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Title: The Mirror of Reality
Author: T.D.O
Category: AU With Aliens
Rating: TEEN and Up.
Couples: Mainly M/L with a sprinkle of M/M A/I and K/L in some chapters. Don’t worry, you will be warned.
Summary: It’s a reverse of the show. Liz, Alex and Maria are the Aliens. I know, this seems to be done a lot...but, hey! I can't help it!
Authors Note: I wrote this about two years ago and never got around to posting it. I didn’t want to post especially after Little Bit wrote her masterpiece “Changing Places”. I didn’t feel it could compare so when I found this on some old files I was going through I thought I would maybe post a few Chapters and see how it went.
Another note: This is going to be a loooong story. It starts out fast and moves kind of fast in the first but, things will slow down and become more detailed in the future….And may there will a prequel to it. Dealing with Liz, Maria’s and Alex’s past lives in a more detailed manner. It’s titled “The Past Unspoken” You can read along with this one when or if I begin to post it, or you can read after. I suggest the latter as to not give too much away but reading it before could be interesting. I also have to warn you that later on in the story there will be a very religious background with someone in the story. So, don’t be offended by what is talked about what she believes. I just thought it would be interesting to see someone with very strong beliefs. So, in some parts they will be discussed a lot and she will reference them a lot in situations. Just to let you know….
DISCLAIMER: The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended.
Because this is a reverse of this I borrowed some lines and situations from the show. The first few parts have most of lines. I don’t own nor would I want to own them after the way the show turned out. Some of the situations from the seasons will be borrowed and put back in places the way they were. I don’t own them and no infringement intended.
This is the friggin' awsome banner max and liz believer made for me! See, it even say's I present! Much hugs to her for it!
AN: Alright, this is beginning of my revamping this story. Basically, added scenes or fixing grammar that I didn’t catch the first time around. So, if I do this right the story will go together more. I hope you enjoy!
A gunshot was heard through out a small town restaurant in Roswell, New Mexico, home of the UFO rumors. The two gunmen had been fighting over money matters when one pulled a gun. When it went off they fled, not looking to see of anyone had been shot.
The crowds of people were huddled under their tables and the waiters and waitresses all ducked as to not be hit by the stray bullet…
But Max Evans, a 17-year-old student, was. He stayed frozen in place; unable to move when the gun went off. Things moved in slow motion for him and next thing he knew he was on the floor with a blinding pain in his abdomen. He lay on the ground, unable to move, unable to speak. Had he been more conscious he would have called out for help. But he just faded in to the darkness.
Most of the people were more concerned with themselves and those who came with them being okay that nobody noticed the young boy on the floor behind the counter.
But, out of a corner booth Liz Parker saw Max lying on the ground and it sent a pain through her heart. Her first instinct was to run to him and heal him, but as soon as she began to move Maria, her close friend stopped her.
“Hey, hey, hey, what are you going to do?” Maria asked, the fear showing in her eyes, she knew very well what Liz was going to do. Despite knowing what her friend was think the panic flooding her body was making her voice shaky. Pushing past Maria with ease, Liz said simply to her blonde friend, “What ever I have to.”
Maria tried to stop her but Liz was strong girl, and when she was determined to do something, she was almost unstoppable. So, Maria watched on as her friend went and threw their lives away in a single moment.
“Max!” Michael Guerin called out to his friend; he could see his friend’s feet sticking out from behind a counter. Thinking he was the only to see Max, he tried to rush to his friend’s side when he felt a small yet strong hand stop him.
He spun around to see Liz Parker, Max’ Lab Partner looking up at him.
“Go and call an ambulance.”
There was something in her voice and the look in her eyes that told him to obey. He hesitated at first, but as he went to call 911 he turned back to see what she was going to do but Liz had already knelt down by Max and was blocking his view of what she doing.
Max heard a soft voice call out to him. He knew this voice, he heard almost every day in school. It was that small voice that sat next to him in lab, Liz Parker.
“Max, please, I can help you. You need to look at me.” Liz pleaded again. He forced his eyes to open; when he did he felt her hand touch the wound on his stomach. The feelings flowing through him, making him feel like he was floating. No pain at all, he couldn’t see anything other then star, billions and billions of stars.
Liz on the other hand, felt searing pain running through her. The more she repaired his body’s injury the more strain it caused on her and she was starting to feel it. Her mind worked over time to mend his body. She was hit with flashes, so many that it overwhelmed her. Max as a boy, running through his house, playing with dad. His mom reading him a story. Flash after flash hit.
Max gasped as the bullet hole fully closed up, he was healed. “You’re all right now. You’re all right,” Liz called out to him.
Liz helped pull him up as Maria ran up and yelled, “Keys! Now!”
Liz reached in her pocket and pulled them out, tossing to Maria as she turned to face Max. “You broke a bottle of Ketchup when you fell and it got on your uniform.” She said as she grabbed a near by bottle and broke on the counter, “Don’t say anything, Please.”
After pouring the contents on him, she got and ran out, leaving Max to watch her fleeing form with a dazed look on his face, wondering what just happened.
“What did you do?!?” Maria asked, when Liz didn’t respond. “WHAT DID YOU DO?” she yelled at her, almost running off the road.
“I healed him…”
Not knowing of she was really wanting an answer Maria asked, “Are you crazy?” And right now, Maria was sure that Liz was crazy.
After they had driven a few miles out of town, Maria slammed on the brakes. Jumping out of the old jeep that Liz’s parents had given their children she pulled Liz out of her seat and drug her few feet before pushing her back.
“ARE YOU CRAZY?”
Liz placed both hands on each one of Maria’s arm and said softly, “I healed him.” They way Liz said almost sounded as though it had just dawned her, “I healed him.”
Shrugging her hands off of her, Maria paced back and forth, pointing to Liz and saying “When Alex finds out about this…” she stopped and looked at Liz square in the eyes, “You. You’re dead.”
“Come on. Get in the Jeep.” Maria commanded. Right now Liz was in no mood to try and go against anything Maria said. For some reason Liz had always been considered the leader of their little group. Maybe it was because she was the ‘oldest’ according to the state. Liz knew where they were going. They were going to the one place she dreaded the most right now…They were going to see Alex, her brother.
The woman asked Max, she asked the same question for what felt like the hundredth time. She worked for the police department and Max would have thought it was required to have a better memory than what this lady looked to have.
“ I told you. I freaked when I heard the gunshot. I slipped and broke a bottle of ketchup on myself. I’m okay.” Max tried to say it as truthfully as he could. And he okay, he just wasn’t sure how. Right now he wasn’t sure of much.
His parents, Phillip and Diane Evans owned the local diner; named the Crashdown. They played up to the alien theme as much as they could and now he felt like he was in one of those Sci-Fi Channel movies.
Breaking Max out of his thoughts as he walked into the diner, Sheriff Valenti stepped up to Max, he dark glasses hiding he eyes from him, “Can you describe the men son?” he asked. Max just shook his head, “I didn’t get a good look at them to tell you the truth.”
He sat there in his seat for a moment as Valenti turned his attention to two people trying to do their own investigation of the crime scene, wondering what was going on. One minute Liz was his lab partner who he had small crush on since the fourth grade the next she was some sort of super hero. She was quite, but very sweet. It was hard not to be attracted to her; she had long flowing brown hair, plus she was smart. When she smiled his whole world lit up, he never acted on his feeling because Liz was always so locked up.
In truth, he knew very little about her, other than she a had a brother who was a year younger then her, and her best friend was Maria Deluca, who was just as closed in as Liz was. Now though, he felt like he knew even less about her than before if possible.
The only thing he knew for certain was the he couldn’t tell anyone about what Liz had done. She saved his life and he knew he owed her that much. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to ask his questions when he got the chance.
“Max! You’re all right!”
The sudden shout from the door made Max jump as his mother made her way to him, “I got here as soon as I could, I am so sorry, honey,” she grabbed him and pulled him into a tight hug. Max returned to hug, “Mom, its okay, see? Its ketchup,” he said holding up his shirt to show her, “Like I’ve told her,” he motioned to the women asking him the questions, “I slipped and broke a bottle of ketchup, that’s all.”
Max turned to see his father coming out from the back room, where the police had been talking to him about the incident, “Honey, this is officer Bristol, he’ll be the one handling everything.” He said, leading her off while the Female Police Officer continued to examine Max.
“I’m okay!” he exclaimed throwing his hands up; if she leaned down to his abdomen one last time…
"You do know that this ruins everything we’ve worked for?”
Maria continued ranting as they drove to Liz’s house to find Alex, their brother. Alex and Liz were brother and sister by blood but Maria and Alex considered themselves brother and sister also. Alex and the two girls had a strong bond because of how much they were alike. Alex shared the same secret as Liz and Maria.
The Parker’s had found Liz and Alex the night they had come out of their pods. Maria ran off when she saw the headlights; a frightened child in the night. She hide in the woods and watched as her two other companions were taken away. Wondering where they were being taken and if she would ever see them again.. Now, at this moment in time Maria felt just as scared that day as she did the night they were separated.
Liz didn’t say anything to her. Words weren’t necessary; she knew she’d changed everything forever. This whole situation seemed out of character for Liz, she was the leader of the group, the strong who always had her head on her shoulders. Alex and Maria always looked to Liz to guide the group if it needed guiding. And right now, no matter how Maria hated it, Liz done something completely crazy and healed Max, she just couldn’t let him die.
“What if we have to leave Roswell, Liz?” Maria asked Liz as she pulled into the driveway of the Parker’s home. She glanced at her as she turned off the jeep, “I don’t want to leave mom.”
“We’re not going have to leave,” Liz stated, although she wasn’t sure she was right but she knew how much Maria loved her mother, Amy, maybe that’s what made her say it. Amy had adopted Maria when she was seven and raised Maria to be just like her in almost every aspect. They both had the same sense of style and were just as wacky together as they were apart.
Liz fidgeted in her seat, “What are we going to tell him?” She looked at Maria for help, or a life line. But Maria just looked at her and sighed, “Well. There is no turning back now chica, so break it him easy and maybe he won’t freak out so bad.”
Mari got out of the jeep and sighed, “Maybe.”
“Okay, break it to him easy” Liz kept telling her self over and over as they walked into the house….
Liz thanked God that their parents were not home, if they were, they volume of Alex’ voice might have caused them to have some explaining to do. Liz glared at Maria, “I broke it to him easy,” she said, only to have Maria shrug her shoulders at her, “You made your bed…now go lay in it.”
He paced back and forth, “How could you have done this?” he demanded, Liz was always the responsible one and now she went and done something like this? He ran his hands through his hair and walked to his desk where he kept his photos of Maria, Liz and Him. He had really gotten into photography the past year went around snapping pictures all day of everyone he could.
Alex was sixteen, going on seventeen. He and Liz were a year apart according to the state. Liz was seventeen, turning eighteen in March. He turned sixteen and would be seventeen in June. They looked like twins almost; He had dark hair, as did Liz, only she was shorter than he was now. When they were found she was a whole two inches taller, making them think Liz was older.
Liz put her head in her hands and sighed. She couldn’t believe what was happening; one day her life is semi normal, not counting the whole being from another planet thing and now the trios worlds were spinning upside down. “I’ll think of something, you guys. Don’t worry. It’s going to be all right.” She said to Maria and Alex.
She only prayed that it would….
Last edited by T.D.O on Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:54 pm, edited 38 times in total.
Thanks for the feed back back you guys! It really helps! Note: There are some line and situations from the pilot in this. They don't belong to me.
There will be in the next few parts... but not too many after that.
Also, Michael is kind of a dork in the first few parts...so forgive me. But, I will fix him later...I promise.
Part Two
AN: This has been changed a little. Like that rest of the parts will be. Fixing grammer and all that jazz...
________________________________________
Max stood in his room, his head cocked to the side as he looked at himself in the mirror. His shirt had a hole in it from the bullet, the bullet had gone in, but the only mark on him was a silver hand print where a wound once was. He had actually been shot and brought back to life. By his lab partner no less!
He tried to think of what he was going to say to her next he saw her, ‘Oh, Liz thanks for saving my life. By the way does this tattoo-looking thing ever go away?’ The thought was quickly shaken off as he took off the shirt and put it in his book bag, not knowing what else to do with it. He didn’t know if he should throw it away or keep to show his future kids someday, as a conversation piece, ‘Hey, look at the shirt I died and came back to life in!’
Was she some sort of an experiment for the government? Or was she like the Incredible Hulk and like, turned green when she was mad? Max thought about it, almost rolling his eyes at his ridiculous thoughts. Yeah, Liz was the Incredible Hulk.
Honestly though. Max told himself, he had never taken the time to get to know her all that well. Anytime they talked it was in class or passing smile in hallway, or once in a while a small ‘How are you doing?’ when she came to the café. All he really about Liz was that she never hung out anyone other than Maria Deluca and her brother Alex, and that she was adopted when she was seven.
After awhile however, his thoughts drifted to how it felt when she healed him; he felt weightless and he saw things, stars, and galaxies. Despite the fact that he felt he knew even less about Liz than before, his feelings grew after today. The way she talked to him when she healed him stuck with him.
He knew that he had to know the truth. She owed him that.
Nothing like this ever happened to him. Nor did he believe anything like this ever could. His life was in order, simple and in control. They way he liked it.
His parents owned a popular diner and they we’re not by any means rich, but they weren’t broke either. He had a great girl he was seeing named Tess. They had been out on a few dates but it was nothing serious. His grades were great and he had a good job at the café his family owned. But, why’d this happen to him? Why did a Saturday night movie become his life?
“Max, honey, come on and eat!” His mother called from downstairs. Most of the time you couldn’t hear what was going on from his room unless his mother yelled, the woman has a set of lungs on her.
Max bit his bottom lip and glanced down once again to the mark on his stomach. Reaching over to throw on a shirt before heading downstairs he got a feeling things were about to get really, really weird...
Alex was lying in his bed, his gray sheets rolled into a ball from all the tossing and turning he was doing thinking about the day. He stared at the ceiling, ‘How could Liz have done something so stupid?’ He still could not believe what was happening.
He knew that Liz’s feelings for Max had to do with it. She had a crush on him since the fourth grade and now that they were lab partners in school Liz could stare at Max all day. Why that wasn’t enough for her, Alex didn’t know.
While thinking about Max and Liz his thoughts shifted to Isabel Whitman, Max. The most popular girl in school; she had golden hair down past her shoulders and her laugh made Alex melt inside. That did the only good that seemed to come out of Liz know Max, Alex thought. Isabel. The thought of her made him think about how he may never be able to have a long-term relationship with anyone.
His life was never normal; him, Liz and Maria all came out of pods about ten years ago. Maria was the first to hatch and she helped the other two out as well. The walked out of the cave, Alex couldn’t remember how they got out, but next thing he knew he was being help by a man and watched as Liz was carried by a women to sit next to him and the man whom, he now knew as his father in the car.
The day they found Maria was the day they felt complete. They had seen her at school and the connection they all shared let them know who Maria was. They didn’t have any memory of their life before Earth. They knew nothing of their home and why they were sent to Earth. All they knew was that they were raised human and didn’t know anything else. But Alex still didn’t know how Liz was going to explain this to Max. Was she going to tell him the truth?
No, Alex thought to himself, Liz wouldn’t tell him. She’s too smart to do that. After all they had a pact, a pact they made long ago when dog had been hit by a car and Liz healed it. They knew from then on that it was too dangerous to tell anyone about them. He was going to have to wait until tomorrow to know what Liz told Max, but right now he needed to sleep. And something was telling him he wasn’t going to be sleeping tonight.
Maria rolled over in her bed to her phone, “Hello?” she answered groggily. “Hey,” the voice on the other end answered, it was Alex. “Hi Alex, what do you want?” Maria asked, glancing at the clock. 3:30 AM.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he said, as he sat up in his bed.
“So you wanted to make sure I couldn’t either?”
“No…I just needed someone to talk to.” He sounded hurt. “I don’t really feel like talking to Liz to be honest with you.”
“You’re scared too aren’t you?”
The phone went silent for a moment on his end, “Yeah. I feel…like…”
“Unprotected?”
“Yeah.”
“Me too, Liz really screwed up today.”
“How could she break our promise to each other Maria?”
Maria sighed and turned over to star at the ceiling, “I don’t know…It was Max, that’s all the incentive she needed.”
“Do you think we can trust him?”
She thought about it, “I honestly don’t know, Alex.”
The students of West Roswell High were all hurrying past each other, worried about getting to class on time. The high school was a diverse group of people; they even had aliens at their school. The hallways were packed as Michael Guerin tried to find Max. He had called his house 50 times but Max never answered. This was the first time in their life long friendship that they went without talking to each other. But, at this moment Michael was determined to find Max so he could talk to him about a note pad he found at the Crashdown yesterday.
Max walked down the hall and entered the men’s room; he had a lot of stuff on his mind right now, the first and main thing being Liz. He was so focused on his thoughts that he didn’t notice when Michael came out from behind, holding something in his hand. “What was it you said was all over you yesterday?” He started out; Max jumped and turned to see who it was, “Jeez, Michael!”
The first thing Max noticed is that Michael looked very pissed, “You haven’t answered any my phone calls.”
Trying to think of an excuse Max attempted to shrug it off, “I didn’t know you called?”
“I would believe that for the first five times I called, but twenty five?”
Sighing Michael changed the subject back to the mater at hand, “What is all over this note pad, Maxwell?”
Max knew where this was going from here, “Ketchup, Michael, for the hundredth time ketchup!” He turned back around and washed his hands, “For the last time…”
Michael looked down, his spiked hair pointing in every direction. “You see, Max, I found this note pad at work yesterday and it’s yours. But this in not ketchup, this looks like blood. Your blood,” Michael said as he walked up to him, his eyes burning into the back of Max’ skull.
Max spun around trying to think of an excuse when the bell rang suddenly. “I have to get to class. I’ll talk to you about it after school.” He said as ran out the door and on to his class.
Maria said to Liz half-joking; the truth was she was terrified of everything little thing now. Her heart raced even when she walked out of her house this morning to meet Liz and Alex as they picked her up in their old jeep. Maria would have taken her mom’s car but it was in the shop being fixed. After Liz got out of the jeep without a word Maria thought back to their conversion on the way to school.
“What are you going to do?” Alex asked Liz as he looked over to his sister who was driving; her jaw was clenched, it meant she was nervous. Liz looked over to Alex for a brief moment before turning back to the road, “Try to avoid him until we figure out what to tell him.” She replied trying to keep her attention on the road.
“I don’t think it’s going to work so well though, seeing as we are in same class and all.”
“Well, ignore him.” Maria said, “Now I know you don’t have much self restraint around him or anything but please, for us, hold back on the whole pouring out your heart thing. Just this once.”
Liz turned and stood outside the jeep for a moment, looking at Maria with a guilty look on her face. Liz said something, bringing her out of her thoughts. “I couldn’t let him die” Liz said, glancing at her and Alex briefly before she walked off to her first class.
After she got out of the jeep Maria made her way to the school. Although she didn’t want to admit it, Maria felt like they were being a little too hard on Liz. After all, Liz was the only one with the power to heal and she didn’t know what it was like to have someone dying right before her eyes and not help them knowing she could.
“Please tell me this is a nightmare,” Alex said as walked up behind her. “What do you think she’s going to tell him?” she asked glancing back at him; Alex was tall, he wasn’t very athletic but he was very smart with a computer and knew how to cook a mean egg in the morning. His powers were different than the two girls. He could walk into peoples mind while they were sleeping and read their thoughts on occasion when he was concentrated and focusing all his energy on it.
“I don’t know,” he said truthfully his brown eyes shining with fear and confusion, “lets just hope that what ever it is we all have a say in it like we agreed.” Alex placed his hand on Maria’s shoulder, her sky blue shirt wrinkling slightly under his hand.
“Do you think you would have done the same thing…if you were in her shoes?”
Alex pondered her question, what would he have done? Alex didn’t know what it would be like to have someone dying in front of him and not doing anything knowing he could. But, would he have broken the pact he made with his family? This troubled Alex, he didn’t have healing powers like Liz did, so he couldn’t say he knew what he would do.
He let out breath of frustration as he looked at his watch, “See ya later.” He waved as he walked off, leaving Maria alone once again in her thoughts.
Running her hands through her short blonde hair Maria leaned back against her locker, it was right next to Michaels, Max’s best friend. She had said hi to him once in awhile in passing, but never really said much more than that. She didn’t need anymore friends; Liz and Alex were enough in her mind. Of course, Liz obviously felt differently, on more than one occasion, Liz would suggest to Alex and Maria that they all should make more friends; it might get rid of the whole, ‘group of freaks’ nick-names some of the kids in school gave them.
So far, Liz, Alex and Maria were as invisible as anyone could be. Not many people knew their names, and the few who did mostly thought of them as weird or freaky because of their lack of friends. This is what made things hard for Liz. She wanted to be as normal as she could be without getting too close to someone. Liz had often talked to Maria about wanting to have friends, because, according to Liz, they ‘would have to get know some people. They where going to be on this planet so they better get used to it.’
Maria and Alex, on the other hand, felt differently, very, very differently. They didn’t want anything to do with anyone. Trust no one and you don’t get hurt was Maria’s motto. She didn’t like the feeling of someone holding her very existence in the palm of their hand. Still, she did get lonely. She longed for a guy to talk to on the phone without it always being a brother figure. It wasn’t that she didn’t adore Alex, but, she wanted a boyfriend. Or at least a guy who could be romantically interested in her and she in him.
She heard the bell and jumped at the sound. She grabbed her books and ran, catching out of the corner of her eye Michael coming out of the Men’s Room. Had she not been in such a hurry she would have paid more attention to it.
“Okay, class, today we are going to be talking about the difference in species of plants. It is easy to what makes things different on the outside, but, what about what’s on the inside?”
Mr. Seligman said, passing around papers to each one of his students. He continued talking and Max could hear him, but he wasn’t really listening; he was focused on the door, hoping to see Liz walk through it. She was late, and that meant he didn’t have a lab partner yet. That also meant that Liz was possibly avoiding him. Max guessed the latter.
Just as he thought she wasn’t going to show up Liz walked through the door in a hurried manner, coming over to rest in her seat on the right side of Max.
“Ms. Parker, so nice of you to join us today, please, please, indulges us will you?” The teacher said in an annoyed manner, “Why are you so late?”
Liz glanced around, her face turning red; she hated having attention being brought to her. “I, uh…I…it won’t happen again.” She said, hoping he wouldn’t say anything else about it. When he nodded and sat down in his chair, Liz breathed a sigh of relief.
Through out the whole ordeal with the teacher Max noticed that she didn’t look him in the eye. She was biting on a pencil and her face was down cast and she made sure her hair was hiding it from him. “Now use the swab to take a sample from the person on your right” the teacher continued, “then place it in under the microscope and-“Liz stood in a panic. “May I have a bathroom pass?” she asked nervously. Liz left as soon as she got her hands on it.
Max looked over at Liz’s seat; she left a pencil lying on the desk. Just then a thought popped into his mind: she had it in her mouth earlier when she walked in.
Max’ curiosity got the best of him and he took a sample off her pencil. He then took a swab to his mouth and placed it on a slide. He put his under the microscope first, and then he took Liz’s.
‘This isn’t possible’ Max thought, his head shot up in surprise at the sight before him. He had to be seeing things; he took another look…just to be sure.
Liz’s cells were different than his…and not just a little… they were looked nothing like a human cell. Max felt faint as he looked into the microscope. He just sat there in his seat, unable to pay any attention to his class. Next thing he knew, it was over and he was searching the halls to find the one person who could give him answers.
Liz was walking down the hallway relieved she was able to get out of her class before it was too late. She was walking fast, trying to get to her next class, thinking about how she was going to ignore Max after what happened at the Café yesterday; so far she was doing a horrible job. “Liz! Liz!” she heard her name called, she turned to see who it was when Max grabbed her by the arm and said softly in her ear “We need to talk. Now.” He led into the band room.
“What’s going on Max?” she asked as he drug her along to the room.
“We need to talk about things.”
When they entered they saw that they weren’t alone. “Tess!” Max exclaimed, this was the last person he wanted to see right now. “What are you doing here?” he asked in a rush. The blonde looked up “Max! I’ve been looking for you! My uncle told what happened at the Crashdown and I wanted to see if you were okay?” She said rushing up to him.
She had been in the band room playing the giant drums, trying to pass time. Liz looked at Tess, feeling even shyer compared to her. Tess was bubbly and happy even though she had lost her parents in car wreck when she was just five. She was popular and pretty, ‘No wonder Max is with her. I don’t have chance with him.’ Liz thought for a moment. She then kicked herself for the thought, why would she in the first place?
Tess looked over at her and said in overly happy tone, “So Liz? I heard you and Max were in the same class? Isn’t he great guy? Oh, what are you guys doing in here anyway, I mean, I am just passing the time and all but-Oh! I am sorry you were probably studying and all. Well, I’ve got to get going! So you later Max! Call me, I‘ve got the greatest suit for the crash festival.” She rambled in one breath. Liz wondered if Tess was from another Planet too because there was no humanly possible way someone could talk that fast.
“You know how I feel about that Tess.” He said, his voice sounding more uncomfortable by the minute. “Okay! Fine. But call me later anyway? Okay?” Tess said as she walked out the door, leaving the two alone with to deal with the matter at hand. They stood with no sound coming from them for what seemed like forever, the air even sounded loud. Liz’s heart was beating fast from being so close to him. She had never been in a closed area alone with Max before and it gave her rush, not that she thought anything was going to happen, she just got a rush from being around him sometimes.
Liz turned around to set her books on a table, when she turned back around Max lifted up his shirt, showing the silver handprint on his stomach. They sat there for a moment not saying anything; Max was the one to beak the long silence. “Liz, I looked at you cells today when you left the class” Max started, he saw the Liz’s head shot up and her eyes became wide, like a deer stuck in the head lights of an on coming car. “You did what?” She asked cautiously, her hands were stuffed in her pockets and she looked visibly nerves. “Well, you see, I took a sample from your pencil and I looked at your cells in the microscope and…they weren’t like mine.” Max said looking at her.
“Can you help me out here Liz?”
He watched as Liz looked down to her feet, she knew Alex and Maria were going to kill her but there was no turning back now. Max had to know the truth. The blood pounded in her body. She could feel the words leave her mouth as she tried to tell this Man what she really was
“Well, I am not from around here.” She started looking into his eyes; she could see his confusion. “So where are you from?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face. What did not being from Roswell have to do with her healing him? Liz pointed up, her eyes down cast.
“Up north?”
"Utah?"
Liz pointed higher this time her eyes met his; it hit him. “You’re not saying you’re a... an alien…are you?” Max asked her, not knowing if he should believe her or laugh in her face at such a ridicules story. But her expression wasn’t changing. “If you insist I prefer the term not of this earth” She said trying to lighten the mood. “You know what Liz, I should really get going, and I’ve got to get to class and-“Max was stopped by her as he tried to dart out the door. She moved to face him
Liz was a small person but there was something about her presence that made you stand up and take notice.
