Roswell Fanatics

Chapter Sixty Eight

They walked to the Crashdown in companionable silence, stealing covert glances in the other’s direction from time to time. Max stayed on the outside of the sidewalk, tightly clasping Liz’s hand in his own. He pulled her hand with his into the side pocket of his leather jacket, feigning cold in order to pull her body closer to his.

Their steps slowed as the Crash came into view, neither wanting to let go of the relative peace they were experiencing. Max walked her to the front doors of the café, hovering protectively behind her as she pushed her key into the lock. She turned the key and then twisted around to face him.

Liz: I had a good time tonight.

Max: Me, too.

She looked up at his smiling face and felt tears developing in her eyes. Max’s smile faltered at the sight.

Max: What’s wrong?

Liz: Nothing. I just haven’t seen you smile like that for a while.

Max: There hasn’t been much to smile about...

Liz: Yeah.

He wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, his hand lingering over the soft skin of her cheeks as he pulled away. She laughed at her uncharacteristic response to a smile, and Max grinned back at her. They stood in the lightly falling snow, content to watch each other. A passing car interrupted the moment, honking as it drove by them. Liz grabbed one of Max’s hands and gave it a tug.

Liz: Max?

He looked away from the car he’d been straining to identify at the sound of her voice. Max looked down at her, and Liz smiled shyly up at him.

Max: Hmm?

Liz: Will you... Come into the diner for a minute. I... I have something I want to give you.

Max: Liz... You didn’t have to -

Liz: I know. It’s... Just... Come in.

Liz pulled on the door, and Max held it open, letting her pass through before walking into the diner himself. They shook the light dusting of snow off of their clothes. Liz tapped Max’s arm and gestured toward the back of the café.

Liz: Wait here. I’ll be right back.

Max wandered around the diner and considered what Liz wanted to give him. He thought of the package concealed in the inner pocket of his jacket, wondering what she would say if he gave it to her. The swinging door opened, and Max watched as Liz approached him, biting her lip and concealing her hands behind her back. She walked up to him and brought her hands around to her front. Clasped between them was a small, gold box.

Liz: I thought... if we’re gonna be friends... maybe you’d want this back.

She placed the box in his hand. He removed the lid to reveal the pocket knife he’d returned the month before. Max held the box in his hand, studying the trinket.

Max: I don’t know what to say.

Liz: You don’t have to say anything. Just... Please, Max, it’s yours. Take it back.

Max removed the knife from the box and held it in his hand, bouncing it in his cupped palm. He noticed Liz watching him and slipped the knife into his back pocket.

Max: O-Okay. I, uh... I got you something, too.

Liz: You did?!

Max: Yeah. It, umm... I was shopping for presents with Isabel, and... I saw this and... It reminded me of you, so...

He reached inside his coat to retrieve the small box he’d placed there only yesterday. It was small and white, adorned with a small red bow on the top. Max handed it to her, and she brought it up to her ear as she lightly shook the box.

Liz: Ooh! What is it? What is it?

He laughed at her childlike delight, shaking his head at her innocent antics. She stopped the small hops she’d been making when she heard his low sounds of happiness.

Max: Just open it, Liz.

Liz: (blushes) Right.

Liz opened the box, revealing a long, thin silver chain. As she held it up, a charm slid into the center, and she gasped at the sight. It was the whirlwind symbol from the orb.

Liz: Max, it’s beautiful. Did you make it?

Max: Well, uh... sort of. It was a, uh, a star before... but... but then I thought... I don’t know... If you don’t like it, I can change it back to -

Liz: No! No, I love it!

Still holding the chain in her hand, Liz threw her arms around Max’s neck and planted a firm kiss on his cheek.

Liz: Thank you.

Max: It wasn’t any -

Liz: Shh. I know. Put it on me?

She dropped her arms, and Max reluctantly removed his hands from her waist. He took the necklace from her, unlatching the clasp as she stood impatiently before him. With her back turned, Max couldn’t see her expression, but he was certain that she was slightly irritated with the speed of his motions. After brushing her hair over one shoulder, Max reached in front of her body, letting the charm settle against her chest, before bringing the ends together at the base of her neck. He closed the clasp and pressed a gentle kiss on the side of her neck.

Liz: Mmm. (turns) How does it look?

Max: G-Good. Uhh, really good.

Liz: Thanks.

Liz fingered the charm that rested between her breasts, pulling it left and right as she searched for the right thing to say... or do. Max watched, irrationally jealous of the small piece of metal as it skimmed across her breasts. He licked his lips as he watched her. Liz noticed this wet her own lips without conscious forethought. Max caught the small movement of her tongue and groaned softly, scratching his ear, if only to occupy one of his hands. He shoved the other into his front pocket.

Max: So, uh, I should probably...

Liz: Yeah. Unless...

Max: Unless?

Liz: Well, are you thirsty? Hungry? You did carry me for five blocks.

He caught a hint of mischief in her voice and returned with equal playfulness.

Max: Well, now that you mention it, I suppose I am a little hungry.

Liz: Hmm... What are you hungry for, Max?

Max: That depends.

Liz: Oh, yeah? On what?

Max: Well, what’ve you got?

She stepped closer to him, leaning up on her toes to lick his earlobe. Before drawing back, she whispered in his ear.

Liz: I think I’ve got what you want.

Max: I think you’re right.

He took a step forward, intending to close the little distance that separated them. Max stopped, stunned, as Liz twirled around and headed into the kitchen. As she pushed against the kitchen door, Liz called back to him over her shoulder.

Liz: Okay. So, one piece of Men in Blackberry pie coming up.

Max followed her into the kitchen, wondering what she was up to. He didn’t know what their playful banter meant. Does she want to be with me again? He couldn’t help the sudden hardening of his cock as he thought about the last time they’d been in a similar situation, right in this very kitchen.

Liz dug through the refrigerator, looking for a piece of pie. When she felt his presence behind her, she looked at him over her shoulder and winked. Did she just wink at me?

Max: Tease.

Liz: We’ll see about that.

She turned around and placed a pie box on the prep table. Once she’d lifted the lid, Liz snuck a finger inside and scooped some of the filling up with her finger. Slowly, she brought her finger to her mouth, making a show of licking and sucking the blackberry concoction from her digit. Her eyes lifted to Max’s as she slid her finger in and out of her mouth. He blinked several times before walking over to her.

When he reached her side, Liz scooped up another finger full of pie. She offered it to Max with a wicked grin. He grabbed her wrist, holding it steady as his lips closed over her extended finger. Liz shivered at the feeling of his mouth wrapped around her skin. She watched his erotic display, not fully understanding why this turned her on as much as it did. As he started to suck on her finger, Liz let out a low moan.

Abruptly, she pulled her finger from his mouth, eliciting a small whimper from Max. He opened his eyes, heavy with desire, and took in the saucy smile she flashed him. Max was confused, uncertain of her reasons for removing her finger, and worried when she walked out of the kitchen. He followed her into the break room, standing just behind her as she stood in front of the employee’s couch.

Max: Liz!?!

She pulled him to her and turned him around, finally pushing at him when he stood in front of the couch, as well.

Liz: Sit down.

He sat down without hesitation. Liz smiled and walked into the kitchen. When she returned, she carried the box of pie in one hand and a pile of her clothes in the other. Max’s eyes widened at the sight, and Liz smirked as she witnessed the visible outline of his erection.

Liz: Have you been a good boy this year, Max?

Chapter Sixty Nine

She stood in the kitchen doorway, one eyebrow raised as she slowly ran her tongue across her upper lip.

Max: I... uhh...

Liz took a few short steps toward him, dropping her clothes to the floor. His eyes captured the small, lacy pieces of lingerie she had left on her body. The pendant he’d given to her only a few moments earlier was nestled between her breasts, and Max once again found himself wishing he could be an inanimate object.

Liz: ‘Cause good boys get lots of presents.

She noticed that his gaze was fixed on her necklace. A corner of her mouth lifted in a sultry smirk. Liz clasped the charm in her empty hand and ran it teasingly over the swell of her breasts. For effect, she let out a little moan at the contact. Her eyes closed, and her noises soon came without prior intent as she swirled the warmed metal over the stiffening nipples, which were barely concealed by the light blue lace. At the sound of Max’s harsh breathing, Liz opened her heavy eyelids and walked to stand in front of him.

Liz: So, what is it, Max? Have you been good... or have you been bad?

The way she’d emphasized the word bad further confused Max’s blood-deprived brain. Does she want me to be bad? If good boys get presents, what do bad boys get? She set the pie box at the foot of the love seat before grasping the back of the couch in her hands and straddling Max’s lap. He cleared his throat as she pressed her chest against him, and she leaned back to look at him.

Liz: So?

Max: Well, I... I did heal six people this year.

She stretched forward again, nuzzling his cheek and nibbling at his jaw. Her lips moved over his neck, sucking the tender skin into her mouth before letting it go with a light popping noise. Lightly, she dipped her tongue into his ear, sending shivers throughout Max’s body. After removing her warm tongue, Liz whispered into his ear.

Liz: Wow. You’ve been busy.

