Roswell Fanatics

Chapter 11: Peeking Skeletons

Trio Home

Michael’s Room

“Who’s Sean?” Liz asks suspiciously as she stood by the door with her hand still on the knob, letting the hallway light shine in to highlight a startled Maria on the bed.

“He’s my brother.” Maria answered, hugging her knees to her while Liz scanned her up and down skeptically before closing the door and moving over to Michael’s nightstand to turn on his lamp and sit in front of her, Indian style.

“Where’s he at?” Liz asked curiously, leaning up to grab one of Michael’s pillows and place it on her lap to play with the tips.

“He’s-he’s dead.” Maria answered, looking away to the nightstand and stared at the photo of Michael and Liz enviously. “You and Michael are close.” She asked looking to Liz who smile and nodded and then looked back to the picture. “I can tell.”

“Because of the picture?” Liz questioned with a small laugh.

“Because of you checking up on me and the fact that you nearly bit my head off in the car.” Maria replied with a laugh, when Liz looked side to side in embarrassment.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry about that.” She apologized, seeing Maria wave off the apology.

“Come on. I would, well, I did do the same to Sean. Some random babe starts hitting on him…” She trailed off with a whistle.

“What did you do?” Liz asked with a laugh.

“I checked her.” Maria confessed, making Liz laugh even harder.

“Well, last year some blond bimbo…” Liz trailed off on her story when she remember Maria was a blond. “Uh, no offense.” She apologized.

“None taken.” Maria answered.

“Well, yeah, she worked with me at the Crash, so she would see Michael and Max waiting for my shift to end sometimes, anyway, long story short, she started doing the ‘look at me I’m just a helpless ditsy blond’ thing, no offense.”

“None taken.” She repeated with a laugh, signaling her to continue.

“And yeah well, now she doesn’t work there anymore.” Liz concluded with a proud smile and a little laugh.

“Yeah, but how did he take the news when you told him you were dating his best friend?” Maria asked with a curious smile, expecting to hear and exaggerated tale but saw Liz’s stunned face instead.

“How did-how did you know-that me and Max-how did you know?” Liz stuttered, completely side winded by the unexpected question.

“Are you kidding?” Maria asked with her mouth dropped open in surprise, both in the fact she hadn’t told Michael about it and that she would ask how she would know. “It’s written all over your faces.” She laughed. “In dark, thick, permanent ink.”

“Oh my God, does Michael know?” Liz asked, gasping in the pillow.

“Um, if you or your little Moon Doggie didn’t tell him, than you’re in the clear.” Maria assured her with a side smile and nod.

“Oh my God. He would just kill Max.” Liz explained as she placed her hand on her chest in relief.

“I figure that much. He seems very over protective of you, maybe together we can make him believe in your love.” Maria suggested, looking at her seriously.

“Believe in our love?” Liz repeated confused.

“Long story.” Maria shook off and then began chipping the old fingernail polish from her fingernails.

“So, um, if you don’t mind. How did you end up with that guy? I mean from the looks of how he left that clown back at the carnival, it seems that he’s a pretty impatient kinda guy.”

“Ugh, and then some.” Maria added as she rolled her eyes in frustration. “He’s like my brother’s best friend, so I kind of have no choice.”

“No choice?” Liz repeated confused.

“Yeah, it’s complicated.” Maria replied shaking her head and laughing at herself in pity.

“Well, no offense or anything, but how could your brother be friends with someone like that?” Liz asked in distaste. “I mean, Michael would never put me in a situation where one of his friends, you know.”

“It’s just, complicated, so so complicated.” Maria answered holding the sides of her head, overwhelmed by the questions. “Sean and Billy are complete opposites, believe me, I know, but he kinda had no choice in the matter either. They worked together for a very long time, so I guess a friendship had to build in order to make the job work.”

“Umm.” Liz hummed, taking in the explanation, still confused but decided not to push it. “What kinda work did they do?”

“Oh, um, management. Management and security mostly.” Maria answered nervously.

“Yeah, Max and Michael are security guards in this big corporation called Gamma Research.” Liz informed her and then remembered about Peter Lincoln and the damper she put on her and Max’s secret.

“It’s like a calling.” Maria laughed sarcastically.

“Um, so, why are you still hanging around him?” Liz asked, ignoring Maria’s comment and continuing with her interrogation.

“Okay, well, how to word this?” Maria asked herself as she pensively tapped her chin. “Well, we sorta ran away from home, so it was just me, Sean and Billy, but then Sean…Billy was all I had.” Maria explained with a sad tone.

“I can understand that.” Liz replied in the same tone and then glanced at the alarm clock on Michael’s nightstand, 5:19 A.M. “Wow, I can’t believe it’s that early, I am so not going to school today.” Liz laughed as she moved to the door. “Well, good morning Maria.”

“Good Morning Liz.” Maria replied, watching Liz close the door before she went back to sleep.


Liz’s Room- 8:50 A.M.

“Get up Liz!” Michael yelled in her ear.

“Uhhh, Michael!” Liz whined, covering her face with the cover for a second before Michael pulled it back.

“Liz get up. You’re already late for first period.” Michael announced shaking her a bit before moving to her window and opening the blinds.

“Ugh, Michael!” Liz exclaimed at the sight of the bright light that shined on her and quickly covered her face again with the covers.

“Liz.” Michael called out in a warning parental tone.

“Michael. Come on. Last night we were saving your girlfriend past dawn, can’t I just skip school today?” Liz asked with a whine, holding the ends of the cover above her head, making sure not a single ray of light made it passed the sheets.

“Liz. Get up.” Michael commanded.

“Okay. Okay. Just let me miss a couple of classes.”

“One class.” Michael warned.

“Three.” Liz negotiated, pulling down the covers off her face and pouted to him.

“Fine.” Michael caved, while Liz smiled, just as Max walked in. “Where the hell were you this morning? You were suppose to help me with that thing today.”

“Ah, right, sorry man. I forgot.” Max apologized and then quickly glanced to Liz before returning his attention to Michael. “I had to do go to the cash station real quick, but we can do that thing tomorrow morning.” Max suggested.

“You guys are cutting into my sleeping time.” Liz vented, shooing the two out with her hand.

Both Max and Michael exited her room, Michael closing the door behind him and noticed Max moving to his room. “Hey, I got you and your damsel some breakfast.” Max informed him before he entered his room and shut the door behind him.

“Thanks.” Michael replied, heading downstairs to grab the breakfast.


Michael’s Room

“Maria?” Michael called out as he poked his head in his room, seeing her sit up and tucking her hair behind her ears.

“Hey.” Maria replied, placing her hand on her lap while Michael dangled a white paper bag from the doorway.

“Got some breakfast.” He announced.

“Oh, thanks, but some coffee will be great right about now.” Maria asked rolling her eyes on how tired she felt.

“Yeah, well, there’s some downstairs.” He informed her, letting a moment of silence sink as the two just gazed at each other. “Um, right. Well, I’ll be downstairs in the kitchen if you need me.”

“Okay.” Maria answered and watched him close the door.


Liz’s Room – 9:20AM.

“Psst. Liz. You awake?” Max whispered as he nuzzled his nose in the crook of her neck while he lied on top of her, knowing she was pretending to be asleep.

“No.” Liz answered with her arm covering her eyes.

“Come on. I got something to tell you.” Max begged. He had snuck into her room after seeing Michael head downstairs with news he was practically dying to tell her. “Liz.” He whined, nuzzling his nose behind her ear and then move down her neck to kiss her shoulder.

“What?” Liz asked, lowering her hand, unable to stand strong against his whining or his caresses.

“Um, I won’t say until I know you’re not mad at me anymore, but just so you know, this information I have is very valuable.” He advised, smiling proudly, knowing Liz had to know everything that went on in his and Michael’s life.

“I’m not mad.”

“Liar.”

“I’m not.” She repeated.

“You’re gonna have to convince me.” He proclaimed, tracing the tip of his nose under her chin. “Cause I have two things to tell you.”


Kitchen

“Hi.” Maria waved, seeing Michael reading the sports section over a cup of coffee.

“Hey.” He replied and pointed to a cup by the coffee machine.

“Thanks.” She exhaled in relief and moved over to grab the cup, taking a sip, before moving closer to him. “Listen, I wanted to thank you again for...”

“It’s weird.”

“Um, what is?” She questioned confused, not expecting the interruption.

“Ever since I met you, I can’t stop thinking about you.” He confessed, noticing her blush and smile in gratitude.

“How’s that weird?” She asked with a growing smile of curiosity.

“That’s never happened to me before. I don’t know. It’s just, weird.”

“Are we talking weird in a good way, like Casablanca weird or are we talking weird, There’s A Stranger In My House weird?” Maria asked with her eyebrow arched as she traced the rim of her coffee cup.

“I don’t know. Both.” He answered with a smirk.

“Don’t really know how to take that answer really.” Maria replied in bewilderment.

“Well, now you know how I feel when you took me to see velvet crystal ball.”

“Madame Vivian is not a fraud. Taken, she does over do it with the velvet a little.” She defends seeing Michael give her a challenging look. “Okay. Okay. Maybe a lot, but her readings are priceless.”

“Priceless?”

“Okay, so maybe ‘priceless’ isn’t a good word to use." She apologized, remembering she had made him pay for the reading and then began to ponder on a replacement word. "Valuable.”

“Okay. Since you seem to be her number one fan. Why don’t you tell me what all that 'believe in the love' crap was about?”

Chapter 12: Tess, Lies, and Telescopes

Liz’s Room

“You have to convince me better than that.” Max coaxed, unmoved by the small peck on the lips Liz quickly gave him.

While he had her pinned underneath him, she was thinking over her plan to take Max to prom. Before the two started dating, she always imagined herself waiting at the top of the stairs while Michael and Max interrogated her date and then to pose for pictures so they could savor the memory. With Michael not knowing about the her and Max, it was going to be hard to actually create that memory, which she could only come up with one resolution. She had to tell Michael.

“Fine.” Liz huffed in defeat after her thoughts and then brush Max’s cheeks with the sides of her thumbs, gazing into his eyes before pulling him down and entwining their lips and tongue in a passionate kiss that over exceeded itself.

Max’s eyebrows arched in enjoyment as she deepened the kiss by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him as low as he could go, a little further than what he anticipated. Hearing her purr in lust and her roaming hands were seducing him even further until he pulled away.

“Whoa. Whoa.” Max spoke in amazement as he tried to regain control of his rapid breathing.

“I’m not done convincing you yet.” Liz replied as she pouted seducingly to him stealing another quick kiss before he pulled away again.

“Whoa, Liz. Slow down a bit.” Max pleaded resting his forhead against hers.

“What is it?” Liz asked confused, not knowing what she had done wrong.

“Your brother’s downstairs…”

“And?” She asked not seeing his point.

“And if you keep on I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself.” Max warned shyly.

“Well, maybe that’s what I want.” Liz answered in a luring tone seeing Max’s eyes snap a connection with hers, looking at her in surprise. “Back at the park. That’s what I wanted to ask you.” Liz reminded, letting a pause hang so he could try and remember.

‘Mission accomplished.’

‘Oh yeah? What mission would that be?’

‘Operation Make Liz Smile.’

“Hmm, well, that mission would of succeeded no matter what, cause I can’t stop smiling whenever I’m with you.’ ‘Mmm…Max…I have to…ask you…’

‘Ask me what?’

He recalled them kissing in the park and her telling him that she had something to ask him, but then never got around to it because of the run in with Peter Lincoln.

“You wanted to ask me…” Max trailed off looking more confused than ever and then looked to Liz who was blushing uncontrollably, which confirmed his thoughts. “If we could…yeah.” Max said with an overwhelming smile.

“Are you sure?” Liz asked biting on her lip.

“Wait, we are talking…” Max looked deeper in her eyes to see if they were talking about the same thing and smiled in embarassment when Liz rolled her eyes and kissed him. “Just making sure.”


Kitchen

“Michael. It’s not that simple.” Maria debated.

“No, it is. You either know or don’t know.” Michael replied with an indifferent shrug, awaiting her answer.

“You have to figure it out yourself.” Maria answered irritated on how closed minded he was. “Can’t you just try?”

“Hey, if it happens, it happens.” Michael shrugged again.

“Well, maybe it’s trying to warn you to stop something from happening.” Maria suggested.

“I’m not a hero, okay.”

“Well, maybe it’s not about you being a hero. Maybe it’s about you being a brother.”

“What?”

“Being a brother or a friend, or a concerned citizen, I don’t know. Be something other than who you are when the moment comes?”

“Okay. This conversation is getting weird.” Michael declared. “Just like you.”

“I’m weird?” Maria asked defensively, shocked by his comment.

“Yeah. Since I’ve met you, it’s been like one freak show after another.” Michael vented in bewilderment. “I’m running in the middle of the night with Max and Liz, to another frickin’ state, to save someone I don’t know but can’t get out of my head, from someone I don’t know either but hate at the same time. So I think that falls under the weird category.”

“You really haven’t stopped thinking about me?” Maria asked in a dazed state as she stepped closer to him.

“What?” Michael asked, trying to play off that he didn’t hear her when he noticed the moment got a bit invitingly. He also couldn’t believe that out of that whole speech, that was the only part she heard, but it was true. He couldn’t get her out of his head nor did he want to.

“I was just asking.” She replied as she got closer, seeing Michael lean down closer to her. “Cause, as crazy as this sounds…” She whispered, mere cenitmeters away from his lips. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you too.”


Upstairs

“So what did you have to tell me?” Liz asked as snuggled close to Max, who had positioned himself beside her.

