Chapter 11
�Hey guys. What can I get you?�
�WHAT???�
They all were startled by the sound coming from the back room.
�What was that?� Isabel asked.
�Maria and Michael. She�ll probably be screaming for a while.�
�Why? What�s the matter?� Max sounded really worried about Maria.
�Oh, nothing bad. I�m sure she�ll come out and tell you in a few minutes.�
The next twenty minutes consisted of Jose and Liz covering for Michael and Maria while Maria lectured Michael about trust and knowing how to keep a secret. Soon enough she realized that she was relieved that Liz knew.
In fact, she was so relieved that she took it upon herself to announce her new-found �freedom� by walking into the front of the restaurant, sitting with Max, Kyle, Isabel, and Alex and stating �Michael and I broke up, for good this time. It was mutual, we�re still friends, and I don�t want it to be the new topic of discussion. So someone pass me a fry and change the subject,� in true Maria fashion.
This only caused laughter to practically erupt from her �audience�s� mouths.
�Okay. Now that the entire restaurant knows about your new single status would you care to tell me what the specials are today?�
Maria stuck her tongue out and threw a fry at Max�s face hitting him right between the eyes. �You�re such a dick Max!�
�Well, I have one.�
Kyle, Is, and Alex exchanged a quick look and burst into laughter again.
�Ha Ha! Very funny. Anyway, I�ve gotta get back to work.� Maria stood to leave when she heard her name being called. �Yes, Max?�
�You never told us the specials.�
Maria just smiled and walked away. {Is he flirting?}
Liz and Michael noticed this too. They turned to each other and spoke simultaneously. �Were they just flirting?�
Chapter 12
The day dragged on. It seemed like the onslaught of customers would not stop.
Eventually the gang left and Maria�s shift ended. Around seven the restaurant was dead. Mr. Parker came down and told Liz and Michael that since their last customer had come and gone a little over a half an hour ago that they could close early. Liz turned the sign on the door over while Michael clocked out. He went into the kitchen to start cleaning the grill while Liz turned on some music.
All day Michael had been avoiding Liz like the plague. She couldn�t take it anymore. �Michael, you can�t just ignore me. You saw me naked, big deal. You�re going to be sharing a hotel room with me in less than two months, it probably won�t be the last time.�
Realizing what she had just said she quickly explained. �I mean the last time you see me naked. I mean...�
�Liz! Calm down! I understand. I was avoiding you because I thought you were embarrassed.�
�You weren�t embarrassed?�
�No Liz. I had no reason to be. I was stunned, in awe. I mean, you�re beautiful.� Michael blushed at his admission.
So did Liz. �Ummm.... thanks. You�re actually the first person to see me naked. I mean besides when I was little and...�
�Liz! You�re rambling again! Just calm down.�
�Sorry.�
�Now you sound like me.�
She smiled at the joke. {At least he isn�t uncomfortable.}
Just then he walked to the radio and turned it. �That�s better.�
�What is this?�
�It�s Ani. You don�t know Ani?�
�Oh yeah, Ani. I know Ani.� {Who the hell is Ani?}
�Ani Difranco. Indy angry chick music. You�ll like it.�
He went into the kitchen to clean the grill while Liz started to clean down the counter and listen to the song.
The windows of my soul
are made of one way glass
don�t bother looking into my eyes
if there�s something you want to know,
just ask
I got a dead bolt stroll
Where I�m going is clear
I won�t wait for you to wonder
I�ll just tell you why I�m here
{Straightforward. How refreshing. That �dead bolt stroll� sounds like Michael.} Liz thought.
Michael watched Liz intently through the order window. She seemed to be enjoying the song.
