Ch 7
The Next Morning at School
Maria and Isabel were standing together at Maria's locker planning their strategy of attack when they saw Michael walk by headed toward Liz's locker.
"Ok weird number one." Isabel said. "Michael and Liz."
"Yeah, they are all chummy lately." Maria said sadly. "Before Liz couldn't even have a conversation with him."
"Max thought something romantic was going on there but he dismissed that notion after Liz threatened to kill him. But she's your best friend. Isn't she supposed to want him dead right about now?"
"You'd think, wouldn't you?"
"Yes I would." Isabel's eyes narrowed as Alex and Max walked up. "Behold the weirdness and notice who's missing."
"Who, us?" Maria asked sarcastically.
"Yes. You know the same thing happened that day under the bleachers. When we got there everyone was all comfortable with each other. Even Michael. After we got there it got all tense."
"I am not liking this at all, Is. Being left out is SO not a good feeling. Especially when I can tell it is something really important." Maria said, worried about her friends, and their relationship.
"What's important?"
Isabel and Maria looked to where Tess had suddenly appeared.
"Hi Tess." Isabel said.
"Just the test in English. Speaking of, gotta go." Maria said quickly, wanting to get away from Tess as quickly as possible. She was the reason everything had gone wrong.
"Something I said?" Tess asked Isabel.
"Of course not." Isabel said, trying to be friendly. "She is just stressing over that test."
"Do you know where Max is?" Tess said.
"He's with Liz," Isabel said with a fake sympathetic smile, "They've been spending more time together lately. It'll be good to get the group back together," She couldn't resist adding, "Well, off to class! Ta ta!" She walked off, holding a hand to her mouth to hide her grin.
"Oh I don't think so." Tess said.
Lunch - Bandroom
"I feel bad for ditching Max." Michael said.
"Isabel and Maria are getting suspicious enough as it is without him disappearing at lunch with us!" Liz said. "Besides, I am not ready to have to be all chummy with him. It hurts too much still."
"Speaking of Isabel and Maria, Michael don't you ever leave me alone with them again like you did last night."
Michael grimaced, "I couldn't help it. I know I am friend's with the boss's daughter, but I still need to get my work done. This is my livelihood we're talking about here."
"Yeah speaking of livelihood I was talking to Cordy on the phone this morning before school and she said she talked to Wesley and if you want you have a room at the house." Liz said.
Michael gasped. "Me, live in that monstrosity!! Too cool!!" then he frowned. "But I can't. With Maria and Isabel not knowing the story, me moving would raise way too many questions right now." He attempted to look cheerful about it, "Oh well, good to know I am welcome at least!"
"Good point. Did you see them this morning watching us?" Liz asked. "They are getting suspicious."
"Getting there?" Alex said incredulously. "Oh I'd say they are way past getting there!! They are on a mission!"
"We are going to have to be majorly careful." Liz said.
"That's the understatement of the century." Michael said with trepidation.
"I hate this." Liz said gloomily. "I hate that I have to lie to my friends just when it looks like we're all getting back to being friends."
"So tell them Liz!" Alex pleaded. "They'll understand! You KNOW they will!"
"But will Wesley? You say the conniption fit he almost had when I introduced you and Michael. I didn't even have the guts to tell him about Max."
"He'll get over it Liz. He's got a group of people that he has worked with. He knows there is strength in numbers." Michael attempted to convince her.
"I hope you're right I really do cause I am not prepared to lose anymore friends."
"You won't." Alex reassured. "So does that mean you are going to tell them?"
"I'll think about it. I just really hope Isabel doesn't suggest I seek psychiatric help." Liz said. "On another note...." She reached into her bag and pulled out two boxes. "For you and for you."
Michael opened his box. "A crucifix?" he raised an eyebrow.
"You can never be too careful." Liz said seriously. "I wouldn't know what to do without you guys. I don't want anything to happen to you." She then cleared her throat, "Ok, well time to head back to classes!" She laughed and helped the guys up as they groaned and grumbled about school.
"I have a history test next period." Michael groaned.
"You'll do okay. I think the game we made out of mixing the sparring and studying really works for you!" Liz said with a smile.
"Yeah but we gotta cut out the blows to the head Lizzie."
