Roswell Fanatics

~Alex~

I’m following Max through the locker room, not even considering trying to stop him, but I’m still hoping for some explanation… His words out by the pool mentioning Michael are enough to know it’s trouble, but to know what we’re dealing with would be nice…

"Michael went to the Crashdown. Liz called me telepathically. She's really freaked out."

Max’s voice is low, and he doesn’t look at me, not stopping. I hear him perfectly though, and I understand Max’s reaction completely now…

What is Michael thinking…? Max was very definite last night…he had put it in her hands, told her they’d meet again when she was ready, and she made it perfectly clear today would NOT be that time…

I shake my head and blink, amazed as Max actually uses his powers… We’re alone yes, but usually this would be unheard of in a public place, and I guess that shows just how worried he is…

Not that I blame him, I wonder if Michael knows exactly how much he could be messing things up. Does he realise this could scare Liz off completely… She’s nervous enough, this is a huge thing they’re asking her to take in, and I for one wouldn’t blame her if she told Max she just wasn’t interested now…

We hurry out of the centre and down the path outside. Max breaks into a run on the way back to the house, and I can barely keep up with him…

It’s not that I’m unfit, but Max is a fair runner…

I’m pretty sure he doesn’t use a key when we enter the house either. He doesn’t even stop for one moment, continuing right through the house and the keys fly into his hand in a way I’ve never seen before…

I’ve seen him use that power of course – Isabel too…she’s pretty good at it… But maybe it’s this thing about their powers being related to their emotions… That was something else…

I’ve barely got into the jeep next to him as he sets off, and I can see his mind is on one thing, and one thing only at the moment… I look over at him. “This isn’t your fault you know…”

Maybe it will help, maybe not…but at least I’m trying…

Michael's actions suggested by Storm
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Kyle*

I wait after what I think is a very reasonable offer, hoping this guy will listen. He frowns as 'though concidering it and then says, "Nah. I like the atmousphere here. I think I'll eat in."

Now I know he's lying. Liz told me what Max and the others thought of this place. I know he's not enjoying the decor at all. His answer shows me that he's not interested in responding to reason.

"Listen, Michael. You don't mind if I call you by your name now, do you?" I ask pretending an ease that I don't feel. "I don't care if you are Liz's long lost family from Aalderon or wherever. Liz is my friend and I'm not letting anyone hurt her -- including you. So please, take your burger and get out of here. If you don't, I'll call the manager and the sheriff. I don't think either of them will be giving you an offer half as friendly as this."

I jot down the order for a Will Smith burger and turn to walk to the kitchen, hang it on the cook's order wheel. Then, remembering what Liz told me about what they all drank last night, I stop to fill a paper soda cup with cherry coke and add a plastic lid so he can have it 'to go'. I bring it back and set it on his table. "Cherry coke," I tell him shortly. "I hope you're concidering my suggestion."

With that, I move on to the next table and take another set of orders. I can still see Michael from the corner of my eye. I avoid looking at him, but I can see he's still watching me. I am definately going to call my dad. I won't even try to explain what's going on. I'll just ask him to stop by for a coffee or something. Just the sight of my father's uniform should be enough to get through Michael's thick skull if he hadn't left by then...

ooc: hope this works......

~Michael~

Kyle once again as a bit of an attitude as he responds, "For you, it's prepared 'to go,'" telling me what's on the burger he then adds, "I'll give you all the hot sauce you can stomach and I'll let you have it for free if you leave here immediately. Liz isn't ready to talk to any of you."

Michael, don't do this to me. Don't ruin any chance I have with Liz...
I hear Max say and as much as I hate to admit it, those words have more of an effect on the situation. Still, I've ordered already, or at least am getting set to.

"Nah. I like the atmosphere here. I think I'll eat in." I respond, still not certain I can trust him. That we can trust him.

"Listen, Michael. You don't mind if I call you by your name now, do you?" Kyel asks and I shrug. "I don't care if you are Liz's long lost family from Aalderon or wherever. Liz is my friend and I'm not letting anyone hurt her -- including you. So please, take your burger and get out of here. If you don't, I'll call the manager and the sheriff. I don't think either of them will be giving you an offer half as friendly as this."

He writes down the order and I sit back with a smirk as he goes to put it in. I'm surprised when he comes back with a paper cup with a lid. He's rather determined and I actually find that to be a good thing. This might just work out.

"Cherry coke," He tells me and I laugh. "I hope you're concidering my suggestion."

