Remnants
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters or their characterizes, just the situations that I decide to put them in.
Author's Note: My version of Roswell. The booing in the back can click to another story, thank you for the courtesy. Oh and this is one of those transitional chapters that have to come around every once in a while.
Timeline: Roswell redone, my way. Take it back to the beginning and turn just about everything upside down and inside out. For background... read the preceding chapters first. Makes sense to read a story from the beginning, right?
Warning: Twilight Zone-esque. Unconventional Coupling. You are warned, so no flames about that stuff.
Summary: Maria has a theory. Michael gets the car. Isabel is disappointed. Tess visits Make-Out point. Michael is asked another favor.
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Chapter 7 - Disjointed
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"But I want to wear jeans!"
"Jeans, on a date? Come on, Tessie!"
"Ria, it's not a date. You said that I shouldn't think of it as a date. In fact you said not to go out with him at all. Now you want me to dress up for him?" she tossed her cropped top on the bed and scoured her closet for something to matched the newly pressed jeans that sat neatly folded on her chair. The silver studs she had managed to find cheaply looked surprisingly good along the pocket outline. But for her top...there was literally nothing in her closet.
"I know what I said," irritated that her sister was tossing things she said back at her, at habit Tess had picked up from Maria in fact. "Just because it's a non-date, doesn't mean that you shouldn't dress to impress. I mean, there will be other guys at the game, not to mention the dance, that will sure to notice."
"But I like to be comfortable when I go out, you know that," she pulled out a pale pink top with slit sleeves and a cowl neckline. "This is still pretty nice."
Throwing up her hands, Maria gave up trying to force the pretty slinky dress she had found in her own closet on her sister. "All right, I give up. I never could win when you're being practical and stubborn as a mule."
"Good," then held up the top for her sister to see. "What do you think? With the jeans? Causal but still pretty?"
Eyeing it critically, "I think you should wear blue. Something to bring out those pretty eyes of yours." She sighed. "I wish I had blue eyes like yours."
Rolling those sapphire orbs that Maria coveted so much Tess bounced onto the bed. "I wish I had your height. I wish I had your voice. I wish I had your take-no-prisoner attitude. I wish I had your perfect nails, your posture, your full lips, your sultry looks, your...."
"Okay, okay," hugging her one handedly and laughed. "I get the point."
"Really?" plucking at the cut sleeves with an expert hand. "Cause I seem to have to remind you every few months." She eyed her sister seriously, "What's going on, Ria?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" her brows raised.
Maria rolled her eyes. "Okay, something."
"What kind of something?"
"Alex and Liz something."
Tess grinned suddenly. For the past week and a half, since Alex asked Maria to the dance, Maria hasn't stopped talking about the fact that she sense discord between the two friends, despite feeling decisively put out over the fact that she wasn't the true object of another's affection. "You still think they're secretly in love with one another and just don't know it yet?"
"Absolutely," Maria replied with firm conviction. "Even you've seen the way Liz is whenever Alex talks to me about what he'd like to do after the dance. It's like seeing the creation of a green eyed monster happening right in front of your eyes."
Nodding in agreement, Tess ran her hand along the top on her lap, pale pink turning into a royal blue. "She does get kind of quiet and squirmy when we talk about the dance."
"If that's not jealousy..."
"What are you girls doing?" Amy Harding asked as she poked her head into Tess's room without warning.
Tess's gasp was masked by Maria suddenly jumping off the bed and in front of the shirt that was still shifting in color. No matter how much they loved their mother, she would never understand what Tess can do and how special she was. "Hey Mom. What happened to 'you girls need your privacy that's why we need to get a house with three rooms' instead of something we can afford more comfortably." She folded her arms and regarded her mother with smug amusement while silently praying that Tess would hurry the hell up.
"Sorry, sorry," holding up her hands. "But I've been calling you girls for the last fifteen minutes and no one has been answering me. By the way, dinner is served."
"Tell me it's more than just tofu meatless-loaf and grass," Maria groaned. Amy's recent hit of conscious on health foods was absolutely killing their appetites-not to mention their waistlines.
"Can we at least have some normal salad dressing for the salad instead of just lemon juice?" Tess asked, tucking the newly colored top under her comforter. No need to tempt fate. "I've lost like five pounds in the last month alone and I cannot afford to lose any more. My clothes don't fit anymore."
"Well, I guess now would be a good time to tell you that I ordered pizza cause I burnt the tofu loaf," she grinned as she took off down the stairs.
Maria and Tess exchanged surprise glances before, "PIZZA!" taking off after Mom.
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Mending and cleaning clothes wasn't one of his favorite activities to do with his powers but Michael learned long ago to rely on only himself when it comes to the small things in life. Though he could never admit it to anyone that was brave enough to ask, mainly Max and Isabel, he took some pride in his presentation. And while he didn't consider a date with Tess a monumental event, he did want to at least attempt to look nice for her.
"What are you doing, boy?" Hank's bellow came through the thin walls of the trailer they shared with the three vicious dogs that Michael has been tempted to kill more than once now. Duke had torn another hole in his drafty sheets again this morning.
Taking a deep breath to hold on to his temper, "Cleaning."
"Well get out here and clean this mess in the kitchen. It's like a pig sty in here," came the reply followed by a loud belch.
"And whose fault is that," Michael muttered under his breath as he put his mended clothes away and opened the often fixed door to his closet-of-a-room and walked to the filthy kitchen. He didn't even sigh at the mess that was left behind by Hank during the day while he had been school. He didn't even mention the fact that he had cleaned up and picked up everything only that morning before he went to school.
