Chapter 2 1. The Club

Isabella's pov:

"Emily don't run so fast, you'll hurt yourself." I shouted at a girl who was running in the ground. I was at the school, watching kids running and playing in the playground. Whenever I look at those kids, I feel happy and free. When I'm with them, I don't have to pretend that I'm happy. I am myself at that time. Sometimes they are quite handful but still I love them. "Happy Birthday Bella, many many happy returns of the day." Miss. Robert hugged me, she is a beautiful blonde woman in her late twenties with green eyes, upturned nose and heart shaped face. "Thank you so much Mrs Robert." I smiled, "So, any plan for the night?" She asked me, "As usual." I shrugged, "Awww, how boring, what you say about clubbing?" She suggested, "I don't drink." I declined, she pouted. "Don't be shy Bella, it's your twenty forth birthday. It's not like it comes every month. By the way you are adult, live a little before you get stuck with dirty diapers." She cringed her nose. "But-"

"No but, only yes." She gave me glare dared to say no. "Okay, fine but only for two hours." I grumbled, she smiled "One more thing, don't forget to invite Jessy." I nodded. She met Jassica, my best friend at the club and they became good friends. One day she visited to the school and got to know that Mrs. Robert is also teaches in this school.

She turned on her heel to leave but stopped, "oh, one more thing. We will choose your dress for tonight." She said with glint in her eyes.

When I reached home, I decided to take a cold shower. I striped my clothes and looked at my reflection. My face is square shaped with button nose and dimple chin. There were bags under my eyes due to lack of sleep. There were so many scars and cut marks on my body, below the left side of my chest, on wrist, on both thighs, just above my navel and on my shoulder blades. Those were the deepest ones. My reflection was blur due to the tears in my eyes but I brushed them off. I walked in the shower and welcomed the drops of freezing water on my body. I was tracing my every scars, memories of those awful night still playing in my head.

After taking shower I jumped in a blue jean pant and white t-shirt.

"Hmm", I moaned as soon I entered in kitchen, "It smells delicious. Oh my, blueberry cupcakes my favourite." I started jumping and clapping like child and kissed Aunt Haley's cheek "You da' best." I kissed her more.

"What about us?" There were, standing my favourite people of my life, my siblings and my best friend Jassica with cute pouts on their face. "Awww, my babies." They walked to me and engulfed me in group hug. Aunt was looking at us with tears in her eyes but Jessica pulled her also in the hug.

"Kids, let's have lunch then we have to prepare our birthday girl for the party." Jessica announced, "Party?" My siblings exclaimed, "Jessica, you know Mr. Whites won't like it." Aunt Haley concerned, "We are going to club Aunty." Aunt Haley looked at me with wide eyes. She knew I don't like clubs and partying, "Well, I won't mind as long as I won't become Grandma." I looked at her and gasped, but she continued, "I'm so young for that. Make sure-"

"Aunty," I gaped at her and covered Charles's ears with my both hands, "What, she is right. You should live a little. Look at me I'm fourteen years younger than you and kissed twenty-eight girls." We all looked at him with our jaw dropped on the floor.

"Charles," We gaped at him together. "It's not like, I did any sin. Kissing someone is not a big deal." This boy, I'm telling you he will break many hearts in future.

"Charles you are grounded for a month from now. No friends, no phone." Aunt Haley declared. "But I have to go to my Nick's birthday party." He whined, "We will talk about it later. Now, let's get you monsters some food." We all nodded eagerly and took our seats while aunt was serving some pasta.

"No, please don't make me wear this awful dress." I was pleading to Jessica and girls, "How dare you Isabella Whites to say this dress awful. You are saying that I'm not great designer." She gasped dramatically. "Well, awful or not. You have to wear this dress, that's it." She glared at me with here forest green eyes. "Bella, let me make you ready. Okay?" I was about to protest, "No more argument." And made me sit down in front of mirror. All three girls, started doing there work. After one and half hours torture on me they stopped and moved to make me see my reflection in the mirror. I gasped at the girl sitting there. The dress was off-shoulder, full sleeve and reached to mid thigh. It was tight and fit me like second skin. It showed each and every detail of my curve. My marks were hidden by some makeup Jessica applied on them. My hairs were left in loose curls, my eyes were looking more beautiful in those smokey eyes and they also applied some red lipstick on my lips, "I look-"

"Beautiful and gorgeous, just like your mother." I turned and saw Aunt Haley was standing looking at me with adoration in her eyes. I stood up and hugged her. "Hurry up, you have to leave the house before she will be back." We nodded and left the house, head in our car. Mrs. Robert was waiting for us at her husband's club.

We reached the club and I was feeling nervous all of sudden due to all those intense stares. My Clara, June and Jessica with me, assured me that they won't let them touched me. When we reach at the gate of the club, we saw Mrs, Robert was waiting for us and waved her hand towards our direction. We waved back and walked to her.

