Rating: PG-13 (for now) Will become NC-17**
Category: M/L, M/M, A/I
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em just borrowing 'em. Promise to return 'em the way I found em.
Spoilers: Anything up to & including "Into the Woods"
Summary: Weekend after they all went camping from "Into the Woods" Isabel has a change of heart about Alex, and plans a slumber party with the girls to help them get what they want as well.
Distribution: Sure! Just let me know where.
The Challenge: by: [email protected]
1. A sleepover with all the couples A & I, M & M, And M & L.
2. Getting somewhat drunk
3. A porno video
4. The game Truth or Dare
5. And a shirt getting ripped off somebody.
6. Must be NC-17!!
Okay Jennifer, Here you go! ;-)
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Isabel took out the books for her next class and closed her locker. She looked over to where Alex, Liz and Maria were laughing and joking in front of Liz's locker, and sighed. Every since she had told Alex on the camping trip last week that they could never be anything more than friends, he had been distant. Sure, he talked to her and was friendly, but he didn't smile that special smile or look at her with the special look reserved just for her. She knew that that's what she had asked for, but now she didn't like the more "keeping his distance" Alex. She hadn't realized how good it had made her feel inside, when Alex would come up to her with that look in his eyes that told her she was special to him, and he just wanted to get to know her better.
She watched Maria and Liz laugh at something Alex said, and then Maria made a comment that made Liz laugh again and hit Maria playfully.
Isabel sighed again, and silently admitted that she missed Liz and Maria as well. Right before Max had "stepped back" from Liz, and Michael had told Maria they couldn't work either; she had felt like she was getting closer to the two girls.
She remembered the heart to heart with Liz while just doing something as simple as painting their nails together. And the night she had helped Maria in the Crashdown, when Liz's grandmother had been sick, had also helped Maria and her bond a little as well.
For the first time ever, she had felt like she had real female friends. The kind you told your secrets to, and knew you could trust with your life. Something she hadn't realized just how much she was missing, until she had had a taste of it with Liz and Maria.
And, Isabel remembered when Michael had gotten sick, how terrified she had felt at the thought of losing Michael or Max, and how alone she would be. Then realized that she wouldn't be alone anymore, when the three human had shown what true friends were, and had been there for them.
Sure, Liz had hesitated in the cave, but not because she had had any doubts about saving Michael, but her fear for Max had been so great, that it had kept her from being able to totally concentrate on the events. River Dog had basically told her the fear would be detrimental for Michael, and so Liz had stepped back.
She had seen the pain in Liz's eyes as she had done what River Dog asked, and moved out of the circle. Liz wanted to be there for Michael, but knew that if her fear would only hinder the healing, then it was better if she didn't help.
And in the end, Liz had come forward, and it had been the bond between the six of them that had helped bring Michael back.
And the bond they had all formed in the cave that night had really shaken Isabel up. She knew it had shaken the guys up too, which was probably the real reason why Max had stepped back from Liz.
The bell rang for class, shaking Isabel out of her thoughts. She straightened with determination. She was not one to sit back when she wanted something. She might be Max's twin, but they were very different when it came to dealing with problems. If Isabel didn't like something, she changed it.
And she knew she was also doing this for Max and Michael too. For ironically enough, the three aliens were stronger, better when they were with their three human friends.
She saw Alex move away from the girls and she met Maria and Liz half way as they were headed in her direction.
"Hey, guys," Isabel smiled.
Liz and Maria stopped, exchanged surprised looks, and then Liz turned back to Isabel and smiled.
"Hey, Isabel. What's up?" Liz asked.
"Nothing yet, but that's going to change," Isabel smiled and saw Maria's eyes narrow, and Liz look curious.
Isabel laughed at Maria's caution. She was SO like Michael. They really were good for each other! She couldn't believe she was finally seeing that. And Liz, well, it went without saying that Max and Liz were meant. She could no longer deny that. She had seen Max with Liz, and without Liz, and the Max without Liz wasn't really Max anymore. He was a walking, talking robot. Living only for the next clue to their past. Driven and focused on only that one goal, not caring about anyone or anything else any more.
