Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: These are not my characters, and I have no
affiliation with the show (unfortunatly). Please don't sue me,
for I am but a poor college student who owns nothing except all
the videos of Roswell, Sliders, and The X-Files she has recorded.
The song "Building A Mystery" is not mine either; it
belongs to the wonderful, talented Sarah McLachlan, and appears
on her albums "Surfacing" and "Mirrorball."
Author's Note: This is the first of a series I'm working on. It's
what I think could have happened the month or so before Max saved
Liz in the pilot episode. This series is dedicated to the
creators of Roswell Elementary, whose work I found inspiring. :)
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Nothing, really.
Distribution: Email me and we'll talk! :)
You won't give up the search
For the ghosts in the hall
You wear sandals in the snow
And a smile that won't wash away
Can you look out the window
Without your shadow getting in the way
Oh, you're so beautiful with an edge and a charm
You're so careful when I'm in your arms
Cause you're working
Building a mystery
Holding on, and holding it in
Yeah, you're working
Building a mystery
And choosing so carefully
-Sarah McLachlan "Building A Mystery"
Building A Mystery
Max kept his eyes fixed on the road in front of him, trying to
ignore the rumbling in his stomach.
He'd just finished playing a killer game of one-on-one with
Michael, jumped in the shower, and gotten dressed in time to get
some dinner at the Crashdown.
Not that he couldn't have just grabbed some food out of the
fridge; his parents always kept it fully stocked for him and his
twin sister Isabel. It definitely would have been cheaper to eat
leftovers. But truthfully, he wasn't just going to the Crashdown
to get some food.
He was going to see Liz Parker.
He smiled as an image of her flashed through his mind. She was a
little shorter than he was, and she had long, beautiful dark
hair, and soft brown eyes that Max could get lost in. His smile
faded. It could never happen with Liz.
Not only due to the fact that Liz didn't even know he was alive
(let alone know that he worshipped the ground she walked on), but
because he was different from Liz. Very different.
But Max could still dream. He could watch her from a distance,
think about her, imagine what it would be like to touch her, hold
her, kiss her, even though he couldn't. And it could be enough
just to fantasize they were together like he'd always done. It
would have to be enough.
He sighed and tried to concentrate on driving. But he was
distracted by something else this time. A car was on the side of
the road, front end smashed into a telephone pole. A red car. Her
car.
Max sucked in a breath and swallowed hard as he guided the jeep
off the road and parked behind her. Max jumped out of the jeep
and jogged to the driver's side window.
Her hands were clutching the steering wheel so tightly, her
knuckles were white. Her forehead rested against the wheel, her
long hair tumbling over her shoulders. He could tell she was
trembling.
Max drew in a deep breath and knocked on the window.
Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God, she thought. My
parents are going to kill me!
Not only was Liz going to be late for work, she had wrecked the
car, as well. She was afraid to get out and see how much damage
was done.
Her head ached from when it had slammed against the steering
wheel. She had blacked out for a couple of minutes, only to wake
up and discover her head was bleeding.
Then the stupid car wouldn't start again. Her eyes filled with
tears--a result of the pain in her head, and the dread she felt
at having to sit there, alone, in the middle of the desert, until
her parents or Kyle came along to find her. Then her parents
would be really mad.
Liz let the tears fall as she leaned her forehead against the
steering wheel, gripping onto it tightly to try and stop herself
from shaking. That was when she heard the knock at her window.
She jerked her head up and realized immediatly what a mistake
that was. She blacked out again, her head rolling to the side.
Max's heart nearly stopped when he saw the blood oozing down
the side of her head as she lost consciousness. He grabbed the
door handle, only to discover that the door was locked.
He didn't hesitate using his powers. He focused on the molecules
of metal, forcing them apart until he got the door open.
Max touched Liz's throat, feeling for a pulse. It was strong and
steady. He slid one arm behind her head, and the other underneath
her knees, and then, very carefully, Max pulled her from the car.
He laid her down very gently in a patch of grass on the side of
the road. He quickly shed his leather jacket and slid it under
her head like a pillow. He touched her forehead, and closed his
eyes. He couldn't heal the physical proof of the wound--it was
too dangerous. He suddenly realized that Liz had a concussion.
Not a severe one, but definitely a concussion. Max concentrated
and he removed some of the pressure pushing against her skull.
Then he broke the connection. "Liz," he whispered.
"Liz, can you hear me?"
Liz moaned as her eyes fluttered open. Her head still hurt,
but not as much. She slowly began regaining her senses. The first
thing she realized was she was no longer in her car, but lying
down in a patch of grass. Then she realized she wasn't alone.