“Max you can’t tell anyone about this. Not Michael, not Isabel, not your mom and dad. No one can know about this. Please…” Liz said, her forehead slightly touching his, “my life is in your hands now.” She locked eyes with him and he knew he couldn’t tell anyone. Her eyes pleaded with him as she pushed out the door and into the crowd of students.
Max’s head was racing, ‘She’s an alien, They really do exist, she’s an alien’, he kept telling himself over and over not knowing if he believed what Liz just told him or not. He never believed in aliens, he believed in science, facts, not space men and UFOs. Max drifted through the rest of his classes and now he was walking home from school trying to sort out what was just revealed to him. The thing that scared Max the most was that he wasn’t scared of her; he cared about even more now.
He was thinking more with every step when he heard Michael’s old mustang his dad had owned since he was sixteen which had now been passed on to Michael, pull over beside him.
“Max! You can’t ignore me like this” he said coasting the same speed Max “Why are you doing this?” he demanded again. “I’m not doing anything Michael, I’m just a little shaken, and that’s all.” He said, hoping it would get his friend off his back.
Michael stopped his car and jumped out, running over to Max “What did Liz Parker do to you?” he asked wanting answers, “Nothing. She did nothing to me.” Max pushed past him and continued his walk home.
“So what do you guys want to eat?” Liz said trying to break the silence. “Crashdown? No, I think we’ll go with tacos instead to day,” Alex said in a disgusted manner. Liz sighed and pulled off to taco stand by the side of the road. So much for not being as cold to her.
“How could you let my poor misplaced brain of a sister do this?” Alex looked over to Maria as they made their way over to a table after they had gotten their food.
“Hey, don’t turn this around on me. I am not the one who thinks she can be the big hero and save everyone at will.” She responded coldly staring straight at Liz.
“So Clara Kent, what are we going to tell him?” her brother looked at her, the look on her face gave away the answer.
“You told him?” Maria said getting out of her seat, “You said you would wait until we decided on this together!” she said as she walked off. Alex looked over at his sister “I’m the calm one in this situation” the words came sarcastically as he got up to follow Maria to the Jeep.
Liz sighed as she done the same. Why couldn’t they understand that she couldn’t just let him die? Liz walked around to the side of the jeep and got in driver’s side, “Max won’t tell anyone, I know he won’t,” she said as she turned the ignition. “We should just lay low and let things blow over.”
“Really?” Maria asked enraged at Liz’s attitude toward the situation. “How did Max react when you told him? Oh, you’re an alien! I’ve always wanted to meet one! Can I take a picture?” she said looking at Liz, when Liz didn’t say anything she rolled her eyes “No, Liz, things aren’t going to be all right. You should know that more than anyone. We are NOT normal. We can’t just do someone like this and expect things to go back to the way they were.” She said to Liz.
“Liz, what are we going to do if they find out about us? What if they find and dissect us?” Alex asked from the back seat. “Alex we don’t even know if there is a ‘They’,” Liz said pulling out of onto the street.
She looked to road ahead of and thought about how Max was taking all this. Was he disgusted at what she was? Was he afraid of her? Liz thought of all times she thought about just coming to him and telling him how she felt. She would talk to him tonight, she told herself. Tonight.
“Thanks for tonight Max,” Tess said as she walked with Max to her doorstep. The light bulb flickered, “Oh, Jim never changed this thing after all,” She said trying to reach up and unscrew it but her height caused some problems. Max reached to get it for her. As he reached up his shirt rode up, giving Tess a slight view of the handprint on his stomach. “What is that?” She asked surprised. “Huh?” Max said pulling his shirt down as fast as he could, hoping she didn’t see too much. “What are you talking about?” Max tried to blow it off. “Hmm… okay well I got to go. Thanks again.” Tess said as she reached up to give Max a kiss on the cheek. Max watched as she closed and then headed back for his house.
Max liked Tess, he really did. She was fun ad surprisingly to some people, very smart. She was understanding with most things and could be very sympathetic, something Max guessed she got from the loss of her parents. But, she just wasn’t right for him, Max told himself. She didn’t make his heart beat faster when she was around. It wasn’t her looks, she was gorgeous, and he just didn’t get that feeling when he was around her, the feeling of being the only two people in the room. The feeling he got when he was with Liz.
His phone started ringing; he pulled out to see who it was, it was Michael. “Hello?” he answered, hoping he would start talking about the shooting. Luckily for Max, he didn’t.
“I just wanted to see if you wanted to come over and catch the game?”
Max stopped and thought about, “I would like to Michael, but, I’m really tired. Sorry, man.”
“Oh…that’s okay, I understand. But hey, call me back okay?”
Michael hung up the phone, he had just gotten off the phone with Max, and at least he answered it this time. He could tell he was ignoring him, but for what reason he wasn’t sure. He knew that it had something to do with Liz and the shooting. He knew that Liz had to have done something to Max. If she hadn’t than why was he acting the way was?
Why did Max all of a sudden ignore his life long friend? What scared Michael the most was that, after everyone had left he searched around some and saw that there was no bullet hole.
Michael stared at his phone, something was up and he was going to find out what it was.
Max was sitting outside on his balcony staring up at the stars. He wondered if they would ever look the same to him. Before they were cold dark and lifeless. Now, they held all kinds of mystery to him. His thoughts turned to Liz and her plea not to tell anyone. He had never heard so much fear in a voice as he did in hers today.
He was brought out of his thoughts by a soft call from the street, “Max?” he got up to see who it was. He looked down to the street to see the girl who had been haunting his thoughts for the past 24 hours. “Can I talk to you?” Liz asked looking up at him. “Sure let me unlock the door down stairs.” He said with slight smile.
When Max went to open the door he caught sight of her, she was wearing a gray sweater and dark blue jeans; her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her hands were in her pockets. “So, what did you want to talk about Liz?” Max started the conversation, hoping to break some of the ice. He noticed the way she was staring at him “What?” he asked with a confused look on his face.
“Nothing, I…just keep seeing you in that shirt you wore the first day of school. You know the one with the fish on it?”
Max opened his mouth in a silent acknowledgement; he remembered the shirt all too well. “Oh! Man, I hated that thing. I still can’t believe I wore it.” He said putting his hand up to his forehead, rubbing it like he was embarrassed. Hwy his ever bought that thing he would never know. Then, something came to him, “Liz, I wore that shirt in the third grade. I didn’t know ‘till the forth. Did you read my mind?” He swallowed, “Because if you did…that’s like a huge invasion of my privacy.” Max said in a worried tone.
“I didn’t read your mind. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain but, when I healed you I formed this…” Liz said putting her hands in the air as though it would help her explain it better, “This connection. I saw images, flashes I guess, from your life. I saw the shirt; how much it embarrassed you to wear it. But you did because you mom got it for you” she continued “you always have been like that, putting others before yourself” her eyes went down to floor as if she had said too much. There was a silence between them.
“Max,” the silence was broken, “I’ve never tried this before but I want to see if maybe I could like reverse the connection and show you that it’s still…you know, still me.” Liz said stepping closer to him. Max nodded in approval.
Liz moved closer to him, until they were but a few inches from each other. “I have to touch you,” she said reaching up her hands. Max nodded; Liz placed her hands on each side of his face. Ma looked into her eyes and a flood of images came to him:
A young girl and boy walking down a dirt road at night with a car pulling up beside them, this first time Liz and Alex ever saw Maria. He saw them trying to figure out how to use their powers. Then he saw her, getting off the bus and seeing him for the first time. He could not only feel the loneliness she felt. He could feel the way she felt about him.
She held onto him, when she touched him before she was so focused on healing that she failed to savor the feeling of just touching him and being near him. They stood still, locked in that position with Liz’s hands on his face. Holding him.
The connection took just a minute, but to the two of them, it lasted forever. Little did they know that something bigger was being formed in that moment. After tonight, they would be changed for the rest of their lives.
When the connection was broken Max was left breathless; she feels the same was about me he thought. Liz felt the same way. Max’s crush on Liz wasn’t just a one way, little thing now. Now, it was different. He was different.
Liz said nothing as she pulled away from him, an unfamiliar look on her face. Max didn’t know what to say but one thing… “Thank you.”
“I’m telling you Isabel, Something happened to Max!” Michael said looking at the newspaper report on the Crashdown shooting. “Michael, nothing happened. It’s in the paper. NO ONE WAS HURT.” Isabel patted him on his head like he was dog.
“You weren’t there. Max was on the ground and Liz Parker went up to him and did something.” He said getting more and more frustrated at the tall blonde.
“Okay, maybe Max fell over and Liz went up to him to see if he was all right. Have you ever thought of that detective?” Isabel said rolling her eyes. She couldn’t believe Michael would think so irrationally, okay, maybe she could but he was never this crazy!
Isabel was popular but her two best friends were Max and Michael. They had known each other since the second grade and had been best friends ever since. What surprised most people were that Isabel never dated one of them. She cringed at the thought. They were too much like her brothers to be thought of anything more. “I’m telling you Isabel. Something happened!” Michael exclaimed. “Okay, whatever you say Michael, whatever you say.” She rolled her eyes as she got up to leave the cafeteria.
“How come there’s no bullet hole found?” Michael asked, but Isabel ignored him. He was getting used to being ignored.
“Hey, Isabel, you never called me!”
She glanced over to see Tim, the football player yelling in her direction, he asked her out a couple of time but didn’t get the hint that she didn’t want to go. “Like, I said last you called me: GO AWAY!”
She didn’t like guys like that, arrogant. Tim was rude, she had no idea why gave him her number in the first place.
Max turned to find Isabel running up behind him. “What’s up Is?” he asked, he hadn’t seen her in few days, he was busy, being shot and finding out about aliens living in Roswell was tough business.
Isabel smiled; she hated when they called her that, Max and Michael did to be mean, or try to be mean. Unbeknownst to most people, Max and Michael were softies at heart. “Well, I just get done talking with Michael, who thinks that you have been lying to him about the shooting at the Crashdown the other day.”
Max rolled his eyes “Isabel, did you put things through the Michael filter?” She laughed, “I tried, but, you do know that if you lie to him I can tell right?” Max put his hand on her shoulder, “I know. And I am not lying to you.” He said hoping it would convince her.
“Hey, Isabel?” Max wanted to change the subject, “Have you seen my book bag?”
“No, I haven’t seen it, why would?”
Max shrugged, “I don’t know, I’ve just been looking for it. I can’t remember where I left it.” He scratched his head. “If you happen to come across it, let me know okay?”
Isabel nodded and smiled, “Hey, Max, you seem different. Has something changed, like a hair cut or something?” She pointed to his head, Max always had a slightly shaggy hair cut but he kept it trimmed so it didn’t get too long.
“No…what do mean by ‘different’?” He did feel different after last night, he didn’t say anything about it though He promised Liz he wouldn’t say anything to anyone and he wasn’t.
Isabel shook her head, “Never mind, it’s just something seems different about you that’s all.”
Before Max could respond he heard his name being called over the speaker, he was wanted at the principles office.
Max found himself walking to principles office. He wasn’t sure why they called him, ‘maybe they found my book bag, he thought, but something told him it wasn’t about his book bag.
Any other thoughts he may have had vanished as soon as he walked to the front desk and saw the sheriff waiting for. He was about 5’9, late forties to early fifties. Max felt uncomfortable around the man. He didn’t know though, he was going out with his niece; he had met the man before.
“I need you to come with me.” He said, “Your father gave me permission to ask you some questions about the shooting.”
Max sat in a plastic chair at the Roswell police station, feeling out of place. He looked around the room. There were small things like a little football sitting on book shelf and a picture of him and Tess on her 16th birthday.
“So Max, I wanted to ask you a few questions about the other day at the Crashdown.” Sheriff Valenti started out.
“What do you want to know; because I have already told you everything that happened?” Max said in a rushed tone. “
“Did you happen to see Liz Parker there that day?” the question came out in a tone that sent chills up Max’ spine.
“Nope, I didn’t see her there. Why?” He looked at the sheriff. His face was cold, "I was told that she was there and that she went up to you.” He looked at Max, “I’m sorry to have to show you these,” he said pulling out some old photos. One was of an old man on a table, “They said there was no apparent cause of death other than the hand print.” The other one had a picture of the handprint, it was dated 1959. Max was silent as he looked at photos.
“What does this have to do with Liz?”
“Tess told me she saw this mark on you the other night”
Max began to get even more worried. “She must have been mistaken,” He said wanting to leave before it got any worse.
“Still, I’m going to gave to see your stomach.” Jim said; he wanted that mark to be there, it had to be there. “Sheriff…”Max started but was cut off “Max. Please.” He stood up and slowly pulled up his deep blue shirt watching to sheriff’s facial expressions the entire time. When he saw no change he looked down to his stomach, the mark was gone. “It faded on the other body too.”
“Can I go now?” Max asked like a lost little boy. He felt dizzy from everything. “Yes you may go” Max sighed in relief, He had to get out of there. “Oh, one more thing,” Max turned his attention to the sheriff. “Someone found this book bag.” He said pulling it out from behind his desk.
Max grabbed the book bag and left, he had to get away from there and sort out this thing in his mind. He had to talk to Liz, ask her some questions. He looked at his watch; she should be getting out of class soon he thought as he walked through the doors of his high school. Just then the bell rang and he searched until he found her.
Liz was at her locker; putting some books away when she felt someone staring at her, she turned to see Max; the expression on his face told her that he needed to talk.
“Let’s go in here,” she said pointing to a room. After finding it empty they entered and Max started “Liz, I need you to tell me everything. I mean everything or I’m going to the sheriff and telling everything that I know.” He ended on a sigh.
“Okay,” Liz said simply. ‘That went easier than I thought’ Max told himself. He pulled out a piece of paper and Liz smiled at it. She had thought about telling him thousands of times and now that she knew he wasn’t disgusted or reviled, he was curious and it was adorable to her.
“Where are you from?” Max started, “I don’t know, All I know is that it there was something that crashed that day,” It didn’t take long for Max to do the math, “Liz, that was in 1947. You’re 17.”
“I was in some kind of incubation pod up until about ten years ago.” She answered.
“Okay, what kind of powers do you have?” He asked reading next on the list of questions that he had written while he was waiting for his ride back to school from the police station. “Well, I can manipulate molecular structures. I can-” Liz said; Max stopped her before she could continue.
“What does that mean?” Liz walked over to a piece of molded clay and put her hand on it. She ran her hand over the molding of a mans face and it disappeared; she then ran her hand up the front of it and the face returned as though it wasn’t touched.
Liz looked at Max, “That’s how I healed you.” Max was struck by how sincere Liz was “Liz, who else knows about this?” Max asked, “No one. We kind think our lives depend on it.” She said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “We?” Max raised his eyebrow, “Alex and Maria are also…”
“So why did you risk all of this getting out?” Max asked Liz. Liz looked at him; “It was you.” Max bit his lip. He felt so much, he never thought it was possible for someone to feel so strongly about him that they would risk their entire existence for his life.
His mind returned to the matter at hand, “Liz, the sheriff wanted to me to look at these photos. There was one of a dead guy; he had the same handprint on him.” Liz’s eyes widened “That’s impossible” Max continued, “It was dated 1959. He found my Crashdown shirt and was asking me if you were in the diner the day of the shooting.”
“Liz, he suspects you.”
Liz turned to leave without a word, leaving Max alone.
Jim Valenti sat at his desk at stared at the shirt he had gotten from Max’s backpack. Max left it a booth he’d eaten at this morning at the café; Jim came in and sat in the booth before Agnus got around to cleaning it. He wondered how Max got through the first of the without it.
He picked up the shirt and examined the hole in it. There was a little bit of blood around the edge of, it was clear it was bullet hole and that bullet had gone in someone. Why that someone was still alive is what interested Jim, with all of the reports saying that young girl matching Liz Parkers description went up to Max as he lay ground old him something was up and Jim was going to find out what it was.
“Valenti found Max’ uniform with the bullet hole and was asking if I was in the diner when the gun went off. I have no choice.” Liz didn’t want them to be involved with something she had done. Even if she had to think of something else to tell him, she had to do something.
“He showed Max photos of a corpse found in 1959. It had the same mark on his chest as the left on Max when I healed him, the sheriff suspects Me.”
“No. We’re leaving.” Alex said. Liz walked up to him; He was dressed up for the Crash Festival that was going on tonight. “Alex, do you really want to say goodbye to Mom and Dad?” she asked. “No, I didn’t think so. If I have to tell the truth or make something up I will, but I have to clear this up with him. This started because of me and I’m going to end It.”
“Liz, I don’t want to say goodbye to mom and dad, but I am not letting you turn yourself in. We’re leaving.” Alex said looking over to Maria who was dressed up for the festival too. She had met him over at his house to go to the crash fest. “Alex is right, we are leaving. We knew this day would come and I don’t want to but we don’t have another choice. I would rather leave Roswell than see you turn yourself in for saving someone’s life. So let’s go.” Maria said walking up behind Liz. She had tears in her eyes, and they were about to fall.
Max was sitting at his desk in his room, tonight was the crash fest, and Tess called him earlier asking him to go but he declined, the fest wasn’t his kind of thing. HE was picking up his science book when his door opened and Michael barged in. “Okay, you have two choices. One, you can tell me the truth about what happened or you can lie to me again and I will go and tell the sheriff everything I know.” He said folding his arms across his chest.
“What do you know?” Max asked cautiously. Michael took a deep breath and thought about it, “Well, I know that Liz was in the diner that day and that she went up to you did something to you and that you have been lying to me for the first time in our friendship.” Michael answered.
Max felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach… “You have to promise me you will not freak out.”
“Freak out? Come on Max? I have eaten bugs to get a laugh. I’ve pissed my pant because you bet me to.” Michael put his hands up in the air “What could you possibly tell me that would freak me out?”
Max looked at Michael and the words came out…
_____________________________________________________________
“YOU HAVE GOT TO FRIKKIN’ BE KIDDING ME!” He yelled as he ran to the street. “Michael!” Max called after him.
Michael jumped in his car with Max trailing behind. He pulled open the passenger door and got in just as Michael was pushing on the gas, speeding out of the parking lot at the Crashdown.
“Michael, calm down! Please, Just calm down.” Michael looked over at him, “Calm down? CALM DOWN?” he yelled. “You just told me Liz is an alien!” Max spoke up, “Not of this Earth is what I said.”
“What happened to you?” Michael speeds down the street, “You were going places and I was going to be your weird friend but I can’t be the weird to someone who is already crazy! It would be redundant.” He said as he started hyperventilating.
“Michael, stop babbling.” Max said turning Michael’s face to the road. “Hey! I think I’ve earned the right to babble, you…Alien Loving weirdo!” Michael said running a red light. “Slow down-Michael there they are! There’s Liz! Go after her! Cut a u-ey.” Michael snapped his head over to look at Max, “What?” he said not knowing what happened to his friend. “Just do it!” Max said; Michael obeyed him. “Now follow them!” he commanded. “Follow them?” Michael asked, “Max who are you, Perry Mason?” Max rolled his eyes “JUST CATCH THEM!”
“So this picture could mean there is someone out there who can help us get home?” Maria asked leaning up from the back seat. “It means there was one of us in ’59 who was a killer.” Liz said as she turned a corner. “Liz, there’s Valenti!” Alex said pointing to the sheriff’s SUV on the road ahead of them. Liz turned another corner into a dead end street. And waited, just then an old mustang pulled in behind them.
“What the…?” Alex said turning to look who it was. “Oh, just great. And look he brought a friend.” Maria said as she watched Max get out of the car. The trio got out of the Jeep and started walking towards the two humans, the light of the street making them look like shadows.
“Max, there are three. Please don’t tell me there are three?” Michael asked standing close to Max, he wasn’t someone to be afraid of much, but the thought of three aliens who had powers made him want to run and hide. “Well, Alex and Maria…” Max said quietly.
“Oh, great. One was bad enough but now all of the musketeers are here.”
“Michael knows…” Max started, Alex interrupted him, “So much for keeping this deadly secret to yourself genius.” He said rolling his eyes. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise,” Michael said moving to stand behind Max. Maria walked up to him, “Get in your car and move.” She said pointing to him.
“If you run it will be proving it for the sheriff. Liz, you can’t do that.” Max told Liz. Her eyes met his. “He’s right…” Liz began but was cut off by Alex, “Should have known you’d side with him” He disgustedly. “I’m not on anyone’s side. But you should move your car, Michael. I’m going to Valenti.” Liz said softly to Michael. The tone of her voice eased his fear…a little.
“What? Liz we talked about this. You are not…” Maria started to tell Liz but was stopped when Max stepped forward….
“I think I have an idea…but you're going to have to trust me...”
Last edited by T.D.O on Tue Jul 26, 2005 1:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
Note: This is basically the last part I use anything from the pilot. Like I said, I don’t own it no plagiarism meant nor intended. I promise, stick with me...it will make more sense as we go along.
“NO WAY!” Alex yelled, “I will not use my powers in public!”
Liz and Maria motioned for him to lowers his voice, “SHH!” Liz glared at him, “At least I didn’t yell when I healed Max.” Causing Alex to stick his tongue out at Liz in response, “Oh, that’s real mature Alex,” Liz complained.
Turning his attention back to the task at hand Alex shook his head, “What if someone sees me?” He put his hands in the air, “I don’t want to be seen using my powers.”
Max walked up to him and folded his arms across his chest, “Alex, that’s the whole point of it, for Valenti to see you. But, you will have a mask on and if everything goes right, no one will know who you are.”
“And just how will this lead him away from Liz?”
Putting his hands together, Max answered him, “If the Sheriff sees two other people making a ‘light’ and ‘healing’ someone with Liz in plain sight than Valenti will have nothing to go on as far as suspecting Liz.”
Alex and Maria looked at each other and then glanced at Liz. “This will never work, Alex,” Maria said quietly. “Give it chance, guys; Max is just trying to help us.” Liz pleaded with them, “Maria you don’t want to leave Amy right? And Alex, you don’t want to leave Mom and Dad?”
Alex and Maria sighed and made a face before turning back to Max and Michael, Maria made a groan and asked, “So how good are these masks?”
Maria said from the back seat of Michael’s car. She looked at Alex, “Remind me again why we are doing this?” She couldn’t believe she was trusting Max, who promised Liz that, who saved his life no less, that he wouldn’t go and tell anyone else, goes and tell Michael.
Max glanced back in the rear view mirror, “It will Maria, I know this guy…A little.” Max turned his attention back to driving. Michael was sitting in the seat next to him not saying a word.
They pulled into the Crash fest and hoped for the best. This was the last chance they had to get Valenti off if Liz’s back. And it had to work perfectly. They all just prayed Max knew what he was doing. “Okay, Michael, you know what to do right?” Michael nodded.
“And Maria…Alex?”
Maria gave a scoff at the tone Max had. She couldn’t believe this was going to work. No way, this was going down in a blaze of crap. “Maria?” Max asked again. This time Maria responded, “Listen Max, I am only going along with because of Liz wanted me too.”
She flipped her hair out of her face, “I just want you to know that I don’t expect this work at all.” She said as she placed her arms across her chest.
She tired to ignore the stricken expression on Max’s face as she felt guilt start to grow in her. But it didn’t have much time to fester because as soon as she as opened her mouth to apologize Alex motioned for them to get out of the car. Max looked back one last time, “Maria, this will work.”
Michael walked next to Maria as they made their way to crowd, not knowing what to say. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to near her…despite how cute she was. “This is going to be okay,” he started out, trying to break the ice, “Max is smart.” Mari ignored him and stormed ahead of him, not wanting to talk to him.
As they walked to festival Alex could feel his heart beating faster and faster, he hated this thing, every year, they would gather to celebrate the death of his family. A family that he never knew. He glanced around, looking at the people in different costumes, if they only knew that what they were mocking was standing right next to them…
Liz walked around the grounds, making her way through the crowds of people. She was waiting for Max to call her cell. She looked for Jim Valenti, normally she would avoid this man at all costs but tonight, for the first time she was looking for him. She was searching for him, she wanted this to end tonight.
She walked around some more, buying a corndog while she waited. She glanced over to the side of a small vendor, looking for him. She jumped at the sound of her cell phone ringing, it was Max.
“Hello?”
”We see him. He’s over by bathrooms.”
Liz’s gaze shifted from behind the vendor to the bathrooms where she saw Jim standing there, looking like he needed something to do. ‘Here goes nothing’ she thought as she walked towards him. Every footstep made her heart beat faster. Just as she was making her way over to him her phone rang again, this time only ringing once then hanging up.
She focused over to the parking lot, where she saw Michael, dressed up as a fly. She was getting closer to the sheriff with every step but before she could reach him her caught sight of her. “Miss Parker, I need you to come with me,” he came up to her and pulled her to side by the arm, dragging her over behind a big semi-truck that had been parked there.
Maria grabbed him by the arm and she lifted the alien mask off her face, “Why is he taking her like that?” She looked at him, her fear was evident, “Please tell me this is a part your plan?” She pleaded.
Max didn’t say anything, he only watched as Valenti took Liz behind the truck. That was when Maria knew that things weren’t going as smooth as planed, “Alex, we’d better start!”
Alex gave a knowing look and he and Maria pulled her mask back over their heads while Max ran off to the side. “Michael, you ready?” Alex asked, when Michael nodded Alex turned to Maria, “Time to pray.”
The next thing anyone heard was Michael screaming at the top of his lungs.
“Now, I know you did something to Max Evans and you are going to tell me, do you understand?”
Liz backed up against the tuck; “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” She tried her best to sound convincing, over the years she had learned how to lie well, but tonight she going to have to put on her best ‘show’. It wasn’t working with him. Almost growling in anger, Jim puffed out a breath of angry air, “Listen to me, I know you did something to him, I need you to tell me the truth.”
Liz shook her head, “I am telling you the truth, sheriff. I didn’t do anything to him, I swear!” Jim grew angrier by the moment and it was starting to show. Liz spoke next, breaking his train of thought as to what he was going to say next. “Sheriff, all I did was eat there and when the gun went off I ran. I don’t even know Max all that, we just go to school together!” She felt tears come to her eyes as she finished her speech, “I didn’t to anything to him! You’re not going to arrest me for running from a gun going off are you?”
Valenti stared at her, almost believing her. Besides, if he were to arrest her, it make him the laughing stock of the whole town, taking a seventeen yr. old girl in for ‘healing’ someone form a gun shot wound?
Before Jim could respond to her he heard a cry from the parking lot, he glanced in the direction the call was coming from and then back at Liz, “Your coming with me,” he said bitterly and pulled Liz along. “I’m not through with you yet!”
Jim ran around the corner to a deserted part of the parking area to see something made him stop dead in his tracks, three kids were standing near each other, all of them had mask’s on and two had this…other worldly light coming from their hands.
Michael was standing between them, Alex and Maria both were holding on to him, placing a hand on his chest. Michael looked down from the bottom of the facemask and could see their hands glowing white.
