Chapter Two:
The crowd in the Crashdown was enough to drive anyone insane and right now Liz wanted
so much to say the hell with it all, but everything inside her demanded she stay and finish her shift. It seemed as if every soul in Roswell had decided to bless the small diner with its presence. Liz looked at the crowd and wanted to shrink into nothingness. Taking a deep breath she pasted a smile on her face and headed to the customer waving to get her attention. 'One gone and hundreds to go.' She told herself sarcastically.
"Come on…Liz." Maria said turning suddenly to avoid crashing into her.
"I'm sorry, Maria." She said taken a deep breath. 'Get a grip.' She scolded herself as she made her way to the customer waiting for her.
Maria watched her as she pass her. Something is definitely up with Liz she can feel it, but Liz being Liz without open up not even to her. 'It better not be Max." She told herself frowning.
Hearing the Crashdown door open and close again brought a loud sigh from Liz. 'Will this day ever end?' She wondered running her hands through her hair.
"Okay… we're on top of things right now. I think we need to relax… Maxwell." Michael said smiling at Maria who passed him and wink. "You know take advantage of the time off for good behavior. I mean…how long is this going to last?" He made himself asked the question, but his mind was far away from the unending threat to their lives as he watched Maria move from table to table.
"How the hell am I suppose to know that Michael? I just think we need to keep of defense up, We never know when something is going to happen." Max said staring across the diner at Liz.
"Okay… so I agree, but what can we do that we're not already doing Max?" Isabel demanded.
"Hi guys. What can I get you?" Liz asked pasting a smile to her face.
Max stared at her confused. He knew Liz's smile being that he had received it so many times he'd lost count and this isn't it. It was what she used when she was dealing with an unwanted customer.
"Are you okay?" He asked trying to ignore the uneasiness that settled inside him.
"I'm fine… why wouldn't I be?' Where just so busy today…I think it's getting on my nerves." She reassured him. The last thing she needed right now is for Max to worry about her. Dealing with the unwanted family member who arrived this morning was enough. She couldn't handle Max on top of that to.
"Okay…I'll have the Men in Black and a cola." Michael said turning to Isabel.
"Are you sure your all right?" Isabel asked looking at her intently. She could feel it. Something wasn't right with Liz.
"I'm fine." Liz said taking a deep breath. "I wish everyone would stop asking me that." She demanded her voice rising with anger.
"Okay… your fine. Now will you go get my food before I starve to death." Michael demanded. He was looking at Liz so he missed the frown both Max and Isabel shot his way.
"Do you always have to be such a jerk?" Isabel asked when Liz was far enough from the table that she wouldn't hear her.
"Look…we all know something's up with her. Look at Maria over there acting like an old mother hen. She can't even keep her eyes off of Liz.
"Look Michael…"
"No wait. I care for her to. When she's ready she'll ask for help. Until then there's nothing we can do." He said leaning back in his seat.
"I'm sorry… I can't wait." Max said watching Liz move around the diner.
'What the hell could be wrong with Liz?' He silently asked himself. Last night they talked on the phone for hours and not once did he get the feeling that something was wrong. 'Could something have happen after they said good night to each other?" He wondered. He didn't know what's going on, but one thing is for certain he sure the hell isn't going to sit around and wait for her to ask for his help.
Isabel knew that look on Max's face to well to ignore it. She didn't want her brother to do something that he would regret. "Max you need to listen to reason here." She said getting Max's attention. "Liz's is a big girl. She knows what she can handle and what she can't. If you push her as I know your planning to your only going to make things worst.
"Iz…"
"You trust her don't you?" Isabel demanded staring into his eyes.
"You both know I do." He said knowing where Isabel was going and even though he didn't want to hear it he knew she was right.
"Well give her, her space because little brother if you don't not only will you make matters worse your going to loss her again. I know you don't want that, do you Max?"
"You know I don't." Max said, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "It's just so hard to see her in pain and not be able to do something to help."
"Welcome to the land of the living brother." Michael said sarcastically.
"If you don't have anything constructive to say Michael, why don't you just keep your comments to yourself." Max demanded angry at Michael's nonchalant attitude.
"I thought I was being very constructive." He said glaring at Max. "No matter how much you love her Max. You can't solve all her problems; you can't take away every pain. Even though everything inside you wants to."
Max gawked at Michael his brows drawn in a frown. He wanted to tell him to mind his own damn business, but he was right. Why the hell did he pick today of all days to say something so significant, something that he himself would have said to anyone else in the same dilemma. Damn, he felt like he was drowning. One part of him wanted to ignore both Isabel and Michael's advise, but there was that other part. The part that was still thinking straight, the part that was demanding he listen to reason.
Taken a deep breath he looked at Liz, the fake smile pasted on her lips and he knew at the moment that he didn't have a choice. Michael's right he can't solve all her problems for her, can't take away all her pain. But that didn't stop him from wanting to. He'll wait, he'll wait until she asks for his help. Max sighed turning away from her. He'll wait even though it is killing him inside to see that lost look on her face.
TBC
