Eyes Like Twins

Eyes Like Twins Parts 1-4

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Roswell, etc

Rating: Not sure yet

Couples: M/L mainly but the others will be involved

Summary: After Destiny. Liz goes away for the summer leaving Max no word as to where she is or when she'll be back. They've not spoken since she left him at the cave to fulfill his 'destiny'. Kyle, now knowing the aliens' secret, and Liz become good friends while they both are counselors at a youth camp over the summer. This story picks up the first day back at school and shows that you really can't fight against destiny…no matter how hard you try.

Author's notes: I know, I know…ANOTHER story! Don’t worry, the others will be continued and finished! I just had the idea for this and wanted to try it and see what ya'll think. PLEASE let me know if I should continue!!! You know I need your feedback to know if you want the stories or not!!! Thanks so much for all of your support so far!!!!

Ashton

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We have eyes like twins

Where your last thought ends my next begins Always just one heartbeat away

From everything I mean to say, oh

Catch me I'm falling for you

Wish for me I'll come running to save you

Touch me I'm calling for you

Remember me, I will never betray you

We have eyes like twins

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~ chapter 1 ~

Liz Parker stood outside the doors of West Roswell High and took a deep breath. It had only been 3 months since she'd left for summer break, but for her it seemed like another life ago.

Probably because it was.

When she was here last she had a boyfriend that she loved to distraction, five other people she considered part of her inner circle and trusted with her life, and the hope of a bright, safe, happy future.

Now, all of that had changed.

Although she didn't love him any less... No. Amend that. Although she loved him even more than she ever dreamed possible, Max Evans was no longer her boyfriend. Not even a small part of her life. And that intimate group of 5 she counted on for everything had dwindled back down to 2...

Liz felt an arm slip around her shoulder. "Hey spacegirl. Whatcha thinkin' about?"

Make that 3.

Liz shot him a look before returning his grin. "Hey, Kyle." Her gaze drifted back to the front of the school building and the conflicts waiting for her behind those steel doors. She let out a sigh, her dark eyes staring straight ahead of her. "Just wondering if I have the strength to go back."

In a moment of reassurance, Kyle pressed his lips gently to her temple. "Of course you do. You were always strong, Liz. Add to that all the growing you've done this summer. Besides, you're not alone, you know. Maria, Alex...me. We'll all be here to help you. The first sign that you can't deal, come get one of us, ok?"

Liz nodded and smiled bravely. "Ok."

"Ok. I'm going to head on to class..." Kyle let his arm drop and he took a step forward but was stopped by the feel of Liz's hand on his arm as tight as the fear that had suddenly gripped her. He turned and looked at her expectantly.

Liz looked away sheepishly as she let her hand drop. "Can't deal."

Kyle sent her a sympathetic smile and took a step back. "In that case, Ms. Parker, will you allow me to escort you to your locker?"

Nodding her head, Liz let out a smile of gratitude that made the sun suddenly shine a little brighter as she took his proffered arm unaware of the dark eyes that followed her every move.

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

Max Evans sat in his jeep and stared out the window toward the high school. But it wasn't really the building his eyes were focused on. It was the petite brunette that stood in front of the steps glued to her spot as if nothing could shake her.

That was when Kyle walked up and wrapped his arm around Liz's shoulder. It was also in that same moment that Max sat up a bit straighter as he felt a surge of jealousy run through him. What right did Kyle Valenti have to touch Liz? What right did anyone have? Anyone, but him, that is...

Even more disturbing was her compliance. Max felt his heart sink when a thought crossed his mind.

Had something happened between them over the summer? Had she forgotten all about him? Were Kyle and Liz together now? Not knowing the details of Liz's life over the past 3 months had been killing him. It had kept him up at nights. Wondering where she was. If she was safe. If she was still as broken as the last time he'd seen her. What she was doing. Who she was doing it with.

Max watched as Liz smiled up at Kyle and slipped her arm through his before they began to walk up the steps of the school. Apparently, he had his answer.

Well, it wouldn't be that way for long. Not if he had anything to say about it. And speaking his mind was one thing Max Evans had learned to do well these past three months…

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

The hallways were crowded with students between 3rd and 4th periods. Liz managed to weave her way in and out of bodies to make it to her locker when she heard a familiar voice call out behind her.

"Liz. How you doing?" Kyle asked as he came up behind her.

Liz turned and smiled up at him as she pulled a book from it's place in her locker. "Doing ok…for now. I've only had Max in one class so far. He was surrounded by the other Czechs so I chose a seat in the front and never looked back."

Kyle smiled proudly at her. "Good. See, I told you that you'd do just fine once you got back in the swing of things..."

"Liz! Glad I found you, babe! You're not going to believe my schedule this year!" Maria rushed up to Liz at her locker and thrust her schedule into Liz's face. Waving quickly at Kyle who was on the other side of Liz, Maria practically bounced. "Hey, Kyle."

"Hey, sis." Kyle responded teasingly in reference to his father and her mother's current dating satus. He took a step back trying to duck a slap from Maria, but ended up falling backwards into someone. "Oh, man, I'm sor..."

"It's ok, Kyle." Max responded softly as his eyes drifted to Liz. "Hey, Maria. Liz."

Liz turned and stared at him, her heart in her eyes. Every promise she had made to herself not to let him know how much leaving him had hurt her, how much she still loved him, seemed to disappear the moment their eyes met. She was getting lost in those dark eyes of his again. She knew she shouldn't. She knew she should look away. But it had been so long. Too long. Her soul responded to his as he gazed back at her with as much love and longing she'd seen on that cliff three months before. She knew instinctively that he saw the same emotions mirrored back at him.

Liz took in all of his features at once. He was still as adorable as he'd always been with his dark hair falling perfectly over his forehead and the long dark eyelashes to match curling upward. His face was more lean and pale. And he looked tired. Weary. As if the weight of the world had been resting on his shoulders for way too long. How she wanted to wrap her arms around him and take away some of the burden. She clutched her books in one hand and the locker door in her other to keep from launching herself right into his arms.

Max was doing his own inventory in those few precious moments of silent re-introduction. That silky dark hair of hers was longer. And she'd gotten it styled some around her face. The new style brought out her eyes. Those large, beautiful dark eyes that looked into his with such love and acceptance. The eyes that had literally been able to look into his soul. They were tinted with sadness and emptiness. And a longing that he so desperately wanted to make into a reality.

Suddenly what he saw earlier didn't make all that much difference. Not with the way she was looking at him now. There was still a chance. He saw it calling out to him in her expression. Just one moment alone with her and he knew he could make everything could go back to the way it had been...

Seeing her friend's inability to respond to a simple hello, Maria jumped in for her with sarcastic sweetness. "Hey, Max! How was your summer? Meet any new Czechoslavakians lately? You know...any more former brides floating around we need to know about..."

Max's eyes wavered as Maria's arrow struck him. Actually, it had been the way Liz's eyes closed in pain and her sharp intake of breath that she tried to silence but he heard any way. Or maybe it was the quiet breaking of her heart that he heard all over again that caused the sharp pain to shoot through his own heart.

He swallowed hard and forced his eyes upward. "No. There's only four of us, but I'm looking to change that very soon."

Liz's eyes popped open at the tone of his voice and she wasn't surprised to see him gazing at her. Max nodded as he stuck a hand in his jeans pocket. "Liz. Can we talk?" He glanced at Maria and Kyle and added one word. "Alone."

Liz opened her mouth to answer his question when the shrill bell suddenly rang. Seeing Liz begin to waver and taking the bell as a cue, Kyle stepped closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Actually, Evans, we were on our way to class. Don't wanna be late the first day, you know. Catch ya later."

Flanked by Kyle on the right and Maria on the left Liz allowed herself to be led away. She couldn’t resist glancing back at Max one last time though. Once she did, she wished she hadn't for all the pain she'd seen in Max's eyes when Kyle had taken his place by her side. That hurt look on his face cut her straight through to her heart.