"What the hell is for dinner?" Hank yelled from his near permanent seat in front of the battered television in their tiny living/dining room.
"I brought home some stuff from the diner after school," Michael calmly as he kept an eye on Hank while the soft glow of energy slide over the dirty dishes with an expert hand. Better than a dishwasher and faster too. "I'll nuke it for you."
"Do that. And toss me another beer," he ordered without turning his head from the flickering screen.
Putting the take-out box into the small ancient microwave, Michael went back to putting dishes away in neat order. He's learned to be careful over the years but knew that Hank ignored or simply didn't see anything he didn't understand. Plus from the pile of empty cans by the sagging arm chair, the guy was three sheets to the wind and probably won't even notice if the spilled Cheetos on the ground jumped up and danced.
The counter was cleaned quickly and the towels tossed into the broken wicker basket by the door, a memento from when his 'mom' had still been around. It been nearly six years since Mona Guerin finally had enough and walked out the door, never to look back... and on one of his more hopeful moments, Michael still dreamt that she would be back for him.
"I bought some extra stuff for tomorrow's dinner. I won't be back until late," Michael informed Hank as he sat the opened box and beer on the TV tray by the armchair.
"Why?" Hank grunted as he reached for the beer, ignoring the steaming burger that Michael had brought home after receiving several unpleasant looks from Maria Harding.
"Homecoming game and dance tomorrow," Michael explained, rubbing his hand over the flat of his stomach. He was hungry and would have dearly loved to have that second burger in the frig but he knew that Hank would be in foul mood if he had nothing for tomorrow and Michael needed the truck. "I was wondering if I could borrow the car and..."
"You got a girl?" Hank asked suddenly, turning his beady beetle back eyes toward Michael.
With no desire to talk about it with Hank, he nevertheless answered. "Yeah."
"Pretty girl?" Hank asked with a smirk, taking a hand full of fries.
"Yeah."
"Smart girl?"
From everything he's heard, Tess was on the fast track into the honor group. Why that should matter to Hank was beyond him. "Yeah."
Hank laughed, nearly choking on his food. "Then what the hell would she want with you?"
It was the same old story and Michael has since grown use to it. "Can I have the car?"
"Yeah, all right," he gave in ungraciously. "But better watch yourself, boy. Don't you be bringing some brat back here, I won't put up with a crying nuisance."
Michael only nodded his head and walked back to his room muttering, "I won't ever allow a kid of mine to come within ten feet of you. Not in a million years."
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"Kyle!"
"I'm sorry," Kyle said once again for like the umpteenth time since he picked up the phone. "Look, I know that you wanted to meet before the dance but..."
"Kyle!"
"But the guys and I have to..."
"Kyle!"
He sighed, tucking the phone between his shower and cheek. "I'm sorry, Isabel."
She was silent for a moment. "You're always sorry Kyle, but it never changes the situation." She ran her hand through her hair. She gave a soft laugh, "Seems like I'm always playing second fiddle to something or other in your life."
"That's not true, Isabel," though he knew that it was. If it wasn't football, it was homework, if not homework, it was basketball, and if not basketball, it's cross-county. The list never ends. "I... You know how important it is to me that I get a good scholarship for college. My dad isn't going to be able to afford to send me to a good one without some kind of financial help. We're not all rich..."
"I'm not rich, Kyle," she snapped back, tired of having her father's successful law practice thrown in her face again and again for no apparent reason.
"And I'm no super-student the way you are," he pointed out with another sigh. "I can't go to college on my brains alone and you know that."
The frustration was in both their tones now but it did no good. "Kyle..."
"They'll be scouts, Isabel. I cannot ignore that fact that this could be my chance."
"I know that," she replies softly.
He could hear her disappointment and felt the guilt tug at his heart. The past couple of weeks had been hard on their relationship. He cared about Isabel, really truly cared about her. She wasn't the ice princess everyone thinks she is, not once you got to know her well. The kindness was there, along with the warmth and genuine caring heart that she allowed only a few people to get close enough to see. But like all women, she needed attention, something he had been unable to give her. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."
"Yeah," she replied, shaking her head slowly. "Listen Kyle, I'm really tired. I'm going to go to bed now okay?"
Nodding his head slowly and feeling like a worm, Kyle sighed looked up as the front door slam shut. "I'm really sorry about this Isabel."
"I know you are. Good night, Kyle."
"Night," he said and hung up the phone when he heard the click of disconnection. Rubbing his face with his hand, Kyle go up and walked into the living room in time to see his father lock away his gun. "Hey Dad."
"Hey, what are you still doing up?" Jim Valenti asked as he took off his hat and dropped into a seat. "Man, what a day?"
"I head about the nice little pile up on Route 34." Kyle went into the kitchen and pulled out the tray he had prepared earlier to heat up for his father. "Anyone hurt?"
"Two people got broken bones and lots of cuts and bruises was passed around," Valenti answered with a smile. "The biggest part of it was the pregnant woman in the back of one car. She was pinned in and we had to call for the Jaws of Life to get her out. Her water broke twenty minutes into rescue efforts."
Kyle laughed as he brought the heated tray and juice to his tired father. "Did the medic deliver the baby?"
"Hell no, I could only wish they had," Jim grinned. "Mrs. Morrison had a beautiful baby girl in the back of her crushed MPV with yours truly assisting."
