Brain v. Brawn

@ diamond sword
Izzy sighed softly, not agreeing with him but she wouldn't push the subject anymore right now. She would bring it up eventually though. He couldn't keep it bottled up forever.

Feeling him out his arms around her she did the same. She squeezed him tightly and laid her head on his shoulder. She could almost feel all the stress that was bottled up inside him through that hug.

"You can always talk to me if you need to." She said into his ear quietly.

She then heard his mother come in and earned a tight squeeze before he released her.

"Yes ma'am. Is that okay? I can go if you need me to. It's no problem." She explained softly as she stood up with a small nod.

Everett's mom rolled her eyes and shook her head, in a way nearly identical to Everett. "No, sweetie. Feel free to stay as long as you'd like." She then handed the bag of McDonalds to Everett.

"Your brother already got a hold of Dennis and the whole team wants to visit, not even just the varsity level. The junior varsity and freshman teams want to see you too! You must be pretty special, oh, but I'm thinking it's best to wait until you're out of the hospital. They can come to our house or something dear, instead of here, because they're such rowdy boys..." Everett knew that she could of rambled forever, so he intervened.

"Okay mom," He cut in with a small chuckle. It made him feel great that his team wanted to support him - it made him feel horrible that he couldn't do anything in return. A wave of anger rushed through him that he couldn't play. It wasn't fair. Quickly he shook it off.

Everett opened the bag of Mcdonalds, pulling out the fries and sticking one in his mouth. "Thanks for the food," He said, looking up at his mother. Everett was pretty sure she would have to get back to work soon.

"Want a fry, Iz?" He asked, waving one at her and raising his eyebrow. His face was so goofy that his mom laughed a little.

"Evvie, I'm going to go now, I have to get back to work. Your brother will be able to get you home or whatever you need. Same with you, dear," She said as she looked at Izzy. Then she waved and promptly left.

@ diamond sword
Izzy nodded, amazed at how much she and Everett were alike. From what she could tell, his mother was very intelligent and thinks she did reminded izzy of Everett. Everett even had the same blonde hair and eyes as her.

Hearing about the whole team and even then some wanting to visit him, it made her heart smile. She knew this was hard on Ev and he needed all the support her could get.

Izzy laughed softly at his mothers rambling and soon sat back down beside Everett. However, not long after she was seated, she had a fry being waved near her face.

"No thanks Ev." She said with a small laugh. He was a mess really, but he was the good kind of mess. She loved how different he was from others and how much he had opened up to her over the weeks.

"Okay. Have a nice day." She said to his mother as she left. "Your mom is so sweet. She reminds me of you in many ways." She grinned as she absent mindly began playing with his fingers, a habit she had been forming lately.

"What about...two fries?" Everett said, his eyes gleaming childishly. He liked making her laugh, but he was still figuring out what her sense of humor was like.

"Yeah," Everett agreed to what she said about his mom. "But she's scary as hell if she doesn't get her coffee in the morning," he added with a serious tone. He thought about how genuinely nice his mom was. It was rare, but sometimes he'd seen his mother get very cynical about life and critical of herself.

As she played with his fingers, he sighed softly. Everett was a pretty laid back person - or at least, he knew how to stuff all the stress away. He took her hand and squeezed it lightly.

Right now, urged his brain. Ask her to homecoming right now. He swallowed and looked into her eyes. Then he changed his mind. Today was rough enough. No need to risk losing Izzy. He thought she liked him. But she was a hell of a lot tougher to read than most. Everett wasn't sure what she would say - even if she did accept, she might think they were still only friends. For a second, he even thought about what his friends would say. After all, they barely acted like they knew each other at school.

"I think the nurse said I'd be out of here in three days," Everett said softly. "And then I have rehab and such," His voice got quieter as he talked, because he was reminding himself of how sad he felt. Everett could hardly concentrate on anything. His dad probably hates him. The food is good. He really likes Izzy. He can't play football. His team wants to see him. Overwhelmed, Everett shut his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them, he looked up into Izzy's soft pale green eyes and smiled bitterly.

