My Other Half

Chapter Eight

Isabella listened to her Spanish teacher, Mrs. Rodriquez, bore the whole class. She was still thinking about Aiden. What happened two weeks ago had been a total breakdown between them.

Two weeks.

The only positive thing was Kennedy getting suspended for a week. Aiden also got suspended for two days when the principal found out about their fight. However, after Aiden completed his suspension, he was out of school for an additional two weeks. He had not come back.

Isabella had no clue what was going on. She thought about him every day, wondering why he was absent. It was as if he didn't want to be around her. He didn't answer any of her calls or return her text messages. She even went to his house, knocked on his door, but there was no response.

He was ignoring her, and Isabella was afraid that she had lost him for good.

"Isabella."

Isabella snapped back to the sound of her teacher's voice and looked at her with a confused expression on her face.

"Yes?"

"It would be nice if you would pay attention to this lesson," Mrs. Rodriquez said, annoyed.

Isabella turned her head to look around and everyone was staring at her. She could feel their eyes on her, and her ears turned red in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Señora," she apologized quietly, lowering her head.

The teacher continued to discuss the lesson while Isabella looked at her worn-out desk with pencil and pen markings, embarrassed at being called out by her teacher.

Suddenly, the bell rang, and some students began packing their bags while others headed out the door. Isabella stood up from her desk and shoved her binder into her backpack.

As she was about to leave the classroom, she heard her teacher call her. "Isabella, please stay for a moment."

Isabella cursed under her breath and turned around, facing Mrs. Rodriquez. She walked toward her teacher warily. "Yes, Señora?"

"Why were you off today in class? You're usually so engaged," Mrs. Rodriquez asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Because my best friend hasn't spoken to me in two weeks and I'm worried about him.

Isabella couldn't tell her that. Plus, this was between her and Aiden. She was not going to bother her teacher with her problem.

"I just have some stuff going on and it's been bugging me lately."

"Let me tell you something. You're my favorite student. I know you're capable of doing your work and serious about graduating, so don't lose focus."

"Okay. Tomorrow I'll do better in class, I promise."

Mrs. Rodriguez smiled and patted her student on the shoulder. "I know you'll succeed this year, and I know I'm going to miss you when you leave. We need more mature students like you."

Isabella chuckled, agreeing with her.

After their discussion, the teacher gave her a pass as an excuse if she were late for her next class. They said their goodbyes and Isabella left the classroom, heading to the other side of the school for her last class of the day.

The hallway was empty as kids were already in their next class when the bell rang, signaling that class had started. At least Isabella had the pass so her teacher wouldn't get angry. She walked to the corner and found her classroom on the side of the hallway but stopped when she saw someone she didn't expect to see.

"Aiden . . ."

She walked towards him as he stood beside her classroom, looking sorrowful. Once she stopped in front of him, her eyebrows creased. "I've been worried sick about you!"

Since they were still outside the classroom, Isabella didn't want her teacher to see them. She grabbed Aiden's wrist and dragged him to the nearest exit. She opened the back door and they walked down the stairs, stopping by the brick walls.

"Why weren't you answering my calls?" she asked at once. He didn't say a word and kept his head down. "Aiden."

"I didn't talk to you because . . ."

"What?"

He took a few steps back towards the brick wall, refusing to look his best friend in the eye.

"I kept calling you and sent you a bunch of text messages, and you haven't replied to any of them," Isabella countered. Aiden stayed quiet, looking at the ground. "What's wrong with you?"

He watched her while his eyes became glossy. "Nothing's wrong."

"Aiden, stop bullshitting."

"Bella—"

"What is wrong with you?!" she exclaimed. "You've been acting weird for weeks and it's scaring me."

He didn't take his eyes off hers. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?" she whimpered. She hadn't realized she was crying until she felt a warm tear roll down her cheek.

"I-I want to tell you so badly," he whispered. "But I don't want to lose you if I tell you."

Isabella came closer to him, dropped her backpack on the concrete, and cradled his face in her hands. She saw such a despaired look on his face, tears in his eyes.

"I'll always be here for you, Aiden. No matter what happens, I'll be here for you." She brushed his cheek with her thumb, consoling him. "And whatever you're keeping from me, you're not going to lose me. I'll never leave you for any reason. You understand me?"

Aiden sniffled, murmuring, "Yeah, I know." Isabella pressed her forehead against his as they took a moment to calm themselves down. "I just don't want you to hate me."

"Don't say that." She shook her head. "Nothing would make me hate you. Don't ever think I would."

"Okay." He nodded.

She released his face and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. He did the same, snuggling his head on her shoulder. They both held each other as Isabella tried to keep her emotions inside. She was still confused about why he would think she would hate him. Somehow his secret would make her leave him forever, but Isabella would never think about doing that to him.

She pulled away and looked into Aiden's eyes. "Aiden, I'm begging you. Please tell me what's going on. I want to help you."

He sighed. "I can't tell you here."

"Then let's go to my house and talk about it," Isabella offered optimistically. Maybe he'd finally tell her what he had kept from her over the past couple of weeks.

He hesitated but finally said, "Yeah. Okay."

She picked up her backpack off the ground and they walked to the student parking lot, ditching school once again to make their way to her house.