Chapter Three

Most of the dorm buildings don’t have AC. Unless you bought one for yourself for your own room. Even at that, the halls are sticky and humid, and the large windows that do provide an excellent view of the courtyards fail to help with the blazing sun’s heat. Maybe it was the school’s way of keeping students from hanging out and lingering in the corridors, seeing as almost no one is out of their rooms. 

Isla is one of the lucky ones to have AC and a fan. It came in handy almost every day. Today was no exception. The fan helped tremendously when she finally reached her room earlier that day, after the big explosion. Sweat was pouring off of her at that point. Although she tends to run away from many problems, running never was deemed easy for her to do. She immediately, after frantically locking the door behind her, violently turned the fan on to the max and sat directly in front of it. 

That was four hours ago. 

Now, she found herself still in the same position. She was no longer sweaty, the tears had stopped and dried on her cheeks to crust. But, inside, Isla was still a mess. Afraid to move, wondering if she would still be hyper like she was when she first entered her room. The pile of books in the corner of her room that was previously piled perfectly into a tower now sprawled on her floor said everything. It looks like a tornado had gone through the room. 

Isla had spent the four hours, along with hyperventilating, just thinking. Thinking about how embarrassing and humiliating that whole situation was. Replaying the events mentally is not helping her emotional state, but she can’t help it. Especially replaying the moment where Friedrich butted in. 

She has to stop.

This was no longer about him, no longer her concern. In the midst of her overthinking and cringing, a new problem broke along the horizon. Not only was she beyond frustrated with being assigned a project at the end of the semester, Isla now had no way of actually doing the damn thing. It was so alarming that the words “failure” practically flashed in red right in front of her face, taunting. 

No. She would not allow it. Isla would not even begin to imagine out of everyone in her photography class that she would be the one to not pass this semester. So, after seeing that it was now around seven p.m., Isla peeked out her window to check if the coast was clear. Only a few students here and there lingered on the campus, most already inside for the night. Surly Isla could manage to blend in at this time of the day. She had thought that being ignored was her superpower, the events from earlier today could be deemed as not true.

Mr. Wallace, along with being perceived as crazy, was also known for his passion for teaching. Everyone wondered how he managed to stay late in his classroom every day, grading papers and doing whatever he...does. Rumors flew around, saying that that was the reason why he was so spazzy. He is consistently going, never taking a stop to rest. 

Isla hoped yet feared that he would still be in his classroom. Knowing that Mr. Wallace was unpredictable, there was no way of telling how he would react to her news. While entering stealth mode to move across the campus, Isla thought of every possible horrible scenario that could happen, that also is another one of her superpowers. 

The sun was setting when her destination came into view, absolutely no one around for Isla to hide from. The photography classroom was located in the East building, and it looked pitch black. She wondered if she should turn back, forget about this whole thing. But, Isla let herself in, the hallways dark and so quiet that she could hear her own heartbeat. If in fact, Mr. Wallace was still there, Isla wondered how he managed to never get creeped out. 

The familiar oak doors greeted her just like they did every day. They also presented themselves with happiness, but now it left Isla overthinking once again. She thought of what she could say. And, whatever she was to say to him, would she start crying? What lay in the room behind the doors was uncertain and it made Isla panic. So much that, without even a knock, she barged right in. 

The room was alarming at first. Isla’s eyes focused in the darkness of the room, the very back row seats barely visible. No sounds, no light, no motion. It was still and lonely. Although, Isla did find herself realizing that she liked the classroom more this way oddly enough. 

The sound of a chair moving echoed in the science, grabbing Isla’s attention to the front side of the room. There, with just the light from his green desk lamp illuminating, sat Mr. Wallace. The pen he had held in his hand dropped into the stack of papers piled on his desk, his eyebrows raised. He clearly was not expecting to see Isla, let alone any of his students, at this time of the day. 

“Hello?” Mr. Wallace spoke after clearing his throat awkwardly. “Is everything alright, Isla?”

She lingered by the door, studying her options. 1. To walk right up to her teacher and tell him exactly what happened, 2. Tell him a lie and forget it all, or 3. To just run right out of the room and resume her hyperventilating in her dorm room. 

“I- well,” Isla stuttered. “I need to tell you something.”

