What Real Life's Like (AU,CC,MATURE) Thread #1

[Sternbetrachter]

great parts everyone
Ruby, isn't O. Bloom an Australian guy?


ALEX


Max is no help ... I mean, I'm sure I don't drool ... stare maybe but surely not drool!

"Don't worry, 'girlfriend,'"Max grins at me. "We'll sort it out. Isabel does talk to me. She likes me, like a friend - or a brother. I'll find some way to talk you up with her, and find out what she likes. And with Tess on the team, we'll find a way."

I smile a grateful smile at Max, really glad that he's on my side. Have to admit that his constant reassuring to only like Isabel as a friend is a bit weird, as if he's afraid that I'd hit him again! He would have knocked me out before I raised my hand after all.

"Mhm, when you two are girlfriends then ... does that make you a homosexuell couple?" I ask laughing.

"Alex!" Tess laughs, slapping me - hard.

"Sorry, but that has been in my head the whole time now." I try to defend myself. "Sorry, really ... I just had to ask."

"You are nuts, you know that?" Max asks shaking his head with a chuckle.

"Yeah, some people told me but I decided long ago to not listen to such stuff." I say with a wink in their direction.

"Isabel doesn't stand a chance against us." Tess says confidently, wrapping her arm around Max and linking my arm with mine we walk towards the corridor. "Me and two guys being so close, who would have thought I'd ever have that fantasy?" she says with a fake breathy voice, making us all laugh.

"Sorry Tess, but as you noticed, I have my eyes already on another blonde - looks like Max has to try and keep up with you on his own." I tell her with a wink, at the same time wondering how Liz will feel when she sees Max and Tess so close. If her and Max spend more time together ... hmmmmmmm well, maybe....

"You know," I start before I can stop myself, "Liz knows about my interest in Isabel too - maybe she can help? I mean, we four against Isabel and Jakey boy?"

Both look thoughtful at that, neither appearing to be against Liz being involved in ... in what actually? "Missian AI?" "The Taming of the Anderson"?

"I'm sure Liz could help us, after all, she shares a room with Isabel." Max says after a moment, Tess nodding in agreement.

"Good." I let out a relieved sigh. "Just ... I think you three knowing is more than enough or otherwise, someone might say something wrong or ..."

"Don't worry Whitman, everything will turn out fine." Max tries to reassure me. "Just remember what Tess told you: be nice to her and all the other girls, make compliments and so on and it will be okay."

"Mhmm." I murmur not sure how to accomplimish that at all ... not that I'm stupid and don't know how to be nice but .... how to be nice without making a fool out of myself.

"Don't forget to show some backbone." Tess says suddenly. "I mean, otherwise, she might think you are a door mat if you don't stand up for yourselves in an attempt to please her or so." she shrugs, unsure on how to continue before turning her attention to Max.

"Soooo, any special wishes as to what I should wear tonight Mr. Evans?" she asks in a flirting manner, putting the arm that was linked with mine on Max's upper arm.


I suppose Max, Tess and Alex are heading to the elevator too?

[Sugarplum7]

Well, yeah - about the elevator - but they're a few floors above where Liz was working. Although if they catch the elevator first, they might be on it when it opens up to where Michael and Liz are doing the caveman thing.

I took advantage of that. I hope no one minds. I kinda set the situation, but I didn't develop it. So the next person can have a nice time with that. And just because Kyle's no where to be found, what floor is he on? When can he show up?

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

“Ask for it? I was asking for this? In what world was I asking for this?” I ask, loudly, as I toss my head to get my hair out of my face.

“You dared me to.”

“I did not! I thought you were bluffing, Guerin!”

“Still a dare.”

“Fine,” I say, throwing my arms out for a second. I stopped hitting his back earlier, when he told me to. Now, I was just kind of slung over his shoulder. “Whatever. Can you put me down?”

“Nope.”

“Why?” Isabel asks, just about as confused as me. I’m leaving, we’re going, I’m not working, we’re good. I should have my feet firmly on the ground right now.

“I said I’d carry her out of the building, and if I don’t, then that’s not answering the dare, now, is it?”

“But it wasn’t a dare!” After I shout that, the chime for the elevator went off and it was complete silence. It was quiet and I had no idea what was going on because all I had was a nice view of the opposite wall. So that consisted of plants and some furniture. “What? What’s going on? Why are we not getting in the elevator?”

No one answered.

“Michael? Isabel? Maria? Anyone?” I ask, still completely confused.

