Love Save the Empty

Two

"I'm walking through the clouds,
When you're looking at me,
I'm feeling like a child, vulnerability,
I am shaking like a leaf if you move beside me,
And you're all that I see,
But it's no good for me."


The Corrs - No Good For Me

Bella didn’t need her alarm to wake her up the next morning. Her nightmares kept her up all night, allowing her about 5 total hours of sleep. No matter how desperate she was to sleep, the fear of watching her loved ones die would always be greater than her need for rest.

6 o’clock couldn’t come fast enough for the poor, sleepless girl. When it did, she couldn’t be more relieved.

Bella pulled the thin sheet off her body and slowly got up from the mattress that lay on the floor. She stumbled to the bathroom to freshen up in attempt to wake her up just a little bit. She splashed some cold water on her face, rubbing her eyes that were sore from her constant, nightly crying occurrences.

Her normal wavy hair was a bit messy from all the tossing and turning she did, but she couldn’t care less. Bella stopped worrying about her appearance when she family passed. No amount of makeup of hair product could make her feel better. No matter how pretty she felt, it couldn’t mask the pain and longing expression that lingers on her face.

But even without makeup, hair product, or any type of pampering, Bella still managed to look beautiful.

Bella desperately searched the kitchen for any type of caffeine to consume.

“What you lookin’ for, kid?” a voice erupted from behind the fridge.

Bella peeked her head over the dorr to find her aunt in a skimpy t-shirt and knickers, with a cigarette and a bottle of what looked like whiskey already in her hands. She looked like she got as much sleep as Bella did.

“What are you doing up so early?” Bella asked, settling with a glass of apple juice.

Aunt Kelly just shrugged, “Couldn’t sleep. Been up since about 5.”

Bella was somewhat relieved when those words escaped Aunt Kelly’s mouth. She didn’t want her aunt to lose sleep over her constant screams during the night. It was better off if Aunt Kelly didn’t know about her problem.

Little did Bella know that Aunt Kelly did hear her screams. Of course, with Aunt Kelly being such a heavy sleeper, she could usually sleep through any type of noise. But when she got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, she couldn’t help but hear the ear-piercing cries. No having the slightest clue on what to do, Aunt Kelly just sat outside Bella’s bedroom door, listening o her cry herself back to sleep countless times.

The rest of the night, Aunt Kelly lay awake in her bed, listening to the consistent screams coming from the helpless girl just a few doors down. She couldn’t get to sleep, guilt washing over her body, asking God why Bella, the sweetest, most innocent girl that brings joy to everyone’s life, was forced to go through this. Aunt Kelly took out her bottle of whiskey as tears of her own fell from her face. Not crying for herself, but crying for Bella.

She watched Bella as she drank the rest of her juice, wash and dry her cup, and put it back in the cabinet. Bella ran to her room and quickly returned with her backpack and an overly large sweatshirt that read ‘Miami Flames’ draped over her petit body.

It was then Aunt Kelly realized it was her brother’s.

“So, I’ll see you after school, yeah?” Bella asked, swinging her backpack over her shoulders.

Aunt Kelly shook her head as she took a puff from her cigarette, “I’m working ‘til late tonight.”

She couldn’t help but feel bad as she watched Bella’s once hopeful expression fade. Bella understood that Aunt Kelly worked crazy hours. She just hoped that she could at least have some time to get to know her aunt a little better.

“Well,” Aunt Kelly started, “since I’m already up, I’ll bring you to school so you don’t have to walk on your first day.”

Bella couldn’t help but smile just a little.

“Okay.”

With that, Aunt Kelly set her cigarette and whiskey down for the first time that morning as they made their way to the door. Aunt Kelly couldn’t help but think about how much Bella has already changed her. Before Bella came into her life, she was a bitter middle aged woman who was absolutely nasty to everyone. Aunt Kelly has never in her life wanted anything more than to help put Bella’s poor little soul out of its misery.

Even if it means changing herself in the process.

*****

You could tell from the moment that she stepped through the building that Bella was an outsider. Here Bella was in a pair of jeans, a baggy sweatshirt, and a pair of boots while almost every girl in the hallway looked like hoochie mamas. Even in the cold, British air, these girls still managed to wear tiny little skirts with heels Bella wouldn’t dare to walk in. Their shirts were skin tight, attempting to show off their bodies.

Bella was taken aback by the sight in front of her. Not even in the heat of Miami did the girls dress as provocative and degrading as these girls.

