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A Place To Call Home: A New Beginning
Written by, Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1
Part Eleven: Homecoming
Two Months Later… (Mid October)
At Max and Liz’s….
Liz got ready for the Homecoming Dance half-wishing she didn’t’ have to go at all. Five months along in her pregnancy, Liz was big enough she wore maternity shirts and baggy shorts. She sat on the bed with a pillow cushioning her back that ached now and then. She pulled her hair up into a twist with a banana clip holding it. IT was just now cooling down again but tonight was somewhat stuffy and so she had the fan on low blowing every so often in her face, offering a sweet reprieve.
Max walked in with Michael declaring while waving his prize, saying, “Hey! I told you, Maxwell. I told you they had to do it. They had to give it to me.”
Max rolled his eyes and said, “You act so smug, but I was there, Michael. I watched with embarrassment I might add as you bullied your way into getting that damn CD for two bucks less.” Dryly, Max added, “Tell me, Michael, how do you do it?”
Michael stopped in mid stride to the kitchen, turning to Max and said in his usual showy voice, “If I tell you, I give out my secrets and then they would no longer be mine.”
Max’s funny expression turned to an abrupt grin then an outright laugh as he said, “Keep them all, Michael. I have my own rewards.”
He went in search of Liz, calling her name, “Liz? I’m home.”
Liz shoved to the floor then in a walk that she could only define as a waddle, Liz walked to Max and Michael in the kitchen and said, “How was the shopping adventure? Did you get anything?”
Michael beamed, “Check it out, Liz.” In Michael’s hand was a brand new Train CD and he was…he was strutting? Yes, he was! Liz burst into laughter and said, “Oh, stop it. I’m going to pee my pants!”
Michael backed off saying to Max, “Take her, Max, to the bathroom. No more incidents like last weekend.”
Liz angled her head to look up into her brother’s face and said, “Oh come on. You act like it was that bad.”
“You burst into laughter and pee all over the couch—which by the way I’m sitting on beside you! I stunk like pee for hours.”
Max choked laughter as he said, “That was your own fault for not showering, Michael. I showered.”
Michael gave Max a sarcastic look before saying, “So speaks the whipped soul. Maxwell when are you going to learn that you are never going to outdo me? It just isn’t possible. Like with the CD.”
Max let out a large breath, rolled his eyes upward and said, “Oh not again! Michael you have a fixation on your capabilities. Did anyone tell you that?”
Michael grinned as he said, “Isabel likes my capabilities just fine, thank you.”
Liz turned on her way to the bathroom and said, “Really? That’s not what she tells me.”
Michael said, “Wait, Liz. Just what are you getting at?”
Liz and Max burst into laughs and Max told Liz, “Good one, Liz. The perfect end to a bout of the ridiculous.”
Suddenly a car sounded on the drive and Max glanced out the window, recognizing his sister’s car and said, “Weren’t you to pick Isabel up, Michael?”
Michael shook his head, as he said, “Not for another hour She must be wanting to see you, Maxwell or Liz.”
Isabel opened the door and said, “You all have to save me. I’ve just had a vision of being attacked by aliens and since I am an alien I guess that means I’m pretty screwed.” Turning to Michael she said, “I knew you’d save me, Michael.” Michael said, “You were saying, Maxwell?” Max replied, “What was I thinking?”
Isabel walked to Michael and they kissed.
Max found Liz and put his arm around her, walking her into the living room for a chance to talk.
Max noted Liz’s behavior before that day but he hadn’t said much. He attributed it to her not feeling so well in the mornings and this pregnancy had been tough on her. She had been achy, and sick a good part of it so far. That would make anyone quiet.
Now, though, this seemed different. So Max asked, “What is it, Liz?”
Liz paced around the room saying, “I’m not sure I am up for this dance, Max.”
Max gave Liz a smile as he said, “Liz you know I’m not a party guy. But you enjoy dances. Why don’t you want to go?”
Liz looked at Max and said troubled, “I don’t exactly look like I did five months ago, Max…I’m fat as a cow and ugly.”
Max walked to Liz and putting his arms around her, looked into her eyes as he said, “You are the same girl I fell in love with and married five months ago, Liz and every bit as beautiful. I’d be proud to walk into the gym with you tonight.”
Liz’s eyes became teary as she said, “Max…I love you.”
Max smiled setting it in his mind forever this moment with Liz, where he was standing in the kitchen of their house, holding his beautiful pregnant wife. There was nothing else that mattered as far as he was concerned….
Maria changed her dress twice before satisfied with her lavender one. She had fixed her hair down, then up, then in between and finally plugged in her curling rod and curled her hair so it was golden and pretty. She put a little make up on and her violet earrings in her ears. She was taking her time tonight, getting ready, longer than necessary because she knew that this was a date she had wanted for seventeen years. Mainly because it was her first date in seventeen years.
She had quickly formed a crush on Alex Whitman, the to himself wise guy in school. For months he had gone by her and she had thought he didn’t care. Truth was he did care, and now they were going to the dance together. This was their magical night and she was looking forward to it.
Growing up with a single mom, Maria had known what it was like to struggle. Her mom might have bought a bookstore and it might have taken off well, but it had been a rough beginning. There were months—no years—where it was slow and that meant so was the money in the house. Maria was not above putting aside wants for needs. And she had thought she was pretty together when it came to what she needed. Dances were nice, but she hadn’t shown much interest there until now.
Now it mattered and she was going to have fun.
As Maria got ready for the dance and was finishing up, her mother said, “So, tell me about Alex, honey.”
Maria replied, “Oh mom.”
Seeing her daughter’s annoyance, Amy replied, “What? Don’t you have something you’d like to tell me about him?”
Maria could think of several things she’d like to say about him. He was sexy, sweet, daring but most of all mysterious. He was from a past that had Maria going to him and another part that was his present that was quiet but with promise. Somehow, Maria felt there was something beneath his quiet moods something that could flare into a passion she had never known. She’d fantasized about being his girlfriend a million times, about being kissed at the dunes and another time at the school. Of course her images were limited because she was limited in experience. But for Maria it was something to go on.
This secret interest was something she didn’t ever want her mother to know.
So she stepped into her high rise shoes, buckled them up and said, “He’s a senior, eighteen, and taller than me. He’s sweet mom. I think you’d like him.”
Amy couldn't help the comments that ricochet out of her mouth, she was a mother after all. “He’s eighteen, huh. Does his mother know he is dating a girl younger than that?”
Maria rolled her eyes and said, “Mom!”
Amy asked, “Where does he live? I’d like to meet his parents eventually, especially since you are dating.”
Maria said, “Mom this is our first date ever. It might not even turn into anything. Aren’t you rushing it?”
Suddenly the door rasped. Maria walked to it and whispered to her mother, “I think it’s him. Mom please don’t embarrass me!”
Alex stood on the opposite side of the door. Maria looked into his eyes and felt lost. She could barely comprehend her own name, much less welcome him inside at first. Significantly taller than she, Alex stood dressed in blue jeans and a tucked in sea green T-shirt. His brown hair was waved and sexy. His blue eyes were so deep, they were what drew Maria to him to begin with, before she went in search of the person within.
All Amy saw was a combination of leather jacket, mystery and possible trouble for her baby girl. For a kid, he was cute. And somehow Amy figured other girls knew it too. Just how much of a past did this Alex Whitman have? As she watched Maria leave with him in his car, Amy stood nervously watching and hoping that she was being smart in letting her little girl leave the house at all!
The gang met at the dance five minutes later. They walked inside with a new edge of being seniors and this being their last Homecoming Dance to ever attend. So they were going to live it up.
Max helped Liz inside, Alex checked out Maria and she clamed up again, still painfully nervous. Michael walked in with Isabel, their hands in each other’s back pockets. Kyle walked in with Tess closely with a private conversation going on. They were discussing leaving early.
Max said, “Liz, you doing alright?”
Liz smiled up at Max and said, “I’m fine, Max. Just pregnant.”
Since the beginning of her pregnancy, Max had been the total doting husband and father to be. She had never had to want for anything that if possible he wouldn’t do or get for her. She leaned her head on his shoulder and walked inside secretly wishing for a chair to sit in to rest her aching back. For Liz, she felt she had already had the dance, now she was paying the fiddler with murderous back and leg cramps on a Friday night!
She added, “Who wants to angst the idea of getting pictures taken? I’m for it!”
Michael said, “No way, Liz. You come to this dance, you get to have your pictures done.” If he had to so did she. Isabel was not going to let him live it down if he didn’t. Truthfully, he enjoyed spending all his time with Isabel and pleasing her so it wasn’t a bother for him. He’d do battle with anyone who claimed that made him a jock strap.
The music in the dance room otherwise known as the high school gym played 80’s and 90’s music. Staff and some of the students enjoyed 80’s rock. All sang loudly whether or not their voices could hold a tune or not to Wild, Wild West, Lean on Me, Fly to the Angels, Come on Eileen.
Liz looked Max and said, “Vintage rock. Cool.”
Max smiled and said, “You up for it?”
Smiling Liz said, “Sure.” They went to the floor and started dancing slowly to the beat. Liz had her arms around Max’s neck and each was looking longingly into the other’s eyes dancing to Can’t Fight This Feeling.
Alex had wanted to ask Maria out for awhile. She was so full of things to say and so shy at the same time. Together it caused him to be very interested. It had taken him time, but he had gotten the nerve to walk to her and ask her to the dance. He recalled the conversation…
“Maria?” He asked with a smile at school.
“Yes?” Maria had been talking with Liz about a grade when Alex came over. She figured it had something to do with forgetting to take notes. Though she would have gladly offered to make a copy of hers if he’d asked. She wasn’t a pushover or a cheat, but when it came to Alex…well…he was the first person to ever get her to forget the protective walls she’d placed. He could see her vulnerable side if he’d only try.
What she didn’t know was that he was vulnerable too. And when he stood there trying to get the words out to ask her out, Alex felt very nervous. His greatest fear was that she would tell him she wasn’t interested. Maria had a way about her that could be kind when she liked and just as easily put off indifference. These were things he liked, they were part of the challenge in wooing her. A victory wasn’t near as fun if it was short and sweet.
He replied, “The Homecoming Dance is coming up next Friday…I was wondering if you’d like to go with me?”
Surprised, Maria looked at Alex and said, “Excuse me?” She was clearly stunned.
Feeling he was about to be brushed off, Alex said, “I know it is probably late timing and you probably have someone you’re going with…but I thought I’d ask anyway.”
Maria shook her head and said, “Alex…I…”
Alex started to walk away feeling he had lost as he said, “It’s cool. I understand if you’ve got someone else.” He’d just go crawl under a giant hole and pray he could come out in the next decade!
Maria stopped him saying, “No, Alex! I mean, I don’t have a date. I…I’d love to go with you.”
That event had sprung this one into life. And as he walked across the room with two glasses of tropical punch in his hands, Alex spotted Maria standing by the table in her lavender dress that went to her ankles, the spaghetti straps that showed off her slender arms. He saw her eyes, those green eyes that were so shielded sometimes, so filled with memories that had to create that protection. Somehow, though, when she was near Alex, he felt there was another side of her. A softer side that was trusting and reached out to him without having touched him physically. Alex knew that this was the best day of his life.
When Maria took her glass, she smiled at Alex and said, “Thank you.” She knew she liked Alex, had for sometime, but he was the first boy she had ever liked like this and so it was all-new to her. Should she be bold and tell him that she liked him? Should she tell him that she had fantasies? No, that was too soon. It would appear easy. Maria didn’t ever want to appear easy.
So she danced with Alex and had a good time without sharing that tidbit of information!
While the four danced, two couples snuck out unnoticed….
Michael and Isabel took off in his car and Kyle and Tess took off in his. They had other plans that didn’t involve a high school dance….
Michael took Isabel to his place so they could enjoy their own private dance. As soon as they arrived, Michael began, “I was ready to get out of there.”
Isabel let her eyes get large for emphasis as she said, “Oh, me too! I mean, how long can you dance, sit, dance, and sit some more? I was glad you were ready to go.”
Isabel turned on low key music and Michael dimmed the lights with the wave of his hand. Once done, Isabel took in Michael’s basement apartment. It was adequate, his bed was in one corner. Beside it was a box that she presumed held his clothes. It was neat, she supposed so she wouldn’t’ comment.
He had his own stereo, his own chair and table, and refrigerator and washer and dryer. Isabel smiled and said, “This place is neat, Michael. I’m surprised there isn’t a shower in it.”
Michael pointed to the room off to the left and said, “Right their Isabel. Any other questions?”
Isabel walked to Michael and said, “Nope. None at all…”
They met in the middle of the room. Isabel was spending the night tonight for the first time and they had the next several hours to just play. And they did!
Meanwhile, Kyle took Tess to his house. Dad was out on a two-day trip to the Canyon with Amy. So they had the house to themselves. Kyle unlocked and opened the front door, then stepping in with Tess said, “Drop your stuff anywhere. The place is ours tonight—or at least until Maria comes home.”
Tess chuckled. If Kyle showed his hopes for the night any more obviously he would just write them on the wall! She had thought about it for a long time. They had dated for sometime and she felt sure about Kyle. Tess couldn’t ask for a better person to be with for the first time. He was sincere right down to his cowboy boots and down home country endearing eyes. Tess had learned quickly on that she was very attracted to him. But Tess wasn’t so willing to let that be known just yet. He was not going to get that image of her. Not if she could help it. Even if she had thought of tonight being the night. She liked the idea of a surprise.
So Tess said, “Okay.” And she kicked off her dress shoes and dropped her purse on the couch.
Kyle came back out the kitchen moments later with two Coke’s in his hands. Handing one to Tess, he said, “We can flip on the TV and watch a little for awhile if you want.”
Nodding, Tess said, “I thought we could talk some too, if you don’t mind?”
Kyle sat with her on the couch and said, “What’s up?”
Tess put her hands in her lap and said, “Well, I feel that we’ve reached a point when I want to know a few things. Like…”
Kyle grinned at Tess, giving her his whole attention as he said, “Like? Like what, Tess?”
Tess blushed as she said, “Like when you are with me, do you feel like you are with a friend or a girlfriend?” It sounded really lame to her and she knew it had to on Kyle. Wishing she could have omitted this conversation, Tess cringed as she waited for his reply.
Kyle grinned at the way she was going about asking if he was interested in her as a possible lover. He thought to himself, Thank Goodness I stopped at the drugstore! If this was the night he wanted to be ready so they could be ready and so they could have the night that he had wanted their first time to be like.
Walking the rest of the way to Tess, Kyle said, “Tess I might be off base here and please tell me if I am but if you are asking me what I think you are, maybe this will answer your question.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him with all the spontaneity of youth and capturing her lips with his own, Kyle kissed her slowly, with a carefree sweetness that had Tess stepping into him. Wrapping her arms around him snugly, Tess kissed him back and while doing it she knew she had a decision to make. They’d gone out quite a lot here lately and she knew how she felt and somehow she figured she knew how he felt. Still, if she was wrong…she might be hurt afterward. Her cousin Beth had had that happen while she was a senior in high school…of course she was with a bad guy. Now Beth was happily married and had been for six years.
Kyle picked up on her mulling so he broke the kiss and backed away an inch, saying in a breathy voice, “Tess? What’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, telling herself she was being silly comparing at a time like this, Tess moved closer to Kyle and said, “Nothing Kyle.” She put her arms around him and initiated the next kiss. One led to another and soon they were on the carpeted floor by the fireplace.
When making out became heated, Kyle looked down at Tess and said, “Tess?”
Tess looked up at him and said with a smile, “Kyle.”
