Much More Mellow

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Izzy was a compassionate individual. She had a different style of teaching than most. Where some liked to pressure and raise their voices, she preferred to remain calm. To understand why as best she could without having to force an answer. Students didn't show up to classes because they likely didn't want to, and that was fine. It wasn't her place to be upset about it; they'd wear the repercussions in time, so why bother?

She was bothered by it. Because when Kodiak Oubre's report card came across her desk, she was upset by the fact that she had to fail him.

Because for once, she felt as if she'd failed someone as a person.

Especially when she heard that a particular student had missed the graduating mark in every way possible. She was genuinely saddened for him by the news, but she had to wonder how he felt about it. Kodi seemed to be doing much better lately; really, anything was a step up from where he was, and some of his teachers were starting to notice that. So she asked if he minded coming by the gym to see her.

Whether he showed up was - of course - completely up to him. The black and white clad woman simply waited, just in case he would.

[Deleted]

Kodi hadn't had a lot of time to get to know his P.E. instructor's teaching styles better... Mostly because he didn't often come to class. He worked out on his own time; he'd read books about fitness and nutrition. He figured he knew enough about the stuff that he shouldn't have to bother with someone making him run laps or play team sports where he'd probably just end up biting someone's finger off. Really, he was doing everyone a favor by not showing up.

Really, it wasn't the teacher's fault for having to fail him. Kodi just had a hard time giving a shit about things. Sure... He'd sort of been doing better, at least behavior-wise, since he'd gotten together with Gryphon, but he still had a lot of work to do before he could ever be considered a decent student.

He did have more motivation now, though. Now that Gryph was graduated and Kodi was stuck here in this stupid place, lonely and cold at night unless he tried to sneak out to the moron's apartment. And so when one of his instructors - the one he'd met that time at the LGBT Center, who had actually not gotten on his nerves (a miracle) - asked him to come to the gym, he decided to actually get to his feet and slump down to their meeting place.

Kodi walked in, scuffing his feet slightly as he stared at the floor. He was still freshly dejected from his boyfriend not being around as much, and it showed in his features and stance. "So... Didja call me down here t'reprimand me for not comin' t'class?" he asked, finally looking up. "'Cause... I've heard that shit over an' over again."

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Isabela expertly hid the surprise she nearly wore when she saw Kodiak turn up. She was almost certain he wouldn't give her the time of day - nothing against her, it was simply how things were. How he was. She hadn't held it against him before, and she certainly wasn't about to do it now. Izzy folded her hands behind her back idly, her heels clicking the floor he scuffed as she took a few steps towards him. Nothing much - the distance was still there - but it was a start.

Because he did, indeed, appear dejected. And she wasn't really sure why.

"No." Izzy replied simply. She didn't sound repressed by the notion that he didn't come to class. Truthfully, she hadn't expected him to. But she had wished she'd see him around a little more than just from such a distance. From hearsay. "I actually wanted to check in with you. I wondered how you were after finding out you weren't graduating."

[Deleted]

On another day, Kodi might not have bothered to show up. Before Gryphon moved out, probably. He had other things to do besides being lectured at, or whatever it was the woman had in store for him. Then again... She'd been an interesting case the first time they met, so hopefully he would be pleasantly surprised. That's what he was wagering on, at least. At worst, it would likely just be a waste of time.

When she denied his question, Kodi peeked up at her, a spark of curiosity making its way to his eyes. So if she wasn't going to lecture, then... "Huh? Oh." So Dr. Monroe was taking that sort of approach. He bit his lip, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, before slowly replying,"Honestly? Wasn't expectin' t'graduate, not by a long shot," he told her. "So... I ain't all that surprised. Or worried. Or, well..."

He sighed and scowled, kicking his shoe against the ground this time. "I wouldn't care at all, 'cept my stupid boyfriend had t'go and graduate, an' didn't tell me he was until, like, less than a month before he moved out." Why was Kodi telling her this? "But anyway... Why d'you care? Did you really expect I would be gone?" He sent her a challenging stare.

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

Izzy caught the curiosity he wore, finding the expression he offered somewhat comforting. He didn't seem surprised by what she'd said, and that was good. It likely meant that on some level, he believed her. And that was all she really needed to maintain a level connection. Still, her eyes dropped to watch the way he fiddled, as if he couldn't sit still. She found herself understanding the notion entirely.

Concern coloured her dark eyes. She wondered if he really meant that he didn't feel worried about his inevitable failure.

"I didn't, honestly." Izzy offered. After all, no decent connection was built on lying. She expected he was used to teachers and various adults lying to keep him calm. "But I heard you're improving. A little, but still, a little is a lot more than no change at all. If nothing else, it proves you're willing to make an effort." She ran her hands together idly, "And if you have something to strive towards, all the more reason to find the strength to try and get out of here."

Raising her eyebrows, Izzy expected him to notice that she didn't answer the imperative question of why she cared. She wasn't sure her answer would be taken the way she'd mean for it to be, "Is he moving away?"

