A Girl With A Story To Tell

Ciao. I am here to tell a story. You may or may not know me, but for the first time, that doesn't matter. Call me Isabella, okay? I am just a girl. One who has dreams. A different out-take on life. One who wants to hear I love you.

For once in my life...I love you. Is is so hard to say? Or am I just that unloved? Do I advoid people that much? No. Because I have friends. I do have a life. I have more than a life. Well, more than I can handle.

I'd like to see some random person on the street go through what I do everyday.

Okay, you wanted to hear a story. Well, I suppose I have to start sharing it now, right? You say you don't have all day, but do you really know if you do have all day or not? No. You could have 20 more years or 20 more seconds.

So, here it goes.

I am a girl. A girl who wants to believe. In dreams. In fanasty. In hope. In faith. In love. But I can't. I just can't. I thought I could. Maybe I could try? This is the story I am about to tell. The one where I gave up everything. Just to believe. In something. Anything. And love was one of them.

I felt, and still feel, the warm summer day. The leaves on the trees brushed against each other in the wind.I can still feel the tickling sensation I got when my best friend tickled my back. Or at least I had thought it was my best friend. I turned to see a guy, who I had known to be popular. Jock, type. See, he played basketball but football was his "major" sport. I never cared for the popular crowd. But I was me.

He smiled and asked, "Tickle?"

I wanted to punch him in the face.

But did you know, that if I punched a guy, I'd be arrested and if I punched a girl, I wouldn't? So I smiled sweetly and said, in my softest voice, so he couldn't hear the anger that was trickling into me, "No. Sorry. It didn't."

So I lowered my head back to my book, hoping he'd take the hint and walk away. Instead he sat beside me and asked me what I was reading. I sighed and closed my book, with my finger holding my place. "It's a Pink Angels' Guide book."

I hoped, and secretly prayed he wouldn't ask. He didn't. He apparently, already knew what it was. "Oh." he said, "You're going to volunteer at the hospital too?"

I was shocked, more like stunned. I mean he's the "JOCK". Jock's don't volunteer. Do they? I nodded, not trusting my voice. He seemed to scare me, for what ever reason. I'm not the type to get scared by someone. Unless I'm about to get killed.

"Oh, that's cool. I'm volunteering too. I need the credits." He told me. I stared. I didn't mean to.I racked my mind. Everyone knew he'd earned his volunteer credits last year. He had picked garbage up at our beach. I stared into those big brown eyes. He knew I knew. I smiled.

"Really?" I said, "So that garbage picking was for no reason, at all?"

He grinned at my reply. He shrugged. "Okay, you got me." he said, meanwhile, I sat trying to think of his name. I knew it, but it hadn't been on my "Remember Him" list. He smiled again. He liked to do that alot. "So I've been forced to volunteer."

"Forced?" I asked, sharply.

How could I FORGET HIS NAME? And WHY was he talking to me? I'm like a "Reject" to him. Maybe a "Brain" and a "Geek". Do I care? No.

"Got in trouble at a party. Parents are forcing me. No one knows though." he said. Hunter.His name was HUNTER. How on Earth I forgot that, no idea. He was tall, "Jock"-type, and had the biggest brown eyes. I felt that I was staring and I looked elsewhere.

Anywhere.

To my book.

"I see. Was it your party?"

I already knew. Hunter. Nice name. I don't know why I felt chatty with him. He brought it out in me. That's my excuse. Hunter.His name brought a big responiblity. Football AND Basketball. If he missed either of those. Toast, would be his name. He practised hard at both, everyday. Even during off-season. I sighed.

"Yeah. I... Oh, there's my girlfriend. I'll see you around?" Hunter asked. I nodded and he said, "See ya later, Isabella!"

How the heck did he know my name? I asked myself, waving good-bye. I didn't know but I did wonder. I stood, just one second before the bell rang, trying not to let my eyes wander in Hunter's direction. He was with his girlfriend and they were laughing, her mini-skirt was blowing up in the breeze, giving the guys behind her a good look. But no, she didn't notice, or didn't care. I couldn't remember her name at the moment. I shrugged the odd conversation I had with Hunter, and decided to scope out my friends. There was supposed to be this big party or whatever, and I remember Kat, my friend, was trying to get invitations.

I walked towards the doors when they opened and a girl stormed out. I glanced back, to see which direction she was "storming" in and it was Hunter. I stopped to watch. Curiousity gets the better of me, right? Anyways, she said something to him, slapped him and then yell at his girlfriend. Then, she stormed over to a truck, slammed the doors and drove away, tires schreeching. I took a deep breath and turned to finish looking for my friends.

"Isabella!" somebody yelled out behind me. I turned to see Kat. I smiled at her and she was showing me some pieces of paper. Or at least, that's what it looked like. "I got the invites! I did! I did! There's four of them!"

I jumped up and down, as if I was excited, "Oh my Gosh! Let me see!"

Kat rolled her eyes, "Don't be sarcastic. Now, let's go find Elizabeth and Keesha."

I laughed, "Okay. Why don't we wait by the car?"

Okay, so the only real reason is that I wanted to see if Hunter's girlfriend was an ex or not. It's not my fault what I just witnessed was so interesting and...I had to find out what happened. It's just, this day, not like anyother.

"Okay." Kat said, and we walked to my car my mom got me before I moved in with my dad, fourteen months ago. She was telling me all about the dresses she would wear, or I should wear, or Izzy, Elizabeth, should wear or Keesha should wear. To be honest, I just repeated the last word she'd say, when she stopped to pause, in a questioning form, and she would continue talking. Once at my silver car, which the name I can never remember, but it's a sport car, we found Keesha was already waiting for us. Kat ran over to tell her the news and then they both started to giggle and jump up and down. I sighed and looked around, no sign of Hunter and his maybe-ex-maybe-still-on girlfriend. While my friends talked about who'd be there, I sat on the trunk of my car and flipped my book open, my finger had been holding my spot.

I wasn't a page in when I heard, in a distance, "Baby. How many times do I have to tell you? I was never in love with her. I only love you." I looked up and there Hunter was with his apparently-ex-girlfriend walking away from him. She got into a car and after a few moments drove off. He shrugged and said to himself, "Well, I guess I wasn't really in love with you."

"I think she knows that." I muttered, feeling sorry for her and not him. He looked at me. His brown eyes actually looked upset.

"What did you say, Isabella?" he asked, walking over.

"I said," in the tone that clearly states he should've heard me the first time, even though he shouldnèt have,"I think she knows that."

"Knows what?" he asked, now standing in front of me.

"That you didn't love her. Idiot." I said, now glaring at him. I looked down at my book, and pretended to read. I looked up, he was still standing there, and I was annoyed. "I think the idiot part was your clue to leave me alone, now."

"You're different, Isabella. Did you know that?" he asked. I stared at him, and scoffed. He smiled, "Well, it's the last week of school. I do hope you and your friends will be at my party tonight."

"Aren't you going to the Pink Angel's Volunteer program because you got in trouble at your last party?" I asked, skeptically.

"Yeah, so park about a block away so the neighbors don't suspect anything. Parents are outta town. I should go get ready. Be there by 7." he turned and left me alone. Then, as he got into his red truck, he yelled, "See ya, Isabella!"

I was stunned. I couldn't move or even blink. But somehow I managed to wave bye, and leaned back against my car in disgust. He knew I wouldn't come. No, that's wrong. He knew I would go to his party. I turned and looked at my friends, Elizabeth now joined them. They stared at me.

"Oh my gosh! That's like the biggest party or the year! And you got us invited! I love you, I love you, I love you!" Keesha squealed, jumping up and down. I rolled my eyes and Kat literally ripped the invitations to the other party up. I gasped.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Keesha smiled, "We're going to a different party. No use in keeping these."

"We are not going to that party!" I claimed. No point in lying, is there? Well, oops.

"And why not?" Keesha asked.

"Because...I don't want to." I replied. Some excuse, right?

Sure. Sure. I expected the reply to be. But Keesha looked at her ripped in half invitations and said, "Well, I guess we can tape them together, right?"

"Yeah." Elizabeth said, sighing. "But may I ask why you don't want to?"

I thought about lying again. But I couldn't come up with anything good, so I said, "I just don't."

"Okay, come on." Kat said, "Let's go."

And with that, we got into the car, and I drove them home.

* * *

Then, driving into my driveway, I sighed and thought to myself, Why can't I just accept Hunter's invitations and go? Was it because of the big-scene break-up he had had? I didn't know. I raced into the house and sat down to do my homework, stuffing my face with a bag of chips. Some where around 6 pm, the phone rang. I picked it up, and hit the "Talk" button.

"Hello?" I said, because, that's what everyone says.

"Hello, may I speak to Isabella?" a guy's voice came.

"Speaking. May I ask who this is?" I said, trying to be polite. But as I heard the sigh on the other end of the phone, I knew it was Hunter. I froze in my kitchen. Like I was unable to move. To breath.

"Hey, Bella. It's Hunter. Anyways, I kind of need help setting up for my party, and was wondering if you'd help me. I'd ask some of my buds, but they went to an early party at a friend's house. So, yeah. Are you free?" he asked. He had given me a nick name. Bella. Well, people called me that all the time, but this was different. He didn't know about that, did he?

"Umm..." I said, trying to think. Was I doing anything? I heard some noise in the background and realized it was the tv. I finally gave up and said, "Sure. I'll be there. Do you mind if I bring my friends with me to help? They're at my house already, getting ready."

"Yeah, sure. Please hurry. I owe you one." he replied.

We said bye and hung up. I raced up to my bedroom, with the phone still in my hand. I hit Memory 4 and Keesha's brother picked up.

"Hello." I said, "May I speak to Keesha?"

"Isabella?" he asked.

"Yeah. Hi." I said.

"Hey, how's your sister doing? I heard she broke her wrist because her boyfriend pushed her." he said.

I rolled my eyes, and went through my closet for my dress that I had been planning to wear. I said, quickly, "She's fine. And that's ex-boyfriend, incase you asked. I need Keesha now. Is she there?"

"Keesh?" he asked, sounding like he never heard of her before, "Nah. She's at Kat's house. So, your sister's single then--"

I hung up on him, without saying bye or thanks. I hit Memory 6 and Kat picked up, "Kat! Hey, is Keesha still at your house?"

"Hi, Isabella." Kat said, "Keesh's still here. And so's Elizabeth. What's up?"

"Hey, get ready for Hunter's party, now. He asked me to help set up for him. Hurry. I'll pick you up in five minutes. Whether you're dressed or in your bra and underwear. HURRY!" I hung up and finished pulling my nylons on. I put my dress on, slipped my shoes on and raced into the bathroom. I dabbed my make-up on and brushed my hair, leaving it down, and ran down to the car. I drove to a couple streets away and stopped at Kat's house. I honked and two minutes later, three girls raced out of the house, smiling. They got into the car and we drove to Hunter's house. Everyone knew where he lived, he had had so many parties, and we had been to a couple of them, as guests of guests, who were guests of those guests. So, yeah. I parked in his driveway, whether he liked it or not and we walked up to the house. I knocked on the door, nervous as I possibly could be, and the door opened. Not Hunter. Hunter's mother. She looked at us and smiled.

"Hunter said he'd be having a couple friends over while we were gone." she said, "Please, come in. Hunter! Some girls are here for you!"

"That doesn't make us sound like we're friends with him." Keesha muttered, as we entered the house. It always amazed me how big and beautiful the house was. Hunter walked in and smiled.

"Hey, Isabella!" he said, then adding, "And Keesha, Kat and Elizabeth."

