Message from the Author: Okay, for those of you who have been reading my stories before this, you are probably wondering what happened to the rest of the other story I had been posting here, "Until We Meet Again." Well, I've had some problems with that one, mainly that I accidentally deleted the file. Now, of course I could just come here to fanfiction.net to get the chapters I already posted. But the problem is that the new chapters I had written were on that document, and are now lost. I have been working on trying to reconstruct the remainder of the story so I could post it here, but it is taking some time. In the meantime, I decided to go ahead and start posting this story, which I have already written in its entirety and was waiting to post when I was finished with "Until We Meet Again". I've made three copies of this file, so it won't be lost. And the story is already finished, so all I have to do is post a chapter when I get a chance. You should have regular updates every day or two, except for next weekend because I am going to a Sci-Fi Convention. Anyhow, I'll stop rambling now and let you get to the story.
***********************************
Title: Did I Really Let You Go?
Author: Ian K.
Email: [email protected]
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell, or anything related to it. I have written this story just for fun, and will make no monetary profit off of this story whatsoever.
Summary: Alternate Universe Alex/Isabel story. Takes place in Season Two, beginning with the episode "Surprise", but events are altered. Alex and Isabel grapple with mutual heartbreak and possibilities of renewed romance.
Author's Note: This story is filled with angst, but don't worry A/I lovers, remember-I am a stargazer, too. Just read to the end. You'll see.
*********************************
CHAPTER ONE:
Alex Whitman looked at himself in the mirror one more time. He was not usually a vain person, but he wanted to look perfect tonight. It was Isabel's birthday, and he was going to join her other friends at the Crashdown to throw her a surprise birthday party.
Up until a little under a year ago, Alex really didn't know Isabel. Instead, he had looked on her from afar, not noticed, wondering what Isabel was hiding under that veneer of the popular it girl of West Roswell High. He found out when Liz brought him in on the secret that Isabel, Max, and Michael, were aliens.
Alex became friends with Isabel, and got to know her better. She was a lot more than she seemed to be, in more ways than just being an alien. Isabel was a person who was afraid to let people see who she really is, to let people in. Alex got glimpses of the real Isabel, though, and he now knew that he was head over heels in love with her. It was the real Isabel that he loved, not just her good looks.
He pursued her, and she rebuffed him. But, towards the end of the school year last year, she finally caved, and told Alex she wanted to be with him. They started a relationship, but things got crazy when Tess, a new girl in town, was revealed to be an alien, followed shortly thereafter by Max's capture and rescue from the FBI Special Unit. Over the summer, Isabel and Alex hung out a lot, but she wanted to slow things down again. Finally, she told him just two weeks ago that she couldn't be with any guy right now, that she needed time to find herself after all that had happened in the previous months. Alex understood, and was going to give her the time. But, he was also going to let her know he would be ready when she was.
So, to prepare for her party, Alex bought a new outfit. He donned a new, navy blue buttoned shirt, a nice pair of khaki slacks, and a new leather jacket. Looking at himself in the mirror, checking for any specks on his outfit, he finally was satisfied that he looked good.
Alex then went over to the bed, and picked up a small, wrapped box. In it was a gold bracelet, with links in the shape of stars. It wasn't anything too fancy, but was still an extravagance for a high school student who had to save his allowance and the money he made from band performances. Attached to the little packaged was a note that said, "For Isabel, love Alex."
Saying goodbye to his Mom and Dad, Alex got into his Dad's car that he was allowed to borrow for the night, and headed off towards the Crashdown. He looked down at his watch.
"Damned, I'm going to be a little late," he said to himself.
Isabel was going to get there any time now, and it would take him about ten minutes to get to the restaurant. He sped up a little bit, but not too much for fear of getting a ticket. If he did, then it would be no more car for a while.
He pulled up to the Crashdown, and parked in the back. Alex decided to go into the back door, in case Isabel was going in the front. She was being lured there under the guise of Alex returning a book to her, and didn't want her to not go in because she found him outside.
When he got inside the Crashdown's back room, he heard everyone yell surprise. "I'm late alright," he said to himself.
Alex decided to slip into the party quietly. He went through the doors that led to the main dining room. Standing in the back, he waited for a good moment to announce himself.
But before he could do so, Alex saw a man come into the room, and stand next to Isabel. He recognized him. "What's his name?" thought Alex. "Grant something, a geologist."
Alex remembered meeting him when he was sitting with Isabel at the Crashdown a couple of weeks ago. Something told Alex to just stand back and watch, and that he wasn't going to like what he was going to find out.
"Isabel, sorry I'm late," said Grant. "I didn't know there was going to be a party."
