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ISADORA WAS COMPLETELY ABSORBED IN HER NOTEPAD, THE TIP OF HER PENCIL SCRATCHING RHYTHMICALLY AS SHE DOODLED.

Her focus was so intense that she barely noticed Steve glancing her way. After a moment, he nudged her gently, drawing her attention.

"What are you working on so intently?" he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice. Startled, Isadora quickly covered her notes, a guilty flush creeping onto her cheeks as she looked up at him.

"Uh, n-nothing," she stammered, hastily shutting her notebook and crossing her arms protectively. Just then, Kendra strolled into the room, and Isadora's mood brightened instantly. She shot a warm smile at her best friend, feeling a rush of warmth at their friendship. However, Steve nudged her again, pulling her attention back.

"What do you want from me, Harrington?" Isadora asked, rolling her eyes playfully.

"What time are we meeting at your place before the school dance?" Steve inquired, a serious note creeping into his voice.

"Not sure. Maybe around 6 PM?" Isadora suggested, her mind still partially lingering on the drawings in her notebook.

"6 PM sounds good," Steve nodded, his expression brightening. Isadora returned his smile, feeling a flutter of excitement. She opened her notebook again, returning to her sketches with renewed vigour.

As she concentrated, Billy made his entrance into the classroom, his presence instantly commanding attention. He sauntered past Isadora's desk and paused, towering over her with an easy confidence. She looked up, a smile lighting her face.

"Hey," she greeted, her voice a mix of surprise and delight.

"Hey, Princess. What are you working on?" Billy asked, leaning in slightly to get a better view.

"Oh, um, nothing important," she shrugged, instinctively closing her notebook again. She rested her arm across it, trying to hide her doodles but failing to mask her smile.

"Are you hiding something, Princess?" Billy teased, his gaze lingering on her notepad.

"Uh, no. Just schoolwork," Isadora replied, hoping to sound casual. Billy raised an eyebrow, a playful skepticism on his face.

"Okay, if you say so," he replied, leaning closer and whispering, "See you in the gym during your free period, Princess."

"Oh ... uh, s-sure," Isadora nodded, her heart racing as she looked down, desperately trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. She was so engrossed in Billy that neither of them noticed the teacher had entered the room, her gaze sweeping across the classroom.

"Miss Jones," the teacher called, a warning laced in her tone. Isadora gulped, momentarily taken aback. She shot a glare at Billy, who was now smirking at her, clearly enjoying the situation. As he walked back to his desk, Isadora felt a rush of conflicting emotions. Despite being reprimanded, her spirits remained high. For the first time in what felt like ages, everything seemed to be falling into place. She had regained her footing academically, once again pulling straight A's, and her time with Billy had transformed from casual hangouts to something much deeper.

During class, Isadora focused intently on the teacher's lecture, jotting down notes and eagerly raising her hand to answer questions, but as the teacher posed another query, a loud groan erupted from one of the students, prompting Isadora to lower her hand sheepishly.

"Princess, why don't you let someone else take a turn?" Billy suggested, amusement dancing in his eyes. The comment sparked a memory of their very first encounter, a moment that felt like ages ago. Blushing, Isadora turned to him and shrugged.

"Well, since you're so eager, Mr. Hargrove, why don't you enlighten us with the next answer?" the teacher proposed, a sly smile on her face.

"You know what? I like that idea," Isadora chimed in, unable to suppress her grin. Billy scrunched his nose in mock annoyance, shooting her a playful glare.

"Sorry, what was the question again?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

"Who was the captain of the Titanic when it sank on April 15, 1912?"

"That's an easy one. Edward Smith," Billy replied confidently. Isadora turned to him, genuinely impressed.

"Okay, that's correct, but how did you know?" she asked, curiosity bubbling up.

"Do you remember when you were telling me about that book you found really interesting?" Billy asked, his tone half-serious.

"Yeah? The one where I thought you weren't listening?" Isadora replied, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Guess I must've been paying more attention than I thought," he smirked, and Isadora felt a warmth spread through her at his admission.

From the back of the room, a girl leaned over to Steve, whispering, "I didn't think Isadora and Billy even talked."

