A warm, afternoon breeze wafted through Liz Parker's bedroom window,
stirring a few strands of hair that had escaped her long braid. She sat
Indian-style on her bed, her arms wrapped around the stuffed bear that Max
had given her on their first date. It was a cruel reminder of that sweet,
innocent day when they were just two people enjoying each other. No aliens,
FBI, or some crisis to deal with.
That seemed like ages ago, not over a year. Had it been that long ago that she held him in her arms like a girlfriend should? She looked down into the glass eyes of her beloved, tear-soaked bear, guilt and grief warring within her. Guilt from the way she had deceived the only man she could ever love. even if it was for his own good. Grief that her plan had worked and she had shoved him into the arms of his destiny - his soon-to-be wife.
Liz bit back a sob, fresh flood of tears springing to her eyes and trickling down her reddened cheeks. Today Max and Tess were to be married. a ceremony that should have been hers, and would have been if it wasn't for Future Max. But she couldn't blame it all on him. She had agreed to go along with the plan, knowing that in the end she'd be saving Michael and Isabel. Her life was insignificant compared to theirs. They had a destiny to fulfill, whereas Liz was just a high school student and a waitress at her parent's diner. Nothing too glamorous.
She nearly jumped when the shrill of her bedside phone broke the quiet, brooding atmosphere of her room. She let it ring for a few minutes, before she reluctantly released her death grip on the bear and picked up the receiver.
"Liz? Are you there?" A worried voice came over the line, bringing a small smile to Liz's swollen lips. Maria, always the worrier and best friend a person could have. She would battle the devil herself if it meant saving a friend, and she probably has done her share of dragon-slaying in the year and half of dealing with Aliens and the problems that went with it.
"I don't know anymore."
"Awwwww, Lizzie. I'll be over in a few minutes." Before she could protest, Maria had hung up on her. She knew arguing was futile; Maria always did what she thought best, even if no one around her agreed. Maybe she needed the distraction. Keep her mind off the event to happen in a few short hours.
That seemed like ages ago, not over a year. Had it been that long ago that she held him in her arms like a girlfriend should? She looked down into the glass eyes of her beloved, tear-soaked bear, guilt and grief warring within her. Guilt from the way she had deceived the only man she could ever love. even if it was for his own good. Grief that her plan had worked and she had shoved him into the arms of his destiny - his soon-to-be wife.
Liz bit back a sob, fresh flood of tears springing to her eyes and trickling down her reddened cheeks. Today Max and Tess were to be married. a ceremony that should have been hers, and would have been if it wasn't for Future Max. But she couldn't blame it all on him. She had agreed to go along with the plan, knowing that in the end she'd be saving Michael and Isabel. Her life was insignificant compared to theirs. They had a destiny to fulfill, whereas Liz was just a high school student and a waitress at her parent's diner. Nothing too glamorous.
She nearly jumped when the shrill of her bedside phone broke the quiet, brooding atmosphere of her room. She let it ring for a few minutes, before she reluctantly released her death grip on the bear and picked up the receiver.
"Liz? Are you there?" A worried voice came over the line, bringing a small smile to Liz's swollen lips. Maria, always the worrier and best friend a person could have. She would battle the devil herself if it meant saving a friend, and she probably has done her share of dragon-slaying in the year and half of dealing with Aliens and the problems that went with it.
"I don't know anymore."
"Awwwww, Lizzie. I'll be over in a few minutes." Before she could protest, Maria had hung up on her. She knew arguing was futile; Maria always did what she thought best, even if no one around her agreed. Maybe she needed the distraction. Keep her mind off the event to happen in a few short hours.