Hi everyone!
Just a warning...I dislike this chapter, but it moves the story along. The other chapters I'm working on are far more interesting, but I have to write this filler so everything makes sense!
To those with questions...all will be answered in due time.
I promise!
Thanks for all your reviews and suggestions!
They've been so helpful!
Liz
VALENTI/DELUCA BACKYARD
Maria and Kyle were setting the tables in the back yard with an Amy DeLuca original theme: Patriotic Aliens. Hand painted on the plates, glasses and serving platters were little green men dressed as George Washington, Uncle Sam, Abraham Lincoln, the Statute of Liberty and even Bill Clinton.
"Does your mother do anything normal?"
"Welcome to my life...hope you like it, it will be yours in just four short months."
"Please tell me this isn't what she's setting the table with at the rehearsal dinner?"
"Don't be silly...she's saving this for the reception.
"I worry about you DeLuca women, you know that?"
"Hey! Valenti said I should bring this out." Michael said walking outside with a covered container of marinated cucumbers. He paused noticing the theme of the party. "Nice."
"Looks just like you Michael, I can definitely see the family resemblance."
"Boys, behave yourselves, it is a holiday."
"Your mother and her decorations...." Michael trailed off, shaking his head.
"Kyle, Sera's here." Amy called from the house.
"Thanks!" Kyle folded the last napkin haphazardly and sprinted around the side of the house.
Maria chucked as she watched her almost brother. "He's crazy about that girl."
"It's a little soon to be that goo goo isn't it? I mean they've only been together for a few weeks. Does he really know anything about her?"
"Michael. They just have a connection. You know what that's like. I think its sweet."
"I think it has more to do with him not getting any for, what's it been about three years now."
"Michael! Some people are interested in more than sex."
Michael raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief.
"Really, so if I told you I wanted to skip the party, take you up to your room and make love to you all night you'd say no?"
Maria smiled her slow smile as she moved closer to him, "I said some people, I didn't say me."
He pulled her into his arms.
"Think your mom would notice that we snuck off for a few hours?"
"Yes, she would." Amy said
"Mom!"
"Maria, Michael. Salad." Amy held a bowl of salad out to Michael.
"Ms. DeLuca, we were just uh...
"Michael you don't want me to get the newspaper out again do you?"
"No."
Good, then I think there will be no sneaking off."
"Yes ma'am."
"Maria, if you've finished setting the table why don't you come inside and help in the kitchen."
"OK Mom."
"Michael, the Evans' and the Whitman's are in the driveway. See if they need any help."
"Sure." he kissed Maria on the forehead before heading to the driveway.
Rounding the corner he stopped abruptly and shook his head.
Kyle had Sera pressed into the wall and was kissing a trail down her neck. Sera caught movement out of the corner of her eye and gasped.
"Michael!"
"MICHAEL?" Kyle pulled away looking at her.
"Over here dumbass."
Kyle spun around.
"Oh, Michael."
Michael grinned and walked to the couple.
"Afraid your girl's hot for me?" he teased
"She must be having a nightmare to call out your name."
"Will you two stop!" Looking behind Michael, Sera frowned. "Where's Maria?"
"Amy took her inside. She caught us kissing in the backyard and was afraid I was going to run off with her daughter."
"Isn't that usually your plan?" Sera asked smiling.
"Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm a sex fiend or anything."
"When it comes to Maria you are." Kyle muttered.
"Jealous Valenti?"
"Keep it up Guerin, I'll get Amy to ban you from the house."
"So this is where the party is." Isabel said as she joined the trio.
"Hi!" Sera exclaimed. She latched on to Iz's arm. "Let's go in the backyard...I'm getting testosterone overload."
They started to walk away when they heard a car. Turning around they saw Max and Liz pulling in the drive.
Nicole was the first to welcome them. "Hi Liz, Max how are you?"
"Hi Professor Whitman. Good. How are you."
"Glad to hear that. Everything is good for us too. Aren't your parents coming Liz?"
"Oh they are, they just wanted to finish the dessert and veggie tray."
Liz and Maria hugged
"Happy Fourth Chica!"
"Happy Fourth to you Maria. Hi Michael."
"Liz. Hey Maxwell."
Jim was in the driveway greeting the guests and helping with the food. He nodded to his son and Kyle immediately took a dish from Professor Whitman and Mrs. Evans
"Ladies, let me help you with those."
Iz looked at her friends. "Check out Eddie Haskell."
"Isabel, he's being nice." Sera defended her boyfriend.
"It's an act." Maria and Iz replied together.
"You guys! You're so mean to him."
"He loves it." Iz told her. "And don't feel so sorry for him, he dishes it out as much as he takes it too."
"True." Sera agreed.
"I guess we should get in and help." Iz said unenthusiastically
"I don't think there's anyway around it." Sera exhaled sharply
Entering the kitchen they stopped and laughed as
Amy was directing traffic in the kitchen.
"OK, we'll leave the fruit pies in the fridge. Kyle, honey set that platter near the door, its going outside. Rolls, Jim what did you do with the rolls? Oh thank you Phillip. Yes those go outside too. Maria carry this."
Max and Liz grinned as they watched Amy.
"If she's this bad now just think what she's going to be like on their wedding day."
"I'm a little scared that she ask me to be a bridesmaid now."
Max stole a look around the kitchen then pulled his girlfriend into the broom closet, "You know, since your parents were home I didn't get to greet you properly."
"Really? And how exactly were you planning on greeting me if they weren't home?"
"Well, we wouldn't be here yet!"
She gasped and playfully smacked his arm. "Max Evans! Please continue."
"Tease!" he growled in her ear.
She laughed and kissed him lightly, he ran his tongue along her lips until she allowed him access to her mouth. They kissed for sometime completely oblivious to the noises around outside the closet. Just as his lips descended on her neck Michael threw open the closet door.
"Maxwell." Max and Liz jumped apart. "If I can't sneak off with Maria, don't even think you and Liz are getting away with it!"
Max sighed heavily but extended his hand to Liz and they followed Michael into the backyard. The Parker's had just arrived and waved to their daughter as they unloaded their contribution to the party on the picnic tables.
"Liz, Max!" Sera waved them over.
The dreamy twosome looked at the décor and laughed. Liz picked up a plate, then looked at her best friend.
"Amy?"
"How'd you guess?" Maria said, rolling her eyes.
"They're cute."
She leaned to Max and whispered in his ear.
"They look three foot tall, green and slimy."
"She forgot to give them a third eye." he whispered back.
They giggled and Isabel rolled her eyes. "God, give it a break would you?"
Liz stuck her tongue out at her but Iz had already turned away, walking to the fill her glass with Kyle and Sera.
"Maria, Isn't Sean coming?" Liz asked, noticing the look that Max gave her.
"Yeah, he's at his work picnic right now, he should be here by 6 or so."
"Which job?"
"For Meta-Chem, please like Orbit would have an outdoor party. Where would they put the disco ball?"
"Michael? You didn't want to go to the Meta-Chem party?" Liz asked
"Nah, its more fun here. Besides too much time spent with Sean in one day is definitely detrimental to your health."
Maria laughed. "I'm just happy he got a job at Orbit. Now we can get in!!"
