Dedications… annabethanyx who is my best friend and has supported me through the making of chapter two and given me some awesome ideas – you may recognise snippets.
Chapter Two: Isabella (oops Bella)
I woke up, not to the sound of the awful screech of an alarm clock but to the sound of my parents arguing. I just closed my eyes and hoped I could just drift back to a long peaceful sleep.
When the room had suddenly turned quiet, I slowly opened my eyes and sadly flickered back to reality.
"Happy Birthday Bella," chorused Mum and Dad.
I could see all the large big beautifully and delicately wrapped presents.
"Are those for me?" I asked so quietly my mum asked for me to repeat. I know it is a pointless and dumb question and I did fell like going duh (!) to myself but I would have felt rude if I just went other and ripped all the presents open like an out-of-control maniac.
As I was about to get up, Suzy wondered in and asked:
"Chef just wanted me to check whether you were all awake and check what you wanted for your breakfast."
"Since I am not playing over Christmas I'll have a full English breakfast and extra bacon!" Dad said, you would have thought he was 20 stone but he is really fit, well I suppose you have to be if you play for Manchester United for a job and have over 80 caps for England.
Mum said she wanted her usual – which was cereal with no milk – 'hamster food'. But, Dad disagreed with what she said which I found unusual!
I suppose I was lucky because a lot of the kids normally have their birthdays on a school day and still have to do their boring subjects. Even though, I am in set one and I get good marks in Maths doesn't necessarily mean that I love Maths.
I have always wondered what it would be like to have a birthday whilst facing boring subjects. Liliana's birthday is the 21st September so her birthday is a school day most of the time a boring day.
At our school it is different, it is private and exclusive that was what my Mum said, I moved when I was seven. Apparently, Mum said she didn't like the Mums she lied; she moved me because I was being bullied, like that was going to change.
~Flashback~
~20th February, age 7~
I would never forgive Mum. Never! Why did I have to be bullied and she thought I needed a change of scenery? She promised me that everything would be fine and I would make loads of friends and I will have a real confidence boost. She lied. As soon as I stepped out of that car kids were laughing and pointing their fingers at me. My life had suddenly turned upside down. How would this give me a confidence boost?
"Have a nice day, bye sweetie-pie!"
I felt my face burn as it suddenly turned a bright scarlet colour.
The kids all stared and laughed and pointed at me. It was all Mum's fault, why did she have to embarrass me like that?
I took two slow steady steps forward. Reality shock – I didn't die of shock yet! Lots of emphasis on the yet though.
"What are you, some little goodie-two-shoes monkey? Who is always with her notebook behind her Mummy and Daddy?"
They were vivid readers of OK! Me and my family were featured in a Christmas special and I was very shy and kept my notebook in my hand at all times!
I was shaking with fury. Yeah, my personality was different, but I wasn't that different, no different to anyone one of them. They were all daughters or sons or relatives of the 21st century.
Luckily, I knew where the reception was by following the numerous amount of signs. At least, I wouldn't be wondering around the corridors around the school like a lost servant. And I didn't dare ask anyone for directions.
Somehow, I made my way across the hallway – everyone's eye seemed to be glued to my face and clothes – and into the reception. The receptionist smiled at me welcomingly at least somebody was nice, I thought to myself. I smiled back but I struggled to keep my head above the desk.
"Hello," I said rather timidly. "Er… I'm new, where do I go?"
"You come here and I give you your planner and timetable and all your information!"
"Okay."
"I need to ask you a question, what languages would you like to study?"
She gave me an A4 piece of paper which was full of languages of the world – I had to choose at least three languages. There were so many to choose from and some were very interesting I chose: Italian, Chinese and Greek. I got my ball point pen and put a tick against their names and handed it back to Mrs Harrington. I had to peer at her badge and squint a little bit in order to see her picture. She ended up seeing my attempt to learn her name and said, "I'm Miss Harrington dear," she chirped.
She tapped in a few words on her swanky large Apple computer and sent it for print. My name was in calligraphy and was in full: Isabella Rozalia Johnson.
How posh!
It was neatly designed and put in two column Week A and Week B had all my subjects labelled and the room numbers which sounded like gobelldy gook. I didn't say anything just thank you and made my way to form. My home tutor (aka form tutor) was Mr Bates, who apparently only joined in September and was only 23.
I knew I was intelligent but F2 which was my form room made no sense what so ever!
The loud bellowing bell rung and everyone heaved into the corridors which seemed quite big but if you were claustrophobic this would be your worst nightmare. They were all shoving and pushing each other and swearing at one another.
