Roswell Fanatics

*Max*

I roll over and discover a soft light shining on my face. Is it morning already? It took forever to get to sleep last night. I kept thinking of Liz and what a fool I made of myself. How much worse it is if she is talking about me to Alex behind my back? I had pretty much convinced myself that it wasn't happening, but then for no real reason, I'm sure that it is.

I should be thinking about Isabel and her finding out about Alex. I need to warn Tess, about what Isabel knows, too. And I still haven't decided about breaking up with her, either. But my thoughts always go back to Liz. What is this day going to be like?

Rolling over quietly, I look at Alex's bed and I'm surprised to find it empty. Alex is awake? That seems like a very bad sign.

I press my lips together, not frowning, yet, as I walk to the bathroom door. I knock, but I don't hear any sound of motion on the other side. Tentatively, I open the door. He's not here. Definately a bad sign.

Well, at least I'll grab a shower and then I'll go face the music.





*Michael*

"Nobody's gonna kick me off the show," I growl as the cameraman follows me up the driveway. "If she didn't want you in the house, she's allowed to keep you out. It's her right."

Man, I'm tired. I can't believe I'm up so early in the day. She had to get up early and 'thoughtfully' woke me up so I could sneak back here before anyone-else was awake. Like I would care if they knew! They're not my parents. It's no big deal.

Of course, the way this crew guy is going off, there's no 'sneaking in' going to go on.

"You were supposed to be on film all the time. You agreed to it," the guy insists.

"Not all the time," I point out as I open the door. "You said no cameras in the bedrooms or bathrooms, right? You wouldn't have had anything to film even if you did get in her front door. This conversation is over," I add with finality. "You guys are not supposed to be talking to us anyway. You're supposed to be invisible."

"I'll be talking to the producer," he says.

"You do that," I say, not really caring. He's just cranky 'cause he had to wait in the van all night long while I was snuggled close with my lady. Best night I've had since I got here. Cindy was fantastic. ... Or was it Sarah? It hardly matters. I think I wrote it down somewhere.

I stop then, in the middle of the hallway, listening and looking around. All seems pretty quiet. I guess they are all sleeping still. Good one for me. My pace picks up a little as I head for the stairs. Maybe I can get a couple hours of sleep before Kyle and the rest of the losers here wake up.

looks like Michael had a .... cozy night


ALEX

I glance up when I hear a car pulling into the driveway. A visitor? So early? No, the car sounds actually familar. Getting up, I walk to the window and my eyebrows rose when I see it's Michael - in Max's jeep! I can't really imagine Max borrowing it to Michael of all people.

Hm, the crew guy looks pissed. I'd be too if I was out the whole night clubbing with Michael. If he was clubbing the whole night and not ... NO, I will not go *there*. Lets just hope he didn't christen the jeep! I can't help but chuckle slightly. At least that would explain the crew guy being so pissed.

Michael walks right upstairs so I'm saved from mustering a friendly greeting. Guess it will be another eventful day here in Miami. This is better than the Jerry Springer show!



KYLE

Some noise is waking me slowly up. Turning around, I spot Michael who is getting dressed ... no, undressed. I glance at the watch, wow, he was out for long and is smirking contently. Oh, I know that look - lucky dog! But does he have to be that loud?

"Hey Guerin, please, don't undress that loud!" I mutter as I turn in bed again - the sun isn't really shining so no use to get up yet.

ISABEL

Its half six on a Sunday morning and instead of stumbling in from another awesome party like I would back home, I’m floating on my back in the middle of the pool staring up at the clear blue sky, which promises that today will be another beautiful sunny day.

The cool water caresses my skin and if I close my eyes tight enough I can pretend that I’m back in New York. Things here in Miami really aren’t going the way I thought they would. I didn’t think that things would become so complicated. I expected everything to be easy, fun and flirty like it is back in New York. I thought that coming onto the show would be like going to a party. Obviously, I’m a lot blonder then I thought.

Rolling onto my front, I dive under the water and swim towards the steps. I need to shower and then accidentally on purpose wake Liz up. I’m hoping that I can talk her into a day of shopping to have me avoid Alex.

As I head towards the kitchen, I use the towel I had bought with me to semidry myself.

“Alex,” I gasp as I enter the kitchen and come face to face with the very person I was trying to avoid. I hadn’t expected anyone to be up this early especially on a Sunday morning. God, I knew I should have stayed in bed. “I didn’t think anyone else was up.”

Obviously, I’m a lot blonder then I thought.


ALEX

All is calm upstairs so I guess Michael didn't wake anyone up. Concentrating on the news today (nothing out of the ordinary going on in the world), I'm surprised to hear someone say my name ... in a pretty shocked way, I might add.

“I didn’t think anyone else was up.”

Glancing up at Isabel, I almost immediately look down at the newspaper again (thank God I'm past the cartoons and now have the business part of it open). Yes, it is Isabel and she's wearing nothing. Well, nothing aside of a bikini and the towel which she uses to dry herself. But ... that's almost nothing.

"I also thought I'm the only one who's up, aside from Michael but he just got home so I guess he doesn't really count." I reply as I finally look up again, my eyes focusing somewhere above Isabel's left shoulder.

I already saw her in a bikini - a few times already, so ... get it together Whitman! Be a man! Nothing is different from those times, aside from her knowing about me being ... in love with her. She knows about the stripping and that's the more embarrassing thing she knows about me so my feelings aren't a big thing.

