Feedback Time! I Love This!!!
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Roswellluver: It was a very poignant Alex/Isabel scene wasn’t it? If only all their moments could be so sweet and comfortable… The story continues…
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SarahWhitman: So you said we were getting somewhere but you had questions and they would be??? And which answers do you now have?
Yes I can see Alex staunchly telling her that they would be married when they have their family, and so I say check out the feedback to Slayer.
As to the baby thing, she has realized that there is a proper time and season for them, When is it?
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Stargazing101/Kay: Yes, the only proper way to end this crazy day was for them to sit down, talk, and pull apart everything.
Liz and Maria were too cute weren’t they? But if you think about what has been transpiring lately, they are absolutely bewildered about the turn of events that just took place.
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To all readers: As to the friends scene at the Crashdown, there is something that all readers must take into consideration.. and it is this… Remember the changes Isabel returned to. How would the Isabel in this timeline react to Maria… and Liz? Wasn’t
someone a bit out of character?
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Slayer: Alex did fine with the knowledge of becoming a young parent, but he most definitely has his reservations…
But the thing is this… By accessing his dreams, she told him where in his dream to look/search for their mothers holding the “grandchildren.” If he checks it out he’ll see them for himself… This is something
he showed her, she did not conjure this up…
The real question is this? How accurate is this information? Aren’t dreams subjective… but if so, why was he dreaming all the details so minutely down to kids before wedlock?? Things to think about….
And yes I loved his never been kissed speech, rolling his eyes and diving into embarrass himself completely… that takes a lot of guts for a teenage guy to admit, but he thinks he’ll be safe in sharing it with her… she’s shared some intensely personal things with him in the course of the day as well…
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NewYorker18/ Keri: That talk they had was a very necessary event they had to work it out, at least somewhat…
I think their flirting is adorable in any timeline…
Liz and Maria must be absolutely dying of curiosity…
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K.K. (Kzinti Killer): I’m curious here? What blanks am I filling in, and which ones are vexing you???
As to becoming young parents, she has discovered that there is a proper season for them. Lets hope that it is still off a ways right?
And in feedback the very first time she read it, Trude had a comment that perfectly described the situation.
another big thing for Alex to accept: being a teenager father before he's married ... I'm sure he's already dreading telling their parents about the babies when the time comes LOL
Talk about a dreaded conversation. But if it truly is the future that he has been shown, there must be a way. Right?
I loved your description of Alex… repealing the law of gravity LOL!!! I crack up so hard every time I read it….But it describes the situation so perfectly, I doubt even I could say it better.
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I placed a lot of individually bolded words into this chapter for emphasis.
A/N This chapter demanded to be written the minute I had posted Chapter 10, Part 2.. Which all of you will recall as the parking lot dance. The moment it was posted I knew where we were heading, and it was a departure from what I had thought was the next chapter. Which is preliminarily written.… It took a couple days to formulate my thoughts and then what I thought would become a small part to an existing chapter, became a large chapter of its own… here it is…. “One Random Act of Lunacy…” Recognize where the title could be from? It’s an Isabel line in some Roswell episode.
Most people were blown away with the dance that they did not catch her public display of powers. Good Job Kay. And I have to make a small nod to Kay/ WinterNymph87 ~ Stargazing101… for being the only one who mentioned a hesitancy with it…
I was a little surprised that she used her powers so openly, but I understand why, but it still caught me a little off guard.
This is an excerpt of feedback from Revisiting The Past: Part two
So now lets continue with the story....
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Shifting Realities
Chapter Thirteen
One Random Act of Lunacy
At school on Monday, December 6, 1999, the Monday after the Rave, Isabel and Alex as well as Maria and Liz, were separately discussing a few things before school began. The girls were wondering just what had happened that weekend that had made Isabel and Alex so close and especially why she had joked with them, even momentarily. To them it had seemed that she seriously disliked Liz ever since she had discovered the secret. Isabel seemed to distrust her. And then Maria, Isabel’s actions against her could only be described as hatred. If looks could kill, Maria would have died a million times over by now. So the two girls were extremely puzzled by Isabel’s actions at the Crashdown on Saturday, she had seemed so... Normal... The only thing they could figure out that had anything to do with it was Alex. Just maybe it was Alex’s influence somehow, and she had let her anger slip away for a moment, because she was with him… Maybe they had talked in depth about all the relationships and group dynamics. They wished they knew what had happened between them to relax Isabel, and to have her even giving Alex a second thought.
Alex and Isabel were discussing their newfound friendship/relationship. Alex took Isabel aside momentarily when the bell rang and just told her that he would never forget Friday night. They smiled in remembrance and each headed into their respective classes, watching each other for a moment as they departed.
Sometime in the midday as Alex and Isabel sat in the only class that they shared, 5th Period English, a knock at the door interrupted the lesson. Mrs. Jatzman, a middle-aged woman with blond hair and a respectable sense of style, was the kind of teacher that reminded you of your mother as opposed to being the type of teacher that was a tyrant. Her gentle nature came through in everything she did She strode over to her door casually and opened it.
In the hallway was a person who made every teenager at West Roswell sit up and take notice. The class collectively straightened in their seats and started to wonder why he was there. All except for two students whose hearts seemed to choose that moment to relocate into their stomachs. Mrs. Jatzman kindly said, “Alex Whitman and Isabel Evans, please gather your things. You are being asked for.”
Alex looked up as his heartbeat started to race, his mouth went dry, and his palms started to sweat on their own accord. Isabel Evans was experiencing a similar reaction, for standing at the door was the Principal and with him was the town’s local Sheriff, James Valenti, Jr. The sheriff seemed very solemn and serious, his eyes were hidden behind his mirrored sunglasses, his face was expressionless, and his stance was very stolid. He motioned for them to come out. The rest of the class started to whisper in their surprise and confusion, and they all turned to watch the drama unfold.
Maria straightened up in her seat, and panic was etched on her face. ‘What did Alex do? Why would the sheriff want to talk to him about anything? How is Isabel involved? … I hope she didn’t hurt him. If she did, alien powers be damned, she’s gonna have to deal with me.’ She looked over to Alex and mouthed his name in question.
