Roswell Fanatics

A/N. Hi, Late again! lol Thanks for your kind comments with regards my touch of bad luck, I truly appreciate them. I've been a little distracted lately so I hope this makes sense. Please forgive any mistakes. Cheers, David / StargazerUK.

Chapter 11


Max glanced at Michael with a frown. He sat upright on his bed having just heard a gentle tap on the closed door to his bedroom. “Come in.” He called curiously.

The door slowly opened and the demure figure of Diane Evans stood in the doorway. “Hey, Max. Hey, Michael.” She greeted the two teen boys.

Finding that it was Max’s mom at the door and not the expected Isabel caused both boys to jump to their feet.

“Hey, Mom. What’s the matter?” Max asked tentatively.

“Nothing’s the matter, Max.” She smiled broadly. “You don’t have to look so worried just because your mother has come to visit.”

But that was exactly what Max had to do. One of the few pluses about being a teenage boy was the unwritten rule that most adults simply wrote you off as mean, moody and antisocial, which meant Max was afforded lots of privacy in his own home. Of course, for the most part, he wasn’t mean, moody or antisocial but the fact that he got the perk of having his own space meant he didn’t do anything to change his parents perception of teenagers.

For their part Diane and Philip Evans were clearly aware they had struck oil when it came to their own kids. Both were clearly very bright, well mannered and loving, even if they didn’t always show it. The only fly in the ointment was that the thought that they both had something that they were keeping secret was never far from either Diane’s or her husband Philip’s minds.

Max sat back down on his bed once he realised that everything was alright and that he had no need to act worried. “I just thought Isabel might have sent you up here to harass us.”

“Harass you?” Diane echoed with a curious smile.

“She’s got some sort of date thing happening with Alex Whitman and she has been harassing and threatening both me and Michael for most of the evening because she says we will ruin it for her.” Max explained.

Isabel had told her mother that she was having company over this evening to watch a film and asked if both her mother and father could make themselves scarce but Diane had no idea that it was a boy who was coming over. Isabel never had boys come over. The nearest any of them got to coming inside the house was the front porch and that was only for the briefest of goodbyes at the end of a date. Before they could blink Isabel was back inside and halfway up the stairs to her room.

“Do you know this Alex Whitman?” Diane asked nonchalantly in a vain attempt to be casual but she failed miserably.

Max tried not to smile at not only his mothers curiosity but also the fact that Michael had let out a less than subtle groan at Diane’s question. “He’s a good guy, Mom. I think the best thing I can say about him is that he is absolutely nothing like any other guy she has dated before.”

“And that’s a good thing, right?” Diane nodded slowly.

“Mom…” Max began. “…having met some of Isabel’s so called ‘dates’ before I can tell you that Alex is a huge step in the right direction as far as both you and dad will be concerned...”

“He can walk upright for a start.” Michael cut in. “Unlike some of those loser jocks she has dated before.”

Diane wasn’t used to getting input from Michael but despite how unsubtle his comments had been they did seem to point to a more positive outlook for this young man, whoever he turned out to be.

“So what are your plans for this evening?” As she looked from one teen to the other she could see they hadn’t given it a great deal of thought.

“Staying out of Isabel’s way.” Max finally stated.

“Knowing your sister as we do, I think that might be a good place to start.” Diane smiled as she started to back out of the room and close the door. “I’ll leave you gentleman alone and I will see you later.”

Michael lowered himself back onto the bedroll that he had been stretched out on prior to Mrs Evans appearance, locked his fingers behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. “So what do you think we should do, Maxwell?”

“You heard me tell my mom, stay out of Isabel’s way. Otherwise we will never hear the end of it!” He smiled to himself.

Michael leaned forward so as to look at Max who was now flat-out on his bed. “I’m not talking about tonight.”

Michael’s few words brought Max’s evening to a thundering halt. Since Isabel had revealed to them both about her visit from Future Liz and also shown them the flashes that she received from her, Max’s life had become one of contradictions. He wanted nothing to do with their new found information and yet he wanted to act on it all at once. He wanted to steer clear of Liz Parker but at the same time he wanted nothing more than to sprint round to the Crashdown, pick her up in his arms and tell her how he had longed to hold her and never let go. Finally, he had spent almost ever waking moment thinking about what their lives would be like with friends and loved who where in on their secret while, at the same time, trying to avoid the subject entirely.

He wasn’t sure how he had been able to operate from both ends of the spectrum with regards to all of these matters but somehow he had managed it. That was until Michael’s comment. If his best friend Michael, who had spent most of his difficult life ignoring or avoiding problems, was willing to broach the subject he knew he had to finally face his demons.

Max sat up from his prone position, swinging his feet round until they reached the floor. “I’ve been dreading this ever since Isabel showed us the flashes from Future Liz.”

“Maxwell, I’ve been dreading this since third grade but we can’t ignore it because it is not going to go away.” Michael cut in. “You know me better than anyone but even I can’t simply walk away from what we have seen. Knowledge is power and we have it so we must use it. The only thing we must decide is how.”

Max stood up and started pacing. “It’s just so difficult to know what is the best thing to do next. From what we have seen we gained so much from letting Liz, Maria and Alex know our secret but ultimately it cost Alex his life.”

“So you don’t want to tell them.” Michael surmised from Max’s comments. “I think you are right.” He agreed.

Max stopped pacing and turned to look at Michael. “On the other hand what will our lives be if we aren’t willing to take a chance? We are armed with knowledge that we didn’t have first time round. Isabel already stopped the shooting, which seemed to me to be the catalyst for so much of what went wrong. Maybe this time we can actually make a life for ourselves while keeping everyone safe.”

Michael stood up. “So you do think we should tell them.” He paused for a moment. “I think you are right.”

Max went wide-eyed at his large friends comment.

“I don’t know!” Michael exclaimed at the top of his voice as he threw his hands up in the air. “I’ve never been good at decision making and you know it. You know I have never wanted anyone else to know our secret but I can’t deny the things we have seen from Isabel about the other timeline. About what they did for us and what they risked. I don’t trust anyone other than you and Isabel, you know that, but knowing now what we do, that they risked their lives to keep us safe. I’m torn between telling them everything and telling them nothing! ”

Suddenly the door to Max’s room swung open and a less than happy Isabel, covered from head to toe in a bathrobe and towels stood in the doorway. “What are you guys yelling about?” She asked sternly. “I’m trying to get ready for a very important night and all I can hear is that big lump interrupting my preparation time!” Isabel nodded towards Michael.

As Max stepped past Isabel he took hold of her right arm and pulled her gently into the room while he closed the open door with his free hand. “Once you have stopped crying out yourself and have stopped drawing attention to us we will happily tell you that we are trying to decide what to do with all this information we now have.”

Isabel frowned. “What do you mean, ‘What to do with all this information’? We act upon it!”

“It’s not as simple as that, Isabel.” Max stressed.

“No, Max.” Isabel shook her head vigorously. “That’s exactly what it is. I’ve spent the first half of my life knowing I was different. Once I discovered why I have then spent the second half trying to hide that fact from everyone and anyone. Living in constant fear of slipping up and letting our secret out. I never dreamed of being able to allow someone to see the real me or of ever seeing you two fools have a meaningful relationship with anything or anyone other than a TV remote control. I am not going to let this opportunity slip through my fingers and my advice to both of you is to do the same.”

“You’re going to tell Whitman?” Michael asked anxiously as he stepped towards Isabel.

“Not now.” She scolded impatiently. “But at some stage, where appropriate…maybe.” Isabel realised she was being a bit harsh so she took a deep breath to calm herself a little. She looked from one boy to the other. “I’m not going to leap out at Alex and start changing things with my powers or tell him my life story but just the fact that he could know my secret and still accept me for who I am leaves me feeling that my life has endless possibilities whereas a few days ago I thought I had only one, to hide!”

Isabel moved slowly towards the door and as she took hold of the door handle she turned to look back at her siblings. “I’m not saying that we have to tell them, just that we could. For now I am just excited about sitting down with a guy who I know, given the chance, can love me and that I can love in return. I know you both as well as you know yourselves. If you strip away the macho pride and BS for one minute and be honest with yourselves I think you both feel the same way too.

Isabel stopped and looked pointedly at Max. “I’ve seen you looking at Liz Parker and I know you like her. None of us ever thought you would act on your feelings just as we would never act on ours if we found a special someone, there’s too much at risk.” Isabel paused. “That was until we saw what you did in the other timeline. You can’t deny what you did, Max, or would do to save Liz. We’ve both seen it.”

Isabel turned her attention to Michael who was suddenly looking rather sheepish as he knew what was coming. “You, my big friend. No one is more shocked to see you and Maria Deluca together than me…except maybe you.” Isabel laughed softly. “The one thing I have always known about all of us is that we don’t want to be alone but we choose to be so as to keep us and our loved ones safe. You can’t deny what you saw, Michael. You clearly loved Maria in that timeline so I don’t see any reason why it can’t happen again in this one.”

“I wouldn’t know what to say to her.” Michael stayed rather softly and rather surprisingly.

“Oh, I think you do.” Isabel smiled softly. “From what we have seen it is meant to happen so I think you just need to have a little belief in yourself and take a chance.”

“It’s just…” Michael trailed off for a moment. “It’s just she’s so annoying.”

“…which is why you like her.” Isabel offered encouragingly. “She’s not scared to stand up to you, which is a good thing, believe me.”

“And what about you?” Max asked quietly.

“Me?” Isabel questioned quizzically.

Max simply nodded. “What are your plans with regards Alex?”

Isabel simply shrugged. “I intend to use the knowledge I have been given to give myself a chance of a normal life…starting with a date with Alex Whitman.”

When Isabel saw both boys look at her in confusion she knew she needed to explain herself a little better. “Most people spend their lives looking for someone thinking, ‘Is he/she the one?’. We on the other hand have simply avoided all close contact with anyone else simply to keep our secret hidden. Now, with what Future Liz has shown us, I not only know I can trust Alex with our secret I also know he’s the one.”

“Oh, Brother!” Michael exclaimed again.

Isabel smiled broadly. “I know you think I am being all girly and pathetic but I just don’t care and if the two of you have any sense whatsoever in those dense heads of yours neither will you.”

And with that, Isabel left.

Max and Michael simply stared at one another for a moment.

“Back to the Crashdown?” Michael asked tentatively.

“Back to the Crashdown!” Max agreed.


To be continued…

Chapter 12


“Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you.” Isabel stated purposefully as she swept majestically into the kitchen.

“That’s good, Honey…” Diane replied as she turned to look at her daughter. “…because your father and I wanted to speak to you.”

As Diane turned she was somewhat surprised by her daughters clothing and if the look on her husbands face was anything to go by, so was he. “Isabel, I thought you said you were staying in?” Diane cut in before her daughter could speak further.

Isabel was stopped abruptly in her tracks by her mother’s question. She had been preparing a short speech for her parents to let them know that she had a boy coming over to spend time with her and, if she got her way, they would be seeing a lot more of him. The fact that she had never had a boy round to the house before meant she felt it was appropriate to inform her parents of what she had planned and to let them know that after a brief introduction she hoped they would make themselves scarce for the rest of the evening. It wasn’t as though she had anything untoward planned for her and Alex but as this was all new to her she didn’t want to have to fend off her parents while dealing with having a boy back to the house for the first time.

However, that had all been put on hold by not only the question that her mother had just put to her but also by the fixed gaze her parents were now giving her as they both looked her up and down. Isabel self-consciously looked down at her dress and absently wiped her hand across the silky fabric, smoothing away at invisible creases. “What?!” She asked abruptly.

“You look beautiful.” Her father stated softly. Diane simply nodded silently in agreement as she cupped a hand to her mouth.

“What?” She repeated a second time, her voice little more than a whisper. Her second enquiry was a million miles away from her first despite them appearing to be one and the same question. Her first was one of defence while her second was one of surprise and disbelief.

“Your father said you look beautiful and I have to say I agree with him entirely.” Diane clarified. “When I saw how beautiful you are and how fabulous you look in that dress I thought your plans must have changed and you were going out.”

Isabel looked down at her dress for a second time as she tried to hide the slight blush that now sat on her cheeks. “I…I wasn’t sure what to wear.” She stammered. Diane and Philip exchanged a quick look of surprise, their daughter never stammered or got nervous but this was obviously the case now. “Everything I tried on didn’t seem right until I put this dress on. I know it is a bit of an overkill for a night in but I think Alex will like it.”

Isabel now flushed bright red having just realised what she had just said. She glanced up at her parents who were equally as surprised as she was but she knew they wouldn’t say anything about her comment of dressing in something Alex would like. Her mother wouldn’t want to embarrass her more than she already felt and her father would keep quiet anyway for fear of saying the wrong thing entirely.

“Max was telling me that you are having your friend Alex over this evening.” Diane finally stated hoping to break the uncomfortable silence that had threatened to descend upon them.

“Yes!” Isabel exclaimed a little too loudly as she fought to hide her relief at the fact that the conversation was finally moving away from what she was wearing and who for. “I know I told you that I was having a friend over but I didn’t want to jinx it so I wanted to wait until now before telling you that it is a boy who is coming over.”

Isabel tired to ignore the fact that she noticed her father visibly stiffen up at the mention of a boy coming over to spend the evening with her.

“You don’t want to jinx it?” Philip asked quizzically.

Isabel nodded vigorously. “I was supposed to go on a date with Alex before but I got sidetracked and missed it. It was bad enough missing the date but he thought I had stood him up deliberately, which I would never do to him, so I am keen for everything to go smoothly tonight.”

“Max was telling me a little bit about Alex.” Diane offered in an attempt to put her clearly anxious daughter at ease.

“He did!” Isabel countered as her mother’s words had the opposite effect and she tensed up. “What did he say?” She asked nervously.

Diane smiled once again as she realised that her daughter was worried that Max might have spoken out of turn when it came to Isabel’s date. “He said he was a very nice boy and that your dad and I will like him.”

“Max said that?” Isabel asked in surprise.

“Yes and you shouldn’t look so surprised. Your brother has been known to be nice when it comes to you, on occasion.” Diane smiled as she gave her husband a gentle nudge, looking to pull him into the conversation.

