Hey, thanks for the reviews and I'm glad you liked the last chapter. This chapter is different from the episode because I wanted the gang to have a fun but there will be a cliffy at the end. Sorry but I can't give too much away in this story. Sorry, that it took so long to be posted up.
Chapter 5
Isabel walked toward the Crashdown; she was wearing black jeans and a red halter-top. She looked up at the building and was puzzled to see that it was dark and closed.
"Liz must have closed up early tonight." Isabel muttered to herself as she opened the door and took a step inside only to step back in shock when the lights burst on and everyone jumping out.
"SURPRISE!" Everyone cheered. Isabel let out a stunned laugh as one hand covered her mouth and the other flew to her heart.
"Oh my god!" Isabel stated and looked around, looking for the culprit. "Who planned this?"
"Guilty big sis." Max stated as he walked over and pulled his sister into a hug. "Happy birthday."
"I don't know what to say." Isabel stated as she hugged Max back before pulling away. "Or what to do." Liz laughed as she made her way over.
"Anything, just don't kill Max." Liz stated as she hugged Isabel, eliciting laughers from Isabel.
"I can't believe you did this." Isabel stated and Michael smiled as he hugged her.
"Everyone deserves a chance to be normal, this is yours." Michael explained and Isabel eyes filled with tears as she hugged her other brother back before pulling away when she saw Maria come bouncing toward her.
"Happy birthday Izzy!" Maria squealed as she launched herself into the older girl's arms. Isabel laughed through her tears as she hugged Maria back then pulled away and looked at the group of people who has become her family.
"Where's Alex?" Isabel asked, looking around for the missing young man.
"He's getting your present, he'll be here soon." Liz promised and Isabel nodded.
"Happy birthday Izzy." A female voice stated behind Isabel, Isabel turned around and hugged her mother.
"Thank you so much mom!" Isabel stated and Diane laughed as she hugged her daughter in her arms. "Where's dad?"
"Sorry honey, your dad was about to step out when a case was dropped onto his lap." Diane stated and Isabel nodded.
"Don't worry, he'll make up for it." Max stated as he picked up a glass of cola from the tray that Courtney was handing out and gave it to Liz, who smiled her thanks before taking the glass.
"I know he will, it's just a little hard not having dad here for my birthday." Isabel stated before looking around once more. "Where's Tess?" Isabel asked.
"Here I am!" A female voice called out from behind Isabel, Isabel turned around and pasted a fake smile on her face.
"Great, glad you could make it." Isabel forced out cheerfully and Tess smiled.
"Of course I would have, you are my best friend." Tess stated as she hugged Isabel before sending Liz an icy glare and turning to Max. "Hi Max, are you having fun?"
"Great fun, my sister is happy, all my friends are here and the love of my life is standing right beside me." Max stated as he pulled Liz into a sideway hug, kissing her forehead.
Isabel hid a smile behind her hand at Tess's furious gaze. She, along with everyone else, was getting annoyed with Tess's attitude to Liz as Liz hadn't done anything to her but Tess continued to make Liz's life hard and miserable as possible.
"Isabel, can you come into the backroom with me so I can tell you something?" Maria asked; Isabel nodded as she followed the young girl into the backroom with Max and Michael trailing after her.
"What was it you wanted to tell me?" Isabel asked once they entered the backroom, Maria just cupped her hand under the tap and chucked some water at her face.
"You need to cool down before you literally set Tess on fire with your death ray eyes." Maria remarked while Isabel spluttered while waving her hand down her face, hair and clothes, drying herself.
"Trust me, I do not have death ray eyes otherwise you would know about it." Isabel promised.
The two boys just stood back in amusement as they watched the two girls argue, when all of a sudden Liz hurried through to the backroom.
"Isabel, you need to come out to the front!" Liz hurried out. "A policeman wants to talk to you."
"A policeman wants to talk to me." Isabel asked confused as she walked out to the front where she saw a group of people in a circle. She walked over and the group separate to allow her to see what was going on. She gasped when the policeman turned around, revealing himself.
Liz smiled as she gently pushed Isabel into the middle of the group as the man pressed play on the radio. Rock DJ came blasting through the speakers as Alex began to dance. Everyone cheered while Isabel smiled while her face was bright red due to embarrassment.
"What the hell?" Michael demanded as Alex threw his tie at him. Liz laughed as Max wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her hair.
