odes to the isolated [on hold]

v

It was around 8 o'clock when Isla woke up, still in Reid's arms. The fairy lights strung up in the fort had finally burnt out. Isla slipped out of the fort, cautious not to wake the peacefully sleeping boy. She grabbed some boxed macaroni and cheese from the pantry and cooked it. Scrolling through her phone, Isla sat on the counter and ate her food. After around fifteen minutes, Reid finally woke up and joined Isla in the kitchen. "There's still some mac and cheese in the pot, if you want," she broke the short silence. "Cool, thank you," Reid smiled.

The two were sat next to each other on the counter. "Hey, thank you for last night. I haven't really had the chance to talk about the incident since it happened, it was nice to finally let it all out," Isla thanked Reid. "Yeah, of course. You can talk to me anytime you want." She nodded, not knowing a good enough response. Reid hopped down from his place on the counter, "I need to get home and wash up, meet me in the park at 11?" "Sounds good," Isla replied.

Her notebook had been lying on her nightstand the past week. But, today, Isla picked it up and began to write, using Reid as inspiration. Two poems written in the hour and a half she had. Their mediocrity was unsettling to her, but there was no time to change them. She shoved her notebook in a backpack and left her apartment. The streets were eerily silent, despite the fact it was nearly 11 o'clock on a Saturday. Cars were nowhere in sight. No pedestrians anywhere. It was like a ghost town. But, Isla only felt more unsafe. She quickly jogged down to the park to find Reid.

"It's really quiet, why?" they walked down the sidewalk. "I don't really know, it just happens every once in a while. Usually only lasts for a day at a time," Reid explained. Isla sighed, "It's a little off putting, it being so deserted and all. "Yeah, but, you sorta get used to it after a few times," Reid said, almost completely unphased. "Hmph," she was unsatisfied. "Don't make such a big deal out of it, it'll be over soon. No reason to freak out or whatever," the boy insisted. "I'm not freaking out!" she snapped. "Calm down, do you hear yourself?" his voice was low but his words were harsher than intended. Her blood was boiling. But, what was the cause? Reid hadn't done anything wrong, he was just trying to help. Regardless, Isla was mad and she wanted to get out as fast as possible. She ran back to the apartment complex as if her life depended on it.

A lump formed in her throat as she slammed the apartment door shut. Isla let out a frustrated scream and collapsed on her couch. The only sound to be heard in that moment. All of this anger came out from nothing. Maybe it was all the pent up emotions she kept in the past year. Maybe it all started rushing back the previous night. Isla laid on her couch and let her tears stain her cheeks, in a fit of both anger and sadness.

There was a knock at Isla's door it had to have been Reid. He was the only person she kept in touch with. But her guilt kept her from answering the door. "Isla, please let me in. I want to talk," Reid's muffled voice came from the other side. She stood up hesitantly and unlocked the door. "Hi," he said softly. "Hey," Isla looked down at her feet, not wanting to make eye contact. She stepped aside to let Reid in.

okay okay this chapter was kinda bleh in my personal opinion but lets hope the next one is better lmao

jamie x