Chapter 5
Liz walked in the agency and immediately felt at home. She hadn't been in an office in over four weeks and it felt good to hear the familiar sounds of phones ringing and coping machines hard at work. It reminded her of why she had come back to Roswell in the first place. She walked over to the receptionist and told her that she was there for the interview and the lady told her to wait in the front lobby. As Liz walked to the lobby, a message board caught her eye. It was filled with different articles but there was only one she was interested in. The headline read "ROSWELL ALIENS: MYTH OR REALITY". That was what she was really here for. She knew so much about the aliens and yet still so little. She had no idea who they were but she planned to find out before she left Roswell again. Besides, her boss would have it no other way. She still felt bad about having this secret life, especially hiding it from Maria, but she knew there could be no other way. It would cause her to jeopardize her career and even her life. She knew the FBI didn't play games. Especially with things like the Roswell Aliens. She finished reading the article and was about to sit down when a voice called her name.
"Liz Parker, you may now go to your interview. Room 312." The receptionist gave her a small grin before sending Liz on her way.
She knocked on the door but received no answer. It took several times before a somewhat familiar voice told her harshly to come in. Liz inwardly frowned when she saw who would be interviewing her today. When she had first come in, she felt confident she would get the job, but now, she wasn't so sure.
"Liz Parker I assume? I'm Tess. But I'm sure you already know that. Please have a seat." Tess looked Liz over with evil eyes and Liz almost decided to leave, but she suddenly wanted this woman to know that she wouldn't scare her away from the job.
Tess began, "Well, I hope you aren't expecting to get this job. I'm not sure your qualifications are good enough. I.."
"I assure you they are, Tess. If you need more references I'll be glad to get them to you." Liz interrupted her, politely but firmly.
Tess' eyes flickered. "I'm sure you do have more references, but Max doesn't really count!"
This statement caused Liz to be taken back. "W-wh- what? What does Max have anything to do with this?"
"Oh sure, sweet Liz. Act like you had nothing to do with it. I would think you would at least be better at hiding the fact that you purposely stole him away from me! You should have known better than to mess with destiny, Liz!" Tess was now filled with rage and no longer cared about anything else except destroying the woman before her.
Liz was now officially frightened at what she saw in front of her. She began to think that Tess would actually try to hurt her. Her hands were clinched tightly and her eyes were intense with hatred. Liz began to gather her things to leave.
"Oh? Going somewhere sweetie? I don't think so." Suddenly, Tess jumped over the office table and grabbed Liz's hair. Liz yelped and tried to fight back but something caused her to stop. A sharp metal knife was now at her throat and paralyzed her movement.
"That's what I thought. I guess you never heard about me. I ALWAYS get what I want. Including Max." Tess pulled tighter on her hair and grinned. "Sorry, Liz, but your stay won't be as long as you thought." She tightened her grip on the knife and was getting ready to penetrate Liz's skin with it, when she heard a deep male voice.
"Tess! What are you doing?" Max yelled coming in the doorway, shocked at the scene.
That was all the distraction Liz needed. She quickly grabbed Tess' hand that held the knife and twisted it hard until Tess let go of the object. Then, before Tess could grab any more of Liz's hair, Liz grabbed her other hand and sank her fingernails into Tess' skin. Tess hollered and tried to get free. She kicked Liz's shin hard and tried to kick her in the stomach as well. Liz was too quick. She swung her leg behind Tess' and kicked the back of both of her legs, causing her to fall to the floor. Liz still had a firm grip on Tess' hands and Tess still tried to squirm out of her grip. That only made Liz tighten her hold until it felt like she was going to break Tess' wrists. Tess realized she wasn't going to win this fight and reluctantly stopped trying to free her self. When Liz saw she wasn't moving any more, she looked at her directly in the eye, still holding her wrists, and said, "Don't ever come near me again. I WILL see to it that you will never do so if this ever happens again. Don't think I won't, TESS." The words seemed to hiss as they came out and Liz had never known such anger. She released her grip and then got her things to leave. Max was still in the doorway, mouth opened wide.