"Don't you have to be 21 to get in there?" ever cautious Max asked.
"Just like you have to be 21 to play the tables in Vegas Max, but we got around that!"
"You went to Vegas?" Sera questioned, as she Iz and Kyle returned.
The entire group looked at each other. Iz was the first to speak.
Yeah, sort of a field-trip."
"Wow that sounds great! Did you win anything?"
"I did, but Maria wouldn't let me keep it." Kyle pouted.
"No, I just wouldn't let you continue gambling when we needed to bail these two out of jail."
Sera's eyes widened, "You were in jail? Max?"
"Oh sure," Michael complained. "You're shocked that Max is in jail but not me."
What did you do?
Michael got in a fight, I helped him so I got thrown in too."
"I've been in jail too." Liz said for the sole benefit of seeing the look on Sera's face.
"WHAT?"
"Sheriff Valenti arrested me and Alex."
"And you still talk to him?"
"Well, he came around."
"What were you in for?"
"Possession of alcohol." Liz could barely contain her smile as Sera's eyes seemed ready to leave her skull as she digested this information.
"My world is spinning. I haven't known you guys long but you two are the LAST two, I'd EVER expect to get into trouble." she said pointing at Max and Liz.
"Who did you have pegged as the trouble makers." Kyle asked sipping his soda.
"You for one!" Kyle coughed at this and stared at Sera.
"Me?"
"Your constant sarcastic comments, the fact that you're a jock, your dad is the sheriff which creates an undeniable impulse to rebel... it's a recipe for disaster."
"And yet you date me!"
"Lapse in judgment. I believe that I'm suffering from a head injury, at any moment I will realize my mistake and dump you for another guy!"
"I like her so much!" Iz said looking at Kyle.
He squinted his eyes and gave her a fake smile.
Maria wandered to the grill and watched Jim turned burgers, brats and barbecue chicken.
"Don't worry, I have your chicken on the rotisserie in the kitchen." He said, noticing her sneer at the chicken on the grill.
"Your mother told me of your aversion to barbecue...you don't know what you're missing."
I know, I know. I'm just not a big fan."
"I think it looks great." Max offered as he looked over Maria's shoulder.
"I made some special burgers for you, Isabel and Michael. They've been injected with Tabasco sauce." Jim told him.
"Thanks!" Max said, genuinely touched.
"Girlfriend, you left my best friend in the clutches of Kyle and Michael? What were you thinking?"
"She has Iz and Sera there as buffers. They'll take care of her. Besides, I had to come snag some chips and salsa."
Maria watched as Max filled two plates with chips and picked up one of the salsa bowls.
"You feeding an army there Max? Or you just digging that salsa?"
"It's for everyone Maria!"
"Well you'd better get more. You have enough there for Michael."
Jim laughed as he reached across them to snag a carrot from the veggie tray.
"You kids love to pick on each other don't you."
It's all good-natured....well most of it is."
"Hey, now Kyle stop that!" Jim called.
Maria and Max turned to see Kyle throw Sera over his shoulder.
"I'm not going to drop her Dad."
"Just be careful."
"Kyle Valenti put me down!" Sera screamed.
Max and Maria walked back to back to the table laughing.
"What prompted that?" Maria questioned sitting next to Michael and pointing to Sera and her brother.
"He started spouting off about wrestling, and how much he could bench, Sera said she didn't believe him and he picked her up to prove her wrong." Michael explained.
"I really don't know what that proves, Sera's like 125 pounds. My brother can bench that." Iz said rolling her eyes.
"Hey!" Max frowned and threw a chip in his sister's direction. "I can bench more than that."
Liz retrieved the chip and stuck it in the salsa, as she put it to her lips Max grabbed her hand. "That's really hot. Iz made it with fire-roasted jalapenos and LOTS of Tabasco."
"I like Tabasco sauce." She said.
Maria picked up the bowl and sniffed it. "I don't know Chica, That's a little too hot for me."
"Wuss!" Michael said loading a chip with a heap of salsa.
"Hey Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker! How are you?" Sera called from Kyle's shoulder.
"Fine Sera, although you look a little preoccupied at the moment." Mrs. Parker joked.
"Now Kyle, be careful with Sera, I don't want one of my best waitresses to get hurt."
"I promise to be careful Mr. Parker." Kyle said, finally releasing Sera.
She lightly shoved him as soon as he put her down.
"Jerk! Now I have a major head rush!"
"Aw. Poor baby!"
"Very mature Kyle I'm terribly impressed." Iz regarded him sternly for a moment before smirking and belying her amusement.
"Sera, do you know when you'll need to be off for cheerleading camp?" Mr. Parker asked.
"Its not till mid August. I figured I'd work as much as you needed me now and then beg off those three weeks."
"Well, three weeks is a long time, but I think we can work something out."
"Thanks Mr. Parker! I've been sweating that since I got the call from Ms. Cannon yesterday."
"When do you leave?" Nancy asked.
"We leave the day after my birthday. On the 18th"
"Yea! So we still get to throw you a party?" Maria asked gleefully
"Actually I was going to have everyone over to the house. I figured we'd have a pool party, maybe a cookout."
Leaning into Kyle she said in a voice only he could hear.
"And I got a new bikini I want to try out."
Kyle grinned and whispered to her. "Think maybe I could get a sneak peek?"
She pulled back and looked at him. "Maybe. If you're a good boy."
"If you kids will excuse me, I'm going to refill my drink. Can I get any of you anything?" Nancy asked.
"No."
"No thanks mom, we're all set."
"Excuse me too everyone." Liz followed her dad's gaze to see Phillip and Charles comparing golf swings. Jeff left the kids and made a beeline for their discussion.
"What is it about our dad's and golf?"
"Its fun, you get to whack something with a metal club and have cart races. What more could you ask for?" Michael said between bites.
"Is that the traditional way of playing?" Max jokingly asked his best friend
"It's the Michael Guerin way...the only way!"
No one could keep a straight face.
"What?"
Patting him on the head, Maria leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
"You're very strange."
That's the pot calling the kettle black," Michael muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
Hoping to stop a fight before it started Liz stated a new topic of conversation
"Are football and cheerleading camp held in the same place again?" she asked Sera.
"I don't know, ours it at the University in Albuquerque." Sera replied, looking at Kyle
"That's where ours is too."
"Why they don't just have it at the Silver Bend campus?" Sera inquired.
"So the camper's significant others won't be inclined to visit. Driving an hour and a half to visit your unchaperoned girlfriend or boyfriend is one thing, but most people won't drive five hours just to get a little slap and tickle." Maria explained
"I would." came the response from Kyle and Michael.
"Lovely" the others answered simultaneously.
"OK everyone. Food's ready," Jim called. "Maria, your mother is bringing yours out."
"What is up with your dislike of barbecue anyway?" Kyle asked.
"I just don't like it."
"Weird." Kyle muttered as he grabbed a plate and moved into the line for food.
Everyone was settled in with their respective eats: Maria had her rotisserie chicken, the Pod Squad had their Tabasco injected burgers, Sera and Liz were munching on barbecue chicken and Kyle was working two brats and a hamburger.
"Hungry much?" Sera asked looking at his plate that contained cucumbers, potato salad, and vegetables with 3 kinds of dip in addition to his impressive main courses.
