Roswell Fanatics

Chapter 10

There was a knock on the door. A man in his middle years put down the knife he had been using to cut the lettuce, dried his hands off on his apron and made his way out of the kitchen towards the front door. He unlocked the door, and opened it – only to be met by his beautiful daughter lighting up his world with one of her radiating smiles.
“Hi daddy,” she said, and he was (not for the first time) surprised that this beautiful woman actually was his daughter. Her voice and appearance still held an innocence that was often lost in the teenage years, but she was a woman now. A radiating woman. Although, in his eyes she was still his baby girl. She leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek, before brushing past him into the warm and comforting light of the small hallway.
“Hey pumpkin,” he answered, his own smile grazing his features. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

“For you daddy, I’ll do anything,” Liz said teasingly – even though they were both aware of the truth in the words.
“Let me take your jacket,” Mr. Parker said, and reached out to help Liz out of her jacket. His fingers came into contact with the wet layer of water that had formed on the outside of the jacket.
“Is it still raining?” he asked. He hadn’t really looked out the last couple of hours. He had been busy in the kitchen. He wasn’t really good at cooking – but he always wanted to do his best when he had his daughter over for dinner.
“Yeah, a little,” Liz said distractedly – an absent-mindedness that wasn’t lost to her father. He remembered far too well Liz’s somewhat bizarre relation to rain. “Mmmm, that smells really good.” And Liz disappeared – letting her nose direct her feet.
Mr. Parker shook his head with a smile on his face as he hung up Liz’s jacket on a hanger. He found Liz in the kitchen, having already taken the knife and continued what her father had started.
“No, Liz. Don’t do that,” Mr. Parker said and stepped up to her.
“It’s no problem, daddy,” Liz said and put a piece of lettuce in her mouth. “I like cooking...and you don’t – so let’s call it even, huh?”
Mr. Parker shook his head again.
“Okay, I can’t argue with that,” he said. “I’ll set the table instead.”

-----------------------------------------------------

“So, how’s work?” Mr. Parker asked, as he passed Liz the potatoes.
“It’s good,” Liz answered, balancing one potato on the spoon before placing it on her plate. “Oh, there’s a new girl that seems very nice.”
Mr. Parker’s eyes quickly left his plate and he looked up at his daughter.
“Oh?” he prompted, trying to sound casual. But it was difficult since Liz had never shown such interest in someone else....well, not except that kid. What was his name again...Albin...Alec..?
“Yeah, her name is Isabel and we actually have quite a lot in common.”
“Really?” Mr. Parker asked, his interest peaked. Who was this girl who had been able too capture her daughter’s interest?

“Yeah...uhm...we both hate the rain,” Liz explained. Mr. Parker couldn’t help but smile. Even though Liz was in her twenties, she still acted as an excited six-year-old when she was describing people she found interesting. It was probably due to the fact that she had never had anything that resembled a normal childhood – in more ways than one. But she had also lacked the experience of having friends. She was afraid of getting hurt, and the older she got – the more frightened she became of making contact with people. The whole friendship concept was a new experience for her.
“You do, huh?” Mr. Parker asked, a teasing note in his voice.

Liz nodded, and then smiled self-consciously. “I’m being really stupid, right?”
Mr. Parker laughed softly while shaking his head. “No sweetheart. You could never be stupid. I’m just so happy that you feel that you’ve found someone to talk to. You really need that.”
Liz nodded, and then reached for the lettuce – reaching it out for her father to take across the table. “Some lettuce, dad?” And Mr. Parker understood that the subject would have no further discussion. Liz had never been comfortable talking about her feelings, and especially not if it meant talking about the sore spot that meant having no friends to share her life experiences or thoughts with. It was a lonely existence – and Mr. Parker knew exactly what it felt like.

-----------------------------------------------

Mr. Parker stepped into the dining room to find Liz standing by the piano. Her back was facing him, but he could see the tension in her shoulders. He observed how she was slowly tracing the contours of the keys in an almost hypnotic manner. She had done that a lot before – just after the accident - but then she had stopped. Mr. Parker worriedly wondered what had changed. Why was she doing it again?
“Honey?” he asked tentatively.
Liz twirled around, guilt flashing over her face. But she soon regained her composure. As always.
“Oh daddy, you scared me,” Liz said.
“Are you okay, honey?” Mr. Parker asked.
Liz nodded and slightly waved with her hand in front of her to show the ridicule of what her father was implying.

“I’m fine, daddy. Now, do we have any delicious dessert prepared? I love your desserts, you know-“
“Liz. Is there something bothering you? Maybe we should talk about it.”
He could see how she was literally closing herself down. She had never been the same since the accident. She was difficult to talk to when it came to feelings, and especially to show weakness. She was struggling so hard to show the world that she was fine. That nothing was the matter with her. Nothing at all.
“I’m fine daddy, everything’s fine,” Liz repeated and her father could sense a twitch of annoyance in her voice.
“Okay,” he sighed in resignation. He didn’t want to waste any time with her on nagging. “So, tell me more about this girl....Isabel.”

----------------------------------------------------

Liz lifted the pot with hot water from the hot plate, and poured the steaming liquid into her blue-colored cup.
”Hi Liz.”
The sound of his voice almost made her drop the pot of boiling hot water. Her throat constricted and she suddenly had difficulties breathing. Her hands were slightly trembling as she put the pot down on the hot plate, but the trembles were hidden from everyone but an extremely perceptive observer. She turned around slowly, painfully aware of the thundering of her heart in her chest.
”It’s Elizabeth,” she corrected.
He arched one of his fair eye-brows, the smug plastered over his face lingering in the corners of his mouth.
”Oh, I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I didn’t mind to offend you.”

You filthy bitch

The phrase flow through her head with a painful intensity, making her legs go weak. She slowly reached out with her hand and gripped the edge of the table to steel herself.
”Mr. Anderson,” a voice called out, and she turned her head to see Isabel coming towards them. She felt relief flow through her. She had never been so happy to see anyone as she had when she saw Isabel coming towards her with a binder in her hand.
”Mr. Anderson,” she repeated, ”Mr. O’Connor called. He wants you to look through the prospects again. He didn’t sound too happy.”
Liz was keeping her eyes locked on Isabel, but didn’t miss David’s hand that brushed against her back. It was as if his touch froze the very cells it came into contact with.
He walked up to Isabel and took the binder from her.
”Thank you, Ms. Evans,” he said with a flirtatious smile.
Isabel smiled back. Her smile was easy, and relaxed. As David walked away from them, Isabel walked up to Liz. Her smile was now gone, and she looked concerned. She reminded Liz of someone.

”Are you okay?” she asked.
Liz smiled weakly. ”Yeah. I was just getting a cup of tea. You want some?”
”Yes, thank you,” Isabel said, positioning herself beside Liz. Liz took one of the cups from the closet and poured some of the hot water into it. She could feel Isabel’s eyes on her the whole time. She smiled as she handed Isabel the cup.
”Thank you,” Isabel said, accepting the cup.
”So, do you like it here?” Liz asked, putting her lips to the cup, carefully sipping the hot liquid.
”Yes, I love it here,” Isabel answered with a warm smile. ”Everybody is so nice.. I think Mr. Smith is the best boss I’ve ever had, even though I don’t see him much. I’m mostly behind my desk or talking to David.”
”Yeah, Mr. Smith is great,” Liz said, deliberately avoiding to talk about Mr. Anderson. ”He’s been a great support for me for a long time.”
”Really?”
”Yeah,” Liz answered. ”Uhm...he helped me through some difficult times.”
Isabel nodded, understanding from the way that Liz kept staring into her cup that she didn’t want to discuss that in any deeper detail.

”So, do you have any food in this place?” Isabel asked lightly, waving her hand in the direction of the little kitchen area that was set up in a disclosed area of the office space.
”Yeah. Some sandwiches and donuts,” Liz answered, simultaneously opening the small refrigerator and showing off its content to Isabel.
”Oh, great! I’m soooo hungry!” Isabel exclaimed, and practically dived into the refrigerator.
Liz giggled at her antics.
”David isn’t letting me get many breaks,” Isabel said, while she piled the food on the small table next to the refrigerator.
She didn’t see Liz tense up at the mention of that name, but as she straightened up she felt something different in the air - even though Liz looked the same as ever.
”You want something?” Isabel asked, waving her hand at the refrigerator.
”No, thanks,” Liz said.
Isabel put her teeth in a donut with frosting. She shut her eyes - fully enjoying the sweet flavor. The taste was just right, the strong sugary content of the frosting stimulating her alien taste buds.


”Mmmm...I hate myself,” she sighed, and smiled as she opened her eyes.
”I have a thing for sweet things as well,” Liz said. ”You’re not alone.”
”Thank God!” Isabel said, feigning relief. A comfortable silence lowered itself over them for a few moments. Liz sipping her warm tea, and Isabel happily devouring her donut.
”Hey Liz, you’ve heard about the party, right?”
Liz nodded. ‘The party’ was held by the firm once a year, but Liz had only attended it once in all the three years she had worked here. She was not what you would call a ‘social butterfly’. The parties were too exhausting. The first and only time she had went there, the men had almost devoured her - trying every trick in the book to ‘win her heart’. Her attempts to keep up a polite facade had completely depleted her energy, and that night she had barely slept - her restless sleep being plagued by nightmares. The content of the nightmares she had of course surpressed - they were no longer a part of her memory. She did not have any plans on reliving that moment, so she hadn’t even given the party a second thought this year either - as all other years before that.

”Yeah, I’ve heard about it,” Liz answered.
”Are you going?” Isabel asked, opening a can of mineral water.
Liz shook her head lightly. ”No, I think I’m just gonna stay home.”
”Oh, I sort of hoped that you would keep me company,” Isabel said, a disappointed look on her face. ”I don’t really know anyone here yet...”
”You’ll have no problem to get to know people,” Liz said, thinking of how outgoing Isabel was.
Isabel shook her head in disagreement. ”I would love to get to know other people of course. But...I must have someone that introduces me.”
”Well, then you’re asking the wrong person,” Liz said. ”I hardly know any people here either - except for the people in this department.”
”Oh, come on Liz!” Isabel said, slightly whining.
Liz smiled, shaking her head. ”Thank you for asking, Isabel, but I think I’m gonna pass.”
”Please Liz. It will be fun! We don’t have to talk to people!”
Liz arched her eye-brow in disbelief.

”No, truly. We can just observe everyone else and not talk to them,” Isabel said.
”I don’t think you can really do that,” Liz said.
”We won’t know until we try, right?” Isabel asked.
Liz searched Isabel’s hopeful face simultaneously as her heart searched for the right answers.
”Okay,” she said in resignation.
”Great, it’s a date,” Isabel said, grinning.
Liz just shook her head in disbelief that she had let Isabel talk her into this whole thing.


TBC...

Hello all!!!


Nice to meet you all here at the new board!!

Firstly, thank u Frenchkiss70 and Rebecca for stopping by so quickly !!

Rebecca, welcome to this fic!! I'm so glad to have you here!!!


Now...I'm gonna go and look up the document where I've saved your feedback on the last chapter....


So...found it!


Thank you!


moonieADT

Lina Hey girlie!! So happy that you decided to check out this fic as well

Anais Nin Hi!! Welcome to this fic!! I'm so happy to have you here (and on my other fics as well ) In your last post you wrote; "Those words - You filthy bitch - were they also words that Liz remembered from her nightmare, or were they the result of some sort of telekinesis? " As answer to your question, that phrase - You filthy bitch was from Liz's dream when someone came into her apartment and attacked her...killing a baby she didn't have.... Wow, even now that I write it back to you I realize how confusing this must be. But just bear with me - I will sort it out for you (sooner or later)

Dia

kittens

roswelluver

frenchkiss70

Pheobe04

Cassandra Hey! In your previous post you wrote; "maybe it because i read the last part a a long time ago or maybe i'm thinking about another story but i don't really understand how liz can one moment be with her father and the other at work cause i thought liz moved away from home to NYC and her parent/father after college i bet it's just my mix-up mind" To answer your question... Liz and her father both live in NYC, you're probably thinking of another story

Gigo

Liz

OChanteuse Hi!! I'm so happy every time you decide to delurk!! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!!

Katie Hey! You sound very busy with school, Katie! I wish you all the best luck on your school project!!!



Okay, enough of me chatting away....

I should warn you though that there isn't so much action in this chapter...but the chapter is necessary and important for the fic




Chapter 11

Liz sighed in frustration as she for about the millionth time looked over the draft, trying to find the source to way she couldn’t get the angles to fit together. She leaned back against the headboard of her bed, closing her eyes as exhaustion flowed over her. She had just began to drift off to sleep as there was a rapid series of knocks on the front door. She bolted forward with a gasp, her throat constricting and her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Her hands trembled as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her legs were barely supporting her as she made her way over to the door.
”Who is it?” she asked, silently chastening herself for the weakness of her voice.
”It’s Max.”
The relief was immediate - instinctive. Without any hesitation she pulled the latch away from the door and unlocked the two locks below. The door flung open and she found herself looking into those expressive eyes.
”Hey,” he said, his voice as soft as velvet to her. ”Can I come in?”
”Uhm...sure,” Liz said slowly, stepping to the side to let Max in. As he moved past her, his scent whirled around her.
”How are you?” Max asked, avoiding to look her in the eyes. Everything felt slightly surreal to Liz. Max was just suddenly showing up here. They still didn’t even know each other.

”I’m fine,” she answered.
”Good...that’s good,” Max said, and Liz could hint his nervousness.
”Max....Did you want to talk to me about something?” Liz asked, her eyes moving over the handsome features of his face as they were partly illuminated by the soft lightning in the apartment.
”Uhm...no, no,” Max answered, fingering on the edge of the counter in the kitchen area where he had positioned himself.
”Okay,” Liz said slowly, moving towards the sofa to clean up some of the documents she had spread out.
”You don’t have to do that,” Max objected.
”Do what?” she asked.
”Clean up...,” Max answered.
”Max...uhm...we really don’t even know each other. We have only met a few times, under somewhat bizarre circumstances... and I don’t really believe that you just came here to ask how I was feeling. I feel that I can trust you...I don’t know why I feel this, but I do. You can trust me, Max. Can you please tell me what’s going on, since the ignorance is driving me crazy!”
Max diverted his eyes away from hers to a fix point on the floor. ”I-I can’t.”

”Please Max,” Liz said. ”You seem to know more about what’s going on than I do....I’m so afraid, Max.” Max looked up at her as he heard the vulnerability in her voice. She could see so much in his eyes. Sorrow, regret, guilt....
”I had to see that you were okay,” Max said.
”Why?” Liz asked.
Max held her gaze. ”I had a dream about you.”
”You had a dream?” Liz repeated, confused.
”That you were in danger,” Max elaborated.
Liz unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself to fight off the chill that had started to spread into her bones.

”But it was just a dream, right?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart fluttered with fear as he looked into his eyes - his eyes telling her the truth.
”Right?” she whispered.
”Liz...” Max said, stepping closer to her. Hurt flashed in his eyes as she recoiled from him.
”No Max. You have to tell me!”
Max hesitated. He knew that it would probably be for the best if he told her. It would probably be easier for her to protect herself if she knew what to look out for. But could he tell her one thing, without having to tell her the whole truth? He didn’t really feel ready to tell her that he was an alien. The last thing he wanted to do right now was to scare her away by telling her that he was not from this world. That might make her less cautious...and she might not even believe him. And by believing that he was lying to her, she could assume that everything he had warned her about was just as much nonsense. No, he couldn’t let that happen.

”Have you ever been in an abandoned house?” Max asked.
Liz furrowed her forehead. ”What are you talking about?” she asked, clearly confused.
”I need to know if you have ever been in an abandoned house, or is going to visit an abandoned house,” Max said.
Liz shook her head. ”Uhm..no,” she answered.
”Good,” Max said.
Okay, now she was totally lost.
”Okay, Max. I need you to stop talking in riddles. Can you please tell me what’s going on.”
”I had a pre- uhm.. vision, you know since I’m psychic,” Max said.
”Yes....,” Liz prompted.
”I saw you....in what looked like an abandoned house,” Max said.
”What happened?” Liz asked. Max grew silent, his eyes watching her face intently.
”Why do you believe me? I mean, psychic people are not exactly known for their high credibility.”

