Chapter 12
Isabella stewed about the fall formal dance the rest of the school day. As she slid into her seat in physics class, she wondered if a person could die from being nervous. It sure felt like her heart was going too fast for her body.
Chase walked into the room and grinned at her. He seemed relaxed. She assumed it meant his sister was still doing well. He sat down, then turned to face her. “You going to the game tonight? Delilah said something about you being there. She seemed happy.”
Isabella swallowed. “Yeah.”
His grin widened. “Great! You’ll have fun, I promise.” He tapped her desk and turned back around to listen to Mr. Morgan’s opening joke.
Chase was going to be at the game. And he sounded like he wanted her there. Did that mean anything? Or was she reading more into his smile than was really there?
Thoughts of the fall formal, and now the football game, swirled around in her head. Could she ever have a chance with Chase? Was there a possibility that he could like her, as herself? He seemed happy she was going tonight. Was that just him being polite?
The bell rang before she knew it, and Chase turned to smile at her again. “See you tonight.”
Butterflies skittered around in her stomach. “Okay.”
Since she didn’t have to work after school, she walked straight home, her nerves increasing with every step. After grabbing a cookie from the cupboard, she climbed the stairs to her bedroom.
Maybe there’d be time to finish her painting before the game.
She set up her easel and started to work.
The paint took her into another world, as it always did, and two hours later Delilah burst into her room. “Aren’t you getting ready? We’re going to leave soon.”
Isabella stared at the clock. “Why? It doesn’t start for another hour.”
Delilah waved her hands like she was drying her nails. “But we have to go early to get good seats. Honestly, Isabella, you’re—” She stopped short and smiled. “I mean . . . hurry up, okay? We’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”
“I’m almost done here.” Isabella touched up the paint on the tree trunk. She’d done it. Gotten the lighting just right. She smiled to herself. This was her finest work yet. Elenore would have to consider giving her some space at the gallery with this one.
Delilah examined the painting. “You’re really good.”
Hope bubbled up inside her. “You think so?”
“Yeah.” Delilah bounced on her toes. “Now get ready! We’re leaving soon!”
Nerves once again shot through her, making her jittery. Ten minutes later, after changing her shirt twice, she finally settled on a blouse with a button-up front. She stuck with her jeans. She didn’t want to be wearing a skirt and have the evening breeze blow it up or something—that would be embarrassing.
She had been planning to eat dinner before the game, but now she didn’t think she could. She sprinted down the steps and waited in the living room.
Ava came in first. “You ready?”
Ava’s smile was contrite, and hope once again warmed Isabella’s chest. Maybe her senior year would be a turning point for all of them.
Delilah walked into the room and grabbed Isabella’s arm. “Cute shirt. Let’s hit the road.”
They got outside, and Delilah pointed to their little two-seater car. “You sit in the middle, Ava.”
“What? No. I can’t fit on that middle piece.”
“You have the smallest butt.”
Ava’s shoulders sagged. “Can’t we take Mom’s car?”
“No. I already asked. Now go on.” She shoved her sister toward the car. Ava frowned but opened the door and climbed in. She sat on the hard plastic piece between the two seats, one leg on the driver’s side and one on the passenger’s.
Isabella sat down in the seat next to Ava, glad she wasn’t the one straddling the middle. She’d never been allowed to sit in their car before. It was a bit weird.
Delilah started the engine and backed out of the garage. “This will be fun, won’t it?”
Isabella was hoping this would be a nice bonding activity.
“This hurts,” Ava said as Delilah drove down the street.
“We’re almost there.” Delilah slowed for a red light. “Besides, it’s a compliment that you’re the skinny one.”
Ava seemed to like that and gave Delilah a smug smile. “It’s because you eat half my lunch.”
They pulled into the school parking lot, and Delilah cut the engine. There were a few cars, but the parking lot was mostly empty.
“We’re here really early,” Isabella said.
“We want to sit down close to the field,” Ava said. “That’s where all the popular girls sit.”
“If I see Savannah, can she come sit with us, too?” Isabella asked.
Ava and Delilah exchanged a look. Isabella was expecting them to say no, but Delilah smiled and said, “Sure.”
Delilah started walking toward the football field. “Come on. Let’s go get some food.”
The concession stand was still closed, so they waited by the counter until the lady slid the partition up and glared at them. “What do you want?”
