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:)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In hindsight Alex should have really known. He’s a smart guy and he knew how today was going already. He really should have guessed that he wouldn’t be able to get away from the Kyle/Tess/Isabel/Liz thing that he had somehow managed to get himself entangled in. He had just come off the phone from Isabel who had just been left at the Crashdown with Tess and Liz. Yet he didn’t think. He thought he could go out to the Crashdown, have a drink and then leave before anyone realized he had been and gone. Unfortunately, it hadn’t gone to plan. It had started well enough, after Isabel had told him Tess and Liz had arrived he had given them ten minutes to thrash things out and then he had left his house to reach the Crashdown. He had walked and as a result it had been in total, a good forty minutes since Isabel had got of the phone...so the odds should have been on his side. All he needed was five minutes to get in and get back out. As he had gotten to the Crashdown, he erred on the side of caution and looked in to see if he saw them. They weren’t there so he quickly went in and ordered himself a orange soda and a serving of pancakes to go. He didn’t need to be caught sitting in so he would eat them in the park. After paying for his food and drink he made his escape quickly out the door and began to walk leisurely towards the park, silently congratulating himself on his stealth. Mission accomplished- or so he thought. He carelessly called over the street to a guy out of his band as he strolled casually down the alleyway towards the park. It was his cockiness that killed him...because while he was strolling along leisurely he forgot that directly above him was the Parker's apartment and it wasn’t until the occupants in Liz’s bedroom heard the familiar voice from the window that they saw who was trying to give them the slip.

Upstairs in Liz’s bedroom Isabel was still ranting on at Tess and Liz. Tess looked on and smiled as Liz continually tried to get a word in to defend them. In truth, as Tess looked at Isabel who was in fact very animated all she could see was her lips moving and very little sense coming out.

“Blah, blah blah. Tess. Blah blah blah Kyle. Blah blah Kyle...Kyle Kyle Kyle Kyle. Blah blah Tess and Kyle.”

She didn’t realise what happened then but as she omitted a soft sigh and felt herself smile Isabel walked over towards her.

“I’m sorry Tess. Are you ok? Are you sure because I’m sure you must have some nervous condition that causes you to smile involuntarily because I know you WOULDN’T smile about leaving me here like an idiot.”

“Sheesh Isabel, lighten up already. You know, you have abandonment issues. It was your idea to come see Liz. God forbid that me and Liz should have a civil conversation...would you rather we started fighting right here? Hey Parker, get over here so we can fulfill Isabel expectations of our time alone together. Would that be better? And anyway, if you hadn’t been on the phone so long with your lapdog then...”

Isabel had humored Liz and Tess up until that point. She hadn’t even gave them THAT hard a time, sure she’d been discussing their disappearing act for the last forty minutes but...that wasn’t excessive. Really. Anyway, it was one thing to abandon her without even having the decency to tell her, it was even different from dragging her out of her bed at an ungodly hour on a Saturday. But when you started to openly make fun of either her or her boyfriend?

“Lapdog? On the phone to my “lapdog”? Oh...oh you’re referring to my boyfriend? That would be the guy that is keeping your little whipping boy occupied today? That lapdog?”

Liz looked on at the stand off going on between the two blondes. In a way it was refreshing to see Isabel standing up for Alex but the tension between these two was not something she wanted although, she had to admit, it was kinda funny. She decided she had to try and get the two of them focused on something else.

“So, Tess. When are you going to get your outfit? Blue, you said you were going for? Dress or skirt?”

She didn’t get a blink out of either of them.

“Whipping boy? Kyle is NOT a whipping boy! Why did you call him that?”

“Why did you call Alex a lapdog?”

“Because that’s exactly what he is...he’s your little lapdog. You call him and he drops everything...”

Tess didn’t understand where the words were coming from...but she was actually enjoying seeing Isabel get mad. It was fun seeing her perfect complexion turn scarlet and it didn’t help that she kept envisioning steam coming from her ears. The one thing she didn’t enjoy was hearing Isabel call her Kyle a whipping boy. Kyle was not whipped. Not that she wouldn’t consider it...

“Bad, bad Tess. Get your mind out of the gutter and back on the problem in hand. Lets see if we can make Isabel explode for calling Kyle names...”

“Alex is not my lapdog. Alex is my boyfriend and I never take advantage of him. He takes my calls because he’s a considerate guy. Something you wouldn’t be aquatinted with because you’ve lived with a glorified ape for the past year.”

“Bite me and my “lapdog” shorty!”

Liz didn’t like this and as she walked up to Isabel and Tess she almost got whacked on the head with a flying arm as Isabel tossed her hair dramatically as she walked towards the window.

“You know guys, I should get back to work and you...you both should go and...and shop. Go and buy new clothes and...and get ready for your dates tonight with two...really REALLY great guys!”

