Disclaimer: I don't own so please don't sue.
Notes: Sorry this chapter took longer than the others to get out. I am so sick and going through some personal issues but I hope you guys like this chapter! If you have been wanting to know what happened while Max and Isabel were away, here is a bit of that.
Bold lettering indicates a flashback or memory in this case.
Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Without You
Kyle walked quickly into Michael's apartment; he needed to talk to Liz and the rest of them right away. As he entered the room Maria and Michael looked up from their spot on the couch and gave him small smiles.
"Hey Kyle, are you okay?" Michael asked. Michael noticed that Kyle seemed rushed and a little on edge.
"Yeah, yeah…I just, I need to talk to you guys, but not without Lizzie." Kyle said running a hand through his hair.
"She is still with Max. Is something wrong?" Maria asked. Her mind started whirling at a million miles per second; scenarios of death, abandonment and hurt caused her head to spin.
"No no…nothing like that." Kyle paused and allowed himself to fall on the couch next to Michael. "I just really need to talk…"
Maria nodded and reached over Michael to give Kyle's hand a small reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, she'll be back soon. I think her and Max were just going to have a quick chat."
As soon as the words left Maria's mouth, everybody knew that was not true. They all looked at each other, each one of them wondering what was happening between Liz and Max.
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"I'm ready." Her voice seemed calm but Max sensed a bit of nervousness.
He nodded and stared deeply into Liz's eyes, which were now dancing with the questions she had going through her head. Max loved her eyes and the way they seemed to trust him even when the rest of her didn't seem to.
Liz shifted uncomfortably then tried to clear her mind, she focused on everything that had happened in the past year.
Max felt an overwhelming rush of emotions all coming from Liz, he breathed slowly and continued to concentrate on her eyes; the windows to her soul. Suddenly he didn't feel like he was inside his body anymore, he was being pulled into her memory.
Suddenly Max was watching Liz as she, Maria and Kyle sped towards the pod chamber. He knew they couldn't see him but seeing the fear in their eyes made him want to reach out and comfort them all.
"Maria, we have to get to them…we have to stop them!"
"Liz I am driving as fast as I can."
Kyle was rocking in the back seat of Maria's Jetta, he felt so lost and confused. Had he really carried Alex's body out for that murderer? The thought made him sick. He put his arm across his stomach and continued to rock himself as Maria sped at 75 miles per hour towards the chamber.
Liz watched as their destination came closer and closer, her heart was racing and she was determined to stop Max from making the biggest mistake of his life: trusting Tess.
"Okay, stop, let's go."
The three jumped out of the car and ran up the cliffside and towards where Liz remembered the pod chamber was. Suddenly they felt the cliff move and start to shake. Liz looked up and saw a silver liquid substance start to pour from the top of the cliff. Kyle stopped and looked up when he felt the ground move, his eyes opened wide when he saw the liquid coming down the side of the cliff.
"Hurry!" Liz shouted as she took off up the cliff running faster than any one had ever seen her run.
Maria looked at Kyle then grabbed his hand pulling him up the cliff and after Liz. Suddenly a loud 'boom' was heard, Liz looked up and tripped on a rock. She fell on her butt and watched as the ship sped off from the cliff and into outer space.
Maria and Kyle finally caught up with Liz, Maria bent down and grabbed Liz in a hug. "Sweetie, are you okay?" She asked kissing Liz on the forehead.
Lis shook her head as she felt tears start to well up behind her eyes. She saw the dust finally subsiding from the place where the ship took off and she bit back her tears giving Maria a wavering smile.
Kyle stood above them looking up into the sky. He couldn't believe they had actually left. He bent down next to Maria and Liz and wrapped them both up in a big hug. He held on to them tightly and didn't let them go.
"What the? Are you okay?" Michael said as he walked quickly towards them.
Maria looked up and her eyes came to life. She shook her head and thought for a second that she was dreaming. Liz looked up and saw Michael, she arched an eyebrow and then looked down again convinced that she was seeing a mirage.
"Michael?!" Maria finally managed to shout as she stood up and ran to him jumping into his arms.
Michael wrapped her up and held her against him. She fit perfectly in his arms and he never wanted to let her go. "What's going on?" He asked keeping Maria against his chest but looking at Liz.
"We found out who killed Alex." Kyle said softly as he sat down and pulled Liz into his chest. She didn't argue or push him away; she was too hurt to do anything. Her heart was breaking and everyone could see that.
"Who?!" Michael asked.
"Tess."
Max didn't have time to react before he was pulled into another one of Liz's memories.
"Liz, want to come to the pool party with us this weekend? It'll be tons of fun…" Maria said playfully as she sat on Liz's bed.