[Deleted]

Kodi just gave a short nod at the woman's honesty. He appreciated it, honestly. None of that "You could have done better, don't you realize how much of your life you're wasting, etc." shit he got from other teachers. "Yeah, well... Improvin' too little too late ain't done me much good this year." The dentokinetic continued to fiddle with his hands so he could look at something that wasn't the weirdly intimidating woman. He listened to her advice, or whatever it was, hating the fact that his cheeks were starting to feel hot. Like... Like he cared what she thought. "I guess bein' tied down is better for me than I thought," he huffed with a harsh chuckle. "Who'da thought?" No wonder Erik despised him now.

Kodi did notice her lack of an answer, but ignored it. Whatever, he wasn't going to force an answer out of her, as though he even could. "Nah... Well, I mean, he's goin' t'University, so he lives like twenty minutes away now." He scowled. "He's livin' with a slu- uh, chick that's goin' t'community college here, so at least he ain't too far, I guess." Still, without a way to get there other than by bus, it limited his options.

"Just... Just ain't fuckin' fair. I was gettin' used t'havin' somethin' warm t'hold at night, an' now I'm stuck back where I was before." Nightmares happened more often when Kodi was alone, too. After a moment, he gave a dry laugh and looked up at Isabela with self-contempt in his eyes. "Lookit me, talkin' t'you like you're my fuckin' counselor or somethin'," he snorted. "Forget I said anythin'. I think I'm just wastin' your time." Kodi turned slightly, as though to leave.

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

"I wouldn't say too little too late." Izzy replied lightly, stripping any potential harshness from her tone with such ease. It was evident enough now that he liked to berate himself as much as most others did, and she hardly wanted to count herself in that category. "A little mightn't be enough, but it's a start. And it's a hell of a lot better than where you were last year."

She felt relief that the person in Kodi's life wasn't physically moving away. Twenty minutes was more manageable than out of state, if that were to be the case. She resisted the urge to say it could be worse. It really could, but she figured he knew that already.

Concern coloured Izzy's dark eyes as he went on. She realised quickly that he was on a tangent; it was likely the only way he'd ever admit something so personal, especially to someone in a position of power such as herself. The dry laugh he offered drew her back into reality. As did the step he took away.

"You don't have to leave. If you want to I won't stop you." She replied finally, settling her hands at her sides. "But if you want someone to listen, I'm not about to repeat whatever you want to say out loud."

[Deleted]

Kodi was used to hearing what trash he was from most everyone, including (and most importantly from) his parents. That was why he thought the way he did, that he deserved the punishments he got for being the sinful, fuck-up of a boy he was. So hearing actual... Praise...? from a woman he still barely knew, and a staff member at that, was throwing him off. "... I guess so," he finally agreed grudgingly. "... S'just.... I'm smarter than I seem," he mumbled. "Prob'ly... Smarter than a lotta students that did graduate this year." Kodi bit his lip, scowling. "... But I just can't find it in myself t'care about the shi- stuff I'm bein' taught in classes." When he actually even attended them. He just didn't care about most stuff. Except literature, and English. Even without trying, he'd actually already met his requirements in those classes. It was everything else he was behind in.

He wasn't intelligent when it came to relationships. Obviously. Communication was a close second to things Kodi lacked skills in. So this whole... Thing... He had going on with Gryph, it was just confusing and scary and nerve-wracking for Kodi. It was a lot of other things too, a lot of great things, but there were so many overlying doubts with it that Kodi felt overwhelmed.

The slip-up had been completely unintentional, and Kodi was incredibly embarrassed about it. If Dr. Monroe hadn't spoken after he was done, he would have left without another word. However, since she did speak, and said something that was supposed to calm Kodi's nerves (and succeeded to a small degree), he slowly turned back and looked at her with wary eyes. "... You gotta boyfriend, Dr. Monroe?" he finally asked. "Or, uh... A girlfriend?" Yeah, that was how to do it, put the questions on her to take the pressure off. Maybe she'd get more out of him yet.

[Dr. Isabela Monroe]

It struck Izzy to hear Kodi seem to accept what she'd said. Like he understood that his progression was actually a worthwhile achievement. "I don't think you give yourself enough credit." Isabela reasoned. "And you deserve it. You deserve some recognition." At least he admitted he had the skills to achieve what he needed to.

She watched as he moved, relatively certain he was going to leave. And if he had, there was nothing wrong with it. It was his choice and she would respect that. She'd just felt the overt need to express that despite his intentions, she'd never repeat a word of his admissions. No one needed to know anything about what he'd said; what he felt he'd admitted.

His question surprised her, so much so that she raised her eyebrows a touch. Most people tended to avoid answering personal questions. But Izzy was, by now, notoriously different.

"I don't have either." She replied, honestly, nodding her head once. "I've never had a boyfriend."