Roswell Fanatics

OOC: I'm not too sure about this, but I'll hope that it works and you'll like it Isabelle. Tell me if you want me to change anything.

~Liz~

“Tell you about Max Evans…”

I nod slightly. Right now, I don’t want to hear about an alien King and everything that he’s been taught he should be… I think that Max is far more than that, and I want to get to know him…

Max almost seems amused as he smiles and leans back into the sofa some, nodding. “I can do that. I know more about that part of me than Zan anyway…”

I return the smile and nod, picking up my mug that’s now full once more and cradelling it in my hands, bringing it to my lips and taking a small sip as I wait for him to do just that. I’m glad he’s not pushing the alien stuff… I need to talk about something normal, something simple… I need to come to grips with all this and I need to not have to talk about it for a while…

I think Max understands my thinking, and I perhaps surprisingly, maybe he actually agrees…

“Well, the three of us grew up just outside of Buffalo, New York…”

New York…I don’t think you can get much more different to New Mexico… I wonder what it was like… I’ve even left the area immediately surrounding Roswell… It was something I intended to do when I got older…travel around some, although I always thought Roswell would be home…

“It’s a lot colder and wetter up there than here…Lots of snow in the winter, which I liked a lot.”

I smile, listening to the simple enthusiasm in his voice. “Especially when I was little. Snowmen and snowball fights with Michael and Isabel were great…”

His reminisces could come from any guy… There’s nothing to suggest there’s anything unusual about him and that helps a lot… Whatever we are, we’re people too, we have feelings, we laugh and cry…

At the same time, what he’s saying makes me sad though… If I had come out at the same time as him and the others, or even if I had come out later but Nacedo had been there, I could have had that life too… I could have grown up with a family…

“I don’t imagine it snows much here…”

I shake my head. “Not exactly…snow and desert don’t exactly go together…”

More like blistering summers, and cold nights…

Cold nights… That makes me think again of when I was found… The doctor said I must have been lying there overnight…he said I could have died… The scary thing is, and this is still true, I don’t remember how I got there… I just woke up there, lying on the ground…I was cold and hungry… Everyone said it was a miracle that I didn’t die from dehydration, but then given everything that Max is saying, perhaps that’s a sign of me being different from normal…

I actually remember the one time it did snow… It was a couple of years ago and we actually all got sent home from school…

My foster dad wasn’t much use, he was never around, and that day was no different. Kyle had walked me home from school, insisting on keeping me company and seeing me inside safely. When he found out Jason wasn’t around though, he told me to come back to his place…

I insisted that I would be ok, but Kyle wouldn’t take no for an answer. He pleaded with me, and when I still said no, he told me he would stay with me then.

I just couldn’t get him to go. He phoned Jim to tell him where he was and I guess after that I gave in. It was a good afternoon… We had something of a snowfight, although nothing big, there wasn’t really enough snow for that anyway. Of course the afternoon ended with him tipping a load of snow down the back of my shirt…that bit wasn’t so fun, but I accept I did deserve it…I had used a little ‘influence’ to cover him from what was building up on the roof…

The memory makes me smile. We had fun…

"I was always a good student, like you. I love science and astronomy, of course. Nacedo had a lot to teach us there. I always thought that if the king-thing didn't work out, or was put off long enough, that I wanted to go to MIT or Case-Western or someplace like that."

I nod, smiling as I listen, taking in every detail. Maybe this isn’t what Max had in mind when he asked me what I wanted to talk about until the others arrived, but I’m so pleased he didn’t object…

I’m beginning to get something of a picture as to what his life was like… Small things, simple ones, but they all help to build an image, and I need that… I want to find out about the three of them, I want to talk as friends do, albeit accepting the fact that they’re four years older than me… I guess it’s never going to be as simple as with Kyle or someone else my age, but hearing him talk about normal things is helping me deal.

I don’t really know what we’re supposed to talk about…as friends I mean… With someone my age there’d be music and tv, school and all sorts of things like that… This is different though… Not thinking because of who, or what he is at the moment, but age-wise.

