Two days later, Max didn’t have any idea how he was going to fix things with Liz. Although he had a lot to do to settle back into life in Roswell, spending time with his parents, helping in the café, unpacking, Liz was a constant in his thoughts. She had yet to come back into the restaurant, Alex told him that running into him had shaken her up and she had avoided coming back. But she was coming by that night to pick Maria and Michael up before going to the movies. Alex and Isabel were having dinner with his parents so apparently the others had made plans to go to the movies. So Max decided to conveniently be there when she came by. He knew he was pushing it but he had to try something.
He sat at the counter, idly talking to Maria and Michael as they waited. In truth, Michael wasn’t really talking, he seemed to be irritated as well with Max but didn’t say anything since he knew Maria would probably hit him he did. Max could understand why he was upset, he had hurt Michael’s sister and that was a big no no in Michael’s book. Ten minutes went by as they talked before Max heard the bell over the front door sound and he turned around. But the smile on his face vanished when he saw that Liz had arrived, and she wasn’t alone.
Right next to Liz stood Kyle. It was obvious to Max that he was going as well with the others to the movies and he felt jealousy course through him. True, he knew that Kyle and Liz weren’t together but just seeing the way she was smiling and laughing with him made him envious. She looked a lot happier than the last time he had seen her. The two aliens looked over at the counter just then and Max saw Liz’s smile falter when she saw him.
Kyle on the other hand didn’t seem that surprised to see him. He had probably figured that Max would be there so that he could run into Liz. After all it hadn’t been too long ago that Kyle had been in shoes, pursuing Liz. Because of that, there was a noticeable tension between the two as Kyle nodded in acknowledgment to Max and said, “Hey Max, heard you were back in town.”
“Yep, got back a few days ago.” Max said tensely.
“How was California?” Kyle asked trying to keep Max away from talking to Liz. It wasn’t that he was trying to keep them apart for selfish reasons, just that he could she was uncomfortable. So he figured she might feel better if he drew Max’s attention away from her.
“Not bad. It was good to see my family but I missed home.” Max said shrugging before turning his gaze to look at Liz. “And the people here.”
Liz shifted under the intense scrutiny of his stare but refused to look him in the eye. Those eyes would knock down the walls she had firmly placed against him. She turned her attention to Maria and Michael instead. “We should get going or we’re going to miss the beginning of the movie.”
“What movie are you going to see?” Max asked.
“Daredevil.” Maria answered.
“That’s supposed to be good.” Max stated. “Have fun.”
Max stood up and moved to go back up to his families’ apartment when he heard Liz say. “Would you want to go Max? To the movies with us?”
Max wasn’t the only one to look at Liz in shock at her suggestion. But he wasn’t going to give her a chance to rethink her offer. “I’d love to go. Let me just tell my Dad.”
When Max disappeared back into the kitchen the others couldn’t help but bombard Liz with questions about why she invited Max. Liz tucked a piece of hair back behind her ear as she explained. “I’ve got to get used to him being around. I don’t expect Alex and Maria to have to pick sides or anything like that.”
Everyone seemed to understand and didn’t ask anymore questions, which was good considering Max came back just then. They all left then and set out for the movie theater.
(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(**)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)
The tension amongst the group did not disappear once they were at the movies. If anything, it got worse when they got into the theater and they were forced to sit close together. Maria stepped in about the seating arrangements and arranged it so her and Michael were between Max and Liz with Kyle was on Liz’s other side.
The movie was about to start when Kyle decided he wanted something from the snack bar. No one else wanted anything so he left by himself in search of snacks.
Kyle was waiting for his order when he saw a familiar head of blonde curls one register over. She glanced over at him and he smiled. “Hey Tess.”
“Kyle. Hey.” Tess said startled. She was surprised to see him there. Tess hadn’t had a lot of contact with any of the aliens since she initially finding out about them at the beginning of the summer. Her father had had a couple of talks with them but Tess had stayed out of it. She was unsure what she thought about knowing that aliens existed. And that Tess had grown up around three of them. When she had investigated Liz, that was the last thing she expected to find out. Kyle on the other hand was a new arrival and they had become friendly when he first moved there. Kyle seemed like a nice guy so she didn’t run away when she saw him. “What are you doing here?”
“Watching a movie, same as everyone else.” Kyle joked.
“Right.” Tess blushed in embarrassment. “What are you seeing?”