“So tell us about this Alex boy.” He asked hastily taking his cue from his wife.

“There’s not much to tell…yet.” Isabel replied as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “He’s liked me for a long time but I never really thought he was my type so I just left things as they were.”

“And now?” Philip pressed gently. He then watched in amazement as his daughters face simply lit up as she spoke about this unseen boy.

“I suddenly realised how stupid I had been and that I’ve been looking for the wrong qualities in the wrong boys.” Isabel stated firmly.

Diane knew it was time for her to step in as her husband was clearly getting uncomfortable with both the line of questioning and the replies he was getting. “What are Max and Michael doing, do you know?”

“I think they have gone back to the Crashdown.” Isabel replied. Clearly happy to be moving away from the third degree her parents had been giving her even if they were doing it gently.

“Again?!” Diane asked in surprise. “Weren’t they there earlier?”

“Next you’ll be telling us that those two have found a couple of girls they are interested in.” The smile fell from Philips face as his flippant comment did not meet with the reply he had been expecting. Isabel simply looked at her father silently as she raised one eyebrow and smiled ever so slightly.

It was hard to tell who looked the more relieved as a knock at the door interrupted the strained conversation.

“I’ll get it.” Isabel called having already spun round and darted out of the kitchen and up the hallway towards the front door.


Alex tugged nervously at his shirt collar. He had had absolutely no idea as to what to wear for his visit to Isabel’s so he fully intended to go with his usual plaid shirt and khaki pants but a quick phone call to Liz and Maria had soon put a stop to that. When he had called his two best friends to query what clothes would be appropriate for the evening his initial suggestion of the aforementioned clothes was met by a resounding ‘No!’ from both girl’s. Of course that had propelled him into a blind panic as to what to wear but thankfully both Liz and Maria had it covered.

He had totally forgotten about the dark shirt and black trousers the girls had bought him last Christmas but it seemed the girls hadn’t as they instructed him to wear the ensemble they had chosen for him. The new clothes hadn’t exactly been to his taste but he wasn’t so rude as to not wear them at least once for the girl’s. However, that plan had been brought to a halt before he had been given the chance to set it in motion. Both girls told him he was to save their present for a special occasion but Alex didn’t think any of them could have imagined this scenario in their wildest dreams. Prophetic or not the girls had been right in not only buying him the clothes but also in getting him to keep them for just such an occasion as this.

All of that being said it didn’t detract from the fact that his shirt collar was a little too tight and tonight of all nights he didn’t want to be suffering from a lack of oxygen. He was confident he could manage to hyperventilate and pass-out without the aid of a tight shirt collar, his nerves would see to that.

The front door suddenly swung open and Isabel and Alex came face to face for the first time that evening.

“Don’t you look smart.” Isabel greeted Alex.

Alex simply stared back at Isabel with a blank expression on his face.

Isabel took a step forward. “Alex, are you feeling alright? You look a little stunned.”

“Wow!” Alex finally broke his silence.

Alex’s comment caught Isabel off-guard as she blushed furiously and dropped her gaze.

Thankfully Alex finally pulled himself out of his stupor and regained some sort of composure. “Sorry, Isabel. It’s just you look so beautiful in that dress I didn’t know what to say to you.

“Thank you, Alex.” Isabel smiled broadly as she lifted her gaze. “You look very handsome yourself. Would you like to come in?” Isabel gestured for Alex to step inside.

“I suppose that might be an idea as we don’t really want to spend all night on the front step now do we.” Alex mentally kicked himself for being so lame. It was as though he had lost the power of rational thought and, more to the point, normal conversation and it seemed as though he was only capable of conversing in small talk.

It was only as Alex stepped inside that Isabel noticed he was holding a large bunch of flowers behind his back. “Are those for me?” She asked nervously.

It was Alex’s turn to blush. “Actually, no. I bought these for your mom.” Alex kicked himself a second time as he cursed the fact that he didn’t bring any flowers for Isabel. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring you any flowers. If I am honest I didn’t think you would want them but my mom thought it might be nice if I brought some for your mom.”

“Alex, I was only joking.” Isabel lied as she fought to put her guest at his ease while hiding her own disappointment. “I’ve never had flowers bought for me so I wouldn’t know what to do with them but it was a very kind thought for you to buy them for my mom, she’ll love them I’m sure.”

To Alex’s surprise Isabel confidently took his hand and led the two of them up the hallway to the kitchen where Diane and Philip had been waiting. As the pair entered the kitchen Isabel jumped straight into the introductions. “Mom, Dad. This is my friend Alex Whitman. Alex this is my mom and dad, Diane and Philip Evans.”

Alex stepped forward and handed the large bunch of flowers to Diane. “These are for you, Mrs Evans. I hope you like them.” He then turned to Philip with an outstretched hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Sir.”

As Alex said hello to Isabel’s parents he was trying to do several things at once. He was trying not to faint due to a lack of blood and oxygen getting to his head, thanks to his tight shirt collar. He was trying not to faint as Isabel’s father squeezed the life out of his hand in the firmest handshake he had ever felt. Finally, and most importantly, he was trying not to faint at the realisation that Isabel was still holding onto his hand.

After the brief introductions Alex took a step back beside Isabel.

“I think I know your mother, Alex, and I know my husband knows your father but we had no idea that you and Isabel knew each other.” Diane began. “I would have guessed that you both went to the same school but there are so many students it didn’t occur to me that you would know one another.”

Alex glanced at Isabel for a moment. “Isabel and I have been in the same classes since the third grade but we usually move in different circles.” He smiled politely.

“But not anymore.” Isabel cut in as she tightened her grip on Alex’s hand.

“Well, we will leave the pair of you to enjoy your evening.” Diane stated as she moved back towards the kitchen table where she and Philip had been sitting prior to Isabel coming downstairs from her room earlier. “It was lovely meeting you, Alex, and I hope we see you again soon.”

“It was nice meeting you.” Alex nodded and smiled as Isabel turned the pair of them slowly and moved towards the hallway.

“That wasn’t too painful was it?” Isabel asked nervously as they both moved along the hall.

“Much better than I thought.” Alex stated honestly. “Not that I was expecting anything other than your parents being very nice.” He added hurriedly causing Isabel to chuckle.

“So would you like to go into the den to watch a movie or would you rather see my bedroom?” Isabel asked innocently while trying not to look flirtatious with her last comment. When she saw Alex look a little rosy cheeked after hearing her offer she absently reached up and unhooked the top button on his shirt. “You look very smart, Alex, and I have to say I really like those clothes on you but I think you will choke yourself if you leave that top button closed all evening.”

To Isabel’s surprise Alex took a step backwards as he started to look very nervous. “Actually, Isabel. If you don’t mind I just need to sneak out for a few minutes.” Alex checked his watch as he moved backwards along the hallway towards the front door causing Isabel’s expression to become one of utter confusion while she slowly followed as he backed away from her.

“What’s wrong, Alex?” She asked anxiously. “Have I done something wrong?”

“Isabel, everything is fine I just need to go out to my car. I promise I will be back in a few minutes.”

Isabel watched open mouthed as Alex stepped out the front door and closed it behind him. Her head was spinning as she quickly tried to recount the conversation of the last few minutes, frantically trying to find out what she had done wrong. When she reached the front door and drew back the small curtain to look out the glass opening in the door her worst fears were realised as she watched Alex climb into his car and drive away with wheels spinning.

Maybe she had been wrong all along. Maybe he wasn’t capable of loving her in the way that she had hoped and dreamed he could.

Her head dropped as tears began to run down her cheeks. She turned silently and moved towards the stairs. She thought about going back to see her parents but she didn’t need them to see her as she faced complete and total humiliation.

It was than that it dawned on her. Not that it was something she would ever have believed but there seemed very few alternatives…

Had Alex left to get his own back at her for standing him up at the cinema?


To be continued…

A/N: I know this is the last thing I should say but this isn't my best work . I've had a lot on, which I am glad to say is only a few days from being sorted, and then I am back to normal. For those of you who heard about my bit of bad luck...the good news is they caught the gang and they are now in jail. The bad news is these guys burgled 80 houses in six weeks looking to steal cars! Thanks to my trusty car and "Tracker" they won't being doing that for a while.

I'm not making excuses but I have been a bit distracted but I am out next week to buy a new car and then I am back to normal, hopefully lol.

This is sort of short but I promise a much longer chapter soon now I am back in the game. thanks for your patience. ( And no more A/N, hooray! )

Cheers, David / StargazerUK


Chapter 13


“Well, that’s just plain weird!” Maria stated out of the blue.

Liz stopped what she was doing and looked at her friend. “What’s just plain weird?”

As Liz waited for a reply Maria simply nodded in her general direction. It became clear that Maria wasn’t nodding at Liz but beyond where her friend had been cleaning tables at the space directly behind where they were working. When she turned around Liz finally understood what Maria thought was weird.

Max and Michael had come into the diner and were currently taking a seat at one of the many empty booths. The dinner rush was long since over and it would still be a while yet before the later evening crowd that emptied out of cinemas and bowling alleys started to appear.

Liz quickly looked back at Maria. “Did you tell anyone?” She asked hastily.

“Tell who, what?” Maria asked in confusion.

Liz sighed heavily as she placed her hands on her hips in an impatient stance. “Think, Maria!” She stated sternly.

Suddenly Maria understood. “Oh!” She let slip before censoring herself. Now that Maria finally understood Liz’s question she took umbrage to it. “What do you mean ‘Did you tell anyone’? Who would I tell? Alex is on his date thingy with Isabel and even then I think it should come from you and not me.”

“So you’re saying you haven’t told anyone.” Liz mumbled, thinking out loud as she set things straight in her mind. It had only been an hour or so since she had finally plucked up the courage to break up with Kyle and it seems that one of the many after effects of said event was a wave of paranoia.

After hearing what her two closest friends had to say on the subject it hadn’t exactly made Liz’s mind up for her but it had confirmed what she had silently been thinking to herself, not that she would admit that to Maria or Alex. They were hard enough to live with at the best of times but to tell either or both of them that they had been right when they told her that Kyle wasn’t the boy for her meant she would never hear the end of it.

“You said he took it pretty well.” Maria cut in on Liz’s silent feelings.

“He did…sort of.” Liz stated slowly. “I mean he didn’t start throwing chairs or calling me names but he wasn’t exactly pleased about it. He took some convincing.” Liz added belatedly.

“He took some convincing!” Maria repeated with an unmistakeable tone in her voice. “Do I have to go all smackdown on his ass?!”

Liz couldn’t help smile after hearing her best friends protective remarks, she wouldn’t have expected anything less from her. “No, Maria. I’ll be sure to let you loose if the need arises but we are good for now.” Liz paused for a moment. “I can sort of understand his confusion when I told him, but then again he wasn’t really in the relationship in the way that I was so I guess that was understandable, his surprise at the break up I mean.” Liz clarified.

When Liz saw Maria quizzical look she realised that she had better explain further. “I sat down and tried to think about our relationship or at least what we took for a relationship and I realised we both wanted different things from it.”

“You mean he wanted sex and you didn’t” Maria offered nonchalantly.

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed at her friend’s candour. “That was part of it but, despite rumours to the contrary, that wasn’t the only thing our opinions differed on. Kyle is at that stage where his image is all important whereas that is the last thing on my mind. I want to date a guy who wants to go out with me to spend time with me…have a proper conversation, not so that I look good on his arm or to make the number of guys and girls at a party an even number.”

Maria reached forward and rubbed at her friends arm in a reassuring manner. “With all due respect to Kyle I think you have made the right decision. You’re better off out of it, Babe.”

It was then that both girls heard a rather loud, rather unceremonious cough.

When they both turned around in the direction of the blatant interruption they saw a rather embarrassed Max with his head held low trying to hide behind a menu while a rather shameless Michael was staring in the direction of the two waitresses looking somewhat impatient. Both girls moved over towards the two boys.

“You can’t possibly be hungry!” Maria stated purposefully as she looked directly at Michael. “You were only in here a couple of hours ago for dinner.”

“I’m sorry.” Michael made a point of dramatically looking around the diner. “We’d better leave, Maxwell. When we came into this diner we mistakenly thought that they were here to serve food and drink that we pay for but I guess that is no longer the case. It seems that we now have to fight to get their attention and when we do all they want to do is moan about us daring to interrupt their deep and meaningful conversation with our trivial demands for food!”

Before Maria had a chance to explode in reply to Michaels tirade Liz sought to bring this comical confrontation to a halt before it got out of hand. “Sorry.” She offered with a smile to each boy.

Max quickly glanced at Michael before looking back at Liz. “I think it is us who should be apologising. We’re not in any rush so we could have waited until you were ready rather than drawing attention to ourselves.” Max made a point of looking across at Michael as he made his last comment.

“What can we get you?” Liz asked hurriedly as she knew that if there was a lull in the conversation either Maria, Michael or both would start up again.

“Can we ask what pies you have?” Max asked softly while trying desperately not to blush.

Little did he know Liz was fighting the same fight.

“We have apple, blueberry and peach.”

“I’ll have a cherry coke and a piece of apple pie please.” Max smiled at Liz before looking to Michael with a questioning look.

Michael sighed as he felt his desire to be argumentative subside. “I’ll have the same…” When he saw Max glare at him he begrudgingly added. “…please.”

Both girls turned away and headed back behind the counter. Maria started to pour the drinks while Liz cut two pieces of pie and placed them on a couple of plates.

Max and Michael had watched silently as the two girls left but as soon as they were out of earshot Max rounded on his big friend. “Forgive me, Michael, but wasn’t it your idea to come here tonight? We both know what is at stake here and I thought we were going to try and give it a go. Try to get to know Liz and Maria now that we know how they would react to our secret.”

To Max’s surprise Michael dropped his head. “I know, Max. It’s just I don’t know how to talk to people at the best of times and with Deluca it seems to be one hundred times worse. She just makes me so angry…” Michael slowly trailed off.

Without wishing to appear patronising Max felt sorry for his big friend. He himself was hugely lacking when it came to girls but he understood that as hard as he found it, Michael found it even more difficult. “The one thing I think you need to remember is that when we were younger if a girl liked a boy or a boy liked a girl they didn’t know how to show it so they would usual punch the one they like and run away.”

