What Real Life's Like (AU,CC,MATURE) Thread #1

[isabelle]

Nobody's posting for either of my characters. How about we just move on then?
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*Max*

I'm glad when Kyle finally puts the subject of the 'adult' materials aside. I suspect he actually still harbors some desire for the magazines, but I'm not going to give them to him unless he actually says so. I'm actually looking forward to destroying them, after the way I was embarrassed. I wish I knew how the hell they got in my jeep.

Nobody seems to want to talk about anything-else, and we drive mostly in silence. I hope things will get back to normal once we get started at the beach party.

In a few minutes, we're approaching the gated entrance to the private beach that we're supposed to be using. Alex pulls up first, explaining who we are and where we want to be. The guard waves him to the left and then I pull up to ask the same things. He waves us along, as well, and soon all three cars have parked and the eight of us are gathering our things. I sincerely hope that we can move on to some other topic of conversation, other than the things found in my jeep.

I pull the hamper of food from the back and Kyle appears next to me. "Let me give you a hand there," he says.

I bite my lip. If Kyle pulled it out to the car by himself, why would he think I'd need help? But I decide to take it as a friendly gesture. "Sure, grab an end," I say, and we start off towards the beach.

[Sternbetrachter]

great post, Isabelle!

ALEX

Finally, after ten minutes in hell, we arrive at the beach, Maria's Jetta right behind us.

At least I know now two things:
1. I will never ever have a chance with Isabel Anderson after this drive. At least not in this reality. Not with what I said ... she didn't answer me at all, only looked at me shocked and I'm pretty sure that she thinks of Jake now as the perfect gentleman compared to me ... the neanderthal. Maybe they'll drive back with someone else.

2. Tess will kill me. Slowly. Painfully. There's no doubting that. I mean, she really seemed into the matchmaker stuff and I just destroyed that. Yup, I'm dead.

The only good thing out of that might me that Tess will get arrested for murder which might give Liz a chance with Max. Not that I want Tess in jail but well ... seeing Liz with Max might be the only good thing that might happen here.

After we three got out of the car - still in icy silence - we make our way to the others. And of course, we aren't walking next to each other - Jake and Isabel are a few steps ahead of me and I follow them meekly, watching how the others are already unloading everything. Maybe now's a good time to talk with Maria about Liz's birthday - that should get my head to focus on soemthing else than Isabel.

[isabelle]

Great part, Trude.
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*Michael*

Well, it seems that Maria, at least, is having some doubts about Max. Now I just gotta figure out how to parlay that into an advantage for me. I don't want to push it too hard, 'cause that'll backfire. It's all I can manage to hold my tongue and not press the issue as we continue to the beach.

I have to frown as I watch Kyle help Max with the cooler. I remember how interested Kyle had seemed in the magazines. Could he actually more impressed with Max now than before? But that doesn't matter. It's only the girls' opinions that I care about.

I wonder if Kyle will figure it out. Not that he knew anything about the particulars since he refused to sign on, but -- Nah. I doubt he's smart enough.

I spot an obvious area for a fire, although it needs some adjustment. "Is there a supply of wood somewhere we can use?" I ask. Hoping we won't have to locate our own driftwood.

[isabelle]

*MAX*

Kyle and I had a spot to set down the cooler, but suddenly Michael is an expert and he wants a fire-pit somewhere-else. With a shrug, I give Kyle a questioning glance and we silently agree it's not worth a discussion. We just pick up the food again and walk it to Michael's chosen place.

"I saw some firewood over that way," I tell him.

"Great. Make sure none of it's rotten," he says to Kyle and me. Kyle rolls his eyes and I just shake my head. It's not that I mind moving it, but geez, he could have actually asked. Or he could have built the fire closer to the wood supply in the first place. But then, I am rather interested in getting this fire started, anyway. The sooner I can get rid of the trash that's in my jeep.

"You're welcome, Michael. We'll be happy to get it for you," I say, wondering if he'll get the message. He just keeps on with shaping the sand pit, ignoring us completely. Great. The guy is thick as a post.

I turn to head for the woodpile and I notice that Isabel and Jake are approaching, with Alex behind. I'd love to hear how that drive went. It'll be good to think about something other than my fiasco on the way over here.

[Sternbetrachter]

nice part


ALEX

Seeing Max walk to the woodpile, i decide to join him. Even working is better than trotting after Isabel and the idiot. Besides, Max said he wanted to help with Liz's birthday. At least I think that he agreed.

"Hey, how's it going?" I ask as I reach him and grab some wood. I doubt that his drive was worse than mine though. Why did I even ask them to come along with me.


******
Sorry that it's short but for some reason, my boss isn't too happy with me rpg-ing while at work

[isabelle]

*Max*

“Not great but it'll be better when we get this fire going,” I tell Alex, as I start to fill my arms with firewood. “If I ever discover who put that trash in my jeep, I think I will cheerfully strangle them. Liz and Tess...” Alex shook his head in sympathy as he grabbed a few logs, himself.

