Isabelle looked on as her parents fought. She was used to seeing them argue and tussle around in their small home. She sighed and walked down the hall to her bedroom.
She was used to their fights, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed watching. She dreamed about living in one of those nice homes she always saw on TV. She wanted loving parents who didn’t fight every day and showered her with attention.
“Get the hell out of here then, Arnie,” she could hear her mother scream.
Isabelle hated when they fought, but she had long ago stopped trying to break them up. She could remember getting knocked down so hard one time that she fell unconscious.
She decided that she would just try to sleep through it all so that maybe when she woke up it would all be over. Isabelle tossed and turned while hearing her parents continue to argue as picture frames fell and glasses shattered.
Suddenly it all stopped, but she heard loud footsteps approaching her door. She figured her father was about to pack up and leave as he did every few weeks after fights with her mother.
“This what you want? You think I love her more? Well you’re right because I don’t even love you,” he yelled from Isabelle’s room.
She wasn’t sure what was happening so she stayed under the bright pink covers and pretended to be sleep.
“To hell with you,” she could hear her mother’s voice scream violently.
“Baby girl, are you awake?” her father asked softly.
Isabelle turned over to see a sweaty face. Her father looked like he had just brought a knife to a gunfight. He had a few cuts above his left eyebrow and his lips were busted in two places.
“Yes, daddy,” she replied slowly. “Are you leaving us again?”
“Well, baby I’m not sure. I go wherever the wind blows me,” he answered with a plain face.
“I don’t want you to go, daddy. I want you to stay here with me,” she sobbed.
“Calm down, darling. I knew if no one else on this earth loved me, you did.”
“Yes, daddy that’s why I don’t want you to go. Can’t you and mama just be friends again?” she asked seriously as she looked up into her father’s eyes.
He saw a twinkle in them that he had never seen in the eyes of anyone else. His daughter was truly the light of his unfortunate life.
“It’s not that easy, sweetheart,” he sighed.
“Make it that easy then. I don’t want to stay here with mama. I love you, daddy, and I don’t want you to go,” she said sternly while crossing her arms.
“Get your ass out of my house!” Sharon yelled from the kitchen.
The sound of Sharon’s voice drove Arnie wild, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of his precious daughter. He slid a bit closer to where she was sitting on her twin sized Cinderella bed and whispered in her ear.
“I’m going to give you something to remember me by, sweetheart.”
“Really!” she smiled with delight.
Arnie grabbed both of Isabelle’s wrists and held her down to the bed. First he lightly kissed her on the forehead, then he loosened his grip on her wrists until he knew she couldn’t move them without his help.
He slowly slid down her pants with a grim, but anxious look written on his face.
“Daddy, what are you doing?” she asked, but he wouldn’t answer.
Isabelle grew frightened as he rubbed her inner thighs and gazed into her eyes.
“Daddy! Daddy!” she screamed, but he continued to ignore her cry for help until Sharon appeared in the doorway.
“Arnie! What are you doing to my daughter!” she gasped.
Sharon couldn’t believe what her eyes had allowed her to see. She was in total shock and disbelief. She ran up to the bed, jumped on Arnie’s back and beat him all over. Sharon was furious and couldn’t believe that he would choose her daughter over her.
“Get off of me you crazy bitch!” he yelled, but Sharon stuck to his back like glue.
Isabelle sat on her bed in fear. She didn’t know what to do, but she knew that sitting in the corner of her bed bundled up in her covers would be safest spot for now.
Arnie finally managed to shake Sharon off of his back before running down the hall and knocking over a few of Sharon’s portraits. Sharon tailed behind him until she reached the front porch.
“Don’t you ever bring your sorry ass back here!” she cried.
Isabelle wasn’t sure if it was safe to come out of her room, so she didn’t. She sat in that very spot for hours. By the time it was dark outside she could finally hear her mother walking down the hallways towards her room.
“You took my life from me, now you’re trying to take my man.”
CHAPTER 4
“You look absolutely gorgeous,” Noah stared.
Isabelle’s face was as red as a ripened strawberry. She nodded her head down to hide her bashful expressions, but there was no point because Noah’s face mirrored her own.
The summer night’s breeze was warm and softly whipped against their faces. They were a good distance away from the main campus, but Isabelle could still see the lights from the student union. She’d wondered why he wanted to meet at the Memorial Oak Tree, but she was so excited she didn’t bother to ask. The moment she saw his face her stomach dropped and any prior thoughts were erased.
“You’re just saying that to be nice,” she responded with a smirk.
“I don’t say anything just to say it and I don’t do anything just to do it,” he boldly assured her.
“How’d you find me?” she asked as she walked a bit closer to where Noah was resting upon the old Oak tree.
“That’s my little secret,” he grinned.
“Your eyes hypnotize me and I just can’t stop looking into them. I don’t know what it is about you that absolutely drives me wild, but I don’t ever want it to stop. You give me a feeling that I haven’t experienced in years,” Noah gushed all at once.
Isabelle was surprised yet flattered at how Noah felt about her after only meeting her a few hours ago. She believed in love at first sight, however this was too surreal.