She looked to see the reaction of Isabel and Tess. Isabel was standing tall in her Princess Isabel mode and Tess? Well, Tess looked ready to fry her with her eyes. It’s a good job looks couldn’t kill. She finally managed to squeeze a sentence out through clenched teeth.

“Apologize.”

“I’m not going to apologize because Kyle’s an ape and you’re jealous of my relationship with Alex.”

“What? You think I am jealous? Of you? Please...Miss ‘I’mReallyNotReadyForARelationshipNowAlex- ohHiGrantHereTakeMyNumber.’”

“I was making sure I was ready for a serious relationship. You on the other hand, are pouncing on Kyle because Max isn’t interested.”

“Or you were waiting until Alex got interested in other people so you could reel him back in again?”

Liz was feeling a weird sensation, she felt like quietly dialing Maria up so she could share the fun she was having here. It wasn’t everyday that half the alien contingent of Roswell were nearly tearing each others hair out over a guy. But she decided against it. It also probably wasn’t appropriate to get her camcorder down and start filming it. Damn. But it was so funny...

“C’mon Liz. These two really need to sort this out and you need to get downstairs before dad kills you.”

“You know guys, I really REALLY need to get back downstairs and as much as I’d like to see how this ends- get out! I am not going to let the pair of you continue fighting over something so...stupid. Isabel, I apologize that we left you. Tess, Isabel apologizes for making you feel bad because Kyle’s not as good a boyfriend as Alex. Tess? You’re sorry for the lap-dog comment right? Ok, good. Let’s go.”

She began to walk out the door, hoping that they would take the hint and follow her out but instead they just stood there and looked. God, was their alien brains not programmed to take a hint already?

“What do you mean Kyle isn’t as good a boyfriend as Alex? How would you possibly know that Liz? You and Alex never...oh god, you did? Ugggh. That’s like incest.”

“Tess, don’t be stupid Liz and Alex never...I mean, she was with Kyle and then she was with Max. Alex and her never...you never right? I mean, you wouldn’t have dated Alex...”

“Of course not! I mean I wouldn’t say “dated” but...we might have went out a couple of times...and...”

Tess began to laugh hysterically at Isabel as the tall blonde looked like she was ready to physically throw up.

“And? And what? What did you two do? You went out a couple of times and you...?”

“Nothing! I mean, we might have kissed, like once, but that was all.”

Isabel was glaring at Liz as Tess looked on in hysterics. This was worth everything that had been said. Liz had the stereotypical deer in the headlight look on and Isabel was still glaring. Tess looked really hard at Isabel, she hadn’t blinked since Liz’s little confession.

“You. Kissed. Alex? And this was when? You were what? Ten? Eleven? And you gave him a peck on the cheek?”

“Ummm, no. We were thirteen and it was a...a kiss. Don’t tell me you expected Alex to have only dated you?”

“I...I, I of course not. But you and him? How did that happen? Wasn’t that too weird? I mean, you are..like brother and sister. Ugggh, I cannot believe he didn’t tell me!”

“We were thirteen! He was Maria’s friend mainly at that point and he was...funny. And cute. And he was smart. So we went to see a movie and then we had a date here. And we kissed once and we realized that it was just totally wrong. We didn’t see each other that way and we’ve been like we are now...ever since.”

Isabel walked over to the balcony and looked out. Her boyfriend had dated and kissed his best friend and she couldn’t help but be a little jealous. Deep down she had always thought that he had always wanted her first. She didn’t hear Tess approach behind her and it was only when she opened her mouth did she realize she wasn’t alone.

“Isabel? Don’t worry about it. I mean, we are both dating Liz Parker cast-offs...and, well...I’ve been interested in two of her ex’s. God, is there any guy in this town you haven’t dated Liz?”

“Oh God. What if I was the rebound girl?”

“The rebound girl which happened three years later? God...those two dates must have had some effect on him. C’mon, get yourself together. I have to go get ready for my date, which is happening in 5 hours 26 minutes! Hey, is that Alex? Alex!!!”

On the street below...

Alex hadn’t realized yet where he was walking. Despite the fact that he had been here almost everyday for the past five years...it just hadn’t dawned on him the importance of being quiet. That was why, in hindsight he shouldn’t have taken the shortcut. He heard the voice call him as he was about three yards from the end of the alley. It couldn’t be Isabel. It sounded like Isabel but...he kept walking.

“Keep walking Alex. It wasn’t Isabel, she will be in town with Tess by now. It might be someone calling to a completely different Alex. Yeah, I’m sure that’s it. Ok, maybe not...So turn around and go back and see if it’s your girlfriend calling you and stop being an idiot. You might be lucky and she might be all on her own again...”