"Way to go, Dad!" Kyle slapped his father on the back and dropped into the seat next to him. "Hey Dad, can I ask you a question?"
"What kind of question?" scooping up lumpy mashed potatoes. He made a face but ate it anyways. Either one of the Valenti men could claim to be good cooks, decent cooks yes, but nothing spectacular.
"About women."
Jim looked up at the ceiling. "I'm the wrong man to ask that question, son."
Since it was a painfully old joke that Jim Valenti hadn't had a date in forever, "Just let me ask you one thing."
"Shoot."
"Not in this house," Kyle replied.
Jim whacked him lightly on the arm. "Ask your question."
"What do you do for a girl when you know that you did wrong?"
Valenti thought about it, really considered it for a moment. "Flowers. Candy. Beg."
Kyle stared at his father for a moment. "That's your sage advice?"
"Yes."
Groaning, "I'm better off asking Max or Michael then."
"You and Isabel having trouble?"
"No... Yes... kind of."
"Not spending enough time with her?" he asked mildly.
Kyle nodded with resignation. "Yes."
Jim nodded his head slowly then shook it with regret. "Your mother and I had the same problem."
"What did you do?"
"Obviously not the right thing considering she walked out on us when you were only five months old," he pointed out with much regret. "Like I said, wrong man for the women advice."
Kyle groaned and sat there silently while his father finished his dinner.
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Tess played with the edge of her sleeve for a while before blurting out, "I'm sorry about the way Maria treated you. It wasn't fair of her and I'm not sure exactly why she doesn't like you but she's usually a much friendlier person and..."
"Don't worry, Tessa." Michael interrupted quietly as he kept an eye on the road. "I'm not offended by your sister's dislike of me. I've gotten use to your sister's abrasive nature."
"Oh," she could think of nothing else to say. Maria had been abrupt, short tempered and abominably rude to Michael throughout dinner and then at the rowdy Homecoming game. Michael, in typically fashion, alternatively ignored Maria and made simple suggestive replies that sent the overly protective sister bristling with indignation. "Why do you call me that?"
"What?" he asked, taking the turn one-handedly.
"Why do you call me Tessa?" She responded holding her breath while they took the turn at forty-five miles per hour. "You do realize that that was one of the points Maria was trying to make. She thinks it's disrespectful of you not to call me by my given name."
"Are you upset that I call you Tessa?" he asked mildly.
She considered it for a moment. To be completely honest, she hadn't thought much of it until Maria mentioned it. "No, I don't think I am." She shrugged. She had gotten so use to hearing it from Michael that she didn't even notice it any more. "But it bothers Maria so could you... I mean, maybe you can make an effort not to call me that in front of her?"
"Now why would I want to do that?" he asked devilishly.
She looked at him in the dim light of the car. "Cause I'm asking you to."
There was a silence as he turned to look at her, her blue eyes unnaturally bright in the on coming headlights. He finally sighed and responded with, "I guess it wouldn't kill me to try to play nice with your sister."
"That's all I can ask," Tess replied cheerfully before turning to look out the window... just in time to see a street sign fly by. "Um... Michael?"
"Yeah?" shifting gears with ease.
"You just missed the turn off to the school," she pointed out stuttering.
"I know." The evil grin he gave her should have frightened her but it didn't. She raised one inquiring brow. "We're not going to the dance yet."
"Really?" she asked slowly, her eyes on his usually rough profile. "And where, may I ask, are we going first?"
"Every been to Pine Peak?"
She suppressed a grin with difficulty. "You mean 'Make Out Point'?"
The soft chuckle was surprisingly charming. "Yeah."
"No, I haven't."
"Want to see it?"
She glanced at the passing cars that were becoming more sporadic as they drove. "Do I get a choice?"
"Always."
Tess turned to her head to look at him. She hadn't been expecting that answer. It was so very strange; he was like a whole other person when she was alone with him. He was kinder, warmer, much more gentle when there was no one around, or if it were just him, her and Max. But with others, he was dangerous, so unapproachable. It was like seeing two people with the same face.
Hesitantly, and hoping she wasn't making a monumental mistake, "Yeah, I'd like to see it."
"Good," with a quick nod and his foot of the accelerator.
It took less time to arrive at their destination than for Tess to prepare herself before he had turned the engine off and they were sitting in the dark. The crickets chirped cheerfully in the surrounding bushes as they overlook the small town of Roswell. By now, the dance would have been in full swing and the victory tonight would be celebrated in style.
The silence that fell in the car should have been uncomfortable but somehow it didn't. It was strange that it was never uncomfortable between the two of them. Micahel couldn't even begin to comprehend it. Even with girls that he wanted, for the obvious teenage reasons, there were always moment of embarrassment and uneasiness. But with Tess, it wasn't like that. It was almost like... being in the presence of someone you knew well. Someone who you can trust with your heart and soul.
After a moment, Michael shifted to look at her just as Tess turned to study him. "Come here," opening his arms and reaching for her.
She didn't question it as she allowed him to pull her into his lap, gentling caressing the small of her back. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth and strength of him around her. There was something very comforting about it, almost familiar.
It felt safe.
All they did was sat there in silence, neither one really inclined to do anything more than enjoy the quiet company of the other. But Michael remembered his conversation with Isabel and Max, the disquieting feeling the two of them had that there was something more to this slip of a girl than meets the eyes. He hadn't told them that he was going to bring Tess up here, but it seemed as good of a time as any to both get to know Tess better and to get to 'know' Tess better.
