Complicated Circumstances
Authors: Nikki (dancepixie) and Michelle (pegleg)
Disclaimer:We are poor college students who wish they owned Roswell, but unfortunately don’t. We merely obsess over the show and read and write fanfic about it since that is all we can do with no money in our little pockets!
Rating: TEEN to MATURE depending on how things go…we’re not really sure.
Category:AU, cause we love AU! Mostly Michael and Maria cause they are my fave couple, and Max and Liz cause they are Michelle’s fave couple. But also Alex and Isabel and Kyle and Tess. A little bit of all the CC’s.
Summary:We got the idea for this story while watching Pride and Prejudice, the long A&E version. I love that movie! Anyways, we talked about modernizing it, and then the idea sort of ran away with us. So this story is very loosely based on the movie and book, but also different. Maria and Liz are roommates in college and Alex lives in their apartment building. Michael and Max are also roommates living in a giant mansion all to themselves. Isabel is Michael’s younger sister and she comes to stay with him for a little while. Kyle and Tess will be in this story, and Tess is good, so no worries.
Authors Note: Okay, so the way we are writing this, we are taking turns writing each part and we aren’t letting each other know what we’re writing until they read it when it is posted on the board. So sometimes it might take a little longer to get the next part out, but that’s also because we are juggling this story and college classes, so just bear with us, but it should be a fun ride!
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Part 1
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Liz! The toilet’s clogged again!” Maria yelled from the bathroom. This had happened many times before; it wasn’t much of a surprise to either of the girls.
“Well then call Alex!” Liz replied automatically.
“But I called him last time!” she whined. “It’s your turn to call him!”
“Fine.” Liz picked up the phone and hit speed dial one. After talking to Alex for a few minutes, she hung up the phone and turned to her friend. “All right, he’s coming over in a few minutes. He was in the middle of writing a computer program, so for disturbing him I promised that he could come into the café and bug us at work and mooch off of us.”
“Its not like he doesn’t do that anyways,” Maria laughed. Alex was their best friend here at school. He lived down stairs in their apartment building and had been the first nice person they met when they arrived. He helped them move in when they were complete strangers, and since then, the three of them were inseparable. Alex had a great sense of humor and this knack for knowing when the girls needed him. He always had a shoulder to cry on or just an ear to listen. He was the ideal big brother in their eyes.
“The plumbing man arriveth!” they heard shouted from the door, causing them to erupt in fits of giggles. Neither got up to answer the door because two seconds later, in step their knight with his shining plunger. “So, I hear you damsels are in quite a distress! Now tell me, what have you fair ladies broken this time?” he queried in a fake English accent with a sly smile. He couldn’t help but tease them. They were always calling him when anything went wrong. He didn’t mind though, he was happy to help his friends.
“Will you can it already and fix the darn thing…I’m dying here!” Maria pleaded as she kinda bounced from foot to foot, letting him know how much she really really needed him to fix the toilet!
“Then I am off to slay the mighty toilet dragon!” Pointing his plunger down the hall towards the bathroom, he was off in a dash. Liz laughed even more after looking up at Maria’s face only to be silenced a moment later by the glare she got.
“What did I do?” Liz asked innocently.
Maria just grumbled and plopped down on the couch to wait for Alex to finish. It wasn’t even two minutes before Alex came out triumphantly and was nearly knocked down in the hall as Maria sped past him in her mad dash.
“What’s her problem?” he asked Liz as he sat beside her at the table.
“Oh, she was just in a hurry to use the bathroom, and she felt you were taking way too long,” she informed him.
“What?! It didn’t even take me two minutes! I mean with all the practice the two of you guys give me, I’d say I’m becoming quite good at it. You know, if the whole computer programming thing falls through, I’ll always have my abilities in plumbing to fall back on!” he joked.
When Maria returned to the sofa they all talked for a while and made plans for that evening. Both of the girls had to work from noon till eight that evening, but they made plans to go out and maybe see a movie or something together. In all truth, none of them cared about what they really did, they just enjoyed spending time with one another.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Michael! Did you drink the last of the cherry pepsi?” Max yelled from the massive kitchen.
“Yeah, so?” Michael spoke as he walked through the doorway onto the tiled floor.
“Well did you think about letting Rosie know so that she could get some when she did the weekly shopping? No! Because otherwise there would be some!” Max fumed. He really wanted his cherry pepsi. It was an addiction, but a good one. He didn’t really care if he was acting like a kid…he just wanted his cherry pepsi!
“Chill Maxwell. It’s just soda! Besides, you could go up to the store yourself, or run up to the café when you go to campus. It’s really not that hard to find soda in this town.” Michael casually walked past his friend to the extra large refrigerator and grabbed a Dr Pepper before turning and walking out of the room, leaving Max all by himself to realize how ridiculous he was being.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Complicated Circumstances *AU CC* complete
Moderators: Anniepoo98, Rowedog, ISLANDGIRL5, Itzstacie, truelovepooh, FSU/MSW-94, Erina, Hunter, Forum Moderators
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
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Part 2
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“Hey Liz,” Maria called to her friend across the café. “Number 10’s up.” Liz was taking care of the tables while Maria was working the register. They both worked in a little café located on campus. Well actually, it was more of a convenient store that served food and coffee. It served as both a café and store in one, which made it a popular place with most of the students on campus.
They were particularly busy at the moment and since one of the other waitresses had called in sick, Liz and Maria were left to run the café by themselves. It was a madhouse, and this is what Alex found himself walking into as he came to visit his two favorite people at work.
“Whoa! You ladies look like you could use some help.”
“Oh Alex, would you?” Liz asked in exasperation. “I would love you forever.”
“You already love me, but I’ll do it anyway,” Alex said as he walked up behind the counter to take care of the next order.
“Thanks so much Alex, I owe you big time.”
“What are best friends for?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Twenty minutes later, the three friends were sprawled out in a heap on a couch, the café now completely empty.
“Explain to me how the hell this place is crammed with everybody and their mom one minute and no one the next.”
“Well, Maria,” Alex started. “That is part of the joy of serving the campus crowd, everyone comes in between classes.”
“But I thought that classes didn’t start till tomorrow,” Liz rationalized. “Plus, it’s seven o’clock.”
“Ok, you got me there. Then why such the rush, oh wise one?”
“I don’t know.” Liz said with a shrug, not really caring one way or the other.
Just then the door opened and a customer entered the café, sitting down at one of the small tables.
Maria looked over at Liz, a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.
“Don’t worry Maria. I got it,” Liz said, getting up and shaking her head at her best friend’s antics.
“Thanks babe. I love ya.”
“Uh huh. Just remember that next time.”
Liz grabbed her order pad out of her apron and made her way over to the table where the only customer in the restaurant was sitting.
“Hi, my name is Liz. I’ll be your server today. What can I get you?”
It wasn’t until then that Liz lifted her head and her breath caught in her throat, for the first time getting a good look at the stranger sitting in front of her.
Max couldn’t speak. He was in awe of the beauty in front of him. She was beyond words. Why had he never seen her before? Sure he wasn’t a regular customer, but he had been in here a few times. Ok, maybe it was only once or twice. He had come here to get some Cherry Pepsi to feed his addiction and thought that he might as well have some coffee while he was here, since Michael had decided to finish that off as well. He really didn’t know what he was going to do with him…
It was a while before Max realized that he had been staring. ‘God, she must think that I’m a total pervert, checking her out like that.’ “I’ll just have a regular mocha cappuccino.”
“What…oh right,” Liz said, a blush spreading across her face. ‘I can’t believe that I was just staring at him. Can I be any more obvious?’ “Will there be anything else?”
“No that’s all, thank you.”
“I’ll be right back with your drink.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz returned several minutes later with Max’s cappuccino. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, that’s it. Thank you.”
“Alright, just let me know when you’re ready to pay and I’ll ring you up,” Liz said as she began to turn and head back to her friends.
“No!” Max shouted a little too anxiously. “I mean…if you’re not busy, I’d love some company. But I completely understand if you don’t want to. You’re under no obligation to…” Max got out in a hurry, but she silenced his ramblings by sitting down in the seat across from him.
“So,” she began, “Are you a student here…um…I’m sorry I didn’t get you name?”
“Oh, it’s Max. And yeah, this will be my second year here. How ‘bout you?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex and Maria watched the exchange between their friend and this mystery man with interest. Liz wasn’t one to get involved. In fact, she rarely dated, saying that she didn’t want anything to interfere with her studies. It took everything just to get her to go out with them during the week. Seeing Liz so openly attracted to someone was not something that they saw every day.
“Well, this is new.” Maria stated.
“Yeah…” Alex started as they both continued to watch the two with peaked interest.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So…” Max started with obvious discomfort. They had talked for almost half an hour now, and he was already late in meeting Michael, but he just didn’t want to let this angel out of his sight. “I was wondering…if you’d maybe want to go out tonight…with me?” Max asked, not realizing he was holding his breath.
“Oh,” Liz said, obvious disappointment in her voice. “I’d love to…really I would…but I kind of already have plans tonight.”
Max let out a sigh, expelling the breath he had been holding. ‘Of course she already has plans. Anyone that beautiful must have a boyfriend.’ He continued on in a defeated tone. “Oh…alright…maybe some other time.”
“Yeah. I’d love that,” Liz said as she led him to the register so he could pay for his coffee. “Anything else I can get for you?”
“Oh yeah,” Max said almost forgetting his soda. He ran to the back and grabbed a two-liter bottle of Cherry Pepsi, placing it on the counter. “This too.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After Max had left, Liz made her way over to the couch where her friends were still sitting and flopped down, expelling a heavy sigh.
“Alright Chica, what was that all about?”
“What was what all about Maria?”
“That thing over there with Mr. tall, dark and handsome.”
“Maria, I’m not really in the mood right now,” Liz said bringing a hand to her head.
“Oh, come on Liz. We’re curious,” Alex pleaded. “Besides, you owe me one.”
“Alright, his name is Max and he’s really nice. He seems really great and we had a really interesting conversation. And then he asked me out for tonight.”
“And what did you say?” Maria prodded.
“I said no. I mean we already made plans.”
“Chica, please don’t tell me that you said no because of us. Do you
realize you just said ‘really’ three times while describing him? You could have gone. We would have understood. Heck, we would have encouraged it.”
“Well, it’s a little late now, and besides I don’t have time to be dating anyway.”
“Chica, you need to get out more.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Michael! I already said I was sorry. What else do you want me to say?”
“Maxwell, you were 45 minutes late meeting me. You’re never late! I was worried about you man. I thought that you were like lying dead in an alley somewhere or something.”
“Hey, calm down. I’m here…I’m fine. Let’s just forget about it, ok,” Max said, slightly irritated. This day wasn’t exactly going quite how he’d like.
“Alright man. Chill,” Michael replied as they entered the school bookstore to buy their textbooks.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Seventy dollars for a freaking psych book. What do they think I am? Made of money?”
Liz just laughed at Maria’s antics. The University of San Diego was not exactly known for being cheap. As a matter of fact if it wasn’t for their scholarships, loans, and the long hours working at the café on campus, there would be no way that either of them would be able to attend the renowned private university.
The two had decided that after their shift they were going to go and get their textbooks, while Alex drove around outside to keep from having to park the car. Parking was horrendous on campus.
“This isn’t a laughing matter. I can’t afford books like this. This school is going to be the death of me. Anyway, I’m going go look for my lit books. I wonder how much they’re gonna cost?”
Liz just continued laughing as she looked for her physiology textbook.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As Maria breezed around the bookstore, looking for the Lit section she was almost knocked over by some tall guy with spiky hair.
“Hey watch it,” she called to him over her shoulder.
“Watch it yourself Blondie,” the guy threw over his shoulder as he passed.
“Jerk,” Maria muttered under her breath.
“Bitch,” Michael muttered to himself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finally spotting the book she was looking for, she reached to grab it while another hand seemed to do the same. They both pulled away quickly.
“Sorry,” they both muttered at the same time before looking up into each other’s faces.
“Max!” Liz said in surprise.
“Hi Liz.”
“Long time no see.”
“Yeah, so you’re taking physiology 150 too, huh.” He grinned, at least he’d still get to see her.
“Yeah.”
An awkward silence came over the two of them, until Liz decided to break it.
“Hey Max, it seems that my plans for tonight have changed. So, if you’re still interested…”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Maria, guess what?” Liz said coming over to her friend.
“Oh my god, Liz! You will not believe the jerk that just…”
“Max is here!” Liz said excitedly.
“What?”
“Max is here. You know, the guy from the café. Anyway, so we’re
gonna go out tonight, but I want you to meet him.”
With that, Liz dragged her friend over to two guys standing in line to buy their textbooks. Maria noticed the first guy as the one from the café. Once they got closer, she recognized that the other guy, or more recognized his hair, as the jerk that’d just bumped into her.
“You!” Michael and Maria scowled in unison, Max and Liz looking on in confusion.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 2
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“Hey Liz,” Maria called to her friend across the café. “Number 10’s up.” Liz was taking care of the tables while Maria was working the register. They both worked in a little café located on campus. Well actually, it was more of a convenient store that served food and coffee. It served as both a café and store in one, which made it a popular place with most of the students on campus.
They were particularly busy at the moment and since one of the other waitresses had called in sick, Liz and Maria were left to run the café by themselves. It was a madhouse, and this is what Alex found himself walking into as he came to visit his two favorite people at work.
“Whoa! You ladies look like you could use some help.”
“Oh Alex, would you?” Liz asked in exasperation. “I would love you forever.”
“You already love me, but I’ll do it anyway,” Alex said as he walked up behind the counter to take care of the next order.
“Thanks so much Alex, I owe you big time.”
“What are best friends for?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Twenty minutes later, the three friends were sprawled out in a heap on a couch, the café now completely empty.
“Explain to me how the hell this place is crammed with everybody and their mom one minute and no one the next.”
“Well, Maria,” Alex started. “That is part of the joy of serving the campus crowd, everyone comes in between classes.”
“But I thought that classes didn’t start till tomorrow,” Liz rationalized. “Plus, it’s seven o’clock.”
“Ok, you got me there. Then why such the rush, oh wise one?”
“I don’t know.” Liz said with a shrug, not really caring one way or the other.
Just then the door opened and a customer entered the café, sitting down at one of the small tables.
Maria looked over at Liz, a sickeningly sweet smile on her face.
“Don’t worry Maria. I got it,” Liz said, getting up and shaking her head at her best friend’s antics.
“Thanks babe. I love ya.”
“Uh huh. Just remember that next time.”
Liz grabbed her order pad out of her apron and made her way over to the table where the only customer in the restaurant was sitting.
“Hi, my name is Liz. I’ll be your server today. What can I get you?”
It wasn’t until then that Liz lifted her head and her breath caught in her throat, for the first time getting a good look at the stranger sitting in front of her.
Max couldn’t speak. He was in awe of the beauty in front of him. She was beyond words. Why had he never seen her before? Sure he wasn’t a regular customer, but he had been in here a few times. Ok, maybe it was only once or twice. He had come here to get some Cherry Pepsi to feed his addiction and thought that he might as well have some coffee while he was here, since Michael had decided to finish that off as well. He really didn’t know what he was going to do with him…
It was a while before Max realized that he had been staring. ‘God, she must think that I’m a total pervert, checking her out like that.’ “I’ll just have a regular mocha cappuccino.”
“What…oh right,” Liz said, a blush spreading across her face. ‘I can’t believe that I was just staring at him. Can I be any more obvious?’ “Will there be anything else?”
“No that’s all, thank you.”
“I’ll be right back with your drink.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz returned several minutes later with Max’s cappuccino. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, that’s it. Thank you.”
“Alright, just let me know when you’re ready to pay and I’ll ring you up,” Liz said as she began to turn and head back to her friends.
“No!” Max shouted a little too anxiously. “I mean…if you’re not busy, I’d love some company. But I completely understand if you don’t want to. You’re under no obligation to…” Max got out in a hurry, but she silenced his ramblings by sitting down in the seat across from him.
“So,” she began, “Are you a student here…um…I’m sorry I didn’t get you name?”
“Oh, it’s Max. And yeah, this will be my second year here. How ‘bout you?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex and Maria watched the exchange between their friend and this mystery man with interest. Liz wasn’t one to get involved. In fact, she rarely dated, saying that she didn’t want anything to interfere with her studies. It took everything just to get her to go out with them during the week. Seeing Liz so openly attracted to someone was not something that they saw every day.
“Well, this is new.” Maria stated.
“Yeah…” Alex started as they both continued to watch the two with peaked interest.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So…” Max started with obvious discomfort. They had talked for almost half an hour now, and he was already late in meeting Michael, but he just didn’t want to let this angel out of his sight. “I was wondering…if you’d maybe want to go out tonight…with me?” Max asked, not realizing he was holding his breath.
“Oh,” Liz said, obvious disappointment in her voice. “I’d love to…really I would…but I kind of already have plans tonight.”
Max let out a sigh, expelling the breath he had been holding. ‘Of course she already has plans. Anyone that beautiful must have a boyfriend.’ He continued on in a defeated tone. “Oh…alright…maybe some other time.”
“Yeah. I’d love that,” Liz said as she led him to the register so he could pay for his coffee. “Anything else I can get for you?”
“Oh yeah,” Max said almost forgetting his soda. He ran to the back and grabbed a two-liter bottle of Cherry Pepsi, placing it on the counter. “This too.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After Max had left, Liz made her way over to the couch where her friends were still sitting and flopped down, expelling a heavy sigh.
“Alright Chica, what was that all about?”
“What was what all about Maria?”
“That thing over there with Mr. tall, dark and handsome.”
“Maria, I’m not really in the mood right now,” Liz said bringing a hand to her head.
“Oh, come on Liz. We’re curious,” Alex pleaded. “Besides, you owe me one.”
“Alright, his name is Max and he’s really nice. He seems really great and we had a really interesting conversation. And then he asked me out for tonight.”
“And what did you say?” Maria prodded.
“I said no. I mean we already made plans.”
“Chica, please don’t tell me that you said no because of us. Do you
realize you just said ‘really’ three times while describing him? You could have gone. We would have understood. Heck, we would have encouraged it.”
“Well, it’s a little late now, and besides I don’t have time to be dating anyway.”
“Chica, you need to get out more.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Michael! I already said I was sorry. What else do you want me to say?”
“Maxwell, you were 45 minutes late meeting me. You’re never late! I was worried about you man. I thought that you were like lying dead in an alley somewhere or something.”
“Hey, calm down. I’m here…I’m fine. Let’s just forget about it, ok,” Max said, slightly irritated. This day wasn’t exactly going quite how he’d like.
“Alright man. Chill,” Michael replied as they entered the school bookstore to buy their textbooks.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Seventy dollars for a freaking psych book. What do they think I am? Made of money?”
Liz just laughed at Maria’s antics. The University of San Diego was not exactly known for being cheap. As a matter of fact if it wasn’t for their scholarships, loans, and the long hours working at the café on campus, there would be no way that either of them would be able to attend the renowned private university.
The two had decided that after their shift they were going to go and get their textbooks, while Alex drove around outside to keep from having to park the car. Parking was horrendous on campus.
“This isn’t a laughing matter. I can’t afford books like this. This school is going to be the death of me. Anyway, I’m going go look for my lit books. I wonder how much they’re gonna cost?”
Liz just continued laughing as she looked for her physiology textbook.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As Maria breezed around the bookstore, looking for the Lit section she was almost knocked over by some tall guy with spiky hair.
“Hey watch it,” she called to him over her shoulder.
“Watch it yourself Blondie,” the guy threw over his shoulder as he passed.
“Jerk,” Maria muttered under her breath.
“Bitch,” Michael muttered to himself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Finally spotting the book she was looking for, she reached to grab it while another hand seemed to do the same. They both pulled away quickly.
“Sorry,” they both muttered at the same time before looking up into each other’s faces.
“Max!” Liz said in surprise.
“Hi Liz.”
“Long time no see.”
“Yeah, so you’re taking physiology 150 too, huh.” He grinned, at least he’d still get to see her.
“Yeah.”
An awkward silence came over the two of them, until Liz decided to break it.
“Hey Max, it seems that my plans for tonight have changed. So, if you’re still interested…”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Maria, guess what?” Liz said coming over to her friend.
“Oh my god, Liz! You will not believe the jerk that just…”
“Max is here!” Liz said excitedly.
“What?”
“Max is here. You know, the guy from the café. Anyway, so we’re
gonna go out tonight, but I want you to meet him.”
With that, Liz dragged her friend over to two guys standing in line to buy their textbooks. Maria noticed the first guy as the one from the café. Once they got closer, she recognized that the other guy, or more recognized his hair, as the jerk that’d just bumped into her.
“You!” Michael and Maria scowled in unison, Max and Liz looking on in confusion.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 3
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“You know you could have at least said you were sorry back there! You know, those little things called common courtesy! Didn’t you mother ever teach you any manners!” Maria went off as she watched the spikey haired one roll his eyes.
“What?! I didn’t see you watching where you were going or apologizing!”
“Me!?! You ran into me mister!” Maria’s face was red with anger. “And what is with that hair? Did you stick your finger in an electrical socket when you woke up this morning? I bet that’s something else you’re mother never taught you!” ‘Why am I getting this worked up over something so trivial,’ she thought to herself.
“I happen to like my hair like this thank you very much Blondie, and hey at least I don’t look like a little farm girl in braids!” Michael smirked knowingly as her face she through him even more death glares, if that was at all possible.
“Can you believe this jerk!?!” Maria turned around to where Liz was, definitely needing the support of her best friend, only to find her gone. “Liz?” her voice lowered from the yelling tone it had previously been, to a mere shouting. “Lizzie?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex growled in frustration. Why was parking so bad this late in the evening? It had been nearly fifteen minutes and he had yet to find a parking spot, so he was just driving around in circles like a vulture hovering over its prey, waiting for the right moment.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone walking towards the parking lot with keys in hand.
