Trying For A Storybook Ending Part 4

Well, here I am back at home. It's 8.12pm and I have an hour and...18 minutes before Liz and Maria are coming around. I'm pretty sure they have an inkling of what I have planned for them and the boys. But to be honest, they really have no idea. If I wasn't so nervous then I'd take a perverse joy in this.... you know: - being a personal matchmaker to those nearest and dearest to me...fixing things to be how they ought to be. I look at Tess who is sitting on my bed picking her nails off. I invited her around so that Kyle didn't know what was going on. As far as he's concerned, the 8 of us are all going out together as a group. He has zero idea about how complicated things are about to get. As I said, they have no idea. She's so nervous, this is not the Tess I'm used to. She's usually the stroppy bitch that Maria said she was earlier, but now? Now she's so nervous I'm afraid that if I don't intervene she won't have any finger nails left. I look through my wardrobe, dammit! There's nothing to wear in here! It has to be perfect, you know sexy but subtle? What should I wear? What should I wear?!? I know that Alex likes red but it needs to be perfect.

"You know, it's the same stuff that's there, that was in it the last 25 times you looked through it."

Grrrr, I really should have "poofed" her when I had the chance. But, as much as I hate to admit it, she is right I should have got something today when we were out. This is why I prefer to be self-occupied; when you go and try and help other people you forget about yourself. That's not completely true, I've always looked out for my family, but others? Forget about it, way too much hassle. Until today.

"Why don't you "alter" something? I mean, let's face it, Alex will be dazzled even if you showed up in a pair of over-alls. I think you should just relax a little, you have the easy part. Me and Liz have to drop the bombshells."

"Tess, Tess, Tess. You really have no idea, Alex and me have gone beyond the "wearing what ever you want stage". It's true he doesn't care what I wear; but he also doesn't care what I say because he's scared I'll just contradict myself two days later. He's also trying to not care about me... because I've given him more than enough reasons to hate me in the past year. So I want to make a fresh start on the whole thing and that means, "making the effort."

What I don't say out loud though is that it's no more than he deserves. He's worth the effort. Why? It's hard to explain but do you know what it's like to sense when someone walks in a room and know that the only person they're seeing is you? How about when someone dreams about you and even in the dream they arouse the same emotions that they would if it was real. No? Well, how about the electric feeling that you get when you know that the only person on the planet that you can really talk to is standing behind you? Do you know what it's like to hear them talking about their relationship with someone else when they are trying hard to isolate themselves from you? Have you ever broken someone's heart and then realized that you will never be complete without them? Have you ever stopped to think about how miserable you would be if you had never met somebody or you lost them forever? I can't describe that pain but I never want to feel it again. I have to try even if I end up with nothing to show for it; he's worth it. We're worth it!

As I look at a top and decide how to "alter" it, Tess walks out behind me in her outfit. She's wearing a baby pink dress and a sky blue cardigan. I hate to admit it but she looks good, Kyle doesn't stand a chance! I have a look at the clock... it's 9.25pm! This is not good... I have to get this fixed. Scrap the top, I'll use a black dress. It's short, it's strappy and it's not too tight. It's perfect... apart from the colour. Which as I concentrate on it changes to a deep wine. Now it's perfect! I quickly put it on and after making a few minor adjustments I get ready to put my makeup on. I know this is going to sound frivolous, but I love using my powers to do little things like that. My mom calls to us that Liz and Maria have arrived and I dive in my closet to get something to cover my shoulders as they walk in.

"Ok ladies! Are you all ready to make the menfolk of this town miserable?"

Maria's bubbly voice heralded their arrival. I turn to look at them and again they look stunning. Maria definitely has either punishing Michael or pleasuring him on her mind tonight. She has on a deep red corset top and tight black pants. Her hair has been tied high on her head with a few strands left deliberately loose. Her lips are glossy and I swear I think she's wearing that "aqua-bra" thingy of hers. I look past her at Liz. She's also very pretty, in a black dress with tiny embroidered roses on it. Her hair has been curled I guess by Maria because I sincerely doubt that Liz was up to dressing herself tonight let alone styling her hair. We stand in silence.

"Come on! It's like a morgue in here. Everything's going to be great! Liz, you're going to get Max back tonight and you don't even have to worry about the world going "bang". Tess, you made three REALLY great friends today, PLUS you have the most eligible guy at school drooling after you... of course you've already gotten inside his bed but..."

"Maria!... " both Liz and Tess call simultaneously. I smile; Maria really knows how to lighten a tense atmosphere. Oh oh, she's walking towards me.

"And of course, Isabel has the heart of the greatest guy on the planet in her hands. You know Iz, I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't say this, if you break his heart again, I will hurt you. Powers or no powers. You might not think it but Alex is delicate and he can be hurt. Especially by you."

I take back what I said; Maria really stinks at lightening an atmosphere.

"I know... I won't.... "

"Good!"

Nooo! That's not what I want to say at all! I want to tell her to keep her big nose out, too stop interfering in things she knows nothing about. To stop assuming that all I will do is hurt him. Instead I come out with that pathetic response. My "princess Isabel" persona really must be crumbling... even the "commoners" are trying to boss me around. And the worse thing? I'm letting them. I know she does it because she cares about Alex and I'm sure that he would do the same thing for her. I don't care, that doesn't mean she can talk to me like that though. Note to self- haunt Maria's dreams for a while