“Later.” Max answered, kissing her quickly on the forehead and then slipping out from underneath her arm. “I have to do something for Michael right now. I kind of blew him off this morning.”

“What is it?” Liz asked curiously, sitting up with her hands folded and her head titled curiously to the side.

“Nothing.” Max answered, trying to hold back his ‘I know something you don’t know’ smile as he moved towards the door. “If you hurry up, I can take you to school.” Max offered, with his hand on the door knob.

“Alright.” Liz sighed, swinging the covers off of her and crawled off the bed, almost swearing she heard Max hiss because of the action. “It’s not like I’ll be going back to sleep anyways.” She said closing the door of her bathroom behind her.

“I’ll be downstairs.” Max shouted before exiting.


Kitchen

By the time Max cut the corner of the room, he had already caught an eyeful of Michael and Maria, heavily intoxicated with each others lust. Seeing he and Michael were pressed for time, he had no choice but to interrupt the intense moment with a cough.

“Sorry.” Max apologized when the two looked startled to him.

“Thought you were Liz.” Michael shook his head in relief.

“She should be down here in a little bit.” Max answered and then looked over to Maria who was blushing in embarassment. “Hi.” Max greeted, feeling akward.

“Hi.” Maria replied, with an uncomfortable nod.

“Right. Anyways…” Michael interrupted, noticing how awkward it had gotten suddenly, but then could understand why. He had brought in a stranger into his house, let alone his life, he couldn’t exactly expect Max and Liz to be too warming to Maria.

“Right.” Max replied, shoving his hands in his pockets. “So did you get it?”

“Yeah, I put it in your room.” Michael replied, toasting his coffee cup to Max.

“Okay. I’m gonna take Liz to school.” Max notified him, pointing in the direction of dining room.

“K’, I’ll start on it then.” Michael answered before taking another sip from his cup, while another awkward moment settled in. The three of them were quiet, looking around at the tiles and ceiling, until they heard Liz racing down the stairs.

“You ready?” Max asked when Liz entered from the dinning room doorway.

“Yeah.” Liz answered with a nod and then moved to the counter to pull Michael down for a kiss on the cheek. “Mmuha.” Liz vocalized with a smile, seeing Michael shut one eye to display his brotherly disgust. “I’ll be back around 3 or something.” Liz informed him before taking a sip from his coffee.”Mmm, hot.” She winced and then moved back by Max, who had his car keys ready in his hands. “I have to go pick up my check at the Crash.”

“Why don’t you just go in your lunch period?” Michael asked.

“Right, I’m gonna go in my brand new Expedition Michael. Vroom. Vroom.” Liz answered sarcastically and then looked over to Max.

“I can take you.” Max answered, looking to Michael for approval.

“Whatever. Just hurry up.” Michael ordered to Max and then returned to his coffee.

“Later.” Max saluted off.

“Bye Maria.”

“Bye Liz.” Maria replied, watching the two leave and then looked over to Michael, who had a skeptical expression. “Girl talk.” Maria explained and then turned her body fully to him. “So what’s the big secret?” Maria asked curiously.

“Graduation present for Liz.” Michael replied indifferently. “Liz has a thing for astronomy, so we got her this high tech telescope.”

“Wow.” Maria replied impressed. “I’m assuming there’s assembly required.”

“Why?” Michael questioned, wondering why she would care about assembly.

“Cause it wouldn’t be a guy gift if there wasn’t any.” Maria commented with a smirk and then noticed Michael trying to hide his agreeing smile. “Anyways, I was wondering if you could take me somewhere real quick?”

“Where?”

“Back to the Carnival.”


Jeep

“I’ll be back here to pick you up okay?” Max informed her as he pulled up to the student parking lot, where there were a few kids loitering around.

“Great.” Liz huffed, tilting her head down to let her hair cover her face.

“What?” Max asked, looking around and noticing three girls head in their direction. “Who are they?”

“Tess, Vanessa, and Elaina.” Liz retorted. “I so don’t need this right now.”

“Well, don’t pay attention to them.” Max suggested, seeing Liz look at him in irritation. “Sorry.” He bit back his suggestion and then grabbed her bookbag. “Come on.” He ordered pointing to the alternate entrance with his head.

Liz slid out from the passenger seat and then walked around the car to find Max extending his hand for her to hold his. Taking it gladly, she looked down at the pavement trying to hide her blushing cheeks. “So, I was thinking…”

“About?” Liz asked with a smile.

“About me and you. Frasier Woods? Picnic under the stars?” He suggested with a smile.

“Really?” Liz asked with an arched eyebrow of interest, feeling Max wrap his arm around her waist and swoop her up in his arms, just as the three girls approached. “Max!” Liz giggled in amusement, knowing exactly what he was doing, trying to make the girls notice the two of them.

“Say, yes you’ll go with me tonight.” Max bargained as he set her back down once they reached the door.

“What about Michael?” Liz asked with a skeptic smirk.

“You just worry about being there. I’ll worry about Michael.”

Chapter 13: Change of Plans

Song: Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums by A Perfect Circle


Trio Home ~ Kitchen

“The Carnival? Are you fucking serious?” Michael vented as he roughly ran his fingers through his hair in aggravation.

“Michael, I need to talk to Madame Vivian.” Maria replied, watching him as he paced back and forth in the small confinements of the kitchen area.

“Great. If that’s the case…here.” Michael replied, handing her the kitchen phone. Looking from her to the phone, realizing she wasn’t going to take it, he turned the phone to him, touching the talk button where the faint sound of the dial tone soundtrack Maria’s rolling eyes of irritation. “1-800-w-a-c-k j-o-b, right? Or is that her home phone number?” He asked sarcastically, dialing the numbers until Maria snatched the phone from his hand and hung it up back on its base.

“Funny.”

“Yeah, I should start thinking about joining the frickin’ circus and be Side Show Sweet Potato’s balloon wrangler.” Michael retorted crossing his arms as Maria did.

“Sweet Tart.” Maria corrected, giving him a warning glare until the loud ringing of the phone startled the both of them, which had them exchanging stunned looks before Michael actually reached for the phone, picking it up by the fourth ring.

“Hello?” Michael answered on pins and needles, nervous over the idea that maybe Madame Vivian were in fact a real psychic and knew to call them. If that was the case, he knew he would never hear the end of it because he planned for Maria to be in his life long then what he expected previously. “Lincoln?” Michael questioned with surprise and a sigh of relief, and then flashed Maria a smirk, who was lingering on the thought that it could’ve been Madame Vivian as well. “What’s up?” He asked listening carefully. “Wai-wai-wait a minute.” Michael declared as he waved his free hand about. “Max what?”


West Roswell High

‘Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, tap, tap, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun’

Tapping his hands on the center of the horn like drums, to the sound of marching feet, Max watched the door he had walked Liz to earlier, making sure he didn’t miss her from the crowd.

“Don’t fret precious I’m here…dun dun dun dun dun…Step away from the window and go back to sleep.” Max sung along, nodding his head as he continued his tapping to the maximized sound of the music.

Safe from pain
and truth
and choice
and other poison devils

Count bodies like sheep

He looked to the double doors when the swung open and watched as a crowd of teenagers came out. Lowering his radio, he straightened up, gripping on to the steering wheel and tried looking past the tall kids, in search for his petite girlfriend, but spotted the trio of airhead Barbie dolls Liz previously had pointed out and watch them make their way to him once the short blonde one noticed him.

“Great.” Max huffed under his breath as the short blonde one whispered something to the two other girls and then made her way to him alone.

“You’re Liz’s friend, right?” She asked, pointing to him as she looked at him in puzzlement.

“Her boyfriend.” Max answered back and then tried looking passed her to the door that was letting kids out solemnly.

“Right.” She replied smiling as she eyed him noticeably and then shook her head as she adjusted the strap to her purse. “I’m Tess.”

“Hi.” Max nodded and then tried looking over Tess’s shoulder to keep an eye on the door. “Um, can you move, right…” Max asked, signaling her to move over with a flap of his hand. “…there, thanks.” Max thanked, looking clearly to the doors.

“Um, if you’re waiting for Liz, don’t waste your time cause she got called into the counselors office before class was over.”

“Do you know why?” Max asked concerned, wondering what the counselor would want to talk to Liz about.

“No. He calls her in there a lot though.” She informed him with an indifferent shrug.

“He does?” Max asked arching his eyebrow in interest from the news and wondered if she was just messing with him.

“Yeah. Total jealousy towards Liz cause the counselor’s super hot. He’s like 28, dark haired, mysterious, knows how to dress and where to party.” Tess confessed freely.

“Right. Well, I’ll just wait for her here.” Max answered leaning forward to catch the last few lines of the song playing on the radio, while Tess turned on her heel and headed back to her other friends when Max gave her the cold shoulder.

I’ll be the one to protect you from your enemies and your choices son
They’re one in the same,
I must isolate you
Isolate and save you from yourself


2 hours later


“Hey!” Liz waved as she quickly made her way to the jeep, standing on his opened side to kiss him hello. “Mmmm-muah. I missed you all frickin’ day.”

“I thought I was suppose to pick you up during your lunch period to take you to get your check?” Max question as he turned to face Liz, to allow her better hold of the hug around his neck while she kissed him on the cheek.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Stupid Mr. Shellow called me into his office.” Liz answered with an annoyed huffed and then stole a quick kiss from him.

“Why? What happened?” Max asked curiously, relieved to know she wasn’t lying to him.

“He gave me the third degree about cutting in my senior year. “The most crucial time of your life Miss Guerin”.” Liz imitated, driving a chuckle from Max. “I cut like one time and he’s having a frickin’ cow.”

“I heard he’s young.” Max asked. Liz straightened up, still with her arms around his neck and eyed him suspiciously. “What?” Max questioned innocently, knowing she was on to him and his smooth interrogation.

“You tell me.” Liz replied skeptically, watching Max let out a breath as he lightly tugged on her belt hoops to pull her closer. “Max?”

“It’s nothing. I just let someone get to me for a second.” Max admitted, smoothing out her hair before planting an apologetic kiss on her lips that was interrupted when he something caught his eye.

“What? What is it?” Liz questioned in longing when he stopped kissing her back and then turned slightly to try and see what grabbed his attention. “Oh, that’s Mr. Shellow.” Liz enlightened him when she noticed that the only one standing in Max’s eye range was her counselor. “He’s…what? What is it?” Liz question when she realized Max’s stare was more along the lines of a hateful glare.

“That’s the jerk-off that Michael and me fought with.” Max said standing up offensively as the counselor approached them.

“What? From the bar?” Liz asked, almost tripping when Max pulled her behind him protectively and then lifted his chin when he was face to face with the counselor.

“Well. I thought I’d never see you again.” The counselor chuckled in disbelief as he stroked his chin, sizing himself up to Max.

“Small world.” Max retorted unintimidated.

“Apparently.” He replied with a cocky profession, looking to Liz and then back to Max. “Aren’t you a little bit old to be hanging around at a high school? I mean, I can clearly see your fashion is still trapped in 99’…” Shellow trailed off when Max back slapped his hand away from touching his leather jacket.

“Max.” Liz called out in warning and fear as she stirred behind him.

“Oh, Max? So the caveman has a name.” He asked enlightened as he shrugged his shoulders and held his wrist.

“Fuck off preppy, while you still got legs to carry you.” Max warned as he crossed his arms.

“Max.” Liz called out again, grabbing his arm. “No fights Max.”

“I’d listen to her if I were you. Especially when you’re all alone.” Shellow advised, not breaking the staring competition the two were in.

“Hmm?” Max chuckled as he scratched his eyebrow, looking to Liz in amusement and then proceeded to strip himself of his jacket to reveal his black T-shirt over his grey warmer that clutched on favorably to his muscles. “Last thing I remember…” Max paused as he tossed his jacket in the jeep and the lifted his sleeves half way up his forearms before cracking his knuckles and starting again “…it was you that needed back up, in case you forgot?” Max reminded with a smirk. “Took, what, five of you to 'try' and handle us two “cavemen”, right?” He asked, seeing the question strike a nerve.

“Max, let’s just go home, okay?” Liz advised, seeing how the situation was intensifying.

“Relax Liz. He can’t do anything on school grounds anyways, not if he wants to keep his job.” Max pointed out slyly and then leaned forward to whisper to Shellow. “Ain’t that right, preppy?”

“Some of us have reputations to keep.” Shellow replied as he straightened himself out and then looked to Liz as if the statement were directed to her.

“Mr. Shellow, please.” Liz pleaded, coming out from behind Max and standing neutrally between the two. “Look, I don’t know what happened back at that bar and I don’t care, but I’m not gonna stand here and watch you two go at it like a pack of wild dogs, okay?” She declared looking up to both who continued to glare at each other. “Max, let’s just go home okay?” Liz suggested as she pressed her hands on his abdomen, pushing him lightly to sit back in the jeep and looked over to Shellow as she made her way around the jeep and climbed into the passenger seat.

Shellow watched as Max scanned him up and down and then give out a small huff of unimpressed laughter before starting the ignition and high tailing out of the school parking lot.


Trio Home

“His fucking cell phone’s off!” Michael cursed as he pressed the “talk” button with force to shut it off.

“Maybe it’s a sign.” Maria shrugged in suggestion.

“Don’t you start.” Michael warned, not in the mood to hear about hocus pocus “fate” signs after 10 minutes of trying to get a hold of Max.

“You left a message right?” Maria asked, seeing Michael nod his head “yes” and then moved to sit by him. “So what are you so worked up over?”


Crash Down

“Are you going to say anything?” Liz questioned with her arms crossed when she returned back tot he Jeep.

