Deceptive Appearences (MATURE/ADULT) *Kyle, Tess OPEN*

[M]

~*AINSLING*~

Reassured by Serena's smile as much as her words I press the gas a little harder- trying to get to the Crash a little faster- aware of Serena's desire to hurry, and the very real possibility that Liz is starting to worry.

We keep engaging in idle banter on the drive there- mostly me giving her a hard time about the family business and the caloric values of the food- with her joking back that it never seems to stop me eating what's put in front of me.

We pull up in front of the cafe and Serena jumps out quickly while I park and then follow her into the cafe. I quickly spot Liz and Max in a booth where Serena is just joining them. I walk towards them and stop in front of the booth- not wanting to make them uncomfortable with my presence- especially in front of the after-school crowd.

"Sorry we are late- I had a few things I needed to talk to Serena about. I hope you didn't worry"

[KatnotKath]

OOC: formating will have to wait, but for now, hope this works. If anyone wants me to change anything, just say.

~Liz~

After checking with Maria that we’re still on, I look over at Max. “You go on and sit down…I’ll get us some drinks…” Releasing his hand reluctantly even for this small length of time and simple task, I head over to the counter. Dad looks pretty busy, and after saying ‘hi’, I decide not to bother him with my order but instead slip behind and go to get my own.

“Hey sweetheart, I’ll have a coke!”

I look round to see one of the guys from school, or more specifically from the football team. I try not to wrinkle my nose in disgust at what he just called me, and how he’s looking at me. I thought it was bad when I was in my uniform… “In case you haven’t noticed Steven, I’m not in uniform, hence I’m not on duty, which means I don’t have to get your order!” I tell him a little sharply.

If he’d asked more nicely I might have done it, but I’m uptight anyway given that Serena and Ainsling are ‘late’…

Turning back to the machine, I get a soda for myself, and a cherry coke for Max. I’m not too certain what Serena will want…she drinks loads of different stuff…same with Ainsling, so I guess I’ll wait until they get here for theirs…

Stopping at the till, I go to put some money in but dad looks round just at that moment in time. “No need Lizzie, they’re on the house…” He tells me smiling.

“Thanks dad…” I smile back and nod, picking up the two glasses and heading over to join Max.

I’ve just placed the glass of cherry coke in front of Max, and slid into the booth next to him, when I hear the bell for the door ring again. Looking round, I see Serena coming into the café and smile, waving to her and motioning for her to join us. “Do you want a drink…I already got ours I’m afraid…” I ask my sister, scolding myself for ever worrying. I don’t know why it’s taken them so long to get here, but from the look on Serena’s face, it’s not going to have been anything major…

While I’m waiting for her to respond, Ainsling walks up, standing at the side of the booth. I know what she’s doing, she’s intending to leave us now… Wouldn’t be good for our ‘image’ to be seen with a teacher… To be quite honest, I’m not too bothered though… Ainsling is a friend, and I’m not ashamed of that.

“Sorry we are late – I had a few things I needed to talk to Serena about. I hope you didn’t worry…”

Me, worry… I guess the two of them know me well. I kept telling myself it would be nothing, something perfectly simple much as Ainsling has just explained, but still, it didn’t stop me worrying… I smile and nod. “No problem, I should have known there would be a perfectly good explanation just you know me…” I give a wry smile. “I guess I can’t help it…”

Smiling at both of them, I look back at Max, trying to check if he’s going to object to what I’m about to suggest. I don’t know how really, but I think he understands what I mean without saying anything, and I’m pretty sure I see a little nod. “So, are you going to join us or what…?” I ask Ainsling lightly.

[isabelle]

*Max*

Ainsling, I think to myself as Liz goes off to fetch a couple sodas. She's going to want me to call her Ainsling. Or at least that's what Liz says. Maybe that's just for witches. I'm not really sure I'm on the casual list yet. I guess I should ask... Although it's gonna be weird if she actually says 'yes.' I'm having a hard time imagining calling our Physics teacher by her first name...

I look up in time to see Liz heading for the till. Feeling annoyed, I rise from my seat to go argue with her. I told her I was going to pay for these. I don't want her to have to -

But before I get out of the booth, Mr. Parker is telling her that the drinks are on the house. ... Well, I guess that's better than Liz paying for them. I settle back into my seat and wait for Liz's return.

As she sits down, Ms. Brennan - um, Ainsling, - comes in with Serena. I'm taking a sip of soda at the time, so Liz waves them over to our table, inviting the two of them to join us.

After I swallow my soda, I nod and move over so there's room. "Sure, sit," I tell them.

I know Ms. Brennan said that she wasn't going to sit with us, but I also feel that she's not done evaluating me. I get the feeling she trusts Liz's judgement, but still would like to see for herself that I'm not gonna put her and the others at risk. She has no idea how unlikely that is. Even if I weren't completely in love with Liz and totally accepting of her secret, I'd never be able to risk going to the authorities or anyone-else without risking my own secrets...

But I do love Liz and even if I were completely normal, I know I'd never tell...

[M]

~*AINSLING*~

Liz reassures us she doesn't mind us being late and I take her at her word, especially as she doesn't seem too worried currently. She invites me to join them, although I know she isn't really bothered either way. I turn to Max and Serena- wanting to see how they feel about it.

"It's really up to you guys- Serena, Max, how do you feel about me joining you?"

[isabelle]

*Max*

I tilt my head slightly in a questioning pose as Ms. Brennan asks if it's okay to join us. Didn't I just move over and invite her to sit? I know I'm inviting further scrutiny, but I know she's a friend and don't want her to have any reason to doubt me. I want her to be comfortable.

