They Never Expected

Chapter 2

2 

School dominated my life, as was expected seeing as I was in high school, but Isac always managed to hustle me through my homework (which he usually finished ahead of time) so we could go for coffee or walk around town for a while. Though I never could figure out what it was, something about traipsing around a small town like ours, looking in shop windows, and waving to people we knew was always a welcome escape from our everyday stress. Then again, we were both in favor of the simple little things that made life special as opposed to the big schemes everyone else seemed to be absorbed with. Convenient, huh?

I expected every day that when I needed to stay after school for marching band rehearsal, Isac would go home since it wasn't exactly the most appealing thing to him, but he always went to the local coffee shop and bought drinks for both of us. Then he would come to watch us rehearse and sit in the bleachers with Ms. Bradford. A lot of the time, he would assist in adjusting people who weren't in the right spot or fill in for absent drum majors just like he was part of the staff. Other times, he would simply sit cross-legged on the sidelines and watch us march. On these occasions, I could always see how the music from our show and the drill fascinated him. One day after school I thought it would be interesting to address his fascination. 

"You really seem mesmerized by what we're doing on the field during practice." I said as he walked me to the field for rehearsal. 

"Chasing each other and pretending your instrument is the hammer of Thor? Oh yes. It's so very educational..." 

I summoned up the memory of the evening he was referring to, where Lexie had embarrassed Justin and he had felt the need to tie her shoe laces together when she wasn't looking. She realized after she did a face plant what had happened and it was all downhill from there. Every single person chose a side and it was a full-on war for the rest of that practice. 

"It's Lexie. We still don't understand her thought processes..." 

"That must mean I have a lot to learn, Yoda. Would you grace me with just a small amount of your unparalleled wisdom?" he joked. 

"Quit changing the subject! I'm being serious... Sort of... You really look absorbed when you watch us march." 

"And how do you know that I'm not admiring your gracefulness?" he grinned at his pun.

"My complete lack of coordination tipped me off. Now will you please answer my question?" 

"I am fascinated, honestly. It's incredible that so many people can manage to play music that well while still concentrating on how they move their feet and what angle their shoulders are at." 

"You know, Ms. Bradford might be willing to let you in on our awesomeness if you were willing to put in the work, which I know you are." 

"Honestly? I've considered it. I just don't see how you can do it. I don't think it's for me." 

"Promise you'll consider it though." I pleaded as I assembled my clarinet and grabbed my drill book. 

"I will. Just don't get your hopes up." He blew me a kiss before surrendering me to Lexie's constant bugging and turned to leave for the coffee shop.

* * * * *

Nothing about our friendship was normal and I truly acknowledged that a few nights after our first marginally lengthy hug. We were incredibly close and almost literally inseparable but we weren't like siblings. It was something more than that. The only times I could think of that we were separated was in a couple of our classes and then in the evenings after we'd finished our homework and that was simply because we had no choice. But what was even more incredible, was his ability to change how I looked at people. Suddenly, not everyone was trying to gain some sort of advantage and they were simply talking to me to talk to me. I was still struggling to trust instead of judge, but Isac made the process so much easier.