wondering if those words were really true. Because when I looked at his eyes, I didn't see a harsh, careless grown up without any feelings. I saw an insecure boy, who was afraid of love. And I felt sorry for him.
So despite all the warnings I kept on caring for him. We were together almost every day and it didn't take long before I had completely fallen for him. I truly liked everything about him. The little scar just below his chest, the freckles on his nose, his extraordinary golden eyes and maybe most of all his shining black hair.
All I ever did was thinking about him. So in the end I chose to be with him, even though I knew that meant that my family would never speak to me again. I came fron a really rich family and in their eyes Aiden, who had lost all connections with his family and wasn't especially wealthy, was absolutely nothing but a boy that would inevitably ruin my future.
I still moved in with him, nearly stopped talking to my friends and even dropped out of college. Nothing seemed important except for him. And nothing was. At least not before a few months ago. On the night that he went and broke my heart.
We had been arguing, about something very stupid. He believed I had to drop my job at the cafetaria in order to start my studies again, but I wanted to wait untill the new semester had started. He disagreed and I told him that it was not his choice to make and that it was his fault that I had to stop my old study anyway. I don't know how the fight escalated so quickly, but he left the house shouting. I didn't hear anything from him untill I got a text saying that he needed some space.
I obviously became angry at him, so I texted him there was no need to come back if he was going to behave like that. He actually never replied to that message and I didn't hear anything from him for a long time. It was a lonely and uncertain period. There was not a lot I could do though.
Then one of the few friends I still had left told me that he seemed to have a new girlfriend. This news completely destroyed me. And it is also where my story starts.
Today I am meeting up with Aiden, for the first time since he left that evening. I really hope the rumors aren't true and that he still cares about me, so that we can move forward. But I don't have a very good feeling about this.
As he knocks on the door I nervously walk towards it and open up. I know I probably don't look to good right now. The lack of sleep had formed dark purple circles around my blue eyes and my wavy champagne blonde hair is combed inaccurately and still quite unruly.
As his gorgeous eyes meets mine, he immediately avoids my gaze. 'Isabelle', he mumbles. 'Long time no seen.'
I try not to make a sarcastic remark at him or scold him for calling me by my full name, which he usually never does.
'Yeah', I utter softly 'it has been véry long.'
He sighs. 'I am really sorry okay, don't be angry with me. I know I should have replied to your messages and your calls, but I have been busy.'
'Busy with what?', I ask him. Scared of the answer. He absently looks past me before answering. 'Just things.'
'That is not what I heard', I tell him, slightly trembling. His eyes find mine, clearly surprised. 'Oh really, what did you hear then?'
'That you found... somebody else', I tell him, while I await his answer tight-lipped.
He remains silent. His face strangely expressionless.
'Of course I didn't immediately believe her', I continue. I trust you, you love me right?', I ask him while looking into the eyes of the boy before me in an insecure way. 'Of course I love you', Aiden says while smiling. 'I love you so much that I couldn't live without you.'
I sigh relieved, but then he continues talking.
'But I am terribly sorry baby, your friend was right. I have someone else. And I will choose her over you.'
'Why would you do that to me?', I asks, my voice slightly breaks. Aiden looks away ashamed and takes a deep breath before answering me. 'Because I can't live without you, but I would die for her.'
I remain silent for a while. Trying to process what he just told me. 'What do you mean you would die for her? You have been with her for what, a few weeks, and you decide to throw away our entire future already?', I ask him pained.
'It's not what you think Belle', his perfect jaw tightens. 'What we had was real. I never lied to you about anything. And I intend to keep that promise so I won't lie to you now either. I have known this other girl all my life. I thought she had disappeared when her parents died, but I found her again. I can't lose her again.'
'And you can.. lose me', I say. Meanwhile tears appear in my eyes. Before he can say anything I cut him off. 'Please say no more. I want you to leave. Now.'
My words almost seem to hurt him. His lips turn downwards. 'Wait if you would just-'
'I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!', I shout at him. Tears start flowing down my cheeks like a silent waterfall. He smiles half-heartedly. 'Allright.'
