i'm soooooo sorry for not responding earlier! I started another fic, and got preoccupied (it's a m/l....i know i know, i'm sorry). But this fic is my baby, and i have a new chapter (and the next in mind)!
Thanks so much to Kay, LXC, Roswellluver, & especially Trude (for the great feedback)!!
Chapter 12
Isabel didn’t get what was going on. One second, he seems like he wants to date me, not just hook up with me, but now he’s acting like a total jerk! What the fuck? She pondered. Overwhelming rage ran through her entire body. What was she supposed to say? ‘Oh…thanks?’ Yeah, right! And he was just standing there like a doofus looking mad at her; he should be cowering right about now. What a bunch of bullshit!
“Alex, I don’t get why you’re being such a jackass, but you know what? I don’t care any more. You’re full of it; you don’t know what you’re talking about. All I did was like you and you treat me like shit by saying something like that! No one treats me like that and gets away with it! You can find another fucking ride home. Have a nice life.” Isabel said so coldly, that Alex could have sworn he felt it all the way down in his bones.
Without acknowledging the look of sheer terror on Alex’s face, Isabel marched to the car. She was unaffected by everything at that point. The heat, the pain, the loneliness, the whole lot; she felt none of it. Her body took control, and she revved up the engine, creating a tornado of sand that swallowed a tormented Alex. The car swerved in the sand and took off into the sun.
****
As time ticked away, Maria was getting more and more antsy. She had specifically said for everyone to be on time, and Isabel and Alex were definitely late. Michael watched as the blonde shook with frustration towards her friends. These get-togethers were important to her, and they damn well knew it! Liz and Max were already there and seated on a loveseat, talking softly, while Max stroked Liz’s hair. Kyle was in his room, knowing god-knows what. All the waiting for Alex and Isabel to come so they could start the festivities was driving Maria up the wall. Michael was about to suggest maybe she hit a pillow or something, when his pants started to vibrate. Only startled for a second, Michael whipped his cell phone out of his pocket. Quickly checking the caller id, Michael answered it.
“Alex! Dude, where are you guys?! You know how Maria hates it when you’re late!” Michael exclaimed. Maria instantly looked to Michael to answer the billions of unsaid questions running through her mind.
“She did what?!” Michael yelled, surprising all in the room, and finally capturing Max and Liz’s attention. Maria tried to mouth ‘what’s going on’ to Michael, but he was preoccupied staring out the window at the cars.
“Okay, where are you? ….Yeah, I know where that is. Don’t worry about it, I’ll borrow the jeep. Be by the edge of the road. Alright, see you in a few.” Michael conversed, pressing a button on the phone. The tense silence in the room was more stressful to Michael than any of Maria’s interrogations.
“Uh, that was Alex. Apparently, Isabel left him by the side of the road in the desert, I have no clue why. Max, I need the keys to the jeep so I can go pick him up.”
Max mumbled an agreement and fished the keys out of his pocket, quickly tossing them to Michael, who was halfway out the door. Liz fastened herself against Max. Maria threw her hands up in the air, taking it upon herself to destroy the silence.
“What the hell?! What was she thinking, leaving him there? What the hell was going through that girls head? I thought that she and Alex were going to be a couple, my god! That’s not the way to get a guy! Why would she do that to Alex? Liz, have any ideas?”
“Maria, I don’t know. I have no clue.” Liz responded, a little offended, but calm inside Max’s loving arms.
“You’re her sister.” Maria stated. Liz stepped away from Max a bit.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Yeah, I’m her sister, but I’m not her. I don’t even know what’s going through her head most of the time!” Liz yelled. Liz couldn’t help but get worked up. Maria didn’t know anything about her and Isabel’s relationship, and she wasn’t about to blame Liz for whatever Isabel had done.
“Guys, this isn’t helping. Why don’t we ask Isabel when we see her?” Max interrupted, rubbing Liz’s arm. Maria and Liz were about to lose it. Common sense didn’t seem like it was working; both were about to pounce.
“Girls! Sit! Now!” Max barked. He didn’t want to have to yell at them, but he wasn’t going to let them kill each other. Liz and Maria instantly sat on the couch.
“Michael will be back with Alex really soon. Just wait.”
****
Alex was still dumbfounded. He was standing in the hot sand, wondering where he went wrong. She got upset over the boyfriend thing. She said he didn’t know what he was saying. Was he wrong? He thought she was talking to a boyfriend. Alex paused. Wait, why would her father get so upset about her being mean to a boyfriend, he wondered. Oh, crap! The screech of tires awoke Alex. The jeep quickly pulled up alongside him, and a concerned Michael waved for Alex to get into the car. When Alex fell onto the seat, he sighed. Michael glanced over at his best friend.
“What happened out there, man?” Michael questioned. Alex continued to stare glumly at the dashboard.