Of course, I actually already created a major problem for them, but I didn't mean to and I'm working on a solution. I'm taking full responsibiliity and I know it'll work out. The worst that could happen is that Michael would have to be told. Admittedly, that would be fairly disasterous -- as bad as when Maria found out about us -- but it's not going to expose them. Still, it is something to fervently be avoided, and i do believe we can do that.

"Sure, Come on and join us, Ms. Brennan. I don't mind," I say, giving her a warm smile. If she does sit down, maybe I'll start by asking about the Ainsling thing... or maybe I should wait until she suggests it...

[Liz_Parker]

~*Serena*~


I look over at Ainsling and shrug. "I don't mind", I say smiling softly.


Maybe this will give us a little more time to kind of touch around all of this akwardness.


"Well, I'm gonna get myself something to drink", I say quickly and walk towards the back. "Hi Dad, don't mind me.....just getting something to drink;....if you want you can take it out of my allowance, what little that is", I laugh and get myself a sweet tea and get Ainsling a coke. I'm sure she won't mind that....

"No need to worry about it Serena, Liz got a couple of free drinks to, your even", he smiles and wipes down the counter some.


I smile and walk back towards the table and set down the coke in front of Ainsling and sit down next to her.


"So.....", I start softly. "How's it going?".

[KatnotKath]

OOC: I'm not entirely sure who Serena was adressing in that last, so if the last bit in this doesn't work I can edit it out. Hope it's ok otherwise though

~Liz~

Serena and Ainsling do eventually both sit down, my sister stopping off at the counter to get the two of them some drinks first. I have to admit, it is a little strange... Max, Serena and Ainsling... The first two might have had some connection befroe, although not all that much given that Serena doesn't know the truth about him, but the three of them... Usually they're completely separate, and to have them all three here is going to take a little getting used to I guess...

That's not a bad thing though... I'm not suggesting that I don't want the three of them together... I do, I want Max to be a part of my whole life, and that includes the stuff which relates to Ainsling...

I would rather of course that he wasn't put in danger, but when it comes to it, I guess that's not really an option... The only way to ensure he's not in danger, would be to break things off, and I know I can't do that...

They say that part of loving someone is knowing when you have to let go, but I think I love him too much to do that...

It's not as though Max is completely normal either though... Even if most of the danger still stems from me, from what he did to save me, his own abilities bring their own dangers...

We're going to face both though...together... I truely meant what I said to Serena earlier... I guess preferably it will be a long time in the future, but I do want to have his children... I do want to be a mother, and teach my own children about our history... I want to go through that together, even if his own unique abilities create further complications... I want Max, no one else...

Anyway, the first step I guess is to get everyone talking, which I suppose is what this is all about... The next step is of course to try and deal with Michael... Now there's a scary thought.. I just hope that this plan we have will work...

Taking a breath, I try to push any worries to the back of my mind at least for the moment and concentrate on my sister, boyfriend and friend. I look over at smile at Max, slipping my hand over his and turning back to Serena. "It's good...really good..." I tell her softly.

[isabelle]

*Max*

My heart seems to flutter a bit as Liz places her warm hands over mine. My smile broadens on its own. I look up to meet her eyes. It takes an extra heart-beat before her words penetrate my brain.

"Wonderful," I add. It is wonderful between her and me. And I'm happy to include Serena and Ms. Brennan, too. Of course the Michael problem isn't as wonderful, but I'm hoping that'll be sorted soon and there won't be any reason to worry anyone about it.

Turning to Serena, I remember her attitude and the fact that Ms. Brennan said they'd had something of a talk together. "You're not still mad, are you?" I ask, hopefully.

[M]

~*AINSLING*~

Happy to sit back and let the kids work things out between themselves I sip quietly on my soda, and hope that our talk has helped Serena calm down. Max look of radiance, and the love that's apparent when he looks at Liz helps to convince me that she did the right thing in telling him, and my earlier conversation with Serena leads me to believe that her frustration isn't with her sister, but with her own situation.
I'm sure everything will work itself out and so for now, I just enjoy my soda, the sounds of the people around me, and the happiness of the young couple seated before me.

[StormWolfstone]

Sorry this took so long, I had to go back and try to find where my last post had been, I'm so sorry.

~Michael~

"I know, I'll leave a note in his locker. We're early, he's supposed to meet me there in ten minutes, -so he's probably still hanging out with his other friends." Iz says and I follow her as she makes her way toward Alex's locker.

I wasn't really paying much attention to what she wrote and yet as I glanced down I saw the words written and looked at Iz with a raised eyebrow. "Girl problems." She explained, then added, "Max gave me that excuse, remember? -Just thought it was about time that I learned about recycling."

"I'm sure Maxwell would be glad you found another time when it could be used." I smiled as I walked with Isabel. Despite the fact that I was worried about this whole situation with Max, I found that I was actually able to smile, but then again for the longest time only Isabel had been able to do that.






Rance

Looking at Maria across the table, I can't help but smile. It had been a very long time since I had actually decided to make plans. Her response simply causes my smile to widen, "Dinner sounds good, but how about we eat lunch first," she winks, and I find that rather cute. "So what kinds of things do you do for fun?"

I shrug as I look at her, trying to decide how best to answer that. "Actually, I guess you could say that I am eclectic in my joys. I enjoy everything from sitting down with a good book to going to nearly any kind of club imaginable. Most especially, I enjoy talking with the beautiful woman in front of me." I finished and looked at her meaningfully then winked. "Any preference of where we go to dinner and do you want to go elsewhere for lunch?" I decide to ask, though quite frankly, I let it show that where doesn't matter to me.

I've never been one to hide what I can do, so as I wait for her response, I focus on a simple conjuring spell and mutter the appropriate words softly to myself, calling up a single red rose from thin air and hold it out toward her. "A rose for a woman who is as delicately beautiful as the flower."