Chapter Two
Michael's Point of View
That look on Liz's face is scaring me. Don't get me wrong, she's perfect, the only one who understands me. But I know her well enough to know that I am going to regret coming over here for a carton milk. If only I hadn't had this wicked craving for macaroni and cheese.
"Just spit it out Liz." She brushes her hair behind her ears and walks up to me. She's tiny. She really is. She doesn't even make it to my shoulders. Perfection.
"IneedyoutocometoRoswellwithme." Huh?
"Hold up. You need me to what with you?"
She takes a deep breath and starts again. "I need you to come to Roswell with me."
Is she serious? I liked it better when I couldn't understand the statement. "Why the hell would I go to Roswell? Why the hell would YOU go to Roswell?"
"Mom says I need to expand my social life. In other words she's telling me to get a life."
But she has a life. I am her life. Just then a knock at her door interrupts my telling Liz so. Nancy peeks her head in and we immediately shut up. I normally might have talked to her, but she has pissed me off. Liz and I stare at her blankly until she leaves.
"So, that's it? You need to get more friends?"
"She hopes I'll meet the man who will turn me into a social butterfly. My Prince Charming."
That's it. I'm going. She doesn't need to know that yet though. "No."
"No? What the hell do you mean no?" She knows I can't deny her of anything like that.
"I mean no. As in nuh-uh, no way, zero chance, when hell freezes over."
"Come on Rath. For me? I'll make it worth your while."
How could she possibly make it worth my while? Liz leans in and whispers her half of the negotiation in my ear.
"You will?" Okay, yes that was me sounding like a kid who was told that their parents would get them a pony.
"Yes." Sweet!
"When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow."
"We better get packing." Let's see, tell parents. Nah. Hank won't notice. Tell friends, told Liz, check. Pack. That will have to wait. I grab Liz's hand and drag her to the foot of her bed where her playstation is hooked up and pull out my Madden NFL game from under her bed. I can't believe she'll finally play it with me! It only took two years and a trip to Roswell.
The good bye between Liz and her Mom consisted of, "I'll remember this.", "You'll thank me." "Be assured I will haunt you." You've got to feel the love radiating from them. The ride wasn't too eventful either. Not even five minutes after we were settled in the air a stewardess asked Liz if she needed anything. After the no Liz gave her well, needless to say, the stewardess never came back. Which then pissed me off, I never got my damn peanuts.
As Liz and I get off the plane I watch her search for her father. I've never seen the guy, heard about him but that's about it. I catch a glimpse of a sign with the name Elizabeth emblazoned upon it. Elizabeth. Haha. Boy, will they hear about it. The groan that comes from Liz tells me she saw the sign too.
I find it highly amusing as this petite brunette stalks up to the man, takes the piece of paper and tears away the "E" and "abeth". Leaving only Liz. That's my girl. I watch as, who I assume to be Jeff, take Liz in his arms and say how much he's missed her. Missed her? He never even called her for her birthday. Liz never returns the hug, just mainly stares into space ignoring his declarations of how he'll make up for the time they've missed.
"Isabel, Maria? Come here please." Who the hell did he just call? Isabel? Maria? Uh-oh. Does Liz have sisters? This just keeps getting better. Two blondes walk gracefully over to the pepper-haired man obediently. "Liz, I would like to introduce you to your sisters. Isabel," He pulls the taller one up next to him and the girl holds out her hand. Instead of taking it Liz looks at Jeff expectantly, waiting to see what other things he can manage to pull out from his sleeve, "and this is Maria." A shorter, spunkier blonde pushes her hand out towards Liz. Once again Liz ignores it, or tried to. Maria grabbed Liz's hand out of her pocket and shook it vigorously. Huh. She's gutsy.
Liz's Point of View
What the hell does she think she is doing? I attempt to pull my hand back but she grips it even tighter. Damn it. Finally she lets go and I step back to lean against Michael. I'll admit it. I'm intimidated. I've got these two supermodel-like blondes as sisters. I take it my Dad married a blonde too? What the hell. Now that he's sprung these two surprises on me I turn the tables. "This is Rath." Take that. "He'll be staying with me."
"It'll be nice to have you with us." Jeff shakes Rath's hand. He wasn't supposed to take it that well. What should I have expected though? Some huge fight over me? That's a riot and a half.
You guessed it. That was the whole conversation. Until I got home at least.
I can't believe I'm going to be forced to live above a damn alien theme restaurant.
