You Are My Weakness

Chapter 1

[Isabelle's POV]

Monday, January 8th

I write the date neatly on the new page of my notebook. The beginning of yet another semester which I hope will end soon. While I wait for my best friend Amelie to arrive, I sip my coffee.

''Here she is!'' I think to myself, while I see the beautiful blonde girl with light blue eyes coming in, strictly late, attracting the attention of all the boys in the class.

''Today you arrived strangely before the roll call began ... who are you and what did you do with my Amelie?'' I giggle making fun of her habits that I have known well for years now.

''It was my first resolution for the new year.'' She replies sarcastically. I smile and engulf her in a warm hug. I haven't seen her for weeks as she left with her family for the holidays and I really have missed her a lot.

We've been best friends for years now: me, her, and her boyfriend Brandon. To tell the truth, we haven't always been just three, but it still hurts me to talk about it and as I think about it, an expression of sadness and melancholy wraps my face.

Amelie also notices it immediately, giving me a light push on the shoulder. I recover from the moment of nostalgia and quickly compose myself.

''Is Brandon joining us this hour?'' I ask.''No, unfortunately he has physics. Anyway, I'll see him later.'' she replies.The two of them have been together for years now.They are inseparable and they truly look like the perfect match, and I feel extremely lucky to have them as my friends.

''You must know that my second New Year's resolution involves you too, my darling.'' Amelie tells me with playful eyes that don't promise well. With a questioning look, I invite her to give me more information.

''We absolutely need to find you a boyfriend! You've been single for too long and your teen years are literally made to have fun.'' She exclaims with glee as she claps her hands vigorously to make me say yes.

I snort to make her understand that this really isn't the case. I don't think about these things, especially not right now. Not because they're superficial, it's just that unlike a lot of other girls, I don't want to waste time on non-serious relationships.

''Amelie, you already know. I'm waiting to find the right person.'' I reply, already anticipating his answer by far.

''Amelie, you already know. She's a boring teenager who spends her evenings reading books.'' We hear a shrill voice, and who could it belong to, if not the bitter Jessica Stewart mimicking my exact words.

"Jessica, why don't you find a guy you can hang out with, without bothering us?" I promptly reply while giving her a deadly stare.

Amelie ignores her, giving her a dirty look, and continues explaining her idea.''Well ... that's exactly why we're going out tonight. Brandon wants to introduce you to a friend of his. I'm just telling you he's blond, tall, and blue-eyed. If that's not enough for you, I don't know what to tell you!'' She reasonably objects. 

How am I going to find the right person without going out and making new friends?

I think about it a bit as I try to persuade myself to say yes. I know that eventually going out and detaching myself, even for one night, from the monotonous everyday life will do me good. My thoughts are overwhelmed by the teacher's annoying voice.

''Sit down, everyone. Let's take attendance, it's 8:32. I've already given too much time to the usual latecomers.'' Says Mrs. Malcolm.''Listen, Isabelle. Think about it a bit. You also know it will only do you good to hang out with me and Brandon. Please, please, say yes!'' Amelie begins, squeezing my hands tightly.

''Okay okay. We're only on the first day of the year and you're already stressing me out. '' I snort as I hide a smile.Her screams of joy are interrupted by the scolding of the teacher who begins attendance.

A few names after Amelie Lancaster's, I hear the teacher saying mine.''Present!'' I answer confidently, and then go back to talking to Amelie who has already started filling my head with preparations for tonight.

''Honestly, I think you should wear a little red dress with heels-'' she explains before being interrupted by a name we haven't dared to say for years, because it brought with it a sea of ​​painful memories.

''Dylan Rivera.''

''Rivera's absent? Nice first impression, I must admit. Let's go on. Clarke Roxanne?'' our teacher continues, not knowing the impact of the name she has just pronounced.

As Amelie and I stare at each other in disbelief, the door opens abruptly with a loud noise that makes everyone startle.

''Good morning, Mrs ... Malcolm, right? I'm Dylan.'' The boy says hesitantly.

''Yes, I'm Mrs. Malcolm. Already late on your first day.'' Mrs. Malcolm points out with a sarcastic but at the same time accusatory tone.

''Don't worry, you really haven't seen anything yet.'' He chuckles jokingly, sure of himself."Do you want to introduce yourself to the class?" Asks Mrs. Malcolm.

''I will make new acquaintances and also deepen the old ones. Thanks anyway.'' He replies, leaving Amelie and me petrified.

As he searches for a place to sit, his eyes meet mine, expressing shock and confusion, while to myself I think: he can't really be my Dylan. 

He was back, and that inexplicable apathy that for years had been part of me, as if by magic, disappeared.