@ diamond sword
Izzy laughed again at his childish behavior. Being around him she had learned how to just relax really. She never had been one to joke around but he brought it out in her and she appreciated that more than she would ever say. "I suppose two is always better than one." She grinned, grabbing two fries and popping them in her mouth.

After a moment, she caught him staring in her eyes. He seemed like he wanted to say something. She swore he even started to open his mouth but he quickly seemed to change his mind.

Her mind then began to drift to homecoming. She had never went to any kind of dance for the school before. Unless in was academic, she didn't participate much in school.

She wondered if Everett would ask her to homecoming but quickly shook that from her brain. Though he was so sweet to her and told her so much, she wasn't sure if he liked her any more than a friend. From his previous girlfriends and dates, which were many, she didn't seem his type at all. He hardly even acknowledged her existence at school.

If he goes to the dance it will be with someone much better than me she thought bitterly to herself but didn't think it long. Everett needed her. Not room for self pity right now.

"Well you'll be swarmed with loud boys in three days or so then." She teased with a small grin. She noticed how he suddenly began to look a bit overwhelmed and watched his eyes shut.

When he opened then, he looked back to her, a bitter smile on his face.

"It'll all work out somehow. Relax a little. Wanna see if there's a western movie on? I saw on tv a few days ago that there would be a marathon today." She stated with a smile, going for the remote before he even replied. She knew he would say yes.

Everett's face lit up, nodding. "Of course," he mumbled, knowing he didn't have to say a thing. She was already getting the remote. As the tiny television flickered on, Everett instantly recognized a scene from A Fistful of Dollars. A certain serenity settled into his chest.

"C'mere, Iz," he said, sitting up and adjusting the hospital bed to a more inclined angle. He scooted over as far as he could, making room for Izzy on the hospital bed. It had to be more comfortable squeezing in with him than sitting in the single rigid plastic chair in the corner. He looked up at her with his big round eyes, patting the bed next to him.

In that moment, he thought he saw her mind working, but he couldn't possibly know that they had both been thinking about homecoming. He could only wonder what was tugging at her brain.

Everett's eyes flicked to the screen in time to see Clint Eastwood remove his cigarette from his mouth. "Get three coffins ready," he quoted at the same time Clint Eastwood said it. Everett's eyes flashed back to Izzy's, accompanied by a sly grin on his face.

@ diamond sword
Izzy watched him carefully and noticed him relax a bit once the tv was on.

Seeing him pat his bed and insist her come over she thought. She tried to protest but her efforts were useless. With a defeated sigh,but a smile on her face, she headed over and squeezed in next to him. Once comfortable, she rested her hand on his legs and quietly intertwined their fingers as the scene played.

When he began quoting, she couldn't help but laugh. That was the Everett she knew and loved.. Liked. Wait not love. Like. She couldn't possibly love him could she? Love hurt anyways. Look at her parents.

Shaking the thought from her head, she adjusted a tad more, careful not to bump Everett In a way that could hurt his leg. She laid her head on his shoulder.

(Skip to when he's being released from the hospital and at home?)

With his leg propped awkwardly to the side, Everett was bent over his desk, scribbling over the mistake he'd made on his homework. Everett had never been good with stress - but exercise had kept it at bay. He hadn't been able to play football, or run, or do anything for the past week, and his mental focus was shot. Homecoming also lurked at the back of his mind, as the date grew near. But the preparation had already been done.

He sat up and closed his eyes, drumming his fingers on the table. Then he spun in his chair, locking his eyes onto Izzy, who sat on his bed reading. He smiled a little to himself when she didn't even look up from her book.

The night sky was more clear than you could ever ask for. Everett stifled his excitement as he shifted, picking up his crutches and moving himself to the closet. Quietly, he pulled out his telescope and opened the window, setting it up and maintaining his balance the best he could. He peered into the telescope, focusing it on the little slip of paper he had attached to the lens.

In the background, Jupiter's moon, Europa. In the foreground, a tiny slip of paper. The telescope magnified the paper so the print on it was visible - it read, 'Homecoming?'. Satisfied with his handiwork, Everett lifted his eye from the telescope and looked over at Izzy on the bed. His eyes glinted in the light that came from the reading lamp she was using.

