Maria parked and hopped out of the car. She smiled brilliantly at Liz, and ran towards her. She had her hair cut short, and died jet-black. Blue contacts in her eyes, made a beautiful contrast to her dark hair. A short, black skirt, and silvery blue tank clothed her slender body, and tall, black boots covered her feet. She looked radiant, beautiful, and so happy. Liz couldn't help but smile, and gaze at her friend in awe.
But Ms. De Luca saw that her old friend hadn't changed much. Her hair was still long, the same natural dark brown. She still had a perfect complexion, and needed no makeup to pretty her face. Her smile was bright, her lips slick with lip gloss, but Maria saw the truth in her eyes. She saw she was hurting, and longed for the company of the old group back.
"Liz! OMG, Liz, you look so great!" Maria cried, as she ran into Liz's open arms, and they hugged each other close.
"Maria, your hair! It's all gone, and black. Wow. You look so....different."
"It's all the rage. People think it's good for my career, you know? I look exotic and mysterious."
"Yeah, I mean, it's great. You look great. It's just different." Liz forced another smile, and looked far behind Maria, at Michael, who was getting bags out of the trunk. He looked the same, just older. The last three years had aged him, Liz could tell. But they certainly hadn't aged Maria.
"Michael, c'mon! Come say hi to Lizzy!" Michael pulled the last bag over his shoulder, and headed up the walkway, slowly. He reached the porch, and set the bags on the ground. Liz and Michael made eye contact, and looked at each other for what seemed an eternity. Maria blinked, and shifted uneasily from foot to foot.
"Hey..."Michael muttered, not taking his eyes from hers. Liz bit down on her lip, and looked away.
"Hi, Michael. It's great to see you again," She managed to sqeak, picking up Maria's large suitcase. A distraction, thank you, Liz thought. Michael sighed, then put on a happy face for the anxious Maria. He couldn't let himself remember the past. It hurt, too much. Way too much.
"So where's Maxwell?" Michael asked.
"He went to get Isabel. They'll be here soon." She turned, and headed back into the house, Maria and Michael at her heels. Soon could be a very long time. They all knew that.
"Max, get away from me!!" Isabel screamed, punching him with balled fists. He kept forcing the short sleeved pink sweater over her head, but she wouldn't let him. Max didn't want Michael to see Isabel so dreary, so messed up. When they had left so many years ago, Max promised to keep her safe and happy, but he hadn't done such a great job. He bought her a cherry pink sweater, and a suede skirt, with the help of the saleslady. He thought the colors would make her look happier, and not so pale. Max had already forced her into the shower, washing her hair like she was a little girl. But that's what Isabel had become. A little girl, who couldn't really take care of herself, once she was in her fantasy world. He pinned her down on the bed, and glared.
"I'm not going to let them see what you've become."
"Why? I've accepted it. You should, too."
"You've become a crazy, ugly cat lady. The same kind of people we made fun of when we were little. I'm almost ashamed to call you my sister."
She spat in his face then, and he spat right back. They went through this, every time Max wanted her to leave the house. A big struggled, mean words, a few spit and slaps, but Max always won in the end.
Isabel wiped her face, and then sighed, laying her head to the side.
"Isabel, please, just do this and get it over with." He said in a gentle voice. She glared, her ice blue eyes angry, and hurt.
"Fine." She muttered, sitting up, and quickly pulling the pretty pink sweater over her bosom. She was already embarressed enough. Max had seen her naked, shampooed her hair, and brushed it. Then he had gotten her mostly dressed. Stupid, Isabel, your stupid, she thought.
"Fine. I'm ready. Let's go," She said, pulling on her sandals. Max shook his head, and held up a small, handled bag. Then dumped the contents on her bed. Pale pink lipstick, and matching eye shadow. Power. Eyeliner and mascara. He was going to make her wear makeup, again. She groaned, hating this. She wanted so much to go see Alex. He would be worried, wondering where she was. Isabel sat down, heavily, and picked up the tiny containers. Max watched, as she applied her makeup, painting her face with perfection and ease. She pulled her long hair foreward, and it framed her pretty face. She looked at herself, seeing the old Isabel, almost. The sweater should be red, she thought, bringing her fingers to it, and changing the color to a deep crimson. Max raised his eyebrows.
