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| Part 11 |
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| After dropping of Michael at Maria�s place, Miranda drove off, home or so she thought she would, instead she ended up driving around in her car. With thoughts running around in her head she thought about what had happened during these past two years of her life. Not only had she found out what she really was, a living breathing alien and what it meant to be one, but she had also left the only home she�d ever known and for what exactly? At first it had been about proving to dear old dad that she could take care of herself, and just how little she needed him, mom, and the world that had lied to her about everything she thought was true. Somewhere down �the Independence Street� she had come to the realization that what had happened that day in her father�s study had been the inevitable push. Which had been needed to push her out in the world led by one simple purpose; to find out the truth about herself and maybe someone else like her. That�s what she told herself anyway, the real thing was that she was looking for the one thing she had always felt was out there, waiting for her, the other part of her soul, a feeling of home, and belonging, a safety and feeling of unconditional love that haunted her dreams. There were days that she feared that she�d never find it, that maybe, just maybe, all that she�d spent all this time looking for had been right under her nose the entire time; in Tac. Her first real love, her only love. The only true person that had loved her fully and completely, without any hesitations. And she left him, she left him, to find something that left no promise of ever being found. So how could she been sure about her decision? A 100% sure? She wasn�t. There were times she woke up in the middle of the night and cried her heart out for him. He had loved her, he did still, yet it wasn�t enough. She could�ve stayed, she would�ve been happy. Eventually they would�ve got married and had a family of their own, and every Christmas the whole gang would�ve come and they would have celebrated in joy. But there would�ve always been cautions, leaving a whole inside of her soul, a longing that would have eventually destroyed everything between them. Miranda knew herself well enough to admit that she would�ve stayed for him and been miserable, and she�d hate him for it. So instead she left the only man she ever loved to fill a void that she carried inside. Tac, she thought, so lovely, so wonderful and probably the most sensual, sexual, passionate man that ever walked on the face of the earth. Everything about him seemed to scream MAN! And he really was a man. Everything, from his broad shoulders, to the strong and firm body, his arms, his hands, his skin. And that cedar blond hair, so thick and full, and waive, and always in a mess. How she loved to run her hands through it, pull it when in the midst of passion. Miranda stopped the car and walked over to the edge of the cliff overlooking the great Crater Lake. The water was of the same crimson colour of her car, yet it sparkled of suns golden reflection, mirroring itself. Another sundown, how things change after sundown, and she couldn�t wait for it to be over. **Flashback** Tac�s breath blows humid across the skin at her nape. Despite the heat of it, gooseflesh rises in the wake of his mouth. He hasn't even touched her yet, but Miranda's body reacts as though he has. He's behind her, the scent of his musky cologne wafting into her senses along a misty-scented exhale. Everything about him is so incredibly manly but that doesn't even come into the equation with his fingers hovering millimetres away from her bare arms. Her fingers flex into her palm, blunt nails pressing crescent marks into the flesh. It is just the two of them in the garage, Gary is not coming back from his meeting with her dad for another hour or so and it only leaves time for them to give in to each other. A whimper cloud her exhales, the barest whisper of a plea, but it's enough to make him move. Strong arms lock around her, one circling her waist, the other her hips, and Tac pulls her back against him. Miranda stifles the scream that rises in her throat at the feel of him. The sound emerges as a gasp, and she lets her head fall back on his shoulder, turning her face into his neck and breathing deep as he strokes against her, slow and hard. He wisps her around, she tilts her chin up in silent entreaty, and finally, his mouth covers hers. No dream can compare to the feel of his lips teasing hers open, his tongue sliding in to slowly explore. She'd expected to be plundered, passion and Tac are rarely to be called careful, but the soft stabs are an invitation, and she accepts the challenge. Their tongues twirl and collide in her mouth, and soon, it's not enough. She needs to taste him. Miranda coerces entrance, and the dance continues on new ground. She traces the ridge of his teeth, and then slides in further to draw patterns on his palate with the tip of her tongue. God, how she loves his kisses. Always known to leave her lips red and swollen and so longing for more, but she�s running out of oxygen soon, still it doesn�t matter. The kiss breaks with them both short of breath. Tac releases her