𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 27 𝖲𝗁𝗂𝗍, 𝗂 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽

After Paige stormed out, the music picked up again like nothing had happened, but the tension lingered in the corners of the gym. People were whispering, speculating, laughing behind their phones, and watching me and Isaac with curiosity.

Louie hadn't come back yet. He was still with Lee, talking with a weird mix of confusion and concern on his face.

I felt Noelle's eyes on me.

She walked over and pulled me into a half-hug. ''You okay?''

''I don't know,'' I admitted.

''You got your revenge,'' she said, ''but Louie might be a little bit mad you keep leaving him to talk to Isaac''

I didn't say anything.

Noelle squeezed my shoulder. ''Want to sneak out and get some air?''

But before I could answer, Isaac came up behind me. ''Hey, can we talk?''

Noelle gave me a knowing look and backed off.

We walked outside into the cool night air. The parking lot lights buzzed quietly above us, casting a soft yellow glow.

Isaac didn't say anything at first. He just shoved his hands into his pockets and stared out across the lot.

''I didn't plan to fall in love with you again,'' he finally said.

My heart skipped. ''Isaac...''

''She wanted attention. I went along with it because I didn't want to deal with how I really felt.''

''And how do you really feel?'' I asked, voice barely a whisper.

''I never stopped loving you.''

That silence between us was loud. And then it wasn't. Because we kissed.

I don't know who leaned in first. I just remember his hands on my face, his lips on mine, the way time stopped and everything else fell away. It was desperate, soft, wrong, perfect.

And then I pulled back.

''Oh my god,'' I breathed, stepping away.

Isaac looked like he'd been struck by lightning. ''Claire—''

''I have a boyfriend,'' I said, like I had to remind myself.

''I know,'' he said, eyes flickering with guilt.

''We better go back inside, and just foget about what just happend'' I said and we went back inside

But as we enterd the gym again we saw that Paige and Noelle we're almost about to fight but now they we're just swearing arguing at eachother

''What is happening?'' I asked Isaac who stood still next to me watching what happen with wide eyes

''I do not know'' He said slowly still looking at what was happening 

We went to walk over to where Lee and Louie we're standing until Paige called me and Isaac over

''Oh look! My boyfriend and you're bestfriend has finally arrived back'' Paige said wich made everyone look at us

''Claire do you mind telling your physco freak friend to stop being jealous of me'' She asked me like she was the victim

''Im sorry, she might be a physco but she is not a freak the only freak there is is you, aren't you the person all of the rumors we're said'' I said and walked over to Noelle

Paige just stayed silent and everyone was yelling me and Noelle's name until Paige decided for someone to choose a team

''Isaac, why aren't you defending me? Im you're girlfriend you're supposed to be on my side''

''No, im not on you're side'' Isaac said mad

''What...'' Paige said looking a bit heartbroken

''Look i can't deal with you're stuff anymore, you vent too much to me, you're mean to people who you don't even know, you even chose who i can be friends with or who i can talk to, i couldn't even talk to my own little brother because of you'' Isaac said mad with tears in his eyes

I could see Paige was littarly too much for him i felt kinda guilty, i left him with her

The whole room went silent once he said that everyone was looking at his direction

He walked out of the gym mad and still with tears in his eyes

''Isey wait!'' Paige said and tried to go after him but i stopped her

''Don't even call him that anymore and stay here he doesn't want to se eyou right now'' I said and pushed her away slightly

''As if he wants to see you, or are you guys dating again'' Paige said in a puppy tone as she said the last part she said

''No, he's my friend'' I answerd and walked away

''Isaac, Isaac? Where are you?'' I said looking around for him but he was nowhere to be seen

I walked to the outside of the school where we used to hang out when we we're dating

I looked around the corner and saw him sitting there looking infront of him

''Hey'' I said slowly and walked over to him

''Oh hey'' He said and quickly wiped his tears away

''Boys can cry'' I said because he wiped his tears away

''Im sorry, i shouldn't of let you date that creature'' I apologized

''Don't be it's not you're fault, i dated her so you would be out of my mind but it didn't work'' He said

We just talked about the things we missed since we didn't talk to eachother as much as we used to did

''I missed our little talks like this'' I said with a smile on my face

''Me too'' He answerd and smiled back at me

''Also since i guess you and Paige broke up, you are always welcome to sit with us at lunch'' I offerd

''Thank you, they should be lucky that you are their friend'' He thanked me

''Then you are lucky aswell'' I said

''What do you mean?'' He asked me confused

''You're my friend too'' I said

''Hey Ava, Isaac, do i need to ride you guys home? Nathan,Lee,Morgan,Alex and Jackie already left with Cole'' Louie said that came to us with Noelle besides him

''Yeah, thank you'' I said and went to Noelle

Louie and Isaac we're walking behind us looked like they we're friends again

Isaac's short POV:

''So you're not mad she went to me?'' I asked Louie since Claire is sadly still dating Louie

''No, i get it Paige is alot sometimes and you needed Ava when you walked away'' He answerd with a smile

Okay ill admit Louie and Claire are cute together but there is always a better option...

