“Here By Me”
Chapter 18


Sebastian turns looking at Lisa on the ground as he shakes his head he helps her up saying, “You little idiot what made you think Izzy would not turn on you. You forgot she told you she was trained to defend herself in New York she knows how to fight unlike the prissy girls around here you think you can push around. The only reason the others do not fight you is because of who you are. Izzy is past you in the popularity ranking she dose not care.”

Lisa jerks away from Sebastian as she says in a muffled tone under her hands, “Get away from me Sebastian you do not care about me since Isabella’s memories came back. I do not even know why you are still with me after all you did tell me once Isabella’s memories came back you were leaving me to be with her if she remembered she loved you.”

“Lisa your hurt you need to see a doctor.” Sebastian tells her as Lisa walks away from him.

Lisa looks back at him as she says, “Like you care…”

Sebastian runs up to Lisa grabbing her arms and turning her to look at him as he says, “Yes I care and I care about you Lisa, even if you do not think so. I do care about you.” Lisa starts to cry, she puts her face in Sebastian’s chest, he caresses her hair letting her cry it out.


Meanwhile Isabella gets up from where she was sitting next to the water and starts walking around in it as the ocean waves roll up on her feet she walks deeper into the water. Isabella throws her hands out to her side as she spins in circles looking up into the night sky. She kicks the ocean water up in the air as Isabella runs, turning around and around she jumps avoiding the waves the ocean throws at her she laughs and giggles playing around in the water like a small child when she hears,

“You’re so silly Isabella.”

Isabella turns quickly seeing Craig standing on the beach with two Pepsi’s, she smiles at him as she walks out of the water going to him as she says, “One of those for me or do you have a drinking problem.”

Craig chuckles as he says, “Yes one of them is for you.” He hands her drink to her as they sit on the beach looking out at the waves.

After a few minutes of silence Isabella chimes in saying, “So Craig I know you did not come all the way out here to just to bring me something to drink.” Isabella looks over at Craig witch was sitting next to her, “So what is on your mind?”

Craig looks over to her as he smiles he says, “You don’t miss a thing do you?”

Isabella kind of nods in a doubting way as she says, “I try not to but you know how it goes sometimes things can get by a person.”

Craig reaches for Isabella’s hand on the sand as he lays his hand over the top of her he says, “You know you’re tearing Bastian and Lisa apart?”

Isabella looks at Craig as she nods in a sad way she says, “I know Craig, but it is not me, if…”

Craig stops her by saying, “How do you get it is not you. Only you can stop this between them all you have to do is tell Bastian you do not love him like he thought and stop dragging this thing out.”

Isabella looks back out across the ocean as a tear rolls down her cheek silence falls between them when Craig finally breaks it saying, “Isabella do you love Bastian or not, that is the only way to stop Lisa from getting hurt any longer. You either take Bastian away from her or let her have him and set Bastian’s mind at ease after 4 years of doing nothing but thinking about this.”

Isabella still looks out at the waves rolling in saying nothing as Craig sighs saying, “I have known you since we were 4 Izzy and I cannot believe you would do this to Lisa.” Craig gets to his feet walking away from Isabella as he says, “New York must have really hardened your heart Izzy because I remembered it being much kinder when we were younger.”

Isabella does not look Craig’s way as he walks away from her Isabella lowers her head down onto her knees as she starts to weep.


It was the next day as Isabella rolls over in her bed opening, her eyes she looks out the French doors at the day welcoming her to the starts of a new challenge in her life Sunday morning. Isabella tucks one of her hands under her head as she continues looking out the door not getting from her bed she laid there thinking about last night and everything that has been going on for the last few days.

After about an hour of laying there Kathryn walks into her room, as she was startled to see Isabella still in bed she walks in stopping at the door as she says, “I am sorry Isabella I thought you had already left for the day. I will come back later.”

Kathryn turns to leave as Isabella sits up in bed stopping her as she says, “Kathryn wait a minute.”

Kathryn stops turning back and looking at Isabella she asks, “Is there something I can do for you Isabella?”

“Yeah there is.” Isabella tells her. Kathryn stands there waiting for Isabella to tell her what it is she wants of her.

Isabella gets out of bed as she walks over to the bathroom door she says, “Tell everyone here at the house that I do not want to be bothered today and if any body comes by or calls tell them I am not here. I have something I need to take care of and I do not want to be bothered today. I have to get all of this sorted out before tomorrow morning and distraction are not going to help me out with it.”

