"Y-Yeah… sorry," she said with a sheepish smile, "I have guitar classes."
"Then… will you come here tomorrow?" Rumi asked with the saddest pout imaginable, his voice dramatic like a child begging for another cookie.
Isabella blinked, a little flustered by how sincere he looked. "I-I don't know…" she replied honestly, her fingers clutching the strap of her bag.
"Let her go, Rumi," Elliot called from behind, rolling his eyes as he shut down his monitor. "Bella, you're free to escape this chaos now."
Isabella let out a soft giggle and gave them all a gentle wave. "Bye, everyone!"
A chorus of "Bye, Bella!" echoed from the room—Zara giving her a salute, Deshawn nodding with a smirk, Kio simply raising a thumb, and Rumi dramatically clutching his heart like he'd just been abandoned.
Elliot walked her to the elevator and all the way outside, a quiet, kind presence beside her. He turned to her with a smile.
"I'm glad you came," he said.
Isabella smiled back. "Me too."
