285 South
Liz watched across the restaurant as Kyle questioned Max. This was not good. Kyle was good at interrogating, and wouldn’t stop until he got his answers. Things had gotten more tense between the two of them after she had called off their arrangement, she was sure Zack had noticed on his last visit a few days before. Since Isabel kept asking her questions she couldn’t hear the guys discussion. Then Isabel suggested taking them some ketchup and she headed over.
“All right, number 4. What's your favorite TV show?” Kyle asked bored with the questions. He wanted to dig deeper and this assignment was the best excuse to question Max.
“I don't watch much television. You?” Max asked.
“America's Most Wanted. I watch it with my dad. All right, all right, let's get to the good ones. Ooh, uh...what's the best thing that's ever happened to you?”
“Getting adopted, I guess.” Max answered.
“I'm gonna shed a tear.” Kyle said mockingly but understanding Max’s answer. Although he hadn’t wanted to go with his dad that first night, he was glad that Liz had trusted him.
“What's the best thing that ever happened to you?” Max asked.
Escaping the government facility that I was created and lived in until I was eight with my family. Part of which you are taking away from me. ’ Kyle thought but answered, “Winning the statewide junior rifle competition.” He noticed Liz standing near by.
“Just bringing you guys ketchup. So, how's it going?” She asked uneasily.
“Great.” Max answered.
Kyle smiled brightly. “Yeah, we're really getting to know each other.”
Liz glared at him as she noticed the fakeness behind the smile, “That's good.”
“I'm glad you came over, too, 'cause I was hoping that we could skip on down to question number 8. Have you ever been in love? Hmm? How 'bout it, Evans?”
“No.” Kyle’s smile widened even more. Now that he had proofed that Max didn’t love Liz maybe she’d tell him what was going on instead of pushing him away and going to Max. But a few minutes later when he saw Liz follow Max and Isabel out the door he knew she wouldn’t.
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Max, Isabel, and Liz were going down 285 South following after Michael and Maria. “ It's getting so late. You know, maybe we should just call our parents.” Liz stated. She knew it wasn’t something they would actually do but she had to say something.
“No.” Was all Max said.
“They could help find them.” Liz said.
“I hate to say this, but maybe she's right, Max. I mean, I never liked the idea of Michael going into this place without us checking it out first.” Isabel chimed in.
“No. Nobody can know about this.” Max said firmly.
“Max, I'm really worried about Maria.” Ever since Liz had gotten the phone call from Maria earlier, Liz knew Maria was kind of scared.
“I'm worried about Michael, and all you seem to care about is what's inside that dome, right?” Isabel asked.
“I didn't say that.” Max said.
“You didn't have to!” Isabel said loudly.
“Isabel, we're close to something. We can't just” Max said just as Liz’s cell phone rang.
“Don't answer that.” Isabel said.
“What if it's my mother?” Liz asked. Or it could be Zack but she didn’t want to say that. It rang a few more times before she answered it. “Hello?”
“Liz. Hi.” She heard her brother’s voice on the other end. Liz sighed in annoyance, “Hi.”
“So, listen, I just talked to your mom. She said that you were over at Maria's.” Kyle said. He knew that his sister wasn’t over at Maria, he was trying to trip her up.
“Um, yeah, that's exactly where I am.” Liz lied just as a truck rumbled by.
“Was that a truck?” Kyle asked. He knew he had just caught her red handed.
‘Damn transgenic hearing’ Liz thought. “Um, uh, no, no. That...that was just, um, the television. So, uh, what do you want, Kyle?”
“I took your history book by mistake after you left the Crashdown today. I thought I'd swing by Maria's and drop it off.” Kyle offered.
“Oh, no! Um, you know, you don't even need to go to the trouble. Um...Uh, you could just--you could give it to me at school tomorrow.” Liz said trying to get him off the phone.
“Are you sure? ‘ Cause I'm very close.” Kyle said.
