| PART 12 Isabel, Maria, Liz, and I are driving around Roswell. Liz opted to drive, to get away from me no doubt. I hate this. Maria keeps touching me as much as possible. She can definitely make a person feel uncomfortable, or maybe just me. Isabel is talking to Liz up front while Maria points things out for me and leans on me. The drive is mainly quiet. The only sound is the radio playing. It’s hot even with the AC on. I look out the window not really looking. I knew it was a mistake tagging along. I've already lost Liz. Nothing I say or do will change that. She hates me. I just want to go back to my room and be alone. I might as well get used to it. "It's hot, isn't it about time we head for the lake? I could use some cooling off," Maria says out of nowhere. I have to agree with her on that. I could use a good swim. "You read my mind, Maria. I'm heading for it right now," says Liz. I feel the car stop. I don't see a lake so I assume we must have stopped for another reason, but Liz opens my door and reaches over me to grab her bag. She’s so close all I’d have to do is grab her waist and she would be on top of me. I shake my head to get that thought out of my head. I don't think my body could handle that. She pulls away from me and without looking at me she says, "Coming?" I nod my head. I don't even get a look from her. I get out of the car and close the door. Isabel comes up beside me and links her arm with Liz's and mine. "Don't think I've forgotten about your transferring to honors classes. With Liz's persuasive know-how, it'll be a cinch to convince you. Right Liz?" Isabel says. She shrugs her shoulders in response. "You are still going to help me convince him, right?" Isabel asks. "Why? That would mean he'd have to see me everyday. Something he made clear he didn't want," Liz responds quietly, but loud enough for me to hear. She disentangles herself from Isabel and walks towards the cliffs. "Where are you going, Liz?" Maria shouts. "To scout out a nice spot for us," she replies as she goes out of view. I look after her feeling like someone just punched me in the stomach. "What did you do to her, Michael? I can't help if I don't know what happened last night," Isabel says with concern. "I told her she deserves someone better," I say. Isabel shakes her head and sadly says, "She probably thinks you were letting her down easy. With Maria hanging all over you and you not doing a thing about it, she probably thinks you don't want her. This is going to harder than I thought." Maria comes running up to us and says, "Liz found the perfect spot. You guys really should see it. Come on. It's hot and time for a swim." I go swimming for a while, but every time I go anywhere near Liz, she moves away. So, I sit on the sidelines and watch. Liz is wearing a two-piece. It’s not skimpy like Maria's, but the color and the way it clings to her makes her look sexy. I have flashbacks of the kiss we shared last night and all I want to do is swim to her and kiss her. I have to go in the water to cool my body off from thinking about things I would love to do to her. ********************************************************************** I pretend like I'm not paying Michael any attention, but in reality I can't help but look at him. He looks so sexy in his dark blue swim trucks. Nothing compares to him in just that towel, but this will do. I think back to last night and that kiss. I couldn't sleep well because I kept having fantasies about him. That's all I'll have, fantasies, because he doesn't want me. It hurts to see him with Maria, especially since I practically threw myself at him and he turned me down. Maria does the same thing, except for the kiss, and he loves it. My heart feels like someone is squeezing it so tight that I'm having trouble breathing. Isabel keeps telling me to give him a chance, that he doesn't even know what he needs or wants. I just reply that he knows he doesn't want me, and go swim underwater until my lungs feel like they are about to explode. We finally head out of the water. We grab our towels and wrap ourselves in them. Since the sun is almost down, there is a cool breeze. I sit down on the blanket and wrap myself up. "I'm starving," Maria says sitting as close as possible to Michael. Everyone eats and I just pick at my food. My stomach feels like it’s in knots so I'm not hungry. The conversation goes on around me. I’m not really paying attention, until Maria says, "Why don't we play a game?" Isabel is the only excited one in the group. I can't help but smile at her, because her laughter is contagious. She gives me this evil look and says, "I suggest we play Truth or Dare." I narrow my eyes wondering what she has up her sleeve while Maria excitedly says, "That's a good idea." |