Steve shrugged, glancing back at her before shifting his attention back to the front. Isadora was too caught up in her conversation with Billy to notice. For the rest of class, she scribbled away, focusing on her sketches and absorbing the teacher's words. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous energy, especially as the dance loomed closer.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Isadora waved goodbye to Billy, her heart fluttering as she left her desk. She joined Steve and Kendra as they made their way out.

"What book was Billy referring to?" Steve asked, curiosity piqued as they walked down the hallway.

"Walter Lord's A Night to Remember. I had been reading it and was telling him about it, but I honestly didn't think he was really listening," Isadora explained, her mind still half with Billy.

"And why did you get told off?" Kendra asked, a knowing smile on her face.

"Billy mentioned he'd see me in the gym during my free period, and I asked him what made him think I'd actually go," Isadora replied, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

"Probably because you're there every time you have a free period," Steve pointed out, a teasing edge to his tone.

"That's totally not true!" Isadora retorted, crossing her arms as they continued toward the cafeteria.

They entered, and Isadora blinked in surprise when she saw the array of food laid out before her. She hesitated, but then her eyes landed on a sandwich and a few cookies.

"Isadora Jones, are you eating something besides a chicken salad?" Steve asked incredulously.

"Yes," Isadora replied with a defiant smile, ignoring his astonishment as she scanned the rest of the food options. Once she grabbed her lunch, she moved aside to let Steve and Kendra get what they wanted.

"Hi, Is!" Ellie chirped, waving as she joined the table with one of her friends. Isadora returned the wave, feeling a flicker of warmth in her chest at Ellie's energy.

"I don't think in the two years we've gone to school together, I've seen you eat anything besides chicken salads," Steve commented, leaning back in his chair.

"Oh, come on. We've had this argument before. I do eat other things besides salads," Isadora countered, rolling her eyes playfully as they settled down at their usual lunch table.

"What are you two bickering about?" Hazel asked, her eyes darting between them as she joined the group.

"Why weren't you in class?" Isadora questioned, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"I had an appointment with the guidance counsellor. So, what were you and Steve bickering about?" Hazel replied, raising an eyebrow.

"About whether or not Isadora eats anything besides salads," Kendra chimed in, smirking at her friend.

"Well, I mean, I have seen her eat some of my cooking, but when we're at school, I've only really seen her eat salads," Hazel shrugged, her gaze shifting to Isadora.

"See, that's what I'm saying," Steve nodded, gesturing emphatically.

"I guess I just like to eat salads when I'm at school," Isadora said, shrugging again before biting into her sandwich, her mind racing ahead to the dance.

"I cannot believe the school dance is tomorrow night. I am so excited; it's going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm spilling over.

"Yes, we're going to have the best time tomorrow night. By the way, do you have a dress yet, Is?" Hazel asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Yes, of course I have a dress. Why wouldn't I?" Isadora replied, her tone defensive as she leaned back in her chair.

"I mean, you didn't come dress shopping with Kendra and me when we bought our dresses, so I guess I was just curious if you ended up buying one," Hazel pointed out, a hint of concern lacing her words.

"Uh, y-yeah, I have a dress," Isadora shrugged, her gaze dropping to her food as she picked at her sandwich. She didn't want her friends to know she could afford a new dress; instead, she planned to wear an old one she had rediscovered in her closet. It was a simple, elegant piece that she had tailored herself to fit better.

"Okay," Hazel nodded, seemingly satisfied. Just then, Eddie joined them at the table, greeting everyone with a smile. The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and laughter filled the air as they recounted humorous moments from class.

"So, you never told us, Isa, what happened between you and Billy?" Hazel asked, turning her attention back to Isadora, her expression curious.

"What makes you think something happened?" Isadora replied, breaking a cookie in half and offering a piece to Kendra.

"Is, we have barely seen you recently, but every time we do, it's almost like ... like you're hiding a secret from us," Steve observed, his tone serious.

"You're one to talk, Steve," Isadora shot back, smirking.

"I mean, he's right, Isa. It does seem like you're keeping something from us," Kendra insisted, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Just because you like Steve doesn't mean you have to agree with everything he says," Isadora retorted, turning her gaze back to her plate. "I think I need a fruit salad."