Liz smirked, "I think you're right. Need to leave what brain cells you have alone!" Then giggled and ran away as he came after her.
"Come back here you. My brain cells are thinking of interesting ways to torture you!"
*Ring Ring*
"Ha! Saved by the bell! See ya after class!"
"Well that was fun." Alex said clasping the cross Liz had given him around his neck.
"A crucifix?" Isabel asked in disbelief as she walked up. "Since when did you become all religious?"
"I found it in my drawer this morning and decided to put it on." Alex explained giving Michael time to hide his beneath his shirt.
"Yeah, sure. If you say so." Isabel said, mentally adding it to the list of oddities about her friends lately.
"I gotta go. See you guys later." Alex said making an escape.
"Why is he so jumpy?" Isabel asked innocently.
"He's Alex. Bye Is."
Isabel groaned to herself. "I am getting nowhere fast! I hope Maria is doing better than I am!"
"Hi Liz." Maria said sitting down next to her friend in English class.
"Hi Maria!" Liz said distractedly, getting out her books and getting ready for class.
"So where were you at lunch? I looked for you."
"Oh sorry Maria, I was at the library finishing up some homework." Liz said, praying Maria hadn't looked there.
"Oh. That's weird. I poked my head in and I didn't see you at the usual place."
"Oh I was back behind some bookshelves. I didn't want to be disturbed, had a lot to do in a short amount of time. It's quieter back there." Liz explained.
"Oh. So you wanna go to the mall after school?"
Liz frowned, "I'm sorry, I can't, I promised my mom I would run some errands for her."
"Oh. I could go with you."
"No! I wouldn't be great company, I am going to be rushing in and out of places. She has me going all over town. Its stuff for the restaurant. Totally boring."
"Oh." Maria said with a frown. "Maybe this weekend?"
"Sure! Yeah, we'll go then!" Liz said, already mentally rearranging her schedule. She wasn't going to let Maria down this time.
"Great." Maria smiled.
Cordelia and Doyle sat out on the porch of the Victorian house on Rose Avenue. "So Princess, what do you think of Roswell so far?"
"Dusty and very hot."
"Very true. What about the people?"
"Quiet and unassuming. Kinda like Sunnydale only they don't disappear as often."
"Yeah, does seem to be a pretty quiet town so far. Nice change of pace I'd say!" Doyle agreed. "What do you think of Liz's friends? There is something about that Michael, though I can't put my finger on it. Just something different about him." Doyle said frowning in concentration.
"Like his hair. Do you think he knows what a comb is?"
Doyle laughs, "Some would consider that a valid style choice Princess."
"What? Good hygiene? And he lets Liz beat the hell out of him on a daily basis."
"Well she needs the practice. Even if we aren't the best fighters. But do you notice how he never seems to have any bruises or injuries the next day?" Doyle asked, perplexed. "I can barely walk after sparring with her. Only your massages are getting me through." He said with a grin.
Cordelia smiled at him. "Maybe he's got good blood vessels."
"Good blood vessels?" Doyle smirked. "C'mon Delia, you know from experience that there is probably something much more unusual in the way of an explanation."
"Maybe I don't want there to be. Alex and Michael seem like nice guys and they treat Liz like she was their kid sister. I don't want to ruin that for her by having there being something wrong with him."
Doyle lost his grin, "I know Princess, but just because we pretend it doesn't exist, doesn't make it go away. We owe it to ourselves and her to find out what is different about him. There is a lot more at stake than her friendships."
"I know. I just want to believe that sometimes people are just weird for no other reason then that's the way they are."
"If only we were so lucky," he said as he pulled her in for a reassuring hug.
"Max it's a bad idea." Michael said.
"Why?"
"Cause Liz will hurt me if I trick her into letting her go out on patrol with you."
"She hurts you either way!" Max smirked, thinking of their sparring sessions.
"Yes I know but this will be different. She'll actually mean to hurt me this time."
"C'mon Michael. You have to help me here. I need to get her back. I won't survive much longer without her!" Max exclaimed.
"Liz is determined to stay away from you. Why can't you respect that?"
"Maria wants nothing to do with you and you don't respect that."
"Because *I* broke up with her. She was hurt, she is scared I will hurt her again, and I know I won't." Michael explained. "You and Liz? That was HER decision."