“Daredevil. Michael picked it.” Kyle stated as the cashier brought over his order. “Him, Maria, Liz and Max are back in the theater.”
“Liz. Right.” Tess said. Tess knew all about Kyle’s fixation on Liz when he had first come to town and her father had told her about the aliens’ so called destiny. Why were all the cute guys around here so hooked on Liz Evans?
Kyle could see that Tess was suddenly acting peculiar but didn’t know why. “Yeah, it was supposed to just be a few friends going out for some fun but then Max came and things are a little tense.”
“I’m sure. It’s not every day that you go out with you ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.” Tess commented.
“What?”
“Max hanging out with you and Liz. I can’t imagine it being comfortable since you two are together.” Tess explained.
“Liz and I aren’t together.” Kyle elaborated.
“But Dad said you have a destiny…”
“We do but we’re not following it. At least not in that way, we will still going to help out when needed but just as a group. Liz and I are just friends.” Kyle explained.
“And you’re okay with that?” Tess couldn’t help but ask.
“I wasn’t at first but now I am.” Kyle answered truthfully. “It’s better for everyone. Liz is too much in love with Max still too be with anyone else. It just took me sometime to realize it.”
Tess could see the sincerity in his eyes and knew that he was speaking the truth. Knowing that she decided to take a bold step. “You know Kyle, if you ever feel like hanging out with someone who is completely from this planet, give me a call. I think it’d could be fun.”
Kyle smiled at the thought; Tess was nice to talk to so he agreed. “I think it would be too. How about I give you a call in the next couple of days and we go from there?”
“I’d like that.” Tess stated. “We better go before the movies start.”
Kyle said goodbye before grabbing his food and heading back in. When he plopped down in his seat he saw Liz staring at him funny. “Why do you look so happy?”
“I can’t be in a good mood?” Kyle asked innocently.
“No, you can. I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick while the previews are on.” Liz stated as she crept down the row of seats in the darkened theater and out into the lobby. As the previews started, no one noticed Max slipping out of his seat to follow Liz.
PART 19
Alex looked over at Isabel for the third time as he drove her home and caught her staring, again. “Do I have some dinner left on my face or something?”
Isabel just smiled and shook her head. “No.”
“Then why do you keep staring at me? I’m not complaining, it’s just a little odd.” Alex explained. He caught her three times staring at him, not gawking, just lazily studying him. The night had been wonderful. It had been filled with a casual dinner with his folks, Isabel charming them as usual. The rest of the evening had been spent idly chatting before he had to take her home.
“Sorry.” Isabel apologized. “I was just sitting here thinking about how lucky I am to have you.”
“Really?” Alex asked.
“Yes, silly.” Isabel answered. “I don’t think I could have gotten through the last year without you. And it’s not just you being next to me that makes me lucky. I’m lucky just knowing you.”
Alex pulled his car into the Evans’ driveway at that moment and put it into park. “I feel the same way Isabel. I’m thankful every day that you’ve let yourself open up to me. I’m in awe every day of what we have, especially when I see the others’ relationships. True, Michael and Maria are working things out but look at Max and Liz.”
Isabel nodded. “Anyway that’s why I was staring at you.”
“Feel free to do it anytime.” Alex said before giving her a quick kiss goodnight.
(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(**)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)
Liz knew he was there before she exited the restroom. Through their connection she had felt Max hanging around the outside of the restroom within minutes of her entering and knew he was waiting for her. She knew she’d have to either go out and face him or hang out in the restroom for the rest of the night. She contemplated it for a few minutes as she stood in front of the mirror. Deciding on the first choice, she made her way out into the lobby and just like she figured he was standing there waiting. “Becoming a stalker now Max?”
“I just thought we could talk, alone.” Max said defending himself. Ever since they left the café, he had been thinking of ways to talk to her alone but hadn’t found the opportunity. Michael and Maria had kept them separated in the theater when Kyle had left so that had been out. So when he heard her excusing herself to go to the restroom he had seen an opportunity and taken it. He waited around knowing she would come out eventually.
“So you follow me to the bathroom?” Liz asked.
“I had to go to extremes. You’ve been avoiding me.” Max explained.
“No I haven’t. Did I or did I not invite you along tonight?”
“Yes, and not said a word to me since.” Max stated. “I just want to talk.”