"Oh my god!" Isabel squeaked out as Alex took of his shirt and swung it about in the air before letting it go, it sailed through the air and landed on one of the girl's head. He swung around, shaking his ass as the gang while moving his hip to the beat of the music and took of his belt and hat, he threw the hat and Max caught it while Alex slid the belt between his legs and started sliding it.
Max rolled his eyes as he handed Isabel the hat before burying his face in Liz's hair once more, embarrassed at the sight his best friend was making.
"What is our life coming to?" He heard Michael muttered from behind and snickered.
"That what we get when we hang around with crazy humans." Max whispered to Michael, both of them shared a small smile, remembering everything they had went through when they let the humans into their lives.
Max turned around to face the front only for his face to pale in shock and for his arms to tighten themselves around Liz as Liz's hands came up to her mouth when Alex spun around and saw Diane standing there was shocked look on her face.
"Uh oh." Isabel muttered.
"Hey Mrs Evans." Alex greeted. "Great party."
Liz turned around in Max's arms and buried her face into his chest, trying hard to muffle her laughers.
"What on earth do you think you are doing?" Diane demanded; Alex just gulped as the gang moved back a bit and snickered.
"Erm, dancing?" Alex asked and Diane rose and eyebrow.
"Dancing?" she asked and Alex nodded, vigorously, trying to make sure that he was going to be alive meanwhile everyone was in the back room, laughing. "And since when Striping is dancing?" Diane asked, Alex just gulped and smiled at her weakly.
"I can't believe you got Alex to strip!" Isabel exclaimed and everyone laughed once more.
"I can't believe your mom caught him." Michael stated and Tess laughed.
"Think he scarred for life." Tess added in, looking at Max and Liz from the corner of her eyes. She saw that the pair of them was sitting on the couch but Liz was sitting away from Max while Max was trying to reach Liz. Tess smirked, they both were having troubles and it wouldn't be long until Max came running back to her.
While in reality, Liz could feel Max's desire for her and was trying very hard to keep him at arm length so that nothing embarrassing would happen in front of everyone.
Max kept shooting her hot looks from under his eyelids that had Liz shifting in her seat, trying to get further away from him.
"What is up with you two?" Isabel demanded, causing Max and Liz to look at her with a shocked look.
"Nothing!" Liz and Max exclaimed; both blushing slightly and Isabel just shot them an unconvinced look.
"Okay, whatever you say." Isabel stated with a shrug, the door opened and Kyle walked in. "Kyle!" Isabel stated with surprise.
"Hi, dad made me come." Kyle stated with a bored tone and Liz walked over to him.
"We're glad you can make it Kyle, I know what dads are like when they force you to go somewhere you don't want to go but we are glad to see that you are okay." Liz stated with a small smile and Kyle glared at her.
"I'm only here because my dad made me, not something you would know." Kyle sneered and it cut through her heart.
"What do you mean by that?" Liz whispered.
"Well, Jeff wasn't really your dad so I don't see how you could know what its like." Kyle smarted and Liz stumbled backward.
"Take that back." Liz hissed and Kyle snorted.
"Why should I? It's your fault that I got shot, if you hadn't come, none of this would have happened." Kyle bit out, Max, Michael, Isabel stood up, anger flaring in their eyes while Maria and Alex came storming in from the front room, having to overhear what Kyle had said to Liz.
"It was not Liz's fault you asshole!" Maria snapped at Kyle. "Max told you to stay out of it, that your father was fine so basically it was your fault that you came and got yourself involved."
"And you're the one who gave Pierce the gun you're the one responsible for Liz almost losing her life!" Max gritted out through clenched teeth as he took Liz into his arms.
"Excuse me for thinking that my dad was in danger." Kyle snapped and Isabel lost it, she stormed up to Kyle and grabbed him round the neck.
"If I were you, Kyle, I watch my mouth cause you never know when it will get glued shut by one of us, let me put it this way. You won't know when or where it's coming but you'll know why and let me tell you something, I always keep my threats and promise, no matter what." Isabel hissed out to him darkly, her eyes promising hell on earth if Kyle dared to upset Liz once more.
Kyle just squeaked as Isabel pushed him away and grabbed Liz's arm gently before leading her out into the front where everyone was more accepting of Liz.
"Oh bad move to get on the wrong side of the royalty." Maria stated gleefully as Max and Michael threw death glares before heading out to join the girl. Alex and Maria headed after them too.
