Part 4
Boys will be Boys
"I still can't believe that Michael and Maria are getting married," Isabel stated as she watched Alex out of the corner of her eye. He was hiding something, there was no denying the strange way he was acting or the lack of eye contact every time Isabel bought up the subject of Maria and Michael's upcoming marriage or the unexpected news of Serena's pregnancy.
He looked almost guilty and she was sure that she had seen him wince a couple of times when she mentioned Michael's proposal. In fact he seemed jumpy as well every time the phone or doorbell rang.
"Me neither,"
Isabel's eyes narrowed as she studied her boyfriend, "What is wrong with you tonight?"
"Nothing," Alex lied, he knew it was just a matter of time until Michael came after him with a baseball bat. He couldn't believe this was happening, Michael and Maria were now engaged, Serena was meant to be having a baby. Yesterday the plan had seemed so simply, so flawless but today everything was one big mess.
"Don't lie to me Alex." Isabel ordered, "I know something is wrong,"
"Nothing is wrong," Alex said "I'm just a little shocked about everything that is going on."
"And that's it?" Isabel asked raising an eyebrow. She didn't believe him but she knew better then to push it. If Alex wanted to talk to her about whatever was on his mind then he would when he was ready.
"That's it." Alex nodded quickly and before Isabel could say another word he pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I missed you today!" He whispered against her neck
"Are you trying to distract me?" Isabel asked absentmindedly, her eyes closed in bliss as Alex pressed butterfly kisses on her neck. She felt him grin against her neck.
"Is it working?" He asked as he tugged off her jacket and moved them towards the couch "You know I don't think we ever christened the living room properly"
"Are you sure?" Isabel asked with a mock frown "I thought we christened it pretty well that time you got bored watching Phone Booth!"
"That time doesn't count!" Alex shook his head.
"Then we should make this time really count!" Isabel said with a grin as she began to unbutton his shirt.
"You know I really love it when you unbutton my shirt!" Alex stated pushing her back onto the couch.
"So how do you want to die Whitman?" Michael asked, his eyes narrowed as he watched Alex toss a basketball to Sean "Painfully or Painfully? Both are good for me!"
Alex looked up in shock and muttered a curse "Michael! I thought you weren't coming today!"
"Yeah, well I cleared my diary for the day and decided that a Whitman ass kicking would be a much better use of my time!" Michael stated moving menacingly towards Alex.
"Shouldn't be planning a wedding?" Sean asked with a smug grin "Wouldn't that be a much better use of your time?"
"Not really helping Sean," Alex muttered with a glare.
"Shouldn't you be researching nappies and buying a cot?" Michael said wiping the smug smile straight off Sean's face
"What?" Sean gasped looking like a deer caught in the head lights of a on coming car with its entire life flashing before its eyes.
"Congratulations Deluca, you knocked Serena up and in nine months time your going to have a little buddle of joy," Michael said "That is of course if her Grandfather doesn't kill you first"
"Michael!" Alex exclaimed
"Don't you Michael me! I'm engaged! Maria is planning our wedding, our house is full of wedding magazines and honeymoon brochures. In the last 24 hours my life has been taken over by a wedding that I didn't want and its all your fault Whitman!" Michael stated
"I'm sorry," Alex said weakly, not knowing what else to say or do.
"Serena's pregnant? How? Why?" Sean asked coming out of his state of shock
"Sean, I think its time we had a talk about the birds and the bees," Kyle said patting his friend on the shoulder
"I'm going to count to ten Kyle and you better start running!" Sean stated
"I think everybody needs to calm down and discuss this like adults!" Max ordered, playing peacekeeper. A role that he seem to play a hell of a lot.
"Shut up Max!" Alex, Michael, Sean and Kyle ordered before they continued to shout at each other.
Max rolled his eyes and pulled out his cell phone "Fine, I'll just call Amy and get her to come down and sort this mess,"
The four guys froze and stared at Max in disbelief. Amy Deluca was the only woman who could scare grown men into doing her bidding with a single look. In fact just her name stuck fear into the four guys. Max smirked in triumph and made a mental note to use that line again.
"You're playing the Amy card?" Michael said with a look of disgust "That's just low man"
"It got you to shut up didn't it?" Max said raising an eyebrow "Look this mess can all be sorted out if you all act like adults."
"All hail King Max," Kyle sniggered
Max ignored him and turned to Michael "Michael, you love Maria right?"
"Of course I do!" Michael said
"And you would have asked her to marry you sooner or later right?"
"I guess," Michael muttered as he stared hard at the ground.
"So what if its happening a little sooner then you expected? The only thing that matters is that you love Maria" Max stated
"And just think you can have your own bachelor party," Kyle pointed out
"With strippers" Alex added
"And if that doesn't float your boat you could just try being honest and telling Maria it was all one big mistake," Sean said
Michael glared at Sean "I happen to like my balls where they are, thank you very much!"
"Just think about it Michael!" Max ordered before he turned to Alex "I know you want everything to perfect when you propose to Iz and that you're pretty useless so why don't you talk to Serena. She's in to all those crappy romance novels and has nothing better to do. I'm sure she will love to help you."
Alex rubbed his chin thoughtfully "I forgot Serena was into those books. I bet she's got hundreds of ideas"
"Great," Max said with a sigh of relief before he turned to Sean "Michael could have been tactful when he told you about Serena and you had every right to freak out. You never know this could all be one big mistake…"
"Doubtful," Kyle said
"…You should wait for Serena to tell you. You never know Maria could have gotten it all wrong. Just don't go acting all…well you know like you. Try thinking before you do."
"But she's pregnant," Sean whined "This is huge! Its going to change everything,"
"Suck it up and be a man," Max ordered before he turned to Kyle "And you, I don't know why you even got involved with the fight,"
Kyle shrugged "I'm not getting any at home so fighting is the only way I can get rid of the tension!"
"I guess that would explain it" Max said sympathetically
"Well this has been great." Michael said sarcastically "But are we going to stand around here talking about our feelings like women or are we going to play some basketball?"