“Hey!” Jim called out as loud as he could. He started running to them again, when they looked up to face him and ran off. The young boy that was standing between the two people had fallen to the ground. “Hey, son, what happened?” He called as he knelt down by the boy pulling off his mask.
Michael looked up at him and then down to his chest where his shirt had been ripped, “What the heck is on my chest?” he asked as he pointed down to the silver handprint on it. Jim leaned in and gave it a closer look, his hand rubbing up against it slightly.
Jim looked at the mark and then turned back to Liz who had been standing by him the entire time. There was no way she could have done this. “What happened to you?” he asked again, not taking his eyes off Liz.
Michael gave a cough, “I’m not sure, I don’t really remember much…how did I get here?” The sheriff put his head down, “Did you get a good look at them, and did you see their faces or anything?” Michael shook his head, “No, all I saw were their masks. Do you know what happened to me?”
Jim pushed him self back up and then helped Michael off the ground, “No son, I don’t know.” Before he could say anything else to him, Michael looked around. “I have to go…”
Jim tried to stop him but couldn’t, “Wait!” he had already run off. Just then Max Evans came walking towards him. Jim pulled Liz close and whispered coldly, “I’m on to you Liz, I just want you to now that I am watching you…”
“Liz, is everything okay?”
Liz gave a soft nod and turned to the Sheriff who motioned for her to leave, “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
They walked off to the rest of the party. Jim watched as she left, feeling like he had just lost a battle, when, he noticed something didn’t feel right on his hand. He lifted up his hand noticed…paint, silver paint on the hand that touched the mark on Michael. He slammed his fist against a near by wall, how could he have been so stupid?
This may have been over for the night, but He was going to find out the truth of Liz Parker if this was the last thing he did. He flipped out his wallet, “Agent Stevens.” He looked at the card, he would call him when he got home.
The crowd cheered as they watched a replica of a UFO crash on the ground, the bodies landing in a mangled manner while they were burning. Everyone seemed to cheer but three young teenagers in front, watching the bodies as though they were watching a family member being buried. Everyone was celebrating the crash that put Roswell on the map while they felt as though they were mourning their dead relatives.
“Happy Anniversary I guess,” Alex said softly, touching Liz and Maria’s shoulders. Liz looked back at him, then over to Maria. What she had done over the past few days had already changed them. All of their lives this closely guarded secret found it’s way to two humans who they now had to trust with their lives. Liz may have known she could trust Michael and Max, but Alex and Maria had reservations about it and rightfully so. She couldn’t blame them for being cautious. One thing Liz could always smile about, the first person they told about them was the one she always dreamed it would be…Max.
Liz spotted Max standing at the top of hill, he smiled at her. She felt her heart swell in her chest, she moved to walk up to where he was.
“Hey” was all that was said as she neared him. “I guess I owe you a thank you and Maria and Alex owe you an apology.”
Max was taken away with how beautiful she was in that moment. She was wearing her normal street clothes, being one of the few people not dressed up. Her hair was slightly messed up from all the nights’ excitement. He reached over and pushed a stray hair behind her ear. “Sorry, you had a hair thing.” Max laughed feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
Liz smiled back; he was dressed as a FBI agent for the night’s festival. The wind began blow, giving a light breeze to the desert air. “Max, this can’t work… you and I. I wish it could. I mean I really, really wish it could but we’re just…”
“Different” They said at the same time.
“Liz, I don’t care.” Max said truthfully, he didn’t care if was done right deadly, he had to be with her. Over the past few days as he began to know her better. He saw into her soul the other night and it was beautiful. He never thought he could develop feelings for someone so quickly and so strong too. They leaned close, as though leaning in for a kiss but Liz pulled away before she could give into her desire to feel him next to her. “Good night Max.”
“Good night Liz.” Max watched her start to walk away and something hit him, he never said thank you. “Liz,” she turned to face him, “I never got to say thank you…for saving my life.” Max watched as a smiled formed on her face, “Thank you.” Was all she said as she left him on the hill top. Max felt it as soon as she left too. It was like he could almost sense her sometimes.
He looked at the stars, and smiled. And for that moment he was happy.
Last edited by T.D.O on Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks for all the great feedback guys! I swear, the parts will get longer soon
Liz woke up with a start, for the first time in days she didn’t have a constant sense of dread surrounding her. After she showered and dressed she sent down stairs, surprised to only find her mom, Nancy, sitting at the counter, drinking her coffee.
“Where were you kids last night?” She asked, taking a sip. Liz sat next to her, “We went to the festival last night, I thought you knew that?” she said cautiously, for all Liz knew, Valenti could have said something to her mom. Nancy often ran into him at the store.
“You got back kind of late.”
Liz sighed, “We had to drop Maria off.” She didn’t know what her mom was suddenly worried about them being out like that. She knew that Alex and Liz only hung with Maria, and that last night they would be at the festival. “Mom, is something wrong?”
Nancy shook her head and gave a sad grin; she knew her kids wouldn’t get into any trouble. “Sorry, I forgot. How is Maria, I haven’t talked to her in a couple of days?”
“She’s okay.”
A small underling of regret was in bottom of Liz’s stomach, she hadn’t spent much time with her parents since the shooting. She looked at her watch, she had some time. Smiling she took her moms hand, “Sorry about being late last night, it won’t happen again. What’s been happening with you lately?”
Alex and Maria were sitting at a table during lunch watching Michael. He was quietly singing along with Metallica song through his earphones. “What do you think of Mr. Metallica?” Alex asked, noticing how little attention Maria was paying to their conversation. She ducked her head, “Oh, Buddha, and I thought Liz drooling over Max everyday was embarrassing. Look at him!”
“That’s nice but, you didn’t answer my question,” Alex smiled at her, his sisters were funny sometimes. Maria suddenly got offended, much to Alex’ confusion, “Yeah, he’s cute Alex but, wrong species.” She shook her head, Alex couldn’t have noticed her admiring Michael…or at least she hoped he didn’t.
But, he did, “Maria, I meant did you think he was going to turn us in or something?” Alex did his best to not laugh at her. She was turning into Liz.
“Well…we’ll see,” Maria said, getting annoyed with how Alex was staring at her smugly. “What?” she asked defensively. “Oh, nothing, nothing at all,” he said, holding in his chuckle.
Maria started turning red, “Where is Liz?” she asked, trying to change the subject. The last thing needed was Alex to tease her about Michael, she had to enough to deal with as Liz was constantly trying to get her to apologize to Max and Michael and thank them for their help two days ago.
“She is right here,” Liz said, sitting beside Alex, “What are you guys up to?” she asked, trying to start a conversation. Alex took a bite of his food, “I’m trying to figure out if we can trust our new friend over there while Maria is drooling over him.” He motioned over to Michael who jumped when Alex waved at him.
Liz raised her eyebrows at Maria, “Drooling huh?” she teased, “I believe that is the term you two use for me and Max am I right?”
Ignoring her, Alex winked at him, causing Michael to break his plastic fork when he bit down on it. “Are you sure this is safe, Liz?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“You know; if we couldn’t trust them why did they help us?” She glanced at Alex as she took another bite of her food. “And I think you know that.”
Maria didn’t hear the rest of the conversation as she stared at Michael, his spiky hair was more tame today and he was wearing the leather jacket he always wore, no matter what the weather was like outside. That was sexy to her for some reason. Other than the earphones he didn’t seem to have much at the table aside from his food which he had to get another fork to eat. Maria sighed; he was almost dreamy to her. That was when she shook herself out of her stupor, what was she doing? She couldn’t like Michael!
Max was lying in bed, he was thinking about Liz again. That didn’t come as a surprise, that was all he did now. In class he would sit impatiently, waiting for lab. After which he think about her in the rest of class’s. He wondered if it was a side effect of being healed by her, the inability to stop thinking about her. This never happened with Tess, not that he didn’t think like Tess, he just didn’t feel thing for her like he did for Liz.
Was he falling in love with her? He reflected on it, he was falling in love for the first time, and only time. He knew he would have to break up with Tess, he didn’t want to hurt her, but he couldn’t keep lying to her when she would call him or ask him out and he would turn her down.
Max knew he’d have to deal with Liz telling him that they were too different but he would find a way to work past that. Despite how stubborn Liz was, he thought, he would break down her walls.
Things had calmed down since the shooting a week and half ago, Maria and Alex were still pretty nervous about everything but Liz and Max seemed to moving along great. They became closer as friend’s, especially when Max ended things with Tess. Who didn’t take things all that well much to Max’s surprise.
Walking her to her car after school, Max tried thinking about how he was going to tell her that he wanted to see other people, well, one person…Liz.
“Tess, we need to talk,” he started wondering how he was going to break things to her. “I know! We haven’t talked in days,” she responded. Max shoved his hands deeper in his pockets. “Tess, we really need to talk about something…” He chewed on his lip, “Tess, I think we should see other people, you know?” Max said hoping things wouldn’t get too heated.
They weren’t seriously dating, so there shouldn’t be too much pain involved Max told himself…”What?” Tess had tears in her eyes, “Why do you want to break up with me?” Max sighed, “Is it Liz Parker? Because I swear, she's trouble Max. My uncle told me about her.” Max felt himself get angry at how Tess was talking about Liz, like she knew her. “You’re wrong Tess. She’s not trouble; she’s the kindest person I know,” Max defended Liz the best he could “I’m sorry Tess, but I can’t see you anymore.” Tess didn’t respond she just stormed off; Max would have felt bad had he not felt so relieved.
Max was walking out after school when Isabel stopped him. “Hey, Max!” she said looking startled that she finally got to see him, “What happened to you? You like disappeared over the past week or something.”
Trying to think of what to say, Max put his hands in his pockets, “Yeah, I’ve been pretty distracted lately you know?” Isabel looked at him; “Yeah, you and Michael have like avoiding me lately. Oh, I heard you and Tess broke up?” Isabel and Tess had been friends before Tess and Max dated, so that meant Isabel more than likely heard all about it.
“Yeah, I just felt like we needed to see other people.” He avoided her gaze, “But anyway, we haven’t been avoiding you Is, we’ve been busy,” Max replied, hoping to ease her concern.
Isabel noticed that he never made eye contact with her; he kept his gaze on anything but her. That was odd for Max; he only did that when he lied to people or felt nervous.
In truth he didn’t mean to be avoiding her, he just felt that until thing truly calmed down he shouldn’t involve anymore than he already had. He finally met her stare, “Sorry.”
She couldn’t be mad at the puppy eyes, “Well, call me later, okay?” Isabel asked putting her hand on his shoulder. Max nodded and turned to go to meet Michael for a ride home. Isabel shook her head at the disappearing figure, something was wrong with him, she told herself. And she was going to find out what it was.
Valenti was walking through the store, looking for lemons. Somehow, ever time he went shopping alone, he got lost. “Lemons, lemons, where are you?” he muttered to himself as he strolled through the store, not noticing who he was about to run into.
“Sheriff!”
Jim looked up to see Nancy Parker, crouching on the ground, trying to pick the fallen items from her cart. “So sorry!” he said leaning down to help her, “I’m sorry,” he said again, realizing who it was.
“Mrs. Parker,” he reached out to shake her hand as they stood up from retrieving her groceries. Nancy smiled and returned the gesture, “Sheriff, how are you doing?” she asked cordially, “So I hear you’ve had a lot stuff on your hands since the shooting at the Crashdown?”
Smiling at her, Jim slowly nodded ‘yes’, “Say, wasn’t Liz there that day?”
Nancy’s smile faded, “Yes, I believe so…why?”
Looking away as he picked up other items from the fridge he standing next to he responded, “Well, you see, I’ve heard many people say she was there and then when I ask Max Evans, he said no. I just wanted to clear it up.” He said; neglecting to mention the fact that he cleared that up at the festival.
Suddenly confused, Nancy questioned him, “Why, sheriff, is Liz like a suspect or something?” she asked, half laughing. Jim looked back at her again, “So, not in the shooting but…” he stopped, “Mrs. Parker, have you ever noticed anything unusual about your daughter?”
Becoming offended, Nancy quickly answered him, “Well, Sheriff, both of my children were adopted when we found them outside of town, unclothed and with no trace of their parents anywhere. So, I’m sorry, but I think if my kids are ‘different’ as you say, than they deserve to be a little different!” she said before storming off.
“So, did you talk to Isabel?” Michael asked Max as he drove to the Crashdown. “Yeah, she sounds pretty concerned about us; says we’ve been avoiding her the past week,” when Max said that Michael felt guilt consume him.
He shook his head sadly, Isabel was one of his best friends and she felt like they were trying to exclude her or something. It couldn’t be further from the truth, Michael and Max had promised that they wouldn’t tell anyone. He pulled into the parking lot, not say anything.
“She told me to call her later,” Max said as he got out of the car, “Are you coming in for a burger?” He asked, looking concerned.
Michael looked down, he was hungry but seeing his friend was more important. “No, I’ll see you later.” He would ignore his stomach for a few moments. Food could wait.
Isabel and Max were close but she and Michael were a little closer. They had a lot common when it came to family life; Max came from a good home with a close family, they owned the Crashdown so they never really had any money problems. Michael’s family was kind of broken up, his father and mother divorced when he was five they had money problems and the old mustang he drove was in little better shape then an old cardboard box, his dad never was home, it seemed like he was always working.
Isabel’s parents were still together but her dad was always away on business and her mom was at the hospital working as a nurse; a good paying job, but bills can take away a good income easily when you have a lot. Michael felt his nervousness start to grow as he pulled into Isabel’s driveway, she lived in a nice house in the suburbs of Roswell, nothing too special but it was a good home in a good community.
He knocked on the door and waited for Isabel to answer; when she did she looked surprised to him, “Michael! What’s up?” Isabel smiled at the sight of her long lost friend.
“Nothing much, Max told me he saw you today?”
Isabel nodded and motioned for him to come inside. “Yeah, ever since the crash fest you guy have been ignoring my phone calls, what’s up with that?” she sounded kind of hurt. Michael felt even worse, “Is, we haven’t been avoiding you, I have been busy and Max has been busy,” Michael hoped it soothed things over with her but it just fueled it. “What about the Parker’s and that Maria girl? You guys have been hanging around them lately,” Isabel said in an offended tone.
“Is, Liz and Max are lab partners and have been studying for a big test coming up. Her brother and Maria, her friend has been around a few times when they were studying. It’s no big deal,” he was surprised at how good he lied. Isabel looked embarrassed, “Oh, man. I feel like such an idiot!” she said covering her face with her hands. “I’m sorry Michael,” she was laughing at her own stupidity.
“It’s okay, I felt the same way for awhile and when I talked to Max he told me what was going on,” Michael smiled at Isabel's relaxed state now, she didn’t look mad or hurt, she just looked slightly red. “Well, as fun as it is having you around I have to study myself so…” Isabel hinted. Michael turned to leave, “Okay, I’ll go. See you at school?” Isabel nodded, “Yeah, see at school. By Michael,” she waved as he walked out the door.
“Are you guys ever going to admit Max was right about Valenti?” Liz asked Maria and Alex who were sitting by her at the café. They had come there after school and it didn’t take a lot to notice they were trying to avoid the subject of Max saving their butts at the crash fest.
“Why should we apologize?” Maria started out, waving her hands around. “He got us into the mess in the first place!”
Before she said anything Liz instinctively looked to Alex to agree with Maria, however to Liz’s astonishment he defended Max. “We should say we’re sorry because we’ve treated him like crap since he found out the truth and it’s not his fault he was shot.” he looked down at his plate; he had this conflicting emotions on the whole Max and Liz situation.
On one hand he hated the thought of someone knowing what they were but on the other he was glad. And this was started beat him down. One moment he never wanted to talk about the shooting ant the next he was hoping they could all become friends.
“What did you just say Alex?” Maria sounded bewildered, “Did you just say what I think you said?”
Alex just took a bite of food and said nothing. “I can’t believe this, another one, sucked into the human abyss!” Maria threw her hands up and left, all the while Liz and Alex could hear her mumbling, “Crazy, crazy, people.” After she paid for her food, she went to the UFO center across the street.
“Alex, did you really mean that?” Liz questioned him, bringing him out of his thoughts, was Alex really saying that they should say sorry to Max?
Alex nodded, “Liz, I’m not sure I trust him by any means. I’m just saying that he did save us and we should thank him for it.” Alex ended on that, pushing his food aside.
“Well, here is your chance,” Liz motioned over to Max who was walking to their table. Alex scrunched his face up and gave a mock laugh, “Very funny, very funny.” Liz just shrugged and gave an innocent smile at him. “Please?”
When Max reached the table he had no time to say hi before Alex blurted out, “Hey, Max thanks for everything you’ve done and sorry I’ve treated you like crap.” He said in one breath.
Max was taken aback by Alex, “What?” he asked looking at Liz for answers who shrugged her should and smiled at him.
Alex hid his face in his hands, “Please, don’t make me say it again.” He jumped out of his seat and headed over to UFO Center to meet up with Maria.
Max had the cutest look Liz had ever seen on him, “Alex doesn’t say he is sorry to too many people?” he asked. Liz nodded, “Something like that.” She scratched her head as she moved over so he could sit next to her.
Max pointed to half eaten plate, “You gonna eat that?” he asked. Liz shook her head, “No, but, I gotta warn you: there is a lot of hot sauce on it.”
Max smiled and started to a bite, “Hey. I can handle anything hot.” He placed a bite in his mouth; it sat there for about two seconds before he grabbed the glass of water. “How do you guys handle that stuff?!”
Liz just laughed and shook her head at him, “I told you!”
Liz stopped when she heard her mother call her into the living room, “Mom, is everything okay?” she asked, sitting down when mother motioned her over. “Just sit down and talk to me,” she said sweetly. She sighed and started shifting her gaze around the room, “So I ran into the sheriff today.”
Liz almost jumped out of her seat, “What did he say?” she had to stop herself from over reacting. Nancy was shocked by her kids’ reaction, “He asked me if you were in the Crashdown the day of the shooting.”
If hadn’t been scared out of her mind she was now, “Why does he care?” she asked, trying to sound normal.
“I don’t know, he told me that people had told different stories, but I think there’s another reason behind it.” Nancy placed her hands on her knees, “Liz, you do know that if you need to talk you can always come to me, right?”
Liz was starting to shake, “Yeah, mo I know that.”
“Good,” Nancy smiled and pulled her into a hug, “Just always know that.”
“What do you mean the shirt turned up nothing?” Jim Valenti asked, “There is bullet hole in the shirt!”
“I’m sorry but I don’t even know what I would be looking for!” Agent Stevens was getting angry, “You gave me this thing weeks ago, we’ve tested it and tested it. There is nothing. Do you even realize what you’re saying?”
Jim huffed out air, “I’m telling you the boy had something done to him!”
“That’s it! You are saying this girl, Liz Parker, went up and healed this boy from a gunshot wound in front of a whole restaurant full of people?” Agent Stevens asked, “I’ve seen nut’s with a better story. You have gotten too personal Jim. Let it go.”
“I can’t do that, for you this is just another case of someone claming something extraordinary, but for me it is making me question whether or not my father was really crazy after all. I’m going to be involved in the investigation,” he finished.
“Listen, I’ll call you if there is something ‘investigate’. But until then, let it go,” Agent Stevens hung up the phone.
Jim slammed the phone down. Why couldn’t anyone see that something else was going on? All his life his dad was on this chase to find aliens and Jim never once believed him. Now, he was an adult and his father was in a nursing home and Jim was started to believe like his father.
But more than that, something deep down wanted Liz Parker to be different, so that his fathers’ needless search wouldn’t be in vain. Before his last breath he would know that he wasn’t crazy. That’s want Jim wanted for his dad, peace of mind that he was right.
The next day at school Michael was walking down the halls, trying to get to his next class when someone bumped into him. “Alex!” Michael called out in a nervous voice, “What are you doing?” Alex felt an odd sense of fear coming from him; “Going to class,” it was then he saw that when he ran into Michael his cell phone fell to the ground and broke.
“Here let me fix it for you,” he said concealing the phone so no one could see what he was about to do it. “No!” Michael stopped him, “It’s okay, I needed to get a new one anyway.”
Alex felt like an outsider, all he wanted to do was try and help him, show him that they weren’t going to do anything mean to him and Michael recoiled like he was on of those cheesy Aliens from a poorly made sci-fi film.
“How are you going to pay for it? I mean their not cheep you know,” Alex folded his arms across his chest. “I’ve saved up some money.” Was all Michael said before he turned and left Alex standing in the school hall, watching him rush to get away from him.
Just then Isabel Whitman ran into him. He felt his heart skip a beat. “Isabel! How you doing?” he asked start struck. Isabel looked at Alex, she knew him just as a guy from class or as Liz’s brother. He was kind of a geek but still attractive. “I’m doing good Alex, how are you?” Alex was amazed she knew his name, “I’m doing just dandy!” he turned beat red from the cheesy repose. “Okay, Alex I’ve go to go to class now. But I’ll see you later okay?” Isabel waved and walked off. Alex just sighed as he watched; maybe humans weren’t so bad.
Max was waiting tables. He never really gave much thought into if he really liked doing it or not, he just did it. It made him some little extra spending money and it was the reason he got to become better friends with Liz. The thought of her brought a smile to his face. The bell rang as the door to the café opened. Liz, Alex and Maria all walked in. Liz’s eyes caught his as she walked towards their table.
“Hey Max,” Liz said shyly. “Hey” he smiled back. Max took their orders and left.
“Oh great Alex, grab the bucket! She’s becoming a puddle of mush again.”
“Maria, shut up before you hurt yourself”
“Liz you know you can’t let yourself become too close to him.” Maria grabbed a bottle of Tabasco sauce and handed it too her, “Here, if you want something hot to look at, look at this.”
Liz and Alex shared a confused glance at the comment. “Yeah, one problem Maria, it’s not hot to us.” Liz teased but Maria wasn’t paying attention, her mind or eyes were on something else. Liz turned back to see what it was Maria was looking at. She felt a smug grin on her lips, “Here, if you want something hot to look at, look at this,” She handed Maria the Tabasco.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt us to be friends with them,” Liz wanted to be friends with people; she didn’t see how Alex and Maria could be so closed in and paranoid of everyone all the time. It had to get boring after a while.
“No, Liz we’ve talked about this, we can’t just open up ourselves to other people. It’s too risky,” Maria responded, her gaze was still on Michael who had been joined by Isabel Whitman. “I wonder if Isabel suspects something?”
“Is she here?” Alex perked up. Maria gave him a look.
“Yeah, she’s over with Michael.”
“Maybe we should ask them to come over and sit with us?” Liz suggested hoping that maybe if they could open up to Michael, even a little, they wouldn’t be so on edge. Maria snapped out of her Michael gaze and shook her head at Liz. “Liz, we still don’t know if Max or Michael or both are going to say anything or not.” Liz grew defensive at Maria’s words.
“If Max was going to say anything he would have said by now.” Liz couldn’t believe what Maria was saying, it had been weeks and she still was afraid that Max was going to turn them in. “Why can’t you guys just trust someone?” Liz felt herself grow angry, “If he was going to turn us in he would done it at the Crash Fest. He isn’t though, and neither is Michael.”
“You can’t get too close to him,” Maria strained, all she wanted was Liz to understand that her and Max are too different. “Liz, we aren’t normal.” Liz sat up in her seat a little more, her long brown hair shifting a little as she moved. “Maria, I know that. But that still doesn’t change the fact that we have no choice but to trust them,” Liz sighed as thought of a way to fully explain what she was feeling, “More than that, I want to trust them.”
After they got their food and properly dumped half a bottle of Tabasco on it they continued their conversation. “You know something?” Maria said with a mouth full of food, her fork pointing in Liz’s direction. “I would trust Max a little more if I could see what he was thinking.” Alex looked over at her; she wasn’t really suggesting what he thought she was. “Maria, please don’t tell you are thinking of…”
“No, Liz I’m not; I can’t, but Alex can…” Maria trailed off, the all shared a few powers but one that made Alex unique was his ability to dream walk he could walk into people’s dreams. “Please you guys, don’t. All I ask of you is that you don’t” Liz begged.
“Okay, okay,” Alex said giving in; he knew how much Liz cared about Max and didn’t want to see him get any bad ideas about them. Liz smiled in relief. “Now can we just finish our food?”
Liz and Maria were at the Crashdown after Alex left. He went to the UFO museum across the street; he liked to go there from time to time to see if there was anything that they might find useful on finding out about others that were like them.
The café was slowing down and it was just Michael, Liz, Max and Maria. “Here, if you two are going to be here and not buy anything you can help us get some of these dishes up.” Michael said as he carried a group of plates to the back when suddenly he tripped over something and went crashing to the ground.
“AHHHHH!”
Liz and Maria ran over to him as Max came rushing out from the back, “What happened?” Max asked in a worried voce. “I tripped. I’m fine but I don’t think all those dishes are…” Michael motioned to the large pile of broken dishes by his feet.
“Here, let me fix it,” Liz said as she waved her hand over the broken glass. They were good as new.
“I knew aliens would come in handy one day,” Max said in a joking manner. Liz looked at him; his face all of a sudden became pale. “Max what’s wrong?” she asked but he didn’t say anything. All they heard from behind them was Isabel’s voice…
“What was that?!?”
Last edited by T.D.O on Thu Aug 11, 2005 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
This is funny, the whole ‘heal the wound but not the hole’ thing is referenced in this part. But, really I wrote this along time ago. This was something I did as a ‘warm up’ for a writing project. I’m still going through most of it and editing it and revising stuff. That is why I haven’t posted it until now. I was bored and felt like posting a few parts. Thanks again for all the feedback!
There is a small part in here that I used maybe like two lines and a small scene from the show. No infringement intended.
_______________________________
Shocked beyond description, Isabel stood frozen where she was, unable to believe what she had just seen. It couldn’t have really happened…could it?
Her day had gone perfectly normal up until what just happened. She was simply walking into the café when she saw Michael on the floor with a large pile of broken dishes next to him. Then Liz Parker…fixed them…with a wave of her hand.
Michael stood up, calling her name, “Isabel,” he said but she wasn’t paying attention. She was focused on Liz, who looked like a deer stuck in the head lights of an oncoming truck. “What did you just do?” Isabel asked her, keeping her gaze as Liz stood up on two shaky feet. The pit of her stomach began to turn.
When Liz planted her self firmly on her feet she spoke, “I put them back together….”
Isabel mouth fell open in a delayed reaction and she quickly shut it. Her breathing becoming erratic, she replied to Liz, “Well, I can see that!” This had to be a dream Isabel said to her self again.
Liz took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. “Isabel, listen, I can explain how that happened…but you have to listen to me and promise not to say anything.’
“How?” Isabel demanded, she wasn’t one to demand something from someone, unless she felt the need to, and right now she did!
Liz turned back to look at Maria and gave a stare of sympathy, there nothing she could do and Maria knew it. This wasn’t like what happened with Max when no one really saw…there was no explaining this away. She took a deep and spoke, stepping over that cliff she promised herself she go over again, “I’m different from you.”
