I decided to bring this story back because why not? I've been in the mood for some Isaac fluff! I hope you all enjoy!
A drawn-out yawn escaped past my lips as I struggled to keep myself awake while figuring out this damn statistics equation. I took another sip of my third cup of coffee of the day, as if I hadn't learned by this point that it wasn't doing jack-shit for me. But maybe if I just kept telling myself that the caffeine was working, I might start to finally believe it. Yeah, right.
The library was flooded with other students working on their homework and class projects. Yet despite the insane amount of people in here, it was actually pretty quiet, even with the small chit-chat here and there. Another difference between college and high school- everyone seems to be pretty serious about doing their work and actually wants to make something of themselves, even with the occasional parties thrown here and there. It probably also helps that there isn't any type of extraordinary threat terrorizing the place 24/7. Unless you wanna include some hard ass professors.
My eyes remain glued to my textbook until I hear someone randomly taking the chair across from me and sitting down at my table. I look up and to my surprise, it's the kid who was being harassed by Nick the day of orientation. He had his own cup of coffee in his hand but unlike me, he seemed very much wide awake and peppy. And instead of the pink hair that I remembered him having, the color was now dark blue.
He slid his sunglasses from his face to the top of his head. "Isaac Lahey."
"You know my name?" I questioned with an arched brow.
"Of course," the guy said, "Dean Hartman told me who you were when he had me and Nick in his office after that big scene. I almost thought they kicked you out since I hadn't seen you around the past few weeks. Good thing I finally found you."
"Yep," I nodded, "Here I am. I'm sorry, but I don't think I ever learned your name."
"Miles Garrison." He held out his hand for me to shake, which I did with no problem. "I'm a theater major. Shocking, right? But I am from New York and look like a walking-talking highlighter so I guess it was pretty obvious choice."
"I guess so," I chuckled.
Then Miles's face grew a little serious. "Listen, I wanted to thank you for helping me out with the whole Nick dilemma."
"It's no big deal. If it wasn't me, then I'm pretty sure that someone else would have."
"Not exactly." Miles took a drink of his coffee as I waited for him to explain. "I didn't exactly come from a progressive part of Texas. So I was pretty much bullied for being a 'stereotypical gay kid'. While I had a feeling I was going to go through the same thing after high school, I also didn't expect to be targeted so soon. Most people would have been embarrassed to have been rescued like that, but I actually appreciate that you did that for me. No one ever has."
Maybe I was the good guy after all. Who would've thought?
I leaned back in my chair. "I know what you mean. Where I'm from I used to be kind of a loner myself."
Miles let out a snort. "You? Yeah, right."
"Seriously. Back in high school, my dad used to manage the local cemetery and I worked with him as a grave digger. Obviously it came with its consequences like people not wanting to talk to me or being called weird or creepy behind my back. Even though I was on the lacrosse team, it wasn't enough to stop all the hushed whispers about me. Being abused by my dad and coming to school with a black eye or a busted lip didn't help so much either."
"What changed?"
Tapping my finger on the table, I thought long and hard about how I was going to answer this question. A lot of my life had changed in such a short amount of time when Derek turned me, most unmentionable. Not all of it was horrible, despite how I made it seem. Even though a lot of them began to die off, I did find acquaintances in the most unlikely of people. I was physically stronger than I could have ever dreamed of. Theoretically, I should have been happier.
Sadly, that couldn't have been farther from the truth. So I answered Miles the best that I could.
"I went through a huge transformation after my dad died. I met people who did their best to help me not be so scared all the time and teach me how to hold my own. For a while, I thought I was hot shit." The thought made me chuckle which ended just as fast as it came. "Until I wasn't. But that's a story for another day, I guess. The bottom line is that I've faced a lot of shit over the past couple years. Shit that still scares me. But now I know that if I'm still breathing after everything my dad had put me through, there isn't much that could break me down anymore."
"Damn," Miles smirked, which wasn't how I was expecting him to react, "You should become an author or something with those words."
I had to laugh at that as I shook my head. "Nah, I'm not very good at writing." And speaking of, I checked the time on my phone. I started to pack my stuff into my backpack. "That reminds me, I gotta go meet up with a friend. But hey, let's exchange numbers and one of these days you are more than welcome to join me and my friends when we hang out."
Will it never not be weird to say that I actually have people I can consider to be my friends now? Doubt it.
