Chapter 5 - New Day, New Attitude.

Isabella's P.O.V.

"Hola, familia"

Urgh!!, kill me, kill me now, God, please.

Normally, I'd be jumping up and down and clapping my hands like a damn excited seal because the love of my life has just walked into the room but now, I don't feel anything at all for him, if anything, I'm more excited to see my food than I am to see Santiago Reyes right now.

Come to mama.

I thought to myself as I bit down on a juicy piece of bacon.

"Hey there, son, what are you doing here so early? school doesn't start for another hour"

My father asks whilst looking down at his watch as Santiago smiles at me.

"Oh, you know me, uncle, I couldn't wait to come and see my mami, it feels like forever since I've seen her"

Santiago's husky voice says almost making me baulk as I rolled my eyes.

Yeah, I bet you couldn't wait to come and see your stalker, asshole.

I groaned as I looked up at Santiago who was standing behind my step-mother's chair and I hate to freaking say it but the motherfucker looks so goddamn good.

He's wearing a plain black t-shirt which looks like it's a size smaller than it should be because it's showing off his muscles including his huge muscular arms that are covered in tattoos and a pair of dark denim jeans which made THE grip on my fork tighten because I just knew without even looking that his ass looked good in them which pissed me off.

Why does God have to make pricks like him so hot and sexy? it's not fair.

"Well brother, you've wasted your time coming to see her today because your mami is in a bad mood and you know what Isabella is like when she's crabby"

"Shut your mouth, Vito, I'm not in a crabby mood"

I said whilst glaring at my brother who chuckled slightly as he rolled his eyes.

"Of course you're not, hermana"

He says in a sure Jan tone like he didn't believe me.

"What's wrong, mami? is everything ok?"

"Everything's fine"

I said without looking at Santiago which I could tell didn't sit right with him or my brothers just from the tones of their voices.

"Actually, you're not fine, Isabella"

"Oh, really? and how do you know I'm not fine, Alexander?"

I ask shocking him but I wasn't sure if he was shocked because I was getting angry with him or if it was because I used his full name which I very rarely do.

"Because you've been acting like you've got your panties in a twist ever since you came down for breakfast, hermana"

"Xander's right, amore, you seem wound up over something"

Well, finding out what your brothers and the love of your life really thinks about you is enough to piss anyone off, Vito.

"What's going on, Bella? has someone upset you?"

For Christ's sake.

I groaned to myself as I harshly dropped my fork onto my plate and facepalmed.

"Nothing's going on, Santiago"

"Then why are you acting like you've got a stick up your ass, Isabella?"

Xavier chimed in pissing me off even further.

"Because you all like to make assumptions, that's why, Xave"

I growled at my twin.

"I wasn't upset or angry or wound up or whatever other word you wanna throw at me but now I am, thanks to you guys"

I growled at my family as I angrily stood up from my chair.

"Where are you going, Isabella?"

My father asked me but I ignored him, as well as Santiago's hand which tried to grab my arm as I passed him but I managed to dodge him as I briskly headed upstairs.

"What the hell was that about?"

Santiago growled in annoyance.

"Ask your mami, she's the one who's in a mood"

Xavier said sounding frustrated.

"You boys are so wrong for that and you know it"

"How do you work that out, mom?"

"Yeah, Izzy was acting weird and we questioned her about it, what's wrong with that?"

My brothers asked their mom and what she said next made me groan as I quickened my pace upstairs.

"What's wrong with it?...did you all ever think that maybe, it's that time of the month for her and that's why she's acting out?"

Jesus Christ.

I groaned to myself.

Why is it whenever a woman is in a mood, it's because she's on her period and it's never because some asshole has put her in a mood?.

That's so weird.

When I got to my room, I dramatically threw myself on my bed and sighed in frustration.

I knew that today was going to be hard because of the lifechanging events from the night before but I never expected it to be this hard.

Fuck.

Now, I understand why so many people prefer to go through life having things sugarcoated for them because it's so much easier and less painful that way.

I stayed in my room for around thirty to forty minutes just reading my stories before I got my ass up to go to school.