“I messed things up with her. I love her, but it’s now it’s all screwed over.”
TBC…
Wearing Me Down (AU,CC,MATURE) Ch 15 - 09/15/04 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
-
dreamingofstars1947
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2003 12:00 am
- Location: lost in max & alex's eyes....
-
dreamingofstars1947
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2003 12:00 am
- Location: lost in max & alex's eyes....
Thanks to roswellluver, kittens, wargirl, trude, dream_walker, and Isabel for the feedback! A special mention to all the newcomers: I hope u really like it! ~Liz~
Chapter 13
The Valenti living room echoed with silence. The tense minutes seemed long as Max, Liz, and Maria waited for word on Alex. Max’s thumb stroked Liz’s as they sat together on the sofa opposite Maria, who sat rigidly upright. Each pondered the outcomes of Isabel and Alex’s ride together. Was it that they hooked up, but Alex went too far? Or did Alex say something really rude? Or was Isabel on her period and having a mood swing? Who knows?
All three jerked when two car doors slammed shut outside. Maria peered out the window. Alex glumly followed Michael up the walk-way leading to the house. Maria jumped up and sprang to the door, opening it before Michael could even reach the doorway. Unlike Michael, Alex showed no signs of surprise.
“What happened?” Maria asked, desperate for information. Michael shook his head, signaling Maria to wait to begin the questioning.
Max frowned when he saw his brother fall to the oversized recliner, so forlorn. Michael pulled Maria down onto the couch next to him. Maria, the most impatient of all, restated her question.
“I fucked things up.” Alex stated flatly, staring at the bleak carpet.
“How?” Max wondered, squeezing Liz’s hand a little more. Liz kept her eyes focused on Alex, all the while gripping his hand just as hard. Alex sighed and closed his eyes. All he could see behind his lids were images of her distraught face as he basically called her manipulative and deceitful. Pain seized his soul.
“We were stopping by the Crashdown to pick up a video and some of her stuff. Before we could get upstairs, the phone rings. Isabel goes to pick it up. Whoever it was upset her, and she started screaming at them. I had no idea who it was, but Isabel was really distressed. Mr. Parker came in and asked her if it was ‘who he thought it was’ and yelled at her for getting mad at the person on the phone. She said some stuff back, and before I know it, we’re locked in her room and trying to find an escape. We got down the fire escape and drove out of there in her car. Man, she was so upset. We were driving into the desert when I realized that it must’ve been an old boyfriend or something, and she was just using me. I made her pull over, and I confronted her on it. She freaked out and called me a jackass for making her actually like me, then just drove away after wishing me a nice life. God, I still don’t know what happened.” Alex spat out with a trembling voice.
“What kind of stuff was she yelling at the person on the phone?” Liz questioned softly. Everyone looked at her puzzled, though she returned no stares. Alex searched his brain to remember.
“Uh, something about the person never loving her and the person being a drunk. She cursed him out, that’s for sure.” Alex responded, looking to Liz for explanation. Liz went pale.
“It wasn’t a ‘him.’” Liz said simply.
Everyone looked shocked. Everyone wanted to understand; no one did. Max turned to see her gaunt face.
“Then who was it?” Michael asked impatiently, close to leaning over Maria to look Liz more squarely in the eye. Liz finally looked to Alex.
“Our mother.”
*****
Isabel sped down the freeway. The tears flowed as fast as the wheels of the car. Her make-up was long gone, and her hair continued to whip around, entangling itself increasingly with each passed mile.
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven’t missed you yet
Why was it that people are so quick to turn on me? What is wrong with me?
Every roommate kept awake
By every sigh and scream we make
All the feelings that I get
But I still don’t miss you yet
Only when I stop to think about it
I only liked him. How many times do I have to be the one with the fuzzy fucking end of the lollipop?
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
Yeah, he deserved being left out there. He brought this on himself. It’s his fault, not mine. He’s the one being a jackass.
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven’t missed you yet
Only when I stop to think about it
Or was it me that deserved to be out there? No, no, he deserved it. I had to protect myself.
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
Only when I stop to think
About you, I know
Only when you stop to think
About me, do you know
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
You hate everything about me
Why do you love me
Who am I kidding? It’s my fault. I’m a bitch and I did this to myself. I wasn’t a good daughter and I’m not a good person.
I hate
You hate
I hate
You love me
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you (“I Hate Everything About You” by Three Days Grace)
No. It’s his fault. It’s her fault. It can’t be mine.
TBC….
Chapter 13
The Valenti living room echoed with silence. The tense minutes seemed long as Max, Liz, and Maria waited for word on Alex. Max’s thumb stroked Liz’s as they sat together on the sofa opposite Maria, who sat rigidly upright. Each pondered the outcomes of Isabel and Alex’s ride together. Was it that they hooked up, but Alex went too far? Or did Alex say something really rude? Or was Isabel on her period and having a mood swing? Who knows?