“Yeah. Uh, I'm positive. I'll see you at school tomorrow, Kyle.” Liz said hanging up her phone.
“Maybe even sooner.” Kyle said hanging up his own phone and getting in his car. He was going after her, hopefully finding out what the hell she was doing.
Part 13
Later they found Maria and Michael in a seedy highway motel. Michael and Max were arguing. “I was thinking I can't wait around for the 2 of you anymore. You like Roswell, and you like your family, and you like your make-believe life. That's great, Maxwell. Keep pretending. But don't think it's gonna last. Because one of these days, they're gonna find out about us, and when they do, everybody in this room... “ Liz listened to what Michael was saying, and suddenly she was aware of someone else. “Kyle!”
“Everyone in this room is what?” Kyle asked walking into the room. He had heard most of Michael’s speech and knew that these people were hiding from someone, although he didn’t know why and he didn’t want his sister mixed up in it. They had enough problems hiding themselves.
“Get out.” Michael ordered.
“Why don't you go ahead and finish what you were saying? Or are you afraid that I'll find out what your little secret is? Are you afraid that I might find out what the hell you guys are doing out here? In the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night?” Kyle asked angrily.
“I said...get out!” Michael yelled.
“Michael, don't. “ Max warned but he didn’t listen instead he threw Kyle across the room.
Kyle felt Michael grab him but was surprised when he felt himself being flung across the room. Kyle laid there for a minute trying not to jump up and kick the living shit out of him but he didn't think it was the best idea. Something wasn't right. Michael had thrown him easily, too easily for someone with normal strength. “Who the hell are you guys?”
“What's going on here? And what are you doing here?” He asked Liz. His sister who he knew was getting into something she shouldn’t who he was going to protect her. “I'm gonna get you out of here. Come on.” He grabbed her arm but Max tried to stop him. “Leave her alone.”
“Just...” Liz started but Kyle interrupted. “Get off of me!” He said to Max in a menacing tone, Max was stepping in where he didn’t belong.
Liz could see her brother was losing his temper. He was about to do something that would expose them and hurt the others so she broke it up. “Just stop it, both of you, ok? This has gone so out of control! I am not your girlfriend anymore, Kyle.”
“Liz, I don't know what's going on here, and I don't care. I just want you to come back with me.” Kyle stated grabbing a hold of her. He didn’t know what she was doing with these people but he wasn’t going to stand by. He had a feeling that whatever she was doing was dangerous. She could get hurt or draw too much attention to herself. She was getting reckless.
“You don't belong here, Kyle. This is none of your business.” She said in a tone that he would know that she was serious. Didn’t he realize he was making things for her difficult? That she was keeping a secret only because it wasn’t her secret to tell?
Her last statement cut through him like a bullet. “I don't know...” He was going to say he didn’t know why he had gone with her that night, the night they escaped but there were too many people there instead he said, “I don't know what I ever saw in you.” He turned and left.
Liz knew this was tearing them apart, her association with the aliens but she couldn’t help it. She had never felt this way about anyone, the way she felt about Max. Although she hated Manticore, she at least knew what she was and where she had come from. They didn’t, and she wanted to help them. But it was costing her, her brother. She pushed her thoughts aside and turned to question the others, the aliens.
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Liz saw Kyle by his locker and decided she needed to talk to him. Things were getting out of hand, she felt like she was loosing him. “Hi.”
“Miss Texas.” He said sarcastically.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” She asked.
“I can't imagine what you'd want to talk to me about.” Kyle said curtly. He was still mad at her, she just kept pushing him away and he had never felt more alone.
“In private.” She said as she pulled him into the janitor's closet.
“Kyle, I just wanted to make sure you were ok. That you didn't get hurt last night.” Liz knew it was a flimsy excuse but she had to say something. She knew Michael didn’t hurt him.
“I see. So that's what you wanted to speak to me about?”
“Yes.” Liz said.