"Alex likes me in red,"She said, in a matter-of-factly way. Max nodded, turning away to pick up her sweater, holding back tears of pity for the sister that wasn't there. And for the girl she used to be.
"Maxwell Evans? Is that a joke?" Kyle asked, shaking his head. Unreal. Max had set this up, hadn't he? What a cruel joke, he thought.
"A joke? I don't think this is very funny. I'm Maxwell Evans. The girl....she saved me. And she told me to find you. And now I did, so you have to help me. She said so. Help me find the alien cafe, and the ufo center, and help me find Max Evans. You have to. I'm...." I said, lowering my voice, and muttered, "heir to the throne."
"How much did Max pay you to do this? That guy, man." Kyle laughed.
"Max? You know him? Take me to him, please!" I pleaded.
"Uh-huh. Ok. Your Max's son, from Planet Pecs. Are you here to save the world? Sure, I'll take you to him." Kyle shook his head, laughing, and started the car.
"Maxwell Evans. What a riot." He said to himself, as they drove back into Roswell.
Michael walked around Liz and Max's living room, gazing at everything was was truly her. The walls were peach and creme, as were her plush looking couches. The carpet felt soft under his feet. The walls had famous paintings on them, and the table's were covered with framed pictures of Liz and Max, of Maria, and of him, too. There was another frame with Liz and her parents, and another with the entire group at prom so many years ago. He saw that she had edited Tess out, and put flowers in her place. He laughed.
"That picture always makes me smile, too." Liz said, coming up behind him. She set a slender arm on his shoulder, leaning slightly on him, and leaned over to gaze at the picture.
"We all seemed very happy,"He commented. Liz nodded in agreement, closing her eyes, and trying to remember.
"Did you love me, even then?"
"Liz...."
"Shhh. Just tell me. Did you?"
"Did he what?" Maria asked innocently, stepping into the room. Liz whipped herself around, and away from Michael.
"Did he really like Metallica when we were in school. I could never understand how people could consider that music," Liz said, quickly. Maria looked at her, then at Michael.
"Michael never liked Metallica, Liz. What in the world are you talking about?"
"Oh. Maybe I thinking of Alex,"She replied, letting his name slide of her tongue. Maria winced.
"Maybe. Liz, let me show you all the great clothes I brought from the city! C'mon!" She said, changing her mood, and going back to her happy self. She started back up the stairs, and Liz followed, glancing back at Michael, that same question on her eyes. Michael sighed, turning away, and fell back into the sofa, letting his mind wander.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Three years ago*~*~*~*~*~*
"Liz, we can't do this, it's wrong. I love Maria. And you love Max. What happend last night was wrong, so wrong!"
"Don't say that, Michael. Your scaring me. I know, this started off as.....sex. But it's more, so much more, Michael. You love me, I know you do."
"This has been going on for too long, Liz. I'm leaving, this is it. I'm telling Maria I want her to go to New York, and that I'm going with you. I betrayed my friend. And my girlfriend. This is wrong."
"But don't you love me, Michael?"
"Don't ask me that."
"I know you do."
"I'm leaving."
"You won't."
"I am."
"No, you won't."
"I am, Liz. I am. I'm serious this time." She jumped up off Michael's couch, shaking her head, and put a finger to his lips. Then she kissed him, sliding her tongue into his mouth, and he kissed back, passionately. Soon, they were tearing each other's clothes off. He tore off her shirt, and bra, bring his lips to a hard pink nipple. Liz moaned.
"Yes, Michael....Yes..." She groaned. She grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head, and tore his pants down his hips. They fell onto the couch, kissing and carressing, until soon they were naked, and he was inside her. Liz rode him, crying out in ecstasy, and grinding herself against his body.