Kyle kissed her neck and said, “Tess…do you…want to stop?” Oh he hoped not! He felt in his back pocket offhandedly for his billfold. Finding it, he inwardly smiled. In there was his supply of Jim-Dandy’s.
Tess said breathlessly, “I…I don’t think so.”
Hearing that clearly, Kyle brought his face to hers and said, “Tess? I kinda have to know about this.”
Seeing, clearly seeing Tess’s uncertainty, Kyle sat up pulling her with him so they could sit apart a few inches. Kyle let out a deep breath that about killed him.
Tess asked, “Why did you do that?”
Kyle gave Tess a knowing look that had her saying, “Oh,” and had tears coming to her eyes. He touched her face as he said, “Don’t cry, Tess. It’s okay if you aren’t ready.”
Tess buttoned up her shirt as she said, “I feel so stupid, Kyle.” Wiping tears, she said, “I know you are the one I want to be with…but I haven’t been with anyone before. Which by now you know.”
Kyle ran a hand through his hair as he said, “Tess…I haven’t….”
Tess continued babbling on through tears, “I mean, I know you are probably sitting there thinking I am ridiculous and don’t know what I want. I’ll bet you had girls who were less neurotic than I am, using a cousin’s bad history as a reason to slow down.”
Kyle grinned temporarily then when she was looking at him he said, “Tess, if you aren’t ready I don’t care what the reason is. We stop. Listen to me, Tess,” he said when he saw she was crying, “Tess? I haven’t been with anyone else either. (At her surprised expression) Yeah. I’m on the same page as you. You could never be neurotic. You hear me? You are beautiful and kind and the most reasonable person I know. This will wait till we are ready.” He stood and watched as she did with him. Then holding her hands, Kyle said, “How about that TV?”
Nodding, Tess said, “Okay. Kyle…thank you. Thanks for everything.”
Kyle kissed Tess lightly on the lips and said, “Thank you for telling me that I’m the one you want to be with.”
Walking with him into the living room, Tess said, “I’ll bet that feels real good knowing that since we aren’t sleeping together tonight….”
Squeezing her arm lightly, Kyle said, “Tess hearing that of all the guys in Roswell to be your first, you chose me is something I won’t be able to forget for a long time. Maybe ever. When we are together, Tess,” She looked up at him and said, “Yes?”
Kyle finished, “It will be special for both of us.”
Believing that, Tess replied, “Yes, it will.”….
Max and Liz had decided to take a break from dancing for a while. Liz was tired and her back and legs were killing her. She wasn’t ready to leave just yet though. She had to admit she was having a good time. Max had gotten up to go and get them both a drink.
Liz looked over at Maria. She and Alex were dancing and Maria had her head on his shoulder. Earlier that day, the group had practiced on their ability to hear each other’s thoughts and figured out how to be able to block people so their conversations could be more personal. This way, they could still have their own thoughts without everyone knowing all of them.
You ok? She mentally asked Maria.
Oh yeah! Gosh Liz, this feels so right. Why aren’t you and Max out here? Maria responded.
Leg cramps again. It will pass soon and then I will pull him out there again. Crud!
What? What’s wrong? Is the baby alright? Maria asked.
The baby is fine Maria, I just have to pee again. I just went five minutes ago! Be right back. Liz would never get used to the constant need to urinate.
She walked through the crowded gym and as she turned the corner, she spotted Max. She started to walk over to him then noticed he was talking to Karen Jenkins. And judging by how close they were standing to each other and the fact that Karen was rubbing Max’s arm, it must be a pretty friendly damn conversation. To hell with the bathroom, she was out of there!
Liz stormed past Max without even looking back at him and ran out the door. Max looked at her in total confusion and ran after her.
“Liz! Liz wait up!”
“What do you want Max?”
Max looked at her and could tell that she had been crying. He hated to see her cry.
“What’s wrong? You feel ok? Is something wrong with the baby?”
“I am just fine Max. The baby is fine. Why don’t you go back to the dance and ask your girlfriend to dance with you? I’m sure she would be willing.” Liz was almost shouting now.
“What are you talking about Liz? Karen? We were just talking.”
“Yeah, I’m sure she was just trying to take your pulse. After all, your heart tends to beat faster when someone touches you. You know, that whole outside stimulus thing. So tell me Max, just how much stimulation does she provide you with?”
Max couldn’t help but chuckle. Liz actually thought he would sleep with Karen Jenkins.
“What do you find to be so funny here Max?” Liz was starting to get mad and her voice keep getting louder.
“Liz, listen to me. If I were going to cheat on you, which I would never do, it certainly wouldn’t be with someone like Karen Jenkins who thinks Bill Clinton is a rap singer! Liz, you are the only one I want to be with. You and the baby are my life.”
“Then why was she rubbing your arm like that?”
“She was congratulating us and noticed a hair on my shirt and was simply brushing it off. That’s all Liz.”
Liz couldn’t help the red that was now washing over her face. She was so embarrassed. She actually accused Max of cheating on her because he was talking to Karen Jenkins.
Man my hormones are out of wack! She thought.
What? Oh man! She forgot to block her thoughts and now the whole group was answering her thoughts in unison. It was definitely time to go home.
Max put his arm around her and started to lead her to the jeep. On the way out the door, Liz walked to Maria and said, “Hey girl, Max and I are getting ready to head out of here for the night. You gonna be okay?”
Maria smiled at Liz and Max and then up at Alex and said, “Well unless Alex gets bored with me and leaves me here, yes, I think I’ll be fine. I know that I am ready to blow this joint myself. It was fun for awhile though.”
Liz replied, “Yeah in the beginning.” Max nodded.
Alex caught on and said, “I am not going to leave Maria, but when she is ready I am ready to head out myself. I enjoy being here with you all, with Maria, but as far as this dance is concerned, I’m bored as hell.”
Max smiled and said, “Yeah, I know what you’re saying, Alex. I felt that way too.” Alex continued jokingly, “I mean there isn’t any fun when you go through four years of high school and not once do you run into a spiked bowl of punch! It makes you think you go to school with fuddy-duddy’s!
Catch you both later.”
Max did the manly hand-bonding thing with Alex that meant Stay Cool Man and headed out the door with Liz.
With that Alex and Maria waved bye as Liz and Max drove away in the jeep for the night.
Michael and Isabel slept in one house, Max and Liz rode home in the jeep, Maria and Alex headed home in his car, and Kyle and Tess slept soundly in each other’s arms on the couch of his house. Overall it had been a good Homecoming for the entire group….
A Place To Call Home: A New Beginning ADI;T CC [COMPLETE]
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A Place to Call Home: A New Beginning
Written by, Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1
Disclaimer: We own NOTHING in the TV shows Roswell, Dawson’s Creek, or Felicity. Anything we have borrowed from them has been used solely to enrich our fic. Hope you enjoy!
Part Twelve: Reigning in the Holidays
The month of October flew by and soon again they were celebrating Thanksgiving. Liz and Max held it at their place and the whole gang was there. Mom and Dad flew down with plans to stay through the New Year. The large mahogany table was filled from one end to the other with food and family, love and happy eating.
Christmas followed on its tail and took everyone by surprise when Liz went into false labor on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve night was spent at the ER for awhile then they all came back home exhausted—most of all Liz. Kyle, Max, Michael and Alex went out and got nice gifts for Tess, Liz, Isabel, and Maria. The girls bought gifts too. It was a nice couple of holidays and the entire family sang songs and felt grateful to be together and safe…
Saturday December 28, 1999
Days were approaching for the New Year. Max and Liz were taking down the tree and lights, talking about last minute things for the spare bedroom that they had changed into a baby room. During the pregnancy, they had it all fixed in universal colors in case it is a boy or a girl. Neither Liz nor Max wanted to know until the birth and delivery. Though secretly, Liz hoped it would be a girl. If so, she would name her Macayla. Max got say if it was a boy. That was their agreement early on.
Liz, nearing her nine calendar month was tired, but thankful to have a healthy baby, according to the doctor. She’d religiously gone to her appointments throughout her pregnancy, with Max at her side and she had followed the doctor’s orders strictly.
Three days before the New Years Eve, Liz was frantic. The entire group was to meet again at the house and it was destroyed! Of course Liz was not feeling well, so she looked at Max and Michael and said out loud, “How long would it take to pick up the laundry once in awhile? Or wash a dish? Am I the only one who can do it?” Liz was standing in the living room glancing at the house with her hands on her hips. Michael was sitting on the couch reading a magazine; Max painting on an easel.
Michael gave her a look of irritation before saying, “Oh, Liz. The house looks fine.” Piles of clothes were all over the floor, empty food containers on every table, some wrappers on the couch!
Liz said, “Sure it does. How are you going to explain this when Isabel walks in here tomorrow and sees it? I won’t be blamed for it either. I’m not a slob!”
Max stopped for a moment and said, “Liz, aside from a few odds and ends, it really doesn’t look that bad…” Then when he caught her frown, her deep sign of aggravation, he amended, “But I’m sure it could be picked up.”
Michael said under his breath, “Whipped!”
Max glared at Michael, put down his paintbrush and resolutely got busy helping pick up. Sure, maybe he was whipped, but Max knew when to drop what he was doing or pay the price of Liz in a bad mood. And Max felt bad for Liz, seeing she was at the stage where she was wanting to have her baby and unable to until the baby was ready.
He’d heard stories from his cousin Felicity who after marrying out of college got pregnant and went through the same thing, testing all around at times. It had been worth it, though at the birth of the baby. She and her husband Ben were happy now, though, in California. They had a two year old baby boy named Dawson.
Seeing Liz’s exhaustion, Max said, “Why not lay down for awhile, Liz? We can finish up in here.”
Liz nodded and said, “I think I will. Thanks, Max for the help.”
As soon as Liz was out of earshot, Michael turned to Max and said, “Alright Maxwell, just because you are whipped doesn’t mean I will be. I refuse to become a trained monkey! I’ll help you this time but the next time you try to volunteer me into doing something, you can do it yourself!”
Max was about to say something when Isabel walked in taking a glimpse of the house. She rolled her eyes and said, “My Gosh! You two are like hogs!”
Michael began, “Liz went and lay down…”
Isabel’s eyes became electric as she focused on Michael’s and said, “This isn’t the 50’s, get off your lazy butts and help her! I don’t believe you two! Poor Liz is nine months pregnant. What’s your excuse? Now I’m going to talk with her. If I come back and don’t see some improvement, you’re the ones who will need a bed to rest in!” She went in search of Liz, finding her in her room, lying down.
After Isabel had left the room, Max noted Michael putting down his magazine and picking up the house. He shook his head, grinning at him and heard Michael said, “Don’t even think about saying it, Maxwell. I don’t care to hear it.”
Max said with a chuckle, “I wasn’t going to say a word, Michael. But now that you mention it… Sucker! You’re just as whipped as me.”
Michael tossed a towel at Max and couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his handsome face….
It took an hour, but the house was clean again. Just in time for the family to come pouring in! Isabel walked out and said privately to Max, “You’re lucky this house was clean!” Max just rolled his eyes and said, “Where’s Liz?”
Isabel said, “She’s coming. Give her a minute.”
Everyone got to talking and Liz came out in her oversized bright yellow maternity shirt and baggy blue shorts. Water puddling at her feet she said, “Max…Mom…I think I’m in labor!”
Max ran to her and caught her just before she was going to fall and holding her steady said, “Michael get the keys to the jeep, Isabel get Liz’s things...”
Obeying without question to Max’s ordering tone, Michael opened the door and out walked Liz with Max holding one arm and her mom holding the other. Today was December 28th and Liz Parker was finally going into labor….
The next thing Liz knew she was laying on a cold table with her legs in stirrups and some bald headed substitute doctor saying, “Push Liz, push hard!”
Liz looked at Max with painful eyes and squeezed his hand hard during her latest contraction. Glaring at the doctor, she said, “Listen you bald headed buffoon! Until you’re nine months pregnant laying spread eagle on a damn table, don’t order me around! Oh!! Max!!!” She cried out over her next excruciating contraction. They seemed to be overlapping each other. This doctor said it was natural and that meant they were nearing the birth. They’d been in here for two hours so Liz was ready for that.
Max knew better than to say, Oh Liz do what the doctor says…By the way you’re doing great. Liz would have probably decked him over it at this point. She was in a state of mind that didn’t allow for rational thought.
He held her hand and wiped the sweat off her face, kissing her forehead and tried to offer support. Finally when he saw she was softening some he said, “I love you, Liz.”
Liz smiled faintly at him and said, “I love you too, Max.” Then another contraction hit and she nearly broke his hand from the impact of it.
She cried out a lot of profanities, adding some new ones never heard mixed together before, and said, “I hate parks! Oh I hate parks! Never take me to another park, Max! Never!!!”
Max gave her mother a funny look and she said, “Go with it” with her lips, not uttering a sound. Max nodded and said, “Okay, Liz. No more parks.”
Another thirty minutes passed…
Out in the waiting area Michael paced the floor saying, “This is taking too long. Someone should be going in there and doing something! I’m going in there!”
Isabel had listened somewhat patiently to Michael but at this, she walked to him and said, “What are you gonna do? Have the baby for her? There is nothing you can do, Michael. Having a baby isn’t like changing batteries in your remote control. You can’t just pop it out at will!”
Michael did not want to hear this. He said emotionally, “Liz is my sister, Isabel.”
Isabel said, “Yeah. And Max is my brother.”
Michael spat, “Max isn’t the one having the kid, Liz is. He just had the handy job of putting her in this position.”
Her ire up, Isabel said, “Put her in this position? Liz was there too!”
Michael ran a hand through his hair and said, “I know…” trying to calm down. “I’m just worried about her. It’s been over two hours…”
Isabel looked at him, seeing his concern. She put her hand in his as she said, “I know it has. Liz is gonna be fine, Michael. She is. She’s a tough girl…a lot like her brother is. I mean a tough person.” Isabel winced, realizing she had just compared Michael to Liz as a tough girl.
Michael gave Isabel a come-again-grin as he said, “Sure. Isabel, you know I love you. But the next time you call me a tough girl, I think we’re going to have words. I may be a lot of things, but I ain’t no chick!” Michael joked.
Isabel shook her head and said, “Let’s just forget it and go back to where I was consoling you over Liz.”
Michael accepted Isabel’s warm arms around him as he said, “Sounds good to me.” He was covering a lot of worry about his sister and Isabel could see it. She walked into his arms and hugged him, telling him again how it was going to be okay.
Liz had gone into labor midday, but didn’t hear the cries of hers and Max’s baby until around four that afternoon. Sighing, she lay on the bed and held her baby girl that she named Macayla Ryan. Ryan was Max’s middle name. It didn’t sound too boyish to Liz or Max so they chose it.
Mom and Macayla were doing just fine…. Daddy on the other hand needed some oxygen! The same nurse that was there when Liz found out she was pregnant got to assist Max—yet again! She couldn’t help but grin inwardly as she was beginning to take a liking to the young man. She would never admit it though! When the family went in to see Liz and the baby, they noticed that they had Max on a small bed with an oxygen mask on. Michael rolled his eyes and said “Man, your such a wuss!”
“Oh really.” Isabel said. “Who was that man that I had to hold back from trying to deliver the baby himself? Where did he go to? Has anyone seen him? Hmmm.” Michael puts his arm around her shoulder and gives her a noogie.
Isabel looked at him and smiled. “Michael, what did I tell you about messing up my hair? It’s the couch for you tonight young man!”
“Damn!” Michael said.