"Liz, Isabel will show you your room and Maria will be showing Rath to his. Sorry Rath but you'll have to sleep in the living room because we didn't know you'd be staying with us. And Liz, feel free to roam the balcony and thank Maria for giving up her room for you. She's been planning your time here but if you don't like what she has planned tell her so and she'll go away." Gee dad. Make them sound a little better why don't you?
Maria heads off to take Rath to where he'll be sleeping and I follow Isabel. I'll be stuck living with this Barbie Doll? Ooh fun. Does she come with the plastic boyfriend too? We stop at a doorway leading to a small room. Although, it does look like it comes with a bathroom and Dad did mention it has a balcony. It's a sweet deal. I'll never have to see them again. Well, not in a confined space. Once again my mind starts reeling while wondering why the hell he took the news about Michael so well. There must be some catch. There is absolutely no way he could trust me. Could he? Nah. My reverie is cut short however, by some nasty blue-green colored uniform chucked at me. I hate people.
"By the way, don't think that just because you just got here you don't have to do chores and work like Maria and I. You'll be taking my shift tonight. I have a date, and I think I've earned a day off. Maria will show you the ropes." As she leaves I find myself hoping that will be the last I see of her. Ha! She wants me to be a waitress. My side is splitting. No really it is. I can feel it. Or maybe I have an ulcer. They would both suck. But both would also get me out of work. I don't want to waitress. I don't want to. I'm not gonna. They can't make me. I close the door and head to my balcony. It's decked out in festive lights and lawn chairs. Not half bad. I quickly climb down the ladder and turn to leave the alley.
I feel bad for leaving Michael there, but I think he can handle himself. Now, where oh where am I to go? Let's see, there's the UFO center across the street. And down the street I saw a restaurant. What was it? Senor Chow's? Something like that. I can go there. There's not a whole lot of town to got through. I feel like I've been thrown in Sunnydale. Instead of vampires, I've got the evil stepsisters. What was said? The bad part of town is about a half a block from the good part? There's not a whole lot of town. There is one constant though. It all looks boring as all hell.
I straighten out my tank top and start to cross the street to check out the center. See, by now I would be entering the center, but I was stopped by this asshole who doesn't know how to drive the speed limit and almost runs me over. I yell out a few expletives and the guy gets out of the car. I knew this mouth would get me in trouble eventually. Could it be that I have found one of the many men that don't have a problem with hitting women? Lucky me.
The guy looks about eighteen, has what seems to be random piercings atop his facial features. Don't get me wrong, this guy is gorgeous. And believe me, I say that very rarely. Hey, just because I don't like people doesn't mean I'm blind. So don't look at me like that. He quickly looks me over to see if I'm injured. Nope, sorry buddy. Looks like I won't be suing you today. He puts his hands on my shoulders and asks me if I feel alright. A hysterical Maria comes running out the front door of the Crashdown.
"Zan, what the hell did you do?" So, Zan is his name. What the hell is he doing here?
"Nothing. Okay, I almost hit her. It wasn't my fault though. She didn't look before she started crossing the street. I think she may be going into shock or something because she hasn't said anything though."
"Nah. Odds are she's fine. She doesn't talk to anyone." That's it. Talk about me like I'm not here.
"Do too."
"Good for you. Now, get your ass back upstairs and change. I'm not taking this shift on alone. I'm sorry that Isabel dropped it on you on the first day but I need the help." Maria scoots me back towards the alley and I do as she asked. Only because she asked nicely.
Waiting tables has been hell. I hold up the order pad, they order, I bring them their food and check, they pay me, they leave. Simple as that. No words spoken on my part. Michael, Rath, whatever you want to call him is sitting next to my last table of the night, which contains Zan and some other dark haired guy that I haven't bothered to look at. I walk over and start my routine. When I look up to see the other guy I almost freeze. God damn. They're twins.
Get a grip on it Liz. People suck, mean or not.
They both order a Will Smith burger and a cherry coke. They aren't dressed the same, that's a good sign. Still, they're twins. Hot twins at that. I place the order and fix the drinks, when Michael comes up to me and tells me to turn around. I feel him tape something to my butt. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Being protective."
"That's great, but what does it say, and why?"
"I overheard something. Now go on." Aye. He's lost his mind.
Minutes later I bring Zan and his brother their food and as I walk away I hear the brother laugh. I rip the sign off and read. "Do not disturb" Michael really needs to get laid.
I stand close enough to listen to their conversation. "Shut up Max."
Max. Max and Zan. Hmmm.
"No. Dude, you got caught checking out her ass."
"So, you were looking too."
"Yeah, but I didn't get caught."
I hate guys.