“Finally!” he breathed. He just wanted to be able to park the car and go in to help the girls with the books. He had already gotten his the day before while on campus for a computer seminar. As the car slowly backed out and pulled away, Alex swung into the spot with a smile of triumph. “Finally!” he reiterated once more as he got out and began walking towards the bookstore.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“That was too funny! I’ve never seen Maria get that worked up before. I mean, yeah, she gets hysterical sometimes, but never like that!” Liz couldn’t help the giggles that escaped her as she and Max walked out of the bookstore together. After Maria and Michael had started arguing, the two of them decided they didn’t really want to stand there and listen to their friends bickering all night, so they escaped up the stairs and out of the store before anyone even noticed they were missing.
The night air was still fairly warm in San Diego, and that was part of why Liz loved it there so much. She could wear tank tops all the time and never really get cold, except maybe the middle of winter when it got down in the sixties and below.
“Liz?” Alex asked as he approached a couple walking away from the bookstore as he approached it.
“Oh, hey Alex.” Liz smiled at her friend, happy that he could meet Max. “Alex this is Max. Max, this is one of my best friends, Alex. Max and I were just going to go out and get something to eat, but Maria is still inside, and you might need to calm her down a little.” Liz giggled again at the thought of what her friend was probably going through.
“Huh?” Alex asked confused.
“Trust me, just have a bottle of cedar oil ready!” with one last wave to her friend, she and Max walked away towards the parking lot where Alex had come from. Alex just stood there for a moment trying to process what happened, but found that he couldn’t. With a shake of his shoulders he continued onwards toward the bookstore and whatever was awaiting him there.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“This is your car?” Liz asked unbelievably. The shock was clearly written on her face.
“Yeah, do you like it?” Max asked with a smile that melted her knees.
“Li…like it? Yeah!” she breathed heavily. She couldn’t believe she was going to get to ride in this car, it was incredible, and it looked brand new. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to afford a car like this. Heck, it probably cost as much as her education!
“So where would you like to go to dinner?” he asked her as they both buckled up.
“I don’t know…umm, wherever you like is fine with me.”
“Alright then, it’ll be a surprise,” he threw the silver Jaguar into gear and sped out of the parking lot.
He couldn’t believe that he was all of a sudden going out on a date with the girl from the café. It wasn’t that he never dated, because he did, but he never just picked girls up at a café and took them out the same night. The girls he dated were usually the daughters of family friends and he would take them out to please his parents. Once in a while he liked the girl, but not often. They were usually too full of themselves and their parents money to interest him. But now he had found a sweet college girl who he actually felt something for. He already knew that he liked her. And he hoped that the way she changed her mind about going out with him meant that she liked him too.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“It’s all your fault they left, you know!” Maria turned to the spikey haired one with an accusing glint in her eyes.
“My fault? Why is this my fault? Look Blondie, you were the one who started with all the yelling and shrieking, or whatever it was you were doing.” Michael stood back and went to cross his arms protectively across his chest but couldn’t because of the heavy books he was holding. He had forgotten about them in the noise and bickering that had come after he got in line to pay for his books.
“Shrieking?!” Maria hurumphed and dropped the books she had been holding. That was it, this boy was going down!
“Maria?” Alex came in down the stairs to find his blond haired friend looking very upset and arguing with some spikey haired stranger. He noticed attacking look that was taking over her face and realized he really needed to do something or else this could get ugly. “Maria, calm down! It’s okay, just take this,” he said handing her the small bottle of cedar oil that he had ready in his hand. He wrapped an arm around her effectively holding her back from being able to do anything to hurt anyone. “Come on Maria, lets just pay for your books and go watch that movie that we were planning to see.” He led her away quietly as she sniffed her oil and tried to take calming breaths.
“Thank you Alex. But you know I could have taken him!” Maria said fifteen minutes later when they were leaving the bookstore.
“I know you could’ve…” Alex reassured her, knowing that she needed it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So, where are you from originally?” Max asked Liz as he watched her looking around the place. It was a really nice place; nice without being too fancy, and he liked it that way.
Liz was startled by his voice, causing her to blush. She had been looking around this place, and it was beautiful. She could never afford a place like this. And his car…he had to have lots of money…what would he think when he found out how poor she was? But she couldn’t lie to him. ‘I think I could really like him, and I can’t lie to him…but what will happen when he finds out the truth?’
“I’m from the country…um…I grew up in a small town, Gering, Nebraska.” Liz ducked her head a little in embarrassment and tucked her dark hair behind her ear. ‘Great, now he’s going to think I’m some country bumpkin or something…maybe I never should have listened to Maria…I should have just gone to the movie with her and Alex, that would be safe.’
“Wow, I’m sure it’s a lot different here in the city from what you are used to.”
“Yeah, at first it was a really big shock last year. But now that I’ve been here for a year, it’s really feeling like home now. I don’t know if I want to go back to Nebraska after I finish school or not. I’m starting to think that I’d rather stay here.” ‘What am I doing? I’m babbling like this to a complete stranger, well okay maybe he’s not a complete stranger, but I still never knew him before today. He probably doesn’t even want to know all this…its just so easy to talk to him though,’ she thought to herself dreamily.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. San Diego isn’t as different from where I’m from as it must be for you, but it’s still different. I’m from Los Angeles, which is an even bigger city. But I like the fact that San Diego is big, yet not so big, and it’s very comfortable, you know? It’s not a mad rush city like LA is.”
“LA? So do you visit home a lot since you are so close?”
“Actually, I’m not really that close to my family. My father is a big time lawyer and wasn’t home very often, he was always working on some big case or another. My mom always had her charity events and her fashion shows to keep her busy. I was pretty much raised by my nanny Rosie. I haven’t been home since the beginning of the summer. I went up to see my mothers showing and stayed for a couple of days.” ‘Why is this girl just so easy to talk to?’ Max thought to himself as he told her most of his life story.
“I’ve always been really close to my family. My parents were the greatest, and my little sister and I always got along. We had the same group of friends and always hung out together. It was great because whenever I needed to talk to someone, she was always there. We had always shared a room and we’d talk long into the morning just about anything. She and Maria were my best friends. Maria came with me when I came out to school out here, and Tess wants to come when she graduates. She doesn’t know if she can pull it off, but she’s trying. It’s been so long since I was back there. It was Christmas I think. I miss them. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back for Christmas this year or not, but I hope so…” ‘Oh god, I’m doing it again! I’m babbling like an idiot. But he’s so great, I just want to tell him everything.’
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 3
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“You know you could have at least said you were sorry back there! You know, those little things called common courtesy! Didn’t you mother ever teach you any manners!” Maria went off as she watched the spikey haired one roll his eyes.
“What?! I didn’t see you watching where you were going or apologizing!”
“Me!?! You ran into me mister!” Maria’s face was red with anger. “And what is with that hair? Did you stick your finger in an electrical socket when you woke up this morning? I bet that’s something else you’re mother never taught you!” ‘Why am I getting this worked up over something so trivial,’ she thought to herself.
“I happen to like my hair like this thank you very much Blondie, and hey at least I don’t look like a little farm girl in braids!” Michael smirked knowingly as her face she through him even more death glares, if that was at all possible.
“Can you believe this jerk!?!” Maria turned around to where Liz was, definitely needing the support of her best friend, only to find her gone. “Liz?” her voice lowered from the yelling tone it had previously been, to a mere shouting. “Lizzie?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex growled in frustration. Why was parking so bad this late in the evening? It had been nearly fifteen minutes and he had yet to find a parking spot, so he was just driving around in circles like a vulture hovering over its prey, waiting for the right moment.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone walking towards the parking lot with keys in hand.
“Finally!” he breathed. He just wanted to be able to park the car and go in to help the girls with the books. He had already gotten his the day before while on campus for a computer seminar. As the car slowly backed out and pulled away, Alex swung into the spot with a smile of triumph. “Finally!” he reiterated once more as he got out and began walking towards the bookstore.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“That was too funny! I’ve never seen Maria get that worked up before. I mean, yeah, she gets hysterical sometimes, but never like that!” Liz couldn’t help the giggles that escaped her as she and Max walked out of the bookstore together. After Maria and Michael had started arguing, the two of them decided they didn’t really want to stand there and listen to their friends bickering all night, so they escaped up the stairs and out of the store before anyone even noticed they were missing.
The night air was still fairly warm in San Diego, and that was part of why Liz loved it there so much. She could wear tank tops all the time and never really get cold, except maybe the middle of winter when it got down in the sixties and below.
“Liz?” Alex asked as he approached a couple walking away from the bookstore as he approached it.
“Oh, hey Alex.” Liz smiled at her friend, happy that he could meet Max. “Alex this is Max. Max, this is one of my best friends, Alex. Max and I were just going to go out and get something to eat, but Maria is still inside, and you might need to calm her down a little.” Liz giggled again at the thought of what her friend was probably going through.
“Huh?” Alex asked confused.
“Trust me, just have a bottle of cedar oil ready!” with one last wave to her friend, she and Max walked away towards the parking lot where Alex had come from. Alex just stood there for a moment trying to process what happened, but found that he couldn’t. With a shake of his shoulders he continued onwards toward the bookstore and whatever was awaiting him there.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“This is your car?” Liz asked unbelievably. The shock was clearly written on her face.
“Yeah, do you like it?” Max asked with a smile that melted her knees.
“Li…like it? Yeah!” she breathed heavily. She couldn’t believe she was going to get to ride in this car, it was incredible, and it looked brand new. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to afford a car like this. Heck, it probably cost as much as her education!
“So where would you like to go to dinner?” he asked her as they both buckled up.
“I don’t know…umm, wherever you like is fine with me.”
“Alright then, it’ll be a surprise,” he threw the silver Jaguar into gear and sped out of the parking lot.
He couldn’t believe that he was all of a sudden going out on a date with the girl from the café. It wasn’t that he never dated, because he did, but he never just picked girls up at a café and took them out the same night. The girls he dated were usually the daughters of family friends and he would take them out to please his parents. Once in a while he liked the girl, but not often. They were usually too full of themselves and their parents money to interest him. But now he had found a sweet college girl who he actually felt something for. He already knew that he liked her. And he hoped that the way she changed her mind about going out with him meant that she liked him too.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“It’s all your fault they left, you know!” Maria turned to the spikey haired one with an accusing glint in her eyes.
“My fault? Why is this my fault? Look Blondie, you were the one who started with all the yelling and shrieking, or whatever it was you were doing.” Michael stood back and went to cross his arms protectively across his chest but couldn’t because of the heavy books he was holding. He had forgotten about them in the noise and bickering that had come after he got in line to pay for his books.
“Shrieking?!” Maria hurumphed and dropped the books she had been holding. That was it, this boy was going down!
“Maria?” Alex came in down the stairs to find his blond haired friend looking very upset and arguing with some spikey haired stranger. He noticed attacking look that was taking over her face and realized he really needed to do something or else this could get ugly. “Maria, calm down! It’s okay, just take this,” he said handing her the small bottle of cedar oil that he had ready in his hand. He wrapped an arm around her effectively holding her back from being able to do anything to hurt anyone. “Come on Maria, lets just pay for your books and go watch that movie that we were planning to see.” He led her away quietly as she sniffed her oil and tried to take calming breaths.
“Thank you Alex. But you know I could have taken him!” Maria said fifteen minutes later when they were leaving the bookstore.
“I know you could’ve…” Alex reassured her, knowing that she needed it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“So, where are you from originally?” Max asked Liz as he watched her looking around the place. It was a really nice place; nice without being too fancy, and he liked it that way.
Liz was startled by his voice, causing her to blush. She had been looking around this place, and it was beautiful. She could never afford a place like this. And his car…he had to have lots of money…what would he think when he found out how poor she was? But she couldn’t lie to him. ‘I think I could really like him, and I can’t lie to him…but what will happen when he finds out the truth?’
“I’m from the country…um…I grew up in a small town, Gering, Nebraska.” Liz ducked her head a little in embarrassment and tucked her dark hair behind her ear. ‘Great, now he’s going to think I’m some country bumpkin or something…maybe I never should have listened to Maria…I should have just gone to the movie with her and Alex, that would be safe.’
“Wow, I’m sure it’s a lot different here in the city from what you are used to.”
“Yeah, at first it was a really big shock last year. But now that I’ve been here for a year, it’s really feeling like home now. I don’t know if I want to go back to Nebraska after I finish school or not. I’m starting to think that I’d rather stay here.” ‘What am I doing? I’m babbling like this to a complete stranger, well okay maybe he’s not a complete stranger, but I still never knew him before today. He probably doesn’t even want to know all this…its just so easy to talk to him though,’ she thought to herself dreamily.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. San Diego isn’t as different from where I’m from as it must be for you, but it’s still different. I’m from Los Angeles, which is an even bigger city. But I like the fact that San Diego is big, yet not so big, and it’s very comfortable, you know? It’s not a mad rush city like LA is.”
“LA? So do you visit home a lot since you are so close?”
“Actually, I’m not really that close to my family. My father is a big time lawyer and wasn’t home very often, he was always working on some big case or another. My mom always had her charity events and her fashion shows to keep her busy. I was pretty much raised by my nanny Rosie. I haven’t been home since the beginning of the summer. I went up to see my mothers showing and stayed for a couple of days.” ‘Why is this girl just so easy to talk to?’ Max thought to himself as he told her most of his life story.
“I’ve always been really close to my family. My parents were the greatest, and my little sister and I always got along. We had the same group of friends and always hung out together. It was great because whenever I needed to talk to someone, she was always there. We had always shared a room and we’d talk long into the morning just about anything. She and Maria were my best friends. Maria came with me when I came out to school out here, and Tess wants to come when she graduates. She doesn’t know if she can pull it off, but she’s trying. It’s been so long since I was back there. It was Christmas I think. I miss them. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back for Christmas this year or not, but I hope so…” ‘Oh god, I’m doing it again! I’m babbling like an idiot. But he’s so great, I just want to tell him everything.’
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 4
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Max and Liz walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, laughing the whole way. They were having such a great time; neither of them wanted the night to end. They stood around laughing and joking while the valet brought around Max’s car.
“I really had a great time tonight Max. I’m really glad that I came.”
“Yeah, well it’s not over yet. There’s one last place I want to show you. Come on,” Max said as he opened the car door to let Liz in.
Liz just smiled and thanked him quietly as he walked over to the driver’s side of the car.
“Where are we going?” Liz asked after Max had gotten in.
“It’s a surprise,” Max responded, gunning the motor as he speed off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“And god, Alex. He was so arrogant…and rude…and…and…just an all around JERK!” Maria and Alex were on their way home from the movie. Maria had been going on and on about her run in with “the spikey haired one,” as he came to be called, since they had left the bookstore two and a half hours ago.
“You know Maria, you’ve been going on about him for at least two hours now.”
“I know, but he was just such an asshole. I mean really the least he could have done was say that he was sorry, but no…”
“Ya know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you liked him.”
“WHAT?! What the hell would give you an idea like that? I mean yeah, he’s kind of attractive, in that rebellious kind of way, but he’s just so rude…”
“Well, you know the way you keep going on and on about him. One might get the idea…”
“NO! Don’t even think it mister! There is nothing in this mind but hatred for that boy.”
“Whatever you say Maria. Whatever you say.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Max, this is so beautiful.”
Max and Liz were now lying out on a blanket on the beach near where they’d had dinner. They were both lying on their backs starring up at the stars, listening to the sound of the waves crashing in the distance.
“I used to come to the beach to think all the time back home. It’s always been something that could calm me down. Console me somehow. I kinda just carried on the tradition when I got down here. Plus, it’s the only place in a town like this where you can look up and actually see the stars. I guess, I just wanted to share this with you.”
“Well, I’m glad that you did. I can’t thank you enough. It’s just so clear out here. I guess I forgot how much was really up there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.”
“Oh, I have.” Max had now moved to prop his head up on his elbow as he gazed down at her. Liz felt the blush creep over her face. Could he possibly be talking about her? Could he possibly think that she was just as beautiful as the stars in the sky? No, not plain old Liz Parker.
Before Liz had time to question further, Max’s lips had descended to hers. It happened so fast that at first she hadn’t opportunity to respond. Once she got her bearings, however, she returned his kiss, allowing it to deepen. The kiss started out soft and sweet but then grew more intense and passionate. Liz felt Max’s tongue teasing her lips, asking for entrance, and she granted it eagerly.
Max took this opportunity to explore her mouth, getting to know it intimately. Soon, their lungs began to burn from lack of oxygen and they were forced to break apart, chests heaving.
“Wow!” Liz voiced once she was able to talk.
“Yeah, wow.”
“I should probably get going,” Liz said regretfully. “I have class at eight tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah, ok,” was all Max could say. Kissing her one last time, he got to his feet, holding his hand out to pull her up. Liz accepted it gratefully, helping him fold up the blanket before they both headed towards his car.
Max opened the door for Liz then asked, “So, where can I take you to? Where do you live?”
Liz felt the panic course through her body. “Oh…um, just take me back to the campus.”
“Nonsense…let me take you home.”
“NO! I mean…you see…my car! Yeah, my car is at the campus still, so I need to pick it up and bring it home.”
“Oh, alright then.” Sighing in relief Liz went to sit down in the passenger’s seat. Max was just standing there, staring at her with
a strange grin on his face; he still hadn’t closed the door.
“What Max?” Liz asked self-consciously.
“Ya wanna drive it?” Max asked motioning towards the car.
“What? Are you kidding me? Your gonna let me drive your jag?”
“Sure, why not? So, you wanna?” he asked again, a smirk on his
face.
“Hell ya!”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz squealed as she came speeding into the school lot at 1am.
They had driven around the campus several times extra just so Liz could drive the car a little longer. When they finally came to a stop Liz turned to Max.
“Thanks Max. And not just for letting me drive your car, although that was definitely fun. I had a really great time tonight Max. Thank
you.”
“I had a great time too,” Max said as he leaned over, cupping her face with his hand. They shared another passionate kiss, and then when they broke apart, Liz grabbed his hand. She rifled around in her purse for a while, while Max looked on in confusion. Finally she came out with a pen, and then proceeded to write her phone number down on his hand. “I’ve always wanted to do that,” she voiced once she had finished.
He smiled and kissed her again before getting out of the car. “So where is your car. I’ll help you carry your books.”
“No, you don’t need to do that.”
“But I want to.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll get it.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Alright. I guess I can’t argue with that. You independent women now days. Can’t accept a man’s help,” Max teased.
“Well, you know me. I need to feel like I have some control in the
situation. At least I’m not the one with the inferiority complex.”
“Excuse me?”
“The car. It’s a classic case. You have the jag; it’s speed and the
prestige that comes from its price tag. It builds your self-esteem.”
With that they both burst out laughing. “I’m sorry,” Liz amended. “I was only kidding. I think that I’ve been reading Maria’s psych books too much.”
“It’s ok. I really got it to get girls,” Max whispered in her ear as if it was a secret.
His hot breath on her neck brought a shiver over Liz’s body. “Mmmm…it’s working,” Liz said as she brought her lips to his one last time. He brought his hands up to her hips and pulled her towards him. After a few minutes, Liz finally pulled away, grabbing her books from the back before things could get out of hand once again.
“Call me,” she yelled over her shoulder as she hurried out of the parking lot. She waved one last time as Max pulled out of the parking lot, and then, once she was sure that he had left, made her way over to the bus stop.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Michael,” Max said as he walked in seeing his friend sitting on the couch watching tv.
“Hey Max. I’m guessing by the look on your face that your date went well.”
“God Michael…she’s amazing. I don’t think I’ve met anyone like her in my life. She’s just so vibrant and animated and…god, she’s so beautiful. She’s just…perfect,” he said, finding the only word that came close to describing her.
“Whoa man, you just met the girl!”
“I know. I know it’s irrational and hasty, but I can’t help it. She’s everything that I’ve always looked for in a woman and more.”
“Well then, I’m happy for you man. But you could have waited to sweep her off her feet until after her harpy of a friend had left.”
“Sorry man, but we just couldn’t help ourselves. You guys were so hilarious fighting like that, we just couldn’t bear to break it up.”
“I can’t believe you. You guys left and stuck me with listening to the ramblings of that…that…psycho woman just so you could have your little “perfect” night.”
“Well, it’s over. Just forget about it. Unless you can’t...”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Hey man, I saw the way you were first looking at her. She’s
exactly your type too. Fiery, with quite an attitude.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about Maxwell.”
“I’m sure you don’t.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Liz!” Maria squealed as she saw her enter the apartment. “How was it?”
“Oh my god Maria. It was incredible. He was incredible. And hey, he let me drive his jag.”
“Oh my god Chica! I am so happy for you! Wait, did you say jag? He has a jag? I wanna see,” Maria rambled as she ran towards
that window.
Liz’s face quickly fell. “No Maria, he’s not there. I took the bus home.”
“What, he didn’t even offer to drive you home! The nerve! Well, I oughta…”
With that Liz burst into tears.
Maria was at her side in at instant. “Hey babe. What’s wrong? Did I say something?”
“No Maria. It’s just…oh god…He was just so perfect. And it was just so incredible and amazing…I just didn’t want the magic to end. I didn’t want to ruin it. I didn’t want him to see where I lived.” And a fresh wave of tears overcame Liz’s body.
“Oh Lizzie…Look at me!” She placed her hand on Liz’s chin, bringing Liz’s face up so as to look her in the eyes. “Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are Lizzie. Never be ashamed of where you live or how hard you have to work to make it. Never ever be ashamed of that. If he is really as great as you say he is, then it won’t matter that you have not a cent to your name and that you live in the cheap part of town. If he’s as great as you say he is, he won’t care. And if he does care, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thanks ‘Ria. You’re right,” Liz said as she began to wipe the tears from her eyes.
