Title: Living With My Best Friend's Rival
Summary: Let's say that Valenti and Amy DeLuca had wed at the end of Season One and bought a house together. This means Kyle and Maria are step bros and sis. So when Nasedo dies, Tess does move in with the Valenti's but this time the DeLucas are there too. Let's say that Nasedo died in an accident instead of a Skin.
All is in Maria's POV.
Author's Note: sorry I changed it so much! I also apologise if sum1 has took this idea, I haven't managed 2 scroll through all stories yet! So beep me, if my story relates 2 yours a bit! Sorry!
SPECIAL NOTE: OHMIGOD I AM SO HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME!!!! I finally have Season Three and I finally watched it! YAY! I'm just so happy that I finally watched the whole season and so sad how there life ended! It's just so SAD!!! They deserve happiness and shouldn't have to RUN! That is why I'm going to make my story HAPPY! I know, I know, they're not real people but it's just still sad. Aww! Yes, people, I have my motivation back! xDxDxDxD
Feedback to Reviews: i want to thank the following gorgeous spuds for reviewing:
keirah: i'm glad you found it funny and i hope when michael's birthday come, you'll like it!
meleena: glad to make you laugh and thanks for reminding me about metallica. i also agree with the michael/maria moments. it was more on max/liz and when it came 2 isabel/alex it was too late. shakes head but not when i can help it ;
chaziod: thank you so much! thanks for adding me in top stories! gotta keep up the work for people like you! xD
thank you all so much! you know i have unconditional love for you guys, right?
AN ADVANCED APOLOGY: I want to apologise in advance because I don't think I'll be updating for awhile. Tomorrow, I'm going to the mountains for the day and the next day I'm indulging in video games since my bros are going to the footy. xD And the day after that? SCHOOL!! It's just now I have to spend more time on my studies since I'm getting older. Blah, blah. You know the drill! But I PROMISE I will update. I am not going to give up. So don't give up on me either:'(
THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS: Looking at where my story is heading, I think in about 2-3 chapters, it'll be Michael's birthday! Very exciting and I'm a bit nervous over that…And I think after that, this story may come to an end. It's just school takes up so much time and I want to post good quality work and not poor ones, which I will when it comes to school. But I promise the end will not all be pushed together messily. So that might be another 10 chapters or something…
ANOTHER APOLOGY: sorry for all the apologies! i hope that doesn't annoy you guys but i think my chapter names are becoming lame. sorry!!!
Chapter Twenty-One:: Nothing Beats Love
I was smiling. I know, I know, it sounded really lame since it's not that hard to smile. But after waking up to a very strange day, I thought I'd never smile again. But I was smiling.
And I was happy.
It's just I did so many good deeds today. Well, I think I did. And even if I didn't, I had been complimented that I was a good person. Who wouldn't like a compliment like that? It was rare and it was the nicest.
That is also why I was feeling a little more confident with myself. I believed that I could possible make a change in this world and bring people to see the reality of situations. My next target: Elizabeth Parker.
Yes, I was also going to visit her on behalf of Max but also because of me. Not only did I want to say what Max wanted to say but I also wanted to voice my opinion. Which is exactly like Max's but still. Another opinion doesn't hurt.
And I found myself knocking on the third door of a house this morning. I have been travelling a lot – more than I normally do. My poor baby Jetta. I sure hope it doesn't run out of fuel and then I'll be stuck in the middle of Roswell, New Mexico.
When no-one opened the door I decided Liz must be working at the Crashdown. I haven't had many shifts down there lately; I believe Liz told her father not to give me that many shifts since we weren't the best of friends at the moment.
So I walked around to the front of the shop and walked into the shop. I found Liz at the counter looking…not as gorgeous as normal.
Yes, Liz had natural beauty with slick, dark hair and huge chocolate eyes. She also had this beautiful, olive not-fake tan. I mean…does anyone not envy her looks?
