III

.𖥔 ݁ ˖𓂃.☘︎ ݁˖(episode 1 pt. 3 - welcome to coloradofirst week of September 2023).𖥔 ݁ ˖𓂃.☘︎ ݁˖

The 1st week of high school has almost come to an end, and Bea couldn't be happier.

Aside from her classes went well, her lunch always consists of Amelia's PBJ sandwich and Seb's homemade honey lemonade (which are the best), and excel at the surprise quiz in her Biology class on her 2nd day (who does a surprise quiz on their 1st week of the class?), Phoebe was mostly the reason her adjustment in the new school went well. While they don't have the same schedule of some of their classes, they always spend their time together during lunch time.

"Woah, this is so good!"Phoebe's eyes sparkled as she took a sip of the honey lemonade. "Bash really had time making you this?"

Bea chuckled and nodded, which made Phoebe stared at her in disbelief. "Well, if you really like it, I'll just tell him  I need an extra." As if someone had switched her, Phoebe flatly declined, eyes wandering around but her and started to fiddle her hair tips. Bea stared at her in confusion, but noticed her cheeks getting redder.

Oh?

"Phoebs, don't tell me you had a cr — "

"Hi, mind if I sit here?"

Both of the girls looked up and were surprised to see Nathan, smiling awkwardly while holding his lunch tray. "Hi, Nathan! Sure, we don't mind!", Bea smiled. Nathan muttered a thanks before sitting beside her.

"Why aren't you with your brothers? You don't seem like a guy who sat on a random table."

"Well, I wanted to stay away from them for a little while, even if it's just for a day. They can be noisy sometimes." Nathan chuckled and started digging his lunch. "Thank god I found a familiar face who happened to be my new friend."

Warmth suddenly enveloped her, lips formed into a smile. They only interacted at their classes, but Nathan had already considered her as a friend, although part of her still believed this was too fast.

"That's so sweet, Nathan."

"Pause, how did you two know each other?" Phoebe asked as she took a bite of the chicken sandwich.

"We had the same few classes, Phoebs," Bea told her, already finishing her PBJ sandwich. "Mostly STEM related stuff. She's really good at those subjects."

"Don't believe him. I almost failed my Maths last year," the trio laughed.

"Oh yeah, speaking of STEM" —  Nathan took a sip of his apple juice — "Bea, I wanted to ask about our biology class."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Newbies don't usually know this, but Mr. Fisher loves giving surprise quizzes." He rolled his eyes as he emphasized "loves". "Are you perhaps free later in the afternoon? I think I need some tutoring."

"Yeah, I could help you with that!" Bea smiled. "Where should we study though? We can do it in the library after our afternoon classes — "

"At my house, Bea."

Bea blinked, and tried to rub her ears, making sure she heard it perfectly.

There's nothing wrong in the Walter household. Sure, there were too many kids, some toys scattered around because of some kid, but that's nothing compared to having Isaac Garcia under the same rooftop.

"Yo! Why did you leave us, dude — Oh,you're looking gorgeous today, Phoebe."

"Get lost, Isaac. You're not my type."

Speaking of the devil......

She looked up and there he was, holding his lunch tray and standing beside Nathan. Phoebe rolled her eyes at the boy, making him grinned.

She swore his eyes looked at her for a few seconds before shifting back his gaze to Phoebe. From that look alone already made her chest felt uneasy.

"I just need some peace and quiet, Isaac. Lee's too noisy with his game." He replied while rubbing his temple. Isaac scoffed and lightly hit his arm. "Whatever."

The three of them started to occupy themselves, thinking that Isaac had already left. As Bea took a sip of the remaining honey lemonade, a red velvet cupcake was placed beside the used napkin from her PBJ sandwich.

"New addition from the menu." It was Isaac, who was now standing beside Bea.

Phoebe stopped midway biting her sandwich.

Nathan raised his eyebrow at the two.

"Um, I regret buying this. I don't like sweets." Before Bea could say anything, he turned his back and went towards where his brother's table was.

What was that?

"What just happened?", Phoebe was clearly gagged from the scenario. "He could've given it to Nathan, or Lee, or to any of the boys!" Nathan only chuckled.

