She picked up a note off of the refrigerator and read it.
“They went to the grocery store.” She explained to the other seven teens
that had followed her into the kitchen.
“Come on.” Tess said as she led them all to her and Liz’s room.
They all followed her upstairs obediently. Isabel, who was right behind
Tess, grabbed for her hand and Liz’s. Liz squeezed Isabel’s hand before
reaching back and feeling for her brothers.
Her hand collided with another, but it didn’t belong to Michael, instead she
grabbed Max’s hand. She knew it was his because as soon as their flesh met
sparks began to explode all over her body, inside and out.
She turned her head suddenly scared of what the out come would be, would he
be disgusted? By the look in his eyes he didn’t mind and he completely
understood.
“Sorry.” She mouthed even though deep down she wasn’t. He just nodded his
head and regretfully released her hand, and they both continued their trip
upstairs.
*
Maria was stuck between Kyle and Max. She too had taken comfort in the tight
grips from her siblings. She couldn’t believe how utterly nervous she was,
but she should have realized that all those years ago that she had wished
they could find some others like them that she would be this scared. They
didn’t scare her, nor did what they were scare her. What made her
practically petrified was the fact that she didn’t know how they would react
when they discovered that Max, and Kyle, and her were just the same.
*
Once they had reached Tess and Liz’s room they had unceremoniously stumbled
inside. Tess walked over to her bed and nervously sat down on the edge. Liz
walked over and sat beside her.
Alex took one of their vanity seats; Michael and Isabel joined the other
girls on the bed’s edge.
“I guess it’s time for that explanation.” Alex said looking at the four
positioned tensely on the bed.
Max, Kyle, and Maria stood in the center of the room quietly and
uncomfortably awaiting their response. Maria released their hands to
retrieve her cedar oil that she had in her baggy pants pockets.
They weren’t in the front pockets so she searched the back pockets of her
black Lee Pipes. Once she found it she unscrewed the top quickly and placed
it under her nose. After taking several deep, noisy breaths she twisted the
top back on and dropped it back into her pants. It made a clinking sound as
it collided with her smaller Tabasco bottle.
She looked up and found all eyes on her.
“Sorry, it helps when I’m nervous.” She admitted looking at her brothers
then at the four aliens on the bed. “So, you were going to explain?”
“Maybe you should sit down.” Liz said as she gestured to her made bed.
The DeLucas looked at each other. They then made their way over to the said
bed. Once positioned comfortably, as comfortable as one could get in a
strange house sitting with four potential aliens that weren’t yet classified
as friend or foes.
“OK, so let’s cut to the chase. What did you do to me yesterday?” Alex asked
as soon as he saw that the other three were seated.
“I healed you.” Michael said looking at the floor in front of him.
“How?” Alex asked still staring at Michael.
Michael looked over to Tess, Liz, and Isabel. They had discussed this last
night and they had decided that they had to tell all four what they were,
what he had done, and how he had did it.
With a reassuring nod from each of his sisters he began to explain something
he never thought he would have to.
“Wait till I’m done before you interrupt.” He said returning his gaze to the
floor in front of his feet.
“There was a crash in 1947, and it wasn’t a weather balloon. We were in the
crash. Us four were in these… these incubation pods. We were in them until
they, well until they hatched open in 1989. We came out looking like normal
six-year-old, but we weren’t normal. We were special. We are special. We can
do things others can’t. We have powers. That’s how I healed you.” Michael
said finally looking up at Alex.
Alex looked into Michael’s eyes and sudden panic washed over him. He could
always tell when Michael was joking or lying by his eyes, and form Michael’s
eyes he was beyond a shadow of a doubt certain that Michael was indeed
telling him the truth.
“How did you get to where you are?” Maria asked form across the room.
“When we came out of our pods we were in the desert. Diane and Philip Evans
were driving down one of the deserted highways, on the way home from their
office when they found all four of us. When they put us in the orphanage
they knew of another couple who wanted children besides them selves, so they
split us up. Mr. and Mrs. Evans could only afford one child then and our
parents didn’t want one to be adopted without the rest.” Liz said looking
over at Isabel whose eyes were glittering with unshed tears.
“That’s how we got here and that’s what we are.” Isabel said as she looked
at Alex to see how he felt.