Liz could see that he wasn’t going to give up and knew that eventually they would have to talk. She pulled him outside before she sat down on a nearby bench and looked up at him. “Talk.”
Max sat down next to her and tried to figure out where to start. Now that she was willing to talk, he was at a loss as what to say. “Why does this have to be so hard?”
“What?”
“This, you and me.” Max explained. “We used to be able to talk for hours even before we started dating. And now, it’s an accomplishment if we say more than a sentence.”
“Things change Max, people change.” Liz said.
“You ended things Max. You can’t expect me to just be able to go back like nothing happened.” Liz stated. “I just can’t do that, not after what we had.”
“I’m not asking you to.” Max said.
“Yes, you are.” Liz disputed. “I’m not the same person I was before, going through more than a few traumatic experiences will do that to you.”
“I know.” Max confessed.
“You know what?”
“I know about how things were for you after I left.” Max admitted. “Maria and I talked after I first returned. She told me about how you pulled away from everyone and closed yourself off. And she told me about the scare you had.”
Liz’s eyes widened. “She told you I thought I was pregnant?”
Max nodded. “Don’t be upset with her, I just wanted to know what was going on with you and she told me. I had to drag it out of her.”
“So you see a little of what’s been going on.” Liz said. “You might be able to stop loving me and forget all about it but I can’t. Just too much has happened between us.”
“I never said I stopped loving you.” Max argued.
“Maybe, maybe not. But when things got rough you walked, you gave up on us.” Liz stated. “You weren’t there when I needed you.”
“I thought I was doing what was best. When I heard that I message, I knew that you had this huge destiny to fulfill and I couldn’t stand in the way.” Max stated.
“I don’t remember asking you to.” Liz stated angrily. “ Did you ever think what you leaving did to me? It completely ripped me apart inside.”
“I know it did, it ripped me up too.” Max said.
“So much that you felt you had to trot off to California for some fun in the sun?” Liz asked sarcastically. She didn’t mean to be so nasty but talking to him was like unleashing the floodwaters from a dam.
“I didn’t go away for fun, I thought it would be easier if I wasn’t around all of the time. And I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing you with Kyle.” Max explained.
“Did you really think I would do that?” Liz asked. “That I would just push you aside and be with him? I told you over and over that I didn’t care what some book or people from a galaxy away said about who I was supposed to be with. I only listened to my heart when it comes to that. But you didn’t believe me.”
“I know that’s how you felt but you being with Kyle was important to your planet.” Max tried to explain.
“And you were important to me.” Liz said. She hated admitting weakness when she was trying to appear unaffected but she couldn’t help it.
“I don’t want things to be like this.” Max sighed. “I wish things could go back to the way they were before Kyle showed up.”
“Wishes is one thing my powers can’t do.” Liz stated.
“Can we try to fix things?” Max asked. “I want to be here for you and I want to be close to you.”
“I don’t think we can.” Liz admitted although a part of her wanted to fix things with Max. The other part of her stopped her however stopped her, not wanting to get hurt again.
“Liz, I’m sorry for everything.” Max apologized.
“I don’t want your pity Max.” Liz said. “I just want you to leave me alone.”
“I’m sorry Liz, I can’t do that.” Max said before sauntered away.
PART 20
Although she sat through the movie in its entirety, Liz didn’t know half of its story line. Her mind was still on her confrontation with Max. When she had came back to the theater, she had lied to Maria and the others saying that Max had decided he needed to head back to the café and didn’t tell her why. They didn’t seem to buy it, but didn’t question her on it either. So she sat down and tried to focus on the movie and failed miserably.
Liz knew that Max had told her the truth that he wouldn’t leave her alone. Max was stubborn almost as much as she was; she had learned that when he had pursued her after the shooting. He would not leave her alone until he felt things were okay between the two of them.
Max’s actions confused her. He had walked away from her, told her that she was to follow her destiny and he couldn’t be with her so why was he so adamant about talking to her? It appeared he wanted to be at the very least friends, possibly more. Had Max actually missed her in California that he wanted to try and be with her again? There were too many questions and she knew there was only one way to get any answers. But that would require talking to Max.
Kyle who was gently shaking her shoulder pulled Liz out of her thoughts and back to the present. “Liz, the movie is over. We’re leaving.”