”I don’t know why,” Liz said, momentarily thinking about her own bizarre childhood. ”But I feel that I can trust you, and it seems as if you’re telling me the truth.”
”Thank you,” Max said softly, and Liz was for not the first time puzzled by the amount of emotions displayed in his eyes. She had never met anyone like him before, and she didn’t even really know him yet.
”So...what happened in your..vision?” Liz asked.
”I don’t know exactly,” Max said honestly. ”The images weren’t as clear as they usually are... it was more that I could feel emotions.”
”What kind of emotions?” Liz asked slowly.
”Fear...sorrow,” Max answered, searching her face to see how she would react to all of this.
”So these emotions were coming from me?”
Max nodded.
”Okay.... what do we do about it?” Liz asked him. To Max’s surprise he felt a warmth penetrate his heart that Liz had asked what they should do, not what she should do. It did funny things to him knowing that she already had acquired that kind of trust for him.

”I suggest that you try to stay away from abandoned houses,” Max answered.
”That doesn’t seem too difficult. I think I can do that,” Liz said.
Max felt relieved now that he knew that Liz knew about the danger. That made it easier for her to stay safe.
”I’m sorry about this,” Max said.
Liz stepped closer to him, shaking her head in disagreement.
”No Max. Don’t apologize. You’re helping me,” Liz said. ”What you are able to do is a gift. You can help people.”
Max sank into the warmth of her chocolate brown doe eyes, its warmth transmitted into this eyes to spread in his body. He felt a mushy feeling in his knees, making his legs go weak. He felt drawn to her in a way that he had never felt drawn to anyone else. He felt a deep need to protect her, as deep as he had for his sister and Michael - and he didn’t even know Liz. But somehow that felt wrong as well - that he didn’t know her. He did know her. It was as if he’d always known her. As if his heart had always known her.

”You don’t know how much that means to me,” Max said.
Liz smiled, and the smile made Max’s heart tingle.
”So...where are you living anyway? Are you from New York?”
”No, I’m originally from Roswell,” Max answered.
Liz arched her eyebrow in surprise. ”Really? I’ve just met someone that was also from Roswell. What a weird coincidence.”
Isabel.
”That just makes me realize how little we know about each other,” Liz added.
A silence lowered itself over them, but they were both comfortable with the silence. Their eyes sought the other out, and Liz felt as if she could understand more about Max just by looking into his eyes.
”How about we get to know each other some more,” Liz suggested. She had barely had any friends during her upbringing and she didn’t know what to do. But somehow it all seemed simple when it came to talking to Max.

”Uhm..okay,” Max said hesitantly. He would love to talk to her. He wanted to spend as much time in Liz’s presence as possible.
”What do you do for a living, Max?” Liz asked, positioning herself on the couch - motioning for Max to sit down as well. Max seated himself in the blue arm-chair.
”Uhm... I’m actually working at a UFO center - a museum on UFO findings,” Max answered.
Liz’s eyebrows raised slightly, a smile twitching in the corners of her mouth.
”You’re kidding,” she said.
”I’m afraid not,” Max grimaced.
”Doesn’t all that alien humbug get to you?”
Max shrugged his shoulders. ”Nah... it’s pretty entertaining.”
”I bet,” Liz said. ”So are you a believer?”
Max hesitated for a brief second. ”I guess you can say that.”
”What’s your theory?”
”My theory?” Max repeated, bewildered.

”Yeah...do you think that there actually are aliens abducting humans from time to time - making experiments on them..or do you only think that they crashed in Roswell and that was the end of it? Or maybe you even believe that the aliens are walking among us - in human form.”
Max quickly hid the expression of mild panic that flashed over his face...but not before Liz caught a sight of it. And it puzzled her.
”I guess I just believe that the universe is too large to believe that humans are the only advanced life form.”
Liz nodded. ”I agree with you there.”
Their eyes locked, and Max felt as if she was pulling him inside of her... so he quickly averted his eyes and lightly cleared his throat.
”So.. what do you work with?”
”You mean you don’t know?” Liz asked amused. At Max’s once again confused facial expression she decided to elaborate. ”I figured that since you were following me around, you must have checked up on me and by now know almost everything there is to know about me.”
Max ducked his head, but not before Liz could see the faint blush grazing his cheeks. His reaction made her go all warm inside and she had to smile at his adorable embarrassment.

”Not really,” Max answered, his attention seemingly fixed on his feet.
Liz decided to take him off the hook. ”I’m an architect.”
”That’s interesting,” Max said, looking up. ”Do you enjoy it?”
”I love it,” Liz answered truthfully and for the first time Max could see how beautiful Liz looked as her eyes sparkled. Even more beautiful than she already was. Now it was Liz’s turn to blush as Max’s intense eyes adored her. She wasn’t even sure that Max realized that he was practically staring at her. But his gaze didn’t make her feel uncomfortable. It made her feel safe and protected – cherished. She finally had to look away, because his eyes made her feel too many emotions - they were too strong, and she couldn’t handle them. She had spent her whole life pushing her feelings down. Immediately as a too strong of feeling tried to resurface, she pushed it down so that she didn’t have to deal with it. Burying it. The feelings she felt when she was close to this man - that she had only known for a couple of days, and now was actually the first time she really talked to him - were too strange and too unfamiliar for her to know how to react. The normal methods she used to ignore feelings didn’t apply. These feelings were too strong - too undeniable.

”Have you always lived here in New York?” Max asked, realizing that he was staring at her and that it was probably making her uncomfortable.
”As long as I can remember,” Liz answered, deliberately failing to mention to him that she actually couldn’t remember too far back. ”My dad is still living here - a couple of blocks away.”
”I’ve always lived close to my family as well,” Max confided, and then he grew serious. ”I must tell you something.”
Liz couldn’t help but feel the fear creeping back in her at those words. She wondered if she would ever be able to hear him say those words without her feeling fear.
”It’s nothing bad,” Max hurried to explain as he saw her fearful expression. He relaxed as he saw her relief. ”I think you’re working with my sister.”
”I am?” she asked, and Max felt relief and joy at the excitement in her voice. It made him hope that she didn’t completely regret having him tumbling into her life.

”Isabel Evans,” Max answered.
”Are you serious?” Liz asked.
”Uh-huh,” Max answered. He didn’t know what was making it - but he felt more relaxed in Liz’s company than with anyone he’d ever known - even more comfortable than with his sister. Despite the fact that Max was linked to Isabel in a way that he never could be with anyone else on Earth - well, except for Michael then - that hadn’t meant that they were naturally similar to each other. Their personalities couldn’t be more different. Max wasn’t surprised at all that Liz had questioned if Isabel really was his sister - because they weren’t very much alike. Neither on the exterior, nor the interior.

But Liz was thinking quite the opposite. She wondered why she had never seen the connection before. Of course Isabel was Max’s sister. Even though she was a blonde, and outgoing and talkative - everything that Max wasn’t - they had the same aura. She couldn’t quite explain it. It was as if they were both linked by something much deeper than a sibling bond. Liz had never met anyone like Isabel and Max before. It was something about them that spoke to her - made her trust them.

”Are you close?” Liz asked Max.
Max nodded. ”We’re pretty close. I don’t know where I would be without her.”
Somehow, Liz got the feeling that there was a lot more behind that statement than just having someone to play with when you were little. She had herself missed that growing up as an only child. But from the emotions flickering in the most soulful eyes she’d ever seen, she sensed that there was an almost deadly serenity to the statement. That the presence or absence of his sister was the one thing that determined his ability to survive. Her curiosity was peaked. Max intrigued her. Their was a mystery about him that she had to find out more about - she wanted to know everything about him. And that was one more feeling that frightened her...


TBC...

Hi all!

I'm back with an update!!

Thank you all for your wonderful feedback!! I appreciate it soooooo much!!!


frenchkiss70

surfgirl02

Pheobe

bel_1983 Thank you so much for the feedback!!! And welcome to this fic!!!

roswellluver

Gigo

Cassandra

Lina Thank you so much, Lina!! I never get tired of hearing that you enjoy my stories and I'm so happy that you like my banner!

I_LOVE_NICK Of course I remember you !! I'm happy your back !!

Liz



Okay, on with the story... Someone makes a special appearance ...






Chapter 12

Liz reached across the counter, taking a head of lettuce. What else did she need? She looked over at what she had put in her shopping cart, going over what she had already taken and what she still needed. She put the lettuce in the cart and continued pushing the cart in front of her down the alley - moving towards the dairy products. As she made her way through the supermarket, her thoughts were free to unrestrained flow around in her head. Her thoughts, nowadays, seemed to have merely one specific destination.

Max Evans.

What was it about him that made her want to know more about him? She had an inexplicable urge to get to know him. It wasn’t only the mystery surrounding him that intrigued her, but she wanted to bask herself in his presence. But just as quickly as those thoughts started to flow freely through her mind, she had to push them away. She couldn’t let him get too close to her - she couldn’t get too close to him. She didn’t want to hurt him - and her being close to him would certainly do that... She took a deep breath as she pushed down the painful feelings to the safe state of forgetfulness.

”Liz...?”

The tentative question made her turn around, and she found herself looking into a pair of very familiar blue eyes.

”Alex...?” she said, afraid to hope that it was really Alex that was standing in front of her with a packet of crackers in his hand.
”Is that really you, Liz?” the man asked, and then a big grin spread across his face as Liz threw herself in his arms. Her grip on him was almost suffocating, but he willingly held her close. He had missed her so much, and he could understand from the way she was hugging him that she had missed him too.

They broke apart, and Alex could see tears simmering in her eyes.
”God, Liz. Where have you been?” Alex asked.
”I’ve been around,” Liz answered, smiling happily. ”Do you live here?”
”No, I’m actually only visiting my brother,” he answered. ”I never imagined to see you here! In a supermarket of all places.”
They just stared at each other silently, with something akin to awe in their eyes - both trying to grasp the concept that the other really was there.
”I live close by,” Liz said. ”How about you follow me home? We have so much to talk about!”
”I would love that,” Alex said. ”Let me help you finish your shopping. So what else do you need?”

------------------------------------

”So, this is where I live,” Liz said, opening the door. Alex stepped inside, eyeing the interior of the apartment.
”This is so you,” Alex said.
”I hope that’s a good thing,” Liz said, as she closed the door.
”Believe me, that’s a very good thing,” Alex said.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Alex was somewhat confused by the momentary startled expression passing over Liz’s face.
”Who is it?” she asked through the door.
”Max,” a deep male voice answered.
Alex frowned. Max? Liz had never told him about someone named Max. But then Liz and he hadn’t had any contact with each other in last six years. Liz opened the door, and he watched as a man in their age walked in. Alex felt the strongest urge to get out of the apartment as he met that Max’s eyes. He watched as the man positioned himself between him and Liz.

”Hi,” Alex said to the man, trying to break the tension that had floated into the room with the man’s arrival. He could see the calmness on Liz’s face as she walked past the man and put herself between Max and Alex. There was something different here - not only by the dynamics and behavior of the strange man, but also by Liz’s behavior. Alex couldn’t put his finger on it - but even though the man seemed very hostile, Alex could bet his life on the fact that the man was only hostile in order to protect Liz...from Alex. The thought was ridiculous, but there it was, staring him into the face - literally.
”Max, this is Alex,” Liz said waving her hand slightly in Alex’s direction. ”Alex, this is Max.”
Alex watched in fascination as the hostility in Max’s eyes diminished. What was up with that man?

”Hi, nice to meet you,” Alex said lightly and stretched out his hand towards Max. Max took it, and shook it firmly. But he didn’t say a word. ‘A true conversationalist, huh?’ Alex thought.
”Alex is my best friend,” Liz explained. Alex watched as relief spread over Max’s features, and then he turned his gaze away from Alex and looked at Liz. Alex could feel how his own body relaxed as he was removed out of the focus of attention of those intense eyes. But then he redirected his attention to Liz and Max, and got the sudden impression that his presence in the room wasn’t any longer noticed. If he didn’t know better he would’ve bet a lot of money that his long lost friend was holding a conversation with this mysterious man using merely her eyes. But Alex knew better. They couldn’t do that..right?

”We just met in the supermarket,” Liz told Max. ”We haven’t seen each other in...uhm...what is it Alex? Five years?”
”Six actually,” Alex said.
”Really?” Liz said.
Alex nodded in confirmation.
”So...you’re okay?” Max asked, and Alex was almost shocked to hear him speak. The deepness of the concern in Max’s voice made Alex feel like there was a lot more to their relationship than what he knew. But he was sure to make a serious attempt to try to get as many details out of Liz as possible.
”I’m fine, Max,” Liz said with a soft smile. ”You wanna stay?”
”Uhm...no,” Max answered and pulled back. ”I have to go. Isabel is going to start wonder where I am...”
”Right,” Liz said. ”Say hello to Isabel from me.”
”Sure,” he said, and then Alex found himself in the center of the focal point of those intense eyes again.
”It was nice meeting you,” Max said to him, and held his gaze and Alex could’ve sworn that Max sternly told him to take care of Liz. He could feel his own head nod in agreement with Max’s silent request. Then, as quickly as Max had arrived - he was gone.

Alex felt as if he had been asleep...because the only way he could describe that...meeting... was with two words. Bizarre and surreal. But the softness to Liz’s eyes as she turned around after closing the door after Max was what brought him back to reality.
”Okay, spill!”
”What do you mean?” Liz asked, her eyes sparkling.
”Who was that?”
”Max.”
”Yeah, that much I know. Is he your boyfriend?”
”No, he’s not my boyfriend.”
Alex grabbed his heart in feigned relief.
”Gosh Liz!! You gave me quite a scare there!!”
”Would it be so bad if I had a boyfriend?” Liz asked incredulously.
”Shy, passive Elizabeth Parker with a boyfriend? Yeah that would’ve been something!”

Liz couldn’t get angry with him for that comment. She knew that he was making fun of her, but they both knew the truth that lied in those simple playful words. Liz was too private to let just anyone in...and having a boyfriend really meant that you had to be willing to share a lot of things about yourself. There was a lot of things about Elizabeth Parker that only she knew. There were unfortunately a lot of things about Elizabeth Parker that no one knew since Liz had decided to ‘forget’ it...
”No, Alex. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for giving you a heart-attack!” she teased.
”Then what’s about that whole I’m-protecting-my-female-against-anyone attitude?”
”What?” Liz giggled.
”I’m telling you, Liz. If that man would have been able to kill with his eyes I would have been dead the second he walked through the door. Can we say hostile?!”
”He wasn’t hostile,” Liz objected. ”He’s just...concerned.”
”Well, that in itself baffles me, Liz,” Alex said. ”What has he to be concerned about? Has something happened to put you in the need of a bodyguard?”
Liz rolled her eyes at him before making her way to the kitchenette.

”It’s nothing, Alex,” she said lightly. ”I just recently met him-”
”You just meet him?” Alex asked surprised, as he watched Liz pick out a tea pot from one of the cabinets.
”Yeah,” Liz said, as if there wasn’t anything wrong with that. And there wasn’t really anything wrong with that - if it hadn’t been for the fact that Max had not really seemed as a man you just meet...
”Well, excuse me Liz for being slightly confused, but you two seemed to have known each other for at least...one year.”
Liz laughed, thereby brushing it off as something ridiculous. But she forgot that Alex knew her better than anyone else (or he hoped that was still the case, if not that Max now knew more) and he knew that as Liz brushed off something as ridiculous it had hit too closely to her true feelings and that was her way of dealing with something that was intimidating.

”We’ve only known each other for about a week...not even that actually,” Liz answered.
”Really,” Alex said.
”Can we get off the Max subject?” Liz asked, turning her head to look at him. He read her silent plea in her eyes and let the subject drop. It was never good to push Liz too much. She would clamp up like a clam, and then it would be completely useless to get anything out of her.
”Sure,” he said.
”Thank you. Now, I want to know everything you’ve been up to these last years!”
”Everything?” Alex asked, arching his eyebrow.
Liz caught his playful grin, and a heartfelt giggle escaped her. Alex always seemed to be able to make her laugh and forget about her reality.
”Okay, not in excruciating detail.”
”No?” Alex asked innocently.
Liz scrunched her noise. ”No, please,” she said and tried fervently to stop her mind from going places she wasn’t taking it.
”It’s actually not that much fun to listen to,” Alex confessed. ”It will honestly only take me about two minutes to tell you about the last six years of my life.”

”Awww, poor Alex,” Liz said with her best aww-what-a-cute-doggy voice.
Alex grinned. ”Seriously, Liz. Without you in it, always attracting trouble, my life became so much more booooring!!”
”Ah, what are you implying, Mr. Whitman?” Liz asked in mock offense.
Alex wondered for a brief second how many really got to see this carefree side of Elizabeth Parker, before he went on with the playful banter. That was one of the things he had missed the most with the loss of Liz’s friendship. She had an ability to understand what he meant, and also to understand when he was goofing around and when he wasn’t. She didn’t take his jokes personally, but she saw them for what they were - jokes. And he had a feeling they both needed the playful banter just as much.
”Remember that incident with that professor?”
Liz’s eyes grew big and her mouth fell open. But her eyes sparkled with contained laughter and the corners of her mouth twitched in a contained smile.
”Oh! That was so not me Alex Whitman!!” she said.
Alex looked at her innocently.
”As far as I remember I wasn’t the one having a crush on that guy!!”
Liz gasped and then slapped Alex on the shoulder.