“In private.” He asked knowing there was something else on her mind. He could always read her, and she knew it. That was why she kept pushing him away.
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Well, I'm ok.” Kyle said as he turned to leave.
“No, Kyle. Um...I just need to make sure that you're not planning on telling anybody about...about where we were that day.” Liz said pleadingly.
“Oh, I see. And here I was thinking you were just concerned about me. Liz, what the hell were you doing out there last night?” He asked.
“I can't talk about it.” Liz said sadly. She missed him. She knew that if he and his dad would lay off of the aliens then she might be able to talk the aliens into trusting them. Of course how could she expect them to trust her when she was lying to them?
“Just gimme a hint. Is it drugs? You part of some cult, or is it just about sex?” The last part came out bitterly. The thought of his younger sister having sex left a bad taste in his mouth.
“Kyle...” She started to plead.
“Don't worry. I...I won't tell anyone.”
Liz breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Not until I have something on him that will destroy him.” He whispered low enough for only her to ear as he left.
Part 14
It's December 2nd, 1999. I'm Liz Parker, and this heat wave has made everyone crazy
Liz walked out of her class and bumped right into Kyle. And he wasn’t alone.
“Liz.” Kyle said. He hadn’t seen her in several days. They no longer spent time together training or other wise. He was lonely.
“Hi, Kyle.” She said smiling then looked over at his companion. Who he seemed very cozy with. Normally she would make some comment to him about how he could do the exact thing he told her not to do, be with someone, but she knew that he would only argue and say that he wasn’t getting serious with the person, that their secret would never come out. She didn’t know why Kyle kept insisting that if Liz got close to Max she would tell him about them.
“Hi. You know Vicky Delaney.” Kyle said introducing her.
“Oh, sure. Hi, Vicky. How's it going?” She hoped that Kyle would be too busy dating Vicky to worry about her.
“Really good actually. Um, hey, Kyle and I are going to this thing on Friday night. You should come.” Vicky said invitingly.
“No no, see, that's not Liz's kind of thing...” Kyle said quickly. He knew what kind of party it was and despite their current distance he still looked out for her. Granted it wasn’t like she’d get drunk and get into a bad situation that she couldn’t get out of, he just didn’t want her to go in case the cops broke up the party.
“A party?” Liz asked interested.
“Yeah, it's at the old soap factory. It should be pretty wild.” Vicki said enthusiastically.
“Is that even legal?” Liz asked with an eyebrow raised looking at her brother. She knew that Kyle wouldn’t think twice about himself going but if she wanted to go than he would be against the whole party.
“See? I told ya it wasn't your kind of thing. So...” Kyle said trying to get Vicki to drop the subject.
Not being able to stop herself from showing Kyle he couldn’t tell her what to do, Liz said. “You know, um, a party on Friday really sounds great. Um, so maybe I'll just see you two there.”
“See? I told ya she'd be cool.” Vicki said to Kyle.
Liz smiled at Kyle, “Later.”
“Right.” Kyle grumbled.
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Later Liz was outside with Isabel painting their toenails. She was thinking of the best way to talk Max into going to the party then thought about Isabel. “So, um, what about guys? Cuz it kinda seems that you've got all these guys in school interested in you...like, practically every single one of them, but you kinda tend to keep pretty platonic.”
Isabel looked at her funny, “Have you been researching me or something?”
“No, I haven't been researching you. I just...I don't know, I was just kind of curious if there was a reason you don't move forward with any of it. If it's because of the fact that...” She asked.
“Are you afraid...I mean, to let someone in? To let someone see who you really are?” Isabel asked.
Liz was shocked for a minute. Isabel’s comment had made her feel like she knew more than she let known. “Yeah, of course I am.”
“Well, multiply that by about a million.” Isabel stated.
Liz then realized that despite how nasty Isabel acted she was as scared as Liz was when it came to matters of the heart. Her hard attitude was her defense. She wished she could tell Isabel how much alike they really were. “Yeah, right.”
