Chapter 9

Michael stepped forward and gently framed my face with his callused hands, lowering my face to his slowly. Like he was giving me a chance to stop him. An electric shock of pleasure hummed up my spine. My lips parted in an oh of pleasure, which he used to his advantage. He simultaneously slid his tongue into my mouth, shifted closer, and buried his fingers in my hair. This made it easier for him to angle my head, so that he could devour my lips.

I was swept up in a tornado of instant sensation, causing my knees to buckle, and me to melt against him. When we were fully touching a flash of heat shot through me and pulled at my sex. His kiss was everything I'd ever dreamed of and more. Hot, thrilling, dark, and seductive. He suckled, teased, nipped, and plundered. He tasted of Tabasco and sin, of forbidden pleasure and dreams come true. His body pressed against mine fusing us from ankle to lips.

It felt so right, so heart wrenchingly perfect. I'd waited a lifetime for this moment and it had been worth the wait. I kissed him back, putting every ounce of repressed longing into the melding of out mouths, and every iota of feeling I had. I chased his tongue with mine, playing a game of cat and mouse, with both of us winning. I slid my hands up over his chest, feeling him tremble beneath them. Then sliding them up further, up over his smooth chest and into his silky hair.

One of his arms moved down, circling my waist, as he rocked into me. At that moment I knew I'd die if he stopped. I started to hear a buzzing noise then gasp as I woke up. It was the most vivid dream I'd ever had. I turned and noticed it was 6:45. I was 5 minutes late. This had been happening for the last week and a half. It had been 2 weeks since Michael brought me home. As I tried to get up I realized just how wet I was. I had to take at least a couple of cold showers just to get under control, and it looked like I'd need one today.

In the last 2 weeks not much had changed. Ava and Isabel teased me, Serena didn't talk to me unless she had to, my Grandfather kept telling me how wild Michael was, Grandma kept telling me how good he was, and Sarah and Tess pretty much kept me sane. Michael did surprise me the day after everything happened. He's in my art class and from what the teacher says he's very good. Michael is one of those who likes music when he paints. So all through class when he walked by I heard Metallica blasting threw his headphones. I'd never been great at painting but it was like when I wrote, everything disappeared.

It wasn't until a week after that I found a place to just get away. One day Grandma kept talking about her and Grandpa's spot. When I asked her what she was talking about, she said her and Grandpa used to go to the lake. It was their place to get away. Since it was within walking distance, when the doctor okayed it, I went there.

The lake was a good size, about two football fields long and three wide, with the greenest grass I had ever seen. There were trees everywhere except for one area where it was open and you could see just how crystal clear the water was. I went over and sat under a weeping willow. As I sat there everything slowed down and was just quiet. For once I felt completely at peace. There was no one to tell you what to do or call you names. I didn't even tell Sarah because I needed it to be mine, so on days when I could I would go there, normally after school. I'd take my homework or a book and just sit there until I had to go home. As long as I had my cell phone no one asked where I was going. Today I wouldn't be able to go though because today I started at the crash. The doctor took my cast off two days ago and said as long as I didn't lift anything heavy I could work.

School went pretty much the same as it had for the first 2 days. I'd get there on time to find an article taped to my locker. Over the last 2 weeks the tabloids had a field day with me. No one could figure out where Mom had sent us. They said she did it because she's ashamed of my behavior, at least that was until yesterday. That's when it was leaked about Dad's will. Let's just say I'm not watching any T.V. right now.

At lunch I just sat under the elms. After school I walked back to the Crash. My shift didn't begin until 6 so I sat in the back, Sarah and Tess joined me, and we finished our homework. Tess had become an almost permanent member of our household. She was there pretty much every night. I asked her once, what her parents thought of her being gone so much and she just replied,

"Dad's never home and Mom barely notices I'm alive."

Once she said that I knew she was going to be a big part of my life. Just how big I wouldn't find out until later. She already was starting to feel like a little sister. When we went shopping for our rooms it was Tess that found both of our beds and bed spreads. Half way through our work Michael brought us fries and refills. Michael had taken Sarah and Tess under his wing. Something Grandpa didn't like. Oh, he didn't come right out and say it but you could tell. He'd get this look and then watches whenever they're around each other. I just smiled and thanked him.

"No problem, so do you really think you're ready to work?"

" Yes, Michael, I'm fine. The doctor even agrees, as long as I'm careful. I should be okay." He didn't look like he believed me but nodded any ways. It took some getting used to, people worrying about me, that is. I mean sure, Mom and Dad made sure I was okay but all I had to do was say so. Here everyone is always checking up on me. It was very suffocating. The weird part, I didn't mind when it was Michael.

