Chapter 22 - Izzy
Chapter twenty-two
Izzy
"We did it!" Via rejoices, reaching for my hand, and I give hers a gentle squeeze.
Tears threaten to spill from both of our eyes as we hug.
I haven't seen her smile so genuinely in a long time. I wish I could bottle it up and save it for her, knowing it may not last.
"We actually fucking graduated college!" I shout, causing a few glares to be thrown my way by the classmates around us. Via just laughs—genuinely laughs—both of us soaking in the moment.
College was unconventional, the first half filled with partying, drinking, and fucking random strangers just to fill a void.
The pandemic overtook the second half, consisting of virtual classes, no bar hopping, and still fucking random strangers just to fill the void.
The only difference is, now, instead of meeting guys in bars, I use hook-up apps to assure I can vet them first.
Look at me, keeping up with the trends and shit.
Just as the ceremony ends, my mom and Kasten run to us and swarm us in a group hug.
I am so proud of Via. She had every reason to give up on life, but she didn't. She pushed through even when the darkness tried to consume her.
Hell, I'm pretty damn proud of myself today, too.
I actually did it.
I'm a nurse now. The world should be afraid, very afraid.
Insert internal evil laugh here.
My mom takes my face in her hands, my heart swelling at the pride filling her face.
"Izabel Grace, you did it! You fucking did it!" she whisper-shouts with the largest smile.
We all burst out into laughter.
"Mom, did you just swear?" I ask, still giggling.
She winks. "I've learned from the best!"
Kasten pulls me into a hug, with my head on his chest, and I try to search for my dad.
My and Dad’s relationship is still strained, but he tries with me.
Since day one, he hasn't given up on trying to fix what he broke between us. Meanwhile, I try not to hate him. Most days, I manage to succeed. Some days, on the rare occasions I call him or answer his calls, it feels like how things used to be. Over the years, I’ve secretly grown to look forward to his calls and him saying, “I love you, Izabel, and I’m so proud of you. ”
Scanning the crowd again, in hopes of spotting my dad returning and hearing those words in person, my eyes catch sight of an all too familiar figure, walking away in the opposite direction.
Every part of me sinks.
"Iz, you okay?" Kasten asks, pulling back to look at me.
Still frozen on the back of a silhouette that’s slowly disappearing, I whisper, "Jett's here?"
He came?
He came here for me?
What is that even supposed to mean?
Knowing he’s here comforts me in a way, but it also reopens every wound that still needs to be healed.
Confused, Kasten begins to look around.
"I-I don't know, Iz,” he whispers back so no one else hears. “I know he knew about it, but I didn't think he'd show. I'm pretty sure it wasn't him."
I know. My heart knows. My body knows. Hell, even my soul knows.
It was him.
Just like that, every fucking thing I’ve been running from catches right back up.
AUGUST 2022
"I call dibs on the primary suite!" I shout as Via and I trample through our new rental house.
It's so cozy and cute. It even has a sunroom, which I can't wait to use for my morning coffee.
"Of course you do!" Via chuckles, dragging boxes into the main bedroom.
"I have more shit than you do, little miss minimalist."
"It's fine, Iz."
"So," She takes a breath as she sets down the heavy boxes. "Did you fill out your new-hire paperwork yet?"
I nod. "Yep! I dropped it off yesterday."
"Aww, look at you being all responsible on your own. I'm so proud of you!"
"Shut up!" I shove at her arm playfully.
Things are slowly returning to normal. Via openly started grief counseling. Most days, she doesn't feel like it's helping. I can tell you it is. Slowly, I'm starting to see more and more glimpses of the Via I used to know.
Granted, I should be in counseling myself. I'll get there. Someday. Maybe.
I don't see how talking about my feelings will fix me, especially when my feelings are all shit that lead me to make stupid decisions.
I already know this about myself, so what's the damn point?
"I wish we could work the same shifts!" Via says, interrupting my thoughts.
I smile. "Bitch, that would be so dangerous! Could you imagine us working together at the same time? I mean, really, think of the chaos we'd cause."
Via laughs as she thinks it over. "Never mind," she says with a chuckle, and I return her laugh.
Nine hours pass, and we are almost fully unpacked. Our cozy little house is already beginning to feel like home.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap the towel around me and glance over at my phone lying on the counter. My curiosity gets the best of me.
I updated my location on the fuck-me app yesterday and haven't had the time to check if I have any hits.
It's been about three days since I've been dicked down; I think I'm due. Especially since the last one was nothing special to report. Itty bitty weiner. When he pulled it out, he flashed me an apologetic smile. I felt so sorry for the guy that I faked an orgasm. I was feeling generous.
After getting dressed, I unlock my phone and sign in to the app.
Twenty-three new interests.
Damn, Sugarland. Way to welcome a bitch back!
I click the tab, leading me to their photos, and quickly relent in my minor excitement.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. NO!
None of them are my type.
I love that for me.
I keep swiping, with a few more to go.
"Oh, hello," I say, surprised, looking down at the picture of the handsome guy as I walk out of the bathroom and into the living room.
"Hello to you, too?" Via asks, confused.
"Not you. Fuck-me app guy. The only attractive man in this area so far.
He looks so familiar. Did we go to school with him?
" I hold the phone up, displaying the picture of the should-be Abercrombie and Fitch model.
He has sun-kissed skin, shaggy, dirty blonde hair that frames his face, and pretty baby blue eyes.
He looks yummy but also oddly familiar. I can't place him.
"Hm," Via thinks it over for a second. "We definitely didn't go to high school with him, but I agree. He does look oddly familiar."
"Fuck it, let's find out." I click the message button and type, reading aloud as I do:
"How do I know you?”
Via snorts out a laugh beside me. "Wow, Iz, really discreet."
"What? Why beat around the bush and waste time?” I shrug. “Life is short. If you want answers, do what you need to do to get them."
Before she can respond, the app pings with an incoming message alert.
"Holy shit, is that him responding already?" Via asks.
"Yeah," I mumble, waiting for the message to load.
"What does it say!?" she blurts, biting her nails nervously as if invested in the answer.
"Well, it has to load, V. Wait, here we go... What the fuck?"
"What?"
"What kind of response is that?"
"Tell me what it says, Izzy!"
"He said, 'Meet up with me, and I'll remind you.'"
"What? Holy hell, Iz." She gasps. "Did you sleep with this guy and don't remember?" Via slaps her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh, which earns her another playful shove from me.
"Fuck all the way off," I grumble. "I did not sleep with him. I... think."
She's unable to hold it back any longer. A genuine guttural laugh bursts from her, and I can't help but join in. Tears are rolling down both of our cheeks by the time our laughter settles.
"So... How are you going to respond?" Via asks.
I throw her a look that screams, Do you not know me by now?, and she chuckles again.
She deadpans, "You're going to meet him, aren't you?"
"Fucking duh."
I pick up my phone again and type a message out to Mister Mysterious:
"Open Tap Bar. 7 pm. I don't wait."
I quickly hit send before I can talk myself out of it.
I know I recognize this guy from somewhere. I can't place it, though. Normally, I wouldn't care at all, but his reply intrigues the hell out of me. Now, I have to give him a go.
His reply bounces back before I can lock my phone:
"Yes, ma'am."
What the actual hell am I about to willingly walk into?