“What powers do you have?” He asked avoiding her eyes.
“We can make a connection, and we can manipulate molecular structures, we
can…” Tess started to list off all their powers.
“What does that mean?” Alex asked confused.
Tess looked at Michael then ran her hand over his head and made his brown
spikes blue and then changed them back.
“We can also dreamwalk and warp.” Isabel said still trying to catch Alex’s
eyes.
This time he looked her dead I the eye. Her eyes filled with tears. Tears of
relief. He didn’t look disgusted at all. They looked a little confused but
understanding and caring even.
“Warp…” Alex began to ask another question.
“We’ll be right back.” Maria interrupted as she pulled both of her brothers
off the bed and out the door leading them into the hall.
Michael and the others became tense instantly.
“You think they’ll tell anyone?” Liz asked squeezing her sisters’ hands
again.
“I don’t know.” Michael said running his hand through his spikes making them
stick up even more.
*
“We have to tell them.” Maria said as low as she could.
“Why? We don’t have to. They don’t have any proof on us.” Kyle said.
“We’re telling them!” Maria said a little louder.
“Let’s take a vote on it.” Max said calmly.
“I say we tell them.” Maria said glaring at Kyle.
“And I still say we don’t.” He said with just as much venom.
“I think it would be better if we told them.” Max said firmly not looking at
either of his siblings.
Maria turned around and walked into the room.
“We have something to tell you.” She said as her brothers followed her
inside.
Michael, Liz, Tess, Isabel, and Alex looked expectantly at the trio, eagerly
awaiting their announcement.
“We have something that we think you should know. We too are… different.”
Max said looking Liz straight in the eyes. “We’re like you. We’re not from
around here either.”
“We were in the crash. We woke after the first few pods opened. We were
found outside of New Mexico and transferred to a different orphanage. We
were adopted by the DeLucas. At first they were only going to take me, but I
wouldn’t leave without my brothers so they had to take all of us.” Maria
said looking down at her feet.
“They moved after Grandpa DeLuca died.” Kyle said quietly.
“It’s not possible.” Tess said quickly, trying to keep her voice straight,
but it quivered anyway.
Kyle walked over to her night stand and ran his hand across her candle
turning it from a square to a ball and back.
“It’s very possible.” Maria said as she changed her hair to green and then
back to her golden tone.
“The energy…” Michael said understanding.
“What energy?” Isabel asked a bit confused.
“Not again.” Maria mumbled under her breath.
“There was a volt of energy between them. While they were making out in the
principal’s office.” Kyle said looking down at Michael.
Michael didn’t notice because his head was buried in his hands. He was
preparing for the blows from his sisters.
“You did what?” Tess asked looking over at her brother.
“And you didn’t even tell us?” Isabel added glaring at her brother.
“So that was your problem, and she’s that girl?” Liz said finally putting
everything together.
“You have some explaining to do!” Tess said standing up and looking down at
the top of Michael’s head.
“It wasn’t his entire fault.” Maria said from the other side of the room.
“We always said that we would talk…” Isabel’s tirade was cut off by the door
downstairs slamming shut.
“Kids, we’re home!” Jeff Parker’s loud voice rang through out the entire
house.
“We’ll discuss this later.” Isabel said firmly as she followed Tess and Liz
out of the room.
Soon all of the teens had found their way back down to the kitchen.
“Mom,” Liz said to her mother who was unloading a grocery bag, “This is Max,
Kyle, and their sister Maria. They’re the Sheriff’s kids. They’re new in
town.”
Mrs. Parker looked up form the bag she was emptying and smiled warmly, “Nice
to meet you. You can call me Mrs. Nancy. Hey Izzy, Why hello Alex.”
“Hi Mrs. Parker.” Alex said quietly. He was practically drowned out by
Isabel’s much louder greeting.
“I’m guessing you are all staying?” She said moving to the next bag.
When no one said anything she moved along, “I guess we have a full house
tonight. Michael, why don’t you go help your father?”
“No problem.” He said as he made his way to the door, Max, Kyle, and Alex
close behind.
“Would you girls like to help an old woman put up these groceries?” Mrs.
Parker asked the four remaining teens.
They all smiled at her and began to help unload the food.
