Fourth Floor Common Room, morning

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel always thought better when she cooked. That was why Friday morning she could be found in the common room making muffins. Lots of them.

Hopefully the smell would draw people in to eat them.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm pretty sure where I want to go. But if I don't get in there, I'd be pretty happy with my second choice," Isabel said. "I know my folks would be. It's much closer to home."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette looked a little forlorn. "I'm not sure I was given a choice. I was basically told where to apply. I hope you get to go where you want, Isabel and that you get in. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No choice? Why not?" she asked. "Your folks are giving you that much of a hard time?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Oh, definitely," Annette said. "My dad has everything planned for me. There were certain colleges I was to apply at and I did," she gave a little shrug. "I can be honest when I tell you I am not sure I want to go knowing I've felt so forced."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"There's still time. Why don't you apply to a few that you're interested in?" Isabel suggested. "Then you can work on changing your dad's mind."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"It's really not that I'm not interested in them, it's just knowing that he's not giving me much of a say so. I don't even get to stay through the summer here. My dad... well, you would just have to know him, Isabel. He's sort of a strict parent."

Pause.

"These muffins are so great."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You might like them, but being told to like them. Yeah, that sucks."

"I'm glad you like them," she smiled, recognizing the subject change. "I figured people would be hungry."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but I'm dealing I guess. Just don't see any other way out of it unless I go and do my own thing after I graduate."

She smiled. "People always seem to be hungry around here, don't they? Sometimes I wish I could cook, but honestly I don't think I have the patience for it. I've burned too many things now to want to keep trying."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's an option. And at that point you'd have a degree from a top notch school. There's nothing that could hold you back."

Isabel shrugged and began measuring out ingredients for another batch of muffins. "I like it because you can just get lost in the routine of it, the measuring, the stirring, even the cleaning."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"You're right," she said optimistically. "I... I don't want to leave Dick." Which has been staying on her mind terribly.

Annette nodded. "I think everyone might have something they do to get lost in their own thoughts. I read... sometimes write in my journal. It's easy to do especially if your mind and heart, is heavy-burdened."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm not thinking about that part yet," Isabel admitted. "I mean, Wyatt and I? It's been less then a month. And I don't want to jinx anything."

"The journal listens without being judgmental."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"I understand. For Dick and I... well, it's been over seven months now." By the time they graduated? Over a year. Wow.

Annette tilted her head. "You are so right. Maybe that is why I write in mine so much."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Congratulations."

"Of course I'm right," Isabel teased.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," she said, grinning because yeah, it was kind of neat.

Annette laughed. "You sound just like Dick."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"It's a good thing," she said, grinning. "He looks cute when he says it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I look better."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

She laughed. "I plead the fifth here."