Title: Rosmole (6/10)

Author: Kata (Katayla@juno.com)

Disclaimer: The Mole doesn't belong to me . . . Roswell doesn't belong to me. Someday, when I'm a rich and famous author, I'll buy them both, so I don't have to say this anymore.

Rating: PG

Author's Notes: Sorry for the extreme lateness of this. This year at school, instead of everything being due at once, everything comes one right after anothers. Yesterday I had a presentation in one of my classes, which means now I'm working on the math project that due Tuesday, which means I won't start studying for the bio test on Friday until after that. And of course, finals are after that . . . and after finals, I need to start writing my history paper and any day now, our English paper will be assigned. This is all on top of babysitting three days a week. Not to mention scholarship applications! The point? My writing time keeps shrinking and shrinking. I promise to get Rosmole finished, but it won't be anytime soon. Please let me know what you think! (If you're not too at it being so late!)

******

Ten friends playing for up to one million dollars. Among them a saboteur, a traitor, the mole. The winner? The one who answers the question, who is the mole?

"Funny," Maria remarked. "Even I miss Kyle." It was early the next morning and the girls had gathered in Tess' room for an old fashioned gabfest.

"He's the closest thing you've ever had to a brother. Of course you miss him," Isabel said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, and since when did you become Miss Philosophy?" Maria asked, playfully hitting Isabel with a pillow.

Tess didn't join in the laughter. Maria shot Isabel a concerned look and then slid to the floor to sit next to Tess.

"Still claiming Kyle's like a brother?" Maria asked gently.

Tess gave Maria a rueful smile. "You know he wasn't."

Maria shrugged. "Yes, but I wasn't sure you did."

Tess looked down at her hands. "We tried to deny it. You know, living in the same house and all, but . . . ."

"Just think," Isabel said brightly. "If Maria's mom and Kyle's dad ever get married, you'll all live together!"

Maria groaned. "No way! I've been an only child my whole life, and no offense Tess, but I am not sharing a room!"

Tess laughed. "Me either. But that's enough moping from me. No guy's going to hold Tess Harding down for long!" She jumped up. "I need something to do."

"Good," Maria said. "You can come help me pack."

Tess groaned. "That wasn't what I had in mind."

"Come on, Tess," Maria begged. "You're the experienced traveler remember? And my stuff just keeps multiplying?"

"That's because you and Isabel keep shopping."

"So do you!"

"Yes, but I don't buy nearly as much as you do," Tess pointed out.

Isabel stood up. "Come on, Tess. Let's help her. I finished my packing last night."

"Well aren't you special," Maria muttered.

"You're the one who stayed out all night with Michael."

Maria's cheeks flushed. "I did not!"

"Right," Isabel said, unconvinced. "My room's next door to yours. I heard your door slam at midnight."

"So?" Maria tossed her hair. "Michael and I hardly ever get any time alone anymore."

Tess shook her head. "You're fighting a losing battle, Isabel. Come on, let's help her pack."

******

Anderson stared at Maria's luggage. "Is it my imagination or did you just gain an extra bag?"

"Sorry, Anderson," Isabel said. "We tried to stuff all her stuff into the bags she already had, but it just wasn't possible."

Tess laughed. "Not even when all three of us sat on it and Michael tried to zip it up."

Anderson shook his head. "I hope you never go on Survivor, Maria. You can take what? One luxury item?"

Maria made a face at him. "Come on, guys. These shops are so different from what's in the States." She turned to her boyfriend. "Michael, support me! You're supposed to be on my side!"

Michael put his arm around Maria's shoulders. "As long as I don't have to do the shopping, I'll agree with anything you see."

Maria smiled. "You're such a sweetie."

Anderson smiled at the couple. "Come on, you two, into the van!"

"Wow, this seems so much larger," Maria commented, stepping into the van. "We were so packed to begin with."

"I know," Alex said. "Finally enough leg room!"

"And Anderson gets to join us," Tess added.

