Fan Fic and More

Thanks for the fb, Lisa!


Author’s Note: This is another one of those parts that took on a life of its own. The pivotal moment that happens in this part (you’ll know it when you get to it) wasn’t actually planned to happen until Part 17 or 18. So anyway, enjoy!


Part 14

After leaving lunch with Tess, Isabel couldn’t make it to the Valenti house quickly enough. Logically, she knew she should call first to make sure Kyle was there, but she didn’t think he would have gone anywhere else. Luckily, he answered the front door after her two impatient rings of the doorbell.

“Iz!” he exclaimed. “God, I have been looking all over for you.”

In wordless response, Isabel pulled Kyle to her and captured his lips in a kiss. They both fell into the embrace easily, and Isabel knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was where she belonged. She couldn’t believe that she’d been so selfish as to risk losing him.

When they parted, both breathing heavily, Kyle asked, “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that all about?”

“That was an ‘I’m sorry I’ve been so selfish and inconsiderate’ kiss,” Isabel responded sheepishly.

Kyle chuckled softly and pulled Isabel by her hand into the house, closing the door behind them. “Come on in,” he said.

He led Isabel to the living room, where he sat down on the couch, motioning for her to join him. She accepted his invitation, curling up next to him and resting her head on his shoulder. “I really am sorry,” she told him, and he wrapped his arm her in a comforting gesture. “I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn’t even realize I was pushing you away.”

“It’s okay,” Kyle told her.

“No, it’s not,” Isabel said with a shake of her head. “You made it more than clear that you were here for me, and last night… you were so great… and I have completely taken you for granted, and I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“You’ve had a lot to deal with the last couple of days,” he said softly, brushing a kiss against her forehead. “I just wish you’d talk to me, Iz. Don’t shut me out, please.”

And she didn’t. For the next half hour, Isabel confided in Kyle, not holding anything back. She told him everything that she’d told Alex earlier that morning – her anger at Max for treating her like a child, her fear that her friendship Emma was a fraud, her feelings of betrayal from both of them. Her concern about what it meant for the future of her relationship with her brother and with her best friend.

Kyle silently lent his ear as she let all of her fears and frustrations out. He held her close and gently wiped away the few stray tears that spilled down her cheeks. He didn’t feel the need to offer words of advice, as she was already starting to rationalize everything out loud to herself.

They sat quietly for several minutes after Isabel finished speaking, when Isabel suddenly sat up and said, “Oh my god, she knew.”

Puzzled, Kyle asked, “Knew what?”

“When you moved to San Francisco and she set us up,” Isabel explained, “she must have known that we already knew each other.”

“So?” Kyle asked.

“So she played us!”

“Isabel,” Kyle said, grasping her hands in an effort to calm her. “Isabel, so what? Does it really matter?”

“What if she’s just been manipulating us? What if…?” Her words died in her throat, unwilling to voice her fear.

Kyle took her head in his hands, forcing her to look at him. “Iz, listen to me. You’re talking crazy. What I feel for you for you is real. Nobody manipulated me into feeling like this. This – you and me – this would have happened regardless of Emma’s meddling. I knew you were in San Francisco when I moved there. I would have looked you up. We would still have become friends and gotten close, and I would still have fallen in love with you.”

Isabel’s mouth opened in an inaudible gasp, her worries about Emma momentarily forgotten as Kyle’s last words reached her ears. “You… you what?” she asked in a hesitant voice.

Kyle visibly gulped, as if just realizing what he’d voiced out loud. Nervously clearing his throat, he repeated, “I would still have fallen in love with you.”

Isabel stared at Kyle wide-eyed as he took a deep breath and tried to will his pounding heart to slow down. He hadn’t actually meant to say that out loud just yet, but now it was too late to take it back. He meant it, of that he had no doubt, but he didn’t want to scare Isabel. And at the moment, he was afraid he’d done just that.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he reassured her. “But it’s how I feel. And Emma had nothing to do with it.”

Before Isabel had the chance to form any kind of response, Kyle quickly changed the subject. “Have you talked to Max or Emma since yesterday?” he asked.

Isabel shook her head. “They were at the house this morning when I went back to shower, but I pretty much avoided them.”

“You know you have to talk to them, right? And soon. We leave tomorrow.”

“I don’t know if I can, Kyle.” Isabel turned pleading eyes to him. “I’m still so angry… that I’m afraid everything will blow up and it’ll just turn into a big fight.”

“So, what? You’re just going to leave without settling this?”

“I don’t know,” Isabel groaned, holding her head in her hands.

“Isabel, come on,” Kyle coaxed, wrapping his arm around her. “Can’t you at least try? I’ll go with you if you want. For moral support.”

Isabel sighed wearily, knowing that Kyle was right. She couldn’t leave Roswell without at least trying to sort things out. “No. I need to do this on my own. But thanks. I’ll go talk to them while you’re having dinner with your dad tonight.” She gave him a grateful smile and squeezed his hand. “In the meantime, do you have any plans for the afternoon?”

“Nope,” Kyle said with a definitive shake of his head. “What’d you have in mind?”

“Well,” Isabel replied, running a hand through his hair, “since I was so neglectful of you this morning, I thought I could try to make it up to you.”

A faint groan escaped Kyle’s lips when Isabel started placing feather-light kisses on his neck. “Tempting,” he replied huskily, “but my dad could be back from his errands any minute now.”

“Hm, too bad,” Isabel said playfully, planting one last kiss on his cheek. “How about a movie instead?”

“Can we sit in the back of the theater and make out?” Kyle asked with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.

Isabel stood up and grabbed Kyle by his hand, pulling him to his feet. With a wink, she responded, “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

“Can we sit in the back of the theater and make out?” Kyle asked with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.

Isabel stood up and grabbed Kyle by his hand, pulling him to his feet. With a wink, she responded, “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

LMAO! That was great!

I loved the fact that she finally found someone she can confide in again. Alex was great to share her thoughts and feelings in, but it's hard to move on with your life with a person who is dead (no matter how wonderful he is).

Ah Kyle, in some ways I feel bad that he said those three words and she didn't immediately return them; but I think that knowing that she means them and that he hasn't scared her away will be worth the wait.

Besides, they can't have the great nookie without some UST first...right???

Can't wait to see this upcoming confrontation with Emma and Max...there has to be some reason why this secret was kept from everyone it seems.

Can't wait!
Lisa

...

Thanks for the continued support, Lisa. It really means a lot to me. :D


Author’s Note: Italicized parts are flashbacks. I apologize in advance if any of the details about Emma seem flimsy. The sci-fi stuff isn’t really my forte.