They didn't hear the knob turn. Nor did they hear the door unlock. And they didn't even see Isabel walk in, her arms full of food. She had decided to stop at Michael's, with dinner, since Maria was visiting an aunt in new york, and getting the feel of the town.
"I got chi- -...."Isabel started to say, and then looked up. Michael was sprawled out on the couch, a dark haired woman on top of him. There naked bodies were both in plain sight, and Isabel gasped. The girl moved faster, and then let out a long, loud moan, and a deep sigh.
"Ooh, Michael..."She said, leaning down to kiss him. Isabel heard her voice. Liz. Oh my god. It was Liz.
"Oh, god..."She said aloud, and Liz turned.
"Shit!"She gasped, and pulled herself off Michael's body. Michael sat up, and saw Isabel standing there, her eyes wide.
"Isabel..."He said. She shook her head, and dropped the food to the floor. And then as soon as she was there, she gone. Michael jumped of the couch, pulling pants onto his naked body, as Liz just stood there, not sure of what to do. Michael looked at Liz, and then ran out of his apartment. He didn't follow Isabel. And he didn't go back to see Liz. He got on his bike, and drove. And drove. And drove, all the way to New York. He had never wanted to see Roswell again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael opened his eyes, shaking the memory from his head. Maria and Liz were still upstairs, talking and looking at clothes. He sighed, feeling guilty, and leaned over the couch, gazing out the window. And in a few moments, he saw Max pulling up, with Isabel in tow. He was going to see Isabel. It was happening. And he couldn't stop it.
Max put the jeep in park, and glanced over at Isabel. She stared straight ahead, not talking, not even thinking. She seemed dead. Max sighed, and opened his door, just as Kyle pulled up behind him. Max stepped out of the jeep, and shut the door, heading towards Kyle. Kyle hopped out, and looked at Max.
"This was a great prank, really man. How did you find a kid that looked so much like you and....someone else? You must have really payed this kid off, I totally thought he was passed out.
"What the hell are you talking about, Kyle?" Max asked. Kyle laughed.
"The kid, man. Hey kid! Hey Maxwell! Come out here."
The door opened, and a little boy stepped out. They could all clearly see who he resembled, and both Isabel and Max gasped.
"Oh my god..."
But Ms. De Luca saw that her old friend hadn't changed much. Her hair was still long, the same natural dark brown. She still had a perfect complexion, and needed no makeup to pretty her face. Her smile was bright, her lips slick with lip gloss, but Maria saw the truth in her eyes. She saw she was hurting, and longed for the company of the old group back.
"Liz! OMG, Liz, you look so great!" Maria cried, as she ran into Liz's open arms, and they hugged each other close.
"Maria, your hair! It's all gone, and black. Wow. You look so....different."
"It's all the rage. People think it's good for my career, you know? I look exotic and mysterious."
"Yeah, I mean, it's great. You look great. It's just different." Liz forced another smile, and looked far behind Maria, at Michael, who was getting bags out of the trunk. He looked the same, just older. The last three years had aged him, Liz could tell. But they certainly hadn't aged Maria.
"Michael, c'mon! Come say hi to Lizzy!" Michael pulled the last bag over his shoulder, and headed up the walkway, slowly. He reached the porch, and set the bags on the ground. Liz and Michael made eye contact, and looked at each other for what seemed an eternity. Maria blinked, and shifted uneasily from foot to foot.
"Hey..."Michael muttered, not taking his eyes from hers. Liz bit down on her lip, and looked away.
"Hi, Michael. It's great to see you again," She managed to sqeak, picking up Maria's large suitcase. A distraction, thank you, Liz thought. Michael sighed, then put on a happy face for the anxious Maria. He couldn't let himself remember the past. It hurt, too much. Way too much.
"So where's Maxwell?" Michael asked.
"He went to get Isabel. They'll be here soon." She turned, and headed back into the house, Maria and Michael at her heels. Soon could be a very long time. They all knew that.
