| PART 14 The next day I feel like I can walk on water. Isabel laughs at me everytime our paths cross. I know she’s happy for me. She keeps trying to obtain information from me about last night. I try hard to dodge her questions, but she can be persistent. I don’t want to share my experiencewith her yet because I’m afraid it might all be a dream. I go in the kitchen in search of something to eat. I notice Max and myparents watching me. I don’t think they’ve ever seen me smile this much because they keep giving me strange looks. My old man narrow his eyes at me and asks, “Are you on something?” I laugh harshly and say, “Whatever.” Figures he would think the worst of me. Why can’t he ever be happy for me? I set out to leave, but he grabs me by the shoulders and slams me against the wall, knocking the breath out of me. “Look at me when I’m talking to you. I want to see for myself you’re not on drugs. I’ve told you before I don’t want any of that stuff in my house,” he says violently. I open my eyes wide so he can see if my pupils are dilated or not. When he seems satisfied, I roughly shove his hand away and say, “Are you satisfied?” I turn my face away from him. I barely hear the doorbell ring when he seizes my face to twist it around so I can meet his intent look. “Fine, but if I find out that you have a stash somewhere in this house, you’ll be out on your ass. Do you understand me?” With a great amount of force he releases my face. I rub my face and mockingly say, “Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir.” Isabel enters the room. She looks between us and from the expression on her face, I know she senses the tension between us. Quietly she says, “Liz is here.” Max immediately leaves the room. I bet he’s on his way to aggravate her. Then it just hits me, he could tell her about what just happened here and my past. I’m panicking. I have to get in there. I don’t want him to ruin any chances I might have with her. Isabel gives me a small smile and leaves in the direction Max did. I turn to my father and sardonically say, “Are we done?” “For now we are,” he says fiercely. I take a deep breath and walk into the living room. I notice Max is all over Liz, and that pisses me off. When the door swings closed behind me, Liz looks up and bestows me a brilliant smile. I can’t help but return it. *********************************************************************** I’m standing outside of Michael’s house debating if I should ring the bell or not. I think I’ve been out here for five minutes already. Michael has been on my mind all day and I just want to see him. I’m afraid I’m being too presumptuous thinking I can pop up anytime I want. What if he thinks I’m checking on him? Even worse, what if he thinks I’m stalking him? I take a deep breath and ring the bell. Here goes nothing. Isabel answers the door and says, “Hey Liz. I didn’t expect to see you.” My smile wavers and I say, “I’m sorry. Do you think it was a mistake for me coming here? I mean Michael didn’t invite me.” Isabel smiles and says, “Come in. You don’t need an invitation to visit me or my brother.” I exhale in relief and enter the house. I’m feeling nervous. I start pulling at my shirt and smoothing my jeans. I feel like I have to do something with my hands. This is crazy. Why am I so nervous? Isabel giggles and says, “I’ll be right back. I’ll go tell Michael you’re here.” I nod in response. I’m waiting for Isabel to come back with Michael in the living room. I start to pace trying to ease my nervous energy. I hear the doors swing close and my heart starts to flutter. I turn around expecting to see Michael, but Max is standing before me with a ridiculous grin. I try hard not to roll my eyes. “Hi,” he says trying to sound sexy I’m guessing. “Hi. Is Isabel coming back out soon?” I say politely. For some reason this guy rubs me the wrong way. He saunters towards me to put his arm around my shoulders and says, “You look sexy in that outfit.” His eyes travel up and down my body. His eyes are nothing like Michael’s. When Michael looks at me the sensation my body has is incredible. I feel violated when Max looks at me. Feeling uncomfortable, I pull away from him. What’s taking them so long? He follows me and surrounds my waist with his hands. He draws me flat against his chest and whispers in my ear, “Come with me up to my room where we can converse privately.” Who the hell does he think he is? Some kind of playboy. What makes him think I want to go up to his room? I venture to pull away, but his grip around my waist tightens. I open my mouth to tell him the get the hell away from me, but Isabel comes into the room. She looks between us and asks, “What the hell is going on?” I give her a tight smile still attempting to pull away from Max. I wish he would just let go. I hear the door swing open. “She’s joining me up to my room. Right, Liz?” Max says removing his hand from my waist and places it on my shoulder. I barely hear him because the reason why I’m here is standing in front of the doorway. I smile at him with relief because he looks as if he’s happy to see me. Then his gaze turns towards Max and the smile that lit up his face seconds ago turns to anger. I realize that Max’s grip on me has loosened so I push him away and go to Michael. I support my hands against his face trying desperately to get him to look at me. When he finally does, his anger dissolves and a small smile plays on his lips. “Hey,” I say. When he looks at me that way he makes my heart flutter. “No kiss?” I say boldly. I want to feel his lips against mine. I’ve been wanting that ever since our first kiss. I also want to show Max that I’m not his and never will be his. Michael hesitates for a moment, but I reach up on my toes and he slowly meets me for a soft brief kiss. I take his hand and lead him upstairs. “I say we go to your room and talk privately,” I say quietly, but loud enough for Max to hear. Before we can reach the stairs Max abruptly says, “What the hell is going on here? You can’t want him. He’s a nobody, a screw up. The ……” I feel Michael’s body become rigid. I turn to look at him and he looks as if he’s ready to kill. Before he can lunge for Max, I stand between them. I whisper to him, “Don’t.” I see that he’s debating whether to beat the crap out of Max or go upstairs. I lean up to his ear and seductively whisper, “Wouldn’t you rather take me upstairs and seduce me?” His mouth gapes open and then it turns to a smile. He leans towards my ear and whispers, “I’d much rather be with you anytime.” He takes my hand and we head for his room. |