When the Ice Breaks

XXXVI

Stella

I looked at my phone for the tenth time tonight. Isabel was supposed to text me when she got home, but it had been two hours, and I hadn't heard from her. I began to worry and pace my room. I decided I couldn't contain myself, grabbed my coat and car keys, and left the house.

During the entire drive, my brain was racked by the worst-case scenario. However, when I arrived at her house, I was relieved to see her car. I was surprised to see two other cars parked. I pulled into the driveway and got out of the car.

I knocked on the door, and a man I had never seen before opened it immediately. He was tall and had brown hair that went to his shoulder. He was extremely tan, and his eyes were a deep ice blue. "It couldn't be," I thought. 

"Um, is Isabel home?" I asked. The man sighed, "Now isn't a good time. I'll tell her to contact you..." 'Stella?" Isabel said. I looked past the man and met her eyes. She had been crying. I could tell from her puffy eyes and red nose.

Without thinking, I pushed past the man and towards Isabel. As I neared her, she reached out to me and held me tight. I rubbed her back as I tried to calm her down. I heard the man behind me sigh and close the door. He walked past us, and another person appeared.

It was her mom. I briefly met her as I snuck out of Isabel's house once. She avoided the man and walked up to us. "Oh, hello, Stella. What are you doing here?" she asked softly.

I looked at her and could tell she had been crying as well. "I came to check on Iz. She wasn't answering her phone," I said. Her mom made a face before Isabel removed herself from me. "Mom, this is NOT how I wanted this to go, but this night has already gone to shit, so why not. Stella isn't my friend. She's my girlfriend. We've been dating since August," she said. I stood still in my place, afraid of what her mom would say.

"Oh," she replied. The man came back, and her mom stepped back towards me. I picked up and walked towards him. "Look, man, I don't know who you are, but I know you're upsetting these ladies, so maybe it's time you leave?" I said. He sighed, "Yeah...this is a family matter, you should probably leave," he said trying to pass me. I quickly blocked him, and he sighed.

I felt a warm hand on my wrist. "Stella, it's fine," Isabel said. I nodded, not taking my eyes off this man, and walked back towards Stella and her mom. Everyone looked at this man. No one spoke up until Isabel sighed. 

"Why are you here, Dad?" she said. I tried to contain my composure as the words left her mouth. I quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She copied my actions. I noticed her mom began to shake and not thinking I let go of Isabel's hand and grabbed her moms. She looked at me and gave me a slight nod, meeting my eyes and saying a thousand words. 

The man in front of us sighed, "Estoy aquí porque por lo general se ponen en contacto con los padres cuando mi hija califica para los Juegos Olímpicos. Vine a verte actuar, hija. Te he echado de menos. Ha pasado tanto tiempo desde que bajaste para el verano."(I'm here because they usually contact the parents when my daughter qualifies for the Olympics. I came to see you perform, daughter. I have missed you. It has been so long since you came down for the summer.)

I awkwardly looked around as he spoke in Spanish. I only understood a few words, but I could tell that what he said shocked Isabel and her mother. She sighed and looked at her mom. "You lied to me, Izzy?" she asked, turning to her. Isabel looked away. She slowly nodded as her mother gasped, and tears fell. 

"So you have seen him since the divorce?" she asked. Isabel nodded, and her mom let more tears fall. She shook her head in disbelief. "You qualified?" she asked. Isabel nodded, and I watched as more tears fell. Her mom just tried to cover up her sobs but couldn't. "Why didn't you tell me, peanut?" she asked, crying.

I knew immediately that Isabel was going to explode. "Izzy, maybe you should-" I started before she cut me off. "You cannot seriously ask me that. When would I tell you? When are you home? Oh wait, that's never. You're never here. Not for anything. You only come when you feel like you've been a shitty mom, and even then, you only stay for two days. I had no reason to tell you. You wouldn't have cared. I don't know how you can stand there and act like some perfect mom. Who leaves their nine-year-old alone? God, Mom, I had to learn everything for myself. I learned about everything a girl should learn with her mom alone. Like my period, where were you? In Seatle, working a case. Or when I had sex for the first time. Do you know who taught me how not to get pregnant? Chloe's mom. She's been more of a mother than you ever have been. You missed my 16th birthday, and to make up for it, you bought me a ridiculously expensive car.  I didn't need that. I needed you. You just left me. And Dad, why did you come here? You coming here is worse for everyone. I don't trust you, and you have to understand that. I can't understand why you would do this, knowing how she would react. I get why you left, and I feel for you. But you left me and her. I am so fucked up that I can barely love Stella properly without all the fucked up things you've done coming to my mind. You should have stayed in Texas with your new family. Becuase God knows this family doesn't need you, I don't need you. And I don't need you either, Mom. You all are sorry excuses for parents. Now I will pack a bag, and I'm leaving. Please don't follow me because I won't listen. I'm done," she said. 

It was silent as Isabel stood in her place, her chest heaving. Her mom was sobbing now, and her dad looked at his shoes. She sighed and went upstairs, grabbing her stuff. I stood looking around until she came back from the stairs. "Let's go, Stella," she said. I opened my mouth to say something, but she gave me a deathly stare, and I nodded. "Do you wanna take your car?" I asked. She shook her head, no, and I nodded.

I got her in my car and drove to my house. My mom was going to kill me. I pulled into the driveway, and my mom sat at the door. "Stella Elizabeth Bowers, where did you go?!" she yelled. "Not now, momma, ok," I replied. She opened her mouth until Isabel appeared from behind me. 

My mom saw her swollen eyes and red nose and backed off. She nodded and moved out of the way. Isabel didn't even say anything. I led her up to my room and closed the door. I went to grab extra blankets, and when I returned, she stood in the same spot, tears falling from her eyes. I sighed, "You wanna shower or eat?" I asked. She nodded and whispered, "Shower." I nodded, but she didn't move. 

"Help me," she said in a whisper. I nodded and walked over to her. The tears fell freely but silently. I grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. I got on my knees, unbuttoned her jeans, and pulled them down her legs. She only moved to step out of them. It was weird, undressing her in a non-sexual way, almost creepy. I discarded her underwear and bra before softly guiding her to the shower. I placed her in and made sure it was the right temperature. I began to walk away when I felt a wet hand on my arm. 

I turned and saw her. She looked broken. Almost immediately, she fell to her knees, sobbing. I quickly caught her, fully stepping into the shower with her. My clothes began to soak as I held her tight. She sobbed uncontrollably as I held her in my arms. 

It felt like we were there for hours, but I finally felt her stop and lay against my body, only sniffling. I sat up, removed my shirt, and began to bathe her. She just sat there with a look on her face of utter pain. I rinsed the soapy suds off her and lifted her out of the shower. I dried her off and dressed her in the clothes she brought from her bag. I placed her on the bed and quickly removed my wet clothes for dry ones. 

I re-entered my room and found her in the same spot. I pulled down my bed and placed her in it. I laid next to her as I said nothing. Her back was to me, and I just rubbed it softly. She turned and faced me. Our noses brushed each other as her sad eyes met mine. "Promise me," she said softly. "Promise you what, baby?" I asked. She quivered, "Promise me you won't leave like they did. I'm strong enough to lose them, but not you too." I tucked her hair behind her ear, "I promise." 

We stayed in that position until we both fell asleep. It was the first time I felt needed. She needed me, and I would always give her that. No matter what...

AN: This was originally the Thanksgiving chapter, but I needed a better way to help set up the ending so y'all will get a couple of extra chapters out of this rewrite. As always, I love yall💕