Counting Stars • [Casey x Izzie]

Counting Stars

A long minute went by before either of us said anything else. From my end, I couldn't reply because I was afraid of what I might end up saying. If she would bring up what happened today or not. I couldn't take that risk because I know it would just complicate things with us and with Evan.

The last time something like this happened between us I ignored her because I was scared. This time around it was like something in me switched. I realized that I was scared... but scared for Evan.

Izzie sent another text.

I liked this. It's been so long since Izzie and I were on normal terms and not mad or ignoring each other. I feel like I missed her so much when we were fighting that now I don't even care about anything that happens between us as long as she's around.

And I did. Whatever she wanted to say, she was really thinking it over. Then she decided.

All of a sudden it was me who couldn't find any words because my stomach was invaded by butterflies. My thumb hovered over her contact...  Then I found myself waiting for her to answer my call.

She answered after four rings. I think that maybe she didn't expect me to call at all.

"Hey." She answered in a whisper.

"Hey..." I replied not knowing what else to say. The soft static over the phone filled the silence between us as every passing second felt like three years.

Then as if the sun unexpectedly came up, she laughed.

"I don't actually know why I asked you to call me..." She admitted.

"Because you wanted to hear this sexy ass voice tell you about stars."

"Shut up." She giggled. It took a second but there was my Izzie.

"Okay, well..." I began, leaning back and burying myself into the blanket. "There are literally no clouds which is good."

"Would I be a bad friend if I said I kind of want it to rain." She cut in.

"Excuse me! If it was raining then you'd be bored out of your mind in bed without me." I reminded her.

I heard her laugh quietly. "I would..." she admitted, and she let that hang.

So, I decided to continue my constellation reading. "The stars are super bright tonight. Like brighter than me."

"That's not very hard."

"Would you just let me finish my reading, woman!" I scream-whispered.

"Fine. Okay." She laughed.

"I can see the Andromeda... at least I think it's the Andromeda. That's the one where Andromeda was chained to a rock by her mother and saved by her love, Perseus."

"Well, that's... extreme."

"We do some crazy shit when we're in love..."

She didn't say anything for a second but I could hear her deep breath in.

"I was talking about being chained to the rock." She finally said. I shut my eyes and wanted to scream into my pillow again. I swore my cheeks went redder than sriracha.

"Right..." I mustered. "Uhm-- yeah I could probably see my mom doing that to me though." I saved, trying not to slap myself in the face.

"Then I'd save you." She said so softly that I almost missed it... but I didn't.