“All of you, stop!” I yell, looking at all of Isaac’s friends as they kept beating the crap out of Leo and his friends.

When they stopped, one of them raised a brow.

"I just don't want you guys to get in trouble.."

“Don’t worry about, we’ll be fine.” One of them say, a latino I believe, winking afterwards.m

A tall, dark-skinned one elbowed him.

“Cut it out this one is Isaac’s girl!” He stated, the other boy's smirk automatically fading.

“Oh shit.. Really?! Shit sorry.” He quickly apologized, backing away.

Why did everyone think we were dating?

“Um.. We aren’t dating.” I said, feeling heat rush down my cheeks.

“Oh really?” The latino boy asked. “Good to know.” He went back to being flirty.

“So, how about we get outta hear and I take you out for some ice cream?” He joked… Or at least I hoped.
Luckily the same boy intervened by nudging him. “Cut it out, dude! We gotta go to class before the teachers see us.”

As they started walking away, the latino boy twisted his head my way, mouthing a playful "call me" before following the other guys. I stopped Jonas from walking away with the rest.

“Uh- thanks for defending Isaac back there.”

He just shrugged, a slight scowl on his face as he looked back at me. I can’t help but wonder if he hated me or something. It felt like it.

“Anything for my best friend. But what exactly happened? I know Isaac's a dick, but he's not the type to go around picking random fights with others." 

I felt a wave of relief hearing those words, I'm happy knowing he wasn't the type to just hurt others for the fun of it.

"The boy.."

"Leo? Yeah I know who he is.."

"You do?" I asked.

Jonas nodded."Yeah, he was in Isaac and I's elementary school. He would bully the hell out of Isaac any chance he got."

"Oh." It started making sense, now I know why Leo was being the jerk he was.

"So what happened?" Jonas asked again.

"He said something about Isaac's mother."

Jonas let out a curse, turning to face me when I decided to ask him about him.

“Um, do you know what exactly happened with his mother?'' I couldn't stand the curiosity stirring inside of me anymore. Ever since Isaac has mentioned how his mother passed, I was curious to know more.

He looked around before looking back at me.“Walk with me." He ordered quietly.

I did as I was told. Wait a sec I was supposed to be in class… Oh well..

“Isaac’s past… is pretty messed up.” He laughed in an obviously not actually amused way.

“I honestly wouldn't know where to begin..But the poor guy has gone through the worst pain humanly possible." I could tell Jonas felt pretty awfiul but hid it with his cold stare.

“But I don't know if he would want me to tell it to you, so I'll just say this. He lost his mother when he was really young, still in 1st grade or something. She was murdered..”  

I felt like I could burst into tears, my heart broke for Isaac.

"Oh my.."

"Yeah... Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go check on him."

I was about to open my mouth to ask who murdered her, but Jonas walked out of the building before I can ask. I went back to class, an ache in my chest as I thought about Isaac losing his mother and witnessing when it happened.

I sighed as I got back to class. Luckily nobody seemed to notice.. Or care in the matter of fact about my absence. I was alright with it though.

~

As soon as school ended I paced around as I waited outside of the building for Darcy. It's been around 20 minutes or so since I've been waiting for Darcy to come out of the principals office.

I spotted Isaac sitting by a table, drawing. I walked over to him, being unnoticed by him. I awed silently in admiration, he was a really good drawer. The drawing was of a beautiful woman, I thought about what Jonas told me about Isaac's mother and suddenly I realized how it was possibly his mother.

I cursed myself mentally when I felt a sneeze coming on, when I sneezed, getting his attention and he turned to look at me.

"Oh.. Hey." He quickly closed his notebook, he looked at me as I sat across from him.

"Hey.. I'm just here to thank you, for defending me back there."

He nodded, his phone on his hand as he turned it on and started going through his text messages.

"Anyway... I am really sorry about what Leo said to you back there, and about your mother." 

He stopped what he was doing, his body tensing.

"I know it was hard on you but you're a strong person. I'm proud of you.." I squeezed his hand in hopes of comforting him, his other hand losing grip on his phone and almost dropping it for a second.

Fortunately he caught it and put his phone away in his pocket. "Thanks." He mumbled. Suddenly changing the topic, he said, "I'm sorry if I got crazy or anything last night.. Believe me, if I were sober, I'd never do anything-"

"I know." I interrupted. "I know. Don't worry, Isaac. I know you're better than that. You're a good person."

He laughed quietly at my words. "As if."

I put my hand on his again, which I could tell surprised him.

"You are." I assured.

"Anyway, can I just say, you're a pretty good drunk kisser?" I say, trying to lighten up the mood.

I swear for once I managed to crack a smile out of Isaac's face.
Before he could say what he wanted to say, I heard Darcy's voice.

"Hey Audrey!" She smiled as she walked over to us.

"Hi Isaac." She greeted when she saw Isaac.

"Hey." He answered

She looked at me. "I was actually going to talk to you, but if you're busy with your bo-"

I coughed loudly before she could finish her sentence. Why did she have to insist with that?

