Roswell Fanatics

I am soooooo sorry that this has taken so long! I wrote it yesterday and thought I had posted it. ::sighs:: Well, at least I'm *really* posting it now.

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

“What? You working on being a hallway decoration, Evans?” Michael interjects as reality comes crashing in. “I got news for you. Ya ain’t that pretty.”

Not a dream. Everything that was faded back into sharp detail of reality, I muse as I look back down to our joined hands. Almost everything.

“Well, I suppose that’s my problem, not yours.”

Like lions pacing, circling each other, testing their limits, they are.

“You’re wrong there. I gotta look at you, after all. So does Liz. At least she’s got some looks. Give the girl a break. Me, I got better things to do.”

The flippant comment he makes about me startles me enough to look at Michael, soon enough to catch him as he’s disappearing down the stairs. Off on some late night adventure to use techniques he probably mastered back in California.

“Well, maybe I should let you get to bed then, huh?” he says as his lips curve into a small smile. “Let me know in the morning if you think of something, okay? Sleep well.”

I take a breath before nodding. “Okay. And don’t . . . don’t listen to Michael,” I squeeze his hand lightly to emphasize my words. “He likes to push buttons. Good night, Max. See you in the morning.” I smile, a small smile, before I turn back to the door. My hand slips away from his in a matter of steps, and I turn to get one last look at him before I let the door close behind me.

*Max*

“Okay. And don’t . . . don’t listen to Michael. He likes to push buttons,” Liz says, squeezing my hand.

I don't know what it is about Michael or why he persists on this barely disquised hostility. 'Pushing buttons' certainly describes it. I've seen him go after Alex and Kyle both as well. Only the girls seem to be safe. Just the same, I thought Liz was one his few friends here and she's sticking up for me. Does she think I can't handle him or is she really interested in my feelings? I give her a small crooked smile to show her that I'm fine. "He's no problem," I say and it's only a small lie...

“Good night, Max. See you in the morning.” Liz says.

Her hand slips from mine and I feel strangely bereft. Like she walked away with my heart. I look after her wishing that I could have kissed her properly. Even a good excuse to have kissed her as a friend, on the cheek would have been good... Damn.

Trouble is, I know she doesn't want that. I don't want to ruin what we have for just a few moments of pleasure -- probably the most wonderful kiss of my life -- but it wouldn't be worth it if it meant weeks of her being hurt and unhappy with me. I love her so much!

I rub my fingers together, straining to feel the lingering warmth from Liz's hand as it slowly disappates into the cool air of the hallway. I watch her go into her room and I reluctantly turn away. I don't want her to turn around and see me staring after her, no matter how much I want to do just that -- so soak in every last glimpse of her. With a sigh, I straighten my shoulders and head into the room I share with Alex. Seeing how I feel about Liz, I should probably break up with Tess ... but I just don't know...

Looking around, I see that Alex is still up. As much as I'm tempted to talk to him about Tess, I think there are far more urgent matters on his mind. Isabel. That could have gone so much worse. She's gotten over her anger and distress. Maybe with things in the open now, it can work out.

"Hey Alex," I say as I shut the door behind me. "So, how are things with Isabel, really?"

ALEX

I'm still staring at the wall to Isabel and Liz's room when Max comes in. I'm now at my 42th speculation about how things will be tomorrow when I see Isabel and believe me, the scenarios I come up with are getting worse and worse.

"Hey Alex, so, how are things with Isabel, really?"

Sitting up in bed I shrug. I'm not sure how much to tell him, since I can't imagine Isabel being happy if she learns that I talked about everything that happened with Max. But then again, she's probably doing the same with Liz right now anyway.

"I'm not sure." I finally admit. "She asked me if I have feelings for her and I admitted it and I guess me being so ... honest wasn't what she suspected."

I again glance at that damn wall, wondering what is happening in the other room. With a small sigh I turn back to Max, "She is confused, unsure about what she is feeling and how things are going to be from now on. I guess I can't really blame her."

Then I remember that Max and Liz talked to her earlier, "I hope you and Liz and Tess aren't in any trouble with her because of me because you tried to help me out."

*Max*

Alex isn't sure. I guess that's not surprising. I nod slowly, trying to decide what to think of that and what to say. Being honest was certainly a good start. It's basically why I felt they should talk, anyway...