tell me who is your boogieman
that�s who I will be
you don�t have to like me for who I am
but we�ll see what you�re made of
by what you make of me
I think that it�s absurd
that you think I
am the derelict daughter
I fight fire with words
words are hotter than flames
words are wetter than water
�Hey Michael, do you have this album?�
�Yeah. Why, you like it?�
�Could I maybe borrow it?�
�Sure. No problem.� He smiled to himself. {I told her she�d like it.}
I was a long time coming
I�ll be a long time gone
you�ve got your whole life to do something
and that�s not very long
so why don�t you give me a call
when you�re willing to fight
for what you think is real
for what you think is right
�What�s this song called?�
� �Willing to Fight� �
�Oh. Are all her songs like that?�
�Like what? Honest?�
�Yeah.�
�Definitely. Most are a lot more honest than that.�
�Wow. It�s just nice to hear honesty.�
�That�s why I like her. No bullshit.�
�No bullshit. That�s gonna be me from now on. Honest. About everything.�
�Yeah well, sometimes honesty isn�t always good.� {She better not be talking about us.}
�Don�t worry. I didn�t mean about that. I meant who I am, what I want, who I want.�
�Oh. So, I think we�re done here. I�ll give you the cd tomorrow if you want.�
�Yeah. Thanks.� {Wow, what was I just about to say? Michael? I better sit down and straighten my thoughts out.}
She heard Michael walk to his locker and change his shirt. She walked back just catching him slipping it over his head. �Michael?�
�Huh?� He pulled the shirt on and he ran his hand through his hair. �What�s up?�
�Thanks. For being so normal about everything.�
�No problem. That�s what friends are for. See you tomorrow.�
�Bye.� {Friends. Man. I gotta get a grip.}
She walked up to her room to take a bath and relax. Even though she slept late she was still exhausted. She got into her bath and dozed off.
Chapter 13
Liz wasn�t sure what time it was or how long she had been asleep when she woke up to a wrapping on her window.
The water was no longer warming her and she shivered at the loss of heat.
The wrapping continued so she started to drain the water while putting on her robe to go see what was going on.
She walked into her room and the wrapping stopped. Against her better judgment she opened the window and walked onto the roof. She shivered again as the breeze ran over her.
�Cold?�
She was startled by the voice and turned around. �Michael?�
�Sorry if I scared you.� He advanced towards her. �Here, take my coat.�
He wrapped it around her and rubbed her shoulders to warm her up. �Better?�
Liz nodded slightly. �Were you in the shower?�
Liz looked down. Her thigh-length robe was sticking to her body and the dampness was soaking through the creme satin. �Uh yeah. I fell asleep in the bath.�
�I would�ve thought you got enough sleep this morning.� Liz blushed at the reference to the day�s earlier events. �Anyway, I just came by because I wanted to give you that cd. I probably would have forgotten it in the morning, so I figured that it was still pretty early and that it would be okay if I stopped by.�
�Thanks.�
�No problem.�
�Do you wanna come in? I could get dressed and we could just hang or...�
�I should probably be getting home. We got school tomorrow and I�m sure you need to get to sleep early so you don�t sleep in. Missing classes is more my thing than yours.�
She smiled at his attempt at a joke. �Okay. You�re probably right. See you tomorrow.�
�Yeah.� He moved towards the ladder.
�Michael?�
�What?� His voice was low and she almost didn�t hear him.
�Your coat?�
�Oh, right.� {What were you expecting her to say dumbass?}
She took his coat off and went to give it to him. She noticed him giving her a strange look very similar to the one in her room that morning. �Michael?�
�Hmm??� {Nice going, you�re freaking her out. So what if her robe is completely soaked through and you can make out the outlines of everything you just saw a few hours ago.} He almost let out a small grown but caught himself in time. He snapped his head up and met her eyes while he grabbed his coat. �Bye Liz.�
He began to walk away once more. �Michael?�
{She�s gonna kill me.} �Yeah?�
�Thanks.�
�It�s just a cd.�
�No, for everything.�
�You�re welcome. Goodnight Liz.�
�Night Michael.�
He finally completed his walk to the ladder and out to the alley where his bike sat. Liz watched as he rode off into the night.
She walked back into the room and shut the window. She walked over to her dresser and grabbed a nightgown. But before she could change she caught a look at herself in the mirror. {Oh my God!! He could totally see me through this thing! How did I never realize how transparent it was when it was wet?}
She quickly changed and brushed her hair.
When she was done she opened the cd case, not noticing a small piece of paper that fell on the floor. She put the cd in and listened while she wrote in her journal.
November 12, 2000
I�m Liz Parker and I just realized how weird life can be sometimes.
She wrote for a while longer until she started to feel tired. She shut off her stereo and went to bed.
Chapter 14
The next few days went by relatively normally, which in itself was a miracle.
The only weird thing was the way Michael was around Liz. {He�s acting really tense. Everytime I go to talk to him he gets nervous. Then as soon as I start his face sinks, like it�s not what the thought I would say.}
{I wrote her that letter four days ago and she hasn�t said anything yet. I wish she would just say something.}
It was Friday which meant that Liz and Michael would be closing the next night. {I�ve got to figure out what�s with him before tomorrow. There�s no way I�m spending eight hours with him when he�s being like this.}
After school Liz went straight home and into her room. {I�ve gotta figure out what�s up with him.}
She started to pace around her room. She thought of everything that had happened in the past week, the past month, the past year. She couldn�t come up with anything. {I know. I�ll clean. It always helps me clear my mind.}
She started picking up the few pieces of clothing she hadn�t put into her hamper when she saw a piece of paper that had her name written on it. {That�s definitely not Maria�s handwriting. Or Alex�s. Or Max�s for that fact.}
She grabbed the paper and sat on her bed to open it.
