Look, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS, but it exists, and it's what you're gettin! I'm shoving happy at you!
Day 7: Alternate Universe
Warm wood and bright colors decorated the open entryway Isaac walked into. Carefully, he set down some of his luggage, rolling his sore shoulders. Vlad-one of his host parents-called out into the rest of the house.
"I'm home, Lisa, Adrian."
A woman with a smile a bright as her hair popped out from around the corner and approached. "Oh! Yes, I'm Lisa Țepeș. It's wonderful to meet you."
"Isaac Laforeze. And you as well, Mrs. Țepeș," said Isaac, taking her hand in a polite shake. She laughed.
"I hope you're able to settle in comfortably," Lisa said. She smiled wider as her husband greeted her with a hug and kiss from behind. "I'm sure your trip was tiring. If you need anything, please let us know."
"Thank you. That is kind."
Lisa looked dwarfed by her husband, almost lost in the folds of his coat. Before they met at the airport, Isaac hadn't known people could be as tall as Vlad Țepeș. Footsteps on the stairs nearby drew his attention, and Isaac looked at the new arrival who-based on the stories Vlad told on the drive-must have been his son.
"Adrian," Vlad greeted, "Come meet Isaac. You remember he'll be staying for the year."
"Of course." Adrian wasn't nearly as tall as his father, but from the slight awkwardness to his limbs, Isaac could tell he had not finished growing. He also found slight amusement in the fact Adrian was currently sporting the same side-swept ponytail as his mother, hair the same shade of blonde.
Adrian stuck out a hand once he reached the bottom of the stairs, the polite gesture accompanied by undisguised curiosity in his eyes. They exchanged greetings before Vlad gestured with the luggage he picked up.
"Let me show you to your room. We'll have dinner in about an hour, but you can rest or unpack, whatever you feel like."
0-o-0
Adjusting to the new timezone was rough, but Isaac felt his schedule worked well enough. Vlad and Lisa were always glad to help him gather necessities, run through school information, and show him around the area. He found them both charming and intellectually stimulating, something which immediately put him at ease in their conversations.
Adrian, as well, had been helpful in his own way. While he had his own preparations to make, he would answer any questions Isaac had and seemed perfectly content to be in the same room together without too much conversation. Isaac delighted to find the entire Țepeș family understanding of his occasional need for quiet.
He wished Adrian was attending the same school, but when asked, Adrian had said, "Father tutors me himself, in most subjects. Him and mother both, when she isn't working at the clinic."
Isaac thought for a moment before asking, "Pardon me if this is rude to ask but, what level are you learning at?"
Adrian smiled, one side of his mouth tilted more than the other. "It depends, I suppose. If I was in public school, I wouldn't graduate this year. But I know for a fact I'm much further on in a number of maths and sciences."
"I see. I believe that is the level I have been signed up for here." When Adrian squinted his eyes, Isaac huffed a laugh. "Yes, I think at eighteen, I would normally be one 'grade' higher. It's not exact. I am here to learn, but I am also here for the experience."
"I see," Adrian said. "Well, perhaps we should study together then."
"That would be most appreciated." Isaac felt a comforting, soft warmth uncurl in his body, and shared smile with his new 'brother.'
They then discussed possible schedules for before and after school times. Adrian was also taking some lower level classes at the community college nearby, so he could drop Isaac off at the school each day he had his college courses.
"I do have friends at the school, though," Adrian mentioned. "Perhaps you will meet them."
0-o-0
Hector was the first one he met. They shared multiple classes together, and Isaac found him pleasant enough. They both paid close attention during lectures, and when working on assignments, Hector easily moved between focused problem-solving and asking Isaac about his life. Of course, he was willing to share his own experiences as well.
"I have a little dog right now, Cezar. He's a pug, a rescue dog. You'd like him, I think. And, well, he loves everyone." He chuckled, lids falling over his eyes as he combed a hand through his wavy hair.
Cezar did, in fact, love him as soon as they met, the emotion clear in his one good eye. Though Isaac sometimes found Hector's curiosity grating, he respected his new friend, and found himself in an easy routine with him.
Sypha was the one he met next. About two weeks in, she had snuck onto the school grounds during a lunch period and abruptly introduced herself. While she was noisier than Hector, she had a certain brilliant charm which Isaac found he did not mind. She had met Adrian at the community college as a fellow homeschooler.
"He seemed awfully impressed with you, you know? And I said to myself, I said, 'I have to meet the person Adrian is complimenting!'" Her smile turned conspiring as she flopped down next to him, arm sneaking out from under her poncho to stage whisper, "He doesn't do that for just anyone. Not even our boyfriend, although I think that's their way of flirting."
