Sorry for the long wait! Ive had writers block and other personal problem. Heres an extra long chapter for you! Enjoy!
Chapter 7
"Maria! Wait!" Michael shouted after her.
But Maria was ignoring him. How could he have been so stupid as to leave the door open! It takes some kind of idiot to not remember that! Maria dashed to her little Jetta and clambered in. She had just started the ignition when Michael darted in front of the car.
"What the hell do you think your doing Guerin?" Maria screamed at him.
"I just want to talk to you! Please just let me explain. Please, just two minutes. Then I'll go if you want me to."
Maria's instincts told her it was a bad, bad idea. But she decided to ignore them.
"Fine. Two minutes and that's it. Get in." Maria said crossly.
Michael quickly got in the passenger seat.
"Maria, I'm sorry ok. I really didn't mean to leave the door open. I just saw you and I kinda…well flipped. And just to let you know, I stink at apologies, so I don't do them very often, so I'm sorry ok." Michael said as he stared into her blue eyes.
Maria sighed. This boy was working his way into her affections and she didn't know what to do about it. Michael was…actually she didn't know what Michael was anymore she was so confused.
"Ok. That it?" Maria said, hoping he would get out of the car quickly, as she was so tempted to reach out to him right now, and she knew she shouldn't.
"Erm, well actually, there's just one more thing and that's…" Michael said before leaning into kiss her gently.
Maria allowed the kiss to wash over her. It was sweet and perfect. When Michael was starting to pull away, Maria wrapped her hands around him.
This was just the invitation Michael had been waiting for. Quickly kiss changed from romantic to rampant. Maria clung to Michael as they kissed.
"Back seat?" Maria whispered as he kissed her neck.
Michael quickly clambered into the back and Maria quickly followed suit.
Alex ran to catch up Max.
"Hey. Well done with the whole cooking thing. Very smooth." Alex told him smirking.
"I don't know what you mean." Max told him.
Alex just continued to smirk.
"Yeah, well. I'm certainly going to enjoy it." Max said smiling.
Alex laughed.
"So how long do you think Maria will stay pissed with Michael?" Alex said.
"Er...well she seems ok now. Look" Max said pointing to a red car.
Alex looked. Max watched as Alex eyes widened before he quickly turned his back on the making out couple.
"Yeah, she doesn't look pissed to me." Alex said slowly.
Max looked at him.
"I take it that you aren't very…er…pleased about certain developments." Max said carefully as he jumped back in the jeep.
Alex got in the passenger seat.
"Am I that obvious?" Alex said sighing. "I'm just…very protective of Liz and Maria. I just don't want her to get hurt, you know."
"Don't worry Alex, Michael is a bit fly off the handle, but he would never ever hurt Maria…intentionally anyway." Max told him.
"Yeah, thanks but that doesn't help very much. But I get what you mean." Alex said.
Max drove away towards the guy's apartment.
"So, you, Liz and Maria are close huh?" Max asked.
"Yeah. Always have been since the accident." Alex said looking out the window.
"The accident?" Max asked.
Then it dawned on him.
"Is that how Liz…"
"Yeah." Alex said shortly.
It was clear to Max that it was a delicate subject. So he decided the best policy was not to say anything. They sat in silence on the rest of the way back to the apartment.
"Thanks Tess. For everything you've done for me today." Jesse said hugging her.
"No problem. Just remember…you owe me." Tess said smiling.
Jesse laughed.
"Yeah, absolutely." Jesse said.
Tess smiled. When she said that…she meant it.
"Well, I'm off. See you Jesse".
Tess extracted herself from Jesse and walked away downstairs. But she didn't go far. Once she had reached the front entrance Tess sat on an empty chair in the hallway. She wasn't going anywhere. She had to make sure that Jesse got ahead of Alex. She didn't care who got Isabel in the end…just as long as Tess's plan worked.
Tess sat there for a while, thinking the plan over in her head.
It was then she heard the unmistakeable sound of the Jeep pulling up outside. Tess smiled to herself. Time to become invisible.
Alex and Max walked down the hallway and up to the apartment. Tess smiled as she reappeared. She loved her mindwarp. It was definitely the coolest power she decided.
Max and Alex had just finished putting the items of food and drink away when Jesse came out of his bedroom. Alex surveyed Jesse. He was wearing a very smart suite. Jesse gave Max a nod and a smile. He then completely blanked Alex and walked out of the room.
"Well, I think tonight is a good night for some whiny chick radio station and a bottle of very cheap wine." Alex said as he took what looked like really appalling wine out of the cupboard.