Alex caught her concern and shrugged his shoulders. Gathering his things together, Alex hesitantly got out of his seat and made his way to the sheriff. On the opposite side of the room, Isabel was mirroring his actions as she also gathered her belongings. Twenty-three pairs of eyes watched every move; from them getting out of their seats, until the classroom door shut behind them. Then all but one pair of eyes turned back to the front when the teacher resumed her lesson.
Maria could not concentrate and was still staring at the door, the last place her best friend had just been. She couldn’t wait for this period to be over. ‘I have to let Max and Michael know that the sheriff took Isabel out of class. She glanced at the wall clock… Ok! I have only 15 minutes more of this period. I don’t fully like Isabel… I don’t think… But what did she do to Alex? She better not be playing any of her mind-games… But I don’t think it’d be fair to not let anyone know what is happening.’ Maria was a mess; on one hand she was worried, very worried for her friend. On the other, they were the only three in this class together and she had to let the others know what was up. She hoped class would quickly end… because then she could get to Alex and maybe figure out what was going on.
***************
Outside the sheriff looked over the two teens slowly and deliberately, but they could not tell what he was thinking, for his eyes were still hidden. Isabel caught a glimpse of her fear in his glasses and she did not like what was reflected. Her eyes had gone wide and she looked to herself to be on the edge of a breakdown. In reality, Isabel had perfected the art of how she appeared so well, that her nervousness wasn’t evident to the untrained eye.
After his calculated perusal of the teens he said, “Follow me,” and expected them to obey. The heels of his boots clacked out a rhythm on the hard flooring.
“Are we in trouble Sheriff?” Asked one very confused and extremely worried Alex Whitman, as they made their way down the hall, his jeans rustling as the legs brushed together, and his wallet chain slapping against his leg. Isabel’s heels matched the rhythm of the sheriff’s but with a softer sound. She was walking on the front of her foot, whereas the sheriff made a point of his heel making direct contact with the flooring, the sound a little disconcerting.
The sheriff answered, “I think that is yet to be determined,” his boots resounding on the floor with a firm stride, as they turned the corner and walked down the stairs to the front of the school. They stopped in front of the Principal’s office near the staff lounge. “Sit down and wait here,” he ordered Isabel. Then pointing to Alex he said, “You, come with me.”
***************
Alex had no choice but to obey. He followed Sheriff Valenti into the staff lounge, which had been vacated for the purpose of questioning the teens.
“Lets discuss the events of Friday night. Have a seat.” Said Sheriff Valenti while pointing to the other edge of the long table. He placed one foot on a chair as his other leg was still standing on the ground and he casually draped his arms on his bent knee, while he waited for the young man to situate himself. On the nearest short end of the long table, a T.V/VCR combo television set had been set up.
Alex gulped and obliged the request, as he walked to the opposite side of the table, and eased himself down onto the hard plastic chair. The sheriff had just talked to him on Thursday as well, but then Alex knew nothing. This time he knew everything. His heart was racing in his chest as if someone had turned on a metronome to it’s highest rhythm, and he gripped at the chair’s edges with his slippery hands; all he could think of was that this was somehow tied into his ‘date’ with Isabel. And if they were talking with him, Isabel was most definitely next. He hoped he would not say the wrong thing, and that he could protect her in any way possible. Sheriff Valenti was scary enough to a normal teen, but to one with a secret, he was likely terrifying. Alex really hoped not to spill her secret.
The sheriff stared at the young man through his glasses, which he never took off, as the mirrored surface continued to catch the light. He straightened back up and proceeded to question him about a tape that had come across his desk during the weekend from Everson’s Security. They had been watching the establishment that Alex and Isabel had parked in front of due to string of robberies there a couple of weeks prior.
They continued to discuss the events on the tape.
***************
In the meanwhile, Mrs. Jatzman had realized that she lost the attention of her class the instant that the door shut behind the two teens. Everyone was whispering amongst themselves and trying to figure out just what could possibly be going on. A couple of the classmates sitting the closest to Maria tried to ask her if she knew anything… but she didn’t. Mrs. Jatzman glanced at the clock, listed off the homework assignments, and dismissed her class 5 minutes early. There was no point in trying to teach any further.
The moment class was released; Maria tracked down Isabel whom she found looking extremely nervous and waiting in front of the Principal’s office. Maria decided to have it out with Isabel. She went straight up to the taller girl and accusatorily pointed her finger right in her face, “What did you do to him? Alex has never been in trouble with the law before. You did something… Sheriff Valenti is questioning him.” She pointed at the door, which Alex was behind. “It’s his hobby to scare teenagers. But you had to have done something to make Valenti choose Alex….”
“Maria,” Isabel tried to remain indifferent, “I don’t know what its about. Really. I didn’t hurt him… I’d never hurt him.”…She paused, as she thought to herself, ‘I won’t hurt him anymore, but I have most definitely done my share of that already.’ She refocused on Maria. “I know what you must be thinking.”
“Oh! You know what I’m thinking?” She hissed, “Oh that’s right. You can get inside people’s heads…” The petite blonde had her hands on her hips as she sarcastically started in to give Isabel a piece of her mind…
“Maria, enough.” Michael stepped in and pulled the smaller girl away from Isabel. He took her a distance away, and he whispered where no one could hear anything, “You’re lucky that many people are accused of playing mind-games, but you nearly said too much. I know Isabel, and she didn’t hurt Alex. She won’t hurt anyone.”
“But…” Maria tried to protest.
“But nothing, Isabel has always been terrified of someone like Valenti knowing the secret. Now he does, and she is being followed. Put yourself in her shoes.”
“But, Isabel…”
“…is scared Maria. And when you spilled her secret to Sheriff Valenti, you spilled ours, Max and mine’s as well... Valenti simply hasn’t realized it yet. But I guarantee he is watching anyone who Isabel is associated with, including Alex. And if something unusual ends up happening with any of us, we’ll be immediately in his sights just as much as she is.”
“But Michael, you’re not her…” Maria protested. “You’ve never threatened to kill me, or to hurt me… she’s dangerous,,,”
“I’m more dangerous than she is… have I ever done anything to you? To my little Pixie girl.”
“Michael?”