"You might want to hurry; it doesn't look like there are many fruit salads left," Steve warned, glancing at the food table.

Isadora nodded, getting up to grab one. She quickly returned to the table, opening the fruit salad and popping a piece of pineapple into her mouth. Steve watched her with a mixture of admiration and concern, leaning closer to whisper in her ear, "My parents made sure your school lunches for the rest of the year are paid for."

"Oh, uh... t-thank you," Isadora whispered back, blissfully unaware of the implications of his words. She looked down at her hands, then back up at Steve, murmuring, "I'll pay them back, I promise."

"Is, you know you don't have to do that," he said, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"What are you two whispering about?" Eddie asked, his gaze darting between them, curiosity evident in his expression.

"N-Nothing," Isadora replied quickly, heat rising to her cheeks.

"We were just discussing what happened between Isadora and Billy," Steve added, and Isadora rolled her eyes, laughing lightly as she nudged him again.

"You're persistent. We just went on a date," Isadora shrugged, feeling her heart race again at the thought. Just then, a younger boy approached their table, clutching a bouquet of bright sunflowers.

"Are you Isadora?" he asked, his voice a mix of shyness and excitement.

"Yes, that's me," she confirmed, intrigued.

"These are for you," he said, extending the flowers toward her with a wide grin.

"O-Oh, um, thank you!" she exclaimed, a smile breaking across her face as she accepted the flowers, their bright yellow petals vibrant against her hands.

"Why are you giving Isadora flowers?" Steve asked the boy, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Oh, he asked me to give them to her," the boy replied, pointing toward the cafeteria door. Isadora followed his gaze to find Billy leaning casually against the wall, a smirk plastered on his face as he watched her with an amused expression.

"Are you making the freshman do your bidding now, Hargrove?" Isadora teased as she walked over to him, her heart fluttering at the sight of him.

"Oh, I'm not carrying flowers through the school," Billy replied, feigning indignation.

"Oh, why? Would that ruin your reputation, Hargrove?" Isadora teased back, glancing at the flowers again and smiling brightly. "You remembered that sunflowers are my favourite."

"Of course I did," Billy said, his tone softening as he stepped closer. Then, nodding toward the flowers, he added, "Is, I think you missed something."

"What—" she started, her curiosity piqued as Billy pulled a small card from among the flowers. He handed it to her, and Isadora recognised the messy scrawl as Billy's handwriting. As she opened the card, a rush of warmth flooded her heart. The note read: I can't believe I'm actually doing this because of how stupidly cheesy it is, but will you be my girlfriend, Isadora Jones?

Isadora looked up from the card, her eyes wide with surprise. She scrunched her nose playfully, meeting his gaze. "You're right, Hargrove; it's stupidly cheesy, but yes, I would love to be your girlfriend."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that, Princess," Billy said, leaning in to kiss her. The world around them faded into a blur as she lost herself in the moment, the kiss igniting a thrill in her chest.

As they pulled away, Isadora turned to see her friends and several students from their class watching them, their expressions a mix of surprise and excitement. Among them, Amanda's furious glare stood out like a sore thumb, but Isadora chose to ignore it, feeling too elated to care.

"You know this means you'll have to be seen with me, which means your reputation is probably going to be totally ruined," Isadora teased, her heart racing with giddy excitement.

"Hmm, I think I can live with that, Little Miss Perfect," Billy chuckled, his smile contagious. Isadora rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the grin spreading across her face. She hugged him tightly, feeling a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time.

Turning back to her friends, she saw Steve watching her closely, a mix of disbelief and amusement in his eyes.

"It was just a date?" he asked, unable to hide his surprise.

"Oh, shut up," Isadora laughed, her heart swelling with joy.

"So, does this mean you're going to the dance with Billy?" Hazel asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Yeah, I am," Isadora confirmed, glancing over at Billy, who was now grinning from ear to ear. A wave of happiness washed over her, filling her with a sense of warmth and hope. For the first time in what felt like ages, she was genuinely happy, blissfully unaware of the storm that was brewing on the horizon, threatening to shatter her newfound happiness and bring chaos into her world.

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This chapter was a little cheesy but I liked the way the rewrite turned out. 

Enjoy! Xo

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