"Hey Izzy," he said, backing away from the telescope and leaning forward on his crutches. "Check it out, I think I found Europa. It might be Io, though, I'm never sure."

@ diamond sword
Izzy sat comfortably on Everett's bed, her back supported by a few pillows. She was completely zoned out, all attention on the book in front of her.

It was "It" by Stephen king, a book she had read too many times to count. At first glance izzy didn't seem like one into horror but she actually loved it, mostly books though. To her horror movies were just never that good, there were few that she would consider an actual good film.

With her mind nowhere on her surroundings, she almost didn't hear Everett when he said her name. "Hm?" She said, looking up from her book. Hearing his words, she felt a grin creep to her lips, marking her page. "I have to see this." She stated as she stood and made her way to the telescope.

Putting her eye up to it, she noticed a slip of paper blocking the sky. "Hey I think there's something on you're len-" but then she finally read it and stopped her words.

Pulling back, she let her eyes rest on Everett. Taking in everything about him. Had he really just asked her to homecoming? Everett. Asking izzy?

"Wait. You're asking me to homecoming?" She asked, a giddy sensation forming in the pit of her stomach but she wouldn't allow to take over. She wanted to confirm what the paper said, not wanting to be getting the wrong idea, though it was pretty straight forward.

"But I-I'm not exactly who you would usually ask to things like this. It's very unusual and I never expected this. That's if you are really asking me and this is not a mistake." She said babbling on and on and on. She couldn't seem to stop herself.

Everett's eyes darted over her face as she first looked up at him. Her initial shock and silence made his stomach wobble with the idea that she would say no.

But her words were reassuring, in some sort of way. She was so - he didn't know how to describe it. She was so Izzy. He smiled lightly and raised his eyebrow as she inquired if he was, in fact, asking her to the dance. "No, I stuck that on the lens by accident," he teased, his tone heavily laced with sarcasm. "I really just wanted you to look at Io," Everett joked. "Of course I'm asking you," he murmured.

Not the type he would usually ask? Certainly not. Unusual? No - it wasn't unusual for a guy to ask a girl he had some ridiculous feelings for. Perhaps it was unusual for Everett, though.

Everett grinned and rolled his eyes, taking her hands and squeezing them gently. "There's no mistake, Izzy," he said softly. He swallowed, and although he was almost certain she would say yes, the nervousness refused to subside. Though the fear of rejection was normal enough, it was enhanced greatly by the fact that he actually really liked Izzy.

He realized his blue eyes were melting into hers, and blinked out of his thoughts. One corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile. "Will you go to homecoming with me?"

@ diamond sword
Izzy had gotten used to Everett and his slightly sarcastic side, so of course she rolled her eyes slightly at his playful mocking.

Just the idea of going to homecoming with a guy she liked as much as Everett was so unusual for her. She had never really been in a relationship before, not that they were in one, well she didn't think they were. Were they?

So many questions were darting through her mind and she kept forgetting to answer the question at hand.

Having his blue eyes lock with hers, she was pulled out of her daze and put into a new one. He really was asking her, of all people, to homecoming.

"You're actually asking me? Of all people? You could take almost anyone but you're asking me?" She asked, babbling with a need of conformation. She just couldn't wrap her head around it. Her palms began to get slightly sweaty in his as the giddy feeling threatened to take over completely. She couldn't fight the slight smile that appeared on her lips.

Everett smiled and groaned when she still didn't answer him. "Izzy, for Pete's sake." He prodded playfully.

She was just so absolutely stunning. He let go of her and lifted his hands to cup his palms around her face. Everett closed his eyes and touched his lips to hers lightly, their mouths sliding together perfectly. He drew back only to kiss her again more forcefully. He couldn't help himself.

She was so smart. So pretty. There wasn't a single person who understood him more than her.

He decided right then that he wasn't okay with just being friends. Carefully, he returned his hands to hers and intertwined their fingers, looking down at her beaming face. He kissed her cheek.