Drawing back, he waited until Tess lifted her head to close his mouth of hers. Her eyes went wide for a second before they closed. It was a simple and straight kiss, meant to be enjoyed by both sides.
But when Michael finally drew back, he was wearing an entirely bemused look; not unlike the one Tess was wearing as well. "That was..." Not sure how to phrase it.
"Interesting?" Tess attempted in confusion. Her baby blue eyes reflected Michael's hesitation.
Michael nodded his head slowly, the weirdness of it befuddling his poor mind. "I felt..." Again, lost as to how to express... He did not want to hurt her feelings; cause having a crying girl in his hands right now would be a very bad thing. "It felt like.... I felt...."
Tess wasn't having as difficult of a time; of course, she wasn't quite as concern with Michael's feelings as she was about trying to sort out the strangeness of it. "Nothing."
He licked his lips and tasted the word for a moment. "Yeah, that's about the right word for it."
The uncertain look on the ultra-cool Michael almost sent Tess into the giggles but she managed to choke most of it down. "Has this ever happened to you before?"
"To my knowledge: no." He tilted his head and looked at her amused face. "You?"
"Never," shaking her head and let out a stream of giggles that she thought she had under control then clapped her hand over her mouth. "I mean, usually I manage to feel something; be it lust, delight, disgust or repulsion. But I don't think I've ever kissed a guy and felt like... like..." she bit her lip and concentrated on the nothing emotion again. "Like I'm kissing my big brother or something like that."
"First of all," he pointed out, "I'm not your brother. Secondly, if you kiss you brother open mouthed, I'd be pretty weird out. And third..." he thought about it. "Okay, there is no third. It's just those two."
She let for of her laughter and hugged him for a second in affectionate friendship. "So you're not like totally mad that you didn't feel anything?"
Considering it, he shook his head. "No, I have to say that I'm not. It's not like this has ever happened to me before but I'm not as completely weirded out by it as I thought I would be." He tightened his arms around her and leaned in to kiss her again. "Nope, still nothing." He sighed and leaned back, watching her watch him with amusement. "What?"
"You want to feel something, don't you?" she hazarded a guess indulgently.
He slanted her an impatient look. "You don't find it weird that two perfectly attractive people don't feel the least bit of desirability to one another that a simple kiss cannot even produce the most minor of sparks?"
She shook her head easily. "As my mother says, 'que sera, sera.' What will be will be. We just weren't meant to be."
He ran a quick hand through his curly hair. "But you're look exactly like the kind of girls I usually...." He felt himself blush at his own stupid slip of the tongue and could only be glad that the truck was so dark. "That's to say that I.. um... Well, I... er..."
Tess was having a ball here. "Yes? Go on? Finish the sentence."
Michael scold at her then sighed. "Oh hell, it even feels like I'm talking to my sister."
Laughing with delight, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Okay, so we've established that in another life time, we were probably related in some way cause we have this kind of..." She pursed her lips and tilted her head. "Connection? Is that a good word for it?"
Staring at her, Michael was tempted for a moment to tell her... to tell her everything. He allowed the urge to pass; Max and Isabel would have his head if he were to reveal anything to anyone, even sweet little Tess. But she was right about one thing; he did feel a connection to her. What that connection was is another question. "Yeah, that's a good word for it. I thought I was the only one that felt it."
"Is that why you asked me out? Is that why you're so nice to me? Cause you felt a connection?"
"Why else?" he asked, hoping she never finds out about Max. "I'm not known to be benevolent to everyone."
Her jaw dropped. "'Benevolent?' So you do pay attention in class."
"Brat," he muttered then kissed her again. The wholly compassionate and sympathetic look he got from her when he pulled away had him throwing up his hands. "All right, I give up. There is just nothing there."
Tess grinned at him. "I still like you. You're a really nice guy."
"Don't, you're killing me here," Michael sighed and allowed her to sit there quietly, not feeling the least bit uncomfortable over this situation, which in itself should have been strange. "So now what?"
"What do you mean?" resting her head on his shoulder again.
"Where do we go from here?" linking his fingers together around her waist. To the world, they looked like to sweethearts in discussion.
"We go from potential boyfriend-girlfriend to simply being friends," she pronounced with a smile, her arms around his neck in quiet affection.
It was nice, this comfortable trust between them.
"Okay," Michael said quietly. "I think I can do that."
Tess smiled and kissed his cheek again. She trusted him, didn't understand why but she did. Then the idea hit her. It was outrageous to think that he would say yes but... She felt safe with him. She needed that if she was going to pull this off. Nodding her head with resolve, "And in that spirit," she pulled back to look at him. "Want to do me a great big favor?"
He eyed her uncertainly. "What?"
"There's this road, that connects Roswell, New Mexico to California. Know it?"
Everyone in two knows the big roads. "Yeah, what about it?"
"There's a spot there I wanted to see since we hit town," she's been waiting to see it for some time now. "Can you take me?"
"Now?"
"Unless you want to go to the dance instead? I know that's why you asked me out tonight."
Thinking of the crowd, the gossiping student bodies, the speculative looks from their classmates and the interrogation from Max, Michael shook is head. "Not really." He lifted her back into her seat. "Let's go."
Tess pulled her seatbelt on and smiled at him. "Thanks Michael." Then turned to stare straight ahead. She was finally going to see it, finally going to see where her father had lost his life. Maybe she could see finally find out why he had died that night.
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TBC...
(Believe it or not, this story is just getting started. Feedback would be nice.)
