I Just Want To Be Normal

Isabel took a seat on the edge of bed. "So what did I miss?"

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Jack sat beside Isabel, hip pressed against hers, still holding her hand.

If he was hanging onto her, she couldn't leave.

"I was a girl yesterday," he offered with a smile.

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"Tell me there's pictures," she laughed, squeezing his hand. "I bet your were gorgeous."

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"Nope, no pictures, but I was gorgeous," he said, so happy to hear her laugh. "You can ask Parker. She said I looked like a model."

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After Jack and Parker left, Isabel left her door open and sat on the bed, enjoying the familiar sounds from the hall. Spotting her phone on her desk, she listened to her messages, wincing at the ~~handwavey~~ frantic calls from her parents. But one message made her smile and dial a number.

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"Not that you don't now," Parker said, "but yes. He did. He was very very pretty. Even if he didn't know how to comb his own hair." She grinned at Isabel, thrilled to have her back already. "And Bel's alive, did you hear that before you left?"

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It took a moment of filtering through the events of that last day in Fandom before Isabel remembered what Anders had told her. "I did. Good. How's he doing?"

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Parker's lips quirked. "I haven't seen him yet, but by all reports, very well. Thriving." She smirked a little. "Celebrating with Phoebe."

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"I can only imagine. Although probably not. Way too much TMI there," she snickered. "How about you? How's Weiss? What have you been up to?"

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"Weiss is good, we had a picnic the day you left, before you told me what was happening." Parker shrugged. "And, well, not much else. It's only been a few days." She grinned, suddenly. "You don't have to go back, do you? You're here to stay?"

[back in 1 hour!]

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Isabel looked down quickly, "Yeah, it just seemed longer I guess. As for going back, no. Not at the moment."

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There was something off in the way she'd said that, avoiding looking at them, but he ignored it in favour of something more important. "No," he said, tugging gently on her hand. "You're ours, you have to stay."

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"I want to stay," she murmured, leaning against him. "I missed you guys. A lot."

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"Missed you, too," he said and slipped his arm around her waist. There were so many things he wanted to tell her, but they could wait.

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Parker had picked up on Isabel's tension too, and remembered the look Captain Jack had given her when he'd said, take care of her. But she was willing to play along for now. "And I'm glad we won't have to for any longer." She patted Isabel's arm, then took a step back, asking, "So. Want to stay in today, or go out and party?"

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"If you don't mind, I'd just as soon pass on the party today." Isabel shrugged a shoulder, "I'm tired. Give me a day or two to catch up on my sleep and then we can talk.""

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"We could leave you alone, if you want. You do look pretty travel-lagged," Parker said, keeping her voice light.

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Jack looked up at that. "We could?"

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chasingsnitches.livejournal.com

After getting the message from Parker, Cedric walked down the hall and slowly peeked his head around the door frame, not quite sure if he believed it.

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Isabel heard a noise in the hall, looked up, and smiled. "Xander I need to go. I'll stop soon okay?" She listened to his answer. "Yes. Bye."

"Hi."

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chasingsnitches.livejournal.com

"Are you real?" Hey, it was a valid question in this town.

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"If you don't mind? I had a shower in Cardiff, but I'd like another one and my own clothes," she said quietly, picking at the borrowed sweater.

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"I'm real," she said, nevermind the fact that she had to keep reminding herself that she really was back in Fandom. Isabel held out her hand. "I promise. Come in. I missed you."

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