Isaac did not see Sypha often, which he supposed was good. While he enjoyed her company, he was always left feeling exhausted just watching her boundless enthusiasm.
It took a month for Isaac to meet the final friend. Adrian had dragged him from the house for "cultural enrichment." Isaac was certain it was an excuse for Adrian to play some rhythm game he'd been fantasizing about for the past three days.
"Trevor has one at his house. How he got it, I don't know. I've learned not to ask." Adrian's tone was somewhere between exasperated and fond, the sort which only came with knowing someone intimately.
Isaac had to admit his surprise when he saw who opened the door.
Unlike Adrian, who was always dressed in impeccably wrinkle-free, clean clothes, looking sharp and professional even in gentle cardigans, Trevor was... sloppy. It wasn't that he was unclean, Isaac noted with relief, but he could be the definition of grunge.
His fitted jeans were ripped in several places along the knees and thighs, and his wrinkled shirt-displaying some band logo-was haphazardly tucked in under a plaid shirt tied at his waist. As he ran one hand through messy hair and scratched the stubble on his jaw, Isaac wondered how Adrian could possibly be close with his polar opposite.
Trevor smirked, the first words out of his mouth a casual, "'Sup fangs? Here for my blood?"
0-o-0
"It's an old joke," Adrian later grumbled, all three of them settled in a room with a tv and several gaming systems. His tone turned pointed when he continued, "And it wasn't even funny the first time, Belmont."
"Yeah, yeah. Watch that sun patch there, I still haven't put up my curtains." Adrian scoffed, but Trevor was already turning to Isaac. "Met this guy in the middle of his emo vampire phase. Eyeliner, skinny jeans, belts everywhere, hot as fuck."
Adrian threw a pillow at him.
To make a huge understatement, Trevor was unlike Adrian's other friends. He was two years older, to start, and one grade above everyone else. He had some of Sypha's energy and teasing, but somehow managed to be more laid back about it. Isaac wondered if it was the constant lazy grin on his face.
While the general unkempt look and mellow attitude kept Isaac from noticing at first, Trevor was constantly checking on him.
"Anyone need more drinks?" he'd ask, and make eye contact with Isaac.
Or he'd throw a grin at Isaac when Adrian was talking about projects and say, "Now don't take any lessons about relaxing from him. His idea of breaks are passing out after ten straight hours of studying and test taking while hyped up on sugar and coffee."
"One time!" Adrian practically screeched, and pushed him over.
At the end of the visit, Isaac stopped at the front door and offered Trevor his hand. Trevor blinked, then took it, a bemused smile on his face.
"Right, I think I know why you two get along," Trevor said, and gestured at his boyfriend, already over by the car.
"And I think I am aware why he cares for you so much." Isaac felt a satisfied smile on his face as Trevor scratched his chin, embarrassment blooming across his cheeks.
0-o-0
Isaac leaned back in his chair, staring into the flames of the small fire pit. Nearby, Lisa laughed as she set yet another marshmallow on fire, rapidly charring the outside as she fought to catch her breath. As Vlad took over, blowing out the flames, Isaac smiled.
"Here." Isaac looked to the side. Adrian held out a metal marshmallow roasting stick, a fluffy morsel already skewered at the end. "Might as well try it once, right?"
Isaac took it, but only hummed as he stared the marshmallow down. He heard Adrian chuckle.
"You don't have to eat it."
"Then what's the point?" He saw Adrian point at his parents, grinning.
Lisa was still cracking up about her fourth crispy marshmallow of the night, Vlad sighing as he poked at it, apparently in some attempt to tell if there was anything good still underneath. They were closely snuggled together on their bench.
Isaac hummed again, then stuck his own treat out towards the fire.
Adrian ruffled through the nearby packages and shoved a graham cracker into his mouth. They stayed in companionable silence for a few moments, now both staring into the fire.
"I'm glad you came," Adrian said. "It's been fun."
"Yes." Isaac thought about all the people he now knew, all the people he could probably call friends, or even... even family. "I'm glad, too."
And done! Woohoo! ୧༼✿ ͡◕ д ◕͡ ༽୨ It was tough, but fun, and I learned a lot about Isaac, just like I hoped. Hurrah!
Hopefully, that means we can see more of him from me soon. Hehehe... 3
But yeah, I accomplished everything I meant to with this little challenge, so I don't think I'll go back and do much editing. Maybe a little, but just minor stuff. (Update: Fixed grammar and stuff.)
I have also learned I should stop working on 3+ projects at a time, and I'll actually make progress. ^^;
So thank you again, and I'll see you soon~!