And a special thanks to my beta, Alysia for getting this chapter back to me so quickly. As always, I would like to thank everyone for reading and the following for leaving FB:
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tequathisy - I'll try my best to redeem Max but the Max/Michael situation won't be resolved any time soon.
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when I read your FB. I absolutely love your stories and it's an honor that you are reading mine.Again the next chapter is mostly written and it will have some Max and Liz, Michael will question Liz about Max, Max will set things straight with Maria and Phillip Evans will finally be introduced into the story and he's exactly like Dan from One Tree Hill.
Chapter 11
Earlier that same day at the Crash Down
Beautiful and statuesque, Isabel Evans walks through the double doors of the alien-themed Crash Down Café. It was still early in the evening, yet the Crash Down was unusually packed for a Thursday. Isabel glances around the newly remodeled establishment in search of a vacant booth. Unfortunately, all of the booths were occupied as well as the tables. Apparently, there’s an orthodontist’s convention in town and all of the crazed dentists want to experience alien-themed, greasy, cholesterol-raising, fried-food. Spotting a free seat towards the middle of the counter, Isabel takes a seat. She was meeting Michael and Alex there after tryouts.
Karen Guerrin exits the employee lounge of the Crash Down Café struggling while carrying an armful of alien-themed paraphernalia. To the casual observer she was one of the many waitresses running around the crowded Café as if they were a chicken with their heads cut off. She wore the traditional waitress uniform of the Crash Down, which consists of a turquoise, mid-thigh dress that’s held together by several snaps up the center, a silver, alien-face apron and a bobbing antenna, which serves as a headdress. So it’s no surprise that most of the time she’s mistaken for one of the teenaged waitresses when in essence she’s co-manager of the Crash Down along with the owners, Jeffrey and Nancy Parker. Another reason it’s so easy to mistake her for one of the teenaged waitresses is because despite her thirty-five years of life, she easily passes for her early twenties. She maintains the same slim physique of her high school days along with newly cut, a little above shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes and full pouty lips. For a lack of a better word, Karen Guerrin was hot or a MILF as Alex on occasion so eloquently puts it.
She reaches the employee side of the counter and intentionally drops the load unto the floor. A weary sigh escapes her lips as she drops to her knees and begins to pick up the discarded paraphernalia while quietly murmuring, “Where’s chivalry when you need it?”
Although it was a rhetorical question Isabel decides to answer, “Well, per my History teacher it sort of went out the window with Women’s Lib.”
Isabel softly giggles when she spies wavy, brown hair and surprised, brown-eyes peaking over the top of the counter. “Isabel?” Karen squeaks while slowly standing.
“Guilty.” Isabel answers. “I would have helped you but by the time I noticed that you needed help it was too late. You’d already dropped everything.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Karen dismisses with a wave, “I was more so hoping the cute guy at the end of the counter would have noticed but he didn’t. I must be losing my touch.”
“You Miss Guerrin?” Isabel responds good-humoredly, “Never.”
“See…I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Karen smirks before admonishing, “And I thought I told you, none of this Miss Guerrin crap. It’s Karen. Everyone calls me Karen.”
Isabel lowers her head to hide her discomfort and apologizes, “I’m sorry Miss…Karen. I forgot. It’s just that I was raised to show respect to my elders and my mom would kill me if she knew I was calling any adult by their first name.”
“I’ll have you know that you’re treading thin ice, missy.” Karen feigns offense, “Because I am in no way an Elder! I’m not old. I’m only thirty-five years old. Anyways, I’m like wine. I just get better with time.”
“Oh…I-I didn’t…mean that you were o-old.” Isabel tries to recover from her blunder, “I just…meant…”
Karen watches on in amusement as a flushed Isabel tries to explain her way out of the awkward situation. Deciding to let her off of the hook, Karen interrupts, “Isabel, I was only kidding. I understand completely. My mother was exactly the same way and I wouldn’t want you to do anything that will get you in trouble or make you uncomfortable. So Miss Guerin is perfectly fine. But you’re the only one I will allow such privileges. Only because I like you.”
“I’ll just respond with an okay because every time I open my mouth, I seem to stick my foot further in it.” Isabel replies.
Karen chuckles lightly while bending down to pick up the alien paraphernalia. “What are you doing here by yourself?” Karen asks.
“I’m meeting Michael and Alex here.” Isabel answers while craning her neck to peer down at a kneeling Karen over the counter, “I can’t wait to find out if he made the team. No…scratch that, I know he made the team.”