"You know something, Kyle. You just might actually be okay." I tell him, though I don't smile and I don't make any move to leave. I know Isabel is coming in so it's pointless to leave just yet.

As though conjured from my thoughts, Isabel walks in and heads straight for me, looking angry enough to scream. "Michael, get up and let's go." She says, her voice as low as she can get it even as I watch her turn and look at Kyle then back at me. "You shouldn't have been here. We are leaving right now."

"Relax, Isabel. I've got food coming and then we'll go." I say this with a smirk as I glance over at Kyle. "Kyle here was nice and got me a drink, want some?"

Isabel reached down and pulled my ear, "Ow." I said simply as she forced me to stand that way. "Hey, we're causing a scene here, Iz."

At my words, she glances around and I see that she notices I'm right. Releasing my ear she looks at me with an angry glare. "Michael, we have to go. So, take the damned meal to go."

"I'm planning to already, Iz." I tell her stoicly.

*Max*

This isn’t your fault, you know, Alex tells me. I pinch my lips together but I don’t look in his direction. I’m too busy dodging through traffic just slightly faster than the law allows. I don’t want to be stopped by a cop, but I have no choice.

“I should have been able to make him listen, Alex,” I say, shaking my head. I’m supposed to be the king. Michael knows this. Why can’t he follow my directions? He’s been so keen on getting me to ‘bond’ with Liz as quickly as possible. Why can’t he see how this is going to hurt things? Why could I have seen that he was going to take some kind of action like this? I should have known, somehow…

“I should have made sure he wasn’t alone. I should have been with him myself,” I add, but I know I’m rambling now. Michael’s not a child that I should have to baby-sit him, but I just don’t know what-else I could have done. If he hasn’t spoiled things beyond repair, then I will have to watch him and restrain him, physically if needed. Anything to prevent him from repeating this and destroying our future. It might not have worked out any way, but at least we had a chance. I wouldn’t want to take any bets that she’s still open to the possibilities about this whole situation right now.

It’s been several minutes since Michael has responded to me. He didn’t answer when I asked him to apologize and he didn’t answer when I pleaded with him to stop damaging my chances with Liz. I was angry and alarmed about this from the start. Now, I’m getting totally freaked. What’s going on down there? Why won’t he even answer me? I’d try once more, but it’s pretty clear he’s not interested in communicating. We’re almost there, anyway.

“I contacted Isabel. She’s on her way to get him out of there, too. I think she’ll be arriving just before us,” I tell Alex, realizing that he doesn’t actually know this yet. Then I see it. The Crashdown Diner. It’s only about a mile up the road. I scan for the car and I think I spot it up ahead on the left hand side of the road. “She’s there.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Kyle*

"You know something, Kyle. You just might actually be okay,” Michael says as I move away from him. I’m glad I’m not facing him just now and I do everything I can to focus on my next customers. I can feel my anger at him growing and I feel like hitting him – or at least starting a shouting match. Neither action would be of much use, ‘though. Not for me, or Liz or my job, even, although the last is the least of my worries.

I’m not at all sure what Michael’s comment was supposed to mean, but I do know that he still hasn’t given me any assurances about leaving. I walk into the back room for a moment and make a quick call to my dad and ask if it’s possible for him to swing by soon. He tells me he ‘probably’ can, but doesn’t give me a timeframe. If I’m lucky and Michael’s gone, I’ll just get dad a coffee and that’ll be fine. If this mess is still going on, then I know I’ll be glad that he’s here.

I focus on my customers, taking orders, preparing drinks, fetching napkins and extra ketchup, tallying bills. As I’m preparing another milkshake, Liz comes near and I tell her. “I’m preparing his order to go. I think I can persuade him to get out of here.”

Then I look up as a very angry looking girl with blonde hair comes in. She looks incredible. She stalks over to Michael and grabs him by the ear, pulling him from his seat. Only then do I realize where I’ve seen her before. This is Isabel. Max’s sister.

I pause in the middle of what I’m doing to watch. The customers don’t seem to notice as they’re watching the scene, too. Isabel seems to realize this and she releases him. Michael sits down again as if nothing happened, but Isabel is still glaring at him, her body language revealing her intense feelings. I wonder for a moment if I should interrupt, but I don’t think I want to be in the middle of that. Instead, I turn to the pass-through window over the stove. “You got that Will Smith yet?”

