"Not really the answer I expected... Oh, hi, Haley!" Isaac says, looking at me disappointed, waving a few fingers at Haley.

"Hi." Haley answers, in that 'queen' tone, exactly like Lydia from Teen Wolf. I think I am slightly too obsessed with that show.

"How the heck do you know that?" I ask, wanting to snatch something and throw it at him for telling me such a stupid thing. Especially now, when I seemed to become ok with the 'Alex leaving me like a dickhead' episode.

"I checked VidCon's program this year. They announced it this morning. I'll send you the link."

"I have to get to chemistry. See ya." Haley says, walking away.

"Bye" me and Isaac answer.

***

"Aren't you happy? I mean, you two will get a chance to see each other."Isaac asks me as he fills his tray with pasta at lunchtime.

We never sit down at the same table but now, everybody seems to be jealous of us for going to America. Isaac's friends totally rejected him when they found out about it. I remember telling him: Don't worry, they are just scared of you becoming a 'True Alpha'. You are handsome and smart and talented. You are stealing their girls. It's obvious why they're ignoring you.
He just smiled and kept eating. Since then, me, Dylan, Haley, Isaac, the hockey team captain and his girlfriend sit at the same table. This is something I am thankful for. I am thankful for having a person like Isaac by my side. You know, we didn't use to talk much. We were besties in childhood, but things changed when he left. When I came here, most teachers knew us as being the "Sheffield bro and sis", so they made us do lots of assignments together and stuff. We would go to each other's place and nothing more. We talked everyday and we have always considered each other as the right person to ask for help. Isaac had different friends and I was really shy and scared of Ireland. We just didn't talk about deep stuff or, as I did with Alex, about our childhood from each other's perspective(attempts, at least) or about the books we like and so on. We didn't talk about the little things that establish the bonds between people. That's why my parents don't really ask about Isaac. Mainly because they keep in touch with his mom, but also because he was not particularly a friend of mine. But since we found out we were going to America together, things changed. We started talking because of Isaac's fake friends who didn't want to see him do better than them, because more and more people saw us as a pair of besties, a hell of a team and because we realized we have so many things in common that it would be a pity not to start listening to each other. Listening in the real sense of the word. Now, me and Isaac really are best friends, the 'Sheffield bro and sis'. That's why I am thankful. I am thankful for being friends with such a gentle person, a person I can learn so many things from, a person I share so many beautiful memories with. It is wonderful; feeling loved without having anyone tell you 'I love you'.

"How could I be happy? I am trying to get over it." I say in a hushed tone as I sit opposite from Haley and Dylan.

"Get over what?" Asks Dylan, filling his mouth with pasta.

"Her ex." Isaac replies.

"You had a boyfriend and you didn't tell me?!" says Haley, astonished.

"It was a weekend thing, it was pretty quick..." I say, mentally swearing Isaac for that answer.

"Ah, than get over it!" Haley says, throwing her hands in the air.

"Yeah, yeah, trying." I mumbled nudging Isaac.

***

*five months later*

"HOLLY MOTHER OF GOD, WE ARE LEAVING IN TWO. FREAKING. WEEKS. FOR. FREAKING. AMERICA."

It was midnight, for god's sake. Isaac called me to tell me this at midnight. I swear, this guy isn't completely sane. Sometimes, he is so melancholic and profound and witty and quiet but some other times... He is like that.

"I know. I know. For fuck's sake. Keep calm." I say, in a sleepy voice. I have been doing end-of-term homework the entire weekend. It's Monday. Our last Monday from this school year.

"Were you sleeping?"

"No, no. Just bird watching. OF COURSE I WAS SLEEPING, NUT HEAD."

"Sorry, Phoebs, but I simply am very excited! I WILL BE PLAYING THERE FOR THOSE PEOPLE, CAN YOU IMAGINE?"

"Yeah, I can. Are you home alone?"

"Yup. My folks are on holiday."

"Cool. Come over. Bring your school stuff for tomorrow, you're sleeping here."

"What if I told you I didn't want to come?"

"We'd both know it's a lie."

