Chapter 3 revised 1/19/10
Maria watched as Michael and Isabelle went back into the main part of the diner, she sat down on the steps no longer strong enough to stand.
How could he? After finally letting me in why would he sleep with Isabelle? I should have known this would happen after hearing him and Isabelle talking about a baby yesterday. Wait, she said that they slept together last night so… wait a minute Delucca get a hold of yourself. Your mother warned you about men. As tears ran down her face she couldn't contain her sobs.
Liz found her on the steps moments later. "Maria sweetie what's wrong?" once again the tears started to fall. She knew better she really did. But why Michael?
Liz sat reached into her pockets and found a napkin for Maria to wipe her face. She still didn't know what had happened Maria still hadn't said any thing. A few minutes after leading Maria upstairs, Maria raced to the bathroom and threw up. After flushing the toilet, washing her face, and rinsing out her mouth Maria straighten her clothes.
"You okay?"
Placing a smile on her face she said "I'm fine. Just learned a very important lesson, but I'm going to be fine."
"You sure?"
"No. I just don't understand how I could be so blind. I really should have known that there was something going on between Michael and Isabelle but did I trust my gut? No I just … just"
"Michael and Isabelle? Are you sure?"
"I heard them talking about how they slept together at her house last night with her parents down the hall. She is such a slut."
Furious Maria started pacing wondering if maybe it was her fault that they slept together. She kept thinking that maybe if she and Michael had gone there then he wouldn't have went to Isabelle's bed.
Liz stared at Maria not sure what to say. "Well I'm not sure what to say. You will find someone else. There are plenty of other men out there, men who are waiting for a smart beautiful and talented girl like you to come in and brighten their world."
"…Plenty of men out there? If there so many guys out there, then why are you still so set on Max?"
"Max is just a little detached he just… um he just needs time to …"
"No. What you mean to say is that he is too dense to see that you are in love with him."
"Maria just lay off ok?"
"Yeah fine. But I'm gonna take the rest of the day off. You mind taking care of my tables?"
"Sure that's what friends are for" With a hug Liz and Maria parted ways.
Liz returned to the diner "Liz what took you so long?"
"Hi Max. Nothing its just Maria she … she was upset about something."
"Is she okay?"
"She said she was fine and went home."
Liz started smiling to herself secretly thrill that he'd noticed she was gone and he even looked worried about her. Liz was on cloud 9 until Tess walked in. Liz hated that Max immediately turned toward Tess even she could feel that there was something between the two of them but Tess was gonna have to get over it; Max was hers. Even before he saved her life, Max had always been interested in her. It was her fault, she knew that if she hadn't been so into Kyle and had paid more attention to Max that they could be the perfect couple by now. Tess wouldn't have reason to think Max would want her.
"Hey Tess" Michael said then invited her to sit with Izzy and him.
"Hi" Tess whispered.
All Isabelle did was wave. Michael noticed that Tess was looking at Max, and that Liz was shoot daggers at her.
"So Tess how is it that you remember so much more about our home than the rest of us? … Tess?"
"Oh, sorry I just umm… what was the question?"
"How is that you remember so much more about our home than the rest of us?"
Staring at Max as she talked she answered "Nasedo use tell me bed time stories about a brilliant King name Zan and his beautiful wife Ava. He use to make their love sound endless and true. It wasn't a fairy tale that had a happy ending but he use to tell me that maybe one day I would do what they couldn't that maybe I would save the people of Antar."
Turning to look at Michael and Isabelle she continued "I was never given the illusion of being human. I always knew who I was and what my destiny foretold, so it didn't shock me when I found out that I was a reincarnation of Ava. I remember my husband Zan, his lieutenant Wrath, and my best friend Valondra." With that she smiled at Isabelle. "Maybe since you were raised with absolutely no knowledge of who you are it'll take longer for you to remember." Unable to stand being in the diner and having Liz send threatening glares her way, Tess stood and left. "I got go I'll tell you more another time"
Michael and Isabelle watched as Tess fled the diner. "Michael I think that was my name"
"Huh?" Michael answered uncertain of what Izzy had said. "Valondra. I remember it from some where. It's like when you know something but you just can't grasp it."
"You know I never really thought of Nasedo as the bedtime storyteller type." Even Tess had a relatively normal and she was raised by a killer, Michael thought.
"Michael. Are you listening to me?" They went over the information Tess had told them. It didn't take them long to figure out why she left and assumed that nobody had told her that Liz and Max were just friends.
xx
After school on Monday
Michael wasn't sure if things were okay between him and Isabelle, but he managed to talk to Maria about their relationship. He and Maria weren't together anymore. He didn't get it but she had been the one to brake up with him. When he went to let her know that their relationship wasn't working, he didn't even get a chance to say anything. Maria told him that they could still be friends but as far as anything more went that it wasn't likely not sure what to say he had left confused. Deciding to leave it alone he focused on him and Isabelle. The only strike against him was their morning after so he'd start there.
"I'm sorry about not waking you." Michael said cornering Isabelle at her jeep.
"I get it. I just wish… I don't know maybe we're taking this too far."
"You said you didn't regret what happened." Michael couldn't take it if she did. He was starting to think that there was more to their relationship, he didn't know whether it was the bond Tess kept talking about or if he was just finally starting to see the real Isabelle Evans.
"I don't. I wanted you."
"Past tense?"
"Past, Present, and future. I just don't want to rush things."
"You know me better than anyone, we've been best friends since we left the cave. I don't think we need a get to know you period."
"No, we don't, but we do need to get use to being together. We've been friends for so long, I want to make sure we can be more to each other."
"How about a movie?"
"A movie? Are you asking me on date Michael Guerin?" She asked smiling at the idea of just the two of them spending time alone together in a darkened theatre.
"I believe I am, Isabelle Evans."
"I'd love to, may be we could have a picnic at the park this weekend too?"
"Whatever makes you happy."
"Tomorrow at seven"
"What's going happening tomorrow"
They turned to look at Max.
"Nothing, just get in" Isabelle said upset at Max's interruption
"Actually I just asked Izzy out on a date."
Max started to laugh then he realized Michael wasn't joking.
"My sister?"
"Maxwell stop acting like that. We were married in former life, is it really that hard to believe we're together in this one?"
"No it's … this is going to be weird."
"No weirder than usual Maxwell."
Isabelle put the car into gear and headed home.