Isolation (Book #1 of the Taylor Series)

Nineteen

"Hey, hey, hey," Graham answers when I call him just before I have to go downstairs for dinner with my family, "What is up, my lil baby rebel?"

I roll my eyes with a giggle. "How did your meeting with Dr. Jensen go?" I ask, putting my homework into its designated binders.

"Oh, wow, I completely forgot that I even got into trouble." He says sarcastically, and I wait patiently for an answer. "He said that if I kept this up I'd get expelled. Mom wasn't too pleased about it, you know how she is about honor and embarrassing the family. It has something to do with the whole Filipino culture. Dad didn't really care, just asked me if he came out looking worse than I did. I told him that there definitely weren't any winners, he got a broken nose, I got a black eye and a busted lip. Either way, I got a week of in-school suspension." He explains, and I nod along with what he's saying, forgetting he can't see me.

"That's not too bad, considering the circumstances." I murmur, and he scoffs on the other line.

"What circumstances? That's a week worth of stupid work and push-ups that I have to do starting next Monday." He sighs, and I roll my eyes. 

After all, it was his choice to get into a fight... To defend Julie. He could've dropped some facts and walked away, but he decided to hit that kid. I can't exactly judge him. I had the same choice and happened to chose the same as him. I didn't throw hands, but I did throw a quote-unquote 'solid object'.

"You could've had to pay his hospital bill." He laughs an annoyed laugh, as if he's about to rant.

"Yeah, right. That rich kid has some amazing ass insurance, and even without it, he could've covered the fuck out of it. I'll bet his parents pitied mine, and let us off the hook." I can practically hear the silly grin on his face. "Well, Max isn't pressing charges either. Your fight is already going around the whole school though.. Apparently, you gave him a bloody nose, but nothing too crazy." He explains, and I agree with an 'uh huh'.

"He deserved it! He was complaining about having to carry the weight of the LGBTQIA+ members at our school. That was a douche move, and I know he only said it because Julie just came out. Think about it Graham, he only says shit that he knows is going to annoy the hell out of me." He laughs a sarcastic laugh and I'm almost creeped out before I realize that he's about to go off again.

"Sorry, Evie, I've gotta go. Stella's starting some shit again over some stupid garbage." He sighs, and I pause for a moment. Before we hang up, we say our goodbyes calmly.

What happened to them? How can sex seriously affect a relationship this much? There's more to a relationship than fucking. I thought they knew that, but I guess Stella doesn't care about the other aspects. The emotional and spiritual connection are irrelevant, and apparently, she doesn't even bother with the chemistry. 

I think they can work it out though. If she just gives him some time to be ready for sex again, then I'm sure that everything will go back to normal. I'm pretty sure she understands that too. At least, for her sake, I hope she does.

"Eve! Dinner!" Adam yells as he prances into my room. I get off of my bed and chase him down the stairs.

"Adam! Yelling!" He laughs. Once I make it into the kitchen, I'm met with low gospel music playing in the background, and the rest of my siblings sitting in silence, staring down at the table.

"What's going on he--" Mom cuts me off with a shush and hands me my bowl that is, thankfully, a soup with diced tofu in it.

"Julie's about to say prayer." She whispers, and I sit down awkwardly in my usual chair.

I look at Julie and am immediately met with heavy melancholia in my soul. Her prominent frown and red-rimmed eyes surprise me. She's been doing that a lot lately. Not only surprising me but also crying. Lots and lots of crying since she came out, crying hopelessly in her shared bedroom.