Wren Scatorccio , Isa Martínez | 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟲
Wiskayok, New Jersey

"Nat," Wren nudged her sister gently. "Get up, we're gonna be late."

Nat groaned, turning her back to Wren. "Fuck off."

Wren rolled her eyes, grabbed her bag, and stormed toward the door. "Fine. Do whatever the hell you want. You can repeat your senior year for all I care."

She slammed the door behind her, leaving the house annoyed. Wren and Nat were polar opposites—that hadn't always been the case though. Until they were twelve, they were inseparable and did everything together. Then one day, it all changed. Maybe it was just growing up, or maybe it was their abusive dad finally getting to Natalie. Wren couldn't pinpoint exactly what caused it, only that things had never been the same since.

Now, she did everything she could to steer clear of Nat's bad decisions. The only places she couldn't escape her sister was at home and on the soccer field. But at least on the field, Natalie was tolerable. As much of a mess as she was, Wren grudgingly admired her dedication to the game.

"Where's Nat?" Ryder asked, blowing out a puff of smoke as Wren slid into his car.

"Fuck her," Wren snapped, slamming the door and tossing her bag in the backseat. "She can find her own damn way to school."

Ryder just shrugged, flicking his cigarette out the window before pulling away. Wren was fed up—morning or night, it was always the same with Nat. Moody, ungrateful, always wrapped up in her own mess, and Wren was done wasting energy trying to deal with it.

"You want me to go back and pick her up?" Ryder offered casually. "I don't mind, I hate my first period anyway."

"No matter what I say, you'll end up giving her a ride anyway." Wren sighed, reaching into the backseat for her bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she leaned in to give him a quick kiss. "See you in science."

As she got out of the car, she heard someone shout her name.

"Wren!"

She turned to see Lottie and Isa jogging up to her.

Wren!" Lottie called out, waving a hand as she approached with Isa trailing slightly behind.

Wren stopped, waiting for them to catch up. "What's up?" she asked, her tone flat.

Lottie slowed to a walk beside her, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Where's Natalie? You two usually show up together."

At the mention of Natalie, Isa's posture stiffened. Her jaw clenched, and she looked away, pretending to focus on adjusting the strap of her bag. Wren caught the subtle shift immediately, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Isa.

"She can do whatever she wants," Wren replied curtly "I don't give a shit where she is."

Lottie blinked, taken aback. "Oh, okay. I just
thought—"

"Well, you thought wrong," Wren interrupted, her gaze darting back to Isa. Isa avoided eye contact, her lips pressed into a thin line, but Wren could see the flicker of annoyance in her eyes.

Lottie raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, no need to be a bitch about it. I was just asking."

Wren sighed, adjusting her bag again and resuming her walk toward the school. "If you want to know where she is, ask someone else."

Lottie hesitated for a moment, glancing between Wren and Isa, clearly sensing the tension but unsure of its source. Isa followed in silence, her face set in a frown as she kept her distance.

As they reached the front steps of the school, Lottie broke the tense silence. "So," she said, glancing between Wren and Isa, "are you guys ready for the states game?"

Isa finally relaxed enough to answer, nodding. "Yeah, we've been working for this all season. I think we're ready."

"Ready? We're more than ready," Wren said, more confident than ever. She smirked, adjusting her backpack. "We're gonna crush them."

Lottie raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with amusement. "You're that confident?"

"Confident?" Wren said, turning to walk backward so she could face them. "More like sure. I mean, come on, have you seen me play? They're not even gonna know what hit them."

Isa rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Alright, superstar, don't jinx it."

"Jinx it? Please," Wren said with a laugh. "The only thing that's gonna happen is me scoring, you setting up those assists, and Natalie—" She hesitated, the name souring her mood for a split second, but she quickly recovered. "—Natalie doing her thing. Easy win."

Lottie chuckled. "You're really hyping this up. What if they're better than you think?"

"They won't be," Wren said without missing a beat. "Trust me, Lottie, when we win you're buying me a Lamborghini."

Lottie laughed, shaking her head. "That's expensive as hell."

"And you're rich," Wren said.

Isa smiled faintly, finally speaking up. "Hey, if she's this confident, maybe it'll rub off on the rest of us."

"It should," Wren said, turning back around with a cocky grin. "You're lucky to have me, Isa. With me on the team, we're unstoppable."

