Roswell Fanatics

Isabel

“Did you want to go upstairs and take a shower first?”

I look gratefully at Liz and nod as I try to recompose myself. I run a hand through my hair and attempt to smile at Liz, feeling even more stupid then before. “Yeah, that would be great. I’ll just go and…” I trail off as I gesture towards the door. “I’ll see you guys soon”

I feel so embarrassed, never before have nearly I allowed myself to lose complete of my emotions like that in front of anyone. I mean they didn’t call me the Ice Princess for nothing back in High School.

And what’s even worst, is now they going to be thinking that I’m upset about Jake turning out to be a complete loser when in fact I’m more upset with the fact that I didn’t realize that he was a complete loser and I doubt I would have known if it hadn’t been for that phone call.

I leave Max and Liz alone in the kitchen and head up the stairs to mine and Liz’s room. The thought of a shower extremely appealing. As I enter the room, I’m instantly aware of Alex’s present. He’s placing my bag, which I had completely forgotten about, beside my bed and shifts uncomfortably when he turns to see me in the room.

“Are you okay?” he asks

“I’m fine, I was just going to take a shower.” I say, motioning to the en suite bathroom awkwardly. “I’m absolutely covered in sand.”

*Max*

I'm not entirely surprised as Isabel quickly leaves. I'd rather suspected that was going to be her choice.

With a sigh, I turn towards Liz. I knew when Isabel was here that meant that Alex and Liz were here, too, but I tried not to think about it. Isabel needed me, besides, Liz is ... well, she's not interested except as a friend...

God, she's so amazingly cute, just standing there with two paper bags in her hands. I realize she's holding both bags rather closely. I wonder what it is. "Tess and I picked up some movie rentals we can watch later. I found plenty of microwave popcorn to make it a fun night," I smile at her.

ALEX

Okay, which bed belongs to whom? C'mon Alex, you should know that after all, you already slept in one of the beds. Not that I remember much ... well, when Max helped me out of the room that night, the way seemed rather long so Liz's bed should be the one next to the door and Isabel's the one closest to the bathroom.

Ah yes, there's a Prada bag lying next to that bed, so it is probably Isabel's. Not that the girls will kill me if I mix up the bags ... I hope.

Placing first Liz' and then Isabel's bag on their beds, I turn to leave and suddenly come face to face with Isabel. She looks better than a few minutes ago but still, there's a sad look in her eyes.

Oh God, I hope she won't think that I'm a creep who's trying to steal her underwear or anything!

"Are you okay?" I ask after a moment of silence. What a stupid question? Are you okay after the guy you dated turned out to be a married asshole with child? Great Whitman!

“I’m fine, I was just going to take a shower. I’m absolutely covered in sand.” Isabel replies, motioning towards the bathroom and shuddering when she mentions the sand.

"I can't see any sand but a shower does indeed sound good." I say with a smile. "Well, I will leave you alone then and go and check if Liz left the ice cream untouched before I shower myself." I say as I make my way out of the room, giving her a friendly smile when I pass her, knowing so well that for the next thirty minutes, I'll have thoughts about Isabel, shower and water dripping down her body in my mind.

I really should leave before I start blushing.

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

“Tess and I picked up some movie rentals that we can watch later. I found plenty of microwave popcorn to make it a fun night,” Max says from where he stands in the kitchen.

“That’s great!” I say as I try to force down the butterflies I get whenever he looks at me. “We picked up some ice cream and other topping and things.” I place the bags on the counter and start to put the ice cream and other things that need to stay cold away.

“Here,” I hear Max say and then the rustle of movement behind me, “let me help.” When I turn back to the bags, I see that he was opening my bag with Isabel’s surprise in it. He goes to hand the package of cookie dough to me to place in the fridge, but I just bring it back to the counter.

“It’s my surprise. For Izzy. I thought she might like some freshly baked cookies. And the rest of us could make ice cream sandwiches or something if we wanted. I wanted to get started on them while she’s busy.”

Max is the only one to know about this, I hope he won’t tell anyone. “I’d really appreciate it if you won’t tell anyone,” I give him a light pleading look that slowly fades into a beaming smile when I realize that he doesn’t know about how well things are going between Alex and Iz. “Oh, and I think you’ll be pleased to know that things are going great between Alex and Iz.”

I place the cookie dough on the counter and start opening random cabinets as I look for the cookie sheet. “Do you know where the cookie sheet is? Or where the spoons are?” I ask him.

Isabelle: I missed your first Max post. I think we must have posted around the same time. Sorry! Didn't mean to be rude and seem like I was ignoring your post!!!

Trude, hope that you don't mind that I've kept Alex talking to Isabel. I change it if you like.

Isabel

"Well, I will leave you alone then and go and check if Liz left the ice cream untouched before I shower myself." Alex says. He starts to make his way to the door but as he passes me, I impulsively grab his arm to stop him from leaving.

He looks at me questioningly.

“I just wanted to…” I pause, feeling quite lost as I look into his blue eyes. What was I going to say again? I start again, “I’ve been a bitch to you these last few days and I wanted to say…” I trail off again as Alex looks at me expectedly. “I just wanted to say- well I was….I mean I shouldn’t have treated you that way and I’m…..”