Liz could feel his heated stare on her back until she and Kyle had turned the corner. She glanced behind her and pulled away from Kyle with frustrated anger flashing in her eyes. "Kyle! What did you do that for?"

Kyle put his hands on her shoulders and leaned down. "Liz. Listen to me. Has anything changed in Max's circumstances since the last time you saw him?"

Liz shook her head no.

Maria jumped in. "And have you changed your mind about him? About being with him?"

Again, the answer was a silent negative.

"Then what's the point of talking to him?" Kyle finished Maria's thought.

"Right. Especially not alone." Maria chimed in as she glanced up at Kyle in agreement. "Believe us…this is for your own good. Max Evans has had a hold on you since that day at the Crashdown. Being alone with him right now is the last thing you need to even think about doing."

Liz looked down and bit her lower lip to fight back the tears she felt were just waiting for the opportunity to fall. "I know. It's just…I miss him so much."

Kyle pulled her into his embrace. "We know, Liz. That's why you've got us. Your bodyguards." After a quick hug he turned and faced her toward their classroom. "And just think...all thoughts of Max Evans will pale in comparison to the highly entertaining class of...geometry!"

Maria and Liz chuckled as she quickly wiped a tear away. Rolling her eyes, Liz grinned up at him and slapped him playfully on the arm. "You're such an idiot."

"I know. But at least you're smiling again." Kyle answered back as he turned and opened the door with a flourish for both girls.

Isabel saw Max out of the corner of her eye as she headed down the hall and sauntered over to him. "You saw, didn't you?" She asked quietly.

Max nodded and shifted his backpack to his other shoulder to accommodate Isabel's closeness. "You don't think she's..."

"Dating him?" Isabel finished for her brother seeing how hard the words were for him to say. "Who knows? From what I hear, they did spend most of the summer together at that camp. A lot can happen over a summer, Max. And who's to say she doesn't deserve him? Especially after the way she left you after the cave…"

"Iz…" Max's warning tone and set jaw didn't quell Isabel's resentment.

"What? I'm just saying that after all you went through together, it's pretty raw that she just left you like that."

"Isabel, I mean it. This subject is not open for discussion." Max stated firmly shooting her a hard look.

Isabel let out a sigh and riffled through her papers. "I'm just surprised you still defend her like you…"

"Isabel! Stop it!" Max commanded as he stopped dead in his tracks. Isabel stopped and turned toward him taking a few steps back. Max grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the nearest unused room. Once inside, he turned on her and dropped her arm. "I'm going to say this once and once only. It is *because* of everything we've gone through together that I defend her. That I want her back. That I still love her."

"Of all the people in this world, she has been the one that has stood by me through everything…good and bad and not wavered a bit. And not only has she stood by me, she's stood by you. And by Michael. She accepted us…no questions asked. She has saved our lives over and over, many times by risking her own. What happened in the cave…well, she was shocked and scared and…and…don't you get it, Iz? In all of our time together, that was the one time that Liz Parker felt like the alien. Like she didn't belong. Well, we do belong together. And when all is said and done, together is where we're going to be. Just as soon as I can convince her of that."

Allowing his impassioned words to finally sink in and seeing the determined look on Max's face, Isabel offered him what he needed most…support. She reached up and pretended to fix his collar as she blinked sudden tears from her eyes. "Wow. That's the most words I think I've ever heard you string together at one time."

She smiled and shook her head at the wry grin that spread over his face. "You really love her don't you?"

"More each day." Max answered quietly.

Flipping her hair behind her shoulders, Isabel donned a casual attitude despite the earnestness of Max's recent confession. "Well, then. If you want my advice, I'd say tell her everything you just told me and you'll be back together in no time. Kyle or no Kyle."

Max dropped his gaze and ran his hand across the back of his neck. "Do you really think…"

Isabel shrugged. "I don’t know, Max. Like I said, a lot can happen in a summer." She tilted his chin upward till his eyes were meeting hers. "Then again, a lot can *not* happen too. Just look at you and Tess..."

Max groaned. "I'd really rather not."

"Me either. So…" Isabel started as she slid onto the nearest seat. "What's the plan?"

"The plan?"

Isabel rolled her eyes and leaned forward. "God, Max. You would think being our proclaimed leader for three months would have taught you something." She pulled out a piece of paper and a pencil then started to make notes. "A plan, Max. A plan. You always have to have a plan."

"For what?" Max asked in confusion not seeing the need for a massive strategy session.

"Oh, God. He's so in love he's missing the obvious." Isabel let out a sigh and tilted her head as she looked up at her brother. "Ok, Max. Listen really carefully. You'll have to get to her before you can talk to her. And from the looks of things, that's going to be pretty hard."

Max nodded then slid into the seat next to Isabel oblivious to the shrill sound of the class bell. "Yeah. I see what you mean. Kyle's been by her side most of the morning. Then there's Maria who doesn't seem too awfully keen on me being around. And if Alex joins in…"

At the mention of Alex, Isabel's face dropped. Max noticed immediately and put his hand over hers. "He'll come around, Iz. They all will. They have to. I really don't know how any of us can live without them now."

Isabel nodded and glanced back up at Max hiding her vulnerability under a mask of indifference. "Yeah…well, whatever you say. Our main goal here is to get Liz and you alone so you can talk to her." A sudden smile warmed her expression as her eyes began to dance with mischief. "And I know just the way to do it…"

Tbc…

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~ Chapter 2 ~

Max Evans lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling. His room was dark except for the moonlight streaming in through his window. As he lay with his hands behind his head, his mind raced over the events of the day and how every time he'd tried to make some kind of contact with Liz, he had been blocked. By Maria. By Alex. By Kyle.

Kyle. Max quietly expelled the breath that filled his lungs as he felt his chest tighten. It wasn't the fact Kyle was hanging around Liz so much as it was the *way* he was hanging around that was nagging Max. Causing those old feelings of jealously and anger to start popping up again.

It was ridiculous really. To feel jealous like he did. Deep in his heart Max knew nothing was going on between Liz and Kyle. She didn't have that look in her eyes when she smiled at him. That look Max had gotten used to seeing when *their* eyes met. The one he recognized as his and his alone.

Still his head couldn't deny the possibility when his eyes saw the possessive way Kyle draped his arm around her shoulder or sat close to her at lunch in the quad. Not to mention the obvious closeness between the two. A closeness that had resurfaced some time in the past three months when they were away together while he had been stuck here fending off Tess and wondering how he was going to find the strength to breathe until he saw Liz's face again.

Those had been the hardest three months of Max's life. Not to mention the rest of the pod squad. It had been difficult on all of them to try to accept a new member into the fold, especially one they didn't particularly trust, while cutting ties with the humans they had each come to care about…to love.

For Max…it had been pure torture.

After saying her final goodbye to him at the cave, Liz had literally cut herself off from him and Max became a man with a mission...to speak to Liz. Alone. To convince her of their destiny. That they always had and always would belong...together. He knew he'd be able to do it if he could just get her to look in his eyes and see there the love beating in his heart.

Her will proved strong in that first week, though, for Liz wouldn't take any of his phone calls...and there had been plenty. About twenty a day. And twenty at night. When he came to the Crashdown looking for her, which was pretty much every time he called and she didn't come to the phone, Liz would mysteriously disappear leaving Maria there to make up some crazy, wild excuse as to where she was. And Maria came up with some doozies. He even planted himself in a booth one day from the moment the doors opened till Maria shoved him practically kicking and screaming out the door when she closed up at night. Liz had not even made an appearance.

When those methods had failed, Max tried to reach her in the one place that had always been special to them. The place that had seen all the highs and lows of their relationship and everything in between…her balcony. But Liz no longer sat out on her balcony writing in her journal at night. And the curtains to her window were always tightly drawn so he couldn't see in. Tapping on her window had elicited no response as well. Only a deafening silence.

