Me, You, & The Party Rock Crew

“But now I gotta let you go. You’ll be better off with someone new.” – Heat Waves, Glass Animals, 2020. 

The weekend was winding down, and with it came a creeping anxiety. It was Sunday afternoon–T-minus 3 days until Izzie boarded a flight back home. Two weeks of holiday chaos and wedding madness packed into one trip. The thought alone made her stomach twist. 

She was currently parked on Riley’s back porch, legs tucked beneath her, mimosa already drained.

“Okay, camel, slow down,” Riley teased, topping off her glass with more champagne and orange juice. 

“Sorry,” Izzie exhaled, leaning back in her chair. “Just trying to soak up the last of the sunshine before I’m stuck in midwestern gloom.” 

Riley narrowed her eyes, leaning into her seat. “Bullshit.” 

“What?” Izzie blinked innocently. 

“Don’t what me,” Riley said, kicking her feet up. “That wasn’t just seasonal dread in your voice. Spill.” 

Izzie hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek before finally pulling out her phone. She unlocked it and went to the dreaded text, handing it over. 

Riley’s eyes widened the second she read the text.

“Shut the fuck up, Isabella.” 

“I know, I know,” Izzie groaned, burying her face in her hands

“No–shut.the.fuck.up!” Riley yelled, louder now. From inside the house, Tony poked his head through the open window, spatula in hand. 

“No, you shut the fuck up,” he grinned. 

“I hate you, shut up,” Riley fired back without missing a beat. 

Ahh, marriage. Gotta love it. 

“Maybe he was drunk or something?” 

“And if he was, that is a wild drunk thought,” Riley said flatly.

Izzie ruminated on it for a moment before shaking her head. 

“What do I say?” 

“You could say, ‘Good. You fumbled a bad bitch and a squad’,” Riley offered, beaming. 

“That is…absolutely not what I’m saying,” Izzie laughed, the tension in her chest finally loosening a little. Leaving it to Riley to make her crack a smile mid-crisis. 

“Okay, what about this: ‘Hey, this is better discussed in person’?” 

“Oooh, I like that,” Riley nodded. “Classy and mysterious. That way you don’t have to do that weird long-distance yearning bullshit. Which–like–why is he even yearning? Isn’t he getting married?” 

“Precisely.” 

“He needs to wake the fuck up. Like, seriously. At this point, he’s losing you no matter what. Whether it’s Quinn finally growing a pair and not being a whiny bitch to ditch Rosa for you, or you just doing your own thing–Simon’s out either way. He can’t have his cake and eat it, too.” 

“Hala’s wedding complicates things, you know that.” 

“And? He can’t just move on and still keep glancing back like he left something behind. That’s not how this works.” 

She wasn’t wrong. Riley had hit the nail on the head again. It was Simon’s pattern: always dipping his toes into the past like he couldn’t quite let go. 

“That’s just…Simon,” Izzie admitted. “Honestly? The only time he wasn’t hung up on me while he was with someone else was when he dated Cheyenne. That might’ve been the first time he was genuinely torn, but chose her and didn’t look back.” 

Riley blinked. “Damn, girl.” 

Even Izzie was surprised she remembered. She hadn’t thought about Cheyenne in ages–not since moving to Santa Monica. It wasn’t a conscious decision to drift apart, but life happened, as it always did. After Simon and Cheyenne’s breakup, everything got messy. Like, full-on implosion messy. The kind that cracked the Party Rock Crew right down the middle–the older crew on one side, the younger on the other. 

Still, this was one of the rare moments Cheyenne came to mind, and curiosity ate at her. 

The rest of the afternoon was filled with mimosas, steak frites, and Riley going into excruciating detail about her hopes for baby number two. Izzie was all ears, though–supportive and beaming as she watched her best friend talk about growing her family. It was wild how fast time flew. Now here they were, watching little Max chase dragonflies in the grass like life was just beginning all over again. 

This was what Izzie loved about hanging with her friends in their homes. Seeing them in their element, witnessing their growth. It made everything feel real. Tangible. Like maybe the chaos of their twenties had led them somewhere solid. 

Afterward, it was a twenty-minute drive back home to Ocean Ave, Santa Monica. “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. came on the radio, and naturally, Izzie cranked the volume to an obnoxious level, belting out the lyrics like it was 2008 and she was still riding shotgun in her mom’s car. 

Just as soon as she hit her favorite verse, however, her phone buzzed.  

Sunwoo McKinnon-Lee. Her bro,  her forever partner in crime. The certified menace to society. 

“Whaddup, foo?” Izzie answered with a smirk. 

“Ayo, whaddup, Cali girl,” Sunwoo chuckled on the other end. “How’s the packing mission going?” 

“Oh, you know…it’s goin’.” She grinned. “You?” 

Sunwoo burst out laughing. “Shiiiit, I’m waitin’ ‘til the last possible minute. Gonna have you girls sweating.” 

Classic Sunwoo. Crude as all hell. 