Isabel decided that the three humans were good for Max, Michael and her, and she was going to do something to bring the six of them closer again.
"What's so funny?" Maria asked, with eyes narrowing again.
"Relax, Maria, I just realized that because you two aren't seeing Michael and Max anymore doesn't mean we can't still be friends. I mean, I thought we were starting to " Isabel hesitated. Maybe they hadn't felt that way. She frowned at her self-doubt. Great! Now where had that come from?
"Yeah. I thought so too," Liz immediately eased the twinge of doubt Isabel had felt.
Maria nodded and stopped looking cautious. She relaxed and shrugged. "Yeah, me too," she admitted with a little smile.
"Okay, good. So what do you guys say we continue to be friends, and have a sleep over at my house tomorrow night? My parents will be away for the weekend." Isabel grinned.
"Ah Isabel, what would Max say, I mean " Liz started. She didn't know if she wanted to be that close to Max now that they were broken up.
"Max can do whatever he wants! He can go hang out with Michael if he doesn't like it. I'm not going to let my brother decide who I can be friends with."
Liz nodded, realizing she should not worry about Max either. It was his problem. She could deal with it. Besides, she was starting to like the idea of Max's reaction to her spending the night in his house.
"Okay," Liz grinned, a devilish little twinkle in her eye.
Isabel saw Maria's frown, and knew Maria wanted to keep Max and Liz apart for Liz's own good.
"Besides, it will show Max that it doesn't bother you, that you've moved on," Isabel quickly added.
Liz caught Maria's frown too, and realized that Isabel had seen it as well.
"Right. Right, it's no big deal," Liz nodded with her lips pursed together and determination in her eyes.
Maria shrugged. She figured with her there, she could keep Max and Liz away from each other, and besides, it would do Max good to squirm a little. Maria smiled suddenly herself and looked between the two.
"Yeah, sure, why not?" she agreed.
Isabel was silently relieved. The first part of her plan had worked. Now all she had to do was get Max to invite Michael and Alex over tomorrow night, without letting him in on her real plan.
"You did what?" Max asked at lunch.
Isabel shrugged casually. "What's the big deal? You were the one who said you still wanted to be friends with Liz, Alex and Maria. Well, so do I. I finally have two real female friends to talk to, who know our secret, and I'm not going to give that up," Isabel said truthfully.
She watched Max digest this. Then he nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he agreed.
"Of course I'm right. And I think you should have Michael and Alex come over tomorrow night as well. You know, so we can all stay friends," Isabel added.
Max frowned. "I don't know about that, Is. Michael and Maria don't want to be in the same square mile as each other, never mind both together for the night at our house."
Isabel smiled. "You leave Maria to me. You just get Alex and Michael there, and just don't TELL Michael that Maria will be there."
Max couldn't help but smile at the thought of Michael's face when he saw Maria at their house.
"And just what is going to stop Michael from leaving when he sees Maria?"
"Leave that to me as well," Isabel said calmly, and pushed a long strand of hair over her shoulder.
"What are you up to, Is?" Max asked with narrowing eyes.
Isabel knew Max would ask. "Nothing. Don't you want to get rid of the cold distance between you and Liz? Well, I think all of us getting together as a group again, will help with that barrier between Liz and you."
"Yeah, okay. I'll invite the guys over," Max agreed.
Isabel smiled as she headed back to class. Now she had to work on phase two, which was how she was going to keep Michael and Maria from leaving tomorrow night, and get the guys to admit their true feelings to the girls.
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Isabel grabbed Liz right before school let out the next day and ask her to help add to the shopping list she had made during 5th period.
"You want me to go with you to the stores, Isabel? I'm not working at all this afternoon since I'm spending the night at your house and everything," Liz offered, putting her books in her locker and taking out the ones she needed to take home for the weekend.
"Nah, that's okay. You just pack and get yourself ready, I just have a few things to get and a few other errands to run besides," Isabel waved the gesture off. She did not want Liz to see all she was buying since the girls didn't know that Max had invited Michael and Alex over as well tonight.