A week later, Max and the rest of the pod squad ran into Nancy Parker as she was heading out of the Sheriff's office. Garnering censure from one member of the group--Tess to be exact--when he left them alone to consult Sheriff Valenti on a matter of alien importance, Max boldly approached Liz's mom and asked to speak with her. He was surprised when she smiled sympathetically at him and granted his wish. It was then he found out, though not in as much detail as he would have liked, that Liz was leaving in a matter of days to be a junior counselor at a summer camp.

In response to his quietly asked question, "Is she…ok?", Mrs. Parker had answered honestly. "No, Max. She isn't. But given time, I think she will be." She had sighed then and looked away uncertainly. "I…hope she will be."

She leaned against her car and crossed her arms in front of her as she eyed him carefully. "Look, Max, I don't know what happened between the two of you…Liz won't talk about it, but it's been obvious to both Jeff and I just how much you two…" She paused knowing a much stronger word should be used, but chose not to give him more encouragement than her own daughter was at the moment. "...care about each other. For whatever reason, she needs this time…alone. Do you think you care enough about her to give it to her?"

Max nodded as tears threatened to overflow in his eyes. He furiously blinked them back and stuffed his hands in his pockets before answering in a broken voice. "I'll do...whatever it takes…whatever she needs…to make her happy."

"Somehow I knew you would say that." Nancy Parker reached out and touched his arm gently. "Max. If it's meant to be…"

Max just nodded and swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. As Nancy turned away, Max took a step forward unwilling to let his only contact to Liz slip away without something more. "Mrs. Parker? Wait. Can you…would you tell her something for me?"

"Sure, Max."

"Tell her…" He took a deep breath and raised his eyes to meet Nancy's and she was momentarily taken back by the mixture of pain and overwhelming love she saw in his eyes. Her breath caught in her throat. No wonder her baby girl had fallen so hard for the boy standing before her. "…tell her nothing has changed for me. Nothing ever will. And when she's ready…I'll be waiting."

Her smile was more than sympathetic. It was understanding…and reassuring. "I'll tell her."

From that moment on, he had waited. For Max, there didn't seem much point in doing anything else. Nothing else except watch her leave…again. Had he not known beforehand the exact time she was leaving, he would have known when the day arrived merely by the bleakness and gloom all around him. Max looked out his window that morning and saw the clouds hanging overhead as dark as the emotions stirring in his heart. He had jumped in his jeep and drove to the Crashdown hoping for one more chance to see her. As it was, he arrived just in time to see Nancy give Liz a hug and Jeff Parker helping her into their car.

As Max watched her drive away, the reality of his situation...all that he had gone through the past few weeks...came crashing down around him. He was being faced with a destiny he didn't want. A mission he felt inadequate to complete. He was looked up to as a leader with all the answers when he felt as lost as the rest of them. Even more so.

Responsibilities he hadn't asked for were suddenly resting on his shoulders. He'd been physically and emotionally tortured for who he was and now...more than all of that put together...Liz was gone. His strength. His hope. His dreams. His reason for breathing. Wrapped up in the form of one beautiful petite young woman, they all disappeared as the distance between them increased with each rotation of their car's tires.

One thought echoed in his mind. Liz…his own precious Liz…was really gone.

Max was once again completely, utterly...alone.

For the first time since his whole ordeal began, Max's head bent in sorrow and tears squeezed out of his eyes to run down his cheeks. A strangled cry choked in his throat as his hands fiercely clung to the steering wheel. He never knew he could feel so much pain and so much numbness all at once. He didn't even know how long he'd been sitting in his jeep, weeping for a love that had walked away until he felt someone's hand on his shoulder.

"Max? Max, honey…" It was a mother's voice that called to him. But not his own. Through the fog of pain and the film of tears his eyes focused to see Nancy Parker standing by him tears of her own welling up in her eyes. She held something out to him. "Liz…she wanted me to give this to you if you…" She pushed it toward him. "She wanted you to have it."

Max took a shaky breath as he stared at the black book she held out to him. Blinking furiously and wiping his face with the back of his hand, he finally reached out and took it from her. Staring down at the book he ran his hand over the top of it his eyes widening with realization. Liz's journal. His chest rose and fell as another sob threatened to overtake him. "Thank…"

Nancy did the one thing her daughter couldn't do in that moment. She pulled Max into an impulsive hug of comfort and whispered close to his ear. "No. Thank you. For loving my daughter the way you do."

Max was overwhelmed. And surprised. Not only by the spontaneous show of emotion from Liz's mother, but by Michael's presence when Nancy Parker suddenly pulled back and stepped out of the way. Michael looked back and forth between the two uncomfortably until Nancy spoke. "I had Maria call him. I thought you needed a friend right now."

Max nodded and dropped his gaze back to the book in his hands. Michael and Mrs. Parker exchanged places and Michael placed a hand lightly on Max's shoulder. "What's say we head over to my place now?"

Max nodded again and moved to the passenger seat while Michael took the wheel. With one last grateful look back at Nancy Parker, Michael and Max drove away. All the while Max was clutching Liz's journal to his chest.

In the weeks that followed, Max swiftly became a shell of his former self. He walked like he was in a fog. His eyes that usually held so much emotion were empty and lifeless. He barely ate and rarely slept. When he did sleep he was plagued by nightmares. Visions of the hours spent in Pierce's custody. When he didn't sleep, he read one thing. Liz's journal. It was only in those moments of reading her words that he seemed to find any kind of peace.

It didn't take long for the others to be concerned with the state of depression he was rapidly falling into. Spending most times in his room, Max only left home when the need to be near Liz got to be too much. At odd hours of the night and early morning Max would find himself climbing up the ladder to her balcony. She wasn't there, of course, but being there made him feel closer to her. Like he could at least make it through the next hour without feeling like his world was caving in.

Jeff and Nancy Parker found him in those first few weeks one night asleep in her bed, holding a black book tightly against his chest. Foregoing the obvious question of how he got in, they exchanged glances and retrieved a blanket from Liz's closet to lay over him. The second it touched him, Max whispered her name and snuggled into it smiling in his sleep as if he could feel Liz's presence wrapping itself around him. It had been a profound moment for the Parkers. It was the moment they knew they were watching over their daughter's future as he slept.

Now, three months later, Max was wondering if he shouldn't stick to his original statement and let Liz come to him when she was ready. Maybe she still needed time. Like two spirits sitting on his shoulders, the other side spoke. And what it said was one word…action. Precious time was being wasted. Now that she was back, Max Evans knew he needed to take action.

A light tap on the door alerted Max to the time. He glanced at the clock by his bed and sat up swinging his feet over the side when he saw that it read 1:30. Max glanced up as his bedroom door swung open slowly and Isabel slipped inside.

"Are you ready?" She kept her voice low and quiet so as not to wake their already sleeping parents.

Max nodded as he got up from his bed slowly and picked up the bag he had hidden under his bed. "Yeah. I'm ready."

"Good. Let's get going and get this over with." Isabel paused when she saw the bag in Max's hand. "What's that?"

"A little reminder of what Liz and I have." He looked down at the bag and shrugged. "If I can't tell her how I feel…at least maybe I can show her."

Isabel threw Max a reassuring smile. "This is going to work, Max. I just know it will."

Max nodded again. "I guess we'll see…"

"No, Max. Not guess." She reached out and grabbed his arm determination flashing in her brown eyes. "It *will* work. It has to."

A confused smile played over Max's lips. "Why are you suddenly so revved up about this? About Liz and me?"

Isabel's eyes locked with Max's as they started to shine with unshed tears and her voice softened perceptibly. "Because you ate a full meal tonight like you really enjoyed it. And lunch today too. Because I look in your eyes and I see something that's been missing for way too long…hope."