“Of course I’m right. Now spill. You have to tell me everything that happened tonight. And I want details girl. Wait…hold on. I need to go get the ice cream.”
Liz giggled. “But Maria, we have class in the morning, and it’s already quarter to two.”
“Ah, that’s alright. Nothing ever happens on the first day anyway.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 4
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Max and Liz walked out of the restaurant hand in hand, laughing the whole way. They were having such a great time; neither of them wanted the night to end. They stood around laughing and joking while the valet brought around Max’s car.
“I really had a great time tonight Max. I’m really glad that I came.”
“Yeah, well it’s not over yet. There’s one last place I want to show you. Come on,” Max said as he opened the car door to let Liz in.
Liz just smiled and thanked him quietly as he walked over to the driver’s side of the car.
“Where are we going?” Liz asked after Max had gotten in.
“It’s a surprise,” Max responded, gunning the motor as he speed off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“And god, Alex. He was so arrogant…and rude…and…and…just an all around JERK!” Maria and Alex were on their way home from the movie. Maria had been going on and on about her run in with “the spikey haired one,” as he came to be called, since they had left the bookstore two and a half hours ago.
“You know Maria, you’ve been going on about him for at least two hours now.”
“I know, but he was just such an asshole. I mean really the least he could have done was say that he was sorry, but no…”
“Ya know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you liked him.”
“WHAT?! What the hell would give you an idea like that? I mean yeah, he’s kind of attractive, in that rebellious kind of way, but he’s just so rude…”
“Well, you know the way you keep going on and on about him. One might get the idea…”
“NO! Don’t even think it mister! There is nothing in this mind but hatred for that boy.”
“Whatever you say Maria. Whatever you say.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Max, this is so beautiful.”
Max and Liz were now lying out on a blanket on the beach near where they’d had dinner. They were both lying on their backs starring up at the stars, listening to the sound of the waves crashing in the distance.
“I used to come to the beach to think all the time back home. It’s always been something that could calm me down. Console me somehow. I kinda just carried on the tradition when I got down here. Plus, it’s the only place in a town like this where you can look up and actually see the stars. I guess, I just wanted to share this with you.”
“Well, I’m glad that you did. I can’t thank you enough. It’s just so clear out here. I guess I forgot how much was really up there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.”
“Oh, I have.” Max had now moved to prop his head up on his elbow as he gazed down at her. Liz felt the blush creep over her face. Could he possibly be talking about her? Could he possibly think that she was just as beautiful as the stars in the sky? No, not plain old Liz Parker.
Before Liz had time to question further, Max’s lips had descended to hers. It happened so fast that at first she hadn’t opportunity to respond. Once she got her bearings, however, she returned his kiss, allowing it to deepen. The kiss started out soft and sweet but then grew more intense and passionate. Liz felt Max’s tongue teasing her lips, asking for entrance, and she granted it eagerly.
Max took this opportunity to explore her mouth, getting to know it intimately. Soon, their lungs began to burn from lack of oxygen and they were forced to break apart, chests heaving.
“Wow!” Liz voiced once she was able to talk.
“Yeah, wow.”
“I should probably get going,” Liz said regretfully. “I have class at eight tomorrow morning.”
“Yeah, ok,” was all Max could say. Kissing her one last time, he got to his feet, holding his hand out to pull her up. Liz accepted it gratefully, helping him fold up the blanket before they both headed towards his car.
Max opened the door for Liz then asked, “So, where can I take you to? Where do you live?”
Liz felt the panic course through her body. “Oh…um, just take me back to the campus.”
“Nonsense…let me take you home.”
“NO! I mean…you see…my car! Yeah, my car is at the campus still, so I need to pick it up and bring it home.”
“Oh, alright then.” Sighing in relief Liz went to sit down in the passenger’s seat. Max was just standing there, staring at her with
a strange grin on his face; he still hadn’t closed the door.
“What Max?” Liz asked self-consciously.
“Ya wanna drive it?” Max asked motioning towards the car.
“What? Are you kidding me? Your gonna let me drive your jag?”
“Sure, why not? So, you wanna?” he asked again, a smirk on his
face.
“Hell ya!”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz squealed as she came speeding into the school lot at 1am.
They had driven around the campus several times extra just so Liz could drive the car a little longer. When they finally came to a stop Liz turned to Max.
“Thanks Max. And not just for letting me drive your car, although that was definitely fun. I had a really great time tonight Max. Thank
you.”
“I had a great time too,” Max said as he leaned over, cupping her face with his hand. They shared another passionate kiss, and then when they broke apart, Liz grabbed his hand. She rifled around in her purse for a while, while Max looked on in confusion. Finally she came out with a pen, and then proceeded to write her phone number down on his hand. “I’ve always wanted to do that,” she voiced once she had finished.
He smiled and kissed her again before getting out of the car. “So where is your car. I’ll help you carry your books.”
“No, you don’t need to do that.”
“But I want to.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll get it.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Alright. I guess I can’t argue with that. You independent women now days. Can’t accept a man’s help,” Max teased.
“Well, you know me. I need to feel like I have some control in the
situation. At least I’m not the one with the inferiority complex.”
“Excuse me?”
“The car. It’s a classic case. You have the jag; it’s speed and the
prestige that comes from its price tag. It builds your self-esteem.”
With that they both burst out laughing. “I’m sorry,” Liz amended. “I was only kidding. I think that I’ve been reading Maria’s psych books too much.”
“It’s ok. I really got it to get girls,” Max whispered in her ear as if it was a secret.
His hot breath on her neck brought a shiver over Liz’s body. “Mmmm…it’s working,” Liz said as she brought her lips to his one last time. He brought his hands up to her hips and pulled her towards him. After a few minutes, Liz finally pulled away, grabbing her books from the back before things could get out of hand once again.
“Call me,” she yelled over her shoulder as she hurried out of the parking lot. She waved one last time as Max pulled out of the parking lot, and then, once she was sure that he had left, made her way over to the bus stop.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Michael,” Max said as he walked in seeing his friend sitting on the couch watching tv.
“Hey Max. I’m guessing by the look on your face that your date went well.”
“God Michael…she’s amazing. I don’t think I’ve met anyone like her in my life. She’s just so vibrant and animated and…god, she’s so beautiful. She’s just…perfect,” he said, finding the only word that came close to describing her.
“Whoa man, you just met the girl!”
“I know. I know it’s irrational and hasty, but I can’t help it. She’s everything that I’ve always looked for in a woman and more.”
“Well then, I’m happy for you man. But you could have waited to sweep her off her feet until after her harpy of a friend had left.”
“Sorry man, but we just couldn’t help ourselves. You guys were so hilarious fighting like that, we just couldn’t bear to break it up.”
“I can’t believe you. You guys left and stuck me with listening to the ramblings of that…that…psycho woman just so you could have your little “perfect” night.”
“Well, it’s over. Just forget about it. Unless you can’t...”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Hey man, I saw the way you were first looking at her. She’s
exactly your type too. Fiery, with quite an attitude.”
“I have no idea what you are talking about Maxwell.”
“I’m sure you don’t.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Liz!” Maria squealed as she saw her enter the apartment. “How was it?”
“Oh my god Maria. It was incredible. He was incredible. And hey, he let me drive his jag.”
“Oh my god Chica! I am so happy for you! Wait, did you say jag? He has a jag? I wanna see,” Maria rambled as she ran towards
that window.
Liz’s face quickly fell. “No Maria, he’s not there. I took the bus home.”
“What, he didn’t even offer to drive you home! The nerve! Well, I oughta…”
With that Liz burst into tears.
Maria was at her side in at instant. “Hey babe. What’s wrong? Did I say something?”
“No Maria. It’s just…oh god…He was just so perfect. And it was just so incredible and amazing…I just didn’t want the magic to end. I didn’t want to ruin it. I didn’t want him to see where I lived.” And a fresh wave of tears overcame Liz’s body.
“Oh Lizzie…Look at me!” She placed her hand on Liz’s chin, bringing Liz’s face up so as to look her in the eyes. “Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are Lizzie. Never be ashamed of where you live or how hard you have to work to make it. Never ever be ashamed of that. If he is really as great as you say he is, then it won’t matter that you have not a cent to your name and that you live in the cheap part of town. If he’s as great as you say he is, he won’t care. And if he does care, then he doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thanks ‘Ria. You’re right,” Liz said as she began to wipe the tears from her eyes.
“Of course I’m right. Now spill. You have to tell me everything that happened tonight. And I want details girl. Wait…hold on. I need to go get the ice cream.”
Liz giggled. “But Maria, we have class in the morning, and it’s already quarter to two.”
“Ah, that’s alright. Nothing ever happens on the first day anyway.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 5
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Yeah sure, nothing ever happens on the first day! When I get my hands on…”
“Lizzie!” a male voice called out breaking her from her mumbled train of thought. His voice softened when he caught up to her and saw the look on her face. “Hey what’s wrong? I thought you were excited about the first day back to classes?”
‘You gotta love Alex, he is such a sweetheart, but I am so not in the mood for this at the moment!’
“I’m fine Alex, really, I’m just in a hurry to get to work. I have to work from noon till four and then I have class again at five, and it’s already been a long day.” Liz sighed; she was exhausted. She had pulled all nighters before, and she was beginning to believe that it was easier than just getting only a few hours of sleep like she had last night.
“Come on Lizzie, something’s wrong. Now spill or I’ll have to go get Ria,” he threatened, knowing that Ria could get anything out of Liz.
“No…It’s just that, well I got home last night and Maria and I sat up talking for a while, cause you know her, she had to know every little detail about my date with Max,” she began, feeling like she really needed to get this out.
“Hey yeah, how did that go?” Alex spoke up.
“Can we not talk about that right now?”
“Sure, so what happened after that?” he prodded her on.
“Well I really wanted to get to sleep because I had class at eight this morning, but she bullied me with the whole ‘nothing ever happens on the first day of school anyways’ routine. So she kept me up for hours, asking me millions of questions. I think I might have gotten two hours of sleep, but I doubt I even got that much. Anyways, I forgot to set my alarm last night so it didn’t go off this morning, so I slept through my first bio seminar and the professor was really kind and said that if I’d come to her office tonight after my last class we could talk about what I missed and everything…” tears were starting to slip down her cheeks and her eyes were getting blurry, causing her to stop walking and lean into Alex’s comforting shoulder.
“But then everything is okay Lizzie. It doesn’t sound like the professor was mad or anything, so what is the problem?”
“It’s just…just…” Liz stopped for a minute. What was the problem? She had been all angry at Maria, but really there was no reason for her to be. She hadn’t gotten into any trouble… “I don’t know.” Alex stopped Liz and held her at arms length so he could look into her damp eyes. But at least she had stopped crying.
“Lizzie, everything is fine. Just relax a little, okay, sweetie?” Liz nodded her head dumbly and Alex rubbed his hand in comforting circles on her back as he hugged her close one last time. “Now, are you going to be okay at work, because I have a comp sci class to get to in five minutes?”
“I’ll be fine Alex, thank you!” Liz gave a small smile and watched her friend walk away as she headed once more toward the café. What was wrong with her? Why had she been so upset with Maria for no reason? Sleep. That was it…she needed sleep, but not right now. For now she would have to settle for working and earning some much needed money. Her little sister’s birthday was coming up and she wanted to surprise her with something nice.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The incessant ring of the telephone woke Michael up out of a sound sleep. Sure it was eleven in the morning on the first day of classes, but he didn’t have any classes Monday mornings, so he got to sleep in. At least he did until someone decided to call and wake him up. He reached across his bed to grab the cordless phone from the stand and brought it to him.
“Yeah?” he asked as he sat up and looked at the clock.
“Michael?” a timid feminine voice spoke hoarsely.
“Izzie? Is that you? What’s wrong?” Michael was immediately wide-awake and in protective big brother mode. Something was wrong with Izzie, he could just tell from her voice.
“I…I…Andrew…” her strangled sobs crept through Michael’s blood like ice. How could anyone hurt his little sister? She was too sweet.
“It’s okay Izzie, just calm down and tell me all about it.” Michael sat back down on his bed and raked a hand through his hair in frustration.
“I…can I come up and stay with you for a while…I mean, mom and dad think it’s a great idea and since I decided to take a year off…Please Mikey, can I come and stay with you for a while?” Her voice was so quiet and so sad that Michael couldn’t believe it was the same sister he had seen laughing and smiling in her graduation robes not three months ago.
“Of course you can come Izzie. I’d love to have you staying with me. I’ll be busy with classes once in a while, but I always have time for you, don’t you ever forget that. You can always come to me with anything.”
“Thank you, Mikey!” Isabel sniffed, trying to hold back more tears. She felt like a little girl who ran crying to her older brother. But that was what she had always done. He had always been her rock. He was always there for her through everything, even when their parents weren’t. And now was one of those times when she needed her big brother’s warm arms to protect her from the world.
“Don’t worry about it. How are you going to get down here?” he asked. If he had to go up and get her, just to make sure she was safe, he would.
“Umm…aunt Keri has a meeting in San Diego sometime at the end of the week. I know she’ll bring me with her because she hates driving alone. And besides,” she added with a small smile, “I’m her favorite niece!” This made Michael laugh, and he had hope that his sister would be okay.
“Okay, I’ll see you then. When you find out exactly when you’ll be here let me know so I can be waiting for you.”
“Thank you so much Mikey. I love you. You’re the best big brother!” Isabel said into the phone.
“I love you too, Izzie.” Michael hung up the phone with a sigh. Great, something was wrong with his sister, and he wouldn’t be able to get it out of her until they were face to face. Isabel had never been one to talk much on the phone. She always had to talk with people in person. He supposed that was a good quality, but it was going to drive him crazy until he could see her and assure himself that she was okay and nothing had happened to her. Cause if something had happened to her, there would be hell to pay.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Lizzie, I’m sorry!” Maria pleaded with her friend as they worked side by side at the counter as a rush of students entered and exited the place in the ten-minute mad-rush between classes. “That’s two fifty,” Maria told the small Asian girl in front of the counter as she took her money and gave her change. “Thank you, come again. Next.” Then she turned back to Liz waiting for a reply.
“Thank you please come again.” Liz gave the customer his change and then turned to her best friend briefly. “I told you Maria, it’s no big deal. I just over reacted this morning because I didn’t have enough sleep. Alex calmed me down though after he heard me complain for five minutes. Three seventy five, please.” She turned quickly to her customer as she took the money and gave change. “Thank you, come again. Besides, now I have to go talk to my professor and she seemed really nice, so maybe I will be able to talk to her about her research, and possibly getting a job helping in her lab. That would be incredible. And I owe all that to you for making me late.” The two friends laughed together as the crowd in the café died away and they were able to relax and have a normal conversation without the interruptions every other second.
“Wow, you’re welcome Liz! I guess I did do such a great thing last night by making you spill your guts instead of sleeping. Sleep is overrated anyways!” They laughed again before both of them fell onto the couch in a sort of daze. They were exhausted. Sleep was in no way overrated! Not by a long shot.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I’m sorry, Max, she hasn’t gotten back from class yet,” Maria spoke into the phone.
“Oh, well do you know when she’ll be back?”
“Well her class was over at six, and then she had to meet with the professor of her bio seminar. She was all excited about that earlier. Its already seven thirty, so she should be home soon. She must have really gotten along with her professor or something. Do you want me to tell her you called?” Maria had a big smile on her face. She was happy that her Lizzie had found a cute sweet guy who actually called her the day after their date! It had to be a miracle or something. There are some good guys left in the world, what do you know!
“Umm…yeah, just tell her I called and that I’ll call her back later, okay?” Max said into the phone.
“Sure Max, no-” Maria was cut off in mid sentence as a key turned in their lock and Liz came walking in. “Actually, Max are you still there?” Liz froze in her step in the doorway. Did Maria just say Max?
“Yeah I’m here.”
“Well you’re in luck. Liz just walked through the front door! Here she is,” Maria got Liz’s attention from the door and pointed to the phone, and then at Liz. Liz’s eyes got even wider. Oh my goodness, Max was on the phone! What was she going to do?
“Thanks Maria,” Max said into the phone just as she was about to hand it to Liz.
“Max?” a soft voice spoke hesitantly into the phone.
“Hey Liz, yeah, it’s me.” Max didn’t know what else to say, his thoughts had left him for the moment as he heard her voice.
“Umm…so what’s up?” Liz asked hesitantly not really knowing why he had called her, but excited that he had all the same. Maria got up from her spot on the couch and went into her room, leaving Liz alone for her conversation.
“Oh, I, uh, just wanted to see how your first day of classes went,” Max relaxed back on his bed with the phone cradled against his face as he pictured Liz in his mind.
Liz, in her own apartment had made her way over to the couch and was now leaning back with her feet up on the other end. They settled in comfortably for a long conversation. They weren’t sure why, but it was just so easy to talk to one another. And they had no qualms in telling each other just about anything. ‘This is a great ending to a not so wholly bad day,’ Liz thought to herself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 5
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Yeah sure, nothing ever happens on the first day! When I get my hands on…”
“Lizzie!” a male voice called out breaking her from her mumbled train of thought. His voice softened when he caught up to her and saw the look on her face. “Hey what’s wrong? I thought you were excited about the first day back to classes?”
‘You gotta love Alex, he is such a sweetheart, but I am so not in the mood for this at the moment!’
“I’m fine Alex, really, I’m just in a hurry to get to work. I have to work from noon till four and then I have class again at five, and it’s already been a long day.” Liz sighed; she was exhausted. She had pulled all nighters before, and she was beginning to believe that it was easier than just getting only a few hours of sleep like she had last night.
“Come on Lizzie, something’s wrong. Now spill or I’ll have to go get Ria,” he threatened, knowing that Ria could get anything out of Liz.
“No…It’s just that, well I got home last night and Maria and I sat up talking for a while, cause you know her, she had to know every little detail about my date with Max,” she began, feeling like she really needed to get this out.
“Hey yeah, how did that go?” Alex spoke up.
“Can we not talk about that right now?”
“Sure, so what happened after that?” he prodded her on.
“Well I really wanted to get to sleep because I had class at eight this morning, but she bullied me with the whole ‘nothing ever happens on the first day of school anyways’ routine. So she kept me up for hours, asking me millions of questions. I think I might have gotten two hours of sleep, but I doubt I even got that much. Anyways, I forgot to set my alarm last night so it didn’t go off this morning, so I slept through my first bio seminar and the professor was really kind and said that if I’d come to her office tonight after my last class we could talk about what I missed and everything…” tears were starting to slip down her cheeks and her eyes were getting blurry, causing her to stop walking and lean into Alex’s comforting shoulder.
“But then everything is okay Lizzie. It doesn’t sound like the professor was mad or anything, so what is the problem?”
“It’s just…just…” Liz stopped for a minute. What was the problem? She had been all angry at Maria, but really there was no reason for her to be. She hadn’t gotten into any trouble… “I don’t know.” Alex stopped Liz and held her at arms length so he could look into her damp eyes. But at least she had stopped crying.
“Lizzie, everything is fine. Just relax a little, okay, sweetie?” Liz nodded her head dumbly and Alex rubbed his hand in comforting circles on her back as he hugged her close one last time. “Now, are you going to be okay at work, because I have a comp sci class to get to in five minutes?”
“I’ll be fine Alex, thank you!” Liz gave a small smile and watched her friend walk away as she headed once more toward the café. What was wrong with her? Why had she been so upset with Maria for no reason? Sleep. That was it…she needed sleep, but not right now. For now she would have to settle for working and earning some much needed money. Her little sister’s birthday was coming up and she wanted to surprise her with something nice.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The incessant ring of the telephone woke Michael up out of a sound sleep. Sure it was eleven in the morning on the first day of classes, but he didn’t have any classes Monday mornings, so he got to sleep in. At least he did until someone decided to call and wake him up. He reached across his bed to grab the cordless phone from the stand and brought it to him.
“Yeah?” he asked as he sat up and looked at the clock.
“Michael?” a timid feminine voice spoke hoarsely.
“Izzie? Is that you? What’s wrong?” Michael was immediately wide-awake and in protective big brother mode. Something was wrong with Izzie, he could just tell from her voice.
“I…I…Andrew…” her strangled sobs crept through Michael’s blood like ice. How could anyone hurt his little sister? She was too sweet.
“It’s okay Izzie, just calm down and tell me all about it.” Michael sat back down on his bed and raked a hand through his hair in frustration.
“I…can I come up and stay with you for a while…I mean, mom and dad think it’s a great idea and since I decided to take a year off…Please Mikey, can I come and stay with you for a while?” Her voice was so quiet and so sad that Michael couldn’t believe it was the same sister he had seen laughing and smiling in her graduation robes not three months ago.
“Of course you can come Izzie. I’d love to have you staying with me. I’ll be busy with classes once in a while, but I always have time for you, don’t you ever forget that. You can always come to me with anything.”
“Thank you, Mikey!” Isabel sniffed, trying to hold back more tears. She felt like a little girl who ran crying to her older brother. But that was what she had always done. He had always been her rock. He was always there for her through everything, even when their parents weren’t. And now was one of those times when she needed her big brother’s warm arms to protect her from the world.
“Don’t worry about it. How are you going to get down here?” he asked. If he had to go up and get her, just to make sure she was safe, he would.
“Umm…aunt Keri has a meeting in San Diego sometime at the end of the week. I know she’ll bring me with her because she hates driving alone. And besides,” she added with a small smile, “I’m her favorite niece!” This made Michael laugh, and he had hope that his sister would be okay.