It was a letter. From Michael. {That must have been why he was acting weird. He thought that I read it and just wasn�t saying anything.}
She decided that she had better read it so she knew what to say to him tomorrow.
Liz,
If you�re read this then I finally got the balls to give it you. Sorry. That must have sounded kinda crass. There I go again apologizing. What is it about me when I�m around you? It�s like I�m a different person.
Anyway, you know how hard it is for me to express anything, so you could imagine how hard it must be for me to be writing this down. The thing is, I feel that for some reason I have to be honest with you. It must be because you�re so honest. It would just be so much easier if I could dreamwalk. Then I wouldn�t have to write or say anything, I could just show you. But here I go again rambling, I sound like you.
By this point you�re probably wondering why I�m writing this. Bear with me for a second while I try to explain something. Have you ever seen the movie Empire Records? Isabel made me watch it one night while Max wasn�t home. If you have then you�ll understand this next part. If not, I�ll have to explain it some time. �You make me feel like a bath.�
That�s it. That�s all I�ll say. I�m sorry if you�re sitting there confused, but I didn�t know another way to say what I wanted to, what I had to. Oh, and if you have seen it and you know what I�m saying (which I hope you do) then know this, I can�t guarantee that I�ll always be there. I act like an ass sometimes, and I never say the right things. I�m stubborn and sometimes I�m downright harsh. But when I�m around you I want to change. I want to be the type of man you seem to think I am.
-Michael
P.S.- If you understand this and don�t feel the same way then just tell me. It�ll be weird, but I�d rather know and deal then have you ignore me.
Liz finished the note and looked up. {Wow. Michael Guerin is in love with me?!? I should have figured that if he ever said it to anyone he wouldn�t be able to just say it. He�d have to find some weird way to express it. What am I gonna do? How do I even feel? Why am I so confused?}
Chapter 15
Liz had been trying to get to sleep since right after she read the letter. Nothing was working.
Finally at two in the morning she gave up. She got up and turned the light on, squinting at the brightness. She shoved a blanket under the door so the stream of light would not filter out into the hallway.
She sat back on her bed and began to think. {I have to figure out how I feel about Michael, and I have twelve hours to do it in.}
She looked on her nightstand at all the pictures. Ones of Maria and Alex, ones of Grandma Claudia, and ones of Max. {No way can I think of Michael with Max staring at me.}
She collected all her Max photos and opened her drawer to put them away when something caught her eye. It was the picture from the �end of summer� party they had in the Crashdown. It had everyone in it. Everyone except Max.
She took it out and started to look at it, really look. Liz saw something in Michael�s eyes that she instantly recognized. {That�s how he looked the other night. Has he felt this way since the party? I can�t believe he kept it quiet all that time.}
She folded the picture in half so it looked like Michael and her were standing next to each other. {Hmm... not bad. We kinda look cute.}
�Okay Liz, calm down.�
{Wait a second. If I wasn�t in love with Michael then I wouldn�t be sitting here thinking about how I feel. I wouldn�t look at him and think �Wow. He looks good today.� I wouldn�t have been excited when he told me Maria and him broke up. And most of all I wouldn�t get that feeling in my stomach every time he walked into a room. I�m in love with Michael Guerin.}
She squealed in excitement. She quickly covered her mouth. {Better be quiet. I�ll wake up mom and dad.}
Now she was too nervous to sleep. {I�ve gotta figure out how to tell him. I could ask him to come over after work. No, it�s too late, we�re closing. That�s it! After dad goes to bed I�ll just walk up to him and tell him I�m in love with him. What am I saying? I can�t do that. He�ll wonder why I didn�t tell him days ago. I�ll just explain to him that I didn�t find the note until last night. Yeah, I�ll be honest. After all, he was honest with me.}
Liz got up and shut her light off. She pulled the blanket out from under the door and got into bed. {I might as well try to sleep. I have a long day ahead of me.}
Chapters 16-20
Chapter 16
The morning came too soon. Michael woke up and looked at his clock. {9:00. Figures. I can�t even sleep in when I want to. I gotta be at work in five hours. In five hours I have to face Liz. There�s no way that I can close with her alone. That�s it. I�m calling in sick.}
Michael grabbed the phone and dialed the number for the Crashdown. Mr. Parker picked up after the second ring.