Her thoughts were interrupted when one of them discovered Bella by the entrance, eyeing her up and down like she was a piece of meat, realizing that she was new.

Before Bella could attract any more attention, she scurried to the front office where she was told to report to at the beginning of her first day.

The last thing she wanted was to be noticed.

The secretary immediately looked up as Bella entered the office.

“Hello there dear,” the woman chimed, her accent think and sweet, “you must be the new girl. Isabella, correct?”

Bella nodded her head timidly.

“Alright, well here is your schedule that you will follow for the rest of the semester. Everyone here is friendly, so don’t be afraid to ask anyone questions if you are lost.”

For some reason, Bella found that hard to believe.

Then, a girl that looked about Bella’s age appeared through the door Bella previously entered from. She had light blonde colored hair, which naturally flowed down to her breasts. She had flawless ivory skin, eyes ice blue. By her current appearance, this girl was in no way like the girls that Bella saw this morning. But what intrigued Bella most about this girl at the moment was the big cup of what smelled like coffee that lay in her hand.

“Ah, right on time,” the secretary continued, “you will be getting a tour guide for the day. Louise here will be showing you to all your classes and answering any of your questions.”

Louise gave Bella her best smile and waved her free hand in her direction. Bella returned the favor by giving her a small smile.

“Right, now will you be alright with Louise, Isabella?”

Bella gave a small nod to the secretary then looked back at Louise, the big smile still planted on the girl’s face.

“Perfect! Now off you go, hope you have a splendid first day!”

The secretary shooed Bella and Louise out of the office quickly. Bella turned back at Louise who had a hand out for Bella to shake.

“As you already know, I’m Louise. But since I despise that name, everyone calls me Lou.”

Bella took her hand and gave a firm shake.

“I like Louise, it’s pretty.”

“Are you kidding?! It sounds like I’m from the 1800’s! It’s nothing compared to Isabella, that name is so elegant and beautiful.

Bella couldn’t contain the pink that flushed to her cheeks.

“It is pretty. But I like to be called Bella.”

Lou smiled, “Bella it is.”

Lou continued to talk about what school is like and where everything is as they walked down the hallway, but Bella couldn’t really concentrate. Her head wasn’t functioning properly due to the lack of sleep she has been getting, the headaches she gets from crying, and the constant pain in her heart that never seems to go away.

Lou took notice in Bella’s state not much later.

“Hey, you alright? You seem a little off…”

Bella desperately wanted to tell Lou that she wasn’t alright. That every second she just wanted to cry until there was nothing left of her. That she just wanted to get one full night of sleep. She wanted to tell her everything.

But, Bella settled on the three words that she would use whenever someone would ask her the same question.

“Yeah, just tired.”

Lou looked down at her cup of coffee before handing it in Bella’s direction.

“Here, I didn’t even drink any yet. I just got it to look sophisticated.”

Bella gave her a thankful look before she took a sip of the liquid. The warm sensation and the bitter taste is what she has been longing for all morning. She will be forever grateful for this girl.

*****

The first half of the day flew by, and lunch soon rolled around. Bella and Lou decided to eat outside since it was such a beautiful day, and days like this don’t come around here often.

All in all, Bella felt that she would be able to survive the school year ahead of her. Of course she attracted a little more attention than wanted due to the fact that she was new, but that was to be expected. Soon the hype about her will die down, she will become just another student, and she will blend in, just like she wants. And thanks to Lou, Bella was actually able to pay attention in her classes because of the caffeine in her system.

Now, they sit at the lunch table, eating their lunches and talking about their day. As Lou went on to talk about how her Math teacher was a complete arse, Bella couldn’t help but notice a particular group arrive at the lunch tables. It seemed that everyone else’s attention was on them as well. Fear struck through the bodies of the bystanders as the group walked by, but Bella’s struck with curiosity.

Bella took the time to examine them carefully. One of the boys was tall, had blonde hair, and deep, piercing blue eyes. There was no doubt in her mind that he was attractive, but Bella could feel a vibe given off from him that he didn’t want to be messed with.

Another one of the boys was tall, but not as tall as the blonde. His hair was in an effortless mess, but it still managed to look stunning. His hair was a dirtier blonde than the other one, and his eyes were a much deeper blue. The boy didn’t show any sort of emotion, but Bella couldn’t help but be attracted to him. He was absolutely irresistible.