Liz shook her head and gave Maria the same look she had been giving Maria since that day Max had left.
Maria sighed and bit her lip. "Okay, girlfriend, listen to me. You have to move on…it's been almost a month…He's gone. He left…please just hang out with us for a while…try to have fun." Maria said throwing her hands up in the air.
Liz shook her head and placed her left hand over her heart, she felt it aching and it felt wretched. "Maria…I just can't. Please understand this." Liz pleaded looking in to Maria's eyes.
Maria gave Liz a sympathetic smile and nodded. "Okay. But we're here…you know that right? I'm here." She gave Liz a hug and got up to leave the room.
Max watched as Liz watched her friend leave. Then he saw her lay down on her bed and begin to cry. She didn't sob or heave or scream she just let silent tears roll down her cheeks and onto her pillow.
"Liz?" Kyle knocked on the door.
"Yeah?" Liz replied sighing and lifting herself up from her bed.
"Can I come in?"
"Now is not a good time Kyle."
"It's never a good time, but does that ever stop me?" He joked through the door.
Liz shook her head and lay back down. Soon, she heard the door opening and Kyle walked in. She didn't turn to look at him. He just walked over to her bed and gently pushed her over so he could sit down. He put his back against her headboard and looked down at her as she attempted to hide her tear-streaked face.
He sighed and shook his head. He reached down and picked her up pulling her so she was leaning against him. He held her in his embrace and she began to sob. Her sobs were gut wrenching and made Kyle want to hold her all the tighter.
Liz didn't stop to think about what her parents would think if they walked in on her and Kyle embracing on her bed. She just snuggled into his neck and burrowed herself there. She breathed in his scent and continued to cry. Her silent tears soon turned into wracking sobs and she held on to Kyle as he rubbed a hand on her back.
Kyle looked down at her and kissed her softly on her head. He sighed and leaned his cheek on her hair. He felt her grip him and he pulled her in closer. He could feel her pain; it radiated through her body and on to him. He felt his heart hurt for her and looked over at her nightstand where she had a picture of her and Max together.
Kyle reached over and placed it face down.
"Kyle, I'm so sorry." Liz whispered when her sobs finally subsided. She felt herself start to hiccup and she looked down to see his shirt stained with her tears.
"It's nothing Liz, it's a shirt. A material thing that means nothing to me." He sighed when he saw her avoiding his eyes. He gently pulled her chin up so she was looking at him. "You mean a lot to me and it hurts to see you this way. But you listen to me Liz Parker. I will be here; I'm never going to leave you. If you need me at 3 in the morning, I will be there. If you need me during 5th period, I will be there. If I am making out with some hot cheerleader and you need me, I will be there…you don't have to go through this alone. Don't ever even think that."
Liz gave Kyle a heart breaking sad smile and nodded. She pulled her head back down and rested her cheek on his chest. She continued to cry silent tears. Kyle sighed and lifted her up so she was sitting next to him, her body was small and it looked as if she hadn't been eating. Her clothes hung off body and she looked weak.
Kyle's heart went out to her and he looked around for a tissue. He saw none so he grabbed the bottom of his shirt and lifted it to her nose. "Blow." He said.
Liz shook her head. "That's your shirt…that's gross I can't do that to it."
"Liz, nothing about you is gross. Your tears are like…" he paused trying to find something to say, "They are like the tears of an angel." He finished.
Liz laughed and threw her arms around him. "Thanks Kyle. You may be a big cheesy liar…but thank you."
He smiled and held her close to him. "You have to eat. How about some fattening pizza? My treat."
Max sat across from Liz's bed watching the entire scene. When Liz started crying he wanted to run over and hold her and it broke his heart to see Kyle doing the job he should have been doing. He watched as Kyle held her and he had to look away, it hurt him too much to see someone being that intimate with Liz.
Thoughts of that night he saw Liz and Kyle in bed together came flooding back and he shook his head. 'That's in the past' he mumbled to himself, yet he couldn't look back towards the bed. A part of him was grateful to Kyle for being there for Liz when she needed someone most but another part wanted to run over there and rip Kyle off her.
Suddenly Max felt himself being pulled into another part of Liz's memory.
"It was the first day of school Maria…and I just felt…"
"Lost."
"Yeah. I mean it's our senior year. Alex should be here. He should be here with us not…not…" Liz's voice broke off and she bit back a tear.
Maria's heart began to hurt and she shook her head and looked away from Liz. She refused to cry, not again.
Liz looked over and saw Michael and Kyle making their way over to them. She tried to push her sad thoughts away and she gave them a small smile. "Hey guys." She said closing her locker.
