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THE FOLLOWING MORNING BEGAN ON A DISASTROUS NOTE.

Isadora's alarm had malfunctioned, and the moment she opened her eyes, panic set in. She realised she was late for school—something that rarely happened to her. She bolted upright, her heart racing as she glanced at the clock. With a racing pulse, she hurried through her morning routine, throwing on her clothes and skipping breakfast. She hastily grabbed her backpack, barely checking to see if she had everything she needed. The thought of being late sent her into a frenzy, and before she knew it, she was sprinting out the door, her breath coming in quick bursts as she dashed toward the school.

As she ran, the chill of the morning air stung her cheeks, but she pushed through, determined to make it on time. By the time she arrived at the school, her hair was tousled, and her heart felt like it was in her throat. She sprinted through the hallways, weaving around students who seemed to move at a snail's pace, until she finally reached her first class, just barely on time. With a relieved sigh, she collapsed into her usual seat, her friends staring at her in concern.

"What happened to you?" Kendra asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My alarm—" Isadora puffed, pausing for a moment to gather her thoughts. "It didn't go off, so I had to sprint here."

"You know Steve would've given you a ride to avoid this, right? Why didn't you ask him?" Kendra pressed, her tone mixing concern with irritation.

"I wasn't in the mood to be trapped in a car with Harrington, especially after yesterday," Isadora replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice as she recalled the events of the previous day.

"So, you thought running to school was the better option?" Kendra questioned, incredulous.

"Exactly," Isadora affirmed, her gaze shifting as Billy walked into the classroom. She greeted him with a hopeful smile. "Hi, Billy—"

"What was that about?" Kendra interrupted, noting how Billy completely ignored Isadora and headed straight to the back of the room. Confused, Isadora glanced back at Billy, wondering why he was avoiding her. A nagging worry settled in her chest: what if he really saw her as just another girl he could use and discard? Turning back to Kendra, she let out a soft sigh.

"I don't know why Billy is ignoring me, but something happened yesterday," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The teacher's gaze fell on her, and Isadora quickly redirected her focus to her schoolwork, although her mind kept drifting back to the events of the previous day. She remembered that before basketball practice, everything had seemed fine, but the memory of seeing Steve and Billy talking yesterday resurfaced, and her heart raced. What had they discussed to alter things between them?

"You look like you're a million miles away," Jacqueline chimed in, pulling Isadora from her thoughts.

"Oh—sorry, I kind of am. What were you saying?" Isadora replied, trying to shake off her worries.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come over to study for our exam," Jacqueline offered, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, that sounds great," Isadora smiled, grateful for the distraction. After class, she made her way to the cafeteria, grabbing a salad and a small fruit cup before sitting down with Hazel, Kendra, and Steve. She hoped the conversation wouldn't drift back to her and Billy, but it quickly did as Hazel turned her attention to Isadora.

"Why did Billy almost run you over yesterday?" Hazel asked, causing Isadora to frown as she picked at her salad.

"You saw that, huh?" Isadora replied, her eyes drifting to Steve, who seemed to be avoiding her gaze. A sinking feeling told her he was hiding something.

"It was hard to miss, Isa. What happened?" Hazel pressed, leaning forward with curiosity.

"I really don't know why he almost ran me over. I thought maybe things were finally—" Isadora trailed off, noticing Steve's discomfort at the mention of Billy. Putting her fork down, she turned her full attention to Steve. "What did you do, Steve?"

"Hold on, Isa. Why do you think Steve had anything to do with it?" Kendra interjected, sensing the tension building.

"Steve was the one who got into it with Billy yesterday during practice. He wouldn't stop warning me about how being with Billy would hurt me. I mean, you heard what he said at lunch yesterday," Isadora said, her voice rising as she directed her frustration at Steve. "Seriously, what did you say?"

"I told Billy what he needed to hear."

"And what exactly did he need to hear?" Isadora shot back, her voice sharp.

"The truth," Steve replied, maintaining a calm demeanour, though the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

"The truth? What does that even mean? Just tell me what you said!" Isadora's frustration boiled over.

"Isa, you need to calm down," Hazel interjected, her tone soothing yet firm.

"No way! I'm not calming down until Steve tells me what he said!" Isadora retorted, her heart racing with anger and anxiety.

"Is, just drop it," Steve said, his expression unreadable.

"Stop treating me like a naive child, Steve! I deserve to know!" Isadora snapped, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

"That's not what I'm doing," Steve replied, his voice tight. "I just think you should let this go."

"Let this go? You think I can just ignore it? I'm not a child who needs to be shielded from the truth! I have a right to be upset!" Isadora fired back, her eyes narrowing.

"Isadora, you're not seeing the bigger picture here. This isn't just about you," Steve said, his frustration mounting.

"Oh, so now I'm just being selfish? You're the one who barged in, uninvited, and decided what was best for everyone without even asking!" Isadora shot back, her voice rising.

"Maybe if you could just think for a second—" Steve started, but Isadora interrupted him.

"Think? You mean like you thought when you decided to meddle in my business? You don't get to dictate how I feel or how I react!" Isadora's words were laced with fury.

