Hold Me Closer | Stisaac (Serendipity, Book 1)

Chapter 4: Deleted Scene (Revised April 2024)

    "Don't look back," the woman whispered.
    Isaac did exactly the opposite before he could stop himself. His brain didn't seem to register the words. He watched as Stiles stood there on his own front porch, looking as if he wanted to be anywhere else. Isaac could see the discomfort even as the distance between them grew; the tight sag of Stiles's shoulders, like they'd been weighed down for too long.
    A tall, thin man appeared in Stiles's doorway. Isaac caught the tiniest of glimpses before the woman's arm was around his shoulders, propelling him away. 
    "I said, don't look back."
    "What's going on?" Isaac asked, turning his attention to her. "Is Stiles okay?"
    "My name is Jennifer," she replied, tucking her unruly brown curls behind her ears.
    "You didn't answer my question." Isaac instinctively turned his head to look back again. "Is Stiles—"
    "Dude! Stop looking back, oh my God."
    "Sorry, sorry. Who are you again?"
    "I could ask you the same question."
    "Oh. Right. Uh, my name is I—"
    "Isaac, I know. Trust me, Stiles told me every little detail. From the top to the...bottom." She eyed him up and down as she spoke with a smirk.
    Isaac's cheeks flamed. He tried to stammer out some kind of response, but couldn't, and Jennifer thankfully cut him off with a laugh before he could get far.
    Jennifer led Isaac across the street and up onto the porch of the house directly across from Stiles. "Don't worry, I'm kidding. I know your name because he said it when you showed up." She tightened the belt on her pastel blue bathrobe and gazed up at him intensely. Her wide, brown eyes reminded him of a deer caught in headlights, except this deer would stand its ground in defiance and strength, rather than shocked fear. Lord help whatever car got into its way.
"Well, obviously you know Stiles," Isaac said. "He's alright?"
"I'm his best friend," Jennifer answered with a nod. "It's nice to meet you. Hopefully, next time it'll be a proper introduction...And I can't tell you anything. I have a feeling you're not stupid, so I won't lie to you. I just won't say anything at all. That's for Stiles to tell, if he wants to."
"I just want to know that he's okay. Can I help?"
"The best thing you can do for him right now is go home. Come back another time."
Isaac risked another glance backward. Stiles was gone now.
"He's alright," Jennifer said softly. "And like he said, he'll find you."
He'll find you.