“Okay, I’ll see you then. When you find out exactly when you’ll be here let me know so I can be waiting for you.”
“Thank you so much Mikey. I love you. You’re the best big brother!” Isabel said into the phone.
“I love you too, Izzie.” Michael hung up the phone with a sigh. Great, something was wrong with his sister, and he wouldn’t be able to get it out of her until they were face to face. Isabel had never been one to talk much on the phone. She always had to talk with people in person. He supposed that was a good quality, but it was going to drive him crazy until he could see her and assure himself that she was okay and nothing had happened to her. Cause if something had happened to her, there would be hell to pay.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Lizzie, I’m sorry!” Maria pleaded with her friend as they worked side by side at the counter as a rush of students entered and exited the place in the ten-minute mad-rush between classes. “That’s two fifty,” Maria told the small Asian girl in front of the counter as she took her money and gave her change. “Thank you, come again. Next.” Then she turned back to Liz waiting for a reply.
“Thank you please come again.” Liz gave the customer his change and then turned to her best friend briefly. “I told you Maria, it’s no big deal. I just over reacted this morning because I didn’t have enough sleep. Alex calmed me down though after he heard me complain for five minutes. Three seventy five, please.” She turned quickly to her customer as she took the money and gave change. “Thank you, come again. Besides, now I have to go talk to my professor and she seemed really nice, so maybe I will be able to talk to her about her research, and possibly getting a job helping in her lab. That would be incredible. And I owe all that to you for making me late.” The two friends laughed together as the crowd in the café died away and they were able to relax and have a normal conversation without the interruptions every other second.
“Wow, you’re welcome Liz! I guess I did do such a great thing last night by making you spill your guts instead of sleeping. Sleep is overrated anyways!” They laughed again before both of them fell onto the couch in a sort of daze. They were exhausted. Sleep was in no way overrated! Not by a long shot.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“I’m sorry, Max, she hasn’t gotten back from class yet,” Maria spoke into the phone.
“Oh, well do you know when she’ll be back?”
“Well her class was over at six, and then she had to meet with the professor of her bio seminar. She was all excited about that earlier. Its already seven thirty, so she should be home soon. She must have really gotten along with her professor or something. Do you want me to tell her you called?” Maria had a big smile on her face. She was happy that her Lizzie had found a cute sweet guy who actually called her the day after their date! It had to be a miracle or something. There are some good guys left in the world, what do you know!
“Umm…yeah, just tell her I called and that I’ll call her back later, okay?” Max said into the phone.
“Sure Max, no-” Maria was cut off in mid sentence as a key turned in their lock and Liz came walking in. “Actually, Max are you still there?” Liz froze in her step in the doorway. Did Maria just say Max?
“Yeah I’m here.”
“Well you’re in luck. Liz just walked through the front door! Here she is,” Maria got Liz’s attention from the door and pointed to the phone, and then at Liz. Liz’s eyes got even wider. Oh my goodness, Max was on the phone! What was she going to do?
“Thanks Maria,” Max said into the phone just as she was about to hand it to Liz.
“Max?” a soft voice spoke hesitantly into the phone.
“Hey Liz, yeah, it’s me.” Max didn’t know what else to say, his thoughts had left him for the moment as he heard her voice.
“Umm…so what’s up?” Liz asked hesitantly not really knowing why he had called her, but excited that he had all the same. Maria got up from her spot on the couch and went into her room, leaving Liz alone for her conversation.
“Oh, I, uh, just wanted to see how your first day of classes went,” Max relaxed back on his bed with the phone cradled against his face as he pictured Liz in his mind.
Liz, in her own apartment had made her way over to the couch and was now leaning back with her feet up on the other end. They settled in comfortably for a long conversation. They weren’t sure why, but it was just so easy to talk to one another. And they had no qualms in telling each other just about anything. ‘This is a great ending to a not so wholly bad day,’ Liz thought to herself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 6
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“What’d he say?! What’d he say?!” Maria came bounding out of her bedroom as soon as she heard the beep of their cordless phone.
“Gee Maria! Don’t you think you could let me breath first? What were you doing, listening at the door?”
“Well yeah, but that’s beside the point. Now, what did he say?”
“He just wanted to know how my first day of classes went.”
“And…”
“And apparently he’s in that bio seminar that I missed this morning and he was like worried about me when I wasn’t there, ya know, since he didn’t get to drop me off last night. But then he said he’d calmed down after talking to you, so he knew I got home…”
“Honey, you’re babbling.”
“I am not.”
“Are too. Anyway, and…”
“And…I’m going over to his place after work tomorrow so he can catch me up on what I missed during that seminar.”
“Wait, I thought that’s what your meeting with your professor was about today.”
“It was, but he doesn’t know that.”
“Oh girl, you are so bad! You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know Ria. But I like him. A lot.”
“Ah babe, that’s great. And I have a feeling he feels the same way about you.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maria ran into her class just as the professor was beginning her lecture. ‘Great. Made it just in time.’ It wasn’t until she had settled down in a seat on the aisle and gotten out her notebook to begin taking notes that she noticed who was sitting next to her.
The spikey haired one was sitting next to her, gaping at her for no apparent reason. Of all the places to run into him. Of all the classes in this freakin’ university, he had to be in hers. Of all the seats that she just happened to sit in, she had to pick the one right next to him. And why was he staring at her like that?’
Michael couldn’t help but stare at the girl sitting next to him. She was all flushed and her hair was tousled from hurrying to her class. He couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked. ‘Wait. What the hell are you thinking? Beautiful? This is the girl who blew up at you yesterday over nothing! Something that was her fault even! It was kinda cute how she got so animated when she was angry though. Ahhhh! What am I thinking?’
His thoughts were interrupted by Maria’s whispering voice. “It’s you!”
“Wow! You’re quick blondie.”
“Of all people, I’m stuck sitting next to you.”
“Hey, nobody’s keeping you here. You can move if you want to.”
“I can’t do that, it’s rude. Oh, but I guess that you wouldn’t know anything about that type of thing, would you?”
“Nope.”
“Well, at least you can admit that you have no social skills.”
“Hey blondie, you think you could keep it down? I’m trying to pay attention to the lecture.”
“Me keep it down! What about you? You started it!”
“What?! You know what, forget it. Just shut-up, ok?”
“Fine!”
“Fine.”
“Fine!”
Later, as they were both leaving the class after not saying anything more to each other throughout the whole lecture, Michael came up and whispered something into Maria’s ear after she began walking up the aisle. “You always have to have the last word, don’t you blondie?”
“I don’t always…” but when she turned around he was already gone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“…and he had the nerve to be in my class!”
Liz laughed at Maria as she moved around the cafe attempting to give people their orders. “With all do respect Ria, I’m sure that he didn’t know that you were taking it. It’s not like he took the class just to spite you.”
“You don’t know that!”
“Ria…”
“I mean what kinda guy takes an upper division class in women’s studies?”
“Hey Maria, where were you in women’s studies today? I didn’t see you.”
“Oh Alex, don’t even get her started.”
“Sorry Alex, I came in really late and had to take the first available seat. And then you’ll never guess who was sitting next to me…”
As Maria went off into her rant all over again, Liz looked up as the heard the bell indicating that someone had just come in. “Well, speak of the devil…” Liz muttered under her breath, quiet enough so Maria couldn’t hear.
Liz briskly walked to the door to meet Max and his spikey haired friend.
“Hey Max, what are you doing here?”
“Well, your shift is over in an hour and a half, and you’re coming over afterwards, I figured that I’d just come over and hang out. Ya know have a cup of coffee, socialize a little bit…ok, maybe I just wanted to see you,” Max finally admitted.
“Well, that’s all you had to say,” Liz said as she put her arms up around his neck, bringing his face down to hers for a hello kiss.
It wasn’t until they heard someone clearing their throat that they broke apart. Michael stood their looking at Max with an expectant look.
“Oh yeah. I don’t think that you guys ever got the chance to be introduced. Liz, this is my best friend Michael. Michael, this is Liz, my girlfriend.” His tone of the last word was raised slightly, as if he were asking permission to call her that.
Liz just nodded her head and shook Michael’s hand. She couldn’t be happier that Max seemed to feel the same way about her as she seemed to feel about him. Obviously she wasn’t the only one who saw this as turning into a long-term relationship. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Ditto.”
Sometime during the exchange, Maria noticed that Liz had disappeared, and when she turned to look for her she was shocked at what she saw.
There was Liz, standing with Max and that…that…guy. The one that seemed to inhabit every one of her living nightmares.
“What are you doing, stalking me now?” Maria asked in exasperation, coming up to the group.
“Oh god, not you again!”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“You know what, I was just leaving. See ya Maxwell.”
“No Michael, stay. Maria will behave, won’t you Maria?” Liz gave Maria a pointed glare.
“Yeah whatever, you got their table,” and Maria quickly turned around and headed back behind the counter.
“I’m sorry Michael. She’s not usually that mean. For some reason, you really get to her.”
“Yeah, well the feelings mutual,” Michael muttered as Liz led them over to a table.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After about half an hour Michael had left saying that he had a class to go to, leaving Max to himself. Max spent most of his time watching Liz as she puttered around the café, making sure that all the customers were taken care of. Whenever Liz had a free moment she would spend it with Max, the two sharing loving looks and quick kisses before Liz would have to once again face the masses.
“Look at them Alex. They just look so right together. Do you ever get that feeling around them…”
“Like you’re interrupting something. Like they have some special connection that you’re just intruding on.”
“Exactly. It’s like they’re meant for each other. Like they’re…”
“Soul mates.”
“Alex if you don’t stop finishing my sentences I’m gonna have to beat your ass.”
“Whatever Deluca. You couldn’t if you tried.”
“Like hell I can’t,” and with that Maria grabbed Alex’s arm and twisted it behind his back…hard.
“Alright. Alright. I give.”
“Yea!! I win.”
“Yeah whatever.”
“Hey Alex, you think that we’ll ever find that?”
“I know you will Deluca. I know you will.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Max.”
“Hey…Alex is it?”
“Yup. So I just wanted to come over and have a little chat with ya. I’ve noticed that you’ve had your eye on our Lizzie there.”
“Well, what can I say? She’s amazing.”
“Yeah, that she is. Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“I just love being with her. When I’m around her, nothing else seems to matter.”
“Good. Great. I just wanted to make sure that you know the ground rules.”
“Ground Rules?”
“Yeah. You see, I’ve known Liz for quite a while now. And she’s come to be like a sister to me. So her pain is my pain. I’m just saying, don’t hurt her. Don’t break her heart. Cause if you do, I just might have to break something of yours.”
Just by looking at Alex, Max could tell that he meant business. Alex wasn’t the largest guy, but Max was sure that when it came to Liz, he could certainly do some damage.
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Good, just make sure that you keep it that way.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 6
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“What’d he say?! What’d he say?!” Maria came bounding out of her bedroom as soon as she heard the beep of their cordless phone.
“Gee Maria! Don’t you think you could let me breath first? What were you doing, listening at the door?”
“Well yeah, but that’s beside the point. Now, what did he say?”
“He just wanted to know how my first day of classes went.”
“And…”
“And apparently he’s in that bio seminar that I missed this morning and he was like worried about me when I wasn’t there, ya know, since he didn’t get to drop me off last night. But then he said he’d calmed down after talking to you, so he knew I got home…”
“Honey, you’re babbling.”
“I am not.”
“Are too. Anyway, and…”
“And…I’m going over to his place after work tomorrow so he can catch me up on what I missed during that seminar.”
“Wait, I thought that’s what your meeting with your professor was about today.”
“It was, but he doesn’t know that.”
“Oh girl, you are so bad! You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know Ria. But I like him. A lot.”
“Ah babe, that’s great. And I have a feeling he feels the same way about you.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maria ran into her class just as the professor was beginning her lecture. ‘Great. Made it just in time.’ It wasn’t until she had settled down in a seat on the aisle and gotten out her notebook to begin taking notes that she noticed who was sitting next to her.
The spikey haired one was sitting next to her, gaping at her for no apparent reason. Of all the places to run into him. Of all the classes in this freakin’ university, he had to be in hers. Of all the seats that she just happened to sit in, she had to pick the one right next to him. And why was he staring at her like that?’
Michael couldn’t help but stare at the girl sitting next to him. She was all flushed and her hair was tousled from hurrying to her class. He couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked. ‘Wait. What the hell are you thinking? Beautiful? This is the girl who blew up at you yesterday over nothing! Something that was her fault even! It was kinda cute how she got so animated when she was angry though. Ahhhh! What am I thinking?’
His thoughts were interrupted by Maria’s whispering voice. “It’s you!”
“Wow! You’re quick blondie.”
“Of all people, I’m stuck sitting next to you.”
“Hey, nobody’s keeping you here. You can move if you want to.”
“I can’t do that, it’s rude. Oh, but I guess that you wouldn’t know anything about that type of thing, would you?”
“Nope.”
“Well, at least you can admit that you have no social skills.”
“Hey blondie, you think you could keep it down? I’m trying to pay attention to the lecture.”
“Me keep it down! What about you? You started it!”
“What?! You know what, forget it. Just shut-up, ok?”
“Fine!”
“Fine.”
“Fine!”
Later, as they were both leaving the class after not saying anything more to each other throughout the whole lecture, Michael came up and whispered something into Maria’s ear after she began walking up the aisle. “You always have to have the last word, don’t you blondie?”
“I don’t always…” but when she turned around he was already gone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“…and he had the nerve to be in my class!”
Liz laughed at Maria as she moved around the cafe attempting to give people their orders. “With all do respect Ria, I’m sure that he didn’t know that you were taking it. It’s not like he took the class just to spite you.”
“You don’t know that!”
“Ria…”
“I mean what kinda guy takes an upper division class in women’s studies?”
“Hey Maria, where were you in women’s studies today? I didn’t see you.”
“Oh Alex, don’t even get her started.”
“Sorry Alex, I came in really late and had to take the first available seat. And then you’ll never guess who was sitting next to me…”
As Maria went off into her rant all over again, Liz looked up as the heard the bell indicating that someone had just come in. “Well, speak of the devil…” Liz muttered under her breath, quiet enough so Maria couldn’t hear.
Liz briskly walked to the door to meet Max and his spikey haired friend.
“Hey Max, what are you doing here?”
“Well, your shift is over in an hour and a half, and you’re coming over afterwards, I figured that I’d just come over and hang out. Ya know have a cup of coffee, socialize a little bit…ok, maybe I just wanted to see you,” Max finally admitted.
“Well, that’s all you had to say,” Liz said as she put her arms up around his neck, bringing his face down to hers for a hello kiss.
It wasn’t until they heard someone clearing their throat that they broke apart. Michael stood their looking at Max with an expectant look.
“Oh yeah. I don’t think that you guys ever got the chance to be introduced. Liz, this is my best friend Michael. Michael, this is Liz, my girlfriend.” His tone of the last word was raised slightly, as if he were asking permission to call her that.
Liz just nodded her head and shook Michael’s hand. She couldn’t be happier that Max seemed to feel the same way about her as she seemed to feel about him. Obviously she wasn’t the only one who saw this as turning into a long-term relationship. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Ditto.”
Sometime during the exchange, Maria noticed that Liz had disappeared, and when she turned to look for her she was shocked at what she saw.
There was Liz, standing with Max and that…that…guy. The one that seemed to inhabit every one of her living nightmares.
“What are you doing, stalking me now?” Maria asked in exasperation, coming up to the group.
“Oh god, not you again!”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“You know what, I was just leaving. See ya Maxwell.”
“No Michael, stay. Maria will behave, won’t you Maria?” Liz gave Maria a pointed glare.
“Yeah whatever, you got their table,” and Maria quickly turned around and headed back behind the counter.
“I’m sorry Michael. She’s not usually that mean. For some reason, you really get to her.”
“Yeah, well the feelings mutual,” Michael muttered as Liz led them over to a table.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After about half an hour Michael had left saying that he had a class to go to, leaving Max to himself. Max spent most of his time watching Liz as she puttered around the café, making sure that all the customers were taken care of. Whenever Liz had a free moment she would spend it with Max, the two sharing loving looks and quick kisses before Liz would have to once again face the masses.
“Look at them Alex. They just look so right together. Do you ever get that feeling around them…”
“Like you’re interrupting something. Like they have some special connection that you’re just intruding on.”
“Exactly. It’s like they’re meant for each other. Like they’re…”
“Soul mates.”
“Alex if you don’t stop finishing my sentences I’m gonna have to beat your ass.”
“Whatever Deluca. You couldn’t if you tried.”
“Like hell I can’t,” and with that Maria grabbed Alex’s arm and twisted it behind his back…hard.
“Alright. Alright. I give.”
“Yea!! I win.”
“Yeah whatever.”
“Hey Alex, you think that we’ll ever find that?”
“I know you will Deluca. I know you will.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Max.”
“Hey…Alex is it?”
“Yup. So I just wanted to come over and have a little chat with ya. I’ve noticed that you’ve had your eye on our Lizzie there.”
“Well, what can I say? She’s amazing.”
“Yeah, that she is. Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“I just love being with her. When I’m around her, nothing else seems to matter.”
“Good. Great. I just wanted to make sure that you know the ground rules.”
“Ground Rules?”
“Yeah. You see, I’ve known Liz for quite a while now. And she’s come to be like a sister to me. So her pain is my pain. I’m just saying, don’t hurt her. Don’t break her heart. Cause if you do, I just might have to break something of yours.”
Just by looking at Alex, Max could tell that he meant business. Alex wasn’t the largest guy, but Max was sure that when it came to Liz, he could certainly do some damage.
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Good, just make sure that you keep it that way.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 7
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Well, what do you think?” Max asked as he pulled his jag up the long circular driveway leading to his home.
“I…I…wow!” Liz’s eyes were as wide as they could possibly get. “You live here?!” She asked incredulously. Sure she had realized he had money from the car he drove, but this went way beyond that.
“So you like it?” Max asked hopefully.
“It’s beautiful, Max,” she finally answered as she turned to face him. He was now standing holding her door open for her. She hadn’t even noticed that he had gotten out of the car. She was in shock.
‘Oh my god! He lives here?! He must be incredibly rich! What is he doing with me? As soon as he finds out who I am he won’t be interested anymore, I know it. His kind are all alike…just like James last year… I promised myself I’d never let that happen to me again. This can’t be happening to me! So what do I do now? I really like him, but…my life sucks! But Max isn’t James. Maybe he’s different…what am I saying? I don’t even know him that well.’ ‘Oh but you do,’ another voice in her head told her, and she couldn’t deny it. ‘But I can’t compete with his money. It’ll always be his money over me. His family won’t like me. His friends won’t like me. They’ll all look down on me the minute they know who I am. I don’t want to go through that again.’ ‘But isn’t love worth it?’
Max watched Liz’s face for a moment trying to figure out what she was thinking, but eventually gave up and started leading her to the front door. He held the door open for her and she numbly walked through, staring at all the incredible things around her. You wouldn’t know two college guys lived here from the looks of things, it was too clean.
“Mmm! What smells so good?” Liz asked as she took a deep breath and smelled the lovely inviting aroma coming from the kitchen. Max standing beside her took a deep breath as well before a smile broke out across his face.
“Rosie’s making her famous enchilada’s and Mexican rice. It’s to die for!”
“Rosie?” Liz didn’t think anyone else lived here but Michael and Max. Who was this Rosie person.
“Yeah, she’s kind of our housekeeper. She’s been with my family since I was little. She used to be my nanny.”
“Oh yeah, I think you told me about her before,” Liz smiled as she remembered their first date and how they had just talked forever with no restrictions.
“Yeah, well she makes the best enchilada’s I have ever tasted. She says it’s a secret family recipe, but she won’t tell anyone what it is,” he laughed a little at the memory. It was obvious to Liz just how much Rosie meant to him.
“Max sweetie, is that you?” came a voice from the kitchen.
“Yeah, its me Rosie. I want you to meet someone,” Max called back as he started to lead Liz toward where the voice had come from. “Come on, I want you to meet her.”
‘Oh my goodness. Is this like meeting the family? Cause he had told me that she’s more his family than his parents…oh my goodness! Gees, now I’m sounding like Maria with the whole oh my goodness thing! Look what this boy is doing to me!’
“Rosie, this is Liz. Liz this is Rosie.” Liz hadn’t realized they reached the kitchen, but here they were, and she was being greeted by a sweet looking, short woman with an apron around her waist that was covered in flour and cooking ingredients.
“It’s nice to meet you Liz. You’re all that I’ve heard Max talk about since he met you,” Rosie gave Liz a big smile and a little wink before laughing at the look on Max’s face.
“Rosie!”
“Oh sweetie, get over it. Now you two go do your studying or whatever, while I finish cooking. It’ll be ready in an hour or so. And Max, I’m shopping tomorrow cause Michael told me that Isabel would be staying for a while and there is some things I have to get for her. Do you need anything?”
“No that’s okay, Rosie, I’m fine.”
“Well have fun studying you two,” with a smile she shooed them out of the kitchen so that she was free to work her magic.
Max and Liz walked out into the large den and Liz was once again taken aback by the grandeur of everything. She didn’t move to sit or touch anything until Max led her to the sofa and sat down beside her. Shaking herself out of her little trance she shyly smiled up at Max.
“So who’s Isabel?” Liz asked quietly.
“Huh? Oh, um, she’s Michael’s sister. She’s coming down at the end of the week to stay with us for a while.”