“Like?” Max replied as he started the ignition and pulled out of the parking spot.

“Like exactly what happened between you and Mr. Shellow.”

“It was nothing.” Max answered calmly, avoiding looking at her skeptic expression.

“Nothing?” Liz repeated in disbelief. “Max, Michael bought a gun, so you can’t tell me 'nothing' and expect me to accept that.”

“Liz.” Max called out in warning, but then glanced quickly at her to see her glare at him firmly. “I’ll tell you when we get there.”

“Get where?” Liz asked realizing that they weren’t heading anywhere near their home. "Max, where are we going?"

“You’ll see.”


Eagle Rock - 5:49 P.M.

“Okay, Max, where are we?” Liz asked as she carefully tried to walk with her eyes blindfolded and only the guide of Max’s hand.

“We had a date.” Max reminded, stopping her from moving any further and then removed the blindfold from her eyes to reveal the pitched tent between the cover of two large boulders and a hole dug deep in front of it with two logs crossed over each other on the inside.

“Max, I…” Liz gasped at the sight and then turned with a look of confusion when she noticed he was carrying a small gym bag with him. “I thought you said Frasier Woods.”

“Yeah, I know, but I thought all those trees blocking the sun setting and the huge sky…”

“Max, but Michael…”

“The sun sets at 5:56 according to the weather channel, who surprisingly tell you more than the weather.” Max enlightened her with a sly smile.

“Oh, really?” Liz replied with an arched eyebrow as she pulled him closer to her. “What else did they predict?”

Chapter 14: Patience is a Virtue

1965 Cadillac Convertible

“I paid for the gas, so I don’t know why you’re so mad.” Maria huffed as she crossed her arms and turned as far as her seat belt would allow her to face him.

“Maria, you want me to go in the middle of the frickin’ desert, to go see a frickin’ flake for some frickin’ fortune she probably pulled out of her frickin’ velvet wearing ass.” Michael vented as he talked with one hand to display his aggravation. “I don’t just want you to pay for the frickin’ gas. I want you to pay for the car wash it’s gonna take to get the frickin’ dirt off my frickin’ car. I want you to pay for the frickin’ rotation of my frickin’ tires for the miles you’re making me drive. But most of all I want you to pay for the frickin’ medical bill I’m about to have because I’m about 5 frickin’ clowns away from having a frickin’ heart attack and it’s gonna take years of Oprah psychobabble to get me through this. So start frickin’ paying up.”

“I don’t frickin’ think so.” Maria retorted in a mimic, trying to imply he was whining.

“Cute.” Michael answered flashing her a sarcastic smile before returning his focus straight ahead of him. “Real frickin’ cute.”

“Enough with the frickin’ frickings!” Maria shouted in irritation.

“Frickin! Frickin! Frickin! Frickin!” Michael shouted back and then flashed her an entertained smile.

“You need help.” Maria snickered rolling her eyes. “And I’m not talking “Oprah psychobabble”, Pal.” Maria declared, airing the quotations dramatically. “You need some drugs, Buddy. ASAP. Or a surgeon that has the qualifications to surgically remove that stick that’s up your narrow minded ass!”

“I doubt anyone is qualified to take the “Maria” that’s in my ass.” Michael retaliated seeing Maria open her mouth without an insult to throw back his way. “We’re here!” Michael yelled.

“Good!” Maria yelled back.

“You’re paying!” Michael yelled as he climbed out of his car and then turned to see her doing the same thing.

“No you are!” Maria answered, stomping off after she stuck her tongue out at him.

“No, you are!” Michael shouted as he watched her walk away.


Madame Vivian’s Tent

“This is being added to your bill, I hope you know that.” Michael informed Maria as he pulled out a crisp twenty-dollar bill and handed it over to Madame Vivian’s expecting hand, keeping his glare on Maria the whole time.

“Hey, if the cards say I am, then I am.” Maria answered with a humoring shrug , insinuating that it was out of her hands.

“For twenty dollars, the cards better tell me your social security number, the numbers for the Big Lotto, and who killed Tupac.” Michael huffed as he dropped down to the pillow seat.

“I see your reading hasn’t changed you.” Madame Vivian commented as she sat down as well and began shuffling her tarot cards.

“Did your crystal ball tell you I’m not in the mood?” Michael asked bluntly.

“Cut!” Madame Vivian ordered, slamming the cards down in front of him.

“Me? Uh uh. This is her reading.” Michael waved off and pointed to Maria. “I’m still back in second grade with the whole “believe in the love” thing from before.” Michael confessed as he continued to shake his head ‘no’ for the reading.

“Could you stop being such a baby and just cut the cards?” Maria ordered, nudging him to go.

“I swear to God, this better be clear this time. None of that fortune cookie “a broken watch is right twice a day” crap or I’m outta here and Madame Vivian here could give you a ride back on her magic carpet.” Michael threatened as he took half the deck and set it beside the new pile.

Madame Vivian snatched the two piles off the table and set one on top of the other, glaring at Michael the whole time as she started to deal the cards before him. “Oh.” She murmured, covering her mouth.

“What’s it say?” Maria asked, gasping when the first card was dealt.

“Um, so you still haven’t figured out the last reading, huh?” Madame Vivian asked looking from Michael to Maria, who was shaking her head, answering the question for him as she stared at The Lovers card that laid on the table. “Well…it’s just…” Madame Vivian trailed off setting the next card horizontally on top of The Lovers card, revealing The Magicians card. “The goal has been set.” Madame Vivian explained. “The red garment is symbol of desire and passion. The red roses on the bottom represent desires and the white lilies…well, the white lilies represent pure thought. Pure thought of untainted desire.”

“Uh…oh.” Maria gasped slowly, covering her mouth and looking to Michael when she concluded mentally what Madame Vivian was predicting.

“I…have-no-frickin’-clue-on-what you just said.” Michael answered pronouncing each word slowly as he stared at Madame Vivian completely dumbfounded. “Say it again, just don’t use so many “crazy” words.” Michael requested, getting slapped hard on his arm by Maria. “Oww!”

“Don’t be an ass and listen.” Maria murmured between her teeth and then looked to Madame Vivian to continue. Madame Vivian nodded and then flipped another card over, revealing The Star tarot card. “There goes you lottery number.” Maria commented under her breath, looking around and whistling when she saw his head jerk in her direction and then back to the cards to get a look at it.

“What does that mean?” Michael asked crossing his arms in aggravation, suspicious that something was being said, but not clear enough for him to understand.

“The Star?” Madame Vivian asked seeing Michael nodding his head ‘yes’. “Well, it represents a knowledgeable woman that has power over the 5 senses of a man.”

“Huh?” Michael chuckled scratching his eyebrow. “The only girl I know that can knock some sense into me, is Liz.” Michael chuckled more, looking to Maria, who turned her face quickly to look the other way and then looked to Madame Vivian, who looked down to the cards. “What the fuck is going on here?” Michael asked as his laugh died down. “These three cards…they go together right?” Michael asked as he poked his finger down on the surfaces of the cards, only getting a nod of agreement from Madame Vivian.

“So, basically all that “passion” and “pure untainted desire” goes for my little sister?” Michael exclaimed in disbelief.

“Not just your sister.” Madame Vivian corrected, pulling out The Lovers card. Maria simply covered her eyes with her hand and shook her head. Michael leaned forward, startling Madame Vivian to clutch her chest a lean back herself as he took the next card and flipped it over.

“What’s that? Is that him?” Michael asked in rage when he saw The Heirophant card, it being a card of a man and automatically assumed it was the guy on The Lovers card.

“That represents the inner being…the teacher…”

“Michael, where are you going?” Maria called out when Michael cut Madame Vivian off by standing up abruptly, knocking all the cards over on the floor and her lap.

“To the hospital.” Michael replied as he paced back and forth.

“Hospital? Why?” Maria questioned in a panic as she too stood up and moved beside him.

“Because I’m gonna take Liz to get an X-ray and if all her bones are where a virgins bones are suppose to be, I’m gonna…I’ll let her flip a card to give her a heads up on what I’m gonna do if she still is.” Michael threatened bluntly.

“And if she isn’t?” Maria questioned, crossing her arms. “What then?”

“Then we’ll be waiting for the second set of X-rays of Liz’s foot up my ass.” Michael replied and then stormed out of the tent.


Pullman Ranch – Eagle Rock

“What? What is it?” Liz asked as she sat up, with Max’s shirt clutched to her almost bare chest. “What?” Liz repeated with a blushing giggle as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and then cupped Max’s cheek.

“Just give me a minute.” Max pleaded, holding his hand out for Liz’s patience.

“What?” Liz asked confused as she scooted closer to him, which made him turn to face her. “What’s wrong, Max?” Liz asked, nuzzling her nose on his collar muscle and then planted a soft kiss on his lips before letting him answer.

“Liz, we’ve known each other almost all our lives, and now I’m about to see you naked and you, me. So, just give me a minute, okay?” Max confessed nervously.

“Okay.” Liz replied softly, rubbing his back with one hand as she waited. “I’m nervous too, Max.” Liz admitted. “I’ve had a crush on you since I was 16 and now…” She paused when his head snapped up on her confession.

“Now what?” Max asked flattered, looking at her as she scooted closer.

“And now…I get to have you.” Liz finished, avoiding looking Max in the eyes.

“Are you scared?” Max asked as he placed his hand on her bare leg.

“Scared that it might hurt or that I may not be good.” Liz confessed, tucking her hair behind her ears and then looking to Max underneath her eyelashes as she bit her lip.

“I can’t guarantee it won’t hurt at first but I can promise you I’ll go as slow as you need.” Max vowed as he took her hand and laced her fingers with his. “Don’t worry about anything else, okay?” Max advised as he stroked her calf and kissed her forehead, feeling her nod in agreement. Proceeding on her cue, he turned to his bundle jeans that were beside him a dug in his pocket, pulling out a small squared packet. Liz watched observantly as he opened the packet, pulling out something rubbery and turned his back to her. Getting on her knees, she rested her chin on his shoulder, which made him cover himself quickly and then turn his head up to look at her. “Uh, Liz…”

“I want to see what you’re doing.” Liz answered in a pout.

“Yeah, um, that’s not gonna happen.” Max replied with a nervous laugh.

“So, you’re not gonna be watching me?” Liz asked confused as she sat down on her legs.

“What?” Max questioned surprised.

“Are you gonna be watching my body?” Liz explained, still holding her innocent confusion.

“Um, if you don’t want me too…” Max coughed out embarrassed.

“No, I do. But I want to see you too.” Liz demanded softly, arching her eyebrow in curiosity.

“Um, ok?” Max replied, seeing her face light up as she got up on her knees again and regained her previous spot on his shoulder. With shaky hands, Max finished the process of protecting his arousal and then turned to Liz, who had a nervous expression. “You ready?” Max asked softly, seeing Liz nod her head as she sat down.

“What do I do?”

“Um, lie down.” Max answered. Liz looked down to the sleeping bag and then followed his instructions, lying on her back as she watched him look down at her. “Are you comfortable?” Max asked, getting another nod. “Okay so I’m gonna get on top of you okay?” Max informed her as he did so, stretching his manly physique over her petite body. “Um, I’m gonna…”

“Max, you don’t have to go step by step with me.” Liz giggled as she kissed his lips lightly. Max flashed her an embarrassed smile and then slipped his hand through her hair to pillow the back of her head. “Okay, take a breath.” Max advised after adjusting himself between her and then took his free hand and laced his fingers with hers. Taking their joined hand above their heads, Max pressed his lips on hers and then pushed deep inside her as his lips muffled her gasp.

Chapter 15: All About the Benjamins


Carnival of Souls

“Michael. You can’t be serious. You can’t put your sister on the spot like that?” Maria warned as she tried to keep up with him.

“Yeah, why’s that?”

“Why? Because she’s your sister and it’s wrong.” Maria argued, shocked that he was actually considering doing what he said he was gonna do. “And-and you don’t even know the guy.” Maria pointed out as they stopped in the dead center of the carnival. “For all you know, he could be a good guy.”

“Maria. There’s no such thing as a “good guy”.” Michael chuckled in her face.

“Really? So, you must be the nicest “bad guy” in the world, right?” Maria asked sarcastically.

“Whatever. That’s not the point.” Michael shrugged off and continued walking again.

“So, what are you gonna do? Go around the neighborhood and start beating the crap out of every guy you see, until one of them confesses?” Maria questioned saucily. Michael just spun around, looking at her pensively and then headed straight back for Madame Vivian’s tent. “Where are you going?”


Madam Vivian’s Tent

“Wha-” Madame Vivian gasped when Michael popped in.

“Michael!” Maria called out behind him, opening the flap of the tent to find Michael looking through Madame Vivians’ tarot card.

“Gotcha.” Michael declared with a proud smile once he found The Heirophant tarot card within the rest and stuck it in his pocket.

“Hey!” Madame Vivian vented as she knelt down again to straighten the scattered cards once again.

“Hey!” Maria repeated as Michael passed right by her and started his journey to the car again. “Hey!” Maria shouted as she ran after him. Hey!” She yelled, pinching the end of his shirt to get him to stop.

“You stop. You stay.” Michael threatened as he continued to walk.

“Uh, okay. But in case you didn’t notice, you just committed theft, Buddy.” Maria informed him as she quickened her pace.

“Yeah, I can see the long hard years I’ll be serving over one card.” Michael sneered as he stomped harder on the ground.

“Where are you going now?” Maria questioned, running a bit to catch up. “I hope you don’t think the guy is gonna look like the guy on the card, right?” Maria asked suspiciously, once they reached the car, thinking that’s the only reason why he would take the card.

