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ISADORA WAS ANXIOUS.

Today was the day their exam results were being handed back, and she could already feel the weight of impending disappointment. She knew she hadn't performed well, having only managed to answer a handful of questions. As she sat there, waiting for the teacher to distribute the papers, her mind raced with doubts. What if she had failed? The thought gnawed at her. She tapped her pen against her notepad rhythmically, trying to focus on anything but the mounting dread.

Finally, the teacher walked down the aisle, placing exams on each desk. When Isadora's paper landed in front of her, she hesitated before lifting it. The sight of a red "F" scrawled across the top corner made her heart plummet.

F - Please see me after class, Miss Jones.

The letter felt like a punch to the gut. Her worst fear had come true: she had failed. The sinking feeling in her stomach was accompanied by the creeping realiSation that the only other time she had experienced failure in her academics was back in California. That had been a devastating moment for her, one that she had vowed would never repeat itself. Yet here she was, staring at the evidence of her failure. As she held the paper aloft, Billy glanced over, catching sight of her grade. He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. Little Miss Perfect had failed?

"Is that an F, Isa?" Kendra asked, leaning in and peering at the paper. Isadora nodded, her face flushing with embarrassment. She felt a mix of humiliation and anger bubbling inside her. She had been distracted during the exam, barely able to focus, which was so unlike her.

"Yeah, it is," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she lowered the paper, trying to redirect her frustration into her schoolwork. Throughout the rest of class, she forced herself to concentrate, but her mind was a turbulent storm of thoughts.

After class, her friends got up to leave, and Hazel turned around, noticing that Isadora hadn't moved from her seat.

"You coming, Is?"

"I'll catch up with you later, Haz," Isadora replied, hoping to mask her disappointment. Hazel nodded and walked out with Steve, but Kendra lingered a moment longer.

"Good luck," she said softly, and Isadora offered a weak smile in return.

"T-thanks," Isadora muttered, watching as Kendra left the classroom. Her gaze drifted back to Billy, who was now strolling past her desk. Their eyes met briefly, but she quickly looked away, an involuntary frown crossing her face.

"I never thought Little Miss Perfect would fail an exam," Billy remarked casually, his tone laced with mock surprise. Isadora bit her lip, suppressing the urge to snap back at him. Instead, she just scowled at his back as he exited the room, mentally preparing for the lecture she knew was coming from her teacher.

"Miss Jones, is everything okay? It's not like you to fail," her teacher inquired, concern etched across her face as she approached.

"Everything's fine," Isadora replied, shrugging, unwilling to divulge the real reason behind her poor performance. She didn't want to admit how utterly distracted she had been—especially by a boy. It felt embarrassing and trivial to explain that a crush had led to her downfall, particularly when that boy was Billy Hargrove.

"I also wanted to give you this. You and Mr. Hargrove got the highest mark in the class on your project, so you'll still pass," her teacher said, handing back the project she had poured hours into. Isadora's eyes brightened as she noticed the A+ prominently displayed at the top. "But I know you can do better than an F, Miss Jones, so please try to avoid this in the future."

"Thank you," Isadora nodded gratefully, feeling a flicker of pride amidst her disappointment. She slipped the paper into her backpack before hurrying down to the cafeteria, where the bustling noise and chatter enveloped her like a comforting blanket. She grabbed a chicken salad and a fruit salad, trying to distract herself from her earlier worries as she made her way to her usual table.

"Is, do you eat anything other than salads?" Eddie asked as she settled down beside Hazel and opened her chicken salad.

"I got a fruit salad too," Isadora replied with a hint of pride, lifting the cup of fruit for emphasis.

"My point exactly. All I ever see you eat is salads and fruit salads. Do you ever eat anything else?" Eddie teased, a playful smirk on his face.

"Of course I do! I eat Hazel's cooking all the time and other stuff at home. I just... I like salads," she defended, taking a generous bite from her chicken salad as Eddie watched her with amusement.

"What about brownies?" Eddie prodded further.

"I don't think Isa would have eaten the kind of brownies you like, babe," Hazel interjected, shooting Eddie a knowing look.

