Chapter Text
Izzie gets a text from Casey that evening to say that the team arrived at the hotel and had dinner and are settling in for the night but that she is bored.
Izzie can understand that. It’s probably only a dozen girls that have moved on from Regionals to the Sectional round. That whittles down the numbers and limits your options on companions and who to hang out with.
Frankie is my roommate.
Izzie doesn’t have much of an opinion about Frankie. She’s a hard worker and is committed to what she does but she’s a little aloof sometimes.
I wish you were my roommate.
Izzie raises an eyebrow at that. She sends a sad face emoji in response. I’m too slow for sectionals. Maybe next year.
Izzie waits to see what Casey has to say about that. But a few minutes pass and she doesn’t get a reply. Izzie sets her phone down on the couch next to her. She’s watching some nature show with her family. Her mom and her brother and sister and Anastasia, who crawls and climbs all over them on the couch.
“Sit down, child.” Izzie jokes and pulls Anastasia onto her lap. “You’re so squirmy.”
Her phone chimes and she picks it up to look at the message.
I’m so bored. Casey complains again.
Izzie chuckles.
“What’s so funny?” Her mother asks.
“Just Casey.” Izzie says without thinking. She looks over at her mother when she realizes her error. “Uh, Casey is at Sectionals and she’s, uh, bored.”
“Weren’t you supposed to be there then?”
“I didn’t make it this year.” Izzie sighs. Another reminder of her failure.
“Maybe next year then.”
“That’s the goal.” Izzie smirks. She’s only got one last shot at it. Next year she’s a Senior.
She focuses back on her phone, the text message chain.
Read a book, Newton. Or watch a show or movie.
A reply comes back right away. Me? Read a book? And look like a nerd. No way.
Izzie shakes her head and smiles at her phone. She sends Casey the lol emoji. Go to bed then.
I’m too anxious to sleep.
You need rest for the big day tomorrow. Goodnight. Izzie isn’t going to let Casey ruin her races tomorrow by staying up and texting with her all night.
Goodnight? It’s like 8pm.
Izzie chews on her lip, debating whether or not to reply. Yes it is. You need to focus on tomorrow. I want you to focus on tomorrow and not texting into the night with me. So yes goodnight.
Sectionals are different from Regionals. It’s one step away from the State meet. Izzie knows from experience that it can be a long grueling day. There are many heats for each event and the competitors get narrowed down to the final. There’s also lots of waiting around. And it all starts bright and early in the morning. Warm up and practice starts at 8am and the meet starts at 10.
The next morning Izzie send one good luck text to Casey. Good luck, Newton. Simple. She doesn’t want to be a distraction for Casey today.
She spends the entire day wondering about the results. She plays with her siblings all day. It’s a beautiful Saturday so they go to the park and run around.
She doesn’t hear anything all day about how the meet went or what the results were. It makes Izzie anxious but she’s not going to be nosy and pry. Part of her thinks the results weren’t good if she hasn’t heard anything. You want to share good news with people, not bad news.
But she’s trying to work on herself and trying not to be clingy or go to Casey every time she has a thought or idea. Not be a stalker. She knows she’s used the phrase a couple of times. And she knows she has been. Being just a little bit creepy and being too needy for even her own liking. It’s not something Izzie is proud of.
She refrains from contacting Casey about how the meet went even though the not knowing the result are driving her crazy. She’s going to wait for Casey to contact her. Maybe she won’t. Maybe Izzie will have to wait until Monday at school to find out. She’s not really sure where she stands with Casey at the moment. She knows she’s not out of the dog house but she also doesn’t know if Casey really wants to talk or text with her. She knows that Casey probably really was just bored last night at the hotel and that’s why she text her.
She gets a text the next morning from Casey asking if Izzie can come over.
Izzie grins. So maybe Casey isn’t so closed off to the idea of communicating.
Aren’t you going to tell me how your races went?
It only takes a few seconds to get a reply from Casey. Only if you come over.