”I did not have a crush on him! And it was you who got me into that mess!!”
”You should have seen that professor’s face-”
”Oh stop it!” Liz warned, giggles erupting in her throat, putting down the tea pot on the stove.
”-and you could barely show yourself in that lecture hall after that-”
”Alex...,” Liz said, the warning pretty evident in her voice this time as she took a step closer to him.
”I could just picture what was going on in that pretty little head of yours as that shirt clung to his chest-”
And then Alex ducked to narrowly avoid being swatted over the head by Liz’s hand.
”You are making this up!” she laughed.
”You wish!” Alex said, unable to contain his own laughter at this point. ”And when you stumbled on him, and fell with your hands on his chest-”
”Quiet!” Liz demanded, but her demand lost some of its seriousness as she was still laughing. Soon Liz was chasing after Alex, their laughter melting together as they run through the apartment.


TBC...

Hey!!

I'm here to update...


Thank you all so much for the feedback, guys!!!


frenchkiss70

roswelluver

Gigo Hey Gigo! To answer some of your questions... Liz isn't really so surprised to see Max show up everywhere she is any longer. She kind of know that he is following her - but it doesn't unnerve her, it makes her feel safe. And Alex's brother being in the fic... hmmm... I don't know...maybe.

Lelle

Cassandra

I_LOVE_NICK

LeighAnn

Lynn

Katie I definitely understand that you have trouble making the time seem enough... so don't worry (be happy.. ) You asked me which one of your fics I wanted you to continue with for the time being. What a tough question!! I can't answer that. Of course I want you to update both (even though I understand that you haven't got the time). Hmm... I have no idea. Sorry. I can't decide. On one side I like the lightness of AROC, but I also like the intruigue and mystery of TC.... Nope, I think you have to go on your own instinct there... I can't decide




Chapter 13

”What happened that day six years ago?”Alex asked as they were sitting on her bed, eating ice-cream.
”What do you mean?” Liz asked innocently. Another one of Liz’s typical characteristics that hadn’t changed during all these years, Alex noted. She always played stupid when she didn’t want to answer a specific question. She hoped that she could stall the person asking the question enough to make him or her talk about something else. Liz was an incredibly smart woman - Alex had been a witness to that on more than one occasion - but when it came to her own feelings and knowing herself he sometimes questioned her intelligence. How could someone be so afraid of herself?
”You know what I mean, Liz. The last day we saw each other. You just took off and then I didn’t hear a word from you in six years. I’m not sure I would’ve ever met you again if I hadn’t run into you today.”
”I’m sorry, Alex,” Liz said, her deep regret displayed in her eyes for him to take to heart.
”Liz,” he said, reaching for her hand. ”I considered you my best friend, and from your introduction to Max earlier you still consider me to be your best friend. What made you break off contact with me, and then keep it that way? Didn’t I mean more to you than that?”

”Alex, please. Do we really have to talk about this?”
”I think I deserve an explanation, Liz,” Alex said. ”I’ve missed you Liz, and I thought I would never see you again. Sometimes I even thought you were dead.”
Liz avoided his eyes, and tried to pull her hand away from his hand - but he just tightened his grip.
”I’ve gone over the events of that day thousands of times, trying to figure out what happened. The more I tried to understand it - the more I realized how little I actually knew about you. I realized that you had never told me about your family. I didn’t know if you had any siblings, or pets. I didn’t know anything at all about your childhood. I didn’t know where you were from, where you had lived before you started at the university. I didn’t know the phone number to your house, and I didn’t know your parents’ names - so I couldn’t even look the phone number up. Let me tell you, there are a lot of people named Parker out there!”

”However, I knew all other things - that didn’t seem the least important when I realize you had taken off for good. I knew that your favorite color was red. I knew that you listened to Sarah McLachlan. I knew that your birthday was on the 21st of February. I knew that you hated violence and never watched the news or read the newspapers. I knew that your favorite flower was white roses, and I knew more about how you reacted to things than you would ever believe - since you tried so hard to not let me know too much. But nothing of that helped me explain what had happened. I have played that day over and over in my head, but it didn’t make more sense to me even then.”

”I woke up that morning by the ringing of the telephone, and as I heard that you answered I waited a while to see if you would knock on my door and tell me that it was for me. But for once, it was for you. That’s one of the things that puzzled me. No one ever called you Liz. It was as if you didn’t know anyone besides me. And then you suddenly get a phone call. I don’t know why I didn’t get up that morning and checked on who it was on the phone, but I guess I was either too tired to get up or I just thought that you had told whoever was calling that I was asleep and that they should call back later. Never in that moment did it ever cross my mind that it was someone who called for you. About two hours later I went up to find a note by the phone. I still have it. It said; ‘I have gone out. Be back later. Love, Liz.’ But you never came back, Liz.”

”I went into your bedroom and found almost all of your clothes gone. Your bed was neatly made - as always - and your room was as clean and tidy as always, but I just knew that you wasn’t coming back. There was a finality hanging over your room, Liz. Please tell me, Liz. As your friend, tell me what happened. Who was that on the phone?”
Liz had held his gaze the whole time. She had never once averted her eyes. The familiarity with how she had always looked into his eyes the whole time he spoke to her when he had known her before comforted him now.
”It was a family emergency,” Liz answered weakly.
Alex closed his eyes and sighed, a tiredness marking his face.
”Oh come on, Liz. You gotta give me something else than that! Was it your parents who called you?”

Liz nodded, and he could see tears glimmering in her eyes. ”It was my mom.”
”She wanted you to come home?” Alex offered, trying to ease the obvious discomfort he felt from her.
She swallowed and nodded, one of the tears that had been pooling in her eyes escaping and silently rolling down her cheek.
”What happened Liz?” Alex asked, afraid that something had happened to someone in Liz’s family.
”I don’t really want to talk about this,” Liz said, forcing down sobs.
Alex searched her face, tried to judge how much more he could push her. He was torn with his need to get answers to questions that had haunted him for six years, and not hurting this fragile girl.
”Okay. But Liz, I want some answers. I don’t think you would just abandon me without any explanation just like that.”
”I wouldn’t,” Liz said, the honesty shining in her eyes.
Alex nodded. He was going to let it go....for now.

---------------------------------------.

Her heart was fluttering, her hands were sweaty. She was so nervous she didn’t know how to think any longer - let alone how to feel anything else than the anxiety that was coursing through her body.
”Liz, calm down! You want me to come with you?” Alex asked, pressing his palm against her forehead to feel her temperature. She looked sick, really sick - but she didn’t have a fever. Nothing was wrong with her, but Alex could swear that she was about to collapse at any time.
”Liz....”
No response.
”Liz...Lizzie!!”
Liz turned her head and focused her eyes on him. Alex put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to keep eye-contact with him.

”Liz. It’s only a party, you hear me? It’s only a party. People go to them all the time. They are happy occasions. People are enjoying themselves. They’re laughing, and talking - mingling.... It’s gonna be fine! Now, do you want me to come with you?”
Liz shook her head.
”No,” she answered, her throat raspy due to the inability of her salivary glands to produce saliva. ”I’m going with Isabel, it’s suppose to be just me and her.”
”Okay, then it’s fine...right?”
Liz nodded. ”Yes, of course it is.”
Alex sighed in defeat, not believing a word she said. Just then there was a knock on the door.
”I guess that’s Isabel,” Alex said. ”Should I get it?”
”Yes,” Liz answered, but called out his name before he could disappear out in the living room, making him turn around. ”Alex, thank you.”
The words were simple, but meaningful.
”Anything for you, Liz,” Alex answered and gave her a warm smile before heading for the front door.

The air rushed out of him at the sight meeting him as the door swung open. She was beautiful. No....she wasn’t only beautiful. She was stunning... No, that wasn’t the word either - she was gracious and-
”Hi, I’m Isabel,” she said, and Alex watched in fascination as her mouth moved to enunciate every syllable of the words.
Isabel.
He felt the sudden need to pinch himself, because he was sure that he had suddenly gone to sleep somewhere between Liz’s bedroom and arriving at the front door.
”And you are?” she asked, as she didn’t get an answer.
His gaze was once again pulled towards her lusciously red lips. They seemed so soft. He wondered how they would feel to-
”Hi Isabel,” he heard Liz say behind him, and the air rushed back into his lungs and his surroundings returned into focus. ”The dumb man over here is Alex.”

”He’s dumb?” Isabel asked, shock spreading over her features.
Liz rolled her eyes - her nervousness repressed to a more sociable level.
”Not usually. Alex, this is Isabel. Alex, say ‘hi’,” Liz instructed, talking very slowly.
Alex glared at her, before he turned his head back to the beauty that for once had left him speechless.
”Hi, nice to meet you,” he said, stretching his hand out towards Isabel. As their palms contacted, Alex thought he was going to die of heart failure right there on the spot. How much more of this could he stand?
”Alex was just leaving,” Liz said, starting to push Alex towards the doorway.
”Oh, that’s too bad,” Isabel said.
”No, don’t want to bug in on your girls’ night,” Alex said.
”Yeah, bye Alex,” Liz said, suddenly anxious to get Alex out of the apartment.
”Bye,” Alex said.

”It was nice meeting you,” Isabel managed to say before the Liz closed the door.
”Who was that?” Isabel asked casually, following after Liz into the bedroom.
”Alex is my best friend,” Liz answered honestly.
”Oh,” Isabel said.
”Now you gotta help me,” Liz said. ”I can’t decide what to wear, and even though I love Alex... he really don’t have any fashion sense!”

-----------------------------------------------.

”You okay?” Isabel asked for the second time since they had gotten into the cab.
”I’m fine,” Liz said, pushing one of the lose dark hair tendrils behind her ear - her hand trembling.
”Liz, I feel really bad for pushing you into this-”
”Isabel, you’re not pushing me into anything,” Liz said adamantly. ”In the end it was my decision to come. I’m fine.”
Isabel knew when to back off, and this certainly was one of those moments.

-----------------------------------------------.

There were people everywhere. Laughing, talking, eating, drinking, dancing...even singing. The mood was high. The party was a true success.
”Elizabeth! What a pleasant surprise! I didn’t know that you were going to be here tonight.”
Liz smiled at her boss as he made his way over to her, balancing a drink in one hand as he tried to make his way through the masses of people without spilling or tripping.
”No, I usually avoid this entertainment,” Liz answered.
”It’s nice to have you here though,” Mr. Smith said. ”You look beautiful.”
Liz ducked her head slightly, a blush spreading up over her cheeks. ”Thank you,” she said.
Mr. Smith just shook his head in disbelief at her reaction. No 24-year-old he knew still reacted that shyly and innocently to a compliment as Elizabeth Parker. His eyes moved from the petite dark-haired woman, to the tall blonde standing beside her. He stretched out his hand towards her.
”Miss Isabel Evans, right?” he asked.
”Yes,” Isabel answered.

”If I’m not mistaking you’re the villain in all of this,” Mr. Smith said.
”Excuse me?” Isabel asked, with a confused smile.
”I have tried to get Elizabeth to come to these parties for years, but she has resisted strongly. How did you manage to get her here?”
Isabel laughed, shrugging her shoulders. ”Beginner’s luck, I guess,” she said.
”Well, I guess you two stunning women are going to infest this party,” Mr. Smith said.
”That’s exactly what we have in mind, Mr. Smith,” Isabel said, lightly following Mr. Smith’s joking manner.
Liz, on the other hand, was no longer with them. As her body was standing in a restricted area on the crowded dancing floor, her mind was already seeking refuge in a place where she could be by herself. No buzzing of human voices, no clinking of glasses, no beat of the music pounding in her ears.
”Liz?”

And just as quickly she was back in her body, back at the party. She turned around and found herself standing in front of the man she the least wanted to see.
”Are you lost?” he asked.
Unable to speak, she shook her head. She couldn’t recognize his voice. It was softer, calmer...even concerned. Then she noticed the person standing beside him. She was of Liz’s length, but instead of long dark silky hair hers was blond and curly.
”I didn’t expect you to come to the party,” he said.
”I changed my mind,” Liz said, watching the female out of the corner of her eyes. It didn’t surprise her the least that the woman unnerved her just as much as he did.
”Oh, well, that’s nice,” he said. ”Tess, this is Elizabeth Parker. She’s one of the most ambitious architects at the office. Liz, this is my girlfriend, Tess Harding.”
As Liz took the hand Tess reached out towards her, nausea welled up inside of her, and she had to fight the urge with her whole body, to throw up at just that moment.
”You okay?” the woman asked, and Liz nodded, swallowing inconspicuously.

”Yes,” she took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. ”It’s nice to meet you, Miss Harding.”
”Oh please, call me Tess,” Tess said, and smiled. Liz closed her eyes to fight off the sudden dizziness. What was the matter with her?! She had to retake control of herself!
”There you are,” a familiar voice said behind her, and the dizziness subsided.
”Isabel, I was looking for you,” he said and then nodded towards his girlfriend. ”I like you to meet Tess Harding, my girlfriend.”
Liz watched as Isabel smiled at the woman with the baby locks and then shook her hand.
”So, you’re the infamous Tess Harding,” Isabel said.
”Excuse me?” Tess asked, confusion written all over her face.
”Mr. Anderson talks about you all the time,” Isabel said.
”Really?” Tess said interested, a smug twitching in the corners of her red painted lips.
”Uh-huh,” Isabel said. Liz was watching Isabel, wondering how her new-found friend could do that so easily. Talk to people - like it didn’t require any effort at all.

”You want something to drink?” David asked, and Liz could feel his gaze on her as she stubbornly kept her eyes fixed on Isabel to avoid meeting his.
”No, thank you,” Liz said.
”I think I’ll have a coke,” Isabel said.
”Oh, come on Isabel. It’s a party. You can’t have a coke on a party!”
”Okay, fix me a drink then - but it has to be free of alcohol,” Isabel said.
”What? Are you a Christian or what?” David asked.
”No, I just can’t handle alcohol too well,” Isabel answered.
”What do you do?” David asked. ”Get all flirtatious, and start clinging on people?”
”Let’s just say it can get really ugly,” Isabel said calmly.
Liz was letting her eyes dart over the people dancing on the surface that had been cleared from tables - feeling Tess’s eyes on the back of her neck.

”Okay, then. No liquor it is,” David said. ”How ‘bout you, Liz? You’re sure you don’t want anything?”
Liz turned her head back towards them. This was a social game. She could play that too. In order to receive, you have to give.
”Okay, give me what Isabel is having,” she said.
David chuckled. ”Two drinks for the party animals,” he said with a slight sarcastic tone.
Liz let her mind float back into that calm area of her being, as her unseeing eyes drifted back and forth over the people around her. She vaguely registered that Tess and Isabel were having a conversation about David behind her. She felt light-headed, and the nausea was yet to disappear.

Isabel was looking at Liz from the corner of her eye. Something was not right about her. She had been immensely nervous before, but this was something else. Liz constantly kept spacing out - her eyes staring at something - unseeing. Isabel heard Tess laugh as she went on and on about something David had done on their first date and she smiled automatically, while the majority of her attention was focused on Liz’s behavior. She plunged back to reality as David returned with the drinks.
”Are you having a good time, ladies?” he asked, handing Isabel her drink.
”Yes, thank you Mr. Anderson,” Isabel said.
Mr. Anderson sipped on his Bloody Mary as he waved his hand in front of his face, thereby waving off the fact that Isabel calling him by his last name.
”Please, Isabel. We’re off office hours now, call me David.”

Isabel smiled. ”Okay, David.”
”That’s better,” David said, but then wiggled his index finger at her. ”But remember that it’s just for now - back at work it’s back to Mr. Anderson.”
Isabel forced herself to smile. ”Deal.”
”Good,” David said, and then turned his head to look at Liz, suddenly noticing that she was not really participating in the conversation.
”Elizabeth, I have your drink here,” he said.

She turned her head quickly, as if he had scared her and solemnly nodded, reaching out her hand to take the glass. Isabel saw how Liz’s hand was trembling, and she was just about to take the glass from David because she didn’t trust Liz not to spill, when David put the glass in Liz’s hand. If Isabel hadn’t happened to look at Liz’s face just then she would’ve missed the expression of horror, disgust and lastly nausea shifting over her face. Automatically, Isabel put her hand on Liz’s shoulder, feeling that she needed to support Liz or else she would fall. Isabel stepped closer to Liz and moved towards her ear, so that only Liz could hear what she said. David and Tess were occupied talking beside her and hadn’t noticed Liz’s odd behavior. Or more correctly, David was talking and Tess was giggling like a fourteen -year-old.

