And you're just a paper book floating through the gutter.
Lost at sea, drift to me, and into someones nightmares.
A home is a highway, your pillow's a rock.
I'm in a rusted car bound to get lost.

• • •


Isabelle had been gone far too long. Now even Jase was worried about the girl. The usually carefree young man believed his friend had gone a little too far this time. After all, it was only a kiss. There was no real reason for her to run off and hide. Certainly she had to expect some tension between her and Ollie but if anyone understood what kind of position she was in it had to be Jase (or Melody, of course). The first time he kissed Mel he felt an absolute wreck. He feared all his friendships would crumble. Once he got over the initial shock of kiss a close friend he was perfectly fine with the idea. Who ever said a friend couldn't be something more than a friend?

Of course, Jase didn't know the entire story of how the kiss happened or what was going on. He basically knew that Isabelle and Oliver had locked lips and then she ran off to her grandmother's house to lay low and was now considering staying there. Maybe Bell felt the same way he had. She was probably scared and confused and unsure what would happen between her friends. Had she taken into account how worried any of them might be? As far as Jase could tell everyone was just a litle stressed about what was happening with Isabelle. Jase had already broken his swimming diet. He'd had one too many wilting salads at Viva's Diner. A bag of chocolate chips under his bed said he'd at least been cheating for a few days and most likely missed the girls baking skills. Where was Isabelle when he needed her? Sure, it was for a silly reason but she had always been there before.

It took a lot of begging for Jase to get permission to take his mother's car, let alone take it out of town. She wasn't pleased at the idea of him going alone but when Jase promised her that he would maybe be a little nicer to his step-sister if she did she was quick to hand over his keys. He'd only told a few people where he was going. Melody was one and Ruth. He didn't want either girl on him about his sudden absence. There wasn't enough time to round up everyone for a rescue party. He'd left early in the morning, tossing a backpack full of odds and ends (mostly junk food and a hoodie in case it got cold) into the back seat he set out for Isabelle's grandmother's house.

Two ripped maps and several hours later the green four door slid to a stop in front of a house he'd only seen once or twice before. Jase had never been a very good driver, he was quite reckless and owned a rather heavy foot so speeding and braking quickly were his only two talents. Wearing the hoodie he'd packed in his bag and holding onto a bottle of Mountain Dew, Jase got out of his mom's car and made his way up to the front door of the house. What was he supposed to say? 'Hi, I'm here to steal Isabelle and take her home'? It just didn't sound right. Hopefully he could explain without stomping all over his tongue. Cheeks red from driving with the windows and the wind blowing, Jase let out a long breath of air and knocked on the door.

Isabelle needed to come home and he was here to talk some sense into her. He wasn't going back to Lampton Hill alone or with an empty stomach.

And you're just a paper book floating through the gutter.
Lost at sea, drift to me, and into someones nightmares.
A home is a highway, your pillow's a rock.
I'm in a rusted car bound to get lost.

• • •


"Why isn't my Gran as amazing as you?" The grin that spread across Jase's face as Isabelle's grandmother allowed him inside was unbeatable. He'd always liked Isabelle's family and her grandma was no exception. In fact, she'd just earned herself a few extra points in his book by offering him food. The way to Jase's heart was surely through his stomach. At the moment he did not have time for food, as upsetting as that sounded in his head, he needed to talk some sense into Isabelle. The sooner he got to her the quicker she would realize that her friends weren't taking this silliness sitting down. "I nearly brought a car full of people but my mom said she didn't have that great of an insurance policy." If he knew her any better Jase probably would have given her a hug.

Even though Jase wasn't fond of the idea of Isabelle hiding from her problems he was really glad she had such a wonderful place to go. He was certain that if he were in Bell's place he probably would have jumped at the chance to escape to this place. "That's probably a good idea. Thanks." He left his words behind, body already trailing up the stairs. It was easy to find the room. Usually first doors weren't hard to miss. Without knocking, or caring what state Isabelle might be in, he opened the door and simply barged into the room. He didn't expect her to be awake, as her grandma had said he would need to wake her, and he didn't expect her to be expecting company.

This was where Jase ran into a problem. How exactly should he wake her up? There were just so many options that picking one was a bit too hard. Stuck between sitting on the edge of the bed with his face too close to hers until she woke up and screamed or jumping on her bed, Jase quickly opted for the latter. He was only polite enough to kick off his shoes before he jumped up onto the bed and began bouncing. He avoided stepping on Isabelle, the remainder of the contents of the Mountain Dew bottle sloshed around inside the sealed container, and focused on being as annoying as possible.

"Isabelle!" He called, trying hard not to jump too high and hit his head on anything. "This is your wake up call. It's time to get up and face your life. I'm not the ghost of Christmas past but I sure as hell am willing to kick your ass."

And you're just a paper book floating through the gutter.
Lost at sea, drift to me, and into someones nightmares.
A home is a highway, your pillow's a rock.
I'm in a rusted car bound to get lost.