It takes Izzie a couple hours, but she makes it over to Casey’s after an argument with her mom and pleading with her grandma to take the car for the afternoon.
Casey is waiting out on the bench on the front porch for Izzie when she arrives. “Hey.” Casey nods.
Izzie tries her hardest not to smile but does. “Hi.” She mumbles quietly.
Casey stands up and opens her arms. Izzie takes the step to the porch and steps into Casey’s embrace. Izzie sighs as she rests her chin on Casey’s shoulder.
“Let’s go in.”
Izzie is disappointed that it was such a short hug. She loves Casey’s hugs. She gives the best hugs.
Casey opens the door, and they go inside. Casey yells to her mom. “Mom, Izzie’s here. We’ll be upstairs.” She takes Izzie by the hand and runs up the stairs.
“So?” Izzie sits on the end of the bed.
Casey grins. “Guess who’s going to State?” She holds her arms out at her sides.
Izzie jumps up from the bed. She wraps Casey in a hug. “I’m so happy for you.” She pulls back, keeping her hands on Casey’s waist though. “Both of your races?”
Casey nods with a big grin.
Izzie pulls her into a hug again. “That’s amazing.”
“Thanks.” Casey pats at Izzie’s back awkwardly. “Sorry I didn’t tell you yesterday.”
They part. Izzie sits back down on the end of the bed. Casey standing over her.
“I just- well it was late. I didn’t want to-“
“It’s okay.” Izzie lets Casey off the hook.
Casey nods. She goes around to the side of the bed and sits up by the pillows, with her back to the wall. Izzie turns around to face her but stays at the end of the bed. They sit there for a few moments. Izzie worries her hands together in her lap. There’s nothing else to distract herself with. Now that they’ve talked about Casey’s races, what’s next?
“So, I don’t-“
“I was thinking-“
They say at the same time.
Casey nods at Izzie. “You go first.”
Izzie takes a deep breath. She wants to explain to Casey again. She needs to apologize and to make sure Casey understands and vow that she won’t do anything stupid again to jeopardize their relationship.
“I feel like I need to explain again. Now that we’ve both had time to sit with it.” She looks down at her hands in her lap.
“I shouldn’t have done that. Never. In a million years. It was so stupid. I just like blacked out. Like it was an out of body experience. I didn’t even know what I was doing. There were all those people in that room that we knew and then we were dancing, and I freaked out. I didn’t want to be seen as not perfect or different. I didn’t want to be judged. I’ve lived this perfect public persona for sooo long. It’s hard to break. And I kissed that guy. I’ll own up to that, but it didn’t mean anything. You have to know that.” She takes Casey’s hands. “I know that’s not a very good reason or explanation but it’s what happened. I regret it. I regretted it as soon as I did it. I went back to our room right away. I didn’t think- you never came back. I just- I’m really sorry and I know you don’t have to accept my apologize. And you have no reason to trust me after that. I’m just confused most of the time and it’s hard to wrap my head around everything that’s happening with us.” It’s all said really quickly.
Izzie looks over and Casey has a little smirk on her lips. “What?”
“Just take a breath.” Casey smiles.
Izzie sighs. Her heart is racing. She’s winded from all that she just spewed.
“It’s confusing. I know. I get confused too. But you know what I think?” Izzie shakes her head. “I think that we need to start coming to each other with our confusion. That way we can figure it out. Together. I’m not going to pretend like it didn’t happen or that I wasn’t completely devastated.”
She didn’t know it effected Casey that much. “I’m sorry.” Izzie frowns.
“And yeah, you’re going to have to earn back the trust that you lost.”
“I know. And I promise I won’t kiss anymore random guys. Or anyone. Just you.” Izzie shrugs. “If you’ll let me.”
Casey laughs. “Come over here. You’re too far away.”