As the three stepped into the school, Wren was still grinning from her own confidence filled pep talk, while Lottie adjusted the strap of her bag.

Isa's stride slowed the moment they walked in, her eyes locking onto a familiar figure further down the hall. Natalie stood by her locker lost in conversation with Alani, but the tension in Isa's shoulders gave her away.

Wren noticed Isa's sudden hesitation and frowned. "What's up with you?"

"Uh, nothing," Isa said quickly, her voice unconvincing. She rubbed the back of her neck and glanced at Wren and Lottie. "I just—uh, I just remembered I have something to take care of."

Lottie tilted her head. "What do you mean? We just got here."

"Yeah," Wren added, her brow furrowing. "What could you possibly have to take care of right now?"

Isa waved them off, already backing toward the door. "It's nothing. I'll see you both at practice, okay?" She flashed them an awkward smile and turned on her heel, retreating out the entrance they'd just come through.

Wren and Lottie exchanged confused looks.

"Did that seem weird to you?" Lottie asked, leaning slightly toward Wren.

"Super weird," Wren replied, still watching the door swing shut behind Isa. "Natalie's been weird too."

Lottie glanced down the hallway and noticed Natalie, still at her locker, oblivious to what had just happened. "Do you think it has something to do with Natalie?"

Wren blinked, following her gaze. Her expression darkened. "I don't know, but now I'm even more confused."

"Should we ask her?" Lottie suggested.

"No," Wren said quickly, shaking her head. "If Isa wanted us to know, she'd tell us."

Lottie raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Yeah, I guess."

"Yeah," Wren muttered, though her eyes lingered on Natalie for a moment longer. "If she wants to keep being weird, that's her problem."

———

For two weeks, the silence between Isa and Natalie had stretched, growing heavier with every passing day. They hadn't spoken since the bonfire, their usual ease replaced with a cold, unspoken resentment. Now, on the field, it was spilling into the game.

"Natalie! Wide!" Isa shouted, her voice sharp.

But Natalie hesitated, her eyes darting toward Isa before passing the ball to a teammate already covered. The defender intercepted it effortlessly, sending it back down the field. Groans erupted from the team as another opportunity slipped away.

"Break!" Isa's dad called, his tone firm but exasperated. The players jogged to the sidelines, sweat dripping from their brows. Isa snatched a water bottle and turned to Natalie, her face flushed—whether it was from the heat or frustration wasn't clear.

"What the fuck was that?" Isa snapped, her voice cutting through the murmur of the team. "Are you even trying out there?"

Natalie froze, her grip tightening on her water bottle. "Excuse me?" she shot back, her voice low but dangerous.

"You heard me," Isa said, stepping closer. "You're not communicating, and it's screwing up the whole team. Maybe try speaking up for once?"

Natalie let out a bitter laugh, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm the one not communicating? That's rich, Isa. Maybe if you hadn't been ignoring me for the past two weeks, we wouldn't have this problem."

The team fell silent, eyes darting between the two. Even Isa's dad paused mid conversation with coach Scott, his gaze flicking toward the confrontation.

"Oh, so now this is my fault?" Isa barked, her voice rising. "Maybe I wouldn't have to ignore you if you didn't—"

"Didn't what?" Natalie interrupted, stepping closer until they were almost nose to nose. "If I didn't try to talk to you? If I didn't try to figure out why the hell you're acting like this? God, Isa, you're such a fucking hypocrite."

"Hypocrite?" Isa scoffed. "You've been—"

"Hey, enough!" Lottie's voice cut through the tension as she stepped between them. "What the hell is going on?"

"Yeah, seriously, calm the fuck down," Wren added, placing a hand on Isa's shoulder and steering her back a step. "A blind dog could play better than whatever the hell that was. States are tomorrow, so either get your shit together or don't even bother getting on that bus."

Isa shook her head, jaw tight, but she didn't say another word. Natalie, breathing hard, turned away, grabbing her water bottle with enough force to make the cap pop off.

"Isa, come here. Now." Bill shouted.

Isa's heart sank as she trudged over, wiping her hands on her shorts. The others resumed their practice, but Isa could feel Natalie's eyes on her, the weight of that gaze making her skin prickle.

