The mid-late July sun beat down mercilessly upon Santana's backyard, where the shimmering surface of her pool seemed like an oasis in the desert. The air was thick with the hum of cicadas, and the scent of sunscreen lingered in the warm breeze. The Unholy Trinity lounged on colorful floaties, their laughter mingling with the splashes of water.
Santana reclined on a bright pink flamingo float, her sunglasses perched on her nose as she sipped on a fruity cocktail. Quinn floated nearby on an inflatable unicorn, her eyes hidden behind oversized sunglasses as she absently twirled a strand of her hair. Brittany floated lazily on a giant rubber duck, her blonde hair fanned out around her like a halo as she trailed her fingers in the cool water.
"Hey, Quinnie, when's Isaac coming back?" she asked in a bored tone.
The latina's lips curved into a mischievous grin as she glanced over at her best friend, who flushed slightly at the mention of the name. "Yeah, Quinnie, when's Lover Boy gonna grace us with his presence again?"
Quinn's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink, and she shifted uncomfortably on her unicorn. "I-I don't know," she stammered, her gaze flickering nervously between her friends. "He didn't say. "
Brittany laughed, splashing water at her playfully. "Whatever you say. San is also in love with him."
"No. I never said that. He's my chocolate delivery guy. Can't a girl appreciate a guy who knows how to bring good chocolate. And those strawberry pieces? Orgasm worthy."
Suddenly, the back door opened, followed by a voice. "Daddy's here."
The three girls turned, and Isaac entered through the door, sporting a yellow linen shirt, a blue swimsuit, and brown Menorcan sandals, paired with black sunglasses. But what caught their attention the most was his haircut—a mullet. And to top it off, he had a mustache.
Santana wasted no time expressing her opinion. "This is ridiculous." she spat." First the pink shirt, and now the mullet and the mustache. How is it possible that it looks so good on him? A mullet and a mustache is always a turn off."
"Wolfie!" Brittany cried out, jumping out of the pool to hug the newcomer, "You're back! We were just talking about you."
"Britt, you've soaked me all over," he said with a small pout.
"Afraid to show those abs, Lover Boy?" The brunette teased from inside the pool. He rolled his eyes and proceeded to take off his shirt, placing it on a lounge chair in the sun to dry.
When he turned around, he noticed the three girls gawking at him, and he unconsciously crossed his arms. His parents' car accident had left him with scars across his chest, and although they were barely visible, they made him insecure.
"Have room for one more?" No one other than his family or Kurt had seen him shirtless.
"What's with the 'stache? More importantly, did you bring me chocolate? I know you've been in Paris. I stalked your Instagram stories."
"It's preseason 'stache. The chocolate is in your fridge, needy."
"Now you do look a bit like a wolf," the tallest blonde giggled. "You're more tanned too. You and San could be siblings."
"Impossible," Isaac scoffed. "San's too short to be my sister."
"Fuck you, asshole." The latina retorted, launching herself from her flamingo attempting to dunk him under the water without any luck.
"You haven't said anything about my haircut." Isaac murmured, his voice tinged with shyness as he ran a hand through his newly trimmed hair.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving Isaac and Quinn alone by the poolside. Santana had bid them farewell to take the other blonde home. She studied him for a moment, her gaze softening as she took in the subtle changes in his appearance.
"It fits you, I don't know how to explain it," she replied with a small smile. In truth, she found him incredibly handsome, noticing the newfound strength in his frame and the chiseled lines of his face, devoid of the lingering traces of youth.
"How was your summer?" he asked, slipping on his shirt but leaving it unbuttoned, his gaze warm as he looked at her. She felt her cheeks flush under his gaze, her heart fluttering at the sight of his smile. Isaac's presence had always had a certain effect on her, and now, with his newfound confidence, he seemed even more irresistible.
"You got freckles," he observed, his tone gentle as he reached out to touch her cheek. Quinn's heart skipped a beat at his touch, her breath catching in her throat. She looked down, her fingers tracing the faint freckles on her nose, a remnant of her former self that she often tried to hide.
"Hey, they look good on you," the boy reassured her quietly, his fingers tilting her chin up to meet his gaze.
"I don't like them."
His response was immediate, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "I don't like my scars either," he admitted softly as he partially opened his shirt to reveal the faint lines on his chest. "They remind me that my parents are no longer with me."
"Are they from the accident?" she inquired softly, Her hand hovered in the air, hesitant to touch the scars that marred his skin. But before she could retract it, he gently guided her hand to his chest, his touch warm and reassuring.