“Oh, right.” Liz said as she got up. She followed the other three down the aisle and out of the theater. Once they reached the parking lot, they hopped in the jeep and headed for home. Liz dropped Maria and Kyle at their houses before heading for her house but once they reached it, she didn’t feel like staying home.
Michael leapt from the jeep and started up the rest of the drive when he noticed he was alone. He turned around and saw Liz still sitting in the driver’s seat. “Hey, aren’t you coming in?”
Liz shook her head, “No, I don’t really feel like going up to my room yet.”
Michael walked back to the jeep. “Why don’t we go for a drive? Just the two of us?”
Liz thought it over. Unlike Isabel, Michael wouldn’t push her to talk about what she was thinking and feeling if she was quiet. He had only done it once before and she didn’t blame him for it, she had been in a deep depression, it called for extreme measures. She nodded and Michael jumped back in. Liz backed down the driveway and the two were off.
Liz drove out of the town limits, not really positive where she was going. She just drove until they were far enough away that the lights from the small town would not impede their view of the stars and pulled off into the desert. As soon as they were parked, the two climbed up on the hood and leaned back against the windshield.
Liz didn’t know how long they sat there staring up at the stars when she asked, “Do you ever wonder how different things would be if Nasedo had been there when we hatched?”
“Sometimes.” Michael answered.
“Do you think we would have ended up like Kyle when he first got here?” Liz theorized. “Really strong in our powers and not liking humans?”
“I don’t know. I know that we would have grown up with more certainty in our lives.” Michael stated.
Liz knew what he was implying. Michael’s childhood would be very different from the one he had, he wouldn’t have to worry about what would happen when he got home, or wonder if Hank was passed out when he got there. But he also meant that they would have already known who they were and what was expected of them. They would have grown up knowing about their past and the mission to fulfill their destiny. “What if Kyle had gone with us that night? Nasedo might never have found us and we might never heard that message?”
“Liz, what’s with all the guessing games?” Michael asked.
“Just curious?” Liz said shrugging.
“No, I think it’s more than that.” Michael stated. “What happened with you and Max tonight?”
“What makes you think anything happened? I went to the bathroom, saw him on my way back and he told me he was going home. No biggie.” Liz lied.
“Funny, it usually doesn’t take you twenty minutes to take a piss.” Michael commented.
“Michael!”
“Well it doesn’t. And don’t think I didn’t figure out that Max followed you out to the lobby. I’m not an idiot.” Michael declared. “So I’m guessing you two got to talking and that’s why you’re so theoretical tonight.”
Liz opened her mouth to deny but switched in mid thought. “He cornered me when I came out of the restroom. Told me he just wanted to talk since I’d been ignoring him.”
“What did he want to talk about?”
“How things are now between us. He mentioned how hard it is for the two of us to be around each other. I reminded him that things aren’t like they used to be and that I’ve changed.”
“You haven’t changed that much Liz.” Michael remarked. “I mean yeah, you’re a little harder and tougher now, you can’t go through what has happened in the last few months and not be. But you’re still Liz. We almost lost you before when you pulled away but you came out stronger.”
“If I’m so strong, why can’t I shut off my heart?” Liz asked.
“Because you have such a big one. Despite the crap we’ve seen, you still look for the good in people, you always have. Otherwise you wouldn’t have had so much faith in Max that he would accept us.” Michael explained. “It’s also why it hurt so much when he walked away.”
“Hurt doesn’t even describe it.”
“I know.” Michael said in understanding. “So what do you want to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“You asked why you couldn’t shut off your heart, which to me means that Max got to you.” Michael explained. “What else did he say to you?”
“He talked about why he left and how it wasn’t easy on him. He also told me that he had talked to Maria and she had filled him in on everything that had been going on while he was gone. When she told him about how I was, and he was worried.” Liz recounted her conversation with Max.
“He’s a little late.” Michael remarked.
“And he told me that he never stopped loving me.”
Michael cringed. “He went right for the heart, literally.”
“This whole summer I’ve believed that he didn’t love me anymore. That he gave up on us and that what he felt faded away. I didn’t like it but I accepted it. And now he’s back and pushing to see me. To be close to me.” Liz explained.
“Well whether you get close to him again or not, he’s always going to be connected to us. He knows our secret that links him to us.” Michael stated.
“You’re being awful relaxed about this. After all the dirty looks you’ve been throwing at Max, I would think you’d hate the thought of us getting chummy again and try to talk me out of it.”
