Chapter 6

The following day Tess went to school with a plan. She would get Max to notice her or to at least not ignore her. When she got to school that day she wasn't able to get any time alone with him until lunch.

"Hi Max " she said taking the vacant seat to his left.

"Hey"

"You got a partner for that chemistry project yet?"

Liz Parker took a seat the other side of Max, "I'm his partner" she said wanting to be sure that Tess knew that Max Evans was off limits. Tess chose to ignore Liz and continued to look at Max waiting for his response, since that was who she asked.

"Like Liz said she and I are partnering for the project" as soon as the words left his mouth he realized that she may get the wrong idea about he and Liz so he quickly added "but he did say that we could work in either groups of two or three. So did you want to work with us?"

Tess looked over at Liz who had her mouth gaped open in a look of disbelief. But then Tess was forced to admit that she was shocked by the invite also so she hesitated a moment before accepting.

Liz quickly put her good girl act into play "This is gonna be so great Tess, you, Max and I are definitely gonna make an A. Max and I were planning to meet at his place this Saturday at 7." Max nodded wondering what was going on between Tess and Liz. He hadn't expected Liz to accept his inviting Tess to join their group seeing how there is always so much animosity between the two. Max spent the rest of the day wondering why he'd invited Tess when he didn't trust her.

X

Christmas Break ~ about 2-3 weeks later

They had managed to make it through the project and had indeed gotten an A+. Tess was getting tired of being subtle when all Liz did was flaunt herself in front of Max. Now that winter break was here she was helping Isabelle organize the play for Christmas. It had surprised her that the human parents of Max and Isabelle weren't more upset about having a pregnant teenage daughter. It probably helped that they also announced their engagement.

X Michael's proposal X

It was a week after having told Michael the news about the baby. Isabelle stood outside Michael's apartment; he'd invited her to dinner at his place scheduled for 7:30. She wore a wine colored, knee length dress with a slit up the side. She wore her hair in a simple up do. Okay I can do this. It's just dinner with Michael.

Isabelle knocked on the door, only there wasn't an answer. It was 7:32, he should be there. Knocking again the door finally opened.

"Sorry, I was setting the table. Come on in." Isabelle noticed how nervous he was fidgeting with the sleeves of his dinner jacket. The outfit in itself was surprising. He wore a nice pair of black slacks, white dress shirt – no tie, and a dinner jacket. She was happy that he'd made the effort.

"Wow everything looks amazing."

"Well we're having Grilled Steak, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. The rolls didn't turn out right."

"It doesn't matter this is perfect."

They sat down for a candlelit dinner after which Michael turn on some music. They danced to Celine Dione and Peabo Bryson's 'Beauty and the Beast'.

"This is nice." She love being close to Michael, his arms around her, everything felt magical.

"I have something for you"

Michael went to his room and retrieved a decorated box. He turned off the radio then stood in front of Isabelle. Reaching into the box , he took a lump of coal and transformed it into a beautiful priceless diamond.

Grabbing Isabelle's left hand, he placed the diamond into her palm.

"Just like that lump of coal, you've done the same thing to me. You made me believe in myself, stood up for me, no matter what you were always here. I want to be there for you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you at my side."

Michael got down on bended knee, Isabelle was trying so hard not to cry tears of joy.

"Isabelle Evans, I love you, will you do me the honor of spending eternity with me?"

"Yes. Yes, a thousand times yes." Looking into his eyes she had to ask "Do you really love me?"

"Of course. I love you."

"I love you too Michael."

Xx flashback xX

The newly engaged Isabelle and Tess were actually becoming friends. Max was still learning to trust her and Michael, well, Michael had never had anything against her. He made sure Tess was there for all meetings and other stuff that Max held claiming that if humans can come why not Tess since she was the only one who truly had any idea of why they were here.

Nasedo was gone. He told Tess that he would be back later but now she had to get the others to accept her since that was the only way they would defeat Kivar. Nasedo was leaving on a covert mission to sabotage the CIA's latest discoveries into the secrets of Roswell's possible alien inhabitants.

Tess met Isabelle at the town square to help with the Christmas decorations. Everyone else knowing what a Christmas fanatic Izzy was had managed to weasel out of volunteering. I actually didn't mind since this was my first real Christmas, Nasedo hadn't been real big on human traditions and holidays.

"Hey Tess you made it. Okay first I need you to help the children make paper chains for the Christmas tree and then you can help the children rehearse their lines for the play. .. What are you waiting for get moving." They shared a laugh as Isabelle batted her off toward the tables that had been sat up for crafts and sign up.

Isabelle smiled and then she realized that she had forgotten to buy Tess a Christmas present. Taking her cell phone out of her purse she called her brother.

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I'm not 100% happy with this chapter either but I feel that it is better than it was. 1/19/10