Pieces [Wattpad's Editor's Choice]

45: oXyGeN

I didn't realize how exhausting it was chasing someone until I finally stopped.

Things returned to normal with Luna and I since our almost-relationships both sunk. I asked Professor Howard about internship opportunities and open positions; unfortunately, all internship positions were filled, but he said I could always work as a teacher assistant part-time for summer classes. I spent all my free time studying or with Luna picking graduation gear: red or purple tassels? How would we design our grad caps? What outfits would we wear? And how many Christmas lights would we need to order?

Unfortunately, I failed all my midterms. My grades dropped to B's and C's, Anatomy to a 69% (yikes), but I'd get them back up before college ended as long as I devoted all my time to studying.

So Wednesday night, Luna, Isaac, and I stayed in the science building to start prepping for our next exams and discuss plans post-college. Honestly, I never thought I'd be sitting at a table with these two.

We were the last ones in the building. Sunlight trickled out and the halls echoed with footsteps every so often while a janitor started vacuuming or dumping a trash. It was probably nine or ten.

"It's already April," I said, writing the date in my notebook. "April first. We have a month and then college is over." It didn't feel real.

Luna held her pen between her teeth as she typed something on her phone. "I-orery-fiy," she said around her pen.

"What?" Isaac and I both said. We looked at each other then and my stomach swirled. His gaze lingered a few seconds longer before I finally looked away. Oh man. This was happening a lot lately. Isaac sat on the right of the table and Luna on my left, both of them across from each other. Every so often, Isaac "accidentally" bumped his foot into mine under the table, but I pretended not to notice. I wasn't sure what to make of these new interactions with him, but I didn't want him to stop.

"I'm ordering five," Luna said, tossing her pen onto her Algebra II book. "Christmas lights. You get red and I get purple. You want any, Isaac?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Christmas isn't for another what, eight months?"

"We're crossing the stage at graduation decked in lights. Gotta make a grand exit, boo. I'll get you the white ones since you're kinda bland."

"Oh-kay."

"You don't have to wear them," I muttered.

"Oh shit," Luna said. "Today's April Fool's."

"Yeah, we've got a month left," I said.

"It's also my birthday," Isaac said casually.

I glanced up at Isaac, but Luna kept tapping on her phone. "It's your birthday?"

"Ha-ha," Luna said. "You really got me there. He's joking, Frannie. One thing I hope you leave behind in college is your naivety."

"No, I get that every year." Isaac leaned forward on his elbows. "I was born April first. All my childhood, my friends liked to prank me instead of actually celebrate. They'd throw explosives in boxes, give me cake filled with toothpaste, and hide my presents and forget where they put them."

"That's...mean," I said, studying his expression. His dark hair stuck up and his tired eyes lingered on his Anatomy book, completely unbothered.

"Oh, they got theirs on their birthdays," Isaac said, smiling. "Fun times."

Isaac was twenty-two now, the oldest of all of us. And I was still the youngest. For some reason, I liked that dynamic a lot.

"Damn dude, that sucks," Luna finally said, setting her phone down. She crossed her arms on the table and looked up at him. "Well, sorry we didn't get you anything. You want my pen? I kinda chewed on it, though."