�Hello. You�ve reached the Crashdown Cafe. How may I help you?�
�Mr. Parker? I mean Jeff. It�s Michael.�
�Oh hi Michael. How ya doing?�
�Not that good, Jeff. That�s why I called actually.�
�Well, what�s the matter?�
�I got some bad chinese food last night and it�s not exactly agreeing with me, if you know what I mean.�
�Uh huh.�
�The thing is, it�s not really a pretty sight so I don�t think I�ll be able to make it in today.�
�That�s fine Michael, your health comes first.�
�Thanks Jeff. I�ll try to rest up so I can be back in tomorrow.� {I hate lying to him. He�s the only adult that even gives me a chance.}
�If you want I�ll have Liz bring you some soup for...�
�NO! I mean, that won�t be necessary. I can�t really keep anything in my system, I�m sticking to fluids.�
�Okay. Well, feel better.�
�I�ll try. Thanks again Jeff. Bye.�
�Bye.�
Michael hung up the phone and sighed in relief. {That was close.}
He walked into the living room, grabbing a box of cereal on the way. He plopped down on the couch and grabbed the remote. �Take me to TV Land.�
Back at the Crashdown....
Liz was still asleep. She heard a knock on the door which startled her awake.
�Liz?�
�Yeah Mom?�
�It�s 10:00, I just wanted to make sure you were awake before I left. Wouldn�t want you to be late for work again.�
�Ok. Thanks mom.�
Liz jumped out of her bed. �I�ve only got four hours before Michael gets here.�
She ran into the kitchen and boiled some water for tea. {Better calm myself down.}
While the water was boiling she grabbed some fruit salad and put it in a bowl.
She drank her tea and ate her fruit, then cleaned up and looked at the clock. {10:30! Crap! Only three and a half hours!}
She went into her bathroom and began to fill her tub. She added some bath salts and just a tad of her favorite vanilla bubble bath. While the tub was filling she washed her face and put on a mud mask. {Gotta look perfect.}
She got into the tub after grabbing her loofah and shutting off the water. She proceeded to scrub every inch of her body and then shave her legs before draining the tub and turning the shower on to rinse off and wash her hair.
When she was done she looked at the clock again. {11:30. Only two and a half hours.}
She ran a comb through her hair and then blowdried it. She put her favorite lotion on while deciding what to do next.
She finally decided to give herself some simple waves before doing a half up style. She finished it and decided to do very simple makeup. She rifled through her makeup bag and found the product she was looking for.
A few months prior she had bought this product which made her lips plump and bee-stung like Angelina Jolie. She hated her thin lips and felt she looked more kissable with this on.
When she finished she went into her room and put her uniform on. She did a quick spritz of perfume and put on her shoes before looking in the mirror. {Very nice Parker. He�ll never be able to resist you.}
She carefully placed her antennas on her hair and went to look for her favorite earrings. She found them in no time. They were a pair of gold stars with small diamonds in the center. They had been a fifteenth birthday present from Grandma Claudia. She had given her a card with them that read:
Always reach for the stars.
After she put them on she found her watch and checked the time. {It�s only 1:15? What am I gonna do till her gets here?}
She went to the cd player and put in the Ani cd Michael had lent her. She planned on giving it back to him tonight, but she wanted to get one more listen in.
She listened to the song Michael and her had heard while closing, �Willing to Fight.� She put it on repeat and tried to really listen to what she was saying. Certain lines started to click with her.
you don�t have to like me for who I am
but we�ll see what you�re made of
by what you make of me
The last line of the song struck a chord.
So why don�t you give me a call
when you�re willing to fight
for what you think is real
for what you think is right
{�When you�re willing to fight for what you think is real for what you think is right� Michael and I are definitely real. He wouldn�t have written me that letter if we weren�t. �Right,� now that�s difficult. What about Max and Maria? No. I�ve thought of everyone before myself forever. This time I�m going to think about me. What I want. And I want Michael.}
She shut off the music and placed the cd in the case. She walked down into the kitchen to confront Michael right then and there.
Chapter 17
�Jose? What are you doing here?�
�Michael called in sick. Looks like we�re closing tonight.�
{He�s sick? No way. Oh my God, he�s avoiding me! That dick!}
The day was busy as all hell. When 10:00 finally came she had Jose clean the grill as fast as possible while she found her dad.