Karen smiles at Isabel’s confidence in Michael. Isabel and Michael had gotten close this past year and it warmed her heart to know that at least one of the Evan’s were accepting of him. The young lady that sat before her had seen her fair share of difficult times in her short life and in a way she reminded Karen of herself when she was that age. Young, naïve and trusting were a recipe for disaster and she was glad Isabel was strong enough to overcome the difficult times. She hadn’t earned Isabel’s trust but knew of the girl’s plight through Michael. It wasn’t that Michael betrayed Isabel’s trust by telling his mother; it’s just that he and Karen have the type of mother-son relationship that many parents dream of. They are completely and brutally honest with one another and keep no secrets. So when Michael revealed the secret to Karen, her heart went out to Isabel.
“You really think he made it on the team?” Karen queries.
“I have no doubt. There’s only two other members on the team with Michael’s abilities.” Isabel divulges. “The coach would have to be a special kind of stupid not to offer Michael a spot. It would practically guarantee the team a shot at State.”
“Well, it’s good to know that Michael has at least one fan.” Karen says while arranging the alien paraphernalia into a pyramid on the counter.
“Trust me, he’ll have many more fans by the end of this season.” Isabel predicts while assisting Karen with arranging the remaining items into another neat pyramid. She glances at Karen before timidly broaching a new topic. “Just to get off of the subject for a moment…I do a lot of charity work for the Women’s Crisis Center and in one month we’re sponsoring a job fair for the center. And…I was wondering if maybe…the Crash Down would be able to take part in the fair some kind of way. I know the fair will last eight hours and we could use refreshments. And if you’re in the market for new employees, there are some highly trained and skilled women in need of jobs.”
“I don’t think you have to be highly trained or skilled to wait tables here.” Karen chortles, “But we’re losing two of our waitresses in a few weeks so we’d definitely be in the market for new employees. And I’m sure we’d be able to assist some as far as the refreshments. I’ll just need to speak with Nancy about it.”
“Oh, thank you.” Isabel expresses gratitude. “ Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
“Today it’s rare to find a teenager interested in anything other than themselves so it’s refreshing to see someone your age involved in charity work.” Karen commends, “What got you involved in it to begin with?”
“My mother. She’s my role model. She exemplifies compassion and generosity.” Isabel praises. “She’s really the most remarkable person and I only wish that I was half the woman she is.”
“Wow! She sounds like one extraordinary person.” Karen remarks.
Isabel inwardly berates herself for mentioning her mother and quickly expresses regret, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up my mother.”
“Why?” Karen asks baffled.
Isabel starts with uneasiness explicating, “It’s just…you know…the whole situation with…my dad and mom…and you.”
“Isabel, is that what you really think, that I have a problem with your mother? I don’t have anything against your mother. I don’t even know your mother. I’ve never spoken to her a day in my life.” Karen sets straight, “The situation with your father…it…it’s my belief that he probably lied to your mother. I’m more than 99% certain when he met her, he failed to mention his pregnant girlfriend waiting for him back home. Especially from your description of her, I doubt she’s the type to mess around with a taken guy. Besides, that’s life. You learn to move on and I moved on more than a decade ago. So never apologize for speaking about your mother to me.” Karen continues, “You’re proud of her, as you should be, for she sounds like an incredible woman. And she’s extremely lucky cause she has one incredible daughter.”
Isabel’s cheeks turn to a hue of pink as she lowers her head trying to hide the blush Karen’s words cause.
In that instant the bell above the entrance doors of the Crash Down rings alerting the staff to the arrival of new patrons. Karen and Isabel both turn their heads in the direction of the doors and watch as a very elated Michael and Alex make their way over to the counter. Alex takes the only vacant seat at the counter which is next to Isabel while Michael walks around the counter and stands next to his mother.
Isabel and Karen look expectantly at Michael awaiting news of the tryouts.
“What?” Michael questions innocently.
“Well?” Isabel demands.
“He came…he played…he conquered.” Alex answers for Michael while holding his arms up triumphantly. “You are now looking at the newest member of the West Roswell Comets.”
“Oh Michael, I’m so proud of you.” Karen says as she pulls Michael into her embrace and hugs him tightly. She ruffles his hair and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
“What did I tell you Miss Guerrin?” Isabel beams, “Never a doubt.”
“This calls for a celebration.” Karen starts, “How about a round of Alien Blasts?”
A loud crashing sound can be heard from the grill area followed by the sound of shattering glass. With a sigh, Karen rolls her eyes in disgust and asks Michael to fix their Alien Blasts while she goes and handles the situation in the back. Michael goes to the shake machine leaving Isabel and Alex alone.
“So what happened?” Isabel pries excitedly, “I want details.”
“Well for starters, your brother is a jack ass.” Alex supplies.
“Which one?” Isabel smirks.
“Dumbo.” Alex counters.
