“Oh,” was all Liz said as she stared at the condom from Max’s wallet.
“Oh?” Maria repeated. “That is all you can say?” she asked.
“Well,” Liz started calmly at first, but when she caught sight of a furious Maria, anger rose in her as well. “What do you want me to say?” she asked angry, “Because it looks like you won’t like my answer!”
“The truth, Liz, the truth,” Maria shouted.
Alex decided to calm down girls a little bit, “Hey, maybe the two of you should calm down? Neither of you are in a state to have a normal discussion,” Alex said, but slumped lower in his seat, when he received glares from them, “Okay, I will just sit here and watch as you both kill each other,” he said in a singsong voice, but Maria and Liz didn’t even notice it.
“Why, Maria?” shouted Liz, “Why do you want to control my life so much? Why do you dislike Max so much?”
“Oh God, Liz are you blind? Max Evans is probably just playing with you and you can’t even see it!” Maria yelled back, still holding the condom in her hand.
“Yes, Max came to me last night, but…nothing happened,” Liz defended herself. “At least not what you think,” she said, pointing at the condom.
“Wait a minute, you are talking like there’s nothing wrong with it!” Maria said clearly surprised, “The boy comes to you in the middle of the night and nothing is wrong? That boy is Max Evans, Liz! Max Evans!” she shouted once again.
“Maria, it’s my life! Do you hear me? My life, not yours, not Alex’s, but mine! I’m tired of hearing your complaints about him. Maybe he isn’t anything like you thinking he is; you don’t know him!”
“And you think you know him, right?” Maria snorted, “Oh, please, Liz. Don’t tell me that he has you wrapped around his little finger, okay? I refuse to believe it. You are one of the smartest girls in all of Roswell, but that isn’t even the main point. You have seen yourself how rude and arrogant he can be. Remember your first day at school here? Remember the night at the movies not so long ago? Do you remember, Liz? Because it looks like you have forgotten everything about him. Do you really want to be hurt in the end, Liz?”
“Maria,” Liz said sternly, “I repeat one more time; the last time. It’s my life and I can do whatever I want with it,” she said.
“Oh, now you are wrong, Liz,” Maria said, shaking her head, “We are linked, me, you and Alex. We are a family and I won’t let you walk away from us so easily. What will happen when Max finds out that you aren’t from this Earth. You aren’t human, Liz. Do you think he will be okay with that?” she asked and watched as the doubts started to fill Liz’s eyes, “I don’t think so and I know you don’t either,” she said, her voice calming a little bit.
“Liz,” Alex spoke again, “We are just worried; that’s all. Max has a reputation and…in our case, it’s dangerous to be so close with him. You understand it, Liz, I know you do,” Alex said softly.
“I’m so confused,” Liz said, tears started to fall, “I-I don’t know what to do,” she told her both friends, wiping tears from her face, “But I know that I won’t stop seeing Max,”
That was it; she had said it.
“You what?!” shouted Maria once again, her calmness gone, “Liz, I seriously think there is something wrong with your head! You can’t say something like that. Max has probably done something to you; you can’t say that you will continue seeing him, you just can’t, Liz,” she said.
“Maria,” Liz said, but Maria didn’t even notice it.
“What kind of power does he have over you, that you are ready to go against us, your only family, only to be with him? Oh God, I can’t believe it is happening. I want my best friend back, Liz; I need her,” she cried.
“You haven’t lost her,” Liz said softly, “But I won’t sit by silently when you try to control my life. You have said yourself, I’m smart; why can’t you believe me when I’m saying that I trust Max?”
“Oh, I can’t believe you said something like that! Trust? You trust Max Evans?” Maria laughed, “You can’t trust him, you don’t even know him,”
Liz bit her lip nervously. At that point, Maria was right. She indeed didn’t know much about Max. But why then did her heart tell her something different?
“I think we should go back to Roswell,” Alex said and just then, both girls became aware that they were still in a car in the middle of desert.
“Yeah, you are right, Alex,” Liz said softly and Maria slumped back in a seat.
Liz started the car and drove them all back in Roswell. They didn’t talk, but the tension was evident in the car.
The fight wasn’t over, Liz was sure of it.