“Ooh, sent to the couch huh?” Alex asked. Of course Alex and Maria hadn’t yet even made it to the bed, but he wasn’t pushing. He often spoke with Kyle about this as they both were waiting for their girlfriends to be ready.
Two guys that actually were not pushing to get into bed. Just hinting, hoping, praying!
Later that afternoon, Liz lay in her bed with Max in the comfy chair beside her. She smiled at him, awakening again from her sleep. Max said, “Liz?”
Liz pushed the button beside the bed to lift her up into a sitting position as she said, “Max…have you seen her yet?”
Max nodded with a smile, tears in his eyes, as he said, “She’s like you, Liz, beautiful and strong. I think I caught a pout on her mouth at one point. Then I knew she was yours.”
Liz laughed some and said, “Oh, I think I’ve seen her dad have a pout or two on his face from time to time too. I want to see her, Max.”
Max said, “Are you sure? I mean it’s only been…” A little over an hour…
Liz said, “I know, but I want to see her, Max. Could you get the nurse for me?”
Nodding, even if he thought it was soon, Max pushed for the nurse and soon the smiling nurse named Barbie walked in. Liz said, “I want to go see my baby.”
Barbie had been watching Liz off and on and knew that Liz was perfectly fine to see her baby. It had been hard on her, Barbie was sure, being so young, having the baby weeks shy of her nine months. But she knew Liz was strong and showed no signs of needing 24-hour bed rest, so she helped her up. Liz put on her pink robe and with Max’s assistance, the three walked with down to the Neonatal Center.
The hospital had a policy of keeping all premature babies there for 24 hours before sending them to the nursery. Mothers were kept overnight as Roswell had not advanced to the Same-Day-Delivery of the larger hospitals in other cities.
Barbie walked in and picked up Liz’s baby, walking her to Liz to show her. Seeing a sweet faced baby in a pink blanket with such long lashes and tiny hands had Liz crying uncontrollably. She held Max’s hand and said, “Oh, Max…she’s…”
Suddenly a voice came up behind them saying, “In danger. She’s in danger if you keep her here much longer.”
Turning, Liz and Max spotted Billy who said, “I’ve found evidence that there might be FBI swarming the place.”
Max and Liz felt the first real tremors of fear for not themselves but their little one in Neonatal….
Written by, Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1
Disclaimer: We own NOTHING in the TV shows Roswell, Dawson’s Creek, or Felicity. Anything we have borrowed from them has been used solely to enrich our fic. Hope you enjoy!
Part Twelve: Reigning in the Holidays
The month of October flew by and soon again they were celebrating Thanksgiving. Liz and Max held it at their place and the whole gang was there. Mom and Dad flew down with plans to stay through the New Year. The large mahogany table was filled from one end to the other with food and family, love and happy eating.
Christmas followed on its tail and took everyone by surprise when Liz went into false labor on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve night was spent at the ER for awhile then they all came back home exhausted—most of all Liz. Kyle, Max, Michael and Alex went out and got nice gifts for Tess, Liz, Isabel, and Maria. The girls bought gifts too. It was a nice couple of holidays and the entire family sang songs and felt grateful to be together and safe…
Saturday December 28, 1999
Days were approaching for the New Year. Max and Liz were taking down the tree and lights, talking about last minute things for the spare bedroom that they had changed into a baby room. During the pregnancy, they had it all fixed in universal colors in case it is a boy or a girl. Neither Liz nor Max wanted to know until the birth and delivery. Though secretly, Liz hoped it would be a girl. If so, she would name her Macayla. Max got say if it was a boy. That was their agreement early on.
Liz, nearing her nine calendar month was tired, but thankful to have a healthy baby, according to the doctor. She’d religiously gone to her appointments throughout her pregnancy, with Max at her side and she had followed the doctor’s orders strictly.
Three days before the New Years Eve, Liz was frantic. The entire group was to meet again at the house and it was destroyed! Of course Liz was not feeling well, so she looked at Max and Michael and said out loud, “How long would it take to pick up the laundry once in awhile? Or wash a dish? Am I the only one who can do it?” Liz was standing in the living room glancing at the house with her hands on her hips. Michael was sitting on the couch reading a magazine; Max painting on an easel.
Michael gave her a look of irritation before saying, “Oh, Liz. The house looks fine.” Piles of clothes were all over the floor, empty food containers on every table, some wrappers on the couch!
Liz said, “Sure it does. How are you going to explain this when Isabel walks in here tomorrow and sees it? I won’t be blamed for it either. I’m not a slob!”
Max stopped for a moment and said, “Liz, aside from a few odds and ends, it really doesn’t look that bad…” Then when he caught her frown, her deep sign of aggravation, he amended, “But I’m sure it could be picked up.”
Michael said under his breath, “Whipped!”
Max glared at Michael, put down his paintbrush and resolutely got busy helping pick up. Sure, maybe he was whipped, but Max knew when to drop what he was doing or pay the price of Liz in a bad mood. And Max felt bad for Liz, seeing she was at the stage where she was wanting to have her baby and unable to until the baby was ready.
He’d heard stories from his cousin Felicity who after marrying out of college got pregnant and went through the same thing, testing all around at times. It had been worth it, though at the birth of the baby. She and her husband Ben were happy now, though, in California. They had a two year old baby boy named Dawson.
Seeing Liz’s exhaustion, Max said, “Why not lay down for awhile, Liz? We can finish up in here.”
Liz nodded and said, “I think I will. Thanks, Max for the help.”
As soon as Liz was out of earshot, Michael turned to Max and said, “Alright Maxwell, just because you are whipped doesn’t mean I will be. I refuse to become a trained monkey! I’ll help you this time but the next time you try to volunteer me into doing something, you can do it yourself!”
Max was about to say something when Isabel walked in taking a glimpse of the house. She rolled her eyes and said, “My Gosh! You two are like hogs!”
Michael began, “Liz went and lay down…”
Isabel’s eyes became electric as she focused on Michael’s and said, “This isn’t the 50’s, get off your lazy butts and help her! I don’t believe you two! Poor Liz is nine months pregnant. What’s your excuse? Now I’m going to talk with her. If I come back and don’t see some improvement, you’re the ones who will need a bed to rest in!” She went in search of Liz, finding her in her room, lying down.
After Isabel had left the room, Max noted Michael putting down his magazine and picking up the house. He shook his head, grinning at him and heard Michael said, “Don’t even think about saying it, Maxwell. I don’t care to hear it.”
Max said with a chuckle, “I wasn’t going to say a word, Michael. But now that you mention it… Sucker! You’re just as whipped as me.”
Michael tossed a towel at Max and couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his handsome face….
It took an hour, but the house was clean again. Just in time for the family to come pouring in! Isabel walked out and said privately to Max, “You’re lucky this house was clean!” Max just rolled his eyes and said, “Where’s Liz?”
Isabel said, “She’s coming. Give her a minute.”
Everyone got to talking and Liz came out in her oversized bright yellow maternity shirt and baggy blue shorts. Water puddling at her feet she said, “Max…Mom…I think I’m in labor!”
Max ran to her and caught her just before she was going to fall and holding her steady said, “Michael get the keys to the jeep, Isabel get Liz’s things...”
Obeying without question to Max’s ordering tone, Michael opened the door and out walked Liz with Max holding one arm and her mom holding the other. Today was December 28th and Liz Parker was finally going into labor….
The next thing Liz knew she was laying on a cold table with her legs in stirrups and some bald headed substitute doctor saying, “Push Liz, push hard!”
Liz looked at Max with painful eyes and squeezed his hand hard during her latest contraction. Glaring at the doctor, she said, “Listen you bald headed buffoon! Until you’re nine months pregnant laying spread eagle on a damn table, don’t order me around! Oh!! Max!!!” She cried out over her next excruciating contraction. They seemed to be overlapping each other. This doctor said it was natural and that meant they were nearing the birth. They’d been in here for two hours so Liz was ready for that.
Max knew better than to say, Oh Liz do what the doctor says…By the way you’re doing great. Liz would have probably decked him over it at this point. She was in a state of mind that didn’t allow for rational thought.
He held her hand and wiped the sweat off her face, kissing her forehead and tried to offer support. Finally when he saw she was softening some he said, “I love you, Liz.”
Liz smiled faintly at him and said, “I love you too, Max.” Then another contraction hit and she nearly broke his hand from the impact of it.
She cried out a lot of profanities, adding some new ones never heard mixed together before, and said, “I hate parks! Oh I hate parks! Never take me to another park, Max! Never!!!”
Max gave her mother a funny look and she said, “Go with it” with her lips, not uttering a sound. Max nodded and said, “Okay, Liz. No more parks.”
Another thirty minutes passed…
Out in the waiting area Michael paced the floor saying, “This is taking too long. Someone should be going in there and doing something! I’m going in there!”
Isabel had listened somewhat patiently to Michael but at this, she walked to him and said, “What are you gonna do? Have the baby for her? There is nothing you can do, Michael. Having a baby isn’t like changing batteries in your remote control. You can’t just pop it out at will!”
Michael did not want to hear this. He said emotionally, “Liz is my sister, Isabel.”
Isabel said, “Yeah. And Max is my brother.”
Michael spat, “Max isn’t the one having the kid, Liz is. He just had the handy job of putting her in this position.”
Her ire up, Isabel said, “Put her in this position? Liz was there too!”
Michael ran a hand through his hair and said, “I know…” trying to calm down. “I’m just worried about her. It’s been over two hours…”
Isabel looked at him, seeing his concern. She put her hand in his as she said, “I know it has. Liz is gonna be fine, Michael. She is. She’s a tough girl…a lot like her brother is. I mean a tough person.” Isabel winced, realizing she had just compared Michael to Liz as a tough girl.
Michael gave Isabel a come-again-grin as he said, “Sure. Isabel, you know I love you. But the next time you call me a tough girl, I think we’re going to have words. I may be a lot of things, but I ain’t no chick!” Michael joked.
Isabel shook her head and said, “Let’s just forget it and go back to where I was consoling you over Liz.”
Michael accepted Isabel’s warm arms around him as he said, “Sounds good to me.” He was covering a lot of worry about his sister and Isabel could see it. She walked into his arms and hugged him, telling him again how it was going to be okay.
Liz had gone into labor midday, but didn’t hear the cries of hers and Max’s baby until around four that afternoon. Sighing, she lay on the bed and held her baby girl that she named Macayla Ryan. Ryan was Max’s middle name. It didn’t sound too boyish to Liz or Max so they chose it.
Mom and Macayla were doing just fine…. Daddy on the other hand needed some oxygen! The same nurse that was there when Liz found out she was pregnant got to assist Max—yet again! She couldn’t help but grin inwardly as she was beginning to take a liking to the young man. She would never admit it though! When the family went in to see Liz and the baby, they noticed that they had Max on a small bed with an oxygen mask on. Michael rolled his eyes and said “Man, your such a wuss!”
“Oh really.” Isabel said. “Who was that man that I had to hold back from trying to deliver the baby himself? Where did he go to? Has anyone seen him? Hmmm.” Michael puts his arm around her shoulder and gives her a noogie.
Isabel looked at him and smiled. “Michael, what did I tell you about messing up my hair? It’s the couch for you tonight young man!”
“Damn!” Michael said.
“Ooh, sent to the couch huh?” Alex asked. Of course Alex and Maria hadn’t yet even made it to the bed, but he wasn’t pushing. He often spoke with Kyle about this as they both were waiting for their girlfriends to be ready.
Two guys that actually were not pushing to get into bed. Just hinting, hoping, praying!
Later that afternoon, Liz lay in her bed with Max in the comfy chair beside her. She smiled at him, awakening again from her sleep. Max said, “Liz?”
Liz pushed the button beside the bed to lift her up into a sitting position as she said, “Max…have you seen her yet?”
Max nodded with a smile, tears in his eyes, as he said, “She’s like you, Liz, beautiful and strong. I think I caught a pout on her mouth at one point. Then I knew she was yours.”
Liz laughed some and said, “Oh, I think I’ve seen her dad have a pout or two on his face from time to time too. I want to see her, Max.”
Max said, “Are you sure? I mean it’s only been…” A little over an hour…
Liz said, “I know, but I want to see her, Max. Could you get the nurse for me?”
Nodding, even if he thought it was soon, Max pushed for the nurse and soon the smiling nurse named Barbie walked in. Liz said, “I want to go see my baby.”
Barbie had been watching Liz off and on and knew that Liz was perfectly fine to see her baby. It had been hard on her, Barbie was sure, being so young, having the baby weeks shy of her nine months. But she knew Liz was strong and showed no signs of needing 24-hour bed rest, so she helped her up. Liz put on her pink robe and with Max’s assistance, the three walked with down to the Neonatal Center.
The hospital had a policy of keeping all premature babies there for 24 hours before sending them to the nursery. Mothers were kept overnight as Roswell had not advanced to the Same-Day-Delivery of the larger hospitals in other cities.
Barbie walked in and picked up Liz’s baby, walking her to Liz to show her. Seeing a sweet faced baby in a pink blanket with such long lashes and tiny hands had Liz crying uncontrollably. She held Max’s hand and said, “Oh, Max…she’s…”
Suddenly a voice came up behind them saying, “In danger. She’s in danger if you keep her here much longer.”
Turning, Liz and Max spotted Billy who said, “I’ve found evidence that there might be FBI swarming the place.”
Max and Liz felt the first real tremors of fear for not themselves but their little one in Neonatal….
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angelrose242000
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
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A Place To Call Home: A New Beginning
Written by: Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1
Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!
Part Thirteen-Senior Prom.
The day that Max and Liz had had little Macayla and were warned about her safety was the last day they spent at the hospital. Gaining forms to sign out, they left with Max’s family, Liz’s new family, and Liz sought recovery at Diane and Richard’s. The baby was healthy and well and they were out of the danger that the officials in the hospital were threatening. Both Liz and Max were grateful to the friend of River Dog’s, named Billy.
The school year had practically flown by for the entire group. It had been pretty uneventful as far as finding out more about their alien standing. What had happened though was that each couple had become progressively closer. Michael and Isabel were sneaking around more and more. Kyle and Tess made plans for after the prom to rent a hotel room and spend their first night together. Alex and Maria were going to the prom, like Kyle and Tess, but were going to see how things went, gradually, without planning anything. All four guessed in their minds that something was going to happen to take their relationships to the next level.
Max and Liz were determined to spend their prom at home, with three-month-old, Macayla. “It’s the right thing to do,” Liz had told her mother when she tried her best to take little Macayla off their hands for “just that one night,” as mom had put it.
Liz and Max tried their best to be good parents. It was tough, since they were so young and didn’t have instructions to tell them how to be a good mom and dad. All they could do was try and make the best home life for the baby. They lived in a spacious house with love and all that she needed all around. The Crashdown Café was doing extremely well this year and Max’s dad’s lawn business wasn’t doing too bad either which kept Max doing pretty well working for him. The bills were paid, food was in the house, and Max and Liz still got along remarkably well for two young people still married just over a year with a baby.
The week of the prom….
Monday, April 15, 2000
The cafeteria lunch was the same as it always was, which wasn’t good, so when it came to Isabel’s turn to pick, she gave the cook a pungent face and said, “Salad. No meat.” She’d be danged if she’d look at the gross slab of meat they called a pork chop—not today. It wasn’t that she was a vegetarian for normally she liked meat, but for some reason here lately, the thought of digesting or even smelling it gave her the willies. She had watched as Michael who was in front of her a moment ago, asked for two and wondered how she could take smelling his!
She caught Liz’s whispering to her from behind, saying, “Can you believe they actually still serve this stuff? It can’t be healthy.”
Turning, with her tray in hand, Isabel gave a disgusted face of agreement and said, “I know. I think from now on, I’m taking my lunch.”