Isabel almost scoffed. “That’s obvious.”
The harshness in Isabels voice almost made Liz want to run away. Instead, she stood up straight and stepped closer to her, “Isabel…” she tried to say but Isabel just backed away from her. Not in disgust, but not knowing what to expect.
Everything was becoming too much for her; she turned to leave when she heard footsteps coming up behind her, “What’s going on guys?” the voice and the footsteps belonged to Alex.
Alex stood there in confusion watching everyone, noticing how no one said anything. He glanced at Liz, then to Maria and then Isabel. Their faces were his answer. “What happened here guys?” he asked, putting his hands in the air.
Isabel turned back to Liz, the Alex was staring at Liz made it clear to Isabel that, what ever was different about Liz, was different about Alex.
“Isabel…Alex, Maria and I aren’t from around here.”
This time, when Liz stepped closer, Isabel didn’t back away, she pondered on what Liz said.
“Where are you from?”
Liz tried to think of what to tell her, which was hard because she didn’t know where she was from. She pointed up, like she did when she told Max the truth.
”Where are you guys from?”
Liz pointed higher. Isabel swallowed, her eyebrow furrowed in confusion, “Utah?”
The question made Liz look back at Max, that’s what he said. He gave a small grin. Why did everyone say that?
The moment Isabel was taking to process the information she had been given was broken by Alex’ voice coming through, “Liz, what happened?” he asked franticly, “Did she see you use your powers?”
“Your powers?” Isabel questioned, still not knowing if she was really here or not. “You have more powers?”
Liz nodded, “We’re not from here.”
Isabel shook her head; “You’re not aliens. They don’t exist…do they?”
When she realized they weren’t saying anything she grew even more uncomfortable. She didn’t want to believe aliens were in Roswell. And that they went to her high school. It sounded too much like a WB show.
“I have to go…” Isabel tried to leave but Max called after her.
“Isabel, Isabel!” he said as he rushed to her, “Isabel, you remember the shooting?” Max asked her, grabbing her attention. He tried to calm her down, which he wasn’t sure how to do really, he had never seen Isabel so freaked out.
Maria interrupted him, “Max—“ But Liz cut her off, “Maria, let him speak.”
Max looked at her and said in a low voice, “Isabel, the day of the shooting someone was shot. Me. I was shot and I wasn’t going to be okay,” Max tried to get Isabel to focus on what he was saying.
She glanced at Michael, “But, everyone said no one shot?” she felt tears well up in her eyes.
“Liz came up to me and healed me. Isabel, she saved me.” He said softly.
Clearing his throat, Michael stood up and went beside Max, “Max is right, they’re good people.”
“Thank you Michael,” Maria called out from behind him. He glanced back to see her giving him a thankful smile.
“Do you realize what you’re saying?” Isabel asked. She couldn’t believe they were telling her Aliens were real. "You are saying that aliens are real and that they are standing in our presence and that they are good people!”
She held up her hands, “Aliens are good people!”
Isabel tried to leave again but ran right into Alex. She looked up at him and felt tears come to her eyes again as he held onto her. “Please, let me leave,” she begged. All she wanted to do was get out of there.
“Isabel,” Liz started walking up to her. Isabel recoiled back in fear. “It’s true okay?” Liz said as she put her hands on her shoulders, “I healed Max that day. And we are not going to hurt you. If we were lying how could you explain what just happened?”
Isabel felt her fear leave a little at Liz’s explanation. “I’m in the middle of a really sick dream and soon I will wake up and everything will go back to normal?” Isabel didn’t wait for anyone to answer her before she went onto her next rant, “And not only that but, why should I believe you?” she didn’t really know if she wanted the answer or not.
Maria rolled her eyes, “What did you just see?” this had gone from tense to almost comical at how fast Isabel went into a severe case of denial.
Thinking of how to prove to her that she wasn’t in a dream, Liz’s stare shifted from her to a glass sitting on a near by table; she walked over and picked it up.
“What are you going to do?”
Liz didn’t make a sound as she took the glass and turned it into a bowl and then back again. Isabel felt faint, “How did you do that?”
Liz just picked up the glass and handed it back to her, “Do you really want to know?” Liz asked Isabel. Isabel didn’t say anything for a moment while the scene sunk in. She looked back and forth between Liz and Maria, then to Alex who was now standing near Maria. This is real. The instinct to run was over ridden by her curiosity.
Isabel finally spoke, “Okay, I’m listening.”
None of them saw the dark figure watching them from the outside…
After Isabel had left so did Maria, Alex and Liz, saying that if they didn’t get home soon their families would be getting worried.
That left Max and Michael alone to talk about the night events. “That was weird,” Max said scratching the top of his head. Michael agreed, “Yeah. But then again that seems to common place with us lately.”
Max nodded and smiled, “Yeah,” he went back over to the bar where he was closing it.
As he swept Michael’s thoughts went to Maria as Max went in the back to scrub the burger grill after he closed the bar. She was so scared tonight as she explained to Isabel what they were. His heart went out to her. Out everything that had happened, he felt like he could be a friend with her the most. He didn’t know why he told himself, it wasn’t like they got along or anything.
But, still, she was a nice person when you got down to it. And she was cute…Michael shook his head to get the thought out. ‘No!’ he told himself again, ‘We don’t have anything in common and she does look like someone who likes Metallica.’ He tried to fool himself into thinking he didn’t like Maria but it was becoming apparent to him and everyone else that he did and there was nothing he could do about it.
“Hey, Michael!”
Michael’s head shot up to where Max was calling him from the back, “What?” he asked going through the swinging doors. Max wiped off the sweat from his brow, “Do you think that if Isabel hadn’t walked in tonight she would have ever found out?”
Michael thought about if for a moment, “I don’t know man,” he truthfully. He would have to think she would have eventually, but he was glad that someone else was able to join their little group and that it someone he trusted and loved like family.
Isabel was driving home after three hours in the café. Liz, Alex and Maria explained just about everything to her and she agreed not to say anything. She couldn’t get it through her head...Aliens are real! Or was she just going crazy? No, Max and Michael were the crazy ones, they had crushes on them!
Isabel giggled at herself, she agreed to not to the police or anyone that they were aliens. Like they would believe her in the first place. Come on, aliens! She continued to run the situation over and over in her head and before she knew it, she was home. She saw the dinning room light on and gave a half smile. Her mom was home. She hadn’t seen her in almost two days. She worked so late at the hospital Isabel had been in bed by the time she got home and Isabel was gone by the time Mary woke up.
“Mom?” she called as she walked in her house. She heard footsteps coming from the dining room, “Isabel honey, is that you?” Mary came walking in the entrance where Isabel was standing. She wrapped her teenager in a tight hug, “Sorry I didn’t get to see you last night.” Isabel smiled at her mother; “It’s okay mom. I’m just really tired. I think I’ll just go to bed.”
Her mom looked at her with a concerned expression, “Is everything okay?” Isabel didn’t say anything, afraid her voice might betray her, she just kissed her mom on the cheek and climbed the stairs to her room. “I love you mom,” she said from the top of the stairs. A smile formed on her moms lips, “I love you too honey.”
Things had calmed down once again after Isabel found out. No one was thrilled that someone else had been let in on the secret but she seemed to holding up well. Alex was happy with her reaction. She was not afraid of them like Michael was for a while. She was still nevus and cautious but nothing like the walking ball of nerves Michael had been. Even after all the time that had pasted Alex was still cautious of them though
Now they were just laying low and getting to know their newest friend.
Alex sighed as he walked in light rain that was falling. The footsteps of people around him had almost a rhythmic beat to them. He was thinking of Max now. Still wondering if he was as faithful to Liz’s trust as she said he was. It was clear for anyone that Liz had strong feelings for Max. From what he could gather Max felt the same. But Alex worried that Max would be too afraid of what Liz and them actually where to stick by her, or that if it was even safe for them to have that kind of contact with anyone.
That sent him right back into his thoughts of Isabel. Alex always was in control of his life. That was up until Max was shot. And Isabel just made it harder for him to keep the control he created. She was on his mind just as much as the whole Max and Liz situation was. Only, every time he thought about Isabel his heart fluttered.
Alex took in a deep breath; the rain had stopped. ‘Oh well,’ he thought. ‘At least Maria isn’t head over heels for a human. She just likes to stare at Michael’…
“Isabel?”
Isabel turned to see Alex standing there in the rain. “What are you doing here?” Isabel asked him. “I couldn’t concentrate on anything, so I wanted to go for a walk.” He laughed as the rain started up again and began to fall harder.
“What are you doing here?”
“Same, I couldn’t just sit at home anymore.”
“Well then, feel like joining me for a walk?”
Alex wanted to break the ice with Isabel; “It’s more fun to walk with someone with you.” He smiled as she nodded and began to walk with him. “I’m sorry Alex if I seem a little uncomfortable…but.” Alex cut her off, “I understand. I mean, at least you’re talking with us. Michael wouldn’t even look at us with out freaking out for the first two weeks.”
Isabel giggled. Who would have thought that someone, anyone would be walking and talking with an alien? “I’ve never quite understood something though Alex…”
“What?”
Isabel stopped herself before she went any future with the conversation, “Let me know if this gets too personal or if you just want to answer me okay?” Isabel asked, when Alex gave his consent she continued, “Why are you here?”
Alex gazed down at his feet, “We’re not sure. We don’t have any memory of before Earth, we just know that we came out of pods about ten years ago and were adopted.”
“But Liz said that your blood was different from others, how were you adopted with out you blood being tested to see if you were healthy?”
“We’re not sure what happened, We think that maybe our blood just didn’t change until we started using our powers but, we’re not sure…”
Isabel started on her next question, “Liz said that you guys all had different powers, how is that?” Alex stopped and walked near a lamppost, “Liz can heal people, as you know. Maria can use like this….force field kind of thing. And I, well, I have the most interesting of the bunch.” Alex stated, jokingly making himself sound proud. “I can dream walk.”
“Dream what?” Isabel asked, “What it that? “
“Dream walk. I can go into people’s dreams and even communicate with them in the Dream State.”
At first, Isabel found it interesting until a thought came to her, what if Alex did that to her? Feeling insecure all of a sudden she asked, “Isn’t that an evasion of privacy?”
Alex saw how Isabel’s demeanor changed suddenly and hurried over to explain himself. “I don’t do it to everyone, I found out I could do by accident.” HE laughed at the thought, there was something about his old teacher that he never wanted to see again!
“It’s something that I think was used to protect us before we came to Earth. But don’t worry, Isabel. I won’t use on you. I never have and never planned on it.”
Isabel sighed feeling more relaxed at his words, his voice told her that he was being honest, “Promise?”
Alex reached and took her hand in his, “Isabel, you have my word that I would never do anything to hurt you.”
They smiled each other as the rain started again….
Tess was searching for a movie….she didn’t want to watch football again. That was just getting boring to her, “Hmm…” she noticed ‘The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness’, an old movie, was for sell. She picked it up; it was one of her favorites. She hummed lightly as she walked through the aisles; her thoughts were broken by the sight of Liz Parkers friend, Maria Deluca.
Crouching down some she followed her around the store, trying to stay out of sight and appear nonchalant. Her dad said Liz and Maria where there the day of the shooting, and that something weird happened, that was why she needed to stay away from Liz and nay of her friends.
Maria was looking for a movie, she just couldn’t figure out what. She had been looking almost fifteen minutes and nothing sounded good. She finally gave up on her search and was leaving the video store when she heard the sound of a car trying to start. She glanced over and she immediately rolled her eyes at the sight.
“Michael?” she asked as she walked towards him in the empty parking lot. “Maria! What are you doing here?” his voice gave away his uncertainty of her. “Well, I was renting a movie. What about you?” Maria smiled trying to ease the tension. She had to admit he was an interesting person. “I was driving down the road when I felt my car start acting up so I pulled in here and was trying to fix it.”
Maria saw how he had backed away from her a little when she walked closer. “Do you want me to see if I can doing anything?” Michael’s head shook as he threw his hands up and backed away. “No you are not doing your alien crap on my car.”
“Shh! What are you trying to do, broadcast it live?” Maria couldn’t believe what he doing, Last week he was trying to convince Isabel of how nice she was and now he was back to acting like she was a government experiment. “All I wanted to was help you! I’m not going to hurt you.” She was becoming aggravated with him.
“Look, I just don’t want you to do that to my car.” Michael felt guilt creep up on him. He still couldn’t help but feel scared. “You are a drama queen you know that Michael?” Maria laughed. Michael felt his guilt leave him, “Hey! I’m not the one who wants to ruin my car,” Michael was raising his voice.
“Cheesehead, lower your voice before you busts a vessel or something.”
Michael glared at her. Maria was tired of trying to help him. “You know what? Fix your own car.” Maria started to walk off. Michael felt his guilt creep back into his mind. “I’m sorry, it’s just that this is all still new to me. I feel like I always need to watch my back. I can’t sleep well and I still am not sure if this is real.”
“Welcome to my life, everyday,” was she said as she turned to leave again, tears brimming in her eyes. He grabbed her arm from behind and twisted her around. “What are you—“ Maria tried to ask but was stopped by Michael’s lips on hers. When the kiss ended Maria felt dazed, “What was that for?”
Tess watched, her mouth gapping, Michael just grabbed Maria and kissed her. One minute they were fighting and the next he was making out with her. She shook her head, if this was a soap opera she would instantly be hooked. She couldn’t make out what all was being said but what ever it was it sounded important.
She crouched out of sight and slowly made her way over to her car when she ran into someone, “Ow!” she yelled, standing up. She ducked quickly hoping Maria and Michael didn’t see her.
“What are you doing?” The young man she bumped into asked with his hands on rubbing his knees where she hit. Tess put her finger over her lips, “Shh!” she said. The young man kneeled down and whispered loudly, mocking her, “Would you mind telling me why you’re crawling next to my car?”
Tess glared at him, “Well, excuse me, but….I…” she tried to think of what to say, “….I…lost my contact!” she said, pretending to look on the ground. “Great! I lost it!” she said, trying to sound angry, “Are you happy?” She glanced over the trunk of the car, they where gone.
She stood up, “Now I have to drive home with only one contact!”
The man went from angry to helpful, “I am so sorry, ma’m.”
Tess placed her hands on her hips, “Ma’m? Do I look like a ma’m to you?” she then turned and walked to her car, trying her best to keep from laughing when she got in, “Jim is going to love this!” she said, referring to the kiss.
She glared at the young blonde haired man one last time as she drove out of the parking lot.
Liz thought about Max as she lay in bed, wondering if he ever thought about her too. No matter how much crap she got from Alex and Maria she didn’t regret for one moment saving Max life. That was the day her life began. Before then she always felt alone, like something was missing from her life. Now there was a part of Max deep inside of her heart that made her feel whole. The touch of his skin made her feel alive.
Alex and Maria complained that she had changed but she didn’t care. She didn’t care because it was true, she had changed, and she had someone in life that could make her feel like she had never felt before.
In the midst of her thoughts the shirt that Max was alive wearing that day came into her mind. There was still a hole in it. There was a bullet hole in it and the Sheriff had gotten a hold of it. She cursed herself silently, why didn’t she close it up?
Liz’s thoughts were disrupted when she heard a soft knock on her window, “Liz?” She knew hat voice. It was Maria, “Open up.”
Liz stumbled over to her window, stubbing her toe along the way “Ow!” she said quietly. “What do want?” She asked rubbing her eyes. Maria jumped through the window seal, “I just talked to Michael.”
Liz felt worry overtake her, “What happened?” there was catch in her voice.
“You mean besides the fact that I tried to help?” Maria asked her annoyance obvious. “Or that he thinks we are evil creatures trying to ruin his life?” she said, the hurt was evident in her voice. She may not want to admit it but she was attracted to Michael.
“Did you do anything that may have caused this reaction?” Liz asked; Maria shook her head.
“I’m telling you I only wanted to help him with his car.”
Liz sat down on her bed the old mattress squeaked under her. “I’ll talk to Max tomorrow, everything will be okay.” Maria shrugged her shoulders; her blonde hair hung around her face. “I don’t know Liz, you have all this confidence in Max. Like you know what he is thinking and feeling.”
Liz gave a half smile, she didn’t want to tell Maria about her connecting with Max, that was something she felt was personal. “I guess he just let’s me know what he’s thinking.”
“Michael kissed me.”
Liz choked at the revelation, “What?”
“Don’t mention it to anyone. Don’t even bring it up again. If you do, I’ll cause sever damage to your organs. Do you understand?”
Liz nodded and stood up to grab a blanket out her closet. “Here, it’s late.” She laid it ground and pulled a pillow off her bed. “You can take the bed, I know how you kick in your sleep.” Liz had a mischievous catch in the way she said it.
Agent Stevens sat there looking at the test results from the shirt that Jim Valenti gave him. He had told Jim a while ago that nothing came up on the shirt. But this wasn’t true, it had tested positive for a substance that had not been recorded as being from earth. It was the same substance they found on the bodies back four months ago in Vegas.
They had gotten a call from someone reporting a car that appeared to have been abandoned. When the police got there they found more than an empty car. They found two FBI agents, both with holes burnt in their chests. When the autopsy report came back it said that their insides had been super heated to the point where the bone had fused together.
What got Stevens was that the two agents were members of the special unit. He was a good friend with Pierce, the head of the special unit. When he got a hold of the shirt and the story he had to call him. To let him know they may have found the suspect.
He sat back in his leather chair. This was going to be huge for him. Especially when Pierce heard who the suspect was. Stevens shook his head, these creatures could change them selves into anything and no one would know. In 1959 this thing appeared as just a hitchhiker trying to catch a ride with someone, Now it was using the form of a girl, a seventeen-year-old named Liz Parker.
Last edited by T.D.O on Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks for all the feedback. It's really helping. There is a part in here where I used something from the show. I don't own and don't want to own....so I don't own them.
Yeah, I fixed this part too.
As Max and Michael rounded one of the corners of Roswell High, they talked about last nights events with Maria, “I still can’t believe you kissed her!” Max laughed, he should have seen it coming. Michael and Maria were always flirting with each other one any or another.
Despite his supposed ‘regret’ of the incident, Michael had been buzzing all morning because of it. Even when he came to pick up Max that morning Max knew something was different about Michael. His attitude was now back to the cool, nothing could bother me Michael that he had once been and that only meant one thing…he made out with someone. Not that Michael had been much of a play boy; he had a couple of girlfriends before and always respected them.
It had only been a month since they found out about the secret and Michael and Maria were already moving forward with their relationship. For some reason Max always thought it would him and Liz taking that step first, but Liz was so stubborn. She still had the ‘I want to but I can’t’, attitude.
Max sighed and decided to tease Michael a little more, “I thought you were afraid that they like sucked out your brain or something?”
Michael just shrugged, “Things change.”
“So what does this mean…are you guys together or something now?” Max asked feeling like he was being told this huge secret.
“No I think it was just a spur of the moment kind of thing you know?”
Michael wasn’t used to having someone interrogate him like this. “Like I told her, it was just to shut her up. I mean, she is always making a fool of her self one way or another you know?”
Max laughed at Michael trying to blow it off, “Yeah…sure.”
Michael found this to an opportune time to get in jab of his own. “And what about you and Liz?” he questioned Max. The question made gave Max a change of attitude.
Michael gave him a little punch, “At least I’m man enough to make a move.”
Right before they reached his locker he stopped and searched for Maria, they had their lockers right next to one another and the last thing he wanted to do was be confronted by her right now. He wasn’t ready for that. Seeing that she wasn’t around he made his way to his locker.
“Anyway, Maxwell, like I was saying, I made my move,” he reached in and took some books and placed them in his locker, “When are you going to make yours?”
Max leaned against the wall of lockers, “I don’t know,” he sighed and looked up at the ceiling, “Liz is just so…paranoid.” He felt the frustration come back as he thought about it. He was sure it was going to get worse now that Michael and Maria had done something and nothing bad happened.
Shutting his locker, Michael chuckled, “Okay, times that by a thousand and you’ve got Maria.” He pointed a finger at him, “Liz at least doesn’t need a straight jacket every time she goes into public.”
Max glared at him jokingly, “Yeah, well then you two will be perfect for each other. Liz and I?” he said, trying to reason with himself and Michael also, “We’re taking things slow, so you know, no one goes crazy?” Max made another little jab at him.
Michael scoffed at the comment made his victory known, “I still made my move, which is more than you can say,” he put his hands in the air, “And not only did I kiss her but I got to cop a feel too in the process!”
“Take that! Ha!” he pointed to Max who just gave in and punched him the arm.
“Ow!” Michael said rubbing his arm, “That was uncalled for!” He glared at Max and turned back to his locker, making sure it was shut, “You’re just jealous and you know it.”
Max didn’t want to say it but deep down he was. He wanted to be close to Liz, his feelings for her made it hard to focus on anything else. He rolled his eyes at Michael, “I am not jealous. Like I said, Liz and I are just taking things slow.” He stated as he began to walk away from Michael’s locker.
“Yeah, my grandparents can run a marathon faster!” Michael yelled out to his departing friend.
“Shut up!” Max called back, “Just keep your mouth shut!”
Michael gave a mock evil laugh, “And another one bites the dust.” He chuckled and grabbed what he needed for class. As he turned to leave he found Maria, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, “We’ve got to talk…”
He watched the two humans talk about Maria, listening was much easier when you had strong hearing like he did. He shook his head at the simplicity of their minds. So little knowledge kept them weak and useless.
He glanced at his watch, fifteen more minutes and he had a meeting with fellow watcher, as they called themselves. They were the ones who kept the other informed, the ones that did all of the dirty work.
He took another bite of his candy bar, not that he could taste much of it. He put on his sunglasses; He found who he was looking for, he was just waiting to make his move.
Maria led Michael into the Eraser room, all the while trying to figure what she was going to say to him.
“Okay Michael I want to know what you were thinking last night!” she demanded, she wanted to how Michael could have done something so crazy. What was he thinking, he could have gotten hurt?
Michael just laughed and looked around the small room he had only been once with his ex-girlfriend. Jana, she was his first kiss, she wasn’t a good kisser but Michael looked past that, she was a Metallica fan.
“What do mean Maria?” he asked, this time he wasn’t afraid of her. He knew different from everything he used fear now. After last night he knew Maria was a softy at heart. Maria huffed out air at how calm he was acting, why couldn’t he be the walking nerve gas he was to weeks ago? “What I mean is this: WHERE YOU CRAZY?” she almost yelled loud enough for it to be heard outside of the room. Michael jumped at her tone.
“Maria, it’s not like you didn’t enjoy it. Heck, I loved it. I would like to do again if you don’t mind.”
He moved closer to as to kiss her again when Maria put a force field, a purple, transparent sheet that protected her from what ever was thrown at her. Michael jumped back, looking at it with confusion in his eyes, “What is that?” he asked. Maria just shook her head and let it down, “Michael, I can’t get close to you. Just leave me alone, I don’t want to hurt you…”
Max walked outside of the school during lunch, he looked down at his plate, his face turning into a frown as he saw what he had to suffer through. There was something that looked almost edible, almost…and the rest was lumpy and didn’t look right.
His frown soon turned into a smile when he saw Liz sitting alone at her table eating. This was perfect, Max told himself. He could talk to her about what happened between Michael and Maria last and put in a little hint about them.
“Where’s the rest of the happy club?” He asked, sitting down next to her.
Lifting her head up to see him Liz smiled brightly at him, “Hey,” she said, “I don’t know where Maria is. I know Alex wasn’t hungry for the food here so he was just going to finish up on some studying he had to do.”
”Maria’s probably making out with Michael.”
Liz perked up at him, “What?” she wondered how he found out. Then it dawned on her that Michael must have told him. Max tried to take a bite of his food, “So, I assume Maria told you?”
She nodded and laughed, “Her words were: ‘If you tell I’ll cause damage to your organs.”
With a glint of mischievousness in his eyes, Max smiled again, “And I see nothing exploded.”
“Nothing on the outside…at least,” Liz said a-matter-of-factly, “on the inside, that’s a different story.” She could see that there was something on Max’s mind that he wanted to talk about.
“Max,” she asked, gazing in his eyes, “Is something wrong?”
He shook his head, “No,” he looked down, “It’s…just that…” he trialed off. Getting his mind back on track he picked up where he left off, “Sorry. It’s just that nothing bad happened to them…” He picked at his food, “Nothing bad would happen if we…” he was too embarrassed to finish.
With love and distress in her eyes all at once, Liz took his hand in hers, “Max, it’s not that I don’t want to..” She wanted it to come out right, if it didn’t it could sound really, really bad. “It’s just that…I don’t want to end up hurting you. I couldn’t live with myself if I did. And what if I have to leave?” she asked with desperation in face, “You and I both know that I might have to leave someday. I don’t if I would be able to be with you knowing that I might have to leave you someday.”
Max let her words sink in but they didn’t phase him, “Liz, I know that someday you may have to leave but that doesn’t change how I feel for you now.”
Liz’s mouth opened as she tried to say something but Max stopped her.
“That day could be years from now or it could be next week. Would you really want to leave knowing something could have happened but didn’t?”
Liz didn’t answer the question; she just sat there in silence until Max continued.
“Liz what matters is how we feel about each other here and now. Not what may happen ten years from now.”
Liz could see that he was dead serious. “Max…” she began, “You don’t understand. Alex, Maria and I…we just can’t get too close to people. I want to Max, I really want to. But we just can’t.” she pleaded with him to understand.
“Help me understand Liz.”
She looked at him, “What do you mean?”
Max cleared his throat, “In the time that I’ve known you we’ve never talked about your past. We’ve talked about basic stuff yes, how you were found and that you don’t remember anything. We have never talked about you, Alex and Maria. What it was like growing up for you like this.” He had been thinking about this for a long time, he wanted Liz to know that he was there for her when ever she needed him to be.
Liz sat in class, trying but unable to concentrate on her teacher. And it wasn’t just because the little plastic chair she had to suffer through. She had her conversation with Max on her mind.
Why he had to be so persistent all of the time and more important why he had to make so hard on her was beyond her.
She also wanted to know what was wrong with her. She risked everything to heal Max but she couldn’t take a step she had been dreaming about since she first met him?
‘How long is this freaking class?’
She glanced at her watch, and then looked around the room. The teacher was pointing to a black board behind her as if someone was actually listening to her. She had only five more minutes she kept telling herself. Then she would be free. She could find Max and talk to him and near him in her next class.
Trying to make the seat more uncomfortable, Liz adjusted herself in it. That didn’t work, it only made it worse. When the bell finally did ring, Liz almost gave an audible sigh of relief when the class ended. She rushed to find but couldn’t and she didn’t get to talk to him class. Thanks to Mr. Seligman making sure that they didn’t talk unless is was school related. They had gotten trouble about four times so far for talking in class and she couldn’t go to the Crashdown tonight because her mom wanted to have a nice family dinner. So, Liz decided to wait until she got out of school to talk to him outside of the school when they left.