"Are you sure your athlete friends wouldn't mind having someone like me around?" Miles asked with an unsure up-ticked eyebrow.
"Trust me, it's no big deal at all. Those guys are harmless. Also, we have three girls in our group as well and we all come from different backgrounds. We're just like one big melting pot."
"A big melting pot," Miles echoed, a chuckle slipping from his mouth. He shrugged then pulled his phone out. "What the hell? I could use some company while I'm at this place."
After we put our numbers in each other's phones, we bid each other farewell and I left the library with my backpack over one shoulder. Making sure to toss out my now cold and stale coffee into the trash as I walked away. Since I had the time, I did make a quick stop to the dining hall to grab a double chocolate muffin, assuming Summer would be hungry after her… what the hell was it again? Pilates class? Yoga? I don't know. They're all the same to me.
It astounded me how smoothly these past few weeks have been here on campus. Elliot, Robbie, and I have all gotten a lot closer, spending almost every minute that we weren't in class or doing homework together. Which is pretty much all the time, let's be honest. But we still made the best of it and there was never a dull moment whenever we were hanging out, even while doing dull work. We were always cracking jokes about or hyping each other up whenever one of us just needed that extra support over anything. You would almost think that we had been friends for years rather than only four weeks. The easiness of it all was so alien to me, but I welcomed it nonetheless.
As I told Miles, often times, Summer, Charice, and JoJo were with Elliot, Robbie, and I also. Breakfast that one morning after the frat house party was a little awkward, I'll have to admit, mostly from our friends' ends, but fortunately once everyone was clear from their killer hangovers, they were able to get over that awkwardness pretty quickly. We all hit it off with each other soon afterwards. We even started a group chat with the six of us. Yeah, it was an odd thing for me to get excited about, I know. But it was also the first time I really felt like I was a part of something. At least something that was more normal than I was ever used to being involved with.
Come to think of it, I don't even think we even had a group chat back in Beacon Hills. We were always far too busy fighting the current monster of the week to even participate something as casual as exchanging memes or whatever. Who would've thought that what should feel natural felt so… the opposite? But in a good way?
I soon found myself inching closer to the physical education building, which was where Summer's current class was being held at. That was another thing. My friendship with the sunny blonde was the last thing I expected to come from my time so far at the university, but, hell, it was what I appreciated the most. Never did I think that Summer would end up becoming my, dare I say it, best friend here. I was with her more than Elliot and Robbie, and that was already almost all the time. We were basically inseparable.
Saying that I actually had someone that resembled a best friend was so weird. I've never had one before. Not even when I was a kid. But… it felt really good. Even more so when it was a girl like Summer- amazing, sweet, funny, adorable…
Okay, maybe my thoughts about her teetered on the borderline of friendly and… a little more than friendly. A lot more than friendly. I'm sure that's gonna come back to bite me in the ass one day.
Like when I finally got to the room where Summer's class was being held. There were at least twenty-something other students in there, but I was able to spot Summer right away when I stood by the open door. It helped that her sweet peach scent stood out to me and guided my eyes to where she was in the room, even as she was sweating from her workout. She was more towards the back on the other side and looking so laser-focused on everything her instructor was doing or saying with her bottom lip tucked in between her teeth and eyes squinted. Even though this was her first time doing anything like yoga, at least that's what she had told me before, Summer looked like she was getting the hang of it.
"And now we're going to lower ourselves into a downward dog position," the instructor said in a voice that could put you into a trance. Or to sleep. "Remember to keep your head down and breathe. This is the cooldown portion of our class."
Everyone followed her instructions and stayed in there spots as she walked around the room and corrected those who needed it. That included Summer, the instructor placing her hands on my friend's hips and adjusting her as needed.
"Keep your heels on the floor so you really feel that stretch in your calves and thighs, dear," she told Summer.
Those adjustments almost had me breaking out into a sweat myself when I saw just how Summer's leggings really highlighted her… you know. It wasn't huge by any means, but it was still nice and round. Perky, to be exact. Something that had me picturing how perfectly it would fit in my hands. I found myself absently licking my lips as I let my imagination run wild.
I was so deep into my fantasy that I ended up leaning in further into the room without realizing it. My elbow knocked into a bundle of foam rollers, sending them falling onto the floor louder than I would have expected. Loud enough for everyone to stop and stare directly at me.
As if that wasn't humiliating enough, the instructor gave me the nastiest glare as she crossed her arms. "May I help you, sir?"
