| Secrets In The Past |
| Disclaimer: I don�t own them, just going to borrow them for a little while, I promise to return them when I�m done Rating: PG-13 Category: M/L, everybody E-mail: [email protected] Distribution: Ok, but e mail me first please. Feedback: Yes please. This is the first fic I have ever posted so please be constructive, I bruise easily. Summery: After Max in the City and ARCC. Liz�s secret is taking a tremendous toll on her and her ability to control her new found powers. There is a new girl in town who has something to tell Michael. Isabel is going to find out something not so nice about her past. Someone unexpected could come between Liz and Max. Strange occurrences are plaguing Michael and Liz. On top of everything else, there is an even bigger secret out there (not Future Max). A secret that will send their world spinning out of control and quite possibly take one of them with it. This is the first book in the Past, Present, and Future Trilogy. Secrets in the Past Prologue ________________________________________ Liz woke with a start covered in sweat and panting. She reached for the light while running a hand over her stomach to make sure it had all been just a dream. They had been coming at periodic intervals for a month, now they were coming more often, this was the forth time this week and they were building in its intensity. There were never any clear images just flashes and feelings. It seemed that the lack of visual clarity made the things she heard and feelings she had much stronger, especially the pain. Oh Lord, the pain. It was excruciating, almost tangible. The voices were always crystal and some were even familiar. People shouting, herself screaming, names being shouted. They were ripped from the throats of men and women alike, that and the sobbing. She could tell there was also a struggle going on somewhere in the background. However, tonight there was something new. Something that made all the others pale in comparison. If Liz didn�t know better she could have sworn that Isabel was in this dream and she was letting all this pain happen. Liz shook her head trying to clear it and went into the bath room. Splashing some cold water on her face she glanced into the mirror. God who is that? I don�t even recognize myself anymore. Liz regarded herself with distaste. What have I let myself become? I am lying to everyone, I look like crap most of the time and now I am having nightmares. Its a good thing Mom and Dad went away on that cruse. They probably would have had me committed by now. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A few blocks away someone else was waking up in a cold sweat. �Lillyah! Nooo!� Michael bolted up right in bed with a strangled cry. Panting, he ran a shaking hand through his hair. This was the second time he�d had that dream and it was terrifying. He didn�t know what was going on. Isabel was the one that had premonitions and besides, this felt more like a memory. Who was Lillyah and why on earth were they hurting her? He could never actually see her but he could hear her screaming. Those screams pierced his heart and went straight to his soul. He tried to get to her to stop whoever was hurting her but someone was holding him back. He could hear others screaming for her and women crying. He could never see her and he could never save her. It was the most helpless feeling. One thing was clear, there was someone he was supposed to protect. He just had no idea who it was. Chapter 1 ________________________________________ Michael, Maria, Isabel, and Tess were all sitting at their usual booth in the Crashdown stewing away a boring Sunday afternoon. �So where is Liz? I thought she would be here. She�s not on until later today, right?� Isabel tried to make polite conversation. Something lately was making her on edge. Maybe it was that new waitress. After the trouble with the last new waitress could you blame her for being a little suspicious? �No, she�s not,� Maria responded. �She might be in the back checking inventory, let me go check. Before she could get up the new girl come up to their table. �Hey Maria.� �Oh, Hey Gwyn. Guys this is Gwyn. Gwyn there are our friends, Tess, Isabel, and Michael. Michael works the grill here, too.� She pointed to each one in turn as she introduced them to the new waitress Liz had hired. �Its nice to meet you. Can I get you something?� �Yeah, could we get some cherry cokes and fries?� �Sure, I�ll get your drinks and the fries should be up in just a few minutes.� �Thanks Gwyn.� They watched her walk away from the table to the soda fountain. �There is something really familiar about her.� Tess said sounding a little confused. �Like good familiar or bad familiar?� Isabel turned so she could study the new girl better. �Yeah I feel it to.� Michael stated �Oooo and he speaks.� �Maria,� he sighed. �What? You have been so quiet today. I mean, even more than the usual �I�m a brooding alien, gotta be a tough guy� thing you do.� Isabel and Tess smirked trying to hold in their laughter at Maria�s apt impression. �Ha ha. I�m just a little tired, that�s all.� Maria was about to probe for further explanation but was interrupted by Gwyn and Liz bringing over their order. �Liz, we were wondering where you were.� �I was just in the back doing some inventory.� She tried to sound light but no one missed the fatigue in her voice. Maria was growing increasingly concerned but the others just ignored it. After what she did to Max why should they care if she was not sleeping well? �Liz babe, that is not a good look for you.� Maria jokingly tried to hide her concern for her friend. The others looked up and to Michael it like he was seeing her for the first time in weeks. She was pale and looked like she had lost weight. There were dark circles under her eyes and her hair was pulled pack in a messy pony tail. She wore no make up and baggy sweat pants with a loose tee shirt. Isabel noticed it too. Liz always looked perfect, now she looked positively ill. She looked better when they had been running from the FBI all night than she did right now. �Gee thanks Maria! Sorry, but stocking the cafe is not an exactly clean and glamorous task so I thought I might as well be comfortable.� Glaring at Liz she responded, �That�s not what I mean and you know it. Honey you look like you have not slept in weeks.� Liz looked down sheepishly, �Oh yeah, well, I guess I�m just not used to all the added responsibility yet.� �What added responsibility? We�ve only been back in school a little while.� �No I mean the cafe.� Liz was met by a table full of blank stairs. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers waiting for the scream that she knew was about to come from her best friend. �I guess I forgot to tell you, huh?� she tried to half smile. �Forgot to tell us what Liz?� Maria was getting impatient. �Well, see, my parents decided they wanted to go on a second honey moon. So they left me in charge of the cafe while they are gone.� �Oh, is that it? Don�t worry. We can help out a little. You have taken care of the place while they have been gone before, right? How long are they going to be gone? A week?� �Well, actually... two and a half months maybe three.� �WHAT! Oh my God, Liz. How could you not tell us this? You are staying her all alone for three months? And managing the cafe? And going to school? There is no way you can do all that on your own. Liz, how could you not tell me? I am supposed to be your best friend. I thought we agreed no more secrets between us.� Maria was on a roll now, she got up and started pacing while ranting at Liz. �I mean, what were they thinking? Leaving a teen-age girl alone for that long to run a restaurant by herself? Do they even understand the amount of stress you have been under? I mean school, your usual stuff at the cafe and the currently quiet Czech activity, but who knows how long that will hold.� �Maria, breath.� Michael tried to get his girlfriend to calm down. He knew she was protective of Liz but this was crazy. Liz was a big girl she could take care of herself. Maria responded by throwing up her hand to halt his remarks while never ceasing her own. �I mean who knows when that little twit could come back to kill us all in our sleep. There could be something else or what if there is a problem with the cafe or a burglar, not to mention this whole Max thing that your dealing with and not very well I might add.� �Maria� Liz hissed. Everyone whipped their heads between the two girls. Tess was the first to voice a the question, �What Max thing?