"It was made in a moment of insanity and you know you should want to help me. You're the one who kept me from going after her. You owe me."
Michael sighed. "Max look I know you love her but you might have to accept the fact that Liz is going to stick to her decision. You know the facts on her life now. I don't think she's looking to put you through her death."
"Whether we are together or not, her death will kill me. Those are the facts. So why deny us what happiness we could have now?" Max said angrily, he was so frustrated and tired. And lonely, always lonely.
"Because it won't be pretty. She could end up like Kendra with her throat slit or like Faith with her neck snapped and her body badly mutilated."
"And that will be different if I am NOT with her? I will not survive it either way. I love her completely and forever. That will not change no matter how much distance she puts between us." Max exclaimed before storming off to get some air. Never noticing Liz watching with tears in her eyes and her hand over her mouth. It had taken everything in her to keep from going to him.
Michael shook his head and got up. He turned to go into the backroom and that's when he saw Liz. He looked around and then took her in the backroom. Pulling her into his arms he gave her a hug. "It'll be okay Liz."
"Do you think he's right, Michael? Do you think I am being unreasonable?" Liz asked.
"I think you're being scared. For him and for you. I think you're being human."
"But am I making the wrong decision? Am I putting us both through hell over nothing?" Liz asked, searching desperately for the right answer.
"C'mere. Sit." Michael said pulling her to the couch. "Now I want you to think. Why are you pushing Max away? And don't say destiny or fate or mention Tess."
"Because... because I'm scared." Liz answered.
"Of?"
"Of being hurt. That he'll leave me. Someday he'll decide Tess IS who he is supposed to be with. Or he'll go back to where you guys came from. I wouldn't survive it Michael!"
"Liz the world as we know it could end tomorrow and nothing could make Max leave your side. Especially not Tess."
"But he deserves a girlfriend who thinks about girly things. Like nail polish and how their hair looks. Do you know what I think about? Ambush tactics Michael."
"And he knows that. And it hasn't changed his feelings one iota. He loves you with everything in him, Liz. I don't think anything could make him stop loving you. And you know what? You deserve that kind of love. You should embrace it and appreciate it for what it is. Don't ever take it for granted."
"Look Wesley all I'm asking for is one night." Liz said into the phone.
"One night could make all the difference in the fight against evil Liz." Wesley said importantly.
"Can't Angel hunt?" Liz pleaded. "Please?"
"I supposed I could ask him," Wesley gave in reluctantly.
"Wesley I adore you. Thank you so much."
"Yeah, well, don't get too used to it." Wesley said, blushing slightly on his end of the phone.
"Okay bye." Liz hung the phone up and then climbed out her window. Sunset was about twenty minutes away and she had to motor.
Max heard a knock at the window and rolled his eyes.
"I don't for- Liz. What are you doing here?"
"I would've used the door but I didn't want to be cross-examined by Isabel. Can I come in?"
"Um... sure!" Max said, hastily getting out of the way to let her in.
"Thanks." Liz swung her legs over the ledge and slid into Max's room. "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here."
"Yeah. I am." Max answered honestly.
"Can we sit?" she motioned.
"Sure!" he pulled out a chair for himself, as she sat down on the edge of his bed.
"I overheard you today at the Crashdown."
Max just looked at her.
"When you were talking to Michael?"
Max nodded, "And?"
"Are you sure? Cause Max my life is completely different now. I don't think about normal things anymore. I think about ambush tactics and beheading things."
"And I think about whether the FBI is going to come after me again. How to keep Tess from playing mind tricks on me. So we both have odd and dangerous lives, Liz. It shouldn't change who we are to each other." Max said earnestly.
"It doesn't." Liz said softly.
Max gasped, unable to keep the spark of hope out of his eyes. "So what does this mean Liz?"
"It means that if you're willing to accept that at night I go out and kill things that go bump in the night I'm willing to start over."
"Oh thank God." Max breathed. He pulled Liz to him and stared into her eyes before giving her a passionate kiss.
"Hey Max-" Isabel started as she came into her brother's room.
"Get out!" Max said before going back to kissing Liz.
Isabel started to get angry at his tone, but when she noticed what was happening, she squealed a little and hurried out of the room. She was happy her brother would stop moping around now.
