Title: Look After You
Summary: Twin sisters Liz and Tess Guerin are home for the summer and they both fall for the same guy Max Evans. It quickly escalates into war; sister vs. sister. The only thing that unites them is their hatred for their brother Michael's girlfriend Maria Deluca. With Maria's stepbrother Kyle Valenti, Max's sister Isabelle and Tess's bestfriend Alex Whitman along for the ride this is a summer they wont forget.
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own Roswell or any of the characters.
Author's Note: This is a challenge I accepted at RF and I decided that since I had about 7 pages done it might be a good idea to post it here to make sure I was on the right track. So feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I wish I were Pam Troy
Tess Guerin sighed for the fifth time since she started her shift at the CrashDown. The alien themed diner was 20 minutes from closing up and after a painfully slow night Tess wanted nothing more than to close the doors and go straight to bed so she could forget the day had ever happened.
"You're staring again", whispered Tess's twin sister Liz, startling her from her thoughts.
"Liz! You scared me" Tess responded moving her gaze from the only two occupants in the diner. "And anyways I wasn't staring, I was just seeing if they needed a refil".
Liz raised a single eyebrow in disbelief, "Yeah right, girl you've got a thing for Kyle Valenti and it's killing you to see him over there with Skank Troy. Though it really is beyond me what you see in him. He's nothing but a dumb jock".
Once again, Tess questioned the fact that they were twins. She was blonde with blue eyes while Liz was a brunette with brown eyes. They were built differently with Liz being tall and lean and Tess being short and curvy. Even their personalities were different. Tess hated most of school with the exception of her creative writing class and gym. She was a cheerleader who was considered popular and got invited to all the parties. Liz on the otherhand was considered more of a science nerd who loved to be at school or at home doing homework.
"Liz, you'll never get it. You only see what Kyle wants you to see. He's not as dumb as he looks" Tess responded as she once again had to defend her feelings for Kyle to Liz. She only sees what she wants to see
Liz held her hands up in defeat "Alright, alright...I give up." She sighed before changing the subject, "So I heard all the yelling earlier, what was it about this time?"
Tess's blood began to boil as she remembered the conversation with her parents earlier today.
Tess was exasperated "Why can't I go out to Pete's party tonight?"
Jeff Parker lowered his paper to glance at his youngest daughter by four minutes, "Because there will be boys, alcohol, drugs, loud music, boys, no parents and oh did I forget boys?"
Tess sighed as she continued atempting to get through to her over-protective father, "First of all, you've been watching too much WB because that doesn't really happen at parties in real life. Second, you raised me right so I don't drink, I've never done any drugs in my life and I don't want to go there for boys. I want to be a normal 16-year old who goes to parties with the rest of her friends", Tess decided to change tactis "Mom, you understand don't you?"
Nancy Parker looked sympathtic but ultimately sisded with Jeff, "Sorry sweetie, but I agree with your father on this. I just don't think it's safe for you to go. I don't understand this is the end of the world for you, Liz doesn't go to parties and she never complains. Why can't you be more like your sister?"
Tess threw her hands in the air as she found herself in a similar conversation especially lately, "Why are you constantly comparing me to her? She's a nerd that's why she doesn't go to parties, she prefers her books to people. Sure I don't have Liz's A's but I do get good grades and I hardly complain about always having to be here working, why can't I be allowed to have some fun? All I want is the chance to go to this party so i can prove to you that uou have nothing to worry about.I don't even understand all the worry, Michael was always going to parties when he was in high school.
"That's because he's a boy and-" Nancy responded
"That is so not fair." Tess yelled, " So I get nothing because I'm not a boy like Michael or a complete anti-social geek like Liz? Fine, fine whatever...Just know that I really hate you right now and I will never forgive you.
Jeff placed his paper on the table and stood up, " Now wait a minute young lady, don't take that tone with us. Not if you want to continue to be able to practise with the cheerleading team."