All three jerked when two car doors slammed shut outside. Maria peered out the window. Alex glumly followed Michael up the walk-way leading to the house. Maria jumped up and sprang to the door, opening it before Michael could even reach the doorway. Unlike Michael, Alex showed no signs of surprise.
“What happened?” Maria asked, desperate for information. Michael shook his head, signaling Maria to wait to begin the questioning.
Max frowned when he saw his brother fall to the oversized recliner, so forlorn. Michael pulled Maria down onto the couch next to him. Maria, the most impatient of all, restated her question.
“I fucked things up.” Alex stated flatly, staring at the bleak carpet.
“How?” Max wondered, squeezing Liz’s hand a little more. Liz kept her eyes focused on Alex, all the while gripping his hand just as hard. Alex sighed and closed his eyes. All he could see behind his lids were images of her distraught face as he basically called her manipulative and deceitful. Pain seized his soul.
“We were stopping by the Crashdown to pick up a video and some of her stuff. Before we could get upstairs, the phone rings. Isabel goes to pick it up. Whoever it was upset her, and she started screaming at them. I had no idea who it was, but Isabel was really distressed. Mr. Parker came in and asked her if it was ‘who he thought it was’ and yelled at her for getting mad at the person on the phone. She said some stuff back, and before I know it, we’re locked in her room and trying to find an escape. We got down the fire escape and drove out of there in her car. Man, she was so upset. We were driving into the desert when I realized that it must’ve been an old boyfriend or something, and she was just using me. I made her pull over, and I confronted her on it. She freaked out and called me a jackass for making her actually like me, then just drove away after wishing me a nice life. God, I still don’t know what happened.” Alex spat out with a trembling voice.
“What kind of stuff was she yelling at the person on the phone?” Liz questioned softly. Everyone looked at her puzzled, though she returned no stares. Alex searched his brain to remember.
“Uh, something about the person never loving her and the person being a drunk. She cursed him out, that’s for sure.” Alex responded, looking to Liz for explanation. Liz went pale.
“It wasn’t a ‘him.’” Liz said simply.
Everyone looked shocked. Everyone wanted to understand; no one did. Max turned to see her gaunt face.
“Then who was it?” Michael asked impatiently, close to leaning over Maria to look Liz more squarely in the eye. Liz finally looked to Alex.
“Our mother.”
*****
Isabel sped down the freeway. The tears flowed as fast as the wheels of the car. Her make-up was long gone, and her hair continued to whip around, entangling itself increasingly with each passed mile.
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven’t missed you yet
Why was it that people are so quick to turn on me? What is wrong with me?
Every roommate kept awake
By every sigh and scream we make
All the feelings that I get
But I still don’t miss you yet
Only when I stop to think about it
I only liked him. How many times do I have to be the one with the fuzzy fucking end of the lollipop?
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
Yeah, he deserved being left out there. He brought this on himself. It’s his fault, not mine. He’s the one being a jackass.
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven’t missed you yet
Only when I stop to think about it
Or was it me that deserved to be out there? No, no, he deserved it. I had to protect myself.
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
Only when I stop to think
About you, I know
Only when you stop to think
About me, do you know
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
You hate everything about me
Why do you love me
Who am I kidding? It’s my fault. I’m a bitch and I did this to myself. I wasn’t a good daughter and I’m not a good person.
I hate
You hate
I hate
You love me
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you (“I Hate Everything About You” by Three Days Grace)
No. It’s his fault. It’s her fault. It can’t be mine.
TBC….
-
dreamingofstars1947
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2003 12:00 am
- Location: lost in max & alex's eyes....
Hey guys! Dream_walker, I totally agree w/ you! It's been too long! But it's finally summer and now I actually have time to write down the chapters that have just come to me in the last few days! lol! Here's chapter 14...15 is on it's way! Thanks so much, dream_walker, roswellluver, biged, Trude, & linliz68!!!
Chapter 14
Isabel grew weary. She was plain exhausted. It wasn’t just her eyes, tired of watching the road mile after mile, or her body, stiff from sitting in one place for hours, or even her throat from singing along to the radio. No, her mind was exhausted, tired from the heartbreak and tired from the analyzing every moment of every relationship in her life. She thought about her father. She thought about how much she hated to be around him, yet loved him still. What other parent did she have? She thought a lot about her mother. It was amazing that someone could be so selfish but still have everyone believing that everything wasn’t her fault – drinking wasn’t her fault, Isabel fighting back wasn’t her fault…nothing. She thought about her new friends. Did they even really like her? Would they even want to be around her now? They, after all, are Alex’s friends first and foremost. She thought about Liz. She loved Liz; Liz could be quite comforting at bad times. The truth was, Isabel had always been jealous. Liz always got the attention, the love, and the respect. What had Isabel gotten? That damn ‘Ice Princess’ title.