"Doesn't she ever knock?" Liz muttered.
"Um... that would be a 'No'!" Max replied. "Enough talking." Lowering his head to hers again. He was desperate to make up for lost time.
"Um Max?" Liz giggled. "I love this and all but-"
"Do you have to patrol tonight?" He asked.
"Actually no. Wesley gave me a rare night off. Not without some serious wheedling and pleading though." Liz sighed happily, leaning against Max's chest.
"So what's the problem?" He asked massaging her shoulders.
"That feels so nice." Liz moaned. "You know, I can't think when you do that."
"So don't think." he whispered into her ear.
"But we need to talk about Tess and everything, remember?"
"What about her?" Max asked.
"What are you going to tell her? She's convinced you two are meant for each other."
"The truth Liz. She isn't delusional enough to think that I am over you. She may not like it, but she has no choice but to accept my choice." He paused and smiled adoringly at her, "And you are my choice. Forever and always."
"And you're mine." Liz smiled as she took Max's hands and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. "I just wanna stay like this for awhile okay?"
"Oh, I think I can handle that." Max said with a sly grin.
"Good." Liz said relaxing back against him and closing her eyes.
"What the hell are you so smiley about this morning?" Alex asked Liz.
"Max and I got back together last night!" Liz squealed, unable to keep wipe the grin off of her face.
Alex hugged her. "It's about time."
"What's about time?" Maria asked as she walked up.
"Max and Liz are now a couple again." Alex announced
"A couple of what?"
"Ha! Very funny Maria! Max and I are together again at last!"
"That's great Liz. I was tired of seeing you miserable." Maria said. "So what happened?"
"Well I went over there and we talked and we're together again and I fell asleep there and didn't wake up till about three-thirty at which point I started to wig out."
"I bet! Your parents must have been flipping when you got home!" Maria exclaimed.
"Actually they didn't notice."
"Are you serious? Wow, you lucked out Liz." Maria said, shaking her head in amazement.
"Yeah I did." Liz said.
Max walked up and whispered to Liz. "I am going to tell Tess today."
"Good luck." She said before she pulled his ear to her lips. "Do you want to borrow a stake?"
Max smirked, "Don't tempt me."
"When are you gonna tell her?"
"As soon as I can get a minute alone with her. Probably at lunch." Max answered, grimacing. He was not looking forward to this.
"Look for me after okay? If she hasn't dismantled you."
"Funny. Ok, I will, where will you be?" he asked, he hadn't discovered their latest lunch retreat spot.
"I'll tell you in bio."
Max glanced at Maria realizing that was why Liz was hesitant to tell him, "Alright," he said. He glanced to make sure Tess wasn't around before giving her a quick, passionate kiss and walking off to class.
"Aw isn't it cute Alex? Our little girl is growing up."
Alex wiped his eye as if he was crying, "It happened all too soon!"
"Oh shut up." Liz grinned. Then the bell rang. "I'll see you later."
"Bye!"
"Hi Tess." Max said as he sat down.
"Max!" Tess sighed happily.
"There's something we need to talk about." He began. This wasn't gonna be pretty.
"What is it Max?" Tess asked, grabbing hold of his arm.
"Tess, last night Liz and I got back together."
Tess's face went white. "Say that again?"
Max sighed. "Liz and I are back together."
"No, you're not Max. You're with me." Tess said, as if saying it made it so.
"Tess try to understand. I love Liz. I always have."
"But I am your destiny Max!" Tess cried out, "You know that!"
"No. I know what a fifty-three year old tape of some woman who claimed to be my mother said. I want Liz. I've always wanted Liz."
"But you wanted me! You kissed me!" Tess cried angrily.
"You played with my head that's why I kissed you."
Tess's eyes widened. How did he know that? "I wouldn't have had to if you had just realized your destiny sooner!" she yelled recklessly.
"My destiny is Liz. I'm sorry Tess." Max got up and walked away.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Tess said with a murderous look.
"I can't do that." Liz said.
"Why not?" Michael asked.
"Cause it goes against the laws of nature. Beating up your boyfriend isn't normal."
"C'mon Liz. I need practice too, if I'm gonna be hanging out with you. Buffy beats up Riley all the time!" Max cajoled.