� �I umm, I umm, well,� Liz stammered while shooting death glares at Maria. She was so going to die later. Everyone stared expectantly at Liz waiting for an explanation. As she tried to come up with something she felt that little tickle at the back of her mind. Ignoring the others she cocked her head to the side and squinted her eyes in concentration. Maria was about to flip out again when a slow smile spread across Liz�s face and her head snapped up. �Alex!� she exclaimed gleefully as she turned and bolted for the front door of the Crashdown. All four were left sitting in shock. Something was really wrong with Liz. �What the hell was that?� Michael thundered. Turning to Maria for an explanation she didn�t have. He was quickly becoming annoyed with the unexplained events taking place. She was saved as the bells on the front door chimed. Everyone turned to see Liz dragging a pretty buff looking Alex through the door. Squealing with delight Maria launched herself at Alex nearly knocking him down. �Alex! Ohmigod I missed you so much.� �Woah Deluca.� Alex said chuckling. �Between the two of you I�m surprised I didn�t break a rib.� The girls giggled while they both grabbed a hand and drug him over to the booth, which was now filled with three very wide eyed aliens. Isabel could not get over how good Alex looked. Not that he wasn�t cute before, but now he was a full fledged hottie. The girls would be all over him tomorrow. Clearing her throat she tried to speak, �Hi, Alex.� It came out a little shaker than she would have liked. �Hey Iz.� He answered with a shy smile. �France was good to you.� �Oh, yeah well, it was fun.� �Look I hate to interrupt this little meet and greet, by the way nice to have you back Alex,� Michael nodded at him, �but how the hell did you do that Liz.� �Oh yeah, umm that�s just a recent development but I don�t think we should talk about it until the meeting tonight, Ok?� She met his eyes while raising her eyebrows to emphasize that this was not a topic for public consumption. Sighing, he relented. �Fine, but you better have an explanation for all this stuff then.� Liz nodded wearily as she stood. �Alex its great to have you back. Unfortunately I have a ton to do so I better get back at it. I�ll see you guys tonight, right?� �Yeah, we�ll all be there. I�ll fill Alex in too.� Liz nodded before turning to walk away. �Maria may I have a word with you in the back real quick?� Gulping Maria nodded and followed her in to the break room. Once back there, Liz spun on her and pinned her with a steely gaze. �Maria, I can�t believe you just did that. Don�t give me that look, you know very well what I�m talking about. �that Max thing� Geez Maria, one more slip like that and were all toast.� �I know Liz and I�m really sorry. Really I am. I just, I just got so mad. Here you are giving up everything and all you get is more grief and more things to do. Its just not fair. I�m sorry, I�m just worried.� Liz sighed heavily, �I know Maria and your a really great friend. I should never have told you in the first place. I just I couldn�t stand you hating me too.� Her chin quivered as she tried to hold in the tears. Maria grabbed her in a tight hug. �No Liz, I�m glad you told me. Its too much for you to keep all to yourself. If anything it just made me realize all the more what an amazing best friend I have.� Pulling back she kept her hands on her shoulders �But Liz, you need to start taking better care of yourself. The others are starting to notice that something is going on with you.� Liz had a look of complete confusion, Maria sucked in her breath. �You really don�t see it do you?� �See what? What are you talking about Maria?� �Liz,� she started gently, �your losing weight, you look like you have not slept in weeks, your jumpy, your forgetting things, do you want me to go on?� �Maria I don�t know what your talking about. I�m just a little tired, as soon as I get used to juggling things I will be fine. OK?� �Liz,� she started in a firm tone only to be cut off. �Maria, No. As long as there are no more slip ups I will be fine. Now go back out there and spend some time with Alex. I�ll see you guys tonight.� Without another word she walked into the supply room. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Meanwhile back in the cafe.... �OK, what was that?� Isabel was still trying to get over Alex�s appearance while grappling with Liz�s odd behavior. �I have no idea but I intend to find out. She has been acting strange for a while now.� Michael was not happy that he was going to have to investigate Liz but he had to make sure she wasn�t going to lose it and do something stupid. Though he would never admit it, he was worried. He had grown fond of her, she had proven her worth time and time again. He knew Max was still in love with her despite her little stunt which he was positive was fishy. Liz was cunning yes, but she was not cruel. Also, she had spent almost no time with Kyle since then, the whole thing just did not add up. Anyway, he know Max would not want anything bad to happen to her so he kind of felt a duty to keep an eye on her, for Max. �Is she OK? She looks kinda sick and she has lost weight.� Alex was genuinely concerned when he saw Liz barreling down the sidewalk at him. When he finally got a good look at her he noticed she had a pinched pallor to her skin. The bright smile on her face never reached her eyes. Liz had always been so vibrant it was really disturbing to see such a dramatic change. �I don�t know, I have a feeling there is more going on with her than basic stress and Maria knows what it is.� �There was also that thing she did before Alex came in,� Isabel interjected. �Yeah but she said she would explain that tonight. I�m not too worried about it.� �Tonight? Can I assume I am invited to your little shin dig?� Alex asked. �Oh Yeah, Alex sorry. We get together every Sunday night at Michael�s to discus other worldly things and generally hang out,� Isabel explained. �Max�s orders. He decided we were losing a lot of communication and it was really pulling things apart. So we all get together once a week to �bond�.� Michael and Isabel made gagging sounds while Alex laughed. �Hey Tess, you OK?� Isabel asked noticing the girl had been oddly quiet all afternoon. �Huh? Oh, yeah. I was just watching that new waitress, Gwyn. There is something about her. I feel like I know her or something.� She waved her hand at the worried glances from around the table. �I�m sure its nothing. Its probably just her hair I have always wanted that dark red color but I just don�t have the right complexion. And her curls, they are so perfect she must use a bottle of gel a day.� Iz laughed and joined in, �Yeah and tell me those things are fake, please!� The two girls giggled and returned to their fries. However, all three had that uneasy feeling that she was connected to all this somehow. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Gwyn stepped in to the alley when she noticed Tess had stopped watching her. Pulling out her cell she pushed the only number programed into the speed dial. �Yeah hi, its me.� �Yes, I found them.� �No, I thought she might of been the blond girl with Rath, er Michael, but now I don�t. She was too temperamental.� �No, Zan was not here.� �I thought for sure she would be bonding with them by now but maybe I was wrong.� �Well they all hang out here so hopeful she will show up sooner or later. I just hope its not too late. We have to find her before they do.� �Yeah I�ll talk to you later tonight. Bye.� Chapter 2 ______________________________________ It had been such a long day. Liz was so tired. She let the too warm water from the shower pound into her back trying to let all the tension and soreness wash away, but it was not working. The meeting had been strained and something was going on with Michael. He kept staring at her and it was really disconcerting. Maybe Maria was right. Was she letting this get out of hand? Were the others really noticing that she was keeping something? She knew she was tired but that was because of all the added stress, she tried to convince herself. Reaching for the shampoo she tried to push the fear of going to sleep out of her mind. She was really not in the mood for another one of those nightmares. They were so real. She tried not to think about them during the day but she was never fully successful. They were a huge source of her fatigue. Then there was Max. Maybe Maria was right about that too. But what could she do? Keeping up the facade with him was so hard, trying to pretend that she didn�t love him. Hearing her own words �I don�t want to die for you� constantly repeating in her head. It was just so hard to see him everyday and he was starting to be nice to her again. Somehow that was worse than when she thought he hated her. How could she have hurt him so badly and yet he still wanted to be friends? The concern in his eyes earlier that night had nearly brought her to