11:15 // mendes

Chapter 1

*The story is in Arabella's POV*

~

I wake up to the alarm on my phone going off. I push the covers off my face, then slap my phone and the alarm turns off. I stretch, yawn, rub my eyes, then finally get out of bed. I hobble downstairs to see my parents and sister drinking coffee.

"Mornong, Bella," my dad says, calling me by my nickname.

"Hello," I mumble, turning on the tea kettle.

I grab my favorite mug, which is s black matte mug from Target, and put a black tea bag in it. I wait until the water heats up, then tilt the kettle and watch as the steaming water pours into the mug. I let the tea bag sit for a minute or two, then take it out and pour milk and sugar. After stirring, I take the mug back upstairs to my room with me. After setting the hot mug on my desk, I go into my bathroom and wash my face. I apply brown eyeshadow, black liquid eye liner and mascara.

I leave the bathroom and open my dresser drawers. I grab light-wash, ripped jeans, a maroon v-neck and my black Nirvana crew neck. I strip of my pajamas, then put my clothes on. I put my hair in a ballerina bun, then slip my maroon vans on. I spritz perfume on my neck and wrist, then go on my laptop and finish my tea. When I have to leave, I brush my teeth and get a text from my boyfriend, Nathan.

"I'm driving you to school," he said.

"No, that's ok. I'll walk," I tell him.

"No, you're gonna walk with that Shawn guy, and you know I don't want you walking with him," Nathan demands.

I sigh, then type "whatever". I sling my black Vans backpack over my shoulder and text Shawn.

Me: "I can't walk. Nathan is driving me."

Shawn sends back a sad face, then I put my phone in my pocket.

I've been best friends with Shawn Mendes since the third grade. We met in my first day, and have been friends since. I've been dating Nathan for sixth months. I don't love him, but I can't break up with him. You see, Nathan thinks I belong to him, and he abuses me. I've tried to break up with him, but he kept hitting me. I was bleeding everywhere, then he stopped once he realized what he was doing. He apologized, and I accepted it. He does that every time he abuses me. I can't tell anyone, or Nathan will beat me to death. Nobody knows about him abusing me, not even Shawn, the person I trust more than my family.

I hear Nathan's car horn, so I walk downstairs, down the porch steps and down the walkway until I get to the passenger side of the car. I sit in the seat and shut the door.

"Hello, Bella," Nathan says.

"Hi," I mutter.

He leans toward me, and I flinch.

"Aw, come on babe, you know I won't hurt you," he says, getting closer and giving me a forceful kiss.

I lean my head against the window as Nathan drives. As we drive down Shawn's block, I see him walking alone in the direction the school is in. I follow me head, then Nathan starts yelling at me.

"I don't want you talking with that guy, I want to see you near him, and I don't want you even acknowledging him. You're mine and mine only," Nathan yells through gritted teeth.

"You can't tell me who to talk to or not talk to!" I snap.

Nathan hits the breaks. He glares at me, then slaps me. I hold my cheek as my eyes sting with hot tears.

"I'm your boyfriend. You will listen to me and do what I say," Nathan growls.

I nod, then look at the camera on my phone. The red mark is pretty noticeable, so I grab my foundation and put it on my cheek, covering the redness.

Once we get to school, I get out of the car and run out of the building. I rush to my locker on the way, and run into someone. We both fall to the ground with a thud. I sigh, then stand up.

"Oh, hi Shawn," I mumble.

"Hello, Arabella," he smiles. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. You?"

Shawn nods. I help him up, then we start walking towards our lockers, which happen to be next to each other. I open mine, hoping that Shawn doesn't ask about Nathan.

Shawn and I are sophomores, and Nathan is a junior. I get upset when Shawn isn't at school for his music stuff, because Nathan does bad things to me.

"Do you wanna hang out after school?" Shawn asks, shouting his locker and leaning against it.

"I can't, I have swim practice," I sigh.

"Ok, how about at our usual time?"

Nathan doesn't have to know, I think.

"Sure," I nod.

"Ok," Shawn smiles. "I'll see you in English."

Shawn's and my "time" means 11:15. If we can't hang out during the day, we sneak out of our houses and be at the others by 11:15. We usually walk around town, then head back home after an hour or so. We've been doing this since seventh grade, and haven't been caught once.

I walk into Spanish and sit with my friend, Avery.

"Hey, Bella," she says.

"Hey," I say.

We talk for a little bit, until Mrs. Falter, the spanish teacher, walks in. She gets settled, then starts todays lesson.

~

After a two hour swim practice filled with working on butterfly, I hop out of the pool and talk to my coach about the upcoming meet.

"Arabella..." he says, looking throught the sheet. "Here, you're in the 100 breast stroke, the 100 free, and the free and meadly relays," Coach Ana smiles.

I noid, my thanks, then go to the locker room. I quickly run my hair under the warm water, then go to my locker. I pull out my towel, dry off and put my clothes on. I grab my backpack and phone, then head outside.

I start walking home, putting in my earbuds and listening to In Bloom by Nirvana as I do. It's a beautiful day here in Chicago; the leaves are changing, it's getting cooler by the day.

Once I get home, nobody is there. I set my backpack on the floor, kick my shoes off and go upstairs. I grab gray sweatpants from my room, then go into my bathroom. I take a long, well-needed shower, then put my bra, panties, hoodie and sweats back on, then some socks. I do my homework in the kitchen, eating some peaches and cottage cheese as I do.

So, here's the first chapter of 11:15! I have so many ideas for this book and I'm really excited!