Never See You The Same Way

That was it, I was pissed, I was stressed and I was tired. "Look, Charlie, you can stay or you can go. I don't really care." I stared him down and tried to put a feeling of apathy behind my words, they came out sounding dead instead. "But I'm going back to sleep until Sam gets here- so don't expect me to entertain you."

He was quiet for a moment as he tried to stare me down. But I had had enough. I glared up at him until he blinked at me in surprise. With a sigh I found my place on the grass and tried to regain the small comfort of a few minutes before.

"Hey kid, come on, don't be that way." Charlies voice was soft and intreating. I wasn't the least bit tempted to give in to the pull I felt at the tone.

I shut my eyes tight and tried to will the tightness from my muscles. If I could just hold out for another thirty minutes Sam would be here and I wouldn't have to worry about a thing.

"Just go away Charlie." I heard a rustle next to my head, the sound of Charlie settling onto the grass beside me. I sighed, and sat up. "When I say, go away, I actually mean go away." With each syllable I poked him in the chest for emphasis. Thinking of Sara I silently added, 'Unlike some people.'

"For crying out loud, Isabelle, what is your problem?" His eyes sparked with sudden frustration.

He was mad at me? No way. I stood up, "My problem?" My voice was chill and quiet, and I knew my eyes were slit in my worst death glare. For once I wasn't going to care about keeping my cool around this boy. I wasn't going to take his crap silently anymore.

"This place is my problem!" I stretched my arms wide to encompass all of Kansas, or at least all of Whiton.

"Not knowing where I belong is my problem! Not being happy is my problem! Having no control is my problem!" The wind blew straight in my face and my red hair fluffed up, creating a strange sort of halo around my head.

I stalked toward Charlie until he was backed up against the side of my useless Bug, and continued, "Being scared is my problem! You are my problem!" My voice had risen to a shrill screech until it cracked on the last word.

I turned away, only then realizing that I had started to cry. Charlies hand came to rest on my arm. I brushed it away and without looking at him said, "You walked away from me, Charlie. You hurt me. You don't get to be part of my life now just because you want to. Go away. Now."

"No, Isabelle."

I just turned at looked at him blankly. It was as if I couldn't comprehend the meaning of the word he had just spoken. I open my mouth to reply- without a clue what in the world I was about to say- but then, as if from far away, I heard a car door slam shut and Sam calling my name.

"Izzy? Charlie! What the hell is going on?!"