Unbreakable - A Beautiful Lie · (Roswell Fanfiction) · √

FIVE

"You really don't remember?" Isabel asked, her eyes shining with unshed tears, and I was once again struck by her visible vulnerability. Just like her brother, Isabel was not normally known to show weakness.

For some reason, whatever had happened was scaring the living daylights out of Miss Isabel Evans and sympathy curled around my heart making my eyes soften with sincerity as I replied, "I understand that it was probably something important, something you really don't want anyone to know." I shrugged. "I don't really care what it is you're messed up in. That's your business." I took a step into the room, unwavering in my attempt at easing Isabel's fears, "I don't remember. Honestly."

I felt Max's contemplative gaze on me, sending warm shivers down my spine. Isabel held my eyes desperately, unaware of the tear that was sliding down her cheek.

I chose to not acknowledge it, keeping my tone light as I hitched my thumb in the direction of the door and concluded with, "I'm just gonna find Maria now; return to that infamous party of yours."

Getting no reply, I hesitantly worried my lower lip for a second before turning and heading for the door. His warm and steady hand around my upper arm made my breath hitch and my body reached a halt while desire relentlessly beat through it.

How was it that as the effects of the alcohol were slowly ebbing, his touches caused an increasing level of desire in me? Didn't the absence of alcohol usually make people less horny, not the other way around...?

I swallowed back my thoughts, afraid that he might be able to read them on my face, as I turned to look at him. A small gasp floated across my lips as I discovered his proximity, his face a breath from mine, his eyes shining with gold. I could feel his body heat spread into mine, the place where his hand was holding onto my arm burning.

"Thank you," he said softly and goosebumps spread from top to toe.

"For what?" I whispered back.

His eyes fell to my lips and a new emotion flickered through his eyes before he returned my curious regard. "For making her feel better."

My voice automatically matched his in softness as I explained, "It's the truth."

"Yeah," he said and I frowned as he looked almost disappointed, before dropping his eyes to the floor and taking a step back. "I hope so."

Why did I get the feeling that Max Evans wanted me in on their secret?

With that, he released me from his grip and my knees felt wobbly as I exited the room.

*****

"Are you okay?" Maria stared at me with large wide-open eyes. Intelligence and sobriety had returned to her face. I figured that Maria had also started to recuperate from her drunken spell.

"Where were you?" she continued. "I was looking all over for you. Were you upstairs? I heard no one is allowed upstairs. Did you know that? I've always wonder why that is. Such an odd rule."

I couldn't get a word in, nor a letter, even if I had tried. But I've learnt a long time ago that there was no real use in trying.

Maria gripped my upper arms, her eyes moving over my face, as if trying to pull the answers out of me. "You look different. What happened? Did something happen?" She frowned, tilting her head to the side. "How much did you have to drink anyway?"

I opened my mouth to answer (after all, Maria had been just as drunk as me when I had left her), but was cut off.

"I just saw Max and Isabel coming down the stairs. Where you up there with them? Alone?" Her eyes looked ready to pop out of her head, when something on my face apparently answered her question. "Oh my God. You were! You were alone up there with them! What did you talk about? What did you do? Did you see their rooms? I bet they have the most incredible rooms." Maria sighed dreamily, "Oh, what I wouldn't give to see Isabel Evans' room... She's so amazing. Don't you think so?"