Belles by Jen Calonita
“None of us did,” Molly said quietly.
Izzie bit her lip. “You remembered?”
“We’d never forget, babe.” Kylie pulled out a plastic bag with a smushed cupcake.
Izzie didn’t want to cry, but the mushy pink frosting was too much for her to handle. Izzie slowly sank onto the sand. “My mom would have been forty-one today,” she said, staring out from under the boardwalk at where the water should be. Kylie sat down and put an arm around her. “That’s so young,” Izzie said. “She’s missed so much.” She took some sand in her hands and let it slide through her fingers. “I wish she were here to tell me what to do right now.”
“Is it six years?” Molly asked, rubbing Izzie’s shoulders.
“Almost.” Izzie winced at the memory. The phone call at Grams’s house, the crowded and very loud ER, the way Grams broke down… she hated thinking about that day. Her mom had died right before she’d turned ten. Her mom loved birthdays, which was why today should be celebrated even if she was gone.
Kylie pulled out her lighter and stuck a candle in the cup-cake as Pete cupped his hands around it to keep the candle from blowing out.
Molly held the cupcake out to her. “Make a wish for your mom. And make it a good one. No guts, no glory, remember?”
Molly had hung out at the pool with Izzie’s mom, too. Maybe things were changing among all of them, but Izzie realized they were still there for her when it really counted.
“We won’t force you to sing this year,” Kylie said. “You can just blow out the candle.”
Izzie closed her eyes and made a wish for her mom. It was sort of a wish for both of them. She wished that they’d both be happy, even if she wasn’t sure that was even possible. Then she blew out the candle and took a little frosting off the top with her finger. “Thanks,” she said.
They all smiled, even Molly.
“You’re welcome.” Kylie hugged her and didn’t let go.
Izzie wasn’t sure how long they sat huddled together like that. A guy was playing something angsty on his guitar, and she stared at the flames of the bonfire. Then Pete said something funny about rocker wannabes and they all laughed. It felt awkward being there with them, but they were trying to make things okay for her, even if she did look different, and she tried to fit in with them, even if she felt different. Molly was the one who started the questioning about EC again.
Molly used a stick to draw in the sand. “So, what is Daddy Warbucks like?”
“He’s okay. He works a lot, but he’s been really nice.” Izzie didn’t say what his job was. That would have just made them rib her more. If Molly read the papers, she’d find out anyway.
“I wish my dad was never home,” Molly mumbled.
Home. Izzie jumped up. “What time is it?”
Pete laughed. “Why? We haven’t had curfews since we were twelve.”
I do now, she thought. Hers was eleven and she hadn’t even gotten permission to go out tonight. Please let it be ten. Please let it be ten.
Kylie squinted at her watch. “I can’t see the time. I think it’s…”
Izzie didn’t wait for the answer. She reached for her small bag and pulled out her iPhone.
“Geez, you have one of those now, too?” Pete asked.
She had forgotten to turn the phone on. When she did, their little patch of sand got bright. The time was 11:52 pm. The “new voice mail” alert popped up before she could figure out what to do first. She had four new messages. Izzie didn’t have to listen to them to know whom they were from. She was doomed. She knew what they said.
Sixteen
Mira’s dad was laughing harder than he had in weeks. “I had no idea Lucas and I were bidding against each other,” he said as he opened the front door and flipped on the lights. “You should have seen his face when I won the Hank Aaron autographed baseball!”
The Monroes had just come from the annual EP silent auction and Mira was glad to see her dad’s mood had lifted after what had happened earlier that day with Izzie. Winning was always an endorphin booster for him. There had been three baseball items to bid on that night and her dad had won two of them. The third was an autographed home plate from a World Series game her dad had played in, but since he had donated it, he obviously didn’t plan on winning it back (it sold for $2,450).
“You have me to thank for your haul,” Mira’s mom said as she carried in their winnings. “The only reason you won is because no one knew you were using my maiden name to bid. All night people kept asking me if I knew who Bill Horn was.” Both of her parents laughed.
