Title: Once and Again (Part 2 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: Macy Gray�s I Try)

I try to say goodbye and I choke/I try to walk away and I stumble/Though I try to hide it, it�s clear/My world crumbles when you are not near

Liz hated her history class. << "Who cares about what happened to a bunch of people 200 years ago?">> She thought. << "They�re dead anyway, it�s not like you can change the past.">> Science is what really interested her. Cells, equations, molecular structures...to Liz, those were the stuff dreams were made of.

Just then, Max walked in, carrying a book bag on his shoulders. << "Jeez, he looks good." >> She thought. He had worn that same thing the night he came to her balcony and they...

"No." She whispered. "That�s the stuff dreams are made of."

Maria, hearing Liz mumble something, nudged her friend back into reality.

"You say something Lizzie?" She asked.

"What-what?" She asked, breaking her gaze from Max, who was sitting with Isabel and Michael towards the back of the room.

Maria chuckled. "Liz, you are so pathetic." Liz glared at her. "I�m just kidding! I know it�s been hard for you." Liz looked back at Max, who was talking and laughing with his sister.

"No." She said, shaking her head. "I�m fine! Really!" She said, smiling sweetly. This reassured Maria for the moment.

"Good!" Maria replied, squeezing Liz�s hand gently.

Alex walked into the class, taking his seat in front of Maria and diagonal to Liz. "Hello, ladies!" He said, smiling.

"Hey Alex." Maria and Liz replied.

"So do my two favorite ladies have anything planned for this evening?" HE asked. Liz and Maria looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders.

"Great- I was thinking we could get together tonight, just the three of us. No �other�..." He lowered his voice. "...life forms, just us. Watch a movie, get pizza, the works- a chill out night. What do you guys say?" Alex asked, raising his eyebrows as he unpacked his history book and notebook.

Liz smiled.

"Sounds great, Alex!" Maria chimed in.

"Yeah, count me in!" Liz cried, sneaking a glance at Max. He had been burning two holes in her back with his molten stare. Liz made sure to raise her voice for him to hear. "So what time can we come over?"

"How about seven?" Alex asked.

"Great." Liz and Maria chimed in. Their history teacher, Mr. Victor, walked in just then and got ready to start class.

"Okay, everyone, good news! I have your groups ready and made up for your semester presentations! So listen up!" He began reading off a list. "Jessica Lyons, Billy Chestnut, Holly Montgomery, Pam Troy, Zach Michaels, and Amanda Jones, you are going to be presenting on the Spanish American War. Stacy Beckfield, Myles Williams, Meredith Jackson, Adrianne Maguire, Jason Roberts, and Kevin Cornell, you will be presenting on the Dawes Act and the Trail of Tears. And the last group..."

Max groaned. He knew what was coming.

The teacher continued. "...Our last group, Alex Whitman, Maria DeLuca, Michael Guerin, Isabel Evans, Liz Parker, and Max Evans...you will be presenting on the History of New Mexico."

Michael rolled his eyes and looked at their three human counterparts and groaned. "This is a set up. It has to be." He commented to Isabel and Max.

"Great, we�re never going to get anything done with this group of people." Isabel added, rolling her eyes. "I�m going to have to keep you and Maria from mauling each other," She said, glaring at Michael. "And you and Liz from pining for each other across the room..." She said, looking at her brother. Max and Michael fumed at her.

"Can it, Is." Max said out of the corner of his mouth.

Alex smiled at the thought of spending so much quality time with Isabel. Maria rolled her eyes.

"There goes my hopes for a good grade in this class." She said, hitting her head on the desk. Liz looked straight ahead, trying to resist the urge to look back at Max. She knew he was looking at her. She could feel it.

Mr. Victor walked over to their side of the room and wrinkled his brow. "I�m sensing tension. Do we have a problem here? Because if we do, you all can always opt to write an eight page report on the History of New Mexico instead of a 20-minute presentation..." He began.

"No. No problem, Mr. Victor." Liz said, smiling.

"No problem!" Maria said.

"Nope, nada!" Alex chimed in.

"Yeah, we�re fine with it," Max said.

"It�s cool." Michael added.

"Presentation- sounds- great." Isabel said, wearing her best fake smile.

"Good." Mr. Victor said, smiling. "That�s what I like to hear. I would hate to see such a nice group of people not getting along."

Liz, Maria, and Alex looked back at the three of their otherworldly companions. Silently, they agreed that this presentation would not be so bad after all.

* * *

(Background Music: Smash Mouth�s I Can�t Get Enough of You Baby)

Alex had rented two movies- Notting Hill for the girls, and The Matrix- his pick. He had ordered two pizzas: a pepperoni, onion, and green pepper one for he and Maria, and a plain extra cheese one for Liz. His parents were away at a convention for work, so they had the place to themselves. Liz and Maria arrived soon after the pizzas, bringing soda, chips, and candy for the movie fest.

"I�m so glad you guys are here!" He said, giving the girls a big group hug. "We haven�t hung out together in so long." He led Liz and Maria into the kitchen.

"I know...we�re sorry Alex." Maria said, grabbing an ice tray out of the freezer. Alex grabbed three glasses out of the cabinet and worked on the drinks.

"We�ve just been so busy, with work and everything..." Liz said. She opened one of the pizza boxes. "Extra cheese! Thank you Alex!" She said, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Hey we�ve been friends since like the womb. I think I know what kind of pizza you like." Alex said, smiling.

"Leave it to Lizzie to go with the plain pizza." Liz rolled her eyes as she munched on a slice. Maria said, opening up the other pizza box. "Yes! Alex you are the jam!" She said, giving him a high five. "You know what�s good." Liz wrinkled her nose.

"Ick, how can you guys eat that stuff?" Liz asked them as they devoured it.

"Oh, Liz, you don�t know what your missing." Alex said, savoring a piece.

Liz smiled. "Yeah I do. Bad breath!"

"Well, yeah..." Alex said, "But I have a cure for that." He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some breath spray.

"You planning on getting lucky tonight, man?" Maria asked, nudging him lightly.

"Did you call Isabel?" Alex asked.

Liz and Maria looked at each other. "No." They replied in unison.

"Well, then, No." Alex replied, smirking.

Maria and Liz widened their eyes. "You dog, you!" They all laughed. Liz tried to control it, but that mention of Isabel made her think of Max.

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