Finally, Isabel thought about Alex.
He had made her feel so special. She kept up an emotional barrier from people, but not from Alex. He waltzed, or better, stumbled into her life and confused her heart. Isabel had no clue what to do. He was the one at fault here, making her like him then yelling at her like she was….worthless. How she hated that feeling! Sure, it wasn’t the most polite thing in the world to leave him in the middle of the desert, but what was she going to do, chauffer him around town some more? Not likely.
The feeling of dread washed over her. She had to rest somewhere, but where? The lights of Roswell were fast approaching on the horizon and Isabel still hadn’t decided where to go. If she went home, she’d have to deal with her father. There was no way she could go to one of her friends’ houses. She had no clue where a decent hotel was in this town, not that she had the money to stay in one anyway. She reentered the city limits of Roswell at an unusually slow pace. Not only was she trying to think, but she was on the other side of town from what she was familiar with. The tacky lights of local bars flickered against the dark sky. Nope, she wasn’t in the mood for barflies. She passed bar after liquor store after video rental place after souvenir shop after bar. God, all I want is a damn cup of coffee for one fucking minute! Another tacky shop. Another…diner? Isabel swerved across the road towards the turn lane. The neon sign of the Roswell Diner danced across her windshield. It didn’t take long to find a parking space, especially considering that it was past the typical dinner rush. As soon as the car was in park, she yanked down her visor to check over her reflection in the mirror. Hmm, maybe some eyeliner will hide those humungous bags under my eyes? She quietly pulled a spare brown eye pencil from the glove compartment and slowly drew under her lashes. The lighting was terrible, and it would be hard for any expert. Five solid minutes later and she got out of the car to put up the cover on the convertible. This part of town is kinda sketchy -- no need to lose my radio. Her heels clicked against the pavement, her bag tucked under her arm, as she strode to the entrance.
Isabel took in the gauche atmosphere of the restaurant. It was your typical mock-futuristic diner complete with jute-boxes and chrome paneling. The desserts were proudly displayed in a case by the hostess stand, as if to beckon to the hungry entering customers. A Hispanic girl smacked her gum loudly, obviously bored by the lack of something to do. The girl stared off into space, completely ignoring Isabel’s presence. Isabel wasn’t very patient. In no time, her heel was rapping against the floor, jolting the girl’s attention.
“Oh. One?” the girl asked, indignantly. She wasn’t too happy that Isabel was impatient with her.
“Yeah. Booth.” Isabel answered flatly. What was the point of going to a restaurant if you don’t get what you want?
The girl pulled a leather menu from a basket and wordlessly guided her to a secluded corner booth. Isabel slid herself to the back of the oversized seat and took the menu, flashing a manicured hand. I might as well look at the menu, she thought. I have nothing else to do. She flipped through the pages of greasy foods. Barely anything seemed to be appealing. A sigh escaped her lips. She should be at a restaurant having a date with Alex or be at her restaurant, sleeping in her bed upstairs. But no, she was stuck here. For the moment, anyway.
“Hey there, so can I start you off with anything to drink?”
Isabel looked up at the source of the voice. The waitress was a girl about her age, medium height, with a fair complexion, and brown hair pulled back into a messy bun. Her face echoed of a sweet personality mixed with a bit sassier exterior. Isabel loved being able to read people. She glanced back down at her menu for a second, then looked back at her waitress.
“Uh, I was thinking about coffee, but maybe something sweeter…” Isabel trailed off, glancing back at her menu. The waitress smiled.
“Ah hell, I’ll have a milkshake. Strawberry, please.” Isabel finished. The girl scribbled it down on her notepad. She looked up with an afterthought.
“You’re not waiting for anyone, are you? I mean, should I wait around for another person?” she queried. Isabel shook her head.
“No. It’s just me. Pathetic, isn’t it?” Isabel remarked. The girl looked surprised.
“Oh no! It’s just…you just seem like the type to always have some kind of guy following you around or something. I may be making an out of line judgement, but you know…” she babbled.
Isabel liked this girl. She was nice and already was complimenting her. She had a certain posture that screamed she could handle herself, yet she was modest. Isabel looked around her quickly. There was practically no one in her section. A middle-aged couple in the back were talking quietly, but there was no one other than that. Maybe she could talk more with this girl. If she was distracted, it left less time to dwell upon Alex, and that was a very good thing.
“Well, thanks, but tonight I’m on my own. That is, unless, you want to just sit with me. Doesn’t look like you’re too busy.” Isabel suggested. The girl’s face lit up a little brighter, but she still kept that calm exterior.
“Sure. I’ve been needing a break! I’ll just get your shake and be right back.”
