It isn't long until Harry and I are back with our mothers, waiting in the cold air and watching our breaths swirl into the dimming sky.

Unfortunately, our mothers have come across a common friend. We found them like this. 10 minutes ago. And 10 minutes is a long time to be standing around for.

I got the short end of the stick, watching Harry as he snuggles up warmly in his mom's arms, eyelids closed gently and fully relaxed. He isn't asleep, I can see his ears twitching, listening.

My assumption is confirmed when he looks up to the sound of my phone, any amount of tiredness momentarily stripped from him. I feel a little bad, but he'll get time to nap in the car –  another thing I'm jealous of. His car seat looks comfortable as hell. 

My phone vibrates in my hands, the tune of Sunflower playing.

I'd expect Fahim, possibly Casey, Adekemi or even Luke to call me before Isaac. So I'm a bit taken aback to see the beetle of rage dancing on my screen.

"Hello?" I answer, instinctively facing away from the group.

"Hey, I- you're not busy, are you?" Isaac asks with a light voice. His words aren't cheerful, but he still sounds it. He's having a good day.

"Nope. Just waiting in the cold." I say a little louder, earning a look from my mother who goes right back into conversation. 

Harry catches my eye though, sat upright and staring right at me. "Is that Asac?"

"Maybe." 

"We got you presents!" He declares.

Embarrassment seeps in. I'm not sure why, it's normal to buy gifts for people. But this is different. "I uh- Harry stop talking." I struggle. 

Isaac stayed quiet, surprised, maybe judging me, but he soon laughs with the same cheerfulness radiating from it.

That doesn't appease my abashed mind. "I know we haven't talked about it, but I figured since everything that's happened, we could start sending things to each other or something." I explain, pinning my lip between my teeth and turning away from my family once more.

He hesitates. He hesitates and I hear it! A shuffle and a low rumble of a word he failed to complete. His fingers crack, filling up the brief moment of silence before he takes a breath, barely loud enough for me to hear, and tries again. "Actually, I - called to ask if you wanted to meet up sometime?"

All my thinking pauses, all my worrying and self doubt. No more thoughts enter my brain for a few moments, casting me into the void of space. 

I was not expecting this.

Feelings soon come back, and they aren't unpleasant, settling me back onto solid ground, a little happier than before.

"Sure, that sounds fun. We can hang out for your birthday if you're not going home." I suggest.

"I'm not. Anna wants to go out drinking with me, pretty sure everyone in my flat is coming. You'd get along with them all."

"You're actually going out to socialise? Am I speaking to the correct Isaac?" The brick has been to bars? The brick wants to go to bars? Who replaced my brick with an imposter? 

"Shut up, I enjoyed it last time. Though if they start singing a drunk version of happy birthday to me in public I'm sprinting home."

"I'll bring the music."

"You'll bring nothing because you're officially uninvited."

Laughing, I look around the city, at the busy streets. Busy like the streets in Isaac's city. I can picture the places we might stumble into, some of the bars I'd drank in and sang for over the past few years. It all seems like forever ago.

I've never talked to Isaac's flatmates before, but from what he's said, they all sound like cool people. There was previous mention of a nerf war, so I'll be discreetly asking for a bright, toy gun. 19 shots for 19 years.

These next few weeks will feel like months now, won't they? 

"What happened last night?" Isaac asks. 

"What do you mean?"

"You texted me at 3am and went silent. I stayed awake for like half an hour waiting for a text back."

I forgot about that. 

He really waited up just for a reply? When I turned my phone on this morning it was on his contact, but I guess even then I'd forgotten about it and closed the app without reading his messages.

I left him waiting for so long and didn't even text him in the morning! "I'm so sorry. Why did you even wait so long? You should've slept!" 

"I don't know. You've messaged me that late before when you're stressed." He shuffles in whatever place he's sat, the quiet crack of his fingers echoing through the speaker – something he does when he's unsettled. "And I know you like taking early morning showers when you feel like that."

The concern he shares warms my chest, a smile pushing my cheeks. Why is this cute? He's normally a smart idiot filled with useless facts and a strong aversion for speaking with other human life forms.

Yet here he is, calling me, inviting me to meet him in person, willing to go out to places filled with other people.

I don't understand. He was cast into a spotlight before having any idea about it, his life leaked, found out I'm a minor celebrity and all during his first semester of University. During his first year as an adult, moving cities and leaving everything behind him.

Not that he seemed too upset about leaving home, his home life was always a touchy subject. He knows nearly everything about my family: my mom’s best friend is my dad's sister despite my parents' divorce when I was 7, meeting the woman who'd become my stepmom and getting to know her kids.

In fact, when Harry was born I mentioned my Aunt and her wife on a call with Isaac. He went all quiet and weird, at first I thought he had a problem with it.

He couldn't tell me in person. Either because he was at home and scared they'd hear, or maybe he was just scared in general.

I got a text later that day, when I was watching the hospital disappear from view of the passenger window. 

Isaac came out to me, and I was the first person he'd told. He had known for 3 years, since he was 12. And I was the first person to know. Some stranger who messaged an unknown number for a game.

It just seems like all at once he's changing. Or - maybe changing isn't the right word. He seems happier, comfortable and free? Like he's finally able to join in with the crowd after so long of distancing himself, only allowing subtle, longing glances.

