All right, Michael and I had a moment. Big deal. He's still a big jerk. I just don't hate him as much anymore and he's made working at the Crashdown a little bit less unpleasant.
Anyway, my next few days in Roswell were rather dull although it is kind of hard to be surprised after you die and find out your co-worker's an alien. The need-to-know is basically that Maria introduced me to Alex and Kyle and I was more or less accepted into the gang.
Which brings us to today, Friday. My first weekend in Roswell has begun.
This is what Maria described as a "typical Friday afternoon." Basically, Max, Iz, Kyle and Alex spend the afternoon in the corner booth waiting for Michael and Maria, and now me, to get off of work. Fun, huh?
Oh yeah, Max has seems to have taken to take a liking to me, despite his girlfriend. Whom I have yet to meet.
*********
"So, what are we doing tonight?" Kyle asked, as he leaned back in the booth.
"You mean you do something other than eat?" I joked, as I placed a new plate of fries and hamburgers in front of him.
"Hey," Kyle defended himself, and Max pulled me down into his lap, laughing.
"She has a point Kyle, you had like three meals today," Iz laughed, and Alex wrapped his arm around her.
"I'm trying out for the football team, I need to keep my energy up," Kyle explained.
"I'm going on break!" Maria yelled, as she pulled a chair up to the table. "But what are we doing tonight?"
"How about we let Liz decide," Max suggested, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I don't really care, I don't even know what there is to do in this town," I said.
"Well, it's no New York," Iz joked. "But we find ways to entertain ourselves."
"We could take her to the crash site," Alex suggested.
"I doubt Liz wants to spend her first weekend doing that, I mean, it's a rock," Iz explained. "Besides, she'll see it next week anyway."
"What's next week?" I asked.
"Crash Party," Kyle answered, between bites.
"What's that?" I said, suddenly feeling dumb.
"It's a big party they have the day of the crash. They have one every year," Max said.
"We go every year, it sounds lame but it's actually pretty cool," Iz said.
"Yeah, we all dress up in costumes and party at the crash site," Alex finished.
"Cool," I said.
*********
What can I say. Roswell was growing on me.
And the gang. They were pretty cool. I mean, other than Tammy, they were the first real friends I had ever had. Friends that wouldn't stab me in the back the first chance they got.
*********
"Liz, your break's over!" Michael yelled from behind the counter.
"Fine!" I yelled back, and rose from Max's lap. I made my way across the empty Crashdown.
"Here," Michael said, throwing me a towel and I joined him at the sink.
"Great, I get to wash dishes now," I said.
"Dry actually," Michael said.
"Oh, well, that makes a world of a difference," I joked.
"Don't even think about it," he said, handing me a wet plate.
"About what? Washing dishes?" I jokingly asked.
"About Max," he said.
"I know he has a girlfriend and all but I think he really..." I started.
"It's too dangerous," he interrupted.
"What?" I asked.
"It's not safe for you to be that close to us, if anybody ever found out what we really are...," Michael said, looking at the ground. "I can't let you get involved in our fucked up lives."
"I'm already involved, Michael," I said.
"Not if you walk away," he said.
"But I'm not. I know what I'm getting into," I said.
"No, you don't. I'm not going to be responsible if anything happens to you!" Michael hissed.
"Like you're responsible for Maria? And like how Iz is responsible for Alex. And Max for whatever slut he already is with?" I demanded.
"They don't know anything," he snapped. "You do!"
"But no one knows that! Not even Iz or Max," I snapped.
"But I do!" Michael defended.
Silence filled the room and we worked in silence for several minutes.
"I don't want to see anything happen to you," Michael finally said.
"Why?" I asked.
"I don't know, I just do," he said, and there were several more minutes of silence.
"Why doesn't his girlfriend ever come here?" I asked.
"She's a stuck-up bitch," Michael said.
"Like me?" I said, only half joking.
"No," Michael whispered.
"I'm not a bitch?" I asked, smiling.
"No, you're a bitch," he said, returning my smile. "But you're a nice bitch."
"Thanks, I think," I laughed.
*********
Yep, Michael and I have one really fucked up relationship. But what else would you expect?
*********
"How long till our shift is over?" I asked, as I put the last dish away.
"About five minutes," Michael answered.
"Thank God," I said.
*ding
"Great, another customer. Figures," I mumbled.
"Max, I figured I'd find you here," a female voice said.
"Is that..." I started.
"Yeah, it's his girlfriend," Michael answered, looking away.
"Really?" I asked, anxious to see my competition. I start walking out of the kitchen when Michael grabbed my arm.
"Don't," he said.
"God," I said, shaking my arm free. "I'm not going to say anything to her, I just want to know what she looks like," I explained. "I bet she's a blond barbie."
*********
I should have listen to Michael.
*********
I was met by the sight of a blond, anorexic looking girl draped over Max.
"I thought we could go see a movie or something tonight," she cooned into his ear.
"Did I call it or what?" I asked, without emotions.
"Come on," Michael said, as he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the back.
"She's pretty," I said.
"Yeah, I guess, but she's as dumb as they come," Michael said. "The only reason he dates her is because there's no threat of her ever finding out the truth."
"And her clear skin, perky breasts and hair dye number 15 have nothing to do with it, right?" I asked, looking at the ground.
"He's missing out," Michael said, putting his hand under my chin and lifting my face up.
And then it happened. Michael kissed me.
*********
If I had known what that kiss started, I would have never let it happen. Ok,
it probably would have still happened. But who would think that one small kiss
could cause the life I had built around myself, everything I had ever known and
believed in, everything I had thought I was, to come crashing down around me.