"I have to get my weight back up for wrestling. I'm down to 153."
"Keep eating like that and you won't be for long." Isabel teased.
"Isabel, what's on your schedule for this weekend?" Sera asked.
"Not much, there's a party that some friends of Andrew's are throwing. Kind of a late Forth celebration."
"You still dating WHIP?" Kyle asked, snickering, despite getting an elbow in the ribs from his girlfriend.
"I thought he was nice. Leave him alone."
"He calls himself Whip!" Kyle complained.
"We're not really dating anymore. He just invited me to this party."
"Any other prospects in the works?" Sera asked stabbing at her macaroni salad.
"Not so far, I'm hoping that will change by the time the semester starts."
"Uh, Isabel, have you looked in a mirror lately? I'm here to tell you you'll be beating the guys off with a stick."
Iz smiled. "Thanks Sera."
"Just being honest."
"So what about you? What are you two doing this weekend?"
"I'm working Friday and Saturday so I'm booked. I don't know about Buddha Boy over here."
Kyle spun to face her. "How do you know about that nickname?" He asked loudly.
Everyone at the table stopped talking to look at him.
Her eyes widened, "Sorry, I mean I know you don't go by it anymore, but you don't have to bite my head over it!"
"I told her about it. It just slipped out." Maria confessed
"Well, now I know what NOT to call you." Sera said inching away from him.
He grabbed her arm and pulled him back toward him. "I'm sorry, that name just brings up some memories I'd rather repress. I didn't mean to snap at you."
She smiled a bit but kept her eyes down.
Kyle looked at his friends. Liz and Max were looking at each other, their jaws set.
Maria and Iz were sharing a worried glance at Sera and Michael was looking at his food.
Maria broke the uncomfortable silence. "You can call him Chia-Head, its what I called him in elementary school."
Sera raised her eyes, "Chia-Head?"
"You should have seen his hair...VERY SCARY!"
Sera laughed and that seemed to break the tension.
Kyle laid a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry." He whispered
She pulled away from him and frowned.
"Did you just kiss me with your barbecue covered mouth?"
He grinned and looked at her head. "Oops! Sorry!"
He grabbed his napkin and pretended to wipe away sauce.
"Get away from me!" She squealed pointing at his sauce covered hands.
He made grabbing motions inches away from her face.
"Isabel! Make him stop!"
"Kyle, down boy!"
"But its fun."
Iz raised an eyebrow and Kyle shrugged. "Fine! All in good time my pretty, all in good time." He cackled in his best Wicked Witch of the West voice.
Maria shook her head. "Serious issues!"
Iz and Sera had to leave the table they were laughing so hard.
******************************************************************************
After dessert, which Michael and Max bet Kyle he couldn't eat after the massive amounts of dinner he's consumed (he proved them wrong), the parents went for a walk to work off dinner.
"Some of us don't have the stamina to run for two hours every morning." Diane said looking from her daughter to Sera.
"So walking after dinner will have to help keep us in shape."
Iz and Sera grinned.
"Actually Mrs. Evans, we don't run for two hours. We run about 30 minutes, then we go grab a cappuccino and talk."
"That's not true, yesterday it was 45 minutes!" Iz said.
"I find that hard to believe." Mrs. Evans' said with a wink.
Phillip took Diane's hand and they set out for their walk.
Sera, Maria and Liz took the remaining containers into the kitchen.
"How sexist is it that they're out their lolling about while we're pulling dish duty?" Sera asked disgustedly as she looked at all the dirty dishes.
"If its any consolation, you look hot in the kitchen."
All three girls spun around to see Sean lounging in the door leering at them.
"Hey Parker!"
"Hi." Liz said before becoming highly interested in loading the dishwasher.
"Davidson, Nice outfit."
"Hello Sean. Thanks"
"Maria"
"Loser."
"How was your picnic Sean?" Sera asked as she nudged Maria for the Loser comment.
"Great, you guys should have come. We played football, had water gun fights, it was nice."
"Who had water gun fights?" Iz asked coming out of the bathroom. "Sean."
"Isabel Evans, you look more beautiful EVERY time I see you!"
"Never gonna happen Sean, give up now!"
"You're killing me girl!"
Iz glared at him. "So who had water gun fights?" she asked again.
"The guys at the Meta-Chem picnic."
"You know that's not such a bad idea..." Iz trailed off, looking outside.
"Isabel, we couldn't do that..." Liz began
"Oh come on Liz. I know you and my brother have this whole soul mate, never do anything to hurt you thing, but that doesn't mean you can't make him pay for acting like the sexist pigs Michael and Kyle are."
Sera turned from the refrigerator. "She has a point Liz."
"Come on Parker. I have plenty of water guns. Super Soakers even."
"Oh, I call one of those." Sera said raising her hand.
"You're on Davidson. Just make sure you point that thing away from me!"
"Of course!" she said smiling her sweetest smile.
"OK, I say we finish getting these in the dishwasher and the food in the fridge and then we attack." Iz proclaimed.
"Works for me, but I'm telling you now...Kyle is mine and he's going down!" Sera said with a devilish gleam in her eye.
They crept out of the kitchen one by one.
Iz counted off one two three on her fingers and without a word they sprung into action.
Sera got to Kyle first and drenched him from head to toe with the Super Soaker.
He jumped off the porch swing with a yell, "What the hell? Sera, you are so dead!"
Within seconds he'd regained his composure and was after her.
Liz waited a split second too long and Max was tipped off by Kyle's cry.
He spun around to face her just as she raised her gun. She was aiming it at his chest.
"Liz, sweetheart, you don't want to do that!"
"I don't?"
"Now just give me the water gun and we can put a stop to this foolishness."
"Sure Max, whatever you say." She moved closer to him and unloaded the chamber on his shirt.
He grabbed her against him and hugged her tightly so she was as wet as he was.
His mouth descended on hers in a passionate kiss. They quickly forgot about the water fight.
Maria didn't bother with a gun, she took the ice bucket off the table and dumped the whole thing over Michael's head.
"Maria!"
She came around the side of the lawn chair with her hands on her hips.
"Yes?"
"What the hell was that for?"
"I just like to see you all wet."
Michael looked around the yard quickly before stalking towards her.
They ran inside and up to her room.
"You realize this has to be a quickie right?" She asked as he pushed her against the wall.
"Not a problem."
Iz turned her gun on Sean and laughed as he chased her around the yard.
"You were supposed to go after them not me."
"You're an easy target Sean. Besides. Its only fair that their girlfriends get first crack at them, after that, they're fair game."
"I like the way your mind works!"
Maria and Michael rejoined the group about 20 minutes later, to see their friends smiling knowingly at them.
"And where have you two been?" Liz asked trying not to burst out laughing.
"None of your business."
"Did we miss the rest of the water fight?" Maria asked attempting nonchalance.
"I believe you had other endeavors." Sera said as she leaned against Kyle.
"OK, OK. You can drop it anytime now!"
Everyone laughed again before Max finally held up his hands.
"OK, We're done!"
"We are?" Kyle asked still laughing.
"Keep it up Chia-head!" Maria warned pointing Liz's spent water gun at him.
