Mt Gazer
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And this appears to be yet another of those joint feedbacks.
I’m glad that you all enjoyed The Misunderstanding and that the humor I meant to portray did exactly that.
So it left us with some questions, which would be… how are Max and Michael gonna react? Remember the show from which this was taken, and think for a moment how it would have gone if Isabel went for it. Neither brother was happy and had basically forced her hand into not telling.
Well, I changed that, Diane is now firmly in the know, and her and Isabel can finally have the mother/daughter relationship that Isabel is craving.
I initially had not written this next chapter, but I kept reading the responses of the readers and I did not care to disappoint you... LOL!!! :lol LOL!!! So this is what some of you were asking for, The Fallout.
Thanks to ChrystalKay: Who pondered the state of Max, livid and worried about what Diane will do… she mentioned something about the next part being the Fourth of July for sure…. FIREWORKS ANYONE??? Creative Nickname: Who can’t wait for the fallout, Isis: Who is curious how the boys are going to react and can’t wait to see what is next, StargazerUK: Who can’t wait for Max’s return, and jbangelo: Who can't wait to see the boy’s reactions…. This is for you guys specifically.
UK-Warning: I think you already know how Max might react, from our talks about chapter 13. Just be prepared.
And then I would like to say “Hi and thanks for dropping in” to 3 new readers. LXC, Biged, Punk Pixie… Great to see you join the story.
So lets continue with The Fallout, shall we?
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And one more thing, credit where due. Thanks to Stargazer MD ~ PAUL~ for all the help on the ending of this chapter. Great Dialogue,
I like the way it turned out and couldn’t have done it without you. (( HUG)) You are an awesome beta, taking something great, and making it perfect. Thanks for all the help you’ve given on this story so far. I really appreciate it. *High-Five* 
:DMt Gazer
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Shifting Realities
Chapter Sixteen:
The Fallout
***
Max had been very upset when he had returned from the quarry that day, not the least because they had ended up walking most of the way home, due to the fact that Max did not have his cell phone on him, it was in the jeep, which needless to say Isabel had taken.
He did not want to deal with Isabel and he had an awful feeling that he didn’t want to go home either, so he and Michael sauntered into the Crashdown in a less than happy mood, after the long walk back. They were damp from perspiration and that made the dust that was clinging to them turn into some form of muck. It was not quite mud since there was not enough dirt. But they were sweaty, dirty, and frustrated as well as very upset with Isabel and though they were not sure if she had informed Diane Evans of the secret, the way Isabel was acting during the past week, there was a strong likelihood that she had.
The first people they saw upon entering the Crashdown Café that day in January, were the last people on earth that they wanted to see at that particular moment… Alex and Isabel, sitting side by side no less, and Isabel was slightly smiling at something Alex had just said. The frustration level raised to anger, in the two already irritated young men.
Isabel knew sitting with Alex might be seen by her peers, but after what she had just done, she needed to feel secure. Inside she was reeling once again; her world felt as if it had once more been turned upside down, and this time she knew that she had caused the overturn. No matter what was going on in the outside world, she needed to feel Alex’s presence beside her. She was so happy with how everything turned out with her mother, but that was the part that was over, the agony of the secret lifted. The part that was just beginning was Max and his reactions. And she was not looking forward to them, hoping to avoid him. But she realized that would be hard to do when he was standing at the edge of the table glaring at her. She glanced up sideways. Brother and sister caught each other’s eyes momentarily and she swallowed long and hard. Holding in a deep breath as it caught in her throat.
Max could read the emotions in her eyes, and he did not like what he was seeing; she was guilty, as she did not hold his gaze long before turning away, and she had quickly sucked in her lips. She was frightened, of him. She had practically flinched when he drew near the table. And she was nervous, very nervous, for she had swallowed silently when they made eye contact. His hand at his side clenched into a fist and unclenched as he stood there silently absorbing the events that had apparently played out as he ran his other nervous hand through his thick dark hair, pushing back his bangs. Max was staring at his sister, his jaw firmly set. He was so angry that he wasn’t talking, or doing anything.