"Does Max know what you've planned tonight, Isabel?" Liz couldn't help but ask, as she turned back to Isabel and held her books almost protectively against her. She wanted to know what Max's reaction was since he had been pretty calm and distant in Biology earlier.
"Yeah, it's no problem with him," Isabel smiled.
Liz nodded and sighed. Maybe it was only she who was nervous about sleeping under the same roof as Max. He didn't seem like anything bothered him any more. He treated her like a casual friend, and nothing more.
When they had brushed up against each other while working on a project in class today, Liz had felt the jolt and jumped back, but when she had looked at Max he had been casually taking notes again, as if he hadn't even realized they had touched.
And maybe to him it was no big deal anymore. After all, he did say he was more balanced without her. Maybe he realized that what he'd felt for her wasn't anything more than a crush on a girl he could never have. And now that she was available and interested, he'd lost interest. She didn't want to believe that, but it sure seemed like it now. And besides, that's what Maria mentioned had probably happened. And Maria also believed that Michael had just used her for his convenience as well. Aliens weren't big on her list lately, so she was surprised that Maria had agreed to the sleep over at Isabel's. She probably wanted to keep Liz and Max apart. Yeah, like that was going to be tough. Liz thought. Max probably won't even come out of his room all night, she thought.
Liz sighed. She didn't think she would ever get over Max. Seeing his tall, strong figure going down the halls or sitting right next to her in class was making her crazy. She ached to touch him and be with him again. She felt unbalanced without Max. She had seen him talking to Karen Beals in the halls today and although she knew Max wasn't interested in any human/alien relationship, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. She wanted to be able to walk up to him and slip her hand into his and let everyone know that he was Liz's. She knew Karen Beals liked Max, she had heard her going on about him in the P.E. locker room. How she was going to win that silent, sexy guy over, especially now that he seemed to be over his 'Liz Parker' phase finally.
That had really hurt. Liz had thought that that was true, but to actually hear it voiced had had an impact. She had felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach.
And now, to spend the night in the same house as Max, and know that he felt nothing, she hoped she could do it. But she wanted to prove to everyone that she was okay too. That she didn't care that Max had broken up with her. Only she didn't really know if she could keep the longing and love out of her eyes when she saw Max. Just be strong, Liz. She told herself.
"So I'll see you around six?" Isabel said, tying her hair back as she usually did before she headed for the jeep, and started to walk backwards toward the school doors, still looking at Liz.
Liz nodded and smiled, trying to look more confident than she felt.
Isabel and Max headed for the grocery store after school. Isabel was nervous, but also determined to make her plan work. She had already gotten some of her popular friends to help her with some of the 'other' supplies she needed. Things she couldn't get herself, and didn't even want to try getting.
"Brownies," Max grinned, as he looked at his half of Isabel's list.
Isabel smiled. She knew his weakness for chocolate. And there were plenty of other things that she knew each person liked, as well. And she had ice cream sundae makings for Liz, Maria and herself.
"Yeah, well, I figured if we split the list, it would get us out of here that much quicker. I still want to run by a friend's house before tonight," Isabel explained. Although she didn't tell Max why she was running by a friend's house.
Isabel dropped Max off at the house to start putting the groceries away, and drove over to her friend's house two blocks away. After she'd borrowed the few things she needed, she headed back home to get ready for tonight.
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Alex walked up to the door and taking a deep breath, he rang the bell to the Evans house. He kept telling himself that he could do this. He could be casual and calm and just be Isabel's friend, like she had mentioned after last week's camp out. Boy, had he blown it, with thinking she had wanted to date him. Yeah right, Whitman, you geek. But then Alex chastised himself for being so hard on himself. After all, Isabel still wanted to be his friend, and to be around him.
Max opened the door and grinned at Alex. "Hey, Alex, glad you could make it. Come on in," he said and stepped back to let Alex in.
Alex looked around. "Where's Michael?" he asked.
Max looked toward the kitchen. "In there with Isabel," he said casually as he led Alex to the kitchen.
