Disclaimer: Not mine! I am a poor college student!
A/N: Here is chapter 11! I hope you like it! The air is cleared between Max, Isabel and Michael and we get to see Kyle shopping with the girls. Haha so please leave a review and tell me what you think. Who you want to see more of…so on and so forth.
Also, I am not going to have easy access to a computer for a week. So, there will not be any updates till the 26th of August. There might be TWO chapters on that day! So please review so when I get back I can see them all and be happy:D
If there is this in the fic ["Type in dialogue here" That means the words are being communicated through the mind. :D Thanks!
Chapter 11: You Are A Good Brother
They still had it; that whole 'look into my eyes soul mate thing'. Maria sighed and rubbed her eyes as she turned away from the touching scene in front of her. She was happy for Liz, happy that things had worked out but she still wished Liz were more cautious when it came to such a precious thing such as her heart.
Michael was stretching and trying not to invade their privacy even though it was his apartment. Isabel looked slightly sickened but relieved at the same time. Nobody said anything but soon there was a knock on the door.
Liz and Max pulled apart and looked over to see everybody in the living room pretending not to stare at them. Liz blushed and pulled away from Max's grasp. Max felt bereft at the feeling of not having her in his arms, he gave her a small smile and looked towards the door.
Maria beat them to it, she yawned as she gave Liz a small wave and then opened the door. "Hey Kyle." She said sleepily as he gave her a hug.
"Hey Maria. Hey Liz." He nodded towards her and gave her a small grin when he saw she was standing so close to Max. "Where's Michael?"
"I'm here." Michael raised his arm and sat up on the couch. He hunched over and rubbed his eyes for a long time trying to get the sleepiness out of them.
"You guys look like you just woke up." Kyle noticed laughing slightly.
"We did." Michael grumbled standing up and walking to his bathroom.
Kyle just shrugged and sat down next to Isabel. "Mornin'" he said quietly giving her a side-glance.
She gave him a tight smile and nodded. "Morning." She then turned to Max and gave him a questioning look.
["What's going on Max? Are you and Liz back together…way to take it slow little brother. "
Max swallowed and looked from Isabel down to Liz, she was looking up at him and wondering what he was up to. He gave her a short smile then turned to Isabel furrowing his brow. ["Isabel, it's complicated…I screwed up. Royally."
["What else is new?" Isabel smirked and looked down at her nails pretending to be bored with their conversation.
"Okay now. Hold in just a minute." Kyle interjected their thoughts and held his hand up. "You're doing that creepy alien mind talk thing aren't you?" He asked.
Isabel frowned["Nothing gets past him…" "Nothing gets past you Kyle." She smiled sweetly at him.
Max laughed and shook his head looking at Liz who had a look of curiosity on her face.
"Max, can Liz do all that stuff too?" Maria asked from her spot near the door.
["Yeah Max, why don't you tell us, we're all dying to hear." Isabel leaned forwards pretending to be interested in Max's answer.
Max gave her a glare and then turned to Maria. "Yes, she can do everything we can do…just with practice. Also, the powers that are unique to us, she will have her own." He smiled at Liz.
She watched the interaction between Isabel and Max and knew they were talking to each other. "So, how long will it take for me to figure out my unique power?" Liz asked.
Max scratched his head and grabbed her hand pulling her over to the couch. "Well, I am not sure. It will just hit you one day."
[" I hope something else hits her." Isabel thought and then smiled to her brother sweetly.
Max looked over Liz's head to Isabel and shook his head sternly. ["Don't talk about her like that. She never did anything to you."
Isabel sighed and rolled her eyes, she knew he was right but that didn't stop her from being bitter. Liz watched them in complete awe. "You're doing it now aren't you?" She asked Max.
"Yeah." Max said swallowing and looking at Isabel.
"Um I hate to be the downer…I mean all this wonderful alien magic is great an all but…when exactly will I be getting my…alien weird power thing…?" Kyle asked.
Liz turned to look at him; she knew the thought of turning into an alien scared him. She could see it written all over his face.
"Well it is in you all the time." Max responded. "It is in you now…but, if you don't use the powers for a period of time then they will eventually build up so much inside you that you will not be able to contain them. That's what happened to Liz." He looked to Liz and gave her a small smile.
Liz melted at his smile but shook her head and stayed on track. "So, Kyle could start using them as soon as he wants?"
