"So he totally hit on you, huh?"
I roll my eyes. Isobel only hears what she wants to hear, really.
"For the umpteenth time, he said he just talked like that normally. So no, probably not."
She rolls her eyes.
"Okay. Well, he's gonna be around for some time by the looks of things, though. So if he wants to hit on you more, oh. he. will."
"IZ!"
"Well, Jesus Pen. You're blushing with every fibre in your body, okay? I know love when I see it."
"I do NOT love him, Isobel Hendricks."
"Blah blah BLAH, blah. Whatever. I predicted this. What did your dad say?"
I ignore the first part of the sentence and sigh.
"He said that he was kinda disappointed that I couldn't get anything out of the guy, but he'll keep him here. Afterall, he knows exactly how to get here and has seen a few important locations in our village. If we send him back, he might bring his army with him next time. We can all have dinner together, hmm?"
"But wait, wait. So we're gonna keep one of the Others here? On leash?"
"Not sure if it's on leash, exactly. I guess my dad will keep an eye on him. I don't think Jake will try anything..."
"Whoa whoa there, Miss 'I do NOT love him, Isobel Hendricks'. You barely even know the guy and you think he was created and God saw that he was good and let him walk the earth?"
With those muscles, damn sure I do...
"No! It's just a thought. Jeez Isobel, get your mind out of your ass."
She laughs.
"I love it when it's just us two and you talk like that."
Pause.
"Hold on, that just sounded wrong."
I shake my head.
"But I'm still sticking to my statement, as always. I saw the side where he was digging his fingers into your wrists and I didn't like what I saw."
"He's a completely different person, Iz. He was just in shock there."
"Kay, doc. I believe you."
I sigh.
"Whatever. I need to go talk to my father for Mandy, too. She wants to do the cakes for the summer festival. She's been on my case for a good month now. Honestly, I like Mrs Garder's cakes better, okay?"
"Yeah, I know. Mandy's cakes bring plastic to shame."
"They're not THAT bad..."
We share a moment of mutual disagreement to my latest statement.
"Okay, I'm going. Don't get pregnant," I get up, smoothing out my dress.
"Oh no. I probably will, since your dad wouldn't give me condoms."
I roll my eyes and leave. Sometimes I worry about Isobel. I really do.
*
"So we're gonna keep him locked in the dungeon?" I ask my father, sitting in the very edge of my chair like he taught me. A lady should sit with her back straight, hands folded on her lap, and a smile on her face.