Part 15

Kyle treaded lightly over the green grass of the Roswell cemetery, making his way slowly to his destination. In his hands he held a small bouquet of flowers, which he placed on top of the headstone of Alex Whitman’s grave.

Awkwardly, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and muttered, “Hey, man.” He’d never come here alone before – he used to just accompany Liz or Maria and let them do all the talking. But this was something he felt he needed to do before he left Roswell again.

The spring breeze rustled the trees around him, and Kyle jerked to his left, almost as if he expected to see Alex there with him. He saw nothing, and laughed softly at himself.

“So, uh, I don’t really know how to do this,” he mumbled out loud. “I can’t just sit here and carry on a conversation with you like the girls do.”

He sat down on the ground, his arms resting on his knees, and stared at the engraving on the headstone. He thought about his friendship with Alex, and how much he missed it sometimes. In their early years, the two had never given each other the time of day, traveling in different social circles. But then came the alien invasion, and it swallowed them both whole. Kyle remembered when he and Alex had been trapped underground with the gandarium crystals, and how they’d bonded. He remembered how much he’d come to respect Alex after that, and how devastated he’d been when Alex was taken from them much too soon.

But most of all, Kyle remembered Alex’s unconditional and unending love for Isabel Evans. A love that he himself now carried.

He sat in silence for long moments, just remembering all these things. Finally, he said aloud, “I just want you to know that I love her. And that I’ll take care of her.”

***

May 2001

Max had been driving aimlessly through the desert for hours, completely lost in his thoughts and losing track of time. He’d just needed to get away from everyone after the funeral, his emotions running on high.

He’d replayed his confrontation with Liz over and over in his mind, until his head almost hurt from the harsh words they’d spoken to each other. He never would have thought it possible to be so angry with her. She wasn’t letting herself grieve for Alex, instead focusing her energies on her ridiculous theory that he’d been murdered. Max hadn’t meant to lash out at her like he did, but it was too late to take it back now. He didn’t know how they’d ever get past this.

Then there was Tess. Ever since their encounter at prom and the subsequent accident, she’d barely left his side. She was smothering him, but he didn’t have the heart to tell her to back off. And he didn’t have the heart to tell her that he didn’t want to pursue whatever relationship she thought they were forming.

And Isabel. Her response to all this was to run away. He’d successfully put her desire to go away to college on the back burner for now, but if he knew his sister, she’d be barking up that tree again soon enough. How could he protect her if he couldn’t be near her? Didn’t she understand how dangerous it was for her to leave on her own?

Ironically, the person who seemed to be holding it all together was Michael. Max really admired the way he’d stepped up for Maria. Maybe Michael could help him deal with Liz and Isabel and Tess.

Max felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders as his Jeep came to a stop near the pod chamber. He didn’t really know what he was doing there – if anything, this place usually added to his stress. But for some inexplicable reason, he climbed out of the Jeep and made his way across the rough terrain to the entrance. Waving his hand over the rocky surface, the opening slid aside, and Max stooped to enter the cavern.

For a while, he simply stood and stared at the four broken pods, wondering when things got so complicated. He could remember a time not so long ago when he, Isabel, and Michael lived their lives in blissful ignorance, and he almost wished he could go back to that.

Max stepped through the pods into the granilith chamber, finding the soft hum of the large conical device oddly soothing. He sat down on the hard ground, his back leaning against the wall, and closed his eyes. Before he even realized it, his tired body was drifting off to sleep…

Max jerked awake when he heard a scuffling noise coming from the pod chamber. He rubbed his eyes and hastily stood up, his body immediately on alert. He had no idea how long he’d been asleep – maybe someone had come looking for him. But he instinctively held his hand up in the direction of the noise, ready to blast or create a shield if need be.

He was momentarily startled when he was indeed greeted by an unfamiliar face. She was a girl who looked to be about his age, average height with shoulder-length auburn hair and soft eyes. She looked as startled to see him as he did seeing her. She certainly didn’t look threatening, but if there was anything Max had learned in his life, it was to trust no one.

“Who are you?” Max demanded, still holding his arm outstretched.

“Whoa,” the girl replied, holding both her hands up in a gesture of defense. “Don’t shoot.”

“Who are you?” Max asked again. “And how did you get in here?”

“I’m not an enemy,” she simply said, slowly lowering her hands to her sides. “Could you… maybe lower your weapon there?”

“Not until you answer my question,” he said, still pointing his hand in her direction menacingly.

“Okay, okay,” she surrendered, again holding her hands up. “I’m Emma – well, on Antar I was Serina, but here I go by Emma because I always thought it was such a pretty name – anyway,” she said with a shake of her head. “My name is Emma and I’m a protector of the granilith.” She looked Max up and down. “And I’m gonna take a wild guess and say you must be Max.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know a lot of things, Max,” Emma replied calmly. “I know that you’re going to give me a complex if you don’t stop pointing that hand at me. I swear, I’m not your enemy.”

Slowly Max lowered his hand down to his side, but didn’t take his eyes off the strange girl. “What do you mean you’re a protector of the granilith?” he asked.

“It’s my job to make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Though you and yours have been doing a pretty good job of that on your own,” she said with a small smile.

Max’s mind was swirling with questions and he didn’t even know where to begin, or even if he could trust this girl.

“I know you have a lot of questions,” Emma said, as if reading his mind. “Go ahead. I’ll answer anything I can.”

“Why should I believe anything you tell me?” Max asked. “This could all be a trick.”

Emma sighed and held out her hands to Max. When he looked at her confusion, she said, “Take my hands.”

“Why?” he asked suspiciously.

She rolled her eyes. “Good god, you’re stubborn. Take my hands, and I’ll show you that you can trust me.”

Max looked at Emma warily. Despite her confident demeanor, her eyes were pleading with him. Hesitantly, he placed his hands in hers, and he felt the connection almost immediately. His mind was assaulted with images, most of them going by too fast for him to discern. He saw images of himself and Isabel and Michael as children. Images that he somehow recognized as being from Antar. Images of people he knew, and some he didn’t.

But stronger than the images he saw were the feelings that accompanied them. Feelings of safety, security, hope, trust, love. Feelings and emotions that an evil enemy wouldn’t possibly be able to convey. Max remembered something Liz once told him. Last spring, when Nasedo had paraded around wearing Max’s face and had kidnapped Liz, Liz told him that she knew it wasn’t really Max from the images and feelings she received when she kissed him. Nasedo’s mind always projected images of darkness and death.