Izzie sighs. At least Casey hasn’t completely given up on her. It’s a starting point. Izzie knows she’s got a lot of work to do. On herself and her insecurities and on working towards a relationship with Casey. She scoots a little closer to Casey.
Casey wraps an arm around Izzie and pulls her in for a kiss. Izzie puts her hands on Casey’s shoulders. She doesn’t know if she’ll ever get used to this. The feeling of kissing someone she actually has feelings for. It’s amazing. And every time she kisses Casey it feels just as good or better than the last time. Izzie didn’t know kissing someone was supposed to feel like this. Like everything inside her was supposed to light up and come alive. She gets this giddy rush just kissing Casey. What’s it going to feel like when it’s more than just kissing?
They separate and stare at each other. Izzie takes a deep breath in. “I think I’m gay.” She berates herself for blurting that out. Izzie pinches her eyes closed in fear of Casey’s reaction.
Casey smiles and rolls with it, though. “You think?”
Izzie open her eyes and Casey is smirking at her. “Okay fine. I’m like 99 percent sure I’m gay.” She thankful that Casey is so easy to talk to. Izzie knows that Casey is so easy to talk to for a reason.
“Good to know.” Casey nods and kisses Izzie again.
“Wait.” She pushes at Casey’s shoulders. “That’s it.” She can’t believe Casey isn’t going to say anything else or ask any questions.
Casey shrugs. “Well, I assume you don’t want to have me make a big deal out of it. Isn’t that part of what’s been going on? How you’re going to handle it or present yourself to the world or come out or whatever? Izzie, it’s totally up to you what to do and how comfortable you or aren’t.” Casey shrugs. “But I’m going to be right here with you, no matter what.”
Izzie nods, a little dumbstruck. How is it possible that Casey is this cool with this? Well, Casey is so cool about just about everything. Not much bothers her, or she pretends like not much bothers her, but Izzie knows better. “What about you?”
“What about me?” Casey realizes the unasked question. “Oh. I don’t know. I don’t want to put a label on it. On myself. People judge us and label us as human beings. Athlete, musician, alcoholic, loser, gay. But those are just labels. I think no one else should be allowed to put a label on another person but that’s the way the world sort of is. One word, one label doesn’t define a person. We are more than just one thing. We are many things, not one alone.”
I love you.
Izzie stares at Casey.
“I like who I like, whether that’s guys or girls. And I am who I am. Why put myself in a box?” Casey shrugs.
“You’re amazing.” Izzie mumbles like an idiot.
Casey chuckles. “High praise, but I’ll take it.”
Izzie grabs onto Casey’s wrist. “I’m serious.” She bites her lip. “You are so amazing about this. You let me be me and feel comfortable with whatever that is.”
“Label don’t matter to me. I don’t like them. But I understand that some people do and that some people need them and need to use them. You do whatever feels comfortable. If we need to go on a grand coming out tour, then I do that with you. If you want to just let things be and happen more organically, I’m fine with that too.” Casey raises Izzie’s hand and kisses the back of it before opening it up and pressing a kiss to the palm. “As long as you’re comfortable. But-“ Casey raises an eyebrow. “-I don’t want to hide anything. Hide-“ She swallows the lump her in throat. “-us.”
Izzie shakes her head. “No.” She knows there’s a lot of work to do but she doesn’t want to keep Casey a secret or hiding. “No.” She lays on her side with her head on Casey’s chest, arm around her waist.
Casey wraps an arm around Izzie and holds her close. “Okay.”
This feels good. Like Izzie finally feels good about this. They’ve come to an understanding. They’ve got the ball rolling forward again.
Izzie has been stressed out all day. She keeps thinking about her mother during the entire school day. She didn’t even want to go to school today. It was her mother’s court date day. Where they find out whether or not she’s going to jail. Which is likely. But Izzie wanted to go to court today instead of going to school. But her mother and grandmother both told her no. She’s been agitated all day.
Since she doesn’t have to go to track practice anymore Izzie goes straight home after school. She gets in the door and everyone is sitting around waiting for her. They all look at Izzie as she comes in.
