Isabella's day went by like all the others. Frantic rush to get to school on time, school, Power of the Pen meeting, then work. Work. She thought Great. I get a new house today.
Isabella cleaned houses. She was part of a maid service and was always getting new houses. All of her employers were constantly applauding her work, saying she was one of the best maids they'd ever had. Just what I've always wanted to be. She thought The best maid ever.
The new house was on the rich side of town, like all the others. It was big and intimidating, but much more intimidating than the others. In this house lived basket-cat superstar Jack Bolton. The first time Isabella had ever talked to Jack was that morning after home room. They'd gone to school together for 11 years, since kindergarten. He never even knew she existed.
Isabella braced herself and knocked on the door. A blond woman answered the door.
"Hello." She said. "Are you Isabella Meno?"
"I am." Isabella said. "Where should I start?"
"You're so young. How old are you?"
"I'm 15. I'm in 10th grade over at East High."
"Oh. You probably know my son, Jack Bolton" She said, still surprised by words "my" and "Bolton" in the same sentence after 20 years. "Well, I suppose you could start in the family room."
Isabella turned on her iPod. Taking Back Sunday's first CD rang in her ears as she cleaned the Bolton's house.
About an hour later, cleaning the bathroom, Isabella heard a noise. Someone had just walked into the house. They were walking up the steps, walking down the hall to the bathroom.
She
said
"don't, don't let it go to your head
Boys like you
are a dime a dozen,
Boys like you are a dime a dozen"
She
said
"you're a touch overrated,
you're a lush and I hate
it
but these grass stains on my knees
they won't mean a thing"
The words matched perfectly, the boy who entered the bathroom.
"Oh. I'm sorry" Jack said, startling Isabella. She jumped and her iPod fell into the toilet.
"Great!" she said in anguish.
"Oh. I am really sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here, I..." Isabella pushed past him, hoping he hadn't seen her face. But he had.
"Isabella?" Jack asked "Hey. Do you remember me from this morning?"
"Yeah." She said with a face of stone "Look, I'd really like if you didn't tell anyone that I'm working here. I mean, I don't really have many friends, and the ones I do have would probably think less of me if they knew and..."
"I won't. But, let me get you a new iPod or something. I feel really bad."
"No you don't have to do that. Really, it's no big deal."
"It is a big deal." He said, rolling up his sleeve and retrieving the broken iPod from the toilet "Tell you what. I'll give you a new iPod but you have to repay me by going to the carnival with me this weekend."
Isabella thought it over, "I don't know. IPods are expensive."
"My parents are fighting. My mom will take any excuse to spend the old man's money. It's not a big deal."
"I'm sorry..." he gave her the Bolton sad eyes "Okay." She left feeling something odd. She felt like she could take on anything that came her way.
I cannot like Jack Bolton. She thought, That's just too weird.