“No.” Michael answered nervously, shaking his head longer than his “no” lasted. If she only knew that was exactly his plan, he could just imagine the snickers and punting remarks flowing from her lips.

“Right.” Maria replied skeptically, eyeing him as he climbed in the drivers’ seat and started the ignition. “Cause you would’ve been waayy off.” Maria snorted under her breath with a small chuckle as she hopped in the passenger side.

“What?” Michael asked, swearing he heard her mumble something while he roared the engine.

“Nothing. Where are we going now, Tony Montana?” Maria questioned, annoyed by how Michael made her wrong. Back when her and Liz talked in Michael’s room, Liz made it seem like she was afraid if Michael found out about her relationship with Max, and at first she thought Liz was over exaggerating, but witnessing the man in action herself, made her realize how wrong she was.

“We’re going home and I’m gonna have a long talk with Liz.”


Pullman Ranch – Eagle Rock 6:38P.M.

“Liz.” Max hissed in her hair as he continued to ravish her, finally giving in to the yearn, fully, to explore her as he truly needed.

To Liz, just the sound of her name, coming from him in an erotic tone or the growled when ever he would squeeze her thigh, just the notion of her having that extreme effect on him sent an addictive shiver down her spine. Making it one of her goals to continue making him feel that way. At first, it nearly took her a whole minute to adjust to the fact that it was Max Evans, her best friend, crush of forever, and perfect boyfriend, she was making love to, and then after that, she was lost. Lost in his lips and in his arms that grazed all over her pleasingly.

“Liz.” Max moaned covering her open mouth with his, tasting his name as it escaped her lips, before the thrilling arousal consumed them both. Forehead against forehead, the two attempted to regain control of their racing breaths as the sweat dripped off Max’s body and spilled over Liz’s. “You okay?” Max asked clearing his throat and then let out a single huff of fascination, keeping a cool smile as he attempted to breathe from his mouth.

“Huh, yeah.” Liz huffed in the same fascination, blushing and smiling as far as the corners of her mouth will allow her to. “You?” She asked as Max caressed her cheek with the tip of his nose.

“As well as a dead man can be.” Max answered with a smile, before ending their conversation by him opening her mouth, with his thumb pulling down on her chin lightly and kissing her as passionately as his tongue desired.


Max’s Jeep - Outside Trio Home 7:22 P.M.

“What am I suppose to tell Michael?” Liz asked nervously as she turned Max’s rearview mirror to her, to straighten out her hair.

“Um, definitely not the truth.” Max laughed as he pulled the keys out from the ignition.

“Well, that’s a given.” Liz rolled her eyes playfully and then scooted closer to him, teasing Max’s lips with hers before he held her still by holding her chin and then grazed his bottom lip between hers, hearing her purr in excitement.

“I don’t know how I’m gonna stop myself…” He paused to place a kiss on her wet lips “…having you…” He paused again to kiss her again “…in the same room…or…”

“Or with me sleeping in my underwear.” Liz added in huskily with a flirty smirk, trying to act as if the statement was unimportant while she enjoyed his surprised reaction.

“We have to tell Michael.” Max declared playfully as he pretended to be getting out of the jeep until he felt Liz’s arms wrap around him and pull him back to where his legs stuck out the car, his back rested against the driver’s seat and his head rested on her chest.

“Uh uh.” Liz laughed looking down at Max as he looked up at her.

At first, he was laughing along with her, but then, as she brushed her fingers through his hair, his looked changed. He was no longer looking back up at her in amusement but instead he was looking up at her in adoration. She was glowing and her smile was just as captivating as her sparkling eyes, which he was utterly mesmerized by at the moment. Noticing their playful gaze had become a faithful one, Liz’s chewed shyly on her lower lip as she lowered her head and blushed. Blushed over the feeling she felt in her chest and the pit of her stomach…the feeling of the fluttering warmth of their connection burning inside her that told her what they were feeling was more than just chemical.

‘Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.’

Snapping out of their daze when Max cell phone started beeping, Max quickly got off of Liz and pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket.

“Who is it?” Liz asked curiously when she saw Max smirk when he lighted the numbers to see them in the dark.

“Lincoln.” Max answered and then shoved his cell phone back in his back pocket as he made his way around the jeep to the passenger side.

“The guy from the park?” Liz questioned quizzically after mentally repeating the name to remember, getting a nod from Max as he leaned down to the floor board and grabbed her book bag from underneath the seat. “Do you still think he’s gonna tell Michael about us?” Liz asked nervously as she watched Max place the keys in his jacket pocket to get a better grip on the book bag half hoop.

“Uh, Lincoln’s not gonna say anything to Michael.” Max assured her as he leaned his shoulder coyly on the passenger side balance bar.

“What?” Liz asked with a confused smile.

“Remember I told you I had something to tell you right?” Max asked, seeing Liz take a second to ponder and then recall before he continued, still holding his smug smirk. “Well, my solution to the Lincoln problem was to pay him off…” He paused holding up his finger for Liz to hold her expected argument when she took a breath, and smiled when the “O” of her mouth closed. “So this morning, I went to the ATM by the Crash, but it was busted…”

“Yeah, some kid put glue in the credit card slot.” Liz laughed and then eyed Max suspiciously while signaling him to continue. Max extended his hand instead, seeing Liz was skeptic at first before placing her hand on his and then smiled when Max turned his back to her and bent down slightly for her to hop on his back. Giggling in amusement, Liz leaned forward, wrapping her arms and legs around Max as he piggybacked rode her towards their house as he continued telling her his story.

“Anyway, so I had to go to the one by Senior Chow’s. You know the one between the restaurant and that club.”

“Yeah?”

“And guess who I see coming out of the employees door.” Max asked enthusiastically, as he stopped and looked at Liz.

“Who?” Liz asked all wide-eyed and with a giggle, seeing Max was enjoying retelling the story.

“Lincoln.” Max answered as he continued walking.

“So?”

“He was leaving the club as Linda.” Max laughed, stopping again to see the punch line stun Liz.

“What?” Liz gasped in confusion.

“Yeah, I’m talking Lincoln, stiletto heels, net stockings, bad wig, the whole nine yards.” Max laughed a little harder.

“Shut up!” Liz laughed in shock.

“So, in exchange for me not telling, I get to keep my money and keep my girl.” Max smiled proudly as they reached the front door.

“Lucky us.” Liz whispered in his ear as she held loosely around his neck with one arm while she snaked her other hand down the back of Max’s pants mischievously.

Just as Liz was about to lean her head down and kiss Max on his lips, the front door swung open, startling the two. “Michael!” Liz gasped in shock as her head bolted up and her hand slip out.

Chapter 16: I Bet You

Trio Home

Before Max or Liz could speak another word, Michael lunged forward and hugged Max, surprising and scaring the two by his reaction.

“What happened to you?” Michael asked Liz in relief, as he pulled away and signaled the two to come inside, locking the door behind him.

“Um, she fell, coming out of the jeep.” Max answered skeptically as he dropped her book bag on the floor and then moved over to the center of the room without lowering Liz. “Are you okay?” Max asked as he arched his eyebrow in doubt.

“Ah, yeah, man.” Michael waved off. “Just happy to see my sister was with you all day instead of with someone else.” Michael answered play-hitting Max on his stomach and then stopped with a confused expression. “She was with you all day, right?” Michael asked quickly in worry.

“Yeah, where else would she be?” Max asked confused as he hopped up a little to regrip his hold on Liz’s legs.

“I don’t know, hanging around some guy named Heirophant.” Michael mumbled, keeping his eye on Liz in case the name appeared to have been familiar to her.

“Who?” Liz questioned and then noticed Maria come out from the living room laughing. “Hey?”

“Hey, don’t pay attention to him. He had a rough day today.” Maria teased sarcastically, as she nudged Michael lightly.

“O-kay.” Max answered suspiciously and then looked up to Liz who just shrugged in confusion. “Well, I’m gonna take her upstairs, okay?” Max informed him as he cautiously made his way up the stairs, turning to give one more confused look to Michael and then headed into Liz’s room.


Liz’s Room

“What-the-hell-was-that-about?” Liz asked in shock as she hopped down, off of Max and then made her way to her desk to turn on her lamp.

“Forget that? Who was that?” Max asked in the same shock as he sat down on her bed.

“That was a close one. I thought he was gonna ask where we were the whole time.” Liz confessed as she moved to her closet and kicked off her shoes.

“Nah. I had Lincoln call Michael and tell him some dramatic story that I had to come into work today. And since he knew I was suppose to pick you up to get your check, I knew he would assume I’d take you with me.” Max answered proudly.

“Wow. You’re getting god at this “secret-lying” thing, aren’t you?” Liz rhetorically questioned, impressed on how planned he had every situation.

“Jealous?” Max asked, flashing her a smug smile as he leaned back on her bed and propped himself up on his elbows to watch her arch her eyebrow in challenge and then sway her way to him.

“Jealous?” Liz repeated to get him to further explain his conviction.

“Yeah, that I can master plan “us” being together and you can’t.” Max replied, breathing on his fingers and then brushing them off cocky on his shirt, while Liz gave a devilish chuckle of amusement as she pinched between her eyes and shook her head.

“Please, tonight, aside from being romantic, was pure luck.” Liz laughed. “You’d be coughing up money to Lincoln right now if you didn’t find out what you did.”

“What? You think you can do better than what I did? Prove it. Find a way to get us together tomorrow night.” Max propositioned only getting Liz to laugh in the same devilish, unimpressed tone as she crossed her arms. “What?” Max questioned curiously with a smile, wondering what she was so cocky about.

“Tomorrow?” Liz waved off with a finger and then moved seductively to stand between Max’s legs and then leaned forward so they were face to face, looking to Max’s lips as he looked longing to hers while she licked them. “I can get us together…tonight…to the point where we can stay together the whole night.” Liz informed him in satisfaction, seeing his eyebrow arch in intrigue as she traced her finger down the bridge of his nose, traced his lips, and then drew circles on his chest seducingly. “I’m so good, that we can make as much noise as we want and Michael won’t suspect a thing.” She added, seeing Max swallow his yearn hard.

“How?” Max asked before Liz pulled lightly on his lower lip with her teeth and then let got when she smiled.

“Just do what I say for 5 minutes and I promise, I’ll be in your room in time to do what ever you say.” She declared, opening her eyes wide to hint off mischief.


Living Room

“I’m not saying it.” Maria huffed in annoyance as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

“Whatever. You just can’t handle the fact that I was right about your flake of a psychic.” Michael gloated, crossing his arms as he looked back at the TV screen.

“She’s not a flake.” Maria defended, wanting desperately to prove him wrong because of how obnoxious he was being.

“Hey, Michael!”

“Do I have to get up?” Michael shouted from the couch when he heard Max calling him.

“Yeah!” Max shouted back.

“Fuck.” Michael mumbled under his breath. Taking in a breath, looking at the remote in his hand and then releasing it dramatically.

“He should know what a sacrifice you’ve made.” Maria chuckled in amusement.

“Michael!” Max called out again.

“Yeaaah!” Michael shouted back in irritation as he grabbed the cushion ends for support and then pulled himself up.

“That air in your head making you heavy?” Maria asked with an arched eyebrow of irritation and crossed arms.

“Is that your way of saying I’m right?” Michael asked with a sly smirk as he moved to the doorway.

“Not on your life.” Maria replied, shaking her head “no” as she got up.

“Where are you going?” Michael questioned holding his hand out when she was about to exit the living room.

“To pee. Is that okay?” Maria asked pointing to the bathroom.

“No, cause I’m not done gloating yet.” Michael answered truthfully.

“Michael!” Max called out again.

“I swear to God Max.” Michael cursed when he moved to the bottom of his steps and looked up to Max’s door. “Call my name one more time!” He warned as he jogged up the rest of the steps and headed into Max’s room.

Maria just giggled softly as she climbed the steps, shaking her head when she heard Michael bickering with Max. The second she touched the doorknob to the bathroom, she heard a mousy noise coming from the left of her.

“Psst.”

“Wh-uh.” Maria mumbled confused when she saw Liz peeking from her door and signaling her to come over frantically.

“Shhh!” Liz commanded with a finger over her lips and then waved for her to hurry.

“Okay, you doll face, have got your brother going Scarface with this whole Bo thing.” Maria whispered as Liz pulled her into the room and then turned to see her quickly close the door behind her.

“Why? What did I do now?” Liz asked as Maria sat on her bed.

“I think the question is more like, “who” did you do.” Maria replied wiggling his eyebrows.

“He knows?” Liz gulped stunned and moved to sit on the bed beside Maria, tucking her feet underneath her.

“Well, it was just speculation at first, but after that reaction, I’d say we can pretty much carve that assumption into stone.”

“Why didn’t he say anything?”

“Well, he saw you with Max, so he thinks you’re still clueless about “the birds and the bees”.” Maria answered rolling her eyes to his blindness. “But he’ll catch on sooner or later, especially with you glowing.”

“I’m not glowing.” Liz quickly debated, shaking her head as she tried to hold back her blush.

“Listen, babe, you’re glowing so frickin’ much I think I’m gonna have a tan line after I’m done talking to you.” Maria enlightened her and then let her statement process again in her head. “Damn it. Now he has me saying “frickin”.” Maria cursed and then looked up to Liz, who was just watching her pensively. “Never mind. Long story. Back to you now. Okay, if you two have gotten to this level, you and Max, don’t you think it’s time for you to tell Michael?”