Michael looked stunned at Max. “Max, are you telling me I am six years old in the school yard and because I like Maria the only way I have of showing it is to get annoyed at her?” Before Max could reply Michael continued. “You might have a point!”

Max was unable to show his shock at having Michael agree with his theory because both Liz and Maria returned to the booth carrying the drinks and plates of apple pie. “Do you guys need anything else as we are about to go on our break?”

Upon hearing Liz’s question Max felt it was too good an opportunity to forgo. He had no idea where his suddenly rush of confidence came from but he finally understood the old saying of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Max looked directly at Liz. “Would you like to join us?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Isabel sat at the head of her bed resting again her pillows. They were stacked up behind her as she clutched her knees to her chest and gently rocked backwards and forwards as she waited for her tears to subside. What tears she had shed were having a cascading affect on her. She initially started crying at how upset she felt when Alex upped and left in the way that he did. She then started to cry more because she was hurt that Alex could be so mean to her after she had tried to open up to him. Now she was crying because if she had really missed her opportunity with Alex in this timeline she may never get another chance for true happiness, which she knew she could have achieved with Alex thanks to her insight from future Liz.

Suddenly Isabel leapt from the bed as she wiped away her tears with the backs of her hands. This wasn’t her. She wasn’t the type to let some guy get the better of her and reduce her to tears. If Alex wanted to get his own back at her he was going to have to do more than this. It wasn’t she who had lost an opportunity with him, rather that he had lost an opportunity with her.

Isabel grabbed her car keys from the side and headed out the door and along the hallway to the stairs. Alex Whitman had picked the wrong girl to mess with and she wasn’t the type of girl to sit and stew after what he had done. She had already shed too many tears over this and the only way she was going to be able to show Alex that his little plan had failed was to show him how unaffected by it she is. This was Alex Whitman she was talking about. If he wasn’t at home he would be at the Crashdown so it wasn’t going to be difficult to find him.

“Mom, Dad, I’m just going out for a short while I won’t be long.” Isabel called as she threw on her jacket and marched towards the front door.

As she pulled open the front door she came crashing into the one person she least expected to find…and he was holding flowers.


To be continued…

A/N: OK, two things. 1) Last time I said no more A/N, it seems I lied , but not intentionally I promise. 2) I'm breaking another rule by writing and posting on the same day, which I haven't done in a very long while. I'm fully aware that self praise is no praise but I must confess I liked this chapter and I sincerely hope that you do too. Cheers, David.


Chapter 14


Alex almost jumped out of his skin when the front door swung open in a rush. He was even more surprised to see a rather distraught looking Isabel standing in the doorway. Before he had a chance to form a coherent thought, let alone act upon it, Alex watched as Isabel looked at him, looked at the flowers he was holding before she threw herself into his arms.

Now Alex was nothing if not a gentleman and having two girls as his best friends meant he knew a thing or two about what girls liked and disliked and also what was appropriate and what was inappropriate subject matter. The realisation that his first thought when Isabel threw herself into his arms was how heavy she was and that no matter what else happened he couldn’t drop her was beyond inappropriate, to say the least!

He wasn’t implying that Isabel was actually heavy, on the contrary, he more than anyone thought she was perfectly formed but the fact that he was of the lean build variety when it came to men and Isabel was nearly six feet tall and curvy in all the right places meant it had taken an awful lot of effort on his part to not only catch Isabel but also to hold on to her.

Alex was all set to continue his rather inane course of thinking when a tiny kernel of a notion started to germinate in the very back of his mind. Slowly, very slowly it started to build. He had absolutely no clue as to what this growing thought, if it was a thought, was he just knew it was gathering pace.

Unbelievably he found himself frowning as Isabel continued to cling to him as he discovered his entire thought process being consumed by this growing conundrum. Finally the realisation of what was actually happening slammed into like a freight train. It wasn’t the fact that he was standing on the front doorstep of the Evans house with Isabel Evans herself firmly secreted in his arms that had finally hit him, amazing as that fact was. What shocked him more than anything else was the realisation that she was crying!

“Isabel! What is it? Can you tell me what’s wrong?” He asked tentatively as he gently took hold of Isabel’s shoulders and tried to lean back to look into his distraught companions eyes.

“Just give me a minute, please.” She sobbed slightly as it became clear she was battling to regain her composure.

Alex’s mind was a myriad of confused thoughts as he tried to work out what had caused Isabel to be so upset. He replayed their earlier encounter over in his mind and he couldn’t find any problems there. He had arrived on time as any courteous visitor should and he was safe in the knowledge that he was dressed appropriately for the occasion, Isabel had even told him how smart he looked.

He’d been through to meet Mr and Mrs Evans and Isabel had made sure that she was holding onto his hand when they met so she was clearly happy for even her closest family to know she was on a sort of date with him.

The last time that Alex could remember Isabel still being in her earlier happy mood was when he ran out to get her some flowers. He had silently admonished himself at the time when Isabel had told him that she had never been brought flowers before. He’d tried to get that thought out of his head but all he could keep thinking about was that this was their first date and he sincerely hoped there would be many more. With that in mind it would undoubtedly help his cause if he could make this date as memorable as possible so running out to get flowers was definitely called for…

Suddenly Alex froze.

While he had been waiting for Isabel to recompose herself, as she had requested, he had been having a mental dialogue with himself as he checked off all of his actions in the last half an hour as though he was ticking off a list. The sole purpose was to confirm what he was sure he already knew, namely that he wasn’t the cause of Isabel’s distress. If he was he would be absolutely mortified, which was why he was checking so carefully. However, it was now becoming clear that in his eagerness to make sure everything was perfect for their first date he had forgotten the most important thing…to tell Isabel what he was doing.

Now that he understood what had happened and that his sheer stupidity seemed to know no bounds it all came rushing at him at once. Isabel had gone out of her way to reassure him that she did indeed want this date and to that end she had invited him to her house, something he was sure not many other boys, if any if the rumours around school could be believed, got to experience. With the best will in the world he had gone to get flowers simply because Isabel had told him, to his surprise, that no one had ever bought her flowers and he only wanted to make her happy. Of course his plan might have gone a little better if he had told Isabel what he was doing and not relied on her having psychic powers, which obviously she didn’t have. She was only human after all, just like him!

“Isabel, I am so sorry.” He whispered gently. “You must think I am some kind of fool at the very least and some kind of heartless bastard at the very worst. Sadly, I think I fall somewhere in between. I would never intentionally hurt you but when you said you had never been brought flowers I couldn’t get that thought out of my head. I rushed off to get you flowers because I knew the store closed at 10pm so I had very little time. Of course it might have helped if I had told you what I was doing so you didn’t think I was abandoning you but that would have ruined the surprise.”

Isabel had taken a full two or three minutes to gather her thoughts after the emotional roller coaster of a ride she had been on in the last twenty minutes or so. She had gone from elation at finally getting her date with Alex to the depths of despair at thinking he had abandoned her as a way of getting back at her, which of course she should never have even considered the possibility. She already knew Alex wasn’t like that in the slightest. Finally the shock and sheer joy at finding him on her doorstep once again, but this time with flowers brought her spirits rocketing back up to the dizzy heights of cloud nine.

“Alex, it’s not you who should be apologising. If anyone it should be me.” Isabel began. “I’m the one who has overreacted and made a huge and hurtful assumption about you, which I know, could never be true.”

Upon hearing that Alex frowned in confusion. “I’m sorry, Isabel. I don’t understand. What assumption?”

Isabel suddenly dropped her head, feeling a little shameful. “I thought you had only come on this date and then left in the way that you did to get back at me for standing you up at the cinema. I know now that you would never do such a thing but I was so hurt I didn’t know what else to think!”

“You’re unbelievable.”

Isabel’s head shot up to look at Alex upon hearing those words. She prepared herself for the tongue lashing she no doubt deserved for being so callous and thinking the worst of Alex.

“I’ve gone and done the most hurtful and idiotic thing anyone can possibly do on a first date, ruining it instead of making it special in the way that I intended and yet rather than tearing into me in the way that you have every right to do you instead start admonishing yourself for thinking something about me that every other sane person in this world would think given my actions.”

Alex took a step towards Isabel. “I knew it!”

It was Isabel’s turn to frown. “Knew it! Knew what?” She asked quizzically.

Alex started to smile the widest smile. “I knew you were the girl I always thought you to be. I’ve watched for years as you’ve given off this air of disinterest and kept everyone other than Max and Michael at arms length, which is all well and fine but I just knew that that was simply a facade. I don’t claim to know why you have always kept these walls around you and to be quite honest I don’t really care as long as you are willing to let me in.”

Before Isabel had been given a chance to reply to Alex’s heartfelt speech she was interrupted by a familiar voice. “Are we heating the entire street now or are you two going to come in and close the door?”

Both Isabel and Alex turned to see the large figure of Philip Evans standing in the doorway.

“I thought you said you were going out, Isabel?” Philip questioned. “Are you back already or have you yet to go?”

Isabel had to fight to hide a smile when she saw her father’s gaze focus on the bunch of flowers Alex was still holding. “We’re back, thank you, Daddy. Alex just went to get me some flowers and when he didn’t return I was going to go and look for him but as you can see he is back now.”

Philip eyed Alex suspiciously. “Got lost on your way back from the store did you, son?”

Alex couldn’t help but pick up on the not so hidden message from Isabel’s father. For ‘Got lost on the way back from the store did you, son?’ read ‘Are you some kind of moron who gets lost on the way back from a place you have been a thousand times before?’

He couldn’t help but feel intimidated by Isabel’s rather large father not least because he still felt guilty for acting the way he did with Isabel earlier. As of this minute he was happy to accept any and all punishments that were heading his way and that included any comments sent to him from Isabel’s protective father. He didn’t blame Mr Evans in the slightest. If he had a daughter some day and some lanky high school kid came knocking at his door looking to take the one thing he held above all others in this world on a date he wasn’t sure if he would be as understanding as Philip Evans had been. He could see himself dropping into the local gun store looking for something that held lots of bullets and was quick and easy to reload. The high school boys would soon get the picture when it came to dating Alex Whitman’s daughter.

However, before he had had a chance to think of a suitable reply he felt a warm and gentle hand slip into his and give it a tight squeeze. “Stop being mean, Daddy.” Isabel cut in. “I think it’s very sweet that Alex went to get me flowers and I bet when you tell mom she will do too.”

With his daughter standing up for the new young man in her life and at the mention of his wife’s opinion soon to be bearing down on him Philip knew when it was best to retreat. He stepped back and gestured down the hallway, beckoning in the two teens.

“Thanks, Daddy.” Isabel enthused as she stepped inside, still holding firmly onto Alex.

“Thanks, Mr Evans.” Alex offered as Isabel dragged him towards the stairs.

“I’ll be up in a little while to check your windows are locked properly, Isabel.” Mr Evans called after his daughter.

“No you won’t, Daddy.” Came the reply. “But I appreciate the sentiment.”

“Philip.”

Philip Evans turned towards his called name and saw his wife standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He was unsurprised to see Diane holding out a hand in his direction accompanied by a gentle smile.

“But she’s my baby daughter.” He reasoned with his wife.

“Not anymore.” Diane replied as she took Philips hand and led him back into the kitchen. “She’ll always be your little girl, in your eyes at least, but to everyone else she is a beautiful young woman who is starting to make her own way in life and I am afraid we are both simply going to have to get used to it.”

“But you said he plays in a band!”

“I also said he is a straight ‘A’ student.”

“But he might be after only one thing!”

“I very much doubt that after the way he looked at Isabel earlier but if he is he is in for a rude awakening. We both know our daughter, which means we both know she can wipe the floor with any boy not least a polite and kind one like Alex.”

“And you really think she will be OK?”

“When was the last time you saw her look so happy?”

Philip paused for a moment. “I hate it when you are right!”

Diane smiled. “I’d have thought you would have been used to it by now.”



To be continued…

A/N: As it has gone midnight in London I am officially allowed to wish you all a Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. I wanted to buy you all something but as there are literally hundreds of you I thought an updated chapter was the cheaper option and I am nothing if not cheap!. lol Cheers, David / StargazerUK.

Chapter 15


“You’re not serious?” Max pressed.

“Totally.” Liz couldn’t help but smile broadly. “By the time we had finished with him he looked like one of the band members from Kiss!”

“Alex actually let you put make up on him?” Max asked incredulously.

Maria nodded vigorously. “In fairness to him we might have understated exactly how much we intended to put on and thankfully he only realised once we gave him a mirror at the end of it. Saying no to either or both of us isn’t really an option for Alex so most of the time he would simply have to grin and bear it.”

“You don’t seem too impressed by that story, Michael.” Liz stated frankly as she looked at the unspeaking oversized boy. “I take it you would never let a girl put make up on you.” Unexpectedly Liz watched as Michael’s gaze shot over to look at Max, while at the same time Max seemed to be in difficulty as he tried to stifle a laugh.”

“Oh, don’t tell us that the mighty Michael Guerin has allowed a girl to put make up on him!” Maria questioned. However, she wasn’t trying quite as hard as Max to hide her amusement at such a notion. “I take it Isabel worked her magic, for whatever reason…the motives of which I can’t begin to imagine.”

“Firstly, if we are all happy to be opening up to one another let me start by saying I wasn’t the only one who ended up covered in make up!” Michael made a point of fixing Max with a steely gaze to make sure there was little if any doubt as to whom he was referring. Suddenly, Max didn’t seem quite so amused. “Secondly, It was a few years ago now and lets just say Isabel was in her experimental stage and anyone who has spent anytime with Isabel knows you don’t get to say no and have a good night sleep afterwards.”

Both Liz and Maria frowned at such a strange comment but thankfully they seemed to simply shrug it off as they both took sips from their drinks. Fortunately neither had noticed the sudden look of horror that appeared on Max’s face when he realised how close Michael had come to letting slip some very pertinent, or at the very least curious, information.

“Isabel always had this habit of banging on the bedroom wall from her adjoining room at all hours of the night if we ever annoyed her.” Max hurriedly explained with a rather darker shade of lie than the usual white. “It meant we would never get a good night sleep if we did anything to upset her.” He said, covering his big friends near slip.

