Title: Once and Again (Part 1 of 5)
Author: Meredith
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://bounce.to/roswellfanfic
Category: M/L
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The sextet is giving a presentation on the history of New
Mexico, and are all working at the Evans� house when tragedy strikes
someone in the group.
Disclaimer: I know nothing, I see nothing, I write what the little
voices in my head tell me to write. Roswell� and all characters within
are property of Melinda Metz and the WB. Thanks to all the songwriters
whose songs I use in this story. It is because of you that I do what I
do. Thanks for the inspiration.
Author�s Note: Takes place between The Balance and Sexual Healing.
Anything in << >> is a character�s private thought.
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(Background Music: Bon Jovi�s Bed of Roses)
I wanna lay you down on a bed of roses/for the night I�ll sleep on a
bed of nails/ Oh, I want to be just as close as/the Holy Ghost is/gunna
lay you down on a bed of roses.
Max Evans tossed and turned in his bed. His body burned with that fire
that every man in the history of the world knew- the fire of longing.
It had been exactly two days, three hours, and fifteen minutes since he
had broken up with Liz Parker.
Had they really broken up? They were never "together".
He closed his eyes. And in a flash, he could see Liz getting ready for
bed. And another flash- Liz walking to the mirror and brushing her
long, soft auburn hair.
Max groaned. The visions of her were stronger and more frequent now.
Was this fate punishing him for bruising the heart of this precious
woman? He rocked back and forth on his bed- in between moans and
tears-and finally-
He fell asleep.
* * *
(Background Music: Brandy�s Almost Doesn�t Count)
Almost made you love me/ Almost made you cry/Almost made you happy,
babe/didn�t I didn�t I?/ Almost convinced me/You�re gunna stick
around/but everybody knows/Almost doesn�t count.
"Earth to Liz! Liz Parker!" Her best friend Maria cried as she watched
Liz rhythmically wiped down the counter of the Crashdown Caf�.
"Uh-huh?"
"If you wipe that counter anymore, you�re going to put a hole in it."
"Huh?"
Maria rolled her eyes. Getting through to Liz was pointless whenever
doe-eyed wonderboy was around.
Max and Michael sat at their usual booth in the back corner of the
Crashdown.
"Maxwell..."
"Huh?" He had been staring off into space.
"That�s it. We�re going somewhere else." Michael insisted, moving to
leave the booth.
"No!" Max said. "I�m...fine." He said as he looked with longing at Liz-
his Liz- wiping the counter only a few feet away.
"No you�re not- you�re like a pathetic...little...puddle of...mud."
Michael said, stuttering to find the words and Maria walked over to
their table. Michael sat up straight and his mouth dropped open. Maria
and Liz had such a hold on them- and neither of them could admit it.
"So what will it be for you fellas?" She asked, handing them two
bottles of Tabasco Sauce she had brought along.
<< "You. Naked on this table. With hot sauce over every inch of you.">>
Michael wanted to scream out. But he had to be strong.
"I�m not really hungry." Max said quietly, looking down at his hands.
Maria gave him a look of concern.
"Well, okay Mr. Wonderful..." That was her "pet name" for him. He loved
it, cause he knew that�s how she referred to him around Liz. "...but
how about your friend Pigboy over here? If you order the entire left
side of the menu, you could probably get a discount." She said,
motioning to Michael.
"Nice one," He began, looking at her seductively. "Dog Lips."
"Arf arf, baby."
"Oink, oink." He said, rubbing his hand over the menu. God he wanted
her so bad, he could feel it in every part of his body. This girl made
him crazy and he loved it. Max rolled his eyes at the entire disgusting
display and sighed.
He looked with sadness over at Liz. Was she feeling as empty as he was?
Did she sit up at night, making herself sick with loneliness like he
did? It killed him to know he�d done this to her...and to himself.
"I�m going to the bathroom- I�ll be right back." Michael looked up at
him.
"Be strong, Maxwell." Michael said, banging his fist against his chest.
Max wasn�t listening. He was steadying himself as he got closer to Liz.
She had her back turned to him, cleaning the milkshake machine. He
slowly and carefully inched closer and closer to the counter. As he got
right behind her, he stopped. She stopped cleaning the machine and
closed her eyes, smiling.
"Max." She whispered under her breath. Her head got really light and
dizzy.
"Hey, Liz." He could barely make out the words. She turned around and
her heart jumped.
"Hi, Max." She said, trying to maintain her happiness to see him. They
stared at each other for a good ten seconds before he finally spoke.
<< "Just say it, dumbass.">> He thought to himself.
<< "I miss you, Liz. God, I miss you so much. I haven�t slept..." Max
said, moving closer to her, putting his hand in her hair.
Liz couldn�t believe what she was hearing. "Max...I don�t understand.
You ended it with me."
"I know- but aren�t I allowed to miss you?" Max asked.
"Of course." She breathed, inching closer to him. He could feel his
heart skipping a few beats. "You can do what you want." >>
"Can I have...a chocolate milkshake?" He asked her. The momentum sunk.
Liz could barely hide her disappointment.
"Sure." She said. She walked over to the machine and filled up a tall,
cool glass. She reached over to the counter as Max rested his head in
his hands. He couldn�t stop beating himself up for being such a damn
coward.
Liz grabbed a bottle of Tabasco sauce and added a good amount to Max�s
milkshake. "Here you go...just how you like it." She said, smiling.
Their hands touched briefly on the milkshake glass. The spark was hard
to control. They looked into each other�s eyes for a second and Max
could see her alone, in a bathroom stall, crying.
"Thanks, Liz." He said, grimacing. He wanted to die right then and
there, having caused her so much pain. He didn�t deserve to breathe the
same air as her. He wanted to sit there and watch her while he drank
the shake. But he couldn�t let her know how deeply he needed her.
No one could ever know.
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