odes to the isolated [on hold]

viii

"Do you ever think about leaving?" Isla asked. They were sat on the abandoned stairs of the apartment building. No one ever bothered to use them since they fixed the elevators. "What?" Reid asked back, in spite of him knowing full well what she had asked. "This town. Do you ever wonder what it would be like if you just left out of the blue?" she responded. "Not really, I guess it just never crossed my mind," Reid answered truthfully. "Really? This town is so dead and miserable, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone up and left all at once," Isla explained. "I don't know. I never really wanted to leave, honestly," Reid said.

A chuckle slipped from Isla's mouth, "I don't believe that one bit. I bet everyone here has wanted to leave, even the slightest bit. It's just a matter of whether or not they have the guts to blow this place." "I don't like this town. But, I like some of the things and people in it. And that keeps me from leaving, I guess," Reid admitted. "That doesn't make sense, there's nothing good here. Is there?" Isla scratched the back of her neck. "Of course there is. All you need to do is stop thinking about anything that could be wrong about this place and focus on the good."

"That's kinda hard when everything around me is bleak," Isla scoffed. "Oh come on, Isla. There is bound to be at least one thing you like about living here," he was trying his hardest to get something out of her. She rolled her eyes, "Nothing that I can think of." "Think about it. The bridge over the river in the park. That pizza place down the street from here... your memories of Arabella, there has to be something," Reid insisted. "Don't bring her up." Isla demanded. She gritted her teeth. And then, she did the only thing she could think to do. She started to run up the stairs.

"Isla!" Reid called, doing his best to catch up with her. They reached the top of the staircase when Reid was finally right behind her. "You can't keep running away every time you're upset, Isla," Reid spoke. She turned to face him, "Well, I can sure try, can't I?" she blurted out.  "Why are you so upset with me? I was trying to help you realize something good comes out of everything, is that really such a crime?" Reid asked, getting angrier by the second. "You could've done that without bringing her up."

"You're gonna have to face the facts, Isla. She's dead. Pretending it's not true isn't going to bring her back to life. Nothing will. You have to accept that and move on with your life." Reid finally exploded. As much as she hated to say it, he was right. She had been denying it since it happened. That's why she wanted to leave. She couldn't stand living in a town that was just a constant reminder that she lost her only friend. She wanted to leave, act like it never happened, avoid what had been eating at her for the past year.

i haven't been writing much lately rip but at least i already had this chapter done

jamie x