WHO: Isaac Lahey and Bobby Finstock WHAT: Coach runs into an old student of his WHEN: Sept 1 WHERE: Aldi's WARNINGS: None STATUS: Closed/Completed Gdoc
Isaac wasn’t going to college, at least not this year, so the start of school didn’t mean much to him. He was still looking for a decent job because his money was really starting to run out. He hadn’t found anything yet, but he’d find something eventually. He hoped. After all, how bad could it be? The boss couldn’t be as bad as his own father.
Trying to make his money last, he went to Aldi’s where the food was cheaper than just about anywhere else. He was trying to decide which type of hot dogs he wanted when he noticed someone out of the corner of his eye. He jumped a little as he recognized him. He knew the guy from home, and on some level he knew he was here in Madison Valley, but Isaac hadn’t met him yet or talked to him.
“Coach?”
***
He was crouching in the aisle holding two blocks of cheese. Both looked like cheese, but one was lactose free and the other one was… vegan? He thought it was in Indiana and not back in California. Neither of these were cheese. They should not be located with the cheese. Finstock made a face and then heard his ‘name’. It was so familiar that he looked up at it without second-guessing it.
“Oh. You… what’s-his-name.” He threw the two not-cheeses into the refrigerated area, but definitely not on their respective shelf and stood.
--
“Isaac,” he said, not at all surprised that Coach didn’t remember his name. Isaac was pretty sure he forgot them intentionally. “Isaac Lahey?” His dad had been a coach too so maybe he knew him. Even if he had been a giant dick.
“I saw that you got here. You coaching lacrosse anywhere?”
Isaac was good. Of course he was, he was a werewolf.
***
It was easier to talk about sports, especially lacrosse, than other things… though he could definitely complain about fake cheese if given the chance. “I am, actually. At the high school. Why, you interested in joining?” Yeah, he had no actual idea how old Isaac was. They all just kind of looked the same age to him. There were babies, little kids, then anywhere between ten and twenty-five were teenagers in his book.
--
“Um, no, Coach. I’m out of high school now. I’m nineteen.” Timelines were screwy here though so he didn’t really hold that against the guy.
“You doing okay here? There are lots of people from Beacon Hills, here. Adults too.”
***
“You’re nineteen?” He leaned forward a little and squinted. “You still look like a baby. What’s with the water here? Maybe I’ve been living in the wrong state all along.” He thought back to speed dating and that Caroline girl who was clearly jailbait.
“Me? Oh fine. This place isn’t so bad. Ask me again when it snows and I’m wearing thirteen layers of long-johns - then I’ll be annoyed. I hate layering. It’s not natural. And yeah, I know. McCall’s here. Stillinski too and the girl.” Allison, he was talking about Allison. Was he going to admit he remembered her name? Nope.
--
“Yes, I’m nineteen.” He was annoyed at being told he looked like a baby, but he’d let it go. This time. It was weird to suddenly show up in a place like this so he’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Which girl? Malia? Allison?”
It still hurt him to say her name, even though she was alive here. He’d still lost her. Even though he was very happy that she was alive and would rather have her alive and not loving him, he still missed what they had before.
***
“Yes, that one.” Yep, he was helpful. Again, it was probably hard to tell if he was being serious or not. Still, he seemed to pause and consider Isaac. “Uh, look… are you.. You know, happy here?” Finstock was trying to be all teacherly and adult. It felt weird. Did it come off as weird? He thought it was probably definitely weird.
--
Yeah, it was a lot weirder when Finstock was actually caring than when he wasn’t. He was used to him being the guy who couldn’t remember his name, not the guy who actually cared what happened to him.
“Yeah, I’m fine here, Coach. I mean, I’m getting by. You? I mean, I’d think this is weirder to you since you’re all...normal, and all.”
***
“Good. Good. That’s… good.” Okay, super weird. Yep. But he did his part and Isaac said he was fine so therefore, not his problem anymore, right? Right. Yep.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway, make sure you read these cheese labels. Some of these things aren’t even cheese. The audacity of these companies!”
--
Okay, well, this was an awkward meeting, and Isaac was happy to smile and nod before taking a few steps back.
“Yep. Um, I’ll watch out for that, Coach. See you around.”
***
“Yeah, yeah.” He nodded and waved dismissively as if to say ‘see you around too’. He taught today and did his job. He deserved some non-diet soda for his trouble.