Isaac Cooper's POV

It was nice of Aubrey to befriend me. We have talked before, but it's been a while since she became sick. I should know better than to be around in her presence because her sickness symptoms could still linger. I worry that she could be contagious, but she assured me multiple times that her health is normal and she's doing much better than she was before. I have to trust her.

We went to the convention, movies, and did many other things. She's a great swimmer, too, because she showed me her skills. In a rather revealing bikini, but I didn't say anything to her in regards to that. I had to lock my eyes with her blue eyes in order for me to not stare at her obvious cleavage. I was doing pretty good if I do say so myself. I thought of as the no blinking game which I master at.

On a Saturday, we were at the comic book store. Both of us love comics which is nice and refreshing because it's rare to find a girl who does. As for Jessica Gilbert, she does not enjoy comics, but was mostly into science which I greatly admire her for. But it's still fun to read them as a source of entertainment.

I know how to have fun. If I really want to.

"Oh, look. If it isn't my favorite little nerd?" I froze at the familiarity of the male's taunting voice.

Damon McCartney.

He was in the comic book store along with his idiotic friends. I didn't know he has a passion for comics. Unless he just spotted me in here for what he calls fun.

I let go of my Spider-Man issue and put it back where it was. I turned to him bravely. Like the mighty and courageous Gryffindor I am. I always love to read about superheroes and how they save the day and fight crime. Never back down like a coward. It's time I ought to do the same.

"You can't really say that I'm your favorite nerd." I pointed out.

"What do you mean?" He sneered.

"You call everyone that who you terrorize. Andy, Evan, Thomas, all of them. So, you really can't say that I'm your favorite nerd."

He gave me a murderous glare, but his other friend, Jared, (the one who stupidly answered the science question wrong) laughed.

"I think he might be jealous, Damon. Probably has a crush on you. He's gay."

I feel offended that he mistaken my sexuality. "I am not gay!"

"And I don't care!" Damon growled. "That's messed up what you did to Nick!"

I immediately became confused.

"What have I done to him exactly?"

"You made Maddie broke up with him!"

I think I'm beginning to understand why he's here in front of me.

"And you're his back up to beat me up, right? To do the dirty work?" I asked and his hands clench tighter at his sides. Whether he's going to take a punch at me, I don't know. It was as though he's restraining himself. "Look at where you are. You are surrounded by illustrations and books of super heroes. Did any one of them not show up for their fights? No. Or did any one of them had other people to do their fights for them? No. Even Luke Skywalker went along to battle his father at the Death Star."

"Who's Luke Skywalker?" One of Damon's friends asked him cluelessly.

"That's a guy from Star Trek!" Damon hissed at him.

What?! Star Trek?! Oh, dear lord! He might as well have stabbed at my heart with a dagger.

"Star Trek?! Are you kidding me? No! He's from Star Wars!" I corrected him heatedly. No one can screw up any of my beloved franchises. "For your information, the actor of Luke Skywalker, who is if you don't know, Mark Hamill, was the officiate for my parents' wedding."

"Pfft! Yeah, right, man." Damon scoffed as if it was joke.

"I'm serious!" I protested.

"Whatever," He rolled his eyes. Someone has major anger issues. "I don't care! Why don't we take this outside and-"

"Everything okay over here?" Wyatt asked. I know he's Madison's older brother.

Thankfully, Aubrey came at my side, too, protectively.

"Leave us alone, Hofstadter," Damon sighed. "Go play with your chemistry set."

"I think you need to leave right now, Damon." Wyatt demanded.

However, he didn't budge and was eyeing at me with an evil glint in his dark brown eyes.

"I want a few more words with Cooper first. I don't care that you or his girlfriend are here."

"Go now, Damon." Wyatt demanded again with his voice having more authority and being tougher.

"Fine." He said and his stupid friends exited the store.

Once they're gone, Wyatt turned to me to ask. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I nodded. "I'm fine."

"I worry about the guys my sister associates sometimes. We always warn her, but she sometimes just doesn't listen." Wyatt said, shaking his head.

"Maybe she'll need a lesson or two before something really bad happens." Aubrey said, but he shrugged.

"I don't know...Be careful out there, you two."

"We will." We said together.

When he went behind the counter to have a customer purchase something, Aubrey was talking to me.

"Are you really okay?" She asked me with worry and concern.

"I told you and Wyatt yes," I replied. "I know I can never be done with bullies going after me."

"Please, never be around Maddie. She's with the wrong people. Look at who she used to date like Nick. Now, they're coming after you. You have never done anything wrong to anyone."

"I know you're worried about me, Aubrey, but really, I'll be okay. Damon is nothing. He's like the Enchanted Bunny from the Mystic Warlords of Ka'a. Useless."

Aubrey smiled at that in amusement.

"What do you think about what he called me? Your girlfriend?"

"He obviously doesn't know the status about us. We're clearly not dating."

"But do you want to?"

"Engage in a relationship with you?" I asked.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Hmmm...let's see..." I pondered about what could it be that we have in common. "We both love science, comic books, movies, and have many other things in common. Perhaps you can be my equal."

She brightly smiled at me. "Really?"

"Yes. I'll accept to be your boyfriend, Aubrey Atkinson."