“Do you guys want another drink?” Liz asked breaking the sudden silence that had descended around the booth as she peered into her now empty glass.

When both boys nodded the two girls slipped out from their seats and headed over to the counter. As with earlier on, as soon as the girls were out of earshot the two boys dropped deep into conversation. “We should get out of here!” Michael stated in a rush.

“What on earth for?” Max asked quizzically. “It wasn’t even a real slip, both girls clearly thought it was an odd thing to say but neither is going to make the huge leap to there being something extra terrestrial going on here. Let’s not panic!”

“You don’t seem to understand, Maxwell. I’ve never even come close to slipping before. Me more than any of us has made sure we keep ourselves to ourselves and that means keeping our secret safe.” Michael explained in a hushed tone.

“And nothing has changed, Michael.” Max insisted. “We haven’t decided to tell them anything yet. We are simply allowing ourselves to get to know them a little better. You’ve seen the flashes, you know what can be gained.”

“That’s just my point.” Michael pushed further. “It’s the flashes that are causing me the problem.” When he saw Max frown he knew he needed to explain himself a little better. “Having seen those flashes from Isabel the more time I spend with Maria and Liz the more comfortable I am becoming with their presence. I keep seeing scenes where we were all spending time together and were clearly comfortable with one another.”

“But surely that’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Max questioned.

“Not if we are currently keeping a monumental secret from them, it isn’t!” Michael was struggling to keep his voice down he was getting so animated. “I can tell from what we have seen that part of the appeal in letting Maria, Liz and Alex know about us is that we don’t have to hide around them, we can be ourselves. But because of those bloody images in my head I now have two scenarios to deal with rather than the usual one. I’m not like you and Isabel, Maxwell, we both know that. It’s harder for me to get my head around these things, you know I don’t like change. Changing something that I have had set in stone for all these years is proving more difficult to deal with than I first realised.”

Michael glanced towards the girls and he could see they would soon be back at the booth with their drinks. “Instead of knowing that no one knows our secret and no one will ever be allowed to know our secret, which made it a damn sight easier to keep than this limbo we find ourselves in. Suddenly I have images and feelings of all three of them knowing what is really going on with us! Now, every time I look at Maria one half of my mind is telling me she knows nothing and to keep it that way while the other half is telling me she already knows everything there is to know and to not be so defensive.”

Before Max had a chance to reply to Michael’s outburst he could see his friend sit up stiffly in his chair, denoting the return of the girl’s from behind where Max was sitting. A few seconds later Maria arrived at the table with a tray of drinks while Liz was in tow carrying a tray containing a few plates with a mixture of fries, onion rings and nachos.

“As it’s been almost ten minutes since we fed you we thought you might like a little something to follow those pieces of pie you had.” Liz joked gently with a smile.

Max smiled in return. “I’m a little stuffed but I think I might be able to manage a few fries. Michael?”

Michael stumbled out of his stupor at hearing his name. He realised that he had a spilt second decision to make with regards whether he was going to stay or leave. The fact that both Max and Isabel were clearly keen to try and take this making friends thing with the three humans as far as possible meant he was in for it if he did anything to ruin their plan. When he noticed Max smiling at him and nodding towards the food it did occur to him that it didn’t have to be all bad news, having these humans about. He didn’t need telling twice despite being unaware he had been told the first time. He reached forward, grabbed an onion ring and was just about to stuff it into his mouth when suddenly he stopped, looked from Liz to Maria and simply said. “Thanks” Before continuing his quest to eat everything and anything laid before him.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Alex stood at the threshold to Isabel’s bedroom but as of yet he hadn’t found the courage to take that final step inside. He was teetering on the edge of nirvana as far as he was concerned but it wasn’t as simple as that, not by a long way. Without getting into the nuts and bolts of his fantasies he had often thought about Isabel but as she always seemed so unattainable to him he didn’t need to have hot and steamy dreams to satisfy his imagination. Proximity was all he needed.

Also, as he claimed to be truly interested in who Isabel Evans really was and not just the image or façade that she showed everyone else he knew he would feel guilty if, when he dreamed about her, all he dreamt about was sex and having his wicked way. He couldn’t show double standards, not if he truly cared about her in the way that he claimed. That was why he was always so happy and so content to simply dream about going for walks in the moonlight or dancing with Isabel in formal attire. He wanted romance not sex. Sex would come later, he hoped!

“Alex, you look like you are blushing! Are you alright?”

Isabel’s concerned voice pulled Alex back to the here and now and he could feel the flush of his skin intensify as he not only blushed about the thoughts he had just been having with regards Isabel but also that even though she didn’t know it Isabel had just caught him daydreaming about her.

“I’m fine, Isabel.” He stated shakily. “Just a little warm but I am sure I’ll be OK in a minute.”

“Are you going to come in?”

When Alex looked at Isabel he wasn’t sure he had ever seen her look so beautiful. It wasn’t just the effort she had clearly made to make herself look extra special for this evening. It wasn’t the beautiful dress that had taken his breath away when he had first seen it earlier on, as Isabel had undoubtedly intended. The thing that was making this night so wondrous for him was how comfortable she seemed in his company and how welcoming she was being towards him.

At every point throughout the entire evening Isabel had either smiled at him warmly or made a point of holding onto his hand. It was more than being tactile, despite Alex loving every moment of it. She was clearly going out of her way to make him feel as comfortable as possible while all the time sending him as clear a signal as she possibly could. She wanted him here and more importantly she wanted him to know it!

Alex finally stepped into the room and the relief he felt at breaking the invisible barrier was palpable. The fact that Isabel was trying hard to put him at his easy was helping enormously but it still meant his heart was beating at 120bpm rather than the 200bpm it would have been but for her calming influence.

“Would you like to sit down?” Isabel offered gently.

Alex quickly glanced around the room and he could see a chair in front of the desk by the window and a small stool that sat in front of the dressing table where Isabel kept a large array of cosmetics and girly products. Alex silently admonished himself, ‘Girly products’, he thought. After all the years spent with Liz and Maria he would have hoped to have grasped a greater vocabulary when it came to feminine products rather than referring to them as ‘Girly products’.

“You can sit on the bed, Alex.” Isabel offered. It had become so obvious that Alex was dithering over where to sit that she decided to intervene.

“Thanks.” He smiled nervously as he moved to the bed and sat down. “I wasn’t sure if the bed was an option so I was trying to decide between sitting at the desk or the dressing table.”

Isabel couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. She quickly held her hand to her mouth to cover her laugh, which Alex found simply adorable. “I think, for future reference, if the bed isn’t an option I would definitely pick the desk if I were you. I can see you at a desk with a computer but at a dressing table with makeup and other beauty products, that might take some explaining.”

Alex felt himself blush for a second time when he finally understood what Isabel meant. He was definitely a nerd at a desk type of guy rather than an assistant at a cosmetics counter and the fact that Isabel agreed only made him happy.

“Alex, do you mind if I go into the bathroom for a moment?” Isabel asked softly. “I hope you don’t mind but I was hoping to change out of this dress and shoes.”

Alex immediately leapt to his feet. “I’m so sorry.” He blurted out. “Should I go?”

Isabel took a step forward. “God, no!” She stated a little too enthusiastically. “I mean, no.” She repeated a little less forcefully this time. “I don’t want you to go, you’ve only just got here. I’m afraid I have a little confession to make. The dress and shoes are new and in my haste I didn’t get a chance to wear-in the shoes so they are cutting into my heels so I want to take them off. However, being the perfectionist that I am it means I need to change the dress as well.” When Isabel saw Alex frown at that comment she couldn’t help but smile. “I know it is a girl thing but I don’t have any other shoes that go with this dress and I can’t wear it while walking round bare foot so if I change one I need to change both, i.e. if the shoes go the dress goes as well.”

“Oh, I don’t mind.” He shrugged with a smile. “By all means take the dress off.”

It took Alex a moment before he realised exactly what he had just said. “Oh, God! I didn’t mean take your dress off!” He scrambled to explain, which only caused Isabel to laugh loudly.

“I know what you meant, Alex, don’t worry.” She tried to reassure her date. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

Alex was actually relieved to see Isabel disappear into the bathroom, which was something he never dreamt he would be thinking. However, the truth of the matter was he was glad of the opportunity to have a few moments to try and recompose himself. If it wasn’t inappropriate thoughts he was having it was double-entendres coming out of his mouth. He wasn’t convinced he was creating a very good first impression but it was clear that Isabel was doing all that she could to put him at his ease.

Or at least she had been until she came out of the bathroom…


To be continued…

Sorry for the delay. Thanks for waiting. David

Chapter 16


Alex quickly stood up and turned his back. Yet again he felt his face flush, but of the numerous occasions that he found himself blushing in recent times this was the most understandable, at least in his eyes. It wasn’t every day that a guy got asked out on a date by the most beautiful girl in school so that alone would make this day a very memorable one for Alex. Couple that with the fact that Isabel had clearly made a big effort to make herself as striking a vision as possible meant that the image Alex had of her standing in the doorway to the house when he first saw her that evening would stay with him forever.

However, all of those monumental scenes and moments of note paled into insignificance when it came to the sight Alex had just seen. When Isabel opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out into the room he initially wasn’t sure what to make of what was happening. Isabel had entered the bathroom wearing what might be described as a slinky dress but it covered the vast majority of her skin and was far from being what some might consider to be revealing. The same, however, could not be said about what she was wearing now.

Isabel had emerged from the adjoining room wearing a sweat shirt and what appeared to be very little else. It was immediately clear to Alex that this wasn’t some kind of dramatic entrance or a plan on Isabel’s part simply by the way she was trying to pull down the bottom of the shirt to cover as much naked flesh as possible. That had been enough of an indicator for him to stand and turn his back, affording Isabel the privacy she so clearly now desired.

“Thanks, Alex.” Isabel offered breathlessly as she rooted around for something behind her guests back. “There you are.” She stated in triumph. A moment later Alex felt a gentle touch on his shoulder that pulled at him slightly, encouraging him to turn around and look at his companion. When he saw Isabel’s face he realised it was her turn to blush as a red hew now sat on her normally immaculate cheeks. Her head held slightly downward.

“I’m sorry.” She began. “That wasn’t quite the entrance I was looking for. Once I had taken off my dress and put on the top to my sweats I discovered that the shorts that made up the set weren’t where I thought they were, namely the bathroom. I thought about changing back into the dress but then I decided it wasn’t that big a deal as the shorts were just the other side of the bathroom door…or so I mistakenly believed. I also realised that we are a couple of mature teenagers who are above such uncomfortable encounters and are no longer ruled by our hormones…”

“We’re not?” Alex questioned before he shook his head vigorously from side to side. “I mean we’re not!” He belatedly agreed.

“The intention was simply to step out, pick up the shorts and put them on and that was meant to be it. I didn’t think it would be a big deal, but somehow my top seems to have shrunk in the time that it took for me to open the door and step through so what started out as a casual and even innocent event almost ended up like a scene from Basic Instinct!” Isabel was relieved when Alex let out a snort of amusement. The near awkward moment had passed almost as quickly as it had arrived.

“So, what do you think?” Isabel asked suddenly.

“What?!” Alex asked in blind panic.

“About my room.” Isabel continued, oblivious to what Alex thought she was asking. “Is it what you expected? Not that I am suggesting that you have given it any special thought previously.” She added hurriedly.

“If I’m honest I wasn’t expecting to see your room this evening but from what I have seen so far I think it’s very nice.” Alex replied politely as he glanced slowly around the room, all the time his heart thumping in his chest at the very thought of a sweat shirt and shorts covered Isabel Evans standing little more than a foot away.

‘Don’t women have any idea what they do to us?’ Alex thought to himself. ‘It’s not just the sexy clothes that have an affect on us. More often then not it’s the normal, every day attire that takes our breath away and sweat shirt and shorts definitely falls into that category.’

“Penny for your thoughts.” Isabel asked, cutting in on Alex’s musings.

“I…I was just thinking you don’t have many posters up.” Alex quickly lied trying to cover his embarrassment at very nearly being caught out.

“You mean of boy bands and hunky soap actors?” Isabel smiled mischievously.

“Actually, no.” Alex returned her smile as he felt his confidence grow. “That would have been the last thing I would have expected in your room. A couple of landscapes or the New York skyline perhaps. Maybe pictures of London, Paris or Milan, but never posters of boy bands or such like. That’s not you!”

“What about your room, Alex?” Isabel enquired softly despite already knowing the answer thanks to flashes from future Liz. “Is it pictures of scantily clad models and fast cars all over the walls?”

“Yes!” Alex stated firmly as he nodded in agreement. “That’s exactly what my room is like.”

Alex’s less than honest reply was met by a broad smile and a playful slap on the arm. “You’re such a liar, Alex. Not only would I never believe that of you, but I cannot see Liz or especially Maria allowing you to decorate your room in such a manner. I think if you ever tried that Maria would use you to decorate the walls let alone posters!”

“I think you might have a point there.” Alex conceded with a smile as he thought of Maria and what she would do to him if he tried such a thing.

After a moment or two it became apparent that the pair of them had fallen into a not necessarily uncomfortable silence, but at the very least a noticeable one. Alex dropped his gaze rather than simply stare at Isabel but when he looked down all he could see were her uncovered legs in rather short shorts so he quickly looked back up, almost giving himself whiplash in the process. That caused Isabel to burst out laughing and Alex soon followed suit. No sooner had the threat of an uncomfortable silence appeared then it was gone.

“Alex, give me your hand, please.” Isabel instructed softly as she held out an open hand.

Alex looked at Isabel for a spilt second before reaching forward and entwining his fingers with hers. A moment later he felt himself being dragged towards the door and then out into the hallway. In seconds they were down the stairs, along the hallway and into what turned out to be the family room. Finally, Isabel let go of Alex’s hand, turned to close the door and then took a seat in the centre of the couch that sat opposite the TV.

Much to Alex’s dismay he realised that that was the last thing he wanted! If Isabel had taken up a seat on either of the standalone chairs he would have had free reign to sit where he wanted without breaking some unspoken dating rule with regards where you are supposed to sit on your first date. Even if Isabel had sat at one end of the sofa it at least meant that if he also sat down, on the opposite end, he wasn’t encroaching on her personal space.

