Reassurance (#sytycw15) (#loveInspiredRomance)

Part Fourteen

September 23rd, 1998

It was Monday morning and Isla was already on her way to the school she had grown to love. The past two weeks, Isla had learned so much things in her new school.

Things about culture, literature, history, mathematics, sciences and visual arts. She had learnt things she thought she would never get the chance too. She thought her knowledge would only be limited by the books she had in her room.

It was amazing that Isla could learn so much in one day.

To be honest with herself, Isla had loved school better than home. She had friends that truly liked her for who she was and so much books to read from as well as many new things to try out.

Isla had loved Claire to death and promised her she would take her anywhere she would go if Isla ever decided to move out when she was eighteen.

Which she was, she and Claire had been planning their escape since the day she could communicate.

"Hello!" An angry voice yelled. Isla jumped in fear as she stood in front of her friend's locker waiting patiently for her to start their next class.

"What do you want?" Isla hissed at the redheaded boy, Simon.

She had learnt his name after having a game of introductions from her homeroom teacher.

"Well if you must know, you're standing in front of my locker." He stated, his teeth clenching.

"Well excuse me, I didn't know that. Maybe next time try pasting your name on it, huh?" She said angrily.

He was indeed getting on Isla's nerves. Especially last week in which he had been making fun of her which lead to a whole bunch of other kids doing so as well.

Although, Isla didn't let any of the others comments get to her head. In fact, she had let it slide past her and out the door as she simply ignored everyone.

That is, except her friends.

"Hey! Maybe I will just so you can get outta my way next time, so I won't have to endure the likes of you." He stated as she grabbed his things and slammed his locker shut.

"So I won't have to endure the likes of you." Isla mimicked in an annoyed voice, before walking off as she usually did.

"What an arrogant pig." Isla said under her breath before walking in her class. She decided to wait for her friend Carrie, in class instead of at he locker. Isla had no clue that Carrie's locker was beside Simon's. If she had, however, she would have never agreed to meeting up at her locker last week.

"Isla! I thought you were going to wait for me!" Isla turned to hear Carrie's sad look before raising from her seat to meet Carrie.

"I was- I mean I did! But I think you forgot to tell me a small detail." Isla said narrowing her eyes at Carrie in accusation.

"What is that?" Carrie asked, unaware of what Isla was talking about.

"Oh nothing that you should worry about, just the ol' fact that Simon's locker is next to yours!" Isla exclaimed the last part in a hushed whisper.

"Well I'm sorry, please forgive me." Carrie said in a sarcastic tone. "You would think by now that you two would end your little fight and move on with your lives but no, Is it my fault for trying to make my two best friends, friends?!" She exclaimed loudly before hearing a bunch of people shushing her.

"Oh would you stick a sock in it! Class hasn't even begun you nerds!" She yelled louder.

Isla scowled at her friend's behaviour before continuing, "Whatever, let's just meet up here for now."

Carrie narrowed her eyes at Isla, "I did say, for now, am I right?" Isla repeated, grasping her friend's shoulders as she shook her a couple of times.

"Yes, okay fine... But, You're giving me half of that delicious ham sandwich you have in your lunch bag!" Carrie stomped her foot in a childish way. Isla laughed before agreeing.

it wasn't even a deal that had to be sealed with a handshake, Carrie always took half of Isla's sandwiches.

***

 

"...Kansas, situated was on the American Great Plains, can anyone tell me when exactly Kansas became the 34th state?" Mr. Goldstein asked the class that were for the most part asleep.

Isla rose her hand, ready to answer. "Yes, Miss. Mcwelsh?"

"On January 29, 1861."

"Correct! well done. Moving forward, Its path to statehood was long and bloody: After the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 opened the two territories to settlement and allowed the new settlers to..."

"Nerd alert." Someone from the back of the class coughed out. Isla rolled her eyes at the snide comment but continued to glue her eyes on the teacher and his fascinating facts on their home town.

"Shut up you guys, that's my friend you're talking to right there." Carrie stated as she threw the people at the back a cold hard glare.

"Thank you," Isla thanked Carrie for sticking up for her. No one, besides John, had ever done that for her. It was nice coming from someone new.

"Please don't thank me, I am seconds away from shoving this pencil case down one of their throats." Isla winced at the statement made, as she pictured it in her head, shuddering in disgust.

"Hey, those are big words coming from a little girl like you." A boy said.

"Yeah well, we'll see how 'little' I am when I beat the country accent out of you. When I'm done with you, you'll be speaking gibberish." She finished, earning a few hoots from the class.

"Alright settle down now, settle down." The teacher said as he waited patiently for everyone to quiet down.

Isla really noticed how Mr. Goldstein was being taken advantage of for his sweet kindness. She kind of pitied him at the moment, but even though the sad thoughts ran through her head, she felt a smile tugging on her lips at the thought of Carrie.

She was a troublemaker alright.

***