Kyle stuck his tongue out at her in response.
"Hey Isabel, hit the play button will you?" Sean asked pointing to the portable stereo he brought out earlier.
"Sure."
She pressed play and the beginning of The Wiseguys' Start The Commotion filled the backyard.
Sera leapt away from Kyle.
"I LOVE this song! Lets dance!"
"No, no, no! I don't dance!"
"What??"
"I don't dance. Not to something like this anyway!"
Not even for me?" She pouted, moving her body to the music.
"Nope."
Maria extended her hand, "Come on Chica, I'll dance with you!"
"Yea! Liz. Isabel...you too."
They jumped up, Liz tried to get Max to join them.
"I don't want to be the only guy dancing."
She rolled her eyes and joined her friends.
Sean took the opportunity to get a little playful.
He moved behind Sera and began to grind into her.
"Something tells me that you'll be in your element at Orbit! Dance like this and you'll have every guy there ready to take you home!"
"How did you know I was a closet nympho Sean?"
"Isn't every girl? Except maybe Parker."
"HEY!" Liz exclaimed. "I can be wild."
All four of them looked at her.
Liz narrowed her eyes in defiance and moved behind Sean running her hands down his arms and back. When he moved to face her she danced away, Sean laughed at her and turned his attention back to Sera. She was leaning forward as she moved her hips into him.
The seething look on Kyle's face did not go unnoticed by Sean.
"Hey Sera, I think you're boyfriend is ready to kill me. He doesn't look real happy."
"Oh he'll be fine! I'm just giving him something to think about."
"Yeah, he's thinking about 200 ways of killing me while I sleep. I live in the same house with him remember? No escape!"
Now Sean, if you go away who am I going to dance with?" Sera asked turning to face him and locking her arms around his neck as she swiveled her body into his.
"Oh well, it looks like he's going to kill me anyway, so I'm going to make it worth it!"
Sean put his hands behind Sera's back and bent over her slightly. He brought her back up and she ran a finger from his lips to his waistband
Finally Kyle called out from the lawn chair.
"Not funny Sera!"
She giggled and laid her head on Sean's shoulder.
"I guess I should give him a break huh?"
"Please, before he murders me right here."
The song changed to No Doubt's Love To Love You and Sean decided to sit this one out, a good distance away from Kyle.
Sera rejoined her girlfriends and they began to gyrate to Gwen's sultry tones.
Maria was having a great time watching as Michael's eyes raked over her body with every shift of her hips.
Whispering in Liz's ear they left Iz and Sera to move within arms length of their boyfriends and began to dance suggestively.
Maria's hands began to trace the curves of her body keeping eye contact with Michael the entire time. As she leaned forward to touch him, he pulled her into the chair and kissed her senseless.
Max just sat and appreciated the show.
//Does she realize how sexy she is? Not just the dancing, which is nice, don't get me wrong. But everything about her is a turn-on. The way she flips her hair over her shoulder, the way she smiles ever so slightly when she's embarrassed. That cute little scar above her eye. Her lips...OK Maxwell, get control. Thinking about Liz's lips could result in pulling a Michael and Maria. As much as Maria loves both of us, I don't think she'd let us use her bedroom. And there is no way I'd use Kyle or Sean's!! No, I'll just sit here and thank God that this beautiful creature loves me.//
Liz moved closer to him and he grinned at her like a little kid. She smiled at him and allowed him to draw her near. He rested his head against her stomach as she smoothed his hair.
When she exhaled deeply, he looked up at her. She bent to kiss him and he wrapped his arms around her delicate frame.
Iz and Sera were dancing together while Sean looked on with thumbs up and other hand gestures. Kyle finally gave in to temptation and walked toward them.
"So you're not going to come talk to me?"
Without breaking stride Sera looked at him.
"You told me you don't dance."
"Max and Michael weren't dancing but that didn't stop Liz and Maria. Look at them"
"And?"
"You know using them as reference points isn't always the best couse of action!" Iz warned.
Sera laughed and Kyle frowned at his friend.
"OK, I'm going to get some more lemonade." Iz said at Kyle's look. "You want?"
"Sure, thanks!"
"So, your dance with Sean was interesting to say the least."
"Jealous?"
"I don't know if jealous is the right word, incensed might work better."
"I was just giving you a demonstration of the type of dancing I wanted to do with you."
"Really? I...wait a minute, are you trying to sweet talk your way out of this?"
"Is it working?"
"I might be persuaded to change my mind." he told her leaning in for a kiss.
"Goody, goody!"
A cough at their elbows broke them apart, Iz had return carrying glasses of lemonade and the parents were behind her.
"Was there an attack?" Jim asked surveying the damage from the water fight.
"We went a little overboard with the clean up." Kyle said wringing out his still damp shirt.
"Who won?" Phillip asked noting that the girls were considerably drier than the boys.
"We did." Sera and Iz proclaimed proudly.
"WHAT? It was a surprise attack! You can't claim victory for that!" Kyle protested.
"What a baby!" Iz said crinkling her nose at him.
"No kidding." Sera agreed.
Jim and Phil laughed at their kids.
"OK guys, Its time for fireworks, everyone gather you drinks and what not and we'll head out to the park." Amy was in director mode again.
"Yea fireworks!" Maria bounded toward Sera and Iz. "I love fireworks."
"There's a surprise." Iz laughed.
"What does that mean?" Maria asked
"Well they are a lot like you, pretty, fun to watch, sparkly..."
"And loud, don't forget loud." Kyle said unable to resist teasing her.
Maria stuck her tongue out at Kyle as Sera smacked him on the arm.
"Come on Chia-head. Let's go watch the fireworks."
The park was pretty crowded when they arrived. But having the sheriff in your party certainly helped. Hanson had reserved a choice piece of property large enough for the entire group. Jim excused himself and went to talk with Hanson and the fire marshal.
Soon they had everything squared away and Jim made his way to the podium that was set up in the center of the park.
"Good evening everyone. Hope your having a happy Fourth of July!"
Cheers from the crowd
"Well, I'd like to welcome you to our 25^th annual Fireworks in the Park celebration."
More cheers.
"Now sit back, relax and enjoy the show."
He gave the nod to the fire marshal and the first wave of fireworks lit up the sky.
He returned to the blanket Amy had laid out for them.
Everyone snuggled together to watch the fireworks. Sera looked at Iz sitting Indian style between she and Kyle and Max and Liz and nudged Kyle. He looked at her and she pointed to Iz. He grinned and nodded his head. Tapping her on the shoulder he crooked his finger at her when she turned to face him and patted the space on his and Sera's blanket.
Iz smiled and shook her head no, but Kyle wouldn't hear of it. He nodded his head and pointed to Sera, who was tapping her wrist as if to say "Any time now."
"Come on Iz...it will really boost my ego to have the two most beautiful girls by my side."
Iz grinned at the couple and acquiesced. She allowed Kyle to draw her to him. He let her get comfy against him, then threw one arm over her and the other over Sera. The girls' heads were occupying opposite shoulders. Sera looked over Kyle's face and smiled at Isabel. Iz placed her hand on top of Sera's and met the younger girls eyes in a silent `Thank You."
Sera winked in response.
"Happy Fourth Isabel."
"Happy Fourth!"
