Chapter Two

“I’ve been looking all over for you! You two didn’t wait for me!” Jesse’s voice screeched throughout the campus grounds.

If it wasn’t already plainly obvious enough to anyone around the three of them, the two girls didn’t wait for him to catch up after class was over on purpose. Sure, Jesse did try his absolute hardest to yell and get their attention as they, along with literally everyone else, filed out of the classroom at rapid speed. Well, that is after the fact that Isla and Sarah both stood up violently when Mr. Wallace let them all go at the end of the hour. Either Jesse really didn’t realize that they were pissed or he is just plain oblivious. 

However, given the looks he received now, it was crystal clear. 

“Yeah...So if you don’t mind, we have a project to finish.” Sarah said looking up at him in her sitting position, the sun blinding her view.

As soon as Isla and Sarah for sure knew they had lost him in the sea of students filing out of the building, they made a b line for the fountain that sat right in the center of the whole college campus. Their regular, Friday night spot where they would all “study” together. And by studying, that translates to “pigging out on food and doing anything but school work”. Only this time, they actually were doing school work. Unlike everyone else. 

Isla was sitting beside Sarah who already took her photo and now is just starting to come up with a shit story to go with it, was struggling with the easiest part of it all. The photo portion. Sarah had told her to just wing it and to take a photo of anything. She even suggested her big toe and how crazy Mr. Wallace would find that interesting. Needless to say, Sarah’s big toe wasn’t going to work out. 

Maybe it was how close the end of the year was, or maybe it was because no one else had to do this big of a project last minute, but Isla couldn’t wrap her head around any concept. Nothing interested her and nothing sparked a story. 

“Well, I’m sorry that It’s somehow my fault that this is happening,” Jesse said, rolling his eyes. He plopped down on the grass in front of the pair, crossing his legs. 

“Quick, maybe if we make a run for it, he will take the hint.”

 Sarah snipped, sticking her tongue out at him. 

Isla sat up with a huff, “Oh, stop. Fighting is not going to help anything- even though it really is your fault, Jesse.”

For what seemed impossible at the moment, the trio laughed slowly. The light-hearted joke defusing what could have been an argument just waiting to blow up.  

“Well, even if it’s my fault or not, you two need to stop ignoring me like I’m the freaking plague.”

“Or, we need to stop ignoring you like how guys ignore Isla.” Sarah snuck in. 

That earned her a hard elbow to the arm. 

“Okay, ow.”

Isla, with a smirk, stood up and stretched her arms, “You can be a real bitch sometimes, you know?”

“Oh darling, life is a bitch...at least it is for you and your love life.”

“I’m not talking about this right now...I’m too stressed.” Isla declared, bending down to pick up her camera, and sitting on the marble ledge of the fountain. 

It was rather crowded outside, the sun blazing down and creating a sweat on everyone. The large crowds of people would have made Isla anxious if it weren’t for the stress that she already had. The only thing on her mind was to get a damn photo. 

Quick and easy, she turned her body slightly to look into the three-inch pool of water and found a bunch of coins at the bottom. And just like that, they found a home of Isla’s camera. 

“There...I’m done for today.”

“See! You could make a story out of that! After All, those coins belong to someone who had a wish...you could write about that.” Sarah said, joining her up on the fountain ledge. “Here...for good measure.”

Sitting on the marble ledge, Isla sat her camera to the side right next to her. It was a hard thing to consider and think about. If she had to wish for anything in the world, what would it be? Isla tried to take it very seriously. Maybe, to end global warming? To get rid of every kind of evil of the world? Win a bucket load of money so her parents never had to work another day in their lives?

No. For once, she wanted to be selfish for herself. 

It’s not like it was a big deal. The whole situation was intended for Sarah and her to just mess around. Nevertheless, Isla still closed her eyes and made everyone and everything around her disappear. Every soul surrounding was replaced with another...an old soul. Imagining what kind of life she would like to live or be a part of, what would that look like for her right at that moment? Everyone would be sitting out in the sun on blankets or chairs, some even walking with parcels to shield their skin. All of them did so while listening to the violinists who were spontaneously playing just to entertain. Their delightful music blended perfectly with the sound of the fountains running water and the birds chirping nearby. It greeted people’s ears warmly. 

Isla was there herself.  She, too, would be sitting on a blanket with her friends. Her shoes would be off, but still sitting up properly as she took it all in. Maybe, at some point, as she and her friends were in deep conversation, a man who was actually interested in her would ask Isla to join him in a walk around the perimeter of the lawn- a promenade. She would gladly accept. 

That is what she wished for. A different life. One where people really understood her and she never felt different. Of course, that could just be one of the books she had read come to life. But, the feelings were real. The life Isla lived now was not the right one. 

When the sound of the quarter hit the water, Isla forced her eyes to stay shut, not wanting to face the harshness of reality. If she had the choice, her eyes would never have opened. But, a voice so close to her- not Sarah’s- sent her into a state of shock. A state so bad that her muscle’s acted before her mind.

