Fourth Floor Common Room, Monday evening

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

Charlie had a huge pot of water for spaghetti boiling, tomatoes and onions chopped up, garlic diced into tiny pieces, and hamburger browning.

She was sure she was forgetting something. Anyone who wanted to help her make dinner was more than welcome.

Comments

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

Charlie snickered. "Umm, oh, sautee the onions? I always forget them until too late. And maybe the garlic with them?" She carefully stirred the tomatoes, and then frowned. "Mushrooms, or not mushrooms? Most people like mushrooms, right?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can do that," she nodded, heading for the stove, carefully hip checking Charlie along the way. "Leave them big enough for people to pick out if they're that fussy and it shouldn't be a problem."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Right," Charlie agreed, carefully melting butter in another pan. "So did you have a class today? I know you told me, and I can't remember. Everyone's classes are melting together in my head, 'cause I don't have any until tomorrow."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Creatures," Isabel smiled. "There was a unicorn. And a Qilin. They were both gorgeous."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Ooooo! A unicorn? Seriously? Oh, why didn't I sign up for that?" Charlie said, mixing up spices. "And I don't think I've heard of a Qilin. Did you have class outside?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"A Qilin is sort of like a Chinese version of a unicorn. Except you don't have to be a virgin to get near it," she explained. "The class was outside, in the preserve. It makes me wonder what else is out there."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Like the teal deer. And the gremlins. Although, I kind of want to see a teal deer. They sound cute." Charlie measured out the pepper. "Hmm. I can make this, and I can make meat loaf, and I can make buffalo wings. That's it. Do they have a cooking class, during the regular semester?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the classes they offer," Isabel said, heating up some oil and adding the onions to the pan. "So there's always a chance they'll offer one."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"What, none?" Charlie set the timer for the skillet, and then looked around for the spaghetti to put in the pot. "I mean, they have to have some normal classes, right? Or are they all crazy like the workshops are?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No, I've had some normal one," she assured her. "Literture, Ethics, Biology, any class with Professor Lyman. But then I've also had classes like Gods and You and Adventuring Survival Tactics. It's a very eclectic mix."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Good. I mean, I like the crazy stuff, but I do want to go to college at some point." She blinked. "Adventuring Survival? Cool. And did I tell you? I got the papers back from my grandfather, for the scholarship. I just have to give them back to Principal Washburn."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Considering I know people that went here and are going to places like MIT, Oxford, and Yale? I don't think you'll have a problem," Isabel smiled. "So that means you'll be staying?"

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Yup! At least, Principal Washburn seemed to think it would be okay, once my grandfather filled out the paperwork." Charlie hummed happily as she tasted the sauce. "I might go back in August, to pick stuff up... I think it needs more thyme."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Good. It'd be a shame to lose you. And honestly? I think this is the best place for you right now," she admitted.

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"I'd hug you, but I'd get tomatoes and tomato sauce all over you," Charlie told her, smiling wide. "And... yeah. I'd hate to quit learning stuff about my abilities now. And everyone here knows more about me than even my best friends back home did. I really, really want to stay."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Not an issue," Isabel pointed out. "Alien fu takes care of all those pesky stains. But I do know exactly how you feel. There's only a handful of people at home that know all about me. It makes it hard."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

Charlie hugged Isabel, one-armed because the other one hanging onto the French bread, then broke away, smiling. "Thanks. It's just Grandpa, for me. And these four writers, at Rolling Stone. Otherwise, nobody."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She smiled and focused her attention on the pan. "Rolling Stone? I'd say that's somebody."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"They did the whole story about me, and you know. Everything. Eight years ago." Charlie frowned, carefully stirring the pasta into the water. "And they were really cool to me and kept in touch. They gave me an alias so I'd be anonymous." She grinned a little. "Lisa keeps saying she'll hire me to be her gopher, as soon as I'm out of high school."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Is that what you want?" Isabel asked. "Journalism?"

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Maybe? Something with writing, anyway. Maybe teaching. Lisa's kidding, mostly, but I think it would be a fun job, just to find out if I liked it." Charlie sniffed the onions and garlic, and said, "Okay, now I'm getting hungry already. My mouth's watering. What are you going to do, when you graduate?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It would be cool to do, even if it's just for a summer," she pointed out. "And it'll always be a talking point on a resume."

"I honestly have no clue," Isabel admitted. "Let me get to graduation first."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"Oxford or Yale or MIT, or whatever." Charlie grinned. "Or the Julia Child School!"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Culinary Institute of America," she replied. "That could be interesting."

[girlzippo.livejournal.com]

"I vote for that one. Everyone should go there," Charlie said agreeably, nodding. "I'll even go. I'd probably make more money as a sous-chef than as a writer."