“Maybe Maria’s just rubbing off on me too much. She taught me that people make mistakes, and sometimes they should be forgiven sometimes not.” Michael shrugged, “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I can’t pressure you to do anything. You’ll think on everything in depth before doing what you feel is right for you.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Michael?”
“Funny. But I’m serious.” Michael stated. “You’ve almost always got a plan Liz, you think everything out and go with what you think is right. I know how much he hurt you and I know that you’ll consider that into it all. I trust you. But do know that if he hurts you again, I’ll be forced to kill him.”
Liz still wasn’t sure of her decision but appreciated Michael’s concern and protectiveness. “I would have been surprised if you didn’t say that.”
PART 21
As he wiped the counter down, Max tried to think of anything but Liz. And failing miserably at his objective. Their conversation the night before kept replaying in his mind. ‘I just want you to leave me alone.’
But how could he when Liz dominated his thoughts and life so much? Even when he had been so many miles between them to try and get over her, he could stop thinking about her. And now that he was in the same town as her, Max didn’t think he’d be able to resist wanting to be near her. Even if that was want Liz wanted of him.
Since Max knew so clearly that she didn’t want to be around him, he was surprised when the door to the café opened and Liz walked in. Neither Michael nor Maria was working so he knew she wasn’t there to see them so why was she? He was so surprised to see her that he couldn’t help but stare at her. Liz seemed fidgety and nervous. She looked straight at him and they locked eyes. She didn’t break the staring contest as she begun to walk over to the counter.
Liz tried to appear calm and collected even if it was the exact opposite of how she really felt. She knew she was giving herself away by tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, but it was a nervous habit she couldn’t stop it. No matter how many times she tried. As she did it she said, “Hey Max.”
“Hey, Liz.” Max stuttered.
“I’m sure you’re surprised to see me here…”
“Surprised doesn’t even begin to express how I feel.” Max explained to her. He realized how it must have sounded and tried to clarify. “But I’m glad to see you.”
“I’ll admit that I’m a little surprised myself that I showed up. But I wanted to come by and see if maybe we could talk some more.” Liz asked.
“Talk?” Max asked confused. “But last night you said you wanted me to leave you alone.”
“I know I did.” Liz said. “And I understand if you don’t want to but…”
“No. I want to talk.” Max interrupted before she thought he wasn’t interested. “I get off as soon as this dinner rush ends. Why don’t you hang around and I can get you something to eat? Galaxy Sub and Space Rings?”
“Okay.” Liz said before she moved to sit in the gang’s usual booth.
As she sat, she thought about the situation. So far things were going well. True, not much had been covered but at least he had agreed to talk with her. She had half expected him to refuse but he hadn’t and they were going to talk in under an hour.
After her and Michael had gotten back from their trip to the desert, Liz had stayed up another hour or so thinking. She did her best to put herself in Max’s shoes and think from his perspective. And after thinking about it for a while Liz had to admit that if their situations were reversed, she would do the same thing. If Max were the one who had the destiny, she would do the same thing he had done and give him up.
But just because Liz could identify with why Max had done it, it didn’t mean it still didn’t hurt her that he had given her up. Because she still saw it as walking away from her, even if it was for a good cause. She knew she was being selfish and that’s why she had decided to finally talk to him. So she had worked up the courage and came to the café to search for him. She decided to wait until after their talk before she made any other decisions regarding him.
Liz was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear Max come up. “Liz?”
“Max! You startled me.” Liz gasped.
“Sorry.” Max said with a shy smile. He had seen her off in space when he approached her but he didn’t think that he would scare her so much. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Liz said before leading them out of the café and to her jeep. Max asked where they were going and Liz just answered. “The podchamber, I figure it’s the best place to get away and not be disturbed. Is that okay?”
Max nodded in agreement just before Liz stepped on the gas.
(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(**)*)*)*)*)*)*)*)
As Liz drove them out of Roswell, Max couldn’t help but think of how beautiful she looked with the wind whipping through her hair. It gave her an air of freedom and abandon that he didn’t often see on her. Only in the rare times that things were calm and she could act like a teenage girl. She noticed Max staring at her, “What?”