"Can't Michael beat you up? He knows all my moves."
"I wanna fight the best!" Max waggled his eyebrows at her.
"Alex help me out here. Would you let Isabel beat you up?"
"No."
"See?"
"Cause for some strange reason I find it a turn on." Alex said.
"Oh." Liz replied, she couldn't seem to find an answer to that statement.
"Hey brother in the vicinity. I don't like hearing that my sister turns you on."
Alex blushed, "Don't know what came over me. Sorry Max."
"Yeah just don't let it happen again or I'll have my girlfriend beat you up."
"Hey! I'll choose my own fights thank you very much." Liz said, slapping Max on the arm lightly. "Besides you know Alex just adores Isabel," she teased, she wanted to see how red he could get.
Michael shook his head as he read the book that his English teacher had assigned. Man it was boring.
"Michael, what you reading over there?" Alex said, desperate for a change in topic.
"Romeo and Juliet. I'm telling you right now if Shakespeare wasn't dead I'd kill him myself."
"Or have Liz do it." Max kidded.
"Alright, enough with this sending me in to fight your battles! Sheesh! Besides, Romeo and Juliet is a touching and moving story."
"It's boring." Michael said.
"Maybe you should take a lesson from it. It might help you in your battle." Liz said.
"A lesson? What lesson? And what battle? Liz, you've been hanging with Giles and Wesley too long... you're talking in riddles." Michael said with irritation in voice.
"I think Liz means your battle to win Maria back over." Alex said.
"Oh." Michael said quietly.
Liz went and sat next to Michael on the couch and brought her arm around his shoulder. "You WILL win her back Michael. Its just gonna take time. You gotta keep at it though. Don't give up."
"I miss her that's all."
"She misses you too." Alex said.
"Really? Cause from where I'm looking she wants me punished and flogged."
"Kinky." Liz said.
"Liz!" Max gasped in shock.
"What?" Liz said. "Oh God Max, am I not allowed to have impure thoughts?"
"No..." Max said, then grinned, "You just surprised me, that's all! Never heard you talk like that before."
"Buffy influence." Michael said.
"That and I already told you, beating up on people can be a turn-on!" Alex piped up again.
"Don't worry honey." Liz said getting up and crossing to Max, where she put her arms around him and looked into his eyes. "I only have impure thoughts about you."
Max searched her eyes for a moment, "Good, you had me a little worried for a minute there!" then he smiled to let her know he was teasing.
"Well you and Joshua Jackson."
"Hmph." Max gave a half-hearted scowl, "Joshua Jackson has nothing on me."
"Whatever you say sweetheart. I think we should get going." Liz said pulling away with a grin.
"So where are we off to today, dear? Our favorite haunt the graveyard?" Max asked.
"Actually Angel's hunting tonight. Which reminds me....ANGEL!" Liz shouted.
"No need to yell Liz," Angel said, walking in with his hands over his ears. "I have excellent hearing."
"Sorry to dump hunting on you at the last minute but we all need to study." Liz said motioning to herself, Michael, Max, and Alex. "Huge test tomorrow."
"It's alright Liz. I am used to be being busy at night. This town is quieter than I have been used to." Angel said with a half-smile. "It'll give me something to occupy my time. Wesley is heavy into research mode on something he found. And, I think Cordy and Doyle want me out from underfoot so they can have some bonding time."
"Wait Wesley found something? What did Wesley find?" Liz was in slayer mode.
"He seems to think the demon who attacked Michael was working for Drusilla." Angel said, with a grimace. That was the real reason he wanted to patrol tonight. Drusilla was a force to be reckoned with, and he had a very uneasy feeling knowing that she was in town.
"Druscilla? As in Spike's Druscilla?" Liz asked raising an eyebrow. Buffy had mentioned the whacked out clairvoyant in passing.
"That would be her." Angel affirmed with a frown.
"Liz, what is it?" Michael asked.
"She's dangerous. Deadly's a better word. She's also certifiable."
Angel couldn't keep the guilty expression off his face as Liz described Drusilla. He knew that she was his responsibility. Not only had he sired her, but he had also driven her insane. Add that to her strong psychic powers and there was no predicting what she knew or what she would do with the knowledge.
"Maybe we should cancel the study session." Liz said. "I think I'd better patrol."
