Rating: PG-13, for language and intensity
Author: Ash
Disclaimer: Written purely for entertainment purposes. I have borrowed their characters, but have no intention of stealing any glory from the most excellent show on television. Simply a tribute.
Dedication: to N/A, whose trilogies are awe-inspiring
Feedback: please...good, bad and the ugly
Summary: After "Sexual Healing"; Mostly M/L and M/M, some M/T and others in background; a "T" storyline, so bail now if you don't want to walk the walk of the damned
Spoilers: well, up to and including the whole "T" storyline, although I really tried to go off in a different direction from the show
Part One
"The past two weeks have been like heaven," Liz breathed in his ear. He turned his head slightly, his cheek brushing hers.
"For me, too."
She slid a small, delicate hand up the side of his arm and snuggled in even closer.
Touching him was still like coming home for her. She couldn't get used to the fact that he wasn't pulling away, wasn't afraid anymore. He was her Max now, and everyone at school knew it. Not that they were making out in the eraser room all the time and cutting classes like before... She smiled at the memory of the explosive beginning to their physical relationship two months before. It was still somewhat of a mystery, the whole visionquest thing. But at least things felt more normal now. And they were being careful this time...which was the only condition anyone would leave them alone together.
Every so often, Maria would still barrage her with questions.
"Any glowing hickeys? Any rashes? Anything past second base?" And Liz would sigh inwardly but answer her well-intentioned questions. It wasn't like Liz understood herself what had happened. She could only guess how it must have looked to everyone else.
Her parents would only leave them alone together one night a week, if they were in by 11:30. Sure, it was a pain, but Liz knew she had to gain their trust again and it was worth it to spend any time with Max.
He gently disentangled his arm from her and reached for the ignition on the Jeep.
"No, not yet," Liz whispered.
Max lowered his hand again and rested it on her thigh gently.
"We barely have time to get back."
Liz put her hand on top of his and laced their fingers together.
She looked up at the stars one last time. This stretch of desert by highway 42 had become one of their favorite spots to be alone, ever since that night when they found the orb. It was romantic, secluded, and was a constant reminder of the intimacy they had almost shared.
A small smile played around her lips. She would never forget the tenderness he had showed in even their most passionate moments.
But when Max leaned over and gently placed his lips against her own, the sensation drove all further thought from Liz's mind. She relaxed against him and reached up to feel the smooth muscles at his neck. Their kiss deepened, but finally Max pulled away.
"Time to go," he whispered.
Liz glared him half-heartedly. "Do you always have to be so responsible?"
"Yes, when it means the difference between your parents tolerating our relationship or calling out the dogs on me every time I come near you. I'm not going to mess this up, Liz. It's too important."
She nodded guiltily at the fervancy in his eyes.
He smiled at her and touched her cheek.
"I'm doing it for you, for us. For our future."
He reached for the keys and started up the Jeep.
Liz glanced back at the desert, longing for a last glance of their private sanctuary, as if to reassure herself it would always be there. She found herself frowning as a dark, ominous cloud drifted over the moon. She could no longer even see the transmission tower.
How did it get so dark so fast? Must be a storm coming.
Liz shivered and glanced back over at Max, but the darkness covered his face as well.
She reached out and slipped her hand through the crook of his arm as he shifted gears. But not even touching him could dispel the uneasy feeling she had.
It stayed with her the rest of the night.
******
It wasn't until the Monday morning that Liz could put a name to her feeling...
Tess Hart.
A petite blond who normally wouldn't have even registered on Liz's panic scale. In fact, Liz had been staring at her all morning, trying to figure out why her instincts told her to hate this girl.
Sure, there was already a faction of girls at West Roswell High who hated "the New Girl," but that was out of sheer jealousy. She was blond, cute and curvy...and new.
The guys were falling all over themselves to get a glimpse of her, prompting the formation of the very bitter "Old Girls Club." Membership into this society consisted of two things: hating Tess Hart and conniving to keep her away from West Roswell guys.
Liz glanced to the door of the classroom as the teacher walked over to close it. At least five or six guys were making fools of themselves as they fought for Tess' attention. She was holding court at the doorway like a reluctant queen bee.
As Mr. Solomon stood behind her clearing his throat, Tess smiled a very sweet smile and disengaged herself from the boys.
She looked over the class in front of her and gave Max a smile before heading his way.
The look on his face was unmistakeable.
He looked...interested as he watched Tess move by his desk. In fact, he turned in his desk and watched her with his mouth hanging open.
Liz stared at him in unbelief, then turned away to see Maria also watching Max.
She gave Liz a questioning look as she whispered, "Ready to join the 'Old Girls' Club' now?"
With wide eyes, Liz turned to watch Tess take a seat, suddenly recalling the darkness that had rolled across the desert Friday night.
Tess glanced around the room, her eyes finally meeting Liz's casually. Liz quickly turned back around in her chair.
There was something... almost like a... warning... that had brushed against her mind.
And Liz knew.
She just knew...that nothing would ever be the same between she and Max again .
******
Lunchtime was tense. Liz couldn't get Max to say five words as he wolfed down his sandwich. Even Isabel was staring at him.
"So, has anyone else got any suggestions," Michael looked from one face to other. "I mean, this thing has to do something."
"It makes a great paperweight, right, Max?"
Max completely missed Isabel's sarcasm.
"Yeah, sure," he mumbled through a mouthful of sandwich.
The group just stared at him and moved on with the conversation.
"So, you don't get any kind of impressions at all from this orb thingee," Maria looked at Michael with raised eyebrows.
"No, and I've tried everything I know to do," Michael shook his head in frustration.
"Well, isn't this always how it is at first," Alex broke in casually.
"What are you talking about," Isabel frowned at him.
"Well, this search seems to be moving forward on someone else's timetable. Just like always, you won't know what this is until whoever it is that sent it lets you know what it is," Alex threw a few cheese balls in his mouth and crunched loudly.
Michael frowned at him.
"That's the last thing we need to be doing is just sitting around and waiting for something else to happen. There's got to be an answer somewhere."
Maria watched Michael drum his fingers on the table.
"Well, unidentified glowing objects are not exactly in my range of expertise, so I'll just have to pass," she waved her hands vaguely. "My first thought was that it was just a signal beacon, that the shaft of light was communicating with someone else," Liz ventured.
"Which means, again, that we just sit and wait to see how 'they' respond, right, Michael," Isabel asked pointedly.
Maria stood up quickly and grabbed her leftover lunch.
"Okay, guys, enough shop talk. This stuff gives me the creeps. Just let me know when the Czechoslovakians have landed, okay," she spat out as quietly as possible and headed for the trash can.
Liz blinked in surprise and grabbed her uneaten lunch.
"Maria," Liz called after her, running to catch up. "What's wrong?" It didn't take much encouragement for Maria to vent quietly as they walked across the quad.
