Isabel Rodriguez was just another girl-next-door. Pretty, but not popular. Artsy, but not hipster. Confident, but not confident enough. And she was just too friendly. She never did anything risky, always did what she was told; never ditched school or cheated on a test and always got straight A's. She was a model student and a model daughter. But she wasn't happy. She wasn't content with her life as it was. She desperately wanted to try something new and experience something outside her sheltered routine. For a girl-next-door, she sure as hell had a lot of drive.
Her parents said she 'inherited' this determination from her cousin, Carlos Pena Jr., who had a huge influence on her life growing up. He was like the big brother she never had. They were so close all through elementary and middle school until he moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue an acting career when he was sixteen and she was thirteen.
In 10th grade, Isabel discovered her passion for acting and singing. She knew from that moment on that that was what she was meant to do for the rest of her life. And she knew that the only person who could help her was Carlos.
It was her first summer fresh out of high school. Isabel rummaged around her bedroom trying to figure out whether she had forgotten to pack something.
"I think that's about it." She mumbled to herself as she scanned her almost vacant bedroom.
She smiled as she reminisced all the memories that had been made in this room. The light pink walls she made her father paint when she was twelve and the distinct aroma of roses and vanilla; the key notes of her signature perfume, Lola by Marc Jacobs. She breathed in the scent one last time and lingered in her reflections as a single tear streamed down her left cheek.
A light knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts and she turned around to find her mother's head peaked around the door.
"Honey, I think it's time we got going. Your plane leaves in an hour." Her mother said in a low voice; almost whispering.
Isabel swiftly wiped the tear from her face, picked up her suitcases, turned off the light and stood silently in the doorway for a second before finally glancing at her room one last time.
"I'm gonna miss this place." She whispered into the darkness.