Hearing him talk about liking science and astronomy makes me feel I have something in common with him…some common ground we can start on without having to think about this ‘bonding’ issue. As soon as that comes to mind, I push it back. Right now, I don’t want to have to think about it…

“I guess I’ve always been into science too…” I comment softly. “Astronomy too, although Kyle never understood my fascination with the stars…” In actual fact that started thanks to Mr W- I stop and menally correct myself. Nacedo… Nacedo ignited my interest when he gave me a small book about it for my birthday… I never thought much of it, although originally I thought it a pretty strange present… Then again, I hadn’t expected a present from my social worker, and he just said that he’d seen it in the book shop and thought I might be interested. I nodded, basically humouring him, but when I started reading, I found he was right… I guess now I think about that, maybe there was more to it than that… Maybe he had another reason…?

I remember Max’s mention of MIT. “I guess that didn’t work out for you then…I’m sorry…”

More questions spring to my mind… Questions I don’t want to answer, yet I can’t help wondering. I want to forget all about everything to do with this…I want to continue with this nice normal conversation, I want to get to know Max as a friend…

If everything works out as was intended he’s not just a friend though is he…? How long is he willing to play this ‘getting to know you’ game…? How long until he demands an answer one way or another…?

I remember something he said earlier about going back and I feel my throat going dry. When Max was first talking about this, I was thinking of Antar, if it even existed, as some planet far from here that I would never see… This stuff about King or Queen would have been unimportant really because we’d never get to go there anyway…

The way Max was talking though, I know that’s not the case… One day, and I’m guessing it’s not going to be that far in the future, Max is going to be asking a question, as Zan, and I, as Reena, am going to have to give him an answer… And if I say yes, I’m not only accepting all of this, but I’m agreeing to go back too… If I say no…I guess it’s likely I’ll be staying here alone…

Either way, I’m going to lose something… If I say yes, I’m giving up this life I’ve built for myself…the dreams Liz Parker has had for as long as I can remember… Dreams of Harvard, however impossible that might sound… Dreams of studying medicine and becoming a doctor…although in truth I think I always knew that wasn’t likely…I’d probably end up a nurse, and that was fine, I just wanted to be able to help people… The biggest thing I’ll be giving up though, isn’t any of that…I’ll be giving up the best friend I can imagine… If I say no, I’m giving up the family I so crave…

I don’t want to think about this at the moment…I don’t want to have to think about all that stuff, and I don’t want all these expectations that are piled on me. I want to relax and laugh, to smile and enjoy myself.

Part of me wants to forget all about everything that I’ve been told over the last two days, but then another part of me knows that wouldn’t solve anything

I know this might be short....... but I wanted to get something out.


~Michael~

It's about time, I think when Iz let's me know that she and Alex are on the way. Once Maria is dressed and I am as well, I walk out to wait outside and glance around impatiently. I know that my pacing outside the room isn't going to help, but I can't help it. We've waited a long time to meet this Liz girl and I wanted it to get over with. I also wanted to be able to get her to hurry up and accept what she's supposed to do. Still, I knew that no one else would appreciate me trying to rush things so more then likely I would be remaining silent, grudgingly anyway.

Isabel finally pulled up with Alex and I called in for Maria, "Hurry up, Maria!"

Going to the car, I climbed in and a few minutes later Maria joined us, her make-up done the way she liked. I couldn't stand waiting for her to get herself all made up with that damned make-up.

I could tell by the look on Isabel's face that she knew exactly where we were going. "So, how long before we get there, Iz?" I asked.

"We'll be there in less then twenty minutes, Michael." She responded, her voice soft and calming as usual. The only time her voice wasn't calming was when she was upset with someone over something, but when she was trying not to be to tensed she was great.

"Any idea how things are going?" I had to question though I rather doubted she'd have an answer I wanted to hear.

"Not yet," She answered.



~Isabel~


After picking up Michael and Maria, I began the drive toward one of the pizza places and kept one hand in Alex's who sat beside me. I loved having him near and in many ways he helped keep me calm. "Michael, I know that you are in a hurry, but you know we can't push her. I hope you will use some tact."

"Whatever, Iz." She heard him say and smiled as she turned to look at Alex with a look that said she knew it was going to be rather difficult for Michael to contain himself.