“Yeah, just a sec,” the cook says. I see that he’s got the burger in the Styrofoam carton and is adding chips and a package of extra hot-sauce. I come around into the kitchen, grab six or seven more packets and throw them in, closing the lid for him. “Thanks!” I say. I put the package in a bag and bring it on over.

The door opens as I approach Michael's booth and in walks Max, looking just as upset as Isabel. There's another guy with him and I know it's Adam. No, that's not it. Alex. Yeah. Alex.

“Here you go,” I say, placing the food on the table. “On the house,” I add, reminding him of my offer. Actually, I know that I’ll have to pay for it out of my tips but that’s not important. The important thing is that he leaves. Immediately. I keep my eyes focused on him, staring as I wait to see what he’s going to do now…


.

OOC: GREAT Posts ladies, what a nice lot of reading to come back to hehe. Anyway long overdue given my lack of access to computer or internet this weekend, but here's Alex, Liz is being worked on and hopefully will be up before I go to bed or at the latest before I go to work in the morning

~Alex~

It doesn’t escape my notice that Max doesn’t look at me after I say this. I’m pretty sure he’s not convinced himself, but he should be… No way is this his fault… This is Michael…stubborn, pig-headed Michael who tends to have a one track mind and not bother thinking about the consequences of his actions except relating to that one track… I frown and sigh, holding my breath a moment as we seem to come dangerously close to another vehicle, but letting it out again as we pass it safely. Maybe Max is going rather faster than usual, but at least he doesn’t seem to have forgotten completely about road safety…

“I should have been able to make him listen, Alex…” Max tells me, shaking his head.

I sigh and pull a face, nodding slightly. “Yeah, in an ideal world you should…” I concede. “But Max this isn’t an ideal world… Michael isn’t someone who just blindly obeys orders…” As I say this, I look over at Max and recognise a look in his eyes that I’ve seen before. “No one can know what Michael’s going to do…we can guess, but when it comes down to it, Michael amazes us over and over…not least with stunts like this… This isn’t your fault…this is all Michael, and I’m sure that Liz will be able to see that." I go a little further now, repeating my earlier comment but adding an additional bit. Hopefully I’m not pushing it too far…

“I should have made sure he wasn’t along. I should have been with him myself…” Max adds, but I don’t have to say anything to remind him of how silly that is. We’re twenty…Michael is a grown man, completely able to look after himself. We can’t watch him every day all day, it’s just not practical, and if he wants to do something bad enough, he’s going to find a way…

As we turn onto the street where the Crashdown is found, Max turns to me again. “I contacted Isabel. She’s on her way to get him out of there, too. I think she’ll be arriving just before us…”

This comes as news to me, but not so much of a shock. It makes sense that Max would do that, he wanted to get Michael out of there as soon as possible, and if that meant getting Isabel to do it, that’s what he’d do. I know Max well enough to be able to see that he’s worried, and as he scans the road I do the same, my gaze spotting the car just as his voice revealed he had done the same. “She’s there…”

I nod, making no more conversation as Max parks the vehicle but jumping out as soon as he’s done. I don’t need to look at Max to see that he’s getting tense, and I have to say that he almost seems to run across the road, hardly slowing as he reaches the door.

I follow close behind and as soon as I step through the door I spot Isabel, looking extremely annoyed. There’s a younger guy, probably around Liz’s age stood next to the booth too, he looks like he’s talking to Michael. I recognise his picture from the year-book I managed to dig up last night. Kyle Valenti… I didn’t know he worked here…

I can’t say he looks to happy that Michael’s here either, and as I see him glance in another direction a moment, I follow his gaze, quickly spotting Liz stood behind the counter serving. One look at her tells me that Michael really is making a mess of things, she looks pale as a sheet and absolutely freaked…nice going Michael…

I look over at Max. “How do you want to do this…?” I ask him in a low voice.

OOC: I'll do formatting tomorrow, have to get to bed now

~Liz~

“Hey Liz, you look like you could do with a drink yourself…” Zack smiles and pushes a note towards me. “Get a drink for yourself, and one for Kyle later okay…?” He looks at me.

I give a small smile. The first genuine one in a while. Zack’s not a bad guy…he’s a major part of the team, and an excellent sportsman, but he really doesn’t let any of that get to him. He’s in a couple of my classes, and he’s always been a pretty good friend. Not on the scale of Kyle of course, but still, he’s been there… It’s not unknown for him to do this either, and I gave up trying to refuse a long time ago. “Sure…when I get a break…thanks…”

He looks like he’s going to object, but after a moment just nods and smiles. “No problem, just don’t you work too hard…” He tells me, grinning.

