Page 26 of Isabella and the Slipper

I don’t understand.

I know.

Would you go out with me if your circumstances were different?

He went into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge. Scanning the contents, he decided to grab a soda. His mother came in behind him and took the soda from his hand. “Not this late at night.”

He scowled, but grabbed a bottled water instead of complaining. His phone chimed, and his mother looked at his phone. “Is that the girl you walked home?”

“No.” He didn’t elaborate, just gave her a smile and took his water bottle to his room. He swiped to look at Five’s text.

Yes.

He grinned at his phone.Then I’ll make it happen.

Isabella couldn’t quite hide the smile on her face as she scrounged for food in the kitchen. Chase wanted to date Five. Even though she knew he would be disappointed to find out who she really was, the fact that he wanted to get to know her better made her happy. Sure, she’d spent the evening with him, but that was for school. He wouldn’t have even looked at her had they not been paired up.

She pulled out some sandwich meat and made herself a quick meal before running back up the stairs. Thankfully, Elenore and her daughters weren’t anywhere in sight. Maybe they’d gone to bed already.

She texted Savannah.

Are you still up?

Yes! Call me! I’m dying over here!

Isabella laughed and dialed her friend. She picked up on the first ring. “How did it go with Chase? Spill all.”

Isabella flipped through her canvas paintings leaning up against the wall. “You’re not going to believe it.”

“What?”

“He wants to date me.”

“He asked you out? Girl, that’s fantastic! Was that while you were shopping for supplies?” Her voice was so high-pitched it could have made the neighbor’s dog bark.

“No, he didn’t askmeout. He askedFiveout.” She didn’t see her poppy painting anywhere. She started looking again, going slower.

Savannah screamed into the phone. “He asked you out and he doesn’t even know who you are! This is good. What did you tell him?”

“I told him I couldn’t!”

“Good. Keep your identity secret. String him along for a little while more.”

“You have a strange mind.”

She still didn’t see the poppies.

“Just watch. Another couple of weeks, and you’ll have him eating out of your hand.”

Frustrated, Isabella plopped down on her bed. “I think my stepmother took one of my paintings.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Another way to control me, probably.”

“She’s kind of psycho, isn’t she?”

“You have no idea.”

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