Suicide Watch

Chapter 15

Temi POV

My plot for getting rid of Isa is put on pause as midterms are fast approaching.

I plunge myself into my schoolwork. I'm revising any and every moment that I'm not in class. I'm stressed and exhausted most days, but I welcome this. It allows me not to think about life and all the things going on in my life. It allows me not to think about my mom, and about Grace.

For a few hours, I even forget all about Isa. But of course, I am reminded of her once again each night as she sleeps only a few feet away from me.

For the most part, Isa can see how busy I am. She thankfully attempts to give me space and isn't constantly breathing down my neck as usual. From time to time, I wonder what she's up to. I have caught her several times, curled up on the sofa in the apartment living room, scribbling away in her notebook. I am curious to know what's keeping her that engaged. But I also welcome this, as she's focusing on something else rather than me.

I am editing the final touches on a paper for my creative nonfiction class when there is a knock on my bedroom door.

Of course, I know it's Isa. So of course, I don't answer, hoping instead that she'll take a hint and just leave.

Unfortunately, 'taking a hint' is not something that Isa specializes in and she opens the door, regardless. Isa is dressed casually in a white tank top and shorts that reveal the tattoo on her left thigh. I squint my eyes slightly, trying to make out exactly what the tattoo is.

Isa clears her throat, and my eyes once again return to her face.

She's leaning against the room door, her arms crossed over her chest, and fixes me with an intense gaze.

"Do you mind? I'm busy." I scowl at her.

"I do mind, actually," Isa replies, annoying as ever. "You've hardly been eating. You were hardly even eating before, but now you're hardly, hardly even eating."

The writing major in me wants to point out how what she just said is grammatically incorrect and would be underlined in blue lines if she should ever type it up in a word document. But I decide against it.

"Yes, because as aforementioned... I'm busy."

Isa comes further into the room, which frustrates me even more. I want her to leave, but she's doing the opposite.

"I know you have midterms coming up, but there's no way you can study effectively and do well if you're eating less than a hundred calories a day."

I scowl. "Why do you care? I wish you'd just fuck off."

"I care because it's my job to keep you alive and I can't keep you alive if you're dead," she continues, completely ignoring the last part of what I had just said. "And I'm trying to prevent you from being dead and me failing to keep you alive by keeping you alive before you're dead."

Isa's word vomit only sends me into a state of confusion and I'm sure that it is apparent on my face.

"Basically, you need to eat."

"Basically, you need to fuck off," I retort.

This time, to my surprise, Isa actually leaves. I'm slightly surprised at this, but I welcome it and return to the task before me.

In about thirty minutes my room door flies open, and Isa reveals herself holding a plate of pasta. I jump slightly from the sudden interruption and stare at her, slightly bewildered.

Isa ignores this but walks up to me, seated at my desk. Without a word, she picks up my laptop in front of me, dropping it onto my bead instead.

"I don't want to hear it." Isa says the second I open my mouth to protest. I immediately shut it back, feeling oddly like a fish.