"And maybe," he croaked. Everett cleared his throat and continued, "maybe you'd wanna go out with me?" A wide grin emerged on his face. He bit his lip.

@ diamond sword
A small laugh left her lips as she hadn't give him an answer yet. By the looks of it he really seemed to want one and that made her laugh a bit more.

Feeling his lips on hers, her smile wouldn't falter. Kidding Everett was surprising the first time but she had to admit she enjoyed it. A lot.

There was so much more to Everett than he let most see. He was so smart, sweet, and ,of course, good looking. But looks didn't matter that much to izzy, they were a plus though.

Feeling him pull away and replace his hands in hers, she let her eyes flick over him. The giddy feeling become even more overwhelming hearing his next words.

"Of course I'll go to homecoming with you and.. Yes to your other question as well." She smiled softly, finally letting the giddy feeling take over, wrapping her arms around his neck, placing a kids on his cheek.

However pulling back, a sheepish look crossed her features. "Why me though? Like I said previously. You could have anyone. Why me?" She asked, searching his face for an answer.

Everett smiled softly as her arms slipped away from his neck. He listened to her words carefully. For once in his life, his brain didn't conduct an immediate response. He was too distracted by the new notion that she was in fact his girl, only his.

Normally, Everett pieced together his sentences delicately and with precise intentions. But he just couldn't think of the right words. His lips started moving and he began talking without really thinking - something he never did.

"You've understood me...you've supported me...I like you, because. Because you're beautiful. Your brain is beautiful, your face is beautiful. I could tell you anything and you could tell me anything and you like looking at the stars. You're my kind of special, actually yeah, you are mine, now." His heart thumped.

Everett paused and blinked. "Sorry, I know that didn't make any sense." He mumbled. He just wanted to kiss her forever, he just wanted to... Everett blinked again, as if his eyelids were the window wipers of his mind.

His armpits aching from the crutches, Everett sat on the edge of his bed and looked up into her eyes. "I thought about asking you in the hospital a lot," he said softly, subliminally letting her know the fact that he had felt this way for a long time.

@ diamond sword
Thump. Thump. Thump.

That's all Izzy could hear as he spoke words she honestly never thought she would hear. For once she was left completely wordless. Her brain was so overwhelmed it couldn't piece together a properly coherent sentence.

His kind of special? Was she really hearing him right. She never had thought she was special. Sure she knew that she was smart but special? Especially to someone as special as Everett? No. Not in a million years.

"It made perfect sense." She finally spoke, a bright smile on her face. She knew it would be a while before she could make herself stop smiling.

Hearing him again she thought back. So that was what was laying so heavily on his mind all those days, well one of the things.

"You're pretty special to me too you know. " she sat beside him. "You know that right?" She asked, looking up at him expectantly, her smile had faded to a grin but it was still just as heart warming and happy. She took his hand in hers.

Never before had Everett seen Izzy showing this much emotion. He thought back to the day they first met briefly.

He really, genuinely liked Izzy. A lot. Everett quietly admired her smile, her bright eyes. He realized how rough and big his hand was when he squeezed her soft little hand. Running his thumb over the back of her hand, Everett was listening to her voice.

He was just listening to her voice - then he snapped out of it. Quickly comprehending what she had actually said, his eyes darted up into hers.

"I know," he said, smirking softly. In fact, he didn't know, he had been entirely unsure about how she felt about him. But he didn't dare over think it.

Everett pressed his lips to her cheek gently. Now that he had finally asked, a huge weight was off of his chest. He plopped back onto the bed and closed his eyes. A yawn stretched open his lips.

"Are you staying the night, Iz? Or wanna ride home?"

@ diamond sword
Izzy watched every little move he made. The way his nose crinkled slightly when he smiled, his hand it gripping hers, how his eyes brightened when they locked with her own.

No little thing of his was too small for her. She liked his small things. The somewhat endless western marathons they would have, his quoting, the way he admired the stars and planets.

He was her kind of special. The best there ever was.

Feeling him lay back on the bed, she followed and fitted her way into his side, head on his chest.

"I would like to stay if it's not too much trouble?" She asked, her eyes flicking up to his.

@ diamond sword
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