Room 406, evening

[izzyalienqueen]

Friday's classes had been mostly uneventful, well except for the whole double entendres thing. She was still amused about the whole fire hose conversation. Then there'd been lunch. And girlkissy. Isabel was still surprised they hadn't gotten in trouble, but then again, Umbridge might be holding off till Monday's announcements.

Things in her room are pretty well organized and ready to be packed, so Isabel took the opportunity to check out the games website Anders had recommended.

The door was open.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack wasn't entirely sure about this, but it was going to be his only chance to say goodbye, so here he was, leaning in the doorway, hands in his pockets. "Hey."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Hey yourself," Isabel said, looking up from the computer. "What's up?" She hadn't expected this.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Not a lot," he replied, staying where he was for the moment. "I see you've been packing."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," she shrugged. "Easier to do it now then run around in a panic Thursday morning. Besides, after a year and a half, I needed to purge."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Travel light. It makes things easier." Jack studied the room and Isabel for a bit before asking, "Can I come in?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, that's what I found." Closing the laptop, Isabel set it aside. "Of course."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." Jack pushed off the wall and perched on the desk. "I'm heading out on Sunday. I'll be gone for a week."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh," she said, quiet for a moment before shaking it off. "Someplace fun I hope."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I hope so," he said. "Upshot is, you'll be gone when I get back. I didn't want to go without saying goodbye."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel nodded. "I appreciate that. Thank you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The corner of his mouth quirked up at that. "You're welcome, I guess," he said, amused at the formality. "You're going to be careful."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll do my best," she shrugged. "You know how it goes."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I do," he said, looking at his hands. "I guess they'll be happy to see you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel pulled her knees up and rested her chin on her arms. "I hope so. I'm sure they'll just be happy to know that I'm not in trouble."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "If they give you any grief? You can point out that technically you're the older sister now."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, there is that," she said with a small laugh. "Although I'm not sure it's enough to trump the whole absolute monarch thing Max has going for him now."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Probably not." He grinned. "But older sisters have scary powers, or so I'm told. And it should make them stop and think, give you a chance to regain the uppper hand."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Maybe. Especially if they're too busy trying to figure out how the hell I wound up back here." Isabel looked away, "That's if it works. This could just wind up being nothing more then a trip back to see my folks."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"That's what I'd like to see happen," he said bluntly. "If it does, when will we know?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Within a few days," she said, a bit surprised by his reaction. "I'm tired of waiting."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know the feeling." He stood and paced around the room. "I know you want to get back, but I'd be happier if it didn't work."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel would never admit that a tiny part of her was hoping it didn't work. "I'm sorry," she said, watching him pace.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He looked at her in surprise. "What for?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She shrugged and scooped up Annie as the cat pushed her way into her lap. "I don't know. Just that this is happening now. You should be enjoying your time here."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Don't worry about it, Isabel," he said dismissively. "I wanted to get back here to say goodbye before you left."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I worry," Isabel said. "It's my thing."

"I appreciate it. It was good to see you again." Even if she screwed things up.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack just nodded and wandered over to stand next to the bed. "Guess I should leave you to it," he said, watching her closely. "Seeing as I've said goodbye."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Actually I'll be going back to mindless entertainment on the internet," she said, letting go of the cat and gesturing at the laptop. "Anders told me about a games website. It passes time."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Still, I should go." He hesitated, then settled one hand on her shoulder. Part of him was still angry over what she'd done, but the rest-- "Think I can get a hug first?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, sure," Isabel replied, getting to her feet. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack pulled her into a hug. "I will if you will."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll try." She returned the hug, tempted for a brief second to pretend that things hadn't changed. But that was pointless and would only hurt more. Letting go, Isabel stepped back. "Good-bye Jack."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack recognised a dismissal when he heard one, and his mouth tightened briefly. "Right," he said, heading for the door, the same part of him that was still angry regretting that he'd even come by. "Goodbye, Isabel."