Title: The County Fair Author: Amber Rating: pg-13 Disclaimer: I don't own them, don't shoot me! Category: UC (Kyle & Isabel) Author's Notes: This started as a challenge, but it just kind of became.....there. Feedback: Yes. Feedback encourages me to write more! At the top of the Ferris Wheel, Isabel grinned at Kyle, her mouth sticky from the cotton candy she’d just eaten. Isabel felt like she was flying. The fair was far beneath her, and she put arms out. She felt invincible. Nothing could stop her. She looked up at the rain clouds that had poured out water all morning. The fair had almost been canceled, but the storm miraculously had cleared. Isabel smiled to herself. Sure, everything was muddy, but Kyle made up for that. “I can’t believe you’ve never been on a Ferris Wheel before.” Kyle said. “I was scared of them.” Isabel said, closing her eyes as the Ferris Wheel began to turn. “You don’t look all that scared to me..” She heard Kyle say. The darkness floated around her. I’m flying! She thought as the wind blew her hair around her face. When the wheel stopped, she opened her eyes and looked at Kyle again. “You’re here with me. I have no reason to be scared.” She said, looking him in the eyes. Kyle smiled his lopsided smile and Isabel’s heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She could hardly believe she’d never noticed him before. Kyle was perfect for her. She smiled back at him. “Want some cotton candy?” She asked him. “Sure” He replied. Isabel broke a piece off and held it in front of him. He opened his mouth for her to feed it to him, but she moved it closer to her own mouth. He followed the cotton candy until she put it in her mouth. Then he grinned and kissed her. The cotton candy melted in their mouths, but they continued to kiss. The Ferris Wheel came to life with a lurch, surprising them both. They pulled away and looked around. The wheel brought them further and further until it stopped at the platform. Michael, Liz, Maria, and Max stood at the bottom waiting for them. “How was the cotton candy?” Liz asked Kyle, grinning. “Delicious.” He answered, taking Isabel’s free hand. “Where to next?” Max asked. “The tunnel of love.” Maria answered, taking Max’s hand into her own. He smiled at her and glanced back at Liz and Michael, who were holding hands as well. Isabel grinned. I love how we all put aside our histories, and we’re still friends. Her brother, Max had been with Liz for at least a year, and it had been one of those die-hard soul mate romances. She was “destined” to be with Michael. Kyle had dated Liz. And Maria and Michael were an on again off again couple for 2 years. Maria had lost her virginity to him. And now look at us. Everyone here has been with someone else here. “Tunnel of Love sounds good to me.” Isabel answered. “I second that motion.” Kyle said. “We third it.” Michael and Liz said. “Ok, so it unanimous. Let’s go.” Max said. Isabel and Kyle led the group through the games, past the tipsy-turn, and over toward the Tunnel of Love. Max and Maria were in the middle, and Michael and Liz led up the rear. A sign read 4 tickets each person. “Do we have that many?” Liz asked. “I’m not sure.” Kyle answered. They all dug out their tickets and counted them out. They had 15 tickets; They needed 24. “I’ll go get more.” Isabel said. Kyle, Max and Michael opened their wallets and handed her wads of bills. Isabel smiled at them. So eager to be the perfect boyfriends. “Want me to go with you?” Kyle asked. “Nah. I’m a big girl. I tie my own sandals and everything.” She said, smiling at him. She turned and walked toward the ticket booth, counting the money on the way. 5...14..25...... A voice interrupted Isabel’s counting. “Did you see Isabel Evans and Kyle Valenti? I can’t believe he would stoop that low.” Isabel turned around and looked at the girl who’d just insulted her and Kyle. Blonde hair, ugly yellow eyes, and obese fat met her eyes. Alison Troy. Trying to fill her big sisters shoes. “You’re just pissed off because he won’t even look at your skanky ass.” Isabel said, turning her back and counting her money again. 5....14....25...33. 