"No, we can talk now. See you later." I said to Isaac before walking with Darcy, before I stopped to look at him one last time.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here..." I said quietly, his eyes wide as if he didn't expect me to say that. But he quickly recovered and just nodded, saying nothing.

"Did you really just fight Clarissa because of me?!" I told Darcy as we walked away.

"Relax, she hardly laid a finger on me." Darcy smiled.

"That's not.. That's not what I'm concerned about..I don't want you getting detention or even worse.. Suspension."

"Oh don't worry, Adi. I only got one week of detention." She announced like it was no biggie.

"You what?!" I exclaimed.

"Don't worry Audrey.. I'm feeling sorta sick anyway. I needed a break."

I sighed and shook my head.

"The things you do for me." I mutter, feeling Darcy's elbow hitting my arm.

"Look." She whispered. I followed her glance. I looked at Isaac, who looked at me from time to time while talking with one of his friends who had joined his table.

"He's looking at you." She smirked.

"No he's not." I lied.

"He obviously is!!"

"Even if he is, its not for reasons you think.. We talked and-"

"Just talked?" Darcy asked with a look that showed she didn't believe me.

I was interruped by Clarissa's voice. I moved aside as she passed by us, shooting us glares as she did so. She smiled as she sat down next to Isaac and his friend.

"Hey there, cuties. Watchu doin'?" She grinned as she started a conversation with them. Isaac's friend smirking at her, I didn't give myself the chance to see how Isaac would respond and I didn't want to or have to.

I know better than to think he's any different from other guys.  He probably isn't. Sooner or later, she'll probably end up getting him like every other guy.

"Audrey.. I heard from Jonas that you and Isaac made out? Is that true?" Darcy suddenly asked, causing me to drop my books.

"Wait what?! Darcy.. Don't go telling other people about it." I say to her quietly.

"Woah, woah.. So it's true?!" She said, her eyes widened but her smile was getting bigger.

"Oh my god Audrey! I knew you had some bad girl in you." She teased

"Darcy stop.. It was.. He was drunk."

"Dude, give me all the juicy details. I need them now." She ordered. Knowing my best friend, I knew she wouldn't leave me alone until I spilled the whole tea.

By the time I was done, she looked shocked.

"Wow!! So you just let him kiss you?!" She ended up saying too loudly, so I covered her mouth.

"Not too loud!" I warned, as I looked around.

"Yeah..."

"Why?" she wondered.

"I don't know.." I said, since I actually didn't know why I let him.

"And besides that..." I started to say.

I'll probably end up regretting this, but oh well. How worse can it get?

"Yesterday.. I had weird dreams with him.."

"Let me guess.. Those dreams?" She interrupted before I even got to finish my sentence. "Right? Come on just tell me the truth Audrey."

I just nodded before picking up the stuff I dropped.

"Looks like someone has the hots for someone." She winked.

"It was a dream!" I insisted. It felt weird remembering the dream. I've had crushes on a few boys as I grew up, and dreamt about kissing them and stuff, but never have I ever dream of any of them that way, much less think of them in such a way.

"I don't know why I dreamt of that."

"I'm sure its cause you just find him cute or something.. Right?" She smirked, she knew damn well what she was doing.

My cheeks turned into a deep red as I thought about it. He is cute, I admit it. Really cute. But he was too cute, probably someone that was out of my league. I mean.. He already has Clarissa after him, and she's one of the prettiest girls in the class. Plus, he's in a gang..

I bet he's dated a whole bunch of cute girls. I thought to myself.

It wouldn't surprise me if he has been around the block like his friend Jonas clearly was. I sighed as I thought about that. Why was that so frustrating to think about?

Get over it Audrey, thats just how guys are.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Go ahead.." I nod, though wondering what Darcy was going to say next.

"And I want you to answer honestly..."

"Okay! Just ask!" I said impatiently.

"Do you have a crush on Isaac?" She asked, though I could tell she wouldn't believe me if I said no.

"Of course not!" I protest. "He's a friend..He's.."

"It's no big deal if you do!" Darcy insisted, a wry smile on her face.

"But I don't!!"

"Oh hey Isaac!" Darcy chirped, waving behind me.

"Huh?" I quickly jumped to look behind me, glaring at Darcy who was laughing.

"You see? Even his name makes you all jumpy."

She thought for a few seconds before grabbing my hand and she started walking me home.

"You know what? I'm helping you win that boy over. Plus who knows, maybe other guys as well to make Clarissa and the other girls jealous. Because face it Audrey, you're pretty, but you don't do enough to show that side of you."

"But-"

"No buts."

But I don't like Isaac... I really don't. Then again, remembering how we kissed when he was drunk brought me butterflies to my stomach. I don't know if I liked it, the idea of liking him made me nervous. Why would he even pay attention to me anyway? When there was Clarissa.

I looked back at the table, frowning as I saw Isaac have a conversation with Clarrisa, his friend was already gone.

There was no doubt in my mind that he was gonna be like the other boys and fall for her charms.