“Maria, I care about you and so I had to realize you did what seemed best, at the time, when you were being pressed for answers. But Isabel doesn’t have anyone she likes like that; she never has because she’s always hiding. We all were, if it weren’t for your nosy little scientist friend we wouldn’t be in this situation. Isabel is not happy with Liz either. Has she hurt her?”
“No!” Maria sounded defeated.
“And she won’t!” Michael whispered emphatically. “Isabel is not dangerous Maria, but scared to death, yes. Why don’t you take a good look at her?” They looked over to a sight that tugged on Maria’s sympathies if even a little. Isabel was biting her lower lip and chipping at her nail polish with the thumb of her opposite hand. And if eyes were the windows to the soul, the girl was feeling many conflicting emotions at the same time. Maria could clearly see a measure of fear, as well as resolution. Isabel was preparing herself for whatever was to take place. Michael added, as his heart hurt for the girl he’d considered a sister all of his life, “She’s about to be questioned, and we don’t even know why. I doubt she does.”
“Michael?” Maria questioned, something he said a moment prior hit her brain. “Why are you more dangerous?”
“My powers are forceful, explosive, and currently uncontrollable, when I use them…. She can enter dreams, that’s it... And we all can molecularly change stuff. Isabel is giving you as good as she’s got in the hatred/mistrust category. Give her a chance to regain herself Maria… and after today, whatever Valenti wants, it might still take a while.”
“Michael, I’ll try, for you… but…” Maria’s words were halted…
Knowing he had no other way to control Maria’s rambling Michael leaned in and kissed her. A passionate, stop all thoughts in their tracks, sort-of kiss. And then he dragged her back to the reception area.
***************
Isabel was now tensely tapping her feet and twirling her hair around her finger as she bit her lower lip. The nail polish had been chipped away and she had started in on another nervous mannerism. Her face bore a worried expression and her eyes were slightly scrunched in concentration. Isabel was nervously watching in the direction of the room where Alex was, and staring at her lap, alternately. All the while avoiding her brother’s stare. Max was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed on his chest, watching her as if she would change appearances if he looked away. It was unnerving her completely.
After discussing the tape, and the events of Friday night, a very shaken Alex stepped from the inner chambers and made his way out into the reception area in front of the Principal’s office.
As Isabel heard the door open her head snapped up to look at Alex. He looked spooked, scared. Isabel’s breath caught in her throat, ‘This is not good,’ was screaming through her mind. She sighed very deeply and then swallowed forcefully. ‘Time to run.’ Was also screaming through her mind, but she knew she could not.
She stood up and walked cautiously over to him, placing her hand on his arm. “Alex?” He pulled her hand from his arm, looked in her eyes and shook his head jerkily. Isabel noticed that his eyes were glistening and tears almost sprang from her eyes at the intensity of the moment. She bit her lower lip hard to bite back a cry, yet a small whimper still escaped her throat. She looked into Alex’s eyes and realized that the two of them were speaking without using words. He was worried for her, and she could read it. Sheriff Valenti had told him he could not discuss their talk with Isabel until of course he had a chance to question her as well, and so Alex was trying to distance himself from Isabel.
Sheriff Valenti stuck his head out of the door and said, “Miss Evans, I’d like to talk to you now.” Her heart slammed in her chest, as her head turned to look in the direction of her waiting doom. She gave Alex a lingering look as she walked away from him.
He slowly mouthed the words, “Good luck,” as she made her way into the inner room, watching him until the sheriff closed the door behind her. She then turned her attention to the sheriff standing before her. She wanted to run, she wanted to cry, she wanted to get out of there; instead she turned to the sheriff and calmly pretended nothing was wrong, “You wanted to see me Sheriff?” She asked in a manner that belied everything she was feeling.
***************
Alex after watching Isabel disappear behind the closed door then looked up to see the confused looks of his best friends, Liz and Maria. “Alex, what’s going on?” they asked him as they ran over to give him a quick hug. They had finished the class period and were waiting in the reception area as support.
“You’re ok right? She didn’t do anything to you, did she?” Maria was on the warpath. She was ready to fire first, ask questions later.
“No! Maria I’m fine!” Alex said forcefully as he hugged her back. He also noticed the very agitated demeanor of Isabel’s brothers. Max looked quite upset and he mouthed the words, “What’s going on?” Alex shook his head, ‘No’ as he wisely decided to not speak of anything pertaining to the matter until Isabel was done with the sheriff. Now it was his turn to alternately stare at the door, floor and her glaring brother. He stepped into the hallway where he began to pace, his long legs taking large strides as he rhythmically tread the hall, while keeping an eye on the staff lounge door.
Max stepped out with him, “What happened Alex?” He asked. He wasn’t sure what to make of the whole situation, and was hoping to get some answers soon. His sister was being questioned by ‘The Law,’ and he could think of nothing worse.
Alex stopped his pacing for a second and looked at him, “I think Isabel will have to explain it, I really can’t. And I don’t want to talk about it right now.” He averted his gaze and returned to his prior activity… pacing, and alternately watching the door, floor, and Isabel’s brothers. ‘God! I hope she’s ok.’ The panicked thoughts racing through his head, ‘Valenti is definitely on to her.’ “Door... Floor… Max? Door… Floor… Max? Let’s stop looking at Max.” He shook his head; he didn’t like the way he was being watched by Isabel’s brother. “Door and Floor is ok.” Alex was talking himself through his mundane activity, anything to keep his mind off the rapidly increasing and building fear that was coursing through him at the moment. It was one thing being questioned, but it was another knowing that Isabel was now being questioned. He was very concerned for how she was doing currently. ‘I really hope she is handling this ok, I never meant to put her in trouble...’ Alex was breathing deeply trying to get himself under control. He stopped his motion for a few moments as his eyes began to sting, and he leaned himself with his back against the wall as he rubbed at his them with his thumb and index finger, he was looking for a discreet way to not show off how panicked he was for Isabel... He had gone beyond worrying about himself.
***************
Meanwhile inside the lounge, Sheriff Valenti started to discuss the same matter with Isabel.