"And I accept to be your girlfriend, Isaac Cooper," She holds my hand. "We're permanently official."

I smiled at her. "Indeed we are."

At home, I informed my family that I am currently in a relationship. I'm off the market. I don't know what that means. I've heard it from people and movies.

I was informed that my mother was pregnant. That surprised me and I never knew that my parents still have coitus. Not that I, as their son, should have to know anyway.

They were pleased with me that I am in a relationship. Father approved that I told him instead of keeping it as a secret for days like Athena. He had the talk with her boyfriend, Tobias Kripke, and he was slowly approving of their relationship.

"Who is it?" Mother asked while we're lounging in the living room.

"Aubrey Atkinson." I answered.

"I believe that's Ramona and Paul's daughter," Father said thoughtfully. "Ramona and I used to be such great friends. I liked her. I remember when we-"

"Oh, yeah. That's nice," Mother quickly interrupted not wanting to hear of his former affairs about Ramona. She smiled at me, but I catch the small twitches at the corners of her lips. "I'm happy for you, Isaac."

"You don't sound sincere." I frowned.

She sighed and her true emotions came out then. "I know. I'm sorry. One reason is that I can't believe my little boy is growing up and ready to have a girlfriend. Both of you kids are dating. I suppose I'm acting like you, Sheldon. Hating changes."

"You must admit that I have grown over the years and learn to acceptance and adapt to even more changes. Hard as they may be, I'm pulling through with it."

"You're doing a great job," She said to him and then focused back to us. "I'm glad that the two of you are starting to be in new relationships. And you're doing it willingly."

"What do you mean by that?" Athena asked.

"Your grandmother wanted me to date according to her demands. I went out on dates for her wish."

"Is that how the two of you met?"

"We met because of online dating." Father answered.

"I can't imagine you doing that." I said to him. He forbids Athena and I to go searching for mates online. He didn't want either of us to come across to weird strangers who could be part of a gang, murderers, or anything else horrible.

"I didn't sign up myself. My friends, Howard and Raj, did it for me. Without them, I would have never fallen in love with you." Father looks lovingly at my mother who blushed.

"That's sweet of you to say that," She said and she looks at me. "I just hope that Aubrey treats you right."

"Thank you, Mother." I said gratefully that she approves of my relationship.

At school, it appears that the fact I'm in a relationship with Aubrey Atkinson spread like wildfire. Everyone knows.

Literally.

Even the teachers.

Some people were surprised that I'm even in a relationship.

One of them being was Madison Hofstadter.

We were eating lunch in the cafeteria and she came to our table and sat with us.

"I hear that you two are dating," Madison said. She was grinning so broadly that I wonder if her mouth hurts. I can't tell if she's being fake or honest, but I receive it either way.

"We are." Aubrey said and held my hand as if to prove that we are.

"That's so sweet," She looks at me. "Isaac, I never knew that you could be quite the ladies' man."

"Uh...I don't really consider myself that." I said confusedly.

"Why don't you tell her about the little run in that we had with one of her ex's friends at the comic book store?" Aubrey suggested. She reminds me of that unpleasant encounter.

"What?" Madison was shocked and her eyes flicker back to me and to Aubrey. She wants an explanation. "What do you mean? What happened?"

"During the weekend, her and I went to the comic book store," I explained. "We ran into one of Nicholas' friends, Damon."

"I never liked Damon," She shook her head. "I don't know what Nick sees in him."

"Anyway, he wasn't happy that I made you and his friend break up. Apparently, Nicholas is still upset about that."

"He does get sensitive..." She commented thoughtfully.

"He wanted to beat me up, but your brother, Wyatt, put an end to it by kicking him out of the store."

"I'm so sorry about that," Madison apologized. "Maybe I should go talk to Nick sometime. He really should try to move on."

"Yes, he really should." Aubrey agrees, but I hear the hint of annoyance within her voice.

"Um...how about this? Why don't you two go out on a double date with Chris and I?" Madison offered.

Aubrey and I exchanged glances to each other then back at her.

"A double date...with you two?" Aubrey asked.

"Yes. Why not? It'll be fun. I know how awkward and uncomfortable first dates can be. It can break the ice if you want Chris and I to go, too. But that's just a...suggestion. You don't really have to-"

"We don't want to." Aubrey interrupted.

"Isn't that rude?" I asked confusedly.

"Isaac," She sighed in a huff. "Maddie has caused you enough trouble, hasn't she? By beating you in grades, you got punched in the face by her ex, and now the said ex's friend is out to get you. She's clearly a toxic person to be around for you."

"Wait. Hold on," Madison said in her defense. "I am not-"

"I know those things have happened, Aubrey, but I can't agree that she's toxic. I have seen a vulnerable side to her before. She can be nice."

Maybe Aubrey was in doubt and she has a right to be, I suppose. She doesn't know her like I do. Eventually, she grudgingly accepts that we should double date with Madison and her boyfriend, Chris, because I want to.

"That's so great!" Madison was happy for our decision. She looks at Aubrey. "I hope we can try to become friends."

Aubrey shrugged. "We'll see."

Author's Note: Please don't be mad at me for those of you who are Isaac and Maddie shippers! Don't worry! I know what I'm doing. ;) And I'll go over about the talk with Tobias and Sheldon when it's Athena's chapter.