With that he turned around and looked around to see if he saw where the voice was coming from. He looked around and furrowed his brow. Where was she?

“Isabel? Isabel? Are you here? Or am I just going completely crazy? That will be it...she’s drove me crazy and I am imagining her voice...”

Isabel stood above him and hearing his little conversation with himself took a step back on the balcony and, stifling a laugh, called his name again.

“Alex?”

Alex spun 360° and looked around. Where was she? As he heard her laugh again he realized what was going on and he had to force himself not to smirk. He called her name again, pretending he was still clueless as to her whereabouts.

“Izzy? Ok, I know what to do to get you to come out.”

With that he took position under the balcony, took a really deep breath and proceeded to sing loudly upwards. If you can’t beat them...join them.

“Any time I need to see your face,
I just close my eyes
And I am taken to a place where
Your crystal mind and
Magenta feelings take up shelter in the base of my spine.
Sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola.”

Deep breath Alex, it’s not that embarrassing serenading to this song...in the middle of the day, with three women above you.

“I don’t need to try and explain; I just hold on tight
And if it happens again, I might move so slightly
To the arms and the lips and the face of the human cannonball
That I need to, I want to.

Come stand a little bit closer,
Breathe in a get a bit higher.
You’ll never know what hit you
When I get to you.

Ooh I want you,
I don’t know if I need you.
But ooh, I'd die to find out.
Ooh I want you,
I don’t know if I need you.
But ooh, I’d die to find out.”

I think this exceeds the stripping as the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done in your life for a girl Alex. And here was me thinking I’d never top that.

Alex grinned and looked up at the sight of his girlfriend who was bent over the railing with tears of laughter streaming down her face. The broad smile that she gave him as she blew him a kiss made the whole ordeal worthwhile. He didn’t even care that in the background all he heard was Tess and Liz laughing.

Isabel turned sharply round at the two women standing behind her and glared, before turning back to her boyfriend.

“And here was me thinking you were ignoring me. So are you coming up or am I going to have to play Juliet and start quoting Shakespeare?”

Alex flashed her a grin as he yelled in reply.

“That really depends on tweedle dee and tweedle dum up there. Liz? Shouldn’t you be working? And Tess? Don’t you have...something on tonight?”

Liz walked to the fire escape and looked down at her best-friend who was standing below her. God, he could always make anyone smile. It didn’t even hurt that much that Max had serenaded her in the exact same spot a year ago. Well, it did hurt...but that was only because she hadn’t laughed as much in a year. See, when she and Maria had made Alex sing along to all those Savage Garden albums it had worked. Maria would kill herself if she knew what she had missed today.

“Alex, I would work...but before your appearance your girlfriend was busy ripping me and Tess apart. Besides I thought you were baby-sitting Kyle today?”

Alex had climbed the ladder as she was speaking and as she finished he had arrived at the balcony. He immediately smiled at Liz and Tess before walking to Isabel and kissing her gently before speaking.

“Isabel? Were you not playing nice with Tess and Liz? I was with Kyle...but he...”

Don’t say where he went. Don’t say where he went!

“He went to do something important. I’ll probably see him again later.”

Tess walked to the front of the balcony and looked intently at Alex at the mention of Kyle's name. Kyle had went to do something ‘important’. What if Alex had talked him out of tonight? If he had she would kill him! She looked at Isabel who was still smiling at him and bit her lip. If there was another argument now then things would never be ready for tonight. It was then that Isabel’s phone went off and she excused herself and walked into Liz’s room to answer it. Leaving Alex, Liz and Tess alone on the balcony.

“So, what was the ‘important’ thing Kyle had to do? He isn’t having second thoughts about tonight is he? I bet he is. I bet he’s home just now waiting on me to get back so he can cancel. Did you make him cancel on me?”

Alex backed off as Tess stuck a finger in his chest accusingly.

“N...no Tess. I didn’t tell him to cancel...I swear. He’s just...he just went...”

“Where?”

He looked desperately to Liz as she giggled in the background. Why was this happening to him? It was then he heard a shout coming from the bedroom. Oh-oh.

“Alex!!! Why the hell is Kyle and Max fighting on my lawn?”

Alex looked from Tess who was now pure white to Isabel who was pure red with anger. He tried to get the words to come out but all he could manage was a really loud gulping noise.

Isabel pushed Tess out the way and stood in front of Alex. She didn’t know what had happened but her mother had called to tell her about Kyle and Max and she knew the only reason Kyle went to Max would be on the advice of Alex.

“You want to tell me something Alex? Like why my brother is being beat to a pulp by the guy who was with you an hour ago. Alex? Sweetie?”

He looked over the balcony...maybe if he jumped he’d escape. But then again...he opened his mouth and smiled shyly.

“You know...funny story...”

TBC