Secrets | 5SOS

[19]

The next day, Isabella trudged to school, her mind still swirling with the events of the previous evening. She spotted Jasper near the entrance, leaning against a wall with his usual aloof demeanor.

"Hey," she greeted, managing a small smile. "Everything's fine. Calum’s just being overprotective."

Jasper nodded, his eyes searching her face. "Glad to hear it. You sure you're okay?"

Isabella nodded more convincingly this time. "Yeah, I’m okay. Just a lot on my mind."

The bell rang, signaling the start of the day. Isabella and Jasper parted ways, heading to their respective classes. Isabella's first class was math, and she felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. Today was the math test she had been dreading.

As the test papers were handed out, Isabella tried to focus, but her mind kept drifting back to her argument with Calum. She struggled through the problems, but nothing seemed to make sense. By the end of the period, she knew she had flunked the test.

When the tests were collected, her teacher, Mr. Thompson, gave her a disappointed look. "Isabella, I expected better from you."

Her frustration boiled over. "Maybe if I didn’t have so much going on at home, I’d do better!"

The outburst caught the attention of her classmates, who whispered among themselves. Mr. Thompson frowned, his patience clearly wearing thin. "That’s enough, Isabella. We can discuss this after class."

Isabella slumped in her seat, the weight of her failure pressing down on her. The rest of the class dragged on, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of disappointment and anger.

After the bell rang, Isabella gathered her things quickly, hoping to avoid Mr. Thompson. But he called her over before she could slip out the door.

"Isabella, your behavior today was unacceptable. You’re coming with me to the principal’s office."

Isabella’s heart sank. She followed Mr. Thompson through the bustling hallways, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. When they arrived at the principal’s office, Mr. Thompson explained the situation to Principal Stevens.

Principal Stevens sighed, looking at Isabella with a mixture of concern and disappointment. "Isabella, we need to address your behavior. Acting out in class isn’t going to solve anything."

Isabella crossed her arms, her defiance returning. "I know. I’m just… having a rough time."

Principal Stevens nodded sympathetically. "I understand, but there are better ways to handle it. I’m going to call your brother."

Isabella's heart pounded as she waited for Michael to arrive. When he walked in, his expression was a mix of worry and frustration.

"Mr. Clifford, thank you for coming," Principal Stevens said. "We need to discuss Isabella’s behavior in class today."

Michael turned to Isabella, his eyes searching hers for an explanation. "Bella, what’s going on?"

Isabella’s resolve crumbled, and she felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "I flunked my math test, and Mr. Thompson was disappointed, and I just… I couldn’t handle it. Everything’s been so overwhelming lately."

Michael’s expression softened, and he turned to Principal Stevens. "I understand, Principal Stevens. We’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again. Can I take Bella home now?"

Principal Stevens nodded. "Yes, but I want her back in school tomorrow, ready to focus and behave appropriately."

Michael guided Isabella out of the office, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. They walked in silence to the car, and once they were inside, Michael turned to her.

"Bella, why didn’t you tell us how stressed you were?"

Isabella shrugged, wiping at her eyes. "I didn’t want to bother you guys. Everyone’s already so worried about me."

Michael sighed, pulling her into a comforting hug. "You’re never a bother, Bella. We’re here to help you. Let’s get home, and we’ll figure this out together."

As they drove home, Isabella felt a mixture of relief and guilt. She knew she had to find a way to balance her emotions and schoolwork, but for now, she was grateful for her brother’s understanding and support.

When they arrived home, Calum was waiting in the living room. The look on his face was a mixture of concern and frustration. "What happened?"

Michael gave Isabella a reassuring look before addressing Calum. "Bella had a tough day. She flunked her math test and acted out in class."

Calum’s frown deepened. "Flunked your test, Bella? We’ve talked about keeping up with your studies."

Isabella bristled at his tone. "I know, Calum. It’s just been really hard to focus with everything going on."

Calum crossed his arms, his voice stern. "That’s no excuse for acting out. You need to stay on top of your work."

Isabella’s frustration bubbled over. "You think I don’t know that? I’m trying, but it’s not easy when you’re constantly on my case!"

Calum’s expression softened slightly, but he still looked troubled. "I just don’t want you falling behind. I care about you, Bella."