I see Izzie at biology class the next day, and I have my assigned seat next to her. I don't look at her the whole class, until she says, "You still mad at me?" "Yeah. You were such a dick to Evan at the party. Why'd you say all that?" I ask, finally looking her in the eyes. "Because it was true." "It wasn't your place." I reply. "I thought it was." "Well I guess I have to be careful about what I tell you from now on." I say. "Guess you do." She says, annoyed. "Guess you do." I imitate her. She looks at me. "Sorry. That was childish." I say softly. I don't talk to Izzie for the rest of the day, which kind of sucks. She's usually the highlight of my boring school days.
The next day, Izzie isn't in biology class, or anywhere to be found. I know we're in a fight, but I at least wanted to see her. I ask two of the track girls if they've seen Izzie today. "She gave me a tampon, but I think that was yesterday." One of them says. "I haven't seen her in school today, and she hasn't texted me back. It's really not like her." I tell them. "It sounds like her. I love Izzie, but she's a mess. In freshman year she didn't come to school for three weeks straight, and when she got back she never said a word about it." The other girl says. What? Why would Izzie do that? What if she's doing it again now?
When I get home, I text Izzie. I know she's mad at me, so maybe that's why she won't answer. I just need to know that she's okay. I say, "Hey, I'm worried about you. Just let me know you're ok." I send it. I tell my mother about how she hasn't been in school and hasn't been answering me. She suggests that I should bring over clothes for Izzie and her siblings from the clothes drive she is having. "Sorry, I've been MIA. I'm good, no worries." Izzie texts back. I smile, knowing she's fine, and that she texted me back even though we're in a fight. "All good." I tell my mother. "She texted back." "Do you want to drop off the clothes anyway? Just to be extra sure that everything's all right?" She asks. "Fine."
I knock on Izzie's door with a bag in my hand. Izzie opens the door a tiny bit, just poking her head out. She looks surprised to see me. "Hi. My mom wanted me to drop off these clothes for your brothers and sisters." I say, stuttering a little, as I hand them to her. "Thanks. That's really nice of her." "You weren't in school today. Is everything okay?" I ask. "No." Izzie shifts awkwardly. She steps outside the door slightly. "My mom disappeared like she sometimes does, and caused a bunch of chaos like she always does. But we found her, so it's fine." I try to say something, but Izzie speaks again. "Thank your mom for these. She's the best." Izzie closes the door before I get a chance to say anything. I stand there awkwardly for a minute, processing what just happened. I hope she's okay.