Unfortunately for Liz, that didn’t work either. Max had left with Michael; Michael had to get to the café for work so he didn’t spend any time, he left as soon as school got out.
Jim sat as his desk, talking on the phone, “So you did see Liz go up to Max Evans?” he asked the man on the phone. He had been there that day, passing through town, a UFO freak.
“Yes, my girlfriend and I both saw the girl go up to the boy do something to him.”
Rubbing his eyes, Jim wrote down what he said on his note pad, “Did you see what she did to him?” He asked, praying the man would say yes.
“No, but that is because of the blonde girl blocking our view. If she hadn’t been in our way when we went to see what happened I could tell you she done to him.”
“Are you sure that he was shot?”
“Did you ever find the bullet hole?”
Jim sat his pencil down on the desk, “No, we didn’t but that doesn’t mean anything.”
Liz heard her mother call her from the kitchen; this would be the first family dinner in what seemed like weeks for them.
She jumped and ran down the stairs to greet her mother, she had been studying ever since she got home from school and didn’t even notice that her mom came home over an hour ago.
Happily wrapping her mother in a warm hug, Liz asked, “Mom, how are you doing today?”
Nancy laughed at her daughter’s sudden enthusiasm. She wasn’t used to seeing Liz like this; she was usually reserved and quite. “I’m doing great now.” She pulled back form the hug, “What about you, I haven’t seen that much in past few days Lizzy?”
She smiled at Liz as her memoirs overtook her. She and Jeff had found Liz and Alex on the roadside, unclothed, unfed and with no parents. They thought of it as a blessing since they hadn’t been able to have children. They were so little compared to how they were now, both of them were still thin but they grew into attractive young people as the years had passed on.
“Oh, what about that Max kid, you and Alex having been hanging around him lately?”
Liz blushed at the question but Alex, who had been sitting in a corner reading, answered for her, “Oh, uh, Max is the reason why the Crashdown has become our second home.” He said, not looking up from his book.
The smile on Nancy’s face faded at the mention of the café, ever since the sheriff had confronted her about the shooting she’d found the thought of the small town dinner unsettling.
“Mom, we’re just friends.” Liz glared at Alex playfully, “Nothing more.” She walked over and glanced inside the pot, pasta. Her dad loved spaghetti and would request it when ever he could. He found that he had to cut back in it though, because it gave him heart burn.
“Why?” Liz asked her, she hated talking about her personal life with anyone because they were always so goopy about. No one was ever that way with Alex and Liz didn’t know, she just figured because she had never even come close to dating anyone before and with the slightest mention of guy of in her life…everyone had to know.
“Nothing,” Nancy answered as she went by Liz to stir the noodles so they wouldn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. “I've just noticed you’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately,” she said, she knew about her daughter’s long time crush on the Parker boy. Liz didn’t talk a lot about personal things like that but Nancy knew, maybe it was her mothers’ intuition or the fact that she just loved her children that much.
Nancy watched Liz walk around the kitchen looking for Tabasco sauce for her and Alex. This was one of two things about her children, 1: How they could handle so much hot sauce. And 2: What made her children different from everyone. Liz, Alex and even Maria seemed to hiding something from everyone, something that they shared only between themselves.
Still, she was amazed at how much her seventeen year-old daughter had grown and matured for someone her age. She seemed so much older than 17. And Alex, it was hard not to think of them as twins.
Despite the fact that the state determined them to be a year apart, she sometimes felt like all three of the teens where a little family unto themselves. Maybe it was because they were adopted, or maybe it was because of something deeper. One time, about fourteen months ago, a neighbor, asked Nancy why Liz and Alex never talked to anyone, Nancy replied that they did.
“Mom, is dad going to be home in time for dinner?” Liz asked, breaking Nancy out of her daze. Nancy nodded and looked at her watch, “He should be here in about fifteen minutes.”
Alex stood up from his seat, "Do you need any help?" he asked. His mom smiled at him, "Well, now, Liz, you get the plates and Alex you get the silver ware. I’m going to get the sauce started. Are we all clear?”
Liz and Alex both saluted her and went about their appointed duties while they waited for Jeff. All they while none of them noticing someone watching them from across the street….
Jiff sat at the diner table, eating with his children and wife. He was a lawyer, he had his own practice. It was good source of income, it didn’t make him rich but his family got by.
They all sat around and talked something they hadn’t done in a while. They talked about school, about Liz and Alex’s new friends. He talked about work, enjoying the time with his family.
But none of them saw the figure watching them, listening to everything they said. He was gathering information. He needed to get certain things about the long lost Antarian leaders. He listened to them mention about someone named Max and some girl named Isabel. He watched ever move Liz and Alex made. Remembering their habits, the way they talked, the way they ate.
He sighed and leaned in closer, hearing the details of the conversation. The family would come in useful later. But for right now, he would just watch and listen.
Alex didn’t know what to do after dinner, he had already done his homework, so he nothing to do. He was laying on his bed, trying to go to sleep, thinking about what he and Maria talked about before school…
After dinner Alex was sitting on his bed after school, thinking about what Maria had told him earlier before school…
“I saw Michael last night, he was working on his car,” she began as they sat in the jeep. Liz had gone into school already so they had a moment to talk to each other alone.
“I went up and tried to help him and Michael like, freaked out!”
Alex rolled his eyes at Michael, “That doesn’t surprise all that much”
Maria gave a nervous chuckle at what she was about to say next, “Well, we argued back and forth for a few minutes and when I turned to leave he grabbed me and kissed me!” Maria waited for Alex’s reaction.
“He kissed you?” Alex asked. Maria was confused, “Yes, thus the whole ‘He kissed me!’ line and all.” Alex felt a smile be he suppressed it, “Did anything happen?”
“No nothing happened…on the out side anyway,” Maria said, trailing of at the last.
They sat there for a moment not saying anything. Alex broke the silence; “Well, then! I’m going to school…how about you?” Maria got out of the jeep and went in ahead of him.
Alex thought about it, his two sisters were falling for humans. Granted, they didn’t have anyone else like them, but still he felt cautious for them and the more he knew Isabel the more he felt for her. But, did he really trust Max and Michael not to turn them in?
Isabel to him was perfect almost. She was smart, looked like a model and had great sense of humor.
After looking at it for a while, Alex grew bored of looking at his yearbook. Sometimes, when he had nothing to do he would look at his yearbook. Soon, he found himself staring at picture of Max. He touched it, ‘Do I dare?’ he thought. He had promised that he wouldn’t dream walk him. But his had got that familiar pinch in his hand that told him he wanted to do it.
He touched the photo, and then pulled back. He started to shut the book, but stopped when he thought about what Max might be dreaming about. He could be thinking about turning them in.
If Liz knew what Alex was thinking she would just say that Max’s actions speak for himself. But Alex wasn’t so sure. He had to know for himself. He touched the picture again, falling into the pull that was Max’s dream.
Max was in the Crashdown, mopping it as he closed it down.
‘He even dreams about working?’ Alex asked himself, disgusted, as he sat in a corner booth, out of sight. Alex watched him for a few minutes, ‘is this it?’ he thought as he tapped his fingers on the table.
Just as he was about to leave the dream, a knock came at the glass door, making Alex jump in his seat. He kept his eyes on Max as he rushed to the door, smiling as he saw who it was.
Alex caught sight of who it was, he rolled his eyes and done everything he could to keep from laughing. It was Liz, which didn’t surprise Alex, what surprised him was how boring this dream was.
Max grinned at her, “What are you doing here, Liz?” he asked her. Dream Liz gazed at him dreamily, “I came to tell you something,” she answered.
Dream Max nodded and led her over to the counter, “What is it?”
Alex snorted softly, so he couldn’t hear. Dream walking someone was odd, you could make a nose and the person dreaming would be the only to react. But f you do something else, like move something or make yourself noticeable, everyone in the dream could see you.
He had gotten a few laughs from people he had dream walked in the past. When he would make himself known, it would always get the strangest reaction from someone. Those who knew him would yell ‘Parker!’ and wake up thinking it was just a dream, others would trying to figure out what happened or forget it.
His attention went back to Max’s dream when Liz started talking.
“It’s just that, everything I told you…at lunch was because I scared. But I’m not scared anymore. I want to be with you,” She said, with sincerity in her voice. Alex watched Max react to the statement, it clear to see that Max truly was falling for Liz.
Alex noticed that Max was genuinely happy, well, as happy as a dream version of someone could be. He felt the tenderness of the moment get to him and he smiled, both of them looked content, but the moment was broken when Liz reached up and kissed Max. Alex groaned; he didn’t care to see Liz, dream or not making out with anyone.
“Ugh” he couldn’t help the sound that came out of his mouth, covering it when Max and Liz broke apart and Max went searching for the source of the noise. It didn’t take him long to find it, despite Alex trying his best to get out of the dream orb before he was seen.
“Alex!”
“Oh crap!” Alex yelled, it was too late, Max saw him.
”Damn it!” Alex said, jumping up in bed, ‘Liz is going to find out and she is going to kill me,’ he told himself over and over. HE was counting the minutes until Liz woke up, so he could break the news to her before Max did.
Max shot up in his bed; he couldn’t believe it, Alex was in his dream. Not like he was dreaming about him but was really there, watching and listening. He could feel his face turning red as he thought of what all he saw.
He lay back down and tried to fall back to sleep. It wasn’t working, what if Alex was there again? Max questioned why Alex would do such a thing. Was he that paranoid that he found some way to see what he was dreaming about at night? He thoughts wondered on as he tried to go back to sleep.
Just as Max was about to fall back a sleep, he sat up again, and what if Liz told Alex to do that?
Shaking his head no, Max lay back down, Liz would do that. He closed his eyes, he was sleepy, but he was too freaked out to go to sleep.
Alex sat at the table, nervously waiting for Liz to come down. It was a Saturday and Liz slept in, mostly because his parent would have already gone into work so she would get a few hours of extra sleep.
He took a bite of his toast, wondering if it would be safe to be in the same house as Liz after he told what he done Max last night. What embarrassed Alex the most was that he saw after just a few short moments that he had nothing to worry about; Max was trustworthy, just as Liz said.
The sound of Liz’s footsteps made Alex jump; he hadn’t been expecting her up this early.
“Morning Alex,” she said cheerfully as she walked to the refrigerator. She smiled at her brother who looked like he was about to throw up, “Alex, did you sleep okay?”
Feeling the dread wash over his entire body Alex chuckled, “You know, it’s funny you should say that Liz…” he laughed cautiously. He gritted his teeth as he thought what to say next.
Liz raised her eyebrow, “Are you okay?” she asked, sitting down next to him. Then Liz realized what was going on, Alex only acted like this when he did something wrong. “Alex…what did you do?”
Alex chuckled again, “Well….I… dream walked Max…” he ducked as soon as he said it. But to his surprise Liz didn’t throw anything at him. When he lifted up his head he found Liz staring at him with her eyes bugging out of her head.
“You…did…what?”
“I dream walked Max?”
Calmly, too calmly, Liz stood up and made her over to the counter in the middle of the kitchen and placed her hands on her hips. “Alex, you told me you wouldn’t do that…” she said slowly, and then gritted her teeth.
At that moment if Alex could pick a line that described his life it would be a ‘Ring of Fire’
He got on his knees and clasped his hands, “Liz, I am so sorry! I just couldn’t help it!”
AS if the feeling of doing that to Max when there was no reason to wasn’t enough to make him feel like he was under fifty feet crap, that fact that he had also broke a promise to his sister for the first time made he want to eat a dozen Krispy Kreme.
“The only thing I asked you was to not do that to him.”
“I wanted to see if I could trust him like you do,” he stood up and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Liz folded her arms and snapped at him, “Well, did you?”
Alex nodded, “Trust me…after what I saw…I know he wouldn’t do anything.”
If she had not been so mad, Liz would have let curiosity get the best of her and ask. But she didn’t ask, she just scratched, “Good. Now go and tell Maria so you guys can get off of my back about it, all right?”
Trying to calm down, Liz took a drink of her juice, “Did he see you?”
His silence told Liz the truth, she got angry all over again, “Great!” she threw her hands in air, “Why don’t scare him to death Alex?”
As Liz went on about him dream walking Max, Alex wondered if Max worthy of the love was willing to give.
“Liz does Max know?”
Liz stopped talking and swallowed, “I think we both know that nothing could ever come from it. Why?”
Alex shook his head, “I just wondered if he knew. Anyway, I’ll tell him I’m sorry okay?”
Sitting at her booth, Isabel waited for her food at the Crashdown. He seemed distant today, like he was watching his back or something. Even when he came and handed her the food he didn’t say much.
“Thanks Max,” she smiled at with a really big and cheesy smile, trying to make him cheer up. It didn’t work; he only nodded and gave a half smile, “Talk to you in a minute Is.”
As she ate, Isabel reflected on the fact that she now knew aliens really existed. She repeated it to herself over and over through out the day, ‘Liz, Alex and Maria are not human.’ Still, no matter how many times she talked to them or saw him she wondered if was all a dream that she was stuck in.
It definitely didn’t fit in with her plans for life, becoming a model and living happily ever after wasn’t supposed to include aliens. At least the male alien is charming she thought Alex was adorable and sweet. She could have any guy in school and she wanted the one that wasn’t human.
Her mom told her to hurry home so they could work on their garden together. Her mom loved to work in the garden. Pulling her hair into a ponytail she glanced out side. She finished her food as the rain was starting to taper off. Her eye caught the Tabasco sauce and thought of Alex. ‘Isabel!’ she silently scolded herself, ‘Don’t think about him all of the time!’
Maria hummed along to the beat coming from her car stereo as she drove home when she saw a familiar figure on the side of street. She rolled her eyes, “Here comes another sci-fi epic” she said to herself, wondering why she was getting out to help him. It was Michael; his car had broken down again.
She scolded herself as she pulled behind him and got of her car. Michael looked over from under his hood. “I come in peace,” Maria said with her hands in the air, as though she was surrendering.
“What do you want this time?” Michael rolled his eyes as she walked up. He couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked in her tight jeans with a peasant shirt. “I thought I could for round two?” She laughed as she stopped next to him.
“So do you my special skills or do you think you can handle like big boy?”
“Do you even know anything about cars?” Michael asked getting under her skin already. Why did he have to like her so much?
Maria shook her head, “No, but Alex does. He taught me what to do with my powers if I ever had anything wrong with my car.”
Michael thought about it, reasoning with himself that it would cost less and he could her powers really in action. But she pushed the thought out of his head as he remembered the other night’s events and his and Maria conversation the next day.
“Look, I’m not going to eat your brains,” Maria put her hands on her hips; she knew what he thinking about. She wanted to have a little fun with him, “I don’t like the brains. I prefer the stomach.” Maria said. Michael’s head shot up so fast he hit it on the hood.
Maria Laughed so hard she was doubled over.
“You know, that’s not funny.”
Michael turned back to work on his car.
“Yes it was.” Maria had tears in her eyes. She got serious. “Do you want my help or not?” Michael shook his head and walked over to the driver’s side and turned the key…. the car started. “YES!” he proclaimed with his arms in the air. He had a smirk that made Maria's stomach drop out.
“Well, Cheesehead, I’m proud of you,” She patted his head. “Now if you can just tie your shoes, everything will be all right.” Maria pulled him in for a quick kiss on the cheek. Michael looked at her and cracked a smile.
Maybe Aliens weren’t so bad after all…
_____________________________________________________________
Alex and his dad were watching the game, eating a bag of chips, which seemed to have gone everywhere else except their mouths.
“Go!” Alex yelled at the TV as the player tried to make goal with the football. Alex wasn’t really into sports but it meant he could spend time with his dad. His dad watched every move the team made. It was a local game being played on a local channel that nobody really watched but they kept on anyway.
Jeff sat with his fists clenched, “Come on,” he said coached through gritted teeth as if the kid could hear him. When he was tackled Jeff slammed his hand down on the coffee table, “No!” he yelled. The action caused a glass vase in the middle of the table to fall over and crack.
Standing up at the same time and with the same gapping mouth expression, Alex and Jeff looked at each other. This wasn’t just any glass vase; it was Nancy’s Aunt Dees. IT was given to Nancy right before her funeral about five years ago.
Jeff held his hands out to the table, completely forgetting about the football game on the TV.
“No!” he whispered, only this time it didn’t have to do with the game, it had to do with the priceless piece of glass laying on its side in three large pieces.
“Dad,” Alex started out, he could see the tears forming in his fathers eyes, they both knew how much it meant to Nancy, she would die if she it was broken. “Dad, I think there is some super glue in the kitchen, I’ll go fix it while you clean up the living room…okay?”
Looking at Alex like lost little child, Jeff shook his head quickly, “Son, I don’t think super glue will fix this.”
Alex picked up each piece, “It’s okay, trust me, after I’m done with it, it’ll look new.”
“Are you sure?” his dad asked panicked, “If it doesn’t get fixed, your mother will kill me. And you don’t want me dead do you?” If he was not in such shell shock from what just happened, Jeff would have known that super glue would not have fixed the vase like Alex said.
He leaned over and began to pick up the fallen chips on the floor and couch, while Alex made his way into the kitchen.
Alex walked in the kitchen and placed the pieces on the counter, “All right,” he rubbed his hands together, and waved them over the glass, making it look brand new.
He liked how handy his powers could come in sometimes. When they were growing up, Liz and Alex would break a good amount of things. Luckily for them, they had back up in case of such an incident.
He picked up the vase, to examine it, Making sure he did it right. “Perfect.” He said as he left the kitchen and went back in the living room where the only thing anyone would hear was the sound of Jeff yell at the top of his lungs for joy. They placed it back in its rightful spot and moved out of the living room, not wanting to break anything else.
Agnus sat on her stool, waiting for her next break. She filed her nails down, chomping on her gum. “Miss?” she ignored it at first, until she heard it again, “Miss?”
Rolling her eyes, Agnus glanced up; her old wrinkled face showing it annoyance, “What do you want?” she asked the short brown-haired girl standing at the front desk, “Is Max here?”
‘Max…Max…’ She tried to place the name, “Oh, you mean the Parker boy?” She had just seen him going into the back to get straws from the storage.
The young girl nodded, “Yes, Max.”
Agnus shrugged her shoulders, “I haven’t seen him.” She went back to her nails, only to be interrupted again, “Do you know if he’s here?” pulling the file away from her nails, Agnus got angry with the girl, “What do I look like a magic ball to you?”
Liz shook her head, “No. If you see tell him Liz said hi.”
Michael came up to her, “Liz, what’s up?” he asked in a smiling manner. Liz waved, “I’m just looking for Max. You know the usual.”
Michael smiled and nodded, “I know. He should be here any moment.
Liz was looking for Max. He was supposed to be working but she couldn’t find him. She stood there with her hands in her pockets, waiting for him. “Can I help you?” a waitress asked, Liz hook her head no.
Max stopped dead in his tracks; not expecting to see her. “Liz,” he felt his cheeks begin to burn at the thought of his dream. He prayed Alex hadn’t told her about it, but even if he had not told her, it still embarrassed him to think that someone knew his private thoughts like that.
He cleared his throat, “Are you eating here tonight?”
“No thanks. I just came to talk to you about something.”
At the mention of Liz needing to talk to him Max began to panic. The very thought of Liz knowing that he dreamt what he did scared him. Not about Liz knowing that he dreamt about her, he always did. He just never had someone watching his dream.
He almost tried to think of a reason to say no, but he didn’t have any. He was not in the mood to hear about Alex’s interpretation of his dreams. When he searched his brain and came up with excuse, he reluctantly motioned back to the break room, “Let’s go to my room, okay?”
He held his arm out, so Liz could go first. ‘Please be about something else,’ he pleaded in his mind. When she didn’t move he called out, “Liz, let’s go to my balcony…to talk?”
Liz broke herself out of her stupor, she did it again, forgot to breath when he was around. She had to tell herself to breathe when she was with Max, but he made it so darn distracting.
“Sorry, just thinking about a test coming up.” She said as she walked through the back door.
The trip to the balcony was silent, both Max and Liz nervures about what was about to be said.
After he got through his window, Max turned and helped Liz through, “What was you needed to talk to me about?” he asked, trying not to sound nervous.
Liz felt herself becoming mad again as she thought about what Alex did, “I came to say sorry fro Alex did last night.” She blurted out.
“Wait…what?” Max asked perplexed. Then it hit him…Alex told her. “He told you about that?”
Liz nodded; she was embarrassed that her brother would so such a thing, she believed she could trust him more than that. She then looked at Max, realizing that he must be wondering if Alex had gone into detail about his dream. To qualm his fears about it Liz placed a hand his shoulder, “He didn’t tell me anything Max. Don’t worry.”
Max rubbed his forehead, “So, why are you apologizing to me again for him?”
“Because the last thing I want is for you to get hurt,” the words came out faster than Liz had expected them to. She bit her bottom lip and smiled at him, “Because Alex doesn’t think sometimes and….I know doing that to you is a real invasion of privacy.”
“You can say that again,” he muttered under his breath. He glanced at Liz, noticing how close she was to him, “Liz…did Alex…” eh trailed off, he was becoming unable to speak with her being so close.
“He said that he wanted to know if you were going to turn us in…” she whispered, “He said that he wasn’t worried anymore.” Her voce was almost hoarse sounding. The night time breeze, and the way everything felt was making it hard for Liz to think clearly, “I should go.”
Max swallowed hard in anticipation of what Liz was going to say next. He guessed it would be something like she had to go because of her family wanting her home. She always backed out when things got intense between them. He hung his head, “good night Liz.”
Liz started to turn to go when she stopped, she spun to face him. She hadn’t gotten any further from him, she was still painfully close. “Max, if we do this…I’ll hurt you…maybe…in the future…” she tried to explain to him like she had seemingly thousands of times.
Max brushed a strand of hair out of her face, “No you won’t. You and I will be happy and you know it.”
Trying to convince herself to leave him was becoming harder and harder as the moments passed for Liz. “I’m leaving now. Because if I don’t I’ll do something that I shouldn’t do…”
“What?”
“This,” Liz reached up and kissed him softly on the lips, taking him by surprise. Sure she might say she tried to stop herself, but truth was she had been waiting for this moment since she fist saw him. The fact that it was her first kiss made it even more nerve racking, plus, it was Max. Had she not been so delighted she would have been close to throwing up just from how nervous us she was.
Max wasn’t sure if it was real, for all he knew Alex could be playing a mean joke on him and he could be dreaming again. ‘No,’ told himself, ‘This is real’. Right now, it was just them, no one else existed.
When they finally broke apart, they held each other close, knowing the Liz had to get home soon. “Well,” Max joked, “Nothing exploded.”
Liz laughed, “And I didn’t try to eat you alive.” She gave him a small peck, “Thank you.” She said before she leaned to kiss him again. Neither noticed the V-shaped constellation glowing brightly in the night sky.
Jim, sighed, “Hey, this is Sheriff Valenti from Roswell.” He was becoming impatient with this man. All he wanted was an answer to what happened. And he was sick of hearing the watered down, nothing out of the ordinary version.
“Oh,” the disgust in Stevens’s voice was more than apparent. “What do you want?” he asked but quickly continued before Jim could answer, “Oh wait, let me guess…you want to know if I found anything yet?”
The sound of the pure annoyance in Stevens’s voice made Jim feel slightly embarrassed, but the feeling was soon forgotten as he got to the point of his phone call, “Did you get your lab reports back yet?”
“Yes, everything is normal! Now leave me alone!”
*Click*
“Son of a bitch!”
He yelled as Tess walked into the room, not seeing or hearing her come in. “Uncle Jim, is everything all right?” she asked, her concern becoming known. She had been out to the movies with some friends.
“Nothing,” he answered harshly, he didn’t mean for it to come out that way. “Go to bed, it’s late.” He said in a softer tone at the sight of her hurt. She was last person he wanted to hurt.
Tess didn’t say anything as she turned and left to room.
Tess’ family had died in car crash when she was five. It was Jim’s brother, Tom and his wife that were on their way to the Las Vegas airport when a semi turned and caused a five-car pile up. He thought back to when he was given custody of Tess.
He was married then. He had a good life planed out from him, his wife and now this child that had lost everything. But about five years later everything fell apart. His wife, Jane, had an affair and left. They lost the house they had worked so hard to get and poor Tess watched it all with him. The ten years girl had already suffered loosing one family and now she dealt with losing another.
But, slowly things got back on track for them. He became a sheriff and bought a new house for the two of them. He felt almost like a father to her but now…he was pushing her and everyone else away and all because of a teenage girl
Last edited by T.D.O on Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:58 am, edited 3 times in total.
Thank you all for the support with this fic. I know I haven’t really updated it, but I have a good reason. I wanted to go back and reedit it so the continuity problems I missed would be fixed and I felt as though you didn’t get to know the people in the story that well.
Oh the books name I use in this part about the universe is one I made up. If there is book out there with the same title, I did not know and no infringement intended. As for ‘Little Italy’, someone somewhere has to have that name. But, once again I intend to do no infringing.
Isabel stepped outside of her house, “Bye Mom!” she yelled back to her mother who was getting ready to work in her garden. Isabel on the other hand, was on her way to the Crashdown for lunch. It was Sunday, so her dad was only one that had to work. Neither of her parents spent much time at home. Her dad owned his own small business and her mom worked at the hospital.
Isabel had a small part time job, she helped host a restaurant named ‘Little Italy’, and she enjoyed it, even though she only worked there three days out of the week. As she started her car, she thought about her plans to hang out with Michael and Max later. None of them seemed to have time lately, both of the boys being preoccupied with the aliens in their lives.
Her new found friends threw out any hope of normalcy that Isabel may have had for the future. She was still getting to know them and she knew that her life was mostly going to be focused on keeping them safe. Or at least that’s what it felt like to Isabel at this point.
Liz, Maria and Alex took up a good portion of her thoughts now, especially Alex. She didn’t know what it was about him, he wasn’t what most would call a conventionally good-looking guy but he was sweet and had heart. Isabel hadn’t talked to him much since she found out but every time she passed him in school or if they sat next to each other he always asked how she was feeling, how she was holding up. She liked that, she liked the thought of someone more worried about her than just being always focused on them selves.
She may not admit it anyone, but Isabel felt like a puddle of goo every time Alex came near. Because she had been in such deep thought about Alex she reached the café before she knew it; pulling right next to the jeep. That meant that Alex was there! And she wasn’t wearing makeup!
She leaned over as much as she could to see if it was possible to see the three aliens from the parking lot; ‘Damn!’ she cursed herself, ‘Why didn’t I wear makeup?’ She wasn’t insecure about her beauty she just wasn’t ready for Alex to her with out it on.
Pulling on a hat she kept in her glove department, Isabel got out of the car, hoping that Alex wouldn’t notice she was makeup free today. As she walked into the dinner, she caught sight of their table. She counted the empty bottles of Tabasco on it. How could anyone use three bottles of hot sauce?
Isabel noticed that Maria sat next to Alex like she normally does, with Liz sitting across from them.