“Come, sit down.” Grandma gets up out of the chair she was sitting in. The kids are all sitting at the table with their mother. Izzie slips her backpack off of her shoulder and drops it by the door. She goes over, it almost feels like she’s moving in slow motion, she sits at the table. The anxiety in the air is palpable.
“Just tell us.” Izzie sighs. She’s ready to get this over with.
“I have to report to jail in two weeks.”
“How long?” Izzie asks.
“Ninety days.”
Izzie thinks it through. Nearly three months. That’s most of the summer. The summer. She panics a little with that thought. The school year is nearly done. Izzie was actually looking forward to the summer.
Now she is going to have to watch her siblings all the time, the whole summer. That’s both good and bad. She’s not going to have much free time. They won’t be in school and they be attached at her hip day and night.
Whether her mother can see the panic on her face or not. “Your grandmother will help out.”
“Yeah, we’ve already talked about it. I can take the kids Friday night through Sunday if you can come get them Sunday morning.” Her grandma puts a hand on Izzie’s shoulder. “I know that’s when you teenagers have all your big plans. On Friday and Saturday nights.”
Izzie is just wondering how she’s going to have time to do anything. Forget Friday and Saturday night. What about the rest of the time? What about training for track?
“We’ll figure it out.” Her grandma says as if she’s got everything handled.
Another summer being stolen from me.
“I could get out early if there’s overcrowding or on good behavior.” Her mother adds like it’s some sort of help.
Izzie looks to Olivia and the girl sits there with her bottom lip tucked into her mouth. She then looks to Elijah. He has a worried look in his eyes. He sits on his hands on the chair. They are good kids; Izzie knows, but three whole months.
“I’ll have work release so that’s where I need your grandma’s help the most.” Izzie nods at that information. That means that her grandmother will have to drive down to the jail in the morning, pick her mother up and drive her to work. Then go home. Wait until the afternoon and go pick her mother up from work and bring her back to jail. Izzie’s heard of that before.
“It’s the least I can do.” Grandma gives them a tight lipped smile.
That also explains why grandma can’t watch the kids more.
“When will you be back?” Elijah asks in a small voice.
“Before you go back to school in the fall.”
“Oh.” He bows his head trying to figure out what that means.
“Can I go spend the night at Casey’s?” In the past, she wouldn’t have asked. Izzie would have just said that she was going out and that she wouldn’t be back. Not telling anyone where she was going. But she’s realized that that was a behavior that she picked up from her mother. And she’s trying hard not to be like her mother and repeat her mother’s mistakes. She’s trying to break that habit, that cycle.
Her mother stares at her. She tilts her head to the side.
“What?” Izzie doesn’t appreciate the look. She needs to get out of her for a while though. Izzie feels frayed.
Her mom and grandma share a look. Grandma shrugs, but it’s not up to her in the end. “Sure.” Her mother sighs.
The sigh annoys Izzie. She scowls. “Do you-“ She shouldn’t get into this right now, she knows, but Izzie is beyond frazzled. “Do you have a problem with Casey?”
“How could I? I’ve never met the girl.” Her mom throws her hands in the air.
Izzie frowns.
“I know you like to keep your life a secret from me, but this feels different. What is it?” Her mom folds her arms over her chest.
“I just- I just-“ Izzie doesn’t know what to say.
“Casey seems like a good person.” Her grandmother says, deflecting from Izzie.
“She is.” Izzie mumbles.
Her mother turns to her grandmother. “You’ve met her?”
“Well, not exactly but-“ Grandma doesn’t know how much she should say. She looks to Izzie for help.
“Grandma was here when Casey came over to drop off some clothes for the kids. It was the day you got arrested and were in jail.” Izzie smirks. “She also knows where Casey lives.”
Her mother scoffs.
