Are you mine?!

Chapter 22 ⋆⭒˚.⋆

[Isabella receives a text from Julian] Julian: Hey, still good for 8? Meet me at the old cabin by the harbor. There's a dock behind it by the lake. Need me to pick you up? Isabella: Nope, I'm good. Just waiting for my parents to leave for dinner. I'll be there :) [Dafne calls] Dafne: Hey girl! What are you doing? Wanna come over? Isabella: Actually, I'm about to go meet Julian Baek at that old cabin by the harbor. Dafne: GIRL. Julian Baek?! Your first day at school and you're already hanging out with one of the hottest guys here? 👀 Isabella: It's not a date. He just wanted to show me a place he likes. Dafne: Mhmm. Sure it isn't. 😂 Isabella: I'm serious! Dafne: Okay, okay! I've seen him there before. Still... just be careful. Isabella: Why? Does every guy in this town come with a warning label? Dafne: Not him. His family. Well... mostly his uncle. Isabella: What's wrong with his uncle? Dafne: Small-town gossip. You know how people are. I don't know if it's true, but people say he's involved in some shady stuff. Isabella: Seriously? That's exactly why I'm not telling my parents who I'm meeting. My dad would lose his mind. Dafne: Honestly? Julian's a really good guy. He's just been kinda unlucky. Isabella: Unlucky how? Dafne: That's his story to tell, not mine. [someone calls Dafne in the background] Dafne: Ugh, my mom's yelling for me. Text me when you get home, okay? I need ALL the details. Isabella: Deal. Talk later. Dafne: Byeee! 💕

Chapter 21 ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Noah: Hey! New girl... Isabella: [without looking up] Not interested. Noah: What? [laughs] You don't even know what I was gonna say. Isabella: Doesn't sound promising so far. Noah: Ouch. Well... I was actually gonna ask you something. Isabella: Excuse me? I don't even know you and you're already asking me for stuff? Noah: That's the best part. If you say yes, you'll get to know me better. Remind me, what's your name again? [grins] Isabella: You come over here acting all confident and you don't even know my name? No thanks. I'm kind of busy. Noah: Woah. Harsh. Alright, fair enough. I was being a little arrogant, sorry. The truth is... I'm not very good at making friends. [lying] I have a hard time opening up to people. [surprisingly honest] Isabella: [sighs] My name's Isabella. Noah: Nice to officially meet you, Isabella. I'm Noah [smiles] I've actually seen you around school. We have Literature together. You seem like the type who likes reading, right? [pretending to be interested] Isabella: Yeah, actually. I do. Don't you? Noah: Hmm... not really. Honestly, it's hard for me to find something that actually keeps my attention. Literature's never really been my thing. That's actually why I need your help. Isabella: My help...? Noah: I'm looking for a tutor. And you're kind of the perfect candidate. Isabella: And why me? You don't even know me. How do you know I'm actually any good? Noah: Like I said, it's hard for me to find things that catch my attention. But when I do... I don't let them go. Isabella: [laughs] You know you don't have to do that, right? Noah: Do what? Isabella: Pretend to be interested in me just so I'll help you with your homework. Look, if you need help, just ask. It's not that hard. You don't have to pretend to be something you're not around me. [smiles] Noah: Damn... you're asking something from me that ...never mind. [sighs] Alright, would you help me? Isabella: I think it's pretty obvious. Noah: And while we're at it... could you help me with math, physics, and chemistry too? Isabella: What?! Are you really doing that badly? [laughs] Oh, I don't know... I'll have to think about it. New school, new classes... I still need time to settle in. Hmm... [pretends to think] Noah: Are you seriously gonna make me beg? Isabella: If necessary [laughs] Noah: Okay, Isabella. Please. Please, I genuinely need your help. Isabella: [laughing] I'm kidding. I'll help you. But don't think I'm doing your homework for you. If you want my help, you're actually going to have to put in the effort and learn something. Noah: Alright. You make the rules, I obey [laughs]

Chapter 20 ⋆⭒˚.⋆

Noah: Finally out of that hellhole... [takes a drag] Now what...? Maybe... maybe I should cut the crap and actually do something with my life. Study. Stop being such a slacker...What do you think, Mom? [looks up at the sky and sighs] Should I try doing things right for once? Maybe make peace with Kevin? Give me a sign... Three... Two... One... [waits] [sighs] Right. Nothing. Thanks for the sign [chuckles] I'm such an idiot. Of course you're not here... [glances into the distance] Is that...? Yeah, that's her. She's definitely one of those smart girls. Studying in a park after school? Seriously? [Tssst] ... Although she does look pretty. Wait a second... [a slow grin spreads across his face] Noah, you're a freaking genius.

🌛🌹🌿

Spent the afternoon walking around Copperdale Bay with my camera ... I think I'm starting to understand why everyone loves this place 🤍 ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─── 📸

Everything still feels a little unreal... but maybe that's not such a bad thing 🤍 Some places make you wonder if they're real or just a really beautiful daydream ...