| PART 7 I walk up to my locker to grab the books I need for my assignments. I’m concentrating so hard on the task that I don't notice someone approach me and say, "Hey." I jump, dropping all my books on the floor. I turn around to see who just scared the crap out of me. It’s Max. I bend down to pick them up. If I say anything, right now I'll curse him out. I’m not in a good mood, not after that incident in art class. While I'm bent down, I glance up and see Max looking at my ass. I take my time collecting my books in hopes of calming down because I'm pissed. Just before I can blow up, Maria comes over and bends down to help me and whispers, "Hey girlfriend, are you having a bad day?" I look at her and give her a tight smile. I stand up and first look at Maria, who's giving me a "be nice" look and then turn to Max. "Is there some reason why you scared the crap out of me?" I say trying my best to sound playful. I glance over at Maria and she smiles at me to show me how proud she is. She should be. I've been know to speak my mind. I roll my eyes at her and then turn back to Max waiting for his answer. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to stop by to say bye and thanks for all your help before I head home," he says while giving me a big smile. He must think that smile is sexy. Well he needs to think again. Before I can say something, my brother and Isabel walk up. I feel relief wash over me because I don't know how much longer I can hold my tongue. I’m brought out of my fuming when I notice Isabel is standing in the midst of our group, and there is no Michael. He told me he was meeting her, why weren't they together? He lied again, Parker. Get over it. He doesn't want to have anything to do with you. He was trying to be civil by making up some fake excuse. Fine, if that's the way he wants it, then I'll leave him alone. I can take a hint; I know when I'm not wanted. Maria taps me on my shoulder whispering, "Are you okay? Why are you staring at Isabel?" I look at her confused and then back to where I was daydreaming, and sure enough there is Isabel. I've been doing that a lot lately, staring at people and not realizing it. I finally take in her appearance, and she looks a little frazzled. I turn to Alex, and he gives me a questioning look. I turn back to Isabel and say while smiling, "I'm sorry, I don't think we were formally introduced." She looks at me and gives me a small smile. I slowly extend my hand and say, "I know I've been acting like a real bitch to you for no reason, but I was a tiny bit jealous of you." That got her attention. She smiles at me while she accepts my hand. "Well it's about time you spoke to her," I hear Maria exclaim from my side. I smile at her. I gotta love her, she knows me so well. "Where's Michael?" Maria says. That perks my ears up. Isabel's smile falters a little while she says, "He was suppose to meet me at my locker I mean he did, but he ran off before I could get a word in edgewise. I'm a little worried." At least he wasn't lying about meeting her at her locker. She does look worried. "He's probably on some kind of rampage. You know how Michael is, Isabel," Max says arrogantly. I narrow my eyes at him and am going to ask him what he meant by that when I feel Maria's arm go around me, probably to calm me down. "I offered to give Isabel a ride home. Do you want to go along for the ride?" Maria asks me, changing the subject. I’m about to decline the offer, but she says, "It'll only be us girls. I figured since there's only the two of us, it was about time we added a new member to our little group. I thought the best way to force her to like us was to bribe her with a ride home. That way she can't deny us her company." I giggle. Leave it to Maria to make Isabel feel wanted by making it sound like it's our privilege to be around her. I have to admit that I'm relieved that I don't have to deal with Max and Michael. I don't think my temper could deal with another one of Max's conceited comments, and my heart sure as hell can't deal with another one of Michael's rejections. I nod my head and say, "I guess a girls bonding will do me some good." Maria jumps up and down and hugs me and grabs Isabel's arm and my bag. "Come on, I can call my mom when we get to the car and tell her I'm going to be late. Do you think your parents will mind us coming over on such short notice? I mean they don't know either of us. Should we call them first?" Maria says concerned. "It'll be alright. My mom is gonna be thrilled that I made two new girlfriends already," Isabel says with a smile on her face. I have to admit she doesn't seem all that bad. "We can talk about Roswell, boys, and maybe a little bit of school. We can also help you unpack if you want," Maria says excitedly while we walk to her car. "How long will we have before your brothers show up?" I ask gloomily while I pile in the backseat of Maria's car. Isabel looks at me sympathetically and