The phone rang and Mrs. Parker picked it up instantly. She excused herself
from the room for more privacy. When she hung up the phone she made her way
down stairs o talk to her husband.
As soon as she reentered the kitchen Liz started to talk, “Mom, there’s this
party and it starts soon, and we were all going…”
“You want time to go get ready and do the whole girl-giggle-sleep-over
thing?” Mrs. Parker finished for her.
“Sort of.” Liz said quietly while tucking a stray piece of hair behind her
ear.
“As soon as you four are done putting the food away. That was your Aunt
Linda. She invited us over for dinner. Since I told her we would be there
a.s.a.p. I thought I’d leave some money for pizza and maybe movies.” Mrs.
Nancy said as she crumpled up a paper bag and tossed it in the trash.
“So when will you be back?” Tess asked.
“Probably late. You know how much time flys while we’re over there. We’ll
take your father’s pager, and I want all of you to keep your cell phones
close all night. Just in case.” Mrs. Parker said.
“Here’s the last of the load.” Michael said as the guys came inside with
arms loaded with groceries.
“Could you kids put the rest away?” Mrs. Parker asked reaching for her
purse.
“Sure.” Tess said as her mother walked to the door.
“Have fun at that party, and don’t stay out to late. Don’t forget your
license and cell phones. Michael, if you drink have your sisters drive, OK?”
Their mother asked as she went through the routine questions.
“OK mom.” Liz said handing Michael the new bottle of Tabasco sauce as he
opened the cookies that their mother had bought.
“OK, bye. I love you.” Mrs. Parker called as the door opened.
“Love you too.” The three Parkers sang in unison.
“Where are they going?” Michael asked as the door shut completely.
“Aunt Linda’s.” Tess said stealing a few cookies and taking out the milk,
“We have to hurry if we want to be ready by the time the rave starts.”
“Wait, we’re still going?” Alex asked as he closed a cabinet, after
retrieving five glasses.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Tess asked as she took a glass from him.
“Well I just thought we’d talk about what happened.” Alex said pouring milk
in her glass.
“Yes getting back to that. Why were you making out with a complete stranger
in the principal’s office, and when you felt that ‘volt’ of energy why
didn’t you tell us?” Isabel asked glaring at her brother.
“I don’t think that’s the biggest issue right now.” Liz said hopping up to
sit on the counter near the sink.
“And what, might I ask, is bigger than the fact that our brother has been
lying to us.” Isabel said not taking her eyes off of Michael.
“I didn’t lie. I with held information.” Michael said dunking one of the
chocolate chip cookies into his Tabasco milk.
“OK, we’ll get back to that in a minute. The bigger thing is the
connection.” Liz said briefly glancing in Max’s direction.
“You can feel it too?” Maria asked taking her cedar oil back out of her
pockets. “For how long?” She managed to choke out around the giant lump in
her throat.
“Forever.” Tess said quietly.
“I couldn’t really feel it till we got here, but Max and Maria have always
been able to sense it.” Kyle said.
“Us too. We have always been able to tell there was something…” Liz began.
“The first day we came into the Crashdown. Who hurt their hand?” Maria
interrupted Liz. The thought appeared in her head and she had to voice, she
had to know…
“Michael burnt his hand on the grill. How did you know that?” Tess asked.
“Because I felt it.” Maria answered softly.
“OK, let me get this straight. You are all aliens from a UFO crash that
happened over 50 years ago, you all have powers, and to top it off not only
can you sense each other but you can also feel what the other’s feel?” Alex
asked with wide eye and animated arms.
“Basically.” Michael confirmed.
“And when you kiss you get energy volts?” Alex asked again.
“Yeah.” Maria said blushing slightly.
“You know, that’s just great. I went from not believing in little green men
to having my four best friends and three complete strangers reveal to me
that they’re all a little green around the gills.” Alex said resting his
head in his hands while his elbow up on the island top.
“You’re not going to tell anyone are you?” Kyle asked suddenly deathly
afraid.
“Who’d believe me?” Alex asked looking up at them.
“Alex, I know you don’t know us very well, and this is probably a very
surprising thing for you to have to deal with…” Max began.
“He’s a male Liz.” Michael interrupted.
