Summer of 1996, Roswell, New Mexico, outside the Crashdown Café
The four girls walked along, their celebratory cheers could be heard a mile away.
"Summer!" shouted Isabel.
"Vacation!" followed Maria.
"We're free!" announced Tess.
"Woo hoo!" yelled Liz.
Finally, they calmed down.
"This is so great! One more year, and we'll be in high school!" stated Maria.
Four more 'Woo hoo's were heard, with a round of giggles.
"So why did your dad want to see all of us?" asked Tess.
"I don't know. He wouldn't say," said Liz.
"Well, I guess we'll find out," said Isabel.
Liz's dad was serving a couple at the counter when they came in.
"Hey, dad!" said Liz.
"Hey, Mr. Parker!" said the other three.
"Hi, girls. Uh... go sit over there, I'll be with you in a minute," said Jeff Parker as he indicated the end of the counter.
They each took a glass and filled them. Isabel and Tess added Tabasco to theirs, which still made Liz and Maria feel like they were gonna be sick.
A few minutes later, Mr. Parker joined them.
"Okay. You're probably all wondering why I asked you girls to come." They nodded. "Well, I had an idea and I discussed it with your parents and they agreed. I offer this to you, the four of you, because you're all like my daughters." The girls smiled, getting impatient to know what this was about. "If I hired you to work here, you would say..."
"Yes!" announced the girls.
"Do we get the uniform?" asked Liz.
"Do we get paid?" asked Maria.
"When do we start?" asked Tess.
"What time?" asked Isabel.
"Yes, yes, next week, and we'll decide later," answered Mr. Parker.
They celebrated some more, hugged a bit, and then ran out of the café to go tell the guys.
*
October 4th 1999, Roswell, New Mexico, Crashdown Café
"Come on," said Isabel in an exasperated tone, leaning against the counter, looking at the last customer, who was still sitting there, eating slowly.
She turned back to look at Tess, who was filling the ketchup bottles.
"Can't you just make him go away? I don't know... make him think he's late for something?"
"Sorry," she said, closing a bottle.
Isabel gave her a pleading look.
"Give it up, Is, I've tried already. She's too stubborn," said Maria.
"Thank you!" said Tess.
"She's right. Once I asked her to make a kid stop teasing me and she just stood there while the kid kept asking me all these weird questions. From across the room," said Liz.
"Hey, just trying to follow the rules, here. The rules, which if I remember correctly, were made by you and Max. If you don't like 'em, it's not my problem," said Tess, knowing what would come next. As expected, all three of her friends put on their best begging abilities to the max. "Alright, alright!" she said, trying not to laugh. 'They fell for it!' she thought. Now she could do it without being blamed.
She closed her eyes and concentrated. Shortly after, the man got up, dropped money on the table and hurried out. Once he was far enough, the girls shouted a joyful, "Yes!"
A few seconds later, the guys arrived.
"Are we interrupting?" asked Max.
"No, we're fine," said Liz.
The eight sat at the counter and surrounding tables.
"So... would you mind telling us why the meeting is here and now? I mean, we asked to finish early and we ended up closing the place," said Maria.
"You didn't tell them?" Michael asked Isabel and Tess.
"Tell us what?" asked Liz.
"Did you tell them?" Isabel asked Michael, indicating Kyle and Alex.
"No."
"Tell us what? Hello? We're still here!" said Maria as she waved her hands around.
"This morning there was a break-in at our house," said Max.
"What!" asked Liz, Maria, Kyle and Alex at the same time.
"They didn't take anything. Except the files from the dome," said Isabel.
"I can't believe it. This is horrible," said Maria as she went to Michael.
"Since we don't know who did this, we can't guarantee that the danger is over."
"What are you talking about?" Alex asked his girlfriend.
"We need to be careful. We have no idea what'll happen if we don't," said Michael.
"So what now? We're back to square one," said Liz, looking to Max.
"Not necessarily." That got the group's attention. "Show them, Michael."
He nodded and placed the picture on the table for them to see.
"I'd forgotten I'd taken it before leaving. I found it in my pocket after Is and Tess left the Evans' home when we were there."
"What is this?" asked Maria.
"A dome, I think... again."