Liz also asked for salad and the two girls walked to the table. Maria wasn’t far behind, also choosing salad. Kyle and Tess were already at the table, along with Max, who all chose to take their lunches. They had since Liz and Isabel could remember. Isabel recalled Max telling her one-day, “As long as I can actually choose what I’ll ingest, I choose to take something else besides ground yesterday’s lunch.” Isabel recalled laughing then, but now she seemed to agree with him. It did look like something reheated that should have been pitched.
For some strange reason, though, Michael was devouring his like it was candy. Isabel’s stomach rolled.
Isabel couldn’t help diverting her eyes from Michael right then. He looked at her and the others choosing salad or their own choices and said, “Mmm! You all don’t know what you’re missing.”
Liz glanced at Isabel and said, “You feeling okay, Is? Your face looks kinda green.”
Just then, Isabel covered her mouth and said, “Oh!” She went running for the bathroom.
Michael said, “What was that about?”
Maria, Kyle, Alex, and Tess were just as dumbfounded as a currently munching Michael was. But Max and Liz gave each other concerned expressions, each thinking the same thing. Liz said in her thoughts, We don’t know anything for sure, Max. Not yet.
Max wanted to get up and go check on Isabel, but knowing it was a girls bathroom, said in his thoughts, Liz could you go check on her?
Liz got up and headed for the bathroom. Maria looked at Max and said, “What’s going on? Is Isabel sick?”
Max drank his Pepsi and said nothing.
From the table behind, Max heard a table of giggling females and one instigator, Derek Stanton saying, “She’s probably knocked up. How much you want to bet? The tramp was all over that freak last year. All I’m gonna say is where the hell was the condom this time?”
None of the girls had a chance to answer though for in seconds he was being shoved back against the brick wall by Max. He said, “Listen to me you cock sucker, my sister is no whore. You better not start running your mouth about her either or I’m going to have to show you just how stupid it is to mess with an Evans.”
Derek’s face was white and he was a bit nervous now as he said, “Okay, man. Okay. I was only joking.”
Maria said to the girls, “That goes for you too. I know where you live chickies. I could do serious damage to your precious convertibles not to mention your hair. Another words, nothing gets said.” She was satisfied by their heads nodding and lowering in resignation. They wouldn’t talk.
Isabel walked out with Liz but by then the scene was over and everyone was back at the table. Not thinking anything of it, she smiled half sheepishly and said, “Sorry.”
Max grinned at his sister saying, “Hey, I’m surprised you were the only one in there. This crap isn’t edible for anyone.” Michael said, “Hey!” Max said, “Okay, maybe, not anyone, there are a few unusual exceptions.” He grinned and Michael scowled good-naturedly before breaking in a grin and saying, “Damn right. I am exceptional.” Finishing up his plate, Michael grabbed his and Isabel’s untouched plate of salad and strutted to the counter to dispose of them. The group couldn’t help but break into laughter at his audacity to strut in school.
Alex said, “He thinks he’s Fonzy or something.” Isabel grinned and said, “He is to me.” All eyes went to her and caught her stare at Michael as he came back.
Max looked at Liz later on and said by the bleachers, “What did she tell you?”
Liz said now that she could be discouraged, “Nothing. She wouldn’t tell me a thing, Max. That worries me. She and I have become pretty good friends, you know, like Maria and me. What do you make of this, Max?”
Shaking his head, looking at Liz, Max said, “I don’t know, Liz. I guess we just wait and see what happens.” Liz didn’t like it, but what else could they do?
Tuesday, April 16, 2000
The Crashdown right after school….
“It could be stress, Liz. I know sometimes when I’m majorly stressed out I get to feeling sick to my stomach and there have been occasions when I’ve actually vomited over it. Come to think of it, I am that way again.” Liz asked, “Really?” Nodding, Maria said while patting her stomach, “Yeah. Finals are a horrible thing to the body and the mind. You remember last year before finals, how I was a total rag to everyone?” Recalling it somewhat, Liz nodded. Maria finished, “You weren’t supposed to agree.” Liz swallowed her chuckle as she said, “I’m sorry, Maria. I guess I’m trying to follow your story, see where this is going.” If it was going anywhere, Liz thought with an inward smile. Maria still tended to go on and on sometimes. She had controlled her thoughts so Maria wouldn’t read them. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings. It was in love that she smiled. Maria finished, “It could be that Isabel is stressing over them, and maybe even the prom. That bugs me too thinking about it. I look forward to seeing Alex though.”
Rolling her eyes and grinning, Liz looked at Maria as she stocked the fridge in the backroom and said, “I’m sure you do. How far are you going to let things go, by the way, or have you decided yet?” Alex and Maria had been teasing each other for months and seriously hinting toward something coming.
Maria said professing innocence, “I don’t know what you mean.”
Liz stopped what she was doing and said, “You know exactly.” Crossing her arms over her chest and giggling, Liz said, “Are you going to take things further with Alex Saturday night or not?” There it was out. Liz had been wondering only because she wanted to be sure Maria was safe. It had nothing to do with nosiness. No, she wouldn’t admit that. Liz wasn’t a nosy person…okay maybe a little bit nosy, but…well that had nothing to do with it! Liz thought with a frustrated smile of admittance.
Maria grinned, blushed and said, “I’ve been mulling over it for weeks. I think Saturday is going to be something special. If we end up making love then that will make it even more special.” Liz said, “I’m not trying to be intrusive.” Maria said, “Yes you are!” She was smiling and Liz joined in saying, “Okay, maybe a little. But only because I am your friend. If you do decide to take things further, Maria, please remember to use something. From one girl who has been there and knows how hard it is to juggle school and raising a baby, I can tell you. It isn’t easy. Not that I regret it for a minute, because I love Max and Macayla with all my heart. I’m happy with being married and love being a mom. I just don’t see you as wanting that right now.”
Maria said, “When I think of Alex, I could easily marry him. Liz I imagine spending nights with Alex, I’ve visioned our first time together a thousand times.” Liz nodded and held up a finger saying, “Just a minute, wait here.”
She left and went into the apartment part of the back room and came back in minutes. She said, “Catch.”
Maria reached up and caught the box of Trojans Liz tossed to her. Grinning wildly, Maria said, “Liz! Why don’t you just give me the spiel on safe sex while you’re at it?” Liz said, “I could, and would, but you would just call me a fuddy duddy. It would do no good.”
Maria said, “Well I haven’t told you this, but I got on the pill last summer, Liz. When I noticed things moving ahead with Alex and me. I heard it already. My mom knows that I am seeing Alex and is aware that I take the pill. So you don’t have to worry.”
Breathing relief, Liz said, “Good. Now back to Isabel…”
Maria said, “You worry too much about everyone, Liz.”
Liz said, “Can’t help it. Isabel is not just my sister in law but a good friend too. If it is just stress, then why wouldn’t she just tell me that yesterday? It doesn’t make sense, Maria.”
Suddenly, Isabel said, “Why don’t you just ask her yourself, Liz?”
Shocked, Liz turned and faced Isabel and said, “Ok. I will then. What’s wrong?”
Isabel noted Maria’s embarrassment, saw Liz’s concern, and said passively, “Nothing’s wrong with me.”
“Isabel…you and me…well we’ve been friends for a long time now and I’m concerned about you. Not just about yesterday at school…you’ve been acting like something is wrong for awhile now.”
Liz spotted Maria shifting from one foot to the other and found herself uneasy. She hated having to go into these personal details, having to put Isabel on the spot of having to answer her, but it was gnawing at her. She had to know and so did Max, Michael surely did if Liz’s suspicions were confirmed. So as much as she didn’t like it, Liz swallowed her awkwardness and added, “I can’t help you—none of us can—if you don’t tell us what is going on, the truth, Isabel.”
Isabel had been holding this in for the better part of two weeks now, and she felt she could handle one person saying something but so far Max had gone to her, Alex had gone to her, Kyle had gone to her, Tess! The only ones who hadn’t now was Michael and her parents! No, that wasn’t true. Mom had asked if everything was all right a week ago when Isabel was depressed in her bedroom. One who tried to handle things on her own when she could, Isabel didn’t like the intrusiveness. She detested being put in a corner having to answer a million questions when she herself was having a difficult time dealing with the realities herself.
So she was at a breaking point. Isabel snapped, “Okay! You want the truth? You really want it?”
Bracing themselves, Liz and Maria stood close to each other and Maria said, “Yeah, Is. We do.” Liz said, “We need to know, Isabel. If you are wanting to share it that is.” Liz was beginning to waver in her decision to be so up front. What if that was a bad way of handling it?
Isabel walked to the fridge and took out a Pepsi saying coolly, “What, Liz, are you hedging now? A moment ago you were all ready to interrogate me.”
Maria saw Liz’s hurt face and said, “Isabel come on…Liz is just worried about you. Just like I am.”
Liz wiped her eyes and said, “I’m sorry, Isabel.”
Isabel let her barrier down and said, “No, Liz, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped on you like that. Man! I hate this.” She walked to the table and sat with her face in her hands saying sadly, “Man! Things are such a mess.”
Maria and Liz sat at the table, Maria to her left, Liz across from her. Liz said, “What’s wrong, Is?”
Isabel looked up at Liz and said, “Oh nothing major except the fact that I’m pregnant. Mom knows nothing about it,” she broke into tears and added, “neither does Michael.” Liz touched her arm and said, “Michael may have a past, but he loves you, Isabel. He would be there for you, Is.”
Maria nodded saying, “I think so too.”
Isabel wiped tears and said, “I don’t know what to do. I’ve got approximately three weeks left of high school. What do I do then? I’ve thought of going to UCLA and leaving Roswell for good. Mom would never have to know about it…and I could raise the child myself. Michael could go on and do what he wants. He wouldn’t feel tra…”
She cut herself short there, remembering Max and Liz and their situation last year. Feeling terrible for nearly saying what was on the tip of her tongue, Isabel added, “Oh, Liz…I didn’t mean it. I’m just a mess, like I said. Don’t listen to me right now.”
Liz knew what she was about to say and had thought of it herself at one time, so she shook her head and said, “It’s okay, Isabel. I know you are just upset. I’ve been there too. I went through your feelings, right down to wondering if I could be a mother at eighteen. Which reminds me, I’ve got to call Max after while and remind him to give the baby her medicine. She’s caught a bug.”
Maria said, “Those things shouldn’t be allowed for kids.” She smiled somewhat and Liz joined her saying, “I know. Tell me about it. I think she caught it at the park. Remember a couple weeks ago when Max and I and Macayla went to the Daisy River for a cookout with Felicity, Ben and their little one?”
Both girls nodded. Isabel said, “She catch it from them?”
Liz shrugged saying, “It’s hard to say. Late summer, everyone’s either camping or cooking out. It was pretty packed that weekend. She’s on an antibiotic that should be ending in a day or two. Dr. Reynolds, her pediatrician says it was a little virus that won’t take too long to get over.”
Maria said, “But still it is hard watching it, I’ll bet.” Liz let out a deep sigh, showing her agreement in her eyes.
Isabel said, “I’m sure it is. Liz, do you really think Michael will be okay about this?”
Liz said with a smile, “He better be! No, seriously, I think he will.” The three girls walked out of the backroom together just in time to hear Michael hollering about food getting cold. Liz looked at the other two and said with a roll of her eyes and a chuckle, “My brother, quite a combination of aggravation and cockiness.”
Isabel said from her heart, “He might be those things but he is also sweet and has a big heart.” Liz put an arm around her shoulder as her friend and said, “You’re right.” She and Maria watched as Isabel walked over to Michael as she had countless times before.
Maria looked at Liz and said, “So what do you think the colors will be?”
Grinning at Maria, having been thinking along the same lines, Liz said, “I don’t know, probably pink, knowing Isabel.” Maria laughed and said while tying on her uniform, “Yeah! Pink and Black.” They giggled for a moment then got to work.
Liz watched as Michael took Isabel to the side and spoke with her privately. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help it when she was washing tables nearby. It warmed her to see Michael taking Isabel into his arms and holding her, hearing him telling her that everything was going to be okay….
Wednesday, April 17, 2000
Liz watched as her brother went about his day as he always had, not showing an ounce of the concern even fears that Liz was sure he must be feeling. Since it was just the four of them that lived in the house, Liz could see clearly that her brother was hiding something. So when she felt she had a minute looked across the football/track field at school, Liz said, “Michael!”
He looked up, having been working on a song with his guitar. He put it down and said, “Hey, Liz.”
Liz walked down the hill, to the field and met him seated on the ground. He stood, brushing off his jeans.
Liz said, “How far you get on your song?”
Michael grinned proudly thinking of it saying, “About half way. I’ve got two verses, but I need a third and fourth. It’s still a work in progress.”
Liz said confidently, “You’ll get it.”
A pause…
Michael started walking as if toward his car. Liz kept up with him, saying nothing for a minute.
Finally, he turned and said, “What’s up Liz?”
Nervous, Liz said, “What would be up?”
He said, “The fact that you are following me around the football field tells me something is up or on your mind. What is it?”
Liz said, “Michael I know…I know about Isabel.”
Michael stopped and so did she. He didn’t look at her though; instead he simply looked straight the direction of the school. He said, “You know, huh?”
Nodding, Liz tried to reach out saying, “It’s okay, Michael. It’s okay to say what you want to me. I’m your sister.”
Michael looked at Liz then and said, “I’m not going to explode or say it isn’t mine.”
Liz said, “I didn’t think you would. You’re better than that.”
Michael let out a deep breath and said, “If I was I wouldn’t have been that stupid, Liz. I’d been with others; I knew what happened when you didn’t use your head. I remember how it happened too and that is the thing that gets to me even more.”
Liz said, “Maybe you shouldn’t dwell on it, Michael, since it already happened.”
Michael looked at Liz and said, “What is that saying? You can’t move forward if you don’t face the past? Well I have to face it. Isabel and I were fooling around in the basement. You know how it goes.” Catching Liz’s nod, he went on, “I had completely forgotten her telling me that she had just started a new pill and that it would be ineffective. I mean in my mind I knew when we kissed that I would have to be responsible, but it didn’t register when we got naked. At that moment, neither of us was thinking and we just got it on. Now she has the fun of going to her parents and telling them that she is pregnant. Her mother still thinks she is a virgin. Imagine that, Liz.”
Liz could. For a long time her mother knew nothing about Max. She didn’t think it was necessary bring that up, though, so she said, “Well it will be a big surprise. But not the end of the world, Michael. You and Isabel have decisions to make, but not today. Not today.” She walked to Michael and said, “I’m sorry, Michael.”
Michael did something he rarely ever did since it was too manly. He hugged Liz and felt his eyes go wet with tears.
Thursday night at the Evans’s house…
Max came over to see Isabel and ultimately found her crying in her room. Hating that, he knocked on the door saying gently, “Izzy? Can I come in?”
Isabel had just spoken with her mother, just told her she had been sleeping with a guy for the past year and that she was pregnant. Her mother had been devastated, but kind in the end. She told Isabel she would support her as she had Max and Liz. But when it came down to Isabel being alone in her room, her own feelings of letting her parents down washed over her. She also felt she had let herself down for not thinking before it happened. She should have remembered.
Hearing Max now as he called her name a second time, Isabel said, “Max, you can come in.”
He opened the door, seeing Isabel sitting on her bed, with a handful of Kleenex scattered in front of her. Dressed down in her leggings and I’ve Got to Be Me beach shirt that Max had once teased as being big enough for two people, Isabel was listening to her Cranberries CD. A CD that sat and collected dust more often than not because she hated how depressing it sounded. He didn’t remark over any of it now.