“What do you want me to do? Invite her over for an extravagant dinner of Mac N Cheese. Or freezer burritos. That doesn’t exactly scream good time.” Izzie folds her arms over her chest as well, taking on the same defensive stance as her mother.
“Are you ashamed of where we live?” Her mother asks.
Izzie throws her hands in the air. “What do you think?”
“Isabella, it’s the best I can do. After your father left-“ She stops and looks around the room for the other kids. “You know what. I don’t blame you, but I wish you had a little more compassion and respect for what I’ve been through.”
Izzie rolls her eyes. “How about this?” She raises an eyebrow at her mother. She can’t believe she is about to compromise with her. “I set up a dinner. I’ll buy the groceries and plan the meal and do the cooking. You clean the apartment up all nice. Spick and span. And we’ll invite Casey over.” Izzie has no idea why she is doing this. “Maybe the day before you go to jail. Or two days before since I wouldn’t want to put any extra pressure on it.” She almost can’t believe the words that are coming out of her mouth. She doesn’t know where this is even coming from. Maybe it’s her trying to be a better person. Izzie isn’t sure.
“That sounds lovely, dear.” Grandma says with a smile.
“Wow.” Her mother is completely disarmed with this. She looks down at the ground, shocked. “Okay. Yeah. I would like that.”
Izzie smiles. “Grandma can you give me a ride over to Casey’s when you leave?”
“Sure, dear.”
“Come on guys.” Izzie ushers her brother and sister into their room. She sits down on the bed with them, running her hands through her hair.
“Do you have to go to Casey’s tonight?” Elijah asks.
Izzie sighs. He just has to guilt trip her right now. “Look, I just- I need to.” Izzie doesn’t know how to explain it more than that. “Mom will be here. You should spend as much time with her as you can before she has to go to jail.” Izzie isn’t going to sugar coat it for them. “Tomorrow you’ll go to school and then after school I’ll be back. I promise.”
She kisses Elijah on the head. “We are going to have tons of time to spend together this summer. Don’t worry. You won’t miss me for tonight.”
“But I will.” He whines.
Izzie pulls him into her side for a hug. “You’re such a goofy ball.” She mumbles before turning her attention to Olivia. “How are you feeling, missy.”
Olivia shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“It’s okay not to know. It’s a lot to process. Try not to think about it too much though. Things aren’t going to be that different around here. We just won’t be seeing mom. But that’s like last summer when we didn’t see her.” Izzie reminds them. They’ve done this before they can do it again.
“I have to go.” Izzie feels antsier the longer she sits with them. “I’ll see you both tomorrow.” She gives each of them a kiss on the top of the head before getting up.
She goes out and kisses Anastasia. “Hey, little lady.” She tickles her side. Anastasia laughs and squirms. “I love you.” She whispers and kisses her head.
Her grandma drops her off and Izzie rings the doorbell. She readjusts her backpack strap while she’s waiting for someone to come to the door.
Sam answers the door. “Oh. I didn’t know you were coming over. Were you coming for dinner because we just finished?”
“No, Sam-o. I had something to eat.”
“Okay.” Sam takes a step back to let Izzie into the house. “Casey’s in her-“
“Casey’s right here.” Casey says as she barrels down the stairs. “I was just cleaning up my room.” She explains a little out of breath. She pushes Sam out of the way.
Izzie had text her few minutes ago to give her a heads up that she was coming over. Apparently Casey didn’t bother to tell anyone else in her house that she was coming over.
“Hey.” Sam stumbles to the side. “Mom!”
“Casey be nice to your brother.” Elsa yells from the kitchen.
Casey scoffs. She takes Izzie by the hand. “We’ll be upstairs.”
Izzie had said in the message that she had something she had to tell Casey.
But Izzie needs comfort. She needs to feel something other than panic and anxiety right now. She sits down on the edge of the bed. Casey sits next to her. “My mom has to report to jail in two weeks.”
Casey worries about what that means. “You’re not going to Florida again for the summer?”