hands and moves back just enough to allow fingers to find buttons. They exchange nipping kisses that merely tease as fabric parts under the assault of anxious hands. All that is hared are the quiet moans of pleasure and the sound of Gary�s old wall clock ticking the seconds away. It�s passion, it�s love, need and need for more, still it�s quiet and stifled and so blissfully annoying not to be able to scream her heart out, yet its worth it, because she�s with him and for a slight moment in time she�s whole. �Fly�, he whispers in her ear, his hot breath fanning the shell. �Make me� she quivers, and holds on tighter, never to let go. �Make me, make me fly� �I�ll never stop� he gasps and looks her straight in the eyes with those green orbs of his. Watching always watching her like they can�t have enough, holds her gaze till she can�t fight it anymore, and lets him push her over the slippery edge out to the abyss. **End of Flashback** The sun has set, darkness has surrounded her again and this time there�s no Tac to hold her. He�s half a country away, and she misses him, misses everything. She looks at the clock, she�s half past eleven, and she�d better get home, she needs some rest and maybe this time she�ll even fall asleep and not dream, because she really doesn�t want to, not tonight anyway. ********* The window is slightly open and the cool air is fanning his half- covered body that is still humming with the aftermath of their lovemaking. With her head resting on his shoulder, Michael can see the peaceful look on Maria�s face. But he can�t sleep. Too much had happened and his brain was working on overload, filled with too many questions that he couldn�t answer. This whole day had been surreal, from the beginning to the end. First he had accomplished in pissing Miranda off, and then got shocked as hell when she actually forgave him his stupid snooping into her past and then bonded with her in the weirdest way. Only to get into the biggest fight of all times with Maria over the same person that he now felt he never wanted to be without, Miranda. Apparently Maria had seen them at the library fighting and making up, as she called it. And then got accused of having an affair with her. Earlier �What the hell? Are you insane, are you even listening to what you are saying?� He had yelled, only to set Maria into another hysterical fit. �Oh, so now I�m insane, now am I? Well what the hell did you expect me to think? You are with her 24/7 Michael, and when you do find the time for me, you don�t even�� her voice cracked slightly. �I don�t what?� He had asked, his tone accusing. �Nothing�, she spat at him. �No tell me please, when I�m around I don�t even what?� �Michael you�ve been ignoring me the entire week, not to mention that you forgot dinner and you didn�t even� � Michael cut her of �I�ve been working my ass of both at work and when not that, I spent hours on banging my head in with the science project what did you want me to do huh? Let it all drop just because you? What exactly?� �Because I missed you, did the thought ever occur to you that I missed my boyfriend.� Michael stood quiet. �And every time I needed you, you were gone doing something else, and then Miranda just bats her eyes and you go running of to her rescue.� �That is so not true, and for your information Miranda saved my ass getting Mr. Seligman to agree on us working together, which I might add if she hadn�t I would�ve got an F, and I am trying to graduate.� �Oh, so now she�s your hero, well how sweet, why don�t you just admit that you�re in love with her and let me get on with my life,� Maria screamed at him, her eyes all teary and voice filled with pain. �What? You think I�m into Miranda?� He asked his voice astonished. �How could you even think something like that?� �Oh come on Michael, I�ve seen the way you look at her, like she�s some kind of goddess, you practically drooled all over her and now you two are acting like you�re best friends� �So, I like her as a friend, she�s cool and interesting and I like talking to her so what? I�m making a friend it�s not the end of the world� �That�s just it Michael you don�t make new friends, you don�t let people in, hell I should know, you�ve known Liz and me for two years and you still don�t even look at Liz when you talk to her let alone smile at her. And now Miranda comes to town and you�re all chummy and perfect for each other. I�m not blind Michael, I know how you look like when you want someone, and I see the way you look at her, it doesn�t take a genius to figure out that you two are obviously all hot and heavy.� �Maria, stop it I am not interested in Miranda� he grabbed her by the shoulders, �we are just friends and yes, I do like her, but not in the way you think.� Maria looked at him in disbelief, �You are the only girl I want and need, I love you, and only you, why can�t you get it through that thick twisted head of yours and shut up,� He told her and then kissed her breathlessly. At first she tried to push him away, but he held her firmly by her shoulders making it impossible to get away. After a while she stopped fighting him and kissed him back. Then she whimpered and held him tight. �Oh Michael, I thought I lost you,� she cried, �I�m sorry I didn�t mean to�.