There is Everything for You Here

Chapter 21

Tbh I loooove this chapter! I hope you like it too : )))

---------

Up early, Klara dragged me out of bed for pancake breakfast – she had put in a special request with the cook for more pancake days, and he had certainly delivered. It felt too early for my eyes to be awake as we enjoyed piling our pancakes with toppings in the nearly empty dining hall. Jameela sat next to me, resting her head on her hand as she ate.

At least the pancakes were hot and fresh, filling up the space with their amazing smell. My own were three pancakes high, topped with whipping cream, strawberry topping, and blueberry sauce.

"God, I love this stuff," Jameela said, spraying whipping cream directly into her mouth.

"Ew," I wrinkled my nose. "How can you even eat that stuff on its own?"

"Yeah Jameela, don't waste space on whipping cream, have some strawberries." Klara pointed to the bowl of strawberry topping she had woken Jameela and I up early for. "It runs out quickly," she had said when I protested. Surprisingly, we were not the only ones awake. Isaac slid into the seat next to me, plate in hand. His dark hair was neatly combed, and smelled fresh, like he had just gotten out of the shower.

"Hey you," he smiled. "I wondered where the strawberry topping went." He reached his hand out, tentatively sliding away the glass container under Klara's reproachful stare.

"Don't you think you've used enough topping?" I eyed her plate, where her own pancakes were drowning in strawberries. "Any more and your pancakes will need a lifeguard."

"It's never enough Stella, I could drink it if I could, but I think that would be frowned upon." I snorted, taking a sip of my tea. Lately, I had been drinking more earl grey tea in the mornings, in place of my green tea. There was just something I liked about it.

"What are you doing up so early?" I turn to Isaac, watching him cut into his pancakes – neat rows side to side, and up and down. "Don't you usually sleep in?"

"Well," he started, putting a forkful of perfectly stacked pancakes in his mouth. "For some reason I got struck with this sudden motivation to participate in this program yesterday, and I think I'm going to really go for it, really jump through the hoops." Swallowing, he gave me a cheeky grin as a rolled my eyes.

"I'm sure you are," I teased.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, circling one arm around me. I eyed Klara as he did so, and she gave me a look like she was internally screaming.

"I did, thanks for asking. Ready for a full day of wellness."

"Me too. I'm ready to really lean in today."

--

"Lean forward everyone, as we invite a nice stretch into our hamstrings." The yoga instructor calls out instructions at the front of the yard. Today, group had been replaced by a yoga session, with the program bringing in an instructor. I wasn't going to lie, I liked yoga, and the light breeze combined with the warm summer air felt so good on my bare arms. It also helped to have my friends with me, giggling as we watched Liam's lack of flexibility. Isaac joined today too, pulling his mat up right next to mine as class started. He looked great in a black tank top and shorts; tattoos exposed.

"I feel like I'm going to snap my hamstrings right here, right now," Isaac half-whispered, half-groaned to me. "This is what death feels like. I am going to die right now. Make sure to say something nice at my funeral."

"Amen brother," Jameela shot back from the other side of me. "I swear, I am never going this long without stretching again. This feels embarrassing."

"Shh, you guys are going to mess up my yoga flow." Klara's voice floated out from behind us. Of course, she had to have crazy secret flexibility. I giggled into my knees, breathing deeply, enjoying the stretch.

"Do you think I can fake an injury and get out of this?" Liam asked, as we transition into downward facing dog. "I think I can fake a really good injury." Klara, sitting next to him, wacked him in the arm.

"Here you go, now you can have a real injury," she snickered, holding the yoga pose expertly.

"You need to be medicated," he hissed, wobbling in his pose.

"Medicate this, bitch," Klara reached out a foot, unwavering in her balance, and push Liam over. Thank god we were at the very back of the class.

"Hey!" He rubbed his hip, sitting back up on his mat. "I will kill you in your sleep. I know where you live."

"I think I can take my chances," Klara hummed and sighed loudly into child's pose. In my own child's pose, I rested my face sideways to look at Isaac, who had done the same in my direction. His eyes were closed, the expression on his face peaceful as he breaths deeply. He looked so still and serene he could almost be sleeping. The breeze ruffled his hair nicely, curls blowing gently in the wind. I reached out my hand, smoothing down one of his eyebrows. He opened his eyes gently, blinking a few times in the sunshine.

"Having fun?" I whispered. The sun hits his eyes nicely too, bright green like emeralds.

"It's not too bad. The beautiful girl next to me isn't too bad to look at either." I felt my face heat up, scrunching my eyes closed. I brought my focus to the dry grass we were on, picking out a few strands. The weather had certainly been getting drier lately.

"Here, for you." I placed them on Isaac's mat in a little pile.

"Wow, Thank you for this beautiful gift." He reached out, petting the little pile of grass. "How did you know this was what I wanted?"

"Guys, stop flirting, you're going to make me nauseous." I turned my head to Jameela, where she was smiling teasingly at me.

"You're all making me nauseous, now shut up," Klara said, poking me in the foot from behind.

"Can you die from physical activity? Is that a thing?" Sitting on the back porch after yoga, Jameela laid splayed out on the lounge chair, eyes closed. My muscles were feeling sore already too, as I sat on the porch steps, untying my sneakers.

"I mean, you can get angina I think from exercise or something," Liam suggested, taking a long sip of water. He passed his water bottle to Klara, who did the same.

"I already have a vagina, thank you very much," she said. Isaac laughed next to me, body shaking. It was nice to see him having such a good time with all of us. Sometimes I thought he's too solemn for his own good, much like myself.

"It was nice being outside in the sunshine," I said. "Made me feel super healthy." I looked up at Isaac, admiring the way the sun hit his skin.

"Yeah," he responded. "We're already on our way to being health experts. I may as well be ready to lead our next group session."

"I feel more evolved now," I joked. "Do I look taller to you?" Jameela let out another groan as she finally sat up, fanning herself with her hand.

"Where are these endorphins everyone is always talking about? I think they missed me this time around," she complained. "I'm dying right now."

"No you're not," Liam said. "Don't worry."

"I'm dead," she groaned again.

"If you were dead, you wouldn't be talking right now."

"Fair point."

"Well, we're all going to sleep great tonight," Klara announced, giving Jameela a pet on the head. "Especially this one."