But she wasn't smiling…well she was when she talked to customers but it was forced. So it wasn't natural and didn't look pretty. Well she did look pretty but…dear Goddess, all I'm doing is contradicting myself. Which I tend to often and make people angry and then they yell at me. Bore.
Anyway…I'll try and explain myself a bit better about my best friend. She did look pretty because she has this natural beauty upon her but she was missing something: happiness which made her look sort of like a…drag. She also looked slightly exhausted since she had bags under her eyes (this was obvious because Liz wasn't wearing make-up, since she doesn't necessarily need it).
"Hey, Liz," I said, bravely walking up to her as she angrily tucked strands of her hairs behind her ear as she tried to make coffee.
Liz looked up, slightly off-guard and her eyes widened just the slightest. Then she regained her composure and stared at me coldly.
"I'm busy at the moment," she said brushing past me with a tray full of food and the cup full of coffee swaying dangerously. She had filled it a little too high, which was unusual since she was perfection.
I followed her, careful not to be too close in case she stood back and bumped into me.
"Your break is at 12:30 and it's twenty past twelve," I said matter-of-factly. I stood to the side as she brushed past me again. I know my best friend is not an alien but the breeze that followed was quite cold.
"I'll only talk to you if you're no longer with Michael," Liz said shortly.
I gaped after her. Since when was Liz so childish? I felt like we were back in Preppie or something. 'I won't play with you unless you…' I mean, we're seventeen now, why is she acting like seven?
"Liz, how long are you going to keep this us?" I asked ignoring her last statement.
"Maria, I'm working," Liz said turning her back and scuttling towards another table.
"I'll wait ten minutes," I sang after her.
"Maria?" I did a full 360 degrees when someone said my name. A bad habit that I have since Michael once smirked at me and said I looked like a tool.
I had turned bright red and refused to talk to him for days even though it was very difficult to ignore such a pretty someone.
And since I looked like a tool, almost every eyes were on me so I don't even know who called me in the first place.
"Maria." This time I saw Jeff Parker wave at me.
"Hey, Jeff," I said with a genuine smile. "How are you?"
I normally don't call elder people by their first name but the Parkers were like a second family to me.
"I'm good thanks, Maria," Jeff said returning my smile. "How are you?"
I'm used to Michael lying to me so I can pick it up when someone lies to me. I could tell Jeff was lying to me because he looked as exhausted as his daughter. So he's obviously lying about him being good.
"Good," I replied. My answer was genuine.
"So I heard you and Liz are…not…having the best of time at the moment," Jeff said sheepishly.
"You heard right," I said apologetically. I don't know why but I felt like I should apologise. I had a feeling Liz wasn't acting like the perfect daughter.
"Well, I hope you two work it out because it sure is getting hectic here," Jeff said motioning to the full Crashdown.
"You can always call me to pick up a shift," I suggested. I am more than willing to help.
Jeff seemed to squirm.
"Liz wouldn't be too happy about that," Jeff said looking really down.
"I wouldn't be happy about what? Liz demanded.
She had somehow appeared next to her father and looked slightly angry.
"Oh, look!" I said pointing at the alien clock. "It's half past! I'll explain it to you there!"
"What, no," Liz protested looking at her father as if expecting him to defend her. "I mean, it's so busy. I don't have to take a break."
"Lizzie, I think you deserve one," Jeff said patting her shoulder.
Liz took in a deep breath.
"Fine," she said icily. Then she looked at me. "I guess we can talk."
I followed her to the backroom of the Crashdown. She took sat down heavily on a chair and ruffled her hair.
"What do you want?" she asked tiredly.
I had thought over what to say to her when I was making my way over. I decided the best tactic was to soften her up at the start.
"Liz, I miss you," I said honestly. "I don't think it's wise not to be friends because we don't agree on something. It's not like we always support the choices each one of us make."
Many expressions were crossing Liz's normally passive face. She looked like she was on the verge of making up her mind.
"I guess you're right," she mumbled after a few seconds.
"How about I give you a hug and forget that the two of us had been fighting like little babies?" I suggested.
Liz finally gave a genuine smile.
"Sure."
