Chapter 12

"You did what?" My mom screamed

I hung my head in shame.

We were having dinner. Earlier, my mom got a call from the school about what happened

"You fought because of a boy?" My mom asked "who does that? I raised you better than this Isabelle"

I excluded the commend she made about me being molested. It was a sensitive subject in our household.

"Mom, I'm sorry"

"And how come you didn't win captain, huh? We are Martins and Martins always win. You have to excel in everything you do, do you hear me?"

"Yes mother"

"Take it easy on the girl" Steve tried to soothe her

"I will not go easy on her. First, she dances on the streets like a whore, now she's beating people up over her ex boyfriend! What are you gonna be doing at home for a week?"

"Nothing" I mumbled

"You are a disgrace Isabelle!" she slammed her fist on the table " A big disgrace"

"That's enough!" Steve demanded

"I need a drink" my mom said "a fucking hard one"

She brought out a small metal flask from her bag and took a sip

Steve looked at her with disgust.

"Alcohol on the table? Really!?" Steve shrieked "in front of the kids?"

"Oh please" my mom retaliated "who cares anyway?"

"What example are you setting for them?"

Before my mom could respond, her phone rang.

She was about to answer it but Steve grabbed it from her

"Give it back!"

Steve checked who was calling

"Who the hell is Alexander? And why is there a heart emoji next to his name?"

Gerald and I looked at each other

Alexander?

That name sounds very familiar

"Go to your rooms, both of you" Steve ordered

"Ain't gotta tell me twice" Gerald said as he got up

We both went upstairs.

"Forget about what mom said" Gerald told me "you're not a disgrace"

Tears were already dropping from my eyes. I wiped them and sniffled.

"Then why do I feel like one?"

"You're doing fine I promise, she just... You know how mom is"

"Thanks"

I slowly made my way to my room and sat on my bed

There was only one person who could make me feel better at this moment : Drew

I got my phone and sent him a text

Me: where are you?

He replied in no time

Drew: Home, what's up?

Me: I'm sad. I really need someone to talk to

Drew: Want me to come over?

Me: isn't it a little late?

Drew: you're more important

Me: thank you

I sent him my address and laid on my bed awaiting his arrival

I was already falling in and out of sleep when I heard a tap on my window

I got up and saw Drew.

How the hell did he get in here? I was thinking he'd wait for me outside

How did he get past security?

I got up and opened the window to let him in

"Hey" he said

"Hey, how did they let you in?"

He smirked

He lifted up his shirt showcasing bundles of rolled blunts

"A friend with weed is a friend indeed"

I laughed

"Oh Drew, you really are something else"

"So I've been told. What happened?"

We sat on my bed and I narrated everything that happened tonight

"Your mom doesn't know what she's saying. You are not a disgrace"

"I sure do feel like it"

I wiped my tear stained cheeks

"Don't cry" he cooed

"She always does this. I'm sick and tired of feeling this way... Like I'm worthless"

He stayed silent for a while before saying

"You know what?"

"What?"

"Let's get you out of here"

"Where will we go?"

"I have a place in mind. I go there to let go of my anger"

"Okay. I know a secret exit we could use"

We got up and made our way out. Drew jumped down from the window all the way down

"Come on" he whispered

"I think I'll take the stairs"

"Come on Bella, live a little"

"Its too far down"

"You're a fucking cheerleader. You deal with heights higher than this"

He's right but I was still scared

"But what if I fall" I whimpered

"God Bella but what if you fly?"

His words caught me off guard.

"I'll catch you" he said

"Okay"

I climbed out of the window and steadied myself on the window sill.

"Jump on the count of three" he said

I nodded

"1..... 2... 3"

I jumped down and he caught me swiftly in his arms bridal style.

I giggled

"That was fun" I said

"Told ya"

And that was how our eyes met. I was in his arms under the skies of the bright moonlight

We stared at each other for what seemed like forever

He cleared his throat

"Uh we should get going" he said

"Yeah. We should" I agreed

*

"Vandalism!" I shrieked

"I prefer the term "wall art" "

Drew brought me to a skate park and took me to a place where they drew paintings on the wall

He took two spray cans from the floor and handed one to me

"Isn't what we're doing illegal?"

"That's the thrill of it. The best fruits are always forbidden"

"What if we get caught?"

"What if we don't?"

"Just in case we do, I'll act like I'm deaf and you'll act like you don't speak English"

He laughed and shook his head

"I'll go first" he said

In bright red colours he designed "Fuck Rules!"

"Go on. Try it"

"I've never done this before"

"There's a first time for everything love"

Love? Call me that again

It seems like I learn new things with Drew. A side of me comes out that I never knew I had and I like it.

He gave me the colour pink and I designed on the wall "Life is a bitch"

For some odd reason I started laughing. It feels great to not care about what anyone thinks.

"This is so cool" I confessed "I should do this more often"

"Stick with me and take a walk on the dark side"

"I'll keep that in mind"

"Anything else you wanna write?"

I thought hard about it. What could I possible write again?

I got an idea and designed it as perfectly as I could

Drew looked at it and smiled. From that day, I knew it would be our logo or whatever you call it

Beauty and The Beast

"Nice one" he commented

We stood there looking at the design. Somehow, our hands got intertwined

How? I really don't know

3 days down, 57 to go