"For the first time in months, I have my brother back, Max. Really back. And I'll be damned if I’m going to let him go again." She paused and wiped her eyes quickly as a grin started to light her face. "Liz Parker's going to be a part of your life again or she's going to have me and my newly developed powers of making the best alien blasts in town to deal with."

A wide grin spread over Max's face. "Well, then. I guess we'd better get this plan under way. I really don't want the two girls I love the most in this world fighting over the head waitress job at the Crashdown." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled Isabel close to him. "I need you both in my corner way too much…"

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"Ryan. It's about time you got here." Tess' impatient whisper broke the stillness of the night.

"Don't go ballistic on me. I had a few things to take care of that lasted a little longer…"

"I didn't mean tonight, you idiot." Tess interrupted harshly. "I meant here…in Roswell."

He casually leaned against the fence and shrugged. "Can you blame me? Who would want to leave the bright lights of New York City for…" His smile glowed in the darkness as he swept his hands around him and continued sarcastically. "…the oh-so-exciting Roswell scene."

"I felt the same once. But Roswell does have it's…" Tess let out a sigh as her mind drifted to Max. "…attractions." She brought her steely crystal gaze to his.

"So? Why meet here? Why the park by the school?" Ryan asked as he turned, his eyes scanning the school building beyond the chain link fence.

"I wanted you to get a good view of your new school." Tess stated with a sly smile when she stepped up next to him with her hands linked behind her back. "Or the next field of battle. Take you pick on terms of endearment." She chuckled lightly. "Speaking of which. Your assignment. Although I fail to see the appeal, there are some in town that don't."

Tess handed him a folder. "Her name is Liz Parker. Befriend her. Get to know her. Date her. Do whatever you want with her…but whatever you do, keep her away from Max Evans and out of my way."

A low whistle was his immediate reaction when he opened the folder. A leering smile claimed his lips as his eyes drunk in the face staring up at him from the 5x7 glossy photo. "If I'd known the target was going to be this…delicious…I would have come sooner."

Jealousy flashed through Tess' eyes. "God, does every man I know have to drool over that little piece of…"

The sound of an automobile interrupted Tess' tirade and she quickly pulled her accomplice behind a group of bushes nearby. Carefully sticking her head out to peek at the newest visitors to the school parking lot, Tess' eyes narrowed when she immediately recognized Max's jeep. "What the hell are they doing here?"

"They?" Ryan whispered as he poked his head above Tess' to get a look. His eyes began to shine when he saw Isabel step out of the jeep. "Damn, Tess. You didn't tell me this place had so many hotties running around…"

"Would you shut up?" Tess hissed back at him before repositioning herself to watch as Max and Isabel crept along the side of the school to a window near the back. "What are they up to?"

Her eyebrow raised as she watched Max use his powers to unlock the window then turned to hoist Isabel through the opening. He handed her a black bag when she was securely inside. Then taking a small leap, he latched onto the wall and pulled himself up through the window just like Isabel had.

Tess and Ryan exchanged glances once Max had cleared the opening. "Well? What do we do now?" Ryan asked with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Tess' gaze shifted back to the window. "We find out what my 'husband' is up to, that's what."

"Both of us?" Ryan asked hopefully.

Tess nodded her blonde head. "You bet. Cuz I've got a feeling what they're up to has an awful lot to do with what we're up to." She inclined her head toward the building. "You up for it?"

Ryan smiled deviously. "Would I have made the trip here if I weren't?"

"Good. Let's go." Tess commanded before carefully making her way toward the chain gate.

Ryan took one last look at the photo in his hand and grinned as he spoke to himself. "Well, Ryan, you've been in this town less than four hours and you already have a hot babe to pursue and a little breaking and entering to accomplish. Maybe this town won't be so dull after all…"

Tbc…

~ Chapter 3 ~

Max and Isabel slipped through the door to the Administration office then quickly closed it behind them. Isabel immediately headed for the secretary's desk and waved her hand over the on switch for her computer sending the machine humming as it booted up while Max leaned over her. "How do you plan on getting in? You know, password and all…"

Isabel adjusted herself in the seat and flipped her hair behind her shoulders. She glanced at a picture on the the secretary's desk of the secretary, Ms. Temple, and a few of the teachers. "Oh, I don't know, Max. I thought I'd do a deep psychological analysis of why Ms. Temple still wears her hair in that old 50's style…you know the beehive look...and see if I can take a wild guess at the password from what little I know of her scared psyche."

"Hey. Maybe we should have checked the beehive itself. She might have hidden the password in there." Max joked quietly as a quick smile parted his lips when his gaze moved to the picture.

Isabel rolled her eyes with a smile as she waited for the computer screen to light up. "Cracking corny jokes, huh? Oh, yeah. My brother's definitely back."

Max smirked at her and pulled up a chair. "Really, Iz. What's the plan here? Are you going to hack in or something?"

Isabel smiled cockily and her voice was leading. "I could…"

"You could?" Max's surprise was evident in his voice. "You mean you actually know how?

A quick nod was his answer and Isabel's face flushed suddenly. "There are…" She paused to amend her words. "…were some advantages to dating a computer geek you know." The description could have been harsh if not for the tenderness in her voice when she spoke of Alex.

Max watched her carefully as she quickly tried to mask the pain in her eyes. He knew how hard the whole destiny thing had been on all of them. Now wasn't the first time he'd seen the affect it had on Isabel. His heart ached for her. For Michael. For all of them. It was high time that hurt was put to rest. And he was going to take the first step to put it there.

"Anyway, I'm not using any of Alex's tricks on this." Isabel stated when she could feel Max's steady stare and the silence got too much for her.

"Then how are you…" Max started to ask then stopped when she reached out, put a finger against the photo frame then closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment while tiny asterisks appeared in the 'password' box. "Hey, you're really getting good at that whole mind reading thing."

Isabel smiled her thanks and nodded once as the enter key magically depressed sending the password to the system. In a matter of seconds they were looking as a screen that would allow them to access the school records of every student at West Roswell High. Isabel turned to Max with a triumphant smile. "Well? What do you want to see first?"

A devious glint entered Max's eyes as he leaned forward. "What else? Pull up the class schedules and let's see what my dreamgirl is taking this term..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tess' head appeared in the lower left hand corner of the window to the Administration office as she carefully poked her head up to see the activity inside. Ducking quickly she glanced at Ryan who mouthed the words, "What are they doing?"

She made a motion with her hands like she was typing then waved for him to follow her. They crept along the wall cautious not to make any noise. Once around the corner, Tess and Ryan straightened and leaned against the wall. "So, what's the plan now?"

"Wait till they leave and see if we can find out what they were looking for."

Their wait lasted all of 20 minutes. They heard the Administration door open and close then footsteps began to fade as they headed toward the end of the hall. Tess stuck her head out just in time to see Max and Isabel turn the corner and head in the general direction of the lockers. She gestured with her head to Ryan that he should follow her then headed down the hall quickly and quietly. Getting to the end, both she and Ryan peeked around the corner to see Max and Isabel standing at Liz's locker.

Max placed his hand over the lock and it clicked open in a matter of seconds. Opening it with a grin, he reached down into his bag and pulled out a gift bag. He held it up to Isabel and she nodded her approval before he placed it neatly in Liz's locker.

"So, what's in there?" Isabel whispered.

A dreamy smile came over Max's face as he answered quietly. "I made a little rememberance of a very special night." He pulled the gift from its hiding place in the tissues of the gift bag and showed it to her. "It's a snow globe. Only it's not full of snow. When she shakes it, stars will fall instead."

"Max...this is beautiful." Isabel said as she took it from him and looked at it carefully. "What's the scene inside?"

Max leaned back against the locker. His eyes began to shine as his mind drifted back to the night of the Blind Date contest whne he'd gotten drunk and whisked Liz away for a date of his own. "The night Liz went out on the blind date and...you know..."

Isabel nodded encouragingly and Max continued. "Well, I...did some things with my powers. And well, the scene shows what I did."