This received a smile from all of them and a slight blush from Max and Liz.
“Does he color code things too?” Alex had to ask.
Liz smacked him in the back of the head playfully.
“Actually all of his CD’s are color coded by, author, title, color, and date
of publication.” Maria said nudging her brother with her slim shoulders.
“So does she.” Tess said looking over to her twin sister.
“Well at least I know where all of mine are. Aren’t you and Michael the ones
complaining when you can’t figure out where your things go?” Liz responded.
“Yeah but that’s because you steal my CD’s.” Michael said taking a bite of
another cookie while throwing away the empty food bags.
“Well Michael, come on. You blare your music all the time. Can you blame
them?” Isabel asked.
“Well here’s how I see it. If I have to listen to Brittany Spears the least
they could do in endure a little bit of real music.” Michael said taking a
seat on the counter next to his sister, Liz.
“I have to listen to Lee Ann Rhymes all the time. It’s like pathetic. He
even plays it on repeat during the night.” Maria said pointing to Kyle.
“Please you shake the whole house in the mornings with Metallica.” Kyle made
a face as he said the last word.
“See what did I tell you? They can’t endure real music. They’re wimps.”
Michael said receiving several death glares from people.
“OK, I don’t like Metallica, but there is no way you can get me to listen to
teeny boppers.” Alex said as he hopped up on the island that sat in the
center of the kitchen.
“Yes we all know about your unhealthy obsession with Blink-182.” Isabel said
from her seat at the kitchen table.
“Let’s face it, all men have obsessions, and they’re always something
completely stupid. Like… SPORTS!” Maria said making her way to the kitchen
table where Isabel and Tess were sitting.
“I know what is it with the football thing? I mean they’re like cavemen!
Hit- hit good. Score- score good.” Tess said agreeing with Maria completely.
“Then there’s the whole, ‘what-I-say-goes’ thing. They have this obsession
to be ruler, you know? They think they have to have complete say so in every
thing.” Liz said getting into the conversation.
“OK, so every obsession a guy has is bad?” Alex asked from his seat.
“Yes.” All the girls chorused.
“What if a guys obsession is a woman?” Max asked as he and Kyle walked over
to stand between the counter and island.
“Exactly.” Alex said as Max took the words right out of his mouth.
“Dream on.” Maria said quickly, “But you know there is one good thing that
comes from guys obsession with sports.”
“And what’s that?” Kyle asked.
“Guys with tight pants!” Maria said wiggling her eyebrows for emphases.
All the girls let out a woof call or a whistle trying to imitate the guys.
Michael, Max, Kyle, and Alex collectively rolled their eyes.
“What? It’s OK for you four to check out the chicks while they play sports,
but us women aren’t aloud to have any fun?” Tess asked pushing the cookies
towards Maria; Maria took one of them.
Michael passed the Tabasco sauce to Isabel and she passed it on to Maria.
“Well that’s different.” Michael said holding the bag of cookies out to Max
and Kyle.
“No thanks, I can’t stand to eat right after practice or a game.” Max said
politely declining the offered sweets.
Kyle on the other hand jumped them, and then went over to dip his cookie in
his sister’s Tabasco milk she had just made her self. She swatted his hands
away.
“So how did practice go? I was detained for the entire hour.” Maria asked
her brother.
“It was OK I guess, but I don’t know what kind of players I’m up against.”
Max said watching Kyle and Maria continue to fight over the milk.
“They basically suck.” Alex said solemnly. It was true their team had not
yet won a single game the entire season.
“Yeah, you were better than the top starter on our normal team.” Michael
confirmed.
“How’d you do Kyle?” Maria asked hiding the milk behind her back.
“All right. The coach smiled a lot and patted me on the back.” He said
reaching for the milk again.
“Well it’s about five o’clock and the party starts at seven. Mom said she
left money for pizza.” Tess said gathering up the empty glasses.
“I’ll order.” Michael said grabbing the phone as Liz handed it to him.
“What do you like?” Isabel asked Max, Kyle, and Maria.
“Max likes sausage, jalapenos, and strawberries. Kyle likes ham, jalapenos
and chocolate, and I like pepperoni, jalapenos, and cherries, but we could
settle with either jalapenos and pineapple, or pepperoni and honey.” Maria
answered in one breath.
