The Year I Became Isabella Anders (Sunnyvale, #1)(56)

“I just got back from somewhere,” Kai says, sounding so unsure of himself, so unlike the Kai I know.

“Do you realize how late it is?” his mother asks. “No, I don’t even want to hear you try to lie your way out of this. Of course you know how late it is. But just like always, you don’t care if you worry us.”

“You were looking for me?” Kai asks, surprised.

“No. We were at an event,” his mother replies curtly. “But what if we had been looking for you? Imagine how worried we would’ve been.”

“Yeah, I don’t think you would’ve been that concerned.” Kai yawns and then shakes his head, getting sleepy again.

“Are you drunk?” His mother huffs, tapping her foot against the concrete.

Kai doesn’t even try to lie his way out of it. “I’m sorry.”

“Dammit, Kai. How many times have I told you if you’re going to act like a loser then don’t come home,” his dad snaps. “Why do you have to be such a fuck-up? Kyler never put us through this shit. Why can’t you be more like him, instead of such a fucking loser all the time? Why don’t you try making our lives simple, instead of so damn hard all the time? Fuck!” His dad kicks the tire.

“Because then we wouldn’t get to have these little chats of ours,” Kai mumbles under his breath.

“Get your damn ass in the house,” his dad growls as he points to the door. “Right now, before I make you.”

Sighing, Kai gives me a little push back toward the fence before he walks toward the house with his shoulders hunched. I slink into the shadows, wondering what will happen if they see me. Luckily, they seem too distracted by Kai. His dad scolds him the entire way to the back steps then slaps him upside the back of his head as they disappear inside.

Poor Kai. I feel so bad for him. He sounded so beaten down, like he’d heard the speech a million times. It reminds me so much of the way I react to situations, so I know how terrible he’s probably feeling right now. I want to go knock on the door and give him a hug, but know it’ll probably just upset his parents more.

I make a promise to myself that even if things are awkward tomorrow, which I’m guessing after the kiss they will be, that I’ll give him that hug or something.





I DRANK MORE than I thought at the party, and end up spending almost the entire next day in bed. I keep having the same dream, where someone sneaks into my room while I’m sleeping and stares down at me in my bed, holding a paintbrush. Around six o’clock or so, I wake up and realize where the dream came from. The second I open my eyes and fully come out of dreamland, my nostrils are assaulted by paint fumes. I sit up, look around for where the smell is coming from, and then smile.

A partially finished mural is painted on the wall opposite my bed. The colors are bright and form a city, yet the shadows and fine lines give it a darker, gothic vibe. Standing in front of the industrial scene is a girl who resembles one of my superheroes in my sketches. She’s wearing a cape with has her hands on her hips and a look in her eyes that reads: I’m about to kick your ass.

I roll out of bed, grab my leather jacket from the floor, and dig out my phone. I have one new message, and without even thinking, I open it.

T: U better pay up soon or u r going to get fucked up. Don’t make me remind u what we did to DG.

I reread the message again then realize I have Kai’s phone. I pick up my jacket again and fumble through my pockets until I find my phone. They look almost identical, but I have no clue how I ended up with both.

I set his phone on the nightstand and plug mine in, since the battery is dead. What I read in Kai’s message haunts my thoughts as my phone boots up. Who’s this T person? And why are they threatening Kai? And what the hell did they do to this DG guy? It has me really worried about him and what he’s done to piss off people who are sketchy enough to threaten him.

Once I get my phone on, I plant my ass down on my bed and send Indigo a message.

Me: I can’t believe u did all of that while I was sleeping. It’s beautiful. Thanks so much!

Indigo: U R welcome! After last night, I thought u could use some cheering up.

Me: I totally could :) U r the best.

Indigo: I know. And FYI, u sleep like a rock. Seriously, I thought the fumes would wake u up, but nope.

Me: I was really hungover.

Indigo: I figured as much. Speaking of hangovers, how’s your cute friend doing?

Me: I’m guessing u mean Kai.

Indigo: He’s such a sweetie, Isa. Screw this Kyler dude. U should totally b going out with him.

Me: U haven’t even met Kyler, so how can u say that?

Indigo: I don’t have to meet Kyler. The way u and Kai were together was enough.

Me: I’m not going for either brother.

Indigo: Liar. U still have your sights set on Kyler. I can tell.

Me: He did ask me to go to his game yesterday.

I get hyped up and excited just thinking about it.

Indigo: Holy shit! Why didn’t u text me?

Me: I got sidetracked with Kai and the party, but I was gonna tell u.

Indigo: Got distracted with Kai and the party. Interesting . . .

Me: And on that note, I have to go.

Indigo: Liar! U r just running from the truth about u and Kai!

Me: There’s no truth to me and Kai, because there’s no me and Kai. We r just FRIENDS!