Kathryn nods as she says, “Do you want anyone to come tell you when the meals are done so you can come eat with the family?”

Isabella shakes her head as she says, “No when I get hungry I will come down and get something on my own.”

Isabella walks into the bathroom as she closes the door behind her. Kathryn stands there for few minutes as she looks toward the bathroom wondering what is going on with Isabella, “She is not acting like herself this morning. I wonder what is going on with her.”

Kathryn shakes her head as she turns walking from the room closing the door behind her.

A little while later Isabella walks from the bathroom with a towel draped over her shoulders, she was wearing grey sweat pants and a blue t-shirt; she goes to her CD player and turns it on. She starts drying her hair again as she goes and opens the doors leading out to her balcony. She walks out sitting in the chair out there, as she looks out at the barn, her mind starts flashing back on the days she spent in there playing hide and seek with Sebastian, Tristan, and Halyn.

The nights she would sneak out of her room and go meet Sebastian there when they needed to talk and the times she just sat out there thinking about her life and where it was going for her, Isabella laughs as she says aloud, “My God I was 8 what in my life then was so important that I needed to think about it.”

Isabella sits back in the chair as she relaxes looking out over at Sebastian’s house a single tear rolls down her cheek as her feelings for Sebastian wash over her then everything he has ever told her takes over her mind.


“We will be best of friends forever won’t we Izzy?” … “Here I got this for you, so you will always remember me…” …“I will never forget about you Izzy I like you too much to forget about you.” … “I want you to have it Isabella I want you to take my heart and keep it safe with you. I know you will and I know you will never break it or hurt it in anyway… I love you Isabella… I have loved you for a very long time.” … “I never want to let you go Isabella. I have waited for this day to come for too long and now it is finally here.” … “When we were young… I was in love with you and I still am.” … “When I heard what had happened to you all I wanted to do was die so I could be with you again… I thought I had lost you Izzy, never to see you again.” … “I pray one day you will remember…” … “There is nothing I want more in this life then to spend the rest of my dieing days with you.” … “We can build new memories together as long as we love one another. That is all that matters to me.” … “I waited for you for 10 years Izzy. I can wait another 10 if I have to.” … “She is mine Tristan and always has been stay away from her.” … “You have been home for three days now and have managed to crush my heart everyday because of him.” … “I do care for Lisa... I won’t break up with her Isabella…” … “My heart will not move on until you tell me if you love me or not. My very soul yearns to hear you say you love me.” … “I only want to know so I can move on in my life with or without you.” …“Damn it Izzy I love you.” … “I do not want to lose you Izzy I love you very much.” … “I know deep in my heart you loved me.” … “God I love you so much Isabella.” … “After last night I do not know if my heart or soul could stand much more of being away from you. I Love You With ALL My Heart.” … “Tell me Izzy tell me what I have been waiting to hear you say since I was 14 years old.” … “There is nothing in my life that is more important then you Isabella.” … “I love you Isabella not even death could stop my love for you.”...


Isabella weeps into her hands as she keeps hearing Sebastian’s last words to her dance in her head, "I love you Isabella not even death could stop my love for you.”

Isabella wraps her arms around herself as she starts to rock herself in the chair as she cries her tears falling to her lap as she feels like someone was ripping her heart from her chest.

She hears Zack’s voice start to mix with Sebastian’s as she hears them, “I love you Isabella… I love you Izzy… I love you Isabella… I love you… I love you…”

Isabella grabs her head as she screams out, “STOP!!! I CANNOT DO THIS ANY LONGER… STOP IT NOW!!!”

Isabella’s father comes running into Isabella’s room from hearing her screaming as he sees her sitting out on the balcony holding her head rocking herself back and forth.

Jon runs to his daughter as he kneels grabbing her holding her close to him he calls to her, “Isabella… Isabella… Honey are you alright Isabella?”

Isabella finally snaps out of it after a few minutes as she looks at her father grabbing him in her arms holding him close as she weeps on his shoulder. Jon kneels there in front of her as he holds her while she weeps in his arms.


