ISABELLE

I groaned, burying my face deeper into my pillow as the alarm clock’s shrill beep sliced through the quiet of my room.

“Ugh, why did I even set this thing?”, I said sleepily, my hand clumsily slapping at the nightstand until I finally silenced it.

It was Saturday morning, and after a grueling week of work, I’d promised myself a much-needed sleep-in. But now that I was awake, it wasn't going to be an easy job sleeping back.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the sound sharp and insistent. I hesitated, my hand hovering over it for a moment before I finally grabbed it and squinted at the screen. The message was from Andrew. I clenched my fist in anger before I could even read the text.

‘Hey love, just wanted to let you know I’m on my way to France. We won't be seeing for a while, Take care”,

“Love”, I scoffed as I tossed the phone right beside me on the bed.

My mind drifted back to the message, my jaw tightening as a hot wave of anger surged through me.

Same old Andrew. A year ago or a year into the future, I remembered how the message had shattered me, making me cry for hours, at the thought that I wasn't going to see my boyfriend for three weeks.

“Was I really that dumb”I couldn't help but mutter aloud.

But now?

Now I just clenched my fist, my nails digging into my palm as I scoffed.

“Take care? Seriously?”, I said unconsciously.

Not like he even cared about me anyways.

He never did. He was just playing me, and I’d been stupid enough to fall for it.

I groaned and rolled in bed, clearly angry at the fact that the message had just ruined my morning and my beautiful sleep.

I sat up in anger, running my hand through my tangled hair in frustration.

Before I could spiral any further, there was a soft knock at my door. “Hey, you awake?” Evelyn’s voice floated through the wood before she poked her head in, her dark curls bouncing as she stepped inside.

“Barely,” I muttered, forcing a smile. “What’s up?”

She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Just wanted to let you know I’m heading out for that field trip today. I’ll be gone for about two weeks.”

I nodded, trying to look interested. “Right, the field trip. Where are you going again?”

She hesitated for a split second, her eyes darting away. “Just… you know, upstate. Some research thing with the team.”

I raised an eyebrow. Upstate? That didn’t sound like her usual trips. Evelyn was always jetting off somewhere exotic for her work, but upstate? That was… boring. Suspiciously boring. But I didn’t press her.

Because I knew what it was all about.

They had actually planned the trip together.

“Okay, cool,” I said, flopping back onto my pillows. “Have fun.”

She gave me a quick smile before disappearing, shutting the door behind her. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, my mind drifting back to Andrew and Evelyn and how daft I must have been to notice that something was fishy.

“Aren’t you being too hard on yourself”,I muttered

“You wouldn't have guessed because you trusted them, way too much”, I said in anger.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. Stop it. I had bigger things to worry about. Like George. The high schooler I tutored.

I’d promised him I’d come over it was afternoon, and he was probably already waiting for me. I groaned, dragging myself out of bed and heading to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face.

As I got dressed, I tried my best not to think of the fact that I got betrayed by my two closest friends.

Once I was ready and set to leave the house, I walked out of my room, heading to the door when I heard rustling sounds,

I paused in front of her room, looking through the opened door.

She was busy packing, tossing clothes into a suitcase with her usual efficiency.

“Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “Need any help?”

She glanced up, her cheeks flushing slightly. “No, I’m good. Thanks, though.”

I hesitated, watching as she folded a sweater and tucked it into the suitcase. Since this was meant to be a second chance at living life, I decided to ask her the questions I never asked before.

“So… this field trip. Where are you guys going again?”

She didn’t look at me this time. “Upstate. Like I said. Just some research.”

I nodded slowly, my eyes scanning the room. Her passport was sitting on the dresser, along with a guidebook. I furrowed my brows at the sight of the book.

‘Discovering Paris.’

I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice light.

“Paris, huh? That’s a long way from upstate.”

Evelyn froze, her hands hovering over the suitcase. She glanced at me, her eyes wide, and then let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, yeah. That’s just… for another trip. Later.”

I didn’t say anything, of course I already confirmed my suspicions at that moment, she was going to see Andrew.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, before I would utter words I couldn't explain.

The moment I stepped outside, the morning air hit me, pulling me back to reality. I had a bright but highly distracted high school junior to tutor and I had to focus.

************************

I sighed as I entered George's apartment,

“Good evening Miss Isabelle”,the maid said as I walked to his room, but I stopped midway to ask about George's mum.

“Good morning Anna, Is Mrs Domati at home?”, I asked

“No, ma'am, she stepped out for a business meeting this morning”, she said

“Alright, thank you”, I said as I entered the room.

She had asked me to see her earlier concerning George's improvement in class, I took a deep breath as I knocked on the door and I entered his room.

“What did I tell you about a messy room, George”, I said

He looked so shocked, seeing me.

“Good morning Miss Isabelle”, he said packing the video games off the ground.

I was to teach him the topic,algebra, a subject he struggled with.

I explained and I gave him questions to solve, which he didn't get, we went over it again, till he understood the concept of the topic

After what felt like eternity, there was a positive response from him.

"Alright, George, let's try this problem again," I said, pointing to the equation on his worksheet. "Remember, isolate the variable first."

He nodded, his eyes darting between me and the paper. After a few attempts, he finally got the answer right, a smile breaking across his face. "Yes! I got it!"

"Great job, George, Keep practicing like that and you'll ace your test next week," I encouraged, as I packed my things to leave.

I checked the time and I gasped as I noticed, I had been tutoring for the past 6 hours, I walked out of the house as I hailed a taxi home.

I got home and I saw a little box that looked like a package right in front of my house.

“I'm guessing she ordered something and forgot to collect it right”, I said but I was taken aback as the package had my name in it.

I picked it up, opening it with caution. It was a picture of me, with a note saying.

“We meet again, Isabelle Reynolds”.

It was the same handwriting as the letter from my workplace.

I had loosed all the pictures containing my childhood memories when the house burnt with my parents in it.

Who was this person and what did the person know about me??