He handed her some purple roses. "Sterling roses," thought Alex. "Expensive sterling roses."
Alex saw the writing on the wall. Isabel had a date with this guy. He could also tell that Mrs. Evans, Max, and Michael, didn't seemed to thrilled about it. That was nothing compared to how Alex was feeling at that moment.
"Well, this obviously isn't a good time for a date," said Grant.
Alex decided he had seen enough. Still unnoticed by everyone, he slipped back out of the room and into the backroom of the Crashdown. He looked down at the present he had for Isabel, then tossed it onto the couch. Feeling tears welling up in his eyes, Alex darted out of the back door before anyone could find him.
**
Later that night, Maria and Liz were taking out the garbage left over from the party. They came back into the backroom of the Crashdown, closing and locking the back door behind them.
"Whew," said Maria. "What a night."
"Yeah," said Liz. "I still can't believe Whitaker was a skin. And Isabel had to kill her."
"I know," said Maria. "She seemed really upset about it, too."
"On her birthday, of all days," said Liz. "I hope Tess will be okay."
"Really?" asked Maria.
"Yes, really," said Liz, in a slightly chastising tone. "I don't want anything bad to happen to her."
"Not even a little bad," said Maria.
"Maria, that's not funny," said Liz, with a slight chuckle.
Maria was about to retort, when she looked over on the couch. She saw a small present laying there like it had been tossed aside.
"What's that?" asked Maria, walking over to the couch and picking up the present.
"Did Isabel forget a present?" asked Liz.
Maria looked at the note. "Its for Isabel alright," she said. "From Alex."
"Alex?!" said Liz in surprise. "He never showed up, at least I thought he didn't. I mean, in all the confusion, I forgot he never showed."
"Well, apparently, he did," said Maria. "But why did he just take off and leave this here?"
"When could he have come?" asked Liz. "When everyone went out after Tess?"
"Doesn't track," said Maria. "Someone would have noticed him, I'm sure. Besides, why would he be THAT late? After all, it was Isabel's birthday party, and you know how he feels about her. Poor him."
"I know Isabel has put him off lately," said Liz. "But, she did warm up to him last school year. There still may be..."
"Uh-huh," said Maria. "You weren't here earlier. Isabel showed up with this, like, older guy. Mid-twenties, at least. Isabel's Mom and Max were not pleased. Michael was, of course, downright hostile. The guy didn't stick around."
"He was her date?" asked Liz. "Are you sure?"
"Well, he gave her expensive sterling roses," said Maria. "Babe, you don't give that to a girl on a whim."
"When did this guy show up?" asked Liz.
"Right after Isabel did," said Maria. "Apparently she was meeting him here. Of course, she just thought she was stopping by to get a book from Alex..."
Maria stopped speaking as a thought crossed her mind. "Oh, shit," she said.
"What?" asked Liz.
"Liz, I just had a thought," said Maria. "What if Alex showed up, and we didn't see him, and he saw Isabel with her new beau?"
"Oh my God," said Liz. "Then he left without being noticed, and on his way out..."
"Tossed away his present for her," said Maria. "Oh, poor, Alex. We've got to find him."
***
Liz and Maria, unsuccessful at finding Alex the night before, showed up at his house the next day. It was a Saturday, so they knew they either had to try finding him at his house, or wait until Monday and see him at school.
"Oh, hi, girls," said Mr. Whitman, after opening the door in response to their knock. "If you're looking for Alex, he's in his room. But, he hasn't been feeling well, today. I guess he ate too much junk food at that party last night."
"You know what time he got home?" asked Liz.
"Late," said Mr. Whitman. "My wife and I were asleep. You can go to his room and try talking to him, if you want."
"Thank you," said Maria.
The two young women went down the hallway to Alex's room. They knocked on the door.
"Mom," said Alex's voice. "I'm still not hungry, thank you."
"Alex," said Liz. "Its me, and Maria. We need to talk to you."
After a few moments of silence, Alex spoke. "Come in," he said.
The two girls came into the room and found Alex laying on his bed. The covers were still made, and the bed didn't look slept in. He was laying on the bed in a blue button up shirt and khaki slacks. A leather jacket was tossed on the floor beside the bed. He looked disheveled, and his face looked drawn and tired.
"Alex," said Liz, closing the door. "We missed you at the party last night."
"But," said Maria. "It seems you didn't miss the party."
Maria pulled the wrapped box out of her pocket, and put it on the bed. Alex stared at it.
"You found it," he said.
"Yeah," said Maria.
Alex picked up the box, and handed it back to Maria. "Here," he said. "You keep it."
"You got it for Isabel," said Liz.