Anderson smiled wryly. "I'm not sure if that's a privilege or a punishment."

"Oh, come on," Maria said. "At least you won't be waiting at the hotel with your whole 'this is your next challenge act'."

"I'll have to improvise." Anderson said, smiling.

"I'm sure you'll do your best," Maria said encouragingly. "Now, if you all don't mind, *I'm* going to take a nap." She snuggled up to Michael, putting her head on his shoulder.

"Anyone notice how quiet it got all of sudden?" Michael asked brightly.

"I can still hear you, Michael," Maria murmured sleepily.

Michael grinned unrepentantly. "Oops." He soon decided Maria had the right idea and placed his head on top of hers and promptly went to sleep.

One by one, the other passengers followed their example and the rest of the trip passed peacefully.

******

Isabel looked up at the hotel. "I'm sure this hotel is different from the last hundred or so we've been in," she said, "but I sure can't tell the difference."

"Oh come on, Izzy," Alex said, swinging his arm around Isabel's shoulders. "The door is at least half-an-inch closer to that window than it was at the last hotel."

Anderson laughed. "It's different, trust me."

"Trust *you*?" Maria said. "I don't think so!" At the other's strange glances, she shrugged. "Sorry, couldn't resist."

As soon as they were in the hotel, Anderson turned to them.

"Oh, no!" Maria groaned theatrically. "Not another challenge!"

"I'm afraid so. Hopefully this one will be easy for you."

"That what you always say," Michael muttered.

"Come on, guys," Anderson begged. "At least let me get through with this. The idea of the challenge is to see how much you know about each other. I'm be asking the group five questions about each one of you. If you get three out of five questions right, you'll earn twenty-thousand dollars, for a possible total of one-hundred thousand dollars."

"How do you know the answers?" Alex asked curiously. "I mean I could just say that the answer was whatever they said . . . ."

"Sorry, Alex. We took all the answers from your applications and interviews. You said some pretty personal stuff, you know."

"Can we answer the questions about ourselves?" Maria asked eagerly.

"No."

Maria sighed. "Didn't think so. Oh, well who's first?"

"I thought we'd go in reverse alphabetical order by first name for a change, so Tess you're up."

Tess groaned. "Do I have to leave the room?"

"No, you get to stay right here and see how much your friends know about you." Anderson grinned. "Or how much they don't know about you."

Tess groaned again.

Michael smiled. "Bring it on."

"All right," Anderson said. "Question Number One: Who was Tess' first crush?"

Isabel looked at the others. "It's got to be Max, right?"

Maria nodded. "I would think so."

"But was that her first crush?" Alex asked.

"I think so," Michael said. "I mean, because . . . well, because."

Maria nodded. Michael's wording was lame, but she knew what he couldn't say on national TV: because Max was her husband from a previous life on an alien planet. "So, are we going to go with Max?"

Isabel shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

"Okay, Anderson. Final answer: Max."

"Wrong show," Anderson murmured. "But you're right. Max was Tess' first love." He scratched his head. "How did that work anyway? I thought Max and Liz liked each other."

"Just read the questions," Tess said.

"Okay. Question Number Two: What is Tess' middle name?"

Michael stared at the others. "Are we supposed to know that?"

Isabel frowned. "I don't think so."

"Marie," Maria said firmly.

Alex stared at her. "Really?"

"Well, no, but it's one of those really common middle names, you know? When I was in elementary school, *everyone* had the middle name Maria and I would always confuse it with my name."

Michael held out a hand. "Slow down, motor mouth." Maria stuck her tongue out at him. "She does have a point. If none of us know, we could just guess."

Isabel shrugged. "All right, Marie it is."

Anderson shook his head. "Sorry, guys. It's Lynn."

"Tess Lynn?" Maria asked. "That's pretty."

Tess blushed. "Thanks."

"Question Number Three: What was the name of Tess' imaginary friend?"

"You had an imaginary friend?" Maria asked.