Isabella pulls away from her father as the tears still flow from her eyes as she sobs saying, “Daddy I love Bastian so much and I care for Zack and I do not want to hurt either of them…” Isabella lifts her hands to her face as she cries harder, “but that is what I am going to have to do is hurt one of them or both. I am so lost Daddy what am I going to do…”

Jon takes Isabella into his arms again holding her close letting her cries it out. When she had finally calmed down he pulled the other chair over in front of her holding her hands he says, “Izzy we all have to make hard discussions in our lives and now that your memories have returned. You have one that needs to be delt with. I know Zack means a lot to you and I know Sebastian means the world to you, but you have to figure out where you want to be. I know you expect me to tell you to go with Sebastian, but I cannot tell you to do that.”

Isabella looks at her father confused as she was sure he would be like her mother and tell her to go be with Sebastian she looks at him as she says, “Daddy I was thinking of breaking it off with Zack and telling Bastian my feelings were not what he thought.” As the tears still trickle down her cheeks.

Jon shook his head as he says, “Do not lie to Sebastian about how you feel Izzy. The best approach to that is do not tell him anything about how you feel toward him.”

“But he wants to know and if I do not tell him he will never let it rest.” Isabella tells him.

"Then let him ask and keep on you about it. If you lie to him Izzy and the day comes you want to be with him he will never forgive you for the lie you told him.” Jon tells her.

Isabella nods as she looks at her father knowing he is right. Jon touches Isabella’s cheek as he looks into her eyes he tells her, “Izzy you have to search your heart and make sure that what you want to do is right for everyone. I know you all are hurting over this, but causing more conflict and more pain between you all is not the answer either.”

Isabella looks at her father as she says, “I know Daddy that is why I think it would be better to just break up with Zack and not even be with Bastian right now until everything calms down.”

Jon nods as he looks at her he smiles as he says, “You maybe right there, if you break up with Zack and just be his friend and then maybe someday start going out with Sebastian, Zack might take it a little easier over this.”

“I believe if we all are hurting for the choice I make no one can place the blame on anyone and staying friends will be easier on us all.” Isabella says.

Jon nods again as he asks, “When are you planning on doing this Izzy?”

Isabella looks out at the barn as a tear rolls down her cheek she then looks back at her father as she says, “Tomorrow before school I am going to break up with Zack. I am going to call him and tell him not to bother to stop by and get me…” Isabella pauses as she hangs her head as the scene from Saturday between her, Zack and Halyn flashes in her head as she continues saying, “That is if Zack is going to come by and get me after Saturday.”

“What happen Saturday Izzy?” Jon asks her.

“Zack seemed a little upset over my birthday present you and mom got me. It was like he was jealous of it or something.”

Jon’s eyes widened as he exclaimed, “Zack did that?!”

Isabella nods as her father says shaking his head, “I never thought Zack would be that way and toward you of all people. Are you sure Halyn did not say something to bring this on with him.”

Isabella looks at her Father shocked as she says, “Dad now why would Halyn do that?”

Jon gives Isabella a look of ‘Come On Now’ as he says, “Izzy this is Halyn we are taking about, think about it.” Isabella shook her head as she says, “Your right dad I did not even think about that, I was just so shocked at his sudden change I did not really think of anything.”

“It happens when we know a person and they all of a sudden change right before our eyes and you can believe there is always someone else involved in their sudden change of heart.” Jon tells her.

Isabella nods as she says, “Your right and I was not even paying attention to Halyn and him when I was showing him the car and she was right by his side the whole time.”

“Well then there you have it.” Jon tells her.

Isabella hangs her head as she says, “I cannot believe Halyn would turn him against me.”

“Halyn wants you with Sebastian so she will do anything to get you there even if it is to turn Zack against you.” Jon says. Isabella shook her head as she sat there thinking.

“What are you thinking about Izzy?” Jon asks her.

“About the What IF’s.” Isabella tells him.

“What if we would have never left Rockwell, what if you never went out with Zack…?” Jon asks her.

Isabella looks at her father as she says, “Yes... what if Bastian and I were together now… would we be happy like we think we would or should be today.”

“No body has those answers, but the good Lord himself and he planed your life like this for a reason Izzy. None of us know why he does what he does to us or for us, but he does it for a good reason.” Jon hangs his head as he thinks back to the day Isabella was lost under the school and all his faith and beliefs where fading as the days pasted and they could not find Isabella.

He looks back up at Isabella as he says, “All we can do is have faith that what he has planed for us is for the best.”

