Here's chapter three! Let me know what you think :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing Roswell related.
Chapter 3: Space Between the Lines
"Wow, this place is pretty beautiful," we're sitting on the edge of the ravine, thirty feet over the water. "How'd you find it?" she's whispering as if she's worried it will somehow shatter this moment.
"Well not needing to sleep as much as the average person, I've spent a lot of time wandering around here. I have more spots I can show you, but this one's my favorite," I whisper back. "You're the first person I've ever brought here," I whisper to her quietly. Her head snaps at me and I look at her. Her brow creased, a proud smile pulling at her lips.
"Really?" she asks softly. I nod my head at her. "Why?"
"I don't know," I shrug. "I just wanted to share this with you. Feel free to borrow it anytime," I smile at her only half joking. She leans up and kisses me on the cheek whispering a soft thank you. I look back out at the horizon. The afternoon sun peaks through the trees lighting up the orange rocks around it. The clear blue water turns a blue green while it reflects the light. A soft breeze blows past us. I look over at Tess, her blue eyes shut peacefully. Her face is towards the sky and her full lips curved up. The sun lights up her blonde curls making them glow. My heart rate picks up and I want to reach out and touch her. Before I can stop myself, I brush the back of my knuckles across her cheek and down her neck. A small sigh escapes her lips before she reaches up and captures my hand in her own. Her eyes open and meet mine sparkling with a hint of happiness. She looks down at our linked hands, biting her lip gently. When she looks back at me, that happiness is still there but it's paired with a look I've gotten to know all too well this summer.
"What are you thinking?" I ask her. The mischief in her eyes grows. She stands up and starts to take off her shirt. "T-Tess? What…what are you doing?" I should look away, but just like that night in her dark room, I can't. Her pale soft skin is entrancing in this light. She looks down at me laughing.
"What do you think?" she says before sliding out of her shorts. "I'm going swimming!" Before I can object she's already airborne, half way down the drop, before she cannonballs into the water. Panic rises up in me when she doesn't resurface right away. I'm about to jump in fully clothed until her head pops up. She sucks in a large breath of air, shaking the water from her face. "Are you coming?!" she yells up at me. I'm about to say no and she knows that I am. "Come on, Max! It feels great!" I look down at the water. It's calm but there's always undercurrents. Despite my alien abilities, I've always had a slight fear of drowning. Or a huge fear. A fear I even shared with Tess once.
"You know how I feel about drowning, Tess!" I shout back at her. Just seeing her in there makes me panic. What if she gets a leg cramp? Or stuck on some seaweed? Or-
"Well, then what a perfect opportunity to face your fears! I promise I'll catch you!" she somehow manages to hold both her arms up while staying above water. I roll my eyes at her and her small giggle bounces off the walls of rock surrounding her.
"Thanks, but I think I'm good here!"
"Suit yourself!" I sit back down on the edge and watch her. She floats on her back, causing little splashes when she kicks her feet. She looks like a mermaid and I begin to wonder if there are mermaids back on our home planet. She looks up at me from the water and smiles before dipping under the water. I'm envious of her. Of how she's learned to live so freely. How she's become so human but still remained alien in such a short amount of time. How she can float through the open water so carelessly, without any fear of sinking. For a moment I find myself wanting to be more like the brave Tess Harding.
While I still have the courage I stand up and undress quickly. In nothing but my boxers, I move to edge of the cliff. I look down and see her staring up at me curiously. Taking a deep breath, I back up a few feet. Giving myself a running start I jump into the air. I'm only falling for a few brief moments but it feels like a lifetime. I hear Tess yelling and her loud laugh before I hit the water. Coolness surrounds me, the barrier the water creates shuts out the noise of the world. Down here there's no aliens, no humans, no Liz. Just quiet. Suddenly I wonder what I was so afraid of coming in here for. A calmness fills up my body starting at my toes and ending on the ends of my hair. I stay under until my lungs burn.
Coming up for air, I'm met with a smiling Tess. "Hey, buddy!" she says happily, treading water across from me.
"Shit, that was amazing," I float on my back for a second. Longing for that feeling of just being like I did just a minute ago.
"Told you," Tess says matter of fact before giggling again. The sound warms my bones.
"Now what?" I ask looking at her.
"Uhh..." she looks around as if an idea will pop up from the water. "Let's race! From here to…. That rock!" she points a quarter of the way down the water. "The prize is bragging rights."
"Really?" I ask her with a raised eyebrow.
"What? Afraid you'll lose to a girl?" she teases.
