Perfect
Chapter IV

“Bella!”

I groaned and rolled over, “Not yet Mother, five more minutes.”

“Bella, I’m not your Mother. Get up!” Her shout was enough to jerk me out of my seat and hit my head on the roof of the car. “Ow! Thanks Claire, appreciate it.” I complained rubbing my head due to the headache I’d had all day that I’d just made worse.

“You’re welcome Princess. Just doing my duty to the kingdom.” She grinned mischievously before closing the door on her side of the car.

‘What a sneaky shit’ I thought to myself.

Michael had hoped out of the car and was waiting for me to get out of the car with a hand held out to help me step down. I took his hand and stepped slowly out of the big SUV. “Thank you, Michael,” I said giving him a quick nod before walking off to replace Claire. I walked across the pavement towards my three-story mansion. The marbled steps were polished and soft looking as I walked up them. The door was completely pearl white and reminded me so much of the White House.

One of the guards stationed out the front opened the big double doors giving me entry to the grand hallway. There were rooms off to every side and a large marble spiral staircase with gold railings in the middle. Expensive pictures lined the white coloured walls and everything was neat and in order. When my parents gave me this place and let me attend school this year I’d been so grateful.

I remember Mother giving me an approving look that day, like I’d come across with a bit of maturity. She’d eventually made my Father agree and along with that came the ground rules just like she’d said. At least a hundred people came with me down to America from England, this was a must or I couldn’t go. These people included; maids, secret service, drivers, guards, security and many other people. I also had to take care of the house and my secret must remain a secret.

I had to get a few things changed when I came back since I’d grown older and the whole world knew who I was. Wrapping my hair underneath a wig everyday to disguise my natural blonde hair and green contacts so no one would notice my sky-blue eyes. It was a sacrifice and sometimes I’d forget what I looked like but it was who I was.

I started walking up the spiral staircase towards the second floor where my room was situated. I nodded to the guards posted at the end of the staircase and headed off towards my room. I knew Claire would be in there even though her room is right down the hall. I opened the door to the master bedroom and found her lying on my king-sized bed her legs dangling off reading a magazine.

She jumped up before I’d even set my bag down.

“So, what did you need to tell me this afternoon because I clearly smell gossip?” She smirked pulling me towards the bed. “Ugh it was just some stupid bickering that happened between Cameron and I in last period.”

“You spoke to Cameron, again?” She exclaimed. “Tell me everything!” With a deep sigh I started telling her about the whole debacle in the library and her eyes widened even further when I mentioned the boys coming up to speak to me about what I’d said, “...they then just left and I was out of there quicker than you could say fudge truffle.”

“Bella, you are royally screwed.”

“What! That doesn’t help Claire!”

“Well I am not getting crushed by the school’s bad boy and his muppets, they’re vicious. Along with Katherine, they are most likely going to make your life a living hell.”

“It’s not like they haven’t been doing that already,” I mumbled looking down at the ground. “I’m never going to survive High School Claire, what was I thinking? Why did I even come back?”

“Bella,” Claire looked at me sighing, “I’m always here for you, and you know that. I’m so glad you came back because where would I be without you. We’ll finish Senior year together and never look back okay?” I smiled and looked up at her nodding my head, I’d always had trouble trusting people just because of who I was but right here in front of me I had the person who I could trust the most.

“Thanks Claire.” Pulling her into a tight hug I let myself relax, I could always be whoever I wanted to be in front of her. I’d call her my sister instead of best friend sometimes.

“So, what are we doing tonight?”

I pulled back and furrowed my eyebrows. I hadn’t really had anything planned. “How bout we just have a night in and watch some movies or shows and then maybe do some homework?” I suggested with a grin on my face. She raised an eyebrow and started laughing, clutching her stomach as if she’d forgotten what air was, “Um are you feeling okay Bella?” She asked placing her hand against my head, “Maybe you’re a little feverish.”

I started laughing along with her. “What the hell are you on about C?”

“I will not be doing homework Bella, even if you bait me with food.” She stated putting her hands on her hips looking deadly serious. “Okay!” I exclaimed placing my hands up in the air in mock surrender.

I watched as she got up and walked over to the cupboards under my TV that were filled with movies and boxsets of shows. “Do you want to pick, or shall I?” I shook my head, “I’ll go get the snacks and you can replace a few things to watch.”

She nodded her head and I turned around grabbing the silver handle and opened the large mahogany doors, walking out and down the spiral stairs towards the kitchen. In there I found my favourite chef cooking our dinner. The delicious smell wafted up my nose and my mouth watered, best cook around. “Hey Pete,” I said rather chirpily sitting on one of the stools. “Hello Princess, can I do anything for you?” He replied looking up from the stove.

“Yes, you can. Could we have whatever you’re cooking us for dinner and some snacks along with some of your homemade cookies and cream ice cream?”

“Of course Princess, I’ll send it all up when it’s ready!”

“Thanks Pete, I appreciate it.” Jumping off the stool I started to walk towards the archway leading out of the stainless-steel kitchen before he called me back, “Isabella, how was your first day back at school?” He asked with a quizzical look on his face.

“Well... it wasn’t terrible.” I stated, looking anywhere but his eyes. “You’d tell me if something bad happened wouldn’t you Princess?” Starting to look stern he put the spatula down that he had in his hand and gave me one of those parenting looks.

“Of course Pete.” I said shuffling my feet and staring down at the floor.

“I just want to look out for you Princess, that’s all.” He smiled as he said this, a look of care and concern flickering across his face. “I know Pete, thank you.” He nodded gruffly before going back to his work and I turned tail walking back up the stairs. He was the one that answered my phone calls home and got all my report cards and attended every teacher interview so he was basically like a second father. I understood his concern.

Claire had a bunch of movies and TV show boxsets in her hand. “This is going to be a long evening, isn’t it?” She nodded with a smug smile on her face and turned towards the TV to stick in the first movie. I walked over to my bed ready to snuggle down and watch whatever she’d picked out. Claire came and sat beside me to start the movie with the remote. “I knew you’d picked this Claire, I should know better.” Laughing loudly at her movie selection as the movie menu flashed onto the screen. She’d picked the Princess Diaries, she’d loved these movies ever since I first told her I was The Princess of England.

Before long we’d had dinner and were slowly eating the snacks and the ice cream that one of the maids brought in. I made a mental note to thank Pete again because his cooking was just amazing.

We were on the third movie in the Princess Diaries when Claire took a big yawn, I looked at her and giggled, “I think you should go to bed Miss Claire.”

“I guess that’s a good idea hey.” It was about ten and it was pitch black outside, hell even I was tired. We had school tomorrow so I knew we couldn’t stay up any longer. I asked one of the maids to come in and clean up the small mess we’d made while I went to go brush my teeth. I chucked my hair in one of those messy buns while I was at it and got into an over-sized white tee and some baggy sweats.

Claire was getting out of my bed and walking towards the door. “Goodnight Bella.”

“Night Claire, sleep well.” She nodded and walked out towards her own room which was right down the hall from mine.

I hopped into bed and made myself comfortable under the warm covers. Plugging in my phone and turning off the bedside light, I was in deep slumber before I even knew it.