| PART 4 I roll over and wake up when something jabs me in my side. Trying to figure out what it is, I start to roam my hands around until they land on the object in question. It's a book. How did that get there? I ask myself. I look around groggily and realize that I'm still on the floor. Then I remember the late night study session I had with Maria. I catch a glimpse of Maria sleeping on the floor right along with me. Alex is shouting from somewhere downstairs, "Are you ready yet?" I look up at my clock and it reads 6:30. Damn it, I'm supposed to be leaving for school already. I quickly get off the floor and run to the bathroom to take a shower. I trip over Maria during my frenzy. I hear her groan, "Five more minutes, mom." I look at her apologetically. "Go back to sleep," I whisper to her while running around trying to find an outfit to wear. I should've been on my way to school by now. Alex is going to kill me. I finally opt formy favorite sundress. I rush over to my vanity table to apply my makeup and figure out what to do with my hair. It's still wet from the shower. I decide to braid my hair into two pigtails. As I'm putting the finishing touch on my hair, Alex first knocks then opens the door. "Are you ready?" he asks. I stand up, grab my backpack, and tell Maria I'll catch up with her at school. "I am now. Come on, we are so late," I reply to Alex as I rush downstairs and grab a glass of orange juice to take with me. "I told you yesterday that you had to get up early and you still didn't," Alex says restlessly. "I'm sorry, what do you want me to say?" I respond solemnly. "I was helping Maria study last night and I must have fallen asleep. I didn't even sleep in my bed. Have some sympathy for your poor sister. My back is killing me," I explain as we are turning into the parking lot of the school. ************************************************************************ "We're here. Welcome to your new high school, guys, and remember I want all of you to be on your best behavior," our father says as we get out of the car. "Do you want me to pick you up or can you manage to find your way home yourself?" he asks us. Isabel and Max both say they can mange themselves. Isabel kisses him on the cheek, and we head for the school. Just as we go through the doors, a man approaches us and asks, "Are you the Evans?" "Yes, we are," answers Max. "My name is Daniel Pierce I will be your guidance counselor," he replies. "And your names are?" he asks as he extends his hand out to Max first. "I'm Max. This is my sister Isabel and my brother Michael," Max says introducing us to our new counselor. "Well, let me show you to Principal Topolsky's office. That's where you'll be meeting up with your guides," Mr. Pierce says while he walks in front of us. "How do you like Roswell so far?" he asks. He seems to be genuinely sincere. Isabel replies, "Well, we really haven't experienced Roswell yet. We just got in last night." "I see, maybe your guides will suggest places to explore," he says while he opens the door that I'm assuming leads to the principal's office. We notice two other people talking to a woman behind the counter. I hear Max whispering to Isabel, "These must be our guides. They fit our description to a tee." Isabel giggles softly. The other two turn to the sound of Isabel's giggles. I have to admit that Max was right. They are what you would call your stereotypical geeks. If these are the ones who are going to walk us around this school, I'd rather take my chances getting lost. As Mr. Pierce approaches the woman behind the counter, he greets the two people. "How is everything today, Paulie, Pam?" I hear Max and Isabel sigh in relief. Mr. Pierce leans into the woman behind the counter and whispers something to her. The door suddenly swings open behind us, just as the woman was about to say something to Paulie and Pam. I hear a female's voice babbling, "I'm sorry we're late Ms. Topolsky, it's all my fault. Don't blame my brother. I was helping a friend study for a test last night and we stayed up pretty late. I guess I just overslept. I'm so sorry." I look up at the woman behind the counter, and she has a small smile on her face and says, "It's okay miss Parker. They just arrived a few minutes ago." She tells the two people in front of her, "We'll continue this later." They nod their heads and proceed to the exit. The woman approaches us and introduces herself to us. "My name is Kathleen Topolsky, I'm the principal here. I've heard great things about you from your previous school." "It's nice to meet you. My name is Max Evans. This is my sister Isabel and my brother Michael," Max says in his polite voice. "It's nice to meet you. Let me introduce you to your guides. Ms. Topolsky says as she turns us around to face where the female's voice