“Sorry?” Alex suggests helpfully.

I nod, “Yeah that’s what I wanted to say.”

Honestly, apologising is a lot harder then what it seems.

No, that's cool that A/I continue talking ... I just didn't know what Alex could say aside of showers and such


ALEX

When Isabel grabs my arm, I freeze. I don't know what I expect her to do and I'm torn between her talking to me and slapping me. Honestly, I don't know why she'd slap me but ... well, she already did a few - in my opinion - confusing things these last few days.

“I just wanted to…” Isabel says, looking directly at me. “I’ve been a bitch to you these last few days and I wanted to say… I just wanted to say- well I was….I mean I shouldn’t have treated you that way and I’m…..”

I'm somehow managing to stare into her eyes without getting lost in them and hearing what she is saying. Or rather, trying to say.

"Sorry?" I say after a moment since she obviously has probelms with apologizing.

“Yeah that’s what I wanted to say.” she says with a nod.

"Okay, apology accepted." I say calmly and smile at her.

"That's it?" she asks surprised.

"Uh yeah, ..." I shrug a bit. "I know that we didn't have the best start in here but ... well, I certainly didn't make a good first impression I guess with getting drunk, sleeping in your bed."

Then I frown. "Well, since you already apologized, I think I still didn't say sorry for ending up in your bed two nights ago. I'm really sorry for that but well ... I was totally drunk which you probably noticed and which I'm really embarrassed about and the house was totally unfamilar and it was dark and ..." great, I ramble!

"well, I'm truly sorry for that." I finish lamely, feeling really stupid for that accident all over again.

no problem, Ruby - it worked just fine.
*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Max*

"Really?" I say when Liz mentions that Alex and Liz are suddenly getting along 'great.' A rather meteoric rise from only a few hours ago. Then I might have suggested she was treating him as something less interesting than dirt.

But before I can get my mind around this interesting news, Liz is asking for a cookie sheet and spoons. I think the idea of making 'homemade' cookies for Isabel is wonderful. I hope she does too. In any case, it'll be a fun thing to do. Doing anything with Liz would be fun, actually. Her smile is unbelieveable.

"Actually, yeah. I saw the spoons over here when I was putting some stuff away," I tell her, pulling out two that I think are right for drop cookies. "I didn't see a cookie sheet, but I also hadn't looked in here yet - Eureka! Got 'em." I grin at her. "Let me wash my hands and I'll help you out," I say, putting the trays down in front of her. "And then maybe you can tell me about this dramatic change in the Isabel/Alex situation."

No, that's cool that A/I continue talking ... I just didn't know what Alex could say aside of showers and such

He could have asked if she needed any help washing her back!! LOL!!!
Just kidding. Honestly, I need to get my mind out of the gutter!


Isabel

"Well, since you already apologized, I think I still didn't say sorry for ending up in your bed two nights ago. I'm really sorry for that but well ... I was totally drunk which you probably noticed and which I'm really embarrassed about and the house was totally unfamiliar and it was dark and ...well, I'm truly sorry for that."

I tilt my head to the side as I attempt to understand what Alex is rambling about, he’s talking so fast and is moving his hands so wildly that it hard to keep up with what he’s going on about.

He is apologizing and I guess he is finding it just as hard as I did. Deciding to take pity on him, I smile “Its okay. I guess this makes us even then. So we can just start a new and put everything else behind us now right?”

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

“Eureka! Got ‘em,” Max exclaims proudly as he pulls the cookie sheets out, displaying them proudly, and I find myself unable to suppress the light laugh at the grin he flashes to me. I never knew someone who felt that proud to find cookie sheets.

“Let me wash my hands, and I’ll help you out,” he says as he places them in front of me and walks over to the sink. “And then you can tell me about this dramatic change in the Isabel/Alex situation.”

“You want to help?” I ask as I walk over to preheat the oven. I was just a little taken aback. I thought he’d want to go and spend some time with Tess. I guess he would be wondering about what happened between Alex and Izzy, but that could wait if he wanted to spend the time with Tess.

I pick up a towel that is hanging and walk over to stand beside him. “I mean, you don’t want to spend the time with Tess? I can handle the cookies if you want to.” I held the towel out for him, waiting for him to finish so I could wash my hands and waiting for his answer.

*Max*

I'm just finishing up washing my hands when Liz asks about Tess. For a moment, I'm a bit stunned. I'd actually forgotten all about Tess as soon as I was here alone talking to Liz.

I take the towel, drying my hands as I figure out what the answer is. Not just what I should tell Liz, but what actually is the truth. I'm not sure I know.

"Sure, I want to help," I tell her as I step back, letting Liz have access to the sink. "Tess is probably taking a shower or something, anyway," I say, although I don't actually know what Tess is doing. There's a couple other things I need to talk to Liz about anyway, but first, I'll finish up what we started on. The Isabel/Alex situation is genuinely surprising and interesting and I do want to know what's changed.

Liz turns to me, having finished up with her washing. I hand her the towel and say, "So, tell me about our star-crossed lovers. What happened on a short car-ride from the beach that's changed things so much?"