City at Dawn

Chapter five: Izzy

I remember my first day of high school.

I was so nervous that it wouldn't go well. I wanted to vomit. The only thing that gave me comfort was that I had my siblings and best friends. Even though I was most likely going to live in the shadow of James and Laura, I didn't care. I had them and that's all that mattered.

But when Laura left, it felt as if I had just been abandoned. Laura was my best friend  and I trusted her with everything because she got me most of the time and when she didn't she'd try to help me in any way she could.

So when she left, It became evident that I was very dependent of her which wasn't nessesarily a good thing. In a way, her absence helped me regain strength and faith in myself. Still, I couldn't help but feel betrayed by my sister.

When she left, I became closer to my best friends and James, but most importantly I learned to love myself enough not to depend on someone. She isn't a bad sister, she was just very protective of me.

So when she came to talk to me that lunch, I was rude to her and I can't say I'm sorry about it. She didn't want to hurt me, but maybe Laura isn't good for my self esteem. Every time I'm with her, I compare myself to her and that's not good.

Obviously, this doesn't mean I don't want her close to me, but maybe its for the best that we distanced ourselves. Maybe her leaving was a sign.

Or maybe I'm just thinking this because I'm mad at her for leaving and not telling me the reason why. Maybe I'm mad at her for not even giving me a proper goodbye or calling me often while she was away.

"That's it. I've had enough of this!" Erica suddenly turns to me and glares. "Isobel Grace! I know you're having problems, but you need to get a grip and get your shit together. Wallowing on self-pity won't solve anything, so either you snap out of it or I'm making you!"

I stare at her stunning blue-grey eyes. She's right, I can't live like this anymore. I don't wanna become this sunken in person who thinks about her problems all day long. I'm young and I have a life ahead of me. I will have a thousand more problems, but when the universe wants you to fail, you should stand up when it brings you down and prove your strength.

With that in mind, I smile at my best friend. "You're right. I can't keep going on like this."

"Hell yeah!" Erica squeals while Grace just smiles approvingly.

"By the way, I don't wanna ruin the mood or anything, but how was the talk with your sister?" Grace asks innocently, as we sat at the school cafeteria, which looked more like a five-star restaurant.

I sigh and take a bite of my Pomme Frites. "Well, I wasn't very nice, but I can't bring myself to care enough."

Erica nods in understanding. "I get it, I mean, It's not like things are gonna go back to normal."

I was about to say something when a new voice said, "Hi Izzy!"

I turn around to be faced by four faces I might as well have never seen before. "Um, hi?"

"We were wondering if you wanted to sit with us." The girl beside her said. Erica covered her laughter with a cough.

"Why?" I asked bluntly. I mean is not like I know these people so why the hell would they wanna sit with me?

"Well because we think you're awesome and we wanna get to know you." Another girl said with a nervous laugh.

I give them a confused face before saying, "Maybe another time..."

They seemed disappointed by this before Erica butted in, "You know what would make her happy? Three milkshakes! Two chocolate, One cherry."

They all smiled widely before marching away to probably get the milkshakes I didn't even want. "What the fuck was that?"