The fact that Isabel had sat in the centre of the sofa meant can open, worms everywhere!

“Alex.” Isabel called gently, interrupting his thought process. “Let me give you a hint.”

When Isabel patted the seat next to her Alex almost felt like punching the air in relief. It became clear to him very quickly that Isabel was continuing her actions from earlier, i.e. if she saw Alex in trouble she was stepping in to help. Having seen him struggling with his seating dilemma she had cut in, obviously deciding to put him out of his self-induced misery.

Alex sat down with as much style and panache as a baby elephant! He was attempting to remain calm, and at the same time, convey an air of nonchalance and casualness as though going on a date with a beautiful young woman was a common occurrence with him while all the time he was anything but calm or nonchalant. He knew he could take his ‘I’m a gentleman’ act too far sometimes, but at the same time he didn’t want to be lounging all over his date and making her feel uncomfortable. He might not get a second chance with Isabel, or should that be third chance after his popping out to get flowers debacle of a few minutes earlier? Having decided that he would rather seem a little reticent rather than a little too keen he was trying to show Isabel that he was happy to be there without having her in fear for her life at the thought he might leap on her at any second.

“It’s OK, Alex.” Isabel purred gently. “I know you’re not going to leap on me at any minute.” She smiled cheekily.

“What?!” Alex croaked, almost jumping out of his skin. It was as though she was mind reading him.

“And in answer to your next question, Alex, I’m not reading your mind.” It was all Isabel could do to stop herself from bursting out laughing. “I can tell what is going on with you just by looking at your pained expression.” She explained. “You were unsure where to sit when we came in, obviously you don’t want to appear too keen by sitting next to me, but also you don’t want to appear rude by sitting over on the single chairs. When you sat down you broke the laws of physics by only taking up half the room you should have. That tells me you are holding yourself in so as not to crowd me.”

Alex could only sit and stare as this blond beauty simply listed each and every insecure thought he was having.

“I know first dates can be difficult and this hasn’t gone as smoothly as both of us would have wanted, but having said that I think you still want to be here and I know I definitely want you to be here so what do you say to us settling down, ignoring our nerves and having a nice, quiet time watching a film?” Isabel asked gently with a reassuring smile.

Before Alex had a chance to reply the door from the hallway burst open to reveal Max and Michael looking somewhat perplexed.

Both Alex and Isabel leapt to their feet, Alex trying not to look guilty despite not having done anything. “What do you guys want?” Isabel asked curtly. “Can’t you see I have company?”

“Yes, we know, Isabel.” Max answered flatly. Not wishing to appear rude or sarcastic after Isabel had asked rather an obvious question. “Hi, Alex.” He greeted his sister’s rather nervous looking date. If there had been time Max would have taken a moment to marvel at the sheer enormity of that last thought…’His sister’s date’. None of her previous dates, and there had been a few, had ever made it past the front door so this was something to behold.

“Was there a particular reason that the two of you barged in like this or am I just lucky that way?” Unlike Max, Isabel was only too willing to be sarcastic.

“We have some news, which we didn’t think could wait.” Michael blurted out.

That comment stopped Isabel in her tracks. “Is everything alright?” Her apprehension at the boy’s sudden appearance was starting to build now that things seemed more serious than she first thought.

“Everything’s fine, Isabel.” Max looked to reassure his clearly anxious sister. “We didn’t mean to scare you but we’ve had a turn of events that we thought you would want to know about.”

“Yeah, you’ll need time to prepare.” Michael sniggered not so discreetly.

Isabel could once again feel her anxiety levels rising, but this time for a very different reason. The first time she had thoughts of being discovered and the need to run and hide leaping to the forefront of her mind. Now that she had Michael clearly amused with himself it meant she had cause for concern on a totally different level and a totally different reason.

“What did you do?” She asked sternly as she looked from one sibling to the next.

“It involves Alex as well.”

Isabel merely ignored Max’s comment simply because she viewed it as a defensive measure while he delayed the news it was apparent he didn’t want to give her, but the fact that Michael was almost bouncing on the spot to tell her told her she really wasn’t going to like it, whatever it was.

“Max, just tell me!” She stated even more firmly than before.

“You know how you thought it might be a good idea if Michael and I got to know Liz and Maria a little better.” Max offered almost apologetically.

“Go on.” Isabel nodded, not liking where this was going.

“Well we’ve sort of arranged a group get together for the weekend.” Max added in a rush.

Isabel could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing up as a sense of dread past over her. “You mean at the weekend not for the weekend, don’t you?” She asked slowly, already knowing what the answer would be.

“Well you see…” Max paused.

“We’re going CAMPING!” Michael shouted with a broad smile on his face.



To be continued…

This is for Pooh, Rhonda, Trude and the too many people to list that I owe emails to. I'm sorry I seem to have gone missing, but I haven't, I'm just dithering a lot lately.

I hope to be catching up with everyone in the next day or two. I hope you enjoy the update, Cheers. David


Chapter 17


Isabel stared at both boys for a moment in near disbelief. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes and heard it with her own ears she would never have believed what she had just witnessed in a dozen lifetimes. In fact that statement wasn’t entirely true. She had seen hope rise within the two young men, once they had seen the flashes she had received from future Liz, of what their lives could be like given a chance. Up until that point Isabel had had no idea how strongly her two siblings felt with regards their lack of interaction with people outside of their clandestine group, not least Michael. Now that there was even a remote possibility of getting some kind of normal relationships up and running, excluding family in Max and Isabel’s case, it was clear they were more than keen to take the next step. Even if they weren’t sure of the right way to go about it, if this startling revelation about going camping this weekend was anything to go by.

Isabel turned to Alex and smiled demurely. “Alex, would you mind if I step outside for a moment with Max and Michael? I don’t wish to appear rude.”

“No that’s fine.” He almost shrugged. “It will give me a chance to take a look at your rather small DVD library.” Alex gestured towards the bookcase behind where the TV stood that he had spotted when he sat down a few moments earlier. It had a large array of books, but a rather sparse collection of DVD’s.

Once again Isabel smiled politely towards her guest before turning to glare at her siblings as she ushered the pair of them silently out into the hallway before closing the door behind her, affording them a modicum of privacy.

Isabel pointedly breathed in slowly, held it for a moment and then exhaled, all the time staring at her awkward looking companions. “Two things!” She suddenly stated firmly. “How the hell did you come up with, or agree to go, camping this weekend, considering there can’t be three less outward bound orientated people in this state than us, let alone this town! Secondly…” Isabel turned specifically to look at Michael. “…why the hell are you so overjoyed at the idea of going camping? If anything you are the only person I know who would come remotely close to being as unenthusiastic and apathetic towards going out and spending a weekend in the great outdoors as me!”

As Isabel looked on Michael’s over enthusiastic smile, that he had been wearing when announcing to her and a bemused Alex that they were all going camping returned, growing into a full blown grin as he turned to look at Max. As she moved her attention from Michael to Max she could see her brother was becoming more and more uncomfortable, pointing to him being the cause of this shambles.

“When we came up with the idea…” Max began, but was suddenly interrupted by a loud cough from Michael, a cough that clearly wasn’t real and was solely designed to force Max to change his story. “…I mean when I came up with the idea of going camping I think it took us all by surprise. I know none of us are great campers, but all I could hear in the back of my mind was your comments about taking a chance with Liz, Maria and Alex, about what it might do for us and our lives. The next thing I knew, before I could stop myself, I just blurted out about going camping! I think both Liz and Maria were as shocked as I was, but suddenly Liz said yes before I even had a chance to retract my offer and she soon cajoled Maria into taking part.” Max paused for a moment. “Although having said that I am not completely convinced that their conversation on the subject is entirely finished if the look on Maria’s face was anything of an indicator.” He offered ruefully.

“But camping!” Isabel pressed.

“I know…” Max conceded. “…but how else are we going to spend time with the three of them where we can have some time alone without the fear of being interrupted or worse, bumping into the sheriff? It’s becoming clear that despite not fully thinking it through my knee-jerk reaction in blurting out camping at least has some merits to it.”

“But camping!” Isabel repeated. “We don’t know anything about camping and by the looks of Alex, Liz and Maria neither do they.”

“Isabel, it’s not like we are heading on up to Alaska or out into the desert for weeks on end.” Max reasoned. “I’m talking about a couple of hours down the road in Frazier woods and if you want we can make it so it’s only one night outside. We can leave Saturday morning and come home Sunday lunchtime. How does that sound?”

It was a concession, but it was still one night, outside and under the stars.

Isabel turned and placed a hand on the door handle before turning back to look at the two boys. “It’s down to you two to sort out tents, food and whatever else we need. Not only am I not carrying any of that stuff, but one of you has to carry any special things that I decide to carry along…”

“We’re not a maid service.” Michael cut in. “Anyway, won’t lover-boy in there be only too happy to carry your things for you? You are, after all, dating!”

As soon as those last words left Michael’s lips he knew he had made a big mistake as Isabel advanced on him. “You never quite got through explaining why you were so jazzed about going camping.” Isabel stopped directly in front of Michael and fixed him with a steely gaze. “Why were you so happy for us to go camping when you know you would absolutely hate the idea normally?”

Michael felt his throat run dry. Despite being very tall for a teenage girl it wasn’t like Isabel, herself, was very intimidating, not to the likes of Michael. However, having known Isabel for most of his adolescence Michael was fully aware of what she was capable of. She wasn’t someone you crossed willingly. “I was bitching at Max for setting up this whole camping thing and I told him that you wouldn’t be pleased.”

“And?” Isabel pushed.

“And Max told me that if I thought the idea of me being out camping wasn’t funny all I had to do was think about you and how you would cope with being out camping. He said it would make me feel better…and it did.” Michael confessed with an evil grin.

“Oh Max did, did he?” Isabel grimaced as she stepped back from Michael and turned to Max. “So, Max…” Isabel began. “…thought you and Michael would have a little fun at my expense, did you?”

“Isabel, you know I was only trying to give Michael a reason not to get all riled up about going camping. I thought telling him that he wouldn’t be the only one unhappy about going camping would help. I think you’ll find Michael is paraphrasing what I said somewhat.”

After a brief pause a smile slowly spread across Isabel’s face as she stepped back towards the door of the family room, a smile that became more mischievous with each passing moment. “Now that I think about it I’m sure everything will be fine while we are out camping and that it will prove to be a great idea. I’m going back in to sit with Alex so I will see you guys later.”

Max and Michael watched silently as Isabel opened the door, stepped through and closed it behind her.

Michael slowly turned to look at Max and he could see that his friend looked exactly how he felt. “We’re screwed, aren’t we?”

Max could only nod in agreement. “We’re screwed!”


After closing the door Isabel turned to find Alex sitting back on the sofa, where he had been sitting before she left and he seemed to be holding a DVD in his hand. “Have you made a choice?” She asked enthusiastically as she moved to retake her seat beside her guest.

“Erm…yes and no.” Alex replied rather noncommittally with a weak smile. “You don’t appear to have a very big selection and what DVD’s you do have seem to be martial arts movies or mindless action films.”

“You can thank my brother and Michael for that.” Isabel explained. “They’re a terrible influence on one another and what few films we end up buying normal have their fingerprints all over them. I must say I’m surprised, you’re a guy and you don’t like action movies?” Isabel asked quizzically.

“Oh, no. On the contrary.” Alex suddenly became animated as he turned in his seat to face Isabel. “I love a bit of action and a good battle or fight, but it has to have a good story as well. Give me a good Star Wars movie or one of the Alien films and I’m in heaven.” Alex could see Isabel’s expression change upon hearing that. “I take it you’re not a big fan?” It was his turn to smile gently at his companion.

“If I’m honest I can take it or leave it. I probably wouldn’t go on my own to see one of them, but if I had the right companion…” Isabel surprised herself by suddenly feeling all self-conscious and dropping her head slightly. ‘What was this?’ She thought to herself. ‘Was she getting coy and shy around Alex? She never got shy! Ever!’

Alex on the other hand was suddenly finding bravado that he never knew he possessed. “I’ll take you next time.” He stated softly. “If you would ever want to go, that is.” He added hurriedly.

“I’d like that.” Isabel offered softly with a smile in reply as she lifted her head.

For the first time she found herself staring deep into Alex’s eyes and equally for the first time she found neither she nor Alex turning away, dropping their gaze or changing the subject. They simply stared at one another for a moment. Isabel’s heart began to flutter. It wasn’t because she suddenly found herself slowly leaning in towards Alex, but because she was sure she could see Alex was slowly leaning in towards her. This was it! The first kiss that she had dreamed of and yearned for since seeing, via Future Liz, what sort of relationship she was capable of having with Alex and it was something she had decided she desperately wanted and even needed.

Just as their lips were about to meet Isabel’s heart was now thumping in her chest and her head was filled by a million and one things, but she didn’t care about any of that now. She had kissed a few boys in her time, not something she was particularly proud of, but never like this was going to be. It wasn’t just who she was going to kiss, i.e. someone she was sure she could have feelings for, if she didn’t already have feelings for him, but also how they were going to kiss. They hadn’t taken their eyes off of one another in what seemed like an eternity and she was pleased to report it didn’t look like it was going to happen anytime soon. She could now feel the warmth of his breath as they moved ever closer and she just knew it was the first time that either of them had felt anything like this and she hoped and prayed it wouldn’t be the last.

Isabel felt a shiver run through her body, but she fought the urge to shudder as she didn’t want to send any kind of signal that Alex could misinterpret as hesitation or unwillingness on her part. She had never felt more intense, and yet at the same time, comfortable in her entire life, which she found totally bizarre and contradictory. It was only a kiss after all and it was in a warm and relaxed atmosphere so why was she so serious? However, she already knew the answer to her unasked question. This was it! More importantly he was it! Alex was the one true love for her and despite this being their first date that fact was something she understood without hesitation. It wasn’t a case that if the kiss went bad their relationship would be over before it had even begun, but nonetheless this was still a monumental moment in both their lives.

“Isabel, your mom wanted to know if…”

At the sudden intrusion as the door burst open Alex leapt to his feet as though he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Meanwhile Isabel spun in her seat and glowered at her father who now stood motionless and silent in the doorway as the thought of what he may have just walked in on, if the look on Alex and Isabel’s faces was anything to go by, slammed into the forefront of his mind.

