Forgive and Forget: A TCOAAL Story

"We can't play together anymore..."

Young Isa's heart plummeted at those words, her small hands clutching the hem of her dress as she stared up at Andrew. The boy stood before her, his green eyes filled with guilt, his shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world were pressing down on him. Isa's chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat. They had been inseparable for four months-playing together every day, in school, after school, even during sleepovers at her house. He was her best friend, her only friend. And now, he was telling her it was over.

"W-why?" Isa asked, her voice trembling as she spoke in the third person, something she always did when she was upset. Her violet eyes were wide, glistening with unshed tears. "What did Isa do? Did she do something wrong? Isa will try to fix it!"

Andrew shook his head, his expression pained as he took a step closer to her. "No, it's not you, Isa," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... something happened. I... I..." His voice cracked, and he looked away, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

Isa's heart raced, her small frame trembling as she waited for him to continue. "What happened, Andy?" she asked, her voice small and fragile.

Andrew's eyes darkened, his gaze fixed on the ground as if he couldn't bear to look at her. "I killed someone..." he admitted, his voice shaking.

Isa's breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"It's Nina..." Andrew continued, his voice breaking as tears welled up in his eyes. "Leyley told me to lock her in a box while we were playing hide-and-seek... and she..." He choked on the words, his small body trembling as the memory overwhelmed him. "I just... I don't want you to die too, Isa."

Tears spilled down Isa's cheeks as she stared at him, her mind racing. She had heard about Nina-how she had gone missing, how no one could find her. But she hadn't known... she hadn't known it was Andrew. For a moment, she felt a pang of sadness for Nina, but it was quickly overshadowed by the crushing fear of losing Andrew. Her life, once so dark and lonely, had become bright and full because of him. The thought of losing him was unbearable.

Suddenly, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed. "I don't care!" she cried, her voice muffled against his shirt. "Isa doesn't care if she dies. Isa just wants Andy. Only Andy..."

Andrew froze, his eyes wide with shock as he looked down at the small girl clinging to him. Her tears and snot soaked into his shirt, but he didn't push her away. Instead, his arms slowly wrapped around her, holding her close as his own tears began to fall. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "But Leyley doesn't want me to play with you anymore."

"Isa doesn't care about Leyley!" Isa shouted, her voice trembling with anger and desperation. She pulled back just enough to look up at him, her tear-streaked face flushed with emotion. "Leyley is a meanie! Leyley only wants you for herself! Without Andy... Isa has no hope..."

Andrew's heart ached at her words, his green eyes softening as he looked at her. He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, innocent kiss. Isa's eyes widened in surprise, her tears momentarily forgotten as she stared up at him. When he pulled away, he gave her a small, tearful smile. "I'll be here for you, Isa," he promised, his voice gentle. "Just... less. But we can still see each other at school. When Leyley isn't watching..."

Isa sniffled, brushing her tears and snot away with the back of her hand. Her cheeks were flushed, her heart still racing from the unexpected kiss. She managed a small smile, her violet eyes shining with hope. "Okay, Andy..." she said softly. "How about we play in the back entrance at school? The other kids are scared of that place because of the lunch lady..."

Andrew tilted his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "But aren't you scared of her too?"

Isa nodded, her smile widening despite her tears. "Yes, but... I don't care. I'll do anything to play with you, Andy! Even if it's just a little!"

Andrew's smile grew, a rare sight for the usually reserved boy. He giggled softly, the sound light and carefree, and held out his pinky. "Okay then... pinky promise?"

Isa's heart swelled with joy as she locked her small pinky with his, her smile bright and genuine. "Pinky promise!"

And with that, Isa's first kiss became a memory she would cherish forever.

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The night was heavy, the kind of stillness that pressed down on you, making every breath feel deliberate. The only sound was the steady hum of the car's tires rolling over the asphalt, a rhythmic lull that did little to ease the tension in the air. Andrew gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white, his green eyes fixed on the dark road ahead. His jaw was clenched, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't-or wouldn't-voice.

Isa sat beside him, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared out the window. The silence between them was thick, suffocating, and she hated it. She hated the way Andrew shut down, the way he retreated into himself whenever things got too heavy. She hated the way his guilt and fear seemed to fill the car, leaving no room for anything else.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Isa turned to him, her violet eyes glinting with mischief despite the weight of the situation. "You look hot when you're worried, hot-ass," she teased, her voice light and playful as she reached over to poke his nose.

Andrew blinked, caught off guard, and glanced at her with a frown. "What?" he grumbled, his tone gruff but not unkind.

Isa smirked, leaning closer until her breasts pressed against his arm. "Just saying... it gives off a tortured hero vibe," she said, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. "You know, all brooding and mysterious. Very dramatic."