"Wow Michael, be careful or someone might think you care?" I looked up and saw Isabel and Ava behind Michael.

"You'd have to have feelings to care and we all know he doesn't have those, Izzy." Ava finished with a smirk. Michael clenched his fist and walked to the back. Ava and Isabel walked to the booth laughing; I shook my head as they walked away. The rest of the time I listened to Sarah and Tess gripe about Ava and Isabel. I just happened to be looking in Ava's direction when she glanced at the door and her eyes got big.

She set up taller and fixed her hair. No one around her noticed. I glanced in the direction of where she was looking and was shocked to see Alex walking in. Seams Ava had a crush on Alex. I knew for a fact he liked her back because he kept talking about her on the way home that day. Around 5:30 I went upstairs to get ready. After a quick shower, I got into my uniform, and went down and into the back.

Serena was going to train me because we had 2 other waitresses', Alicia, and Mandy. So that made it were she could talk me through it, or so we thought. It was Thursday so it should have been slow. The only problem is everyone at school found out that I was starting today and showed up.

I was going to just watch today but since we were so busy I had to help. Grandma had given me the menu and the list on how to shorten everything, so at least I had that down. Serena came into the back, motioned for me to follow her, and we went be hind the counter. We weren't that busy yet do she showed me where everything was. I knew where most of it went just from living over it and getting y own drinks.

"I know you know most of this but we have to go over it." So for the next 15 minutes we did just that. Then came the fun part, first I was her shadow. I watched her take orders, helped make drinks, and helped deliver the food. Around 7:30 was when it picked up. Serena started to realize just how busy we were.

"Liz, I hate to do this but I'm going to give you a section. We're just to busy." As I looked around I noticed Grandma was manning the register, Grandpa was helping Michael cook, Alicia was leaving in 15 minutes, and Mandy was helping a table of 8. Serena had me take Alicia's area and Alicia went to help Mandy. Luckily she had the least in her part, only 3 tables were full and only one had ordered.

It wasn't until I looked at the customers in my section that I realized just how bad this night just got. There sat Isabel, Ava, Kyle, and one of the footballers. When I got closer I realized it was Pauly, the same one that asked about my arm. When Ava saw me coming her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. She nodded to Isabel and they picked up their menus. That's when I realized they only had drinks. They'd been there almost an hour and a half and haven't even ordered food.

"My name is Liz and I'll be your waitress this evening. Are you ready to order?" Kyle was the first to speak.

"I'll have a Will Smith with space rings and another Blood of Alien smoothie." Pauly ordered the same thing minus tomatoes. Next was Isabel,

"I'll have a Close Encounter without tomatoes, add bacon bits, with low Cal. Ranch." I then turned to Ava.

"Can you tell me what comes on the Mel-Nac?" I just smiled.

"Yes, its cheese, bacon bits, sour cream, chives, and ham."

"Oh, well what about the Pluto sandwich?"

"That's a Philly cheese steak. So, beef strips with cheese, mushrooms, green bell peppers, onions, and mayonnaise."

"No, to many carbs, don't you have anything healthy?" I noticed my other customers were getting antsy.

"I'd suggest a salad. Why don't you look over it again while I put their orders in? I'll stop back by after I help the other customers. " I walked over to the order window and slid their ticket in it. I saw Michael smirking.

"Watch out, Ava's sending death rays right at you." I didn't even turn around, my only reaction was to roll my eyes.

"She thought she'd rile me and get me flustered by being, well herself." I walked over and made their smoothies. After delivering them Ava ordered a salad. I helped the others and everything was going fine until I had to take some food to a table right next to theirs. Pauly stuck his foot out, tripping me. The food went everywhere and I crashed to he ground. I felt pain but nothing really bad. Grandpa was by me in a flash.

"Honey, are you alright?" He helped me up. I just nodded, my hand did hurt a little more now but I didn't need to worry them. Once I did that Grandpa turned to Ava's table. He looked madder then when Michel brought me home.

"You!" He pointed at Pauly. "Get out. You're banned from coming in here ever again, and the rest of you need to leave as well." Everyone got quiet. Ava's mouth just hung open and Pauly just sat there in stunned silence. Michael came up behind Grandpa and crossed his arms. When Pauly saw Michael he did a double take. Ava was the first to speak.

"What exactly are we being kicked out for, sir?" Wrong question, Grandpa leaned on their table and pointed at Pauly.

"He's being banned for assaulting a waitress, you guys are being kicked out for being with him and laughing when the waitress needed help."

"It's not my fault she a klutz. I didn't do anything." Pauly tried to act innocent.