“Oh,” Liz wasn’t sure why, but she felt kind of jealous of this girl who got to stay in the same mansion as Max. Besides, if she was Michael’s sister, she was rich. Their families probably wanted her to come stay with the boys so that she and Max would get close. Their families were probably planning for them to get married or something… What was she thinking, this was crazy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michael sighed. Finally, he never thought that class would end. He had just come out of his Greek mythology class, and boy could that professor go on and on. Sure, the topic was interesting, he had been fascinated by mythology for a while, but the professor! He acted like he was drunk the way he slurred his speech and the way he was drinking from his water glass made everyone wonder if it really was water or not. But finally, the crazy man had let them go. It was only the first day of class and he wasn’t sure what the rest of the semester would bring in that class, but he wouldn’t have to think about that class again until Thursday, so it was already leaving his mind.
Stopping into the small café/corner store Michael walked to the back aisle and grabbed a small bottle of Cherry Pepsi. Max had brought home some but then refused to let Michael have any, so he had to get his own. He brought it up to the counter and set it down before looking up to see the girl at the register. ‘Oh god! Could this day get any worse? Why is she still here anyways? Ahhh!’
“Will that be all?” Maria asked without looking up from the counter.
“Do you like work all the time or something?” Michael couldn’t help but asking.
“What?” Maria asked as she finally looked up to see who was asking her strange questions. “Oh, its you. For you’re information, when I’m not in class, yes I am working. Unfortunately, simply going to classes doesn’t pay the bills, in fact it only makes more! So yeah, I work all day, you got a problem with that?” God, did this guy really know how to get on every last one of her nerves!
“Gees, someone’s bitchy today,” Michael rolled his eyes talking to himself but knew that she heard.
“Bitchy?! Bitchy?! Oh that is it mister spikey one! I have had it up to hear with you! What makes you mister high and mighty, huh? Who put you on top of the world to judge and complain about everyone else, huh? I don’t know where you get off bullying and pestering me and running into me without even apologizing, but I’ve had enough!” Maria’s face was red with fury. Today had not been the best day in the world, and this guy with crazy spikey hair had pushed her last button, not mention most of the reset earlier in the day. She had had it with him. She gingerly lifted herself to kneel on the counter then grabbed his Cherry Pepsi from in front of her , unscrewed the lid, and with a big smile on her face poured every last drop of it on top of his head. “And you know, earlier you were right, I do have to have the last word! Have a good day now!” With that Maria walked into the back and took off her apron. Finally her shift was over, and hey, it wasn’t so bad after all.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Thank you for dinner Max, that was delicious!”
“Yeah, no one cooks quite like Rosie.”
“I miss my mom’s cooking, it’s been so long since I’ve had one of her home-cooked meals.” Liz thought of home and hoped that she’d have money to go home for Christmas. She missed her sister, her parents, and of course her dogs. “So I guess I should probably go now. I have a lot of O-Chem reading to do tonight, and I promised my sister I’d call her sometime tonight.”
“Sure, I’ll go get my keys.”
“That’s okay, Max. I mean, I can just take the bus. I mean it’s kinda far for you to have to take me down to the school and then come back up here. I’ll be fine.” ‘Please don’t insist on driving me home…you can’t see my place…please!’ Liz pleaded in her head.
“Really Liz, its not a problem.” Max came out with his keys and was already leading her out to her car.
“Well, okay, but I’m just going to the café. Maria’s getting off soon and she needed me to do something for her,” Liz thought fast. Well, it wasn’t a total lie; Maria was working. Hey this way they could ride the bus home together at least, and Max wouldn’t have to know the truth.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait and give you a ride home?” Max asked twenty minutes later as Liz opened the door of the jag.
“No, I’m fine. Maria and I’ll go home together, we’ll be fine. But thank you Max, for everything. I had a lot of fun today.” Liz gave Max a quick kiss before stepping out of the car and shutting the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow in class.” With that she walked towards the café where Maria was working.
As Liz walked into the café she didn’t see Maria, but there was a mess of spilled soda or something in front of one of the registers. Liz ignored it though as she went straight to the back thinking that maybe Maria was grabbing her stuff.
“Hey chica!” Maria smiled cheerily at her friend. “How’d your thing with Max go?”
“It was good,” Liz smiled shyly. Yes, she would tell Maria all about it, but not while all these other people were around. “Are you ready to go? I thought we could go home together.”
“Sure, I just got off. Come on, we can catch the next bus if we hurry.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz walked through the front door as the phone rang. “I’ll get it!”
“Hello?”
“Lizzie?” a bubbly voice on the other line answered.
“Tess? I was just going to call you, I just got home.”
“Well I couldn’t wait any longer. Things are great here. My senior year is going well, but I have the best news! I’m going to graduate early! I have so many units and stuff, that after this semester, I’m done! Plus, I just finished applying to USD and UCSD and SDSU. I really want to go to USD with you though! I hope I get in!”
“That’s great Tess, I’m happy for you!”
“Hey Lizzie, are you going to tell her about your date tonight with Maxie boy!” Maria yelled loud enough so that she knew Tess would be able to hear what she said.
“Maria!” Liz yelled back as her friend laughed at her.
“You had a date with some guy? Oh! I wanna know all about him!”
“Fine, but Maria I’m going to get you back for this,” Liz yelled as Maria shut her bedroom door. “Well, I met him the other day at the café on campus while I was working. He was really nice and we talked for a while and then he asked me out. We had a lot of fun and today wasn’t really a date. We just went to his place and talked about one of our classes that we have together.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you Lizzie. He sounds like a nice guy, and you deserve a nice guy after that last jerk you dated.”
“Does everyone know about James?”
“Well, Maria told me one time when I called and you weren’t home. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Liz said, then raised her voice, “My roommate just has a big mouth!”
“Well, I gotta go Lizzie, I have to help mom set the table. But I’ll talk to you soon, and I’ll let you know when I get any answers from any college’s!” Tess said happily.
“Okay, bye Tessie, and give mom and dad kisses for me. Oh, and tell Smokey and Cookie that I miss them and give them a bone for me!” Liz said referring to her favorite labs. Smokey was a great big black lab while Cookie was a smaller yellow lab.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Oh Lizzie, it was so great! His face! I just had to do it, it was perfect!” Maria gushed as she told her of her encounter with Michael. “I mean, could you believe that guy’s nerve? He called me bitchy!”
“Maria, you do know that sometimes you can be that way, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to say that to my face!” Liz just shook her head at her best friend. Maria was definitely a character, that was for sure. “But it was so great I poured it over his head and then I told him that he was right I did always have to have the last word, then I walked out, it was so great!” The girls shared a look and laughed as they lay around the living room. Liz was sitting sideways in an old reclining chair while Maria lay across the couch.
“So that was the mess I saw all over the floor when I walked in to find you,” Liz laughed again just imagining what Max’s friend must have looked like when Maria got done with him.
“Mmmmm…” Maria was stretching her hand out with her fingers splayed and the palm of her hand pointing straight at the pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream the Liz had just taken a spoonful of. “Mmmmm…”
“Maria, are you okay?” Liz asked as she looked at her roommate.
“What? I just want the ice cream, but I don’t want to get up. It should just come to me, you know? I mean wouldn’t be great if you just had to hold out your hand and wish for the ice cream and it would come to you?”
Liz couldn’t hold her laughter in any longer, she busted out into hysterics at the completely serious look on Maria’s face as she explained her actions. Yes, Liz loved Maria to death, but she could definitely be a bit of a cook at times.
“Maria, you do know how crazy that sounded, right?”
“Yeah, but that’s why its fun!” Maria laughed back.
“Okay, just checking.” Liz got up and brought the ice cream with her over to the couch and made Maria scoot over so she could sit by her and they could share.
“So, you still haven’t told me about your date with Max.”
“It wasn’t a date Maria!”
“Oh, really? Was I mistaken then when I heard Max call you his girlfriend then? Cause I thought I heard him distinctly say-”
“Okay, alright, I give! Yes, I guess you could say he’s my boyfriend. But oh my god! Maria, his house is gorgeous! First of all, he and Michael live in La Jolla, right practically on the beach! And it’s a mansion, I mean the place is huge!”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 7
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Well, what do you think?” Max asked as he pulled his jag up the long circular driveway leading to his home.
“I…I…wow!” Liz’s eyes were as wide as they could possibly get. “You live here?!” She asked incredulously. Sure she had realized he had money from the car he drove, but this went way beyond that.
“So you like it?” Max asked hopefully.
“It’s beautiful, Max,” she finally answered as she turned to face him. He was now standing holding her door open for her. She hadn’t even noticed that he had gotten out of the car. She was in shock.
‘Oh my god! He lives here?! He must be incredibly rich! What is he doing with me? As soon as he finds out who I am he won’t be interested anymore, I know it. His kind are all alike…just like James last year… I promised myself I’d never let that happen to me again. This can’t be happening to me! So what do I do now? I really like him, but…my life sucks! But Max isn’t James. Maybe he’s different…what am I saying? I don’t even know him that well.’ ‘Oh but you do,’ another voice in her head told her, and she couldn’t deny it. ‘But I can’t compete with his money. It’ll always be his money over me. His family won’t like me. His friends won’t like me. They’ll all look down on me the minute they know who I am. I don’t want to go through that again.’ ‘But isn’t love worth it?’
Max watched Liz’s face for a moment trying to figure out what she was thinking, but eventually gave up and started leading her to the front door. He held the door open for her and she numbly walked through, staring at all the incredible things around her. You wouldn’t know two college guys lived here from the looks of things, it was too clean.
“Mmm! What smells so good?” Liz asked as she took a deep breath and smelled the lovely inviting aroma coming from the kitchen. Max standing beside her took a deep breath as well before a smile broke out across his face.
“Rosie’s making her famous enchilada’s and Mexican rice. It’s to die for!”
“Rosie?” Liz didn’t think anyone else lived here but Michael and Max. Who was this Rosie person.
“Yeah, she’s kind of our housekeeper. She’s been with my family since I was little. She used to be my nanny.”
“Oh yeah, I think you told me about her before,” Liz smiled as she remembered their first date and how they had just talked forever with no restrictions.
“Yeah, well she makes the best enchilada’s I have ever tasted. She says it’s a secret family recipe, but she won’t tell anyone what it is,” he laughed a little at the memory. It was obvious to Liz just how much Rosie meant to him.
“Max sweetie, is that you?” came a voice from the kitchen.
“Yeah, its me Rosie. I want you to meet someone,” Max called back as he started to lead Liz toward where the voice had come from. “Come on, I want you to meet her.”
‘Oh my goodness. Is this like meeting the family? Cause he had told me that she’s more his family than his parents…oh my goodness! Gees, now I’m sounding like Maria with the whole oh my goodness thing! Look what this boy is doing to me!’
“Rosie, this is Liz. Liz this is Rosie.” Liz hadn’t realized they reached the kitchen, but here they were, and she was being greeted by a sweet looking, short woman with an apron around her waist that was covered in flour and cooking ingredients.
“It’s nice to meet you Liz. You’re all that I’ve heard Max talk about since he met you,” Rosie gave Liz a big smile and a little wink before laughing at the look on Max’s face.
“Rosie!”
“Oh sweetie, get over it. Now you two go do your studying or whatever, while I finish cooking. It’ll be ready in an hour or so. And Max, I’m shopping tomorrow cause Michael told me that Isabel would be staying for a while and there is some things I have to get for her. Do you need anything?”
“No that’s okay, Rosie, I’m fine.”
“Well have fun studying you two,” with a smile she shooed them out of the kitchen so that she was free to work her magic.
Max and Liz walked out into the large den and Liz was once again taken aback by the grandeur of everything. She didn’t move to sit or touch anything until Max led her to the sofa and sat down beside her. Shaking herself out of her little trance she shyly smiled up at Max.
“So who’s Isabel?” Liz asked quietly.
“Huh? Oh, um, she’s Michael’s sister. She’s coming down at the end of the week to stay with us for a while.”
“Oh,” Liz wasn’t sure why, but she felt kind of jealous of this girl who got to stay in the same mansion as Max. Besides, if she was Michael’s sister, she was rich. Their families probably wanted her to come stay with the boys so that she and Max would get close. Their families were probably planning for them to get married or something… What was she thinking, this was crazy.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michael sighed. Finally, he never thought that class would end. He had just come out of his Greek mythology class, and boy could that professor go on and on. Sure, the topic was interesting, he had been fascinated by mythology for a while, but the professor! He acted like he was drunk the way he slurred his speech and the way he was drinking from his water glass made everyone wonder if it really was water or not. But finally, the crazy man had let them go. It was only the first day of class and he wasn’t sure what the rest of the semester would bring in that class, but he wouldn’t have to think about that class again until Thursday, so it was already leaving his mind.
Stopping into the small café/corner store Michael walked to the back aisle and grabbed a small bottle of Cherry Pepsi. Max had brought home some but then refused to let Michael have any, so he had to get his own. He brought it up to the counter and set it down before looking up to see the girl at the register. ‘Oh god! Could this day get any worse? Why is she still here anyways? Ahhh!’
“Will that be all?” Maria asked without looking up from the counter.
“Do you like work all the time or something?” Michael couldn’t help but asking.
“What?” Maria asked as she finally looked up to see who was asking her strange questions. “Oh, its you. For you’re information, when I’m not in class, yes I am working. Unfortunately, simply going to classes doesn’t pay the bills, in fact it only makes more! So yeah, I work all day, you got a problem with that?” God, did this guy really know how to get on every last one of her nerves!
“Gees, someone’s bitchy today,” Michael rolled his eyes talking to himself but knew that she heard.
“Bitchy?! Bitchy?! Oh that is it mister spikey one! I have had it up to hear with you! What makes you mister high and mighty, huh? Who put you on top of the world to judge and complain about everyone else, huh? I don’t know where you get off bullying and pestering me and running into me without even apologizing, but I’ve had enough!” Maria’s face was red with fury. Today had not been the best day in the world, and this guy with crazy spikey hair had pushed her last button, not mention most of the reset earlier in the day. She had had it with him. She gingerly lifted herself to kneel on the counter then grabbed his Cherry Pepsi from in front of her , unscrewed the lid, and with a big smile on her face poured every last drop of it on top of his head. “And you know, earlier you were right, I do have to have the last word! Have a good day now!” With that Maria walked into the back and took off her apron. Finally her shift was over, and hey, it wasn’t so bad after all.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Thank you for dinner Max, that was delicious!”
“Yeah, no one cooks quite like Rosie.”
“I miss my mom’s cooking, it’s been so long since I’ve had one of her home-cooked meals.” Liz thought of home and hoped that she’d have money to go home for Christmas. She missed her sister, her parents, and of course her dogs. “So I guess I should probably go now. I have a lot of O-Chem reading to do tonight, and I promised my sister I’d call her sometime tonight.”
“Sure, I’ll go get my keys.”
“That’s okay, Max. I mean, I can just take the bus. I mean it’s kinda far for you to have to take me down to the school and then come back up here. I’ll be fine.” ‘Please don’t insist on driving me home…you can’t see my place…please!’ Liz pleaded in her head.
“Really Liz, its not a problem.” Max came out with his keys and was already leading her out to her car.
“Well, okay, but I’m just going to the café. Maria’s getting off soon and she needed me to do something for her,” Liz thought fast. Well, it wasn’t a total lie; Maria was working. Hey this way they could ride the bus home together at least, and Max wouldn’t have to know the truth.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait and give you a ride home?” Max asked twenty minutes later as Liz opened the door of the jag.
“No, I’m fine. Maria and I’ll go home together, we’ll be fine. But thank you Max, for everything. I had a lot of fun today.” Liz gave Max a quick kiss before stepping out of the car and shutting the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow in class.” With that she walked towards the café where Maria was working.
As Liz walked into the café she didn’t see Maria, but there was a mess of spilled soda or something in front of one of the registers. Liz ignored it though as she went straight to the back thinking that maybe Maria was grabbing her stuff.
“Hey chica!” Maria smiled cheerily at her friend. “How’d your thing with Max go?”
“It was good,” Liz smiled shyly. Yes, she would tell Maria all about it, but not while all these other people were around. “Are you ready to go? I thought we could go home together.”
“Sure, I just got off. Come on, we can catch the next bus if we hurry.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz walked through the front door as the phone rang. “I’ll get it!”
“Hello?”
“Lizzie?” a bubbly voice on the other line answered.
“Tess? I was just going to call you, I just got home.”
“Well I couldn’t wait any longer. Things are great here. My senior year is going well, but I have the best news! I’m going to graduate early! I have so many units and stuff, that after this semester, I’m done! Plus, I just finished applying to USD and UCSD and SDSU. I really want to go to USD with you though! I hope I get in!”
“That’s great Tess, I’m happy for you!”
“Hey Lizzie, are you going to tell her about your date tonight with Maxie boy!” Maria yelled loud enough so that she knew Tess would be able to hear what she said.
“Maria!” Liz yelled back as her friend laughed at her.
“You had a date with some guy? Oh! I wanna know all about him!”
“Fine, but Maria I’m going to get you back for this,” Liz yelled as Maria shut her bedroom door. “Well, I met him the other day at the café on campus while I was working. He was really nice and we talked for a while and then he asked me out. We had a lot of fun and today wasn’t really a date. We just went to his place and talked about one of our classes that we have together.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you Lizzie. He sounds like a nice guy, and you deserve a nice guy after that last jerk you dated.”
“Does everyone know about James?”
“Well, Maria told me one time when I called and you weren’t home. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Liz said, then raised her voice, “My roommate just has a big mouth!”
“Well, I gotta go Lizzie, I have to help mom set the table. But I’ll talk to you soon, and I’ll let you know when I get any answers from any college’s!” Tess said happily.
“Okay, bye Tessie, and give mom and dad kisses for me. Oh, and tell Smokey and Cookie that I miss them and give them a bone for me!” Liz said referring to her favorite labs. Smokey was a great big black lab while Cookie was a smaller yellow lab.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Oh Lizzie, it was so great! His face! I just had to do it, it was perfect!” Maria gushed as she told her of her encounter with Michael. “I mean, could you believe that guy’s nerve? He called me bitchy!”
“Maria, you do know that sometimes you can be that way, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to say that to my face!” Liz just shook her head at her best friend. Maria was definitely a character, that was for sure. “But it was so great I poured it over his head and then I told him that he was right I did always have to have the last word, then I walked out, it was so great!” The girls shared a look and laughed as they lay around the living room. Liz was sitting sideways in an old reclining chair while Maria lay across the couch.
“So that was the mess I saw all over the floor when I walked in to find you,” Liz laughed again just imagining what Max’s friend must have looked like when Maria got done with him.
“Mmmmm…” Maria was stretching her hand out with her fingers splayed and the palm of her hand pointing straight at the pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream the Liz had just taken a spoonful of. “Mmmmm…”
“Maria, are you okay?” Liz asked as she looked at her roommate.
“What? I just want the ice cream, but I don’t want to get up. It should just come to me, you know? I mean wouldn’t be great if you just had to hold out your hand and wish for the ice cream and it would come to you?”
Liz couldn’t hold her laughter in any longer, she busted out into hysterics at the completely serious look on Maria’s face as she explained her actions. Yes, Liz loved Maria to death, but she could definitely be a bit of a cook at times.
“Maria, you do know how crazy that sounded, right?”
“Yeah, but that’s why its fun!” Maria laughed back.
“Okay, just checking.” Liz got up and brought the ice cream with her over to the couch and made Maria scoot over so she could sit by her and they could share.
“So, you still haven’t told me about your date with Max.”
“It wasn’t a date Maria!”
“Oh, really? Was I mistaken then when I heard Max call you his girlfriend then? Cause I thought I heard him distinctly say-”
“Okay, alright, I give! Yes, I guess you could say he’s my boyfriend. But oh my god! Maria, his house is gorgeous! First of all, he and Michael live in La Jolla, right practically on the beach! And it’s a mansion, I mean the place is huge!”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 8
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Maria,” Liz said in a soft voice to her friend as she slept. “Come on Maria get up. You have like half and hour till class starts.”
“Leave me alone. Let me sleep,” Maria said swatting at Liz.
“Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Liz said as she continued to get ready for the school day.
Fifteen minutes later
“Maria…get up! You have class soon and Alex will be here to drive us any minute now.”
“No, I don’t wanna,” Maria said waving her hand, trying to get Liz to go away. “Hey, don’t poke me!”
“I’m not poking you. I’m poking the smilie face in the eye.” Maria’s bedspread was indeed covered with huge smilie faces of all different sizes and colors on a blue background.
“Alright, alright. I’m up already,” Maria said sitting up and staring at an all too awake Liz. “Whoever invented eight am classes should be drug out into the street and shot.”
Liz just laughed at her friend as they heard the doorbell ring.
“Shit!” Maria shouted. “Tell him to just give me two seconds to brush my teeth and comb my hair. I’ll have to come back in between classes.”
Liz just nodded at her friend, not trusting herself to speak without laughing. Didn’t Maria ever learn, she did this all last year whenever she had early classes?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex and Maria rushed to there class as time was running short. ‘Why did they have to have so much trouble finding a parking spot? Why the hell are there so many people here at 8 am.’ Maria thought. She hadn’t had much time that morning, so she was still in here sweats and tank top she slept in with a sweatshirt tied haphazardly around her waist and her hair brought up sloppily on top of her head.
They finally made it into the class with about a minute to spare, taking the first empty seats they could find. This was a discussion section, a small class of about 20 students, so of course the TA noticed their quick entrance.
Maria heaved a sigh of relief and went into her backpack to fish around for her notebook and pen just as the TA began to start talking.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Shit!” Michael swore as he hurried to his class. ‘Damn construction! Why don’t they ever warn you about those things.’
Looking down at his watch again, he realized he was already late as he entered the building and started running up the stairs to the third floor. ‘I hate eight am classes.’
Michael entered the classroom to see the TA had stopped talking to turn and look at him. “Well, nice of you to join us.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Michael muttered as he moved to sit in the only available seat, next to some blond hunched over a backpack.