Someone was leaning over her. "Liz, can you hear me?"
She blinked and tried to focus her eyes.
"Just relax," a familiar voice said soothingly.
"You were in a car accident."
Her eyes finally came into focus. Was she dreaming? Or was Max
Evans really kneeling over her? "Max?" she whispered in
confusion.
"Yeah," he answered, his beautiful, deep brown eyes
gazing down at her.
Liz struggled to sit up, but was overcome by another wave of
dizziness. "Oh, God," she whispered, squeezing her eyes
shut.
"Take it easy," Max said softly.
She felt his hand touch her forehead. His touch was so gentle, it
was like being touched by an angel's wing. She opened her eyes
again and saw the concern in her eyes. He looked so worried about
her. Liz didn't understand it. "Max, what happened?"
she whispered. "How did you get here?"
"I was on my way to the Crashdown and I saw your car. When I
knocked on the window, you passed out. I moved you out
here," he said quietly. "I think you hit your head on
the steering wheel."
"Yeah, I did," she confirmed, frowning as another wave
of pain washed over her.
"Let me take you to the hospital," he said quickly.
"No," she said, forcing herself to sit up. She winced
and touched the side of her head gingerly. "I have to get to
work."
Max stared at her. "Liz, you're hurt."
"No, I'm okay," she argued, standing up. She fought
down a wave of nausea. "I have to get to the diner. I'm
really late already." She turned to look at her car. She
nearly had a breakdown when she saw the damage. "My parents
are going to kill me!"
Max touched her shoulder. "They'll probably be so relieved
that you're all right, they won't be worried about the car."
"No, Max, you don't understand," she said tearfully,
turning to face him. "If my parents find out I was in an
accident, they'll freak out!"
"Okay, shh. Take it easy," he said soothingly. He
placed his hands on her shoulders. "I'll take you to the
Crashdown, and then I'll come back here and see about fixing your
car, okay? I work on cars with my dad sometimes. I might be able
to fix it."
Liz was acutely aware of the warmth of his hands on her
shoulders. She wondered again about the gentleness of his touch.
"You would do that for me?" she asked, her eyes
widening in surprise.
He moved his hands from her shoulders and stuffed them in his
pockets. "Yeah." He watched her for a moment. "Are
you sure you're okay? You won't let me take you to the
hospital?"
She shook her head. "I'll be fine. But thanks."
He nodded and motioned to the jeep. She climbed into the
passenger seat and Max jumped into the driver's seat. He started
the engine and guided the jeep back onto the road. He watched her
from the corner of his eye. She was leaning back against the
seat, her eyes closed.
He hadn't really had a chance to think when he found her. His
first priority was making sure she was all right, and to calm her
down when she woke up. Now he felt a shiver go down his spine as
he became aware of her jasmine scented perfume, and realized,
that after all his years of thinking about her, Liz Parker was
sitting right next to him now.
He glanced at her, wondering if she had blacked out again. If she
had, he was turning the jeep around and driving to the nearest
hospital, whether she liked it or not. "Liz," he said.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him.
"Yeah?"
"I was just afraid you passed out again," he told her.
"No," she answered softly, touched by his concern. When
he looked back at the road, Liz found herself looking at him. She
had noticed him before--all the girls at West Roswell High had. You'd
have to be blind not to notice him, she thought. He was a
little taller than she was, with broad shoulders and a lean body.
He was built, but not over built like a lot of guys she knew. He
had thick, dark hair. His ears stuck out a little, but Liz
thought they were adorable. And those eyes. His eyes were
mesmerizing--a dark, beautiful brown.
Liz could look at most people and know somewhat instinctively
what they were like by gazing into their eyes. But in all of her
eight years of knowing him, Max Evans never held her gaze long
enough for her to see who he was. Max was quiet. He sat at the
back of all his classes, and other than his sister Isabel and
their friend Michael Guerin, Max kept pretty much to himself.
Which, of course, continually disappointed all the girls of the
sophomore class, especially Pam Troy. She practically drooled
over him in all of their classes. Liz hated her.
Just then, they pulled up outside the Crashdown. Max looked over
at her as he stopped the engine. "Are you sure you're okay
to work?"
"Yeah, I'm okay, Max. Thank you for helping me," she
said softly.
"No problem."
"Hey, listen. You said you were on your way here,
right?" Max nodded and Liz continued. "Then, why don't
you come on inside, and order whatever you want on the house,
okay?"
"That's not necessary," he said quickly.
"No, really. I insist. Please. For all your trouble,"
she pleaded.