Andrew raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching despite himself. "What the fuck are you trying to achieve here, Isa?" he asked, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

Isa shrugged, pulling back slightly but keeping her gaze on him. "Nothing. I'm just bored," she said, her tone casual. "Besides, I wanted to lighten the mood. You've been all doom and gloom since we left. It's bringing me down."

Andrew sighed, his grip on the steering wheel loosening slightly. "Isa, we're literally on the run because I-" He cut himself off, his jaw tightening as he looked back at the road. "Because of what I did. This isn't exactly a road trip."

Isa's smirk faded, replaced by a softer, more serious expression. She reached out, her hand resting on his arm. "I know, Andy," she said quietly. "But sitting here in silence isn't going to change anything. We're in this together, remember? So stop acting like you're the only one carrying the weight of the world."

Andrew glanced at her, his green eyes searching hers for a moment before he looked away. "I just... I don't want to drag you down with me," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "You deserve better than this, Isa. Better than me."

Isa's heart ached at his words, and she squeezed his arm gently. "Hey," she said, her voice firm. "Don't you dare start with that self-pitying crap. I'm here because I want to be, okay? Not because I feel sorry for you or because I have no other choice. I'm here because I care about you. Because I believe in you. So stop trying to push me away."

Andrew didn't respond right away, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. But Isa could see the tension in his shoulders easing, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You're impossible, you know that?" he said finally, his tone lighter than before.

Isa grinned, leaning back in her seat. "Yeah, well, you love me for it," she said, her voice teasing.

Andrew shook his head, but there was no denying the warmth in his eyes as he glanced at her. "Yeah, I do," he said quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the tires.

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, like the air before a storm. Isa's violet eyes lingered on Andrew, her gaze intense and unwavering. There was something in the way she looked at him-something heated, something that made his skin prickle with awareness. Andrew, who had been staring out the window, finally turned to her, his green eyes narrowing as he caught her stare.

"If you want to fuck, just say it," he said bluntly, his voice low and rough, cutting through the quiet like a knife.

Isa's lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk, her eyes never leaving his. "Maybe I do," she said, her voice dripping with playful defiance. She leaned back in her seat, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel while the other brushed a strand of curly hair from her face. "But I'm not the one who's been sulking like a moody teenager for the past hour. You tell me, hot-ass-do you want to fuck? After all..."

She leaned closer, her red lips brushing against Andrew's ear, her breath warm and teasing. "I can make you forget about crazy Ashley."

Andrew's green eyes flashed with anger, his body tensing as he turned to her. In one swift motion, he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not painful, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't you dare speak about Ashley..."

Isa's breath hitched, her smirk faltering as she looked away. "Sorry..." she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. The playful defiance in her eyes was gone, replaced by a flicker of guilt and something else-fear, maybe, or regret.

Andrew held her gaze for a moment longer before releasing her wrist and turning away, his jaw clenched tight. The tension in the car was suffocating, the weight of his anger and her regret pressing down on them like a physical force. Isa sank back into her seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel as she stared straight ahead, her mind racing.

After what felt like an eternity, Andrew let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping as the fight drained out of him. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression softening as he glanced at her. "Sorry..." he muttered, his voice rough but sincere. "It's just... I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself."

Isa's heart ached at the raw vulnerability in his voice. She turned to him, her violet eyes searching his face, reading the guilt that weighed him down. Taking a slow drag of her cigarette, she let the smoke curl from her lips before speaking.

"Andy..." she murmured, her voice low and steady. "You can't keep blaming yourself for what happened. Yes, you set the fire. But so what?"

Andrew's emerald eyes flickered toward her, sharp, disbelieving. She met his gaze without hesitation, her expression unreadable.

"You were angry. You wanted to be free. So you did what you had to do," Isa continued, her voice softer now, but edged with something dangerous-understanding. "You didn't have a choice, did you?"

Andrew swallowed hard, the tension in his body rigid like a wound coiled too tight. His hands clenched into fists on his lap, his knuckles pale.

"I had a choice," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "I just... I chose wrong."

Isa tilted her head, her amethyst eyes darkening. Without breaking eye contact, she swung a leg over his lap, straddling him with a slow, deliberate movement. Andrew stiffened beneath her, but she didn't waver. She reached for his face, her fingers brushing against the rough stubble on his jaw.

"You're here now," she whispered, her breath warm against his lips. "That means something, doesn't it?"

Andrew let out a shaky exhale, his hands instinctively finding their place on her hips. The fabric of her sweater dress bunched beneath his fingers as he squeezed, testing the reality of her in his arms. Isa felt like fire and silk, familiar yet untouchable, something he thought he'd lost long ago.

"I don't deserve this," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Isa smirked, leaning in until her lips barely grazed his. "Maybe not," she teased. "But that's never stopped you before, has it?"

Before he could answer, she kissed him.