She stood up and I went over and gave her a tight hug. When I realised her, I had tears in my eyes. Like always.
"Liz, I know this isn't your favourite topic, but I think we should discuss, like young adults, why we were fighting," I said carefully.
I know I was in a fragile spot with her right now and she could crack at any second.
"Okay." Her response shocked me. "May I start?"
"Go ahead," I gestured. I've been listening a lot so I was used to it.
"It's just," Liz started with a sigh. "I love Max as you do Michael and I can't imagine being happier than being with him but there's a but. Max and Michael do have a destiny and I don't want to interfere and find out later in the track that being with Max caused something bad to happen. I feel so guilty," Liz said looking small and vulnerable.
"Liz," I said laying a hand on her arm. "I have a message from Max and before you go, 'He can tell me himself', he can't because he says you avoid him. And what he said was excellent in my opinion. He said he's only half an alien. The other half is completely human that part of him loves you. What about the destiny of his human part?"
Liz's eyes looked moist.
"And I thought I had the best theory!" Liz half-laughed and half-cried.
I hugged her once again.
"We all become clueless when it comes to love," I said from many experiences.
"Maria, another reason why we were fighting was because of Tess," Liz said unblinkingly.
"Yes…" I said hesitantly while I waited for her to continue.
"I feel so…so insecure when it comes to her. I feel as if she can take Max away from me so easily and win over anyone. I have such a hard time accepting her because I feel so out-of-place when she's around," Liz said. "I feel so…intimidated."
I suppose I can see it from Liz's point of view. If we never met Isabel and she just appeared and then I learned of the so called destiny…I would be completely falling apart. And then I learn she's living with Liz and the two of them were almost best friends…my hair would be turning grey! Eek!
"You shouldn't," I told her. "I think she feels intimidated by you."
I'm quite sure that was true.
"Ditto all," Liz said with a shrug. "But what can you do?"
"I suggest you run to Max and give him all your love," I said with a wink.
"After work, maybe," Liz said not sharing my good humour. "But…do you think he'll be mad that it's just now I realised…I'm mature enough to accept Tess might not be his destiny?"
"Max will do anything if it means you're to be with him," I said honestly.
"Oh, thank-you so much, Maria," Liz said giving me another hug. "You really are the best. I could not have asked for a better best friend. If there's anything I can do…"
"Well, there is one thing," I said trying to look innocent and vulnerable.
"Yes?" Liz asked earnestly. I'm quite sure there was happiness in her now because now she blossomed with unequal beauty.
"It's Michael's birthday tomorrow," I said weakly. "And I have nothing to give him!"
"Hmm," Liz said thoughtfully. I'm so glad I have my best friend back. If there's anyone who can help – it's her. "Nothing can beat love."
Um…huh? I had no idea what she was talking about. Well I kind of do…like love conquers all but uh…how was that suppose to help me provide the perfect birthday with Michael?
But Liz never says something without explaining it. And after she suggested what I could do for his birthday, I was extremely cheerful.
"Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!" I gushed lovingly.
"Not a problem," Liz said with a laugh. "Shoot! My break's over!"
"Are you sure you don't want me to help?" I asked.
"Yes," Liz said with a smile.
"If you say so and just a quick question," I quickly squeezed in before Jeff scowled at my bestie. "Are you going to see Max after work?"
"I think I should," Liz said looking a bit worried.
"Just a little advice," I said slyly. "If things heat up…"
I then quickly explained Alex's dilemma.
I watched as Liz's mouth hung open.
"Holy…" Liz breathed.
At that moment Jeff opened the door and said in a stern voice, "Liz, your break's over!"
"In a second," Liz said still looking faint.
"Are you okay?" Jeff asked with a frown then cast me a puzzled look.
"Yes," Liz said recovering quickly. "I'll just say bye to Maria."
"Right," Jeff said and closed the door to get back to the Crashdown.
"Yeah," I said when her father left.
"What happens when girls…mate?" Liz asked as she went to the door.
"I guess we'll find that out one day…"