I wondered, at this moment, how he knew their names. How he knew mine. I shrugged it off and Hunter's dad, a splitting image of his son, walked in to the room. He said, "Hunter, your mother and I are going out now. No parties. A few friends is fine though. Nice to meet you girls."

And they were gone. I looked around, thinking, awkward...

Hunter smiled and said, "Kat and Keesha, you can help me by setting out the refeshments I have hidden. Elizabeth, can you put chips into bowls?"

"Okay." Kat said, shyly.

"Sure." Elizabeth said, and they all followed him, leaving me behind.

I moved into the living room, walking to the patio doors. I glanced around, no one was around, so I pushed the door open, enough for me to squeeze through, and walked to the edge of the deck. I looked out over the edge. The sun was going down, and I couldn't help but not look at it, with it's reflection dancing in the water. I wondered why I was here. It didn't seem right. This wasn't something I did everyday, that's for sure. I felt someone wrap their arms around my waist and they squeezed me.

"Hey, Bella. Isn't it beautiful?" Hunter's voice came. I nodded, unable to speak. He forced me to turn to face him. He leaned in and whispered, "Just like you."

I caught my breath, and he kissed me. I sighed and he let my lips go. His were so soft. I wanted to melt. He asked, "Mm...Don't you want more?"

I nodded, caught up in the moment. And he kissed me again, harder, more passionate than the first. He asked again, "Don't you want more?"

I felt drunk and helpless.

* * *

But then, I opened my eyes and realized I had fallen asleep on the couch. Great, I thought, I'm dreaming about him now. I rolled off and checked the clock. I had about 30 minutes. I rolled my eyes and heard the phone ring. I picked it up, not before pinching myself to make sure I was awake for real. And I was.

"Hello?" I answered. Like I said before, everyone answers the phone with hello?

"Hey, may I speak to a Clairabelle?" a voice came.

"You mean, Claire?" I asked. No one called my mother by her full name.

"Sure. May I speak to her?" the man asked, deep voice.

"Um..." I said, thinking whether she was home or not. But then again, I wouldn't know. I'd been sleeping. "Hang on, I'm not sure if she's in."

I turned around, my brother stared at me. His eyes were wide, fear, I supposed. "Hey," he said, "Can you pretend to be mom? I got in trouble again..."

I nodded, I don't know how many times I've done this. I put the phone to my ear, "Hello. Claire speaking. Who's this?"

"Mr. Newcome here. The principal at your son's school." he said, I rolled my eyes.

"Oh dear. What did he do now? Did he put a tack on the teacher's seat again?" Seriously, my brother did that in Grade Two.

"No, no, ma'am. He's been very good. This is concerning his grades. Could you possibly come into the school?" My principal asked.

Uh...no. I smiled, turning to face my grateful brother, "Could I possibly come into the school? Like for an interveiw?"

My brother, Zac shook his head. Begging me with those eyes of his. I smiled. Mr. Newcome said, "Yes, exactly."

"Sorry. I have a pretty tight schedule, lately. Business is blooming. How 'bout we do it now?" I asked.

"Sure, that's great. Okay, so about his Math marks..."Mr. Newcome continued to talk and I grinned at my brother, giving him the thumbs-up. He exhaled deeply and hugged me, mouthing, I love you.

Yeah, only when I save his butt. I nodded and said, Oh. and Mmhmm...I'll speak to him about that. Finally Mr. Newcome said, "If you could get him to study more often next year, that'd be great. It was nice chatting with you, dear."

"Yes. You too. Oh, shoot. Would you look at the time, I've missed my favourite tv show. Oh, and I love that show. It was a special too. Darn it, I was looking forward to that all week." I laughed silently and my brother laughed. "Oh, don't eat that bread, Bella! It went stale since I haven't been out to the store yet tonight. I should go. Bye." and I hung up. I laughed and smiled, "You owe me."

Now I looked at the time, I had 5 minutes. Dammit. Zac said, "Yeah, thanks."

"Okay, pay half your dues now. Kelly's not home and I need to get ready for a party, now." I said, nodding. "Help me!"

I raced up the stairs. I already knew what I was going to wear, but I needed help with the make-up, hair and how to wear it, kind of thing. That normally was something I did with Keesha, Elizabeth and Kat. But you know, I fell asleep. Zac groaned but he followed me up. I raced into the bathroom, changing into the jeans with the little "b-dazzlers", as Keesha called them, on the butt, reselmbing a heart. Or something. Then I threw on a tank top, covering it with a flirty top. I raced out, brushing my hair.

"What do I have to do?" he asked. I tried to straighten my curls. I hate them. Zac asked, "Why are you doing that?"

"I hate my curls! I don't have time to straigten them!" I complained.

"No, don't. Curls are in." Zac told me.

I don't know how he knows that. Nor do I want to. Sometimes I swear he's gay. But no, he's not. He's supposely "hot", ick in my mind, to Keesha and Kat, and about a million other girls who swarm him. I turned to face him, "My make-up?"

"Light blue eye shadow. A dab of blush, nothing else." Zac told me.

I tilted my head, "Sure you're not gay?"

"No!" he threw a pillow at me. I swear, that's helping his arguement. I did as he said and he threw me my purse and car keys. "Good luck!" he yelled, as I slipped into my flip-flops and ran out of the house.

I got into my car and drove to Keesha's house. I got out and knocked on the door. Keesha smiled. "Oh! I thought you weren't going to come! Guys, we can go now! Bella's here!"

"Oh?" I said, surprised. "I was running late. I fell asleep on--"

"Enough of that. We gotta go." Keesha said, smiling. She walked out of the house, passing me, and Kat and Elizabeth smiled as they raced to the car. I followed and Keesha started her car.

Once we were at Hunter's house--everyone knew where he lived: 34 Scymore Street-- we got out and Keesha looked at me, "Flip-flops, really?"

I scoffed, "Yes, really."

We raced up his pathway and knocked on the door. A guy I knew as Jay, answered the door. He was wasted. "Hey, girls! How's it going? Come on in, and join the par-tay!"

"Ew." I said, stepping in. He reeked of alchol. I brushed past, the music was blasting loud and everyone was either talking or dancing. I rolled my eyes, and my friends smiled.

"I can't believe we're at Hunter's party!" Keesha whispered in my ear. She squealed.

"This is awful!" I heard Elizabeth say, "I can't believe that people listen to this...stuff!"

"I'm not too keen on it either." Kat replied.

But Keesha started to dance, and we sat down on the couch. A guy leaned over the back of the couch and asked me, "Wanta check out the bedroom, baby?"

"Ew. No, thank you." I said, shuddering. He looked like I had slapped him in the face.

"But baby--everyone wants a piece of me." he said.

"Not baby. Not me." I replied, turning away from him.

"Not you? Oh, now you're just making me hot. I like a game of mouse and cats." he told me. I wanted to barf.

"Get outta my face, loser." was what I wanted to say. But someone pulled him away from me and saying, "Dude. Lay off her."

"Oh, she's your dirty girl. Sorry, man. I wouldn't have asked if I'd known." the guy said, swaying back and forth. I looked up to see that Hunter had been my..."dirty man"...

The guy leaned down to face Kat, "Hey, baby."

"Ew." Kat said.

I was a tad angry. He was really getting on my nerves. "Hey, baby?" I asked.

He looked at me. I did the only thing that became natural--I punched him.

Remember that law I told you about? One where girls can't punch guys and not get charged? Well apparently when he was asking me for sexual favours, the cops let me off for punching him. Yeah, some girl called the cops on me, saying there was a fight and I was a potenial threat. So, my first "Hunter party" and I wound up at the police station--along with Hunter himself for having the party with drunkees and drugees. But I told the police that hadn't been his intention and he really was trying to get people to stop and he had been planning to call cabs. Yeah, I lied to save his butt. When the police asked if I had had anything to drink, I said no, and then they asked if I had done drugs, and I said no. I had just gotten there. I got my "one phone call" because well, you know, I needed a ride out of there. I called Zac, who had recently gotten his driver's license.

"Zac? Remember that thing you owe me? The favour?" I asked.

"Yeah? What can I do?" he asked.

"Can you pick me and a friend up?"

"At the party? You just left not that long ago." he said, "Something happened?"

"Yeah." I said, "Something happened."

"Where's the party?" he asked.

"Not at the party. Can you pick me up at the police station?"

"What?"

So, Zac came and picked me and Hunter up. When he walked in and saw me, he said, "Woah! Sis. You okay?"

"Fine. Can I go now?" I asked the cops. They nodded.

"Now, don't go to a party like that again. And don't you throw one." a cop said.

Hunter nodded. We walked silently, out to the car. We got in and I put my head against the seat. I said, "I didn't think that I'd wind up there, tonight."

"Me neither." Hunter said, "Listen, Isabella. I'm sorry about this, if I hadn't offered beer at the--"

"It's okay. I didn't get charged." I replied. Okay, so honestly, I didn't care. Seriously, I couldn't wait to tell Keesha, Kat and Izzy my arrest. I mean, I got taken out of a party in hand cuffs. How awesome? Maybe it's not something I should be proud of, but I couldn't help it. I was. Very proud.

"And thanks...for lying for me." Hunter added.

"You, the truth-teller, Goddess of All That Is Good and Pure, lied for him, the Drunken, Drugee Party Thrower?" Zac asked.

"Yeah...I couldn't just leave him in there. Although, I'm sure he's familiar to it." I said, smirking at Hunter. "Turn left here."

"Don't worry. I know where the idiot lives." Zac replied.

"Hey. Back off. I didn't ask her to lie for me." Hunter said, "I just have an irrestible charm that all girls fall for."

I did it again. I punched Hunter. See, I had wanted to do it earlier. But I held back. This time, I didn't. Then, as he inspected his nose, I asked, "Still think you're irrestible?"

"Brat!" he replied. "You punched me!"

"Not fun, is it?" Zac asked.

"Brat?" I questioned.

"I'm going to have a black eye!" Hunter replied.

"Black eye?" I asked, "I hit you in the nose. Some eye you have there."

"Ugh. Stop the car." he said, Zac pulled over. He opened the door and added, "I thought you were the silent sweet girl. Obvisiously I was wrong."

"Obvisously." I repeated. He got out and slammed the door. Zac and I started to laugh. It was that funny.

A couple days later, Keesha, Kat and I walked down to the school, talking about me punching two guys in the face in one night.

"Well, I had good reason for both of them." I said, defensivly.

"Punching Hunter because he called himself irrestible was not a good reason." Keesha scolded.

"I think it was." I replied dryly. "It was too irrestible not to have punched him. Besides, he's a jerk." That I can't stop thinking about.

"Never again." Kat said, sighing, "Will I go with you to a party sober."

"Haha." I said, shaking my head. Elizabeth ran up to us.

"Isabella, you'll never guess who's here today!" she said, smiling.

"Hunter?" I asked.

"Yeah, and you've gotta see his nose! It sticks out in a crowd!" Izzy told me, excitiedly.

I smiled. Sure, I was going to see where I had left my mark. I opened my locker and looked at my calander. Today was the last day of school, and offically the first day of my volunteer work at the hospital. There was only one person, who I knew, who had signed up too. Hunter. Great. I shut my locker door and somebody cleared their throat beside me. I looked up. The drunk guy from the party who had asked me to go to the bedroom.

"Oh." I said, smiling nervously. "Hi." I noticed his eye was swollen and bruised. He grinned.

"Sorry about Friday night's party. I guess you got your revenge." he said, still grinning. "I just can't believe I was so wasted that I let a girl punch me."