"This orb thing is too much. I mean, how do we know they didn't just make contact with their people? They probably did. And they're probably killers. Like Nasedo. What if they don't like the fact that we know their secret?"
"I don't know, Maria," Liz began.
But Maria stopped suddenly and turned to face Liz.
"What if they come to get them now? What if we just wake up one day and they're... gone?"
Liz just stared back for a moment.
Liz put her arms around her friend and pulled her close as Maria's chin started quivering.
But Liz couldn't think of a thing to say. Her worst fear was coming true much closer to home.
Part Two
Max couldn't decide which was harder to deal with, the look of hurt and confusion on Liz's face, or the guilt he felt whenever he saw her. Not that it really mattered. All in all, it made for a pretty lousy day. He had tried everything he could think of to fight his... attraction... connection... whatever, to Tess. He thought of Liz, of his love for her and that feeling inside whenever she touched him. When that didn't work, he had moved on to mud, dog food, dead puppies, toilets, garbage, athlete's foot, mold, mildew, and finally, Valenti.
But the minute he saw Tess, he was back in "spazzland".
What was it about her?
He cautiously studied her as she sat diagonally ahead of him in U.S. Government class. Liz wasn't in this class, so he didn't have to worry about being "caught," but it still didn't feel right checking out an attractive girl.
And Tess was attractive, no doubt. She was medium height, with blonde hair and light blue eyes. But she was about as opposite from Liz, his ideal woman, as you could get. Sure, she filled out her clothes in places Liz...
Well, not that it mattered to him. Right? Surely that wasn't the reason. But, be honest, what else could it be? He had never even talked to her, so it couldn't be her sparkling personality that attracted him. Attracted him.
Okay, he lectured himself. You're attracted to her. Big deal. You can be in love and still be attracted to someone else, right?
Right.
But when Tess looked back at him suddenly, the blue eyes drew him in... in a way he'd never experienced before. Her face was like an echo in his memory, almost like a deja vu.
As her eyes widened, he realized that she felt it, too, the connection between them.
He finally pulled his eyes away and took a deep breath. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before with a girl.
Of course, the only thing he had to compare it to was Liz.
Who was beautiful. Wonderful. Brave. Worth dying for.
He shook his head. If that was true, then what the hell was happening to him?
******
In the bathroom after her one class without Tess, Liz splashed cold water on her face.
This couldn't be happening.
It was like a nightmare.
Tess was in five of Liz's classes. She was everywhere, especially whenever Liz tried to talk to Max.
And Max wasn't acting like himself at all. Anytime Tess was near, he stumbled over words, blushed and eventually excused himself quickly to leave.
Liz studied him like she would a specimen under a microscope. She noted the symptoms and tried to unemotionally diagnose the problem. But the answer hurt every time.
He was more than just attracted.
It was impossible, her mind screamed at her, but somehow, Max Evans was falling in love with someone else.
******
Maria opened her locker with a sigh. She hadn't seen Michael since her blow-up at lunch. To tell the truth, she didn't want to.
She told herself over and over again to just accept the fact that his life was complicated. That there were things she would have trouble dealing with occasionally.
But, losing him...after she had opened herself up to him so much... That, she knew she'd never be able to deal with.
As she pulled out her science book, a small tray came with it. It was wooden, with small round grooves cut out in rows. The note taped to it read, "How's this for being 'a guy?' -Michael"
Maria smiled.
A tray for her aromatherapy oils.
She wondered briefly if this were handmade, then decided it didn't matter.
Genie powers aside, it still meant the same thing.
He cared.
Part Three
Max fought the impulse to turn and run as he lead the way through the rows of books.
How had this happened? Had he sat straighter when the teacher asked for a volunteer? He had tried to keep his eyes down and his body perfectly still. He didn't remember doing anything to draw attention to himself, but somehow, Mr. Green had picked him to show Tess around the library, anyway.
Not that he minded, really. Tess was a sweet girl. But just being around her drove him crazy. He couldn't think straight.
He suddenly realized that he hadn't said anything in quite a while. "Um...this is the...card catalog. We have it on computer," Max rested his hand on the terminal casually.
Tess smiled at him, "I see that."
Max's heart was beating doubletime when she finally looked away and blushed.
Had he just been staring at her? Oh god...he had.
Yep, Max Evans... total jerk.
"Sorry. Um... over here is the nonfiction section, which is, uh, my favorite."
Tess followed a step behind him.
"Really? I'm more into fiction myself. Science fiction, actually."
Max turned to look at her. "Really?"
Tess scratched uncomfortably at her neck and looked down.
"I'm not exactly sure why I said that."
Max just smiled at her, suddenly wanting to put her at ease.
"There's some tables back in the back where you can read or study. Do you... want to sit down for few minutes and talk," he held his breath for some reason.
She smiled back, a brilliant smile that curved her eyes into cute little half moons.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
Max didn't know why, but his heart beat a little faster as she passed by him.
He froze as the movement brought back memories of Liz and that night at the Crashdown when he grabbed her and kissed her...
If anyone could have told him then that he'd feel this way about another girl, he would've denied it to the death.
How could he be falling in love with someone else?
******
"Falling in love with someone else," Maria sputtered. "How can you even think that?"
Liz shook her head.
"I don't *want* to think it, Maria."
As they headed out to Maria's car after school, Liz happened to glance toward the library. Through the window, she saw Max and Tess sitting close at one of the tables.
Liz stopped up short. Her stomach knotted up like a fist. What was happening?
She turned to Maria and pointed at the window.
"Tell me how to not think it."
Maria came to stand beside her.
As Max gazed intently at Tess, Maria looked at them, then back at Liz.
"I'm sure there's an explanation for this. You see, he would never cheat on you, because he KNOWS I'll kick his a-" Maria started for the library door, but Liz grabbed her arm and held her back.
"No, Maria. Let me handle it my own way, okay?"
Liz stared at Maria with that stubborn look on her face until Maria relented.
"Okay, we'll do it your way. And then, if that doesn't work, I'll try it my way. Alien-head-in-a-basket."
******
Her way.
Liz wasn't one to back down from a confrontation. So she waited by the Jeep until Max appeared. He was walking slowly, his mind obviously turning something over.
Liz had only a moment to be glad that Isabel and Michael hadn't shown up yet before Max looked up with a startled look. He looked down and swallowed before speaking.
"Hi, Liz."
He climbed into the Jeep, obviously glad to avoid conversation as long as possible.
Liz waited, and stood facing him with as much cold logic as she could muster. She was determined to give him the benefit of the doubt. But Max had yet to meet her eyes, and the silence was stretching a bit. "Max, look at me."
Max slowly slid his eyes toward hers, still not fully facing her.
Liz hesitated at the cornered look she saw there.
"What's going on, Max?"
"Nothing," he swallowed nervously and glanced away again.
Anger flooded through her. Nothing?
"I don't believe you. I see the way you look at her, how you act around her," Liz bit her bottom lip to stay in control.
