*Isabella's P.O.V*

Remember when I said things would surely get easier once we settled into Year 9? Boy was I wrong. We were now well into the first term, in fact half term was only a week or so away, and I was seeing my friends less and less with each week, especially Harvey since he's decided to join the school's football team, so now I barely even get to see him on weekends since he has football on Saturdays and his drum lessons on Sundays. I was constantly living in fear that one of these days we would completely drift apart from each other.

Oh, and speaking of which, I woke up to find a text from Harvey.

From: Harvest Festival 😹😻♥️😘
Hey I can't take the bus today, I'm going to school early to get some early morning football practice in xxx

My stomach sunk as I read the text. Our rides to school and back seemed to be the only proper time we got to spend with each other anymore and now that was being taken away as well.

To: Harvest Festival 😹😻♥️😘
That's fine xx

I lied and told him it was fine before tossing my phone aside and getting out of bed. I got dressed quickly and made my way downstairs.

"Are you alright, darling?" Mum frowned in concern after I greeted my family rather grumpily.

"Yeah, it's just Harvey's not taking the bus with me today because he's got early morning football practice or something." I sighed.

"Oh, well, it's only one day, right?" She said while spreading jam across a slice of toast.

"Yeah, at the moment. At one point, us not eating lunch together or meeting up after school was just a one off, and now we barely see each other." I pouted, sitting down at the table and moodily putting my chin in the palm of my hand.

"You'll work things out, darling. Remember, everything happens for a reason, so whatever happens between you two is supposed to happen." Mum told me, walking over to give Emilia the slice of toast she'd just prepared and kissing the top of my head as she passed me.