As much as it would be nice to stand around talking to him and the rest of the group though, there are lots of people still wanting drinks, and even seats, I guess I’d better see what I can do.

Fixing a smile on my face, I turn back to the next in the queue, taking their orders quickly and fixing them as best as I can, taking their money and ringing it up on the register easily given the number of times I’ve done this before.

Continuing to work through the customers for a moment, I get to a point where virtually everyone is happy and I turn to look over to where Michael’s sat.

Kyle took a while with him, although now he’s moved back to his normal customers, and as I see him getting a milkshake, I take advantage of the fact that he’s near to go over. In the end I don’t need to ask, he tells me that Michael’s order is going to be ‘to go’, and although I don’t know how he intends to ‘persuade’ him, I can’t say I want to ask…I’m just hoping he’s right… “Thanks Kyle…”

The bell rings to indicate the entrance of another new customer, and as I look up, although I heard some of her message, I’m a little surprised to see Isabel walk in. I’m not as un-nerved by her presence though, and as she makes a beeline for Michael, I can’t help feeling relieved. Her body language says that she’s not intending to stay, or for him to do so, and I finally feel myself begin to relax.

This relief only lasts a few moments however, because I see her arguing with Michael as he stubbornly remains stitting down. It appears that he has no intention of going anywhere, and despite her best efforts, he’s not budging. She even grabs his ear at one point, which I have to admit looks pretty funny… In any other situation, I would probably be laughing, but the fact is that I don’t like how this has all happened… This was supposed to be a nice normal evening…get through my shift, forget about alien kings and queens, bonding and other such things for a few hours… It was my chance to just be Liz Parker the waitress, the emancipated sixteen-year old who’s working to pay her rent, nothing more, nothing less…

I guess Michael had other plans though… I swallow and shake my head silently, watching them for a moment before my attention is called back to my own customers. I finish ringing up the order I’ve just filled. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Kyle collecting an order, and when I see a group of guys – probably late teens, just out of school having a road trip I imagine – waiting to be seated, I slip out from behind the counter to see what I can do. “Good afternoon, welcome to the Crashdown…if you’d like to follow me, we’ll see what we can do about getting you some seats…”

They nod and I lead them over to a booth that has just been vacated, a little way back from the one Michael’s sat at, although still in my section. After handing them some menus, and mentioning the special’s board, I head back over to the counter, collecting some empty glasses and dirty plates on the way. Dropping these off at the serving hatch, I then get called over to one of my other tables where someone orders a coffee. I’m in the middle of sorting this when the bell rings again and I look up, hoping that it’s not going to be another crowd. Surely we’re busy enough as it is…?

When I see who it is, I’m not really sure whether to be relieved, pleased, or even more upset… This definitely isn’t turning out as I would have hoped… I swallow and chew my lip, trying to concentrate on my task and keep my eyes focused on anything except that booth.

~Michael~

As angry as Isabel is with me, I'm surprised by her actions, still I can't help but smirk at her even as she glares at me. I'm contemplating what I'm going to do and say next when Kyle returns with my meal all bagged up and says, “Here you go,” placing the food on the table with what I am certain is threadbare calm. “On the house,” Kyle adds and I'm tempted to say something but I feel more then I see that Max is there.

*I'm ready to leave.* I say simply, sending it to Max and Isabel. Standing, I reach into my pocket and toss the money down to pay for the meal and a bit of tip.

"No thanks, I can pay for it." I told Kyle and smirked at him as I took both meal and drink in hand, preparing to leave. Then, looking at Isabel I say simply, "Ready?"

I know I'm going to hear it from everyone when we leave, but for the look on some of the faces, it was worth it, not to mention, I'd learned what I wanted to learn. "Nice meeting you, Kyle. Things should be interesting now." I say simply as I glance back at the boy and then start for the door, passing by Alex and Max with a simple, "I'm going."



~Isabel~

I don't know why I even thought I would be able to get Michael to listen, but I had hoped. Now, after all this stress he's caused Liz, Max, and even the poor kid Kyle, he simply tells me through a mind link that he's ready to leave and stands up tossing money onto the table as though nothing was wrong.

He exchages words about paying with Kyle and then looks at me, "Ready."