She didn’t have to wait long. As soon as Liz stopped the car at their apartment building, Maria said, “Liz, I’m begging you; end whatever kind of relationship you have with Max, before it is too late,” she said.
“Maria,” Liz said in a broken whisper. How was she going to explain her feelings to Maria, when she wasn’t even trying to understand her?
“I won’t do it,” Liz said sternly, “I won’t stop seeing Max,”
After a moment Maria said quietly, “Then you will have to choose,” she said simply.
“What?” both Alex and Maria asked surprised.
“I won’t be by your side, Liz, if you still want to be with Max. I don’t want to see how he is going to break your heart in thousand pieces,” Maria looked into Liz’s eyes, “Me or Max? Family or player? What is it? What are you going to choose, Liz? Because you can’t have him and your best friend at the same time,” she said.
“Are you serious?” Liz asked incredibly, “You can’t do that!” she cried.
“It’s simple. Max or me?” Maria repeated her question.
“Maria, don’t you think this is a little bit too much,” Alex asked.
“No, Alex, I don’t think it is too much, Liz needs to open her eyes. I can’t let her make the biggest mistake of her life,” the blonde girl said, “So, Liz?”
“I can’t believe that you have been my best friend,” Liz said, barely holding tears. Her friendship with Maria was slowly breaking up, “You are trying to manipulate me, to control my life,” she cried.
“I’m doing what is best for you, Liz, I know you will understand it,” Maria said simply.
“No, Maria, you are wrong, I won’t understand why you are trying so much to prevent my relationship with Max. And it isn’t just Max we are talking about. What about Kyle? You have been trying so damn much to push me to him; although I have said numerous times, that I don’t want to have a relationship with him. But you don’t listen to me anymore, Maria,” Liz said sadly, “If that is so, I don’t need you,” Maria stiffened and in the corner of her eye, Liz could see also a shocked Alex, “I’m choosing Max,” Liz said and started to get out of the car.
Maria held her back, by taking her hand, “Fine, Liz. You have made your choice, okay. Stick with Max Evans, if you want it so much. But I will not let you use my shoulder when you need one to cry on because Max has hurt you,” Maria said in a deadly voice. “And believe me, Liz, he will hurt you.” She threw the condom into Liz’s lap, before getting out of the car and running into the building.
When Liz was coming home later that day, after a heart-to-heart talk with Alex, she didn’t feel better. She had never fought with someone like that. And she had never argued with Maria at all. Their quarrels started only with the Kyle/Max problem.
Liz felt guilty; she didn’t deny that. She was a peaceful person and always tried to find a way not to fight like this. Maria was her best friend. Was there really no way to keep their friendship?
Apparently not, Liz thought, as she noticed a box at her apartment door. Liz just briefly looked inside in the box; she already suspected that Maria would do something like this. In it was everything Liz had ever given to Maria. CD’s and bracelets, stuff like that. There was also a note in which Maria demanded that Liz had to give her stuff back too.
Liz sighed and opened the door. She took the box inside and leaned against the door. She hated fighting and she didn’t like hers and Maria’s relationship at the moment. Not at all.
A knock at the door disturbed Liz from her thoughts and she quickly opened it. Maybe that was Maria?
“Hey,” an unknown boy said, “Are you Elizabeth Parker?” he asked, not really looking at her, instead his eyes were buried in the list which he was holding.
“Yeah,” Liz said, “Can I help you?”
“I have a delivery for you,” he informed her and gave her a pen, “You must sign here.” The boy pointed at the list.
After Liz had signed the paper, she received a beautiful bouquet of white roses. Liz inhaled deeply and closed the door, Maria and the rest of the world forgotten. When she noticed a note, attached to the bouquet, she hurriedly tore it open.
“Can’t wait for our date tonight. Max…”
Liz smiled widely and took her cell phone. She quickly dialled his phone number and patiently waited when he would pick up.
After the fifth or sixth ring, Liz gave up and decided to phone him a little bit later. But then someone picked up.
“Hello,” Liz heard a female’s voice and her heart shattered.
Why was Tess picking up Max’s phone?
It looks like people are reading my stories less and less...
Thanks for your patience. 
I won't have to pay for the next two semesters plus I will get a scholarship as well. Woo-hoo! 