"You blame her too." Tess asked and Kyle nodded.
"If it wasn't for her and Evans, I wouldn't have been shot." Kyle stated and Tess looked at him.
"How about we join up together, split Max and Liz up and drive Liz out of town where she belongs?" Tess asked and Kyle looked at her with a smile, they both shook hands before heading out to the front to join the party.
XXXXX
"Hey, you are baking?" Courtney asked as she stepped into the kitchen and saw Michael standing at the counter with a bowl in front of him with the cake mixture and a wooden spoon in his hand.
"Looks like it." Michael stated and Courtney tilted her head slightly and smiled.
"You were supposed to add eggs." Courtney stated before dipping a finger into the mixture, brought it up to her mouth, and smiled when she had her taste. "Tabasco mixture, my favourite."
She walked away with a wink, leaving Michael behind, staring after her with a stunned shock as Maria entered the room.
"Hey Space boy, what you doing?" Maria asked and Michael shrugged as he went back to his baking, ignoring her and he missed her hurt expression as he placed the mixture into the cake tins before placing it in the oven and walking out.
Courtney came in from outside and entered the kitchen. Maria saw her and immediately stood up straight, her green eyes flashing with barely concealed anger.
"Stay away from Michael." Maria stated and Courtney looked at her.
"Why should I?" Courtney shot back. "Is your name sewed on his jeans?"
"I can't believe that Mrs. Evans caught me stripping for her daughter! She is so going to tell Mr. Evans then it's goodnight Whitman for good as the last thing I'll ever see is an axe coming down on my neck or worse, my lower region!" Alex babbled as he came storming into the kitchen.
"You'll never know." Maria bit back, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Do you guys have any idea what it's like to have a thong stuck up your ass?" Alex demanded; both girls turned to him.
"YES!" They both snapped. Alex took a step back and held up his hand in defence.
"Okay!" Alex exclaimed. "Got the message!" before backing out of the room and heading for safety.
"Michael is mine and if you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from him." Maria threatened and Courtney smirked.
"He's good enough for me." Courtney stated before leaving the kitchen, leaving Maria simmering.
XXXXX
"What's wrong?" Max asked Liz, she was turning her head about, looking for something.
"Someone is heating up and is about to explode from their held in anger." Liz stated then all of a sudden they heard a crash and looked toward the Kitchen hatch where they saw Maria holding a knife. "Oh boy." Liz groaned to herself before hurrying off toward the kitchen and chucking some water into Maria's face, cooling her down and preventing any death from happening.
"Must be something in the water." Alex muttered and Max laughed as he watched as Liz calm Maria down before taking her into the backroom, where she was going to dry Maria.
"Tell me about it." Max stated as Michael headed into the backroom and went into the kitchen.
Liz watched as Michael take out the cake and wave his hand over it, cooling it and icing it. He held up a picture and concentrated as Liz had told him to and a pale light appeared from his hand over the cake. Michael turned to Liz and nodded, making Liz smile as she hurried out into the front room.
"Cake time!" Liz called out and everyone cheered as the lights dimmed slightly while Michael brought out the cake.
Everyone began singing 'Happy Birthday' as Michael sat down the cake in front of Isabel, who looked at the cake and immediately felt her throat tighten and tears of happiness filling up her eyes as she let out a breathless laugher choked with tears.
It was a picture of the gang from the middle of the summer; Liz and Maria were on either side of Isabel, hugging the taller girl, the three girls laughing into the camera while Alex, Max and Michael were standing behind their respective partner. Michael had raised his hands and was giving the bull sign as they were laughing too. "We wanted to let you know that the good times can overcome the bad times." Liz whispered. Isabel smiled as she hugged the smaller girl, thanking her for the cake.
"Okay Isabel, candles time." Diane stated as she held up the camera, Isabel smiled as she bent down, closed her eyes and made a wish before blowing out the candles. Everyone cheered while Max wrapped his arms around Liz's waist and kissed the top of her head, pulling her into his body.
"You okay?" he asked. Liz smiled.
"I'm fine." Liz whispered back, resting her head on Max's chest.