Michael rolled his eyes. "Well, obviously. Unless it's a trick question. Is it a trick question?" he asked Anderson.

Anderson laughed. "No, Michael. It's not a trick question!"

"All right then," Michael said. "Um...does anyone know or should we just guess again?"

Isabel shrugged. "How about . . .um . . .Sarah?"

"Why?" Alex asked curiously.

Isabel grinned. "Because it's the first name I could think of!"

"It's a fairly common name," Maria pointed out. "We might as well try it."

"Sorry guys," Anderson broke in. "Tess' imaginary friend's name was . . . Vilandra. Is that

how you say it?"

Isabel started, wondering if Tess remembered exactly who Vilandra was. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she nearly missed the reading of the fourth question. She quickly jerked her attention back to Anderson.

". . . Remember, you have to get this one right, or you lose this round," Anderson was saying.

"Like we could forget that." Maria rolled her eyes.

Anderson glared at her. "What is Tess' favorite song?"

"Something by 'N Sync, I think," Isabel said.

Michael frowned. "What is it with you girls and boy bands?"

Maria stuck her tongue out at him. "What's wrong with liking boy bands?"

"Wait, wait, you guys," Alex jumped in. "We don't need to start that argument up again! Are we going with an 'N Sync song?"

Maria shrugged. "Sure. How about 'This I Promise You'? That's a good one."

"Is that your answer?" Anderson asked.

Isabel looked around at the rest of the group. "I guess so."

Tess groaned. "No! My favorite song is 'The Hardest Thing', by 98 Degrees! How could you not know that?"

"Sorry." Michael shrugged. "I try to avoid that kind of music."

"Michael!" Maria complained. He gave her a saucy grin and put his arm around her shoulders.

Anderson smiled. "Well, Michael, it's your turn next. Ready to see how much they know about you?"

"Do I really have a choice?"

Anderson ignored his question. "all right. First question: what is Michael's favorite band?"

"Well, it *should* be 98 Degrees," Maria muttered under her breath. Michael poked her.

Alex laughed. "Metallica. Everyone knows that."

"Right!" Anderson sounded pleased. "Second question: what is Michael's hidden talent?"

"Hidden talent?" Alex asked. "If it's hidden, then we shouldn't know about it. Can we have a new question?"

Isabel laughed. "Come on, Alex. Be a good sport."

"Anyway, *I* know the answer," Maria said, smiling smugly.

"Then tell!" Tess begged.

"Painting."

Anderson looked surprised. "That's right, Maria. One more question and you'll have earned $20,000 for the pot. Third question: what was Michael's most embarrassing moment?"

"When he did that dumb wrestling thing?" Isabel asked.

"What dumb wrestling thing?" Tess wanted to know.

"Actually it was kind of sweet," Isabel said. "Maria's mom was doing this alien wrestling event and her wrestler backed out at the last moment. Michael filled in."

Tess smiled. "That is sweet. Do you think it's his most embarrassing moment?"

"No. He had a choice in that," Alex pointed out. "I don't think it counts."

"Maria?" Isabel asked. "You're our resident Michael expert?"

"What an honor."

"Come on, Maria. Do you know?"

Maria shrugged. "Probably the same as *my* most embarrassing movement: when my mom caught us in bed together and chased Michael out with a newspaper."

"What?" Tess asked, shocked.

"No! It wasn't like that!" Maria blushed. "Really, it wasn't. That's our answer, Anderson."

Anderson smiled. "You're right again. That's $20,000 dollars for the pot."

"Yes!" Maria cheered. "I knew dating Michael would come in handy someday!"

Anderson shook his head. "This doesn't seem like a very good relationship. Now, Michael. Let's see if you know Maria as well as she knows you. First question: what is Maria's favorite cartoon?"

"Easy." Michael declared. "Scooby."

"Really?" Isabel asked. "I always thought of Maria as more of a Winnie-the-Pooh kind of person."