She couldn't bring herself to say the name, but Max didn't need her to tell him who she was talking about.
He seemed to fight with himself momentarily before speaking.
"Liz, I don't know what's going on," he began urgently. "And I don't want to hurt you. That's the last thing I want to do."
She narrowed her eyes and he hesitated.
"But..." she pushed him on.
He looked away, giving her a moment to fight for composure.
When he looked back at her, his face was set.
Liz knew that look and she suddenly, desperately wished to be somewhere else, anywhere else but here and now, having this conversation.
But he was already beginning...
"If you want me to be honest with you, there's something there between Tess and I. I don't know what it is..."
Liz forced a painful smile. "But you want to find out."
Max leaned in slightly. "I need to, Liz. And it's not fair to you to keep... pretending."
Liz swallowed past the tightness rising in her throat. "You mean pretending that you care about me?"
He looked panicked. "No! I meant... I can't pretend I don't feel a...a connection to her, of some kind."
She waited for him to explain, but he stopped himself from continuing. She nodded.
He was saying that he wanted to spend time with Tess, find out where the relationship might lead.
It hurt, and she couldn't stop the sarcasm from creeping in.
"And it's just a happy coincidence that she's built like a Victoria's Secret model," she bit out.
"Liz," Max looked at her tensely. "You know me better than that."
"Yeah... yeah, I thought I did. But I have to admit, I have this creeping doubt, I mean, are you going to use this excuse every time you feel an attraction to some girl?" Tears were threatening, but she blinked them back.
Max stared at her, then shook his head, obviously holding back anger. "How many times do I have to apologize for not being normal? I don't know what this is, Liz, but I can't fight it. It's who I am." He looked straight ahead and hunched his shoulders. "Maybe you just can't understand."
With that, Liz could see him closing down, pulling away. And she couldn't bring herself to stop him.
"Maybe I can't. Maybe I shouldn't have to." Her eyes moved across his impassive face one last time. How could he do this to her?
She turned and walked away, ignoring him when he finally stirred and called after her. She was ice; she was stone. He hadn't broken her heart again. She wouldn't let him.
She was sure now.
Her way sucked.
*****
Part Four
And so it began. The interminable days of watching Max "explore" this new connection with Tess. He had effectively cut himself off from Liz, not talking more than necessary. But his eyes...
Liz fought with herself as she sat in Sociology, but she still watched him. She watched him watching HER. Those eyes, locked on Tess as she smiled shyly back at him.
As always, Liz felt as though she had been kicked in the stomach. Why did she have to watch them? Why couldn't she just move on?
Then Tess noticed Liz watching her and her smile faltered.
Max turned to see what Tess was looking at and his eyes locked on Liz. She didn't turn away. She knew exactly what would happen.
She watched with a detatched air as a shock of recognition crossed his face, followed by a quick flash of guilt, then a cutting off of emotions completely.
Liz could read him too well.
He still loved her, but he just couldn't help himself around Tess.
And Liz had to admit, in spite of all appearances, it was killing her... very slowly.
******
Liz sat down wearily in her lawn chair. Usually, the nightly ritual of lighting the candles relaxed her, but tonight, the air was too full of memories. Today had been an especially hard day, following a very hard two weeks since Tess had come.
At lunchtime, Max and Tess had sat together for the first time. Then, Isabel and Michael had wandered over to join them. Tess seemed fine to them.
But then why wouldn't they want Max to explore this connection with Tess?
And Liz couldn't help but think that if Max's connection to Tess was anything like his connection to Liz... they would probably... probably...
Liz was finally too exhausted to be detached anymore.
The unshed tears made her stomach cramp, but she still only allowed a bitter few.
Maybe the physical connection she and Max had experienced really had been all about finding the orb. And now, he needed to connect with another girl to find out something different about his past.
And Tess, Liz wiped her cheeks and sniffed, Tess is as good a choice as any.
Maria was certain that Tess was an undercover FBI agent or something else sinister.
Liz laughed bitterly.
She reached for her journal. She wouldn't allow herself to bask in that fantasy. Tess seemed like a perfectly normal girl to her.
Yeah, a perfectly normal girl that made her head feel like it was going to explode...
Liz tried to clear her mind, looking forward to writing down the thoughts swirling in her mind. Maybe she'd be able to get a better hold on her emotions this way.
But when she opened her journal, she froze.
Her heart thudded in her chest. She couldn't breathe.
Someone had found her journal...
In blazing red ink, the words, "Stay away," were scrawled on the page. A chill ran through her.
The words... the words seemed to leave the page... floating up towards her, becoming a hazy cloud of red in front of her eyes.
Liz slammed the journal shut and tried to calm her breathing as the words faded.
Who, Liz thought in a panic, who came up here? Who knows where I hide my journal?
She looked around the rooftop, suddenly feeling very vulnerable and alone in the darkness.
She forced herself to move calmly as she stood and walked to her window. Panicky moves would make her feel worse.
As she bent down to enter the window, something reflecting in the pane of glass caught her attention. A shimmering figure, white with a circle of light surrounding it.
Her breath caught in her throat as she forced herself to turn around and look at it.
But it was gone.
She jerked her head back to look at the figure in the windowpane again, but there was no one... nothing... there.
A desperate smile crossed her face as she tried to laugh off the vision. This thing with Max was really getting to her.
For a moment there, she could have sworn it was Tess.
******
Her logical mind back in focus the next morning, Liz went through her list of suspects as to who was her journal grafitti artist.
Her list was actually quite short- one name.
So, before school, Liz stood knocking on an apartment door.
After a few minutes, Michael opened his door with a sour look on his face.
"Liz," he blinked a few times. "What do you want?"
"I have to talk to you," she said.
Liz felt like a bug under a microscope as he looked at her probingly. Finally he lifted his arm and, after a slight hesitation, she ducked under it and into his apartment.
He closed the door behind her and leaned back on it with his arms crossed.
Liz smiled slightly. That was Michael. No use pretending that they were comfortable around each other. They weren't.
"Michael, you haven't been up on my balcony again, have you," she hesitantly began.
Michael furrowed his brow. "No. What's this about?" He pushed off the wall and came towards her.
Liz looked up at him. "And you haven't- haven't read my journal again, have you?"
"Of course not, Liz," he smirked. "Max tells me way more than I want to know about you."
Liz just stared at him.
Michael looked away for a second.
"I mean, he used to."
Liz smiled ruefully.
Michael looked even more uncomfortable as he paced to the kitchen. "Sorry about how things turned out."
Why did it hurt even more to know that everyone else felt sorry for her? "Yeah, thanks."
She began to walk out, but he grabbed her arm.
"Liz, what's going on," he looked at her suspiciously.
Liz pulled her arm out of his grasp. "It's nothing."
Michael looked at her through narrowed eyes.
"It's nothing," she reiterated firmly.
Nothing she could explain, anyway.