Upon hearing the voice of the late arrival, Maria swore to herself. ‘Crap! Please don’t let him sit here. Please don’t let him sit here. Please don’t let him sit here.’
As she felt the chair pull out next to her, she swore again to herself. ‘Fuck! Could this day get any better?’
As Michael moved to sit down the blond girl sat up and turned to glare at him. ‘Of all the classes, of all the days, she has to be in my freakin’ class,’ he thought. He then realized her attire, the barely there tank top she was wearing clinging to her curves all too nicely. Michael couldn’t help the images that entered his brain. ‘Wait! What the hell are you thinking? She annoys the crap out of you. You hate her!’
‘Of all the classes, of all the days, he has to be in my freakin’ class,’ Maria thought to herself. ‘And of course I look like crap, since I literally just rolled out of bed. Wait, why the hell do I care? I hate him!”
Their thoughts were interrupted as the TA once again began going through her expectations of the class. “Alright, as I was saying. I expect people to be on time, if I have to be here at eight am, so do you,” she said looking pointedly at Michael.
“I’m passing around a paper about the project requirement for this class. It serves as your midterm, so make sure you take it seriously. I know it seems kind of early, but we won’t have all that much class time to talk about the project later in the semester. It’s a group project, so I will now be splitting you up into pairs, and I think there will be one group of three. Umm…that will be you three,” she said pointing to Alex, Maria, and Michael. Maria and
Michael both let out a silent groan. “After I finish pairing everyone else, I’ll talk with you three about the amendments to your assignment since you have an extra person.”
After their TA, Sarah, went around and assigned the rest of the class to partners, she told the three that they simply were expected to do a little extra work and that their project would be graded more harshly then the others. “I now want you all to take this time to get to know your partners and start discussing what you will be doing for this project. And no, that does not mean that you can leave early.”
“Well this bites!” Maria was the first to vocalize her thoughts on their situation. “I’m stuck doing a project with you two, no offence
Alex. You know I love ya. But you!” she said turning to Michael. “You, seem to take every chance you get to bug the crap out of me.”
“Me! Hey, this ain’t no picnic for me either. You’re the one who takes every opportunity to make my life a living hell! By the way, nice clothes. What’d you do, just roll out of bed and come to class,” he said with a smirk.
“For your information, yes. After working all day and studying all night, I’m a little tired. So, I try to get as much sleep as humanly possible. You have a problem with that.”
“Alright you guys, that’s enough,” Alex said before Michael had a chance to open his mouth. “Whether you guys like it or not, we’re working on this project together. Now you guys don’t have to be friends or anything, you don’t even have to like each other, but you need to at least be civil. If not for the sake of my mental health alone.”
“Fine,” Michael mumbled.
“Fine!” Maria said in return.
Alex just rubbed his temples in exasperation. This was going to be a long semester.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz walked up to the entrance to her seminar class, only to find Max standing outside the front door. She made her way up to him and he brought her closer for a passionate kiss. “Hey gorgeous,” he muttered once they had broken apart.
“Hey yourself,” Liz said in return. “Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but what was that for?”
“I just missed you, that’s all.”
“Ah, well I missed you too,” Liz said as they grabbed hands and entered the classroom.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex, Michael, and Maria were meeting as they’d agreed in class today, since Michael and Maria refused to talk to each other most of the period, so that they could try and come up with a topic for their project.
As Michael entered the café he immediately saw Alex and made his way over to the table that he was occupying. “Alright, I’m here. So where’s the harpie?”
“Maria…please call her Maria. You guys said you were going to be nice.”
“Whatever.”
“Well, she went home to shower and change. She should be here any minute.”
They both turned when they heard the door and saw Maria
walking into the café. She was dressed in a simple white sundress
with tiny blue flowers on it. Nothing fancy, but Michael found his eyes glued to her form, unable to turn away. She seemed in a much better mood then she had been that morning, much more relaxed then before. There was aura about her, like she was giving off these vibes that had Michael hypnotized.
Alex wasn’t oblivious to the looks that Michael was giving Maria.
Sure, he knew Maria was attractive, although definitely not his type. Actually, he could never think of her as anything but a friend.
Deciding to spare Michael the embarrassment that Maria might notice, he decided to alert him to the obviousness of his gawking. “Hey Michael, you can close your mouth now.”
Michael quickly looked to Alex, glaring at him. “What the hell are you talking about Whitman?”
“Come on, Michael. It’s not like it’s not obvious that you’re staring at her. I just thought that you might want to stop before she notices. You wouldn’t want another soda dumped over your head, now would you?”
Michael was stunned to silence, not realizing that he had been staring for that long. Michael turned away from Alex, feigning annoyance, when in fact he was embarrassed beyond belief. ‘What the hell is wrong with me today anyway?’ Michael thought. ‘Since when do I find her so agonizingly sexy? Yeah, she was always attractive, but suddenly I can’t seem to keep my mind out of the fucking gutter where she’s concerned.’
“Alright guys,” Maria said as she reached the table, “what are we going to do this project on?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Max walked into the café to see Liz behind the counter with her back towards him as she made a drink for one of the customers.
Max slipped behind the counter and slipped his arms around Liz’s waist. “Hey gorgeous. I missed you,” Max said as he hugged her tightly to him, placing a quick kiss on her neck.
Liz laughed, sighing into his embrace. “Max, you just saw me…” looking up at the clock, “like two hours ago.”
“I know, but I can’t stand not being around you…being able to kiss you…hold you in my arms.”
“My, aren’t you romantic?”
“Why yes, I suppose I am.”
Liz laughed again and turned to face him. “Well, now we have all the time in the world.” With that she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him down for a passionate kiss.
When they finally broke apart, Max groaned. “Oh, I wish. But I have class in fifteen minutes. I have to go. I really just came by to ask if you wanted to go to dinner tonight, it’s Rosie’s night off, but I guess I got kinda distracted.”
“I guess so. And yes, I’d love to go to dinner with you tonight. I wouldn’t want to leave my poor baby to have to eat all by himself, or heaven forbid, cook.”
“Ha ha. Very funny.”
“I thought so. Well, you better get going. Besides, I have to get back to work, anyway.”
“Alright babe, see you later then.”
“Bye Max.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Max took Liz to another expensive looking restaurant. It was kinda hard to get used to, since most of her life her family had been struggling for money. They talked about everything, with the same ease they’d always had. They discussed their classes and the weird professors they had. They laughed and had a great time.
As they left the restaurant, the valet went to get Max’s car, not even having to ask for a ticket. “Max, you need to stop bringing me to such expensive restaurants. You’re gonna spoil me.”
“Ahh. I’m only giving you what you deserve. And you deserve the best.”
“Hmmm. You are quite the charmer Mr. Evans,” Liz said turning in his arms so she was now facing him.
“Well, I try.”
Liz laughed again. “Well, someone seems sure of himself.”
“Well, I’m standing here with the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth, why shouldn’t I feel on top of the world.”
“Hmmm. There’s that charm again. What are we going to do about that?” Liz asked quizzically.
“Well, I think that a reward is in order.”
“Oh, you do? Well, I guess I can manage that.”
They kissed fervently, with urgency and hunger, until they were interrupted by a nervous looking valet with Max’s keys.
“Thank you,” Max said handing the man a hefty tip.
“Thank you, Monsieur Evans.”
Max led Liz over to the passenger’s side of the vehicle, but pinned
her against the car before opening the door. When the kiss ended, Max laid his forehead against Liz’s, both of them trying to catch their breath.
“Sorry, I just had to finish what we started.”
“Hey, you’re getting no complaints here.”
Max laughed and opened the car door for Liz to get in. She
entered and Max quickly moved around to the other side of the car. “Alright, so…where too?”
‘Well, Liz thought. I can’t avoid this forever. You’ve kinda run out of
excuses. It was fun while it lasted.’ She sighed. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I got a lot of reading to do. So, I should probably get home.”
“Of course, but there’s just one problem. I don’t know where that is.”
Liz just laughed. “I’ll direct you on the way, just go.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Well, here we are,” Liz said with a sigh.
“Camino Apartments. Hmmm…sounds cozy.”
“Well, it’s not exactly the Ritz,” Liz mumbled under her breath.
“Pardon?” Max asked not hearing her.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Liz, what wrong?” Max asked sensing the sadness in her voice.
“Go ahead. Tell me what you really think.”
“I don’t know what you talking about Liz. You’re confusing me?”
“About where I live Max,” Liz responded in exasperation.
“What about it? It seems nice.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, what was I supposed to…” but before Max could finish his
sentence, Liz had launched herself at him and he know held the sobbing girl in his arms.
“Liz baby, what’s wrong.”
“Nothing…nothing. I guess I’m just paranoid. I thought that you’d never want to see me again.”
“What? Liz why?”
“Cause your rich, and you have so much money and you could do so much better then some poor little nobody like me.”
“Liz, is that why you kept refusing my offers to take you home?”
Liz nodded against his chest, the tears still flowing from her eyes.
“Liz, look at me. Look at me!” When she didn’t, he brought his hand under her chin and lifted her eyes to his own. “You mean the world to me and nothing, I repeat nothing, is going to change that. I don’t care where you live or how much money your family has. I care about you. You’re all that matters to me.”
“You’re amazing, you know that? What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“No Liz, I can’t for the life of me imagine why I deserve you.”
And with that, Liz was attacking Max’s lips with her own. They stayed like that for a while, just enjoying one another’s presence. Kissing and hugging, loving the feel of being in each other’s arms.
Liz finally moved to get out of the car and Max walked her up to the door of her apartment. With one last kiss, Liz entered the apartment and leaned back against the door with a perpetual smile on her face.
“Maria,” Liz called. “You wanna see the jag?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 8
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Maria,” Liz said in a soft voice to her friend as she slept. “Come on Maria get up. You have like half and hour till class starts.”
“Leave me alone. Let me sleep,” Maria said swatting at Liz.
“Fine, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Liz said as she continued to get ready for the school day.
Fifteen minutes later
“Maria…get up! You have class soon and Alex will be here to drive us any minute now.”
“No, I don’t wanna,” Maria said waving her hand, trying to get Liz to go away. “Hey, don’t poke me!”
“I’m not poking you. I’m poking the smilie face in the eye.” Maria’s bedspread was indeed covered with huge smilie faces of all different sizes and colors on a blue background.
“Alright, alright. I’m up already,” Maria said sitting up and staring at an all too awake Liz. “Whoever invented eight am classes should be drug out into the street and shot.”
Liz just laughed at her friend as they heard the doorbell ring.
“Shit!” Maria shouted. “Tell him to just give me two seconds to brush my teeth and comb my hair. I’ll have to come back in between classes.”
Liz just nodded at her friend, not trusting herself to speak without laughing. Didn’t Maria ever learn, she did this all last year whenever she had early classes?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex and Maria rushed to there class as time was running short. ‘Why did they have to have so much trouble finding a parking spot? Why the hell are there so many people here at 8 am.’ Maria thought. She hadn’t had much time that morning, so she was still in here sweats and tank top she slept in with a sweatshirt tied haphazardly around her waist and her hair brought up sloppily on top of her head.
They finally made it into the class with about a minute to spare, taking the first empty seats they could find. This was a discussion section, a small class of about 20 students, so of course the TA noticed their quick entrance.
Maria heaved a sigh of relief and went into her backpack to fish around for her notebook and pen just as the TA began to start talking.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Shit!” Michael swore as he hurried to his class. ‘Damn construction! Why don’t they ever warn you about those things.’
Looking down at his watch again, he realized he was already late as he entered the building and started running up the stairs to the third floor. ‘I hate eight am classes.’
Michael entered the classroom to see the TA had stopped talking to turn and look at him. “Well, nice of you to join us.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Michael muttered as he moved to sit in the only available seat, next to some blond hunched over a backpack.
Upon hearing the voice of the late arrival, Maria swore to herself. ‘Crap! Please don’t let him sit here. Please don’t let him sit here. Please don’t let him sit here.’
As she felt the chair pull out next to her, she swore again to herself. ‘Fuck! Could this day get any better?’
As Michael moved to sit down the blond girl sat up and turned to glare at him. ‘Of all the classes, of all the days, she has to be in my freakin’ class,’ he thought. He then realized her attire, the barely there tank top she was wearing clinging to her curves all too nicely. Michael couldn’t help the images that entered his brain. ‘Wait! What the hell are you thinking? She annoys the crap out of you. You hate her!’
‘Of all the classes, of all the days, he has to be in my freakin’ class,’ Maria thought to herself. ‘And of course I look like crap, since I literally just rolled out of bed. Wait, why the hell do I care? I hate him!”
Their thoughts were interrupted as the TA once again began going through her expectations of the class. “Alright, as I was saying. I expect people to be on time, if I have to be here at eight am, so do you,” she said looking pointedly at Michael.
“I’m passing around a paper about the project requirement for this class. It serves as your midterm, so make sure you take it seriously. I know it seems kind of early, but we won’t have all that much class time to talk about the project later in the semester. It’s a group project, so I will now be splitting you up into pairs, and I think there will be one group of three. Umm…that will be you three,” she said pointing to Alex, Maria, and Michael. Maria and
Michael both let out a silent groan. “After I finish pairing everyone else, I’ll talk with you three about the amendments to your assignment since you have an extra person.”
After their TA, Sarah, went around and assigned the rest of the class to partners, she told the three that they simply were expected to do a little extra work and that their project would be graded more harshly then the others. “I now want you all to take this time to get to know your partners and start discussing what you will be doing for this project. And no, that does not mean that you can leave early.”
“Well this bites!” Maria was the first to vocalize her thoughts on their situation. “I’m stuck doing a project with you two, no offence
Alex. You know I love ya. But you!” she said turning to Michael. “You, seem to take every chance you get to bug the crap out of me.”
“Me! Hey, this ain’t no picnic for me either. You’re the one who takes every opportunity to make my life a living hell! By the way, nice clothes. What’d you do, just roll out of bed and come to class,” he said with a smirk.
“For your information, yes. After working all day and studying all night, I’m a little tired. So, I try to get as much sleep as humanly possible. You have a problem with that.”
“Alright you guys, that’s enough,” Alex said before Michael had a chance to open his mouth. “Whether you guys like it or not, we’re working on this project together. Now you guys don’t have to be friends or anything, you don’t even have to like each other, but you need to at least be civil. If not for the sake of my mental health alone.”
“Fine,” Michael mumbled.
“Fine!” Maria said in return.
Alex just rubbed his temples in exasperation. This was going to be a long semester.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liz walked up to the entrance to her seminar class, only to find Max standing outside the front door. She made her way up to him and he brought her closer for a passionate kiss. “Hey gorgeous,” he muttered once they had broken apart.
“Hey yourself,” Liz said in return. “Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but what was that for?”
“I just missed you, that’s all.”
“Ah, well I missed you too,” Liz said as they grabbed hands and entered the classroom.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alex, Michael, and Maria were meeting as they’d agreed in class today, since Michael and Maria refused to talk to each other most of the period, so that they could try and come up with a topic for their project.
As Michael entered the café he immediately saw Alex and made his way over to the table that he was occupying. “Alright, I’m here. So where’s the harpie?”
“Maria…please call her Maria. You guys said you were going to be nice.”
“Whatever.”
“Well, she went home to shower and change. She should be here any minute.”
They both turned when they heard the door and saw Maria
walking into the café. She was dressed in a simple white sundress
with tiny blue flowers on it. Nothing fancy, but Michael found his eyes glued to her form, unable to turn away. She seemed in a much better mood then she had been that morning, much more relaxed then before. There was aura about her, like she was giving off these vibes that had Michael hypnotized.
Alex wasn’t oblivious to the looks that Michael was giving Maria.
Sure, he knew Maria was attractive, although definitely not his type. Actually, he could never think of her as anything but a friend.
Deciding to spare Michael the embarrassment that Maria might notice, he decided to alert him to the obviousness of his gawking. “Hey Michael, you can close your mouth now.”
Michael quickly looked to Alex, glaring at him. “What the hell are you talking about Whitman?”
“Come on, Michael. It’s not like it’s not obvious that you’re staring at her. I just thought that you might want to stop before she notices. You wouldn’t want another soda dumped over your head, now would you?”
Michael was stunned to silence, not realizing that he had been staring for that long. Michael turned away from Alex, feigning annoyance, when in fact he was embarrassed beyond belief. ‘What the hell is wrong with me today anyway?’ Michael thought. ‘Since when do I find her so agonizingly sexy? Yeah, she was always attractive, but suddenly I can’t seem to keep my mind out of the fucking gutter where she’s concerned.’
“Alright guys,” Maria said as she reached the table, “what are we going to do this project on?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Max walked into the café to see Liz behind the counter with her back towards him as she made a drink for one of the customers.
Max slipped behind the counter and slipped his arms around Liz’s waist. “Hey gorgeous. I missed you,” Max said as he hugged her tightly to him, placing a quick kiss on her neck.
Liz laughed, sighing into his embrace. “Max, you just saw me…” looking up at the clock, “like two hours ago.”
“I know, but I can’t stand not being around you…being able to kiss you…hold you in my arms.”
“My, aren’t you romantic?”
“Why yes, I suppose I am.”
Liz laughed again and turned to face him. “Well, now we have all the time in the world.” With that she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him down for a passionate kiss.
When they finally broke apart, Max groaned. “Oh, I wish. But I have class in fifteen minutes. I have to go. I really just came by to ask if you wanted to go to dinner tonight, it’s Rosie’s night off, but I guess I got kinda distracted.”
“I guess so. And yes, I’d love to go to dinner with you tonight. I wouldn’t want to leave my poor baby to have to eat all by himself, or heaven forbid, cook.”
“Ha ha. Very funny.”
“I thought so. Well, you better get going. Besides, I have to get back to work, anyway.”
“Alright babe, see you later then.”
“Bye Max.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Max took Liz to another expensive looking restaurant. It was kinda hard to get used to, since most of her life her family had been struggling for money. They talked about everything, with the same ease they’d always had. They discussed their classes and the weird professors they had. They laughed and had a great time.
As they left the restaurant, the valet went to get Max’s car, not even having to ask for a ticket. “Max, you need to stop bringing me to such expensive restaurants. You’re gonna spoil me.”
“Ahh. I’m only giving you what you deserve. And you deserve the best.”
“Hmmm. You are quite the charmer Mr. Evans,” Liz said turning in his arms so she was now facing him.
“Well, I try.”
Liz laughed again. “Well, someone seems sure of himself.”
“Well, I’m standing here with the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth, why shouldn’t I feel on top of the world.”
“Hmmm. There’s that charm again. What are we going to do about that?” Liz asked quizzically.
“Well, I think that a reward is in order.”
“Oh, you do? Well, I guess I can manage that.”
They kissed fervently, with urgency and hunger, until they were interrupted by a nervous looking valet with Max’s keys.
“Thank you,” Max said handing the man a hefty tip.
“Thank you, Monsieur Evans.”
Max led Liz over to the passenger’s side of the vehicle, but pinned
her against the car before opening the door. When the kiss ended, Max laid his forehead against Liz’s, both of them trying to catch their breath.
“Sorry, I just had to finish what we started.”
“Hey, you’re getting no complaints here.”
Max laughed and opened the car door for Liz to get in. She
entered and Max quickly moved around to the other side of the car. “Alright, so…where too?”
‘Well, Liz thought. I can’t avoid this forever. You’ve kinda run out of
excuses. It was fun while it lasted.’ She sighed. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I got a lot of reading to do. So, I should probably get home.”
“Of course, but there’s just one problem. I don’t know where that is.”
Liz just laughed. “I’ll direct you on the way, just go.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Well, here we are,” Liz said with a sigh.
“Camino Apartments. Hmmm…sounds cozy.”
“Well, it’s not exactly the Ritz,” Liz mumbled under her breath.
“Pardon?” Max asked not hearing her.
“Oh, nothing.”
“Liz, what wrong?” Max asked sensing the sadness in her voice.
“Go ahead. Tell me what you really think.”
“I don’t know what you talking about Liz. You’re confusing me?”
“About where I live Max,” Liz responded in exasperation.
“What about it? It seems nice.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, what was I supposed to…” but before Max could finish his
sentence, Liz had launched herself at him and he know held the sobbing girl in his arms.
“Liz baby, what’s wrong.”
“Nothing…nothing. I guess I’m just paranoid. I thought that you’d never want to see me again.”
“What? Liz why?”
“Cause your rich, and you have so much money and you could do so much better then some poor little nobody like me.”
“Liz, is that why you kept refusing my offers to take you home?”
Liz nodded against his chest, the tears still flowing from her eyes.
“Liz, look at me. Look at me!” When she didn’t, he brought his hand under her chin and lifted her eyes to his own. “You mean the world to me and nothing, I repeat nothing, is going to change that. I don’t care where you live or how much money your family has. I care about you. You’re all that matters to me.”
“You’re amazing, you know that? What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“No Liz, I can’t for the life of me imagine why I deserve you.”
And with that, Liz was attacking Max’s lips with her own. They stayed like that for a while, just enjoying one another’s presence. Kissing and hugging, loving the feel of being in each other’s arms.
Liz finally moved to get out of the car and Max walked her up to the door of her apartment. With one last kiss, Liz entered the apartment and leaned back against the door with a perpetual smile on her face.
“Maria,” Liz called. “You wanna see the jag?”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 9
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Isabel!” Michael called as he walked up to the car that just pulled up the long driveway.
“Michael!” She ran out of the car and jumped into her brother’s waiting arms. The two hugged each other happily and it was obvious to anyone who saw that they had a very close, loving relationship.
“Aunt Keri, it’s good to see you,” Michael stepped away from his sister and gave his aunt a hug. She was by far his favorite aunt. She always was there for them when he or Izzie needed anything, and she was the young, only ten years older than Michael, so it was easy to relate to her.