"Sorry about that. It was...instinct. I mean, insensitive. I mean, I...I don't know what I mean. Except that I'm sorry I punched you...?" I was flustered. I hadn't realized how hot he was.

He laughed, "It's okay. I wouldn't have done anything like that sober, but apparently the juice was spiked. And well...I like juice." He grinned and I laughed this time. I walked down the hall, with him, "Heard I wasn't the only one you punched."

"Oh?" I asked. "No, I suppose you weren't. See, that's what I do for money. I go around punching guys for people. It was a hot blonde, whom you had...already daunted, who paid me the thousand bucks. Yeah, I enjoyed it."

I smiled. His smile dropped and he asked, really seriously, "You don't actually do that do you?"

I laughed, shaking my head, "No, no. I was just nervous and ticked at you. You set something off. I'm still sorry."

"So why'd you punch Hunter?" he asked.

"Oh, he said he was irrestible. And I proved him wrong." I said, smiling. I stopped in front of my History class, "This is me."

"Oh. Okay." he smiled, "I'll see you around, Isabella."

He turned and left me alone. Of course, it hit me, his name was Matthew. See, I'm a little slow. But I waved and walked into my classroom. Guess who I sat beind every day in History--yeah, Hunter. I groaned silently and sat down. He wasn't here. Maybe he was skipping class, I thought, perking up. Two seconds later, I look up and there he is. Sitting in front of me. I sighed and wished we had a test today. But no--apparently the last day of school, you did no work. So, the teacher left the class and everyone sat around talking. I talked to the girl beside me, her name was Libby.

We were talking about the summer and stuff when Hunter turned around and asked, "Aren't you going to say you're sorry?"

I looked at him and asked, "Pardon? Were you talking to me? The girl who punched you, making you so scared you had to jump out of the car? And run home?" Well, that's what I wanted to say. But instead I looked at him and asked, "Pardon?"

"Aren't you going to say you're sorry?" Hunter repeated. Of course I had heard him the first time, but you know.

I acted offended, "Well, you started it."

"Ugh. I hope I don't see you at the hospital." he said, sounding disgusted. I rolled my eyes. He turned away from me.

School past slowly and Matthew was hanging around me, as much as one could in a day of school, and I enjoyed his company. He was funny and sweet, and sincerly sorry for me punching him. I waved bye to him, as I got into my car. I drove off, silently, and didn't go home. I drove to the hospital. I had already went through the orientation, and decided to continue with the program. I drove into the hospital's parking lot. I got out and raced through the doors. I smiled and found my supervisior on the fourth floor.

"What can I do?" I asked Melanie Baxter.

She smiled, "Volunteer?" I nodded. She smiled. "Do you have your shirt?"

I nodded, pulling it out of my purse. "Yeah."

"Okay, then. Change and meet me at room 413." Melanie said, smiling. "You'll be working with me and the next volunteer to come to me."

I nodded and raced down to the change rooms. Changing, I raced back to 413. I walked in, trying to compose myself. The top was pink and across it is had a halo and the words, Pink Angel Volunteer.

I smiled, seeing an five-year old girl, and Melanie. Melanie smiled, "Katie? This is a volunteer..."

"Isabella." I supplied.

"Her and a boy will be helping you...before you go to sleep. For a long, long time." Melanie said, sighing. She smiled and walked over to me, pulling me out of the room.

"Is she...dying?" I asked, swallowing that lump in my throat.

"Its a job I'd never give to newcomers, but her mother and father asked for it. She's dying of...long-time, well advanced terimal cancer. Her name's Katie Bell. Make sure she has everything she wants. Her parents want her to die happy." Melanie told me. She shook her head, "Don't get attached. Come see me around six o'clock."

She turned and walked away. I stood there, "Wha--What?"

"I know. She's so cold." a voice came. I whipped around. Hunter stood there. I swayed back and forth.

"Oh." I said, "You're not working with Katie too...are you?"

"Yeah, I am. I gather you are too. Now, the less we talk, the better." Hunter told me. He turned and walked in to Katie's room. I followed.

"Hey, who are yoou?" Katie asked.

"I'm Hunter." Hunter said, with a gentle smile. I went and sat down on the chair beside her bed, watching him. His face lite up, "I hear your name's Katie. That doesn't happen to be Katie Bell, does it?"

Her face lite up quickly. She smiled, "That's my name!"

"Really? Wow. You're named after a very special fairy." he told her.

"I am?" she asked.

Hunter looked at me, and said, "Isn't she, Isabella?"

I hopped right in, "Yes, you are! Do you want to hear about her?"

"Yes! Please!" Katie added, staring at us. Hunter nodded at me, as if to say, start it. I didn't know if he already had one in mind, but I started off with my own story.

"Okay, so. Once upon there was this pretty fairy. She was tiny and pretty. Her cheeks were rosey pink and she loved to wear her little pink dress. Almost like a ballerina's dress. She was kind and caring. She loved Nature, with all the animals and trees and wildlife. But she loved helping people more." I looked at Hunter and smiled. He nodded and I continued, "Her name was...Katie Bell, but she liked to be called Bell. She was sweet and kind, but she was also clever and tricky."

Hunter interrupted, by saying, "So clever and tricky that she went blind."

"Blind?" Katie asked, her eyes going wide.

"Not that she couldn't see. She could see, but she missed things. Like, she'd fly by--" Hunter said.

"She could fly?" Katie asked.

"You didn't know faries could fly?" I asked, surprised. Katie shook her head. I said, "Well, then. We'll just have to tell you all about faries."

"Yes! How big were they? How did they fly?" Katie asked.

"Hey, want me to run down to the children's libaray on the second floor and get a book on faries?" Hunter asked me.

"Sure. That be great." I said, smiling.

"Oh! then you must tell me about Bell!" Katie said, her eyes filling up with curiousity.

Hunter smiled and said, "I'll be back, Katie." he was at the door when I took a big breath, and stood up.

"Can I come with you, Hunter?" I asked.

He turned and asked, "Really?"

I smiled, fumbling with my fingers, "Look, I think I could help pick out the best fariy book, because well, I know about faries. I met one once."

"You met one?" Katie's eyes went big. I winked at her.

"I did. She was so pretty. That's a story for another day, okay? Remind me to tell you about it, okay?" I said, smiling.

"Oh! Okay! I want to know everything about faries first!" Katie said, "Hurry back please!"

I smiled and followed Hunter out of the room. I walked to the elevator. Hunter walked past. I asked, "Where are you going?"

"To use the stairs. I told you, I don't want to talk to you more than I have to." Hunter said, walking through a door marked, stairwell. I looked at the elevator door that had just opened.

"Oh." I said, and followed him. Catching up to him down the stairs, I said, "I'm sorry about punching you. It wasn't a smart thing to do. Besides, you just perved me. I'm sorry. Seriously."

He turned and looked at me, he shook his head, "Look, I don't want you to say your sorry and expect something out of this."

"I..." I was speechless. Then I said, "Listen. I don't expect anything out of saying sorry. Except for someone to talk cilvil to me. I just don't want you being nice to me in front of Katie and then rude the second she's out of ear shot!"

And I brought on what Kat called, The Pity Trick. I brought on the tears. I sat on the stairs and buried my face in my hands.

"Isabella?" he asked, sounding uneasy.

"It's not fair! I...I just can't control myself...I shouldn't have punched you! I shouldn't have gotten you all stiff and mad! Ugh...." I said, sniffing.

"Bella? It's okay..." Hunter said, sitting beside me. He wrapped his arm my shoulder, and I felt a tingling go through me. I pretended to dry my fake tears. I shook my head, I'm such a good dramatic.

"Is it? Is it really?" I asked, pushing his arm off me, standing up and racing down the next set of stairs. He sighed and followed. I opened the door marked 3 and walked through. I dried my tears, those had been real, but they weren't true and I smiled, despite myself. I walked into the children's library. Hunter caught up to me.

"Hey, listen...you punched me. Therefore, I have every right to be mad at you." Hunter told me, whispering in my ear. I jumped, feeling his body just behind mine. I didn't say anything, but I took a deep breath, he continued, "You don't get to pull the water-works on me, missy." He moved away from me, so that the people around us wouldn't suspect us for...whatever you'd think we'd be doing. I stared at him as he said louder, "Come on, let's go find that book for Katie Bell."

He smiled, and grabbed my hand. I mean, seriously. He could act. I let him pull me to the fairy tales section. He pulled me down, to look through the books on the second last shelf.

"What are you doing?" I hissed. Clearly, I was wrong about him.

"I'm acting like everything's okay. Okay?" he hissed back. "I don't want to make a scene about it."

I raised an eye brow, "Okay, then. Now, you can see why I hate you."

"Oh, you're not the only one with a strong feeling of hate around here, missy." he whispered, then in that louder--see, nothing's wrong voice-- he asked me, "Do you think she'll like this book?"

He pulled a book out and I asked, "No, I think she'll like this one, don't you?"

I flipped through my book, that I held. It was all about faries. I smirked and stood. I walked over and said to the librarian, "Room 413."

"Okay. Just take it. Make sure you return it." she said, not looking up. I rolled my eyes and walked out of the library. Then I raced for the elevator, the door opened immediately. I turned and saw Hunter walking, without a book in his hands, towards the staircase. I sighed. I won this round.

Round? I asked myself. I suppose it was a game now...

I shrugged and when the elevator doors opened, I saw Hunter leaning against the wall, waiting. I walked out and we walked silently to Katie's room. That night we taught her about faires, and finished the story of Katie Bell, who was a fairy who helped save a princess from the princess's cursed fate. I also added a prince in there, so there was a love story to the princess part. Katie seemed to, despite Hunter's glare, soak in the love story.

"Does Katie Bell fall in love?" Katie asked.

"Do you want her to?" Hunter asked.

"Yes! Yes!" she cried, "Who does she fall in love with?"

"Tomorrow night, okay?" I asked, looking at the clock. It was 7 pm. We were supposed to see Melanie an hour ago. Oops, I thought. I said, with a soft smile, "We'll tell you about how she falls in love with an elf."

"Which is forbidden." Hunter said, "By the Fairy Queen and even the Elves' King. But they sneak around."

"Yeah...?" Katie said, her eyes wide.

"Tomorrow, Katie. Go to sleep." he told her.

"Okay." she said, yawning. "Mama's supposed to come the day after tomorrow."

"We'll love to meet her." I told her, brushing her hair out of her face.

"I want her to meet you. You're pretty." she said, smiling at me. She closed her eyes. I stood and motioned Hunter to do the same. He did and we both slipped silently out of the room. I reached back to shut the door and Katie asked, "Will you come back tomorrow?"

"All day, now get to sleep, sweetie." I promised, shutting the door. I smiled and looked at Hunter, "We have to report to Melanie."

"The Cold One." he told me, and I laughed.

"Yeah, the Heartless One."

"Oh. Good one." he said, smiling.

"Oh, burn. I got you to smile!" I said, grinning. I stuck my tongue out at him. He did the same to me.

"Come on, let's go down to the Nurse's floor." Hunter suggested.

"Stairs again?" I asked, the Nurse's floor was 3 floor down.

"No. Elevator." Hunter said, "I'm not walking down 3 flights of stairs."

I smiled and followed him to the elevator. As we waited I asked, "She's a sweetheart, isn't she?"

"She really is. And until she..." he trailed off. The reality was, she'd never have her first kiss, nor her first boyfriend. I sighed and closed my eyes. I heard a dinging. "Isabella? Come on." Hunter's voice came. I opened my eyes. He was holding the elevator door open for me. "You okay?"

