Title: Once and Again (Part 4 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: Mariah Carey�s The Roof)
It wasn�t raining yet/but it was definitely/a little misty on that warm
November night/and my heart was pounding/my inner voice resounding/
begging me to turn away but I just had to see your face to feel alive/
and then you casually walked in the room/and I was twisted in the web
of my desire for you/my apprehension blew away/I only wanted you/to
taste my sadness as you kissed me in the dark/every time I feel the
need/I envision you/caressing me/and go back in time/to relive the
splendor of you and I/on the rooftop that rainy night
The gang of six had spread out all their collective notes and materials
for the project on the Evans� long dining room table. Max sat at the
head of the table, with Isabel and Alex on either side of him. Maria
sat next to Alex on one side and Liz sat next to Isabel on the other.
Michael was at the other end of the table, facing Max.
"Ok, I was thinking that there are three major things about New
Mexico�s history that we have to cover: first, we have to talk about
all the Native American tribes who live here..." Max said, opening a
couple of his books to show the others some pictures he had found of
Native American symbols and early reservations.
"Definitely." Alex said.
"We should also talk about the Spanish-American War...and how Mexico
and America fought over New Mexican territory for so long." Liz added,
taking a sip of the lemonade that Isabel had made for them.
"That�s a great idea, Liz." Max said. They looked at each other,
smiling. Isabel rolled her eyes, nudging Maria.
Maria cleared her throat. "We should definitely talk about important
people, you know, war veterans, politicians, people who made a
difference, you know?" She said, reaching for a bowl of popcorn sitting
in the middle of the table.
"Oh, and we should definitely mention the weather balloon crash in
�47." Michael said, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth. Ten eyes
darted into him like fire. "Jeez, I was just kidding you guys."
"Well it wasn�t funny," Isabel said. "Of course we can�t mention that.
We don�t want them asking too many questions."
"I disagree Is. I mean, it�s a part of the history of this state." Max
said. "It couldn�t hurt to mention it."
"I agree with Max." Liz added.
"You would." Isabel murmured under her breath. Max glared at her.
Michael almost choked on his popcorn with laughter.
"Okay, well since we can�t decide, let�s put it to a vote." Alex said,
looking to Max.
"I think we should talk about it." Max said.
"No way." Isabel said.
"No. I don�t think it�s a good idea." Maria said.
"I don�t think it�s that hot of an idea either- I mean, it�s like a
story of folklore, Max, we shouldn�t draw attention to ourselves by
giving it credibility." Michael said.
Liz looked at Max. "I think it�s important. And we should add it to the
presentation." Max looked at her with a small smile, knowing that the
connection between them was somehow being repaired.
Alex looked at Isabel. "I really don�t think we should talk about it."
He said. Isabel smiled, mouthing "Thank you" to him from across the
table. It made his heart race. He hoped she didn�t notice that his skin
was getting flushed.
"Well that settles it then-" Maria piped in. "4 to 2." Max wasn�t
paying attention- he couldn�t keep his eyes off Liz.
"So, Max...I think you, Liz, and Alex should work on the Native
American angle, and Michael, Maria and I will work on the famous
people...how�s that." Isabel said, looking at her brother. She realized
he wasn�t paying attention. "MAX." She said firmly.
"What?" He asked.
"You didn�t hear a word I just said, did you?" Isabel asked, sighing.
"I heard you." Max said. "You want Liz, Alex, and I to work on Native
American stuff."
Isabel smiled, as did Liz. "Good." Isabel said. "We�ll work in my room,
we can use my computer and stuff."
"Fine, I�ll take them to my room and we can work on my computer." Max
said, motioning to Alex and Liz. Liz�s heart pounded. She had never
been in Max�s room before. Max handed Alex some books to carry.
"Sounds good." Isabel said. "Come on, guys."
"I�m bringing the food." Michael said, grabbing for the three bags of
chips on the table.
"Can you go FIVE minutes without something in your mouth?" Maria asked. "It�s so�annoying!"
"Well, I don�t know Maria, but if you want to do some field work on the
subject, we can skip 6th period and spend it in the eraser room on
Monday." Michael said firmly. Maria gasped.
"You pig." She said, smacking him. She couldn�t let him know how much
she liked the idea.
Isabel rolled her eyes. "WHAT did I get myself into?"