�Dad?�
�Yeah honey?�
�When we�re done closing I�m gonna go out.�
�Honey, it�s kinda late.�
�I know. I just wanted to go check on Michael. He�s kind of an insomniac, even when he�s sick, so I figured I�d just stop by and see how he was doing.�
�Oh. You guys have gotten pretty close lately.�
�Yeah. Dad, I think we might start dating.�
�Really? Well, I�ve gotta be honest.�
{Here�s the moment of truth.}
�I couldn�t be happier. Your mom and I love him. No offense, but he�s much better for you than Max.�
�Thanks dad.�
�Just be back by one.�
�Okay. Goodnight.� {One? My curfew is twelve. They must really like Michael.}
{She finally got over Max. At least Michael knows about responsibility and how to treat a lady.}
Liz shoved Jose out and made sure all the doors were locked. She grabbed her coat and purse and left.
She almost ran the two blocks to Michael�s apartment. She got there in less ten minutes and climbed up the stairs. She paused outside of his door. She put on some more of the lip plumper and grabbed an Altoid. {Just in case.}
She could faintly hear his t.v. on. {Good, he�s awake.}
She knocked and quickly fixed smoothed back her hair.
{Who the hell is at my door at 10:30 on a Saturday night?} �Coming.�
He opened the door and almost jumped back from surprise. �Liz? What are you doing here?� {Damn she looks good.}
She walked in without being invited and took her coat off. She sat down and shut the t.v. off. She waited for a minute. �You gonna shut the door?�
�Uh, yeah.� {Why is she here?}
He shut the door and sat down in his chair.
�There you go again with the distance. Come here.� She patted the spot next to her on the couch and signaled �come here� with her finger.
Michael took a deep breath and moved to sit next to her. {God, she smells great even after working an eight hour shift.}
Liz suddenly realized that Michael was only wearing a pair of boxers and a rather tight t-shirt that left almost nothing to the imagination. {He looks so hot. Has he been working out?}
She almost moaned out loud. �I know you weren�t at work today because you were avoiding me.�
�Liz...�
�No. Let me get this out. I know why you�ve been acting weird and you�ve got to let me explain.�
�Liz.�
�No talking. Let me finish. I just found the note last night. I don�t know how it got there, but I was cleaning and I found it.�
�I put it in the cd case.�
�Oh. Well that clears that up.�
�Liz, I...�
�Stop!� Liz jumped up and started pacing around the room. �Listen to me! First of all, I�ve seen Empire Records, so I know what you meant. Second, you are the type of man I think you are. And third, how long have you felt this way?� She said the last part softly as she sat back down.
�Honestly?�
�Yeah.�
�As long as I can remember. I always told Max and Is not to form any bonds with people here. If we ever had to leave it would just make things harder. The thing is, I started to feel. Every time I looked at you I would feel. I decided that I didn�t need to fight what I felt for you because it could never amount to anything. Max was in love with you and even if you didn�t fall for him there was no way you would fall for me. You were completely out of my league. I thought I was safe. But the thing is, ever since that night you came here my feelings haven�t been safe. You trusted me. You weren�t with Max, and I wasn�t with Maria. Even though you�re still out of my league I couldn�t hide how I felt anymore. Even if you didn�t feel the same why I had to tell you.�
�Michael, I�m not out of your league.�
�Liz, you�re perfect.�
�Michael, I�m not perfect. If I was perfect I wouldn�t have snuck looks at you behind Max and Maria�s backs. I wouldn�t have liked the look on your face the other day when you saw me naked. I certainly wouldn�t have taken two hours getting ready for work this morning just because you were going to be there. And I wouldn�t have walked all the way here at 10:30 at night just to tell you that I...� She caught herself.
�Liz?� {What was she about to say?}
�I can�t believe I just said all of that.�
�Liz?� Michael grabbed her hand and felt a slight jolt of electricity at the touch. �You didn�t finish. What were you about to say?�
�I...� {Just say it!} �Michael, I came here tonight to tell you... to tell you... this.�
She grabbed him and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. This wasn�t a sweet kiss like Max and Liz had shared. This was fiery.
Their tongues dueled for control. Michael placed his hand on the back of Liz�s neck and pulled her closer. She let out a small moan against his lips. �Michael.�
The same of his name came out throaty and laced with desire. Michael felt that familiar feeling in his pants and pulled away.