her knees with guilt. He was just the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate person she had ever met. And what did she do? She squashed his heart to a pulp and then had the nerve to ask for his friendship. She was lower than scum. She washed the shampoo from her hair. She would not even admit it to herself but this secret, the way she was having to portray herself to everyone she once held dear, was eating her alive. Maria was right about that. Yet, she really didn�t care anymore. She was not doing anything consciously to hurt herself but she was not stopping it either. She rarely ate because it just gave her something to throw up when the guilt and self loathing became too much to bear. She was not hungry anyway. She took on as much work as possible. If it had been under normal circumstances she would have never convinced her parents to let her run the Crashdown alone, but it gave her a lot of menial work to concentrate on. That's how she got through each day. By doing and working on as many things as possible to not have to think about how she gave away her life for the greater good. The greater good. Hah! That was no comfort at all. If little miss tartlet would not have been so selfish and just hung around no one would be in this situation. No, blaming Tess didn�t work either, not that she didn�t try, but in the end she always managed to convince herself that it was her fault. If she would have just left Max alone like he had asked none of this would have happened. It would have been so much easier if Max had just not been in the Cafe that day. Stepping out of the shower she grabbed the towel off the bar and dried herself. And now there was her completely unknown and out of control powers. Ok so maybe that was a little over dramatic, but really it was scary. Not because they were of an alien origin because, technically, they were not alien. Nesado had told Michael that their powers were nothing that the human mind was not capable of, just highly evolved. No it was the fact that the powers that had manifested themselves were unlike any of the others with the exception of changing molecular structure. That was the really scary one. So far it only happened unintentionally and she could not change it back. The worst had been the sheets. During one of her nightmares she had changed them to the color of blood. When she woke it was almost as scary as the dream itself. The only other things she had been able to do were the astro projection to Max while he was in New York, but she had not been able to do that again. The other thing was being able to sense everyone in the group now. It was like she was a human tracking signal. She could always tell where all seven of the group were and where they were going. If she concentrated she could hone in on the Sheriff too. When they had discussed this at the meeting earlier to say they were a little freaked was an understatement. Tess was upset that the �real� aliens could not do this and Michael, Kyle, and Isabel were not thrilled that Liz would always know where they were. She tried to convince them that she had figured out how to block it if they were not in the immediate vicinity and even when she was not she could only get a general location like at school or in their house. This calmed a few fears. Max, of course, had apologized. He felt guilty that she now had gifts that could make her a possible target. She tried to calm his fears saying that there was nothing he could do and there was nothing that could hurt her so he should just let it go just let it go. She could still tell by the look on his face that he was worried about her. Did he never stop being so wonderful? It was just so horrible of him. Alex had been too shocked to even make his usual remarks. He had missed a lot while he was in France and had to be filled in. It was all a bit much to take in. Maria of course, had completely flipped out and gone into some tirade about aliens, powers, and men in leather pants that not even a Maria filter could help to translate. After putting on her pajamas Liz grabbed her brush and turned to the mirror. Upon seeing her reflection Liz gasped and could no longer hold back the tears that had been threatening all day. She panicked, not know what else to do she grabbed her coat and threw it on over her tank top and flannel bottoms while shoving her feet into her tennis shoes. Then she was out the window, down the ladder, and running as fast as she could into the night. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Max was sitting on the couch trying to find something to watch that could get his mind off the meeting earlier today. Or Rather, to get his mind off Liz at the meeting earlier today. She had looked so tired and overwhelmed. He thought she might be losing weight, Liz was already so small and fragile she could not spare any of the weight she had. Although she had hurt him more than he thought it possible to be hurt, he still loved her. While in New York Max realized that he could stand it if she did not love him, after all for the better part of his life he believed that he would never even get to speak to her. However, he could not stand it if she was not at least some part of his life. He often thought that it was really he who had been saved that day in the cafe, not Liz. She had tough him what it was to be human, to not be in constant fear, to have friends, to love someone and be loved by them. Now he had grown selfish. He could not breath if she was not at least some part of his life even if it was just as a friend. But he would always love her, there was nothing she could do to change that. He was worried about her now. Both as her friend and as the guy who loved her. He had spoken to Maria about it but she had skirted the issue. Saying that she was just a little stressed with her parents leaving her with the cafe and all. Max knew better. Her parents had only left last Friday, Liz looked like she had not slept in weeks. Neither one explained why she was not eating or why she went out of her way to do extra work. Maria might not have noticed these things but Max did. Then there was the powers thing. Max felt terrible about that. Now she was a target just like him. Was there nothing more he could do to screw up her life? She tried to convince him that it was not a big deal but he didn�t buy it. There was so much they did not know. Why was she getting powers none of the others had? Were there going to be any more? Then there was this whole not being able to control them. That could get her into real trouble. Who knows when and where it was going to happen? It just made him feel awful that he was responsible. The doorbell snapped him out of his reverie. Normally he would have let someone else answer it but even though it was after midnight he was the only one home. His parents had gone to a law conference in Arizona and Isabel was out God knows where with some guy she couldn�t care less about. He shuffled to the door flipping the hall light on his way. He had no idea who would ring the bell this late but nothing could have prepared him for what he found. There, standing on his doorstep, in her pajamas, sobbing, was a very blonde Liz Parker. Chapter 3 ______________________________ Michael paced anxiously around his living room. What the hell was going on with him? After the meeting tonight he was sure he was losing it. First he was having those dreams that left him shaken for hours and now he seemed to be developing some kind of empathic power. At least that was what he hoped. Yes, that must be it. He was developing a new power. Never mind the fact that most of the mental type powers were usually specific to female hybrids, there was just no other explanation. Still, there was the one nagging question that he could not avoid. If he was developing a new empathic power, then why was it that the only person he was reading was Liz Parker? All during the meeting he could tell exactly what emotions were going through her. Every time she looked at Max she was filled with grief and pain, why he had no idea. She was the one who pushed him away, that was what she wanted, wasn�t it? She was really excited about the new tracking device power thingy, a little confused by it but excited. She was petrified about not being able to control the molecular structure thing. There was something she was not telling them about, something that was really upsetting her but she felt she could handle it. Underlying it all was an overall sense of guilt, deep, penetrating, soul sucking guilt. When Michael felt it leak into his consciousness he was worried it might pull him into the abyss along with her. What did Liz have to feel that terrible about? Sure she had slept with Kyle and hurt Max, but