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ End Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

[isabelle]

Let's say Kyle is already waiting in the lobby, eh?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*MAX*

Alex's suggestion to include Liz kinda takes me by surprise. Not that there's any reason not to. Especially if she's already aware of the thing Alex has for Isabel. It's just that I always feel different around her. Sorta nervous inside. She's so sweet and I want to figure out how to get her to count me as a friend. It shouldn't be as hard as Alex's goal to get Isabel to like him, but it seems like just a big a challenge. Maybe working with her on this will help. I can only hope.

In a few moments, the conversation's turned away from Alex's challenge, and I'm kinda sorry. I'm still trying to think about how to ask Liz's help, although it'll probably end up being Tess who 'recruits' her.

Tess turns and drapes herself over my arm. "Soooo, any special wishes as to what I should wear tonight Mr. Evans?"

I have to smile at that, but the elevator opens before I can answer. We step inside together and Alex hits the button for the ground floor. "What do you say, Max?" Tess asks, batting her eyelashes.

"Well, I don't know," I tell her with a grin as we step inside and the elevator doors close. "I haven't seen that much of your wardrobe, yet. It's not like I have a favorite." I wonder if I could suggest something really outrageous, like an evening gown or something, but that really wouldn't be fair. "I guess it should be casual. I'll probably wear khaki shorts and a tee-shirt. Or maybe a bathing suit under so we can have a swim if the mood strikes."

Now that I've put that image in my head, suddenly I have ideas on the subject. "You should definately wear a suit, too," I tell her. "Although if you didn't, I guess you might be forced to swim 'au natural'." I wink at her.

She gives me a playful swat on the arm as the elevator doors open on the 5th floor. I'm in mid-dodge when I freeze, 'cause I'm not at all sure what I'm seeing. It seems to be Michael holding a girl over his shoulders. I almost don't notice that Isabel and Tess are there, too.

"Michael!" I manage to say. "What are you doing?"

He doesn't even grin. He simply states, "I'm just giving a Liz a lift to the street."

"Liz???" I ask, at about the same time Tess does. I step to one side, leaning over slightly to look around him as Michael steps into the elevator. Sure enough, it's Liz hanging upside down over his back. She's wearing an expression of shock and embarrassement.

"Are you okay?" I ask her just as Tess demands, "Michael! Let her down!"

"Not until we get out of the building," he says.

[Sternbetrachter]

great parts!


Alex

"Do I even want to know what's going on?" I ask no one special as I try to find a place in the elevator - close to Isabel of course.

"Believe me you don't." Isabel mutters. I almost grin at that before she adds, "You wouldn't understand it anyway." And I thought her talking to me was progress.

Tess still tells Michael to put Liz down - to no avail, Guerin is pretty stubborn and Max just looks at the scene confused.

Claiming a place in the elevator behind Isabel - and next to Liz's upper body, I turn to Liz, "How's the air down there?" I quip with a grin.

"Not really helping Alex." Liz states, glaring at me for a moment, before also grinning.

"I only am worried about your health Parker, after all, you are rather read in the face." I state seriously, before grinning again.

"I've told him that too." Isabel says, motioning to Michael, "but he didn't listen to me." she seems rather shocked that someone seems to deny her wishes, I think.

Taking my eyes of Isabel before she thinks I stare (just for the record, I did not drool!), I ask Michael who had a conversation of his own with Max and Tess while I talked with the girls, "You sure you can carry her out of here?"

"Why? You saying that Parker is fat?" He asks with a grin. Liz kicks him for that comment and before I can say a thing, Maria - who was listening to both conversations so far, tells him smirking. "Nah, I think he meant you are too weak for that."

"WHAT?" he cries and tries to turn around, making all of us dodge to the side so we won't be hit any part of Liz's body.

"Hey! Watch what you are doing!" Liz cries in shock.

"Relax! I didn't mean that!" I try to reassure Michael and luckily, the elevator stops again, halting our conversation too for a moment, as we wait to see whether someone gets in or if we already hit our destination.

[isabelle]

*MICHAEL*

I'm rather pleased to see Tess in the elevator as I step inside with my personal passenger. Max and Alex I don't much care about either way. Tess immediately demands that I put Liz down. I wiggle an eyebrow at that. "Why is that, sweetie? Would you like me to carry you off into the sunset instead? I'll be happy to rescue you from him, later."

Tess giggles and I'm feeling pretty good. Maybe I'm scoring some points with her afterall, I hope. Then she has to go and spoil it all. "No thanks," she says. "Max is no ogre."

"hmmph," I snort. "Don't be so sure. He may seem nice on the outside, but who's to say what he's really like?"

