Finding Amity

Chapter 36

I swapped the revealing dress for a grey sweatshirt and dark jeans, tying on a pair of red sneakers and pulling back my hair as quickly as I could. I stepped out to the hallway where Isaac was waiting patiently. His eyebrow lifted off his face when he spotted my outfit.

"I know, I know." I groaned, gesturing to my clothes. "I downgraded real quick."

"No, you look great." He smiled, walking towards the elevator.

I followed suit, keeping my eyes down, trying to hide the fact that my mind raced with insecurities, telling me that Dustin wasn't busy and had just realised that I wasn't worth his time.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I pressed the ground floor button on the lift.

"Did Pippa tell you what her plans for tonight were?" He hinted. I rolled my eyes, a headache already forming.

"I assumed it was another party. Which, if that's your plans I have to pass. I am not in the mood for a party."

"Don't worry." He chuckled. "Its not that kind of party."

"Is this one of those sex parties?" I questioned. Isaac turned to me with an almost horrified look on his face. "You know, with the keys and you swap and sleep with random people."

"No." He squeaked. "And please don't mention that when we get there."

"Why? What kind of party is it?"

"Pippa's parents are having a barbecue, that's where she is, and that's where we're going."

"Pippa told me about her parents." I warned. "I do not want to walk into some Republican-themed nightmare."

"They're not that bad." He laughed. "Pippa is just dramatic. Pippa and Cruise will be there, and so will my parents, it's basically just a big family gathering. All you have to worry about is my dad not cooking the meat all the way through. Happened once a couple years ago, it was horrific." He shivered.

"I don't get along well with parents." I whined.

"Even better." He smiled as we stepped off the elevator. "These things get kind of repetitive, some drama might make it more fun."

I rolled my eyes as we filed out of the building and into the car. Isaac led the way to his rusted old car and I stepped in, memories of the conversation we had in this car. It was only a week ago but it felt longer.

"Fair warning." Isaac muttered as he started up the engine. The car chortled suspiciously for a moment before revving back to normal. "My parents are going to welcome you into our family with open arms."

"Why do you need to warn me about that?" I laughed.

"Trust me." He groaned. "It was necessary."

We drove onto the freeway, heading further away from the city into lush green farmlands. I stared out my window at fields upon fields of cows.

"When Pippa said you all grew up in the area, I kind of thought that meant in the city." I noted.

"Not exactly." He hummed as he took a turn off. It seemed like the road we were on was heading to nowhere.

"I'm going the right way." He said smugly.

"What? I didn't say you weren't." I defended.

"You were about to."

"You don't know me that well." I growled.

He smiled. "I think I do."

"Really?" I glared at him. "Is that so?" He nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "Well, go on."

"What?" He questioned.

"Tell me about myself, if you know me so well." I suggested.

Isaac nodded, turning his attention back to the road while I thought over what to say. "I think you try to hard to be a good person."

"So I'm not a good person." I challenged.

"No, I didn't say that. I just mean, it's almost like you don't feel like you deserve to be happy unless you dedicate your life to other people."

"Is that meant to be a compliment?" I asked, but he just ignored me and continued his analysis.

"You had all that money sitting in your account for three years? Was it? And yet you didn't use a cent of it. But then, when we were in trouble, you didn't even blink. The money was out of the account in a second."

"That doesn't mean- I don't think I don't deserve happiness."

"So... kissing Cruise, dating this Dustin guy, that's not charity."

"Oh my God-" I gasped.

"I see now that I may have overstepped." Isaac stared down the road.

"Oh, do you now?!" I glowered. "You don't know Dustin."

Isaac pulled over on the side of the road. "Thats where you're wrong." He sighed.

I looked around us. We were on a desolate stretch of road with nothing in sight but trees and a couple pieces of litter tumbling in the wind.

"I swear to God, Isaac," I warned. "If you murder me, I am going to be fucking furious. Seriously, I will come back and haunt the fuck out of you."

"Look, I wasn't going to do this. But it's the right thing to do."

"Murder me?"

"For Christ's sake, I'm not going to murder you, Amity!" He exclaimed. "Dustin isn't who you think he is."

"Of course he's not." I laughed hopelessly. "You don't get to do this Isaac. You didn't want me, Dustin does. I picked him over you and I don't regret it. Because Dustin... he can look me in the eyes and tell me he wants me. He can kiss me without turning around and saying it's a mistake." 

My bottom lip wobbled and I felt my eyes starting to water. I never wanted to be like this in front of him. It kills me to know that he realises how much I liked him.

"Amity, I'm being serious. He's not a good person."

"Forgive me, Isaac." I spat. "But I'm not going to break up with my boyfriend because you don't think he's a good person."

"Okay." He muttered. "Look, I didn't mean to... I'm sorry I upset you. I don't want us- our friendship- I never meant to try to-" 

"Control me?!" I shot back, a little too aggressively.

He nodded solemnly.

I don't think I will ever understand Isaac. He says the things he says, he acts like a total douchebag, then turns around and apologises and I can see on his face that he is truly sorry.

"I can drive you back, if you want." He mumbled.

"No." I sighed. "I'm hungry, so I'll go and eat, hang out with Pippa for a bit."

"Okay." He breathed as he turned the car back on and we drove back onto the freeway, awkward silence settling over the car, the only sounds coming from the odd cough of the cars engine.