HUNDRED

HUNDRED
ISABEL’S POV
I sat quietly in the garden, my thoughts were a tangled mess of fire and frost. The morning sunlight spilled over the residence, the sky was beautiful, but I didn’t feel beautiful one bit, all I felt was the weight of last night pressing on my chest like a secret too big to swallow. I wanted to scream, to cry, to laugh just to do anything to release the storm Drake had stirred in my body and my heart. But instead, I sat stiff, staring at the roses, my hands folded like a prisoner’s.
A shrill, overly familiar voice shattered the air.
‘Isaaaaa-belllll!’
I whipped my head toward the sound, and my heart skipped. I had to blink twice to make sure it wasn’t my imagination because standing few meters away from me was Jasmine with a huge smile on her face, she was dressed in a bright pink blouse, an oversized sunglass, and a very tight jeans that looked like it was glued to her skin.
I stood, my mouth falling open. ‘Jasmine,…What the hell are you doing here?’
She frowned ‘What do you mean, ‘what the hell am I doing here? I came to see you’ Jasmine dropped her bag with a dramatic thud. ‘Your one and only best friend in the world decided to check on you because you have been MIA and this is the way you welcome me?’
I sighed ‘Girl I’m sorry, I have just been so busy and tired…I know it’s no excuse, but it is what it is’
Jasmine spun around like she was in a fairytale, gawking at the walls, the tall guards, and the shining glass windows. ‘You know I don’t carry a grudge; that shit makes people look old and you know I don’t want to ruin my pretty skin.’
She sat beside me ‘Girl, you look good’
I smiled ‘I know’
I couldn’t stop the genuine smile tugging at my lips. Jas was the one piece of home I desperately needed, she always came with her vibes, jokes and stuff. I really wanted anything that could put me away from my sour look.
We sat down on the garden bench, and Jasmine leaned in, wiggling her brows. ‘So? How have you been? It’s been months and you have been literally feeding me crumbs’
I clasped my hands, pretending to look casual. ‘I’m… fine…. Okay, I’m lying, I have been here and there you know. This place is really a lot and I’m just trying my best to get through some days’
‘I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but you are the strongest girl I know and I know you will get through this with…don’t forget….you will leave here a millionaire!!’ Jasmine announced.
‘Yeah, I know but it doesn’t seem to be enough to take away the sorrows and pain’ I admitted.
Before Jasmine could say something, a striking figure appeared down the stone path. Rayna.
As usual, she moved like she owned not just the garden but the entire world. Every curve of her body draped in elegance, her heels tapped softly against the marble floor. Even her hair shimmered as though the sun obeyed her command.
‘Oh. My. Goodness’ Jasmine slapped my arm so hard that I yelped in pain ‘Is that…no freaking way…that’s Rayna!’
‘Don’t…’ I tried, but it was too late. Jasmine leapt off the bench like a fangirl at a concert, rushing over to Rayna.
‘Rayna! Oh my gosh! I can’t believe I’m seeing you in real life!’ Jasmine squealed, practically bouncing. I covered my face in shame ‘You are even more gorgeous up close. I’m your biggest fan Rayna, I have watched every interview, every article, I even follow your clothing line…oh, you have no idea how much I adore you!’
Rayna stopped, her poised mask cracking into the faintest look of amusement. Her eyes swept Jasmine up and down, then her eyes flicked toward me, lingering briefly before returning to Jas who was still vibrating in front of her. ‘You must be a friend of Isabel’s,’ she said smoothly, her voice like velvet.
‘Yes! Best friend. Ride or die. Partner in crime. I’m Jasmine by the way and you are….wow. Just wow’ Jasmine fanned herself dramatically.
Rayna gave a polite smile, her gaze sliding back to me but I looked away ‘It’s nice to meet you Jasmine. I love your energy. Bye Isabel’ she said with an enigmatic edge, then continued down the path, heels clicking.
I buried my face in my palms as Jasmine squealed again. ‘Did you see that? She spoke to me! To me!’
‘Did you really have to be all over her like that? That was fucking embarrassing’ I muttered, glaring at her.
‘Oh, stop being such a granny. She is my hero and fuck pictures don’t do her justice at all’ Jas said, still staring at Rayna’s back.
I groaned ‘Just stop it Jas’