Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Mr Martinez's pov;

I took a cab and reached the house. It was quite an odd day today. I have never seen an energetic girl like Isabella. Why does she take so many jobs at a time? First of all, why does she need a job? Isn't she too young to work? Why is she so desperate to earn money at this age? Does she have any needs? Wait, Mr Johnson was talking about some debt that her mother's going through. So Isabella was trying to pay off her mother's debt?

While I was thinking about Isabella, the house was surrounded by many black coat men. Why are there so many guards out here?

Mr Johnson ran towards me asking, "Sir, where have you been? We were all trying to contact you but couldn't reach you. So we broke into the house thinking that you were in danger but you weren't there too so I thought someone might have kidnapped you so I filed a complaint and police were outside searching for you. And here you are..."

I ignored him and walked to the house.

"Did anyone kidnap you, Sir?"

I shook my head and continued walking to the house.

"Well, I'll leave two security guards outside the house for your safety, Sir."

The main door and the entrance were guarded by the guards. Idiots.

When I tried to step on the stairs, I heard,

"Alexander! The attention seeker!"

I turned in the direction of the voice. It's Olivia Rodriguez, the mistress who married my father.

"What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? Right? What am I doing here? If the so-called lost prince hadn't disappeared from the house, why would I come here and waste my time? I hate this place from the brick to the ceiling every time I come here. It feels like a cage to me and I have this urge to break this place apart. But darling, since my husband lived here, I let go of it. Don't go and wander like a stray dog and make me come here again."

I ignored her and tried to walk away.

"That's it. That's what you're best at. Walking away. Go and cover yourself under a blanket and hope that you die soon so that you can be freed from me."

I came to my room and closed the door behind me. I really hope to die and be free from here like she said. The world has never been a bed of roses since I lost my mother. My father's death hit me hard and pushed me into this hell furthermore. I'm tired of trying. I lost the hope of surviving in this world. I've given up long ago when I tried to commit suicide by cutting my wrist. Unfortunately, I got saved since I hold the inheritance. Otherwise, I would have been under the six feet below now.

Isabella's pov;

"Why were you guys so late? We started to drink after waiting for you so long."

"If it wasn't for Sophia, I would have come here earlier," I said to Gina while looking at Sophia.

"Stop saying that. I've heard it a lot already. Well, I admit I was childish but why did you do that? Are you crazy?"

"What are you guys speaking about? We don't understand a thing."

"I'll say it." Sophia came forward.

"No. I'll say it. She'll always exaggerate her stories."

"No! I don't!"

"Yes, you do." Gina, Darren, Mitch and I said together.

"Okay, then let's hear it from the only truth-speaking girl, Isabella Garcia."

"That's what I said 'exaggerating'. Okay. The thing is... When I was outside... Um... Strolling on Ghar street alone, I got a call from Sophia. She only blurted out that there was an emergency and she wanted me to go to her place and the call ended abruptly. What should I do when my friend utters something like that? I rushed to her place as soon as I heard that, when I got there, the door of her house was wide open like someone barged in. I thought someone got into the house and shouted Sophia's name with fear. She was stepping down the stairs so calmly. I thought she was being threatened and she's pretending to be normal to me..."

"You can stop there," Sophia said to me.

"Don't listen to her. Go ahead." Mitch said while teasing her.

I continued, "I ran to her and asked what's wrong and if anyone is home and threatening her and stuff that you ask to the people who're in danger but she looked way too calm. And I remembered that she kinda exaggerates small things so I asked her what happened when she made the call. She said that the outfit she planned to wear got ruined by some rat. And she made the call while she and her sweet brother were chasing the rat outside her room. Oh my gosh! Do y'all know how I felt after hearing that?"

Everyone laughed at the end of the story teasing her for still being scared of rats.

"It ruined my outfit. Do you know how much it costs? I bought it with my last two months savings."

I patted her by saying, "Then you gotta keep it safe, not feeding the rats."

She pouted her lips.

I continued, "We'll get another one soon. Don't get upset. And your clothes won't get ruined after this."

"Why do you say that?"

"After getting chased out by your brother, I think the only rat that jumps into your room will be me." Laughed after saying that.

Sophia laughed together with me.

"I don't know why. Bella is the only person here who teases you a lot among us but you're still laughing along with her in the end. How is this happening? Tell me the truth. Are you hiding something from us?" Darren asked us.

I hit Darren saying, "Hey, we're totally straight. And for the answer you asked for, we're the closest friends among us. She's the one who understands me more than any of you guys. Am I right, Sophia?"

"Yeah, you're right."

"See! My Sophia is the best girl. You all come after her. She's the first and the best for me."

Sophia's pov;

Yes, I've always been a friend in your eyes and we're always been friends to you since we met but I never saw you as my friend, Belle.

It was during middle school coming after the summer holidays, I got switched to a new class, with new classmates, and a new semester began. My friends got placed in another class so I kinda felt like an outcast among the new classmates. Snatching the bench, bringing in new friends and stuff was happening around me but I sat still in my place. Students were battling among themselves for the seat and some were yelling at each other.

