Ryan sat alone on the bleachers

Chemistry

Author: Deah
Category: Other
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Original Characters and Storylines are the property of Warner
Bros, Jason Katims Productions, Twentieth Century Fox, FOX, Regency
Television and Melinda Metz.
Summary: The story takes place 22 years into the future. It features the
Roswell characters & their kids.
Writers Note: Feedback is great (bad or good)

Ryan sat alone on the bleachers. His book was open, but he couldn't keep his mind on the pages. Concentrate, he commanded. He looked up at the girl's gym class. He should be in the library. Anywhere, but here. Mariah and Lexi were running around the track. Mariah had already stopped once and waved at him, causing Ms. Donner to yell at her. Donner...good name...she looked like a reindeer. Not in the cute way either.

"What's up?" Matthew asked, sitting down next to him. Might as close the Chemistry book, he thought with a sigh.

"Not much."

Matthew looked at the girls. His sister almost tripped. She looked up embarrassed. Well, at least Parker wasn't here to catch it. Like he cared if his sister made a goon of herself in front of Parker. "Something wrong?"

"Why?"

"Cause you look pissed."

"Annoyed."

"Ok. Annoyed."

Ryan didn't really know what was bothering him. He was fine all day then he came out here and his mood had changed. "Chemistry." He told Matthew.

"I know the brainiac is not having trouble with Chemistry."

He looked at Matthew. The dream of Beth and Matthew came rushing back. His stomach turned. It wasn't that he minded Matthew liking his sister, but seeing them making out was a different story. He had to get it off his chest.

"Matthew, do you...do you like Beth?" There. It was out in the open.

"Sure. She's cool."

Great. He took his meaning wrong. This was torture. "Do you like her more than say Lexi?"

Matthew stared at him. "Why are you asking this, Ryan?"

"I saw you..." He sighed. "I dream walked the other night into your dream. I needed to talk to somebody and well..."

"You saw me making out with Beth."

"Yeah."

Matthew looked away. "It's nothing, ok?"

"Are you sure?"

Matthew ran his hand through his hair. Mariah and Lexi had finished their laps and were staring up at them. Apparently they had caught the serious expressions on their faces and were worried. He tried to force a smile so they'd look away. It worked.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Ryan gazed down at the girls. Jenny Harper was in that crowd. She was pushing her strawberry blonde hair out of her face. She was beautiful. The wind whipped her hair back into her face. What he wouldn't do to touch it.

"She's Jimmy Valenti's girl." Matthew announced.

"Don't you think I know that?" He retorted. Just then Jenny glanced up at them and smiled. Ryan's face lit up. She shyly waved and turned away.

Matthew shook his head. "She's gonna get you in trouble."

"Worry about yourself, Matthew. I don't buy the just friends story."

"I'm out of here." Matthew got up and sulked off. Ryan felt a momentary sting of conscience. He shouldn't have been like that to Matthew. He'd have to call him later. The whole Beth thing was none of his business.

He got up, grabbing his books. He looked at the ground as he walked. He didn't want to stop and talk to Mariah and Lexi. He would just...

"Um, Ryan?"

He snapped his head up. Jenny Harper was standing only a couple inches from him. She was smiling. Answer, you idiot! But he couldn't. His mind was gone. His mouth frozen.

"I was just wondering...you know the big project we're doing in American History? I was just thinking that maybe we could...do it together. I asked Mr Simmons and he said it was ok as long as we doubled our project."

What had she said? Something about the project, he had caught that much. "Yeah. Sure. That sounds fine." He answered in a low voice, glancing away. He couldn't meet her eyes. That would be too much.

"Great! Would it be ok to meet at the Crashdown this afternoon?"

"Uh huh."

She smiled again. Did she have any idea what she did to him? He doubted it. "See ya later then."

"Bye." He managed. Ryan stared after her, his stomach in knots. He wanted to kiss her. He had to kiss her. He was going out of his mind. He didn't care if she was dating Valenti, he wanted to kiss her.

"Here." Mariah said approaching him. She held out her empty hand.