"No," I laugh. "I'm just surprised you think you'll be able to even to make it that far," I throw back at her. Her eyes narrow into a slits, a smirk on her face.
"Alright, You're Majesty, you ready?" she mocks.
"I'm ready when you are, Your Highness," I mock back.
"Ready," she turns herself towards the target and I do the same. "Set," I take in a deep breath ready to dive in. "Go!" as she yells the words I feel two small hands on my shoulder. Two small, but extremely strong hands. Somehow, she manages to push me under before swimming ahead of me. By the time I shoot back up from the water from recovering, she's well ahead of me. I go under and try to catch her. I can see her. Her small legs kicking with a strength you wouldn't expect them to possess. Her hair flowing behind her. While I would love to stay back here and admire her I would love it even more to win.
I kick faster, stretch out my strokes. I start to catch her but somehow she still manages to beat me just by a finger. We break through the surface at the same time. "WINNEEEERRR!" she yells as I pull myself up onto the flat rock. I lay down closing my eyes completely exhausted. "So, Max Evans, how does it feel to be beaten by a person half your size?" she asks in her best news reporter voice as she pulls herself up to sit next to me.
"Exhausting," I say before we both laugh. "How'd you get so fast?"
"I didn't know I was until now," she lays down next to me. I close my eyes and for a minute everything is quiet. Just the sound of the girl breathing next to me.
"This is nice," she says quietly.
"Hmmm," I say in agreement. "We should probably head back soon, though."
"Yeah," she agrees sadly. "Just a little bit longer though," she scoots over closer to me laying her head down on my chest. I pull her close, her cool, wet skin contrasting with the warm sun against mine. Our bodies are slick together but our skin still clings to the others'. I kiss her hair. She smells like lake water and strawberry shampoo. "Max?" she whispers my name and I can tell she's about to fall asleep.
"Yeah?"
"Don't take this the wrong way…like in a romantic way," I can feel her heartbeat speed up as she nervously traces my collarbone with her fingers. "I just…I love you," she says loud enough just for me to here. I smile and pull her to me even more. I kiss her forehead letting my lips linger there for just a second longer than usual.
"I love you, too, Tess," I tell her easily before sinking into sleep.
It's around eight o' clock by the time I get home. I open the door to find the house empty. Hanging my keys on the hook next to the door, I head to my room. When I pass by Isabel's door I notice that her light is on. "Come in," she says after I tap on the door.
"Hey."
"Hey," she greets back with a smile. I lean on the door frame, "Where've you been all day?"
"Around," I start. She looks at me expecting more of a specific answer. "With Tess," I finish hesitantly. She snorts and rolls her eyes.
"You two off renewing your vows?" she says sarcastically.
"Is-"
"I'm kidding, Max," she says annoyed, flipping the page of her magazine with a little too much aggression.
"Why don't you like her?"
"It's not that I don't like her I just don't trust her."
"Why?" I ask again. "Really, I don't understand? She's very sweet, and funny, and smart. She's a good friend, Isabel. You were friends with her once, why can't you be again?"
"Because!" She says angrily. "For all we know she could be mind warping you every time you're with her. She has an agenda. Or at least Nasedo does and she's in on it. I'm not letting her in and I don't like that you are."
"You think she's going to betray us?" I ask, not evening wanting to think of the possibility. The idea of Tess turning on me- on us, scares me more than anything. When Isabel doesn't say anything else my fear is confirmed. "She wouldn't do that," I tell her. She doesn't respond. I feel like she knows something I don't. I want to ask her but she seems annoyed enough so instead I turn and go to my room.
After changing into sweat pants, I lay on my bed. I still can't help but wonder about what Isabel said. As I remember the day with Tess, it doesn't seem possible. The petite, curly blonde swimming effortlessly in the water laughing with me and splashing me didn't seem capable of betrayal. The girl who laid her head on my chest, traces the lines of my neck and collarbone doesn't seem capable of betrayal. The girl who whispered three small words so nervously as her body clung to mine is not capable of betrayal. My best friend is not capable of betrayal.
I haven't seen Tess in a week and a half. Every time I call her she tells me she has a hair appointment, plans with someone else, or she's just too busy to see me. No matter what her reason the sting of rejection is there along with a large amount of worry. I asked Michael about his training sessions with her and he says he's been blowing up rocks on his own. Isabel keeps giving me this look saying that she was right about Tess betraying us.
