*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Roswell or the original characters. All I own is my imagination and the plot.

*A/N: Now, most of the time I write Gilmore Girls fics and this is actually my first try at a Roswell fic. I just wanted to give it a try, cause I like the series a lot. I'm sure that there are spoilers, but since I haven't seen the show in a while, I can't remember the names of the episodes. I hope it's readable. :-)

*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)

.....big brown eyes can hypnotize.....

Liz Parker was standing behind the counter of the Crashdown, a place she found herself at often, thinking of how many roads would lead her out off Roswell. Ever since she had been a little girl, she had found herself fantasizing about places beyond this small town, a place where all the shops didn't make their profit by selling UFO trinkets. By the time she had started her first year of high school she had mapped out her entire future and despite the many tribulations, that either fate or destiny had thrown at her, she was coming close to succeeding.

''I think the counter's spotless by now,'' came Maria's voice from behind her, which had a worried edge to it, despite the effort she made to hide it.

Liz looked down at the counter. Her hand was still making circular movements, although she hadn't noticed until now.

''Are you okay?''

Liz nodded, while she forced herself to stop moving the cloth across the counter.

''Really?'' Maria asked, while crossing her arms. ''Cause you seem a little out of it.''

A few weeks ago they would have laughed at Maria's choice of words, but that was a couple of weeks ago and a lot had changed.

Liz sighed and ran a hand through her hair, knowing that it had no use, because the strands would be hanging in front of her face again as soon as she removed her hand. But she didn't care. The gesture was meant to calm her nerves and take her worries down a notch or two. But as she glanced over at a familiar table, she knew that there was no use in trying to forget and in pretending that her life was normal once more. She had gotten detached from normal a while ago and she had even gotten used to it, until Alex was found dead at his home.

She remembered her first reaction clearly, simply because it had been different from everyone around her. Instead of breaking down into tears, she had blamed Tess. It had been a reckless thing for her to do, especially since she didn't have any evidence, but it had felt right to her. Of course the rest of the group had looked at her as if she had been crazy, although they hadn't said it. But Liz had known that it was just out of pity for her and respect for Alex. The look in their eyes had made it clear to her that they did find it an absurd accusation, especially since Tess had never gotten the chance to really get to know Alex. But the look Max had given her had made her feel so small. It was clear on which side he was on.....

Ever since Tess got here, she had been swarming around Max, hoping to get some of his attention, which she eventually got. After Liz had been made clear that no one believed her, she started to search for evidence to back up her words. And within a month she had gathered more than enough, Maria had even started to help her when she had seen that Liz had indeed been on to something. Liz had known that she was right, but on the night before she had planned to show the rest all the documents and files she had gathered, she had found her room a mess.....and all the evidence was gone.

It had been Tess, both she and Maria had known that, but when they had said those same words to Max, he refused to believe them. They were just looking for something to blame on Tess, because they didn't like her, which both Liz and Maria didn't deny. They didn't like Tess and their dislike had only grown when they had found out that she had been Max's wife back on Antar. Jealousy and hurt had filled Liz's eyes when she had heard this, after which she had refused to talk to anyone but Maria for two weeks. But she had gotten over that, although the spark of jealousy seemed to be lit again every time she saw Max and Tess together, especially now that they had seemed to grow closer to each other. Everywhere Max went, Tess followed, which he didn't seem to mind. Just like on this afternoon.....

At one of the tables in the back of the diner the Pod Squad sat, just the four of them.....like they had been ever since she and Maria had told them that Tess was the one who had messed up Liz's room and took all the evidence, because she knew that they had been right. Everyone except Michael had gotten angry with them, but when Maria kept pushing for him to pick their side, he had gotten fed up and of course, chose the side of Max, Tess and Isabel. And just as Liz was heartbroken over the fact that Max had chosen Tess over her, so was Maria heartbroken over the fact that Michael hadn't decided to take her side. Now she had to watch in silence as he grew closer and closer to Isabel.

Maria followed Liz's gaze and her usual cheerfulness faded for a few seconds as regret and sadness briefly took over her expression. ''Who's going to bring them their order?''

Liz shrugged. ''I'll do it.''

''Are you sure? Cause I wouldn't mind doing it, you know?''

''Yes, you would,'' Liz said, as she turned around and grabbed the plates with the burgers their new cook had just whipped up.

Maria followed Liz's movements, although her eyes kept wandering towards the kitchen, thinking of the many fights and make-ups she and Michael had had in there. ''It still feels weird, not being a part of their group anymore. But I guess we never really fitted in, since we don't have antennas hidden underneath or hair or some cool Chekoslovakian powers.''

Liz didn't say a thing as she arranged the plates and glasses, so that they would all fit onto one tray. ''Of course those powers were what, you know..........''

''Murdered Alex,'' Liz bitterly finished for her.

Maria nodded. ''At least we only have to blame Tess for that, the others would never do something like that.''

''But they didn't take responsibility for it, which makes them all guilty, in my eyes at least,'' Liz said, as she squeezed a bottle of Tabasco in between two glasses, out of habit.

''Liz.........,'' Maria started.

''I just can't believe that they still come here. I mean, they should at least have the decency to leave us alone.''

''The Crashdown is one of the only diners in Roswell.''

''You're defending them,'' Liz said, while lifting the tray up from the counter, before heading over to their table, her expression cold and emotionless, because of the memories of Alex that were brought up to the surface during the previous conversation.