She walked over to her booth, hoping they didn’t see her staring, and sat down.
“So you just think you can sit where ever you want?”
She laughed and took menu from Max, “You sit people when you’re busy.” She stuck her tongue out at him, “I’ll just have my usual, nothing else sounds too good right now.”
Max raised an eyebrow at her, “Is, that is all you ever get. You’ve never gotten anything else.”
She noticed that Max was in a better mood today than he had been in a while. He was standing up straighter than normal and he was smiling more and staring at Liz more than he normally would. He was just standing there, staring at Liz’s booth at the end of the line tables. “Anything else for today?” he asked, unable to pay attention to Isabel.
“Just my space burger,” Isabel said looking at Max. There was something different about him, “Max?” she asked, he didn’t hear her, “Max!”
He jumped and turned back to her, “What?!”
“You’re happy today…”
Max shook his head, “No, I mean, yes I am happy but nothing out of the ordinary… you know.”
Isabel didn’t buy it, “No Max, something about you is…” she noticed he glanced back at Liz, this time she moved in the direction of Liz, who waved at him and smiled.
“You Kissed her!” she exclaimed, slapping his arm. “You guys kissed!”
Max pulled his attention away from Liz and back to Isabel, “Huh? Oh, No we didn’t Is!”
Isabel folded her arms, “Oh come on Max! I have seen you and Michael both after you kissed a girl or something and neither of you have ever looked this happy.” She poked his arm, “So come on, how did it happen?”
Max avoided eye contact with her, “No Isabel, we did not kiss,” he tried to lie despite the fact his face was turning a bright crimson red.
“All right, let’s just say you didn’t look or act like you were floating on air, look at Liz! She’s practically glowing!”
Max glared at her, she knew him way too well, “Shut Izzy,” he grabbed her menu, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Isabel winked at him, “Whatever,” she giggled, “Just go get me my food.” She stopped talking when Alex glanced in her direction; He waved ‘Hi’ and smiled at her. ‘Here we go with the goo again,’ she thought to herself as she waved back. She and Alex hadn’t spent much time together but they had hung out a few times. It was then that Isabel realized how close they were getting. Apparently Alex had felt it too from the way he was acting. Too bad she didn’t see anything coming from it.
Resting her head on her hands she sighed, ‘Oh, well.’ She reasoned with herself, ‘we are too different.’
“We’re too different.” She tried to convince herself but somehow it just wasn’t working.
Alex smiled at Isabel from across the dinner, when he waved Liz glanced back to see who he was waving to.
“Oh, Isabel, huh?” she wiggled her eyebrows at him, “You know, Max says she kind of likes you Alex.”
“What? No….”
Liz nodded and took a Tabasco covered bite, “You know you want to, go on ask her out!”
It was then Maria cut in, “Liz! Don’t do that! You know how dangerous it is!”
Liz turned her attention to Maria, “Right is that why you and Michael have become such good ‘friends’?” She said; make quotation marks with her fingers. Maria glared at her, something about Liz was different today, she was so much more…witty and unlike the brooding, boring person she usually was.
“Michael and I are friends because we have to be. That’s it.” Maria stated sounding like it was more of line she had practiced than a fact.
Alex winked at Liz, “Sure you are Maria…sure you are…”
Liz yawned, it was Monday and she was waiting to get out of class so she could see Max. They had talked last night about things, talking about their new relationship and what things would be like from now on. It had made things between them a whole lot clearer. They were going to take things slow. They had a date planned for tonight so they could spend time together.
“Now, when the two line cross…”
She heard her teacher going on about something; she just wasn’t sure what, more than likely math…since she was in math class. From what Liz could translate, Miss Dustin was using an example of some sorts. She didn’t understand this teacher, she never made any sense.
Liz admitted that she crossed a line that she didn’t want to when it came to Max and Her. Now, if she ever had to leave Earth or if she screwed things up with Max she would know it’s like to be with him. It would make it that much harder. Still, she didn’t regret it for one moment.
She was so used to being the one ‘behind the tree’ as their new School Counselor put it. Her name was Miss Topolsky; she was different than Liz expected her to be. She asked some really unusual questions when she met her three days ago.
“So, Liz is it?” the blonde woman began, she looked like she was in her thirties, in good shape. She took her glasses and smiled at her, “I have a good friend named Liz.”
Liz smiled back at her nervously; she sat in her little plastic chair, feeling extremely uncomfortable. “What is you needed to talk to me about?” Liz asked, wanting to get out of there as soon as she could.
Miss Topolsky grinned, “Well, it’s my job to learn about the kids here. Where they come from and where they see themselves going in their future. I’m also here if they have anything they need to talk about, you know?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, “So, where do you see yourself in say…five years?”
Liz didn’t answer at first; this woman was not a normal school counselor. Liz could tell just by being with her.
“Liz?”
Liz jumped out of her thoughts, “Doctor. I want to be a doctor,” she said truthfully. Liz figured that is she was going to be on Earth she should do something she enjoys.
“Why would you like to do something like that?”
“Because I like helping people,” Liz answered meekly, she adjusted herself in the chair, and it was becoming difficult to sit in it. And with the way Miss Topolsky was staring at her, she felt even more like a lab rat than before.
Suddenly, Topolsky placed her hands down on the table leaned over it a little, “You know what I think your problem is Liz?” she asked as if that is what they had been talking about along.
Liz shook her head, “I didn’t know I had one?”
“Sorry,” Miss Topolsky apologized, “What I meant is that you are very shy.”
“I am?” Liz knew that she was, she had to be, but having someone point out to her wasn’t all that fun.
Topolsky nodded, “You’re what I used to be. I call it ‘behind the tree’.” She said grinning at Liz again. She smiled so much it was beginning to bother Liz.
Liz didn’t know she why felt the way she did about her but, there was something not right about this woman.
“You see Liz; you have dreams but are just too shy to do anything about them.” Topolsky stated, she sounded like she was more interested in Liz than before. “You don’t even know me…” Liz responded quickly, sounding offended.
Topolsky immediately began her damage control, “Sorry, what I meant was that….You are really shy and that sometimes it can hinder your chances of doing the things that you want.” She sighed, “Let me put it this way; if there is a guy you like would you have the courage to walk right up to him and start a conversation?”
Before Liz could answer the bell rang, “I have to go.” She said as she left the office.
Liz was snapped out of her thoughts when the sound of her teachers voice came to her ears, “Miss Parker, can you answer the question?”
Liz stared blankly at her. Her teacher didn’t waste anytime and began milking Liz’s embarrassment as much as she could, “Were you even listening?”
“Yes,” Liz responded meekly as she sunk into her chair. This was going to be a long class.
Later that day as Liz was walking through the halls of the school she ran into Isabel, “Oh! Sorry!” she exclaimed before she realized who it was. “Isabel,” she said as she swallowed hard, “I wasn’t looking where I was going. It’s my fault.”
This was awkward for the two young women, out of all the girls in their little group Liz and Isabel had spent the least time together. Maria and Isabel shared a class so they saw each other on occasion, but most of the time Isabel had anything to do with the group it was because Michael or Max had drug her along.
“No, its okay, I should have been paying attention.” Isabel tried to apologize when Liz shook her head, “No it’s my fault really, Isabel.” Liz said again. Isabel stopped her before she could apologize again, “Liz, really, it’s no big deal.”
Tucking a strain of hair behind her ear Liz smiled meekly, “Sorry. I’m not very good this kind of stuff.”
Isabel saw how Liz and the others acted around her; they acted like they were afraid of her. “Liz, listen, I don’t think you’re evil.” She said honestly; she was thankful that Liz had saved Max’ life that day. When Liz didn’t respond, Isabel took the chance to make conversation, “Hey, Me and some friends are going to a movie tonight, would you like to go?”
Liz almost answered yes immediately; until she remembered her date with Max, “I’d love to Isabel but, I have plans…” she didn’t see the point of making specifics about with whom or what But Isabel caught on.
“Oh, let me guess…Max?”
Shoving her hands in her pockets, Liz went back and forth between saying yes or no. The last thing she wanted was to make what was happening with her and Max a spectacle for everyone to pick apart. It took long enough for them to get together. But, much to Liz’s surprise, Isabel understood, “Hey, I completely understand, it’s none of my business.”
Liz held her hands up, “No Isabel it’s nothing like that-“
“Liz,” She winked at her, “its okay, I understand. Have fun with Max,” she smiled and folded her arms. Then the moment of painful silence came.
Isabel watched as Liz chewed on her bottom lip, neither knowing how to say bye without sounding rude. She could see why Liz was afraid to tell people the truth, anyone with cable could watch the Sci-Fi Channel. ‘If Liz has a secret,’ Isabel felt her mischievous side come out, ‘She told Max. It’s only fair that she know something about him.’
“Did, you know Max used to wet the bed?”
A half smile formed on Liz’s lips, “What?” she asked as Isabel looped her arm in hers, leading her out of the school. Isabel glanced down at her, “Lizzy, you have a lot to learn. And if it’s about Max and Michael, I can teach you…”
Liz sat on her bed, trying to figure out what to wear when her cell phone rang, she rushed over to pick it up, “Hello?” she answered.
“Liz, hey it’s me,” Max’s voice came floating through the other end. Liz smiled, “Hi.”
“I’m sorry, but my parents just told me that my grandparents are coming, they will be here in about an hour. They said I couldn’t go anywhere.”
Liz could tell Max was disappointed, she heard it in his voice, “Yeah, no problem.” She didn’t have to think about when it was a good time for her, she never went out.
“Can we reschedule?”
“Of course,” Liz answered, “We’ll talk about it tomorrow?”
“Yeah, goodnight. Sorry once again.”
“Goodnight Max.”
Liz fell back, “I knew this was too good to be true.” She whispered to herself and reached over to her night stand and grabbed her Astronomy book.”
”Can you believe it’s been almost two months since the shooting at the local Crashdown Café happened?”
“I know! They never did figure out what happened there did they?”
“No I believe the Roswell Sheriff had this to say….”
The sound of the two male DJ’s on the radio went through the diner as Michael and Max closed it for the day. “Dude, when are your grandparents coming?” Michel asked as he swept, He almost jumped for joy when Max informed him of their coming. He loved Max’ grandparents, he never got along with his too well, then again, none of Michael’s family got along well.
“I don’t know,” Max said as he wiped off the counter, “Mom said they were about an hour away when they last called.” Max was more than glad Claudia and Joe were coming; he was just disappointed that it had to be the night of his and Liz’s first date.
Part of what made Joe and Claudia so interesting was their involvement with the Roswell crash. Of, course, now Max was even more intrigued with it since Liz came along. His grandparents had just written a book about the crash and their findings about it.
“How long ago did you talk to them?” Michael was growing impatient. He never had a close relationship with he grandparents so when he met Max’s and they treated him like he was their own; he took an immediate liking to them. Max thought about for moment and looked at his watch, “About an hour ago.” He said shrugging his shoulders, “Maybe they stopped off to get some gas or something?”
“Or maybe they didn’t!”
Max and Michael turned to see Joe standing in entrance of the Crashdown, Claudia next to him, holding their bags and smiling. “Are you just going to ignore your old grandparents?” Grandpa Joe called out from the doorway.
“Grandpa!”
“Max is that you? My you’ve grown so much!” Claudia exclaimed as she neared Max, holding his face between her hands and then pulling him in for a warm hug. Max almost laughed, she had seen him three months ago.
“Mr. and Mrs. Evans, they’re here!” Michael yelled in the back as Joe came over and hugged him. “Michael my boy, have you been staying out of trouble?”
Michael’s cheeks turned red, “I’m trying…”
Diane and Phillip walked into the front room, Phillip rushing to his mom and dad. Diane smiled and hugged Joe, she loved when they came to visit. They enjoyed playing cards and it was always nice to have another woman in the house. Sure Isabel came over and ate dinner with them, but it was nice to have someone with as much life experience as herself.
“Old boy, how are you doing?” Joe asked as he patted his son on the back. He had always been close to his Phillip and gave him advice on raising Max when he was younger. Joe had raised five kids, two boys, three girls, and felt as though Phillip could always use the help. “You have to put up with them so they can change your diapers when they reach you age.
“Here, Max, take your Grandmothers clothes in the guest room,” Diane said handing some bags to Max, who gladly done as he was told.
Joe laughed, “Philip, you and I have catching up to do,” he said putting his arm around him and led him in to the back.
Claudia looked over to Michael who was finishing up the bar cleaning, “Michael honey, how are you doing?” she asked with a heartfelt smile. She knew Michael came from kind of hard background with his family. She always respected him for not letting it affect his future goals in life.
Michael stopped his cleaning and walked around to give her a hug, “I’m doing just great, how have you been doing?” Michael asked her pulling away. She just smiled and said, “I’m always doing good when I have a handsome young man like you saying hello.”
“Claudia, are you flirting with the young men again?” Joe called out to her. “She always likes to flirt with younger guys. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’s trying to make me jealous.”
He glanced at Michael, “What do you think?” Who just laughed.
_____________________________________________________________
Liz was reading her book when she heard a soft knock at her door, “Liz?” the deep sound her father’s voice came through the door.
Liz sat up and closed the book, “You can come in.”
Jeff slowly opened the door, “Honey, do you have minute?”
“Of course.”
He walked over and sat on her bed, “What are you reading?” he asked reaching over to the book on Liz’s bed. He read the title out loud to himself, “The Universe: Yours, Mine, And Ours.” It had a shot of the Orion Nebula on the cover. Liz and Alex always had this interest in the stars that seemed a little more than normal.
“Dad, is there something you wanted to talk about?”
Jeff smiled at her, “So I heard you were going in for an interview at the UFO center?” he placed his arm around her.
“Yeah, Alex and I went in there the other day. The guy who owns it is kind of kooky but it pays well.” Liz said. Broody Davis was the name of the owner. He claims to have been abducted by aliens and tested on for days at a time. Liz wasn’t sure if she believed him, but for someone to spend all the money that Broody has on something meant that what ever happened to him changed him forever.
“Well, I hope you get it,” Jeff said sincerely. He hadn’t been able to spend much time with his kids because of work; it was hard being a lawyer sometimes. He had to deal with people who that just because you’re suing someone you have a good case. Life was so much easier when he was with his kids.
He placed a hand on Liz’s shoulder, “Good night honey,” he said as he stood up. Liz smiled at him, “Good night, Dad, I love you.”
Max sat at his desk later that night after the excitement had calmed down. Right now, he was trying to finish his math, one of his worse subjects. When he did math he usually ended up organizing his old beaten up wooden desk before he got any work done. He heard a soft knock on his door, “Come in!”
He saw Joe Evans step in, “Hey, you remember that stuff I was telling you about; you know from the crash?” He asked in a hushed tone, as if he did not want to wake anyone up. Max smiled and motioned him to come over. “I know how much you are interested in it and thought you might like to see some of It.”
“Sure! Whatcha got?”
Joe gave a wink and put his finger up to his mouth, “Shh!” Sometimes this man could be a little bit over the top. From Max’s room it was hard to hear anyone and for them to hear him, sure, if you were yelling loud enough you could hear but, most of the time, it was good way place for privacy.
Max nodded at him as he held his finger to his lips. Sometimes, when Joe was around, he felt like a five year old on Christmas.
He watched as Joe pulled out a pendent, it had been broken long ago. It had a swirl on it and was a deep blue color. “Claudia and I bought this right after the crash; I have always wanted to find the missing piece to it.” Joe leaned in closer to Max like he did when he was telling Max a secret, “I got from this now old Native American, and he said it was from the crash and that he had to get rid of it or he would be cursed.”
Max reached out for it, “May I?” he asked. When his grandfather pushed it towards him he took it and gave a closer look at it. “You like it don’t you?” Max nodded again. He studied it for a moment, could this be a link to Liz’s past? He looked at deeper, the color captivating him.
“You can have it.”
He was brought out of thoughts by Joe making the offer, “Are you sure?” He asked as he started back at the pendent.
Joe laughed, “Of course! I’ve had it for so long that I doubt it’s going to come to any use to me now. Besides, it makes a good conversation piece for girls…if you know what I am saying.” He elbowed Max in a joking manner.
“Which reminds me, your dad had told me about this girl named Liz?”
Max blushed and bit his lip, “Yeah…”
“Think she could be the one?”
“Maybe…” Then he stopped, “But, we’re only seventeen.”
Joe felt tears prick his eyes and wrapped his arm around Max, “I remember when I met your grandmother, she was 18 and I was twenty. It was love at first sight. Was it like that for you and this Liz girl?”
Max chuckled, “Well, you could say something like that.” He scratched the back of his head as he spoke, “I just really care about her Grandpa. She like no one I’ve ever known.”
“I know how it feels son…to meet the person you feel like you could spend the rest of your life with.”
Max felt surprised at Joe’s understanding. “You do?”
Joe nodded again, “When I met Claudia. I knew she completed me and I would always be with her.” Joe’s voice took on a more gentle tone, “She means the world to me Max.”
Max’ eyes were down cast as he listened to his words. What he felt for Liz was so deep it made it hard for him to breathe sometimes. And now, after they had kissed things were just that more difficult when they were always from each other.
Max felt himself being drawn back to the necklace once again; there was something about this that just didn’t feel right. “Grandpa, where did you get this again?”
“Oh, out by the Indian reservation, we found this young man who said he got this at the crash site.”
Max perked up, “What was his name?”
“He might still be alive today…but, I think it was River Dog.”
Michael pulled into his driveway, his dad was setting out on the lawn, drinking. Sighing, he stepped out of his car, waving at his old man, “Hey pops.”
Michael’s dad, Hank just raised his glass at him and grunted, “Ugh,” it was enough of a hello for him. “I thought you were going to be home at six?” His speech was slurred form the amount of alcohol he had taken in.
“I told you,” Michael opened the door to their house, “Agnus had to go home from something…I closed for her.” He would have mentioned something about Max’s grandparents but he figured it would have brought back bad memories for his dad. The last thing Michael needed was his dad in a worse mood.
Michael glanced back one more time before stepping in, “It’s nice to see you home.” He was honest; it was nice to have his dad around; even if he was drunk.
After he entered his house and went to his bedroom, Michael threw his keys on the dresser. He walked past his desk where his homework was placed, waiting to be worked on and fell back on his bed. It creaked under the weight of a body on it.
As he lay on the bed, Michael felt himself becoming depressed about his mom, why she left, he was never sure. His dad said it was because Michael was too hard to handle, but when they talked, which was rare, she always made it sound like his father had commented some sort of evil that broke them apart.
He stayed with his mom every once in a while, he didn’t know whose home he hated more, his moms trailer park palace, or his dads broken down double wide. Either way, Michael always told himself, it’s a trailer.
Over the years Michael learned how to hide his pain well. He found outlets for his anger, such as being the crazy do anything kid. He thought that by ignoring what his parents break up did to him he would find haplessness. So far… it hadn’t.
Maybe that’s why he found himself becoming more and more involved with Maria. She knew what it was like to not know where to go. Of course, with Michael it was which trailer park to I slept in tonight and with Maria it was which galaxy did I come from?
As he thought about Maria, a sudden feeling of regret came to him about his reaction when he found out. He acted just like they show on the movies, the last thing he wanted to be like, some freeze dried character that doesn’t care who they hurt.
Patrick felt himself being thrown off balance by someone running into him. He glanced down to see Max Evans, staring at him, “Oh, crap! Sorry!” he said as he pushed past him, this boy was in a hurry. “Dude, it’s okay,” Patrick tried calling after him but he was already gone.
“Liz!” Max called as he rounded the corner near her locker, he saw her standing by it, reaching into her book bag, grabbing what she need out of it. When she heard him she turned around, her dark hair swinging around on her shoulders.
He placed his hand in his pocket as he grew closer to her, feeling for the necklace. Once he felt it there he grinned at her, pulling her in for a soft kiss when he reached her.
Considering that they had only been together for about two days this came as a surprise to Liz. She wasn’t expecting Max to rush to her and sweep her off her feet like that in the middle of school.
“It’s good to see you too,” she pulled back from him feeling slightly baffled, but in a good way. After winking at him she turned to finish what she had started with her back pack, “Did your grandparents get here safely?”
Max nodded, being momentary distracted by her. He leaned up against her locker, shoving his hands in his pockets, once he felt the pendent rub up against his fingers it all came rushing back to him. “Liz,” he watched as she looked up at him.
“Yeah?” She asked sweetly, but the expression on his face made her cheerfulness become concern. “Max, is something up?”
Pulling out the pendent form his pocket, Max pulled Liz closer to him, as to not let anyone hear what he was about to say. “My grand pa, Joe, he gave this to me last night,” Max held his palm open so she could see it, “He said it’s from the crash. Some Native American guy gave it to him.”
Liz took the necklace out of Max’s hand and studied it for a second, it had been broken yet…she knew this symbol. Liz knew she’d seen it before. She stuttered on her words because of just how surprising this was, “Max, I’ve…seen this symbol before. I just don’t know when.” She scratched her head, “It looks familiar, you know?”
Max thought that it might have been important to Liz bur her reaction was more than he expected it to be. He knew she would want to show Alex and Maria it, “You can take it, to show Maria and Alex. I told my grand pa that I was going to show it to some friends.”
Liz glanced up at him, “I can?” He grinned at her and placed a hand on her shoulder; she leaned in and hugged him, “Thank you Max.” Max pulled her closer to him, “I knew it would be important to you.”
Liz leaned up nervously to kiss him, just as their lips met; the bell rang, breaking them apart. Sighing, she pulled away, “Guess this means I’ll see you later?” When he nodded she placed the pendent in her pocket, “Well, I’m not going to get too worked up over this,” she said referring to the necklace, “The last thing I want is Maria and Alex getting fired up over nothing.”
“Just show it to them, see if it’s something that maybe means anything to your past or the crash. If not,” Max grabbed his back pack on his shoulder and adjusted it, “Than it was worth a try?”
Liz gave him another quick kiss on the cheek, “Thanks, I’ll see you at lunch.”
“Oh great,” Maria sighed as the flashing lights of the police car behind her signaled for her to pull over. “Please don’t be Valenti, please don’t be Valenti,” she whispered to herself over and over again. The officer stayed in his SUV for a moment, making the wait that much more daunting for Maria. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the door open and a boot set itself on the ground.
“Shit,” she almost yelled as Valenti revealed himself from behind the view of his door. “Just what I needed,” she slammed her hands against the steering wheel.
She rolled down her window as he made his way to her, seemingly inspecting the car for any damage on his way to her window, “Come one, I was speeding, not crashing into things.”
She silently mocked him.
When he did reach her window she smiled brightly at him, “Is something wrong officer?” the words came out as sweetly as she could get them to sound. Valenti raised his dark sunglasses from his eyes, “DO you have nay idea how fast you were going?”
Now was the time Maria knew she could play this two ways, the ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t have any idea how fast I was going’ or the ‘I have an emergency officer! Please, Please let me go!’ To bad she chooses neither.
“I was going fifteen miles over, sir.” She sunk into her seat; the sentence came out before she could stop it he made her so nervous.
Jim was taken aback by her response, never in his years as being on the force had anyone ever admitted to him how fast their were driving unless they were drunk, and he knew from just looking at Maria Deluca that she wasn’t drunk. He stared at her, Maria was one of Liz’s friends and she was said to have been there at the shooting.
“Miss Deluca is it?”
She nodded.
“May I see your license and registration please?”
Reluctantly, Maria handed them over. He searched each one, making sure ever thing was current then handed them back to her, “You’re a friend of Liz Parkers right?”
That made Maria panic, “Yeah, why?” she wasn’t about to deny it, it wasn’t like he hadn’t seen Liz and her before.
“You were there at the shooting in September weren’t you?”
Just before Maria opened her mouth to answer her cell phone rang, “Ah!” she yelled.
Jim shook his head, “Don’t answer it, please,” he pulled out his book to write the ticket.
Maria watched in dread as he began to make out the ticket, when suddenly he stopped and closed the book. He handed her information back to her, “Listen, and just watch your speed alright?”
Maria nodded, and took her license back, watching as he walked back to his SUV slowly, and glancing back once before getting back in. She let out a sigh of relief and leaned her head forward, “Oh, thank you God.”
She waiting until he left then pulled out and made her way home, where Liz said she had something she needed to talk to her about.
Well,” Liz said to Maria as she looked at the pendent, Maria had been staring at for nearly five minutes now. Alex had dropped her off so he could run and grab something before joining in all of the alien fun.
“Maria?”
Maria glanced up at Liz then back again, it was broken in half, but anyone could guess what the other half of the pendent looked like. What got Maria was that she knew the symbol on it, like it had been imprinted in her brain.
Liz stared at Maria, noticing that her face went totally blank, “Maria?” she asked again but she didn’t respond.
Maria found herself standing in the middle of the desert, surrounded by symbols, one of then looked like the complete version of the pendent. The others varied but what caught her eye the most was one with four squares connected by two lines in the shape of an X.
She recognized the place. It looked like the place where they hatched. She’d been there only once in her life but she knew it as she saw it. The way everything looked was odd, the dust looked like a blanket until the wind blew and then the granules changed color in the wind. The sky was a deep purplish blue with no clouds.
She turned around called out, “Alex?” she didn’t get an answer, “Liz?” she called out. As she turned around in a full circle she was surprised to Liz and Alex in front of her, only they didn’t look right. They were so much older and rougher. Alex stood taller then what he really was and was more muscular. Liz appeared almost mean. Her long black dress reminded her of something royal and her eyes were so dark they were almost as black as the dress.
She backed up from them, frightened when the Alex look-a-like reached out his hand to her. He stepped forward but he seemed to float. Maria tried to taken in a deep breath but felt chocked by the air around her. It was far too thick.
She couched out and stumbled on the ground, clawing her way in the opposite direction of Alex and Liz. When she turned they were no where to be found. But there where three more people in their place. The first one was in the shape of a man, but his face kept changing, the second one was who was standing next to him had his arms crossed and looked like he was in his late teens. She was unable to make out his face, something was making it blurry.
Next to the young man stood a woman, who appeared to be about twenty five years old. She spoke to Maria but she couldn’t understand her, Maria tried to focus so she could make out her face but she was unable to. The man who kept changing his appearance moved towards her, speaking to her in the same, unknown language as the woman, only he sounded mean and harsh. Just before he reached her Maria let out a scream, only to find herself standing in the desert again, but when she tried to walk she fell, her body felt too heavy; when she looked up she saw her Liz and Alex.
Alex was reaching down, pulling her up off the desert floor-
“Maria!” Liz said urgently, she’d been like this for nearly three minutes now. Liz didn’t want to use her powers on her incase it made things worse. “Maria,” she called again. This time Maria took a deep breath and fell back on to the floor from her seat.
“Liz!”
Liz reached down and held onto her, “Liz, something really weird is happening.” She gasped out.
“Maria, what did you see?”
Maria swallowed, “I don’t know…”
Last edited by T.D.O on Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Diane and Claudia walked through the back of the store, they got to spend a good amount of time together lately while the men were off ’fixing’ something or watching sports.