But she could see that he didn't believe her.
Part 5
School was interminable, but atleast Liz finally had something to keep her mind off of Max and Tess.
A crooked smile passed over her face.
Someone had broken in their apartment, and disturbed nothing except her journal, which should have been hidden so well that no one could find it.
Liz slumped in her seat.
Whoever it was had to have been watching her put it away. That was the only answer, and one that she wasn't ready to handle.
She shivered.
Suddenly, she realized someone was saying her name; *he* was saying her name.
Oh yeah... Biology... the class from hell.
She glanced over at Max.
There was concern in his eyes, and she glanced away.
"It's nothing, Max," she whispered as she kept her eyes straight ahead. He had no right to be concerned.
She heard him sigh.
She was glad the distance between them was bothering him, too.
It just felt good to know it, even though it didn't really help one single bit.
****** Max sat in Biology class trying not to watch Liz hurting or Tess sitting there looking... attractive as always.
He let out a sigh.
He was sure guilt was going to wear a groove in his brain. It was an automatic reaction.
See Tess.
Feel Attraction.
Feel Guilt.
He was beginning to wish he could poke his eyes out. Or get a lobotomy. Anything to get his mind off the fact that he was a total jerk for treating Liz like this.
But, as always, the complications because of his "other-worldliness" meant that he had to make sure of why he was attracted to Tess. She could be one of them. It was a long shot, but a remote possibility. It was the only positive explanation he could come up with.
From there, it all went downhill. Any other explanation meant that there was some danger to beware of and it was better to keep Liz out of the mix altogether.
So, with that thought firmly in mind, he decided to ask Tess over to study for the Biology test.
And maybe he could get some answers about her biology.
As in whether or not she's human, he quickly added with a rueful expression.
Maybe they'd better study downstairs in the family room, though...
******
After school at the Crashdown, Liz was going to tell Maria about the journal, but Maria had other things on her mind. She was singing lustily as she took off her uniform.
"What a girl wants, what a girl needs..."
"Maria, what has you in such a good mood," Liz peered at her curiously. "Does it have something to do with why Michael caught a ride home with you today?"
"He said that he wants me to come over and watch a movie tonight," Maria didn't allow herself a full smile. "I warned him that dating was an extremely 'human' thing to do and it clashed horribly with his 'no entanglements' policy, but he just smiled. Can you believe it?"
Liz smiled, "Definitely something to be excited about, Miss Teflon." Maria grunted at her. "Fine. Give it to me. I can take it."
Liz raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really? Well, then, let's just visit the subject of the alien abyss which you so readily climbed out of just recently, vowing to never return."
"Don't even go there, Lizzie," Maria frowned at her sternly. She pulled out a vial of cedar and sniffed it.
"Am I going to have to do an intervention with you," Liz tilted her head and looked innocent.
Maria tried to look mad, but she finally smiled. "I have done a 180 again, haven't I?"
"Yeah, it's funny how things keep... changing," Liz lost her smile momentarily.
Maria walked over and threw her arm around Liz's shoulder.
"Not you and me, babe. Not ever. We'll survive no matter what they throw at us," she kissed Liz on the cheek. "I've got to go home and shower." She grinned maniacally before breezing out the door.
"Have fun," Liz intoned automatically, but her thoughts were already elsewhere. On the long, lonely night ahead of her.
******
Alex called her at about 6:00 that night, doing his usual cheer-up-the-girls thing. Except tonight, it was only Liz who needed cheering.
"Heard you were free tonight. How about taking in a movie," he asked without preamble. "I've heard that 'The Thomas Crown Affair' has some pretty steamy scenes which have been purported to actually cause people to forget their own disastrous love life, or lack thereof."
Liz smiled. "I don't think so, Alex. I was just planning on-"
"Sitting around your room listening to Alanis Morrisette and torturing yourself with thoughts of a certain unworthy alien?"
"Yeah," Liz shook her head with a smile. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Perish the thought! Why do that, when you could serve your fellow man by pretending to be a hot date and rescuing me from the depths of total rejection," Alex's logic was flawless.
"Well-"
"I'll pick you up at 8:00, okay," Alex's voice was so hopeful that Liz couldn't say no. Besides, it sounded much better than sitting around wondering when someone might break into their apartment again. She was almost afraid to look at her journal tonight.
"Okay, 8:00," she agreed.
Part 6
At 7:50 Liz found herself ready and waiting for Alex.
She wandered outside and sat in the doorway of the deserted Crashdown Cafe.
It was a peaceful and pleasant evening, all things considered. A gentle breeze wafted across her face.
She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment, feeling safe in the darkness that shrouded her.
Voices drifted across the street and she reluctantly opened her eyes.
She was stunned to see Max and Tess coming out of the UFO Center.
Max had his uniform on, and Liz could've kicked herself for not remembering that 8:00 was when the UFO Center closed for the night.
Tess must have been visiting him.
The blonde looked perfect in her slim-fitting navy dress as she walked close beside Max, and slid her hand inside of his own.
Liz sucked in a breath and forced herself to look down, away from them. Her stomach twisted up in a knot.
When she finally looked back up, she wished she hadn't.
Max had stopped walking and was looking deeply into Tess' eyes. She stepped closer, and before Liz could even blink, their lips met.
Immediately, Liz felt her stomach rise up and she staggered to her feet. Somehow she made it to the alley beside the cafe before she fell to her knees and retched horribly, hating the feeling of weakness and nausea that was sweeping over her.
After several dry heaves, she remembered that she hadn't eaten anything since early morning.
When exactly had her life started to fall apart?
Suddenly, she felt arms around her and heard Alex's voice.
"It's okay, Lizzie, it's okay," he knelt behind her and rubbed her back softly. "I saw it, too."
Liz allowed herself to lean over into his arms, realizing for the first time that she was crying.
Alex pulled her close and laid his chin on her head, murmuring softly. "He's a grade A, first class asshole. He's not worth it."
But she couldn't stop crying, not for a long time.
******
Max shifted in his chair again, stealing a glance over at Tess. She had her head bowed over her US Government book, her long hair blocking his view. As her pencil scratched across the page, Max wondered at her ability to concentrate.
He couldn't stop thinking about that kiss.
Tess stopped writing.
"Max," she called softly, her eyes still looking down at her book. "What is it?"
He had been staring again.
"I'm... sorry," he took a deep breath and decided to continue. "I wanted to apologize for... kissing you like that. I don't normally... uh..."
"It was nice," Tess finally smiled and turned her head enough to look at him. "Just forget about it."
Max nodded.
But he couldn't forget about it.
They worked for a few minutes more in silence before he finally got the courage to speak again.
"Tess, when we kissed, did you... uh.." he faded off.
"See things," she asked without turning her head to him.
His heart leapt and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "You did?"
She looked deeply into his eyes a moment, then nodded.
"Did you," she asked quietly
. "Yeah," he smiled.