When we entered the club, combined smell of alcohol and sweat hit my nose. It is not first time in the club. I went to clubs before, when I was in high school. My high school was not any better. My step-mother made sure of this herself. But there are some memories which were best, but they also make me cry everytime I think about it. She took everything from me, my freedom, my love, everything. I have still have our memories, hidden in the secret spot of my room. If she will know about them, she will burn them like that dress he gifted me on my sixteenth birthday. What if he is at this club, I didn't heard about him after our high school. Am I ready to face him again. Am I ready to face his hateful gaze again after those ears? The answer is 'NO'. The memory of that night flashed in front of my eyes, it hit me like ton of bricks. I felt numb and cold. My heart dropped into my stomach and I felt strong wave nausea hit me. We passed through the sweaty bodies and it raised the bile into my throat every passing seconds. We went to the VIP room and I ran toward the washroom connected through it. I emptied my stomach in the toilet and flushed it. I looked into the mirror, thank god the make up was waterproof. He will never love me again. Istead, he would have found someone better than me, beautiful than me. I took some tissue papers and wiped my tears, threw it in the trash. "He will never choose a trash like you." That's what she always called me 'a trash'. I fixed myself and entered the room. The light of the room was deem. I looked around the room, no one was there, 'where did they go?' I thought to myself. I leaved the room, couse it was giving me creeping vibes. I started looking for

them. I tried their numbers but all are unreachable Suddenly, I hit the wall and fell down. I closed my eyes and waiting my butt to kiss the ground. But it never happened. Instead, a strong hand snaked my waist, saved me from falling on the ground. I opened my eyes to see who is the man. I saw a handsome and intimidating man in black suite. He had put the goggle on his eyes. Who wears goggles in the night? I wondered. His muscles were well built, it was looking like it will rip out the suit any time. I wonder if he punch me where will I land.

"I don't punch women." He chuckled, I widened my eyes, "Sorry, I-I said it l-loud. I stood up my feet. His hand was still on waist. I looked at his hand, he mumbled sorry and back away. I gulped still staring up to him and clutched my phone tightly. He was so big and bulky as compared to five foot and four like me. I had to crane my neck to look at his face. I gulped my own saliva, I was red and my hands were shaking. I was scared was an understatement, I was terrified'. He looked at my shaking hands and smiled politily, "May I help you, ma'am." He asked me as much as sweet he can.

"I-I am h-here with my friends. B-But they-"

"Please don't be afraid. I won't do anything. Okay?" He put his hand in surrender. I gulped, again. He sighed and talked to someone on his walky-talky. I think he is a bodyguard. After few seconds, a woman approached us. "Cassie, can you please take this beautiful lady to her destination?" She nodded, turned to me and gave me a polite smile, "You are with Mrs. Robert, right?" I nodded my head. "She is waiting for you in VIP room. Come with me." I smile and walked away with her after saying thak you to that man.

"I'm taking my leave, now." She smiled and walked away. I was here before but right now I'm feeling nervous all of sudden. I felt butterfly in my stomach, why am I feeling like this? A part of me still want to see him. And other said, it's I brushed off my thoughts and opened the door. Instead of my friends, I greeted with darkness of the room. I flashed my light on. But no one was there but still I felt someone is here. "Hello, is anyone here?" No answer. I felt someone's presence behind me, making holes with their burning gaze. I turned around hoping that no one would behind me.

But I saw a pair shoes, I moved my gaze from

those shoes to their owner's face.

A gasped leave from my mouth when I looked at the man. My were wide opened, my jaw were kissing the floor. I want to say something, anything but no words came through my lips. He was bulkier than before. His lips were still plumpy. He had five o'clock shadow on his face, making him sexier and hotter than before. His eyes were still intimidating. But I saw something else in them. I knew, what it, stroms of emotions that I couldn't define. I was stunned, hurt and overwhelmed at the same time. But I can't say the same about him. Because he was looking at me without any emotions on there face and those Strom changed in something else, rage. My heart increased its pace and my mouth was dry and carving for water like a draught land. I locked my lips to moisturize them. He moved his gazed to them and gulped audibly. He took a predatory steps towards me still looking with his intimidating eyes, making me weak on my knee. I took a step back and stumble on my feet. Didn't know, it was because of his intense gaze or the couch that hit my knee. Next second, I felt myself falling on the couch and the phone still in my shaky hand. "D-Don't...." No word came out of my mouth, my breathing was raged like I'm taking the last breath of my . He stopped in front of me. He toes were touching mine. He leaned down and down, didn't stop till his nose touched mine. He was still looking in my eyes. He moved his hand and put on the arm of the couch, behind my back.

He smirked and showed me his breathtaking dimple. I leaned back a little to make some distance but his other hand gripped my hair in painful grip, I hissed in pain. He brought his lips my ear, "We met again, Isabella." His voice was husky and intimidating at same time. I whimpered and shivered when his hot breath hit my ear. His closeness, his voice, his gaze everything was dangerous. I tried to push him with my cold, shaking hand, he didn't even buzzed a little. Instead, he tightened his grip on my hair and pushed himself more towards me. A drop of tear escaped from my eye followed by some more tears. I gripped his other hand which was still in my hair, tried to remove them "P-Please, it h-hurts." He ignored my pleading and made me stand on my feet still his hand in my hairs, gripping them tightly.

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Author's Note:

Hey everyone, I hope you liked this chapter.😊 Fill free to point out the grammatical mistakes.🙃🙃