AN: Shama, BelevnDreamsToo, Sternbetrachter, blndie2272
Sorry to disappoint guys but this is not an update, I was just told that my computer also chomped out some earlier parts of my repost, so guess what? yep I had to repost it again ( and before you say it, yes I could have just deleted earlier parts and posted them on the repost board and then linked it to here and it would have probably been easier, but I realised that halfway through (yep, folks, that's my Joey from Friends moment, lol) so I just decided to do it this way instead.
****
"Well now that we're done with setting the table," said Kyle, "lets get this show on the road,"
He was trying to be as casual as possible and as loud as normal but he couldn't help notice how cute Tess looked in her pink top.
No. Follow the plan, he coached himself. Back off, give her time to decide, let her come to you.
"Patience," she smiled as she flopped on the sofa and tossed him a pack of goobers.
Tell me about it, he thought silently.
"Who are we going for?" asked Maria, her eyes glued on the screen, "Vin Diesel or Paul Walker?."
"Pass the popcorn please?" asked Tess.
Maria passed it to Max, who passed it to Isabel, who passed it to Tess.
"Hard to say," replied Tess, "Paul is hot in that jacket but Diesel has that voice thing going on!"
"Diesel," said Isabel.
"Diesel," said Maria.
"Both," said Tess.
The screen paused. All eyes turned to the remote keeper, Alex, who wasn't looking too impressed with the girls.
"Sorry to interrupt the hot boy candy fest," he said, "but could you please-"
"shut up so we can watch the rest of the freakin movie!" finished Kyle.
The girls looked at each other and smiled sheepishly. With soo much candy to look at how could they not comment?
"Um sorry," they muttered apologetically.
"Thank you," exhaled Alex.
Maria, Isabel and Tess each suppressed a grin as their attentions were captured by the screen once again.
****
The credits rolled. The food had finished. It was time for a break and a refill.
"I'll do it," volunteered Alex. Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed the empty popcorn bowls and headed over to the kitchen.
Isabel waited for five seconds and then went after him, "I'll come help."
At the same time Kyle rose from his seat,"I'm gonna go empty my bladder."
Tess waited ten seconds before she followed him upstairs, "I'm just gonna go freshen up".
Maria and Max were the only ones left in the quiet living room.
Well this is nice, thought Max, lets just turn up the tension levels shall we?
Beside him, Maria rose to her feet. Clearing her throat she said, "I'm gonna go outside, stretch my legs, get fresh air."
Without giving it a second thought Max said, "I'll join you".
Once outside, they looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Wow," said Maria, "looks like you and I are the only ones who aren't bound by tension, sexual or otherwise." Sure the movie was good but not good enough to make her ignore it all, the averted eyes, sly glances, tense nervous body language. It was pure energy and she was so glad that she and Max weren't that way. That they could totally relax and just be normal friends.
"Yeah looks like it" he agreed.
Standing closely together they looked up at the sky. It was a nice cool night, the sky was filtered with stars. Maybe that was why she felt so breathless. Yep, it had to be the beauty, it had nothing to do with Max at all. Her last relationship had ended disastrously, she wasn't ready to date, never mind get involved in a relationship with anyone let alone Max. He was her friend, her good friend and regardless of what she felt, she wasn't ready and they were going to stay just that. Friends. It was the safest status.
Her eyes still fixed to the sky, she said, "Oh I forgot to ask you, how did the session go with Liz?".
"Okay," he replied,"she just needed to understand the basics, after that she was okay. We're meeting up Monday to Wednesday to finish up."
"Oh. That's good" she commented causally. Meanwhile curiosity was digging away at her. She wouldn't admit it but she missed talking to Liz, wanting to know what was up in her life. Three months of separation couldn't erase years of girl talk.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him shift and turn to her, she could feel his eyes looking at her. "She misses you," he said finally.
"Oh" she said. Unable to avoid his eyes she sighed and turned to him, " Well that's not really my fault now is it?"
Three months of separation couldn't erase years of girl talk but stabbing her in the back by creeping with her ex-boyfriend sure helped things along.
"Maria-"
"Look can we not talk about them right now? I don't want to waste my time or my thoughts".
He held her gaze with an expression Maria couldn't decode. "Sure," he said finally. A smile spread across his face instantly making her forget about the betrayal. "So what do you wanna talk about?" he asked.
"Oh I don't know..." she replied. She sat down on the porch steps. Max settled beside her, "stars, planets, aliens, heck whatever"
"Okay, aliens it is then," he said.
Maria laughed, "Well we do live in Roswell so we were bound to have this conversation sometime". She turned to him, her eyes alight, "so do you believe in aliens?".
"I think it's a possibility" he replied. "You?"
"Hmm little green men watching the earth, coming in peace and abducting us lowly humans?". She shook her head," Nah not really".
"Not little green men necessarily" he said.
"Oh Max " she groaned, "you're not one of those aliens-are-among us people are you?"
He shrugged, "That's more believable than little green men"
"True", she agreed. " I'm sorry it's just I've lived around this all my life and sure there could be life out there and maybe even aliens among us, but seriously if you were alien why would you come and live in Roswell? I mean that's like returning to the scene of the crime. It's just not done."
"Yeah I guess," he said. Maria studied him as he nodded thoughtfully. Woah, he is giving this a some thought, probably an alien fan or something.
"I sorry did I just ruin you're alien bubble or something?" she asked as memories of debunking Alex's misconception about the tooth fairy played in her mind. It hadn't been a happy week for him, she recalled.
"Oh no," he shook his head and smiled, "I just find the topic interesting."
"Oh it is," she agreed, "if you haven't lived around it all of your life."
He opened his mouth about to say something but closed it again. "Yeah I could see that happening," he said instead.
Whatever he wanted to say, he's not going to now, thought Maria. So might as well change the subject to something else.
"So now that's out of the way, pick another topic" she said.
"Okay..."
****
Isabel jumped, slightly startled as the microwave timer sounded. She had been too absorbed in slyly studying Alex as he refilled the bowls with doritos.
It's amazing how things can change in day, she mused as she poured the salted popcorn into a bowl. Well for him it was a week but for me a day. Now I'm the wanting him and he's just...moved on. But how moved on is moved on? She thought. Well it was about time she found out.
Studying his every move under her lashes, she said, "I'm sorry I missed your gig last night". He put the bowl on the table with decided thud. He looked up at her and shrugged. "No biggie, you can check us out again next month".
His body language communicated that he didn't care but his hazel eyes told Isabel that he did. So he does care, she thought hopefully. Well of course he does, it was his last attempt at getting my attention, granted he had moved on but who wouldn't be hurt about that? She thought her hope fading.
Slapping a fake smile across her lips, she said, "Okay".
Without saying a word, he moved past her to get to the cupboard. Not one to give up too quickly Isabel carried on with her plan.
"I heard you had a good time anyway," she ventured.
"Yeah," he said. With his head in the cupboard, he added, "I met someone".
"Really" she said with mock enthusiasm. "Who is she, do I know her?"
He removed his head from the cupboard and faced her, "No, she goes to Pine Hill. Her name's Wendy Carson."
"Well Alex Whitman finally scored, congratulations," she said brightly concealing the envy and sadness she felt inside.
"Yeah well thank the rowdy Deluca and co at table three who just wouldn't let it go," he smiled. "How was your date with Sorenson?".
"It was good," she nodded, turning away pretending to look for something in the fridge; missing the roll of his eyes. Her date with Grant had been good, but today morning she had called him and told him she didn't want to see him again. That she was with someone else and that she suggested he re-evaluate his plans to stay. She turned to face him, "We went to a restaurant and talked".
"Great," he said. "Seeing him again?"
"Um no, he was just passing through so I don't think it'll last," she said studying his response.
It was a casual "Oh" followed by, "Well there are other fish in the sea".
Yeah but I only want you, she thought silently.
She was frustrated, he was just being normal, like they were friends. Which was what she told him that they should be, but...he didn't even care! No more puppy dog expression, he was just being nonchalant.
They were done refilling and were ready to go back into the living room. Isabel tried her again. "So, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to Fraiser Woods and stargaze again on Tuesday night? We had a great time last time," she asked as causally as possible. Inwardly her heart was pounding wildly against her rib-cage.
"I'd love to Iz but I've got a date with Wendy," he replied.
There was one painful thump on her rib-cage, then disappointment.
"Oh, okay."
"But we can go out on Wednesday," he offered.
"Yeah, sure," she accepted with a smile. She walked past him carrying her bowls, "that would be great."
Just great.
****
Tess heard him open the bathroom door, waited a few seconds and opened her bedroom door and walked into the hallway.
"Hey," she greeted him with a smile.
"Hi," he said.
They met at the top of the stairs, Tess wondering what to say and Kyle looking everywhere but at her . Tess studied him thoughtfully, he was acting like the almost kiss didn't happen. Like they were just Tess and Kyle hanging together. True that's what she wanted him to think and that's how he'd behaved after the dance last night but this was a step further, it was like he was avoiding her. His body language was totally readable. His eyes finally landed on her. He smiled and with a wave of his arm presented the stairs "Ladies first," he said.
"Thank you," she accepted. Descending down them, she paused halfway. She turned and looked up at him. "Kyle?"
"Yeah?"
"Are we okay?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "why wouldn't we be?".
"I don't know, it seems like you're kind of avoiding me" she said trying to capture his focus.
"No," he replied not meeting her eyes, "everything's fine".
"Oh, good," she said sarcastically, "'cause I was thinking that-"
"-hey guys quit the chatter and let's start a watchin," called Alex.
Kyle seemed relieved at the interruption.
"Coming!" he yelled looking at her expectantly.
There's always tomorrow, she sighed as she finished her descent and walked into the living room. She wanted to talk to him about the almost kiss. To straighten things out because she did not want lose what they had together.
****
As the night drew on, the friends moved closer until they were all settled on the sofa adjoined to the love seat. Every now and then, Tess glanced over at Kyle who was sat at the other end next to Maria. When she turned her attention back to the screen, Kyle chanced a glance at her. Tess was sat in between Alex and Isabel. When Tess was glancing at Kyle, Alex was glancing at Isabel. When Kyle chanced a glance at Tess, Isabel full of regret chanced a glance at Alex. In between the dance of glances sat Max and Maria, their knees leaning against each other, content being in each other's presence.
"Well, I'm not driving home alone tonight," declared Alex as they cleared up.
"It was a movie Alex," laughed Tess.
"Laugh all you want," he smiled, "but you're not the one driving home alone tonight. I'm totally secure in my manhood to admit fear."
Maria playfully hugged him, "Relax Alex, don't worry, we'll drive the scared wittle baby home" she teased.
"I," he began in a serious tone, "am totally secure in my manhood to admit fear."
Max, Isabel and Tess waved goodnight to their friends at the door.
"See you guys tomorrow!" he shouted.
"Yep," waved Alex," and don't forget to bring my car."
"No problem," Isabel laughed.
It had been agreed that Maria and Kyle were going to drive him home and she would drive his car to school in the morning.
Max closed the door behind him. Thankful that his parents were away on a getaway with friends, he waited till bedtime to tackle Isabel and Tess. He knocked on the door and entered.
Two green faces looked at him expectantly.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
"Sure," said Tess.
"What's up?" asked Isabel.
"It's about Alex and Kyle" he said. At that, their faces clouded over. This was not going to be fun, he realised.
"What about them?" asked Tess.
"I don't need to remind you that our lives and theirs are at stake" he began.
"Max what are you talking about?" asked Isabel.
Their face masks were incredibly ridiculous but Max had to focus on the task at hand. To remind them of their priorities.
"It took you two hours to get ready, you were plotting to get information about Wendy from Alex," he stated the evidence.
"I'm talking about your feelings for them. I know that sometimes we forget who we are, what we can and can't do. We're different and You can't -we can't be like that, they're close enough as it is, we can't get too....involved like that"
Isabel rose from the bed fuming. How dare he come into her room and start lecturing her on involvement?!
Especially after her disappointing night in the Alex department, Isabel was in no mood for one of Max's lectures.
"So what it's okay for you and not for us?" she demanded.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
Isabel snorted, looked at Tess and they both rolled their eyes. Could he really be that dense or in denial?
"You and Maria" she stated.
"What about me and Maria?" he asked.
Could he really be that dense or that deep in denial?
"Oh please" she shared a look with Tess. Did he need a list? His clueless expression told them he did.
"You spend a lot of time together..." began Tess.
"...You finish each other's sentences" she added.
"...You check each other out when you think neither one is looking" continued Tess.
"And don't get me started about the touching and eye contact" she said.
"Okay fine!" he held up his hands in defeat." I have feelings for her".
Isabel smiled, finally he had admitted what she and Tess had been talking about all along. "But that's all they're going to stay as. Feelings. Maria doesn't want to get into a relationship especially after Michael..."
Yeah right, did he not know anything about relationships or denial or oh and also the fear of going into another relationship after your previous one was a train wreck?
Obviously not, she thought dryly as he continued telling him the reasons why him and Maria weren't going to happen.
"...And no matter what I feel for her, I'm not going to act on it. Neither of us are going to act on it. I like her but I can restrain myself"
"Are you saying that we can't?" challenged Tess.
"No!" he said frustrated. This thing was turning out to be more hassle than he'd prepared himself for. Certainly the Maria admission had been a shock to him too. He slowly exhaled, getting angry at them wasn't going to help any of them. " I'm saying" began gently," you have to be careful, that's all"
"Ditto" said Isabel levelly.
Max sighed. He had said what he had come to say. He knew they were angry and he didn't blame them. There was nothing they could do about it. It was the way it had to be. "I'm going to bed," he said, " goodnight"
He closed the door and slumped against it and exhaled tiredly. He jumped slightly as he heard a thud against it. Isabel must be using her power to throw things, he guessed. Good thing I'm out of the way, he smiled wryly as he crawled into bed.
Yep he and Maria were going to stay just friends. He had the whole situation under control.
****
"I hate this," said Isabel as she roughly dried her face with a face towel.
"which bit, Max coming in preaching or-"
"I mean I hate the fact that he's right". She rinsed out the towel and placed it where it belonged. Sighing she turned to said and said "we were kidding ourselves if we thought that we could have a normal long term relationship with them Tess. Not when there are alien enemies trying to kill us and government agencies wanting to dissect us. It just-"
"Sucks" she finished.
"Yeah" she agreed dejectedly.
"So me and Kyle are just going to have to stay friends. No talk about the almost kiss, just buddies" sighed Tess sadly.
"And me and Alex? Well he's moved on already and me, I'm doomed to stay in shallow short term relationships while missing out on something deeper" she said bitterly.
"Being alien royalty sucks" said Tess.
"Uh huh" she agreed.
Isabel went to sleep with one thought in her mind.
Normal, all I want is for just once to be normal.
Changes (UC/CC,YTEEN/ADULT) Pt 16, 7 April[WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
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willowbv
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 321
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****
CHAPTER 8
I have had extra fun with this next part, I just keep having more and more fun with this fic!. Anyway, the "extra" is for various reasons, which you'll realise as you read, but mainly because it contains two of my many fav dreamer moments: loved the pencil scene in Sexual Healing and of course Max and Liz's first kiss in Heatwave. So when the idea came to me, I thought, how could I not?. I'm kinda nervous to see what you guys think about it, so pls tell me:) .
At this point I'd like to re-emphasise that I own nothing except my imagination. Lyrics belong to Gomez: We haven't turned around and Vertical Horizon: Everything you want (I felt this song just fit the scenes at the party to a tee, if I was editing the scene for a real ep, the song would be playing in the background, it was when I was typing it:) )
Polars, I have bad news, after this next part, no more polar romance, just polar friendship. But Gzs, this doesn't mean I've reverted to CC, they haven't even got together yet!
.
Lamptrimmers and Stargazers: What about our couples? they haven't either yet
Ah, but that's what this next part is for SPOILER ALERT ! MISS THIS NEXT PART IF YOU DON'T WANT A CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!....there's a party, there's dancing, there's kissing and then something happens.
Enjoy......
CHAPTER EIGHT
Liz looked up as the door to the biology classroom opened. A smile she couldn't control escaped her as the familiar brown headed boy walked shyly and apologetically to his seat. Right next to her.
She studied him luxuriously with her eyes as he sat down. She mouthed a soft hi, which he returned with his irresistible shy smile. His mere presence next to her, made it very hard for Liz to concentrate on what Mr Whitmore was saying. Max slid a paper over to her, she took it and enjoying the way their fingers touched, she let them linger there wanting them there forever.
Feeling incredibly brave, Max always made her feel like that, Liz bit her lip and "accidentally" dropped her pencil. She glanced over at Max and directed him with her eyes. Understanding her message, he grinned. Anticipating his touch she tucked her hair behind her ears, she could feel him under the table next to her, breathing. Then his touch, gentle, warm, sent shivers from the tip of her fingertips to the rest of her body. She closed her eyes as he stroked her fingers, her hand and slowly licked her fingers, one by one by one. Liz was swept away with pleasure. She'd had no idea how much enjoyment could be had out of interactions with fingers and his mouth. His warm, gentle mouth and tongue as they worked their magic. It was ecstasy.
Liz sighed as images swept through her mind, awesome breathtaking images of space, stars, whisking her away into a state of pure bliss. She gasped as a ripple of pleasure surged through her, a moan escaped her, another and another until pretty soon they were as loud as the bell....Wait what bell?
Liz's eyes flew open, she was awake, and the loud noise was her alarm clock. She exhaled slowly as the sensations travelled through her body leaving her feeling very empty and sad. She lifted her fingers, still tingling from the memory, to her face. Sighing she stared at the ceiling, not wanting to get out of bed but knowing that she had to.
Another dream about Max, she thought.The mere thought of his name brought an uncontrollable smile to her face.
But why?
Liz refused to consider the answer to that question and delve into rationale, it was just a dream, it had nothing to do with real life whatsoever, so she could just enjoy the feeling it gave her. It was as simple as that. Liz threw off her bed covers, planted her feet on the ground, stood up and then promptly sank to the ground. She stopped herself falling by holding onto her bed. Okay, so maybe some part of the dream transferred to real life, like the weak feeling in her knees, but that was it. In the shower, Liz hummed and smiled. With her eyes closed, she let the water run all over her, relieving every moment of the dream: the warmth, excitement, passion and wanting.
****
She floated her way to breakfast. The way Max made her feel, his work on her fingers and the visions it gave her were just amazing...and felt explosively good. Beaming, she greeted her parents with a smile and proceeded to pass her Dad the Max.
"Mayonnaise," she quickly corrected herself blushing.
Oh, I better get a hold of myself now. I cannot do that in school.
Rising up she excused herself and went into the bathroom.
"Okay" she told her reflection, " for one it was just a dream and two, I have to stop thinking about it, otherwise I might say his name again at an inappropriate time, with Michael or...it just has to stop", she ordered herself.
****
Liz was successful in avoiding thinking about either of her Max dreams until she walked into the biology classroom and realised as if for the first time that he was in her biology class.
Okay, she took a nervous breath as she sat down next to Tess, I'll be fine. Just focus on the work and everything will be fine.
Her statement of resolve dissolved the moment Max entered the classroom...with Maria laughing by his side. Liz was surprised to find herself disappointed that he wasn't alone and even more so when he passed by their table greeted her and Tess with a smile and sat down next to Maria.
That's why it's called a dream, she told herself, it's not real. For one insane instant you thought you and Max were together or that there was something there-that's just plain wrong.
As the lesson continued, the memories of the morning's dream continuously pushed the new information she was learning out of the way, making it very hard for her to concentrate. Liz found herself turning slightly and glancing at Max.
"What's so interesting?" asked Tess, jolting Liz from her Max glance.
"Um nothing," she replied, silently panicked, "I was just-"
"Looking over at Maria" she finished.
"Yeah," she nodded. It was better than the alternative.
"Miss her?" she asked.
"Yeah" she replied. She missed Maria more and more everyday.
"Hmm well you should have thought of that before you made a play for her boyfriend" she said with malice.
Liz nodded, she had forgotten for a moment that Tess and Maria were friends and once again the reason for it, was Max. She returned back to work, but every now and then of they're own accord, her eyes drifted to Max. He caught her once and smiled, blushing she had smiled back and quickly looked away.
Liz left biology thinking she had a serious problem, Max Evans was invading her brain.
****
It had all been going perfectly until Advanced Chem. She had walked in, sat on the table she shared with Naomi ready to focus on work. Then Naomi asked if she didn't mind her sitting with Kevin since they were in the flirting stage of their relationship. Of course she had agreed, it a simple request and she was fine with it. Until she had realised too little too late when everyone was settled and class had began and he came and sat next to her, that Max was Kevin's desk mate. And now he was sitting next to her, mouthing a hi to her, just like in her dream.
"Hi," she mouthed back before pretending to focus her attention on the board.
"I have a serious problem" she whispered to herself. Just sitting there next to him brought back memories of her early morning dream, except that had been in bio, this was in Chem and-
Oh no!
In her surge of nervousness she had just dropped her pencil on the floor. Her heart stopped. This is too much of a deja vu, she realised as it began pounding wildly against her chest. She lifted her eyes and met Max's who had noticed that the pencil had dropped. She quickly moved to get it but wasn't fast enough to stop him from bending down under the table to get it.
Liz sat up straight, her body as rigid as a tree trunk, breathing shallow as she sensed him moving underneath the table next to her. She held her breath as, like in the dream, she waited for his sweet, electrifying touch-
"Miss Parker!"
The stern voice jolted her from her anticipation. She focused on Mr Kenrick who was looking at her expectantly.
"Do you have anything to add?"
Sure, if I had any idea what you have been talking about, she thought silently.
She pressed her lips together as felt a blush creep to her cheeks.
Well this just kept getting better and better. "Um no"
At the same time Max rose from under that table.
"Mr Evans?" asked Mr Kenrick with surprise.
Giggles and snickers rippled through the class. Max stood up and held out the pencil sheepishly, "I dropped my pencil".
Liz was trying to keep a straight face but was finding it very difficult.
This is soo embarrassing.
"I'm sure," he replied sceptically, " I hope you make a habit of it".
When the class had returned to normal, Liz chanced a glance at Max at the same time that he chanced a glance at her. She noted the hints of pink on his cheek, "Sorry," she whispered. The guy tutored her and now she had just embarrassed him but of her stupid fantasies.
He grinned as he handed her the pencil, "It's okay."
For the rest of the lesson, Liz focused on taking notes, but Max kept distracting her, that and the dream. If she was like this now, how would she react to her and Max alone in her room tonight?. At the end of the lesson, she slammed her chemistry book decisively, I have got to get a grip.
****
Max knocked on the door and greeted Liz with a smile.
"Hi," she said brightly as she led him into the living room.
"Hey," he replied.
She stood there looking at him, just staring. "Um, should we get started?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah," she said, "I've got us step up in the kitchen this time, bigger table...um I'll be back in one second," she said backing out of the room. "Make yourself at home" she managed before disappearing.
"Right," nodded Max. He took off his jacket, hung it up and set his books down on the living room table. He sat down and flicked through the t.v. channels. Finding nothing interesting, he decided to study the photographs around the room. He started with the ones on the mantel. They were pictures of a young Liz on her birthday, teenage Liz laughing with her mother and father, Liz with Maria, Alex and Michael. Max stared at the picture, sad at the thought that their friendship had been destroyed. He was studying a picture of Liz and someone he concluded must have been her grandmother when her voice startled him.
"Hi"
He spun around to face her, still holding the picture in his hand. "Hi"
She gestured to the photo frame in his hand. "Looking at my family photos huh?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Is this your grandmother?" he asked.
She nodded," Grandma Claudia, she was really great"
"She died?" he asked gently.
"A year ago, came to visit us for a few days and then suffered from a stroke and died. I never got to really say goodbye you know."
He turned and placed the picture back onto the mantel piece. Not quite sure what to say, he said the only thing people said in situations like this. "I'm sorry"
"It's okay," she said turning to him, "it's weird but I go to her grave site and talk to her, tell her what I'm up to, my life and somehow that makes me feel like she's not really gone." She stopped as if realizing that she had said too much. "That must really sound out there" she said shyly.
"No no, I get it," he reassured her.
She looked up at him for a moment and then shook her head signaling the end of the conversation, "we better get started on this".
"Right," he nodded and followed as she led him to the kitchen.
****
They settled down and started the session. Max went through atomic spectroscopy from the beginning, once the foundations were laid, they figured out that her problem had been understanding what they were linking to, and the relationships of the gaining of energy and return to stability. Every once in a while, Max would find her staring at him and then when she realised he'd caught her, she would look away. She was acting really strange, almost tense. Then again it had been a tense day for him, so why not her?
Lunch especially had been initially awkward, a lot of silences and glances but somehow, maybe it was after Maria and Isabel had started talking about Pam Troy, the ice broke and the relaxed atmosphere returned but with each of them keeping in the rule in mind, knowing what they couldn't do and couldn't think. That was their life.
"Max" said Liz.
Max was drawn back to reality by her soft brown eyes, "Sorry, I just zoned"
"It's okay, we've been at this for an hour now, how about a break?"
"yeah, sure" he agreed.
Liz headed for the fridge, "um we have coke, water..."
"water thanks," he said. Her tone was too bright he caught the tension beneath it,"Liz are you okay?"
"Yeah," she replied brightly," why?"
"No reason," he said slowly," you just seem a bit...nervous".
Nervous is an understatement, she thought silently.
"No, I've just been busy with homework and over this chem thing, I don't want to get a D on Monday"
"I don't think you will, you were just a little confused but-"
A phone rang. Max's cell phone.
"Excuse me," he said apologetically as he accepted the call. "Isabel," he said.
Liz took this as an opportunity to study Max and get it over and done with. He had a lean frame, his loose grey top couldn't hide that fact that he worked out. And his hair and eyes? All through the session she had wanted more than ever to run her fingers through it and to feel his lips on hers like the dream.
Okay, done, he's very good looking. I'm done.
But somehow that wasn't true, her fast heartbeat and nervousness just wouldn't go away. Liz took a deep breath. What is going on here? I hardly know Max and all this because of a dream? And what was that back there? opening my mouth and telling him about Grandma Claudia?
It was strange, she had only known, really spoken with Max a few times but she felt somehow safe and free, like she could tell him anything and he would understand. It was his eyes, being near him was a truth serum, like she had to tell him. Liz shook off the feeling that was developing within her. She was infatuated with Max, he was good-looking and nice. She was attracted to him just like every other girl at West Roswell and after a while she would get over him and go on with her life. Liz turned her attention back to his cell conversation.
"Yes Isabel, I know, Friday afternoon you need the jeep, yep, I'll hitch a ride with Maria"
He was also taken, she remembered. Another reason to end this thing she had for him.
"See you when I get home, bye". He hung up the phone and caught her looking at him.
He smiled and shrugged, "Isabel, just wanted to make sure I'd picked up the Christmas hampers for the Christmas drive".
"Oh, she's helping out?" she asked.
With a private smile he replied, "You could say that."
Catching her questioned look he explained, "Iz kind of gets a little crazy around Christmas, she's helping out with pageant, the food drive, Santa's grotto. She takes it really seriously."
"Oh," she smiled. She could feel herself being swept away by the attractive force of Max Evans.
Food!
The idea shuttled her into action.
"Um, how about some food?".
"Yeah, sure," he replied.
Liz fixed them some food and they settled down on the living room sofa for a break.
****
"You must really miss L.A. Your friends especially at Christmas," she said.
He paused to think,"no, not really". He turned to face her, "It's weird, I lived in L.A. practically my whole life and sure I miss the routine, but the friends I've made here in just a few months, I'd miss them more." He shook his head and smiled to himself, "That's really strange."
"Yeah but not surprising, Alex and Kyle are great, funny, loyal and Maria is...well Maria" she said fondly.
"Yeah," his smile grew wider at the mention of her name.
Liz felt a pang but ignored it. As the conversation continued she knew her plan had failed. Convincing herself that once she had gotten to him, the draw she felt towards him would fade had been a bad idea because it had the opposite effect.
****
Maria breezed through the busy Crashdown, glad that she had been working an early shift tonight. It was 9pm and the place was busy.
"Hi Maria," said Joyce one of the waitresses.
"Hi, J, busy night."
"You know it," she said. "Hey do me a favour?"
"No can do my shift is over and I'm homework bound," she said. No way was she getting stuck feeding the hungry, plus she really had homework to do.
"Relax," said Joyce, " I just need you to take that box to the storeroom or else we'll trip on it. It's been so busy no one has had time to move it."
"Sure thing," said Maria. She picked it up and headed towards the store room. Opening the door, she walked in and looked for somewhere to put it.
****
Michael gladly ripped off his apron. He was done for the night.
"See you later Jose," he called.
"Later Michael" he replied.
Michael was hot and tired, all he wanted was to hit the sack. He was on his way out to do just that, when he spotted the storeroom door opened and its light on. He sighed, someone had obviously forgotten to close it and turn off the light. Feeling charitable despite his tiredness, Michael walked in nudging the door behind him.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw Maria in the corner placing a box on the shelf.
Behind him, the door closed.
****
Maria turned at the sound of the closing door and was surprised to find Michael standing there staring at her.
"Mich-"
She broke off as the meaning of the closed door sank into. Her eyes widened, "You closed the door" she accused him.
"Yeah so?" he shrugged.
Maria rolled her eyes, this couldn't be happening. "So" she said through gritted teeth, she strode over and pushed him aside. She turned the knob and pushed herself against the door. It did exactly as she she expected, nothing.
"The door won't open we're locked in, didn't you read the memo that said that to put it succinctly, don't-close-the-store-room-door-with-you-in-it-because-you'd-get-locked-in!" she shouted.
"A memo?" he said vaguely.
Maria collapsed against the door and sighed, "obviously not."
Praying for a miracle, she tried it again but it still wouldn't open. She glanced back at Michael who stood there just watching her. No way was she staying here with him.
She turned and started pounding on the door. "Help!" she shouted.
"It won't do any good, they're all pretty busy and it's noisy I doubt they'll hear you" he said calmly.
She stopped and through gritted teeth turned to face him.
"Shut up" she said.
This was not happening. She turned to the door and pounded again. After a few more attempts she sighed and turned to face him. He was leaning against the shelves watching at her. It was annoying.
"What" she demanded coldly.
"Nothing".
She shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm stuck here with you!"
"Why are you here anyway?" he asked.
"Not that it's any of your business but, I forgot my history book I need for homework in my locker and came to pick it up," she replied,
"Oh," he said.
"Oh," she mimicked and rolled her eyes. She folded her arms and settled in a corner.
"What's your problem?" he asked.
Maria laughed in angry disbelief. He didn't know what her problem was !?
Gathering herself up from the floor, she stood up to explain her problem. "Problem I have no problem apart from the fact that I'm stuck here with you" she began, "Who is just standing there! Doing nothing. Why don't you do something guyish and try to break the door down?"
"Is my life in danger?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied venomously.
She turned away from him and ran frustrated fingers through her hair. Okay breath, she coached herself. It's going to be fine. It's nine o clock so Max must still be up stairs tutoring Liz, he's leaving at ten so worst case scenario is spending an hour in here.
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone, only to groan when she realised that it was low on batteries. She had been in the process of recharging it when she had remembered that she had left her book at the Crashdown.
With her back to him, she asked, "I don't suppose you have your cell on you?"
"In my locker" he replied.
"Of course," she said. Even that was too much to hope for.
Michael suppressed a smile as her eyes flared at him. She was annoying and irritating, he had missed that and however screwed up it was, he was glad that he was stuck in here with her hating his guts. At least it was interaction.
"What!?" she asked, "what are you staring at? it can't be me because you chose to shack up with Liz instead," she added coldly.
He was speechless, he couldn't argue that, he couldn't say that he still had feelings for her. That was unfair to Liz and her. Not that she cared, she was with Max.
****
After half an hour of silence, Maria began to hum, softly at first until the hum turned into a song. It was beautiful but he couldn't tell her that, instead he opted for, "Will you shut up?"
She stopped and fixed him a defiant glare, "No." and went back to humming.
She was impossible and right now he wanted to lift her up from the floor and kiss her with enough passion to leave her for once, speechless like he had done the first time he'd kissed her during a heated argument. Instead, he sat and pretended to be annoyed when in all honesty this was the first time he had felt alive in a long time.
"Right, that's it".
"What?" he asked as she rose to her feet.
"I've been in here with you for like an hour, I don't intend to spend the night here".
He suppressed a grin, for him that wouldn't be so bad. "So what to do plan to do?"
"Scream the house down" she replied and with that she let out an ear piercing scream
Michael covered his ears, "Will you shut up!"
"No," she retorted and opened her mouth to scream again.
"Maria" he warned.
"Make me" she challenged. She screamed again.
****
CHAPTER 8
I have had extra fun with this next part, I just keep having more and more fun with this fic!. Anyway, the "extra" is for various reasons, which you'll realise as you read, but mainly because it contains two of my many fav dreamer moments: loved the pencil scene in Sexual Healing and of course Max and Liz's first kiss in Heatwave. So when the idea came to me, I thought, how could I not?. I'm kinda nervous to see what you guys think about it, so pls tell me:) .
At this point I'd like to re-emphasise that I own nothing except my imagination. Lyrics belong to Gomez: We haven't turned around and Vertical Horizon: Everything you want (I felt this song just fit the scenes at the party to a tee, if I was editing the scene for a real ep, the song would be playing in the background, it was when I was typing it:) )
Polars, I have bad news, after this next part, no more polar romance, just polar friendship. But Gzs, this doesn't mean I've reverted to CC, they haven't even got together yet!
.Lamptrimmers and Stargazers: What about our couples? they haven't either yet
Ah, but that's what this next part is for SPOILER ALERT ! MISS THIS NEXT PART IF YOU DON'T WANT A CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!....there's a party, there's dancing, there's kissing and then something happens.
Enjoy......
CHAPTER EIGHT
Liz looked up as the door to the biology classroom opened. A smile she couldn't control escaped her as the familiar brown headed boy walked shyly and apologetically to his seat. Right next to her.
She studied him luxuriously with her eyes as he sat down. She mouthed a soft hi, which he returned with his irresistible shy smile. His mere presence next to her, made it very hard for Liz to concentrate on what Mr Whitmore was saying. Max slid a paper over to her, she took it and enjoying the way their fingers touched, she let them linger there wanting them there forever.
Feeling incredibly brave, Max always made her feel like that, Liz bit her lip and "accidentally" dropped her pencil. She glanced over at Max and directed him with her eyes. Understanding her message, he grinned. Anticipating his touch she tucked her hair behind her ears, she could feel him under the table next to her, breathing. Then his touch, gentle, warm, sent shivers from the tip of her fingertips to the rest of her body. She closed her eyes as he stroked her fingers, her hand and slowly licked her fingers, one by one by one. Liz was swept away with pleasure. She'd had no idea how much enjoyment could be had out of interactions with fingers and his mouth. His warm, gentle mouth and tongue as they worked their magic. It was ecstasy.
Liz sighed as images swept through her mind, awesome breathtaking images of space, stars, whisking her away into a state of pure bliss. She gasped as a ripple of pleasure surged through her, a moan escaped her, another and another until pretty soon they were as loud as the bell....Wait what bell?
Liz's eyes flew open, she was awake, and the loud noise was her alarm clock. She exhaled slowly as the sensations travelled through her body leaving her feeling very empty and sad. She lifted her fingers, still tingling from the memory, to her face. Sighing she stared at the ceiling, not wanting to get out of bed but knowing that she had to.
Another dream about Max, she thought.The mere thought of his name brought an uncontrollable smile to her face.
But why?
Liz refused to consider the answer to that question and delve into rationale, it was just a dream, it had nothing to do with real life whatsoever, so she could just enjoy the feeling it gave her. It was as simple as that. Liz threw off her bed covers, planted her feet on the ground, stood up and then promptly sank to the ground. She stopped herself falling by holding onto her bed. Okay, so maybe some part of the dream transferred to real life, like the weak feeling in her knees, but that was it. In the shower, Liz hummed and smiled. With her eyes closed, she let the water run all over her, relieving every moment of the dream: the warmth, excitement, passion and wanting.