We reached the pizza parlor and I went in and ordered two large pizza's. While we waited, I stood there and filled out an application even though this wasn't quite the type of job I wanted to do. I would need to look at the employment classified ad's tomorrow since today was more about rentals then anything.

Fifteen minutes later, pizza's in hand, we entered the area where Liz's apartment was supposed to be. I let my connection with my brother help guide me to make certain I went to the right one, because I couldn't remember the number. Alex pointed to the one we were going to and I grinned, having forgotten that he would have remembered. "Alright, we're here." I said softly before knocking and drawing in a nervous breath. I'd waited so long to have the chance to meet Liz who was in many ways a sister to me, or would be.

*Max*

I nod as Liz mentions that she also was interested in science and astronomy. That Kyle didn’t understand. I wonder about that. She did seem very surprised that she might be an alien, but I find it so hard to imagine how she could have failed to considered that, especially being right here in Roswell, so near the site of our crash. So near our pod chamber…

Obviously, she doesn’t know exactly where that is, either. If she did, all of this wouldn’t have been such a big surprise. I guess the four of us – or six of us – will have to search together. Another reason this is going to take time. We won’t be able to ‘go home’ until after we find the cave, anyway. Hopefully that time will allow Liz and I to get to know each other a bit better.

“I guess that didn’t work out for you then…I’m sorry…” Liz says when I talk about going to a university. I nod, thinking about everything that happened when Nacedo died. It was only two weeks before graduation. We stuck around to finish High School, but finding Liz (although at the time, we didn’t know her name) was far more important than school for any of us. Alex had been taking some college courses early and he’d kept up a little via the internet, although not a full course-load, since he was also working while we were on the road…

But I know Liz doesn’t want to talk about the alien stuff right now. “We had more important things to do,” I say, leaving it at that for the moment.

So, what else might we talk about? “You already know about my favorite kinds of foods – just like yours, I’d imagine. Anything that combines extra sweet with extra spicy… like ice-cream with hotsauce.” I grin at her, and then think of a more pertinent topic.

“I was never really a jock or anything,” like Kyle, I think to myself. Something about that boy seemed so much like the football jocks from New York. Something I never let myself be, although I probably could have been. I was asked to join baseball and soccer, but I didn't feel it was the right thing to do at the time… But Liz likes Kyle, even if only as a friend. Does she prefer athletes? I don't want her to think I'm a slug or something, but I'm sure she understands the need for secrecy...

“I was mostly into the academics, sorta kept to myself. But I was on the track team for four years,” I tell her. I didn’t want to stand out in any particular way. I was always trying to keep hidden in case anyone was looking for us. Nacedo taught us that constantly, to the point of paranoia. Although in this case, I can’t say it was unjustified. Khivar’s people would have gladly killed the four of us if they had been able to find us, and Nacedo was the only protector we had left. But even if I avoided making a name for myself on the sports fields, I still keep pretty fit. I like knowing that I’m ready for action, if needed. Not just with my powers but my body, too.

“Isabel was one of the popular crowd. Lots of friends, although none of them were really as close to her as they thought they were,” I say with a secret smile. Isabel had insisted on still being a star at school. A social queen. And even Nacedo couldn’t stop her. Still, nobody got inside. The three of us were an insular group that didn’t allow any newcomers. “… Well, not until Alex and Maria. They’re all very anxious to meet you.” I grin.

Suddenly, there’s a soft, nervous knock on Liz’s door and my grin grows, fairly certain that I know exactly who it is. “And here they are now!”

~Liz~

“We had more important things to do…” Max tells me. I get the feeling he’s purposely not saying anymore, but even that simple statement is enough…I know what he means…

So they’ve spent two years looking for me…always with this intention I wonder…? If so, what if they had found me immediately? That would have been even more freaky than now… I mean sure he’d have been eighteen, so still more of a kid than an adult, but I’d have been fourteen… Now the thought of that is more than freaky, it’s down right creepy…

Maybe I’m being silly, or over reacting… Maybe I’m jumping to silly conclusions… I can’t say my thinking is the calmest at the moment… The whole thing has me freaked, I know that. I’ve tried hard not to show how much, but I can’t hide it from myself. All this talk about ‘bonding’ is crazy…and scary…