I shook my head, ridding myself with the fact that Katie wouldn't live until her sixth birthday. I walked in and nodded, "Yeah. Fine. Just thinking that Katie's never going to fall in love..."

"And that's more important then her living until her sixth birthday....how?" Hunter asked, skeptically.

"Falling in love is very important to any girl. I mean, it's the soul center of life. Not love, but falling in love. I mean, she'll never feel the electricity run through her body when she and him touch, or cry because he broke her heart." I sighed, "It's something every girl has to go through. Maybe not guys...but it's important."

"It's important to guys." Hunter said, defensivly. Then he shrugged, "I guess the girl's gotta have a nice figure and a really hot butt."

My eyes grew wide. "Ugh..." I said, "How can you say that?"

"How can you punch a stranger?" he countered.

"Easily. See, you make a fist, and then you do, what you call, a follow through and make contact with the person's face." I told him, punching him slow-motioned. Except, my hand brushed his face and I pulled back.

"I see." Hunter said.

I smiled, "You said you didn't want to talk to me, and yet, you do. A lot."

"Shut up, brat." he replied, staring at the doors.

"Don't call me that." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Brat." he repeated.

I didn't say anything. We walked silently through the halls on the Nurse's floor. Finally, we found Melanie. But she told us, "You're an hour and fifteen minutes late. Now, be on time and get away."

"What time tommorro--" I started to say.

"I said, go." Melanie said, glaring at me, "You're wasting my time."

I looked at Hunter, for support, but he was walking away. I raced to catch up to him, and I asked under my breath, "Why is she so cold?"

"My guess, she lost a paitent that she had gotten close to." Hunter told me. Actually, that made perfect sense. Now I felt kind of bad. Hunter and I walked out to the parking lot. I raced up to my car and waved bye to Hunter.

"See ya tomorrow." I called out. I got into my car and turned my engine on. But it didn't go on. It sputtered and that was it. I closed my eyes and tried again. Nothing. A tap came from the window and I jumped, and squealed. I looked up and saw Hunter. I opened the door. "What?" I sputtered.

"Well, if you talk like that, I won't help you. I was going to offer you help. But nevermind." Hunter said, turning on his heel.

"Wait! Wait!" I said, getting out of the car. He turned to face me. "I just figured you were going to laugh at me."

He smiled and shook his head, "I may hate you, but I'm not that mean."

I smiled. Maybe it was the way he said it, or maybe it was just the words, but I took a deep breath and could've swore that he meant he wouldn't be that mean to me. But maybe it was just his big brown eyes that I saw that. He didn't hate me. He couldn't. He didn't know me. And I didn't know him. Yet, I punched him. I sighed and he walked over to the car's hood. He popped it open and smoke came out.

"Woah. It's toast." he said, smiling.

"It's brand new!" I complained, "Okay, not brand brand new. But still..."

"It'll cost you quite a bit of green to replace..." he started.

"Okay, don't start with all that talk. I never understood it." I cut him off. I shook my head and walked over to him. "How much will it cost to replace or do whatever needs to be done?"

"About..." he sighed, then considered it, "Maybe a grand."

"What? I might as well get a new car!" I said, because, well, it's true.

"That cost you a lot more, trust me." Hunter said, shaking his head.

"How do I get home?" I asked. "Well, I suppose I could call one of those stinky cabs, with the gucky, old, rotten seats. Or I could call Zac, but I think he said he had a hot date with that girl... But then, maybe I could call my sister, Natile, but she's out shopping and we try and avoid each other all together, seriously. She's like this huge pain and...right. My ride home. I'll call a cab, it's easier."

"No, no, no. I vowed never to leave a damsel in distress." Hunter told me, winking. "Come on, I'll write a note and leave it on the dashboard explaing why it's staying. And then I'll drive you home."

"But aren't enemies supposed to laugh and leave one another stranded?" I asked.

"No. Not nice enemies. Would you drive off on me?" Hunter asked, smiling.

I thought about it. No, I felt too guilty about the whole me-punching-him-for-no-real­-reason. I smiled, shaking my head, "No, I wouldn't. I do have a nice side."

"Go on and get into my truck. Instead of writing a note, I think I'll just tell the clerk lady." Hunter told me. I nodded and thought about what his truck looked like. He smiled and pointed to it. I smiled back and raced over to it. I opened the passanger's side and hopped in. His truck was running and soft music was playing. It wasn't rock, like I had expected, so I switched it to rock, station 105.7 fm and I started singing along to a well-known song. The song finished and another one came on, my favourite song, Lips of an Angel by Hinder. I sang along, of course and closed me eyes.

"Coming from the lips of an annggel..." I sang, and heard the truck door shut. I opened my eyes and closed my mouth. Hunter sat smiling at me, beside me. I gasped. "Knock first!"

"It's my truck!" Hunter protested, "And," he turned the volume down, "It's very loud."

"Was." I muttered.

"Yes, was."Hunter replied, "And by the way, you're a very awful singer."

"I know. My family tells me so when I come out of the shower." I told him.

He laughed, "You're a shower-singer?"

"To my own songs." I said, smiling. He laughed. "Do you care for this?"

"Yeah. A bit." he told me, "But it's not all bad. I didn't see you to be one to care for this."

"Huh?" I said, "I meant, do you mind driving me home?"

"Oh. No. I thought you meant the music." Hunter said, turning four roads away from my house.

"Hey, do you know where you're going?" I asked. He turned again, getting warmer.

"Of course." he replied.

"How did you know where I lived?" I asked.

"I've always known where you lived." Hunter replied dryly, "I've known since Grade Three."

"Grade Three?" I asked. "You went to...Pineclass School?"

"You were off in your own little world, always smiling. I could never show off to you, because you always had your head above the clouds, thinking I was an idiot. Not coodies, but an idiot." Hunter told me, smiling, "And your friends never let you outta their sight. So there was no chance of me ever talking to you, or you ever knowing I was alive."

I was shocked, no, stunned. I asked, after a moment, "Why didn't I notice you?"

"Because, as I said, you were in your own little bubble. I was only there in Grade Three to Grade Seven. Otherwise, you were going to be my grad...Oh, here we are. I'll see you tomorrow, Isabella." he said, pulling in my driveway. I knew, in some odd way, I had been dismissed.

"Bye, Hunter." I said, "Thanks for the ride." I opened the door and went to shut it. But I caught it and smiled. I looked at him and said, "And Hunter, just for the record, I notice you now, more than anyone."

He smiled and said, "Bella?" I nodded, "If you can't get a ride tomorrow, you know my number, right?"

To be honest, I'm sure I could get it from Keesha, but then she'd ask why..."Actually, no. I don't."

"Really?" he asked. "Well, I'll call you then."

"You know my phone number?" I asked, shocked.

Hunter simply said, "I know more than you think."

I smiled, "Thanks. I'll be waiting for your call. And do call, and don't be one of those guys who simply forget."

He nodded, "I don't know how I can possibly forget my...ahem, enemy."

I laughed and shut the door. I ran up to the porch and looked back, Hunter smiled and slowly pulled out of my driveway. I put my hand on the door handle and waved to him. I turned the door handle and pushed the door open, but I didn't move my feet. Hunter honked, waved and left. I waited until he was out of sight before going into the house. I entered and shut the door. Zac came down the stairs to greet me. I think.

"Hey, sis. Who was your date?" he asked, smiling.

"Not a date. Hospital volunteer work. My car died, or something. So, I got a ride home and left my car there." I explained quickly. He stopped on the seventh step or so. "Your date?"

He smiled and I took my jacket off. He told me, "Hot. Pretty. Funny. Smart. Perfect."

"The date, not the girl." I told him, taking my shoes off.

"Oh, it was fun. We went down to the movies."

"Classic." I replied.

"I thought you'd approve." I walked up the stairs, and he told me, "Good movie. You should see it. It's called Sweet Home Alabama."

I laughed, "You didn't go to the movies! That movie's been out for over two years!"

"Approve or not?" he asked. I leaned over the banister.

"Total approval. It's like a classic romance movie." I said, shaking my head. "You know how to have a date. Pop corn? Pop?"

"Pop corn and Coke." he told me. I smiled, and he added, "And I better know how to have a date. You taught me how to date. How to talk to girls, how to act, and that stuff. I have to hand it to you, it works."

I laughed again and walked to my room, saying, "I'm the best. I know it." I went and sat down on my bed. I took my earrings out and groaned. I took my socks off and wiggled my toes. Then I pulled my pony tail out and shook my hair. I sighed and layed back on my bed.

I didn't dream about Hunter. Not this time anyways. I dreamt about fairies, and Katie Bell being one of them. She danced around, lighting the world up. I followed her across a feild of wild flowers. She told me, "Life isn't going to be all about fun. And make sure your eyes are open to what's in front of you, Isabella." she said my name just like Hunter had the first time he said it. Like he had been waiting to say it all his life. I sighed and Katie Bell left me alone in the feild.

When I woke, I had still been picturing that feild. I got out of bed and went downstairs to eat breakfast. Zac and Natile looked up. Zac smiled and Nat scoffed.

"Mornin'." I said, yawning. To be honest, I wasn't tired. I felt refreshed, but anyways...

"Morning. Hunter called around 9 asking when you wanted to leave. I told him you were in the shower and would call back." Nat told me.

"What time is it now?" I asked.

"Quarter to ten." Zac replied.

I freaked. "Oh, great! Did he leave a number?"

"Yeah, it's right there. I wrote it down for you." Nat told me. "He also said you were a brat for taking a shower."

"Oh, really?" I said, "Well, thanks."

I grabbed the phone and picked up the piece of paper with his number on it. I went up stairs and dialed his number.

"Hello?" a woman's voice came.

"May I speak to Hunter?" I asked, politely.

"He's not home. He went to pick up a girl for a date. Sorry, hon, but he's taken." and she hung up.

"What?" I asked the air. I hung up and went into the shower. I took about 2 mins, basically rushing the entire process. It had to look like I actually had a shower. Then, as I was blow-drying my hair, I thought, what if he actually had a date? And had been calling to cancel? I shook my head and brushed my teeth while blow-drying my hair. Odd multi-tasking, I know. Then, when my hair was still damp, I raced into my room to change. I did this quickly, since we had to wear the same volunteer top, and a pair of jeans, it wasn't so hard. Once I was presentable, Zac called up to me.

"What?" I asked, walking into the hall and over to the banister. Hunter was at the door.

"Hi." he said. Zac stood by him, smiling.

"Hunter's here." Zac told me.

"Cows go moo." I replied. He grinned. Hunter looked at us. I smiled and added, "Cows go moo means stating the obvisous."

"Oh. I see." Hunter said, grinning.

"Yeah. I tried to call you, but you had already left. Apparently, to go fetch a date, and apparently, you're taken." I said, walking down the stairs. Hunter looked confused. "When I called, I got a woman."

"My sister. Man, I hate her." Hunter said, turning to Zac he asked, "Do your sisters tell girls to buzz off?"

"Only if I ask them too." Zac told him.

"We're pretty good at keeping calls." Nat walked in, saying. Hunter stared at her, and she told Zac, "Oh, your girlfriend called but I told her you had company. I wrote her number down. And you can't call her, 'cuz I'm going to call Jack and wait for him to say sorry."

She walked up the stairs and I asked, "Wait, Jack, the one who pushed you down the stairs and broke your wrist?"

Nat turned on the spot. "For your information, he did not push me, I fell."

"No, you didn't." Zac said, "He pushed you so that another girl, whom he was also seeing, wouldn't know he was cheating on her."

"What?" Nat sputtered. "That is so not true! Jack is true to me and me only!"

