Perfect
Chapter XI

That’s how we ended up in my room that afternoon, full blown plotting against Cameron. Not necessarily planning his death but putting together a few pranks to play his little game that he seemed to enjoy. It wasn’t thrilling me in the slightest because I knew I’d get the brunt of his anger when it all happened, not Claire.

“You do realise this will have dire consequences for me, and not you?”

“Yeah but it’ll be good to watch Bella come on, where’s your sense of fun?”

“Oh alright but if he tips a bucket of water on me again I’ll be doing the same to you!”

“Yeah yeah.” Claire rolled her eyes turning back towards the notepad to continue scheming. We’d written numerous things down but we also had to think about the school rules which sucked. Although in fair game Cameron and I were now even but I wasn’t having it. The kid pissed me off to no extent, especially after what he’d done. Although who was I to complain really, I was headstrong and so was he. We all knew it wasn’t going to end well but what was wrong with trying anyway.

Looking over at Claire I giggled softly, she was sitting in a frog position with a pen in her mouth, notepad beside her scrolling through pranks to pull on Cameron on the computer screen.

“How about we go into town and get some ice cream?” I suggested. We hadn’t been out yet. It’d just been school and home. Obviously we’d had the party but we’d done nothing else since I’d been back.

Claire turned to me her eyes lighting up like fireworks, “Oo how about an afternoon spent shopping! It’s only three-thirty?” She begged. I laughed, “I don’t see why not. I’ll have Michael bring one of the more casual cars and we can officially go out!”

In thirty minutes Claire was ready to race out the door, screaming at me from downstairs to hurry up. She was a nutcase I swear. I applied the last of the peachy gloss to my lips rubbing them together and making sure my contacts and wig were secure before exiting the room in my floral playsuit with nude heels. We decided we’d have dinner out so Pete could have a break and call his family and spend some time catching up with them.

We finally left the house at quarter past four and were on our way to the big town of Terrence.

Lights lit up the side of the street as we made our way in, of course we were in one of the more expensive cars but I guess it wouldn’t hurt for people to know that I was wealthy. It didn’t give anything away really, lots of people were wealthy and as long as my disguise was kept up with I’d have no issues.

“Oh, BELLA!”

I looked at Claire in horror, “Do you have to scream child?”

“Uh yes, because there’s an ice cream store right there thanks and it’s an amazing one.” I giggled at her silliness as she instructed Michael to park the car near the ice cream shop. It wasn’t far from the shops either. “Bring the keys with you Michael, we’ll walk around town from here and replace our way back later.” He nodded his head and locked the car up making sure everything was secure before opening the door for me.

I stepped out onto the hot pavement, the sound of my shoes clicking reaching my ears. It was somewhat eerily peaceful here although it was quite a big town with a mall smack bang in the middle of it. It just wasn’t quite as busy at the moment.

Claire had already sped off towards the small shop full of delicious tasting ice cream and was choosing flavours by the time I walked in. The bell chimed and echoed around the room as I looked for an empty place to sit, it looked like this place was well loved. I found one spare booth throughout the thirty of them and sat my butt down with Michael.

“Michael what would you like?” I asked him rising from the chair slowly remembering I had to pay. “Oh you don’t have to get me anything Miss.”

“But I do Michael, so cough it up. What’s your favourite flavour?”

He blushed before turning to look at me, “Strawberry.”

“Fitting.” Since his face looking like a red strawberry. I know the staff didn’t get offered much from the royal family for their services but my reign would be different. I walked over to Claire and she was busy ordering mine.

“Turns out they do hot chocolate here too, so you want one Belle?”

“Oh yes please! Oh and Michael wants strawberry.” She nodded and I stood there while she finished ordering with the lady. I tapped my card to pay for the order and we went to take our seats again. “They call us up when it’s all ready!” Claire turned to me pointing to the pickup area where a few tall guys were standing around having a chat.

“Sounds good to me. Hopefully it won’t be long.”

“Oh it won’t be, trust me.”

Trust her I did as five minutes later they called out our names for the hot chocolate and Claire and I stood up to get our drinks. The guys who were standing around the pickup area were incredibly rowdy and it was making me uncomfortable. I picked up the cup of steaming hot chocolate and the warmth seeped into my hands. I went to take a sip but a surprise elbow came out of nowhere and knocked the drink out of my hand causing it to go all over the shirt of the attacker.

Scoffing at the idiocy of the person, I went quiet as he slowly turned around, “Cameron?”

“Bella, no surprise there.”

“Uh.” He looked at me in annoyance and grabbed a few napkins off the counter to wipe the side of his shirt that was drenched in hot chocolate as his friends muffled their laughter behind him.

The ice cream parlour hadn’t stopped it’s buzz which was a miracle, so it wasn’t as awkward. “Well, I guess that’s karma for pouring a bucket of water on my head.” His grey eyes had a mischievous glint to them and I knew I’d started war.

“So that’s how you want to play.”

“That’s exactly how I want to play Cameron. As dirty as you can get.” A couple of oo’s came from the boys behind him and his signature smirk appeared on his face.

“I hope you’re prepared to lose this war Bella.”

“You’ll be coming down with me Cameron.”

He smirked once more then walked out of the parlour two of his friends following him. “Are you not going to follow the master Seth?” I joked. He looked at me seriously and I gave him a questioning look back. “What’s up?”

“Just be careful with your games okay?”