Maria handed it back to Alex. He then threw the box in the garbage pail.
"Alex, you showed up last night," said Liz. "And you saw Isabel with....her date."
"Grant," said Alex. "His name is Grant. I was there when he and Isabel met."
"Alex, I'm sorry," said Maria, as she and Liz came over and sat on the bed next to Alex.
"I know you two weren't dating anymore, but it must still hurt," said Liz.
"I wasn't even missed last night by Isabel, was I?" asked Alex.
"Well, no, but a lot happened last night," said Maria. "It turns out Congresswoman Whitaker was a Skin."
"What?" asked Alex, his interest peaked. "What happened?"
"She kidnapped Tess," said Liz. "Then almost killed her and Isabel. Isabel had to kill her."
"Is she okay?" asked Alex, his voice reflecting a good deal of concern. Then, in a calmer tone, he asked, "I mean, are they okay?"
"Tess was really shaken up," said Maria. "Isabel seemed upset, but physically she was alright."
Alex let out a sigh of relief. "That's good," he said. Then, he lay back and returned to his previous state of depression.
"Alex, I know you are hurting, but..." began Maria.
"You know," said Alex. "I've been thinking all night about her, everything that happened between me and her. Its like I have come out of the fog, and seen the light."
"You're going to become an televangelist, or something?" asked Maria, jokingly.
Alex and Liz gave her a look that told her that the joke wasn't welcomed. "Sorry," said Maria.
"What did you mean, Alex?" asked Liz. "Coming out of a fog?"
"Yeah," said Alex. "Me, Alex Whitman. What was I thinking? How could Isabel Evans ever look at me like I was a prospective boyfriend? How could I be so stupid?"
"Alex," said Liz. "She was dating you at one point..."
"She just needed a crutch to lean on, after Tess showed up and everything got weird," said Alex. "She knew I would be a willing toy. And I was. She used me, then dumped me like trash when she was done with me. When she didn't need me anymore. Then, she went out and got herself a real guy."
"Alex," said Maria. "Will you stop that? Alex, you are a great guy, and if Isabel can't see that, then that is her problem!"
"Well, in her eyes, I'm worthless," said Alex. "She didn't even tell me the truth when she blew me off. She told me how it wasn't me, that she couldn't be with any guy right now because her life was so confused at the moment. Then, two weeks later, she shows up to her birthday with Mr. Geologist."
"She told you that," said Maria. "What a bitch!"
"Wait, I'm sure she didn't know at that point she was going to go out with Grant," said Liz. "She was probably just trying to spare your feelings."
"Yeah," said Alex. "Well, I'll tell you...I've never felt so worthless in my whole life."
****
After spending a couple of hours trying to console their friend, Liz and Maria went to the Crashdown. Maria had a shift to work that evening, and Liz had to talk to her Father about going to work back at the diner since her job with Whitaker was now gone. By that evening, Liz was back in her waitress uniform, and helping Maria wait tables. They saw Max, Isabel, Michael, and Tess come into the diner and sit at one of the tables.
Liz, still trying to avoid Max, asked Maria to wait on them. She did, but not happily, since she was rather upset with Isabel over the way she treated Alex.
"Hi," said Maria. "Tess, how are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks," she said.
"What can I get you?" asked Maria.
"I'll just have a cherry coke," said Isabel. "I'm not that hungry."
"Want some hemlock with that?" asked Maria. "I'd be happy to get you some."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Isabel.
"Maria, what's the problem?" asked Michael. "We just came in to have some sodas and burgers. What's got you so pissed?"
"Oh, its not you, Michael, for once," said Maria. "I just don't appreciate it when someone treats a friend of mine like dirt."
"By that hemlock comment, I assume you are talking about me," said Isabel.
"That's right, you bitch!" said Maria.
"Um, Maria," said Liz, coming over after seeing and hearing the beginnings of an argument. "I'll take this. Why don't you take table seven for me?"
"Fine," said Maria, storming off to wait on another table.
"What is she so upset about?" asked Max.
Liz pulled a small, wrapped box out of her pocket, and put it on the table in front of Isabel. She picked it up, and read the attached note.
"When did Alex give you this?" asked Isabel.
"He never did show up at the party last night," said Max.
"He did, actually," said Liz. "No one saw him. We found that on the couch in the backroom when Maria and I were cleaning up last night."
"Why didn't he stay?" asked Michael.
"Isabel," said Liz. "Alex saw you with Grant."
Isabel looked up at Liz with a slightly startled expression, then looked back at the box. "He did," she said quietly, as she read the note once again.
"Yeah," said Liz. "He...left, before you could see him. Maria and I went to see him today, after we found the present. He's...Isabel, you need to talk with him."
