There's a Place For Us (Complete)

Part 23

I. An Exquisitely Tragic Love Affair

(Part 23)

Everyone held their breath as the lawyer took his sweet time giving the answer. "No. You don't have enough evidence."

Mr. Rosenband's hands flew up in disbelief. "WHAT?! You can't base this off of anything this boy has to say! He has a whole chart somewhere in here! He's a bad kid!!"

The lawyer chuckled a little bit. "I saw this with only the tiniest bit of thought from what he said. It has more to do with the fact that you had nothing to go on." He stared at the principal's bewildered expression. He wondered if he was really interested in the welfare of the girl or himself. The lawyer smiled politely at each member there and left the room, Isabella following close behind.

Isabella headed towards her locker, but midway up the staircase, she stopped and sat down. She curled herself into a ball in the corner. Adam had saved her from a hellhole. Without him, she would be in a crampy, old van driving towards Shadybrook Hospital. A place for psychos.

Two hours ago she still hadn't been sure if she could trust him. Her worries seemed stupid to her now. How could she not trust him? He had stood up for her, not that this had been the first time either. He had defended her, but most importantly, he had saved her.

After getting her coat and backpack, Isabella walked through the parking lot, heading home. She saw Adam already at his car, so she kept her eyes on the ground, focusing on the little pebbles that littered the lot. She picked up her step, and hoped that he wouldn't notice her.

Isabella blew out a breathe of relief about ten feet away from him, believing he hadn't seen her. "Hey!" Isabella heard. Adam had stepped out into the middle of the parking area. His posture was sturdy, but his eyes wavered. "You owe me," Adam continued, his voice thick and husky. Adam watched as Isabella stopped in her tracks, but still did not turn to look at him. Adam's hands hung at his sides and the wind blew through his hair.

"I know," Isabella said after a long pause of silence. Her words were so quiet that they were blown away by the wind.

Quickly and unexpectedly, Isabella turned around and ran to Adam. Her arms wrapped around his neck tightly. It was strange and out of the norm of anything that Adam ever expected her to do. He awkwardly wrapped his arms around her waist, lightly but still noticing the curve of her hips. It was a long embrace, and only after a few minutes did Adam realize the crook of his neck was wet. Isabella was crying. "Thank you! Thank you!" she sobbed, inaudibly and uncomprehendingly. She gripped the collar of Adam's jacket tightly, and brought her face close to his. "I thought you were going to turn me in," she whispered, her breathe brushing Adam's lips. "Thank you," she said again, once more burying her face in his shoulder and gripping the hair on the back of his head, right where skin met hair. Adam listened as her sobs hiccuped from the heaviness of them.

She was a child once again. A little girl who was scared and untrusting, but those binds were breaking, and soon, they would collapse all together.

It was a month after the incident with Mr. Rosenband. He never seemed to get over it and the teachers still seemed to walk on eggshells around Isabella, but she was used to it. She didn't really expect anything different.

Adam's goals continued to be to loosen Isabella up. There were days when he thought he was doing great and others, that he was certain he was failing miserably. She was extremely difficult to read. She hardly ever allowed her whole face to contort into her true emotions, which left her mysterious and a challenge.

Adam had accepted being friends and Isabella seemed content with his acceptance. They were both happy with keeping the other company. For Isabella, it was company that she hadn't had before.