“I’ll have a water.” Delilah dug some money from her purse. She turned to Isabella. “Get whatever you want. Mom gave me fifty bucks.”
Fifty? Isabella almost choked. She was surprised there was any of her father’s money left with the way her step-clan spent it. “I’ll just have popcorn.”
Ava looked hard at the menu. “I’ll have a hot dog, a bag of Cheetos, and a Coke.”
Delilah glared at Ava. “Seriously?”
“What? I’m hungry. I didn’t eat dinner.”
Delilah slapped her money on the counter. “Okay. It’s your stomach.”
They gathered their snacks and walked down the steps to where the cheerleaders were practicing on the field. Delilah picked out a bench a couple of rows up from the bottom. “Here. This is perfect. Isabella, you sit next to me.”
Was Chase going to join them? She didn’t see any sign of him yet, but her butterflies were already fluttering around. She tried to push the nerves away as she sat and ate her popcorn while the cheerleaders yelled out cheers and jumped on top of one another.
Ten minutes later, Chase sat down on the bench in front of her, along with two other guys. He turned around and smiled. “Glad you came, Isabella.”
Delilah leaned over and grinned. “I’m happy you’re here, Chase. I was hoping you’d be able to sit near us.”
“Yeah, it wouldn’t be the same without you.” Ava stuffed the last of her hotdog into her mouth, and Delilah glared at her.
The stadium filled as the sun set. The bright lights turned on, and the coach came out to start the game.
Delilah nudged her. “Isn’t this exciting?”
It kind of was. She’d never been to a live football game before. Even though sports weren’t really her thing, the cheering of the crowd and the excitement from everyone else got her into the spirit of things.
The game started, and Valley High scored a touchdown almost immediately. The other side of the stadium screamed and clapped.
Delilah reached into Isabella’s bag and pulled out a handful of popcorn. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“No.” Isabella gladly shared with Delilah. It felt like something sisters were supposed to do.
As the game progressed, she started getting into it. When Oak View scored, she stood and screamed along with everyone else.
Chase turned around and grinned at her. “I knew you’d have fun.”
“We’re having a lot of fun,” Delilah cooed.
The cheering died down, and they sat back down. The cheerleaders finished and climbed back onto the benches.
Delilah nudged Isabella. “You didn’t really think I wanted you here, did you?”
Her voice was sweet, but her words struck a knife into Isabella’s chest. “What?”
Delilah looked down at her water and deliberately tipped it until water splashed onto Isabella’s lap. A vicious smile formed on Delilah’s face. Cold wetness spread over her legs and down into her underwear. Isabella jumped up, knocking the bottle of water down and spilling her popcorn.
“Isabella!” Delilah shrieked. “Did you pee your pants?”
Two cheerleaders turned and pointed at her, laughing. “She peed her pants!” one of them shouted. Everyone turned to look. Isabella’s gaze locked with Chase’s.
Heat rose to Isabella’s cheeks, and she took off down the row.
How could she have been so stupid? To think Delilah wanted to become friends? Isabella blinked back tears. Of course Delilah hated her. How could she have believed they could start acting like sisters?
Tears spilled down her cheeks as everyone stared at her. She made it to the steps and started sprinting, fast.
A voice called from behind her. “Isabella! Wait.”
She glanced behind to see Chase running after her. Really? Like she wasn’t embarrassed enough. She kept making her way up the steps to the exit.
“Isabella!”
She stepped into the hallway and turned, humiliated. “What?”
Chase stopped, his breaths coming quickly. “I saw what they did to you. That wasn’t cool.”
Isabella wiped at her cheeks, desperately trying to look like it didn’t matter to her. “That’s just how they are. I should have known.”
Chase’s brows pulled together in concern. “They’ve done stuff like that to you before?”
She shook her head, more tears escaping. Her throat tightened. “No. Mostly they just say mean stuff to me at home.”
He glanced out at the stadium, a frown on his face. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Go? With him? What was he talking about?
“Where?”
He took the empty popcorn sack from her hand and balled it up. “I assume you don’t have a car.”
She nodded.
“So come with me. I’ll help you get cleaned up.” He tossed the makeshift ball into the giant trashcan.
“It’s just water. It’ll dry.”
He gave her a frustrated look. “While you’re walking home? It’s dark. Just come on.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hallway toward the stairs.