Just a little reminder - this story is a continuation of Destiny's Bitch that has not been continued, not my story loves. Enjoy the change!

Maria - - - -

I don't have to be close to Michael to know he is feeling strained and this act – if that is what you could call it – is a strain on him as it is me. The scene he and his friends, they were my friends, made in the diner only confirmed the farce. It didn't hurt any less. The drops I use to stop hyperventilating have no use on me right now and bawling into my pillow is all I can do between gasps of air. Where is "Hurricane" De Luca, where is the "Teflon Babe"? Isn't she strong enough to get out of this mess?

Suddenly, I hear the house door open. The clock on the side of the bed read 1:15AM. Mom must be getting back from her "road trip". She's been seeing someone for about two months now. Every time she goes out to see him it is an inventory run to the town over. She needs to buy more of this or more of that. I haven't seen any boxes and she hasn't made additional pies. But that is not what worries me right now, no what concerns me is that I will not be able to stop crying before she opens my door.

Looking around my room frantically for something – water might help if I can gulp it down fast enough. But that doesn't look like a possibility my eyes are blurry and even through silent tears nothing can be found. A gulp escapes now and then and it cannot be helped. The next I hear the creaking of the steps but it is not just mom. She brought him home they are giggling and whispering "now, stop that. You are going to wake Maria up." They are still giggling though as they pass my room and relief hits.

My heart is still aching, tears are not stopping but I don't have to worry about Mom. She's happy. Once, her door closes and locks I run out of my room and go to the shower down stairs in the basement. I don't want to hear her "happiness" at the moment and I have yet to come up with a plan of action. The running water will cover my sobs and when the tears can no longer fall there is a small bed room here where I can collapse. I think to myself – Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow I can gather the troops, or what is left of them, and we can move forward. This is not just about me, there are others to worry about working though similar issues. Michael and the other Checks have set off an Atomic bomb and it has taken this long to realize that although I will never get over him, I need to live again and so do they.

My sorrows are washed away with the water, but I know what has to be done. This is war. Destiny is not the only force out there. Maria "Hurricane" DeLuca is a force to be reckoned with and Destiny has a few lessons to learn.

Alex - - - - -

Isabell was constantly on his mind. When he was sleeping he swore she was "dreamwalking" with him. Some nights they would go to the movies in his dreams. Why would he have a dream like that? Especially, movies like a "Walk in the Clouds" Not a movie he would watch, but he would for her any day.

The third time they cuddled watching a "Walk In the Clouds" the whole movie played out. He had to ask her then, "So, how long?"

Isabell just looked at him confused with that loving face. The one he adored. The one she kept from him while she was in public. The one side of her that took ages for him to reveal. "How long, iz? How long are you going to take me to a movie that you and Michael watched together while he pawed at you? " the anger rose and I continued, "How many times are you going to make him go so that we can watch this movie the way YOU wanted us to?"

The movie theatre changed into a living room - his living room. She still had her loving features but they were marred by red puffy tears. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice. All your dreams of me lately are awful. I didn't want you seeing me that way," she sobbed into his shoulder. Snot and salty tears ruining his threads and he couldn't help but pull her closer. Slowly the crying stopped, "Michael, mic . . ." She couldn't get the last out.

I didn't want to hear this. I don't want to know what they are doing to each other. "Save it, Iz. I don't want to hear how well the two of you are. I don't want to know how many times you really watched that movie with him so we could have that experience." He stood up and turned around. "My relationship with you is not the only thing I think about."

She had thought about that, too. She missed him. But she treated him and her friends like garbage and she didn't even know why. She just knew at night the only person she thought of was Alex and the only one she wanted touching her was Alex. Michael was like a brother to her even Destiny could not change those feelings. So, what was ruling her?

I could see it in her face. She was as much confused about her behavior as she was about the depth of her feelings for him. No matter the strength. Something was governing her during the day. At night, alone she was free to find who she truly desired to be with. I gave her a sad smile. "It has been months, Iz. Liz, moved away to gain sanity. Kyle, is spouting out the teachings of Buda. Since, Max saved him he's changed a bit." I took a moment to see her giggle at that. "No, really it isn't as funny as you think. Maria, thinks something is wrong with him mentally." I had to grin at that one.

Maria was the most affected by these changes. During the day she was "Teflon Babe" ready to defeat evil. When she thought no one was around her mask wavered and he could see the soft side in her armor. She was strong, a rock, the most put together person. Now, she had a temper and if today at the café was any sign things were about to change for everyone.