"No, he's not!" I said, "He's been dating every other girl in the town."

"Leave me alone! I hate you guys!" Nat yelled and ran into her room. She slammed the door. I looked at Zac.

"I didn't start it." Zac told me. I looked at Hunter, who shrugged.

"I'll be right back. Honestly. Why do I have to play "Mom" around here?" I asked.

"Because mom's dead and you're the oldest. And you're a girl." Zac replied. I ran up the stairs, pressing my eyes closed. I had been really close to my Mom, and she was the only reason I moved in with my dad 14 months ago. Because she died. But before she died, she had given me a brand new car. I cherish that car, which was currently still in the parking lot of the hospital. I walked into Nat's room. She was crying, merely a cry.

I sat down on her bed and rubbed my hand up and down her back like our mom had down. She turned and looked at me. I whispered, "We're just looking out for you, Nat. We don't want you to get hurt again, we hate seeing you upset."

She nodded, "I know. But I really like this guy."

"Would it help if I told you I knew someone who was hot and in love with you, that's not Jack?" I asked. She grinned and nodded again. "You know, Keesha's brother?"

"Keesha's brother?" she asked, her eyes going wide. She said, "Why?"

"Because you're a great girl." I smiled. I wasn't cut out for this whole "Motherly" act. So, you know, that's all I could think to say. "Besides, you two hang out sometimes. And well, I think he loves you. He's always asking about you."

"He is?" she sniffled.

"Yeah, 'course." I said, "Look, I gotta go. Hopistal volunteer duty calls me."

"Hospital volunteer duty?" Nat asked. I picked up a pillow and threw it at her.

"Do you ever listen?" I asked, laughing. I stood, "Look, I gotta go. Why don't you call Keesha's brother and just ask to hang out?"

"Oh. Okay." she smiled, "Well, wait."

"Hum...?"

"Is that why the hottie's downstairs?" Nat asked.

"He's not hot." I replied, nodding and I walked out smiling. I walked down the stairs, the door was shut and Zac and Hunter were gone. I shook my head and walked slowly down the stairs. I knew Zac brought him into the living room, or maybe the kitchen, and if they were in the kitchen, it meant that Zac wanted to "casually" talk to Hunter. I shook my head and poked my head into the living room. No one. I sighed, silently and walked slowly over to the kitchen door.

"Well? That's not an answer, and you know it! I know you like her, admit it." Zac said.

I silently cursed him.

I heard Hunter say, "Well, I like her out of respect. Okay?"

"Respect?" Zac asked, and I mouthed.

"Yes, respect. She doesn't mind showing anyone, she's the boss. I respect her for that. But otherwise, I don't like your sister, man." Hunter told Zac.

"Aww..." I mouthed, rolling my eyes.

"Dude, she's totally hot for you." Zac told him. I could see him grinning in my mind.

"She is?" Hunter asked.

"I hate you, Zac." I whispered.

"Totally." Zac said, "She like, talked about you, consently last night. Saying you're a great guy and must hate her a lot, because you drove her home last night."

I cursed in my mind again. I waited for Hunter's reply. Hunter finally said, I think he was the one who sighed, "Well, I'm sorry she feels that way. But I don't. Honestly. I don't. She's a brat, if you get my meaning. And I can't like nor trust her."

"What did you call my sister?" Zac asked. I pushed the door open, smiling.

"Hey, what's going on? I couldn't find you." I asked, cheerfully. Neither answered. "Well, anyways, Hunter? Can we go now? Katie Bell will be waiting."

"Katie Bell?" Zac asked.

"Apparently she hasn't told you everything." Hunter replied, distastfully. He turned and smiled, "Let's get outta here."

The thing was, Hunter made it sound like a command rather than a suggestion, I had made. But I smiled and said, "Let's. I'll see you later, Zac. And don't wear that brown tie on your date!"

Hunter and I left quickly. We got into his truck, without saying a word. When we got to the hospital, I said, "Thanks for the ride, again. I'll call a towtruck to take my car out of the parking lot, you go ahead to Katie's room."

"Yeah." he said, walking passed me. I made a face at him, then I ran to catch up with him.

"What's wrong?" I asked. "Did Zac say something rude to you? Or something?"

"No. He was nice. Now, drop the subject." Hunter told me.

"But..." I said, "...I just opened it..."

He turned to face me, his eyes were blazing with hate. Or digust. I'm really not sure. He said, evenly, "Look, Isabella, I'm sorry to be a heart breaker and all, but I don't like you."

I couldn't help it, I burst into laughter. It was just so funny, here he was, telling me that he was trying to be a "heart breaker". I smiled and said, when his face filled with cunfusion, "Hunter, I don't like you either. So what's the problem? Did you think I was in love with you, or something?"

"Uh...yeah." Hunter said, more cunfused, probably 'cuz I couldn't have been happier, "But Zac said..."

"Oh? Zac said?" I inquired, "Zac doesn't know squat about my feelings for you. In fact, he didn't know you existed in my world at the moment. He probably thought something was up because you picked me up. He didn't even know it was you who drove me home last night, either."

Oops. I let it slip that I had easedropped. Hunter grinned and shook his head, "So you were listening. I had a feeling someone was easedropping. So, I suppose you talking about is a lie too?"

"Yeah." I said, as cheerful as I could, "And by the way, my sister thinks you're a hottie."

"Me? No way." Hunter said, seeming to be pleased by this bit of information.

"Totally." I replied, we walked into the hospital, I smiled at the nurses we passed, and walked over to the clerk. Hunter trailed behind me.

"What do you think?" Hunter asked.

"Meh. You're not bad, just...well, I've seen better." I replied, shrugging. I smiled to the nurse, "Hi, may I use your phone? To call a towtruck for my car?"

"The one that broke down?" the clerk asked. I nodded, and she said, "Sure, go ahead."

I smiled, "Thanks." I picked it up and dialed the number I had gotten from the phone book the night before. "Hello? Yes, I was wondering if you could pick up my car. It's at the hospital on Third Street. Yes, licsene plate number, B-E-L-L-A-I-S-A. Okay, that's Isabella Brate. Yes, that's spelt B-r-a-t-e. Yes, there's an e. Okay. And can you take it to 71 Luve Street? L-u-v-e. Yes? How much? What? No, sorry, it's less than five minutes away! What? Don't use MapQuest. Well, it's going to give you a longer route." I was arguing, "Ugh. Fine, whatever. Just have it there by noon. Yes, I know what time it is. Just do it. Please?"

Hunter shook his head, "Always have to have your way?"

"Yes, thank you. Bye." I hung up. I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't be so rude. He said it was going to cost me about 50 bucks."

"What?" Hunter asked.

"I know. Anyways, I told him off. Now, come on, Katie Bell's waiting." I told him. I walked with him to the elevator. But I decided not to use the elevator. I decided to use the stairs, because...I felt alive. I smiled, as Hunter got on the elevator. "I'll race you up!"

I dashed for the stairs, and Hunter looked lost. I didn't care. Running up the stairs, four flights, wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. I opened the door and saw Hunter walk out of the elevator at the exact same moment. I took a deep breath, trying to catch my breath and smiled. Hunter shook his head and we walked into Katie Bell's room. We told her different stories about Katie Bell, the fairy, forgetting to tell her the story of the fairy and the elf falling in love.

I got my car back a couple days later, but Hunter still drove by to pick me up and drop me off. I soon found myself cheerful--which isn't always the case. About three weeks later, we walked into Katie's room, smiling but our smiles faded. Katie looked thin, weak, pale and tired.

"Is...a...bella!" Katie tried to cry. Her voice was horase and tired. I looked at Hunter and Katie said, "Hun...t...er!"

"Hey, baby girl." I said, smiling. "Do you want to hear another story?"

She nodded. But a knock came at the door. Melanie walked in. She flat out said, "No time for a story. She'll be gone in a couple hours. I need you to come with me and wait on a 67-year-old lady, with heart problems." she pointed at me, then turned to Hunter, "And you to help a 78-year-old man who just had a stroke. You need to help him to rehab and such."

"Don't...leave." Katie pleaded.

I stood and asked, "Melanie? Can't we just stay here? She's alone."

Tears filled my eyes. I had only known this girl for a couple hours the night before, but she'd captivated my heart. Melanie stared at me, "Didn't I tell you not to get attached? Very well, you have an hour. Report to Room 536 when the hour's up. And you, boy, report to room 719 now."

"No." Katie Bell said, strongly. "Hunt stays here."

Melanie looked at the little girl, and said, her jaw tightening, "You dying girl, have no opinion in this. Go, boy, now."

Melanie stormed out of the room. I was stunned, and Katie looked grumpy. Hunter looked at me. I didn't know what to say, except, "Well, it was fun to work with you, Hunter. But...oh, don't go. Katie wants you here." Katie was crying. Hunter sighed. He placed his hand on Katie's.

He whispered to her, in a calm soft tone, "I'll come back and see you, I promise. Okay? For now, let Bella tell you about the fairy and the elf."

I had almost forgotten about that. Katie nodded, "Bye-bye, Hunt."

She looked so ill. So weak, I didn't know what else to say, but, "I'll come and give you up-dates on her every half-hour. Okay?"

"What about the old lady in room 536?" Hunter asked, his eyes twinkling.

"She can get a nurse to take care of her. I'm not leaving Katie alone." I told him, firmly. He smiled.

"I'll always admire your stubborn ways." he said, turning and he left us alone.

So for the next hour, I whispered the story about Katie Bell, the fairy, and Alcan, the Elf, Katie picked the name, and how they fell in love. I told them about how Alcan decived Katie, by accident, and how Katie Bell, the fairy, wasn't ready to fogive him. Then, I told her that Alcan waited in front of Katie's house for fourteen days, until it rained and Katie brought him in so he wouldn't get a cold. Then, how they curled up in front of the fire. Then the story moved into how the Fairy Queen and the Elves' King forbade them to see each other, but how they snuck around. Finally, the story ended, when Katie and Alcan declared their love for each other in the presence of the Queen and King. The King gave up, accepting it, but the Fairy Queen didn't. She tried to poision the elf's food, who could smell poision, and she tried to get her spies to kill him, but the fairy, Katie Bell, always, always protected him. Finally, there was a war. In the end, after I found out Katie loves fights as much as love stories, the Fairy Queen died by one of her own men, it had been an accident. Okay, so really, the story ends with, "And all of the faires and elves cheered for Katie Bell to become Queen. Alcan was her King. And they lived happily ever after."

Katie smiled, and whispered back, "I wish I was Katie Bell, the fairy."

"But in your own way, you are." I told her. I had called Hunter a half hour before, and decided to do it again. "Let me call Hunter again, okay?"

I stood, pulling my cell phone out of my pocket. Katie asked, "Do you...love...him?"

I smiled, "Hunter? No. We are just friends, that's all."

Katie said, "I've...seen the....way...he...looks at you....and the...way...you...you...look...at...him..." she was having a difficulty with breathing.

"What way?" I asked, sitting back down.

Katie smiled, she took a deep breath and said, her voice thinning and getting softer, "...Like...everything's...on...fire...and it's...going to be...okay...because... there's...the other...person....sitting beside...them."

"Everything's on fire?" I asked.

"...Understand...ment..." Katie said, her eyes drooping.

"Big word, for such a little girl." I commented.

"I...like...big...words..." she said, closing her eyes. She smiled and opened her eyes again, staring at me. "Promise...me...you won't... be like... Katie Bell...the fairy... and let...something.......so little...come in...be..tw..ee..n... you...and...Hunt."