"You know me too well. See ya."

He woke me up anyway and I really felt like spending some time with him. A coffee at Fifi's in the morning will help me stay awake at school.

I roll on the other side and see Ben. Normally, he isn't allowed to sleep here, but it doesn't really matter. He is staying on the side Alex stayed. I shove away the picture and get up to put a bra on. Even if he was my best friend, Isaac was still a boy.

I open the door and see him with a backpack and a smaller bag. He was wearing pajamas. Actually, just some shorts. I learnt over time that this was the boys' definition for pajamas.

"You drove here in a pair of shorts?"

"Yeah, obviously."

"Oh-kaaaay....." I say, trying not to stare at his muscles.

"I caught you looking!" Isaac says, pointing a finger at me.

"Am I not allowed to? Is it all reserved for Bethany? After all, you are the one who came here in shorts."

Lately, we've been sexually teasing each other. Awkward, I know. We are just joking around with this, nothing serious.

"Fuck Bethany." He spits in an angry tone.

"Literally, huh?" I say, in a cheeky tone, making fun of him. He knows I profoundly disapprove his crush on her.

"No. I mean, I really hate her. You know Jill, right? The hockey team captain. He has been cheating on Jessica with Bethany. They filmed a little sample of... You know... The things they were doing together in the bedroom. Jessica found out and kicked his ass on Friday, at a party. I gave up on Bethany. She is a whore."

"Finally, thank you, Lord! My prayers!"

"Ok, ok, you're satisfied. But maybe my little heart is broken..." Isaac says, making a sad face. I could tell when he was faking it and when not. Unfortunately, this one was true.

"Sure it is, but think about mine..." I say, lifting his chin, giving him a hug.

"How come you always win?"

His arms tightened around my back. He started crying in a very quiet way. Just tears.

"Trust me, I wish I lost this time..." We cried together but we decided to end this attitude and enjoy the time. After all, it was midnight. Everybody is happy at midnight.

"Leave your things here. Let's make some milk and cereals."

Isaac goes into the kitchen as I light up a cigarette. I started smoking again after the Alex incident. Isaac has thrown away about 3 packs he found in my flat in the last months, but he can't do much about it. He is trying to understand my will of slowly killing myself.

"What cereals do ya want?" Isaac asks as I sit down at the table.

"Choc."

I puff the smoke out as I wait for him to put the chocolate flakes in the bowls.

"Thanks. Do you want to watch some Teen Wolf? They are rewinding it. It's the break between seasons, so they are rewinding season 3 at 12:30 every night."

"You know I love seeing Isaac Lahey on Tv. My clone. In fact, I think I am watching for Allison. Poor thing, she's dead now."

Yeah, Isaac is proud of Isaac Lahey, a character from Teen Wolf. In fact, they even look alike. They have the same thin, purplish lips and the same browny-ginger hair. The shape of their faces is quite similar. But my Isaac is no werewolf. And he currently does not have a crush.

We turn on the Tv and after an episode, we just change on a music channel. There was a song that was like: I... I might be addicted... To when and how you land up on your feet...IIIIII.....MIGHT BE ADDICTED.... To how you always get the best of me.

"Oh my...this song is making no sense." I say, watching and listening stunned.

"This is the kind of song you keep in mind and than you associate it with the appropriate moment of your life. It's the kind of song you include on the soundtrack at a certain moment of your life."

"Yes, you're right."

"Hmm... This one would suit very well a plane ride to America with my best friend."

"But it's kind of a love song."

"But my best friend always gets the best of me. However, I'm not addicted."

"You scared me."

"Phoebs, don't worry about me liking you that way. I would tell you."

"THANKS."

He pulls me into a hug and gives me a kiss on the forehead.

"Where's that fluff ball of yours? Beeeeeeenny..."

"He hardly ever comes if you call for him."

That little doggy came running to Isaac, but if I call him, he just looks at me and nothing more.

"Darling, animals love me."

The two of them started rolling around on the floor, playing and cuddling and laughing(Isaac only). I took some beautiful pictures of them.