Just a warning...I dislike this chapter, but it moves the story along. The other chapters I'm working on are far more interesting, but I have to write this filler so everything makes sense!
To those with questions...all will be answered in due time.
I promise!
Thanks for all your reviews and suggestions!
They've been so helpful!
Liz
VALENTI/DELUCA BACKYARD
Maria and Kyle were setting the tables in the back yard with an Amy DeLuca original theme: Patriotic Aliens. Hand painted on the plates, glasses and serving platters were little green men dressed as George Washington, Uncle Sam, Abraham Lincoln, the Statute of Liberty and even Bill Clinton.
"Does your mother do anything normal?"
"Welcome to my life...hope you like it, it will be yours in just four short months."
"Please tell me this isn't what she's setting the table with at the rehearsal dinner?"
"Don't be silly...she's saving this for the reception.
"I worry about you DeLuca women, you know that?"
"Hey! Valenti said I should bring this out." Michael said walking outside with a covered container of marinated cucumbers. He paused noticing the theme of the party. "Nice."
"Looks just like you Michael, I can definitely see the family resemblance."
"Boys, behave yourselves, it is a holiday."
"Your mother and her decorations...." Michael trailed off, shaking his head.
"Kyle, Sera's here." Amy called from the house.
"Thanks!" Kyle folded the last napkin haphazardly and sprinted around the side of the house.
Maria chucked as she watched her almost brother. "He's crazy about that girl."
"It's a little soon to be that goo goo isn't it? I mean they've only been together for a few weeks. Does he really know anything about her?"
"Michael. They just have a connection. You know what that's like. I think its sweet."
"I think it has more to do with him not getting any for, what's it been about three years now."
"Michael! Some people are interested in more than sex."
Michael raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief.
"Really, so if I told you I wanted to skip the party, take you up to your room and make love to you all night you'd say no?"
Maria smiled her slow smile as she moved closer to him, "I said some people, I didn't say me."
He pulled her into his arms.
"Think your mom would notice that we snuck off for a few hours?"
"Yes, she would." Amy said
"Mom!"
"Maria, Michael. Salad." Amy held a bowl of salad out to Michael.
"Ms. DeLuca, we were just uh...
"Michael you don't want me to get the newspaper out again do you?"
"No."
Good, then I think there will be no sneaking off."
"Yes ma'am."
"Maria, if you've finished setting the table why don't you come inside and help in the kitchen."
"OK Mom."
"Michael, the Evans' and the Whitman's are in the driveway. See if they need any help."
"Sure." he kissed Maria on the forehead before heading to the driveway.
Rounding the corner he stopped abruptly and shook his head.
Kyle had Sera pressed into the wall and was kissing a trail down her neck. Sera caught movement out of the corner of her eye and gasped.
"Michael!"
"MICHAEL?" Kyle pulled away looking at her.
"Over here dumbass."
Kyle spun around.
"Oh, Michael."
Michael grinned and walked to the couple.
"Afraid your girl's hot for me?" he teased
"She must be having a nightmare to call out your name."
"Will you two stop!" Looking behind Michael, Sera frowned. "Where's Maria?"
"Amy took her inside. She caught us kissing in the backyard and was afraid I was going to run off with her daughter."
"Isn't that usually your plan?" Sera asked smiling.
"Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm a sex fiend or anything."
"When it comes to Maria you are." Kyle muttered.
"Jealous Valenti?"
"Keep it up Guerin, I'll get Amy to ban you from the house."
"So this is where the party is." Isabel said as she joined the trio.
"Hi!" Sera exclaimed. She latched on to Iz's arm. "Let's go in the backyard...I'm getting testosterone overload."
They started to walk away when they heard a car. Turning around they saw Max and Liz pulling in the drive.
Nicole was the first to welcome them. "Hi Liz, Max how are you?"
"Hi Professor Whitman. Good. How are you."
"Glad to hear that. Everything is good for us too. Aren't your parents coming Liz?"
"Oh they are, they just wanted to finish the dessert and veggie tray."
Liz and Maria hugged
"Happy Fourth Chica!"
"Happy Fourth to you Maria. Hi Michael."
"Liz. Hey Maxwell."
Jim was in the driveway greeting the guests and helping with the food. He nodded to his son and Kyle immediately took a dish from Professor Whitman and Mrs. Evans
"Ladies, let me help you with those."
Iz looked at her friends. "Check out Eddie Haskell."
"Isabel, he's being nice." Sera defended her boyfriend.
"It's an act." Maria and Iz replied together.
"You guys! You're so mean to him."
"He loves it." Iz told her. "And don't feel so sorry for him, he dishes it out as much as he takes it too."
"True." Sera agreed.
"I guess we should get in and help." Iz said unenthusiastically
"I don't think there's anyway around it." Sera exhaled sharply
Entering the kitchen they stopped and laughed as
Amy was directing traffic in the kitchen.
"OK, we'll leave the fruit pies in the fridge. Kyle, honey set that platter near the door, its going outside. Rolls, Jim what did you do with the rolls? Oh thank you Phillip. Yes those go outside too. Maria carry this."
Max and Liz grinned as they watched Amy.
"If she's this bad now just think what she's going to be like on their wedding day."
"I'm a little scared that she ask me to be a bridesmaid now."
Max stole a look around the kitchen then pulled his girlfriend into the broom closet, "You know, since your parents were home I didn't get to greet you properly."
"Really? And how exactly were you planning on greeting me if they weren't home?"
"Well, we wouldn't be here yet!"
She gasped and playfully smacked his arm. "Max Evans! Please continue."
"Tease!" he growled in her ear.
She laughed and kissed him lightly, he ran his tongue along her lips until she allowed him access to her mouth. They kissed for sometime completely oblivious to the noises around outside the closet. Just as his lips descended on her neck Michael threw open the closet door.
"Maxwell." Max and Liz jumped apart. "If I can't sneak off with Maria, don't even think you and Liz are getting away with it!"
Max sighed heavily but extended his hand to Liz and they followed Michael into the backyard. The Parker's had just arrived and waved to their daughter as they unloaded their contribution to the party on the picnic tables.
"Liz, Max!" Sera waved them over.
The dreamy twosome looked at the décor and laughed. Liz picked up a plate, then looked at her best friend.
"Amy?"
"How'd you guess?" Maria said, rolling her eyes.
"They're cute."
She leaned to Max and whispered in his ear.
"They look three foot tall, green and slimy."
"She forgot to give them a third eye." he whispered back.
They giggled and Isabel rolled her eyes. "God, give it a break would you?"
Liz stuck her tongue out at her but Iz had already turned away, walking to the fill her glass with Kyle and Sera.
"Maria, Isn't Sean coming?" Liz asked, noticing the look that Max gave her.
"Yeah, he's at his work picnic right now, he should be here by 6 or so."
"Which job?"
"For Meta-Chem, please like Orbit would have an outdoor party. Where would they put the disco ball?"
"Michael? You didn't want to go to the Meta-Chem party?" Liz asked
"Nah, its more fun here. Besides too much time spent with Sean in one day is definitely detrimental to your health."
Maria laughed. "I'm just happy he got a job at Orbit. Now we can get in!!"