Isabel glanced over and looked at Liz’s clear nail polish. Liz watched as she touched her index finger to one of her sandals. “Open your hand.”
Liz opened her hand revealing her bottle of nail polish. Isabel touched it and the color turns into a shade of blue, matching her sandals. Liz couldn’t help but think how that could come in handy if they needed it.
“At least we can do cool stuff like that.” Liz nodded then listened as Isabel started talking about Alex.
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“Hey.” Liz heard Max say as he entered the bio lab.
“Hey, what's up? I'm just trying to get these stupid slugs to mate. Ah, come on! Won't you guys just do it?” Liz said frustrated. The project wasn’t an actual assignment, just something extra.
“Maybe one of 'em's gay.” Max joked as he sat down next to her. Liz could feel his body heat and felt calm. It was strange; she could always sense him when he was close. It wasn’t like the feelings she got when she knew someone was watching her. This was completely different, something she liked.
Liz smiled at him then worked up the courage to talk to him about something that had been on her mind since her conversation with Maria. “Max, you know when you said before that we couldn't be together? That we were different?” ‘Understatement of the year.’ ’ “I just sort of accepted it, you know? Because I thought that it was like physically impossible. That it...that it couldn't be. But when I saw Maria with Michael...the truth is that...I was hurt, Max.” Liz remembered how hurt she was the night before when she had gone down stairs in search of milk to satisfy her craving, her feline DNA making itself known, and finding Michael and Maria on the floor pawing at each other like they were in heat. “Why is it ok for them, but it's not ok for us?”
“Liz, I think that what I'm afraid of isn't that we try this and it works out really badly. What I'm afraid of is we try it and it works out really well. I'm afraid of feeling everything that I know I would feel. Because I know it's not meant to be. And somewhere down the line, we're gonna get hurt. I can live with that. I just couldn't bear to hurt you.”
'What is it with the men in my life that they think I can't take care of myself? That my heart has to be protected? I'm my own person.' Liz thought. “But that's not your decision, is it?”
“I guess not.” Max said. He moved closer and Liz swore they were going to kiss just then she heard the teacher’s voice, “Hey, Liz. How are you doing on your mating ritual?”
“I was doing just fine.” She said in a sarcastic voice.
Part 15
Liz was having a great time. Although typically not her thing, she was glad she came. She had even dressed differently trying to look more attractive. Max even ‘rescued’ her from a jerk that was trying to get drunk earlier. Her and Max had been dancing, enjoying themselves when they decided to go outside to cool off a little.
“It's uh, it's a little quieter out here.” Max said shyly pulling her along by her hand.
“Yeah. It's more private.” Liz said smiling. Finally she had Max alone. She felt like they were getting closer, that Max was letting his guard down.
“So...”
“So...let's hope nothing explodes.” He said as he leaned in even closer. Liz could feel the heat from his breath. Only a few more millimeters and she would feel his lips.
Kyle had seen much of the party. He and Vicki had retired to the back of the truck and started going at it. He was trying to block out all of the crap he’d been going through with his sister and relieve a little tension. He had gotten her shirt off and they sat up to remove his when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. His sister and Max about to kiss something he wasn’t going to happen. “Hi! Enjoying the party?” He said interrupting.
Liz and Max broke apart. She turned to look at Kyle and saw him with a shirtless Vicki. Eww, she didn’t need to see her brother in the position, it was just gross. Then she realized he had spoke up to interrupt them intentionally and glared at him. Kyle could have sworn she could kill him with the glare she gave him. That was when he heard the sirens. Suddenly fire trucks and police cars came out of no where. They must have kept their sirens off to surprise them. Kyle grabbed Vicki and pulled her into the back of the truck hiding. He was about to yell to Liz to jump into the cab when he saw she was gone.
