Yey, next chapter! Well I'm excited to write this so I hope I'll update often.
The plane-trip went along great and I still got pretty much of the money I've saved through the years left. I take my bags and get a taxi to Tristae-area. It's really big- bigger than I remember it from when I was on a vacation here two years ago. Well, we were visiting our friends and my friend since forever- Richard. He's three years older than me, but we've still always been great friends.
He's having his own apartment here now and goes to a stylist-college. He's always been a great stylist, really. When we were little, he always did my makeup and it looked so great! But what he's best at is making people look like something they're not, like a monster or a clown or… the opposite sex. And he's just the one I need!
I pick up my phone and call him. It takes three beeps before he answers. "Richard Berglund here, how may I help you?" I smile at the sound of his voice, I've really missed him! I haven't seen him since mom's funeral, even if it wasn't that long ago.
"Richard it's me, Isabella!" I hear him gasp on the other end.
"Bella? It's really you? Oh, I'm so glad to hear you!" I laugh happily.
"I've missed you too! Listen, I am in town and I wondered if I can come over?" for two months…
"Of course, Bella! You know where you can find me, it's just to come!" I smile.
"Thanks Richard, I knew I could count on you!" I cancel the call and starts walking to him, it's not very far from where I am, maybe 3 km? And on my way there, I can get a good look of the city!
I walk past at least 20 cafés, 15 shoestores and 3 nailsaloons before I reach his house. I step into it, taking the elevator to the third floor. I would have walked- but I've got 2 25 kilo bags so… no thank you.
I knock on the door, and it doesn't take more than 3 seconds before I'm met with a strangling bear-hug. "Bella, I've missed you so!" Richard shakes me a couple of times and I just sway around helplessly.
"I… can't… breathe…" I manage to choke out between my struggling breaths. He mumbles an 'oops' before he sets me down.
"I'm sorry Isabella. It's just so good to see you!" I smile as I regain my breath, hugging him.
"It's good to see you too, Richard! I've really missed you!" he smiles brightly.
"I've missed you too! It's so good to-…" he looks down at my bags. "What.. are.. these?" he eyes me suspiciously. I smile sheepishly.
"Well… you know…I was just thinking of… you know… maybe I could.. stay here for the summer?" I smile a big, toothy smile as I rub my neck. He lifts one eyebrow at me, both hands on his hips. He looks like a girlfriend who just caught her boyfriend cheating or something.
"Isabella, seriously?" I can't do anything but giggle at his expression and reaction. "Don't laugh, this is not funny! You could've at least told me, couldn't you?" I shrug.
"I thought you could have given me a straight 'no' over the phone! When I'm in front of you, you can't say no!" he pokes me in the chest.
"Oh, I can! But since I'm such a good friend, I won't do that. Cause I'm a great friend. You can stay here, but if it happens again, tell me. Why are you staying here, by the way?" I smile.
"I'm attending a boarding-school here in the end of summer!" he shines up and hugs me.
"Bella, that's great! Which school are you attending?" once again, my sheepish smile is on and I rub my neck. His smile turns into a frown quicker than you can say platypus.
"Isabella… what have you done? And if you're attending in the end of the summer, why didn't you stay at Gretchen's until then?" I shrug.
"I may have taken the scholarship David threw away… a scholarship to Evian High…" he gasps.
"You what?! Bella, that's an all-boys school! What are you thinking with?" I smirk at him.
"My brain, of course. I was supposed to leave for an orphanage in South Dakota today, but I ran away along with the scholarship, my only chance for a complete education! I couldn't tell Gretchen and David, because maybe they would have thought I was selfish, or maybe even forbid me to attend the school! I couldn't take that risk. They have no idea I'm here, either. I said I'd left early for the orphanage." Richard stares at me.
"I guess this all makes sense and is smart, but there's one minor detail you haven't thought of, you know! Just one little problem, just a token, really… you're not a guy!" I back away by his sudden outburst, then I smirk again, stepping forward.
It's like he can read my mind and eyes, because the frown is back. He groans and face-palms himself. "You want me to turn you into a guy, right?" I nod slowly. He sighs loudly and puts his hands on my shoulders. "Bella, are you sure you've thought this through? If they catch you, you'll be thrown out immediately and then you'll have nowhere to go, except the orphanage. Are you sure you want to do this?" I stare into his eyes determined, smiling.
"I still had to go to the orphanage, so I might as well take this chance. The worst thing that could happen is the thing that would've happened anyway, right?" he stares at me.
"That made no sense." I nod. "Yep, I know!" he sighs, looking down.
"Fine, I'll do it. But you owe me so much!" I smile and shrug.
"Nah, it's cool. I don't have anything anyway, so!" I giggle. He looks at me and chuckles.
"Well, okay then. Prepare to be transformed into…" he motions with his hands for me to say my name.
I giggle. "Isaac Garcia Shapiro!"