"I think I have a pretty good idea," she says, wrapping her arm around his and cosying close. Max had been staring at Liz, as though unsure what to do, but this caught his attention. He givesTess a sweet smile that makes me sick to my stomach.

Then Whitman has to get into the act, suggesting that I'm maybe not able to carry little Liz out of the building. "What? Are you saying that Parker is fat?" I grin. She gives me a kick and Maria starts suggesting that Alex thinks I'm too weak.

I spin around, and Parker starts shouting, but I'm not worried about her right now. Alex immediately back-pedals, apologising just in time to keep himself off my list. He's already riding pretty close with not wanting to go along with the Anti-Max campaign. Comments like this aren't going to help.

Then the elevator stops and the doors open. "Lobby," Liz announces as if she were a lift attendant and I turn around. Everyone squeals again, and I step out. The others follow and I spot Kyle waiting. His jaw drops as he sees us. Or maybe it's Liz, I think with a grin.

"Glad you're here," I tell Kyle, ignoring his stare. He still has the keys to the van, so we definately need him. "Let's get going."

"Actually," Max says, stepping quickly behind me. "I was going to ask Liz if she wanted to ride with Tess and Alex and me." He tilts his head down to see Liz. "You wanna?"

[Sugarplum7]

So . . . yeah . . . I hope this is okay.

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

There’s a reason I look a little flushed. It’s all the blood rushing to my head! Part of me wants Michael to put me down already. Another part of me doesn’t want to know how dizzy I’ll be when I finally get my feet back on the ground.

And Michael whirling in a close confined space like the elevator didn’t help. Most of my attention went to trying not to hit anyone while the rest of my senses tried to figure out which way was up!

“Hey! Watch what you’re doing!” He probably didn’t know it, but I almost slammed into someone when he had to shout back at Maria for that comment.

There was some conversation between everyone that I tried to pay attention to over the ringing in my ears, but gave up as soon as the elevator doors opened. We were on the ground floor. It was just a matter of feet before I could get down. I don’t think anyone knows how totally embarrassing and humiliating this is. I’m getting carried out of the building like a sack of potatoes!

I catch Kyle’s eye before he and Michael head to the door. I try to give him a “I’ll explain it later” look, but I don’t know if he could see it through the hair in my face, let alone read it.

I can see the space between the elevator and us grow and I close my eyes. Almost there, I tell myself. Almost out. I close my eyes to try and stop the light spin things have taken, and that’s when I notice that Michael stopped moving. Why are we stopping? I just want to get down.

“You wanna?” I hear Max say. Do I wanna what? I missed something.

“Pardon?” I ask.

“Do you want to catch a ride with us?” I hear Max say more than see him say. Right now my view is pretty limited, and I gave up trying to look around when my ears started ringing.

“Sure,” I said. I’d be happy to join them as soon as Michael lets me down. “Just walk with us until we get outside and I get down. Michael’s pretty set on the when and where. Can we get outside now? Please?”

“You heard the lady,” I hear Kyle say.

I feel us moving toward the door and before I know it I hear some of the most wonderful words, “End of the line, Parker.” Michael lets me down and me feet find the ground. And as soon as I’m standing on my own things start to spin. I reach out instinctively and grab the nearest thing to help me steady my balance.

I look over and see Max’s concerned face as he takes my arm. “Just a little dizzy,” I tell him.

“Of course you’d be dizzy,” Tess says as she sidles up to my other side. “I told you to put her down, Michael,” she throws away, more to say it than anything else, I think.

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ End Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

[isabelle]

*MAX*

When we get outside, Michael finally puts Liz down. She sways for a moment and I catch her arm. She feels so nice there, leaning against me, and it's hard to remember that she has no interest in me. That I have Tess, who is actually a great person, too.

"Just a little dizzy," Liz says. I frown at that and then give Michael a quick glare. I know she's not really hurt, but I don't like it.

"I got you," I tell her as she steadies herself. Alex is there taking her other arm and reluctantly, I let go. Tess puts a hand on my shoulder and I smile at her. "This way," I say, indicating the direction for the van for Liz's benefit.

The cameraman who'd been with us that morning starts complaining that with the four of us in the jeep, there will be no room for him. "Then ride in the van," I tell him, casually. "It's just a short ride. I'm sure you won't miss anything important." I'm actually kinda glad. Maybe some of our Alex/Isabel plotting can be a little bit more private that way.

[Sternbetrachter]

great parts!

ALEX


"You two coming to the beach tonight?" I ask Maria and Isabel as we walk to the parking lot after Michael - our wannabe Tarzan.

