Title: The Lasting Impression

Title: The Lasting Impression
Author: Lux
Email: vivien_rosebud@hotmail.com
Rating: R for adult themes and language.
Summary: When a new girl comes to Roswell she brings unknown feelings to its residents, one in particular…
Category: Michael and Maria

Author's Notes: It's an AU (Alternative Universe) FIC. Michael, Isabel and Max were all adopted together; hence last names are all Evans. They are all Aliens and Phillip and Diane don't know still, however they are all very popular and very rich (they just want to fit in)… Liz and Alex aren't popular, but are still really nice and parental situations are the same. Dedication: To all the people that didn't like Courtney coming in between our Candycouple… all for jealously, just um, prefer it on Michael's side… Bring on Brody!

PART 1 - Arrival

"Hurry up Iz!"

"I'm coming Max." Isabel called back, muttering– 'Eager school nerd.' under her breath. Isabel knew the reason why her brother liked school so much – Liz Parker. School and the Crashdown were the only two places in Roswell where Max Evans could look at her without anyone, besides Isabel and her other brother Michael that is, suspecting a thing.

Michael. Now he was completely the opposite ~ constantly restless though bored, he had nothing to inspire him to be at school. School was 'the collaboration of all what was stupid' to him. Even though he was the most sought-after guy at the damn place, he found no enjoyment in any of it; come to think of it Isabel doubted wether Michael found any real happiness in the whole of Roswell.

School to Isabel was depressing; she was this queen that appeared to have everything, when in fact she had nothing. Her best friend Courtney Banks was only her friend because she to was popular. Courtney's aim in life was to jump Michael. Which made Courtney a great teasing topic to annoy her brother, but not a good friend.

School was mainly dismal for Isabel because she saw what her life would never be – normal. Isabel's popularity made her feel like she fitted in a little, but it held no honesty and the whole concept seemed to upset her more and more lately. She wanted proper girlfriends and a guy that actually wanted to talk to her as well as hold her and um… muck around with. Max's calling voice broke her discouraging concentration and she hurried down the stairs.

*~*~*

Sitting in History Isabel studied the room from her position at the back. Max was in front of her and all the girls in the room but one had their eyes frequently on him (well Michael hadn't shown up yet, when he came the gazes are divided). The one girl that wasn't looking was right at the front of the class – Liz Parker; she was speaking quietly to her best friend Alex Whitman, who was making her stiffle soft giggles.

It still amazed Isabel at just how good Max had gotten at looking at Liz with no one noticing, he was a damn pro. Max would pretty much look at her constantly, yet he would appear to be listening to friends and taking in everything the teacher had said all at the same time, all the while looking damn cool. Isabel wondered weather or not it was some cool alien power he hadn't told her about.

Just as the teacher entered the room Michael Evans slipped in. He would always show up late to spend as little time as possible there. Michael's entrance was marked with the girls sitting straighter and the boys complimenting him loudly on a great game last Thursday, saying this weeks game will rock and that the party on Friday was going to be wild. Michael however just replied with a few 'thanks' and some 'yeahs' and rolled his eyes, in what looked like suave good-humour but Isabel knew that it marked annoyance more. He sat down next to Max in front of Courtney who immediately started her admiration of him with ~ "Looking good Mickey," then ~ "Who are you taking on Friday?"

Michael slowly turned to her and replied cunningly. "Some fox." Seeing Courtney's grin he continued smiling, "When I see her I'll let you know." Mr Welles then stood and called for the opening of books, saving Michael from Courtney's persistence.

Moments later a hard knock at the door turned everyone's attention to it, Mrs Jennings entered with a slim blonde girl. The girl had dark blue jeans on and a t-shirt with what looked like a dragon on the front she also had enormous radiant eyes. Her hair was up and soft looking and Isabel thought she was very pretty, but probably wouldn't become one of her friends because her clothes seemed a little op-shop, plus Courtney had sneered at her entrance.

"You have a new student." Mrs Jennings said smiling.

"This is late in the school year for new students, oh well, put her there next to Whitman."

"Names are unimportant here, that's great." The girl said archly as she took her seat.

The class was taken back by this response but Mrs Jennings just laughed and said to Mr Welles who was astonished at the new girls manner. "David this is Maria, Maria Guerin, and don't let that smile deceive you, she's the devil in disguise." And with that Mrs Jennings smiled at Maria and left the room.

Isabel saw that Mr Welles was unimpressed by the jokes, only because they seemed to be at his expense and at the first opportunity said to Maria. "Well you are very behind, but a suppose that is unimportant to you too?"

"The real question is wether it's unimportant to you." Maria smiled back and Isabel was impressed by her bravery.

Not being able to think of anything in reply Mr Welles went back to writing on the board, and soon the lesson was over.

*~*~*

"Well Kyle says his dad told him yesterday about her, she lives in the trailer park, you know the one outside Roswell, he said." Courtney began in glee. Isabel pondered the humour if Courtney found out that in fact Maria lives next door to her and pictures of Courtney scrambling for the new girls' approval with a baked neighbourly pie flashed through her head, only noticeable by a smile on Isabel's face. "So that means one thing – another piece of trailer trash we'll have to put up with."