“Miss Evans take a seat.” He pointed to the seat that a few moments earlier had been occupied by Alex. A quick mental note as she eased herself into it let her know he was very nervous, the sides of the chair were damp where he was obviously gripping with sweaty palms. A quick flash hit her brain.
She saw Alex a few minutes earlier, the sheriff questioning him as he sat in this very place, “Why were you out there Alex?” He demanded as he was pointing to the TV screen. “What did she do? What are you involved in?” The flash ended and Isabel wished that she knew what he had answered. She jerked unconsciously and blinked in surprise at the intensity of the emotions she had just observed. ‘Wow!! I got a flash off of his fear….This is really not good.’ She wiped her hands on her lap and swallowed hard, placing her hands crossed on the table’s surface in front of her. ‘Oh My God! Alex was scared, and it still wouldn’t be wet if he had ever relaxed.’ She straightened up and looked every inch in control and indifferent. Inside she was as terrified as Alex obviously had been. Seeing that flash had caused her own fear to surface.
The sheriff grabbed a video-tape off the table in front of her and held it up near her face, “Do you know what this is?” He forcefully asked.
“It appears to be a video-tape sir?” She questioned.
“That’s right, it is. And do you know where I got this tape from? Or what is on this tape?”
A very confused Isabel, just looked in his direction and answered clearly, “No sir, I don’t.”
“This tape,” he placed it into the VCR, “was brought to my attention this weekend by Everson’s Security. It was taken on late Friday Evening, very early Saturday morning, past curfew, and it seems to have some interesting content.”
“Why am I being questioned? What does the tape have to do with me?” She had a feeling she already knew the answer. Her mind had already worked out the times in question to her little midnight dance.
“Why don’t we watch and see?” He turned on the tape, pointing out the activity on the screen as he narrated it.
“Late Friday night, December 3rd, a 1990, grey Toyota Corolla Sedan was seen pulling into the parking lot of Chloe’s Chic Boutique at 10:25pm. It was carrying two people, the driver, a young man, and a passenger, a young woman.” He showed the car pulling in. “It came to a complete stop and the occupants sat inside for a couple of minutes, apparently doing nothing. As you can see the license plate of the car is very visible, here.” He pointed to a specific frame, “So I ran a plates check and it is registered to one Charles and Gloria Whitman; good upright standing citizens of this community.”
‘What does this have to do with me Sheriff?” Isabel asked, knowing full well where this was heading…
“Don’t play games with me Miss Evans!” He exclaimed.
“Sheriff?” She tentatively questioned.
“What were you doing there? Were you using it as a distraction so that you could rob the place?” he pressed her.
“No!” She answered back.
“Watch the next frames closely, Miss Evans.” She had no choice but to do so, “10:30 pm…The young man you were seen with is apparently wearing different clothing than when you arrived.” He pointed to the screen, “That is not the unusual thing though. Is it?” He demanded as he pointed to the screen, which he placed on pause. Isabel could see her hand over Alex’s torso and the fact that he was in a Tux on the top and still in his Baggies on the bottom was not lost on her; obviously it wasn’t lost on the sheriff either. Isabel gulped. Then he turned on the tape again, “A few seconds later you are also in a different dress.” He pointed to the once again paused screen.
Her mind started racing for any logical explanation she could give that would throw him off the scent… ‘My hand was touching Alex, but it wasn’t glowing, it only looks like I am touching him… so the sheriff knows I’m involved but he doesn’t exactly know how. Thank goodness these cameras don’t capture absolutely everything.’ She remembered that Max had informed her that she was being tailed.
He continued with his questioning…”Did you, somehow, use your little magic act to set up a diversion for the cameras so that another accomplice could sneak into the store from the back and rob the place?” Sheriff Valenti asked her forcefully.
“No Sheriff. I didn’t do anything wrong, did I somehow break the law? Are you going to arrest me?” Isabel realized that she had no way out; so talking to him directly seemed like her best plan.
“It appears I have nothing to arrest you for.” The sheriff leaned in closely, back in the position he had been in when Alex first sat down, “The store wasn’t broken into and there is absolutely no evidence of tampering or vandalism anywhere on the premises. If I arrested you, without a cause,” he straightened up obviously frustrated, “your parents would have you out in an hour. Explain the next thing on this tape to me.” He turned their attention back to the video, and hit play once again.
“10:31pm there are now lights in the trees, where there were none before. And as you can see, it is now very clear that you are the young woman on the tape. He pointed to the screen, as well as Alex Whitman is the young man. Tell me what happened… What did you do? You did not stop there to rob the place. It was never touched. You did not commit any indecent acts on the premises; you didn’t even make out, which is weird enough in itself… What were you doing there?’ He demanded.
“Dancing,” she answered quietly.
“Yeah, I can see that.” He seemed deflated, “And that appears to be all you did, except the unexplained lights in the trees, the clothing changes of you and the young man and then 2 ½ hours later, the sudden disappearance of the lights from the same trees.” He fast forwarded the tape and pointed that out as well. “And then you departed, everything left as it was before.” He ruffled his hair with one hand as he walked in front of the screen for a moment, obviously thinking, and obviously puzzled. “Miss Evans, can you explain this to me??”
“No Sheriff, I can’t.” Isabel bit her lip.
“Miss Evans, you’re a really smart girl, but I’m smart too. And this is now the second unexplained incident that you have been involved with in a short time. The first was an eyewitness account, from a Miss Maria DeLuca, but nothing can be proven from that encounter. This one you are directly involved, with a confirmed identity.” He straightened up and looking every inch the local law he stepped in closely to her, “I will find out what the truth is,” he exclaimed sharply, “ I will find out what is going on, you can count on it. Be forewarned, you are being watched closely Miss Evans, its just a matter of time before I catch you in the act.” He placed a manila file in front of her, “It would do you no good to try anything, I have a file going with every unexplained thing you do. So now that we know where we stand with each other you are not being detained today, I have no further questions and you may go.” He pointed to the door.
