At exactly 12 a.m., Isabella quietly stepped out of her room, the soft click of the door echoing in the stillness of the night. She made her way to the swimming pool quarter, her bare feet brushing against the cold tiles as she looked up at the sky. The stars glittered above like scattered diamonds, and the air was calm — thick with the kind of silence only midnight brings.
Just then, a voice broke the hush behind her.
"Can't sleep?" Leonardo's voice was low and steady.
She turned, slightly startled, but relaxed when she saw him. A faint smile curled her lips. "Not really," she replied, hugging herself lightly. "I just… felt like watching the stars."
Leonardo stepped closer, holding a laptop under one arm. "What about you?" she asked softly.
"About what?"
"Why you're here," she clarified.
"I'm doing some work," he said simply, sitting down on one of the poolside chairs and opening the laptop. His fingers tapped quietly on the keyboard, the screen casting a soft blue glow on his face.
Isabella returned her gaze to the sky. The quiet moment between them felt oddly comforting. After a while, the cool air began to make her drowsy. She stifled a yawn and stretched lazily.
"I think I'll head back to bed now," she said quietly.
Leonardo gave her a small nod, not taking his eyes off the screen. "Good night," he murmured.
---
The Next Morning
Sunlight streamed through the curtains as Isabella blinked her eyes open. Sitting up on her bed, the first thing she noticed was a neatly laid-out school uniform placed at the foot of her bed—complete with polished shoes and a crisp tie.
Lucas already got everything covered, she thought with a smile.
A few minutes later, dressed and ready, Isabella stepped out of her room. She wore a fitted white button-down shirt, tucked into a pleated navy, white, and gray plaid skirt. Over it, she threw on a sharp navy blazer with gold buttons and a crest stitched onto the chest. Her loosely knotted striped tie gave her an air of effortless cool. Her long, slightly tousled hair fell past her shoulders, and a bold streak of blonde at the front stood out against the dark strands, hinting at her rebellious flair.
"You look nice," Ryan said with a nod of approval.
"Thanks," Isabella replied, flashing a small smile. Just then, Lucas strolled up.
"How do I look?" she asked, spinning slightly for effect.
Lucas smirked. "You look like a gangster."
Isabella rolled her eyes and playfully hissed at him. "Where's Jayden?"
"Sick. That drink finally caught up to him," Lucas said, laughing.
Isabella chuckled too, just as Leonardo stepped out of his room.
"Good morning," he greeted them all.
"Good morning!" they echoed back.
"Let me drop you off," he offered, glancing specifically at Isabella. Ryan and Lucas exchanged a look and made teasing sounds behind her back.
Inside the car, Leonardo kept stealing glances at Isabella, clearly impressed. Finally, he broke the silence.
"You look amazing."
She turned to him, surprised but smiling. "Thanks."
He hesitated, then added more seriously, "And be careful. Don't let anyone bully you."
With that, he focused on the road and drove.
---
At School
The school wasn't as intimidating as Isabella thought it might be. She pulled out the school map on her phone and started navigating.
Class F… Old building? Interesting, she mused.
To her surprise, she wasn't the only new transfer student. Two other girls stood beside her in front of the teachers' lounge.
A teacher, Mr. Bruce, appeared and motioned for them to follow.
After locating the building, she walked through its entrance, noting how messy and chaotic the halls were. Most students would've been disgusted—but Isabella found it oddly fascinating. The disorder felt like a challenge, and she liked that.
Mr Bruce led the trio down a hallway into one of the rowdiest classrooms Isabella had ever seen. Boys shouted, tossed paper balls, and laughed loudly. It was pure chaos.
Mr. Bruce clapped his hands. "Settle down, gentlemen! We have new students. Let them introduce themselves."
Isabella leaned against the back wall, arms folded, completely uninterested. Her gaze was sharp and unreadable. Meanwhile, all eyes turned toward the two girls nervously standing in front.
"Um… h-hi… I'm Evelyn Rosewood," the first girl stammered. "I-I'm new here and… I like books and baking."
A few boys snorted.
"Evelyn Rosewood? What is this, a romance novel?" one mocked.
"Books and baking? You joining school or opening a grandma café?" another jeered.
Evelyn looked down, cheeks red and burning with shame.
The second girl stepped forward timidly. "I'm… um… Beatrice Lane… but you can call me Bea."
"Bea? Like a buzzing bee? Hope you don't sting when you panic," someone shouted.
"Evelyn and Beatrice—you sound like antique dolls in a museum," another boy added with a dramatic yawn.
Laughter erupted. The two girls glanced at each other, their humiliation shared and deep.
Then, Mr. Bruce turned toward the Isabella leaning against the wall.
would you like to introduce yourself?"
She lifted her head slowly, her voice cool and laced with sarcasm. "Why should I? So they can make fun of my name too?"
The classroom fell into a sudden, stunned silence. A few boys shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
There were only three girls in the entire classroom—Isabella, Evelyn, and Beatrice—surrounded by a sea of loud, mocking boys.
But Isabella didn't flinch. She stood tall, arms still crossed, her presence impossible to ignore.
Isabella glanced around the classroom, noticing that all the chairs in the back were filled. With a small sigh, she walked to the second row and sat down between two girls, trying to avoid any unnecessary attention.
After the first period, two boys approached them—Brian and Christian. Brian, being the more outspoken of the two, walked closer to the girls.
"I think it would be best if you change classes now, before we drag you out ourselves," he said with a smug grin, casually sticking a wad of gum into Everyn's hair. Everyn, looking startled and frightened, shrank back, clearly unsure of how to respond.
Isabella, calm and collected, chewed her gum slowly before standing up with a deliberate motion. "Apologize," she commanded, her voice cold and firm.
Brian chuckled, clearly amused by her tone. "And if I don't feel like it? What are you going to do about it?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Isabella's expression didn't waver. Without another word, she spat the gum from her mouth directly into Brian's face. The action was swift and deliberate, sending a clear message.
The room seemed to hold its breath as Isabella and Brian locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. For a brief moment, neither spoke, their silent stares a warning of what might come if Brian pushed any further. The atmosphere thickened, and Brian's confident smirk faltered slightly.