if she were going to feel that badly about it she would never have done it in the first place. There was something weird going on here. He was actually worried about her. Why? She was never worried about him, she just went along with the ride in the beginning to be near Max. Now she was stuck, like the mob. There was no way out of what she had gotten herself into. She simply knew to much. They all did. He cursed himself for the hundredth time for allowing the four humans to become a part of this. It was really only a matter of time before they got hurt. He just prayed to any and all gods that when that time came it was not Maria. Maria. He really did love her. I mean, you would have to to put up with all the crap I take from her, he smirked to himself. He didn�t know what he would do if anything happened to her let alone if it was his fault. He cared about her just as much as Max did Liz, he just showed it in different ways. Oh Liz, right. Back to the subject at hand. What was with this weird pull to her? It was really starting to freak him out. It wasn�t that he did not like her. It was just that he blamed her for a lot of their problems. Was it unfair to her? Yes. Was it easier to have someone tangible to blame? Most definitely. If Max had just let her die things would be so much different. But then he probably would have never meet Maria. This was the vicious circle his thoughts went around in time and time again. Sometimes Liz came out on top sometimes she didn�t. Anyway, this whole pull thing. It was not an attraction like he felt towards Maria, Liz was a little too sweet and clean cut for him. He liked his girls with more fire and passion. It was not like Max to Liz either. That was a the whole moth to a flame thing, no matter how many times he got burned he kept going back for more. No, he didn�t feel the whole soul mate connection to her. So then, what the hell was it that was pulling him to her? Not to mention that now he was starting to know what her emotions were. He decided to not tell the others about this for a little while. At least �till he had a little better idea of what was going on. Something in him said that it could put someone in danger if they knew, he just didn�t know who. Besides it would probably kill Max to know that for some reason Michael also had a connection to Liz. All the pacing was finally wearing him down but now he realized the idea of going to bed was not so thrilling either. He dreaded going to sleep just to hear Lillyah�s painful screams. He had no idea who Lillyah was or who was hurting her but it nearly killed him to know that someone was. Michael thought about asking Isabel about it, but decided against it for the same reasons he did not tell Max about Liz. Something undeniable told him not to. The connection to Lillyah was stronger than any other he had ever felt. Which was weird because he was pretty sure she didn�t exist. That it was just something in his screwed up head trying to work itself out. Even if she had existed she was most likely dead now. Either way, there was no way for him to protect her and no way to escape her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Not too far away a certain auburn haired waitress was also ringing her hands and pacing. Gwyn had no idea what to do. She was so sure she would have been able to find her by now. The prophecy was quite clear that the four would find her and keep her close while not knowing the truth. It was so much safer that way. The thought kept creeping into her mind that maybe she was too late, maybe the sacrifice had already happened. No, she reprimanded herself. Although she had yet to see Zan, the others did not look grief stricken. Certainly after the sacrifice everything would fall apart just as it had before. She needed to stop that part of the prophecy at all costs. Then there was the little troll. It was unclear if that would come before or after the sacrifice but either way he had to be stopped. The rumors were already rampant that he had found her. That he knew who she was but was unwilling to tell even his closest allies. He was still a man obsessed and he would do whatever it took to get to her. He was just biding his time until he could swoop in and grab her. It would be even worse this time if she fell in to his hands. She was now the key, although very few people knew that little tid bit. If he got the Granolith and her, there would be no stopping him. All would be lost and the last fifty years of waiting and planning would be for nothing. Chapter 4 __________________________________ Max sucked in his breath. Liz was on his porch crying. And she was blonde. And she was in her jammies. He was so shocked that he just stood and stared at her for a moment. Liz sniffled and wiped her hand over her eyes trying to compose herself in front of Max. She had no idea why she came here. Maybe Isabel could fix it. She was good at these kinds of things. God, he was just staring at her with his mouth hanging open. He was probably thinking what a fool she was, she could not even handle a basic dye job. Max shook himself when he realized he was just staring at her. Great Max! Make her feel worse than she already does by staring at her like she�s a freak. �Liz,� he whispered softly, his eyes filling with compassion. Opening the door wider he stepped to one side so she could pass into the house. He placed his hand gently on the small of her back and guided her towards the kitchen. Passing a mirror in the hall Liz caught sight of her reflection and promptly burst into another round of tears. Unable to stand it any more Max stopped and enfolded her in his arms. Before she could stop herself Liz wrapped her arms around his waist and held on for dear life. She buried her face into his chest and let all her problems and pain soak the from of his shirt. The way he was rhythmically stroking her back and rocking from side to side was so comforting she started to calm down within seconds. How did he always do that? He always knew how to make her feel better. They stood there for a few long minutes in silence. Only the sounds of Liz�s occasional whimpers and his even breathing filling the quiet house. This is the way it was supposed to be. Max was supposed to be able to comfort her when she was upset. Even if it was for such a stupid reason. She was supposed to be able to be wrapped in his arms and breath in his warm scent. Of course, things do not always go as they are supposed to. Sometimes worlds collided and then ended and people who were good and honest got hurt. Max sighed contentedly. He was in heaven. He had Liz in his arms and was able to breath in the intoxicating scent of her perfect, even when flaxen, hair. Though she was so visibly upset being able to comfort her, that she had come to him for comfort, made him feel like he was walking on air. His mind instantly started to spin with possibilities. Did this give him hope? Or was she just looking for a friend? Why was she so upset? Its not like this was not fixable. She felt so tiny in his embrace. She was always so strong, so brave. He found it hard to believe so much strength came in such a small, fragile package. Speaking of small, she was losing weight. He could feel her ribs as he rubbed small circles on her back. He would have to talk to her about that later. For now he would just offer her what she needed. Whatever that was. Feeling like she could let go of him with out drowning Liz slowly, reluctantly, pulled away. Max let her go a little but kept his hands bracing her shoulders. She kept her eyes on the floor not willing to meet his gaze out of the utter embarrassment she felt. Usually it was not a good idea to show up at your ex�s house in the middle of the night sobbing. Liz could not believe she had let herself go in front of Max. How selfish was she? Accurately sensing her embarrassment at her unexpected outburst, Max tried to break the ice. �You know if you were thinking of going for a change I think maybe highlights would be better. If you go blonde the school is going to think we are starting a cult or something.� He said in a light tone. She didn�t raise her eyes but he could see the beginning of a small smile and heard a little giggle at his reference to her being the only non blonde in the group. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders he continued to guide her towards the kitchen. �Would you like some tea? I think Isabel has something she says calms her down around here somewhere,� he asked as he steered her into a chair at the table. Finally looking up with a shy, grateful smile she nodded. �Yeah that would be really nice. If it�s not too much trouble.� �Not at all.� He went to put the kettle on. �Max I can�t tell you how sorry I am.