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Liz sat in the cell thinking about how out of hand things had gotten, how careless she was being. She had gotten ARRESTED. Zack was going to kill her, if she got off that easy. Manticore looked better than facing Zack after he found out. Maybe she could keep it hidden from him. But she doubted Ky wouldn’t tell him. Thankfully they hadn’t been booked like they should have or she would have a record. One that would list distinguishing marks, like her barcode. And that record that would lead Lydecker straight to Roswell after her and probably find Ky. But although the Sheriff was trying to find out what was going on, he had still protected her. She was sure he had something to do with not being formally booked. She got up and tried to talk to Alex but he was too upset to listen to her. Then the Sheriff came in and released everyone but her and Alex.
“Where are our parents?”
“They all agreed with me. Some time in jail might make the 2 of you remember what your priorities are.” He said looking at Liz to get his point across. “ Or maybe even just one of you.” Then he left.
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'The heat wave finally broke and I'm probably the only person in Roswell who didn't benefit from it. But it's for the best. Because if Max Evans and I had given in to temptation, if we had kissed each other even once, it would have taken us somewhere we both know we never should have gone.' Liz wrote in her journal. She had finally broke down and told Alex the aliens’ story. She couldn’t lie to him anymore. The secret was making her lose him, something that her own secret had never done. And it was a good thing that she did because Alex had really came through for them standing up to the Sheriff.
She heard noise down in the alley then “Liz! Are you there?”
Recognizing Max’s voice Liz walked over to the edge of the roof and looked down to see Max. “ Hi.” He said.
“Hi.”
“Can I come up?”
“Yeah, sure.” She said. She watched him climb up quickly, faster than a normal human but not as fast as a transgenic. Alien speed. “Very impressive.”
“I try.” He smiled.
“You really can't stay long.” She said. She knew that as soon as the Sheriff got home and told Kyle about her being arrested he would pay her a visit.
“I know. I just wanted to tell you that I've been thinking a lot about before.”
“Yeah, me, too.” Liz said smiling.
“When I saw Valenti taking you away like that...it just hit home for me, you know? How much knowing me has screwed up your life.”
'My life was always been a little screwed up, you're the one who had the normal life until you saved me' Liz thought. ’“No, it's just the opposite.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“It's the whole truth, Max.” Liz lied.
“I better go.” Max said uneasily.
“Why?”
“Cuz if I don't go right now, things are gonna change.”
“Change, how?” Liz said hoping it was how she thought.
“I'm gonna have to touch your hair...cuz it's so soft...and I'd have to tell you that...no matter what we go through, it's all worthwhile for me because we're together.”
Liz’s body relaxed under the gentle caress of his hand on her hair. Kyle use to do the same thing after she woke up from a nightmare but it never felt this good. “And then?”
“And then...I'd have to do this...” He said as he brushed his lips against hers. It was so gentle that Liz thought it was a dream. Then he pressed harder and the passion that had built the last couple months was let loose. She felt his tongue trace her bottom lip and she opened willingly. This was a kiss she had dreamed of for so long, from someone she cared about. The kiss lasted a few minutes longer before he pulled back.
“Good night Liz.” He said smiling before heading over to the ladder and climbing down.
“Night Max.” She sat back down on her lounge chair and started writing more in her journal. There was no way she would sleep tonight.
Part 16
Toy House
Liz watched Kyle playing basketball. She knew it was hard on him holding back so he wouldn’t hurt anyone. She saw him look at her right before he got clobbered. He sat on the floor cringing in pain. She watched as the coach and team doctor checked him over and waited to see if she needed her.
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Liz knocked on Kyle’s door. She heard him yell, “It's open.”
“Hey.” She said smiling as she walked into the familiar living room.
“Oh, it's you.” Kyle said bitterly.
Liz felt the temperature drop in the room. “Um, look, I know how much you like the pie at the Crashdown, so I, um...I, uh...ok, I'll just put it down right here. Sorry. Look, and I brought...I brought you the study notes for Ethics. I thought you might need them for the midterm. Um...Kyle, uh...I'm really sorry about your ankle, you know...I know how much...basketball means...”
