1| CHAPTER ONE:A LONG STUPID NIGHT√

I watched as chucky stabbed his victim's chest, excitement and slight fear consuming me as I anticipated his next move.

For some reason whilst most girls were scared of horror movies I had a somewhat creepy —so my abuela say— liking to it. The rush of adrenaline I feel if a certain character I had grown fond of might die was too tempting to ignore.

Chucky had just lit a woman on fire then threw her down a flight of stairs when the TV suddenly turned off. I jumped of my bed —which I was sitting on— meaning to run to my small TV with hopes that it would not need repairs like the last time when someone cleared their throat from the doorway of my room. I quickly regretted my decision of turning when I came face to face with a very angry abuela.

"Mija. What are you doing here watching this devil film?" she said in spanish...and did I say angry?...yeah, turn that to raging. Letting out a nervous laugh I scratched the back of my neck — a habit I picked up whilst growing whenever I wanted to lie— trying to find a believable lie.

"Eeeh, eh, um you see abuela, um-"

"No mija, No! This is your going away party the least you could do is show up." she says in a stern voice using her hands for extra effect, "Now wear that nice dress I bought you and go to the restaurant." This time she softens her tone.

"But abuela-" I try to protest against the dress but her knowing me too well raises her hand and cuts me off.

I feel like am in an Indian movie.

"¿Entiendes?" she asked, finality clear as day in her voice.

"Entiendo" I answered with a defeated sigh as she pulls me into her arms.

"Good. Now hurry up and come, you have to meet someone. Playing good cop, bad cop with you can be so exhausting you know." she didn't bother waiting for my reply but simply walked out of my room.

Well people, that's my abuela Antonella for you.

***

"Papá?" I tapped on my father's shoulder in an attempt to garner his attention. He ends his conversation politely then turns to me. Shook and a sliver of disappointment flashed in his eyes but I chose to ignore it when he cracks a grin then swinged his arm over my shoulder."Papá please I already hate the dress so don't talk about it."

"Okay mi princesa but you look beautiful." he says as he leaned down and kisses my head "too bad though,now I lost a good bet." I furrowed my brows in confusion before he continued "me and your abuela made a bet that you would never wear this dress, I mean the cloths you wear to church could be mistaken for gowns and abayas so I didn't think you would wear a knee-length dress, I guess mi hija is all grown up. The point is we made a bet and I lost."

"Sounds like something the both of you would do. But it's not by choice. You know she always gets what she wants, she even played bad cop Indian grandma with me. I think she's had enough bollywood for now."

After greeting everyone who came for my going away party —I think mos- heck all the teens came for free food from the best restaurant in town— and feeding my starving stomach I was about to excape to my little sanctuary when-

"Mija, come on, I want you to meet Emilia's grandson. He studies in New York." she winks then grabs my hand. I looked around frantically for papá then send him a pleading look, silently asking for help but all he does is shrug and act as if he hadn't seen me, returning all his attention to his company. Traitor!!

Well I couldn't completely blame him. Nobody wants to face abuela's wrath. Poor me.

"I knew I made the right decision when I bought this dress, you look so lovely mija, absolutely beautiful. He'll love you." she whispers the last part. Great, my grandmother is setting me up.

An old woman whom I recognized as Mrs Diuz stops us to talk to abuela about a new recipe and whilst they converse in Spanish I take that moment to scan my outfit. In all honesty the knee-length spaghetti flowery dress looked good on me but I'd take an oversized T-shirt paired with short shorts anyday, anywhere, anytime!.

After a few more stops we finally reached our supposed destination. Abuela introduced me to her high school friend Emilia then her grandson. A tanned skin boy-man maybe 19 or 20 with baby blue eyes, dark brown hair and maybe 6'3 in height. I couldn't deny he was handsome, compared to the others she had set me up with before, and I would've considered being friends if not for the fact that I'd be leaving mexico in a few hours.

He extends his hand the introduced himself "Hi I'm Emilio" taking his hand I gave him a small smile then replied with a simple "Isabella."

"You know,when my abuela kept praising her friend's granddaughter for being stunning I thought she was exaggerating but I guess I was wrong. You're really beautiful." maybe we'll be friends after all.

I scoffed in an unladylike manner and he seems slightly surprised, well there goes first impression "You should see me in sweats. Trust me this," gesturing to myself I said "isn't me."

"I think you'd look good in anything."I just shrugged at his comment but then realised that he might have been complimenting me.

"Thank you?" me being the polite person I am, I replied, but it came out more so as a question than a response.

"You're welcome. I hope you don't mind but I came here with my roommate from Uni he was hell bent on seeing my hometown." ok....ay I really don't know how any of this concerns me. After seeing confusion clear on my face as to how any of this might be my business he elaborates "he's never been here before and it didn't feel right abandoning him. It's your going away party right? that's why I'm enquiring if you're okay with him being here. And another thing, he's um... different from me."

"I don't know you. No offense."

"None taken, but he's um... you know what you'll see."

"About your question, your friend, no problem. I barely know half the teens here."

"Thanks."

"Like I said; not a problem."

He ushered me outside the restaurant—where most of the teens were— since inside was already clammed up with the elderly.

"Oh hey, there he is. Justin!" he hells to a pale skin guy who was flirting with Mrs Diuz granddaughter and by the looks of it she was responding to his advances. Typical Camilla, wanting to hook up with the white guy.

The pale looking, brown eyed, blonde hair boy-man approached us with his hand on Camilla's back. Unfortunately he's bringing her here.

"Justin this Isabella, Mrs Rodriguez granddaughter and Isabella this is Justin Freeman, my roommate."

Justin looks me over and what seems to be an approving smirk settling on his face. He was about to speak when Camilla spoke first.

"I didn't know you wore anything other than gowns,big shirts and hoodies." Camilla says, a little too sweetly but the provocation in her voice did not go unnoticed.

Cami, so everyone calls her, and I are polar opposites. Whilst I loved wearing cloths 3 sizes larger than my normal size she preferred tight cloths that would show off her 'curves' and 'bust'. And on Sundays whilst I would wear gowns, so she and maybe everyone else calls them, she would wear cloths that didn't reach mid-thigh. Seriously it's a church not a night club! I think she does it purposely to stop her parents and grandparents from asking her to go to church. She's been asked out a few times because of her dress code and attitude but just a few months ago her parents stopped her from ever stepping foot on holy grounds to prevent any further humiliation, on them that is.

"Abuela asked me to wear it and since it's my last day here for a while I thought; why not. I said as I took in her outfit. Black ripped shorts and white off-shoulder crop top with hooker heels. Why not just come with a skimpy towel wrapped around you.

"Last day here for a while?" said Justin. I was about to reply when Miss-almost-naked beat me to it. What is this? a habit?

"Yeah, well Issa here is one of the high school graduates who got into Atlanta Business University on scholarship."

"Wow. That's huge. You gotta be fucking smart to enter ABU on scholarship. Congrats." I bristled as Justin cursed but smiled none the less.

"Thanks."

"And I must say miss Isabella you are.... stunning. Wanna hang out tonight,you know before you leave and all." Camilla glares at him and still beside me Emilio rolls his eyes. Ahhh so this is want be meant by 'different from me'.

"I guess you don't look like a man now that people know you have boobs. Although they are a little small." Camilla adds. What?

"Are you kidding? they're huge!" says Justin.

"Ptff, mine are better."

"Yeah, sure." Justin just had to say, with a scoff.

"Um, excuse me, what the fuck is that supposed to mean." Camilla says and it's obvious she's irritated or mad, I can't tell.

Let's just say it was a stupid longggg night.