Izzie smiles faintly. “No.”
“Good cuz last summer was dreadful without you.” Casey picks at the blanket on her bed.
“It couldn’t have been that bad. You had Evan.”
Casey frowns. “Yeah, but he’s not you.”
Izzie breathe catches. “Oh.”
Casey grins. “Let’s lay down.” She flops onto the bed, laying on her left side.
Izzie lays down, less hastily. Also, on her side, facing Casey.
“Tell me about today. When you got home.” Casey pushes Izzie’s hair back away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Izzie sighs. “I just- it’s a lot. Are you sure you want to hear about it?”
“If it’s something that’s happening in your life than I want to know about it.” Casey whispers right before she leans in to peck Izzie’s lips.
“So, we don’t have to go to Florida or anywhere else because I’m going to be watching the kids all summer.”
“All summer?” Casey pouts.
“Pretty much. My mom got ninety days.” Izzie finds Casey’s hand and interlocks their fingers. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“So, you’re a psychic now?” Casey jokes trying to lighten the mood.
Izzie smiles. “No, but you’re thinking the same thing that I am. That the summer is ruined.”
Casey hums. “It doesn’t have to be. Right? We can still hang out. Right? Or am I being banned from hanging out with you?”
Izzie shakes her head. “I really want to hang out with you. But during the week I have to watch the kids everyday. My grandma is going to take them Friday night through Sunday morning though.”
“Well, there ya go.”
Izzie smiles a little bit. “So, keep those times open because I don’t know how much free time I’m going to have other than that.”
“You got it.” Casey promises.
“My grandma is already doing so much. She shouldn’t have to take care of the kids every weekend.”
“And you shouldn’t have to take care of them all week.”
“But I have to because my mom is doing Huber.”
Casey wrinkles up her face.
Izzie reaches up, still holding onto Casey’s hand, and smooths out the wrinkles on Casey’s forehead. She watches her index finger run over Casey’s skin as she speaks. “Huber is work release. They are going to let her out of jail during the day to go to work. The problem with that is someone needs to pick her up and drop her off. That’s what my grandma has to do every day.”
Izzie brings their hands back down in between them. “If she didn’t do Huber we would probably have to go to Florida for the summer. This way we’ll still have money coming in to pay for food and the bills and stuff.” Izzie knows these are problems that Casey probably doesn’t and has never thought about. “You probably don’t want to hear all this crap.”
Casey releases her hand from Izzie’s. It takes Izzie a moment to let her go but when she does Casey moves her hand to Izzie’s hip. She rubs circles with her thumb over Izzie’s hip bone.
It’s something Izzie consciously thinks about. Casey’s hands on her and how that feels. This is what she wanted, needed. Casey to make her feel better, to comfort her, to relax her.
“I don’t want you to burden yourself with it either.” Casey says softly. “It is what it is. You don’t have any control over it.”
“That the problem.” Izzie whispers. “I have no control.”
Casey smirks. “You do love being in control, don’t you?” She squeezes Izzie’s hip.
Izzie closes her eyes, sighing. “Y-yeah.”
“So, you can talk about it. Tell me all about it. Tell me everything, Izzie.”
“I’m so stressed out about it. Like I wanted this summer to be different. I wanted to be able to hang out with you and like-“ Izzie isn’t sure she can say out loud what she wants.
Casey smirks. “Go on a date?”
Izzie opens her eyes. “Y-yeah.” The idea of going on a date with Casey both thrills and terrifies Izzie.
Casey laughs. “Okay. As long as that’s not the only time I get to see you during the whole week.”
Izzie feels lighter now. “You can see me whenever you want. You might have to endure children though.” She opens up the idea of Casey coming over to the apartment to hang out.
Casey wraps an arm around Izzie and pulls her to her chest. “We’ll figure something out. Plus, we have to train this summer for UCLA. You’re going to be seeing a lot of me.”