"Why?" asked Tess. "Isabel and Alex aren't dating or anything."
"We were, though," said Isabel. "And the way I ended it, I might have....I didn't tell him about the fact I was going out with Grant."
"You didn't tell any of us, either," said Michael. "Why should Alex be any different?"
"I think you know why, Isabel," said Liz.
"Yeah," she said. "I'd better straighten things out with him."
*****
The next day, Isabel went over to Alex's house. Mrs. Whitman answered the door, and told Isabel that Alex had gone out to the park, and took his guitar with him. Isabel got back in the jeep, and drove over to the park at the center of town. She saw Alex, sitting at the gazebo, tinkering with his guitar.
She walked over, and heard him playing one of the Whit's songs. As she got closer to the gazebo, Alex looked up and saw her. He stood up from the bench, and stepped down from the gazebo and met her.
"Hi, Alex," she said.
"Hello," he said. "I heard, what happened, the other night. Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she said. "I'm fine. I've just...never had to kill anyone before."
"Well, you had to," said Alex. "To save yourself, and Tess. Look, I've got to go..."
Isabel lifted up her arm, and showed him that she was wearing the bracelet he had gotten for her. Alex stared at her for a moment, displaying no emotion in his features.
"Thank you for the present, Alex," she said. "I love it. I just wish I could have gotten it in person."
"Liz must have gotten that out of my trash can," said Alex. "You don't have to wear it to pity me, you know. You can trash it."
He started to walk away, but Isabel grabbed his arm. "I would never throw it away," said Isabel. "Its beautiful. Alex, you are such a good friend to me. I'm sorry if I've hurt you."
"You think that makes it all better," said Alex. He turned to look at her. "That's how things work in Isabel's world, isn't it? You say how sorry you are, bat those pretty eyes, and all is forgiven. Well, you did hurt me, Isabel. It wasn't that you are dating someone else. But it's the fact that you dumped me for someone else, but didn't tell me the truth about why you were dumping me. Which makes me wonder if our whole going out was just a sham from the beginning. I was a convenient crutch for you to use when things got weird, then you could toss me when you were done."
"That's not how it happened!" she said. "I really do like you, Alex. Just...I don't think I like you in that way. I just want us to be friends."
"Then why didn't you say that from the beginning?!" asked Alex. "Why did you lead me on?!"
"I didn't mean to!" said Isabel. "My feelings for you are just so confused! I just decided after a while that I still wanted to be friends with you, but that I wasn't sure how I felt about you beyond that! I did not dump you for Grant!"
"Isabel!" said Alex. "The simple fact is that I just don't know where I stand with you! I thought I did! When you told me you wanted to be with me, I thought for sure that you meant it! Then, a few weeks ago, when you said you couldn't be with any guy right now because your life has just gotten so confused, I accepted that! Hell, I understood that you might need time! But to see you going out with someone else just a couple of weeks later! What the hell am I supposed to think?! Do you even care?!"
"Of course I care!" said Isabel. "I care about you! I value your friendship!"
"Well, friendship involves trust!" said Alex. Then, in a quieter, calmer voice, he continued. "Being able to trust your feelings with someone. Isabel...I just can't trust you. If I don't know where I stand with you, if I can't trust you, then....what kind of friendship can we have?"
"Alex," said Isabel. "Please, don't give me up as a friend! I don't want to loose our friendship!"
"Then you should have been straight with me," said Alex. "I broke off my friendship with Liz and Maria a while back because they wouldn't be straight with me about what they were getting me involved in with you, Max, and Michael. I could only be friends with Liz and Maria again when I felt they were being straight with me, when I could trust them. With you...I just can't trust you, anymore. That's just the way it is."
"How do I earn your trust, Alex?" asked Isabel. "How can I fix this?"
"I don't know if you can," said Alex. "For Liz and Maria, it was easy enough. They let me into the secret, why they were keeping that secret became clear to me, and I understood why they did what they did. I don't understand why....you....did what you did. You don't even understand why. I just....can't risk trusting you, Isabel. Not now. Maybe not ever. I don't know."
Alex walked away, and left Isabel standing there speechless. She started to cry, realizing that someone she really values as a friends has been hurt because of her, and now that friendship is over. Confused, she walked quietly back to the jeep, got in, and just sat there for a while. She wanted to talk to someone, to get advice from someone, but she didn't know who to turn to. Isabel was mad at Max over his becoming too domineering with the whole 'being king' thing. Michael was not the person to talk over feelings with. Tess...well, at one time, she considered Tess a good friend. But it was hard for her to trust Tess. Kind of like it is for Alex now with her. Maria was pissed at her over hurting Alex. Liz might listen, but she is Alex's close friend, too, so she might not want to. Isabel felt completely alone, and was beginning to feel more fully the loss of Alex as a friend.