"I guess, thanks Mum." I replied and she just smiled warmly at me. I had a simple bowl of Shreddies since I wasn't in the mood for much else before it was time for me to leave, so I grabbed my bag, kissed my family goodbye and left the house, making my way to the bus stop by myself.

~~~

School soon ended and I hadn't seen Harvey all day. I was just at my locker when Harvey walked over to me.

"Hey." I smiled, reaching up to kiss him.

"Hey." He mumbled against my lips. He seemed a bit tense and I got the feeling he was in a bad mood.

"You okay?" I frowned up at him, squeezing his bicep affectionately.

"Yeah," He gave me a smile but it didn't look all that convincing, "You ready to go?"

"Uh, actually, I want to get my homework done in a quiet place so I'm gonna stay at the library for an hour." I explained and Harvey's smile turned into a scowl.

"Do you actually? Or are you just getting me back for not taking the bus with you this morning?" He snarled. Is he serious?

"What? No! God, Harvey, how childish do you think I am?!" Harvey just rolled his eyes, "What is your problem, anyway?!"

"Well, I haven't seen you all day, have I? I never get to see you anymore."

"Oh, what, and that's supposed to be my fault?!" I snapped, "I know we barely get to see each other anymore, Harvey, but there's no point blaming me for it!"

"There's no point blaming me either!" He retaliated, his voice slowly rising.

"I'm not!" My voice was started to go up in volume as well.

"Oh, you know what, fine, go to the stupid library, I don't care anymore!" He shouted before storming off, leaving me stood there, tears forming in my eyes. Did he really not care?

After standing there for a couple minutes, I managed to somewhat pull myself together and made my way to the library.

An hour later, my little study session was over and I was waiting outside for Mum to come and pick me up. I was trying not to to think about mine and Harvey's argument because whenever I did, I felt like bursting into tears, so instead I distracted myself with my phone until Mum pulled up.

"Are you alright, sweetheart? You were awfully quiet on the way home." Mum asked me once we got home and I tried to make it seem like I was okay, but I just cracked. I finally let the tears run as I shook my head, a sob leaving my mouth.

"Oh, Bells, what's wrong?" She immediately started fussing over me, going into mummy bear mode.

"M-Me and Harvey had a f-fight." I wept as Mum pulled me into a hug.

"Oh, Bella," She cooed, stroking my hair as I cried.

"What was it about?" She asked me softly once I'd calmed down a little.

"I-I told him that I wanted to go the library to get some homework done a-and he got all m-moody and accused me of just getting him back for not taking the bus with me this morning and wh-when I asked him what was wrong he went on about how we never see each other anymore and I was like I know but there's no point blaming me and the-then he s-said he didn't care and h-he wal-walked off a-and he hasn't t-texted me or anything and I don't know what to d-do." I explained through gasps and hiccups and Mum just pulled me into another hug as I worked myself up again.

"Come on, I think there's a tub of Ben & Jerry's Cookie Dough with your name on it in the freezer." She said, pulling away and rubbing my arms comfortingly.

"Mum, that's yours. I can't take it." I protested, knowing that particular ice cream was one of her pregnancy cravings.

"Sweetheart, I've got more than one tub of that stuff, and besides, you need it more than I do right now."

"Thank you, Mummy." I sniffled.

"You don't need to thank me, babygirl, I'm just doing my job." She smiled softly at me, "Now, you go and get changed, I'll get the ice cream out."

"Okay." I replied before going upstairs to my room. I changed out of my school uniform and into something more comfy, which consisted of fuzzy pink, blue, black and white pyjama bottoms, my panda hoodie, pink ice cream socks and a messy bun.

Once I was changed I went back downstairs where Mum was waiting for me on the sofa in the living room, the tub of Ben & Jerry's on the coffee table and the opening sequence of Tangled, one of my favourite Disney movies, playing on the TV. I offered Mum a weak but highly grateful smile as I walked over to the sofa and cuddled up between her, the pillows and the soft sofa throw that doubled as a blanket. Dad soon came home since he'd been out with the little ones and was confused as to why I was looking so sad in my pyjamas eating ice cream and watching a Disney movie, so Mum explained to him what happened and had to assure him that all couples argued before Dad had a chance to go next door and beat Harvey's ass for upsetting me. About halfway through the movie, the doorbell rang and Mum got up to answer it, only to come back in less than a minute later.

"Uh, Bells, it's for you." She told me and I got a nervous feeling as I walked out into the hall and up to the front door which was still open, seeing exactly who I expected.

"Hey." I said quietly, my face emotionless.

"Hey, I'm sorry," He didn't waste any time before apologising, "I didn't mean what I said, I do care. In fact, I care more about you than I probably do about anything else, I was just upset and mad. I miss not being able to see you all the time."

"I miss not being able to see you all the time too." I offered a small smile.

"So does this mean I'm forgiven?" He asked hopefully and I nodded, causing Harvey to grin and pulled me in for a bear hug. However, when he leaned down to kiss me, that's when I pushed him away, earning a confused and slightly hurt look from him.

"I said I forgave you, but that doesn't mean... I... I just don't think... I've been thinking and I-I just don't know... It's a lot of pressure, going out of our way just to make time for each other a-and I feel like... Our relationship, something that's supposed to be fun and full of happiness, is turning into something that stresses us out and I just.... I-I don't think I can do it anymore." I struggled to say what I wanted, my voice shaking as I felt a familiar lump in my throat.

"W-what are you saying?" The way Harvey's voice cracked made my heart break even more than it already was.

"I-I... Is there really any point in staying together if we never get to see each other?"

"Of course there is, Izzy, please don't do this." He begged and I saw tears shimmering in his eyes, making it harder for me to keep my own tears from falling.

"It's just... If I'm not drowning in homework, I'm trying find time to spend with you and it feels like I never have time to just breathe anymore. It's getting too much." I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm myself down.

"No, Isabella, please. I'll change. I'll quit football, and my drumming lessons. Please." He whispered and I closed my eyes for a second, causing a tear to fall.

"Harvey, no, it's not you, please understand that. It just... I-I just don't think now is the right time... Maybe soon, but not now. I think we-"

"Please don't say it." Harvey whimpered.

"I think we need to break up. I'm so sorry, Harvey." I let out a sob, covering my mouth to stop any more escaping.

"Izzy, please, we can work this out! Please!" He pleaded, tears now running down his face much like me.

"Please don't make this harder than it needs to be. I'll see you at school tomorrow." I closed the door on him before he could say another word and as soon as the door was closed, I fell against it, letting the rest of my tears out.

"Bells?" Mum came rushing in at the sound of my loud sobs, followed by Dad. They must've told the little ones to stay in the living room.

"W-we broke up." I wailed as Mum pulled me into her arms, shushing me and holding me tight.

"I'll bloody kill him." Dad instantly became protective, marching towards the door until I stopped him.

"N-no, don't, I-I broke up with him. I-It just wa-wasn't working out." I managed to explain through blubbers and cries.

"Come here, princess." Dad's harsh tone was soon replaced by a soft one as Mum let go of me and I let Dad wrap his arms around me as I sobbed into his chest. Let's just say that evening consisted of a lot more tears, ice cream and Disney movies.