Max said, “Liz told me you were pretty upset, so I thought I’d come by tonight, see you.”
Isabel blew her nose and said, “Liz worries too much. I’m fine. I’d think she’d want you with her right now, since Cayla is sick.”
Max replied, “You are my sister, Isabel. I can tell you aren’t fine, that you are barely holding it together. What happened?” At her blank expression, Max said, “I’d heard you were going to talk to Mom and Dad.”
Pushing her hair back and not caring that it fell right back where it was, Isabel said, “Then you should know that Mom was destroyed. That I broke her heart.”
Max replied, “Mom will be fine, Is. She was there for me and Liz and she will be here for you and Michael too.”
Isabel sobbed more saying, “That is the hardest thing, Max. Michael has been remarkable through all this. He says he will be here for me. But I can’t expect him to not go on with his life. I’ve been thinking, after school is over next month, of going away for a while.”
Max said, “No, Isabel. You aren’t running off to have your baby in shadows because of Michael or for Michael. He has to be responsible now.”
Isabel didn’t like that tone and said, “He is responsible, Max! He’s wonderful. I’m doing this so that he can have a chance to move forward.”
Max asked, “Does he want to move forward, knowing you are gone? That seems pretty selfish to expect him to just forget about you, forget about everything you’ve had.”
He hadn’t meant to say that and regretted it. Isabel’s face grew more painful and he tried to take it back. Isabel shook her head and said, “Maybe it is selfishness, Max. Maybe partly I do want to leave Roswell because I know how this town was with you and Liz. I know that they gave her looks all through her pregnancy, despite being married.”
Max hadn’t known that. He said, “Liz never told me that.”
Isabel let out a deep shaken breath and said, “It isn’t important now. You two have the baby and are happy, and I am happy for you. But I am not as strong as Liz or you, Max, so I’m going away.”
Max felt lower than low. His sister was packing up her things following graduation and moving. Leaving her family to have a baby on her own and try to raise it. She was doing all of this to spare the family, to spare Michael, but mostly to spare herself. Not liking the sound of that, Max got up and said, “The decision of whether or not to stay here is yours, Isabel. But know that you are making it on your own. No one here has kicked you out or told you that you are not worthy of living here. This was all your decision. Remember that.”
Isabel watched as Max left her room and mumbled quietly, “I’ll remember it.”
Max drove home in a daze….
Michael stayed to himself most of the night, only visited a couple times by Liz who came down to check on him. He had never felt more confused or lost than he did right then….
Friday, April 19, 2000
Senior Skip Day
The gang met at the Crashdown and discussed the Prom. That was their initial reason for showing up at nine the morning. It had been planned out. Of course now, as they actually met there, thoughts were on anything but the prom. Most had begun to think of the prom as an inconvenience in times when much more serious things were going on.
When Michael said, “We can just ditch this thing, as far as I’m concerned.” Alex agreed saying, “I know. I mean there are so many other things we could be doing.”
The others agreed, leaving Isabel to see an entire group of once excited friends looking forward to their senior prom resigned to taking care of her. Trying to support her.
Looking at the group, she said, “You guys are not going to skip the prom because of me. This is the senior prom; there won’t be another one. Liz, Max, you need to go. Mom will watch Macayla.”
Liz looked at Max and said, “I don’t’ know about that.” Max said, “I figure we could celebrate it at home and have just as good a time.”
Isabel said, “Yeah, you could, then one day when you are older and looking back, you will wonder if you should have gone.”
Liz said, “You know, Isabel, you might be right. I’ll go to the prom…with you and Michael beside me.”
Isabel looked at Michael and said, “I…” Michael looked intently at Isabel and said, “Sounds good to me. After all, Is, it is our senior prom.” He looked at Liz smiled, knowing he’d have to thank her later for helping him out.
So everyone was going after all. They spent the day going to shops buying dresses and rent tuxedos.
Saturday flew by. The group rushed to get ready and picked each other up to go to the dance. They were holding it at the high school this year since it was a smaller class and there was no reason in renting a building for it. Liz and Max walked in; Liz dressed in her silver gown and shoes, her brown hair down along her shoulders, with the top part pulled back into a clasp with silver sparkly stuff on it.
Michael walked in close behind with Isabel at his side. She never looked prettier than dressed in her teal gown that was off the shoulders and spilled out in layers landing at her ankles. Her brown hair was feathered and sprayed and the make up she wore brought out the color in her eyes. She had a soft look tonight.
Picture Michael in a black tux with his hair clean, spiked with blonde tips. His earring was officially gone. He had looked forward to tonight all day. He was proud to walk in here with Isabel, the woman he loved, no matter what had befallen them.
Kyle and Tess walked in arm in arm. Tess wearing a sky blue silk gown, her blonde hair pulled back in a twist. Blue gems were at her ears, a matching necklace on her neck. She smiled at Kyle and was sharing a joke as they walked in.
Alex and Maria walked in, Maria in a rosebud gown that was off the shoulder and to the knee. She too went with a soft look, less make up more Maria. She wore her favorite locket and matching rose colored earrings. She and Alex had planned to rent a room in the same hotel as Kyle and Tess’s. This was to be their first night too, if all went well.
The gym was decorated in a theme of Endless Love with silver and black as their colors. Music was already playing when the gang reached the school. They had gone over there in a limo that Max’s dad paid for.
At tables joined, the group started talking. Max said, “Well we made it.” Isabel said with the first smile any of them had seen in a while, “And you’ll be glad you did too. Trust me.”
Michael leaned down and kissed her saying, “I already know I’m glad.” She smiled at him and said, “Me too.”
Alex said, “You think we’ll catch it Monday about utilizing Skip Day?”
Kyle said, “Only you would think of that on a night like this.”
Alex shrugged and said, “Hey! It was on my mind.” Max joked, “Then I say you need to get out there and dance and get other things going to forget about it.”
Alex looked at Maria and said, “Dance?”
Nodding, Maria got up with him and they went to the dance floor. Kyle and Tess got up after and joined them among several other couples.
Michael offered to get Isabel a drink and while they had a minute alone, Liz and Max looked at Isabel and Max asked, “You okay, Is?”
Isabel thought about it, knowing deep down she was still mulling the idea of being a mom, but knew that tonight was a night she would always remember, so she smiled and said, “I’m good. Michael and I are here and I am glad we came.” No matter what happened, Isabel wanted to remember this night and the familiarity of hanging out. When she left for California the second week of May things would change.
Then she would only have the memories, while looking for a job and going to school part time. If she was able to do both. Most likely she would have to work full time and space school—for the time being anyway, until she got on her feet.
If Isabel let herself, she could wallow in pity over having to leave at all. Especially since this was the town she had grown up in, the place she called home, where her family was, her friends. All that she knew was here.
But change happened. It was part of life. And she could not foresee being able to live here a single woman, raising her child. Amy DeLuca came to Roswell a single mother, but only because she was divorced and soon following her arrival she and the sheriff got married. So that didn’t count. No one else in Roswell had done what Isabel would have had to do had she stayed. Even Max and Liz had been married throughout her pregnancy.
She thought again of Endless Love the theme of the prom. Was love endless? Or did it appear that way for a time when everything was fun and alive, then at the onset of disaster, did it really hold up? Was it possible to? Isabel was so full of mixed emotions that she feared she would show them to Max and Liz through the mind pattern gift they shared. So she said, “Get out there, Maxwell,” in a true Michael voice. She added to a faltering Liz, “Liz, I’m fine. Michael and I will be there in a little while.”
The group as a whole danced the night away. They had fun. It wasn’t until late that night when they were driving to hotels or home that it sunk in. This was the last dance they would be going to as friends. College and other decisions would make these get togethers harder to do. The sadness could have destroyed any romantic thoughts that were planned, except for the night being what it was and the love for each other that spoke louder than the shadow that had fallen over Isabel and Michael.
Kyle and Tess walked into the hotel room hand in hand. When inside with the door shut, Kyle said, “What do you think?” He was speaking of the room. Tess smiled and said, “It is beautiful. I never expected a room this size.”
Kyle smiled, glad that Tess liked it. He took in everything, including details he didn’t’ guess she was, like the size of the bed. It was full sized and perfect.
Somehow, though, he felt torn. He wanted to sleep with Tess, but what if she was unsure now because of Isabel? I mean first, Liz, now Isabel? He wouldn’t push her either way. He’d come up with a plan B of enjoying the evening watching TV if it didn’t pan out.
Tess turned to Kyle and said, “Well you have me in here Valenti.” She smiled and walked to him, grabbing his hands with hers, and said, “Now what?”
Kyle leaned down and kissed her. She kissed him back and they let the kiss linger long enough to get them interested. Then Kyle looked at Tess and said, “We should talk first.” Surprised by this, but not about to argue, Tess said, “Okay.”
They sat on the bed. Tess asked, “Is something wrong?”
Shaking his head, Kyle said, “No. Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to talk to you about…well about us making love. Tess, I don’t want to do this if you are uncertain. I know this past week has been shocking.”
Tess said, “You mean with Isabel?” At his nod, Tess smiled and said, “Kyle, what happened with Isabel and Michael happened after a year of being together. I think it was meant to happen. But if you don’t want to do this I will wait too.”
Kyle grinned and said, “I want to do this. I was just trying to respect you.”
Moving closer to him now, Tess said shyly, “Kyle, what you just said has me more than ready for us to be together. I love you, Kyle. I have since I first saw you in Roswell. It’s only grown stronger with time.”
Kyle said, “I feel that way too.” Moving closer to Tess, Alex kissed her again, but this time more passionately, moving with her on the bed. With careful hands and a surer understanding of what they wanted, Tess’s blue silk gown found its way on the floor mixed in somewhere with Kyle’s tuxedo and socks. They made love throughout the night.
Meanwhile, Alex and Maria lay in a heap of blankets on the carpeted floor, laughing and holding each other after coming together. The bed didn’t seem close enough!
Before the night was through, Kyle lay next to Tess, Alex next to Maria, and Liz at home next to Max. Michael and Isabel shared their night under the stars in the desert. They made love but it was later that night, after spending time talking about what a great time they had had and holding each other, to rid the fears that were playing in both of their hearts….
Written by: Angelrose242000 and Roswell4Ever1
Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!
Part Thirteen-Senior Prom.
The day that Max and Liz had had little Macayla and were warned about her safety was the last day they spent at the hospital. Gaining forms to sign out, they left with Max’s family, Liz’s new family, and Liz sought recovery at Diane and Richard’s. The baby was healthy and well and they were out of the danger that the officials in the hospital were threatening. Both Liz and Max were grateful to the friend of River Dog’s, named Billy.
The school year had practically flown by for the entire group. It had been pretty uneventful as far as finding out more about their alien standing. What had happened though was that each couple had become progressively closer. Michael and Isabel were sneaking around more and more. Kyle and Tess made plans for after the prom to rent a hotel room and spend their first night together. Alex and Maria were going to the prom, like Kyle and Tess, but were going to see how things went, gradually, without planning anything. All four guessed in their minds that something was going to happen to take their relationships to the next level.
Max and Liz were determined to spend their prom at home, with three-month-old, Macayla. “It’s the right thing to do,” Liz had told her mother when she tried her best to take little Macayla off their hands for “just that one night,” as mom had put it.
Liz and Max tried their best to be good parents. It was tough, since they were so young and didn’t have instructions to tell them how to be a good mom and dad. All they could do was try and make the best home life for the baby. They lived in a spacious house with love and all that she needed all around. The Crashdown Café was doing extremely well this year and Max’s dad’s lawn business wasn’t doing too bad either which kept Max doing pretty well working for him. The bills were paid, food was in the house, and Max and Liz still got along remarkably well for two young people still married just over a year with a baby.
The week of the prom….
Monday, April 15, 2000
The cafeteria lunch was the same as it always was, which wasn’t good, so when it came to Isabel’s turn to pick, she gave the cook a pungent face and said, “Salad. No meat.” She’d be danged if she’d look at the gross slab of meat they called a pork chop—not today. It wasn’t that she was a vegetarian for normally she liked meat, but for some reason here lately, the thought of digesting or even smelling it gave her the willies. She had watched as Michael who was in front of her a moment ago, asked for two and wondered how she could take smelling his!
She caught Liz’s whispering to her from behind, saying, “Can you believe they actually still serve this stuff? It can’t be healthy.”
Turning, with her tray in hand, Isabel gave a disgusted face of agreement and said, “I know. I think from now on, I’m taking my lunch.”
Liz also asked for salad and the two girls walked to the table. Maria wasn’t far behind, also choosing salad. Kyle and Tess were already at the table, along with Max, who all chose to take their lunches. They had since Liz and Isabel could remember. Isabel recalled Max telling her one-day, “As long as I can actually choose what I’ll ingest, I choose to take something else besides ground yesterday’s lunch.” Isabel recalled laughing then, but now she seemed to agree with him. It did look like something reheated that should have been pitched.
For some strange reason, though, Michael was devouring his like it was candy. Isabel’s stomach rolled.
Isabel couldn’t help diverting her eyes from Michael right then. He looked at her and the others choosing salad or their own choices and said, “Mmm! You all don’t know what you’re missing.”
Liz glanced at Isabel and said, “You feeling okay, Is? Your face looks kinda green.”
Just then, Isabel covered her mouth and said, “Oh!” She went running for the bathroom.
Michael said, “What was that about?”
Maria, Kyle, Alex, and Tess were just as dumbfounded as a currently munching Michael was. But Max and Liz gave each other concerned expressions, each thinking the same thing. Liz said in her thoughts, We don’t know anything for sure, Max. Not yet.
Max wanted to get up and go check on Isabel, but knowing it was a girls bathroom, said in his thoughts, Liz could you go check on her?
Liz got up and headed for the bathroom. Maria looked at Max and said, “What’s going on? Is Isabel sick?”
Max drank his Pepsi and said nothing.
From the table behind, Max heard a table of giggling females and one instigator, Derek Stanton saying, “She’s probably knocked up. How much you want to bet? The tramp was all over that freak last year. All I’m gonna say is where the hell was the condom this time?”
None of the girls had a chance to answer though for in seconds he was being shoved back against the brick wall by Max. He said, “Listen to me you cock sucker, my sister is no whore. You better not start running your mouth about her either or I’m going to have to show you just how stupid it is to mess with an Evans.”
Derek’s face was white and he was a bit nervous now as he said, “Okay, man. Okay. I was only joking.”
Maria said to the girls, “That goes for you too. I know where you live chickies. I could do serious damage to your precious convertibles not to mention your hair. Another words, nothing gets said.” She was satisfied by their heads nodding and lowering in resignation. They wouldn’t talk.
Isabel walked out with Liz but by then the scene was over and everyone was back at the table. Not thinking anything of it, she smiled half sheepishly and said, “Sorry.”
Max grinned at his sister saying, “Hey, I’m surprised you were the only one in there. This crap isn’t edible for anyone.” Michael said, “Hey!” Max said, “Okay, maybe, not anyone, there are a few unusual exceptions.” He grinned and Michael scowled good-naturedly before breaking in a grin and saying, “Damn right. I am exceptional.” Finishing up his plate, Michael grabbed his and Isabel’s untouched plate of salad and strutted to the counter to dispose of them. The group couldn’t help but break into laughter at his audacity to strut in school.
Alex said, “He thinks he’s Fonzy or something.” Isabel grinned and said, “He is to me.” All eyes went to her and caught her stare at Michael as he came back.
Max looked at Liz later on and said by the bleachers, “What did she tell you?”