� �Shhhhhhh its ok, it doesn�t matter� He whispered. �Its just that ever since you saw her, it just felt so�� Maria didn�t know what to say anymore, anything that she wanted to say seemed so stupid. �Its ok� Michael assured her, �I�m the one that�s sorry, I should�ve paid more attention to you. But I�ll promise you that won�t ever happen again,� he told her and then carried her to her room. Present time But Maria had been right though. He usually didn�t let people get close to him, still with Miranda he felt like he had no other choice. It was weird but still it wasn�t. He knew it didn�t make any sense, but he felt close to her in a way that couldn�t be explained, he just knew that there was something about her, but one thing he was sure of. He was going to find out what exactly that was. But he was sleepy now, all this thinking had got him tired, the love high was slowly fading now. He would uncover the truth tomorrow; right now he was going to sleep because he could barely keep his eyes open. With that he let himself relax, his heartbeat slow down and he closed his eyes and went to sleep. **Dream** �Where would I be without you Tara?� he smiled at her while he spun her around the room as they danced. �Lost probably,� her laughter exploded into a million of stars. Her eyes sparkling with joy as she looked at him. �Probably.� He laughed back. **Flash** Her dress was covered with blood; her brown locks a cascade of sorrow. Arms numb, body lifeless, cold. Her face peaceful as if she was sleeping. Her eyes closed. **Flash** �Promise me that you�ll always be here, promise that you�ll never leave, never change, and no matter what happens or what I�ll have to do promise you�ll never stop loving me?� He asked her. �I promise.� She answered. **Flash** �Please don�t leave me! You can�t leave me!� he heard Zan plead with the dying girl in his arms. He just stood there frozen not believing his own eyes. **Flash** �Remember Rath, always remember and we�ll always be together, remember us, and you will never be alone� she placed her hand on his chest, over his heart. �This is where I�ll always be this is where I�ll stay, where I�ll be watching over you� He pulled her into a tight embrace. �This is where you�ll always stay with me, in my memory�. **Flash** She couldn�t die, she wouldn�t. She wouldn�t dare to leave him like this. Not now, not when their future was just beginning. This wasn�t supposed to happen, this wasn�t how the story ended. It just couldn�t be. Tara, his angel. **Flash** �Always remember who you are Rath.� **Flash** He snapped out of it, kneeled down beside Zan. Zan looked at his best friend, his eyes filled with tears. �Rath, she�s �she isn�t, she won�t wake up. I can�t get through to her, I�.� �Move�, he told Zan, taking her lifeless body from him. He focused all his energy on her, trying to get through to her. **Flash** �Never forget who you are, who we are�. **Flash** �Tara?� He shook her, �Tara wake up, Tara wake up! Do you hear me, I said wake up�. But she didn�t open her eyes; it was as if something had glued them shut. Death had. �NO!! Tara!!� Michael felt something cold wrap itself around his heart and squeeze. **Flash** �I�ll always remember, I�ll never forget� **Flash** This couldn�t be happening. **Flash** �Where would I be without you?� �Lost probably� **End of Dream** �Taraaaa!!!!� he woke up with a scream. �Michael?� Maria called out to him. His heart was beating a mile a minute. He could still hear her voice in his head, feel her hand on his chest, and see her face smiling at him, seeing her lying on the ground dead. �Michael! Are you ok?� *Never forget who you are, who we are* �What did you see, Michael, sweety, look at me� Maria pleaded with him. He could barely breathe. *Where would I be without you? Lost probably* �Tara� He spoke her name. �Who is she?� Maria asked. He looked at her; saw the hurt mixed with curiosity and pain �Who is she Michael?� *I�ll never forget* �Someone who died� He said �Someone who died�. ****** Next morning �Nothing�s wrong ok. Now will you all please just lay off,� Michael snapped at the crowd sitting around the table. All he wanted was to enjoy his lunch break, somehow he found himself to be in the middle topic of an analysing discussion about his dream. �Michael, this the second time you woke up screaming Tara in the middle of the night� Maria told him, her voice filled of concern, but also a slight bit of jealousy. �It�s nothing, all right? It was just a bad dream, it just �it had to be,� He told her. �Fine whatever,� she bit back, �I got to get to work anyway� Maria said and disappeared out to the back. �Maria,� Michael called after her and was just about to run after her when Liz stopped him. �I�ll talk to her,� she told him. �Thanks,� He was really not up for yet another one of her tantrums. It wasn�t that he didn�t understand her, god knew he never wanted to wake up in the middle of the night with her screaming another guys name. It was just that he was still to upset about the dream himself to care about all the commotion that Max, Maria and everyone else was making out of it. �Happy now?� He heard Isabel ask. �What? It�s not as if I asked for the dream,� He spat. �Everyone, just calm down, Ok?� Max said calmly. �All I was trying to say was that you really should pay more attention to Maria�s feelings Michael, that�s all,� Isabel said sarcastically. �How would you feel if Maria�.