~*~ ----- I T -- W A S --- Y O U ----- ~*~

By: SabrinaYutsuki [sab_shob@yahoo.com]

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PREMISE OF THE FIC: You know that episode where Liz and Ava were talking

and Ava mentioned something about Zan waiting for someone else...? Well what

if that someone else was someone in Roswell...? (I'll be revising those few episodes

[Meet the Dupes...] ) Please review people! It's my first Roswell fic, so be nice! Oh

and I'm not really familiar with their (Zan, Ava, etc.) style of talking so "behr" with

me!

disclaimer. don't own Roswell or any of the characters in the show.

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PLEASE REVIEW!!! :)

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[Chapter 1] : trust.

Narrator's POV

"Tess? What's wrong with you? Why aren't you in Roswell with Kyle? And why are you inside a box? And what... what did you do to your hair? Your... nose? Your... Tess? I.. what's gotten into you?", the girl who had caused Ava's irritation was talking ninteen to the dozen, apparently confused. She was panicking and her brown eyes grew wider than usual.

"Look, I don't know who the f*** Tess is, but she's not me, kay? Now just leave me alone you b****!"

"Tess, I'm bringing you with me, okay? We might have our differences, but I'm not leaving you here."

"F*** OFF! I am not TESS kay?"

The girl, however, was stubborn. She grabbed Ava's arm and forcefully made her stand up.

Something happened though that made the brown-haired girl release her grip.

It was a series of visions.

Three punks walking in a dark alley. Isabel? And Michael? ... And Max? Dark, evil laughter echoing throughout the street. Then a malicious shove and... a truck and...

"Oh God! Max is gonna get killed!", the girl escaped her trance, sweat dripping from her forehead.

The facial expression Ava wore wasn't far from the girl's.

"Y... you saw that too? Z... he's..."

The hard exterior on Ava broke as hot tears spilled her cheeks.

The brown-haired woman was Liz Parker. She and Tess weren't very close... They were actually more of enemies than friends. But seeing the pained expression, Liz decided to forget their rivalry, at least for now.

"It's okay Tess..." Liz gently said, embracing her.

"I'm not Tess", Ava said in between sobs. "Look... I can explain." The irritation that the blonde previously harbored had dissipated into hopelessness, grief, and desperation. She hated to admit she needed someone, especially to a total stranger, but something told her that the person before her was someone she could trust... someone who could help her save Zan. And if saving Zan meant pulling down her defenses, she would do it.

Liz felt confused. She wasn't Tess. She regained her composure, however, and smiled despite herself. If there was anything she learned from having Czekoslovakians as her friends, it was that anything could happen... no matter how absurd it was.

"Before anything, let's go somewhere with a roof. We're soaking wet", Liz said sincerely.

Ava nervously smiled.

And again, Liz pulled her up. This time, however, Ava didn't resist, as they both ran quickly to the diner just across the street.

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By the time they reached the diner, they were soaking wet. They stepped onto the door mat, which immediately got thoroughly drenched as well. The waiters and customers looked at them from bottom to top then from top to bottom, obviously wondering why they were in that state.

Ava and Liz ignored their stares and went to the nearest vacant seats and made themselves comfortable on the soft cushions, now extremely squishy because of years of use. By that time, the customers had resumed their conversations and the waiters with their job.

"I'll go order us some coffee, okay? Why don't you go wash up or something?", Liz said nicely.

Ava nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I prob'ly look like shit."

Liz smiled even if she was not too comfortable with her speech.

Parker walked towards the counter, her boots leaving a trail of mud each step. As soon as Ava left, she fished out her cellular phone on her wet shoulder bag.

"Hello, Kyle... This is Liz... Is Tess there?"

"Yes, why?", the voice on the other line asked.

Liz was speechless for a while.

"Liz? Are you still there? Why are you looking for Tess?", Kyle said, surprised that Liz would want to talk to Tess about anything.

"Oh... sorry Kyle. I guess I kinda spaced out. Um... no. I'm not gonna talk to her. I gotta go now, okay?"

"Oh-KAY. So, why'd you ask if she was here?"

"I'll explain some other time, okay? I gotta go!"

Before Kyle could say something, Liz had ended the call, and Ava had finished cleaning up, the mascara that smeared her cheeks now gone. She walked towards Liz casually. "Two cups of coffee please", the brown-haired girl got her wallet, and hurriedly took out a crisp 20 dollar bill, causing a wallet-sized photo of Liz and a certain alien boy to fall down. Ava bent down to pick it up, but stopped halfway when she saw the face that was smiling back at her.

'So she knows our counterparts... So that means _Tess_ is my counterpart! I guess I could trust her then...?'

"Um... Ava, are you alright down there?"

Ava had been too lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed that she was still bent down.

"Sorry. Here's ur photo then."

"Thanks. Here", Liz said offering her a steaming cup of coffee.

"Tanks. How much do I owe ya?"

"Nothing. It's okay."

"Alright. Whatever you say!" Ava wasn't known to complain when it came to free food.

The two walked back to their seats, one facing the other, and for a few minutes, silence engulfed their booth as they both placed their hands on the mug, revelling in its warmth.

Ava was the first to break out the silence.

"Ey, just realized I din't know ur name."

"Oh, yeah. It's Liz."

Ava prodded on. If she really did know Zan's counterpart and the others, she must be from Roswell.

"So you live near here or som'tin?"

"Actually no. I don't know why I came here. I just woke up in the middle of the night and came here by bus. It's pretty weird..."

"So you're from...?"

"Roswell. And you're from...?"

"New York."

"That's a long way from here. Why'd you come here of all places?"

"You know what? I dunno either."

She remembered how it all happened.

Hearing Rath and Lonnie talk about Zan's death like they were just talking about what food to order. Lonnie telling... no more like, demanding her to join their conspiracy. Her disagreeing and the hatred that was burning in Lonnie's eyes as a result. Then, her running away. Somewhere safe. To a remote town. To a deserted alley. To a run-down box. Had it been merely coincidence that she met with Liz and that she had some connection to the other aliens? Was it a sign that she needed to save Zan and that she needed this girl's help?

Ava didn't believe in fate. And destiny. And in signs.

But this time, she was going to make an exception. She placed her coffee mug down and looked straight into Liz's brown eyes, seriously.

"Look, Liz. I need to tell you som'thin important. Can I trust you?"

Liz nodded, afraid of what she might hear.

And Ava began her explanation. Of her identity. Of Rath and Lonnie's plan.

"So let me get this straight. You're a clone of Tess? And you came to Earth with three more people, who are clones of Michael, Max, and Isabel?"

"Yeah. Those are ur alien friends eh?"

Liz nodded. Ava chuckled a little.

"I can't believe they actually told you their identities. So they really do have a human side to them."

"Huh? I don't understand..."

Ava traced the mug's brim with her finger and nonchalantly spoke.

"We clones don't have as much emotion as they do. At least not for humans..."

"Oh", Liz said, not knowing what else to say.

Ava regained her concerned and serious mood.

"I hate to cut the pleasantries short but this is really important. I know you saw the same visions I did. And that's prob'ly what's gonna happen to Zan if we don't do something. I need ur help."

"What can I do?"

"I dunno. It's too late to go to New York and tell Zan. We hafta think of somethin' else."

Liz thought hard and came up with the perfect solution.

"Roswell's just a couple of minutes from here. I know someone there who can help."

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--------- a/n: hope you like it! pls review! --------------------------------------

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