"Explain to me what's going on," Bill said, his voice low but furious. "Why are you half assing everything out there?"

"I'm trying," Isa muttered, not meeting his eyes.

"Trying? You're playing like you don't even care!" His voice rose, sharp and cutting. Isa flinched at the tone. "If you can't work with your teammates, especially Natalie, then you're not only letting them down, you're letting me down. Is that what you want?"

Isa's throat tightened, but she said nothing. The sound of the whistle and shouts from the field faded into the background as Bill's anger grew. He stepped closer, his hand lifting as if to emphasize a point. Isa instinctively flinched back, her body tense and eyes wide.

Bill's eyes flickered with something unreadable before his expression softened just slightly. He lowered his hand, the realization hitting him that they were in full view of everyone. He looked over Isa's shoulder and saw Natalie standing still, watching with narrowed eyes.

The silence stretched, suffocating. Isa blinked rapidly, willing herself to stay composed. Bill glanced at her one last time before turning away, signaling the conversation was over. Isa's heart pounded as she walked back to the field, avoiding Natalie's gaze. But she knew Natalie had seen everything.

Practice ended in a blur, the other girls were scattering to the parking lot or staying back to talk. Isa was shoving her water bottle into her bag when she felt someone's presence behind her. She didn't have to turn to know who it was.

"Hey," Natalie said, breathless from the run. "What was that about with your dad?"

Isa's jaw tightened, eyes fixed on the ground. "Why do you care?"

Natalie frowned, crossing her arms. "Because I saw it, Isa. He looked like he was—"

"Just drop it, Nat," Isa interrupted, shoving her bag over her shoulder. "It's none of your business."

"No, I'm not dropping it," Natalie said firmly. "He was yelling at you, and I saw you flinch. Why do you act like it's normal?"

Isa's head snapped up, eyes blazing. "Why do you care so much? We've barely talked since—" She bit her lip, stopping herself, but the words were already out there.

Natalie was stunned by the sudden intensity. "Isa,"

"You want to know why?" Isa's voice shook, her fists clenched at her sides. "Sometimes he hits me, okay? But it's my fault for pissing him off. Is that what you wanted to hear? Is that what'll make you feel better for playing hero?"

Natalie's eyes widened, her expression softening with shock and something else—guilt, maybe. But before she could respond, Isa turned on her heel, walking briskly toward her car. Her vision blurred with tears she refused to let fall.

Isa collapsed into the driver's seat, the familiar scent of the worn upholstery doing nothing to soothe her racing heart. The second the door closed, her composure shattered. Tears streamed down her face, hot and relentless, as she clutched the steering wheel so hard her hands ached. The last image burned into her mind was Natalie standing there, eyes full of questions Isa didn't want to answer.

Her breath came in short, jagged gasps, each one catching in her throat. The confined space felt like it was closing in around her, pressing down on her chest until it hurt to breathe. Panic clawed at her, turning every thought into a fragmented blur. She tried to focus on something—anything—to stop the spinning, but the echo of her father's raised voice and Natalie's stunned expression replayed in her mind on a loop.

"Come on, Isa, breathe," she whispered to herself, voice trembling. But the air wouldn't come, no matter how hard she tried. Her vision started to tunnel, dark spots dancing at the edges. She slammed a fist against the steering wheel in desperation, the sharp pain jolting her, anchoring her just enough to keep from losing control completely.

The sound of her own choked sobs filled the car as she fought to steady her breaths. In, out. In, out. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, each thud a reminder that she was still there, still alive. The panic didn't go away entirely, but after what felt like an eternity, it dulled, leaving her drained and trembling.

Isa leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes as exhaustion washed over her. The tears had stopped, but the ache in her chest remained, a hollow reminder of what she couldn't say out loud.

Isa walked into the house, trying to keep her composure as the door clicked shut behind her. Travis and Javi were sitting on the couch, their attention fixed on the TV. Her father, Bill, sat at the dining table with his hands gripping a half empty glass.

Before Isa could take a breath, Bill's voice cut through the room like a whip. "You think the team is going to win states with that pathetic performance? You can't even work with your teammates—especially Natalie! Do you even care about the team? About what this means?"

"I do care about my team!" Isa shouted, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt. "I love them more than anything, and I'm doing the best I can! If you can't see that, then fuck you!"