Iz, looked indignant, "What are you kidding? She dumped water on us. She is the one mentally challenged." Even as she said it, she knew the most loyal friend she had besides Alex was Maria. Maria would never believe something likje that. Her words were used to exaggerate his coping method. "And the way she treated us at the diner. . ."

"Was professional and courteous until you and the other hybrids took her kindness as a weakness," I supplied. "And what is with that, Iz? Here you are acting as you normally would. But at school and . . ." I was cut off. She kissed me quick and said 'good morning, we have to get up.' A few minutes later I sat up straight and took a deep breath. I was hoping to smell her perfume but instead I felt my heart plummet. She was not with us and I was in for another day of Hell. His phone began to ring . . .

Kyle - - - -

After being saved by Max, my life changed. I was no longer filled with anger and jealousy over losing Liz. I tried to find the answer in the bible, the torah, and all sorts of religious and spiritual places. So, although I was no longer angry I was confused. And my confusion just wasn't about the world it was about relationships.

I tried to talk to Liz, but the tension I felt between her and Max had grown so confusing. I wasn't sure whether he wanted to deck me or be my buddy. He was really possessive over Liz and thought I wanted her back. However, he wanted to make her happy since the accident. We ended up doing a bit of both until this Destiny scandal broke up the "I met an Alien Club."

Michael and I never got along. And until recently I thought he was a delinquent waiting for the cops to seize him. Turned out he was being abused and was looking for a way out. I didn't approve of his methods though, but he was smarter than anyone gave him credit for. Took a peek at his IQ scores and they were so high I wondered why he didn't test out. Then he had to act like Danny from "Grease" and treat Maria like she was a doll. They were both messed up as far as I was concerned. Didn't stop Michael from being a stubborn mule, but Maria's influence took the edge off.

Isabell, always our Queen Bee. Now, that was a complete and utter surprise, but he should have known right. They are related. They do not look anything alike, but they are related. There had not been one guy in school who didn't want to get with her. After finding more about Isabell he became a bit protective in his own way. Her relationship with Whitman was both romantic and cruel. I knew there were some guys from his football team who gave him a hard time – in short they beat him up. I felt horrible about that. Especially since he was one of Liz's pals, but now it was worse.

Then there was Tess. I met her not that long ago and was immediately drawn to her. Drawn was not even a good enough simile more like she was a magnet and the moment she came into town I drifted towards her. I would find myself lost and then there she would be hanging off of Maxwell. He didn't even look like he wanted her there and then suddenly his expression would become blank and well let's just say I had a lot of time on my hands and I needed to find religion fast.

I took a short summer course at the local college on philosophy. It covered some of everything and the one that touched me was Buda and what he taught. It was my only defense against Tess. No one seemed to notice her, not even the teachers. But she always had top scores on all tests. I wonder what Buda would have thought of this?

Contemplating Tess was tricky. She was living with us now and she was so sweet with us but . . . .

His phone rang about that time. . .

Liz - - - -

I had more than a full deck of courses this summer. I applied for a special summer scholarship a year ago and did not know if I would even use it. Especially, with Max to think about. Huh, I sighed. In the end that is why I had to take it. I couldn't be as strong as Maria or busy as Alex or religious as Kyle. I had to laugh at that, Kyle regarded religion from a far off place. After becoming a member of the "I met an Alien Club" he had to seek out his spiritual nature in order to cope. Maybe, that is what made Maria so strong. She had always been in tune with the life force around her. Alex was intuitive and knew who was playing him because he had always been bullied. What did I have? Science.

It was my curiosity that made Max and his family a target, but it is what also brought us together, she thought. So where does that leave me? I am in a lonely dorm room. Reading about molecular structure of atoms and wishing I was on the trail of a mystery. Wish I was sitting in Max's arms and what our next move was in the never ending quest to enlightenment. In the back of my mind, I can still feel the warmth from a whispered touch across my hand and a tingle as his thoughts brushed my mind. I couldn't see Maria with such a strong connection to Michael, but there must be. She is still fighting for him to return to her.

Thank fully, I have my classes. I will have a week off in between Summer A and B classes. During that time though, I will stop by Roswell and see what I have missed. Maybe, just maybe, I will have the courage to see Max. With a small hiccup I laid back down on the bed and took notes on my next exam.

The next morning I had a text from Maria:

Chica, don't lose hope. War is coming, a plan is being made, and Evil is going down. – MHD

I smiled. I guess I better hold off on those plans to go to Roswell.