I was about to ask a student who looked like the friendly type, but that turned out to be the opposite when she started screaming inappropriate language at some small kid. She then turned round and said
Not so friendly I thought.
I decided to make my way through the wrestling match back to the receptionist and ask where the hell was F2. As we made our way to the class room she explained how the rooms are numbers. When she first told me, it seemed like a genius way of helping students. At first she sighed and said 'Well we had better get a move on.'
She came out of her neat and tidy little office and started to head down the corridor – which was as silent as a church on Sunday – and up a narrow stair case. Then she turned left around a corner and knocked on the second blue door and knocked. This door was labelled F2… Mr Bates.
She nodded and tried to urge me in, but my legs didn't move I was as white as a sheet. And suddenly the room was spinning.
It was at that moment I fell to the ground and there was a lot of mumbling and screams of 'She's dead! The new girl is dead!'
Minutes later, my eyes flickered open and I was forced to drink water and sit on a chair. I said I was feeling better so they let me find a place to sit.
I love sitting at the back because it is like you are invisible and the teachers never seem to notice you!
I took a long deep breath, I was surprised I wasn't as red as a tomato instead apparently I was so white I looked as though I just saw the grim reaper. I don't think there is anything worse than being late on your first day.
"She got lost," Miss Harrington flustered and then quickly left.
I observed my surroundings: and it was most definitely a science classroom. High tables and tall chairs were everywhere, there were science goggles and Bunsen burners and splits and some tables were a bit brown – obviously they were some minor 'explosions' – the classroom was very neat and tidy, four chairs around each set of taps.
"Apparently by the looks of your report you are a very shy little girl, so come to the front and you can introduce your self!" Mr Bates said. He had a deep Birmingham-ish accent! Did he want me to feint? I was sooo embarrassed!
I hurried to the front of the classroom up towards his desk. The children had their mouths wide open, it was like they were dogs and I had a large juicy green tennis ball – they never looked away.
"Is it Isabella," he said peering at his Apple computer.
"Yep, but I like to be called Bella."
He grinned uncontrollably. "Well Bella, North High are happy to enrol you. I will be your form tutor for the rest of your time here and this will be your form room!"
I nodded, I didn't know what to say. I looked around at all the faces, I recognised most of them and I think they recognised me! No-one seemed to jump out at my face and I will think 'Wow! They are awesome, I want to be best friends with them!' But I obviously didn't properly look.
He urged me to take a seat, which I did – I didn't need to be told twice. I headed straight to the back it was only then I realised there was someone sitting there.
I smiled a little and she did exactly the same! I wondered over and I coughed a little (it is what I do when I get nervous) and readjusted my bag and hurried over and got a stool which made an awful screech.
Of course, everyone knew who they were friends with. They had months to form friendship groups. I knew I was posing a threat – they were all scared that I might nip their best friends and brain wash them.
They all looked glum and miserable at me, giving me the dreaded daggers.
I sat down and she looked at me as though I had just made her day. She had long matt black hair which was neatly tied up in a pony-tail. Her startling deep black were glittering with happiness.
"Hi I'm Liliana Williams," she said.
"Hey I'm Bella Flochart, but you probably already know that,"
"I didn't really hear you at the back."
"I don't think the people at the front heard me!"
"Can I have a look at your timetable?"
"Um… okay." I handed her the sheet. She studied it, her eyes analysing every word.
"You have the same lessons as me. Do you want me to show you around?"
"Yeah sure," I smiled; at least I wouldn't be some lost loser all the time.
"We can be great friends!" she blurted out she then realised what she said and blushed a tomato red colour. It was February so more or less in the middle of the year, by that time everyone had formed friendship groups and they all sent me daggers; since, I was posing a threat to their friendship.
"It's okay. I'd love to be your friend." I assured her.
And that was the beginning of our friendship which blossomed from that day.
~End of flashback~
Suzy ran down the stairs and you could hear the loud clattering off the kitchen cutlery. I only realised it was mid-morning, when the morning sunlight filtered through my large bedroom windows and the sun casted a glitter over everything in its rays.
I threw back the floral quilts while a large yawn forced it way out of my mouth. I slid my legs out of my warm bed and slipped my feet into my fluffy white slippers that were waiting at the side of my floral but colourful bed.
I knelt down onto the floor – on the soft fluffy multi-coloured rug – and torn open my first present which was off my Aunty Angie and Uncle Steve…
To Bella,
Have an amazing birthday and an awesome Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Lots of love
Aunty Angie, Uncle Steve and Rachel x
I unfolded the tissue paper only to find some 'I love New York' pyjamas, when I went into the white tiled bathroom and tried them on, they were a little too big, the sleeves travelled past my wrists and the pants reached my heels. They would be great for my birthday sleepover party which was happening on Boxing Day! I had so totally fallen in love with them from the first moment I saw them, they were so comfy as well.
