Ashita: You rock! For feedbacking and betaing and being patient with my darn malfunction laptop
I'm glad you've enjoyed/found realistic, the path of the characters in this story and the emotional turmoil they go through for different reasons. I love Kyle too, writing this made me want to do a small Loyalist piece. Michael's still my favorite, but Kyle and Alex are pretty freaking adorable Traitor: Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad the intensity of her dreams came through, that was my goal. And sorry for the repeated delay in updating! I think I'm also behind on reviewing your stories....I will soon, I promise!
cjsl8ne: Thank you! And the wedding was long and exhausting but I did enjoy it yes, and no, I dodged the bouqet
I definitely wanted to show the relationship with their dad, with all the parents eventually in the sequel, because at that age parental influence is important one way or another. And I will do my best to get my darn computer working again! Thanks for the feedback.A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone! I was planning on posting on Saturday as scheduled, but then my laptop decided not to turn on again
So until I've got that situation resolved, I'm limited to posting at work m-f, when I have time.Chapter Eleven: Seeking Normal
May 1st, 1999
“I love Wednesday Addams.” Tess declared with a grin as Liz hit rewind on the VCR. “She is just so delightfully evil.”
“I’m more a fan of Morticia, that is one sexy lady.” Alex disagreed, a dreamy smile on his face, and the girls laughed.
Maria rolled onto her side on the pile of sleeping bags and raised an eyebrow at him. “A sexy lady that would eat you for lunch.” She commented dryly, and then nodded at Tess. “I’m with Tess, Wednesday’s a pretty awesome girl. I think I’ll need to take some tips from her on dealing with brothers if the Sheriff and my mom ever decide to make it official.”
Alex shook his head and stated, “Kyle’s not so bad.” before popping a couple cheese puffs in his mouth and crunching happily.
Maria scoffed, “Not so bad? He’s on the football team, the basketball team, the baseball team, and the wrestling team. That’s the definition of so bad.”
Tess laughed, then looked surprised at herself and snagged the bag of cheese puffs from Alex to cover the moment as Liz sat back down and started sorting through the pile of movies they had left to watch.
“You agree with me don’t you Liz? About Kyle?” Maria pleaded, turning large green eyes on her best friend, who glanced up at her for a moment and then stared back down at the movies.
“I don’t know, he seems nice enough.”
Maria looked at her suspiciously before rolling back onto her stomach and reaching for a bag of Hershey’s kisses. “I am disappointed in all of you. If one of us hates, all of us hate, that’s the best friend code.”
“And if you really hated him, we would too, Maria. Now come on, it’s your turn to pick the movie.” Liz said soothingly as she slid the pile of videos over to the blond.
She huffed but took the pile, discarding the movies one by one before tossing her choice back at Liz. “Here, Lost in Space, let’s get back to our alien obsessed roots.”
The brunette caught the movie and stood up to put it in the VCR, resisting the urge to glance at her sister. Their goal with the movie night had been to avoid their alien obsessed roots. Clearly that was not in the cards.
After pressing play and settling back down between Tess and Maria, she gently squeezed her sister’s hand, they should have known better than to hope for such an occurrence in Roswell, home of the alien nation.
May 14th, 1999
“Hello Liz, you are looking lovely today.” Kyle Valenti said with a wink and a smile as he stopped her in the hallway outside her Spanish class.
Liz felt herself flush and smiled hesitantly up at him, not sure what to say.
“I just wanted to thank you for all your tutoring time; Ms. Hardy has never been more surprised to give someone a B.” Kyle continued when she did not respond.
“Well, I’m glad I could be of assistance.” She finally replied, eyes twinkling, “It wouldn’t do to meet Ms. Hardy’s expectations.”
“No it definitely would not, and I look forward to seeing you the next time I feel the need to watch her face turn that particular shade.”
Liz’s smile grew wider and she found herself surprised at how easy their conversation was, and how pleasant. Suddenly, Michael brushed past them on his way into class, sending her a sideways glance that managed to be both amused and judgemental. Her smile faltered, and anger, with just the faintest touch of guilt, rose inside of her.
Kyle looked faintly puzzled, not having missed the silent exchange, but reached out and lightly touched her hand. “I’ll talk to you later?”
She nodded; resolve firming, “I would like that Kyle.” He grinned and she turned to head into class herself, feeling a little surge of satisfaction when she saw Michael sitting in the second row back, where he had sat ever since asking her if she was okay a month before.
When she sat down in front of him she heard him speak again, his words only audible to her, “Really Parker, Valenti? He doesn’t seem your type.”
Turning her head slightly so her voice would not carry past the two of them she confidently replied, “You, of all people, should know better than to judge someone based on reputation. Besides Michael, what would you know about my type?”
“Touché Parker, Touché. But I still think you could do better.”
After that he fell silent, and she stared sightlessly at the board as the teacher began conjugating verbs. Part of her, a very small part of her, was prepared to admit that Michael had a point; Kyle was not someone she would have pictured herself liking. But, he was nice, and smarter than he was given credit for, and most importantly? He was pursuing her, which was more than she could say for anyone else who might or might not have been interested.
And despite being not your average teenage girl, she still had some of the qualities of one, and enjoying the feeling of being wanted was definitely one of them.
May 30th, 1999
“What do you mean you broke up with her Nick?” Liz asked angrily as she stared at her cousin across the table. She might no longer be friends with the girl, but she knew that she was a good person, and Alex was most definitely still hung up on her, which meant that she was part of that all important friend of a best friend circle.
He just shrugged. “You know I’m going back to Florida as soon as school is out now that mom is back from her dig, it was going to have to end sometime.”
Tess rolled her eyes disgustedly and Maria glared at him, both girls previous dislike escalated by his callous treatment of a fellow female.
“And when did you know you were going back to Florida, Nick?” Liz asked overly sweetly, her dark eyes flashing dangerously as he managed an almost shamed look.
“Six months ago.” He replied quietly.
“And wasn’t that before you asked her out? Oh yes it was.” She stated scathingly, folding her arms over her chest and casting a glance over at the tree where the girl in question was sitting with her brother and Alex. She noticed that Michael was shooting Nick a particularly deadly look and smirked.
“Well I’m pretty sure her brother’s going to find a way to make you pay, but let’s plan on this being the last time you stay in Roswell, k cuz?”
He looked down awkwardly and after a moment, Tess raised an eyebrow at him. “And why are you still sitting at our table.”
Nick stood up and walked away after shooting them one more unreadable look, and the three girls exchanged disgusted glances. “Told you, dark side.” Tess said with a faint smile, and Liz shook her head as Maria chuckled dryly.
“Yes you did, I bow to your wisdom dear sister.”
“About time.” Tess said with a haughty sniff, and all three girls laughed while Liz snuck another glance over at Raelyn, and Michael, and wondered if the evil male relative rule applied to brothers too.
