Thanks Stern :)
Heres the next chapter
CHAPTER 9
"I hate braces!" Maria complained.
"Don't sweat Maria, it makes you look cute!" Alex told her calmly.
BRIGHT LIGHTS
Liz saw the out of control car coming…
Alex turned and watched in horror as he saw Liz.
"LIZZZZZZ! NOOOOOO!"
Maria let out a blood curdling scream.
Liz jerked awake. That car would always haunt her nightmares. Even now when she heard the squeal of car tyres, Liz would freak. She took some deep breathes. She knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep now. The nightmare would often come when ever she was upset or worried…but recently she saw that car every night. And she knew she hadn't been upset last night….because last night she was asked out on a date, by none other than Max Evans.
She looked at her clock. It was six thirty. Liz had her first chemistry class today at 9, so she decided to get up. She carefully got herself off her bed and into her wheelchair.
She looked at her assortment of clothes. It was meant to be a fairly hot day. This was strange for October, but you could never tell with the good old English weather.
Liz dressed and went out into the kitchen. As she passed Maria's door, she wondered what had driven Maria to drink so much last night. She bet it was Michael related. They hadn't even looked at one another in the car…
Liz prayed that they worked things out…she knew Maria definitely had feelings for Michael, and by the way Michael looked at her when he knew she wasn't looking…he had feelings for her too.
Liz went to the kitchen and hummed a song to herself whilst she poured some cereal out.
Isabel opened her bedroom door. She had not slept well…all she could think about was when Alex had walked away from her. When he had just left, and didn't fight for her. And now she was just dating Jesse. Jesse who had given her a strange date, that was good and yet weird.
As she went into the kitchen she saw Liz smiling to herself, humming what sounded like "Everytime" by Britney Spears.
"Morning…you look too cheerful at six thirty in the morning"
Liz laughed as she put her cereal on the table. "Well, I had a good night last night" she said grinning.
Isabel got herself a glass of water and sat down with her. "This wouldn't happen to be to do with my mysterious, dark haired brother could it?"
Liz grinned sheepishly.
"Come on…spill" Isabel told her.
Liz still didn't stop smiling. "He asked me on a date last night." She admitted.
Isabel raised an eyebrow. "That's it? He asked you out? No kissing? He just asked you out?" she said incredulous. "The guy sure takes his time doesn't he?"
Liz just replies dreamily "He's worth the wait"
Isabel laughed before taking a sip of her water. Then Liz remembered, yesterday was Alex's date…
"So…how did it go with Alex?" she asked. "Come on…spill" she said copying Isabel's previous words.
Isabel's face fell. "Er…well…not well actually…I think we're just…going to be friends" she said quietly, not really wanting to explain it.
Liz frowned. Poor Alex! The guy was head over heels for her….how could it have gone that badly?
"So are you going to keep seeing Jesse?" Liz asked.
"I have a date with him tonight" Isabel replied.
Liz nodded looking at the table...poor Alex! Her heart went out to him…Isabel and Alex would be so perfect for each other…
Isabel took Liz's silence to mean that Liz didn't like her decision…but I mean…why would she? She is Alex's best friend after all…
"I'm going to go for a run" Isabel said. "Ill see you later Liz"
Liz nodded again, not looking up. "Yeah. Bye"
Isabel bit her lip as she walked out of the apartment.
It was about twenty minutes later when Liz was pulled out of her little pity party for Alex, by a rather hung-over girl stumbling over towards her.
Liz immediately handed her glass of water to her.
"Hey" Liz said.
"Shhhh!" Maria hissed at her.
"Sorry" Liz whispered.
Maria sat down gingerly at the table and put her head in her hands.
"Maria…why did you do it?...Drink so much I mean" Liz asked carefully.
Maria winced.
"Michael dumped me" she replied. "…I mean I know we weren't together-together…but were definitely not even one together now."
Liz looked over at Maria. God….last night had been terrible to everyone but herself. She had thought things were going great with Michael and Maria….
"I'm so sorry Ria" Liz says quietly before putting her arm around her. Maria pulled herself into Liz's hug, and sobbed.
Tess smiled to herself as she played with the piece of paper in her fingers. They hadn't felt the mind warp…like they ever would.
And now phase two of her plans would truly begin.
Max whistled to himself as he got out of the shower…he had asked Liz Parker out on a date
…him! Max Evans! As in Max "Alien King searching for another destiny" Evans.
Max towelled himself dry and headed over to his closet and changed. He headed out to the main room.