Bill's face darkened, his fists clenching tightly at his sides. "If you really loved those girls, you wouldn't be such a damn disappointment on the field." He said coldly, his words like a slap in the face.

Isa's jaw clenched, but before she could muster a response, Bill stood abruptly and closed the distance between them. His hand came down sharply, the sting of his backhand snapping her head to the side. The room fell silent, the only sound the ringing in Isa's ears.

Travis and Javi whipped around, eyes wide with shock and a mix of fear and anger. Isa met their gazes for a split second before turning on her heel and rushing out the door, her vision blurred by tears. She stumbled into her car, slamming the door behind her and gripping the wheel until her knuckles turned white.

———

Natalie slung her bag over her shoulder and climbed out of Ryder's car without a word, her cleats crunching against the gravel as she headed for the trailer.

Wren followed close behind, her brow furrowed. "Alright, what the hell was that today?"

Natalie didn't stop or look back. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Isa," Wren pressed, her voice firm. "You two looked like you wanted to murder each other out there. You were completely out of sync, and we almost lost the scrimmage because of it."

Natalie rolled her eyes as she reached the front door and pulled it open. "It's none of your business, Wren," she said flatly, stepping inside.

"The hell it's not!" Wren snapped, following her into the cramped living room. She dropped her bag onto the couch and moved to block Natalie's path as she tried to head to their shared room. "If something's going to fuck up our chances at winning states tomorrow, I deserve to know."

Natalie let out an exasperated sigh and tried to step around her, but Wren stood her ground. "Seriously, Nat, what's up with you and Isa?"

"Just drop it, Wren," Natalie muttered, her voice low and tense.

"No," Wren shot back, her frustration boiling over. "I'm not dropping it! You've been weird ever since the bonfire, and now you're taking it out on Isa? What the hell happened?"

Natalie froze, her shoulders stiffening. For a moment, it seemed like she might push past Wren and keep walking, but then she stopped, letting out a bitter laugh as she turned to face her sister. "You really wanna know?"

"Yes!" Wren said, throwing her hands up. "What is going on?"

Natalie's jaw tightened, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine. I kissed Isa, okay?" she snapped.

Wren blinked, her mouth opening slightly in shock. "Wait, what?"

"At the lake," Natalie continued, her voice rising. "It was too crowded, so we went to the lake. We were messing around, splashing each other, and then I kissed her. And you know what she did?" Her voice cracked, and she let out a humorless laugh. "She ran away. She said it was a mistake."

Wren's expression softened as the anger in Natalie's voice dissolved into raw emotion. "Nat,"

Natalie shook her head, running a hand through her messy blonde hair. "So yeah, that's why things are weird. That's why I don't want to talk about it, okay? Because I already feel like an idiot for thinking that just maybe she felt the same way."

Wren stared at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. Finally, she stepped aside, giving Natalie a clear path to their room.

Natalie sighed and brushed past her, muttering, "Don't tell anyone."

"I won't," Wren promised quietly, watching her sister retreat into the room and close the door. She stood there for a moment, her thoughts spinning as she tried to process what she'd just learned.

———

Isa pulled into Mari's driveway, her hands shook on the steering wheel, her cheek still stinging from her father's slap, her mind racing with anger, hurt, and exhaustion. She sat in the car for a moment, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Finally, she forced herself out of the car, the cool air biting at her skin as she made her way to the front door.

She knocked softly at first, but when no one answered, she knocked harder, desperation creeping into her movements. The door swung open, and Mari stood there in sweats and a loose t-shirt, her hair slightly messy. Her expression immediately shifted from confusion to concern when she saw Isa's tear streaked face and the red mark on her cheek.

"Isa?" Mari's voice was low. She stepped aside, holding the door open. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Isa couldn't bring herself to answer. She just shook her head, her lips trembling as fresh tears welled in her eyes.

Mari reached for her hand, pulling her inside. "Come on, let's go upstairs."

The house was quiet, except for the faint hum of the TV in the living room where Diego was watching cartoons. They passed him without a word, Mari leading Isa up the stairs to her room. Once inside, she shut the door and turned to Isa.

"Alright," she said gently, sitting on the edge of her bed. "What's going on?"

Isa stood frozen in the middle of the room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold herself together. Her breathing was uneven, and the words felt stuck in her throat. Finally, she sank down onto the bed beside Mari.