Max grimaced.
"Are you gonna be ok?"
"Yeah. I'll survive." Alex said as he walked towards his bedroom.
"Alex?" Max said.
Alex turned around slowly and looked at him.
"Don't get too drunk…you don't want a hangover tomorrow" Max said giving a small smile.
Alex gave a rather pathetic smile back.
"Yeah, thanks Max. See ya" he said retreating into his room.
Max felt really bad for Alex, but he knew no one was going to be able to cheer him up today.
Max quickly put on a clean shirt and headed downstairs.
Tess watched as Jesse passed her by. When she had asked Jesse if she should come along on the date and watch and give him tips when he excused himself to go to the bathroom, he declined. He said something along the lines of "That looks really pathetic and we would never get away with it. Besides I will manage."
But Tess was not going to take no for an answer. She had to make sure this date went very VERY well. When he was just out of sight she stopped her mindwarp and started to follow Jesse.
If only she had held her mindwarp a few seconds longer…she may have changed her mind. Max had come down the stairs and was just about to come around the corner when he heard someone run. He peered around the corridor to see Tess dash away. Max didn't like the way she was doing this…but as long as she didn't see him, he didn't care.
He waited until he was sure that she was gone before going out to the Jeep. He did not want Tess finding out about Liz teaching him to cook…it could spell trouble for all of them. He prayed that Tess was staying far away from the girls apartment tonight.
Jesse waited patiently at the restaurant for Isabel. He was really nervous. He kept running through his mind everything that Tess had told him…he just hoped it would be enough to win her over. There was no he was going to stand there and watch Alex take Isabel away from him. He knew that Isabel was perfect for Jesse Ramirez and not Alex Whitman. And tonight he was going to prove himself.
Alex had been way out of line asking Isabel to dance with him when he was already dancing with her. And if that was how Alex was going to play the game, then Jesse was not going to hesitate to play the same way.
At that moment Jesse looked up. His breath caught in his throat as he saw the blonde goddess walking towards him. She looked dazzling. She was wearing a strapless white dress that Jesse was left standing there with his mouth open.
"I didn't spill something on my dress did I?" Isabel asked as she approached him.
Isabel was amazed that Jesse had asked her to the "Embassy London" Restaurant… it was well renowned as a very classy, upbeat restaurant. She was surprised that Jesse could even afford it. It must cost the Earth.
"Well at least you still have Antar" Isabel heard a voice that sounded like Alex say.
Isabel smiled. She remembered all the silly jokes Alex said when they were dancing the first night they met. He was so funny.
"Oh no, sorry, it's just….well you look stunning" Jesse said bringing Isabel back to the present.
Isabel smiled. "Thank you. You look very nice too." Isabel replied.
"Well, let's go find our table shall we?" Jesse said offering his arm.
Isabel gladly accepted it and they walked over to see the waiter.
Tess smiled. She knew this had been a good idea. She had followed them all the way to the restaurant. She couldn't believe how gullible Jesse was. It was like he would believe anything she told him. Anything at all. She still hadn't mind warped him…well except to make herself be invisible to him. He thought she was doing this out of the kindness of her heart…yeah right. This was all going her way. Her plan would take a while to affect…but in the end…it would be worth it.
"Now…what would make this more perfect?" Tess asked herself.
She saw Isabel sit down, and the waited gave her a menu. Tess smiled. She knew Isabel must be freaking out right now about the price of this place…Tess was still not sure how Jesse could afford this place…he did say money was no object….
She saw Isabel begin to open her menu. Tess quickly shut her eyes and concentrated.
Isabel opened her menu. She looked at the page in front of her in shock. Isabel quickly turned the page. It was exactly the same.
"Jesse?" Isabel said. "How can a restaurant this…upmarket be able to have prices like this?" she asked.
Jesse looked at her confused. He quickly opened the menu to find all the food and wine less than eight pound.
Jesse looked shocked. He had looked up the prices online earlier and they were a lot more expensive than that…a LOT more… In the end Jesse decided not to mention it…maybe he had gotten things confused.
Tess smirked. Well…that had worked a treat….and it's not as if Jesse would ever let Isabel see the bill…so as long as Isabel didn't look at the menu again, Jesse would just think he was going crazy and Isabel would be having a good time. Soon all the little pawns in her game would be set and the game would really begin.
Max knocked on the door nervously… He wasn't nervous about cooking… it was more the fact that he would be spending time with Liz….alone hopefully. Max was a bit worried that Tess may be in there…he hadn't seen her.