"Basically."
Kyle turned white. "You mean I am already an alien?!"
"Well, you are…in a sense."
"GAH!" Kyle shouted from his seat. Liz stood up and made her way to him.
"Kyle, Kyle, look, it will be okay. You have us. We can go through this together." She smiled at him and looked him in his deep eyes. "I won't let you go through this alone." She whispered as she bent down to hug him. Kyle gripped onto Liz and nodded.
["Aw…doesn't that just tear your heart up inside?" Isabel thought to herself sarcastically.
Max frowned at Isabel. ["They are just friends. Liz loves me…I know she does."
["Yeah well love doesn't last forever Max." Isabel thought sadly. She looked away as she thought about Alex and how she had lost him.
[Look, Isabel I know you are lonely…we'll get through this. Max tried to reach out through his thoughts to comfort his sister.
Liz pulled away from Kyle and kissed him on the top of his head.
"What's going on?" Michael asked as he made his way to Maria to give her a hug.
Maria smiled at him. "The usual…Kyle is an alien, Max and Isabel are talking through their minds…"
"Ah, that kind of usual." Michael said kissing Maria softly on the forehead.
"Can Michael learn how to speak through his mind?" Maria asked looking at Max from the comfort of Michael's arms.
Max nodded. "Yes."
Michael held Maria around the waist and leaned his head on hers. "When can you teach me?" He asked eager to know what Isabel and Max knew.
"Today if you want…" Max replied.
["Good, that will give us time to talk. No humans allowed. That includes newly created aliens too." Isabel thought to Max.
Max nodded. "Yeah, it will give us some time to talk too…you know you me and Isabel." He swallowed and looked at Liz who was standing next to Kyle.
Liz picked up his vibes and nodded. "Yeah, well, I have to get stuff ready for graduation and practice my speech…so, that will be perfect." She said smiling.
["Maybe you and I can have a private session later." Max focused the thought towards Liz.
Liz gasped and rubbed her ear. She didn't know what had just happened, it felt like another presence was inside her head. "Was that you?!" She asked her eyes wide.
"Yeah." Max smirked slightly.
"Wow…that was…"
"It takes a while to get used to. I can do it to anybody really…but I've never tried it on a human…" He said looking around. He landed his gaze on Maria and gave her a smile.
Maria shook her head and bit her lip. "I don't know about this…" She said looking slightly worried.
Michael gripped on tighter to her. "If you don't want to do it I's fine." Michael said kissing her on the head.
["Come on Maria it is not so bad." Max directed his thoughts towards Maria.
"Yeah, well I frankly don't care Max. I will not let you get inside my head. No no no." She said.
["Okay, whatever you want." Max thought smiling slightly.
"Maria? Max didn't say anything." Liz said quietly.
"What?? Oh! You did it didn't you?!" Maria exclaimed.
Max nodded slightly. "Yeah, sorry…it didn't hurt did it?"
"No…I suppose it was fine…kind of weird feeling but I just thought I had water in my ear or something." Maria said rubbing her ear.
"Me next!" Kyle exclaimed pretending to be excited. He waved his hand in the air like a kid waiting to be picked on in class.
["Isabel you take this one." Max thought looking at Isabel.
Isabel frowned. ["Do I really have to?"
Max just stared at her. She rolled her eyes and focused on Kyle. ["Hey Kyle can you hear me?" Isabel thought sounding bored.
Kyle shook his head and looked over at Isabel. "Yeah."
"Well then it works." Isabel said tilting her head and staring at Kyle.
"This is great. We can like make fun of people when they are right in front of us." Kyle said clapping his hands together.
"Well, it was used in times of war…only the royal four used the technique and only the royal four could teach it to other people. It can be done by everyone but it is some sort of rule." Max said shrugging.
["More information you chose to keep from me?" Isabel thought glaring at him.
["It didn't seem important seeing as you were taught how and you were part of the royal four."
Isabel just shrugged and looked away. Michael pulled away from Maria and stuck his hands in his pockets. " Well, let's get cracking Maxwell. I don't have all day."
Maria walked over to Kyle and Liz. "So, what are we up to for today?"
Kyle shrugged and looked at Liz. "Well, shopping for one. I still need an outfit for graduation. And then you two lucky people," She clapped her hands on their shoulders "You get to listen to my graduation speech." She smiled.