“Cool.” Isabel responded. She sunk back into her seat as the girl walked towards the kitchen. Some of her fatigue had been lifted with the prospect of someone to talk to.
It only took a few moments for the girl to return with Isabel’s milkshake. She filled the fancy glass with the pink liquid, then placed the large dented silver container next to it. Isabel motioned for her to take a seat. The girl’s relief was evident as she slid into the booth across from Isabel.
“I never did catch your name. I’m Isabel.”
“I’m Serena. Nice to meet you, Isabel.”
“It’s really nice to meet you, Serena.”
TBC....
Chapter 14
Isabel grew weary. She was plain exhausted. It wasn’t just her eyes, tired of watching the road mile after mile, or her body, stiff from sitting in one place for hours, or even her throat from singing along to the radio. No, her mind was exhausted, tired from the heartbreak and tired from the analyzing every moment of every relationship in her life. She thought about her father. She thought about how much she hated to be around him, yet loved him still. What other parent did she have? She thought a lot about her mother. It was amazing that someone could be so selfish but still have everyone believing that everything wasn’t her fault – drinking wasn’t her fault, Isabel fighting back wasn’t her fault…nothing. She thought about her new friends. Did they even really like her? Would they even want to be around her now? They, after all, are Alex’s friends first and foremost. She thought about Liz. She loved Liz; Liz could be quite comforting at bad times. The truth was, Isabel had always been jealous. Liz always got the attention, the love, and the respect. What had Isabel gotten? That damn ‘Ice Princess’ title.
Finally, Isabel thought about Alex.
He had made her feel so special. She kept up an emotional barrier from people, but not from Alex. He waltzed, or better, stumbled into her life and confused her heart. Isabel had no clue what to do. He was the one at fault here, making her like him then yelling at her like she was….worthless. How she hated that feeling! Sure, it wasn’t the most polite thing in the world to leave him in the middle of the desert, but what was she going to do, chauffer him around town some more? Not likely.
The feeling of dread washed over her. She had to rest somewhere, but where? The lights of Roswell were fast approaching on the horizon and Isabel still hadn’t decided where to go. If she went home, she’d have to deal with her father. There was no way she could go to one of her friends’ houses. She had no clue where a decent hotel was in this town, not that she had the money to stay in one anyway. She reentered the city limits of Roswell at an unusually slow pace. Not only was she trying to think, but she was on the other side of town from what she was familiar with. The tacky lights of local bars flickered against the dark sky. Nope, she wasn’t in the mood for barflies. She passed bar after liquor store after video rental place after souvenir shop after bar. God, all I want is a damn cup of coffee for one fucking minute! Another tacky shop. Another…diner? Isabel swerved across the road towards the turn lane. The neon sign of the Roswell Diner danced across her windshield. It didn’t take long to find a parking space, especially considering that it was past the typical dinner rush. As soon as the car was in park, she yanked down her visor to check over her reflection in the mirror. Hmm, maybe some eyeliner will hide those humungous bags under my eyes? She quietly pulled a spare brown eye pencil from the glove compartment and slowly drew under her lashes. The lighting was terrible, and it would be hard for any expert. Five solid minutes later and she got out of the car to put up the cover on the convertible. This part of town is kinda sketchy -- no need to lose my radio. Her heels clicked against the pavement, her bag tucked under her arm, as she strode to the entrance.
Isabel took in the gauche atmosphere of the restaurant. It was your typical mock-futuristic diner complete with jute-boxes and chrome paneling. The desserts were proudly displayed in a case by the hostess stand, as if to beckon to the hungry entering customers. A Hispanic girl smacked her gum loudly, obviously bored by the lack of something to do. The girl stared off into space, completely ignoring Isabel’s presence. Isabel wasn’t very patient. In no time, her heel was rapping against the floor, jolting the girl’s attention.
“Oh. One?” the girl asked, indignantly. She wasn’t too happy that Isabel was impatient with her.
“Yeah. Booth.” Isabel answered flatly. What was the point of going to a restaurant if you don’t get what you want?
The girl pulled a leather menu from a basket and wordlessly guided her to a secluded corner booth. Isabel slid herself to the back of the oversized seat and took the menu, flashing a manicured hand. I might as well look at the menu, she thought. I have nothing else to do. She flipped through the pages of greasy foods. Barely anything seemed to be appealing. A sigh escaped her lips. She should be at a restaurant having a date with Alex or be at her restaurant, sleeping in her bed upstairs. But no, she was stuck here. For the moment, anyway.
“Hey there, so can I start you off with anything to drink?”
Isabel looked up at the source of the voice. The waitress was a girl about her age, medium height, with a fair complexion, and brown hair pulled back into a messy bun. Her face echoed of a sweet personality mixed with a bit sassier exterior. Isabel loved being able to read people. She glanced back down at her menu for a second, then looked back at her waitress.
