Room 406, late Saturday night

[izzyalienqueen]

After getting back from Washingon, Isabel left a message for Wyatt, and stretched out on her bed. She was trying hard not to think about what could possibly go wrong in the morning but her mind kept offering up lots of worse case scenarios.

The door was open.

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[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Because no one wanted to play with a kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Because Michael kept to himself to avoid having to make too many explanations about Hank. But Isabel couldn't, wouldn't, tell Ino that.

"Michael kept to himself because he was, is, planning on leaving and going back to our planet. And he felt it would be easier to leave if he didn't have any ties holding him here."

[intraspective]

"Except that doesn't make any sense because he won't leave without his Isabel and Max and they've got ties," Ino said scathingly, "and I know his school was, was plain bad but that's crazy. Not even one person?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"We would leave with him, ties or not. We did leave with him," she admitted quietly. "But you can't tell him that. I'd have to explain too many things. And he's not ready to hear them."

Isabel shook her head sadly. "No, not even one person. Just Max and I."

[intraspective]

Hearing that they had, in fact, left with him made Ino feel a bit better. Just a little bit, because she'd been right that they did care that much for him.

"I won't," she said, meaning it, "and, and, I don't get why no one wanted to be his friend before, but I'll do my best to be a good one." If a very bossy one.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

It's hard to be friends with someone when they push you away and do everything in their power not to draw attention to themselves. But that was Roswell. Michael was in Fandom now.

"Good," Isabel smiled. "Because I graduate in a few months. And he's going to need someone to look out for him."

[intraspective]

"I'll take care of him," Ino said confidently, then wrinkled her nose, "even if he thinks he's got to take care of me."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Take care of each other," she said.

[intraspective]

Ino looked mildly irritated. "I don't need to be taken care of, really," even if it was a bit sweet, "but I guess I don't mind as long as it's not too much."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You may not need to? But sometimes? It's nice to know that someone's looking out for you," Isabel replied. "Trust me, I've learned that lesson." Which was why she was a bit nervous about telling Wyatt what she was going to be doing in the morning. Because he was going to want to look out for her. By being there.

[intraspective]

"I know that," Ino admitted, "we're trained to work well in teams back home, but..." she shrugged, looking slightly amused, "I seriously don't need help to climb up onto a counter."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel blinked. "Climbing up on a counter? Was it really tall counter?"

[intraspective]

"The counter at Luke's," Ino said, "no taller than a regular counter, I guess."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And he helped you? That's sweet!" Isabel was truly a sappy romantic at heart.

[intraspective]

She mentally facepalmed. "It was sweet, I guess," and completely unnecessary.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's nice. That he's willing to do that for you," she tried to explain. "I mean, I know you're more then capable of sitting at a counter yourself. And I'm sure he knows it to. But if he's willing to go to that little bit of extra effort for you? It means you matter to him."

[intraspective]

Ino blinked. That... hadn't been something she'd thought of. "Oh." Ino blushed slightly and admitted, "I didn't think of that."

That... that was nice.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel smiled, "Well there you go."

[intraspective]

"I," Ino looked thoughtful, "I should probably go," she smiled, somewhat ruefully, "you've given me a lot to think about."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Okay, but feel free to stop by whenever. I'm usually around," she said. Isabel hesitated a moment, not wanting to interfere too much, but at the same time, wanting to put in a good word for Michael. "He's a good guy. And he'll treat you right if you give him a chance."

[intraspective]

"I knew that," Ino said as lightly as she could while blushing, "that's definitely not the issue here. And, I'll see you around."