He had heard Alex leave early this morning, and Jesse had left soon after. Max expected Michael to be dead to the world for a few more hours yet...he had had a lot to drink to last night…
But to Max's surprise, Michael was sitting on the couch.
Max raised an eyebrow as he went over to him.
"Yes, I'm up, and yes I feel like shit" Michael said grumpily.
Max sighed. "Well…it is your own fault".
"Yup" Michael admitted quickly. "How did things go with Liz?" Michael asked before taking another gulp of the beer in his hand.
"Well…you know you said that you knew I wasn't going to ask her…well I did." Max said smiling.
Michael looked at him. "You shouldn't have" he says bluntly.
Max looked at him. "What?"
"You're here for a reason Max. To find your "second destiny"…remember?" Michael told him.
"What? So I'm not allowed to, but you and Maria are?" Max asked.
"We're not anymore" Michael stated.
Max looked at him, shocked. "What do you…"
"…and if you break her heart like Michael did mine…"
Oh god…he didn't.
"Michael what the hell did you do!"
"I did what I had to. We don't belong together. Neither do you and Liz. You know that. So how about we start doing what we came here for."
Max looked at Michael.
"You're an idiot you know that?" Max asked as he grabbed his coat and walked out of the apartment, heading to class.
Michael stayed sitting on the couch.
"I know" Michael muttered to himself before taking another swig of beer.
Jesse waited until he saw Isabel sit down before quickly snagging the seat next to her.
"Hey" he said giving her a smile.
Isabel mentally sighed. "Morning" she said.
"So…where do you want to go tonight?" Jesse asked.
"I don't mind"
"Ok…well I'll collect you at seven ok? Prepare for the perfect date" he said grinning.
Isabel smiled. She opened her mouth to reply when the class falls silent, ready for the lecture.
Max kept looking over his shoulder discreetly, to see when Liz arrived. Class was about to start, and normally Liz get here early, as to avoid the traffic…
He finally saw her and smiled as she drew up near him.
"Hey" he said with a smile.
"Hey…sorry, today is not a good day"
Max's brain immediately went on to autopilot…did she regret saying yes? Is she about to say "we can only be friends"?
Liz saw his reaction and smiled slightly. "I meant about Maria and Isabel"
Max looked at Liz quickly. "What? Michael told me about the Maria thing, but what's wrong with Isabel? Is she ok?"
"She's fine Max" Liz reassured him. "It's just…her date with Alex…it didn't go too well…from what I can gather she picked Jesse."
Max frowned. He didn't really know Jesse. And Alex had seemed so nice. He would have been great with Isabel…
"I spent most of my morning comforting Maria" Liz said sadly.
"I spent mine walking around after shouting at Michael"
Liz sighed. Max looked at her and hoped she wasn't going to agree with what he was about to say…
"Liz…I would understand….if you want to…put our date on hold for a while" Max said carefully.
Liz eyes widened slightly.
"No Max, I don't want that"
Max smiled. "Ok…well...I'll pick you up at seven?"
"Sounds…"
The teacher walked in, so Liz quickly whispered a "great" to Max before trying to pay attention.
Maria sighed…Alex hadn't turned up to class today. That meant either one of two things…
Alex's date had gone so well that he couldn't be asked to get out of bed.
Or it had gone so tragically that he was holed up in his room.
Maria was worried. Alex never EVER cut classes. Her mind was elsewhere today. She couldn't concentrate on the class in front of her. She had too much to think about.
How could he do this to her? She had known him…what …a week? Two weeks maybe?
But to her…it felt like a lifetime. And now that all felt like another lifetime. One she couldn't get back to.
Maria turned back to the teacher as her eyes glazed over as she thought about him.
Jesse sat on the sofa with Michael watching a tape of last night's game.
"God Owen! What are you doinggggg!" Michael yelled at the TV.
Jesse raised an eyebrow at Michael. Out of all his three roommates, Michael was the only one he really got on with…even if he seemed rather…drunk… He still hadn't really spoken to Max…and being Isabel's brother, he didn't really want to get in his bad books…
But Alex…Jesse could murder Alex. How dare he date Isabel! She was his! He still didn't know how the date had gone…
At that moment the door opened and Alex walked through the main door. His eyes were blank and his movement was…strange.
Jesse smirked. He was obviously trying to avoid him! That meant the date went awfully!
Jesse had won!
Jesse looked over at Michael…but by the looks of it he hadn't noticed a thing. Jesse smiled to himself.