”Liz, are you feeling okay?” Isabel asked.
She saw Liz nod, but then she felt Liz sway beside her.
”Okay, we’re getting you out of here,” Isabel concluded and took a firm grip on Liz’s elbow to support her. ”Liz and I are going to freshen up,” she told David and Tess.
”Maybe I should freshen up as well,” Tess said, and before Isabel had the chance to protest Tess was leading the way to the Ladies’ room.

---------------------------------

The room was spinning, and there was so much noise. She tried to cover her ears in an attempt to fight off the noise, but she couldn’t move one of her arms.

------------------------------

Isabel could feel Liz trying to pull away from her grip on Liz’s elbow.
”Liz, we’re going to the bathroom, okay?” she explained, watching Tess disappearing behind the door marked with the ‘Ladies’ sign.

-------------------------------------

Who was that talking to her? Where was she? She jumped as a loud crash sounded not far behind her.

----------------------------------

Isabel turned hastily at the noise and saw a laughing couple bent over two shattered glasses on the floor. She sighed, and pulled a little harder on Liz’s almost completely uncooperative body as she pushed the door open with her free hand and steered Liz inside.

-------------------------------------

There was laughing...why were they laughing? The laughter hurt her ears. It pushed inside of her eardrums and then painfully interpreted every sound wave as a piercing noise - ripping her mind apart. And then she felt it. It started out as a warmth spreading through her abdomen, to quickly turn into scolding heat that was burning her every nerve ending. The tissues, tendons and muscles surrounding her stomach started convulsing, and then there was just pain... and the darkness.

------------------------------------

They had barely stepped into the rest room until Isabel could feel Liz slipping away. She turned her head to watch Liz’s legs give away under her weight, and Isabel quickly put her free hand around Liz’s waist to buffer her fall.
”Oh my God!” she heard Tess gasp beside her. ”What’s wrong with her?”
”I think she fainted,” Isabel answered as she lowered Liz to the floor. Spectators had started to gather around them, whispering among each other about the pale girl.
”Tess, can you support her head?” Isabel asked.
”Sure,” Tess said without hesitation and fell down on her knees, moving Liz’s head to her lap.
Isabel tried to calm her racing heart. She was calm on the outside, but she’d had years of practice on keeping the exterior unreadable. She hauled up her cell phone and called Max.
”Hello?” he answered after two signals.
”It’s me,” Isabel said. ”You have to come to the party...you know where it is, right?”
”What’s wrong?”
She knew that her voice had betrayed her at the concern she heard in her brother’s voice.
”Something’s wrong with Liz,” Isabel said and she barely got the chance to finish the sentence before the call was being disconnected. Max was already on his way.



TBC...

Hello!!!


I come bearing gifts... Well... a new chapter any way...


By now you know the drill... THANK YOUS!!! (for the feedback that I value so immensly high!)



Lelle Wow, Lelle! You make me all teary-eye with your beautiful feedback! Thank you!!
Hehe... I hope I don't give you a heart-attack... Things are going to work out for the better...sooner or later...

Cassandra Is Tess an alien in this fic...? Hmmm... Thank you for your feedback!!

Gigo Wow...once again I'm totally taken back by all your questions ... It's good though that you keep asking me all those questions (even if I'm often unable to answer them ), because it keeps me on my toes and reminds me of what I'm actually going to do with this fic ! Thank you for the fb!!!

Pheobe04 Thank you so much!!

Lorena Thank you so much for the fb, Lorena!!

roswelluver Thank you!!

marteloise Hey!! You're back! I've missed you So happy to have you here again! I love your signature btw - it's soooo beautiful!!

Dia Hey!! I've missed you on this board... I was about to look for you at Outer Haven, but then you showed up here . So happy to have you back!! Are you posting "Turning back the clock" here too? 'Cause I think I saw that you had updated it - and I haven't read your update *Jo self-consciously hides behind her chair*... I'm just better at going into this site than Outer Haven I guess (me and Ezboards...*sigh*). And Max is certainly coming to the rescue in this chapter ... Thank you so much for the feedback! I really really like your lengthy ones!!

Liz Hey Liz!! Thank you so much for the feedback!! (and thanks for all the bumps at Outer haven )

Lynn Thank you!!

mrsjbehr Thank you!! Oh, I just gotta say this. I absolutely love your signature - it's beautiful!!




Chapter 14

This couldn’t be happening... What was wrong with Liz? He had sworn to himself that he was going to protect her, and yet something had happened to her! He hadn’t had any premonition about anything happening in a party.... but what if he had and he just hadn’t recognized it for what it was. What if his lack of perception and attention somehow had managed to put Liz in danger. The worst thing was the not knowing. He didn’t know what had happened...

He burst through the doors, barely registering all the people around him - giving him weird looks as he stormed through the building. He didn’t know where Isabel and Liz were, but fortunately he could always sense Isabel when she was close by. As if he could somehow zoom in on her essence, hear her soul whispering to him at the back of his mind, and the closer he got to her, the higher the whisper grew. The easier he could feel his sister’s upset emotions. He put his hands up against the door marked ‘Ladies’ and hastily pushed it open. He immediately saw her, laying on the floor. Isabel was sitting on the floor, Liz’s head in her lap.

Max didn’t register any of the other persons standing in the bathroom as he came to kneel beside Liz’s still form.
”What happened?” he asked Isabel. Isabel looked up at him, and relief spread across her face at the fact that her brother was finally there. The waiting had seemed like an eternity - even though the long hand on the clock had merely moved ten steps. Merely ten minutes had elapsed, but during that time Liz hadn’t moved. Perspiration was glistering on her deathly pale forehead.
”I don’t know, she was looking sick and I decided to take her to the rest room and then she just collapsed,” Isabel explained.

”Is she gonna be all right?” a voice he didn’t recognized said.
He looked up to see a girl with blond hair and blue eyes staring intently at him.
”Yeah,” he answered, and diverted his eyes back to Liz. ”Let’s get her home.”
He tucked one of Liz’s strands of hair, which had come undone from the hairdo and had become plastered on her forehead, behind her ear. He tucked his hand beneath her back. The other arm he hooked in the hollows of her knees and then lifted upwards. Her head rolled lifelessly backwards, and an icy chill went down his spine. He quickly pushed all the thoughts of her dying out of his mind and moved his arm so that his upper arm was supporting Liz’s head. With her cradled against his chest he began walking, with Isabel trailing closely behind him.

------------------------------------

The rain was pelting down around her, and her feet felt heavy as they stumbled over the uneven ground. The dark trunks of the surrounding trees were hovering menacingly over her - their pegs spreading out like long fingers, wanting to capture her. The anguish in her heart was suffocating. Thoughts were tumbling around in her head, neither making any sense to her. The air around her was filled with screams and animalistic cries. As she run over a muddy area she slipped, and fell to the ground. Her hands and upper body became covered in mud as she tried to get up. She had to get up. She had to keep running....

--------------------------------------

Max gently lowered Liz on her bed.
”Maybe we should undress her,” Isabel said.
Max couldn’t help but feel slightly uneasy.
”Yeah, you do that, Isabel,” he said.
Isabel grimaced. ”Max, I think I need your help,” she said, noticing Max’s discomfort. ”I need you to lift her up, otherwise I will have difficulties to pull off her dress.”
Max swallowed, but nodded slowly after some hesitation.
”Why don’t you start by removing her shoes,” Isabel instructed.
Max nodded, letting out a soft sigh of relief. Removing her shoes...he could do that. That couldn’t be too difficult. Isabel smiled inwardly as she watched Max move to the end of the bed. She started to pull the hairpins out of Liz’s hair, freeing the restrained tresses.

Max gentle put his fingers to the small clasp on Liz’s shoe, feeling the texture of her smooth skin under his fingertips. After some fumbling, the clasp came undone and he pulled the shoe off the small foot. He repeated the process with her other shoe. Isabel put the last hair pin on the night stand and caught sight of her brother removing Liz’s right shoe. His movements were so gentle - it was as if he was removing the shoes off a porcelain doll...
”Max,” Isabel said as Max put the shoe on the floor. ”Come her and lift her up.”
”Okay,” Max said softly, moving to Liz’s side again. He put his arm under her shoulders and gently pushed her upper body upwards. He supported the back of her head with his hand, being extremely aware of the silky texture of her hair enveloping his fingers.
He watched as Isabel put her hand on the zipper and he averted his eyes as he heard the zipping sound of Liz’s dress becoming undone.

He tried to focus on something else, and suddenly a thought crossed his mind. He couldn’t heal Liz as long as she was unconscious - if she even suffered from something that he could heal. He had to have eye contact....but he could heal simple things without the other’s conscious co-operation. He closed his eyes and started to gather the energy inside of him that was always simmering below the surface of his skin. He focused on creating a channel which would serve to transfer the energy. He could feel his fingertips begin to tingle against the skin of Liz’s head, and then he slowly and carefully started to fuel her with his energy - hoping that it would help her somewhat.

-------------------------------------------

She was crawling through the mud, the rain running down her forehead into her eyes - obscuring her vision. Then she heard laughter. It sent a chill down her spine since the presence of cheerful and carefree laughter in this milieu was eerily unnerving. She turned her head, and saw a woman standing in the rain. But she was not wet. She was completely dry. The woman’s mouth was formed into a loving smile - and the woman was looking directly at her. Then the surroundings started to change, and suddenly she wasn’t covered in mud any longer. The surface under her knees went harder, and for a moment she let her eyes travel around her surroundings. It had stopped raining, but she was still soaking wet. The dark, ominous forest was gone, and instead there were high walls towering around her - closing in on her. She turned her head back to the woman and in an instant she just knew. She opened her mouth to scream, but the surroundings went blurry and she was suddenly on a green meadow, and the sun was shining. She blinked in the bright light. The sun was warming and comforting, but as she turned around on the vast open landscape, she realized that she was all alone.

----------------------------------------

”Max, Max!”
Max lost his concentration and re-focused his eyes on Isabel.
”What are you doing?” she asked.
”Nothing,” he mumbled. She stared at him for a second, obviously thinking if she was to let the subject go or pursue it further.
”Can you put her back down? I need to pull down the dress,” Isabel said.
”Oh,” Max said, and his eyes moved to encounter the bare skin of Liz’s stomach. ”Oh,” he said again, embarrassment in his voice as he turned his eyes away.
Isabel had to suppress a giggle at her brother’s antics. His face was getting turning into a nice red nuance, and he suddenly was very eager to lower Liz’s head back down on the pillow so that he could divert his eyes. But his tenderness with Liz was not lost in his hasty movements.
Isabel pulled the black dress down Liz’s body, pulling a little harder to get it over her hips. She put the dress on a chair nearby and then turned her eyes back towards Liz.
”Uhm... well, I guess we should’ve thought about that earlier,” Isabel mumbled.
”What?” Max asked, fighting very hard to keep his eyes away from Liz’s body.
”I guess we just have to lift her again,” Isabel said.

”We do?” Max asked, thinking of all the naked skin he had to touch in order to do that. Not that he didn’t want to touch Liz - but strangely enough he wasn’t sure he could even control his own feelings if he had to do this any longer. He had never reacted this way to a girl before. Maria had even at one time asked him if he was gay... He had to admit that he hadn’t acted like all the other teenage boys as a teenager. But then he wasn’t an ordinary teenager. He was an alien in a teenager’s body - whatever that meant. Nevertheless, that had never been a good excuse, since Michael (who was just as alien as Max was) had always found girls extremely interesting. Even though he had never really dated anyone (he thought it was a waste of time), Max had caught him staring at girls a couple of times at school.

But not Max. Isabel had always defended him and told the others that it was because he was just too shy to even utter one word to a girl that he was never able to start a relationship with anyone... They all knew, however, that if Max had wanted a girlfriend he could easily get one. Many girls in high school had been swooning over him, and some had even asked him out on dates, just because he never asked anyone out. He always said no though - in a firm but gentle way. He just wasn’t interested. But it was something different with Liz. Ever since he had first seen her in his premonition he had sensed that something was different about her - she wasn’t just another girl. She was something more.

”Max!”
He broke out of his reverie by Isabel snapping her fingers in front of his face, and he realized that she had probably been calling for his attention for some while.
”Yeah, we should probably do that,” Max said, swallowing as he put his arm in the hollows of Liz’s knees, cradling the other arm around Liz’s shoulder. He was only wearing a T-shirt and the touch of the naked skin of her shoulder blades against his bare arms was making his heart beat faster. He tried taking deep breaths. What was wrong with him?!
”So, that’s it,” Isabel announced. ”You can put her down now, Max.”
Max lowered Liz’s limp body back on the bed, noticing the cold temperature of her skin.
”Isabel, she’s cold,” he said, fear seeping into him.
Isabel put her hand against Liz’s stomach, and then moved her hand to Liz’s forehead.
”She’s cool, but not cold,” she said. ”Don’t worry, Max. There’s nothing wrong with her temperature...”

She left the sentence hanging in the air, speaking volumes of everything else that could be wrong with her. Max took a hold of the covers and pulled it over Liz, tucking it carefully around her body.
”Does she has a blanket somewhere?” he asked Isabel.
Isabel shrugged her shoulders. ”I don’t know... maybe in the closet.”
”Right,” Max said, moving to the closet. He found a blanket neatly folded on the top shelf and pulled it out, spreading it over Liz.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking Liz’s hair away from her forehead. Isabel watched him in silence for a couple of minutes. She was both wondrous and scared of the compassion she could see fleeting over Max’s face.
”Max, something’s wrong with her,” she spoke, breaking the silence.
”Has anything like this happened before?” Max asked, thinking about all the moments he couldn’t watch Liz...as for instance when she was working.

Isabel shook her head. ”Not that I know of...but Max, this isn’t normal.”
Max looked up at her. ”What do you mean?”
”Max....”
There was a beat, and she sighed. ”I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
”What?” Max asked.
”Getting involved like this,” Isabel said.
”She’s in danger, Isabel.”
”But what if she attracts something - someone - to us.”
She knew that she was being selfish, but the fear of being captured and experimented on went deep, and had after 18 years become an integrated part of her personality.
”Why would she do that?”
”She had a lot of spectators tonight,” Isabel said. ”It isn’t normal to just faint at a party, and then just stay unconscious. We don’t even know what’s wrong with her. She’s just laying there.”

Max looked at Liz, his hand moving down to take Liz’s cold hand in his. What if she never woke up again? The thought of losing her was making him dizzy and nauseous...
”I’m not leaving her, Isabel,” Max declared adamantly.
”This isn’t just about you,” Isabel said. ”We are a group, and we have to make our decisions as a group. During these last couple of weeks, since you started to develop this new power, we have been patient with you and let you go off on your own crusades. But New York? Saving a girl? And now we are practically living here? Are we even going back, Max?”
”Of course we’re going back,” Max said.
”It doesn’t feel like it,” Isabel mumbled, noticing how Max was holding Liz’s hand. ”What you do don’t just affect you - it affects all of us! Michael, Maria and me. Liz starts acting strange, people notice and suddenly people start talking. It’s not good to be here when people start talking - you know that Max.”

”I know,” Max said tiredly. He was so fed up with his whole life situation. Why couldn’t he just be normal?
”Maybe it’s just for the best if we leave Liz alone, you know,” Isabel suggested. ”She must be confused too... two strangers walking into her life-”
”You don’t know what I’ve seen,” Max said, pain in his voice. ”She’s gonna die, Isabel. My premonitions say that she’s gonna die, and I’m afraid I’m the only one who can stop it from happening-”
”Max, maybe it’s just not meant to be. Maybe there’s a greater plan to all of this, and she is meant to die-”
”No,” Max said, shaking his head. ”She isn’t meant to die. I get these premonitions for a reason Isabel...to prevent the future from taking place - to change the future.”
”I just think this is a bad idea,” Isabel said.
”Can you live with the fact that you are indirectly responsible for a girl’s death?”
”That’s not fair, Max,” Isabel objected.
”It’s the same thing. How can you just sit there and know that Liz is going to die, and then not do something about it?!”

”We don’t know her, Max,” Isabel said. ”We don’t know anything about her past at all.”
”I know everything I need to know,” Max said with certainty.
Isabel just shook her head.
”Well, I’m leaving,” she said.
”What?”
”I’m going back to Roswell.”
”Why?”
”Because I don’t want to wake up in a laboratory one day,” Isabel said. ”I want to go back to Roswell and continue with my life.”
”Fine,” Max muttered.
Isabel looked at him. She wasn’t comfortable leaving him, but maybe that would make him realize that he needed to get home too - that this was the wrong thing to do. Things were moving downhill too quickly and she was just so afraid that someone would get killed along the way.
”I’ll wait until tomorrow,” Isabel said.
Max gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Isabel sighed in defeat.

