Title: Behind The Tree
Author: SpiderGirl
Disclaimer: I own nothing on this planet. Roswell belongs to Metz and Katims.
Summary: Max is a recluse, his parents died then his sister left because she couldn't cope and the only way for him to deal was to hide away in the house. What happens when someone moves into the empty house next door and hiding just isn't an option anymore?
Rating: Mature
Coupling: Max and Liz.
A Note: Banner by C_Which. Thanks girl! You really are a credit to Fan Art!
***
He sat in his favourite place under the kitchen table and read, he always sat under the table to read. He had done it ever since he was little; his mom and Isabel would sit under here with him and they would tell stories long after bed time. But that was then, this was now. He jumped when he heard a horn and wacked his head on the table. He wasn't as little as he used to be. He got out and went to the window to see a moving van pulling up into the drive way next to his. More annoying and unwanted noise! He thought and pulled the blinds just as a brown haired girl was getting out the cab. He grabbed his book and went back to reading, it was his only joy left in life now.
An hour he finished his book and got out from under the table and went upstairs to his room. He shut the door and walked to the bed
"Hi!" he heard a cheery voice and looked round to see a girl staring at him from the window across from his. She had a big smile on her face and was holding a giant panda that looked bigger than her. He went pale and he could feel a panic attack coming on. She dropped the panda down on the floor and knelt in front of the window resting her elbows on the ledge
"Don't you speak English? Parlez Vous Francais? Espagna? Italiano?" she asked then did something with her hands, she knew sign language! "I'm Liz" she said speaking and saying it with her hands "What's your name?"
"M-Max" he whispered wondering how the hell he found his voice
"Ah! You do speak!" she said then grinned. He blushed because she was really pretty when she smiled, he couldn't help smile back "Oh and a smile too! I really am lucky today! New house! New car and a cute guy to boot! I should move towns more often" she said teasing he fumbled with his shirt
"Well um" he said so quietly "Goodnight" he pulled the chord and the blinds came down fast. He collapsed down beneath the window breathing hard. That was the first conversation he'd had with someone in three years since it happened.
Liz scowled it was only five thirty in the afternoon and he was going to bed? She looked round her room at the boxes and decided they could wait, she went downstairs pulled out one of the pies some neighbours had already dropped off and went across the lawn to Max's porch. She thumped on the door then heard a shout, suddenly fearing for her new neighbour she dropped the pie opened the door rushed in up the stairs trying to find Max's room.
"Max? Max are you okay?" she called bursting in. Max was sitting on the floor pale as a sheet with the phone pressed against his ear having a panic attack. The second he saw her he got up and rushed into the bathroom. What the hell? She thought, what was with this guy?
Ten minutes later someone came into the bed room and scared her
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded gruffly, he pushed her aside and knocked on the bathroom door "Is he in there?" he asked and she just nodded "Maxwell man it's okay. I'm here. It's okay to open the door"
"Is she gone?" came a sob through the door "No one can come in here Michael! You tell her that! No one! This is the only safe place now and she can't make it unsafe!"
"I think it's best you leave" he told Liz
"Will he be okay? Does this happen a lot?" she asked "He seemed fine before when I spoke to him. I'm his new neighbour Liz"
"He's normally fine unless strangers... look just go. It'll take me a while to talk him out of the bathroom in this state"
"But maybe I could help?" she offered but he shook his head. Reluctantly she left.
"Okay man she's gone. It's okay to come out now" he said through the door and Max slowly opened it a crack and peeked out. When he saw she was gone he opened the door and Michael pulled him into a hug
"It's okay little brother it's okay I'm here for you" he told Max while he cried. After their parents died Max, who was the youngest, took it really bad and started hiding away until he never left at all. Isabel couldn't handle it so she left. Last either of them heard of her she was dating some guy named Alex; it sounded pretty serious.
Liz watched from across the way as Max's friend hugged him, she couldn't quite hear what they were saying but she knew there and then that she would do whatever she could for Max. She had failed once before... she wasn't going to let him slip away like Adam had.
TBC...
I know it's short but what do you guys think? I got the idea off Monsters.
Spidey
xxx