Isabel knew she was in trouble; she glimpsed back up to read his reaction, since she could feel his ‘wrath’ under the surface. Taking in another hasty breath she quickly averted her eyes from his, as her right hand dove under the table to find Alex’s. His left hand was doing the same, and they connected under the table.
Liz came over and laid her hand on Max’s arm, “Max?” A low growl escaped his throat, and she felt every muscle in his body tense rigid. She quickly left his side and made her way over to Maria who was at the counter watching the drama unfold, wiping down the same spot repeatedly, her bulging eyes never leaving the alien trio. Liz sidled in and whispered, “Oh Boy Maria, this is not good… No one is talking… Max was actually growling.”
Michael, sliding into the table, broke the taut silence. In a very tense whisper he leaned in to Isabel, … “You told her didn’t you?” He didn’t need Isabel to answer; the guilty expression on her face said it all. He straightened up, “Adults are the enemy, remember that!” ‘When this goes bad…’ “I hope you’re happy, because now our lives are in danger.” He hissed. Just a little louder, as he stood to his feet, he turned to the still staring brother. “Lets go Maxwell, lets get away from this traitor.” Michael spat out the last word and shot Isabel a spiteful look and then turned his back on her as he started towards the door.
The disappointment and fear in his face were more than Isabel could take. At the mention of “traitor” her face rapidly fell, and she quickly excused herself from the table heading into the back room. One thought chose that moment to run as a movie through her mind … Congresswoman Whitaker was telling her, “You had a great love...and for him...for us...you betrayed your brother, your race.” Isabel reacted forcefully to the words, “NO!!!” And the congresswoman continued, “You sacrificed him. You sacrificed everyone...even yourself. And history, my dear, always repeats itself.” She remembered the feeling of the stroke on her cheek, it chilled her to her core and there was nothing gentle about it, she rubbed the spot unconsciously as she stood in the break-room. One of her worst memories was playing out and she now she had to deal with Max and Michael feeling betrayed. She deeply sighed. ‘This isn’t even an issue for now… Everything must be played close to its original point…. and that was my 18th birthday.’ She sighed deeply again.
Max followed her; leaving Michael to wander back to the table and keep Alex in his sights… he was not about to let him go near Isabel. Max and Isabel needed to talk. Alone. Alex stood up at the table’s edge and faced off with Michael. He would be in that room in a second if Isabel needed him, going right through Michael if he had to.
Maria and Liz continued to watch the whole scenario with their collective breath held. Whatever had happened was not good on so many levels. What they saw scared them, and they worried that a brawl would break out in the ordinarily peaceful restaurant. Michael looked like he could fry Alex with his scathing look, as they stood toe-to-toe; literally, the tips of their shoes were touching. They were in a matched stance, feet firmly planted shoulder width apart, knees locked, arms folded across their chests, and jaws firmly set. Both were inflexible and neither were speaking. Michael was upset with Isabel… and Max was seething. The only thing the girls could deduce was that whatever had happened, Isabel was at the heart of its cause. And it had set everyone on edge, including Alex.
That was the barometer for them, Alex was normally so easygoing and laidback that they were shocked by the fierce intensity written all over his tight set face.
***************
In the break-room, Max and Isabel were slowly circling each other like cats about to strike. Max spoke in low, tense tones. “Isabel, I am so upset… that I don’t… even have words right now.” Every word he spoke was sharp and slow. “ I… cannot… believe you did that…” another low growl escaped, “after everything that’s been going on.”
She had never seen her brother so upset, even after finding out Sheriff Valenti had a tape of her using her powers. She was shaking, yet she had to hold to her position, she had done the right thing. She had known that Max was going to be livid, she had only told her mother because it had to be done. She would never purposefully try to go against Max unless it were necessary. It was. She knew that Alex was keeping Michael away so that she only had one of them to deal with, but how she wished he were holding her up right now. If her adrenaline had not been coursing at top intensity she would have collapsed to the ground already, but she continued in her position, as acid churned in her stomach, leaving her with a sickly feeling. She slowly spoke, “Max,” she swallowed, “that’s why I did it… because of everything going on. We need an adult… I chose Mom. Would you have preferred that I told Dad?”