"It's different than the other," noted Liz, "It's just like... half a sphere. And there's no handle on the door."
"We don't even know where it is," said Kyle.
"I do," said Michael, "It's in the desert. I've seen it before."
"So I guess this is good news. Did any of you guys have something with you from the dome? The first one, I mean," asked Tess.
All shook their heads, except Isabel.
"Hold on." She went to the back and returned a minute later. "I'd forgotten about it, too," she said, showing them a necklace.
"I know that!" said Michael.
"Me too!" said Tess.
"Same here," said Max.
"The four of us know it. It means something, I just know it does," said Isabel.
"Maybe we'll get some answers at this dome," said Alex, looking at the picture.
*
"Welcome to the Crashdown Café. Can I take your order?" Maria asked the couple proudly.
It was the girls' first day. The place was packed, so they had their hands full. Maria took the order and moved on, smiling at her friends when she passed them.
Tess was at the cash register, when the guys came in. She smiled and went to them.
"Table for four, please," said Kyle, trying to look official.
"Right this way," Tess said, doing the same.
Max, Michael and Alex had trouble hiding their grins as they watched them. Tess had a crush on Kyle and he did on her, both since they were seven. For some reason, they were the only ones who hadn't figured it out.
The guys followed her to the booth and sat.
"So... how's it going?" asked Kyle.
"Fine. It's... great," she answered.
Both were at a loss for words.
Finally, Alex said, "I'm starving, can we order?"
That snapped her out of it. She took the guys' orders and hurried away. Now that she was gone, they turned to Kyle.
"What?"
"Why don't you just ask her out? You know you want to," stated Michael.
"What? Are you crazy? I can't do that!" he said loudly.
"Ha! So we were right! You do like her! I've been telling you for six years!" said Alex.
"Shut up!" Kyle said, making sure Tess hadn't heard him. Max and Michael snickered. "Shut up or I'm telling Izzy you like her!"
Alex stopped then, taking a quick glance in Max's direction.
"What makes you say that?"
"Oh, come on, Alex. Even I know you have the hots for my sister," said Max.
"Well, while we're playing 'Love confessions', maybe we should talk about you and Liz." Max was silent and Michael laughed. "Or you and Maria," Alex continued, this time looking at Michael. He stopped also.
"When did you become so perceptive, Whitman?"
"Okay, here we go," said Tess, placing their orders on the table. "Why are you all so quiet? Usually, we can't get you to shut up."
"It's nothing," said Kyle.
Tess was suspicious. Finally, she just shrugged it off with, "Alright."
She looked at them and then walked to the back of the café. They exhaled, releasing their breaths, not even realizing they were holding them.
*
Tess walked into the back of the café and met Liz, Maria and Isabel.
"On break?" asked Liz.
"Yeah."
"Us too," said Maria.
Tess sat with them.
"The guys are here," she announced.
"Are you okay?" asked Isabel.
"Sure. Why?"
"You look a little flustered."
"I do?"
"Oh, please! You're all red! Just ask him out already! You know you want to... WE know you want to," said Maria.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Tess, trying to go for innocent.
"Why don't I help you? You. Kyle. Kiss, kiss," said Liz, followed by Maria and Isabel bursting in giggles.
"Stop it! I'm no worse than you and Max."
"Gotta give her points there. I've seen the way you've been eyeing my brother," said Isabel.
"Well, what about you and Alex, Izzy?" said Liz with a smile.
Isabel was silent, but couldn't help blushing a bit.
"Ha! Well, before you bust me for it, I'll come right out and say it. I like Michael Guerin. There," said Maria. All four girls couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes. Finally, Maria said, "How about this? We all ask our respective guys to go out... separately...on a date this weekend."
"No way!" said Tess.
"Are you crazy?" asked Liz.
"Got a fever?" asked Isabel.
"I dare you, Isabel Evans to ask Alex Whitman out on a date."
All fell silent. They knew Isabel couldn't resist a dare. They also knew she always dragged them into it eventually.
"Alright. But only if you three ask the others as well."
They all considered it for a while and finally accepted.
"Wow, look, break is over," said Liz.
They got up and looked into the dining room at the guys' booth.
"Come on, girls, we have dates on the line," said Maria.