"You can touch them," Isaac murmured, his eyes closing briefly as he savored the sensation of her touch. "The memories hurt, but the scars themselves... they're just reminders."
Her gaze softened, her fingers trailing over the lines of his scars with a gentle reverence. "I like them," she confessed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "They add to your appeal. You must have all the girls at Columbus High fighting over a date with you."
Isaac laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet evening air. Quinn couldn't help but smile at the sound, her heart swelling with warmth as she looked at him. It had been too long since she had heard his laughter, and now, in this moment, it felt like coming home.
"I'm only interested in one girl, and right now, she's all over me," he flirted, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She snorted at his playful remark, but before she could protest, he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.
"I was joking. I'm sorry, don't be mad," he murmured against her skin, his breath warm against her ear. She felt her cheeks flush at his proximity, her heart racing as she leaned into his embrace, content to stay in this moment forever.
"Where's that wonderful gift you promised me, huh?" Quinn's fingers danced lightly through Isaac's hair, eliciting a contented sigh from him as he leaned into her touch, his hazel eyes half-closed in relaxation. "It seems unfair to me that Santana gets gifts and I don't."
"Jealous, Fabray?"
"Me, jealous of Santana? Never."
Isaac's gaze locked onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "Don't be jealous," he said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that melted her defenses. "The gift is at my house."
She felt her cheeks flush under his gaze, the raw admiration in his eyes leaving her momentarily speechless. She quickly looked away, a rush of conflicting emotions swirling within her.
"Stop looking at me like that." she implored, her voice betraying the vulnerability she tried to conceal.
"What do you mean?" he questioned, his arms falling to his sides as he allowed her to step away if she desired.
"Stop looking at me like...like you have feelings for me," Quinn whispered, her voice barely above a breath as she gathered her belongings and made her way towards the house.
"What's wrong with that?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation as he followed after her. "My God, you really walk fast." Isaac's footsteps followed behind her, a sense of urgency in his movements as he tried to catch up.
Before she could reach her car, a hand closed around her arm, halting her in her tracks. She spun around to face him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Have I misread the signs? Because…Because I don't understand. I thought... I thought you wanted this too."
"You don't know me," the cheerleader sighed, her hand reaching for the car door as she steeled herself against the ache in her heart. Allowing Isaac back into her life had been a mistake she couldn't afford to repeat.
"But I want to—Fuck, Quinn, can you stop for a moment and look at me?" His voice was tinged with frustration. She turned to face him, expecting anger but instead found herself confronted with a profound sadness.
"Tell me what I did wrong. A moment ago we were fine, what happened? Tell me…Tell me so I can fix it."
"That's the problem. You can't fix it," she confessed, her voice heavy with resignation as she slid into the driver's seat, her hands trembling as she started the engine
Isaac's frustration boiled over, his plea turning into a desperate demand. "What the —Don't you dare get in that car!" he yelled, but Quinn simply closed the door. She knew her actions might seem cowardly, but she believed it was for the best—for both of them. For him. Even if he couldn't see it now.
Jayden and Gabrielle were cozied up on the couch, the soft glow of the TV illuminating their faces as they snuggled together, engrossed in the movie playing before them. Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the sound of the front door slamming open with a violent force. He lifted his head from his girlfriend's shoulder, his gaze drawn to the figure storming into the house. It was Isaac, his best friend, his usually jovial demeanor replaced by an aura of anger and despair. Without a word of greeting, he hurled the carefully wrapped gift he had planned to give to his crush into the trash before retreating to his room, the echo of his slamming door reverberating through the house.
"Do you want to go or should I?" His girlfriend asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"I'll go," he replied, determination flashing in his eyes as he rose from the couch. "We're going to need a lot of tiramisu. I've never seen him look so sad."
With a sense of urgency, he ascended the stairs , each step echoing softly in the quiet hallway. He paused outside his best friend's room, the hushed sounds of muffled sobs seeping through the wooden door. The anguished cries tugging at his own emotions igniting a fierce protective instinct within him.
"Hey, babygirl." he greeted softly as he pushed open the door, his heart breaking at the sight of his best friend curled up on the bed, "What happened?"
Isaac lifted his head from the pillow, his eyes bloodshot and swollen from crying. He reached out, pulling his best friend in a tight embrace. "I don't know," he choked out between sobs. "We were fine, and suddenly... I don't know. I don't know what I did wrong. I thought she... I don't know."
He gazed at his best friend with a pang of sorrow tugging at his heartstrings. With each tear that rolled down Isaac's cheeks, Jayden's own eyes welled with unshed emotions. Besides his mother and his girlfriend, there was no one else he despised seeing in tears more than Isaac.