She smiled in return.
"So, you know, then...about me."
Max leaned back in his chair, at ease for the first time in days. "Yeah. And you know about me, too." When she nodded, he almost laughed at the amazed look on her face.
"I've waited for this for a long time," she said.
At Max's curious look, she continued quickly.
"I mean, I've never met another... one."
Max frowned.
"Really?"
Isabel chose just that moment to enter the room and pass by on her way to the kitchen.
Max gestured loosely at his sister, "She's one, too."
Isabel stopped dead in her tracks and turned on Max with cold fury in her eyes.
"Max, what are you talking about?"
He jumped up, already pleading his case with his outstretched hands. "Iz, she's one, too."
"Max," Tess growled from where she sat.
Max looked in bewilderment at the two angry females on either side of him.
"What?"
Isabel was obviously unsure of what to say, but Tess didn't hesitate. "I realize that you are used to people knowing your secret. I saw from you that Liz knows," she admitted grudgingly. "But you're the first person I've ever admitted it to, and I don't want others knowing. Especially Liz. Can't you understand that?"
Max nodded humbly. "I'm sorry, Tess. I just... I do understand. Trust me, I do. We may need to tell Michael, but we won't tell anyone else." Tess looked at Isabel with a frown, but suddenly turned on her brilliant smile.
"Great."
******
Liz shook her head. Alex was trying to help, but pizza was the last thing she wanted right now. Of course, it was the least offensive food item on the list of choices he had given her once he found out that she hadn't eaten all day. But the thought of all that grease...
"Here ya' go," Alex grinned as he shoved a loaded plate of pizza at Liz. Her stomach threatened to revolt immediately.
"Liz," Alex sounded concerned as he watched her pale face. "You need to eat."
Liz looked at him and nodded faintly. She reached for the pepperoni slice with as much energy as she could force and shoved it into her mouth before she could think about it any longer.
As she tore off a piece and chewed it, Alex smiled and began to relax. "You'll feel better once you've eaten. You always get sick when you don't eat, you know," said the resident Liz expert.
It was irritating, but he was right. Of course, it would help if the pizza didn't taste like sand. She could barely choke it down.
"Now, besides your ex-soul mate getting physical with a blond bimbette, what else is stirring your kettle," Alex asked with his no-nonsense, best-friend stare.
Liz sighed. He knew her too well sometimes. How could she explain what she had seen in her journal? The words had...floated up off the page at her. She'd sound like lunatic.
"And no matter what it is, I won't think you're a lunatic," Alex said lightly.
Liz glanced at him sharply. "Promise?"
Alex frowned, "Of course. Could this be any worse than the whole "Max-is-a... Czechoslavakian" talk we had in jail? And that didn't make me think you were a lunatic."
"No, you just accused me of being a druggie."
Alex barked out a laugh.
"Oh, that's right," he said sheepishly. "So, I learned my lesson. Liz Parker will always tell me the truth, because that's what she promised me. Even if it sounds wacky. Right?"
How had he managed to turn this around on her? Just like he did to Valenti that day in jail...
"You know, you really ought to think about being a lawyer, Alex." He nodded knowingly.
"Don't change the subject, Liz."
Atleast she wouldn't have to eat any more. She knew Alex as well as he knew her. They would be back at her balcony in five minutes. He would want to see it for himself.
Part 7
Maria smiled mischieviously as Michael leaned in close for another kiss. She opened her mouth and, just as he opened his in return, she took a breath and blew into his mouth.
Michael coughed and pulled back from her in surprise.
"What the hell was that," he sputtered.
Maria giggled and collapsed on the couch. She looked up at his indignant face.
"That was a suck-and-blow kiss. Great for breaking the mood, huh?"
Michael growled under his breath, "Hardly. Now I've got you right where I want you."
Maria raised her eyebrows as he moved to sit beside her.
"Oh, you mean, on the couch? The same couch that you let Max and Liz borrow to explore their various connections on?"
Michael frowned at her.
"Yeah, so what?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm just waiting for you to admit that when I saw you sitting on the hood of a car that night, it wasn't actually hockey that you were thinking about."
She smiled at him as his eyes narrowed and a smirk played around his lips.
"I admit it freely."
Maria jumped up, "A-ha! So you were thinking about what, football, basketball, art..." she trailed off teasingly.
Michael stood up, towering over her.
"None of the above."
He leaned down and watched her close her eyes in anticipation of a kiss. He placed his lips firmly on hers... and sucked the breath right out of her.
Her eyes flew open and she gasped for breath.
Michael smirked as he fell on the couch beside her.
"Vacuum cleaner kiss."
Maria took one look at his grin and decided to wipe it off his face. She jumped at him, knocking him back on the couch.
After struggling to sit up, Michael felt her lips on his and returned the kiss with fire and wanting.
He was careful to leave his hands on her waist, but it wasn't because he wanted to.
Maria took a breath and re-positioned herself in his lap.
Michael allowed himself to enjoy it for about thirty seconds, but the kissing became too intense and he firmly lifted her up off of his lap and set her on the couch beside him.
Maria sighed in frustration and watched him stand up and pace.
"Hanging out with Max much?"
Michael cast her a grumpy look.
"Want a soda?"
"Sure," she said listlessly. "You know, I thought you having your own apartment would be more fun than this. I think Max and Liz got more use out of that couch than we have. Not that they will anymore."
Michael tossed a cherry coke at her.
Maria tried to catch it, but it dropped to the floor.
"Nice throw," she said sarcastically.
"Nice catch," Michael shot back as he sat on a stool across from her.
"Can't you say something to Max? He's killing Liz with this whole Tess thing."
"It's none of my business," Michael shrugged. "Max is a big boy; he can take care of himself."
"Well, he certainly knows how to do that. It's taking care of others he desperately needs to work on. Liz has been nothing but wonderful to him and he just keeps dumping load after load on her."
"Well if it hadn't been for Max, she wouldn't even be here, so give him a break, okay?"
Maria snapped, "Fine. God, I hate sexual tension. It's so frustrating!"
Michael just glowered at her.
******
Alex raised his eyebrows at Liz, but kept his mouth shut.
"It was here, Alex, I swear!"
Liz was flipping through her journal with something akin to panic. Where was it?
She finally stopped and closed the journal with a thud. She couldn't even meet his eyes.
The warning was gone.
Maybe she was a lunatic, forced out of hiding by extreme emotional turmoil.
She allowed Alex to help her up from the chair. The weakness overcoming her was too strong to fight.
******
Max, Tess and Isabel headed straight over to Michael's apartment. They had a lot to catch up on.
Of course, they hadn't expected Maria to be there.
But Maria took one look at Tess and excused herself breezily.
"I had better get home. 'Night, Michael. Don't forget to take out the trash," she said, eyeing Tess with venom.
Tess just smiled sweetly in return, then shot her a look behind Max's back.