Alex's eyes widened. "Isabel is here? She's not like on a date or anything?" Alex asked, then wanted to kill himself for sounding so excited and desperate to hear she was there.
Max just smiled lightly and shook his head.
"Hey, Michael," Alex said as he came into the kitchen. He put his hands in his pockets and tried to look casual and relaxed. Then his eyes went to Isabel. He had been dying to look at her. Now he could, since he had to say hello.
She was beautiful to him. Her hair was around her face, straight and silky. And she was wearing a pair of black leather pants and a red sweater.
"Hey, Isabel," Alex smiled and pulled his eyes away, so that he would not look desperate to her.
"What's he doing here?" Michael asked with a frown, getting right to the point.
"I invited Alex over tonight too. I figured there's no reason we all still can't be friends," Max explained.
Alex smiled at Michael a little uncomfortably. Michael always made him feel uncomfortable. He didn't know what Maria saw in him.
"Come on, I'll show you where to put your sleeping bag and stuff," Max said and walked toward the stairs, with Alex and Michael following.
Isabel let out her breath when the guys left the room. Alex had barely looked at her! Maybe he didn't care anymore. Maybe her telling him they were just friends had gotten through loud and clear and Alex had moved on. She had seen him talking with a friend of his band this morning in the halls, and saw a girl from his group come up and put an arm though his and made him laugh. Isabel loved his laugh. She especially his smile, and when it lit up just for her.
She hoped that after she had told Alex they could only be friends, he hadn't had second thoughts and maybe been relieved because he realized, after all, that she was an alien, and he would rather be with a normal girl. She frowned and took a deep breath, determined to go through with this plan. It was for the best. It was the best for all of them.
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"What's going on here, Max?" Michael asked when they entered Max's room.
"Nothing, I just thought we should get to know Alex a little better, since he is one of the very few who know about us. I thought we were starting to all become friends before, well, I thought we were all becoming friends and wanted to just have a guys' night," Max explained and shoved his hands in his pockets of his jeans and tried to look casual.
"Besides, Isabel is going to have this house full of women tonight, and I wanted some guys on my side," He added and looked casually at the two guys, waiting for Michael's reaction.
"WHAT GIRLS?" Michael asked with narrowed eyes and a loud voice.
"Well, Liz and Maria. You know, Is was starting to make friends with them before, and she just doesn't want to lose that."
"Well, I'm outta here," Michael stated and started out of the room.
"Yeah, Isabel said I shouldn't have invited you, cause you wouldn't be able to be around Maria, that you couldn't take it," Max let that hang in the air, just the way Izzy had told him to.
Michael stopped short and turned around defensively. "What do you mean can't take it? She's the one who can't take being around me. I can handle it fine. It's nothing. Maria is just another girl. Nothing more," he tried to convince himself.
Max nodded, "Exactly, which is what I told Is, and why I invited you two over."
Alex saw the manipulation and smiled to himself. So the big rough guy did have something for Maria? Will wonders never cease, he thought. This might turn out to be a night to learn more about each other after all.
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Kyle sat in the back seat of his friend Tommy's car and watched Tommy and his girlfriend try to make out while Tommy was driving. He rolled his eyes and realized it had been a mistake to hang out with everyone tonight.
Tommy had told him he would feel better hanging out with them, instead of home alone to dwell on Vickie having dumped him.
But all it made Kyle do was feel more alone. All of his friends had dates tonight or girlfriends, and Kyle just felt like a fifth wheel. And since Tommy had handed him that bottle of booze, all it had done was make him feel worse. Now he was drunk and lonely. What was it about him that made girls want to break up with him? What was wrong with him? Maybe he should be asking one of his ex-girlfriends that question, he thought.
And since he did not want to see Vickie, he knew he should go to Liz. Liz, who had at least been straight with him, and probably would tell him the truth about what was wrong with him. It was only a little after six now. He would have his friends drop him off at the Crashdown so he could have his answers, good or bad. And being drunk, he figured he might be able to take the answer better.
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