| �Hey Isabel. Maria and Michael are in the living room. Step in. And who�s this?� Isabel blinked up at the woman she hardly recognized. Amy was rather pretty when she�s not got her face shoved down the toilet and barfing really. Her voice was actually pretty cool when she spoke. Isabel usually heard her voice only as a series of grunts. She smiled at Mrs. De Luca. �This is Tess Harding. She�s our new friend.� Amy extended her hand and shook Tess�. �Hello dear. Isn�t this exciting?� �Yes, Mrs. De Luca.� �Call me Amy, Tess.� Tess bounced into the living room, followed by a more sedately walking Isabel whose head was raised high. Both had shopping bags with them. Amy heard Isabel announce to the living area in general: �We are going to prepare for the party, Michael. We would appreciate it if you would scoot out now and take a bath at your place.� �It�s still too early, Miss Evans,� Michael complained. �Besides we were talking.� �No talking anymore!� Isabel decided. �We need to look super. And you need to smell better,� she told him pointedly. Michael managed to look offended. For her part, Maria thought the Michael musk was fine. But that didn�t really matter. She needed to look gorgeous for tonight. And Isabel was the queen of that, so she will follow her advice. �You should listen to her. She might put hot iron curlers on your hair,� she teased. The offense morphed into terror, and Michael scampered out of the De Luca residence. �That was well done, Iz,� Tess congratulated the tall blonde. Isabel nodded in acceptance. And then she asked Amy if they could all troop upstairs to get ready. �But first, we want to get your approval on something.� �Really, dear? What is it?� Isabel handed a smaller bag to Amy. �Here it is. Just tell us if you think this would be fine for Maria to wear tonight.� Maria watched in fascination and surprise as Amy drew out the long pale green number from the bag. Her mother held it up to the light, and the light danced on the tiniest glitters lining the hem. �Oh Isabel it�s beautiful!� Amy gasped. �Is that�� Tess� curls bobbed up and down. �Sure is, Maria. You�re going to the party in that. If your mom approves, that is.� Amy handed the bag and the dress to a speechless Maria and embraced Tess and Isabel. �This is so wonderful of you. I�m so happy Maria�s got you. I couldn�t�� �Oh Mrs�Amy� It wasn�t me at all. This was�� Isabel jabbed her elbow into Tess� stomach. �It was our gift to Maria. She�s been the most fantastic friend to all of us. This is just me and Tess and Michael and Kyle and Alex saying we love her.� When they were released from the hug, Tess blinked up at Isabel, who merely shrugged. Maria hugged the dress to her chest as she kissed her friends. On the way up the stairs, Tess whispered at Isabel, �You�re not as bitchy as you like people to think you know.� �Yeah well don�t spread it around,� Isabel warned. ~~ Liz grabbed her mother�s hand. They have been walking for hours around the mall, looking for a dress that�s not too much of this and too little of that for Liz�s taste. It seemed hopeless, and Mrs. Parker just wanted to go home and rest her feet. Finally, Liz stopped in front of a shop and pointed to the display on the window. It was the palest green that they have ever seen. The mermaid gown glittered at the bottom, and showed off a huge expanse of the back. It had a low d�colletage that required assets from the wearer. �I want that in brown,� she said. �Honey, are you sure you can carry that?� Liz�s eyes slitted. �I want that in brown, mom.� ~~ Michael shook his head again and cursed. He reached out and tapped it, then patted it. He was quickly getting frustrated. Again he tightened it, but it wouldn�t budge. The thing kept slipping. �I can�t do it,� he told Kyle. �Nawww man, you have to. Try it again.� With a deep breath, Michael tried to fix the Kyle�s tie. �It�s useless, Valenti. It�s gonna have to stay lopsided forever. I don�t have enough talent to straighten the thing.� �I straightened yours, Michael. Least you can do is reciprocate.� �What can I do if your tie just won�t listen!� �This isn�t funny!� Kyle was going red in the face. �Who�s laughing?� Michael retorted. Furious, the two stepped out of the Valenti vehicle. They stood in front of Maria�s house bickering until another car stopped at the back of Kyle�s. Alex stepped out and strode over to them. �Problems, gentlemen?� Michael merely snarled. Kyle turned pleading eyes at Alex. �Can you fix a tie?� �Sure, man.� He reached out and with a gentle flick of his wrist, Kyle�s tie was miraculously cured. �See, Michael. I could do it on yours. You�re so untalented.� �Want me to fix that horror too?� Alex asked Michael. Confused, Michael strode to the car and looked at his reflection. �This sucks too, Valenti.� �No worries, Michael. I�ll do it.� At first, Michael seemed unsure. Alex Whitman wasn�t really a friend yet. And then he saw the shadows on Maria�s window and sighed. He walked up to Whitman and allowed him to flick his wrist by his neck. TBC |
| Part 16 |
 |