“How can you feel so deeply for a person you don’t even know?” she asked as she tilted her head to the left and gazed into Noah’s eyes to show authority.
“How do you know that I don’t already know things about you that you don’t even know about yourself?” he stood up and walked over to Isabelle and grabbed her hands.
“I know that you tilt your head to the left to show you mean business even though there isn’t a tough bone in your body,” he laughed.
Isabelle turned away from him because she knew he was right.
“I know that you’re clumsy when you’re excited because you ran into me and almost knocked me down, but you had the most beautiful smile on your face so I knew you were only consumed in your happiness.” He let her hands go and softly touched her cool rosy cheeks.
“I know you haven’t been that happy in a while and even though you don’t want anyone to know it, you needed it to survive another day.”
Isabelle’s mind quickly flashed back to the past few months, but she was immediately brought back to that very moment under the Oak tree with Noah. No matter how much she tried to think about the past and all of the hurt, she couldn’t, not while with Noah.
“You think you know so much, right?” she asked with her eyebrows raised.
“I don’t want to upset you or make you feel like I’m being a smart-ass, but I can read people and I have a deep connection to you and your thoughts. I don’t know why and I’m not sure how, but I can’t say that I’m mad about it,” he assured her.
“Well if you’re so-.” Before she could finish, her lips were taken over by what some may call a whimsical experience. The moment his lips touched hers she could feel her entire body explode with chills. She’d never felt anything quite like the touch of his lips before. His kiss was the most tender that she’d ever known. Her mind and body was completely taken over by only a simple kiss.
“I
couldn’t allow you to wonder why you’re not good enough to be loved instantly when you’re more than enough to be loved beyond a lifetime,” he softly said after parting his lips from hers.
Isabelle, to say the least, was intrigued by a man she didn’t even know. Noah’s touch swept through her body like a force that was unfamiliar to her. He was a man that she knew at that very moment she couldn’t resist. The connection between them was undeniable. It was like sparks flew from their bodies when they touched and nothing else even mattered while in each other’s presence.
“Why?” she simply asked with watery eyes.
“Sometimes things aren’t meant to be explained, but experienced,” he smiled.
She was at a loss for words, which was very rare. This feeling was new to her. Yes, Brian was her first love and she really thought he would be her only love. He cared about her and he did what he could to make her happy, but she didn’t know a feeling like this even existed because she never experienced it with Brian. At that very moment she realized that what she had with Brian was a mere bond created to fill a void, but what Noah was offering would capture her heart.
“I never thought about anything in that way before. I guess I’ve always lived to only think that love is created, not pre-existing.” She explained as she sat on the cool ground.
Noah sat beside her as if they were one. He didn’t respond or even acknowledge her statement. He gazed at her, examining her face then her chest down to her thighs and even her shoes. He loved everything about Isabelle and he didn’t mind her knowing it.
“I’m sorry,” he chuckled. “I just can’t take my eyes off of you.”
Isabelle’s face reverted back to its rosy cheeks from before, but this time she didn’t hide them.
“I’ll let it slide just this one time,” she smiled.
CHAPTER 5
“You’re what?!” Demi exclaimed louder than she meant to.
“Gosh you don’t have to be so loud,” Isabelle reminded her.
“How can you be in love after only seeing this guy one time?” Demi doubtfully asked.
“It’s something I just can’t explain,” Isabelle assured her. “I just know it’s real and that’s all I can say,” she smiled.
“Ladies, I will separate you like children if you keep behaving like children,” their professor threatened.
The girls soon found out that they had every class together, which wasn’t a huge surprise since they were both freshmen and English majors. They’d been talking about Isabelle’s whimsical love throughout the entire day, but Demi thought of it as anything but love.
“Yes ma’am,” Isabelle replied.
As soon as class ended the girls raced out and to the café for lunch because they were both starving and also wanted to avoid the dreaded Dr. Lawson.
“So why do think you’re in love?” Demi asked in a teasing manner.
“I know you think this is crazy and I would too if I were you, but like I said before it just can’t be explained. It’s a feeling of joy, freedom, happiness, and lust all wrapped up into one ball of feelings that I’m addicted to.”
“I get it, I get it. I’ve had the hots for a lot of guys on campus already myself and I know if one came on to me then I’d think it was love too,” Demi shrugged.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s more than physical attraction. It’s more than wanting to hop into his bed or be seen around campus with him. It’s a lot more than that, Demi.”
“Well, words from the wise. I wouldn’t get too tangled up with a guy in grad school because once he’s done he’s out of here. He isn’t just starting out like us. He’s older and he’s trying to advance his career and we don’t even have one,” Demi warned as she opened the door to Williams Dining Hall.
The girls walked up the winding staircase that led to the buffet style lunch.
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to be realistic with you,” Demi assured her.
“I know,” Isabelle replied slowly.
The girls gathered what would be considered less than appealing for a tasty lunch and proceeded to a high-top table. Isabelle played around with her spaghetti and meatballs for several moments, twirling them around on her fork and stabbing the meatballs with a grimace painted on her face.