Max was just about to knock again when he heard Liz call out
"It's open."
Max slowly opened the door. He looked around and immediately spotted Liz pre-warming the oven.
"Hey" Max said as he walked over to her.
Liz spun her chair around and smiled.
"Hey" Liz answered.
Max stared into her beautiful eyes for a while…you could easily get lost in those beautiful hazel eyes…
"So…let's get to work" Liz said as she came out of her trance. She had been staring at the dark mysterious man before her, and wondering how on Earth he could stand to be in the same room as her…as her freak like self. The only other people in this world who had accepted her just as she is were her family, Maria and Alex. Everyone else just saw her as a burden or some hideous freak like creature.
"So what are we cooking?" Max asked her as he rinsed his hands.
"Well…I was thinking that for a first lesson you really shouldn't try something too hard…so I thought Shepard's Pie."
Max was smiling…actually beaming was a better word. As soon as he heard the words "for a first lesson" Max had been dreaming about other lessons he could have with Liz…
"Max?"
"Sounds great" Max answered quickly, not sure what he had actually just agreed to do.
"Ok…well first of all we need to do the mince. I've already put the potatoes on to boil. So you need to put the mince into a frying pan."
Max opened a few cupboards looking for the frying pan… "Ah ha! Got it" he said triumphantly.
He quickly took the mince from the fridge, opened the packet and dumped the contents into the pan. He turned and smiled at Liz. "Done" he pronounced. "Wow this is easy" he commented.
Liz giggled. "Max you can't fry the mince like that. Come on think a bit. You need to break it down."
"Break it down" Max repeated. How on earth am I going to do that he wondered to himself. He got a fork out of the cutlery draw and started to smush the mince into the sides of pan.
"Like this?" he asked.
Liz sighed. "Max come here"
Max happily obeyed, bending down so that he was next to a lowered cabinet and Liz.
"Can you pass me that please" she said pointing to a spatula. Max quickly picked it up and passed it to her.
Liz gave it back to him and put her hand on top so she could show him how. Max's mind however was more focused on the fact there hands were touching. Liz carefully helped him to break up the mince.
"Ok", she said once he had the hang of it. She reluctantly took her hand away from his and went over to the fridge to get the mushrooms and an onion.
Max's hand felt cold without Liz's warmth. Liz's skin was so soft. Liz
Liz came back over to Max. "Now for these" she said. She got out a chopping board and a knife. "Ok you need to cut these" she said gesturing to the mushrooms, "in half, and the onion into very small pieces. About this size" she said chopping the first bit. "If you do that, I will look after the mince." She said as she took the pan off him. Max left his hand lingering on hers for a moment before turning to the mushrooms. He quickly cut them in half. Then he went to the onion.
Liz smiled as she saw Max's eyes begin to water. She thought it was rather sweet. When she saw Max had done she took the cut up items and put them in the pan.
"Ok, I'll keep stirring this, whilst you can take the potatoes off the boil and put them in the colander." Max quickly did as he was told. "Ok put them in the pan and then you can mash them."
Max was thoroughly enjoying mashing the potatoes up. This was a lot easier than he thought. And a lot more interesting with someone else. Espeacially when that someone was Liz. He stole a glance at her. She really was stunning. Her brown hair was perfect and she had the most beautiful eyes. He could stare into those eyes for a life time. He quickly looked back at the mash, before she caught him looking.
Liz meanwhile was having similar thoughts about Max. How had she managed to get such a gorgeous specimen of man cooking with her? He had the most perfect smile, and his amber eyes were bewitching.
Max coughed to try to break the silence. "I think I'm done."
Liz moved closer to him. "Yeah, they look done to me." Liz quickly put her mince into a dish. "Ok now you can put your mash on top of my mince" she said smiling.
Max's mind filled with images of being on top of something else of Liz's. He tried to shake the images from his mind. He carefully put the mash on top.
"And now, we add the cheese" she said. She took some cheese from the fridge and let Max grate it. Liz watched closely as he did so…every movement of his hands looked so magical.
When he had finished, he sprinkled the cheese on top.
"And now we put it on to bake" Liz said smiling. Max put the dish in the oven and looked at her. "Now what do I do?"
Liz laughed. "Now we wait for it to cook" she said smiling.
"Really? Is that it?" he said smiling. "Wow. That was actually quite fun"
"Quite fun huh?" she said teasingly. "Well, we'll have to taste it to see how good you actually did won't we. And if it's up to standards, maybe you can cook in my kitchen again"
"I'd like that" Max said staring into her eyes.