Isla, while walking closer to his desk, could see the confusion painted on his face. To literally everyone on planet Earth, the phrase “I need to tell you something” is the scariest thing to hear. It could mean anything. 

“Is my cat okay?” Mr. Wallace asked in a panicked state, shifting his seat out from his desk slightly. 

Isla stopped in her tracks, “Wh- no- yes! She is fine… I think. That’s not what I wanted to talk about-”

The photography professor leaned back into his chair, a relieved huff coming from his chest. “Oh, thank goodness. Did you need help with something?”

“Well, I don’t necessarily need help, but I’m sort of stuck in between a rock and a hard place-”

“Does this have anything to do with what happened at the fountain earlier today?” 

Isla looked around, did the room just seem to get darker? Mr. Wallace’s words acted as a killer for any source of light, physically and mentally. She lost any sprout of confidence, mortification quickly becoming her new best friend. It was just a fraction of what she felt right then and there. 

Isla could only manage to get out, “I’m sorry?-”

Mr. Wallace laughed shortly as he took his glasses off, “I know I’m not exactly young and hip. But, that doesn’t prevent rumors from flying all around the campus.”

She was sure she would vomit if she attempted to respond.

But, Isla didn’t have to. Mr. Wallace, with the most sincere look he has ever been seen with, pushed his chair out slightly and smiled sadly. “I’m very sorry about your camera, Isla.”

“Who told you?” She asked a bit harsher than intended. 

The question hit the nail on the head. He, knowing that he would have to explain many things if the question was asked, nodded his head frankly. “Well, about that. The boy was just here about an hour ago...Freidrich? He barged in her quite as you did just now-”

“What?-”

“Yes,” He continued. “He was very nervous, explaining to me what happened and what not. He was persistent that it wasn’t your fault, the poor boy was nearly on the verge of passing out. And, might I add, you are a very lucky girl that this tragedy happened because of him.”

Her words were like a tornado rushing out of her mouth, nothing making sense to form a sentence, “I’m sorry- you- How am I lucky?!”

“Because, if it would have been anyone else, they wouldn’t have gone to extreme lengths to make everything right.”

Isla felt ridiculous. She saw herself sitting on the couch in her parent’s house at a young age. Her dad sat across from her, about to turn a terrible situation into a life lesson. Yes, she knew the way the whole issue was handled was- is not ideal. Isla, herself, made it a hundred times worse. But, the thought of her having to be the one to apologize left a sour taste in her mouth. 

Her camera is destroyed...not his. 

“Now, because I’m the best teacher ever, I have a solution.” Mr. Wallace spoke up. “You know, you could easily just use someone else’s camera to capture a photo. But that’s not going to be an option for you.”

Isla mindlessly sat down in a chair that was off to the side of his desk, “Oh?”

“You see, I know you’re an excellent photographer...It’s no longer a challenge for you. What is, however, is writing. I know this isn’t English class, but I would very much like to focus on the story you create. With that being said, I’m giving you permission to find a photo you like to use as your base.”

“Really!?-”

“I would like for this to stay between us though!” He mentioned it quickly. “If other students know about it, then they won’t hesitate in doing so as well. I know what kind of student you are, Isla. You’re a very smart person. I expect you to make up for it through words.”

The walk back to her room was a breath of fresh air- literally. So much so that the stuffy dorm building corridors were no longer a bother. Isla felt like she could function again, which was a drastic progression from how she was earlier. That is until all the memories from that morning came flooding back.

Sure, Isla knew exactly what happened. But, she never fully processed how her words and reaction might have hurt some people. It was all simply an accident, nothing more. People already saw her in a different light as opposed to others. There was no doubt in Isla’s mind that everyone now thought worse of her. The way she acted when her beloved camera met its doom, it was like someone had died. 

The sheer thought of Jesse and Sarah left a sour taste in her mouth. They had every right to be frustrated. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if they were even embarrassed, Isla would never blame them. It all ran through her mind when Isla noticed her phone still in the same spot on her bed, after the fact that she chucked it. 

JESSE

Where are you?

It’s the only text evident on her phone. Isla figured it was better this way. The phone would have been sailing out the window if there appeared to be hundreds of texts and calls. The event at the fountain was terrible enough, she didn’t need people trying to talk to her.

