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???
Isaac buckled his seatbelt and started the car. "I get why you call him Professor Poopface now. What an asshole."
Katie didn't so much as nod to acknowledge he'd spoken.
"Hey." Isaac reached over taking her hand after pulling the car onto the street. "Don't let him get in your head. You've kicked ass on your game."
"That doesn't matter if it isn't finished."
She'd been so close to being done before they left for their date. If he could just help her focus on finishing the levels—get her mind off of the bug that he’d reminded her existed, she might still finish with time to spare.
"Hey, I got an idea,” Isaac said. “When we get back to the house, I'll make like a gallon of coffee and stay up all night with you while you work. Pinch you every time you start to nod off." He hoped for a giggle or at least an annoyed but playful snarl. She gave him nothing.
Then, a tear fell on the back of his hand as she sucked in a shaky breath.
"Fuck him. You got this." Isaac had greatly underestimated the amount of pressure she'd been under. No wonder she thought she couldn't afford to have a relationship.
Katie had stopped crying by the time Isaac pulled the car into the Tau Gamma Psi reserved lot behind the house but she still hadn't said a word.
After putting the car in park, Isaac shifted toward her taking both her hands in his. "It's going to be okay. I'm here for you. One hundred percent."
The longer she stayed silent the harder it was for him to stay positive.
"Go on upstairs and get started. I'll bring you that gallon of coffee."
"You don't have to do this."
"No, but I want to."
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For hours, Isaac kept Katie's coffee mug topped up. And when he wasn't doing that or bringing her a snack or fresh glass of water, he sat on his bed, knitting, reading, or studying notes for upcoming finals. Never failing, now and then, to glance at Katie in the big chair. Not just to make sure she hadn't dozed off but to remind himself she'd stayed.
But as the night wore on, it became harder and harder to control his eyes. Eventually, instead of sneaking glances at Katie, they snuck a few winks of sleep.
"Go to sleep, Isaac."
Isaac sat straight smacking his cheeks and stretching his eyelids as far open as they'd go. "It's fine. I'm up."
"Seriously. Sleep. I'm going to get a few hours myself and pick it up in the morning anyway."
"You sure?"
Katie yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah. I'm just going to finish this little bit first."
Isaac was too exhausted to argue. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he came back ready to fall into bed. But first, he leaned over Katie. Tilting her chin up with a single finger, he kissed her. "If you change your mind, wake me up. I'll get you your caffeine fix."
"Goodnight, Isaac." Katie held his face in her hands and kissed him. Isaac's stomach dropped to his feet, unsure of how to interpret the desperation he’d found in it.
"Thank you." Katie sighed. "For everything."
"Anytime."
Katie kissed him again. Just a peck before turning back to her computer. Too fast for him to figure out if the tears and redness in her eyes were from exhaustion or something else. Maybe the code was giving her more trouble than she'd expected.
"Do you think you'll finish it in time?" Isaac prepared to push staying up a bit longer in case that was the problem.
"I think so."