“You wouldn’t?” He eyed her suspiciously.
“It was one or the other Max, I- I- chose M-m-om.” She reached up with the back of her hand to wipe moisture from her cheek.
“But why Isabel? We always kept this to just us, why now? Why were you so hell bent on telling her?”
“I’ve already given you those answers this week.” The tears were starting to sting her eyes and she really didn’t want to end up crying in front of her brother, so she swallowed hard and said, “Because I need her. Valenti is tailing me… I don’t feel safe anymore. I needed her to know. I need my Mom.” She turned on the water in the sink and doused her face for a second trying to regain control, before she turned back to him.
He let out a deep sigh, “Well, I’m not sure about your safety or any of ours at this moment, and Isabel she is not your mom,” he shook his head at the sound of that, “our mom…” he shook his hands in front of him as they clenched and unclenched again.
“She is our mom Max… It’ll be ok, you’ll see. She does love us. She’s ok with it Max, go talk to her, please?” She pleaded…
“Is-a-bel!!” his voice raised. A very angry sigh escaped, “I can’t deal with this anymore. What’s done is done! And rather than causing you physical injury,” he opened his clenched fists and ran them forcefully through his hair, as he felt himself on the verge of losing control for a second time in less than five minutes. And not wanting to cause harm to anyone, he decided to leave. “I’m leaving.” He spoke through his clenched teeth.
“Thanks Max, I’m so glad to know that you would refrain from hitting your sister.” Isabel retorted sarcastically.
“Don’t tempt me Isabel!!” His voice was seriously rising, now. “I’m already on the edge. This is not over!!” With that he clenched his jaw again, as he stormed out of the back room, his hands balled into fists at his side.
He was not even aware that the entire restaurant had overheard the very last of the conversation. Alex had bristled when he heard Max’s raised voice, but seconds later Max blew right by him as he jerked Michael out the front door. The door to the break-room was swinging wildly on its hinges. And the two angry young men climbed into what else? The Jeep. Now Isabel and Alex were the ones on foot, and the sight at home wasn’t going to be pretty, indeed.
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At that moment Max was so furious that he couldn’t talk to anyone so in this understanding he dropped Michael off at his trailer, before he made his way back to his house.
His mother was waiting for him as he expected, and he did not greet her enthusiastically. Instead he slammed the front door for emphasis, causing the windows on the lower level of the house to rattle in their frames, he took one look at his mother, who had leapt to her feet as he entered, … and said, “I already know you know, I ran into Isabel. I am not talking about it right now.” His hand was sharply emphasizing his point as he shook it in front of him. He then headed straight to his room and turned on his Counting Crows CD. Blaring it louder than ever.
Diane let out the breath she had apparently been holding as she slumped back onto the couch, she sighed, thinking, ‘Poor Isabel must be in a state right now. And I’m sure the fight of the past month has just escalated to epic proportions.” Rolling her eyes, she slowly stood up. “Where Angels fear to tread… I must be the fool who rushes in.” She hesitantly made her way to her son’s room, knocked, and then entered without his permission.
Diane walked over and turned off the CD for a moment. “Max, I know you don’t want to talk… and I’m not going to force you to.” She sat on the foot of his bed and touched his leg, much the same as Isabel had done earlier in the week. “I just wanted to say one very important thing. You are my son. I love you… no matter who you are or where you came from… OK??” She was met with rigid silence. “I’ll be here if or when you want to talk.” She patted his leg, and stood up…
More silence, Max kept staring at his feet, which were propped on the end of his bed, his arms across his chest. He heard his mother, but he could not respond, he didn’t know what to say. And he was still so confused by all the current events that he was deeply brooding. All this time they had worked so hard to remain hidden and in one rash moment it had all come undone, he needed to figure out a way to do damage control, to reverse time, anything. He couldn’t talk about it, he wasn’t comfortable with his mother knowing, she was alright he supposed, and Isabel was probably correct in that she could handle it… it was the unknown, the who would she tell? That worried him no end. What would Dad do if he found out? These were the questions racing through his mind, and he did not like the feelings they created in him. His stomach was churning; he was so stressed. He kept staring at his shoes, in silent misery.