And thats...

Me?

Ava's POV:

The car ride was quiet — not awkward, just... quiet.

Noelle was scrolling through her phone beside me in the backseat, occasionally muttering about people reposting videos of the Paige meltdown and Isaac's dramatic walkout.

Louie was driving, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the gearshift. Isaac sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window, but every few seconds, I saw him glance at me in the mirror.

No one talked about the kiss. No one talked about Paige. It was like we were all just trying to breathe after a tornado.

But even though everything had gone quiet around us, inside me was chaos.

My phone buzzed again. A text from Paige.

Paige: wow. guess u got what u wanted. enjoy ur little pity party lol.

I didn't answer. I showed Noelle the message instead.

She rolled her eyes. ''She's a rotting peach in Gucci heels.''

I almost laughed. Almost.

''Hey,'' Louie called out from the front, ''want me to drop you guys at Noelle's?''

I nodded. ''Yeah, that's perfect. Thanks.''

When we pulled up, Noelle hopped out first. Louie got out too to open the door for me — ever the gentleman.

''Hey,'' he said quietly, as I stepped out.

I turned to face him, heart pounding. ''Yeah?''

"I'm not mad," he said. "Just... confused."

''We are just friends i promise''

He gave a small, sad smile. ''I know. I just don't want to lose you''

That one stung more than it should have.

Then he leaned in and kissed my forehead, gently. ''Get some rest, okay?''

And just like that, he was gone.

Isaac didn't say anything when he got out. Just gave me a long look before walking off down the street toward the Walter house.

Noelle and I watched them both disappear.

She sighed. ''I swear, this is more dramatic than Riverdale.''

Time skip: Later that night

We were both lying on her bed, the glow of fairy lights casting soft shadows on the dark painted  walls in Noelle's room.

''I feel like the worst person ever,'' I whispered.

''You're not,'' Noelle said immediately. ''You're a confused person who kissed her ex. That's like... 90% of teen drama plots.''

''I'm dating Louie.''

''You're supposed to be dating Louie. But your heart obviously hasn't caught up.''

I turned to look at her. ''Should I tell him i accidently kissed Isaac?''

She hesitated. ''Not yet. Not while everything's still fresh. You don't even know what you want.''

''But ill hurt him if i don't tell him.''

''Yeah. And you're gonna have to own that. Just not tonight.''

I nodded, guilt heavy on my chest. ''Thanks, Noe.''

She gave me a half-smile. ''You're welcome, disaster.''

The next day it was time for a normal schoolday

The moment I stepped into school, I could feel the weight of everyone's stares.

Not because of me, exactly — but because of everything.

People had seen Isaac walk out in tears. They'd heard the argument. They'd seen me and him disappear at the same time. They thought they knew what happened.

But they didn't.

Because the only person who knew about that kiss was Noelle. And she wasn't saying a word.

''Everyone's staring,'' I whispered to her as we walked down the hall together.

''Let them,'' she muttered, tugging her hoodie up like a shield. ''Paige's breakdown is the best PR you've ever had. You're trending higher than her for once.''

''Not exactly a win,'' I said, trying to keep my head down.

Louie was already at his locker, talking to Lee. When he saw me, he smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

''You okay?'' he asked, walking over.

''Yeah,'' I lied.

He opened his mouth like he wanted to say more, but then Isaac showed up behind me, and whatever he was going to say vanished. There was this weird beat of silence between the three of us — like a triangle trying to figure out its sharpest edge.

Then Isaac nodded at Louie. ''Hey.''

''Hey,'' Louie said back, stiff but polite.

I could tell they were both trying.

Noelle shot me a look: Keep it cool. No drama.

Third period – English

I sat next to Noelle as Mrs. Wilkins droned on about metaphors, but all I could focus on was the group chat notifications blowing up on my phone.

Group Chat: "The Chaos Club" Morgan: someone tell me why paige is in the bathroom crying againOliver: bc karma hit harder than the contour on her prom cheeksNora: stop i'm cackling Lee: wait, does anyone know if isaac and ava are like... a thing now?? Morgan: no way she'd do that to louieHayden: u sure about that?

I turned my phone over and buried my face in my hands.

Noelle nudged me. ''Want me to fake a seizure so you can leave early?''

''I want to disappear into the floor,'' I whispered.

''Well, I left my shovel at home, so second option is just riding this wave like a queen.''

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Shit she cheated on Louie with Isaac...

What does she have to do now?