End of Chapter One. Chapter Two coming soon.
Okay, folks, do I have your attention? Feedback is always appreciated, so please do send some my way by reviewing my story. Any input from my readers is appreciated. Stay tuned for chapter two, coming soon.
***********************************
Title: Did I Really Let You Go?
Author: Ian K.
Email: [email protected]
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Roswell, or anything related to it. I have written this story just for fun, and will make no monetary profit off of this story whatsoever.
Summary: Alternate Universe Alex/Isabel story. Takes place in Season Two, beginning with the episode "Surprise", but events are altered. Alex and Isabel grapple with mutual heartbreak and possibilities of renewed romance.
Author's Note: This story is filled with angst, but don't worry A/I lovers, remember-I am a stargazer, too. Just read to the end. You'll see.
*********************************
CHAPTER ONE:
Alex Whitman looked at himself in the mirror one more time. He was not usually a vain person, but he wanted to look perfect tonight. It was Isabel's birthday, and he was going to join her other friends at the Crashdown to throw her a surprise birthday party.
Up until a little under a year ago, Alex really didn't know Isabel. Instead, he had looked on her from afar, not noticed, wondering what Isabel was hiding under that veneer of the popular it girl of West Roswell High. He found out when Liz brought him in on the secret that Isabel, Max, and Michael, were aliens.
Alex became friends with Isabel, and got to know her better. She was a lot more than she seemed to be, in more ways than just being an alien. Isabel was a person who was afraid to let people see who she really is, to let people in. Alex got glimpses of the real Isabel, though, and he now knew that he was head over heels in love with her. It was the real Isabel that he loved, not just her good looks.
He pursued her, and she rebuffed him. But, towards the end of the school year last year, she finally caved, and told Alex she wanted to be with him. They started a relationship, but things got crazy when Tess, a new girl in town, was revealed to be an alien, followed shortly thereafter by Max's capture and rescue from the FBI Special Unit. Over the summer, Isabel and Alex hung out a lot, but she wanted to slow things down again. Finally, she told him just two weeks ago that she couldn't be with any guy right now, that she needed time to find herself after all that had happened in the previous months. Alex understood, and was going to give her the time. But, he was also going to let her know he would be ready when she was.
So, to prepare for her party, Alex bought a new outfit. He donned a new, navy blue buttoned shirt, a nice pair of khaki slacks, and a new leather jacket. Looking at himself in the mirror, checking for any specks on his outfit, he finally was satisfied that he looked good.
Alex then went over to the bed, and picked up a small, wrapped box. In it was a gold bracelet, with links in the shape of stars. It wasn't anything too fancy, but was still an extravagance for a high school student who had to save his allowance and the money he made from band performances. Attached to the little packaged was a note that said, "For Isabel, love Alex."
Saying goodbye to his Mom and Dad, Alex got into his Dad's car that he was allowed to borrow for the night, and headed off towards the Crashdown. He looked down at his watch.
"Damned, I'm going to be a little late," he said to himself.
Isabel was going to get there any time now, and it would take him about ten minutes to get to the restaurant. He sped up a little bit, but not too much for fear of getting a ticket. If he did, then it would be no more car for a while.
He pulled up to the Crashdown, and parked in the back. Alex decided to go into the back door, in case Isabel was going in the front. She was being lured there under the guise of Alex returning a book to her, and didn't want her to not go in because she found him outside.
When he got inside the Crashdown's back room, he heard everyone yell surprise. "I'm late alright," he said to himself.
Alex decided to slip into the party quietly. He went through the doors that led to the main dining room. Standing in the back, he waited for a good moment to announce himself.
But before he could do so, Alex saw a man come into the room, and stand next to Isabel. He recognized him. "What's his name?" thought Alex. "Grant something, a geologist."
Alex remembered meeting him when he was sitting with Isabel at the Crashdown a couple of weeks ago. Something told Alex to just stand back and watch, and that he wasn't going to like what he was going to find out.
"Isabel, sorry I'm late," said Grant. "I didn't know there was going to be a party."
He handed her some purple roses. "Sterling roses," thought Alex. "Expensive sterling roses."
Alex saw the writing on the wall. Isabel had a date with this guy. He could also tell that Mrs. Evans, Max, and Michael, didn't seemed to thrilled about it. That was nothing compared to how Alex was feeling at that moment.
"Well, this obviously isn't a good time for a date," said Grant.