“Max dated this really nice girl, Tess, she’s the sheriffs niece.” Diane and Claudia were talking about Max. The last Claudia had heard, Max had broken up with Tess and was hanging around some mysterious girl from school.
Diane smiled, almost sadly, “I know that he didn’t truly like her, but…” she said as her voice became uneasy, “I worry about the Parker girl he has been seeing.”
“Why?” Claudia asked.
Diane leaned close to her mother-in-law, “I’ve heard things…weird things.”
Perplexed at the situation, Claudia couldn’t help it, that statement her curiosity had been peeked. After all, Diane Evans was not a gossiper. But, out of respect for her grandson and her daughter-in-law she didn’t ask anything else on the subject.
She soon found, however, that she didn’t need to. That Diane would answer the unspoken question, “Do you remember the shooting back in September?”
Claudia nodded. “How could I forget?” she asked with a sigh, “The thought of one of you getting hurt…”
Diane cleared her throat and glanced out in to the front of the diner, where Max was waiting tables. “As you know no on was hurt, but there are rumors going around that Liz did something to Max.”
“Did something?”
Diane was hesitant to continue, how would she explain this to someone? How would she be able to say that some people thought Liz healed Max of a bullet wound?
“Two tourist said that Max fell on the ground and that Liz went up to him…”
“Max did say that he slipped and fell though?”
Nodding, Diane continued, ”Well, they never found a bullet hole.”
Seeing that Claudia was not convinced, she decided to change the subject to what really worried her about Liz, Drugs.
“What scares me is that things point to Liz being involved with drugs.”
Claudia’s eye almost popped out her skull, drug use is a strong accusation. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Diane opened her mouth to answer but she was cut off by the phone ringing.
Sighing, she walked over to her phone, “Hello?”
“Mrs. Evans?”
She knew who it was before asking, it was Liz. “Yes.”
“Hey, is Max busy?”
Diane glanced at her watch, Max was off now, so he should be walking through the back door any second, “Hold on, I’ll get him.”
She didn’t feel the need to nice to the young woman. Her son had acted completely shut off in so many ways since she walked into his life. All he could talk about now was ‘Liz this and Liz that’, it drove her crazy!
Diane smiled at her son as he came walking through the back door, “Here honey, it’s for you.”
She handed him the phone, and started to leave the room.
Max watched as his mom left the room, making sure she couldn’t hear what he and Liz was about to talk about. Turning back to the phone earnestly he whispered into it, “Hey is everything alright?”
“Well, you were right.” Liz answered, glancing back at Maria and Alex; they had gone over to the Parkers when Alex picked Liz up. Maria was sitting on Liz’s bed; she was still shaking from her vision. “It’s got something to do with our past.”
“What happened?”
“I’ll tell you about later, Max,” Liz pulled out a pen from her desk drawer, “But, could you help me out here?” Liz tried to keep the converstation short. She felt uncomfortable talking to Max with the scrutinizing eyes and ears of Maria and Alex.
“Anything.” He said without any hesatation.
“Who did the pendent belong to?”
“A man named River Dog.”
Liz sighed and looked at the paper in front of her, “I need the address to River Dogs if you know it.”
“I don’t know how to get a hold of him really. I only know what my grandfather told me. That he lived at the Indian reservation when the crash happened.” Max told her, unconsciously tapping the top of the table his phone was set on.
“Do you think he is still alive?” she asked with a hint of hope in her voice.
“Maybe, but someone might know something. Even if he isn’t alive still.”
Diane stood next to the door as her son talked to Liz, she couldn’t understand half of what he was talking about. River Dog, the Indian Reservation…what was going on with this girl? One thing that Diane feared was that the sheriff was right.
He was right when he kept on investigating the shooting. He was right when he came in the restaurant and told Diane that almost nothing fell into place about the shooting and the events surrounding it. But what scared Diane the most was that her son was with someone dangerous and that she couldn’t stop it.
_____________________________________________________________
Liz watched as Alex and Maria glared at her, ‘get off the phone!’ he scolded his sister.
“No, Max, no one is hurt. Maria’s just a little shaken up…Max, listen, I’ve got to go, but thanks….I’ll let you know as soon as something happens…bye.”
When she hung up, Liz faced Alex and Maria, “Are you sure about going?”
Alex nodded, then looked to Maria who thought for a moment before nodding aporval also, “Let’s get it over with…”
Agent Summers yawned, this was getting boring. How long have they been in the house? He knew he should have tapped the phone lines. For heavens sakes, it was 1999, why didn’t the FBI just go in and arrest her!
He sighed and took a sip of his coffee, “Can’t even keep me awake…” he muttered. Out of all of the paper pushing, filing crap he had done in his life, this was by far ten times more boring than all of it.
Heck, watching soap operas was becoming more appealing than this. Taking a glance at the paper on his lap he starched his legs out the best he could. The sun was shining, it was a nice day and he was stuck in this car. He glanced out of his side window and noticed a middle aged man walking past his car; he seemed to be staring the car down as he passed. “Must be a noisy neighbor,” he whispered.
“Elizabeth Parker,” he said aloud, “how do you change your shape?” he asked to no one there, but what he didn’t know was that the answer to that question wasn’t in Liz; it was in the man who walked past the car.
“Are you sure you feel up to this Maria?” Liz asked as she started up the jeep. She looked at Maria in the back seat, she was shivering, “Yeah, Liz, I’m fine.”
Alex shook his head lightly and whispered, “I don’t know Liz.”
“I heard that,” Maria folded her arm begrudgingly, she hated when people worried about her.
“Maria he’s just worried,” Liz turned back and looked at her, “so am I. After what happened, I think we all have that right to be a little freaked.”
“Why do you that?”
Liz was lost at Maria’s sudden comment, “Do what?”
“Act like you are our leader, like what you say goes.”
Speechless, Liz opened her mouth in shock. “I…don’t know…. I just feel like I need to protect you guys.” She took in a deep breath, paying close attention to Maria’s reaction, “You’re my family.”
“Is that why you healed Max? To protect us?”
Shaking her head, Liz didn’t answer, she wasn’t going to get into this fight again, even though it seemed to come out of nowhere. She thought they had passed that stage weeks ago after her and Michael became friends.
Alex didn’t want to say anything either, this came as a shock to him too. Neither he nor Maria had any good reason to not trust Max, despite the fact that Alex didn’t approve of what happened, he accepted it and moved on. There was, after all, nothing he could do about it.
Maria still kept her head down, she had no idea what just happened. She snapped all of a sudden and for no reason. It was like all of the things she had felt in the last two months just bubbled up at once and came out. The truth was she liked Max. He was a nice guy and Liz was happy with him. Sure he brought along his problems to the group but he did what he could. Why was Maria feeling so mad out of the blue? The entire ride went by almost silently from that moment on.
It was like they had nothing to say to each other. And some people, even though it was unbeknownst to Alex, Maria and Liz, wanted it that way.
“They just pulled out of the drive way, I’m going to following them now from a good distance to see where they are going.”
Summers pressed the stop button on his tape recorder; he hated that thing even more, talking to himself through a tape recorder.
He waited a few seconds and pulled his car into the street, making sure that no one knew he was behind them purposely. His instructions were simple, find out what Liz is and how many people know about it. She always had someone around her, and that had to mean something. The fact that she and her brother were adopted and simply the circumstances surrounding it were suspicious. No one had really looked into Alex being an alien but Summers felt that it deserved to be looked into.
“So, what are we going to say to them when we get there?”
Alex heard Maria pip up from the back, “What?” he asked as he leaned back to look at her.
“What are we going to ask them?” Maria repeated herself. “Hi we’re ambassadors from the Planet Zorgon and we just wanted to know if happened to know where River Dog would be. Do ya?”
“You know, for being the only person who got a flash from the thing you sure aren’t taking this very seriously.” Alex commented, glaring at her.
“Hey, I am. I just don’t think we should get our hopes up.” Maria said pushing herself back into her seat. She tried to shake off the feeling of the flash again.
“Okay, we’re here.” Liz said as she pulled off to park. She wanted to end the conversation between Maria and Alex before it got too intense.
Getting out of the Jeep, Alex stretched his long legs. “Okay, we’re here. What now?”
Maria pushed past him and Liz as she headed in the direction of some homes, “How about we ask for River Dog.”
“What do you want with the old Man?” A voice came out of nowhere.
Everyone spun around to see who was talking to them. It was a young man, maybe twenty five or so.
Maria felt herself become defensive almost immediately, “Can we help you?” she asked in a rude manner.
The young man looked her up and down, smiling, “It seems as though I’m the one who should be asking you kids that.” He smirked at her, letting her know he wouldn’t take any crap from her. “Like I said, what do you want with the old man?”
Alex cleared his throat and stepped in front of Liz and Maria, “We were wondering if he might be able to tell us about a pendent we found. We heard it came from here.”
“Sir-” Liz stared but was cut of by the man, “Eddie. Call me Eddie. I hate ‘sir’.”
Liz nodded and pulled the necklace out of her pocket, “We wanted to know about this, Eddie.”
Taking a deep breath, Eddie raised an eyebrow. Glancing back at the little group of house’s behind him he turned back to face them, “Listen. There is a sweat going on tonight. Your kind can’t be here.”
Alex interrupted him, “Our kind?”
“I’ll call you. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Liz shook her head, “How will he know to get a hold of us?”
Eddie pointed at the necklace, still in her hand, “If you found that, then you’re who we’ve been waiting for. Trust me. We’ll find you. Now leave.”
Maria tried to stop him before he left them, “Wait…about River Dog?”
“He’ll tell everything you want to know.” He said as he turned to leave again.
Maria stopped him before he could leave again, “Wait! He’s alive? Can we talk to him?”
He once again gave them a warning, “He knows you, he knows your kind, now leave and you will be contacted when the time is right.” With that, he left them alone.
The three watched as he walked back to his house, the dust beginning to blow in the wind, it looked too much like a movie.
“Liz,” Alex started out softly, “I think we are about to get more than we bargained for here.” He turned and got inside the jeep’s driver side. Suddenly feeling the urge to drive. It was unusual for him to do so, he hated driving.
Slowly, Liz and Maria pulled themselves away from the sight before them and got in the jeep too. The three driving off without the slightest idea of what to do next.
_____________________________________________________________
He sat on a rock, not too far off in the distance. Lucky for him he could easily hear what was being said. Another thing he didn’t like about humans, they had weak hearing. His people’s got better as their powers developed, humans…as they got older, they got worse. Yet another proof that they were inferior.
“River Dog…” he said softly, watching the teens drive off, wondering if they knew they were being followed by the Agent. “River Dog, let’s get to know you a little better…shall we?”
He hopped off of the rock; he could go near the old Indian tonight, not during the sweat. The effects could be disastrous. He laughed at the sound of the FBI agent’s car trailing off behind the aliens. Summers would be the first on his list to kill.
_____________________________________________________________
The next afternoon, as Maria sat at the Crashdown, waiting for her mom as she tried to sell some pies to the owners, she thought about what all was said yesterday.
Picking at the food on her plate, she couldn’t decide if she was hungry or not. Too much was on her mind right now. Years and years of searching and they get a piece to their past. And it scared her to death. It was down right weird.
“Care for some company?”
Maria jumped a little at the sound of Michaels voice. She shook her head at him, “It’s nothing you could help me with,” she shrugged and looked back down at her food.
“How do you know?”
Maria looked at him, “What?”
Michael scoffed at her, “I said how do you know?”
Rolling her eyes, Maria pushed herself up a little, “Because, you freak out when I look at you.”
“But not when you kiss me.” He said with a smirk, enjoying her reaction.
“Just leave me alone.” She folded her arms and turned back to her food, she wished her mother would be finished already.
Michael didn’t want to deal with her right now. She was too on edge to talk to. But that was normal for Maria, right now she just seemed really peeved at something, but just wouldn’t tell him. Just before turning to leave Michael stopped and turned around, “You know Maria,” he started, getting her attention, “Just because I’m not different like you don’t mean I don’t have my problems.”
Maria didn’t look at him, but he continued anyway, “I don’t have many true friends. My parents are divorced; I can’t even tell you when the last time I talked to my mom was.” He stopped and watched how she just kept staring at her plate of half eaten food, “Yeah, I’ll admit it, I was scared when I first found out about you guys. But I got over it. You know what I was afraid of?”
Maria just spoke bitterly, “You were afraid was going to kill you or that I was evil and here for world domination?”
Michael gave an even more bitter laugh, “Yeah, I was afraid at first that you might hurt me. But only for about two days, after that I was afraid of what you might think if you really knew me, because you know what Maria?”
This time, she looked at him. “I didn’t think you would like me once you got to know me.”
He stood, and let Maria just feel bewildered. “What did you just say to me?” Michael didn’t repeat him self, he just left her with one last thought, “Think about it Maria, are you the only person in the world with something or someone to fear?”
_____________________________________________________________
Summers was watching again. He had been for days now. It made him sick to have to follow them around everywhere but it was his job. He was getting paid good money for it. He sat there in his car, watching through his binoculars, he yawned; he hadn’t been getting much sleep lately. He had to stay up most of the night working on this case. He had to be able to capture proof that Liz was who they where beginning to believe she was.
So far all he had seen was just her running around town doing something although he was not sure what. Yesterday he had followed her out to this place and watched from far away as they met with someone else and then just turned and left. Summers stretched in his car, feeling like his joints were about to become fused together. It was driving him crazy to sit here and watch this girl for hours a day. He hoped pierce knew what he was talking about; he already had two agents on the case to just observe her. There was himself, who watched her from after she got home from school to when she went to bed. Then there was Agent Topolsky, who watched her at school.
He didn’t know she did it. He got tired from driving around everywhere; he couldn’t imagine how she felt having to pretend she was a school counselor. He watched as Liz went in to her home, someday he would find out all of the secrets she had to offer, and he wanted to see that day because she killed two other agents in Vegas. Two people with families that didn’t want to hurt her. And she killed them anyway. He shook his head at the thought of the creature, how could anything be so cold?
He didn’t get any answer though, he didn’t have to truth told to him as he watched her in her kitchen, picking up something and then leaving again. He waited; one, two, and then he followed her. The others were with her. He wondered if they knew the truth. They had too; they were around so much it was impossible for someone not to notice something. After they went to the Crashdown to pick p the other girl, they went to her house. He parked out side the Blondes, Maria’s house, and stood a good distance away as they walked up to the door and went in.
Sitting in Maria’s living room, Liz and Maria sat talking about the pendent and what it could possibly mean. Maria’s mom, Amy had left for the night to visit her mom, about two hours north. Amy’s work consisted of selling pies and novelty alien Key Chains and the sort. This, for at least the trio of aliens seemed kind of ironic.
Maria loved her house and her Moms work. It was kooky and fun, just like her mom. And their house; all though it was small and not quite as nice as some; to Maria it was the greatest house in the world.
“So,” Maria started, “Michael told me today that I needed to accept the fact that I am not the only person with something to fear.”
Liz chuckled, “He’s right you know,” she took a bite of her pizza. “Everyone has something to fear.”
Maria stared at her like she had just lost her mind, “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m just saying,” Liz said as she held her hands up, “Michael’s reasons may be very different but, we’re not the only ones with things to hide.”
“Liz, I don’t think he understands the kind of fear we have to deal with.”
Liz nodded, “No, maybe not. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been afraid of things before.” Liz knew Maria was still trying denying the thing she had for Michael. After all of the stuff that had happened between them she still tried to push him away. But that’s how Maria was, scared, yet opens all at the same time. It was what gave Maria her uniqueness, her quirky personality that made everyone love her.
Liz was glad she had taken that step with Max; she had thrown away her reservations about them and their connection. That was, after all what made them special to each other, that they had seen each others souls. Although many could say they had figuratively seen their soul mates soul, Liz and Max could say it literally. Liz knew she was in love, she just didn’t know how to say it. Although, soon she may not have the chance to.
Isabel sat at the café as Michael and Max closed it. They talked about yesterdays events, “Liz called me and told me about the vision later, after they had gotten back.” Max said while he swept the floor.
“So, your grandfather had the necklace?” Isabel asked in awe, things really where different when it came to Alex, Liz and Maria.
Michael stopped sweeping, when are they leaving by the way?”
Max shrugged, “They said most likely tomorrow. But they’re still not sure.”
“Anyway,” Max started again, “Liz said that-”
The sound of the bell ringing made them all jump. Max and Michael looked at each other perplexed, Max locked it. Michael and Isabel saw him lock it.
“I’m sorry sir but, we’re closed for the night.”
The young man held up his hands, “I’m not here to eat anything. Trust me, I hate the food here.” The man didn’t pay any attention to the crestfallen looks on Max and Michael’s faces, “I’m here to give your friends a message.”
“What friends?” Isabel asked as she glanced at Michael and Max, who acted equally confused, despite the fact that she knew who he was talking about.
The man looked at her, “You know which ones. Tell them to call River Dog at this number tomorrow at one. Not a second later.” He reached over and handed Max a piece of paper with a number on it.
“Tell them, he‘ll be ready for them soon.”
He turned to leave when Max ran behind him, “Wait, who’ll ready?”
The man turned around and ignored Max’s question, “Just tell Liz my name is Eddie, a friend of River Dogs. She will know.” And with that, he left, leaving the three completely stunned.
“What…do….we…do…now?” Michael asked slowly, not sure what to make of the situation.
“Call Maria,” Max said.
Michael pulled out his cell phone and hit the number five, it was Maria’s number.
Had Max not been so shaken up by the encounter he would have commented on Michael having Maria on speed dial, but right now he wasn’t in the mood.
“Come on, answer,” he said softly under his breath, each ring feeling like forever.
*Ring*
“Hello?”
“Maria, this guy just came into the Crashdown and like was talking about how he has a message for you guys and---“
“Wait, Michael slow down. What happened?”
“This guy named Eddie came into the café. He told us that he had a message for us to give to you. That River Dog would meet you guys tomorrow night and he would tall you about your past the others like you and-“
“Okay, we’ll be right there”
*Click*
“They’re on their way.” Michael hung up the phone and put the phone back in his pocket, “They should be here in about ten minutes I guess.”
Last edited by T.D.O on Thu Oct 27, 2005 12:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
Thanks guys so much for all of the feedback. I was looking over some of the old parts before I started fixing the grammer, man it was bad. Oh, well. Thanks for all the support!
Getting in to his van Eddie glanced back at the café; “There,” he said aloud to himself, “You did it.”
He turned the key and the engine turned over, the smell of fuel filled the air, he would have rolled down the window for some fresh air if it worked. But, instead he just checked his rear view mirror, it appeared like no one was there, but he knew better.
There was someone there. Who? He didn’t know. But River Dog told him before he left that, ‘Someone is watching, always watching. You might not see them with your eyes, but he’s there.’
Eddie had lived with this since he befriended the old man when he was 10. He heard rumors from neighbors about scary things. It wasn’t until he was ten thought that he had any real contact with River Dog. He saved Eddie from almost being hit by a car. Ever since then Eddie stayed loyal to River Dog and kept his secrets. Some of them weren’t so bad, other were down right frightening.
He wondered why the café’s door was unlocked, most places kept their doors locked after hours and yet he just walked right inside.
He pressed on his brake as he neared a stop sign, thinking about all of the stories flying around about some crazy shooting and someone getting shot, yet no bullet hole ever being found. Luckily for him, he knew the truth, he could separate the fact from the fiction when it came to this town. And right now, if he wanted to, he could tell all of the UFO crazies to celebrate, because something other worldly was about to take place.
Alex grabbed the dashboard of the Jeep, “Jeez, Liz! I want to live to see eighteen okay!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. Liz was driving like she had no regard for human life. She had to be going almost seventy in a forty.
“Think you’re going fast enough?” Maria called from the back, equally scared for her life. Neither of them had ever seen Liz drive like this, so far she had run five red lights and broken heaven knows how many laws.
Pushing back in his seat slightly Alex yelled back at Maria, “Don’t encourage her!”
It was just then that Liz made a sharp turn and almost threw everyone from the jeep. Not saying a word to anyone.
She was deep in thought, how could River Dog contact them so soon? They only talked to Eddie yesterday, what ever happened to suspense?
As much as she wanted to know about her past and where she came from, Liz was still apprehensive. She didn’t want to trust anyone that might turn them over to the FBI.
“AHHHHH!” Both Alex and Maria screamed when she pulled into the parking lot, thinking she was going to hit the café. They both shared a sigh of relief and an unexplainable urge to jump out and kiss the ground.
_____________________________________________________________
The sound of two loud screams and screeching tires let them know the others where there. Michael and Isabel shared the same shocked expression, there was no humanly way they could have gotten there so fast.
“Max,” Isabel called out cautiously, “Just how fast does Liz drive?” It could not have been more than three minutes since they talked to them.
Max opened his mouth to answer but was silenced by Alex running through the front doors, “Okay what happened?” he asked passing them up. After he noticed that no one was in front of him he turned and asked the question again. “What happened?”
Before anyone had the chance to answer Maria and Liz walked through the door. “Yeah,” Maria pointed to Alex, “What he just said.”
“Oh, uh, here,” Max said as he reached in his pocket, grabbing the note Eddie left them. “He said for you to call River Dog at one tomorrow, ‘not second later’.” He handed it to Alex, who eagerly took it and read the number.
“Did he say anything else?” Maria asked from behind Max, “Did he mention anything else about River Dog or the necklace?”
Max turned around and shook his head no, “That was all he said.”
Liz moved to stand next to him, taking his hand in hers. “Liz,” Max asked softly, “Do you know what’s going to happen when you meet River Dog?”
“I wish I knew, “ she said, “We know about as much as you guys about this.”
“Is this the same guy that your grandparents knew Max?” Alex asked, shifting his attention from the note to Alex.
Max nodded, “Who else could it be?”
Maria’s attention turned to Michael, who had been staring at her since she got in, “Am I the only a little scared here?” she asked as she glanced around the room. Things were moving too fast. She wasn’t ready for everything that was happening.
“I think we all are,” Michael respond, walking up to her. “I think you’re scared because you don’t what all to expect, and we’re scared because well, we’re humans, and this is kind of freaky.”
Maria tried to find a way to get mad him for the comment, but she couldn’t, there was nothing untrue in what he said. “Michael,” instead she started, “I think you’re right”.
“What do we do next?” Isabel asked.
Maria sighed, “There is nothing we can do, we have to wait until tomorrow.”
Liz and Alex both agreed with her, this was not something that they wanted to screw up, seeing as it was there first and possibly only link to the past they had been searching for.
“She’s right,” Liz pointed out, “Even if we do want call him right now, chances are he wouldn’t even talk to us.”
“Max, honey is everything okay down there?”
Everyone jumped at the sound of Max’s mom calling from up the stairs, they had forgotten that even though the café may be busy in the day time, at night it was quite and someone could easily hear people talking.
Max went over to the back and opened the door, finding his mother standing at the edge of the stairs, “Uh, yeah mom! I just have friends over.”
The look on her face was not pleasant one, “Well, your grandparents are sleeping, so keep it down.”
Holding her stare for a moment Ax swallowed, “Yes, ma’m,” he said softly, not knowing if she had heard any of what they had been talking about.
“Good night, honey, I love you.”
“Love you, too, mom.”
After Max had made sure she was upstairs, he turned and walked back into the quite dining room.
“Do you think she heard anything?” Maria asked softly, not wanting Diane to come downstairs again.
Max sighed and shook his head, “I don’t think so.”
He looked at everyone, noting at how Maria, Liz and Alex were exchanging worried glances between each other, “Let’s uh,” Max got their attention, “Let’s just sit down and talk about this very quietly.”
After a few minutes of talking about what to do next, Alex noticed that he couldn’t find Isabel anywhere. He searched until he found in booth, he went over to her as Liz and Maria conversed with the others about the situation.
“Hey, is everything okay Isabel?” he asked softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. She didn’t say anything at first, but when she looked up her fear came through her words, “Alex, I don’t know what to think.”
Isabel shivered and hugged her self like she was cold, “I mean, this guy has never met us and yet, he knows where Max and Michael works and that we know you.” She ran her hands through her hair, “Alex, I’m sorry but…it’s kind of creepy.”
Alex began to rub her shoulder, “Isabel, I promise, no one will hurt you. I won’t let them.” He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze, “I promise.”
Isabel gave a soft smile at his words, “Alex, you really are a nice guy.”
Alex sat up straight, “I know, I’m just a little on the shy side.”
After Liz and her were done talking Maria left to go and sit at the place farthest away from everybody. She was sitting at the counter while Max and Liz were off in their corner talking about something. “Penny for your thoughts?” she heard Michael coming up behind her.
“Do you really care or are you going to run away from me?” she retorted.
Michael raised an eyebrow, “me run away? Do I need to remind you about our first kiss?”
He sighed, “Maria, I’m just not used to this kind of stuff. I mean, your told all your life that aliens don’t exist and when you do hear about them it’s mostly these scary stories of them taking people and causing major damage to them.”
Michael stopped and sat down next to her, making sure she facing him as he finished what he was saying.
“But, I know that it’s not true with you guys. I know that you would never hurt anyone Maria.” Michael felt a smile come to his lips, “And you have to admit, you were scared of me when I was told weren’t you?”
Maria didn’t want to admit it but he was right, she did feel afraid when he found out what she was. Not just, because she was scared he was going to turn them in but because of what he might think. Maria was running. Running from him and the way he made her feel. She wanted to kick herself, Liz was right again.
“Maybe you’re right,” Maria hung her head own so he couldn’t see her, but Michael placed his hand under her chin and brought her to face him. “Hey, look at me. I have never met anyone more beautiful than you. And that’s fact. And I know that I’ve not always been calm about this whole thing but that doesn’t change the fact that you are beautiful. Inside and out.”
Maria had tears in her eyes; no one had ever said anything like to her. And what got her the most was that she could tell he meant it. Sometimes, even if it was just for second it seemed like no matter what happened in her life Michael was always going to be that person that she kept coming back to. Then reality came crashing back down.
“But you don’t even know me,” she stressed. “How can you say something like that when you don’t know me?”
“I know enough about you to know that.” He shifted in his seat, “Sorry, I’m not good at being sappy like Maxwell.” He took her hand, “Do you feel better?”
Maria nodded and laid her head on his shoulder. “Hey,” he whispered, “Don’t look now but I think we just had a moment.”
She snorted, “What?”
“You know, a moment. You’re being nice to me, I’m being nice to you, everything’s…nice.”
“You’re crazy, Michael.” She said. For her, after a night like this, this was nothing short of a perfect moment.
“How’s it going?” Alex asked softly, he could see she was in deep thought and he wanted to break her out of it, “You look like you’re thinking about something big.” He joked, which surprised Isabel because of the situation he was in.
“I was thinking…” Isabel felt a smile come to her lips, “Alex, how did you get so sweet?” she asked, this was by far the sweetest boy she had ever met.