I tried to change the subject. “And how were things with Isabel and Jake?” Alex is still alive so I guess he didn’t totally piss Isabel off. They did seem to be ignoring him, but that could be because they want to be a ‘couple’ or because he’d done something that annoyed her. I don’t yet know Isabel well enough to be able to tell which.

[Sternbetrachter]

ALEX

I think about Max's question for a moment before answering - unsure whether I should joke a bit about it - not that there's anything to joke about. "Well, it could have been worse - but also better. Isabel is currently ignoring me again which is totally not my fault."

When Max looks at me questionally, I sigh, "Okay, maybe it is my fault to a degree. Jake said something about me keeping those magazines and getting some hand lotion since that would be the only "action" I'd get here." I pause for a moment, checking if Max is laughing - thank God he isn't. "And I might accidently have said something about being surprised that Isabel would get it on in front of tv because Jake seems sure to be getting some."

Max looks … disapproving (so, like a good teacher!) and before he can say anything, I say, "I know! I know! That was stupid but … lets be serious. I'm probably just fooling myself with wishful thinking here and wasting your and Tess and Liz's time - I mean, Isabel obviously can't stand me so maybe we should stop this all." I ask more than state, I'm still rather unsure about this whole matchmaking thing.

"Not that it does matter, "I say as an afterthought, "when your little girlfriend finds out about this, she'll strangle me anyway." If she can reach up to my throat, that is.

[Sugarplum7]

Instead of working on a paper, I wrote this little bit. Now I have to get back to that paper. Anyone else hate this time of the semester? You know, the time when everything’s due and there are finals to study for. Don’t I just love my stress level. (Sarcasm. It’s what gets me through the day.)

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

“If who can reach up to whose throat?” I ask as I sidle up to Alex and Max. I hope that they weren’t having a private conversation or anything, but I was getting a little bored standing around doing nothing. I wanted to help somehow, and what better way then help get the fire started. It’s only going to get colder as it gets darker.

“Tess,” Alex answers dejectedly. His shoulders sag forward and he has a posture that speaks of his defeat.

I try to figure that one out as I pick up a piece of wood. “Why would Tess want to reach your throat?” As I say the words, I realize why. “Alex,” I say placing a comforting hand on his arm, “it’s probably not as bad as you think. You’ll just have to make up for it later.”

He doesn’t say anything but laugh quietly, as though I didn’t know how bad he messed up. And I didn’t, but no one said that this was going to be easy.

“You so don’t know what I said.”

“It can’t be that bad. And if it was . . . well, then it’ll just be harder to fix.”

He wipes his face, exhaling deeply. “Tess is going to kill me.”

“No, she won’t. And if she tries, you’ll have me in your corner.” I grin at him and hope he smiles back.

[Sternbetrachter]

ALEX

I guess the manly thing would be to be offended by the thought of a girl protecting me but the thought of Liz and Tess having a chick fight because of little me is just to amusing and I can't help but chuckle at the image.

"Well, with a beautiful bodyguard like you, what could she do to me." I say wraping an arm around her shoulder and squeeze her a bit. "And I'll even visit you in hospital!"

"Hey! Why do you think I'm going to be the one who ends up in hospital?" Liz asks in mock outrage.

"Yeah Alex, why do you think that?" Max pipes in from beside us.

"What is this? Gang up on Alex day?" I ask pouting.

"Yes!" they both say together and look at each other funny while I groan in defeat.


***
good luck with that paper of yours, sugarplum

[morpheus awakened]

Yay, we're finally at the beach and getting the show on the road! hehe. Great parts everyone.

TESS

“Oooh, can I join in on ‘Gang up on Alex Day’?” I ask from where I had snuck up behind Alex.

“Gahhhh!” He nearly jumps out of his skin and side-steps me a little. “Geez, Tess, are ya trying to give me a heart attack or somethin’?”

“Only if you’re askin’ for one” I smirk, and then add, “Just kidding. Why would I want to do a thing like that?” I bat my eyelashes at him a few times in a show of mock innocence, which I don’t think he’s even close to believing.

“So…why are we ganging up on you- wait, you didn’t say something damning to your cause in the car with Isabel and the boy toy did you?!” I ask, raising my voice in shock, suddenly understanding why Alex is nervously fidgeting with the ties to his board shorts, not looking me in the eye. I turn to look at Max and Liz for answers, but they are semi-oblivious to what I’m saying as I catch them exchanging furtive glances at one another when the other isn’t looking.

Alex still hasn’t looked up from where he’s been tying the cords into several little knots. I soften the tone of my voice and lower it a little bit, stepping a little closer to him. “It’s okay, I’m not going to blow up in your face about it if you did or said something damaging, just tell me what it was and we’ll try to fix it, k? Right Liz? Max?” My mention of their names breaks them out of their reveries and they nod their heads yes.

I took the liberty of putting Alex in board shorts Trude, hope that's okay.