� �About what?� he turned to look at her. �About all this. Showing up here in the middle of the night when I have no right to ask for your help. Not being able to control my powers. Completely losing it and slobbering all over you.� �Liz stop,� he came to sit next to her while waiting for the kettle to boil. �You have nothing to be sorry about. I am really glad you came because truthfully... blonde is just not you.� Liz rolled her eyes and smiled indulgently at him. �Hey this was so not my idea. If I were going to change my hair blonde would not be the way I would go.� �Good thing too. Iz would never stand for another beautiful blond.� He gave her a half smile as her head shot up at his comment. He continued before she could respond. �But really Liz, you have nothing to be sorry about. If anything I should be the one that�s sorry. I did this to you.� �Oh for pete sake Max. Would you stop with the guilt trips. I really can�t take it anymore,� she was starting to get irritated. �There is nothing you could do. There are really two choices here. Me with powers or me dead. Take your pick.� �Liz.� it was more a command than a statement. She knew how he felt about that subject so she dropped it before he got any tenser. It did seem to get her point across, though. The kettle whistled and Max got up to make the tea. Max took a deep breath and started again. �Liz?� �yeah?� �I thought we agreed to be friends.� The weary tone in his voice made Liz panic. Had she over stepped her bounds by coming here? Was he regretting letting her back in? �Yes! I... I mean of course we�re friends. Unless... unless you d-don�t want to be.� Liz played with her hands trying not to gag from the absolute fear she was feeling at losing him again. �No!� Max practically shouted. �I- I mean of course I want us to be friends,� he exhaled when he saw that she was also visibly relieved. �That�s not what I meant.� He carried the two tea cups to the table and sat down before continuing. �Liz, we�re friends. That means we are there for each other when something is wrong or we�re upset or we need someone to talk to.� Liz nodded but didn�t look up from her apparently fascinating tea cup. Max continued, �you were there for me on Christmas when I really needed a friend. Please let me return the kindness and be here for you now.� He leaned forward and covered her hand with his. �I�m a really good listener Liz, I can help you if you let me. Please.� She finally looked up into his amber eyes that were pleading with her to let him in. Even if just a little. Nodding her acquiescence Max exhaled giving her a wide grin. �Well, good. Now that that�s been established. Lets get one more thing straight. The whole powers thing is not your fault either. Michael and I have had our powers all our lives and we are just learning how to control some of them. You remember last year when Michael blew up Maria�s car?� �Oh my gosh! I totally forgot about that. Maria was so pissed.� Liz genuinely laughed for what seemed like the first time in weeks. �Right, so we just have to figure out what seems to set them off and teach you to reverse the effects. It should not take to long. Your a smart girl.� �O gee your so kind.� �I know,� he grinned at her mock glare. Things were going better than Max could have predicted. She did scare him to death for a minute when he thought she didn�t even want to be friends, but thank God that was not the case. They were actually having a nice conversation without any awkward silences or uncomfortable body language. For once they had managed to become completely at ease and banter amicably like close friends were supposed to do. Maybe every thing would be Ok. For the first time in weeks Liz felt a little bit of hope inching into the black void of despair she had covering her heart. Maybe they really could go back to being friends. Of course there would always be the slight undercurrent of sexual tension but if she could just learn to ignore it maybe she could live with having Max as a friend. Maybe they could move on from the total destruction she had made of both their lives. When Max had looked in to her eyes just now there was only an inkling of that sharp pain that she used to see there. That pain that she had put there and pierced her heart every time she caught his eye. It was still there but it had diminished, weakened some. She was astonished there had been no pity in his voice or eyes when he offered his friendship. She only saw concern. �So what else has been bothering you?� Before she could respond that it was nothing Max stopped her. �No Liz, you promised. You forget, I know you. You don�t become hysterical and run to people�s houses in your pajamas just because of a problem with your hair.� He eyed her expectantly while she seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of telling him what was really wrong. Finally, she sighed in defeat. She obviously could not tell him *everything* but she could tell him some other things. There was always the possibility that it really would help to talk about it. �Well, the stuff with the Crashdown is a little more difficult and time consuming than I had expected. I mean, I am only one person.� She looked up to see if that had satisfied him. It hadn�t. �Go on. How come your not sleeping?� she tried to look confused but he saw right through her. �You really are going to make me drag this out of you one word at a time aren�t you? Liz, you look exhausted. Its really obvious to everyone that your not sleeping and its not just from the added responsibility. We�ve all noticed it, Liz. We�re worried about you.� A sudden thought occurred to Max, he gasped and rushed on, �You�re not sick are you? God Liz! You would tell me if you were sick right?� Liz whipped her head up to meet the terrified look in his eyes. �Max! Calm down. I am not sick. Tired, but not sick. I swear.� He relaxed back into his chair and released the breath he didn�t know he was holding. Still keeping her gaze locked with his, he reached for her hand again. �Then tell me Liz, what's wrong?� She tried to look away but was unable to do so. She had no other choice that to tell him something. �I have just been having some nightmares that's all.� �Nightmares? What kind of nightmares?� �Well... I never really remember. I know they are terrifying because I always wake up shaking. I can never really see anything its... its kind of like an impressionist painting, all blurry and faded. But then there is the pain.� �The Pain? What pain? Your in pain in the dream?� �Yeah umm, its pretty intense. Like a burning and stabbing through my abdomen. Sometimes... umm, sometimes it still hurts a little when I wake up.� She chewed on her lip while she waited for his reaction. He was still holding onto her hand but was now squeezing it tight. �God... Liz,� he said softly. �Why didn�t you tell me?� �Well, you were already dealing with so much with the summit and all, I didn�t want to add to that.� �The summit? Liz, the summit was in November how long has this been going on?� �Umm I�m not really sure since around Christmas, I think.� Max was on his feet and pulling her into a tight embrace before she could say boo. �Liz, I�m so sorry. We�ll fix it, I promise,� he mumbled into her hair. He felt so guilty. There had to be someway this was connected to him. Then he had a thought. Pulling back he looked into her eyes to be sure he got a true response. �Liz was this the same time you changed the color of your sheets? You said you tossed them before anyone could change them back.� Chewing on her lip again she nodded, �yeah, I woke up after a really intense one and they were the color of fresh blood.� Max sucked in his breath at her admission but she rushed on. �I didn�t really want anyone to see them because I knew they would create questions. I mean, it was a very realistic looking color.� Shaking his head he sank back down into his chair. He refrained from apologizing because that seemed to upset her and that was the last thing he wanted. Instead he grabbed onto the other little bit of information that was spawning a plausible idea. �What else have you changed beside your sheets and your hair? Unintentionally, I mean.� Not quite sure where he was going with this, Liz tried to think about it, �well, earlier today I changed all the new napkins at the Crashdown pink.� Max chuckled. �yeah I know its hysterical. Anyway, my book bag has changed a couple of times, the towels in the shower once and justthatoneotherthingandthatsit,� she rushed out. �What? what was the one other thing?� A deep blush started to creep up her neck to her cheeks as she dropped her face into her hands. �Well, my umm, my uhh, my underwear.� There, she said it. �Your underwear?