“OK.” Michael said pressing the talk button and dialing.
“Hey James? I’d like four pizzas please. The usual, yeah all large. Thanks
man. Yeah we’re going to be there. Are you serious? That sucks. OK, later.”
Michael finished up the conversation and putting the portable phone back on
the charger.
“So what are we getting?” Kyle asked Tess as she walked passed him towards
the sink.
“One larger sausage, jalapeno, and strawberry pizza, one with ham,
jalapenos, and chocolate, one with pepperoni, jalapeno, and cherry, and
another one with extra cheese pizza.” Tess said making her way back over to
the table if girls.
“So do we all have to the same taste buds or something?” Kyle asked.
“No wonder you didn’t freak out when I gave you a piece of gum.” Maria said
looking at Michael.
“I’m the only one that really likes that combo around here.” Michael said.
“Well ladies how about we go start to get ready?” Liz asked the group of
girls as she got up.
“Sounds good to me.” Tess said next.
Isabel and Maria stood with the others as they began to file out of the
kitchen and over to the stairs.
“Don’t forget to tell us when the pizza comes.” Isabel called over her
shoulder before she started climbing the stairs.
“OK… So…” Alex said not sure what to say.
“Yeah…” Kyle said running his hands through his hair.
“Maybe we should go get ready too.” Alex said.
“Why? Girls take forever. If we go get ready now, we’ll be done in about 30
minutes, and we all know they’re going to take over an hour and a half.”
Michael said rinsing out his glass and pouring grape soda into it. He
grabbed the Tabasco off the kitchen table and dumped the rest of the bottle
into it.
“Tell me about it, I mean even with their powers they still take forever.”
Max said nodding his head.
“They take longer. I mean they have all those colors and styles to decided
from. I t takes forever!” Kyle said hopping up on the island beside Alex.
“One time we were supposed to go to a dance, right? We got there over an
hour late because Isabel had to look perfect.” Alex said now understanding
why it had taken her so long.
“I’ll be back. I have to go clean my room.” With that Michael walked up the
stairs and into his room.
As soon as Michael entered the room he went over to his stereo. Metallica
filled the room as Michael cleaned it.
*
“How about this?” Liz asked holding up a tight blue mini skirt and a short
white tank top.
“I think you’ll give my brother a heart attack.” Maria said smiling.
“I think you’ll give our brother a heart attack.” Tess said as she rummaged
around her own closet.
“I think you look good.” Isabel said as she unloaded the bag that she had
brought with her.
“Thank you.” Liz said looking down at the outfit. She then tossed it onto
her bed and walked back over to her closet to search for shoes.
“OK. So will I look like a complete dork?” Maria asked as she held up her
own outfit. She always hated being the one looked at and judged, but with
these three girls it felt… different, comfortable even. It felt like they
were… family almost.
Mara held up her baggy blue wind pants and a tight baseball style baby tee
in blue too.
“You want to borrow some clothes?” Liz asked.
“So I take it I will look like a dork.” Maria said tossing her clothes on
Tess’ bed.
“No, it’s just that you’re going to be out with us tonight, and I thought
you might feel less awkward if you wear the same as us. I’m sorry I didn’t
mean for it to come out so rude. If you want to wear that then fine, you’ll
look great either way.” Liz said standing up and looking her in the eyes.
“Well what do you have?” Maria asked not offended.
Tess, Liz, and Isabel looked at each other and then at Maria. Maria
swallowed hard, what had she done?
“Why don’t we go take our showers then get ready?” Maria asked quickly in a
squeaky voice.
“Sure, there are two available bathrooms. The guest on and ours’, besides I
don’t even want to think about what’s probably growing in Michael’s” Tess
said with a shutter of disgust.
“Can I have the first shower in here?” Isabel asked no one disagreed so she
left into the bathroom.
“Maria, you can use the guest bathroom. It’s down the hall to you right.
It’s right across from the room playing Metallica.
“OK.” Maria said as she went over to the door.
“The towels are one the left side of the sink in the top cabinet, and the
wash clothes are on the right side in the middle cabinet.” Tess said as she
fought with a clothes hanger trying to get a top off of it.