“Daddy!” Isabel exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Your mother told me to check if you guys wanted a drink or anything and I didn’t realise that I would need to knock.” Philip explained, all the while his gaze was now firmly fixed on Alex, his eyes narrowing with each passing moment.

Alex, in the intervening time, was trying to look innocent and was failing dismally. It wasn’t as though he had actually done anything and at most he was only going to kiss Isabel, but now that he found Mr Evans fixing him with a steely glare he couldn’t help feeling as though what he was about to do was terribly wrong.

“We’re fine, Daddy.” Isabel’s words cut in, breaking the staring contest between the two men. “Alex and I were trying to watch a DVD but we keep getting interrupted.”

“Watching a DVD?” Philip repeated.

“That’s right.” Isabel confirmed as she nodded firmly.

“And that would be the DVD Alex is holding in his hand?”

Isabel turned to see Alex holding the DVD that he had picked up from the shelf. “Well we haven’t had time to start watching it yet due to all the comings and goings.” She replied defensively.

“OK.” Philip nodded as he backed out the door. “I’m sorry I disturbed you.”

Both Isabel and Alex watched as Philip closed the door behind him, returning them to their previous situation, if not their previous actions. “Sorry about that.” Isabel apologised.

“Don’t be silly.” Alex smiled. “If I had a daughter like you I wouldn’t let her have visitors until she was forty and even then I would make her leave the door open so I could see what was going on.”

Isabel smiled broadly. “That’s very sweet of you, Alex, but I must point out that the word you are looking for is date, not visitor.”

“I know.” Alex nodded slowly in agreement. “I just didn’t want you to think I was taking anything for granted.” Alex moved slowly towards the door. “I think I should be going.”

“Really?” Isabel tried to hide how hurt she felt at hearing those words, but in truth she didn’t care if she succeeded.

“I don’t want to go.” Alex added hurriedly. “In fact that is the last thing I want, but after your dad came in here I get the feeling he will simply be sitting in the other room with your mom, fixating about what this strange boy is trying to do to his precious daughter. I would be.”

Isabel stepped towards Alex and took hold of his hand. “I suppose you are right. It wasn’t much of a first date…”

“Better than our last attempt.” Alex cut in, giving Isabel’s hand a squeeze.

Isabel led the two of them out into the hallway and along to the kitchen. “Mom, Dad Alex is going. I’m just going to see him out.”

“Bye, Alex.” Diane called. “It was lovely to see you and we hope to see you again soon.”

“Bye, Mrs Evans.” Alex then turned his attention to Mr Evans who had stood up from the kitchen table and advanced towards him.

“Goodbye, Alex.” Philip offered a handshake, which Alex accepted gladly. “We’ll see you again soon and say hello to your parents for us, won’t you?”

“I will, Sir, yes.” Alex started to back out the door with Isabel. “It was nice meeting you both, thank you.”

Once they had stepped out into the cool night air Isabel pulled the front door closed behind them. She was already becoming accustomed to standing close to Alex and being able to look at him without either of them reeling away. “I guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow?”

“I guess you will.” Alex agreed. “In case you are unsure I will be the one doing my Garfield impression on your locker.”

Isabel couldn’t help but laugh. “So you’ll be stuck to my locker when I get to school tomorrow? I’ll hold you to that.”

“I’ll be there.” Alex stated confidently. He reluctantly let go of Isabel’s hand and stepped back.

“Erm…haven’t you forgotten something?” Isabel questioned.

“Oh, god! Sorry.” Alex exclaimed as he closed the ground between them. He leaned forward as Isabel closed her eyes and kissed her gently.

Isabel’s eyes flew open as Alex stepped back. “I don’t wish to sound ungracious, but what was that?”

Alex frowned in confusion. “A goodnight kiss.”

“On my cheek?” Isabel questioned. “I’m not your Grandmother!”

“Oh, right.” Alex blushed slightly. “Sorry.”

Isabel closed her eyes a second time and prepared herself for a proper goodnight kiss as Alex advanced on her. This time she felt his presence as he came to a halt directly in front of her, merely inches apart and despite her eyes being closed she could see in her minds eye as he leaned in to kiss her and then she felt it…his lips touching hers and then…nothing!

Isabel eyes sprang open in time to see Alex step back with a look of triumph on his face. “Alex, what was that?”

“A goodnight kiss.” He replied proudly, but when he saw the look on Isabel’s face he knew he shouldn’t feel so victorious.

Isabel suddenly realised that she didn’t want to put the fear of God in Alex’s mind every time they came to kiss so she decided a more gently approach was needed.

In an instant Isabel’s demeanour had changed from one of disappointment and frustration to one of affection and passion. “Alex, May I kiss you goodnight?” She asked flirtatiously.

It was all Alex could do to nod.

Isabel stepped forward slowly and seductively with her hips swaying as she closed the gap between them. When she felt her body next to Alex’s rather than stop she carried on until she felt herself pressed against him and she brought their faces a mere fraction apart. “Close your eyes.” She whispered gently as she stared longingly at Alex. The moment his eyes were closed she closed hers and that was the signal for her lips to come crashing down on Alex’s as they final joined together.

With their lips now meshed together Isabel brought her hands round the back of Alex and they came to rest on the back of his head and neck, ensuring not only maximum purchase for their lips, but also that Alex was going nowhere. Her one pang of regret was how she had to force herself to block off any flashes that she may inadvertently send to Alex.

Alex on the other hand was oblivious to any of that as he took his cue from Isabel and brought his hands into play. It didn’t even enter his mind to place them on any of Isabel’s most intimate areas but it didn’t stop him from taking great satisfaction at being able to take hold of Isabel’s hips and pulling them towards him.

With their bodies now pressed firmly against one another and Alex holding the two of them together at the waist Isabel felt herself flush furiously as she fought the urge to let out a whimper at Alex’s actions. She had barely ever kissed a boy on the lips let alone let anything like this happen and she was pretty sure it was the same for Alex, but only with girl’s not boys, and yet everything seemed to happen so naturally, nothing was forced or uncomfortable.

Neither knew how long they had been standing there locked in each others embrace. It could have been thirty seconds, but equally it could have been thirty minutes. When they finally broke apart both had to fight the urge to reach out for the other.

“Wow!” Was all Alex could manage.

“Wow is right!” Isabel agreed.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Alex stated breathlessly as he turned to stagger away.

Isabel watched as Alex left and she was unsure what to be most pleased about. Was it that she had just had the most astounding kiss that she could ever have imagined or the fact that Alex was clearly unsteady on his feet as he left?

She would get ready for bed and decide.


To be continued…

A/N: I'm breaking one of my golden rules by writing and posting on the same day. ( I try not to do it as it helps me pick up on my many mistakes if I leave it a day or two. ) Unfortunately, being impatient, I can't wait to post so here it is. Please forgive any errors on my part. Cheers, David.

Chapter 18


“I am not!”

“You are too!”

“Maria, I’m not!”

“Alex, you are!” Maria stopped looking at Alex in her rear-view mirror and glanced across at Liz who had sat silent but amused throughout as the obligatory argument took place between her two best friends. It was obligatory because if Maria found that she didn’t agree with Alex, or a few specific others for that matter, on a certain subject she was incapable of reasoned debate, it had to be an argument. Rather perversely she only seemed to argue with the ones she loved or cared about. Everyone else simply got a drop-dead stare or cutting remark followed by a dramatic exit.

Since they had picked Alex up at his house on the way to school Maria had wasted no time in firing off question after question with regards Alex’s date with Isabel last night. Unsurprisingly Alex, being Alex, said very little. He wasn’t one to gossip and especially when it came to as monumental a thing as a date with thee Isabel Evans! However, that didn’t stop Maria trying…and God was she trying! Once it had become clear that Alex wasn’t going to be divulging any juicy gossip Maria had fallen back on her old favourite of teasing her friend, which came very easily to her. Starting by telling him that he loved Isabel!

“So what’s your take on what’s happening with lover-boy back there and the ice-princess?” Maria asked Liz rather unceremoniously.

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed. “Don’t be mean. Calling Isabel the ice-princess isn’t particularly nice and the fact that Alex went on a date with her last night only makes what you said worse.”

“Oh, just chill-out the pair of you.” Maria moaned. “I wasn’t being mean, if I was being mean I would have just said…”

“Do not finish that sentence!” Liz cut in firmly.

Maria shook her head. “All I was going to say was that if I was being mean I would simply say that she isn’t good enough for our Alex.”

“Thanks...” Alex called from the back seat. “…I think?!”

Liz turned in her seat to look back at Alex. “You know Maria is only capable of backhanded compliments and it’s her rather inept way of showing that she loves you.”

After exchanging a smile with Alex Liz turned back in her seat to be met by a glare from Maria. “I do not only give backhanded compliments and Alex already knows that I love him and if he didn’t I would simply tell him. I wouldn’t need to go spouting off about his latest love interest to show it!”

“Hey!” Alex called out as he leaned forward so he was perched in between the two girls. “Isabel isn’t my latest love interest! It’s not like I have a long list of girls that I have chased after or fantasised about.”

“Ewww!” Maria cried. “Are you telling us that you fantasise about Isabel Evans?”

Alex slumped back onto the rear seat and let out a long and audible sigh. “I give up. I’m not having this conversation with you anymore and I’m not telling you anything else about last night.”

“Anything else?” Maria repeated. “You haven’t told us anything period, let alone anything else!”

“There were things I could have told you.” Alex began to taunt. “The arrival of Max and Michael for one. Or there was the point when Mr Evans burst in on Isabel and me for another. And that is to say nothing of our goodnight kiss.”

To Alex’s surprise he could see Maria smiling broadly at him in the mirror while at the same time he noticed Liz simply shaking her head. “What?” He called.

“Alex, will you ever learn?” Liz turned in her seat again and gave her friend a pitying look. “You played right into her hands. Maria knew you weren’t going to tell her what she wanted to know so she played you!”

“Played me?” Alex frowned. “She never played me.”

“No?” Liz questioned. “Two minutes ago you weren’t telling us anything. Then, after a few choice words from Maria we know about Max & Michael, Mr Evans and the fact that you had a goodnight kiss!”

“Oh, Man!” Alex cried. “Remind me not to get a job in the intelligence service when I leave college, I’ll be handing out state secrets hand over fist.” Alex made a point of catching Maria’s eye in the rear-view mirror. “You on the other hand have a job for life. No spy would stand a chance against your feminine charms.”

“Why thank you, sir.” Maria countered. “I must confess that I feel a little guilty. You were woefully unprepared to take me on. You are, after all, only a man.”

Alex simply rubbed at his eyes with the tips of his fingers as he felt the tension beginning to rise. “I haven’t even got the will or the strength to defend myself against such a comment. I concede, you win. Please just let me die in peace.”

“If that’s what you want.” Maria offered. “But haven’t you got some strutting to do?”

Alex stopped rubbing at his eyes and tried to focus on Maria. “I don’t understand?”

“Well aren’t you the guy who went on a date with the school’s most sort-after girl? And more than that, aren’t you the guy who got invited into said girl’s house? Somewhere no other Isabel Evans date has been.” Maria turned off the cars engine having pulled into a space in the parking lot. “Tongue’s will be wagging this morning my friend and you will be the topic on everyone’s lips.”

Alex looked wide-eyed from Maria to Liz.

“Although not in total agreement with my friend here with regards the strutting I must agree with her comments that your date with Isabel last night will be the hot topic of conversation.” Liz reached over and patted Alex’s hand that was resting on his knee. “You my friend have gone from zero to hero in their eyes.”

“The fact that you have been on a date with the most desirable girl in school means you have made lots of new friends and lots of new enemies.” Maria added.

Maria’s comment caught Alex’s attention, causing him to suddenly sit upright in his seat. “Enemies?”

“Enemies might be too strong a word.” Liz interjected. “But the fact remains that a lot of popular boys and half of the school football team have tried to date Isabel with little or no success. The fact that good manners and being well behaved aren’t two traits that sit well with the football team I think you will be in for a choice comment or two.”

“Don’t worry, Honey. I won’t let anyone near you.” Maria tried to comfort her pallid looking friend.

The three friends climbed out of Maria’s car and headed on in to school. It was noticeable that Alex was hanging back and both girls were a little worried they had put the fear of God into their friend.

“Alex, I’m sure it will all be fine.” Liz offered. “We didn’t mean to scare you.”

Alex raised her head suddenly, clearly having been in his own little world. “What? Oh, sorry, Liz. I was a million miles away.” He paused for a moment. “I’m not worried about what you said. Sure some of the guys might be a little jealous at finding out I went on a date with Isabel, but then again I’ve been jealous when I have seen Isabel out with other guys so I can’t really complain.”

“So what’s got you worried, Honey?” Maria asked as she rubbed at her friends arm affectionately.

“It suddenly dawned on me that I’m not entirely sure how Isabel wants to play things.” When Alex saw both girls frown he decided to elaborate. “I just mean I don’t know how things stand. I would never call myself her boyfriend and I am not even sure we are dating…as such. Sure we’ve been on one date, but one date does not a lifelong commitment make.” Alex started to scratch at his head nervously. “I know I’m getting ahead of myself and probably thinking things through a little too much, but I can’t help but wonder.”

“Well, maybe we can help.” Liz offered. “How do you feel the date went?”

Alex gave Liz’s question a few moments thought before replying. “The date itself wasn’t very good because we kept getting interrupted, but Isabel did make a point of getting me to sit beside her and we did seem to get on very well.”

“What did you talk about?” Maria asked softly.

“We talked about films. About how I like quality films like Star Wars or Alien and Isabel said they weren’t usually her sort of thing unless she had the right companion…so I offered to take her next time and she said yes.” Alex explained.

“And how did it end?” Liz pressed. “I mean we know you said you kissed…” She allowed herself to trail off.

“I was scared about going too far too fast so when it came to kissing Isabel goodnight first of all I gave her a peck on the cheek but she wasn’t overly enthused so then I gave her a peck on the lips…”

“Still no good.” Maria answered for her friend.

“So then Isabel gave me a kiss goodnight…”

“Alex, you don’t have to say anymore on that front.” Liz cut in. “The smile on your face says it all.”