"Don't you have to be 21 to get in there?" ever cautious Max asked.
"Just like you have to be 21 to play the tables in Vegas Max, but we got around that!"
"You went to Vegas?" Sera questioned, as she Iz and Kyle returned.
The entire group looked at each other. Iz was the first to speak.
Yeah, sort of a field-trip."
"Wow that sounds great! Did you win anything?"
"I did, but Maria wouldn't let me keep it." Kyle pouted.
"No, I just wouldn't let you continue gambling when we needed to bail these two out of jail."
Sera's eyes widened, "You were in jail? Max?"
"Oh sure," Michael complained. "You're shocked that Max is in jail but not me."
What did you do?
Michael got in a fight, I helped him so I got thrown in too."
"I've been in jail too." Liz said for the sole benefit of seeing the look on Sera's face.
"WHAT?"
"Sheriff Valenti arrested me and Alex."
"And you still talk to him?"
"Well, he came around."
"What were you in for?"
"Possession of alcohol." Liz could barely contain her smile as Sera's eyes seemed ready to leave her skull as she digested this information.
"My world is spinning. I haven't known you guys long but you two are the LAST two, I'd EVER expect to get into trouble." she said pointing at Max and Liz.
"Who did you have pegged as the trouble makers." Kyle asked sipping his soda.
"You for one!" Kyle coughed at this and stared at Sera.
"Me?"
"Your constant sarcastic comments, the fact that you're a jock, your dad is the sheriff which creates an undeniable impulse to rebel... it's a recipe for disaster."
"And yet you date me!"
"Lapse in judgment. I believe that I'm suffering from a head injury, at any moment I will realize my mistake and dump you for another guy!"
"I like her so much!" Iz said looking at Kyle.
He squinted his eyes and gave her a fake smile.
Maria wandered to the grill and watched Jim turned burgers, brats and barbecue chicken.
"Don't worry, I have your chicken on the rotisserie in the kitchen." He said, noticing her sneer at the chicken on the grill.
"Your mother told me of your aversion to barbecue...you don't know what you're missing."
I know, I know. I'm just not a big fan."
"I think it looks great." Max offered as he looked over Maria's shoulder.
"I made some special burgers for you, Isabel and Michael. They've been injected with Tabasco sauce." Jim told him.
"Thanks!" Max said, genuinely touched.
"Girlfriend, you left my best friend in the clutches of Kyle and Michael? What were you thinking?"
"She has Iz and Sera there as buffers. They'll take care of her. Besides, I had to come snag some chips and salsa."
Maria watched as Max filled two plates with chips and picked up one of the salsa bowls.
"You feeding an army there Max? Or you just digging that salsa?"
"It's for everyone Maria!"
"Well you'd better get more. You have enough there for Michael."
Jim laughed as he reached across them to snag a carrot from the veggie tray.
"You kids love to pick on each other don't you."
It's all good-natured....well most of it is."
"Hey, now Kyle stop that!" Jim called.
Maria and Max turned to see Kyle throw Sera over his shoulder.
"I'm not going to drop her Dad."
"Just be careful."
"Kyle Valenti put me down!" Sera screamed.
Max and Maria walked back to back to the table laughing.
"What prompted that?" Maria questioned sitting next to Michael and pointing to Sera and her brother.
"He started spouting off about wrestling, and how much he could bench, Sera said she didn't believe him and he picked her up to prove her wrong." Michael explained.
"I really don't know what that proves, Sera's like 125 pounds. My brother can bench that." Iz said rolling her eyes.
"Hey!" Max frowned and threw a chip in his sister's direction. "I can bench more than that."
Liz retrieved the chip and stuck it in the salsa, as she put it to her lips Max grabbed her hand. "That's really hot. Iz made it with fire-roasted jalapenos and LOTS of Tabasco."
"I like Tabasco sauce." She said.
Maria picked up the bowl and sniffed it. "I don't know Chica, That's a little too hot for me."
"Wuss!" Michael said loading a chip with a heap of salsa.
"Hey Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker! How are you?" Sera called from Kyle's shoulder.
"Fine Sera, although you look a little preoccupied at the moment." Mrs. Parker joked.
"Now Kyle, be careful with Sera, I don't want one of my best waitresses to get hurt."
"I promise to be careful Mr. Parker." Kyle said, finally releasing Sera.
She lightly shoved him as soon as he put her down.
"Jerk! Now I have a major head rush!"
"Aw. Poor baby!"
"Very mature Kyle I'm terribly impressed." Iz regarded him sternly for a moment before smirking and belying her amusement.
"Sera, do you know when you'll need to be off for cheerleading camp?" Mr. Parker asked.
"Its not till mid August. I figured I'd work as much as you needed me now and then beg off those three weeks."
"Well, three weeks is a long time, but I think we can work something out."
"Thanks Mr. Parker! I've been sweating that since I got the call from Ms. Cannon yesterday."
"When do you leave?" Nancy asked.
"We leave the day after my birthday. On the 18th"
"Yea! So we still get to throw you a party?" Maria asked gleefully
"Actually I was going to have everyone over to the house. I figured we'd have a pool party, maybe a cookout."
Leaning into Kyle she said in a voice only he could hear.
"And I got a new bikini I want to try out."
Kyle grinned and whispered to her. "Think maybe I could get a sneak peek?"
She pulled back and looked at him. "Maybe. If you're a good boy."
"If you kids will excuse me, I'm going to refill my drink. Can I get any of you anything?" Nancy asked.
"No."
"No thanks mom, we're all set."
"Excuse me too everyone." Liz followed her dad's gaze to see Phillip and Charles comparing golf swings. Jeff left the kids and made a beeline for their discussion.
"What is it about our dad's and golf?"
"Its fun, you get to whack something with a metal club and have cart races. What more could you ask for?" Michael said between bites.
"Is that the traditional way of playing?" Max jokingly asked his best friend
"It's the Michael Guerin way...the only way!"
No one could keep a straight face.
"What?"
Patting him on the head, Maria leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
"You're very strange."
That's the pot calling the kettle black," Michael muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
Hoping to stop a fight before it started Liz stated a new topic of conversation
"Are football and cheerleading camp held in the same place again?" she asked Sera.
"I don't know, ours it at the University in Albuquerque." Sera replied, looking at Kyle
"That's where ours is too."
"Why they don't just have it at the Silver Bend campus?" Sera inquired.
"So the camper's significant others won't be inclined to visit. Driving an hour and a half to visit your unchaperoned girlfriend or boyfriend is one thing, but most people won't drive five hours just to get a little slap and tickle." Maria explained
"I would." came the response from Kyle and Michael.
"Lovely" the others answered simultaneously.
"OK everyone. Food's ready," Jim called. "Maria, your mother is bringing yours out."
"What is up with your dislike of barbecue anyway?" Kyle asked.
"I just don't like it."
"Weird." Kyle muttered as he grabbed a plate and moved into the line for food.
Everyone was settled in with their respective eats: Maria had her rotisserie chicken, the Pod Squad had their Tabasco injected burgers, Sera and Liz were munching on barbecue chicken and Kyle was working two brats and a hamburger.
"Hungry much?" Sera asked looking at his plate that contained cucumbers, potato salad, and vegetables with 3 kinds of dip in addition to his impressive main courses.