"Nope," Michael said. "Scooby. I swear, she turns it on every time she's at my apartment."

"She watched it when were kids, too," Alex put in. "And drove us all crazy wanting to play it at recess."

"Scooby it is!" Anderson said. "You guys are getting better at this! Second question: what is Maria's greatest ambition?"

"To be a professional singer," Michael answered quickly.

"Michael!" Isabel complained. "Give the rest of us a chance to answer!"

"Why?" he asked. "I'm right, aren't I?" he turned to Anderson.

"Yep. One more question and you'll have another 20,000. Ready? What was Maria's first pet?"

Michael turned to the others and grinned. "Okay guys, answer away!"

"A cat?" Isabel said uncertainly. "That would sort of fit."

Alex frowned. "Maybe it's a trick question. Maria never had a pet when I knew her."

"Same here," Tess said.

Isabel sighed. "Okay, Michael. Show off your Maria-wisdom."

"A Dalmatian dog," Michael answered promptly.

"He's right, of course," Anderson said. "You two know each other so well, it's scary."

"Yeah, who would want to know *him*?" Maria stuck her tongue out at Michael.

"More people than want to know you!" Michael replied, tugging on Maria's hair.

"Odd relationship." Anderson mused. "Very odd."

"So we've noticed," Isabel said dryly. "I'm next, aren't I?"

"Yes. Here's the first question: what is Isabel's middle name?"

"Didn't we already have that question?" Tess complained. "I don't think repeat questions, should be allowed?"

"You should know, Michael," Maria said. "You've known Isabel forever."

"Me?!" Michael sputtered. "What about Alex? He's the one dating her!"

"We're not dating!" Alex and Isabel said in unison.

"And even if we were, that doesn't mean I would know her middle name!" Alex defended himself.

"So basically what we're saying is we don't know," Maria stated. "We'll just have to guess again. Want to try Marie again?"

"Sure," Tess agreed. "Isabel Marie would sound nice."

"Maybe so," Anderson said. "But the answer is Amanda."

"Really?" Maria asked. "That's a cool middle name."

"Second question," Anderson went on. "What is Isabel's favorite holiday?"

"Christmas!" The answer came from everyone is the room.

Anderson seemed taken aback. "Apparently that question was far too easy...." He shook his head. "Third question: what is Isabel's greatest fear."

"Being captured by the FBI," Tess thought, but didn't say. Aloud, she guessed, "Spiders?"

"Nah," Maria said. "That's too mundane. Death? That's a nice, deep fear."

Tess shrugged. "Sounds good to me. Well, not good, but you know what I mean. Want to go with that?"

Everyone nodded, but Anderson said, "No. Isabel's greatest fear is losing her family and friends."

Maria groaned. "Should have guessed that one. Oh, well. Next question please!"

"Okay," Anderson began. "Remember, you need to get this one right to stay alive. What is Isabel's favorite movie?"

"Simple." Alex grinned. "Notting Hill."

"Yeah." Tess agreed. "She has some weird obsession with that movie."

"Correct!" Anderson declared. "This is the last question. Get it right, and earn $20,000. Miss it and earn nothing. What is Isabel's favorite animal?"

"A cat, I think," Maria said. "That would fit Iz well."

"No," Alex said thoughtfully. "Maybe a bird."

"How about a reindeer?" Michael suggested. "Since she loves Christmas so well?"

"That's just plain silly," Tess declared. "I'm with Alex. Let's try a bird."

"Sorry, gang. Maria was right. It was a cat."

"See!" Maria shouted. "You should have listened to me! I know what I'm talking about."

"You guessed, too." Michael pointed out.

"Yes, but I guessed right!"

"Okay, okay," Anderson said. "You can return to your usual bickering in a couple of minutes. First, it's Alex's turn."

Alex groaned. "Do I have to?"

"Yes." Anderson told him. "First question: what is Alex's most prized possession?"

"Either his guitar or something to do with Isabel." Maria decided.