He struggled not to touch her, not to run his hands over the large amount of warm, soft skin she was revealing, not to force her mouth onto his. Liz leaned down a bit and began to kiss her way down his neck. She frowned as the collar of his jacket got in her way.

Liz: Take this off.

Max didn’t hesitate to do as she ordered. As soon as he’d removed one arm, Liz attacked that side of his neck, not willing to wait for him to fully remove the article. He awkwardly pulled the rest of the jacket off and threw it to the ground. Liz let out a happy little sigh against his throat and moved her mouth slowly across his neck, licking and sucking the skin of his throat, chin, and jaw, before finally reaching his neglected ear.

Liz: Hmm. Busy boy.

Max: (shrugs) Yep.

She reared back, stretching down to retrieve the box of pie on the floor. Abruptly, she sat back up, opening the box once again.

Max: Y-You... You’re hungry?

Liz: Something like that.

Max: Liz?

Liz: Shh.

Her hand dipped inside the box and scooped up a big chunk of pie with three fingers. As she began to nibble at the mess in her hand, berry filling dripped off of her hand and down her chin, landing on her chest with a squishy plop. Max’s eyes volleyed between the berry juice slowly trickling down between her breasts, the finger lodged between her lips, and her lust-filled eyes. The second time his eyes met hers, Liz gave him the go-ahead, nodding her head as she slowly pulled her finger out of her mouth.

Liz started to blush as Max continued to sit still. She turned her head down, avoiding his eyes, as she started to slide off of his lap. At her movement, Max snapped out of the lust-filled stupor and captured her food laden hand. He lapped at the berry filling that covered her palm, lightly scraping his teeth against a part of her hand that Liz had never considered to be sexual. As his tongue, lips, and teeth made contact with her skin, however, she quickly realized that she had been mistaken. Greatly mistaken.

After cleaning her palm, Max wedged his tongue between her fingers, snaking his tongue out to stimulate the delicate webbing. He then started on her sticky fingers, savoring the tastes he encountered. His heightened senses took in the smell of her perfume, her shampoo, and the flavor of her skin, along with the tanginess of the berries. Slowly, he suckled her digits, making sure that he had removed all traces of pie before releasing the finger, only to move onto the next.

By the time he had finished with her fingers, Liz was ready to scream in frustration. She couldn’t seem to communicate the urgency of her need to him. Her body began to writhe against his, her entire body feeling alive and craving what only Max could give her. Purposefully, Liz started a thrusting motion with her lower body. She hoped to make him forget what he was doing and do as she wished.

He halted her movement by firmly gripping her hip in one of his strong hands. The heat of his flesh against hers only increased Liz’s arousal, but his hand didn’t loosen. She positively ached for his hand to move, to slip down a few inches to caress away the throbbing emptiness between her thighs. Instead, Max swiped his tongue across the berry juice that had trickled down her wrist. His lips closed over the sensitive skin, sucking at it even after he’d rid her of all traces of blackberry. His tongue flicked against her veins as he pulled the skin into his mouth. Liz was only mildly surprised by the intensity of her response to this action. She imagined his mouth sucking her in other places, her neck, her nipples, the insistent nub of skin between her legs that would not be ignored.

Finally, he released the skin, leaving behind a large, red mark. Neither noticed, and Max continued down her arm, licking up the juice along the way, until he reached the inside of her elbow where the dripping had stopped. Once again, he sucked the skin into his mouth. Liz moaned aloud, desperately wanting his mouth to move on to better places.

Her whimpers did little to hurry Max. He had a strategy, it would seem. Liz licked her lips when he moved his face closer to hers. A moan slipped past her lips as Max’s tongue swept across them. She opened her mouth for his kiss, but it did not come. His lips lingered over the gobs of berries that dotted her chin and neck. He sucked them into his mouth, occasionally lifting his mouth to hers to transfer a few berries.

Liz: Maaax...

His whispered hush was barely audible, but Liz stopped her protest. Max’s lips traveled down her chest. He pushed aside her necklace to reach all of the savory juices. He licked all of it up, spending extra time around her breasts, but he never touched his lips to her hardened nipples. Once he’d removed all of the berry mess, Max reached behind her back to unclasp Liz’s bra. He brushed his nose and cheeks against the inner swells of her breasts as the piece of lace fell from her body. Liz shook the bra off of her arms and grabbed Max’s head between her hands. She guided his closed mouth to her nipple, pressing her chest forward until he finally opened his lips over the straining flesh.

She let out a hoarse cry as his lips covered the shriveled pink skin. Her chest pressed forward again while her hands pushed his head further onto her breast. He seemed to have gotten her message, and Max began to stimulate her nipples in the way he knew she liked. He kissed the point with an open mouth, treating her nipple as if it were her tongue instead. He sucked on it, teased it with his tongue, nibbled it lightly. As her breathing became harsher, Max pulled the skin further inside, up to the roof of his mouth.

Liz: Oh, Max!

He let her nipple slip from his mouth, treating her other breast to the same service. Liz’s lower body began to move again, and his hands were too busy squeezing her breasts and the cheeks of her butt to stop her. When he pulled back from her body, Liz’s hands flew to the bottom of his sweater, rushing to rid him of his clothes. She all but tore the sweater from his body, hastily tossing it over her head, and she whimpered when she found another shirt beneath it.

Liz: Arrgh! Why do you wear so many clothes?!

Max could only shrug his shoulders, not having an actual answer, nor being in the state of mind to answer much of anything. His arms slid up and down her sides as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. When she reached his waistband, Max let out a growl as she slipped her hand beneath his pants to pull the shirt out.

Liz: You like that?

His eyes slid shut as he took in a deep breath. He slowly blew the air out of his mouth before swallowing loudly. Max nodded his head, and Liz’s hand pushed further under his pants. He worked his arms out of his sleeves, the shirt bunched up behind him against the couch cushion. Max kicked off his shoes and regretfully released his hands from her body to reach for his belt buckle. Her hand was in his way, but he finally managed to work around it. After undoing his buckle, Max hurried to unfasten his pants.

A groan sounded low in his throat as he parted the zipper, allowing his full erection a little more room. Liz whimpered as he forced her to stand on her knees, but her hand stayed inside of his boxers, firmly gripping his cock. Without Liz’s body resting on his lap, Max was able to push his pants down to his knees. He pulled her back down to sit on his thighs, and his legs kicked and struggled until the pants lay on the floor.

His fingers pulled at the strings holding her panties together. Liz felt him toying with them and grabbed hold of his hands.

Liz: You’re not ruining another pair, okay?!

Max: I... Uh, s-sorry.

Liz pulled herself off of his body and stood before him. She slid the small amount of lace down over her hips, letting them fall to the ground after passing her thighs. She stepped out of the underwear and took a seat next to Max on the love seat. He turned a questioning look her way, but Liz ignored him and turned so that her knees touched the outside of his thigh. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in to give him a heated kiss.

As her tongue thrust in and out of his mouth, Max felt her pulling his body toward hers. He turned as she fell back against the couch and lay on top of her. Their lips never separated as Max settled between her spreading thighs. Liz arched against his body, pushing her pelvis up against his. Max held still, not wanting to move faster than she was ready for, but he began to thrust down against her as her legs wrapped around his own.

She cried out against his mouth as the button on the fly of his boxers pressed against her clitoris. Understanding her pleasure, Max continued to make the downward thrust that she so enjoyed. As he did this, his cock managed to slip lower, pressing insistently against the hot, wet heat of her pussy. As they continued to writhe against each other, Max’s dick, still sheathed by the cotton of his boxers, pushed into her body.

Liz’s motions became more frantic. The pleasure she’d found with the lucky button placement was doubled by the feel of Max inside her body. His cock felt larger than she remembered, the layer of cloth between their skin adding to his girth. The front of his boxers became damp with the wetness leaking from both of their bodies.

They rubbed their bodies against each other for a few more minutes before Max felt Liz’s thighs tightening around his hips. She arched her breasts up into his chest and threw her head back, crying out his name as an orgasm blasted through her body. He watched her opened mouth, closed eyes, and messy hair as she came beneath him, and Max made a few more shallow thrusts into her pussy before cum shot out of his cock, soaking the front of his boxers.

He rested his forehead against hers as they tried to recover. Her fingers trailed lightly over his arms, shoulders, and back, while Max’s fingers were buried in her hair.

A creaking noise behind them interrupted the blissful moment. Max pressed his lips against her temple and sat up. He pulled her up after him and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips before standing to retrieve their clothing. Once they’d both dressed, Max ushered Liz to the foot of the stairs. He caressed the side of her face and kissed her again. He held her eyes as he backed out of the break room.

Max: (blushing) Merry Christmas, Liz.

Liz: (smiles) Merry Christmas, Max.

Chapter Seventy

The holidays came and went, and Liz was dismayed by the marked absence of Max during the week-long break from school. Her mother had forced her to emerge from the cocoon she’d wrapped herself in, forcibly dragging Liz from her bed and into a running shower. She barely put up a fight, lacking the energy. Truth be told, Liz had grown a little weary of her own funky smell, but underneath the accumulating odor, she was certain she could make out the scent of Max. And so, she curled up in a ball, refusing phone calls, visitors, and food, and instead spent her few waking hours silently weeping and sniffing her skin for lingering traces of Max Evans.

As she stood in the shower, ashamed but too depressed to resist, tears slid down her cheeks as her mother briskly removed her grungy pajamas. Liz made a small effort to cover herself, but she was too worn out to put up much of a fight. She swayed on her feet, and her mother managed to catch her weakened body and settled Liz into a seated position in the tub. Mrs. Parker turned off the shower and instead plugged the drain and let the water fill. As the water level rose, Nancy diligently scrubbed Liz’s dirty form. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she forced herself to focus on her task and tried to forget that it was her grown daughter she was washing.

The tears stopped running down Liz’s cheeks, but Nancy was more worried by her daughter’s subsequent lack of response. Liz stared blankly ahead, her body limp and unresisting her mother’s efforts to clean her body. When Nancy lifted her arm, Liz allowed her mother to do so, making no protest, nor any attempt to help. Mrs. Parker’s eyes widened at the sight of her daughter’s prominent ribs, but she managed to finish her task, cleaning Liz’s hair and letting the water drain out of the tub.

Liz sat, unmoving, in the emptied basin. Her mother kneeled beside her on the floor. She covered her long hair up inside a towel and dried what skin she could access. Making an attempt to preserve some of Liz’s notorious modesty, Mrs. Parker draped the towel over her. She reached into the tub and wrapped her arms under Liz’s arms and around her back before struggling to lift her limp body. Nancy cursed when she was unable to fully lift Liz’s small body from the tub. She had lost some weight, but Mrs. Parker wasn’t known for her physical strength. Her exasperation reaching its height, Nancy shook Liz’s shoulders and leaned down so that her face was looking right into Liz’s.

Mrs. Parker: God damnit, Liz! I can’t do this all by myself. I need your help, or I’m going to have to get your father in here. God knows, you’ve maxed out my patience. What do -

Liz’s eyes lifted, not registering the person in front of her. Nancy’s expression lightened as she saw a flash of life in her daughter’s eyes. Liz’s eyes and expression were hopeful as she finally opened her mouth to speak the first words she’d spoken in days.

Liz: (weakly) Max?

Nancy’s hand flew to her mouth as she tried to contain the sound of her imminent sobbing. She allowed a few tears to slip out before collecting herself, wiping the tears from her eyes and taking in a few deep, cleansing breaths. As Liz’s body began to shake, Mrs. Parker climbed into the tub and encircled her daughter in her arms. It was a tight, awkward fit, but it was clear that Liz needed something... someone to hold onto. She pressed her lips against Liz’s cheek, gently rocking her frail body and murmuring soft, soothing noises into her ear.

Mrs. Parker: Oh, honey. I... Shh. It’s okay. It’s okay.

Nancy looked up as she heard the bathroom door click open. She turned with tear-filled eyes and shared a moment of helplessness with her husband. Her head shook at his silent question, but Jeff moved further into the room, anyhow.

Mr. Parker: Nance...

Mrs. Parker: I... I don’t know what to do, Jeff. I-I... I thought she was getting better. She seemed so much better. I just... How can we help her?

Mr. Parker: (quietly) I don’t know.

Their eyes met again before skittering away, once again resting on their daughter.

Mrs. Parker: Help me get her out of here?

Mr. Parker: Yeah.

Mrs. Parker: Wait. I need to change her sheets. They -

Mr. Parker: I changed them.

Mrs. Parker: Oh. Well, let’s do this, then.

Together, they managed to get Liz onto her bed. Jeff left the women in the bedroom so that his wife could dress their daughter while he hastily put together a small meal in the cafe’s kitchen.

Maria: How is she?

Mr. Parker: (sighs) Not good.

Maria: Do you think I can see her?

Mr. Parker: I don’t know if it’ll do any good, Maria. She... She won’t talk or eat or even look at either of us... Nancy had to give her a shower today.

Maria: Oh.

Mr. Parker: I was gonna try to get her to eat this, but... Maybe you can coax her into eating a little something?

Maria: Yeah. Sure, I, uh... My tables...

Mr. Parker: I’ll cover them. Here. Good luck.

He handed her a tray with a bowl of soup, a glass of milk, and a few pieces of toast. Maria took the tray from his shaking hands, noticing for the first time how weary her boss looked.

Maria: (hesitates) Okay.

She turned then, heading toward the stairs to the Parker’s apartment. Halfway up the stairs, she heard Mr. Parker calling to her. She twisted slightly, barely able to see him from where she was standing.

Mr. Parker: Maria?

Maria: Yeah, Mr. P?

Mr. Parker: Thank you.

Maria nodded before slowly turning around and making her way up the rest of the stairs. She didn’t bother to knock, walking right into the apartment and heading toward Liz’s bedroom. As she approached, Mrs. Parker was closing Liz’s door behind her as she exited the room.

Mrs. Parker: Oh. Maria. I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything okay downstairs?

Maria: Yeah, umm... Mr. P thought maybe I could try to, you know, get Lizzie to eat something. But I don’t have to... I mean, if you want to try to feed her, that’s okay, too, but I just haven’t seen her in a while, and I miss my girl, you know? And I just -

Mrs. Parker: It’s okay, Maria. Go on in.

Maria: (nods) Yeah. Okay.

She lightly knocked on Liz’s bedroom door. Maria wasn’t surprised that there was no response. Taking in a deep breath, she balanced the tray on one hand, closed her eyes, and turned the doorknob. With her foot, she pushed the door open. Maria sighed at the sight before her, shaking her head as she approached the weeping mass huddled in the middle of the bed. She set the tray down on the floor and took a seat on the edge of the mattress.

Her hand reached out to Liz, trying to comfort her or provoke a reaction of some sort. Maria yelped as she became the beneficiary of a shock. A shock caused, no doubt, by the green sparks covering Liz’s body.

Maria: Oh, shit.

Chapter Seventy One

Maria exhaled a relieved sigh when she heard the sharp knock on Liz’s window. She wiped the tears from her eyes and got up from her perch on the end of the bed. Her feet were barely on the floor before Max had bypassed the lock and opened the window. He ushered Isabel in before him and then climbed into the room, as well.

Maria: Thank God you’re here!

Max: What’s going on, Maria?

Maria stalked over to Max and shoved him backwards. Caught off guard, he stumbled a few steps back before regaining his balance.

Max: What was that for?

Maria stepped closer to him but came to a halt and crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she scrutinized his confused face.

Maria: Well, it seems that someone paid Liz a steamy visit in the early hours of Christmas, getting her hopes up once again, only to have them crash down around her when said someone did not even bother to give her a call on Christmas. Christmas, Max! The holiest of all holy days! A symbol of purity and love and Christian... ness. I don’t know what game you’re playing with her, but I don’t like it, not one -

Max: What are you talking about?

Isabel: (rolls eyes) Can you ever understand what she’s saying?

Maria: Stay out of this!

Max: Why are we here?

Maria: Okay, walk with me back in time, girlfriend. You and Liz. Midnight mass on the town common. You and Liz snuggled up on a bench. You and Liz dry humping on the break room couch.

Isabel: Oh, that’s just disgusting.

Max: No, Maria, that never happened.

Isabel: Oh, good. She’s hallucinating again. What else? Green sparks?

Maria: As a matter of fact...

She pulled the blanket off of Liz’s unresponsive body, but there was no sight of crackling energy.

Maria: I... I swear, she was sparkling again!

Isabel: So, what? Have you caught whatever the fuck it is that Liz has?

Maria: Hey, if Liz caught anything, it was from Mr. Fuck and Run over here.

Isabel: (snorts) More likely from Kyle.

Maria: She never did anything with him!

Maria reined in her temper at Isabel’s apathetic reaction. After a few deep breaths, she sat beside Liz on the bed. She reached toward her forehead, intending to brush away some of the sweaty hair that was clinging to her clammy skin. Before she could even touch her skin, Liz’s body once again was covered in green electricity. Maria gasped and jumped up off of the bed, shaking her hand to relieve the pain.

Maria: Damn, that hurt. (turns) I told you so!

Max rushed to Liz’s side but hesitated to touch her crackling body. Isabel took her time but eventually meandered over to the vacant side of Liz’s bed. Maria stood at the foot of the bed, scowling at the lack of action.

Maria: Why are you just standing there? Do something!

Max: I don’t know what to do.

Maria: Of course not. Why is it that whenever something goes wrong with one of the pod squad, we always seem to find a solution, huh? But my poor Lizzie’s dying over here. Oh, my God! She’s dying! Isn’t she? Max, you’ve got to fix her! I can’t live without her. I just can’t!

Isabel: A little over the top, don’t you think, Maria?

Maria: Okay. Fine. If everything’s okay, then why don’t you touch her body?

Isabel: What? No, I’ll get shocked.

Maria: Fine, then look at this, okay!

She gingerly crawled up the bed to sit at Liz’s side. Maria opened the bottom buttons of Liz’s pajama shirt, carefully avoiding any contact with her friend’s skin. Isabel inhaled sharply before turning away from the sight. Maria gasped, despite having seen Liz’s state before, but was no less disturbed than when she had first seen her. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Tears pooled in Max’s tortured eyes as he observed the sickly pallor of her skin and the disturbing evidence of her lack of appetite. He could see some of her ribs above her slightly distended abdomen.

Maria: Look at her! She’s like those kids in Africa that need your coffee money. What are you gonna do?

Isabel: It’s not our fault she won’t eat.

Maria: You’ve got to be shitting me! This is all your fault. You think she’s got this green shit crawling all over her body because she’s on a new fad diet? God!

Max: Enough, you two!

Maria and Isabel stared each other down, neither wanting to be the first to look away. Finally, Isabel turned away with an exaggerated huff. The two conscious girls continued to ignore Liz’s body. Isabel picked at her nails while Maria dropped down in front of a window. She plopped onto the ground and hugged her legs to her chest. Her face was buried in her legs as hot tears slipped down her cheeks. Liz remained motionless on the bed, but a stricken Max forgot the danger and, in his confusion, lightly placed his hand on Liz’s exposed stomach. He immediately fell forward, his head landing next to his hand on Liz’s torso.

It happened so quickly that neither Maria nor Isabel noticed anything unusual. There were no screams, there were no flailing limbs, there weren’t even any flashes of light. Max was pulled into Liz’s mind, not by any effort of his own, nor did it appear likely that Liz had drawn him in. But there he was.

He found himself standing on the shore of a small lake. His feet were bare, and the cuffs of his pants were rolled up to his knees. Max looked down, wondering where his shirt had gone and why he was wearing white dockers. Realizing that staring at his toes would not get his questions answered, Max lifted his head and took in his surroundings.

The trees and shrubbery in his immediate vicinity were sharply outlined, standing out against the fuzziness of the background. Max tried to discern what was on the opposite side of the lake, but he couldn’t make out anything clearly enough to name it. As his gaze lingered on the still water of the lake, he was surprised by its color. Instead of a deep blue or black, the water was a light shade of pink.

His brow furrowed in confusion, but Max decided to let it go, figuring the color to be a reflection of the lake’s sandy bottom or from the sun above. He looked up at the sky and cursed at the intensity of the light shining down on him. He squeezed his eyes shut and made a visor over his forehead with his hand. Max was still blinking away the bright spots of light that danced before him when he noticed a ripple in the lake. Not trusting his vision at that moment, he rubbed his eyes before taking another look.

There was no doubt about it; the formerly still lake was sending gentle waves toward the shore, coming up onto the sand to tickle his unshod feet. Max grimaced at the sensation as the surprisingly warm water triggered an automatic response in his body. He shook off the need to urinate and focused on the source of the rippling. He was overwhelmed by the fear that came at him, only adding to his own fright and confusion. Max stood at the water’s edge, vainly trying to distance himself from the outside emotions. After a moment’s pause, he noticed what appeared to be a hand breaking through the surface of the water.

He was suddenly engulfed by panic. Unable to separate his own feelings from those being directed at him, Max ran forward and dove into the thick, pink water. He hung suspended on top of the water for a moment before his hands forced his body to move. The liquid parted, allowing his body to penetrate the surface, only to close up again once Max was fully submerged.

Max stretched his arms out in front of him and began the tedious task of pushing his body forward in the unyielding substance. Every stroke required much more effort than was usual for underwater swimming. He began to feel fatigued, but he renewed his efforts when he heard a voice call out to him inside his head. After an immeasurable amount of time and effort, Max finally hovered before the source of the ripples. His face expressed his confusion.

Max: Liz?

Chapter Seventy Two

Liz: What are you doing here, Max?

Liz’s mouth didn’t open, but Max heard her words as clearly in his head as if she’d spoken them aloud. Her eyebrows drew together, as if in confusion, but the coy smile on her face revealed her awareness of the situation. Her eyes slowly dragged up his body, starting with his bare feet, up over the tanned skin below his knees, past the white material that clung to his muscular thighs. She lingered on his groin, noticing that, in their moist environment, Max’s pants had become rather transparent. Her smile widened as she noticed that he was wearing nothing beneath his khakis, providing a delicious view of his hardened flesh. Her gaze briefly flitted over the contours of his stomach and chest. She flicked her tongue over her lips as she mentally caressed his flat nipples. Hearing a moan come from Max, she raised her eyes to meet his heated gaze.

If Max was surprised to find Liz here, his confusion was left behind as he eagerly took in her naked form. She looked healthy here. Her cheeks were no longer sunken into her face, there were no dark patches of skin beneath her eyes, her ribs were not visible beneath her full breasts. Max watched in awe as her nipples began to shrivel into tiny pink points, further emphasizing her beautiful curves. He shifted on his feet, trying to nudge his growing erection into a more comfortable spot. Max continued his perusal, noting the healthy flare of her hips, the slight, natural roundness of her stomach, the triangle of dark hair evident between her parted thighs. Wondering if she was aware of her open stance, his eyes slowly drifted up to her face. He held his breath as he watched her curious eyes travel over his body. His cheeks flushed as he felt her gaze fixate on his cock. Her eyes widened, and Max couldn’t help but look down to examine himself, as well. His face flushed red, all the way up to his ears, as he noticed just how visible his body was to her. When he felt he had himself under control, he lifted his head once again. A low moan escaped over his lips as he watched her tongue caress her pouty lips. Her eyes flew up to meet his, and he felt himself falling.

He shook his head, hoping to reorient himself. When he felt that he was safe to stand on his own, Max’s eyes slowly lifted open. He frowned in confusion, wondering why he was in the kitchen of the Crashdown and not... wherever it was that he had been. His frown deepened as he noticed that Liz was wearing her uniform. He leaned against the doorframe and watched as Liz bent over into the refrigerator. She looked back at him over her shoulder, her eyebrow raised in question. He merely shrugged at her and flashed an uncertain smile her way.

Liz: What are you doing here, Max?

Max: Well, I have orders from my planet... to take over the Earth.

He’d wanted to say “to take off your pants”. He’d wanted to do just that. Only, it wasn’t the right time - and she wasn’t wearing pants. Just a sweet little pair of yellow underwear, if he remembered correctly. Their eyes met, speaking words that their mouths were not ready to form. Liz turned away from him, focusing intently on doing what she’d come into the kitchen to do in the first place.

Liz: Besides that.

He trailed after her, unwilling to let any distance come between them. It just felt better - right - when he was close to her. Max inhaled deeply. He was overwhelmed with her scent, her body wash and what he now knew to be the smell of her arousal, and the aroma shot down from his nose directly to his groin.

Max: I want to make sure we can still be friends.

Liz: Yeah. I mean, we are.

Max: Good.

Whatever it took, he had to remain close to her. It physically hurt him to be so far away. His senses were becoming ever-more heightened in her presence, which hurt in a different way altogether. Max could almost taste her sweet lip gloss, and his mouth fell achingly dry at the absence of her flavor. His vision began to swim, and his eyes could only focus on the object of his lust, who was looking up at him with a playful, but slightly concerned expression.

Liz: Why wouldn’t we be?

He hesitated to answer her, as his brain was a good thirty seconds behind her words. Her lips moved, her tongue frequently poking out against her teeth and lips as she formed her words, and Max swore for a second that she’d just asked him to fuck her. He shook his head and watched her hands linger over the strawberries she was dumping into a bowl. He wanted to tell her that he had better things for her to put her hands... her mouth... her body on.

Max: We really haven’t been able to talk since... that night.

She turned to him, and Max was once again surrounded by her body, her presence, her scent. His body ached to take that small step forward, to take what he knew was his and mark her Property of Max Evans.

Liz: Max, people do a lot of dumb things when they’re drunk. Anyway, I understand.

She was teasing him. He was sure of it, but he couldn’t quite grasp what she was teasing him about. Did she want him to claim her? Did she know that every hair on his body was standing on end? That his cock was burning a hole through the front of his jeans? His breathing became harsh and uneven. He wanted to inhale forever, to take more and more of her into him until Liz was trapped inside of his body. He cursed his need to breathe, exhaling harshly as his other senses overcompensated.

Max: And we’re friends?

She wanted him, too. He could feel the waves of lust coming off of her, radiating out from her pointy nipples and wet pussy lips, and slamming into his aroused body. He swallowed audibly, words becoming more and more difficult to form as he focused on bringing her lips closer to his.

She turned at his question, having been cooled slightly by the temperature of the opened fridge. She leaned in close to him - oh, so close! His mouth opened and closed, his tongue flicking out, as if he was already kissing her vacant lips. She sent him an amused smile as she passed him, brushing her body up against his and increasing his ache.

Liz: Yeah. We’re friends.

He wasn’t fooled by her words. Not any longer. She was staring at his lips, and he could see the longing in her gaze. He could clearly see the hardened nipples that he was sure he’d felt when she brushed against him a moment earlier. He smelled strawberries, of course, and he would forever associate them with Liz Parker and the first time he touched her wet pussy.

Max: Just friends?

Friends didn’t feel like this, he was sure of it. Friends didn’t result in a large wet spot on the front of his pants. Friends didn’t scream out each other’s names as they beat off in the shower. Friends didn’t do what he was about to do with Liz.

Liz: Yeah.

She squeezed by him, this time brushing her ass up against his cock, and Max could take their teasing foreplay no longer.

Chapter Seventy Three


He grabbed her arm as she made her way past his chasing lips, turning her body to face him. Her mouth opened, partly in shock and perhaps, in part, to make a protest, but her mouth was full of Max’s tongue before she had a chance to utter a sound. He realized as he kissed her that this was highly unusual behavior for him - for either of them, really. But his body was on fire, and he could feel that Liz’s was, as well. His fingers greedily skimmed over her exposed skin as his lips pressed forcefully against hers. His tongue plunged into her mouth, not with the hesitant, tender manner he’d used for their first kisses, nor was it the sporadic, somewhat sloppy kissing he’d given up on that stage. His mouth went after Liz’s with unrestrained hunger, combining the skill of a well-established lover with the intensity of an animal in heat.

Max lost the ability to think beyond the next second, how to get Liz to never stop kissing him, never stop touching him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling her body even closer to his. His hands wandered over her body, taking liberties that he only imagined in moments of assured solitude in his bedroom or in the shower. She pulled her body up into his, rubbing her breasts against his chest and wedging his hard thigh between her own. His hands fell to her ass, cupping her fleshy cheeks in his hands. She jumped up at the sensation, and Max lifted her against him, trying to get her legs to wrap around his body.

His leg was in the way, however, and Max gave up the attempt and instead deposited her onto the nearest surface. He pushed her thighs apart and quickly stepped between them. He groaned as her legs spread wide and his hand encountered the smooth skin of her upper thigh. She wrapped one of her legs around his waist, while the other dangled over the edge of the table. He tugged at the sides of her skirt, pulling the bottom three buttons apart, and she was able to wrap both legs around his body once he’d pushed the skirt up around her waist.

His lips never stopped exploring her body as his hands did things he’d savor later that night and many nights after. His left hand caressed her upper leg, traveling under her opened skirt over her thigh, gripping her hip and the small piece of material that got in his way. His other hand pulled her further into his body, rubbing his cock up against her barely covered pussy. He pulled his hand out from beneath her as he leaned forward, hovering over her and enabling a more insistent thrusting between their bodies. His freed right hand crept up her body and squeezed a small breast over her uniform. His lips worked down her neck to the v of her top. Impeded by the material, his hand reluctantly moved from her breast to undo her top two buttons. He kissed his way back up to her lips as his hand snuck inside her shirt. She cried out as his hand snuck beneath the cup of her bra and encountered her aching flesh. His fingers pulled and twisted her nipple, drawing out a louder reaction.

Liz fell back fully onto the table, knocking over the replacement strawberries, but neither noticed. Max wasn’t able to reach her lips without crawling on top of her, so his kisses moved down to her chest. He pulled the other bra cup down over her breast and sucked the revealed nipple into his hot mouth. His hand returned to her other breast while his mouth pulled at the tightened skin.

The hand on her thigh moved beyond caresses and squeezes to rub against the unknown area between her legs. His fingers traced over the juncture, sliding back and forth before encountering the slightly hard spot at the top of the trail. The up and down motion turned into small circles, and Liz’s hips arched up into his hand at the movement. He pressed down harder against her, his motions becoming more erratic as he simultaneously thrust his cock against her inner thigh. One of his fingers somehow got caught in the elastic of her panties, and Max was overwhelmed by the hot, wet flesh he encountered. Her scent wafted up to his nose as he slid his middle finger into her pussy.

He crawled up onto the table at that point, returning his lips to hers. He pushed another finger into her wet hole as he pressed his aching cock against her crotch. When her cries got in the way of his kisses, Max’s mouth moved down to her neck, sucking her sweet skin into his mouth and gently biting his teeth into it. As Max felt his orgasm coming on, his hands fell still while his hips rocked against hers. Because his fingers weren’t moving inside of her, he was able to feel her cum, the muscles in her pussy gently squeezing together as she cried out his name.

They lay panting against each other for a moment before reality crashed in on them. The sounds of the diner pushed through their haze and reminded them of their location. A deep red tinge added to the pink flush adorning their faces as Max pulled his fingers out of Liz’s body. He rolled off of the table, helping Liz into an upright position. They stared at each other, despite the mortification, with wonder in their eyes.

Max reached forward to fix her skewed hair, but Liz scrunched her nose and backed away. His brows furrowed in confusion as he saw her eyes dart to his hand and back to his face. He looked at his hand and realized that his fingers were sticky with her juices. He shoved his dirtied hand into his jacket pocket and scratched at his ear with the other.

Liz did up the buttons of her skirt before brushing her hair behind her ears. She bit her lip as she looked up at him, but no words were exchanged. Max leaned in and pressed a loving kiss on her lips. He smiled bashfully at her as he backed out of the kitchen and tossed a small wave in her direction before walking back into the café. He glanced through the pass-through window as he neared the exit and saw Liz smoothing her hair back into a neat ponytail. A smile spread on his face, and he unconsciously brought his hand out of his pocket and up to his face. A throat being cleared jolted him out of his reverie.

Maria: Some new Czechoslovakian power?

Max: Huh?

Maria: The... You know what? Never mind.

Max: Uhh, right. G’night, Maria.

Maria: Later, lover boy.

He waited until Maria was walking away before bringing his fingers back to his nose. He inhaled deeply, a goofy smile lighting his face as he exited the Crashdown. His fingers were just about to be placed inside his mouth when he felt that falling sensation again. He closed his eyes to wait out the dizziness. When he felt steady again, Max opened his eyes, only marginally surprised to find that he was once again submerged in pink goo. He wasn’t displeased to find that Liz was once again unclothed.

Max: Liz? What’s -

Liz: *You don’t have to speak out loud here.*

Max: Oh.

Liz: *Just think it, and I’ll hear it.*

Max: *Like this?*

Liz: *Yup.*

Max: *Where are we?*

Liz: *I haven’t figured that out yet.*

Max: *You’ve been here before, then?*

Liz: *I think so. It seems... familiar. I mean, I know that I’ve been here, but I can’t remember when. I guess that’s how I know that we don’t have to talk in here. I mean, I can’t hear what you’re saying when you speak. You know?*

Max: *No. Not really.*

Liz: *Oh. Well, it’s not important.*

Max: *So, uh... Not that I, uh, mind or anything, but, umm... You, uh... You’re naked.*

Liz: *Oh.*

Max: *You didn’t notice?*

Liz: *I guess I had other things on my mind.*

Max: *We’re not really here, you know...*

Liz: *I thought as much. But, if we’re not here...*

Max: *We’re in your bedroom. You, uh... You’re not doing so well.*

Liz: *Maybe that’s why I like it in here so much.*

Max: *What do you mean?*

Liz: *No one thinks I’m crazy in here. I don’t have to eat or speak or anything, and it’s really pretty and... calming in here. I like it.*

Max: *I like it, too, but...*

Liz: *But what?*

Max: *We can’t stay in here forever, Liz.*

Liz: *Why not? Let’s just stay here, you and me, away from everything and everyone. We’ll stay here where no one knows us. Like you said, as long as we’re together, nothing matters.*

Max: *There’s no one else here to know.*

Liz: *I think there is.*

Max: *What? What are you talking about?*

Liz: *I feel like someone’s protecting me... us in here. I just can’t put my finger on who it is, though.*

Max: *Is it someone you know?*

Liz: *I’m not sure.*

Max: *Look, Liz. I... I know it’s nice in here, and I guess... I can see why... why you don’t want to leave, but... Everyone’s really worried about you. Maria’s been crying and your mom and dad are really upset. Your mom had to give you a shower today...*

Liz: *What! How long have I been here?*

Max: *I don’t know. I haven’t seen you since Midnight Mass.*

Liz: *Okay, but... What day is it, Max?*

Max: *January second.*

Liz: *Oh.*

Max: *Yeah.*

Liz: *Could we just... stay here... just for a few more minutes, Max?*

Max: * I guess.*

Liz: *Would you... umm... Hold me? Just... just for a minute, you know?*

Max: *I, uh... You... Liz, umm... You’re not... You’re naked.*

Liz: *Max, this isn’t real.*

Max: *Right. I know that, but, uh...*

Liz: *What’s the problem?!*

Max: *I just... I mean, what do you think will happen? I mean, umm... You know, where it is real.*

Liz: *We won’t know until we wake up... I don’t know if we’ll remember this or not.*

Max: *That’s not... I mean, it’s not... Isabel and Maria are in your bedroom, too.*

Liz: *I see...*

Max: *Look. I’m just... I’m just afraid that... holding you here will, uh... c-cause a, umm, a reaction... there.*

Liz: *Ohhh. I just... Please, Max?*

Max: (sighs) *O-Okay, but, uh... Just for a minute.*

He stared upwards as she approached him, wanting to look at her naked form but fearing the consequences of doing so. Her arms wrapped around his lower back, their unclothed chests rubbing together. Liz rested her head against his upper body, warmed by the heat radiating off of his body and the contentment that being in his arms generated. He looked down at her then, knowing that he wouldn’t have to contend with her nudity, and smiled at the peaceful look on her face. Max stroked the length of her hair and caressed her naked back. Her eyes opened and caught him staring at her. Their eyes met for a long moment, asking and answering questions without uttering a sound... or even a transmitted thought. She closed her eyes as Max began to lean down toward her. His own eyes blinked a few times before he let go of his previous reservations and touched his lips to hers. Liz’s tongue brushed against his mouth, and his lips parted immediately. He was about to return the favor when he felt himself being pulled away from her.

Isabel: It’s about fucking time.

Maria: Seriously, girlfriend, you’ve got to stop macking with other people in the room. Especially when the mackee has been catatonic for a fucking week. God!

Max: What?

Isabel: Everything was quiet, and then we heard a moan coming from the bed. I looked over and you were dry humping Sleeping Beauty over there. Show some restraint!

Max: Isabel, I don’t know what you’re -

Liz: What’s going on?

Chapter Seventy Four

Isabel: You’ve got to be shitting me.

Maria: Can it. Lizzie, honey, are you okay?

Liz: Why are you all here? Max?

Max: Liz... You’ve been... sick...

Maria pulled Max back from the bed by his ear, forcing him to stand several feet away while she made herself comfortable next to Liz.

Maria: What his highness means to say is that you’ve been all but comatose for days. Days, Liz! And Mr. Can’t Keep It in His Pants over here seems to be the solution to all of your problems... Too bad he’s also the cause.

Max: Hey! That’s not fair.

Maria: Life’s not fair.

The bedroom door swung open abruptly, and the four teens looked over to the doorway in surprise.

Mrs. Parker: Maria, what’s all the noise in... here...

Maria: I thought maybe Max and Isabel could help, you know? So I called them over, and... She’s awake now.

Mrs. Parker: I see. Well, as glad as I am that you’ve helped... I think you three should get going now. Liz and I need to talk, and I think you’re needed back in the café, Maria.

Maria: Right, right.

Maria reluctantly got up from the bed and walked out of the room. Isabel quickly followed her, while Max lingered between the door and the bed. He opened his mouth to speak, but he was cut off before he could start.

Mrs. Parker: Goodbye, Max.

He nodded his head several times but remained where he was. At the sound of Mrs. Parker’s annoyed sigh, Max shoved his hands into his front pants pockets and headed for Liz’s balcony.

Max: Bye, Mrs. Parker.

Mrs. Parker: I think you ought to use the door to leave.

Max: Right. Sorry.

He shuffled out of Liz’s bedroom, his eyes lingering on her semi-aware form as he exited. Once he had cleared the threshold, Mrs. Parker closed the door. Isabel was waiting for him a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest.

Max: Uh... Where’s Maria?

Isabel: Downstairs. Let’s go, Max. We’re not wanted here.

Max: I... Right, right. Let’s... Yeah, let’s go.

Later that evening...

The Evans siblings were seated side by side at the dining room table, watching the small television and avoiding conversation.

Isabel: There’s nothing on.

Max: We must have fifty channels.

She continued to flip through the stations, hoping to find something that would hold her interest.

Isabel: Crap. Crap.

Max: Uh huh.

Isabel: Boring.

Max: Uh huh.

She handed the remote to her brother and pushed her chair back from the table. She stood up, nervously playing with her hair as she said goodnight to Max.

Isabel: I’m going to take a stroll... See what people are dreaming.

Max: Haven’t you been overdoing that lately?

Isabel: Take it easy. It’s harmless.

Max: It’s just not a very nice thing to do.

Isabel: Whatever. Night.

Max: Goodnight, Is.

She walked out of the kitchen, the sound of her boots clacking against the floors echoing in the hallway as she headed for her bedroom. A thought popped into Max’s head, and he couldn’t help but warn his sister.

Max: Stay away from Liz, please.

Isabel stopped abruptly at his warning and sauntered back into the nook. Max didn’t notice her approach, too absorbed in the lack of entertainment.

Max: Crap... Crap... Crap...

Isabel: You’re kidding, right?

Max: Huh? This show is crap, Is, they make people run in giant hamster cages while they -

Her hand reached toward the TV, and the screen went black. Max pressed the channel button again, but she had turned the television off. He sighed and turned to face her.

Max: What?

Isabel: I meant about Liz. Why should I leave her alone?

Max: She’s got enough problems right now.

Isabel: And you don’t think I can help her out?

Max: Well, it didn’t work last time...

Isabel: It did... Just... Not for very long, I guess. Maybe...

Max: What?

Isabel: Nothing. I just... Do you think she’s really lost it?

He turned in his seat, once again facing a blank screen. With his elbows propped on the table, Max rested his forehead in his palms, only to run his fingers through his dark hair and sit upright again. He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Max: I don’t know what to think. She has these moments of incredible clarity, but then she starts talking about all of these crazy things... I mean, she won’t even acknowledge Alex anymore. It’s really hurting him not to be able to help her out.

Isabel: Well, maybe I can see what’s going on with her, you know?

Max: (sighs) Just... Please be careful. She’s... I...

Isabel: I know, Max.

Max: Right.

Isabel left the room, turning the TV back on from the hallway. Max didn’t notice, too absorbed in his thoughts of Liz, that he was watching QVC. A shrill voice coming from the set startled him, and Max realized what he was doing. He shook his head and flipped the channel again.

Max: Crap...

Meanwhile...

Isabel thumbed through the pages of her yearbook, stopping briefly over Liz’s photo but deciding to start with something lighter. She continued flipping, finally coming to a stop as she came to the end of the alphabet.

Isabel: Hmm... Kyle’s ought to be interesting.

She was startled by the sudden flash of lightning as she entered the dream, but Isabel quickly recovered. High on a mountain top, Kyle sat in the lotus position, conversing with a poor imitation of Buddha. The sky was an alarming shade of red, and

Buddha: Remember, young blossom, my most important words.

Kyle: Yes, master.

Buddha: To thine own self be true.

She couldn’t help but comment on the mixed-up philosophy, silently giving Kyle credit for at least knowing a line of English literature, even if it was wrongly attributed.

Isabel: It’s Shakespeare, moron.

Buddha: With every inhale, find the center of yourself. With every exhale, release the ties that bind your energy.

Isabel shook her head and closed her eyes, preparing to exit Kyle’s dream.

Buddha: Inhale... Exhale... Inhale...

She sighed and felt herself pulling out of the dream. A sharp ringing noise interrupted her departure, and Isabel opened her eyes and stifled a laugh.

Buddha: Excuse me. Buddha here. Yeah. When? Prepare the ship. Standby to beam us aboard.

Kyle: Master?

Buddha: Our enemies have arrived, Kyle. We must leave Earth and face the dark legion.

Kyle: No, no, no, no. I’m here for inner peace, not that science fiction crap.

Isabel could barely hold in her laughter, tears running down her cheeks as she watched Kyle’s version of a nightmare.

Buddha: Max Evans changed you when he saved your life. You know that. You’re an alien now, Kyle. Dude, like, accept your destiny.

Kyle: No, I’m not.

Kyle extended his hand, pointing toward Buddha to argue, but he was silenced when he looked at his hand. From his wrist to his fingertips, Kyle’s skin had morphed into a reptilian hand covered in a slimy goo. He screamed in horror, and Isabel was forced out of her dreamwalk as Kyle awoke.

Isabel: (snorts) Oh, this is too much! Let’s see how the lovely Miss Parker is doing this evening...

She found herself seated at a table in the middle of the Crashdown Café. Liz was standing at the counter, moving as seductively as a total nerd could. She tossed her hair and moved about the counter, cleaning the surface with moves Isabel knew were meant to be erotic, but were instead jerky and awkward.

The café doors opened, and a tall man with blonde hair entered the building. He was dressed all in white, his running shoes marring the pure image. He approached Liz, who was leaning back against the counter and watching his every movement. He stepped in front of her, swiftly circling her waist with his arms as her own came up around his shoulders.

Brad: Hello, Liz.

Liz: Hello, Brad.

The stranger hoisted Liz up onto the counter, pressing her backward until she was lying flat on her back. She lifted her arms above her head as Brad leaned in over her face.

Liz: Would you like... fries with that?

As can only happen in dreams, Liz was suddenly on her feet again. She was wrapped in Brad’s arms as he kissed her. When they separated, Isabel could see that Max was now standing at the counter, watching them with a raised eyebrow.

Liz: I’m with Brad now.

Isabel knew that Liz hadn’t even looked in Max’s direction, yet she seemed to instinctively know that he was there. Liz continued to ignore Max’s presence, focusing on the man in front of her.

Max: Brad doesn’t even exist. Besides, you want someone who can do this.

Max snapped his fingers, and white rose petals began to flutter down on them. Liz finally acknowledged Max, turning away from the man in her arms. Brad disappeared just as suddenly as Max had appeared. In a flash, Liz was in Max’s arms, caught up in a kiss that went beyond the PG version she had shared with the blonde man.

Liz: Oh, my!

Their lips drew together once again, and Isabel noticed that one of Liz’s hands had slid down to cup Max’s butt.

Isabel: God, even her wet dreams are boring.

She started to pull out of Liz’s dream as she lost sight of her brother’s hands. If Liz’s dreams got less boring, then Isabel definitely didn’t want to see what was going to happen next.

A wave of fear crashed into her, and Isabel was disoriented. As her vision cleared, she found herself no longer in the diner, but in the middle of an opening in the woods. She felt dizzy and was desperately trying to figure out what was going on.

Isabel: Where am I? Liz? Kyle? Whose dream is this?

She heard a woman scream somewhere behind her. She turned to find the source of the noise and found a male figure dragging a large sack on the ground. Isabel couldn’t make out exactly what was going on, as the light and colors continued to change, normal one moment, a negative image the next, and a distorted view after that. Another scream sounded, and Isabel caught a brief glimpse of a blonde girl’s frightened face.

Isabel’s own screams woke her from her dream state. Max stood over her, shaking her shoulders.

Max: Isabel! Are you all right? What happened?

Isabel: I don’t know.



*Some dialogue taken and rearranged from 'To Serve and to Protect'... Thanks for all of your feedback. It makes me warm and tingly inside!
-Jen*

Chapter Seventy Five

Mr. Parker frowned from his station behind the grill as his daughter approached the pick-up window. As she reached to place a new order on the turnstile, he captured her wrist in his free hand.

Mr. Parker: Lizzie, honey, are you sure you’re ready to be back at work?

Liz: The doctor said I was fine, Dad. I want... I need to do normal things. Okay?

Mr. Parker: (sighs) Just promise me you’ll take it easy.

She nodded her head and picked up her cooling order. Liz hurried over to the waiting diners and set their plates before them.

Liz: Okay, umm... We have Saturn Rings and a Galaxy Sub, hold the Max...

She looked into her customer’s face, mortified by her slip up. Her cheeks brightened as she caught the patron’s questioning look. Catching a quick movement out of the corner of her eye, Liz turned to meet Maria’s intrigued stare. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hoping to calm her nerves. Maria gestured towards an empty section of the counter, and Liz resignedly nodded her head in acceptance.

Liz: Umm... Okay, so... I’ll be right back with the Cokes.

She slowly backed to where Maria was already waiting for her, rolling her eyes at herself and her current predicament. This is just... lame!

Maria: Okay, what just happened?

Liz: I need help. I’m sick. Okay? I am an obsessed person.

Maria: Okay, is this a general freak out, or should I be concerned?

Liz’s hands flailed through the air as she vented her feelings, startling Maria with the violence of her movements. Maria backed up slightly, not wanting to come in contact with Liz’s hands.

Liz: No. I have Max on my brain twenty four hours a day. Okay? I dream about him, I think about him, and now I’m saying his fucking name without even realizing it. What am I going to do?

Maria: (smiles) You’re in love, that’s all.

Liz: I know, but it’s not getting me anywhere.

Maria: Okay. Relax, relax. Liz, it’s not that bad. I promise.

Liz: Not that bad? Really? Why don’t you look at this?

Both girls looked down as Liz dug into the deep pockets of her apron. She hastily pulled two wallet-sized pictures out of the apron and waved them around in front of an amused Maria.

Liz: See?! Obsession, obsession, obsession, obsession!

Maria chuckled lightly as she gathered the photos from Liz’s shaking hands.

Maria: Okay, okay. You’re a Max-aholic. I’m here for you. What can I do?

Liz: Get me a life.

Maria’s smile dwindled at the hopeless expression in her friend’s voice. She pulled Liz to her in a tight, comforting hug. As she pulled back, Maria kept her hands firmly gripped on Liz’s shoulders. She looked her straight in the eye as she spoke, concern evident in her face and in her tone.

Maria: Liz, babe, don’t you think you’re plate’s kinda full right now?

Liz: With what?

Maria: Well... There’s the whole -

Liz: No. Nothing Czechoslovakian-related, okay?

Maria: Fine, but listen...

Liz: Later. Just work on it for me.

Maria: Okay, but...

They turned to the opening door as the bell above it jingled the new customer’s presence in the café. Liz’s head tilted to the side as she considered the new person, while Maria’s vigorously shook back and forth.

Maria: Oh, you gotta be kidding me. When did you get out?

Sean: This morning.

Maria: You didn’t break out, did you?

Sean: I got a release. (smirks) Good behavior.

Maria: That’s a first. You don’t think that you’re going to stay with us, do you?

Sean: Oh, uh, Aunt Amy already gave it the thumbs up.

Maria: (panicky laughter) She is such a soft touch. Isn’t she?

Sean: Hi, Liz.

Liz: Hey, Sean.

Sean: All grown up. Like it. I’ll see you at home.

Maria: (in outrage) It’s not your home!

Liz stared after Sean’s retreating figure for a moment after he exited the café. Maria looked back and forth between the two, torn between chasing after her delinquent cousin to tear him a new ass hole and shaking some sense into Liz. She was saved from making a choice when a throat cleared just behind her.

Mr. Parker: What exactly am I paying you girls for, again?

Maria’s eyes shifted around the café quickly, searching for a plausible excuse, while Liz jumped at the unexpected interruption.

Liz: Oh. Sorry, Daddy. I guess I was...

Maria: I don’t think she’s ready for a full shift yet, Mr. P.

Mr. Parker turned Liz to face him, holding her upper arms as he searched her face for signs of a relapse.

Mr. Parker: Lizzie? Are you okay, honey?

Liz: No... I... Yes. Yes, I’m fine. I’m perfectly capable of finishing this shift. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m fine.

Maria: Liz...

She shook her father’s hands away from her and turned to give Maria an unhappy glare.

Liz: No, Maria. I’m fine.

Mr. Parker: (sighs) If you say so... But I’ll be keeping my eye on you.

He returned to the grill, leaving the two girls to return to their unattended tables. Liz’s eyes narrowed in anger as Maria stared at her.

Liz: Thanks a lot.

Maria: You really don’t look so great.

Liz: Yeah? Well, I’m fine. In fact, I’m great. Never been better.

With that said, she stormed off to the other side of the café, leaving a baffled Maria in her wake. Maria just shook her head as she watched Liz’s agitated movements.

Maria: (sighs) More like delusional.



*Thanks for your patience and good wishes. I'm fighting a small infection, but other than that, things are okay...

-Jen*

Chapter Seventy Six

Liz sat on the floor of her bathroom, her back propped up against the side of her claw foot tub. Her legs were drawn close to her body, her arms resting limply on top of her knees. She sighed as she watched the green energy travel over her extended arms.

Liz: You’re not here, okay? I know this isn’t really happening. It’s just because of all of this crazy alien shit... I’m not going to acknowledge you anymore. God! I mean, I’ve seen them use their powers. It doesn’t look like this. It doesn’t!

She closed her eyes, breathing deeply as she recalled the advice she remembered Max giving her. I think he told me this...

Liz: No. No, no, no. He didn’t tell me anything about this, and this has never happened before. It’s not happening now! I just... I need to ignore it, and it will go away.

Her eyes squeezed shut as Liz clenched her hands into angry little fists. She felt an uncomfortable tightness surrounding her hands and reluctantly opened one eye to investigate the situation. Green energy was pooling around her closed fists.

Liz: Okay. Okay. Clearly, ignoring this is not going to make it go away. I just... I need to calm down. Yeah. That’s it. Just... focus... Try to... contain the alien juice.

Slowly, and with a small amount of pain, Liz unfurled her fingers and stretched them wide. Her hands started to hurt less, and she smiled at this small victory.

Liz: See? We don’t need Max after all. I’m just fine by -

At the thought of Max, the little control she had on the situation slipped through her energy-laden hands. In a burst of anger, the energy flung out from her pointed fingers, leaving two smoking hand prints in her bathroom walls. Her mouth dropped open in shock, not only by what she had unintentionally done, but because of the intense wave of pleasure that surged through her body as the energy had released.

She tilted her head back and released a long sigh, closing her eyes as she appreciated the one good aspect of turning into an alien. Liz breathed in deeply, hoping to regain some focus, and with that inhale, she noticed that she could smell something burning. Her eyes flew open to see that the towel hanging on the back of her bathroom door was on fire.

Liz: Shit.


Two days later...

Maria was rummaging through her locker as she waited for Liz to meet her. She dug through the mess to find the book she would need for her first class and noticed someone approaching out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t bother to look up from her task to greet her friend.

Maria: Hey, Liz, you’re running late today. Are you feeling okay? ‘Cause, I mean, you’re usually here and ready long before I am, and then, like, whoa, here I am, already here, but you’re not, and did you hear about what happened to -

Alex: Javlar, jag missade bussen.

She slammed her locker door closed as she recognized Alex’s voice. Her notebook dropped to the ground as she threw her arms wide to encompass him in a big hug.

Maria: Oh, my God. Oh, my God! I missed you soooo much! How was your trip home?

Alex: Oh, well, the flight from Stockholm was, like, ten hours late. Yeah... Vilken javla rora. Oh, umm... What a bloody mess. But, uh, hey, what was that you were saying about -

He was cut off by a loud squeal coming from behind him. He turned around to see Liz hopping toward him, a large smile spread across her face.

Liz: Oh. Alex, hey!

Alex: Hi!

He wrapped his arms around her, picking her up to twirl her around in a circle before he set her back down on her feet. Maria raised her eyebrow but didn’t comment. Instead, she bent down to retrieve her dropped book. Once Liz had been righted, she grabbed onto Alex’s hands, swinging them to and fro as they conversed.

Liz: We... Oh, uh... Hur ar det? I looked up Swedish web sites while you were gone.

Alex: Well, then. In that case, tack bra.

Liz: Thank you. Oh, did you see the midnight sun?

Maria bumped her hip against Liz’s as she forced her way back into the conversation. Liz stumbled slightly but managed to remain upright.

Maria: Okay, stop hogging him, Frieda. So... Were the Viking guys hot? Huh?

Alex: Well, you can decide that after you see my slides.

Maria and Liz turned to each other and squealed before centering their focus on Alex once again.

Liz: Ooh! I’m so excited!

Alex: So, how is everybody here?

Their smiles quickly dropped, and the girls turned to each other again, trying to shove the responsibility off onto the other. With a sigh, Liz started to tell him of recent news.

Liz: Umm... Uh, Sheriff Valenti... He was suspended last night. It was in this morning’s paper. Well, what -

Maria: Did they find that girl, by the way? The one who escaped from the hospital?

Liz: Umm, no, and people are saying that, you know... whoever kidnaped her may have come back.

Alex looked between their faces as they seemed to forget that he was standing right next to them. He opened his mouth to tell them as much when Maria turned Liz around to face the other end of the hallway.

Maria: Oh, um... Uh, look. It’s Max. He needs you.

Liz gave Alex another hug before setting off to talk with Max.

Liz: Okay. Umm, Alex, it’s so good to see you! I’ll see you guys later.

As Liz walked toward Max, Alex and Maria headed toward the lounge area arm-in-arm. Maria rested her head against his upper arm as they walked, knowing that she would need some added strength to catch him up to date.

Alex: I’ve been gone one month...

Maria: Let’s hit the vending machines. I’ll catch you up.

Liz joined Max as he walked toward his locker, bringing her arm behind him to rest on his waist as one of his arms held on to her shoulder.

Liz: Max, are you okay? I read about what happened. How’s Isabel?

Max: We’re fine. It’s Valenti I’m worried about. I can’t even get him on the phone.

Liz: I’m sorry. This is really awful.

Max stopped walking in the middle of the hallway, and Liz looked up at him with concern shining in her eyes. He merely motioned forward with a nod of his head, and she turned to see an angry Kyle walking their way. Max stepped forward to speak with him, but Kyle simply ignored Max and kept walking.

Max: Kyle...

Liz rested her head against his chest as he exhaled deeply. She rested a hand against his chest as she waited for him to speak.

Max: I... I don’t know what to do, Liz. It’s... Isabel thinks there’s something... (whispers) alien going on, and I -

Liz: Shh. Not here. Let’s go somewhere to talk, okay?

He shrugged his shoulders, and Liz knew that he was not okay by his easy compliance. She grabbed onto one of his hands and led him back toward the doors he’d entered only minutes earlier. He tugged on her hand as she walked up the stairs, and she turned to see what he wanted.

Max: Where are we going?

Liz: Away from here.

He raised his eyebrow at this, needing more to go on before he would give in. She let out an exasperated sigh before pulling him towards the exit.

Liz: This isn’t going to be solved in ten minutes, Max, and... C’mon, let’s just go.

Max nodded and shuffled along behind her. They wandered out to the student parking lot, stopping when they reached the Jeep.

Max: Liz, where are we going?

Liz: Did you eat breakfast?

Max: No, I...

Liz: You were too upset to eat.

Max: Yeah.

Liz: Well, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving.

They hopped into the Jeep and left the lot, heading out of town to avoid getting into any trouble. Five pairs of eyes watched them leave, each with different thoughts and intentions.


*Woo hoo! I'm past the halfway mark of season two! I don't know what that means in terms of the story! I'm over using exclamation points!

-Jen!*

I'm recovering from mono. You make out with one stranger in a bar... Anyhow, I'm doing my best, but I can't push myself too hard, and with school and crap... Anyhow, sorry for not notifying you. It just... wasn't the first thing that came to mind. Fever and what not. I wish this could be longer, but this is exhausting me. Not hard to do lately... Thanks for sticking with me.

-Jen



Chapter Seventy Seven

They sat in the parking lot, silently eating their fat-laden breakfast sandwiches as they watched people walk in and out of the building. Liz finished her orange juice, the annoying slurping noise disturbing the quiet inside the car. Max’s eyebrow raised and Liz’s cheeks flushed slightly.

Max: I think you got it all.

Liz: Yeah. I... Listen, we -

Max: Wanna do something?

Liz: Max, I... Like what?

Max: I don’t know... Roller skate? Movies? Mini golf? Video games?

Liz: But... We need to talk.

Max: Yeah. We can still do that... Later.

Liz: I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I mean, we really ought to -

Max: Please? I just... I could use a distraction right now.

Liz: Oh, umm... Okay.

Max: Okay. So...

Liz: So, what are we gonna do?

Max: I don’t know... I’m a little low on cash, so... How about we watch a movie?

Liz: Where?

Max: Michael’s.

Once again, the pair was silent as they drove. Liz was slightly startled by the touch of Max’s hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned to face him.

Liz: What?

Max: We’re here.

Looking out of the window, Liz saw that they were in fact sitting in front of Michael’s apartment complex. She shook her head to clear it and then unbuckled her seat belt. She sat there for a moment, not noticing the concern on Max’s face.

Max: Liz?

Liz: What? Oh... Right. Let’s go.

They walked slowly to Michael’s door, Liz’s eyes fixed on her shoes and Max’s eyes focused on Liz. He waved his hand over the doorknob and pushed the door open. Max guided her over to Michael’s meager selection of videos, watching Liz with amusement in his eyes as she weighed their options.

Liz: Hmm... Lethal Weapon, Rambo, Braveheart, The Matrix... God, is there anything without a gun-wielding maniac here?

Max: Check in the cabinet next to the fridge. Behind the cereal.

Liz looked at him strangely but did as he said. She moved aside a box of Cheerios and found a box laying on its side. She pulled it out and squealed when she saw the title.

Liz: Ooh! Sixteen Candles!

Max smiled at her enthusiasm, always happy to bring a smile to her face. He took the video from her hands and, removing it from its box, placed it into the VCR.

Max: You want something to eat while we watch?

Liz: We just ate!

Max: Okay. So... Let’s start the movie.

She nodded and situated herself at one end of the couch. Max hesitated for a moment, longing to sit close beside her and wrap his arms around her. He shook his head and settled in at the other end.

It wasn’t long before they had both fallen asleep. Max, exhausted from the runaround he was going through with Isabel and the police, slumped down into an uncomfortable seated position while he slept. Liz, fraught with ongoing emotional and physical problems, all but keeled over, her head resting high on Max’s left thigh.

Liz: Max... I need to find out where all this leads, too. Look.

She brushed her hair back over her shoulder and pulled her shirt away from her neck, exposing the marred skin to his hungry gaze. Her head turned to the side as he tentatively placed his hand over the unsightly bruise. The light touch of his fingertips on her neck sent shivers throughout her body as he reveled in the soft feel of her skin. He quickly healed the bruise, secretly wishing he’d marked her more than once, in a more secret place. His hand drew back slowly, lingering much longer than necessary. She made no protest, wishing to feel the heat of his touch all over her body.

Max: It’s gone.

They exchanged shy smiles, each making an attempt at the other’s lips but missing, distracted by the emotions running riot through their systems.

Liz: Thanks.

She watched him watching her, expecting his lips to collide with hers at any moment. She noticed that he was focusing on something and turned her gaze in that direction. He dragged his hand down her arm, brushing her skin with a touch so light, she wasn’t certain that he’d made contact. As she watched his progress, she breathed in deeply as a glowing trail of light followed in the wake of his fingers. She smiled, awed by the beauty of the moment and turned back to his face. He was still watching her arm, his brow furrowed as he pondered the possibilities.

Liz: Max... Do you understand any of this?

Max: No.

She easily accepted his answer, not worried in the least about their newest discovery.

Liz: Can you take your shirt off?

His head jerked up at her question, never expecting those words to pass her lips at this moment in time... or any other, for that matter. He looked into her eyes, hope and fear swirling in his own as his concern for her safety battled with his raging hormones.

Max: Can I...? Yeah.

His leather jacked dropped after a simple shrug of the shoulders. While he pulled his arms free of the sleeves, she quickly unbuttoned his shirt.