(6) The Park


Maria, Isabel, and Alex stood waiting next to Max’s black Suzuki Sidekick waiting for him to show up. “So you two what do you think of your new school.”

“School sucks, but this school actually makes it worthwhile.” Isabel joked. “I’m in love with my drama teacher.”

“Already Izboo?” Alex laughed. “It’s only the first day. Give it a few more days. New love takes time.”

Maria grinned at them. “ Izboo?”

Isabel groaned. “If you value your life you won’t repeat that name ever again. And for telling her Alex I just want to warn you to watch your back.”

“Ah come on sis. Izboo is an honorable name.” She slapped him upside the back of his head. He grinned and repeated the name over and over.

Maria laughed at their antics. “What’s so funny?” Max asked when he walked up.

“Alex’s nickname for Isabel.” Maria answered. “He calls her…”

Isabel gave her an evil glare. “Don’t you say it or you’ll feel the wrath of Isabel.”

“Ooo… I’m quivering in my boots. Oh wait I’m not wearing boots.” She giggled. Isabel moved towards her. “Okay! Okay! I want tell him Izboo…oops, I meant Isabel.”

Max laughed and tested the nickname on his tongue. “Izboo? It’s cute.”

Isabel growled. “I’m going to cut you all up into itty bitty pieces and cook you up in pasta sauce. Then I’m going to slowly feed you to your enemies.”

That just caused them all to laugh harder. “My sister, ever the drama queen.”

Maria was the first to sober up. She turned to Max and gave him a big hug. “I’m sorry about getting mad at you earlier. I’ve decided that you were right. So I’m going to the park with Isabel, ‘kay?”

“I wasn’t trying to push you into doing something you didn’t want to do Maria. You know that right?” He asked in concern. “I know. And I also know that I need to stop being so judgmental.”

“You’re to hard on yourself. Now hop in the jeep and let’s scoot.” He opened the doors for them and they all piled in.

Isabel claimed the front seat and Maria happily gave it up to her. Alex laughed at his sis’ bossiness as he hopped in the back.

“So, Max what’s so special about this park?” Alex wanted to know.

“It’s the local hangout for the teens on this side of town.” Max said.

Maria interrupted him. “It has a huge court for basketball, a field for football and baseball, a Olympic size swimming pool, a roller blade track, and a playground with the works.”

“It was built a year ago. It’s an ideal spot for parties because of the large picnic area it has.”

“Can you stop by our house Max?” Isabel asked. “I want to get my roller blades and change clothes.”

An hour later they pulled up in the parking lot of the park. Max had to stop at both girls house so that they could change.

“Wow,” Alex spoke up looking around, “this place is huge.”

“What is it with this city; high schools larger than some colleges, local parks bigger than some amusement parks.” Isabel stated.

Maria shrugged. “What can we say, Max’s father loves to do things on a grand scale.” At the sibling’s look of confusion, Maria clarified. “Did I forget to mention that Max’s dad is the mayor of this city?”

“My dad has been the city’s mayor for the past four years.” He climbed out the jeep and held the door open for Maria. “Careful, hun. Don’t want you to scratch those pretty legs up.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re so charming Max.”

He wiggled his eyebrows Groucho Marx style. “I aim to please sugar.”

“Kitessa Louise Valenti, if you don’t go home right this instant and change clothes then I’m going to bend you over my knee and spank your little behind.” They heard all of a sudden.

They looked over to where Kyle and Tess Valenti were standing next to his mustang convertible. Kyle was trying to wrap his jacket around her but was failing miserably.

“You’re not dad Kyle. You can’t tell me what to do, besides Liz and the rest of the girls are wearing the same thing.” She stomped her foot angrily.

“Liz and her friends are not my responsibility. You are and if mom would have seen you wearing practically nothing she wouldn’t have let you out the house.”

Michael called out to him. “Hey Valeniti lighten up man. Let the babe wear what she wants. You’re holding up the game.”

Kyle shot him and evil glare. “Stay out of this Michael and she’s not a babe, she’s my sister.”

“Kyle don’t be such an ass. You’re way out of line you know.” Liz input.

“Shut up Liz and mind your own business.” Max said walking over.

“That’s no way for you to talk to me Max Colvin. Just because your dad is the mayor of this city doesn’t give you the right to boss us.” She pouted.

“Not trying to boss you, huns, just letting you know that your input is not wanted.” He stated the obvious.

She gasped at his audacity but didn’t say anything else. She turned and stomped over to where Michael was leaning against his car.

Isabel spoke up. “Hey why don’t you two compromise.” At Kyle’s look of interest she continued. “You think Tess’ shorts are too short?”

“Yeah.” He said.

“How about her shirt?”

“The shirt is okay I guess but those shorts…”

“Well I have an extra pair of shorts in my bag that are a little less revealing and still very stylish. Tess do you want to wear them?”

Tess sighed. “I guess, if it will get Kyle off my back.”

Isabel smiled. “We’re at an agreement then. Tess will change shorts and Kyle will back off some in the big brother department.”

Kyle reluctantly agreed.

Maria, Isabel, and Tess walked off to the restrooms. Kyle practically growled at the guys that were checking Tess out as she passed. Max and Alex held him back.

Kyle shrugged them off. “I’m okay. She’s going to be the death of me, I swear.”

They laughed.

Michael walked up. “Are you ready to play ball now?”

Kyle turned to Max and Alex. “Do you guys want to join in? We can use the extra manpower.”

“Sure!” They walked off to the basketball court.


(In the restroom)

“Your brother is such an ass.” Liz complained. “I can’t believe he embarrassed you like that.”

Tess shrugged. “He’s just trying to watch out for me.”

“Whatever, if he would have embarrassed me like that I would have cursed him out.”

Maria managed to hold back from pointing out that she sure as hell didn’t curse Max out after he embarrassed her outside. Instead she said, “I’m sure it’s not as detrimental as you make it out to be. No reputations were harmed by that little scene out there.”

“What would you know about it?” Liz sneered. “You’re a nobody, so you wouldn’t know a thing or to about what could hurt our image.”

Isabel spoke out. “That was totally uncalled for.”

Liz looked chagrined. “I’m sorry Maria. I didn’t mean it like that. I mean that you’re not as… popular as Tess and I so you can not say as to what would be damaging to our image.”

“I know that the attitude that you’re displaying right now sure as hell wouldn’t endear you to a certain guy that I know you want.” Maria threatened. She was not about to sit here and take any crap off that whiny little bitch.

“I have Michael, sweetie, and we all know how much you want him.” She oozed malice. “Dear Diary, Michael Guerin is sooo sexy. I had the steamiest dream about him last night.”

Maria’s face went scarlet. She couldn’t believe that stupid bitch would stoop so low as to bring up old wounds from the past. She turned and walked out the bathroom.

“Maria!” Isabel called after her, but she kept on walking.

’Coming to the park today was the stupidest decision that I’ve ever made. I knew I should have listened to my conscious instead of Max.’

Isabel watched her run off. “You know Elizabeth Parker. This is my first day meeting you and it didn’t take long for me to realize what a stuck up bitch you are. You might be queen popularity today but believe me when I say that popularity is fleeting.”

“You can’t talk to me like that. I can make you wish you never got on my bad side.” Liz threatened.

“No sweetie, I can make you wish you never got on mine, because unlike you I know the true secrets to being popular and maintaining that status. I can take ever thing that you think you have and leave you as just the shell of the person you are. Don’t try me hun, cause you’ll find that I’m a lot more difficult to get to then anyone you’ve ever met.”

With that said she walked out of the bathroom and went to find Maria.