• • •


Jase's trip hadn't taken him very long at all to be quite honest. The hardest part was getting his mother to let him take her car. As soon as that was in the bag he was out the door. Isabelle was not dreaming. Jase really was there and he really was jumping up and down on her bed like some sort of cruel child. When she woke, however, he sat down, cross legged and happy that she was really there and he could see her face to face. "What do you mean what am I doing here? I told you I was coming to get you. Are you losing your memory, dear?"

He knew he hadn't been very helpful when he told her he was coming to get her. He'd just said he was coming, didn't give her a time or a day so she was entitled to her surprise. "Your grandma let me in. She seemed to be expecting me. I like her. She didn't seem too concerned with me being in your room. And, c'mon Bella, you're like my sister. I'm not oogling your goodies or anything. That's Ollie's job." Okay, so maybe that was a little cruel but Jase couldn't help grinning at it. Not letting her sit there and freak out over her attire, Jase removed his hoodie and tossed it in her direction. "There, put that on and stop having a cow."

Jase had been in this room before. He briefly remembered playing an intense game of hide and seek and wedging himself under the very bed they were sitting on. It was also the room the gang had slept in when they'd stayed over. Isabelle's grandmother was a really nice lady and he actually kind of missed this place. Sure, they'd only been there a handful of times but the memories were nice. They'd have to do it some other time when things were cool between everyone.

"You've said hello a few times, actually. But hello to you too, Isabelle. Mountain Dew?" Jase offered the shaken soda bottle to his friend. It was probably warm, he'd been nursing it since the last gas station he'd stopped at but that never bothered him. "Are you coming home with me today or am I going to have to carry you out of here over my shoulder?"

And you're just a paper book floating through the gutter.
Lost at sea, drift to me, and into someones nightmares.
A home is a highway, your pillow's a rock.
I'm in a rusted car bound to get lost.

• • •


Okay, so Jase's approach wasn't the best but he wasn't going to sweeten himself up and be careful with what he said to her. That wasn't what friends did. Friends were supposed to tell it like it was and shake the truth into people in denial. People like Isabelle, for example, who needed to give up on being scared and go home and deal with the fact that she liked Oliver and Oliver liked her in the exact same way. The two needed to suck it up and hug or something as far as Jase saw it. They'd make a nice couple, honestly. If he had to pair anyone in their group together it would be Oliver and Isabelle.

"Did you just Jason me? Harsh. You sound like my mom when she's trying to be serious. 'Jason Levi! I mean it. Blah blah blah.'" He made a face, attempting to imitate his mother, and pointed his finger accusingly at the air directly in front of him. "I'm not talking about your goodies. I mentioned them, in respect kind of, to let you know I wasn't looking. Don't harsh my mellow," he teased and soon stretched out across her bed, making himself comfortable. She made it very clear he would have some work to do to get her to come home so why not be comfy while trying to convince her that staying at her grandmother's house was a bad idea?

"Liar. Fine, more for me. But I guess that means I have to pull out my secret weapon." Jase grinned for a split second before drawing it into a frown and batting his eyelashes, sniffing. He pulled the bottle of Mountain Dew up toward his face and held it to his chest, pouting and sniffing as if he were going to really have a fit and cry. Of course, it would take a lot more than Isabelle refusing to come home to make him really cry. "I guess I'll just have to go home alone and explain to everyone that you just don't like us anymore. I'm sure Melody and Ruth will understand that their best friend can't be there anymore. I just hope Mel doesn't cry..."

And you're just a paper book floating through the gutter.
Lost at sea, drift to me, and into someones nightmares.
A home is a highway, your pillow's a rock.
I'm in a rusted car bound to get lost.

• • •


"Distracting me with food? How dare you!" Jase mock gasped, pouting soon after as if her breakfast idea had hurt his feelings. A laugh took the place of his frown soon after as he rolled over and threw his arms around Isabelle in the most obnoxious hug he could muster. "Listen, I'm here all day. We can just hang out and talk. You don't have to worry about going home yet, but do realize that I intend to have you in the passenger seat on my way back to Lampton Hill. It's where you belong. We miss you and we love you. But I guess I could give you a couple of hours or so to just chill." He wasn't going to throw her over his shoulder and force her out the door. No, she didn't deserve such harsh treatment. Of course, the idea had crossed his mind a few times but he'd have to rely on his coaxing skills in the end. She'd come home if she really wanted to.

"Yeah, well. You need your grandma like I need you. Now, hear me out before you make fun of my comparison," Jase tried, letting his arms fall from around his friend. Hands moved over his face briefly as he tried to work out the words in his mind. "You're looking for some kind something that makes you comfortable, that reminds you of your mom. I need someone who cares about me, no strings attached. Your mom isn't here anymore, my mom is re-married and completely preoccupied. We're the same, kind of but not really. Your escape is your grandma. You are my escape. You are a lot of people's escape. We need you, I need you, just like you need your gran. Does that make sense?" He was trying, really, but Jase wasn't usually a man of this many words. He wrinkled up his nose and shook his head, certain that everything he'd said made no sense at all.


"Forget it. Where's the food you and your grandma have promised me? I drove all the way here and all I've eaten is a candy bar." Lie. "Besides, I need to give your grandma a big hug for taking such good care of you. You're still alive, that's what counts."