After the day at the ravine things were different. She was different. Whenever I reached out to touch her she would flinch. But then there would be times when she would brush up against me in some small, innocent way. She didn't smile or laugh as frequently. Only when we were in the company of others. When I tried to ask her what was going on if she was okay all she told me was "No, Max, I'm not." We're sitting in the park on some old wooden bench. The sky is black with a few stars peeking through. We had spent the night out at some party some kid from school was having while his parents were out of town. "After what happened tonight… I think I just need some space," my heart sank at her words. What happened tonight was she was flirting with a guy. I watched them while they danced, his hands touching parts of her no one should. I couldn't handle it. Maybe it was jealousy or instinct. But my mind kept flashing back to that first party when I picked her up drunk and how every guy there looked at her like a piece of ass just to fuck and be done with. Tess is so much more. She's- "I'm not a child. I can take care of myself. I wasn't drinking, I wasn't going to go home with him…it was just…it was just nice! Ya know?"
"Nice?!" I nearly yell. "Having some perv grope you and dry hump you and-"
"That's not what he was doing! We were just flirting! Dancing! Max, look you wanted to be friends. I don't…belong to you," she forces out. My heart sinks even deeper but I know she's right. She looks at me and I know then that I'm hurting her. This leash I have her on. This claim I have that she's mine but I'm not hers but I'm Liz Parker's. I look down, unable to stare at her and know I'm the reason why she looks so sad. So beaten down and rejected.
"I'm sorry, Tess, I didn't mean to-"
"I know," she cuts me off gently. Her eyes close before she says "I think I need some space, Max," her blues eyes are diamond swords hanging over my head, "from you." The swords fall. I want to scream. I want to kiss her. I want to tell her I love her. To wait for me, that I'll come around. That I'm hers but I just need time. Instead I nod my head.
"I understand," I manage to say evenly. She smiles at me sadly. When we walk back to my house her arm slips around my waist. We crawl through my bedroom window. I give her a t-shirt to wear before she gets into my bed. I get in beside her and wrap myself around her. Every few minutes, she squeezes my hand that rests in hers to remind me that she's there. I kiss the back of her neck reminding her that this time I'll be the one waiting for her to come back to me. When I woke up in the morning she was gone.
Now I'm standing outside of her house, ringing her doorbell. I guess I'm not as patient with waiting as she is. I'm about to knock again when she opens the door. Her eyes widen with shock, "Max? What are you doing here?" she whispers. She looks back into the house before stepping out onto the porch and shutting the door. Not exactly the reaction I was looking for.
"I was worried about you. I haven't seen you in almost two weeks and every time we talk you sound…off."
"I told you I need space, Max," the anger in her voice makes me flinch.
"I know but I miss you."
"God, it's been a little over a week! You sound like a real girl right now."
"Tess, if this is about-"
"It's not!" she yells before looking through the window into the house. "You need to leave. Please."
"No, not until you tell me why you're acting so strange. Whatever is going on, Tess, let me help," I grab her fidgeting hands stilling them. She looks at me with tears in her eyes. I take a step closer and brush one of them away as soon as it started to fall. She leans into my hand causing my entire body to swell with relief.
"I just can't-" she stops talking when she looks at me. She looks so hopeless. "Let's just say, every time I come home and we aren't together…Nasedo isn't happy. He wants me to mind warp you into loving me," her words are laced with shame, the weight of Nasedo's need to fulfill destiny is taking it's a toll on her.
"I'm sorry," I spit out pathetically. I'm not really sure what else I'm supposed to say. I love Tess. But I don't love her. I still have my relationship with Liz to think about.
"It's okay," she says. Her hand squeezes mine. "You don't need to be sorry. You're not the reason he gets so angry," she gives me an artificial smile. "You better go, I don't know what he'll do if he sees you here."
"What do you mean?" she ignores my question. She leans up and kisses me on the cheek before she walks towards the door. "I'll call you, okay?"
"I'll be waiting by the phone," she rolls her eyes. "Love you, Tess," I want to slap myself for saying it. What if she takes it the wrong way? No I just told her I don't love her like that she wouldn't.
"Love you, too, Max," she smiles before disappearing into the house.
She doesn't call. I call her and Nasedo answers telling me that she's out. I know he's lying. For someone who wants to keep us together he's doing a solid job at coming between us. I drive by her house but her car is never there, her bedroom light is never on at night, and when I knock on the door no one answers. It's been five days. Almost a week since that day on her porch. This might sound cocky or selfish, but it's not like Tess to stay away from me this long. As far as I know I'm the only friend she has. The only person she spends time with other than me is Michael.