Emma dropped her hands, effectively breaking the connection. Locking her gaze with Max, she asked, “Do you believe me now?”

And in that instant Max knew that he had just found a new ally.

***

Isabel took a deep breath, letting the story thus far sink in. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Now get to the part where you followed me to San Francisco.”

“Technically, I didn’t follow you there,” Emma said.

“Emma was already living there,” Max explained. “When she told me that, that’s when I came up with the idea to have her look after you.”

Isabel fought back the urge to snap at him again about how she could take care of herself, and tried to remain calm. She had promised herself that she would hear them out and try not to fight with them. “Wait,” she asked, “why were you living in San Francisco when the granilith is here in Roswell?”

“I don’t actually have to be near the granilith at all times,” Emma told Isabel. “I can sense it from pretty far away – sense if it’s in danger. I just come to Roswell periodically to check up on things.”

“I don’t understand,” Isabel said, though that was an understatement. “Why didn’t you ever come to us before?”

Emma looked apologetic as she said, “That wasn’t really my purpose.”

Isabel scoffed.

“Isabel, try to understand,” Emma pleaded. “I was sent here to do a job, and in the meantime, I was – and still am – just trying to live my life. Earth is essentially my home, and I just want to be as normal as possible. The same as you.”

Isabel stood up abruptly. “I have to go,” she said.

“Iz, don’t go,” Max begged, standing up and trying to grasp her arm.

Isabel sidestepped Max’s attempt. “I need some time to think… to process everything,” she said.

“Isabel, there’s still a lot we need to talk about,” Emma pointed out.

“I know, but I just can’t right now. I’m sorry.” And with that, she was out the door.

Max hit the wall with his fist and muttered, “Damnit,” as Emma dropped her head into her hands.

“How are we ever going to fix this?” Emma asked.

“I don’t know, Em,” Max said with a sad shake of his head. “I just don’t know.”

Hmmm, Emma and Isabel seem to be off to a rocky start. But I loved the meeting between Emma and Max... and her showing him he could trust her. That was nicely done!

Going back a ways (because I missed a few chapters ), I thought the Tess chapter was good. It did set up some interesting possibilities. And I liked this exchange especially:

Thinking about Emma, Isabel asked Tess, “Do you ever wonder if there are more of us out there?” Isabel had no idea if Tess knew about Emma, so she tried to gauge her reaction to the question.

Tess simply looked thoughtful and responded, “Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes the urge to find out is really overwhelming. But then there’s the fear that if there are more out there, they’re the enemy. So I try not to think about it so much. I mean, this is my life now,” she said, the forlorn look appearing in her eyes again. “What about you?” she asked Isabel.

“Not until recently,” Isabel muttered in a low voice, and Tess looked at her quizzically. Isabel guessed from her look that she didn’t know about Emma, and with a shake of her head, she said, “Never mind.”

Seeming to understand Isabel’s reluctance to explain, Tess skillfully changed the subject. “You know, I really envy you.”

Isabel looked at her in surprise. “Why?”

“Because you got out of here, and you’ve made this great life for yourself. I just… I feel like I’m stuck. All my life, all I wanted was to get back home. That was always the goal. But now that I’ve pretty much resigned myself to the fact that that’s never going to happen, it’s like… what else is there?”

Isabel placed a sympathetic hand over Tess’ and said, “Tess, I’m sorry. I had no idea you were so unhappy.”

“It’s not that I’m unhappy, per say. It’s just… I didn’t sign up for this, you know?”

I loved that statement! "I didin't sign up for this..." It seems so appropriate right now from this Tess.


And then there was Kyle...

“Can we sit in the back of the theater and make out?” Kyle asked with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.

Isabel stood up and grabbed Kyle by his hand, pulling him to his feet. With a wink, she responded, “Oh, I’m counting on it.”

Well, after that plane ride, he can join the mile high club now! They both can, I guess.


And yes, from all indications, I think he's right about this:

He had a feeling that he and Isabel had one hell of a sex life in their future.

I'm truly curious as to why Max didn't tell anyone. I know he's high and mighty sometimes, but he doesn't tend to keep secrets of alien importance from the other aliens. How could keeping this secret be in their best interest?

And poor Isabel, this has got to be tough on her. I hope, for the sake of friendship, that Emma and Isabel make up. It's going to be hard for her to prove that she had no ill intent. I'm also curious to see why she would take the job of watching over Isabel, was it imperative to her other job or did she do it as a favor for the king?

Looking forward to any answers you're willing to part with, if any, in the next chapter.

Oh! And thanks for the interludes...fun and definitely amusing. LOL, I too think Kyle is right about their sex life.

More please!
Lisa

Thanks guys! :D

Gerry, thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the Tess part, because I wasn't so sure about it. :
Lisa, you pose some very good questions, as always! I do hope that I'll answer them all by the end of the story.


Part 16

“Why’d you bring your yearbooks?”

Isabel peeked out of her walk-in closet to see Kyle leafing through a West Roswell High School yearbook that she’d packed in her suitcase. “I don’t know,” she replied, hanging up the blouse that was in her hands. “Just feeling a little nostalgic, I guess.”

Isabel, Kyle, and Emma had arrived back in San Francisco that afternoon and Isabel was in the process of unpacking her bags. Isabel and Emma had barely said two words to each other on the trip home, the tension between them so thick it could have been cut with a knife. Isabel had said a cursory goodbye to Max when she left Roswell, partly mad at herself for leaving things that way, but still in too much turmoil to try to fix it. Now all she wanted to do was spend a nice evening with her boyfriend and try to forget about what a horrible weekend it had been.

“Ha, check it out,” Kyle said. “I signed your yearbook. ‘Isabel, have a great summer. Kyle V.’ How eloquent.”

Isabel giggled and said, “That must have been pre-Buddha.”

He gave her an affable scowl and went back to looking through the book.

“So, how come you never asked me out in high school?” Isabel asked as she continued putting away her clothes.

“What?” Kyle asked, looking up from the yearbook.

“Well, even before you found out the truth, we always hung out in the same crowd. Why didn’t you ever ask me out?”

Kyle gave a little chuckle. “You were untouchable in high school, Iz. I guess I was afraid of rejection.”

“But you thought about it?” Isabel asked curiously.

“Of course I thought about it. Every guy in our class thought about it,” he added with a smirk.

Isabel’s cheeks flushed slightly and then she said, “Well, what about you, Mr. Athlete of the Year? Girls would fall all over themselves in your presence.”