“Nothing, just thinking.” Max commented, embarrassed that he had been caught. He turned his attention tot he road ahead just as they turned off the main road and to the dirt one that would take them to the chamber. Max couldn’t help but feel anxious. For one, it would be the first time since hearing the destiny message that he had been there and secondly, because he was going to have the whole conversation with Liz.
As Liz killed the jeep’s engine, she looked at Max. “Ready to go up?”
Max nodded and followed Liz as they began to climb the rocks up to the chamber. When they reached the doorway, Liz suggested. “I though we could either talk in here or grab one of the sleeping bags and sit outside.”
“Outside, the sun is still up so it’ll still be pretty warm.” Max said thinking it was the best idea. Liz opened the door then and they went in.
It took their eyes a moment to adjust but when they did, Max saw that the chamber was very much as it had been when he had last been there. The only difference were a couple of sleeping bags, and other camping equipment. Liz must have seen where his eyes were directed because she said, “Sometimes when we’ve been working late on our powers, we don’t feel like going all the way back to town, Michael mostly. Leaving some gear here is helpful.”
“I’m sure.” Max stated.
Liz quickly grabbed the sleeping bags and the two got settled out on the small flat area outside the chamber. As they did, it was evident that they were both nervous. Liz finally just decided to bite the bullet and start. “I wanted to talk to you because I’m really confused. You left months ago, broke up with me because you thought I was supposed to be with Kyle and that I had to fulfill my destiny. But now that you’re back, you act like you want us to be close again. What is going on?”
“Don’t ease into it Liz.” Max said dryly.
“I think we’ve beaten around the bush long enough Max and I’m tired of it. I thought it’d be best to just lay everything out on the table." Liz explained.
“Right.” Max said trying to gather his thoughts. It took him a moment before he spoke. “Up until that day in the cave, when you all heard the message from your mother and found out your destiny, I thought nothing could ever break us apart. I loved you, you loved me, it was that simple.
“But when the message played out, I realized that things weren’t that simple. You are the queen of an entire planet, Liz and that’s important. Because of that I thought you should be with someone that could help you like Kyle, someone more than just a simple guy from Roswell.”
“I never cared about who you were, or that you were just a normal teenage guy.” Liz said interrupting but Max held up his hand to stop her. “Let me get this out before I loose my train of thought, please.”
Liz shut her mouth and motioned for him to go on. Max nodded in thanks before continuing. “I knew that you wouldn’t see it that way so I took the initiative and left you. I gave you up so you could follow your destiny even though it tore me up inside. That’s why I left. I couldn’t stomach the possibility of seeing you with Kyle so I went to California. I thought if I got away, then I would have to see you with Kyle plus perhaps the anguish of everything would fade and I could learn to accept not being with you. But I was wrong, so very wrong.”
“I realized while I was in California that I had to stop fighting what I was feeling. I would never get over you, no amount of distance between us nor time spent apart would restrain what my heart wants. And that’s to be with you.”
Max had been avoiding looking directly into Liz’s eyes though his explanation, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to get through it if he didn’t. But now he couldn’t avoid it and stared straight into them. “I’m sorry Liz. I can’t say it enough. I’m sorry for leaving you that day, I’m sorry for not coming back to the cave after I climbed down, I’m sorry for going to California instead of staying here with you like I should have.”
Liz couldn’t take the pleading and remorsefulness of his eyes any longer and had to look away. As his apologies ran through her head, she couldn’t help but say. “Damn you Max.”
“What?” Max asked startled. That was not the reaction he’d expected.
“I said damn you.” Liz said looking back up at him, this time with tears in her eyes. “You make it next to impossible to stay angry with you.”
Max figured out why she had cursed him and tried to pull her close into his arms. But as he moved forward, Liz quickly backed away from him, shaking his head. “NO! I told you before; it’s not that easy, Max. You can’t just apologize and think things are going to be okay.”
“No. I just want you to know that I’m sorry.” Max stated.
“I’m not through yet. You had your say and now I’ll have mine.” Liz decreed. Max was surprised by the fire in her eyes and could only nod.
Satisfied that Max would not interrupt again, Liz continued. “Michael told me something last night that has stuck in my head. That people make mistakes. I know I’ve made them enough. But we can’t go back in time and change them. We have to live with them and hopefully learn from them.”
Liz studied him for a moment before saying; “He also told me that I have a big heart that sees the good in everyone. And when I look at you, I can still see love in your eyes. I see the same person I’ve been in love with for so many years.”