****
She floated her way to breakfast. The way Max made her feel, his work on her fingers and the visions it gave her were just amazing...and felt explosively good. Beaming, she greeted her parents with a smile and proceeded to pass her Dad the Max.
"Mayonnaise," she quickly corrected herself blushing.
Oh, I better get a hold of myself now. I cannot do that in school.
Rising up she excused herself and went into the bathroom.
"Okay" she told her reflection, " for one it was just a dream and two, I have to stop thinking about it, otherwise I might say his name again at an inappropriate time, with Michael or...it just has to stop", she ordered herself.
****
Liz was successful in avoiding thinking about either of her Max dreams until she walked into the biology classroom and realised as if for the first time that he was in her biology class.
Okay, she took a nervous breath as she sat down next to Tess, I'll be fine. Just focus on the work and everything will be fine.
Her statement of resolve dissolved the moment Max entered the classroom...with Maria laughing by his side. Liz was surprised to find herself disappointed that he wasn't alone and even more so when he passed by their table greeted her and Tess with a smile and sat down next to Maria.
That's why it's called a dream, she told herself, it's not real. For one insane instant you thought you and Max were together or that there was something there-that's just plain wrong.
As the lesson continued, the memories of the morning's dream continuously pushed the new information she was learning out of the way, making it very hard for her to concentrate. Liz found herself turning slightly and glancing at Max.
"What's so interesting?" asked Tess, jolting Liz from her Max glance.
"Um nothing," she replied, silently panicked, "I was just-"
"Looking over at Maria" she finished.
"Yeah," she nodded. It was better than the alternative.
"Miss her?" she asked.
"Yeah" she replied. She missed Maria more and more everyday.
"Hmm well you should have thought of that before you made a play for her boyfriend" she said with malice.
Liz nodded, she had forgotten for a moment that Tess and Maria were friends and once again the reason for it, was Max. She returned back to work, but every now and then of they're own accord, her eyes drifted to Max. He caught her once and smiled, blushing she had smiled back and quickly looked away.
Liz left biology thinking she had a serious problem, Max Evans was invading her brain.
****
It had all been going perfectly until Advanced Chem. She had walked in, sat on the table she shared with Naomi ready to focus on work. Then Naomi asked if she didn't mind her sitting with Kevin since they were in the flirting stage of their relationship. Of course she had agreed, it a simple request and she was fine with it. Until she had realised too little too late when everyone was settled and class had began and he came and sat next to her, that Max was Kevin's desk mate. And now he was sitting next to her, mouthing a hi to her, just like in her dream.
"Hi," she mouthed back before pretending to focus her attention on the board.
"I have a serious problem" she whispered to herself. Just sitting there next to him brought back memories of her early morning dream, except that had been in bio, this was in Chem and-
Oh no!
In her surge of nervousness she had just dropped her pencil on the floor. Her heart stopped. This is too much of a deja vu, she realised as it began pounding wildly against her chest. She lifted her eyes and met Max's who had noticed that the pencil had dropped. She quickly moved to get it but wasn't fast enough to stop him from bending down under the table to get it.
Liz sat up straight, her body as rigid as a tree trunk, breathing shallow as she sensed him moving underneath the table next to her. She held her breath as, like in the dream, she waited for his sweet, electrifying touch-
"Miss Parker!"
The stern voice jolted her from her anticipation. She focused on Mr Kenrick who was looking at her expectantly.
"Do you have anything to add?"
Sure, if I had any idea what you have been talking about, she thought silently.
She pressed her lips together as felt a blush creep to her cheeks.
Well this just kept getting better and better. "Um no"
At the same time Max rose from under that table.
"Mr Evans?" asked Mr Kenrick with surprise.
Giggles and snickers rippled through the class. Max stood up and held out the pencil sheepishly, "I dropped my pencil".
Liz was trying to keep a straight face but was finding it very difficult.
This is soo embarrassing.
"I'm sure," he replied sceptically, " I hope you make a habit of it".
When the class had returned to normal, Liz chanced a glance at Max at the same time that he chanced a glance at her. She noted the hints of pink on his cheek, "Sorry," she whispered. The guy tutored her and now she had just embarrassed him but of her stupid fantasies.
He grinned as he handed her the pencil, "It's okay."
For the rest of the lesson, Liz focused on taking notes, but Max kept distracting her, that and the dream. If she was like this now, how would she react to her and Max alone in her room tonight?. At the end of the lesson, she slammed her chemistry book decisively, I have got to get a grip.
****
Max knocked on the door and greeted Liz with a smile.
"Hi," she said brightly as she led him into the living room.
"Hey," he replied.
She stood there looking at him, just staring. "Um, should we get started?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah," she said, "I've got us step up in the kitchen this time, bigger table...um I'll be back in one second," she said backing out of the room. "Make yourself at home" she managed before disappearing.
"Right," nodded Max. He took off his jacket, hung it up and set his books down on the living room table. He sat down and flicked through the t.v. channels. Finding nothing interesting, he decided to study the photographs around the room. He started with the ones on the mantel. They were pictures of a young Liz on her birthday, teenage Liz laughing with her mother and father, Liz with Maria, Alex and Michael. Max stared at the picture, sad at the thought that their friendship had been destroyed. He was studying a picture of Liz and someone he concluded must have been her grandmother when her voice startled him.
"Hi"
He spun around to face her, still holding the picture in his hand. "Hi"
She gestured to the photo frame in his hand. "Looking at my family photos huh?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Is this your grandmother?" he asked.
She nodded," Grandma Claudia, she was really great"
"She died?" he asked gently.
"A year ago, came to visit us for a few days and then suffered from a stroke and died. I never got to really say goodbye you know."
He turned and placed the picture back onto the mantel piece. Not quite sure what to say, he said the only thing people said in situations like this. "I'm sorry"
"It's okay," she said turning to him, "it's weird but I go to her grave site and talk to her, tell her what I'm up to, my life and somehow that makes me feel like she's not really gone." She stopped as if realizing that she had said too much. "That must really sound out there" she said shyly.
"No no, I get it," he reassured her.
She looked up at him for a moment and then shook her head signaling the end of the conversation, "we better get started on this".
"Right," he nodded and followed as she led him to the kitchen.
****
They settled down and started the session. Max went through atomic spectroscopy from the beginning, once the foundations were laid, they figured out that her problem had been understanding what they were linking to, and the relationships of the gaining of energy and return to stability. Every once in a while, Max would find her staring at him and then when she realised he'd caught her, she would look away. She was acting really strange, almost tense. Then again it had been a tense day for him, so why not her?
Lunch especially had been initially awkward, a lot of silences and glances but somehow, maybe it was after Maria and Isabel had started talking about Pam Troy, the ice broke and the relaxed atmosphere returned but with each of them keeping in the rule in mind, knowing what they couldn't do and couldn't think. That was their life.
"Max" said Liz.
Max was drawn back to reality by her soft brown eyes, "Sorry, I just zoned"
"It's okay, we've been at this for an hour now, how about a break?"
"yeah, sure" he agreed.
Liz headed for the fridge, "um we have coke, water..."
"water thanks," he said. Her tone was too bright he caught the tension beneath it,"Liz are you okay?"
"Yeah," she replied brightly," why?"
"No reason," he said slowly," you just seem a bit...nervous".
Nervous is an understatement, she thought silently.
"No, I've just been busy with homework and over this chem thing, I don't want to get a D on Monday"
"I don't think you will, you were just a little confused but-"
A phone rang. Max's cell phone.
"Excuse me," he said apologetically as he accepted the call. "Isabel," he said.
Liz took this as an opportunity to study Max and get it over and done with. He had a lean frame, his loose grey top couldn't hide that fact that he worked out. And his hair and eyes? All through the session she had wanted more than ever to run her fingers through it and to feel his lips on hers like the dream.
Okay, done, he's very good looking. I'm done.
But somehow that wasn't true, her fast heartbeat and nervousness just wouldn't go away. Liz took a deep breath. What is going on here? I hardly know Max and all this because of a dream? And what was that back there? opening my mouth and telling him about Grandma Claudia?
It was strange, she had only known, really spoken with Max a few times but she felt somehow safe and free, like she could tell him anything and he would understand. It was his eyes, being near him was a truth serum, like she had to tell him. Liz shook off the feeling that was developing within her. She was infatuated with Max, he was good-looking and nice. She was attracted to him just like every other girl at West Roswell and after a while she would get over him and go on with her life. Liz turned her attention back to his cell conversation.
"Yes Isabel, I know, Friday afternoon you need the jeep, yep, I'll hitch a ride with Maria"
He was also taken, she remembered. Another reason to end this thing she had for him.
"See you when I get home, bye". He hung up the phone and caught her looking at him.
He smiled and shrugged, "Isabel, just wanted to make sure I'd picked up the Christmas hampers for the Christmas drive".
"Oh, she's helping out?" she asked.
With a private smile he replied, "You could say that."
Catching her questioned look he explained, "Iz kind of gets a little crazy around Christmas, she's helping out with pageant, the food drive, Santa's grotto. She takes it really seriously."
"Oh," she smiled. She could feel herself being swept away by the attractive force of Max Evans.
Food!
The idea shuttled her into action.
"Um, how about some food?".
"Yeah, sure," he replied.
Liz fixed them some food and they settled down on the living room sofa for a break.
****
"You must really miss L.A. Your friends especially at Christmas," she said.
He paused to think,"no, not really". He turned to face her, "It's weird, I lived in L.A. practically my whole life and sure I miss the routine, but the friends I've made here in just a few months, I'd miss them more." He shook his head and smiled to himself, "That's really strange."
"Yeah but not surprising, Alex and Kyle are great, funny, loyal and Maria is...well Maria" she said fondly.
"Yeah," his smile grew wider at the mention of her name.
Liz felt a pang but ignored it. As the conversation continued she knew her plan had failed. Convincing herself that once she had gotten to him, the draw she felt towards him would fade had been a bad idea because it had the opposite effect.
****
Maria breezed through the busy Crashdown, glad that she had been working an early shift tonight. It was 9pm and the place was busy.
"Hi Maria," said Joyce one of the waitresses.
"Hi, J, busy night."
"You know it," she said. "Hey do me a favour?"
"No can do my shift is over and I'm homework bound," she said. No way was she getting stuck feeding the hungry, plus she really had homework to do.
"Relax," said Joyce, " I just need you to take that box to the storeroom or else we'll trip on it. It's been so busy no one has had time to move it."
"Sure thing," said Maria. She picked it up and headed towards the store room. Opening the door, she walked in and looked for somewhere to put it.
****
Michael gladly ripped off his apron. He was done for the night.
"See you later Jose," he called.
"Later Michael" he replied.
Michael was hot and tired, all he wanted was to hit the sack. He was on his way out to do just that, when he spotted the storeroom door opened and its light on. He sighed, someone had obviously forgotten to close it and turn off the light. Feeling charitable despite his tiredness, Michael walked in nudging the door behind him.
He stopped in his tracks when he saw Maria in the corner placing a box on the shelf.
Behind him, the door closed.
****
Maria turned at the sound of the closing door and was surprised to find Michael standing there staring at her.
"Mich-"
She broke off as the meaning of the closed door sank into. Her eyes widened, "You closed the door" she accused him.
"Yeah so?" he shrugged.
Maria rolled her eyes, this couldn't be happening. "So" she said through gritted teeth, she strode over and pushed him aside. She turned the knob and pushed herself against the door. It did exactly as she she expected, nothing.
"The door won't open we're locked in, didn't you read the memo that said that to put it succinctly, don't-close-the-store-room-door-with-you-in-it-because-you'd-get-locked-in!" she shouted.
"A memo?" he said vaguely.
Maria collapsed against the door and sighed, "obviously not."
Praying for a miracle, she tried it again but it still wouldn't open. She glanced back at Michael who stood there just watching her. No way was she staying here with him.
She turned and started pounding on the door. "Help!" she shouted.
"It won't do any good, they're all pretty busy and it's noisy I doubt they'll hear you" he said calmly.
She stopped and through gritted teeth turned to face him.
"Shut up" she said.
This was not happening. She turned to the door and pounded again. After a few more attempts she sighed and turned to face him. He was leaning against the shelves watching at her. It was annoying.
"What" she demanded coldly.
"Nothing".
She shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm stuck here with you!"
"Why are you here anyway?" he asked.
"Not that it's any of your business but, I forgot my history book I need for homework in my locker and came to pick it up," she replied,
"Oh," he said.
"Oh," she mimicked and rolled her eyes. She folded her arms and settled in a corner.
"What's your problem?" he asked.
Maria laughed in angry disbelief. He didn't know what her problem was !?
Gathering herself up from the floor, she stood up to explain her problem. "Problem I have no problem apart from the fact that I'm stuck here with you" she began, "Who is just standing there! Doing nothing. Why don't you do something guyish and try to break the door down?"
"Is my life in danger?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied venomously.
She turned away from him and ran frustrated fingers through her hair. Okay breath, she coached herself. It's going to be fine. It's nine o clock so Max must still be up stairs tutoring Liz, he's leaving at ten so worst case scenario is spending an hour in here.
She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her phone, only to groan when she realised that it was low on batteries. She had been in the process of recharging it when she had remembered that she had left her book at the Crashdown.
With her back to him, she asked, "I don't suppose you have your cell on you?"
"In my locker" he replied.
"Of course," she said. Even that was too much to hope for.
Michael suppressed a smile as her eyes flared at him. She was annoying and irritating, he had missed that and however screwed up it was, he was glad that he was stuck in here with her hating his guts. At least it was interaction.
"What!?" she asked, "what are you staring at? it can't be me because you chose to shack up with Liz instead," she added coldly.
He was speechless, he couldn't argue that, he couldn't say that he still had feelings for her. That was unfair to Liz and her. Not that she cared, she was with Max.
****
After half an hour of silence, Maria began to hum, softly at first until the hum turned into a song. It was beautiful but he couldn't tell her that, instead he opted for, "Will you shut up?"
She stopped and fixed him a defiant glare, "No." and went back to humming.
She was impossible and right now he wanted to lift her up from the floor and kiss her with enough passion to leave her for once, speechless like he had done the first time he'd kissed her during a heated argument. Instead, he sat and pretended to be annoyed when in all honesty this was the first time he had felt alive in a long time.
"Right, that's it".
"What?" he asked as she rose to her feet.
"I've been in here with you for like an hour, I don't intend to spend the night here".
He suppressed a grin, for him that wouldn't be so bad. "So what to do plan to do?"
"Scream the house down" she replied and with that she let out an ear piercing scream
Michael covered his ears, "Will you shut up!"
"No," she retorted and opened her mouth to scream again.
"Maria" he warned.
"Make me" she challenged. She screamed again.
****
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****
"So, see you tomorrow same time?" asked Liz as they descended down the stairs.
"Sure," he replied.
A piercing scream broke off their conversation.
"The back room," Liz said and rushed towards the sound with Max following behind her.
He was tired and wanted to go to bed, at another time he would have done things differently but in his mind, it was all Maria and his body just responded. In an instant he was beside her and before he could think, he pulled her towards him and covered her mouth with his hand. He was staring into her wide surprised and now flaring green eyes, he was annoyed and it felt good.
The scream had stopped but it was coming from the stock room.
Liz opened the door, her jaw dropped in surprise to find Maria and Michael standing there with Michael's hand over her mouth staring into each other's eyes. Before she could react, from behind her, Max shot forward.
Michael wasn't sure what happened, one minute he was shutting Maria up, feeling her hot breath on his hand and the next minute, the door had flung open, someone had grabbed his arm and pinned it forcefully behind his back. Now, after being shoved into one of the shelves, he was pinned.
What the heck! He struggled.
"No Max!" he heard Maria yell, "let him go."
Michael felt the grip loosen and turned to face his face which stared at him in confusion. He turned to Maria for an explanation. "I thought-"
"He wasn't trying to hurt me," she said. "Despite everything Michael would never hurt me physically, I'd kick his ass," she joked. "We got locked in here and I tried to get attention by screaming and Michael" she gestured to him, " tried to shut me up".
"Oh" said Max.
Michael rubbed his sore arm, the guy had some grip. "Yeah" he said in support of Maria's report.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No problem," he shrugged. He would have probably thought the same thing in his position.
Liz settled beside him, "are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said looking into her caring eyes. "I'm fine".
"How did you guys get locked in here," she asked," didn't you read the memo?"
Michael shared and look with Maria and they both cracked a smile.
"Um yeah," said Maria laughing,"um I'm an hour late to do my homework, I better get going." Turning to Max, she asked, "You coming?"
"Yes" he replied following her out. Michael and Liz followed them out.
At the door, Max turned and said "See you tomorrow Liz" and his embarrassed eyes meeting Michael's, he apologized, "and um sorry again"
"No problem" he shrugged.
****
Outside Maria laughed with amusement.
"How embarrassing was that?" asked Max.
Maria looped her arm in his, "It soo wasn't. It was very manly of you protecting me like that. If I had been in danger you would have been my hero. Not that I really minded you shoving Michael into a shelf, that was pretty enjoyable to watch actually."
Max chuckled. "Glad to see I could be of some service."
They came to a stop at the front of the Crashdown.
"You're always of some service," she assured him.
Oh okay, this is crossing the boundary. They stood for a moment, staring at each other, each not wanting to move.
"Need a ride?" she finally asked.
"No I've got the jeep" he replied.
"Okay, see you tomorrow?" she asked.
"Night," he replied before turning and heading to the jeep across the road.
Maria made her way to her jetta and turned to wave before switching on the ignition. Tonight had been those unexpected unplanned nights, ones that you never dream can happen in real life: stuck in a storeroom with her ex-boyfriend who she harbored strong feelings of resentment, irritation and other things for and then there was Max and his sweet gesture of protection. All in all, it had been a good night, definitely worth losing out an hour of homework time.
****
Michael closed up his locker and felt warm arms encircle him.
"Long night?" asked Liz.
"You have no idea," he replied with a kiss. This was who he was with, who he needed to be thinking about and wanting to kiss not his ex-girlfriend.
****
The sound of the pins clattering onto the ally floor, mingled amongst the collective sounds of the bowling alley's, music, laughter and the beautiful sound of a strike.
"Yes!" yelled Alex. He turned and bowed to Wendy who clapped graciously.
"Thank you, thank you," he grinned.
"But" she began as she picked up her ball, "don't get too cocky, I've still got one go left"
"And you think you can beat me?" he asked with mock offense.
"Are you kidding I'm a bowling veteran" she replied.
"Don't talk," he ordered, "bowl".
Laughing she turned to take her turn. Alex sat down and watched her sighing with content. He still couldn't quite grasp what was happening, he was on a date with a good looking girl who wasn't Isabel and who was actually interested in him and he was actually having fun. They had gone to see a comedy as suggested by Maria, a great way to break the ice and have something to talk about after. Then Wendy had suggested going bowling which Alex had gone for, it was turning out to be one of his most memorable nights.
He was jolted back to reality by Wendy's yelp of victory. He loved that about her already, she had this energy and lust for life, it was contagious.
She turned to him her brown eyes sparkling and took a bow.
Alex clapped. "You won this time" he said.
She sat down opposite him, "up for a rematch sometime?"
"You're on," he replied playfully.
They ordered a pizza and drinks to split between them, all of which were almost finished by the time conversation turned to their past relationships.
"Actually you're the first guy I've gone out with in a long time," said Wendy.
Alex paused to process this. "Is that a good thing?" he asked tentatively.
"Incredibly" she replied, "See I had this thing for um one of my friends...he didn't feel the same way but I kept hoping you know?"
Alex nodded, he knew more than cared to express.
"Anyway, a couple of weeks ago my friends tackled me and sat me down, basically an intervention to wake me up and realise that I was stuck waiting for something that would never happen. So I decided to move on."
Oh, he had wondered when the fairytale would end and reality would bite him in the leg.
"And I'm the lucky rebound guy right?" he asked.
"Oh no, nothing like that. I've been free for weeks, it was like my Jason blinders had come off and there were all these other possibilities you know? and you were one very interesting possibility."
Relieved that all was not lost, he replied,"I'm flattered."
"What about you?" she asked.
"Strangely, same as you" he replied.
"You're kidding!"
"No, apart from the whole intervention thing. I went for it, asked her out and she just wanted to be friends, held on, moved on" he summarised.
"Lucky we hooked up then" she grinned.
"Yeah," he smiled, "Lucky we did".
****
Isabel stared at Tess' clock, it was 12am. She couldn't go to sleep knowing that Alex was on a date with another girl.
Wendy, she thought with distaste.
Alex's curfew was 11, so he must have been home by now and probably asleep.
"I'm gonna dream walk him," she said decisively.
"Isabel don't" objected Tess.
"Why not? I can't just sit here and mull over what went on. His dream will have his reaction to the date," she reasoned.
"You're hoping it's bad but say that it's good... you'll find out the details tomorrow Iz, it won't help you to see them.," she added gently.
Isabel dropped back onto her bed and sighed, "You're right. It'll make it worse. It's just-"
Tess pulled her into her arms as her eyes watered, "I know sweetie, I know."
****
We came, we came, we came again
Liz leaned over her balcony following the whispering call.
Their eyes bet. "Max," she beamed.
To stem the tide and point the blame
"Can I come up?" he asked.
Came back for more
Came back to see what you had in store
"Sure," she replied.
She moved back as he climbed up her ladder and hoped onto her balcony.
Everyone join the line, everyone
Yeah
"Impressive," she said of his climbing skills as well as his mere appearance.
"I try," he replied.
She pulled him into the wall away from her window, "You can't stay long, my parents-"
"That's okay, I just wanted to say...". he broke off leaving Liz hungry for his next words
So you wanna spin the world around?
"Say what?" she asked.
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
"That I liked hanging with you" he finished.
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
"Me too",she smiled.
So you wanna make catastrophe?
Won't you send it right over to me
I got some time
Everybody running high
His smile faded and was replaced with eyes clouded with concern. "And that I'm sorry".
"For what?" she asked.
"For how much knowing me has screwed up your life with Michael" he replied.
"No Max," she took both of his hands into hers," it's exactly the opposite. You being in my life it means more to me than I can express in words".
He held her gaze for a moment before replying. "Thank you for saying that".
The same, the same, the same again
To steal the time and haunt the graves
Her heart pounding wildly against her chest, she said,"It's the truth".
Just because it's there
Don't mean you see it anywhere
He squeezed her hands gently before releasing them back into their incomplete state. "Well I better get going"
Maybe it's a trick of the light
Maybe, yeah
She knew it was a dangerous question to ask but her heart felt compelled to ask it. "Why?".
So you wanna spin the world around?
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
"Because if I don't go...". He moved closer to her filling the vacant air with his electrifying scent, "...things will change".
So you wanna make catastrophe?
Don't you send it right over to me
"Change how?" she asked. Another dangerous question, but it was whose answer she needed to know, to feel.
I got some time
Everybody come alive
He lifted his hand to her face. "I'm gonna have to touch your hair because it's so soft", his hand trailed slowly through her hair," and I have to tell you that whatever we go through, it's all worth it because I have you in my life. From the moment we first met, it was you Liz, it has always been you".
Melting at his touch, she breathed "and then?"
Yeah
So you wanna spin the world around?
"And then, I'd have to do this" he whispered. Liz closed her eyes as their lips met in a soft kiss which sent streams of pleasure through her, each one filling a part of her she had never known was empty, making her whole.
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, bring 'em down
In his eyes, the truth she already knew stared back at her with love, he was the one, he was everything, her destiny.
So you wanna make catastrophe?
Don't you send it right over to me
I got some time
Everybody running high
Liz lifted her arms and placed them around his neck as her body hummed in unison with his.
So you wanna spin the world around?
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
A soft moan escaped her as, under her red top, she felt his hands stroking the lower part of her back.
So you say we haven't turned around?
So you say we haven't turned around?
His lips were a drug and as he wrapped his arms around her joining their bodies together, Liz wanted more. In her whole entire life, a kiss had never meant so much, fulfilling her entirely yet making her hungry for more.
Just everybody else is going wrong
Going wrong
They pulled apart for air and Liz opened her eyes...and was gut wrenchingly disappointed to see her desk, her wardrobe, herself in bed and not on her balcony kissing Max. Liz was surprised as tears almost infiltrated her eyes.
"It was just a dream," she whispered to herself as she headed for the shower. She sighed with regret, "just a dream."
****
Michael was on his way to homeroom when someone slipped in step with him. Liz looked up at him and smiled, "you're ten minutes before homeroom, what's the occasion?"
"Felt like I needed to get out of the house," he replied causally. The truth was he had so desperately needed to do something to stop thinking about Maria, to stop battling between his feelings for Liz and his ever present feelings for Maria and homeroom seemed like a good option. He would focus his attention to listening and working.
Liz stood in front of him stopping him in his tracks.
"Ten minutes," she mused, "great that gives us time".
"Time for what?".
He managed to get the question out before Liz dragged him to a familiar door and pulled him in.
They were in the eraser room.
"Liz" he began but was hushed by her soft lips, draining away all of his confusion. His divided heart merged into one definite feeling. Liz, she was the girl he had chosen to be with, the girl he must love. The kiss ended as abruptly as it had began.
"Sorry but I just needed to do that" she grinned.
"I should be early more often," he said wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him.
The first bell for class rang putting a stop to another further kissing. She removed his arms from her waist, holding onto his hand she push open the door, "the point about being early" she teased, "is not being late to class".
Michael willingly followed as she lead him out of the eraser room.
"Are you up for driving around the desert tonight?" he asked, "I want to check out that rock face again, there has to be something I'm missing, otherwise, why would I keep drawing it?"
"I'd love to Michael but I have my last session with Max tonight".
"Oh". Another reason why him and Maria were never going to happen. She was with Max. Saint Max.
"But I can join you tomorrow," she offered.
"Sure," he said.
The final bell signaling the commencement of the school day rang. They stopped in the middle of the crowded hallway. Michael stuck his thumb out and signaled behind him, "I'm that way."
Liz pointed in the opposite direction, "I'm headed that way."
He bent down and kissed her, "see you later".
"Later".
Michael turned joined the students slowly making their way to class. Just the distraction he needed.
****
Liz was in deep thought as she made her way to homeroom. The kiss with Michael had been good, the kiss with Max had been...explosive. After that kiss, everything else was just tame, normal. Had Max just ruined her kisses with Michael?
Liz dropped into her seat.
Wait, it was a dream, of course dream kisses can't rival reality, that's why they are dreams.
But Liz knew it didn't matter, her interest in Max was deeper than she had ever imagined. Her plan just wasn't working! Knowing him didn't make the feelings didn't fade away, in fact, they grew stronger. It was more than that though, she had realised that when she came to a screeching halt in front of the girl's bathroom mirror that morning and realised that, she was wearing the same clothes she had been wearing in her dream with Max. Her red vest top, her green khaki three quarter length trousers and her black leather sandals. Max Evans was infiltrating her mind and she'd have to do something to return to normal, hence pulling Michael into the eraser room and kissing him, to forget.
Only that had failed and she was going to have to spend two hours with Max, alone without acting weird.
Liz's head made contact with the table. "I have a real problem"
"Liz are you okay?" asked Mrs Winters.
She lifted her head from the table. No, I'm developing this deep attraction for someone who's not my boyfriend, someone I hardly know who is taken by my best friend, and someone who is affecting my sanity.
"I'm um fine, just tired"
Mrs Winters nodded her head. "Okay," and returned to giving out some announcements.
She was with Michael, she couldn't have Max. Why didn't her subconscious understand that?
****
Maria dumped her bag on the table and slid onto the lunch table with a satisfied smile.
Seated opposite her, Isabel inquired, "Had a good lesson?".
Maria nodded her head, "Drama and music are the key to the enjoyment of my school life," she said.
"I'm with her on the drama," grinned Tess.
Maria rummaged through her bag for her lunch, using up that much energy made her very hungry.
"So anyone seen Alex?"asked Isabel.
She smiled to herself as she noted the anxious tone in Isabel's question.
"Uh he sent a text message this morning, said he had a great time and would fill us in at lunch," she replied.
"Oh. I just wanted to know where he was, we're supposed to be going stargazing tonight and I just wanted to check out the details" she explained.
Maria nodded with mock belief, "Right, well additional information anyway" she smiled.
Isabel rolled her eyes and broke into a amused grin. She gestured behind them, "Um Eddie Connor headed our way."
Maria turned to see Eddie Connor passing out fliers as he made his way towards them. She turned back to Isabel rolling her eyes. "I wonder what he wants now".
"What he always wants," shrugged Tess," a date".
Maria laughed, it was true. Eddie Connor was rich, good-looking, smart, a good actor but also a great womaniser. As if to prove her point an arm slipped around her and Tess.
"Hello lovely ladies, Maria, Tess, Isabel".
Maria and Tess in unison, removed his arm from their shoulders and shared an amused smirk.
"Eddie," they sang.
"What can we do for you?" asked Isabel.
He looked at all three of them hopefully, "a date with either of you would be fine, all three of you would be my birthday present for life."
"Eddie," began Maria, "You're a great guy, good looking, talented, great personality, your only one flaw is...you're a player, a dog"
" A womaniser", added Isabel for clarification.
"You know you are the few girls among my very short list who can resist me" he grinned.
"So, see you tomorrow same time?" asked Liz as they descended down the stairs.
"Sure," he replied.
A piercing scream broke off their conversation.
"The back room," Liz said and rushed towards the sound with Max following behind her.
He was tired and wanted to go to bed, at another time he would have done things differently but in his mind, it was all Maria and his body just responded. In an instant he was beside her and before he could think, he pulled her towards him and covered her mouth with his hand. He was staring into her wide surprised and now flaring green eyes, he was annoyed and it felt good.
The scream had stopped but it was coming from the stock room.
Liz opened the door, her jaw dropped in surprise to find Maria and Michael standing there with Michael's hand over her mouth staring into each other's eyes. Before she could react, from behind her, Max shot forward.
Michael wasn't sure what happened, one minute he was shutting Maria up, feeling her hot breath on his hand and the next minute, the door had flung open, someone had grabbed his arm and pinned it forcefully behind his back. Now, after being shoved into one of the shelves, he was pinned.
What the heck! He struggled.
"No Max!" he heard Maria yell, "let him go."
Michael felt the grip loosen and turned to face his face which stared at him in confusion. He turned to Maria for an explanation. "I thought-"
"He wasn't trying to hurt me," she said. "Despite everything Michael would never hurt me physically, I'd kick his ass," she joked. "We got locked in here and I tried to get attention by screaming and Michael" she gestured to him, " tried to shut me up".
"Oh" said Max.
Michael rubbed his sore arm, the guy had some grip. "Yeah" he said in support of Maria's report.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"No problem," he shrugged. He would have probably thought the same thing in his position.
Liz settled beside him, "are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said looking into her caring eyes. "I'm fine".
"How did you guys get locked in here," she asked," didn't you read the memo?"
Michael shared and look with Maria and they both cracked a smile.
"Um yeah," said Maria laughing,"um I'm an hour late to do my homework, I better get going." Turning to Max, she asked, "You coming?"
"Yes" he replied following her out. Michael and Liz followed them out.
At the door, Max turned and said "See you tomorrow Liz" and his embarrassed eyes meeting Michael's, he apologized, "and um sorry again"
"No problem" he shrugged.
****
Outside Maria laughed with amusement.
"How embarrassing was that?" asked Max.
Maria looped her arm in his, "It soo wasn't. It was very manly of you protecting me like that. If I had been in danger you would have been my hero. Not that I really minded you shoving Michael into a shelf, that was pretty enjoyable to watch actually."
Max chuckled. "Glad to see I could be of some service."
They came to a stop at the front of the Crashdown.
"You're always of some service," she assured him.
Oh okay, this is crossing the boundary. They stood for a moment, staring at each other, each not wanting to move.
"Need a ride?" she finally asked.
"No I've got the jeep" he replied.
"Okay, see you tomorrow?" she asked.
"Night," he replied before turning and heading to the jeep across the road.
Maria made her way to her jetta and turned to wave before switching on the ignition. Tonight had been those unexpected unplanned nights, ones that you never dream can happen in real life: stuck in a storeroom with her ex-boyfriend who she harbored strong feelings of resentment, irritation and other things for and then there was Max and his sweet gesture of protection. All in all, it had been a good night, definitely worth losing out an hour of homework time.
****
Michael closed up his locker and felt warm arms encircle him.
"Long night?" asked Liz.
"You have no idea," he replied with a kiss. This was who he was with, who he needed to be thinking about and wanting to kiss not his ex-girlfriend.
****
The sound of the pins clattering onto the ally floor, mingled amongst the collective sounds of the bowling alley's, music, laughter and the beautiful sound of a strike.
"Yes!" yelled Alex. He turned and bowed to Wendy who clapped graciously.
"Thank you, thank you," he grinned.
"But" she began as she picked up her ball, "don't get too cocky, I've still got one go left"
"And you think you can beat me?" he asked with mock offense.
"Are you kidding I'm a bowling veteran" she replied.
"Don't talk," he ordered, "bowl".
Laughing she turned to take her turn. Alex sat down and watched her sighing with content. He still couldn't quite grasp what was happening, he was on a date with a good looking girl who wasn't Isabel and who was actually interested in him and he was actually having fun. They had gone to see a comedy as suggested by Maria, a great way to break the ice and have something to talk about after. Then Wendy had suggested going bowling which Alex had gone for, it was turning out to be one of his most memorable nights.
He was jolted back to reality by Wendy's yelp of victory. He loved that about her already, she had this energy and lust for life, it was contagious.
She turned to him her brown eyes sparkling and took a bow.
Alex clapped. "You won this time" he said.
She sat down opposite him, "up for a rematch sometime?"
"You're on," he replied playfully.
They ordered a pizza and drinks to split between them, all of which were almost finished by the time conversation turned to their past relationships.
"Actually you're the first guy I've gone out with in a long time," said Wendy.
Alex paused to process this. "Is that a good thing?" he asked tentatively.
"Incredibly" she replied, "See I had this thing for um one of my friends...he didn't feel the same way but I kept hoping you know?"
Alex nodded, he knew more than cared to express.
"Anyway, a couple of weeks ago my friends tackled me and sat me down, basically an intervention to wake me up and realise that I was stuck waiting for something that would never happen. So I decided to move on."
Oh, he had wondered when the fairytale would end and reality would bite him in the leg.
"And I'm the lucky rebound guy right?" he asked.
"Oh no, nothing like that. I've been free for weeks, it was like my Jason blinders had come off and there were all these other possibilities you know? and you were one very interesting possibility."
Relieved that all was not lost, he replied,"I'm flattered."
"What about you?" she asked.
"Strangely, same as you" he replied.
"You're kidding!"
"No, apart from the whole intervention thing. I went for it, asked her out and she just wanted to be friends, held on, moved on" he summarised.
"Lucky we hooked up then" she grinned.
"Yeah," he smiled, "Lucky we did".
****
Isabel stared at Tess' clock, it was 12am. She couldn't go to sleep knowing that Alex was on a date with another girl.
Wendy, she thought with distaste.
Alex's curfew was 11, so he must have been home by now and probably asleep.
"I'm gonna dream walk him," she said decisively.
"Isabel don't" objected Tess.
"Why not? I can't just sit here and mull over what went on. His dream will have his reaction to the date," she reasoned.
"You're hoping it's bad but say that it's good... you'll find out the details tomorrow Iz, it won't help you to see them.," she added gently.
Isabel dropped back onto her bed and sighed, "You're right. It'll make it worse. It's just-"
Tess pulled her into her arms as her eyes watered, "I know sweetie, I know."
****
We came, we came, we came again
Liz leaned over her balcony following the whispering call.
Their eyes bet. "Max," she beamed.
To stem the tide and point the blame
"Can I come up?" he asked.
Came back for more
Came back to see what you had in store
"Sure," she replied.
She moved back as he climbed up her ladder and hoped onto her balcony.