Mira was glad her parents were speaking again. They’d had a huge fight on the car ride to the auction. Her mom was furious at the way Lucas had spoken to Izzie earlier, and her dad had tried to defend him. “You owe her so much, Bill!” she’d snapped. “Don’t you think I know that?” he’d yelled back. Parts of the argument hadn’t even made sense. Hayden and Mira had sat silently waiting for the fighting to end. Mira was just glad that Connor wasn’t there to hear it—he was too young to attend the EP auction so he’d stayed at a friend’s house. But Mira had heard it, and all she knew was that her parents had never fought like this before Izzie had come into their lives. Thankfully, her mom had calmed down when they reached the school gates. Maureen Monroe knew it wasn’t smart for her to freeze out the senator in public, especially after what had gone down at the country club.
Mira, unfortunately, couldn’t enjoy herself. She felt sick to her stomach all night, and she was sure it had nothing to do with the chiffon dress she had squeezed herself into. Aside from the usual introductions her dad always made, she didn’t have to glad-hand many people. Taylor had an away varsity football game, Kellen was nowhere to be found, and Savannah was so thrilled with her power play at the pool that she spent the night recounting the story to anyone who would listen. Millie Lennon’s family’s table cards sat untouched on the welcome table all night. So did Izzie’s.
You got me into this mess. Isn’t that what Izzie had said to her? It was sort of true. Maybe she hadn’t planned what happened, but she had let it happen. Which was worse? In the past, Mira had always laughed along with Savannah’s pranks, but they had never involved anyone close to her before. Like it or not, Izzie was family now and she couldn’t believe she had let Savannah do that to Izzie. Why didn’t Mira tell the cops the truth? Why didn’t she stand up for Izzie? Or for herself? Because you never do, she heard a voice in her head say. She always let other people dictate her life. Isn’t that why she was hiding the fact that she was taking art classes from all her friends?
Her mom had gone upstairs and was already on her way back down while Mira stood in the foyer thinking about these things. “I checked on Connor at his friend’s house,” her mom said. “They’re not asleep yet. Surprise.” She smirked. “I haven’t seen Isabelle, though. She must be in the den. Maybe she’s hungry. These filet mignon kabobs smell heavenly.”
“I should go pack,” her dad said, and grimaced. “Lucas is bringing the car at four thirty AM so that we can take a private jet to Maine. I’ve got a rally at eight tomorrow morning.”
Hayden patted him on the shoulder. “No rest for the weary, Senator.”
Two seconds later, they heard their mom yell. “She’s gone!” she said, rushing back into the foyer and looking panicked. “Isabelle! She’s not here!”
“What do you mean she’s not here?” Mira’s dad frowned. “I thought she was sick.”
“I checked her room, all the rooms downstairs,” Mira’s mom said. “She’s not here! And curfew was over an hour ago!”
“Let’s not panic. Maybe she forgot the time and is out with friends,” Mira’s dad suggested. Everyone looked at him oddly. “Doesn’t she have any friends yet?”
“She’s been having kind of a tough time,” Hayden said.
“She wouldn’t miss curfew,” Mira’s mom insisted. “It’s almost midnight. Do you think she’s run away?” Mira’s mom’s hand went to her necklace and she thumbed it
Run away? Mira grabbed the coatrack for support. This was her fault. She had to tell them what had really happened at the pool. They needed to know Izzie covered for Millie.
“Try her phone,” Mira’s dad suggested.
Mira’s mom dialed, then shook her head. “It goes right to voice mail. I knew we shouldn’t have left her alone tonight.” She threw the phone on a chair. “After the things Lucas said to her and what happened today, she was probably humiliated.”
“Maureen, it wasn’t that bad,” Mira’s dad said. “I’m sure she just went out for a walk or something to get some air. We’ll spread out and look for her, okay? Mira, Hayden, call your friends. See if anyone who wasn’t at the auction tonight has seen Isabelle. I’ll call Lucas and tell him what is happening.” Her dad walked into the living room, but Mira could still hear him. “Hi. It’s me. Isabelle is missing…. No, I didn’t call the police…. Yes, I know, Lucas,” he sighed.
Her mom’s face was aghast. She looked at Hayden and Mira. “Isabelle really doesn’t have any friends?”
