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

“Um,” Kyler hesitantly glances up at me, and then his gaze drops to her hand. “It could be,” he says, even though he witnessed me spit out the chocolate.

He glimpses up at me and we exchange a look. I know he won’t rat me out. He’s not like that. He’s still that nice guy, who wins championships and gets good grades—the guy who everyone loves and who I know secretly wishes he didn’t have to be. Although, I sometimes wonder if he still wants to be different. Over the years, he’s seemed to grow into his position as being the popular guy everyone loves.

“Isa!” Hannah screeches from the driveway, jerking me away from one of my favorite memories. “Are you listening to me?”

“I wasn’t, but now I am,” I say, blinking at her.

She grunts, stomping her foot again. “Did you just spit something in my hair?”

Call it payback for that stunt she pulled at the dinner table, but honestly, I don’t feel that bad.

“Sorry, but the candy had almonds in it and I panicked.” I shrug. “I really hate almonds.”

“Oh, my God! You’re such a freak!” She stomps her feet several more times, throwing one of her infamous Beauty Queen Tantrums.

I feel sickly satisfied when Kyler covers his mouth with his hand to hide his laughter.

“I’m going to get you back for this,” she threatens, crossing her arms and giving me her notorious death glare. “Just wait. When I get done with you, even the janitor’s closet isn’t going to be safe.”

“Hey, calm down.” Kyler touches her arm. “It’s just candy. I’m sure it’ll wash out. And Isa didn’t mean to. I saw the whole thing. It was an accident.”

I kinda wish I really was a zombie, so I could have a legit excuse to shimmy down the railing and gnaw off her arm he’s touching.

Hannah takes a few breaths with her eyes narrowed on me, and then she spins toward Kyler, plastering on a plastic smile. “Wait for me while I go wash my hair. Then we can leave for the party.”

“Sure. I’ll just go shoot some hoops in my driveway or something.” He backs down the driveway toward the end of the fence.

Only when he turns his back to us does Hannah lock her glare back on me. You’re dead, she mouths.

Eventually she’ll make due on her threat, probably at school, when I least expect it. God, how I wish UW was farther than a ten minute drive and she had to go live at college. But nope, she’s staying here, at least for a while.

Le sigh. Story of my life.

I probably should be majorly concerned over what she’s going to do to me, but honestly, my reputation at school can’t get any worse. So, I focus on something better, something that’ll cheer me up.

My attention wanders to Kyler as he rounds the fence, but my smile plummets when I notice him checking out Hannah. It’s his one fault and something I don’t get. Yeah, I know she’s beautiful, curvy, has long blonde hair, and dresses like a girl, but back in grade school, he seemed disgusted with her. Sometimes he still does, like the time she tripped Jane Tribloton at a pep rally in front of the entire school. Kyler went and helped Jane up, and then I caught him chewing out Hannah in the hallway later on in the day. Those moments remind me of the Kyler I first fell for. But then there’s this other side, the one cracked out on guy hormones.

I frown as Kyler continues to check out Hannah. God, she’d swoon herself to death if she knew he was drooling over her ass like he is. She’s been trying to get him to ask her out for the last month, ever since her breakup with The Brad—a nickname he gave himself. While Kyler and Hannah aren’t officially a couple, they spend a lot of time together. If they do start dating, I’ll have to gouge my eyes out so I don’t have to witness them making out. Of course, if he actually starts dating my sister, I just might be able to finally get over this silly little crush I have on him.

“Isa, are you okay?” Kyler shouts as he bounces a basketball in his driveway while looking in the direction of my balcony.

I shrug. “Yeah. Sure.”

“She’s always so hard on you,” he says, jumping to make a shot. As he moves, his grey t-shirt rides up just enough to give me a sneak peek at those superhero abs I know he has hiding under there.

“Who, my sister?” I ask distractedly as I discreetly check him out.

Stop staring at him, for the love of God.

The ball swishes through the net, and he turns back to me, smiling adorably. “Yeah. I mean, I like her and everything, but she’s nice to me. With you, she always seems so . . .” He seems to be searching for the right word.

“Bitchy. Vile. Or how about plotting-my-death-off-the-rocker-Norman-Bates kind of crazy,” I offer, resting my arms on the railing.

“Well, I was going to say intense, but those work too.” He’s trying really hard not to smile.

“Can I ask you a question?” I dare ask, despite the inner voice screaming at me to keep my trap shut.

“Sure.” He offers me an easygoing grin.