Tess shook her head at the sight before turning back to look at Isabel with anger flaring in her eyes, her body stiffening in fury. Liz looked toward Tess then pulled away from Max, guilt and fear coursing through her body at Tess's angry reaction. Max looked at Liz with confusion covering his face as he tugged on her arm to pull her closer to him and turned to her face toward him so he could look into her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Max asked and Liz shook her head.
"Not here." Liz whispered. Max looked around the building before pulling Liz toward the backroom so they could talk in private.
"What is it Liz?" Max asked and Liz looked down at her feet.
"We need to stop touching in public Max, we are hurting Tess." Liz stated and Max closed his eyes before counting to ten as anger flared through his body at the name.
"Liz, listen to me." Max commanded as he placed his fingers under her chin and brought her face up to meet his. "I love you and I'm damn well not going to stop touching you because Tess is annoyed."
"Max, I'm the one who feels everyone's emotions and I hate being the one who made her feel hurt." Liz muttered then sighed. "I hate hurting people."
"Baby, listen to me. I'm the one who hurt Tess and you've never hurt anyone, okay?" Max demanded. "You are too sweet and loveable to go around hurting people." Liz bowed her head, smiling shyly as a faint blush covered her face. "Tess is just upset because she thought I was in love with her when I wasn't and she is taking her anger out on you for no reason." Max pulled Liz into his body and hugged her tightly. "I promise you that she will get off your back soon, no matter what I have to do." Max promised. Liz nodded as she rested her head on his chest, letting him comfort her.
XXXX
Maria watched as Max and Liz went into the backroom and felt anger flare up in her body. She had seen the exchanged between Tess and Liz and knew that had happened. She was beginning to get annoyed with Tess for being a bitch to Liz.
"What's wrong with you Blondie?" Michael asked; he saw Maria's fists clenched as her jaw tightened.
"I swear to the lord that I'm going to punch Tess in order to knock some sense into the stupid bitch." Maria muttered, her green eyes flaring with anger as she glared at the small blonde who was doing her best to make Max and Liz's life a living hell.
Michael groaned silently to himself while rolling his eyes.
"What did she do now?" Michael asked. "She hasn't even been anywhere near you and here you are, babbling on how you are going to punch her."
"She keeps upsetting Liz!" Maria exclaimed and at Michael's confused look, she sighed. "Liz is empathic, which allows her to feel other people emotions, therefore she can feel Tess's hate toward her and Tess's hurt that Max had broken up with her for Liz." Maria explained. "Which causes Liz to blame herself for the break-up and make her feel that she had destroyed our lives."
"But Max and Tess weren't happy together and she didn't destroy our lives." Michael pointed out.
"We know that, and no matter how many times we tell Liz that, Tess brings the doubts back." Alex jumped in, overhearing the conversation.
"And Liz doesn't believe us because she wasn't an empathic before, yes she believes that Max loves her because she can feel it yet she still has doubts." Maria added in.
"And Max has been telling Tess that he doesn't love her and wants her to leave Liz alone but Tess ain't listening." Alex added in.
Michael looked at the both of them, his head going back and forward as if he was watching a ping pong ball go back and forth.
"Got it." Michael stated with a nod and the other two nodded before turning back, leaving Michael looking at them with a befuddled expression, he'll have to ask Max cause these two always had a habit of making him confused.
XXXXX
"Where are we going now?" Isabel asked as Liz and Maria packed up the present.
"We are going up to the apartment and have a little sleepover party for ourselves while you open you presents." Maria stated and Isabel rolled her eyes.
"Didn't have enough of partying?" Isabel teased and Maria laughed.
"You know me." Maria stated back as Alex and Max took the tray of plates and glasses into the kitchen, Max waved his hand over the tray and cleaned them then he and Alex put the stuff away.
Liz, Maria and Isabel each grabbed a black bin bag and dragged the bags up the stairs while the Max grabbed the cake, Michael waved his hand over the Crashdown and watched as the area cleaned up before grabbing the bag of food and Alex grabbed the drinks.
"You know, Tess, you could least do something." Isabel stated, Tess just laughed as she headed up the stairs, purposely bumping Liz, causing Liz to slam into the wall, grunting in pain where her hip had hit the banister.
"TESS!" Max shouted as he hurried up the stairs and caught Liz; he placed his hand over her hip, healing before turning to Tess with anger in his eyes.
"Sorry, it was an accident." Tess stated, Max was about argue when Liz jumped in.