By Didi
Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters or their characterizes, just the situations that I decide to put them in.
Author's Note: My version of Roswell. The booing in the back can click to another story, thank you for the courtesy. Oh and this is one of those transitional chapters that have to come around every once in a while.
Timeline: Roswell redone, my way. Take it back to the beginning and turn just about everything upside down and inside out. For background... read the preceding chapters first. Makes sense to read a story from the beginning, right?
Warning: Twilight Zone-esque. Unconventional Coupling. You are warned, so no flames about that stuff.
Summary: Maria has a theory. Michael gets the car. Isabel is disappointed. Tess visits Make-Out point. Michael is asked another favor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 7 - Disjointed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"But I want to wear jeans!"
"Jeans, on a date? Come on, Tessie!"
"Ria, it's not a date. You said that I shouldn't think of it as a date. In fact you said not to go out with him at all. Now you want me to dress up for him?" she tossed her cropped top on the bed and scoured her closet for something to matched the newly pressed jeans that sat neatly folded on her chair. The silver studs she had managed to find cheaply looked surprisingly good along the pocket outline. But for her top...there was literally nothing in her closet.
"I know what I said," irritated that her sister was tossing things she said back at her, at habit Tess had picked up from Maria in fact. "Just because it's a non-date, doesn't mean that you shouldn't dress to impress. I mean, there will be other guys at the game, not to mention the dance, that will sure to notice."
"But I like to be comfortable when I go out, you know that," she pulled out a pale pink top with slit sleeves and a cowl neckline. "This is still pretty nice."
Throwing up her hands, Maria gave up trying to force the pretty slinky dress she had found in her own closet on her sister. "All right, I give up. I never could win when you're being practical and stubborn as a mule."
"Good," then held up the top for her sister to see. "What do you think? With the jeans? Causal but still pretty?"
Eyeing it critically, "I think you should wear blue. Something to bring out those pretty eyes of yours." She sighed. "I wish I had blue eyes like yours."
Rolling those sapphire orbs that Maria coveted so much Tess bounced onto the bed. "I wish I had your height. I wish I had your voice. I wish I had your take-no-prisoner attitude. I wish I had your perfect nails, your posture, your full lips, your sultry looks, your...."
"Okay, okay," hugging her one handedly and laughed. "I get the point."
"Really?" plucking at the cut sleeves with an expert hand. "Cause I seem to have to remind you every few months." She eyed her sister seriously, "What's going on, Ria?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" her brows raised.
Maria rolled her eyes. "Okay, something."
"What kind of something?"
"Alex and Liz something."
Tess grinned suddenly. For the past week and a half, since Alex asked Maria to the dance, Maria hasn't stopped talking about the fact that she sense discord between the two friends, despite feeling decisively put out over the fact that she wasn't the true object of another's affection. "You still think they're secretly in love with one another and just don't know it yet?"
"Absolutely," Maria replied with firm conviction. "Even you've seen the way Liz is whenever Alex talks to me about what he'd like to do after the dance. It's like seeing the creation of a green eyed monster happening right in front of your eyes."
Nodding in agreement, Tess ran her hand along the top on her lap, pale pink turning into a royal blue. "She does get kind of quiet and squirmy when we talk about the dance."
"If that's not jealousy..."
"What are you girls doing?" Amy Harding asked as she poked her head into Tess's room without warning.
Tess's gasp was masked by Maria suddenly jumping off the bed and in front of the shirt that was still shifting in color. No matter how much they loved their mother, she would never understand what Tess can do and how special she was. "Hey Mom. What happened to 'you girls need your privacy that's why we need to get a house with three rooms' instead of something we can afford more comfortably." She folded her arms and regarded her mother with smug amusement while silently praying that Tess would hurry the hell up.
"Sorry, sorry," holding up her hands. "But I've been calling you girls for the last fifteen minutes and no one has been answering me. By the way, dinner is served."
"Tell me it's more than just tofu meatless-loaf and grass," Maria groaned. Amy's recent hit of conscious on health foods was absolutely killing their appetites-not to mention their waistlines.
"Can we at least have some normal salad dressing for the salad instead of just lemon juice?" Tess asked, tucking the newly colored top under her comforter. No need to tempt fate. "I've lost like five pounds in the last month alone and I cannot afford to lose any more. My clothes don't fit anymore."
"Well, I guess now would be a good time to tell you that I ordered pizza cause I burnt the tofu loaf," she grinned as she took off down the stairs.
Maria and Tess exchanged surprise glances before, "PIZZA!" taking off after Mom.
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Mending and cleaning clothes wasn't one of his favorite activities to do with his powers but Michael learned long ago to rely on only himself when it comes to the small things in life. Though he could never admit it to anyone that was brave enough to ask, mainly Max and Isabel, he took some pride in his presentation. And while he didn't consider a date with Tess a monumental event, he did want to at least attempt to look nice for her.
"What are you doing, boy?" Hank's bellow came through the thin walls of the trailer they shared with the three vicious dogs that Michael has been tempted to kill more than once now. Duke had torn another hole in his drafty sheets again this morning.
Taking a deep breath to hold on to his temper, "Cleaning."
"Well get out here and clean this mess in the kitchen. It's like a pig sty in here," came the reply followed by a loud belch.
"And whose fault is that," Michael muttered under his breath as he put his mended clothes away and opened the often fixed door to his closet-of-a-room and walked to the filthy kitchen. He didn't even sigh at the mess that was left behind by Hank during the day while he had been school. He didn't even mention the fact that he had cleaned up and picked up everything only that morning before he went to school.
