Him

23: She Needed His Help

"You're coming over sometime during Winter Break, right?"

Hazel asks as we leave class. Today is our last day before Winter Break and the day we get our test results back.

I can happily say that I passed Government with a B which works for me.

"Yeah of course. I wouldn't miss Mrs. Gonzalez's cooking."

She grins at me, "Yeah, I just know the family restaurant will be busy this year."

Hazel's mom, Camila Gonzalez, and her dad, Sebastián Gonzalez, opened a family restaurant 4 years ago called El Arte de los Sabores, or The Art of Flavors.

The most amazing dishes were served there and it's where I worked most summers to hang out with Hazel and her brothers.

"Alright, call me when you reach home, I'll do the same," I tell her, walking to my car.

"Okay cool, I have to see if Isaiah is packed yet and then we'll head out."

I nod at her and we say bye as we head in different directions.

I was supposed to meet Dean before the break, something about he needed to talk.

I was kind of worried about what we had to talk about but I figured it couldn't be worse than previous talks we had before.

I set my GPS in the direction of his complex and started driving.

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"I need to break up with you."

Those were the first words he said after letting me inside.

I didn't reply to him, just stare at him confused until he continued.

"I don't think it makes sense for either of us to continue this way."

I knew where it was coming from, the problems with Theo. The awkwardness of us dating. Like being able to go on without speaking to each other for periods of time but I wasn't expecting for him to say it like this.

"Oh."

That was what I could form after looking at him for so long.

"Oh? That's all you can say?"

I shrug my shoulders, "I don't know Dean. What do you want me to say to that?"

It seemed to make him upset that he wasn't getting a bigger reaction from me and I think part of me tried to become more nonchalant upon the realization.

"You're not going to ask me why I want to break up or anything other than two letters."

"Dean, both of us agreed that we would try this and if it didn't work out that we could be friends. I think we've come to that point."

He huffs, looking at me up and down.

"It is because of him?"

"Who?" This is one of the weirdest breakups I've had.

It's like he won't be justified until I feel or look sad about this.

There's nothing to be sad about.

It just didn't work out.

"Who else? Theo. Is this because something is happening with you two?"

"Nope."

"I just don't understand you, Isabella. We're two different people and this just isn't working."

"I got it. Dean that's like the third time you've broken up with me since I got here. I can take it. I'm sorry that it didn't work out. Hope you find someone better."