“The only other thing that was said was that I would be waiting for her at her locker.” Alex finished.

“So what the hell are you doing waiting here for?” Maria cried.

Alex suddenly realised his mistake and took off at a pace towards the school entrance. No sooner had he made it a few steps away from the girls when he stopped abruptly and turned to look back at Liz and Maria. “Will you come with me?”

“Oh, you big girl!” Maria called.

“We’ll meet you in there.” Liz shouted as she gestured for Alex to hurry on ahead.

No sooner had Alex received his words of encouragement, at least from Liz, before he turned and took off again towards the entrance. Liz and Maria moved quickly, but without running, to follow their friend, confident after hearing how his date had gone that he wouldn’t need any backup.

As the two of them neared the lockers they rounded the corner and ran straight into Max and Michael. “Hey.” Max called in greeting to the two girls. Michael grunted in the girl’s direction, something that could have been a hello.

“Hi.” Both girls greeted in reply.

“What are you two up to?” Liz asked casually.

“Not sure really.” Max confessed. “Isabel was all insistent this morning that we made it to school bright and early. She wouldn’t tell us what it was about, but we could guess once we made it to her locker and she got all downhearted when a certain someone wasn’t there. What about you guys?”

“Much the same.” Liz offered. “We weren’t aware that Isabel would be coming in extra early else Alex would have been here at 6am. Where is Isabel now?” Liz could see past Max and Michael at Alex who was leaning against what must have been Isabel’s locker with a look on his face as though someone had stolen his puppy.”

“After she waited a few minutes she decided to go looking for Alex. We tried to tell her she was early and to wait but she wasn’t having any of it.” Max explained.

“Anyone would think they had put something in the water the way those two are carrying on.” Michael unexpectedly said gruffly.

“Well you’re safe.” Maria countered on her friends behalf. “You’d need to bathe in it your so big so we’ve nothing to worry about there then!”

Before Michael could respond the groups attention was drawn to a returning Isabel, who had reappeared in the direction that Liz and Maria had been walking. “Hi, Liz, Maria. Have you guys seen Alex?”

Liz leaned back and pointed past Max and Michael in the direction of Isabel’s locker.

Isabel’s didn’t need anymore encouragement as she smiled at her friends and shot past them towards Alex. Alex was oblivious to most things that were going on, his head currently being held low at the disappointment of the absence of Isabel. He looked up at the last moment just in time to see Isabel engulf him in a hug as she planted a big kiss on his cheek. She leaned back and was glad to be met by the biggest, broadest smile from Alex that now matched her own. Isabel, being a little more savvy about these things than Alex, was aware that she was causing a scene but she really didn’t care. Alex was here!

Max and Michael simply looked on for a moment before turning away and finding something interesting to say about football or hockey. Liz and Maria on the other hand exchanged a knowing smile. It seemed Alex had the answer to his insecurities after all.


To be continued…

A/N: I really don't want this to sound the way it will probably sound, but after having had a few polite enquires with regards a new update I simply had to force myself to sit down and write the next chapter. ( I wouldn't want you to think I was waiting for some comments before writing, it's just I suffer from a guilty conscience so when people are kind enough to "bump", although we all know we're not allowed to "bump" lol, I simply had to write something! ) I hope you enjoy and I promise the next update won't be so long in coming, no really! lol Cheers, David / StargazerUK


Chapter 19


“Hi, Mrs Whitman.” Both girls greeted the smiling woman as she opened the door.

“Hello, Girl’s. It’s lovely to see you.” Alex’s mother replied.

“Is Alex ready?” Liz asked enthusiastically.

Mrs Whitman’s face changed from one with a warm and welcoming smile to one with a resigned frown as she stepped back to let the two girls enter the house. “I’ve been trying for over an hour to get Alex out of bed with very little success. I warned him that you girl’s would be here soon but he kept asking for ten more minutes. I think you had better go up and use your feminine charms on him and see if you have any more success than I managed.”

After closing the front door Mrs Whitman gestured for the girls to head on up to Alex’s bedroom as she made her way back into the kitchen to carry on with her baking.

“Feminine charms!” Maria repeated as she climbed the stairs, closely followed by Liz. “I’ll give him feminine charms alright! We’re only going on this god forsaken trip because he’s obsessed with Isabel…” Maria stopped for a moment. “…although in fairness you’re not too far behind in that department when it comes to Max!”

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed as they stepped onto the upstairs landing. “I thought we all decided it would be a nice change of pace and dare I say it…a bit of fun to go on this trip and although I can see what you are getting at with Alex as he does seem to have fallen hard and fast for Isabel and in a big way, but I wouldn’t exactly class myself and Max in the same manner. In fact we have hardly said a word to each other.”

“That’s my point.” Maria countered. “It’s not what’s being said that worries me when it comes to you two but what isn’t. Even a blind man could see the looks that are passing in between the two of you. What was it that Alex called them?”

“Furtive.” Liz whispered softly as she dropped her head for a moment.

“That’s it! Furtive looks, that’s what Alex said. That coming from a man who wouldn’t know if he was knocked down by a runaway train at the moment he is so wrapped up in all things Isabel. Now surely that tells you something.”

“What about you?” Liz asked defensively.

“What about me?” Maria questioned.

“Well how long exactly did you fight me when it came to us going camping? Oh, wait! You didn’t!” Liz stated firmly. “I’ve had tougher fights with you while trying to get you to refill the saltcellars! I agreed to going camping in reply to Max’s offer and you said no, no, OK!”

“And what exactly are you implying?” Maria asked as she placed her hands firmly on her hips in a defensive stance. “That I want to go camping?”

“God no!” Liz shook her head vigorously. “I don’t think any of us would want to go camping willingly.” Liz paused for a moment and gently smiled at her friend. “But for whatever reason I think we all want to do this and going camping is simply a means to an end. It might not be our first choice as a social event by any means, but I think it will serve its purpose. Plus the only thing that I can think of that will be funnier than you and me out under the stars is seeing Alex, Isabel and Michael trying life in the great outdoors.”

“It will be fun.” Maria admitted as she pulled her friend into a hug. “So are we OK?”

“Of course we are.” Liz agreed, as though nothing could ever come between her and her best friend. “I know it’s an odd situation but somehow I think this trip is going to be a great success. I just have this feeling that it is going to open up a whole new side to our new friends that people rarely, if ever, get to see!”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“You could give us a hand.” Michael moaned as he struggled under the weight of a large box that he and Max were trying to manoeuvre into the back of the jeep.

Isabel seemed to simply ignore Michael’s comment as she continued to manicure her nails as she leaned against the front of the jeep. “I believe the agreement was that you and Max would do all the manual work and supply all of the equipment. If it had been me arranging things I would have taken care of all of the logistics, but you can be sure I wouldn’t have picked camping as an activity!”

“I can just see your parents allowing you to book us in for a weekend at the nearest Ramada hotel, I think not!” Michael replied sarcastically. “It was Max’s idea to go on this camping trip and yet I seemed to be in as much trouble as he is, how does that work?”

“It’s simple…” Isabel countered as she placed her nail file back in her bag and finally deemed to look directly at Michael. “…every straight man has to have his stooge. Tom had Jerry. Rocky had Bullwinkle. Shaggy had Scooby. If one is causing trouble the other is never far behind and they both take the fall!”

Suddenly a broad smile spread across Michael’s face and Max knew in that instant that whatever Michael had thought of, Isabel wasn’t going to like it. “So if me and Max are Tom and Jerry does that make Alex Kermit to your Miss Piggy?”

Max quickly dropped his head and fought with all of his might not to laugh. He already knew that certain aspects of this trip would be unbearable, but if they set off with Isabel in a bad mood there would be no hope for them at all. When he lifted his head after composing himself he found Isabel toe to toe with Michael with a face like thunder. “Laugh it up big boy. See if you’re still smiling after a night under the stars with Maria Deluca. She’s got your number and she knows exactly which buttons to press to get you going. It doesn’t happen very often, but I don’t even have to put myself out to make you suffer this time. I just need to sit back, bide my time and wait for the show to begin.”

Unsurprisingly Michael quickly turned to Max. “You’re not going to let her moan at me all weekend are you? I told you the only reason I said I would go on this crazy outing is if you keep her away from me!”

Max knew some words of comfort were desperately needed to calm his big friend “Isabel, leave Michael. You know he’s…”

“Not Isabel!” Michael interjected forcefully. “I’m talking about Deluca!”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*


After several knocks without any reply Liz tentatively turned the door knob and swung open the bedroom door. Despite being a teenage boy Alex was surprisingly good at keeping his bedroom almost neat and tidy, but that didn’t stand for the current state of his bed. It looked like a giant hand had simply reached down, lifted the entire bed up into the air and then dropped it back down to earth into one almighty mess. It was only the left foot of the current occupant sticking out of the bottom of the bed that gave any clue that there was somebody underneath the wreckage that was formerly Alex’s bed.

Before Liz could come up with a reasoned and well thought-out plan as to how she was going to succeed where his mom had failed and cajole Alex out of his pit a blur flashed past her and flung itself onto the pile of bedding. As Maria came crashing down onto the bed Liz heard a strangled cry as Alex’s head finally appeared at the top end of the bed. “What the hell…”

“Language, Alex.” Maria stated with a broad smile as she sat atop of Alex and his bed clothes. “Your mom said that if we didn’t have you out of bed and fully dressed within the next sixty seconds she was going to breakout the photo albums, starting with your first day at kindergarten.”

Before Liz could blink in surprise Alex squirted out of the side of the bed, much to Maria’s amusement, and darted into the bathroom. As the door slammed behind him there was the sudden sound of running water as Alex turned on the shower. A moment or so later they heard cries of “Too hot, too hot!” quickly followed by “Too cold, too cold!” After a brief pause there was an audible sigh of contentment as Alex finally found a water temperature he liked.

Liz finally found a moment to turn to Maria who was still slumped on Alex’s bed, a look of triumph on her face. “You know, Sweetie. Every now and again, just when I am all set to give up on you as a dizzy blond, you do something that defies belief and that was one of those occasions.”

Maria frowned slightly at her friend. “I’m not sure if that was meant as a compliment or not so I’ll take it as one to save me having to strangle you. I’ve told you before Liz that not every situation requires tact and diplomacy, sometimes you need direct action.”

“And bundling onto Alex as he lay in bed was called for, was it?” Liz queried.

“It worked, didn’t it?” Maria smiled broadly. “I may not know much about politics or world events, but I know our Alex and a quick bundle followed by a threat of embarrassing photos will always work.”

Liz bent slightly forward, waving her arm across her body with a flourish. “I bow to the master.”

As both girls had a quick giggle at Alex’s expense the door to the bathroom flew open and a clean but still damp and dishevelled looking Alex appeared in the doorway as he pulled on his shirt. “My mom’s not been up yet, has she?”

“No, you’re fine, Alex.” Liz smiled broadly. “Why was it so difficult for you to get up this morning? You’re normally so good.”

“It was Isabel…”

Maria threw up a hand towards Alex. “Do not say another word. You could mentally scar me for life!”

Alex sighed and shook his head. “I was only going to say that we sat up talking until god knows what hour on the phone.”

Liz checked her watch. “Alex, it’s nearly 10:30 and you’re only getting up now, exactly how late did you stay up?”

The tall young man simply shrugged. “I have no idea. She called me quite late and I was initially worried that something was wrong, but she said she just wanted to chat as she likes the sound of my voice.” Alex looked at his two friends and he could see that they were both very happy for him with how things were going with Isabel, but he could also see something else in their eyes, something they were trying to hold back. “I know you are both worried about me.” He began. “No one is more surprised than me when it comes to this apparent turnaround with regards Isabel’s feelings for me, but you also know that no one is more paranoid than me and I can’t see any hidden agenda or practical joke at the end of this.”

“We just don’t want you getting hurt, that’s all.” Maria admitted.

Liz nodded in agreement. “We’re honestly happy for you, Honey, we just hope it all turns out well for you. Isabel seems to be really genuine about her feels for you, which is great, but we don’t want you falling too hard if things don’t work out the way you hope they will.”

“I truly appreciate your concern and it helps me to know that you will both be there for me if things don’t end up the way I would like them to, but given the choice of trying and failing rather than not trying at all…” Alex paused for a moment as he looked from one girl to the other. “…I think you know my answer.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Maria called as she leapt from the bed and linked arms with her two best friends. “I can’t believe I am going to say this but let’s go camping!”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Max was loading the last bag into the back of the jeep as he turned to see Liz, Maria and Alex pulling up outside his parent’s house and climbing out of Maria’s Jetta.

“Hey, guys.” Liz called as she stepped towards the fully laden jeep were she found Max, Michael and Isabel gathered. She stared at the mountain of things that were loaded onto the jeep in wonder. “It seems as though you have everything covered if the quantity of stuff is anything to go by.”

“Thank Dian Fossey here!” Michael nodded towards Isabel. “It seems as though she has got it into her pretty little head that we are off into the jungle for three or four months, but should our one night stay in a local wood turn into a safari, it’s safe to say we have it covered!”

Max, Michael, Liz and Maria all turned towards Isabel, ready for the inevitable retort, but nothing! It soon became clear that she hadn’t even heard what Michael had said as it seemed she only had eyes for Alex. Alex was at the trunk of Maria’s car making room for any bags that they might be unable to squeeze into the already heavily loaded jeep.

“I think you had better run and buy yourself a lottery ticket.” Max offered Michael. “With Isabel not hearing what you just said I think your luck is in.”

“She doesn’t frighten me!” Michael stated firmly. “Much.” He added quietly under his breath as he turned back towards the jeep.

“It became clear quite early on that we wouldn’t be able to fit all of our stuff and the three of us into the jeep so I hope you have room for an extra person in your Jetta, Maria.” Max asked as he turned to the petite blond.

“Shouldn’t be a problem.” Maria replied nonchalantly. “You can fit the stuff we brought into the glove box so we have plenty of room.”

“But you did bring the food, didn’t you?” Max suddenly asked nervously. “It’s what we agreed. We bring the equipment and you bring the food.”

“Calm down, boy scout!” Maria quipped. “We have enough food to feed an army, but with both Alex and Michael with us it should just about last until tomorrow.”

