Room 406, evening

[izzyalienqueen]

As always, Monday's workshops were entertaining. Afterwards, Isabel hauled her stuff back to the dorms, responded to an email from Parker, and then finally went down to Jack's room to retrieve the TV and DVD player he'd told her she could have. And that's when she found the letter.

Currently Isabel was attempting to rearrange furniture to accomadate the TV but she was occasionally distracted by the paper lying folded on her desk.

The door was open.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, I don't," Isabel sighed. "I mentioned last summer because it was fun. I was happy year. I had wonderful friends and going back to our planet was just some abstract idea. Now? A lot of my friends have graduated, and the idea of our planet isn't so abstract any more."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No, it's not. You are going to return, because you believe it is right, because your brother and your friend are there, fighting to free what was once your planet and will be again. Which is," he spread his hands, "admirable and brave and frightening, all at once. But it's not time for that yet, and not all your friends are gone. There are still chances for happiness here, even with the weight you are carrying."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Well when you say it like," she said with a small smile. "You're right. I know that. It still doesn't stop me from thinking about it. Or missing people. Especially when they're dorks and do something unexpected."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I knew you knew - I just like to feel important by pointing out things which people already know," he teased, smiling encouragingly at her. "That way I am never wrong. And I'm going to add to that by reminding you that, with your marvellous devices, you can speak with your friends, even though they're gone. However, I do have to admit that I do not know what a dork is."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"A dork is a person who's goofy, or silly, or well sometimes it can be an insult describing a person who's not quite up on the latest styles or the coolest. But when I use it? It's more a term of affection. If that makes sense."

Isabel shook her head, looking sad. "And not all friends can stay in contact. Sometimes, despite the technology, there's no way."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It does make sense, yes." Karal had the strong feeling that he was going to find himself being called a dork some day. At least now he'd know what it meant.

He sat back a little, smile turning into a look of sympathy. "For that I am sorry, Isabel," he said, voice quiet. "Wherever they are, I'm sure they know you're thinking of them."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He'd better," she said, reaching for the framed picture from prom. "Or I'll have to try to hunt him down and kick his ass. That's Jack. One of the best friends I ever had."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal stood and moved to sit next to Isabel, looking at the picture. "He looks very," he tilted his head, considering, then smiled, "bold. And brash." He did wonder about the skirt, but thought it better not to ask.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That would be Jack," Isabel smiled. "Bold, brash, a huge flirt. I never thought we'd wind up as close as we did. But things happened and wow, I'm so glad they did. Because we had a lot of fun together."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal went pink, putting together flirt and close and things happened to come to entirely the wrong conclusion, not that he knew that. "Yes, well, just because you can't speak with him, doesn't mean he's not thinking of you, as much as you are of him." He smiled gently up at her, ignoring the blush he could feel. "Friends really aren't ever gone, Isabel, even if you can't see them."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know," she nodded, so focused on the picture she didn't notice the blush. "It doesn't make miss him any less though. I'd give anything for him to walk through that door right now and sprawl across my bed while we talked."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It had just gotten a little bit brighter, so it was good she was looking at the picture. "Maybe one day he will, when you least expect it." She looked so sad he patted her shoulder tentatively. "He'll just be there."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

It was a nice dream, but Isabel didn't really think it had a chance of happening. "Maybe," she said. "I suppose stranger things have happened."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"In this place?" Karal smiled widely and patted her shoulder again. "That is one thing I think you never need to doubt. I think that a stranger thing can always happen, and probably will."