Chapter 4

Isabel's POV

That day, Johnny and I had a huge fight, and neither of us was willing to back down.

He said it was just a dog. I asked him, "Would you say that to Rhea?"

He was speechless. We both knew the answer.

When he left, he slammed the door so hard the whole house seemed to shake.

I found someone I trusted to adopt the dog and sent it far away, where Johnny could never give it to Rhea.

When he came home later and saw the dog was gone, he never asked where it went. He simply dropped the subject, and I pretended as if nothing had happened.

Lost in the memory, I said nothing, and my silence looked like an admission to everyone else.

The group laughed and crowded around me like sharks that smelt blood.

"No wonder you've always had trouble fitting in. Turns out no one ever loved you growing up," Selena taunted.

Nick smirked. "Good thing we're here to fix that antisocial streak of yours."

Rhea smiled, but her eyes stayed cold. "Who knows? Maybe Isabel is hiding something interesting. Why don't we find out?"

I instinctively clutched at my collar and shrank back.

Glenn noticed right away. "Wait, is that some kind of family heirloom? How interesting."

Before I could react, he reached out and yanked the necklace from my neck. "You're that protective of it? Then we definitely have to take a closer look."

He held the necklace up high and tossed it to the next person. "Come on, pass it around!"

The necklace was tossed from hand to hand. It was the only keepsake I had of my parents, and to them, it was just a toy. Every time it went flying through the air, they deliberately dangled it just out of my reach.

"Stop throwing it around. Give it back to me!" I shouted. My legs were unsteady, and I could barely think straight.

I lunged for it again and again, and each time I crashed onto the floor. My palms were scraped raw and bleeding, and my knees were already darkening with bruises.

Pain shot through my limbs, but I kept dragging myself up. "Please, give it back."

"You fell pretty hard. That looks painful." Rhea sounded concerned, but she was smiling.

Johnny covered her eyes. "That's enough. You guys are scaring Rhea."

Nick shrugged and shoved me aside. "You can't even take a joke. You're ruining everyone's mood."

Selena said, "Let's take this out to the hallway."

I grabbed the hem of Johnny's shirt and pleaded, "Johnny, make them stop. Give it back to me, please."

Johnny's fingers curled slightly. He hesitated for a long moment.

Finally, he gently stroked my cheek and tried to soothe me. "They're only doing this because they like you. Don't you want to get a perfect score in the rating game next year? Come on. Once they're done having fun, they'll give it back."

I pressed my hands to my head. It was pounding. I didn't want a perfect score anymore. I just wanted my necklace. If Johnny wouldn't help me, I'd get it back myself.

They walked out of the room, laughing, and I followed after them. The hallway was dim. All I could see was my necklace swinging in Nick's hand.

"If you want it, come and get it," he said, dangling the necklace over the top of the stairs.

I stumbled toward him and reached for it. Someone slammed into me, and I lost my footing. Before I could scream, I went tumbling down the stairs.

The heavy thud of my body instantly silenced the laughter.

My head was buzzing, and I faintly heard screaming and someone crying. Then someone came rushing down the stairs in a panic, calling my name.

"Isabel! Wake up! Don't close your eyes! Are you guys out of your minds? Call an ambulance!"