I was crying now, I held her hand. She was dying. I sighed and said, "I promise. Katie, love's real. I know it's true."

Katie nodded and whispered, "I'm scared."

"Me too." I told her, "What are you scared of?"

"The dark." Katie wheezed. "I don't...want to....be...put...in...a...big....hole...and be....forgotten....about....Is..a...b..e..ll...a..."

"You won't be forgotten about. I promise." I told her, "You never could be forgotten. You're so special. Remember that. You're special."

Katie nodded. I stood and told her, "I've got an idea."

She closed her eyes and I called Keesha. Keesha picked her cell phone up. "Hello?"

"Keesha, can you go to the dollar store..." I asked, explaining my plan. Keesha agreed and I hung up. I called Hunter and told him it wouldn't be long. He left the old man, Mr. Huggins, alone and came into the room.

Katie took a deep breath and said, "You...came..."

Hunter bent down and said, "I promised I would."

No one else spoke, but about 20 minutes later, someone knocked on the door. I nodded to Hunter, who got up. Keesha, Kat and Izzy walked in. Keesha held a box. She whispered, "I got them, Issa."

"Thank you." I said, wipping my eyes. I walked over and took the box. I opened them and told Katie, "You don't have to be afraid of the dark, because you won't be in the dark."

"I...won't...?" Katie's soft voice came. I shook my head, and opened the box. It was filled, like I'd asked, with glow-sticks, all colours and sizes.

"No...shh...close your eyes..." Hunter whispered. He saw my plan and me, him, Keesh, Kat and Izzy set out to work. We placed glow sticks around her neck, arms, wrists, legs, ankels, and even her stomach. We had snapped them, so they glew and I told her to open her eyes.

Her eyes sparkled and she said, "Than..k... yo..u..."

"Don't." I said, "It was the least I could do. Now, go to sleep."

She closed her eyes and fell to sleep. Keesha rubbed my shoulders, standing behind my chair, and said, "You did good, Issa."

I nodded, trying not to cry. But it was pointless. Tears streamed down my face and I buried my head on my knees. Keesha, Kat and Izzy left soon after that, feeling un-included. Hunter and I just watched Katie sleep. I stroked her arm, smiling.

"I didn't even know her that long...but I love her, you know?" I said to Hunter, who nodded. My voice was squeaky because I was holding back more tears. "She'll go into the light as a fairy."

"You gave her the best gift, you know." Hunter said, after a while. I looked at him, and he said, with a smile, "She was afraid of the dark, and you made it so she had nothing to be afraid of. She was afraid to be forgotten, you promised she would never be forgotten. You gave her no reason to be scared, that's the best gift you can give anyone."

I smiled, softly. I held her hand. I whispered, "I don't think it's fair she should die alone and scared, and young."

"It isn't. But when's life ever been fair, Bella?" Hunter asked. I stared at her. I don't know why, but I wished the pain she was in would end.

"Never." Katie whispered. She was awake. She opened her eyes and said to me, "Thank...you....Issa....."

"Issa." I told her, when she couldn't finish my name, "Just call me Issa."

"Issa..." Katie repeated, "...Fall in...love...for...me...please."

"Why?" I asked.

"I...want...to know...what it...feels like..." Katie whispered. Her voice ended, her eyes closed and I cried.

"I promise." I told her.

Hunter walked over and grabbed me. He held me and I cried again, hanging onto him. The door opened and Melanie walked in.

"There you are!" she said, "I've been looking all...Katie?"

"Katie's...." I tried to say, but tears filled my eyes and I choked.

"Dead?" Melanie asked. "Oh...my...gosh..." Melanie's face suddenly went soft and she walked over to Katie's bed. She took the bed sheet and covered Katie's lifeless body.

Hunter rubbed my arm and I shook my head, "It's not fair!"

"No, it isn't. I shouldn't have put you on this case. I'm sorry. It only ever takes five minutes to know Katie, and she has your heart wrapped around her little finger. Boy, take her home, please." Melanie told Hunter. He nodded and picked me up like a baby. I cried in his shoulder. He walked me into the elevator and we went down.

He whispered into my ear, "It'll be okay...Isabella. She's in a better place now...You didn't know her long enough, I know...But Isabella, life never plays fair..."

He repeated, "It'll be okay, Issa." or "It's gonna be alright, Isabella." or either of those ending in, "Bella". But never once did he tell me to stop crying. He drove me home, while I cried some more. When we reached my house, he got out, shut the door and walked over to my side. He opened the door and picked me up, like a baby, and carried me to the door. He knocked with his foot and I felt like my whole world was falling apart. Nat opened the door, her jaw dropped, and she moved aside to let us in. I sobbed harder, and Hunter carried me upstairs, and into my room. Nat had followed, and she pulled the covers off. Hunter laid me down and Nat handed him the covers. He tucked me in and kissed my forehead. For the first time, I noticed his own cheeks were wet and his eyes were red and puffy.

I put my hand up, grabbing the back of his neck, and I pulled him to me. I kissed him. It was for Katie. My promise to her. To fall in love, maybe not with Hunter, maybe with. But either way, Katie told me to fall in love, and to never let anything get between me and Hunter--again. He stepped back and smiled.

"Go to sleep." Hunter whispered. I looked around for Nat, but she had left.

"Hold me." I whispered. He didn't protest, but he climbed in the bed beside me, and on top of the covers, and wrapped his arms around my waist and his other under my neck. He squeezed me and I closed my eyes, shifting to be closer to his warm body.

Since I had fallen asleep, somewhere early afternoon, I woke late in the night, maybe early in the morning. I didn't feel Hunter holding me anymore. When I fell asleep, I gathered he would leave, because that's what they always did. Left after you fell asleep. But I was wrong. I rolled over, to go on my back, and felt someone. I turned to look, even in the dark, I could see it was Hunter. He had just let go of me. He hadn't left. I sighed, relief. I had pulled the blankets out from under him, because they were all wrapped around me. I smiled and pulled the blankets onto Hunter as well as me. I placed my arm across his chest and moved myself to be closer to him. His breathing was steady, but I knew my pusle was sky-rocketing. Why? Why was it doing that? I asked myself. I knew. Because of Hunter. I moved closer to him, again, and rested my head on his chest as well. I fell asleep once again.

I felt something shift under me, with a deep exhale and my eyes flashed open. I looked up to see Hunter's big brown eyes staring back at me. He smiled, his face lighting up. I smiled and tilted my head on my arm, which was still wrapped around Hunter.

"Mornin'." Hunter said, softly.

"Mornin'." I whispered, closing my eyes again.

We didn't speak again, nor did we move for about 15 minutes when the door opened. I turned my head, so did Hunter, to see who was at the door. My dad. I froze.

"What's this?" he asked, "Isabella...don't you dare tell me you slept with him..."

His eyes grew wide with anger. I shook my head, "No, Daddy, I didn't sleep with him, I slept beside him."

My father's eyes stared at Hunter. Hunter shifted again and said, "Honestly, sir, we did not...have sex."

My father shook his head, "I'm not running a whore-house, you know. Get out! Get out! Get out of my house, and don't show your face again!"

"Daddy!" I protested. "NAT!" I yelled. My sister could tell him the truth.

Nat walked in, and saw Hunter and I and our father. She swallowed and asked calmly, "Yes, Isabella?"

"Did I have...ahem..." I re-routed my question, "Did I sleep with Hunter, or beside Hunter?"

Nat looked at me, and said, "Beside?"

"Yeah. See, Daddy? You're over reacting!" I told him. It was no use, my dad grabbed the blankets and pulled them off. He grabbed Hunter's pant leg and pulled him away from me. "Hunter!" I gasped, trying to stop him. But my dad was stronger than me. He pulled Hunter by the shirt collar and took Hunter out of the room. I jumped out of bed and followed, saying, "Daddy! Honestly, nothing happened!"

"She's telling the truth!" Hunter said, as he was being pulled down the stairs.

"DADDY!" I screamed. My dad turned, on the last step and looked at me. He raised an eyebrow, and I said, trying to be calm. "Nothing happened. I'm too...young for that stuff. Besides, Hunter and I aren't even dating. I was upset last night, Katie died yesterday. I just wanted someone to hold me, like you once held Mama before you kicked her out. Hunter, is innocent of anything you would consider to make this...a whore house."

My father let Hunter go, and said to me, "If I ever see something like that again, I promise you, I'll call the cops." I nodded and raced down to be beside Hunter. My father looked me evenly and said, "You're mother wouldn't have let you get away with something like this."

"You didn't care what Mom let me get away with." I replied, grabbing Hunter by the arm.

"You weren't my responsiblity then. You chose to move with her when you were in Grade Nine." my dad replied, "And don't talk about me like that."

I didn't say anything. I pulled Hunter back up the stairs and into my room. I sat on my bed, having let him go and said, "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay. I've never been thrown outta a girl's house before." Hunter told me. "I've...to be honest, never slept over either."

"Me neither. I mean, at a guy's house." I told him.

"Yeah." he said, grabbing my hand, I looked at him. "I know...we weren't...Issa?"

"Yeah?" Electricity ran through my entire body.

"You're a special girl, you know that, right?" Hunter told me.

I nodded, "Thanks. Should we go to the hospital?"

"Nah. Melanie took the next week off." Hunter said, standing up and letting go of my hand, "So there's no point. Listen, I think I'm gonna go."

I nodded again. "Okay. I'll see you next next Monday?"

He smiled, "You'll be seeing me sooner than that, I hope."

I smiled. He bent down a bit, to brush my hair out of my face. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. I nearly jumped, my body was on fire. Hunter smiled, stepped back and left me alone.

I sighed. Hunter was right, no point in going to the hospital. I curled up and fell to sleep. I went for a trip to dreamland. Here you have my dream that left me breathless.

***

I got off the bed and sat down on my computer desk chair. I wheeled it closer to my desk and turned my computer on. I logged on to my Insant Messaging.

Kat was on, and so was my brother. Other than that, there was lots of people on but none of which I actually ever talk to.

Kitty Kat says: Hey there, gurl! How are ya? Hunter called Keesh and told her to tell me and Izzy not to bother you.

Issa Kissa says: Really? When?

Kitty Kat says: Last night, he said you were sleeping. He called on a cellphone, Keesh said.

Issa Kissa says: Oh. Well, I'm...better. It's odd, now, because I started a week ago and already gotten into a routine, it's just...I feel like I should be waiting for Hunter to pick me up. He just left by the way.

Kitty Kat says: HE JUST LEFT BY THE WAY?? What? Do you mean he...spent the night? Or he popped by? And yeah, it'll be odd for now, but you'll forget about all of it soon enough.

Issa Kissa says: Oh, he spent the night. But it's not like anything...happened.

I blushed. It's not my fault.

Kitty Kat says: Nothing happened? So you didn't kiss? Oh...

Issa Kissa says: Okay...so we did kiss...

Kitty Kat says: YOU KISSED HUNTER? YOU KISSED HUNTER MCGROTH?????

Issa Kissa says: It's not a big deal. It was just a kiss. Meant nothing, but friendship.

Kitty Kat says: MEANT NOTHING BUT FRIENDSHIP???????? What?

Issa Kissa says: Dude, quit repeating everything I say. And he was just being kind. It honestly, meant nothing.

Kitty Kat says: Don't dude me. And you sound like your telling your boyfriend that you cheated on him. I just CAN'T BELIEVE you kissed HUNTER.

Issa Kissa says: I did. Get over it. Okay?

Kitty Kat says: How do I just get over this? I'm so calling Keesha and Elizabeth!

Issa Kissa says: DON'T YOU DARE.