“Okay, I appreciate the concern, but you’ve known Michael for like what, 2 minutes? I’ve known him my whole life. Maybe before when just kissing was involved but now thing have gotten complicated. Very, very complicated…” She paused to bite down her smile “Um, yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”

“Look at you.” Maria commanded rhetorically as she pointed to Liz “You’re so in love, God, it’s nauseating and cute at the same time.” Maria teased making Liz blush harder and then use a pillow to try and cover it up. “I bet your friends are like so jealous of you right now, right? You know suffering from the expected “friend envy”. Calling you a traitor, bitch, all that good stuff and then trying to steal Max away because he’s so adorably perfect with you.” Maria rambled and then snapped back into reality, seeing Liz staring at her confused. “Right, I guess that’s just something I would do then.” Maria commented, trying to play off her embarrassment.

“You’re right about the Max being the “adorably perfect” boyfriend, but as for the friend comment…” Liz paused sadly and then shook her head. “I just been so busy with school and work…”

“And having an undercover relationship.” Maria added, getting a nod from Liz. “You and I are like twins. I swear, you’re living my life, just without all the crazy stuff happening.” Maria chuckled as she looked down to her shoes.

“Look, for what it’s worth…my brother really likes you.” Liz confessed, seeing Maria’s head snap up in surprise. “I mean, he told Max one night that it was your voice.”

“My voice?” Maria repeated with a bright smile.

“Yeah, he said he heard your voice when you were singing and he just had to go and see who it was coming from. He even bought the Evanescence CD because of you.”

“He did?” Maria laughed with tears forming in her eyes. “Wow, if that’s not love, I don’t know what is.” Maria cried with a laugh as she wiped her tears away.

“Yeah, pretty weird seeing him like that.” Liz admitted, lowering her head to ponder on her statement as she pulled on a loose thread of her quilted blanket. “Oh, and just ask him to say your name, I swear, the reaction is priceless.” Liz laughed, shaking her head in amusement.

“Thank you.” Maria whispered, looking up to Liz to see she had confused her once again. “I mean, the three of you have been so good to me…I’d just wouldn’t want to have to leave…”

“Um, can I ask you a question?” Liz asked when Maria trailed off. “It’s more like a favor.”

“Sure.” Maria answered in a sniffle.

“Go to my brother and kiss him. Register everything you feel when you are and then you get back to me and let me know if you want to give up feeling that.” Liz propositioned. “The feeling you’ll feel, if you truly love my brother, is the feeling I feel everyday with Max.” Liz confessed as her voice started to crack. “And it’s a feeling, that I’m willing to lie to my brother, to feel…and a feeling I’m willing to ask my brother’s girlfriend to cover for us too.”

“I’m sorry?” Maria coughed, knocked off balance by the sneaky plea.

“Well, I kind of told Max that I can get us to spend the night together in his room and in order for my plan to work, you have to be on board too.” Liz pitched with a pout as she batted her eyelashes.

“Oh, oooh, you’re evil.” Maria laughed in disbelief as she pointed suspiciously to Liz. “You were just buttering me up so I’d have to give in.”

“Everything I said was strictly butterless.” Liz assured her with a smile while Maria eyed her. “Just I really really want to be with Max tonight, you know and do all the cuddling stuff, and the kissing, and just to hear his voice…”

“Alright. Alright Alright.” Maria stopped, standing up with her hands in praise. “What do I have to do?”

Chapter 17: Boomerang Lies

Trio's Home

Liz’s Room

“This is not going to work.” Maria panicked as she peeked out the crack of Liz’s door, waiting for Max to make his appearance and give them the “okay” signal.

“Yes it is.” Liz assured her as she looked up, from where she was squatted at, to Maria and then looked back into the crack of the door.

“We’re gonna get busted.”

“No, we’re not.”

“Yes we are. Your brother can’t be that stupid and fall for it.” Maria snickered in doubt as she shook her head.

“My brother’s not, but the “male gene” inside him is.”

“Okay, that’s so twilight zone because that was definitely something I would have said.” Maria admitted with a shiver of amazement.

“Like you said, twins.” Liz replied with a proud smile.

“Whatever suicide Jane, just you know the deal…” Maria reminded as she pointed to her in warning.

“Yes. Yes. I know. You had nothing to do with this.”

“Right, Mother Teresa innocent.”

“Shh. Look. There they are.” Liz whispered when she spotted Max and Michael coming out of Max’s room and then Max turned to his door and placed a baseball cap on the doorknob. “Told you.” Liz whispered proudly as she flashed Maria an “I told you so” smirk.

“Evil.” Maria replied quietly as she shook her head and then took a step back while running her fingers through her hair. “How do I look?”

“Amazing.” Liz answered as she girlishly hopped up and down, clapping her hands softly in anticipation when she watched Maria exit her room.


Upstairs Hallway

“Hey.” Maria greeted the two to make her presence noticed.

“Is Liz okay?” Max quickly asked as he and Michael both turned to face her.

“Ankle’s fine. She just gave me the boot because she’s tired and everything. Girl’s gotta get her beauty sleep you know, especially with what she’s got coming up.”

“Like?” Michael questioned curiously as he crossed his arms defensively.

“Prom. Graduation. So little time, so much shopping to do.” Maria huffed out a chuckle and then patted Michael on the shoulder before heading into his room, closing the door behind her.

“Crap.” Michael cursed as he set both hands on the top of his head and lightly clenched some hair strands between his fingers in frustration. “I totally forgot about that.” Michael confessed in a defeated breath and then looked over to Max, who gave Michael an accusing look as he shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels and toes. Dropping his hands to his side, Michael glared at Max until Max acknowledged him and then punched Max on the arm.

“Ow.” Max winced as he rubbed his arm. “What the hell was that for?” Max exclaimed in painful surprise.

“Where were you on that one?” Michael questioned as he crossed his arms, awaiting his answer.

“I thought you knew. I mean you did get that thing for her di-…”

“Shit! I forgot about that too.”

“Is love making you senile?” Max questioned with a small, amused chuckle.

“Bite me.” Michael retorted, about to punch Max again but missed him when Max dodged the hit.

“Nice try old man.” Max teased as he hopped from foot to foot and threw a few tight punches in the air to imitate boxing sparring moves.

“Whatever, shouldn’t you be like getting ready anyway? Your room looks like crap, not that it’s a problem to me, but still, you know how girls are when they spend the night, right?” Michael questioned with a conquered shrug and then headed slowly towards his room.

“Thanks Michael.”

“Whatever man.” Michael waved off and then entered his room.


Liz’s Room

“Hurry up.” Liz whispered with a signaling wave to Max, who was standing in the middle of the hallway with his hands in his pockets. Max looked covertly behind him as he scratched his ear to see that Michael had closed the door behind him and then, with a quick pace, entered Liz’s room.

“You’re a genius.” Max praised as he cupped the sides of Liz’s face and placed an excited kiss on her lips.

“Mmm. I know I am.” Liz grinned devilishly as she licked her lips to savor the taste of Max’s lips. “Now, I’ll see you in a few, okay?”

“Okay.” Max replied, stealing another quick kiss before he slipped out from her room and entered his own.

Liz then took a minute to let the fast beat of her heart steady before she opened her door and headed down the hallway, stopping right in front of Michael’s closed bedroom door to take in a breath. Slowly lifting her closed fist to knock on the door, she suddenly felt a pair of hands rest on her shoulders and then quickly turned to see Max standing behind her.

“Max.” Liz whispered to him in shock while he brushed her hair back. “What are you doing here?”

“Just getting a good night kiss in case this doesn’t work.” Max whispered back with a seducing half smile and then lowered down to her to give her a kiss. “Good night, Liz.” Max bid before he made his way back to his room, leaving Liz glowing at Michael’s door.

“Here goes nothing.” Liz thought to herself for support and then knocked on the door.

“Yeah?” Michael called out from behind the door before he reached the door and opened it, surprised to see Liz standing there. “What happened?”

“Um, did I interrupt something?” Liz questioned curiously when Michael practically squeezed himself out of the small space he had allowed the door to open and then quickly closed it behind him.

“No. What do you want?” Michael asked bluntly in order t change the subject.

“You remember Eileen right?”

“Hiding-in-the-bushes, Eileen?” Michael answered in bewilderment.

“Michael.” Liz called out in amusing warning.

“What? It wasn’t like she wasn’t.” Michael defended.

“Shut up.” Liz laughed as she nudged him back and rolled her eyes at him, driving a small chuckle from him. “Anyway, point is, is that she’s coming to pick me up in a few.”

“Why?”

“I told you. I was suppose to go with her tonight because we were gonna try and figure out how we’re gonna do our hair and make up for Prom, remember?” Liz asked as she looked up to Michael, who was looking back at her confused. “You forgot? I told you about this like three weeks ago.”

“Hey, I told you and Max. If it’s not a Metallica lyric, the chances of me remembering it are as low as me taking over for Lars Ulrich. So, if you look at, technically me not remembering is your fault.” Michael stated to justify his blankness on the subject. “When are you coming back?”

“Well, we have half-a-day tomorrow. We have that Prom Fashion show thing so I’ll be here way before you guys go to work, which reminds me, I get the Cadillac tomorrow right? To pick up my dress?”

“Don’t even try it.” Michael threatened as he crossed his arm to show he meant business. “Take Max’s jeep tomorrow.”

“Do I have a choice?” Liz huffed as she rolled her eyes and placed her hand on her hip.

“That or the bus.”

“Love you too.” Liz mumbled in disappointment before standing on her tippy toes and placing a small peck on Michael’s offering cheek. “See you later.”

“Come back right after school, I got something to show you.” Michael ordered to her as she started to head down towards her room, but then watched as she turned with an intrigued expression.

“What is it?” Liz asked curiously.

“Tomorrow.” Michael answered and then quickly squeezed himself back into his room.


Michael’s Room

“Everything okay?” Maria questioned as she sat Indian style on the floor, surrounded by gidgets and gadgets and a manual fanned out in her hands.

“Yeah.” Michael replied and then squatted down beside her.

“You sure?” Maria questioned with concern, placing her hand on his forearm and giving it a small squeeze for support as her eyes locked with his.

And like some magnetic pull deriving from her full lips, Michael cupped the back of her head, feeling the softness of her hair before he pressed his lips against hers. It was almost as if her body was naturally created to smell like wild cherries and vanilla extract because the scent completely over took his senses. It brought him back to the first time he felt her closeness, her lips, and could recall every key her voice reached as she sang that night in the carnival.

Cupping the sides of her face, he slowly guided her off the floor and to the comfort of his bed, where he cloaked her body with his.


Liz’s Room

“What are you doing?” Max questioned cautiously as he slipped in Liz’s room and then snorted a laugh when Liz jumped in surprise.

“You scared me you jerk.” Liz snickered as she clutched onto her chest to feel her heart beating rapidly.

“Sorry.” Max chuckled as he took a step closer to her and noticed she had emptied out the contents of her book bag on her bed and had begun stuffing clothes inside it. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” Liz replied as she grabbed her book bag and took a step towards him as she zipped it up. “Did you get my toothbrush?”

“Yep. It’s safe and sound in my room.” Max assured her as he took the bag from her hand and replaced it with his hand. “Let’s go Einstein.”


Max’s Room

“I can’t believe it worked.” Max whispered to Liz huskily as she snuck in his room and then pressed her against the door, forehead with forehead, while he entwined his hands with hers at their sides.

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Liz replied letting out a blushing giggle and then began to draw seducing circles on Max’s chest. “Michael thinks I’m spending the night at Eileen’s house and that you’re shacking up with some babe tonight, meaning...”

“Meaning?” Max repeated before picking her up and then taking her to his bed, where he gave her a nod for her to continue with her statement.

“Meaning I’m yours for tonight.” Liz answered as she stretched on his bed.

“Well, I was thinking more of something along the lines of “forever”, but I’ll take “tonight” for now.” Max replied with a sincere gaze and then covered her lips with his.


Michael’s Room – 3 hrs later

Seeing Michael fast asleep, Maria slid out from underneath his protecting arm and moved to her spot from before near all the gadgets.

“Mmm.” Michael groaned in his sleep.

Maria watched him carefully before she extended out her hand above the pile, causing a faint light to shine from underneath her hand and getting brighter by every second until the light died out. When she lowered her hand, she proudly found a fully assembled telescope ready to be propped up for viewing and then quickly moved back into Michael’s safe arms.


The next morning

When Michael woke up, he couldn’t help but feel a warming flutter inside him when he spotted Maria curled up by him. He never imagined himself waking up to a girl that aside from beautiful, had the most down to earth personality and that could mustard up a good come back after he hit her with a good burn.

He didn’t think she could do anything else to top his impression of her, until he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and spotted the fully assembled telescope propped up at the end of the bed.

“She finished it.” Michael gasped in amazed surprise when he assumed Maria had assembled the telescope sometime when he fell asleep. Slipping carefully out from the bed, he grabbed the telescope gently from its tripod base and opened his door.

Heading down the hallway with intentions to show Max, he noticed the baseball cap was still on the doorknob and decided not to interrupt. He then bee-lined his way into Liz’s room and carefully set up the telescope by her window before adding the last “surprise” touch, a big red ribbon with an envelope attached to it. The eagerness to see her reaction when she would find it was over whelming because as much as he would deny it and try to hide it, when ever Liz would smile at him, it made him feel like he had finally done something right in his life.

Snapping back to reality, he started to head out the door when something he’s been curious about caught his eye...

...Liz’s journal.

Author's Note: Thank you everyone for the noms, the bumps, the feedbacks and your patience.

Earth2Mama, Grace52373, behrlyliz, icequeen, flyawayraven, Jason's Lover, tequathisy, Emz80m, roswellian504, kismet, lizard_queen, and Antarian Chick

I should be stoned for how terrible I am with the updates. My bad.

