“Isa, what’s wrong? Why are you shaking like this. Hey… look at me and calm down. It’s okay, calm down” Aaron held Isa.
Teary eyes, she stammered “Aaron l s… saw mum in… in my dream” Aaron hugged her when she began to shake again.
“But i… it wasn’t m… mum. I… it was someone else. And I… I got scared and I couldn’t move and…”
Aaron shushed her and rubbed her back soothingly till she only sniffled.
“It’s okay. It was a nightmare and it’s gone. And you’re right, that wasn’t mum because mum couldn’t scare the wits out of a rabbit” Isa chuckled softly.
“I’ll tell you what, you can stay in bed today and I’ll call up your principal to let him know you’re not turning up at…”
“No!” Isa half yelled “I mean no… please. I don’t want to stay in with my nightmares. I’ve got new friends at school now so they’ll cheer me up” she pleaded. It was currently the worst idea to stay back home.
“O… Kay. I’ll drive you to school then. Meet me downstairs in ten” He replied slowly. “I’ll make it five” Isa said and tried to smile but terribly failed. Her brother was not impressed with her words or her strained smile but nonetheless left, leaving the door halfway closed.
In seven minutes, Isa was packing her bag for school and headed for the door, picked up her mirror and put it in her drawer without looking at it. That being done, she shut the door and left.
Later in the day, at the cafeteria, Isa was back with her friends on their lunch table. She borrowed notes from Ciara for the missed classes that morning since she had almost the same schedule as her.
But her heart dropped like a hammer when she saw the number of notes she had for just two classes!
She obviously didn’t see the need to write down everything that was taught in class, but apparently, Ciara was one to put down every word. She even wrote down a few books she recommended for extra information on the lesson and mercilessly made Isa promise to check them out in the library later. She left no room for arguments.
“You absolutely have to get these books so that you understand more” Ciara instructed in her monotone voice. Isa’s eyes swept over the stack of notes to write and the long list of books in front of her and suddenly regretted asking Ciara for her notes. She gave herself a helluva homework to do and she couldn’t do anything about it.
With a satisfied look, Ciara whispered into Isa’s ear “it’s good to see that someone other than me is eager to study”
Later, during free period, Isa took her stuff to the library to get started on her work. Entering the library she searched for a secluded area but found just one occupied by a girl. Moving towards her she greeted “hi”
The girl looked up from the book she was reading and smiled “hi”
“My name is Isa. I was wondering if I could sit with you here. I wanted a nice corner shielded from the rest of the library, and this is the right place”
“Sure have a seat” she patted the one next to her “my name’s Bailey by the way”
Bailey had long brunette hair in a ponytail, green eyes and a small mouth that fitted her oval face. She was dressed in a brown smock and dark blue jeans. She wore multiple bangles with charms, rings and neck charms.
“You’re the new girl aren’t you. I haven’t seen you in school or around town before” Bailey whispered, looking at Isa. “Yeah, I moved in with my brother a few days ago,” Isa explained as she unpacked her bag.
“From where?” Bailey cocked her head.
“Uh, the city” She answered in a tone that made it sound like a question.
“Why would you want to leave the city and come here?” Bailey asked a little too loudly which prompted angry ‘hush’ from nearby.
“Sorry” she whisper-yelled and smiled at Isa “nice to meet you Isa”
“You too” she replied and delved into her notes.
Twenty five minutes later, Isa dropped her pen, mentally exhausted from studying. She needed something to rest her brain from the intellectual torment so she began hunting for a more ‘interesting’ book.
A moment later, she was back on her seat with a Sherlock Holmes novel in her hand. Settling down on her seat, she entered a world of mystery and thrills. Her one time favourite that she couldn’t get tired of. Just as she was on the edge of her seat with a mystery, her book was snatched away from her.
How could one be so cruel?!
With a start, she reached for her retreating book but failed as it was taken out of reach. Isa looked up to find the person who deprived her of her novel but immediately scowled when she saw who they were, or better, who it was.
Heather fiercely glared at Bailey and whispered “scram!”
Bailey quickly but clumsily took her books and scurried off.
Heather held Isa’s novel before her and examined it with a disappointed look. “Sherlock Holmes? Really newbie?” She said with a look of disgust that was mirrored by the three girls behind her.
Unbelievable! You’d never know a good book even if it was right in front of you.
An annoyed Isa got up and demanded “give me back my book Heather”. Instead, Heather sat on the chair opposite Isa’s and handed the book to one of the girls. She looked at an angry Isa with a bored expression and said “sit down”. She said it in such a demanding voice that Isa was taken aback.
This girl comes to her reading table, scares away her friend, confiscates her book and then commands her to sit down?!
Hell if she listens to her!
Isa glared at Heather so hard but she remained unaffected, cocked her head and casually said “or you could stand if you enjoy staring at me like that”
O she’s got guts alright!