“Well, I like to take daily dosage of sugar…”
Isabel started giggling; he could always make her smile. Her laugh however, so turned back into a frown, “I’m sorry Alex, this is just a lot to take in you know? It kind of freaks me out.” she hoped he would understand.
He was most likely used to freaky stuff like this but she wasn’t and she prayed it didn’t turn him away. Deep down she it wouldn’t but she that still didn’t mean that it didn’t worry her it would.
“It’s okay, so am I,” when Alex said this Isabel was surprised.
“You mean something like this has never happened to you before?” she tilted her head towards him. He shook his head; “Things didn’t start getting wired or scary for us until after Liz healed Max.” Isabel just sat there for a moment not saying anything.
Alex put his arm around her shoulder. “You know, when things aren’t so weird around here, you and I should go to a movie or something?” Alex couldn’t believe the words that just came out of his mouth.
“Yeah, that would be fun”
Alex felt the small grin go to a huge smile, “Yeah that would be fun…”
“Are you scared?” Isabel asked him softly.
Taking a deep breath, Alex thought about. He didn’t need any time to think about if he was scared, he was. He just wasn’t how much of was fear of changing and how much of was an instinctive attraction to the whole thing. He didn’t know which was more of the driving force in the situation.
Liz and Max were near the bar, as alone as they could be with everyone in the room. Feeling a pinch of regret, Liz reached over and took his hand, “Sorry.” She said with an innocence in her voice, like she wanted him to know how bad she felt about dragging him into this.
“What are you sorry for Liz?” Max looked at her, what did she do to him?
Liz stared at the counter, the marble looked like different shades of grey had been swished around together to make this bar.
“Liz?” he asked again, wanting an answer.
“For bringing you into this Max,” her eyebrows furrowed together as she looked at him. “I hate thinking that something could happen to you, Michael and Isabel. I couldn’t handle it.”
“Nothings going to happen,” he tried to reassure her, but he saw that it wasn’t working.
She put her face in hands, “I’ve made everything so confusing for everyone.” She rubbed her face, “I don’t even know why.”
He reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder, “Liz, I didn’t ask for you to bring me into this, but I didn’t tell you not to. You didn’t ‘drag’ anyone into this, that pendent did.”
“Liz, I don’t thank any of us are mad, besides, all the guy did was give a message.” He shrugged, trying to ease her fear. The last thing he wanted was Liz to think he was mad or scared. He wasn’t and he didn’t think Michael and Isabel were either. This just different.
“Max, I don’t want any of this to come back and hurt you.” Liz was sincere; she held his hand, tangling her fingers with his. Was he really with her? This felt so real. To know that he was they’re for her in more that just being friends. After years of longing for him, she had him. He knew the truth and was still with her.
Diane sat quietly at by the door to the dining room of the café. Listening to what was being said, she couldn’t make out much of it, just something about a necklace, someone named River Dog and a message about tomorrow at one.
This is what is had been like with her son for the past two months, she hardly talked to him about things and when she did he was short and too eager to end conversation they had about his new friends. Especially his new girlfriend. Max never talked about Liz other than just general stuff, like being adopted. Which, Diane hated admit, made her even more suspicious of things.
Right now, they all were talking amongst themselves, making so Diane couldn’t make out anything useful, so she stood up and silently made her way up the stair back into her bedroom.
“You shouldn’t be worried about him Diane,” Phillip said standing the doorway to their bedroom. He shocked her when she found him waiting for her. “he’s a good kid.”
“It’s not Max I’m worried about.”
“It’s Liz?”
Her silence spoke volumes.
Phillip sighed and ran his hands through his short grayish brown hair, “You know, you were never this worried about Tess.”
“Well, Tess was the niece of the sheriff, not the subject of investigation.”
“What investigation Diane?” He asked harshly, he had dealt with his wife’s unfounded suspicion of Liz for long enough. It was going too far.
“I heard from Mrs. Jacobs that she heard the Sheriff was more interested in Liz and her friends than finding the shooters.” She said placing her hands on her hips, as if she was proving a point.
“That’s it?!” Phillip exclaimed, he couldn’t believe his wife was casing a distrust of their sons girlfriend on some ramblings of their ‘friends’ gossiping wife. “That’s what this thing is about?”
“Don’t you see? This is not safe for Max-”
“Go to bed, Diane, I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
Diane glared at him, he might not believe her now, but, she would show that something was not right with Liz, that’s why she was going to Sheriff tomorrow.
Topolsky sat on the bed in her hotel room. There were papers and photos strewn all over the place. Kathleen was searching for something, anything in these files to match the profile they had for Liz.
According to all of the documents they had Liz was supposed to be this ruthless killer, someone with no regard for any type of life. Someone that wouldn’t blink or even think twice about leaving a person to die in the middle of the floor.
But nothing about Liz matched this. This person was supposed to be alone, not surrounded by five people almost twenty four seven. And yet, Liz Parker was brought to their attention because she healed someone.
Why risk saving a human life when you’ve killed heavens knows how many?
She shook her head and stared at the computer screen. Why didn’t this make sense?
Liz had too many people around her to not be noticed. She had her adopted brother, Alex. Then Maria, Max, Isabel and Michael. According to Summers, Liz was dating Max and it appeared that they all knew her secret. But if they did why didn’t Liz kill them like she had done in the past?
She shook off the feeling of doubt she surrounding Liz and finished typing her report. Of course Liz was the killer, who else could it be?
‘Kathleen,’ she told herself, ‘You’re just tired. You’ve been spending too much time with teens and need to relax.’ Just before she hit enter to send her findings to Pierce she had a thought, what if Liz did have feelings? Maybe she found people that she could care about. This might prove useful when Pierce decided to make his move.
Quickly adding it to her notes, she pressed enter and sent the report to Pierce.
Pierce was the head of the special unit. He had a right hand man, or woman if you will, Agent Gillian Smith. Being one of only two women in the Unit Smith held a certain amount of power when it came to decisions made. It was Smith who influenced Pierce to read into the Roswell shooting and it was Smith who wanted Topolsky to run the project.
Still, Smith was volatile when it came to her control of the situation. Threaten any part of her and she would lash out. That’s why Topolsky never spoke up hardly, she didn’t want to lose her job before seeing an alien in the observation room.
Without warning, a feeling of regret over came her, like she was hoping for the demise on an innocent woman. Unable to stop herself, Kathleen reached over and pressed play on her tape recorder, the sound of Liz’s voice filling the room. She thought about the way things played out during their last meeting…
“My parents are really supportive of me and my brother.”
“That’s always good Liz.”
“Yeah.”
“Liz, how would you feel if something happened to your brother or one of your friends?”
“I would probably think it was my fault.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want anything to happen to them.”
Kathleen leaned back into her chair, giving Liz a knowing glance, as if, for a moment, they both knew what the other was up to. “What might happen to them that would make you think it was your fault?” she asks.
“I don’t know,” Liz responded, picking nervously at her fingertips, “I don’t know what might happen. I just don’t want anything to happen.”
It didn’t take long for both of the women to notice that their conversation had taken a different meaning completely, almost instantly. Neither of them truly knowing the motives that drove the other to point they were at in meetings.
“I need to get to class,” said Liz. She was having no more of this ‘talk’.
Something just didn’t seem right if Liz healed Max Evans right after she killed someone in cold blood. Maybe she wanted to throw them off, make them think she wasn’t so bad. Or maybe Max Evans knew something the she needed to know.
Either way, Liz was a target of the Special Unit. Kathleen looked at her window. Something was about to happen with this case, something big. And it was going effect every part of the special unit.
Last edited by T.D.O on Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
My plan to have all of the old parts redone before posting a new part didn't work out thanks to a llittle thing called real life so here are a few more "revised" parts.
Liz sat in her kitchen eating breakfast. This was going to be a long day for her. They all had gotten home late last night, Maria spending the night at her house. She slept on the floor, like she normally did when she stayed at Liz’s house.
She heard her dad come in, “Liz, what are you doing up so early?” he said as he started a pot of coffee. His blue eyes darting around the kitchen for the creamer.
“I couldn’t sleep dad,” Liz said as she took another bite of her cereal. “Well, then, since it’s just you and me let’s catch up on what been going in your life lately?” He asked coming over to sit next to her.
“Your mother tells me you have a boyfriend now?”
Liz turned red when her dad brought it up. “Dad…” Liz trailed off. She didn’t feel comfortable talking about her relationship with Max to anyone.
“Okay, okay, fine but, I just want to find out what’s been happening with you lately. It seem like since that shooting back about three months ago you’ve been really distant.”
Liz gave her father a thoughtful look, “Nothing dad. And yes, Max and I are going out. Ever since the shooting, he’s been a good friend of mine and things just grew into more. I really like him dad.”
Jeff nodded, “I know you do. You have since your first day of school your brother tells me.”
Liz felt embarrassment creep into her cheeks as she thought of her revenge on Alex for telling that about her. “Well, Alex, he’s got this thing one of Max’s really good friends, Isabel Whitman. Ask him about her, I’m sure he’ll be happy to tell you all about her.”
Jeff looked at her, “Really?” he asked, Alex had girl he liked? What didn’t his dad senses pick up on this?
The day was a nervous one for everyone. Max had to deal with his Grandparents leaving so soon. Liz, Alex and Maria had spent the day talking about this meeting they to have with River Dog tonight.
After the morning had passed and it was coming closer to the time they needed to call, they were at the Crashdown.
“So, Michael, what would ask someone who had answers to your past?” Liz asked. Michael was sitting at the table with them, Isabel on the same side as Maria and Alex, Max and Liz other.
“I would ask how the fashion was on Zorgon.” Isabel muttered from her seat.
Everyone shared a laugh before Max and Michael cleared their throats.
“Max and I have been thinking about this today and…” Michael started out, not sure how to word it right. Max took over, “We think it would be safer for you in the long run if we came with you.”
Maria choked on her coke at the announcement, “What?”
Michael put his hands up, “Just hear us out. What if something happens? No one would be able to call help?” He waited for her to answer. When she didn’t answer he finished his point, “If we went with you we could watch our for you in case something happens.”
Maria scoffed, “Michael, come on. This Eddie person said that River Dog could answer questions and Max’ grandpa over here said that he bought from him right after the crash. I think only danger we’ll have is emergency diaper duty.”
“Maria!” Liz chuckled, that was unexpected from her. Max looked at Liz with pleading in his eyes, “Please?” Liz shook her head, “have to go with Maria on this one. It’s too dangerous if you guys go.”
Michael rolled his eyes, “Come on Liz! Let us protect you instead of everyone needing you for protection?”
Liz shook her head again. “We don’t even know if we’re going anywhere.”
And there was no way she letting someone go out there if they did. If something bad accord and one of them got hurt, Liz would never forgive her self. She just shook her head every time Michael looked at her; nothing was going to change her mind.
After the aliens called River Dog, they came and explained what happened to Max, Isabel and Michael. Apparently he only gave them an address and told them to ‘come alone’. Unknown to Liz and Maria, Michael memorized the address when they told them it and knew where to go.
“I still feel like we should’ve gone. You know?” Michael asked from his seat in the booth. Max nodded. Then it hit them….they looked at each other at the same time…”Let’s do it!”
Isabel looked at them, “No, you guys. You heard them. They don’t want us to get hurt.”
Michael scoffed, “yeah and Maria said River Dog would only make them do diaper duty. Come on, let’s go.” He grabbed his stuff and pulled on Max’ arm. “Come on Isabel.” Isabel rolled her eyes, “Fine, but if someone gets mad, it wasn’t my idea!” She got up grabbing her purse.
“Do you even know where we’re going?”
Michael glanced back at Isabel who was in the back seat. “Of course. I‘m pretty good at memorizing things like this.” He turned the ignition and sped off.
_____________________________________________________________
“Sheriff.”
Jim looked up from his desk to see Diane standing in his office doorway. “Yes, Mrs. Evans?”
“I know something about Liz Parker.”
“And what would that be?”
“She’s dangerous.”
Jim leaned back in his seat, “I could have told you that.”
“I also know that she is meeting with an old man named River Dog.”
Staring at her Jim finally asked, “And why do you care?”
“Because my son followed her.” She sat down with asking him, “I know a lot more than this, if you’re willing to listen, I want to know what it is about her that’s so different.”
Kathleen was sitting at her desk in the school, it was Saturday but she needed to get some work done. Despite the fact that she was a fake school counselor, she still had to deal with all of the headaches of the Roswell High Students.
“Miss Topolsky.” Jim Valenti stood in the door. Breaking her out of her thoughts.
“Yes?” She was surprised to see the sheriff, she had been told so many stories about him and his investigations that she almost felt as though she should be looking into him as a test subject than the Parker girl and her buddies.
“I have something I think you should know.”
“About what?” She asked, taking off her glasses.
“Liz Parker.”
“What about her?”
“First you need to tell me something,” He walked over and sat on the edge of her desk, “Why is the FBI so interested in her if she isn‘t what I think she is?”
Kathleen began laughing, “Why do you think the FBI is interested in her?”
“Well,“ Jim laughed, “she’s being followed by an agent and the school counsel happens to be an agent.”
She stopped laughing, “How do you know that?”
“Well,” he started, “I think my sources should remain anonymous at this point, but, let’s just say you didn’t do a good job covering your tracks.” Standing up he rubbed her hands together, “Now, I can tell where they are going right if you want to know.”
“Where is that?” She asked. The special unit had never taken the Sheriff too seriously, they only viewed him a something in the way, not as someone who had actually done some real investigating of his own.
This was the first time Topolsky looked at him as a threat. So she was going to listen to what he had to say.
Jim smiled, “Have you ever heard of a man named River Dog?”
_____________________________________________________________
After about twenty minutes of driving, Alex remembered why he hated driving the jeep. It was too bumpy, “Why did I agree to drive again?”
“Because after last night you said I was never allowed to drive with you in the car again,” Liz said, looking out at the landscape rushing past as they drove.
Maria sat up front next to Alex, while her and him talked about what to ask River Dog. Liz on the other hand, hadn’t said much, she just wanted to wait until they got there to figure out what to ask.
“You know Liz you’re going to have to explain to me one of these days how and why driving is do great.” Alex called back to her, “All I’ve done so far is stare at the road ahead.”
Liz laughed lightly, “you’re an Idiot.” She sat completely silent the rest of the way until they reached the reservation, “There’s that guy,” Liz said pointing to Eddie. Who was standing by the road side, he motioned for them to pull in as he walked up to them
“We’ve been waiting for you,” he began, pointing up a hill, it was a good sized hill considering the surroundings was mostly brush and trees.
“Who’s that?” He asked as a car pulled up behind them. It was an old bluw Mustang. Liz, Alex and Maria all recognized the car, it was Michaels.
“What are you…” Alex started to ask when he turned to see what Eddie was talking about, “Max!” he looked at Liz, “I thought we told them not to come?”
“Aren’t those your friends?” He asked pointed behind them.
“What are they doing here?!” Maria asked in complete astonishment.
“And I thought we only invited three?” Eddie butted in, letting his annoyance be made known.
Max and Michael got out of the car quickly, with Isabel slowly pulling herself out, it was obvious she didn’t want to go.
Maria stomped up to them, “What are you thinking, coming out here like this?” she demanded.
Max was more than happy to answer, “We wanted to make sure you’re safe.”
Michael jumped in, “That’s right, what would you do if something happened?”
“I’d call for help?” Eddie asked sarcastically. “Nice to see you again.” He smiled at the three humans.
Alex jumped in, “We told you to stay home!”
Michael looked at Liz, “Liz, if anyone would-”
“Don’t even Michael, you shouldn’t be here. It’s not safe.”
Michael looked at her, that was not the reaction he was hoping for.
Maria spoke softer to him, “Michael, we don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Eddie felt offended, “Hey! Who said anything about getting hurt?”
Maria sighed and looked at the car. “There’s nothing we can do now, they’re here.” Michael let his relief be known. “Thanks, Maria.”
“Just don’t do it again. Do you understand?”
Michael answered in a mocking manner, “yes, master”
Eddie walked up behind them, “I’d hate to break up this love fest but…he’s waiting.” He said pointing to the hill once more. HE pushed past then and began walking up it.
Liz and the others followed, walking for what seemed like forever when they came to this old cave. It had been so long that it was almost dark now.
“Wait here,” Eddie said as he disappeared into the whole in the rock. He came out a few seconds later, holding a torch. “Come in.”
Liz and Max followed first, holding hands. Followed by Maria and Alex, then Isabel and Michael.
They walked into a scene that took their breath away, walls painted with writing in another language that wasn’t from Earth. The center of the main wall was the symbol that was on the pendent only in it’s full form. There were four holes in the wall.
“Wait in here.” Eddie said, “I’ll be back.”
Alex, Maria and Liz all wondered at the sight before them, was this their language?
“What is this place?” Alex asked in amazement as he lifted his head to look at the drawings on the ceiling, clearly, whoever had painted these took their time.
Maria ran her hand over the surface of one, “It smooth,” she looked back Alex and Liz who were doing their own investigating.
After a few minutes Eddie walked up to them; “He’s ready for you.”
He motioned them to go further back into the cave. As they walked further the writing became more complicated, almost as though it was a primitive version of the earlier cave writings.
They saw an old man, sitting on a rock, holding bag. He stood to face them. “You are the ones. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Liz stepped forward, “How do you know about us?”
River Dog smiled at her. “I was told about you long before you could image. I’ve been waiting to give you these for a long time.” He handed them a bag with four stones in it.
“They are to magnify you abilities. Nasedo gave them to me. He told me to give them to you when I found you again.” He stood about six feet tall. He wasn’t threatening in his appearance; in fact, you wanted to trust him.
Alex held on up to the dim light coming from another torch, “Where are they from?”
“Your home.”
Maria stuttered, “Our- you mean our home?”
River Dog smiled at her, “Your home.” His smiled faded as he moved on to more important matters, “The man, Nasedo, said that the time would come when you’d need the stones and that you’d come looking for me.”
“How did you know him?” Maria asked from the back.
He walked around to get a better look at her, “He came here after the crash, he was hurt and I found him in this cave. I helped him become healthy again. I was the only he would let in here, he told me he had important work to do. That the fate of a planet and a people rested on him getting you three in a safe place.”
Maria took the chance to ask him another question, “What did he tell you about our planet?”
River Dog felt hesitant before he answered, Nasedo told in great detail about the dealing with their home planet, the wars, the government and the different groups of people that lived in it.
“He said that a great war broke out on your planet, that, the leader had fallen and that those in the ship had to become safe or else there was no hope for his race.”
River dog didn’t go on any further before pointed to pendent that Liz and taken out of her pocket. “He gave me that and said to get rid of it. He said when the time had come, those who it belonged to would claim it.”
Max broke his silence, “My grandfather said he got it from you, do you remember him?” River Dog nodded and pointed to him, “Your grandfather was a searcher when the crash happened. He was the only one I trusted with pendent.”
Max felt a sense of something come over him, like, he was supposed to get that necklace from Grandpa Joe. Liz looked at Max and took his hand again.
“I had this vision, when I touched it, what does that mean?” Maria asked, knowing he was the only person around who could answer her.
“You had a vision because this pendent is important to your cause on this planet, it was meant as a warning and a sign of things to come.”
Alex spoke up from the back, “What are we doing on this planet then??”
River Dog put his hands in the air, “I cannot tell you anymore tonight, it is late and I feel you have been told too much already. Go home, I will let you know when it is safe to come back.”
River dog left the cave, Liz ran after him, Max following behind her. “Hey!” Liz called, “We just got here!” She was out of breath, “We have more questions.”
Sounding defeated, River Dog nodded, “So do I child.” He then closed his eyes and took Liz and Max’s hands in his. “Do not waste this trust. I feel this will serve you well in future times or it will destroy you. It’s your choice.”
Max opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the old Man. “Eddie will show you to your cars.” With that he turned and left, the evening making it hard to see where he was going.
“Liz,” Max said, turning to face, “What do you think he meant by that?”
“I don’t-”
“Okay! Okay! We’re going!” Maria’s yelling broke Liz out of her train of thought, “Be patient man!”
“Then go!” Eddie commanded, “It’s time for you to leave.” He said, leading them down the hill again.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” the watcher said, “Don’t you ever learn?”
He sat atop of a rock, just outside the cave entrance, he could feel the pounding in his head, the pendent was near.
Sighing, he reached back and grabbed a small pebble, tossing it down the hill, by now the others were far enough it wouldn’t get they’re attention.
He would have gone into the cave but it wasn’t safe, and it wasn’t time. He had too many things to accomplish first. Then he would enjoy killing the ‘Royals’ as they became known to his fellow Skins.
It was only a matter of time…_____________________________________________________________
“She is going to kill me!”
Summers had lost them. For the first time, since he was sent to Roswell he had lost them. When Liz, Alex and Maria left the Crashdown that night he waited like he usually did about thirty seconds before he left as to not be seen. He followed them until about five miles out of town when, without notice, his engine went. He looked for what was wrong… he wasn’t very good with cars.
“Topolsky will never let me live this down,” he said out loud as the tow truck came and got him. But that’s what you get when you follow around teenagers all of the time.
“Thank you sir,” he said gratefully as the tow truck man helped him. “Get in the front,” the scruffy man pointed to the truck, Summers didn’t look too excited about sitting in there. As soon as he got in the smell alone almost did him in. “Buckle up,” the driver said, he voice sounded like he had gravel stuck in his voice box. “Yeah,” Summers said nervously, “yeah.”
Eddie was sitting outside his house after everyone left. They didn’t stay much longer after Rive Dog told them about Nasedo. Eddie wasn’t sure what all had happened but he wanted to know.
All his life he was told that one day they would come for the truth. That the Alien River Dog befriended would return and the truth would be reveled to him. Eddie knew a little about this person River Dog helped back in ’47. But he left after just a few days. But in that few days River Dog had told to him the whole reason why they came to Earth and it sent chills down his spine. If people only knew about the other worlds out there it would make them a lot more paranoid about things.
Just as he thought about going inside for the night, he saw a set of head light come up, ‘Maybe they forgot something.’ But they didn’t look like the jeeps. And there were not three people in the car, there was one man, he was older looking, bald and lanky. He got out of the car and started walking towards him his hand raised.
“Hey can I help you?” Eddie asked, but the man didn’t answer. He just walked closer and suddenly a white light came from his hand, flinging Eddie back where he landed on the hard ground. He was coughing hard, the force of what hit knocked the breath out of him.
He tried to sit up but couldn’t. It was then that he saw the man walk up until he was standing above him.
“Thank you.”
Eddie was confused, “For what?!” he coughed out. This time there was blood; his head began fill with pain.
The man leaned down, smiling as he whispered, “For making it easier to find them.”
All that could be heard was Eddie’s painful scream.
River Dog was running as fast as he could for someone his age. This was not Nasedo, at least not the one he helped all those years ago. This was one of the enemies he told River Dog about. He was fast in his pursuit, the only thing that River Dog could hear behind him was the occasional breaking twig. He stopped suddenly when he reached the old cave where the other piece to the necklace lay. Nasedo said to get rid of it, as it would alert his enemies. How did he know it was here in Roswell? How did this person know that the Three had it? He couldn’t have know unless…
His thoughts stopped as his nose began to bleed, as well as his mouth and ears. He looked down to the ground were he landed on his knees. The Stranger walked around to face him, looking deathly Evil.
“Tell Eddie he should have put up a better fight than you did,” he placed his hand on River Dogs head and it turned white.
As River Dog fell over, seemingly dead, Kalsen stepped over his body and walked inside the cave.
He took a deep breath and looked around, ‘it’s here’.
He could feel the pendent, it was like a drug calling him back for another hit. He searched through the cave, reading the writing on the walls. It told the story of the downfall of a people on some distant planet. Kalsen knew who they people were, he contributed to the fall.
He closed his eyes and searched for the pendent with his mind, perhaps if it was fully intact he could have found it sooner. It held much power even though it had been broken during the final battle, when She fell. The leader fell at the hands of the person she trusted for peace. Kalsen laughed, such irony.
Her fall was the biggest victory his people had ever experienced. And those poor people that fell into captivity, who followed Her…well, they should have known better than to trust an untruthful leader.
He walked around some more until he felt it hit him like a ton of bricks. It was in the wall, on the map. Why didn’t he feel it before? He walked over, smiling that same evil smile as he waved his hand over the wall, the rest of the pendent appearing. Now all he had to do was wait for the others to come and put it together. Then, the ‘perfect’ plan that the helpless captives had would not only be destroyed but also mocked and paraded around in front of them.
He took the half of the pendent and placed it in his pocket. He lifted his hand and shifted his shape. He was now a young man, dark haired and welcoming, he was now Eddie, time to find the long lost leaders.
Coughing, River Dog drug himself a few feet per hour into the cave, the stranger left him there, almost dead. River Dog was strong man, even for his age. Wincing in pain he drug himself into the cave, where a torch was still lit, he had made sure the stranger was long gone before he made his way into the cave.
When he reached the spot he was heading for he began to dig, blood mixed with dirt made mud around where River Dog was digging.
He sighed as he found what he was looking for, the communicator, he knew what he had to do. He had to leave until he was strong. And he knew just who to contact. He couldn’t warn the aliens, he was too weak and warning them would only make it more dangerous, he had to contact someone else, who would save him and help until he could help himself.
The lights flashed brightly as he pressed his hand into it. It was round and had palm shaped dent in it, powered by just the very thought it seemed, it was about six inches long.
He felt the pain begin to leave him as the message was sent. He was leaving New Mexico for a while, he didn’t know how long. All he knew was that when he returned, he was bringing hope for the ‘others’.
Liz and Max were eating dinner. It was their first dinner date, and they were enjoying it. It had been a week since the cave and things had calmed down for them. Eddie told right before they had left that he would call them as soon as River Dog could meet with them again, but he didn’t know how long it would be.
Max watched as Liz finished her food; they had been talking for about an hour. “Thanks for the rose Max,” Liz gave him a smile that melted his heart. “It’s nice to able to just enjoy dinner with you without everyone else you know?” Max asked as he got up led Liz out the door to the Jeep.
Liz had to come and pick him up since he didn’t have a car. He was glad he could have this time with her to himself. “So what movie did you want to see?” Max asked as she drove to the Movie Theater. “I don’t know, what’s playing?”
Max shook his head; “Maybe we should have looked into this before hand?” Liz laughed at Max’ response. “That might have been a good idea…” Liz whispered in response.
“Do you want to rent a movie and go back to my place?” she asked, maybe renting was a better idea. Alex and her parents all went out for dinner too. So Max and Liz could have some time to them selves. Liz pulled into the parking lot of the blockbuster.
“So…..” Max said as Liz stopped the Jeep out side of the video store.
“So….”
They sat in the jeep for moment; nothing else being said before they grabbed each other and started kissing passionately, unable to control themselves the kiss grew deeper and deeper when Max started to have flashes. He saw worlds, and symbols. He saw the star he saw when she healed him. He saw the crash…
When they broke apart, unaware of what could have caused such a reaction, Max looked at Liz and said breathlessly, “I saw the crash…”
Last edited by T.D.O on Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
