Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: [email protected]
Disclaimer: This is not my show or my characters. They are
property of WB, Jason Katims, and all those wondeful people.
Please don't sue me or anything, for I am but a poor college
student who has barely enough money to make her tuition and car
payments.
Author's Note: I wrote this before I realized that Liz and her
family lived above the Crashdown. So please pretend for this
story that they don't live there, because otherwise I'll have to
throw out this fanfic.
Commentary: This was my first Roswell fanfic, and it's pretty short. I'd love to have feedback.
Spoilers: Leaving Normal
Rating: PG
When the Day Ends
"So, Liz. Why'd you break up with Kyle?" Matt asked
as he and several of his friends sat down at a corner booth in
her parent's diner, the Crashdown.
Liz ignored the question. "Can I take your order?"
"I think she's avoiding the question, Matt," Brent
said.
All of their eyes locked on her. Liz glanced around the diner. It
was virtually dead other than the football players. A knot began
forming in her stomach.
"You have an awfully long walk home, don't you, Liz?"
McLean said suddenly.
"Yeah, she does," Matt agreed. "Why don't we take
her home?"
"Good idea. We could give her a ride," Brent said, his
eyes darkening as he smiled.
"What do you say, Liz?" McLean asked.
"No," she answered immediately.
"Why not?" McLean demanded, standing up, towering over
her by about a foot. Liz swallowed hard and stepped back. The
other guys stood up, standing behind McLean.
"Because I - like the walk," she said quickly. She
backed away slowly, but McLean followed her. The others stood
back, watching. Liz's heart was racing-fear coursing through her
veins. She glanced at the kitchen window. The cook wasn't
standing there. I'm in trouble, she realized.
"I want you to ride home with us," McLean repeated, his
eyes narrowing. He grabbed her arm.
Just then, the bell tinkled, signaling the front door had been
opened. Liz looked and her eyes locked on Max's. He was by her
side instantly. He took a menacing step toward McLean. "Get
your hand off her," he commanded.
"Or what?" McLean taunted.
"You'll lose it," Max replied darkly
McLean laughed, but he let go of Liz. "This isn't
over," he warned her.
Max stepped up to him. "If you come near Liz again, you're
going to have to deal with me. If anything happens to her, I'll
come after you and there won't be a person in town who can stop
me."
"We'll see about that," McLean said darkly. He turned
and he and his friends left.
Max turned to Liz. She was unusually pale and was shaking
slightly. Max touched her hand. "Are you okay, Liz?"
She nodded wordlessly, but her knees felt weak. Max sensed it and
he slipped an arm around her waist just as her knees started to
buckle. "It's okay," he said, holding onto her. He
helped her to a booth and slid in next to her.
He looked at her arm, already starting to bruise from where
McLean had grabbed her. It was changing from a dark purple to a
greenish-yellow. His stomach turned at the sight. He reached out
and touched her arm. Their eyes met.
Max's eyes closed. Liz felt a moment of heat on the bruise. Then
it was gone. Liz's head dropped and she attempted to hide her
tears.
He touched her face gently, raising her chin up to look at him.
"Liz," he whispered.
The tears slipped down her cheeks. "Thank you, Max. You
saved me twice now."
He gently wiped away her tears. "You're not afraid of
me?"
Liz stared at him. "Of course not." She touched his
face. "Max -"
He stood up. "Let's get you home."
"Max, wait," she pleaded.
Their eyes met. "Liz -"
"Please." Without saying another word, she wrapped her
arms around his waist. Max's eyes closed and then he hugged her
back, resting his chin on the top of her head. He stroked her
long
hair gently.
"Liz?"
She pulled away from the embrace, surprised by the loss she felt
having done so. "Yeah?"
"I'm going to walk you home, okay?"
She nodded. "Thanks, Max."
He smiled. Liz reached out and took his hand. They left the
building. After a few minutes into the walk, Max noticed her
shiver. "You cold?"
"A little," she admitted.
Max put his arm around her, his hand resting on her shoulder. A
warm feeling spread throughout her and she looked up at him and
smiled. "Better?" he asked.
"Yeah."
He started to move his arm away, but Liz said, "No, Max.
It's okay." He left his arm around her. She was surprised by
how safe and comfortable Max made her feel. She had never felt
that before with a guy. And she was pretty sure she would never
feel this way again with anyone but him.
They finally arrived at her house and Max walked her to the
doorstep. "I'll see you at school tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"Okay." She bit her lip. "Thanks, Max." She
turned to go inside. "Do you want to come in for
awhile?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," he answered
quietly.
Liz knew what he meant. "Okay."
"Liz?"
"Yeah?"
"What time to you get off tomorrow?"
"Same time," she said.
"I'll take you home, if that's okay."
She nodded. "It's okay, if you want to. You don't have
to."
He stepped up to her and touched one hand to her cheek.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said. Then he turned and
walked away, and Liz stared after him. She had this sudden urge
to run after him. Instead, she gazed up the sky, wondering if
someone else was missing Max as much as she did when the day
ended.