"Well I'm off Michael"
Michael grunted in response as Jesse left the room.
Isabel waited for Jesse to turn up. She had been ready for what seemed like hours. It wasn't even as if he was late. It was one minute to seven. She kept thinking that maybe the reason why the date went badly yesterday was because of her. Could she have done something to prevent how awfully it had gone?
Isabel looked up as she saw Liz come through her bedroom door. Liz gave her a little nod as she came into the room.
Isabel gave a little smile…yeah….Liz definitely did not like her decision.
When the doorbell rang both girls hurried towards the door. Isabel looked at Liz…was she about to tell Jesse off or something?
When Liz opened the door, Isabel was surprised to see not one, but two males.
Max's eyes had immediately been drawn to Liz…she looked beautiful…but then again when didn't she.
"Hey Liz" Max said.
Liz smiled. "Hey" she replied smiling.
Max then realised Isabel was there. "Hey Is" he said quickly. "Well…shall we go?" he asked looking at Liz.
"Let's" she said as they walked out of the door.
Isabel looked at them astonished…she wondered what Michael had to say about Max dating one of the two non-destiny girls….
"Hey" Jesse said bringing her back to the present.
"Hey" Isabel replied as she walked out of the apartment and closed the door behind her. "So…where are we going?"
Jesse smiled. "It's a surprise" he said mysteriously.
Isabel raised an eyebrow as she followed Jesse down the hall.
Alex opened his eyes. He looked around at his bedroom clock…7:30 pm…
Alex did a retake as he looked again. He had slept the entire day? That couldn't be right…could it?
The last thing he did was go to sleep last night…so…wait….no…he got up this morning.
Alex had gone downstairs and…
Every thing else after that, was a blank.
Maybe Alex had just been on autopilot…thinking about Isabel…
"Must be right" he muttered as he convinced himself. What else could he have done?
"Can I look yet?" Isabel asked.
"One more moment." Jesse told her as they shut the doors. "Ok…open" he told her.
Isabel opened her eyes and gasped.
They were alone in a capsule on the London Eye. In the centre of the capsule was a beautiful table laid with a selection of wines.
"Oh my…" Isabel said quietly.
"Do you like?" He asked.
Isabel smiled. "Yes…but this must have cost you a fortune! And you're only a student!" Isabel gasped.
Jesse shrugged. "So" he said as he drew Isabel a seat.
Isabel smiled as she sat down and Jesse took the other seat.
Isabel smiled…maybe it wasn't her fault for yesterday….
As Jesse drew Isabel's chair, Max was doing the same thing for Liz. Max had taken her to a simple and sweet café. It wasn't very expense…but as a student he had little choice of where to take her.
As if Liz sensed his unease at coming here Liz smiled at him. "This is great Max."
Max smiled as he sat down with her. "You look beautiful" he told her as the waitress headed over.
Liz smiled. "Thank you…you look very nice too" she said shyly.
"What can I get ya to drink?" the waitress asked.
"White or Red?" he asked Liz.
"Can we have white?"
"A bottle of the house white please." Max tells the waitress as she hands over the menus.
"No problem…be right with ya" she replies as she walked away to get the wine.
"So…" Liz said awkwardly.
Max smiled. "So…is this your tenth or eleventh date since you've started at Uni?" Max asked.
Liz laughed. "First actually…kinda been waiting for a certain guy to ask" she said, looking at her menu
"Oh right" Max said, immediately turning to his menu too.
Max hoped she had meant him…but since he wasn't going to ask he decided to let it slide.
There was silence. Liz smiled to herself. Max was so shy it was sweet.
"I meant you" she told him.
Max looked up and grinned at her. "I've wanted to ever since I met you" Max admitted.
"Well…then your one of few who see past this wheelchair" she replied.
"That wheelchair doesn't mean anything. It just shows how strong you are" he said.
Liz blushed. The waitress brought over there wine, and they ordered. Once the waitress had walked away Max filled there glasses.
"A toast?" Max asked.
Liz laughed. "To what?"
"How about to friendship hopefully leading to something more"
Liz smiled as she clinked her glass with Max. "To something more" she told him.
Maria lay on her bed, looking at the ceiling. Or at least where she knew where the ceiling was, as she couldn't actually see it since her room was dark.
She lay there thinking. God, why had she within two weeks, found a guy…had relations with him…her first time…had found him flirting with someone else…and then he had told her they couldn't be together.
Maria broke down into tears for the god-knows-how-many time today.