Diane hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek before she walked over to the CD player. She turned on the CD lowering its volume, and then closed the door as she walked out.
No sooner had she reached the living room but the volume of the music was raised again. Max wanted to drown out the world right now, and so his mother left him alone.
She slouched back into the cushions of the couch, as she placed her head in her hands, “Well! That went well, considering….” She wryly stated, and the tears started to flow. Her family was hurting, this time the cause was known, but the solution seemed out of reach. And what would she say to her husband? How was she to start that conversation? She knew that it had taken every ounce of Isabel’s strength and then some for her to tell the secret. There was no way that Isabel was going to tell her father, and she needed her strength now for the upcoming fight with Max that was more than likely on the horizon. Diane just let herself cry as the weight of the day, and the week, fell in on top of her. At least Isabel was with Alex, she was in the best hands possible, and Diane smiled as she reminisced on the huge misunderstanding of a couple of hours ago. In that short of a time, her world had tilted on its axis, permanently.
***************
At the Crashdown, as Max had pulled Michael from the premises; Alex slumped into the bench, his legs just gave way. He let out a very long, punctuated sigh, of relief but also of tension. There was no way this issue was over; rather it had just begun.
The girls, each taking care of a customer, shot each other a worried look, and as soon as their duties were over for the moment, each separated to care for one half of the disjointed couple. Liz headed over to Alex and Maria made her way into the break-room.
“Alex? You ok?” Liz slid in the side opposite him, as she placed her hand on his.
He looked up and mumbled, “That went well … considering...”
Liz was stunned, “Well?” She responded to his comment, “I don’t think so… What just happened???”
His head was down and staring at the table as he realized that he was partly responsible for the chasm that was destroying his girlfriend’s family. Isabel had asked him to be with her as she let her mother in on the secret a couple of hours ago, and it was all blowing up in their faces, especially Isabel’s. He needed to get to her to see how she was doing, but he couldn’t move just yet… his knees felt rubbery; he had just squared off with Michael Guerin, yet he had lived to tell about it. He looked up in shock to stare at Liz. She had a concerned look all over her face, “So much, so much just happened.” He mumbled as he just sat there blinking, sort of bobbing his head, in not quite a complete nod, trying to take it all in. He wasn’t able to discuss it currently.
***************
Meanwhile in the break-room, Isabel had been so tense when Max left that she found herself leaning against the brick wall for support as she let her self come down off the adrenaline rush. She was completely shocked at what she had done. The events played in her mind, she had told her mom, she had actually stood up to her brother, truly stood up to him. Never before in her life had she been so “bold.” Her still wobbly legs buckled under her as she slid down the wall, her head on her knees and shaking. Trying to regain her composure. And that is how Maria found her.
The careful blonde first looked through the diamond shaped window and then she slowly pushed open the break-room door, and peered inside, calling out cautiously, “Isabel?”
The taller girl looked up from her position on the floor and folded her arms across her chest, they were trembling and she’d rather not be seen in such a weak moment, an unreadable expression was on her face, yet she also looked like she was in shock.
“Are you ok…. Max didn’t hurt you did he?” Maria was still perched near the door. Isabel, at this current moment was not the Ice Princess, and that left Maria nervous. Maria had seen brief glimpses of the teenager that Isabel hid behind her façade in the past few weeks, especially when the boys were sick, but this was too much. All of Isabel’s defenses seemed to have been broken. Maria also did not know what was going on with all the members of the alien trio, and that unnerved her completely.
“Umm… No?” Isabel stated, in it was the hint of a question. And realizing that it was over but just beginning, the emotion started to pile on top of her as tears gathered in her eyes and she gulped in a few breaths to keep herself together. Just an hour or so ago she was laughing hysterically, now she was back to tears. And they were threatening to burst the dam.