"Uh, no, sorry," I rambled, reaching down to pick up the foam rollers, "I was just waiting for a friend."
"Well, my class still has ten minutes left," the woman scolded, "You can wait for your friend outside in the meantime so you won't distract my students any further."
"Right," I nodded, "I'll… I'll go do that then. Sorry again."
Everyone chuckled, which I saw coming. I looked over at Summer, and even though she was giggling, it didn't seem to be at my expense. Her expression was soft and fond and I completely forgot where I was for a moment as I got lost in her eyes. That is until her instructor cleared her throat and basically shooed me out of the room.
Those final ten minutes flew by quickly and before the muffin I had for Summer could get cold, I saw her following some other students out the door. She found me right away, and that beautiful smile lit up the hallway as usual. Her small giggle was music to my ears when she came up to me.
"You just couldn't resist watching girls in skintight clothes working out, could you?" Summer teased.
"Now, what kind of guy do you take me for?" I joked back, even though she wasn't entirely wrong, "I'm not some perv. I have manners, ma'am. Oh, and by the way-" I handed Summer the small brown paper bag. "This is for you."
It was like watching a kid on Christmas opening a present when the blonde reached in the bag and pulled out the muffin. She let out an excited gasp. "Oh, and it's chocolate! God, you're the best."
"I wasn't sure if you ate this morning or not," I said, "And I know that you just worked out and this probably isn't something you would've wanted to eat afterwards-"
"Mhm," Summer hummed around her big bite of pastry, shaking her head, "This is my reward after sweating my ass off. I deserve this."
"Yeah, what in the world compelled you to even sign up for a yoga class?" I asked as we began to walk.
"My therapist I recommended I included some sort of fitness class in my agenda. She thought it would be helpful in releasing the stress that comes with college. At least that's what she says."
"Did it help?"
Summer snorted. "God, no. Yoga sucks. But Charice, JoJo, and I were thinking about taking a Zumba class on Friday night. You and the guys should do it with us!"
Now I almost had to scoff at the idea. "Temping. But I don't dance." Or at least I haven't danced since Danny Mahealani's black light party back in junior year with Allison. I didn't need to bring up my old romance with a different girl though. Not to the girl that caught my eye in the present. The past will remain in the past where it belonged. "I will admit that the picture of Elliot and Robbie trying to keep up with everyone else does seem quite amusing."
"Fine." Summer pointed her finger up at me with a smirk. "One of these days, you will show me your moves because I find it very hard to believe that you don't dance."
"If you say so," I chuckled. She took another bite of her muffin and we continued to walk together.
Considering how big this school was, I should've expected a large turnout at the job fair that was taking place anyway. Yet somehow I still managed to be blown away by how many students crowded the center of the campus. Easy-ups were scattered all around with all types of recruiters from different businesses looking for fresh meat to join their teams. They had everything from fast food companies, gyms, retail stores, call centers- you want it, they had it.
"Wow," Summer breathed out as she looked through the sea of students, voicing my own thoughts.
"Yeah, you could say that again," I said, "What a turnout."
"I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less since we're all broke college students living in an expensive university in an expensive city," Summer pointed out.
I chuckled. "True. Hopefully all of the good jobs aren't taken then." I lightly pressed on my friend's lower back to help guide her through the crowd. "So what kind of job are you hoping to get?"
"Hmm… I'm not sure yet," Summer shrugged, "Something that's not too… public. Talking to customers and answering the phone makes me anxious. It was easier to do it with my job at home but I already knew everyone that came into the bakery which helped. Perks of living in a small town."
"You worked in a bakery?"
"Mhm. My parents actually own it. They grew bored with the corporate and teaching jobs they had so they gave them up so they could run a bakery together since it was something they always loved doing with each other. Thus, The Raynebow Bakery was born. All of my siblings and I got into the business with them when we all turned thirteen."
Every information I got to learn from this girl will never fail to impress me. She just kept getting cooler and cooler in my eyes.
"Sounds like a pretty 'sweet' life," I said jokingly, making Summer bump me with her shoulder and roll her eyes. She laughed anyway. "So you don't see yourself taking over the bakery later on?"
"Yeah, I mean, my brothers and sister and I plan on inheriting the place once my parents decide to retire eventually. And I'll never separate myself from the bakery either, I practically grew up there. But my love still remains in writing, and I want to be able to have that one thing that separates me from my siblings. Also, who says I only have to do one or the other? I'm a girl of many talents."