"You're acting like a drama queen right now! I was trying to help," Steve snapped, crossing his arms defensively.

"Help? By keeping secrets from me? By talking to Billy behind my back? That's not help, that's betrayal!" Isadora exclaimed, her heart racing as she glared at him.

Steve clenched his jaw, clearly torn between defending his actions and the rising tension between them. "You're being irrational, Isadora. This isn't just about you; it's about what's best for everyone involved."

"Everyone involved?" Isadora laughed bitterly. "You mean what's best for you and your ego? Stop pretending you know what's best for me!"

"Maybe if you would stop being so stubborn, you'd see I'm trying to protect you!" he shot back, his voice rising as the argument escalated.

"Protect me? From what? You think I can't handle myself? I'm sick of you acting like I'm some fragile little girl!" Isadora snapped, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and hurt.

"Is, just drop it," Steve said, the firmness in his voice growing as he stood up, his expression unreadable.

"Seriously? You're just going to walk away? That's your solution?" Isadora spat, feeling the sting of abandonment.

"Sometimes walking away is the only option when someone won't listen!" he exclaimed, turning to leave the table.

Isadora's chest tightened as she watched him go, her heart sinking. Kendra's piercing glare made her turn to her best friend.

"What?" Isadora asked defensively.

"He asked you to drop it. Why couldn't you just let it go?" Kendra replied, her tone escalating slightly.

"This isn't my fault! Steve jumped in when I told him to mind his own business, so I have every right to be upset!" Isadora countered, her emotions flaring. "He treats me like I'm some naive child who doesn't understand what's happening around me."

Kendra's brow furrowed, her frustration shifting to concern. "You can't just lash out at him because he's trying to look out for you. Maybe he knows something you don't. Why don't you trust him?"

"Trust him?" Isadora scoffed, shaking her head. "He's the one acting like he knows everything! I can handle my own problems, Kendra. I don't need him to save me!"

Kendra crossed her arms, her expression growing more serious. "You have to understand that he cares about you. Maybe he just wanted to protect you in a way that he thinks is right. You're not giving him a chance to explain."

"Protect me from what? The truth? I'd rather face reality head-on than let him keep treating me like I'm fragile and need coddling!" Isadora shot back, her voice rising with each word. She felt the heat of the argument consuming her, but it was hard to pull back when she felt so strongly.

Kendra sighed, clearly exasperated. "I'm going to go talk to him and see if I can find out what happened," she announced, turning away from Isadora.

"Great," Isadora scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Run off and defend the knight in shining armour."

Without another word, Kendra turned and walked away, leaving Isadora standing there, grappling with her swirling emotions.

"Do you really think Steve had something to do with why Billy almost ran you over yesterday?" Hazel asked, her voice low.

"I don't know, but something definitely happened between them in basketball practice," Isadora replied, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle.

"What do you mean?" Hazel pressed, curiosity lighting up her eyes.

"All I know is that Steve was on the ground, and Billy was leaning over him, saying something. I couldn't hear what they were discussing, but the tension was thick," Isadora explained, her brow furrowing in concentration.

"So you're just assuming something happened then?" Hazel asked, tilting her head.

"Come on, don't you think it's a bit too coincidental? On the same day Steve warned me about Billy, those two had words with each other? They never even talk normally!" Isadora pointed out, her frustration evident.

"I don't know, Isa," Hazel said quietly. She knew exactly why Billy and Steve didn't talk and why Steve disliked Billy but felt torn between wanting to protect Isadora and revealing too much.

"And besides, Steve just told us that he told Billy the truth, whatever that means," Isadora continued, her voice laced with skepticism.

"So, you think that's why Billy almost ran you over?" Hazel asked, her tone probing.

"I—I don't know. When I called out to him, he made eye contact before ignoring me and speeding away," Isadora said, her voice faltering as she spotted Billy entering the cafeteria. Her heart sank as she watched him, and she felt a pang of regret as she turned back to Hazel. "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Steve is right; maybe Billy doesn't actually like me and was just using me."

"Is, did you really sleep with him?" Hazel asked softly, her expression shifting to one of concern. Even though Isadora had indirectly confirmed it yesterday, she nodded, though she felt a knot in her stomach as she watched Billy chat with Amanda.

"Oh—" Isadora choked out, and Hazel turned to see what was wrong. When she saw Billy flirting with Amanda, Isadora shook her head in disbelief.

"He—"

"Oh, Is," Hazel murmured sympathetically. Isadora blinked back tears as the reality of the situation hit her—Amanda had been right about Billy all along.

"Of course she was right. He did exactly what she said he would," Isadora said, rising abruptly. "Uh, I'll see you later, Haz."

"Is, are you going to be okay?" Hazel asked, concern etched on her face.

"Y-Yeah, I guess so," Isadora replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt as she threw her salad in the trash and stalked out of the cafeteria. She was determined not to let Billy Hargrove break her heart.