"Something to do with Isabel, I think," Tess mused. "Alex is sort of a romantic guy. What does Alex have of yours, Isabel?"

"I'm really enjoying this conversation," Alex said to no one. "I love having a bunch of girls discuss my 'romantic' personality."

"Too many girls," Michael muttered in agreement.

"What do you think, Isabel?" Maria asked.

"Our photo album?" Isabel suggested.

"You have a photo album?" Maria squealed. "That's so romantic! Michael, I want a photo album!"

"See what you started?" Michael complained to Alex. Alex merely shrugged.

"Is that your answer?" Anderson asked. The girls nodded. "Unfortunately, you've underestimated Alex's romantic quality; his most prized possession is his guitar."

"I was right again!" Maria shouted. "You all need to listen to me more often!"

"If I listened to you all the time, my ears would run down."

"Michael!"

Anderson laughed. "Do I need to separate you two? Second question: what is Alex's middle name?"

"Again?" Tess complained. "Can't you guys think of another question?"

Maria smiled. "It's okay, Tess. You know it, don't you?"

"Of course," Tess said. "Everyone knows it. Alex is way too proud of his middle name."

"Do you mind sharing it with me?" Anderson asked. "You know, since it is part of the game and all."

"Oh, sorry. Charles."

"Right!" Anderson declared. "You're one for two. Third question: what is Alex's favorite breakfast cereal?"

"Favorite breakfast cereal?" Maria asked. "How in the world are we supposed to know that?"

"Well, you have known Alex for years," Michael asked. "You must have eaten breakfast with him at some time."

"Only at the Crashdown and we always order pancakes or something like that."

"What about you, Isabel?" Tess asked. "Surely you and Alex have eaten breakfast together?"

Isabel shook her head. "Just at the Crashdown."

"Back to old way, then," Maria said brightly. "Guess!"

"Cherrios?" Isabel asked. "That's a nice, normal kind of cereal."

"*Too* normal," Maria protested. "What about Frosted Flakes?"

"Sounds g-g-g-great!" Isabel said. At the others' stares, she shrugged. "Sorry, couldn't resist."

"Are we right?" Maria asked Anderson.

Anderson shook his head. "Nope. The answer is Life."

"*Cinnamon* Life," Alex corrected.

"Okay, *Cinnamon* Life. Now, remember, you have to get this question right to earn the money. What is Alex's favorite color?"

Maria frowned. "I don't think I know that."

"Green?" Isabel suggested.

"I guess we could try that," Michael said. "Green is a nice guyish color."

Maria stared at him. " 'Guyish'? Is that even a word?"

"It is now."

"Well, I think it's sexist."

"Is that your answer?" Anderson interrupted the bickering duo.

"Yes," Isabel answered for the group.

"Sorry. Alex's favorite color is red."

Alex groaned. "And I thought you guys were my friends! How could you miss all those questions about me?"

"Same way you missed all those questions about us," Isabel responded pertly.

"You still earned $40,000," Anderson said consolingly. "That's brings your pot up to $318,000."

"Which sounds like a lot, until you realize we could have won $690,000." Alex grumbled.

"Alex!" Isabel complained. "You're supposed to be the optimist."

"I'm not really complaining," Alex said, with a grin. "I'd be happy to take $318,000!"

"And you'll have a chance to win more in tomorrow's challenge," Anderson said. "You have the rest of the day off."

"You're so generous," Tess murmured.

"Good," Maria said. "I need to go shopping."

"You know," Michael said to her. "I really hope you win."

"You do?"

Michael nodded. "Otherwise you'll never be able to pay for all of the stuff you bought!"

"Don't be ridiculous. I've been saving up money for shopping in Germany for months."

Isabel laughed. "Don't worry, Michael. I'll try to curb her spending."

"Oh, that's a comfort," Alex said sarcastically. "You've bought as much as she has!'

Maria stuck her tongue out at him. "Tess will come with us. She can control us."