After Maria was gone, they all took a seat and broke the news to Michael.
The story came out slowly. Tess had broken out of her pod, she guessed, when she was younger than they. She had been taken to her first foster family in Tucson, AZ when she was three.
"Well, that raises more questions than it answers," Isabel ventured. "I don't suppose you remember where you were hatched or anything."
Tess stared at her. "Hatched? I was hatched?"
Max and Michael exchanged glances.
"Sort of, at least we were," Max admitted. "How did you end up here, in Roswell?"
Tess hesitated, "Well, it's sort of weird, actually. Most of my life was pretty normal until two months ago. I mean, as normal as it can get when you're one of us. I started having these visions of this shaft of light and these symbols. They seemed so familiar, even though I hadn't ever seen them before."
She paused as she saw the three exchange glances. She reached up for the gold heart around her neck and fiddled with it as she continued.
"Eventually, it came to me what they meant. They meant 'home.' And then one day I was looking at a map and, I don't know, the symbols fit with the physical characters on the map, and they pointed to Roswell. I didn't think I would be able to get here, but there was a fire and... my foster family lost everything," Tess suddenly looked very pale. "They... uh, couldn't... afford to keep me anymore, so I got shifted back to the orphanage. And, then... I ended up here."
Tess dropped her hands down in her lap and waited for their reaction. "Who do you live with," Isabel asked thoughtfully.
"Well, they're... not very representative of who I am, you know? I mean, they're nice and all, but... I don't want to have people over or anything, ya' know," Tess said in a rush.
Michael nodded.
"Yeah, I know."
They all sat silently, lost in thought. Tess jumped up.
"Can I borrow your bathroom," she asked nervously.
"Sure," Michael gestured vaguely at the back room.
Isabel stood and walked in front of Tess.
"Let me just check it for you. Michael isn't exactly known for his cleanliness," she said as she sent him a passing glare.
Max sighed and looked at Michael.
"Well, now we know one thing," Max said uncomfortably. "The orb's light *was* a beacon. For Tess."
Michael had a frown on his face.
"Something doesn't feel right. Why is she so nervous?"
Max looked at him with surprise.
"Well, it could have something to do with the way you've been glaring at her ever since we got here."
Michael shoved himself off the couch and began to pace.
"I can't help it. There's just something off about her."
"I would have to agree," Isabel added as she crossed back into the room. "And it doesn't make sense, why would you and Liz making out have led you to the orb, if it was just a signal for Tess?"
Max shook his head.
"I don't know. But I saw everything she described tonight when we... uh, connected," he finished uncomfortably. "She's not lying about the symbols, or the fire."
*Thanks for the vote of confidence, Max,* he heard a voice whisper inside his head.
Startled, he glanced over in the direction of the bathroom.
Tess was standing there, an amused smile on her face.
*Don't worry, they'll come around.*
******
Liz lay in bed, her blank eyes on the ceiling above her. She was listening to Alex talk with Maria, who had come by to check on her. They obviously thought she couldn't hear them in the hallway.
"Did you see her eyes? I haven't seen her this unhinged since Valenti had us in jail," Alex whispered.
"With good reason," Maria hissed back. "She was already upset about Tess and everything. God, I could kill Max for doing this to her."
"Yeah, well, stand in line. Right behind me and the FBI."
They were silent for a moment, and Liz tried to fill the space with harmless thoughts.
I wonder what Max and Tess are doing now?
Liz rolled her eyes.
Nice, harmless thought there.
Good grief, by the time school was out in May, she was going to be a vegetable if she couldn't... get... couldn't get them...
A chill crept up her spine.
What was happening?
She suddenly couldn't see her room anymore-
She saw white-
FLASH
Max and Tess holding hands at the UFO Center
FLASH
Max laughing and smiling at Tess
FLASH
Their lips meeting in a kiss
FLASH
His hands sliding inside her shirt
"NO!"
Liz sat bolt upright in bed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. A vision. A flash... whatever-
The door to her bedroom flew open and Alex ran to her bed, Maria close behind.
"Liz, what is it," Alex took in her glazed eyes and panicked. "What happened?"
Liz looked from his face to Maria's. "A vision... of Max and Tess."
Part 8
Maria was pissed.
"So let me get this straight. You and Max make out, and you get visions. And... Tess and Max make out, and you still get visions? My god, whatever planet they come from must be one screwed up place." Alex finally stopped pacing and faced Liz.
"Okay, I'm going to give you a choice here *only* because we've been friends forever. Either you talk to Max, or I talk to Max. And if you want Max to survive, I suggest that you be the one to do it, because I am not going to sit by and let him mess with your head anymore. Let him find some other bimbette to send his little home movies to."
Liz stared at Alex, her eyes still unfocused.
He hesitated. "Not that you're... a bimbette."
Liz smiled wanly at them both.
"Okay, you guys, I am too exhausted to deal with this right now. Alex, I'll talk to Max tomorrow. Why don't you guys go home and we'll sleep on it, okay?"
Maria grumbled under her breath, but stood up to leave.
"If I hadn't promised Mom I'd be home by an hour ago, I'd stay here tonight. But I'm already in deep."
"Yeah, I wouldn't let you stay, anyway. I need some time alone, to think."
Alex just walked over to the bed, leaned over and kissed Liz on the forehead.
"If you have any more visions tonight, you call me and I'll go stop them, right?"
Liz blanched as she caught his reference to Max and Tess, but nodded dutifully. "Right. Thanks."
Alex veered Maria towards the door. "I'll give you a ride."
Maria looked back at Liz and sighed. "Bye Liz."
After they exited, Liz turned on her side and pulled the covers up higher.
She hadn't told them the last part of the vision, the part that wouldn't leave, even when she closed her burning eyes.
In blazing red, the words "Stay away" were still floating in front of her.
She had never felt more alone in her life.
******
The next morning, Liz awoke with a start and immediately looked at the clock. 11:00 AM!
She groaned as she remembered the long, terrible night she had.
That nightmare had kept her awake for an hour.
What was it about?
Something about darkness... something threatening...
She was really losing it. How long had it been since she was afraid of the dark?
She stumbled over to the mirror, frowning at the circles under her eyes.
How could she have slept so long and still feel so bad? Her head was fuzzy... what time had she finally fallen asleep?
She walked to the bathroom and found a note on her way.
"Lizzie,
Didn't want to wake you. Don't be mad; Alex said you weren't feeling well last night. Come get me when you need a ride to school, if you feel well enough to go.
love, Mom"
Liz crumpled up the note and tossed it in the trash with anger.
She had already missed three classes and couldn't afford to miss anymore.
She walked into the bathroom, turned on the light and shut the door reluctantly.
Sometimes Liz felt a little shut up in the room without any windows, but it was better than having her father walk in on her while she was undressed again.
That had been so embarassing! He had promised to give her more privacy, but Liz wanted to make sure it didn't happen again.