Whether it was implied or not, it didn't stop my mind from going back into the gutter. God, I really need to cool it. "This better mean that I get to try some of your baking soon then," I told Summer, "Just for future reference, I'm a fan of anything with cinnamon in it."
"I'll keep that in mind then," Summer beamed, "So what about you? Did you have a job back in Beacon Hills?"
"Uh, yeah, I did." I cringed at what I was about to reveal. "I actually used to dig up graves at the town's cemetery."
Just as I expected, Summer was taken aback by that. "Oh. How… morbid."
"Yeah, I used to work there with my dad when he was alive. He used to manage the place. You could say that it was a family business too in a way. A weird, demented way."
"It just amazes me that despite your past, you didn't let that change you and you turned out to be a sweet and caring person."
I wish. I was trying to be, but there are still demons you can never escape that might end up tainting your for the rest of your life. After the things I've seen, I'm not sure that I could ever recover from it all. Summer didn't need to know that though. Let her keep believing that I'm not as scarred as I really am. I didn't respond to her comment and continued to guide her along.
Summer and I continued to scope around the area at our options, nothing too particular catching our eyes. Like her, working in customer service didn't sound appealing me to either. I wasn't into the idea of waiting on people with bitchy attitudes for a shit amount of pay. The gym didn't sound any better. Being in a building full of sweaty muscle men wouldn't be fun with my keen sense of smell. I already had enough of that back when I was in lacrosse. So then where did I belong? Where was I going to make my money's worth and not waste my time while I'm here?
"Oh, Isaac, look over there!"
A tug on my sleeve had me turning around at what Summer was pointing to. The booth was smaller than most of the others, probably why not many people were crowded around it. Only two people sat on the other side of the table, a man and woman. Smiles stretched across their faces, despite clearly not having any potential candidates come up to them. And they only grew wider when Summer pulled me over to them with her.
"Hey, guys!" the man chirped, probably relieved that he was finally getting a chance to recruit people, "How are you doing today?"
"We're great, thank you," Summer beamed, "And yourself?"
"Fine as well. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nate, and this right here is Kelly." Said woman gave us a cheerful wave. "We're part of the local community center a few blocks away. Kelly and I run the children's after school program called The Dreamers. The program is welcome to all children but is mostly a center for those with learning disabilities, from lower income families, or even in foster homes."
"Basically, we are looking for people to help organize and different activities within the program like arts and crafts, games, reading, all sorts of things," Kelly explained, "And since it is an after school program, you'll also be able to tutor any kids that are having trouble with their homework."
"It's a very rewarding experience, if you ask me," Nate said, "You get to see lifelong friendships develop and help these kids grow and reach their fullest potential. I know after seventeen years of being a part of this myself that making an impact on young lives in such a positive way is one of the most fulfilling things I've ever accomplished."
Based on how Summer's eyes lit up at every word Nate and Kelly spoke, I knew the girl was sold. "Where do I sign up?"
Kelly handed Summer a pen and clipboard with an application waiting to be filled out. She went to work at putting down her information as Nate turned to me.
"How about you, son?" he asked.
"Um…"
"Oh, come on, Isaac, it'll be great!" Summer said to me, "This would get your foot in the door with working with children. It's perfect for you!"
"If it's any consolation to you, you also receive credits towards your degree, no matter the major," Nate added in an attempt to sway me.
Which wasn't even necessary but it did make the offer a little more appealing. Summer was right though. In order to be a social worker to protect children, it would be beneficial for me to start actually, well, working with children. I was never really around them much, me being the youngest cousin in my family. But I had to start somewhere. I could also really use the extra credits for classes.
And if Summer will be working alongside me… I consider that to be a perk of the job.
I nodded with more confidence. "Sure. I'll do it."
"Great!" Nate grinned. He handed me my own pen and clipboard. "Just fill out this application and we'll get you both sorted out for an interview this week."
"Thank you both so much," Summer said graciously. She bumped my arm with hers. "Same school and same job? I hope you don't get tired of me after a while."
Shaking my head, I told her, "Yeah, I don't see that happening any time soon."
I know it doesn't seem much now, but this is more of a filler so I could finally get this story going again. It will pick up soon, I promise!
Review, favorite, and follow! I'll be sure to update soon! Xoxo, Maddie