* * *
Alex surveyed this situation carefully. << This could get very awkward
very fast. I have to keep guard of Liz. Can�t let her fall for it
again>> Max had been sitting on the floor, propped up against some
pillows. He let Liz and Alex sit on the bed. They were each looking in
different Native American books and taking notes. Max had gotten up
from the floor and was working on the computer doing research. Liz felt
his movement in the stillness of the room and watched him go over to
the computer.
"What are you looking up?" Liz asked, closing her book and climbing
over to the edge of the bed. He turned around and saw Liz stretched out
on her stomach- on his bed. His heart stopped. "Max?" She asked again.
"Oh, I was looking up for some more information...on River Dog�s
tribe. From reading in that book, I found out that his tribe is one of
the oldest in New Mexico."
"Really?" She asked, climbing off the bed and leaning over his shoulder
to look at the computer screen. "I�ll help if you want." Max smiled up
at her.
"Yeah, that would be great. Thanks." He said.
Alex rolled his eyes. "Um, Liz, I need you to help me, over here..."
Max looked up at Liz reassuringly as she frowned.
"It�s okay, Liz. Help Alex. I can work on this myself." Max said,
disappointed.
"Are you sure?" Liz asked.
Max nodded. Liz walked over to Alex and sat next to him on the bed.
She glared at him. "Alex." She mouthed. "Why did you do that?"
He kissed her forehead. "You know why." He whispered. They were sitting
next to Max�s nightstand and Alex pointed to the picture in the gold
frame. Liz couldn�t believe she hadn�t noticed it before. There, tucked
next to his alarm clock, a book about the Roswell crash he had been
reading, and a box of tissue, was a picture of them. Together. Quietly,
she picked it up, rubbing her fingers over the glass. She noticed it
had lots of fingerprints on it. << Maybe he touches it, kisses it every
night before he goes to sleep? No, stop kidding yourself Liz. >> She
found herself looking longingly at it, wishing she had a picture of
Max to put next to her bed. "Liz." Alex said, snapping his fingers in
front of her. "Work." He said, gently pulling the picture out of her
hands and quietly placing it back on the table before Max knew they
were looking at it. She looked at her hands, then looked back up at
Alex. Her big brown eyes were filled with glistening wet tears.
"Lizzie...doll..." He whispered, his eyes getting big. "Don�t." He
tried desperately to make her stop before Max noticed she was crying.
He grabbed a tissue from Max�s nightstand and dried Liz�s tears with
it.
"Thanks." She mouthed, quickly gaining composure once again. "Native
Americans. Right. History presentation. Ok." She looked around, it
finally hitting her where she was. In Max�s room. She grabbed one of
his pillows and clutched it tightly to her chest. She buried her head
in it. It smelled so good- like cologne and fabric softener and the
smell that was just Max. He turned around just then, to see Alex with
his head in a book, taking furious notes, and Liz, clutching one of
his pillows and leaned up against his wall, looking over Alex�s
shoulder at what he was writing. This strange image startled him at
first, but made him smile. Liz was holding his pillow like a baby would
hold a blanket, like if she let go something awful would happen to her.
He felt a rush of love come over him seeing her like this. That wasn�t
what he needed right then...he needed to be thinking about River
Dog...and Native Americans and New Mexico and...
"Hey, do you guys mind if I play some MP3s?" He asked them.
"No, that�s fine." Alex said, barely looking up from his work.
"Sounds great, Max." Liz said, exchanging a soulful look with him. He
smiled and found a song to play. He had a plan. He then returned to his
internet research.
As the song began to play, Liz listened intently to what he had chosen.
(Background Music: Live�s The Dolphin�s Cry)
the way you�re bathed in light/reminds me of that night/God laid me
down into your rose garden of trust/and I was swept away/with nothing
left to say/some helpless fool yet I was lost in a swoon of
peace/you�re all I need to find/so when the time is right/come to me
sweetly, come to me/come to me/Love will lead us, all right/Love will
lead us, she will lead us/can you hear the dolphin�s cry?/see the road
rise up to meet us/love will lead us, all right/love will lead us, she
will lead us...
Liz�s eyes welled up with tears as she listened to the words of the
song. << Is Max trying to tell me something?>> She thought. << Liz, get
a hold of yourself, it�s just a song!>> "But it�s so..." She whispered
under her breath as the song continued.