�Michael?�
�Liz, we�ve got to stop. What exactly did you mean by that kiss?�
Liz had to catch her breath. She had gotten wet just by looking at him, and that kiss had almost brought her to the verge of an orgasm. �Michael, I... I love you. I mean, I�m in love with you. I mean...�
�Liz! You�re rambling again.� She smiled. {God, her lips look really good.}
�Why did you pull away?�
�Ummm... let�s just say I got a little excited.�
�Ohh... gotcha.�
They were silent for a moment. Neither of them really knew what to say.
Michael broke the ice. �Liz?� He grabbed her hand. �Forgive me if this doesn�t come out the right way, I�ve never said this before.� He paused and took a deep breath. �I love you.�
Liz�s eyes filled with tears.
�Liz, are you okay? What�s the matter? Did I say something wrong?�
�No Michael. They�re tears of joy. I�m just so happy.�
Michael pulled her into a hug. {She smells so good.}
Liz nuzzled into his chest. �So, where do we go from here?�
Chapter 18
Liz nuzzled into Michael�s chest. �So, where do we go from here?�
�Liz? Hello? Earth to Liz?�
Michael�s familiar voice was accompanied by incessant nudging of her shoulder.
�Michael? What�s going on?� Liz looked around. She was in the Crashdown.
�What do you mean? I was cleaning the grill and I came back in and you were asleep on the counter. Drooling.�
�I do not drool.� {I never say the right things. Asleep? In the Crashdown? What the hell is going on?}
�Sure you don�t Parker.� Michael walked over and turned the radio station. {What was that weird flash I got when I went to wake her up?}
�Michael, what day is it?� {What�s going on?}
�You sure you didn�t hit your head when you fell asleep? It�s November 12th.�
�November 12th?� {It was all a dream? What the hell does that mean?}
�You sure you okay?�
Liz nodded. {This song. Man, deja vu.}
you�ve got your whole life to do something
and that�s not very long
so why don�t you give me a call
when you�re willing to fight
for what you think is real
for what you think is right
Michael watched Liz listen to the music. She looked as if she was trying to remember something. {That flash I had. It was of the two of us kissing. Does she have feelings for me?}
�Michael, I just had a really weird dream.�
�I think I caught a glimpse of it.�
�What do you mean?�
�When I nudged you to wake you up, I got a flash.�
Horror spread across Liz�s face. �What did you see?�
{Oh great, she�s embarrassed. When in doubt lie.} �You were kissing someone, but I couldn�t see his face.�
�Oh.� {Thank God.}
�Anyway, I�m all done, so I�m gonna head home for the night. You sure you�re okay?�
�Yeah, I�ll be fine.�
�Okay. Well, goodnight Liz.�
�Goodnight Michael.�
Michael walked out of the back door and out to his bike. {Right. Like Liz would ever have feelings for you.}
{It was all a dream. But then why did it feel so real?}
Liz locked up the doors, turned off the lights, and went upstairs. She caught sight of her dad at the kitchen table.
�Hey dad, whatcha doing?�
�Hey honey. Just reading the paper.�
�Oh.�
�Liz, is something the matter?�
�Have you ever had a dream that you were positive was real?�
�Yeah Lizzie. In fact, right after you were born I was afraid to go to sleep. I thought I�d wake up and my perfect little angel wouldn�t be there. I thought that life was too great to be real. Why, you have one?�
�Something like that.� Liz paused for a moment before she spoke again. �Dad, what do you think of Michael?�
�It�s no secret to you how I felt about Max. I just didn�t think he was good enough for you. So when I met Michael and found out that they were so close I was apprehensive at first, to say the least. But I�ve known him for a while now, and I�ve gotta be honest.�
{Oh no, the moment of truth.}
�The way he looks at you, I know that look. It�s the way I looked at your mom before she even knew I existed. That boy�s got it bad.�
�Really Dad?�
�Lizzie, I know he dated Maria for a while, but he never once looked at her the way he looks at you.�
By this point Liz was blushing. �But what would you think if we got together? Started dating, or had a relationship or something?�
�I trust Michael like he was my own son. I know he�s never hurt you. Now treasure what I�m about to say, because you�re never gonna hear it again: if you want Michael, if you love him, then go for it. You can�t live your life for anyone but yourself. You have to do what feels right.�
Liz jumped up and ran over to hug her father. �Thank you Daddy.�
�Parents don�t like to admit when their children are old enough to take care of themselves. But I was never worried about you. You always knew what you wanted and followed it to the end. People make mistakes sometimes in life. They do things that they�re not so proud of, but they can never take back. Don�t be afraid to change your dreams, be afraid of never having any in the first place.�
Liz pulled away and looked at her father. �Never in a million years did I think I�d be having this discussion with you.�
�Yeah well, just don�t tell your mother. She doesn�t understand us. Oh, and by the way, I hope you and Michael have a good time in New York.�
�Thanks. We...� {Oh no! He knows?} �Dad, I can explain.�
�Just be safe. Your mom thinks Samantha is real, so at least act like you�re talking to he on the phone every once in a while. Like I said, I trust Michael. There have been some weird things that have happened in the past year that I couldn�t explain. I�ve always known that you knew every time what was really happening, but that you couldn�t tell me. I never doubted that if you could you would have. I trust you, and I always will. Everyone has their secrets. Just please don�t come back pierced, tattooed, pregnant, or married. Not necessarily in that order either.�
Liz once more enveloped her father in a bone-breaking bear hug. �Thank you so much daddy.�
�Remember to tell Michael he�s a lucky guy.�
Liz blushed again. �I will. Goodnight Daddy.�
Liz walked to her room and shut the door. She took a quick shower and changed into her nightgown. She grabbed her journal and jumped into bed.
