Leaving Normal

Chapter One

Isabel was completely miserable, and she didn’t think it was going to change anytime soon. She’d had to say goodbye to the love of her life, and her parents. She honestly didn’t think she’d be able to live without Jesse, and she didn’t want to. Max and Liz had finally gotten married, and she was ecstatic for the two of them. They’d been through so much together, and they were finally able to be wit one another. Michael and Maria had finally made the decision to be together, and it was about time. Part of her wished that she’d let Jesse come with her, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him. He had a promising career, and to ask him to throw it away for her...he’d have always resented her for that. Kyle, Maria, and especially Liz had been apart of things from the beginning. Alex probably would have come with them if he’d still been alive. She was so glad that Kyle had decided to come with them. He was her best friend in the world, and he was likely to develop some sort of alien power like Liz had. It still didn’t fill the void of Jesse. They were currently in Arizona. They intended to stay for a couple of days to develop a plan, then they’d leave again. Isabel didn’t want this kind of life, but she’d always known deep down that it would happen just this way. Kyle seemed almost as sad as Isabel, so she decided to take her mind off of her own pain.

“ How are you holding up, Kyle?” He looked over at her and sighed.

“ Okay, I guess. I never expected to be running from the government. I always knew that your guys’s luck would eventually run out, but I always thought that I’d be safe... not that I didn’t choose to come with you, I’m not saying that. It’s odd really...I actually miss my father.” She smiled weakly at him.

“ I know what you mean. Those last couple of months, I wasn’t getting along with my parents at all, and now I just want to hear their voices again. It’s kind of crazy.” Kyle nodded, and Maria slid over to them.

“ Sorry to bud in to your conversation, but this is close quarters, I couldn’t help but hear. Do you realize I didn’t get to say goodbye to my mother? Hopefully Liz’s dad gave her that journal of hers.” They nodded and Liz plopped her head down on Maria’s shoulder.

“ I’m so mad that I won’t be able to visit Alex’s grave anymore. Who’s gonna put flowers on it now?” Before anyone else could gripe, Michael butted in.

“ Guys, will you please stop whining! You act like we’re never going to go back. You should really be looking on the bright side of things.” Isabel scoffed at him...like there was one in this situation. They’d all sacrificed something. Max had given up his son, Maria and Liz gave up their families, and Kyle had given up his life completely. Isabel had given up Jesse and the possibility of ever having a normal life. Michael...well Michael hadn’t really given anything up, because he’d gotten Maria back.

“ What is the bright side to this, Michael? Please enlighten us.” He shook his head at Isabel’s sarcasm.

“ Well first of all, we didn’t die. Do you realize how close we all were to death..well except Kyle and Maria. Also, Kyle no longer works at the crap job that he hated. Max and Liz are finally able to be together, and Maria and I are finally back together. Isabel...you should be so thankful that Jesse doesn’t have to live like this. He’s going to get a fresh start and he’ll be able to keep his life. Sure, you’re going to miss him, and I totally get that, but he got off scot free. Plus, you guys are totally disregarding the most amazing part of this.” Kyle glared.

“ Oh please share with us, oh great one.” Michael ignored the comment.

“ We’re together, guys. What if we had followed the original plan, and gone off on our own? We’d have never seen each other again, and we’d have been picked off one by one. That’s the great thing about this lack of plan of ours. I for one am very happy about the arrangement.” This got everyone to smile, including Isabel. Michael had finally gotten the one thing that he’d always wanted...a family. Kyle nodded his agreement with Michael.

“ It sure would have sucked being left behind while you guys just took off. What would have happened if I had developed something while you guys were running for your lives? At least now, you guys can help if something happens to me.” Max yelled back from the drivers seat at Kyle.

“ We’re still not sure that you are going to develop a power, Kyle. It could never happen, but it’s still a good thing that you came with us. They’d have locked you up because they know that you were friends with us.” Liz just chuckled.

“ It’s pretty much a given, though, Max, you have to admit. Why would I develop powers and Kyle not? Sure, you and I are connected, but Kyle was saved by you too. Truth be told, Mr. Valenti should have come too, but that was his decision to stay.” Max didn’t respond to this, but Maria spoke up.

“ Okay dammit, I need to get shot or something!” His caused Isabel to jerk her head in Maria’s direction and glare. Maria held her hands up and spoke before Isabel could comment.

“ I’m just saying is all. Everyone in this bus has or will have special powers...except me.” No one said anything at first. They knew that she was just joking and trying to lighten the mood, but it was such an absurd, but Maria thing to say. Liz finally giggled.

“ Maria, it’s not like getting shot was a good experience. For the time that I was conscious, it was the worst pain I’d ever felt in my entire life. That whole business about your life flashing before you life...total bologna.” Kyle chuckled.

“ She’s right, Maria, it really did hurt like hell.” Maria sighed dramatically.

“ Geeze guys, I was just kidding. You couldn’t even take a joke...well I guess not since you two were actually shot.” A few minutes later, Max pulled into a ratty looking motel. He turned the car off and turned to face them.

“ How do we want to do this? I’m sure this place doesn’t have a suite we could rent.” Liz sat up straight.

“ Max and I get a room to ourselves.” Everyone nodded their agreement, and Maria raised her hand.

“ Michael and I get our own room too.” Michael grinned at that statement, but Isabel sighed.

“ Fine, but I’m getting a double then.” Kyle chuckled, but Max frowned.

“ We have to conserve our money, please remember that.” They nodded and got out of the van. Isabel fixed their ID’s so they would be able to rent the rooms.
Once they were settled, they met in Isabel’s and Kyle’s room because it was the biggest. Max and Michael had their heads together, and everyone else was just sitting around. Max and Michael broke up a couple of minutes later and faced everyone, but Michael was the one to speak.

“ Okay, the main thing that we need to discuss and decided upon, is where to go. The other main thing is, how do we make money? We can’t get normal jobs because that’ll just pinpoint our location to the feds.” Kyle raised his hand.

“ What about an internet based business? We get an out of country account, or have my dad open the account. He can periodically wire us the money.” Max nodded.

“ I like it, but what do we sell?” Michael stood up and started to pace.

“ Maria could sell recordings, I could sell paintings, or we could just sell stuff.” Isabel scoffed.

“ That’s a great idea, Michael, ‘stuff’.” Kyle stood up and faced the group.

“ To get a business off of the ground, we’d need a lot of money, and let’s face it...we don’t have that. I know I suggested it, but it’s not a plausible idea. We might be able to do that in a couple of years, but we need to be able to make money now.” Max ran his hands through his hair.

“ We’re going to have to think of something because, at this rate...we’ll be out of money within the week.”