Chapter Eight

Maria, Liz, Isabel and Kyle all pulled up in front of the Crashdown.

" My parents are home, " said Liz getting panicky. She looked at the clock, it was 10.

" Don't be scared. You were just hanging out with us " said Maria

There was someone sitting in front of the Crashdown and it wasn't Liz's dad.

" Is that? " asked Maria squinting. She could barely make out the figure sitting there in the dark.

" It's Sean, " said Liz

~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Hey Sean " said Liz feeling uneasy.

" So like I called like 50 times and left messages " he said looking upset.

" We were out all day, " said Kyle casually.

" Where? " asked Sean not believing him.

" We just decided to go out for awhile today " said Liz smiling nervously at him. Then she noticed he was carrying a suitcase. " Are you going some where? "

" That's why I was trying to call you. I've decided to get out of Roswell. "

" Why are you leaving Roswell? " asked Maria

" There's nothing keeping me here, " he said looking at Kyle and Isabel who were all standing impatiently near the door. " There are some strange things going on with you Liz and I don't like being used. I'm no rebounder and I can't get myself into trouble for you " he looked at Maria " Besides, you would love it if I wasn't at your house anymore "

Maria didn't say anything. She just gave him a tight hug. " Take care Sean " she said and walked over to Kyle and Isabel. She looked pretty calm about it but this was not the time to worry about her looney cousin's sudden departure. She had expected it from him.

Liz looked up at Sean. She felt guilt for all the things she did to him. She didn't mean to treat him like she did but she couldn't take that back. She reached out and hugged him. " Take care of yourself Sean. I'll miss you " she said looking at him.

He smiled sadly down at her. " I'll see you around Liz " he said grabbing his bag again and started walking up the street.

" Sean? " she called

He turned around and looked at her. " Thanks " she said " For everything "

