Beneath the Surface|COMPLETED

twenty-five|bye-bye tyler

Thursday, March 21st, 2019

[DAY THREE]

7:00 PM

    Today is our last day to fully enjoy the lake. We leave tomorrow in the afternoon, so if anyone wants to sleep in or get one last dip in, they'll have time to before we depart. I'm really hoping to be able to speak to Isaac today. I wasn't able to yesterday because he was in the shower and never came out to see me. Unless Brett just didn't tell him that I had stopped by, but I don't think he would do that.

    We are currently setting up to have a bonfire. Emery is getting out the supplies for s'mores, Adam is getting the drinks, and Zoe is out. The only reason that she's not helping is that she had a late start on her day.

    Earlier today, everyone went into town and broke off into their own. Zoe had stayed at the house because she had overslept and wanted to get some work done on a project that was assigned for school. We all tried to convince her to come, but she told us that the town wasn't going anywhere and that she would catch up with us later. She did, but by that time we were already on our way back. I stayed with her for a bit so that she wouldn't be alone, but she insisted that she was okay and had us all on speed dial if she really needed it.

    The town is quite peaceful, to say the least. Adam and Emery had explored it together, leaving me to third-wheel with Isaac and Brett. I preferred that over third-wheeling the couple. While the boys did try to include me in their conversation, I rather enjoyed taking in my surroundings, taking pictures, and listening to the different topics they went through.

    Now, Zoe walks in with a few shopping bags just as Brett sends Isaac and me off to collect extra wood for the fire he's about to start.

    The walk to get the wood is silent. I'm dying to know what he's thinking. As much as I want to be the first one to talk so that someone is speaking, I feel that he should be the one to speak first. He's the one who has been ignoring me and by the looks of it, he's going to continue that.

    I've just started gathering some wood when he speaks.

    "Hey."

    "Hi."

    When he doesn't respond after a few seconds, I look at him. He's just looking at me, but I can tell that there's something on his mind.

    "Did you want to say something?" I ask rather rudely. I don't mean to, I'm just tired of this.

    He sighs. "I know I've been weird since we got here, and probably a bit rude at times, but it has nothing to do with you."

    "Then why was the weird energy directed at me?"

    "It's kind of complicated. I want you to know why - I swear I do - but I'm not ready yet. I just wanted you to know that I do intend on telling you the reason soon. I want to clear the air as much as I can."

    I study him. The year is almost over. As much as I would like to know what is going on with him as soon as possible, I respect that he's not ready yet. I just hope he's ready before we graduate.

"Why didn't you tell me this last night?"

"Last night?"

"I came by when you were in the shower. Brett said he'd tell you."

Isaac's confused expression tells me that I was wrong about Brett. Apparently, he would be the type of person not to relay the message of me looking for his friend. 

    "Well look who it is."

    I freeze. I'd know that voice anywhere. Tyler. How the hell is this possible?