Gotta love the Ritz.....Crackers (Izzy Tag Any)

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy could not believe she had done that, but it had been a good kiss. Of course Izzy had kissed a guy before, but it was always different. Her lips still tingled from the kiss. She took the initiative and it paid off when the kiss was returned. It was a great first kiss. "I think fate has a funny way of working." She said with a smile.

She did not even notice that Taki had not thrown the cracker away. She was too focused on what just happened. She felt like she was acting like a little school kid. She took a deep breath to regain her composure before she ended up giggling and looking like an idiot. "Well bowling is easy, the main thing to remember is to keep the ball in your own lane. You should have no problem, but my brother likes to get strikes, for other people." She said laughing a little.

"So how have things been since last week. I have heard rumors of how brave you were. Wish I could have seen it." There were rumors about a lot last week. It was not hard to get the gist of what happened. It was just so sad. Really sad. "So tell me, what is the most interesting thing you have discovered about California. Besides the haunted light house." Izzy could not forget that, she had told him about it. It had been a fun adventure. One she would forever remember.

[fryn]

They were still beneath the desk when Izzy broke the ensuing silence. The only parts of them on show, in fact, were their rear ends and legs. He hardly heard her talk about bowling, his brain still locked on the fact that she'd actually kissed him. Ok, he'd kissed girls before but this was the first time one had kissed him first. He liked it. He liked it a lot.

"I wasn't brave," he replied. "No, really. I was terrified but the water sprinklers seemed a good idea at the time as did using the fire extinguishers. I was really afraid. Lia made me a charm to keep me safe and I am sure that was the only reason I emerged unharmed. As for the most interesting thing so far? Well, it is hard to beat the lighthouse but... " He shot her a shy smile. "I think I am looking at the most interesting discovery."

He leaned a little closer... breath held... closer.

"What's going on?"

The voice rang out from somewhere near the door. Takumi jerked back and up, cracking his head once more and this time against the underside of the table.

"Kuso!" he swore, rubbing his skull and closing one eye as he backed out from beneath the table. A man - a teacher - stood in the doorway, arms folded.

"Well?"

"We were... ah... looking for crackers...?" Takumi tried in hope.

"Out. Save that... cracker hunting for behind the bike sheds."

Taki threw Izzy a grin as the man walked into the room and over to a desk. "I will meet you for lunch?" he asked. They had a lot more talking to do and perhaps they could even check out this wondrous place called 'bike sheds'...

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy blushed again when Taki talked about her being the most interesting discovery so far. She just gave him a shy smile. "I am sure the charm defiantly helped, but I think you played a part in your own safety. Many of us were very lucky." She was lucky to have just gotten a hit to the head. "Nice, sweet, and a smooth talker. A girl could get use to being called an interesting discovery." Izzy smiled.

Her breath caught as he began to lean closer. Another kiss. Her heart sped up as she leaned in. So close...then BOOM. A voice. wonderful. Izzy looked up. It was the teacher that over saw the newspaper. What a ruined moment. A perfect moment. "He is telling the truth Sir. I dropped some crackers on the floor." It did no good, because the teacher still did not seem to believe her. Which was fine. "Is your head okay." She gave him a tiny sad smile. "Lunch is great. I just have to pack my things to head to class. Where do you want to meet at?" Izzy asked as she gathered her things.

The bike shed. Oh she knew about that place. it was one of Jetts favorite make out spots on the school grounds. Izzy packed her things and swung her book bag over her shoulder. "Can't wait to see you at Lunch. Maybe we can do something one day after school....thats not bowling, but something thats just us?"

[fryn]

Takumi helped Izzy gather her books and equipment together and the pair headed out, discussing where they should meet. "How about beneath that large tree on the front grass area... the place where people have their lunch outside? Would that work? If it rains we can think again but if we meet there I think that would work out well." It wasn't like he knew a lot of other places around school, still being pretty new to town.

He smiled when she said how much she was looking forward to lunch. "As am I, Izzy," he replied. "And I would very much like to do something after school. Is there anything in particular you would like? We could g for a walk... or to the shops... " Taki shuddered in a comical manner as he suggested the second option. "Or just get a coffee at Sudobucks. Ah... Starbucks I think it is here." His eyes gleamed with amusement as they neared the area where they'd split up for the morning. "There's always another visit to the lighthouse..." he added. "We didn't find out if it was truly haunted or not." That said, Takumi had felt fingers on his neck. Izzy had been the only one with him and that touch hadn't been hers...

[Izzy Chen]

Izzy nodded, "It doesn't look like rain, its too beautiful outside. That's the perfect place. Sometimes the caf is too noisy and I can barely hear the person next to me. It can be like a picnic of sorts." She said with a smile. This was deinfalty a change. Her stomach was doing flip flops at the idea of having a possible boyfriend. Of course Izzy was looking forward to a few dates. It would be fun. "I can meet you there a few minutes after the lunch bell, I just need to drop off my draft for the paper, but I will be there." She was pretty much done with the column all she really had to do was print it out and drop it off.

"Another visit to the light house. As if the hand on the back of your neck was not proof enough." Izzy said laughing, "As long as you promise not to run away when you see a ghost then I would not mind another trip. I never told you about my dream after the last time." Izzy explained the dream. The possession, falling out the window and Taki being there to save her. However, she left out the part about the kiss. She was a little shy with sharing that. "So this second trip should be interesting, but we could also go out to dinner, back to the carnival, maybe roller skating." Izzy suggested. "Anything, but shopping. I am not a big shopper." Izzy said a little softly.

Sometimes she felt so un girly since she did not like to shop. Usually instead of shopping she volunteered at the hospital. Izzy did not get the fun in shopping, but if some girls wanted to then cool, but it was not Izzy's thing. She stopped in front of her class and smiled. Then Izzy leaned up and gave him a quick kiss before waving bye, "See you at lunch." She told Taki as she walked into her first class.

Tag to wrap.....

[fryn]

"Sugoi! Then the lighthouse it is! We could go on Sunday maybe... and if the ghostly figure decides to show herself I will definitely hide behind you, Izzy-chan!" he said with a laugh.

Takumi listened as Izzy related her dream, eyes widening a little as she continued. "Dreams are said to be either an insight into the future or those from a past life. But if you wander close to the window I promise I will hold your hand very tightly!"

They discussed other possible avenues of fun, each of which sounded very appealing to Takumi. It was clear Izzy was equally as keen on the ideas she put forward and he was relieved when shopping was crossed off their list.

He smiled when Izzy leaned over to kiss him before she started to walk away. He waved back, knowing the look on hios face had to be pretty inane but then so much had happened in the past hour. His life had most definitely changed... and for the better... and he had a cracker to thank for it.

He couldn't wait to tell Evan and Dare as he'd felt sure Izzy would have turned him down! He'd never been happier to be proven wrong.

(wrapped indeed )