says, "Did they give you a hard time? Individually they're sweethearts, but together they can give anyone a headache." Maria asks, "What's their problem? When I was around them they either acted like each of them didn't exist, or they were giving each other looks to kill." I have to agree with her, I definitely felt that between them too. I don't say anything because I’m trying hard not to think about either of them. Maria and Isabel are chattering in the front and I just stare out the window. I can't understand why Michael and Max don't get along. Isabel seems to get along with both of them, as long as they are separated. If I didn't have Alex, I don't think I would have survived my family. Maria is like a sister to me. If she and Alex didn't get along, I don't know what I would have done. Knowing me, I'd probably lock them in a room together until they could clear up all their hostilities. Thankfully, they do get alongbecause they might have killed each other. I remember when I was growing up my mother would treat me like her little princess and dress me up like one. When I'd go outside, I would end up ruining my clothes. She wanted a little lady to dress up and be her trophy daughter, but I wasn't. I was a tomboy through and through. Since I didn't follow in her footsteps, she lost interest in me. She was ashamed of me. All she wanted was to put me in pageants and be her beautiful angel. I smile a little remembering what a little terror I was. I was the one who always started the fights and got into trouble. That's what my grandma always said she loved about me. I always did what I wanted when I wanted. I loved her deeply. I never had my dad's attention. I don't even think he knew I existed. Still doesn't. It never bothered me because I adored Alex and my grandma. They were everything to me. I remember following Alex around everywhere he went. I loved doing things with him. He never seemed annoyed by it. There was a time he didn't want me around. Since he used to be a little runt growing up, he would always get picked on. He was embarrassed about that since he knew I looked up to him, but when I was at the age where I knew about fighting, that's when I started protecting him. I didn't care what age, size or sex they were. I wasn't about to let anyone tease or hurt him. I've always felt he's all I got. To this day, I still feel the same way and will do anything to protect him, no matter what. I guess that's why I felt threatened by Isabel. When I noticed my brother's attraction to her, I didn't want her to take him away from me. I already lost my grandma. I didn't want to lose Alex too. I don't know what I'd do if Alex wasn't in my life. Maria calling out my name brings me out of my thoughts. I look over at her, still a little dazed. "You're just like my brother, Michael. Every time he's in the car I always seem to lose him to his thoughts," Isabel says giving me a concerned smile. "I've been calling your name for about a half an hour, girlfriend. Where were you?" Maria says, also giving me a concerned look. "I was just looking at the scenery. I've never been to this area," I say trying to sound cheerful. "Well we're here," Isabel and Maria say at the same time. We all get out of the car and head towards the house. ************************************************************************ I just walk around for a while trying not to think. You've gotta stop thinking about her, Evans. Just let it go. You're not her type. She's smart and beautiful. You don't have a chance with her. She's probably out doing something with Max right now. I've got to stop this. If I keep torturing myself like this, I'll never be able to calm down enough to go home. Even if she's at all interested in me, I still can't be with her. It seems like everyone I ever cared about has been taken away from me. What if something happens to her? Look what happened to Nick. I just have to stay away from her. I know Isabel is going to ask me questions about the way I left earlier. I hate lying to her, but I can't explain to her what I was feeling. What I'm feeling right now. Hopefully by the time I arrive home, she'll either be busy unpacking or doing homework and won't notice me. Maybe I'll just wait until I think she's asleep before I head home. I chuckle to myself. It's funny. While I was growing up all I wanted was for someone to notice me and now all I want is to be invisible. I notice that I’ve been distancing myself from human contact. If it weren't for school, I don't think I'd be around people at all. I even feel myself pulling away from Isabel. After she goes off to college, who will I have then? It's for the best that I distance myself from her now, so she won't miss me too much when she leaves. Knowing her, she'll probably try her hardest to keep me in her life, but it's what’s best for both of us. I just have to get used to the fact that I'll be a loner for the rest of my life. |
| Part 6 Part 8 |