I want to call her again. Drive by her house and see if her light is on. Maybe I should climb up the tree outside her window and look in. Just to make sure. Then I realize how crazy that sounds. I realize that this is probably all my fault. She may have stopped talking about "our destiny" but what if she's not over it? What if I'm hurting her or leading her on? Maybe I should back off. Really give her and myself space. The lines were starting to blur in my head from platonic friendship to something deeper. I lay down on my bed and try to get some sleep. But every time I close my eyes I see her. Her face turned up towards the sun, the light making her blonde hair glow. Her laugh when I jumped in the water. Her bare skin pressed against mine, her head on my chest. God, I miss her. An intense need to just see her builds up in me. Why won't she see me? Even talk to me?
"Max?" like an answered prayer, I hear her voice come through my window. "Pssst! Max!" relief floods my body. Her attempt to be quiet makes me laugh the first real laugh I have in days. When I go to help her through she smiles at me lightly, "hi," she whispers.
"Hey," I say back, and immediately wrap her in my arms.
"Ow! Fuck, Max," she says painfully. She pushes me away from her, her nails digging into my forearm. In the dim lighting I can see her face is wet. She's crying. Guilt replaces the relief and I reach out to her.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't…Are you okay, what's wrong?" when she looks up at me there's a dark cloud of blue and purple on her cheek. Her left eye is starting to swell around a cut on her eyebrow. She's bent over clutching her sides while her bottom lip, covered in dry blood, shakes. "Tess…" she breaks down crying. Her knees give out and I catch her before she can hit the ground. I lay her on my bed and turn the light on to see the extent of the injuries. The bruise on her face is worse than I could see before and it extends down her jaw line. The cut on her eyebrow is an angry, burning red. She's crying harder. Any part of her face that isn't discolored is ghost like. Gently I run my hand over the injuries. Cooling them, warming them, doing everything possible to make her feel better. I press my thumb over the cut on her lip last. The blood is gone and her lip is restored to her normal, perfect, full mouth. I stroke her cheek, brush the hair out of her face. Her breathing slows down and she relaxes into my hand. "Where else are you hurt?" I ask quietly. I'm afraid she's going to start crying again but instead she just brokenly whispers, "Everywhere."
"Can you sit up?" I ask. She nods before moving slowly. I help her sit on my bed and try not to watch as her face contorts in pain. When she's finally comfortable I carefully ask, "is it okay if I take your shirt off?"
"You can't heal me with it on?" her voice is so small. So unlike Tess.
"No, baby, I need to see what I'm doing," I try to explain. "I won't hurt you I promise, Tess," I feel like I'm talking to a small child. If she were herself right now she'd slap me for sounding to condescending and laugh at the term of endearment. Instead she nods her head and starts unbuttoning her shirt. I help her slide it off. As I do, I make contact with the skin of her arms, healing anything that might be hurt there. I keep my eyes on her face. Her eyes are closed, tears spilling out from the corners. I'm not prepared for what I see next. Her stomach is covered in bruises and cuts and burns. Her skin is paper thin and I can see the blood gathering behind the bruises. Tears burn my eyes. How could anyone do this to her? How could someone hurt her? There's finger prints around her collar bone. When I see the marks by her breasts I want to lose it. "Who-"
"Just fix me," she says through gritted teeth. Her eyes are clenched shut along with the fists at her side. Without hesitation, I run my hand over the bruises and cuts. I focus my energy all on Tess. I close my eyes and there's a flash of Tess being thrown against a wall. Tess trying to use her powers but being hit before she can. She's flung across the room like a ragdoll. She's asking him to stop. He throws her half way down the stairs. She's crying for me. Saying my name over and over again. He tells her I'll never come for her. I feel the dread in her body when she sees his foot coming at her head. She's hit. Kicked. Choked. Hit. Kicked. Choked.
"Ahhhh! God!" I fall to the floor. My entire body sore and pulsing in agonizing pain. All I can see is Tess lying there. Crying. Crying for me. For someone. And Nasedo calling her a pathetic human. Calling her weak. Telling her to get up but every time she tries to he knocks her back down. I take deep breaths and slowly return back to my bedroom. I hear Tess crying, saying she's sorry over and over again. I want to kill him. I want to throw him around. Make him cry and beg and bleed.
"Max, please, I'm so sorry. Please," collecting myself off the floor, I move to her. I grab a t-shirt off my floor and help her put it on. I quickly heal the bruises on her legs, trying to concentrate on anything but the pain. When I'm done her arms wrap around my neck. She clings to me when I lay her down next to me. I pull the covers around us, wrap my arms around her torso. I kiss her hair, her shoulder, her ear, her forehead. I tell her it's okay. That I'm here. That I love her. I won't leave her. She keeps telling me she's sorry. I'm not sure how long it is before she stops crying.