"There's a heart with M.E. + L.P. on a brick wall in the background." Isabel stated trying to draw Max into more of an explanation.

"Yeah, I drew that on the wall outside her bedroom..." Max stated as a slight blush began to dust his cheeks.

"And the lamp post?"

"I made it spin like a magical light show. It actually lights up in the globe..."

Isabel's eyebrow raised. "The car hood?"

"I set off the car alarm then turned it into a song." He cleared his throat when he saw the look of disbelief in her eyes. Although Max had told Isabel and Michael the basics of what happened that night, he'd never gone into much detail. Some, because he was afraid of their reaction, but mostly because it had been something special just between him and Liz. And heaven knew there had been precious few moments like that with this group.

Still, it had been so long since he'd allowed himself to talk about Liz...even say her name...that revealing some of the details of that night was like a refreshing showerstorm after a long drought. He couldn't talk about her enough. "This is really a music box globe. I have a special song chosen that will come on when Liz shakes it." Max reached out and touched the globe and the hall was immediately filled with the bittersweet sounds of love, loss and hopeful determination as the words to 'Here With Me' by Dido began to play.

I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

"Max. Liz will definitely..." Isabel's eyes began to shine as she locked eyes with his before he looked down shyly. "She'll treasure this forever."

"That's what I'm hoping." Max breathed quietly before he bent and pulled out a tightly wound item. Isabel's face scrunched in confusion.

"Flowers too? But won't they wilt before morning?" Max remained silent as he pulled out a glass vase from his bag waving it in front of her and Isabel began to chuckle. She wrapped the globe back up and stuck it back in the gift bag. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"

Max shrugged. "I tried." He went to the water fountain and filled the vase with water then touched it causing the water to shimmer with a pearly substance. Walking back to the locker he unwrapped the pink tulips he got Liz and placed them in the vase behind the small gift bag that Isabel had returned to the locker.

"What's that?" Isabel asked and pointed to the liquid in the vase.

"Just a little concoction I made up. It'll keep them extra fresh for when she gets them tomorrow." As he spoke the tulip petals began to shrink becoming small buds on their stem just beginning to grow.

Isabel's eyes shone with pride. "Neat trick. You are going to teach me that one, right?"

Max looked at her slyly. "Maybe. When I feel you're old enough to handle it."

Isabel glanced at the clock after playfully hitting Max on the arm for his comment. "We've been here a while, Max. Is there anything else?"

Max looked at his handywork once more. It was perfect. Not too much, but enough to let Liz know he remembered what they had and that he wouldn't be giving up on it any time soon. His chest rose and fell with a sigh of satisfaction. "No. Nothing. This will be a good start."

Isabel stepped up next to him and tilted her head to the side as she put her arm through his. "It's perfect, Max. Liz will love it as much as you love her." Her gaze shifted to Max's upraised eyebrow and conceeded. "Ok. Almost as much." She tugged on his shirt sleeve. "Come on. Let's go. You've got a big day tomorrow..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tess and Ryan waited till Max and Isabel had cleared the hall before Ryan spoke. "So, what now? Back to the Admin office?"

Tess shook her head. "No. I doubt we could find what they wanted in there anyway. Besides, I've seen enough to have a better idea." A wicked gleam passed through her eyes. "Come on. One short stop at a locker then we're done for tonight. We can put our plan into motion starting tomorrow morning when she gets Max's little surprise."

Ryan chuckled when he read her thoughts as she stared in the direction of Liz's locker. "Sounds like a plan." And in the meantime, I've got a housecall to make.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liz's sleep was once again restless. She had stayed up late talking to Maria on the phone trying to get caught up on all the human-alien relationships and sorting everyone out. She was exhausted. Still, she couldn't sleep.

Through all the confusion, one thing rang through loud and clear. It was no longer the six of them. It was back to three and three. An image of Tess flashed before Liz and she grimaced.

Actually, it was three and four now.

Bits and pieces of her conversation with Maria came floating back to her...

"And what about Alex and Isabel?"

"They try to keep it friendly, but it's strained. I think it's a little easier for them since they hadn't been together as long as the rest of us." Maria stated rationally.

"Mom and Dad said Isabel helped out here at the Crashdown sometimes. How was that?" Liz asked trying to steer the conversation away from the most painful subject of all…Max.

"Oh, yeah, she did. We kinda worked different shifts cuz of the whole betrothed warrior thing with her and Michael, you know?" Even though Maria's voice had rambled on like it had been no big deal, Liz knew better. Not being with Michael was killing Maria inside. "It was just too..."

"Painful?" Liz suggested.

"No. Painful's not really the right word, although I'm sure the lump on Michael's head didn't feel all that great when I conked him..."

"Oh my God, Maria! Are you telling me you hit Michael over the head?"

Maria's voice raised defensively. "Hey! I didn't mean to. Well, maybe I did sub-consciously." She let out a sigh knowing Liz would want more than just that as an explanation. "Alright. Remember that 'this is your brain on Max' thing I tried to sell you not that long ago?"

"Yeah?" A smile began to form on Liz's lips. She had missed Maria so much she wondered now how she'd been able to make it through everything without her the past three months. It was then she remembered Kyle.

"Well...I kinda tried to tell myself the same thing only I *really* got into the part of the girl smashing things up and Michael just happened to walk through the door when I was trying to break an iron skillet. So, what does Spaceboy do? He came up behind me to stop me just when I raised the skillet…"

Liz burst into laughter. "And you hit him in the head?!"

"Michael never was one with good timing." Maria's voice shook as she tried to keep from laughing herself. "How was I supposed to know he was there? We never claimed to have that extra-sensory perception you and soulmate Max have going on…"

Liz's laughter died on the other line and Maria shut her eyes tightly. "God, Liz. I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"That's ok, Maria." Liz spoke softly so as not to alarm Maria of the tears that were threatening to cloud her eyes. "It's not like he doesn't exist."

"So. How you doing with that? The Max thing I mean?"

Liz shut her eyes, let out a slow breath and lied. "Ok. Fine." She paused and decided it was best not to lie to her best friend…or herself. She let out a loud sigh. "Bad, Maria. Really bad. I miss him so much. I passed him in the hall like 4 times today and each time he tried to stop me. You were there once and then Alex and Kyle intercepted the other times.

"I just…" Liz reached up and wiped away a tear that had fallen down her cheek. "I think I should talk to him, you know? Let him know what's going on. It's the only way I think he'll let go."

"Are you kidding me, Liz?" Maria asked with a disbelieving snort. "Max Evans gets you alone once and you'll be back right where you started. I know you, Liz. I know you with Max. You have no resistance, girl. Neither does he. The two of you can barely stand to be separated and you want to talk to him to explain to him why you'll never be together again? That is so not going to work."

"Maria. I have to do something." Liz began to plead for understanding.

Maria wasn't giving any. "Fine. Do this. Close your eyes. Are they closed?" When she received the affirmative answer she continued. "Let me ask you something. Heart answer...not head. Don't think. Just blurt, ok?"

"Ok."

"Right now...this moment...what's the thing you want most in the world?" Maria asked knowing the answer before Liz spoke it.

Liz let out a dreamy sigh as a picture of Max's face flashed before her mind. "Max. I want Max. I want to wrap myself up in his arms. Hear his heartbeat. Feel him breathe..."

"Exactly why you should, under no circumstances, be alone with Max Evans." Maria's voice broke through Liz's daydream. "Lizzie, I know how hard this is...believe me, I do. But you left him for good reasons. Those reasons haven't changed. And neither should your mind on this matter."

Liz nodded once as reason took control once more. "You're right. I know you are. I just need to be strong."

"You are, Liz. And you know what's so great about having friends?" Maria asked as she pulled her knees up to her chest and gazed down at a picture of Michael knowing she was speaking to herself now just as much as she was to Liz. "You're even stronger with them than without. We're here for you, Liz."