Still, I’m not going to think about this for the moment. I’m going to concentrate on normal conversation we’re having and getting to know the guy in front of me. I already know we have a few things in common now, so hopefully that’s enough of a basis for a simple friendship for now… Whether it turns into anything else, for now that’s not something I really want to think about for now, but in the end I guess only time will tell…

“You already know about my favourite kinds of foods – just like yours I imagine. Anything that combines extra sweet and extra spicy…like ice cream with hot sauce…”

Max grins at me and I can’t help smiling and nodding. Before I told Kyle the truth, I don’t know how I ever managed to hide my unusual taste buds from him I have no idea. Hot sauce on or in anything from tea to chocolate fudge cake… I shake my head and smile at his mention of ice cream.

I remember once over Kyle wanted to pinch some of mine… I was sat in the Crashdown after school. I’d just got my ice cream and had already doused it with a good amount of hot sauce when Kyle decended on me…

He and the guys from the team had just won their game and come in to celebrate. Kyle said he thought he deserved a treat, and ordered himself a portion of ice cream too, the only problem was that he decided he didn’t want to wait, and as he sat down next to me, he also grabbed a spoon and was about to dig into my own portion… I felt as though I was choking… I mean if he took a mouthful of mine…boy would he have been surprised…

I was desperate… How the heck could I keep him from tasting it…?

In the end I really did the only thing I could think of. Basically I fought him for the spoon, and in the process ‘accidentally’ pushed my ice cream onto my lap. It was such a relief to feel that cold sticky stuff all over my skirt… Such a lucky escape and for months afterwards I refrained from adding my seasoning no matter how much I didn’t want to eat it plain…

Of course Kyle and I have laughed about it more than once since he found out about me, and he’s teased me over and over about the combinations I like. I guess now I know there’s an actual reason for that, other than just me being weird…

“I was never really a jock or anything,”

I wonder why Max is saying that at first… Then all of a sudden I ‘hear’ something coming from him. My eyes widen and I look with him. Max is thinking about Kyle… What I’m getting from him is nothing like when he was actually talking in my head, but I have a feeling it’s no less real.

“I was mostly into the academics, sorta kept to myself. But I was on the track team for four years,”

I nod slightly. I’m guessing it can’t have been easy for him and the others… They knew the truth of course, and they presumably had the support and help of Nacedo, but they still had this huge secret to hide from the outside.

“Isabel was one of the popular crowd. Lots of friends, although none of them were really as close to her as they thought they were…Well, not until Alex and Maria.”

The mention of Alex and Maria makes me wonder exactly where they fit into all this…I mean Max said they were friends before, but if they’re just friends, would they really be willing to uproot themselves and go travelling all over the country…? I don’t know, but I guess I’m going to find out soon enough…

“They’re all very anxious to meet you.”

I wish I wasn’t so nervous though… I do want to meet them, but I’m so scared that they’re not going to like what they find…

I’m broken out of my thoughts as I hear a knock at the door and I see Max’s smile grow as I stiffen. Time’s up… Normal conversation was nice while it lasted, but I guess we’re going to be back to the other stuff now…

“And here they are now!”

I swallow nervously and nod, standing up to go and let them in. My steps are even but not rushed. I can’t deny this whole thing scares me… Talking about it with Max was nerve racking enough, but now I have to do it with four more strangers…

Once more I find myself wishing that Kyle were here. As I reach for the door, I pause for just a second, my eyes drifting over to a picture which stands on a shelf on the wall. Kyle and I…it was taken a couple of months ago, just before I was emancipated, while I was staying at him house…

I know that I said myself I wanted to do this alone, but I’m beginning to wonder if that was such a good idea afterall…

Whether it was or not, I guess is unimportant now though…I made a decision and I’m going to have to stand by it. I take a breath and turn the key in the lock, pulling it open and forcing myself to smile at the four people stood outside. The images Max created aren’t bad likenesses and I motion for them to come inside. “Hi…I’m Liz…” I greet them nervously, stepping back to allow them to enter.