It was a horrible chain of events, really. Isla’s hand, along with her body, twisted back around, sending her very beloved camera hurtling into the fountain with a loud splash. It was loud enough to attract multiple looks from other students. Some laughed, some had their mouths form a perfect “o” while most people saw and ignored. 

If the splash wasn’t dramatic enough, Isla’s reaction was.

“No!” Isla screamed, totally ignoring who had scared her, and stood up.

Tears welled up and threatened to spill, the world spinning from her embarrassment and devastation. So much so that all she could do was just stand there and watch her expensive camera float to the bottom. Sarah was not much help, having a similar reaction as she stood next to Isla, clinging onto her arm. 

In the heat of the moment, Jesse appeared out of nowhere, pushing past the two of them rather quickly. Leaning on the slippery marble he reached in and managed to get ahold of it, sacrificing the front of his shirt to the water. 

Holding it up, the camera was dripping with fountain water. Every crevice filled with it as Jesse wiped it down as fast as he could with the sweatshirt tied around his waist. Deep down, it was clear to everyone what was to happen.

“Jesse…” Sarah spoke as a means to do something. 

The sight was dramatic. Sarah comforting her nearly sobbing best friend, Jesse rapidly tried to dry her camera, and the mystery boy who had scared Isla was stood off to the side, fear written all over his face. 

When the camera didn’t turn on the first time, Jesse tired again. Over and over. So many times that his thumb became sore from pressing the button. It was dead and there was nothing that could be done. With a deafening tone, he said “Isla, I’m so sorry. I tried everything I could.” 

Isla, as she pulled away from her friend’s tight grasp, simply nodded her head. But, I wasn’t in a way to accept what reality really was. No, the single nod of her head was quite terrifying. It was a nod of her trying to control her emotions from bursting, mentally declaring that the day could not get worse. 

The camera was cold to the touch as she was handed it, staring at it with an aching heart. It felt like if you were to crash your car and find out it was totaled, or you’re at the airport to retrieve your luggage and it’s deemed “lost”, or you simply lost your wallet with your bank card and cash all inside it. 

Isla’s heart was broken. 

“I’m very sorry.” A voice spoke through the awkward silence. 

She turned around rather slowly, not even wanting to deal with what was about to be “graced” upon her. But, what met the sad girl’s eyes was nothing that would make her angrier. The sight actually made her heart stop in an entirely different way, becoming flustered. 

Off to the side stood a boy around her age with shaking hands. His face was flushed of all color like he could vomit any moment. In Isla’s stupid opinion that shouldn’t matter at the moment, he was very handsome. Tall, lanky, and kind of awkward. But, he still looked like a… man.

But, this man, or boy, looked as guilty as ever, like he could never do any wrong. And, if he ever had, it wasn’t very often. But, the look of guilt sent a spark of anger through Isla. 

“What?” Isla tried to contain herself through tears. 

He stepped forward just slightly, clinging to a few books he had in hand. “I didn’t mean to startle you-”

“What?” Isla nearly bellowed. What was she supposed to do or say!?

“Hey,” Sarah said softly, going to stand in front of her friend. “I’m sure Friedrich meant no harm-”

“You know him!?” Isla asked incredulously. She felt betrayed, lied to. But, there was no reason to feel that way. No justification. There were no lies or betrayals. 

Sarah straightened out her back, glancing back at the boy, whose name seemed to be Friedrich. “We are in calculus together- it doesn’t matter! What matters is that he didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It was all just a big accident.” 

Sarah’s reasoning went over Isla’s head as she scoffed and frantically retrieved her bag and other belongings from the ground where she previously sat. Isla had enough and no longer wanted to embarrass herself. Jesse was ignored in his shocked state, knowing that this was so unlike her to act this way. But, nothing he could say or do would make the situation any better. Isla needed her space. 

As she went to quickly flee the scene, Isla passed the cute boy- No! She couldn’t think that way. He was the one who ruined her camera, the boy who ruined her day and crushed her spirits.

But, he was also the boy who didn’t leave. If it would have been any other guy, they would have laughed and not even attempted to apologize. This never happened to her. 

When she tried to fully escape the outside world, Friedrich’s hand gently grabbed her wrist, sending a wave of shock and happiness through her (much to her dismay). It was a motion that made her cheeks burn up. 

“Please, let me help.” He spoke too nicely. 

“How?” Isla said, trying to sound angry. She failed terribly, finally coming back to Earth and finally realizing just how many eyes were on her. 

He still held onto her, a look of defeat meeting his eyes and shoulders slumping. Isla did feel bad...she really did. But, she was now more embarrassed than angry. And when she is embarrassed, all she does to try and help the situation is make it worse. 

Reluctantly, Isla pulled her hand away from Friedrich’s and did what she does best.

She ran.

Next Chapter: Chapter Three