He’d moved out west, too–traded Chicago’s wind for Seattle’s gray skies. Somehow, he became one of the most in-demand mechanics in the city. Big rigs, Teslas, vintage Camaros–if it had wheels, he could fix it. Always learning, always up on the latest tech, and somehow still managing to be a lovable clown through it all. 

“Wow, the only time you can get one of us girls to sweat,” Izzie teased, smirking. 

“Damn, don’t do me like that, Fizzie,” he fired back, using that ancient nickname that always made her scrunch her nose. 

“You’re a pain in the ass, Sun-woo,” she saaid pointedly, dragging out the silent “w”  just to annoy him–her trademark way of returning the love. 

“You love me,” he sighed wistfully. 

“I guess so,” she laughed under her breath. 

“I also heard Mankovy-anchovy’s making his way to the wedding, on the groom’s side?” Sunwoo practically cackled. 

“Yup.” 

“Damn. How did Hala take it?” 

“I mean…pretty neutral? You know he wound up being more Martin’s friend, and Simon and Hala were only friends on proxy because of us?” 

“True, true. Damn. I’m surprised Elaine’s letting him off that tight leash of his.” 

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, too! Especially considering the fact that we’ve been texting like nothing ever happened between us.” 

“HUH?!” 

“You heard me.” 

“Please tell me you’ve parked.” 

“I’m literally pulling into my garage right now, chill.” 

“Okay good, ‘cause I was going to say–you can’t edge me like that, bro.” 

“Ew, Sunwoo. You have to drop that term. It’s tease.” 

“Tease, edge, either way I’m still gettin’ off.” 

“Sunwoo.” Izzie’s teacher-voice was in full effect now. 

“What?!” He said through a laugh. “You walked right into that one!” 

As soon as Izzie was fully parked, she shut off her car, putting Sunwoo on speaker.

“I’m sending you screenshots of everything.” 

“Finally, I can nut in peace.” 

“Ugh,” Izzie groaned. Leave it to Sunwoo to make gossip remotely sexual. 

As soon as the screenshots were sent, there was a short pause, and then. 

“Mhm…” Sunwoo trailed off. “Huh.” 

“Mhm?” Izzie echoed.

“Did Elaine like–withhold sex from him? Is that the vibe I’m getting?” 

“Sunwoo, not everything needs to be about–” 

“No, no, hear me out real quick. Does he actually think he’s going to try to fuck with you at the wedding? Because this is giving ‘let me fuck you goodbye’ energy, you feel me?” 

Unfortunately, Izzie did feel him. 

“Okay…I’m listening.” 

“If not a random wedding hookup, then like…I don’t know, Fizz. Simon’s doing the thing again. He’s like a demented dog or something, he chases you until you chase him back, then he runs into traffic and gets hit by a car.” 

Izzie had to bite her lip not to laugh, but Sunwoo could hear her struggling. 

“Just sayin’. Dude’s about to get married, and he’s over here tryna waltz back into your life. You should say you’re pregnant or something. Really get him goin’.” 

“Absolutely fucking not, McKinnon-Lee,” she warned. 

“Okay, okay. Too crass. Lie and say you found someone. You got anyone that could cover?” 

Immediately, her mind flashed to one person, and just as quickly, she pushed him out. Quinn was a lost cause. Plus, Rosalyn probably had a 100-mile electric fence set up around him. 

“Nope.” 

“Liar.” 

“Shut up.”

“Wait–what about that guy who was always in your group pics? From grad school? Tall, kinda lanky, glasses, always had a clean fade?” 

God. How did he clock it that fast? She’d been hoping he’d guess Jose or William and throw himself off the trail. 

“Oh, uh, Quinn?” 

“Yeah! That guy! He was always next to you in photos,” Sunwoo said, grinning through the phone. 

“He has a girlfriend.” 

“So? Pay her with Starbucks or something?” 

“Trust me–she’s very much like–” 

“Damn, what is up with you and guys with crazy girlfriends?” 

“Okay, lower your voice. This one was freshly dumped when I met him.” 

“I think you have a type. Let me guess–two sisters, two parents, middle child?” 

“Close, youngest.” 

“Damn, the plot thickens. At least he’s got a little flavor?” 

“Yeah. Half Mexican.” 

“Ooh! Muy caliente. Me gusta! He speak Spanish?” 

“No sabo kid.” 

“Bro, I speak more Spanish than he does? I can call him a–” 

“He’ll understand you, dummy. He just can’t say it back.” 

“All the more reason to get him,” Sunwoo snickered. “He’s defenseless. Like a sexy little bilingual deer.” 

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Izzie fake gagged. 

Sunwoo roared with laughter. Typical. Chaos, shenanigans, and everything in between–that was just his natural habitat. 

As Izzie got out of her car, making her way into the apartment, she was immediately greeted by Stelly, who purred happily and weaved through her legs. 

“Push comes to shove, I can always get Simon shitfaced at the bachelor party and get him to confess his deep dark secrets?” Sunwoo offered casually. 

