

Part 20
Liz took her keys out to open the door to her and Max’s apartment. She was back.
After leaving so suddenly, she had driven around for hours, until she decided to spend the night in the hotel. Her anger slowly, but steadily decreased and now she wanted an explanation.
After everything they had been through...Liz had lied to Max for many years and now...Max owed her an explanation and Liz had to give him this chance to talk.
Liz had been surprised to see Tess in the photos. Although she knew that Tess had gone to Boston University as well, Liz had never met her there. Some years ago Isabel had mentioned that she had met Tess once or twice, but that was all. Liz came to conclusion that Tess had moved on with her life.
That was a bad decision.
Before opening the door, Liz once again took her phone out and dialled Max’s number. She had called him all morning to tell him that she was coming back, but Max wasn’t answering his phone.
After leaving the apartment the previous day, Liz had turned off her phone and now she’d received like dozens of messages from Alex, concerned about her. Liz quickly wrote back that she was okay, but without any further explanation. She had to talk to Max first.
Liz put her phone back into her purse and opened the door. Never in her life had she expected to see something like this. It looked like a tornado had been in their apartment. There was a broken window, broken glass all over, papers on the floor, the TV was on the ground....
It was horrible. This was their home, but now Liz could hardly recognize it. What had happened?
“Welcome home,” a sarcastic voice said behind Liz.
Before she could even look behind her, Liz was pushed further inside the apartment and the door was slammed.
Liz stumbled forward, almost falling, but she regained the balance, before standing up completely and turning around.
This time she couldn’t hold her gasp of surprise.
“What are you doing here?” Liz asked, anger evident in her voice.
How could Tess just show up here?
“What? Surprised to see me?” Tess smirked, “I thought you had seen the photos, right? So then you must know that I have never been away, Max knows it well,”
Liz curled fists at her side, wanting nothing more than Tess out of her life. Out of their life.
‘No,’ she reminded herself. She had to be calm; she had a baby to take care of. Tess could be dangerous and Liz hadn’t used her powers in years. She wasn’t strong enough.
“What do you want?” Liz said, barely holding her anger.
“You know, I have never liked you,” Tess smirked, “You always were in my way, taking Max’s attention,”
“I have never been on your way,” Liz objected, “It was Max’s decision, not mine,”
„No, it all your fault,” Tess screamed in fury, “Max and I...we are meant to be together, but you...you...you ruined everything!”
Tess composed herself. “And you don’t have any self-respect either,” she said. “Max and I, we love each other, but he always felt like he owed your something, for leading you on in the high school,” she sneered.
Liz tried hard to not to believe the blonde. Max couldn’t have been with her for years and then be marrying her, just because he felt he owed her something.
Tess continued, “We have been seeing each other for years, Liz. Didn’t you ever wonder where he was going on his so-called trips?” Tess laughed. “He was straight going to me, Liz, to me!”
Liz shook her head. No, Max wouldn’t do that.
“You can’t imagine his feelings towards you. Pity is all he feels towards you now,” Tess said, “I wanted to help him a little and sent our photos. You have seen them, right?” Tess smirked as she pulled the photos out of her purse.
Liz barely held back her tears; she didn’t want to cry in front of her.
“But no....you’re a stupid bitch,” Tess laughed. “Even after you have seen the photos and you know that your husband has been cheating on you, you come back. Isn’t that stupid?”
Liz saw red. “Get out!” she ordered. “Get out of my home,” she yelled, but didn’t move closer to Tess.
Tess only laughed harder at her words, “What makes you think it is still your home, huh? You might live here, but Max doesn’t want even to see you anymore,”
What?
“I mean, did you really think you can hide your secret forever?” Tess asked.
“W-What? What are you talking about?” Liz asked, but her fears took the best part of her. Her body started to shake and Liz wasn’t sure was it because of the anger or fear.
Tess couldn’t know her secret, right?
“Come on, Liz, don’t pretend to be more stupid than you are!” Tess insulted Liz again. “I know that you’re not human,” she said with a hint of disgust in her tone.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about?” Liz said, shaking her head.
“Oh, please,” Tess rolled her eyes. “I heard once your and Isabel’s conversation, I know everything about you, Alex and Maria. You perhaps don’t know it, but Isabel and I...we haven’t lost the contact between us during the years. We see each other very often, she knows Max loves me’ I’m often at her house as a guest. I have heard many conversations between you and her,” Tess explained.
“No, no,” Liz shook her head harder. It couldn’t be true, could it?
Tess continued, “I wanted to tell Max as soon as I found out the truth, but Isabel, my dear friend, convinced to let you tell to him. In the end I agreed, wanting you to see the disgust on Max’s face as he would find out that he had slept with an alien,”
Tess slowly walked around the apartment, “Look,” she pointed to the mess around her. “Max was so angry that he basically trashed the place you live together in. He wants nothing more than to erase the painful years with you,”
“No, I don’t believe you,” Liz said, but her voice sounded weak and defeated.
“What proof do you need, huh? Max hates you, ok? He doesn’t want even to see you again. He was angry that while Maria and Alex had told the truth to Michael and Isabel, you have been bitch for years, without telling him with whom he had slept in the same bed,” the blonde said.
Liz had to leave; she didn’t want to be in the same room with Tess anymore. She had to see Max. Her sweet, caring Max couldn’t...no, Tess was lying; Max loved her, he didn’t hate her.
Liz turned around and run to the door. She pushed the door, but nothing even moved.
The door was closed.
Tess evil laugh echoed in the room, “I won’t let you escape,”
“Let me out!” Liz ordered.
“No,” Tess shook her head, “Someone like you doesn’t deserve to live. After your death, Max will be able to do something he has wanted to do for years. He will marry me and we will live happily,”
Liz looked around the room; she had to get out. The door was closed and Liz’s only option was the window. But they lived on the second floor. While it wasn’t too high, the jump could easily harm her and the baby.
What choice did she have?
Liz slowly started to move towards the window, while Tess was talking about her soon-to-be life with Max, “He is a great kisser, but you already know that, right?”
Liz tried to block out Tess’ voice. She perhaps didn’t believe to every word she had said about Max, but it was still painful to listen something like that.
“And he is so sweet and caring...”
Liz was slowly moving closer to the window. Just another three steps and she would be there.
“He loves me so much....”
Two steps.
“He can’t wait to marry me...”
One step.
“Max already loves our child so much...”
That made Liz to stop in surprise. Was Tess really pregnant with Max’s baby?
Liz didn’t have time to wonder about it, because Tess raised her hand towards her. Confused, Liz widened her eyes, as she saw a bright light coming out of Tess’ hand and flying fast to her.
Liz remembered the sharp pain, before everything went black.