"What the hell is for dinner?" Hank yelled from his near permanent seat in front of the battered television in their tiny living/dining room.
"I brought home some stuff from the diner after school," Michael calmly as he kept an eye on Hank while the soft glow of energy slide over the dirty dishes with an expert hand. Better than a dishwasher and faster too. "I'll nuke it for you."
"Do that. And toss me another beer," he ordered without turning his head from the flickering screen.
Putting the take-out box into the small ancient microwave, Michael went back to putting dishes away in neat order. He's learned to be careful over the years but knew that Hank ignored or simply didn't see anything he didn't understand. Plus from the pile of empty cans by the sagging arm chair, the guy was three sheets to the wind and probably won't even notice if the spilled Cheetos on the ground jumped up and danced.
The counter was cleaned quickly and the towels tossed into the broken wicker basket by the door, a memento from when his 'mom' had still been around. It been nearly six years since Mona Guerin finally had enough and walked out the door, never to look back... and on one of his more hopeful moments, Michael still dreamt that she would be back for him.
"I bought some extra stuff for tomorrow's dinner. I won't be back until late," Michael informed Hank as he sat the opened box and beer on the TV tray by the armchair.
"Why?" Hank grunted as he reached for the beer, ignoring the steaming burger that Michael had brought home after receiving several unpleasant looks from Maria Harding.
"Homecoming game and dance tomorrow," Michael explained, rubbing his hand over the flat of his stomach. He was hungry and would have dearly loved to have that second burger in the frig but he knew that Hank would be in foul mood if he had nothing for tomorrow and Michael needed the truck. "I was wondering if I could borrow the car and..."
"You got a girl?" Hank asked suddenly, turning his beady beetle back eyes toward Michael.
With no desire to talk about it with Hank, he nevertheless answered. "Yeah."
"Pretty girl?" Hank asked with a smirk, taking a hand full of fries.
"Yeah."
"Smart girl?"
From everything he's heard, Tess was on the fast track into the honor group. Why that should matter to Hank was beyond him. "Yeah."
Hank laughed, nearly choking on his food. "Then what the hell would she want with you?"
It was the same old story and Michael has since grown use to it. "Can I have the car?"
"Yeah, all right," he gave in ungraciously. "But better watch yourself, boy. Don't you be bringing some brat back here, I won't put up with a crying nuisance."
Michael only nodded his head and walked back to his room muttering, "I won't ever allow a kid of mine to come within ten feet of you. Not in a million years."
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"Kyle!"
"I'm sorry," Kyle said once again for like the umpteenth time since he picked up the phone. "Look, I know that you wanted to meet before the dance but..."
"Kyle!"
"But the guys and I have to..."
"Kyle!"
He sighed, tucking the phone between his shower and cheek. "I'm sorry, Isabel."
She was silent for a moment. "You're always sorry Kyle, but it never changes the situation." She ran her hand through her hair. She gave a soft laugh, "Seems like I'm always playing second fiddle to something or other in your life."
"That's not true, Isabel," though he knew that it was. If it wasn't football, it was homework, if not homework, it was basketball, and if not basketball, it's cross-county. The list never ends. "I... You know how important it is to me that I get a good scholarship for college. My dad isn't going to be able to afford to send me to a good one without some kind of financial help. We're not all rich..."
"I'm not rich, Kyle," she snapped back, tired of having her father's successful law practice thrown in her face again and again for no apparent reason.
"And I'm no super-student the way you are," he pointed out with another sigh. "I can't go to college on my brains alone and you know that."
The frustration was in both their tones now but it did no good. "Kyle..."
"They'll be scouts, Isabel. I cannot ignore that fact that this could be my chance."
"I know that," she replies softly.
He could hear her disappointment and felt the guilt tug at his heart. The past couple of weeks had been hard on their relationship. He cared about Isabel, really truly cared about her. She wasn't the ice princess everyone thinks she is, not once you got to know her well. The kindness was there, along with the warmth and genuine caring heart that she allowed only a few people to get close enough to see. But like all women, she needed attention, something he had been unable to give her. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."
"Yeah," she replied, shaking her head slowly. "Listen Kyle, I'm really tired. I'm going to go to bed now okay?"
Nodding his head slowly and feeling like a worm, Kyle sighed looked up as the front door slam shut. "I'm really sorry about this Isabel."
"I know you are. Good night, Kyle."
"Night," he said and hung up the phone when he heard the click of disconnection. Rubbing his face with his hand, Kyle go up and walked into the living room in time to see his father lock away his gun. "Hey Dad."
"Hey, what are you still doing up?" Jim Valenti asked as he took off his hat and dropped into a seat. "Man, what a day?"
"I head about the nice little pile up on Route 34." Kyle went into the kitchen and pulled out the tray he had prepared earlier to heat up for his father. "Anyone hurt?"
"Two people got broken bones and lots of cuts and bruises was passed around," Valenti answered with a smile. "The biggest part of it was the pregnant woman in the back of one car. She was pinned in and we had to call for the Jaws of Life to get her out. Her water broke twenty minutes into rescue efforts."
Kyle laughed as he brought the heated tray and juice to his tired father. "Did the medic deliver the baby?"
"Hell no, I could only wish they had," Jim grinned. "Mrs. Morrison had a beautiful baby girl in the back of her crushed MPV with yours truly assisting."