“Hey. You know the rules.” Isabel reminds glaring at Alex. “No talk of Max or my father.”
“Well some rules were made to be broken.” Alex responds, “Your brother is a class A jerk. First, he trips Michael up during the game of scrimmage,then he deliberately throws the ball at Michael’s face and has the nerve to get upset and charge at him when Michael catches the ball instead and sinks in a three pointer.” Alex snorts in disgust. “That’s real sportsmanship.”
“I don’t believe you.” Isabel says in Max’s defense, not wanting to believe the worst in her brother. “He did no such thing.”
“Oh he did.” Alex shakes his head in the affirmative, “And here’s the clincher. He insults Maria in front of everyone and breaks up with her.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Isabel states resolutely. She and Max were extremely close and she would tolerate no one bad mouthing him, not even Alex. Plus, she didn’t really want to think of Max doing all of the horrid things Alex accused him of to Michael. They were both her brothers and she loved them equally however she and Max had shared a special bond their whole lives, she knew a completely different side of him. He was her over-protective little brother, or at least that’s how Isabel always referred to him considering that she was a full minute older than him. Max was always there for her and would give his right arm to guarantee her safety and happiness. He stood by her through all of the drama of last year concerning Jesse Ramirez and even kept her tragic secret, not even Michael knew of it.
Michael comes back distributing the Alien Blasts. “My mom is having Jose whip us up Galaxy Burgers and Saturn Rings.”
He looks from Alex to Isabel. He senses Isabel’s discomfort and questions, “So what did I miss?”
“Nothing.” Isabel quickly replies before Alex can say anything. Through her peripheral vision she spots a vacant booth. “Let’s get that booth before someone else claims it.”
The three grab their Alien Blasts and head over towards the booth. Fifteen minutes later, the three enjoy their dinner.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After they finish eating, Michael stands stretching and patting his full stomach. He’d had an exhausting yet fulfilling day. As crazy as it sounds, he some how managed to become a member of a team that he wanted no part of. He never wanted to become one of the ‘THEMS’ of West Roswell yet here he is jumping head first into all of the chaos, just to spite Max. He finds himself wondering if it’s really worth it? And to his surprise, his internal answer is yes for if he were honest…really honest with himself, he would have to admit that Max’s words of how Phillip has never mentioned him, really got to him. It was eating him up inside and he didn’t like it. He didn’t know why it would matter to him. But it did and being a member of the Comets was his chance to show Phillip that he was just as good as Max. It was also his way of showing him what he’s missed out on for the past sixteen years. Maybe… just maybe he could get some acknowledgement out of Phillip that he existed.
He announces that he’s going to see if Liz is home and bids Alex and Isabel farewell. He tried to call Liz a few times earlier on her cell phone to give her the 411 on tryouts only to get her voice mail each time. The fact that he’d gotten her voice mail was odd in itself considering that her cell phone was permanently attached to her hip. According to Liz, her cell phone was her ‘mini office’ and kept her in the know. It gave her access to the Internet, instant messaging capability, downloading capability, housed all of her contacts, and her organizer. In a nutshell it was her lifeline. And she viewed every call as important. So it was peculiar that she wasn’t answering her cell.
That was the difference between the two. Michael hated cell phones. On a number of occasions, Liz begged Michael to step into the 21st Century and get a cell phone but his reply was always the same, that a person shouldn’t have that much access to him.
An additional reason Michael wanted to speak with Liz was because of something else Max said. As he and Kyle were leaving the gym, he hinted that a pair of beautiful, doe-brown eyes was waiting for him. This made Michael uneasy because the only person he knew that fit that description was Liz. Max had to be speaking of Liz. Why would he even bring it up to him if he weren’t speaking of her? Ever since then he’s had a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. The fact that Liz wasn’t answering her cell phone only intensified that feeling. He knew that Liz couldn’t stand Max and always complained about him but there were times when he felt she complained a little too much about Max and that there was more to it than just Liz hating Max.
Michael stands before the front door of the Parker’s residence, which was an apartment above the Crash Down. As his hand is raised to knock on the door, it’s quickly jerked open by Nancy Parker.
“Michael!” Nancy exclaims clutching her hand to her chest. “You about gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry Mrs. P.” Michael apologizes. “I know it’s kind of late but I was wondering if Liz was home?”
“You know it’s never too late for you, Michael. You’re welcome here any time.” Nancy smiles, “But Liz isn’t here yet. She just called and said that she would be here shortly. I was on my way to the drug store but you’re more than welcome to come in and wait for her.”
“Thanks.” Michael replies as Nancy steps aside allowing him entrance into the apartment.