"Max, it's true, it was an accident." Liz whispered; everyone shook their heads in disbelief while Tess just smirked as she headed up the stairs. They knew that Liz knew it wasn't an accident but can't do anything when she is refusing to help them.
"Liz…" Max started but Liz shook her head and walked up the stairs, leaving Max looking after her with a frustrated gaze as he looked down at his friends.
They all were getting frustrated about Tess slagging Liz off but that was the last straw, no one was allowed to attack Liz and get away with it. They all planned to talk to Tess straight after Liz went to sleep and they knew that it wouldn't take long as Liz was exhausted from staying up most of the night before.
XXXX
Tess settled herself in her sleeping bag when all of a sudden she felt a hand gripping her arm, pulling her out of her sleeping bag and into the kitchen where the light flickered on. She looked up and smiled at Max.
"I knew you come back to me." Tess stated saucily, Max just glared at her and she heard a cough, she turned and was startled to see the rest of the gang apart from Liz. "What's this?"
"You have to stop this Tess." Isabel stated.
"Stop what?" Tess asked innocently.
"You have to stop getting on to Liz." Max snapped. "I'm the one who broke up with you! Liz had nothing to do with it!"
"Like hell she had nothing to do with it!" Tess snapped out, anger and venom colouring her voice. "She came between us."
"There was nothing between us!" Max snapped as he stomped away and came back, running his hand through his hair. "I never loved you, I just went out with you to get you to shut up about whining why we couldn't go out. It was damn well getting on my nerves."
Tess gasped as she took a step back then slapped Max across the cheek.
"You are nothing but a selfish bastard who thinks the whole world revolves around him!" Tess hissed out and Max glared back.
"Leave Liz alone or you can find yourself permanently out of the group. I have had it Tess. I don't want you upsetting Liz anymore and if I find out that you have done something, you will regret it forever, that I can promise." Max hissed darkly, his dark eyes promising hell on earth if she dared to disobey him.
"Max?" a small voice whispered; Max turned around and saw Liz standing there, rubbing her eyes sleepily in his t-shirt; looking confused.
"Hey baby, what you are doing up?" Max asked as he walked over and wrapped his arms around Liz, pulling her into his body.
"I had a nightmare and I heard shouting." Liz stated and looked around the kitchen where she saw everyone glaring at Tess. "What's going on?"
"Nothing baby, we were just having a little disagreement." Max stated before glaring at Tess then turning Liz around. "Let's see if we can get you to go back to sleep." Liz nodded as she rested her head on Max's shoulder, yawing as Max lifted her up into his arms and headed toward her bedroom so that they could get some sleep.
"We're warning you Tess, watch where you step the line." Michael stated as he followed the rest out in to the living room so they could get some sleep.
Tess just stayed in the kitchen, fuming at what happened and made a note to contact Kyle the next morning so they could go over their plans to get Max to go back to her and for Liz to get out of town like she belongs.
XXXXX
Max woke up later sometime in the night; he looked down at Liz's sleeping body and kissed her forehead before, gently, slipping out of the bed heading into the kitchen. Liz moaned his name slightly as he wrapped the covers around her, making sure that she was comfortable before heading into the kitchen.
He stepped in only to stop when he heard a noise in the kitchen and flicked the lights on.
"How did you get in here?" Max demanded.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" A female voice asked before bringing up her hand and blasting Max into the wall.
Max groaned as his back met the wall and slid down to the floor, he looked up between slits.
"Liz is going to kill you." Max muttered before drifting off unconscious. The female smirked as she stepped in further.
"Only if I don't kill her first." She whispered gleefully to herself before picking up Max with her powers and heading out of the Evan's house to her hideout.
XXXX
Liz gasped as she bolted up in bed; sweat dripping down her forehead while she clutched the bed sheet to her chest. She hurried into the kitchen only to see Max's shirt lying on the ground from where it had fell off his body. She picked it up and felt the fear clenching at her heart like a fist had been wrapped around it.
Max has been taken. She stood up on weak legs before moving toward the living room where the rest of the gang had gathered around after she made noises, hurrying toward the kitchen.
"Max has been taken." Liz choked out as she held Max's shirt close to her body.
Everyone looked at her, stunned before looking at each other, wondering what the hell to do.
Sorry for the cliffy and I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. You know the drill; review thanks and will try to put up the next chapter soon.
Next Chapter: Who has kidnapped Max and Why? Are the gang going to find him in time?