Bea, still shocked by his action, just stared at the untouched cupcake. She could've devoured immediately at the sight of her favorite food, but really, what actually just happened?

Sure, he's a flirty guy and that's no surprise, but why does Bea felt he isn't.... flirting?

"Was he always like this?"

"To Phoebe? Yes. To you? No."

He definitely wasn't flirting, right? He has not been his "flirty self" every time they saw each other anywhere at school. Isaac would just stare at her with an unreadable expression, and then proceed to flirt with some girls he saw.

He is unpredictable... and confusing.

But why does it bother her?

Why does it bother her that Isaac was being that way? Why does it bother her that she needed some kind of.... answer, especially with his action earlier?

"You know what, Nathan? Yeah, I'm down tutoring with you this afternoon. I'll tell Seb about this."

"Thanks, Bea! You're the best!" Nathan grinned.

"Wait, is it because of the cupcake?"

"No." Bea flushed. "I just wanted to help him."

"Nathan, did you know something happened on the 1st day of school?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, Bea here could fill us the details."

"Phoebe!", Bea scolded her friend, but proceeded to tell the whole story to them, as she's already comfortable around them.

____________________

Seb and Bea were both startled when a man's voice rang out from inside the house, and it sounded like he's scolding someone.

"What just happened?" she whispered, and texted Nathan about her arrival.

"Why are you asking me? I don't know." Seb rolled his eyes, ruffling his messy man bun. "Isn't it crazy how every time we visit here, it's always 'bad timing'?", they both chuckled.

"I'll pick you up later before dinner."

"I know. Should we knock?"

Before Seb could answer, a door swung open and revealed Nathan, who smiled awkwardly. "Hi! Uh, sorry about that. Something happened. Come in, my parents already know about your arrival."

Seb bid Nathan a wave before leaving, and both Nathan and Bea entered inside.

Bea swore this isn't the same atmosphere she remembered when she came here. Something happened, like something bad happened.

Nathan guided Bea to the living room, and both sat at the couch, with Nathan's biology notes and his test paper with a big "D"  scattered on the coffee table.

"Is everything alright, Nate?", she whispered.

"I think so." Nathan shrugged, and started to spill what really happened — from the bet Cole and Isaac did to Jackie unknowingly pulled the "snitching" trigger, making the boys mad at her for breaking the "no snitching rule".

Bea showed disgust, especially to the part where Isaac was one of the main heads of this bet.  She knows it's none of her business, but she couldn't help but to feel sorry for Jackie.

Isaac really is a jerk.

Footsteps were heard outside the living room. Bea took a peek and saw the other boys started to ascend to the stairs. The first two boys were unfamiliar, followed by Cole, then Lee, and then Isaac.

As if he noticed an unfamiliar presence in the house, Isaac stopped at his tracks, eyes went big as saucers as he spotted her on the couch with Nathan.

The two locked eye contact and went on for what seems like forever, before Bea broke it — the uneasy feeling still lingered in her chest.

"Alright Nate, let's start with this lesson first."

__________________

"Bea is Nathan's new chick, huh?"

"Lee, he's gay."

Isaac said in annoyance, munching on the last remaining chips before throwing the chips bag on the trash beside his bed table.

"By the way, I saw your stunt earlier at the canteen. What was that about?", Lee threw his pillow at his brother's face, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I just gave her a cupcake, no big deal.", Isaac threw back the pillow at him.

"You weren't like that to other girls though. That's a really big deal."

His brother was right.

Isaac knew himself. He knew the ladies loved him for his charm and looks. He flirted with them, they flirted with him back.  He gave them compliments, winked at them, and sometimes offered them a ride using Cole's car.

But giving food to a girl wasn't on his list.

It wasn't a shocker that some girls don't like him with his flirting antics, and that includes Bea.

But why does he care?

Why does he care about her reaction to the lemonade incident? Why does he care when Bea sprinted out of the classroom, and when he called out her name? Why does he always find himself staring at her?

And why the hell did he gave her a cupcake? Even himself was shocked by this action.

Groaning, Isaac decided to take a nap, praying these thoughts would completely wash away.