I have all I can do not to scream in rage at him before I turn to Kyle and say simply, "I am very sorry that this had to happen. Please, don't take his actions as if they speak for all of us. Maybe we'll meet again under better circumstances." I sigh and give him a slight smile, though it's certainly not a complete one as I turn and walk toward the entrance where Alex and Max are standing.

Without caring what others would think, I go right up to Alex and wrap my arms around him, kissing his lips with passion. After a few moments pass, I pull back and smile at him, "Well, I certainly feel calmer now." I joked, though I knew it wouldn't seem as though I was a hundred percent relaxed. "I'm going after Michael to see if I can't get him to tell me what the hell all of that was about." Kissing his cheek I tell Alex, "I love you." My voice is loud enough for any of the customers near us to here as I spoke the endearment.

A group of guy's end up making sounds of disappointment and I shrug before looking at Max, "I tried, should I meet you at home?"

*Max*

As soon as we get inside, I take in the scene. Isabel and Michael are at a table and Kyle is standing over both of them. “How do you want to do this…?” Alex asks in a low voice.

How would I like to? I’d like to throw him into next week but that’s not going to work. I’m as strong as he is, but Michael is still a bit bigger. Besides, it won’t help any to cause a scene. I immediately look over and see Liz. She’s pale but standing straight as she watches over the scene. It’s like an invasion, I think. I promised her no contact and instead she sees Michael, Isabel, Alex and me. Only Maria is missing. It’s a complete breach, I only hope she understand that the rest of us are here to help, not intrude. *I’m so sorry. We’ll get him out,* I promise Liz again.

But before I get a chance to respond to Alex, Michael rises to his feet, archily asking if Isabel is ready to go. I can read the frustration in her face, but I don’t move as I don’t want to stop him when Michael is actually moving in the right direction. He throws money on the table and saunters past me. “I’m going,” he says easily, continuing straight out the door.

*We’ll talk about this later,* I promise him, my displeasure more than evident in my silent voice. He actually looks pleased with himself, smirking. I almost expect him to start whistling. Isabel apologies for the group and follows until Michael is outside. She stops then, giving Alex a kiss that’s so deep that it’s embarrassing to watch. This is my sister! And it is a public place, after all. Still, I guess I can understand. Michael has us all wound up, including Liz, and I’m sure Isabel needed an outlet for that.

"Well, I certainly feel calmer now." she jokes and I realize my thoughts were spot on. “I’m going after Michael to see if I can't get him to tell me what the hell all of that was about." Kissing Alex again, more chastely, she adds, “Should I meet you at home?"

“Yeah. I’ll just be a bit,” I promise her, my eyes on Liz only. “I have to see how big a mess he made and try to clean it up.” I know Michael didn’t have a car, since Isabel and I drove our only vehicles here, so I figure she should be able to catch up with him easily, unless he uses his powers to take one of them. *You go sit on him if you have to. Don’t let him out of your sight until I get back, okay?*

“You can go, if you like, Alex,” I tell him and then move towards Liz. *Are you okay? What exactly did he do here?*

*~*~*~*~*~*

*Kyle*

Surprisingly, Michael actually pays for his meal and leaves, strutting out with a few words to Isabel that make it sound like she’d been the one delaying him. It’s all I can do to keep from rolling my eyes. Isabel apologizes for the group, making no excuses for Michael. I can’t help but notice how incredibly beautiful she looks. Her hair is absolute perfection. Her voice is silky and smooth. I could easily believe she’s a princess.

“Yeah,” I say, lowly, scooping up the cash. He’s left almost twice the value of the food, making it quite a nice tip, although it’s not enough to make up for the distress he caused Liz. “That one needs to be kept on a leash,” I say, mostly to myself, although it’s possible Isabel heard me.

I move over to the register and ring it up, leaving the correct amount in the drawer as Isabel makes out with Alex. Liz told me they were together, but that’s a bit more than I expected. Still, right now, I’m not going to comment on it. I look back at Liz, and see that she’s still looking tense, even after Michael’s exit although I guess it’s a little less. “You okay?” I ask her softly.