Kyle just chuckled. “Would you have gone out with me if I had asked?”

Isabel looked thoughtful for a moment. “Probably not,” she said.

His mouth opened in surprise at her blunt answer. “Why?”

“Because of your dad.”

Kyle gave her a dumbfounded look and said, “I’m not quite sure what to do with that.”

Isabel laughed, coming over to sit next to him on the bed. “You were the son of the town sheriff, Kyle, and I had this huge secret I was hiding. I was pretty petrified of your dad when I was younger.” After a beat, she said, “Besides, can you really picture us as a couple back then? God, how cliché.” She leaned over and planted a soft kiss just below Kyle’s ear. “We’re much better suited for each other now, don’t you think?”

“Uh huh,” he murmured before his lips met hers. He pulled her body closer to him, his hand sliding underneath the hem of her shirt, feeling the smooth skin beneath. Isabel’s hands cradled his head, her fingers playing with the short hair at the nape of his neck.

They were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell, and Kyle groaned when Isabel pulled away. She sighed and said, “Hold that thought,” before getting up to see who was at the door.

She hurried to the front door and flung it open to reveal Emma on the other side. “I’m kinda busy right now,” Isabel said curtly.

“Iz, I know you’re still upset,” Emma said. “But, please, we have to talk about this. I am begging you. If ten years of friendship have meant anything to you, you’ll talk to me.”

“That’s not fair,” Isabel said in a low voice.

“No, Isabel, you’re not being fair,” Emma accused, pointing a finger at her friend. “If you would get over yourself for two seconds, you’d realize that you’re not the only one who’s hurting here.”

Isabel’s mouth dropped open, surprised at Emma’s outburst. “Don’t you dare try to put this on me,” she said angrily.

Isabel heard Kyle clear his throat behind her, causing her to turn. “Iz, can I talk to you for a second?” He gestured to her. “Over here?”

Isabel glanced back at Emma, then followed Kyle into the living room. When they were out of earshot, Kyle said softly to Isabel, “You need to talk to her.”

“What? Kyle, I…”

“Iz, enough is enough,” Kyle said evenly. “This is obviously hurting both of you. Just hear what she has to say.”

“Why are you taking her side?” Isabel asked incredulously.

Kyle remained calm and said, “I’m not taking anyone’s side. I just hate seeing what this is doing to you. To both of you.”

Isabel stared at the wall behind him, and Kyle titled her chin so that she would look at him. “I’m gonna go home and unpack… let you two have some privacy. I’ll call you later.” He kissed her cheek. “Just talk to her, Iz.”

He squeezed her hand before he walked away, and Isabel heard him murmur something to Emma as he was leaving. Then they were alone.

Emma tentatively came into the living room where Isabel was, and Isabel couldn’t help but note the irony of the situation. Less than a week ago, Emma would never have felt any trepidation upon entering Isabel’s home. A wave of sadness washed over Isabel. How had everything gone so wrong?

“Look, I’m sorry I yelled before,” Emma said, taking a seat on the couch. “I just… this is as hard for me as it is for you, Isabel. I’ve wanted to tell you the truth for so long.”

Isabel nodded in acknowledgement. “I overheard you and Max in his room the other day.”

“Then you know,” Emma said, her eyes showing a sliver of hope. “You know that I never wanted to hurt you. You’re my best friend, Iz.”

“But our entire friendship is based on a lie!” Isabel exclaimed, throwing her hands up. “If it weren’t for Max and his obsessive need to control everyone, you and I would never have even met. And what have you been doing all these years, running to the king and telling him all my dirty little secrets?”

“It wasn’t like that, Isabel! I never told Max anything that he didn’t need to know. All he wanted to know was that you were safe.”

Isabel scoffed. “Well, he could know that for himself if he’d ever pick up a phone.”

“That goes two ways, Iz,” Emma said.

“Oh, so it’s all my fault?”

“I didn’t say that. Look, I’m not here to defend Max or get into your relationship with him, but you should know that he did what he did because he loves you. Maybe he went about it the wrong way, but he loves you all the same.”

Isabel fell into the armchair, suddenly feeling very weary. Of course she knew that her brother loved her. Throughout her life, it was one of the few constants that she’d always been sure of. But that didn’t make his betrayal hurt any less. And it did little to provide answers to all the questions swirling through her mind.

“Why?” Isabel asked softly, almost to herself.

“Why what?” Emma asked.

“Why did you agree to do this when Max asked you? I mean, you’re a protector of the granilith, not a protector of the Royal Four.”

“When I connected with Max that day, the connection went both ways,” Emma explained. “And one of the strongest feelings that I got from him was how much he cared about you and Michael and Tess. He would be devastated if anything ever happened to you – to any of you. He’d be lost. And that’s why I agreed.” Emma paused for a brief moment. “Then I met you. At first, I had no intention of even interacting with you. I was just going to discreetly keep an eye on you,” Emma told Isabel. “But… I felt drawn to you. You had this energy… this aura about you, and I wanted to talk to you. Hang out with you. Get to know you. The real you. Not Vilandra, princess of Antar. But Isabel Evans, the girl. I wanted to be your friend.”

Isabel remembered how she had felt drawn to Emma as well after they first met. With a wary look, she asked, “How do you know that you weren’t just feeling that because we’re… the same?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Emma said with a shake of her head. “I want to believe that we would have become friends anyway. I do believe it.” Emma rose from the couch and came to kneel next to the chair that Isabel was sitting in, placing her hand over Isabel’s. “I love you, Isabel. You are one of the most important people in my life, and I’m so sorry that I’ve made you doubt that. But I’m hurting too,” she said, her voice soft. “Please. I can’t lose you.”

Isabel remained silent, not meeting Emma’s eyes, tears forming in her own. She didn’t know what to say. Every fiber of her being believed what Emma was telling her, but she still had so many questions… so many doubts.

When Isabel didn’t respond, Emma rose to her feet, dropping a kiss on the top of Isabel’s head. “Think about what I’ve said. When you want to talk some more, you know where to find me.” With that, she headed for the door.

Isabel’s mind screamed at her as Emma walked away. Tell her you love her too! Tell her you forgive her! Tell her you just want things back the way they were!

“Em?” Isabel called out.

Emma turned around, her face full of hope. “Yeah?” she asked anxiously.

She held Emma’s gaze for a moment, before faltering and simply asking, “How’s Aidan?”

Emma smiled sadly and said, “He’s gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay.”

