Wow, I am so sorry for just going AWOL on everyone, got a little sidetracked I guess 
But I totally love where everything is going, I'm really glad Isabel is finally warming up to Alex, and the bit with Max and Liz in the kitchen was great. You could feel the sexual tension simmering in there (yay!).
TESS
Max hands me the bag of videos and I saunter into the living room to place them next to the large, flat-screen TV.
I know everyone’s home now, but I wonder where Michael and Maria went off to. I start turning around in a circle trying to spot them somewhere on the first floor, but don’t see them anywhere. I guess they could be outside, it is still oddly warm for it being pitch black outside. But then I guess that’s Florida in the springtime for ya.
I venture outside and hear water splashing softly in the direction of the Jacuzzi and pool area so I head that way, and not surprisingly, find Maria and Michael soaking in the hot tub. That’s probably what I would have done too if I had come home first, with nothing to do but wait for the others to return.
“Hi guys. We’re back. Enjoying the warmer side of water?” I say playfully. What can I say; I’m in a good mood. Must be all the pleasant company on the way back from the beach.
Maria turns her head around to answer. “Hi Tess. Yeah, we decided a dip in the hot tub beat taking a shower to rinse off the sand. At least for the moment anyway. So, where have you guys been? We didn’t think we’d make it back first.”
“Oh, we stopped at Blockbuster on the way back to rent some movies for everyone to watch tonight. And apparently Isabel, Alex, and Liz stopped at a grocery store because they came in loaded with chocolate and ice cream goodies, so that sounds good to me, don’t you think?” I reply. Michael, who has been sitting there, uncharacteristically in silence, speaks up for the first time since I came outside. He almost looks like he’s a little disappointed that I walked in on them. Huh, maybe these two are getting along better than one would have thought. How nice for them.
“What movies did you rent? And they better not all be chick flicks or I’m not sitting through that crap.” Hmmm, yeps, definitely walked in on something, or maybe he’s still upset about the Liz incident? Well whatever, I don’t feel like trying to figure out Michael’s chameleon-like moods right now.
I just smile and reply, “ We got X-Men 2”
“K, decent action flick, next”
“Ice Age, for a little lighthearted animated comedy,” I continue.
“Cartoons?... K, whatever, cartoons are classic. Anything else?”
“And Pirates of the Caribbean with Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp for us women and Keira Knightley for you men,” I finish, leaving the part about the beautiful British actress as the last thing he hears to try and distract him from the two studly men that we’ll be watching for two hours.
“Yes! Gawd I love Orlando Bloom! He is so hot. Good choice Tess, I’m going to take a wild guess and say that was your choice,” Maria suddenly bursts out, her arms gesticulating wildly, sending water everywhere, including right in Michael’s face.
“Haha, yes, that inspired choice was of my own doing. I figured we had to get in some quality time with our favorite pirates,” I say, winking at Maria.
Michael looks slightly less ecstatic about the movie than Maria and I are, but too bad, he can enjoy X-Men 2 just as much. Plenty of manly, mutant action going on that I’m sure he’ll think he relates to.