I headed back downstairs feeling grateful when I saw that my famiglia was nowhere in sight but I knew that it wouldn't take them long to show up again considering my brothers and I have gotta go to school, my father and nonno have got work and my step-mother has got gold to dig for.

Anyway, I was currently checking through my bag to make sure I've got everything when I felt a strong arm wrap around my shoulders as someone kissed my temple.

"Hey there, mami, are you ready to go?"

"Almost"

I said stoically as I tried my hardest to ignore the drop dead sexy man standing next to me.

"Are you sure you're ok, Bella?"

"Everything's fine, why wouldn't it be?"

I ask feeling fed up as I looked up at Santiago who was looking at me with narrowed eyes.

"I don't know, there's something weird about you today"

He says whilst eyeing my face up like he's trying to work out what's wrong with me.

Sorry pal, you're looking at the wrong face.

Maybe you should try looking in the mirror instead, you'll definitely get the answers to all of your questions then.

Actually, no he wouldn't because Santiago is so far up his own ass that he'd get distracted by his own good looks, his muscles and tattoos to see the reason why I'm acting so different today.

"I can't put my finger on it, mami but what I do know is that you're not you, you're not acting like my normal Bella"

"Really?"

That's strange considering your finger is currently attached to the reason why I'm acting this way.

I thought to myself as I zipped up my bag.

"I don't think there's anything different about me, if anything, I think I'm being the same old boring Isabella"

"There's nothing boring about you, mia Bella"

Santiago said with a smile as he kissed my cheek.

Urgh!!, what the hell is wrong with him today?.

He's normally never this affectionate with me.

I mean sure, he gives me kisses on the cheek and on my forehead every once in a while and he'll also give me hugs or he'll wrap his arms around me as well but he doesn't do it all of the time, so why is he doing it now?.

"Why do you keep kissing me?"

"Why not?"

He asked with a cheeky smirk which used to make me swoon and I guess in a way, it still does but it's not as strong as it once was.

"You're weird, Santiago"

I said with a slight chuckle as I attempted to walk away from him but he stopped me by grabbing my arm and pulling me back to him.

"What did you just call me, Isabella"

"I called you Santiago...why? what's wrong?"

I asked surprising him.

"Since when did you start calling me Santiago, mami?"

"Since it's your name"

I said in a duh tone.

"I mean, your name is Santiago, right?"

"W..well, y..yeah, it is but..."

I said whilst looking and sounding confused.

"But what?"

I ask him and he looked down at me with angry eyes.

"But you never call me Santiago, you always call me Santi"

"Well, things change"

I say as I once again tried to leave but was stopped by Santiago's grip on my own which made me groan.

"Change? what do you mean change? I don't understand"

He said and I let out a sigh.

"Why won't you call me Santi any more, Bella?"

"Because I heard you don't like it when I call you it, that's why"

I growled in frustration before I could stop myself which seemed to startle and anger him.

"WHAT?"

He growled as his grip on my arm tightened.

"Where did you hear that from, Isabella?"

"It doesn't matter, Santiago, it's not important..."

I said with a sigh before being cut off by him.

"The hell it's not important, Isabella, now tell me where you heard this bullshit right freaking now?"

YOU ASSHOLE!!, you're the one who told me.

I wanted to scream at him but instead, I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath to keep myself calm and composed before opening my eyes again and looking at him.

"Santiago, I..."

I tried to speak but was interrupted by Tweedledum and Tweedledee before I could.

"Hey, what's going on in here?"

"Yeah, why do you guys look like you're having a lovers quarrel?"

Vito and Alexander asked sounding amused as they looked at us with shit eating grins on their faces.

"You have to be lovers to have a lovers quarrel, Xander"

I said in a tone which was inadvertently dripping with sadness and hurt.

I briefly looked over at my brothers who were looking confused before I looked back at Santiago who was also looking confused, as well as angry and hurt.

"Isabella..."

"We really should get going, Santiago, we don't wanna be late now, do we?"

I asked nonchalantly as I pulled my arm out of his grip and walked away leaving all three men standing in there in a state of shock and confusion.

Take that jackass.

This may be a small victory but it's still a victory, nonetheless.