“That’s good,” Isabel replied, nodding.

Emma looked at Isabel, seemingly waiting to see if she was going to say anything else, then breathed a sigh of defeat. “I’ll see you later,” she said.

Isabel watched her leave, waiting for the door to close before she dropped her head into her hands and cried.

awwww, that was heartbreaking, and yet so real. Damn stubborn women we can be sometimes, huh? Isabel is no exception, especially when she is hurting.

It's a lot to process and as a result she's not sure what to do....I just hope it works out and they're not stuck in that loop of distrust forever.

And I still think she needs a night to just get her mind off of things with Kyle (hint, hint, *wink*, *wink*, *nudge*, *nudge*). Help a girl out? I'm sure Is will thank you later. :

Time to release some emotions and some tension. Isabel has a lot to say to those she loves, before she pushes them all away.

Nice job! Can't wait for more!
Lisa

Awwww, I wish Isabel had swallowed her pride or whatever it is and accepted Emma's explanation and attempts to reconcile. I think she did, sort of, but couldn't quite say it.

And I smiled at this line...

“Ha, check it out,” Kyle said. “I signed your yearbook. ‘Isabel, have a great summer. Kyle V.’ How eloquent.”

Isabel giggled and said, “That must have been pre-Buddha.”

Great story! :D

Hey guys, thanks for all the wonderful feedback! :D

The next part is about halfway done, and I'm hoping to have it ready this week, but I can't make any promises. My sister's wedding is on Saturday, so that's been keeping me pretty busy.

Thanks for your patience! :D

We'll wait, Jenny. Enjoy the wedding! Congrats to the bride and groom! :D

Thanks for the fb, everyone! I'm so sorry for taking so long with this part. It was a tough part to write, so I hope it turned out okay. Huge thanks go out to Kerri, who was instrumental in helping me get this part written. :D

Lisa, I'm sure Kyle would very much like to help Isabel take her mind off things. Thanks for the great fb!
Gerry, thanks for the fb, as always! The wedding was a lot of fun. :D


Author’s Note: The italicized lines at the beginning are from the Season 7 episode of Friends, The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs. Also, I borrowed slightly from a line in Departure.


Part 17

“The big question is, does he like you? All right? Because if he doesn’t like you, this is all a moo point.”

“Huh. A moo point?”

“Yeah. It’s like a cow’s opinion. It doesn’t matter. It’s moo.”

“Have I been living with him for too long, or did that all just make sense?”

The sounds coming from the TV had been long forgotten amidst heavy breathing, soft groans, and breathless sighs. Isabel and Kyle lay tangled together on the plush couch in Isabel’s living room, their bodies pressed tightly together. Hands traced limbs and searched out skin, while lips stole breaths and caused heady delight.

Kyle was nearly going insane with need, Isabel’s hands leaving a trail of fire on his skin. He was beyond ready to take this to the next level, and judging from the pleasured sounds Isabel was making, he was pretty sure she was too.

“Iz,” he breathed against her ear. “Do you… wanna move to the bedroom?” he asked tentatively.

Isabel looked briefly at him with dazed eyes, and Kyle was momentarily worried that he’d misread the situation. Despite her sometimes-aggressive behavior, Kyle knew that taking this step in their relationship was a big deal for her, and he didn’t want her to feel like he was pushing her. But Isabel’s eyes softened as their gazes locked, and she gave a silent nod in answer to his question. Together they sat up from their horizontal positions on the couch and prepared to move to Isabel’s room.

The shrill sound of the doorbell had Kyle stopping in his tracks. Isabel cursed softly and Kyle heaved a frustrated sigh. “Seriously, we have got to start hanging out at my place,” he muttered in slight annoyance.

Isabel gave him an apologetic look, standing up and adjusting her clothes. “I’ll get rid of whoever it is,” she told Kyle. “Don’t move,” she added with a smirk.

He gave her a crooked smile and said, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Kyle waited as Isabel quickly made herself presentable and took a deep breath. Maybe it was just the mailman or one of the neighborhood kids trying to sell something – someone that Isabel could get rid of quickly so they could continue what they’d started.

But Kyle snapped to attention when he heard Isabel’s gasp after opening the door. Looking past her, he saw the last person he would have expected.

“Max!” Isabel exclaimed in surprise.

“Hey, Iz,” Max said with a sheepish smile, and Kyle rose from his position on the couch to come closer to the door.

“What are you doing here?” Isabel asked.

“I know I should have called,” Max said by way of an apology. “But I was afraid you’d tell me not to come.”

Shaking herself out of her stupor, Isabel stepped aside to allow Max to come inside. He entered, almost hesitantly, a small duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He and Kyle regarded each other with tentative nods, and the three stood in awkward silence for what felt like an eternity.

“So, uh, you’ve got a nice place,” Max finally said, breaking the silence.

“Thanks,” Isabel responded, flipping her hair over her shoulder in a gesture of nonchalance. “I guess Emma gave you the address.” Kyle thought he detected a hint of bitterness in her voice.

With the disappointing realization that his plans with Isabel were once again going to be scrapped, Kyle cleared his throat and said, “Well, I guess I should go. I know you two probably have a lot to… talk about.”

“Kyle, you don’t have to go,” Isabel said apologetically, placing a hand on his arm.

He looked from Isabel to Max and back again before saying, “Yeah, I do.” He kissed her lips, unable to resist letting the touch linger a little longer than necessary because he knew it would make Max uncomfortable.

“Call me later,” he told Isabel. “Maybe we can all go to dinner or something.”

Isabel nodded in agreement and he excused himself, leaving the Evans siblings to sort out their problems. Kyle sincerely hoped that they would settle this thing once and for all. Because he got the sinking feeling that his relationship with Isabel would not be able to move forward – either physically or emotionally – until it was resolved.

***

Max and Isabel stood in awkward silence in the middle of her living room for several long moments, and Isabel felt the same pang of sadness that she’d felt when she talked to Emma a few days earlier. How had things gotten this bad? Even before this big fiasco, she and Max had barely been on speaking terms. Not because of any falling out, but just because neither one of them seemed willing to put forth the effort to stay in touch. How had her relationship with her brother – one of the people she loved most in the world – come to this?

“I’m sorry for just showing up like this,” Max apologized again. “Emma warned me that it would piss you off.”

Kyle’s words from the other day echoed in Isabel’s mind. “Enough is enough.” He was right. This had gone on long enough, and it was time to try to fix the damage before it got worse.