***************
She nodded dumbly, and slowly stood to leave. Her knees felt weak, and as much as Sheriff Valenti ended up being an ally in the past timeline, that was not the case now, and she was truly being tailed. She remembered back to a time when he scared her to death… and realized that this was the version of Valenti she was apparently dealing with again. She wasn’t completely terrified of him because of the fact that he still could be a potential ally, but then again all of that was centered on Max healing Liz. Everything could be indirectly traced back to that date. But she was also not comfortable around him either. She was feeling nervous and cautious. And in the meeting she had felt terror, but some of that was sharing Alex’s fear. She really did not know what to think of Sheriff Valenti, nor how he would work out in this timeline… none of the things were in place to turn him into an ally. She realized that it was one of those things that would just have to play itself out, whichever way it went. Isabel walked out the room very quietly, her head down, her eyes starting to sting.
Alex was by her side in an instant, “Are you ok Isabel?” He placed his arm around her shoulder and drew her in tightly to his right side. She mutely nodded. Alex could feel little tremors carrying over into him. ‘God! She’s scared.’
Max was next, “What happened Isabel?”
And that was followed by Michael asking, “What did
he want?” as he stared at the door from which both of the teens had emerged.
“He wanted to ask me some questions.” She said softly from her position of security, her head resting sideways against Alex’s shoulder, her hands gripping his left arm to steady herself.
“About what?” Max pressed further, very concerned for his sister.
“Friday night after the rave. Alex and I did something… I’m sorry Max”…she apologized, it was the only thing she said. She was apologizing for what she had done, too many people wanted information right now, she was on the verge of breaking down, and it was too much for her at the moment. “If you don’t mind I’m going outside. I need to think.” And with that she pulled out of Alex’s arms and turned and walked briskly out the front doors of the school. She was shaking from the adrenaline coursing through her veins and she needed to walk it off.
Alex was ready to follow her out but Max stopped him, and said, “I’m not sure if I trust you.” His arms were folded across his chest as he addressed the taller young man.
Liz and Maria heard this and immediately jumped in to defend their friend.
Maria went right into his face, and said, “You don’t trust Alex?! He’s the most trustworthy person there is. If there is someone not to trust it’s your sister.”
“Yeah, we don’t know what’s going on Max… but they both talked to Valenti. And neither looked very good when they came out. Did you notice that Isabel seemed pale and subdued?” Liz had quickly analyzed everyone’s state of being and was trying to run interference.
Max looked at Maria directly, “I don’t trust either of them.” And he continued with his logic, thinking back on the events of the past weekend, “My sister is just not right around Alex…. she’s reckless. We are going to have to finish this discussion after school somewhere else.” Max leaned in and whispered directly to Alex. “This is too public.”
***************
“Alex what happened?” His girlfriends dragged him aside, one on each arm, matched looks of concern on each of their faces.
He wanted nothing more than to ease their worry, but his own was pounding an erratic rhythm in his chest. “Don’t get worried, everything is fine.” He reassured them. ‘Lets hope I can seem convincing to them. I’m lying here. I have no idea if anything is fine, and I know Isabel isn’t.’
“Yeah, but you still didn’t say what.” Liz pressed, her question interrupting his thoughts.
Alex smiled to his two lifelong friends and stated, “After the rave Isabel and I went dancing… but some things happened that shouldn’t have. Valenti wanted to know about them. I gotta go outside, I’m as shaky as she is. I’ll explain it more later, after we’ve discussed it more.”
***************
After school the three aliens and Alex all met at the quarry to find out what had happened earlier that day. Isabel was silent and it was driving Max crazy, but she really did not know how to tell him what had happened. It was her nervous mannerisms that were getting to him, she was biting her lip and wringing her hands together, as she paced, causing little scuffling sounds under her feet as they skimmed the hard packed earth. Isabel’s eyes shone a measure of fear.
Max was also pacing, waiting, his anxiousness growing by the second… He finally turned to her and in the presence of all, he demanded, “What the hell happened Isabel? What the Hell did you do?” He was extremely worried now.
“I took Alex dancing,” she replied as a slight smile crossed her face, and confusion crossed Michael and Max’s. ‘Dancing?’ Isabel stopped her movement and just stood there looking at her brother.
“Why would the sheriff care about that?” Michael asked.
“What
aren’t you saying, Isabel? And what
did you do?” Max pressed further.
“I used my powers.” She whispered, not really wanting to speak out loud.
“And somehow Valenti found out about it? How? You’re usually careful,” he looked pointedly at Alex with a look of wariness. Michael was closing the distance between them.
She said very quietly, “It got caught on tape,” as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“IT WHAT!!?” Max exploded in her face, each word enunciated very emphatically. Isabel flinched. WHERE WERE YOU?? He demanded angrily as he backed away, he realized that he was yelling at his sister and she seemed scared. He didn’t like what was going on, but he didn’t want to hurt her further so he waited for her answer.
“I made sure there was no one around,” Isabel swallowed back her fear…” we went to the far end of town to a deserted parking lot. I didn’t know there were security cameras out side. I’m sorry Max… I know that I need to be careful, and I thought that I was. I’m sorry.” She crossed her arms over her chest and turned to face the water, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. Seeing Max’s disappointment was causing her heart to ache. And she now knew exactly how Michael always felt under Max’s scrutiny. ‘This time it is me who makes a stupid mistake, and I get to face the wrath of Max, not a fun place to be. Poor Michael.’
Alex walked carefully over to the very agitated Isabel and placed a gentle hand on her arm. Isabel’s head turned to meet him sharply, and in a perfect haughty ‘princess mode’ she uttered, “What? What do you want?” Realizing it was Alex but still in her mood, she whispered harshly, “I blew it ok?”
Alex quietly said, “Why don’t you tell them what is on the tape? Let them know what you did, Isabel.” Then he placed his arm around her shoulder, turning her to face the waiting eyes staring at them. He continued to keep his arm around her shoulder for support.
“I made a romantic night,” she swallowed, and then she faintly smiled. “I changed our clothes, and lit the trees with tiny white lights. And then we danced for a couple of hours, that’s all that happened. The problem, and what Sheriff Valenti is fully aware of, is the clothes changes and the lights… its on tape. I’m sorry.”
“How did you change your clothes?” Max asked with one eyebrow raised in question.
