Before You Leave
Author's Note
I’m sorry that I took three days to update, but I was having trouble with what would come next, whose perspective I would switch to, what people were going to be thinking. I'm not progressing the storyline very far, but I'm switching perspectives. I hope to update tonight with a more meatier post
Feedback
Cocogurl – I’m really glad you like it.
Micheala141- No harm ever came from a wee bit of spoiling!
begonia9508 – Yeah, I really like the way it’s started too. I did not expect it to start like this, but I am pleased with the results.
FaithfulAngel24- That was my favorite part to write. And, you know what, it came the most naturally.
Chapter Four
“Good morning, brother of mine!” Isabel called brightly as she burst into Max's room.
Max was sprawled across the width of his bed, and his legs drooped over the edge of the mattress. The room was very dark because his curtains were drawn, and what little light there was created shadows in the corners. He did not stir, though.
Isabel sauntered towards his window and pushed the curtains to the sides. A ray of the New Mexico sunlight shot out like a laser onto the carpet, piercing the dark gloom of Max Evan’s bedroom.
She spun around when he grunted, “What are you doing, Izzy?” He turned his head to look at his alarm clock, and replied, "It's seven thirty in the morning."
Isabel stood directly in front of him and she beamed, “It’s time to get up!”
“Why?” he snapped.
“Because I told Michael that we could all go to the Crashdown for a light breakfast.”
He groaned, again, and rolled over slowly. Max was just about to disagree because the last place he wanted to be right now was where she worked. However, something inside him melted at the prospect of her changing her mind, so he hid his excitement by shrugging, “I guess I can do that.”
Isabel smiled serenely at his retreating form as he made his way to the bathroom. She knew it was only because a small brunette might be serving their booth that he wanted to go, but she liked having Max Evans wrapped around her finger.
She went back into her room for one final flip of her golden mane. Then she changed the color of her lipgloss from clear to a sheer strawberry by waving her index finger over her mouth.
Then Isabel reached to her shoes, touching the heels, and she concentrated her energy into shortening her heels from two inches to a kitten heel height of one inch.
Alex was only a little bit taller than her, and it was rare to find guys that were within two inches of her height. She liked to be a little shorter than Alex. It made it easier for her to look up and into his eyes.
She couldn't wait to see Alex at the Crashdown this morning; he promised her he'd come, but seeing him now, especially after last night was so much more meaningful than when she had been playing games with him.
It was a new day. A new phase in her life had begun. A shadow of doubt entered quickly into her mind: what if he doesn't like the real me, or what if I can't let him in?
Isabel looked back at her reflection and she could see the uneven mix of doubt and anticipation. One obviously won her heart because just as quickly as those fears had entered her mind, she pushed them away.
A disgruntled Max had started blowing his horn. Isabel poked her head out of her window, and smiled condescendingly at him, "I'll be right there."
She teased her fingers in her hair one more time to make it look as if she had bedhead before smiling nervously, and heading out to the Jeep.
The ride to the Crashdown was quieter than usual. Isabel snuck a few peeks at Max's rigid form. He was watching the road very intently, and his hands didn't slip from the two-ten position for even a moment.
Isabel couldn't figure out what was going on with Max. He was up, he was down, and he was everything in between.
Admittedly, she knew the past few months had been incredibly hard from him. What little information she had extracted from his monosyllabic answers to her questions and the intent glances he threw Liz's way, she knew he had Liz on the brain more often than was probably healthy.
She loved her brother dearly, and she was immensely thankful for all that Liz had done to help them out in crunch times, she wanted him to be happy. . . she wanted both of them to be happy.
"We're here." Max announced tersely. He looked over at Isabel and watched her recover from her thoughts. She looked guiltily at him, and reached over to press his palm briefly, "Thank you," she said.
Max shifted unconfortably and nodded. She slipped out of the jeep and started walking towards Alex.
It hadn't been the first time that he had caught her staring out of the window when she was in his car. He wished he could tell her everything so that they could talk again. He didn't like the awkward silences between them.
But, as he watched her greet Alex, and pull him in for a kiss, he sadly acknowledged he was on his own.
Michael was standing in the shade beside Alex, and he slapped Max's hand as "hello". Max grinned. He was so predictable sometimes.
Alex held Isabel's hand, and released it only to open the door. Max and Michael trailed in behind them. Max had been just about to turn towards Michael to say that it was going to be a long day.
However, uncharacteristically, Michael's eyes were darting around the room, looking for his girl, Maria.
Isabel and Alex were still holding hands when Max slipped in across the table from them. He was whispering something in her ear before he squeezed her palm and walked out of the diner.
"Where's he going?" Max asked curiously.
Isabel was glowing from ear to ear as she replied coyly, "He says he's got something for me."
Michael plumped down on the plastic booth beside Max, and jokingly poked Max, "I don't think it's going to last."
Isabel's face immediately fell, and she balled up a napkin and threw it at Michael. Max couldn't resist laughing because Michael had no idea what pain he might be in.
The one time it had snowed in Roswell almost eight years ago, Max and Isabel had been caught up in the magic of the snow. They'd started a snowfight, and when it seemed no one was winning, Max remembered fondly that Isabel had tampered with her ammo; she'd added heat to the balls or cool air to make them pack more of a punch.
"Ouch!" he whined, "That hurt."
She smiled triumphantly. "You know what, Michael, I am happy. I am so happy right now. For once in a long time things feel right."
His eyes instantly softened though, and he agreed, "I know what you mean. Things are good."
Max stared at Michael as his normally incoherent best friend laced some words together, "I like being with her. I like making her smile. And, it's nice to have something outside of the --"
"Chaos of our lives," Isabel finished. They both locked eyes and started nodding together. She tore her eyes away for a second and witnessed the guilt, then regret, then pain that washed over Max's face.
'What was going on?' she wondered.
She lifted her eyes momentarily and saw Maria and Liz coming out of the backroom chef doors of the kitchen. Maria was glowing just as much as Isabel had been this moments ago, but she saw Liz's face fall as her eyes wandered over to their table.
Isabel didn't have time to really react though, so she pushed the snapshots of Max's hurt and Liz's pain to the back of her mind, because Alex was back. Her guy was back.
She kept her attention on him as he turned to her, and listened intently.
"So, Isabel, you know that restaurant on the corner of Pasadena and South Broadway, the new one that opened."
She looked at him thoughtfully before a giggle burst from her, "You mean that incredibly romantic French one?" she replied, and she lifted her eyebrows playfully.
Michael was gagging from across the table, and reaching for an invisible water glass. Max began pantomizing the act with him, and poured him some relief.
Isabel didn't turn to them though.
"I was wondering if you'd like --"
"Yes," she cut him off.
He smiled. It still fazed him that it remained tough for him to talk to Isabel, but seeing her smile always made it worthwile. "I'll pick you up at sev--"
Alex didn't get a chance to finish because everyone heard a plate break on the floor.
Isabel frowned, and rolled her eyes as everyone began childishly applauding the disruption. She craned her neck to see where the sound had come from. Without being surprised, she saw that it was Maria who had dropped it.
Michael began to get up to rush to her side but before he even got the chance, Liz was pulling her out of the Crashdown.
"The expected is just the beginning. The unexpected is what changes our lives."
Meredith - Grey's Anatomy