”Are you coming with me back to the hotel?” she asked.
”I’m staying with Liz,” Max said, having already made up his mind about that since he had found Liz laying lifelessly on the bathroom floor at the building where the party was held.
”Okay,” Isabel said. ”Bye then.”
”Bye,” Max mumbled.
Isabel took a deep breath and then walked out of the bedroom towards the front door. She waved her hand over the locks - unlocking them - and closed the front door behind her.



TBC...

Chapter 15

”I don’t think he’s coming home,” Isabel said, emitting a tired and frustrated sigh.
”Is he just gonna stay there?!” Michael asked at the other end of the line. ”What the hell is he thinking? He can’t just go away like that!!”
”That’s what I told him,” Isabel said. ”Look Michael, he’s got it into his head that this girl needs his protection, and he isn’t gonna stop until he knows that she is safe.”
”Damn Max and his good will,” Michael muttered, ”it’s gonna get us all killed one day.”
”There’s something different about this girl,” Isabel said, bracing herself for the conversation she knew would be coming.
”What do you mean ‘different’?” Michael asked suspiciously. ”Wait! You don’t mean different different, right? She’s an alien?!!”

”No, she’s not an alien,” Isabel said quickly. ‘At least not as far as I know,’ she thought, choosing not to reveal her thoughts since she could already anticipate Michael’s outburst to that.
”Then what?” Michael huffed.
”She had an episode today,” Isabel answered vaguely.
”An episode?” Michael repeated, confused.
”Well, we were at this party, and she was looking really pale and then she fainted,” Isabel explained.
”That’s all? You think she’s different because she passed out?!” Michael asked incredulously.
”No... the thing is that she didn’t return to consciousness immediately - actually she was still unconscious as I left her apartment thirty minutes ago, and then she had been unconscious for twenty minutes before that.”

”Maybe she’s dead,” Michael said bluntly.
”Michael,” Isabel sighed tiredly, rubbing her forehead, and wondering why she was even making an effort to talk to Michael about this. ”She’s not dead. But now Max won’t leave her side-”
”He’s still with her?” Michael asked.
”Yeah,” Isabel answered.
There was a moment of silence.
”Maybe Maria’s right,” Michael mumbled.
”Right about what?”
”That Max has a thing for that girl,” Michael said. Images of Max gently taking off Liz’s shoes, tucking strands of her hair behind her ear, and holding her hand flashed through Isabel’s mind.
”That girl is screwing with his head,” Michael continued. ”We have to get him out of there, Isabel!”

Isabel started to question her decision to call Michael. Michael was if possible even more suspicious, and paranoid than her. At first smell of possible threat, Michael reacted by hiding. Now Max was jeopardizing Michael’s present safe existence, and Michael’s only solution to it was to eliminate the problem - even if there was no problem to eliminate.
”What do we know about this girl, Iz?” Michael asked.
”Close to nothing,” Isabel said. ”She’s extremely secretive.”
But on the other hand so were they...
”That means she has something to hide, and we certainly shouldn’t get involved with people who have something to hide. If people are hiding something it logically means that there are people around who wants to find out what they’re hiding... This is not good, Isabel. I’m coming to New York-”

”No Michael,” Isabel interrupted quickly. It was no good idea to have Michael in New York - he would only make the situation worse. Knowing Michael, Isabel knew that he would get Max more likely to stay if they met. Michael would start to accuse Max of abandoning his responsibility to their group, and Max would argue that his powers were a part of him... Well, let’s just say that it could get pretty ugly.
”Let me try talk to him again,” Isabel said.
”We’ve already tried that-”
”Michael, please,” Isabel said, her voice softening.
There was a loud exasperated sigh. ”All right. But if you fail I’m coming to New York!”
”Okay,” Isabel agreed.

------------------------------------

”NOOOOO!!”
Max jerked out of his semi-sleeping state. It didn’t take him long to realize where he was. He was still in Liz’s apartment. He quickly rose from his half-laying position in the chair positioned at the far side of the bedroom. He moved to the bed, and the sight cut in his heart. Liz was trashing about - her fists convulsively clenching and unclenching the covers. Her head was rolling restlessly from side to side. The animalistic cry that she had emitted ten seconds earlier was merely a memory as she know was back to her silent condition.

But as Max diverted his eyes to her mouth, he found her lips to be moving as if they were forming words - but no sound escaped her. The silence was eerie, and Max sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes constantly moving over her body - trying to figure out what to do. If he even could do anything. A pained whimper turned his gaze back to her face, and he noticed how her forehead was now creased in a pained expression.
”Liz, Liz,” he called softly, trying to wake her up.
”No, please don’t. No! NO!”
”Liz!” Max said more sharply, putting his hands on top of her clenched fists. He could see tears running down her cheeks. ”Liz! You have to wake up!!”

He moved his hands to her bare shoulders, feeling the straps of her black bra against his palms, and started shaking her to snap her out of whatever painful state she was in.
She started to worm around under his hands, her head moving more fervently from one side to the other. Right - left. Right - left.
”Let me go!! Let me go!” she screamed, her voice dripping with the deadly anguish and despair.
”Liz! It’s okay, you’re safe. Wake up!”
He was startled as her eyes snapped open, her eyes open but empty. She stared at the ceiling as her lips was in constant movement - chanting the same words over and over again.
”Don’t leave me please don’t leave me don’t leave me please don’t leave me don’t leave me please don’t leave-”

”Liz,” Max said, his voice softer. To his surprise, her lips stopped moving and she turned her head. Shivers went down his spine, goosebumps broke out across his skin as she turned her empty eyes to him. He could feel himself being sucked in by those vacant pools, not being able to stop it from happening - and it was unnerving feeling. He felt as if his energy was drained out of him, being replaced by something darker. Hopelessness, loneliness, sorrow, grief, despair- And just as quickly he was released from the ominous pull, and as he now was looking into her eyes, he didn’t found them empty any longer. They were instead filled with so many emotions, he couldn’t read one single one of them....but they were all dark, and mourning.
”Please don’t leave me,” she said, and he felt as if she was looking straight into his soul - speaking directly to his soul.

”I won’t,” he said, his voice hoarse from the emotions riveting through his own body and the feelings he could feel coming off her in waves.
More tears pooled in her eyes, and she shook her head. ”No, you can’t die!”
Max ignored his confusion. ”I’m not gonna die-”
”I need you! I need you!”
He was just about to answer as she threw her arms around him, pulling him desperately close. He quickly got over the surprise, and wrapped his arms around her back. He could feel her fingernails digging into his back, but he didn’t care. She was holding onto him as tightly as if she would die if she was separated from him.
”I’m not gonna leave you, I’m not gonna leave you,” Max said softly, his hand moving up to bury itself in her hair. Her sobs were echoing against the walls of the small dark bedroom.


A couple of minutes later, her grip on him lessened and he realized by her soft breathing that she had fallen asleep. He slowly lowered her down on the pillow, feeling her still wet tears against his cheek when it brushed against hers as he hovered over her, trying to remove the grip her hands had taken on his shirt. With some force he was able to tug her hands loose and started to pull away from her. Her whimper stopped his movements, and his eyes worriedly returned to search her face. She was still asleep, but he could see fresh tears starting to roll down her cheeks. He slowly put his thumb to her cheek and brushed away the tears, then laid down beside her. He pulled up the covers and the blanket to cover her body, and then tenderly brushed his lips over her forehead.

As he pulled back, her voice emitted that same helpless whimper as earlier, and it stung his heart. It was the worst feeling he had ever felt hearing that she was in pain. She restlessly started to move about again, and afraid that she was entering the same kind of nightmare (or whatever it had been) again, Max put his arms around her and pulled her close to him. She immediately grew still in his arms, her face buried against his chest, his chin resting on the crown of her head. Finally, Liz could find a peaceful sleep, and after an hour of contemplating over what had happened the last couple of hours, sleep also managed to claim Max’s tired body and mind.

--------------------------------------------

Liz awoke by the shrill sound of the telephone. Her mind still fogged with the mists of sleep, she lazily made her way out of the bed. She had a pounding headache, and a dull aching in her abdomen. She walked out of the bedroom, her tired eyes missing the male jacket that was draped over the chair in her bedroom.
”Hello?” she said in the receiver.
”Hi Lizzie! It’s Alex.”
”Hi Alex.”
”Did I wake you?”
”Uh-huh,” Liz answered, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
”It’s after noon. Why are you still in bed?”
”What?” Liz said, suddenly very much awake. She turned around to look at the clock on the wall, and let out a shriek.
”What is it?” a very concerned voice cried on the other end of the line.
”It’s - it’s nothing,” Liz said, her heart still in her throat, looking at Max who had appeared out of nowhere in her apartment.
”You’re sure?”

”Yeah. I just saw a spider.”
There was laughter in the telephone.
”Jeez, Liz! I almost peed my pants!”
”Sorry, Alex,” Liz said, watching Max’s apologetic face as he quietly sat down on the couch.
”So what are your plans for today?” Alex asked. ”Except sleeping, ‘cause I hope that you were planning on doing something more than that.”
”Uhm...I don’t know...,” Liz said, her thoughts tumbling around in her head. What was Max doing here? Why had she slept so long? Why was her stomach hurting? And why couldn’t she remember anything about what she had done the day before?
”Something just came up,” Liz said.
”Oh,” Alex said, disappointment in his voice, which caught Liz’s attention.
”Tell you what, Alex,” Liz said. ”I’ll call you later, okay? You’re at your brother’s, right?”
”Yeah,” Alex answered.
”Okay, I’ll keep in touch. I just gotta take care of some things first.”
”Sounds fine with me,” Alex said. ”Talk to you later then!”
”Yeah...bye Alex.”
”Bye.”

Liz slowly put the receiver down, turning to watch Max sitting on the sofa.
”What are you doing here, Max?” she asked. She didn’t know if she should be angry with him, upset or bother to even be surprised....
”I’m sorry, Liz. I was meaning to leave yesterday, but then I fell asleep and-”
”Max,” Liz interrupted. ”What are you doing here?”
Max averted his eyes, avoiding to look at her. ”Isabel and I took you home yesterday-”
”Why does it sound as if I couldn’t get home on my own?” Liz asked, a sense of unease creeping inside of her.
”You were unconscious,” Max explained. ”You passed out at the party.”
”The party?” Liz asked, confusion written all over her face.
Max furrowed his forehead. ”Yeah.. the party,” he said slowly, puzzled by the expression of utter bewilderment on Liz’s face.
It’s terrifying when you realize that you have done things that you can’t even fathom to begin to remember. In that moment Liz realized that her mind had once again repressed something. Something that Max know held the key to. Did she want to know what had happened? Or should she go with her mind, and trust it when it had chosen to surpress the event due to its threatening character?

”You don’t remember the party?” Max asked, as Liz didn’t respond.
”Of course I remember the party,” Liz said lightly, and now it was her turn to avoid his eyes.
”Has this happen before?” Max asked, knowing that she was lying.
Liz closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Why did she even try to lie to him? It was as if he could see straight through her.
”Maybe,” she said evasively.
”What is the last thing you remember?” Max asked.
”Uhm...meeting Alex. He was leaving last night- Oh, I’ve missed one whole day.”
”But you knew about the party before you met Alex,” Max pointed out.
”I did?” Liz asked.
Max searched her face, as his mind was juggling this last pieces of information - trying to figure out what was happening to her. He didn’t like it - but Isabel seemed to be more and more correct when she had said that they didn’t really know anything about Liz. There was something different about Liz. But there was something different about Max and Isabel as well... All he knew was that something had happened to Liz yesterday, something that wasn’t normal.

”Liz...are you sick?” Max asked.
Liz raised her eyebrows in silent question.
”Do you suffer from some kind of disease?” Max clarified.
Liz shook her head. ”No.”
Why would Max ask a thing like that?
”What did I do?” she asked.
Max looked down at this hands, and swallowed before looking up again. ”You passed out, and then you kept drifting in and out of consciousness during the whole night.”
”It’s probably nothing,” Liz said, pulling out one of her most brave facial expression and putting it on. She had embraced the art of acting like nothing was the matter. What she didn’t know was that Max knew that game far too well because he was himself an expert at it.
”Maybe I ate too little, or it was dehydration-”
”You have some kind of amnesia, Liz,” Max said.

Liz shrugged her shoulders lightly, and then started to walk towards the kitchenette. Max stared after her. He had almost gotten her to open up.... but just as he had found a way inside her secretive mind, she had pulled back. And he had a feeling that he wasn’t going to get much more out of her for now. He was just about to follow Liz, as the sound of a his cell phone went off. He hauled up the cell from his pocket.
”Hey,” he answered.
”Hey, Max,” a female voice said at the other end of the line. ”Remember me?”
A small smile grazed Max’s lips, oblivious to the fact that Liz was secretly watching him from the kitchen.
”Hey Maria.”
”I just heard something, and I thought I was going to run it by you first...”
”Uh-huh,” Max prompted.
”Rumor has it that you are still in the big Apple and Isabel is on her way back to Roswell.”
Max closed his eyes, not being able to stop the tired sigh from escaping over his lips.
”I guess you have a valid source of information,” he said.
”Where are you?” Maria asked softly. She had always thought that the others treated Max a bit too harshly. He deserved much more credit than he was given.

”Uhm... in New York.”
”Well, duh!” Maria snorted.
”Max! Do you want some tea..or coffee?”
Max put his hand over the speaker of the cell, even though it was already too late.
”Eh...”
”Juice maybe?” Liz asked, smiling.
”Juice would be great,” Max said.
With a nod, Liz disappeared behind the cabinets, and Max put the cell phone back to his ear.
”Who was that?” Maria asked, as if she could sense the second he put the cell phone back.
”Liz,” Max answered. He could picture Maria exactly then. He could almost see the big grin spreading over her face.
”Oh, Liz,” she said innocently.
”So, how are things in Roswell?” Max asked quickly, eager to change the subject.
”How do you think? You guys leave me here alone with a paranoid alien!”
”Michael’s not that bad,” Max protested, unable to stop the smile from spreading over his face.

Liz was watching him from the kitchen, warmth seeping into her heart as she saw his handsome face explode into the sparkle of a smile. She had never seen him that carefree before.
”If you turn into a woman, you can have a say in that,” Maria said. ”So, have you kissed her?”
”Who?”
”Sometimes you’re pretty dense, Max. Liz, of course.”
Max could feel the blood rush to his face, and he self-consciously turned his head in Liz’s direction. He wasn’t prepared to have her eyes looking back at him. He was instantly being pulled in by those dark, warm eyes-
”Maria,” Max said, his tone warning her to back off.
”Well, girlfriend. I’m curious! I want to know what makes this girl different from all those others that you didn’t even bother to give so much as a second glance.”
”It’s....something,” Max said cryptically, as he watched Liz move out from the kitchenette, one glass of orange juice in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.
”Yeees?” Maria said. He had to give her more than that!

”I don’t know what it is,” Max said, his eyes captivated by the gracious movements of Liz’s small hands as she placed the beverages on the small TV-table and disappeared into the bedroom. ”I’ve got so many feelings inside...”
Max’s voice trailed off as Liz reappeared with a notebook in her hand.
”Oh my God,” Maria said slowly. ”You’re in love with her.”
”What? No, Maria,” Max said, the red tone grazing his cheeks once again.
”That just makes me so happy,” Maria breathed, the large smile on her face seeping into her voice.
”Maria...”
”Ask her out on a date, Max,” Maria said.
”What?”
”You know - a date. When a guy likes a girl, he asks her out on a date,” Maria explained.
Max sighed. ”I know what it is, Maria.”

Maria giggled. ”It’s good to know that you haven’t been completely de-socialized yet.”
”I can’t do that, it’s-”
”Dangerous?” Maria filled in.
”Wrong,” Max corrected.
”Why would it be wrong?” Maria asked.
”Well, why aren’t you with Michael?” Max quipped.
”Ewwww....Max!” Maria cried out, disgust in her voice.
”Exactly my point,” Max said, a hint of sorrow in his voice.
Maria sighed. ”But that’s not due to his other-worldly status. Believe me, if he was of this world, I would not stand his guts either! ”
”Maria...”
”Do you know what it’s like to be trapped here with the ‘can-only-use-maximum-two-words-a-day’ alien? His race must be inferior to humans.”
”That includes me too,” Max said, careful not to mention to many revealing keywords in Liz’s presence, like ‘race’ or ‘aliens’. It could sound like a somewhat bizarre conversation to have.