"I hope you and Liz and Tess aren't in any trouble with her because of me because you tried to help me out," he says.

"Well...," I say slowly as I sit down on my own bed and push off my sneakers. "We were, but I think we talked our way out of it. We explained that we were trying to help you recover from your disasterous first impressions but we weren't trying to force anything -- just to make sure that she could see who you really were. Because who you are is a pretty great guy," I shrug, hoping that didn't sound to wishy-washy, but it's the truth. As much as I was rooting for Alex to win Isabel's attention, I never would have tried to co-erce her.

ALEX

"Thanks." I say after thinking about what Max said for a moment. "Well, I'm glad that you guys didn't get into trouble because of me. But I have to admit, you do look rather ... down, Max. Everything okay?"

*Max*

I nod as Alex says thanks. Not so much at his words, but at my own thoughts that the total disclosure route is probably our best option. I think we can work thing through that way an it'll be for the best in the long-run.

Of course, then Alex throws me off by asking why I look 'down'.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," I tell him quickly. Then I sigh and come clean. "I'm thinking about breaking up with Tess. That's all."

.

ALEX

After asking my question, I'm about to lay back on my elbows but then Max answers "I'm thinking about breaking up with Tess. That's all." and I shoot up again.

Whoa! Breaking up with Tess? I thought they were getting along? Well, this would be really good for Liz, I guess ... as long as there won't be too much tension then if Max starts dating Liz right after ... maybe I should ask first why he wants to break up and make sure he is interested in Liz before I start speculating.

"I know it's none of my business but may I ask why you thinking about breaking up with her?"

*Max*

Alex's question puts me on the spot, although there really isn't any other response that I would expect from him or anyone. I could just shut him out and tell him it isn't his business, as he almost invited me to do, but he is my friend and I don't want to treat him that way. Besides, maybe he can help...

I prop myself up on one elbow and look at Alex as I talk to him. "Don't get me wrong. Tess is a great girl and we are getting along fine. We had a great trip today. We did. It's just ..." I pause pressing my lips together as I try to think of how to explain it without sounding like ... I don't know what. Like a cad, as my grandmother would say. Well, maybe there isn't any other way.

"The thing is, I was getting the impression that she was distracted. That her mind was elsewhere. I thought she might be thinking of somebody-else but Liz suggested she might just be homesick," I sigh. "Or maybe it was nothing at all and I was imagining the whole thing because I was the one thinking of someone-else. Someone who has absolutely no interest in me that way..."

I flop down on my back and stare at the ceiling now. "Maybe I should just focus on what I have instead of wishing for stuff that isn't going to happen. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and all that --" I stop myself, feeling my face getting red. I turn to look at Alex and hastily explain. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded." I can't help but think about just how far Michael would take a slip like that. Hopefully Alex will understand.

.

<center>~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Liz ~*~ ~*~ ~*~</center>

After closing the door behind me, I make my way around the room in the dark, picking up my pyjamas and walk into the bathroom to prepare for bed. I try to make as little noise as I can because Izzy looks like she’s actually sleeping. And she’s been through enough this evening. I don’t want to bother her. When she feels like talking about it, she will. I don’t need to push her.

I think that she has the right idea here. Maybe sleep will do the world of good. If I’m lucky what feels like a problem now won’t feel like a problem tomorrow morning.

I throw myself onto the bed and pull the covers up under my chin. Turning to my side, I take a deep breath and start to relax into the sheets, covers and pillows.

“Good night, Izzy,” I say quietly, hopefully loud enough so she can hear it if she’s still awake, but quiet enough so that it wouldn’t disturb her if she was actually asleep.

ALEX

I laugh at Max's shocked expression. "Relax, I know you didn't - you just got into talking and said something you didn't mean."

I think about what he said for a few moments, trying to answer in a wise and comforting way. "Well, I like both you and Tess and to me, it seems as if you aren't all that content with your relationship with Tess. I guess when you aren't happy then it will be though for you to make Tess feel happy so ... maybe you two should just talk about it all."

He likes someone who doesn't like him? At least not in *that* way. Well, that's all the guys in the house and the girls too. Well, they threw themselves at him aside from Liz and ... Liz? Well, there are lots of girls at work too so, don't jump ahead.

"How do you know that your ... interest doesn't return the feelings?"