( chapter twelve  ! )
𝟢𝟣𝟤． 𝗅𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗀𝗎𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾

Carmen slept in her bed with dried tears spilled down her cheeks. After Jackie and her fight, Carmen had no choice but to go back to the Walters house.

It had been such a hard day for her. With Lucy's birthday — she had been so distracted with trying to figure out what to do and then Jackie taking all her anger out on her own sister.

She couldn't understand why she had been so angry with her, maybe that was her way of coping with Lucy's birthday.

Carmen rolled over in bed, her mind still fixated on Lucy's birthday and the fight her and Jackie had. It was all just too much at once. She felt like she had just been beaten down by life.

Carmen tried falling back asleep, but her mind couldn't stop replaying the whole ordeal. She didn't know what to do, all she could think about was Jackie and the things she said to her.

She had finally gave up falling back asleep, but ended up just laying there with her thoughts — the thoughts that she couldn't escape.

Knock, knock.

Carmen flinched at the sound and jolted up hoping it was her sister, "Jackie?"

"No, sorry."

It was Isaac. She had completely missed the sound of his knock as she was too deep into her thoughts.

When she realized it was Isaac, she jumped up from her bed and brushed off her hair, she never expected Isaac to be at her room.

Carmen opened her eyes and saw Isaac at the door. The girl sat up on the bed, wiping away the tears that were slowly forming in her eyes again as she stared at the open door from the bedroom.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to intrude. I just thought I'd check up on you." Isaac apologized.

"It's okay, just wasn't expecting you here." Carmen replied, feeling tired.

"Can I come in?" Isaac asked and she nods.

  Isaac took a step forward and entered into Carmen's domain. The first thing he saw was the tear-stained face. He took a seat on the edge of her bed.

  "Are you alright?"

  She plastered on a smile for him and sat up fully on her bed. "Yeah." She sniffled.

Her nose was still a little red from the crying which weirdly Isaac kind of thought was cute — without even realising, Isaac was smiling.

  "What?" She asked with a small laugh.

  Isaac shook his head embarrassed, "Sorry, sorry."

He wanted to ask so many questions. He also wanted to comfort her but he didn't know how. He didn't know what to do. So many thoughts flooded his head. Then he spoke "Can I say something?"

Carmen looked into his handsome eyes as she listened in. She was still holding her tears from before but when she saw him, he looked the part of a gentle soul. She had never seen anyone as gentle as him, which made her want him more.

So she replied, "Of course."

Isaac took in a deep breath before speaking. He carefully planned out each and every word so there would be no misunderstandings. After taking this deep breath, Isaac looked Carmen directly in the eyes.

"I know this day hasn't been the easiest for you. But, I just wanted to let you know, I'm here for you."

She hadn't been expecting this. Carmen was speechless. Her mouth hung open as Isaac was telling her she could lean on him. That's all she wanted. She wanted someone she could lean on and she now had that and the offer was coming from Isaac himself.

She managed to squeak out a reply "Thanks... I- I really appreciate this."

They sat in silence for a while, with Isaac not wanting to leave and Carmen not knowing what else to say. He didn't even mind there was silence, he did enjoy it.

Finally, he asked "So... what're you going to do now?"

Carmen thought for a second. She had no plans for today. After Jackie and her fight, she had spent the rest of her time trying to keep herself from breaking down even more.

After thinking for a moment, she finally replied, "I really don't know. I feel guilty if I don't celebrate for Lucy. But then again — she would want me to be happy."

Isaac couldn't believe that Carmen was even thinking of Lucy under circumstances like this. He thought it was incredible that no matter how much she was hurting, she still cared for her sister above even herself.

"I mean, that's understandable — I guess." Isaac tried to find the right words but he was honestly still stunned with Carmen's selflessness.

  Isaac smiled at her. Then a smile spread onto her face as she felt her heart flutter. Neither of them thought this afternoon would end up with them being so closely connected.

  Their smiles seemed to radiate off of them as they both stared at each other with content. Carmen began to notice how cute he looked.

  With her eyes glued on him she slowly, as if she were a magnet drawn towards a steel, started to inch towards him.

  He had already caught on that she was inching closer to him. Before she could even make contact with him, Isaac took the initiative. He moved forward and took her in his arms. Their eyes locked with every ounce of their being.

  Carmen was too lost to think. She just let her mind and body go. She leaned in toward him as they began to kiss.

  "Isaac..." Carmen breathed as she quickly pulled away.

  "I'm sorry- Carmen." Isaac was soon embarrassed and stood up as quickly as he could.

  "No, no. It's not about that..." She told him as he slowly sat down. "What are we?"

  They both sat there, shocked at the situation at hand that just happened. The chemistry was obviously there. They had both experienced something they both liked — yet they both didn't know how to respond to it.

  Isaac was trying to process things through. He wanted her. He knew that but he was questioning whether he should act upon his feelings.

  "Uhh..." he replied as he looked at her, "What do you mean?"

  Carmen looked back at Isaac. They shared that same look of uncertainty. Her heart was beating out of her chest as she sat there and kept looking at his eyes — But she didn't have any idea on what she should do.

  But she was enjoying the atmosphere. She had never felt a moment like this before and she was starting to enjoy every second of it.

  Even when it was silent, it felt like time was at a slow motion for them.

  The tension was building between the two of them as they both began to stare at each other without saying a word. Then Carmen spoke up. She was starting to get nervous that the romantic moment was beginning to die.

  "So..." she began, as if she had forgotten what she was even going to say.

  She was struggling to find the words, but Isaac was already on top of her answer — he had picked up on what she was going to say.

  He looked at Carmen for a few seconds before his hand went to brush away the strands of hair on her cheek. He looked straight into her eyes, and spoke, "I think I've fallen," he paused then continued, "for you."

  And Carmen couldn't help but laugh, "Wow. The Isaac Garcia has fallen for me? Woah what a blessing!"

  Isaac's eyebrows immediately dropped lower than before. He felt a sting — it had hurt him how she spoke in that sarcastic manner. But then he soon realized she was joking.

  He laughed as he replied, "Yeah yeah, laugh it off. I know you appreciate that I am being vulnerable." They both kept a smile on their faces as they both laughed.

  He then leaned back into her, getting even closer if it were possible, and replied, "So, what's your answer?"

  Carmen blushed as she heard Isaac's question. They were both so close to each other that she could practically feel his breath on her forehead. She felt butterflies swarming throughout her entire body.

  Then, as if acting on impulse, Carmen leaned in and kissed Isaac deeply. Then she replied, "I think it's pretty obvious I feel the same way."