”No, Max. I’m not so sure if you two are even of the same race. Maybe you are from two different planets and you were having a competition through the galaxies with your spaceships and you both managed to crash-”
”Maria, please,” Max begged.
”I mean, you must be so much smarter than Michael. Michael must belong to the Blunt Aliens.”
”Remind me again of why we’re even having this conversation,” Max said.
”Is she there with you now?” Maria asked, quickly changing the subject. Max’s eyes were magnetically pulled towards Liz at the question.
”Yeah,” he answered, his eyes caught by the sight of her lips grazing the tip of a pencil, her forehead creased in an brooding expression.

”Ask her out, girlfriend,” Maria said. Max nodded absent-mindedly, unconscious of the fact that his action could not be seen by the person on the other side of the line. His attention was on the way Liz’s hand seemed to be moving in slow-motion to tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ear. That silky, lean hair. He could still feel the silkiness of that hair against his fingers-
”Max, you’re still there?”
”Yeah, yeah,” Max said, his eyes following Liz’s hand as it reached out to take the cup from the table. He unconsciously licked his lips as he watched her put her lips slowly to the edge of the cup - tilting it to let the hot fluid seep through her slightly parted lips.
”Okay, something else obviously has your attention,” Maria said, feigning hurt, but inside still doing happy dances because Max had finally noticed a girl. Finally. After years of failed match-making attempts...
”Sorry, Maria,” Max said, forcing his eyes away from the angelic creature sitting in the arm-chair in front of him, her legs pulled up under her body.

”Come back soon and rescue me from Michael, okay?” Maria said.
Max smiled. ”Promise.”
”Promise?”
”Promise,” Max repeated, his eyes being pulled back to Liz.
As if sensing his distraction spreading over the telephone service, Maria chuckled.
”Bye, girlfriend!”
”Bye, Maria,” Max said, his attention back on the conversation, his eyes resting on Liz’s hand.
”Ask her out,” Maria said.
Max rolled his eyes.
”And don’t roll those beautiful eyes of yours at me!” Maria said.
”I didn’t,” Max said, feigning offense.
”Right,” Maria said. ”You forget how well I know you!”
”I’ll call you later,” Max said.

”You better,” Maria threatened.
Max chuckled, shaking his head. ”Talk to you later then!”
”Yeah...say ‘hi’ to Liz from me,” Maria said pointedly.
Max couldn’t resist to roll his eyes again.
”And don’t you ro-” Maria started.
”I’m hanging up now,” Max said.
Maria giggled. ”Bye Max!”
And the call was disconnected.



TBC...

___________________________________________

So, the conversation between Max and Liz continues a little bit longer, but I had to cut it there, because the chapter was getting waaaay to long ... I'll just post that in the next chapter...


Love,

Josephin

A/N: Since this chapter jumps right into the middle of the conversation of the last chapter I'm gonna tell you shortly what happened.

Okay, let's review... Liz woke up the day after the party - remembering nothing of what had happened. Max spend the night with her to make sure that she was okay.... The next day Liz has a conversation on the phone with Alex, and suddenly notices that Max is in her apartment. As she was unconscious when Max (and Isabel) took her to her apartment she is pretty surprised when she suddenly sees Max in her apartment... Maria calls Max, and they have a Max and Maria conversation... Anyway, that's where I cut... And now, the continuation...


And Gigo... It just took me some time to post the chapter because I had to replace all the question marks with quoation marks... ... I guess it's the differences between PC and Mac...





Chapter 16


Liz looked up from her notes as she heard the beep of Max disconnecting the phone call.
”Sorry ‘bout that,” Max said.
”No problem,” Liz said. She was just happy that she had been given the opportunity to see another side of the mysterious Max.
A silence engulfed them as their eyes locked. Liz looked into Max’s eyes, noticing the warm sparkles of gold flickering in them. There was something about his eyes that ignited something buried deep inside of her.
”So, what are you doing?” Max asked, nodding in the direction of the notebook placed in Liz’s lap.
”Oh,” Liz said, breaking out of the spell Max had placed over her. “It’s work.”
”Yeah...?”
”Yeah, it’s just a lot of lines and angles, but I can’t seem to get them to fit.”
”Let me take a look at it - maybe I can help...you know, see it with new eyes.”
Liz shrugged her shoulders, reaching out the notebook for Max to take. “I guess it can’t hurt.”
As Max put his hand against the bottom side of the notebook, his fingers brushed against Liz’s and he could feel the electrical current spread to the core of his being. His breath hitched in his throat, and he looked up to see Liz looking at him with the same expression he suspected was masking his own face. Awe.

”Thanks,” Max said softly, his fingers pulling away from the contact with her soft skin as he moved the notebook to his own lap. He took a deep breath, trying to overcome the strong feelings her touch had created. “Okay, let’s see.”
Max moved his eyes to the lines of the draft. It was all geometry, and she had almost found the solution.
”Here,” Max said, pointing at one of the lines. “This angle should be turned clockwise, and this one over here,” Max moved his finger to another spot on the paper, “should be turned about 28 degrees.”
Liz scooted out on the edge of the armchair, moving so that she could get closer to see where Max was pointing.
”Yeah, you’re right,” she said.
Max was momentarily distracted by her close proximity. Her soft cheek was only inches from his, and he could smell the soft fragrance of her strawberry shampoo.
”I can’t believe I didn’t see it,” Liz said.
Max tore his gaze away from adoring Liz’s face, and looked down at the paper again.
”You almost got it,” he said. “You just needed some help.”

Liz turned her face up towards his, and he now found himself very close to her. He could feel his blood heating up in his veins as his eyes automatically traveled to her lips. If he just pushed his head slightly forward he would be able to taste her red lips.
Liz gave a faint smile, before she pulled away - putting some distance between them.
”Uhm...,” Liz said, diverting her eyes as she sat back in her armchair.
Max silently took a deep breath, trying to cool down his body. What was wrong with him?
”There’s your juice,” Liz said, waving her hand in the direction of the glass of juice.
”Thanks,” Max said softly, taking the glass in his hand.
”So, what are you doing during the days?” Liz asked, taking a sip of her tea.

Max could feel himself blushing, and he turned down his eyes.
Liz observed his reaction, her feelings tumbling over each other - one after the other. Before the sentence had left her mouth, she had realized just what he was doing all day...
”Well, if you’re gonna follow me around everywhere, then we might as well do something together,” Liz said softly.
Max looked up at her with surprise shining in his eyes. Was she serious?
”Really?” he asked. Did she want to spend the day with him? Nothing could make him happier.
”Yeah, we could just hang out or whatever. I can show you a little of New York,” she suggested, really feeling up to doing something other than work for a day. And if the alternative to working was to spend time with Max she would more than happy do it.
”Sure,” Max said.

--------------------------------------------

Liz giggled as Max hit another hole in one.
”I can’t believe that of all places you can go in New York, you choose to go and play miniature golf,” Liz said. “But it seems as if this is a common way for you to spend your free time.”
Max shrugged his shoulders, grinning proudly as he bent down to pick up the ball from the hole.
”This wasn’t my best round,” he said - trying his best to be modest.
Liz laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.
”Right!” she said sarcastically. “You have made 21 hits in 18 holes! How much better can it be?”
”Well, how about 18 hits in 18 holes,” Max suggested, walking towards her.
”It’s certainly better than 68 hits,” Liz said.
”Oh, you weren’t that bad,” Max said.
”Nice try,” Liz said. “Just admit that you really like to win.”
”It’s just a game. It’s not about winning, but about having a good time...”

His voice trailed off as he saw Liz raise one of her eyebrow in disbelief, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
”Okay, it feels great to win,” Max admitted.
”I thought as much,” Liz said. She looked down at her watch, noticing that it was getting late.
”I’m surprised they haven’t kicked us out yet,” Max remarked.
”This is New York, Max. The city that never sleeps.”
”Anyway, I’m beat.”
Liz nodded. “Yeah, me too.”
”Shall we?” Max asked, stretching out his hand towards the exit.
”Yeah,” Liz agreed. They returned their clubs and left.

-------------------------------------

”I think it’s going to rain,” Max said, following Liz’s gaze towards the black night sky. The glittering stars were obscured by a gray mist running quickly across the sky - as if every cloud was hurrying to be the first to release raindrops over the city.
”Mmm...”
Max diverted his eyes from the sky to instead come to rest on Liz’s profile. There was something different in the way she held her head; in the way she tightened her jaw.
”Is something wrong?” he asked softly.
She jerked her head towards him, and for a second Max wondered if he had frightened her.
”No, no,” she said, so quickly that the simple one-syllable words stumbled over each other.
He watched as one of the first raindrops fell on her forehead, unable to avert his eyes from her face. He felt a pang of worry in his chest as he saw her flinch at the contact, as if it was raining acid instead of water.
”Let’s just hurry home, okay?” Liz said.

”Yeah sure,” Max said, unconsciously stepping closer to her as if to protect her from whatever was making her uncomfortable. At first, it was just drizzling, but it didn’t take long for the raindrops to grow heavier, become larger and fall with greater intensity and speed. Soon the rain was pelting down around them, dripping into their clothes and hair, running down their faces - Liz felt the beating of her heart increase and her body tightening as if preparing for something... With the increase of her heartbeat came an increase in her pace.
Max was startled as he felt her small hand moving inside the confines of his fingers. He looked at her, searching her face for something - anything - that could explain everything he was feeling. That he was certain he was getting from her. But she was looking straight forward. If it hadn’t been for the movement of her legs he would have been worried about the possibility that she was comatose. He was certain that she probably didn’t even know that she had taken his hand. He took a firmer grip on her cold hand, hoping to send her comfort with the small act. They weren’t far from Liz’s apartment, but during the five minutes it took them to reach the front door the rain had managed to drench them completely.

The stepped inside the building, shivering in the soft light of the hall lamp, rustling their wet clothes like dogs shook their drenched fur after a forced bath.
”Uh... I really don’t like the rain,” Liz said, smiling warily.
Max blinked. Her transformation was instantaneous. She went from being barely present, to the one he had spent the afternoon and night with.
”I noticed,” he said.
Liz wiped her forehead with the end of her sleeve to get rid of some of the water that had decided to have a competition to see which could roll down into her eyes the fastest. The effort was useless though, since her sleeve was as wet as her forehead.
”Let’s go inside,” Max suggested.

Liz nodded, taking the lead up the stairs until they stopped in front of the door to her apartment. Her hands were trembling with the effect of the cold water against her skin as she tried to put the keys in the lock.
”You want some help?” Max asked.
”No, it’s fine,” Liz said, a soft smile playing over her lips.
Max stepped back some to give her some more room. A few moments later there was a click announcing that the lock had been successfully opened and Liz opened the door, switching on the light as she stepped inside.
”God, I really have to get out of these clothes,” Liz said.
Max nodded, and Liz smiled. “And you...”

”What?” Max asked.
”You also seem to have an urgent need of a change of clothes too.”
”Oh, can I have your red dress? I like that one,” Max said, feigning enthusiasm.
Liz giggled, and rolled her eyes.
”No, that dress I don’t just lend out to anyone,” Liz said.
”No?” Max asked, raising an eyebrow.
”No,” Liz answered.
”Then what does a man have to do to get into your clo-“ He stopped abruptly, realizing what he was about to say and thereby insinuate.
Liz laughed, turning around and walking into the direction of her bedroom. “I think I have some clothes of my father’s that you can borrow,” she said over her shoulder.

Max stayed where he was, feeling the heat burning his face. Man! He had almost more or less said that he wanted to make lo- No, he couldn’t think that - he shouldn’t think that.
Liz returned, putting a pile of clothes in his hands.
”There you go,” she said. “My father is a bit...hmm... thinner than you.” Her eyes uncontrollably traveled over his muscular broad chest, where she could faintly see the contours of his muscles pressing against the wet fabric of his shirt.
”I’m sure it will be fine,” Max said. “May I...?” He nodded in the direction of the bathroom.
”Sure,” Liz said. She watched as he walked towards the bathroom. It wasn’t until the bathroom closed behind him, that she walked towards the bedroom to change into something much drier.

----------------------------

Liz pulled the sweatshirt over her head, relishing in the soft and warm texture against her skin. She walked up to the full figure mirror and pulled back her wet hair into a ponytail. Max was still in the bathroom as she made her way out of the bedroom. She turned on a small lamp beside the couch - its light warming the room. Beside the couch was a small cupboard where Liz kept - among other things - candles. Hearing the wind whipping around outside, making a whining sound as if it itself hated being bruised by the cold raindrops, Liz involuntarily shuddered, thinking that this was certainly a good time to light some candles. The room needed the warmth. She crouched in front of the cupboard and opened one of the cabinets. Inside a great amount of candles were gathered. Liz had always favored candles more than electrical lights - so her stock of candles was pretty extensive. She reached in to take out some of the candles, but one little one escaped her hand, tumbling down over her thumb and hitting the ground. Thanks to its round shape it quickly picked up its pace and rolled across the floor.

Liz let out a frustrated sigh, and rose to put the other candles on the TV-table. The fugitive had come to rest under the same table and she bent down to retrieve it. Max walked out of the bathroom just in time to see Liz hit her head in the glass table.
”Oww,” she cried.
”Are you okay?” Max asked, hastily walking up to her.
”Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Liz murmured, holding her hand against her forehead as she rose.
Max caught her elbow as she swayed on her feet.
”Liz, sit down,” Max said firmly. “You might have a concussion.”
”No, I probably just got up to fast,” Liz protested, still holding her hand against her forehead.
”Sit down,” Max repeated, and as if to emphasis it he put his arm around her waist and gently started to move her to the couch.
”Yeah...maybe I should sit down,” Liz agreed, feeling a throbbing in her forehead. As Liz sat down on the couch, Max kneeled in front of her - his knees sinking down into the soft carpet. Max searched her eyes, worried about her unfocused gaze.

”Liz, let me see,” he said, letting his hand hover above the one Liz had let rest against her forehead as if asking permission to touch her.
Liz wordlessly removed her hand, and registered the look of deep concern in his eyes before she turned her eyes to the hand she’d had held against her forehead. She found blood there - her blood.
”Liz, you’re bleeding!” Max said, his fingers brushing against the cut in Liz’s forehead. “Wait here, and I’ll get something to clean it with.”
”Thanks,” Liz said quietly, her gaze still focused on the blood on her hand. Max gave her one last long look before rising from his kneeling position and moving towards the kitchen. He found a box of Kleenex, and wetted some under the tap. Taking the whole box and the wet Kleenex he walked back to Liz. She was leaning back in the sofa, her eyes closed.
”Are you feeling dizzy?” Max asked.
”Some,” Liz answered.

Max kneeled between Liz’s knees, scooting as close as he could before the edge of the couch pushed into his chest.
”Can you move a little closer?”
Liz opened her eyes and nodded while straightening up. Max brought up the wetted Kleenex to her forehead.
”This might sting a little,” he said.
Liz winced slightly as he put the Kleenex against her cut.
”How were you able to hit your head like this?” he asked as he cleaned her cut.
”The candle rolled under the table,” Liz said, “and I thought I wasn’t under the table any longer when I rose.” She sighed. “I’m such a klutz.”
Max smiled while he concentrated slightly on her cut, sending some of his healing powers into it, knitting the skin slightly together. He couldn’t make it too obvious - the wound had to remain - but he could take away some of the immediate pain, and ease some of the fluid pressure behind the wound - causing her dizziness. The cut would heal faster with his help - but she would never know what he did. She couldn’t.

Max put down the Kleenex on the table and let his hands rest on her thighs, as he looked into her eyes.
”Do you have any Band Aids?” he asked.
”Uh huh,” she nodded, and started to get up. Max quickly moved his hands to her shoulders - preventing her from moving any further.
”You just stay here,” he said.
”It’s okay, Max. I’m fine now,” Liz said.
”Just tell me where the Band Aids are and I’ll get them,” Max said.
Liz looked into his amber eyes, and instantly gave up. There was no use arguing with him.
”They’re in the cabinet in the bathroom.”
”Okay,” Max said and got up, his hands brushing lightly over her thighs. The after effects of his touch spread through her pants into her skin, electrifying her nerve endings - sending millions of signals to the pleasure center in her brain.
”Stay,” Max said as he straightened up.
”Staying,” Liz said - smiling.




TBC...