How about a recap?

Okay, Liz's prom is coming up and Max STILL hasn't asked her to go! (Just thought I'd point that out. ) Maria's revealed (to no one yet)that she's an alien by assembling Liz's telescope with her powers while Michael slept. Liz came up with a plan on how she could spend the night in Max's room without Michael finding out, and it worked. That's where she is now, in Max's room. But, with intentions to surprise Liz, Michael goes into her room to set up the telescope and on his way back out, he spots Liz's journal, where the chapter leaves off on Michael trying to decide whether or not he should read her journal or not, in order to find out if what Madam Vivian's prediction was right or wrong.


_____________________________________________________________
Song: Crash by Methods of Mayhem
Song: Sweetback by Curve
Song: Blue Skies by BT and Tori Amos

<center>Chapter 18: Journal Abyss


Trio Home

Liz’s Room – 7:10a.m.</center>


There it was.

Michael cautiously looked behind him and then to the door, to make sure he was really alone before he hesitantly picked up the leather bound book and held it tightly in his hands.

It was hard to believe that the answers to last nights’ question was resting in his very hands, but he knew that if he read Liz’s journal, he would be violating her privacy and he just couldn’t do that.

Well, not alone anyhow.


<center>Max’s Room</center>

“Who is it?” Max questioned after hearing a light knock on the door.

But without answering, Michael opened the door half way and averted his eyes when he saw Max quickly cover his mysterious guest. “Michael? What the hell?”

“Sorry man. Gotta talk to you.” Michael whispered, to make sure he didn’t wake up Max’s friend, who’s bare back was all that could be seen since Max’s upper body was blocking her identity.

“Can’t it wait?” Max questioned as he pulled the sheets up to cover Liz completely.

“I set up Liz’s thing on my own, so no, it can’t.” Michael answered in annoyance and then looked behind him and then back to Max. “Meet me in the kitchen.”

“Okay.” Max replied, waiting for Michael to close the door after him before he let out his breath of relief.

“That was close.” Liz whispered in fear as she pulled the covers off her.

“Too close.” Max agreed, looking down at Liz while she turned to lie on her back. “I think I swallowed my heart.”

“Stupid.” Liz giggled as she pulled Max down for a kiss and then wrapped her arms around his neck as he laid half his body on her. “What could he want at this time anyway?”

“I don’t know and it’s too bad you won’t be here to find out since you’ll be at school.” Max reminded with a smirk.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go to school.” Liz whined as she covered her eyes. “I feel like cutting today and staying her with you.” Liz confessed as she wrapped her arms around Max’s neck again and then placed a sweet butterfly kiss on his chest.

“You have no idea how bad I want you to stay too, but I wouldn’t want that jerk off to call you into his office again.” Max huffed in aggravation, as he looked absentmindedly to the corner of his room.

“When are you gonna tell me what happened between you guys?” Liz questioned curiously on the huge animosity there was between them.

“While you’re getting dressed.” Max replied impishly.

“No, that’s not enough time. I want details.” Liz pouted as she gathered the sheets and then climbed off the bed to Max’s closet where she hid her clothes. The second she opened the closet doors, she felt Max arms snake around her waist and then his body press up behind her before he planted a kiss on her bare shoulder. “Max.” Liz giggled before she turned in his arms and was caught off guard by Max’s lips.


<center>Front Door – 7:35a.m.</center>

“Come straight home, okay?” Max asked, leaning on the opened door as he placed a small kiss on the tip of her nose and then pressed his forehead against hers.

“Why?” Liz asked curiously as she rubbed his toned arms and then placed small pecks on his lips as she swayed in his arms.

“We have a surprise for you.” Max whispered and then smiled in enjoyment when he saw her face light up.

“A surprise?” Liz repeated with intrigue.

“Shh.” Max hushed, glancing behind him before sealing her lips with his smiling lips. “Go, before I don’t let you go at all.”

“Promises. Promises.” Liz teased seductively as she spiraled her fingertip down his chest and then started to walk out the door, sliding her handout of Max’s and then was quickly pulled back to his warm body for one last kiss before their fingertips stopped touching. “Mmm.” Liz purred in enjoyment as she tasted every last bit of his lips as Max entwined his fingers with hers. “Max.” Liz called out in longing.

“Go.” Max ordered with a smile as he playfully slapped her on the butt.

“Okay.” Liz pouted and then hurried to Max’s jeep that was parked two cars behind Michael’s convertible.


<center>Kitchen</center>

“Alright Michael. What’s the emergency?” Max questioned sarcastically in a humoring tone as he strolled into the kitchen and then bee-lined his way to the poured glass of orange juice that was on the counter top.

“I think Liz is having sex.” Michael bluntly announced causing Max to spit out the orange juice he had in his mouth.

“What?” Max coughed out as he pounded on his chest to get whatever liquid actually made it into his throat and down his windpipe.

“I think Liz is having sex.” Michael repeated as he pulled out her journal from the back of his pants a set it on the counter. Max’s heart literally skipped a beat at the sight of Liz’s journal and assumed the worse, that Michael had already read through it and found out that Liz and him were sleeping together.

“Michael…”

“Maria took me to a fortune teller and she said that my baby sister was sleeping with somebody.” Michael informed Max as he flipped through the pages and stopped on the entry that was written the previous night. “And the only way I can find out who it is, is by reading this.”

“Fortune teller? What? Michael, no. I don’t think you should.” Max warned nervously as he calculated how far he was from the front door.

“Morning.” Maria yawned as she made her way to Michael, wrapped her arms around his neck and then kissed him ‘hello’.

“Hey.” Michael greeted, kissing Maria on the cheek as he held her hip.

“You weren’t there when I woke up. I thought something happened to you.” Maria pouted as she stole another kiss and snuggled close to him.

“Sorry, I had to set Liz’s…”

“What the hell is that?” Maria gasped, cutting Michael off when she noticed an opened journal on the counter top with feminine writing and small heart doodles scattered about the pages before Michael quickly closed it and slid it inside the drawer. “Is that what I think it is?”

“What? I don’t see anything. Max do you?” Michael questioned with fake curiosity and then looked over to Max who started to stammer.

“I-I…”

“Oh no, Michael, no. Please tell me you did not read that.” Maria questioned with hope as she pointed to the drawer.

“Okay. I didn’t read it.” Michael replied right after her with an indifferent shrug and then picked up his glass of orange juice to take a sip.

“Do you know what you just did? You broke the cardinal rule in journal writing history.”

“What, no dog ears on the corners?”

“Very funny.” Maria retorted as she watched him shake his head in amusement. “No. Sure. Yeah, go ahead. Make jokes. Let’s see how hard you’ll be laughing when Liz finds out.” Maria warns as she crossed her arms and then looked over to Max. “And you…” Maria paused, just pointing at him with her chin and then shook her head in disappointment. “Liz trusted you…the both of you.” She declared as she looked from Michael to Max and then let out a breath before she started to head out.

“Hey, where are you going?” Michael called out, stopping her before she left the kitchen.

“Out. Away. China. Anywhere, because I sure as hell don’t want to be here when Liz finds out you read her journal.” Maria shouted back to him as her eyes widened in fear.

“Liz is not gonna find out.” Michael assured her as he guided her back into the kitchen. “And you know how I know she won’t know. Because I know I’m not gonna tell her. And you want to know what else I know, I know Max isn’t gonna tell her just like I know you’re not gonna tell her either.”

“Pity the fool.” Maria tsked as she shook her head. “Because all I know is, that I’m looking at a dead man. Two dead men.”

“It’s not that drastic Maria.” Michael huffed in annoyance as he rolled his eyes and let out a breath of frustration.

“Yeah, that’s it, under estimate the situation Michael, but you watch. Bad things are gonna happen. Evil things. Scary things. I don’t think I have the heart to be around to see you being sucked in to the apocalypse journal abyss with lover boy over there spiraling down after you. Face it pal, I’d be doing you a favor by not being there. Me not being there prevents ‘you’ from experiencing further embarrassment and spares ‘me’ a trip to the E.R. from twisting an ankle when I’m jumping around laughing and pointing ‘I told you so’. So, good luck. Sayonara, and don’t forget to kiss your dead butts good-bye as the plane is crashing down.” Maria waved good-bye in a pageant manner as she exited the kitchen, leaving Michael and Max in a cloud of bewilderment.

“Maria’s right Michael. We can’t read Liz’s journal.” Max advised in a worried tone as he stepped closer to the counter and began tapping his ring on the surface.

“No, Maria's crazy and who asked you anyway?” Michael spat and then brought the journal back out from the drawer.

“Michael…”

“Maxwell, why don’t you go upstairs and slap on one of Liz’s dresses because you’re acting like a little…”

“Michael, I just don’t want to read it, okay?” Max shouted in his defense as he passed his hands roughly through his hair and began pacing back and forth in the small space between the counter and the refrigerator.

“Well, there’s the door Max. You don’t have to be here.” Michael reminded as he pressed the spine of the journal against the counter top and pointed to the entryway to the dinning room for Max to leave. Max looked from the journal to the entryway and from the entryway to the journal, trying to decide what to do as he bit nervously on his thumbs’ fingernail. “Well?” Michael badgered impatiently to see what Max’s answer was gonna be.

“Like you know how to read.” Max proclaimed tensely as he walked up to Michael and snatched the journal right out of his hands.

“That a boy.” Michael cheered as he patted Max’s shoulder proudly and then looked over his shoulder as Max began thumbing through the pages.

“I can’t read with you breathing down my neck.” Max huffed in irritation as he shrugged Michael away from him, but really with intentions to get Michael away in order to edit the entries.

“Well, I wanted to read it anyway.” Michael rebutted as he snatched the journal from Max’s fingertips and then flipped a few pages ahead. “Dear Diary,” Michael started to read as Max swallowed hard and began biting his thumbs’ nail again neurotically. “Today the most amazing thing in the world happened to me and I don’t even know where to begin.”

“What? What is it?” Max questioned with his voice cracking when Michael suddenly stopped reading out loud.

“I can’t believe this!” Michael shouted as he stood up and through the journal to the refrigerator door.

“What?” Max questioned in a frightened tone and then moved to pick up the journal.

Once Max was back up, he took a startled step back when Michael was right behind him and then snatched the book out of his hands again. He opened the journal again to the page he was reading from and then started to read out loud again in a harsher tone as he traced his fingers underneath the words. “Today, the most astonishing thing happened to me and I don’t even know where to begin. Today, I lost my virginity to the most amazing guy in the world…” Michael snapped the book shut and then glared at Max before he started to poke at him with the corner of the book until Max’s back was pressed up against the refrigerator.

“Michael, I can explain.” Max stammered as he held his hands up in defense.

“No you can’t. You can’t even begin to explain how my baby sister lost her virginity to Kyle Valenti!” Michael shouted as he poked Max on last time with the journal.

“What?” Max coughed out in shock at the sound of anyone’s name but his.

“Kyle Valenti.” Michael repeated before Max snatched the book from Michael’s hand to see for himself that Liz indeed lost her virginity to Kyle Valenti. “I’m gonna kill him. I’m gonna fucking kill him!” Michael shouted as he punched the wall, making a huge hole in the plaster and then stormed out the room.

“Not before I do.” Max mumbled in anger and then followed after him.


<center>West Roswell High</center>

“Liz, surprised you pulled a round-robin on you bro.” Eileen winked as she leaned against Liz’s locker.

“Stick around, Eileen. I’m full of surprises.” Liz laughed as she pulled her notebook out from her locker and adjusted her book bag in what free space she had left.

“Oh yeah? What’s your next trick?” Eileen questioned, arching her eyebrow with intrigue.

“Well, do you want to cut class with me to go pick up my prom dress?” Liz asked with a mischievous smirk.

“Cut class? Liz, come on. It’s me you’re talking to. I was already gonna cut, now I just have a reason to.” Eileen shrugged carelessly as the two chuckled in amusement. "Now if I could just get you to come with me to Trash & Huntington, then we'd be in business." Eileen pitched as she wiggled her eyebrows devilishly.

"Trash & Huntington? The party at the soap factory?"

"Just you knowing about it sends a shiver down my spine." Eileen teased as she imitated a shiver. "So are you in?"



<center>Cadillac</center>

“I’m gonna kill him.” Michael shouted in rage from the passenger seat and then punched the glove compartment before he turned to point to Max, who had just made a sharp right to the point where the tires squeaked. “No, first you're gonna hold him down while I break his legs and then I’m gonna beat him to death with them.” Michael plotted making Max’s grip on the steering wheel tighten from rage.

To hold his composure, Michael turned on the radio and then began pounding on the dashboard to the hard rock beat.

Here’s some music to crash your car to,
ain’t no use its to fast to undo
CRASH....CRASH,
60 shots of Jack and I feel you,
equilibrium’s off and its pure pandemonium

Were going too fast, were going too fast,
ain’t no way this shit is ever gonna last,
were going too fast, were gonna crash
I’d push my luck but so what I just don’t give a fuck

“There he is.” Max announced when he stopped abruptly in front of the Crashdown, causing Michael’s upper body to whiplash forward and back against the seat.

“Where?” Michael questioned as he looked through the crowd of football players in search for Kyle Valenti.

“There.” Max repeated as he shut off the ignition and then stepped out of the car. “Valenti.” Max called out meeting Michael on the passenger side just as he climbed out and then the two coolly made there way over to Kyle.

“Evans, right?” Kyle questioned to Max as he looked at him unsure and then twirled the football in his hands as he looked from Max to Michael, who were glaring at him with hate. “What? What’d I do?”