Isla’s calmness only lasted a split second, all of it crashed to the floor the moment a firm knock sounded at her room door. Her mind kicked into overdrive as she stood dumbly, staring at the door knob.

It could be anyone. Jesse and Sarah come to berate her on how mean she was to nice boy Friedrich. Or maybe it was him coming to get revenge on how she humiliated him in front of the whole campus. Isla, considering the options, hoped that it was everyone else piled up outside the door, ready to make fun of her. 

The second knock was a bit softer as if the person was trying to correct how harsh the first one was. Isla still felt on edge, like she had all day long. But she let herself open the door, even if it looked like she was expecting a serial killer on the other side. 

It, fortunately, wasn’t a serial killer. Isla blinked meekly as Friedrich stood about a foot away from the door, a look of shock evident on his face.  

“You answered...the door.” He managed to get out. 

Isla truly couldn’t believe, “W-was I not supposed to?”

Given everything that has happened thus far between her and Friedrich, Isla still found herself growing nervous around him. The whole “camera falling into the fountain” incident should have been the ultimate ice breaker, a gateway to Isla being able to have a face-to-face conversation with him. And, if she can recall correctly, Isla already got the embarrassment out of the way by berating the handsome boy in front of the whole campus. 

The situation that life now presented itself right outside her dorm room is not what she was expecting. Especially the way she felt when her brain realized who her visitor was. 

“I came to see how you are doing,” Friedrich spoke quietly, a group of college girls passing by the two of them, plainly fueling their drama meter amongst themselves. “And to apologize for what happened-”

“No-” Isla surprised herself. “No...I should be the one apologizing- It clearly was an accident! You’re too nice to be screamed at like-”

She clamped her mouth shut, a smile gracing his face slowly. It was clear to everyone and anyone that Isla met that her speech always seemed to fail her. “Speech” in the lightest of terms. Yes, she could talk, but it never came easy in situations where she felt the most nervous. Isla would allow the awkwardness to take control. Letting every muscle in her body tense, palms sweaty, mouth dry. It would all make her shrivel up into the size of an ant. Despite feeling all of that in front of Friedrich, though,  his smile did seem to make her feel a bit better. 

“D-do you-”

A stumble.

“Would you like to come in? I have air conditioning.”

A slight sweat on his brow could be seen, but even he could make sweat look handsome. Isls tried to ignore the thought to the best of her abilities. 

After looking up and down the corridor, Friedrich did walk in. Even he was just as awkward as she was.  Their minds are similar in that way. He looked around the very small room, contemplating straight away on where he should sit- or if he should sit at all. Isla, oblivious to his anxiousness, panicked on whether she should close the door. If she didn’t, people residing in her dorm building would see and chew the scene all up just to spit a bunch of absurd rumors around the campus. If she did, then Friedrich might feel a sort of creepiness coming off of her that was by no means intentional. It was a never-ending battle between the two. His eyes darted from her bed to her desk chair, her hand gripping the door handle and then not. 

Screw it. 

It was the last thought she had before closing the door. 

“You have...so many Shakspeare books.”

Thank God.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Like a ton.”

“Is that a problem?” Isla asked, nearly groaning. 

Friedrich reached for her copy of the tempest off of the small shelf, completely ignoring her question, “This one is my favorite.”

“Excuse me?” She spoke incredulously. 

He turned around quickly, “Do you not like the Tempest?”

Isla shook her head violently, finding solace while sitting at the edge of her bed, “No! I mean yes- yes I love it.”

Another smile appeared on his face as he put the book back, his hands unnoticeably shaking on Isla’s part. Friedrich had yet another battle racking his brain as he slowly made his way over to where Isla sat, the room seemingly growing smaller and smaller. He wondered if he should even sit next to her...on her bed. Would that be breaking any boundaries with the girl he has come to be interested in? But, Isla did move over ever so slightly, a way of throwing a hint his way.

He took the hint. 

“As much as I would like to talk about Shakespeare, I did come here for a specific reason.”

Isla remained quiet, trying to look anywhere besides him. It proved to be difficult since everything about him drew her in. 