� Max asked, trying to cover the crack in his voice. �Yeah,� she raised her head slowly to see if he was laughing at her. �It umm ...it changes colors?� He asked, hoping it would not sound like he was picturing Liz Parker in tecnicolor satin and lace. Liz finally smirked at how ridicules this whole conversation was. �Yeah, when I put them on in the morning they are one color when I go to bed at night they are a different one. Socks too. Anything under my clothes come to think about it. I was wearing a skirt last Tuesday. When I put it on my slip it was black, when I went change for work it was sky blue.� Max was getting just a little overheated talking about Liz�s underwear. He said he wanted to be friends but this was not exactly what he had meant. He was still in love with the girl for pete sake! Didn�t she know she was about to give him a heart attack? He tried to joke to pull him from his impure thoughts. �Wow. That's some trick. You�ll have to teach Isabel, she�ll be green with envy.� �Oh yeah, as soon as I figure out how to do it intentionally I�ll give her a buzz.� �Right. Well anyway, what I was thinking was that the color changes seem to happen with your heightened emotions. Like the sheets and your dream. The napkins were right after Alex got back, am I right?� �Hey, yeah! I never thought of that. When I was washing my hair I was thinking about how tired I was but dreading going to bed. I just happened to be washing my hair. Weird. Now if I could just learn to control it.� �Well, diagnosing the problem is half way to treatment.� �Funny, Dr. Evens. Your just totally hysterical� �I like to think so,� Max was about to broach the subject of why she was not eating but was cut off by Isabel coming in. �Max, what are you still doing u-� Isabel started to ask seeing the light on in the kitchen but stopped in her tracks when she saw Liz Parker sitting at the table in a seemingly intimate moment with her brother. �Oh sorry, I didn�t know you were here Liz.� �It�s OK Iz, it was not exactly on my list of things to do today either.� It was then that she noticed Liz�s hair. �Oh no, I don�t think so.� She dropped her purse on the counter and made a bee line of Liz�s head. �I�m sorry Liz, but blonde is just not you,� and with one sweep of her hand Liz�s hair turned back to its natural color. Liz sighed and smiled gratefully while running her hands through her hair. Max laughed at his sisters actions, �see I told you she would never allow another blonde.� She glared and slapped him on the arm. �Hey! Ow!� �I take it this was unintentional,� she continued while ignoring Max. �Yeah, it just sorta happened and I kinda had a little melt down and wound up here. Max was really nice though.� She gave him a sweet smile while he scratched the back of his head trying to hide his embarrassment. �Don�t worry about it, I understand. I would freak if I did that to my hair too.� �Isabel!� �What?� she turned to her brother �You know what,� he said warningly, Iz rolled her eyes at him. �Hey, where were you? Its almost 2 am on a school night. Please tell me you were not with Grant.� �No Dad, I wasn�t with Grant. Not that its any of your business but I was with Alex. He brought me a few things from Paris.� �Oh, Ok.� Max smiled at the rose hue that was now covering his sister�s cheeks. �Isabel would it be ok with you if Liz slept on the couch? Mom and Dad won�t be home until tomorrow afternoon.� A little confused but willing to go along to make Max happy, she consented. �Yeah sure, whatever you want Max. You can borrow some of my clothes in the morning Liz. Not that they will fit you. You know you are looking too thin lately?� Deciding to ignore Isabel�s comments for the moment, Liz turned to Max. �That�s really nice of you Max, but I just want to go home. I don�t want to impose on you guys. You have already done enough.� �Liz, come on, its really no trouble. Besides maybe a night somewhere else will break the cycle, and after what you told me I don�t like the idea of you being alone when you wake up.� Not wanting to argue or prompt further questions from Isabel, Liz accepted. �OK, but will you take me home in the morning so I can get my books and stuff?� �Yeah, of course. I suggest we all get some sleep now. Liz there are blankets and pillows in the hall closet and help yourself to anything in the fridge.� She smiled and nodded, he was always so sweet. About to turn with Isabel to go up stairs he stopped and strode back to Liz. He gripped he shoulders and let himself fall into her wide, doe eyes for a moment. �You promise you will come get me if you need anything?� he asked in a husky whisper. A mellow �yeah� was all she could respond, she would agree to anything if it meant that she got to look into his eyes for a little longer. Nodding, Max leaned forward and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead. Then he turned from a still shell shocked Liz to escort Isabel upstairs. �Max, what was that all about?� she whispered loudly. �She�s been having nightmares. I�ll tell you about it later. Let�s just get some sleep.� �OK,� sighing she retired to her room for the night. Chapter 5 __________________________________________ Three days later... Maria approached the table in the quad where almost everyone was gathered to eat lunch. �Hey guys, where are Max and Liz?� she asked as she sat down between Alex and Michael. �Max went to drag her out of the bio lab. He�s really not happy with her lack of dietary balance lately,� Isabel explained. �Oh, I know! Alex and I practically had to tie her to a chair last night to get her to eat dinner.� Tess turned her attention briefly to the conversation while still keeping close watch on Kyle playing touch football farther down the knoll. �Max mentioned something about her not eating enough a couple days ago. You don�t think she developing some kind of disorder do you?� Maria was too shocked by Tess�s seemingly genuine display of concern to answer. �Maria close your mouth,� Alex chided before answering Tess, �I know I have only been back for about a few days but it seems like something else. Have you guys noticed her acting strange at all? I remember when we were in grade school, Liz broke a window or something and it got blamed on someone else. Maria convinced her to not tell and Liz felt so guilty about it she completely stopped eating. She just could not handle not telling the truth or someone else getting hurt. It was not intentional, she really didn�t even know she was doing it. She just wasn�t hungary. Do you remember that Maria?� �Yes, but we differ on a few points. Anyway, I�m sure its nothing. You know Liz, she�s just been working herself too hard lately,� she tried to throw them off the trail. Michael saw the nervous look in her eyes and was going to accuse her of knowing something more but was cut off by Isabel. �Has she had any more nightmares?� This, of course, got Michael�s attention. �Nightmares? Liz didn�t say anything about nightmares to me. Did she tell you about it Alex?� �Nope, this is news to me.� �She told Max that she had been having these really vivid and painful nightmares but he wouldn�t give me any specifics. Now that I think about it, Max said that getting her to tell him was like pulling teeth.� �When was this?� �The other night, when she turned her hair blonde. Max said that it just kinda sent her over the edge, she was really upset. She showed up at our house in the middle of the night sobbing. She really didn�t tell you guys any of this?� �No. But let me tell you she is defiantly going to hear about it now. She is supposed to be my best friend, I thought we dealt with these things together.� �Maybe it wasn�t about you Maria,� Michael finally voiced an opinion. �Dreams can be really privet. Maybe she just didn�t want you to freak like you are now. Not to mention we have all been kinda busy with evil aliens trying to take over the planet. Or have you forgotten?� Michael didn�t mean to snap at her but he was slightly freaked himself. Liz was also having bad dreams and hers were painful. Then there was that whole empath trick he pulled at the meeting the other day. This was just getting weirder and weirder. And not in a good way. �No dorkbutt, I didn�t forget about your little war. I�m just worried about Lizzy. She used to tell me everything and now she�s so closed off,� and its not all about the Max/Kyle thing she continued to herself. �Well, anyway,� Isabel continued, �Max thinks that if we all make an effort to include her a little more, which in Max speak means watch her like a hawk, maybe we can help her or at least snap her out of this thing and get her to eat again.� �You know, with her staying at the Crashdown alone we�re going to have to take turns making sure she eats dinner. I have to work tonight so I can be there. Maybe we can work out a schedule.