Everyone join the line, everyone
Yeah
"Impressive," she said of his climbing skills as well as his mere appearance.
"I try," he replied.
She pulled him into the wall away from her window, "You can't stay long, my parents-"
"That's okay, I just wanted to say...". he broke off leaving Liz hungry for his next words
So you wanna spin the world around?
"Say what?" she asked.
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
"That I liked hanging with you" he finished.
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
"Me too",she smiled.
So you wanna make catastrophe?
Won't you send it right over to me
I got some time
Everybody running high
His smile faded and was replaced with eyes clouded with concern. "And that I'm sorry".
"For what?" she asked.
"For how much knowing me has screwed up your life with Michael" he replied.
"No Max," she took both of his hands into hers," it's exactly the opposite. You being in my life it means more to me than I can express in words".
He held her gaze for a moment before replying. "Thank you for saying that".
The same, the same, the same again
To steal the time and haunt the graves
Her heart pounding wildly against her chest, she said,"It's the truth".
Just because it's there
Don't mean you see it anywhere
He squeezed her hands gently before releasing them back into their incomplete state. "Well I better get going"
Maybe it's a trick of the light
Maybe, yeah
She knew it was a dangerous question to ask but her heart felt compelled to ask it. "Why?".
So you wanna spin the world around?
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
"Because if I don't go...". He moved closer to her filling the vacant air with his electrifying scent, "...things will change".
So you wanna make catastrophe?
Don't you send it right over to me
"Change how?" she asked. Another dangerous question, but it was whose answer she needed to know, to feel.
I got some time
Everybody come alive
He lifted his hand to her face. "I'm gonna have to touch your hair because it's so soft", his hand trailed slowly through her hair," and I have to tell you that whatever we go through, it's all worth it because I have you in my life. From the moment we first met, it was you Liz, it has always been you".
Melting at his touch, she breathed "and then?"
Yeah
So you wanna spin the world around?
"And then, I'd have to do this" he whispered. Liz closed her eyes as their lips met in a soft kiss which sent streams of pleasure through her, each one filling a part of her she had never known was empty, making her whole.
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, bring 'em down
In his eyes, the truth she already knew stared back at her with love, he was the one, he was everything, her destiny.
So you wanna make catastrophe?
Don't you send it right over to me
I got some time
Everybody running high
Liz lifted her arms and placed them around his neck as her body hummed in unison with his.
So you wanna spin the world around?
So you wanna spin the world around?
And anybody else, cut 'em down
A soft moan escaped her as, under her red top, she felt his hands stroking the lower part of her back.
So you say we haven't turned around?
So you say we haven't turned around?
His lips were a drug and as he wrapped his arms around her joining their bodies together, Liz wanted more. In her whole entire life, a kiss had never meant so much, fulfilling her entirely yet making her hungry for more.
Just everybody else is going wrong
Going wrong
They pulled apart for air and Liz opened her eyes...and was gut wrenchingly disappointed to see her desk, her wardrobe, herself in bed and not on her balcony kissing Max. Liz was surprised as tears almost infiltrated her eyes.
"It was just a dream," she whispered to herself as she headed for the shower. She sighed with regret, "just a dream."
****
Michael was on his way to homeroom when someone slipped in step with him. Liz looked up at him and smiled, "you're ten minutes before homeroom, what's the occasion?"
"Felt like I needed to get out of the house," he replied causally. The truth was he had so desperately needed to do something to stop thinking about Maria, to stop battling between his feelings for Liz and his ever present feelings for Maria and homeroom seemed like a good option. He would focus his attention to listening and working.
Liz stood in front of him stopping him in his tracks.
"Ten minutes," she mused, "great that gives us time".
"Time for what?".
He managed to get the question out before Liz dragged him to a familiar door and pulled him in.
They were in the eraser room.
"Liz" he began but was hushed by her soft lips, draining away all of his confusion. His divided heart merged into one definite feeling. Liz, she was the girl he had chosen to be with, the girl he must love. The kiss ended as abruptly as it had began.
"Sorry but I just needed to do that" she grinned.
"I should be early more often," he said wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him.
The first bell for class rang putting a stop to another further kissing. She removed his arms from her waist, holding onto his hand she push open the door, "the point about being early" she teased, "is not being late to class".
Michael willingly followed as she lead him out of the eraser room.
"Are you up for driving around the desert tonight?" he asked, "I want to check out that rock face again, there has to be something I'm missing, otherwise, why would I keep drawing it?"
"I'd love to Michael but I have my last session with Max tonight".
"Oh". Another reason why him and Maria were never going to happen. She was with Max. Saint Max.
"But I can join you tomorrow," she offered.
"Sure," he said.
The final bell signaling the commencement of the school day rang. They stopped in the middle of the crowded hallway. Michael stuck his thumb out and signaled behind him, "I'm that way."
Liz pointed in the opposite direction, "I'm headed that way."
He bent down and kissed her, "see you later".
"Later".
Michael turned joined the students slowly making their way to class. Just the distraction he needed.
****
Liz was in deep thought as she made her way to homeroom. The kiss with Michael had been good, the kiss with Max had been...explosive. After that kiss, everything else was just tame, normal. Had Max just ruined her kisses with Michael?
Liz dropped into her seat.
Wait, it was a dream, of course dream kisses can't rival reality, that's why they are dreams.
But Liz knew it didn't matter, her interest in Max was deeper than she had ever imagined. Her plan just wasn't working! Knowing him didn't make the feelings didn't fade away, in fact, they grew stronger. It was more than that though, she had realised that when she came to a screeching halt in front of the girl's bathroom mirror that morning and realised that, she was wearing the same clothes she had been wearing in her dream with Max. Her red vest top, her green khaki three quarter length trousers and her black leather sandals. Max Evans was infiltrating her mind and she'd have to do something to return to normal, hence pulling Michael into the eraser room and kissing him, to forget.
Only that had failed and she was going to have to spend two hours with Max, alone without acting weird.
Liz's head made contact with the table. "I have a real problem"
"Liz are you okay?" asked Mrs Winters.
She lifted her head from the table. No, I'm developing this deep attraction for someone who's not my boyfriend, someone I hardly know who is taken by my best friend, and someone who is affecting my sanity.
"I'm um fine, just tired"
Mrs Winters nodded her head. "Okay," and returned to giving out some announcements.
She was with Michael, she couldn't have Max. Why didn't her subconscious understand that?
****
Maria dumped her bag on the table and slid onto the lunch table with a satisfied smile.
Seated opposite her, Isabel inquired, "Had a good lesson?".
Maria nodded her head, "Drama and music are the key to the enjoyment of my school life," she said.
"I'm with her on the drama," grinned Tess.
Maria rummaged through her bag for her lunch, using up that much energy made her very hungry.
"So anyone seen Alex?"asked Isabel.
She smiled to herself as she noted the anxious tone in Isabel's question.
"Uh he sent a text message this morning, said he had a great time and would fill us in at lunch," she replied.
"Oh. I just wanted to know where he was, we're supposed to be going stargazing tonight and I just wanted to check out the details" she explained.
Maria nodded with mock belief, "Right, well additional information anyway" she smiled.
Isabel rolled her eyes and broke into a amused grin. She gestured behind them, "Um Eddie Connor headed our way."
Maria turned to see Eddie Connor passing out fliers as he made his way towards them. She turned back to Isabel rolling her eyes. "I wonder what he wants now".
"What he always wants," shrugged Tess," a date".
Maria laughed, it was true. Eddie Connor was rich, good-looking, smart, a good actor but also a great womaniser. As if to prove her point an arm slipped around her and Tess.
"Hello lovely ladies, Maria, Tess, Isabel".
Maria and Tess in unison, removed his arm from their shoulders and shared an amused smirk.
"Eddie," they sang.
"What can we do for you?" asked Isabel.
He looked at all three of them hopefully, "a date with either of you would be fine, all three of you would be my birthday present for life."
"Eddie," began Maria, "You're a great guy, good looking, talented, great personality, your only one flaw is...you're a player, a dog"
" A womaniser", added Isabel for clarification.
"You know you are the few girls among my very short list who can resist me" he grinned.
-
willowbv
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"Three cheers for us," said Tess.
Eddie shrugged, "well anyway despite the rejection," he handed each of them a flyer. Maria glanced at the flyer, it was for a "pre-Christmas bash?" she asked.
"Of course there are my usual Christmas and new year bashes but I felt I should do something pre-Christmas" he explained.
At that moment, Kyle and Alex joined them, "Hi guys, what's up?" asked Alex.
Each of the guys greeted each other with a slight nod,"Hey Eddie".
"Hey," he replied sliding out his seat. "I was just telling the girls about my party this Friday," he handed them a flyer, "are you guys in?"
"Yeah sure," Kyle replied, "see you there."
To the guys he signed off with a, "Catch you later," and to the girls, he bowed slightly and smiled, "Ladies."
Amused by his efforts, they rewarded him with a smile, "Eddie," they replied.
"Hope to see there," he added before continuing with his advertising.
Alex slid in beside her while Kyle sat next to Isabel.
"So a pre-Christmas bash huh?" said Alex studying the flyer. "Translation..."
"His parents are out of town and he's looking for an excuse to party," finished Maria.
"So what does this happen a lot?" asked Isabel.
"Pretty much," she replied, "Eddie is the last born of four kids, his parents are busy rich out of a town a lot. Eddie's motto is" while the parents are away, it's time to party". And I have to admit he has the best parties. Music, food, live bands. The pre-school bash had Ivy"
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Tess.
"No," said Maria, "We seriously have to go, you haven't become a teen Roswellian until you've been to Eddie's party."
"Whose party?" asked Max. Maria followed him with her eyes as he went around the table and sat next to Isabel. She bit her lip to restraint her wandering thoughts.
"Oh um Eddie's having a party this Friday," she handed him a flyer, "you in?"
Max was startled as Isabel ripped the flyer from him and said, "Don't bother, Max doesn't party"
He met Maria's questioning eyes. Great, she probably thought he was some loser who never ever went out and stayed in doors reading books and watching the discovery channel.
"What are you talking about?" he asked defensively," I party, I can party".
Both Isabel and Tess stared at him in disbelief. "Max, the last party that wasn't mine or Tess' birthday party that you went to was in the 9th grade," said Isabel.
"You're kidding" said Maria.
"Nope" said Tess.
"I can party, I just chose not to" he protested.
"Yeah uh huh," said Isabel.
"I can!" he protested.
Right then and there, he made the choice to go. He would go to this party and party.
Max blushed as he realised that all eyes were on him. He met Maria's eyes and found them alight with excitement. She had that look in her eyes, like he was her next project. "Great, so you're coming?," she asked.
"Definitely," he said.
"Good".
"Great," he echoed.
"Yeah," said Tess suppressing a grin, "great."
Max directed a stern look in her direction. It was met with a wider grin.
Isabel was about to make another joke about her brothers lack of social interaction at parties when Alex's eyes lit up.
He rose from his seat looking past her, "Wendy?" he called.
Wendy? She turned to follow his gaze. Her eyes landed on a girl dressed in jeans, a red top and jeans jacket. Hair was tied up in a pony tail, she wasn't a fashion disaster. Isabel hated her on sight.
Wendy's frown turned to a smile when she spotted Alex.
"Alex!" she called and waved making her way towards them.
Isabel turned and mimicked her call with a roll of her eyes. Tess suppressed a grin. Isabel turned her attention to Alex who had left the table to meet her a few feet away from them.
"Hi, what are you doing here?" she heard him ask.
Isabel watched as she shrugged off the coat, "I just wanted to return your jacket" she replied
Oh please, she thought cynically, what a lousy excuse.
"Oh, thanks," he said, "I forgot about it."
They stood there staring into each other's eyes, smiling every now and then. Isabel rolled hers as jealousy flared in her eyes.
Maria made a loud fake coughing sound which brought the eye gushing fest to an end.
"Oh um, sorry. Wendy these are my friends. Maria, Tess, Kyle, Max." His eyes finally landed on her," and Isabel."
"Hi," they all waved.
"Hi," she replied.
Oh please even her voice was perky, she noted with disgust.
"So do you wanna stay for a while?" he asked her.
No, thought Isabel.
"Sure," she replied.
Alex sat with her next to Kyle. Isabel clenched her jaw disappointed that they weren't sat opposite her so that she could get a good look at her.
I guess I'll have to do the side glances.
Max sensed Isabel tense and noted the silent messages passed between her and Tess. This was not good, she was preparing to go into ice princess mode. He reached under the table and squeezed her hand.
"Iz calm down" he whispered.
She turned to him and with her teeth still together, a skill which girls somehow seemed to possess, they could talk without looking like they were, said, "Max I'm fine".
He met Maria's arched eye brow and shrugged helplessly.
Well here it goes.
"So," began Isabel, "Candy-"
"Wendy"
"Sorry, Wendy, I was just curious about what caught your eye about our Alex here. Was it his soulful eyes or that fact that he played a guitar?" she asked.
"Um it was more about me than him, I...took off my Jason tinted glasses"
Alex grinned shaking his head.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Oh just a private joke," he said.
Isabel turned away and rolled her eyes. They had just had one date and they already had private jokes? she felt like throwing up.
Wendy proceeded to prove that she was nice, funny, smart, a good bowler and an all around good catch. Isabel really didn't like her. She picked up one of the flyers on the table. "A party?" she inquired.
"Oh yeah, we're going to this party on Friday..." Alex trailed off, "our date. I completely forgot"
Oh what a shame, thought Isabel.
"It's okay," said Wendy, "you could go to the party instead, We could go out on Saturday".
"Or why don't you come and have a loud party date?" asked Kyle.
Tess kicked him under that table. Isabel glared at him. All this did not go unnoticed by Wendy.
"Um yeah, if you want to," said Alex.
"Sure," she said, "I can kick your ass bowling on Saturday."
"You haven't won yet," teased Alex.
Isabel sighed with relief when Wendy said she needed to go. "It was nice meeting you guys"
Isabel replied to the comment with a tight smile.
Alex offered to walk her to the car, Isabel wanted to run her over with it instead.
The table was silent as everyone watched Alex and Wendy walk towards the parking lot.
"She was nice," said Kyle.
"I guess," shrugged Isabel.
Tess' foot on his toe prevented any further positive commentary. The subject was promptly changed to how everyone was going to get to the party.
****
"So we're finished" said Max.
It was the end of their last session, he had covered everything with her, and now, they were sitting on her fold out chairs on her balcony, staring at the stars.
"Yes," said Liz wistfully, "yes we are. Thanks for doing this"
He turned to face her and met her shinning brown eyes, "You're welcome," he said, "I hope it'll help".
"Oh definitely" she enthused," I totally understand everything now. It was really just the basics, I should ace Reynold's test on Monday."
He laughed at her energy and sat up, "I'm glad you're feeling confident about it".
"Well with a teacher like you, how could I not".
Max didn't know how to reply to that, he just smiled and said, "thank you. It was fun." And it had been, Liz was smart, sweet, honest, determined, she was funny too, he could really see why she and Maria had been friends. He liked talking to her and as he looked at her, he wondered why a person like her would do the what she did to Maria. She caught him looking.
"What?" she asked.
"It's just, I was wondering. You're not the kind of person to do what you did to Maria, I was just wondering, why. What about Michael made you give up your friendship?"
She seemed a bit taken aback by the question.
"If you don't want to talk about," he began.
"No, it's fine. Why Michael. I'd always kind of seen him as Michael, you know. Nothing too interesting and then...you know when you find out something about somebody, that you didn't know before and it changes the way you see them and feel about them?"
He nodded his head. He knew that more than most people.
"Well, that's how it was with Michael".
"You mean you love him".
Her head jerked at the word, "I umm, I guess I do. I mean why else would I do what I did?"
He nodded. "Well, I better get going. I'll see you around Liz". He grabbed his back pack and started descending down her ladder.
"Max wait!".
He looked up at her sharp call. "What?". Did I forget something, he wondered.
"I umm I've had fun hanging out with you the last couple of days."
"Me too".
"And I don't want it to stop...I was wondering if maybe you'd still want to hang out sometime, you know like friends do?" she asked hopefully.
Max smiled. Isabel and Tess would probably fry him for this, he figured Maria would be okay with it and he liked hanging out with her, so."Yeah, I'd like that".
"Great"
"Great" he echoed.
"So see you tomorrow?".
"Goodnight Liz" he smiled.
"Goodnight Max."
****
Journal entry 55
When Max said that I must have loved Michael, I agreed. But the more and more I think about it, the more and more I become disappointed in myself, because my heart is beginning to speak up and telling me to be honest. I have was half telling the truth when I told Max that finding out something about Michael changed everything, that that's why I chose to do that Maria. The real reason, was that he was something different, dangerous, exciting. All I wanted was something to break the routine of going to school, working and doing homework, and finding out that your friend's boyfriend is an alien from the 1947 crash is big news. And finding out that you are the only one who knows his secret, makes you feel special, bonds you together and helping him find out more about the crash or if there are others like him, that makes you connect and suddenly you find yourself falling, falling for the excitement, intrigue, danger and convincing yourself that it's love.
And now writing this down, I realise that that is all it is with Michael. I care about him deeply and was attracted to him, but it's purely chemical, I don't love him. I'm developing feelings for Max.
Max who is taken by Maria. Michael who was taken by Maria. Maybe this isn't about danger at all, maybe I'm some kind of person who goes around stealing her friend's boyfriends? Is that what I am, a horrible person?
Do I want Max just because Maria has him?
No that can't be it. It's different with Max than with Michael. Michael made my heart pound and I was attracted to him. Max makes my heart pound, I sweat, I get butterflies in my stomach but there's this other force. I see him everywhere, in my dreams, when I blink. I think about him all the time and when I'm near him along with butterflies is this feeling of comfort, of safety, that the whole world could be falling apart and I wouldn't be scared as long Max was there.
Am I in love with him? It doesn't matter anyway, nothing can happen between us.
But Michael, I have to tell him the truth, I have to stop lying to myself. The reason we are together is because we only have each other. He still has feelings for Maria, I can see it in his eyes, he always looks at her at lunch. Only this week I've been noticing it less because I'm staring at Max. No matter how things work out, I have to be honest with Michael. He deserves that much.
****
Maria slammed her locker shut and proceeded to maneuver herself through the crowded hallways. She was supposed to meet Isabel, Tess and Max by the jeep and she didn't want to be too late. They had to stop off at her house to pick up possible outfits and then they were going to Isabel's to dress for the party. Maria almost reached the exit when the familiar voice finally broke into her thoughts.
"Maria!".
She stopped and turned to see Kyle walking hurriedly towards her. She waited till he was a few feet from her and then resumed her exit. He caught up with her as she walked down the steps.
"What's up?"
"About tonight-"
"Don't forget, you're meeting us at Isabel's at 6:30pm and we're meeting Alex and Wendy at the party" she said.
"Change of plans," he said, "I'll meet you guys there"
"Why?" she asked. They were in the parking lot and Maria could see them all waiting by the jeep.
"I'm picking up Amy Stuart, she's my date for the party" he replied.
Maria turned to him sharply. "What?! Since when?"
"Since yesterday".
"Does Tess know?" she asked.
"I don't have to report everything to her, besides why would she care?"
Maria rolled her eyes, "Why do you have play these games with each other?"
"I'm not playing any games Maria. If Tess wanted me, she'd tell me, make a move at least".
"Well have you put yourself out there?".
"Alex did look where it got him" he replied.
"Different people" she objected.
"Same situation," he retorted. " Look can we just drop this?"
"Sure. I'm not the one taking some bimbo to make Tess jealous."
"That is not what I am doing. I'm just getting back in the saddle"
Maria rolled her eyes," whatever. I'll see you at the party" she waved as she headed towards the jeep.
****
"Late as usual," said Max.
"Not my fault. The masses just wanna escape at all costs, plus Kyle detoured me. Change of plans, we're meeting him at the party."
"Why?" asked Isabel.
Maria glanced at Tess and said apologetically, "He's um... got a date with Amy Stuart"
"Oh," said Tess simply, "she's um..."
"Soo not good enough for him," she finished.
Tess smiled, thankful for her support. She couldn't really blame Kyle for moving on. It's what she wanted him to do, what he needed to do because getting involved with her would be too...complicated.
****
Max glanced at his watch. It was 7:15pm. He shook his head in amusement. They had been up there for over three hours and still weren't ready. To any man who hadn't lived with females before it would have been puzzling. But Max knew how it worked. It wasn't so much the choosing of outfits, make up and hair that took up the time, but it was the dancing to music and chatting along the way.
"Isabel, Tess, Maria Come on!" he yelled.
"Are they still up there?" asked his Dad from the living room.
"Yep," he replied, "I'll give them five more minutes and then I'm dragging them down," he added.
"Good luck," called his mother from the living room.
"Isabel!" he yelled once more.
Finally he heard the door open along with the expected chatter as they descended down the stairs. Max was prepared for the beautiful sight of Isabel and Tess, what he wasn't prepared for was Maria.
Isabel descended first, followed by Tess, followed by Maria. Max was stunned. He knew that she was beautiful, but in her black suede trousers, bohemian top, her hair out in curls, she was breathtaking. What drew Max's attention the most, was her eyes. They were brighter than he had ever seen them, then his eyes drifted to her lips, shining, luscious, begging to be kissed.
"Max" said Isabel in a low voice.
"Yes?".
"Pick up your jaw from the floor".
He turned to see her grinning next to him. His eyes returned to Maria.
"You look...". Beautiful, spectacular, stunning. "..nice"
She smiled as she skipped the last step and jumped down in front of him, "Why thank you. You look...nice too".
They stood looking at each other until Isabel dragged him away from her and into the living room.
Tess turned to him at the door. "You know Max, you really don't have to go just because you think you have to prove something".
"Yeah, you can just stay at home and read your books," teased Isabel.
"Out," he ordered pointing to the jeep.
"We're going, we're going," they laughed.
****
Tess' jaw dropped as they drove into Eddie's house."I know his parents are loaded but I didn't think, Beverly Hills Mansion loaded," she said in awe.
"Loaded," said Maria as they parked and headed to the door. The music could be heard from outside, the party was well underway.
They walked up to the door and Tess stepped back blown away by the music the force of the music. She took in the marble floors and elegant staircase.
"Why Roswell?" she asked.
"His parents grew up here and so want the same for their son. Hence why he's going public and not private. They want him to interact with us ordinaries," said Maria as they strode in.
They all stopped when Eddie approached them with a tray of drinks, "Welcome to the party, you all want a drink?"
"Alcoholic?" asked Max.
"Is there any other?"
Tess rolled her eyes. She glanced at Isabel and Max, they all had the same expression. Alcohol and aliens really didn't mix.
"No thanks, we don't mix well with alcohol," and that was putting it mildly.
"That's cool" he turned to Maria, "how about you baby?"
"Um no thanks, the thought of killing over a thousand of my brain cells kinda makes it unappealing."
"Right, cool. Well, how can I be of service to you ladies?"
"Well you could give me a tour" she said. After all, she was here to have fun right?
"Sure," he held out his arm for her, "right this way."
She hooked on and waved to her friends, "See you later guys".
Maria watched her and shook her head. "Now I wonder what that was all about" she said sarcastically.
This whole I want to be with you but I'm just too scared thing was getting out of hand. Kyle was with Amy and Tess was with Eddie?
Angst all around she thought.
"Well, I'm gonna check out the party, see you guys later," said Isabel.
"Later," replied Maria. She stood there and looked up at Max who was looking increasingly uncomfortable as if he was going to bolt.
"Okay," she said dragging his hand.
"Maria-"
She stopped and turned to him, "You are not spending this party just standing in some dark corner Max. "
"I wasn't-"
" I know you've been out of the game for while so, I'm your buddy, your guide. First rule, have fun, talk and dance with people you don't know. You could make a new friend," she said before turning back and dragging him into the next room.
"Where are we going?!" he shouted above the music.
"Dancing," she shouted above the music grinning.
****
Isabel smiled pleasantly before abruptly turning away from whatever his name was. He was cute, sure, but arrogant. The last one had been cute, a nice guy, just what she needed, but somehow she hadn't made it past the first dance with any of them.
What has Alex done to me? She thought as her eyes drifted around the room. Past streams of people making out, dancing, drinking, talking. What she should be doing now instead of pining away for Alex Whitman. Isabel still couldn't figure out how that had happened, how someone sooo not her type had caught her attention, but then again her type was usually shallow enough to not get too attached. She rolled her eyes at the term. Her jaw dropped when she realised that the couple her eyes were currently fixed upon were Alex and Wendy, standing in the crowd laughing and talking. She watched them for a moment, envious. She wanted him to look at her the way he was looking at Wendy, to lightly touch her arms and lower his head to-
That's it, she decided putting the cup down. She would go over and say hello.
"Hi, guys". Alex jerked up his head in surprise to see Isabel standing before them, looking beautiful in a red dress, like the one in his dreams. His heart leapt into his throat, his palms sweating, butterflies fluttered in his stomach. Just when he thought he had moved on from her, she had this power to suck him back in.
It was only when he closed his jaw to say hi, that he realised that it had been open. "Isabel, hi! Um where are the others?"
"Around here somewhere" she replied.
"Oh".
"Great party huh?" she asked.
"Yeah," answered Wendy, "it's great."
"Well, um I'll see you guys later" she waved.
"See you later" waved Wendy.
It was only when she had brushed past him and Alex had turned to watch her figure disappear that he replied, "see you later." Completely unaware of the knowing look and hurt that passed across Wendy's face.
"Alex."
"Huh?"
"Do you think we can talk on the patio?" she asked.
"Sure."
****
Eddie shrugged, "well anyway despite the rejection," he handed each of them a flyer. Maria glanced at the flyer, it was for a "pre-Christmas bash?" she asked.
"Of course there are my usual Christmas and new year bashes but I felt I should do something pre-Christmas" he explained.
At that moment, Kyle and Alex joined them, "Hi guys, what's up?" asked Alex.
Each of the guys greeted each other with a slight nod,"Hey Eddie".
"Hey," he replied sliding out his seat. "I was just telling the girls about my party this Friday," he handed them a flyer, "are you guys in?"
"Yeah sure," Kyle replied, "see you there."
To the guys he signed off with a, "Catch you later," and to the girls, he bowed slightly and smiled, "Ladies."
Amused by his efforts, they rewarded him with a smile, "Eddie," they replied.
"Hope to see there," he added before continuing with his advertising.
Alex slid in beside her while Kyle sat next to Isabel.
"So a pre-Christmas bash huh?" said Alex studying the flyer. "Translation..."
"His parents are out of town and he's looking for an excuse to party," finished Maria.
"So what does this happen a lot?" asked Isabel.
"Pretty much," she replied, "Eddie is the last born of four kids, his parents are busy rich out of a town a lot. Eddie's motto is" while the parents are away, it's time to party". And I have to admit he has the best parties. Music, food, live bands. The pre-school bash had Ivy"
"You're kidding!" exclaimed Tess.
"No," said Maria, "We seriously have to go, you haven't become a teen Roswellian until you've been to Eddie's party."
"Whose party?" asked Max. Maria followed him with her eyes as he went around the table and sat next to Isabel. She bit her lip to restraint her wandering thoughts.
"Oh um Eddie's having a party this Friday," she handed him a flyer, "you in?"
Max was startled as Isabel ripped the flyer from him and said, "Don't bother, Max doesn't party"
He met Maria's questioning eyes. Great, she probably thought he was some loser who never ever went out and stayed in doors reading books and watching the discovery channel.
"What are you talking about?" he asked defensively," I party, I can party".
Both Isabel and Tess stared at him in disbelief. "Max, the last party that wasn't mine or Tess' birthday party that you went to was in the 9th grade," said Isabel.
"You're kidding" said Maria.
"Nope" said Tess.
"I can party, I just chose not to" he protested.
"Yeah uh huh," said Isabel.
"I can!" he protested.
Right then and there, he made the choice to go. He would go to this party and party.
Max blushed as he realised that all eyes were on him. He met Maria's eyes and found them alight with excitement. She had that look in her eyes, like he was her next project. "Great, so you're coming?," she asked.
"Definitely," he said.
"Good".
"Great," he echoed.
"Yeah," said Tess suppressing a grin, "great."
Max directed a stern look in her direction. It was met with a wider grin.
Isabel was about to make another joke about her brothers lack of social interaction at parties when Alex's eyes lit up.
He rose from his seat looking past her, "Wendy?" he called.
Wendy? She turned to follow his gaze. Her eyes landed on a girl dressed in jeans, a red top and jeans jacket. Hair was tied up in a pony tail, she wasn't a fashion disaster. Isabel hated her on sight.
Wendy's frown turned to a smile when she spotted Alex.
"Alex!" she called and waved making her way towards them.
Isabel turned and mimicked her call with a roll of her eyes. Tess suppressed a grin. Isabel turned her attention to Alex who had left the table to meet her a few feet away from them.
"Hi, what are you doing here?" she heard him ask.
Isabel watched as she shrugged off the coat, "I just wanted to return your jacket" she replied
Oh please, she thought cynically, what a lousy excuse.
"Oh, thanks," he said, "I forgot about it."
They stood there staring into each other's eyes, smiling every now and then. Isabel rolled hers as jealousy flared in her eyes.
Maria made a loud fake coughing sound which brought the eye gushing fest to an end.
"Oh um, sorry. Wendy these are my friends. Maria, Tess, Kyle, Max." His eyes finally landed on her," and Isabel."
"Hi," they all waved.
"Hi," she replied.
Oh please even her voice was perky, she noted with disgust.
"So do you wanna stay for a while?" he asked her.
No, thought Isabel.
"Sure," she replied.
Alex sat with her next to Kyle. Isabel clenched her jaw disappointed that they weren't sat opposite her so that she could get a good look at her.
I guess I'll have to do the side glances.
Max sensed Isabel tense and noted the silent messages passed between her and Tess. This was not good, she was preparing to go into ice princess mode. He reached under the table and squeezed her hand.
"Iz calm down" he whispered.
She turned to him and with her teeth still together, a skill which girls somehow seemed to possess, they could talk without looking like they were, said, "Max I'm fine".
He met Maria's arched eye brow and shrugged helplessly.
Well here it goes.
"So," began Isabel, "Candy-"
"Wendy"
"Sorry, Wendy, I was just curious about what caught your eye about our Alex here. Was it his soulful eyes or that fact that he played a guitar?" she asked.
"Um it was more about me than him, I...took off my Jason tinted glasses"
Alex grinned shaking his head.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Oh just a private joke," he said.
Isabel turned away and rolled her eyes. They had just had one date and they already had private jokes? she felt like throwing up.
Wendy proceeded to prove that she was nice, funny, smart, a good bowler and an all around good catch. Isabel really didn't like her. She picked up one of the flyers on the table. "A party?" she inquired.
"Oh yeah, we're going to this party on Friday..." Alex trailed off, "our date. I completely forgot"
Oh what a shame, thought Isabel.
"It's okay," said Wendy, "you could go to the party instead, We could go out on Saturday".
"Or why don't you come and have a loud party date?" asked Kyle.
Tess kicked him under that table. Isabel glared at him. All this did not go unnoticed by Wendy.
"Um yeah, if you want to," said Alex.
"Sure," she said, "I can kick your ass bowling on Saturday."
"You haven't won yet," teased Alex.
Isabel sighed with relief when Wendy said she needed to go. "It was nice meeting you guys"
Isabel replied to the comment with a tight smile.
Alex offered to walk her to the car, Isabel wanted to run her over with it instead.
The table was silent as everyone watched Alex and Wendy walk towards the parking lot.
"She was nice," said Kyle.
"I guess," shrugged Isabel.
Tess' foot on his toe prevented any further positive commentary. The subject was promptly changed to how everyone was going to get to the party.
****
"So we're finished" said Max.
It was the end of their last session, he had covered everything with her, and now, they were sitting on her fold out chairs on her balcony, staring at the stars.
"Yes," said Liz wistfully, "yes we are. Thanks for doing this"
He turned to face her and met her shinning brown eyes, "You're welcome," he said, "I hope it'll help".
"Oh definitely" she enthused," I totally understand everything now. It was really just the basics, I should ace Reynold's test on Monday."
He laughed at her energy and sat up, "I'm glad you're feeling confident about it".
"Well with a teacher like you, how could I not".
Max didn't know how to reply to that, he just smiled and said, "thank you. It was fun." And it had been, Liz was smart, sweet, honest, determined, she was funny too, he could really see why she and Maria had been friends. He liked talking to her and as he looked at her, he wondered why a person like her would do the what she did to Maria. She caught him looking.
"What?" she asked.
"It's just, I was wondering. You're not the kind of person to do what you did to Maria, I was just wondering, why. What about Michael made you give up your friendship?"
She seemed a bit taken aback by the question.
"If you don't want to talk about," he began.
"No, it's fine. Why Michael. I'd always kind of seen him as Michael, you know. Nothing too interesting and then...you know when you find out something about somebody, that you didn't know before and it changes the way you see them and feel about them?"
He nodded his head. He knew that more than most people.
"Well, that's how it was with Michael".
"You mean you love him".
Her head jerked at the word, "I umm, I guess I do. I mean why else would I do what I did?"
He nodded. "Well, I better get going. I'll see you around Liz". He grabbed his back pack and started descending down her ladder.
"Max wait!".
He looked up at her sharp call. "What?". Did I forget something, he wondered.
"I umm I've had fun hanging out with you the last couple of days."
"Me too".
"And I don't want it to stop...I was wondering if maybe you'd still want to hang out sometime, you know like friends do?" she asked hopefully.
Max smiled. Isabel and Tess would probably fry him for this, he figured Maria would be okay with it and he liked hanging out with her, so."Yeah, I'd like that".
"Great"
"Great" he echoed.
"So see you tomorrow?".
"Goodnight Liz" he smiled.
"Goodnight Max."
****
Journal entry 55
When Max said that I must have loved Michael, I agreed. But the more and more I think about it, the more and more I become disappointed in myself, because my heart is beginning to speak up and telling me to be honest. I have was half telling the truth when I told Max that finding out something about Michael changed everything, that that's why I chose to do that Maria. The real reason, was that he was something different, dangerous, exciting. All I wanted was something to break the routine of going to school, working and doing homework, and finding out that your friend's boyfriend is an alien from the 1947 crash is big news. And finding out that you are the only one who knows his secret, makes you feel special, bonds you together and helping him find out more about the crash or if there are others like him, that makes you connect and suddenly you find yourself falling, falling for the excitement, intrigue, danger and convincing yourself that it's love.
And now writing this down, I realise that that is all it is with Michael. I care about him deeply and was attracted to him, but it's purely chemical, I don't love him. I'm developing feelings for Max.
Max who is taken by Maria. Michael who was taken by Maria. Maybe this isn't about danger at all, maybe I'm some kind of person who goes around stealing her friend's boyfriends? Is that what I am, a horrible person?
Do I want Max just because Maria has him?
No that can't be it. It's different with Max than with Michael. Michael made my heart pound and I was attracted to him. Max makes my heart pound, I sweat, I get butterflies in my stomach but there's this other force. I see him everywhere, in my dreams, when I blink. I think about him all the time and when I'm near him along with butterflies is this feeling of comfort, of safety, that the whole world could be falling apart and I wouldn't be scared as long Max was there.
Am I in love with him? It doesn't matter anyway, nothing can happen between us.
But Michael, I have to tell him the truth, I have to stop lying to myself. The reason we are together is because we only have each other. He still has feelings for Maria, I can see it in his eyes, he always looks at her at lunch. Only this week I've been noticing it less because I'm staring at Max. No matter how things work out, I have to be honest with Michael. He deserves that much.
****
Maria slammed her locker shut and proceeded to maneuver herself through the crowded hallways. She was supposed to meet Isabel, Tess and Max by the jeep and she didn't want to be too late. They had to stop off at her house to pick up possible outfits and then they were going to Isabel's to dress for the party. Maria almost reached the exit when the familiar voice finally broke into her thoughts.
"Maria!".
She stopped and turned to see Kyle walking hurriedly towards her. She waited till he was a few feet from her and then resumed her exit. He caught up with her as she walked down the steps.