33 dollars. Isabel looked at a sign. We can get a 132 tickets! She smiled to herself. And then something pegged her in the back of the head. Isabel turned around to find Alison with her hands covered in mud, smirking at Isabel. Oooh....bad move blondie. Isabel put her money on the ticket counter. “Watch that for me.” She said, turning around and looking at Alison again. She reached behind her and yanked the wad of mud from her hair. The mud was fresh from the rain that had occurred earlier that day. Alison was laughing. Isabel just walked by her, and used her powers to make the younger girl trip and fall into the mud. “Bitch!” Alison yelled. Isabel stopped right behind Alison, turned around, dumped the pile of mud from her hair on Alison’s blonde hair, and rubbed it in. “Get a life.” Isabel said. At this point, a crowd had formed a circle around the girls. Isabel could see Max, Kyle, Liz, Maria, and Michael behind the heads of the people. They pushed their way to the front as Alison grabbed Isabel’s leg and pulled her down into the mud. Isabel sat up, covered in mud. She turned and looked at Alison, who was still sitting in the mud, a smug look on her face. “Don’t you ever learn?” Isabel said. She pounced on the girl, driving her face into the fresh, gushy mud. She pulled her head up, and Alison gasped for breath. But the girl wasn’t giving up without a fight. She grabbed a hunk of the mud and dumped it on Isabel’s head. “I’ve got nothing to learn from you.” She said, standing up. Isabel grabbed her leg and yanked her back down. “I beg to differ.” She said, climbing on top of the girl. She stared down at her, pressing her further and further down into the mud. She leaned down and whispered in the girl’s ear. “Beauty always wins over balls.” She picked up one last handful of mud and dumped it all over Alisons face. “Alright, Alright. Break it up.” Isabel heard a voice say behind her. She turned and looked behind her to find Sheriff Valenti and Deputy Hanson standing behind her. She climbed off Alison and put her foot on the girls stomach. “Ok, so I wrestled down the ugly heifer. Where’s my trophy?” She said, smiling at the Sheriff. He was trying not to laugh, but to no avail. “Funny, Ms. Evans.” “I try.” She said, wiping some mud off her face. Kyle came over with a glass of water and she dumped it on her head. She bent over, letting the water drip down. She stood back up and used her sweater to wipe mud from her face. Then she smiled at her friends. “I want you in my office tomorrow.” Valenti said. “Both of you.” He added as Alison sat up. Alison groaned. “I didn’t do anything! She attacked me!” Isabel laughed. “I have about 20 witness to prove I was standing in line when you threw the mud at me.” Alison just stalked off. Isabel laughed and wiped off some more mud. “That was exilerating.” Isabel said, smiling at Kyle and her friends. “Isabel you shouldn’t-“ Max began. “Come on Max. Just have fun for once.” Maria said, cutting him off. Max shook his head, but let it go. He leaned down and kissed his girlfriend. Isabel rolled her eyes. “Let’s find a hose or something.” She said, taking Kyle’s hand. “Our house is just around the corner.” Maria said, taking max’s hand and leading them out of the fair toward her house. “So, have you guys finished unpacking yet?” Isabel asked. Kyle laughed and Maria winced. “That’s a sensitive subject back at home.” She said. “Sensitive subject?” Kyle asked. “It’s more like World War 3.” “Mom and Jim are having a bit of a disagreement over where she’s going to keep her alien doll collection.” Maria said, trying to explain what was going on. “Which she doesn’t really need.” Kyle muttered. “Hey! Watch it!” Maria said, hitting him over the head with her purse. “As you can see, it’s a sore subject with us all.” Kyle said. “Yeah. That’s kind of obvious.” Liz said. They turned the corner and the conversation stopped. Isabel turned and looked back at her friends. Liz and Michael seemed deep in conversation about something already.. Max and Maria were giggling. “You know Isabel, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone look as beautiful as you do in mud.” Kyle said. Max and Michael exchanged a knowing look. “MUD!” They said at the same time and kissed their respective girlfriends. Maria laughed and opened the door to the house she shared with Kyle, her mom, and the sheriff. They had all moved in together a few weeks ago, after the sheriff had proposed to Amy. “Honey, I’m home.” Kyle shouted, laughing as he found his Dad and Amy in the middle of baking a pie. They were covered in flour. In fact, it seemed that they had walked in on the middle of a flour fight. “Funny Kyle.” Valenti said. “You can’t get mad at me for mud wrestling when you’re here covering her in flour.” Isabel shouted at