Page 41 of Isabella and the Slipper

“Yeah, it wouldn’t be the same without you.” Ava stuffed the last of her hotdog into her mouth, and Delilah glared at her.

The stadium filled as the sun set. The bright lights turned on, and the coach came out to start the game.

Delilah nudged her. “Isn’t this exciting?”

It kind of was. She’d never been to a live football game before. Even though sports weren’t really her thing, the cheering of the crowd and the excitement from everyone else got her into the spirit of things.

The game started, and Valley High scored a touchdown almost immediately. The other side of the stadium screamed and clapped.

Delilah reached into Isabella’s bag and pulled out a handful of popcorn. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“No.” Isabella gladly shared with Delilah. It felt like something sisters were supposed to do.

As the game progressed, she started getting into it. When Oak View scored, she stood and screamed along with everyone else.

Chase turned around and grinned at her. “I knew you’d have fun.”

“We’re having a lot of fun,” Delilah cooed.

The cheering died down, and they sat back down. The cheerleaders finished and climbed back onto the benches.

Delilah nudged Isabella. “You didn’t really think I wanted you here, did you?”

Her voice was sweet, but her words struck a knife into Isabella’s chest. “What?”

Delilah looked down at her water and deliberately tipped it until water splashed onto Isabella’s lap. A vicious smile formed on Delilah’s face. Cold wetness spread over her legs and down into her underwear. Isabella jumped up, knocking the bottle of water down and spilling her popcorn.

“Isabella!” Delilah shrieked. “Did you pee your pants?”

Two cheerleaders turned and pointed at her, laughing. “She peed her pants!” one of them shouted. Everyone turned to look. Isabella’s gaze locked with Chase’s.

Heat rose to Isabella’s cheeks, and she took off down the row.

How could she have been so stupid? To think Delilah wanted to become friends? Isabella blinked back tears. Of course Delilah hated her. How could she have believed they could start acting like sisters?

Tears spilled down her cheeks as everyone stared at her. She made it to the steps and started sprinting, fast.

A voice called from behind her. “Isabella! Wait.”

She glanced behind to see Chase running after her. Really? Like she wasn’t embarrassed enough. She kept making her way up the steps to the exit.

“Isabella!”

She stepped into the hallway and turned, humiliated. “What?”

Chase stopped, his breaths coming quickly. “I saw what they did to you. That wasn’t cool.”

Isabella wiped at her cheeks, desperately trying to look like it didn’t matter to her. “That’s just how they are. I should have known.”

Chase’s brows pulled together in concern. “They’ve done stuff like that to you before?”

She shook her head, more tears escaping. Her throat tightened. “No. Mostly they just say mean stuff to me at home.”

He glanced out at the stadium, a frown on his face. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Go? With him? What was he talking about?

“Where?”

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