November 12, 2000 (again)
I�m Liz Parker and I really just realized how weird life can be sometimes.
Chapter 19
Liz had been writing for awhile when her mind traveled back to her �dream.� {It was so real. At this moment Michael was walking up the ladder, he was about to knock on the window.}
Liz was startled by a knock. {Oh my God, what is going on?}
She looked up and saw Michael at the window. She walked over and opened it. �Hey Michael, come on in.�
�No, I should really...�
�Get in here.� She practically pulled him through the window.
�Ok, ok. You don�t have to be so rough, Parker.� {Or you could if you�d like.} �I just...�
�Brought over the Ani Difranco cd, the one with �Willing to Fight�?�
�Uh yeah, how�d you know?�
�Remember when I fell asleep before?�
�Yeah.� {How could I forget?}
�Let�s just say that in my dream, a week had passed.�
�You dreamed about stuff, and now it�s happening?�
�Did you happen to, ummm.... write a letter lately?�
�A letter?� {She knows about the letter? I just wrote that this morning before work. It�s a good thing I didn�t give it to her. But wait, if she dreamed a week ahead, and she knows about the letter, then does she know what the letter said?} �Yeah. But it wasn�t that big of a deal.�
�Just wondering. I�d invite you to stay, but I know you�d decline.�
�This you knowing the future thing is kinda freaking me out. Maybe it�s a side effect of Max healing you or something. I should talk to him about it.�
�No, it was just a dream. You know, kinda like E.S.P. or deja vu, that sort of thing. It�s no big deal.�
�Well, I should be going we...�
�Have school tomorrow.�
�And you obviously need your sleep. Try not to have too many prophetic dreams, kay?� {This is kind of freaking me out now. Thank God it was only a week she saw.}
�Yeah. Thanks Michael.� She leaned up and hugged him.
Unsure of where to put his hands, he finally decided on the small of her back. �No problem, you�re my friend. See you tomorrow.� {Friend? Why did that hurt so much to say?}
�Goodnight Michael.�
� �Night Liz.�
Michael crawled out the window. Liz shut it behind him. She watched as he raised his hand and locked the window using his powers. He mouthed �Bye� and walked away.
{I wonder how much more of the dream will come true?} She carefully opened the cd case and looked in the liner notes and under the cd. {No note.}
She put the cd back in the case and shut off the light. She got into bed and laid down facing the window. {It was only a dream Liz. What was I expecting? For him to express his undying love for me? Yeah right.}
Liz closed her eyes and tried to sleep. {Please, no dreams.}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isabel was sitting at home bored. {Who should I dreamwalk tonight?}
She finally settled on Liz. {Her dreams are always interested. All of them that don�t contain my brother, that is.} She opened her yearbook and quickly found Liz�s picture. She touched it and fell into a deep �sleep.�
When she opened her eyes everything was fuzzy. The air cleared and she looked around. {Why am I in Michael�s apartment?}
She looked to the couch. Michael and Liz were in a seemingly passionate embrace. {Liz likes Michael?}
Just as she thought this the answer became clear.
�I love you Michael.�
�I love you too, Liz.�
{Oh my God! She�s in love with him?}
Isabel pulled out of the dream before it got any more intense. She flipped through the pages looking for the �G�s.� Guerin. {Bingo. Now let�s see how he feels.}
She touched his face and was back in. This time she was in the Crashdown. Michael and Liz were closing, alone.
