Finding Yourself
Part 10

The group had watched Isabel and Max for a few minutes, before Michael gently reminded them that the police were still out looking for them. He reasoned that it would be better to take Max home, as opposed to having to be brought back by a police cruiser. So, Isabel had managed to coax her brother back into the Jeep. Michael had driven in silence while Maria’s occasional sniffle was the only sound heard.

Max seemed to have shut down as they pulled him from the last place he had seen Liz. His eyes had sort of glazed over and Isabel was truly worried for him. Then the anger began building towards Liz. She knew it was irrational and selfish to think that way, but Liz had fled in the middle of the night and left her brother like this. He didn’t deserve it. Isabel ignored the rational part of her brain that told her why Liz had left. She didn’t want to hear it just yet. Maybe later.

Michael had pulled up in the Evans’ driveway and they sat still, no one wanting to go in and explain what had happened. But they didn’t have to wait long. The front door had been flung open and Diane and Phillip came rushing towards them, folding Max in their arms. He allowed them to lead him upstairs to bed and the Sheriff approached Isabel and Kyle, looking like they were the only rational ones in the group.

"She left town, Dad." Kyle hung his head low. He had seen it coming, but hadn’t stopped it.

"When?"

"Early this morning, bus station. We found Max still there." Isabel didn’t want to talk to the Sheriff now. She only wanted to get up in her brother’s room and make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. Without another word, she broke from the group and ran up the stairs.

Kyle turned to his father. "They’re not taking it well."

"What happened?"

Kyle ran a hand through his hair, a mirror image of his father. "Things have been pretty rocky since Tess and Alex. You know how single minded Max has been lately, trying to find them. I think Liz was just holding it all in and it just built up. She exploded last night. I guess it was their anniversary or something and she thought he was going to surprise her and instead, he’d just called another meeting with all of us."

Jim shook his head. "The shooting. That was two years ago yesterday, wasn’t it?"

"What are you going to do, dad? You can’t drag her back, can you? It’ll kill her."

"Unfortunately, I can’t do a thing since she already left town. She is eighteen, barely, but she legally old enough to leave if she wants. I was hoping I could at least get her to talk to her parents, but I guess not. She really didn’t say anything to anyone?"

Kyle shook his head. Maria still had yet to open the letter they had found. That was for her alone to share if she chose. "Only Max."

Jim nodded, as if expecting the answer. "Okay, son. I guess I have to go tell the Parkers. Maybe having Amy there will help. I’ll see you at home." Jim turned to walk to his car, then stopped, turning back around to pull Kyle into a tight hug. "I love you, Kyle. You know that, right?"

Okay, this was getting to be too much. "Yeah, dad. I got it."

Jim nodded again, this time returning to his car and stepping in, dreading the return to the Parkers.

Upstairs, Max had been tucked into bed, his lifeless eyes staring up at the ceiling. Why was it that he could only see her face wherever he looked now? He had done everything he could to push her away, her sad doe eyes haunting him every time they met. But now, he longed for those eyes. What had he done? Why had he let her go?

Diane and Phillip held each other as Isabel sat on her brother’s bed and whispered in his ear. They were thankful Max was here, that he hadn’t run away with Liz, but they had a feeling that they had still lost their son.

Isabel turned her back to her parents, hoping she was blocking them from seeing what she was doing, but not really caring if they did. If she could offer any sort of comfort to her brother, she would do it. She placed a hand on his forehead and closed her eyes. She formed a connection with Max and sought to put him to sleep. She ignored the feelings and images he sent her, instead focusing on his neural pathways. When his breathing had labored and she was sure he would be okay alone for a few hours, she rose from the bed and gestured for her parents to follow her out. She climbed down the stairs, the evening’s events taking a toll on her body now. Kyle was in the kitchen, banging around, making coffee or tea she supposed. Why people did that in times of stress she never knew, but found that she was comforted by his presence. She wouldn’t have to face her parents alone.

Isabel turned, and found herself pulled into tight hug from both of her parents. She held onto them for a minute, glad she at least had them. Then, she pulled away, knowing they needed a story.

Kyle emerged from the kitchen with mugs of warm tea. Diane took one gratefully from him, using the ceramic to warm her chilled hands. They had almost lost their son today.

"Isabel, what happened? Where did you find Max? And what about Liz?"

Isabel faultered, not knowing where to start. She felt Kyle’s hand on her arm and she flashed him a grateful smile. He would take over for her and she would owe him forever for it.

"Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Liz is gone. She left town early this morning. From what we figure, Liz had a nervous breakdown of sorts. Alex’s death was too much for her and you know Max and Liz had been broken up at the time. When Max dated Tess," Kyle found the words vial to his own ears. "Liz couldn’t handle it. She pushed everyone away when Alex died and everything just went bad last night. They fought and she left. I found her in the cemetery last night and I took her home. Sometime after that, Max showed back up and I guess they talked it all through. Max drove her to the bus station and that’s where we found him. I think he let her go, even though it may have killed him."

Diane began sobbing, and Phillip held her tight. "What about her parents? Is your dad going to find her?"

Kyle sighed. "Well, the tricky part is that she’s legally old enough to do what she wants. Dad says he can’t force her back. In Liz’s letter to the Parkers, she asked them to give her some time, not to come looking for her. And if they let her be, she would call them in a few weeks and keep in touch. I just hope Dad can talk them into following her wishes. If they hire someone to drag her back, she’ll just leave again and then no one will ever be able to find her."

"God, it’s just so horrible! I wish I could do something, but I think we’d do more harm than good to Nancy and Jeff right now. When you see them, you’ll tell them to call us if they need anything?"

"Of course." Kyle wasn’t sure when he had developed his father’s tact and ability to handle people in a crisis, but he found that it wasn’t as distasteful as he once thought.

Diane squeezed Phillip’s hand. "I’m going to make lunch. Kyle, you’ll stay, won’t you?"

Kyle slid his eyes toward Isabel, seeking her answer. He would go if she wanted to be alone with her family.

"He’ll stay." Isabel offered him a weak smile. She needed someone to keep her strong, and Kyle was perfect for the job. She had a feeling it was going to be a long healing process for everyone involved. And wherever Liz was, Isabel hoped that she could find someone to lean on herself. Somehow, they all would get through this.