There were several more unopened large rectangular square boxes also wrapped in (gorgeous) wrapping paper. I looked and as I did I bit my nails – Mum noticed-
"Bella, do not bite your nails you are having your nails painted today!" Mum said sternly.
As I am sure you already know I hate being embarrassed. I scurried around on my knees and picked up a large, puffy boxes which had 'Happy Birthday' in different colours and it was printed all over the wrapping paper; it had a little note which was badly sticky taped on. Mum held her head in her head in dismay and then looked at Dad.
I read the note and Mum was quick to point it she didn't wrap the present, Dad did. I said thanks and I rushed up and gave Mum and Dad a big hug. Dad almost throttled me to death and if he squeezed any tighter you could have easily thought he was a python.
I delicately ripped open the wrapping paper; surely I was the only kid who actually took their time ripping over their birthday presents. The reason why I took my time was because I wanted to create a collage full of different textures, patterns and colours – I know I am weird!
"It will be Christmas Eve next year by the time you have finished opening these presents," Dad joked.
I won't bore you about all the (lovely) presents I received because you might turn into an ugly green monster – joking! But it won't be much of a story if I don't tell you so I will describe….
I knelt over to open my present; the wrapping paper was smooth and shiny as it glistened in the suns rays. I decided to become a 'wild child' and rip it open ferociously only to find a snowy white dress – which was appropriate for that time of the year – and were light pink ballet shoes. Don't get me wrong, it was very pretty and delicate but when would I wear it?
It was like Mum had suddenly read my mind , "You will wear that dress tonight to the movie premier and on Christmas day!" Mum commanded but then realised how harshly her tone was in and smiled sweetly.
"Kk," I said that was one of my new favourite words. I didn't say it sarcastically, Lily never did. I copied it off Lily, I also copied awesome and cool off her but she didn't mind.
"Is Lily coming to the premier?" I wondered. Before they could answer, I grabbed my phone (Samsung Cht - check out the picture on my profile page) and instantly began texting her; it was like I was in a totally different world when I began texting.
Are you coming to the premier tonight? x
Bella x
Then, before I could tear open any other presents the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" I announced and ran out of the room and sped down the steps and then swung open the large black door. I peered out of the large glass window all around the door. Only to my surprise, that Lily was standing there with a large parcel placed in her hands.
"Come in!" I said vigorously.
We hugged and ran up to my room, where Lily was greeted by my parents.
"Lets open some more of the presents!" said Dad. One by one, we opened the presents, assisted by Lily. A notebook, a leather black pencil case with stitched stars on, it was filled with pencils of every colour in the rainbow, which was from Mum and Dad. Then next present was from Susan, my nanny, and was a Pandora bracelet with two charms on it. She knew I wanted this present because I was looking at it on the computer. Then, there was a large cardboard box, and when me and Lily finally managed to rip it open it was an apple laptop!
George, my dad's assistant, entered the room. A look of hatred was plastered over my face, the minute he arrived. "Isabella." He cooed. I detested him, just by looking at his straight greasy hair made me want to throw up on his shiny black shoes.
So, Mum decided to give him a taste of his own medicine and blurted out, "My daughter's name is NOT Isabella, but Bella! And if you don't want to call me that, you can go to the job in the next hour with no references!"
But I think she underestimated him and he came back with his own response to the word fight, "I don't need this proxy job…" before he could finish off the sentence Mum put her hands over my ears and Suzy placed her hands over Lily's.
Although I could still hear the words and obviously I can't tell you for obvious reasons – me and Lily chuckled inside our heads.
He slammed the door and shouted more words and then you could faintly hear the front door being slammed and the swift but speedy exit of a car – Audi A3 to be precise!
Mum started to giggle showing her recently whitened teeth, then Dad, then Suzy, then me and Lily.
"Right, I will leave you and Lily to open the last few presents and then get changed, then go into the kitchen and gobble down your breakfast and then me and your dad have another surprise tucked up our sleeve."
"Another!" me and Lily said at exactly the same time.
Lily helped me decide what to wear and she showed me the clothes she was going to wear on Boxing Day at my party. She liked the look of my purple cardigan so she borrowed it.
We walked down the steps onto the landing where you could hear the shrieks and the bellows of my Mum and Dad – I knew it was too good to be true.