That probably makes zero sense, not even I know what I mean. It's just. There's something going on. Something good. 

"Aw, you worry about me!" I tease him, reaching my voice higher.

"I won't reply to your next absurdly late text. Even if you claim to be running from a murder."

"You'd let me die? Wow. Well I was gonna ask if you wanna video call again later, but don't wanna talk to a secondhand murderer."

He laughs, the low rumbles vibrate through my phone and bring another smile to my face.

"I'll be free at 7." He states, his tone warm and reflecting the smile I can picture on his face.

"Too la-" A dead beep interrupts me and I pull my phone from my ear. The bastard hung up on me!

Oh, I'm missing his call later, the dick. I wasn't done insulting him!

I huff and turn back to my family. Harry is still staring at me, round eyes full of curiosity. My gaze shifts to my mom and aunt, and the woman they're- hold on- there are more people here now? When did this happen?

~~~

While I wait for Isaac's call, I thought I'd get writing his 'card' out of the way. So I pull out my markers and first make a white box over the back of the packaging.

Lucky for him, I know he's got freedom in his diet: no allergies and I'm pretty sure he isn't vegan or vegetarian. The reason I found out? He was my only entertainment while I was in hospital suffering from a pineapple allergy I never knew I had.

When the streaky white box is dry, I write out my message in the thinnest marker I have. My handwriting is nice and clear, for once.

My eyes are stolen away from the shiny plastic as my laptop screen flashes, changing from my Turtle desktop picture to Isaac's contact.

No need to freak out this time Jem, you've seen him before now. No need to panic. No need…

Several long seconds later, I finally force myself to accept, shifting the gifts to the side while my camera loads in.

"Thought you weren't actually going to answer for a second there. I was preparing more infestation videos to send you." Isaac greets me. Or more like threatens me.

I try my best not to get distracted with how the navy of his hoodie enhances his eyes, really singling them out despite the obstruction of a few curled, black strands.

"Do you know what the block button does? I can demonstrate for you."

He laughs as I stick out my tongue.

His surroundings are different. A grey tiled wall, some hung cabinets, a wood-textured countertop and a small window all sit behind him. He's leaning his elbows across the counter in front of him, his phone propped a little higher on something.

"Have you not eaten yet?" I ask, turning my gaze back to him.

"I have food to heat up. I made it before class today." He informs me, gesturing to something dark grey and cut off from view, presumably the fridge.

"Ah, how could I forget. You're organised, smart, full of good life choices. You don't need to rub it in!"

"Pfft, good life choices." He smiles, the action adding that small crinkle to his nose.

His blue eyes shift up, looking to something behind his phone. He straightens up, suddenly looking anxious and tense.

A new voice meets my ears, though the quality is slightly chewed by the distance to the microphone. "Are you on a call?"

"Yes-"

"Sorry, I'll try to be quiet." The voice says. I stay quiet, waiting for Isaac to speak first. But he doesn't get the chance to, as the voice gets a pop of realisation.

"Wait, you don't call people? Especially video?" They ask, though they don't seem like questions. I hold a laugh, moving my hand to my lips to hide my amused smile. Even his flatmates know.

Isaac doesn't seem as amused though, or that playful offendedness he tends to show. No, Isaac looks stiff, like he's trying way too hard to show no emotion, no indication of his thoughts.

Whatever he's trying to do is useless. "Are you-" I hear footsteps, and then another face pops up into view. A much happier one. "Oh my god, you are!" 

Isaac holds a hand to his face, embarrassed and fed up. I'm not sure what's happening but I think I'm enjoying it.

"Hello! I'm Connor! I sure hope Isaac has said at least a little about me. He better have." Connor’s smile is so huge I wouldn't be surprised if it hurts. His messy hair is dark, yet compared to Isaac's it doesn't quite seem black. Also unlike Isaac, he wears a small patch of facial hair on his jaw, lining it gently but messily.

I think I'd describe most of his exterior as messy, but in a playful way. It suits him.

"He has said a bit. You listen to my music right?" I smile back at him.

Isaac further crumples onto the kitchen side, completely defeated by whatever emotions he's feeling. I can't hold back the quiet laughter this time.

Connor pets his head, immediately getting swatted away. "Yep! I can't wait for your new album. It'll be out soon right?" He beams, light almost radiating from him.

"Next week, the 14th. It should've been out sooner but I guess it can still be bought for Christmas, right?" 

"Yes! Isaac, you heard him. Christmas is sorted."

Isaac lifts his head to look at the hyper, happy guy. Then he looks back at me, a quick grin grows on his lips. "Connor has a poster of you in his room."

"Hey!" Connor pushes his arm, only slightly moving him on the counter. Isaac laughs, a rich and contagious laugh that drags me into the joyful mood, laughing along with him.

I watch them fight, in a similar way my step siblings fight. Little torments and rough shoves, laughter and smiles despite the harsh words being thrown about. 

Thinking back to the way Isaac talked about his life before moving into that flat, my smile changes from one of amusement to one of pure affection. 

I don't know what happened at his house, but being where he is now – he's so much happier. I just hope it stays like this. I hope I'm not too much for him, that the internet doesn't tear our friendship from us.

End of Part One – Road to Ruin