Arabella Rivera I stared at my reflection one last time in the mirror. I couldn't believe I cut my hair last night. I lift my hand to glide my fingers through the short strands. They weren't evenly cut, but that's the price you pay when an inexpert cuts your hair. In that case, I was the inexpert. Did I regret it? My eyes burned through the ones my reflection showed me. No, I didn't. Not even one bit. Smiling at myself, I tucked a few strands behind my ear and left the bathroom. It was morning already and I admit I didn't catch much sleep last night but today, I promised myself I'd be strong. I wouldn't be the girl who let things slide anymore or let a mere guy get in the way between my heart and logical mind. I was done. I was going to be strong now and forget about, him. My fingers latch around the strap of my bag and swang it over my shoulder. I took my phone too and began typing away a text to send to Gwen. Arabella: You better be here in five. I'm not suffering another second more in this house. The conversation showed Gwen was typing...... Her response flashed on the screen as I opened my door. Gwen: Uh oh did something happen again? I'll be here in two, already on my way. I left her on read, choosing to speak to her face to face and slid the phone in the front pocket of my jeans. I bounded down the stairs, nearly skipping. I wasn't hungry, I had lost my appetite from last night. Hunger wasn't my calling right now, getting out of here was. I tried to avoid whoever was in the kitchen, I could hear them knocking the pans, probably in search of a particular one. My hands had just grasp the door handle when Gertrude's voice called out from the kitchen. "Arabella is that you?" I dropped my head and let out a sigh. At least it wasn't mother. "Yeah, it's me." I yelled out."Are you leaving before having breakfast!?" Gertrude yelled and I could detect the scowl in her voice. I let out an irritated breath. Why couldn't she just let me leave? "Yes." I answered vaguely. I heard her fast approaching footsteps and froze. "Why-" Her voice dies out and the loud pang of a pan hitting the floor assaults the walls and my ears. I whirl around and Gertrude gasp. "Oh dear child." Her hands rubbed at her eyes as if trying to rub my features away from her vision. Too bad, I'll still stay the same. "What have you done to your hair?!" The pan on the floor is long forgotten as Gertrude steps over it and strut towards me with astonishment sketched on her face. "It's short. " She says faintly as if still in a trance. Her slightly short fingers reach to touch my strands when she is beside me. Her mouth parts as she stares at the short tresses. With an awkward smile, I spoke. " I did it myself. How does it look?" Her eyes lift to mine and she answers. "Different." I bit my lip. Did my reflection lie to me? I didn't look bad, in fact, I kind of liked my new haircut. "Is it a good different or a bad different where I need to fetch a wig?" I asked nervously pinching the ends of my red shirt. Gertrude moves her hands away and takes a step back to scan her eyes over features. "A good different. You look even prettier Arabella." She admits with a smile lining her face and lighting her once shocked features. Then her brows joined into a frown. "Have your mother seen your new haircut?" Gertrude knew about the whole long hair is more beautiful thing. She was there when mother demanded that I let my hair grow since apparently, short hair made me look like a boy and was very ugly. I cringe and tear my eyes away from her. She definitely read between the lines. "Would I need to place an order on a casket?" I snap my eyes to hers and whined. "Gertrude you're not helping." Pouting when she only laughed I turned around and opened the door. " I'll see you when I get back." "I won't be here when you get back. I'm going on a date." I turned around and spotted the redness in her cheeks. I couldn't help but feel, jealous.Her love life was blooming while I lost my virginity to a guy I thought I could change and mean something to him. At this point, my love life was practically non-existent. No thinking about, him Arabella. Remember? My conscience reminded me. Right. Today I'm strong. I said inwardly. Smiling at my blushing maid who was more like a mother to me than my own, I uttered. "Have fun on that date, hopefully I'll get a godson or goddaughter soon?" Her blush darkened. "Oh no, I'm way too young." Her hand shook in front of her and I couldn't help but smile. "Aren't you like forty?" I teased knowing that wasn't exactly her age. Gertrude scowls. "I'm thirty seven girl." I waved my hand nonchalantly. " Same thing. " A horn blares and I turned around. Gwen's hand waved out of her car. "Baby I missed you!" She screeched. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Gertrude. "I guess tomorrow then?" I asked, smiling at her. She grins. "Yes, I'll also get the casket ready." I groan turning around and yelled. "Not helping." While walking away. "Holy shit! I think I just lost my virginity all over again." Gwen gasped, eyes wide expressing both shock and admiration when I am nearing. I grinned and entered the car. She turns to me fully, her mouth still parted. "Seriously. You're fucking hot. Jeez, couldn't you give me a warning before you made me have an orgasm by just the sight of you?" She breathed out and reaches over to touch my hair. I cringe. "Gwen that's too much information. It's not true right?" She giggles and pinches my cheeks. "You're adorable but no I did not get an orgasm by just staring at you. Though I will admit I nearly- I shook my head and slapped her hand away from my cheek. "Shut up don't finish that." Gwen laughs and turns away to start the car. "Hey did you finally get the chance to talk to Christian yesterday?" I sighed inwardly. In Gwen's head, Christian and I were the best couple. In my head, I didn't know the guy enough to even consider him. Besides, it will be awkward to even think about him like that knowing I slept with Haiden. His supposedly stepbrother. "No I didn't." It wasn't a lie, I haven't seen Christian at all yesterday. And honestly, I hadn't thought about him too. The one I thought about was sleeping in the same house as him, mentally far away from me. "Too bad, you sure looked like you missed him yesterday." She said and drives away.