The Perk, early afternoon

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel was comfortably ensconced at a table with a large mug of tea, a raspberry-lemon scone, and a stack of magazines that were more visual appeal then substance.

She was completely interruptible.

Comments

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny came by for coffee after class, that and he didn't want to go back to the dorms yet.

It was just his luck that Isabel was there. "Hey you, how're you doing?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel looked up from the magazine she'd been paging through and gave Johnny a small smile. "I've had better weekends."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"I can well imagine," he said. "Can I sit down?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Of course," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Why would you think you had to ask?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Well... he was wondering how many people were going to be pissed at him after hearing last night's radio broadcast. But he wasn't bringing it up, not uless she did.

He sat down. "Thought I'd be polite."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Oh she'd heard radio. Just given the squirrels fondness for exaggeration, she figured she'd get his side of the story first.

"Who are you and what have you done with Johnny?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He chuckled, quietly. "Call it my subdued self. Didn't sleep much last night and as you can tell, I got the crap kicked out of me in Arts and Crafts. We did the whole Super Soaker paint deal. Tried to get most of it off. Could have burned it off but then I would be sitting here naked and I'm sure no one would appreciate that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I might," Isabel teased, but it was subdued compared to their usual banter. She'd had a long night as well.

"Still it's probably better then getting your ass kicked by Hades."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He smirked, slightly, watching her. He'd felt bad that she was one of the ones taken. Better that his girlfriend had rescued her, but terrible nonetheless.

"I'm sorry, Isabel, that you had to endure all of that."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It sucked, but I guess it's better then what happened the last time I got grabbed," she replied, looking down for a moment. "At least no one died this time."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny looked down as well, at his fingers wrapped around his cup. "I'm glad you're safe. And back home."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thanks to Savannah."

Isabel reached across the table for his hand.

"What happened? Your version. Not radio's."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He glanced up, held her hand.

"I just wanted her safe, Isabel. That's all. I thought I lost her once. I didn't want to deal with any of that again."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That might be what you think you want. But really?" Isabel asked quietly. "Wouldn't you get bored if she stayed home and let you protect her."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"No," he replied honestly. "I wouldn't."

Okay, maybe he would. If he thought about it. Johnny's thought process just wasn't there yet.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel snorted. "Yeah. Sure. You'd love some nice little, sweet innocent thing that would simper and stay right where you put her. You'd be bored within a week."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't matter anyway; we both know that isn't Savannah." Which only left him with a much bigger problem to deal with.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No. It isn't. She's strong, she's powerful, and when something's going down she's going to do her part to help," she said. "You need to respect that."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"I never said I didn't. It's just hard to deal with the her getting hurt part."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Do you think Wyatt enjoys it?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny stared at her. "No. But I'm not him, and that you know."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, you're not. But here's the thing," Isabel paused for a moment a took a sip of tea. Wyatt had healed her, but her throat still felt raw.

"You know what I was thinking when I got grabbed?" she asked. "I was going to go Luke's and make sure Michael was okay. Then I was going to go back and get Wyatt and I figured we could go join up with whatever group was going to go after Hades. Together."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Savannah didn't ask me to go with her," he stated. "We had already argued before; when she came back last night, it was worse. I don't know what the hell to do about it now but it's not looking good. I think... I think we might be done, Isabel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"If you'd already argued before, I can see why she wouldn't ask you," Isabel admitted. "As for it being over. I don't know. I guess you need to figure out if the chance she's going to get hurt is worth being with her. If you're strong enough to deal with that risk."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"I don't think it is a matter of being strong enough, it's a matter of dealing with the outcome of whatever that outcome is. She could not come back at all, Isabel and dealing with that would kill me."