~Alex~

As I’m waiting for Max to answer, we’re still approaching the table of course and I’m amazed to see Michael just stand up. He chucks some money at Kyle, and if I’m hearing right seems to say something that suggests it was Isabel holding them up… I shake my head. He never ceases to amaze…

He passes us a moment later. “I’m going…”

One look at Max tells me this isn’t over of course… We haven’t heard the last of this, and I can’t blame him for being angry… Michael could have done some serious damage here, we just have to hope it’s not irreparable…

I’m about to follow Michael out, but Isabel takes me by surprise somewhat, closing the distance between us quickly and kissing me deeply. Even just a year ago, this would have caused me to go red as a beetroot, but the last year I guess I’ve grown up a lot. It’s not like we’re children anymore, and I can’t deny that it’s extremely pleasant. I kiss her back, and smile as I hear her speak again, finishing with, “I love you…”.

“I love you too…” I respond, speaking of feelings which I know without a doubt are genuine. I have to say I can’t help feeling something of a feeling of satisfaction at the sound of the groans which follow from a number of the guys who are sat at a nearby table.

Isabel shrugs and looks over at Max, asking if she should meet him back at the house. His response is to nod and state that he’ll follow shortly, feeling that he needs to do a little damage control at the moment…

From the look on Liz’s face, I have to say he’s probably right…although how much him staying is going to help is debatable… I guess he is the one she’s spent most time with though…

I nod as Max says that I can go back and smile, slipping my arm around Isabel. “Okay, shall we go find Michael then…before he can cause anymore trouble…” I comment as we head out of the door, leaving Max to do what he needs to do.

~Liz~

Even though I still have customers to serve, I have to admit my mind isn’t fully on it, and as the bell above the door sounds, I stiffen, recognising Alex and Max immediately.

*I’m so sorry. We’ll get him out…*

Max’s words as they sound inside my head echo to a large extent those from Isabel slightly earlier. Although now almost the whole group is here, I know that all but one have a good reason and only want to help. *Thank you…* I send back, standing and watching for another moment before forcing myself to return my attention to what I’m doing and finish fixing the order I’m currently working on.

As I’m finishing ringing it up on the till, I notice a slight movement and my brown creases in surprise and confusion – although not disappointment – as I see Michael stand up. I watch them carefully for few minutes as he seems to hand something to Kyle and say something to Isabel. I’m not close enough to hear though, and I’m forced to tear my gaze away as another customer calls my attention.

I go over, greeting them pleasantly. It’s a young couple who are sat here, and the woman asks for another drink. I check if there’s anything else they want, and when I receive an answer in the negative, nod and tell them it won’t be a moment.

Returning to the counter, I quickly pour out another coffee for her and take it over.

After setting it down, receiving something of a thanks, I nod and can’t help turning once more to what is happening between the group that is now close to the door. Isabel kisses Alex in a way which causes my eyes to widen. Perhaps it’s different for older couples, but I’d never dream of doing something like that in public…

As she draws away, she exchanges a few words with Max and then both she and Alex head out of the door, leaving Max as the only one still present.

I head on back to the counter, moving towards the register where Kyle is already stood.

“You okay…?” He asks in a soft voice.

I nod slightly. “Yeah…it was just a bit of a shock I guess…” I respond, trailing off as I hear a voice in my head again. I have to say I’m a little surprised, I guess I had expected that he was going to be leaving with the others, but when I look over, I see that far from doing that Max is actually coming towards me.

*I’m fine…* I try to send back, hoping that my mental voice will sound rather more convincing than when I told Kyle just now. *I don’t think he did anything, it was more him saying, and just being here…* I bite my lip a moment. *I’m sorry, I just wasn’t ready for it…*

Just at that moment, the bell above the door sounds again and I see a group of three guys, probably late teens, walk through the door. I don’t recognise them, and Roswell is a pretty small place, everyone tends to know everyone, so I’m guessing they’re tourists…

I turn to Kyle. “I’ll deal with them…” I tell him quickly, finishing ringing up my last order and then heading back out from behind the counter. *I’m sorry Max, if you want to talk you’re going to have to wait a bit…you might have gathered it’s pretty busy at the moment…* I send so as not to give Max the wrong impression. I’m not completely sure I am ready to talk, but he is here now, so I guess I’ll leave it up to him. For now though, I really do have work to do…

I head over to the newcomers, offering a smile. “Good afternoon, welcome to the Crashdown, can I show you to a table…?”

One of them grins. “Sure babe, sounds good…”

Urgh…babe… It takes all my effort not to grimace at the way he’s speaking. Instead, I keep a smile on my face though as I know I should… They are customers afterall… “Right this way…” I guide them over to one of the tables in my section that is free at the moment. “I’ll be back in a moment to take your order…” I tell them in a soft voice after pointing out the specials on the board.