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

[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.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg smiled against her mouth and pulled back after a moment. "Okay. Leaving you to your book now, really." It might have sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anything as he stood.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She smiled up at him. "Thanks for coming by."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

With a blushing smile and quick wave, he walked off.

The gnome waved too.