Chapter 14
Chase tried to calm his racing heart. What was he thinking? Isabella wasn’t interested in him. Why did he think she’d go to the dance with him? And he wasn’t really interested in her, right? Five was the one he wanted to go out with. He’d just gotten caught up in the moment. Being close to Isabella affected him, and he’d overreacted.
She was pretty, that was true. Sure, her big, thick-rimmed glasses hid some of it. But he’d noticed how her brown eyes shone when she was excited. How her lips curled up into an easy smile. And he’d felt the chemistry when they touched.
But he had a bigger connection with Five. He could tell her anything. She understood him. And he really wanted to meet her in person. Guilt pressed down on him for letting his crush on Isabella go a little crazy. Normally when he liked a girl he shut out all the others.
He gave their tickets to the woman standing at the door and they entered the planetarium.
He pointed to the seats. “Where would you like to sit?”
“The middle.”
“Perfect.” They chose a row and found a pair of seats they liked. Other people filed in, and soon the seats were mostly full.
The lights dimmed and the show began. Chase rested his hand on his knee, hoping it didn’t look like he was thinking about holding Isabella’s hand. Even though he was. He just didn’t want to look like he was.
What was wrong with him?
Isabella leaned over to him. “This is cool,” she whispered. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“You’re welcome.”
Warmth spread through his chest. He was glad Isabella was enjoying herself. Her sisters played a nasty prank on her, and it wasn’t funny. It was mean. They did it to embarrass her, and they hit their mark. He hoped Isabella was going to be okay after he took her home. If they were willing to do that to her in public, he couldn’t imagine what she’d endure in private.
The show ended and they exited the room. After they left the observatory, he drove her home.
“Please, stop here,” Isabella said a block away.
He pressed the brake but frowned. “Why? Delilah knows we left the game together.”
“I know. But she doesn’t know we spent the evening together. I might be able to get away with saying I walked home.”
He scowled. “I don’t care if your sister likes me. She’s blown it. I’d never go out with her now.”
Isabella bit her bottom lip, her eyes full of worry. “If she thinks we were together tonight, things won’t go well for me.”
“What does your mom say about all this?”
Isabella hesitated, fiddling with the hem of her blouse. “Delilah gets whatever she wants.”
A heaviness settled in his chest. “I’m sorry. I’ll tell Delilah I left the game and went home.”
“Thanks.”
He watched her climb out of the car and walk to the house. She didn’t go around to the balcony this time. She opened the front door and disappeared inside.
Isabella swallowed and entered her house. Best to get it over with. Elenore met her in the living room. Her eyes burned as she scowled at Isabella. “How could you do that to Delilah?” Delilah stood by the back wall, a look of triumph on her face.
“What did I do?” Isabella said. “I went with Delilah to the game, like she asked. She’s the one who dumped water on me and—”
“Enough!” Elenore yelled, grabbing Isabella’s arm in a vice grip. “I don’t want to hear your lies.”
“I’m not lying!” Isabella winced as Elenore’s grip tightened, cutting off the blood supply to her arm.
“You know it was an accident. How dare you tell Chase she did it on purpose? You will apologize to Delilah. Then you will spend the rest of the weekend working at the gallery. If you talk back to me, you will lose your phone as well.”
Isabella swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d do anything to get Elenore to let go of her arm. It felt like she was crushing her bone. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, Delilah.”
Elenore shoved her toward the stairs, finally releasing her. “Now get out of my sight. I can’t believe you would try to steal your sister’s boyfriend right in front of her. Disgusting.”
Isabella ran up the steps and locked herself in her room. She threw herself onto the bed and let the tears fall. Tears for the stupid way she’d believed Delilah. Tears for the hope that she’d be anything other than a burden and a disappointment to Elenore. And finally, tears for having to reject Chase before he even asked her to the dance.
She sat up, blew her nose, and checked her arm. Angry red marks were forming. Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it out of her pocket.
My sister is back at the hospital.
She wiped her cheeks with a tissue.
What happened?
She’s getting worse. Doctors think it’s meningitis.
Isabella did a quick search on her phone and found out meningitis could cause death or severe disability.
Oh no. I’m so sorry.
She’s getting treatment, but it’s serious.
Are you at the hospital?
Just leaving now.
After a pause, he texted, I’m scared, Five.