She slipped off her short pajamas and turned the hot water on. As it warmed up, she lifted her arms above her head and stretched. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling.
But when she opened them, she gasped.
She couldn't see anything. The room was completely black.
The nightmare suddenly came rushing back with a vengeance, her heart constricting in her chest.
She put her arms out to touch the wall, desperate to find the door and let in some light.
But she was going the wrong way, or was she? The wall seemed too long... the darkness was suffocating her.
She tried to shove down the feelings of panic.
Her hand touched something cold and smooth- and she took a deep breath. The sink, right where it should be.
The light flickered on, and she glanced up in the mirror in relief.
At that moment, the lights went off again, and as the light faded Liz could see the ghostly white figure standing behind her.
A whisper brushed her mind... *Stay away...*
Liz stayed frozen in place, just trying to breathe normally for a long time after the lights came back on.
******
Maria smiled to see Liz coming her way.
"Hey babe!"
Then she frowned immediately.
"What are we going for here? Disheveled and desperate," questioning Liz's slouchy fatigue pants, baseball shirt and running shoes. "You do know that the 'I-don't-give-a-damn' look doesn't work anywhere but in Hollywood, right?"
Liz just looked at her and sighed.
"And what gives with the full set of luggage under your eyes, hon," Maria grabs her face and turns her toward the light. "Where did you sleep, outside in the dumpster? I knew I should have spent the night with you!"
Liz pulls away and begins to walk.
"Maria, could you stop, please? I'm fine. I just grabbed the first thing I could find."
Maria raised her eyebrows and nodded as she falls in beside her.
"Okay. It's not like I don't understand why you had a bad night. I would, too, after seeing that ho making out with my... whatever the hell it is that you and Max were. But if he's doing that to you, I say, screw him."
Liz shook her head. "I have to talk to him. This is getting really weird and I have to see if there's some way to stop it."
Maria stops her.
"What do mean, 'getting' weird? It's been weird since day one! This is just another 'wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am' tutorial of 'how to live with Czechoslavakians,' babe. "
They stop at Liz's locker.
"Yeah," Liz admitted. "I'm beginning to wonder why I even bother."
She opens the door, her eyes immediately fall on a picture of Max that she hadn't been able to bring herself to get rid of. He was smiling in that reserved way of his, eyes warm and caring.
Liz feels an overwhelming rush of emotions.
"Oh yeah," she says softly, biting her bottom lip. "Now I remember."
Maria gives her a look and rips the picture out of her locker.
"Get a life, Liz. Visions... Tess... ring a bell?"
"Yeah, it does," Liz angrily shoved a book in her locker. "I'd like to ring her bell."
Maria smiled.
******
As Liz walked into the Algebra classroom, she forced herself to look down and not over at Tess.
She wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
Since Max wasn't in this class with them, Tess always spent the entire class time giving Liz looks ranging from superior to venomous.
As Liz sat down and tried to fix her mind on the test ahead, she saw Tess rise and cross in front of her.
In spite of herself, Liz looked up and almost gasped.
Tess was wearing an ankle-length dress... all white. It fit her to a "t", but all Liz could think about was the white figure that had been haunting her.
A white figure...
Tess glanced back at her with a knowing look.
Liz felt dizzy and looked back at her desk.
She had to talk to Max. Somehow Tess was...
Doing what?
What she was thinking was absolutely impossible. It had to be in her imagination.
It just had to be.
Part 9
The bell would finally, finally ring in five minutes.
Liz wiped at her forehead desperately, trying to concentrate. It was difficult to focus her thoughts on the problems in front of her.
The room was so warm, so closed up; it was distracting her.
Of course, the fact that she hadn't done her homework the night before didn't help.
Liz giggled and then stopped self-consciously.
Where did that come from?
She clumsily brushed her loose hair out of her face and tried to think. But she was too tired, too emotional. Why had she even come?
Something about letting down her parents... her teachers.
The numbers and letters in front of her blurred for the umpteenth time and she just... finally gave up and let her mind drift.
She rested her head on her hand.
Max. She was supposed to talk to Max today.
About... what?
Oh. The visions.
She shifted and rubbed her eyebrows with her fingers.
And exactly what in the hell was she supposed to say?
Gee, Max, I saw a vision of you and Tess making out. She looks like a real good kisser. Way to go, stud.
Liz giggled as she pictured Max's response.
Mr. Garrison frowned at her.
Liz cleared her throat and tried to sober up.
Then a sudden whisper brushed her mind... *stay away.*
She looked over and Tess was staring at her.
Liz looked back straight ahead, trying to force her mind to regain sanity.
What is happening?
But another giggle was working its way back up her throat. She tried to stifle the hysterical noise, turning red with the effort.
When it finally broke through, it changed abruptly into a sob and Liz couldn't stop the flood of tears filling her eyes.
Oh my god...
She was in serious danger of completely embarassing herself in the middle of class. She jumped up and ran to the ladies' room.
******
When the bell rang a few minutes later, she waited until the classroom emptied before going to get her books. She wanted to avoid talking to anyone worried about her. And avoid catching a glimpse of that... whatever she was.
The tears had stopped flowing, and the red splotches on her face had mostly gone, but she could feel the bubble of hysteria just below the surface. It wasn't over, not by a long shot.
She got her books and handed in her paper, listening to a quick lecture from Mr. Garrison on proper bathroom etiquette on her way. She just nodded her head and escaped as soon as possible.
So far so good. She just needed to protect that bubble around her emotions.
She was the bubble girl. A bubbirl. A girlubble.
A giggle escaped and she wrestled it down fiercely.
No. The bubble girl will not tolerate flagrant and pitiful shows of emotion. The bubble girl is cut off from everything. Nothing touches her. Not even-
The rush of pain when she saw Max and Tess sitting together in the quad was almost her undoing. Almost.
But the bubble girl is still going, Liz thought, detatched. Showing tremendous willpower as she approaches to talk over the horrible warnings and visions with her ex-alien.
Ex-alien. Another giggle which she promptly squelched into a gasping squeak.
Another close call.
She stopped to take a breath, shifting her backpack to a more comfortable position.
Max was only fifteen feet away, and still oblivious to her approach. Good.
The element of surprise was essential in her plan. One look from those soulful brown eyes could pop the bubble in a millisecond.
Maybe even a nanosecond.
A milli-nanosecond.
Or is it a millo-nanisecond, she thought idly. No matter.
Only ten feet, Liz thought. Bubble don't fail me now.
Why do I feel so light-headed?
Max smiled at Tess and she threw a potato chip at him.
He ducked.
One foot in front of the other...
When he peeked at Tess, she threw a french fry this time... with ketchup, Liz noted.
"Liz," she heard Alex behind her.
She shook her head and kept walking.
Only five feet.
Tess turned her head and saw Liz approaching.
Oh no-
the sudden chill-
the whiteness-
and pain-
FLASH
Max and Tess kissing...