<center>Trio Home - Noon</center>

“I’m home!” Liz called out as she dropped her book bag by the door and then entered into the living room where she tossed the jeep keys on the coffee table.

“Max? Michael?” Liz called out, before she moved to the stair railing and looked up the stairs with anticipation to find out what "the big surprise" was, that Max and Michael had constantly been reminding her of.

"Guys?" She squeaked in a unsure panic before she slowly stepped into the dining room, where she found Michael, Max and Kyle sitting quietly in the dinning room. Michael, sitting at the head of table like the Godfather, Kyle to the left of him and Max to the right of Kyle.

“Kyle? What are you...” Liz questioned with confused surprise when she saw his eyes widen by her presence and then looked to Michael, who tilted his chin up to scan her skeptically and Max, who was looking away from her at first before he shot her a hurt glare. “What’s going on?”

“That’s what I like to know.” Kyle added as cracked his knuckles from how nervous he was.

“Michael?” Liz called out, awaiting an answer. Michael leaned back and hung his arm over the dining room chair and turned slightly to look at Kyle and then to her.

“What? Can’t a brother get to know his little sisters boyfriend?” Michael announced with a bitter shrug.

“What?” Both Liz and Kyle exclaimed in shock.

“I-I’m not her boyfriend.” Kyle denied with waving hands and a chuckle of disbelief.

“You frickin’ better be after everything you’ve two have done.” Michael threatened while Max looked down at his hand as he tapped on the table, trying to hold back his anger.

“What?” Kyle asked confused as he stood up.

“Kyle...you better sit down...or the only sport you’ll be playing is will be soccer after I break your arms.” Michael threatened pointing for Kyle to sit back down with his eyes.

“Kyle. Just sit down.” Max advised between his teeth and then looked over to Liz, who was trying to figure out what was going on through his expression.

Kyle looked from Liz to Max as he sat back down slowly and began shaking his leg in paranoia. “Look man, I don’t know who told you that I was seeing Liz, but I can assure you that this is some kind of...”

“No one had to tell me.” Michael interrupted and then stood up, making Kyle flinch back when he thought Michael was going to do something to him. “I read what you were doing with my sister.”

“Read?" Kyle repeated before he trembled lightly in fear.

"Max, what the hell is he talking about?” Liz asked but just got a cold look in return.

“Man, you picked the wrong girl to play your frat house, grab-ass tricks with Valenti.” Michael threatened as he crossed his arms, holding his elbows, and towered over him for intimidation.

“What are you talking about? I never touched her.” Kyle quickly defended, looking at all three of them in panic. Michael leaned over slightly to his side to pull out the black bound journal from the back of his pants, which Kyle mistook for something else and quickly held his hands up in surrender as he cried with his eyes shut tight. “I swear! I swear I never touched her!” He shouted in fear, but then stopped when he heard Michael snort out a laugh. He opened one eye and looked to Liz and Max, who were looking at him quizzically.

“Don’t piss on my chair.” Michael warned with his dry sense of humor, causing Max to snort a laugh and Liz to glare at the both of them, unamused, with her hands on her hips and her foot tapping from irritation.

Michael then placed the black bound journal on the table. Liz’s eyes opened wide when she recognized her journal, and then everything became clear to her, Michael had read her journal.

“Where did you get that?” Liz asked stalked over to him and snatched the book off the table.

“We found it.” Michael answered indifferently with a shrug.

“We?” Liz repeated and then glared over to Max who was looking down at his hands. “You ‘both’ read this?” Liz exclaimed with anger.

“Look, don’t be pissed. You wouldn’t tell me what was going on, so...”

“So, you decided to invade my privacy and find out for yourself, is that it?” Liz questioned, appalled that her own brother and boyfriend would sink low enough to rummaging through her stuff and read her journal. “Those were my private thoughts, Michael. Mine!” Liz declared, pointing to herself with rage trembling in her voice and tears collecting in her eyes.

“Look, obviously this is some kind of sibling dispute...” Kyle began to ramble as he slowly got up.

“Sit down!” Michael and Max ordered.

“No, get out.” Liz commanded and Kyle struggled with whether he should leave or sit, not knowing who to fear more.

"Sit." Michael snickered between his teeth and glared at Kyle to sit down.

“Kyle go.” Liz ordered.

"Sit."

"Go."

“You sure Kujo won’t go after me?” Kyle asked as he slowly inched his way to the door.

“Kujo. That’s funny. I’m gonna have to remember that the next time I see you.” Michael threatened as he watched Kyle move closer to the door.

"Just go home, Kyle." Liz commanded in a defeat breath.

“I'm going, but for the record, I never touched your sister.” Kyle proclaimed and then scurried out the house, slamming the door behind him.

“He was telling the truth.” Liz answered in a desolate tone as she looked down at her heel, that she was twisting into the carpet and then looked at Max from underneath her eyelashes and then looked to Michael.

“So then who the hell is it? You wrote it was him. If it’s not him, then who?” Michael questioned.

“You really want to know who it is?” Liz yelled from the top of her lungs and then glanced at Max when he quickly stood up.

“Yeah tell me.” Michael demanded, crossing his arms as he awaited his answer.

“Okay.” Liz answered and then stormed off to the living room where Max followed.


<center>Living Room</center>

“Liz, what are you...”

“DON’T...touch-me.” Liz warned pulling her arm away from Max’s hold and then grabbed a legal pad-sized bound book from the bookshelf and returned to the dining room, where Michael was waiting.


<center>Dinning Room</center>

“Here.” Liz yelled throwing the book as hard as she could to Michael, making the sharp tip bruise his skin.

“Oww.” Michael yelled as he rubbed the spot the book hit him in. “What the hell did you do that for?”

“Because your a jerk!” Liz yelled. “You wanted to know who it was, there you go.” Liz said pointing to her yearbook that she threw at him. “Pick any guy, cause it doesn’t matter to me anymore. The two of you managed to ruin something that I thought was really amazing and special with your stupidities.” Liz cried and shot a glance to Max, who was biting his lip, mentally kicking himself for betraying her and looked over to Michael, who looked the same way.

“Liz, we’re sorry.” Max apologized softly. Liz just snapped her head in Max’s direction at the sound of his apology and glared at him with hurt.

“No, Max. You’re not.” Liz stated, getting a puzzled look from Max. “Not yet you’re not.” She threatened and then looked back to Michael and glared at him with the same hurt expression before walking to the door, grabbing her book bag, running upstairs to her room and slammed the door behind her.

“Man, she’s pissed.” Michael announced in a winced as he rubbed his newly formed bruise.

“H-How mad do you think she is?” Max asked nervously and got a shrug from Michael as a response.

‘Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.’

Both Michael’s and Max’s head snapped in the direction of the staircase when they heard the loud chirp of the smoke detector ringing and then shoot themselves a worried look before they ran up the stairs.


<center>Upstairs Hallway</center>

“Liz!” Michael called out as he rushed up the stairs and straight into her room to see that she wasn't there.

"Michael." Max called out and then pointed to the bathroom door, showing Michael thin swirls of smoke coming out from underneath the door.

“Liz!” Michael repeated in worry as he stormed into her the bathroom, letting out a thick black cloud of smoke, along with the sickening smell of burning plastic and paper, and spotted Liz standing by the sink, near a pile of un-recognizable melted objects. “What-kah-the hell-kah-are you doing?” Michael coughed as he pulled Liz out of the bathroom and handed her to Max, while he re-entered the bathroom to open the window and rid the room from the lung-clogging smoke.

“Let go of me.” Liz shrugged Max’s hold off and waited for Michael to return.

“What the hell is wrong with you Left-Eye?” Michael questioned with sarcasm. Liz simply smirked at him and then handed him a CD booklet of a red fist wrapped in a gray rope before she locked herself in her room.

“Max.” Michael puffed out in shock when he assumed what she had done.

“Yeah?”

“You look. I don’t think I can.” Michael spoke in shock.

“Um, I don’t think you should go in there now.” Max answered and patted Michael on the back for comfort, confirming Michael's speculations that Liz had indeed burned his Metallica CD’s. “So I guess this answers my question of how pissed she is.” Max pointed out as he let out a weak laugh.

“Not as pissed as I am now.” Michael retorted and then moved to Liz’s door and began banging on it. “Liz! What the hell’s wrong with you! Metallica had nothing to do with this. Why couldn’t you burn Max’s stupid Counting Crows CD’s?”

“Thanks.” Max sneered with his hands on his sides.

“Liz!” Michael yelled banging on the door.

“I suggest you go away before I find something else to burn.” Liz threatened from behind the door.

“You burned Metallica. There’s nothing else.” Michael answered back sadly.

“I could think of something else you love.” Liz answered.

Michael thought pensively on what other item he loved as much as Metallica and could only think of one other thing…his car.

“Yeah right?” Michael called her bluff.

“Dare me.” Liz yelled.

“I think we better go.” Max advised, knowing the both of them well enough to know that neither were the type to fall back on their word, so if Liz said she’d do it…she would.

“This is bullshit, Liz!” Michael shouted as Max pulled him into his room.


<center>Liz’s Room</center>

Liz pressed the back of her head against the door when she couldn’t hear them standing outside her door anymore and then dove into her bed, crying freely into her pillow.


<center>Max’s Room</center>

“She’s still crying.” Max informed Michael as he looked up at him, giving him a guilty look since Liz had been crying for 5 minutes straight. “I think we really screwed up Michael.” Max confessed as his eyes wondered off to his bed, causing him to drift off on the moment Liz and him had shared earlier.

“Yeah, no shit Sherlock.” Michael huffed and then signaled Max to continue listening. Max looked down at the ground for a second and then returned to place his ear back on the wall to listen in.

“Wait.”

“What?” Michael questioned as he put his ear against the wall as well. “What? I don’t hear anything.”

“Shh.” Max hushed, swearing he heard something beside Liz crying. “There.” Max whispered when he heard the sounds again.

“What is that?” Michael questioned before Max shushed him again.

“Sounds like…she’s called someone.” Max speculated when he heard the beeps of the numbers being pushed on the cordless phone in Liz’s room.

“Better not be Kyle.”


<center>Liz’s Room</center>

“Eileen?” Liz called out as she wiped her tears away. “Trash and Huntington…I’m in.”


Living Room - 9:37p.m.

Max and Michael both sat quietly in the living room, looking at the TV without really watching what was on. They were both unsettled since Liz had been locked in her room for hours with her music blasting, preventing them from listening in any further.

Deep in there thoughts of guilt, they didn’t notice when the music had shut off until they both saw Liz suddenly walk into the living room and grabbed Max’s keys from the coffee table.

“Liz?” Max called out in shock as he and Michael both stood up and watched as Liz stormed out to the front door wearing close to nothing.

“Liz, where the hell are you going?” Michael questioned in a shout as he and Max followed after her, but only caught the front door slamming in their faces. Michael quickly opened the front door, just as Liz started up the jeep and pulled out the driveway. “Liz!” Michael called out as he jogged to the end of the driveway where she stopped the car. “Liz, what the hell do you think you’re doing? Get in the house.” Michael ordered as Max looked worriedly to her.

“You know what Max, from all people, why you?” Liz questioned, feeling a knot form in her throat.

“Liz, we’re sorry. Just…please, come back inside.” Max pleaded as he looked at her shake her head in dissappointment.

“Screw you Max. Screw you both. You guys obviously don’t respect me or my privacy, so why the hell should I respect you.”

“Liz, get inside.” Michael ordered.

Liz looked up at the both of them just as a tear trailed down her cheek, wiping the tear away, she shifted the gear into ‘drive’ and drove off as Max and Michael shouted her name.


<center>Eileen’s House – 9:48 p.m.</center>

‘Beep. Beep.’

Liz honked and then waved when she saw Eileen look out the window before she looked in her rear view mirror to see if Michael had decided to follow her.

“Wow, Liz. I’m digging the new you.” Eileen commented once she reached the car, surprised to see Liz out of her A student wardrobe and into a party girls uniform, a form fitting mini skirt and a backless top to match her strappy heels. “What changed?” She questioned with admiration as she hopped into the passenger side of the jeep and strapped on her seat belt.

“Don’t know. All I know is I want to party.” Liz replied as she turned the wheel and pulled out as Eileen cheered with her hands in the air.


<center>Trash & Huntington – 10:03 p.m.</center>


It's a lonely world
When the spell is broken
To the beat of your love


“Beer?” Eileen offered once they reached the bar.

“No. Shots.” Liz shouted through the music. “A lot of them.” She ordered to the young bartender as she pounded on the counter top.

The bar tender nodded and then lined up 6 shot glasses before the two and then twirled the liquor bottle in his hand like a drum stick before pouring the liquor into the glass, spilling some in between the spaces of the shot glasses.


If I were to die
At this very moment
I'd be happy enough
Let fate decide
If our future's going
As high as the sky above


“You ready?” Eileen shouted as they grabbed their first shot.

“Oh yeah.” Liz smirked as she kept her eyes on the shot and then drank it in one gulp before she lost her nerve. “Wooo!” Liz cheered out the burning sensation in her throat before she moved on to the next one.

“Wooo!” They both cheered simultaneously as they moved on to the next two shot.


Then I'll be
Happy in love
I'll be strong and tough
I'll be sad enough
I'll be dirty and rough


“To Max and Michael. May Max be happy with a new girlfriend he can trust and Michael live happily ever after with his little runaway girlfriend, Maria.” Liz toasted before she drank the last shot and then slammed it on the counter top.


Oh yeah-hhhhhhheaaa
Those blue skies are ahead.
Blue skies are in my head.