"What's up?"
"About tonight-"
"Don't forget, you're meeting us at Isabel's at 6:30pm and we're meeting Alex and Wendy at the party" she said.
"Change of plans," he said, "I'll meet you guys there"
"Why?" she asked. They were in the parking lot and Maria could see them all waiting by the jeep.
"I'm picking up Amy Stuart, she's my date for the party" he replied.
Maria turned to him sharply. "What?! Since when?"
"Since yesterday".
"Does Tess know?" she asked.
"I don't have to report everything to her, besides why would she care?"
Maria rolled her eyes, "Why do you have play these games with each other?"
"I'm not playing any games Maria. If Tess wanted me, she'd tell me, make a move at least".
"Well have you put yourself out there?".
"Alex did look where it got him" he replied.
"Different people" she objected.
"Same situation," he retorted. " Look can we just drop this?"
"Sure. I'm not the one taking some bimbo to make Tess jealous."
"That is not what I am doing. I'm just getting back in the saddle"
Maria rolled her eyes," whatever. I'll see you at the party" she waved as she headed towards the jeep.
****
"Late as usual," said Max.
"Not my fault. The masses just wanna escape at all costs, plus Kyle detoured me. Change of plans, we're meeting him at the party."
"Why?" asked Isabel.
Maria glanced at Tess and said apologetically, "He's um... got a date with Amy Stuart"
"Oh," said Tess simply, "she's um..."
"Soo not good enough for him," she finished.
Tess smiled, thankful for her support. She couldn't really blame Kyle for moving on. It's what she wanted him to do, what he needed to do because getting involved with her would be too...complicated.
****
Max glanced at his watch. It was 7:15pm. He shook his head in amusement. They had been up there for over three hours and still weren't ready. To any man who hadn't lived with females before it would have been puzzling. But Max knew how it worked. It wasn't so much the choosing of outfits, make up and hair that took up the time, but it was the dancing to music and chatting along the way.
"Isabel, Tess, Maria Come on!" he yelled.
"Are they still up there?" asked his Dad from the living room.
"Yep," he replied, "I'll give them five more minutes and then I'm dragging them down," he added.
"Good luck," called his mother from the living room.
"Isabel!" he yelled once more.
Finally he heard the door open along with the expected chatter as they descended down the stairs. Max was prepared for the beautiful sight of Isabel and Tess, what he wasn't prepared for was Maria.
Isabel descended first, followed by Tess, followed by Maria. Max was stunned. He knew that she was beautiful, but in her black suede trousers, bohemian top, her hair out in curls, she was breathtaking. What drew Max's attention the most, was her eyes. They were brighter than he had ever seen them, then his eyes drifted to her lips, shining, luscious, begging to be kissed.
"Max" said Isabel in a low voice.
"Yes?".
"Pick up your jaw from the floor".
He turned to see her grinning next to him. His eyes returned to Maria.
"You look...". Beautiful, spectacular, stunning. "..nice"
She smiled as she skipped the last step and jumped down in front of him, "Why thank you. You look...nice too".
They stood looking at each other until Isabel dragged him away from her and into the living room.
Tess turned to him at the door. "You know Max, you really don't have to go just because you think you have to prove something".
"Yeah, you can just stay at home and read your books," teased Isabel.
"Out," he ordered pointing to the jeep.
"We're going, we're going," they laughed.
****
Tess' jaw dropped as they drove into Eddie's house."I know his parents are loaded but I didn't think, Beverly Hills Mansion loaded," she said in awe.
"Loaded," said Maria as they parked and headed to the door. The music could be heard from outside, the party was well underway.
They walked up to the door and Tess stepped back blown away by the music the force of the music. She took in the marble floors and elegant staircase.
"Why Roswell?" she asked.
"His parents grew up here and so want the same for their son. Hence why he's going public and not private. They want him to interact with us ordinaries," said Maria as they strode in.
They all stopped when Eddie approached them with a tray of drinks, "Welcome to the party, you all want a drink?"
"Alcoholic?" asked Max.
"Is there any other?"
Tess rolled her eyes. She glanced at Isabel and Max, they all had the same expression. Alcohol and aliens really didn't mix.
"No thanks, we don't mix well with alcohol," and that was putting it mildly.
"That's cool" he turned to Maria, "how about you baby?"
"Um no thanks, the thought of killing over a thousand of my brain cells kinda makes it unappealing."
"Right, cool. Well, how can I be of service to you ladies?"
"Well you could give me a tour" she said. After all, she was here to have fun right?
"Sure," he held out his arm for her, "right this way."
She hooked on and waved to her friends, "See you later guys".
Maria watched her and shook her head. "Now I wonder what that was all about" she said sarcastically.
This whole I want to be with you but I'm just too scared thing was getting out of hand. Kyle was with Amy and Tess was with Eddie?
Angst all around she thought.
"Well, I'm gonna check out the party, see you guys later," said Isabel.
"Later," replied Maria. She stood there and looked up at Max who was looking increasingly uncomfortable as if he was going to bolt.
"Okay," she said dragging his hand.
"Maria-"
She stopped and turned to him, "You are not spending this party just standing in some dark corner Max. "
"I wasn't-"
" I know you've been out of the game for while so, I'm your buddy, your guide. First rule, have fun, talk and dance with people you don't know. You could make a new friend," she said before turning back and dragging him into the next room.
"Where are we going?!" he shouted above the music.
"Dancing," she shouted above the music grinning.
****
Isabel smiled pleasantly before abruptly turning away from whatever his name was. He was cute, sure, but arrogant. The last one had been cute, a nice guy, just what she needed, but somehow she hadn't made it past the first dance with any of them.
What has Alex done to me? She thought as her eyes drifted around the room. Past streams of people making out, dancing, drinking, talking. What she should be doing now instead of pining away for Alex Whitman. Isabel still couldn't figure out how that had happened, how someone sooo not her type had caught her attention, but then again her type was usually shallow enough to not get too attached. She rolled her eyes at the term. Her jaw dropped when she realised that the couple her eyes were currently fixed upon were Alex and Wendy, standing in the crowd laughing and talking. She watched them for a moment, envious. She wanted him to look at her the way he was looking at Wendy, to lightly touch her arms and lower his head to-
That's it, she decided putting the cup down. She would go over and say hello.
"Hi, guys". Alex jerked up his head in surprise to see Isabel standing before them, looking beautiful in a red dress, like the one in his dreams. His heart leapt into his throat, his palms sweating, butterflies fluttered in his stomach. Just when he thought he had moved on from her, she had this power to suck him back in.
It was only when he closed his jaw to say hi, that he realised that it had been open. "Isabel, hi! Um where are the others?"
"Around here somewhere" she replied.
"Oh".
"Great party huh?" she asked.
"Yeah," answered Wendy, "it's great."
"Well, um I'll see you guys later" she waved.
"See you later" waved Wendy.
It was only when she had brushed past him and Alex had turned to watch her figure disappear that he replied, "see you later." Completely unaware of the knowing look and hurt that passed across Wendy's face.
"Alex."
"Huh?"
"Do you think we can talk on the patio?" she asked.
"Sure."
****
-
willowbv
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 321
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****
On the patio, Alex was unprepared for her next question.
"Remember when we were talking about our past relationships?"
"Yeah"
"The girl, you had feelings for, it's Isabel isn't it?" she asked.
"How did you know?", he asked.
"Well, lets see" she began, "On Wednesday, the hateful looks, not mention the icy reception, the way she kept looking at you and assessing me". She saw his eyes grew wide at the last suggestion, "believe me us females know. Then to now, she said hi but was really coming to see you and you...I really like you Alex,..." she smiled sadly, "but you still have your Isabel tinted shades on".
"But-"
"And don't tell me that you don't because we both now it".
"So we're over?" he asked.
"I guess so." She kissed him softly and faintly on his lips, "It's been fun."
"Can I call you?" he asked.
"Not for while. I need time to get over this, tell you what I'll call you and we can set that rematch"
"You're on" he grinned.
He watched her leave but she turned at the door, "Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"I can't in good conscience let this go unsaid, because I think you need to hear it. As opposed to me and Jason, when it was just a one way thing. You and Isabel...it's a two way thing, so go for it".
"She doesn't want me" he shrugged.
"Sure she does, I think, I think she's just scared. Give her time"
"How long?" he asked.
"If she's worth waiting for, then as long as it takes, just let her know that. Promise me".
"I will" .
He watched her go before turning back to look at the late night sky. He had dated and been dumped all the in the space of a week and it wasn't all that bad.
****
The music was too loud, most people were heavily intoxicated, it was crowded, a total contrast to anything he had done pre-Maria but now Max was in the middle of the madness in the ballroom, dancing away with the beautiful pixie who awakened him with her magic. He watched captivated as she backed away from him swaying her hips inviting to follow, which he did with no hesitation.
"So," she said, "you having fun"
"Yes."
"Better than being at home watching the discovery channel?"
"hmmm" he answered playfully.
"Hmmm," she laughed.
She halt after bumping into someone. She turned around, her apology already left her mouth before she registered who she had bumped into. Michael and behind him Liz.
"No problem," he accepted her apology.
Maria fixed her eyes on his and then drifted down to Liz, behind her she felt Max close the space between them, his hand reach for hers and immediately she relaxed. She wasn't going to give a cutting remark or be hurt, the one good thing which had come out of their betrayal was Max, Isabel and Tess. So instead Maria smiled, "Enjoy the party".
"You okay?" asked Max as he led her away.
"I'm fine," she replied honestly.
Michael and Liz watched the couple as they made their way through the crowd. Michael's eyes were fixed on Maria, Liz on Max. Her heart swelled when he turned around and smiled apologetically, she returned his smile which faded as he disappeared into the crowd. They stood there for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, eyes fixed at the point where the couple had disappeared. Reluctantly they met each other's eyes, both unsure of what to say when their desires were leading them somewhere, away from each other.
"Want to get some air?" asked Michael.
Liz nodded, "I could with some fresh air".
****
Isabel was on her way to get a drink for her and Tess from the kitchen when she spotted Wendy walking towards her. She looked around frantically for a door to escape in, but it was too late, she was spotted and there was no door.
"Hi," she said.
"Relax, he's all yours" she smiled.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Alex, we just broke up".
Not sure how to react to the news, Isabel simply stood there silent.
"We decided to be friends...He still digs you and don't pretend that you don't like him otherwise you wouldn't be so hostile to me" she explained.
"I don't-"
"Now I don't know why you two aren't together, but I know that it's all on you. I want you to promise me something Isabel."
"What?"
"That whatever issues or fear you have, you get over it and get Alex because he is a really great guy and unfortunately for me he only has a heart for you. Do you think you can do that?"
Isabel was speechless. She did not have feelings for Alex- Oh stop already with the lying! she told herself. All the denial and lies were not right, the truth was simple and right and sure it was complicated but the most precious things usually were.
" 'cause I really think you would be throwing away a really great thing. I'll see you around" she said.
"Wendy!" she called.
Wendy turned around. "I promise" she smiled.
****
Tess watched as Amy stroked Kyle's arm and flicked her bottled blonde hair flirtatiously . She frowned with envious displeasure. Where was Isabel?
Her tour with Eddie had been fun, he was funny, cute but not Kyle. She had danced, talked to other guys but Kyle and Amy had been in the corner of her mind. So she had recruited Isabel to...she shook her head in disbelief...watch them. And they looked like they were having fun. It was sickening and painful to watch Kyle with someone else.
Tess slammed her drink down decisively as Amy led him onto the dance floor. Enough was enough, she was not going to stand there any longer or play stupid games any more. They had escaped danger numerous times, had to hide, to lie, it was time for her to do something that was dangerous and maybe selfish but she didn't care anymore, she deserved a little happiness. She would just have to manage, Max and Isabel did it with their parents and they lived with them. It would take self control but she could do it, it was time to get her man.
****
Maria froze when she saw a brunette, wearing a skirt which might as well have been called a belt, talking to Max. Jealousy flared in her eyes as she saw him smile and lean down to say something in her ear. The girl lifted her hand and gently stroked his arm.
Okay, she decided, game is over. With her mission clear in her mind, she approached them. Max shifted his attention from the girl to her. "Hi,"
"Hi," she greeted him. Positioning herself next to him, she looked at him expectantly.
"Oh right, I'm sorry Maria this is Kelly, Kelly this is Maria".
"Hi," she said with a fake smile. She slipped her arm into Max's sending a silent, back off he's mine message. Kelly obviously understood it loud and clear because the next thing she did was say hi and give the "I've got to go, see you later," exit.
"Later," she waved with fake cheerfulness. Her smile dropped once she turned around and she faced Max.
"What?" he asked defensively, "You said I should talk to people make new friends".
"Yes but not those kind of friends".
"What?" he asked innocently.
"The slut wanted in your pants Max".
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"Trust me, I know these things I can tell girls like her a mile away or in this example from across the room."
He grinned, "Well as long as you weren't jealous"
"Jealous of you two?!" she exclaimed," Please we're not even like that...." she trailed off as the familiar tune finally reached her consciousness "wait, is this- Oh yes I love this song!"
"Let's dance," he said as he led her onto the floor.
****
Tess wove her way through the crowd and gently tapped Amy on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?" she asked innocently. She looked at Kyle and smiled, "Is that okay with you?"
Kyle looked at her, "Um yeah sure...if um it's okay with Amy".
Tess looked at her expectantly. She could see her seething underneath and she smiled with extra sweetness.
"Sure. I'll see you later Kyle."
"Yeah see you"
"Buh bye now," she muttered and then fixed her attention on Kyle.
****
Isabel scanned the dancing teens for any sign of Tess. She had been gone longer than expected, she spotted Tess and Kyle together and a rather miffed blonde walking away from them and smiled...but obviously long enough to make a decision about something's she thought admirably.
It was something she had to do now.
All she had to do was find him before the fear won out. There was a warm tap on her shoulder and when she turned to see Alex the fear grew.
I can't do this, she thought wildly. Sure he's broken up with Wendy but what if he doesn't want me? What if I'm just imagining what I feel? What if I just want him because she did?
Despite the inner turmoil, Isabel greeted him with a smile, "Hi"
"Hey," he said. He seemed nervously calm, an antithesis in behaviour, which made her heart pound hard against her chest.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"I need to talk to you, could we go somewhere private?".
Isabel paused and looked back at Tess and Kyle on the dance floor.
Well if she can do it, so can I.
"Sure," she replied and followed his lead.
****
Her breathing came in deliberately slow motions as she wrapped her arms around his neck and felt him place his hands gently on her waist. Tess bit her lip nervously, remaining silent would get her nowhere, it was time to admit the truth.
"Uh Kyle" she began.
"Yeah?".
"I have something to tell you. Remember at The Whit's performance?" she asked.
"I can't hear you that well" he said. He leaned down so she could speak into his ear. Tess felt her throat constrict and her voice quiver, she was shaking, if they were going to be this close, she couldn't do this.
He nodded in response to her question.
"Um do you think we could go somewhere quieter?" she asked.
"Yeah sure," he said and led her into the next room, it was almost empty, save for a couple in the corner, which Tess was grateful for.
"Um Tess?" he asked.
Oh right, it was time for her to talk.
"Oh, that night, we nearly kissed didn't we?".
"Look Tess-"
"Let me finish. We nearly kissed but you pulled away and I was hurt and disappointed..." she took and deep breath, the words came out in a rush,"because I wanted you to kiss me".
Kyle wasn't sure he was hearing right. This was a dream, it had to be.
"You did?" he asked.
"Yeah" she nodded. "I'm just going to be honest because I'm tired of denying and playing stupid games, so I'm just going to say it and if you don't feel the same anymore then that's just fine too. Kyle, I like you a lot and not just for a fling but something stable"
His heart stopped and the began a fast gallop to a mind and heart altering conclusion, she was saying everything he had wanted her to say, it felt unreal.
"Kyle? If you don't feel the same..."
Didn't feel the same was she nuts? Kyle did the only thing he wanted to do, words were sometimes too long, two lips meeting for a long deep kiss was sometimes the only way to communicate.
****
They were sitting on one of the benches in the beautiful garden. The music could be heard in the distance but they could talk. It was quiet and beautiful and Isabel was very very scared.
I have to do this, I can't keep wondering and being afraid, afraid to feel all the things I think I will feel, of letting go and have someone know me like that.
"Listen Alex-"
"Let me Isabel" he turned to face her, " I know before when I asked you out you said you didn't want to be more than friends and I was fine with that, but the thing is, I'm not. I want to be more than friends with you Iz and I get it from a pretty reliable source that you were pretty much lying to me. Am I right?" he asked.
Isabel opened her mouth to speak but the words wouldn't form themselves. That was all the answer Alex needed to continue.
"I like you Isabel and I think you like me too but I also think that you're afraid, you feel like you want to keep me away. I felt that about you from the time I met you, you have this wall, that you don't want people to see you, really see you. But I just want to tell you that you don't have to be afraid of that with me and whatever your secret is, you don't have to tell me, just don't keep me away."
"I..I can't I'm so sorry Alex I can't do this" a tear rolled down her cheek and she rose to leave, to run before she let go, before she let him in, but a warm firm hand held her back.
"That's okay" he said rising up to face her," I'm just going to do one thing and then you can go if you want to."
"Okay" she breathed.
"I'm going to kiss you."
Her eyes grew wide with fear and surprise, "What?"
"I'm going to kiss you" he confirmed ", you can stop me if you want to and I'll stop but I'm going to kiss you".
"When?" she asked dumbstruck.
"Now" he replied. He took her face in-between his palms and Isabel couldn't move, she didn't want to. Instead she closed her eyes and his lips met hers and when they did she felt more afraid than before because it was everything she had imagined and more.
She didn't know that Alex's lips would be so warm and soft, that a kiss from him would out class any of the kisses she had experienced in her life. That, as she placed her arms around his neck and felt his arms around her, she could feel so afraid, excited and joyously happy at the same time.
****
As he lifted Maria from a dip Max realised that they had an audience, a large one at that. The room was cleared out and people had made a circle for them.
"Maria," he said into her ear, "people are watching"
She drew back and rolled her eyes, "let them, just dance"
Max laughed, "Okay". She was the only one who could convince him that attention was a good thing. They had unconsciously worked out a routine for the song, they could anticipate each other's movements, it something he had never done with anyone even Isabel.
"I was impressed the first time, but this time you've wowed me Max," she said as he pulled her into his arms.
"Thanks to Isabel" he said.
"Yes, I really should thank her sometime," she said," and I'm talking with flowers".
They had settled into a slow dance, their arms moving from their necks and waist to intertwining together as he led her into a spin.
"You are really something Maria, you know that?"
"Thanks, I try," she replied.
"No really. You are this amazing girl, who took out a shy guy like me and convinced him to dance in front of people."
"Wasn't too hard," she quipped.
He tucked her hair behind her ear. Maria had stopped breathing, in fact they had stopped dancing, arms around each other, gazing into each other's eyes. She could read them, knew exactly what he was thinking, what he wanted because it's what she wanted to. But she couldn't, guys were a danger. She had to stay away. She could get hurt again, be really happy, then the pain would come, betrayal, the list went on.
"Max" she began.
"Huh?" he asked.
"I don't think this is such a good idea" she breathed.
"Me either" he said in a husky low voice.
"So I think we should stop" she said as her eyes closed.
"Yeah, I think so too", he whispered.
Their lips met in a slow, soft, tentative kiss.
****
Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Michael sighed impatiently, Liz had been gone for a while now, the worst part was that he was okay with her being gone because it allowed him to think about Maria.
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
That was bad, it was bad because he knew he couldn't have her and it was bad because he also cared about Liz. Restless, he decided to go seek her out, from the quiet patio, he walked into the loud crowded ballroom dance area.
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
As he pushed past the standing dancers, a question nagged him at the back of his mind as to why they were talking, whispering, standing still instead of dancing. When Michael broke through to the front, he finally realised why.
But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
The crowd had made a circle around a couple, kissing.
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return
The truth had just run up to him and smacked him in the face. There in the middle of the dance floor stood Maria with her arms around Max, his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him in a passionate kiss, oblivious to their audience.
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
Michael felt his heart shatter, he knew they were together, but seeing them kiss, seeing Maria's lips on somebody else's, seeing him touch and handle her in the way that only he was supposed to...at that point, all the confusion, torn feelings dissolved into one strong sounding fact.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
That Maria was the girl he should have chosen, she was the girl he wanted to be with,
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
He loved her...and she was with someone else, how, how could he have made such a mistake?
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
Liz headed into the ballroom.
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
Finding an unoccupied bathroom even in this mansion had been a task, plus she had initially avoided one because she had spotted Maria entering it. She wanted to avoid a clash or any harsh words.
You're waiting for someone to push you away
She stopped as she looked around her, only a few people were dancing, the rest were talking excitedly, eyes fixed on something that was happening ahead. Curious, Liz forced her way to the front of the crowd and wished she hadn't.
On the patio, Alex was unprepared for her next question.
"Remember when we were talking about our past relationships?"
"Yeah"
"The girl, you had feelings for, it's Isabel isn't it?" she asked.
"How did you know?", he asked.
"Well, lets see" she began, "On Wednesday, the hateful looks, not mention the icy reception, the way she kept looking at you and assessing me". She saw his eyes grew wide at the last suggestion, "believe me us females know. Then to now, she said hi but was really coming to see you and you...I really like you Alex,..." she smiled sadly, "but you still have your Isabel tinted shades on".
"But-"
"And don't tell me that you don't because we both now it".
"So we're over?" he asked.
"I guess so." She kissed him softly and faintly on his lips, "It's been fun."
"Can I call you?" he asked.
"Not for while. I need time to get over this, tell you what I'll call you and we can set that rematch"
"You're on" he grinned.
He watched her leave but she turned at the door, "Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"I can't in good conscience let this go unsaid, because I think you need to hear it. As opposed to me and Jason, when it was just a one way thing. You and Isabel...it's a two way thing, so go for it".
"She doesn't want me" he shrugged.
"Sure she does, I think, I think she's just scared. Give her time"
"How long?" he asked.
"If she's worth waiting for, then as long as it takes, just let her know that. Promise me".
"I will" .
He watched her go before turning back to look at the late night sky. He had dated and been dumped all the in the space of a week and it wasn't all that bad.
****
The music was too loud, most people were heavily intoxicated, it was crowded, a total contrast to anything he had done pre-Maria but now Max was in the middle of the madness in the ballroom, dancing away with the beautiful pixie who awakened him with her magic. He watched captivated as she backed away from him swaying her hips inviting to follow, which he did with no hesitation.
"So," she said, "you having fun"
"Yes."
"Better than being at home watching the discovery channel?"
"hmmm" he answered playfully.
"Hmmm," she laughed.
She halt after bumping into someone. She turned around, her apology already left her mouth before she registered who she had bumped into. Michael and behind him Liz.
"No problem," he accepted her apology.
Maria fixed her eyes on his and then drifted down to Liz, behind her she felt Max close the space between them, his hand reach for hers and immediately she relaxed. She wasn't going to give a cutting remark or be hurt, the one good thing which had come out of their betrayal was Max, Isabel and Tess. So instead Maria smiled, "Enjoy the party".
"You okay?" asked Max as he led her away.
"I'm fine," she replied honestly.
Michael and Liz watched the couple as they made their way through the crowd. Michael's eyes were fixed on Maria, Liz on Max. Her heart swelled when he turned around and smiled apologetically, she returned his smile which faded as he disappeared into the crowd. They stood there for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, eyes fixed at the point where the couple had disappeared. Reluctantly they met each other's eyes, both unsure of what to say when their desires were leading them somewhere, away from each other.
"Want to get some air?" asked Michael.
Liz nodded, "I could with some fresh air".
****
Isabel was on her way to get a drink for her and Tess from the kitchen when she spotted Wendy walking towards her. She looked around frantically for a door to escape in, but it was too late, she was spotted and there was no door.
"Hi," she said.
"Relax, he's all yours" she smiled.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"Alex, we just broke up".
Not sure how to react to the news, Isabel simply stood there silent.
"We decided to be friends...He still digs you and don't pretend that you don't like him otherwise you wouldn't be so hostile to me" she explained.
"I don't-"
"Now I don't know why you two aren't together, but I know that it's all on you. I want you to promise me something Isabel."
"What?"
"That whatever issues or fear you have, you get over it and get Alex because he is a really great guy and unfortunately for me he only has a heart for you. Do you think you can do that?"
Isabel was speechless. She did not have feelings for Alex- Oh stop already with the lying! she told herself. All the denial and lies were not right, the truth was simple and right and sure it was complicated but the most precious things usually were.
" 'cause I really think you would be throwing away a really great thing. I'll see you around" she said.
"Wendy!" she called.
Wendy turned around. "I promise" she smiled.
****
Tess watched as Amy stroked Kyle's arm and flicked her bottled blonde hair flirtatiously . She frowned with envious displeasure. Where was Isabel?
Her tour with Eddie had been fun, he was funny, cute but not Kyle. She had danced, talked to other guys but Kyle and Amy had been in the corner of her mind. So she had recruited Isabel to...she shook her head in disbelief...watch them. And they looked like they were having fun. It was sickening and painful to watch Kyle with someone else.
Tess slammed her drink down decisively as Amy led him onto the dance floor. Enough was enough, she was not going to stand there any longer or play stupid games any more. They had escaped danger numerous times, had to hide, to lie, it was time for her to do something that was dangerous and maybe selfish but she didn't care anymore, she deserved a little happiness. She would just have to manage, Max and Isabel did it with their parents and they lived with them. It would take self control but she could do it, it was time to get her man.
****
Maria froze when she saw a brunette, wearing a skirt which might as well have been called a belt, talking to Max. Jealousy flared in her eyes as she saw him smile and lean down to say something in her ear. The girl lifted her hand and gently stroked his arm.
Okay, she decided, game is over. With her mission clear in her mind, she approached them. Max shifted his attention from the girl to her. "Hi,"
"Hi," she greeted him. Positioning herself next to him, she looked at him expectantly.
"Oh right, I'm sorry Maria this is Kelly, Kelly this is Maria".
"Hi," she said with a fake smile. She slipped her arm into Max's sending a silent, back off he's mine message. Kelly obviously understood it loud and clear because the next thing she did was say hi and give the "I've got to go, see you later," exit.
"Later," she waved with fake cheerfulness. Her smile dropped once she turned around and she faced Max.
"What?" he asked defensively, "You said I should talk to people make new friends".
"Yes but not those kind of friends".
"What?" he asked innocently.
"The slut wanted in your pants Max".
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"Trust me, I know these things I can tell girls like her a mile away or in this example from across the room."
He grinned, "Well as long as you weren't jealous"
"Jealous of you two?!" she exclaimed," Please we're not even like that...." she trailed off as the familiar tune finally reached her consciousness "wait, is this- Oh yes I love this song!"
"Let's dance," he said as he led her onto the floor.
****
Tess wove her way through the crowd and gently tapped Amy on the shoulder.
"May I cut in?" she asked innocently. She looked at Kyle and smiled, "Is that okay with you?"
Kyle looked at her, "Um yeah sure...if um it's okay with Amy".
Tess looked at her expectantly. She could see her seething underneath and she smiled with extra sweetness.
"Sure. I'll see you later Kyle."
"Yeah see you"
"Buh bye now," she muttered and then fixed her attention on Kyle.
****
Isabel scanned the dancing teens for any sign of Tess. She had been gone longer than expected, she spotted Tess and Kyle together and a rather miffed blonde walking away from them and smiled...but obviously long enough to make a decision about something's she thought admirably.
It was something she had to do now.
All she had to do was find him before the fear won out. There was a warm tap on her shoulder and when she turned to see Alex the fear grew.
I can't do this, she thought wildly. Sure he's broken up with Wendy but what if he doesn't want me? What if I'm just imagining what I feel? What if I just want him because she did?
Despite the inner turmoil, Isabel greeted him with a smile, "Hi"
"Hey," he said. He seemed nervously calm, an antithesis in behaviour, which made her heart pound hard against her chest.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"I need to talk to you, could we go somewhere private?".
Isabel paused and looked back at Tess and Kyle on the dance floor.
Well if she can do it, so can I.
"Sure," she replied and followed his lead.
****
Her breathing came in deliberately slow motions as she wrapped her arms around his neck and felt him place his hands gently on her waist. Tess bit her lip nervously, remaining silent would get her nowhere, it was time to admit the truth.
"Uh Kyle" she began.
"Yeah?".
"I have something to tell you. Remember at The Whit's performance?" she asked.
"I can't hear you that well" he said. He leaned down so she could speak into his ear. Tess felt her throat constrict and her voice quiver, she was shaking, if they were going to be this close, she couldn't do this.
He nodded in response to her question.
"Um do you think we could go somewhere quieter?" she asked.
"Yeah sure," he said and led her into the next room, it was almost empty, save for a couple in the corner, which Tess was grateful for.
"Um Tess?" he asked.
Oh right, it was time for her to talk.
"Oh, that night, we nearly kissed didn't we?".
"Look Tess-"
"Let me finish. We nearly kissed but you pulled away and I was hurt and disappointed..." she took and deep breath, the words came out in a rush,"because I wanted you to kiss me".
Kyle wasn't sure he was hearing right. This was a dream, it had to be.
"You did?" he asked.
"Yeah" she nodded. "I'm just going to be honest because I'm tired of denying and playing stupid games, so I'm just going to say it and if you don't feel the same anymore then that's just fine too. Kyle, I like you a lot and not just for a fling but something stable"
His heart stopped and the began a fast gallop to a mind and heart altering conclusion, she was saying everything he had wanted her to say, it felt unreal.
"Kyle? If you don't feel the same..."
Didn't feel the same was she nuts? Kyle did the only thing he wanted to do, words were sometimes too long, two lips meeting for a long deep kiss was sometimes the only way to communicate.
****
They were sitting on one of the benches in the beautiful garden. The music could be heard in the distance but they could talk. It was quiet and beautiful and Isabel was very very scared.
I have to do this, I can't keep wondering and being afraid, afraid to feel all the things I think I will feel, of letting go and have someone know me like that.
"Listen Alex-"
"Let me Isabel" he turned to face her, " I know before when I asked you out you said you didn't want to be more than friends and I was fine with that, but the thing is, I'm not. I want to be more than friends with you Iz and I get it from a pretty reliable source that you were pretty much lying to me. Am I right?" he asked.
Isabel opened her mouth to speak but the words wouldn't form themselves. That was all the answer Alex needed to continue.
"I like you Isabel and I think you like me too but I also think that you're afraid, you feel like you want to keep me away. I felt that about you from the time I met you, you have this wall, that you don't want people to see you, really see you. But I just want to tell you that you don't have to be afraid of that with me and whatever your secret is, you don't have to tell me, just don't keep me away."
"I..I can't I'm so sorry Alex I can't do this" a tear rolled down her cheek and she rose to leave, to run before she let go, before she let him in, but a warm firm hand held her back.
"That's okay" he said rising up to face her," I'm just going to do one thing and then you can go if you want to."
"Okay" she breathed.
"I'm going to kiss you."
Her eyes grew wide with fear and surprise, "What?"
"I'm going to kiss you" he confirmed ", you can stop me if you want to and I'll stop but I'm going to kiss you".
"When?" she asked dumbstruck.
"Now" he replied. He took her face in-between his palms and Isabel couldn't move, she didn't want to. Instead she closed her eyes and his lips met hers and when they did she felt more afraid than before because it was everything she had imagined and more.
She didn't know that Alex's lips would be so warm and soft, that a kiss from him would out class any of the kisses she had experienced in her life. That, as she placed her arms around his neck and felt his arms around her, she could feel so afraid, excited and joyously happy at the same time.
****
As he lifted Maria from a dip Max realised that they had an audience, a large one at that. The room was cleared out and people had made a circle for them.
"Maria," he said into her ear, "people are watching"
She drew back and rolled her eyes, "let them, just dance"
Max laughed, "Okay". She was the only one who could convince him that attention was a good thing. They had unconsciously worked out a routine for the song, they could anticipate each other's movements, it something he had never done with anyone even Isabel.
"I was impressed the first time, but this time you've wowed me Max," she said as he pulled her into his arms.
"Thanks to Isabel" he said.
"Yes, I really should thank her sometime," she said," and I'm talking with flowers".
They had settled into a slow dance, their arms moving from their necks and waist to intertwining together as he led her into a spin.
"You are really something Maria, you know that?"
"Thanks, I try," she replied.
"No really. You are this amazing girl, who took out a shy guy like me and convinced him to dance in front of people."
"Wasn't too hard," she quipped.
He tucked her hair behind her ear. Maria had stopped breathing, in fact they had stopped dancing, arms around each other, gazing into each other's eyes. She could read them, knew exactly what he was thinking, what he wanted because it's what she wanted to. But she couldn't, guys were a danger. She had to stay away. She could get hurt again, be really happy, then the pain would come, betrayal, the list went on.
"Max" she began.
"Huh?" he asked.
"I don't think this is such a good idea" she breathed.
"Me either" he said in a husky low voice.
"So I think we should stop" she said as her eyes closed.
"Yeah, I think so too", he whispered.
Their lips met in a slow, soft, tentative kiss.
****
Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Michael sighed impatiently, Liz had been gone for a while now, the worst part was that he was okay with her being gone because it allowed him to think about Maria.
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
That was bad, it was bad because he knew he couldn't have her and it was bad because he also cared about Liz. Restless, he decided to go seek her out, from the quiet patio, he walked into the loud crowded ballroom dance area.
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
As he pushed past the standing dancers, a question nagged him at the back of his mind as to why they were talking, whispering, standing still instead of dancing. When Michael broke through to the front, he finally realised why.
But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
The crowd had made a circle around a couple, kissing.
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return
The truth had just run up to him and smacked him in the face. There in the middle of the dance floor stood Maria with her arms around Max, his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him in a passionate kiss, oblivious to their audience.
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
Michael felt his heart shatter, he knew they were together, but seeing them kiss, seeing Maria's lips on somebody else's, seeing him touch and handle her in the way that only he was supposed to...at that point, all the confusion, torn feelings dissolved into one strong sounding fact.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
That Maria was the girl he should have chosen, she was the girl he wanted to be with,
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
He loved her...and she was with someone else, how, how could he have made such a mistake?
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
Liz headed into the ballroom.
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
Finding an unoccupied bathroom even in this mansion had been a task, plus she had initially avoided one because she had spotted Maria entering it. She wanted to avoid a clash or any harsh words.
You're waiting for someone to push you away
She stopped as she looked around her, only a few people were dancing, the rest were talking excitedly, eyes fixed on something that was happening ahead. Curious, Liz forced her way to the front of the crowd and wished she hadn't.
-
willowbv
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2002 4:40 am
- Location: in a vegas chapel
- Contact:
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say
Opposite her, stood Michael, mouth slightly open, his eyes were fixed on something. Her eyes drifted to the couple kissing and her heart stopped.
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
Inside her, Liz felt something break and die. She wanted to leave, to go somewhere and look somewhere else but her eyes wouldn't allow it. She followed Max's arms around Maria's waist, his lips to hers and the images of all her dreams flashed before her and faded away.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
This wasn't a dream and it wasn't her Max was kissing. It was Maria, but with everything in her she wished it was her instead. At that moment Liz, knew, she knew that she had missed out of something powerfully deep and life changing and that realisation brought a tears to her eyes.
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
With blurred vision her gaze returned to Michael and she could tell that he realised that too.
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
She could see the love and pain, something she had always known was there but had tried to ignore. He still loved Maria, he was in love with her and was probably always going to be.
Michael felt someone watching him and he followed his instinct to find, brown eyes filled with tears looking back at him. He felt naked because he knew she knew. It didn't matter how long she had been standing there watching him, she knew.
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
"Liz" he called softly making a move towards her.
She turned and started pushing her way through the crowd.
"Liz wait!" he called and crossed over the circle to chase after her.
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for
Their lips finally came apart as their bodies finally gave in to the need for air. Maria opened her eyes and blissfully sighed. Her knees felt weak, her lips were tingling, an electric current was running through her.
