The Brave and Beautiful

Oh Father, Where Art Thou

Izzy's POV

Throughout the entire class I couldn't pay attention. I kept sinking out of it, even though it was a talk about the end of year trip, Ottawa. My mind kept wandering off.

"Izzy..." I hear a voice, and I wake up. "You've been asleep this entire class!"

I look up to see Liz staring down at me. "I have?!"

"Yeah. Once Ms. Collins started talking about free time in Ottawa, you kind of dozed off"

"Wow. Thanks for waking me!" I mutter, longing for more sleep. Everything seems blurry, but I realize everyone is leaving the classroom, books in hand. The groggy feeling is replaced with relief. If I was caught, I would have gotten into trouble. Luckily, Ms. Collins didn't have the youngest eyes.

"No problem" Liz says, though her face tells me it was a little bit of a sidetrack. I decide to make conversation with her as we walk out the door.

"So, you and James?" I ask.

"Yup! Isn't he sweet?" Liz smiles.

"And apparently gay" I laugh. She turns to me and grunts.

"James told me that it was Adam who kissed him, he had nothing to do with it. Sure, those posters made me mad, but I'm over it!" I zone out again, as I glance down the hall to see Jullia talking to Kathryn. I ignore what Liz says, and run down the hall. I was tired of fighting with her. I needed her again.

"Jullia! Jullia! Can I talk to you?" I say, rushing over to her. She looks away from Kathryn, and looks relieved. A small smile forms on her face.

"Yes. Of course!"

*

We sit together at lunch, and eat our food in silence. "So, you wanted to talk to me?" She asks.

"Yeah, actually. I- I hate fighting with you!" I spit out. She tilts her head at me, and relaxes.

"Same! I do too! I'm so sorry for the way I've been acting!" Emotions overcome me, and a wonderful sense of joy fills me. I may have just gotten my best friend back.

"No, I'm sorry. I should have understood what was happening with you and Josh!" I say, feeling sorry. Josh was a mistake, one I won't make again.

"I didn't tell you the full thing. Josh and me weren't some mere fling. We were dating" Jullia confesses.

"What! And he asked me out while you guys were dating!?" I say. That couldn't possibly be true. Josh told me he wasn't some player-jerk guy. He lied to my face.

"Yup. He-He told me later that he couldn't wait to break up with me, that he had to ask you out first. Once you said yes, he broke up with me, and broke my heart. People with a broken heart can do crazy things. I'm sorry for not talking to you for such a long time, and that fight we got into..." Jullia looks down ashamed. I laugh.

"I can't believe I actually beat you, Ms. Karate Master!" I laugh.

"What! No! I totally whooped you, and you just got a little bit lucky!" She says, laughing back. We start to joke around again, just like old times. Then I ask her something.

"On me and Josh's date, I saw you. You were in black?" She grits her teeth, and looks disappointed in herself.

"I was scouting out your date, hoping to sabotage it. I realized, though I was mad, I just couldn't do it. Not to you. Sorry... again"

"It's okay, really. I'm just glad we finally made up" I get up from my seat, and she gets up from hers. I walk over to her, and we hug. I almost start crying. Maybe things are looking up for me. Then, I remember 236's note.