“Oo, I love this song!” Liz shouted in glee as she shook her hair in excitement, like she was towel drying it.

“You want to dance?” The guy beside her questioned with a charming smile as he offered his hand.

“Sure.” Liz nodded, giving Eileen an ‘oh well’ look before she slipped her hand into his and followed him into the middle of the dance floor.


All the town clocks
And marching soldier’s socks.
I say, "let’s go, let’s go, let’s go
To this magic wonder show".
And I’m walking,
And crawling,
And so tired I’m insane.

I, I, I, I, I, I,
I see
Blue skies are in my head.
I said, "blue skies are up ahead" (blue skies are in my head)
I said, "blue skies are in my head" (blue skies are in my head)
I said, "blue skies are up ahead"


“What’s your name?” The guy questioned as he watched Liz sway her hips to the trance party beat.

“Liz. What’s yours?” Liz questioned before she dipped and then returned into his arms to hear his answer.


Beachwood says he’d like you in the street
So like you in the street
In the lullabies
Just when she sings
Like you in the street
So like you in the street
In the lullabies
You can go just where she’s going...

Blue skies are in my head.
I said, "blue skies are up ahead" (blue skies are in my head)
I said, "blue skies are in my head" (blue skies are in my head)
I said, "blue skies are up ahead"


“Billy. Billy Darden.”


Blue skies,
oh say blue skies are in my...
Blue skies are in my head.
I said, "blue skies are up ahead" (blue skies are in my head)
I said, "blue skies are in my head" (blue skies are in my head)
I said, "blue skies are up ahead"

_____________________________________________________________
Song: Listen to Your Heart by D.H.T.


Author's Note: Liz did not leave until 9 at night, this is a split chapter that coincides with chapter 18, so this is a view of what Maria was doing when all that good stuff was happening in Chapter 18 when Liz was in her room and all. So this is not after Liz dances w/ Billy. This is before it.

<center>Chapter 19: Adieu

Trio Home – 7:37a.m.</center>

“…So, good luck. Sayonara, and don’t forget to kiss your dead butts good-bye as the plane is crashing down.” Maria bid as she waved good-bye in a pageant manner and then made her way out the front door.

She could barely remember the time she had actually gotten up early enough to see the sun at its brightest moment, but last night, her dreams had gotten the best of her. To the point where she found herself awakened in a pool of sweat and Michael nowhere in sight, which frightened her more than he could imagine. In a worried panic, she stormed out of his room, expecting to find him hurt or missing, but instead, finds him in the kitchen contemplating on whether or not to read Liz’s journal. Deep down, she blamed herself since the disastrous scenario would’ve never happened if she didn’t pushed Michael to go see Madame Vivian with her.

On a normal day, she would have gloated until her cheeks fell off, that Madame Vivian’s reading was right. But instead, she was consumed with fear. Fear that was breathing down her neck in the form of Billy’s breath, letting her know that her time was coming up, that somewhere down the line, Billy would find her, and if not Billy, then “they” would and she’d end up just like Sean.

She needed sanctuary.

A place to think without having questions asked, but she was too far away from the carnival.



<center>Roswell Cemetery – 7:56 a.m.</center>

“I know this is the last place I should have gone to...” Maria whispered as she waved her hand in front of the withered headstone before her, making the letters shift and change to read “Sean DeLuca: Beloved Brother and Honorable Leader”. “…but it’s the closest thing I have to where you are.” She confessed in a sob as she touched the newly engraved letters and bowed her head in respect.

“I can’t do it Sean.” She cried out as tears started to fall freely from her eyes. “I can’t do this alone. I can’t do this without you, not if The Order and Billy are out to get me.” She avowed as she shook her head in rejection. “I can’t let anyone else get hurt because of who we are, Sean. Michael…his sister…his friend. I-I can’t put them in that kind of danger.” Maria declared before her confession was startled by the sounds of car doors slamming shut.

Standing up off her knees, she kept a cautious eye on the quartet of mourners that were making their way down the gravel path, towards her direction, while she pressed her hand on the headstone again, and changed it into the original scripture.

“I’m sorry.” Maria whispered desolately to the headstone and then turned on her heel to the iron gates of the cemetery before taking one last glance at the scenery. Hugging the emotional chills to warmth, she exited the cemetery and commenced her walk back to Michael’s.

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

Eyes on the pavement and distracted by her thoughts, she walked slowly down the sidewalk, thinking on her growing feelings towards Michael and all of Madame Vivian’s readings. If it wasn’t for the readings, she would’ve kept her eyes shut to the world and fallen deep into the misery Billy was sinking her into.

“Mmm.” Maria mumble at the feeling of someone covering her mouth tightly, her feet dangling in the air as she struggle to break free, and her back curving to the chest of the oversized man that was carrying her into the back alley of the Crashdown.

“It’s me.” She heard the man whisper, but the sound of her heartbeat was throbbing loudly in her ears preventing her from making out who it could be until the man released his grip and turned her to face him.

“What-” Maria mumbled into speechlessness when she finally recognized the man before her. “What are you doing here?”

“Not making animal balloons, that’s for sure.”

“How did you find me?” Maria questioned in dazed confusion.

“I didn’t.” He replied as he let out a tired breath and then looked at her in warning. “He did.”

“Billy?” Maria gasped, feeling her body start to tremble at the sound of his name.

“I don’t know how he did it, it’s like he knew exactly where you were. I’ve been doing everything in my powers to stop him, delay him a bit, but the man is focused. It’s too bad that his muse is you, Sweet Pea.”

“Where is he?” Maria questioned in panic as she dug her fingers into her hair and then looked out the alley cautiously.

“I lost him. He probably figured out that I was following him.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Get me out of here.” Maria shouted as she pushed him back against the brick wall.

“I would, Sweet Pea. You know that. But we got a problem.” He informed her in a dooming tone and then guided her out the alley.


<center>Carnival of Souls

Madame Vivian’s Tent</center>

“Oh my God! Are you okay?” Maria questioned in a gasp when she saw the awful condition Madame Vivian was in.

“I’m okay. I’m okay.” She replied waving for the two to come in.

“This is all my fault.” Maria cried, covering her mouth with attempts of quieting down her trembling voice.

“Are you crazy?” Madame Vivian snickered as she sat up. “I know I blacked out but I don’t think it was your fist I saw charging at me like a freight train.” She clarified as she patted on Maria’s hand and then looked over her shoulder, towards the door. “No boyfriend?” Madame Vivian questioned, seeing Maria shake her head ‘no’ before she let out a breath of relief. “Thank God. Because I sure as hell can’t handle him asking me if I saw this coming or not. Cute kid, but a mouth!”

“We’re getting out of here and I want you to come with us.” Maria pleaded as she covered Madame Vivian’s hand with hers and held it near her heart.

“And where would you go?” Madame Vivian questioned, seeing Maria struggle to come up with an answer. “If you runaway, you’ll be running all your life. You have to stay here and you have to stay with him if you want this to be over. He’s the only one that can help you.”

“Yeah, but at what cost? I don’t-I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. If anything happens to them…” Maria trailed off and looked desolately at her hands.

“Maria, you saw what the cards dealt. Like it or not, you’re gonna have to make a choice and only you can make it, but…” Madame Vivian paused and took a second to carefully plan her words “…you’re gonna have to tell him, Maria. It’s not fair to keep him in the dark, not with something he thinks is so insignificant.”

'A new acquaintance that stands between light and dark...good and evil. She will help you see things for what they truly are and reveals things aren’t what they appear to be. And your misconception will be pointed out by only by true love.'

'So, what are you saying? That I’m gonna fall in love?'

'Yes, but it isn’t your love the cards show that will help you open your eyes...Something bad is going to happen. Something very bad. And there’s only one way to keep that from happening...you must believe in the love’

“I’ll tell him.” Maria vowed as she wiped her tears away with her trembling hands and sniffled out the rest of her cry as she nodded her head. “I’ll tell him.”

“When?”


<center>Trio Home - 2:28P.M.</center>

‘Something bad is going to happen. Something very bad. And there’s only one way to keep that from happening...you must believe in the love’

It was a task she knew Michael couldn’t achieve and deep down greedily wished he could, because when the time would come for his faith to be put to the test, in the end, she would no longer be a part of his life.

“Can I ask a question?” … “How do you know? How do you know it’s him?”

“Cause I...I feel it. I felt it the moment he walked in the tent. I felt it the moment I kissed him.”

“I love him.” Maria confessed to herself in a whisper as she rested her forehead and palms on the door to gather her emotions. Releasing a deep breath, she took a step back as she cleared the heartache that dwelled in the center of her throat with a small cough and then pushed the doorbell before she rubbed the nervous shakes from her hands.

“Hey.” Max greeted her when he opened the door, catching her disappointed frown to see him open the door instead of Michael, which was replaced with a forced smile.

“Is-is Michael home?” Maria questioned as Max took a step back to let her in.

“Yeah, hold on.” Max replied as he jogged up the stairs and turned in the direction of Michael’s room, where he found Michael looking over the remainder of his Metallica CD’s. “Michael?”

“The Black Album. She burned the Black Album.” Michael informed him in a shaky tone.

“Maria’s downstairs.”

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

Twisting the collar of her jacket, Maria paced back and forth between the space of the couch and the coffee table, planning her words for when she would see Michael and finally tell him the truth.

“Maria?” Michael called out, seeing her quickly turn and bee-line her way to him. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you Michael.” She pleaded as she entwined her fingers with his and pulled him up the stairs and into the comforts of his room before she let go of his hand and continued her pacing.

“Where did you go?” He questioned as he shoved his hands in his pockets and followed her movements with his eyes.

“Michael, there’s something I have to tell you and it may not seem rational but you have to believe me.” Stopping to face him, the fowl stench of burning plastic reached her nostrils and reminded her of a similar scent the first time she reached Carnival of Souls.


~~ Flashback~~

“You’re new around here, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m Maria.” Maria answered nervously as the chubby man approaching her stretched out a long balloon before he blew into the opening, causing the rubber to expand.

“And a musician.” He added as he pointed to her guitar case beside her feet. “Not exactly the place a musician would be looking for work at, unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Unless a job isn’t really what you’re looking for.” He replied as he tied the ends of the balloon, creating a heart, and then handed it to her.

“What else would I be looking for in a carnival?” Maria questioned with a smile as she accepted the balloon and examined it as the clown bowed before her.

“Friends perhaps.”

~~End Flashback~~


“Maria?” Michael called out, waving his hand in front of her face when he noticed she had drifted off into her train of thought and then crossed his arms when she blinked back into reality. “What’s with you today?”

“Wh-why did you go into my tent that night?” Maria questioned as she picked nervously at her fingernail polish.

“What?”

“What made you go there that night? Was it a feeling or did you just go there because you were bored?” She continued, hearing her voice start to crack and her lip start to tremble.

“Maria, I really don’t need this today. My sister just flipped out on us, she won’t come out of her room, she burned my Metallica CD’s…”

“Michael, please. Just answer me.” She cried as she quickly wiped away the trio of tears escaped her and covered her mouth as she turned her back to him.

“Okay, what the hell happened?”

“I, I just need to know that you felt the same thing I did when I first saw you. That you didn’t go inside the tent because you had nothing to do.” She whimpered as she hugged herself for warmth and then turned to face him. “Please.”

“I don’t know why, okay?” Michael retorted as he walked passed her and stopped to look out his window before he stalked back to stand in front of her. “Maria, I don’t go around putting my family in danger to cross state lines to save a girl I hardly know. I don’t drive to the middle of the desert to see a whack-job fortuneteller or keep in contact with carnival clowns named Sweet Tooth or whatever the hell his name is.” He shouted as he poked his finger into the palm of his hand after each statement. “I don’t do things like that…” He confessed, holding on to her arms as his tone and expression softened “but with you…I don’t know why I do them. I don’t know why, so you can’t ask me to explain what I feel when I don’t even know. All I know is that I’ve never felt it before and that by the time I realized where I am, I don’t want to leave.” Lowering his head, he felt a sudden case of vulnerability as she stroked the sides of his face in a soothing manner.

“You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to, but I do.” She declared as she cupped his face to get him to look at her and then began combing the back of his hair with her fingers. “I’m in love with you, Michael.” She confessed before her lips met with his.


<center>Liz’s Room</center>

“Liz, please open the door.” Max begged as he rested his whole right side against her door, only hearing the vibrations of the music she had on. “Liz?”


<center>Michael’s Room</center>

“Why did that feel like a good-bye?” Michael questioned with a hint of panic as he held her by her arms again, watching her intently as she gave him a faint smile and caressed his cheek before she began undoing his belt buckle. “Maria?” He called out causing her to look down as she fought back the urge to cry and then cleared her throat before she flashed him with another collected smile as her eyes continued to tear up.

“Just, shut up okay?” She commanded softly with her lip trembling before she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to his bed.

I know there’s something in the wake of your smile
I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yeah
you’ve built a love but that love falls apart
your little piece of heaven turns too dark

listen to your heart
when he’s calling for you
listen to your heart
there’s nothing else you can do
I don’t know where you’re going
and I don’t know why
but listen to your heart
before you tell him goodbye

<center>Merry Christmas everybody!</center>
<center></center>
<center> </center>

A/N: Hi guys. I haven't updated a few of my fics because my A:/ has gone crazy. I don't know what's wrong with it. It's destroying every file I try to open, it makes everything I typed into boxes and dashes. I only managed to salvage two fics which are the ones I've posted recently only because my beta had copies of it. I'm trying to get it fixed but with the holidays coming up and everything, I'm strapped for cash. Hopefully, I can get it fixed.