"Isaac, I see you are becoming a pet as well."

"But he's so fluffy!!!!"

"I wanna show you something, hurry up."

I decided to tell Isaac about my novel. In these five months, I had the opportunity to finish it. All I had left to do was type it and correct it. I will correct it when I type it. I didn't tell anyone about it, except for my parents, because I wasn't very sure that I will stick to it or that I will manage to finish it. My parents told me to try typing all of it before I left. 'You never know who might fall in love with it.', they said.

I looked around for the nicely clipped pages and gave them to Isaac. The first page read, in handwriting:

"The story of a simple soul by Phoebe Phillis." Isaac mumbled, looking surprised.

"This is my first novel. I finished it a few days ago... I want to typ.."

"PHOEBS. YOU HAVE JUST WRITTEN A BOOK."

I nodded, smiling, instantly unable to say anything. A few tears of joy formed in the corners of my eyes.

"I've always wanted to write a book, Isaac. I... Did it."

I was wiping away tears with the back of my hand and Isaac was looking at me paralyzed, a huge smile planted on his face. In moments like this, I know I won't die all alone.

"Alex is a fool for leaving a treasure like you. But he is so lucky for at least meeting you..."

I smiled from the bottom of my heart, knowing that he really meant what he said.

"Flick through it. You are the first person to read it."

"How do I always get the best things?" Isaac says, sitting down in my bedroom armchair. 453 handwritten pages to read.

"Isaac, you don't have to read it now, it's late. We should get to sleep."

"No, I am pretty pumped up. I drank a coffee when I left. Go to sleep, hunny. I will go on the couch and read it there. You can't sleep with the light on."

"No, it's fine. I can turn on the other side. The lamp isn't that blinding, don't worry."

"Ok, then. Goodnight, writer."

"Goodnight, pianist."

I got into bed and helped Ben climb next to me. Isaac tucked me in and caressed my cheek, whispering 'good night'. I whispered back a 'thank you for reading it'. He smiled back and I watched him sit down in the armchair. Closing my eyes, I couldn't really fall asleep. I was in the state in between. I heard Isaac read in a low voice:

".....and maybe the stars aligned and the spirits allowed my life to be the way it is. For which I am thankful."

Losing track of time and space, I could still hear Isaac's patient voice:

" You came into my life because this is all what destiny is about, Holden. Everything is there because this is how it is supposed to be."
.....

"Probably, my story isn't meant to change. Think about other people who end up in car accidents or because of hunger or murder. I am lucky to know that I will end up healthy and powerful, but alone."
....

"You can't say something like that, Julianne... I can't let you be alone, even if you are only 17. I have to help you find a husband... You should have kids and a family. You won't die alone. It's my duty. That man who made me live within the pages of a book had the power and the will to give my life within the pages of your book. And I can't just watch your days pass by. I have to change them."
.....

"Forgive me, Julianne... My attempts to change your destiny have failed."
...

"Holden, can't you see? You changed everything. I might not have a husband or a family, but I am not alone. You're here with me, dear friend. For which I am thankful."

I am woken up by Isaac's hand on my back. He was absent-mindedly petting me to wake me up.

"You... You read it..?"

"Yes. You know, all those writers you will be interviewing... They should be the ones interviewing you. Now, get up. We'll be late." His shy compliment made me happy.

He got up and went to the bathroom, an immobile expression replacing his beautiful features. His eyes were red and still. They were almost stoned.

"Isaac... Are you alright?"

"Phoebe... Your book... Is the best book I have ever read. For which I am thankful." He says, slightly smiling, using Julianne's last words."You... That book... I.. That book is so sensible... And.. And you concentrated the most important things in life: the power of imagination and belief, the power of destiny and the power of a human's presence. Phoebe, I am speechless, I can't even tell you how much you make me want to make Alex do something about you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate and cherish everything about you. You put your entire self in there. And I never believed it; that writers revealed theirselves to the world when they wrote. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't have realized how difficult and psychically consuming writing is. I have seen you in those words. It was all you. All your feelings and your secrets are there. Your true self, the one I am so lucky to have met, is in there too. I don't know how to tell you that you teach me something every single day. And I wish I could do that, too, for a stranger even."