Even though her sneakers made no sound on the tiles, all for of them knew that she was heading towards them. They could sense her and the hostility she felt towards every single one of them, although most of it was meant for the girl who was sitting next to Max. Liz started to place the drinks and plates of food in front of them without saying anything and without looking up once. When she was done, she quickly scribbled something down on a small piece of paper, before ripping it off and placing it on the table.

''You can pay at the counter when you're done.''

And with those impersonal words, she slid the pencil back behind her ear, grabbed the empty tray and headed towards another table.

Max followed her with his eyes and immediately saw how she seemed to open up towards other people. Her eyes lost their coldness and stood friendly, as she talked to her customers, a small smile accompanying almost every word. The fact that she could act so different towards them, towards him, hurt. Just as much as it hurt to see her at school every day, knowing that she wouldn't glance at him once or come over to talk to him. Instead she avoided them and went back to sitting with Kyle and Maria during lunch. Alex used to sit with them too, he knew that and he felt guilty, cause he didn't do anything to prevent it, but he didn't believe Tess would do something as horrible as that.

''She has issues,'' Tess remarked, before taking a bite of her burger.

Max and Michael exchanged a look that went unnoticed by the two girls. Although they both believed that Tess wouldn't do something as heartless as that, they did have their doubts, especially because both Liz and Maria seemed so sure of their case. Max was glad that they didn't get the chance to show him the evidence and confront him with it. He didn't know how he would have handled that. After all, he and Tess did have some sort of connection and he wanted to be able to trust her. He had to trust her before he would be able to love her. Although he felt as if he was supposed to love her, cause it was his destiny to be with her. But wasn't he the one who used to believe that they could make their own destiny.....

He started to put some Tabasco on his burger, which was another reminder that they were indeed not normal. He glanced over at Liz once more, before taking a bite of his burger. She had made him feel normal.....

*~*~*

Liz sensed him coming her way, before he had even gotten the chance to get up and give himself away. Even though she had distanced herself from him, the connection she seemed to have with him never once faltered. She always knew when he entered a room or when he was watching her. Just like now, she would start to feel nervous, because of the intensity that she felt. When he had healed her she didn't know how to act around him, simply because she felt the weight of his presence before she even saw him. She had told him about this and he had reassured her, saying that it was probably a side affect of him healing her. He convinced her that it would probably take a few days to pass, but it never did, which she was grateful for once she had gotten used to it. It gave her the chance to run and hide from him, but since Maria was nowhere to be found, she couldn't.

She kept her back facing him, while she waited, pretending to be busy with stacking glasses. But if Max would look too closely, he would see how nervous she was by her shaking hands. But thankfully he never looked that closely, not anymore. He hardly ever looked at her at all anymore and they had stopped talking weeks ago. This was the first time he had come up to the counter himself. Normally he would sent Michael. When she heard him clear his throat, she didn't immediately respond. Instead she stacked a few more glasses before turning around and facing him.

''Yeah?'' she asked, as she looked at him, although it felt to Max as if she was looking right through him.

He held up the receipt she had given him earlier. ''I wanted to pay,'' he said, stating the obvious, while meeting Liz's eyes, trying to get through to her.

But Liz wouldn't let him. She lowered her eyes, while taking the receipt from him. He handed her a twenty dollar bill, which she carefully took from him, making sure not to touch him. While she got his change, he watched her. Taking in the familiar movements, like the way she would run her hand through her hair and furrow her brow when she was concentrating. Little things he still hadn't forgotten, simply because he didn't want to forget her. When she handed him the change, she did it without looking up at him.

''Liz,'' he softly said, hoping that she would acknowledge his gesture.

And she did, although it took her a few seconds to respond to his voice. His tone sounded like he used to talk to her, gentle and caring, almost soothing, which she always thought went with his brown eyes. Eyes in which she kept finding new things and which seemed to hold all the mysteries in the world. But just as she was about to meet his eyes, Tess's voice interrupted them and reminded Liz of why she had kept her distance from him all this time.

''Max! Let's go!''

Max let out a silent sigh, as he put the change in his pockets and gave Liz an apologetic look, whom's eyes stood bitter and also a little regretful.

''I have to go.''

''At least we know who wears the pants in the relationship, right?''

Something within Max's eyes flickered at the sound of her hurtful words and without responding he turned around and headed over to Tess. But just before he left, he glanced back at her, his eyes mimicking her own coolness. She instantly lowered her eyes to the counter, letting her hair cover them, shading them from the rest of the diner. Guilt filled her as she tried very hard not to cry. She just wanted things to go back to normal, when Tess hadn't invaded their relationship. Back when she would never do or say anything intentionally to hurt Max. Back to when he would believe her over anyone, even Michael and back to when his eyes were still shining with the love and hope he felt when he looked at her. Back to when they both believed that they were destined to be.....

Liz sadly smiled, as she watched Max get in his jeep, while she remembered the many kisses they had shared. Kissed were she would see nothing but stars.....

*~*~*

That night when she was changing into her pajamas, tears came into her eyes without warning. It wasn't the first time that she had suddenly burst into tears. It happened at least once a week, when the bottled up frustrations would get too much for her. And tonight she couldn't seem to stop herself from crying. She managed to pull on her tanktop, before dropping herself on her bed, where she made herself as small as possible and silently sobbed. She felt alienated.....

*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please? :-) I know, it's very dramatic, isn't it? I just haven't seen the show in a while, so it might take me a while to get everyone into character. And I also know that I'm not the best writer, but I just wanted to write a Roswell fic, cause I just re-discovered my fascination with this show and for the different relationships and characters. Thanks for taking the time to read it. :-)