Liz said now that she could be discouraged, “Nothing. She wouldn’t tell me a thing, Max. That worries me. She and I have become pretty good friends, you know, like Maria and me. What do you make of this, Max?”
Shaking his head, looking at Liz, Max said, “I don’t know, Liz. I guess we just wait and see what happens.” Liz didn’t like it, but what else could they do?
Tuesday, April 16, 2000
The Crashdown right after school….
“It could be stress, Liz. I know sometimes when I’m majorly stressed out I get to feeling sick to my stomach and there have been occasions when I’ve actually vomited over it. Come to think of it, I am that way again.” Liz asked, “Really?” Nodding, Maria said while patting her stomach, “Yeah. Finals are a horrible thing to the body and the mind. You remember last year before finals, how I was a total rag to everyone?” Recalling it somewhat, Liz nodded. Maria finished, “You weren’t supposed to agree.” Liz swallowed her chuckle as she said, “I’m sorry, Maria. I guess I’m trying to follow your story, see where this is going.” If it was going anywhere, Liz thought with an inward smile. Maria still tended to go on and on sometimes. She had controlled her thoughts so Maria wouldn’t read them. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings. It was in love that she smiled. Maria finished, “It could be that Isabel is stressing over them, and maybe even the prom. That bugs me too thinking about it. I look forward to seeing Alex though.”
Rolling her eyes and grinning, Liz looked at Maria as she stocked the fridge in the backroom and said, “I’m sure you do. How far are you going to let things go, by the way, or have you decided yet?” Alex and Maria had been teasing each other for months and seriously hinting toward something coming.
Maria said professing innocence, “I don’t know what you mean.”
Liz stopped what she was doing and said, “You know exactly.” Crossing her arms over her chest and giggling, Liz said, “Are you going to take things further with Alex Saturday night or not?” There it was out. Liz had been wondering only because she wanted to be sure Maria was safe. It had nothing to do with nosiness. No, she wouldn’t admit that. Liz wasn’t a nosy person…okay maybe a little bit nosy, but…well that had nothing to do with it! Liz thought with a frustrated smile of admittance.
Maria grinned, blushed and said, “I’ve been mulling over it for weeks. I think Saturday is going to be something special. If we end up making love then that will make it even more special.” Liz said, “I’m not trying to be intrusive.” Maria said, “Yes you are!” She was smiling and Liz joined in saying, “Okay, maybe a little. But only because I am your friend. If you do decide to take things further, Maria, please remember to use something. From one girl who has been there and knows how hard it is to juggle school and raising a baby, I can tell you. It isn’t easy. Not that I regret it for a minute, because I love Max and Macayla with all my heart. I’m happy with being married and love being a mom. I just don’t see you as wanting that right now.”
Maria said, “When I think of Alex, I could easily marry him. Liz I imagine spending nights with Alex, I’ve visioned our first time together a thousand times.” Liz nodded and held up a finger saying, “Just a minute, wait here.”
She left and went into the apartment part of the back room and came back in minutes. She said, “Catch.”
Maria reached up and caught the box of Trojans Liz tossed to her. Grinning wildly, Maria said, “Liz! Why don’t you just give me the spiel on safe sex while you’re at it?” Liz said, “I could, and would, but you would just call me a fuddy duddy. It would do no good.”
Maria said, “Well I haven’t told you this, but I got on the pill last summer, Liz. When I noticed things moving ahead with Alex and me. I heard it already. My mom knows that I am seeing Alex and is aware that I take the pill. So you don’t have to worry.”
Breathing relief, Liz said, “Good. Now back to Isabel…”
Maria said, “You worry too much about everyone, Liz.”
Liz said, “Can’t help it. Isabel is not just my sister in law but a good friend too. If it is just stress, then why wouldn’t she just tell me that yesterday? It doesn’t make sense, Maria.”
Suddenly, Isabel said, “Why don’t you just ask her yourself, Liz?”
Shocked, Liz turned and faced Isabel and said, “Ok. I will then. What’s wrong?”
Isabel noted Maria’s embarrassment, saw Liz’s concern, and said passively, “Nothing’s wrong with me.”
“Isabel…you and me…well we’ve been friends for a long time now and I’m concerned about you. Not just about yesterday at school…you’ve been acting like something is wrong for awhile now.”
Liz spotted Maria shifting from one foot to the other and found herself uneasy. She hated having to go into these personal details, having to put Isabel on the spot of having to answer her, but it was gnawing at her. She had to know and so did Max, Michael surely did if Liz’s suspicions were confirmed. So as much as she didn’t like it, Liz swallowed her awkwardness and added, “I can’t help you—none of us can—if you don’t tell us what is going on, the truth, Isabel.”
Isabel had been holding this in for the better part of two weeks now, and she felt she could handle one person saying something but so far Max had gone to her, Alex had gone to her, Kyle had gone to her, Tess! The only ones who hadn’t now was Michael and her parents! No, that wasn’t true. Mom had asked if everything was all right a week ago when Isabel was depressed in her bedroom. One who tried to handle things on her own when she could, Isabel didn’t like the intrusiveness. She detested being put in a corner having to answer a million questions when she herself was having a difficult time dealing with the realities herself.
So she was at a breaking point. Isabel snapped, “Okay! You want the truth? You really want it?”
Bracing themselves, Liz and Maria stood close to each other and Maria said, “Yeah, Is. We do.” Liz said, “We need to know, Isabel. If you are wanting to share it that is.” Liz was beginning to waver in her decision to be so up front. What if that was a bad way of handling it?
Isabel walked to the fridge and took out a Pepsi saying coolly, “What, Liz, are you hedging now? A moment ago you were all ready to interrogate me.”
Maria saw Liz’s hurt face and said, “Isabel come on…Liz is just worried about you. Just like I am.”
Liz wiped her eyes and said, “I’m sorry, Isabel.”
Isabel let her barrier down and said, “No, Liz, I am sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped on you like that. Man! I hate this.” She walked to the table and sat with her face in her hands saying sadly, “Man! Things are such a mess.”
Maria and Liz sat at the table, Maria to her left, Liz across from her. Liz said, “What’s wrong, Is?”
Isabel looked up at Liz and said, “Oh nothing major except the fact that I’m pregnant. Mom knows nothing about it,” she broke into tears and added, “neither does Michael.” Liz touched her arm and said, “Michael may have a past, but he loves you, Isabel. He would be there for you, Is.”
Maria nodded saying, “I think so too.”
Isabel wiped tears and said, “I don’t know what to do. I’ve got approximately three weeks left of high school. What do I do then? I’ve thought of going to UCLA and leaving Roswell for good. Mom would never have to know about it…and I could raise the child myself. Michael could go on and do what he wants. He wouldn’t feel tra…”
She cut herself short there, remembering Max and Liz and their situation last year. Feeling terrible for nearly saying what was on the tip of her tongue, Isabel added, “Oh, Liz…I didn’t mean it. I’m just a mess, like I said. Don’t listen to me right now.”
Liz knew what she was about to say and had thought of it herself at one time, so she shook her head and said, “It’s okay, Isabel. I know you are just upset. I’ve been there too. I went through your feelings, right down to wondering if I could be a mother at eighteen. Which reminds me, I’ve got to call Max after while and remind him to give the baby her medicine. She’s caught a bug.”
Maria said, “Those things shouldn’t be allowed for kids.” She smiled somewhat and Liz joined her saying, “I know. Tell me about it. I think she caught it at the park. Remember a couple weeks ago when Max and I and Macayla went to the Daisy River for a cookout with Felicity, Ben and their little one?”
Both girls nodded. Isabel said, “She catch it from them?”
Liz shrugged saying, “It’s hard to say. Late summer, everyone’s either camping or cooking out. It was pretty packed that weekend. She’s on an antibiotic that should be ending in a day or two. Dr. Reynolds, her pediatrician says it was a little virus that won’t take too long to get over.”
Maria said, “But still it is hard watching it, I’ll bet.” Liz let out a deep sigh, showing her agreement in her eyes.
Isabel said, “I’m sure it is. Liz, do you really think Michael will be okay about this?”
Liz said with a smile, “He better be! No, seriously, I think he will.” The three girls walked out of the backroom together just in time to hear Michael hollering about food getting cold. Liz looked at the other two and said with a roll of her eyes and a chuckle, “My brother, quite a combination of aggravation and cockiness.”
Isabel said from her heart, “He might be those things but he is also sweet and has a big heart.” Liz put an arm around her shoulder as her friend and said, “You’re right.” She and Maria watched as Isabel walked over to Michael as she had countless times before.
Maria looked at Liz and said, “So what do you think the colors will be?”
Grinning at Maria, having been thinking along the same lines, Liz said, “I don’t know, probably pink, knowing Isabel.” Maria laughed and said while tying on her uniform, “Yeah! Pink and Black.” They giggled for a moment then got to work.
Liz watched as Michael took Isabel to the side and spoke with her privately. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help it when she was washing tables nearby. It warmed her to see Michael taking Isabel into his arms and holding her, hearing him telling her that everything was going to be okay….
Wednesday, April 17, 2000
Liz watched as her brother went about his day as he always had, not showing an ounce of the concern even fears that Liz was sure he must be feeling. Since it was just the four of them that lived in the house, Liz could see clearly that her brother was hiding something. So when she felt she had a minute looked across the football/track field at school, Liz said, “Michael!”
He looked up, having been working on a song with his guitar. He put it down and said, “Hey, Liz.”
Liz walked down the hill, to the field and met him seated on the ground. He stood, brushing off his jeans.
Liz said, “How far you get on your song?”
Michael grinned proudly thinking of it saying, “About half way. I’ve got two verses, but I need a third and fourth. It’s still a work in progress.”
Liz said confidently, “You’ll get it.”
A pause…
Michael started walking as if toward his car. Liz kept up with him, saying nothing for a minute.
Finally, he turned and said, “What’s up Liz?”
Nervous, Liz said, “What would be up?”
He said, “The fact that you are following me around the football field tells me something is up or on your mind. What is it?”
Liz said, “Michael I know…I know about Isabel.”
Michael stopped and so did she. He didn’t look at her though; instead he simply looked straight the direction of the school. He said, “You know, huh?”
Nodding, Liz tried to reach out saying, “It’s okay, Michael. It’s okay to say what you want to me. I’m your sister.”
Michael looked at Liz then and said, “I’m not going to explode or say it isn’t mine.”
Liz said, “I didn’t think you would. You’re better than that.”
Michael let out a deep breath and said, “If I was I wouldn’t have been that stupid, Liz. I’d been with others; I knew what happened when you didn’t use your head. I remember how it happened too and that is the thing that gets to me even more.”
Liz said, “Maybe you shouldn’t dwell on it, Michael, since it already happened.”
Michael looked at Liz and said, “What is that saying? You can’t move forward if you don’t face the past? Well I have to face it. Isabel and I were fooling around in the basement. You know how it goes.” Catching Liz’s nod, he went on, “I had completely forgotten her telling me that she had just started a new pill and that it would be ineffective. I mean in my mind I knew when we kissed that I would have to be responsible, but it didn’t register when we got naked. At that moment, neither of us was thinking and we just got it on. Now she has the fun of going to her parents and telling them that she is pregnant. Her mother still thinks she is a virgin. Imagine that, Liz.”
Liz could. For a long time her mother knew nothing about Max. She didn’t think it was necessary bring that up, though, so she said, “Well it will be a big surprise. But not the end of the world, Michael. You and Isabel have decisions to make, but not today. Not today.” She walked to Michael and said, “I’m sorry, Michael.”
Michael did something he rarely ever did since it was too manly. He hugged Liz and felt his eyes go wet with tears.
Thursday night at the Evans’s house…
Max came over to see Isabel and ultimately found her crying in her room. Hating that, he knocked on the door saying gently, “Izzy? Can I come in?”
Isabel had just spoken with her mother, just told her she had been sleeping with a guy for the past year and that she was pregnant. Her mother had been devastated, but kind in the end. She told Isabel she would support her as she had Max and Liz. But when it came down to Isabel being alone in her room, her own feelings of letting her parents down washed over her. She also felt she had let herself down for not thinking before it happened. She should have remembered.
Hearing Max now as he called her name a second time, Isabel said, “Max, you can come in.”
He opened the door, seeing Isabel sitting on her bed, with a handful of Kleenex scattered in front of her. Dressed down in her leggings and I’ve Got to Be Me beach shirt that Max had once teased as being big enough for two people, Isabel was listening to her Cranberries CD. A CD that sat and collected dust more often than not because she hated how depressing it sounded. He didn’t remark over any of it now.
Max said, “Liz told me you were pretty upset, so I thought I’d come by tonight, see you.”
Isabel blew her nose and said, “Liz worries too much. I’m fine. I’d think she’d want you with her right now, since Cayla is sick.”
Max replied, “You are my sister, Isabel. I can tell you aren’t fine, that you are barely holding it together. What happened?” At her blank expression, Max said, “I’d heard you were going to talk to Mom and Dad.”
Pushing her hair back and not caring that it fell right back where it was, Isabel said, “Then you should know that Mom was destroyed. That I broke her heart.”
Max replied, “Mom will be fine, Is. She was there for me and Liz and she will be here for you and Michael too.”
Isabel sobbed more saying, “That is the hardest thing, Max. Michael has been remarkable through all this. He says he will be here for me. But I can’t expect him to not go on with his life. I’ve been thinking, after school is over next month, of going away for a while.”
Max said, “No, Isabel. You aren’t running off to have your baby in shadows because of Michael or for Michael. He has to be responsible now.”
Isabel didn’t like that tone and said, “He is responsible, Max! He’s wonderful. I’m doing this so that he can have a chance to move forward.”
Max asked, “Does he want to move forward, knowing you are gone? That seems pretty selfish to expect him to just forget about you, forget about everything you’ve had.”
He hadn’t meant to say that and regretted it. Isabel’s face grew more painful and he tried to take it back. Isabel shook her head and said, “Maybe it is selfishness, Max. Maybe partly I do want to leave Roswell because I know how this town was with you and Liz. I know that they gave her looks all through her pregnancy, despite being married.”
Max hadn’t known that. He said, “Liz never told me that.”
Isabel let out a deep shaken breath and said, “It isn’t important now. You two have the baby and are happy, and I am happy for you. But I am not as strong as Liz or you, Max, so I’m going away.”
Max felt lower than low. His sister was packing up her things following graduation and moving. Leaving her family to have a baby on her own and try to raise it. She was doing all of this to spare the family, to spare Michael, but mostly to spare herself. Not liking the sound of that, Max got up and said, “The decision of whether or not to stay here is yours, Isabel. But know that you are making it on your own. No one here has kicked you out or told you that you are not worthy of living here. This was all your decision. Remember that.”
Isabel watched as Max left her room and mumbled quietly, “I’ll remember it.”
Max drove home in a daze….
Michael stayed to himself most of the night, only visited a couple times by Liz who came down to check on him. He had never felt more confused or lost than he did right then….
Friday, April 19, 2000
Senior Skip Day
The gang met at the Crashdown and discussed the Prom. That was their initial reason for showing up at nine the morning. It had been planned out. Of course now, as they actually met there, thoughts were on anything but the prom. Most had begun to think of the prom as an inconvenience in times when much more serious things were going on.
When Michael said, “We can just ditch this thing, as far as I’m concerned.” Alex agreed saying, “I know. I mean there are so many other things we could be doing.”
The others agreed, leaving Isabel to see an entire group of once excited friends looking forward to their senior prom resigned to taking care of her. Trying to support her.
Looking at the group, she said, “You guys are not going to skip the prom because of me. This is the senior prom; there won’t be another one. Liz, Max, you need to go. Mom will watch Macayla.”
