Otis was doing everything in his power to appear unaffected by Isaac's presence. Of course it didn't help that he was literally everywhere Otis looked.

"Hey guys!" Isaac shouted from across the trailer park.

"Hey." Maeve said awkwardly, as she eyed Otis' reaction.

Even though what he really wanted to do was go over and punch Isaac's face, Otis resisted the urge and decided to be polite instead. "Hey." He said.

Maeve smiled her signature Otis smile as she grabbed onto his arm.

"I was not expecting that." Maeve said, as she and Otis began walking out of the park.

"Yeah well, I told you that I would get better at handling this, so I'm trying." Otis said, shrugging a little.

"And I really appreciate it." Maeve said, pulling Otis in for a quick kiss.

Both of them sighed as they pulled away, still feeling the same excitement they had felt when they had kissed for the very first time.

"I'm going to speak to Mr. Hendricks today, about changing our groups." Maeve said, as she and Otis approached the school.

"Yeah?" Otis asked.

"Yeah, I know you're okay with or trying to be okay with Isaac being here but I'm not in the mood to push it right now." Maeve said with a small laugh.

Otis wanted to tell her she didn't have to worry but he stopped himself because only he knew how much he felt like a ticking time bomb. Sure he was trying to do whatever it took to make things work with Maeve but that didn't mean he was suddenly okay with this situation. He didn't trust Isaac, not for a second. But he didn't want to go off on a rant about it to Maeve, so instead all he did was nod.

The rest of the day went off as usual. School was dull and Maeve and Otis didn't really get to hang out because she had plans with Aimee. Otis took the time off to just lay in bed and overthink, as he often did. He only came out of his room, when it was time to have dinner with his mom.

The dinner had mostly been spent in silence, the only words spoken being in relation to passing the different plates of food around the table.

"What is it darling?" Jean asked, finally.

"What do you mean?" Otis asked, confused by his mother's sudden concern.

"Something is bothering you." Jean said.

"No, it's nothing." Otis said, not wanting to talk about what was going on out of fearing of exploding.

"It is something, I can tell. You're very tense, even in the way you're sat. Tell me what's on your mind, is it about Maeve?" Jean asked.

Otis suddenly sat up straighter, now conscious of all that his posture had apparently given away. He was caught up in an internal argument, trying to decide whether or not to let his mother in. The usual answer would've been fuck no. But after everything that had happened over the past few months, Otis had promised himself that he would not be an arsehole, especially to his mother.

"Tell me darling, I promise we'll work it out." Jean said, trying to nudge Otis a little.

"Fine." Otis said, letting out a defeated sigh.

"Is it about Maeve?" Jean asked again.

"Yeah, well kind of. Her ex-boyfriend transferred to our school." Otis said.

"And you're feeling a little insecure about feelings reemerging?" Jean asked, the inner therapist in taking over before she could stop it.

"Not exactly." Otis said.

"Then what is it?" Jean asked.

"A while ago, I'd sent Maeve a voicemail, telling her how I felt and I'd told Isaac to tell her about it and instead he deleted the message." Otis said.

"And you're worried that he's here to pull something like that again?" Jean asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah." Otis said, feeling quite therapised.

"And how does Maeve feel about him being back?" Jean asked.

"I think she's a little annoyed but she's fine about it. She thinks me being upset about him being around means I don't trust her." Otis said, crossing his arms.

"Does it?" Jean asked.

"Does it what?" Otis asked.

"Does it mean that?" Jean asked.

"Of course not, I trust her." Otis said.

"Then why are you so upset about Isaac coming to Moordale?" Jean asked.

"Because it's him I don't trust! He's tried to sabotage things before and Maeve and I are finally at this place where we're happy and I don't want him to come and ruin that!" Otis said, getting a little annoyed.

"Darling, you do understand that he can't ruin something unless you let him right?" Jean asked.

"Yeah but what if he gets in Maeve's head again?" Otis asked.

"Then that means Maeve isn't sure about her feelings about you. But the fact that this is something you're worried about and she isn't, only means you are not sure about Maeve's feelings for you." Jean said.

Otis didn't say anything; he just moved used his fork to move around the food on his plate. He knew his mother was right, which is why it had struck a nerve. Maybe there were insecurities he had that he had not addressed.

"I know that your father and I never put forward the ideal relationship. I know what you've seen for the most part is a messy relationship and a messy marriage where the two people in it don't seem to know what they want. I know your dad being in and out of our lives has affected you, as it would anyone. But I also want you to know that people don't always run away, Otis. Relationships work out, but that only happens when you put the other person above your own insecurities. When you deal with your insecurities so that you can make the relationship work. Your father never did that, he never really knew himself, which is why I could never know him. Every person has insecurities darling, but by letting your fear of Maeve leaving you dictate how you behave, you're going to make her believe you don't really want her to stay." Jean said.

Otis didn't say anything, he just stared at his plate, taking in everything his mother had said.

Jean stood up from her place at the table and walked over to Otis. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the head. "You're a wonderful person, Otis. Maeve knows that. It's time you see it too. I'm always here if you want to talk more." She said, walking away to do the dishes.

Otis knew everything his mom had said was a hundred percent true. He spent most of the night thinking about everything that had been happening for the past few months. It was always so easy being able to deal with other people's problems during the sex clinic; it always felt like people rarely saw what was right in front of them. And in the process of running the clinic, Otis had somehow managed to hide his problems behind those of the people he helped but it was time for him to address his own shit.

The next day, Otis felt a lot lighter, finally facing some of his own demons. He felt closer to meaning it when he said he was over stuff with Isaac. He was glad because he had health class and needed to get through it without losing his mind.

"One of you guys asked me to do some shuffling with the groups for your STI presentation and I have decided to comply with that request." Mr. Hendricks said.

Maeve and Otis looked at each other with nervous smiles. They were all for taking the high road but if they got the chance to get away from Isaac, they would take it in a heartbeat.

Mr. Hendricks read out the list of new groups. "Then there's Isaac, Jackson and Maeve."

Otis looked like he was about to pop a vein after hearing the groupings but before Maeve could say anything reassuring, Mr. Hendricks continued listing the groups.

"The final group is Ola, Otis and Ruby. These are the final groupings and will not be changed, you can begin discussing in your new groups." Mr. Hendricks said, putting down the paper he had been reading from.

While the rest of the class had begun going into their new groups, Isaac, Jackson, Ola, Ruby, Maeve and Otis stood around staring at each other. All of them knew in that moment that this was going to be a fucking disaster.