FLASH
flesh entertwining...
FLASH
under sheets...
As the blinding headache began to fade, Liz suddenly realized she had stopped two feet away from Max.
But the completion of the vision... "Stay away" was still floating in front of her.
She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't speak.
Dimly, she saw Max stand and take a step toward her.
"Liz?" He sounded concerned.
Things were turning darker... she was dizzy... falling... the ground rushing at her until...
Shouldn't that hurt? She was numb.
Alex's voice...
"Liz? Liz?"
Then her mind disappeared... exploding in a sea of stars...
******
The hallway was white, and it seemed to just stretch on forever.
Liz mindlessly floated somewhere just below the ceiling.
She kept thinking that she would probably bounce off and go back down, but she didn't.
She just hovered there, so quiet, so still...
Except for that one sound... that annoying sound... a moaning?
She tried to focus her clouded mind on the sound.
It was soft, pained...
And with it came coldness.
And the sudden realization that she was shivering.
Uncontrollably.
And she was the one... she had been moaning.
Her eyes opened to the bright sunlight and two faces peering over her.
"Oh, thank God, Liz! Are you okay," Maria's white face swam above her. Why won't she stay still, Liz thought fuzzily.
"No, she's not okay. She passed out, for God's sake," Isabel's voice was frantic, and all Liz could see of her face was her hair... almost glowing around her head like a halo.
Isabel's cool hand was smoothing Liz's forehead gently when she suddenly froze.
"Oh... I-" she gasped and pulled her hand away.
Liz's eyes began to close again.
She wondered how long she could keep falling backwards, since she knew she was lying on the ground. Apparently forever...
Maria whispered over Liz, "Keep him away, Alex, or, I swear to God, I'll kill him."
Liz heard Alex's angry voice.
"I *said* stay back, Max. Haven't you done enough?"
As the world began to grow white again, Max's quiet reply reached her ears, "I saw it, Alex."
Then, nothing.
Part 10
Alex wouldn't let him near Liz.
Max clenched his jaw.
For God's sake, she had just collapsed in front of him, and he was sure that he knew why.
He had another vision right before she walked up, of he and Tess... and Liz looked as if she had seen it, too.
But how?
He looked over at her where she lay still and pale. The school nurse was just arriving to check on her.
Isabel had a stunned look on her face.
"Izzy, what's wrong," Max called out.
She looked at him with wide eyes and immediately walked over to him.
"I saw it, too, the vision, when I touched Liz. What does it mean? You and Tess haven't..." she whispered with an obvious look.
Max answered easily.
"No, not even close. Look, I don't know what's going on. But we've got to figure out what it is."
He scrubbed his hair and glanced back at Liz.
"Before this goes any farther."
A smiling face suddenly blocked Max's view.
"Remember me," Tess chided him gently.
"Oh, yeah," Max suddenly felt guilty... again. "Sorry. I was just-"
"Worried about Liz, right," Tess shook her head, her glittering eyes betraying her light tone. "I guess it's true what they say, huh? The squeaky wheel does get the grease. I'll just finish my lunch somewhere else. See ya'."
Why did he feel like he'd just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar?
******
Maria watched Tess walk to another lunch table.
There is something going on with her, I just know it.
Before she came, Liz was just fine and Max was Prince Charming. Now, Liz is a certifiable nut case and Max is looking more and more like he should run for office. He definitely has the two-timing, conniving part of it down, anyway.
Maria harumphed.
The nurse was busy taking Liz's blood pressure, which was, of course, up too high.
Perfect, Maria sighed. Just matches her accelerated heart rate and high temperature. She's a walking, talking, symptom bonanza.
Except, of course, she's not walking or talking.
Maria's chin started quivering and she pressed her hands to her face.
She was not going to let this happen to Liz, whatever it was. There had to be something she could do.
******
Liz was glad the doctor's simple diagnosis of dehydration and fatigue had satisfied her parents. That meant they would pump her full of fluids and leave her alone to rest. No phone calls, no visitors allowed. But that was fine with her. She had a lot to think about. Things they wouldn't understand.
Since the nightmare returned every time she fell asleep, she just laid there and turned everything over in her mind.
The visions, the warnings... Tess...
And Max, the two of them... in bed together?
She shoved the thought out of her mind. It couldn't have happened. Max would never do that. At least, the Max she knew...
She rubbed at her eyes and shifted under the covers.
If only she could get him alone to talk. Every time she had tried, something had prevented her. Usually, just the sight of Tess was enough to steer her away, until the visions had started.
Liz sat up in bed, her thinking suddenly clear.
The visions had to be the key. And she had only experienced them before from Max, from his other-worldly body chemistry.
So, this had to be alien-induced.
And if Max hadn't been responsible for them... or Isabel... or Michael... that only left...
Oh, God... Nasedo?
The thought struck terror in her heart.
Liz jumped out of bed, putting her hand out against the wall to steady herself. She grabbed her jeans and a cardigan. Pulling them on quickly over her tank top and panties, she headed for the window.
Just then, a figure moved stealthily across the balcony and popped up in front of the window.
Liz stifled a scream, then breathed out loudly in annoyance.
"Maria," she opened the window with a glare.
"I had to talk to you, and this place is like Ft. Knox. Your parents are completely overprotective, you know that, don't you," she climbed in breathlessly, still managing to talk somehow.
"I know. They even took my phone away so I'd be forced to rest. I'm sorry," Liz shook her head ruefully. "I was just coming to talk to you." Maria's eyes widened.
"Do you feel well enough to be out of bed?"
"I have to be. I think I know who's behind all of this."
They stared at each other for a moment.
"Oh my god, are you thinking what I've been thinking," Maria grabbed Liz's arms.
Liz nodded and they both whispered, "Nasedo."
Maria started to panic.
"You are not supposed to agree with me! You're supposed to tell me that I'm wrong, that I'm overreacting, that she can't be Nasedo!"
Liz frowned, "She? Tess? No, Tess isn't Nasedo. Max would've known if she was. They've kissed, remember?"
Maria nodded, "True. And done God-only-knows-what-else, the jerk."
"Maria!"
"Sorry for the shot of realism there, babe," Maria looked Liz dead in the eye. "But that vision meant something. And you have got to get used to this. Now what did you mean about Nasedo?"
Liz glanced through the window nervously and then fixed her eyes back on Maria.
Maria grasped Liz's arms again and freaked out a little, "What? What? Do you think he's out there right now or something?"
"No, no. But I think he's been giving me the warnings to stay away. From Max."
"Yeah, well. Maybe you'll listen to him, since my warnings did absolutely no good," Maria nervously snapped back.
"Yeah well, maybe if you'd included visions, nightmares and hauntings, I'd have listened more."
Maria crossed over to the bed and sat down.
"Liz, you can't keep going on like this. What are we going to do?"
Liz smiled a little at Maria's use of "we." That made her feel just a little better.