He turns around and closes the door. All I want to do is collapse on the ground on the exact spot where I am standing, but my parents raised a girl stronger than that. I wipe the tears that keep coming of firmly and walk towards the kitchen, where I get myself a glass of gin.
I almost can't believe that my parents were right about Aiden. It really seemed like he cared about me, or had I always been too crazy about him to see the truth? Am I really that naive? I never saw myself as someone blind to reality.
However after Aiden ignored me for so long, I guess deep inside I could have known something was going on already. He wouldn't do that to me for no reason.
And right now, I have no other options than to let go of him, even though that might be the most difficult thing I ever had to do.
How will I pick up my life? Aiden always paid half of the appartement rent, which he probably won't do the coming months, so I will need another job if I want to be able to keep living here.
Going home is not an option either. My parents completely turned their back on me, since they believed I also turned my back on them. Maybe they were right, a little, but loves sometimes makes you do things you are not proud of.
So what should I do next? I can't let my parents and Aiden be right. I need to show them that I am so much more than what they think me to be. But how? I really don't know. I don't have the money to pay for housing and a study, even not with more than just one job.
I decide to call Roxanne. She is my best friend. She always supported every decision I made and visited me quite regularly to make sure I was allright. I don't know if I deserve a friend as incredibly sweet as her. I probably don't, to be honest. I have been quite egocentric the last few months.
After dialling, she picks up inmediately.
'Hey Is', she says cheerfully. 'How are you?'
'I am.. uhm.. not that good.' I tell her while swallowing the lump that's forming in my throat.
'Oh no...', she remains silent for a short amount of time. 'What happened? Please tell me this is not about Aiden?'
'It is actually', I sigh. 'He just told me he fell in love with this other girl. I don't know if I will even ever see him again Rox...'
'How could he... The bastard', Roxanne mumbles furiously. 'You were always way above his standards. He should have thanked the world for the fact that you liked him, why would he turn you down instead? I don't get it.'
'It doesn't matter now anyway', I tell her. 'He won't come back, so I need to focus on my future.'
'I admire you so much in moments like this', Rory says slightly impressed. 'You are really the only person I know who is able to start thinking about how to rebuild her future just after a break-up.'
I grin, even though my eyes are still turned downwards. 'Well it did hurt, a lot actually, I literally gave up everything just to be with him.
But well, if he doesn't want to be with me, that's just the end of the story.'
The line remains silent, but if I know her well enough she is probably nodding in agreement.
'Actually, I might have the perfect plan to rebuild your future and show both Aiden and your parents what you are worth.'
'Really? What is it?', I ask her curiously.
'Have you ever heard about the Aurum Fons academy?'
I sigh. 'Of course I have.'
The Aurum Fons (or in English: Golden Fontain) Academy was created with the sole purpose of giving the poor layers of the society a chance of following the highest education. The entire programme is free of charges and even includes housing in a building right next to the Academy.
However, in order to get into the Academy, you must pass their entrance exam, which is rumoured to be extremely difficult. Only 5% of those who try get in.
'Why don't you try it?', Roxanne asks me. 'You are very smart. You have a shot.'
'I am not thát smart', I mumble. 'We both kno-'
'Who told you you weren't? Your mother?', Roxanne interrupts me. 'We both know she just wanted you to follow her footsteps and become an accountant. She would never stimulate you to try something more challenging.'
I sigh, knowing she is right about this one. My father, the CEO of a big accountancy company and my mother, who worked as an accountant, both expected me to become an accountant too. Nothing less and nothing more.
'Even if I could get it...', I protest, 'it wouldn't be fair. My parents are both rich. I don't think they would let me in.'
'But yóu are not rich are you? Only your parents are. I think you have a shot. Please just try it. Do it for me.' I know that if Roxanne was here she would look at me with her brown puppy dog eyes and blink repeatedly.
'Fine', I give in. 'I will give it a shot.'
And that's where my new life starts.