"It's the end of the first day of your senior year…and it is time to celebrate!" Michael said giving Maria a kiss on her head. "Especially you, Miss future Valedictorian of the class of 2002!" Michael said giving Liz a playful and light punch on her shoulder.
Liz laughed and shook her head "Don't say that…there are a lot of people who could beat me out for that. I just need to focus and work really hard." She said pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So modest." Kyle said laughing. "Come on Parker, you are a shoo in for Valedictorian. Nobody is smarter than you."
Liz smiled at Kyle and rolled her eyes.
"So, what does Valedictorian Parker want to do?" Michael asked still holding Maria.
Liz bit her lip and then looked at Maria an idea forming in her head. "I want to go for a drive…how does that sound?"
"A drive?!" Michael and Kyle said in unison.
They both looked at each other and took a step back from each other. "We need to spend less time together man." Kyle said holding his hand out.
"I was about to say the very same thing." Michael replied.
Liz laughed and nodded. "Yes, please, a drive would be perfect. I'll drive." Liz said picking up her bag and walking out of the school.
Everyone followed her and piled into her car. Everyone was curious as to where Liz was driving and they rode in a comfortable silence. Finally, Liz pulled up to the Cemetery where Alex was buried. It finally hit them; Liz wanted to spend her first day of her senior year, with her best friend.
They all walked in silence over to Alex's grave.
Kyle held back, he hadn't been to Alex's grave ever since the funeral and now that he remembered what he had done, he didn't feel right being there. Liz felt his apprehension and she looked back at him. He gave her a small smile and waved her forward. Michael walked up behind Liz with his arm around Maria's waist and he pulled Liz into his other arm. He walkedthem to the grave and looked down at them both.
He knew how much they missed Alex and he knew this would be hard on them all and he felt helpless. He couldn't help them grieve all he could do was stand and watch them struggle with their feelings.
Liz looked back at Kyle and saw him standing a few stones away. She looked up at Michael and whispered, "Please tell him to come closer…"
Michael nodded and unwrapped his arms around the two girls. He walked over to Kyle and scratched the back of his neck. "What's going on man?" Michael asked.
"Nothing…just…'
"Don't even. You did nothing wrong. End of story. So, come on." Michael walked back to the girls who were now sitting next to Alex's grave.
Kyle reluctantly walked over and sat next to Liz. She gave him a small smile and whispered 'thank you' he nodded and looked at the tombstone.
He wanted so badly to tell Alex he was sorry, he wanted to go back in time and erase everything that had happened but he sat in silence instead.
"We had our first day of school today…" Liz said softly running a finger over the grass. "It…" Her voice cracked. "It just wasn't the same without you…without your stupid jokes or your goofy antics…It's the first time in 7 years that I had to start a school year without you there and…it hit a little harder than I expected." Liz gave a small sob and looked away fighting her tears.
Maria's eyes were already filled with tears but they hadn't made their way down her face yet. She looked over at her friend and felt her heart break even more. She pulled Liz towards her and held her close. "Just breath Liz." She whispered as she pulled Liz's hair away from her face. "Breath…"
Liz nodded and shook her head, pulling her knees to her chest and placing her head on her knees. Her body continued to shake as she cried for her friend.
"We miss you Alex…and we're so sorry that we didn't stop Tess from leaving…she'll pay for what she did." Maria said the tears finally falling down her face.
Liz nodded and suddenly her sadness was replaced with anger. "She will pay, I will make sure of that. She will regret the day she ever hurt you…" Liz finished in a whisper.
Kyle watched as his two friends cried and he looked over at Michael who was gently stroking small circles with his thumb on Maria's back. Michael seemed so strong to him and Kyle wished he could be like that. Suddenly realization came to Kyle and he reached into his pocket pulling out the hanky he had bought after Liz's break down last month. He held it out to Liz who took it and wiped her eyes.
The rest of the visit was silent, an unsaid agreement of revenge against Tess hung in the air.
Max clenched his fist and kicked a tree but his foot went through it. He had never been so angry with himself in his life. He could feel Liz struggling, he could feel her fighting back emotions and memories but soon he was thrown into another memory.
"Hi Michael…" Liz said smiling at him.
Michael was shocked to see Liz at his front door. They had gotten close but she had never come to visit him on her own before. He opened his door and motioned for her to come in. His homework was sprawled on the floor and Liz walked over to it. "Physics?" She asked looking down at it.
"Yeah, stupidest stuff ever." Michael replied.
Liz shook her head and grinned, "I love science."
"Of course you do Miss Valedictorian." Michael said bowing playfully.