� �You know what Isabel I really don�t see how that is any of your business. Don�t you have a husband to jump or something?� He growled at her, he was really starting to get angry. Isabel was just about to give him a piece of her mind when Max jumped in. �Michael just tell us, what exactly did you dream,� Max asked. �It�s not important just forget about it.� �Maybe your right, maybe it really is nothing, but maybe it could be important so just tell us and we�ll figure it out together,� Max told him. Michael really didn�t want to start explaining what went on inside his head but no matter how much he tried to deny it himself, he was dreaming of his former life, he just wasn�t ready to face the emotions that came with it. It didn�t take a genius to realise that he was dreaming of another woman, a woman he had loved. A woman who had died and he had a feeling she wasn�t just a casual acquaintance. But the worst of it all was that the pain seemed to cling to him even when he was awake. �Max I just�� he didn�t know how to start. �Its ok Michael, but just try, look what ever it is well figure it all out together,� Max said. He took a deep breath. �The first one started with...� �You mean you had these dream before and you didn�t tell us?� Isabel started. �Jesus Christ!� �Isabel,� Max shut her up. He shook his head a little then nodded to Michael to continue. �Like I said, the first started with me being at this party. It was some kind of celebration or something. Isabel was there with me, so were you, and then a minute later this girl came. I walked up to her and we danced, then the next thing I knew was we were being attacked and when I turned around she was lying dead on the ground.� Michael told them, he tried to shake the feelings of loss that were slowly creeping up. He coughed and tried to clear his throat. �Anyway you were there holding her trying to wake her up, but she wouldn�t awake, so I took her from you and tried myself but nothing happened. I just kept hearing her voice inside my head and I just kept on shaking her, telling her to wake up, but she wouldn�t and then I�I felt like my heart was going to explode so I woke up.� �Screaming her name� Isabel finished for him, but this time her voice wasn�t harsh or accusing, she put her hand on his. �Tara Right?� She asked. �Yeah� he answered. �How did she look like?� Max wondered. �I don�t know she was�smiling at him, he could almost see it, that little smile of hers, one that made him want to sigh of joy, she was beautiful, graceful, and she smiled with her eyes, they sparkled�, he said almost whispering, as if the image of her would disappear if he spoke it out laud. �Anyway she was dead, she died, and that�s why I screamed, now can we please drop this?� He wanted this interrogation to be over. �Who do you think she was?� Max asked him slowly. �I really wish I knew, all I know was that she was�dear to me� �Was she your lover, I mean could she have been? �Isabel wondered. �NO, I don�t know, I � don�t care it was just a dream, nothing more� Michael denied. �Michael these dreams can very well be memories of your life from Antar� Max told him. �Yeah that could be it, but why is he dreaming of this now?� Isabel asked. �Does this mean we are all going to start having dreams of our past lives or what?� �I don�t know, but if you have any more of these dreams, you have to tell us Michael, it could be important.� *This was getting really annoying now* Michael thought. He looked at his watch; his break was up, thank god. �Yeah whatever, look I got to get back to work so I see you guys later,� He told them and got up from the table. Max nodded and Isabel took a sip of her drink. When he was out of sight Isabel looked at Max. �She was real wasn�t she?� She asked her brother with a worrying look on her face. �I think so� Max answered. �Its just the way he described her I feel like I knew her too,� She told him. �I know Isabel,� Max said, and for a minute he could feel the girl smile at him. Somewhere in the back of his head he knew that what Michael had told him was true, something that had indeed happened, he just wished he could remember it, remember her. He had a feeling that this wasn�t the last time Michael would dream of Tara and he just hoped that it would help them answer some of the questions instead rising new ones. ****** �This day sucks,� Michael mumbled under breath as he turned the hamburgers on the grill. Maria was moping and he really didn�t have the strength to care. Hell he had his hands full with the whole Miranda situation and now he had to deal with the Tara thing to. Why couldn�t he just have a normal life? He wondered, oh I�m an alien that�s freaking why he thought to himself, that�s why. And wham, the hamburgers were on fire. �Shit�, he spat as he tried to put it out. �Michael what�s wrong� he heard Liz ask that�s when she saw the fire. Quickly Michael waved a hand over it and the fire was out, no harm done. �Are you all right?