“You too Michael. I have to go, I have a meeting, but you take care of Izzie, alright?” She looked at her two favorite niece and nephew, and sighed, they had grown up so fast. “Maybe we can do something together this weekend, I’ll be here till Monday morning probably, I’m staying at the Hilton, so if you need anything, just let me know.”
“We will, and thanks again Aunt Keri! You’re the best!” With one last hug, Keri got in her car and was on her way, leaving the siblings to themselves.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Over there is the library, and this, is the bookstore, and there’s some food places here, but none of it is really that great. It’s nothing at all compared to Rosie’s food!” Michael laughed as he showed Isabel around the school campus. He had class in a little bit and he really didn’t want to leave his sister alone, but he knew he would have to.
“Oh! I can’t wait to have some of Rosie’s cooking! It’s been ages!” Isabel laughed. She knew all too well that no one made food quite like Rosie, but she only got it when she visited her brother and Max, which hadn’t been too often in the past.
“So Izzie, do you feel like talking now?” Michael walked over to a bench in a small courtyard and motioned for his sister to sit beside him. He was all seriousness now. There was a reason for Isabel’s urgent phone call and this long visit. He wanted to help, to make it all better, like any good big brother would, but in order to do that, she had to open up to him.
“Michael, do we have to do this now?”
“No, but I want to help Izzie. You used to tell me everything. Please don’t stop now.” The sincerity in his voice brought a tear to Isabel’s eyes.
“I’m sorry Mikey…it’s just…it’s really…hard for me!”
“Shh!” He brought her tear-streaked face to rest on his shoulder as he hugged her close and whispered soothingly in her ear. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me now, just know that when you are ready to talk, I’ll be right here with ears ready to listen, alright?”
Isabel pulled away from him a little so she could wipe the tears from her eyes. “Thank you. What did I ever do to deserve a big brother like you?”
“You just got lucky I guess.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Maria, go to class! I’ve got the café covered. You’ll be gone for an hour, I think I can handle the place! It’s not like Sara has never called in sick before, we had to deal with this all the time last year too, now relax and just go!” Liz laughed at her friend. Maria was so considerate but sometimes the girl just would not listen to reason!
“Fine, I’m going, but I’ll run back as soon as my class is over, I promise!” With that she was out the door leaving Liz standing there shaking her head in amusement.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Are you sure it’s okay if I just leave you Izzie? I mean, I don’t want to leave you alone for a couple hours not knowing where you are or anything.”
“Relax Michael. I’ll be fine. When you’re classes are over you can call me on my cell to find out where I am. I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll go to that little coffee-shop café that you pointed out to me earlier. I’ll be fine, really, I promise!” She loved her brother, but sometimes he just wouldn’t listen to reason!
“Fine,” Michael huffed indignantly, knowing he was beat.
“Hey Michael,” a voice called from behind Isabel. Isabel looked behind her to see a tall guy with dark brown hair and pretty blue eyes.
“Oh hey Alex,” Michael called back, but then he got an idea. “Hey, Alex, do you have any classes right now?”
“No, I was just headed over to the café to say hi to Lizzie, and hang around for a little while. Why, did you need something?” Alex asked. He wasn’t too sure what Michael would want from him. Sure, they weren’t enemies like him and Maria, but they weren’t really great friends either.
“Alex, this is my sister Isabel, she’s staying with me and Max for a while and I have to get to class, so I was wondering if maybe you could keep an eye on her for me? Just for like two hours?”
“Michael! I am not a little girl anymore! My god! You can’t control me like this. Maybe your friend here doesn’t want to spend his day playing babysitter to someone who doesn’t need one. I told you I would be fine on my own, now go to class already!” Isabel huffed. Sometimes her brother just went too far. Did he actually believe that she needed someone to babysit her? Well, actually, she wouldn’t really mind if she got handed over to this guy, what was his name, Alex? He seemed nice, and he was definitely cute.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind showing you around a little, I mean, if it’s what you want.” Alex finally looked at the blond and she was beautiful. ‘Wow, she’s amazing, and so full of spirit. She kinda reminds me of Maria, the way she can get to Michael. But he actually seems sorry for hurting her. They must be close.’
“Thank you Alex, I really gotta get to class now. I’ll find you in two hours Izzie,” Michael called as he finally hurried off in the other direction.
Isabel let out a little scream. “Ahh! The nerve of him! Just because he’s my big brother he thinks he has the right to control my life.” Isabel shook her head and then recovered herself, realizing that the boy with the pretty blue eyes was still standing beside her. “I’m sorry, umm…Alex?” she questioned trying to make sure she had the name right.
“Yeah, I’m Alex Whitman, it’s nice to meet you…”
“Isabel Guerin. I’m sorry about my brother, he can be a pain sometimes.”
“Yeah, but it shows he cares about you,” Alex told her sincerely. “Would you like to join me, I was just on my way to the café.”
“Sure, I’d love to.” The two started walking side by side, both content in each other’s presence. “It’s just he makes me so mad sometimes, thinking that he can tell me what to do and what not to do. I mean, I’m a big girl now, I can make decisions for myself.”
“You know, you should meet my friend Maria, I think you two would get along great!” Alex laughed, imagining what trouble the two of them would cause Michael.
“What makes you say that?” she was curious.
“Well, it’s just she has this great knack for getting on Michael’s nerves. No matter what she does, it’s so funny, and you were just doing the same thing.”
Isabel laughed, maybe she would have to get to know this Maria girl; it could be fun.
“Hey Lizzie,” Alex said as he ushered Isabel inside the café and they walked over to a table and sat down.
“Hey Alex, what can I get ya?” Liz asked as she came over to her friend and the blond. She raised an inquiring eyebrow to Alex, silently asking who the mysterious girl was.
“Liz, this is Michael’s sister Isabel. Isabel, this is one of my best friend’s Liz.”
“Oh, Isabel, it’s great to meet you. Max was telling me that you were coming to visit your brother. So how do you like it here so far?” Liz asked as she sat down in an empty seat at the table. There was no one in the café besides them at the moment so she could take a break.
“It’s okay. I just got here this morning, so I have only been around the campus a little. But I really like it here in San Diego. It’s like being in a big city without all the LA stuff. It’s a nice change.” Isabel smiled. She liked these people. They seemed very genuine, and she liked that.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Liz…sorry…took me…so…long…” Maria huffed as she came through the doors a little over an hour later only to be met by laughter.
“Oh, hey Maria. I told you you didn’t have to hurry. I’m fine. Besides, Alex was here to help when it got a little busy.”
Maria hurumphed herself down into a chair at the table where Alex, Liz and Isabel were all sitting.
“Hi, I’m Isabel Guerin,” a tall skinny blond girl that Maria hadn’t noticed before was saying hello to her.
“Oh, um…hi. I’m Maria.” Maria wasn’t too sure who the girl was but she seemed nice enough and she was sitting with her friends, so she might as well be nice to her.
“Oh, sorry Ria,” Alex spoke up. “Isabel this is my friend Maria. Maria, this is Isabel, Michael’s sister.” Alex carefully watched his friend’s face and counted, ‘one…two…th-’ Sure enough, right on schedule Maria’s eyes got really wide, comprehension. Oh, this was too much fun. There were definitely some strong feelings there.
“So, Isabel, how long are you staying in San Diego?” Liz asked to try and distract from Maria’s crazy reaction.
“I’m not really sure. A while though. I’ve even been thinking about applying to a couple schools down here, so we’ll see.”
“Do you know a lot of people here?”
“Just Mikey and Max. They are great and all, but living with them is gonna be like having two big brothers instead of one. The last time they came home to visit they wouldn’t let me near my date until they had given him this long lecture on the proper way to treat a lady. Let’s just say, I never heard from that guy again!” Maria burst out laughing at this. It was just too funny. Mr. Bad Ass Michael Guerin, the softy? It was just too good.
Half an hour later the three girls and Alex were all lounging around the still empty café, talking and enjoying each other’s company.
“You guys should all come over this weekend or something. We can hang out by the pool or something, and Rosie makes the best food!” Isabel laughed. What? It was the truth.
“Oh my goodness, you are so right Isabel! I had her enchilada’s, they are to die for!” Liz giggled too.
“Sounds like fun,” Alex smiled. He wasn’t sure what it was about this girl, but there was something there, something beautiful hidden beneath her also amazing body.
“Will Pepsi-Boy be there?” Maria asked with a sly devilish I-got-something-up-my-sleeve grin on her face.
“Who?” Isabel asked not sure what to make of Maria’s question.
“She means…your…brother,” Liz was laughing so hard she almost couldn’t get the words out. She could just picture what Michael must have looked like covered in pepsi.
“Okay, you’re going to have to tell me that story later,” Isabel laughed along. “Yeah, he’ll probably be there. I don’t know what he normal does on weekends or anything, but he won’t mind if I have people over, I mean the place is huge.”
Maria got up from the table and sighed. “Sorry guys, I gotta go see my psych TA about something, but I’ll see you guys later. It was nice meeting you Isabel, and when you see Pepsi-Boy, tell him the Harpy says hello!” Maria made sure to enunciate the word harpy with distaste. Then Maria left without noticing the confused look on Isabel’s face. ‘I definitely missed something,’ Isabel thought to herself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Michael, can we talk now?” Isabel’s soft voice came out of the den that evening as Michael was walking past.
“Sure Izzie, I always have time for you.”
“Well, thank you again for letting me stay here, and-”
“You don’t have to thank me, you’re my sister,” Michael interrupted.
“Thanks Michael, but could you not interrupt and just let me talk?” She waited for him to nod before continuing. “Well, you remember Andrew, right? Well, we had been going out for a while, and he said he loved me…” tears were escaping her eyes as she recalled the events of last Sunday. “He took me out to dinner because it was our one year anniversary of our first date. I thought it was the sweetest thing. He ordered wine, and I told him I shouldn’t be drinking because I was underage, and he just said that it was a special night. But I drank too much, he just kept refilling my glass, and I didn’t realize how much I had really had. He took me back…to his…his condo…and…and I don’t remember anything…it’s all black until I woke up the next morning in his bed…I was so confused…he wasn’t in bed, but he came in just after I woke up, and he told me it was over…he said we were too different…he said he found someone else!” Isabel threw herself into her brothers strong embrace and cried on his shoulder until she got all her tears out. “He…used…me! I just feel so dirty. Like its all my fault, but I know its not, but I just feel like I could’ve or should’ve done something…but I didn’t…”
“Isabel, listen to me. That was not your fault. He was a jerk, and he doesn’t deserve you. He never did if he treated you like that.” Michael held onto his sister as tight as he could to reassure her that she was alright; that she would make it. “I want you to know that you can always come to me Izzie. I will always be here to listen to you,” he whispered to her. “That guy is a jerk. No one should ever treat you like that. When I get my hands on him!”
“Michael no! I just want to forget about it, and I don’t want you running off and getting yourself in trouble because of my mistakes!”
“Okay, but if he ever tries to come near you again, you let me know, alright?”
A bright smile started to form on Isabel’s tear streaked face. “Thank you Mikey, you’re the best big brother a girl could ask for!”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The phone rang…once…twice…three times… Finally Liz got up and answered it.
“Oh my god Lizzie!!!” the voice on the other end of the line squealed. “You’re not going to believe this-”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 9
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Isabel!” Michael called as he walked up to the car that just pulled up the long driveway.
“Michael!” She ran out of the car and jumped into her brother’s waiting arms. The two hugged each other happily and it was obvious to anyone who saw that they had a very close, loving relationship.
“Aunt Keri, it’s good to see you,” Michael stepped away from his sister and gave his aunt a hug. She was by far his favorite aunt. She always was there for them when he or Izzie needed anything, and she was the young, only ten years older than Michael, so it was easy to relate to her.
“You too Michael. I have to go, I have a meeting, but you take care of Izzie, alright?” She looked at her two favorite niece and nephew, and sighed, they had grown up so fast. “Maybe we can do something together this weekend, I’ll be here till Monday morning probably, I’m staying at the Hilton, so if you need anything, just let me know.”
“We will, and thanks again Aunt Keri! You’re the best!” With one last hug, Keri got in her car and was on her way, leaving the siblings to themselves.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Over there is the library, and this, is the bookstore, and there’s some food places here, but none of it is really that great. It’s nothing at all compared to Rosie’s food!” Michael laughed as he showed Isabel around the school campus. He had class in a little bit and he really didn’t want to leave his sister alone, but he knew he would have to.
“Oh! I can’t wait to have some of Rosie’s cooking! It’s been ages!” Isabel laughed. She knew all too well that no one made food quite like Rosie, but she only got it when she visited her brother and Max, which hadn’t been too often in the past.
“So Izzie, do you feel like talking now?” Michael walked over to a bench in a small courtyard and motioned for his sister to sit beside him. He was all seriousness now. There was a reason for Isabel’s urgent phone call and this long visit. He wanted to help, to make it all better, like any good big brother would, but in order to do that, she had to open up to him.
“Michael, do we have to do this now?”
“No, but I want to help Izzie. You used to tell me everything. Please don’t stop now.” The sincerity in his voice brought a tear to Isabel’s eyes.
“I’m sorry Mikey…it’s just…it’s really…hard for me!”
“Shh!” He brought her tear-streaked face to rest on his shoulder as he hugged her close and whispered soothingly in her ear. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me now, just know that when you are ready to talk, I’ll be right here with ears ready to listen, alright?”
Isabel pulled away from him a little so she could wipe the tears from her eyes. “Thank you. What did I ever do to deserve a big brother like you?”
“You just got lucky I guess.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Maria, go to class! I’ve got the café covered. You’ll be gone for an hour, I think I can handle the place! It’s not like Sara has never called in sick before, we had to deal with this all the time last year too, now relax and just go!” Liz laughed at her friend. Maria was so considerate but sometimes the girl just would not listen to reason!
“Fine, I’m going, but I’ll run back as soon as my class is over, I promise!” With that she was out the door leaving Liz standing there shaking her head in amusement.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Are you sure it’s okay if I just leave you Izzie? I mean, I don’t want to leave you alone for a couple hours not knowing where you are or anything.”
“Relax Michael. I’ll be fine. When you’re classes are over you can call me on my cell to find out where I am. I’ll be fine. Maybe I’ll go to that little coffee-shop café that you pointed out to me earlier. I’ll be fine, really, I promise!” She loved her brother, but sometimes he just wouldn’t listen to reason!
“Fine,” Michael huffed indignantly, knowing he was beat.
“Hey Michael,” a voice called from behind Isabel. Isabel looked behind her to see a tall guy with dark brown hair and pretty blue eyes.
“Oh hey Alex,” Michael called back, but then he got an idea. “Hey, Alex, do you have any classes right now?”
“No, I was just headed over to the café to say hi to Lizzie, and hang around for a little while. Why, did you need something?” Alex asked. He wasn’t too sure what Michael would want from him. Sure, they weren’t enemies like him and Maria, but they weren’t really great friends either.
“Alex, this is my sister Isabel, she’s staying with me and Max for a while and I have to get to class, so I was wondering if maybe you could keep an eye on her for me? Just for like two hours?”
“Michael! I am not a little girl anymore! My god! You can’t control me like this. Maybe your friend here doesn’t want to spend his day playing babysitter to someone who doesn’t need one. I told you I would be fine on my own, now go to class already!” Isabel huffed. Sometimes her brother just went too far. Did he actually believe that she needed someone to babysit her? Well, actually, she wouldn’t really mind if she got handed over to this guy, what was his name, Alex? He seemed nice, and he was definitely cute.
“It’s alright. I don’t mind showing you around a little, I mean, if it’s what you want.” Alex finally looked at the blond and she was beautiful. ‘Wow, she’s amazing, and so full of spirit. She kinda reminds me of Maria, the way she can get to Michael. But he actually seems sorry for hurting her. They must be close.’
“Thank you Alex, I really gotta get to class now. I’ll find you in two hours Izzie,” Michael called as he finally hurried off in the other direction.
Isabel let out a little scream. “Ahh! The nerve of him! Just because he’s my big brother he thinks he has the right to control my life.” Isabel shook her head and then recovered herself, realizing that the boy with the pretty blue eyes was still standing beside her. “I’m sorry, umm…Alex?” she questioned trying to make sure she had the name right.
“Yeah, I’m Alex Whitman, it’s nice to meet you…”
“Isabel Guerin. I’m sorry about my brother, he can be a pain sometimes.”
“Yeah, but it shows he cares about you,” Alex told her sincerely. “Would you like to join me, I was just on my way to the café.”
“Sure, I’d love to.” The two started walking side by side, both content in each other’s presence. “It’s just he makes me so mad sometimes, thinking that he can tell me what to do and what not to do. I mean, I’m a big girl now, I can make decisions for myself.”
“You know, you should meet my friend Maria, I think you two would get along great!” Alex laughed, imagining what trouble the two of them would cause Michael.
“What makes you say that?” she was curious.
“Well, it’s just she has this great knack for getting on Michael’s nerves. No matter what she does, it’s so funny, and you were just doing the same thing.”
Isabel laughed, maybe she would have to get to know this Maria girl; it could be fun.
“Hey Lizzie,” Alex said as he ushered Isabel inside the café and they walked over to a table and sat down.
“Hey Alex, what can I get ya?” Liz asked as she came over to her friend and the blond. She raised an inquiring eyebrow to Alex, silently asking who the mysterious girl was.
“Liz, this is Michael’s sister Isabel. Isabel, this is one of my best friend’s Liz.”
“Oh, Isabel, it’s great to meet you. Max was telling me that you were coming to visit your brother. So how do you like it here so far?” Liz asked as she sat down in an empty seat at the table. There was no one in the café besides them at the moment so she could take a break.
“It’s okay. I just got here this morning, so I have only been around the campus a little. But I really like it here in San Diego. It’s like being in a big city without all the LA stuff. It’s a nice change.” Isabel smiled. She liked these people. They seemed very genuine, and she liked that.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Liz…sorry…took me…so…long…” Maria huffed as she came through the doors a little over an hour later only to be met by laughter.
“Oh, hey Maria. I told you you didn’t have to hurry. I’m fine. Besides, Alex was here to help when it got a little busy.”
Maria hurumphed herself down into a chair at the table where Alex, Liz and Isabel were all sitting.
“Hi, I’m Isabel Guerin,” a tall skinny blond girl that Maria hadn’t noticed before was saying hello to her.
“Oh, um…hi. I’m Maria.” Maria wasn’t too sure who the girl was but she seemed nice enough and she was sitting with her friends, so she might as well be nice to her.
“Oh, sorry Ria,” Alex spoke up. “Isabel this is my friend Maria. Maria, this is Isabel, Michael’s sister.” Alex carefully watched his friend’s face and counted, ‘one…two…th-’ Sure enough, right on schedule Maria’s eyes got really wide, comprehension. Oh, this was too much fun. There were definitely some strong feelings there.
“So, Isabel, how long are you staying in San Diego?” Liz asked to try and distract from Maria’s crazy reaction.
“I’m not really sure. A while though. I’ve even been thinking about applying to a couple schools down here, so we’ll see.”
“Do you know a lot of people here?”
“Just Mikey and Max. They are great and all, but living with them is gonna be like having two big brothers instead of one. The last time they came home to visit they wouldn’t let me near my date until they had given him this long lecture on the proper way to treat a lady. Let’s just say, I never heard from that guy again!” Maria burst out laughing at this. It was just too funny. Mr. Bad Ass Michael Guerin, the softy? It was just too good.
Half an hour later the three girls and Alex were all lounging around the still empty café, talking and enjoying each other’s company.
“You guys should all come over this weekend or something. We can hang out by the pool or something, and Rosie makes the best food!” Isabel laughed. What? It was the truth.
“Oh my goodness, you are so right Isabel! I had her enchilada’s, they are to die for!” Liz giggled too.
“Sounds like fun,” Alex smiled. He wasn’t sure what it was about this girl, but there was something there, something beautiful hidden beneath her also amazing body.
“Will Pepsi-Boy be there?” Maria asked with a sly devilish I-got-something-up-my-sleeve grin on her face.
“Who?” Isabel asked not sure what to make of Maria’s question.
“She means…your…brother,” Liz was laughing so hard she almost couldn’t get the words out. She could just picture what Michael must have looked like covered in pepsi.
“Okay, you’re going to have to tell me that story later,” Isabel laughed along. “Yeah, he’ll probably be there. I don’t know what he normal does on weekends or anything, but he won’t mind if I have people over, I mean the place is huge.”
Maria got up from the table and sighed. “Sorry guys, I gotta go see my psych TA about something, but I’ll see you guys later. It was nice meeting you Isabel, and when you see Pepsi-Boy, tell him the Harpy says hello!” Maria made sure to enunciate the word harpy with distaste. Then Maria left without noticing the confused look on Isabel’s face. ‘I definitely missed something,’ Isabel thought to herself.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Michael, can we talk now?” Isabel’s soft voice came out of the den that evening as Michael was walking past.
“Sure Izzie, I always have time for you.”
“Well, thank you again for letting me stay here, and-”
“You don’t have to thank me, you’re my sister,” Michael interrupted.