‘Oh shit!’ Instantly she remembered, ‘This is something they are yet unaware of, Nasedo taught us when we rescued Max out of the White Room. Right now, we have no idea what our powers really consist of, nor how to use them.’ “We can molecularly change anything right?” She pressed her brother, while all the while noticing that Michael was leaning into their conversation very closely. “Well,” She paused, “I discovered that we could change our clothes with a pass of our hand as long as the energy connects between us and the fabric, and we have an image in our mind of the end result. We can actually alter anything in this same manner.”
“Show me!” Max demanded. And a curious Michael nodded his agreement.
‘Better to oblige ‘King Max’ than to get into a discussion of how I figured it out, because that’s what he’ll ask me next.’ So she nodded, “On me or Alex?”
Max could not believe what she was asking but he decided that Alex would be the better choice as a human, and unable to influence it in any way.
“I’m not closing my eyes this time, ok?” Alex looked at her and grinned.
“Whatever!” The young Princess declared as she shrugged her shoulders. She pulled out of his embrace and turned to face him, imaging him in a cadet blue, long sleeved, button down shirt, with the buttons done all the way to his neck. Firmly using the photograph in her mind, she ran her slightly glowing right hand down his front and the grey pullover t-shirt that he was wearing was instantly transformed. She smiled and leaned in to unbutton the top; hugging him briefly she whispered “Thank-you for being so understanding.”
Michael said what everyone was thinking very clearly, “Holy Shit! Could you do that to me???” He liked to see things to believe them, and feeling them was even better yet.
“Sure,” And she proceeded to change his sweatshirt into his favorite Metallica T-Shirt. They all watched as instantaneously the long sleeves, traveled up his arms and ended at his elbows, the colors of the fabrics morphed as well.
“No Shit!” He exclaimed once again, as he ran his fingers over the well-worn fabric. He loved this shirt, and was shocked to find himself wearing it.
Isabel gave him a warm smile, and then her face darkened, as a storm of emotion crossed it. She turned toward Max and barked out, “Don’t even ask, you will likely end up in a
state you don’t want to be in publicly. And since there has to be something to alter, well… let’s just say, you wouldn’t want to be arrested for ‘Indecent Exposure’ now would you?”
Alex snickered at the visual imagery that instantly popped into his brain, and then not wanting to think of that he laughed to himself. ‘Ok, this girl’s got fire. Note to self. Don’t cross Isabel, results won’t be pretty.’’
“Ok!” Max said a bit dubiously. “So, we just learned a bit more about ourselves… we’ll have to experiment with
that sometime later to see just how useful it is to someone other than the fashion queen.” Max haughtily nodded to Isabel. “But that doesn’t change anything… what were you thinking? Valenti is already watching you. You put us in even more danger Isabel.
She countered, “Look! I said was sorry.” Her arms were once again crossed on her chest and she tossed her hair back in annoyance, as she faced off with Max.
“You’re sorry Isabel?” He snorted, “You think that’s going to take care of this? You broke the rules, Isabel …and that’s all you can say??” He pressed his palms to his temples as his anger flared, and he breathed heavily as he pulled himself back into control. “Remember the rules we made! We all made these together.” He was running his hands through his hair. “The rules are to keep us from being discovered, and to keep us alive. You changed everything Isabel.” He exhaled a very deep, very frustrated sigh.
“Yeah you did… Its time to go… we’re leaving Roswell. We always knew this day would come.” Michael jumped in to the discussion and decided that the time for them to run had just arrived on their doorstep.
“No one is leaving Roswell,” Isabel stated. “And besides, where would we go? This is all the home we have.” Isabel was trying to defuse the situation.
“Roswell is not our home, Isabel. It’s not even in the same solar system.” Yelled Michael as he turned towards the jeep and started to make his way to it.
Isabel knew that whatever she would say would most likely add to the mess than to correct it, but she started in, running over to catch up to him… “Calm down Michael…” she reached out her hand to touch him. “If I run, then I look guilty… but guilty of what? I didn’t do anything.” She shook her head and looked from one brother to the other as she continued to explain her position to them. “Valenti would get even more suspicious, if we all just disappeared. I am the only one who he is following. He has nothing on either of you guys… so if you ran, then he would
know something was up, and he wouldn’t just suspect
me anymore. They walked back over to where Max and Alex were. “Look.” Isabel continued, “He already said he’s watching me. That’s it! And he said that to my face. I’m still here, and I’m still standing. I am the only one of the three of us on that tape, and I didn’t get arrested.” She looked over at Alex and said, “We, didn’t get arrested today… and I’m not running. I’ll use a human phrase here, ‘Face your fears.’ That’s what I’m doing… I’m not leaving, and I’m not running… I’m living my life, right here, right now. So lets all just relax… this will all be ok.” She looked concernedly at each of them in turn again.
“Well you better figure out how to make it ok, because we are now in trouble here.” Max had listened but his fear factor about what threat Valenti posed was so worked up, that he still was blaming Isabel, as he ran his hands in a frustrated manner through his dark hair.
“Max,” Alex stepped in to defend her, shielding her with his body. “Isabel admittedly made a mistake, she said she’s sorry… Back off! She’s been through enough already.” ‘You have no idea how much, nor why she needed that night so desperately. She probably wasn’t thinking of security cameras…just getting close to me again. My Poor Isabel.’
Max turned to him directly, in his anger and said, “Back off?” His tone indicated that Alex had overstepped his bounds, “I seem to think you are a part of this," he paused, stepping into the taller boy’s space, arms crossed against his chest. “A large part,” he took in a deep angry breath and released it, “and I already said I don’t… trust you… with my sister… around.” He let out a slow, angry sigh. “She uses her powers without a thought and is reckless. We
can’t take chances like that. I don’t like your influence.” Max eyes narrowed as he slowly spoke each word. He was staring Alex down in intimidation as he continued his diatribe; “Isabel never was like this before Friday. What she did to your friend Maria’s car was not public; no one can prove it one way or the other. She usually uses her powers, as she would say, ‘recreationally.’ And
never where they could put us in danger. She knows better than that.”