� She asked him. �Yeah just wonderful,� He muttered. �I talked to Maria, she�s going to be fine so just relax,� Liz told him. He sighed. Why was this happening? The last thing he needed in his life was yet another complication in his already complicated life. He ran a hand through his hair. �Your hamburgers are done,� he told her. �Thanks� she said and took the orders, �look there �s really nothing else to be done so if you want you can go sit down with the others while Maria and I close,� she told him. �What do you mean close? It�s only five� He told her. �Yes but its Sunday, and we�re closing early today don�t you remember?� �Oh yeah, I totally forgot, thanks� �No problem,� She told him and walked of. Michael cleaned up the grill and then he changed his clothes. As he walked out to the others he saw the last of the customers walk out. He went over to the counter and poured himself a Snapple when he heard the bell ring once more. �Sorry we�re closed he called out� �Are you sure I can�t have a drink first?� He heard a familiar voice ask, he looked up and saw Miranda standing there, wearing her usual cocky smile. She was wearing a couple of low cut jeans and a green tight tank top. �Miranda hi, didn�t expect to see you here, I thought you were busy with the club today.� �I was�, she told him, �I�ve been killing myself all day with interviewing people and I still haven�t found a bartender and bouncers yet, they either want too much cash or they�re not �ehh equipped enough� She told him sounding as tired and whiney as he was feeling. �Bad day?� He asked. �Bad doesn�t even cover it, try chaotic,� She rolled her eyes. �In that case I think you deserve a drink,� he told her. �Thank you,� she sighed and sat down at the counter. �So what will it be?� he asked. �Gin? Bourbon? Or straight up vodka?� �Bloody Mary please.� �Cherry choke it is,� he said and poured her a glass. �So tell the bartender what�s troubling you?� He joked. �You got a week?� �No, but tell me anyway.� �Well I got the furniture and the glasses but there�s still some restoring to do and not to mention the staff, and the band that I have to check out and I really need someone good. I need this to work and if I don�t get this done today I never will,� She said. �Well now that you mention it I could fill in as the bartender, and I�m sure Kyle knows some guys on the wrestling team, that could be bouncers,� He told her and at the sight of the look of relief on her face he could see he just saved the day. �Could you really?� She asked him �It�s no problem. I know my way around the bar and I�m sure Kyle wouldn�t mind� He told her and took a sip of his Snapple. �That only leaves the band thing,� Miranda said but it didn�t take long before the frown on her face disappeared. �Maria?� She turned to look at the girl who was whipping tables behind her. �Yes?� Maria looked at her. �What�s up Miranda?� �How would you like to sing at my club at the opening?� Miranda asked the girl. Maria was caught of guard; one minute she was preparing herself to lash out and the next she was being offered the centre stage position. �Uhmm, I don�t know what to say?� Maria hesitated. �Say yes and save my ass, Michael has told me all about your singing and if it�s as good as he says then I really want you to sing at my club� Miranda told the girl. Maria just looked at her. �He said that?� �Well we don�t just talk about space if that�s what you mean; of course he talks about you. He told me everything about your singing,� Miranda told her. Maria looked at Michael, who gave her an awkward smile, �Well if you want I can come over to the club and you can hear for yourself.� �Whatever you say Maria,� Miranda told her. �I�ll be there till ten tonight so feel free to stop by.� �That sounds great,� she said and then got back to work. When Maria was safely in the backroom, Michael thanked Miranda. �No problem besides as I see it I just killed two birds with one stone� She said. �What do you mean?� Michael wondered. �This way I get a band at the opening and you don�t have to worry about Maria being jealous anymore.� �Why would you think she was jealous?� Michael asked her. Miranda raised an eyebrow at him as if saying; PLEASE DUDE! He surrendered. �I guess you have a point!� �You guess?� �Ok you�re right, but how did you know?� �Well you see I have this gift�, she said sounding all serious, �you see I�m a ...GIRL and GIRLS notice things faster than boys� She teased him. �Ahh I see� he said. �No but, seriously its not the first time that a girl sees me as a threat, I don�t mean to be cocky it�s just that ever since I was a little girl I always hung out with guys and they�re girlfriends never seemed to like me so much, I guess It�ll never change� �Yeah I guess your right, but for what its worth you�re right, she was a little jealous, either way you saved my ass tonight.� �Yeah I figured it was in a need of saving. You had it written all over your face,� Michael laughed a little. How was it that she knew him so well? Miranda drank the last of her drink and handed him the glass. Without even thinking he let the words roll of his tong; �Where would I be without you?� He said as he whipped the counter shaking his head a little as if she�d said something funny. �Lost probably.� she answered and gave him a smile before she walked out the door. Michael stood frozen at her words as he watched her drive of in her car. �Probably� He whispered then it hit him, the words they just said. His heart skipped a beat and he had trouble breathing. That didn�t just happen. TBC |
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