Gring Gring Gring Grinning!
The alarm clock blared, signaling that it was 6am.
"Shut the hell up" Isabella Falcone mumbled as she reached to turn the blasted thing off. Her jet black hair spilling by the side of the bed.
"I still don't know why you keep that thing when you never wake up at the set time" The other girl in the room said.
"Good morning, Lau. I really don't have the strength to go through this again. I told you this was a gift from a very special person and come what may, it stays. Now, can I get back to my sleep"
"Good morning lazy ass, yeah yeah I remember it's from Andre, the boy who you can't stop talking about"
It felt like a cut hearing his name. His name could do that to her at times. Andre, the name of the boy who breaks her and heals her at the same time. It was wild that Andre or Dre as she liked to call him could have that effect on her. He was a puzzle she had tried to unravel, but the threads only seem to lead to more mystery. Just thinking about him brought back the memories she had been trying to elude, and among them was the night before she came to London.
Masking the shiver that ran through her, she smiled even though Laura couldn't see her, before she replied with a fling of her palm, "Whatever, just let me sleep"
"Of course sleep away, but you do remember that your flight is scheduled for 9am… t-o-d-a-y" Laura stressed the last word for emphasis.
"I appreciate the heads up, but don't you have a run to get to yourself. Never worry about me as much as I plan to sleep until 8am, I'm well aware of my flight schedule. Bye!"
"Suit yourself, I'm off. I will call you just in case, hopefully what happened at Professor Greg's class won't repeat itself" Laura ended with a snicker.
"Hey" Isabella began, raising a finger to Laura "that was one time and I simply lost track of time because of the Alicia's party which by the way you chickened out of attending"
"Yeah and aren't you forever grateful that I stayed behind, who else would have gotten your sleepy ass to lectures that day. Besides, I'm here to study not attend parties. The time for that will come"
Isabella loved Laura, she was her friend. The only one who had tried to help her since she came to London. But the girl was no fun. Beautiful with neck length brown hair, emerald eyes, full lips the shade of fuchsia and a slim body, she was always reading or studying. Having fought for everything and every stage of her life, she was adamant to change the status of her life and those around her.
Isabella admired that fierce spirit she had, but fun wasn't going to make her swerve from the path. After all, like they say "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"
"I keep telling you to live a little, I don't see a better time for that than now"
"Says the girl who has been pushing away every boy who showed interest in her all year long"
"Funny, at least I have a boyfriend, what of you with your nose always stuck up in a book"
"Bells, like I said there will be time for all that. By then I'm certain I will have the luxury of picking because I will still be young, but very successful"
"Whatever, I will surely bring you out of that your cocoon, maybe when I get back, but for now please allow me get back to sleep, my head is literally killing me"
"Goodluck with that and I know you hate hearing I told you so, but I remember telling you not to attend last night's end of the semester party"
"I would literally push you out if I have to, just gooo" Isabella bemoaned.
"Fine" Laura said, lacing her sneakers and setting her watch.
Isabella listened eagerly as Laura walked to the door…
"Jeez, Sam you scared the crap out of me. What are you doing here at this hour?"
"Oh great" Isabella thought to herself. Sam was one of those boys she had been avoiding all year long except he was the kind who thinks "no" means he had to do more and the fact that he always gets what he wants was a nudge pushing him on.
He was one of the most popular boys on campus, with his banners scattered all over the school especially after winning the coveted Rugby Cup, leading the London RedHawks to victory in the prestigious University Rugby League.
With his athletic prowess as the team Captain and his striking looks; a chiseled face with high cheekbones, a strong jawline. Dark chestnut hair, always stylishly messy. Almond-shaped piercing jade eyes fringed with thick brown lashes. The boy believed he was irresistible, girls fell at his feet, even boys, but Isabella was not one of them.
"Is Bella awake or has she already left for the airport?" Isabella heard him say from the doorway.
"Uhmm… she is…"
"You've never been a good liar, Laura. I know she's in there, avoiding me. Anyways give her these and tell her 'bon voyage'
Only when the door latched shut, did Isabella turn to face her terrible-at-lying roommate, who clutched a bouquet of roses and a card in her bossom.
"What's so hard with saying 'sorry, she has already left', she started sitting up, sleep no longer as appealing. "By God Laura! You are terrible" she finished with a note of frustration.
"Don't blame this on me, I'm the one who has been toying with the guy's feelings. I just felt sorry for him. He seems genuine and if he didn't truly have feelings for you I think he would have taken the hint already"
"Oh come off it Lau, surely you can't be that naive. You think he is persistent because he has feelings for me. That a guy like him with girls fawning over him would continue pestering me because he cares, your gullibility never ceases to amaze me. No, I'm not finished. Did you ever stop to ponder that maybe all this is a bet, that he's unto me because I'm the one girl he approached and was turned down and so he wishes to change the narrative?"
It seemed absurd, but little things could ire Isabella. And she was already feeling it, rage and red mist building up inside her like a volcano waiting to explode. That was her major flaw; her anger issues. Ever since she arrived at London she had been trying not to let that part of her show especially after what transpired that night she allowed it the reins.
It was why she threw herself at parties, drugs and alcohol, all in a bid to forget that night and Andre. The drugs here were insubstantial compared to Hype back home and after sampling the dose she came with to most of the students, a new market for Hype was officially opened.
Papa might have always wanted a son, but this would have made him reconsider except she wasn't planning on telling him. This will be her own thing, her own establishment. Her very own market.
As the monster railed within her, she hastily made her way to the bathroom, but Laura just had to say something,
"That's right, walk away, shut me out like you always do, but hear this. You say it's a bet, but you are not really sure, are you? And how would you even know if you don't give him a chance. At least he is trying which is more than I can say for the other person who doesn't seem to give a shit about what you feel for him"
"That's enough!" Isabella yelled, as she fought to get a grip of the rage coursing through her. "Who was she to use what you told her in confidence against you? To throw it back at your face? She's not worthy of being your friend, bash her head against the wall. Slap those lips until they can't form words again" The voices inside her was saying, fanning the flames as it burned fiercer and hotter.
"Deep breaths, Isa." She muttered to herself squatting as the hotness of her rage threatened to blind her and burn away her sanity.
"Hey Bells, are you alright?"
"Stay back!" She found herself yelling again, back to square one.
"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I only meant that you are beautiful and smart and funny and amazing to let a fool mess you up like this. You deserve so much better"
Gritting her teeth, Isabella managed, "And Sam is any different, with the way he goes around campus breaking hearts like a petulant child left with china. Just go, Laura"
"Maybe he isn't any different, but…"
"Just go! Get out. Partire!"
Those seconds before the door closed after Laura was hell for Isabella as she restrained herself from shattering. From rushing after her, from slamming herself at the nearby wall, but as soon as it did, she collapsed on the marble floors and wailed until her voice failed her.