"Liz, no. Go home, study, and if at all possible keep your friends at your house tonight." Angel said.
"All of them?"
"All of them." Angel confirmed. "Drusilla will have made a study of who you spend time with and care about. That is why she sent someone after Michael, cause he was the one you spent the most time with. She probably thought he was your boyfriend at the time."
Liz sighed. This was bad.
"No way Liz." Michael said.
"What?"
"Don't 'what' me. I know your expressions by now. You were thinking of cutting us loose. Not gonna happen."
Liz looked around to see Max's and Alex's expressions mirroring Michael's. She sighed in defeat, "Alright." I'll just have to think of something.
"We better go." Max said.
"Angel, if you need us we'll be at my house studying. Just send up the bat signal."
"Yeah, okay Liz." Angel said, distracted. His mind was already on the likeliest places Drusilla might have chosen to set up her lair.
"C'mon guys." Alex said leading them out.
Max slid an arm around Liz. "You okay?" he asked as they walked to the jeep.
"Yeah, I guess." Liz answered, not sounding too convincing. "I just have a knot in the pit of my stomach telling me this is gonna lead up to my first big battle."
"Well try to ignore it. At least for tonight." Michael said as they all got into the jeep.
"Easier said then done." Liz muttered as they drove off towards Liz's house.
"Any sign of them?" Maria hissed at Isabel.
"No, not so far. But hurry it up, I have no idea how long they will be gone." Isabel replied nervously.
"Okay. I haven't checked under her bed yet." Maria knelt down and lifted the blanket so she could see under her friend's bed. She frowned at the sight of a big duffel bag. Pulling it out she grunted a little. "This thing weighs a ton."
"What's that?" Isabel asked, walking to look over Maria's shoulder.
"I don't know." Maria opened it up. "Whoa." She pulled out the odd looking object. "I think this is a crossbow."
"A crossbow?" Isabel asked, eyebrows raised, "As in shoot arrows at people and things type crossbow?"
"Yes." Maria set it down and then pulled out a cardboard box. "This is the label for that magic shop on Fifth St."
"What is Liz doing with stuff like this?" Is asked.
"I don't know but I'm going to find out." Maria said determinedly. She opened the box up and pulled out a vial. "It's holy water."
Isabel knelt down, reached into the duffel bag, and pulled out a.... "This is a wooden stake."
"Maybe she HAS joined a cult!" Maria said getting agitated, she began pacing around the room.
"And taken Max, Michael, and Alex with her." Isabel reached back in and pulled another item out. "Nice knife."
"Isabel, this is freaking me out!! Sweet, kind, and sensitive Liz Parker. My best friend... who I thought I knew everything about, has a stash of weapons and supernatural stuff under her bed!!" she said holding up a crucifix.
"Oh my God." Isabel muttered lowly. "Alex was wearing this the other day." She said taking it from Maria. "He said he found it in a drawer and decided to wear it."
"Alex was wearing a crucifix?" Maria gasped. "He hasn't been to church since he was 5 years old!"
"Now that I think about it Michael's had this weird sort of bump under his shirt lately right about here." Isabel said touching a spot on her chest.
Maria couldn't even gasp at that one. She was in shock. Michael wearing a crucifix?
"This is bad Maria. Whatever 'this' is, it's bad."
"What's bad Isabel?" Liz's voice asked.
Isabel and Maria both jumped out of their skins, they were too startled to even try and hide what they had been doing.
"Liz." Alex's voice was low.
"What?" Liz looked at her friend and followed his expression to the mess Maria and Isabel had made of Liz's weapons. "Oh my God."
Michael and Max looked as well and then back at Isabel and Maria.
"Care to explain?" Michael asked.
Isabel blushed, opened her mouth and then closed it again.
"I think that's our question." Maria said.
Liz looked at Michael and saw him nod at her, she then turned to Alex, he too nodded. Finally she turned to Max. He gave her an encouraging smile, "It's time, Liz."
"You two might wanna sit down for this. Better yet Maria? Lie down for this." Liz said as she knelt down and started to put her things away. "Where's the crucifix?"
Maria pulled it out from behind her back, "Right here."
Liz looked at her, "It's yours, put it on and wear it at all times. I'll get a new one tomorrow when I get Isabel's."