"What?" He asked, confused.

"Your eyes fell out. I was just giving them back to you." She smirked and Lexi laughed. Did everyone have to crowd him? He gave them his best sheepish smile.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Good luck, lover boy." Lexi patted him on the back and they walked off. Luck, he was gonna need all he could get.

*****

Max watched his son checking the window every few seconds. It was unusual for Ryan to be nervous. What was going on with him? Maybe Liz knew, he'd have to ask her later.

He turned the milkshake machine over. This was the third time he had to fix it in a month. Maybe they should just get a new one. He put it under the counter, waved his hand over it and placed it back up in it's former spot.

"Hey, daddy?" Beth plopped a tray full of dishes on the counter. "Do you think we could maybe hire some more help? I mean, it's almost time for the convention and we are going to swamped."

Ryan knocked over a bottle of tabasco sauce. What was his problem? "I've been thinking about that, Beth. If you know of anyone who needs a job tell them to come in and apply."

Relief spread across Beth's face. "I'll get the word out."

The door opened and a nice looking girl walked in. Max noticed that Beth's eyes had darted from the girl to Ryan and then back to the girl. So, this was why Ryan was acting strange. He watched the two sit down at a booth. Notebooks and pens came out. Homework.

"I hope he knows what he's doing," muttered Beth under her breath.

"What did you say, Beth?"

She looked at her dad wide-eyed. "Nothing. It was nothing."

"Beth..."

"She's the girlfriend of Jimmy Valenti."

"Oh." Max glanced at his son. History repeating itself. The girl looked more than happy to be in Ryan's company. Oh boy. He better have a talk with him. They had all came to terms with Kyle, but his kid was a different story. Jimmy was a power keg without a single redeeming quality. Sometimes he forgot how dangerous the town could still be. How Ryan and Beth could still get themselves in trouble.

*****

That night Liz was reading in bed. She reached her hand out to stroke Max's back as he sat down. He had been quiet tonight. Introspective. She put down her book. "What's on your mind?"

"Did you know that Ryan has a crush?"

A slow smile crept across her lips. "Really. I should've guessed. He's sneaky like his father."

"I wasn't sneaky." Max smiled.

She thought briefly back to those early days when just getting him to admit that he wasn't bad for her was a major problem. "Oh yes you were. You liked me and let me go off to Kyle Valenti. It took me getting shot for you to even come close to me. If it wasn't for that you'd probably have never told me."

"You're right." He laid back on the bed. Her arm reached across his naked chest. This was something she never got tired of, she admitted. She kissed his shoulder and looked up innocently at him.

"Are you tired?"

"Tired, not dead."

She laughed. She kissed his shoulder, her hair brushing his chest. She felt him shiver. That was a good sign. His hand went through her hair, then dropped. She raised herself up on his chest. "What?"

Max shook his head. "It's not you."

"Then what? I want you right here with me, Max."

"This girl that Ryan likes...she's Jimmy Valenti's girlfriend."

"I see. Is she interested in Ryan?"

"I think it's safe to say she is. I'm just concerned, Liz. We've been through this. It's not an easy road."

"Is it ever easy?"

"No...no. Do you think I should talk to him?"

Liz thought back when Mrs Evans had snooped in Max's life. Yeah. He had appreciated that. "His dad telling him that he knows his secret desire."

"Not a good idea, then."

Liz shook her head. "He's smart. Just trust him."

"Ok." He bent down and grazed her cheek with his lips. "I'm ready to be right there with you." He whispered in her ear in a low, husky voice.

"Really? I think I'm too tired now." She teased.

Max turned her over in a quick movement and was on top of her causing her to let out a giggle. "You sure?" He questioned, running his hands up her arms. Then he leaned forward and kissed her. A long, deep kiss. The kind that made her feel like 16 all over again.

"I think I might be able to stay awake, Mr Evans." She told him in a breathless whisper.

Taking her bottom lip in his mouth, he kissed it. "I thought you might say that."

She held onto him. She loved him, she loved their kids...their life was perfect. They had earned this.

The End

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