"I have to get my weight back up for wrestling. I'm down to 153."
"Keep eating like that and you won't be for long." Isabel teased.
"Isabel, what's on your schedule for this weekend?" Sera asked.
"Not much, there's a party that some friends of Andrew's are throwing. Kind of a late Forth celebration."
"You still dating WHIP?" Kyle asked, snickering, despite getting an elbow in the ribs from his girlfriend.
"I thought he was nice. Leave him alone."
"He calls himself Whip!" Kyle complained.
"We're not really dating anymore. He just invited me to this party."
"Any other prospects in the works?" Sera asked stabbing at her macaroni salad.
"Not so far, I'm hoping that will change by the time the semester starts."
"Uh, Isabel, have you looked in a mirror lately? I'm here to tell you you'll be beating the guys off with a stick."
Iz smiled. "Thanks Sera."
"Just being honest."
"So what about you? What are you two doing this weekend?"
"I'm working Friday and Saturday so I'm booked. I don't know about Buddha Boy over here."
Kyle spun to face her. "How do you know about that nickname?" He asked loudly.
Everyone at the table stopped talking to look at him.
Her eyes widened, "Sorry, I mean I know you don't go by it anymore, but you don't have to bite my head over it!"
"I told her about it. It just slipped out." Maria confessed
"Well, now I know what NOT to call you." Sera said inching away from him.
He grabbed her arm and pulled him back toward him. "I'm sorry, that name just brings up some memories I'd rather repress. I didn't mean to snap at you."
She smiled a bit but kept her eyes down.
Kyle looked at his friends. Liz and Max were looking at each other, their jaws set.
Maria and Iz were sharing a worried glance at Sera and Michael was looking at his food.
Maria broke the uncomfortable silence. "You can call him Chia-Head, its what I called him in elementary school."
Sera raised her eyes, "Chia-Head?"
"You should have seen his hair...VERY SCARY!"
Sera laughed and that seemed to break the tension.
Kyle laid a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry." He whispered
She pulled away from him and frowned.
"Did you just kiss me with your barbecue covered mouth?"
He grinned and looked at her head. "Oops! Sorry!"
He grabbed his napkin and pretended to wipe away sauce.
"Get away from me!" She squealed pointing at his sauce covered hands.
He made grabbing motions inches away from her face.
"Isabel! Make him stop!"
"Kyle, down boy!"
"But its fun."
Iz raised an eyebrow and Kyle shrugged. "Fine! All in good time my pretty, all in good time." He cackled in his best Wicked Witch of the West voice.
Maria shook her head. "Serious issues!"
Iz and Sera had to leave the table they were laughing so hard.
******************************************************************************
After dessert, which Michael and Max bet Kyle he couldn't eat after the massive amounts of dinner he's consumed (he proved them wrong), the parents went for a walk to work off dinner.
"Some of us don't have the stamina to run for two hours every morning." Diane said looking from her daughter to Sera.
"So walking after dinner will have to help keep us in shape."
Iz and Sera grinned.
"Actually Mrs. Evans, we don't run for two hours. We run about 30 minutes, then we go grab a cappuccino and talk."
"That's not true, yesterday it was 45 minutes!" Iz said.
"I find that hard to believe." Mrs. Evans' said with a wink.
Phillip took Diane's hand and they set out for their walk.
Sera, Maria and Liz took the remaining containers into the kitchen.
"How sexist is it that they're out their lolling about while we're pulling dish duty?" Sera asked disgustedly as she looked at all the dirty dishes.
"If its any consolation, you look hot in the kitchen."
All three girls spun around to see Sean lounging in the door leering at them.
"Hey Parker!"
"Hi." Liz said before becoming highly interested in loading the dishwasher.
"Davidson, Nice outfit."
"Hello Sean. Thanks"
"Maria"
"Loser."
"How was your picnic Sean?" Sera asked as she nudged Maria for the Loser comment.
"Great, you guys should have come. We played football, had water gun fights, it was nice."
"Who had water gun fights?" Iz asked coming out of the bathroom. "Sean."
"Isabel Evans, you look more beautiful EVERY time I see you!"
"Never gonna happen Sean, give up now!"
"You're killing me girl!"
Iz glared at him. "So who had water gun fights?" she asked again.
"The guys at the Meta-Chem picnic."
"You know that's not such a bad idea..." Iz trailed off, looking outside.
"Isabel, we couldn't do that..." Liz began
"Oh come on Liz. I know you and my brother have this whole soul mate, never do anything to hurt you thing, but that doesn't mean you can't make him pay for acting like the sexist pigs Michael and Kyle are."
Sera turned from the refrigerator. "She has a point Liz."
"Come on Parker. I have plenty of water guns. Super Soakers even."
"Oh, I call one of those." Sera said raising her hand.
"You're on Davidson. Just make sure you point that thing away from me!"
"Of course!" she said smiling her sweetest smile.
"OK, I say we finish getting these in the dishwasher and the food in the fridge and then we attack." Iz proclaimed.
"Works for me, but I'm telling you now...Kyle is mine and he's going down!" Sera said with a devilish gleam in her eye.
They crept out of the kitchen one by one.
Iz counted off one two three on her fingers and without a word they sprung into action.
Sera got to Kyle first and drenched him from head to toe with the Super Soaker.
He jumped off the porch swing with a yell, "What the hell? Sera, you are so dead!"
Within seconds he'd regained his composure and was after her.
Liz waited a split second too long and Max was tipped off by Kyle's cry.
He spun around to face her just as she raised her gun. She was aiming it at his chest.
"Liz, sweetheart, you don't want to do that!"
"I don't?"
"Now just give me the water gun and we can put a stop to this foolishness."
"Sure Max, whatever you say." She moved closer to him and unloaded the chamber on his shirt.
He grabbed her against him and hugged her tightly so she was as wet as he was.
His mouth descended on hers in a passionate kiss. They quickly forgot about the water fight.
Maria didn't bother with a gun, she took the ice bucket off the table and dumped the whole thing over Michael's head.
"Maria!"
She came around the side of the lawn chair with her hands on her hips.
"Yes?"
"What the hell was that for?"
"I just like to see you all wet."
Michael looked around the yard quickly before stalking towards her.
They ran inside and up to her room.
"You realize this has to be a quickie right?" She asked as he pushed her against the wall.
"Not a problem."
Iz turned her gun on Sean and laughed as he chased her around the yard.
"You were supposed to go after them not me."
"You're an easy target Sean. Besides. Its only fair that their girlfriends get first crack at them, after that, they're fair game."
"I like the way your mind works!"
Maria and Michael rejoined the group about 20 minutes later, to see their friends smiling knowingly at them.
"And where have you two been?" Liz asked trying not to burst out laughing.
"None of your business."
"Did we miss the rest of the water fight?" Maria asked attempting nonchalance.
"I believe you had other endeavors." Sera said as she leaned against Kyle.
"OK, OK. You can drop it anytime now!"
Everyone laughed again before Max finally held up his hands.
"OK, We're done!"
"We are?" Kyle asked still laughing.
"Keep it up Chia-head!" Maria warned pointing Liz's spent water gun at him.
Kyle stuck his tongue out at her in response.