Maria saw the look on Isabel’s face and quickly got her a paper cup filled with water from the sink and then went to get Alex, conversing with herself in whispered tones along the way. “Max, what did you do to her? You hurt her… of course you did… You sure don’t seem to care. Well, I know you did something to her… I mean, the Ice Princess is crumpled to the floor of the break-room and is on the verge of tears.” Her hands were in a questioning gesture while she shrugged her shoulders as she continued to dialog with her self, “What else could be the reason for that?” She came next to Alex who looked as if the wind had been knocked out of him and Liz sitting there with her hand on his gently.
“Alex… Come-on.” Maria got his attention. “Someone needs you.” She tugged at his sleeve. His inner strength returned immediately, and he shot out of the bench, tossing aside his own concerns as he preceded Maria into the back room, throwing open the door forcefully as it slammed against the opposite wall. The sound caused Isabel to jump unconsciously, and the sight that met his eyes, gripped at his heart. He silently mouthed the words, “Ohh Baby,” in a pained manner, as he rushed to her side. He knew Isabel was hurting, she was huddled against the brick wall between the bookshelf and the staircase, enclosed into a tight place, with her hands wrapped tightly around her middle as if to hold herself together, literally. Her head was down and she was breathing shallowly. He stroked her hair softly and she nearly jumped out of her skin at the contact, then she slowly looked up. “Sorry.” She mumbled.
Without a thought or care, Alex bent down and scooped her off the cold floor. Maria was by his side the whole time, her eyes wide in curiosity, and worry. She gathered the water cup off the bookcase, and dumped it out in the sink, and then she dampened a clean dishcloth for Isabel to wipe her face if she so desired. Alex carried Isabel gently over to the couch. And as he sat down, Isabel buried her face in his shoulder, silent tears sliding down her cheeks. She was in a very bad state, and felt ashamed for losing it so publicly. She kept her face buried.
Maria touched her back carefully. “Isabel? Are you ok? Anything I can do to help?” The silent girl shook her head against Alex’s shoulder. Maria pressed the cloth into her hand.
Maria looked at her friend deeply comforting Isabel, his head down and whispering soothing sounds at the top of her head, the intensity was still etched on his features. So Maria asked what everyone wanted to know at that moment, “What happened Alex?” Alex looked up silently, pain written all over his face. Maria continued, “I’ve never seen the guys so upset; I thought Max was going to do physical harm to Isabel, I mean look at her… maybe he did.” Isabel shook her head ‘no,’ in response to Maria’s assumption.
“If he does, he goes through me.” The tense young man answered. “I don’t think we’ll be discussing any of the events of today for awhile,” he looked down at Isabel, as he released a heavy sigh. “We have some things to deal with first. Right Iz?” He whispered, and she nodded while biting her lip.
“I gotta get back out front. I wish I didn’t but you know… gotta work. So just let me know if there is anything I can do?” Maria headed back out to the counter, shock written all over her face. Liz met her, “What happened?”
***************
Maria glanced around and realized that all the customers had left and the place was temporarily empty. So grabbing the empty dish bin she started to clean off a table, ranting all the while.
“I have no idea what happened but Max Evans had just better be watching himself.” She threw a fistful of silverware into the bottom of the bin and it clanged together. She started to gather another fistful of silverware angrily. “If Alex doesn’t hurt him I just might. “
“So? What happened?” Liz asked.
“All I can say is that Max Evans did something to hurt his sister. His own Sister. He definitely did something to her.” In went the next batch of silverware. Clatter.
“I mean you should have seen her Liz… Crumpled to the floor of the break-room, between the stairs and the bookcase, like she was trying to hide… Trying to hold it together, but there was no way she was going to, so I got Alex you know.” She moved on to the next table to forcefully gather more silverware, she didn’t want to break any dishes, and she was so upset that she needed to keep throwing something, silverware was great.
“Is Isabel ok?” Liz asked softly.
