Chasing The Risk (Ros Mi/L) Adult 11/24/05
Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:22 pm
Chasing The Risk
By Ann
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!
Part One: Big Brother
01-04-05
You know there comes a time in your life when you realize it’s time to grow up and face the facts. Sometimes it’s easy. And sometimes it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do. But regardless, it is something that has to be done. I used to think that I had it all under control. My life was in perfect balance. I have a great family. My mom and dad are always there for me no matter what. I have a wonderful circle of friends. Max, Maria, Kyle, Isabel, Tess, Alex, Michael and I all grew up together. We’ve always been best friends. Whoever said you can only have one best friend didn’t have friends like mine. I thought I had it all together. I thought I had everything I needed. Turns out I was wrong. We have all hung out with each other for the last seventeen years but it wasn’t until last night that I realized something was missing. Something I never knew I wanted. Something I needed.
Three Months Earlier…
“That’s ridiculous!”
“No it isn’t. Think about it, there’s nothing ridiculous about it.”
“I’m telling you it won’t make any difference. Things happen regardless of what you do to try to prevent them.”
“Humor me a little here Parker. It isn’t like it’s going to hurt anything.”
“Except maybe a chance at happiness.”
“You know what? If you don’t want to do it, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you about this guy.”
“You don’t even know him Michael.”
“Neither do you.”
“Well I’m not going to break a first date with him because you don’t like him. I’ve got to go Michael. I’ll call you later.”
Liz turned and walked out of the Crashdown towards the man standing at the car parked out front. He couldn’t figure out what Liz saw in the guy. He was a pretty boy. His polo shirt and khaki pants, hair cut short. Michael rolled his eyes and let out a deep breath. He walked over to the table where Max sat. “Damnit, he’s gonna hurt her. He’ll be just like the others.”
“Michael, you don’t know that. You can’t keep this up.”
“Keep what up Maxwell?”
“This big brother act you play anytime one of the girls has a date. Maria, Isabel, Tess and Liz are a big part of who we are Michael but you have to let them live their lives too.”
“Easier said than done Maxwell. I don’t want them getting hurt. They’re like my sisters.”
“I know Michael. And I know how important having them is to you. It is to me too, but we can’t keep them from dating.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to like it though.”
“No it doesn’t Michael. Trust me, I don’t want any of them getting hurt either.”
Michael sat there and finished his Cherry Coke before standing up and grabbing his jacket. “I’m gonna go home Max. Pop in a movie and camp out on the couch.”
“Ok. I’ll pick you up at around 10 tomorrow morning.”
Puzzled, Michael asked “For what?”
“To get the rest of the stuff for Isabel’s birthday party. Did you forget?”
“No, just have a lot on my mind. With Liz and Maria both being out on dates right now it makes me nervous. At least with Tess and Isabel I know they’re in safe hands with Kyle and Alex.”
“Yeah but you know Brody Michael. You know Maria’s in good hands too.”
“I know him to an extent Maxwell but we’ve never exactly hung out.”
“Yeah, I wonder why that is.”
“Don’t know. Well, I’m gonna head home. See you tomorrow Max.” Michael turned and walked out the door and started his walk home. It was a crisp night and the air felt good on his face. He was just around the corner from his apartment when he heard a whimpering noise. Recognizing it, he put his face in his hands. “Shit!” Turning the corner he saw Liz sitting against the brick wall. Her legs were pulled up to her chest and her arms were holding them tightly in place. Her face was tear stained and she was shaking. Michael walked over to her and reached his hand down to her.
“Come on Parker.”
Liz looked up and grabbed his hand, standing up. She looked up at him then back down at her feet. “You were right Michael. Why does this always happen to me?”
“Because men are jerks.”
“You and Max and Kyle and Alex aren’t.”
“We could be. We just choose not to.”
“I feel so stupid Michael. Gosh why do I always fall for their stupid pick up lines?”
Walking her toward his apartment door, Michael chuckled. “Because it’s flattering”
“I must be stupid to keep falling for it though.”
“You aren’t stupid Liz. I’ve never known a woman or a man for that matter who hasn’t fallen for that. At least I know you’re safe. Wish I knew the same about Maria.”