He smiled. " You're welcome. I'll see you around "

~~~~~~~~~~~

" Hello? " said Maria answering her phone. " Ok mom I'll be right over " she hung up her phone. " I have to get home "

" But Thaman said to stay here " said Kyle

" My mom is crying cause Sean is gone. I have to go to her " said Maria sternly.

" You shouldn't go alone, " said Isabel. " You should take someone with you "

" I'll go with you, " said Kyle. " I could just say that my dad told me to meet him there "

" I'm sure my mom would love that, " said Maria.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz came back down to the Crashdown after checking in with her parents and walked over to where Isabel was waiting for her. She was sitting in the empty café with a small mug in her hands. Being at the Crashdown reminded her of her conversation with Maria the day before.

" Do you need anything else? " asked Liz walking over to her.

Isabel shook her head quietly and continued looking at her cup. Liz was uneasy. She and Isabel hadn't really talked for a long time and it wasn't like they were the best of friends when they did hang out together. She wasn't sure about what to expect from her.

Isabel didn't seem to really notice her uneasiness. She just sat there looking at her mug.

" I'm worried about the guys. Do you think they're all right? " she asked

" They'll be fine, " said Isabel. She didn't seem worried. " Liz? " she said nervously.

" Yeah? " answered Liz.

" Thank you "

" For what? "

" I have a lot to thank you for. What you did to try and save us and how we've, I've always treated you " she blurted out.

" Isabel forget about it "

" I can imagine how you must've felt all that time just hiding it inside. " she said looking up at her.

Liz looked back at Isabel, but didn't say anything. " I didn't do much "

" Liz what are you talking about? That must've been the hardest thing you've had to do. I understand what you must have felt. I don't know if I could've done it "

Liz didn't answer her. It had been the hardest thing she has ever had to do. But she did it for the people she cared about. She did it because she needed to. But she never thought to do it for acknowledgment and from Isabel of all people. She wasn't expecting that. Not that she thought Isabel was a bad person or anything but because Isabel never had any real heart to hearts with her before. She knew that Isabel trusted her but there was always something between them that made her uneasy.

" I'm just sorry that I especially never really involved you in my life "

" Isabel, I know you trust me and we have that kind of relationship where we can depend on each other "

Isabel didn't know what to say. She wasn't necessarily mean to Liz but she wasn't nice to her either. She just felt bad inside that she didn't show her feelings more to Liz or Maria. They were the only girls she could talk to about her life and be totally honest. She just never took the opportunity to do it.

" Thanks Liz " said Isabel smiling weakly. " I guess I need a gal pal right now "

" What's up? " Liz cheerfully.

" I just feel so lost right now with everything that's happened. You know about, Alex, about having to leave Earth and then not leaving, finding out that Tess had killed Alex " her eyes got dark at the thought. " Then finding out that we have another bodyguard. It's just crazy "

" Yeah I know what you mean, " said Liz

" How did you know that for sure that Alex had been killed by an alien? "

" I just had this gut feeling "

" I'm sorry we didn't believe you and all we did was fight you on it " said Isabel

Liz just smiled at her warmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~

" I don't understand, " exclaimed Amy Deluca. " I thought Sean wanted to live in Roswell and all of a sudden he just packed his stuff and said 'Bye Aunt Amy'. What does that mean? "

" Mom it's not your fault. " said Maria comforting her mother. " Sean has always been like that. Don't act so surprised. "

" It's just that it seems like a lot people I care about are just leaving, " said Amy putting her face in her hands.

" You have me mom, " said Maria

" Not to mention my dad Ms. Deluca " said Kyle.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabel turned around to find the guys getting out of the jeep and Valenti pulling up beside them. Liz immediately got up and ran to Max. Isabel's heart jumped when she saw Thaman. She was so relieved to see him again. She wanted to run to him like Liz ran to Max but her senses kept her grounded.
" What happened? " asked Liz running into Max's embrace. He kissed her hair as he walked with her inside.
" Valenti found Sally Jenkins' body in the parking lot of Pepper's Cafe. "
" Isn't that where? " asked Isabel looking at Thaman.
" Yeah " said Max looking from Thaman to Isabel. He was confused by Isabel's expression. She had this weird look on her face. What was going on with that?
" Did you get to see the body Max? " asked Liz, pulling on his collar, taking his attention away from Isabel.
" No, the ambulance had already taken the body before we could get to it, but Valenti took some pictures before the cops came " he said looking down at Liz. " We're going to have to wait until tomorrow to see what the body looked like. Valenti said there was this strange mark on her chest "

" A silver hand print? " asked Isabel

" No, he said he couldn't really describe it but took pictures of it for us " answered Max
" Where's Maria? " asked Michael.
" And Kyle? " asked Valenti
" They're at her house. Sean left and her mom's crying "
" Oh " said Michael and Valenti, they both had worried looks on their faces.

Max looked to see Liz's reaction.
" They're expecting you there, " said Liz, giving them their cue to leave. She looked up at Max and pulled in closer to him.
" I'll drive you Michael " said Valenti.
" Ok " said Michael. He looked at Thaman.
" Good night my Lord " said Thaman bowing slightly. He looked at Valenti. " Good night Jim " his tone addressing him as a comrade.
" Good night " said Valenti ushering Michael to his car.
~~~~~~~~~~
Max looked at Isabel and Thaman. Isabel stood there feeling uncomfortable while Thaman looked around and looked outside as if not noticing. What is going on with Isabel? Did Thaman tell her about her life before and she was feeling guilty again? But she had been so happy before.
" Max? " said Liz taking his hand into hers.
He looked down at her. Her small perfect face smiled up at him.
" Are you hungry? " she asked sweetly. " Are any of you guys hungry? " she looked at Isabel and Thaman.
Isabel shook her head. Thaman just turned around to look at her.
" I think we have some left over fries in the frig "
" That sounds good, " said Thaman. " Let me help you get it " he said before Max could offer his help and walked over to Liz.
" Um, yeah sure. Let me show you where we keep them " said Liz looking up at him surprised. She hadn't been expecting that. They both walked to the back room.
~~~~~~~~~~
Isabel slowly sat down at the table where she and Liz had been talking.

" What's going on Iz? " asked Max
" Nothing " she said without looking at him. " Just the usual: Tess betrayed us, wanted to kill us when we got to Antar and oh yeah she killed Alex " said Isabel in lightning speed.
" That's not what's bothering you " said Max calmly. His tone, warm as always when talking to her.
She looked at him blankly, hiding the feelings the she was really feeling.
" What else would be bothering me Max? "
" I'm not sure. You keep giving Thaman this look "
" Can I help it if I'm relieved that he's here with us, that we have some direction now and finally some of our answers can be answered? " she sounded like herself now.
" Ok, ok " said Max putting up his hand to calm her down.
She sighed under her breath.
~~~~~~~~~~
" So, you eat food too? " asked Liz nervously as she put the French Fries in the Microwave. She was thinking about what he had said before, that he had been watching her especially.
" Yes I eat food " said Thaman looking into the microwave. " I could have just heated them myself "
" Michael says that it's better when they cook this way, " said Liz. She couldn't make her voice sound normal.
" You do not have to be frightened " said Thaman turning to her.
She looked up at him sheepishly. " I can't help it, " she said smiling shyly. " You said you were watching me for awhile. I'm just nervous as to why "
Thaman smiled warmly at her. " I had to make sure the future Queen was taken care of "
" Future Queen? " asked Liz amused. She had never thought of becoming a queen.
" My King has chosen you, I had to make sure you were safe " they heard the beep of the microwave.
" Didn't you want to check to see if I was worthy or not rather than just protecting me? " asked Liz
" I trust my King " he answered.