In his anger he then turned on his sister and pointed his finger in her face, “I told you not to tell him Isabel! Do you recall me telling you that we should not involve any other humans?” Max was glaring at her. “ So what did you do after that? You ‘dream-walked’ him,
against my wishes, and then you went on a date with him,” his voice was rising with each word. “Where you used your powers, PUBLICLY!!!!” Max was once again yelling at his sister in his frustration. “Did you… take a leave… of your… senses… Isabel?” He demanded through clenched teeth. And then he turned away from her for a moment, Talking and thinking to himself before he started back in, “To begin with I can’t believe you told him everything.” ‘But after Saturday, you probably had to, something alien happened no doubt.’ He was thinking of all the weird events that took place since the rave, and Isabel and Alex seemed to factor into all of them. “Well so far this isn’t working out right.” He turned back to his sister who was now standing closely to Alex’s side for security’s sake. So he addressed the both of them. “You told
him on Saturday,” he pointed to Alex. “Its only Monday and the Sheriff has already linked the
two of you together on Friday. It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that we are definitely in trouble here!”
Michael was in disbelief at what was going on. He couldn’t handle watching Isabel be reamed by her brother in this manner. So he started looking for a way to do damage control to the situation. “Ok, I could break into the sheriff’s office and get the tape. Then there would be nothing…” In his agitation he started listing off their options, when Isabel interrupted him.
“No! Michael, The sheriff isn’t doing anything… the tape has its origin somewhere else, and the sheriff wrote it up as well, he has a file on me…. Not to mention you’ve already broken into his office once before… I have to think he is fully aware that one of us had, when we had the key to Atherton’s house in Texas.” She was quickly matching up memories from both timelines and realizing that some things had remained the same. “We won’t be breaking in...”
“I just don’t believe this!” … Max could not get over what Isabel had done, he was angry, scared for all of them, and perplexed, and in his aggravation was yelling at his sister, “
One random act of lunacy, Isabel, and it gets caught on tape…” Max threw a rock into the water in his frustration. “HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID!!??” As he turned back to her his eyes were blazing with anger..
Alex had had enough of the treatment she was receiving from her brother… he saw the looks Max was shooting at his sister and he knew he had to do something quick, deciding that he had not finished what he wanted to say, he was going to finish, “Max!!” he went straight into his face. “It was a mistake… Ok!! I realize that for you guys it was a big one… but Isabel has apologized and she is
very sorry. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Now LET IT GO!!! This is going to be ok.”
“Humans,” Max scoffed, his eyes never leaving the taller young man.
“Excuse me?” Alex countered. Max seemed to have said that word as if he were speaking of a lesser creature.
“Humans, “ Max continued… “You can make mistakes. “Max turned away for a moment to think, this guy was really aggravating him, “But…” he turned back to the young man standing at Isabel’s side, “But Alex!!! ... I really don’t think you understand.” He pointed to Isabel. “We can’t make any,” Max motioned between all of them. “It is the difference between life and death. There is nothing easy about our lives. She’s put us in danger, plain and simple. I don’t think you understand.” He said harshly, “Between her and Michael, we are never going to make out of here alive.”
Hearing Michael’s name brought into Max’s frustration was the final straw for Isabel, “That’s enough Max!!”… Isabel jumped in. “Michael is not in any way part of this. I know he broke into the UFO center to get the paper on Atherton.” Her words were tumbling out of her mouth in rapid fire, “And he “kidnapped” Maria, and other things. But this was
my doing… I’m the one on the tape. Can we just drop the subject?? … Valenti is not doing anything, and he’s not going to. I know I have to be even more careful and I
assure you I will, she retorted. “Valenti is watching us, but that’s nothing new. I’m sorry and I’m done discussing this with you.”
She turned to the young man next to her… “Take me home Alex.” She demanded.
“No problem.” He nervously laughed.
“Isabel!!!” Max’s voice rose in warning, “we are definitely not done talking…”
She kept walking. Ignoring ‘King Max’ and his angry tirade, she could have blasted him at any moment, she could have done many things, but the problem was that those powers were all learned after Nasedo turned up, and she shouldn’t have those abilities right now. Anything she would do would only draw more attention to herself from Max. And she certainly didn’t any need more of
that.
“Damn it,” Max yanked a rock from the ground and hurled it over the edge into the waiting water below. “DAMN IT!!” He flung another rock.
***************
When she got home the front door closed harshly behind her. SLAM!!! She headed straight for her room avoiding her mother’s questioning of whatever had her so riled up due to the way she entered the house. Then another SLAM!!!! Was heard. This one shook the windows in their sills. Diane stopped everything she was doing and marched straight up to her daughter’s room.
“Isabel Amanda Evans,” she demanded, while knocking forcefully on the door. When it opened Diane launched into her daughter, ”What the hell is going on? What is wrong with you? We
don’t slam doors around here, and you know that. If you are upset, you find a civilized way to deal with the person who has angered you.” Then noticing the look on her daughter’s face she softened and went into the parent as friend role, “Now would you like to talk to me about it?”
Isabel appeared defeated, she let out a big sigh, and rolled her head on her shoulders to ease the tension and then she looked at her mom, “Nothing is going on that I can share with you. I’m sorry. Max and I just had a big fight…. Things might be tense around here for awhile.”
This concerned Diane because her kids usually did not take to destroying the house when they were angry. “You two need to work it out and make-up.” She stepped into her parent role.
Isabel really did look defeated, she rolled her eyes and answered her mother, “Tell that to Max... I don’t think that’s likely to happen for a few days at least.”
“Honey,” Diane Evans reached out her hand and touched her daughter’s arm, “Can you talk to me about it at all? This seems pretty serious… what with you storming up the stairs and slamming every door you encounter. Talk to me, what’s it about???”
‘If this were my other reality I could fall apart in your arms right now and be safe, but you know nothing about us… and Max is having some
severe control issues, so…’ her thoughts segued into her speech, “No I can’t talk about it. Just keep my brother away from me.” She pointed inside her room and went back inside shutting the door properly this time, behind her.
Ten minutes later the front door slammed again, causing Diane who was cooking dinner to jump as the sound startled her. ‘Max is home.’ She thought to herself. She headed out to the living room to lay into him about the door.
Max took one look at his mother and said, “Don’t talk to me… “ and headed upstairs to Isabel’s room.
“We’re not done.” He shouted through the door. He was met with silence. He tried the handle, locked of course. He used his powers and opened it.