The four girls walked along, their celebratory cheers could be heard a mile away.
"Summer!" shouted Isabel.
"Vacation!" followed Maria.
"We're free!" announced Tess.
"Woo hoo!" yelled Liz.
Finally, they calmed down.
"This is so great! One more year, and we'll be in high school!" stated Maria.
Four more 'Woo hoo's were heard, with a round of giggles.
"So why did your dad want to see all of us?" asked Tess.
"I don't know. He wouldn't say," said Liz.
"Well, I guess we'll find out," said Isabel.
Liz's dad was serving a couple at the counter when they came in.
"Hey, dad!" said Liz.
"Hey, Mr. Parker!" said the other three.
"Hi, girls. Uh... go sit over there, I'll be with you in a minute," said Jeff Parker as he indicated the end of the counter.
They each took a glass and filled them. Isabel and Tess added Tabasco to theirs, which still made Liz and Maria feel like they were gonna be sick.
A few minutes later, Mr. Parker joined them.
"Okay. You're probably all wondering why I asked you girls to come." They nodded. "Well, I had an idea and I discussed it with your parents and they agreed. I offer this to you, the four of you, because you're all like my daughters." The girls smiled, getting impatient to know what this was about. "If I hired you to work here, you would say..."
"Yes!" announced the girls.
"Do we get the uniform?" asked Liz.
"Do we get paid?" asked Maria.
"When do we start?" asked Tess.
"What time?" asked Isabel.
"Yes, yes, next week, and we'll decide later," answered Mr. Parker.
They celebrated some more, hugged a bit, and then ran out of the café to go tell the guys.
*
October 4th 1999, Roswell, New Mexico, Crashdown Café
"Come on," said Isabel in an exasperated tone, leaning against the counter, looking at the last customer, who was still sitting there, eating slowly.
She turned back to look at Tess, who was filling the ketchup bottles.
"Can't you just make him go away? I don't know... make him think he's late for something?"
"Sorry," she said, closing a bottle.
Isabel gave her a pleading look.
"Give it up, Is, I've tried already. She's too stubborn," said Maria.
"Thank you!" said Tess.
"She's right. Once I asked her to make a kid stop teasing me and she just stood there while the kid kept asking me all these weird questions. From across the room," said Liz.
"Hey, just trying to follow the rules, here. The rules, which if I remember correctly, were made by you and Max. If you don't like 'em, it's not my problem," said Tess, knowing what would come next. As expected, all three of her friends put on their best begging abilities to the max. "Alright, alright!" she said, trying not to laugh. 'They fell for it!' she thought. Now she could do it without being blamed.
She closed her eyes and concentrated. Shortly after, the man got up, dropped money on the table and hurried out. Once he was far enough, the girls shouted a joyful, "Yes!"
A few seconds later, the guys arrived.
"Are we interrupting?" asked Max.
"No, we're fine," said Liz.
The eight sat at the counter and surrounding tables.
"So... would you mind telling us why the meeting is here and now? I mean, we asked to finish early and we ended up closing the place," said Maria.
"You didn't tell them?" Michael asked Isabel and Tess.
"Tell us what?" asked Liz.
"Did you tell them?" Isabel asked Michael, indicating Kyle and Alex.
"No."
"Tell us what? Hello? We're still here!" said Maria as she waved her hands around.
"This morning there was a break-in at our house," said Max.
"What!" asked Liz, Maria, Kyle and Alex at the same time.
"They didn't take anything. Except the files from the dome," said Isabel.
"I can't believe it. This is horrible," said Maria as she went to Michael.
"Since we don't know who did this, we can't guarantee that the danger is over."
"What are you talking about?" Alex asked his girlfriend.
"We need to be careful. We have no idea what'll happen if we don't," said Michael.
"So what now? We're back to square one," said Liz, looking to Max.
"Not necessarily." That got the group's attention. "Show them, Michael."
He nodded and placed the picture on the table for them to see.
"I'd forgotten I'd taken it before leaving. I found it in my pocket after Is and Tess left the Evans' home when we were there."
"What is this?" asked Maria.
"A dome, I think... again."
"It's different than the other," noted Liz, "It's just like... half a sphere. And there's no handle on the door."