Tess laughed. "I don't think that's possible!"

"Then we'll have to change you into a shopping maniac! Come on, Tess!" Maria grabbed Tess' arm and Isabel's hand. "We can't waste any time!"

"Okay, okay! That's enough!" Isabel managed to wrench her hand out of Maria's grip.

"Sorry," Maria said. "You know how I am when it comes to shopping. What do you want to shop for today? Clothes? Jewelry? Books? Make-up?"

"Let's do clothes," Isabel said. "I need a new skirt. What do you think, Tess?"

"That sound's good to me," Tess agreed. "I need a new swimsuit. With all this swimming we've been doing, mine is falling apart!"

Before long, the girls were browsing the racks at a small German boutique. Their conversation naturally fell to the game and that day's challenge.

"I can't believe you knew all that about Michael!" Isabel exclaimed. "I don't even know all that and I've known him forever."

Maria laughed. "I think it comes from breaking up so many times. You'd be amazed at how much you notice about a person when he's trying to avoid you. Or when you're trying to avoid him."

"And another challenge tomorrow!" Tess groaned.

"Oh come on, Tess. They're fun!" Maria said.

"Some of them," Tess admitted. "But today was weird. I didn't know any of the answers."

"You need to spend more time with us," Maria suggested.

"Just shop with us," Isabel said, "and you'll learn far more about Maria then you'll ever want to know!"

*****

Back at the hotel, Michael and Alex had found a video game room. "All right!" Alex cheered. "I've missed all the game I have on my computer."

"And there's no girls around to nag us."

"I'm going to tell Maria you said that."

"Hey, I don't see you spending all your time with Isabel," Michael protested.

"We're not going out!"

"Actually," Michael said thoughtfully, "*technically*, Maria and I aren't going out."

"Uh-huh," Alex said, unconvinced. "Good luck finding anyone who believes that."

"But we never technically got back together after I broke up with her. . . ."

"Michael, word of advice: don't share that line of thought with Maria."

Michael laughed. "Hey, I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but even I know that much!"

Alex suddenly groaned. "An alien ate me!"

"WHAT?" Michael shouted.

"Not a *real* alien. One on the game."

"Oh, sorry. These video games get more realistic all the time."

Alex stared at the screen, which depicted an army of invading aliens. "Maybe I should find a new game."

"That might be a good idea."

******

The next day was sunny and warm. The gang gathered in a nearby park for the latest challenge.

"All right!" Maria cheered. "For once, we have a challenge outside on a sunny day!"


"It's almost too hot," Isabel said, trying to fan herself with her hand.

"I like it," Tess said.

"If you're done discussing the weather . . . are you ready for your next challenge?" Anderson asked, from his place standing behind the group.

"Once again, since we have no choice, why do you even bother asking?" Maria inquired.

Anderson shrugged. "I was raised to be polite. All right, you have half-an-hour for five tasks. Each task is worth $10,000, for a total of $50,000."

"What are the tasks?" Alex asked.

Anderson grinned. "That's the catch. I can only tell you about the tasks one at a time."

Michael groaned. "Why must you complicate things?"

Anderson only looked at his watch. "Okay, your time is starting now. First task: build a human pyramid."

"Okay," Michael said, thinking quickly. "Tess is the lightest, so she should go on the top. Alex and I will go on the bottom, and Maria and Isabel in the middle." He kneeled down on the ground, with Alex beside him. "Come on Maria, climb on my back."

"I thought you'd never ask," Maria said, carefully balancing herself.

"Can you make it up?" Isabel asked Tess from her perch on Alex's back.

"I think so," Tess replied. She took a flying leap at her fellow contestants.

"Ow," Maria complained. "That was my back!"

"Don't whine," Tess said. "We did it!"

"Very impressive," Anderson said. "That only took you one minute. I have to admit that, for you second challenge, we got our motivation from another reality show; you have to eat this bag of bugs."