Alex decided he had seen enough. Still unnoticed by everyone, he slipped back out of the room and into the backroom of the Crashdown. He looked down at the present he had for Isabel, then tossed it onto the couch. Feeling tears welling up in his eyes, Alex darted out of the back door before anyone could find him.
**
Later that night, Maria and Liz were taking out the garbage left over from the party. They came back into the backroom of the Crashdown, closing and locking the back door behind them.
"Whew," said Maria. "What a night."
"Yeah," said Liz. "I still can't believe Whitaker was a skin. And Isabel had to kill her."
"I know," said Maria. "She seemed really upset about it, too."
"On her birthday, of all days," said Liz. "I hope Tess will be okay."
"Really?" asked Maria.
"Yes, really," said Liz, in a slightly chastising tone. "I don't want anything bad to happen to her."
"Not even a little bad," said Maria.
"Maria, that's not funny," said Liz, with a slight chuckle.
Maria was about to retort, when she looked over on the couch. She saw a small present laying there like it had been tossed aside.
"What's that?" asked Maria, walking over to the couch and picking up the present.
"Did Isabel forget a present?" asked Liz.
Maria looked at the note. "Its for Isabel alright," she said. "From Alex."
"Alex?!" said Liz in surprise. "He never showed up, at least I thought he didn't. I mean, in all the confusion, I forgot he never showed."
"Well, apparently, he did," said Maria. "But why did he just take off and leave this here?"
"When could he have come?" asked Liz. "When everyone went out after Tess?"
"Doesn't track," said Maria. "Someone would have noticed him, I'm sure. Besides, why would he be THAT late? After all, it was Isabel's birthday party, and you know how he feels about her. Poor him."
"I know Isabel has put him off lately," said Liz. "But, she did warm up to him last school year. There still may be..."
"Uh-huh," said Maria. "You weren't here earlier. Isabel showed up with this, like, older guy. Mid-twenties, at least. Isabel's Mom and Max were not pleased. Michael was, of course, downright hostile. The guy didn't stick around."
"He was her date?" asked Liz. "Are you sure?"
"Well, he gave her expensive sterling roses," said Maria. "Babe, you don't give that to a girl on a whim."
"When did this guy show up?" asked Liz.
"Right after Isabel did," said Maria. "Apparently she was meeting him here. Of course, she just thought she was stopping by to get a book from Alex..."
Maria stopped speaking as a thought crossed her mind. "Oh, shit," she said.
"What?" asked Liz.
"Liz, I just had a thought," said Maria. "What if Alex showed up, and we didn't see him, and he saw Isabel with her new beau?"
"Oh my God," said Liz. "Then he left without being noticed, and on his way out..."
"Tossed away his present for her," said Maria. "Oh, poor, Alex. We've got to find him."
***
Liz and Maria, unsuccessful at finding Alex the night before, showed up at his house the next day. It was a Saturday, so they knew they either had to try finding him at his house, or wait until Monday and see him at school.
"Oh, hi, girls," said Mr. Whitman, after opening the door in response to their knock. "If you're looking for Alex, he's in his room. But, he hasn't been feeling well, today. I guess he ate too much junk food at that party last night."
"You know what time he got home?" asked Liz.
"Late," said Mr. Whitman. "My wife and I were asleep. You can go to his room and try talking to him, if you want."
"Thank you," said Maria.
The two young women went down the hallway to Alex's room. They knocked on the door.
"Mom," said Alex's voice. "I'm still not hungry, thank you."
"Alex," said Liz. "Its me, and Maria. We need to talk to you."
After a few moments of silence, Alex spoke. "Come in," he said.
The two girls came into the room and found Alex laying on his bed. The covers were still made, and the bed didn't look slept in. He was laying on the bed in a blue button up shirt and khaki slacks. A leather jacket was tossed on the floor beside the bed. He looked disheveled, and his face looked drawn and tired.
"Alex," said Liz, closing the door. "We missed you at the party last night."
"But," said Maria. "It seems you didn't miss the party."
Maria pulled the wrapped box out of her pocket, and put it on the bed. Alex stared at it.
"You found it," he said.
"Yeah," said Maria.
Alex picked up the box, and handed it back to Maria. "Here," he said. "You keep it."
"You got it for Isabel," said Liz.
Maria handed it back to Alex. He then threw the box in the garbage pail.
"Alex, you showed up last night," said Liz. "And you saw Isabel with....her date."
"Grant," said Alex. "His name is Grant. I was there when he and Isabel met."
"Alex, I'm sorry," said Maria, as she and Liz came over and sat on the bed next to Alex.
"I know you two weren't dating anymore, but it must still hurt," said Liz.
"I wasn't even missed last night by Isabel, was I?" asked Alex.