Chapter 17


Roswell, New Mexico - The Crashdown Café

Michael sat down in the booth with a loud thud.
“Hi, Michael,” Maria said as she eyed him from her position in the booth.
“Whatever,” Michael grunted.
“Nice to see you too.” Maria said sarcastically.
“Max isn’t coming home - he’s out there having his own escapades and he’s putting all of us others at risk!“
“Give him a break,” Maria sighed.
“Give him a break?! He’s gonna get us all killed!!“
“God, Michael! And I thought I was the drama queen here! What’s the big deal? He’s only been gone for about a week and what is there to miss back here in little old Roswell anyway? I can understand why he’s staying in New York.“

Michael glared at her. “Yeah, it’s because of that girl!“
“How about you let Max decide what to do with his life for a change?“
“What do you mean?! He decides everything already!“
“He doesn’t.“ Maria objected. “The decisions he makes are all to help you. To benefit you as a group. To protect you. He needs to think about himself sometimes! And I’m happy he finally is!“
“Of course you are. You aren’t one of the ones who is going to die!“
Maria sighed, “Stop acting like a brat, Michael!“
“What am I doing here anyway? You always take his side anyway...“
Maria looked confused, “I’m sorry.... What?!“
Michael shrugged his shoulders, “Whatever.“

“Don’t give me that, Michael!“
“Max’s the good one, and Michael is the bad one. So of course, when he screws up it’s not such a big deal. He even has a noble cause.“
“How did he screw up, Michael?“
“What if,“ he lowered his voice, “aliens show up here and kill us all.“
“Oh come on! Even if that did happen - which is very implausible since you haven’t met any other aliens in your whole life, you don’t even have any information at all about who you are!! Besides, even if that did happen, there are still two aliens here who have powers. I think you can protect yourself without Max’s help.“
“Of course we can protect ourselves! But what about yo-“

He stopped, realizing he hadn’t been acting like his usual ‘tough-guy’ self, meeting Maria’s eyes. Confusion, suspicion, surprise, love - the emotions stumbled over each other, each flickering across her face in only a fraction of a moment.
“You’re worried about me,“ she said softly, touched by his concern.
Michael sighed as if that were the most stupid thing she could say. “Of course I’m worried about you. You’re one of the group!“ The lightness in his voice trying to stop the turn the conversation had taken.
Maria ignored his words, trying to prevent his true nature from disappearing into its shell. She reached across the table and took his hand before he had a chance to react.
“Thank you, Michael.“ she said, the emotions clear in her voice.
Michael looked at their clasped hands, unable to hide the surprise on his face.
“No problem.“ he said gently, the warm flickering of his eyes making Maria smile.

--------------------------------------------

New York City

Liz woke up the following day with a pounding headache. Her eyelids ached as she tried to pull them upwards and her surroundings became clear to her. She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes again. The darkness those thin walls of skin provided her was heavenly bliss. Despite the thumping in her head, she couldn’t help but smile as she thought about the day before; the day she had spent with Max. He had been so worried about her even though she had only bumped her head... nothing else. His concern warmed her heart. She could feel that a friendship was starting to form between them. She didn’t easily open up. She knew that - and she tried to be more open and outgoing. But it was difficult. There was always something in the back of her head warning her that if she let somebody in, they would get hurt. Just by knowing her. Somehow she would end up hurting them. Just like she had Alex. She hadn’t meant to stay away so long when she had left him that day, but the processes of real life and her inner turmoil had made it so. And she had hurt him. Who she was had hurt him. She was still surprised that he wanted to spend time with her again.

“Oh no!“ she cried, bolting upwards, and no sooner was she holding her hand against her throbbing head to stop the spinning. She had to stop getting up so quickly!

She had forgotten! She was supposed to call Alex...yesterday!
She was on her way over to the telephone, when destiny decided to get into the game. As she reached out with her hand to grab the receiver it started ringing. The unanticipated sound made her jump, and she had to take a deep breath to calm her instantly rapid beating heart.
“Elizabeth Parker.“ she answered.
A male voice at the other end of the line said, “Hello, this is Dr. Simmons.“
“Yes?“ Liz said, the familiar fear discreetly creeping back into her heart.
“Uhmm, can you please come over to the hospital?“
And Liz’s world started spinning. Her mind, her heart, her veins, her arteries, her tendons, her skin, every cell in her body was waiting with cold apprehension.
“Your father has had a heart attack.“

--------------------------------------------

The seed engaged from its mother plant where it had grown into maturity. It was now time for it to become independent. To use everything it had absorbed into creating a life of its own. It used the gentle billowing wind for transportation as it floated through the skies. Its presence was humble, inconspicuous. Its existence not noticed by many, but nevertheless playing a pertinent subdued part in the whole scheme of things. It momentarily stopped and swirled around as its movements were given an attention it wasn’t used to, before it moved on. Falling towards the ground in tender movements...

---------------------------------------------

Liz watched the seed as it floated slowly past the windowpane. The sky behind it was cascading in a million different colors. The sky changed from one color into another, as if it couldn’t choose which color it wanted to show and so tried to show them all simultaneously. The colors started off with light blue to shift into purple, to become lighter again, and then going into the warmest colors of red...orange, yellow.... If she could only be as free as that seed which was floating with the wind with a lightness and carelessness that only something that had yet to experience the harshness of reality could have. She would float on the wind, play hide and seek among the fluffy clouds, wrap herself up in the summer breeze and let the different fragrances tickle her senses. Fill her with life…

A harsh cough brought her back to the very same reality that she wanted to avoid. She turned her head towards the pale shell of her father. That was the only way she could allow herself to think of him. As a shell. He wasn’t really there. Her father wasn’t in there any longer. He was hiding someplace, protected from the limitations of the human body. Now she could slowly see the fingers twitching with newfound life.
“Daddy?“ she asked timidly.
The eyelids were slowly heaved upwards, revealing his pale blue eyes to her.
“Daddy?“ she repeated.
She took his cool hand in a firmer grip and shifted a little in her chair to move closer to him.
He coughed again.

“You want some water?“ she asked softly.
He nodded with slight movements.
Liz reached for the water glass on the bedside table and put the glass against his dry and parched lips.
“What happened?“ he croaked after having taken one sip of the water.
“You had a heart attack, daddy,“ Liz said. “But the doctors are saying that you will be fine.“
Her father sighed and his head sank back down in the pillow.
“Go back to sleep, daddy,“ Liz said. “You need your rest.“
“I love you, princess,“ her father said.

For the first time since the fateful phone call with the doctor, her heart was filled with pain. She swallowed, ferociously trying to regain her calmness and the objectivity that had saved her on more than one occasion in her life. She needed to put some distance between herself and the suffocating events that were threatening to pull her down.
“I love you too, daddy.“ Liz said.
Her father gave her a wary smile, before he drifted back to sleep.

--------------------------------------------

“Hey, Alex.“ Liz said.
“Hi,“ Alex said. “So, you’re alive after all.“
His tone bore a slight hint of sarcasm. He was hurt. By her.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t call.“ Liz said.
“I guess you just had better things to do.“
“I was with Max and I totally forgot about the time…“
“Oh, so you were with Max.“
“Alex...listen...I’m really sorry. I was looking forward to seeing you, but things just came up-“
“Yeah, Max, you said that.“
“Why are you like this?“
“Maybe because I was looking forward to see more of you again. I missed you, Liz. And I honestly thought that you had missed me too.“

“I did. This isn’t about that, Alex. I just forgot.“
Alex sighed. “Okay, I’m sorry Liz.... It’s - it’s really not about you. I guess you called at a bad time.“
“Has something happened?“
“It’s my dad.“
“Oh...“ Alex dad was in the military, and he took the orders with him home. He considered the tough way to bring up a child the way to go. Alex had talked pretty much about him as he and Liz were living together.
“Does your father live in New York too?“
“No, but he decided to pay my brother a visit - of course when I’m living there. I guess that he still considers me the black sheep of the family.“
“Oh, Alex. I’m sorry.“

“He told me all about how I was a disgrace to the family because I didn’t go to Stanford and yadda yadda. Well, all the old stuff.“
“Doesn’t he understand how much that hurts you?“
“Apparently not.“
“People like that shouldn’t even be allowed to have children. They don’t understand that they have the power to shape a new person’s personality and life with just a few simple, thoughtless words.“
“I’m sorry for throwing this crap at you, Liz.“
“It’s okay, Alex. You wanna come over?“
“I would love to, Liz. Dad’s still here, but he’s currently out in a bar drinking with my brother and probably telling everyone who wants to listen about his accomplishments in the military.“
“That sounds really bad. How about some ice cream instead...and maybe popcorn?“
Alex let out a laugh of relief. “Thanks Lizzie. I owe you!“

-----------------------------------------

Max put down the receiver with a frustrated sigh. He had just talked to his mother on the phone. He wasn’t living at home any longer, but his contact with his parents remained at a regular level. He often had his dinners there, so his absence had caused some confusion. Why would Max, who had never set his foot outside of Roswell except for the trips the family had taken when he was little, suddenly and abruptly leave to go to New York? That was something they would perhaps have expected from Isabel; she wanted to travel. Max had always been comfortable staying at home. He was responsible, and planned carefully before doing anything. He was cautious. But it wasn’t the cautious Max that had gone to New York; it was a frightened Max. A Max who was afraid of losing someone who, from the beginning, he had sensed was going to mean a lot to him.

As the immediate danger was now out of the way.... None of the premonitions Max had had about Liz had become reality, and nothing had happened in a while. He had even warned Liz about not going to any abandoned houses. He had not received any additional premonitions either since the vision about the abandoned house - and Liz slowly being tortured to death. He swallowed and closed his eyes - trying to force the numbing images to the back of his unconscious again.

He had to go back - back to Roswell. His mother was worrying, his father was worrying - Michael was running amok. Isabel was almost having a nervous breakdown (well, that was what Maria had called Isabel’s behavior since she had returned from New York without her brother), and Maria was on the brink of exhaustion from trying to keep the aliens in good moods and prevent possible disasters from happening every day. It was the cautious Max who would be returning home.

But he would give Liz his cell phone number. There was no way he was letting her out of reach. He was even thinking of asking Liz to come with him...but she might be busy with work. Nevertheless, he had to talk to her.



TBC...

Hey everyone!

I'm back with an update...


I can't leave individual thank yous today (I still have that Chemistry book laying beside me, screaming for my attention... The test is tomorrow - and I should get cracking...)

To all of you (see below ) who have left feedback...THANK YOU!!!


mrsjbehr

Lelle

Lynn

Dreaming of Roswell Forever Okay, you had some questions. Unfortunately I can't answer them yet. But the answers are going to pop up sooner or later... if you are extra attentive you might be able to piece it all together before I tell you more explicitely...

moonlight

frenchkiss70

Gigo A special thank you to you ...

roswelluver

Jeni

Cassandra

Lorena


And... to the new part...




Chapter 18

Somebody else’s pain can either increase you own pain, or it can lessen it. For Elizabeth Parker, Alex Whitman’s difficulties with his father worked as the most effective way to forget about the fact that her own father was laying in the hospital after taking a glance into the windows of death. But not dealing with your own problems also meant slipping further and further into a state of denial. And when denial takes a hold of you., it quickly becomes the main dictator of your life. After having talked about everything between heaven and earth, they were now moving onto lighter things.
“Oh no! But that’s a total chick flick, Liz!“ Alex exclaimed, rolling his eyes, sighing, and feigning exasperation.

“You like chick flicks!!“ Liz retorted.
Alex grabbed his chest. “Liz! You’re damaging my male ego!“
“Just admit it! You love ‘Notting Hill’,“ Liz said, tempting him with the videotape by waving it in front of her smiling face.
Alex opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it again and sighed, throwing his hands up in resignation and dropping back against the cushions in the sofa.
“Okay, okay,“ he admitted, “I absolutely and completely adore ‘Notting Hill’!“ Changing into his best female voice. “Hugh Grant is soooo adorable I could just eat him up!“

“You’re really weird, you know that?“ Liz asked, giggling.
“But that’s what you love about me, right?“ Alex said, pouting his lips and showing off his puppy eyes.
“No,“ Liz said seriously, keeping her face straight as she inside was enjoying his slightly crestfallen expression. “That’s only one thing I love about you, Alex. You’re the best!“
The humor was gone and the seriousness of her statement hung in the air.
“Love you too, girlfriend,“ Alex said, opening his arms and wrapping her in them. She was small in his arms, smaller than she had been before. More delicate and fragile.
“So, how about that Hugh Grant?“ Alex asked.
“Well, I actually prefer Julia Roberts,“ Liz said, wiggling out from his arms.

“Hey, that’s my line,“ Alex protested.
“Yeah, well...you stole Hugh Grant from me!“ Liz said, getting up and pushing the videotape into the VCR.
“Don’t be such a hater!“ Alex said sweetly.
“I’m not so sure if it is even safe for you to watch ‘Notting Hill’. Who knows what you might learn from Spike. And then... all of society will be in danger!“
“You’re fortunate to be so beautiful and so thin, otherwise I would....“
“You would what?“ Liz asked provocatively.
“I-“

And there was a knock on the door.
“I’ll deal with you later,“ Alex warned as she walked towards the front door.
“Yeah, right Alex!“ she said in disbelief, and opened the door, the smile still on her face.
A deep pair of amber eyes locked eyes with hers.
“Oh, hi Max!“ she said happily.
“Hi Liz,“ Max said, and hearing the music of ‘She’s the one’ from the TV he looked over her shoulder and saw that guy.... Alex?
“To what do I owe this pleasure?“ Liz said.

Wow. Liz was certainly in a good mood. She was absolutely radiant. But Max wasn’t fooled. He could see something different in her eyes, something she was trying to hide. Judging from how she was behaving, she was very successful in her concealment.
“I-I came to talk to you about something...but I can see that you’re busy,“ he stuttered, and quickly added, “I’ll just come back later.“
He turned around to leave, but was stopped by Liz’s hand on his arm. He looked down at her small fingers grazing the texture of his shirt, and angled his head slightly so that he could look at her over his shoulder.
“Why don’t you stay?“ Liz asked.

Max turned around. “No, Liz. I can come back later.“ He looked over Liz’s shoulder again and met that other guy’s eyes. He couldn’t help but feel...weird that that guy was in here with Liz...alone with Liz.
“You have company.“
Liz giggled. “Oh, Alex. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.“ Liz turned around. “Would you, Alex?“
Alex shrugged his shoulders. He would mind actually. He had looked forward to having Liz to himself for one evening.

“See,“ Liz said, turning back to Max, “Alex wouldn’t mind.“
Max shook his head. “Thank you, Liz, but I’ll just come back later. I- uhm...“ He took a peek at his watch. It was already nine p.m. “Or maybe I’ll just come back tomorrow.“
Liz stepped closer to him and he could feel his body warm up as the distance between them decreased.
“Come back later, Max,“ Liz said softly as if sensing that he had something important to say to her and that it couldn’t wait. “Just give me a call before, okay?“
Max nodded, and Liz smiled. “Bye Max.“
He met her eyes, looking deeply into them. “Bye Liz.“ His eyes lingered on her, before he turned around and left the apartment.

Liz closed the door behind him and walked back to the sofa.
“Max, huh?“ Alex asked.
“Aha,“ Liz nodded, a dreamy smile on her lips.
“What is it with that guy anyway?“ Alex asked.
“What do you mean?“ Liz asked, sinking down in the sofa beside Alex.
“He’s pretty intimidating,“ Alex said. “But I never would’ve taken you for the person to fall for the dangerous guys, Liz.“
“Let’s watch the movie, okay?“ Liz suggested.
“I always thought you would meet some intelligent goody-two-shoes and you would start a little family with your picket white fence-“

“Alex, if you don’t stop talking, you’re gonna miss Spike!“
“I’m worried about you, Liz. What if he hurts you-“
Liz turned away from the TV and looked at Alex with more determination than he had ever seen before in her beautiful chocolate eyes.
“Max is not dangerous,“ she said. “He’s just worried about me. I admit that maybe he seems a little intimidating, but he’s not. He’s the gentlest person I’ve ever met-“
“Then what about the Band Aid on your forehead?“ Alex asked, pointing at her forehead.
“What? This?“ Liz asked incredulously, touching her forehead.
“Yeah. Did he hurt you, Liz? ‘Cause I hope you’re not protecting that scumbag-“
“NO Alex! He hasn’t hurt me! He would never do anything like that!“
“Then how-“

“I bumped my head in the edge of the TV-table, okay? It’s made of glass and is pretty sharp. I was bleeding, but Max was here and he helped me.“
“Oh,“ Alex said slowly, trying to decide if he should trust the honesty in Liz’s eyes or distrust her just to be able to protect her.
“Alex,“ Liz said, putting her hand over his. “Thank you...you know, for worrying about me. But I’m fine. When you’re not here, Max is. He’s just as good of a friend as you are!“
“Friend, huh?“
“Oh no, you missed Spike trying on the T-shirts!“ Liz said.
‘Okay, we are changing the subject very eagerly, aren’t we?’ Alex thought.