"Max, get away from me!!" Isabel screamed, punching him with balled fists. He kept forcing the short sleeved pink sweater over her head, but she wouldn't let him. Max didn't want Michael to see Isabel so dreary, so messed up. When they had left so many years ago, Max promised to keep her safe and happy, but he hadn't done such a great job. He bought her a cherry pink sweater, and a suede skirt, with the help of the saleslady. He thought the colors would make her look happier, and not so pale. Max had already forced her into the shower, washing her hair like she was a little girl. But that's what Isabel had become. A little girl, who couldn't really take care of herself, once she was in her fantasy world. He pinned her down on the bed, and glared.
"I'm not going to let them see what you've become."
"Why? I've accepted it. You should, too."
"You've become a crazy, ugly cat lady. The same kind of people we made fun of when we were little. I'm almost ashamed to call you my sister."
She spat in his face then, and he spat right back. They went through this, every time Max wanted her to leave the house. A big struggled, mean words, a few spit and slaps, but Max always won in the end.
Isabel wiped her face, and then sighed, laying her head to the side.
"Isabel, please, just do this and get it over with." He said in a gentle voice. She glared, her ice blue eyes angry, and hurt.
"Fine." She muttered, sitting up, and quickly pulling the pretty pink sweater over her bosom. She was already embarressed enough. Max had seen her naked, shampooed her hair, and brushed it. Then he had gotten her mostly dressed. Stupid, Isabel, your stupid, she thought.
"Fine. I'm ready. Let's go," She said, pulling on her sandals. Max shook his head, and held up a small, handled bag. Then dumped the contents on her bed. Pale pink lipstick, and matching eye shadow. Power. Eyeliner and mascara. He was going to make her wear makeup, again. She groaned, hating this. She wanted so much to go see Alex. He would be worried, wondering where she was. Isabel sat down, heavily, and picked up the tiny containers. Max watched, as she applied her makeup, painting her face with perfection and ease. She pulled her long hair foreward, and it framed her pretty face. She looked at herself, seeing the old Isabel, almost. The sweater should be red, she thought, bringing her fingers to it, and changing the color to a deep crimson. Max raised his eyebrows.
"Alex likes me in red,"She said, in a matter-of-factly way. Max nodded, turning away to pick up her sweater, holding back tears of pity for the sister that wasn't there. And for the girl she used to be.
"Maxwell Evans? Is that a joke?" Kyle asked, shaking his head. Unreal. Max had set this up, hadn't he? What a cruel joke, he thought.
"A joke? I don't think this is very funny. I'm Maxwell Evans. The girl....she saved me. And she told me to find you. And now I did, so you have to help me. She said so. Help me find the alien cafe, and the ufo center, and help me find Max Evans. You have to. I'm...." I said, lowering my voice, and muttered, "heir to the throne."
"How much did Max pay you to do this? That guy, man." Kyle laughed.
"Max? You know him? Take me to him, please!" I pleaded.
"Uh-huh. Ok. Your Max's son, from Planet Pecs. Are you here to save the world? Sure, I'll take you to him." Kyle shook his head, laughing, and started the car.
"Maxwell Evans. What a riot." He said to himself, as they drove back into Roswell.
Michael walked around Liz and Max's living room, gazing at everything was was truly her. The walls were peach and creme, as were her plush looking couches. The carpet felt soft under his feet. The walls had famous paintings on them, and the table's were covered with framed pictures of Liz and Max, of Maria, and of him, too. There was another frame with Liz and her parents, and another with the entire group at prom so many years ago. He saw that she had edited Tess out, and put flowers in her place. He laughed.
"That picture always makes me smile, too." Liz said, coming up behind him. She set a slender arm on his shoulder, leaning slightly on him, and leaned over to gaze at the picture.
"We all seemed very happy,"He commented. Liz nodded in agreement, closing her eyes, and trying to remember.
"Did you love me, even then?"
"Liz...."
"Shhh. Just tell me. Did you?"
"Did he what?" Maria asked innocently, stepping into the room. Liz whipped herself around, and away from Michael.