“I know nothing I can say will bring your camera back. With that being said, I want to do everything I can to make it up to you.”

“Oh, It’s really ok-”

“I did,” He cut her off. “Take the liberty of looking up the camera model online, thinking I could replace it. When I found out how much it was- I couldn’t get the thought of how deep I am in student loans...my God It’s bad- That’s beside the point. I opted for the next best option, or at least I thought it was. I talked to your photography teacher- well, I think I yelled at him to give you a leeway or something. I don’t know...I was very sweaty and out of breath-”

“You-”

“And then, after he said he would handle it, which I was unsure of because he is kind of weird, I tried going back to my dorm but was restless...so now I’m here. I texted Sarah and asked where your building was-”

“Hey!,” Isla cut him off, one of her hands flying to rest on top of his. 

Friedrich’s face was slightly flushed from his word vomit of a speech. He had a point to prove...or maybe he was nervous Isla would be angry still. No matter what the reason was for his anxious state, she couldn’t find the reason to stay mad at him any longer. 

“Listen,” She breathed out. “I’m not a fan of...pouring my feelings out to someone or being “sappy”. Well- I am, but not many people are I guess.”

Isla closed her eyes, noticing that she, herself, was also starting to ramble. But, how was she supposed to act in a situation that’s never been presented to her? Especially one that was not exactly in her favor?

“I think I’m just more afraid that my actions from what happened earlier may have- I don’t know, scared you off? It wouldn’t be the first time a boy has run away from me.”

Friedrich raised his eyebrows, “But you didn’t. I’m here to talk things over, am I not? I can’t imagine why you would think that you would scare me away.”

“That’s exactly it,” She started. “Again, not trying to unload my feelings and problems on you. But, no matter who tries to talk to me, whether it’s around campus or if I’m on one of my god-awful dates, I always do or say something to ruin it all. And I think  I’m now just realizing how much I could have screwed up this time because, believe it or not, we might just have a few things in common.”

He sat still next to her. Isla wanted to look down at their hands to hide her red cheeks and to have the reassurance that hers was still on his. But, a spark shot up her arm as he moved his to completely envelope hers. It was all the reassurance Isla needed. 

“I’m sorry, I know that my thoughts are a lot and complicated-”

Friedrich shook his head, “Not at all. Well, they are pretty intense, but I can handle it.”

Her laugh filled the silent void of the room, fulfilling some sort of accomplishment for himself. The sound of Isla’s laughter was like winning the lottery or even winning at absolutely anything. Even he, along with anyone else who was to experience the moment they were sharing, knew that something between them was blossoming over the horizon. 

With that, however, Isla didn’t want to risk it all jumping in head first. Just like she always does. 

“Well, I-” She coughed rather loudly, pulling her hand back. “Don’t worry about what happened earlier at the fountain. I have the whole camera situation under control...thanks to you.”

Friedrich smiled, “So what has he proposed for you to do?”

“I’m not supposed to say anything, but Mr. Wallace is allowing me to use any photo I want.”

“Can’t you just borrow someone else’s camera and take a picture yourself?-”

“Hey-” Isla shot back in a joking manner. “Don’t try and make it more difficult.”

Friedrich was the one to let out a melodic laugh this time, holding his hands up in defeat, “Whatever. If It’s any help, my grandma actually owns this antique shop just down the road from campus. She has collected many things over the years and decided that it was worthy of opening up a shop...She has thousands of photos.”

“Antique store?”

The very words sparked a fire in Isla. It was her language and he was speaking it clearly. It instantly put her in a stance from her bed, moving about her room. To Friedrich, it was like she was dancing. He watched with great interest, noticing how well she knew her space, moving swiftly and grabbing her purse and shoes from her “messy yet organized” dorm. 

“Wait- where are you going?” He came to his senses, seeing as she already had her shoes on. 

“Your grandma’s shop,” Isla spoke matter-of-factly. “Are you coming with me?”

He only smiled, “It’s ten p.m.”

It was enough to make her face drop and her frame visibly slump. The day had gone by so fast, how could it be so late already? They say time flies when you are having fun, not when a string of horrible events happens. 

Friedrich walked over to herm, a laugh just below his breath, “You just never stop, hun?”

Isla nodded, “You have no idea.”