Max came up behind her and bent down. "Graduation is tomorrow?"
The three friends looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, tomorrow, then we're having a graduation party. Your parents are coming." Liz said softly.
Max swallowed. "We need to talk to them. I'd like to go to graduation and the party but I don't know…too many people might start asking too many questions."
Liz nodded, "You don't have to go. We'll be fine." She said feeling a little hurt. She wanted Max to be at her big day.
"I'll be there. Nothing could stop me." Max said seeing the hurt look on her face.
Liz's face lit up and she shook her head. "Don't do anything you don't want to do just for me…really, I'll be fine."
Max shook his head and reached out to touch her face. ["You've risked so much for me, your happiness, your future, your life…I can go to your graduation. Not for anybody else but for you. I'd do anything for you Liz." His eyes looked into hers.
Liz breathed in and felt her heart catch in her throat. She knew he had spoken those words only to her and she smiled. "Thank you." She leaned in and gave him a hug.
["Holding you, is the best feeling in the world." Max thought to her as he wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.
Liz smiled into his chest and gripped him tighter. ["Okay, enough…let's start this lesson." Isabel interrupted Max as she watched him with Liz.
Max frowned but pulled reluctantly away from Liz. "We'll meet you guys for lunch. Does that work? Then we'll go talk to my parents." He looked at Isabel. "We're gonna get our life back."
Isabel nodded and gave Max a small smile.
Maria stepped forward and pulled Liz into the bedroom. "Come on girlfriend, let's get dressed, shopping time!"
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Kyle groaned, "Do we absolutely HAVE to go in this store?"
Maria nodded vigorously, "Of course we do! It's Bath and Body Works!" She grabbed Liz's hand and dragged her along with Kyle towards the store.
"Come on." Liz said grabbing Kyle's hand as she was yanked towards the doors.
Kyle sighed and looked around once he entered the store. There were candles, body sprays, lotions and everything else that a guy could possibly have nightmares about. Maria squealed and made a dash for her favorite scent. Liz laughed and turned to Kyle. "Come on, it's not so bad…help me pick out a scent okay?" She said grabbing his hand and pulling him towards a display.
"'Cherry blossom'?" Kyle asked picking up a bottle of pink spray.
Liz nodded and sprayed some of the tester spray on her wrist. She rubbed it in and then sniffed it. "Wow, I like this one." She held it out for Kyle to smell.
Kyle gave her a pained look and closed his eyes. "Buddha, give me strength. I am still a man." He leaned in and smelled Liz's wrist. He opened his eyes and looked down giving an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness, no dress!"
Liz smacked him on his arm playfully and sniffed her wrist again. "You like it?"
"Yeah yeah…" Kyle said pulling Liz's wrist so he could take another whiff. "I like it but it isn't you." He shook his head.
Liz frowned. "What do you mean it isn't me?"
"I smell that and I think of…" Kyle instantly thought of Isabel. "I think of…well not you. Sorry." He said patting Liz.
She frowned and bit her lip. "Well then let's find something that is me." She moved towards the shelves.
Kyle nodded and turned to walk with her but he stopped and looked at the bottle of body spray. He sighed and grabbed a bottle of 'Cherry Blossom' spray and walked after Liz.
"What about this?" Liz asked after spraying something on her other wrist.
Kyle leaned in and sniffed. "That is you. That is totally you. What is it?" He asked grabbing the bottle.
"'Sweet Pea'…but I don't know. I am not that big of a fan." Liz said scrunching up her nose. She looked down and saw Kyle carrying the bottle of 'Cherry Blossom' spray. "What are you doing with that?" She asked taking it from him.
Kyle blushed slightly and covered up with a joke. "It's for me. See, I couldn't let you take the spray cause I wanted it for myself."
"Guys, smell me. Don't I smell good enough to eat!?" Maria exclaimed coming up behind them and leaning her head back so they could smell her neck.
Liz smiled and leaned in and motioned for Kyle to do the same. They both leaned in and smelled Maria's neck.
"Maria, that smells so good!" Liz said grinning.
"Yeah, it smells so…Maria." Kyle finished laughing.
"I agree." Liz said nodding.
"I know! Isn't it great?! I am buying the lotion, body spray, body wash, hand sanitizer and hand wash." Maria said excitedly holding up her bag for them to see.
Liz's eyes opened wide. "You are going to put these people's kids through college."