"Way to go, Dad!" Kyle slapped his father on the back and dropped into the seat next to him. "Hey Dad, can I ask you a question?"
"What kind of question?" scooping up lumpy mashed potatoes. He made a face but ate it anyways. Either one of the Valenti men could claim to be good cooks, decent cooks yes, but nothing spectacular.
"About women."
Jim looked up at the ceiling. "I'm the wrong man to ask that question, son."
Since it was a painfully old joke that Jim Valenti hadn't had a date in forever, "Just let me ask you one thing."
"Shoot."
"Not in this house," Kyle replied.
Jim whacked him lightly on the arm. "Ask your question."
"What do you do for a girl when you know that you did wrong?"
Valenti thought about it, really considered it for a moment. "Flowers. Candy. Beg."
Kyle stared at his father for a moment. "That's your sage advice?"
"Yes."
Groaning, "I'm better off asking Max or Michael then."
"You and Isabel having trouble?"
"No... Yes... kind of."
"Not spending enough time with her?" he asked mildly.
Kyle nodded with resignation. "Yes."
Jim nodded his head slowly then shook it with regret. "Your mother and I had the same problem."
"What did you do?"
"Obviously not the right thing considering she walked out on us when you were only five months old," he pointed out with much regret. "Like I said, wrong man for the women advice."
Kyle groaned and sat there silently while his father finished his dinner.
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Tess played with the edge of her sleeve for a while before blurting out, "I'm sorry about the way Maria treated you. It wasn't fair of her and I'm not sure exactly why she doesn't like you but she's usually a much friendlier person and..."
"Don't worry, Tessa." Michael interrupted quietly as he kept an eye on the road. "I'm not offended by your sister's dislike of me. I've gotten use to your sister's abrasive nature."
"Oh," she could think of nothing else to say. Maria had been abrupt, short tempered and abominably rude to Michael throughout dinner and then at the rowdy Homecoming game. Michael, in typically fashion, alternatively ignored Maria and made simple suggestive replies that sent the overly protective sister bristling with indignation. "Why do you call me that?"
"What?" he asked, taking the turn one-handedly.
"Why do you call me Tessa?" She responded holding her breath while they took the turn at forty-five miles per hour. "You do realize that that was one of the points Maria was trying to make. She thinks it's disrespectful of you not to call me by my given name."
"Are you upset that I call you Tessa?" he asked mildly.
She considered it for a moment. To be completely honest, she hadn't thought much of it until Maria mentioned it. "No, I don't think I am." She shrugged. She had gotten so use to hearing it from Michael that she didn't even notice it any more. "But it bothers Maria so could you... I mean, maybe you can make an effort not to call me that in front of her?"
"Now why would I want to do that?" he asked devilishly.
She looked at him in the dim light of the car. "Cause I'm asking you to."
There was a silence as he turned to look at her, her blue eyes unnaturally bright in the on coming headlights. He finally sighed and responded with, "I guess it wouldn't kill me to try to play nice with your sister."
"That's all I can ask," Tess replied cheerfully before turning to look out the window... just in time to see a street sign fly by. "Um... Michael?"
"Yeah?" shifting gears with ease.
"You just missed the turn off to the school," she pointed out stuttering.
"I know." The evil grin he gave her should have frightened her but it didn't. She raised one inquiring brow. "We're not going to the dance yet."
"Really?" she asked slowly, her eyes on his usually rough profile. "And where, may I ask, are we going first?"
"Every been to Pine Peak?"
She suppressed a grin with difficulty. "You mean 'Make Out Point'?"
The soft chuckle was surprisingly charming. "Yeah."
"No, I haven't."
"Want to see it?"
She glanced at the passing cars that were becoming more sporadic as they drove. "Do I get a choice?"
"Always."
Tess turned to her head to look at him. She hadn't been expecting that answer. It was so very strange; he was like a whole other person when she was alone with him. He was kinder, warmer, much more gentle when there was no one around, or if it were just him, her and Max. But with others, he was dangerous, so unapproachable. It was like seeing two people with the same face.
Hesitantly, and hoping she wasn't making a monumental mistake, "Yeah, I'd like to see it."
"Good," with a quick nod and his foot of the accelerator.
It took less time to arrive at their destination than for Tess to prepare herself before he had turned the engine off and they were sitting in the dark. The crickets chirped cheerfully in the surrounding bushes as they overlook the small town of Roswell. By now, the dance would have been in full swing and the victory tonight would be celebrated in style.
The silence that fell in the car should have been uncomfortable but somehow it didn't. It was strange that it was never uncomfortable between the two of them. Micahel couldn't even begin to comprehend it. Even with girls that he wanted, for the obvious teenage reasons, there were always moment of embarrassment and uneasiness. But with Tess, it wasn't like that. It was almost like... being in the presence of someone you knew well. Someone who you can trust with your heart and soul.
After a moment, Michael shifted to look at her just as Tess turned to study him. "Come here," opening his arms and reaching for her.
She didn't question it as she allowed him to pull her into his lap, gentling caressing the small of her back. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth and strength of him around her. There was something very comforting about it, almost familiar.
It felt safe.
All they did was sat there in silence, neither one really inclined to do anything more than enjoy the quiet company of the other. But Michael remembered his conversation with Isabel and Max, the disquieting feeling the two of them had that there was something more to this slip of a girl than meets the eyes. He hadn't told them that he was going to bring Tess up here, but it seemed as good of a time as any to both get to know Tess better and to get to 'know' Tess better.
