The Favor

Chapter 1

Life sucks. I'm sorry but it must be said, there are days like this, where everything is going completely not the way you would like it to go. I suppose that's the way it is, but it doesn't feel like it should. You basically do the same routine every day, you sleep, you wake up (eventually), you eat, and you sleep again. Sounds boring as fuck but in the time between each step I just presented so thoughtfully, shit can go down fast, like real fast. Whether It's school which is just made to mess with your mentality or the fact that the process between step one and step two took you too long, and you overslept like the whole day. Suprise, all these examples are fitting me just perfectly right now.

 I catch my breath as I reach my locker just in time for me to grab my stuff for the last class I will attend today (it's the only one too). With my bag thrown over my back I find myself running through the hallway. God, I must be looking like the mess I feel like right now. My school uniform hasn't been ironed today, nor yesterday. And after I just threw it carelessly away as the last week ended, my skirt looks just like that. Well, I bet not just my skirt has wrinkles all over it. Enough thinking for now, that's not at all what I need. 

The bell rings as I stumble through the door. I feel dozens of eyes on me, I keep my head down knowing damn well their starring. To my luck the teacher enters the classroom in the same moment as I sit down somewhere in the back. I sigh in relief, letting myself lean back into the chair, I hadn't noticed the person next to me until someone's elbow collides with mine. Instantly, I turn my head left to see the person I least expected looking at me. "Slept well, Isa?", he mocks me using the short version of my name.

"I wish", I sigh as I turn my head back to the front.
"You okay? Seriously you haven't texted me for the past whole day." As I turn my attention back to Jonathan, I see concern all over his face. The two of us have been friends for what must have been forever. We basically grew up together since our moms are best friends. Or were I don't know.

 The past year was truly hard for us, and by 'us' I mean my mom and I. I think dad is going through hard times too, but honestly, I nearly see him. He's working all the time, and don't get me wrong, I'm so thankful for that. He tries his best because it's the only money we get.

My mother stopped going to work for a while now, she has been diagnosed with cancer and even though she had chemo a few months ago the doctors said they can't say for sure how much time she has left, they say very few people have survived this type of cancer. I've tried to find a job to make a little money but soon enough it was all too much to handle, so I look after her. Everyday. Every day of seeing her getting worse and worse.

"Isabell?", Jon's voice brings me back to reality and I realize that I haven't answered him yet. "Yeah, Yeah, sure I'm fine it just been busy, that's all - you don't have to worry", I add.

"Is it your mom?" At this, I sightly nod, "yes."

"You know, I'm always here if you need me."

I feel myself nod again as I look up to meet his eyes, "I know."

. . . .

The bell rang, and I excuse myself from Jonathan. The hallways are crowded as I try to make my way to the bathroom. I hate crowds, I always have. It feels like there is no space left to move nor to breath, it's awful. I move past people while whispering a few 'excuses' mostly for myself to hear, but screw that. I feel myself relax again as I realize there are less and less people, until I see a group of boys a few meters in front of me. Knowing damn well who they are, I carefully keep my head down while passing them.

"Isabell Johnson", I hear a voice calling me from behind, which instantly made me froze in place. I slowly turn around, only to be met by the eyes of the most known boys in the entire school. Alexander James Smith, Phillip Jones, Max Black and Nicolas Grace all of them blessed with beautiful features and probably more money than I could ever dream of.

 I don't know any of them personally, obviously. Which brings me to my next question, what have I done to earn this acknowledgment and what the fuck do they even want from me? Because one thing is for sure, they are not here for casual Smalltalk and a cup of tea. I try to swallow my surprise and ask hesitantly, "yes?"

"I assume you have nowhere to be right now since you thought it's pointless to even show up for more than one class today", it's Nicolas who's the one to talk. I raise my brows at him, "what do you want?" He says something I don't quite understand to his friends. To my surprise they all nod and disappear somewhere in the crowd.

"Talk", he clarifies.

"Talk?", I repeat irritated.

He doesn't reply anymore, instead he starts walking somewhere. God this attitude of rich people. I sigh heavily before trying to catch up with him, I refuse to walk next to him because of reasons I don't have. Instead, I walk slightly behind him which gives me an excellent view of him.

 He wears the usual black and white school uniform, his dark brunette hair fits him perfectly and his jawline is sharp as a papercut. I didn't realize where we are heading to, until he abruptly stops, and I bump into him. I mutter a 'sorry' as I quickly back away, scanning my surroundings. 

We're somewhere in an empty classroom, probably English class or something, considering the grammar sentences on the schoolboard. "I need you to do me a favor", he says breaking the silence. I turn around to face him again. His statement took me by surprise, nevertheless I keep my face neutral, matching his energy.

"And what kind of favor would that be?"

. . . .

Author's note:

Soo, this is the very first chapter of my very first book! I apologies for the shortness of this chapter, the next ones will be longer. Any first thoughts? Again, please correct me if there are any mistakes.

much love, Lea <333