Jesse smiled. This date was going incredibly well. He had carefully talked to Isabel about all the things that Tess had suggested, and they had all worked successfully. He had found out a few things about Isabel, and the more he knew, the more he liked her. She was funny, she was adorable. And most of all she was beautiful.
Isabel was having a good time too. She had loved the amazing fish, and the wine was really fruity. Jesse was really good company….he did seem to talk a lot though...
She finished her "chocolate trio" and carefully wiped her mouth. "That was great Jesse. Thank you" she said smiling.
"Yes it was" he said smiling. He quickly paid the bill. "But the night is young…" he said as he stood up. "Would you like to dance?" he asked offering his hand.
Isabel looked at him and took his hand gently. He led her upstairs where there was room to dance.
Tess quickly followed them upstairs. Time for another perfect moment. Tess concentrated on the DJ's mind.
The DJ looked at the list in front of him. He picked up the microphone.
"This next song is for Miss Isabel Evans, from Jesse, thanking you for a wonderful evening" he said over the stereo before putting the song listed on.
Isabel looked at Jesse amazed as the song came on.
I haven't slept at all in days
It's been so long since we have talked
And I have been here many times
I just don't know what I'm doing wrong .
"Wow" she whispered. "This is one of my favourites. Thank you" she said as put her head on her shoulder
What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there
Jesse was stunned. He hadn't requested anything! What was going on? How had this happened? Was God watching down on him right now and smiling?
Jesse had never been a biblical man…but how could he ignore this sigh? This sign that clearly pointed that Isabel was the woman for him.
There's only so much I can take
And I just got to let it go
And who knows I might feel better
If I don't try and I don't hope
Isabel sighed as she danced with Jesse. Dancing with Alex had been more comfortable…but Jesse had been adorable. He was such a gentleman. And they had so much in common…he had even picked one of her favourite songs.
What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there
She kept thinking of Alex…where would he take her tomorrow? What would happen? Would he kiss her?...Would Jesse kiss her? Did she want either of them to kiss her?
No more waiting, no more aching
No more fighting, no more trying...
Maybe there's nothing more to say
And in a funny way I'm calm
Because the power is not mine
I'm just going to let it fly...
Jesse decided that he was definitely going to give her a good night kiss. He wasn't going to let that opportunity escape him.
What can I do to make you love me
What can I do to make you care
What can I say to make you feel this
What can I do to get you there
Love me...
Tess smiled. Her job was done. Isabel looked over the moon. Now she just had to plan out how tomorrow was going to pan out. She quickly left the restaurant and started the walk home, scheming away.
Michael gazed at the sleeping girl in his arms. She was so annoying and arrogant and… yet she made him feel things that he had never felt before. And he wasn't sure if he wanted to. He was meant to be the second in command. They were here on Max's mission to find this girl. Not him. He was not meant to be hooking up with anyone. Especially not a human.
Yet he couldn't help looking at the beautiful little pixie in his arms…and wondering…would it really be that bad?
Maria's eyes fluttered open and met Michael's. He smiled at her. Maria's heart skipped a beat. She leaned forward and kissed him gently.
It was the softest, sweetest of kisses. Maria slowly move back, but Michael quickly moved forward again, hungry for more. Maria quickly put her arms round his shoulders. She could feel Michael seeking entrance and Maria opened her lips, letting his tongue gently caressing hers.
He made love to her mouth as he ran his finger through her silky hair. Maria moaned in satisfaction as Michael moved closer to her. She could feel his arousal and couldn't wait for him to be inside her once more.
His shirt was already off…she had seen to that earlier. She was wrapped in his jacket, so she wouldn't get cold…but she wore nothing underneath…Michael had seen to that.
She quickly took the jacket off and Michael immediately moved on top of her so that others would not see her. The parking lot was total empty, there should be no one around…but Michael was not going to embarrass her again. He moaned softly as their bare skin touched.
Maria reached for the zip in his jeans and undid it. She felt his hardness and loved it. She bit her lip in anticipation.
Michael carefully pulled down Maria's skirt down as much as was needed and looked at the amazing G string she was wearing. He growled when he saw it and quickly pulled that down too.
"I need you Michael" Maria whispered huskily.
Michael quickly entered her. Maria moaned. She felt so full and it was wonderful. "Oh Michael" she muttered. Michael quickly kissed her rosy lips. The pair sped up, amazed at the thrill of doing this in such a dangerous place, but not caring about anything but this feeling.