---------------------------------------------

She wasn’t answering the phone. He looked at his watch again. It was almost 11 p.m. She was probably just asleep, but that didn’t mean he worried any less. He was only going to check up on her. He put his ear against the cold wooden front door and listened for any sound. He was met by silence. He put up his hand against the place on the door where the locks were positioned. He gathered some energy and let it float out from his fingertips, putting movement to the locks and slowly making them turn. Then he slowly opened the door. He knew that he was more or less invading her privacy, but he didn’t want to wake her if she was asleep (which she probably was...she was just sleeping, she was fine, she was just fine) and he was only going to check up on her.

The apartment was dark, with only a small lamp struggling to keep away as much of the darkness as possible. He stepped inside and immediately spotted her. She was on the sofa - asleep. Her arm was working as support for her head, and her knees were pulled up to her stomach. Closing the door behind him, he walked toward her as slowly and as soundlessly as he could. As he got closer he could see that she was slightly trembling. There was a blanket by her feet, which she had probably kicked off. He reached for the blanket and draped it over her. She murmured something in her sleep and moved under the blanket, before she grew still again.

Max got down on his knees by the couch, his eyes drinking her sleeping face up. God, she was beautiful. Her dark hair was in a ponytail, but it had started to come undone. Soft strands had found their way out of the confinement of the ribbon and were framing her face. As if a force he couldn’t control took control over him, his hand drifted up towards her face. The pull to touch her was magnetic. He needed to feel the softness of that hair against his fingers. He needed to feel if her skin was as soft as it appeared to be. His hand went behind her head, releasing her hair from the ribbon. It softly billowed out around her face.

Her eyes were moving behind her eyelids with a fervent speed, but she looked rather peaceful. Max realized with relief that she probably wasn’t having any nightmares. He slowly threaded his fingers through her dark tresses, letting his fingertips linger at the top of her forehead before diving into the hair.


Liz pulled herself up to the brink of consciousness, feeling that she wasn’t alone. But the feeling didn’t scare her. It was comforting, and she instantly knew that it was Max.
“Max?“
He was so caught up in the sleeping beauty before him that hearing her suddenly speak startled him. Because of that he didn’t even contemplate over the fact that Liz knew it was him even before she had opened her eyes.
“Hey,“ he said softly, his voice hardly above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to wake you.“
She slowly opened her eyes, her eyelids heavy with sleep.
“I must have fallen asleep right after,“ she yawned,“...right after Alex left.“
“You should go back to sleep, Liz.“

“Mhmm,“ Liz agreed, her eyelids closing. Max’s hand was still stroking her hair and it was so calming. So comforting. She slowly opened her eyes again.
“No,“ she said. “You wanted to talk to me about something.“
“It’s okay, we can talk tomorrow. You’re tired, Liz.“
“Nah-uh,“ she said, yawning. “I’m just beginning to....“ yawn, “wake,“ yawn, “up.“
Max smiled softly. “Right.“
“How did you get in anyway?“ Liz asked.
Max glanced over at the door. “Uhm...the door wasn’t locked.“
“It wasn’t? That’s weird; I could’ve sworn I locked it after Alex left. Lucky for me that you showed up then.“

Max grimaced inwardly. He hated this, lying to her, to keep such a big part of himself hidden from her.
He nodded. “Yeah.“
Liz yawned again, and Max couldn’t help but smile.
“You can tell me what you wanted to tell me,“ Liz said, “and I’m just gonna lie here and listen...to your beautiful,“ yawn, “voice.“
She was talking very slowly; her eyes already shut.
“You want me to come by at work?“ Max asked.
“No, you can tell me now. It’s important.“
“Liz...“
“Max...“ She yawned again and curled up more into a ball under the blanket.
“Are you cold?“
“No, I’m fine.“

“When do you get off work?“
“I don’t know...nine.“
“Okay, I come by then... you should probably go to your bed.“
“Mhmm...,“ Liz voiced, “I’m gonna have the worst wryneck if I sleep here like this. I’m just so tired.“
“How about door-to-door service?“ Max suggested.
“What...?“
Max moved his hand from absently stroking her hair and cradled it against her shoulder blades. The other hand he moved in the hollows of her knees and gently cradled her against his chest. She put her arms around his neck, yawning again.
“Come here,“ he said, lifting her effortlessly from the couch, as if he had been born merely for the purpose of carrying her close to his body.

She closed her eyes, relishing in the feel of his strong arms around her. She had never felt more protected than she did at that moment in his arms. She started to doze off as Max’s spicy scent surrounded her. She was already asleep as Max put her down on the bed. He took the blanket and tucked her in.
“Sweet dreams,“ he whispered. With one last look he left her to do just that.



TBC...

Hey everyone!!

I'll get right on it...


Cassandra Yeah, I know... we all want a Max, don't we? Thank you for the feedback!!

frenchkiss70 Yes, unfortunately is denial Liz's more or less permanent state of mind... You'll find out how Liz will react to Max leaving in this chapter... Thank you for the feedback, and the bumping!!

marteloise Well, Max has always been more or less intimidating when it comes to protecting Liz. But we like that, don't we Thank you for the feedback!!

Lelle I love knowing that I light up your day I'm going to check out that fic you recommended (If I only had more time *sigh*) I have a pile of fics I want to read which I've found many recommending over at the Fanfic Discussion forum. Thank you for the feedback, and all the bumps!!!

moonlight We all want to have our own Max, don't we...? I love how you take out parts from the chapter and add your thoughts to it. Did I already mention that? Well, I love that you do that anyway!!! :D

Lynn You still think I should write poetry, huh? I understand completely what you mean when you say that you find Max and Liz's goodbyes beautiful. Thank you! I'm happy to know that you enjoy even the goodbyes.. Oh no... you watched "Notting Hill" in German. Well, that could probably put scares on anyone! My stepmother is German, so at my father's they have German channels, and having Americans talk German is not funny I've actually watched one or two Roswell episodes in German. That was weird... It's strange that you would mentioned Tori Amos. I actually started to listen to her only a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't heard of the song "Josephine". I'll have to download that one when I'm alone at home (otherwise my brother is nagging at me because the downloading is disturbing his internet playing....) Thank you all so much for the bumps, and the wonderful feedback!!! :D:D

Pheobe04 Yeah, I know how RL has a tendency to get in the way of what you want to do... I'm happy to hear from you again!! Thank you for the feedback!!

Loralee0607 Thank you sooo much for your feedback! You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that this is one of your favorite stories. THANK YOU!!! :D

mrsjbehr Thank you!!

Gigo Well, it isn't that Max looks scary that makes Alex mistrust his intentions. It's more that Alex is not used to see someone else (especially not a male ) in Liz's life, and he doesn't know how to react. And then combined with that Liz is very secretive when it comes to Max (as with everything else ) might add to Alex's growing pile of suspicious events... Don't worry, Alex will come around... And as you can see I'm posting this chapter without your expertise. I hope I'll managed Thank you for the feedback!!! :D

Jeni Well... Max is still leaving for Roswell... Thank you for the feedback!!

roswelluver Oh... Alex and Max will probably find a way to trust each other. You just wait and see... Thank you!!

Liz Hi girlfriend!! I've missed you!! I'm so happy to see you here again! Thank you so much for the feedback and the bumps!!!





Chapter 19


”Hi Elizabeth,” Mr. Smith greeted her.
Liz struggled with her briefcase. ”Hi, Mr. Smith.”
Mr. Smith stretched out an helping hand. ”Here, let me help you with that.”
”Thank you, but I think I’ve got it under control.”
Mr. Smith’s worried eyes didn’t go her unnoticed. From Max she had got the impression that she had made quite a scene at the party the other night.
”Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Mr. Smith said.
”Don’t worry,” Liz said with a smile, ”if I need your help I’ll ask.”
”We’re just worried about you, Elizabeth,” Mr. Smith said.
Liz brushed off his seriousness with a slight shrug of her shoulders, and delivered the typical Elizabeth Parker line. ”I’m fine.”

She tried her best to ignore all the looks she got as she passed by the people working at their computers to get to her own office. She closed the door, and leaned against it, taking deep breaths. She hated to be in the center of attention, and the attention she had received now made her feel like a freak. She closed her eyes, trying to find her calmness. She jerked out of her reverie by the ringing of her cell phone, and she was instantly filled with a bad feeling at the pit of her stomach.

”Elizabeth Parker,” she answered.
”Hello, is this Jeff Parker’s daughter?”
”Yes, it is.”
”This is Dr. Simmons. I’m really sorry to have to say this, but your father has gotten worse... Are you able to come here?”
The caller was met with silence.
”Miss Parker? Miss Parker? Miss Parker, are you still there?”
”I’ll be right there.”

--------------------------

Max stepped into the elevator and pressed the button that would take him to the sixth floor. He was nervous. He didn’t want to go back to Roswell, and he was nervous about telling Liz that he had to. He didn’t want to leave her. There was a plong, and the elevator doors opened. People were waiting to get into the elevator, and as he tried to get through the small crowd, he bumped into a lot of them.

He could feel her lips on his neck, her teeth raking his skin. Her hands were lightly brushing against his arms, as his hands found their way into her blonde curls.

Just as quickly as the vision had started it ended. He turned his head quickly to see who had caused the vision, and he saw her. The woman from the vision. She was walking into the elevator, and as she turned her face towards his he felt a surge of resemblance as he saw her face, before the elevator doors closed.

”May I help you?”
He turned his head to see a red-haired woman on his right.
”Yeah...” Max turned his head back towards the elevators. ”Yeah,” he repeated, slowly turning his head towards the woman again. ”Can you direct me to Elizabeth Parker’s office?”
”Sure,” the woman said, ”you see that door over there?”
Max nodded.
”That’s it,” the woman said, her eyes tracing the features of the attractive man.
His eyes were drifting between the elevator doors and the door to Liz’s office. ”Thank you.”
”Sure,” the woman said, and walked off.

Max took a deep breath and started walking towards the door.
He lightly knocked his knuckles against the wooden door, and waited for a reply.
”Come in.”
He opened the door, and poked in his head. ”Hey.”
She looked up and her face shone up. ”Max! Hi!”
Max stepped inside, and suspiciously looked her over. She was sitting behind a huge desk, papers spread before her. Max couldn’t help but notice that there was something different about her.
”Are you okay?” he asked.
Liz smiled. ”Yes.. you wanted to talk to me about something?”
Max looked at her under silence, trying to figure her out.

He sank down in one of the chair across from Liz, and said, ”Yes.”
”Shoot,” Liz said, putting down her pencil and giving him her full attention.
”I-I have to...uhm...”
Why was this so difficult?
”I have to go back to Roswell.”
He caught the look of fear passing in her eyes before it was shielded.
Liz smiled softly.
”Of course...you had to go back sooner or later,” she said.
He furrowed his forehead. He had anticipated many reactions from her. But this wasn’t one of them.

”Isabel has already left,” Max said.
Liz arched her eyebrows in surprise. ”Isabel’s left? When?”
”Saturday,” Max answered. ”I was planning on telling you, but I never really found the right ti-”
”Max, it’s okay,” Liz interrupted. ”Don’t worry about it.”
There was a beat.
”Liz, are you feeling okay?” Max asked.
Liz laughed lightly. ”Of course Max. Why do you ask that?”
Inside she was screaming at him to notice - to see beyond her traitorous words. To see that on the inside, she was falling apart.
”You seem different,” Max said.
”Nothing’s the matter with me,” Liz said. ”So, when are you leaving?”
”Tomorrow,” Max answered.

She looked down at her hands in her lap. ”Okay,” she mumbled.
”But I can probably stay if you want me to,” Max said.
Liz shook her head and looked up at him. ”That’s sweet, Max. But you need to go home. I bet living at the motel must cost you a smaller fortune.”
Why was she talking about motel costs?
”Oh, okay...are you sure, Liz?”
”Yeah, Max. It’s no problem. I got along fine before you came into my life, and I can make it as you leave too.”
”I’m not leaving,” Max objected. ”I mean, I want to stay friends with you.”
”Oh,” Liz said surprised.

”Did you think that I was just going to leave you forever?” Max asked.
Liz laughed lightly. ”No, of course not.”
Her behavior was making Max very much at unease. Something was very wrong. Maybe he shouldn’t leave.
”I want you to have my cell phone number,” Max said.
”Sure,” Liz said, and instantly picked up her cell phone to add his to the telephone book.
”Okay,” Max said slowly, and then told her the phone number as she pressed it into the cell phone.
”You wanna have mine?”
”Yes,” Max said, the whole thing reminding him of when Maria and he used to trade sandwiches at school when they were little.
”You want to write it down?” Liz asked, reaching for a piece of paper.

”No, I’ll remember,” Max said absent-mindedly as he watched how Liz moved her hands, his watchful eyes not missing how her body was betraying her feelings. Her hands were trembling, she was somewhat out of breath, her face was flustered and her eyes looked so tired.
”Okay,” Liz said, her thoughts momentarily stopping to wonder about how he could have such good memory. She rattled off her phone number to him, and watched him watching her.
They sat there looking at each other for a while, as if not knowing what to do. It was awkward, but at the same time comfortable. The silence was soundless, but simultaneously filled with the whispers of unspoken words.
”Shall I follow you home?” Max asked.
”No, thank you. I still have a lot to do.”
”Okay,” Max said. ”I’ll call you later....before I leave.”
”That would be great,” Liz said, not being able to hide the relief in her voice.
Max nodded, and rose. ”Okay then...bye Liz.”
”Bye.”
Max stopped by the door, his hand on the door handle, taking her appearance in one last time. He would watch over her tonight. Something wasn’t right.

------------------------------------------------

She leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. ”Hi baby.”
The little girl smiled. ”Hi mommy.”
”So, what are you up to?”
The girl stopped moving her fingers over the keys. ”Playing.”
She looked over her daughter’s shoulder. ”Alla Turca, huh? It sounds really good.”
”Uh-huh,” the girl answered absent-mindedly.
”There you are.” The music created by the small fingers stopped as daughter and mother turned their heads towards the voice.

The man walked into the living room, a wide smile on his face.
He greeted his wife with a light kiss on her mouth. ”Hi honey.”
”Hi,” she answered, smiling warmly.
”So,” the man said, clapping his hands together, ”are the two most beautiful girls in the world ready to have something to eat?”
His wife nodded. ”I’m starving.”
”I’m really hungry,” the girl announced. ”It was fish pudding today at school,” her face scrunching into a grimace, ”and I didn’t eat.”
”Sweetie, you have to eat everything you are given,” her mother said.
”I will - as long as it’s edible.”
Her parents laughed, and her father tousled her hair. ”Come here, you! Let’s fill that empty stomach of yours with something edible then!”

------------------------------------------------

Max put his hand against the lock and pushed the molecules into changing position. He slowly opened the door and walked into the apartment. It felt strange to be here without her. The apartment felt empty and hollow without her presence.
He quickly walked through the apartment, feeling like an intruder, and used his powers again to open the door to the small balcony, where he would spend the night. He spread the blanket he had brought with him on the ground and sat down, his eyes automatically moving upwards to the bright shining twinkling stars. It was a clear starry night, and if it hadn’t been for the alarm of the cars below he could’ve pretended that he was still in Roswell. All the vehicles - all the people were making him uncomfortable. It was easier to hide in big crowds, but it was also more difficult to find yourself, and he couldn’t quite found the peace here in the big city which he had back in Roswell. The only time he felt peace was the time he spent with Liz.

About two hours later he heard her come in, and he followed her with her eyes as she switched on some of the smaller lamps on small tables around the apartment. His back was hurting from the uncomfortable position, and the pricking sensations in his legs were trying to warn him that he should really change position so that blood could flow through the by now restricted blood vessels. But he couldn’t move now. Then she might see him.

His breath caught in his throat as she looked towards the balcony. He could have sworn that she was looking straight at him, her face partly shadowed by the darkness, partly illuminated by the light. But then she turned her head, and moved towards her bedroom. He shifted his body to look through her bedroom window. It felt weird to look at her like this, when she didn’t know that he was doing it. He needed to be positive that nothing was going on with her, because then he couldn’t leave for Roswell. Her withdrawn and secretive nature made it impossible for him to find it out in a normal way, so this was the only option. As she started to undress, he turned his gaze away, a red tone grazing his cheeks. Feeling the hard and rough bricks pressing into his back he sighed. This was going to be a long night.



TBC...

__________________________________--


So, now I'm off to watch "Signs"... I'm in for a scary experience (I hope , since I love scary movies). I have the next part written... so I only need some more encouragement to post it... *hint* *hint*

Thank you...

Love,

Jo