came from. When I turn around, I am amazed. There is the most beautiful person I've ever seen standing in front of me. She is wearing a stunning sundress that reaches to about her mid thigh. It shows off all her curves, and the color accentuates her beautiful brown hair and eyes. I don't realize I'm staring at her until Max's intake of breath brings me out of my reverie. I'm glad she didn't notice. She probably would have thought I was a dork. Wheredid that come from? When did I ever care what someone thought about me? I question myself. I look in Max's direction and having the same reaction I did. My heart sinks to my stomach. If I had a slight chance with this girl, I know I don't now. Max always gets the girl. Since I was in the middle of Isabel and Max, I whisper, "At least you've got the ponytails right." Max looks at me arrogantly. I just smirk at him. If I could remember how to laugh I would, but I can't even recall the last time I did. ************************************************************************ Alex and I rush into Ms. Topolsky's office. As I hurriedly open the door, I yell, "I'm sorry we're late, Ms. Topolsky. It's all my fault. Don't blame my brother. Iwas helping a friend study for a test last night and we stayed up pretty late. I guess I just overslept. I'm so sorry." After Ms. Topolsky gets rid of Pam and Paulie, the only people left are the ones standing in front of her. Ms. Topolsky approaches them and I hear her introducing herself. It's so low I can barely make out their names. I look up at Alex and roll my eyes. He just takes my hand and squeezes it as he smiles at me. When all the introductions are made, she turns them around so that they're facing us. The first face I see is the girl's. I think her name is Isabel, if I heard correctly. She's the one Alex will be taking around. I look at Alex's face and notice the interest there. I'll have to watch her. I don't want anyone hurting my brother, I think as I make a note to myself. A gasp brings me out of my thoughts. I look in the direction it came from and see a guy with dark hair and ears that stick out a little too far. What a dork. I remember the names of the ones I'm touring around are Max and Michael, but I don't know which is which. I glance at the guy standing in the middle and I'm about to look at Isabel again, when I do a double take. Oh my god, he's gorgeous. He has this unruliness about him, but it only makes him sexier. He leans over to whisper something to Isabel, but the only word I can make out is ponytails. Then all of a sudden I feel self-conscious. I put my head down, debating if I should take my hair loose or not. Why did I put my hair in these stupid things? Ms. Topolsky approaches me and says, "Elizabeth, Alexander, I would like to introduce to you Isabel, Michael and Max." Michael, his name is Michael. I look down and smile. Alex extends his hand to greet them. I follow Alex's lead until I come to Michael. As our hands touch, I swear I can feel electricity. Just as quickly, as I received it, the feeling is gone. I look up into his eyes to see if he felt the same thing, but I can't read anything. He isn't even looking in my direction. What's wrong with me? I've never experienced this with a guy before. What difference does it make, Parker? He doesn't look like he's at all interested in you. What do you expect, Parker? He's used to those sophisticated city girls. You're just some small town hick. Why am I even worried about it? I don't want a relationship. I don't even care what other people think about me. I try and convince myself, but I know that for some reason this Michael Evans is making me reconsider my single status. ************************************************************************ Ms. Topolsky introduces us to the two that had entered the office. "Elizabeth, Alexander I would like to introduce to you Isabel, Michael and Max." Elizabeth, I repeat to myself. The guy, Alexander, extends his hand to us. I notice his exquisite sister following his lead. When our hands connect, I feel this surge that feels like electricity go through my hand. I pull my hand away fast. What the hell was that? I have to look away. Out of my peripheral vision, I notice her looking at me. Did she feel the same thing? She probably thinks I'm some rude city boy. I try my best to act like I didn't feel anything. I don't want to get my hopes up and then have them shattered when she starts to date Max. She goes to shake Max's hand and gives him the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. See, Evans? You don't stand a chance with your brother involved, I argue bitterly to myself as we're grouped off with our appropriate guides. This is going to be a long day-- Me, Max, and a girl, who we are both attracted to, hanging out together. |