Bella’s breath hitched in her throat as her eyes found their way to the last boy. He towered over the other two boys, even with their tall height. He hid his head of hair under a grey hood, but some of his chocolate brown curls poked out, sometimes falling in his eyes, but not for long, for his large hands would sweep them away almost instantly. His big plump lips were perfectly shaped and looked softer than a cloud. He was so enticing; Bella couldn’t help but bring her full attention to this boy.

She knew from the moment she laid eyes on him that he was dangerous. No one even dared to look in his direction. Neither of the other two boys compared to how risky and dangerous this boy was.

But she couldn’t seem to take her attention away from him.

That was, until Lou realized that Bella wasn’t listening to her anymore.

“Bella? BELLA!” Lou screamed, catching the attention of everyone outside.

Everyone, including the three boys that were so appealing to Bella.

All eyes shot to their table, most of them glaring at Lou. However, the three boys turned their attention immediately to Bella.

Bella wasn’t looking at them, but she could feel their stares burning into her back. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat as Lou scolded her for not listening.

“What were you even looking at, anyways?”

Bella just looked around at the eyes that were now staring at her table. Lou didn’t seem to notice, but Bella definitely did. But none of the student’s glares compared to the three mysterious boys’. She hesitantly shifted her head in their direction, discovering that two of the boys were talking to the curly haired one. But the curly one was still staring back at Bella. Feeling uncomfortable again, she rapidly turned back around, facing back to Lou who had a worried expression written across her face.

“Bella, please tell me that Harry is NOT looking at you…”

The expression on Lou’s face drastically changed from worry to fear, which scared Bella a little bit.

“Who’s Harry?” Bella asked timidly.

Lou took a glance over Bella’s shoulder. Her face was pale when she looked back in Bella’s direction.

“Lou, what the hell is wrong?”

“I- I should have warned you. I should have said something-told you about him! Fucking hell,” Lou mumbled, only loud enough for Bella to hear.

“Louise, you’re scaring me. What is going on?”

“That boy you were just staring at? That’s Harry. Harry Styles. In other words, the most dangerous boy you will ever come across. He’s bad news Bella. And you’ve caught his attention.”

Her words were stern, yet shaky. Lou couldn’t help but tremble as his name escaped her lips.

“Bad news?” Bella asked, “What do you mean?”

“Bad news as in you never want to cross his path. He’s involved with some bad people. Anyone who upsets him ends up with their face rearranged and a bed in the hospital. Some say he’s a fucking psychopath. Some even say he’s killed before…”

Lou didn’t want to scare Bella, but there was no other way to describe him. There was no other way to keep Bella as far away from him as possible. Just the thought of Harry laying a hand on innocent little Bella made Lou cringe.

“And don’t think for a second that he won’t treat you any differently because you’re a girl. I’ve seen some of the girls that try to get involved with him. They go in thinking he was all fun and games, and they come out with cut, bruises, scars. Some even go completely insane. Just, please, Bella. Please stay away from him. I couldn’t stand to watch you fall apart the way I’ve watched other people who get involved with him. Please-“

“Lou,” Bella interrupted, placing her hands gently on Lou’s shoulders in attempt to calm her down. Tears burned in the back of Lou’s eyes, but she squeezed her eyes shut to keep them contained.

“I won’t talk to him. I won’t look at him. I won’t even think about him. Don’t worry, I will not associate with Harry in any way. Just please calm down.”

Lou sighed in relief as she pulled Bella into a tight hug. She has seen too many people destroyed by the monster that sits only a few yards away from them. She couldn’t bear to see Bella also become a victim.

“Do you want to get out of here? Maybe go to our classes early?” Bella suggested.

All Lou could do was nod her head.

Bella returned the gesture as Lou got up, gathered her belongings, and walked to the school entrance with Bella closely behind.

As much as Bella didn’t want to, she couldn’t help but take one last look over at Harry and the other two boys.

The two boys whose names remain unknown seemed to be more interested in a few girls that sat down with them, girls that Bella recognized from this morning when she first walked in. She recognized one of the girls as the one that stared her down this morning. She was sitting next to Harry, desperate to get his attention, sticking out her breasts and putting her hands all over him.

However, Harry didn’t seem to even notice the girl. His full attention was still on Bella.

His deep green eyes connected with Bella’s, his expression still set in stone. His eyebrows were faintly furrowed and his lips were in a slight pout. She could see the darkness lurking in his eyes; eyes that read danger.

Bella’s only on her first day of school, and she seems to have the most dangerous boy she has ever known drawn to her.

As she turned away, all she could think was,

‘hat have I got myself into?