Home is where the heart is

2. ISABELLE

“Five minutes,” Tate said woodenly and then walked away from ear shot but still close enough to keep an eye on her.

“Stevens is getting on my nerves,” Jason growled as he glared over at Tate.

“Leave him alone,” she whispered, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Are you two together now? Stevens finally push out of the friend circle?” he demanded.

“You’re wasting your five minutes,” Isabelle murmured, feeling proud of how calm her voice was.

Jason sighed deeply. “Sorry, I’m not doing this right. How long do you have left?”

“Two weeks.”

“So just finishing up this term?” he prodded, his eyes probing her reaction.

“Yes,” she croaked, struggling to keep her voice neutral.

Silence spread between them and Isabelle fought hard with all the will power she possessed to stay calm and not let him see how tormented she was every second she was near him but not allowed to touch him.

“I… I didn’t think I would be so… I mean I didn’t realise…”

“That you cared?” Isabelle snapped, cutting him off.

“Well…yeah,” he replied almost sheepishly.

“I don’t know if you realise this Jason but it’s too late for you to care,” she told him coldly.

“We still have two weeks, babe… come on.”

“Stop it,” she whispered. “You don’t get to call me that, not anymore.”

“Hey, I know I hurt you and I’m sorry…” Jason began.

“Hurt me?” Isabelle said her voice raised. “Jason, you destroyed me. I wouldn’t have s*x with you and so you discarded me like I was a toy you’d grown tired of.”

“That’s in the past I don’t know why we can’t just move on from that. It was three months ago,” he said in exasperation.

“It’s not in the past you i***t, it’s my every living moment and I can’t wait to be rid of you.”

She had never lost her temper like this with him before, probably never even raised her voice until now.

Jason stepped back like she’d slapped him. “You don’t mean that. You’re just upset.”

“I think time’s up,” Tate said firmly, stepping up beside her.

Isabelle looked up at Tate gratefully as he watched Jason with unforgiving eyes.

“Goodbye Jason,” Isabelle managed to say.

“No wait!” he called desperately.

Tate stood in between the two of them with his arms crossed. “What now?”

“I’m…I’m throwing a party next weekend to celebrate the end of school, I want you to come.”

He eyed Tate bitterly.

“Both of you.”

“We’ll be busy,” Tate said firmly.

“It’s at my place, starts at nine on Saturday,” he looked past Tate to meet Isabelle’s eyes. “I want a chance to say a proper goodbye. Just think about it ok?”

He didn’t wait around for another of Tate’s biting replies, just turned swiftly and headed over to his waiting group of friends.

Tate whipped around and pulled Isabelle into his arms.

“Let’s go to class,” he said tightly.

“You’re not going to ask if I’m ok?” she asked shakily after a few moments.

He eyed her incredulously. “What would be the point? I know you’re not.”

Isabelle nodded, trying to hide behind her hair as tears began to fall. She hated crying in public and especially hated feeling weak in front of Tate who was always so steady.

To Tate’s credit he didn’t even acknowledge the tears or that Isabelle was slowly breaking apart in front of him. Instead he just took her arm and pulled her along.

“Tate, we just passed maths, where are we going?”

“You’re heading home,” he said factually. “I’ll cover for you.”

“I’ll get in trouble.”

And hadn’t she pissed her parents off enough already?

“It’s the last two weeks of school, we’ve had our exams so it’s just the assignments left which I know you’ve already handed in early. So just take a break alright?”

“Why are you so good to me Tate?” she asked, reminded of the many times Tate had come to her rescue.

“We’re family,” he said as he pushed her hair behind her ears. “That means we’ve got to stick together.”

Isabella hugged Tate close. “I love you.”

She felt him tense slightly, then return her hug. “You too kiddo, now get out of here.”

Isabelle smiled and then turned and started to walk home, with all the memories of wounds that had not yet healed whirling around in her head.

How did it all change so fast? Hadn’t she been deliriously happy just a few months ago?

Hadn’t she felt beautiful and free? Hadn’t she felt alive?

She sighed deeply. It was all gone now. Everything was gone.

All she had left were broken memories and Tate.

Tate. God, she was so lucky to have him. If he hadn’t been by her side these past few months helping her pick up the pieces she doubted she’d even have survived to this point.

Jason talking to her today had confused and delighted her. Maybe he regretted everything after all? What was that saying? You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone?

A small smile played at her lips, maybe she could turn this around and the reunion she’d

been imagining for months could finally become a reality.

As she got inside her house she felt significantly more hopeful as the beginnings of a plan started to form.