“Sunwoo.” 

“Just sayin’. You know he’ll never turn down a bottle of añejo tequila. Man’s a slut for it.”

A part of Izzie wanted to say yes, please, but the other part, the logical part, knew better. It wouldn’t be right. 

“We can’t.” 

“You can’t, but I can. I don’t give a fuck about morality.” 

His voice’s nonchalance was sometimes maddening, but she understood the method to Sunwoo’s madness. Even if it was…well. You know the word. 

“Besides, he’s done worse,” he huffed. 

“We don’t know that for sure.” 

“Well, don’t get lost in those emerald green–sea green–whatever-the-fuck-green eyes of his when you ask him what’s the story with him and Cheyenne. The actual story,” Sunwoo added pointedly

“I know.” 

Still, something stirred in Izzie’s chest at the reminder. The one cryptic post Cheyenne had made during the #MeToo movement–a vague accusation against a manipulative ex, and a note about why she hadn’t reported him. It couldn’t have been about Simon, right? 

What exactly had happened? 

And why had she been shut out? 

“You don’t think Simon actually would…right?” 

“It’s hard to say, man. Did Chey-Chey date anyone in between Simon and Jason?” 

“Not that I know of?” 

“Well, what do you have on this list? I know you have a list to rip him a whole new asshole.” 

“You mean the part where he said he was in love with me–drunkenly–right after I lost my mom? Or when he crawled into Elaine’s bed and they magically started dating? OR! Wait–when he tried acting like my boyfriend while they were together, OR when he proposed to her near my birthday, OR when he said he loved me after–”

“Jesus Christ, Fizzie…” Sunwoo cut her off, his voice sharp with shock–and disgust. 

It hit him harder hearing it all out loud. Simon sounded like a downright, indecisive asshole. 

“Yeah,” Izzie exhaled heavily, slumping onto the couch as Stelly hopped beside her. 

“If you need me to tie him by his balls and swing him around, you let me know. I can overpower him, you know.” 

“No need, I can handle him,” Izzie chuckled. 

From there, the conversation drifted into easier waters–talking about wedding party plans, the upcoming shenanigans that would be afoot, and the reuniting of The Party Rock Crew. For the first time in days, Izzie felt excitement buzz under her skin instead of dread. Maybe things would actually be okay. 

After they hung up, she leaned back on the couch, rubbing her hands over her face with a soft groan, then looked over at Stelly, who was now curled up against a pillow. 

“And I have to get you all packed up and ready to go, too,” she smiled, reaching out to rub Stelly’s head lightly. 

It wasn’t Stelly’s first rodeo on a plane, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Izzie had it down to a science now: food, water, a trip to the litter box before the flight, and lots of cozy naps in her bubble backpack. Traveling alone always made her anxious, but traveling with Stelly made it feel like she was carrying a piece of home with her–and she needed that comfort now more than ever. 

Tuesday evening found her lugging in bags of Christmas presents from colleagues, students, and parents, dropping them by her five-foot-four-inch purple tinsel tree with a sigh. 

“That’s a problem for next year Izzie,” she muttered, brushing glitter off her leggings. 

She smiled to herself, thinking about how chaotic the afternoon had been–the kids shouting holiday wishes, staff passing out cookies and hugs, Maisie, Riley, Maribel, and Jose threatening to kidnap her if she didn’t come back after break. 

It made her heart full and heavy all at once. 

Change was exciting, but it always came with goodbyes. 

As Izzie finished packing for both herself and Stelly, she paused by her nightstand. There it was–the epic graduation photo. The Party Rock Crew, bright-eyed and smiling, frozen in time, their faces full of excitement for the future. Izzie stood dead center, her mom snapping the picture, capturing a moment that now felt almost mythical. 

A wistful sigh escaped her lips as she stared at the photo. Soon. She’d be seeing them all again, soon. 

On impulse, she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of her luggage, firing it off into the long-dormant Party Rock Crew group chat. 

Hala: FINALLY. 

Carter: The prodigal daughter is returning. 

Sunwoo: STFU you live in England??? 

Carter: And yet I’ve already arrived prior to both of you

Sunwoo: Okay valid. 

Cheyenne: YAY! I can’t wait to see you!! 

Hattie: I’m muting all of you now. I can’t believe this chat’s revived. 

Izzie: Sometimes it takes a real bitch to wake everyone up. 

Hala: Um excuse me??? 

Izzie: Sorry, I mean Hala of course. She’s getting married and all. 

Ryan: LMFOAOOOAOAOAO 

Daisy: hearts everyone’s messages

Caroline: Nice save, Iz xo

Simon: Lol, can’t wait to see everyone. 

Just like that, the chat buzzed to life. Even Noora had seen the chat, though she didn’t bother to reply to anyone. Even so, the undercurrent was clear. There were still some kinks that needed working out. 

Izzie set her phone down and stretched, glancing over at Stelly curled up nearby. 

“Alright, Stelly,” she said, grinning, “Tomorrow we venture back home.”