"Michael!" Maria moaned as the pair climaxed. The pair collapsed in each others arms once more.
Michael gazed at Maria once more. She was so annoying and arrogant and… yet she made him feel things that he had never felt before.
He watched her… and waited until they would be doing it all again.
"Ok, it should be done now."
Max reached for the oven gloves. He opened the oven door and immediately a lovely smell wafted through the kitchen.
"Wow, smells good" Liz said. "I wonder if it tastes as good."
Max quickly started serving, whilst Liz took out some wine from a cupboard. She served the red wine into two glasses and put the rest on the table.
Liz drew herself upto the table as Max put the plate in front of her. Max sat down.
"The moment of truth" Max said nervously. "Go on, you can taste the first bit"
Liz picked up her fork and carefully took a forkful, making sure she had some mince and mash. She blew on it, making Max wait a few seconds longer before popping it in her mouth.
She chewed it and carefully swallowed.
"Well?" Max asked hopefully.
Liz smiled. "It's very good Max."
Max sighed a sigh of relief. "I told you, you could do it." She told him.
"Yeah well I think the brilliant coach helped. She also made really good company" he told her. They had spent the time whilst it baked talking about there childhoods, there degree courses.
"Yeah I enjoyed the company too" she told him.
He blushed slightly and carefully took his first mouthful. He smiled. "Wow, I cooked this……blimey"
Liz laughed. She picked up her glass. "Well congratulations Max on your first cooking success, and hopefully the first of many" she said holding her glass out to toast him.
"It will be…if you'll teach me again" he said.
Liz smiled. "I'd like that" she said repeating his words from earlier. They toasted each other and took a sip of the fruity wine, both thinking, how tonight had been a huge success.
Alex swivelled his glass, making the ends of his second glass of wine dance around the glass. He was utterly miserable. He bet that they were kissing right now. They were kissing and Isabel would have forgotten all about last night and him. She wouldn't even remember his name by tomorrow morning.
He sighed…he had seen her first, and Jesse had moved in on her.
How dare he? Couldn't he see that he liked her? It was probably obvious to the entire world at this point.
"That's it" Alex muttered to himself. "I'm not going down without a fight" he resolved. He picked up the rest of the bottle and his glass and put them in the kitchen. Max was right. He didn't need a hang over tomorrow. He was going to give Isabel the best night of her life.
Alex was not done yet.
Max looked at the clock on the wall. It was eleven. Liz hadn't made a move to suggest he should leave…but he knew he shouldn't over stay his welcome…he didn't want Liz to cancel his cooking lessons. He was planning on spending a lot more time with her.
"Well…I guess I had better go" he said quietly standing up. He picked up his jacket and put it on. He then turned back to Liz.
"Thank you Liz…for tonight"
Liz beamed. "Thank you Max" she told him.
Max smiled back. He really wanted her to kiss her…but he knew Liz wouldn't want that…
"Goodnight Liz" he said as he walked to the door.
"Night Max" she said quietly as she shut the door.
He hadn't kissed her…Liz sighed. Maybe he was just being really nice to her because she was wheelchair girl. Didn't he feel the sparks?
Liz sighed as she wheeled herself to her room.
Jesse stopped the car in the parking lot outside the girls apartment. There was only one other car there…a small red Jetta.
Jesse looked at Isabel. "I'll walk you to the door." He said opening the door.
"Oh no, don't it's too cold." She said.
"Ok then" he answered…
Isabel wondered why he had just said that…surely he would say something like "I insist…."
But no… he just let her go.
"Okay then well…thanks for a lovely evening Jesse" she said giving him a small smile.
"Goodnight Isabel" he answered.
Then his lips were on hers. He kissed her hard.
Isabel moved away slowly. She gave him a small smile. "Night"
She let herself out the car...
That first kiss…was definitely not what she expected…She wasn't very impressed.
"Maybe he was nervous" she convinced herself.
She shrugged it off and walked upstairs to her apartment, thinking about that amazing dance.
If she had waited a few more seconds she would have seen Max come down the opposite stair well. He sighed…he wished he had had the confidence to kiss Liz…
He walked outside and headed for the Jeep.
Tess watched as Max headed for the Jeep. Why was he at the girls apartment at past eleven o'clock….
Liz.
Tess fumed.
That girl would get her comeuppance. She just had to wait until everything in her master plan added up.
Then there would be no escape.
Song is "What can I do" by The Corrs.