"Jake and I will come by after Maria and I are done with our shopping." Isabel says more to Maria than me. "We'll have such a blast when we hit the mall." she tells the smaller girl with a grin.

Hellooooo! I'm here too!
Well, I should have known that Jakey would tag along ... why did I even ask, now I have hours to come up with horrible images of what I might witness between the two at the beach.

Great!

"I think I'll come too." Maria answers thoughtfully. "It's great at the beach this time of the year." she says that to both Isabel and me, at least someone is taking notice of my presence! well, I think she talked to me too, I'm not really that sure.

"Great." I force a happy smile on my face, trying to ban all thoughts of Isabel and Jake of my mind for now. "See you later then." I say before joining Max and the other two girls.

Well, that didn't go that bad, I think. Aside from me not really talking with Isabel at all.



"I don't know how you did it, but I'm glad you did." I tell Max as we make our way to his jeep, motioning to the cameraman who's following Michael. It's weird but I feel a lot more free without the guy following me around.

"Well, I thought we could plot better without him tapping everything." Max explained as we got into the jeep.

"Plot?" Liz asks confused.

"Mhm." Tess confirms. "You know about Alex having a crush on Isabel." Liz nods at that. "Well, Max and I want to get Isabel to like Alex and he suggested that you might help us. The girl won't stand a chance against us!"

I notice Liz looking a bit uncomfortable when Tess puts her hand on Max's arm and he smiles back at her. I give her hand a quick squeeze, trying to communicate that I understand her being uncomfortable around the two. I have the feeling that I'll feel like Liz does right now, later when we are all on the beach and ...

GOD! I'm such an idiot! How could I suggest Liz helping us, after all, that means she has to be around Max and Tess more and see them being ... well, see them together. Have to give her a chance to get out of this!

"You know," I quickly say, "You don't have to help. I just mentioned you knowing and maybe having an idea or two that would help a cute geek like me, but of course, you aren't forced into anything and you don't need to put up with..." I stop for a second, before adding, "... us." I briefly look into Max's and Tess' direction, hoping that Liz gets what I mean.
It's a good thing that Max is already concentrating on driving and Tess is fumbling with the radio, otherwise, they might have noticed my not so obvious glance in their direction.

[Elizabeth Evans]

*TESS*

After the discussion about the plot to help get Iz and Alex together, I get to work, fumbling with the radio as I plan out my part tonight when we all meet at the beach. It'll be more difficult with Jake planning to attend, but we can work around that...I think. With Jake there, it would present a good opportunity to show Isabel just how wrong he is for her and just how *right* Alex is for her.

I glance over at Liz, wondering if she will decide to join us in the plan. Somehow, she looked a bit uncomfortable when Max and I asked her to join in the plot. Wonder what *that* was about? Now Alex is talking to Liz, and they seem to have serious looks on their faces. What could they be discussing, I wonder curioulsy, but then tell myself sternly to mind my own business and return back to work. So I resume the radio setup and scheming. I can't wait till later, when Max and I will have another chance to brainstorm together so we'll be ready for tonight....

[isabelle]

*MICHAEL*

I frown as two of the camera crew climb into the van with Kyle and me. It seems the second had been with Tess and the guys this morning, so now we have both. Lovely. One of them turns off the camera, which is a good idea. This is not going to be an eventful trip.

I flop into the front passenger seat, putting my feet up on the dash. Kyle says nothing as he starts up the car and heads out of the parking lot. Then he suddenly has a desire to bond, or something.

"That was something-else, carrying Liz out of the building. What was that all about?" he grins.

"Nothing," I growl. "It was just a challenge. A dare."

"How -" Kyle starts, but I cut him off. "That's all there is to it. You got any good scoops on the local teams?" I ask. After he feeds me the latests, I ask again about extra tickets to the game.

"Michael, you can't go to the game!" he says.

"No tickets then? To bad." I tell him.

"No. That's not it. The game is Friday and that's Liz's birthday. You are gonna be with the group for that, aren't you?"

Again with Liz's birthday. I try not to roll my eyes. "Would it really make that much of a difference to her? It's not like we're life-long friends or something."

Kyle looks at me like I've just sprouted antennae. "Yes, Michael. It would make that much of a difference. She's here, away from her family, on her birthday. We're all going to be there for her."

I shake my head, looking out the window. "Whatever," I grumble. I wonder if there were tickets and what the station did with them after Kyle turned them down. If there were. Why does he a ssume that my priorties are the same as his? He should have asked if I wanted to go.