She was beyond feeling guilt, "I don't care. You're ruining my life and I- I HATE YOU!" She ran upstairs to her room and slammed the door.
Tess crossed her arms over her body as she summed up the suckiness of her current situation. "Kyle asked me to Pete's party and mom and dad are being completely unfair. Tonight was supposed to be the night that he asked me to be more than friends. I know it! And I'm stuck here watching Pam work her skanky wiles on him so he takes her instead"
"Well if Kyle really liked you, it wouldn't matter what Pam tries" Liz said gently.
"I know...it's just; have you ever liked someone so much that you felt it in every atom of your body, every millimeter of your soul? He makes you laugh, smile and cry all at the same time? I think I love him but he'll never want to date a junior who isn't allowed to go to parties or even to the mall. Mom and Dad have us working here almost every night and with homework and cheerleading I don't have any free time" She covered her face with her hands and laughed bitterly as she contiued, "I've been sitting here wishing I were Pam Troy, at least then I could be sitting in that booth with Kyle and going out when I wanted to. Can you believe that?"
Liz sat shocked at Tess's announcement, "Tess you have so much going for you that you should never be jealous of Pam Troy, I never want to hear that out of your mouth again! Mom and Dad have always been overly protective, it's just who they are. About the love thing, I don't know what to say to that. I don't even know if I believe that love exists. I've never felt that way about anyone. How do you know it's even love? So many people say they're in love and then they break up or get divorced. How can you possibly feel that way about someone and then wake up and have it all disappear?"
"You're just a cynic"
"Yeah well it's better than being a hopeless romantic. I like being realistic"
Tess glanced at the clock and noticed that it was five minutes to closing. "Well take your realistic self and go close the doors. I'll go get rid of our final customers"
As Tess got closer to Kyle and Pam's table she could hear Pam attempting to convince Kyle to go to Pete's party with her.
"Hi" Tess said looking directly at Kyle.
"Hi back" Kyle responded.
"Tessie, could you be a sweetie and get our cheque, Kyle and I are discussing something personal" Pam said snidely as she flashed Tess a fake smile.
"Well I already have your bill tallied" she placed it on the table, "So you can have your personal discussion outside after you pay"
"We're not discussing anything" Kyle stated while glancing at Pam, then turned to face Tess. "So what did your parents say Tess? Are you coming to Pete's with me?" Kyle asked.
"No. I actually uh...have to work that night" Tess fibbed, "We're short staffed so I'm gonna be really busy that night. Sorry"
Kyle looked disappointed but then smiled "No it's okay. If you're not going to go, than I wont. It'll just be another boring party anyways. How about I stay here and keep you company instead?" He quickly added, "If you want"
Oh I want! But Tess kept her cool and said nonchalantly as she picked up their empty plates "That would be cool. I guess I'll um see you tomorrow night?"
Pam, having enough of being ignored, stood up and said, "You'd rather stay here in this loser diner with loser Tess than be with me having a good time at a party? What a joke!" As she was turning to leave she stopped and asked, "What's the sheriff doing here?"
Both Kyle and Tess turned around to see Liz setting down the garbage bags she was about the throw out as the sheriff started talking to her.
What happened next might have only lasted mere seconds but to Tess it felt like an eternity.
Liz's shout of "No! I don't believe you!" Her turning towards Tess with tears streaming down her face.
She couldn't move as Liz ran towards her wrapping her arms around a confused Tess. She could only look at the sheriff as he walked into the diner and said solemnly, "There's been an accident. I'm sorry girls, your parents didn't survive"
Tess barely recalled dropping the plates she still had in her hands, nor did she recall the wails that were coming from her twin. She could only recall the last words she said to her parents.
I Hate You
She could feel the tears fall from her eyes and felt her knees give out, then the hard feel of the floor and the shattered glass as she wrapped her arms around Liz.
No one said a word as the two girls cried in each other's arm.
Tbc...