Noangel3

�I know Max. I�m sorry. You wouldn�t believe how many times I thank our parents for keeping us together. I don�t know how I would have survived without you.�
� I love you Isabel.� Max hugged her again.
�I love you too.� Isabel looked into his face and they both gave a little chuckle. They didn�t need to tell each other they leave each other, but it was always so wonderful to hear those words. �Speaking of love, you know Max, you should really try talking to Tess.� Isabel suggested. Max looked at her with doubting eyes.
�I don�t know Izzy. I mean, sure I�d like to get to know her, but I don�t want to get involved.�
�You can be friends with her without getting involved. What? Are you afraid that if you get too close to her, you might fall for her?� Isabel asked lightly. Max just stared back silently. �Look at me and Michael. We�re destined to be together, but we�re not. We�re like best friends. Doesn�t that say something about you and Tess? Don�t be scared Max. She doesn�t bite.� Max yawned and covered his mouth with his hand. He wanted to change the subject.
�Oh man, I�m tired. I think I�ll go to bed for a bit longer. You gonna be okay?� Max asked for security. Isabel nodded.
�I�m inviting Tess over for supper today.� Isabel quickly told him before he closed the door.
~*~ That evening ~*~

Tess walked up the steps and stood in front of the door. She took a deep breath and reached out to press the doorbell. The door slid open and a lady in her later 40�s stood in the entrance.
�Hello. Come on in.� The lady welcomed Tess warmly, opening the door wider. Tess smiled and thanked her. She could hear someone rushing around in the kitchen and when she entered the kitchen, she could see Isabel in a hurry. �Supper�s almost ready. I�ll go get Max.� The lady said and went upstairs.
�Hey Tess! I�m sorry, but I have to finish making supper. Um, you can go into the living room and Max�ll be right there.� Isabel said, bustling around the kitchen.
�Hey Izzy. Are you sure you don�t need any help? I�d be happy to be of any assistance.� Tess offered.
�Oh no, no. You�re the guest. So just go into the living room and Max will be right there.� Isabel shooed her out quickly. Tess walked into the living room and slowly sat down on the couch. She looked around, familiarizing herself with her surroundings. She could feel someone watching her and turned around quickly.
�Oh. Max. You scared me.� Tess jumped. Max walked up to her and sat down on the couch.
�Welcome to my house.� He said quietly, looking at Tess in the eyes.
�Thanks for inviting me. I don�t get asked to too many peoples houses, so this is a treat.� Tess said.
�Oh, no problem. It�s Isabel who�s working so hard to make everything so perfect. You know her.� Max glanced at the kitchen to see if anything was ready yet.
�Yeah. She�s quiet the perfectionist.� Tess nodded in agreement. They sat in silence for what seemed like eternity, but was only a minute.
�So, uh, how�s it going at the Valenti�s? Is Kyle being nice?� Max asked, trying to make conversation.
�It�s goin good. Kyle let me have his room, which is nice. Cuz now I have my privacy again. You know, growing up with Nasedo meant I had all the privacy in the world.� Tess answered.
�Do you miss Nasedo?� Max asked.
�Sometimes. I mean, I love the freedom of not having him on my back all the time. But he was practically my father. He was my safety. Now I�m all alone.� Tess said with a tad bit of coldness in her voice. Max stared at the floor, feeling embarrassed for the way he�d treated her the past few months. He had never really thought about Tess being alone. He had always had Isabel and Michael. But Tess had no one.
�I�m sorry. I mean about Nasedo. But Sheriff is doing an okay job as �Dad�, isn�t he?� Max asked.
�Sure. He�s the only human grown-up I�ve ever lived with, so it�s all new.� Tess said. Suddenly, Isabel came walking into the living room with a big smile on her face.
�Hey, it�s time for dinner.� She informed them and they both got up from their seats. �Okay. Tess you can sit here. And Max, you sit right next to her here.� Isabel directed them to their seats. Tess looked around at the table full of delicious food.
�Mmmm. Isabel, this looks great!� Tess commented.
�Thanks. Here, have some potatoes.� Isabel passed Tess the mashed potatoes. Tess put some on her plate and then passed it on to Max. Isabel then passed her the gravy, which she poured on top of the potatoes. Tess took some chicken and coleslaw as well. It was more than she usually ate, but she didn�t mind. Tess loved home cooked meals.

~*~ After Supper ~*~

Isabel�s mom offered to do the dishes, so Max, Tess and Isabel went upstairs to visit in Isabel�s room.
�So Tess. You think you could show us some of that mind-warping stuff?� Isabel asked.
�Oh, uh sure. What do you want to see?� Tess said, surprised by the request.
�I don�t know. Um, anything. Like�make us think that this room is actually the bathroom.� Isabel came up with a lame idea. They all gave a chuckle.
�Okay.� Tess agreed and closed her eyes to concentrate. Suddenly the bed that Isabel was sitting on turned into a large bathtub and the dresser turned into the counter. The walls turned from beige to blue to match the blue and white tiles on the floor. Max and Isabel looked around, amazed by what they saw.
�Whoa, Tess. This is amazing!� Max exclaimed. He got up and walked to the sink and turned on the water. Water actually came out! Suddenly everything turned back into Isabel�s normal room and Tess opened her eyes. She slumped back, tired from concentrating so hard.
�The down side is that mind-warping takes a lot of my energy. I need to practice more before I can do major things.� Tess explained.
�I think that was pretty good already.� Max complimented.
�Yeah! Man I wish I had that power.� Isabel said to Tess. Tess� face beamed with pride as she received these compliments. Nasedo had always told her that her powers were normal, they were nothing special. When she would accomplish one task after much hard work, he�d only move her on to the next level. The phone rang and caused all three to jump. Isabel picked up the phone.
�Hello.� Isabel said, listening for a response. �Oh hi Michael! What�s up? Oh really. Ha ha! She did? Michael, you are so dead. Okay, okay I�ll come with you. Oh�wait a minute. Tess is here. Just wait a second.� Isabel pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at Tess and Max with puppy dog eyes. �I�m so sorry guys. Michael is in a rut and needs me to come with him to get something. Would mind if I left you two alone?�
�Sure. No problem.� Max nodded, assuring her they�d be fine alone.
�Thankyou!� Isabel put the phone back to her ear. �Yup! I�ll be there in a couple of minutes. See ya. Bye.� She hung up the phone and got up from the bed. �I�m so sorry I have to leave.� She apologized.
�It�s okay. What�s so important with Michael?� Max asked.
�Oh it�s Maria. It�s her birthday tomorrow and she�s expecting a good present from Michael. He doesn�t want to hurt her feelings, so he needs me to get her something. Look, I�ve got to go. So I�ll see you tomorrow at school. By Tess.� Isabel bid farewell to Max and Tess and left the room immediately. Max and Tess looked around the room, not knowing what to say.

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