"It's my dad," Isa said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mari frowned, scooting closer. "What about him?"

Isa looked up, her eyes red and filled with pain. "We had a fight. He was yelling about me purposely fucking up practice. And I yelled back. I shouldn't have, but I did." Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her cheeks angrily. "And then he—he hit me."

Mari's jaw tightened, her hands clenching into fists in her lap. "He what?"

Isa nodded, the tears coming faster now. "It's not the first time, but it's the first time in years. He's always so much harder on me than he is on Travis or Javi. No matter what I do, it's never enough for him."

Mari reached out, placing a hand on Isa's knee. "Isa,"

"It's like he hates me or something," Isa continued, her voice rising slightly with emotion. "I try so hard to make him proud, but nothing works. It's driving me insane. I can't take it anymore, Mari. I just can't."

Mari slid closer, wrapping her arms around Isa and pulling her into a tight hug. "Hey, listen to me," she said softly. "It's not you. It's him. He's a dick. You're amazing, Isa, and if he can't see that, then screw him."

Isa let out a choked sob, clinging to Mari as if she were a lifeline. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. "I can't go back there tonight. I just can't."

"You don't have to," Mari said firmly. "You can stay here as long as you need to. My parents won't care, and if they do, I'll deal with them."

Isa laughed weakly through her tears, pulling back slightly to look at Mari. "Thanks," she murmured.

Mari cupped Isa's face gently, her thumbs brushing away the tears on her cheeks. "You're not alone, okay? You've got me and Laura Lee."

Isa nodded, her breathing starting to steady. "Thanks, Mari," she said again, her voice barely audible.

Mari smiled softly. "Anytime."

As Isa wiped her tears with the sleeve of her hoodie, the door creaked open. Mari sighed, already knowing who it was before he even spoke.

"Diego, not now," Mari said, her tone firm but not unkind.

He stood in the doorway, his small face scrunched up in curiosity and concern. He glanced between Mari and Isa, his brow furrowing. "Why is she crying?"

"Diego," Mari warned, standing up. "Go back to your room. This is grown up stuff."

But Diego, as usual, didn't listen. He walked into the room, clutching a well loved dinosaur plushie in his little hands. Ignoring Mari's exasperated huff, he approached Isa, his big brown eyes full of innocent empathy.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft and sincere.

Isa blinked, startled by his concern. "Uh, I'm okay," she said, her voice shaky but trying to sound reassuring.

Diego frowned, clearly not believing her. "When I'm sad, hugs make me feel better," he said. Before Isa could respond, he reached up and wrapped his small arms around her, his cheek pressing against her shoulder.

Isa froze for a moment, caught off guard, but then her lips curved into a small, tearful smile. She gently hugged him back, the simple kindness making her chest ache in a bittersweet way.

Mari crossed her arms, watching the scene with a mix of fondness and mild annoyance. "Alright, Diego, that's enough. She doesn't need you smothering her."

Diego pulled back slightly but stayed close. He held out his dinosaur plushie to Isa, his expression serious. "You can have Dino. He always makes me feel better when I'm sad. You need him more than me right now."

Isa stared at the plushie, her heart melting. "Oh, Diego, I can't take him—"

"Yes, you can," Diego insisted, pushing it into her hands. "He's really good at making people happy. I promise."

Mari groaned, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Diego, come on. Go play with your toys or something."

But Diego ignored her, looking up at Isa again. "Are you feeling better now?"

Isa smiled through her lingering tears, clutching the dinosaur tightly. "Yeah, Diego. I think I am. Thank you."

Satisfied, Diego beamed. "Good. Dino's the best."

Mari finally stepped in, guiding him toward the door. "Alright, enough. Let Isa rest."

Diego turned at the last second, giving Isa one final wave. "Bye, Isa! If you ever need more hugs, just tell me!"

As the door shut behind him, Isa let out a soft laugh, wiping her face again. "He's adorable."

Mari rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Yeah, he's got his moments."

Isa looked down at the plushie in her lap, feeling an unexpected warmth despite the weight of everything that had happened. "Tell him thanks for me, okay?"

Mari sat back beside her. "I will."

Isa nodded, clutching the plushie tightly.

——————————————————————————
alex's corner!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!