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Groovy Tunes, Saturday

Charlie had left her notebook at home, and was just playing with the kittens today while waiting for customers.

Tara MacLean, Sarah McLachlan, and Loreena McKennit are playing on the speakers.

Groovy Tunes is open.

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...

Wander around and look at stuff in the store on your own.

Around all day today.

Isabel had stopped by Charlie's room but no one seemed to be home. Remembering that radio said she worked at the record store, Isabel decided to take a walk into town.

"Hey Charlie..."

"Isabel, hi." Charlie looked up from tickling Mopsy, and smiled hesitantly at Isabel. "How's it going?"

"I'm okay," she smiled. "How about you? That's the big question."

"Embarrassed, but okay. Mostly." Charlie turned red, then asked, "How's Peter? Is he all right? I'm scared to even go near him, I should call...."

"He's worried mostly," Isabel sighed. "But I think I've managed to convince him that hiding in his room forever isn't an option."

Charlie hid her face in her hands, and shook her head. "I'm so, so sorry. It wasn't his fault, he didn't know, and it's my fault because I couldn't control it, and he shouldn't be the one hiding in his room!"

"No, no, no. Charlie, it's not your fault. It could have happened with anyone," she told her.

Charlie shook her head, feeling upset about how badly she'd scared Peter, and how close he'd come to getting hurt. "Anyone who can hurt people with a thought, and don't warn other people. Sure. That's true."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Isabel asked. She thought she understood, but she wanted to hear it from Charlie.

Charlie fiddled with the cash register keys, and swallowed. "I don't even like thinking about it. Or dealing with it. And I don't want-- I didn't want to use it. The firestarting. And I didn't want to explain it all to people, about why not, and..." She shrugged, giving Isabel a weary look. "I thought I could just pretend it didn't exist, I guess."

"When I came here? I just wanted to be a normal girl. I didn't want to think about home planets, destinies, aliens, or alien hunters" she said, nodding slowly. "So I understand exactly what you were trying to do."

"Yeah?" Charlie asked. "At least I'm not the only one in denial, then." She perched her chin on her hands. "I wish I hadn't freaked out so bad. That made it worse, but it's been ages since that happened. I used to have a handle on it, but now, not so much."

"You were surprised and scared. Freaking out is understandable," Isabel said with a small smile. "Well if you don't have a handle on it, you're certainly in the right place to learn."

"I wish I didn't have to." Charlie hadn't really wanted to whine to Turtle yesterday, but maybe Isabel would get it. "I wish I could just get rid of it. Karal was saying that gifts are given to people for reasons-- but what's the point of mine? The only thing it can do is hurt people."

"You'll be better off if you do. Then you won't ever have to worry about accidents happening," she replied. "You were lucky yesterday. Next time, maybe not. As for the point of it? If you can control it? Well maybe you should talk to Johnny. It seems to be working for him."

Charlie looked away. "Johnny can fly. And set himself on fire, make himself invulnerable to it-- I've never been able to do that." She was quiet a minute, and then said, "I know I have to learn how to control it. But it'll always be this, this curse." She shook her head, and tried to be more upbeat. "Um... I was going to ask... could you help?" Shyly, she said, "I don't want to hurt anyone while I'm learning how to stop it. And I thought, maybe, you could at least pour sand on it, or water, if it gets out of control."

"Of course I'll help," Isabel promised. "And I can give you the names of half a dozen other people that'll be even more help then me." She leaned against the counter, looking thoughtful. "Maybe it's been more of a curse because you were dealing with it on your own? But here? This is a good place to learn to control it. So it doesn't control you."

"Maybe." She'd like to think that. It still struck her as a massively un-useful thing. At least back in her world. But she didn't have to deal with that again soon. "I'm staying, though. At least, I'm going to get the paperwork done, and then talk to Principal Washburn about everything." Charlie smiled a little. "So yeah. I'd like that. The help. Thanks."

"Give it a chance," she said. "You never know. You could surprise yourself. And I'll help, as much as I can." For as long as she could. Even if it wouldn't be that long.

"Cool." Charlie smiled a little. "That would be really good." She picked up Flopsy and cuddled her close. "And could you tell Peter I'm sorry, if you see him before I talk to him?"

Isabel smiled a bit, thinking of their promised dinner. "I will. Definitely."

Anders had been taking his Glider the long way around the island -- all the way down Apocalypse and then back -- to Turtle and Canary, intent on spending that gift certificate he'd gotten on more baking supplies, when he decided to take a turn down Unicorn Street instead of continuing on to Griffin Way. Slowing his speed so he didn't smack into a building, he happened to glance into the store and catch sight of Charlie.

His conversation with Isabel yesterday rang a bell, and he parked the Glider outside the store. Now was as good a time as any to talk to her, he figured as he walked in.

"Charlie," he said, running a hand through his hair in a futile attempt to do something about the chronic mess up there. "How's it going?"

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Groovy Tunes, Saturday

Talk to Charlie

Play with the kittens, listen to the CD's

OOC

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