“Uh, I was thinking about coffee, but maybe something sweeter…” Isabel trailed off, glancing back at her menu. The waitress smiled.
“Ah hell, I’ll have a milkshake. Strawberry, please.” Isabel finished. The girl scribbled it down on her notepad. She looked up with an afterthought.
“You’re not waiting for anyone, are you? I mean, should I wait around for another person?” she queried. Isabel shook her head.
“No. It’s just me. Pathetic, isn’t it?” Isabel remarked. The girl looked surprised.
“Oh no! It’s just…you just seem like the type to always have some kind of guy following you around or something. I may be making an out of line judgement, but you know…” she babbled.
Isabel liked this girl. She was nice and already was complimenting her. She had a certain posture that screamed she could handle herself, yet she was modest. Isabel looked around her quickly. There was practically no one in her section. A middle-aged couple in the back were talking quietly, but there was no one other than that. Maybe she could talk more with this girl. If she was distracted, it left less time to dwell upon Alex, and that was a very good thing.
“Well, thanks, but tonight I’m on my own. That is, unless, you want to just sit with me. Doesn’t look like you’re too busy.” Isabel suggested. The girl’s face lit up a little brighter, but she still kept that calm exterior.
“Sure. I’ve been needing a break! I’ll just get your shake and be right back.”
“Cool.” Isabel responded. She sunk back into her seat as the girl walked towards the kitchen. Some of her fatigue had been lifted with the prospect of someone to talk to.
It only took a few moments for the girl to return with Isabel’s milkshake. She filled the fancy glass with the pink liquid, then placed the large dented silver container next to it. Isabel motioned for her to take a seat. The girl’s relief was evident as she slid into the booth across from Isabel.
“I never did catch your name. I’m Isabel.”
“I’m Serena. Nice to meet you, Isabel.”
“It’s really nice to meet you, Serena.”
TBC....
-
dreamingofstars1947
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2003 12:00 am
- Location: lost in max & alex's eyes....
Hey guys! Sorry about the serious break in writing! My creativity really comes and goes! lol
Biged - Yes, Serena is in this...and taking a bigger role than I planned for. Before I planned her to be a minor character in the end, but now she's quickly becoming an important character. I think this chapter shows it.
Trude - Serena is definitely going to be a good influence for Isabel. Just how quickly Isabel gets it will be the issue....
Dreamwalker - Hah, I thought the same thing about having alex really try to make it up to Isabel...it'll happen!
Thanks to everyone (including LXC, A*StargazingInTheDay*I, roswellluver)!!!!
Chapter 15
“So, Isabel, are you a student or what?” Serena asked, quick to make conversation. She tried to make it seem like she wasn’t trying too hard. She didn’t want to look like a loser. Isabel liked how straight-forward this girl was. It reminded her of herself.
“Yeah. Sadly, I’m just in high school. You?” Isabel mentioned.
She took a sip of her milkshake. Mmm…good. Screw calories! She hadn’t eaten anything in hours anyway.
Meanwhile, Serena nodded in agreement.
“Same. But it feels a little more like college since I live by myself. I actually like it.” Serena explained, easing farther into the worn leather seat.
Isabel raised her eyebrows in question. Her curiosity was getting the better of her. It always posed a problem for her! Serena awaited the inevitable round of questions. 5, 4, 3, 2….
“Why? …I mean, why do you live by yourself? You’re, like, still under 18, right?” Isabel questioned.
Serena smirked and gently shook her head, letting her choppy brown hair sway from side to side. Everyone wanted to know that. It always took a bit of explanation for them to understand. She had met very few people that were open-minded enough to get it right away. That or they were just too damn stupid to get it.
“Yeah. Long story short, I had crappy parents that didn’t take care of me right, so I left, thanks to the help of my old neighbor, who was a lawyer. She got me in front of a judge and got the papers signed. I was lucky it was so easy. My neighbor…she seemed to just take care of everything. So, now I have my apartment, go to school like anyone else, and have this glamorous job.” She explained with a hint of sarcasm towards the end.
Serena looked at Isabel, expecting the usual look of surprise and sympathy. Yeah, it was there, but combined with something she didn’t expect – understanding.
“Wow,” Isabel commented, “isn’t it hard?”
Serena was mildly amazed that Isabel hadn’t pried into her life, wanting to know exactly what happened and had jumped forward into seeing how she was handling it. She was definitely different.
“Sometimes. It’s gets kinda lonely.” Serena said quietly. Isabel had a hard time believing this girl was completely alone in the world. She was the coolest girl she had met in a long while.
“But, don’t you have friends?” Isabel questioned. Serena sighed. Obviously there were shadows lurking in her past.
“I used to have a ton. You know, I used to be ‘popular’ or whatever. It’s all so fake. When I was having the hard time with my parents, no one understood what I was going through. No one was really there for me, and in time, I stopped hanging out with all the people I used to be around.” Serena explained. Isabel felt like she had a case of déjà vu. Her eyebrows creased in thought.