"Well, no, but a lot happened last night," said Maria. "It turns out Congresswoman Whitaker was a Skin."
"What?" asked Alex, his interest peaked. "What happened?"
"She kidnapped Tess," said Liz. "Then almost killed her and Isabel. Isabel had to kill her."
"Is she okay?" asked Alex, his voice reflecting a good deal of concern. Then, in a calmer tone, he asked, "I mean, are they okay?"
"Tess was really shaken up," said Maria. "Isabel seemed upset, but physically she was alright."
Alex let out a sigh of relief. "That's good," he said. Then, he lay back and returned to his previous state of depression.
"Alex, I know you are hurting, but..." began Maria.
"You know," said Alex. "I've been thinking all night about her, everything that happened between me and her. Its like I have come out of the fog, and seen the light."
"You're going to become an televangelist, or something?" asked Maria, jokingly.
Alex and Liz gave her a look that told her that the joke wasn't welcomed. "Sorry," said Maria.
"What did you mean, Alex?" asked Liz. "Coming out of a fog?"
"Yeah," said Alex. "Me, Alex Whitman. What was I thinking? How could Isabel Evans ever look at me like I was a prospective boyfriend? How could I be so stupid?"
"Alex," said Liz. "She was dating you at one point..."
"She just needed a crutch to lean on, after Tess showed up and everything got weird," said Alex. "She knew I would be a willing toy. And I was. She used me, then dumped me like trash when she was done with me. When she didn't need me anymore. Then, she went out and got herself a real guy."
"Alex," said Maria. "Will you stop that? Alex, you are a great guy, and if Isabel can't see that, then that is her problem!"
"Well, in her eyes, I'm worthless," said Alex. "She didn't even tell me the truth when she blew me off. She told me how it wasn't me, that she couldn't be with any guy right now because her life was so confused at the moment. Then, two weeks later, she shows up to her birthday with Mr. Geologist."
"She told you that," said Maria. "What a bitch!"
"Wait, I'm sure she didn't know at that point she was going to go out with Grant," said Liz. "She was probably just trying to spare your feelings."
"Yeah," said Alex. "Well, I'll tell you...I've never felt so worthless in my whole life."
****
After spending a couple of hours trying to console their friend, Liz and Maria went to the Crashdown. Maria had a shift to work that evening, and Liz had to talk to her Father about going to work back at the diner since her job with Whitaker was now gone. By that evening, Liz was back in her waitress uniform, and helping Maria wait tables. They saw Max, Isabel, Michael, and Tess come into the diner and sit at one of the tables.
Liz, still trying to avoid Max, asked Maria to wait on them. She did, but not happily, since she was rather upset with Isabel over the way she treated Alex.
"Hi," said Maria. "Tess, how are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks," she said.
"What can I get you?" asked Maria.
"I'll just have a cherry coke," said Isabel. "I'm not that hungry."
"Want some hemlock with that?" asked Maria. "I'd be happy to get you some."
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Isabel.
"Maria, what's the problem?" asked Michael. "We just came in to have some sodas and burgers. What's got you so pissed?"
"Oh, its not you, Michael, for once," said Maria. "I just don't appreciate it when someone treats a friend of mine like dirt."
"By that hemlock comment, I assume you are talking about me," said Isabel.
"That's right, you bitch!" said Maria.
"Um, Maria," said Liz, coming over after seeing and hearing the beginnings of an argument. "I'll take this. Why don't you take table seven for me?"
"Fine," said Maria, storming off to wait on another table.
"What is she so upset about?" asked Max.
Liz pulled a small, wrapped box out of her pocket, and put it on the table in front of Isabel. She picked it up, and read the attached note.
"When did Alex give you this?" asked Isabel.
"He never did show up at the party last night," said Max.
"He did, actually," said Liz. "No one saw him. We found that on the couch in the backroom when Maria and I were cleaning up last night."
"Why didn't he stay?" asked Michael.
"Isabel," said Liz. "Alex saw you with Grant."
Isabel looked up at Liz with a slightly startled expression, then looked back at the box. "He did," she said quietly, as she read the note once again.
"Yeah," said Liz. "He...left, before you could see him. Maria and I went to see him today, after we found the present. He's...Isabel, you need to talk with him."
"Why?" asked Tess. "Isabel and Alex aren't dating or anything."
"We were, though," said Isabel. "And the way I ended it, I might have....I didn't tell him about the fact I was going out with Grant."
"You didn't tell any of us, either," said Michael. "Why should Alex be any different?"
"I think you know why, Isabel," said Liz.
"Yeah," she said. "I'd better straighten things out with him."
