(   chapter fourteen !   )
𝟢𝟣𝟦． 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌𝗀𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗄 𝖻𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗌

    It was finally the last day before their thanksgiving break had begun. And Carmen was so incredibly ready for thanksgiving to come.

She was looking forward to the next dag because Katherine mentioned that in their family they go all out.

The Howard's always did celebrate the holiday but it's just not the same when you have such a large amount of people to spend it with.

She lifted her bag onto an empty chair as she put in a few textbooks into the separate section of her bag.

  The kitchen was crowed with everyone rushing around in the mornings.

"Carmen. Would you like to make anything for tomorrow?" Katherine peered snugging onto her light grey cardigan.

"Oh," She was startled by the question. Usually her parents would just do the cooking, but it felt comforting that she had the whole family help.

"I can't think of anything right now but I'd love to help out." Carmen beamed as she zipped up her back pack once she fully packed it.

"Sure, just let me know if you change your mind." Katherine smiles down at the girl.

"Who wants pancakes?" George says as he pushes the stack of pancakes towards the kids. Parker rushes over to grab the first one before anyone.

Then Jordan, leaving Carmen to grab some. As she began to eat her pancakes, Jackie and Nathan come downstairs.

  "How was your run?" Carmen asks her sister as she takes another bite of her breakfast. "Fine."

  She slightly scrunched her face up at Jackie's response.

  Fine may be her regular answer but why did she have to say it like that?

  Carmen silently shrugged it off as she finished her breakfast. She overheard Katherine ask the same question to her sister about thanksgiving.

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Isaac entered to kitchen as well.

  Ever since the other night things between them had been awkward.

Even thought it was freezing cold outside — Isaac wore his classic leather jacket.

"Hey Isaac, you may wanna swap out the leather and get a warmer coat." George scoffs with a smile. As he stacks the plates away.

"Sometimes you have to sacrifice comfort for style," He grins stealing Carmen's last pancake from her plate.

"Hey! You really need to stop doing that!" Carmen frowns with her other pancake stuffed in her mouth; hardly able to be heard.

"Like this leather jacket says tough, chill, smooth. You getting it?" Isaac smirks while presenting, ignoring Carmen.

Before Carmen could say anything, she swallowed the last of her breakfast.

"You know what else says tough, chill, smooth? Frostbite."

She tilts her head towards him and smiles sarcastically. "Real funny." Before he bites into his pancake, he mimics her expression.

.•° ✿ °•.

Throughout the entire day Carmen's mind was filled with Isaac and hers encounter that happened the night of Lark after Dark.

It was such a complicated situation.

  Over the next hours it gave time for Carmen to think about the situation over and over again.

  She hardly even paid attention to what was going on in class.

  Carmen slumped over her desk as the class was held. The only thing that stood out to her was the clocks click as time passed by.

  This was her last class of the day which she was so desperately looking forward to.

  Maybe it was the rush of her thoughts or she was just overall exhausted.

Her new school was so much more difficult than her last.

  She wasn't in the advanced classes like Jackie but she was smart.

Just — these smart classes were more harder.

  "Have a good break everyone." The teacher announced as the final bell alarmed the students that it was time for their break to begin.

  The girl overheard a few of classmates already celebrating by either planning parties or a small vacation.

  Carmen was lost in her thoughts as she walked through the halls, and she stumbled into someone without realizing it.

  As she gained conscious again, her eyes met with Isaac's. "Carmen." He sighed with relief and smiled softly.

"Isaac." She blurted as she quickly pulled herself together, connecting surprised expressions.

"Guess you chose style over comfort." She tries to lighten the mood with a joke.

At first, Isaac frowns not understanding what she was talking about but was soon to realise the joke, "Oh!" He snaps his fingers.

  "Yeah..." She mutters under her breath. It was just that morning where they were completely fine. Not awkward.

  "Uhm have you picked out anything to make for thanksgiving?" Isaac asked once the two began walking  down the hallways.

  Carmen paused to think. She had been so caught up with her overthinking that she had completely forgotten about picking a dish to make.

  "No. Sorry."

  Trying not to answer any of his questions, she looks down again. By the time Isaac was planning to ask another question — Cole was waiting for them.

  He stood against his car with smug look on his face. "What took you two love birds so long?"

  Carmen could practically feel her face flush bright red. Even next to her, she knew Isaac was feeling the same way.

  "Shut up." Carmen groaned at Cole as she pushed past him to get into the car.

  This time sitting in the middle section instead of her usual seat.

  Leaving Isaac in the back with Lee and Carmen by herself in the middle.

  She did not want to go through another falling asleep on his shoulder incident again.