"Why do I need one?" Isabel asked.
"Same reason I do." Max said showing her his.
"And me." Michael said.
"You already know about mine. " Alex said softly. "Just listen to what Liz has to say."
"I think a good way to explain this would be to start with the night I called your house asking for Max." Liz said to Isabel. "Michael wasn't beat up by a football player. He was beat up by a demon. And he nearly died."
Maria gasped, beginning to hyperventilate. She searched her pockets for her cypress oil.
"Maria I'm okay." Michael said as he walked to the bed and sat down beside her.
Maria's only response was to grab his arm and hold him tightly to her as tears formed in her eyes.
"Wait a minute." Isabel said. "A demon?"
"Yeah Is. A demon." Max said. "I didn't believe it at first either but if you'd seen Michael that night you'd know no human could have inflicted that much damage to him."
Maria let out another whimper and crawled into Michael's lap. She couldn't help running her hands all over his arms and chest to reassure herself that he was alright.
"So what does that have to do with all that stuff?" Isabel asked as she pointed to the Liz's duffel bag.
"Alex are my parents up here?" Liz asked.
Alex stuck his head out the door and listened for a minute. "No, it's all quiet. They must still be downstairs, cause they don't go to bed this early."
"Okay. Close the door." Liz said. She waited for Alex to do so and then turned back to her friends. "I'm a vampire slayer."
"A what?" Isabel asked in disbelief.
Maria showed no reaction at all, having turned her attention entirely on Michael, as he whispered in her ear.
"A vampire slayer. I kill vampires and other things that go bump in the night and that no one should meet in a dark alley." The explanation was becoming old hat to her.
"Are you insane?" Isabel shrieked. "There are no such things as vampires."
"You might want to tell that to Angel." Max said with a smirk. He knew it wasn't a good time to joke, but he needed to relieve the tension a little... or try at least.
"Who's Angel?" Maria spoke finally.
"Angel would be the only GOOD vampire in existence on earth." Alex replied.
"I can't believe this. You guys actually buy this crap?" Isabel demanded of Alex, Max, and Michael.
"I've fought this CRAP." Michael said with a bit of irritation.
"So have I." Max said. "So has Liz."
"I've researched it!" Alex piped up, feeling a little left out.
"Do you guys remember that blonde who kept coming into the cafe about a month ago?"
"Yeah, sure." Maria said, thinking back, "You were just as suspicious of her as Michael, yet you wound up leaving the Crashdown with her later that night."
"Her name was Buffy Summers and she's a vampire slayer too. She used to be the only one but a couple of years ago she temporarily drowned and another slayer was called but then she died and then another one was called and she died and then I was called."
"Whoa, whoa, Liz... DIED? People are DYING?" Maria shrieked.
"Most slayers don't make it past twenty-five." Liz admitted softly. She leaned back against Max who wrapped his arm around her waist. Max kissed her on the forehead.
"Twenty-five?" Maria asked softly.
"The last two didn't make it into their twenties at all." Liz added.
"Can't you just refuse to do it?" Isabel asked logically.
"Sorta don't have a choice in the matter. Destiny, fate, and all those other words come into play with the slaying business." Liz answered matter-of-factly.
"Plus, once you've been called, some of the smarter, more conniving demons start gunning for you. There is no escaping it." Michael added, repeating what he had learned from Buffy.
"How long have you three known what was going on?" Isabel asked.
All three spoke simultaneously.
"Since the beginning, almost," Michael replied.
"Since Michael was attacked," said Max.
"Since earlier the day Michael was attacked," Alex replied.
"So you've all been lying to me and Maria for about two months?" Isabel was outraged. "I don't believe you guys."
"Don't blame them." Liz said, "I made them swear not to tell. I didn't want to get ANY of you involved in this. None of you found out with me just telling you. You all stumbled upon the info."
"How did Michael stumble upon it?" Maria asked.
"Well he sort of stalked me."
Maria raised an eyebrow at him. Michael shrugged, "Well you know how I am. If something seems suspicious, I have to investigate."
"Actually it was kinda nice till Max thought we were dating."
Max grimaced, "Yes, that wasn't pleasant at all." He gave Michael and Liz a mock glare.
"And Alex?" Isabel asked.