Michael who at all this was being aimed because Courtney hadn't trusted the looks he had given the new girl in class merely ate his lunch in response. The rest of the group got bored with this subject quickly and began a conversation on the up-coming game and party which soon took over Courtney's cruel topic of Maria's living status.

Looking at Max Isabel could see him concentrating hard on something in the distance. Turning she saw Liz, of course, and to her amazement the new girl Maria. They were laughing and Alex Whitman was on the ground blushing but looking slightly amused. "Just like that git to find what he does frequently funny." Courtney said sharply on seeing Michael's attention turned that way.

Isabel and the rest of the group watched as Liz and Maria pulled up Alex only to have him pull them both to the ground, which caused more laughs from the unaware three. "What do you know, they're all gits!" Courtney laughed as most of the group joined her. Noticing Michael not joining in Courtney couldn't help herself. "What do you think Mike, gits?"

"Don't ever ask me that when you trip Court, because I'd have to agree with you." He stated flatly. On seeing Courtney wasn't satisfied about Michael's meaning and about to open her mouth again Isabel started the conversation about the game and party up again.

*~*~*

Isabel sat in the passenger side of Michael's car and studied him; she had never seen him so deep in thought before. "You know Iz, if you keep looking at me like that you're getting a ride back from school with Max from now on."

"Hey! You asked me if I wanted a lift…" She retorted then added "And I should be annoyed." Folding her arms.

"Why?"

"Because you only offered because you promised Courtney a lift to shut her up after school and didn't want to be alone with her."

"Well would you?" He smiled.

"Be alone with Courtney? Not if I can possibly avoid it." Isabel laughed.

"In fact you should be thanking me."

"Why?" Isabel asked intrigued.

"Because I saved you from another afternoon at the Crashdown watching Max watching Liz." Michael grinned.

"Why don't you make the girls decade and take her to the party."

"Liz?" Michael asked in shock.

"Are you kidding! You want Max to kill you? I meant Courtney."

"No way." Michael said sternly. "She's the most boring person, how can someone talk so much and still say nothing –"

"Besides how much she likes you." Isabel grinned starting her favourite past time of teasing her brothers about girls, Max because he liked one too much and Michael because he didn't like any. "I mean come on, Courtney's getting desperate, she was even threatened by Maria."

"The new girl?"

"Of course the new girl, do you know any other Maria's?" Michael turned back to the road at that and glanced occasionally at his rings, which he had begun to twirl slightly in thought. Isabel thought it was strange how she could know two people so well and still they knew hardly anything about themselves. She longed for proper friends, not that she didn't think Max and Michael were good friends, they were her best, the problem was they were her only friends.

She couldn't confined in them about girl stuff, and couldn't ask her mum in case it was something really alien that had happened. So she had settled for books for info, which was unsettling because there was such a huge gap in her reading material (especially were it concerned her alien side). Isabel had gotten her period, and it was all normal, she must have been the only girl in Roswell actually pleased to get her period, but there were still so many 'is this normal' questions she would like to ask a human girlfriend.

Max, Michael and her had joked around when they were fourteen about sex. Michael saying he 'would probably explode the girl' and Max agreeing heartedly. However Isabel had felt nothing but fear about it, what if she was so different that… Max however was more sure they weren't *that* different… "We should perhaps go to the Crashdown." Isabel said concerned.

"Why?" Michael asked.

"Check on Max." She said simply. Michael nodded, he understood, they couldn't let anyone in, and Max was getting more and more close every day.

*~*~*

Sensing Max came easily to the pair, as soon as they had entered the Crashdown they saw Max and were relieved to find him alone. The crashdown was crowded, but none of their 'friends' were there which was a good thing. Max was in a booth drinking a raspberry robot, his favourite.

"How's it going Maxwell?" Michael asked sitting down at the booth.

"Fine." He replied blushing.

Liz had walked up to their table and Max quietly concentrated on his drink. "Can I get you guys anything?" She asked sweetly, unnerved a little by the 'popular' crowd that had now gathered around Max Evans.

"I coke would be good." Isabel answered her perfect white teeth flashing.

"Don't you mean a kryptonite coke?" Michael teased. Liz looked down embarrassed.

"No I think she just meant a coke." Looking up they saw Maria standing nearby looking angrily at the group (her green eyes flashing dangerously at Michael) in a Crashdown uniform with her hand on her hip. The names on the menu were dumb but she'd be damned if this prick would embarrass her new friend.

Recovering from her sudden appearance and quick tongue Michael grinned. "Hey, I'm just being politically correct and calling things by their proper name."

"No you're just being an arse." The exchange was so engaging that the others were all ears, completely silent. "The place is packed and your adding words to perfectly good sentences just to hear yourself speak!" And with that she moved to take an order from a couple that had just walked in.

Michael had never been spoken to like that before in his life, and Max and Isabel were surprised to see evidence on his face that he had liked it immensely. Liz however had her reservations. "Sorry Michael… um, what would you like to drink?"

Smiling Michael who had been watching Maria's back turned back to Liz. "I'll have a *kryptonite* coke as well." He replied loudly. Liz smiled glad he had not complained about her new forthright friend and went to get their drinks.

"Well what do you think of the new girl Mickey?" Max smiled pleased Maria was going to be one of the few girls in Roswell that didn't swoon over the Evans, and more importantly, his brother.

"Interesting." Michael replied taking a huge gulp of Max's raspberry robot.

Tbc…