She had tried to call Alex earlier…but he wasn't answering…
But then again if someone called her now she wouldn't answer either.
Maria sobbed into her pillow, wishing that Michael actually cared about her.
Jesse led Isabel off the wheel.
"That was perfect Jesse" she told him smiling.
"Nights not over yet" he replied as they walked over to the finest boat Isabel had seen.
It was a show boat. A man ushered them aboard, taking the tickets off Jesse. They were lead over to there table where they had a beautiful dinner laid out for them.
At that moment the music started…show songs from musicals…
Isabel looked at Jesse amazed… "Jesse this is…incredible" she told him.
"No, you're incredible."
Isabel blushed. Jesse had spent so much money on her this evening. She couldn't believe he would do that for her…
They sat down to eat…conversation was...scarce. If they did talk…it would be about Law.
Maybe no matter what the setting, some people can't be totally perfect Isabel though to herself.
Max parked the car outside the girls block. They sat there in silence for a moment before Max looked at her.
"I had a really great time tonight Liz"
Liz smiled a smile that made Max's heart flip.
"Me too" she told him.
Max leaned over. Liz moved as much as she could over, expectantly.
He brushed her hair with his hand.
Liz couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She looked up into his amber eyes.
Max knew what she wanted….and he knew he wanted that too…
Screw destiny.
Max leant over and brushed his lips against hers.
It was the most perfect of kisses. Liz felt giddy with happiness…in fact she could have swore she saw stars.
Eventually Max moved away. "I was wondering if we could do this again sometime?" he asked hopefully.
Liz smiled. "Definitely" she told him.
Max smiled before kissing her once more softly. He then got out of the car, lifted Liz up, set her back in her wheelchair and wheeled her inside.
Jesse strode into his room, feeling confident and happy. He had won. He had beaten Alex and had got the girl. He had just kissed the girl repeatedly…
Jesse decided…he was THE man.
After removing his shirt, he took his wallet out of his back pocket and walked over to the desk to put it down.
It was then he saw something that distracted him. He picked up the piece of paper. After reading it once, he reread it, amazed.
The paper said
STAY AWAY FROM ISABEL. OR ELSE.
Isabel walked into her room and shut the door after herself quietly.
The night had been…romantic…expensive…full of…couple things….
Then why did Isabel feel…off? Like she was missing something.
She sighed as she shut her bedside light off. She just needed to sleep on things, she decided.
The three children walked along together. As per usual Maria was complaining once more to Alex. Liz brought up the rear. Alex had offered Maria chewing gum ten minutes ago, so Maria had had to decline. She had been rabbiting on about it for the last ten minutes.
"I hate braces!" Maria complained.
"Don't sweat Maria, it makes you look cute!" Alex told her calmly.
Liz rolled her eyes at her friends. Maria was such a drama queen. So she would have to have braces for a while but at least her teeth would be in perfect shape for when she was older and that was what really mattered.
Liz couldn't wait to be older. Liz wanted nothing more than to be a great scientist, and then go on to lecture about science at a top university. Maybe even Oxbridge. She would love to work there. Scientists who worked there got TV coverage all the time on there brightest and brilliant new inventions.
Liz sighed. She had once more tuned the rabbiting Maria out. When you'd known Maria for years and had been best friends ever since day one, you could do things like that.
Maria pressed the button at the crossing. They were off to the cinema to see the latest movie of "The Nutty Professor". Alex had convinced them both to go see it, saying that it was funny for Maria and it had professors in it for Liz.
Liz rolled her eyes at Alex's logic. Just because it had a professor in it, did not mean that it was to do with science. But Alex had begged. And as it was Alex, Liz had relented.
The green man appeared and the three eleven year olds crossed the street. It was turning seven, and the movie was due to start in ten minutes.
"Come on Liz! I like to watch the trailers!" Alex called out.
It was then she heard the screech of tires. Liz's head jerked to look at the noise.
BRIGHT LIGHTS
Liz saw the out of control car coming. And it was heading directly at her friends.
"MOVE!" Liz screamed she ran at them and pushed them as hard as she could out of the way. No one could imagine that this eleven year old could push these two far away in such a crisis, but she did.
Alex turned and watched in horror as he saw Liz.
"LIZZZZZZ! NOOOOOO!"
Maria let out a blood curdling scream.
The car hurtled towards Liz, and there was absolutely nothing anyone could do. Liz watched as the car approached her…
Liz jerked away. She rocked back and forth as she tried to get the horrible scene out of her mind.
God she hated drunk drivers.
Please R&R!