After a week of brief exchanges in class or in hallways, he sat next to her at lunch. They talked, really talked, and evetually, he decided that she was just a regular human.
No, not normal. There was something about her that was extraordinary. But maybe only he could see it. And to her, he was extraordinary too, even though she was unaware of what he was.
"Hey there, Lena Ballerina," Isaac said as he sat down across from her.
She looked up from another book, trying not to smile, but failing as a grin, ever so small, excaped her lips. "Points for the rhyme, Lahey."
"Thanks, it only took me a week to think up. That's why I'm only just now invading your table. You don't mind, do you?" He asked.
"No, I suppose now I'll look a bit less pathetic. And I'm about ready to murder the protagonist of this story, so thanks for interupting." she said, taking a bite of the apple that was the only food around her.
"Always looking to help a damsel in distress. Is that all you're eating?" he said, even though he knew it was. She had eaten just an apple every day she had been there. He had watched.
"Yeah, my mom doesn't want me to get fat."
"That's stupid, do you want some of my pizza?" Isaac said, pushing the plate in her direction slightly.
She laughed. "That's so sweet, but I'm okay, really."
He sighed dramatically, and rolled his eyes, "Well then, just reject my gesture of kindness and goodwill, that's fine. But now my feelings are hurt, and I'm afraid that you'll have to go out with me tonight for more pizza."
"Well, I suppose that's truly the only way to repair your fragile and damaged ego," she teased him. "I have ballet tonight. But, just maybe I can skip it. I haven't had pizza in years, God!"
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious! I was like 13 or 14 I think and my dad took me without my mom knowing. God, it's been so long!"
"Are you sure you don't want any now?"
"No no, my mom would be able to tell. I'm already going to have to tell her that I'm going to ballet, I'm going to have to make it look like I am."
"So she's pretty crazy then, huh?" Isaac asked.
"Insane doesn't cover it. What about you? You haven't told me anything about your parents."
"They're not around. I live with-" he paused for a second, he had almost said Derek. "My friend Scott."
"McCall? He seems alright. We're in the same homeroom."
"Yeah. We play lacrosse together. He's pretty cool."
"Cool."
"Yeah," Isaac breathed, changing the subject by asking her what she was reading that day.
"Catcher in the Rye. In my opinion it's overrated." she said.
"I've never read it."
"Never? Well good, avoid it. Spare yourself!" They laughed.
Soon lunch was over, and they went their seperate ways, to meet at 6:00 at the local pizzaria. Lena apologized about the early timing, but she only had the time that she would be taking class, just 3 hours.
She was dressed in her leotard and tights under her warm ups.
"Okay Mom, I'm going now, I'll be back!" Lena yelled, as she was putting on her shoes at the door.
"Lena!" Margaret McGuire said, coming through the foyer from the kitchen to talk to her daughter. "How was school today?"
"Good, Mom, I really have to-"
"You know your father would want you to do your very best. Don't lost focus. That goes for school too, just ballet."
"Can we please not talk about Dad? I'm going to be late." With that, she threw open the door and ran to her car. She drove to the studio, where she parked, and climbed into the backseat to change. She climbed back to the front seat and pulled down the visor, flipping up the mirror. She took all of the pins out of her hair, and her bun came tumbling down. She sighed, combing her fingers through her hair to try and make it look halfway decent, then put on a plum lipstick, dabbed most of it off, and drove to the restaurant. She had never done something like this before. She wasn't sure if it was a date or not, but even if it was just meeting a friend for dinner, she had no experience.
But it didn't seem to matter. She met Isaac outside, and she had so much fun. He wasn't the first friend she had ever had, but she hadn't had a good friend in years. And Isaac was brilliant.
The two split a medium pizza, with all of the meat toppings available on Isaac's side, and just pepperoni on Lena's. It was delicious.
And as soon as she finished she excused herself to go to the ladies room, where she threw up everything she had just eaten. She kept a toothbrush in her purse at all times, and vigorously brushed to get the acidic taste out of her mouth. It took several minutes as well as breath spray and mints and gum. She went back to Isaac.
They paid, and left the restaurant. He walked her to her car.
"So really, thanks for skipping your class. I really had fun."
"Well I did too." She said.
"We should make this a more frequent thing."
"I wouldn't be opposed to that."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"See you tomorrow?"
"It's Saturday, we don't have school."
"I know. I'll text you."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Wait, I have class tomorrow, and I don't think I can skip it, not after today."
"Well, can I come watch it? We could do something after."
"I think so. Okay."
"Okay. See you tomorrow, then."
"Night Lahey."
They turned their opposite directions, but before Lena could open her car door, Isaac spun her around and kissed her. It was soft and quick, and he was walking away by the time she registered what was happening, but it was so wonderful. She watched him as he trotted to his motorcycle, well, Scott McCall's, and he turned slightly to wave and yell, "Night Lena!" with the biggest and stupidest grin plastered across his face.
Well okay this was not my best work. But please review anyway? I appreciate it ever so much!