the spaces between

what doesn't break

birds tweeted, sun gleamed through her open blinds. a soft breeze floated over her as she reached to silence her alarm. she sat up and fixed her hair, glancing around the room.

a guitar, covered in floral stickers and with a green capo at the top, was glazed in dust. for a moment, she just stared. she pulled herself to her feet and walked over to it, wiping off the dust. she picked up the tuner that was on the floor and removed the capo before tuning the strings.

e string.
a string.
d string.
g string.
b string.

tuned. she hesitated to play it—she wasn't ready yet.

she looked out the window. a car drove past. the same model as hers. what a coincidence. her mind drifted back to her first day back—the unforgettable moment with matt. his unreadable glare. she wondered if she had imagined it, if everything was actually fine—until he said, "nevermind."

luca knocked on the door—the same knock from the frozen movie. it never failed to make her smile.

"you can come in, i was just about to get ready," she said, her voice softer and happier since she'd come back to life.

the door creaked open, and luca came in with a smile. he was wearing the pyjama pants isa had bought him—cheesy pink ones with hearts. it took isa a moment to notice.

"dude, there's no way," she laughed.

luca nodded and walked over to her bed, flopping down.

"you just gonna sit there?" isa laughed.

"yup," luca responded.

"okay, shut your eyes. i wanna change."

pastel pink zip-up hoodie, lacy white long-sleeved shirt with a bow, white sweatpants, uggs.
gold earrings, gold necklace, gold bracelets.
white school bag, lip gloss, cherry perfume, hairbrush, headphones.

perfect.

"okay, hate to admit it but you actually look decent," luca added.

isa chuckled, nodding as she continued her makeup.

"it's nearly time to go, dude. get changed."

and with that, luca left.

isa ate her mom's pancakes, which were set out on plates. luca came down wearing a black tee with a beige hoodie slung over his shoulder, tied in a knot over his chest. beige pants, and a small bracelet under his watch.

"finalmente, luca!" mom huffed.

"lo siento, mama," luca responded, sitting next to isa and shoving her playfully.

their mom went to the car and started it, putting isa and luca's bags in the boot. every thursday, isa and luca got the option to go to school in the car as it was their mom's day off work. usually, isa missed out on it, but riley wasn't going to be in school until ten because of an appointment. luca slid into the backseat, isa following and strapping in.

"luca, what've you got first?" she asked.

"chem, you?"

"bio," isa responded, somewhat grateful it wasn't chem.