“I will be, I promise. It’s all fun for me, I’m hoping he’s taking it the same way or I’ll smack him one.” A light laugh came out of Seth and I smiled, he looked so stunning when he was happy. “Alright then, I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

“Absolutely.” I said back, lacing my fingers together. He turned around giving me one last look before walking out the door the chime following as the door closed. “Well that was a weird chat.”

Jumping at the sound of the voice I turned around and saw Claire standing there with the other two drinks we’d ordered. “Shit, you scared me Claire.”

“Well I was listening to the whole exchange.” I looked at her, “I know silly, I just got so caught up I forgot you were standing beside me.” She laughed and started walking towards the table. “That boy has your mind all kinds of messed up.”

“Not wrong there Claire.” I walked over to the table where Michael was sitting. “Was everything okay over there Princess?” Claire set down Michael’s hot chocolate in front of him and took a seat in the booth, I went in afterwards nodding my head. “Everything was fine.

“Just let me know if you need me to give a good smacking to any of those boys.” He said sipping his hot chocolate. I giggled as I took a bite of the freezing cold icecream, “I sure will.”

“Claire I think this size is too small, can you get me the size up?” I yelled out of the changing room. I swear the icecream and hot chocolate made me bloated. We were in a Victoria Secret store and I was absolutely loving it. It was getting late but the shop manager had managed to keep the store open for a certain Princess who wanted to spend all of her money here. What store wouldn’t stay open for some dollar?

Claire came back with my size and I tried it on, somehow I’d managed to grow a cup size in a summer. Let’s be honest it’s probably because I ate to much and what teenage girl doesn’t like her fatty foods. Unless you’re one of those girls that counts the exact calorie intake they have daily. Grabbing the clothing that I’d picked out and unlocking the door I found the saleslady outside waiting for me. “Everything fit’s fine Miss?”

“Yes it does, I’ll get all of these thankyou.”

“Finally you’re out of there.” Claire exclaimed, skipping up to me and linking my arm in hers. I was carrying bags and so was she but I felt sorry for Michael who was carrying most of our shopping bags. We were cashed by the lady and out of the store in no time, walking towards the car, by now it was dark and quite late. The red mustang still managed to stand out in the darkness of the night and it still blew me away at what money could buy some people. I guess that was always why I was so into charities back home. I tried doing as much as I could here undercover.

Jumping in the car we all were on the road home, trees flew by in a blur and surprisingly we were closing into home quicker then I thought we were. Headlights appeared behind me and a rusty blue sedan rounded the corner of the darkened road. Fear crept up inside me, lord knows why but being the only car on the road at this time of night was quite unusual.

I looked beside me to Claire who was passed out on the seat, no comfort from her. I don’t even know how she was so tired but oh well, I get to jump on her later. “Michael I think we have company.”

“I know Princess, I’ve been watching the car for the last couple of miles. You’re safe with me.”

“I know, just on this road it’s how would you say it, uncomfortable.”

“I understand but there’s no need to worry, I’ve already called ahead and there’s guards at the foot of the driveway ready for anything.”

“I’m glad.”

“Just sit back and relax, we’ll be home soon.”

That we were, within another ten minutes we were home and the car had continued to follow. The house I was situated in was in the middle of nowhere so there was not much the car could be coming down here for. Black tinted windows were around the rusty blue car so we couldn’t see in, smart.

Turning into the bottom of my driveway the car continued on the long straight road only slightly slowing down for a second as if to check out where I lived. Inhaling in largely as it sped off down the road I signaled for the guards to open the large steel gates that lead inside. “I want tabs kept on that car Michael, like I need people on that now if possible. Do you remember the number plate and the exact model of the car?” I said as he came round to help me out of the car. “Yes Princess, we’ll get on it right away!”

“Thankyou Michael.” A loud snore came from my right causing me to jump and hit my head on the roof of the car. I stifled a giggle as I looked at the sleeping form of Claire catching flies. “Best not to let Claire know of anything just yet.”

“Claire.” I nudged her arm gently.

“What?” She groaned trying to stretch in the confined space she had. Usually it was her waking me up after a long day of duties or school but today it was me waking her up. “Get up, we’re home and I’m tired.”

I turned to Michael and looked at all the bags, “Will you be okay to get these bags up with some help from the boys?”

“I’ll be fine Princess, go hop to bed, you have school in the morning.”

Nodding at him I turned to the door but before going turned back to him, “Make sure you get to bed early enough as well Michael.”

“I will Isabella.”

With that done, I skipped off towards the door where Claire had already gone through towards her bedroom up the stairs. I followed suit finally making it to my door. Feeling a slight draft come from under the door I frowned. It wasn’t normal because my windows should be closed and locked. The guard beside my door gave me a concerning look, “Is everything okay Princess?”

“Have you heard anything suspicious since I left my room this afternoon?”

“No Miss, other then the weird cold feeling coming from underneath the door, nothing.”

“Follow in after me please.” He nodded his head grabbing out a gun from his belt. I took a deep breath in and opened the door.

Nothing was out of the ordinary other then it being extremely chilly but was because of the doors on the opposite side of my bedroom leading to the balcony being wide open. I heard the guard behind me call for backup but I wasn’t paying attention. My feet were taking me towards the balcony and before I knew it I was standing in front of a piece of what looked like expensive pink silk, wrapped in a tight bow around a small note.

“Isabella?”

Ignoring whoever was behind me I slowly bent down and picked up the small note. It felt like spiders were crawling up my arms as I slowly untied the bow and opened the note,

I’m back Princess.