Isabel’s face softened and she gestured for Max to make himself comfortable. “I’m not pissed, Max,” she said softly. “You just caught me off guard is all.”

Max and Isabel sat down on opposite ends of the couch, regarding each other cautiously. Max finally broke the silence by saying, “Now that I’m here, I don’t really know where to start.”

“Let’s start with why you kept this to yourself for so long,” Isabel said. “I don’t understand, Max. Why all the secrecy?”

“I didn’t totally keep it a secret. Michael knows.”

“Michael,” Isabel repeated. She made a mental note to deal with him later.

“Iz, I wish I could give you some drawn-out explanation as to why I did what I did, but I just can’t. I was in a really bad place after Alex died, and I didn’t know how to fix anything. I know I’ve made some bad decisions.”

“Max, it’s not your job to fix everything,” Isabel told him. After a beat, she said, “And I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Max responded.

“Then why did you send a babysitter after me?” Isabel asked, her voice rising.

“Isabel.” Max tiredly rubbed his face, then raised sad eyes to look at his sister. “You and I always had a special bond. Stronger than most siblings. When we came out of the pods and lost Michael… it was just the two of us and I knew I wasn’t alone. That I had my sister. No matter how bad things got, I feel like you and I were always a constant for one another. And when you told me you wanted to go away to college… to leave Roswell… to leave me… Iz, it broke my heart a little. It meant you didn’t need me anymore.”

Isabel opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Max continued on. “I’m not trying to make you feel guilty, and I know it’s no excuse for what I’ve done, and if I could go back and change things, I would. If I had known that this is how things would turn out, I would have done everything differently.”

“Well, hindsight’s twenty-twenty, Max,” Isabel said to him. “Just because you say now that you’d do it all differently, doesn’t make everything okay.”

“Iz…”

“No, it’s my turn now,” Isabel cut him off. She slowly paced the room, gathering her thoughts. “I’m not going to apologize for leaving. I couldn’t stay there anymore. You of all people should understand that. I couldn’t stay there for you, or Michael, or anyone else. I had to get out. I will apologize for not trying harder to stay in touch. But that road goes two ways, Max. You didn’t try either. I mean, my god! I had to find out from a wedding invitation that you and Liz had broken up! How do you think that made me feel?” Pointing an accusing finger at her brother, she said, “So don’t give me this crap about me not needing you, because you obviously didn’t need me either!”

Isabel paused to catch her breath and tried to control the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “I’m not a child anymore, Max,” she said firmly. “It’s time for you to stop treating me like one.”

“I don’t think of you as a child.”

“You sure have a funny way of showing it!” Isabel exclaimed. “God! From day one, you’ve acted like it’s your job to take care of me. All decisions have to go through you first. I’ve got news for you, Max. Here on Earth, you’re no king, and I am not your subject!”

Isabel took a weary breath, and softened her voice when she continued. “For the last ten years, I’ve been happy. Really happy, Max. And now… it’s like it was all an illusion being orchestrated by you.”

“Isabel, how can you think that?” Max asked. “Look at everything you’ve accomplished. You went to college and you’ve got a great job doing something you really love and care about. You have a beautiful home,” he said, waving his hand at their surroundings. “I didn’t have anything to do with that. You did it all on your own.”

Max rose from his position on the couch and came to stand in front of Isabel, their eyes level with one another. “I’m sorry, Iz,” he said. “I’m sorry for not trusting you to do things on your own. I’m sorry for not making a better effort to keep in touch with you. I’m sorry I’ve made you feel doubtful of yourself and your life. I don’t want to fight with you anymore, Isabel. I just want to be a part of your life again.”

Isabel sighed and looked upwards to the ceiling. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore either, Max. I never thought our relationship would come to this,” she said, bringing her gaze back to her brother’s dark eyes. “But things can’t just go back to the way they were. It’s going to take some time.”

“I understand,” Max responded solemnly. “I’ll do anything, Iz. Anything to make you trust me again.”

“Then I need you to trust me. Trust me that I can make my own decisions. That I know what’s best for me.”

“I do trust you,” Max affirmed.

“Those are just words, Max,” Isabel said with a sad smile. “Let’s just give it time, okay?” After a pause, she asked, “How long are you staying?”

“I’m off of work for the week. But I can leave in a couple of days, or even tomorrow…”

“No, don’t be silly,” Isabel said with a wave of her hand, suddenly anxious to have more time to talk with her brother. “Stay. Maybe you and Emma and I can… spend some time together.”

“I’d like that,” Max said with a tentative smile.

Isabel had meant what she said. She didn’t want to fight with Max anymore. Or Emma either. In reality, she wished she could just erase the last couple of weeks of her life. But maybe they were all taking a step in the right direction. In her heart, Isabel truly wished that things would eventually go back to the way they were.

I want to thank everyone who nominated this story at RF. I am truly overwhelmed. :D


Favorite Lead Portrayal of Isabel Evans
Favorite Lead Portrayal of Kyle Valenti
Favorite Lead Portrayal in a UC Fic (Isabel)

congratulations on your nominations..they are well deserved. You are a great author, and this story is wonderful

congrats on the noms. i finally make it over this way to read this. gret in crowder. esp since i've read your lamptrimmer fics.

i knew where iz was. i knew she was with alex. love the song you have chosen for this. and i see you do have a thing for friends.

i esp enjoy how you have taken us step by step with the whole kyle/isabel thing. and now this. see i think isabel should talk to aiden. and i think what is really bothering her is that. she has no normal. she's sucked back into the alien abyss. she needed emma. emma was 'normal' friend. and she loved that.

i love the alex convos.

and you did tess fine.

i'm still wrapping my brain around sean/liz. very interesting.

Thanks to everyone who nominated at Roswellian Chronicles! :D


Best Out of This World Fanfiction
Best Mix Matched Fanfiction

Congrats on all of the noms lady!

Now, when you coming back to update this wonderful story?

I...I mean Kyle, can't wait much longer! :

Lisa

Well, I had a crappy beyond crappy night last night, and this totally brightened my morning. Thanks, everyone! :D


Round 9 Winner


for Favorite Lead Portrayal in a UC Fic (Isabel)

Oh, and Part 18 should be up sometime this week!

Great new chapter, Jenny! And congrats on the award!

I thought this part was great! But Isabel made some good points herself about finding out things second-hand, so to speak and not being in touch.