them. “Mud wrestling?” Amy said, looking at Isabel. “Ah....I see.” “Come on, Isabel. You can use my shower.” Maria said. Isabel followed Maria toward her bathroom while the others settled into the living room. She blew a kiss down the hall at Kyle as turned the corner, then went into the bathroom that Maria was pointing at. “When your done, come into my room, and we’ll find you some...clothes.” Maria said, walking back out into the living room. Isabel closed the door behind her and turned the water on. She tentatively stuck her hand in it to test the temperature. Way too hot, she thought, turning it down a little. She stuck her hand back in. Much better she though, jumping into the shower fully clothed, in an attempt to get the mud off her favorite jeans. __________________ Meanwhile, back in the living room, everyone was enjoying Amy and Jim fighting over the alien statues. Maria was jammed between Michael and Max, with Liz on the other side of Michael and Kyle in the recliner next to the couch. Michael leaned forward and whispered to Kyle. “I’ve got 3 bucks on Amy.” “Nah. My dad will win.” Kyle answered. “Make it 5 bucks and your on Michael.” Max said. “These things are an important part of my heritage.” Amy insisted, oblivious to the teenagers that were whispering around her. Maria playfully hit max on the shoulder. “Your betting against my mom?” “You’ve obviously never seen the Sheriff in action.” Max insisted. “Never seen him in action? I live with him.” She whispered back. “Either way, my money’s on Jim.” Max said, squeezing Maria’s hand. “Alrighty then.” Michael said. “So your telling me that your really a 3 foot, bug eyed, green alien?” Jim said, interrupting them all. He made a fake gasp. “And I thought I knew you. “That is not what I meant Jim, and you know it.” Amy said. “Oh, then enlighten me. What did you mean?” Jim said. “God, they’re worse than you and I were.” Michael whispered to Maria. She laughed and rested her head on Max’s shoulder and watched her parents fight. It was odd to think of them that way. To think of Jim as her dad. But he was now. And Maria liked it that way. “I meant that...they...well.....” Amy began. “I rest my case.” Jim said. He threw himself onto the empty recliner on the other side of the couch, where he proceeded to “fall asleep”, complete with loud snoring. Amy threw her hands up in frustration and went into the kitchen. As soon as she was out of sight, Jim sat up and winked at the teens. “Alright, pay up.” Kyle said, putting his hand out in front of Michael. “Yeah.” Max said, putting his hand next to Kyle’s. Michael sighed and pulled out his wallet. He opened it up and took out two fives. He placed on in each of their hands then pushed the hands away from him. “I let you guys win.” Michael said. “Your just a sore loser.” Kyle said. “I’ll show you a sore loser Valenti.” Michael answered, jumping off the couch toward Kyle. “Hey, boys. There’s been enough fighting tonight.” Jim said, jumping between the two boys. Michael retreated back to the couch, grinning at Kyle. The sound of Jim’s voice had brought Amy back into the living room. She stood there with one hand on her hips, the other holding a hand held vacuum cleaner, glaring at Jim. “How was your nap?” She asked in a sicky sweet voice. “Refreshing.” He said. “Good, because you can clean up all the flour you just got on the recliner.” She said, motioning toward the chair he was in with the vacuum cleaner. “And then you can clean up the kitchen.” Michael laughed lightly. “Pay up, guys.” He said, holding his hands out to Max and Kyle. They pulled out their wallets and after depositing his original five in his hand, they both added another five. Michael laughed. He looked over at Kyle, who was staring at the hallway entrance. Michael looked over at it, and his eyes focused on Isabel standing there in nothing but a towel. _________________ Isabel looked at the scene in the living room. One of the chairs was covered in flour, Kyle and Michael were staring at her, and Amy was busy shoving a vacuum at Jim. “Maria..I need some clothes...” Isabel said. Maria and Liz immediately jumped off the couch and led her to Maria’s room, closing the door behind them. They both laughed as soon as the door was shut. “Did you see the look on Kyle’s face?” Liz said, laughing. “I thought I was going to have to get a bucket for his drool.” Maria added. “Um.....Maria?” Isabel said, looking down at the towel that was barely