"Ew! Gross!" Maria shrieked.

Isabel started laughing. "Maria, look at the bag! They're candy!"

"Oh." Maria said flatly. "I guess I can manage that."

Two minutes the bag was empty. "Ugh." Tess groaned. "Those were way too sweet."

"Next task," Anderson announced. "Sing Christmas carols to five strangers."

Maria grinned. "I like this challenge. Come on, guys!" She dashed out to the sidewalk. By the time the rest of the group caught up to her, she was half-way though "Jingle Bells."

When they were finished, Maria found another stranger and started singing "Joy to the World." By the time they finished singing the last carol--"Silent Night"-- they had attracted quite a crowd.

"Thank you, thank you," Maria said, giving mock bows.

"Maria!" Michael poked her. "It's time for the next challenge."

"You have eighteen minutes left. Next challenge: everyone has to paint their self portraits."

"Great challenge!" Michael commented, as the approached the easels that had been set for them.

"These don't have to be *good* self portraits, do they?" Isabel asked, looking doubtfully at the paint.

"I hope not!" Maria said, before starting in on her picture.

Five minutes later, they had produced four unrecognizable paintings, and one quite good self portrait.

"Come on, Michael!" Maria begged. "It doesn't have to be perfect. We don't have time!"

"Okay, okay." Michael agreed, giving his painting one last stroke.

"Last task," Anderson announced. "You have 12 minutes left to find someone who has the same name as one of you."

The group groaned at that. "That's going to be hard," Michael said. "I don't think any of our names is very German."

Alex shrugged. "We have to give it a shot. Tess? How do you say 'what's your name?' in German?"

"Wie heissen Sie?" Tess responded. "Come on, let's split up."

Tess worked her way through the streets quickly, asking everyone insight for their names, while Alex and Isabel were more polite, remembering to say "danke." With only minutes to spare, Tess let out a shriek of excitement.

"Yes! Everyone-- meet Michael Schmidt!!"

Even Anderson looked happy. "Congratulations everyone. That's $50,000 for the pot!"

******

The happiness of that day seemed long gone the next day, an hour before the execution test. A tense group had gathered in the hotel lobby. Alex said in an arm chair, flipping through his notebook. Isabel sat at his feet and seemed to be watching everyone, all at once. Michael and Maria talked quietly on the loveseat. Tess sat across the room and seemed lost in thought. Just before they all went crazy from guilt and suspicion, it was time to take the test.

Less than a half-hour later, they had gathered for the sixth execution.

"How are you all doing?" Anderson asked, with real concern in his voice.

Maria sighed. "Okay, I guess. It's so hard to feel suspicious of your best friends."

"I'm just glad we don't have to vote anyone off," Isabel said. "Not that this isn't hard enough."

Tess nodded. "I feel so guilty when I take the test."

"What about the guys?" Anderson asked. "Michael? Alex?"

Michael shrugged. "It's just a game, right? But I'm with Maria. I trust these guys, but one of them is lying to me."

"And we don't really know who." Alex remarked. "Or what all they're lying about."

Anderson nodded. "Ready for the execution?"

"Not really." Maria sighed.

"Unfortunately, you don't have choice," Anderson said softly, and started typing names in the computer. This time the red fingerprint appeared by Alex's name.

Alex looked shocked. "But my notebook! How could I be wrong?"

Isabel threw her arms around his neck. "I'll miss you."

Tess and Maria also hugged Alex. "Sorry," they both murmured.

Michael just looked at Alex. "Leaving me with all these girls?" he asked.

Alex nodded, still looking at his notebook in disbelief, as he left the game.

The group was silent, as they always were after an execution.

"We're leaving tomorrow," Anderson reminded them. "Be in the hotel lobby at ten."

As one, the Roswellians stood and left the room.

The mole stayed up late that night, thinking that as hard as it would be to suspect your friends of lying, it was even harder to be the one lying . . . .

TBC

Feedback me... pretty please with Michael on top?