Kitty Kat says: Why not?

Issa Kissa says: Then the entire SCHOOL will know!

Kitty Kat says: Exactly and we'll have social status. I'll be back later. With the girls. Au Revoir!

Issa Kissa says: DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME. KATTT!!!! Ugh. Ciao.

I exited the conversation and saw I had a pop up. I clicked it, because it said, Invitation! It read, "hunter_mc_hottie@butterfliesfly.ca added you to his/her contact list. Do you want to block him/her or add him/her to your contact list."

I smiled, gathering hunter_mc_hottie was Hunter. I clicked, add.

Immediately, he talked to me.

Hunting You says: Hey, your dad's not still mad, is he?

Issa Kissa says: Nah, I doubt it. How'd you get my email?

Hunting You says: What? Which email?

I was confused. I had more than one email?

Issa Kissa says: What do you mean, which e-mail?

Hunting You says: I mean, issa_kissa@cowsgomoo.ca or your old one, isabella_bells@hotmail.com.

Okay...umm...STALKER? That was my email about 4 months ago. I don't remember getting an invitation from him. More or less the invitation pop-up.I shrugged and decided to ask.

Issa Kissa says: Okay...both.

Hunting You says: I got issa_kissa@cowsgomoo.ca from Keesha about a month ago. And I've had your other one since before you left with your mother after Grade Eight Grad.

Issa Kissa says: Oh. So...what's new since you...um...left?

Hunting You says: [Grinning.] Nothing's new...but I'm just thinking about that...moment we had.

Issa Kissa says: Two weeks ago? Last week? Two days ago? Yesterday? Last night? This morning? Um...WHEN?

Hunting You says: Haha. You're cute. Our kiss.

Issa Kissa says: Oh? We kissed? Really? Are you sure? Um...if I'm correct, shoot me if I'm not, we're not a couple.

Hunting You says: We're not. Why not? We've kissed.

Issa Kissa says: Forward. Well, because we've kissed, we haven't went out on a date.

Hunting You says: Do you wanta?

Issa Kissa says: Umm....again, FORWARD.

Hunting You says: Sorry... Do you, Issa?

Issa Kissa says: Look, I don't think it's a good idea. I mean, a week ago, we were...ahem...enemies.

Hunting You says: You fell for that crap?

Issa Kissa says: Was I not supposed to?

Hunting You says: Haha. Listen, I've like, known everything about you, seriously. Ask me a question. ANY question.

Fun. I can't believe he asked me out. I shook my head and sighed. I continued to talk to him, of course.

Issa Kissa says: Okay...What type of gum do I chew?

Hunting You says: You chew Juicy Fruit only when you're in a rush. I guess it's because it loses it's flavour quickly. Otherwise it's BubbaBubba Grape, which taste lasts a while.

Okay. He's dead on.

Issa Kissa says: How did you know?

Hunting You says: I told you, I know everything about you.

Issa Kissa says: What about the guys I go out with?

I questioned. It was kinda creepy. He knew everything about me. I mean, I knew I liked him, but that was it. What did I know about him?

Hunting You says: You don't go out with guys, do you?

Issa Kissa says: My point being.

Hunting You says: Oh. Haha. Seriously, I don't know.

Issa Kissa says: My point being. You don't know everything. What's my favourite ice cream?

Hunting You says: Oh, okay. I know this. Ben & Jerry's?

Issa Kissa says: Never even tried Ben & Jerry's, is it any good?

Hunting You says: You haven't had Ben & Jerry's?

Issa Kissa says: Nope. Never. Is it any good?

Hunting You says: It's alright. Ask me another question.

Issa Kissa says: How much do you like me?

Hunting You says: Besides that.

Issa Kissa says: Answer me.

Hunting You says: How 'bout we go on that date?

Issa Kissa says: Fine. Name the date and time. Oh, and the place.

Hunting You says: Today at the hang out in say an hour?

Issa Kissa says: Um. The hang out?

I knew the hang out. It was a corner in the Main Street plaza--the court yard. That's were everyone went to hang out. It was nice, but I didn't want to be seen with Hunter, of all people, there.

Hunting You says: Well, where then?

Issa Kissa says: I'll pick you up in an hour. I know a spot.

Hunting You says: Fine. Deal. See ya then?

Issa Kissa says: This isn't a real date, F.Y.I. Just friends.

Hunting You says: Fine. Just friends. Okay, whatever. See you then?

Issa Kissa says: Okay. Bye.

Hunting You says: Bye, sweetie.

Issa Kissa says: Don't call me that.

Hunting You says: Why not? You're a sweetie.

Issa Kissa says: SEE YOU LATER.

I got off. I knew where I'd take him. I did.

***

I groaned and woke up. I knew it. Too good to be true. Besides, Hunter wouldn't think of me like that, and I wouldn't push him away. That much, I knew. I got up and rubbed my eyes. I sat up and groaned again. I looked at the clock. I had been asleep about a half-hour. The phone was ringing.

"Hello?" I said, picking it up.

"Hey, it's me. I was wondering if you wanted to do something this afternoon." Hunter's cool voice came. I sat up stright.

"Um...Sure. When and where?" I asked.

"Oh. How 'bout the hang out in about an hour?" Hunter asked.

I laughed. I knew it. I had dreamt it. But then, I thought of the place I had wanted to take him, and decided I'd do just that. I asked, "How about I pick you up in an hour and take you somewhere special?"

"Oh, okay." Hunter said, and I could feel his warm smile soak through the phone. He added, "Is this our first offical date?"

I smiled, "No, sorry. Just friends for now, please."

"Okay, that's cool." Hunter didn't try and hide his disappointment. It soaked through his voice.

"See ya then?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure." Hunter said, and he added, "I guess we can manage to be just friends."

He hung up.

I made this odd noise from my throat, outta disgust. I shook my head and hung up myself. I decided to take Hunter to a little spot I like by the beach. I loved it, it had these cliffs at the end of the sandy part and it was so beautiful. I went out there to think. Maybe having Hunter be there with me will ease me. I thought of Katie Bell smiling at me and making me promise not to let anything get between me and Hunter, and then I had to force myself not to cry. I decided to worry about my date with Hunter. Oh, no. I didn't say I had a date with Hunter, did I? Great. No, my um...I was hanging out with Hunter. I had to get ready to...um...pick Hunter up.

As I was thinking of different things I could say besides date, I went to change. I put on a layered light pink skirt and a matching tank top. Then, I took the tank top off and switched it with a pale blue tank top and I put a thin sweater on top of it. I looked at myself in my mirror and sighed. Zac knocked and entered without me saying "come in".

"Woah." he said, smiling. I looked at him.

I smiled, "Hey, Zac. What's up?"

"I need advice." Zac said, with a sigh. He sat on my bed.

I turned to look at him. "What's up?"

He smiled, "You said that already." Cows go moo. "Well, there's this thing. I don't know what to do."

'What's this...thing?" I asked. I grabbed my brush and brushed my hair. I looked at Zac in my mirror.

"Well...my best friend is...um...well, he's gay." Zac said, looking up at me.

I smiled and turned, "What do you mean? He's gay, get over it."

Zac sniffed, "It's just...he likes..ahem...me."

My jaw dropped. Then I smiled and said, "Are you kidding me? Who?"

He mumbled something. I looked at him and he said louder, "Mark Mickle."

I smiled. It was his best friend. I walked over and sat beside him. I couldn't help but grin. "Zac, he's your best friend. Say you're interested in girls, as long as you are and you aren't lying, and then let it go. After a while things will be comfortable again."

Zac smiled and said, "See? This is why I come to you." I smiled. Then Zac added, "Why so pretty?"

"Oh, I'm taking Hunter to the cliffs." I said, "I need to get out of the house."

Zac eyed me, "You're just friends? You're not falling for this guy, are you? Because you got off to a rough start, you know, punching him and all."

I smiled, I had almost forgotten about the punching. I stood and walked to my dresser, and placed my brush on top of it. I turned, leaning against my dresser. I bit my bottom lip. I shook my head, "Look, we're friends. Friends, only. I'm not falling for him or any other guy."

Zac shook his head, "Does he know that?"

"Um...yeah." I turned to make any last adjusments on my hair. "I just told him. Friends only."

"You told him? What ever for?" Zac asked.

"Because he asked if it was our first offical date." I replied.

"Oh my...Isabella! You're horrible!" Zac said, he stood, "Don't you realize? He asked you for a date and you turned him down. Remember those words girls hate to hear when you dump them? Let's just be friends. Well, guys don't like them either."

Zac stormed out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts. The phone rang. I picked it up. It was Hunter.

"Hey, Isabella." he called me by my full name, "Listen, something's...uh, come up. I won't be able to...hang out with you today. Maybe another day though?"

I froze. Was this what Zac was talking about. Hunter was hurt? Because I want to be friends? I swallowed and said, "Um...yeah, uh...well, sure. That's okay. Maybe another day. Or I'll just see you at the hospital. Whatever's best. And yeah...I guess I see you."

"Thanks for being so understanding. I knew you would. Oh. Well, see you." Hunter said.

"Wait. Before you go, may I ask what came up?" I asked, I had to know.

"Oh, just this thing I have to do for my mom." Hunter said. I turned around the room.

"Okay. See you later." I said, sighing. I shook my head. Was it my fault?

I hung up, with a click, and sighed again. I looked around the room. Then I noticed it. A wallet. It sat down at the end of my bed. I didn't think it was Zac's.

I walked over and picked it up. I opened it and saw Hunter's eyes stare back at me. It was his licsene of course, but you know, I actually smiled. He looked as if he was having a bad hair day. I walked over to Zac's room. I knocked on the door and Zac looked up.

"Hey, figure it out yet?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know what you mean. About the let's just be friends thing or whatever I'm supposed to be figuring out. But on the subject, does the girl bring the wallet over to the guy's house if he left it at her house? Or does she call him to get him to pick it up? Or does she wait until the next time she sees him?"

Zac smiled, "My little sister coming to me for advice."

"I'm older than you." I replied. He laughed. "So?"

"I'd tell you to call him, but if he's busy and canceled on you, maybe you should go to his house."

I nodded, "Okay. I can do that."

He laughed.

* * *

I swallowed, I had rounded Keesha, Elizabeth and Kat, and they were now sitting in the car that was parked in the street behind me. I raised my hand and took a deep breath. I knocked on Hunter's door. His mother opened the door. She was short but kind looking.

"Hi." she said, "Are you looking for Hunter? Or his brother?"

"Hunter, please. He kind of left his wallet at my house last night." I said, then I wanted to bite my tongue.

"He was at your house last night?" she asked.

"Yeah, I needed a friend and well...don't worry I slept alone in my bed. He made use of the couch." I said, quickly.

She smiled, "He said he was at a friend's house. Figured it was one of the guys, but don't worry. Do you want to come in?"

I nodded and she let me in the house. It was a pretty house, that's all I can say. I said, "Thanks. I can just bring this to his room. Which is...where?"

"Oh. Down the hall on the left." his mother said, I smiled.

"Thanks." I said.

"Don't let him get all stubborn on you. He's just like his father that way." she warned me. I smiled and slipped through the hall. Of course I had to act like I didn't know where his room was, but I knew. It was just something every girl knew. I knocked.

"Go away, Adam!" Hunter called out. Obviously, he thought I was his brother. I turned the door knob and stepped in.

"Not Adam." I said, shutting the door. He was on his bed, stretched out and staring at the ceiling. He looked at me.

"Isabella! What are you doing here? I thought I told you I was busy!" Hunter said, sitting up straight. I laughed.

