Chapter 1 – Take a Number
Isabella Hartwell glanced at her watch as she cleared the last of the coffee cups from the tables and brought them to the kitchen to be washed. She had been working in this coffee shop full time for the last 6 months after dropping out of school to her parents' horror and generally just making a mess of her life.
The coffee shop barely paid the minimum wage so of course Isabella still lived at home, spending her money on pointless frivolities like the latest makeup fad and countless takeaway pizzas. In short, life was not going too well for Isabella.
Once she'd finished her shift she wandered down to the bus stop, not worried about rushing home as the warm summer evening filled the high street with a beautiful orange glow and Isabella wished she had somebody to share the good weather with.
Reaching the bus stop she was surprised to see that it was completely empty which was quite unusual at this peak time. Shaking her head a little, she went to check the bus schedule, pausing in front of it to check her watch once again and then did a double take as she realised something else was not quite right today.
Where she was sure she had looked at the bus timetable just a moment ago, there was now a bright orange flyer glaring back at her.
Are you on the right path?
Feel like you haven't found your purpose?
ATTEND PROFESSOR CASSIDY'S NIGHT SCHOOL
for low achievers
THIS THURSDAY 8:00PM
Isabella was completely bewildered as she read this, her brow furrowed in confusion and suspicion at the sudden appearance of this strange invitation.
Yet despite this she felt somehow compelled to take one of the phone numbers that fluttered enticingly at the bottom of the paper.
And inevitably she did.