Out of the island
Into the highway
Wow, she thought lightheaded, that was...wow. Max's expression reflected her thoughts. The uproar from the crowd and wolf whistles brought her back to reality. She was at Eddie's party, in the ballroom, surrounded by a cheering crowd who had just witnessed her kiss Max Evans.
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
I just kissed Max Evans, she thought joyfully. The full impact of her action hit her as they both took embarrassed bows and hurried into the crowd.
Oh no! I just kissed Max Evans and it felt great.
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return
In the corner of the room she stood before him awkwardly.
He's everything you want
"So" she said.
He's everything you need
"So" he said.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
"Um, I'm pretty tired, I'm gonna go home," she said.
"Right me too" he said.
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
They nodded and turned walking in opposite directions.
"Wait," called Max, "You came with us".
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
"I'll just catch a ride with Kyle or someone" she babbled. He was within an arms reach of her, she took a shaky step back.
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
"Let me take you home" he offered.
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
"Um no really I'll get a cab" she protested.
"Maria, I would like to drive you home make sure you're safe"
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
He was too close to her now and she was losing herself in his eyes and his gentle touch on her arm, She knew she wasn't winning this one, Max had a stubborn streak to him too.
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
"What about Isabel and Tess?" she argued weakly.
And I don't know why
"They'll ride with Kyle and Alex, I'm sure they don't mind".
"Fine" she relented.
"Okay, I'll meet you by the front door okay?".
Why
I don't know
"Okay". She watched his lean body as he went off into the crowd. After making sure he was gone, she rested against the wall and sighed a smile playing on her face.
****
"Isabel!"
Isabel jumped at his voice. Fortunately, her and Alex had just been talking and not kissing, otherwise...well she didn't need to think about that now.
"Hi Max" she said brightly.
"I'm taking Maria home" he responded.
"Is she okay?", asked Alex.
"Yeah, she's fine. I was wondering if you could catch a ride with Alex, I mean I know-"
"That's fine" she said.
"Really?" he asked, surprised at how easy the task was.
"Yep" she replied.
"Great, um do you think Tess can catch a ride with you?"
"I think she'll catch a ride with Kyle, I'll tell her".
"Thanks"
"No problem" she waved and exhaled slowly. Not a problem at all.
****
She heard the footsteps coming towards her and then stop. She heard shuffling and smiled sadly as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She should have broken up with Michael on Thursday, she had rehearsed it and rehearsed but when she had actually seen him, she didn't want to hurt him. So she'd gone through the day, pretending, making sure that she was making the right decision. Then she had come to the party with him, having fun with him but not seeing him as her boyfriend. The way he looked at Maria and Max had confirmed her decision without a shadow of doubt.
"When you saw them together, did you wonder how you could have lived without her for so long?, that you don't know how it happened" she swiveled around on the bench to face him," but suddenly she means everything to you?"
Michael was speechless, he stood before her once again naked. He couldn't deny it, he had felt everything she had just described and they both knew what that meant.
"Liz, I'm sorry I didn't mean-"
"I know," she said.
He sat down beside her and sighed, "I mean, it's not like I don't care about you, I do"
"Me too".
"and the last thing I would to do is hurt you"
"Me either"
"But..."
She chuckled to herself.
"What?" he asked.
"You wanna know the really weird part? it's that when I saw your expression I was hurt, for like two seconds and then I just felt fine, like it was just an ordinary thing."
Michael was offended. Why wasn't she jealous?-Wait this is kind of a good thing. I think we're on the same page here.
"I guess I've always known that you love her, I know you care about me and I care about you too but you love Maria...and I think we kinda of got the connection we developed mixed up with love and they are two completely different things and I'm beginning to understand that."
She was right, he knew it. Liz was the first person he could talk to about his alien side, someone he didn't have to hide from and she was a great person too. So he needed companionship from her but he wondered what she needed from him?
"So what do we do now?" he asked.
"I guess we break up" she said.
"Okay". So that was it? Well this break up was a whole less hurtful than his first with Maria.
She nudged him playfully with her shoulders, "Friends?"
He nudged her back, "friends".
They sat in silence both processing their thoughts and their regrets.
"What about Maria?" she asked. "I really miss her. And Michael, what we did, it's not exactly something you can sweep under the rug. What if she never forgives us or takes us back?"
"I don't know," he replied," but we won't know until we try. It won't be easy, it'll be very difficult."
"Try bounding on impossible".
"but we have to try" he sighed.
She placed her hand in his and they drew strength from each other.
Michael didn't care if she was with Max or not, that he could deal with later. All he wanted was to be able to argue with her and talk to her, her flakiness, her big mouth, everything.
"We have to get her back".
****
Max pulled to a stop outside her house. The drive from the party had been quiet. A little small talk about the party and lots of quiet. He wondered what she was thinking. Not that it mattered because he knew what he had to do. Kissing her tonight had been one of the most indescribable experiences of his life, yet the bittersweet sentiments were not lost on him because he knew that they couldn't go down that road...it was too dangerous, he was too dangerous.
"Well, thanks for the ride," she said unbuckling her seat belt.
"You're welcome," he said.
They held each other's gaze for a while, she seemed to be waiting for him to do or say something. He couldn't seem to find any words at all, he couldn't even find his voice, so they just sat there until finally she stepped out of the car and closed the door.
Do it, do it now before a night goes by, before you can't.
He quickly unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over the passenger seat to the window, "Maria wait" he called.
She turned and walked back to the car and peered into the window, "did I forget something?" she asked.
Max could feel himself being pulled by eyes, they were inches apart. He shook his head to her answer and to jolt himself back to the task at hand, "About tonight, about the kiss-"
"Max, can we not ruin anything about tonight with rationalising and analysis? I mean, that's what tomorrow's for right?"
"Maria-"
Maria couldn't restrain herself any longer, she leaned in, pulled his head towards her and gave him a long deep kiss.
Pulling back, she grinned at this dazed expression. "Good night Max" she said before turning to walk to her house. At the door she stopped and turned to find him still staring at her with the same dazed expression but with an added smile.
Max waited till he saw her waving through the window to start his ignition. He shook his head bewildered. How had he managed to get involved with someone who made him completely lose all rational thought and like it?
****
Isabel and Tess sat nervously in the kitchen.
"We have to tell him now" said Isabel.
All morning they had been debating whether to tell Max or not. They had decided to tell him because he'd obviously find out and they couldn't explain to Kyle and Alex the need for a Romeo and Juliet thing. Now they were debating on when.
"Now?!" exclaimed Tess.
"Tess! We're meeting Alex and Kyle at the Crashdown and Max is coming, I'm pretty sure we can't hide it then!"
Tess ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "Okay, we've gone halfway we might as well go the whole way. We'll tell Max that we've decided to pursue relationships with Kyle and Alex and that we can totally keep our secret at the same time and that's that. Sure he's the leader but he can't dictate who we go out with, besides we can handle it. That's the speech right?".
"Yeah" said Isabel.
They heard footsteps descending down the stairs. They stared wide eyed at each other panicked.
"Okay let's do this" said Isabel. She didn't know why they were so nervous, it was only Max.
Oh yeah, try that, that'll work, she thought dryly as her heart pounded against her chest as he entered.
"You guys ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah," said Tess who looked at Isabel.
"but first there's something we need to tell you-"
"can we talk about this later?" he interrupted," I really need to go...talk to Maria about something, it's really important"
Well who are we to be in the way, she thought with relief. "Yeah sure, we can talk later" she said. Tess responded with a look of panicked disbelief.
"Great, let's go" he said.
Isabel followed behind him and Tess beside her.
"Isabel" she began.
"Relax, I've got a plan," she told her.
****
The knock on the door jolted Liz from her mirror practice. Placing the alien antenna onto her head she stared at her reflection.
"Would you take me back?" she asked herself and received a wry smile. She sighed and opened the door to find Michael standing there, his eyes clouded with anxiety.
"Hi."
"Hi. She's down there?"
"Yep, changing into her uniform," he replied, "So you ready?".
"No. I don't think you can be for something like this," she replied.
They had decided that Liz should start first, test the waters, it was safer that way and if Michael did, it would seem like he just wanted her back. Which he of course did. He held out his hand and she took it. Hand in hand they descended down the stairs, hearts pounding, hope growing. They separated at the bottom of the stairs.
"Good luck" he said.
Luck wasn't what she needed, she thought, forgiveness was what she needed.
****
Maria looked up as Liz walked into the room, she turned back to the mirror and finished fixing her antenna.
"Hi" she said
"Hi".
"The party was good wasn't it?" she asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"A lot of things happened".
She slammed her locker shut. "Um hum" she agreed
"Michael and I broke up" she said simply.
Maria turned to face her. "I know, Alex told me this morning"
"Oh".
"And let me guess, now that you and Michael are over you're thinking that what we could go back to being friends?" she asked with dripping sarcasm.
Before Liz could reply, the door burst open and Liz's frantic father entered, "Maria Liz, it's lunch hour, it's hot and very busy we need you out there now!"
"Coming" she said. She really didn't want to get into a conversation with Liz, all she wanted to do was talk to Max. She figured he would come by the Crashdown with Isabel and Tess. Maria was still in shock about Alex and Isabel hooking up as well as Tess and Kyle. Last night, a lot of things had definitely happened.
****
Maria had little time to think about Max or Liz and Michael because from the moment she went through the door, she became a speed waitress. The masses were hot, irritable and hungry and they all had to be fed. She sighed as she went to the order pick up point and was joined by Liz. While they waited, Maria looked at anything but her.
"So you are you and Max together?" she asked casually.
"Not satisfied with plunging your man eating claws into Michael, you're planning to move onto Max too?" she asked coldly.
"That's not-"
The bell rang as the plates were delivered onto the table by, of all people Michael. Maria picked up the plate without looking at him and went to deliver. It became a game, Liz and Maria walking past each other as they delivered and picked up orders, Liz trying to talk to Maria, Maria ignoring her.
"Michael and I were a mistake" she continued.
"What is that supposed to make me feel better? 'cause you know what Liz it really doesn't. I won't lie, I felt a bit of satisfaction at hearing about your breakup because hey what wounded betrayed victim wouldn't? but then I got really sad because instead of throwing away our friendship on some long term possible love of your life male, you threw it away for a six month relationship. Our friendship was worth that much".
Liz was speechless. The next order was up, "excuse me" said Maria. She picked up the order and went back to work.
They met again when each were waiting for an order.
"Maria" she tried again.
"Look Liz, I don't want any apologies, I don't want anything from you."
"But I want something from you"
"What?" she asked.
"Forgiveness and our friendship...I know it's a lot to ask".
Maria nodded, "forgiveness I could work on, friendship go for impossible" she replied.
At that moment a bell rang, both Liz and Maria automatically reached for an order but found it empty. Realising it was the bell at the front of the Crashdown, they both turned to see Max walk in with Isabel and Tess behind them. Maria met his eyes, she knew why he had come and she also knew that he wasn't going to succeed.
Michael placed the plates for each girl, he paused when he realised that their attention was fixed on the door. He followed their gazes to Max Evans. He glanced from Maria and Liz and they both seemed transfixed by him.
What was it about that guy? He wondered with annoyance.
The bell rang sharply. Maria and Liz both turned to see Michael staring at them with a grim expression on his face, "Orders' up," he said dryly.
****
Max sat in the booth anxiously. The heat did nothing to calm him down, at least the Crashdown's air conditioning was better than most, it still wasn't helping. He had to talk to Maria, explain why they couldn't work before Isabel and Tess found out about last night. After giving them a lecture on restraint and the rule, he had lacked acknowledgment of both when he kissed Maria. He was too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice the nervous exchanges by Tess and Isabel or the kicking under the table, or the tension in Isabel's voice as she said, "Max we need to talk-"
His eyes were fixed on Maria, she had just finished serving someone and if there was a chance, this was it, "later Isabel," he answered.
Isabel looked after him as he left the booth and sighed. What was up with him? She wondered. He was heading towards Maria.
She rolled her eyes, more suppression of feelings. Maybe if he tried breaking the rules and following his heart, this could be a whole lot easier.
"Isabel, they'll be here in like 15 minutes" said Tess.
"I know, once he's done talking to Maria, we'll tell him. It's a public place so he can't freak, the guys will show up, we'll leave and give Max time to cool down".
Tess nodded impressed. "Nice"
"Thank you" she grinned.
****
There's always something more you wish he'd say
Opposite her, stood Michael, mouth slightly open, his eyes were fixed on something. Her eyes drifted to the couple kissing and her heart stopped.
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
Inside her, Liz felt something break and die. She wanted to leave, to go somewhere and look somewhere else but her eyes wouldn't allow it. She followed Max's arms around Maria's waist, his lips to hers and the images of all her dreams flashed before her and faded away.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
This wasn't a dream and it wasn't her Max was kissing. It was Maria, but with everything in her she wished it was her instead. At that moment Liz, knew, she knew that she had missed out of something powerfully deep and life changing and that realisation brought a tears to her eyes.
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
With blurred vision her gaze returned to Michael and she could tell that he realised that too.
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
She could see the love and pain, something she had always known was there but had tried to ignore. He still loved Maria, he was in love with her and was probably always going to be.
Michael felt someone watching him and he followed his instinct to find, brown eyes filled with tears looking back at him. He felt naked because he knew she knew. It didn't matter how long she had been standing there watching him, she knew.
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
"Liz" he called softly making a move towards her.
She turned and started pushing her way through the crowd.
"Liz wait!" he called and crossed over the circle to chase after her.
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for
Their lips finally came apart as their bodies finally gave in to the need for air. Maria opened her eyes and blissfully sighed. Her knees felt weak, her lips were tingling, an electric current was running through her.
Out of the island
Into the highway
Wow, she thought lightheaded, that was...wow. Max's expression reflected her thoughts. The uproar from the crowd and wolf whistles brought her back to reality. She was at Eddie's party, in the ballroom, surrounded by a cheering crowd who had just witnessed her kiss Max Evans.
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
I just kissed Max Evans, she thought joyfully. The full impact of her action hit her as they both took embarrassed bows and hurried into the crowd.
Oh no! I just kissed Max Evans and it felt great.
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return
In the corner of the room she stood before him awkwardly.
He's everything you want
"So" she said.
He's everything you need
"So" he said.
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
"Um, I'm pretty tired, I'm gonna go home," she said.
"Right me too" he said.
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
They nodded and turned walking in opposite directions.
"Wait," called Max, "You came with us".
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
"I'll just catch a ride with Kyle or someone" she babbled. He was within an arms reach of her, she took a shaky step back.
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
"Let me take you home" he offered.
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
"Um no really I'll get a cab" she protested.
"Maria, I would like to drive you home make sure you're safe"
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
He was too close to her now and she was losing herself in his eyes and his gentle touch on her arm, She knew she wasn't winning this one, Max had a stubborn streak to him too.
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
"What about Isabel and Tess?" she argued weakly.
And I don't know why
"They'll ride with Kyle and Alex, I'm sure they don't mind".
"Fine" she relented.
"Okay, I'll meet you by the front door okay?".
Why
I don't know
"Okay". She watched his lean body as he went off into the crowd. After making sure he was gone, she rested against the wall and sighed a smile playing on her face.
****
"Isabel!"
Isabel jumped at his voice. Fortunately, her and Alex had just been talking and not kissing, otherwise...well she didn't need to think about that now.
"Hi Max" she said brightly.
"I'm taking Maria home" he responded.
"Is she okay?", asked Alex.
"Yeah, she's fine. I was wondering if you could catch a ride with Alex, I mean I know-"
"That's fine" she said.
"Really?" he asked, surprised at how easy the task was.
"Yep" she replied.
"Great, um do you think Tess can catch a ride with you?"
"I think she'll catch a ride with Kyle, I'll tell her".
"Thanks"
"No problem" she waved and exhaled slowly. Not a problem at all.
****
She heard the footsteps coming towards her and then stop. She heard shuffling and smiled sadly as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She should have broken up with Michael on Thursday, she had rehearsed it and rehearsed but when she had actually seen him, she didn't want to hurt him. So she'd gone through the day, pretending, making sure that she was making the right decision. Then she had come to the party with him, having fun with him but not seeing him as her boyfriend. The way he looked at Maria and Max had confirmed her decision without a shadow of doubt.
"When you saw them together, did you wonder how you could have lived without her for so long?, that you don't know how it happened" she swiveled around on the bench to face him," but suddenly she means everything to you?"
Michael was speechless, he stood before her once again naked. He couldn't deny it, he had felt everything she had just described and they both knew what that meant.
"Liz, I'm sorry I didn't mean-"
"I know," she said.
He sat down beside her and sighed, "I mean, it's not like I don't care about you, I do"
"Me too".
"and the last thing I would to do is hurt you"
"Me either"
"But..."
She chuckled to herself.
"What?" he asked.
"You wanna know the really weird part? it's that when I saw your expression I was hurt, for like two seconds and then I just felt fine, like it was just an ordinary thing."
Michael was offended. Why wasn't she jealous?-Wait this is kind of a good thing. I think we're on the same page here.
"I guess I've always known that you love her, I know you care about me and I care about you too but you love Maria...and I think we kinda of got the connection we developed mixed up with love and they are two completely different things and I'm beginning to understand that."
She was right, he knew it. Liz was the first person he could talk to about his alien side, someone he didn't have to hide from and she was a great person too. So he needed companionship from her but he wondered what she needed from him?
"So what do we do now?" he asked.
"I guess we break up" she said.
"Okay". So that was it? Well this break up was a whole less hurtful than his first with Maria.
She nudged him playfully with her shoulders, "Friends?"
He nudged her back, "friends".
They sat in silence both processing their thoughts and their regrets.
"What about Maria?" she asked. "I really miss her. And Michael, what we did, it's not exactly something you can sweep under the rug. What if she never forgives us or takes us back?"
"I don't know," he replied," but we won't know until we try. It won't be easy, it'll be very difficult."
"Try bounding on impossible".
"but we have to try" he sighed.
She placed her hand in his and they drew strength from each other.
Michael didn't care if she was with Max or not, that he could deal with later. All he wanted was to be able to argue with her and talk to her, her flakiness, her big mouth, everything.
"We have to get her back".
****
Max pulled to a stop outside her house. The drive from the party had been quiet. A little small talk about the party and lots of quiet. He wondered what she was thinking. Not that it mattered because he knew what he had to do. Kissing her tonight had been one of the most indescribable experiences of his life, yet the bittersweet sentiments were not lost on him because he knew that they couldn't go down that road...it was too dangerous, he was too dangerous.
"Well, thanks for the ride," she said unbuckling her seat belt.
"You're welcome," he said.
They held each other's gaze for a while, she seemed to be waiting for him to do or say something. He couldn't seem to find any words at all, he couldn't even find his voice, so they just sat there until finally she stepped out of the car and closed the door.
Do it, do it now before a night goes by, before you can't.
He quickly unbuckled his seat belt and leaned over the passenger seat to the window, "Maria wait" he called.
She turned and walked back to the car and peered into the window, "did I forget something?" she asked.
Max could feel himself being pulled by eyes, they were inches apart. He shook his head to her answer and to jolt himself back to the task at hand, "About tonight, about the kiss-"
"Max, can we not ruin anything about tonight with rationalising and analysis? I mean, that's what tomorrow's for right?"
"Maria-"
Maria couldn't restrain herself any longer, she leaned in, pulled his head towards her and gave him a long deep kiss.
Pulling back, she grinned at this dazed expression. "Good night Max" she said before turning to walk to her house. At the door she stopped and turned to find him still staring at her with the same dazed expression but with an added smile.
Max waited till he saw her waving through the window to start his ignition. He shook his head bewildered. How had he managed to get involved with someone who made him completely lose all rational thought and like it?
****
Isabel and Tess sat nervously in the kitchen.
"We have to tell him now" said Isabel.
All morning they had been debating whether to tell Max or not. They had decided to tell him because he'd obviously find out and they couldn't explain to Kyle and Alex the need for a Romeo and Juliet thing. Now they were debating on when.
"Now?!" exclaimed Tess.
"Tess! We're meeting Alex and Kyle at the Crashdown and Max is coming, I'm pretty sure we can't hide it then!"
Tess ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "Okay, we've gone halfway we might as well go the whole way. We'll tell Max that we've decided to pursue relationships with Kyle and Alex and that we can totally keep our secret at the same time and that's that. Sure he's the leader but he can't dictate who we go out with, besides we can handle it. That's the speech right?".
"Yeah" said Isabel.
They heard footsteps descending down the stairs. They stared wide eyed at each other panicked.
"Okay let's do this" said Isabel. She didn't know why they were so nervous, it was only Max.
Oh yeah, try that, that'll work, she thought dryly as her heart pounded against her chest as he entered.
"You guys ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah," said Tess who looked at Isabel.
"but first there's something we need to tell you-"
"can we talk about this later?" he interrupted," I really need to go...talk to Maria about something, it's really important"
Well who are we to be in the way, she thought with relief. "Yeah sure, we can talk later" she said. Tess responded with a look of panicked disbelief.
"Great, let's go" he said.
Isabel followed behind him and Tess beside her.
"Isabel" she began.
"Relax, I've got a plan," she told her.
****
The knock on the door jolted Liz from her mirror practice. Placing the alien antenna onto her head she stared at her reflection.
"Would you take me back?" she asked herself and received a wry smile. She sighed and opened the door to find Michael standing there, his eyes clouded with anxiety.
"Hi."
"Hi. She's down there?"
"Yep, changing into her uniform," he replied, "So you ready?".
"No. I don't think you can be for something like this," she replied.
They had decided that Liz should start first, test the waters, it was safer that way and if Michael did, it would seem like he just wanted her back. Which he of course did. He held out his hand and she took it. Hand in hand they descended down the stairs, hearts pounding, hope growing. They separated at the bottom of the stairs.
"Good luck" he said.
Luck wasn't what she needed, she thought, forgiveness was what she needed.
****
Maria looked up as Liz walked into the room, she turned back to the mirror and finished fixing her antenna.
"Hi" she said
"Hi".
"The party was good wasn't it?" she asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"A lot of things happened".
She slammed her locker shut. "Um hum" she agreed
"Michael and I broke up" she said simply.
Maria turned to face her. "I know, Alex told me this morning"
"Oh".
"And let me guess, now that you and Michael are over you're thinking that what we could go back to being friends?" she asked with dripping sarcasm.
Before Liz could reply, the door burst open and Liz's frantic father entered, "Maria Liz, it's lunch hour, it's hot and very busy we need you out there now!"
"Coming" she said. She really didn't want to get into a conversation with Liz, all she wanted to do was talk to Max. She figured he would come by the Crashdown with Isabel and Tess. Maria was still in shock about Alex and Isabel hooking up as well as Tess and Kyle. Last night, a lot of things had definitely happened.
****
Maria had little time to think about Max or Liz and Michael because from the moment she went through the door, she became a speed waitress. The masses were hot, irritable and hungry and they all had to be fed. She sighed as she went to the order pick up point and was joined by Liz. While they waited, Maria looked at anything but her.
"So you are you and Max together?" she asked casually.
"Not satisfied with plunging your man eating claws into Michael, you're planning to move onto Max too?" she asked coldly.
"That's not-"
The bell rang as the plates were delivered onto the table by, of all people Michael. Maria picked up the plate without looking at him and went to deliver. It became a game, Liz and Maria walking past each other as they delivered and picked up orders, Liz trying to talk to Maria, Maria ignoring her.
"Michael and I were a mistake" she continued.
"What is that supposed to make me feel better? 'cause you know what Liz it really doesn't. I won't lie, I felt a bit of satisfaction at hearing about your breakup because hey what wounded betrayed victim wouldn't? but then I got really sad because instead of throwing away our friendship on some long term possible love of your life male, you threw it away for a six month relationship. Our friendship was worth that much".
Liz was speechless. The next order was up, "excuse me" said Maria. She picked up the order and went back to work.
They met again when each were waiting for an order.
"Maria" she tried again.
"Look Liz, I don't want any apologies, I don't want anything from you."
"But I want something from you"
"What?" she asked.
"Forgiveness and our friendship...I know it's a lot to ask".
Maria nodded, "forgiveness I could work on, friendship go for impossible" she replied.
At that moment a bell rang, both Liz and Maria automatically reached for an order but found it empty. Realising it was the bell at the front of the Crashdown, they both turned to see Max walk in with Isabel and Tess behind them. Maria met his eyes, she knew why he had come and she also knew that he wasn't going to succeed.
Michael placed the plates for each girl, he paused when he realised that their attention was fixed on the door. He followed their gazes to Max Evans. He glanced from Maria and Liz and they both seemed transfixed by him.
What was it about that guy? He wondered with annoyance.
The bell rang sharply. Maria and Liz both turned to see Michael staring at them with a grim expression on his face, "Orders' up," he said dryly.
****
Max sat in the booth anxiously. The heat did nothing to calm him down, at least the Crashdown's air conditioning was better than most, it still wasn't helping. He had to talk to Maria, explain why they couldn't work before Isabel and Tess found out about last night. After giving them a lecture on restraint and the rule, he had lacked acknowledgment of both when he kissed Maria. He was too absorbed in his own thoughts to notice the nervous exchanges by Tess and Isabel or the kicking under the table, or the tension in Isabel's voice as she said, "Max we need to talk-"
His eyes were fixed on Maria, she had just finished serving someone and if there was a chance, this was it, "later Isabel," he answered.
Isabel looked after him as he left the booth and sighed. What was up with him? She wondered. He was heading towards Maria.
She rolled her eyes, more suppression of feelings. Maybe if he tried breaking the rules and following his heart, this could be a whole lot easier.
"Isabel, they'll be here in like 15 minutes" said Tess.
"I know, once he's done talking to Maria, we'll tell him. It's a public place so he can't freak, the guys will show up, we'll leave and give Max time to cool down".
Tess nodded impressed. "Nice"
"Thank you" she grinned.
****
-
willowbv
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2002 4:40 am
- Location: in a vegas chapel
- Contact:
****
"Maria". She turned at the sound of his voice.
"Hi, Max".
"Hi" he said. He stood there awkwardly with his hands in his pockets, it was positively endearing. Maria stood waiting for him to make the first move.
"Look about last night-"
"Excuse me miss..."
Maria ignored the customer.
"Miss?"
Finally she turned to him. Did he not see that she was busy. "What?"
"I ordered a chocolate milkshake like half an hour ago, is it coming any time soon?".
"Give it five minutes," she replied before turning back to Max. "What she needs is pure H2O not more calories to add to those hips," she muttered.
He his smile faded as he continued, "The kiss...Maria I really wish that it could be more between us, but it can't."
"Why?" she asked.
"Things are complicated" he replied.
"Does this have anything to do with whatever it is you, Isabel and Tess are hiding?"
She grinned at his surprised expression. "Come on Max, the secretive glances, weird unspoken exchanges and not to mention the whole wall thing you guys have going on, it's pretty hard not to notice".
"Maria-"
"Max. Now as I seem to recall, there were two people involved in the kiss, not one so I deserve a say in this, and this is obviously not the right time, but can we talk about this later?"
"Maria-"
"Excuse me miss, we've been waiting for half an hour for our order" wailed another customer.
"Be with you in five," she said. She turned back to Max, "look, I don't want to throw us away before we've actually given it a chance. So later"
"Maria-"
She squeezed his hand firmly "Later Max".
****
Liz placed the cup of lemonade on the table, "Can I get you guys anything?" she asked.
"No, get out of here," replied the heavy set man. Liz noticed the tension and just backed away. The heat was definitely getting to everyone. She turned and saw Maria and Max standing surrounded by people but seeming totally oblivious to it. She noticed the body language, the expression and Max's fixed gaze on Maria as she served a customer. The feeing of loss nearly brought tears to her eyes.
****
"Give me that money now!"
The shout brought the whole cafe's attention to the two men occupying one of the side booths.
"Heat and people's tempers, go figure" commented Isabel as she watched the two men argue.
Both her and Tess jumped as the man with the red cap swept the table clean off all it's contents onto the floor.
"Okay, that's out of control" said Tess.
They watched as Sheriff Valenti approached the men unaware that Max had slipped back into the booth and joined them.
"Wrong cafe to decide to get all violent in" cracked Tess.
The whole cafe watched as Jim Valenti attempted to restore the peace.
"Hey fellas, what's going on" he said gently. By now they had slipped out of their booth and were staring angrily at each other.
Without looking to see who addressed them, the heavy set trucker shoved him to the ground.
"Stay out of this!" he turned back to red cap, " Give me my money now!" he shouted.
On the ground Jim Valenti assessed the situation, his heart stopped as he saw the gun withdrawn from the man's trousers.
****
Liz's eyes grew wide at the sight of the gun. As the two men struggled for control she saw the fingers around the trigger, she followed the direction of the gun. The back room. Only Maria was obstructing it with her back to them.
"Maria!" she shouted.
****
Valenti saw the struggle for control of the gun. Knowing that he was powerless to stop from going off in time, he did the only thing he could.
"Everyone down!" he shouted.
****
Maria heard Liz shout her name and irritation boiled to the surface. She was hot, busting her ass feeding these people!, she did not need Liz and her groveling issues. With her note pad in front of her she whirled around. "What!" she shouted.
At that moment, the shout of "everyone down " resonated faintly in the back of her mind. She registered Liz's panic stricken expression.
She heard the shot.
Saw the gun.
Felt the bullet.
And hit the ground.
****
AN: this next part is set in the present and then in flashback and then back to the present again. I hope the dates make it clearer.
RECAP: at Eddie Connor's party, I/A, T/K, Ma/Ma kissed and Mi/Li broke up. The next day Isabel and Tess are finding a way to break it to Max that they are going to break the rule. At the Crashdown Maria tells Max that she's not giving up on their relationship while Liz tries to crawl back and begs for forgiveness. An argument erupts between two men at the Crashdown, a gun goes off, Maria is shot. So the question is, who heals her? Michael or Max? Find out in this next part...
P.S. There will be another authors note at the end to explain some things
****
Monday 19th December : Afternoon
The world around her was spinning like a wheel and when she got off she was going to do more than throw up. She was going to be cut up into little pieces. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. She folded her arms to keep herself from shaking, to up keep the pretense of fearlessness. "So when do the storm troopers come busting in?".
Maria looked at her expressionless, no fear, no emotion. "In about five minutes" she replied casually. " The base about 30 minutes away plus add to that time to suit up, so I'd give them five, ten minutes tops."
Isabel's heart slammed against her rib cage. The pain was nothing compared to the paralysing fear which kept her standing at the door instead of screaming, panicking or running. The fragile tentatively constructed floor of trust underneath her had been cruelly pulled away and she was being swallowed up into the deep dark terrifying unknown. Her life, their lives were over. They could try to escape but time didn't provide them with that luxury. They would be caught soon enough. Images of being taken away, prodded and tortured flashed through her mind.
They had trusted Maria and now their lives were over.
****
Saturday 17th December: Afternoon
At the sound of the gunshot, Michael's heart stopped. Years of hearing Hank shooting at empty bottles and beer cans had imprinted the sound indelibly into his consciousness A thousand scenarios played in his mind during the seconds it took him to make his way to the front of the cafe.
None of his scenarios met what greeted him in the chaos filled restaurant.
Near the back room he saw Liz tentatively approaching a body on the floor. His mind noted the irrelevant detail that it was someone with white tennis shoes. The yelps and grunts on the opposite side of the room drew his attention from wandering to the girl with white tennis shoes. Sheriff Valenti and another man were trying to keep a heavy set trucker pinned onto the table while another man wasn't having any luck restraining the other one. Instinct took over, Michael rushed to help. Behind him, across the room in a booth against the wall Max moved.
****
Isabel grabbed a hold of his arm. "Max, what are you going to do?".
He shrugged her off ignoring her question because if he thought about what he was going to do, he might hesitate and hesitating could cost Maria her life. In the moments he saw the gun thrust itself into her flesh and her still body on the Crashdown floor, her life had been all that mattered to him.
Fear and dread oozed out of every pore as he approached her, praying that it wasn't as bad as he imagined but when he saw Liz leaning over her abdomen and the dark pools of red seeping through her uniform, he knew it was worse.
He was by her side in an instant. "Call the ambulance!" he ordered Liz.
She nodded and raced for the restaurant phone. Blocking out the chaotic sounds around him, Max only allowed the voices of Isabel and Tess telling everyone to stay back to reach is attention. His focus was on Maria and Maria only. Max's eyes moved from the darkening growing pool to her rapidly paling face. The light was slowly fading from her eyes, her eye lids fluttered, opening, closing, succumbing to the seduction of eternal sleep.
I'm losing her!
The thought echoed like a giant watch tower bell through his whole body, roughly shaking him from shock to action. Gentlemanly protocol abandoned, Max ripped open the chest area of her uniform exposing her pink bra and the hole seeping with blood.
Life was leaking out of Maria!
Leaning over her, he placed his palms on top of the wound and concentrated.
Nothing happened.
Max captured her face between his palms. He kept his voice low but was unable to filter out keep the urgency and panic. "Maria, Maria!".
Her eyes fluttered open.
"I need you to look at me". His joy at her consciousness was short lived as they closed again.
"No, no. Maria" he cried in desperation, "You have to look at me, please".
Her eyes opened and stayed open. Cupping her cheek with one hand, Max placed the other over her wound. In an instant he was in.
He felt the expected familiar energy leave him as he visualised the bullet dissolving, the wound healing-and Maria dancing in her room, Maria wearing cute little red sneakers!
The unexpected images and emotions flashed through Max's mind with incredible speed. He saw everything about her, her thoughts, her feelings. Everything Maria was, Max felt in the time it took to heal her. And then they ended, her wound was healed, no hole, just flesh.
Her eyes filled with life stared wide-eyed at him, breathing heavily he tenderly stroked her cheek. "You're fine now" he said softly.
"Max key's now!".
Isabel's sharp voice drew him back from the Maria bubble, back to face the repercussions of what he had just done, how much danger he had just put them in. Tossing her the keys, he turned to the dazed Maria, her eyes forming questions there was no time to even consider answering.
Looking frantically for a way out, Max's eyes landed on a ketchup bottle. An idea forming in his head, he took it, smashed it on the ground and poured the ketchup across her stomach where the gun shot had been.
"You heard the shot, panicked, fell and spilled ketchup all over yourself" he told her urgently.
"Max we gotta go now!" said Tess.
He met her eyes silently pleading with her, "Don't tell anyone please".
"Max!"
Isabel grabbed his arm, dragging him behind her as they raced out of the restaurant.
****
"Yes and..." Liz trailed off as she saw Isabel drag Max from Maria and race out of the restaurant as if fleeing a bank robbery gone bad. Her eyes widened with shocked disbelief as they landed on Maria. Maria not on the floor dying but standing alive, clutching the front of her open uniform.
What just happened here?
****
What just happened here? wondered Maria.
A few minutes ago, a bullet had lodged itself into her stomach. Solid contact with the floor and Liz's fear filled eyes as she leaned over her dying body confirmed that. In pain and coldness, she had felt her life slipping away but now? now she was standing. No bullet, no wound. Alive.
As she caught his disappearing frame out of the Crashdown door, one single amazed thought rang in her mind.
I was shot and dying and Max...healed me.
****
Kyle and Alex jumped back as the door to the Crashdown burst open bringing with it a rushed and frantic Tess, Isabel and Max.
"Hi gu-" he broke off as they pushed past them.
"Hey Isabel!" yelled Alex.
"Later Alex!" she shouted back.
The duo watched bewildered as their friends jumped into the jeep and sped off down the road.
"What the heck was that about?" asked Kyle.
"Whatever it was, it seems urgent, maybe Maria knows" said Alex.
They entered the Crashdown and froze at the chaotic scene before them :
Two truckers cuffed in a booth, gossiping hushed voices of customers, Maria sitting on a chair with what looked like blood all over her uniform.
Kyle slowly turned to Alex. "I think we're missing something here".
****
"Maria!".
