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

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!

Indigo: That’s how all true loves start.

Me: TTYL, matchmaker. I have to go take care of some stuff.

I put down my phone, feeling flustered over all the stuff she said. Kai may be cute and charming—and yeah, we shared that drunken kiss last night that made my body tingle in ways I don’t understand—but I’ve never thought of him in the way Indigo was implying until she implied it. Now my mind is all overloaded with thoughts of me and Kai doing more than just kissing. It makes me really confused about myself, what I want, and what the hell I’m doing.

“Dammit, Indigo.” I climb out of bed, grab a black shirt, a white skirt, and my gladiator sandals, and then head to the bathroom to take a shower and hopefully clear my mind.

By the time I’m all showered and cleaned up, I feel much better. But as I make it downstairs, my good mood goes kerplunk.

Hannah is in the kitchen, and she’s not alone. With her are Val, one of her friends from high school, and a beefy guy I’ve never met before.

“Oh look, it’s Isabella Smellera,” Hannah sneers as she slams the fridge door.

Val giggles as she collects a plastic cup from off the countertop. “Nice one, Hannah.”

“You know that nickname doesn’t bother me anymore,” I say to her quietly as I cross the kitchen and head for the backdoor.

“Keep telling yourself that.” Hannah removes the plastic off a vegetable tray and opens a cup of ranch dip.

I note all the alcohol bottles on the kitchen table and the shiny pink shoes and glittery black dress she’s wearing. “Are you having a party?”

“Yep. Sure am. And you’re not invited.” Hannah readjusts her boobs, and Beefy Dude grins as he watches. “So you better find someplace else to sleep.”