Kyle looked in and laughed. "Yeah, so what is that smell?"
"It's called 'Tropical Passion Fruit.' " Maria said pulling one of her bottles out to show to Kyle.
"It even sounds like Maria." Liz said opening one of the bottles to smell it.
"So, you find anything Liz?" Maria asked looking at the bottle of 'cherry blossom' in Liz's hand.
"No, this is Kyle's." She pushed the bottle back into Kyle's hands.
"And my last shred of dignity is now gone." Kyle said looking down at the bottle.
Maria laughed. "Oh be quiet Kyle, Michael loves this place. He always brings me here to buy me stuff."
Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. "Great, I haven't lost my dignity just yet. But he sure has." He said joking.
Maria laughed and looked around. "Oh, this seems to be you." She grabbed the bottle of 'Sweet Pea' and sprayed some on her wrist. "Awww" She sniffed it. "'Sweet Pea' for my sweet pea…" She gave Liz a cheesy grin.
Liz laughed and looked away. "No, I don't like it too much…how about this." She grabbed a blue bottle off the shelf. She sprayed it on her neck and leaned her head back to let them smell her.
Maria and Kyle leaned in and took big whiffs. "Mmm…" Maria said nodding. "That is perfect."
"It smells so…Liz…like…" Kyle said opening his eyes and smiling.
"Really?" Liz sprayed it in the air and then leaned in to smell it before it went away. "Wow, I like it." She smiled. "I think I will get this one."
"Yeah, you should. It is perfect for you. It smells clean and fresh. I love it." Maria said grabbing it from her and holding it up as if she was trying to sell her the bottle.
Liz smiled and nodded. "I will get it."
The three friends walked up to the cash register and paid for their purchases.
"Now, to find Liz a graduation outfit."
"It's not like you to put something that important off." Kyle mused.
Liz frowned and thought back to a couple of weeks ago when she should have bought her outfit. She couldn't believe that not that long ago she was in such a low state. "Yeah, I wasn't acting like myself." She stated walking towards a clothing store.
"I wonder what the aliens are doing." Kyle mused.
"Well they are shopping with their best human buddy that's what." Maria said putting her arms around both Liz and Kyle.
They all laughed and continued on their search for the perfect graduation outfit.
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"You have to concentrate." Max said sternly watching as Michael shut his eyes.
"Once it gets easier, you won't even need to concentrate that hard or close your eyes." Isabel said softly sitting next to Michael.
Max sat in front of Michael and started to think what he wanted to tell Michael.
["Michael. Can you hear me?" Max's thoughts flowed to Michael.
Michael tried to talk through his mind but it didn't work. "Yeah Maxwell I heard you." Michael replied, his eyes still closed.
["Just think of it this way, talk to me, just don't make a sound. Your brain will pick up on what you are trying to do and your thoughts will come to me. But just focus on me or else anyone can hear your thoughts." Max swallowed and looked at Isabel who was watching them intently.
Michael nodded and focused only on Max and wanting to talk to him. He started to think things and tried to push them forward into Max's brain. ["…can't do it I am a failure…"
"Michael you did it!" Max said clapping Michael on the shoulder.
Michael opened his eyes slowly and looked around. "I did?"
["Yeah you did." Max thought smiling.
Michael nodded and closed his eyes. [" Maxwell? Is it working? If it isn't I will feel like a grade A idiot."
["Yes it is. Open your eyes and look at me. It is easier to have the flow of communication that way."
Michael slowly opened his eyes again and concentrated on Max. Max started intently at Michael and continued the conversation. ["So, this is what talking without your mouth feels like." Max thought smiling.
Michael concentrated and responded. ["Yeah, wow…this is so weird. I can't believe this is even possible."
["Yeah it was pretty wild when we learned how to do it from Synda." Max responded leaning back and looking at Isabel. ["I'm gonna bring Isabel in. You might not be able to talk to both of us at once…but we can try."
Michael just nodded.
["Hey so what secrets are we sharing today?" Isabel joked as she entered into their thoughts.
["This is just so weird." Michael thought looking at Isabel.
Max and Isabel nodded. ["So…" Isabel mused.
[So, you and the others have gotten pretty close." Max finally thought.
Michael shifted in his seat and closed his eyes, finding it hard to concentrate on talking to both of them at the same time. ["Yeah, I told you I'd take care of them." He thought.