“I'm not really in the mood to talk about it. Ok?” Kyle said coldly.
“Ok. Sure. See ya.” She said sadly as she left. She looked around to see her brother still had his back to her. She knew it was her own fault but it still hurt.
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Later that evening while she worked she saw Kyle come in. “Hi.”
“Hi. I figured it out.” He said.
“You figured what out?”
“It's guilt, isn't it?” Kyle asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“The pie, the study notes. It's guilt. You feel responsible for my ankle.” Kyle knew that she did. She blamed their distance for the distraction that caused him to hurt his ankle.
“No, Kyle, I don't feel...I don't feel responsible for your ankle.” Liz lied knowing he would see straight through her.
“I just found out that I'm gonna miss the rest of the season.” He stated. He hadn’t actually gone to the doctor. The team physician had just looked him over.
The guilt that Liz had indeed been feeling tripled. His injury must have been severe if it was going to keep him lay up for that long. “Kyle...I'm sorry, Kyle. I, I...”
“Ooh.”
“I admit it, ok? You know, I feel a little bit responsible. I was sitting there, and I was...I was watching you at that basketball game, and you were getting completely trampled. Look, Kyle, I know what it feels like to have somebody, like, push you away, and I just...I just wanted to say that I'm...I'm really sorry, you know, about everything, and I am...incredibly sorry about you missing the rest of the season.”
Kyle bit the inside of his cheek to stop from laughing. Instead he only chuckled. “I'm only gonna be out 2 weeks. I just said that to prove a point. Anyway, about...what happened with us...I just wanted to say I knew this could happen someday…that we would grow apart. And you have...you told me to butt out... and..and I, I didn't listen. I didn't let it go.”
“Is, um, excuse me? Are you apologizing to me?” Kyle never apologized for anything.
“I guess.”
“Wow. I...you know, I wasn't aware that this was part of your repertoire.”
“I didn't either.”
“So, then, what changed?”
“I don't know. I, I was, like...I was just laying there for like 2 days, and it gave me some time to think. And then there was this whole thing on Sally Jessie. You know, it just...it gave me some perspective, so...but anyway, I just...I think it would be great if...you know, if we could, you know, maybe we could be friends again. I’ll respect your privacy.”
“Well, it...um...sure. We could...you know, we could work towards that.” Liz said hoping to be close to her brother again.
“So...anyway, about, uh, about lunch...”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I was hoping for something high in both fat and cholesterol and lacking in any inherent nutritional value.” He said smiling. The two of them could eat anything and not gain weight since they had such a high metabolism.
“I think that you are just in luck. Let me show you. Right here on the menu us our fatty section. This right here, there's, like, 4 pounds of sugar...” She said laughing as pointed things out on the menu. She knew he knew it by heart but it was still nice to joke with him. He ordered and when she was delivering his food she heard the bell above the door and looked to see the new arrival. She felt like a deer caught in headlights when she saw Zack. “Ky, Zack’s here.” She whispered to her other brother.
Kyle looked over her shoulder. “I wonder what he’s here for.”
Liz could see right through him, “You told him didn’t you?”
Not waiting for his answer Liz started walking over to the counter but bumped into Maria. “It’s okay, I’ve got him,” motioning to Zack, “Go take your break.” She walked over and pulled out her pen and pad, “Welcome to the Crashdown. I’m Liz, what can I get for you?”
“Saturn Rings, Sigorney Weaver, coke and a vanilla milkshake.” Zack stated. Liz wrote it down and turned in the order before getting Zack’s shake and coke. When she set it down in front of her, Zack whispered in a voice only she could hear. “When do you go on break?”
“A half an hour.”
“I’ll meet you in your room, we need to talk.” Liz nodded before going to take care of her other customers and glaring at Kyle. She knew Zack was here because of her being arrested and she was sure Kyle was the one who told him.
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