"We don't even know where it is," said Kyle.
"I do," said Michael, "It's in the desert. I've seen it before."
"So I guess this is good news. Did any of you guys have something with you from the dome? The first one, I mean," asked Tess.
All shook their heads, except Isabel.
"Hold on." She went to the back and returned a minute later. "I'd forgotten about it, too," she said, showing them a necklace.
"I know that!" said Michael.
"Me too!" said Tess.
"Same here," said Max.
"The four of us know it. It means something, I just know it does," said Isabel.
"Maybe we'll get some answers at this dome," said Alex, looking at the picture.
*
"Welcome to the Crashdown Café. Can I take your order?" Maria asked the couple proudly.
It was the girls' first day. The place was packed, so they had their hands full. Maria took the order and moved on, smiling at her friends when she passed them.
Tess was at the cash register, when the guys came in. She smiled and went to them.
"Table for four, please," said Kyle, trying to look official.
"Right this way," Tess said, doing the same.
Max, Michael and Alex had trouble hiding their grins as they watched them. Tess had a crush on Kyle and he did on her, both since they were seven. For some reason, they were the only ones who hadn't figured it out.
The guys followed her to the booth and sat.
"So... how's it going?" asked Kyle.
"Fine. It's... great," she answered.
Both were at a loss for words.
Finally, Alex said, "I'm starving, can we order?"
That snapped her out of it. She took the guys' orders and hurried away. Now that she was gone, they turned to Kyle.
"What?"
"Why don't you just ask her out? You know you want to," stated Michael.
"What? Are you crazy? I can't do that!" he said loudly.
"Ha! So we were right! You do like her! I've been telling you for six years!" said Alex.
"Shut up!" Kyle said, making sure Tess hadn't heard him. Max and Michael snickered. "Shut up or I'm telling Izzy you like her!"
Alex stopped then, taking a quick glance in Max's direction.
"What makes you say that?"
"Oh, come on, Alex. Even I know you have the hots for my sister," said Max.
"Well, while we're playing 'Love confessions', maybe we should talk about you and Liz." Max was silent and Michael laughed. "Or you and Maria," Alex continued, this time looking at Michael. He stopped also.
"When did you become so perceptive, Whitman?"
"Okay, here we go," said Tess, placing their orders on the table. "Why are you all so quiet? Usually, we can't get you to shut up."
"It's nothing," said Kyle.
Tess was suspicious. Finally, she just shrugged it off with, "Alright."
She looked at them and then walked to the back of the café. They exhaled, releasing their breaths, not even realizing they were holding them.
*
Tess walked into the back of the café and met Liz, Maria and Isabel.
"On break?" asked Liz.
"Yeah."
"Us too," said Maria.
Tess sat with them.
"The guys are here," she announced.
"Are you okay?" asked Isabel.
"Sure. Why?"
"You look a little flustered."
"I do?"
"Oh, please! You're all red! Just ask him out already! You know you want to... WE know you want to," said Maria.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Tess, trying to go for innocent.
"Why don't I help you? You. Kyle. Kiss, kiss," said Liz, followed by Maria and Isabel bursting in giggles.
"Stop it! I'm no worse than you and Max."
"Gotta give her points there. I've seen the way you've been eyeing my brother," said Isabel.
"Well, what about you and Alex, Izzy?" said Liz with a smile.
Isabel was silent, but couldn't help blushing a bit.
"Ha! Well, before you bust me for it, I'll come right out and say it. I like Michael Guerin. There," said Maria. All four girls couldn't stop laughing for a few minutes. Finally, Maria said, "How about this? We all ask our respective guys to go out... separately...on a date this weekend."
"No way!" said Tess.
"Are you crazy?" asked Liz.
"Got a fever?" asked Isabel.
"I dare you, Isabel Evans to ask Alex Whitman out on a date."
All fell silent. They knew Isabel couldn't resist a dare. They also knew she always dragged them into it eventually.
"Alright. But only if you three ask the others as well."
They all considered it for a while and finally accepted.
"Wow, look, break is over," said Liz.
They got up and looked into the dining room at the guys' booth.
"Come on, girls, we have dates on the line," said Maria.
