Three years before Arcadia Bay

"Hey, wait up." A girl with long, dark, wavy haired, named Isabella shouted.

The blonde in which she was speaking to stopped in her tracks and turned around, confusion crossing her face at the unknown girl running towards her.

"Its Rachel Amber isn't it?" the girl asked.

"Who wants to know?" Rachel questioned slightly puzzled.

"Isabella," she introduced herself with a slight smile. "I've heard you're the best, great grades and everything. I was hoping you could tutor me. My grades aren't doing so well and my parents are going to kill me if they find out."

"Yeah, I've seen you around. We can study at mine. I'll meet you after school."

Isabella smiled at the invite before heading back on her way again, leaving the blonde to go her way.

oOo

The day trailed on by like every other with no problems at all. The two girls then meeting up as planned after school. They first decided on heading to Isabella's house to inform her parents of their new plans.

"I'm heading over to a friend's house."

"What about dinner?" her mother asked.

"My mom can make her something," Rachel stepped in.

"I'll see you later then."

"Yeah, later." Isabella waved, now following her blonde friend out the door again.

oOo

It wasn't long before they arrived at Rachel's home.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" she called out from the hallway. "I've brought a friend back for dinner too."

"Hey, honey, I'm just in the kitchen." Her mum called back.

The pair walked over to the kitchen for meet and greets.

"This is Isabella," Rachel introduced.

"Nice to meet you. Have you known Rachel long?" Mrs Amber asked.

"We're in a couple of the same classes, but that's about it." Isabella shrugged.

"We'll be in my room if you want us," Rachel interrupted, raring to get going.

"Dinner should be ready in an hour," her mum informed her.

Rachel said nothing as she gestured for Isabella to follow her upstairs. Her dad was just coming out of his office as Rachel was nearing the stairs.

"Hey, dad. I've brought Isabella back for dinner," Rachel smiled at him.

"Nice to meet you, Isabella." Her father greeted.

"Mr Amber," the brunette nodded in responded.

"How was school?" he then asked, turning back to his daughter.

"Well, I got the lead in the play at school."

"I knew you would," he smiled proudly. "Well, I better go see if your mom wants any help downstairs."

With that out of the way both girls headed straight for the blondes bedroom.

"You have a really nice house," Isabella commented.

"Thanks."

They then set their books up on the floor and went through everything together. It wasn't long before they headed downstairs for their dinner and desert. After which Isabella then decided to call it a night.

oOo

The next morning Isabella got dressed for school and ran straight for the door, but before she could open it someone stopped her.

"Where do you think you're going?" her mum asked.

"School," she told her.

"You haven't had anything."

"I'll get something on the way to school." With that she slammed the door shut and headed on out.

It was a 10 minute walk to school and when she arrived she noticed the blonde just getting out of her dads car.

"Rachel," Isabella called, waving her over. "I just wanted to thank you for helping me last night."

"No problem," Rachel smiled warmly.

"I was hoping we could do it again tonight," Isabella asked hopeful.

"Same place. Same time," Rachel agreed.

"Rachel, are you coming?" a girl interrupted.

Rachel gave one last glance to Isabella before leaving with her friends. "I'll see you tonight."

Isabella watched the girl leave. She then felt something on her shoulder, making the girl jump.

"Lilly, you scared me." She glared.

"Sorry, I just saw you talking to Rachel Amber."

"Yeah. She's helping me study."

"Nice. I just wanted to know if you were still coming to Arcadia Bay with me and my family at the end of the school year."

"I wouldn't miss it," she grinned.

oOo

Isabella met Rachel every day after school for their regular study sessions. The end of the year exams were closing in on them and the brunette was pretty excited about doing them this year. She was never one for doing well in class and this year her parents had threatened if she didn't achieve good grades they would send her off to live with her aunt in London. After school she decided to surprise Rachel at her house.

Knocking on the door it didn't take long for someone to open it. "Hi, Mr Amber, is Rachel in?"

"Yes. She's in her room, if you want to go up." He informed her.

"Thanks," Isabella smiled.

She then headed straight to the blondes room, knocking before entering. She waited while she got a response before heading on in, finding Rachel sat at her desk, writing.

"Sorry to disturb you."

"No. I was just finishing," Rachel turned to her.

"I wanted to thank you for helping me. And to let you know that I passed," she screamed the last part in excitement.

"That's great news," Rachel beamed.

"I thought we could celebrate later tonight," Isabella thought, pulling a bottle of wine from her bag. "I stole it from my parents. They don't have a clue."

"Wow! You're a badass."

"Takes one to know one," the brunette smirked back.

"Rachel, dinner's ready." Her mum shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming mom," Rachel shouted back.

oOo

Both girls had gone through half the bottle of wine in just an hour.

"You're not from around here are you originally?"

"No. I was born in London. My parents moved here two years ago. How'd you know?"

"You don't seem like a Cali girl," Rachel glanced her way, taking another sip of wine before passing it back to Isabella.

"Do you travel?" the brunette asked.

"I've travelled mostly all over America. I would love to do theatre work one day."

"My parents are going back to London for a week next year, maybe you could tag along?"

"I'll hold you to that," Rachel smiled.

The brunette inched forward, slowly edging towards the blonde until their faces were mere inches from each other. Within seconds their lips were touching. Isabella pulled back instantly, opening her eyes to see a shocked expression on the other girls face.

"Wow! I can't believe you did that."

"Think of it as a thank you," Isabella shrugged.

Rachel's features softened into a smile, she then allowed the brunette to stay the night. Isabella left early for her trip to Arcadia Bay with her friend, but what happened there was one she would never forget. Once she returned back to Long beach, Isabelle made sure to keep studying hard and keep her grades up.

oOo

Three years later

"Are you ready for your first day at your new school?"

"Looks like I'm going to Blackwell Academy and here's hoping I find the person that did this to me." Isabella thought, looking herself up and down in the mirror.

She wore black leggings, white ballet shoes and a long white blouse, with her long dark hair falling past her shoulders. There were faint scars that stood out slightly from her light olive skin, going from head to toe, but she still headed out with her head held high.