There was some music on and Michael was watching Liz as she listened. All of a sudden he ran to her and grabbed her face. He looked deep into her eyes. �Liz, I...�
�I know.�
She leaned forward and their lips met. At first it seemed tentative, but it quickly escalated. There were hands moving everywhere. Isabel saw Liz�s hands move lower and she quickly pulled out of the dream.
{Eww.... I so didn�t need to see where that was going. So, I think I found my answers. Now the fun begins.} Isabel shut the book and waved her hand, effectively turning the lights in her room off.
{Now for some dreams of my own.} She shut her eyes and embraced sleep.
Chapter 20
The week went by quickly. School was weird without Tess, and there were a lot of questions. Everyone stuck to the story rather well.
The only odd thing was the way Isabel was acting around Liz and Michael. Every time she would see one of them she�d smile. Actually, her face would light up. Not the normal sort of �I�m happy� smile, this was one of those �I have a secret and you don�t know it� smiles.
They had no clue what was going on.
Finally on Friday she spoke to them. Even if it was separately. She told Michael that she felt like getting together and hanging out, like �normal� teenagers. She told Liz that everyone was going to be there. She also asked her to bring her personal favorite movie Empire Records since Michael had loved it so much last time. The irony of this was not lost on Liz.
After school Liz went home. The plan was to meet at Michael�s at 7. Liz would bring the movie, Isabel would supply the food, and Maria, Max, Alex, and Kyle would show up a little later.
At 5:30 Liz took a shower and then got dressed. Nothing too sexy, just a pair of hip huggers and a burgundy satin 3/4 length v-neck top.
She put her hair up with a clip loosely, allowing a few tendrils to fall out and frame her face. She did a quick spritz of vanilla perfume and found her tub of lip plumper. She applied it with a thin coat of lip gloss on top. Vanilla, her obvious favorite.
When she was done she stepped back and looked in the mirror. {Very nice.}
She found the tape and grabbed her purse and coat. She told her dad where she was going and checked the time. {6:45, fifteen minutes to get there.}
It was a nice night so she began the walk to Michael�s apartment. Halfway there Isabel pulled up in the Jeep.
�Hey, want a ride?�
�Why not, we�re going to the same place.�
She got into the Jeep and they pulled away. �Mmmm... what smells good?� Liz looked in the bag next to her.
Isabel swatted her hand away. �Chinese, for dinner. Now shut the bag, you�re gonna let all the heat out, and reheated just doesn�t taste the same.�
Liz obediently shut the bag and looked out the window.
�So, how have you been?� {This is gonna be fun.}
�Fine, what about you?�
�Good. Alex and I have gotten pretty close. Max and Maria have been hanging out together a lot too lately.�
�Could they be any more obvious?�
�You and Michael look like you�re getting along better.�
�Yeah. We finally had an actual discussion. We sort of cleared the air. We have an understanding.�
{Go in for the kill.} �Have any good dreams lately?�
Isabel shut the car off, they were at Michael�s.
Liz just sat there with her mouth hanging open. {She knows about the dreams? Crap! That must�ve been why she was acting weird all week.}
�Coming?� Isabel had grabbed the bag and was already walking up the stairs to the apartment. {This is gonna be fun.}
Liz quickly caught up just as Isabel knocked on the door.
�Hey Is.� Michael ushered her in. �What are you doing here Liz?� {Like I can act like a �normal� teenager when she�s here. More like an incredibly horny teenager.}
�Don�t be such a dick Michael. I invited her.�
�Oh. Come in.�
Liz quickly walked in and Michael shut the door. �Umm.. Is?�
�Yeah?�
�When is everyone else getting here?�
�Everyone else?� {Did she invite the entire town to my place?}
�Actually, Maria and Alex had band practice so they couldn�t make it. Kyle had some sort of bonding thing he was doing with his dad.�
�So when is Max coming?�
�He�s not. In fact, I have to be going.�
�Huh?� Now Michael was really confused. {What is she doing?}
�Well, I kinda forgot about family night. A day is not enough notice as far as my family is concerned. You guys have fun. Bye!� She gave a little wave and walked towards the door. Liz quickly followed.
�Isabel? What are you doing?�
�Just trust me Liz.� She quickly left before Michael could react.
�What just happened?� Michael was completely lost.
�I think we�ve been set up.�
