Let Me Let Go 1

Let Me Let Go Parts 1-13

Title: Let Me Let Go

Author: Actrez

E-mail- actress_03@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything, although I wish I did…..

Spoilers: Tess spoilers this is just what I think could happen when she comes

Rating: PG-13 maybe R later

Classification: Max/ Liz with a little bit of everyone else thrown in for a good measure (although not really in the first part)

Distribution: If you want just ask

Feedback: Yes please, this is my first story tell me if you think I should continue or not….

~I thought it was over baby, we said our good-byes.

But I can’t go a day without your face going through my mind.

In fact not a single minute passes without you in it.

Your voice, your touch, memories of your love are with me all of the time.

Let me let go baby, let me let go.

If this is for the best why are you still in my heart, are you still in my soul.

Let me let go.~ Faith Hill “Let Me Let Go”

This takes after “Independence Day” but before “Sexual Healing”

I did this in response to a challenge:

1.Tess(or any other name)a new girl comes to town

2.Michael doesn't trust her

3.Tess falls for Max

4.Max and Liz get Michael and Maria to go on a double date with them. It turns out to be a disaster

5.Max falls for Tess

6.Hurt, Liz starts dating

7.A school project pairs Liz&Michael and Max&Tess together

8.Liz catches Max and Tess making out

9.Michael and Liz kiss (don’t worry M/M fans they don’t get together)

10.Max finds out about the kiss

11.Something big happens at the end

~Part 1~

Liz and Max walked out of the movies hand in hand. Liz groaned as she heard Michael and Maria. “You are so impossible, you know I try and say something nice and you just go off on me!” Michael yelled at Maria.

“God this was a disaster.” Liz groaned. Max squeezed her hand. “It could have been worst.” Max said. “Some how I really doubt that…” she heard Maria yell “You are such a PIG!” at Michael. “Do they ever stop fighting?” Liz asked Max just laughed quietly listening to Michael and Maria exchange insults.

Max and Liz had invited Michael and Maria on a double date with them, it had turned out horrible. Michael and Maria hadn’t stopped bickering since Max and Michael picked the two girls up….they’d even been fighting through the movie.

“Sorry this was so horrible.” Max said as he walked Liz to her door they had dropped Michael and Maria off already.

“It’s not your fault, besides I had fun,” Max gave her a look, “really I did, you know, after a while you just learn to tune those two out.” She said as Max leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He whispered softly.

“Yea, tomorrow.” She said softly as he walked back to his car.

Once he drove away she opened the door and walked into her empty house, her parents were away for awhile on business for the Café. She walked into her room and started getting ready for bed. ‘The quicker I go to bed the quicker I get to see Max tomorrow’ she thought. Max and her had started casual dating, they didn’t want to rush into anything so right now they went on double dates, with either Alex and Isabelle or Michael and Maria. Isabelle and Alex were now a couple and Michael and Maria would go from flirting to fighting depending on the day. Liz knew they both wanted more but were to stubborn to make the first move or say something. Michael and her and gotten to be pretty good friends as had her and Isabelle, the whole group was a lot closer than they used to be. She was glad for Isabelle and Alex they both really liked each other and were happy together.

The next day at lunch Max came to their table with a girl that Liz didn’t recognize. “Every one this is Tess,” he said “she just moved here from Arizona.” Everyone greeted her. Liz noticed Michael’s uneasy glances at the new girl sitting at their table she also noticed how Tess kept checking out Max. They all found something to talk about that had nothing to do about the “Czechoslovakians”. The lunch bell rang and Liz got up to go to class with Michael and Isabelle they had Spanish class together. “I’ll see guys at the Crash after school?” she said to Maria, Max, and Alex. They all nodded. “Tess why don’t you come?” she said not wanting the girl to feel left out, although she didn’t really like her, she gave ‘bad vibes’ off as Maria would say. “Sure, thanks” the girl said. Liz smiled and walked off to class with Michael and Isabelle.

“I don’t trust her.” Michael said as they walked down the hall.

“Michael you don’t trust any one” Isabelle pointed out.

“No I’m serious Iz, she sends out these vibes,”

“Like Maira?” Isabelle joked and Michael shot her a glare.

“I don’t really trust her either.” Liz said speaking up for the first time.

“You guys are so paranoid.” Isabelle said, “Let’s give her a little bit of time before we start the investigation.” Isabelle said as they walked into their class.

After school Isabelle, Maria, and Liz were all working at the Crashdown. Michael and Alex were there already just hanging out talking to the three girls. “I’m telling you Iz there’s something weird about her.” Michael said still trying to convince Isabelle that Tess wasn’t trustworthy. Alex, Maria, and Liz already agreed.

“OK, OK I believe you” she said.

“Good,” Michael said then he paused “why?” he questioned suddenly suspicious.

“Because I saw her after school today talking with the sheriff and here she comes right now with Max so don’t question me.” She said the last part quickly “Hi Max, Tess.” She said as they walked over and sat with Alex and Michael. “Hey” they answered. “So what were you guys talking about?” Max asked.

“Oh ya know same ol’ same ol’…so what’s up?” Isabelle said. Max gave his sister a look she seemed nervous about something. “You OK Iz?” he asked.

“Oh yea great, why wouldn’t I be ok?” Max gave her another weird look that read ‘what’s wrong with you’ and let it drop.

‘I have to get home.” Tess said “I’ll see you tonight Max?” she asked.

“Yea, bye.” Max said and smiled at her, Liz saw this and felt like someone had slapped her across the face. Max and her had plans for tonight. After Tess walked away Liz turned to Maria “Will you cover for me for a little while”

“Yea sure” she said.

Liz turned back to Max “Max, um, can I talk to you for a second?” she asked.

“Sure” he said and followed her to the back.

“Max, I thought we had plans for tonight.” She said turning to him after they were in the back room.

“Yea, but I’m gonna have to cancel I told Tess I’d help her catch up in some of her classes.” He said “I’m really sorry.”

“No ,that’s OK don’t worry about it.” She said and plastered a fake smile on her face.

“Kay, see you around Liz.” He said as he walked out of the back room. Liz just stood their for a few minutes ‘see you around?’ she thought ‘pull your self together Liz’ she scolded herself as she walked back out to the front.

A week later the five of them were sitting at the Crashdown, Liz, Maria, and Isabelle had the dinner shift instead of the after school shift. They were all sitting talking about how weird Max had been acting lately. He had canceled his plans with Liz more than once in the past week so he could help Tess “catch up”. Ha hadn’t seen Liz except when they were at school, and then he acted like they were just friends. The only person he had seen outside of school was Isabelle, and that was because he lived with her. Just then Max and Tess walked in.

“Sh, here they come.” Isabelle said.

The two walked over to the table and sat down “Hey guys” Max said.

They all mumbled their hello’s.

“Max, can I talk to you?” Liz asked starting get up and heading to the back not even waiting for a reply. Max got up and followed her to the back wondering what was wrong.

When they got to the back Liz turned to Max trying to control her anger, “You and Tess seem to have gotten pretty close.”

“Yea, she’s really nice.” He said smiling. Liz hadn’t excepted that answer, she didn’t know what she had excepted but that definitely was not it. She blinked several times trying to blink back the tears.

“Liz, I know we left things casual,” he said and paused he didn’t want to hurt her, but Tess had said that it was best he told her a soon as possible.

Liz stood their holding her breath knowing what he was going to say next but not wanting to believe it.

“I think we should just be friends…you know start seeing other people.” He said

Liz stood their in shook, not even noticing the hot tear that slid down her cheek, “What?” she asked softly, even though she had heard him perfectly clear she just needed to know why.

“Liz you a great girl and one day your gonna make some guy really happy, but I’m not that guy.” He said, Tess had told him that always made the girl feel better when they were being broken up with but some how it just didn’t sound right when he said it to Liz, like it wasn’t true.

Liz felt like she had been slapped. “Don’t give me that shit Max!” she said a little louder than she had meant but she didn’t care any more, ‘what is wrong with him’ she thought.

The café was pretty empty now so when the group heard Liz yell they all looked at each other knowing what was probably going on but not wanting to believe. They listened as the fight continued, but no one noticed the smug look on Tess’s face as she, too, listened to the two fight.

“What are you talking about?” Max asked.

“Oh Liz you’re a great girl but you just not the one for me, blah blah BLAH!” she yelled loudly at him.

‘Liz calm down.”

“Don’t try to tell me what to do Max! I will not calm down!” she yelled hot tears running down her face.

“Liz..” he started.

“NO! Don’t even try Max, don’t even fucking try!” she yelled “Nothing you say can make it any easier knowing you’re leaving me for that FUCKING WHORE!!” she screamed.

Isabelle and Maria turned to each other with surprised looks, Liz never swore.

“She’s not a whore!” Max yelled.

“No, of course not how could I ever think such a thing about your perfect little SLUT!” she screamed again. “She doesn’t even know you Max, or does she? Have you told another girl your big secret?! Do you just go around telling different girls your secret seeing how many you can get to fall in love with you because you’re an…?!” she yelled this until his hand clamped over her mouth.

“Liz they can here you out their.” He whispered.

She glared at him and pulled herself away from his hand. “ I was going to say orphan.” She said coldly. “You think just because you hurt me that I’m going to run around and tell everyone your secret? I’m not some bitch like Tess is. Just because you hurt me doesn’t mean I don’t still love you….even if you don’t love me.” She said, not yelling but still loud enough for the group to hear, except Tess because she had gotten bored and gone outside to wait Max.

Liz choked on a sob and Max put his arm around Liz trying comfort her, “Liz…” he started but she pushed his arm away and glared at him through her tears. “ I don’t ever want to see you again.” She said when he didn’t move she screamed “Get out, GET OUT!” he slowly walked toward the door, took one last look at her and left.

Liz fell to the floor sobbing not caring who heard her.

When Max walked out of the back room he saw the whole group staring at him in shook. Maria and Isabelle got up to go help Liz.

“I….” He started but Isabelle interrupted him.

“What has gotten into you lately Max, first you start hanging out with Tess then you break up with Liz, the girl you’ve been in love with since the third grade.” She said and walked past him not waiting for an answer, Maria just walked right past him not even acknowledging his presents. He walked over to the table were Alex and Michael sat. Alex just got up and went in the back to check on Liz. Michael stayed, he got up and turned to Max and said “I don’t trust her Max,” Max knew immediately that he meant Tess, “Just be careful, don’t tell her anything that would put us in danger.” He said as he to walked back to see how Liz was. Max looked out and saw Tess waiting for him, he walked toward her, he wondered how long everyone would hate him for, why was it such a big deal, him and Liz just weren’t meant to be, at least that’s what Tess had told him….

~I know right now it’s really slow, but hopefully it will pick up. Tell me if I should continue.

Part 2~ The song is by Dido it’s called “Don’t Think Of Me”

“Oh Lizzy.” Maria whispered as she walked into the back room and found her best friend curled up in a ball on the floor sobbing into her knees. ‘I’m so gonna kill Max’ she thought as she walked over to her friend and hugged her.

Isabelle walked into the back room and saw Maria hugging Liz, she walked over and joined the hug. ‘What the hell was Max thinking’ she thought to herself.

“Here Liz come on” Maria said as she got up off the cold floor and sat on the couch, Isabelle got up and sat down on the couch leaving a space between her and Maria for Liz to sit. Liz got up and sat between her friends. Maria patted her lap and Liz laid her head down in Maria’s lap, her sobs had quieted and she cried softly as Maria played with her hair.

“You want some chocolate ice cream” Isabelle asked softly, Liz nodded her head yes. As Isabelle got up to get the ice cream as Alex walked in. Maria saw this and told Alex with her eyes to comfort Liz while she went over and talked to Isabelle, Alex nodded understanding what Maria wanted and walked over the couch as Maria got up. Alex sat down by Liz, who had sat up when Maria got up, he pulled Liz onto his lap like a little girl and hugged her tightly to him. She buried her head in his chest, “sh, it’ll be ok” Alex whispered softly.

Maria walked over to Isabelle who was getting out the ice cream and some spoons. “Isabelle,” she said and Isabelle turned around to face her, “I know Max is your brother and you don’t have to like turn against or any thing now….” She started.

“I know Maria, but I’m just as mad at him as you are, I don’t know what he was thinking.” She said softly. Just then Michael walked up to them, “How is she?” he asked. “Not good.” Maria answered as they started walking back over to Liz and Alex with ice cream.

“Hey we got your ice cream.” Isabelle said as she sat down next to Alex with Liz in his lap her head still in his chest, she had stopped crying now she was hiccuping into his chest. Maria sat on the other side of them with the ice cream, “Why don’t you have some ice cream.” Maria suggested. Liz nodded and slid of Alex’s lap next to Maria as Maria handed out the spoons and opened the container and everyone dug in.

Max walked outside to Tess, “How did she take it?” Tess asked.

“Not well” Max answered sadly he hadn’t wanted to hurt Liz, but they weren’t meant to be.

Tess looked at him, “She’ll get over it….you guys just weren’t meant to be Max, I’ve told you that, you just have to trust me on this one.” She said. He nodded, “I trust you” he said. “Good.” She said kissing him softly on the lips.

“Liz do you want Maria and me to cover for you tonight?” Isabelle asked when they had finished their ice cream.

“No, that’s ok.” She said. Maria and Isabelle looked at her in concern. “I need something to keep my mind off of him” she said quietly.

Maria and Isabelle were waiting for their orders to come up and talking about what an idiot Max was being when they heard the bell on the door ring. “Oh god,” Maria muttered “that’s all we need….more customers.” Isabelle and Maria both looked up to see if it was anyone they knew.

“Oh. My. God.” Isabelle said when she saw who it was.

Maria looked over by the door and her mouth fell open when she saw who it was. She slowly shook her head back and forth and had to use all her self control not to run up to the two that had just walked in and kick both their asses. “Who the hell does your brother think he is?” she asked Isabelle “He breaks up with Liz and then that very same day comes into the restaurant that she not only works in but her family owns……and now he’s sitting in her section!” Maria said trying to keep herself from yelling.

Liz looked up when she heard the bell on the door ring signaling more new customers ‘Great’ she thought ‘I don’t even know if we have room for anymore people.’ When she saw who it was she felt the hot tears burn her eyes she watched as Max and Tess found their way to an open table….in her section. She took a couple of deep breaths trying to stop herself from bursting into tears ‘Come on Liz you can do this’ she told herself.

“You want me to get them?” Isabelle asked softly, she had had to hold Maria back, when they saw where Max was sitting, Maria had been ready to kill Max…and Tess…so had Isabelle but she figured that could wait till they got home tonight.

Liz shook her head, “No I can get them, it was gonna happen someday I mean there’s only so many places to eat in Roswell, I might as well get used to it.” She said. She took a deep breath and headed over there just as Dido’s song “Don’t think of me” started to play.

So you’re with her, and not with me, I hope she’s sweet, and so pretty.

I hear she cooks delightfully, a little angel beside you.

So you’re with, and not with me, oh how lucky one man can be.

I hear your house is smart and clean, oh how lovely with your homecoming queen.

Oh how lovely it must be.

Liz took her order pad out as she reached the table not looking at either of them. “Hi I’m Liz, I’ll be your waitress tonight, do you need a few minutes to decide what you want?” she questioned as though she didn’t have the faintest clue as to who either of them were.

Max looked at Liz as she spoke to them, she talked like they were strangers and she wasn’t even looking at them. He knew she was hurt, but he still wanted them to be friends ‘but she never wants to see me again’ he thought sadly. He knew they shouldn’t have come here, he had just broken up with Liz this afternoon she didn’t need him rubbing his relationship with Tess in her face, but Tess had wanted to come, she said it would help Liz get over him and move on. And that’s what Max wanted ‘because,’ he figured ‘once she moves on we can be friends…I hope.’

When you see her sweet smile baby, don’t think of me.

When she lays in your warm arms, don’t think of me

Liz listened to the words of the song, she hoped Max was listening to them to because it was exactly how she felt. Tess’s annoying voice brought her out of her thoughts.

“No we know what we want.” She said “I’ll have a Pepsi…diet, and space fries, Max will have a cherry coke and a blue moon burger.” ‘Oh so now she’s ordering for him’ Liz thought but out loud she said in a fake cheeriness “ Ok I’ll be back with your drinks in a minute.” She quickly walked away to stop herself from slapping that smug look off of Tess’s face.

So you’re with her, and not with me, I know she spreads sweet honey.

In fact you’re best friend, I heard, he spent last night with he.

Now how do you feel?

Michael and Alex walked in and saw Max and Tess sitting in a booth talking quietly. “Hey, isn’t that Liz’s section?” Alex asked. “What an ass” Michael muttered as Alex and him walked over to the counter and sat down. They saw Liz filling drinks and Maria waiting for an order to come up, Isabelle was over taking some truckers order. Liz looked over and saw her two friends sitting their giving her a concerned look, obviously they had seen Max and Tess. She gave them a reassuring smile and said “I’ll be with you guys in a sec.” As she left to go deliver the drinks she quickly grabbed a bottle of Tabasco sauce for Max ‘ I could just forget the Tabasco sauce’ she thought, but she knew he’d end up asking for some so there wasn’t really a point.

When you see her sweet smile baby, don’t think of me.

When she lays in your warm arms, don’t think of me.

And it’s too late and it’s too bad, don’t think of me.

Oh it’s too late and it’s too bad, don’t think of me.

She set the drinks down on the table along with the Tabasco sauce, “Your food will be out in a second.” She said and quickly walked away. She walked back over and waited for her order to come up. She looked over at Michael and Alex and walked over to them. “Do you guys know what you want?” she asked. Michael and Alex looked at each other and smiled they turned back to her and said together “Chocolate cake!” Liz laughed and said to Michael while she got some plates and cut two slices of cake, “ You do know that you’re going to have to pay for it this time” Maira had told her about what had happened when Max and her went to see Riverdog. Michael laughed softly “I guess if I have to.”

“Order’s up Liz” Jose called from the kitchen. Liz handed the guys their cake and went and got the order.

Does it bother you now all the mess I made?

Does it bother you now the close you told me not to wear?

Does it bother you now all the angry games we played?

Does it bother you now when I’m not there?

“Here’s your Blue Moon Burger,” she said handing Max his order, “ and you’re space fries.” She handed Tess her order and had to use all her will power not to ‘accidentally’ drop it on her. “Can I get you guys anything else?” she asked in a fake sweetness.

“No thanks,” Tess said.

“Ok, just let me know when you want to pay.” She said and walked away ‘I can’t wait until this night is over’ she thought.

When you see her sweet smile baby, don’t think of me.

When she lays in your warm arms, don’t think of me.

And it’s too late and it’s too bad, don’t think of me.

Oh it’s too late, and it’s too bad, don’t think of me.

“Will you guys clean up tonight?” Liz asked, “I’m really tired, I just want to go take a nice hot shower and go to bed.” She said.

“Sure hun,” Maria said as she hugged her best friend “Get some rest, if you need anything call ok?” Liz nodded. “Night guys” she said to Michael and Alex who were waiting for their girlfriends to finish up, Maria and Michael were having one of their good days. “Night.” they both answered. Isabelle gave Liz a quick hug “Call me if you need to talk or anything.” She said. “Ok, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Liz answered. “Night” Isabelle said as Liz left to go upstairs and relax.

“I think we’re done here Maria” Isabelle called, they had finished cleaning up pretty quickly tonight, Isabelle couldn’t wait to get home, ‘boy is Max gonna get it’ she thought.

“Yea I think so, too.” Maria called, “I’ll lock up Iz, you can leave, I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

“Alex do want a ride home?” Isabelle asked turning to her boyfriend and smiling. She still remembered her ‘friends’ faces when she had walked down the hall hand in hand with Alex. He wasn’t built up like a lot of the football players, but he definitely wasn’t weak, and he was very good looking, and funny…the list could go on and on but before she could continue that thought Alex’s voice pulled her away from her thoughts.

“Yea sure” he said in answer to her question. Isabelle took a second to remember what it was she had asked him, ‘Oh yea if he wanted a ride home’ she thought to herself.

“Ok lets go” she said grabbing her things and calling over her shoulder “Later guys, see ya tomorrow.” She took Alex’s hand and they walked out the door.

Maria finished putting the mop away and walked out to the front as Isabelle and Alex left hand in hand “They’re so cute together’ she thought.

“Ready?” Michael asked her.

“Yea just let me lock up.” She said grabbing her keys and locking the front door. “All right let’s go.” She said. They headed out the back way and into the back parking lot.

“God, I can’t believe Max.” she said.

“Yea but it was going to happen sooner or later.” Michael said.

“Yea but he just broke up with Liz today, which brings up another question what the hell was he thinking? He is like totally in love with her.” Maria said.

“Well maybe he just needs to take a break.” Michael said trying to defend his friend.

“So you think it’s ok for him to hurt Liz then come eat at the place she works…..while she’s working…and bring his new girlfriend with him, while Liz suffers having to wait on them and watch them be all lovey dovey just because he might need a break?!” Maria said loudly.

“No, Maria, I didn’t say that.” He said frustrated Max was his best friend he just wanted him to be happy.

“No Michael, you didn’t have to!” she yelled as she got in to her car and drove of very pissed at Michael.

“Well I guess tomorrow won’t be one of our good days.” He said to himself as he walked towards his apartment.

Little did any of them know, someone had been watching them, someone had seen Max and Liz’s break up, someone had seen Max and Tess show up and the Crashdown and Liz suffering through it the whole time, someone had seen Isabelle and Alex walking out hand in hand, someone had seen Maria and Michael’s fight, and this someone knew just what to do about it……

TBC……….

~Part 3~ The song is by Faith Hill it’s called “Let Me Let Go”

Liz walked out of her bathroom towel drying her hair with her bathrobe wrapped around her. She dropped the towel on her floor and went over to her dresser. She pulled out some plaid pajama pants and a matching gray tank top. She grabbed a brush off her dresser and went over to her bed and turned on the radio.

I thought it was over baby, we said our good-byes.

But I can’t go a day without your face going through my mind.

In fact not a single minute passes without you in it.

Your voice, your touch, memories of your love are with me all of the time.

Let me let go baby, let me let go.

If this is for the best why are you still in my heart, are you still in my soul.

Let me let go.

Liz brushed her hair as she listened to the song and her thoughts instantly turned to Max, she slowly set her brush down on the table next to her bed.

I talked to you the other day.

Looks like you made your escape.

You put us behind, no matter how I try I can’t do the same.

Liz felt the hot tears sting her eyes for what felt like the millionth time that day, ‘I’m not going to cry’ she told her self. ‘How could Max just move on like that, forget everything we had, everything we could of had’ she thought.

Let me let go baby, let me let go.

It just isn’t right, I’ve been two thousand miles down a dead end road.

let me let go darlin’

Won’t you

I just gotta know, yea.

If this for the best why are you still in my heart, are you still in my soul.

Let me let go.

I took the straight city of shinning, but they don’t hold no fascination for me.

I try to find the bright side, baby, but everywhere I look, everywhere I turn, you’re all I see.

‘I don’t know how I’m going to get through this’ she thought to herself as she felt the hot tears slide down her checks. ‘What am I going to do during biology, or chemistry, or geometry, or history….’ She’d never realized how many classes she had with Max.

Let me, let me let go baby, won’t you, let me let go.

It just isn’t right, I’ve been two thousand miles down an dead end road.

Oh let me let go darlin’

Won’t you

I just gotta know, if this is for the best why are you still in my heart, yea you’re still in my soul.

Let me let go.

Let me baby.

Let me let go.

She listened as the last words of the song faded away. She quickly turned off her radio. ‘I don’t want to let him go’ she thought to herself as she buried her face in her pillow to quit her sobs, if her parents heard her they’d come in and want to know what was wrong and she really didn’t want to talk to them about it.

Someone watched Liz from her roof he smiled (although to most people his smile would look like an evil smile) because his plan was looking better and better….

Isabelle walked into her house humming softly and smiling. She had just driven Alex home, she touched neck and smiled even bigger remembering their good-night kiss….ok so it had turned to a little more than just a kiss. ‘I could remove it’ she thought to herself, ‘but do I really want to’ she couldn’t help but giggle a little knowing that she’d be wearing turtlenecks for the next few days.

“Hi honey” her mom called from the living room were she was watching television with Isabelle’s dad.

“Hi mom, hi daddy.” She called as she walked toward her room. The giddiness Isabelle had felt a few seconds ago quickly left her as she saw her brother’s door. The anger she had felt at her brother early that day came back and she walked into his room and saw him sitting at his desk doing homework.

“What the hell were you thinking?!” she said a little louder than she had meant to. Max turned around to look at his outraged sister, the confusion evident on his face.

“First you break up with Liz, the girl that you’ve been in love with since the third grade. And not only do you break up with her but you break up with her for the new slut in school! Then you and that little ho come into the café while Liz is working and sit in her section!! So I repeat my first question, what the hell were you thinking?!” she yelled.

“What is going on in here?” Isabelle heard her mom’s annoyed voice and slowly turned around.

“I was just trying to knock some sense into Max.” Isabelle said.

“Isabelle what is it that you don’t like about Tess?” Max said speaking for the first time since Isabelle had burst into his room.

“I don’t trust her Max…none of us do.” Isabelle said her voice shaking slightly in fear, what if Tess worked for the FBI and she tricked Max into telling her everything…. ‘stop that Isabelle, Max wouldn’t do that’ she scolded herself. Before she could think about it anymore Max’s angry voice pulled her away from her thoughts.

“You don’t trust her?! You don’t even know her, none of you do!”

“And neither do you Max! She’s new, she’s only lived here a week, you don’t know who she could be…..” Isabelle trailed off, she had almost forgot her mom was there.

“Isabelle I want to talk to you” her mom said to her.

“Ok mom, I’ll be there in a minute” she said as her mom walked out into the hall.

Isabelle walked over to Max and said in a whisper so that her mom couldn’t hear. “We don’t know anything about her, how do we know she doesn’t work for the FBI, or Valenti?” Isabelle said remembering when she had seen Tess talking with the sheriff last week, “and don’t you think it’s kind of weird that she suddenly wants to go out with you and hang out with our group.” Isabelle paused trying to gather her thoughts than said louder not caring if her mom heard her, “Look Max, your my brother and I want you to be happy, but I know Liz makes you happy, and some where along the line I think you forgot that.”

“Isabelle I don’t see the big deal, Liz and I just weren’t meant to be.” Max said.

Isabelle looked at her brother in shock, “What has Tess done to you?” when Max didn’t answer she continued. “ Just, be careful Max, because your going to realize one day that you were wrong, and that you love Liz, and then it might be to late, you might have hurt her so much that she won’t take you back, and I don’t want that to happen….to either of you.” Isabelle said and then left to go talk to her mom in the hallway, leaving Max with his thoughts.

“Isabelle what is going on?” her mom asked as they walked towards Isabelle’s room.

“Max broke up with Liz Parker today, you know the girl he’s been in love with since third grade, anyways he broke up with her for this new girl, Tess, who is a total bitch..”

“Isabelle” her mother interrupted her, surprised by her language.

“Sorry,” Isabelle said meekly then continued, “then he comes into the Crashdown while we were working, with Tess, and then they go and sit in Liz’s section so she had to wait on them and watch them hang all over each other.” Isabelle said getting mad all over again.

“Maybe Max just doesn’t like Liz like that anymore.”

“No mom, these two are like meant to be together” Isabelle said trying to make her mom understand.

“Well if they’re meant to be then everything will workout. Just don’t give your brother too hard of a time.”

Isabelle sighed knowing she wouldn’t be able to get her mom to understand unless she told her about her, Max, and Michael being aliens. “Ok, night mom.” Isabelle said kissing her mom on the cheek.

“Night honey” her mom said as she left and closed the door behind her.

Isabelle went over to her dresser and pulled out her red satin pajamas and quickly put them on. A shiver went up her spine and she walked over to her window and looked out. She had the weirdest feeling like she was being watched…. “I’m so paranoid” she said to herself as she turned off the lights and went to bed.

A dark figure watched as the lights went off in Isabelle’s room and smiled. Everything was coming together and he hadn’t even needed to do anything….yet…..

~Part 4~ The song is by Shiana Twain it’s called “You’ve got a way with me”

Liz walked slowly to her locker the next morning. She really wasn’t looking forward to today. She had ended up crying herself to sleep last night. When she woke up this morning she had thrown on some jeans and sweat shirt and had pulled her hair in a messy pony tail. She hadn’t seen Max yet ‘Thank God’ she thought. Just then Michael walked up and leaned against the locker next to hers.

“You look as bad as I feel” he said.

“Good morning to you too” she smiled at him although Michael noticed that the smile never reached her eyes. “Maria told me about last night” she said referring to their fight.

“It’s not that I want you to be hurt it’s just that…” he started trying to explain but she cut him off.

“I know it’s ok” she said sympathetically, “ Maria will understand, it might take her a while though, it’s always been like that with us, when ever a guy hurts one of us the other ones always more pissed at the guy than the one who got hurt, just give her a few days.”

Just than Isabelle walked up to them, “Hey guys, how you doing?” she asked Michael and Maria had both told her about what had happened the other night.

Liz forced a smile “I’m ok” she lied, actually she was horrible just thinking about the rest of the day made her feel sick. Isabelle gave her a sympathetic smile that said ‘I-know-your-lying-but-we’ll-talk-later”

Just then Alex came up to them. “Hey guys” he also had heard about the fight, from Maria, Liz and Michael just nodded to him as a greeting. “Iz what’s with the turtleneck?” he asked knowing his girlfriend never wore turtlenecks she leaned over and whispered something in his ear causing him to turn bright red.

“I don’t even want to know what she just said.” Michael muttered to Liz and for the first time since yesterday Liz laughed, and nodded her head in agreement.

“I have a plan to get Maria talking to me again” Michael said getting the groups attention. “I was thinking that maybe….”

“Come on Maria I really need your help cleaning up tonight.” Liz pleaded with her friend.

“Liz why are you cleaning up anyways we had this neat little thing today, it’s called a day off.” Maria said to Liz over the phone.

“I know but Natalie had to leave early and she was supposed to clean up so I told her I’d do it for her…please this place is a mess, you should see it.”

“Fine, but if I fail that English test tomorrow I’m so gonna kill you. I’ll be over in a minute.” Maria said hanging up with Liz and grabbing her keys. She had really wanted to just take a nice relaxing bath, go to bed, and forget about Michael, ‘but best friend duty calls, so off I go’ she thought as she got in her car and took off towards the café.

“Ok she’s on her way” Liz said as she walked out from the back room. She looked over at Michael he looked sort of nervous, “don’t worry Michael, she’ll love it” she reassured him.

Just then her car pulled into the front parking lot, “Ok she’s here, it’s show time guys” Alex said picking up his guitar.

“Liz, what’s going on?” Maria asked as she walked in to find the place spotless and near the back Alex was standing with his guitar, Isabelle was standing at an electric piano, and Liz was standing at a microphone. She looked over and saw Michael staring at her as music started, “May I have this dance?” he asked. Still getting over the shock she gave him her hand and he kissed her hand and lead her to the center of the café and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and then Maria heard Liz’s soft soprano voice fill the café.

You’ve got a way with me

Somehow you got me to believe, in every thing that I could be

I gotta say you really got a way

You got a way it seems

You gave me faith to find my dreams

You’ll never know just what that means

Can’t you see, you gotta a way with me

It’s in the way you want me

It’s in the way you hold me

The way you show me just what love’s made of

It’s in the way we make love.

“I’m sorry about last night,” Michael started, “Max is my best friend, I just want him to be happy…..” Maria interrupted him by putting her finger on his lips, “sh I know,” Mara said softly “I’m sorry, too, I over reacted, I just hate seeing Liz get hurt.” Michael smiled at kissed her softly on the lips.

You’ve got a way with words

You keep smiling even when it hurts

There’s no way to measure what your love is worth

I can’t believe the way you get through to me

It’s in the way you want me

It’s in the way hold me

The way you show me just what love’s made of

It’s in the way we make love

“So you did this all for me?” Maria asked smiling.

“Of course” Michael said smiling and kissing her again.

Oh how I adore you

Like no one before you

I love you just the way you are

It’s in the way you want me

It’s the way you hold me

The way you show me just love’s made of

It’s in the way we make love

It’s just the way you are

After the last note of the song faded away Maria and Michael reluctantly pulled away from each other. Maria looked over at Liz and smiled her thanks for getting her to come over to the café. Liz smiled back at her friend glad that she was happy.

“Liz I never knew you could sing so well” Isabelle said breaking the silence. She hadn’t pictured Liz having a bad voice but her voice was…wow.

Liz smiled and blushed slightly not may people knew she could sing only Alex, Maria, and her parents.

“Doesn’t she have a good voice?” Alex asked the group the all nodded making Liz blush harder. “I’ve been trying to get her to join my band but she says she’s too busy”

“Alex you have Maria” Liz pointed out.

“Yea but you guys would sound good in a duet.”

“Oh my God! That’d be so cool, Liz join Alex’s band so that we can do a duet!” Maria said smiling, she knew Liz loved to sing but she was afraid to sing in front of an audience.

“Maybe” Liz said giving in ‘it would be cool’ she thought.

“That means yes!” Maria shrieked.

Liz laughed “You know me to well.”

‘Wait I’m taking notes” Michael said “ ‘Maybe equals yes’…anything else I need to know?” he joked causing everyone to laugh, even Liz. Michael noticed her laughing and smiled, it was going to take a while for the hurt to go away but it looked like it was starting to go away.

Someone watched the from outside the café “Damn it,” he muttered he hadn’t counted on the blonde girl and the guy with spiky hair getting back together, at least not so quickly, “Oh well, I’ll just have to work around that.” he said into the darkness and the evil smile slowly spread across his face.

~Part 5~ The song is by Sozzi it’s called “Letting Go”

“Ok class I told you earlier in the week about the project we have coming up.” Mr. Sommers, their history teacher droned on. Liz looked at the clock, ‘Thank God,’ she thought ‘class is almost over.’ She had to go work on an extra credit Biology lab next period because she didn’t have any classes and she couldn’t stay after because she had to work the early shift right after school with Maria and Isabelle this afternoon.

“I’ve paired you into groups of two, you will need to find an important event in history and research it.” This statement received groans in the class, “come on people this isn’t hard.” Mr. Sommers said. Now here are the groups, “Parker and” ‘please don’t put me with Max please don’t put me with Max’ Liz pleaded silently “Gurien,” Liz looked over at Michael and smiled, he smiled back, he knew she hadn’t wanted to be paired up with Max and he really didn’t have a problem being paired with Liz, she was like a little sister to him, plus if he had been paired with Maria they probably wouldn’t have got any work done. “Evans…uh that’s M. Evans and Smith,” ‘Great just give Max and Tess one more reason to be together.’ Michael thought. “DeLuca and Whitman, Evans, I. Evans and Wheaten….”

Isabelle looked over at the new guy in class that she had been paired with Jimmy Wheaten, he was pretty cute he had dark hair and chocolate brown eyes he was tan and pretty built, he sort of had that ‘rebel without a cause’ look ‘maybe I can get him and Liz to go out on a date or something’ she thought to herself. She knew Liz was still hurt but trying not to show it, ‘it would definitely do her some good to go out with someone’ Isabelle thought as she tried to figure out a way to get the two of them together. ‘Maybe I could ask him to come to the club tonight since Alex’s band is playing and Liz and Maria will be singing, and he is knew I’m sure he could use someone to hang out with on a Friday night, he’s only lived here a week.’ Isabelle smiled at her plan yep, she’d ask him to come to the club with them tonight, then he’d see Liz sing, and Isabelle would casually mention how Liz was single and how cute the two of them would look together.

The bell rang pulling Isabelle from her thoughts. She walked over to Jimmy, “Hi, I’m Isabelle Evans.”

“Hey” he said and nodded his head in that I-don’t-really-care way.

“So, listen I know your new in town and we are partners for this stupid history report so I was wondering if maybe you would want to come to the local club tonight with me and my friends.” she motioned over to Alex, Liz, Maria, and Michael who were standing in a group over by the door waiting for her “That way we could get to know each other and you could meet some new people, plus it’s like the only place to be in Roswell on a Friday night.” she said hoping he’d say yes.

“Sure, why not.” Jimmy said.

“Great,” Isabelle smiled, “do you need ride or anything.”

“No, I’ll see you there” he said as he walked off.

Isabelle squealed in excitement and headed over to her friends. “You know we’re probably going to be late to math now” Maria said pretending to be mad, Alex, Isabelle, and Maria had math together last period today and Liz and Michael had a free.

“I’m sorry can you ever forgive me?” Isabelle joked.

“Maybe…if your lucky.” Maria said, “Now lets go.” Maria ordered.

“Yes ma’am” Alex said as they left the class room, “See you guys later” he said and they all waved their good-byes.

“I have to go to the Bio lab to work on an extra credit project.” Liz said to Michael and they walked down the hall.

“Maybe I’ll come by if I can’t find anything to do,” he said “So when should we start working on this project?” he asked.

“Well I have the early shift today and then the band is playing tonight so if you come by the Crash today while I’m working then I could take a break and we could at least decide what were going to do and when the best time to work on it is.” Liz said as they walked down the hall.

“Ok, I was planning on stopping by anyway, something about Maria in that uniform turns me on.”

“Oh my God, that is something I really didn’t need to know.” She said laughing he just smiled. “I’ll see you later” she said as she turned to go toward the bio lab.

“Ok see ya.” Michael said.

Don’t call me, don’t write

Don’t show up in the middle of the night

You know that we needed sometime and space to breath in

Liz walked toward the Bio lab, she would be there all by herself because Mrs. Johnson had a meeting or something to go to. She opened the door and couldn’t help but gasp at what see saw. “Oh my God.” she said tears filling her eyes. Tess was sitting up on one of the tables her legs wrapped around Max and Max was kissing her neck and he had the first few buttons of her shirt undone.

“Oh, Hi Liz.” Tess said in a fake sweetness.

Max looked up quickly, “Liz!” he said in surprise.

Liz quickly turned around closing the door behind her and took off down the hall, she didn’t want them to see her cry. Liz’s tears blurred her vision and as she turned the corner she ran right into a well defined chest.

I still recall the words you said to me

It’s what you did, not say that sets me free

Now how can’t I

I’d be so blind when you keep coming back again

It’s not ok for you to play this game of seesaw with my head

Now it hurts to much

And it hits too hard

And I won’t play this part

Michael had started back toward the Bio lab, there wasn’t really anything to do so he decided he’d go talk to Liz. As he turned the corner someone ran right into him. He looked down and saw Liz backing up with her head down wiping her eyes, he could tell she had been crying.

Don’t call me, Don’t write

Don’t show up in the middle of the night

You know that we needed some time and space to breath in

“Sorry” Liz muttered to who ever it was she had run into not looking up until she heard the familiar voice.

‘It’s ok, Liz, what’s wrong?” Michael asked her. She looked up at him and he could see the unshed tears in her eyes. She took a step closing the space between him and buried her head in his chest and cried. “sh, it’s ok….do you want to talk about it?” he asked and she nodded in his chest. “ok come on” he said and lead her down the hall away from the lab.

“So what happened?” Michael asked taking a bit of his chocolate bar. They had stopped by the vending machine and Michael had bought them each a chocolate bar, now they were sitting outside in the quad.

“I was heading toward the Bio lab and I open the door and I see Tess sitting on a table and Max was standing in front of her and she had her legs wrapped around him and he was kissing her neck and some of the buttons on his shirt were undone. I thought that some of the hurt had gone away but this just made it come back times ten” she said, as she talked her voice slowly got softer because she found it was hard to talk with the large lump in her throat. She put her face in her hands to try and muffle the sobs that she could no longer hold in. Michael wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head in a brotherly fashion.

“It’s gonna take a while for the hurt to go away.” he said.

Pam Troy sat on the other side of the quad she looked over at Liz and Michael for a second but just long enough to see Michael kiss the top of Liz’s head ‘wait till everyone hears about this’ she thought. Of course she wasn’t going to go around saying Michael Gurien kissed the top of Liz Parker’s head no, she was going to say that they were going at it in the middle of the quad. She smiled thinking of the sight on Liz Parker’s face when she heard the rumor.

Someone watched from another part of the quad he watched as the girl with dark hair, Liz, he thought her name was, broke down into tears. She was sitting with the guy with spiky hair, he was pretty sure his name was Michael, yes his plan would work out perfectly, and it definitely helped that Liz had seen those two going at it in the Bio lab.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz’s soft voice floated through the club. Couples were dancing out on the dance floor. She looked around and saw Max with his arms wrapped around Tess she quickly looked away before she felt that familiar sting in her eyes. She saw Michael and Isabelle dancing because Alex and Maria were both up on stage. She saw a guy sitting at a table, she recognized him from History, she was pretty sure that his name was Jimmy Wheaten.

So now I say the things I want to say

Sometimes it’s better letting go this way

I’ll always know down in my soul we really had so far to go

I’ve given all I have to give and now it’s time for me to live

And I won’t look back and I won’t regret

Though it hurts like hell

Someday I will forget

Maria’s voice joined Liz’s on the refrain. Jimmy looked up at her and she smiled, he was pretty cute….she knew Isabelle was working with him on that History project ‘and Max is working with Tess’ she thought bitterly but quickly pushed that thought away. She’d have to have Isabelle introduce her to Jimmy later.

Don’t call me, don’t write

Don’t show up in the middle of the night

You know that we needed some time and space to breath in

Don’t call me don’t write

Don’t show up in the middle of the night to say that you’ve been thinking

Cause I know it’s just the drink in you

She looked over at Max and Tess again, this time Max looked up at her, she continued looking at him as her and Maria sang the next verse. She remembered the last time she had been in this club right after her blind date, Alex’s band had been playing, and Max had kissed her, then told her he didn’t remember anything he had said earlier that night.

It’s funny how we seem to end up here

I never thought I’d see this soul disappear

Don’t call me don’t write

Don’t show up in the middle of the night

You know that we needed sometime and space to breath in

And this is letting go

This is letting go

Don’t call me don’t write (this is letting go)

Don’t’ show up in the middle of the night (it’s all right)

You know that we needed sometime and space to breath in

Don’t call me, don’t write (it’s all right)

Don’t show up in the middle of the night, to say that you’ve been thinking

Cause I know it’s just the drink in you.

The crowd clapped as the last note of the song faded away. That had been their last song and now the DJ was taking over. Maria, Alex, and Liz walked over to Isabelle, Michael, and Jimmy.

Max watched Liz get off stage, he felt really bad that Liz had seen him and Tess making out this afternoon. He had seen her face when she was singing part of the time and knew she was thinking about the last time they were here and he had kissed her but then had forgot everything. After everything calmed down with Michael and Hank he had gone to talk to her and she had told him everything that had happened that’s when they had started dating casually.

Tess followed Max’s gaze, she had to stop herself from going over and punching Liz Parker, Max was looking at her with that soulful gaze. ‘This isn’t working! He’s supposed to fall in love with me! Ugh! Valenti is going to kill me if I don’t get some information soon’ she thought. Valenti was here Uncle, by marriage, he was her stepdad’s brother. She had come down here to live with him for awhile because she was fed up with her old school and he had put her on this ‘mission,’ as he called it.

“Guess what I heard today?” Tess said. Max made a noise that could qualify to mean ‘what?’ so she continued, “I heard that Michael and Liz were going at it last period in the quad.” She smiled when she saw the look of jealousy flash across Max’s face.

Max couldn’t help the stab of jealousy that hit him when he heard that, ‘Get over it Max, you and Liz aren’t meant to be…..yea right, you know that’s a lie’ he thought to himself. ‘Why did I ever let Tess convince me that I didn’t love Liz?’ he asked himself as Isabelle’s words repeated in his head ‘Your going to realize one day that you were wrong, and that you love Liz, and then it might be to late, you might have hurt her so much that she won’t take you back.’ ‘Oh God what have I done’ he thought finally realizing how much he must have hurt Liz in the past few days.

When Maria, Liz, and Alex reached their friends Isabelle said “Everyone this is Jimmy Wheaten, he’s new in school, he’s in our history class. Jimmy this is Maria, Alex, and Liz.” She pointed to each of her friends while introducing them. A slow song came on and the two couples went to dance leaving Liz and Jimmy alone.

“So, um, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out to dinner and a movie sometime?” Jimmy asked Liz once they were alone.

Liz smiled “Yea sure, how about tomorrow?”

“Ok, I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“Sounds good.”

Jimmy smiled, Liz had accepted his offer, he would have thought it would have taken longer, ‘oh well,’ he thought ‘the sooner the better.’ He fought back the laughter he felt when he realized his plan was already off and running…..

~Part 6~

“Thanks, I had a lot of fun.” Liz said the next night as Jimmy walked her to her door, and she had had a good time, she had barley thought about Max.

Jimmy smiled, “Do you want to go out again sometime?”

“Yea, that’d be fun.”

“Ok, I guess I’ll see you on Monday.” Liz nodded and Jimmy leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. “Bye Liz” he whispered softly.

“Bye” she said and turned and went inside. Liz sighed as she closed the door, the kiss hadn’t been bad, but it didn’t have that spark like when Max kissed her, ‘but did you really except it to?’ she asked herself, she knew only Max’s kisses had that spark. Liz was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard the phone ring, “I’ll get it.” she yelled to her parents.

“Hello?” Liz answered.

“Hey babe, so how’d it go?” Maria’s voice answered.

Liz laughed at how eager her friend sounded to her about her date. “It was nice.”

“Nice?! Girl I want details!” Maria yelled into the phone.

Liz laughed again, “Ok, ok,” she said as she started to tell her friend the details of her date.

Michael and Isabelle walked into Max’s room as he was getting ready for a date with Tess.

“Hey” Max greeted them, ‘maybe I should ask Michael about him kissing Liz’ Max thought. “So I heard you kissed Liz.” Max stated hoping to find out what was going on.

Michael looked at Max like he had two heads, Isabelle just stood there trying to hold back laughter, she had heard that rumor already and she couldn’t help but laugh every time she thought about it. It was just so insane, Michael and Liz were like brother and sister.

“Why would I kiss Liz?” Michael asked. Max noticed the look on Michael’s face and gave him a questioning look, “Liz is like my sister, that’d be like you kissing Isabelle.” Michael said.

“EW!” Isabelle said and then she finally burst out laughing at the thought of Michael and Liz kissing. Both Max and Michael gave Isabelle and odd look as she doubled over laughing.

“Where did you get that idea anyways?”

“Tess said she heard you two were going at it in the quad last period on Friday.”

“You should probably talk to Maria before she hears the rumor” Isabelle said finally calming down. Michael nodded. “Where you going Max?” Isabelle asked her brother noticing it looked like he was getting ready to leave.

“I have a date with Tess.”

Isabelle tried to keep the look of disgust off her face at the mention of the bitch’s name, “You picking her up?”

“No I’m meeting her there.”

“Max have you ever actually seen where she lives?” Isabelle asked wondering how much her brother really knew about Tess.

“No, I guess I just never got around to it, I always meet her where ever we go or she comes over here” he said, “I should probably get going.”

“Oh! That reminds me I should call Liz she had a date with Jimmy.” Isabelle said as she left the room.

Michael turned to Max and squealed in fake excitement, “Oh! I should call her to I want all the details!” he mocked.

Max laughed but couldn’t help the jealousy he felt, ‘Stop it! You’re with Tess now, it was your choice’ he scolded himself. “I should get going, later” he said as he left.

Michael said waved to his friend as he left, he had noticed the look of jealousy that crossed Max’s face when Isabelle mentioned Liz’s date with Jimmy, ‘maybe he’s finally coming to his senses’ he thought as he left to go tell Isabelle he was leaving to go talk to Maria. He just hopped Maria hadn’t heard the rumor already because if she had, he was a dead man.

“ I’m leaving Uncle Jim” Tess called as she walked toward the door.

“Hold on” Valenti said as he walked toward her, “Have you found out anything yet?”

“No, I’ll tell you as soon as I do” she said annoyed, they had this conversation every time before she left.

“I don’t want you getting to attached to him”

“Believe me I’m not attached, besides what do you want me to do to find out? Oh, I know how about tonight at dinner I just come right out and ask, ‘ Hey Max, I’ve been wondering are you an alien?’ Yea I’m sure that’d go over real well” she said sarcastically.

“This is not a joking matter” Valenti scolded, “I want you to do what ever you have to, I want the truth and your the only one who can get it for me.”

“Whatever” Tess said as she walked out the door. She was so tired of that conversation, every time she left to go on a date with Max they had the same conversation. ‘Doesn’t he know I’m trying, I can’t just come out an ask him if he’s an alien, he’s gonna have to tell me, but how am I going to get him to do that when he’s pinning over Liz Parker’ she thought as she got in her car and took off towards the theater where she was meeting Max.

~Part 7~

Maria walked up to her friend at her locker on Monday. Liz looked over at her “Hey” she said smiling.

Maria couldn’t help but smile she was glad Liz was happy, or at least getting to there, she wasn’t depressed over Max anymore. Then Maria remembered what she heard and quickly stopped smiling, “So, word around school it that you and Michael were going at it on Friday in the quad during last period” she said making sure to keep her voice and face emotionless.

Liz turned to Maria, her shock evident on her face, “No, Maria, that’s not true I..” she started trying to explain but Maria interrupted her.

“I know” she said smiling, “remember you told me on Friday what happened during last period, plus Michael came over on Saturday when he heard about the rumor and tried explaining to me ho w he would never do that, you should have seen it Liz it was so funny.” Maria said doubling over in laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Alex asked as Isabelle and him came up to the two girls. Liz just smiled and shook her head as Maria tried to explain in between laughs.

“What’s with her?” Michael asked as he walked up and saw his girlfriend leaning against a locker so she didn’t fall on the floor laughing, once again Maria tried to explain but no one could understand her.

“Deep breathes Maria,” Liz said trying to get Maria to calm down, “In and out and in and out” she said but this just made Maria laugh harder.

“I don’t think you can save her Liz” Alex said “she’s been possessed” he smiled as Maria laughed harder.

“Alex don’t get here started,” Liz scolded playfully, “you know how she is once she starts laughing.”

Just then Jimmy came up and wrapped his arm around Liz “Hey there beautiful” he whispered in her ear.

“Hey” she said a little surprised he had done that, they had only gone out once, just then Max walked down the hall and Liz couldn’t help but stare at him, she noticed he looked over at her and saw Jimmy with his arm wrapped around her ‘Good’ she thought. Then instantly felt bad about wanting Max to be hurt, ‘It’s not like he even cares anyway, he has Tess’ she thought then pushed those thoughts away and focused on what Maria, who had finally calmed down, was saying to the group.

Tess watched as Max walked down the hall toward her locker. She noticed the look on his face when he saw Liz with that new guy, Jimmy. ‘Well I’m just gonna have to do something about that’ she thought, trying to think of a way to get Max to tell her if he was an alien. She was pretty sure he wasn’t. ‘An alien among us’ she thought ‘how crazy is that. Maybe I should have dear Uncle Jim committed’ she smiled at the thought of the sheriff being taken away in a straight jacket.

~Part 8~

Liz stared at the bruise on her back in the mirror. Jimmy and her had gotten in a fight the other night when she was cleaning up the café, Maria and Isabelle had gone home to study for the Biology test they had had on Tuesday. Jimmy had gotten mad about something ‘what was it we were fighting about anyways?’ she thought to herself, ‘oh yea, he didn’t believe me when I told him that the rumor about Michael and me wasn’t true.’ He had gotten mad and pushed her and she had hit her back on the counter really hard. He had apologized afterwards and said he hadn’t meant to hurt her.

“Oh my God Liz, what happened?” Maria asked when she walked into Liz’s room and saw the bruise on her back.

“Oh, um, I hit my back on the counter the other night” she said, it wasn’t a total lie.

“Are you ok?” Maria asked concerned.

“Yea I’m fine” she said quickly putting on her waitress uniform. “Let’s go.” she said as she started out of her room and down toward the café.

“God, is this week ever gonna be over?” Maria complained.

“Hey look at the bright side it’s already Wednesday, two more days till Friday.”

Maria groaned, “I’m never going to make it through this week” she complained as her and Liz finished putting on their aprons and went out to help Isabelle with the already large dinner crowd.

“Ok, so I have two alien blast, a cherry coke, and two orders of space fries?” Isabelle asked, and received nods as a yes.

“Isn’t the service here just great?” Alex asked Michael and Jimmy, and smiled up a Isabelle.

“I agree Alex” Michael said as he saw Maria and Liz walk out from the back room.

Isabelle groaned, “Look there are our two favorite customers” she said as she saw Max and Tess walk in and sit in their usual booth in Liz’s section, ‘at least it’s not as bad anymore’ Isabelle thought. “I’ll be back with your orders” she said as she walked away.

“Hey guys, took you long enough to get out here,” Isabelle joked. “we’re packed tonight.”

“Maybe we should close early” Maria said hopefully “I really don’t feel waiting on people today” she complained.

“Do you ever?” Liz asked as she left to go get Tess and Max’s order.

“That’s beside the point!” Maria yelled after her. After she was sure Liz was out of hearing range she turned to Isabelle. “I’m really worried about Liz” she said.

“Why what’s wrong?” Isabelle asked in concern.

“I walked into Liz’s room and she had this big bruise on her back.”

“Did you ask her about it?”

“Yea and she said that she had run into a counter when she was cleaning up the other night.”

“So, why are you worried?”

“Because it looked really bad, it didn’t look like it would of happened if she had just ‘accidentally’ run into the counter.” Maria said, Isabelle waited knowing there was more that Maria wasn’t saying. “It looks like someone would have had to push her for her to get it.”

“You don’t think…” Isabelle trailed off and they both looked over at the table with Michael, Alex,…and Jimmy.

“I don’t know, I hope not”

“Should we ask her?”

“No if she wanted us to know she would have told me what really happened, if we ask her about it again she’ll just accuse us of not trusting her.”

“So what, we just wait and she if any more bruises show up?”

“I think that’s all we can do” Maria said sadly.

“If he’s hurting her….” Isabelle started.

“I’ll kill him” Maria finished, knowing Isabelle was thinking the same thing.

TBC….

~Part 9~

Michael walked up to Liz the next morning at school, “Hey Liz” he said as he leaned against the locker next to hers.

“Oh, hey Michael”

“I was thinking maybe, if you’re not busy tonight, you could come over and we could work on that history project.”

“Actually, “I’m kind of busy tonight, but I’ll see” she said as she reached up to the top of her locker to get something causing her shirt to lift up and show part of her ribcage.

“Liz what happened?” he asked concerned when he saw the dark bruise on the lower part of her ribcage.

She looked down and saw that her bruise was showing and dropped her book that she had reached up to get, her and Jimmy had gotten in another fight last night. It was worse than the last one, she had hit her back again on the counter, then when she had gone over to try and talk to him he pushed her again causing her to hit her side on a table. “Oh, um, nothing, I’m fine” she said seeing Jimmy walking down the hall, “I’ll see you around Michael” she said as she hurried off to catch up to talk to Jimmy, he got mad every time he saw her talking with Michael because of the rumor. ‘Why am I even still with him?’ she asked herself. But she knew why Max was still with Tess and she needed something to keep her mind off of Max.

Max looked over at Liz and Michael talking from across the hall. He had to hold back a gasp when he saw the bruise on Liz’s ribcage. ‘If Jimmy did that to her, I’ll kill him’ he thought. He knew he shouldn’t be with Tess when he still loved Liz, that’s why he was breaking up with her tonight, he just hoped Liz would take him back.

“Where did Liz go?” Maria asked as she saw her friend running over to Jimmy and Michael just standing there in shock. “Michael what’s wrong?” she asked as Isabelle and Alex walked up and joined them.

“Have you guys noticed anything weird about Liz lately?” Michael asked, “Like a bruise, or something, that she can’t explain.”

Isabelle and Maria shared a look. “Why Michael?” Isabelle asked.

“Forget it. it’s probably nothing” he said not wanting them to worry.

“Michael what happened?” Maria asked more forcefully.

Michael looked at her and saw the fear in her eyes. ‘She must have noticed something weird’ he realized. “Liz reached up to get something on the top of her locker and her shirt lifted up. There was this bruise on her ribcage.”

“Oh my god” Isabelle whispered.

“Did it look like she just could have run into something….or like someone had pushed her?” Maria asked the fear evident in her voice.

“Like someone pushed her”

“Oh god” Maria whispered.

Isabelle noticed the confused looks Michael and Alex were giving them. Isabelle quickly explained what Maria had seen the other day on Liz’s back and what she had told Isabelle later on.

“Do you think we should talk to her?” Michael asked.

“No, if we talk to her it’ll just look like we don’t trust what she’s telling us. We either have to make sure she’s never alone with him, which would be close to impossible to do. Or we can just wait and see if she tells us, or if we’re lucky walk in on one of their fights and beat the shit out of him.” Alex said.

“So we just wait?” Michael asked.

“There’s nothing else we can do.” Isabelle said sadly.

“Is it just me or do we seem to have more people in here then actually live in Roswell?” Isabelle asked Maria and Liz as the three of them waited for their orders to come up. They had the dinner shift again and once again it was packed.

“It’s not just you.” Liz said as she picked up her order and headed over to a table.

Liz walked over to Alex, Michael, and Jimmy’s table. “Hey guys” she said as she set their food down.

“Oh! Food!” Alex said hungrily when she set his order down in front of him.

Jimmy touched her arm, “Can I talk to you in the back for a second?” he asked as he headed toward the back pulling Liz by the arm.

“yea, hold on let me see if Maria will cover for me. I’ll meet you in the back” she said as she walked over toward the counter were Maria was. “Hey can you cover for me for a few seconds?” she asked.

“Yea sure”

“Thanks!” Liz called over her shoulder as she walked toward the back.

Maria looked over at Isabelle and signaled that Liz had gone in the back with Jimmy. Isabelle nodded and went over to Michael and Alex and let them know that if Liz didn’t come out in a minute to go back there.

Liz walked into the back room. Jimmy was looking in the mirror facing away from her. When her saw her he turned around. “Did you tell your friends about the fight we had the other day?” he asked angrily.

Liz shock her head no her eyes wide with terror. ‘Is he going to do something’ she wondered. No I didn’t say anything…I swear” she said as he got closer to her.

“You lying bitch!” he said as he smacked her across the face.

“Hey!” Jimmy quickly backed up when he heard Alex’s voice. He looked up and saw a very angry Alex and Michael, he also noticed Isabelle and Maria who looked very pissed.

“What the hell’s going on in her?!” Michael asked as the four of them came into the back.

“Nothing, we were just talking.” Jimmy said

“Bull shit!” Michael said.

“Get out of here Jimmy” Maria said holding herself back from decking the ass-hole.

“I was just talking to my girlfriend”

“She’s not your girlfriend” Alex said angrily.

“I think that’s up to her” Jimmy said.

“I’m not” Liz said softly when everyone looked at her, including Jimmy, she continued, “I’m not your girlfriend any more” she finished.

“I think you heard her, now leave.” Isabelle said pointing to the door.

Jimmy quickly left but as he passed by Liz he whispered “You’ll be sorry” and then left without another word.

Liz let the tears slowly fall down her face, she was terrified of what he might do now.

“It’s ok Lizzie,” Maria said as she hugged her friend, they had all heard what Jimmy had said to her, “We won’t let him hurt you any more” Maria promised as Liz pulled back and wiped her eyes. Maria smiled at her friend, “Let’s go, we’ve got hungry people to feed” she said as they walked back out into the café.

Jimmy walked back towards his house, ‘she’ll be sorry for that, the little bitch’ he thought. ‘This will just make it easier for me to complete my plan’ he thought to himself and let the evil smile spread across his face as he planned for what he would do the next night.

TBC……

~Part 10~ The Song is by Enya it’s called “Exile”

Isabelle sat next to Michael at the local club listening to Alex’s band. She looked over at Max and gave him a sympathetic look. He had broken up with Tess last night and this morning Tess had said she knew he hadn’t meant it and she knew he loved her, so tonight he was going to try to make her understand that he didn’t like her anymore. ‘Poor Max’ she thought, ‘I wonder if Liz will take him back?’ Alex’s voice brought her out of her thoughts.

“Thank you, this is our last song before we take a break, it’s called ‘Exile’.”

Isabelle looked over at Michael and saw him smiling as Maria’s soft voice filled the club.

Cold as the northern winds in December mornings

Cold is the cry that rings from this far distant shore

Winter has come to late, too close beside me

How can I chase away all these fears deep inside

Maria looked over at Michael and smiled as Liz’s voice joined hers.

I’ll wait the signs to come

I’ll find a way

I will wait the time to come

I’ll find a way home

Max listened to Liz and Maria sing, he turned to Tess who hadn’t left him alone all day. “Tess I told you I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

“You’re leaving me for that bitch up there, aren’t you?” Tess asked angrily pointing to Liz.

“Does it really matter?” he asked annoyed, she glared at him, “It’s over Tess” he said and she stalked off towards the exit. Max sighed in relief. ‘Now if only I can convince Liz to take me back’ he thought as he listened to her sing the next verse.

My guide shall be the moon, and my path the ocean

My light the morning star as I sail home to you

Liz looked over towards the exit, where she had seen Tess run out of a few seconds ago, and saw Jimmy walk in. She looked over at Maria, as she joined her in singing the rest of the song, her eyes filled with terror.

I’ll wait the signs to come

I’ll find a way

I will wait the time to come

I’ll find a way home

Who then can warm my soul

Who can quell my passion

Out of these dreams a boat

I will sail home to you

The band got of the stage for their break and Maria, Liz, and Alex headed over toward Michael and Isabelle. As the three of them were making their way through the crowd Liz felt someone grab her arm. She turned around and saw Jimmy staring back at her.

“We need to talk” he said, “Can we go on a walk or something?”

“I guess” Liz said trying to keep her voice from shaking with fear. She turned to Maria, “I’m going on a walk,” Maria looked behind her and saw Jimmy and her eyes filled with fear, a little quieter so Jimmy couldn’t hear Liz said, “If I’m not back in like a minute, come after me.” Maria nodded and Liz walked off, actually it was more like Jimmy pulled her to the exit and outside.

Max saw this and went over to the four of them, “He was hurting her when they were together wasn’t he” it was more of a statement then a question. The four of them just looked at him in shocked silence until Maria spoke “ Yea,” she said and began to tell him what had been going on.

Liz walked the streets in silence with Jimmy until he broke it. “It’s because of Michael isn’t it, you broke up with me because of Michael” he said trying to sound hurt.

“No, Jimmy, Michael has nothing to do with this, I just don’t think we’re right for each other” she said ‘it’s not a complete lie’ she told herself.

“So there’s no way I can convince you to take me back?” he asked. Liz shook her head no, “I was afraid of that” he said pulling out a gun.

“Jimmy, what are you going to do?” she asked not being able to control how her voice shook with fear “Give me the gun Jimmy, please” she pleaded with him.

“No, if I can’t have you, no one will” he said.

Maria had just finished telling Max what was going on “So why did she leave with him?”

“I don’t know” Maria said then looked at her watched and noticed her friend still wasn’t back “Oh god,” she whispered “we should go find her, make sure she’s ok.” They all nodded in agreement and left toward the exit.

Once they were outside the first thing they heard was a gunshot, “Oh my god” Maria whispered and started running toward the sound with the others not far behind.

Liz feel back as the bullet hit her. She put her hand over the wound to try and stop the heavy blood flow. She was finding it hard to breath and the only thing running through her mind was ‘Oh my god I’m going to die, Max I love you.’

Maria turned the corner and screamed. She saw Liz lying on the pavement in a pool of her own blood. Everyone else was right behind her and she heard Isabelle gasp.

“No,” Isabelle whispered she didn’t even notice the tears running down her face.

“Somebody call an ambulance!” Maria yelled loudly.

Out of the corner of his eye Alex saw Jimmy, he went up to him and punched him square in the face as hard as he could. Jimmy fell to the ground, Alex’s attack had taken him by surprise. Michael quickly went over and punched Jimmy also, knocking him out.

“Yes we need an ambulance…….” Isabelle said into her cell phone holding back her sobs and trying to keep herself together “We’re on Crawford street……my friend got shot……..I don’t know, There’s a lot of blood……..Let me check” Isabelle put the phone down “Is she breathing?” she asked. Maria had her head buried in Michael’s chest sobbing, Alex had his arms around Isabelle trying to comfort her…and himself.

Max walked toward Liz trying to keep calm he took a deep breath as he got closer to her and leaned down next to her, he put his hand by her mouth trying to feel for breathe. When he felt a little puff of air he turned around to Isabelle “ Yea” he said and turned back around to Liz and stoked her hair. He briefly considered trying to heal her but realized she had lost too much blood already and it wouldn’t do her any good.

“Max,” she moaned softly.

“Sh Liz, it’s ok I’m here, you’re going to be ok.”

“I love you” she whispered softly

“I love you too” he whispered back his eyes filling with tears.

Liz slowly started to close her eyes, it was getting harder to breathe and she had told Max what she had needed to tell him. As she started to close her eyes she heard Max’s far away voice pleading with her.

“No Liz you have to stay with me, the ambulance is on it’s way, please Liz just hold on a little longer. You can’ t leave me Liz…I need you” Max said tears running down his face just then he heard the ambulance come around the corners along with a police car.

“Please move away, sir, and give us room to work” one of the paramedics said. Max stood up and slowly backed away to where Isabelle was standing with Alex.

Isabelle wrapped her arm around her brother and tried to give him a brave smile.

Sheriff Valenti stepped out of his car and walked over to Jimmy. He looked down at the unconscious teen and sighed. They didn’t get many things like this in Roswell, he looked over at where the paramedics were hooking Liz Parker up to a heart monitor, ‘hopefully she’ll be all right’ he thought as he picked up Jimmy and placed him in the car. He didn’t bother hand cuffing him, he could do that when they got to the station, right now he just wanted to get this kid behind bars, at least for the night.

The five friends watched as Liz was hooked up to a couple different machines, put on to a gurney, and slowly taken over to the ambulance. They listened to the beeping of the heart monitor that Liz had been hooked up to, it was the only thing that gave them the sign that she was still alive.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEEEEP

“No! “ Maria cried as she heard the beeping stop and buried her face in Michael’s chest sobbing. Isabelle turned around and sobbed into Alex’s chest.

“We’re losing her!” one of the paramedics yelled as he started to try and revive her.

TBC……

~Part 11~

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEEEEEEEEP

“No! “ Maria cried as she heard the beeping stop and buried her face in Michael’s chest sobbing. Isabelle turned around and sobbed into Alex’s chest.

“We’re losing her!” one of the paramedics yelled as he started to try and revive her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEEEEEEEEP……………BEEP,BEEP,BEEP

“Ok she’s back” the paramedic that had been trying to revive her yelled, “Let’s hurry and get her to the hospital” he turned to the group of friends, “Are any of you coming in the ambulance with us?” he asked.

Max and Maria looked at each other and at the same time said “You go.”

“Why don’t you both go?” Michael said, and the two nodded in agreement.

Isabelle walked over to Maria and handed her the cell phone she had just used to call the ambulance, “Here call her parents and let them know what’s going on” she said and gave her a quick hug. Then she turned to Max and gave him a hug, “She’ll be ok,” she reassured him, “she has to be.”

“We’ll meet you guys at the hospital” Alex said.

Max and Maria nodded and ran over to the ambulance and climbed in.

Once she was in the ambulance Maria turned on Isabelle’s cell phone and dialed Liz’s number, it rang twice before somebody picked up, it was Mr. Parker.

Max watched the paramedics work on Liz as he listened to Maria talk to Liz’s parents.

“Hi, Mr. Parker?………yea this is Maria………actually there’s something you should know, it’s about Liz……Well, Liz had been dating this guy and he wasn’t exactly treating her right so she broke up with him. He didn’t take the break up very well and he came by the club tonight and asked her to go on a walk with him so they could talk and he shot her” Max listened as Maria choked out the last part trying to remain strong for Liz’s parents. He put his arm around her shoulders to try and comfort her. “Yea………yea, we’re on our way to the hospital right now……ok, bye” she said and hung up the phone.

Maria turned to one of the paramedics helping Liz, he was squeezing one of those things she had seen when she was watching Chicago Hope one time, she was pretty sure it was supposed to help people breath. “Is she gonna be ok?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“We don’t know, you’re friend lost a lot of blood. She was shot in the diaphragm so right now she has to have help breathing, I think she has a chance but the biggest thing will be if she can make it through the night.” he said to her then turned to one of the other paramedics and talked to him about some medical stuff.

Maria turned to Max, “She can’t die, I can’t lose her” she said finally losing her brave mask and letting the tears flow. She saw the pain in Max’s eyes as he looked at Liz.

“She’s not going to die” he said, he wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince more himself or Maria.

The ambulance stopped and they quickly took Liz out and wheeled her into the hospital. When they got inside there were already doctors waiting.

“What have we got?” one of the doctors asked.

“Sixteen year old girl, Name is Liz Parker, gun shot wound to the diaphragm, severe blood loss” one of the paramedics answered, it was the one who had been helping Liz breath, one of the nurses took over helping her breath as another doctor started talking.

“Blood type?”

The paramedics looked at him blankly, they had forgot to ask.

Maria heard the doctor ask about Liz’s blood type and saw the blank look on the paramedics faces. “A positive” she said loudly so the doctors could hear her.

“Ok let’s get her into the OR and get some A positive stat!” one of the doctors yelled.

“You two need to stay here, a doctor will come out and talk to you as soon as she’s stabilized” the nurse who was helping Liz breath said to Maria and Max who had been walking along side Liz the whole time up till now. They nodded and watched as Liz was taken back toward the operating room.

Max turned to Maria, “How did you know her blood type?” he asked in surprise.

Maria shrugged her shoulders, “We’ve been friends forever, she told me one time, I guess I’ve just remembered ever since.”

Isabelle, Alex, and Michael ran up to the two and looked at them expectantly. “They just took her to the operating room, they said a doctor will talk to us as soon as she’s stabilized” Max said.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker ran toward the five of them, “How is she, how’s my baby girl?” Mrs. Parker asked close to hysterics.

“They just took her to the operating room, one of the doctors will talk to us as soon as she’s stabilized” Maria explained as they all made their way to the waiting room and sat down.

“So now we just have to wait, I guess” Alex said as they took seats.

Isabelle grabbed his hand and squeezed it lightly she could tell he was trying to remain strong for everyone, “She’ll be ok” she reassured him, but said it loud enough for everyone to hear.

Alex nodded then looked over at Maria who had tears running down her face he wrapped his arm around her, “She’ll be ok, she’s a fighter Maria, you know that…remember in fifth grade when she broke her arm and how worried we were about her, you were crying like it was the end of the world” he said and Maria half- laughed, half-sobbed at the memory, “She made it through that, she’ll make it through this” he said he knew that it was an incredibly different situation, but Liz was a fighter ‘she’ll be ok, she’ll be ok’ he kept repeating to himself in his head as they all sat there in silence waiting for the doctor to come out and tell them that everything was going to be fine.

TBC……..

~Part 12~

One of the doctors came out and everybody stood up. He walked over to Liz’s parents. “Hi, I’m Dr. Ross, are you Elizabeth’s parents?” They nodded in response. Mrs. Parker opened her mouth to say something but stopped when she heard Maria start to talk.

“Liz, her name’s Liz, she hates being called Elizabeth” Maria said quietly, but just loud enough for everyone to hear her. Michael walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and she leaned into his chest.

“How is she?” Mr. Parker asked.

“Liz was shot in the diaphragm, she lost a lot of blood. She’s lucky that her friends found her when they did, if she would have made it here any later I don’t think she would have had a chance.”

“So she’s ok?” Mrs. Parker asked urgently.

“We were able to stabilize her. We closed up the wound and gave her some blood. I think she should be fine as long as she makes it through the night.”

“So you’re saying there’s a chance she won’t make it?” Maria asked her voice shaking with fear.

“There’s always a chance. Liz lost a lot of blood, but since she got here so soon it looks like she’ll be ok. I can’t make any promises though.”

“Can we see her?” Isabelle asked.

“Yea, she’s in ICU, she’s unconscious right now, no more than two at a time” they all started heading to see Liz when the doctor called Liz’s parents, “Mr. and Mrs. Parker, I noticed Liz had a couple of bruises, we took x-rays and nothing appears to be broken, but I was wondering if you knew how she got them.”

Liz’s parents shook there heads.

“Her ex-boyfriend, the guy who shot her, he was abusing her. That’s why they broke up” Maria said quietly. She heard Liz’s parent gasp, they hadn’t known what had been going on.

Dr. Ross nodded, “You can go see her now” he said as they all left toward ICU.

Maria, Michael, Isabelle, Alex, and Max all stood outside Liz’s room and watched through the window as Mr. and Mrs. Parker visited with their daughter.

“This is so unreal” Isabelle said breaking the silence. Everyone nodded in agreement as they looked at their friend hooked up to a bunch of machines fighting for her life.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker came out of Liz’s room, “You guys can go visit her now” Mr. Parker said.

Maria walked up to Liz’s parents, “Why don’t you guys go home, you look exhausted.”

“No I want to stay here tonight” Mrs. Parker said.

“Go” Maria ordered, “I’ll stay and I’ll call you if there’s any change.”

“No, Maria, you shouldn’t stay here all night…” Mr. Parker started but Maria interrupted him.

“Go, I’m gonna stay her no matter what, you guys might as just go home, I’ll call you if anything happens” she insisted.

Liz’s parents nodded reluctantly, “Ok…you’ll call us?” Liz’s mom said.

“I will call if anything happens” Maria reassured them, “Now go” she ordered.

Liz’s parents each hugged Maria and left.

“Why don’t you and Alex go in first” Michael said to Maria.

Maria nodded and Alex walked up to her and put his arm around her as they headed into Liz’s room.

“Hey babe how you doing?” Maria asked knowing Liz wouldn’t answer.

“Hey Parker, you gave us all a scare” Alex said trying to smile bravely.

Maria sat on one side of Liz’s bed and held her hand and Alex sat on the other side and took her other hand.

“You have to fight Liz, please fight you can’ t leave me” Maria pleaded with Liz.

“Come on Liz we need you.” Alex told his unconscious friend “I mean who’s gonna me the peace maker when ever Maria and me get into a stupid fight, who’s gonna laugh at my corny jokes…”

“Who’s gonna sing duet’s with me” Maria added in, “Who am I going to complain to when ever Michael does something stupid…” she asked choking on a sob.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes until Alex said, “I’m gonna go outside so the others can come in” Maria nodded Alex walked over to her and hugged her, “She’ll be ok” he said and left.

After Isabelle and Michael had both visited with Liz for a little bit Alex offered to take them home saying Maria would call them with any change.

“I’m going home with Alex,” Isabelle informed Max, “Here are the keys to the jeep…don’t stay here all night Max kay?” Max nodded and she handed him the keys and left. Max stood outside Liz’s room for a few more minutes before finally going in.

Maria looked up when she heard the door open and saw Max walk in. ‘He probably wants to be alone with her’ she thought. “I’m gonna go get something to eat” she said as she got up and left.

Max barley even noticed Maria leave. He walked over to Liz and kissed her softly on the forehead and sat down in one of the chairs next to her bed taking one of her small hands in his. “I love you Liz” he said quietly, “You have to fight, please. I’m sorry….God Liz, I’m so sorry, I never wanted to hurt you. Please don’t leave me here…I need you. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you tonight, I’m sorry I let him hurt you” Max said feeling guilty.

“Don’t blame yourself Max” Max’s head jerked up, ‘was that Liz’ he thought, he looked at her and saw that she was still unconscious ‘I’m going crazy’ he thought.

“She wouldn’t want you to feel guilty” the voice said again and he realized Maria was standing in the door. “It wasn’t your fault, it wasn’t any ones fault. The only person we can blame is that ass-hole, Jimmy” Maria said angrily. She looked at her watch, “It’s late you should head home, I’ll call you if there’s any change.” Max looked reluctant to leave, “There’s no reason for both of us to stay, I don’t think she’ll wake up till tomorrow and you can come here as soon as you wake up. If she does wake up earlier than that I’ll call you” Maria told him.

Max reluctantly got up. He kissed Liz on the forehead, “I love you,” he whispered, “don’t forget that” he said as he headed toward the door.

“She loves you too, you know” Maria told him. He nodded remembering earlier that night when she had told him she loved him. Maria gave Max a quick hug and said softly “Try and get some rest.”

He nodded, “You too” he said and forced a smile. Maria forced a smile back and he walked out of the room and down the hall toward the exit.

Maria walked over to her friend bed and sat down in one of the chairs and tried to get comfortable. “I’ll see you in the morning Lizzie” she said softly as she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

TBC…..

~Part 13~ The song is by Don Henley and Patty Smyth it’s called “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough”

Maria woke up and smiled when she saw Liz ‘she’s still alive, she made it through the night’ she thought happily. She grabbed her friends hand, “Lizzie?” she asked softly. She thought she felt Liz’s finger move, she waited a few minutes and then she was sure she had felt Liz squeeze her hand softly. “Liz?” she asked again and Liz squeezed her hand a little harder this time. Maria watched her friend as she slowly opened her eyes. “Liz!” she said happily and smiled at her friend.

“Hey” Liz said and smiled at Maria, she wasn’t sure how long she had been out, “Did I miss anything?”

“No you were only unconscious for awhile” Maria explained. “I had to promise everyone I’d call as soon as you woke up” she said smiling “especially Max” she told her friends quietly. “He was really worried Lizzie…..are you two gonna get back together?”

“I don’t know…..I love him, but I don’t know, it still hurts” she said referring to everything that had happened with Tess.

“Whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you” she told her friend, squeezing her hand lightly. “I’m gonna go get a doctor” Maria said as she got up to leave, “Oh and Liz,” she said as she turned around at the door, “if you ever scare me like that again….I’ll kill you” she said smiling.

A few hours later Liz sat in her new room looking out the window. They had moved her from ICU to a regular room. They were going to keep her a few more days to make sure she was ok. Her parents had already stopped by and so had Alex, Michael, and Isabelle. Maria had just left to go get some food, she had told Liz she would bring her something back since the hospital food was so disgusting. She looked over a the table by her bed and noticed the clock radio, just as she found a good station she heard a soft knock on the door. She turned and saw the one person she wasn’t really sure she wanted to see.

I don’t want to lose you

But I don’t want to use you, just to have somebody by my side

I don’t want to hate you

I don’t to take you

But I don’t want to be the one to cry

I don’t really matter to anyone any more

But like a fool I keep losing my place and I keep seeing you walk through that door.

There’s a danger in loving somebody too much

And it’s sad when you know it’s you heart you can’t trust

There’s a reason why people don’t stay where they are

Baby, sometimes love just ain’t enough

“Hey” Max said softly as he walked into the room and sat down on a chair near her bed. “How you feeling?”

“Ok,” she answered, “Max,” she started, she wasn’t really sure how she was going to say this ‘just say it’ she told herself.

“Liz, I’m sorry” he said before she could start, “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I know……but you did, and right now as much as I want to……we can’t be together right now Max……because I don’t know if I can trust you not to break my heart again” she said softly holding back the tears that were threatening to fall ‘I won’t cry’ she repeated to herself over and over.

Now I could never change

I don’t want to blame you

Baby, you don’t have to take the fall.

Max listened to the song play over the radio. ‘I lost her’ he thought to himself, ‘Isabelle warned be but I didn’t listen’ he thought sadly.

Yes I may have hurt you

But I did not desert you

Baby I just want to have it all

Liz listened to the song, she turned away from Max and looked out the window. She knew if she looked at him to long all her resolve would melt away and she’d either forgive him or just lose it and start crying, ‘I’m not gonna cry’ she told herself again.

It makes a sound like thunder

It makes me feel like a way

And like a fool who will never see the truth, I keep thinking something’s gonna change

There’s a danger in loving somebody too much

And it’s sad when you know it’s you heart you can’t trust

There’s a reason why people don’t stay where they are

Baby sometimes love just ain’t enough

“Liz,” Max said softly and she turned her head to look and him. He could see the tears glistening in her eyes, “I love you” he said trying to get her to take him back.

“I know,” she said softly taking a deep breath to try and stay in control, “I love you too……..but I don’t think that’s enough right now…maybe not ever” she said trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She turned back to looking out the window so she didn’t have to look at the hurt look on Max’s face.

And there’s no way home

When it’s late at night and you’re all alone

Are there things that you wanted to say

And do you feel me there beside you in your bed

There beside you where I used to lay

Liz didn’t see him leave because she was looking out the window. But she felt him leave, she knew he had left when the room suddenly felt a lot colder…..a lot lonelier. She let the tears flow freely as she listened to the last part of the song.

And there’s a danger in loving somebody too much

And it’s sad when you know it’s your heart they can’t touch

There’s a reason why people don’t stay who they are

Baby, sometimes love just ain’t enough

Baby sometimes love, it just ain’t enough.

The End