“Oh, her and Brody went to the Wall. They’re having karaoke night. You wanna go? It’ll be fun.”
“I think I’ll just stay here.”
“Come on Michael. Please? It’ll be fun. They might even have some Metallica songs you can sing.”
“I don’t sing.”
“Ok fine, you don’t have to sing. But will you come with me? Please?”
Hoping it would help cheer up, Michael caved. “Fine, but I’m not singing Parker.”
Three hours later…
“I can’t believe you sang that song.”
“Why? It’s a good song.”
“Yeah, if you’re three.”
“Aw, come on Michael, what do you have against it?
“Liz, the Barney song isn’t my idea of entertainment.”
“Party pooper.”
Michael chuckled as he walked into his kitchen. He came back to the living room carrying two glasses.
“Here.” He handed her the glass.
“Thank you.” Liz was just about to take a drink when she lowered the glass. “Alright, what did you do to it?”
“What?” Michael asked with his eyebrows furrowed.
“Last time you got me a drink you spiked it with Tabasco. So, what did you do to it?”
“That hurts Parker. I was merely trying to introduce you to something good.”
“Cut the crap Michael.” Liz said laughing.
Michael chuckled. “There’s nothing in it Parker. Just coke. You don’t think I’d actually do the same thing twice do you?”
“No, you’re right. The practical joke king would never resort to redundancy.” Liz took a drink then sat the glass down on the table. Her eyes were drifting shut. Looking at the clock, Michael realized it was 11:15 pm.
Getting off the couch, he looked at her. “Lay down Parker. Get some sleep.” It was not uncommon for Liz to stay at Michael’s. They all camped at each others houses a lot.
He walked over to his phone. Dialing a number, he let it ring. “Mr. P?” He paused letting the other man talk. “Yeah, I’ll send her home in the morning….Ok…Thanks Mr. P.”
Michael hung up the phone and walked over to his closet. Pulling the blanket out, he walked over and draped it over Liz. “Night Parker.”
He started to walk back to his room when he heard a faint voice.
“Night Michael.”
TBC…
By Ann
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING!
Part One: Big Brother
01-04-05
You know there comes a time in your life when you realize it’s time to grow up and face the facts. Sometimes it’s easy. And sometimes it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do. But regardless, it is something that has to be done. I used to think that I had it all under control. My life was in perfect balance. I have a great family. My mom and dad are always there for me no matter what. I have a wonderful circle of friends. Max, Maria, Kyle, Isabel, Tess, Alex, Michael and I all grew up together. We’ve always been best friends. Whoever said you can only have one best friend didn’t have friends like mine. I thought I had it all together. I thought I had everything I needed. Turns out I was wrong. We have all hung out with each other for the last seventeen years but it wasn’t until last night that I realized something was missing. Something I never knew I wanted. Something I needed.
Three Months Earlier…
“That’s ridiculous!”
“No it isn’t. Think about it, there’s nothing ridiculous about it.”
“I’m telling you it won’t make any difference. Things happen regardless of what you do to try to prevent them.”
“Humor me a little here Parker. It isn’t like it’s going to hurt anything.”
“Except maybe a chance at happiness.”
“You know what? If you don’t want to do it, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you about this guy.”
“You don’t even know him Michael.”
“Neither do you.”
“Well I’m not going to break a first date with him because you don’t like him. I’ve got to go Michael. I’ll call you later.”
Liz turned and walked out of the Crashdown towards the man standing at the car parked out front. He couldn’t figure out what Liz saw in the guy. He was a pretty boy. His polo shirt and khaki pants, hair cut short. Michael rolled his eyes and let out a deep breath. He walked over to the table where Max sat. “Damnit, he’s gonna hurt her. He’ll be just like the others.”
“Michael, you don’t know that. You can’t keep this up.”
“Keep what up Maxwell?”
“This big brother act you play anytime one of the girls has a date. Maria, Isabel, Tess and Liz are a big part of who we are Michael but you have to let them live their lives too.”
“Easier said than done Maxwell. I don’t want them getting hurt. They’re like my sisters.”