"I thought you were just going to see Santana," his hand moving in soothing circles on his back, offering whatever comfort he could on his trembling back.
"She was there too," he admitted, his words catching in his throat as he struggled to articulate his emotions. "She doesn't even want to give us a chance. I don't know what I've done wrong, Jay."
The blond's heart ached at the despair in his friend's voice, "Everything will be fine." He drew upon his own reservoirs of hope, clinging to the belief that things would eventually fall into place for Isaac.
"Everything will be fine, you'll see."
Gabrielle stood at the foot of the stairs, her gaze fixed on the steps leading up to her older brother's room. A wave of sadness washed over her, mingled with a simmering anger that coursed through her entire body. Ever since her boyfriend had revealed Isaac's crush on Quinn Fabray, she hadn't been exactly thrilled. Who would be?
The cheerleading community was tight and rumors swirled around about Sue Sylvester's new head cheerleader and her penchant for orchestrating slushie attacks on those she deemed unworthy or beneath her. Isaac getting caught in the crossfire served as confirmation to what everyone suspected.
Though he wasn't her biological brother, he was her older brother in every sense of the word. As the oldest among them, he had always looked out for them. To Gabrielle, the mere thought of anyone inflicting harm upon him was unfathomable—he was pure love personified. Always ready to lend a helping hand, attentive and with a smile that could light up the darkest of days.
Gabrielle and the boys hadn't exactly grown up side by side with Isaac. Their interactions were mostly limited to Christmas gatherings and summer vacations, courtesy of their parents' close friendship. Then came the accident, he seemed to morph into this people-pleasing persona as if one misstep would make him unworthy of love. Their parents had tried to explain to them how Isaac's behavior was rooted in a deep-seated fear of abandonment. It pained her to witness the lengths he went to in order to secure the love and acceptance he so desperately craved.
Taking her phone, scrolled through her contacts and pressed the call button. The seconds ticked by like an eternity until finally, " Baby sis, what do you want? I'm shopping with mom and Aunt Bailey. " came the familiar voice, a hint of annoyance and curiosity.
Rolling her eyes at her twin's impatience, she got straight to the point. "I need you to make your famous tiramisu. The extra-large one."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by a noticeable shift in her brother's tone. "I only do that when—what happened?"
"We have a situation at home. I don't know what happened, but we're going to need your tiramisu."
"Okay," The concern was evident in his voice as he spoke. In the background, she could hear her mother's voice, questioning her brother. "Nothing, Mom. It's just Ellie being annoying."
"You're a shitty liar," she accused, at her brother's feeble attempt at deception. "Mom knows there's only extra-large tiramisu when Isaac is sad."
Asher's snort of laughter echoed through the phone, "It's impossible to lie to Mom. Especially when she gives you that HBIC stare. She still thinks she's in high school and can manipulate us."
"Asher Taylor, repeat that, young man" she heard the unmistakable sound of her mother's voice, followed by a sharp smack and her brother's yelp of pain. "Mom, ouch! I didn't mean it. Stop hitting me."
"Bye, Ash," Gabrielle chuckled, shaking her head. "Mom, I love you," she called out before ending the call.
As the front door swung open, signaling the arrival of her mother, her aunt, and her twin, Jayden descended the stairs with a heavy heart.
"What happened?" Sabrina's voice cut through the silence, her eyes searching Gabrielle's face for answers as she entered the foyer.
Without uttering a word, her nephew gestured towards the kitchen trash can. She approached the trash can and lifted its lid, her breath catching in her throat as she beheld its contents. There, amidst the discarded remnants of everyday life, lay a broken bouquet of paper roses.
"She was there, Aunt Sab," Jayden began, his voice barely above a whisper as he took a seat on the stairs beside her daughter. "She didn't even... she didn't give him a chance."
"How is he?" Her heart clenched at his words, the pain evident in his eyes. Her maternal instincts surged to the forefront, overriding any other emotion as she focused on her son's well-being.
"He's going to… He'll be fine," The blond boy replied, though the uncertainty in his tone was palpable. It was a rare occurrence for Jayden to falter in his positivity. The sense of defeat lingering in his words spoke volumes.
"That bitch," she hissed under her breath, her hazel eyes flashing with anger as she struggled to contain her emotions.
"Sabrina!"
"Sabrina, what?" she retorted, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I have every right to be angry, Bailey. I haven't liked that girl since the day I met her. I helped my son make her a bouquet of paper roses, keeping to myself what I really thought of her because she made him smile, and I thought 'Hey, maybe she isn't that bad'. And then she doesn't even give him a chance? Fuck her."