" You must have really been loyal to Zan " she said looked at him with admiration.

" I was his servant and I followed him " said Thaman taking the French Fries out of the microwave. " I know you must have a lot of questions for me. Everyone does, but let us just take it a step at a time shall we? "
" I know you must be exhausted from everyone's questions. " she said nodding

" I understand their anxiousness, " he said picking up the Fries and grabbing extra Tabasco sauce.
" I'm worried about Isabel " said Liz grabbing the Cherry Cola.
" What is wrong with the Princess? " asked Thaman, his face changing. It was like she pushed a sensitive button on him.
" She just seems .... " she said thrown off guard. She didn't expect him to look at her like that when she mentioned Isabel . " ...hurt by something "
" That is to be expected. She has been through a lot emotionally " he answered. She saw his face change back to that distant look again.
" No it's something else " said Liz looking at his purposely.
He looked at her. " I am sure she will be over it. She always does " he said pushing the door and walking out.
~~~~~~~~~
" Look Amy " said Valenti as him and Kyle were leaving the Deluca's house. " I'm sorry about Sean leaving "
" Thanks Jim " she said smiling at him weakly. " I don't know where he's going to go now. I'm worried he'll get into trouble again " she was sniffing.
Valenti stepped close to her and kissed her on the lips. " Go to sleep and I'll see you tomorrow " he said opening his car door and getting in.
" Good night Ms. Deluca " said Kyle politely from inside the car. She waved to them as they drove away slowly.
~~~~~~~~~
" You ok? " asked Michael. He was sitting with Maria on the living room couch.
" Yeah I'm fine " she said thinking
" I think your mom will be fine "
" I know that " she said
" Then what's the problem? " he said confused.
Maria got up and grabbed a pillow. " That you, SPACE Boy. Are being such a perfect boyfriend! " she said whacking him with the pillow. " Who are you and what did you do with Michael? "
" Hey watch it, " he said shielding himself. He looked at her annoyed. " God I can never make you happy " he grabbed a pillow and chased after her.
" Guys! " shouted Amy " Guys don't make me hurt you "