You & I - 24. Chapter 24

To Max,

I know what you mean; my name does have a ring to it, doesn't it? Thanks. Max is a nice name too, but I totally agree my name is better.

I know, right… It's savage. It took me the best part of three days to figure out how many others were in our school. I was planning to tell you for a couple of days now, though you actually asked me. You beat me to it.

In correlation with my hints, it most definitely has to be cheese gone wild! I'll admit, I got a chuckle out of that. I know we've gone completely against the rules, and I'm not typically one to break a system that has been set down. Besides, since we are near the end of the projected assignment, I suppose it's adequately put to know each other's names now.

It makes me wonder if anyone else from our project knows each other's names or if we are the only ones. It's hard to imagine how both of us began knowing nothing regarding one another, and now we know a lot about each other.

It has been time well spent, all the free time I mean in school writing to you. I had no inkling that such small-time merit could turn into a desire. I reckon that's how I feel on any given day. I believe you said it in our previous letters, and I'm stating it now. Turning up to see that you have written to me makes my day.

Just with the possibility of finally meeting you coming to a close, I'm apprehensive too. At the start, I wasn't sure whether our conversations would take up off the ground, yet here we are. I think we've gotten to the point that we've discussed everything deserving a question, and only our day-to-day necessities are worth asking for. Well that's the way I see it, I know there is more to talk about, but I feel like that is best done in person.

I don't mean to be a buzzkill, then what you said about actively finding me is weirdly humbling and scary. I have the one and only Max Wilson trying to guess who I am. Now that I am even more aware and alert to the plausibility of our meeting, it's like I don't want our letters to end.

I'm not an artist, I can't even draw a circle, let alone a stick-man. The guy in the library sounds like a preferable candidate, sadly I don't spend much time reading books in the school library. I tend to go to the local branch because they have real science books. Our school facilities don't have any attractive content to stimulate my brain. I assume in a way and don't judge, our school caters for those who can handle a less capable knowledge.

In a way, they stock media that will be of a typical easiness for students to absorb. Hence, I look elsewhere for material to regurgitate. Although I did see you today… I'm not going to lie about that. I saw you enter the library, so you must be doing the leg work detective. It didn't register with me then until I read your letter now that you are inherently looking for me, like really. I thought it was just in our conversations at first, but wow, it's inspiring to be admired for a change. Therefore, a hint can be as follows; the library is not a place I go, but I occasionally roll past the fine establishment on my way to class. Now whatever way class is, I'll let you try to make heads or tails of this on your own.

I'm going to be brazened here, this weekend you're playing a match, right? I'll turn up with the audience, of course. However, I'm going to make a dare since you have called me out in your previous letter. I'd like nothing more than to learn how to play lacrosse or go swimming with a friend who is not my little cousin. I just want to see if you are genuine. I have a history of these sorts of things. So, for another hint when you're out on the field just after the national anthem, I dare you to snatch the microphone from whoever is singing afterward, and yell into the mic, "the cheese has gone wild."

I don't know something about upping the stakes seems devious and honestly, I like it. I don't have a lot left to hint; once you catch on, I think you'll understand. If you do this, I promise I'll give you another clue, a big clue. There is nothing more eye-opening than a person who is willing to make a fool of themselves for friendship. Plus, I'll repay the debt once you figure out who I am, I'll do something stupid too, purely for amusement.

I had nothing to reject, therefore, what would I decline. Incredibly sweet of you to say, I don't quite know what to say to that. Thanks. A couple of weeks ago, I presumed if we'd known each other, however, never spoke to one another, I'd reckon we'd have passed each other in the hallways without a second thought.

Except, I don't want to take credit for something I didn't do. I surmise I was in the right place at the correct time. Just all the work you have made is simply you. I've had no hand in helping you realize anything. Perhaps I helped remove the wool over your eyes. You've done the same for me. So, for the sake of thanking one another, lets just put it out there that we both appreciate each other's efforts.

Mind you, I will hold you to the promises you keep. Therefore, be sure to commit upon inciting them. So, yeah, besides science, swimming is my escape. Just like music is yours. I love to swim. At the moment I'm toning my biceps. When I finish every girl will be looking at me; not anymore will I be that skinny kid who is apparently there, yet never paid attention toward.

Your preposterous notion is correct, something happened in my past a couple of years ago. Four years ago, to be exact. Given that I'm almost 15, I had turned 11 two weeks earlier before my life changed. It made me appreciate life even more afterward. Can you imagine, I'm not lying. I was dead for 15 minutes.

Really sums up how the small insignificant things don't seem to matter anymore after you've had a life-changing ordeal. Perhaps I've ruined the surprise. Perhaps… maybe I've given too much away. Admittedly, there can only be one Isaac with a history like mine.

I have another thing to confess that I never told you before. Actually, I lied. See my mom's dead… and I'm in a wheelchair. I'm the cripple, everyone sees, pities, but never includes.

Shit… so much for following the cheese. Sorry for lying Max. I just… I wanted to feel normal. Except, I didn't lie about everything else. I really do swim. Plus, I do play an instrument, and I do like science. As I said, I'm toning my biceps.

Anyway, I think I will call it here, and it's been cool, you know. I understand if you don't want to hang around with someone like me. I'll just hold you back from doing all the fun shit.

Until next time, or goodbye,

Isaac