“But couldn’t you make new friends?”
Serena chuckled softly and shook her head. Her arm wrapped around her self.
“I was such a bitch. All the other groups in the school are either afraid or mad at me. I’ve had a boyfriend or two, but nothing serious that I can really hold on to.”
Serena sighed. This stuff, even now, was a little difficult to talk about. As much as people say that time heals, she knew it was total bullshit. Time doesn’t heal, it makes you forget. She looked to the girl that had quickly changed before her eyes. In the course of a few minutes, she almost went from sophisticated and confident to contemplative and…vulnerable. Her good posture was overthrown by her slightly slumped shoulders. Her appealing smile turned downwards, ever so vaguely. But her eyes, her eyes had brightened to a vibrant coffee brown, instead of the darker shade of before.
“God, I know how you feel.”
Serena was surprised, but also suspicious of the truth of the statement. She’d had enough of poor whiny preppy girls who bitched about just having a fight with their moms. It was old.
Isabel could see that she needed to elaborate. She opened her mouth to explain, but quickly stopped herself. Was she really going to spill her guts to a girl she had met only a few minutes ago, when she would barely speak about it to her sister? It only took a moment to decide…
“My mother is an alcoholic. We moved here because my grandmother died and left me the Crashdown Café. She blamed me for everything and took all of her shit out on me. My dad never defended me against her. He never even believed me when I told him that she had a problem. Now, our family is shattered, and all I have is a café and my ice princess persona.” Isabel explained. Now it was Serena’s turn to give looks and deal out questions. It had become like a talk show. Finish one interview, then quickly move to another. Isabel was the next guest.
“Haven’t you got any friends to back you up?”
Serena reasoned that Isabel’s surprise at her not having friends was due to Isabel having lots of supportive friends.
Isabel’s eyes briefly flashed with pain.
“I didn’t tell any of my old friends. They wouldn’t understand. I talked to my sister, but that doesn’t work too well. I started to make friends here, but…” Isabel paused, “…but that’s pretty much over.”
Serena looked confused.
“Why? What happened?”
Isabel wanted her to drop it. She wasn’t ready to explain that right now. Isabel looked down at her nails, as if they were fascinating.
“I really don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Serena got the idea. Fresh bruising, and not the physical kind. Serena decided she had gone too far.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry. Anyway, it’s getting late. Don’t you need to get home soon?” she asked. Isabel shrugged.
“No. I don’t think I’m going back home tonight. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’ve got to take some time for the air to clear, you know?” Isabel explained. Nice way to say, ‘I fought with pretty much everyone and I don’t want to deal with any more bullshit tonight.’
Serena checked her watch. 11:24 pm. Her shift ended in at 11:30 and she had an empty apartment to go home to. Maybe some company would brighten an otherwise worthless night.
“I get off work in six minutes. If you want, you could crash at my place. It’s not much, but we could watch movies and pig out or whatever. Might be fun.” Serena said, as nonchalantly as possible. Inside, she was screaming for Isabel to say yes. Isabel couldn’t have been more overjoyed at the offer, but also didn’t want to let it past her cool exterior.
“I’d love to.”
Both girls broke into uncontrollable smiles.
Biged - Yes, Serena is in this...and taking a bigger role than I planned for. Before I planned her to be a minor character in the end, but now she's quickly becoming an important character. I think this chapter shows it.
Trude - Serena is definitely going to be a good influence for Isabel. Just how quickly Isabel gets it will be the issue....
Dreamwalker - Hah, I thought the same thing about having alex really try to make it up to Isabel...it'll happen!
Thanks to everyone (including LXC, A*StargazingInTheDay*I, roswellluver)!!!!
Chapter 15
“So, Isabel, are you a student or what?” Serena asked, quick to make conversation. She tried to make it seem like she wasn’t trying too hard. She didn’t want to look like a loser. Isabel liked how straight-forward this girl was. It reminded her of herself.
“Yeah. Sadly, I’m just in high school. You?” Isabel mentioned.
She took a sip of her milkshake. Mmm…good. Screw calories! She hadn’t eaten anything in hours anyway.
Meanwhile, Serena nodded in agreement.
“Same. But it feels a little more like college since I live by myself. I actually like it.” Serena explained, easing farther into the worn leather seat.
Isabel raised her eyebrows in question. Her curiosity was getting the better of her. It always posed a problem for her! Serena awaited the inevitable round of questions. 5, 4, 3, 2….
“Why? …I mean, why do you live by yourself? You’re, like, still under 18, right?” Isabel questioned.
Serena smirked and gently shook her head, letting her choppy brown hair sway from side to side. Everyone wanted to know that. It always took a bit of explanation for them to understand. She had met very few people that were open-minded enough to get it right away. That or they were just too damn stupid to get it.