"Did he really like Metallica when we were in school. I could never understand how people could consider that music," Liz said, quickly. Maria looked at her, then at Michael.
"Michael never liked Metallica, Liz. What in the world are you talking about?"
"Oh. Maybe I thinking of Alex,"She replied, letting his name slide of her tongue. Maria winced.
"Maybe. Liz, let me show you all the great clothes I brought from the city! C'mon!" She said, changing her mood, and going back to her happy self. She started back up the stairs, and Liz followed, glancing back at Michael, that same question on her eyes. Michael sighed, turning away, and fell back into the sofa, letting his mind wander.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*Three years ago*~*~*~*~*~*
"Liz, we can't do this, it's wrong. I love Maria. And you love Max. What happend last night was wrong, so wrong!"
"Don't say that, Michael. Your scaring me. I know, this started off as.....sex. But it's more, so much more, Michael. You love me, I know you do."
"This has been going on for too long, Liz. I'm leaving, this is it. I'm telling Maria I want her to go to New York, and that I'm going with you. I betrayed my friend. And my girlfriend. This is wrong."
"But don't you love me, Michael?"
"Don't ask me that."
"I know you do."
"I'm leaving."
"You won't."
"I am."
"No, you won't."
"I am, Liz. I am. I'm serious this time." She jumped up off Michael's couch, shaking her head, and put a finger to his lips. Then she kissed him, sliding her tongue into his mouth, and he kissed back, passionately. Soon, they were tearing each other's clothes off. He tore off her shirt, and bra, bring his lips to a hard pink nipple. Liz moaned.
"Yes, Michael....Yes..." She groaned. She grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head, and tore his pants down his hips. They fell onto the couch, kissing and carressing, until soon they were naked, and he was inside her. Liz rode him, crying out in ecstasy, and grinding herself against his body.
They didn't hear the knob turn. Nor did they hear the door unlock. And they didn't even see Isabel walk in, her arms full of food. She had decided to stop at Michael's, with dinner, since Maria was visiting an aunt in new york, and getting the feel of the town.
"I got chi- -...."Isabel started to say, and then looked up. Michael was sprawled out on the couch, a dark haired woman on top of him. There naked bodies were both in plain sight, and Isabel gasped. The girl moved faster, and then let out a long, loud moan, and a deep sigh.
"Ooh, Michael..."She said, leaning down to kiss him. Isabel heard her voice. Liz. Oh my god. It was Liz.
"Oh, god..."She said aloud, and Liz turned.
"Shit!"She gasped, and pulled herself off Michael's body. Michael sat up, and saw Isabel standing there, her eyes wide.
"Isabel..."He said. She shook her head, and dropped the food to the floor. And then as soon as she was there, she gone. Michael jumped of the couch, pulling pants onto his naked body, as Liz just stood there, not sure of what to do. Michael looked at Liz, and then ran out of his apartment. He didn't follow Isabel. And he didn't go back to see Liz. He got on his bike, and drove. And drove. And drove, all the way to New York. He had never wanted to see Roswell again.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michael opened his eyes, shaking the memory from his head. Maria and Liz were still upstairs, talking and looking at clothes. He sighed, feeling guilty, and leaned over the couch, gazing out the window. And in a few moments, he saw Max pulling up, with Isabel in tow. He was going to see Isabel. It was happening. And he couldn't stop it.
Max put the jeep in park, and glanced over at Isabel. She stared straight ahead, not talking, not even thinking. She seemed dead. Max sighed, and opened his door, just as Kyle pulled up behind him. Max stepped out of the jeep, and shut the door, heading towards Kyle. Kyle hopped out, and looked at Max.
"This was a great prank, really man. How did you find a kid that looked so much like you and....someone else? You must have really payed this kid off, I totally thought he was passed out.
"What the hell are you talking about, Kyle?" Max asked. Kyle laughed.
"The kid, man. Hey kid! Hey Maxwell! Come out here."
The door opened, and a little boy stepped out. They could all clearly see who he resembled, and both Isabel and Max gasped.
"Oh my god..."