“Beats me, I mean Alex picked her up off the floor and carried her to the couch…. Whatever just happened, it toppled the Ice Princess, if even momentarily. Isabel is literally clinging to Alex for some kind-of support, and I don’t think Alex is in a very forgiving mood for the guys that broke her.” Maria shook her head disbelievingly as she ranted…. In went yet another handful of silverware.
“Oh!” Liz responded. She’d seen some of Isabel’s true unhidden self in the past weeks, but what Maria was describing in between her forceful tossing of utensils seemed almost unbelievable. And Maria was too upset. Liz walked over, “Sit down Maria and sniff some cedar oil or something.” Maria’s eyes questioned her and she said, “You need to calm down, gather yourself together… I’ll be right back.” So she took the bin and carried it into the kitchen, crossing through the door to the break-room. Alex looked up as she entered and gave a slight smile. And then he looked back down to Isabel, who was still firmly planted in his lap with her head buried on his shoulder. Liz dumped the silverware into the hot dishwater in the sink and then went back out to the dining front and Maria.
“I’m sure they’ll be ok, ‘Ria.” She touched her friend’s hand. She loved how concerned Maria could get over anyone, even Isabel, who a couple of months ago terrified her.
Maria stood up and answered her with, “I don’t know about that, I have no idea… but I’ve a feeling that emotions are going to be running high in a few certain Czechoslovakians for sometime to come.” She had calmed down enough to gather the rest of the dishes properly. So she grabbed the empty bin and started working.
***************
And after a few minutes of regaining her composure; Alex and Isabel made their way back to their table, where they slid in on opposite sides, to take a drink. She noticed that the Jeep had been taken and they were now the stranded ones. She wryly smiled while she stated, “And so it begins…” Then she looked at Alex while a grateful smile crossed her face as she shook her head in disbelief of how this day turned out. She stated very slowly as if piecing it all together, “I’m” … she bit her lip…. “we’re still alive… So?…. I guess that went well… considering… every-thing.”
At the comment Alex smirked, then asked, “Are you ready to go somewhere else?”
Isabel looked up at him in surprise, “Yeah… The mall… I need to blow off some steam and cash…” she giggled. Instantly sobering, “And Max has more than likely gone home… We were trying to get away from the drama for just the one night…. One night,” she moaned. “Instead we ended up knee deep in it.”
Alex looked at her and mumbled under his breath, “You sure that’s not more like chest high and we’ve got to wear waders to walk through it?”
“Alex,” she replied with a pout, exposing a crack in her unease.
Alex decided to attack that crack using his favorite tool, humor. “Or perhaps we can just go with the flow and just go swimming in it.” He did his best Groucho Marx imitation. “I’d love to see you in your bathing suit.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Al-ex!” She exclaimed as she reached across the table, playfully slapping him on his chest. Isabel decided this was one contest she could win without anyone getting hurt. She thought back to the previous time line, to his embarrassment at his accidental over exposure during her birthday party. She leaned in closely and whispered, “and I’d love to see you in yours, ever think of wearing a speedo?” She grinned wickedly.
Maria watched as Alex sputtered, and his soda spewed while he began to turn an interesting shade of red. All the while Isabel laughed delightfully and bit her lower lip, ducking her head momentarily to hide her faint blush. He wiped quickly at his mouth sending Isabel an incredulous look, which made her giggle all the more. Maria looked at Liz, “How does he do that?” she asked in awe. “Like ten minutes ago he was literally picking her up off the floor, and now he has her laughing.”
“I don’t know how he does it,” Liz replied. “But he’s been chasing her since sixth grade. Hopefully she’ll realize how good for her he can be. Look at her eyes, they are shining.”
Isabel did realize how much she needed him, and how lost she was without him in the last timeline, but she also knew that they needed to get out. “We need a car,” she exclaimed. “I don’t want to go near my house, do you think we can get your’s?” She asked as the couple paid for their meal and headed out into the darkening night to hit the mall and blow some money.
Would Isabel ever be able to face her brother again? She had no idea, but she knew she was safe, and her mother would be there for her. And that alongside the love of Alex was just what she needed to get her through the situation she had just created. The rest would just have to work itself out.
TBC...