“Why don’t you wait for Liz in her room”, Nancy begins to chuckle “You know that daughter of mine. When she puts in an appearance, it’ll be through her bedroom window. There’s soda in the fridge and chips in the pantry. I’ll be back shortly.”
Nancy leaves the apartment and Michael makes his way down the hall to Liz’s bedroom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Crash Down
Alex glances nervously across the table at Isabel. He knew she was pissed at him for bad mouthing Max and he didn’t want her upset with him. He has a major crush on Isabel and would give anything to be more than just friends with her. Logically he knew that he didn’t stand a chance of catching the attention of someone like Isabel. Despite her tarnished image, she was still a knockout... and he was just Alex Whitman, skateboard riding, comic book collecting, computer geek extraordinaire and bassist. In layman’s term, lame and a loser. She would undoubtedly shoot down any attempts on his part. Even though he has no chance in hell of having any type of romantic relationship with her, they were still friends and he was very grateful for that. He clears his throat in an attempt at trying to broach an apology. He opens his mouth but fails miserably when the only sound that spills forth from his throat is another clearing of his esophagus.
“Are you okay?” Isabel worriedly asks. “Do you need some water?”
An embarrassed smile graces his face and he answers, “No. I’m fine.”
“Well, then…” Isabel starts as she stands and begins to put on her jacket. “I’d better go. It’s getting kind of late and I’d hate for my dad to have a panic attack because I’m not in the house. He’s like that when it comes to me, especially with everything that happened last year…” Isabel’s voice trails off.
Alex knew all about her fall from grace last year. The whole school did for the news ran rampant around West Roswell. Isabel Evans, Ice Princess and co-captain of the cheerleading squad was screwing around with Mr. Ramirez. To his surprise, most students blamed Isabel for the relationship and the firing of Mr. Ramirez for he was one of the students’ favorite teachers. However, Alex didn’t share that view. In his opinion, Jesse Ramirez took advantage of her. Mr. Ramirez was an adult and clearly crossed the line by using a young and naïve girl. Alex felt that the firing of Mr. Ramirez was too less of a punishment. He needed to be tried for statutory rape for Isabel would have to live with her wounds for the rest of her life.
“It is getting kind of late. I’ll walk you to your car.” Alex supplies trying to change the subject. He knew the whole experience of last year was difficult for her and he didn’t want her dwelling on it any longer.
“Well, I see chivalry isn’t dead.” Isabel beams as Alex stands and starts to lead her out of the Crash Down.
“Huh?” Alex questions.
“Nothing.” Isabel shakes her head and explains, “Just something Miss Guerrin and I were discussing earlier.”
They step outside the confines of the Crash Down into the nippy air of the night. Just as Alex and Isabel start their trek towards the alley of the Crash Down, Max’s jeep whizzes past them and turns into the alley way. Isabel immediately grabs unto Alex’s arm and pulls him into the darkened shadows compliments of the moon and the Crash Down. She was on the verge of hyperventilating. This was her worst nightmare come true, Max finding out about her relationship with Michael for he was sure to tell their father. Her father would forbid her from associating with Michael and she couldn’t let that happen. He was her brother and she loved him. What exactly was Max doing at the Crash Down and she wonders if that was Liz Parker in the car with him?
Her question is answered as she and Alex peek around the corner and peer into the ally way. To her astonishment, Max and Liz are in the middle of a heavy make-out session.
Tbc...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
when I can’t deliver what I promised when I said I would. Also, I told you a while ago that the parents have this back-story that will greatly affect Liz's life and I sort of hinted to it in chapter 10, I’m not sure if any of you picked up on it but it’s there. I also know that a lot of you think that Max has multiple personalities because he’s one way with Liz and Isabel and another with Michael and you may view it as unrealistic but I personally know and have worked with a few people that were total jackasses to some people but when you saw them interact with a family member, friend or significant other, they were just the sweetest people. Even in high school for example, the popular clique may have been snobbish to those that weren’t part of their clique and really nice to those who were. Sorry for my ramblings but I’m just trying to say that it is possible for a person to be one way around someone and another way around someone else (I hope that makes sense.). And in defense of Liz, she has every intention of telling Michael about Max…she’s just waiting for the right time and remember that she still doesn’t know what happened during tryouts (and it will matter to her once she finds out). Just remember that everything in this story happens for a reason and Max and Liz secretly being together will actually help another relationship form. Again, sorry for being long winded 
. Now to give credit, I used a line from Sexual Healing during Max and Liz’s conversation & a line from Heat Wave during Isabel and Alex’s part. And the song used in this chapter is Bobby Valentino’s My Angel (Never Leave You). As always, thanks for reading and still having an interest in this story even though I'm the worst when it comes to timely updates. And a special thanks to the following for leaving FB: