She Was The Challenge He'd Been Waiting For.

"Thanks for driving me home." Isabella spoke quietly.

Matt smiled, leaning over to kiss her softly. "I don't want to upset your parents. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

She smiled, kissing him once more and hugging him tightly. Matt made her feel more secure, and comfortable with who she was. He made her feel as if everything was okay and that the world wasn't falling apart as she so thought. Plus, he smelled nice and her body seemed to fit perfectly into his.

"Bells?" He spoke quietly as she stepped out of the car.

"Yes, Matt."

"I'm glad you chose me." He smiled, causing the girl to smile as well. It was an honest statement, and he was glad that she saw through Alex. He was so happy that she let him in, and was going to let the older boy fix her. He understood that Alex had broken her, but he didn't mind.

"Me too." She spoke quietly, closing the door and glancing back at him before making her way into the house. Isabella couldn't explain how happy Matt made her, and how he seemed able to deal with how messed up she was. He understood that Alex had caused her a lot of pain and didn't want to hurt her further. He was careful and polite, never pressuring, and always sweet. He was the type of boy she should have been with all along.

It was bittersweet to think that way because without having been with Alex, Isabella couldn't be sure she'd ever have met Matt or any of her friends. It was only because Alex was her mother's client that they even met. She remembered how she would long to see him, and find out more about him. How she would sit on the swing and wait patiently for his session to be over so that they could talk before he drove away.

It really did pain her to reminisce like that, but sometimes it felt like even after everything, Alex was the only one who understood her. The anger and the hurt that came from Travis' suicide was something she couldn't come to terms with, but Alex had with his own brother's. It was something that never left her mind even if it was in the back of her head. No one could comprehend the weight and the guilt that she held even though it hadn't been her fault.

It seemed that no matter how much she loathed Alex for what he had done to her, a part of her needed him. She had opened up to him and told him things that she wasn't sure she could ever repeat. She adored Matt, but how could she move on when everything had already been given to someone else? Isabella wanted Matt, and she was glad that they were together, but she still had feelings for Alex. Even if she chose to avoid them, as she did, they were still there.

She remembered crying into her father's chest, the feeling of his sweater against her face, and his hand stroking her hair. She remembered him telling her how it wasn't her fault and that Travis had just been unhappy, but she couldn't believe him. Her mother had said that loss connects people, and it caused her parents to tighten the reins on their only remaining child.

Isabella couldn't help but wonder if that was why she gave into Alex. Their mutual connection over siblings lost had made it seem as if he was the only person who knew what she was going through. But it seemed to her that he was milking his brother's suicide for sympathy.

The small blonde let out a sigh as she closed the door behind her and her eyes met those of her father. He sat at the kitchen table with a newspaper in hand, no doubt waiting for her. She smiled softly, kissing him on the cheek before taking a seat next to him. He moved the paper, placing it on the table before pushing a plate of cookies towards her.

Isabella smiled at the cookies, thanking him and taking one.

"So your mother tells me that you and Alex broke up."

She sighed. "I'm with someone else now, Daddy."

"Well, we'd like to meet him, Bella. It seems like that Alex boy hurt you, and I will not let anyone think they can do that to you. I don't care how wonderful this boy is, if he lays a finger on you-"

"Dad," She shook her head. "Matt's not like that. I'm sure if you want to meet him, he'll be glad to."

"Okay." Her father sighed, looking at her sternly. "Its just hard to see you grow up, honey. You're still my little girl. And I hate that I couldn't protect you when you got your heart broken."

You and me both. Isabella smiled softly, nodding her head.

Matt was more than willing to meet her parents. He was willing to be grilled and prodded at before their date, which shocked Isabella. She was quite fond of him already but to think that he would go through all of this made her even more so. He was just so good to her. so good intentioned and sweet. She felt very lucky to now be with someone like that after understanding how Alex truly was.

She hated to think that there was still a part of her that felt indebted to Alex, but there was. Maybe it was because he was the reason she met Matt, or maybe it was because he would always be her first. Isabella didn't know, but the thought of moving on both thrilled and frightened her greatly. Alex had meant so much to her and he continued to though she tried to forget about him.

"Bells?" Her mother called softly, knocking on the door.

"Come in." The girl sighed, smoothing out the skirt of her dress. She frowned, unsure if this what appropriate for wherever Matt was taking her.

"You look beautiful, honey."

"Thanks mommy." Isabella smiled softly, thanking her before her mother approached and took a brush to her hair.

She liked it better when her mother brushed her hair anyway, it was like she was the only one who could make it look right. No matter how much Isabella wished she could handle things herself and keep her parents at length, it was times like this that proved that statement false.

"Isabella, is Matt that boy that we ran into at lunch?"

She smiled. "Yes. He's so great, Mom. He loves Mickey Mouse and he's so talented and he played me this song that he wrote for his band... Its so gorgeous. I really like him... a lot." A faint blush appeared on her fair skin.

The psychologist sighed. "You really care about him, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

Her mother looked at her daughter, noting the honesty in her daughter's eyes. She didn't know if she could trust Matt even though her daughter did. Isabella's judgment had left her heartbroken before, and her parents had let that happen.

Things between her and Alex had left her broken and she didn't ever want to see that happen again. So with Matt, they were extremely careful. No matter how great he seemed, they couldn't be sure. Besides, even with her Asperger's, Isabella couldn't make the best decisions. Her parents couldn't help but worry.

"Mom?" Isabella spoke quietly, with wide eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt again, honey."

"He's not like that... Matt would never hurt me."

Her mother couldn't help but doubt that. She couldn't think that everything would be okay after all that Isabella had been through. All she could do was hope that this time her judgment was right. But after seeing that boy before when they had gone out to lunch, she wasn't sure. A boy with a lipring and those... those gauges... What could she see in him?!

"He should be here soon." Isabella grinned widely. "I'm so excited."

Her mother couldn't help but have her doubts, and she felt badly about it. But with a girl like Isabella who was so sheltered and childlike, how could they protect her? How could her parents be so quick to agree or encourage a new relationship?