Liz was by her side in seconds. Her father and Michael a few minutes later, all asking her the same questions.
Was she okay? Hurt?
And she gave them the same answer:
"I'm fine".
"Give her some air" said her father.
Liz and Michael took a few steps back to give her some space. Valenti peered anxiously into her eyes with the concern of a father; wanting to make sure everything was there, her face, her fingers, her smile. "What happened?" he asked.
Maria was startled by the question, it was a logical one but one she couldn't provide a logical answer to because what just happened to her defied logic.
And then there was the way Max had pleaded with her not to say anything, it was as if his life depended on it.
"Maria?"
"Hmm?". She shook herself when she realised her father was still waiting. In the blink of an eye her decision was made. "I heard the shot and panicked, I fell and smashed a ketchup bottle".
She showed him the red ketchup stains covering the blood, "See? I'm fine, just a little freaked and embarrassed but I'm fine. The bullet must have missed me"
Relieved, Valenti pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "I'm just glad you're okay".
"Yeah," she said, "So am I".
She broke off from the hug when she spied Kyle and Alex headed towards her with worry emanating from their body language and eyes.
Time for another Oscar winning performance, she sighed.
"Is everything alright?" asked Alex.
"What happened?" asked Kyle.
****
As Maria explained again what happened. Liz was carrying out an investigation of her own. Trailing her fingers along the wall, she looked for an indent, anything to show that there had been a bullet there, but there as she had expected, nothing.
Absolutely nothing, she thought mystified.
Her eyes landed on the place on the floor Maria had been. When she had seen her friend lying on the floor, yes shock had been one of the emotions registered on her face but she also looked like she was slipping away. Not to mention the blood seeping through her uniform, slowly but surely?
That couldn't have been ketchup, she thought,...or maybe.
She spied Maria's order pad lying on the floor and making sure no one was looking, she slowly bent down, picked it up and placed it in her pocket. She didn't know what she was expecting to find, she just followed her instinct. She slowly got up and made her way back to Michael.
Beside her, Michael whispered. "Liz, what's going on?".
"What do mean?" she asked quietly.
"What were you doing back there?" he asked.
Unable to formulate an explanation that sounded remotely sane, Liz instead conceded to an, "I'll tell you later" answer.
****
"What were you thinking?! How could you do that Max!" shouted Isabel at a frenzied pitch of trepidation and anger as they sped through the empty desert road.
"I was thinking that I couldn't let her die" said Max quietly.
Isabel pulled to a halt on the shoulder of the road.
"Well that's just great Max, save her life and end ours, nice trade off there" she said.
He turned so that he could see them both. "Look I'm sorry I just couldn't let her die" he said, "It'll be okay".
Isabel rolled her eyes agitated at his naïve stupidity and unfounded optimism.
"No Max, it won't. In a city like LA you could lost, Roswell is a small town, news travels fast and in case you haven't forgotten there are people human and other wise hunting us down and not to mention Brody!".
She broke off to take deep breaths. Her life had come to a crashing halt the moment Max had knelt down beside Maria. They were exposed, their secret was out.
"We are so screwed" said Tess.
Isabel maintained eye contact with both of them. "We need to leave now" she said.
Their best option now was to run. To leave everything behind, her parents, her life and the future she had began dreaming about and planning for.
"Maria won't say anything" said Max.
"How do you know that Max?" she challenged. " I mean I love the girl but she's a flake and -"
"What happened to not getting too involved?" said Tess.
Isabel burst into uncontrollable laughter as the glasses of denial were suddenly snatched from her eyes.
"What?" they asked her bewildered.
"We got too involved the moment we met them, we've just been in denial," she explained. Meeting Maria, Alex and Kyle had been so unexpected, like a surprise birthday present. Somehow they had managed to sneak through their barriers and gave them life. Despite the stakes, it didn't escape Isabel that Max was in the dog house right now.
And what sister shouldn't benefit from that?
With a raised eyebrow and frown, she focused on Max. "And just so you know, if by some miracle we get out of this, Tess and I are dating Alex and Kyle".
Max opened his mouth to protest. Isabel didn't waste anytime to cut him off, she had to strike while he was still in the frying pan.
"And don't say anything because you're faux pas beats ours hands down, so when this thing is over, if we're not on the run, we're dating them" she commanded.
Defeated, he sighed heavily. "Fine".
"So what's the plan?" asked Tess. This whole thing was a nightmare, except what made it scarier was the fact that it was reality.
"We go home, act normal and see what happens" replied Max.
Her eyes bulged incredulous at his suggestion. " And wait for them to carry us away?!"
"We need to give Maria a chance" he argued.
Her faith in human nature and trust were discarded into the desert air. "With anything else yes but Max with our lives?" she protested.
"I know that Tess, that's why we should because our lives aren't worth anything if the people we let into our lives can't be trusted. I trust Maria, she won't say anything."
She shook her head in disapproval at his unfounded optimism. It was going to get them killed.
" If you can't trust her, can you trust me?" he pleaded.
Tess met his dark golden eyes and felt her resolve to go without them if necessary melt. They were her family, she couldn't leave them and if he thought that there was a chance, a chance that maybe they might actually let someone in completely and not have to hide, then she would trust him.
Isabel voiced her sentiments with a reluctant, "Fine".
"Let's give it a shot" she nodded.
Maybe if Maria came through then someday Kyle would too.
****
"Maria". She turned at the sound of his voice.
"Hi, Max".
"Hi" he said. He stood there awkwardly with his hands in his pockets, it was positively endearing. Maria stood waiting for him to make the first move.
"Look about last night-"
"Excuse me miss..."
Maria ignored the customer.
"Miss?"
Finally she turned to him. Did he not see that she was busy. "What?"
"I ordered a chocolate milkshake like half an hour ago, is it coming any time soon?".
"Give it five minutes," she replied before turning back to Max. "What she needs is pure H2O not more calories to add to those hips," she muttered.
He his smile faded as he continued, "The kiss...Maria I really wish that it could be more between us, but it can't."
"Why?" she asked.
"Things are complicated" he replied.
"Does this have anything to do with whatever it is you, Isabel and Tess are hiding?"
She grinned at his surprised expression. "Come on Max, the secretive glances, weird unspoken exchanges and not to mention the whole wall thing you guys have going on, it's pretty hard not to notice".
"Maria-"
"Max. Now as I seem to recall, there were two people involved in the kiss, not one so I deserve a say in this, and this is obviously not the right time, but can we talk about this later?"
"Maria-"
"Excuse me miss, we've been waiting for half an hour for our order" wailed another customer.
"Be with you in five," she said. She turned back to Max, "look, I don't want to throw us away before we've actually given it a chance. So later"
"Maria-"
She squeezed his hand firmly "Later Max".
****
Liz placed the cup of lemonade on the table, "Can I get you guys anything?" she asked.
"No, get out of here," replied the heavy set man. Liz noticed the tension and just backed away. The heat was definitely getting to everyone. She turned and saw Maria and Max standing surrounded by people but seeming totally oblivious to it. She noticed the body language, the expression and Max's fixed gaze on Maria as she served a customer. The feeing of loss nearly brought tears to her eyes.
****
"Give me that money now!"
The shout brought the whole cafe's attention to the two men occupying one of the side booths.
"Heat and people's tempers, go figure" commented Isabel as she watched the two men argue.
Both her and Tess jumped as the man with the red cap swept the table clean off all it's contents onto the floor.
"Okay, that's out of control" said Tess.
They watched as Sheriff Valenti approached the men unaware that Max had slipped back into the booth and joined them.
"Wrong cafe to decide to get all violent in" cracked Tess.
The whole cafe watched as Jim Valenti attempted to restore the peace.
"Hey fellas, what's going on" he said gently. By now they had slipped out of their booth and were staring angrily at each other.
Without looking to see who addressed them, the heavy set trucker shoved him to the ground.
"Stay out of this!" he turned back to red cap, " Give me my money now!" he shouted.
On the ground Jim Valenti assessed the situation, his heart stopped as he saw the gun withdrawn from the man's trousers.
****
Liz's eyes grew wide at the sight of the gun. As the two men struggled for control she saw the fingers around the trigger, she followed the direction of the gun. The back room. Only Maria was obstructing it with her back to them.
"Maria!" she shouted.
****
Valenti saw the struggle for control of the gun. Knowing that he was powerless to stop from going off in time, he did the only thing he could.
"Everyone down!" he shouted.
****
Maria heard Liz shout her name and irritation boiled to the surface. She was hot, busting her ass feeding these people!, she did not need Liz and her groveling issues. With her note pad in front of her she whirled around. "What!" she shouted.
At that moment, the shout of "everyone down " resonated faintly in the back of her mind. She registered Liz's panic stricken expression.
She heard the shot.
Saw the gun.
Felt the bullet.
And hit the ground.
****
AN: this next part is set in the present and then in flashback and then back to the present again. I hope the dates make it clearer.
RECAP: at Eddie Connor's party, I/A, T/K, Ma/Ma kissed and Mi/Li broke up. The next day Isabel and Tess are finding a way to break it to Max that they are going to break the rule. At the Crashdown Maria tells Max that she's not giving up on their relationship while Liz tries to crawl back and begs for forgiveness. An argument erupts between two men at the Crashdown, a gun goes off, Maria is shot. So the question is, who heals her? Michael or Max? Find out in this next part...
P.S. There will be another authors note at the end to explain some things
****
Monday 19th December : Afternoon
The world around her was spinning like a wheel and when she got off she was going to do more than throw up. She was going to be cut up into little pieces. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. She folded her arms to keep herself from shaking, to up keep the pretense of fearlessness. "So when do the storm troopers come busting in?".
Maria looked at her expressionless, no fear, no emotion. "In about five minutes" she replied casually. " The base about 30 minutes away plus add to that time to suit up, so I'd give them five, ten minutes tops."
Isabel's heart slammed against her rib cage. The pain was nothing compared to the paralysing fear which kept her standing at the door instead of screaming, panicking or running. The fragile tentatively constructed floor of trust underneath her had been cruelly pulled away and she was being swallowed up into the deep dark terrifying unknown. Her life, their lives were over. They could try to escape but time didn't provide them with that luxury. They would be caught soon enough. Images of being taken away, prodded and tortured flashed through her mind.
They had trusted Maria and now their lives were over.
****
Saturday 17th December: Afternoon
At the sound of the gunshot, Michael's heart stopped. Years of hearing Hank shooting at empty bottles and beer cans had imprinted the sound indelibly into his consciousness A thousand scenarios played in his mind during the seconds it took him to make his way to the front of the cafe.
None of his scenarios met what greeted him in the chaos filled restaurant.
Near the back room he saw Liz tentatively approaching a body on the floor. His mind noted the irrelevant detail that it was someone with white tennis shoes. The yelps and grunts on the opposite side of the room drew his attention from wandering to the girl with white tennis shoes. Sheriff Valenti and another man were trying to keep a heavy set trucker pinned onto the table while another man wasn't having any luck restraining the other one. Instinct took over, Michael rushed to help. Behind him, across the room in a booth against the wall Max moved.
****
Isabel grabbed a hold of his arm. "Max, what are you going to do?".
He shrugged her off ignoring her question because if he thought about what he was going to do, he might hesitate and hesitating could cost Maria her life. In the moments he saw the gun thrust itself into her flesh and her still body on the Crashdown floor, her life had been all that mattered to him.
Fear and dread oozed out of every pore as he approached her, praying that it wasn't as bad as he imagined but when he saw Liz leaning over her abdomen and the dark pools of red seeping through her uniform, he knew it was worse.
He was by her side in an instant. "Call the ambulance!" he ordered Liz.
She nodded and raced for the restaurant phone. Blocking out the chaotic sounds around him, Max only allowed the voices of Isabel and Tess telling everyone to stay back to reach is attention. His focus was on Maria and Maria only. Max's eyes moved from the darkening growing pool to her rapidly paling face. The light was slowly fading from her eyes, her eye lids fluttered, opening, closing, succumbing to the seduction of eternal sleep.
I'm losing her!
The thought echoed like a giant watch tower bell through his whole body, roughly shaking him from shock to action. Gentlemanly protocol abandoned, Max ripped open the chest area of her uniform exposing her pink bra and the hole seeping with blood.
Life was leaking out of Maria!
Leaning over her, he placed his palms on top of the wound and concentrated.
Nothing happened.
Max captured her face between his palms. He kept his voice low but was unable to filter out keep the urgency and panic. "Maria, Maria!".
Her eyes fluttered open.
"I need you to look at me". His joy at her consciousness was short lived as they closed again.
"No, no. Maria" he cried in desperation, "You have to look at me, please".
Her eyes opened and stayed open. Cupping her cheek with one hand, Max placed the other over her wound. In an instant he was in.
He felt the expected familiar energy leave him as he visualised the bullet dissolving, the wound healing-and Maria dancing in her room, Maria wearing cute little red sneakers!
The unexpected images and emotions flashed through Max's mind with incredible speed. He saw everything about her, her thoughts, her feelings. Everything Maria was, Max felt in the time it took to heal her. And then they ended, her wound was healed, no hole, just flesh.
Her eyes filled with life stared wide-eyed at him, breathing heavily he tenderly stroked her cheek. "You're fine now" he said softly.
"Max key's now!".
Isabel's sharp voice drew him back from the Maria bubble, back to face the repercussions of what he had just done, how much danger he had just put them in. Tossing her the keys, he turned to the dazed Maria, her eyes forming questions there was no time to even consider answering.
Looking frantically for a way out, Max's eyes landed on a ketchup bottle. An idea forming in his head, he took it, smashed it on the ground and poured the ketchup across her stomach where the gun shot had been.
"You heard the shot, panicked, fell and spilled ketchup all over yourself" he told her urgently.
"Max we gotta go now!" said Tess.
He met her eyes silently pleading with her, "Don't tell anyone please".
"Max!"
Isabel grabbed his arm, dragging him behind her as they raced out of the restaurant.
****
"Yes and..." Liz trailed off as she saw Isabel drag Max from Maria and race out of the restaurant as if fleeing a bank robbery gone bad. Her eyes widened with shocked disbelief as they landed on Maria. Maria not on the floor dying but standing alive, clutching the front of her open uniform.
What just happened here?
****
What just happened here? wondered Maria.
A few minutes ago, a bullet had lodged itself into her stomach. Solid contact with the floor and Liz's fear filled eyes as she leaned over her dying body confirmed that. In pain and coldness, she had felt her life slipping away but now? now she was standing. No bullet, no wound. Alive.
As she caught his disappearing frame out of the Crashdown door, one single amazed thought rang in her mind.
I was shot and dying and Max...healed me.
****
Kyle and Alex jumped back as the door to the Crashdown burst open bringing with it a rushed and frantic Tess, Isabel and Max.
"Hi gu-" he broke off as they pushed past them.
"Hey Isabel!" yelled Alex.
"Later Alex!" she shouted back.
The duo watched bewildered as their friends jumped into the jeep and sped off down the road.
"What the heck was that about?" asked Kyle.
"Whatever it was, it seems urgent, maybe Maria knows" said Alex.
They entered the Crashdown and froze at the chaotic scene before them :
Two truckers cuffed in a booth, gossiping hushed voices of customers, Maria sitting on a chair with what looked like blood all over her uniform.
Kyle slowly turned to Alex. "I think we're missing something here".
****
"Maria!".
Liz was by her side in seconds. Her father and Michael a few minutes later, all asking her the same questions.
Was she okay? Hurt?
And she gave them the same answer:
"I'm fine".
"Give her some air" said her father.
Liz and Michael took a few steps back to give her some space. Valenti peered anxiously into her eyes with the concern of a father; wanting to make sure everything was there, her face, her fingers, her smile. "What happened?" he asked.
Maria was startled by the question, it was a logical one but one she couldn't provide a logical answer to because what just happened to her defied logic.
And then there was the way Max had pleaded with her not to say anything, it was as if his life depended on it.
"Maria?"
"Hmm?". She shook herself when she realised her father was still waiting. In the blink of an eye her decision was made. "I heard the shot and panicked, I fell and smashed a ketchup bottle".
She showed him the red ketchup stains covering the blood, "See? I'm fine, just a little freaked and embarrassed but I'm fine. The bullet must have missed me"
Relieved, Valenti pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "I'm just glad you're okay".
"Yeah," she said, "So am I".
She broke off from the hug when she spied Kyle and Alex headed towards her with worry emanating from their body language and eyes.
Time for another Oscar winning performance, she sighed.
"Is everything alright?" asked Alex.
"What happened?" asked Kyle.
****
As Maria explained again what happened. Liz was carrying out an investigation of her own. Trailing her fingers along the wall, she looked for an indent, anything to show that there had been a bullet there, but there as she had expected, nothing.
Absolutely nothing, she thought mystified.
Her eyes landed on the place on the floor Maria had been. When she had seen her friend lying on the floor, yes shock had been one of the emotions registered on her face but she also looked like she was slipping away. Not to mention the blood seeping through her uniform, slowly but surely?
That couldn't have been ketchup, she thought,...or maybe.
She spied Maria's order pad lying on the floor and making sure no one was looking, she slowly bent down, picked it up and placed it in her pocket. She didn't know what she was expecting to find, she just followed her instinct. She slowly got up and made her way back to Michael.
Beside her, Michael whispered. "Liz, what's going on?".
"What do mean?" she asked quietly.
"What were you doing back there?" he asked.
Unable to formulate an explanation that sounded remotely sane, Liz instead conceded to an, "I'll tell you later" answer.
****
"What were you thinking?! How could you do that Max!" shouted Isabel at a frenzied pitch of trepidation and anger as they sped through the empty desert road.
"I was thinking that I couldn't let her die" said Max quietly.
Isabel pulled to a halt on the shoulder of the road.
"Well that's just great Max, save her life and end ours, nice trade off there" she said.
He turned so that he could see them both. "Look I'm sorry I just couldn't let her die" he said, "It'll be okay".
Isabel rolled her eyes agitated at his naïve stupidity and unfounded optimism.
"No Max, it won't. In a city like LA you could lost, Roswell is a small town, news travels fast and in case you haven't forgotten there are people human and other wise hunting us down and not to mention Brody!".
She broke off to take deep breaths. Her life had come to a crashing halt the moment Max had knelt down beside Maria. They were exposed, their secret was out.
"We are so screwed" said Tess.
Isabel maintained eye contact with both of them. "We need to leave now" she said.
Their best option now was to run. To leave everything behind, her parents, her life and the future she had began dreaming about and planning for.
"Maria won't say anything" said Max.
"How do you know that Max?" she challenged. " I mean I love the girl but she's a flake and -"
"What happened to not getting too involved?" said Tess.
Isabel burst into uncontrollable laughter as the glasses of denial were suddenly snatched from her eyes.
"What?" they asked her bewildered.
"We got too involved the moment we met them, we've just been in denial," she explained. Meeting Maria, Alex and Kyle had been so unexpected, like a surprise birthday present. Somehow they had managed to sneak through their barriers and gave them life. Despite the stakes, it didn't escape Isabel that Max was in the dog house right now.
And what sister shouldn't benefit from that?
With a raised eyebrow and frown, she focused on Max. "And just so you know, if by some miracle we get out of this, Tess and I are dating Alex and Kyle".
Max opened his mouth to protest. Isabel didn't waste anytime to cut him off, she had to strike while he was still in the frying pan.
"And don't say anything because you're faux pas beats ours hands down, so when this thing is over, if we're not on the run, we're dating them" she commanded.
Defeated, he sighed heavily. "Fine".
"So what's the plan?" asked Tess. This whole thing was a nightmare, except what made it scarier was the fact that it was reality.
"We go home, act normal and see what happens" replied Max.
Her eyes bulged incredulous at his suggestion. " And wait for them to carry us away?!"
"We need to give Maria a chance" he argued.
Her faith in human nature and trust were discarded into the desert air. "With anything else yes but Max with our lives?" she protested.
"I know that Tess, that's why we should because our lives aren't worth anything if the people we let into our lives can't be trusted. I trust Maria, she won't say anything."
She shook her head in disapproval at his unfounded optimism. It was going to get them killed.
" If you can't trust her, can you trust me?" he pleaded.
Tess met his dark golden eyes and felt her resolve to go without them if necessary melt. They were her family, she couldn't leave them and if he thought that there was a chance, a chance that maybe they might actually let someone in completely and not have to hide, then she would trust him.
Isabel voiced her sentiments with a reluctant, "Fine".
"Let's give it a shot" she nodded.
Maybe if Maria came through then someday Kyle would too.
****
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****
Maria closed the door to her room and slumped against her door. The sureality of the day was wiped away when reality was reflected back at her in her mirror. She watched her finger play with the bullet hole in her uniform.
It was real, she had been shot, Max healed her.
They couldn't find the bullet and she had managed to lie when her father asked her what Max had been doing to her. She had used the it-was-all-a-blur-I-was-in-shock-excuse successfully.
I nearly died.
She ripped off the uniform and stuffed it into a plastic bag and stared at it expectantly as if it was a ticking bomb, waiting to explode. Unsure why she was doing it, Maria gingerly picked up the bag and stuffed it up the secret compartment in the roof of her wardrobe.
Max's fear was rubbing off on her, she concluded. She felt the need to protect him even though this whole event scared her. She grabbed a top from her drawer and had managed to get it over her head when she froze. She stared in disbelief at the image in the mirror, on her stomach was a glowing silver handprint, right where the bullet had been!
Maria's mouth opened, a loud piercing sound came crashing out of it.
There was banging on her door.
"Maria are you okay!" shouted Kyle.
Maria covered her mouth and grabbed the cedar oil by her bedside table.
"Um I'm fine!" she shouted hoping he would go away.
No such luck.
"Why were you screaming-can you open the door so I can see you?" he demanded.
Her eyes flashed on her towel on the bed, grabbing it, Maria wrapped it around herself. She opened the door with a bright smile.
"Hi"
"Hi" he said eyeing her suspiciously. "You wanna explain to me what that was about?"
"Um, clearing the air," she explained. " Screaming. It's good for that, to let all the anxiety and stress out."
Well it was partly true,she did feel more relaxed after her outburst.
He nodded with mild conviction. "Okay, you're sure you're okay?"
She nodded firmly. "Kyle I'm fine, I fell, I wasn't shot just a little shaken up but I'm fine. Really"
Her cell rang. She exhaled glad for the interruption. "I better get that and get changed" she said as she closed the door.
The interrogation was over. Maria glanced at the caller's name and groaned. It was her mother.
****
She held the phone away from her ear as her mother's frantic bombardment of questions came.
"Mum, mum!" she shouted, "I'm fine really. I wasn't shot, it was a mistake, the bullet missed me, I fell and broke a bottle of ketchup...No it wasn't blood....Yes I'm fine really, Kyle's here you don't need to get off work... I'm sure...Mum stay there I'm fine...Okay, love you too, bye."
Maria exhaled as she hung up the phone. Dropping the towel on her carpet she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She closed her eyes and opened them. Nope it was still there in all it's silver freakiness. She touched it tenderly hoping it was paint. It wasn't.
She grabbed her cedar oil and took a long sniff.
So let's review, I got shot, healed and I have this silver handprint. Taking deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating Maria came to a bone chilling conclusion.
This-this is freaky business, this-this-is X-FILES territory!
She jumped out of her skin at the sound of her cell phone ring. With shaking hands, she picked it up. It was Max. He was real, the whole thing was real and he was calling her now. Her finger hovered between the accept and cancel buttons. She had questions, she was scared, he had the answers but was she ready to know them?
****
Max sighed as he was cut off again. "She's not picking up" he said.
"Could it be because she's with the national guard?" joked Tess dryly.
"Look-"
The door bell rang.
Everyone in the room stopped breathing. They listened out for the guns, the authoritative military voices but heard none.
As the leader, till their deaths even if that happened to be now, Max led the way as they snuck down the hallway and stopped at the stairs.
"It's the sheriff" whispered Isabel, "Max what are we-"
"Max, Isabel, Tess. Could you come down here please?" called their unsuspecting mother.
Isabel clutched onto Max's arm, "Max".
Her terror spread from his arm to the center of his heart. He knew what she was thinking, what she was imaging and it was all because of him. The least he could do was stay strong for them. He squeezed her hand gently, "It'll be okay" he assured her. Gulping down the fear, he descended down the stairs.
In the living room stood their parents and the Sheriff and image Max knew he would carry around for however long he lived.
"You wanted us?" he managed.
"Yes," replied his mother. Her face was clouded with worry, " you didn't tell us about the shooting at the crashdown, the Sheriff wants to ask you a few questions, is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine" he lied.
Isabel and Tess stood beside him and from that he drew strength. They were together and they could face anything. If Maria hadn't told him then he was just doing a routine questioning and Ma could handle that.
"Several people saw you go up to Maria, what did you do?" asked the Sheriff.
Max shrugged self-consciously. "I just wanted to make sure that she was okay...is she okay?"
"Yes," he replied. " She fell and ketchup spilled over her. Why did you run?".
The intensity of the Sheriff's stare made Max want to look away but he knew he couldn't because that would signal that he was hiding something. "I saw all the blood, ketchup I guess and ran...I got scared".
He nodded accepting that answer. "Why did all three of you run?" he asked.
Max struggled to give an answer and was relieved for his father's interruption.
"Sheriff maybe we can explain" he said. He glanced at their mother who continued the story.
"Sheriff, back in Los Angeles, Tess' adopted father was working on a really dangerous case...he was killed in a drive by shooting," she paused, "in front of the kids and I have a feeling that this brought back some bad memories for them."
Max's relief was almost audible. His parents whether they knew it or not had just helped keep them alive.
"Oh. I'm sorry for your loss" said the Sheriff.
They all gave a minute nod in acceptance of his apology. With nothing left to say, he rose to feet to go. "Well that's all the questions I have."
Max relaxed his tense shoulders as his parents showed the Sheriff out.
"So we aren't screwed" breathed Tess beside him.
"We aren't screwed yet" corrected Isabel.
****
Liz lifted her head from the microscope and swapped the two samples.
"What are you looking for?" asked Michael leaning over her.
"Take a look at this," she said instead. Her eyes glowing to an almost feverish pitch, Liz watched as
he looked into the microscope.
"What am I looking at?" he asked.
"Ketchup" she replied with a victorious smile. She replaced the samples, "Look again" ordered him.
Michael obliged. " Now what am I looking at?".
"The ketchup from Maria's notepad, except it doesn't look like normal ketchup." She waited for him to meet her eyes before she continued. "Michael, that's blood".
"So maybe she cut herself" he suggested.
Liz shook her head vehemently. "No there's too much of it, she didn't have any cuts or bruises".
"So what are you saying?" he asked.
"I'm saying" she began in a clear concise controlled tone, " that they didn't find a bullet, this is blood, Maria was shot".
"Only she's alive" he stated.
"I know," she agreed. This whole thing was a mystery, which surrounded two people, Maria and Max. " I think Max did something to her."
Michael raised his eyebrow to signify his incredulity. "Did something like what?"
"I don't know! something-Michael, something happened, something isn't right with all of this, it doesn't make sense!"
"Okay. I agree with that, it's all weird but what do you want to do, ask Maria?" he joked.
She replied with a withering glare. "Clearly that's not happening". Her attempts at crawling back had been heavily rebuffed and to start questioning her about the shooting would have destroyed the minute hope she still had that maybe Maria would forgive her.
"I'm just going to have to keep an eye on her" she said finally.
"Liz what are you looking for? " asked Michael. "She's fine, can't you just leave it at that?"
"No" she replied simply.
It was an enigma which intrigued her, there had to be an explanation for it. Liz also couldn't deny the driving force to her investigation. Max. He was involved in this and because of that she felt driven to know, it was her quest and she wasn't going to stop till she found out what really happened to Maria.
****
There was a knock on Isabel's door. She wasn't surprised to find out that it was Max.
"Can't sleep either huh?" she asked.
"Not so much," he replied.
The door to the bathroom opened and Tess entered.
"Well since we're all up" she began, " I was thinking, I could mindwarp her to forget".
"Except for the signature of Max's silver handprint", objected Isabel. " It disappears in a couple of days, she'll notice."
"Right" sighed a disappointed Tess.
A pensive silence descended as they tried to think of a solution to save their lives and to keep their friend.
"I'll dreamwalk her" said Isabel finally. The idea had been playing in her mind and to her it seemed like the only way. Not waiting for a vote, she took the picture of the group on her bedside table and sat cross-legged, ready to go. Noting the hesistant looks on Max and Tess' face, she added, "We need to know what we're up against.
Agreed, they sat on either side of her. "Be careful" said Max.
"It's like taking a walk," she grinned. Isabel placed her index finger on Maria's face and closed her eyes.
She was in.
****
She was at the crashdown. The angry shouts drew her attention. She was at the crashdown, at the shooting.
The gun went off, Maria fell, Max rushed to her.
This time, Isabel followed. She knelt beside him as he attended to Maria.
Intense, she thought.
She was struck by the gesture of Max stroking Maria's cheek. Isabel couldn't understand why he had risked it all in that second to save her but now she could. The simplicity of a touch held a power she never realised was possible. It communicated her brother's feelings for Maria. Their intensity tugged at a chord deep within her and touched her to the depths of her soul. It was then that Isabel discovered that a touch could be beautiful.
"Don't tell anyone, please" he pleaded gently.
By saving Maria, he had risked their lives, but now that she had a glimpsed the reason for his sacrifice, all of her anger melted away as her surroundings changed.
They were somewhere else-the music room in school.
"Max".
Maria's voice brought her attention to the scene before her.
Max was standing nervously a few feet away from Maria. Maria gingerly lifted her top to reveal the silver handprint. "We need to talk" she stated simply.
"Oh" said Max.
"Yes oh! Max the bullet was in me and you did something to make it go away, you healed me and- who are- or should I say what are you?"demanded Maria.
"I can't tell you" he replied.
Isabel grinned. Maria was spot on with the characterisation of her brother.
"I have a silver handprint on my chest, I'm your friend, trust me, tell me"
Isabel watched as Max struggled with his decision. "Okay, but you have to promise not to say anything to anyone. My life is at stake."
Maria nodded. "I'm a vault of secrets".
Max drew her closer to her until they were only a finger length apart.
He slowly leaned in till his lips were a few millimeters from her ears. "I'm different" he whispered.
"How different?" she whispered back.
Isabel held her breath as she anticipated his answer.
This was it, she was going to find out what Maria thought, what she knew.
****
Max watched Isabel's peaceful expression and wondered what she was seeing and wished that he could see it too.
Sadness descended upon him like a swift wind. She probably thinks I'm some freak.
He anticipated the fear in her eyes, looking at him as if he was, well an alien. He wished that maybe it would be different, that maybe she would accept him for who he was. He wouldn't have to hide, to lie, they could be together, they could be...happy?
His mind sneered at the thought. Forget about it Max, the reality is fear, Maria isn't different. She's seen the same movies of ugly murderous aliens-but still, he argued, there's always hope, she still might-
Isabel shook. She woke up laughing.
Max watched her mystified, why was she laughing?
****
"What did you see?" asked Tess gently. Maybe the stress was too much and she had finally lost it.
Isabel clutched her sides as she curled up in uncontrollable laughter.
Max and Tess shared a look of utter bewilderment. "Um Izzy, our lives hang in the balance and you're laughing. Care to share the joke?" asked Max.
****
Isabel took deep oxygenating breaths.
Okay, come on, be serious, she scolded herself.
"Iz what did you see?" asked Tess.
After managing to get a hold of herself, Isabel stood in front of them retelling her search results.
"...So after the shooting, we move to the music room in school. Maria shows you the silverhandprint and asks you about you're secret identity".
At their raised eyebrows, she replied, "It'll make sense later. So, you two get really close-not porno close or anything" she added to curb Max's growing blush, "just close and Max leans in and whispers". She paused for effect. "I was doused with experimental chemicals when I was a child and now I have these..." her eyes glistened with repressed laughter,"..powers!" she blurted as another peal of laughter escaped her.
"You're kidding!" stated an astounded Tess.
"No!" she laughed, "it was like a soap opera with the ubber long pauses, seriously but wait there were different versions". She began the long list, "Max was bitten by a radio active spider-"
"Spiderman?!" laughed Tess.
"Yep, then he was part of a secret government experiment"
"No!" exclaimed Tess joyously.
"And then..." by the time Isabel had finished, they were all breathless from amused and relieved laughter.
Isabel dropped on her bed triumphantly. "The I'm-an-alien-theory wasn't even on the list. She has no clue. So I figure we pick a story and tell her, then we're all set because she won't tell a soul".
And I could still be with Alex, still spend Christmas with my family, go stargazing, be a regular girl, she added silently.
"And we can now have a good night's sleep" grinned Max.
"Definitely" agreed Tess, "Spiderman?!". She shook her head laughing, "I guess we should get you a costume huh Max?".
****
Monday December 19th : Morning
"Hey".
Liz whirled around to find Maria standing infront of her locker. A place they hadn't stood and talked at together since they lost their friendship.
"Hey," she replied. Unsure of what to say next, she just there taking the time to study Maria. She seemed nervous yet controlled but she didn't look any different.
What were you looking out for? Horns
"So I called you about 20 times" she began.
Maria nodded."Yeah, I was just sorting through some stuff you know calming down".
"Right" she nodded slowly. " Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah," she assured her confidently, " I'm fine now".
Not quite believing her but having no right to question her, Liz nodded."Okay".
The two ex-friends stood facing each other in awkward silence. Liz took it as an opportunity to continue begin her attempts to win back her friend.
"Look Maria, I just wanted to say-about Michael, it really was a mistake. I just got soo tired of the routine you know? And-", she sighed as she tried to explain her selfish motives and pointless reasons, which didn't and would never justify her actions. There was no excuse for what she had done and she couldn't wipe out the event either, all they had was the present and the future. "Life is 95% routine, getting up, going to school, working, doing homework, talking to you on the phone and then doing it all over again and...I miss that, I want that routine and I know I can't ask you this but could you become my routine again?"
Maria's unreadable eyes met hers. "That was a waste of a speech" she stated.
"Oh" she breathed crushed.
"Because I've already forgiven you Liz."
The words took Liz by surprise. "Oh-what?!"
Maria smiled patiently.
"How? Why?"
"Well when you get shot and your life flashes before your eyes-"
Liz caught the slip up in an instant. "I thought you didn't get shot"
"I didn't, but it's the same thing". Maria shook her head, " look do you want to hear this or not?"
"Yes" she replied eagerly.
"Okay, so my life flashed before my eyes and you were in a lot of those flashes Liz and when you see your life in a few minutes you realise how short it is. I could let this drag on for years, but I won't because it's a waste of time and life. I'm not saying we can go back to being the musketeers, I trusted you and you betrayed me, you can't get it back that easily. What I am saying is I'd like us to start from the beginning...that's if you want to" she finished.
Liz was struck dumb by Maria's heart and the depths of her forgiveness and love. Her eyes brimming with grateful tears, she replied."Of course I do"
"Well good" she grinned.
"Maria-"
"I just remembered I gotta go do something."
Liz was startled by the change in her relaxed demeanor and abrupt exit. "Wait-"
"I see you later" .
Liz watched perplexed as she sped off down the crowded hall.
"Hi".
Liz turned to find Max, the other part of the puzzle, greeting her with his charming smile. Suddenly Maria's surprise exit made sense and she didn't mind at all.
"Hey."
"Was that Maria I saw talking to you?" he asked casually.
"Yeah," she replied," she headed out to do something".
"Oh. So are you ready for the test?"
"Yes" she replied with conviction.
"Nice to see you're confident," he smiled, "Listen I'll see you later okay?"
"Sure". She called as he headed in the direction they had last seen Maria walking down.
Their nervous and tense body language did not go unnoticed. Liz gritted her teeth, the curiosity was now a force threatening to leap out of her.
What is going on with those two?
****
Max rounded the corner. She was nowhere to be found. He had spotted her a few seconds ago but now she was gone. She was avoiding him and to make matters worse, bio was canceled, their only class of the day together. He couldn't talk to her with people around, he wasn't sure how she would react with him. It would have to be afterschool. Tess had mindwarped the girl parked next to Maria to swap parking spaces with them so they could catch her afterschool. Max sighed, today was going to be a very long day.