"Boy, I was watching when it happened and I saw your foot. Now, you have 3 choices. First and I do suggest you take it; all 4 of you leave, peacefully. Pauly is to stay away and you other 3 can come back if and I mean IF you act like young adults and not 3 year olds. Second, Michael and I throw you out and you 2 boys get all embarrassed and you girls might mess up your hair or break a nail. Third, I call Kyle's dad and have you arrested for public disturbance, your parents get ticked off because they have to come get you and all 4 of you will be banned." At the mention of Kyle's dad, the town Sheriff, Kyle got a panic look. Pauly started to mouth off again but Kyle kicked him and pushed him out of the booth. As they left Ava turned around.

"Just wait until my father hears about this." Grandpa didn't miss a beat.

"I can call him right now if you'd like." She just turned and walked out. After they left Michael turned to me.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm just a little sore but I promise I'm fine." After a couple of minutes everyone went back to what they were doing. Grandma wanted to at least check my wrist. When she was happy I went back. 3 hours, 10 kids, and 2 crying babies later I was exhausted. Serena. Michael, and I were cleaning up. Right when the last customer walked out, Serena locked the door.

"Thank god." I heard her whisper. I sat in a chair and put my head on my arms, wincing when it came in contact with my sore wrist. Serena sat down next to me.

"I thought Thursdays were slow?"

"They normally are, only Friday and Saturdays are like this."

"Great so everyone came to see me."

"Yeah and they probably came to see you fail. From what I saw you disappointed them." I looked up when she said that.

"Truthfully, I didn't even expect a lot from you. I mean just look at how you've lived so far. Being waited on, never having to even lift a finger except to get someone to do something; but you did well. Better than when Mandy trained in fact." I didn't know if that was a complement for not. It was getting very annoying how everyone kept referring to my "Perfect Life".

The only person to help me was Mary-Ann and she was more of a mother than Mom was. Normally Mom would go to her friends and mope when Dad left. She'd stay 2-3 days then come home. She also ran 2 charities. So those called her away as well. I'm not trying to sound like the spoiled child; its just Mom would rag on Dad when she did the exact same thing. There were good times too don't get me wrong. It just seemed the only time we were together was when we played out parts to show the perfect family. Premieres, interviews, photo shoots, and just going out so the paparazzi could get a shot of us. I just looked at Serena in disbelief.

"Just so you know I have worked before. At home all we had was a nanny so I didn't have people worshiping me like everyone thinks. Normally I was the one cooking, cleaning, and helping Mary-Ann do all of her chores. Plus I help out at a lot of charity dinners, so I have done this before. Just because something looks perfect doesn't mean it is." I got up and started cleaning the tables. First getting all the dishes and putting them in the kitchen, then wiping the tables down.

Michael had turned on some music and I found myself bobbing my head to it. Again it was Metallica. We all worked in silence around each other. Michael was quiet because that's how he was, Serena looked like she was going to say something a couple of times but was afraid she's say the wrong thing, and I was quiet because I knew I might say something I'd regret.

Serena had swept and mopped by the time I was done. All we had left was refilling the sugar. We sat there for a little bit and I noticed Michael kept sending us sideways glances. I heard Serena take a deep breath.

"Liz look, I'm sorry about earlier. I never should have condemned you for doing the same thing I was. Anyways, I'm sorry. You are right, I have no clue what your life was like before." I was stunned.

"Thank you and I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have jumped down your throat. It's just everyone, (I glanced in Michael's direction) well almost everyone keeps telling me how perfect my life was or is and I know if they lived in it for 2 days, they'd see just how wrong they are. Plus, I understand about Michael, he's your brother and you want to protect him. I'd do the same with Sarah. So friends again?" I reached out to shake her hand. She looked at it and pulled me into a hug.

"Friends. So have you heard about the star gazing trip yet?" She asked after as she pulled back.

"Yeah, it sounds like fun. I've never been camping before."

"Pretty much everyone has around here. This is the first year we get to go on our on and pick where. You'll have to join us. Michael, Alex, and I have a favorite spot. We used to go out there when we were little." Grandma came down and smiled.

"It's nice to see that you two made up but it's getting late and you all have school tomorrow. Why don't you call it a night?" We nodded and I said good-bye. I grabbed Michael's arm before he could leave.

"I just wanted to say thank you for what you did today." I looked down and bit my lip. I was never shy like this but I just couldn't look at him.

"Hey they deserved what they got. If we let them mess with one they'll mess with all of you." That hurt more that I wanted it to. "Plus they could have hurt you worse." With that he turned and left. That night I walked up the stairs with a little smile.