I Just Want To Be Normal

Isabel had returned from the Reserve meeting and was talking things over with Wyatt when suddenly he'd orbed away.

And left her behind.

She was going to kill him when he got back. But until that happened, Isabel was going to pace the living room and worry.

[Expecting two but open to calls, texts or any other visitors or residents]

Isabel had been surprised to find a large Fedex box on her doorstep when she returned from a dinner out with friends. Of course curiosity had her opening as soon as she got in the door.

Once she'd dug through the packing peanuts, she had to laugh. Peter had remembered their
conversation from the other night. It wasn't quite a lifetime supply of chocolate but it was close.

Maybe she would skip the yelling when she saw him. And just go straight for the hugging.

[Open for phone calls, emails, etc...]

Despite two finals that morning and an afternoon and evening spent keeping five different Christmas parties running smoothly, Isabel was still pretty awake when she finally made it back to her apartment.

Deciding to take advantage of some quiet time, she started going through some of the papers and envelopes that had accumulated on her desk. The envelope from the photo lab made her pause. She'd ordered the pictures shortly before Peter had died and knowing that he was in several of the carnival and Homecoming shots, had put the envelope aside when it arrived after the explosion.

Climbing into bed, she opened the envelope and slowly went through the pictures, smiling at the memories and wishing somehow she'd been able to save him.

The long day finally caught up with her, and Isabel fell asleep, a picture of Peter still in her hand.

Isabel was trying to convince herself it was just very late on Saturday night and that she wasn't nearly as tired as she felt. Unfortunately the hint of color she saw from the rising sun as she drove home from work made it pretty obvious that it was Sunday. Of course the good news was that she didn't have to work today and could instead recover from forty-eight hours of Halloween themed Vegas insanity.

The problem was, Isabel discovered once she'd gotten to her apartment, while she might feel physically exhausted, her brain was still set to high gear. She made herself a cup of tea then pulled out her laptop to decompress for a bit.

Twenty minutes later, all her crops were in order, her fish were fed, and her newly bred animals were moved to their exhibits.

Then it was time to check email. Isabel smiled when she read Peter's reply to the email she'd handwavily sent him on Friday. She could almost see the eyeroll he must have made as he replied. Yes, I'm being careful. Don't worry. Except remembering what he'd told her at Homecoming, Isabel couldn't help but worry. She typed up and sent a quick reply before yawning and closing her laptop.

It was time to sleep, and if the battered backpack of textbooks sitting on the coffee table was to be believed, there was a boyfriend shaped person waiting in her bed to snuggle with.

Life was good.

[Peter modded with permission, the boyfriend, not so much. But she'll make it up to him. Mostly establishy unless the boyfriend feels like waking up.]

Black Rock - Parker, Wyatt, Anders, Zero

Letter to Alanna

Phone call with Peter

The Perk - Peter, Johnny

Phone call with Parker

Pixie Dust with Mary

To say the past few days had been busy was a bit of an understatement. But Isabel was glad that Max and her parents had made it for her graduation. Even if things did get a bit insane.

But her family was gone now, on their slightly longer trip home, and Isabel was taking the opportunity to sit and relax.

And wish like hell a new season of The Amazing Race was going to start anytime soon.

The door was open.

Mythologies - Anders & Wyatt

Common Room, Ronan's B-day - Robin, Hoshi, Carmela, Anders, Sky, Wyatt, Steve Peter, Ronan, Seregil, Cimorene, Adam

Bridge's Room

Pixie Dust - Andrew

She'd needed last night, Isabel realized. After everything that had happened, she needed a night of being quiet and feeling safe.

Eventually she'd made it back to her room. After a shower, she'd called her mom, feigning surprise at the news of the destruction of the Meta-Chem, and quickly changing the subject to the cleaning supplies that were currently working busily around the room.

"I know mom," she said eventually. "Yes, we'll be out for dinner soon. I promise. Bye." Isabel hung up her phone and opened her laptop. Solitaire would be a good way to not think for the afternoon.