****
After planting a quick kiss on his beautiful girlfriend, Kyle's next order of business concerned his sister. "Where's Maria?".
"She had some stuff to do," replied Alex.
"Okay." He just wanted to make sure was she okay, she had been acting pretty strangely all weekend. This morning for example she had woken up early and driven off somewhere saying she had to clear her head.
Tess noticed his anxious expression. "Why, do you think something's wrong?"
"No," he shook his head. She was just being Maria, she dealt with things in a weird kooky way. "I'm just being a little protective is all" he said as he unwrapped his meal.
He was mid bite into his sandwich when he stopped. Something wasn't right, the atmosphere on the table was slightly...tense. His Dad had explained to him why Max, Tess and Isabel they had run off the day of the shooting, he and Tess had talked about it this morning, but still there was something...
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
"It's fine," said Max, "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, it's just that you guys seem a bit...I don't know, jitterish".
With her finger under his chin, Tess led him to her eyes, "Kyle, relax, everything is fine okay?"
His anxiety and concern melted away as he drowned in the deep blue oceans of her eyes. "Okay".
****
Alex walked out his last lesson of the day hand in hand with Isabel.
Isabel Evans, the girl of his dreams. Only in his wildest dreams had he ever thought that this would have been possible, that she would want him just as much as he wanted her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
He shaking himself out of his musing, he kissed her blissfully on the lips. "No reason" he replied. Their journey to her locker was interrupted by Maria's phone call.
"What's up?" he asked.
"I can't meet up with you tonight"she replied.
"Why?" he asked disappointed, before he and Isabel went stargazing, he had arranged to spend time with Maria, a duo hangout that they hadn't done in a while.
"I have to go to the police station, Dad wants to ask me some more questions about the shooting"
"Don't they already know everything?" he asked.
"Apparently not, I'll call you later?"
"Okay, later". He hung up the phone as they reached Isabel's locker.
"Who was it?" she asked as she rummaged through her locker.
" Maria, we were gonna hang before you and I went out but she canceled."
"Why?" she asked sharply.
Oblivious to her strained tone, he replied, "the Sheriff wants to ask her some more questions about the shooting".
"But don't they know everything already, they have the guys" she argued.
"That's what I said but" he shrugged, "I don't know."
The locker door slammed shut. "I just remembered, I have a family thing to do like right now," she said.
"But-"
She kissed him on the cheek before rushing down the hallway, "I gotta go, see you tonight".
Alex looked after her speechless.
"Um, okay".
Maria closed the door to her room and slumped against her door. The sureality of the day was wiped away when reality was reflected back at her in her mirror. She watched her finger play with the bullet hole in her uniform.
It was real, she had been shot, Max healed her.
They couldn't find the bullet and she had managed to lie when her father asked her what Max had been doing to her. She had used the it-was-all-a-blur-I-was-in-shock-excuse successfully.
I nearly died.
She ripped off the uniform and stuffed it into a plastic bag and stared at it expectantly as if it was a ticking bomb, waiting to explode. Unsure why she was doing it, Maria gingerly picked up the bag and stuffed it up the secret compartment in the roof of her wardrobe.
Max's fear was rubbing off on her, she concluded. She felt the need to protect him even though this whole event scared her. She grabbed a top from her drawer and had managed to get it over her head when she froze. She stared in disbelief at the image in the mirror, on her stomach was a glowing silver handprint, right where the bullet had been!
Maria's mouth opened, a loud piercing sound came crashing out of it.
There was banging on her door.
"Maria are you okay!" shouted Kyle.
Maria covered her mouth and grabbed the cedar oil by her bedside table.
"Um I'm fine!" she shouted hoping he would go away.
No such luck.
"Why were you screaming-can you open the door so I can see you?" he demanded.
Her eyes flashed on her towel on the bed, grabbing it, Maria wrapped it around herself. She opened the door with a bright smile.
"Hi"
"Hi" he said eyeing her suspiciously. "You wanna explain to me what that was about?"
"Um, clearing the air," she explained. " Screaming. It's good for that, to let all the anxiety and stress out."
Well it was partly true,she did feel more relaxed after her outburst.
He nodded with mild conviction. "Okay, you're sure you're okay?"
She nodded firmly. "Kyle I'm fine, I fell, I wasn't shot just a little shaken up but I'm fine. Really"
Her cell rang. She exhaled glad for the interruption. "I better get that and get changed" she said as she closed the door.
The interrogation was over. Maria glanced at the caller's name and groaned. It was her mother.
****
She held the phone away from her ear as her mother's frantic bombardment of questions came.
"Mum, mum!" she shouted, "I'm fine really. I wasn't shot, it was a mistake, the bullet missed me, I fell and broke a bottle of ketchup...No it wasn't blood....Yes I'm fine really, Kyle's here you don't need to get off work... I'm sure...Mum stay there I'm fine...Okay, love you too, bye."
Maria exhaled as she hung up the phone. Dropping the towel on her carpet she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She closed her eyes and opened them. Nope it was still there in all it's silver freakiness. She touched it tenderly hoping it was paint. It wasn't.
She grabbed her cedar oil and took a long sniff.
So let's review, I got shot, healed and I have this silver handprint. Taking deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating Maria came to a bone chilling conclusion.
This-this is freaky business, this-this-is X-FILES territory!
She jumped out of her skin at the sound of her cell phone ring. With shaking hands, she picked it up. It was Max. He was real, the whole thing was real and he was calling her now. Her finger hovered between the accept and cancel buttons. She had questions, she was scared, he had the answers but was she ready to know them?
****
Max sighed as he was cut off again. "She's not picking up" he said.
"Could it be because she's with the national guard?" joked Tess dryly.
"Look-"
The door bell rang.
Everyone in the room stopped breathing. They listened out for the guns, the authoritative military voices but heard none.
As the leader, till their deaths even if that happened to be now, Max led the way as they snuck down the hallway and stopped at the stairs.
"It's the sheriff" whispered Isabel, "Max what are we-"
"Max, Isabel, Tess. Could you come down here please?" called their unsuspecting mother.
Isabel clutched onto Max's arm, "Max".
Her terror spread from his arm to the center of his heart. He knew what she was thinking, what she was imaging and it was all because of him. The least he could do was stay strong for them. He squeezed her hand gently, "It'll be okay" he assured her. Gulping down the fear, he descended down the stairs.
In the living room stood their parents and the Sheriff and image Max knew he would carry around for however long he lived.
"You wanted us?" he managed.
"Yes," replied his mother. Her face was clouded with worry, " you didn't tell us about the shooting at the crashdown, the Sheriff wants to ask you a few questions, is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine" he lied.
Isabel and Tess stood beside him and from that he drew strength. They were together and they could face anything. If Maria hadn't told him then he was just doing a routine questioning and Ma could handle that.
"Several people saw you go up to Maria, what did you do?" asked the Sheriff.
Max shrugged self-consciously. "I just wanted to make sure that she was okay...is she okay?"
"Yes," he replied. " She fell and ketchup spilled over her. Why did you run?".
The intensity of the Sheriff's stare made Max want to look away but he knew he couldn't because that would signal that he was hiding something. "I saw all the blood, ketchup I guess and ran...I got scared".
He nodded accepting that answer. "Why did all three of you run?" he asked.
Max struggled to give an answer and was relieved for his father's interruption.
"Sheriff maybe we can explain" he said. He glanced at their mother who continued the story.
"Sheriff, back in Los Angeles, Tess' adopted father was working on a really dangerous case...he was killed in a drive by shooting," she paused, "in front of the kids and I have a feeling that this brought back some bad memories for them."
Max's relief was almost audible. His parents whether they knew it or not had just helped keep them alive.
"Oh. I'm sorry for your loss" said the Sheriff.
They all gave a minute nod in acceptance of his apology. With nothing left to say, he rose to feet to go. "Well that's all the questions I have."
Max relaxed his tense shoulders as his parents showed the Sheriff out.
"So we aren't screwed" breathed Tess beside him.
"We aren't screwed yet" corrected Isabel.
****
Liz lifted her head from the microscope and swapped the two samples.
"What are you looking for?" asked Michael leaning over her.
"Take a look at this," she said instead. Her eyes glowing to an almost feverish pitch, Liz watched as
he looked into the microscope.
"What am I looking at?" he asked.
"Ketchup" she replied with a victorious smile. She replaced the samples, "Look again" ordered him.
Michael obliged. " Now what am I looking at?".
"The ketchup from Maria's notepad, except it doesn't look like normal ketchup." She waited for him to meet her eyes before she continued. "Michael, that's blood".
"So maybe she cut herself" he suggested.
Liz shook her head vehemently. "No there's too much of it, she didn't have any cuts or bruises".
"So what are you saying?" he asked.
"I'm saying" she began in a clear concise controlled tone, " that they didn't find a bullet, this is blood, Maria was shot".
"Only she's alive" he stated.
"I know," she agreed. This whole thing was a mystery, which surrounded two people, Maria and Max. " I think Max did something to her."
Michael raised his eyebrow to signify his incredulity. "Did something like what?"
"I don't know! something-Michael, something happened, something isn't right with all of this, it doesn't make sense!"
"Okay. I agree with that, it's all weird but what do you want to do, ask Maria?" he joked.
She replied with a withering glare. "Clearly that's not happening". Her attempts at crawling back had been heavily rebuffed and to start questioning her about the shooting would have destroyed the minute hope she still had that maybe Maria would forgive her.
"I'm just going to have to keep an eye on her" she said finally.
"Liz what are you looking for? " asked Michael. "She's fine, can't you just leave it at that?"
"No" she replied simply.
It was an enigma which intrigued her, there had to be an explanation for it. Liz also couldn't deny the driving force to her investigation. Max. He was involved in this and because of that she felt driven to know, it was her quest and she wasn't going to stop till she found out what really happened to Maria.
****
There was a knock on Isabel's door. She wasn't surprised to find out that it was Max.
"Can't sleep either huh?" she asked.
"Not so much," he replied.
The door to the bathroom opened and Tess entered.
"Well since we're all up" she began, " I was thinking, I could mindwarp her to forget".
"Except for the signature of Max's silver handprint", objected Isabel. " It disappears in a couple of days, she'll notice."
"Right" sighed a disappointed Tess.
A pensive silence descended as they tried to think of a solution to save their lives and to keep their friend.
"I'll dreamwalk her" said Isabel finally. The idea had been playing in her mind and to her it seemed like the only way. Not waiting for a vote, she took the picture of the group on her bedside table and sat cross-legged, ready to go. Noting the hesistant looks on Max and Tess' face, she added, "We need to know what we're up against.
Agreed, they sat on either side of her. "Be careful" said Max.
"It's like taking a walk," she grinned. Isabel placed her index finger on Maria's face and closed her eyes.
She was in.
****
She was at the crashdown. The angry shouts drew her attention. She was at the crashdown, at the shooting.
The gun went off, Maria fell, Max rushed to her.
This time, Isabel followed. She knelt beside him as he attended to Maria.
Intense, she thought.
She was struck by the gesture of Max stroking Maria's cheek. Isabel couldn't understand why he had risked it all in that second to save her but now she could. The simplicity of a touch held a power she never realised was possible. It communicated her brother's feelings for Maria. Their intensity tugged at a chord deep within her and touched her to the depths of her soul. It was then that Isabel discovered that a touch could be beautiful.
"Don't tell anyone, please" he pleaded gently.
By saving Maria, he had risked their lives, but now that she had a glimpsed the reason for his sacrifice, all of her anger melted away as her surroundings changed.
They were somewhere else-the music room in school.
"Max".
Maria's voice brought her attention to the scene before her.
Max was standing nervously a few feet away from Maria. Maria gingerly lifted her top to reveal the silver handprint. "We need to talk" she stated simply.
"Oh" said Max.
"Yes oh! Max the bullet was in me and you did something to make it go away, you healed me and- who are- or should I say what are you?"demanded Maria.
"I can't tell you" he replied.
Isabel grinned. Maria was spot on with the characterisation of her brother.
"I have a silver handprint on my chest, I'm your friend, trust me, tell me"
Isabel watched as Max struggled with his decision. "Okay, but you have to promise not to say anything to anyone. My life is at stake."
Maria nodded. "I'm a vault of secrets".
Max drew her closer to her until they were only a finger length apart.
He slowly leaned in till his lips were a few millimeters from her ears. "I'm different" he whispered.
"How different?" she whispered back.
Isabel held her breath as she anticipated his answer.
This was it, she was going to find out what Maria thought, what she knew.
****
Max watched Isabel's peaceful expression and wondered what she was seeing and wished that he could see it too.
Sadness descended upon him like a swift wind. She probably thinks I'm some freak.
He anticipated the fear in her eyes, looking at him as if he was, well an alien. He wished that maybe it would be different, that maybe she would accept him for who he was. He wouldn't have to hide, to lie, they could be together, they could be...happy?
His mind sneered at the thought. Forget about it Max, the reality is fear, Maria isn't different. She's seen the same movies of ugly murderous aliens-but still, he argued, there's always hope, she still might-
Isabel shook. She woke up laughing.
Max watched her mystified, why was she laughing?
****
"What did you see?" asked Tess gently. Maybe the stress was too much and she had finally lost it.
Isabel clutched her sides as she curled up in uncontrollable laughter.
Max and Tess shared a look of utter bewilderment. "Um Izzy, our lives hang in the balance and you're laughing. Care to share the joke?" asked Max.
****
Isabel took deep oxygenating breaths.
Okay, come on, be serious, she scolded herself.
"Iz what did you see?" asked Tess.
After managing to get a hold of herself, Isabel stood in front of them retelling her search results.
"...So after the shooting, we move to the music room in school. Maria shows you the silverhandprint and asks you about you're secret identity".
At their raised eyebrows, she replied, "It'll make sense later. So, you two get really close-not porno close or anything" she added to curb Max's growing blush, "just close and Max leans in and whispers". She paused for effect. "I was doused with experimental chemicals when I was a child and now I have these..." her eyes glistened with repressed laughter,"..powers!" she blurted as another peal of laughter escaped her.
"You're kidding!" stated an astounded Tess.
"No!" she laughed, "it was like a soap opera with the ubber long pauses, seriously but wait there were different versions". She began the long list, "Max was bitten by a radio active spider-"
"Spiderman?!" laughed Tess.
"Yep, then he was part of a secret government experiment"
"No!" exclaimed Tess joyously.
"And then..." by the time Isabel had finished, they were all breathless from amused and relieved laughter.
Isabel dropped on her bed triumphantly. "The I'm-an-alien-theory wasn't even on the list. She has no clue. So I figure we pick a story and tell her, then we're all set because she won't tell a soul".
And I could still be with Alex, still spend Christmas with my family, go stargazing, be a regular girl, she added silently.
"And we can now have a good night's sleep" grinned Max.
"Definitely" agreed Tess, "Spiderman?!". She shook her head laughing, "I guess we should get you a costume huh Max?".
****
Monday December 19th : Morning
"Hey".
Liz whirled around to find Maria standing infront of her locker. A place they hadn't stood and talked at together since they lost their friendship.
"Hey," she replied. Unsure of what to say next, she just there taking the time to study Maria. She seemed nervous yet controlled but she didn't look any different.
What were you looking out for? Horns
"So I called you about 20 times" she began.
Maria nodded."Yeah, I was just sorting through some stuff you know calming down".
"Right" she nodded slowly. " Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah," she assured her confidently, " I'm fine now".
Not quite believing her but having no right to question her, Liz nodded."Okay".
The two ex-friends stood facing each other in awkward silence. Liz took it as an opportunity to continue begin her attempts to win back her friend.
"Look Maria, I just wanted to say-about Michael, it really was a mistake. I just got soo tired of the routine you know? And-", she sighed as she tried to explain her selfish motives and pointless reasons, which didn't and would never justify her actions. There was no excuse for what she had done and she couldn't wipe out the event either, all they had was the present and the future. "Life is 95% routine, getting up, going to school, working, doing homework, talking to you on the phone and then doing it all over again and...I miss that, I want that routine and I know I can't ask you this but could you become my routine again?"
Maria's unreadable eyes met hers. "That was a waste of a speech" she stated.
"Oh" she breathed crushed.
"Because I've already forgiven you Liz."
The words took Liz by surprise. "Oh-what?!"
Maria smiled patiently.
"How? Why?"
"Well when you get shot and your life flashes before your eyes-"
Liz caught the slip up in an instant. "I thought you didn't get shot"
"I didn't, but it's the same thing". Maria shook her head, " look do you want to hear this or not?"
"Yes" she replied eagerly.
"Okay, so my life flashed before my eyes and you were in a lot of those flashes Liz and when you see your life in a few minutes you realise how short it is. I could let this drag on for years, but I won't because it's a waste of time and life. I'm not saying we can go back to being the musketeers, I trusted you and you betrayed me, you can't get it back that easily. What I am saying is I'd like us to start from the beginning...that's if you want to" she finished.
Liz was struck dumb by Maria's heart and the depths of her forgiveness and love. Her eyes brimming with grateful tears, she replied."Of course I do"
"Well good" she grinned.
"Maria-"
"I just remembered I gotta go do something."
Liz was startled by the change in her relaxed demeanor and abrupt exit. "Wait-"
"I see you later" .
Liz watched perplexed as she sped off down the crowded hall.
"Hi".
Liz turned to find Max, the other part of the puzzle, greeting her with his charming smile. Suddenly Maria's surprise exit made sense and she didn't mind at all.
"Hey."
"Was that Maria I saw talking to you?" he asked casually.
"Yeah," she replied," she headed out to do something".
"Oh. So are you ready for the test?"
"Yes" she replied with conviction.
"Nice to see you're confident," he smiled, "Listen I'll see you later okay?"
"Sure". She called as he headed in the direction they had last seen Maria walking down.
Their nervous and tense body language did not go unnoticed. Liz gritted her teeth, the curiosity was now a force threatening to leap out of her.
What is going on with those two?
****
Max rounded the corner. She was nowhere to be found. He had spotted her a few seconds ago but now she was gone. She was avoiding him and to make matters worse, bio was canceled, their only class of the day together. He couldn't talk to her with people around, he wasn't sure how she would react with him. It would have to be afterschool. Tess had mindwarped the girl parked next to Maria to swap parking spaces with them so they could catch her afterschool. Max sighed, today was going to be a very long day.
****
After planting a quick kiss on his beautiful girlfriend, Kyle's next order of business concerned his sister. "Where's Maria?".
"She had some stuff to do," replied Alex.
"Okay." He just wanted to make sure was she okay, she had been acting pretty strangely all weekend. This morning for example she had woken up early and driven off somewhere saying she had to clear her head.
Tess noticed his anxious expression. "Why, do you think something's wrong?"
"No," he shook his head. She was just being Maria, she dealt with things in a weird kooky way. "I'm just being a little protective is all" he said as he unwrapped his meal.
He was mid bite into his sandwich when he stopped. Something wasn't right, the atmosphere on the table was slightly...tense. His Dad had explained to him why Max, Tess and Isabel they had run off the day of the shooting, he and Tess had talked about it this morning, but still there was something...
"Is everything okay?" he asked.
"It's fine," said Max, "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, it's just that you guys seem a bit...I don't know, jitterish".
With her finger under his chin, Tess led him to her eyes, "Kyle, relax, everything is fine okay?"
His anxiety and concern melted away as he drowned in the deep blue oceans of her eyes. "Okay".
****
Alex walked out his last lesson of the day hand in hand with Isabel.
Isabel Evans, the girl of his dreams. Only in his wildest dreams had he ever thought that this would have been possible, that she would want him just as much as he wanted her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
He shaking himself out of his musing, he kissed her blissfully on the lips. "No reason" he replied. Their journey to her locker was interrupted by Maria's phone call.
"What's up?" he asked.
"I can't meet up with you tonight"she replied.
"Why?" he asked disappointed, before he and Isabel went stargazing, he had arranged to spend time with Maria, a duo hangout that they hadn't done in a while.
"I have to go to the police station, Dad wants to ask me some more questions about the shooting"
"Don't they already know everything?" he asked.
"Apparently not, I'll call you later?"
"Okay, later". He hung up the phone as they reached Isabel's locker.
"Who was it?" she asked as she rummaged through her locker.
" Maria, we were gonna hang before you and I went out but she canceled."
"Why?" she asked sharply.
Oblivious to her strained tone, he replied, "the Sheriff wants to ask her some more questions about the shooting".
"But don't they know everything already, they have the guys" she argued.
"That's what I said but" he shrugged, "I don't know."
The locker door slammed shut. "I just remembered, I have a family thing to do like right now," she said.
"But-"
She kissed him on the cheek before rushing down the hallway, "I gotta go, see you tonight".
Alex looked after her speechless.
"Um, okay".
-
willowbv
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****
Max noticed Isabel's quick steps and immediately knew that something was wrong. Her quick urgent steps were contrary to her usual leisurely stroll.
Isabel slipped into the passenger seat next to him, "Did you tell her?"she demanded.
He shook his head, finding Maria had been impossible today. She knew how to make herself disappear. Isabel's exasperated sigh grabbed his attention.
"Why?"he asked apprehensively.
"She just called Alex, the Sheriff wants her to answer some more questions."
"But-"
"I know it's a shut case, but Max," her fearful eyes locked with his, " what if they found something? You need to tell her and tell her now."
"So pick a story," said Tess, "Spiderman, government experiment, pick one".
Max looked away from them, he didn't want to pick one, he wanted her to know the truth.
He questioned whether Isabel had telepathic skills when she gently replied to his silent questions. "Max, you can't. She won't"
"How do you know Iz?"he asked.
"Max we don't have time for this!", replied a frustrated panicked Isabel. " I know how you feel believe me but what exactly do you intend to say? Um Maria, we're aliens from the 1947 crash and you know what? I have alien powers too. You know what she'd say next?"
"What kind of powers?".
All air escaped from the lungs of the occupants of the jeep . Max's heart stopped, he slowly turned to see Maria standing behind Isabel outside the jeep. He saw it, the expression he had feared and hoped not to see.
"Maria" he began.
She moved, took a step back from the car.
She's going to run, he realised. I have to explain.
He bolted from the jeep and caught her just as she opened the door to her jetta and was getting in.
His hands covered hers. "Maria please". She tensed at his touch. He took his hand away, the warmth of her hand turning into a painful heat. She wouldn't even look at him, at that very moment, Max felt subhuman, like a freak of nature.
But she's still listening, she's still standing here, so I might have a chance.
"Maria please don't tell anything to the Sheriff".
She finally met his eyes, they were clouded over with confusion, unreadable. "About me...please" he continued, " I saved your life now please save mine".
With that he backed off and let her in the car. He watched as she screeched out of the parking lot driving over his open fragile heart.
He didn't realise they had left the jeep and joined him until Isabel said. "We have to leave don't we?".
He didn't reply. He couldn't because despite everything that had happened in the moments before he was still holding on to the hope that she wouldn't say anything. Inspite of everything, he knew Maria, she wouldn't.
"Max?" asked Isabel.
"What do we do now?" asked Tess.
"We go home and we wait".
He turned to get into the jeep preparing for their outbursts.
"Wait? That's your plan?!" began Tess. " We should be leaving this town".
Max slipped on his seat belt and started the engine. "Maria won't tell" he said simply.
"How can you be so sure Max because from the way she reacted, I don't think so" said Isabel. "She's not different Max, she's like the rest of them."
Max sighed and with that the hope he could feel left him. He couldn't risk their lives even for Maria. His life maybe, but not Isabel's and not Tess'. "Okay," he said finally. " let's go home and pack."
****
Their chairs were separated by the oak desk in his office, Maria sat nervously trying to make sense of all the information swirling in her mind.
"So what do you want to ask me about?" she asked.
"You know that we didn't find a bullet right?" he asked.
"Um yeah" she nodded, " but I wasn't shot either".
Her reply was unexpectedly quick for the Sheriff's liking. There was something not right with this incident. The fact that they couldn't find the bullet, that several people had said they thought Maria had been shot and Max Evan's involvement with the whole event didn't make sense. He was thankful that his daughter was safe but the Sheriff also wanted to solve this mystery.
"Maria what did Max do to you when he came over?" he asked.
Maria paused, this wasn't what she needed right now. She needed time to process what she had just heard Isabel say. That Max was an alien, as in green men coming to take over the earth. The conversation she had had with him about aliens played in her mind. The whole aliens-walk-among us theory he believed in, it was because he was one.
Two opposing thoughts battled in Maria's mind. She should tell her father, he needed to know. She didn't know much about Max's alien intentions, whether he was alone, if they were here in peace or to gain information about them and then destroy the planet but Max was also her friend who had saved her. She needed answers and she needed them now.
"Um can we take a break?" she asked. "I just need to call a friend about a project I'm supposed to work on tonight, I was supposed to ask her after school but I completely forgot and she goes off to work in like ten minutes."
"That's fine" he said.
She dialed the number.
****
Max was surprised to hear his cell phone ring, his surprise grew as the caller id identified Maria. He dropped his bag in the jeep.
"What's wrong?" asked Isabel.
He held the phone in his hand and started at it unsure of what to do. "It's Maria, should I pick it up?".
Isabel shared a uneasy look with Tess. "What if she's not alone?" she asked.
Max followed the strong pull of his heart and accepted the call. "Maria"
"Hi, Ali it's me" she said brightly.
"What are you?-Oh you're talking to me in code yes?" he asked.
"Yep you guessed it. Just clear some things up for me. The Czechslovakian we were talking about earlier, does he have a passport?"
Czechslovakian?-Oh she means me!
"Not exactly, our spaceship crashed in 1947, the roswell crash."
"Oh...so there's more of them?"
"Me, Isabel and Tess" he replied.
"Right...okay what do they want?"
The hope Max had thought had left him lifted him out of bleakness. She was asking questions which meant that she wasn't going to hand them over to anyone until she knew what she was dealing with, they would be okay as long as he handled this gently.
"We haven't come to take over the earth or anythingMaria," he said honestly," we just want to live our lives. "
"Okay, thanks Ali".
She hung up.
"Well?" asked Tess expectantly. "What did she say?"
Max met her gaze his eyes shining with hope and utter bewilderment at her phone code conversation. "Um, I'm not sure but I don't think we should go just yet"
"What do you mean?"asked Isabel.
"She wanted to know why we were here" he explained, "she didn't sound like she was about to hand us over to the government."
"Can we take that chance?" she asked quietly.
He nodded. "I think we should".
****
Maria hung up the phone and turned back to her father.
"Finished?" he asked.
"Yeah, sorry about that, I needed to ask her before she went to work."
"You said that already" he grinned. "Can you answer my question now?". His eyes bored into her with intensity,"What did Max do to you Maria?".
Maria exhaled deeply and opened her mouth ready to finally answer his question.
****
Monday 19th December : Afternoon
Isabel stood anxiously in the living room. Max and Tess were still putting their stuff back into their room. She prayed to God that Max was right to trust Maria. It was nearly Christmas, she didn't want to spend it away from her family, from her life here in Roswell which had become home. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't hear a car pull up or the footsteps making their way to the door. What got her attention was the doorbell which felt like a needle jabbed into her heart.
Bile rising from her stomach and her heart threatening to escape from her rib cage, she went to the door and looked through the key hole.
"Max, Tess, Maria's here!" she shouted.
They were down the stairs in seconds. She looked at their anxious faces and nodded as she received a reply for her unspoken question. She turned to face the door that was keeping them from finding out their fate, taking a deep breath swung it open.
The world around her was spinning like a wheel and when she got off she was going to do more than throw up. She was going to be cut up into little pieces. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. She folded her arms to keep herself from shaking, to up keep the pretense of fearlessness. "So when do the storm troopers come busting in?".
Maria looked at her blankly. No fear, No emotion. "In about five minutes" she replied casually. " The base is about 30 minutes away plus add to that time to suit up, so I'd give them five, ten minutes tops."
Isabel's heart slammed against her rib cage and then ceased its attempts to escape. The pain was nothing compared to the paralysing fear which kept her standing at the door instead of screaming, panicking or running. The fragile tentatively constructed floor of trust underneath her had been cruelly pulled away and she was being swallowed up into the deep dark terrifying unknown. Her life, their lives were over. They could try to escape but time didn't provide them with that luxury. They would be caught soon enough. Images of being taken away, prodded and tortured flashed through her mind.
They had trusted Maria and now their lives were over.
Maria's next words turned her world around again. This time, the right way up.
"Kidding" she grinned. " Sorry I couldn't resist.".
"You mean-"
"No storm troopers. I didn't tell my Dad anything".
The walls of denfence were lowered, Isabel heaved a sigh of relief as behind her Max and Tess squeezed each of her hands with relief.
Maria looked at them expectantly. "So are you gonna let me stand out here alone or invite me in so you can fill me in on the whole story. I this case cliff notes don't work for me"
Isabel grinned and she made room for her to enter. "Sorry, it's just you saved our lives."
Maria paused in the door frame and grinned at her. "Ditto".
The door to the Evan's house closed and with it their secret was restored to the vault. They didn't have to run, they were going to stay and finally someone they cared about knew the truth.
****
AN: Okay, so I chose Max to heal Maria instead.
Why?
Well it just seemed the way to go, I wanna repeat that this fic is unplanned so I just go with the flow and that's where it flowed.
But you said this is UC/CC, how can it get to CC if Max heals Maria and gets the flashes that he got with Liz in the show?
That's the question I asked myself at the end of this part. But then I realised that that's the challenge. I do know that I want it to turn CC later but I'm not sure if it's going to end CC or if it'll end UC. I'll keep you posted about that but any way I thought it would really interesting if Max healed Maria and felt everything that he felt with Liz in the show which makes it a challenge for me to turn them back into believeable CC couples. How? I don't know yet, but that's the fun I am having with this fic I really have no clue what will happen until I start typing the next part and then it just flows from there.
Hope you guys are enjoying it.
Max noticed Isabel's quick steps and immediately knew that something was wrong. Her quick urgent steps were contrary to her usual leisurely stroll.
Isabel slipped into the passenger seat next to him, "Did you tell her?"she demanded.
He shook his head, finding Maria had been impossible today. She knew how to make herself disappear. Isabel's exasperated sigh grabbed his attention.
"Why?"he asked apprehensively.
"She just called Alex, the Sheriff wants her to answer some more questions."
"But-"
"I know it's a shut case, but Max," her fearful eyes locked with his, " what if they found something? You need to tell her and tell her now."
"So pick a story," said Tess, "Spiderman, government experiment, pick one".
Max looked away from them, he didn't want to pick one, he wanted her to know the truth.
He questioned whether Isabel had telepathic skills when she gently replied to his silent questions. "Max, you can't. She won't"
"How do you know Iz?"he asked.
"Max we don't have time for this!", replied a frustrated panicked Isabel. " I know how you feel believe me but what exactly do you intend to say? Um Maria, we're aliens from the 1947 crash and you know what? I have alien powers too. You know what she'd say next?"
"What kind of powers?".
All air escaped from the lungs of the occupants of the jeep . Max's heart stopped, he slowly turned to see Maria standing behind Isabel outside the jeep. He saw it, the expression he had feared and hoped not to see.
"Maria" he began.
She moved, took a step back from the car.
She's going to run, he realised. I have to explain.
He bolted from the jeep and caught her just as she opened the door to her jetta and was getting in.
His hands covered hers. "Maria please". She tensed at his touch. He took his hand away, the warmth of her hand turning into a painful heat. She wouldn't even look at him, at that very moment, Max felt subhuman, like a freak of nature.
But she's still listening, she's still standing here, so I might have a chance.
"Maria please don't tell anything to the Sheriff".
She finally met his eyes, they were clouded over with confusion, unreadable. "About me...please" he continued, " I saved your life now please save mine".
With that he backed off and let her in the car. He watched as she screeched out of the parking lot driving over his open fragile heart.
He didn't realise they had left the jeep and joined him until Isabel said. "We have to leave don't we?".
He didn't reply. He couldn't because despite everything that had happened in the moments before he was still holding on to the hope that she wouldn't say anything. Inspite of everything, he knew Maria, she wouldn't.
"Max?" asked Isabel.
"What do we do now?" asked Tess.
"We go home and we wait".
He turned to get into the jeep preparing for their outbursts.
"Wait? That's your plan?!" began Tess. " We should be leaving this town".
Max slipped on his seat belt and started the engine. "Maria won't tell" he said simply.
"How can you be so sure Max because from the way she reacted, I don't think so" said Isabel. "She's not different Max, she's like the rest of them."
Max sighed and with that the hope he could feel left him. He couldn't risk their lives even for Maria. His life maybe, but not Isabel's and not Tess'. "Okay," he said finally. " let's go home and pack."
****
Their chairs were separated by the oak desk in his office, Maria sat nervously trying to make sense of all the information swirling in her mind.
"So what do you want to ask me about?" she asked.
"You know that we didn't find a bullet right?" he asked.
"Um yeah" she nodded, " but I wasn't shot either".
Her reply was unexpectedly quick for the Sheriff's liking. There was something not right with this incident. The fact that they couldn't find the bullet, that several people had said they thought Maria had been shot and Max Evan's involvement with the whole event didn't make sense. He was thankful that his daughter was safe but the Sheriff also wanted to solve this mystery.
"Maria what did Max do to you when he came over?" he asked.
Maria paused, this wasn't what she needed right now. She needed time to process what she had just heard Isabel say. That Max was an alien, as in green men coming to take over the earth. The conversation she had had with him about aliens played in her mind. The whole aliens-walk-among us theory he believed in, it was because he was one.
Two opposing thoughts battled in Maria's mind. She should tell her father, he needed to know. She didn't know much about Max's alien intentions, whether he was alone, if they were here in peace or to gain information about them and then destroy the planet but Max was also her friend who had saved her. She needed answers and she needed them now.
"Um can we take a break?" she asked. "I just need to call a friend about a project I'm supposed to work on tonight, I was supposed to ask her after school but I completely forgot and she goes off to work in like ten minutes."
"That's fine" he said.
She dialed the number.
****
Max was surprised to hear his cell phone ring, his surprise grew as the caller id identified Maria. He dropped his bag in the jeep.
"What's wrong?" asked Isabel.
He held the phone in his hand and started at it unsure of what to do. "It's Maria, should I pick it up?".
Isabel shared a uneasy look with Tess. "What if she's not alone?" she asked.
Max followed the strong pull of his heart and accepted the call. "Maria"
"Hi, Ali it's me" she said brightly.
"What are you?-Oh you're talking to me in code yes?" he asked.
"Yep you guessed it. Just clear some things up for me. The Czechslovakian we were talking about earlier, does he have a passport?"
Czechslovakian?-Oh she means me!
"Not exactly, our spaceship crashed in 1947, the roswell crash."
"Oh...so there's more of them?"
"Me, Isabel and Tess" he replied.
"Right...okay what do they want?"
The hope Max had thought had left him lifted him out of bleakness. She was asking questions which meant that she wasn't going to hand them over to anyone until she knew what she was dealing with, they would be okay as long as he handled this gently.
"We haven't come to take over the earth or anythingMaria," he said honestly," we just want to live our lives. "
"Okay, thanks Ali".
She hung up.
"Well?" asked Tess expectantly. "What did she say?"
Max met her gaze his eyes shining with hope and utter bewilderment at her phone code conversation. "Um, I'm not sure but I don't think we should go just yet"
"What do you mean?"asked Isabel.
"She wanted to know why we were here" he explained, "she didn't sound like she was about to hand us over to the government."
"Can we take that chance?" she asked quietly.
He nodded. "I think we should".
****
Maria hung up the phone and turned back to her father.
"Finished?" he asked.
"Yeah, sorry about that, I needed to ask her before she went to work."
"You said that already" he grinned. "Can you answer my question now?". His eyes bored into her with intensity,"What did Max do to you Maria?".
Maria exhaled deeply and opened her mouth ready to finally answer his question.