“Look, you may be right. He may be the guy of your dreams and the love of your life. I didn’t mean to rain on your parade,” Demi tried to cheer her up. “Yes, call me a hater. I’ll take that,” she laughed.
Isabelle perked up slightly. “Yeah, I think I will call you a hater,” she smiled.
“I’ve been in love before,” Demi reminisced. “I know how it can be the best feeling in the world and also how it can suck. It can tear you down and put you in places that you never thought imaginable.”
“I know because I’ve been there,” Isabelle explained as she pushed her spaghetti away. “I didn’t want to give love a chance, especially this early on in my college career, but why not? Why not take a chance and possibly be with the person I was meant to be with?” she asked with sincerity intertwined in her voice.
“We will never know if we don’t take a chance, right?” Isabelle asked sternly.
“You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t judge your situation just because of my bad luck with men,” Demi smiled slightly.
“Let’s go. I’m so over this cardboard disguised as food,” Isabelle laughed as the girls got up from the table.
“So what’s this guy like?” Demi asked out of the blue.
Isabelle was surprised because she didn’t think Demi would be interested in her whirlwind romance. She was so anti-Noah that any mention of him beyond “he’s not good for you,” was a wonder.
“You want to know about Noah?” Isabelle teased as the girls walked through campus passing the beautifully blossomed tulips sprinkled along the sidewalk.
“Yeah, I mean our little friendship is budding, even though we have only known each other three days,” Demi laughed, “so I might as well get the scoop on the guy.”
“Words can’t describe him Demi. I’ve only seen him twice and kissed him once, but it was the most affectionate encounter I’ve ever had. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Brian and I still feel like he loved me, but we weren’t meant to be and I accepted that. Noah feels right though; he makes me feel like nothing else exists and that what he says and how I feel is all that matters. His eyes give you the same feeling you get when you listen to your favorite song or when you’ve just gotten paid,” she laughed.
“I know that no one is perfect and I also realize that I just met him, but I can’t deny what I feel and I know he feels it too.”
“Well he sure sounds like one hell of a guy,” Demi sarcastically assured her.
“You know, if you ever want to find love then you’ll need to change that grouchy attitude toward men.”
“Love? You love him already,” Demi laughed.
“No, I don’t lov- I mean I-,” Isabelle could barely form a sentence because she didn’t know.
How could she love a man that she didn’t even know? She didn’t want to be a fool for some guy because she knew the result of that, however she couldn’t block her feelings.
“Look, don’t let my Debbie downer mood get in the way of your ‘love’,” Demi assured her while forming duck lips that made her lips appear three times larger than they really were.
“Gee, thanks,” Isabelle laughed.
“I’ll catch you later girl. I have some studying to do and it doesn’t include any of my books,” Demi giggled as she walked off toward one of the all male dorms.
Isabelle turned around to face her dorm and sighed. She hadn’t heard from Noah all day and she began to feel insecure again. How could we share such an amazing experience and he not even contact me, she thought.
Though she wasn’t surprised by the actions of any man, she still felt like the feelings were mutual and he would at least text her. She could feel her right eye slightly twitch so she knew this was so
mething that truly bothered her. Her right eye only twitched when she was stressed or uneasy about something. Even though she’d learned not to allow small set backs, like a guy, affect her life she still felt desolate. We felt something unreal under that tree, but if he doesn’t want to acknowledge it, then I won’t either. She made up her mind that she wouldn’t contact him first and she would make herself forget about the whole thing, even though it would be damn near impossible to do.
“Hey, it’s Isabelle right?” she heard a deep smooth voice in the distance say, but she ignored it because her own thoughts occupied her mind.
“Maybe not?” the same voice asked curiously.
“I’m sorry, yeah I’m Isabelle,” she said sluggishly as she looked up a face that she never thought she’d see again.
CHAPTER 6
10 Years Ago
“Get the hell out of here, girl. You want to eat tomorrow don’t cha?” Sharon shrieked while simultaneously sucking on the neck of yet another strange gentleman, as she liked to call them.
“I’m sorry, mama, but I’m hungry and it’s nothing to eat but peanut butter and a few pickles,” Isabelle sobbed.
“Now you’re making me lose money, gal. Eat what’s in there or don’t eat at all,” she exclaimed as she removed her red stained lips from the man.
“I’m allergic to peanuts, mama. You know that,” Isabelle mumbled for fear that her mother might back hand her.
“Well make do with it and get the hell out of here,” Sharon ran in Isabelle’s direction with disgust in her eyes. She was riddled with envy for Isabelle. She loved her, but she didn’t know how to show it. She knew that she could be a better mother and sometimes she wanted to be, but jealousy surpassed those feelings.
Isabelle ran into her room, now in a small apartment in east Charlotte. Her bed sheets were tattered and her covers were worn, but it was her safe haven. Isabelle dreamed of a mother who loved her and a life better than the one she’d always known. Though she didn’t realize it at the time, she knew now that her mother prostituted to make money for drugs and for them to survive.
Deceived (The Captured Hearts Trilogy #1) Page 2