Page 24 of Isabella and the Slipper

She picked up her backpack and slung it over her shoulders. “I’d better go.”

He hopped up. “You want a ride home?”

She sucked in a breath. Did she?

Chapter 7

“Come on. Let me take you home. It’s really dark out. I don’t think you should walk,” Chase said, hoping Isabella would agree. It wasn’t safe. Plus, he suddenly wanted to spend a little more time with her but wasn’t sure why.

“I can walk. It’s not far.”

Why did she keep insisting? “Then I’ll walk with you. You shouldn’t be alone.”

She considered his request, looking at the floor. “All right.”

He grabbed his jacket. “Great.”

Before they stepped outside, he called to his mother. “I’m going to walk Isabella home.”

“Okay,” his mother called, and they stepped outside. He closed his front door and stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets. A light breeze blew. He let Isabella lead.

“Are you a senior?” he asked.

“Yes. I can’t wait to graduate.”

“Yeah, me too. Are you going to college?”

“I ... I want to. I’ve been applying for scholarships. I haven’t heard back yet.” She kept her gaze forward.

Chase hadn’t thought of the possibility that she didn’t come from a wealthy family. All the kids at their school lived in affluent neighborhoods. Maybe that’s why she didn’t want him to take her home. She was embarrassed. How could he make her understand that wealth didn’t matter to him?

“What school do you want to go to?”

She swallowed. “There are a few I like, but my favorite is the New Hampshire Institute of Art. What about you?” She gave him a sideways glance.

That was complicated. “I’ll probably end up going to an acting school.”

She squinted at him. “Is that what you want to do?”

No one ever asked him that. They all assumed he wanted to act. He sighed. “Not really.” Why was he feeling the need to spill his guts to everyone all of a sudden?

“What would you like to do?”

“That’s the stupid thing. I don’t know. I want to go to college and figure that out, like everyone else. Take some core classes. Live on my own. Find out what I’m passionate about. You know, the whole college experience.” He glanced at her to see if she was going to react to his statement.

She just nodded and gave him a small smile. “That makes sense.”

“My mom thinks that’s stupid. Since I’m good at acting, she thinks I should make a career out of it.”

“I totally get that.” She peered up at him. “Sorry.”

They turned down Ponderosa Drive, where the houses became mansions, and Chase grew confused. “This is the street you live on?”

“Yes. And I can walk alone from here.” She stopped.

He stared at her. She didn’t want him to know she lived in a mansion? That didn’t make any sense.

“Come on. Let me take you home.”

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