“I know Michael. And I know how important having them is to you. It is to me too, but we can’t keep them from dating.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to like it though.”
“No it doesn’t Michael. Trust me, I don’t want any of them getting hurt either.”
Michael sat there and finished his Cherry Coke before standing up and grabbing his jacket. “I’m gonna go home Max. Pop in a movie and camp out on the couch.”
“Ok. I’ll pick you up at around 10 tomorrow morning.”
Puzzled, Michael asked “For what?”
“To get the rest of the stuff for Isabel’s birthday party. Did you forget?”
“No, just have a lot on my mind. With Liz and Maria both being out on dates right now it makes me nervous. At least with Tess and Isabel I know they’re in safe hands with Kyle and Alex.”
“Yeah but you know Brody Michael. You know Maria’s in good hands too.”
“I know him to an extent Maxwell but we’ve never exactly hung out.”
“Yeah, I wonder why that is.”
“Don’t know. Well, I’m gonna head home. See you tomorrow Max.” Michael turned and walked out the door and started his walk home. It was a crisp night and the air felt good on his face. He was just around the corner from his apartment when he heard a whimpering noise. Recognizing it, he put his face in his hands. “Shit!” Turning the corner he saw Liz sitting against the brick wall. Her legs were pulled up to her chest and her arms were holding them tightly in place. Her face was tear stained and she was shaking. Michael walked over to her and reached his hand down to her.
“Come on Parker.”
Liz looked up and grabbed his hand, standing up. She looked up at him then back down at her feet. “You were right Michael. Why does this always happen to me?”
“Because men are jerks.”
“You and Max and Kyle and Alex aren’t.”
“We could be. We just choose not to.”
“I feel so stupid Michael. Gosh why do I always fall for their stupid pick up lines?”
Walking her toward his apartment door, Michael chuckled. “Because it’s flattering”
“I must be stupid to keep falling for it though.”
“You aren’t stupid Liz. I’ve never known a woman or a man for that matter who hasn’t fallen for that. At least I know you’re safe. Wish I knew the same about Maria.”
“Oh, her and Brody went to the Wall. They’re having karaoke night. You wanna go? It’ll be fun.”
“I think I’ll just stay here.”
“Come on Michael. Please? It’ll be fun. They might even have some Metallica songs you can sing.”
“I don’t sing.”
“Ok fine, you don’t have to sing. But will you come with me? Please?”
Hoping it would help cheer up, Michael caved. “Fine, but I’m not singing Parker.”
Three hours later…
“I can’t believe you sang that song.”
“Why? It’s a good song.”
“Yeah, if you’re three.”
“Aw, come on Michael, what do you have against it?
“Liz, the Barney song isn’t my idea of entertainment.”
“Party pooper.”
Michael chuckled as he walked into his kitchen. He came back to the living room carrying two glasses.
“Here.” He handed her the glass.
“Thank you.” Liz was just about to take a drink when she lowered the glass. “Alright, what did you do to it?”
“What?” Michael asked with his eyebrows furrowed.
“Last time you got me a drink you spiked it with Tabasco. So, what did you do to it?”
“That hurts Parker. I was merely trying to introduce you to something good.”
“Cut the crap Michael.” Liz said laughing.
Michael chuckled. “There’s nothing in it Parker. Just coke. You don’t think I’d actually do the same thing twice do you?”
“No, you’re right. The practical joke king would never resort to redundancy.” Liz took a drink then sat the glass down on the table. Her eyes were drifting shut. Looking at the clock, Michael realized it was 11:15 pm.
Getting off the couch, he looked at her. “Lay down Parker. Get some sleep.” It was not uncommon for Liz to stay at Michael’s. They all camped at each others houses a lot.
He walked over to his phone. Dialing a number, he let it ring. “Mr. P?” He paused letting the other man talk. “Yeah, I’ll send her home in the morning….Ok…Thanks Mr. P.”
Michael hung up the phone and walked over to his closet. Pulling the blanket out, he walked over and draped it over Liz. “Night Parker.”
He started to walk back to his room when he heard a faint voice.
“Night Michael.”
TBC…