Dinner, Dancing & Football

Author: Sunnycouger (foolofatook_@hotmail.com)

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: You all don't honestly think that I own any of this do you? Roswell and all its characters are property of Melinda Metz and Jason Katims..I just take them out to play sometimes...The song is by Tracy Lawrence and I don't own that either...very pretty song, very country though...

Category: Kyle/Tess, Alex/Isabel, therapy, friendship, CC's

Summary: When Kyle and Tess realise that they may have feelings for each other there really is only one thing they can do. Call their friends...

Authors Notes: This fic is set in the episodes that would have followed the prom. CYN did not happen!!! This is my first attempt at anything remotely foofy so if its bad blame it on a lack of practice:)

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Isabel Evans was standing at the phone in the hallway, entirely wrapped up in her conversation with Alex. She didn’t notice the two heads looking out the door making sure she was still oblivious to the world around about her. Tess Harding and Liz Parker did not want her to walk in on their escape. As they saw her laughing happily on the phone Tess ducked in the room and as Liz gave a sickened glare at the love struck woman in front of her she felt herself get pulled in the door.

“Is it just me or are people in love quite possibly the most nauseating sight on the planet?”

Tess looked at Liz with a “yeah right” expression. She had zero credibility in the “hating love struck people awards”.

“Nice Lizzie slate them of...try and make me think that you never ever acted that way about Max. I mean, you never made goo goo eyes over him or played a song over and over and over again because you thought of him when you heard it did you? Like hell you didn’t...”

As Liz looked on expectantly Tess replied...trying to sound convincing.

“Sure Liz, I mean...people who sit and make googly eyes over people when they walk in the room are so...obvious, don’t you think? I mean, people like us would never EVER do that right? We have a shred more dignity than that.”

“Yu’huh Tess, I so do not buy that one. I bet after the Prom you went around writing down Tess Evans and stuff like that. And now you have had to resort asking ME for advice on dating? You and me are probably the most hopeless cases on the planet...but you’re more hopeless because...you’re a...a...a person who is slightly more sure of herself.”

Liz mentally congratulated herself on her restraint in not mentally bashing Tess as she opened the window leading to her balcony. As they both stepped outside they looked at each other. This was not something that either of them expected to ever happen. Ever. Liz turned to Tess and began to speak.

“I think we should set some ground rules, because we can both be pleasant and civil to each other. We aren’t children right? Good, so I think we should agree no comparing our experiences with...either of our shared relationship partners? And that means that we do not say how far we did or did not go...or why things happened that appeared to have happened? Ok? Do you understand?”

“Umm, I have no idea what you are talking about but I’m assuming that conversations about any physical aspects of our relationships with Kyle and Max are strictly off topic right?”

Liz looked at her and nodded. This was going to be a mistake...she could just tell.

“Good, lets go then before Isabel realizes that we are leaving. I should probably let my dad know why I will be late back.”

Seeing Tess’s amused look she changed her mind, she did not want Tess Harding to see her as a daddy’s girl.

“Actually never mind, I’ll explain when we get back. C’mon.”

With that they both climbed down the fire escape and into the alley way. Once they touched the ground they both ran off down the alley towards the park. Away from the Crashdown and away from Isabel.

Isabel smiled as she got of the phone, she had probably spent too long away from Tess and Liz and the odds were that they would both be rolling about the floor trying to strangle each other already. She opened the door and spoke expecting to hear the two women talking.

"Ok, so are we acting like grown up's yet, ladies? Tess? Liz? Tess if you have mind warped me to hide Liz's body you better undo it now! Tess! Anyone?"

She looked right around the room before she saw the open window.

"Those no good...! They dumped me! That's gratitude for you...They are going to be sorry for that!"

With that she took out her phone and walked down stairs to wait on them. There was going to be hell to pay when they got back. She dialed Tess' number first and getting directed to voice mail she called Alex. She needed a sympathetic ear...

They arrived at the park about 10 minutes later, they were panting and laughing as they sat down on the bench.

“Oh my God I am so out of shape, you can tell how long I’ve relied on Maria driving me anywhere I had to go. Do you think Isabels noticed we’re missing yet?”

Tess smiled at Liz as she pulled her cell-phone out of her bag and checked to see if there was any messages on it.

“I think we can assume that since there isn’t an abusive message that she’s still oblivious at this moment in time.”

“Oh God, she’ll kill us.”

“No, she’ll kill me. I didn’t even want to come to you. She was the one that made me.”

“Really?”

They sat quietly for a minute before they turned to each other and simultaneously asked.