Isaac started crying halfway through the eulogy, so I got up and took his hands in mine.

"Isaac... You have changed my life in the most meaningful and innocent way."

"Thanks. But don't run out of words on me. You will have a husband and children so you have to save something nice for them, too."

"Writers never run out of words."

***
"Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Phoebe, Isaac."says the principal when we enter his office. He called through the speakers after the first class today that 'Phoebe Phillis, Isaac Martin. Please come to the principal's office.' "Have a seat."

Me and Isaac exchange a look and than stare at the principal, not particularly knowing what to expect.

"Your teachers have announced you about the leaving hours and other details. You have to sign some papers through which you guarantee to respect the arriving hours, through which you guarantee to take the plane at that certain hour and stuff like that. Here are your plane tickets. Be 4 hours early. The flight will take 14 hours. The tickets back will be given to you by Miss Tushman, the lady responsible for the pupils from Ireland, France and Germany. She will be some sort of guide for you. She will basically take care of you. She will also be waiting for you at the airport. Here is her phone number, if you want to contact her for any further information. I don't think it's the case, since your teachers had been told by the organizers just the same things as I or this Miss Tushman had been told. I wanted to give you these papers personally, not to disturb your teachers anymore. Soooo... How are you feeling?"

"Excited." Isaac says.

I look at him, approving.

"This is the attitude! After all, you are basically going on a camp! You will have loads of fun! I want you to feel good and forget about school! You will be in America for almost three months! You have the opportunity to build yourselves a future. So be proud and keep your head held high because you deserve attention. You are no fools. You are geniuses. Also, you are free for the rest of the week. You have to get your luggage ready for America! You don't need three remaining school days! The awarding festivity will be held in the school's yard, Friday, 9:30. You have a bunch of diplomas to take. Oh, don't forget your passports, your health insurances... So, that's it! Congratulations for your results this year, as well as the ones in the other year and... Keep going!"

"Thank you, sir!" Isaac says, shaking the principal's strong hand.

"Thank you so much!" I also shake the man's hand, slightly bowing my head.

We take our papers and head out.

"Sheffield bro and sis! I am the one thanking you! You make me hope that our world isn't lost, thanks to people like you. Farewell!"

As we head to our next class, Isaac screams, taking me in his arms, spinning me on the hallway in front of everyone:

"This might be one hell of a summer!!!!!"

As he puts me down, we notice a few girls looking at Isaac as if he were a Burberry model. They let out a hopeless gasp, seeing me with Isaac. The following thing that happened was almost impossible, knowing Isaac's shyness in front of girls. He approached the girls who were hyperventilating and said:

"Ladies, I know you want a piece of this. Don't you worry, I am single. Try not to fight like pumas over me when I come back. There's room for everybody!"

The three girls remained with their jaws opened, while Isaac turned to me with a 'watch and learn' face, guiding me through the crowded hall.

"Are you on drugs or something?" I asked, laughing so hard.

"I just decided to live my life and take advantage of my... Qualities."

"You are wonderfully surprising me."

"Bam." Isaac said, adjusting the collar of his white Lacoste."Let's get the hell out of here, Phoebs. Let's start packing."

"We will also need to shop. My parents sent me my birthday present earlier. Cheque for clothes."

"That means hardcore shopping."

"Obviously."

"See ya in an hour. I will come pick you up."

________________________

Author's note

Sorry, I keep forgetting to tell you something pretty important. In my fan fic, Alex is three years older than Phoebe and the Arctic Monkeys have released all of their albums(AM, FWN, Humbug, Suck it and see). The action takes place in 2015 and I know I might not be following certain realistic facts, like details about laws and Tv shows and movie release dates and things like that. Also, I know it's pretty awkward creating a 19-year-old Alex Turner who launched 4 albums and who should be, in 2015, 29 years old. 😂 But it's fiction so I allow myself to do such things. I hope you don't mind... Thanks for reading! xx