Isabella 'Bella' Marie Rickman: I'm Still Standing

Part 11

The dance teacher was informed that Isabella would missing one night the following week as she was attending the Search for John Gissing Red-Carpet event.

The lessons were going great. Bella was getting there and was wanting to work hard. The dance school's recital was next month, the dance teacher wanted to put Isabella's two solo dances that she had learnt into the recital.

Bella was told that she would be performing her two solo's that she had learnt. Bella was so excited that she couldn't wait to tell her dad about it.

Sophie came to pick her up that night.

"Aunt Sophie, can you come to the dance school's recital next month? I'm doing two solo dances and it would be great if you and the family would attend to see me perform." Bella spoke quietly.

"Give me the details sweetie and I will book some tickets for us all to go."

Bella told her date and then Sophie looked down at Bella.

"Bella, I doubt that your dad will be able to make it. He has a red-carpet event that night."

Bella started to tear up.

"Which event is it?" Bella asked.

"Chamber of Secrets."

Bella started to cry as Tom had asked to go with him as his date. She didn't want to miss her first recital.

Once they got home, Bella went straight upstairs and into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and she just cried her eyes out. Bella knew that the red-carpet event would be more important than her first recital. Her dad wouldn't come to see her. Work would trump family.

Bella showered and changed and headed downstairs for some toast and a cup of mint tea.

Alan was sat at the dinner table reading through his emails on his phone. A glass of merlot was sat breathing waiting to be drunk.

"Dad, would you be able to make my dance recital next month. It's on the 3rd of November." Bella asked of her dad.

"Sweetheart, I can't. It's the Chamber of Secrets premier." Alan didn't even look up from reading his emails.

Bella turned away from the table still holding her cup of mint tea. She threw it to the floor where the mug smashed, and the tea went everywhere.

Alan looked up to see that Bella was breathing hard and she was crying.

"All you care about is your work. You don't even care about me anymore. I spend more time with Aunt Sophie and Uncle Michael who are employed under you dad. Uncle David has been more of a dad than you have." Bella admitted to Alan.

"Bella, I care about you. But you know that I need to work to keep a roof over our heads or we would be out on the street or living with one of my siblings."

"I don't care. I just want you to be there for me. Please, I have worked so hard since I have started dancing. I just want my family to be there to watch me perform. My dance teacher has made me work hard. I practice here at home to perfect the dances that she has given me. I have loved every minute of my dance class that I just would like you to be there to watch all of my hard work." Bella cried her heart out.

"Bella it's in my contract that I have to be there. I'm sorry sweetie, maybe the next time." Alan then continued to read his emails.

Bella stormed away from her dad and headed up to her bedroom. She looked around her room and decided to pack up a bag with her dance clothes and some clothes to change into.

Bella was going to run away from her dad and hopefully stay with one of her friends.

Bella waited until she heard her dad go to bed. She crept out of her room and headed downstairs and put on her coat and shoes. Silently she opened the front door and closed it and locked it with her keys. She would keep them until she felt it was the right time to come back home.

Bella walked to the end of the street where she saw the busy road and started to walk down towards the tube station. She had her cash card on her, so she swiped in and then headed down to the platform. The train turned up, so she got on and sat down in a corner. She got her phone out and turned off 'Find my phone' app so that her dad couldn't find her.