Liz looked at Max and said, “I don’t’ know about that.” Max said, “I figure we could celebrate it at home and have just as good a time.”
Isabel said, “Yeah, you could, then one day when you are older and looking back, you will wonder if you should have gone.”
Liz said, “You know, Isabel, you might be right. I’ll go to the prom…with you and Michael beside me.”
Isabel looked at Michael and said, “I…” Michael looked intently at Isabel and said, “Sounds good to me. After all, Is, it is our senior prom.” He looked at Liz smiled, knowing he’d have to thank her later for helping him out.
So everyone was going after all. They spent the day going to shops buying dresses and rent tuxedos.
Saturday flew by. The group rushed to get ready and picked each other up to go to the dance. They were holding it at the high school this year since it was a smaller class and there was no reason in renting a building for it. Liz and Max walked in; Liz dressed in her silver gown and shoes, her brown hair down along her shoulders, with the top part pulled back into a clasp with silver sparkly stuff on it.
Michael walked in close behind with Isabel at his side. She never looked prettier than dressed in her teal gown that was off the shoulders and spilled out in layers landing at her ankles. Her brown hair was feathered and sprayed and the make up she wore brought out the color in her eyes. She had a soft look tonight.
Picture Michael in a black tux with his hair clean, spiked with blonde tips. His earring was officially gone. He had looked forward to tonight all day. He was proud to walk in here with Isabel, the woman he loved, no matter what had befallen them.
Kyle and Tess walked in arm in arm. Tess wearing a sky blue silk gown, her blonde hair pulled back in a twist. Blue gems were at her ears, a matching necklace on her neck. She smiled at Kyle and was sharing a joke as they walked in.
Alex and Maria walked in, Maria in a rosebud gown that was off the shoulder and to the knee. She too went with a soft look, less make up more Maria. She wore her favorite locket and matching rose colored earrings. She and Alex had planned to rent a room in the same hotel as Kyle and Tess’s. This was to be their first night too, if all went well.
The gym was decorated in a theme of Endless Love with silver and black as their colors. Music was already playing when the gang reached the school. They had gone over there in a limo that Max’s dad paid for.
At tables joined, the group started talking. Max said, “Well we made it.” Isabel said with the first smile any of them had seen in a while, “And you’ll be glad you did too. Trust me.”
Michael leaned down and kissed her saying, “I already know I’m glad.” She smiled at him and said, “Me too.”
Alex said, “You think we’ll catch it Monday about utilizing Skip Day?”
Kyle said, “Only you would think of that on a night like this.”
Alex shrugged and said, “Hey! It was on my mind.” Max joked, “Then I say you need to get out there and dance and get other things going to forget about it.”
Alex looked at Maria and said, “Dance?”
Nodding, Maria got up with him and they went to the dance floor. Kyle and Tess got up after and joined them among several other couples.
Michael offered to get Isabel a drink and while they had a minute alone, Liz and Max looked at Isabel and Max asked, “You okay, Is?”
Isabel thought about it, knowing deep down she was still mulling the idea of being a mom, but knew that tonight was a night she would always remember, so she smiled and said, “I’m good. Michael and I are here and I am glad we came.” No matter what happened, Isabel wanted to remember this night and the familiarity of hanging out. When she left for California the second week of May things would change.
Then she would only have the memories, while looking for a job and going to school part time. If she was able to do both. Most likely she would have to work full time and space school—for the time being anyway, until she got on her feet.
If Isabel let herself, she could wallow in pity over having to leave at all. Especially since this was the town she had grown up in, the place she called home, where her family was, her friends. All that she knew was here.
But change happened. It was part of life. And she could not foresee being able to live here a single woman, raising her child. Amy DeLuca came to Roswell a single mother, but only because she was divorced and soon following her arrival she and the sheriff got married. So that didn’t count. No one else in Roswell had done what Isabel would have had to do had she stayed. Even Max and Liz had been married throughout her pregnancy.
She thought again of Endless Love the theme of the prom. Was love endless? Or did it appear that way for a time when everything was fun and alive, then at the onset of disaster, did it really hold up? Was it possible to? Isabel was so full of mixed emotions that she feared she would show them to Max and Liz through the mind pattern gift they shared. So she said, “Get out there, Maxwell,” in a true Michael voice. She added to a faltering Liz, “Liz, I’m fine. Michael and I will be there in a little while.”
The group as a whole danced the night away. They had fun. It wasn’t until late that night when they were driving to hotels or home that it sunk in. This was the last dance they would be going to as friends. College and other decisions would make these get togethers harder to do. The sadness could have destroyed any romantic thoughts that were planned, except for the night being what it was and the love for each other that spoke louder than the shadow that had fallen over Isabel and Michael.
Kyle and Tess walked into the hotel room hand in hand. When inside with the door shut, Kyle said, “What do you think?” He was speaking of the room. Tess smiled and said, “It is beautiful. I never expected a room this size.”
Kyle smiled, glad that Tess liked it. He took in everything, including details he didn’t’ guess she was, like the size of the bed. It was full sized and perfect.
Somehow, though, he felt torn. He wanted to sleep with Tess, but what if she was unsure now because of Isabel? I mean first, Liz, now Isabel? He wouldn’t push her either way. He’d come up with a plan B of enjoying the evening watching TV if it didn’t pan out.
Tess turned to Kyle and said, “Well you have me in here Valenti.” She smiled and walked to him, grabbing his hands with hers, and said, “Now what?”
Kyle leaned down and kissed her. She kissed him back and they let the kiss linger long enough to get them interested. Then Kyle looked at Tess and said, “We should talk first.” Surprised by this, but not about to argue, Tess said, “Okay.”
They sat on the bed. Tess asked, “Is something wrong?”
Shaking his head, Kyle said, “No. Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to talk to you about…well about us making love. Tess, I don’t want to do this if you are uncertain. I know this past week has been shocking.”
Tess said, “You mean with Isabel?” At his nod, Tess smiled and said, “Kyle, what happened with Isabel and Michael happened after a year of being together. I think it was meant to happen. But if you don’t want to do this I will wait too.”
Kyle grinned and said, “I want to do this. I was just trying to respect you.”
Moving closer to him now, Tess said shyly, “Kyle, what you just said has me more than ready for us to be together. I love you, Kyle. I have since I first saw you in Roswell. It’s only grown stronger with time.”
Kyle said, “I feel that way too.” Moving closer to Tess, Alex kissed her again, but this time more passionately, moving with her on the bed. With careful hands and a surer understanding of what they wanted, Tess’s blue silk gown found its way on the floor mixed in somewhere with Kyle’s tuxedo and socks. They made love throughout the night.
Meanwhile, Alex and Maria lay in a heap of blankets on the carpeted floor, laughing and holding each other after coming together. The bed didn’t seem close enough!
Before the night was through, Kyle lay next to Tess, Alex next to Maria, and Liz at home next to Max. Michael and Isabel shared their night under the stars in the desert. They made love but it was later that night, after spending time talking about what a great time they had had and holding each other, to rid the fears that were playing in both of their hearts….
"The truth is out there."
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Roswell4ever1
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A Place To Call Home: A New Beginning (Updated 05-31-04)
A Place To Call Home: A New Beginning
Written by Roswell4ever1 and Angelrose242000
***We would like to give a very big thank you to our Creative Assistant (and mom), Gatormae!! She has been a very big help throughout the writing of this story and we could not have done it without her!!
***Also, a very big thank you to all of you for reading our story and sending the wonderful feedback! Knowing there are people who like it, makes it all worth while!!
Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!!!
Part Fourteen-Graduation
Three weeks later…
The month was going by quickly. But not quickly enough. Graduation was tomorrow and everyone was ready to have school done with. They would be ending their high school careers tomorrow and venturing into the new. For some of them, the new was alluring and exciting. For others, it was dangerous and scary. Maria was going to be the school Valedictorian and Max was the Salutorian. Maria had her speech all ready but would not let anyone read it. She said that took the excitement of hearing it with everyone else out of it and she wouldn’t hear of depriving her friends of that excitement!
Isabel had been getting more and more distant. Michael figured she was scared, as he was, and knew better than to pry. All he could do was show her how much he loved her and hope it was enough. Max and Liz were enjoying being parents. Little Macayla was getting bigger and everyone started calling her Mac. She looked like both of her parents and there would definitely be no denying her! As if they would anyway!
Kyle and Tess were as happy as ever. Maria and Alex had a fight a couple of weeks ago about what kind of movie to watch. In the end, it came down to them watching Sleepless In Seattle and Rambo III. By the end of the night, they were both happy with their ability to solve the problem and all was well again.
They were all stressed out but they knew that if they could just get through tomorrow, things would loosen up. They just had to get through tomorrow.
May 10th, 2000
Everyone had gathered at the Crashdown so Max and Isabel’s mom could take pictures of them in their caps and gowns. They had approximately twenty minutes to get to the school and were running behind.
His nerves were going haywire and before he knew it, he snapped. “Mom! We have to be there in twenty minutes. We have to go. Now!”
“Sorry Max. You know me when it comes to pictures. I just cant believe how much you have all grown up. And changed.”
She was right. They had changed. All of them.
Max went from being the shy painter to being an outspoken husband and dad.
Isabel went from being a girl wanting a big change to a young woman who was pregnant and who now hated change.
Liz who was always sneaking around behind her parents backs, was now a mom and a wife who wouldn’t go back for the world.
Alex went from being someone whose parents beat up on him and was a bit untrusting to being someone who was independent and loving. Someone who learned that trust is possible.
Kyle went from being a bookworm who spent most of his time sitting around reading Star Wars to being outgoing and spending his time with his friends and Tess.
Maria went from being someone who felt like she didn’t really belong. Like there really wasn’t a place for her to being a young woman who found a group of friends that were like a family to her and she would do anything for.
Tess started off quiet and shy. Just trying to find a place to call home. A place to belong. She could still be seen as shy but she felt needed. She knew she had finally found where she belonged.
Michael changed the most out of all of them. A year ago, he was into partying and sleeping around. He was in a band and had no real regard for anyone other than himself and Liz. But now, now Michael was a responsible business owner. He was in love with and faithful to Isabel, quit the party scene and was a very loving and caring young man who was about to be a dad. There was nothing Michael would not do for the others. Nothing. This was his family and he was in for the long haul.
Yes, they had all changed. Sometimes, it didn’t seem possible that they were at this point of their lives. A year ago, they were all basically loners. Now they were a family.
“I know mom. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I am just so nervous.” Max said.
“I know you are honey. I am so proud of you. All of you!” She replied.
They walked out the door and to the limo they had rented. As they pulled away from the Crashdown and drove toward the school, Liz couldn’t help but think that this was the end. The end of their high school careers. And yet, it was the beginning of something so much bigger. It was the beginning of the rest of their lives. The door was closing but the bridge was opening. She looked at all of the friends she had made in the last year and was convinced that she would not go back to New York for anything other than to visit. This was her home now. This was her family. Moving to Roswell, New Mexico was the best thing that ever happened to her and Michael.
Everyone could hear what she was thinking and they couldn’t help but smile. The funny thing was, they were thinking the same thing about themselves. The past year molded them into who they now were. They really wanted to be finished with high school and yet, they were sad to see it end. But, they knew that growing up meant having to let go. It was time to let go and push on. And push on they would!
They pulled up to the school. After getting out of the car, they all just stood there for a minute taking in the atmosphere one last time. It wasn’t like they wouldn’t ever see it again, but it was the last time they would see it as students of West Roswell High.
They all walked in and took their seats. The ceremony began ten minutes later. Many students were crying and others looked like they couldn’t wait to be out of there. And of course, there were the few who had fallen asleep. It was now time for Maria’s speech. The group still didn’t know what she was going to say, but knowing Maria, it would be good.
“I spent a lot of time working on this speech. I spent countless hours sitting at my desk chewing on Rolaids and going through notebooks like candy. Six of them to be exact. I wanted it to be perfect. It HAD to be perfect. But as I mulled over it, I came to realize that there is no such thing as perfect. The really sad thing is, I just realized it last night! So now as I stand here with sore hands and an ulcer the size of West Roswell High, I know what I have to say. If you had asked me a year ago if I thought I deserved to be standing here today as the school Valedictorian, I would have told you hell yeah! I love school and homework and the challenge of it all. But one thing I have learned this year is that life is the real challenge. It is more challenging and difficult to walk out that door than to walk in it. In here, we are sheltered. Protected and really in a way, spoiled. The only responsibility we have here is to turn our homework in on time and try not to fall asleep in World History! But when you walk out that door, you face responsibility everywhere you go. Should I buy that killer outfit at the mall or put gas in my car? Should I go out partying tonight or spend the evening with those I love? We have to make choices. Life choices. I know we have all made a lot of choices in our lives. Some of them are hard and some are easy. Well, yesterday, I made a choice. One that I know in my heart was the right one. I came to the conclusion that I do not deserve to be up here today. I don’t deserve to represent this school. Not by myself anyway. During the last year, I have had a great support system. If I ever had any kind of problem or just needed a friend, my friends were there. And so therefore, I decided that I will be damned if I will be the only one standing up here today. I am sure you all know them well, but I would like to introduce to you my support system. My family. My best friends. You guys please come up here when I say your name. Elizabeth Parker-Evans, Isabel Evans, Kyle Valenti, Max Evans, Alex Whitman, Michael Parker and Tess Harding.”
When they got to her, Maria handed them each a white rose and hugged them. She then turned back to the class. “If it weren’t for these guys, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I would be some chic with an attitude who trusted no one. I have learned many, many things from all of them. I learned to be a sister, a partner, a hard worker, a go getter, a role model and most of all I learned to be a friend. We are going to face many things out there. We will go through good times and bad and things will not always turn out the way we want for them to. But we can conquer it. We will make it. As long as we have each other. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I intend to look life in the face and say come and get me! Give me your best shot! I’m ready, bring it on! No matter what happens, I will always look back and cherish my time here. My time with all of the teachers and all of the students, even the ones I didn’t like. I wont mention any names. But I will look back and I will thank God for bringing me here. Roswell has been the best adventure of my life. But now it is time to go and take some new adventures. All I can say is I’m ready. Are you? I am very proud to call myself a Roswellian and I will never forget any of you. Now, lets go out there and take on the world! Congratulations! We are the class of 2000!!”
Maria ended her speech and looked at the rest of the group. Through her thoughts, she said. “Ready?”
They confirmed and the group turned their backs to the crowd. Before anyone knew what was coming, they all lifted their gowns and mooned everyone else in the room. A last act of defiance they called it. There was a loud uproar of laughter. Even Principal Spikelly laughed.
The diplomas were handed out and all the graduates went to meet up with their families. Forty-five minutes, Michael was walking around when he spotted Max, Maria, Liz, Alex, Kyle and Tess standing together. They were whispering for some reason but he didn’t think anything of it.
“Hey guys. What’s up?” No one answered.
“Have you guys seen Isabel? I’ve been looking for her for half an hour and cant find her anywhere.” Again no answer but he could tell by the look of sadness on their faces that something was wrong.
“Ok, what is going on and where the hell is Isabel Maxwell?” Michael asked getting worried and mad at the same time.
“Michael, I’m not supposed to say anything.” Max said.
“Is something wrong with the baby? Please Maxwell! Tell me where she is!” Michael pleaded.
“The bus station.” Max replied.
“The bus station? What the hell is she doing there?”
“She’s leaving Michael.”
Before Max could say anything else, Michael was gone. He ran out the door so fast he nearly knocked over Mrs. Allendale, the Science teacher.