“After a lot of thinking I came to appreciate your point of view last night and knew I would probably do the same for you if the situations were reversed. And with accepting it is why I wanted to talk to you. To find out what you expect of our relationship and me.” Liz stated. “What do you want Max?”
“You.” Max answered. “Any way I can have you.”
Liz finally found the courage to step closer to him, but did not touch him. Just allowed herself to feel his closeness and warmth. “We cannot start over. Starting over implies a beginning where we forget what has happened before. And if we forget, then we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes again.”
“What are you suggesting Liz?” Max asked.
“That we go on from this point, slowly. Like glacially.” Liz clarified. “To work on salvaging the friendship we had before and perhaps graduating to more. Can you live with that?”
Max thought over what she proposed. He had to admit that while he wanted to be with her now, her plan was the smarter and sensible way to go. “I can accept it but I have one request.”
“What?” Liz asked.
“Since we are friends now, I want you to open up to me.” Max explained. “You said I wasn’t there for you before but I am and want to be now.”
“I don’t know.” Liz said uneasily.
“Talk to me Liz. Please.” Max pleaded.
Liz thought about his request. Her friendship with Maria had allowed her an outlet to talk about Max but she had held back when talking about her abduction because she didn’t want to weigh her down. But Max was begging her to open up, something she had wanted for a long time. She took a deep breath before starting.
PART 22
“I was completely taken by surprise. I was just about to follow you into school when one of the agents came up behind me. I felt him put a gun to my back. He told me that there was another gun aimed at you and if I tried to escape or use my powers, they would shoot us both. That’s why I didn’t want you to try anything, I knew that they wouldn’t hesitate hurt you.” Liz explained to Max as she played with the strings on the sleeping bag.
Max noticed the strain in her voice as she retold her tale. He knew this was difficult for her but she needed to get it out. Thinking of making her feel better he said. “When I saw you, I knew what was happening and all I could think of was getting to you. I wanted to protect you.”
“I know you did. But there was nothing you could do. There were more agents inside, they surrounded me. They kept the gun on me while another pulled out a syringe. I tried to ask them not to but the grabbed me and stuck the needle in. Then everything went black.” Liz described.
“When I woke up, I felt all achy and sore. And I knew I didn’t have any powers. I couldn’t see at first because the room was so bright and when I could see, everything was white and my clothes were different. They were the ones I was in when you guys came for me. Someone…must have changed me while I was out.” The thought still made her shiver in disgust. “I was shaky on my feet but I managed to get up. I tried to find a way out, anything. A window, a door but there wasn’t anything. At least that’s what I thought.”
Liz felt a warm hand cover her own and still her movements. She looked down and saw that Max’s hand. He had pulled her hand away because she had completely shredded the sleeping bag string. She couldn’t help it, it was the only thing she could do to stop her hands from shaking. Except feeling Max’s hand on hers seemed to calm her. “A hidden door slid away and two orderlies or something came in. They grabbed me…I tried to fight them but they were too strong. They tied me down to the exam table. The restraints bit into my ankles and my wrists. There was another one across my waist. They wanted to make sure I wasn’t going anywhere. I tried but I wasn’t strong enough.”
Max felt fury course through him at Liz’s description of what the orderlies did to her. They treated her like she was a thing and not a person. It made him sick but what she said after chilled him.
“While they were doing tying me down, the ‘doctors’ came in along with their equipment. I tried to fight them off too but it didn’t stop them. They took blood, hair, fingernails, skin, and other stuff. They even took X-rays. After they got done, they left but didn’t untie me. All I could do was stare at those walls. The walls that were holding me. They were so sterile and barren, so white. I hate that color.” Liz stated allowing some resentment into her voice. It made Max remember what Maria had said about Liz changing the color of all her white things.
“I must have stared at those walls for hours before I had a visitor, Ms. Pierce. She looked so cold. She told me that she had taken the job at the school to spy on us and that she knew I was different. But I was not the same as the other aliens they had tested on. She told me that they experimented on one of the survivors of the crash as well as autopsied the bodies. Another protector. They captured Nasedo too but he escaped. The experiments were how they knew how to block my powers. But after the test they ran on me, they knew I was different than the other one.”