~Alex~

I can see that Michael is impatient…he’s been impatient from the minute we arrived in this town, well no, that’s not even correct is it, it’s even from before then…he’s been impatient since we managed to identify Liz. He doesn’t seem to understand Max’s hesitation or want to take this slowly. Of course it’s simple for him isn’t it…the intention was that he and Isabel should be together, but there wasn’t a whole planet at stake… Their bonding would be preferable, but it certainly wasn’t compulsory…

For Max though, it’s completely different… This is something he’s been brought up to think of as his duty, but that doesn’t mean he’s happy with it. He wants to give Liz a choice, he told me once that he accepts he doesn’t have much of one, but he refuses to think that she doesn’t either…

The whole reason for their betrothal was political, nothing to do with love since neither of them were even born yet, and it’s Max who is the King…who needs to be joined… It might not be as easy, or work as well, but there would be other people back on Antar who could take her place… Or that’s what Max likes to think anyway…

I know that Michael doesn’t agree though, and I can only hope that he’s going to keep those opinions to himself…

Picking up the pizzas I guess helps to keep some sort of sense of normal in the situation…almost as though we’re just going over to a friend’s for dinner and a movie or something like that.

The atmosphere quickly belies that though…

I spot the jeep that’s parked on the side of the road, just across from the building we’re aiming for and Isabel pulls up just behind. We all climb out and head over the road to the entrance. The main entrance is open and we walk inside and head up the stairs. When we get to the second floor, we stop for a moment and I smile. “It’s the second…” I point to it, knowing that Isabel has probably forgotten which one it is. She grins and nods, walking up and knocking on the door.

“Alright, we’re here…”

A moment later, the door opens to reveal a young girl. I recognise her from her picture, but her age is so much more evident now. This whole thing is so crazy.

“Hi…I’m Liz…”

She greets us in a soft voice and I can’t help noting that she seems so nervous, so young and innocent... I wonder how far Max has gotten with explaining everything…

I return the small smile and as she steps back, we all head inside.

~Isabel~


As the girl opens the door, I smile and hold out a hand to greet her. "Hi Liz, I'm Isabel." I say this with a smile before motioning to the others, "This is Alex and then behind us is Michael and Maria. It's nice to finally meet you." I know that it can't be too easy for her to see us standing here and welcome us in. As we all step inside, I look back to see Michael trying not to grimace it seems. I'd made him carry the pizza's in order to have him be rather occupied.

Turning to look around, I noted the way the apartment felt and my smile was no longer nervous as I said, "Nice decorating job. I like it." It felt kind of homey, not quite what I would have done, but rather nice none the less. I looked over at Max and smiled as I asked him through telepathy, How far have you been able to get? So, I know what not to assume?

Even though I made certain I appeared perfectly calm and all, I was still a bit nervous about the fact that Michael or myself could say the wrong thing, even Maria could. Alex I knew would more then likely just say things in comment form rather then come out and add major things to the mix. He had always been good at knowing what to say and what not to say at times.

Don't lay it on so thick, Iz. I hear Michael's sarcastic tone and turn to give him a warning look.

Don't you start being rude. Don't mess this first meeting up. I responded back to him.

Turning to face Liz again I looked her over and smiled, "I've wanted to find you for so long." My voice was soft and I heard the telling tale of emotion in the tone and nearly cringed. I was never one to be over-emotional and I certainly didn't want to start now. "Um.. we brought pizza." I decided to state even as I saw Michael looking for somewhere to place it.

*Max*

As Liz gets up, I follow her to the door. She doesn't look nearly as nervous as I would expect her to be, but I'm sure she's used to hiding her feelings. In fact, I'm not picking up anything from her right now. Most likely she has her barriers firmly back in place...

As she reaches the door, I can't help but notice how her gaze lingers for a moment on a photograph of her and Kyle together. I bet she wishes he was here. To have someone familiar in the middle of all the unfamiliar. Someone on 'her-side'. Although truthfully, I believe I'm on 'her side', too. We all are...

She greets my sister and our friends and they all come in. Michael carrying pizza and Alex with some soda.

"Hey, everyone. You're just in time," I tell them as Isabel takes charge of the introductions. I know it'll be a bit harder for Liz to be facing the whole group, but at least she knows me a little bit. Everyone offers a friendly smile, except Michael, although he does manage to not glare at me.