Michael sped all the way to the bus station. He ran inside and searched everywhere for Isabel but couldn’t find her anywhere. He quickly ran out to where the busses loaded and searched there too. He was looking in every direction and almost gave up when he saw her standing at the corner of the building waiting on the bus pulling up to stop. He ran over to her and stood in front of her for a minute trying to compose himself.
“Michael, what are you doing here?” Isabel asked.
“I was wondering the same about you. Where are you going Isabel?”
“I have to leave Michael.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do. I have to get away from here.”
“Isabel, if you want to leave Roswell, we can leave. But please, don’t shut me out.” Michael was trying hard to hide his tears but couldn’t fight it anymore. The tears started to stream down his cheeks uncontrollably. The woman he loved was leaving. Leaving the only home she had ever known. Leaving her friends. Leaving him.
“Michael, I am not trying to close you out. I am trying to save you. I am setting you free Michael.”
“Setting me free from what? You?”
“Yes!” Isabel was crying now too. “Yes Michael, from me. When you’re with me Michael, your trapped. Trapped into being a boyfriend and a dad. If I leave, you can go on with your life.”
“Is that what this is about? So I can go on with my life? Isabel, don’t you see? You are my life! You and our baby are everything that matters to me. I cant go on without you Isabel. I love you! Please, please don’t go. Don’t leave me.” He was crying like a baby and he didn’t even care. For the first time in his life, Michael wasn’t ashamed to show his real emotions.
“Michael, I don’t want to leave. I want to be here with you and everyone else but I just can’t trap you like that.”
Michael smiled through his tears. “Isabel, I am with you because I want to be. Not because I’m trapped. You have not trapped me. You have freed me. You have shown me what it is like to be loved and I wouldn’t give that up for anything!”
“Michael, there is a lot that goes into this. It isn’t just changing diapers and wiping drool.”
“I know that Is. I know there is a lot that goes into it and I look forward to it! I want to be a family. Me, my baby and my wife.”
“What?” She asked shocked.
Michael got down on his left knee and pulled a box out of his pocket. Isabel was now crying uncontrollably and covering her mouth with her hand.
“Isabel, I have been carrying this around with me for the last month. I was going to do it earlier but then we found out about the baby and I didn’t want you thinking I was only doing it because you were pregnant. I love you Isabel, with all my heart. You are the world to me and I would be honored if you would be my wife. Will you do me the honors?” Michael was so scared she was going to say no but he had to try anyway. He was praying she wouldn’t leave but if she was going to, he couldn’t let her go without knowing how much he loved her.
“Michael…” Isabel started. She paused. That couldn’t be good.
“Michael, I would love to marry you.”
“But?” He asked warily.
“But nothing Michael. I would be proud to be your wife. I love you Michael.”
Michael was so happy she said yes that he started crying all over again. He put the ring on her finger and stood up. He put his arms around her waist and said “I love you too Isabel. More than you could ever know.”
“Come on Michael. Lets go find the others.”
They drove back to the Crashdown where everyone was going to meet after the graduation ceremony. Everyone was thrilled to see Isabel walk in and even more excited to hear the news.
Michael and Isabel were married a week after graduation. They had moved Isabel into the house that Michael shared with Max, Liz and Macayla. Isabel had the baby the following November. They named him William Josiah Parker. A few months later, Michael and Isabel bought a house of their own just down the block from Max and Liz.
The group got together at one of their houses every night for dinner. They all registered for and attended Roswell Community College and continued to be the best of friends.
Two years after high school ended, Tess had a little girl and just a few months later, Maria had twins. They had all gotten married and couldn’t be happier. Valenti once asked the group if they could change one thing about their life, what would it be? Their response? “Nothing.”
The End.
Written by Roswell4ever1 and Angelrose242000
***We would like to give a very big thank you to our Creative Assistant (and mom), Gatormae!! She has been a very big help throughout the writing of this story and we could not have done it without her!!
***Also, a very big thank you to all of you for reading our story and sending the wonderful feedback! Knowing there are people who like it, makes it all worth while!!
Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!!!
Part Fourteen-Graduation
Three weeks later…
The month was going by quickly. But not quickly enough. Graduation was tomorrow and everyone was ready to have school done with. They would be ending their high school careers tomorrow and venturing into the new. For some of them, the new was alluring and exciting. For others, it was dangerous and scary. Maria was going to be the school Valedictorian and Max was the Salutorian. Maria had her speech all ready but would not let anyone read it. She said that took the excitement of hearing it with everyone else out of it and she wouldn’t hear of depriving her friends of that excitement!
Isabel had been getting more and more distant. Michael figured she was scared, as he was, and knew better than to pry. All he could do was show her how much he loved her and hope it was enough. Max and Liz were enjoying being parents. Little Macayla was getting bigger and everyone started calling her Mac. She looked like both of her parents and there would definitely be no denying her! As if they would anyway!
Kyle and Tess were as happy as ever. Maria and Alex had a fight a couple of weeks ago about what kind of movie to watch. In the end, it came down to them watching Sleepless In Seattle and Rambo III. By the end of the night, they were both happy with their ability to solve the problem and all was well again.
They were all stressed out but they knew that if they could just get through tomorrow, things would loosen up. They just had to get through tomorrow.
May 10th, 2000
Everyone had gathered at the Crashdown so Max and Isabel’s mom could take pictures of them in their caps and gowns. They had approximately twenty minutes to get to the school and were running behind.
His nerves were going haywire and before he knew it, he snapped. “Mom! We have to be there in twenty minutes. We have to go. Now!”
“Sorry Max. You know me when it comes to pictures. I just cant believe how much you have all grown up. And changed.”
She was right. They had changed. All of them.
Max went from being the shy painter to being an outspoken husband and dad.
Isabel went from being a girl wanting a big change to a young woman who was pregnant and who now hated change.
Liz who was always sneaking around behind her parents backs, was now a mom and a wife who wouldn’t go back for the world.
Alex went from being someone whose parents beat up on him and was a bit untrusting to being someone who was independent and loving. Someone who learned that trust is possible.
Kyle went from being a bookworm who spent most of his time sitting around reading Star Wars to being outgoing and spending his time with his friends and Tess.
Maria went from being someone who felt like she didn’t really belong. Like there really wasn’t a place for her to being a young woman who found a group of friends that were like a family to her and she would do anything for.
Tess started off quiet and shy. Just trying to find a place to call home. A place to belong. She could still be seen as shy but she felt needed. She knew she had finally found where she belonged.
Michael changed the most out of all of them. A year ago, he was into partying and sleeping around. He was in a band and had no real regard for anyone other than himself and Liz. But now, now Michael was a responsible business owner. He was in love with and faithful to Isabel, quit the party scene and was a very loving and caring young man who was about to be a dad. There was nothing Michael would not do for the others. Nothing. This was his family and he was in for the long haul.
Yes, they had all changed. Sometimes, it didn’t seem possible that they were at this point of their lives. A year ago, they were all basically loners. Now they were a family.
“I know mom. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I am just so nervous.” Max said.
“I know you are honey. I am so proud of you. All of you!” She replied.
They walked out the door and to the limo they had rented. As they pulled away from the Crashdown and drove toward the school, Liz couldn’t help but think that this was the end. The end of their high school careers. And yet, it was the beginning of something so much bigger. It was the beginning of the rest of their lives. The door was closing but the bridge was opening. She looked at all of the friends she had made in the last year and was convinced that she would not go back to New York for anything other than to visit. This was her home now. This was her family. Moving to Roswell, New Mexico was the best thing that ever happened to her and Michael.
Everyone could hear what she was thinking and they couldn’t help but smile. The funny thing was, they were thinking the same thing about themselves. The past year molded them into who they now were. They really wanted to be finished with high school and yet, they were sad to see it end. But, they knew that growing up meant having to let go. It was time to let go and push on. And push on they would!
They pulled up to the school. After getting out of the car, they all just stood there for a minute taking in the atmosphere one last time. It wasn’t like they wouldn’t ever see it again, but it was the last time they would see it as students of West Roswell High.
They all walked in and took their seats. The ceremony began ten minutes later. Many students were crying and others looked like they couldn’t wait to be out of there. And of course, there were the few who had fallen asleep. It was now time for Maria’s speech. The group still didn’t know what she was going to say, but knowing Maria, it would be good.
“I spent a lot of time working on this speech. I spent countless hours sitting at my desk chewing on Rolaids and going through notebooks like candy. Six of them to be exact. I wanted it to be perfect. It HAD to be perfect. But as I mulled over it, I came to realize that there is no such thing as perfect. The really sad thing is, I just realized it last night! So now as I stand here with sore hands and an ulcer the size of West Roswell High, I know what I have to say. If you had asked me a year ago if I thought I deserved to be standing here today as the school Valedictorian, I would have told you hell yeah! I love school and homework and the challenge of it all. But one thing I have learned this year is that life is the real challenge. It is more challenging and difficult to walk out that door than to walk in it. In here, we are sheltered. Protected and really in a way, spoiled. The only responsibility we have here is to turn our homework in on time and try not to fall asleep in World History! But when you walk out that door, you face responsibility everywhere you go. Should I buy that killer outfit at the mall or put gas in my car? Should I go out partying tonight or spend the evening with those I love? We have to make choices. Life choices. I know we have all made a lot of choices in our lives. Some of them are hard and some are easy. Well, yesterday, I made a choice. One that I know in my heart was the right one. I came to the conclusion that I do not deserve to be up here today. I don’t deserve to represent this school. Not by myself anyway. During the last year, I have had a great support system. If I ever had any kind of problem or just needed a friend, my friends were there. And so therefore, I decided that I will be damned if I will be the only one standing up here today. I am sure you all know them well, but I would like to introduce to you my support system. My family. My best friends. You guys please come up here when I say your name. Elizabeth Parker-Evans, Isabel Evans, Kyle Valenti, Max Evans, Alex Whitman, Michael Parker and Tess Harding.”
When they got to her, Maria handed them each a white rose and hugged them. She then turned back to the class. “If it weren’t for these guys, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I would be some chic with an attitude who trusted no one. I have learned many, many things from all of them. I learned to be a sister, a partner, a hard worker, a go getter, a role model and most of all I learned to be a friend. We are going to face many things out there. We will go through good times and bad and things will not always turn out the way we want for them to. But we can conquer it. We will make it. As long as we have each other. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I intend to look life in the face and say come and get me! Give me your best shot! I’m ready, bring it on! No matter what happens, I will always look back and cherish my time here. My time with all of the teachers and all of the students, even the ones I didn’t like. I wont mention any names. But I will look back and I will thank God for bringing me here. Roswell has been the best adventure of my life. But now it is time to go and take some new adventures. All I can say is I’m ready. Are you? I am very proud to call myself a Roswellian and I will never forget any of you. Now, lets go out there and take on the world! Congratulations! We are the class of 2000!!”
Maria ended her speech and looked at the rest of the group. Through her thoughts, she said. “Ready?”
They confirmed and the group turned their backs to the crowd. Before anyone knew what was coming, they all lifted their gowns and mooned everyone else in the room. A last act of defiance they called it. There was a loud uproar of laughter. Even Principal Spikelly laughed.
The diplomas were handed out and all the graduates went to meet up with their families. Forty-five minutes, Michael was walking around when he spotted Max, Maria, Liz, Alex, Kyle and Tess standing together. They were whispering for some reason but he didn’t think anything of it.
“Hey guys. What’s up?” No one answered.
“Have you guys seen Isabel? I’ve been looking for her for half an hour and cant find her anywhere.” Again no answer but he could tell by the look of sadness on their faces that something was wrong.
“Ok, what is going on and where the hell is Isabel Maxwell?” Michael asked getting worried and mad at the same time.
“Michael, I’m not supposed to say anything.” Max said.
“Is something wrong with the baby? Please Maxwell! Tell me where she is!” Michael pleaded.
“The bus station.” Max replied.
“The bus station? What the hell is she doing there?”
“She’s leaving Michael.”
Before Max could say anything else, Michael was gone. He ran out the door so fast he nearly knocked over Mrs. Allendale, the Science teacher.
Michael sped all the way to the bus station. He ran inside and searched everywhere for Isabel but couldn’t find her anywhere. He quickly ran out to where the busses loaded and searched there too. He was looking in every direction and almost gave up when he saw her standing at the corner of the building waiting on the bus pulling up to stop. He ran over to her and stood in front of her for a minute trying to compose himself.
“Michael, what are you doing here?” Isabel asked.
“I was wondering the same about you. Where are you going Isabel?”
“I have to leave Michael.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do. I have to get away from here.”
“Isabel, if you want to leave Roswell, we can leave. But please, don’t shut me out.” Michael was trying hard to hide his tears but couldn’t fight it anymore. The tears started to stream down his cheeks uncontrollably. The woman he loved was leaving. Leaving the only home she had ever known. Leaving her friends. Leaving him.
“Michael, I am not trying to close you out. I am trying to save you. I am setting you free Michael.”
“Setting me free from what? You?”
“Yes!” Isabel was crying now too. “Yes Michael, from me. When you’re with me Michael, your trapped. Trapped into being a boyfriend and a dad. If I leave, you can go on with your life.”
“Is that what this is about? So I can go on with my life? Isabel, don’t you see? You are my life! You and our baby are everything that matters to me. I cant go on without you Isabel. I love you! Please, please don’t go. Don’t leave me.” He was crying like a baby and he didn’t even care. For the first time in his life, Michael wasn’t ashamed to show his real emotions.
“Michael, I don’t want to leave. I want to be here with you and everyone else but I just can’t trap you like that.”
Michael smiled through his tears. “Isabel, I am with you because I want to be. Not because I’m trapped. You have not trapped me. You have freed me. You have shown me what it is like to be loved and I wouldn’t give that up for anything!”
“Michael, there is a lot that goes into this. It isn’t just changing diapers and wiping drool.”
“I know that Is. I know there is a lot that goes into it and I look forward to it! I want to be a family. Me, my baby and my wife.”
“What?” She asked shocked.
Michael got down on his left knee and pulled a box out of his pocket. Isabel was now crying uncontrollably and covering her mouth with her hand.
“Isabel, I have been carrying this around with me for the last month. I was going to do it earlier but then we found out about the baby and I didn’t want you thinking I was only doing it because you were pregnant. I love you Isabel, with all my heart. You are the world to me and I would be honored if you would be my wife. Will you do me the honors?” Michael was so scared she was going to say no but he had to try anyway. He was praying she wouldn’t leave but if she was going to, he couldn’t let her go without knowing how much he loved her.
“Michael…” Isabel started. She paused. That couldn’t be good.
“Michael, I would love to marry you.”
“But?” He asked warily.
“But nothing Michael. I would be proud to be your wife. I love you Michael.”
Michael was so happy she said yes that he started crying all over again. He put the ring on her finger and stood up. He put his arms around her waist and said “I love you too Isabel. More than you could ever know.”
“Come on Michael. Lets go find the others.”
They drove back to the Crashdown where everyone was going to meet after the graduation ceremony. Everyone was thrilled to see Isabel walk in and even more excited to hear the news.
Michael and Isabel were married a week after graduation. They had moved Isabel into the house that Michael shared with Max, Liz and Macayla. Isabel had the baby the following November. They named him William Josiah Parker. A few months later, Michael and Isabel bought a house of their own just down the block from Max and Liz.
The group got together at one of their houses every night for dinner. They all registered for and attended Roswell Community College and continued to be the best of friends.
Two years after high school ended, Tess had a little girl and just a few months later, Maria had twins. They had all gotten married and couldn’t be happier. Valenti once asked the group if they could change one thing about their life, what would it be? Their response? “Nothing.”
The End.