Liz laughed and gave him a playful shove. "Oh hush." She said sitting on the couch.
"So, not to seem rude Liz, but what did you come here for?" Michael asked looking down at her.
"I just wanted to talk, we never talk just you and I." Liz said picking up one of his sheets of notes and reading over it.
"Well, okay…talking sounds good." Michael said sitting next to her giving her a questioning stare. "So…what's up?" Michael asked.
Liz shrugged, "Same old, same old I suppose…just trying to get into the groove of school. Keep my mind off of things…"
"Yeah, about that…"
"No, wait Michael I wanted to say something." Liz interjected holding out a hand.
Michael raised and eyebrow but nodded.
"I wanted to say thank you. I never thanked you for staying here with us. I know you came out for Maria, not me and Kyle but…that doesn't matter. You stayed and it helped us all."
Michael nodded. "You're welcome."
"When I saw the ship fly off, I felt there was no hope left. I was on the ground with my twisted ankle…remember that?" Liz gave small laugh. "You and Kyle had to help me down the mountain like I was a cripple…"
Michael laughed and scratched his eyebrow. He knew she was nervous talking to him this way so he got up and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. He held it out and offered it to her. "Here, water helps."
"For nervousness?" Liz asked raising an eyebrow but taking it anyway.
"Yeah, it's this new alien thing I found out…" Michael said sitting down again.
Liz nodded and pretended to take him seriously. "Oh, I see." She said smiling to herself. She took a drink of the water and look back at him. "I…I really didn't feel like there was any hope left. But then you…" she paused "You walked down the cliffside and…and I have never been more happy to see someone." Liz finished.
Michael breathed in and held his breath. It made him feel accepted to know that just his presence made someone that happy. "Thanks." He said.
Liz smiled. She knew he wouldn't give some profound speech and she knew he wouldn't get all mushy with her but as she looked into his eyes she knew that he was happy to be there and he was glad she had come to talk to him.
"Well, I am going to go…unless." She stopped and looked down at his notes. "I could help you with your homework."
Michael looked down and saw her eyeing his physics. "You sure? I don't want to make you do more work than you are already doing. Specially this boring stuff." He motioned to his homework.
Liz shook her head. "No, I love it. Let me help you."
Michael just nodded and Liz smiled as she took off her shoes tossing them aside. She made herself at home and grabbed his notes quickly organizing them. They spent the rest of the afternoon working through Michael's physics and by the time darkness had fallen he had successfully understood and completed all his physics homework.
Michael felt a swell of pride course through him. He had struggled with his homework for hours before Liz had come but with her explaining the problems to him, he understood it in a flash. He looked at Liz who was putting her shoes back on. He looked over at his clock; they had just spent 5 hours working through his homework. He knew she had her own homework and it warmed his heart to know she cared enough to help him with his own first.
Liz stood up and grabbed her bag; she walked over to the door and reached out for the knob. "Well, I hope the rest of your homework doesn't give you any problems." She said waving goodbye to him.
"Wait." Michael said making his way across the room towards her.
She stopped and looked back at him giving him a questioning look. Without warning Michael wrapped her up in a hug. He and Liz rarely hugged but as he held her he felt as if she was a part of him and a part of his family. When she finally got over the initial shock of what he was doing she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back. "Thanks Liz. For everything." Michael said pulling back from her.
Liz smiled and nodded leaving without another word.
When Max finally came back out of Liz's memory he opened his eyes and saw Liz staring at him.
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"It's been hours! Where are they?" Maria said as she paced Michael's living room.
She was worried for Liz, she knew she was smart but when it came to Max she tended to follow her heart. Even when Liz thought that Max had cheated on her with Tess, she trusted him and had faith. At the time Maria had said to Liz, "You know that whatever you do, you know I've got you're back right?' and even though Maria wanted to trust Liz and she wanted that statement to be as true now as it was three years ago, she couldn't help but doubt her friend and her ability to stay strong where Max was concerned.
She looked at Michael's clock and then to the two guys who were watching some sports game on the t.v. "Michael do you think we should go look for her? What if she is in trouble?" Maria asked her voice going up an octave.
"Babe, she's fine, she's with Max. You know that Max would do anything before he let Liz get hurt…" Michael said not taking his eyes off the television.
"Yeah right." Maria muttered. She looked away and started to tap her feet. "Come on Liz…" she mumbled as she grabbed a glass and filled it with water.
Finally, Maria heard a knock on the door. "Liz!" She said running to the door and opening it. "Oh, it's just you…" Maria said disappointed.
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I am sorry to leave it there but I have to leave SOME stuff for the next chapter right?
Please Review!