“Thanks Michael, but could you not interrupt and just let me talk?” She waited for him to nod before continuing. “Well, you remember Andrew, right? Well, we had been going out for a while, and he said he loved me…” tears were escaping her eyes as she recalled the events of last Sunday. “He took me out to dinner because it was our one year anniversary of our first date. I thought it was the sweetest thing. He ordered wine, and I told him I shouldn’t be drinking because I was underage, and he just said that it was a special night. But I drank too much, he just kept refilling my glass, and I didn’t realize how much I had really had. He took me back…to his…his condo…and…and I don’t remember anything…it’s all black until I woke up the next morning in his bed…I was so confused…he wasn’t in bed, but he came in just after I woke up, and he told me it was over…he said we were too different…he said he found someone else!” Isabel threw herself into her brothers strong embrace and cried on his shoulder until she got all her tears out. “He…used…me! I just feel so dirty. Like its all my fault, but I know its not, but I just feel like I could’ve or should’ve done something…but I didn’t…”
“Isabel, listen to me. That was not your fault. He was a jerk, and he doesn’t deserve you. He never did if he treated you like that.” Michael held onto his sister as tight as he could to reassure her that she was alright; that she would make it. “I want you to know that you can always come to me Izzie. I will always be here to listen to you,” he whispered to her. “That guy is a jerk. No one should ever treat you like that. When I get my hands on him!”
“Michael no! I just want to forget about it, and I don’t want you running off and getting yourself in trouble because of my mistakes!”
“Okay, but if he ever tries to come near you again, you let me know, alright?”
A bright smile started to form on Isabel’s tear streaked face. “Thank you Mikey, you’re the best big brother a girl could ask for!”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The phone rang…once…twice…three times… Finally Liz got up and answered it.
“Oh my god Lizzie!!!” the voice on the other end of the line squealed. “You’re not going to believe this-”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-
Pegleg
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2001 4:58 pm
- Location: Running from the Voices in my Head
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 10
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Oh my god Lizzie!!!” Maria yelled from the other end of the line. “You’re not going to believe this…the bus broke down. They’re not sending anymore tonight. I’m stranded here at school without a way home. And I already called Alex and there was no answer. Where that boy could be, I don’t know. But Lizzie…I’m stuck here and I don’t know what to do.” Maria was in hysterics at that point, but Liz couldn’t blame her.
“Maria. Maria, calm down, ok. I have an idea. I’ll just call Max, I’m sure that he wouldn’t mind coming to pick you up, ok. Just give me five minutes and then call me back, k?”
“Alright,” Maria said with a sniffle.
“Alright, talk to ya soon.”
Liz hung up the phone and quickly dialed Max’s number, which she now knew by heart.
“Hello,” a female voice said into the phone.
“Hi. Isabel?”
“Yes, and who is this.”
“Oh it’s Liz. Hey, is Max there, I really need to talk to him.”
“No, I think that he was running out to get something. What’s
wrong?”
“Shit. It’s just that Maria is stranded at school with no ride home and we don’t know where Alex is. We were hoping that Max would be willing to go pick her up.”
“Oh, is that all. Well, Michael will do it.”
“He will. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, no problem. Tell Maria he’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
“Alright, thanks Isabel. You’re great. And thank Michael for me too.”
“No prob.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Isabel hung up the phone and hurried into the living room where her brother was sitting on the couch watching tv. She quickly snapped off the television, standing directly in his line of sight.
“Hey, I was watching that.”
“I’m sure you were. But you need to go do someone a favor.”
“Yeah, and what’s that.”
“You need to go get Maria from campus and give her a ride home.”
“What? No way! Hell no! Why the hell would I want to do that?”
“Cause she’s stuck there without a ride home, and it’s late, and it’s dark, and it’s the nice thing to do. Would you want your little sister walking home in the dark all alone? I think not. She’s my friend and I want you to do this for me. Please!!!” Isabel gave him her big
puppy-dog eyes, the ones she knew he could never resist.
“Alright fine. I’ll do it. But I’ll have you know that I am 100% against it. I’m only doing this because of you. By the way, since when are you two friends?”
“Alex introduced me to her this afternoon and I thought she was great.”
“Yeah, you would,” Michael muttered under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. I’m leaving now,” Michael called over his shoulder to as he made his way out to the car. Isabel was just standing there with a smile on her face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maria smiled and gave a sigh of relief as she saw a car finally pull up to the bus stop. She hated to admit it, but she was starting to get a little frightened. She hadn’t seen anyone around for a while now, and it was starting to seem a little eerie. It wasn’t until she had gotten up, moving towards the car, that the passenger’s window was rolled down and Maria realized that it was Michael in the driver’s seat.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question blondie. Just hurry up and get in the car.”
“I thought Max was coming to pick me up.”
“He wasn’t home. Just get in.”
“No. I’m not getting into a car with you. What do you think I am? Crazy or something?”
“That thought has crossed my mind. Come on, just get in the car so I can go home.”
“No. I’ll walk.”
By this time Michael had gotten half way out of the car and was arguing with Maria over the hood.
“Like hell you will. I came all the way down here to get you. I’m not letting you walk home now.”
“Ya and how you gonna stop me?”
“Fine! Whatever! Do whatever the hell you want!”
“Fine,” and with that she turned and started walking off in the other direction.
“Maria,” Michael was now fully out of the car starting to walk slowly after her. “Come on.”
But Maria just kept walking. She walked quickly, trying to put as much distance between her and Michael as possible. In her hurry, she didn’t realize how much darker it was getting as she moved towards the deserted interior of the campus. Suddenly, a figure dressed all in black jumped out at her from the bushes, grabbing at her purse. Maria let out a scream as she struggled with the perpetrator.
Michael, not all too far behind, heard her scream and was immediately alerted. He broke out into a dead run, moving quickly towards the struggling figures. “Hey,” he yelled, trying to get the thief’s attention.
Upon hearing the voice of a man coming towards them, the figure ran off, attempting to avoid any confrontation. Soon after, Michael was at the side of a sobbing Maria, wrapping her up in his arms.
She was crying hysterically and he did everything he could to comfort her.
“Shhh. Calm down now. It’s alright. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you now. Shhhh. It’s alright.” All the while, Michael rubbed her back, offering soothing words as the sobs that racked her body slowly began to cease. Once she had sufficiently calmed down, Michael led her back over to his car and put her in the passengers seat. He then quickly went around to the driver’s side and started the engine.
The rest of the drive was made in almost complete silence, except for the occasional direction from Maria. Once they got there, Michael stopped outside the apartment building and cut the engine.
“Thank you,” Maria said once they had stopped.
“Ahh. It was no problem.”
“No. What you did back there…everything... Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“You know what, you aren’t so bad after all.”
“Why thank you blondie. I never would have expected it from you.”
“Well consider this a one time thing. You know this doesn’t change anything, don’t you? I still hate you, ya know?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Well, I guess I better go.”
“Are you gonna be ok?”
“Yeah, me and Liz…we’re right up there,” Maria said pointing to a
window on the third story.
“Alright, I’ll see you around.”
“Bye Michael. And thanks again,” Maria said as she turned around and made her way towards the apartment building.
Michael waited until she got inside before he turned the engine back on and made his way back onto the streets. For some
reason, he just couldn’t seem to get the smile off his face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Lizzie! Oh my god, Lizzie! You will not believe what just happened!”
“Yes Maria. I’m sorry. I know I didn’t tell you that Michael was coming to pick you up instead of Max, but I was afraid that you’d say no if I told you and…”
“No Lizzie. It’s not about that. Although, I am quite mad about that too, by the way. But this has nothing to do with that. The worst thing just happened, well I guess it could have been worse, but…”
“Maria you’re babbling.”
“Right. Anyway…” and so Maria went on to tell Liz the whole story about how she was almost mugged, and how Michael rescued her, and how he comforted her and everything.
“Oh my god Maria! I’m so glad you’re alright.” The two embraced in a hug, each glad that the other was still there with them. “How do you feel now?”
“I’m ok. Michael was really nice about it. He calmed me down a lot. And he was really sweet.”
“Uh huh. And how did that feel?”
“What?”
“Oh, come on Maria. I see the way that you look at him. And the look in your eyes when you talk about him. That is not hate that I see there. How did it feel to have Michael comforting you? Holding you in his arms?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t like him… Ok, so maybe he’s a little attractive, but that’s it. I mean, the boy annoys the crap out of me.”
“Uh huh. You still haven’t answered my question.”
“It felt nice, ok! Are you happy now! I liked it! Does that make you feel better?”
“Gee Maria, calm down. I was just teasing.”
“I’m sorry babe. It’s just been kind of a stressful night. I didn’t mean to blow up at you like that. I think I need to go take a nice long bath. Can we talk about this…whatever it is…later?”
“Yeah, sure babe. No problem.”
“Great. I’ll be out in a while. You know where to find me.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hello.”
“Hey beautiful.”
“Hey sexy.”
“Hmmm…so I’m sexy now?”
“Oh, you always have been.”
Max’s deep laugh could be heard over the phone.
“So, I heard about Maria. Is she ok?”
“Yeah, she’s a little shaken up, but she’ll be alright. By the way, tell
Michael I owe him one.”
“Ok.”
“So, where were you tonight?”
“Oh, I was running some random errands, just ordinary stuff.”
“Ok…”
“So, I heard that Isabel invited you guys over tomorrow. Are you gonna come? Please, please, please, please. Besides I have a surprise for you.”
“Well, how can I resist a temptation like that? And what more could you have to surprise me with anyway?”
“You’ll see. So, you think that Maria and Alex will be coming too?”
“I’m not sure. I know Alex will probably come. Maria will be harder
to win over, but I think that I can handle it. So how did Michael react to the news anyway?”
“Oh, I think he took it pretty well.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Half an hour earlier
“You what?!?”
“I invited Liz, Maria and Alex over to hang out tomorrow.”
“Well, that’s great of you. Didn’t you think that it might be nice if you’d asked me first. This is my house you know?”
“No, this is your AND Max’s house. I think that he should have some say in it too. Max!” she called up stairs.
“Yeah,” he called as he came down the steps.
“Do you mind if I invite some people over to hang out tomorrow?”
“No, not at all. You don’t even have to ask.”
“See…” Isabel taunted looking at Michael.
“Thanks a lot bro. You’re a great help.”
“What did I do?”
“He’s just mad because of who I invited.”
“And…”
“I invited Liz, Maria, and Alex.”
“Yeah…what’s the problem with that?” Max asked turning back to
Michael.
“What’s the problem with that?!? Max, we hardly know them. Well, you may know Liz, but what about the others?”
“Michael, from what I know of them, they seem nice. There’s no harm in Isabel trying to get to know them better.”
“Fine!” Michael said storming into the other room.
Isabel was about to follow when Max stopped her. “Let me.”
Isabel just nodded and Max followed Michael into the gym.
Michael had gone into their private exercise gym and was currently
punching a bag with all his might.
“You want to tell me what this is really about?” Max asked as he
moved behind the bag to steady it for Michael.
“Nothing Maxwell. I just think it’s a little weird to be inviting strangers into our house.”
“They’re not strangers. Didn’t you tell me that you were having Alex show Iz around today? Obviously you didn’t think he was a
stranger then.”
Michael was just silent, not knowing how to respond to Max’s statement. It was true. He just began punching the bag harder.
“You know what I think this is about?”
“Shoot.”
“Maria.”
Once again Michael didn’t say anything. He knew Max was right. He didn’t want the others coming cause he knew she’d be there too.
Finally, Michael broke the silence.
“I don’t know Maxwell. Mostly, she annoys the crap out of me and gets on my last nerve and I just want to scream and yell and walk away and never look back. But then sometimes, not very often, but sometimes, I just can’t get her out of my head.”
“Like tonight,” Max supplied.
“Yeah, like tonight.”
“You’ve got it bad,” Max said with a chuckle.
“No I don’t. What are you talking about? I just find her the slightest bit attractive, that’s all. That is when she’s not insulting me every chance she gets.”
“Uh huh. That’s what I thought.”
Michael hit the bag one last time…hard, making Max stumble over onto the floor. They looked at each other for a moment and then both burst out laughing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Part 10
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Oh my god Lizzie!!!” Maria yelled from the other end of the line. “You’re not going to believe this…the bus broke down. They’re not sending anymore tonight. I’m stranded here at school without a way home. And I already called Alex and there was no answer. Where that boy could be, I don’t know. But Lizzie…I’m stuck here and I don’t know what to do.” Maria was in hysterics at that point, but Liz couldn’t blame her.
“Maria. Maria, calm down, ok. I have an idea. I’ll just call Max, I’m sure that he wouldn’t mind coming to pick you up, ok. Just give me five minutes and then call me back, k?”
“Alright,” Maria said with a sniffle.
“Alright, talk to ya soon.”
Liz hung up the phone and quickly dialed Max’s number, which she now knew by heart.
“Hello,” a female voice said into the phone.
“Hi. Isabel?”
“Yes, and who is this.”
“Oh it’s Liz. Hey, is Max there, I really need to talk to him.”
“No, I think that he was running out to get something. What’s
wrong?”
“Shit. It’s just that Maria is stranded at school with no ride home and we don’t know where Alex is. We were hoping that Max would be willing to go pick her up.”
“Oh, is that all. Well, Michael will do it.”
“He will. Are you sure?”
“Yeah, no problem. Tell Maria he’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
“Alright, thanks Isabel. You’re great. And thank Michael for me too.”
“No prob.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Isabel hung up the phone and hurried into the living room where her brother was sitting on the couch watching tv. She quickly snapped off the television, standing directly in his line of sight.
“Hey, I was watching that.”
“I’m sure you were. But you need to go do someone a favor.”
“Yeah, and what’s that.”
“You need to go get Maria from campus and give her a ride home.”
“What? No way! Hell no! Why the hell would I want to do that?”
“Cause she’s stuck there without a ride home, and it’s late, and it’s dark, and it’s the nice thing to do. Would you want your little sister walking home in the dark all alone? I think not. She’s my friend and I want you to do this for me. Please!!!” Isabel gave him her big
puppy-dog eyes, the ones she knew he could never resist.
“Alright fine. I’ll do it. But I’ll have you know that I am 100% against it. I’m only doing this because of you. By the way, since when are you two friends?”
“Alex introduced me to her this afternoon and I thought she was great.”
“Yeah, you would,” Michael muttered under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. I’m leaving now,” Michael called over his shoulder to as he made his way out to the car. Isabel was just standing there with a smile on her face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maria smiled and gave a sigh of relief as she saw a car finally pull up to the bus stop. She hated to admit it, but she was starting to get a little frightened. She hadn’t seen anyone around for a while now, and it was starting to seem a little eerie. It wasn’t until she had gotten up, moving towards the car, that the passenger’s window was rolled down and Maria realized that it was Michael in the driver’s seat.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question blondie. Just hurry up and get in the car.”
“I thought Max was coming to pick me up.”
“He wasn’t home. Just get in.”
“No. I’m not getting into a car with you. What do you think I am? Crazy or something?”
“That thought has crossed my mind. Come on, just get in the car so I can go home.”
“No. I’ll walk.”
By this time Michael had gotten half way out of the car and was arguing with Maria over the hood.
“Like hell you will. I came all the way down here to get you. I’m not letting you walk home now.”
“Ya and how you gonna stop me?”
“Fine! Whatever! Do whatever the hell you want!”
“Fine,” and with that she turned and started walking off in the other direction.
“Maria,” Michael was now fully out of the car starting to walk slowly after her. “Come on.”
But Maria just kept walking. She walked quickly, trying to put as much distance between her and Michael as possible. In her hurry, she didn’t realize how much darker it was getting as she moved towards the deserted interior of the campus. Suddenly, a figure dressed all in black jumped out at her from the bushes, grabbing at her purse. Maria let out a scream as she struggled with the perpetrator.
Michael, not all too far behind, heard her scream and was immediately alerted. He broke out into a dead run, moving quickly towards the struggling figures. “Hey,” he yelled, trying to get the thief’s attention.
Upon hearing the voice of a man coming towards them, the figure ran off, attempting to avoid any confrontation. Soon after, Michael was at the side of a sobbing Maria, wrapping her up in his arms.
She was crying hysterically and he did everything he could to comfort her.
“Shhh. Calm down now. It’s alright. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you now. Shhhh. It’s alright.” All the while, Michael rubbed her back, offering soothing words as the sobs that racked her body slowly began to cease. Once she had sufficiently calmed down, Michael led her back over to his car and put her in the passengers seat. He then quickly went around to the driver’s side and started the engine.
The rest of the drive was made in almost complete silence, except for the occasional direction from Maria. Once they got there, Michael stopped outside the apartment building and cut the engine.
“Thank you,” Maria said once they had stopped.
“Ahh. It was no problem.”
“No. What you did back there…everything... Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“You know what, you aren’t so bad after all.”
“Why thank you blondie. I never would have expected it from you.”
“Well consider this a one time thing. You know this doesn’t change anything, don’t you? I still hate you, ya know?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Well, I guess I better go.”
“Are you gonna be ok?”
“Yeah, me and Liz…we’re right up there,” Maria said pointing to a
window on the third story.
“Alright, I’ll see you around.”
“Bye Michael. And thanks again,” Maria said as she turned around and made her way towards the apartment building.
Michael waited until she got inside before he turned the engine back on and made his way back onto the streets. For some
reason, he just couldn’t seem to get the smile off his face.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Lizzie! Oh my god, Lizzie! You will not believe what just happened!”
“Yes Maria. I’m sorry. I know I didn’t tell you that Michael was coming to pick you up instead of Max, but I was afraid that you’d say no if I told you and…”
“No Lizzie. It’s not about that. Although, I am quite mad about that too, by the way. But this has nothing to do with that. The worst thing just happened, well I guess it could have been worse, but…”
“Maria you’re babbling.”
“Right. Anyway…” and so Maria went on to tell Liz the whole story about how she was almost mugged, and how Michael rescued her, and how he comforted her and everything.
“Oh my god Maria! I’m so glad you’re alright.” The two embraced in a hug, each glad that the other was still there with them. “How do you feel now?”
“I’m ok. Michael was really nice about it. He calmed me down a lot. And he was really sweet.”
“Uh huh. And how did that feel?”
“What?”
“Oh, come on Maria. I see the way that you look at him. And the look in your eyes when you talk about him. That is not hate that I see there. How did it feel to have Michael comforting you? Holding you in his arms?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t like him… Ok, so maybe he’s a little attractive, but that’s it. I mean, the boy annoys the crap out of me.”
“Uh huh. You still haven’t answered my question.”
“It felt nice, ok! Are you happy now! I liked it! Does that make you feel better?”
“Gee Maria, calm down. I was just teasing.”
“I’m sorry babe. It’s just been kind of a stressful night. I didn’t mean to blow up at you like that. I think I need to go take a nice long bath. Can we talk about this…whatever it is…later?”
“Yeah, sure babe. No problem.”
“Great. I’ll be out in a while. You know where to find me.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Hello.”
“Hey beautiful.”
“Hey sexy.”
“Hmmm…so I’m sexy now?”
“Oh, you always have been.”
Max’s deep laugh could be heard over the phone.
“So, I heard about Maria. Is she ok?”
“Yeah, she’s a little shaken up, but she’ll be alright. By the way, tell
Michael I owe him one.”
“Ok.”
“So, where were you tonight?”
“Oh, I was running some random errands, just ordinary stuff.”
“Ok…”
“So, I heard that Isabel invited you guys over tomorrow. Are you gonna come? Please, please, please, please. Besides I have a surprise for you.”
“Well, how can I resist a temptation like that? And what more could you have to surprise me with anyway?”
“You’ll see. So, you think that Maria and Alex will be coming too?”
“I’m not sure. I know Alex will probably come. Maria will be harder
to win over, but I think that I can handle it. So how did Michael react to the news anyway?”
“Oh, I think he took it pretty well.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Half an hour earlier
“You what?!?”
“I invited Liz, Maria and Alex over to hang out tomorrow.”
“Well, that’s great of you. Didn’t you think that it might be nice if you’d asked me first. This is my house you know?”
“No, this is your AND Max’s house. I think that he should have some say in it too. Max!” she called up stairs.
“Yeah,” he called as he came down the steps.
“Do you mind if I invite some people over to hang out tomorrow?”
“No, not at all. You don’t even have to ask.”
“See…” Isabel taunted looking at Michael.
“Thanks a lot bro. You’re a great help.”
“What did I do?”
“He’s just mad because of who I invited.”
“And…”
“I invited Liz, Maria, and Alex.”
“Yeah…what’s the problem with that?” Max asked turning back to
Michael.
“What’s the problem with that?!? Max, we hardly know them. Well, you may know Liz, but what about the others?”
“Michael, from what I know of them, they seem nice. There’s no harm in Isabel trying to get to know them better.”
“Fine!” Michael said storming into the other room.
Isabel was about to follow when Max stopped her. “Let me.”
Isabel just nodded and Max followed Michael into the gym.
Michael had gone into their private exercise gym and was currently
punching a bag with all his might.
“You want to tell me what this is really about?” Max asked as he
moved behind the bag to steady it for Michael.
“Nothing Maxwell. I just think it’s a little weird to be inviting strangers into our house.”
“They’re not strangers. Didn’t you tell me that you were having Alex show Iz around today? Obviously you didn’t think he was a
stranger then.”
Michael was just silent, not knowing how to respond to Max’s statement. It was true. He just began punching the bag harder.
“You know what I think this is about?”
“Shoot.”
“Maria.”
Once again Michael didn’t say anything. He knew Max was right. He didn’t want the others coming cause he knew she’d be there too.
Finally, Michael broke the silence.
“I don’t know Maxwell. Mostly, she annoys the crap out of me and gets on my last nerve and I just want to scream and yell and walk away and never look back. But then sometimes, not very often, but sometimes, I just can’t get her out of my head.”
“Like tonight,” Max supplied.
“Yeah, like tonight.”
“You’ve got it bad,” Max said with a chuckle.
“No I don’t. What are you talking about? I just find her the slightest bit attractive, that’s all. That is when she’s not insulting me every chance she gets.”
“Uh huh. That’s what I thought.”
Michael hit the bag one last time…hard, making Max stumble over onto the floor. They looked at each other for a moment and then both burst out laughing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*