“Isabel.” Max tiredly rubbed his face, then raised sad eyes to look at his sister. “You and I always had a special bond. Stronger than most siblings. When we came out of the pods and lost Michael… it was just the two of us and I knew I wasn’t alone. That I had my sister. No matter how bad things got, I feel like you and I were always a constant for one another. And when you told me you wanted to go away to college… to leave Roswell… to leave me… Iz, it broke my heart a little. It meant you didn’t need me anymore.”

Guess what? New part!

First of all, thanks for all the nominations and votes. You guys have no idea how much it means to me. :D

RoswellRocks, welcome! Thank you! :D
Roselle, you make a very good point about Isabel and her need for normal. I might touch on that a little before the story ends.
Lisa, Kyle has been very patient, and good things always come to those who wait.
Gerry, thank you! :D


Many thanks to ISLANDGIRL5 for filling in as beta while Kerri takes care of family stuff.


Author’s Note: This part fulfills a special request made by ISLANDGIRL5. Hope you like it! We’re nearing the end here – probably only two more parts after this.


Part 18

One week later, five people sat together at a round table in a trendy downtown restaurant. The atmosphere was considerably lighter than it had been in weeks, and Isabel smiled to herself as she realized that maybe everything was going to be okay.

Not to say that everything was back to normal yet. There was still some tension between herself and Max and Emma, but she felt like they’d come a long way in just the course of a week. She’d spent some time with the two of them during Max’s visit, as well as some one-on-one time with her brother. They’d done a lot of talking and gotten a lot of things out in the open. Isabel felt emotionally drained, but she knew that it was worth it. Because as hurt and betrayed as she felt, she still couldn’t imagine not having Max and Emma in her life. It would probably take a while for the rift between them to be completely healed, but Isabel knew that they were all on the right track.

And through it all, Kyle had been there. He’d graciously taken a step back during Max’s visit, giving Isabel time to spend with her brother to try and patch things up. He’d been so understanding and so supportive through the whole ordeal, that Isabel had to ask herself what she’d ever done to deserve him.

Max’s return flight to Roswell would be leaving in a couple of hours, so they had gathered with Kyle, Emma, and Aidan to have dinner before he left. Isabel smiled contentedly as Kyle entertained the group with one of his outrageous stories – one that she’d already heard several times, but the others seemed to be enjoying it.

“Isabel, hi!”

Isabel looked up at the sound of her name to see Christian Perkins, one of her co-workers at the high school. She was an English teacher, and she and Isabel didn’t know each other very well, but had chatted at several school functions and meetings. Isabel had always found her to be very friendly and outgoing.

“Hey, Christian,” Isabel replied with a smile. “How are you?”

“I’m good. You?”

“Great. Enjoying summer break so far?”

“Of course!” Christian chuckled in reply.

“Oh, I’m being so rude!” Isabel suddenly exclaimed. “Everyone, this is Christian. She’s one of the teachers at school.” Gesturing around the table, she introduced her friends. “This is my boyfriend, Kyle, my friend, Emma, and her husband, Aidan. And my brother, Max.”

Everyone smiled and murmured hellos to the new arrival. “What are you up to tonight?” Isabel asked Christian.

“Well, I was supposed to meeting someone, but he was… um… detained.”

Seeing the disappointment on Christian’s face, Isabel asked, “Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, I don’t want to intrude,” Christian said apologetically.

“Don’t be silly,” Isabel said.

The others at the table nodded in agreement, so Christian took a seat in between Max and Isabel, and was soon comfortably engaged in the group’s conversation. Isabel noticed that she seemed to have a lot in common with Max in particular, and if she wasn’t mistaken, she thought her brother might even have been flirting a little bit.

After dinner, the group of friends prepared to head their separate ways. Christian thanked everyone for letting her join their party, and she and Isabel exchanged phone numbers with promises to hang out again.

As Emma and Aidan prepared to leave, Emma asked Isabel, “Do you wanna have lunch tomorrow? We haven’t done our Sunday lunch in a while.”

Isabel smiled. Sunday lunch used to be a tradition for them before Emma had gotten married, and Isabel had to admit she missed it. “Sure,” she replied. “I’ll meet you at noon.”

Emma and Aidan waved goodbye to everyone and headed off to their car, leaving Max, Isabel, and Kyle alone. Kyle helped Max get his bags out of the trunk of his car, and Isabel asked Max, “Are you sure you don’t want us to drive you to the airport?”

“I’m sure,” Max answered. “A cab is fine.” As he spoke, he stuck out his hand to flag down a taxi, hailing one in record time.

Turning to Kyle, Isabel said, “I’m just going to say goodbye.”

Kyle nodded and kissed her cheek, saying, “I’ll be in the car. Later, Evans,” he called out to Max, and Max waved in return.

Isabel helped Max put his bags in the trunk of the cab. “So you and Christian seemed to hit it off pretty well,” Isabel teased.

“Yeah,” Max replied, and Isabel was pretty sure he was blushing. “She’s nice.”

Isabel knew that was all she was going to get out of him, so she just winked and said, “I think she liked you too.”

Max smiled in embarrassment. Then he pulled Isabel into a hug and said, “Thanks for letting me stay with you this week.”

“I’m glad you came,” Isabel said, and she meant it. She was glad they’d had this time to start to work on their problems, and they’d promised each other that they would stay in touch this time.

“Bye, Iz,” Max murmured and climbed into the cab.

“Bye,” Isabel said. Before he shut the door, she called out, “Oh, and Max, for the record… you’re my brother. I’ll always need you.”

Max smiled, obviously grateful to hear those words. With a final wave, he shut the door and the cab pulled away from the curb.

Isabel watched the taxi drive away before going and getting into the passenger side of Kyle’s car. “You okay?” Kyle asked her.

Isabel looked at him appreciatively and reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’m good. Thanks.”

Kyle smiled in return and cranked the engine. “Ready to go home?”

“How about we go to your place?” Isabel suggested, the corners of her lips turning upward in a smile. “I don’t think there will be any interruptions tonight.”

***

They were barely inside the front door of the apartment before Kyle had his lips on hers. She’d gotten him all worked up on the drive over, first by simply holding his hand, then touching his leg, then running her fingers through the short hair at the nape of his neck. He felt like he might explode if he didn’t touch her. Buddha help him if they did get interrupted this time.

“Bedroom,” Isabel gasped out between kisses, and she let out a little squeal when Kyle scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the steps and around the corner to his bedroom.

When he set her back on her feet, Isabel placed her hands on Kyle’s shoulders and looked into his blue eyes. “Kyle, I just want to thank you,” she said, “for being so supportive these last few weeks. I really don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“I just want you to be happy, Isabel.”