Liz smirked evilly as she walked by, "And to think that was all started by you! You wouldn't even help a girl out. She can have you!"
Max just looked at Liz dumbfounded as she stormed out of the door and then looked over to Tess who was getting up off of the floor.
"Well," Tess began, "she sure can overreact can't she?" She smiled sweetly at Max.
He glared at her as he began to walk towards her. "What is your problem Tess? First you don't trust me and think I'm cheating, WHICH I WASN'T! And now you try to beat up a girl who had nothing to do with ANYTHING!!!??? I don't know why I even care! You have no right to hurt people, Tess."
"Oh sure, Max! You defend her but you don't like her! It's your own fault that I became angry!"
"What?? You were the one that wanted to break up! You became so mad I just let you go! I was coming over here to see you and talk but now I know I have no reason to. Tess, we are through! If you can't control yourself and trust me then I see no reason to be with you!" Max stormed out of the room, leaving Tess with tears in her eyes and anger in her heart.
"Liz! You're back early. What happened? Did you get the job?" Maria ran up to her friend as she entered the Crashdown. "You look, uh, kinda, um, tired chick. Let me get you something to drink." Maria led Liz over to a booth and went to get her some tea. When she came back, Liz seemed to be thinking very seriously.
"So, Liz, tell me! Did you get the job?" Maria smiled as she scooted into the seat across from her.
"Did I get the job? That would be a definite no." Liz said, almost smiling as she thought about Tess' distressed face.
"Why not? What happened? Did they already have it filled?"
"No, I don't think that was the reason. I think I definitely knew I didn't have it when I had the interviewer pinned to the ground, about to break her wrists." Liz started laughing at the shocked expression on her friend's face.
"What? You are kidding, right?" Maria's eyes grew bigger when Liz only confirmed that it had taken place. "Oh my gosh! Are they going to come and arrest you or something? I'll protect you! And Michael and Max will too! Oh! I don't want you to go to jail Liz!!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't think I am going to have to go to prison, Maria. It was self-defense and plus, I have a great eyewitness. Max was there when it happened."
"Well that was good! If he hadn't of come something worse might have happened! Are they going to get the interviewer?"
"Well, first off, Max saw the whole thing and yet somehow didn't feel the need to help me out. And I think you will find it most interesting at who my interviewer was. I think you know her. Tess."
Maria's mouth dropped wide open at the news. "Oh my gosh!! I'm going to seriously hurt her! Why did she attack you though? Did you say something?"
"No, she said something about Max and then went all psycho on me. If I hadn't have fought back, I would probably be in the hospital right now. Anyways, it's over with. I think I'm going to go back to the house and take a shower. I just need to get refreshed. I'll see you later." Liz gathered her things and rose to leave just as Max came rushing in the door.
"Liz! Are you okay? I came over here as fast as I cou…" Max ran up to Liz knowing that she was frustrated with him for not doing anything but still knew that she needed to know his reasoning.
"Max, I'm leaving right now and am really not in the mood to talk to you. Maybe you could go help Tess since you couldn't help me. But since you are asking, I am just fine. Like you really care. Excuse me." Liz said firmly with a terrible tone. She glanced quickly at Maria and then at Max who was frowning at her. She turned and walked out the door not saying another word.
Max turned to Maria after he had watched Liz storm out of the restaurant. Max began to speak but Maria interrupted him before he could get a word out. "So, what happened? You better tell me everything and tell me why it happened and why you didn't get your butt in their to help my friend. Come on, spill it."
Max sat and told Maria what he had seen and what he had told Tess. He really had felt bad for not interjecting but he was almost in a state of shock to see it. "I guess I should find a way to tell Liz I'm sorry. Although she did do a pretty good job of defending herself. She must take classes or something."
Maria just shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, I guess I better go. I think I'll stop by your house and try to talk to Liz. I don't want your best friend mad at me over Tess." Max rose from his seat and told Maria good-bye.