I catch Isabel’s silent question but decide not to answer in-kind, just yet. *Far enough, I think. Just give me a moment and I'll tell everyone at once,* I answer. I want to keep as much of our conversation public as possible, so Liz won’t feel left out, or that we’re talking behind her back... Besides, Maria and Alex also needed to know how far our conversation had progressed.

Liz had been looking for 'normal' conversation. Hopefully we can continue that now, if she wants it. There's plenty of 'normal' stuff that all of us can still share although I'm sure that's not what's on Michael's mind.

“Why don’t you put those over there on the counter,” I suggest to Michael. Turning to Liz, I add. “Are you hungry?”

~Liz~

I don’t realise until I actually open the door that Max has followed me over. Although I’m surprised, I can’t say that I’m complaining though… “Hey everyone, you’re just in time…” He greets them.

The girl I recognise as Isabel smiles at me and holds out her hand as she introduces herself. “Hi Liz, I’m Isabel…” She smiles again and motions to the others, introducing each in turn by the names Max gave the corresponding images earlier.

I nod and swallow, shaking her hand and trying to force a smile despite the fact that I’m absolutely terrified… What if they meet me and decide I’m no good…? What if they decide they’re not interested, that they don’t want me and just leave me here…

I some ways the possibilities which come with meeting them hold so much risk, so much to fear in itself…but to lose that, to lose this ‘family’ as soon as they found me…that scares me more than all the rest put together…

“It’s nice to finally meet you…”

I nod again. “Y-yeah…you too…” Breath deeply, try and keep calm… I can’t lose it, I won’t…not in front of them, not now…

The guy called Michael doesn’t look too happy though…I’m not sure I want to know what he’s thinking…

Isabel looks round as she steps inside and I can almost sense the way she’s scooping out my apartment. As she turned back to me, I notice a change in her smile, and suddenly realise that she was nervous too…

I guess I didn’t think of that… I mean I’m nervous – that’s an understatement if anything, but I guess it’s not that straight forward for them either… Max didn’t exactly find talking to me about this easy from what I have seen…this isn’t exactly a small thing for him either I suppose…

“Nice decorating job…I like it…”

I’m drawn back from my thoughts as Isabel speaks again and I can’t help smiling at what she says. “Thanks…” My little apartment might be small, and I don’t suppose it’s very impressive, but I like it… I’ve worked hard on making it as nice as I can and it’s nice to hear that someone else does too.

We all seem to lapse into a somewhat uncomfortable silence and I find myself looking round at the new faces which fill the room. Alex seems nice enough…not that he’s actually spoken at all yet… I wonder if Maria is as bubbly as she looks… Then there’s Max, who I feel like I at least know a little…and Michael… Michael…he’s the one here that I’m not too sure about… He hasn’t exactly smiled at me, and from everything that Max said, the reassurances he offered, I do wonder what he’s thinking…

“I’ve wanted to find you for so long…”

Isabel’s admission surprises me a little, despite everything that Max said. It’s not so much what she’s saying, but the way in which she’s saying it… There’s so much emotion in her tone, and yet from appearances that’s the last thing I would expect…

I guess maybe Isabel’s a little surprised too, for she trails off somewhat, looking round to where Michael is looking round blankly. “Um…we brought pizza…”

I have to admit I hadn’t noticed the boxes or cans being carried by Michael and Alex respectively. It’s a nice touch…I’m guessing that will have been Max’s idea…

“Why don’t you put those over there on the counter,” Max suggests, motioning to where he means before looking back to me. “Are you hungry…?”

Am I hungry…? I am actually…I didn’t eat much this lunch time…wasn’t sure how much I would be able to stomach given what was coming later… I allow myself a small smile…a real smile…as I look back to him and nod. “Yeah…pizza sounds great...” I look around at the group that’s gathered. “Please, sit down, make yourself comfortable…I’ll get some glasses and plates…” I slip past Max, moving into the kitchenette and quickly gathering what I need from the cupboards. Using the tray again, I carry over the stack of plates and glasses, enough for the six of us, along with a bottle of Tabasco sauce of course. “Does someone want to bring those pizzas over, while they’re still warm…?” I suggest, purposely keeping a light tone as I go to take a seat. My sofa and chair will only take three, and the chairs from the table only give another two seats, so I guess I’ll settle with a cushion on the floor.

