From The Other Side

32. take a deep breath

THIRTY TWO
take a deep breath

Friday, May 23rd

It was officially summer, and Isaiah had no idea what to do with his time.

He disliked school as much as the next student, but he couldn't lie and say it didn't keep him busy. Now he'd be stuck at home, nothing to do except for watching all the shows he'd missed out on until there was nothing left to do but wallow in boredom.

He had his friends and boyfriend, sure, but he couldn't see them every day. Steve always went to South Korea for the first month to visit family, so he really couldn't see him. Ashton lazed around, and Marcus visited San Antonio for two weeks to catch up with an old family friend that used to live in their hometown. Morgan and August, on the other hand? He had no idea what they did.

But Steve left Sunday, and Marcus left Tuesday. So he had today to spend with all five of them before they went on to do their own things, and he was going to take advantage of that. And once he had them piled into his car, Ashton immediately began complaining about how hot the seats were.

"Deal with it," Marcus grumbled, "and stop bumping into me. You have bony shoulders."

"This was a mistake," Steve stated, looking uncomfortable pressed up against the window. Ashton was in the middle, Marcus beside him. Morgan had called dibs on the very back, and August (unsurprisingly) snatched the passenger seat. Isaiah wanted to agree, but he also wanted to hang out with all of them, so he merely shrugged in response.

Morgan ruffled Steve's hair, smiling. Steve glanced back at her, a slight lift to his lips, and he relaxed in his seat (though he still tried to stay as far away as possible from Ashton).

"So," August said, clapping his hands together. "What are we doing?"

Isaiah pursed his lips. "I don't know."

August gave him a look. "You don't know? Izzy, what the fuck."

"Stop calling me that."

"No flirting in the group chat," Steve stated, as he did every time August tried to say something suggestive or couple-y. It started off just over text, but then Steve decided to extend the rule to real life as well. It wasn't working, considering he had to keep repeating it.

August turned around in his seat, scowling. "That wasn't flirting, dumbass." He stuck his tongue out at Steve, who rolled his eyes.

"This is chaos," Morgan complained, thumping her forehead against the back of Steve's seat. Marcus grunted his agreement, already escaping to his phone.

                 August turned back around and lightly pushed at Isaiah's shoulder. "So, you just grabbed us without thinking about what we would do once we're all here?" he asked, grinning in amusement when Isaiah slowly nodded his head.

"Cute," August mused, tapping his finger against Isaiah's cheek. His face heated up at his words and his touch.

"No flirting in the group ch—"

"Steve," August groaned, slumping. "Shut up. You and Morgan flirt all the time."

Steve scowled, and Morgan beamed. "At least we're lowkey about it," he grumbled, crossing his arms. Morgan laughed at how he sulked and squeezed his shoulder, letting her touch linger before she went back to laying down across the seats.