covering her body. “Oh. Yeah. Clothes.” Maria said. Maria hummed to herself as she went over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of West Roswell high sweat pants and a black tank top. She threw a bra and some underwear to her, with a slight giggle. “Uh..yeah. Just, try them on anyway.” Liz said. Isabel was at least a foot and a half taller than Maria. Isabel smiled and laughed lightly at this. But she would just use her powers anyway. “Don’t worry about it “ Isabel replied. Liz turned her best friend around as Isabel dropped the towel and expanded the bra with her powers to make it big enough for her chest. “So are we going back to the fair?” Maria asked. “Of course! I want to go down the tunnel of love.” Isabel said devilishly. “You and me both.” Maria answered. “From what I heard from Liz, Max is great at foreplay.” “Hey!” Liz said. Isabel heard Liz punch Maria lightly and both girls laughed. She put the clothes on and looked down at the sweat pants that came to two inches above her ankles. “That’s my brother your talking about.” Isabel said. “Sorry.” Maria said. Isabel repeated the same thing she did to the bra to the panties and the sweats, but she kept the shirt the same. It was tight against her chest and made her breasts look just perfect. “Can we turn around yet?” Maria asked. “Yeah.” Isabel answered. Maria was staring at her like she was...well....like she was some sort of alien. What is she staring at? Isabel thought. “It must be great.” Maria suddenly blurted out.. “Huh?” Isabel answered. “Not having to worry about things not being in your size. You can just zap them!” Maria answered. Isabel rolled a little of the sweats down, and Maria gasped. She turned and looked at the nearest mirror and admired her reflection. Not too shabby. “Now that is so not fair.” Liz said. “How do you that?” Maria asked. “Do what?” Isabel replied. “ Do....... that. Look gorgeous in that outfit. I look like a ten-year-old in that.” Maria answered, making her way to the door. “I definitely want to know the secret to that.” Liz said. “It comes naturally to me.” Isabel joked, laughing. “Come on, we’d better leave before my parents kill the boys.” Maria answered. She opened the door and made her way down the hallway.Bringing up the rear, Isabel could hear snickers coming from down the hall, and when she made it to the end, she found Kyle and Michael locked in the middle of a wrestling match. Max sat on the couch with Jim, placing bets, and Amy was in the kitchen, shaking her head. Isabel laughed as she saw her boyfriend and her ‘destined’ tangled in a heap on a mauve carpet. At the sound of her laugh, both boys looked at her, and stopped immediately. Michael had Kyle’s leg over his shoulder, and Kyle looked like he was about to kill Michael. They both scrambled to their feet, and Kyle walked over to Isabel, wrapping his arm around her waist. “You look amazing.” He whispered in her ear. He lightly kissed the nape of her neck and brought his forehead against hers, looking into her eyes. Isabel almost melted on the spot. There was something about Kyle that made her insides tingle and her knees feel like rubber cement. Looking into his eyes almost brought her to her knees. She was definitely gone; There was no turning back. She was in love with this human, and she liked it that way. “So do you.” She whispered. A loud ahem came from behind them, and Amy stood looking at them, a spatula in hand. “Sorry, no googly eye’s in here.” They all laughed. “Let’s head back.” Liz suggested, taking Michael’s hand. “Let’s.” Kyle said, taking Isabel’s hand. After Michael had gloated at a safe distance from Kyle, and they said goodbye to Jim and Amy, they all left, and walked the blocks back to the fair in silence, just as they had on the way to the Valenti’s. Kyle’s hand kept Isabel’s warm and she could feel him all around her. It was amazing. After all the hurt, all the years of hiding who she really was, she had finally found someone who loved her for her. And what was even more amazing, at least to her, was the fact that she was in love. She had thought she was incabable of love, especially after Alex’s death. After the Tess fiasco. But when Kyle had come to her at midnight one night, her whole life and changed. He had thought it was his fault. He felt lost. And it was then that she realized that without him, she felt lost. And now look at me, she thought as she glanced at Kyle, smiling. Yes, I’m in love. Finally.