Izzie couldn’t think of anything better. But right now she’s going to just enjoy the feeling of Casey’s arms around her holding her close.
Izzie wakes up in Casey’s bed. That’s not that strange. It happens quite often. But not usually on a school night. But after yesterday and all the jail drama with her mom she just needed to stay overnight. Plus, now Casey is hell bent on getting ample amounts of sleep for track purposes. So, they mostly just laid in bed until it wasn’t ungodly early to go to sleep.
She rolls over. Casey’s alarm hasn’t gone off yet. Casey is still asleep, laying on her side, facing away from Izzie. Izzie takes the opportunity to slip her arm over Casey’s waist. She presses her forehead into her back between her shoulder blades, pressing a kiss to the spot. She moves higher with her lips. Up to the back of Casey’s neck. Izzie presses soft kisses along skin here until she feels Casey squirm. The involuntary moan that comes out of Casey makes Izzie smirk into her next kiss.
“Good morning.” Izzie whispers.
Casey rolls backwards, trying to get a look at Izzie. “Morning.”
Izzie sighs. What a great way to start the day. She rolls backwards onto her back. Casey follows. Casey finds her hand, wrapping it in her own and bringing it to her lips to kiss. Izzie smiles shyly. It still gets to her. The little bits of affection. It’s not even a big thing but it makes Izzie feel giddy.
“I’m going to take a shower.” Izzie says.
Casey nods and bites her lip as she watches Izzie climb out of her bed.
Izzie gathers up her school uniform before ducking into the bathroom, looking over her shoulder at Casey before she disappears.
Izzie gets to work showering and then getting dressed.
“Okay. All done. I’ll be downstairs.” Izzie knows if she sticks around in Casey’s bedroom that Casey will procrastinate and not get ready for school. “Get up.” She gives Casey a pointed look.
Casey rolls her eyes at her. Izzie grabs her backpack and bounds out of the room.
She comes down the stairs, a skip in her step. “Morning, Mrs. Gardner.” She sing-songs, dropping her backpack near the door.
“Morning, Izzie.”
Izzie doesn’t want to take advantage of Casey’s mom, but she doesn’t know yet that she is dating her daughter. Izzie knows the sleeping arrangement would likely be different otherwise. But it’s not her job to tell Casey’s parents. Or it’s not her job alone.
“Anything I can help with?” Izzie asks. She doesn’t want Elsa slaving over her. Izzie goes to the counter and picks up a box of cereal. She gets a bowl and pours the cereal.
Elsa gets her the almond milk out of the fridge since she is closer to it. “No, dear. Just eat. Where’s Casey?”
“I think she was going to take a shower.” Izzie pours her milk before sitting down to eat.
“Okay.”
Sam comes stomping down the stairs a few minutes later.
“Everything alright?”
He stops and stares at his mother. “Why do people always ask that when clearly something is wrong? And no.”
Izzie smiles into her bowl. He’s so funny and doesn’t want to laugh at his obvious distress.
“So, what’s wrong?” Elsa changes the question.
“I needed to shower but Casey’s still in the bathroom. I don’t know what’s taking her so long. She’s usually done by now.” Sam wrinkles up his nose.
Izzie feels guilty. “That might be my fault, Sam-o.” She gives him an apologetic smile.
He looks Izzie up and down, noticing her wet hair. “Oh.”
“Sorry.” She pouts.
Sam sits down next to Izzie. “Next time make sure there’s enough time for all three of us to shower.”
Izzie grins. “Okay.”
“What did you have for breakfast?” He asks.
Izzie shows him her near empty bowl. All that’s left is the milk. “Just cereal.”
Sam hums. “I think I’ll have cereal as well.”
Izzie giggles as he gets up to make his breakfast.
“You’re all eating without me?” Casey whines as she comes into the room.
“Maybe you should get up earlier.” Sam jokes.
Izzie makes a fist and reaches over. “Good one.” They fist bump.
Casey stammers. “That’s not my- Izzie-“ She sighs, giving up. “What’s for breakfast then?”
