From The Other Side

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FOUR
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Monday, February 22nd

Isaiah couldn't remember the last time he'd been excited and anxious all at once. Knowing that it was Monday and he could finally participate in practice was what was making him excited. What was making him anxious, on the other hand, was seeing August after that awkward three seconds of just staring.

              Walking in on a couple was uncomfortable, whether they were doing something or not. They hadn't been, but they were so close, talking quietly, causing Isaiah to feel like he'd interrupted something. Whatever they were talking about had seemed serious.

              Everytime he saw them in the hallways, August (as always) would ignore him, which he was thankful for. But the girl sent him glances and looked like she was debating approaching him, until Isaiah would decide to run off because he hated confrontation after weird situations.

             During lunch, he wasn't so lucky.

              Ashton was scrolling through his phone as he talked animatedly, glancing up at his teammates every now and then when he got to a good part of his story. "She was flirting with me," he boasted. "And dude, when I got home, she sent me nudes. Look—"

               "Don't," Steve interrupted, nose scrunched up in distaste. "She sent those to you because she wanted you to see them. Not everyone else. Don't be a dick."

                Ashton frowned and held his phone to his chest, hiding it from the prying eyes of his other gross teammates. "I—"

                 "Ash," Steve said bluntly, "don't be that guy."

                   He cleared his throat. "My bad," he mumbled. He tapped out of the photos app and placed his phone facedown next to his tray. "Wasn't thinking."

                   Ashton and Steve had an odd friendship. They were friends, but they argued a lot. Not necessarily in a bad way, but Steve was always putting him in his place, scolding him, and making snarky remarks. Ashton looked up to him, so he never really brushed his words off. A lot of the time he made sarcastic replies back, but he always took his advice. Isaiah wondered if Steve knew that or not. He probably did and took advantage of it for situations like that.

             All in all, Steve was a mom.

             "Alright, Mama Bear," Marcus joked, flicking Steve's baseball cap, "put away your claws."

"Touch me and you die," Steve threatened, voice monotone. Marcus threw his hands up in surrender. Isaiah laughed, watching as Marcus wiggled his fingers near Steve, who glared at him each time he came too close.

Steve was getting ready to lose his shit when Isaiah felt a soft tap on his shoulder. He tensed his shoulders and turned around, eyes widening momentarily at the sight of the girl he always saw with August. Her hair was tucked behind both ears, green eyes moving between Isaiah and his friends, before they finally settled on him once he'd greeted her with a confused hello. He didn't know exactly what he was expecting in that moment. All Isaiah knew was that he kind of wanted to bolt.

"I'm Morgan," she introduced, fiddling with her school ID. "Um, I wanted to let you know that August and I aren't dating, if that's what you thought at the party. I wouldn't feel the need to tell you this if my brother—Ryan, the host—wasn't such an ass. August is my best friend and I don't want him getting his ass kicked over some rumor." When Isaiah blinked once, twice, three times, she quickly added, "Not that you would spread a rumor like that. I just, you know—"