“Of course at the time I didn’t know anything about us but that was the first time I found out that I had human in me. She told me that everything except for my blood was human while the other one they caught was completely alien.” Liz said. “I think she thought that there were other ships that had came down and the occupants were breeding with humans. So she figured I knew where they were as well as Nasedo. And she wanted answers. I told her that I didn’t know anything but she didn’t believe me and decided to pull the answers out of me.”
Liz’s voice began to shake as she said, “The doctors came back in and they brought something back with them, a machine for Electro shock treatment.”
“Oh God no.” Max whispered. He didn’t want to think of Liz being tortured with electrocution. Of course he didn’t like the thought of her being tortured at all.
“It was horrible. I felt like someone was burning me from the inside out. It was everywhere, my arms my head, even the tips of my toes. I couldn’t think of anything about the pain. The last thing I remember is my body starting to shudder from the electric current before I passed out.” Liz described.
Max couldn’t imagine what had been done to Liz even after she told him. Thinking of Liz in that much pain made him want to wrap her in his arms and never let her go. Max saw how pale Liz was becoming and started to think maybe he should stop her. She was also talking in a detached way that made him think that she was delving too deep into her memories. He didn’t want her to relive them and suffer. “Liz I think maybe you should stop.”
Liz shook her head. “No, if I stop now, I’ll never get it out.”
“Okay but remember, you’re safe. You’re here with me.” Max said reassuringly and squeezed her hand for emphasize. He wanted her to know he was there for her.
Liz smiled a small smile before turning serious again. “I’m not sure how long I was out. Just that the next thing I felt was a thousand icicles hitting my skin. It was a complete shock to my system. I tried to scream but I was underwater and the water just rushed into my mouth. They brought me to surface long enough to spit out the water and gulp some air.”
“The second time they brought me up, I screamed for them to stop and they strapped me to the table again. I was freezing but they didn’t care. Pierce was there again, letting me know that she would go to any extreme to find out what she wanted to know. I kept telling her that I didn’t know but she didn’t care.”
Tears started to run out of eyes as she went on. “Another doctor and orderly came up to me. The orderly pulled my shirt off, I was completely exposed and humiliated. The doctor came up then and put a scalpel to my chest. Pierce said she’d have the doctor cut me open while I was still awake if I didn’t start talking.”
Max had to control his rage or he would smash Liz’s small hand. Just the thought of Liz lying helpless on an exam table, naked from the waist up with a doctor looming over her with a scalpel made him sick. He knew it wasn’t appropriate to wish someone misfortune but he was glad that Danielle Pierce were dead. The woman had tortured Liz. She might not have done it herself but she had ordered people to do it and in his book, it was just as bad.
“The doctor started cutting, not deep enough to hit any organs just cut through the skin and bleed. It still hurt like hell though and it did its job, which was to prove a point. That they would do what they threatened. I told Pierce she was the monster not me. She started screaming at me that we were the monsters and that she knew there were more of us. And that’s when I found out why she was so determined. So single-minded in her work that she would hurt anyone to find out what she wanted to know. It was personal for her.”
“Her grandfather was one of the ones who had been on the scene in ’47 and studied the crash for years later. Nasedo killed him in 1970. I think her grandfather was one of the ones who caught him. Pierce wanted to find him and pay him back for killing her grandfather.” Liz stated.
“So Pierce thought that you knew where the survivor who killed her grandfather was and could lead her to him.” Max concluded. Then when he remembered the long jagged cut on her chest the night she escaped added. “And then she tortured you when you wouldn’t tell her.”
Liz nodded. “At the time, I was so out of it, I really didn’t connect it and plus, I didn’t really know much about Nasedo at the time so what could I tell her?”
“What did she do next?” Max asked not sure if he wanted to know.
Liz’s face scrunched up then like something confused her as she said. “That’s when things got kind of strange. When they were still cutting me, Pierce whispered another threat. She said they were going to bring you in and cut you open. She said that the scientists would be interested to see if my healing had any lasting effects. I got pissed off and threw her and the doctors away and into the wall behind them.”
“Why is that strange?”
“You forget. I didn’t have any powers at the time.” Liz reminded him. “They gave me drugs to cut them off. Or at least numbed my brain that my powers stemmed from.”
“Then how did you do it?”
“I don’t know. I never talked to Nasedo about it because it was kind of private and I didn’t want to talk about it with him.” Liz explained slightly awkward. “But I think it had something to do with our connection. I think you saved me that day in the white room.”
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