Max nodded slowly and swallowed. ["I saw some of Liz's memories…I never thought it was possible that you two could be so close." Max thought feeling slightly jealous.
["Well, she's Maria's best friend…she's kind of like my sister. She's a great girl. She's been there for us all this year, we've all gotten close. We're all moving in together."
["That's so weird." Isabel interjected.
["Yeah, it is pretty weird. But it feels right." Michael responded.
["You and Maria seem pretty solid."
Michael opened his eyes and looked at Isabel. ["She's the one Isabel. She is the one. I can't imagine ever being without her."
Isabel opened her eyes wide and looked at Max who looked just as shocked as her. [That's great Michael." Isabel thought feeling genuinely happy for him.
Max nodded. ["Yeah, that's great…she's a great person and deserves a guy like you. A guy who would stay for her…"
["Liz deserved that too." Michael thought feeling slightly miffed with Max. ["She deserved way more than just that."
"Look, I know she did." Max burst out, breaking his concentration.
"I don't know if you did Max. How could you leave her?" Michael asked feeling annoyed.
"Why don't you just stay out of it? That is between me and Liz."
"She and I have grown close. She is like a sister to me, just as Isabel was. Do you know that she was miserable here without you?"
"I'm here now."
"That you are. Look, let's get one thing straight Maxwell." Michael said sternly standing up and glowering at Max. "If you hurt her, you will pay. She deserves way better than you can offer her. And you won't just pay from me, Maria has been dying to have a go at you and she will get her chance because I won't stop her the next time you screw up with Liz."
Max's heart hurt as he realized that Maria and Michael were scared of Max hurting Liz. "Michael…I don't want to hurt Liz. Never again. I promise you I will work every day of my life making sure she is happy. Can you just trust me? You used to…"
Michael looked away, "I do trust you. I just forget sometimes…" He finished.
Isabel watched the scene in front of her, the tension filled the room. "Can we stop talking about this? What about us? Michael, I feel like you just replaced us. Liz is the new Isabel and Kyle the new Max. I thought you were our brother, you shouldn't turn your back on us." Isabel felt herself getting slightly hysterical.
Michael and Max looked at Isabel not really knowing how to react to her outburst of emotion.
"I mean I left one brother to follow my other brother…and now I am back and it is as if you don't even care about us anymore. How could you do that to us? To me?" Isabel started to feel tears of anger coming out.
She felt so hurt and confused not just by Michael but at Max too.
"Isabel…" Michael didn't know what to say. He shouldn't have treated her like a stranger. "I'm sorry."
Isabel let her watery eyes open wide. "You just apologized to me?"
"Yeah, call it part of the new Michael…I guess I've learned how to take responsibility for my actions. I was wrong and I am sorry. I didn't mean to treat you the way I did."
Isabel shook her head and wiped her eyes with her shirt. She looked at Michael who was staring down at her. She stood up and threw herself on him hugging him. Michael was stiff for a while, not used to being this close to her anymore but soon he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a strong hug.
Isabel smiled and pulled away. "You're different Michael." She wiped her eyes. "I am sure I can thank Maria for that?"
"Nah, I am not different…Just softer…" he laughed and sat down looking at Max.
["I don't blame you for leaving. You did what you had to do." Michael thought thankful he could tell Max without Isabel hearing.
["I know you don't…I blame myself though. Michael, I've screwed up majorly."
["Yeah well, suck it up Maxwell."
Max smiled. ["That's more the Michael I know."
["I'll tell you the truth Maxwell, no matter how harsh it is."
Max nodded and stood up. "Glad we worked this out,"
Isabel nodded but before Max could leave Michael pulled him into a hug. ["You know, I meant what I said that day at the chamber. You are a great brother."
Sadness consumed Max as he thought of that day, that day that changed everything. ["I would do it all over if I could. You're a great brother too and thank you for taking care of Liz. I owe you, Kyle and Maria more than you'll ever know."
Michael nodded and laughed. ["Yeah you do, that girl can be a pain!" He joked before pulling away.
"So, lunch?" Isabel asked feeling her stomach start to grumble.
"Yeah, Liz said to meet them at the food court in the mall at 2." Max said feeling the butterflies come to his stomach at the thought of seeing Liz.
"Then we are talking to mom and dad right?"
"Right…that will be interesting."
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