*****
The next day, Isabel went over to Alex's house. Mrs. Whitman answered the door, and told Isabel that Alex had gone out to the park, and took his guitar with him. Isabel got back in the jeep, and drove over to the park at the center of town. She saw Alex, sitting at the gazebo, tinkering with his guitar.
She walked over, and heard him playing one of the Whit's songs. As she got closer to the gazebo, Alex looked up and saw her. He stood up from the bench, and stepped down from the gazebo and met her.
"Hi, Alex," she said.
"Hello," he said. "I heard, what happened, the other night. Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she said. "I'm fine. I've just...never had to kill anyone before."
"Well, you had to," said Alex. "To save yourself, and Tess. Look, I've got to go..."
Isabel lifted up her arm, and showed him that she was wearing the bracelet he had gotten for her. Alex stared at her for a moment, displaying no emotion in his features.
"Thank you for the present, Alex," she said. "I love it. I just wish I could have gotten it in person."
"Liz must have gotten that out of my trash can," said Alex. "You don't have to wear it to pity me, you know. You can trash it."
He started to walk away, but Isabel grabbed his arm. "I would never throw it away," said Isabel. "Its beautiful. Alex, you are such a good friend to me. I'm sorry if I've hurt you."
"You think that makes it all better," said Alex. He turned to look at her. "That's how things work in Isabel's world, isn't it? You say how sorry you are, bat those pretty eyes, and all is forgiven. Well, you did hurt me, Isabel. It wasn't that you are dating someone else. But it's the fact that you dumped me for someone else, but didn't tell me the truth about why you were dumping me. Which makes me wonder if our whole going out was just a sham from the beginning. I was a convenient crutch for you to use when things got weird, then you could toss me when you were done."
"That's not how it happened!" she said. "I really do like you, Alex. Just...I don't think I like you in that way. I just want us to be friends."
"Then why didn't you say that from the beginning?!" asked Alex. "Why did you lead me on?!"
"I didn't mean to!" said Isabel. "My feelings for you are just so confused! I just decided after a while that I still wanted to be friends with you, but that I wasn't sure how I felt about you beyond that! I did not dump you for Grant!"
"Isabel!" said Alex. "The simple fact is that I just don't know where I stand with you! I thought I did! When you told me you wanted to be with me, I thought for sure that you meant it! Then, a few weeks ago, when you said you couldn't be with any guy right now because your life has just gotten so confused, I accepted that! Hell, I understood that you might need time! But to see you going out with someone else just a couple of weeks later! What the hell am I supposed to think?! Do you even care?!"
"Of course I care!" said Isabel. "I care about you! I value your friendship!"
"Well, friendship involves trust!" said Alex. Then, in a quieter, calmer voice, he continued. "Being able to trust your feelings with someone. Isabel...I just can't trust you. If I don't know where I stand with you, if I can't trust you, then....what kind of friendship can we have?"
"Alex," said Isabel. "Please, don't give me up as a friend! I don't want to loose our friendship!"
"Then you should have been straight with me," said Alex. "I broke off my friendship with Liz and Maria a while back because they wouldn't be straight with me about what they were getting me involved in with you, Max, and Michael. I could only be friends with Liz and Maria again when I felt they were being straight with me, when I could trust them. With you...I just can't trust you, anymore. That's just the way it is."
"How do I earn your trust, Alex?" asked Isabel. "How can I fix this?"
"I don't know if you can," said Alex. "For Liz and Maria, it was easy enough. They let me into the secret, why they were keeping that secret became clear to me, and I understood why they did what they did. I don't understand why....you....did what you did. You don't even understand why. I just....can't risk trusting you, Isabel. Not now. Maybe not ever. I don't know."
Alex walked away, and left Isabel standing there speechless. She started to cry, realizing that someone she really values as a friends has been hurt because of her, and now that friendship is over. Confused, she walked quietly back to the jeep, got in, and just sat there for a while. She wanted to talk to someone, to get advice from someone, but she didn't know who to turn to. Isabel was mad at Max over his becoming too domineering with the whole 'being king' thing. Michael was not the person to talk over feelings with. Tess...well, at one time, she considered Tess a good friend. But it was hard for her to trust Tess. Kind of like it is for Alex now with her. Maria was pissed at her over hurting Alex. Liz might listen, but she is Alex's close friend, too, so she might not want to. Isabel felt completely alone, and was beginning to feel more fully the loss of Alex as a friend.
End of Chapter One. Chapter Two coming soon.
Okay, folks, do I have your attention? Feedback is always appreciated, so please do send some my way by reviewing my story. Any input from my readers is appreciated. Stay tuned for chapter two, coming soon.