"He caught me and Michael sparring one day in the gym. I kinda had to tell him at that point. He didn't buy the kick boxing story."
Maria snorted, "Yeah, I wouldn't have either."
"What about you?" Isabel asked her brother.
"Remember that late night call from Liz? That was a cry for help. I had to go heal Michael when that demon attacked him." Max replied, he got a little shakey still thinking about how close Michael had come to dying.
Liz reached for Max's other hand and clasped it with her own. Maria hugged Michael a little more tightly to her and he kissed her temple.
"I still can't believe this." Isabel said. "But I believe you're telling the truth."
Liz gave a little sigh of relief. She was glad to have it out in the open to the whole group finally. She had hated lying to her friends. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. This whole thing has just been very weird for ME to assimilate, much less telling you guys about it too. Plus there was the danger factor... " she trailed off.
"Danger?" Isabel asked looking dismayed. "Like what?"
"Um well for example we've come to the conclusion that Michael was beaten up because someone on the other side thought he was my boyfriend."
Maria couldn't help but give a glare at Liz. Jealous that Liz had spent so much time with Michael that someone would come to that conclusion. Her protective instincts kicked in, "So what are we gonna do about it?" She said in a no-nonsense voice.
"First things first. You guys kinda can't go home tonight."
Maria immediately went to the phone and dialed, "Mom? I am gonna spend the night at Liz's tonight, we are gonna pull an all-nighter studying for this test... Yes... I'll come by in the morning to change before school.... I love you too... Tell the sheriff hello." Maria rolled her eyes, "Alright, night mom!"
"That's another thing to worry about." Michael said.
"What do you mean?" Isabel asked.
"Usually patrolling keeps us out well past curfew. So far we've been able to avoid Valenti and his crew but I don't know how much longer we're gonna be able to keep it up."
Maria shocked everyone by saying, "Maybe we should tell him..."
"No." Liz said. "That's all I need. He'll probably tell my parents I need psychiatric help."
"No, I'm serious Liz." Maria insisted, "Listen it's better to keep him informed... we've seen what he is like when he is suspicious, he jumps to the wrong conclusions and causes us all kinds of problems. But since he has found out about you guys he has protected you, right?" She waited for them to reluctantly nod. "I think he would do the same now. He would be a good ally."
"Michael what do you think?" Liz asked. She trusted Michael's instincts and much as he was Max's 'second in command' he was also hers.
Michael mulled it over, he knew Liz valued his opinion, and he wanted to be worthy of that trust. "Well, you know I am not big on the trust thing... but I think Sheriff Valenti has proved himself to us. I think it would definitely better he find out from us than to stumble on it later."
"Maybe we should talk to Wes and Angel first." Alex suggested.
"Who?" Maria asked.
"Wes... Wesley Wyndam Pryce... he is my watcher. That is, he is my trainer, mentor, research support, etc." Liz explained. "And we mentioned that Angel is a vampire... he was cursed with a soul and now he has devoted his life..." Liz paused, "or his afterlife? to the cause of defeating the evil demons in the world."
"Cursed with a soul? Needing back story please?" Isabel said.
Alex took over here, "Angel was formerly a human named Liam. A vampire named Darla sired him and re-named him Angelus. See when a human becomes a vampire they lose their soul. A demon takes control of their body. Anyway, Angelus was one of the most feared vampires in all of Europe in the 18th century. Eventually, he was cursed by a group of gypsies for killing a young gypsy girl. The curse was to return his soul to him and force him to live out eternity with the knowledge and guilt of his transgressions as Angelus. He goes by Angel now to differentiate himself from the evil Angelus. Angelus is still within him, but Angel's soul keeps him under control."
"Of course there was the period of time when he lost the soul but he has since regained it and after going to hell he moved to LA." Liz finished up.
Maria and Isabel both nodded deciding they really didn't want any more info.
"Alex, Max, Isabel, do you guys think you'll be able to stay here tonight?"
"Yeah, Max and Alex can say they are staying at Michael's. And I'll tell mom the truth, that I am staying here." Isabel answered for all of them.
"I think studying's pretty much a lost cause by now." Liz said. "Anyone hungry?"
Michael's stomach chose that moment to growl. "Guess that answers that question!" Liz laughed.
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