I've had a hard time with this one although I'm not sure why. Probably just tired. Hope it works for you all.
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*Max*

Liz takes charge of the meal, as I expected her to. It is her house, after all. In a minute, she's supplying plates, napkins and Tabasco and bringing them to the living room area, rather than to the small table near the kitchenette. Makes sense, I realize, as her table has only the two chairs.

I grab the chairs and carry them over while Alex and Michael relocate the beverages and pizza. As I arrange the dining chairs, Alex sits with Isabel on the small sofa. "Here you go, Michael and Maria," I say, offering them the chairs, when suddenly I see that Liz has taken a throw cushion from the sofa and is sitting on the floor.

I realize that we have one chair fewer than people, but I don't think Liz should be sitting on the floor. It’s just wrong in a way I can’t describe. Not because she’s a princess on some other world that neither of us have ever been to. Not because she’s potentially a future queen, there. No, just because she’s Liz. She’s been rocked by our arrival, I know, but she’s a good person and I don’t want her sitting below us. I won’t let her position herself as anything less than an equal to the rest of us just because she grew up apart from the group.

In the back of my mind, I had been thinking to remain standing while I ate, leaving the chairs for the others and I intend to follow through with that plan. It won’t be the first time I’ve eaten pizza while on my feet.

"Liz, no," I say, offering her my hand. "You don't have to sit on the floor. C’mon. Take the armchair," I suggest. My sister and friends have pretty much sorted their sodas and pizzas. Michael has taken a seat on one of the wooden chairs although Maria is still standing, watching Liz with some confusion.

"I'm fine, Max. Don't worry," Liz smiles at me, soft and sweet. The smile is sincere, but a little nervous. I'm guessing she's a bit embarrassed to be short on the needed seating accommodations, not to mention more than a bit worried about all the strangers in her house, including me, although I’m slightly more familiar than the rest. I'm once again glad that I approached her alone yesterday. I can't imagine how much worse this would have seemed to her if the five of us had arrived at once, without any warning.

"As you like, then," I say, returning her smile. With that, I take a second throw pillow, turn in place and sit down beside her. She looks surprised, almost shocked, but I'm openly pleased to be sitting with her now, happy to be sharing the floor. Before she can respond or object, I turn to the others seated above us. “So, Liz and I were just getting a bit better acquainted,” I explain, while dousing a slice of pineapple pizza with Tabasco and pulling the plate onto my lap. “I’ve told her all the major stuff about who we are, who she is, the plans that were made before any of us were born, and why. We haven’t gone into much detail, yet, but first, I think we all need to spend some time together so we can all become friends. After all, we have a lot of lost time to make up for, don’t we?” I flash a smile at Liz as I think of all the years that she had been separated from the rest of us, the only ‘family’ she has on Earth.

*Liz does know about the ‘bonding’ but she’s going to need more time before she can decide about that...* I admit silently to both Michael and Isabel, although my eyes are focused on Michael, warning him not to push. I need the time to know her, too, but at least I've already had time to understand what's expected...

“So far, Liz doesn’t know much beyond our names. Maybe you could each tell her a little about yourselves?” I suggest.

OOC: hope this works for everyone

~Liz~

Max didn’t explain to me exactly where Maria and Alex fit into all this, other than being friends, but from the way Alex has slung his arm around Isabel, and from the fact the two of them have chosen to sit on the sofa, I’m guessing they’re a whole lot more than ‘just friends’…

If they are, maybe that’s a good sign…if Michael and Isabel haven’t accepted the ‘plans’, why should Max and I…? Michael’s not King though is he…? King…boy that is so weird to think…-

Still, I’m sure I’ll find out what the story is with their ‘friends’ soon enough, and after setting the tray I’m carrying down on the table, I grab one of my cushions and settle myself on the floor.