Liz smiled into the phone. "I know. And I'll always be here for you too..."

Liz turned in her bed once more as images of Max flashed into her mind. He was walking down the hall, coming toward her. His smile was bright and his eyes were full of love. Suddenly the scene turned red.

Blood red.

Max's smile faded as two men grabbed him from behind and pulled him backwards kicking and fighting against them. He was screaming out to her to run. To run and never look back. The last frantic sound she heard echo through the foggy haze of sleeep was Max screaming her name...

Shooting straight up in bed, Liz's body was shaking and she shivered with sudden cold. Her breathing was labored and her body was damp with persperation as she quickly pulled the blankets tightly around her. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, as she began to rock back and forth. As tears poured down her cheeks, Liz began a soft chant that echoed the uncharted fears of her heart. "It's all my fault. It's all my fault. It's all...my...fault..."

A pair of chocolate brown eyes began to gleam as they watched the scene from the balcony outside her window, himself unseen by his next victim...

tbc...

~ Chapter 4 ~

Michael sneaked up behind Isabel who was firmly planted by the water fountain looking down the hall toward the outside doors expectantly. "Whatcha doing?"

Isabel jumped and spun around. "God, Michael. Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Scare me like that."

Michael smirked. "Well, I guess that proves it. We're not meant to be after all."

"What?" Isabel asked absently as she turned her focus toward the door at the end of the hall once more.

"You know. The whole destiny thing." Michael waved his hand in the air in a dismissive gesture. "If we were really meant to be, you would have been able to feel my Czechoslovakian magnetism from miles away let alone right behind you."

"Uh-huh. Sure."

Noticing Isabel's distracted state of mind, he peered around her shoulder gazing down the hall in the direction she was looking. There was nothing unusual in the sight. A few students hurrying here and there to their classes, but nothing of monumental importance as far as Michael could see. A frown creased his brow when Isabel nervously turned and looked in the other direction making eye contact with Max who was skulking in a classroom doorway close to the lockers. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, her hands held out palm up.

Max let out a sigh that Michael could practically hear even from his vantage point halfway down the hall. "Alright. What's up with you and warrior-boy?"

Isabel didn't hear him. Or if she did, she chose to ignore him. A silent signal was sent and received between brother and sister when the final bell for class echoed through the hallway. Isabel turned and looked once more toward the door and saw only one difference…Kyle Valenti was now impatiently pacing back and forth in front of them. Casting a glance back at Max she saw by his suddenly rigid stance that he had noticed as well and figured their thoughts on the matter were pretty much the same. Kyle was doing exactly what they had been doing…waiting for Liz.

With second bell ready to ring in a few moments and no Liz Parker to watch for, there was only one thing to do. Plastering a smile on her face, Isabel inclined her head toward her classroom and glanced back at Michael. "Walk me to class?"

Michael looked back at Max who was still planted firmly against the wall, his silent stare having reverted to Kyle's pacing form at the end of the hall. "Sure. One condition. You tell me what's going on with our fearless leader."

Isabel let out a sigh and picked her books up from their precarious resting place on top of the water fountain. "One word clue…"

"Liz." Michael answered solemnly as he fell into step with Isabel. Isabel smiled and Michael shook his head. "And you're ok with this?"

Isabel turned the corner and shrugged. "She makes him happy, Michael. You know that. Besides, I think we all know what's it's like to love someone then lose them. At least Max has the guts to do something we don't. Choose our own destinies and try to get them back."

"She'll be the death of him." Michael murmured under his breath as his thoughts turned to a blonde-haired pixie that used to walk by his side.

"Or the life." Isabel retorted as she tossed Michael a warning look. "Either way, he's not giving up until he has her back in his arms. And I, for one, intend to help him."

Michael sighed and grabbed Isabel's arm stopping her right before she turned into her class. "I hope you both know what you're doing. He gets her back and he'll lose focus of the mission."

"And if he doesn't…" Isabel paused and her eyes misted with tears as she thought of the past few months since Liz's departure. "…we just might lose him. You choose which you'd rather have. I've already made up my mind."

Michael looked away while Isabel headed to her class just before the bell began to ring.

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

Back in the hall, Max's eyes were still trained on Kyle and he felt the breath leave his body when the door opened and Liz stepped through with a hurried smile for Kyle. He handed Liz a book then leaned down to look in her eyes. Max couldn't make out what they were saying from his position, but whatever it was it looked…intimate. Max swallowed hard and closed his eyes willing himself to remember the way she'd looked into his eyes yesterday. The love was still there. He knew it was.

Max felt an arm snake around his waist and his eyes popped open to see Tess standing in front of him gazing up at him. "I was wondering where my dark and brooding other half was."

"Tess…" Max began in a warning tone as he extracted her arms from around his waist gently but immediately. "We've talked about this. You know where I stand."

"Yeah, I know what you've said." Tess commented as she tilted her head and glanced back in the direction where Max's gaze had drifted once more. "I also know you were counting on a certain someone coming back to you. Looks like she really meant it in the cave when she said good-bye. In fact, she's already moved on and looks pretty happy for it.” Tess turned back to Max and ran a finger down his chest as she looked up at him coyly. "Isn't it your turn to find happiness now?"

Max's jaw tightened as he gazed down at Tess, anger beginning to boil up inside him. Tess and her poisonous words were the last things he needed right now. His eyes flicked back up to Liz and Kyle when he caught movement in his peripheral vision. "For once, Tess, I believe you're right." Pushing her hand away and stepping around Tess he headed down the hall straight for them.

Max slowed when he got close enough to catch bits of their conversation. "So, how many did you have?"

"I don't know, Kyle. Two, three, four…I lost count after that." Liz handed her books back to Kyle and ran her fingers through her hair pulling it into a ponytail.

"Liz, this isn't good."

"Thanks for the info, Kyle. I'm not sure I could have figured that out on my own seeing as I'm the one who's walking into school late with bags under my eyes." Liz replied sarcastically as she reached for her books.

Kyle sighed. "Ok, so you already know first hand that these nightmares are bad."

"Usually why they're called nightmares, Kyle."

"Nightmares?" Max's voice was full of concern when he stepped up to Kyle and Liz and interrupted unceremoniously. "Liz? Are you…"

"Max! What are you doing here…?" Liz pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and tried to look anywhere but into Max's eyes.

"Hey, Evans." Kyle replied as he wrapped a protective arm around Liz. "Anyone tell you it's not nice to eavesdrop no matter how many people you've healed?"

Max shot Kyle a look then forgot all about him once he got a good look at Liz. There were dark circles under her eyes and the haunted look in her eyes gave the impression she'd just been to hell and back. And she was fidgety. Although to be honest, Max couldn't tell if that was because of the conversation he just interrupted or because of him. "Liz, what's going on? Look, I know something's wrong. Please tell me." He took a step forward and lowered his voice as he reached out and touched the side of her face. "Liz, talk to me. Please."

Liz's eyes slowly raised to meet Max's. The moment they did, she wished she hadn't. Her heart nearly broke when she saw the earnest plea in Max's intense gaze and her resolve crumbled under the warmth of the love she saw shining so strongly in his eyes. She opened her mouth to say something at the same time casting a nervous glance in Kyle's direction. "Well, I…I'm….it's…"

As if on cue, Kyle jumped in to the rescue. "No offense, Evans, but whatever may or may not be going on, Lizzie and I have things under control." His gaze shifted to a person that had moved to Max's side and both Liz and Max glanced to see that Tess had sidled up to Max. Their eyes returned to each other in a mutual stare of longing and fresh pain of uncertainty, each willing the other to read the truth of love and understanding in their eyes.