“I am,” she affirmed, smiling gratefully at her boyfriend. “But I’ve been selfish. I’ve pushed you away… and I’ve put other things before you… and I don’t want to do that anymore. I keep remembering what you said that night in Roswell… about wanting this to be about us… and it is. I want this. I want you.”

“Iz, turning you down that night is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Kyle replied. “God, I wanted you so bad. I think I’ve wanted you since the moment you walked back into my life.”

“I’m all yours,” Isabel whispered as she began unfastening the buttons of his shirt. Tantalizingly slowly, the two lovers undressed each other, taking their time to explore each other’s bodies along the way, both of them wanting to savor the memory of their first time together.

“You are so beautiful,” Kyle murmured in awe as he gazed upon her nude body. Isabel, blushing under the scrutiny of his intense gaze, grasped Kyle’s hand and guided him to the bed with her. Laying back, Kyle’s body hovering over hers, she could feel the rapid pulse of his heartbeat beneath his chest.

“Your heart is racing,” Isabel noted in a soft voice.

He smiled down at her, his finger running along the side of her face. “Just a little nervous, I guess,” he said.

“Nervous?” Isabel asked in surprise. “But I’m sure you’ve probably… lots of times.”

“It’s different this time. This is more than just sex, Isabel,” he said, his voice sincere. “I love you.”

Isabel was so overwhelmed at the emotion she heard in his words and saw in his eyes, that she feared she might burst into tears. Her voice betraying her, she swallowed back the lump in her throat and kissed Kyle firmly on his lips, hoping to show him what she couldn’t quite say out loud just yet.

After obtaining a condom from the drawer of his nightstand and putting it on, Kyle locked gazes with Isabel. “Ready?” he asked breathlessly.

She nodded, her heart now pounding just as fast as his. “Just… go easy, okay?”

Kyle smiled and nodded, kissing her lips softly… and then they were one. They both gasped at the initial sensations, reveling in the fact that they were finally able to take this intimate step together. Soft moans and breathless pants filled the air as they easily developed a comfortable rhythm.

When he wasn’t looking into her eyes, Kyle was planting tiny kisses all over Isabel’s face and neck. Isabel ran her hands up and down Kyle’s back and up to thread through his hair, her hips rising up to meet his thrusts. Their lower bodies rocked together in perfect unison, and Kyle felt his end approaching far sooner than he would have liked.

“Iz,” he panted, “I don’t… I’m not going to… last much longer…”

Isabel, guiding his hand between their bodies, said, “Touch me, Kyle. I want to come with you.”

He complied with her request, and soon the sounds of their cries echoed throughout the room as they both reached the brink of ecstasy. Panting from exhaustion, Kyle collapsed against Isabel, his head resting in the crook of her neck.

After her breathing had calmed down, Isabel said, “That was… oh my god.”

Kyle placed a kiss to her neck and then rolled to the side to give her some breathing room. “Sorry that I couldn’t hold out any longer,” he said sheepishly, the color rising in his cheeks.

“That’s okay,” Isabel said, smiling to reassure him. With a wink, she added, “We still have all night.”

Kyle simply grinned.

***

When Isabel awoke the next morning, panic momentarily seized her when she found herself alone in bed. But then she saw the piece of paper with Kyle’s handwriting scrawled across it on the pillow next to her, and she smiled to herself. Eagerly, she picked up the note and read what it said.

Isabel,

You looked so peaceful in your sleep that I didn’t want to wake you. I have to go to work for a while today. Stay as long as you want – I left the spare key and my car keys on the coffee table for you so you could get home. I’ll call you when I get off work.

Kyle

PS – Last night was incredible.

Isabel smiled and a blush rose in her cheeks as she remembered every detail of their lovemaking from the night before. It had been perfect – just the way she’d always imagined it would be. Kyle had more than made up for the miserable experience she’d had in college.

Glancing at the clock, Isabel saw that she had just enough time to get back to her apartment and clean up before she had to meet Emma for lunch. Gathering her clothes, that Kyle had neatly folded and left on the chair for her, she quickly dressed and headed back to her own apartment to shower and change.

Shortly after twelve o’clock, Isabel was seated across from Emma at a small table at their favorite café. Even though some tension still existed between the two friends, Isabel was too far gone on cloud nine to care. Nothing could bring her down today.

Emma must have noticed, because she asked good-naturedly, “What are you all smiles about today?”

“Nothing,” Isabel replied, but she was unable to stop smiling.

“Yeah, right,” Emma laughed in response. “What, did you and Kyle finally do it or something?” When Isabel didn’t respond right away, Emma, always the intuitive one, exclaimed, “Oh my god, you did, didn’t you?”

Unable to stop herself, Isabel gave an enthusiastic nod.

“Well, dish! How was it?”

If it was possible, Isabel’s grin widened even more. “Amazing. Perfect. Wonderful,” she gushed.

“It must have been,” Emma said with a knowing smile. “You’re grinning like the damn Cheshire cat.”

Isabel giggled and blushed, saying, “Em, I just… I can’t even tell you how glad I am that Kyle came back into my life. I really thought that there was no one out there for me… that I was just one of those people who was meant to be alone.” Isabel’s words fell from her mouth in a jumble. “And now, I think… I might, you know… finally…”

Emma’s cell phone rang loudly, effectively cutting off Isabel’s words. Glancing at the caller ID, Emma said, “It’s Aidan. Hold that thought.” Flipping the phone open, she greeted, “Hey, honey… yeah… okay…” A strange look crossed Emma’s face and she mouthed, “Be right back,” to Isabel and excused herself from the table.

Any other time Isabel might have been concerned about the conversation, but her mind was still wrapped up in Kyle. What she’d been about to say when Emma’s phone rang, was that she thought she’d finally found the person she was meant to be with. And that she had fallen in love.

She hadn’t said those three magic words to Kyle yet – even though he’d voiced them out loud twice now – but she would soon enough. Tonight, she thought to herself. Tonight I’ll tell Kyle that I love him.

Isabel was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn’t notice Emma coming back to the table. But she did notice that her friend was visibly upset. “Emma?” Isabel questioned. “What’s wrong?”

“Okay,” Emma said, taking a deep breath. “Just… before you freak out… Kyle’s fine.”

At Emma’s words, Isabel’s heart leapt into her throat and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. “What?” she asked in a panicky voice. “What’s wrong with Kyle?”

“Iz, sweetie, he’s in the hospital. He’s been shot.”


AN: Don’t hurt me! *hides*