While Michael and Alex have brought over the sodas and pizza, as I suggesested, Max has brought the two chairs from by the table. I think we’re just about sorted then…when everyone decides where they’re sitting…

While I’m waiting for people to do that, I grab one of the cans of soda. Hmm…cherry coke, my favourite…I guess we really do have the same tastebuds… I hesitate a moment about adding my usual flavouring, given the presence of all these people who are to a great extent strangers, but then I see Isabel doing the same, and note that Alex doesn’t appear the least bit phased. I guess when I think about it, I’m being pretty silly… If Max already said he had similar preferences foodwise, and I’ve already seen that he adds Tobasco to his tea…if Maria and Alex have been going around with the other three for any time at all, of course they’re going to be used to cobinations like this…

Berating myself for being so silly, I’m just reaching for the Tobasco…yeah, I really do use it with everything… The number of different shops I go to just to keep anyone from realising how much I go through…and the amount of money I spend on it…that factor is really not funny… It’s really not cheap, and it’s not like I have a lot of money to spare, but then without it I tend to think most things taste like cardboard so I guess it’s worth it… As Max rightly guessed before the others arrived, my tastes tend to centre on strong, sweet and spicy…

“Liz no…”

I tilt my head up to find Max looking down at me. He’s holding out his hand and doesn’t look too happy. “You don’t have to sit on the floor.”

I shake my head and smile at him. “No, I’m fine max. Don’t worry…”

It’s kinda embaressing, but I do mean it… I just wish I had one more seat, but it’s not like I’ve ever really needed seating for six… What I bought was necessity, and three comfy seats along with two wooden chairs more than provided that… I didn’t exactly have the money to spend on extras… The most people that have ever been here before was when I had Kyle and Jim over just after I moved in I think… It’s not like I have that many friends, and Kyle’s about the only one who I’d actually invite back to my apartment… Still, I might not have needed it in the past, but what I’d give to have another chair right now…

“C’mon. Take the armchair…”

And where’s he going to sit if I do that…? I might be young, but I do know my manners, and as unusual as this might be, these people are still my guests and I’m not going to leave them without a seat with no need to do so. Again, I shake my head at Max. “Honestly no, please do sit down…” I look over at Maria noticing she still hasn’t sat down either and motion to the two empty seats. “Both of you, please, make yourself comfortable…”

Max seems to consider for a moment and then nods, returning my smile. “As you like, then…”

What he does next isn’t exactly what I expect though…instead of taking either the wooden chair or comfy chair, he grabs another cushion like mine from the sofa and comes to sit next to me, on the floor. I frown and open my mouth to object, intending to tell him there’s a perfectly good seat available and he should sit in it, but before I get chance, he’s talking to the others again, explaining in brief terms exactly what we’ve been talking about.

I shake my head, recognising the stubborn expression on his face as being much like that I sometimes wear. Somehow, even without asking, I know that I’m not going to change his mind. Instead, I decide to accept gracefully and nod.

Kneeling at the table for a moment, I reach out to take a slice of pizza. “Looks good, what flavour it is…?” I ask curiously as I slide the slice onto my plate and sit back down. Max is just doing the same, just having finished with the Tobasco it seems and I smile as he offers me the bottle. “Thanks…”

I concentrate on treating my own slice with this wonderful stuff and Max continues his explanation.

“We haven’t gone into much detail, yet, but first, I think we all need to spend some time so we can become friends. Afterall, we have a lot of lost time to make up for don’t we…?”

Max smiles at me and I can’t help smiling back. Hearing him say this again helps…a lot… I don’t know if it’s being taken that way, but to me, what he’s saying is a way of refusing to ‘push’…

I don’t know what Michael or Isabel thinks…although I’m certain I’ll know soon enough, but at least I know where Max stands…

I nod in agreement.

“So far, Liz doesn’t know much beyond our names. Maybe you could each tell her a little about yourselves…?”

I can see what he’s doing…trying to keep this normal, and I’m so grateful for it… This is what I need… Plus of course it’ll help to even the playing field as such, I get the feeling they all know a fair amount about me, and I wish I could say the same about them…

Raising my plate a little, I lift my slice to my mouth and take a bite, chewing slowly and enjoying the cheesy, juicy dough as I wait to see who will begin.