“Thanks.” Maria said as she walked out of the room and down the hall. She
had found ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ blaring from Michael’s said room.
She shook her head wondering what was wrong with that boy and walked into
the bathroom. It was decked out in green marble counter and white tile.
Se walked over to the sink and retrieved two towels then a wash cloth.
*
Michael waved his hand over his carpet not wanting to vacuum the human way.
He shoved his dirty clothes in a laundry basket and quickly made his bed.
That took care of that.
He arrived down stairs to find the boys playing play-station. As soon as he
sat down on the couch next to Max the doorbell rung signifying the pizzas
had arrived.
He wandered over to the door and opened it. Taking the pizzas from the
delivery boy he walked into the kitchen dropping them off and picking up the
money his mother had left them.
As soon as he paid the guy he went back into the living room.
“The Pizzas are here.” He said.
He then turned around and walked up the stairs and into his sisters’ room.
“Time for dinner.” He said as he walked in uninvited.
“Michael! What have we told you about knocking!” Tess yelled angrily.
“Sorry, forgot.” He mumbled non-apologetically and walked out the door and
back to the kitchen.
Max, Kyle, and Alex had already begun to fix themselves plates. So he too
started to heap the pizza on to his own plate.
Tess and Liz came down quickly, but Isabel and Maria on the other hand took
a little longer.
They entered the kitchen with wet hair and pajamas on. Usually Maria would
have felt uncomfortable wearing such clothing in front of others, but the
only ones that were making her feel uncomfortable were Alex and Michael.
Alex wasn’t as bad as Michael was. She liked Alex he seemed nice, and she
was getting great vibes off of him, but he was still a stranger. The reason
Michael was making her feel awkward was that he was starring at her. Since
she had entered the room she could feel his eyes on her. They were unnerving
to say the least.
Michael couldn’t believe that someone could look so good in alien pajamas
and wet hair. She had on navy blue silk pj’s with little
glow-in-the-dark-alien heads all over them.
As Maria fixed herself a plate she ran her hand over her hair drying it
instantly.
Isabel glanced over at Maria and watched her use her powers on her blonde
locks. Isabel didn’t know what to think lately. She didn’t know whether or
not she should trust them and she didn’t know whether or not they trusted
her, but one thing she did know was that they all shared a bond. It was…
pleasant in a way. She should probably start to make some kind of bridge
between them. She liked having people close, but before it was too
dangerous, and it still was, but since them finding out had been
unavoidable… It had been unavoidable. If they wouldn’t have used their
powers Alex would have…
Isabel couldn’t bring herself to finish that thought. Just the memory
brought tears to her eyes. She quickly blinked them away. She didn’t know
what she would have done if they couldn’t have saved him. Alex meant so much
to all of them, especially to her.
Max could feel someone nudge him. He looked up to see Michael trying to pass
him the Tabasco and syrup.
“Thanks.” He said as he dumped some onto his food, and quickly passing it to
Kyle.
His mind went back to its previous thoughts instantly, Liz. She was like
him. His mind had been racing all day with excitement. There were others
like him! He wanted to scream it from the mountaintop, but he knew he had to
keep a cool exterior. He shouldn’t get his hopes up like that. Even though
there was a bond, a very strong undeniable bond, between all of them he
couldn’t just assume stuff. In truth he didn’t know them. He didn’t know how
they felt about the things that had happened in the past two days. He could
feel some of their feelings yes, but distinct thoughts? No.
He could tell Kyle was a bit upset and a bit relieved, and he knew Maria was
happier now. She always wanted sisters, and he had the feeling that it
wouldn’t be long before that’s what she became to them, and of course them
to her. As for the rest, it was mostly erratic emotions. He could feel
nervousness off of them, probably because they didn’t know what to expect
any better than he did. Even Alex was a bit nervous; he wasn’t scared, just
nervous. There was excitement too. Relief, happiness, sadness, they were all
there. He couldn’t really decide which went to whom. But he could tell that
they weren’t terrified of each other, and that seemed like a pretty good
thing.
