I Would Have

Next Time

Song for this Chapter: 

Next Time- Jessia

"Cause your words hurt more than pain, if you need advice
Next time, just lie, next time just lie
And you came out the good guy while I had to play pretend
That we're better off as exes, I'm okay with being friends"

August

*Isadora* 

A repeated vibration pulls her from sleep. A low whine escapes her chest as she fumbles for her phone, silencing the alarm. Classes were kicking her, work was a nightmare, her coworkers were backstabbing b-tches, and she was struggling mentally. She'd not responded to Ryot in a hot minute, other than to wish him a happy birthday, leaving his messages muted and unopened. Bella had messaged her quickly after, sending nonstop death threats and telling Isadora exactly why she deserved her ex putting his hands on her, and her assaults. There was no point in hearing him out now. He'd hurt her, broken her, and left her to pick up the pieces on her own. However in that span, she'd gotten more comfortable with Apollo himself, Officer Collee. 

Tyson had found someone, she was happy for him. She owed a good portion of her healed heart to him. He was the one who had sat up with her on the nights she couldn't sleep, too anxious to face the inevitable night terrors that had come back to haunt her. He was the one who had held her hair back when she'd been drugged, made sure she ate when her stomach couldn't handle it, made sure she got some form of rest throughout the week. He was the one who made her believe some guys could be trusted again. That not all of them would hurt her. Tyson was the one who made her see that she could exist in a world where Ryot wasn't around. 

Tyson was the one who saved her from herself after Ryot had left the second time. She owed him more than she could ever repay. 

Officer Collee was there to pick up the pieces after Bella messaged her. He had calmed her down, talked through her thoughts, comforted her, given her the reassurance she'd needed that remaining no-contact was the safer, smarter option. He was a godsend with helping her through her trauma, including that of firearms. Never hesitating or questioning, never looking at her like a kicked puppy. 

Isadora stretches, standing. Her after-class-naps were saving her. Nine times out of ten, she could count on waking up to a sweet message from Collee. Today was no different. They'd escalated to exchanging Snap information. She opened his snap with a smile, popping her toothbrush in her mouth to get rid of the after-nap taste. 

"Good morning, feral gremlin. I'll await your snap before work when you look sleepy and you hate the world the most. I hope you've napped well, and your stuffed raccoon kept you company." 

She giggles, before sending him a return snap, toothbrush and all, with the response, 
"I napped well, thank you. How did you sleep? We're on the same schedule, weirdo. And I most definitely hate the world right now. My raccoon is not nearly as good of a snuggle buddy as Ida, however right now I'll take what I can get. Neither of them complain when I sleep like a princess. Also... Feral Gremlin? We've gotta work on your nicknames, old man." 

She hits send, finishing her teeth and spitting before rinsing her mouth. She was going to be late if she didn't hurry. 

The drive to work is quick, even with her stop for Red Bull. Officer Collee hadn't responded yet, and Isadora finds herself smiling, knowing he would. She walks in after quickly running a lint roller over her pants. Her nap running over left her no time to change out of her school uniform, not that she was complaining. The boots and tactical pants were becoming more and more comfortable to her than her own scrub pants. Almost like her second skin.