Noticing the stare, Tess' arm was hooked through Max's in the next instant and she was gazing up at him adoringly. "Hey, guys." Tess commented as she tore her gaze away from Max. "You know, I've been hearing rumors about you two. Sounds like you got really close this summer." She batted her eyelashes and painted on a smile. "I really hope we can all be friends not that everyone's finally accepted where they're supposed to be…"

"Riiight." Kyle smirked and brought his eyes back to Max's face. "Like I said, Evans, don't worry about Lizzie. Besides, it looks like you've got your own nightmare to deal with."

The bell rang at that moment signal the beginning of first period. Kyle's shoulders raised in a shrug and a wink. "Well, gotta run. Let's not do this again any time soon." With that Kyle pulled Liz along with him. Although he guided Liz's body, he couldn't control the direction of her eyes or how they looked backwards toward Max in time to see him angrily pull from Tess' grasp, give her a clear 'back off' look, and turn to head in the other direction down the hall, his head hung low.

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

God. Was this day ever going to end? Liz thought to herself when she reached 4th period. The first had gone by with no hitches. Kyle had managed to keep her awake by passing her notes making jokes about the lacy collars old English literary geniuses used to wear and Mr. Walden's new mustache and what was up with Pam Troy's hair this year? She had a hard time concentrating on even those. Her mind kept drifting back to the meeting with Max in the hall.

He had been waiting for her. He must have. Max was usually one of the first students in his seat going over class notes or preparing himself for lecture. But not today. Today, he'd been waiting to speak with her and Kyle had ruined it all.

No. Liz shouldn't think of it that way. Kyle was worried about her and he was trying to help. To protect her fragile emotions. She knew he was. After the hours they'd spent over the summer talking about Max and Liz's love for him, the many times she'd broken down in front of him and cried on his shoulder, she couldn't really expect him to do anything else.

Kyle didn't see Max as a bad guy. He'd even admitted as much in one of their long talks. Kyle told her that it had hurt when she first broke up with him, but it didn't take him long to understand once he saw her and Max together as a couple. Max made Liz positively glow at times in a way Kyle never had. And she made his eyes light up like nothing else in the world ever could.

They were made for each other, he'd said. To which Liz responded with more tears.

Kyle soon learned statements like that didn't bode well for the dryness of his shirts. Over time their subjects drifted to other less painful topics. Like the kids in camp. Or the activities they were involved in. The competitions between teams. And Kyle and Liz became friends again. Friends that shared a common bond of being healed by the same hand…Max's hand. They only spoke of it once, but it was enough to forge an understanding between them. Kyle would always be grateful to Max for saving his life. Liz would always love him for just being alive and on this planet…in her world.

Which was why Kyle was trying to protect her. From herself. Her three closest friends in the world knew how desperately in love Liz still was with Max. They knew the hell she'd been living since walking away from him in the cave. They knew and understood the reasons she did it. That it would probably drive her to the brink of insanity if anything every happened to Max because of her. And that something almost had.

They vowed to help her overcome her greatest weakness. And it came in the gorgeously formed body of one dark-eyed, raven-haired seventeen-year-old alien named Max Evans.

Liz stepped into fourth period class with a sigh of relief. At least Max wouldn't show up here like he had the last two classes. Her tension returned immediately when she remembered her two previous classes and her gaze nervously moved to the chalkboard. She let out another sigh of relief when the only writing she saw was Ms. Wright's name and the name of the class written in bold yellow letters.

In second period, she'd been greeted with the sight of Max sitting near the back of the class. She felt his gaze on her from the moment their eyes met till the second she walked out the door for her next class. Amidst the snickers and whispers about the unknown author of the cryptic message on the board, Liz had even turned to lock surprised eyes with him once and received a small smile of acknowledgement at the thing that had prompted her searching gaze. On the chalkboard in bright yellow letters was written the statement, "I told you once it was you. Now, I'm telling you it always will be. Please give me the chance to say it in person."

At the end of class, it had taken all of Liz's willpower to walk out of that room into the hallway without straying in Max's direction. Even then, she had wavered. Hesitated. Stood and turned to look at him. They stood apart from each other, separated by a classroom full of chairs and exiting students, even more than that by a destiny he was being made to accept and a fear she couldn’t quite put into words. But their eyes spoke the one truth neither could deny. They were far from over. Far from apart. Far from alone.

It had been Maria's voice calling to her from the doorway that finally broke their silent connection. Maria immediately sensed Liz's desperation when she finally tore her eyes away from Max to meet Maria's. Even then, it took Maria physically walking into the room with a curt nod to Max and practically dragging Liz away straight to the girls' restroom where she sat her down and once more gave her the lecture of the disaster of Czechoslovakian-human relationships. In full detail. Chronicling every mistake Max had ever made in his relationship with Liz. Granted, that particular list was short so she had to move on to Michael Guerin's list of offenses. It got the point across.

When Liz emerged, she was once more ready to do battle against the overwhelming desire to run straight into Max's arms and never let go. Until she walked into third period. Max, already waiting for her in the confines of her classroom, had stood by the door until she entered. Then he silently followed her and took the closest seat to her he could without ousting any students from their already chosen positions.

Max's eyes were on her every second. It had been so long since he'd seen her that he felt like a man who'd been wandering in the desert so long even a brief mirage was the sweetest oasis to him. An untouchable refreshment for the eyes that Max found himself drowning in.

And like that man, Max eagerly drank in every move she made. A tuck of her silky dark hair. The way she bit her lower lip in nervousness. How she pulled her pencil out of her bag and readied herself to take notes never once writing a single word down. The way her eyes widened with surprise and misted with moistness when her uneasy gaze finally settled on the chalkboard to read yet another message from him. "You used to be my dreamgirl. Now you're my everything. Please let me be yours again."

Liz swallowed the lump that choked her throat and wrapped her fingers tightly around the seat of her chair in an effort to keep herself physically planted and unmovable. She refused to turn and look at him. She knew if she did, the battle she was fighting with herself would be over in one quick surrendering gaze. The next 50 minutes were pure torture. She didn't hear a word the teacher said. She only felt Max's intense gaze on her skin, her hair…just her. The moment the bell rang, she shot out of her seat and headed straight toward the door. No backward glances. No hesitation. She practically ran from Max straight to her next class.

And now, here she was in the safety of a class Max couldn't invade. From the absence of any publicly chalked private messages on the board, he apparently had decided that as well. Liz smiled with relief at the girl already seated at the front table. "Hi. Is this seat taken?"

"No, it's not." The pretty girl turned her blue eyes on Liz and returned Liz's smile with ease. Once Liz was settled, she held out her hand. "Hi. I'm Josephine Armstrong. All my friends back home called me Joey, though."

"It's nice to meet you, Joey. I'm Liz Parker." Liz asked as she shook hands with Joey. "You're new here, right?"

Joey nodded as a sadness twinged her eyes. "Yeah, my mom and I just moved here from Colorado."

Liz noticed the sadness immediately and felt an instant bond with the girl sitting next to her. "Missing home, huh?"

Joey nodded with a slight smile. "Missing Cameron."

"Ah. Boyfriend." Liz nodded with understanding. "Believe me, you don't have to explain. I completely know about that one. Mine has been haunting me everywhere I go today."

"Good kind of haunt or bad?"

Liz smiled despite herself. "I can't decide. I haven't seen Max for three months so actually seeing him is definitely a good thing. On the other hand the way he can get to me…" Liz looked down embarrassed that she'd begun to ramble about Max to a complete stranger. "…it's just complicated, that's all."

Sensing Liz's confusion, Joey let any question she had drop as her eyes strayed toward the front of the room and she let out a light whistle. "Wow. Who's the babe? He must have gotten lost or something…"

Liz glanced up at the door and did a double-take, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Max standing in the doorway staring at her. He seemed to be trying to decide something. Liz opened her mouth to say something but was stopped when Max made a decision and he entered the classroom. Coming to stand by Joey's side, he never once unglued his eyes from Liz's face.

"Hey, Liz." His voice was as soft as the smile that turned the corner of his lips upward.