� �Oh yeah Cheesehead, its not going to be really obvious when we start rotating shifts with a sign up sheet for Liz�s feedings.� �Geez Michael� Tess interjected, �you don�t have to be so mean about it. I think its a nice thing to do. Liz is our friend and we don�t want anything to happen to her.� This time Maria was not the only one in shock at what Tess had just said. �What? I can�t be nice to the girl? OK, fine. I was talking to Kyle and he kinda made me see her in a different light, that�s all. Its not like we�re going to start having sleep overs or anything but the least I can do is be nice and show a little concern. Just the fact that she tolerates my presence at all shows what a good person she is and I don�t want anything, bad to happen to her. I never did.� Maria was the first to break the silence, �Michael, I think you need to start hanging out with Kyle some more.� Everyone laughed except Michael who glared at the whole situation. He was about to respond but was once again cut off when he saw Max carrying a very frustrated looking Liz across the quad to the table. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Liz turned to lean on the lab table and watch the door waiting for Max. She could tell he was coming. This whole sensing everyone thing was pretty cool. She always knew roughly where they were. Alex and Maria had tried repeatedly to sneak up on her but it never, ever worked. Right now everyone was in the quad, eating lunch she guessed, except Kyle. He was set a few yards down, probably playing some kind of sport. �Hey,� she said as Max entered. �Hey. We�re you waiting for someone?� Liz raised her eyebrows, �I knew you were coming. Remember, human tracking device?� She tapped her forehead with her index finger. Max chuckled, �right, I almost forgot. You can�t turn it off?� �I can turn it down but when one of you comes close or is coming towards me the volume, I guess you could say, turns itself up.� �The volume? You hear things?� �Well, yes and no. Its like a vibration, kind of a hum. Like a refrigerator or heart monitor. Its Ok Max, I really don�t notice it unless I want to. Remember, I had this for over a year before we knew about it. Now I just know how to tweak it a little.� �Well, if your sure.� He was not convinced but seeing that she was getting annoyed with his line of questioning, he change the subject. �So, how did you sleep? Anymore bad dreams?� A wide grin spread across her face and he was positive his knees were going to give way any minute. �Nope. I think you were right. A night away from my bed really seemed to help,� she exhaled, �and talking to you about it.� It was his turn to blind her with a smile. Her stomach flip flopped while she tried to go on, �you were right. I should have told someone about it. I told you and now they�re gone. Poof! Thank you very much. My hero, once again.� Impulsively, she leaned up giving him a peck on the cheek. Max blushed and looked away for a moment. He didn�t want her to see how blissfully happy that little gesture had made him. Clearing his throat to compose himself, he picked up his end of the conversation. �Well, I�m glad. I don�t like seeing you so tired.� �Nope, you fixed it. Was there something else you wanted to ask me?� �No, I am just here to escort you to lunch.� �Max, that�s really nice of you but I have some stuff I have to catch up on here. Why don�t you just go join the others and I�ll see you later.� �Liz, no. You are coming to lunch and that's the end of the discussion.� Liz moved her hands to her hips and humphed in indignation at Max�s command. �Is that so? Max I�m sorry, but I just don�t have time today and that's all there is to it.� �There is nothing here that you can�t do after school or tomorrow. You have not come to lunch all week and you are going to eat today.� �Max I can�t. I have too much work to do and besides that, I�m not hungry.� �Liz, according to Maria you�re never hungry. Have you not noticed that you are getting too thin?� �You talked to Maria about this?� She was really pissed now. �Yes, I�m worried about you Liz, we all are. You need to eat more or you are going to get sick. Now you are coming to lunch and that's final.� �Is that so? Max I am not one of your soldiers. You can not order me around. I will eat my lunch when I want to and right now I want to finish my lab.� �Liz, don�t make me do something you will regret.� �What�s that supposed to mean?� �Exactly that. I�m giving you one more chance to come willingly.� When Liz stood her ground glaring at him, not believing he would do anything, he proved her wrong. Striding purposeful up to her, in one foul swoop he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Locking his arm over her legs so she couldn�t kick him he turned out of the lab and towards the quad. �MAX!� Liz squealed. �What are you doing? Oh my God Max! Put me down this instant!� �I�m sorry Liz, but you gave me no other choice.� �No other choice? NO OTHER CHOICE?! How about letting me finish my lab in peace instead of dragging me off like some over sexed barbarian?� �Trust me Liz I am *not* over sexed,� he smirked trying to forget that her cute little rear was inches from his face. �Max put me down right now, your causing a scene,� she whined while beating her fists in to his back. �Oww. Has anyone ever told you you have really bony fists? And I�m not the one causing a scene, you�re the one who�s yelling and carrying on.� �Max, I swear if you don�t put me down I will not be held responsible for what happens.� �Liz, don�t say things you don�t mean� he responded patronizingly. He was now walking through the quad. He waved and flashed a grin at his friends when he caught sight of them. �Damn it Max! Put. Me. Down. NOW!� They came to the table where their friends were all grinning and trying not to burst into laughter. It was nice to see Max and Liz getting along, so to speak, again. Even Tess was smiling with soft eyes. �Ok, if I put you down do you promise not to hurt me?� �No.� �Fine. I told you you were too thin. I figure I could keep you there for at least a couple more hours.� �You wouldn�t dare.� �Care to test that theory?� �Fine, fine I promise. Just put me down.� Bending over he placed her feet gently on the ground but kept a hand wrapped around one of her wrists. �I can not believe you just did that!� She started in while gaining her balance and pushing her hair out of her face. �What is wron-� she finally got a look at him and promptly burst into a rolling fit of laughter. This of course started the rest of the table howling. Max was laughing too until he realized that everyone was laughing at him. Noting his confusion Alex attempted to give him a clue. �You know Max, that�s a great color for you. Very umm... bright.� �What? What are you...� Max looked down to see that Liz had changed his shirt to a very vibrant lime green. He turned back to Liz who had tears rolling down her cheeks. She left his side to sit down next to Isabel and across from Michael. �I told you I would not be held responsible, but *Ohh No*. You didn�t believe me.� Max came to sit between her and Tess �I suppose I deserved that.� �Your darn right you deserved it. With how angry I was your lucky that's the only thing I changed.� �Here babe.� Maria handed Liz a lunch sack. �I figured you would *forget* your lunch so I brought you one. Its your fav., peanut butter with strawberry jam and vanilla pudding.� �Thanks Maria, you are too good to me.� �I know,� she flashed her an evil grin while both girls laughed. Everyone held their breath as Liz opened the pudding and took a bite. They all relaxed and returned to their normal conversation, grateful that Liz was not going to put up a fight on this one. �Liz, you said that Max was lucky you didn�t change anything else because you were upset. Does this mean you guys have a hypothesis on your amazing color changing trick?� �MmmHmmm,� Liz started while still swallowing her pudding. �Yeah, didn�t we tell you?� She asked looking around the table only to be greeted by heads shaking. �Sorry, I must have forgot,� she sighed meekly shifting her gaze to her pudding. This caused more concerned glances to be exchanged around the table. Max picked up the explanation trying to take the attention off her, �yeah, we figured out that when Liz changes the color of things it seems to be linked to a change in emotion.� �Explain more please.� Maria demanded �Well, like just now, she was umm, not happy, and she changed my shirt. When she changed the color of the sheets a couple weeks ago it was because of a bad dream. Do you understand?� �Yeah, so is this like, going to go on forever or can she learn to control it?� �I�m sure I can learn to control it. It will just take a little time.