Behind the Meerkat Cabin, late morning through lunch

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel didn't get to bed till late and didn't get to sleep until even later. She was too busy replaying the evening in her mind and smiling at the memory. Thursdays were workshop free, so she slept in late and then brought her blanket out to lie in shade of the trees behind the Meerkat cabin. The jug of iced tea is cold, her book is incredibly entertaining in that cheesy, this is entirely not plausible way and overall, life is good.

[Feel free to interrupt!]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There was an attempt at exploding the volcano at prom," she explained with a laugh. "Two of the students thought it would be amusing. Parker stopped them."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Why doesn't it surprise me that Parker would wreck the fun of blowing something up like that?" Greg asked, his long-suffering tone not matching his grin at all.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"She only stopped them from blowing it up in the middle of the Prom," Isabel pointed out. "After the prom was over, she let them take it and blow it up on the beach."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Nice of her," he said lightly, smiling over at her. "I'll have to introduce Parker to the fun of pretty chemicals. I bet she'd be more sympathetic to the plight of the amateur combustionists everywhere."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I should introduce you to Jarod, her boyfriend. You can teach him the tricks of pretty, romantic fires and he'll introduce it to Parker. Trust me, she'll appreciate it more that way." Isabel reached for the thermos, refilled her own cup and poured another for Greg. "Here. In case you're thirsty. Did I mention Parker was asking me questions in Archery yesterday? And she stopped by earlier to check in."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," he said with a grin as he took the cup. "And no, you didn't. I'm slightly afraid of Parker asking questions, really."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There's no reason to be afraid," Isabel smiled. "She just was checking up on me. I promised her all was well. She's a good friend. I think if she could have gotten away with it she would have gone to Roswell and beaten the hell out of my brother for me at one point."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg raised a brow. "How many of your friends are going to be checking on me, do you think?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel grinned and rested her head briefly on his shoulder. "Hmmm...Parker has made her threat. I don't think anyone else will. Although Xander offered to if I needed it. Although I assured him I don't."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I live in fear of a possible threat from Xander, then," he told her, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. "I think it's nice that you have protective friends, anyway, even if it's really unnecessary."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"They mean well," she laughed. "I'm also pretty sure they know it's unnecessary. But it's written in the friend code."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"It's right there with, 'Thou Shalt Not Date Thy Friend's Sister' and 'Thou Shalt Not Take the Last Slice of Pizza Without Asking,'" Greg said seriously. "Completely understandable."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," she agreed. "But they're harmless threats. Mostly. Parker can be scary when she wants to be. Although she told me it was more of a test to see how you'd react." Isabel squeezed his hand again. "You passed."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know Parker can be scary," he replied, smiling. "And she's fond of weird nicknames. No idea why." Greg squeezed her hand back. "Good to know I passed. I'd hate to know what'd happen to me if I'd failed."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I think the nicknames actually means she likes you. So you're doing good if she's given you one. So," she said with a grin. "I have the beach workshop tomorrow. Do you want me to ask Jarod about borrowing kayaks one day?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Sure," Greg replied, returning the grin. "Tell him I'll teach him about the fire thing if he lets us borrow them. Seems like a fair enough trade, really."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It is," she said. "Hopefully he'll agree. So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Mostly? Trying to shake this guy," Greg said, waving at his leg where the gnome was clinging stubbornly. "Aside from that, I've got no workshops or anything. But knowing the source of gnome..ness," he shot her a look, "I suspect it'll take awhile to get this guy to leave me alone. What about you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You're looking at it," Isabel said, ignoring any mention of the gnome. "I'm being insanely lazy today."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Well, insanely lazy looks good on you," Greg said sincerely. "And I think I'll leave you to it, since I wouldn't want to distract you from your deep and exciting masterpiece of a novel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I think you mean my utterly inane piece of brain candy with absolutely no redeeming literay value, don't you?" Isabel laughed.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I was trying to be kind," he replied, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. "Anyway. I'll see you soon?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I hope so," Isabel smiled. "Unless you've got plans to leave town you're not telling me about."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I think that would be a good reason for your friends to beat me with sticks," Greg told her. With a shy smile, he hesitantly leaned in to give her a quick kiss goodbye.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"They'd have to wait until I was done," she smirked. Isabel leaned in to meet him halfway, catching his shoulder with her free hand and holding on.