"Hey Isabel, hit the play button will you?" Sean asked pointing to the portable stereo he brought out earlier.
"Sure."
She pressed play and the beginning of The Wiseguys' Start The Commotion filled the backyard.
Sera leapt away from Kyle.
"I LOVE this song! Lets dance!"
"No, no, no! I don't dance!"
"What??"
"I don't dance. Not to something like this anyway!"
Not even for me?" She pouted, moving her body to the music.
"Nope."
Maria extended her hand, "Come on Chica, I'll dance with you!"
"Yea! Liz. Isabel...you too."
They jumped up, Liz tried to get Max to join them.
"I don't want to be the only guy dancing."
She rolled her eyes and joined her friends.
Sean took the opportunity to get a little playful.
He moved behind Sera and began to grind into her.
"Something tells me that you'll be in your element at Orbit! Dance like this and you'll have every guy there ready to take you home!"
"How did you know I was a closet nympho Sean?"
"Isn't every girl? Except maybe Parker."
"HEY!" Liz exclaimed. "I can be wild."
All four of them looked at her.
Liz narrowed her eyes in defiance and moved behind Sean running her hands down his arms and back. When he moved to face her she danced away, Sean laughed at her and turned his attention back to Sera. She was leaning forward as she moved her hips into him.
The seething look on Kyle's face did not go unnoticed by Sean.
"Hey Sera, I think you're boyfriend is ready to kill me. He doesn't look real happy."
"Oh he'll be fine! I'm just giving him something to think about."
"Yeah, he's thinking about 200 ways of killing me while I sleep. I live in the same house with him remember? No escape!"
Now Sean, if you go away who am I going to dance with?" Sera asked turning to face him and locking her arms around his neck as she swiveled her body into his.
"Oh well, it looks like he's going to kill me anyway, so I'm going to make it worth it!"
Sean put his hands behind Sera's back and bent over her slightly. He brought her back up and she ran a finger from his lips to his waistband
Finally Kyle called out from the lawn chair.
"Not funny Sera!"
She giggled and laid her head on Sean's shoulder.
"I guess I should give him a break huh?"
"Please, before he murders me right here."
The song changed to No Doubt's Love To Love You and Sean decided to sit this one out, a good distance away from Kyle.
Sera rejoined her girlfriends and they began to gyrate to Gwen's sultry tones.
Maria was having a great time watching as Michael's eyes raked over her body with every shift of her hips.
Whispering in Liz's ear they left Iz and Sera to move within arms length of their boyfriends and began to dance suggestively.
Maria's hands began to trace the curves of her body keeping eye contact with Michael the entire time. As she leaned forward to touch him, he pulled her into the chair and kissed her senseless.
Max just sat and appreciated the show.
//Does she realize how sexy she is? Not just the dancing, which is nice, don't get me wrong. But everything about her is a turn-on. The way she flips her hair over her shoulder, the way she smiles ever so slightly when she's embarrassed. That cute little scar above her eye. Her lips...OK Maxwell, get control. Thinking about Liz's lips could result in pulling a Michael and Maria. As much as Maria loves both of us, I don't think she'd let us use her bedroom. And there is no way I'd use Kyle or Sean's!! No, I'll just sit here and thank God that this beautiful creature loves me.//
Liz moved closer to him and he grinned at her like a little kid. She smiled at him and allowed him to draw her near. He rested his head against her stomach as she smoothed his hair.
When she exhaled deeply, he looked up at her. She bent to kiss him and he wrapped his arms around her delicate frame.
Iz and Sera were dancing together while Sean looked on with thumbs up and other hand gestures. Kyle finally gave in to temptation and walked toward them.
"So you're not going to come talk to me?"
Without breaking stride Sera looked at him.
"You told me you don't dance."
"Max and Michael weren't dancing but that didn't stop Liz and Maria. Look at them"
"And?"
"You know using them as reference points isn't always the best couse of action!" Iz warned.
Sera laughed and Kyle frowned at his friend.
"OK, I'm going to get some more lemonade." Iz said at Kyle's look. "You want?"
"Sure, thanks!"
"So, your dance with Sean was interesting to say the least."
"Jealous?"
"I don't know if jealous is the right word, incensed might work better."
"I was just giving you a demonstration of the type of dancing I wanted to do with you."
"Really? I...wait a minute, are you trying to sweet talk your way out of this?"
"Is it working?"
"I might be persuaded to change my mind." he told her leaning in for a kiss.
"Goody, goody!"
A cough at their elbows broke them apart, Iz had return carrying glasses of lemonade and the parents were behind her.
"Was there an attack?" Jim asked surveying the damage from the water fight.
"We went a little overboard with the clean up." Kyle said wringing out his still damp shirt.
"Who won?" Phillip asked noting that the girls were considerably drier than the boys.
"We did." Sera and Iz proclaimed proudly.
"WHAT? It was a surprise attack! You can't claim victory for that!" Kyle protested.
"What a baby!" Iz said crinkling her nose at him.
"No kidding." Sera agreed.
Jim and Phil laughed at their kids.
"OK guys, Its time for fireworks, everyone gather you drinks and what not and we'll head out to the park." Amy was in director mode again.
"Yea fireworks!" Maria bounded toward Sera and Iz. "I love fireworks."
"There's a surprise." Iz laughed.
"What does that mean?" Maria asked
"Well they are a lot like you, pretty, fun to watch, sparkly..."
"And loud, don't forget loud." Kyle said unable to resist teasing her.
Maria stuck her tongue out at Kyle as Sera smacked him on the arm.
"Come on Chia-head. Let's go watch the fireworks."
The park was pretty crowded when they arrived. But having the sheriff in your party certainly helped. Hanson had reserved a choice piece of property large enough for the entire group. Jim excused himself and went to talk with Hanson and the fire marshal.
Soon they had everything squared away and Jim made his way to the podium that was set up in the center of the park.
"Good evening everyone. Hope your having a happy Fourth of July!"
Cheers from the crowd
"Well, I'd like to welcome you to our 25^th annual Fireworks in the Park celebration."
More cheers.
"Now sit back, relax and enjoy the show."
He gave the nod to the fire marshal and the first wave of fireworks lit up the sky.
He returned to the blanket Amy had laid out for them.
Everyone snuggled together to watch the fireworks. Sera looked at Iz sitting Indian style between she and Kyle and Max and Liz and nudged Kyle. He looked at her and she pointed to Iz. He grinned and nodded his head. Tapping her on the shoulder he crooked his finger at her when she turned to face him and patted the space on his and Sera's blanket.
Iz smiled and shook her head no, but Kyle wouldn't hear of it. He nodded his head and pointed to Sera, who was tapping her wrist as if to say "Any time now."
"Come on Iz...it will really boost my ego to have the two most beautiful girls by my side."
Iz grinned at the couple and acquiesced. She allowed Kyle to draw her to him. He let her get comfy against him, then threw one arm over her and the other over Sera. The girls' heads were occupying opposite shoulders. Sera looked over Kyle's face and smiled at Isabel. Iz placed her hand on top of Sera's and met the younger girls eyes in a silent `Thank You."
Sera winked in response.
"Happy Fourth Isabel."
"Happy Fourth!"