Liz glanced up at Max casually. She saw his eyes search over everyone, he
was probably checking every ones aura. She already had. It was the first
thing she had done after they had told them the truth. They weren’t scared,
confused excited, but not afraid. She had paid special attention to Alex’s
beautiful orange aura. It had different colors everywhere but they weren’t
any sickening yellow streaks. A little red, but she figured that was because
they had kept this secret from him for so long, but once he looked at Isabel
the red instantly disappeared and his color glowed a little brighter. Like
it always did around Isabel.
She looked over at Isabel and found her looking at the table in a daze. Liz
saw some purple lines in her aura. Liz had to look closely because it was
just a little darker than Isabel’s normal aura. When someone was extremely
upset or grieving he or she usually had a dark purple web around their aura.
Isabel’s wasn’t a web, but it was dark enough to tell that she was really
sad. She could feel pain rolling off of her. Liz grabbed her hand under the
table and squeezed.
Isabel looked over at her and gave her a slight smile then looked at Alex,
as if to confirm that he was really still alive. Her face softened and the
purple lightened to a lilac almost.
Liz smiled and dropped her hand returning to her dinner.
Alex looked up at everyone’s plates. He suddenly felt very sick.
“That’s just wrong.” He said shaking his head as Michael poured more Maple
syrup on his pizza.
“You have been saying that forever, and you’ve never tried it. Maybe if you
tried it you wouldn’t think it was so gross.” Tess said looking over at
Alex.
“I’ll stick to my own pizza thank you. You don’t have to burn yourself
before you figure out that fire hurts.” Alex said putting a little more
Parmesan cheese on his slice.
“OK, I know our meals probably look pretty bad, but how can you consume so
much cheese?” Kyle had to ask.
“The power of cheese! I don’t think it’s that bad. It’s better than honey,
maple syrup cherries, pepperoni, jalapenos, and Tabasco. It’s a whole lot
simpler too.” Alex said taking another bite.
“Well it’s only simpler if you don’t do a cheese world.” Liz said looking
over at Alex who was sitting on one side of Max, which was perfect. She
could look at Max and talk to Alex. That was unless Max looked at her. She
didn’t understand why yet, but every time Max looked into her eyes her brain
felt like it was swimming in syrup after taking speed. It was so hared to
think, and it felt like her mind was racing. It was… tiring.
“True.” Alex said shaking his head in the affirmative.
“What’s a cheese world?” Maria had to know.
“He takes every kind of cheese he can, cheddar, mozzarella, swish, etc. and
puts it on his food.” Isabel explained while making a face.
“He puts on everything. He melts onto his eggs. He puts it on his hot dogs,
sandwiches. I have even saw him put it on his cake.” Tess said she too
making a disgusted face.
“You should see the looks we get from people at lunch. Especially with Alex
sitting with us. He brings the strangest foods his mother makes, and he
always brings something with cheese. It’s just a given.” Liz added before
eating the rest of her slice.
“I admit it I’m a cheese-o-maniac.” Alex said seriously before going to get
another piece of his pizza.
Maria put her plate in the sink and returned to the table. Liz, Tess, and
Isabel put theirs away too.
“What do you think about red?” Isabel asked eyeing Maria over from her seat
Maria.
“It’s OK I guess, why?” Maria asked looking suspicious.
“I have the perfect little red tube top. It’s a little smaller then the
one’s I wore Wednesday, but I think it’d look cute on you.” Isabel explained
looking over at Tess and Liz for confirmation.
“Shorter than the ones you three wore?” Kyle asked.
“A little.” Tess said looking at him deviously.
“Non. She’s not wearing that. She can’t. It’s just so… No!” Max said
instantly looking over at his sister.
“See? What did I tell you? The whole ‘I’m-your-brother-so-what-I-say-Goes’
thing, it’s like so frustrating.” Maria said glaring at her brother.
“I’ll tell you what. Tess and I will go take a shower and you and Isabel can
go search our room for clothes. I’d suggest green. It’ll bring out your eyes
more.” Liz said standing up and walking towards the stairs.
“I was thinking the black leather mini skirt I bought the other day.” Tess
said following her twin.
“It would look great with Liz’s half white halter and my black platforms,
don’t you think?” Isabel asked her too trailing behind.
Max and Kyle looked horrified as Maria exited the room. Alex looked amused
and Michael looked like he was having trouble breathing.
Maria turned around and, mouthed the words ‘help me’ before she finally
left.