In Fair Verona

XLV

"One week till you leave to France and Germany."

"I know, exciting isn't it," Isaac says almost sarcastically as he looks to me. "I'll get to be a tourist in my home countries. Tragically out of any of the siblings, Felix who cares the least, was the one born in a European country."

I lean my head back on the brick wall.

The others are inside getting ready for dinner. Everyone is here, including Felix and Grace.

I smile a bit at the thought.

Neither of these families have any of their really family here so they celebrate things together.

Christmas, thanksgiving, occasional dinner get togethers, e.t.c.

I lean my head on his shoulder.

"What's up with Penny?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well how are you two?"

"You despise when I mention her."

"All for good reason but I'm curious."

I sigh. "I don't know."

"Remind me again why you even dated her in the first place?"

I look up at him.

"Yeah I don't know the answer to that one either."

I look back down at the ground.

"Think that maybe were a bit anti social? Everyone else is inside playing games and we're sitting in the cold."

"I like sitting outside in the cold."

"Yes, over the year I've picked that much up."

I stay quiet then my phone starts to ring.

I pick up without looking at the name in fear Isaac will see Penny's name. It is Penny.

"Hey," she says.

I lift my head off Isaac's shoulder.

"Hey."

"You want to hang out?"

"Oh I've got a thing tonight."

"Are you with Isaac?"

"Well yeah."

"Really? Three times in the past two weeks you have ripped me off to hangout with him."

"No it's a family dinner," I say.

"Family? Then why's he there? Should I get to meet your family?"

"It's his family and mine. And I don't know when, okay?"

"Yeah but you guys just spend so much time together and you always ditch me for him."

"I don't ditch you."

"Okay well you're always busy."

"I don't know."

"Doesn't he leave for a couple weeks soon?"

"Yeah," I say.

Isaac has picked up who I'm talking to and is leaning his head back on the brick wall. Clearly annoyed.

"Okay then we can hangout during that time. Okay! I'm so excited." I can tell she's smiling but I'm frowning.

"Yeah I guess."

"Jeez Case, sound a bit more excited can you?"

"Yeah I know."

"Okay but which day next week?"

"What do you mean which day?" I try to be as vague as possible so Isaac doesn't pick up we're talking about him leaving.

"To hangout."

"I don't know right now. Can I call you back in a bit?"

"Why? Are you next to Isaac?"

"Yes."

"Of course."

"Well what did you think I was just not talking to him?"

"No but you can't just get up and walk away so we can talk on the phone? You choose him over me all the time. I'm your girlfriend he's just your damn best friend."

"I—"

"Okay whatever, you clearly just want to be talking to Isaac right now."

Then she hangs up on me.

I look to Isaac who does not look happy either.

"Okay so what's your problem now?" I ask, Penny's annoyance rubbed off onto me a bit.

"That you're an ass."

I raise an eyebrow.

"As much as I don't like her I gotta feel bad for her. You're a liar."

"Well—"

"What excuse now? You don't like her and you're leading her on," he says starting to stand up. "You're leading on two different people."

Then he goes inside leaving me out in the cold.

I end up sitting out there for about a half hour till Phoebe opens the glass door.

"Dinner," she says before looking down to me sitting on the ground.

She goes back inside but returns a moment later with her jacket. She slowly slides the glass door shut behind her and sits down next to me.

"Where'd Isaac go?"

I shrug.

"He mad at you?"

I nod my head.

"What for?"

"Something stupid that I did."

"What'd you do?"

I don't answer.

"Did you do something to Isaac?"

"Not necessarily."

"Think that maybe you should fix it before he leaves?"

"I can't do it tonight."

"Okay well maybe food can help?"

"Maybe," I shrug rather depressingly.

"Look Casey, I don't know what you did but you just gotta fix things. Don't be down for the rest of the night."

I'm a horrible person.

"I'll probably go to bed after. I'm tired," I say.

"Okay," she stands up and heads towards the door.