Why is this class full of delinquents? I dealt with enough of them in my middle school. They act strange around the weak and weak around the strong. The ones who disrupt the class, raise rude questions and make jokes. If you get caught, they'll completely ruin the school for you.

When a boy tapped on my bench and asked for my name rudely, I got tense and sat still without moving a bit. I definitely should have chosen a different school. While I was shivering in my place, a girl came from nowhere and pinched his ear and asked him to apologise to me which made me chuckle a bit. The chuckle I let out made me loosen my grip a little.

When everyone got seated, they all sat with their close friends whereas I got left alone. The girl who made me chuckle before took the seat beside me and made a smile at me which made me feel warm towards her. The little warmth that I got from her kept me at ease.

That was the first impression of Belle I've got.

Days later, we two got close. I made new friends and she made friends. She introduced her friends to me and I did in return. But we two became close friends, unlike others. I don't know why but she tells me every secret of hers which made us even close to other friends she got. Whenever she feels down, she'll run to me like I'm a comfort zone for her and I was there for her when she needed me.

I began to doubt the friendship we had as we grew together. I began to doubt the relationship between us. My mind went crazy whenever you were with me. I was confused about our friendship and so many questions were raised inside me whenever you're with me.

When I tried staying away from you thinking that it may help from what I was thinking towards you but it turned out bad. I began to miss you even more.

While I was confused about our friendship, On the night when we went out to have a drink to celebrate that we turned legal age to drink, we played truth or dare. When my bottle pointed to Noah and you. He dares you to kiss the person in here. While I was thinking about who you would choose to kiss, surprisingly you chose me.

Why did you do that? There are many people here. Why did you choose me among them? Is it because we're close friends?

When you came closer to me for a kiss, I felt my blood running throughout my body which made my heart beat so fast.

Suddenly, you pulled me into a kiss. You kissed me, Belle. The kiss was just a peck but I can still feel it on my lips. After the kiss, I realised what I felt towards you all these years. I... I like you, Belle. Not as a friend but more than friends.

Unfortunately, you don't remember the kiss since you were drunk that day.

Back to the reality,

When I was brushing my lips unconsciously, Bella shook me saying, "What are you thinking so deep? What got into you? You've been acting weird since morning."

"N-Nothing. I'm just nervous being in a club." I lied to her.

"Then get used to it." And she laughed.

Working in nightclubs was one of the jobs Belle does. She seemed like a casual person in a club holding a jar of club soda. I wonder how she drinks only soda after working for many nightclubs.

Mitch offered her a drink, "Shall I order a drink for you?"

She shook her head and said, "Club soda is enough for me."

"Don't speak like you haven't been drunk, you were dead drunk when we came last time. Now, why are you acting like you're all innocent?" Benny asked her.

Belle stood from the place saying, "I don't drink. If you want me to drink that bad, why not start with you? You'll drink first, then I'll go on with you."

Belle ordered a stronger drink for Benny and made her drink. After having three shots, Benny was out.

"That was a smooth move." I praised Belle after looking at what she did.

"That was how to treat the brave one. People think they're so brave and can do anything but deep down everyone's a scaredy-cat who's scared to even take a step." And laughed.

It is true. We all act so brave outside but deep down everyone is hiding something and being afraid to say it out aloud.

Belle continued, "Why did you invite me to this dumb party? It's so dull and the music feels like we're attending a funeral."

I laughed while she was speaking and asked, "Are you complaining about me for inviting you? If you don't like it, you can leave. No one cares about you."

She wrapped her hands around my shoulder saying, "Even though this place looks like a funeral party right in the middle of the cemetery, I'll choose to stay here for you. How can I leave my best friend alone in this place? What if some corpse arises from here and goes for you? I should be here to protect you, shouldn't I? And I never ditch her for anything or anyone. Did you forget that?"

Friend?

I let out a sigh and said, "The reason why I invited you is not that I just wanted you to accompany me but there's another reason too. Can you see the boy over there?" Pointed at Troy and continued, "His name is Troy. He's having a crush on you."

"So? What do you want me to do?"

"Go and talk to him. He asked my help to make you talk to him and I promised that I'll do that. So, go and have some conversation with him."

"I had a hint when you invited me and now it's been confirmed. That's why I don't go to the parties you invite me to. Why are you pushing me to the guys who're scared to even ask me in person?"

"I'm not pushing you. I-I'm just giving an introduction for two people. What's wrong with that? And, you want that guy to look down on your friend for breaking the promise?"

"Okay! Okay! I'll do it but this is the last one. You shouldn't do this again."

I gave a nod and she left to talk to the boy I said.

Do you think it's easy for me to do that? Do you know how I feel every time a guy shows up and asks for you? Do you know how I feel when I try to make you talk with them? It hurts like a hell, Belle.