"Max? What are you doing here?"

Max shrugged and placed his books on the table. "I'm here for class."

Joey chuckled and mumbled under her breath when she quickly caught on to what was happening. "Complicated's right." She silently applauded Liz on her choice of boyfriends and Max on his guts. No matter what their situation, it had taken some to walk into this class and announce what he just did.

Liz blinked. Had she heard him right? "Here? But…" She glanced around at her classroom full of girls. Half of them were staring at Max with appreciation the other half were beginning to whisper among themselves and giggle. Liz leaned forward and whispered. "…this is a home economics class..."

"I know."

"An *all-girl* home ec class."

Max glanced around him completely unencumbered by embarrassment of any kind. "Apparently so."

"So…" Liz prompted with an upraised eyebrow.

"Oh. I see your point. Granted it wouldn't have been my first choice. And in all honesty, I am a little disappointed in your class schedule. I was really hoping we'd get to take sex ed together. But hey, if this works for you..." Max stated nonchalantly before turning to Joey with a smile. "Hi. Max Evans. What's your name?"

Joey looked back and forth between Max and Liz and wondered exactly what she'd stepped into the middle of. Whatever it was, she got the impression it was pretty intense no matter how casual they were trying to sound. "Um…Joey. Joey Armstrong."

"Nice to meet you, Joey. I was wondering if I could ask a favor." He nodded toward Liz. "See, I'm desperately in love with the girl you're sitting next to and I would really appreciate being able to sit by her in class. Do you think that's possible?"

"Uh…sure." Joey began to grab her books when she felt Liz's hand on her arm. Joey turned to see the most desperate look pass through Liz's eyes.

"No. Don't. He…he can't…" Liz's gaze moved to Max's face. "You can't be here, Max. I mean, what do you think you're doing?"

"I told you…going to class."

"But this isn't your class!" Liz stated firmly as she glared up at him. Or at least she tried to glare. Somehow the look had turned into a plea for him to stay no matter what the words coming out of her mouth were saying.

Reading that look, Joey took the opportunity to slip out of her seat and Max quickly filled it before Liz could protest any more giving a nod of thanks to Joey before turning back to Liz. Looking appropriately confused, Max shrugged his shoulders. "Not my class? That's funny. It says so right here…" He pulled out a list of his class schedule and handed it to Liz then sat back to watch her reaction.

It didn't take long. She gasped audibly. "You've got to be kidding me. How did you do this?" Not giving him the chance to answer, her eyes widened as she read down the list of his classes. All except first period were identical to hers. "Oh, God. Please don't tell me you actually plan on taking gym with the girls…"

Max shrugged with a grin as he turned his attention to the front of the class. "A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do when true love is on the line."

Liz practically groaned. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Doing what? Sitting by you? Talking to you? Reminding you of what we have every turn you take? Or making you look in my eyes…" Max reached out and gently took Liz's chin in his hand turning her face to his. Her eyes remained focused downward and Max's expression softened with understanding. "You're scared, aren't you? To do that. To look in my eyes. You know the second you do, I'll see your heart just like I always have. Then you won't be able to run away from us any more."

"Max, please…"

"Please what? Let you forget us? Give up on you…on us…on what we have?" Max shook his head slightly when her pleading eyes raised to meet his full of determination. "Not a chance in hell."

Liz swallowed hard at the force of his words and the strength of his resolve. The yearning in her eyes turned to confusion when Max continued. "Unless…" Max set his jaw and prepared for the answer to his next question. "I can't believe I'm asking this because I really don't believe it's true. I know you too well…the way you look when you…you don't look at him that way…but right now I'm incredibly…" The words came out in one long rush and ended with the exhale of a deep breath. "…look, I just really need to hear you say it." He swallowed hard. "Do you love him?"

"Him?"

"Kyle." Max looked away uncomfortably and mumbled the remainder of his question. "Did…you, you know…fall in love with him over the summer."

Liz's unexpected chuckle bubbled up from deep inside her and instantly brought his eyes back to her face. "Me? Kyle? In love? Max, that's the most ridiculous…" She saw the serious relief in Max eyes and began to shake her head. "No. No, I don't love him. I never loved anyone but…" She stopped herself short of saying the one word he already knew. "How could you even think…"

"How?" Max's voice took on an edge he hadn't planned in his heated whisper. "I don't know, Liz. You say good-bye to me then you won't return my calls. You avoid me. You run every time I'm in the room. Then you disappear for three months without a word and show back up here with Kyle practically attached to your hip. And now…" All of Max's pent up anger disappeared as he looked back into her eyes so full of the ghosts that were haunting her that she wouldn't share with him. "Now, I find out that you've been having nightmares..."

He reached out and touched the side of her face, leaning close to her and locking his eyes with hers as they began to shine with newly sprung tears. "God, Liz. I can see this is killing you. Can't you see that it's killing me too?"

It was too much. The pain in his eyes. The crack in his voice. The sleepless nights of terror that were wearing her emotions raw. The softness of his touch that threatened to make her forget everything but him. Liz closed her eyes and a few unstoppable tears escaped down her face. "Max…"

"Talk to me, Liz. Please." Max whispered as he took her face in both of his hands and used his thumbs to lovingly brush her tears away. When his forehead touched hers, Max finished his plea in the quietest whisper. "Please don't shut me out like this. Not when we need each other so much."

Liz's chin quivered in Max's hands as she valiantly tried to stop the tears from falling. Her hands unconsciously moved to rest on his wrists and her voice shook with emotion. "Don't you see, Max? I'm the last thing you need…"

The low clearing of someone's throat at the front of class interrupted the rest of Liz and Max's conversation. "Would someone like to tell me what's going on here?"

Max glanced at the teacher then back at Liz as she pushed his hands away and quickly tried to compose herself, brushing the tears quickly from her eyes. Max cleared his throat and turned toward the front of the class oblivious to the whispers behind him. Taking a deep breath, Max shrugged his shoulders. His voice sounded strained as he forced humor into his words. "Here to learn about economizing a home, ma'am."

"Really?" Ms. Wright's eyebrow raised to a clearly unbelieving height. "And your name is…"

"Max Evans."

"Right. And, you are aware Mr. Evans that this is an all-girl's class?"

Max nodded. "Yes, I am. And frankly, I think it's nothing but discrimination, don't you? I mean, guys have a right to know how to do…" Max paused trying to think up a home economicsy activity with no results. So he fudged with a wave of his hand. "…whatever we're going to do in this class, too. Don't they?" He cast an uncertain glance around the classroom with a lopsided grin. "Besides, I don't mind if they don't." His statement was greeted with good-natured clapping and cheers from all of the girls. All the girls, except one.

"I see." Ms. Wright continued as her gaze drifted to Liz, whose eyes were red from crying. It was obvious these two had been in the middle of…something…when she had entered the room. The last thing she needed or wanted was a soap opera playing out every other day for the rest of the term. "What about you?" She glanced down at her class roster. "Liz Parker, right?"

Liz's head snapped up. "W…what?"

"How do you feel about Mr. Evans staying in the class?" Ms. Wright took a step closer and leaned over Liz's desk. "It's up to you, Ms. Parker. He can stay. Or say the word and I'll dismiss Mr. Evans from this class and make sure he doesn't bother you again. It's all up to you." She crossed her arms in front of her impatiently waiting for Liz's response. "So, Ms. Parker…what'll it be?"

Liz's face grew hot as she felt the weight of Max's stare. The whole classroom suddenly became stuffy with oppressive heat and Liz began to wonder where all the air had gone. She simply couldn't breathe. And the silence. It was deafening. It was like everyone in the room was motionless waiting for the proverbial pin to drop.

Max's heated gaze drew Liz's eyes to him. The moment their eyes met, she made her decision. She had no choice. So, Liz blinked back sudden tears rapidly and did the only thing she could do. "I…I…don't…"

Tbc…

Part 5