She jumped off her bed as he burst in, ‘I thought I locked that!” She stood facing him off, her face thunderous.
“You did. Now come-on we’re going to go talk.” He grabbed her arm.
“I don’t think so;” She shrugged him off. “I told you I was done discussing it.”
“Fine,” he ground out, “we won’t discuss that anymore… but there is something else we will. And I don’t think you’d want Mom to overhear it,” mouthing the word ‘Alex,’ “so, come-on. Lets go.”
***************
She followed him out of the house and got into the jeep with him where she proceeded to ride in silence with her arms firmly crossed against her chest, her eyes narrowed, and her jaw clenched. They went to an out of the way place where they could raise voices if necessary. Michael was waiting for them.
She took one look and rolled her eyes. ‘Alien Mafia, here we go again.’ Isabel thought disgustedly to herself, “Great. What do you want Max? You dragged me out here, so talk.”
“Its easy Isabel. Let Alex go. You are too close.” Max gave his edict.
Michael jumped into the conversation, “Yeah, Max told me of all the things the two of you have been involved in the past few days and I agree with Max… you’re careless. … Maybe its not Alex’s influence, but if we separate the two of you we might be able to figure out what is going on. And fix it. Letting go of Alex seems like the best thing Isabel.”
‘What are they talking about?’ Isabel was confused but it was not time to play that card, “Ok! First this does not concern either of you two. And you each are dating a human... why can’t I?” Isabel tried to appeal to logic and whiny sister all in one.
“Sheriff Valenti? Parking lot??” Michael countered.
She rolled her eyes in response. ‘I am never going to live this down, wait till they find out about my past life… V’landra. Oh Yeah, this could be really fun….’ Isabel thought sarcastically to herself.
Max continued in his leadership, “So its easy Isabel… just say goodbye to Alex. It’s not like you have been together that long… the rave… same as Liz and me. So you’re done.” He said it like it was so simple and so final.
“Excuse me?” Isabel turned to her brother who had most definitely crossed the line, “Are you forbidding me? To see Alex??”
Max thought about her question for a moment and then nodded, “I guess it looks like it. Just until I know you’ll be more careful. Maybe you can try again in a couple of months. I just don’t trust you around him, and I don’t want to see anything happen to you or to any of us, including the human friends.”
Isabel was outraged, and bewildered all at the same time. “I can assure you Max nothing will. I can also assure you that I
haven’t agreed to your little ‘solution.’ Why don’t you try trusting me without making me prove anything first? I’m going to be with whom I want. I like how I feel when I’m with Alex, as you and Michael do with Liz and Maria. That has to count for something... they’re his best friends… and they seem to trust him… please trust me the same way? Please???” She was really hoping whiny sister was the way to play this one.
“Ok! Isabel if you won’t let him go, then I’ll watch you.” Max said.
She laughed derisively, “You, Valenti. Whatever. I’m never going to breathe without permission, am I?” Isabel tuned out her brother who was ranting on about her disregard to their safety and turned inward to her thoughts on the matter. ‘If I weren’t so mad I’d find this quite humorous, I remember when Michael and I got mad at you for saving Liz. Now it seems as if I’m the one who did the “Act of Lunacy.” My Gosh! Buddha Boy was right, Karma finds you wherever you are and comes back to bite you in the butt, hard! I guess right now Max and I are a strange inversion of ourselves. Well, this is going to be an interesting twist on my life, for the second time. At least nothing will be boring. Tense maybe, but not boring.’
She tuned back in when Max used her exact line from when Tess had arrived, “You brought this on yourself Isabel. You’re the one who “fell in love, ” told him all our secrets, showed him your powers and compromised our very existence.”
As he said this she couldn’t help thinking, ‘We are most definitely related. He’s using my lines on me… And as I thought before, I now know, I am in a Karmic Joke. God! I miss Kyle already. This timeline he is only a dumb jock. And if nothing alien ever screws up his life, he may never become Buddha Boy. I’m gonna miss that.’ She quickly shook her head to get out of that mindset and listened to Max again….
Max turned to Michael and said, “All of us need to be even more careful alright, at least for the time being, absolutely no use of...”
Isabel cut him off in annoyance, “I know… We know Max!!! No Powers... We got it, loud and clear…we’re not stupid.” Isabel made a motion of tapping herself on the chin with her fingers in the shape of a V and then in one continuing motion flipping her hand around to hit herself in the forehead with the back of the same two fingers still in the V form. The configuration of American Sign Language for ‘Stupid.’
Michael entered into the conversation, “So we’re not leaving, we’re not running, and Isabel isn’t letting go of Alex? Is this about clear? Isabel I still agree with Max…. You need to let go of Alex, at least for the time being… but since you refuse… Lets get back.” He really did not know why Max had dragged him into this particular conversation, it was more between the two of them, and so he really hadn’t had much to interject.
“Take me to Alex’s!” Isabel ordered.
“Fine.” Max narrowed his eyes at her as they made their way to the jeep.
***************
Max dropped her off, not waiting around to see if someone was even there, but luckily they were; and she went in to Alex’s house. Once in the safety of his room she started to pace, while fighting back her emotions, as his mother appeared at the door.
Mrs. Gloria Whitman gave a couple of short knocks to the door frame and entered with a glass of water which she handed to the obviously distressed young woman standing in her son’s room.
Isabel thanked her and made her way to the window seat where she sat down tentatively and drank it slowly while trying to regain her composure.
Gloria took the glass and left the room, closing the door behind her so that Alex could address his friend in private.
He sat down beside her and studied her gently. She looked up and realized that she was once again staring into the eyes of the person who meant the most to her. Her face started to crumple, as angry tears gathered in her large brown eyes. She was safe here, he had seen her emotions before, and so she let go of all of the anger and frustration and pain of the day as Alex gathered her into his arms while her hot angry tears started to flow. And sitting on his window seat, she discussed everything with him, in the privacy of his bedroom, and the security of his arms.
TBC....
It is absolutely perfect. I love it. 
I got a lot of that as a descrioption this time.. it seemed to be the general consensus, that and speechless. 
So this is part b of Part One Sorry for the Inconvenience.