“You’re late!” Liz snapped as the guilty pair came in.
“Sorry.” The duo chorused back.
Liz said sharply, “Well, I suppose I’ll let it go. Michael – Jose is in the kitchen, he’ll show you around.” Without eye contact Michael nodded and headed for the kitchen.
When Michael had left Maria stared at Liz. “What’s wrong with you? We weren’t that late.”
Liz heaved a sigh and sat down. “My parents and Max’s think it would be best if we concentrated on school right now.”
“You both already focus on school way too much.” Maria joked. Seeing Liz’s glum face Maria pulled her uniform out of her locker and sighed. “How exactly are they going to enforce that?”
Liz looked up as Maria came and sat down next to her. “Well I have to be at school or here for the next four weeks, and Max isn’t allowed to came here after school, and we’re not allowed to go anywhere together for the next three weekends.”
“Ouch.” Maria cringed.
Liz winced. “Yeah.”
“So how exactly did you find the thingie in the desert? And where is it now?”
Liz blushed visibly and looked away. “We just found it by kissing, that’s all… and the things at Max and Isabel’s.”
“Does Michael know about it?” Maria said suddenly.
“If Max or you told him…” Liz trailed. “Isabel might not know either, oh wait she left school with Max and Alex, yeah she would know.” Liz frowned, “Wish I could of left with them.”
*~*~*
All in all, the entire shift went quite well. Michael was a fast learner, and apart from Liz scowling at her dad and Michael flipping a burger patty way to high – which landed on Jose when Maria rubbed her arse against his groin, the night went without a hitch.
Cleaning up Liz was flipping the sign on the door to 'Closed' when she saw Max, Isabel and Alex all coming to the door. Opening the door she sighed. “Max, if dad comes back down…” But she was cut off as they stormed past her.
They all seemed flustered and edgy. “What’s happened?” Michael inquired as he joined them from the kitchen.
“It’s moving.” Max stated.
“And humming.” Alex continued.
“And letting off light.” Isabel finished.
“What is?” Michael asked confused.
*~*~*
Max explained to Michael about the smooth object that he and Liz had found last night, going slightly red at some moments in the story, much to Michael’s amusement.
“And you say it’s moving, and sending off light.” Michael asked amazed.
“And sound.” Alex added.
“What were you doing at the time?” Liz asked the three tense looking people.
“Nothing.” Alex and Isabel said a little too quickly. Maria and Liz smiled.
Michael didn’t get it. “Nothing? So it just started going crazy?” Alex and Isabel looked at the table and Max shot them a quick glance.
“Michael.” Maria said softly. “I think they mean nothing to it…” She raised her eyebrow and Michael slapped his head.
“Jesus, what is this? The horny object–”
“Michael.” Max heaved a sigh. “We don’t know if Iz and Alex did it. It started buzzing in my house just after school and they had been at his house getting videos then and have assured me nothing happened there.”
Everyone looked around at each other. Totally mystified. “Max said it started moving, then humming and then giving off light, with intervals in between.” Liz was trying to piece it all together. “Honestly I don’t know what to do. If we test it how will we know what the results mean, how do we even know how to test it and what if it’s harming Alex.”
“It is not harming Alex!” Isabel said angrily. “I don’t think Alex and I made it move, or hum, or light up!”
Everyone was at a loss. “I want to see it.” Michael spoke up.
“Sure. Come with us now. All of you should come…”
“But Max –.” Liz started.
“Our parents are away for the weekend, just say your staying at Maria’s.” Max smiled wickedly, Maria had never seen him look like that, the orby thingie had really loosened him up. Come to think about it Isabel and Alex looked pretty lax to.