Drawing back, he waited until Tess lifted her head to close his mouth of hers. Her eyes went wide for a second before they closed. It was a simple and straight kiss, meant to be enjoyed by both sides.
But when Michael finally drew back, he was wearing an entirely bemused look; not unlike the one Tess was wearing as well. "That was..." Not sure how to phrase it.
"Interesting?" Tess attempted in confusion. Her baby blue eyes reflected Michael's hesitation.
Michael nodded his head slowly, the weirdness of it befuddling his poor mind. "I felt..." Again, lost as to how to express... He did not want to hurt her feelings; cause having a crying girl in his hands right now would be a very bad thing. "It felt like.... I felt...."
Tess wasn't having as difficult of a time; of course, she wasn't quite as concern with Michael's feelings as she was about trying to sort out the strangeness of it. "Nothing."
He licked his lips and tasted the word for a moment. "Yeah, that's about the right word for it."
The uncertain look on the ultra-cool Michael almost sent Tess into the giggles but she managed to choke most of it down. "Has this ever happened to you before?"
"To my knowledge: no." He tilted his head and looked at her amused face. "You?"
"Never," shaking her head and let out a stream of giggles that she thought she had under control then clapped her hand over her mouth. "I mean, usually I manage to feel something; be it lust, delight, disgust or repulsion. But I don't think I've ever kissed a guy and felt like... like..." she bit her lip and concentrated on the nothing emotion again. "Like I'm kissing my big brother or something like that."
"First of all," he pointed out, "I'm not your brother. Secondly, if you kiss you brother open mouthed, I'd be pretty weird out. And third..." he thought about it. "Okay, there is no third. It's just those two."
She let for of her laughter and hugged him for a second in affectionate friendship. "So you're not like totally mad that you didn't feel anything?"
Considering it, he shook his head. "No, I have to say that I'm not. It's not like this has ever happened to me before but I'm not as completely weirded out by it as I thought I would be." He tightened his arms around her and leaned in to kiss her again. "Nope, still nothing." He sighed and leaned back, watching her watch him with amusement. "What?"
"You want to feel something, don't you?" she hazarded a guess indulgently.
He slanted her an impatient look. "You don't find it weird that two perfectly attractive people don't feel the least bit of desirability to one another that a simple kiss cannot even produce the most minor of sparks?"
She shook her head easily. "As my mother says, 'que sera, sera.' What will be will be. We just weren't meant to be."
He ran a quick hand through his curly hair. "But you're look exactly like the kind of girls I usually...." He felt himself blush at his own stupid slip of the tongue and could only be glad that the truck was so dark. "That's to say that I.. um... Well, I... er..."
Tess was having a ball here. "Yes? Go on? Finish the sentence."
Michael scold at her then sighed. "Oh hell, it even feels like I'm talking to my sister."
Laughing with delight, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Okay, so we've established that in another life time, we were probably related in some way cause we have this kind of..." She pursed her lips and tilted her head. "Connection? Is that a good word for it?"
Staring at her, Michael was tempted for a moment to tell her... to tell her everything. He allowed the urge to pass; Max and Isabel would have his head if he were to reveal anything to anyone, even sweet little Tess. But she was right about one thing; he did feel a connection to her. What that connection was is another question. "Yeah, that's a good word for it. I thought I was the only one that felt it."
"Is that why you asked me out? Is that why you're so nice to me? Cause you felt a connection?"
"Why else?" he asked, hoping she never finds out about Max. "I'm not known to be benevolent to everyone."
Her jaw dropped. "'Benevolent?' So you do pay attention in class."
"Brat," he muttered then kissed her again. The wholly compassionate and sympathetic look he got from her when he pulled away had him throwing up his hands. "All right, I give up. There is just nothing there."
Tess grinned at him. "I still like you. You're a really nice guy."
"Don't, you're killing me here," Michael sighed and allowed her to sit there quietly, not feeling the least bit uncomfortable over this situation, which in itself should have been strange. "So now what?"
"What do you mean?" resting her head on his shoulder again.
"Where do we go from here?" linking his fingers together around her waist. To the world, they looked like to sweethearts in discussion.
"We go from potential boyfriend-girlfriend to simply being friends," she pronounced with a smile, her arms around his neck in quiet affection.
It was nice, this comfortable trust between them.
"Okay," Michael said quietly. "I think I can do that."
Tess smiled and kissed his cheek again. She trusted him, didn't understand why but she did. Then the idea hit her. It was outrageous to think that he would say yes but... She felt safe with him. She needed that if she was going to pull this off. Nodding her head with resolve, "And in that spirit," she pulled back to look at him. "Want to do me a great big favor?"
He eyed her uncertainly. "What?"
"There's this road, that connects Roswell, New Mexico to California. Know it?"
Everyone in two knows the big roads. "Yeah, what about it?"
"There's a spot there I wanted to see since we hit town," she's been waiting to see it for some time now. "Can you take me?"
"Now?"
"Unless you want to go to the dance instead? I know that's why you asked me out tonight."
Thinking of the crowd, the gossiping student bodies, the speculative looks from their classmates and the interrogation from Max, Michael shook is head. "Not really." He lifted her back into her seat. "Let's go."
Tess pulled her seatbelt on and smiled at him. "Thanks Michael." Then turned to stare straight ahead. She was finally going to see it, finally going to see where her father had lost his life. Maybe she could see finally find out why he had died that night.
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TBC...
(Believe it or not, this story is just getting started. Feedback would be nice.)