“It’s fine, Max.” Liz cut in. “I think Maria was having a little swipe at the amount of stuff you have brought with you. We have plenty of food and plenty of room.”

With Alex finally joining the group and Isabel’s attention now returned to the matter at hand the friends gathered into a close knit circle. “So are we ready to go?” Max asked as he glanced around at his friends. He was unsurprised at receiving numerous nods with varying degrees of enthusiasm. “So let’s get started.”

“Who’s sitting where?” Liz cut in before the group split apart.

“Well two in the jeep and the remaining four in the Jetta.” Max offered, but he knew that wasn’t what Liz meant. “I’ll drive the jeep and I’ll need someone to come with me.” Michael was all set to join his friend in the jeep and Isabel was already turning to head towards the Jetta when Max finally added. “Alex, why don’t you come with me.”



To be continued…

A/N: Back to breaking my rules again, namely writing and posting on the same day. Please forgive any glaring errors. Hope you enjoy. Cheers, David


Chapter 20


Isabel stopped her movement towards the Jetta and turned back to look at Max in shock. “What?” She asked indignantly.

Max had made his request for Alex to join him at the last second and now that he had a moment or two to let it sink in he realised he had opened up a whole new can of worms. “I just thought that as the idea of the camping trip is for us to all get to know one another a little better there’s no better time to start than right now.”

“But Alex?” Isabel pressed.

“Well obviously I know you and Michael.” Max began. “And I know Liz from being lab partners at school as well as at the Crashdown, the same goes for Maria…” Max paused for a moment. “…it’s really not a big deal. Why? Do you want Alex to come with you?”

“No!” Isabel stated defensively. “I mean YES!” She added hurriedly, not wishing to offend Alex. She suddenly blushed furiously, realising she had been backed into a corner with what she had just said. “I just mean I’m surprised, that’s all. I don’t mind if Alex wants to go with you, as you say…it’s not a big deal.” Isabel was backtracking furiously.

“Anyone else have a problem with these arrangements?” Max looked around, ignoring Michaels scowl at the thought of having to be in a car with Maria, before he glanced towards Alex. “Let’s go then.”

Alex smiled and nodded towards Liz and Maria as he headed towards the jeep, but saved an extra special look for Isabel as they crossed paths as each headed for their designated car. He purposefully brushed his hand against hers to not only feel the touch of her skin, but also to let her know that given the choice he would have chosen to sit with her.

Isabel took great heart from Alex’s subtle gesture. She knew that the rest of the group could see that she was into Alex in a big way, but she had no desire to become the centre of attention. That being said the fact that Alex had intimated to her that if the roles had been reversed he would have done the same thing gave her great comfort and satisfaction. She was discovering that she could actually tolerate making a fool of herself as long as it was to the benefit of her relationship with Alex.

Liz pulled open the passenger door and was about to climb in when Michael suddenly squeezed past her and sat down while mumbling something about long legs.

When Maria climbed into the car and looked round she had the shock of her life at finding who was sitting next to her. “Hey, stretch, what exactly do you think you are doing?”

Michael sighed heavily as he turned to look at Maria. “My legs are too long to sit in the back and I get car sick.”

Maria eyed him for a moment. “More like you make other people sick!”

“Listen here, pixie! I didn’t choose to be here, and by that I mean here in this car or going camping, but it seems we are all in this together so we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”

Five minutes later while heading out of Roswell…in complete silence.

Isabel leaned into Liz and whispered. “I think I like this easy way.”

Liz had to stifle a laugh by putting her hand over her mouth. When she looked up she could see Maria glaring at her in the rear-view mirror.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Both Max and Alex had sat in silence since climbing into the jeep and heading off to their camping weekend. Max was at least able to concentrate on his driving to cover the uncomfortable silence, but that left Alex with little else to think about other than the fact that Max had pointedly asked him to travel in the jeep with him.

Of course Max’s request could have quite simply been as he had stated back at the house, they were just going to get to know one another a little better. However, Alex had a strong feeling that it probably had more to do with his sudden and rapidly growing relationship with Isabel than Max’s desire to make friends.

Alex decided that he might as well strike while the iron was hot. “Is there something you wanted to say to me, Max?”

Max shot a glance across at Alex before looking back at the road. He didn’t really know Alex that well, more out of reputation than first hand experience, but one of the few things he did know about the guy was that he was no fool. Thinking back it was rather unsubtle of him to suddenly ask Alex to join him in the jeep, but this was the only time he was going to get him out of Isabel’s protective reach for the entire weekend. He did want to get to know Alex better, not least because of what he had learnt about the guy from the flashes Future Liz had passed on to Isabel. Alex had gone from someone Max would probably have only ever seen as Liz’s best friend to a guy who could not only handle knowing their deepest secrets, but also as someone who could be trusted, not only with their secrets, but also their lives if the need should arise. Max had discovered first hand that knowledge like that changes your opinion of someone in an instant.

“What makes you think I wasn’t just interested in getting to know you better?” Max questioned, deciding to start off a little cautious.

“Oh, I don’t doubt you want to get to know me as much as I want to get to know you, but the question is whether we are both going to be honest and admit as to why we want to get to know each other better, are we willing to be truthful and face this thing head on?” Alex stated uncharacteristically firmly.

For a split second Max had a flash of dread where he thought that Isabel might have told Alex about them already, but that fear vanished as fast as it had appeared as he knew without doubt that although he couldn’t say for certain that Isabel wouldn’t tell Alex without his approval, the one thing he did know was that if she did tell Alex or anyone else for that matter she would tell Max to his face of what she had done.

Max decided to play dumb to make sure that both he and Alex were on the same page. “And what truth would that be, Alex?”

“Just that you love your sister very much and all of a sudden I’ve appeared on the scene, I’m probably not the sort of guy you saw Isabel dating and you want to make things perfectly clear to me with regards how I should act towards your sister.”

It was becoming very clear that from the moment he had asked Alex to join him in the jeep, Alex had deemed that the reasoning behind his request was that of an overprotective brother. Now under any other circumstances Max could see himself as the overprotective type, especially when it came to the females in his life, but clearly, and understandably, Alex didn’t know Isabel that well. The fact that Isabel could be more scary than any guy that Max knew meant she wasn’t exactly a shrinking violet in need of protection.

Obviously Alex had no way of knowing that Isabel, aside from being a very strong and very independent young woman, also possessed alien powers that meant there was no man on earth who was a physical match for her, let alone a boy in high school.

“I have to admit that other than wanting to get to know you better because you are dating my sister I did want to make sure that you understand that she should be treated with the utmost respect at all times.” Max decided that if his companion saw him as the overprotective brother he should at least play the part for his benefit.

Alex nodded at hearing Max’s statement. “I couldn’t agree more, Max, as long as you understand that goes for all women, but especially Liz.”

That comment caused Max to dart a look at Alex that took his eye off the road for a moment, he quickly had to straighten up when he looked back at were he was going as the sudden distraction of what Alex had said caused him to veer off slightly.

“Sorry.” Alex apologised. “I didn’t mean to distract you, but I thought you would have already guessed that whether or not you gave me a speech about Isabel you were definitely going to get one about Liz.”

“But Liz and I aren’t dating.” Max said defensively.

“Not yet!” Alex offered with a smile. “But I’ve seen the way you look at her and that was over recent months let alone the last few days. For whatever reason things seem to be taking off between all of us and although I might be taken by your sisters sudden, but much appreciated, interest in me it doesn’t mean I have taken my eye of the ball when it comes to Liz and Maria. Other than my mom I grew up in house full of men so Liz and Maria are very dear to me. They are the sisters I will never have, not that I would swap either of them for the world now. I don’t know you very well much like you don’t know me very well, but I hope my reputation will have put you at ease much like yours has put me at ease. If you were another Kyle Valenti I would be very worried, but you’re not, which is a good thing trust me.”

Max was left dumbfounded, but in a good way. He’d started out by asking Alex to go with him in the jeep so he could work him out and decided for himself what type of guy he really was, up close and personal. It now seemed the very opposite had happened. Alex had been eyeing him up to see what sort of guy he was and whether or not he was good enough for Liz! He wasn’t sure whether to be offended by the implication or pleased that Liz had someone who clearly cared about her so much looking out for her.

When he realised that Alex was doing for Liz and Maria exactly what he was doing for Isabel be knew he couldn’t do anything but respect the guy.

“Despite the fact that I think both Isabel and Liz are more than capable of looking out for themselves I must admit that I find both you and I are in the same boat, i.e. looking out for someone who probably doesn’t need it.” Max admitted. “That being said I can’t have a problem with you wanting to look out for Liz in the same way that I want to look out for Isabel.”

“How about we make a deal?” Alex asked. “From now on we just look out for the girl’s period, even if they don’t need it.”

Max looked down and was pleased to see Alex offer him a handshake in confirmation of their new deal. He took his hand and they shook firmly before both turned their attention back to the road ahead.

“I wonder how Michael is getting on in the car full of girls.” Alex suddenly asked.

Max glanced at his new friend and smiled. “I think we got the better deal being here.”

That comment made them both laugh.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


“I wish I knew what was going on up there.” Isabel stated quietly to Liz as she nodded towards the car they had been following for nearly an hour.

Before Liz could reply Michael turned in his seat and glared at Isabel. “I thought we agreed on everyone keeping quiet!”

“No, Michael.” Isabel disagreed. “You and Maria decided for a quiet life, and so you could arrive at our destination in one piece, that you both would keep your mouths shut for the duration of the journey. As both Liz and I are capable of civilised conversation without killing each other it means we can talk unabated.”

“Just because Michael and I are passionate about things doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of civilised conversation.” Maria butted in.

“No, Maria. That’s exactly what it means.” Liz cut in. “I don’t mean to be harsh but you and Michael are two peas from the same pod.”

“So you’re saying we can’t hold a conversation without killing each other, is that it?” Maria questioned, trying to get things clear in her head.

“Well, you said it yourself, Maria. You’re both passionate, which means neither of you are willing to back down very often, if at all.”

“That’s BS and you know it!” Maria stated defensively. “Just because we say what we feel doesn’t make us bad company.” Maria glanced at Michael. “OK, big boy. Let’s play eye-spy, only things in the car count.”

“What?!” Michael asked indifferently.

“Come on you big lump.” Maria insisted. “We can’t let the pair from the little house on the prairie back there win, now get going.” When she saw Michael’s apathy Maria could feel her blood beginning to boil. “Just do it!” She cried forcefully, proving Liz and Isabel’s comments somewhat.

“Eye-spy with my little eye, something beginning with the letter C.” Michael finally offered, begrudgingly.

“Clock, can, carpet…” Maria cried in a rush.

“Nope!” Michael stated, not trying to hide his disinterest.

“Clutch!” Maria called in triumph. “It’s clutch.”

Michael simply shook his head.

After a prolonged silence Maria let out an audible sigh. “OK, I give up. What is it?”

“Cactus.” Michael stated.

“What?” Maria asked slowly and calmly, which was all the more scary considering she looked like she was just about to burst.

“Cactus.” Michael repeated.

“It’s only supposed to be things in the car.” Maria yelled. “That way we haven’t driven past it when we come to guess.”

Michael leaned into Maria and fixed her with a steely stare. “I heard you the first time and it’s in the car!”

Maria fixed her eyes back on the road and took a couple of deep breathes in a vain attempt to calm herself down before she looked back at Michael. Speaking slowly but purposefully she said, “Where the hell can you see a Cactus in this car?”

Michael pointed towards the rear-view mirror. “There.”

“The air freshener?” Maria queried, all set to explode.

“That’s it.” Michael nodded in triumph.

“But that’s in the shape of a pine tree.” Maria cried.

Michael frowned. “Well how the hell am I supposed to know that, it looks like a Cactus?”

“Maybe by the fact that not only is the pine tree air freshener in the shape of a pine tree but it also smells of bloody pine!” Maria yelled. “When they bring one out that smells of Cactus I’ll let you know!”

Throughout the entire time Liz and Isabel had sat silent, but amused in the back seat. After witnessing their worst nightmare the pair looked at one another and tried not to laugh, knowing it would only make a bad situation worse. After a moment Liz decided to risk speaking to Isabel in a hushed voice. “Are we nearly there yet?”


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


With the rest of their journey made in silence the relief was palpable when the two cars pulled into the parking area that services Frazier woods. As everyone climbed out and had a stretch it was noticeable that Max and Alex were both smiling and chatting while the occupants of the Jetta simply parted ways at the earliest opportunity.

Max looked over at Isabel. “Last chance for you to use the amenities before we head off into the woods for the next twenty-four hours.”

“By that you mean the last time we get to use the bathroom before we start digging holes.” Isabel stated rather frankly.

At hearing that both Liz and Maria followed Isabel as she moved off to use the ladies room one last time before their adventure truly began. A few minutes later, as they rejoined the boys, it became clear that something wasn’t quite right. It seemed that as the boys had unloaded the jeep something must have happened because all the girls could now see was the three boys gathered around the huge box that Max and Michael had loaded onto the jeep back at the house, which was now open, with each of them peering in as they each scratched their head in bewilderment.

“What’s wrong?” Isabel asked apprehensively. “Why do you all look worried? Don’t tell me, you forgot the tents!”

“Oh, no. We have the tents.” Max shook his head. “We have everything we need.”

Isabel’s state of concern was made all the worse by the fact that Michael started to laugh uncontrollably, which was never a good sign.

“If we have tents and we have everything we need why do you look worried and why is Michael laughing his ass off?” Isabel pressed.

Max started to scrub at his face with his hands. “I borrow the camping gear from Milton…”

“And?”

“And I told him that six of us were going camping…” Max paused.

“Don’t make me beat it out of you, Max.” Isabel called, the suspense killing her.

Finally Max reached in the box and lifted up a piece of green material that Isabel couldn’t make head nor tail of.

“We’ve just had a proper look at the tents and discovered that they’re listed as two man tents.” Max looked directly at his sister. “He’s given us three two man tents.”

“But there are only six of us so what’s the problem?”

“Yeah, six of us.” Max agreed. “Three boys, three girls…”


Finally the problem that the boys could see dawned on Isabel. “But that means that one of the tents will have to have a boy and a girl share!”



To be continued…