"Yeah... wait, what kind of brownies are we talking about?" Isadora asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I love you, Isa, but you live under a rock sometimes," Hazel teased.

"I do not—" Isadora protested, but Hazel raised an eyebrow, challenging her.

"You literally just asked what kind of brownies we're talking about when I said you wouldn't like the kind Eddie eats," Hazel pointed out.

"What's going on?" Steve asked, joining the group with Kendra, a curious look on his face.

"We were discussing whether Isa eats anything other than salads and fruit salads—"

"No, I'm pretty sure that's all she eats," Steve chimed in, smirking at Isadora.

"Anyway, Eddie asked if I eat brownies, and Hazel doesn't believe I would have eaten the type he likes," Isadora clarified, trying to keep up with the playful banter.

"And Isa asked what kind of brownies we're talking about," Hazel added, glancing at Isadora expectantly.

"Come on, it's a valid question! What kind of brownies are we talking about?"

"Wait, what kind of brownies are we talking about?" Steve echoed, looking from Eddie to Isadora.

"They're talking about weed brownies, Isa," Kendra informed her, and Isadora's mouth dropped open in shock.

"W-weed brownies? Why would anyone put weed in their brownies?" she asked incredulously, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"We've got a lot to teach you, Blondie," Eddie replied, chuckling at her naive response.

"No way are you teaching her about weed brownies—" Hazel protested, shaking her head.

"Why not? I want to know—" Isadora interjected, genuinely curious.

"No!" Kendra cried, interrupting before the conversation could spiral further.

"Why did you have to stay behind after class?" Hazel asked Isadora, shifting the focus back to her. Isadora fell silent, her fingers poking at her fruit salad, which now seemed less appetising.

"Is, are you okay?" Steve asked cautiously, observing her growing agitation.

"Yep, fine," Isadora muttered, forcing a piece of watermelon into her mouth. After a sigh, she admitted, "I failed an exam because I got distracted."

"Isadora Jones failed an exam?" Steve exclaimed, his surprise evident.

"Oh, be quiet, Harrington. It's not the first time I've failed a class," Isadora grumbled, returning her attention to her fruit salad. The lighthearted conversation around her resumed, but she couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment that clung to her like a heavy fog.

As she listened to her friends chatter, her food suddenly lost its appeal. Grimacing, she stood up. "I have a free period next, so I think I'm going to head to the gymnasium to read."

"For someone who hates the gymnasium, you spend a lot of time there," Steve remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"No one really goes there, so it's a quiet place to read," Isadora shrugged, defending her choice.

"Or maybe you're going there for another reason," Hazel suggested slyly, a mischievous grin on her face.

"I have no idea what you mean. I'm just going there to read," Isadora insisted, giving her friend a faux-innocent smile that didn't quite mask her embarrassment.

"You know we have basketball practice after lunch, so it won't be quiet for long," Steve pointed out.

Isadora shrugged again, waving goodbye to her friends as she left the cafeteria. She made her way to the gymnasium, climbing the bleachers to her favourite spot. Opening her book, she quickly became engrossed in the story, letting the words whisk her away to a world far removed from her worries.

The gym was silent at first, but then she heard footsteps approaching. Her book was suddenly snatched from her hands, and she looked up to see Billy towering over her, a teasing smirk plastered on his face as he examined the cover.

"Alice in Wonderland?" he asked, glancing down at the title before looking back at her, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Can you please give that back?" Isadora pleaded, frustration rising within her.

"And here I thought you hated the gymnasium, but you seem to spend a lot of time here, Princess," he taunted, his playful demeanour sending her heart racing.

"And I told you it was for the best you stay away from me. I meant what I said, Billy. Please, just give me my book back and leave me alone," Isadora said firmly, folding her arms across her chest and standing up to reach for the book, but Billy held it just out of her grasp, making her glare at him in frustration.

"I'll give it back to you on one condition," he said, a teasing glint in his eye.

"Or you could just give me my book back and leave me alone," Isadora retorted, annoyance evident in her tone.