She probably has to deal with all her male friends having a crush on her, so nothing out of the ordinary for her. I'm just making this bigger than it is. And if knowing Lonnie has taught me anything then it is that I can be the "friend without benefits", the guy who's just the friend.

Clearing my throat, I motion to the coffee machine. "There's some coffee if you want some. It should still be hot."

ISABEL

"I also thought I'm the only one who's up, aside from Michael but he just got home so I guess he doesn't really count." He finally replies although he refuses to make eye contact with me. Instead he looks over my shoulder at something unknown in the garden. "There's some coffee if you want some. It should still be hot."

“Oh…uh…” I stutter. How obvious would it be that I was trying to avoid him if I made a mad dash for my bedroom right this second. Too obvious? Is this how its going to be every time we are alone? Awkward and uncomfortable. “I should head upstairs…to you know, get dry and stuff.”

*Michael*

Undress more quietly? What's that supposed to mean? It's not that loud.

"You got a hangover or som'in?" I ask with a low growl. I'm tempted to speak loudly but if he's really got a hangover, I don't want to raz him. I got one of my own and I don't need to have him yelling.

No matter, I've shucked my clothes already and I plop into bed, pulling the blankets up over my shoulder. Damn, that bird is singing awfully loud and someone should really turn down the sun ...


*Max*

I get out of the shower and there's still no sign of Alex. Hmm. Well I dry off and start to get some clothes and I decide what I'm going to be doing next. Avoiding Liz is probably a good idea -- except that I promised to help her. I don't want her to give up on this place. I don't really think she was thinking about that yet -- or at least she didn't meantion anything like that -- but I certainly don't want it to get that far. I need her to be here ... even if she isn't interested in me.

Probably, I should go talk to Tess first. She still doesn't know anything about Isabel discovering our schemes to help Alex and she should be warned. ... And I still need to decide if I'm going to break up with her...

I run a comb through my hair and I'm ready. I turn and head out to the hallway.

ALEX

“I should head upstairs…to you know, get dry and stuff.”

Great Whitman, do you want her to get sick - of course she should get out of the wet clothes first. She must think I'm a uncaring moron. Probably another reason why she wants to leave so quickly - aside from being worried about he health.

Feeling my face heat up slightly in an embarrassed blush, I finally manage to look into her eyes. "Yeah, sorry you are of course right. I wouldn't want you to get sick."

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

I don’t have any idea what time it is, and I don’t have any desire to find out. I’ve been awake for the past few minutes, just lying on my back staring at the ceiling. Izzy’s gone. I don’t really know where. Maybe she went for a run or a swim. It would only help things, I would think. I sigh as I roll back over to my side. I think I’ll go for a run. I could use it to try and clear my head. And to work off some of the stress being around Max is causing would be great. It’s getting ridiculous, every time he does something as small as taking my hand to get my attention makes me pause. At least I didn’t jump out of surprise.

Tossing off the covers I walk over to the window. The usual intense rays of sunlight are beating into the carpet. Maybe a swim instead of a run, I decide as I gather my things and head to the bathroom, changing quickly, I grab a towel to wrap around me as I step into some sandals. I pull my hair back as I skip down the stairs.

Before I walk into the kitchen I can hear Izzy and Alex’s stilted conversation. Walking the rest of the way into the kitchen I smile as I cheerfully say, “Good morning.” There’s no reason to act like I’ve interrupted something to make them feel any more on edge than they might be. I take in Izzy’s wet appearance as I laugh lightly. “Looks like we had the same idea this morning,” I tell her as I walk closer to the doors that lead to the back.

ALEX

This is getting uncomfortable. Normally when you talk, person 1 (me) says something then person two (Isabel) answers. Here, I just said something and Isabel's not answering. Do I have something in my face? Aside from the sligh beard (as if you can call it that after one night). I actually thought it would look good but now ... maybe I should save as soon as possible.

“Good morning.”

God bless Liz Parker for saving me! Halleluja!

“Looks like we had the same idea this morning,” Liz comments with a look at Isabel before she heads to the door. No! Don't leave me! NO!

"You want some breakfast when you come back, Parker?" I quickly ask her, "You name it, I'll make it."

*Max*

I stop in my tracks as a door opens. It's Liz and Isabel's door. Liz comes out and I'm trapped in confusing feelings. Where do I stand with her? What does she really think about me? Why am I so damned confused about everything?

I'm trying to figure out a way to say something, but she turns and heads downstairs, barely glancing in my direction. I wonder if she even saw me. I guess I should be glad. At least it wasn't some awkward encounter. I wonder if Isabel is still in there?

Shrugging, I knock on Tess' door. "Hey Tess, it's me," I say.

"Hey... um. Maria's still sleeping. I"ll be out in a minute," she says.

"Okay." I stand there, cooling my for a moment that seems like a long time, and then she comes out. "Hey. We need to talk. It's about Isabel and Alex," I say quietly before she has a chance to think it's something personal. "Let's go to the spare room."

Tess agrees and we go inside. She sits on the bed expectantly and I take a deep breath before dropping the bomb. "Isabel knows about Alex liking her. She knows that you and I and Liz were helping him. Kyle told her. She was pretty upset last night. I think she calmed down a bit after Liz and I talked to her, and then she spoke privately with Alex -- I don't know how she'll be today."