After a moment, Isadora headed to the gymnasium, planning to sit on the bleachers and read her book. A part of her hoped she could confront Billy and get some answers about his sudden coldness. As she made her way to the gym, she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself for whatever confrontation awaited her.

For the remainder of the lunch period, she immersed herself in her book, but as free period began and basketball practice started, Isadora looked up to see the boys' basketball team entering the gym.

As he walked in, Billy spotted Isadora sitting on the bleachers and smiled, pleased she had chosen this space to read. His eyes lit up as he caught sight of her, but Isadora's heart sank at the realisation that she would have to face him now. Steve, however, immediately made a beeline for her.

"What are you doing here, Isadora?" he asked, a mix of curiosity and irritation in his tone.

"I came here to read," she shot back, defensively, her voice trembling with barely suppressed anger.

"Right. Is that really the only reason you're here?" Steve challenged, his gaze flicking toward Billy, suspicion creeping into his voice.

"Oh, come on! You know this is the only place in the school where I can actually enjoy reading. Why else would I be here?" Isadora countered, her frustration boiling over, "And even if I'm here to see Billy, that's none of your business," she snapped, her annoyance turning into fury.

"Is—" Steve started, but she brushed past him, her fury igniting as she grabbed her bag and shoved her book inside. She decided the library would be a better place to escape this childish argument.

"You're just going to walk away? Typical," he called after her, his voice rising.

As she moved down the bleachers, Steve followed, reaching out to grab her wrist. The sudden contact made her flinch, but it also fueled her rage.

"Let go of me, Steve!" she yelled, her voice sharp and filled with fury. "I can't believe you think you have the right to control me like this!"

"I'm sorry, Isadora. I just didn't want to see him hurt you," Steve replied, concern clouding his eyes.

"And I told you I can take care of myself! I'm not some fragile little girl who needs you to swoop in and save me!" she shot back, her voice echoing in the gym, strained with indignation.

"Is, I'm only doing this because I care about you! I don't want you to get hurt!" he insisted, his grip softening slightly but still holding on.

"Care? This isn't care, this is condescension! You think I can't handle myself? You're treating me like a child!" Isadora exclaimed, her heart racing with fury. "It's infuriating! Just back off!"

"Is, I'm only doing this because I care about you and don't want you to get hurt," he insisted, his grip softening slightly.

"Yeah, well, it's a little late for that, isn't it?" she snapped, yanking her wrist free with a fierce tug before storming out of the gym. Behind her, Billy had witnessed the entire interaction, his fists clenching at his sides as he watched Steve touch her.

He should have anticipated that Isadora would end up with someone like Steve. Why would she choose him over someone like Billy? In that moment, he begrudgingly accepted that Steve was right; she deserved better. But for some reason, that realisation left a bitter taste in his mouth. He could feel the weight of his jealousy settling over him like a heavy blanket, making it hard to breathe. As he watched Isadora walk away, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had lost something valuable—something that he had never fully appreciated until now.

Billy turned his attention back to practice, but his mind remained on Isadora. He couldn't help but wonder what Steve had told her, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Why did Steve care so much? Was it because he wanted Isadora for himself? The idea churned in Billy's stomach, and he felt a surge of determination to confront Steve about it later.

As practice began, Billy's focus was fragmented. He found himself glancing over at the bleachers, where he hoped to see Isadora again, but she was already gone. Each time he touched the ball or attempted a shot, he felt a mix of frustration and regret gnawing at him. He knew he had to do something—say something—to clear the air between him and Isadora. But what could he say? What could he do that would make things right?

The bell rang, signaling the end of free period, and Billy resolved to find Isadora as soon as he could. As he headed to the locker room, he felt a newfound sense of urgency. He needed to set things straight before it was too late. The last thing he wanted was for her to think she was just another girl to him; she was so much more than that.

As he dressed and prepared to leave, the laughter and chatter of students echoed in the hallway, each sound intensifying his resolve. He pushed through the door, scanning the area for a glimpse of her familiar blonde hair.

Finally, he spotted Isadora at the far end of the hallway, her laughter mingling with the noise around her. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do. It was now or never.

As he approached, anticipation churned within him, but the moment he locked eyes with Isadora, her expression hit him like a punch to the gut. Surprise mingled with something deeper—perhaps anger—and it stopped him in his tracks.

Billy hesitated, his heart racing. The look on Isadora's face made him doubt his decision to talk to her. Suddenly, the weight of their last confrontation loomed heavily in his mind, and uncertainty flooded in. Maybe it was best to hold back.

As he turned to walk away, he couldn't bring himself to look back. He had made his choice. Deep down, he felt she deserved happiness—something he feared he could never give her.

In that moment, he realised this decision was for her, even if it felt like he was shattering his own heart in the process. She deserved someone who could offer her everything he couldn't—someone who wouldn't drag her into the chaos that was his life. With that painful thought lingering in his mind, Billy walked away, each step feeling like a piece of himself was being torn away.

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Hello,

I'm back with another update! Tbh I've actually written the whole book but I am rewriting and editing the chapters so updates will be slowish, although I am trying to aim for a chapter a day. 

Enjoy! Xo

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