The Perk, evening

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

After getting their parents settled at the hotel, Isabel made a phone call and led Max over to the Perk. "I'm still not sure if this is a good idea. I keep expecting the world to implode."

	"Why? Because we exist in a separate world from all this?" Max slid her a glance, and smiled to himself. "That just means worlds collide."
	"And have you ever seen a collision that didn't make a big BOOM?" Isabel asked.
	"Seriously, how bad could it be?" Max asked, egging her on. He totally knew better than to ask that. But the possibility of a good Isabel rant was too good not to pass up.
	She wouldn't rant. She'd glare instead. "Don't make me hurt you. I can hide your body where it would never be found."
	Max ducked his head, giving her an apologetic look, and nodded solemnly. "Isabel? We've dealt with invasions and refugee evacuations. I think this will somehow be survivable." He bit his lip, sobering. "I'm glad you stuck it out. And didn't just blow off school after everything." The way I did, was left unsaid.
	"This part will be. But have I ever told you about the graduation ceremonies in this school?" she asked, then realized that no, she hadn't. "It'll be survivable, but more then likely brain breaky." Isabel bumped his shoulder lightly. "This was the best place for me to be. You just need to find your place now."
	"Eventually." Max bumped her shoulder back. "So are we talking zombies?" He smiled, eyebrows going up. "Should I be wearing kevlar?"
	Grinning enigmatically and thinking of attacking inflatable gremlins and annoying aliens, Isabel made her way over to where Michael was sitting. "I'm not telling. But I can promise you this. It's most likely not going to be boring."
	"Good." He stopped for a moment, studying this new Michael, and shook his head as he sat down. "This... is weird."
	"You're telling me", Michael retorted. "You guys aren't supposed to be older than me."
	"Awww, but it's such fun having a little brother," Isabel teased.
	Max sat down, marveling at Michael's hair a moment, the shook his head. "So. You like it here? Or is Isabel just crazy?"
	He shrugged slightly. "It's pretty good here. Weird as all hell, but good."
	"Which could quite possibly count as one of the top five understatements of the year," Isabel grinned as she took her own seat. "But it's true. Weird. But never, ever boring."

[Pre-played with rebelheartalien and emo_alien_king aka mparkerceo. To be continued in the comments. Slow-play is the word of the day. Post is also open for all your Perk needs.]

Comments

[emo-alien-king.livejournal.com]

"I'm kind of surprised you left Roswell," Max said, watching this younger version of Michael closely. Not wanting it to come across as a criticism, he added, "Just because of the whole thing about going home that I know you had." Which so hadn't worked out like they'd hoped. "Are you planning on going back, after this?"

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

"I'm still gonna go home", Michael said calmly. "And I won't go without you two... so yeah, I'm going back."

[emo-alien-king.livejournal.com]

How the hell had Isabel dealt with this, all semester? Knowing what she knew? Max sent her a small glance and then said, "I'm glad. It's got to be done." He was quiet a minute, and said, "It was harder for us than we'd expected. But... I'm not sorry we did it." That, at least, was the truth.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Denial wasn't just a river, that's how Isabel survived.

"Meh," she said. "Happy thoughts. It's my graduation. I demand it."