"Come on, Is. I know I said you should stay away from me, but I was wrong last night. I don't want you to stay away from me," he confessed, stepping closer. His hand brushed against hers, and they froze, caught in a moment of unspoken tension. Isadora's cheeks flushed, but she didn't pull away.

"I don't really think it's for the best that you stay away from me. I was hurt and upset last night. I don't want to stay away from you, Billy, but you can't keep avoiding me. I don't know what happened to make you avoid me—" she trailed off, noticing Steve entering the gym and looking over at them. She waved, but her focus quickly returned to Billy. "I like you, but you slept with me and then almost immediately started avoiding me. I hated feeling like I was just some girl to you."

"It's not like that, Is, I promise you. I like you too, Princess," Billy said earnestly, his eyes softening as he searched her gaze.

"I want to trust you, but I need to know you're not going to hurt me again or start avoiding me again ... or that—"

"Is, I can promise you that I am not going to avoid you again or do anything to hurt you. I like you, and I'm sorry for hurting you, for avoiding you, for flirting with other girls in front of you, and for telling you to stay away from me. You know, you were right when you said you deserve better than me," Billy said, sincerity colouring his words.

"You don't get it, do you? I don't want anyone else, Billy, because you're the one I want," Isadora admitted, her heart racing at the confession.

"I want you too, Princess, and I swear I won't do anything to hurt you again," he said, his voice filled with determination.

"Well, in that case, you still owe me a date, Hargrove," Isadora said, a playful smile returning to her face.

"How about tonight, Princess?" he suggested, his expression hopeful.

"Tonight is perfect," she beamed, feeling lighter as she brushed past him, nodding at Steve, who returned her smile with curiosity.

"Wait, Is, before you go, there's one more thing I want to ask you," Billy called after her. Isadora paused, turning back with an inquisitive look.

"What is it?"

"Will you go to the school dance with me?" he asked, his voice suddenly serious. Isadora felt her heart race as she blinked at him in disbelief.

"You, Billy Hargrove, want to go to a school dance? And you want to go with me?" she asked incredulously, stepping closer, her earlier hesitation forgotten.

"Please don't make me ask again, Princess," he groaned, the urgency in his tone making her pulse quicken.

"I want to hear you ask me again, Hargrove," she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Will you go to the dance with me, Princess?" he repeated, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation.

"Yes, I will," Isadora said, her smile wide as she turned to leave the gymnasium, feeling exhilarated.

As she stepped out, she could feel the weight of her earlier disappointment lift, replaced by an excited anticipation for what was to come. She felt as if she were floating on air, the giddiness of young love coursing through her veins.

Steve watched her go, a knowing look in his eyes, then turned to Billy.

"Harrington," Billy nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of Isadora.

"Please don't hurt her," Steve warned, his concern evident.

"I have no intentions of hurting her," Billy assured, feeling a protective instinct bubble up within him. He didn't know what it was, but there was something different about Isadora—something special. He wanted her in his life.

Meanwhile, Isadora felt like she was walking on clouds as she made her way to her last class of the day, a bright smile plastered on her face. She slid into her seat beside Hazel, who was quick to notice her elation.

"Hey, Steve, Kendra and I are going to our favourite diner together this afternoon. Are you going to join us?" Hazel asked casually.

"Oh, I have plans," Isadora replied, trying to contain her excitement.

"You, Isadora Jones, have plans that don't involve studying or reading?" Hazel said, disbelief etched on her face.

"Yeah," Isadora replied, unable to hide the smile threatening to break through.

Hazel stared at her friend, puzzled and curious about what she might be hiding, but class started before she could ask further. The teacher began the lesson, but Isadora's mind wandered to thoughts of Billy and their upcoming date.

As soon as the bell rang, Isadora hurried out of the classroom, her heart racing as she anticipated her date. She barely noticed the students milling around her as she rushed home to prepare. She wanted everything to be perfect.

It would only be much later, as she was getting ready, that she would realise Billy never returned her beloved book. 

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Hello,

I made some changes to this chapter and I am happy with the way it turned out. 

Enjoy! Xo

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