Isabella touches her father’s cheek, as she says, “I am sorry daddy I know you and mom have been through the same hell that I have been through with all of this school accident crap. I just wish it would all go away.”

Jon smiles as he says, “I know it has been hard on all of us Izzy, but it has made us stronger as a family and has brought us closer at the same time. I hate that it had to happen this way, but I am glad in away. I love you and your mother so much but things were really starting to fall apart in our life just before this happened to us. In reality I think it was a God sent he was trying to tell us something and open our eyes and what he did was hard, but it worked.”

Isabella shakes her head as she says, “Why does he have to be so mean in proving a point?”

“That’s the only way he can get us to open our eyes is to kick us straight in the teeth. When he made us he gave us free will and a REALLY hard head.” Jon says.

Isabella chuckles as she hugs her father she says, “You have a strange way of explaining things dad, but I do get a good chuckle from it from time to time.”

Jon chuckles as he says, “We need to get out what do you say to some shopping or just hang out at the museums or something, just to get away.”

Isabella smiles as she nods in agreement with him, “Great I will go tell your mother, and you get ready. We will see you down stairs when you are finished.” Jon tells her.

“Alright Daddy see you in a bit.” Isabella tells him as he stands going to her bedroom door and walking out closing the door behind him.


Meanwhile at Sebastian’s house, Lisa showed up to talk to him. Sebastian walks down from his room as he motions her to follow him out to the back patio so they could talk in private. Lisa follows him as they walk out and take a seat at the table there.

Sebastian looks at her asking, “What did you want Lisa? I mean you called early enough and woke me from a sound sleep…. So I am guessing it is important.” Lisa looks at Sebastian as the morning sun danced in his long auburn red hair and his green eyes looked right through her.

She hangs her head as she asks, “Do you love me Bastian?”

Sebastian bats his eyes as few times as he sat there shocked by what she asks him as he asks her, “Lisa why are you asking me this… You know I care about you, you knew and you know that my heart has always belonged to Isabella. Why do you want to do this to yourself?”

Lisa looks up at Sebastian as a tear makes its way down her bruised face. Sebastian shakes his head as he says, “Lisa please…”

Lisa gives Sebastian a dirty look as she says, “Please what Bastian… Please break up with you so you can go and be with the girl you truly love. What was I to you anyway just something for you to parade around with so you could say, ‘Hey look I have a girlfriend’, I should have dumped you the minute you told me about Isabella, but no I was a fool and stuck with you hoping Isabella would never come back to Rockwell.”

“Wait a minute Lisa if I remember right you are the one that asked me out, I did not ask you…” Sebastian tells her.

“Yeah and it took you a week to tell me you would finally go out with me.” Lisa exclaims.

Sebastian shakes his head as he says, “And I told you why it took me so long to come to a decision on that too.”

“Because you loved that bitch that did not even know you excited any longer and if you said your name around her she had no idea who you were talking about you could have went up to her and slapped her and she still would not have known you. You were in love with a memory… the past that had a chance of never coming back to you… a pipe dream. You never loved me nor could you ever love me because of that whore.” Lisa says in a hateful tone.

“Stop it Lisa I will not have you talking about Isabella like that. She is a sweet person and you do not even know her.” Sebastian tells her. “I do not need to know her I know enough about her to hate her and that is all I want to know about her.” Lisa says as a tear makes its way down her cheek again.

Sebastian stands as he looks at Lisa then turns his back on her walking to the patio doors as he says in a calm tone, “Then we have nothing more to talk about Lisa.” Sebastian slides the door open as he turns looking at Lisa sitting there with a shocked look on her face as he says, “It is over between us Lisa please leave now.”

Lisa starts to cry as she says, “But Bastian…”

Sebastian shook his head as he says, “Your right Lisa I do not love you and I never have and I am sorry for that, I cared about you until just now and the things you had to say about the girl I love. Your harsh word you said toward Isabella not even knowing her made me realize I could never care for a person as cruel as that.”

Lisa starts to cry harder as Sebastian turns walking into the house leaving her sitting there has he says, “Take your time collecting yourself Lisa then please leave my home.”

Lisa jumps up from her seat as she runs past Sebastian sobbing she heads out the front door of his home to her car as she gets in it and tears out of his drive way.


Here By Me Chapter 19