� �Right, maybe we can take turns practicing with you. If you could learn how to do it intentionally maybe it would be easier to keep it from happening it on its own.� �Yeah, sure, sounds good.� �Liz have you changed anything else lately besides the things you have told us about.� Isabel attempted to move the conversation along. Liz threw a warning look to Max, he nodded knowing what she didn�t want him to say. �Yeah, my book bag changes a couple times a week and I turned all the napkins in the cafe pink.� �Wait. You changed all of them? Not just the ones you were touching?� Tess asked. �Yeah, why?� Tess glanced at Max to see if he knew where she was going. �That's not just changing structure, that's a whole different power. Liz your a lot more powerful than you think you are.� �Are you sure? �Cause, I was really happy at the time.� �Yeah I�m sure. We can�t change structure unless we are in direct contact or very near the object. What you did... I have only seen Nesado and Nicholas do.� �Wow,� was pretty much all anyone could say. �Would you mind if I worked with you a little?� Liz smiled at the girls offer, it would be good to get to know Tess a little better. She had really been much nicer since she had been living with Kyle. If it were not for the fact that she had spent the better part of a year trying to steal her true love they might have been friends. Maybe she could give her a few more tips on getting Max to notice her. Now that she knew that was the way it had to be, Liz wanted Max to be happy even if it was not with her. Liz had him as a friend and that was all she would ever be. She might as well be friends with his, gulp, wife. �Yeah Tess. I would like that. Thanks.� �I have now officially entered the twilight zone,� Maria mumbled �Max, I�m sorry about your shirt.� �You are not. Don�t lie Liz.� �Fine, I�m not, so there.� She stuck her tongue out at him. Everyone laughed things were actually feeling almost normal. They continued to banter lightly teasing Liz about her emotions getting out of hand, and Isabel filling her in on the wide world of nail polish and matching lipstick that awaited her. They talked about normal teenage things like teachers, movies, and tomorrows history test. Not about who was coming to kill them or interstellar summits and clones. Little did they know the secrets that would soon be revealed. Secrets that would rip apart everything that one of them had ever known. Secrets that would put them all in danger. Secrets that could potently forge and destroy relationships. Secrets that could pull not one but two worlds apart at the seams. Secrets that could kill. The Lost Conversations Pt 1 Tess and Kyle ________________________________ This is the conversation Tess mentioned in part 4 between her and Kyle. It takes place after the meeting that occurred after part 1. ________________________________ The tension in the mustang was palpable. Kyle was driving he and Tess back to his house after the meeting at Michael�s and he was livid. It was a good thing he was driving because it gave him something to concentrate on other than yelling at Tess. She knew he was angry but really didn�t care. The night had been a total disaster for her. Pulling into the driveway with a screech, Tess jumped from the car and slammed the door. Kyle hurried in behind her. He caught her as she was heading into his room. �Tess, wait a minute. I want to talk to you please,� he growled, barely controlling his anger. �Kyle, I really am not in the mood right now, just chill �till the morning. OK?� �No Tess, now.� Taking a deep breath to try to calm himself, he continued in a slightly more even tone. �Look, My dad and I have been extremely gracious inviting you, indefinitely, into our home. I even gave you my bed. The least you can do is listen to what I have to say for ten freaking minutes.� Tess crossed her arms and plopped onto the couch with a �humph�. �Fine. I�m listening.� Kyle paced for a minute mumbling a few unintelligible phrases to calm himself and get his thoughts together. Exploding at her would not help the situation and it would not help his karma either. Finally he came to rest in the new recliner across from the couch. �Tess, this evening you behaved like a spoiled brat. I know everything is not going the way you always expected it to go and things are a little tense right now but do you really think you will get what you want by acting this way? �I know you don�t like Liz, but really, the way you have been treating her is completely unacceptable. I don�t expect you to become best friends but I think you should at least give her the respect she deserves.� �Respect? Are you kidding Kyle? That little girl does not deserve my respect. Especially tonight, she was horrible, going on and on about powers she should not even have. Max giving her all those guilty looks. After all she has done to destroy his life she is the last one that deserves my respect.� �Max, fine lets bring Max into this. How about the fact that Max would be dead if it were not for Liz. All four of you would be. She has put her life and everything she is into protecting you guys. She lied to her friends, is now estranged from her mother, was arrested, stalked by the FBI, and faced a whole town of skins just to protect you guys.� Kyle continued before she could form a rebuttal, �tonight was horrible Tess. If you were not so caught up in yourself you would have noticed that all Liz did tonight was explain exactly what her powers were. If you were not so busy being jealous for no reason you would have seen that she is scared to death at her inability to control them. Not because she thinks it will hurt her but because it might expose the four of you. Every single thing she does every day is to help you . Not just Max, Michael, and Isabel, but you too. She fell in love with Max but she loves his family too.� �If she really loved him it would not have been so easy for her to give him up.� Kyle laughed but it contained no mirth. �Are you insane. Easy? Have you even seen her lately? Tess, giving Max up was the hardest thing she has ever done. It was so hard that she could not even be in the same state for three months. It almost killed her. But she did it any way, she gave him up, to you Tess. She gave him to you, twice, because she thought it was the right thing to do. That he was better off without her even if it meant she would never have anyone for the rest of her life. When she came back from Florida Max was hers for the taking but she resisted so that you could have your stupid destiny. �And during all of this did she ever once ask you to back down and give her a chance, no. She continued to be nice to you and tolerate your presence and constant scathing remarks. Even when both Max and Liz made it clear it was over you refused to give her a break. �Did you notice how Max was barely speaking to you when we left? I did. You were even starting to become friends after your little trip to New York. Well, that�s all going to go to hell if your not nicer to her. You have to realize that even if he can�t have her he still loves her. She will always be his first love and you have absolutely no chance with him if you do not behave decently towards Liz. �You know, I really though that you were starting to turn around. We had so much fun at Christmas. I thought that I could become really good friends with the girl who made dinner for my dad and invited over the woman he had a crush on. I really liked that girl. Where did she go Tess? Was it all an act because Max was busy with his family? I can guarantee that Max would like that girl a lot better than the one that's been parading around lately. Maybe if you were not constantly hanging on him it would give him a chance to get over her and open a place in his heart for you.� Tess was now staring at the couch unable to look him in the eye. Kyle sighed heavily. �You know, she really is a good person. I bet even after all that you have done, all that you have taken from her, she would even agree to be your friend. That's what makes Liz who she is, that's why Max fell in love with her. It wasn�t what she looked like or how well she did in school, it was her ability to see the good in every person. To put everything on the line because someone she loved needed her to or to give it all up because it was what was in their best interest. Could you do that Tess, could you give up everything because you love him? Think about that Tess. Think about that the next time Max tells you he loves her and not you. �Now I�m tired. If you would not mind I want to go to bed so if you could just go to bed and leave me to my couch.� She slowly rose and quietly exited the room. Kyle was right. She did have a lot to think about. Next |