“Cereal.” Izzie and Sam say at the same time.
Casey rolls her eyes at them, not liking the idea of them ganging up on her.
Izzie watches as Casey prepares a bowl of cereal for herself. She’s not even fully dressed. Her shirt isn’t buttoned up all the way, it’s not tucked into her skirt, and her tie hangs undone around her neck. Casey leans against the counter eating her cereal.
Izzie gets up, they have to get going soon or they will be late. She goes over to Casey. Casey smiles at her. Izzie smiles back. She reaches up and does the top two buttons on Casey’s shirt. She flips up the collar. Then she takes the ends of Casey’s tie in her hands and starts doing it. The bowl of cereal is the only thing preventing them from being closer as Casey holds it at stomach level between them. Izzie’s eye shift from the tie and tying the knot up to Casey’s face, her eyes, she wiggles her eyebrows.
Casey’s mouth hangs open a little as she stares at Izzie. Izzie finishes the knot, tugging it secure, and flattens the collar of Casey’s shirt over it. She puts a hand on the center of Casey’s chest, giving it a pat before sliding her hand down her front as she smirks up at Casey. “There.” She says and takes a step back.
“Th-thanks.” Casey stutters stunned.
“Finish your breakfast. We have to go.” Izzie turns on her heels. “Have a good day, Sam-o.” She winks at him. Sam nods back. “You too, Mrs. G.” She waves before going to the door to grab her backpack. She hears a clatter in the sink as Casey’s bowl hap hazardously makes it way in there. She hears Casey’s footsteps on the floor as she hurries after Izzie.
“Bye.” Casey yells out and follows Izzie out the door. “What was that?” Casey whispers.
“What was what?” Izzie plays.
“You know.” Casey looks down at her tie.
Izzie comes to a halt at the side of the car. She turns to face Casey and shrugs. “I was just helping you with your tie.” She smiles, sugary sweet before getting in the car.
Casey stands there stunned for a moment before hurrying over to the other side of the car and getting in to drive them to school.
It’s lunchtime. Or the end of lunchtime. “Done?” Casey asks. Izzie nods and Casey takes her trash. Izzie watches as Casey gets up with their trash and brings it over to the garbage before coming back to the table.
Casey grabs her backpack and stands there waiting for Izzie to get up. She’s not really paying attention to Izzie. Just waiting and looking around the room at their peers.
Izzie watches her. She thinks back to that morning when she woke up in Casey’s bed, and then when she tied Casey’s tie. She really likes that look on Casey with the long tie.
Izzie looks around too. Mostly everyone is minding their own business or at too busy with their own problems to pay any attention to Izzie. Her lips turn up into a little smirk. If she’s going to break out of her shell what better place than to attempt that here.
“Hey, Newton.”
Casey turns around. When she sees the look on Izzie’s face, she raises an eyebrow. Izzie wiggles her finger for Casey to come closer.
Casey takes a step so that she’s right in front of Izzie. “What’s up?”
Izzie reaches up and pulls Casey down by her tie and kisses her soundly. It’s not rushed or out of a fear or panic.
Casey puts a hand on the back of Izzie’s chair to keep her balance.
Izzie kisses Casey. She takes her time with the kiss before letting go of her tie and putting millimeters of space between their faces.
Casey hovers over her. “What was that for?”
Izzie shrugs. She looks around the room. “I’m just trying it out.”
Casey smirks. “And?”
“I think the results are positive.”
Casey laughs. “Okay. Just don’t get too carried away with your positive results. I can’t get in trouble at school.”
“Me?” Izzie scoffs. “You are the troublemaker out of the two of us.”
Casey laughs again. She straightens up and takes a step backwards. She holds out her hand. “Can I walk you to class?”
“And they say chivalry is dead.” Izzie takes Casey’s hand and lets her pull her to her feet. Izzie grabs her backpack before they walk off hand in hand.