****
Monday 19th December : Afternoon
Isabel stood anxiously in the living room. Max and Tess were still putting their stuff back into their room. She prayed to God that Max was right to trust Maria. It was nearly Christmas, she didn't want to spend it away from her family, from her life here in Roswell which had become home. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't hear a car pull up or the footsteps making their way to the door. What got her attention was the doorbell which felt like a needle jabbed into her heart.
Bile rising from her stomach and her heart threatening to escape from her rib cage, she went to the door and looked through the key hole.
"Max, Tess, Maria's here!" she shouted.
They were down the stairs in seconds. She looked at their anxious faces and nodded as she received a reply for her unspoken question. She turned to face the door that was keeping them from finding out their fate, taking a deep breath swung it open.
The world around her was spinning like a wheel and when she got off she was going to do more than throw up. She was going to be cut up into little pieces. Her heart pounded painfully against her chest. She folded her arms to keep herself from shaking, to up keep the pretense of fearlessness. "So when do the storm troopers come busting in?".
Maria looked at her blankly. No fear, No emotion. "In about five minutes" she replied casually. " The base is about 30 minutes away plus add to that time to suit up, so I'd give them five, ten minutes tops."
Isabel's heart slammed against her rib cage and then ceased its attempts to escape. The pain was nothing compared to the paralysing fear which kept her standing at the door instead of screaming, panicking or running. The fragile tentatively constructed floor of trust underneath her had been cruelly pulled away and she was being swallowed up into the deep dark terrifying unknown. Her life, their lives were over. They could try to escape but time didn't provide them with that luxury. They would be caught soon enough. Images of being taken away, prodded and tortured flashed through her mind.
They had trusted Maria and now their lives were over.
Maria's next words turned her world around again. This time, the right way up.
"Kidding" she grinned. " Sorry I couldn't resist.".
"You mean-"
"No storm troopers. I didn't tell my Dad anything".
The walls of denfence were lowered, Isabel heaved a sigh of relief as behind her Max and Tess squeezed each of her hands with relief.
Maria looked at them expectantly. "So are you gonna let me stand out here alone or invite me in so you can fill me in on the whole story. I this case cliff notes don't work for me"
Isabel grinned and she made room for her to enter. "Sorry, it's just you saved our lives."
Maria paused in the door frame and grinned at her. "Ditto".
The door to the Evan's house closed and with it their secret was restored to the vault. They didn't have to run, they were going to stay and finally someone they cared about knew the truth.
****
AN: Okay, so I chose Max to heal Maria instead.
Why?
Well it just seemed the way to go, I wanna repeat that this fic is unplanned so I just go with the flow and that's where it flowed.
But you said this is UC/CC, how can it get to CC if Max heals Maria and gets the flashes that he got with Liz in the show?
That's the question I asked myself at the end of this part. But then I realised that that's the challenge. I do know that I want it to turn CC later but I'm not sure if it's going to end CC or if it'll end UC. I'll keep you posted about that
but any way I thought it would really interesting if Max healed Maria and felt everything that he felt with Liz in the show which makes it a challenge for me to turn them back into believeable CC couples. How? I don't know yet, but that's the fun I am having with this fic I really have no clue what will happen until I start typing the next part and then it just flows from there.Hope you guys are enjoying it.
-
willowbv
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- Posts: 321
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AN: First off, thank you soooo much for the bumping guys, that is the major reason I am posting this update and yes your eyes do not deceive you, there is actually an update, lol
Okay so my big plan was write up everything and then post it but I realised that at the rate I was going, I wouldn't be posting anything for quiet a while...so I thought screw the plan and post it. I thought this part would take up five pages tops...well I shouldn't have 'cause it's an unplanned fic and when I started typing, things went a little out there, lol
The heatwave hasn't started just yet in this post, I'm still setting it up, lol.
Anyway this part clears a few things up like: how come the aliens moved to L.A.? Why was Michael left alone? Did Nasedo really die in a drive by? Basically why the Tess, Iz and Max came back to Roswell.
Dedicated to my fanatical bumpers:
Sternbetrachter and akasha15 ( I have no words for you two, the bumping contest made me smile, you guys rock !)
Tab's - here you go, I'm glad you're liking it, that means a lot. talk to you soon
BelevnDreamsToo, girlie_girl – sorry chicas but no dreamer action yet
NicciStar – thanks for your comment, it's good to know that I've portrayed the characters in an authentic way that you can really see it happening.
katrina, Dream_walker, Shama, baby_bre, Lindsey – thanks for the bumpage guys
and also if you've been wondering when Max and Maria are finally going to at least start getting it on...this next part should help you out, lol, enjoy......
Chapter Ten ( yes, they have been posted in chapters even if I haven't put them on in other posts )
****
Maria glanced anxiously around the circle, they sat cross-legged on Isabel's bedroom floor, an air of nervousness surrounding them all.
"Um, not that I don't trust you guys after everything, but what are we doing?" she asked.
Isabel grinned, thankful that as usual Maria's blunt questioning, broke through the barrier of awkward nerves. "We're going to try and show you who we are, why we're here... everything."
Maria nodded. "By holding hands?" she asked skeptically.
Max in response squeezed hers gently. "We're going to connect with you...we haven't tried it with a human before but I think it might work. We're going to project images from us to you" he explained.
Her eyes grew wide with fear of the unknown but still she accepted it with a nod. "Is it okay for me to be nervous?".
Still amazed at how Maria was accepting them, Tess gave her a reassuring smile. Maria's openness with her questions, emotions and above all, her actions had left her with a new found respect for her friend because if it was the other way around...she only hoped that she could have done the same. "Completely but it won't hurt...trust us".
Maria turned to Max and with one look, she was calmed. "How do we do this?"
Max's warm firm voice washed over her. "Close you're eyes and relax, we'll do the rest."
She followed his instruction...and waited...and waited.
Sneaking a peek, she saw all their eyes were closed, brows furrowed in concentration. She was about to inform them that nothing was happening when she felt powerful, electrifying energy flow through her, closing her eyelids and pulling her in.
****
Maria's return to present reality was signaled by a sharp intake of much needed air.
A mixture of nervous, excited, curious and expectant eyes greeted her.
"Did it work?" asked Max.
"I'd say" she nodded dazed.
After a few breaths and after establishing that all was right with the world according to her senses, Maria realized that the room was still quiet. Understanding the need for them to know that she was fine with everything, that she wasn't about to bolt for the door and call the army, Maria smirked. "Well you guys have led pretty exciting lives...both times," she added as she stood up.
They followed her lead and now stood around her still in the circle formation unsure of what to do next. Maria understood the reasons for their behaviour because now, she really knew them, their history in another time and place and their past in their present lives. Sharing their secret with someone else, let alone a human being was uncharted territory for her alien friends.
The royal four: Zan the king aka Max Evans, Ava his queen aka Tess Harding, Vilandra his sister aka Isabel Evans and Rath his counselor aka missing unknown hybrid. Killed in their past lives by some power hungry but fine psycho called Khivar, who Vilandra had got it on with.
Alien human hybrids, they were shipped over to earth with their protector Nasedo, in the 1947 crash, so that they could survive, return home and kick Khivar's ass. The only hitch had been that a few years later when Nasedo went to get some supplies, they hatched looking like 6 year olds and wandered out into the desert. Nasedo found Tess, the Evans' found Max and Isabel and adopted them. The other one, Rath, was nowhere to be found. Nasedo became close with the Evans as they had deserted children in common and also the fact that he was a lawyer like Philip Evans.
Nasedo ensured that when they left Roswell for L.A., they all left together. In L.A., he brought them up constantly training them, telling them about their past and their destiny. Fastforward to the start of sophomore year in high school, they were given orbs which turned to be communicators with a message from their mother telling them who they were, what they were on Earth for and that setting of the orbs, they had also signaled their general location to unknown enemies like a moth to a flame.
Their enemies would of course try to find them and kill them. And that they did, the Skins, aliens with highly impressive powers who...shed like snakes. They wanted the Granilith, because it would keep them alive another 50 years on Earth and it was also some sort of religious icon holding unrealized power that Khivar wanted.
Maria shook her head in amazement as she compared the friends who stood before her now with the powerful aliens who had descimated most of the Skins, apart from the cocky brat named Nicholas. They visited the Pod Chamber (as she liked to call it), in Roswell which housed the Granilith. The Granilith as they discovered, was also one-way spaceship to their home. Only problem was a] they didn't want to leave earth as it had become their home and b] they couldn't leave Rath alone.
So they had searched for their fellow alien, their family, but to now avail. Life had been going pretty normal for them till Nicholas regrouped, ambushed them and killed Nasedo. They had had to make up a lie about his shooting. This had been accomplished with an elaborate plan aided by of course the use of their alien powers to make his death believable. Then they had moved back to Roswell, their home where the dying Nasedo had said that they would be at their most powerful, where they needed to be.
They had spent their entire lives lying, hiding, eyeing everything and everyone with suspicion...And here they are, she concluded, jeopardizing their lives for me.
****
"Did you understand...everything?" asked Max nervously. Never in his life had he felt so exposed, so naked. "I mean-it, it could get pretty confusing what with the-the.."
Maria smiled softly as he trailed off. "Max," she made eye contact with each of them as she continued,"guys this is me. I can tell you all the storylines in Days Of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and may it rest in peace, my beloved Sunset Beach...believe me, I got it all..." Her eyes finally landed Tess, "...What with you being Queen to his King and all," she finished.
The restrained hurt evident in her voice erased Max's nervous feelings and replaced them with panic.
She thought that him and Tess were somehow still together?!
No! that was not even the case, he had to make it right...but Tess beat him to it.
"Back in Antar," she began," in our past lives, we were married, but it was arranged-"
"How do you know that?", asked Maria. She glanced at him but never met his eyes," I thought you didn't remember much about your past life".
"We don't know everything," he explained. Eyes fixed on her, pleading her to look at him, he continued, "Nasedo taught us memory retrieval techniques, we know the gist of who we were and what happened but it's just feelings and vague images. Our families arranged Tess and I and Isabel and Rath's marriages. We liked each other but we weren't in love. Nasedo tried to get us together, to accept our destiny...we tried..."
Vibrant green eyes brimming with confusion, hurt and fading anger met his pleading amber pools. He saw her raised eyebrow, "..just dating," he quickly elaborated, "nothing major...but there was..."
"Nothing there", finished Tess
"Right," he nodded grateful for her input.
Max finally took a breath when she nodded in acceptance of their explanation.
"Okay," she dropped herself onto Isabel's bed.
Max stuffed his hands in his pockets nervously. He felt like a pendulum alternating between anxiety and relief because everything she did or said meant something to him. It reflected how she saw him and he didn't want her to be repulsed...so far it was going okay.
"So what names do you go by?...here on Earth I mean" she asked.
Max felt a small smile cross his lips. "Um...our Earth names are fine in any galaxy because that's who we are. Maria our past is our past, our home is Earth, our life is here, it's all we've ever known and who we were back then is not who we are now."
"Great, that makes it much easier for me," she joked, "I won't have to worry about calling you Zan by accident."
Relief washed over him.
"So are you okay with all of this?" asked Isabel.
Anxiety returned as he waited for her answer.
Maria nodded. "Pretty much. Aside from the whole life threatening issues...this is very cool," she enthused. "Except..." she trailed off and shook her head as if dismissing the thought.
"Except what?" asked Isabel.
"Except, it's totally selfish and pointless but... seeing you guys with your uber cool alien powers, kicking ass...I mean you guys are all special and," she sighed," it just makes a small town girl feel that little bit smaller that's all."
Her honest admission pulled at his heart, self control prevented him from sweeping her up into his arms, instead he drew her attention to him with his words "You are anything but Maria." His voice thick with passionate conviction, he continued, "...you are the first person we have revealed our secret to, you broke through our defenses and actually became our friend...you just saved our lives without knowing all the facts and even after that, fully knowing the danger...you're still here. I'd say that makes you a lot special, not for having alien powers but for being who you are."
He blushed as the room remained in stunned silence for what felt like hours.
"That's what I was going to say," grinned Tess, "but he stole my thunder".
Maria laughed and as their eyes locked, her laughter was transformed into a grateful smile. "Thanks for saying that."
Max was once again struck by how beautiful and radiant she was. "It's all true."
"Especially about the danger part," said Isabel. "Maria what you know about us...you can't tell anyone, not Kyle, not your parents, no one because-".
"I know...your lives are in danger" she said.
"Not just ours but yours too," warned Tess. "If you let anything slip, they might use you to get to us."
"Are you sure you want to get involved in this?" asked Max, "because you don't have to."
"I won't lie and say everything's peachy," she began," it's safe to say that I'm a lot scared and freaked out right now...but you saved my life by risking yours...and you're my friends, I'm not going anywhere come skin peeling aliens or the great invasion," she joked.
Max shared an unspoken conversation with Isabel and Tess, they all shared the same sentiments, that it was all going to be okay. And for Max, that meant the possibility of achieving something he never thought he could.
"So I have questions".
The statement brought an amused smirk across his face, letting Maria completely in was, like everything else she touched in his life, going to be very interesting.
Isabel slumped down beside her. "Shoot".
"Those powers I saw in the flashes, is that all you guys can do or is there more?"
****
Isabel grinned. Letting someone in, someone they could trust was freeing. This was at least one human friend she could be honest with. "Well pretty much, except for my dream walking".
Maria's forehead creased with confusion,"as in actually walk into people's dreams?"
Isabel nodded. "When people are at a reduced state of consciousness, I can go into their dreams and either manipulate them or just check out what they're dreaming about. They can't see me unless I want them to."
She shook her head marveling at the thought. "Wait...have you done it to me?".
Isabel paused, she looked around her for support but Tess and Max avoided all eye contact. Thanks for the support, she thought dryly. Well, I might as well be honest.
"Just once," she admitted," last night...we had to find put what you were planning to do".
Isabel waited for her outburst on the invasion of her privacy but it never came, instead blood rushed to her cheeks. "So you saw the whole superman thing" she stated.
Isabel nodded as she realised the reason for her rather controlled and calm reaction. "I don't usually do this...well to friends, it was just-"
"It was your lives, I get it, but since I'm not a threat..."
She nodded at the unspoken agreement. "Never again...besides, I don't want to stumble onto anything that has the potential to blind me," she winked.
Maria blushed. "Oh".
Keen to prevent her further embarrassment, Isabel wrapped things up. "That's pretty much what we can do now, but our powers are constantly growing, so we'll keep you posted," she joked.
"Cool. So do you just use them to fight the evil aliens or", a mischievous look swept across her face, "...are you open to suggestions...'cause I can see lots of possibilities between our brains, your powers and Pam Troy and her lemmings."
Isabel grinned. I like the way this girl thinks.
Max jumped in before she could reply. "We don't abuse them".
Isabel suppressed a grin as Tess rolled her eyes. "We just use them for recreational purposes."
"Like..." encouraged Maria.
Isabel thought for a moment. "Let me show you something."
She led Maria to her full length mirror. She studied her hair for a moment and then placing her palms a few millimeters away from it, swept downwards.
****
He watched Maria's eyes grow wide as her blonde hair turned into jet black ringlets.
"Wow" she breathed.
"Pretty cool huh?" grinned Tess.
"I'd say. No more hairdresser for me...how else do your powers help our girlie requirements?"
Max watched content as they began to change the colour of their outfits, hair and eyes.
A few hours in and it felt like Maria had always known their secret. The sound of the closing door downstairs drew him out of the room to greet his parents. He was grateful for an excuse to leave the room. They would probably spend hours introducing Maria to the joys of accessorising the alien way.
That gave him time to think about where to take his relationship with Maria from here. The barrier keeping them apart had been bulldozed, nothing was keeping them apart... except of course the rapid pounding of his heart, the butterflies in his stomach and the dryness in his throat which he experienced when he even thought about giving in completely to Maria. He couldn't use his alien origins as an excuse to hide his feelings anymore.
****
"Why did we have to break off for Christmas with only five days left again?" complained Tess.
"Because," began Isabel, "the junior class sold out a week of school for a trip to NYC, which we weren't there to attend, yet we still have to bear the punishment," she finished.
Maria ignored the complaints, the trip had been worth while for her. The student conferences were a bore but the shopping more than made up for it.
"This is amazing," she marveled as she painted her nails with a custom made shade matching her colour of her eyes. In one day, her life had become more complicated and dangerous than she could have ever imagined but at the same time, it had also opened up a new world to her. She had seen things many people never would and more importantly, she had a closer relationship with her friends.
"The perks of being an alien," quipped Tess.
Maria nodded, being alien definitely did have benefits, but being the friend of an alien also came with the same benefits by association.
"So what happens now?" she asked.
"Now," said Isabel as she flicked through her cosmo, "we carry on as normal, except you know more about us than our own parents."
"Hmm," she shrugged. I can live with that.
Returning back to ordinary conversation, she asked, "So Christmas is on Sunday, what have you got Kyle and Alex?".
"Believe it or not, I'm struggling with Alex's since he now officially has boyfriend status. I mean what do you get a guy who is more than a friend?" asked Isabel.
"Something he likes," she suggested.
Isabel playfully glared at her. "Well since you seem to know everything, what are you getting Max?" she challenged.
Now it was Maria's turn for admissions. "With only four days to go, the clock is ticking and I have no clue. Girls, tomorrow we are definitely going to have to go shopping for our men" she declared.
Maria obliviously continued working on her nails while Isabel and Tess had a staring match, daring each other to go first. Isabel rolled her eyes in resignation and closed her cosmo.
"Our men?," she questioned,"Does the mean that after the party kiss you and Max are...".
Maria stilled at the mention of his name. "How did you find out about the kiss? " she asked.
"You two kissed at the party, in the middle of the dance floor, it was practically broadcast everywhere around school today," said Isabel.
"Right," she said slowly. Her concern over the whole silverhandprint issue had taken up most of her attention that day.
"Yep," said Tess. "So what's going on if you don't mind our asking?".
Maria hesitated, "Are you okay talking about it, since you guys...have a history?"
Tess waved her concern away. "No. Max is like a brother to me, we have no chemistry whatsoever."
Maria nodded. "Well after that, the kiss I mean, there was the shooting and everything... we didn't talk about what it meant and what we mean...so it's pretty much up in the air right now...I mean, I like him but I'm not sure if he wants to make anything permanent with me or even if he considers it to be more than just a kiss 'cause he seemed ready to give an excuse to why we couldn't happen..." she trailed off to oxygenate her lungs.
"Of course he cares," Tess enthused. "Maria, Max is head over heels for you. Since meeting you, he has become more...like a regular teenage boy, enjoying life, actually laughing a lot and laying off Iz and I... and it's because of you."
"So what do I do?" she asked.
"I say talk to him," said Isabel, " when we're done here, talk to him."
"You mean we're not?" she asked.
"There's just one thing," began Tess,"Max has never had a real girlfriend, I don't count. He's sensitive and..."
"Shy and he's a great guy. And no offense to you or anything but we just want to make sure that he's not a rebound, after Michael," finished Isabel.
Maria pursed her lips together and took a calming breath. She respected their intentions but that didn't stop her feeling offended. "First of all, I know Max is all those things and more. And secondly, Michael and I broke up in June, if I wanted a rebound, I would have got one in that time...Max means more than that to me."
"We know that," said Tess, "we just wanted to get it out there, you know the protective sisters routine...I mean, you're our best friend and he's our brother, so basically..."
"Don't hurt Max," finished Isabel.
Maria nodded. Well before we get ahead of ourselves here... "Guess I should go find out if he wants me or not." She said getting off the bed.
"Of course he does," said Isabel, "just don't let him push you away because he's scared and while you do that, I'll get ready for my date with Alex..."
"And I'll go tell mum that you're staying for dinner" chirped Tess.
"Thanks," she smiled as she headed out the door.
****
Okay so my big plan was write up everything and then post it but I realised that at the rate I was going, I wouldn't be posting anything for quiet a while...so I thought screw the plan and post it. I thought this part would take up five pages tops...well I shouldn't have 'cause it's an unplanned fic and when I started typing, things went a little out there, lol
The heatwave hasn't started just yet in this post, I'm still setting it up, lol.
Anyway this part clears a few things up like: how come the aliens moved to L.A.? Why was Michael left alone? Did Nasedo really die in a drive by? Basically why the Tess, Iz and Max came back to Roswell.
Dedicated to my fanatical bumpers:
Sternbetrachter and akasha15 ( I have no words for you two, the bumping contest made me smile, you guys rock !)
Tab's - here you go, I'm glad you're liking it, that means a lot. talk to you soon
BelevnDreamsToo, girlie_girl – sorry chicas but no dreamer action yet
NicciStar – thanks for your comment, it's good to know that I've portrayed the characters in an authentic way that you can really see it happening.
katrina, Dream_walker, Shama, baby_bre, Lindsey – thanks for the bumpage guys
and also if you've been wondering when Max and Maria are finally going to at least start getting it on...this next part should help you out, lol, enjoy......
Chapter Ten ( yes, they have been posted in chapters even if I haven't put them on in other posts
)****
Maria glanced anxiously around the circle, they sat cross-legged on Isabel's bedroom floor, an air of nervousness surrounding them all.
"Um, not that I don't trust you guys after everything, but what are we doing?" she asked.
Isabel grinned, thankful that as usual Maria's blunt questioning, broke through the barrier of awkward nerves. "We're going to try and show you who we are, why we're here... everything."
Maria nodded. "By holding hands?" she asked skeptically.
Max in response squeezed hers gently. "We're going to connect with you...we haven't tried it with a human before but I think it might work. We're going to project images from us to you" he explained.
Her eyes grew wide with fear of the unknown but still she accepted it with a nod. "Is it okay for me to be nervous?".
Still amazed at how Maria was accepting them, Tess gave her a reassuring smile. Maria's openness with her questions, emotions and above all, her actions had left her with a new found respect for her friend because if it was the other way around...she only hoped that she could have done the same. "Completely but it won't hurt...trust us".
Maria turned to Max and with one look, she was calmed. "How do we do this?"
Max's warm firm voice washed over her. "Close you're eyes and relax, we'll do the rest."
She followed his instruction...and waited...and waited.
Sneaking a peek, she saw all their eyes were closed, brows furrowed in concentration. She was about to inform them that nothing was happening when she felt powerful, electrifying energy flow through her, closing her eyelids and pulling her in.
****
Maria's return to present reality was signaled by a sharp intake of much needed air.
A mixture of nervous, excited, curious and expectant eyes greeted her.
"Did it work?" asked Max.
"I'd say" she nodded dazed.
After a few breaths and after establishing that all was right with the world according to her senses, Maria realized that the room was still quiet. Understanding the need for them to know that she was fine with everything, that she wasn't about to bolt for the door and call the army, Maria smirked. "Well you guys have led pretty exciting lives...both times," she added as she stood up.
They followed her lead and now stood around her still in the circle formation unsure of what to do next. Maria understood the reasons for their behaviour because now, she really knew them, their history in another time and place and their past in their present lives. Sharing their secret with someone else, let alone a human being was uncharted territory for her alien friends.
The royal four: Zan the king aka Max Evans, Ava his queen aka Tess Harding, Vilandra his sister aka Isabel Evans and Rath his counselor aka missing unknown hybrid. Killed in their past lives by some power hungry but fine psycho called Khivar, who Vilandra had got it on with.
Alien human hybrids, they were shipped over to earth with their protector Nasedo, in the 1947 crash, so that they could survive, return home and kick Khivar's ass. The only hitch had been that a few years later when Nasedo went to get some supplies, they hatched looking like 6 year olds and wandered out into the desert. Nasedo found Tess, the Evans' found Max and Isabel and adopted them. The other one, Rath, was nowhere to be found. Nasedo became close with the Evans as they had deserted children in common and also the fact that he was a lawyer like Philip Evans.
Nasedo ensured that when they left Roswell for L.A., they all left together. In L.A., he brought them up constantly training them, telling them about their past and their destiny. Fastforward to the start of sophomore year in high school, they were given orbs which turned to be communicators with a message from their mother telling them who they were, what they were on Earth for and that setting of the orbs, they had also signaled their general location to unknown enemies like a moth to a flame.
Their enemies would of course try to find them and kill them. And that they did, the Skins, aliens with highly impressive powers who...shed like snakes. They wanted the Granilith, because it would keep them alive another 50 years on Earth and it was also some sort of religious icon holding unrealized power that Khivar wanted.
Maria shook her head in amazement as she compared the friends who stood before her now with the powerful aliens who had descimated most of the Skins, apart from the cocky brat named Nicholas. They visited the Pod Chamber (as she liked to call it), in Roswell which housed the Granilith. The Granilith as they discovered, was also one-way spaceship to their home. Only problem was a] they didn't want to leave earth as it had become their home and b] they couldn't leave Rath alone.
So they had searched for their fellow alien, their family, but to now avail. Life had been going pretty normal for them till Nicholas regrouped, ambushed them and killed Nasedo. They had had to make up a lie about his shooting. This had been accomplished with an elaborate plan aided by of course the use of their alien powers to make his death believable. Then they had moved back to Roswell, their home where the dying Nasedo had said that they would be at their most powerful, where they needed to be.
They had spent their entire lives lying, hiding, eyeing everything and everyone with suspicion...And here they are, she concluded, jeopardizing their lives for me.
****
"Did you understand...everything?" asked Max nervously. Never in his life had he felt so exposed, so naked. "I mean-it, it could get pretty confusing what with the-the.."
Maria smiled softly as he trailed off. "Max," she made eye contact with each of them as she continued,"guys this is me. I can tell you all the storylines in Days Of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and may it rest in peace, my beloved Sunset Beach...believe me, I got it all..." Her eyes finally landed Tess, "...What with you being Queen to his King and all," she finished.
The restrained hurt evident in her voice erased Max's nervous feelings and replaced them with panic.
She thought that him and Tess were somehow still together?!
No! that was not even the case, he had to make it right...but Tess beat him to it.
"Back in Antar," she began," in our past lives, we were married, but it was arranged-"
"How do you know that?", asked Maria. She glanced at him but never met his eyes," I thought you didn't remember much about your past life".
"We don't know everything," he explained. Eyes fixed on her, pleading her to look at him, he continued, "Nasedo taught us memory retrieval techniques, we know the gist of who we were and what happened but it's just feelings and vague images. Our families arranged Tess and I and Isabel and Rath's marriages. We liked each other but we weren't in love. Nasedo tried to get us together, to accept our destiny...we tried..."
Vibrant green eyes brimming with confusion, hurt and fading anger met his pleading amber pools. He saw her raised eyebrow, "..just dating," he quickly elaborated, "nothing major...but there was..."
"Nothing there", finished Tess
"Right," he nodded grateful for her input.
Max finally took a breath when she nodded in acceptance of their explanation.
"Okay," she dropped herself onto Isabel's bed.
Max stuffed his hands in his pockets nervously. He felt like a pendulum alternating between anxiety and relief because everything she did or said meant something to him. It reflected how she saw him and he didn't want her to be repulsed...so far it was going okay.
"So what names do you go by?...here on Earth I mean" she asked.
Max felt a small smile cross his lips. "Um...our Earth names are fine in any galaxy because that's who we are. Maria our past is our past, our home is Earth, our life is here, it's all we've ever known and who we were back then is not who we are now."
"Great, that makes it much easier for me," she joked, "I won't have to worry about calling you Zan by accident."
Relief washed over him.
"So are you okay with all of this?" asked Isabel.
Anxiety returned as he waited for her answer.
Maria nodded. "Pretty much. Aside from the whole life threatening issues...this is very cool," she enthused. "Except..." she trailed off and shook her head as if dismissing the thought.
"Except what?" asked Isabel.
"Except, it's totally selfish and pointless but... seeing you guys with your uber cool alien powers, kicking ass...I mean you guys are all special and," she sighed," it just makes a small town girl feel that little bit smaller that's all."
Her honest admission pulled at his heart, self control prevented him from sweeping her up into his arms, instead he drew her attention to him with his words "You are anything but Maria." His voice thick with passionate conviction, he continued, "...you are the first person we have revealed our secret to, you broke through our defenses and actually became our friend...you just saved our lives without knowing all the facts and even after that, fully knowing the danger...you're still here. I'd say that makes you a lot special, not for having alien powers but for being who you are."
He blushed as the room remained in stunned silence for what felt like hours.
"That's what I was going to say," grinned Tess, "but he stole my thunder".
Maria laughed and as their eyes locked, her laughter was transformed into a grateful smile. "Thanks for saying that."
Max was once again struck by how beautiful and radiant she was. "It's all true."
"Especially about the danger part," said Isabel. "Maria what you know about us...you can't tell anyone, not Kyle, not your parents, no one because-".
"I know...your lives are in danger" she said.
"Not just ours but yours too," warned Tess. "If you let anything slip, they might use you to get to us."
"Are you sure you want to get involved in this?" asked Max, "because you don't have to."
"I won't lie and say everything's peachy," she began," it's safe to say that I'm a lot scared and freaked out right now...but you saved my life by risking yours...and you're my friends, I'm not going anywhere come skin peeling aliens or the great invasion," she joked.
Max shared an unspoken conversation with Isabel and Tess, they all shared the same sentiments, that it was all going to be okay. And for Max, that meant the possibility of achieving something he never thought he could.
"So I have questions".
The statement brought an amused smirk across his face, letting Maria completely in was, like everything else she touched in his life, going to be very interesting.
Isabel slumped down beside her. "Shoot".
"Those powers I saw in the flashes, is that all you guys can do or is there more?"
****
Isabel grinned. Letting someone in, someone they could trust was freeing. This was at least one human friend she could be honest with. "Well pretty much, except for my dream walking".
Maria's forehead creased with confusion,"as in actually walk into people's dreams?"
Isabel nodded. "When people are at a reduced state of consciousness, I can go into their dreams and either manipulate them or just check out what they're dreaming about. They can't see me unless I want them to."
She shook her head marveling at the thought. "Wait...have you done it to me?".
Isabel paused, she looked around her for support but Tess and Max avoided all eye contact. Thanks for the support, she thought dryly. Well, I might as well be honest.
"Just once," she admitted," last night...we had to find put what you were planning to do".
Isabel waited for her outburst on the invasion of her privacy but it never came, instead blood rushed to her cheeks. "So you saw the whole superman thing" she stated.
Isabel nodded as she realised the reason for her rather controlled and calm reaction. "I don't usually do this...well to friends, it was just-"
"It was your lives, I get it, but since I'm not a threat..."
She nodded at the unspoken agreement. "Never again...besides, I don't want to stumble onto anything that has the potential to blind me," she winked.
Maria blushed. "Oh".
Keen to prevent her further embarrassment, Isabel wrapped things up. "That's pretty much what we can do now, but our powers are constantly growing, so we'll keep you posted," she joked.
"Cool. So do you just use them to fight the evil aliens or", a mischievous look swept across her face, "...are you open to suggestions...'cause I can see lots of possibilities between our brains, your powers and Pam Troy and her lemmings."
Isabel grinned. I like the way this girl thinks.
Max jumped in before she could reply. "We don't abuse them".
Isabel suppressed a grin as Tess rolled her eyes. "We just use them for recreational purposes."
"Like..." encouraged Maria.
Isabel thought for a moment. "Let me show you something."
She led Maria to her full length mirror. She studied her hair for a moment and then placing her palms a few millimeters away from it, swept downwards.
****
He watched Maria's eyes grow wide as her blonde hair turned into jet black ringlets.
"Wow" she breathed.
"Pretty cool huh?" grinned Tess.
"I'd say. No more hairdresser for me...how else do your powers help our girlie requirements?"
Max watched content as they began to change the colour of their outfits, hair and eyes.
A few hours in and it felt like Maria had always known their secret. The sound of the closing door downstairs drew him out of the room to greet his parents. He was grateful for an excuse to leave the room. They would probably spend hours introducing Maria to the joys of accessorising the alien way.
That gave him time to think about where to take his relationship with Maria from here. The barrier keeping them apart had been bulldozed, nothing was keeping them apart... except of course the rapid pounding of his heart, the butterflies in his stomach and the dryness in his throat which he experienced when he even thought about giving in completely to Maria. He couldn't use his alien origins as an excuse to hide his feelings anymore.
****
"Why did we have to break off for Christmas with only five days left again?" complained Tess.
"Because," began Isabel, "the junior class sold out a week of school for a trip to NYC, which we weren't there to attend, yet we still have to bear the punishment," she finished.
Maria ignored the complaints, the trip had been worth while for her. The student conferences were a bore but the shopping more than made up for it.
"This is amazing," she marveled as she painted her nails with a custom made shade matching her colour of her eyes. In one day, her life had become more complicated and dangerous than she could have ever imagined but at the same time, it had also opened up a new world to her. She had seen things many people never would and more importantly, she had a closer relationship with her friends.
"The perks of being an alien," quipped Tess.
Maria nodded, being alien definitely did have benefits, but being the friend of an alien also came with the same benefits by association.
"So what happens now?" she asked.
"Now," said Isabel as she flicked through her cosmo, "we carry on as normal, except you know more about us than our own parents."
"Hmm," she shrugged. I can live with that.
Returning back to ordinary conversation, she asked, "So Christmas is on Sunday, what have you got Kyle and Alex?".
"Believe it or not, I'm struggling with Alex's since he now officially has boyfriend status. I mean what do you get a guy who is more than a friend?" asked Isabel.
"Something he likes," she suggested.
Isabel playfully glared at her. "Well since you seem to know everything, what are you getting Max?" she challenged.
Now it was Maria's turn for admissions. "With only four days to go, the clock is ticking and I have no clue. Girls, tomorrow we are definitely going to have to go shopping for our men" she declared.
Maria obliviously continued working on her nails while Isabel and Tess had a staring match, daring each other to go first. Isabel rolled her eyes in resignation and closed her cosmo.
"Our men?," she questioned,"Does the mean that after the party kiss you and Max are...".
Maria stilled at the mention of his name. "How did you find out about the kiss? " she asked.
"You two kissed at the party, in the middle of the dance floor, it was practically broadcast everywhere around school today," said Isabel.
"Right," she said slowly. Her concern over the whole silverhandprint issue had taken up most of her attention that day.
"Yep," said Tess. "So what's going on if you don't mind our asking?".
Maria hesitated, "Are you okay talking about it, since you guys...have a history?"
Tess waved her concern away. "No. Max is like a brother to me, we have no chemistry whatsoever."
Maria nodded. "Well after that, the kiss I mean, there was the shooting and everything... we didn't talk about what it meant and what we mean...so it's pretty much up in the air right now...I mean, I like him but I'm not sure if he wants to make anything permanent with me or even if he considers it to be more than just a kiss 'cause he seemed ready to give an excuse to why we couldn't happen..." she trailed off to oxygenate her lungs.
"Of course he cares," Tess enthused. "Maria, Max is head over heels for you. Since meeting you, he has become more...like a regular teenage boy, enjoying life, actually laughing a lot and laying off Iz and I... and it's because of you."
"So what do I do?" she asked.
"I say talk to him," said Isabel, " when we're done here, talk to him."
"You mean we're not?" she asked.
"There's just one thing," began Tess,"Max has never had a real girlfriend, I don't count. He's sensitive and..."
"Shy and he's a great guy. And no offense to you or anything but we just want to make sure that he's not a rebound, after Michael," finished Isabel.
Maria pursed her lips together and took a calming breath. She respected their intentions but that didn't stop her feeling offended. "First of all, I know Max is all those things and more. And secondly, Michael and I broke up in June, if I wanted a rebound, I would have got one in that time...Max means more than that to me."
"We know that," said Tess, "we just wanted to get it out there, you know the protective sisters routine...I mean, you're our best friend and he's our brother, so basically..."
"Don't hurt Max," finished Isabel.
Maria nodded. Well before we get ahead of ourselves here... "Guess I should go find out if he wants me or not." She said getting off the bed.
"Of course he does," said Isabel, "just don't let him push you away because he's scared and while you do that, I'll get ready for my date with Alex..."
"And I'll go tell mum that you're staying for dinner" chirped Tess.
"Thanks," she smiled as she headed out the door.
****