Suddenly her problems didn’t seem so bad anymore. Her step-whatevers were horrible, but she wasn’t facing the death of a loved one. She was living in her father’s mansion. And in a year, she’d be able to go out on her own and make something of her life.
Hang in there.
What a lame thing to tell someone facing something so serious, but she didn’t know what else to say. She waited for a minute or two, but no further texts came through. She washed her face and readied for bed. A few moments after she slipped under the covers, another message came through.
I’m at the hospital. She doesn’t look good. Mom won’t stop crying.
Her heart ached for him. She wished she could hold his hand and reassure him that all would be okay.
I’m there with you in spirit.
I know. Thank you, Five.
She bit her bottom lip and debated what she should say to him. Maybe changing the subject would be okay. She didn’t want to make light of his situation, but she thought it would be good to get his mind off his sister.
Can I ask you something, Chase?
Of course.
It’s kind of stupid.
I need a little stupid right now. Ask me.
Her fingers trembled as she touched the screen. Would you go to the fall formal with me?
His answer came back immediately. YES!!
Even though you don’t know what I look like?
Dangit, Five, I don’t care what you look like! I don’t care if you’re in a wheelchair. I don’t care about any of it.
She was starting to believe him.
Okay. But you have to promise me something.
Anything.
Promise you won’t take off my masquerade mask.
I just told you, I don’t care what you look like.
Promise or I won’t go.
You’re killing me.
Promise.
Why? Do I know you IRL?
I don’t speak text talk.
IRL = In real life.
Isabella froze. What could she say to that? She didn’t want to lie to him, but she couldn’t say yes. He’d for sure figure out who she was. But if she said no, she’d feel awful. She was stuck. Her fingers hesitated as she tried to decide what to say.
Sorry. I’ll stop asking who you are. I’ll let you wear a mask. You can wear a pumpkin on your head. Just go to the dance with me. Please?
Isabella laughed, and the butterflies came back into her stomach.
Okay. It’s a date.
Hot dang, a real date with Five. My dreams have come true.
Lol.
You do speak text!
That’s the only one I know.
Chase spent the next fifteen minutes cluing her in on all the acronyms people used. He also tried to get her to download Snapchat, but she refused. No way was she ever going to be tricked into sending a video or photo of herself. And knowing her technical skills, that’s exactly what she’d do.
She fell asleep with her cheek pressed to her phone.
At seven o’clock, her phone vibrated and woke her up.
She made it through the night. She’s responding well to treatment. Doctors are hopeful.
Her eyes teared up, and relief lightened her chest.
Such good news.
Thanks for talking with me last night. It really helped.
I’m glad.
You didn’t ask me to the dance just to take my mind off my sister, did you?
No. I really want to go with you.
Ok. Because even if you did, I wouldn’t mind.
Isabella smiled and snuggled into her covers. I’m looking forward to it.
Me too.
“Isabella!” Her stepmother’s shrieking voice carried through the house. Her door handle rattled, but it was locked. “Open this door at once. You’re not getting out of your punishment. The gallery opens in a half hour!”
Gotta go.
K. Chat later.
The pounding continued. “I’m getting dressed!” Isabella shouted as she stumbled out of bed.
“If I don’t see you dressed and out the door in ten minutes, I’m taking away your phone.”
Isabella stuck her tongue out at the closed door. Yes, it was childish. No, she didn’t care. “All right!”
She took the fastest shower known to woman and tossed on some clothes. She stuffed her homework and phone in her backpack and made it downstairs with a few seconds to spare. Good thing, too, because she hadn’t deleted Chase’s contact information. She should probably do that before Elenore decided to get grabby with her phone.
“I’m ready,” she said, trying to catch her breath.
Elenore set down her iPad and crossed her arms. “Good. You’ll cover for Leilani today. I gave her the day off.”
Isabella forced herself to keep from reacting. “Okay.” She grabbed an apple and headed toward the door.
“And we’re terminating our agreement with Elsa Johnson. You’ll need to take down all of her art and package it for shipping.”
What? Isabella’s shoulders slumped. What a pain. She’d have to work on that all day. “Yes, ma’am.”
Elenore narrowed her eyes. “And I want you to do it after hours.”
“Why?”
“You’re taking over for Leilani today. Helping customers will be your main priority. I don’t want you focused on other things. Wait until after business hours to take down Elsa’s art.”
Isabella ground her teeth together. If she said anything back to Elenore, she’d regret it. “Okay.”
She left before Elenore could tell her to also scrub the floors.