It wasn't hesitant like before-it was deep, slow, and all-consuming. Andrew's fingers dug into her hips, pulling her flush against him as his tongue slid past her lips, tasting the lingering bitterness of smoke. Isa moaned softly against his mouth, her hands threading through his raven hair, tugging just enough to make him groan.

Heat coiled between them, growing unbearable, intoxicating. Andrew's hands roamed under the hem of her sweater dress, his fingertips trailing against the bare skin of her thighs. Isa shivered at his touch, her breath hitching when he gripped her tighter.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. "You're playing a dangerous game, Isa."

"Am I?" she shot back, her smirk widening. She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Or are you just scared I'll win?"

Andrew let out a low, humourless laugh, his fingers twitching against his thigh. "You think you can handle me?" he asked, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and something darker, something that sent a shiver down Isa's spine.

"I think I already do," she replied, her voice soft but confident. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his jaw, her touch light but deliberate. "You're not as tough as you pretend to be, Andy. I see right through you."

Andrew's breath hitched, his eyes flickering with something raw and unguarded before he quickly masked it. He caught her wrist, his grip firm but not painful, and pulled her hand away. "Careful," he warned, his voice a low growl. "You're pushing your luck."

Isa didn't back down. Instead, she leaned in closer, her lips hovering just inches from his. "Maybe I like pushing my luck," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "Maybe I like seeing how far I can push you."

For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them was electric, charged with a tension that had been building for far too long. Andrew's eyes dropped to her lips, his resolve wavering as he fought the urge to close the distance between them. But Isa didn't give him the chance. Once again she closed the gap herself, her lips crashing against his in a kiss that was anything but gentle.

Andrew he was kissing her back, his hands tangling in her hair as he pulled her closer. The kiss was fierce, desperate, a release of all the pent-up emotions they had been holding back. Isa's fingers gripped the front of his shirt, pulling him even closer as she deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding against his in a way that made his head spin.

His hands moved to the hem of her sweater dress, his fingers brushing against the fabric as he began to pull it up. But as his hands slid higher, he felt something-something rough and out of place. His movements slowed, his mind catching up to the sensation. He opened his eyes, breaking the kiss as he looked down at her arms. Bandages. Thick, white bandages wrapped around her forearms, hidden beneath the sleeves of her dress.

"Isa, what is this?" he asked, his voice low but sharp, cutting through the haze of desire like a blade.

Isa stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. She stayed silent for a moment, her violet eyes darting away as she tried to pull her arms back. "It's just from a bike accident..." she said quickly, her voice trembling.

Andrew's grip tightened, his green eyes narrowing as he stared at her. He knew her too well-had known her for 16 years. He could tell when she was lying. Without a word, he yanked the bandages away, his movements rough but deliberate. What he saw made his stomach churn.

Scars. Dozens of them. Thin, silvery lines crisscrossing her skin, some faded with time, others still pink and fresh. His breath hitched, his chest tightening as he stared at the evidence of her pain, her struggle. For a moment, he couldn't speak, couldn't think. All he could do was stare, his mind racing as the reality of what he was seeing sank in.

"Isa..." he whispered, his voice shaky, barely audible. His hands trembled as he held her arms, his grip loosening as if he were afraid he might hurt her. "Isa, what the fuck are these? Tell me!"

Isa's face paled, her lips pressing into a thin line as she tried to pull away. "It's nothing..." she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just... my way to deal with shit."

Andrew's eyes darkened, his anger flaring as he tightened his grip again, refusing to let her go. "You're dogshit at lying!" he shouted, his voice rising as his green eyes bore into hers. "Isa, what the fuck are these? Tell me!"

"..."

"FUCKING TELL ME!" His voice echoed through the room, raw and desperate, his anger masking the fear and pain that threatened to overwhelm him.

Isa flinched, her eyes filling with tears as she looked away. She tried to pull her arms free, but Andrew's grip was unyielding. "It's nothing!" she repeated, her voice breaking. "It's just... it's how I cope, okay? It's how I deal with everything. You don't understand-"

"Understand?" Andrew interrupted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think hurting yourself is the fucking answer? Might as well drink yourself to death while you're at it!"

Isa's breath hitched, her tears spilling over as she finally yanked her arms free. She wrapped the bandages back around her scars, her movements quick and frantic, as if she could hide the truth from him-from herself. But the damage was already done. Andrew had seen it, and there was no going back.

The room fell silent, the tension between them suffocating. Andrew sat there, his chest heaving, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He wanted to scream, to shake her, to make her understand how much this hurt him. But all he could do was stare at her, his heart breaking as he watched her try to piece herself back together.

"Isa..." he said finally, his voice softer now, though the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "This... this isn't okay. You can't keep doing this to yourself. You can't."

Isa didn't respond. She just sat there, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes fixed on the floor. The silence stretched between them, heavy and unyielding, as Andrew struggled to find the words-any words-that could make this right.