“So, Tess, are you serious about Kyle?”

“Liz, I would really appreciate your help with Kyle...please?”

As they both smiled at each other awkwardly Tess spoke on.

“I care for Kyle a lot, and I know you think I’m still hung up on Max...but, I’m not. It’s just my head is telling me I should feel things, do things that my heart knows isn’t real. Not here...here on earth its not real. Up there...”

She gestures with her finger upwards as she speaks.
“The feelings between Zan and Ava were real. But the feelings between Max and Tess? They aren’t meant to be anything more than friendship. But we had to try...we had to do it even if it wasn’t real. How else would we have moved on fully?”

“You would have always wondered I guess...Tess, can I ask...how do you know what is you and what is Ava? I can’t imagine having another voice in my head...I use Maria and Alex for that....”

Tess laughed gently as she answered.

“Ava’s feelings are impressions. For example, when I look at Max I feel deja vu...because its like I’m reliving a moment I never experienced. Like at the prom. I relived Ava’s and Max’s first kiss...”

Liz looked at her feet clearly uncomfortable.

“Thanks Tess, rub salt in my wounds why don’t you?”

“Can we not talk about the prom please? I spent my prom night in a bowling alley remember.”

“Whoops, sorry. I did forget about that. But, I know it must be hard for you to comprehend what is really going on but I was trying to make you understand.”

“I know what you mean. It’s like seeing a future that will never be fully yours. You can feel it, almost touch it even...yet when you turn round to grab it it has already changed into something different to what you expected. You see Max as he was up there, yet when you had him you realized that the future Ava had won’t be yours, because you’re different. Right?

Tess looked at Liz who clearly had something else on her mind as she spoke with a sense of shock and...sympathy? Liz actually looked as though she was in pain as she spoke and Tess...felt bad.

“You...you’re right. You’re right on the button. Liz? Are you ok? I...I know I am probably last on a very long list of people who you would ever talk to about stuff but...I will listen. I will...help if I can. You can trust me with stuff. I mean, lets face it, who am I going to tell?”

“Ok, Tess. Do it. Take her hand and let her know that you are sincere. Lift your hand and sit it on hers. No? Ok, pat her shoulder then...good. See, you can play nice. You can BE nice to other people.”

“Thank you Tess. I appreciate that. But maybe another time, firstly we better get down to business. Why hasn’t Isabel called yet?”

“Oh, I um, turned my phone off. She will get directed to voice mail. So, I guess we better get this over with then...what should I do? What does he like?”

“Kyle...Kyle was always a guy who liked to laugh. He was never comfortable in...”

“In places where he has to dress up? I know, he just likes to be able to relax when he goes out. What about clothes? Did he like a particular colour or...”

“He never seemed to mention a colour to me, you know he never seemed to notice...or maybe he did and I didn't notice.”

“He said he liked me wearing blue, he said he liked it because it matched my eyes. I was wearing blue when we nearly kissed...that night you showed up at the door and decided to help me get Max."

Liz looked at her apologetically as she offered a tentative apology.

"Sorry about that. But Tess, why do you need my help? You already know more about Kyle than I ever did. You should go with him and just...have fun. Forget about the fact that you are different. Just go and see what happens. If you go trying to be someone else then how is it going to be different from the Max thing? You..."

"Deep breath Liz, say it and then you can relax."

"You deserve someone to want you as Tess. And he does. Even if he is too stupid to realize it..."

With that Liz got to her feet and offered Tess her hand to help her up. Tess looked at her hard for the first time.

"Well there you go, Prissy Parker actually is an ok person after all. Could maybe even like her...actually, I think I do like her. Hehe, I can just see Max's face if the pair of us bond..."

Tess took Liz's hand and got of the seat and they began walking back towards the Crashdown. As they were about to enter Tess turned to Liz and spoke.

"So Liz, I know this is against the rules but when you said Kyle was "really good" you meant it right?"

With that Tess smiles sweetly at Liz knowing the answer will be a silent glare.

"I refuse to comment on that again. Besides we agreed...It isn't like I'm asking how far you and Max got before you decided it wasn't working..."

"Ok, jeez...sorry. Just curious...Stop being so touchy."

"I'm not touchy...it's just not important. Maybe in a few days we should talk about stuff like this but not just now ok?"

"Ok...I guess we better go and face the music huh? Think she's there?"

With that they walked in the cafe to see Isabel sitting at the counter talking in a phone. As she heard the door she turned around and glared at them as she shut the cell phone. Both Liz and Tess took a step back...fearing what was coming from Isabel.

TBC

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