...and oh, we meet again/it�s like we�d never left/time in between was
just a dream/did we leave this place?/these crazy thoughts surround
me/you wrap your legs around me/all I can do to try and breathe/oh, let
me breathe/so we can go together...
* * *
"Isabel- tell Michael to stop throwing food at me." Maria said.
"She started it." Michael replied. Maria stuck her tongue out at him.
"Not here, baby, wait till we�re alone."
"Pig!" She said, smacking him.
"You two make me sick!" Isabel said. "I�m going into Max�s room to see
if they�re getting ANY work done!" She said, picking up her notes and
leaving. She quickly came back into the room, realizing who she�d just
left alone. "Oh, and don�t...do...anything on my bed, ok?"
"Isabel!" Maria said, blushing. Michael smirked.
"Sure, Is." He replied. "Just close the door on your way out. We�d like
some privacy."
Maria groaned. "You sicko!" She said, throwing a pillow at him. Isabel
slammed the door behind her and shuddered.
"So. We�re finally alone." He said, moving the books and notes that
were separating the predator from his prey.
Maria started shaking her head. "No way, buddy, we have work to do, you
know..." He leaned in closer to her and started kissing her on her
neck, those big Michael kisses that made her entire body scream for
mercy. "Michael, stop, ok, not now, I mean we have to get this done..."
He started moving up to her ear, putting his hands in her hair and
kissing back down to her shoulders. "I mean, history, I mean..." Her
voice was trailing off, and her words were turning into jumbled
thoughts that weren�t making much sense at all. He finally silenced her
by attacking her mouth with kisses. "Oh, God, Michael, we�re never
going to get anything done..."
"Who cares?" He said, into her mouth. "The only thing I want to think
about right now is you." And with that, she threw the book she�d been
holding onto the floor and gave into him once again.
"Michael..." She moaned. "Oh, God, Isabel, she�s going to kill us..."
"Let her..." He said.
"Yes..." She moaned.
* * *
"Can I come and work with you guys? Mr. and Mrs. Horndog are at it
again." Isabel said, groaning. Max chuckled. Alex looked up and smiled
contently, knowing once again Isabel was near him.
"Sure, Is. You can help me with this research if you want." Max said.
"What are you looking for?" Isabel asked, putting her books down on
Max�s computer desk.
"Information on River Dog�s tribe." Max said.
"Cool." Isabel said. "Liz, Alex, what are you guys working on?"
"Oh, we�re, just reading stuff from these books, taking notes." Alex
stuttered out. Liz had her head on Alex�s shoulder, and her mascara
looked smeared, like she�d been crying. Isabel�s warning lights went
off. She walked over to Liz and sat next to her. She put her hand on
Liz�s shoulder.
"Liz." She whispered. "Are you ok?" Liz and Alex were shocked at
Isabel�s uncharacteristic behavior.
"Y-yeah." Liz said, wiping her eyes with a tissue. "Oh, jeez, I guess
I�m smearing all over the place."
"It�s okay," Isabel said. "Hey Alex? Do you want to go downstairs? Get
something to eat with me? I�m so hungry." She said, nudging for him to
come with her and leave Max and Liz alone.
Alex looked up at her, his heart pounding. "Yeah. I�m famished..." He
said, overdoing it just a little. He and Isabel got up from the bed.
Alex squeezed Liz�s hand and gave her the "I Love You" sign language
symbol. It was something they always did when they were younger. It
made Liz smile. Isabel saw this sweet gesture and smiled too.
"Max, we�ll be back." Alex said, patting him on the shoulder.
"Yeah, Alex and I are going downstairs to get something to eat." Isabel
said.
"What?" Max asked, not paying much attention. Isabel and Alex left his
room and closed the door behind him. A few moments later, his mind
registered the gravity of this situation. He and Liz were alone in his
room. No one else. He slowly turned around in his chair to face her.
His heart stopped when he saw that she�d been crying all this time.
<< I am such an asshole! She was crying here, and I did nothing to stop
it! I am an awful, awful monster!>> He hated himself for what he was
doing to her. She looked at him, realizing at that moment they both
knew:
Despite all the attempts to be "just friends", they could never be that
ever again...
They were in love.
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