Max gazed at her and then nodded. "Okay, but it really
wasn't any trouble, Liz," he answered quietly. He lowered
his eyes from hers shyly.
Why is he so shy? Liz wondered in confusion. He
helped me because of something stupid I did, and he's embarassed.
Or maybe he just thinks you're an idiot, Liz, she thought.
They climbed out of the jeep and she hurried into the Crashdown,
greeted immediatly by Maria. "You're late!"
Liz threw her hands up. "I know, I know! Long story,"
she said, rushing to the back.
Maria followed her with a raised eyebrow. "You were with Max
Evans?"
"It's not what you think," Liz said quickly, pulling
out her waitress uniform.
"Right."
"Max helped me, that's all."
"Oh, he helped you, huh?" Maria said in a teasing
voice.
Liz pulled the uniform on, fastening the buttons. She turned to
face her friend.
Maria gasped as she saw the bruise on Liz's face. "Oh, my
God! Liz, what happened to you?"
"I was in a car accident."
Maria gasped again. "What!"
"I fell asleep and crashed into a telephone pole. I hit my
head on the steering wheel."
"Oh, my God, Lizzie, you should be in the hospital or
something!" Maria said in concern.
"No, Maria, I'm fine," she said, sliding the antennae
headband over her hair.
"Wait, you said Max helped you," Maria said, studying
her.
Liz nodded. "Max saw my car and stopped. He wanted to take
me to the hospital, but I wouldn't let him. If he hadn't come
along when he did, I'd still be stranded in the middle of the
desert."
"What are you going to tell your parents?" Maria asked
suddenly.
Liz winced. "Hopefully nothing. Max is going to try and fix
my car. Did they notice I was gone?"
"Yeah, but I told them you called and said you were running
late because of Kyle's birthday party."
Liz nodded and headed out front, grabbing her order book and a
pen. She looked around the crowded cafe. "Maria, can you get
Max's order?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Oh, and it's on the house!"
"Gotcha." Maria headed over to Max's table. She smiled
at him. "Thanks for helping Liz."
Max nodded, hoping he didn't look too disappointed that Maria,
rather than Liz was going to take his order. "Yeah, well,
anybody would have done it."
Maria shook her head. "You're wrong there, but thanks all
the same. What can I get for you?"
Max glanced over the menu, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"Uh--I'll just have one Mulder and Scully burger and a
cherry cola."
"You don't have to order the cheapest things on the menu,
you know," Maria teased.
Max reddened. "I-uh-I'm not very hungry."
Maria shrugged. "One Mulder and Scully with a cherry cola
coming right up," she said. She went across the room and
turned the order in. Then she glanced back at Max. He was staring
at Liz, who was taking the order of an elderly couple. A smile
formed on Maria's lips. She'd always suspected Max Evans had a
crush on her best friend.
Liz sighed and slid into a booth at the empty cafe, letting
her head lay down to rest on her arms. They'd been busy all night
and she was now thoroughly exhausted. Everyone else had gone home
for the night and all Liz could think about was if she would be
able to make it up the stairs to her room without collapsing on
the way.
She heard a knock on the front window and a feeling of deja vu
swept over her as she lifted her head to turn and look. Sure
enough, it was Max Evans.
Liz rose slowly to her feet, walked to the door, and turned the
key. She held the door open for him and he stepped inside.
"I just came by to tell you your car is all right," he
said.
She stared at him in surprise. "You fixed it?"
"Yeah, you can't tell anything happened. It looks
normal."
"Max Evans, you are amazing!" she said. She stepped
forward and kissed him on the cheek.
Max felt a bolt of electricity shoot through his veins at the
feel of her lips on his cheek. He swallowed hard.
"Thank you so much," she said sincerely.
"You're welcome. Uh-do you-uh-need a ride to go get your
car?" he asked, avoiding her eyes.
"No, Maria will take me tomorrow. But thank you, Max, for
everything."
He nodded. "So, I guess I'll see you in school Monday?"
"Yeah, back to school again," she said with a sigh.
"Back to my boring life of studying, because this is
Roswell, New Mexico, and nothing exciting ever happens
here."
Max couldn't help smile. "Well, you never know. I have a
feeling this year's going to be very interesting."
Liz smiled back. "Yeah, maybe you're right," she
agreed.
They stared at each other for a minute, and then Max said,
"Goodnight, Liz."
"Goodnight, Max."
He turned and left the Crashdown. Liz stared after him for
several long moments before locking the door again. There was
definitely something mysterious about Max Evans. She couldn't
help hoping she would get to find out what it was.
Back to the Before I Knew You Menu