“She came to the pool this afternoon with a few girls from the swim team,” Mira said, hoping that would keep her mom from asking how Mira and her own friends felt about Izzie.
Her mom’s eyes darkened. “You mean the girls she got in trouble with? Those are the only girls she’s been seen with?” Her mom shook her head. “Today’s incident was unfortunate, yes, and I still don’t think she’s telling us the whole story, but I thought Isabelle was starting to like Emerald Cove. Barbara visited just the other day, and she was saying how well-adjusted Isabelle seemed.”
“I know you’ve been trying to help her, Mom, but she’s anything but happy,” Hayden said, sounding angry. “EP hasn’t exactly rolled out the welcome wagon, you know. She’s been here almost a month and the only person she really talks to is me.” Mira felt Hayden’s eyes on her. “Ask Mira how her friends have been to Izzie. And by been, I mean how awful.”
“Mira, is this true?” Their mom looked crushed and Mira quickly glanced away. “That can’t be possible. She’s a Monroe! Why wouldn’t people like her?”
“Do you want to tell her, Mira, or should I?” Hayden asked, and Mira felt her face burn. “People say she’s not really a Monroe,” he told their mom, not waiting for Mira to respond. “You know, the she-doesn’t-deserve-the-new-life-she-got bit. Harborside comes up a lot, too. Those news stories about her life did a number on her chances. Izzie is not ashamed of where she’s from, and that only bothers the kids at EP even more.” Hayden’s green eyes darkened. “Don’t look so surprised, Mom. What happened at the club today is probably just the beginning of the Izzie hazing.”
Their mom still looked confused. “But I thought Mira had taken her under her wing. You’re one of the most well-liked girls in your class. Why wouldn’t they like Isabelle, too?”
Maybe it was Hayden’s confession or maybe it was the guilt getting to her because instead of having a normal reaction, Mira completely lost it. “I did not sign up to be Izzie’s babysitter!” Mira said shakily, and her mother gaped. “I did like you asked, tried to help Izzie when she got here. I bent over backward telling her about EC and how things worked, but she basically ignored me. I’m sure that’s what she does to everyone else at school, too. It’s got nothing to do with Harborside, Hayden,” Mira said, and even as the words were coming out of her mouth, she knew they were a lie. “She never tried to fit in, so now she doesn’t. That’s why people ignore her.”
“Maybe Izzie ignores you because she sees right through you and your friends. She knows a fake when she sees one.” Hayden’s words were like a slap in the face. “But why would you care how Izzie feels? The only person you care about is yourself.”
Mira hated the way Hayden was looking at her. They hardly ever fought, and when they did, Mira got sick over it. She trusted Hayden more than anyone in the world and now he thought she was as bad as Savannah. Well, she was, wasn’t she? She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. There was no way she could tell them that Izzie took the fall for Millie now. Hayden would really hate her then. What had she turned herself into? She wasn’t always this way. When had things taken such a wrong turn?
“She’s not coming back, is she?” Mira’s mom’s voice was small. She looked at Mira’s dad, who had reentered the room. “Why would she when things are as bad as you say they are?” That’s when they heard the key in the front door.
When Izzie saw them standing there, she jumped so high that Mira thought she was going to hit her head on the ceiling. Her face was blotchy, like she’d been crying, and her bob was windblown. Mira noticed her jeans had sand stuck to the knees. Mira’s mom embraced her, crying, which was a shock to both Izzie and Mira. But Mira felt another emotion, too: relief. Izzie was okay. Physically, at least, she was okay.
“Don’t ever do that again!” her mom told Izzie. “We thought you’d run away.”
“Run away?” Izzie looked surprised. “I’m sorry. I just lost track of time. I took the bus back to Harborside to see my friends and I didn’t realize how late it was.”
Mira’s mom and dad looked at each other. “You were in Harborside?” Mira’s dad said. “You told me you were too sick to go to the auction.” Izzie didn’t say anything. “I understand that there may be some things you don’t want to do with this family, Isabelle, but you can’t just go off without permission. Especially to Harborside. What if something happened to you?”
