Vegas sunrise
By Lady Lightspeed
Summary: After Max and Michael's falling out in VLV two of the gang decide they need a break.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Roswell so PLZ don't think otherwise. I'm just a lowly college student.
Author's note: I'm a Polarist to the core and this has been kicking around in my head for a while so here it is.
Chapter 1 Enough is enough
Plopping down on the couch Michael flipped on the TV. He could so not believe how bad this had all gotten, a fun trip to get away from all of the alien crap, right, there would never be a way away from it.
"Yeah, when's the next flight to Roswell? Nothing sooner than that?" Micheal heard him ask and thought of telling him to stay but with all that had come out earlier maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all.
"Michael, make him stay." Maria begged but he just couldn't do it, not with all that had happened. No, it was for the best. If Max stayed more would probably be said, things that could never be taken back. But then she was doing it, being the pushy Maria that drove him nuts most of the time.
"No, no, wait, please, please, don't go. I'm, I'm blowing the rest of Michael's cash on a beautiful
Expensive dinner. I've even taken care of what everyone's wearing." She was begging Max and Michael looked at the television show, not really watching but showing that he'd not be swayed. He couldn't be, not after… When she didn't let up he muttered.
"He's not invited anymore." Michael could feel her eyes on him, and refused to look at her. She'd been through so much it was just so hard to say no to her.
"Thanks, but I'm just gonna go home." Max was going, Michael wanted to sigh and close his eyes but then Maria started in on him.
***
Liz hated this dumb game; she hated Vegas and hated Maria for totally forgetting about her. Why couldn't things ever just be fun? No, that couldn't happen, she was Liz Parker. The interloper that had nearly killed those she most cared about. She hit the pin ball and sent it flying once again.
"Not bad." At the sound of the familiar v voice Liz jumped and knew that she was definitely wound too tight, fort being dragged here and her friends deserting her and now Max…
"Oh, well, yeah. Yeah after playing 6 hours and a 1000 quarters, you sort of get a rhythm going." She managed to sound as if she'd not been plotting the demise of the entire world. Still there was a faint hint of bitterness.
"Yeah, I heard you were down here. I just want to let you know I'm leaving." And why didn't you come down a hang out with me? She thought then answered her own silent question. Because you were getting yourself arrested. She took a deep breath before noticing he was packed to leave. Good, maybe it was time to go home, not that she wanted to sit on a dammed plane with traitors.
"Oh! Is everything okay?" She asked and he shrugged. She hated when he did that puppy dog look. She used to love it but these days it just made her want to scream. Why could he always act like the brooding leader when she had to be a silent martyr with only Maria knowing the truth of what she'd done? It so wasn't fair!
"Yeah, yeah. It's just... Vegas. Kind of make your skin crawl." He replied and she wondered if he'd picked up on her feelings because of his tone, it was so quick to assure. Gees, she was not Isabel or one of the others. She knew him, had known him better than anyone else. Now though…
"Yeah." She noticed the "Elvis Chapel" poster on a nearby wall and her mind went to the future she'd been robbed of, one she didn't even know if she'd have wanted. It just sounded so perfect, like anything was ever like that. "I mean, who would ever want to get married in an Elvis Chapel, right?"
"Not me. Not in this lifetime." He said and it was not pain eating at her but anger, why couldn't things be easy? No they had to be so difficult.
"Yeah..."She managed when she realized he was still looking at her with that puppy dog look on her face.
"Well, I've got a plane to catch," he began the long drawn out farewell. "So..."She really wanted to roll her eyes. This whole dammed thing was getting so dammed old.
"Yeah, right." She muttered.
"See you in Roswell, Liz." He said and she thought for another fleeting second of not going back, just running forever, never looking back.
"Yeah." She muttered and he turned to go. For once she had no desire to cal him back, to tell him the truth.
***
"Where you going?" Michael asked when he found Liz going through the stuff she'd brought, folding some of it.
"I um don't really feel like hanging around." She told him, she would not take this all out on Michael. For once it wasn't his fault.
"Here's what's left of the money you gave us. Oh and um he's the ID; think you could change it back?" The question had him frowning, what was going on?
"Sure but Liz you don't have to give it back. You can keep it for college or whatever." he said and she shook her head.
"Naw, you were right, it's cursed. I just want it and the rest of this whole thing behind me." She told him and Michael couldn't figure her out, it was not max, she was too wired, she just seemed like she was almost having a panic attack.
"You shouldn't go off alone."
"Michael, I know it's dangerous but I'm not going hg out and get attacked by skins or anything."
"Yeah but..."
"Look you and Max had it out and I know that, I even understand it. Your not Mr. Organized and perfect and I'm tired of being miss predictable. So you do your thing, and I'll do mine."
"Listen tell you what how about I come with you instead."
"Michael you can't. Maria planned a big dinner for everyone and."
"Look, the whole reason I came here was for a break. I didn't want anyone but Max to tag but you all came and now..."
"All hell broke lose."
"Yeah," Michael looked over at his on again off again friend. "Listen, anyway the way I see it is you want to do something else and I really don't feel doing the monkey suit thing."
LIZ had to smile now that was the Michael he knew. That +" why she was a little surprised he was talking and not just walking out.
"The way I figure it, we can go grab something to eat and I don't know go for a drive."
"I..."
"Come on, you know I'll get in trouble and you stay clear of it so maybe together we'll be ok."
Liz thought about what he said, thought about the trouble Maria had gotten in! And knew he was right. Besides it would be nice to have someone to see the city with, someone other than (her royal him-ass.) He was right too they would balance each other out.
"What about Maria?"
"Just leave her to me." He said and then told her to meet him in the lobby in a half hour. Liz agreed and went in to grab a Sweatshirt.
***
Liz was sitting in one of the plush armchairs watching people come and go and wondering if Michael had let Maria badger into staying. She loved Maria dearly but sometimes she could be such a pain. SHE wondered how she and Michael could get along, they were just so different. Not like her and Max, maybe that's why they went so well together. Leaning back her head
She closed her eyes and thought back to the moment Max had said he was leaving; he'd just seemed so lost, almost. Shall felt kind of bad for him, he'd been through so much in the last year, they all had. Still she knew now, from being there that she'd done the right thing. She and Mix were not carved in stone. What was that saying that destiny was a strange thing? Who would have thought a year ago she'd be sitting a Vegas hotel lobby waiting on Michael Guerin?
"Hey you ready?" Opening her eyes she found him standing before her in his customary jeans and that-shirt and jeans. He didn't even look flustered.
"Things alright with Maria?" He just grunted in typical Michael fashion and then they were heading out the door and into the hot Nevada night.
TBC
***
Ok, what do you think? Should I continue? PLZ R&R and let me know.