“Yeah. Long story short, I had crappy parents that didn’t take care of me right, so I left, thanks to the help of my old neighbor, who was a lawyer. She got me in front of a judge and got the papers signed. I was lucky it was so easy. My neighbor…she seemed to just take care of everything. So, now I have my apartment, go to school like anyone else, and have this glamorous job.” She explained with a hint of sarcasm towards the end.
Serena looked at Isabel, expecting the usual look of surprise and sympathy. Yeah, it was there, but combined with something she didn’t expect – understanding.
“Wow,” Isabel commented, “isn’t it hard?”
Serena was mildly amazed that Isabel hadn’t pried into her life, wanting to know exactly what happened and had jumped forward into seeing how she was handling it. She was definitely different.
“Sometimes. It’s gets kinda lonely.” Serena said quietly. Isabel had a hard time believing this girl was completely alone in the world. She was the coolest girl she had met in a long while.
“But, don’t you have friends?” Isabel questioned. Serena sighed. Obviously there were shadows lurking in her past.
“I used to have a ton. You know, I used to be ‘popular’ or whatever. It’s all so fake. When I was having the hard time with my parents, no one understood what I was going through. No one was really there for me, and in time, I stopped hanging out with all the people I used to be around.” Serena explained. Isabel felt like she had a case of déjà vu. Her eyebrows creased in thought.
“But couldn’t you make new friends?”
Serena chuckled softly and shook her head. Her arm wrapped around her self.
“I was such a bitch. All the other groups in the school are either afraid or mad at me. I’ve had a boyfriend or two, but nothing serious that I can really hold on to.”
Serena sighed. This stuff, even now, was a little difficult to talk about. As much as people say that time heals, she knew it was total bullshit. Time doesn’t heal, it makes you forget. She looked to the girl that had quickly changed before her eyes. In the course of a few minutes, she almost went from sophisticated and confident to contemplative and…vulnerable. Her good posture was overthrown by her slightly slumped shoulders. Her appealing smile turned downwards, ever so vaguely. But her eyes, her eyes had brightened to a vibrant coffee brown, instead of the darker shade of before.
“God, I know how you feel.”
Serena was surprised, but also suspicious of the truth of the statement. She’d had enough of poor whiny preppy girls who bitched about just having a fight with their moms. It was old.
Isabel could see that she needed to elaborate. She opened her mouth to explain, but quickly stopped herself. Was she really going to spill her guts to a girl she had met only a few minutes ago, when she would barely speak about it to her sister? It only took a moment to decide…
“My mother is an alcoholic. We moved here because my grandmother died and left me the Crashdown Café. She blamed me for everything and took all of her shit out on me. My dad never defended me against her. He never even believed me when I told him that she had a problem. Now, our family is shattered, and all I have is a café and my ice princess persona.” Isabel explained. Now it was Serena’s turn to give looks and deal out questions. It had become like a talk show. Finish one interview, then quickly move to another. Isabel was the next guest.
“Haven’t you got any friends to back you up?”
Serena reasoned that Isabel’s surprise at her not having friends was due to Isabel having lots of supportive friends.
Isabel’s eyes briefly flashed with pain.
“I didn’t tell any of my old friends. They wouldn’t understand. I talked to my sister, but that doesn’t work too well. I started to make friends here, but…” Isabel paused, “…but that’s pretty much over.”
Serena looked confused.
“Why? What happened?”
Isabel wanted her to drop it. She wasn’t ready to explain that right now. Isabel looked down at her nails, as if they were fascinating.
“I really don’t want to talk about it right now.”
Serena got the idea. Fresh bruising, and not the physical kind. Serena decided she had gone too far.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry. Anyway, it’s getting late. Don’t you need to get home soon?” she asked. Isabel shrugged.
“No. I don’t think I’m going back home tonight. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’ve got to take some time for the air to clear, you know?” Isabel explained. Nice way to say, ‘I fought with pretty much everyone and I don’t want to deal with any more bullshit tonight.’
Serena checked her watch. 11:24 pm. Her shift ended in at 11:30 and she had an empty apartment to go home to. Maybe some company would brighten an otherwise worthless night.
“I get off work in six minutes. If you want, you could crash at my place. It’s not much, but we could watch movies and pig out or whatever. Might be fun.” Serena said, as nonchalantly as possible. Inside, she was screaming for Isabel to say yes. Isabel couldn’t have been more overjoyed at the offer, but also didn’t want to let it past her cool exterior.
“I’d love to.”
Both girls broke into uncontrollable smiles.
Let me in, oh please tonight
don't let this end tonight
i'll fall
Wearing Me Down
Thicker Than Blood
don't let this end tonight
i'll fall
Wearing Me Down
Thicker Than Blood