Izzie’s laugh was bitter. “I think I’m in more danger here than I ever was in Harborside.”
“Your aunt was very upset,” Mira’s dad said, ignoring Izzie’s comment. “You’re our responsibility now, and that means you need to abide by this family’s rules.”
“I can take care of myself just fine. I’ve been doing it for years,” she said, her eyes getting watery even as her voice maintained its sharp clip. “The people in Harborside aren’t anything to be scared of. They are decent and kind. They always had my back. No one judges me the way everyone does here,” she snapped.
Izzie had never come back at Mira’s parents like that before. No one knew what to do next, probably because they knew Izzie had hit a hard truth.
“You’re right. We shouldn’t judge Harborside like that,” Mira’s dad said quickly. “Old money can be… shall we say, stuffy. Believe me, I know. But I also know your mother would want you to try harder here in Emerald Cove.”
“My mother would have been forty-one today,” Izzie whispered almost to herself. “I shouldn’t be blowing out candles on a cake without her. I want her here!” she yelled at no one in particular. “I don’t want to live in Emerald Cove. I want to go home!” Izzie broke down, and Mira’s mom tried to hug her.
All the times Mira had thought about how much having Izzie around inconvenienced her own life, she’d never thought about Izzie’s old one. Izzie had a life before EC. She was someone’s daughter, too. Mira couldn’t imagine what her life would be like if she didn’t have her mom in it.
“I’m sorry, Isabelle. I didn’t—we didn’t know what today was.” Mira’s mom looked desperately at her husband. Hayden hugged Izzie, too, but Mira couldn’t move. She felt so conflicted.
“I’m so sorry,” Mira’s dad said awkwardly. “We’ll make things right.”
Izzie wiped her eyes. “I’m fine,” she said like she was repeating a mantra. “Someone reminded me recently that I’m a fighter, and I am. Maybe I forgot that today, but I won’t again,” she warned. “I’m not going to let this place break me.”
“I know people are going to love you once they get to know the real Isabelle Scott,” Mira’s mom said. “You’ve got the swim team now, and you know what would be really fun? If you joined the Social Butterflies.”
Izzie and Mira looked at each other. “Yeah, I’m not so sure that would be good,” Izzie said.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Mira’s mom looked encouragingly at Mira, like she hadn’t heard a word her daughter had said earlier. ??
Lucas walked in before Mira could answer. His gaze locked on Izzie and she noticed her cousin’s face change. “Isabelle, you’re here. Thank goodness. Everything okay, I hope? There’s no new problem we have to deal with, is there?”
“No, we took care of it,” Mira’s dad said, smiling at Izzie. “We’re just glad she’s back.”
Lucas kept his eyes on Izzie. “Yes, me, too,” he said quietly. “We certainly don’t need any more surprises, do we?”
Izzie actually answered him, sounding much calmer than she had a few minutes ago. “Not at all, Lucas.”
“Good,” Lucas said, but Mira felt uneasy.
Lucas was being especially creepy, even for him.
Seventeen
Hot yoga class or frozen yogurt machine for the cafeteria? The Butterflies’ adviser, Mrs. Fitzgerald, was perplexed as she listened to the passionate debate among the thirty-odd girls assembled for the club’s first fall meeting. The group had already doubled its donation to Save the Children thanks to last year’s carnival, but now it still had a small stash of cash left over. Usually that was spent on the end-of-year party, but last year’s lavish bash had been sponsored by Savannah’s parents (some said in a bid to get her elected club president that fall), which meant the Butterflies now had money to burn, and in EC, money never sat idle for long. So now their adviser was being tortured with this yoga-versus-yogurt debate. Lea was in the middle of her speech on why the cafeteria needed a dessert that had less trans fats when Mrs. Fitzgerald heard a welcome knock on the door.
“Hi. Is this where the Social Butterflies meet?”
Mira heard Izzie’s voice and immediately looked up from the meeting agenda. She couldn’t believe Izzie was actually taking her mom’s advice to join the Butterflies. But there was her cousin, standing in the doorway wearing her school uniform and holding her swim bag over her shoulder. Izzie looked like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to come in or bolt.