"Don't worry. I just came by to drop off your wallet. Sheesh. I don't care if you lied to me, Hunter." and as I said it, I knew it was true. "I just thought you might want your wallet."

I tossed it to him, and turned to leave. But he stopped me, "Isabella?" I looked at him. He continued, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied. I just..."

"Dammit. Let's be friends. I hate the stupid saying." I said, to myself more than him. He just looked at me. He didn't say anything. I explained, "Don't worry. Girls hate the saying just as much. Although, techinically I didn't say it. But I meant it. Oh. Sorry, my brother explained to me that guys don't like the saying." I realized I was babbling. "Well, I guess I'll see you at the hospital. Or maybe not."

Hunter just stared. I turned and opened the door. "Issa." he said so softly I barely heard him. I glanced at him. He was looking at the wallet. "Thanks." he looked at me. I nodded. I squeezed through the crack, that I had opened the door. I backed out and shut the door. I ran into someone, and turned. Adam, Hunter's brother.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. I didn't see you." Adam said, sounding fluster.

"It's okay. My fault, honestly." I said, smiling. I felt like I had to curtsy.

"Hey, don't I know you?" Adam asked.

"I doubt it. I'm Isabella Brate." I said, taking a deep breath, "I'm also the girl your brother is well...mad at, because I said, let's just be friends."

"Oh! That's how I know you." Adam said, smiling. "Yeah, yeah. You're all that geek talks about."

"He's not a geek. And really?" I asked.

Adam smiled, "Yeah. You're the hospital girl, aren't you? Worked with Katie Bell and told my niece a bunch of stories about fairies and such."

My eyes went wide. There was something...particular about what Adam had said, "Your niece?"

"Yeah. Didn't Hunter tell you?" Adam asked, "I never met her. She was only five years old. Apparently she was cute."

"Oh, that...why didn't he tell me?" I asked.

The door to Hunter's room opened. I jumped and Hunter said, "Has Issa left? I wish she'd just give upppp---" he saw me. "Isabella!"

I swallowed and stepped back. I said, "Hey, your brother was just telling me that Katie Bell was your niece. I don't get it. Why didn't you tell me?" Hunter was at a lost for words. He shot a glance at Adam. I sighed and put my hands on my hip. "It's not my fault. Okay? You messed this up. Whatever this was. Maybe it was one of those stupid summer flings that I only hear about. I wouldn't know. No one has ever give me a second thought. Apparently you've been talking about me. About me. Not to me. About. And I don't care what excuse you have, I'll listen but right now, I'm not promising I'll accept it. So, when you grow up and start telling me why you kept Katie Bell's realtion to you a secret, and why you couldn't see me this afternoon, you can come see me!"

I turned and walked down the hall and into the living room. I remembered the warning Hunter's mother had given me. I turned and walked back down the hall and said, "Oh, I because of your stubborness, I expect I'll never hear or see you again. So here." I walked up to him and did the most impulsive thing. I kissed him. I turned, breathless and I marched out of the house and I had only put my hand on the car handle.

"Isabella." I heard a voice come. I looked up. It wasn't Hunter. My heart fell. It was Adam. He said, "I've never seen any girl leave my brother more clueless or breathless. Thanks for the entertainment."

He turned and walked back into the house. I shook my head and got into the car. "Drive. Don't ask questions. Just drive."

My friends never asked more than, "Is he a jerk?"

I laughed, "He's an idiot. Jerk? We'll find out soon enough."

Then, we talked about Keesha's new summber boy toy, and we laughed and teased her. Hunter and I were forgotten. Keesha didn't drop me off at the house, like I had asked, but she drove me to the beach.

"Why are you...?" I asked.

She parked and turned to look at me, "Apparently Hunter called Kat here and said to bring you here."

Kat blushed, and I asked her, "You're not into Zac, are you?" Kat's face flushed with redness. I laughed, "It's okay."

"He's just a cool guy. He asked me out, but I said I had to run it by you." Kat said, with a plead in her eyes.

"Go out with him." I said, rolling my eyes. I got out. "I guess, I'll see you all later. Thanks. Again."

"By the way, you look drop dead gorgeous." Elizabeth told me. I smiled and shut the door. I waved bye and stepped onto the cool sand. I took my shoes off and sighed. There was a soft breeze. I saw something in the distant. It looked like a person. I shrugged and let my hair blow in the breeze, so did my skirt. I walked down to the water. I let the water tickle my feet. I let the water wash all, if any, feelings about Hunter. I finally, after about a half-hour made it to the cliffs. Oh, and the person I thought I saw disappeared. Anyways, since I was wearing a skirt, I walked up the hill beside the cliffs, into the green grass, and walked up the cliffs that way. It was like an upside down U. I sighed and thought about Katie. I had broken my promise to her. She had been gone a day. I started to cry.

"Katie, I'm so sorry. I'll think of something to bring me and Hunter together again." I whispered into the wind, "But I don't know about me falling in love. Katie Bell, I just don't know how."

And then I remember Katie asking how people fell in love and I remember Hunter replying with, "They just do. And nothing can stop them."

I let a few more tears go, and a sniffle and then I asked, "Katie, is this love? Am I in love with Hunter? Is that why I don't care why he didn't tell me he was your uncle or the fact that he lied so he'd miss this?"

And then another thing came to mind. Katie had been learning to read, and I remember she took the fairytale book and read, "The Princess did not care that the Prince had lied to her, saying he was a Prince when he was a mere stable boy, because the Princess had fallen in love with the stable boy a long time ago."

Was Hunter my stable boy? I asked myself and laughed dispite the thought. He couldn't be. He didn't care about me. I asked, the wind, or Katie, "Katie Bell, I don't know what to do. I don't look at Hunter different than I do other boys. I mean, his deep brown eyes are so full of...mystery, but the show that he cares, he's kind, he's gentle and they twinkle when he teases. Oh, Katie, I love his smile. It's so unique. And when he laughs, it makes you want to weep, it's such a beautiful sound. Is this love?"

No one answered, of course. Just then a huge gush of wind came out of no where and I saw my shoe get whipped off the side of the cliff. "Ugh." was all I could manage. I walked down the stones, and by the time I got to the grassy part, I was mad, and then I ran down the hill, it wasn't that big. But then I saw him before my shoe. It was a guy, and he was picking my shoe up.

"Odd." I heard him mutter.

I asked, "Can I have my shoe back?"

The guy looked up at me. I walked closer to him and stopped dead in my tracks. It was Hunter. "Isabella. What in heavens name are you doing out here?"

"I love it out here. It's so peaceful and quiet. Why do you care?" I asked.

Hunter smiled, one of those smiles that made me want to weep, it was so beautiful. Maybe it was an understatment. Maybe it was an overstatment. But I didn't care. I smiled. He said, "It's a bit windy out here for any one in sane mind."

I smiled, bigger and brighter, "Well, I've been told many times I'm an idiotic girl. Maybe I'm insane too." I sighed, "So why are you out here?"

Hunter said, "I come here to think. And I've been thinking. Maybe this little dispute between us is stupid. I just want to be..." he almost choked, "friends."

I thought of my promise to Katie. What it feels like to fall in love. I had to live it for her. And I was going to do just that. "Friends? Pah. I doubt we could even try." I said, walking over to him. He looked at me. "Is the shoe a perfect fit?"

He smiled and bent down. I raised my barefoot and he slipped my flip-flop back on. He stood and said, "It's perfect."

I smiled and we kissed. No one leaned in first, because we later declared it a tie. We kissed. I was kissing HUNTER MCGROTH!!

I felt weak, "Oh...boy..." I said.

"What? Are you okay?" he asked. I felt dizzy, and I was working hard to stay standing. I smiled at him.

"Never been more perfect in my entire life." I told him, then grinning I added, "But that could change."

"It better not." he whispered and bent down to kiss me again. "Listen, I didn't think you felt the same way. You just wanted to be friends, you said. And about the whole Katie Bell thing. She was my niece by a marriage. Besides, I didn't think it would matter."

"Oh, it doesn't anymore." I whispered. "Come on, we have a date to fufill."

__________________________________________________

TWO MONTHS LATER

Here's what happened in only TWO MONTHS.

10. Nat's dating Keesh's brother. And he's totally in love with her. Jack's jealous.

9. Kat and Zac hit it off to a good start. But it ended kind of bad when...

8. Zac's best friend Mark decided to try and kiss Zac, who spazz and swore never to kiss another soul again...

7. Then, Zac blurted to Mark that he loved Elizabeth...

6. So now Kat's trying to ruin Elizabeth and Zac's realtionship...

5. By spreading rumours and telling lies...

4. But I don't care because I...

3. Like totally love....

2. What's-his-face?....

1. Oh, yeah. That's right.

Hunter.

________________________________________________

Quite a Few Moths Later:

Hunter dear, say hi to the nice people.

ISSA! I'm not ready to met your dad....again.

Yeah, he'll, like totally, grill you and try and eat your head.

Zac, stay outta this!

Issa, does your dad know about me?

Meathead, dear, of course he knows about you. He caught you spending the night about six months ago.

Is he aware that I'm dating you now?

Um...yeah...We have some explaining to do.

Dude, you are so going to get laid if this goes well.

ZAC!

Uh...thanks dude. That's your sister you're talking about, you do realize that, right?

Oh. Man, hands off the lady!

ZAC! Leave Hunter alone.

Hey guys.

Hey Nat.

Hunter, don't check out my sister!

I wasn't checking her out! Man, was I checking her out?

Looked like it to me. But you know, I'm pathetic.

You got that right. Hunter, say hi to my dad. Dad, you remember Hunter.

You the kid who slept in my daughter's bed?

Yes, sir. But honestly, nothing happened. I still have nightmares.

Hey!

I mean, dreams.

That's better.

Well, you'll do. You make my daughter happy. He makes you happy, doesn't he?

He makes me beyond happy.

Ew. Get a room.

Zac, stuff it.

______________________________________________________

Quite a few years later:

Hey, you, son! Come help your father-in-law with the hamburgers.

Sir, with all due respect, why should I help with the hamburgers if neither your daughter nor I eat them?

Huh. Another vegetarian, eh?

Your daughter is very convincing, sir.

Hello? I am standing righ here.

Shh...sweetheart.

Ugh, Hunter. Inside the house. Now.

Coming. Sorry, sir, but your daughter wants me.

Fine. Go. Have fun.

What is it dear?

I think the baby's coming.

But you're not pregnant. Are you?

Not me, you idiot. I think Izzy's baby's coming.

Izzy? Oh, how do you know?

She text messaged me. Let's go. Zac! Your girlfriend's gone into labour!

WHAAT? The baby's coming and I'm not with her because of this stupid family get-to-gether?

Hunter! Come on!

I'm coming.

HURRY UP!

Zac, calm down. Let's go.

Right. Okay, hurry up!

Let me put my shoes on!

HUNTER.

I'm coming. Would you wait two minutes.

It's a girl.

What?

Sis, I just had a girl! She says the labour was quick. The quickest anyone's ever dilivered before.

Ohmigosh! Let's see the photos she sent.

Isn't she beautiful?

Okay, ready.

I have a baby girl.

Oh. Well, congrats, man.

Thanks.

I'm so proud of you. Now let's get down there.

I think, I want to name her...Issa.

Aww...that's so sweet.

Just kidding. Like I'd name my baby girl after a rodent like you.

_________________________________________________

Elizabeth and Zac Brate

proud parents of:

Bella Issa Brate

and

Adam Johnatan Brate

Hunter and Isabella

proud parents of:

Katie Bell Brate