July 4, 1978
Larek,
You won't understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. I can hear you voice now. Telling me how foolish I'm being exiling myself on Earth, but I've learned a little word during my time here.
Freedom.
Here, they don't confine themselves to fixed notions of identity. One is not what there father or mother was before them. They have a freedom to choose who they want to be. You probably find this behavior impulsive, but I find it refreshing. At last, I can be me. Not some mindless drone for you or anyone else.
I only hope that the royal four will be allowed such a gift. Away from court, they might actually become beings of substance instead of bickering imbeciles.
So this is goodbye, and if you care anything at all for me then you will leave me in peace.
~ Katya de Reoux


Roswell, New Mexico 1997

Max eyed the clock. Counting the minutes until the bell would ring, but the hands seemed to be stuck permanently at five after.

"Mr. Evans, would you please answer the question?" Mrs. Crowley wheezed.

He could tell she was in the first stages of emphysema. She had a maximum of two years left. Just another little fabulous gift of his secret alien powers.
"Could you repeat the question?"

"I've asked three times already Mr. Evans." The class snickered. Mrs. Crowley's wrinkled face refused to budge.

He blushed and lowered his head.

"Supernatural means a unexplainable occurences," Maria's voice sounded.

He could kiss her. Of course Michael would probably kill him then.

"Well Miss. De Luca so nice of you to join the class and if there was anyone would know about the supernatural it would be your mother wouldn't it?"

Maria coughed, "bitch."

Max couldn't help but smile.

Satisfied with tormenting her class for the day, Mrs. Crowley took a seat at her desk. "Now for the seventh grade group research project I would like you to focus on a supernatural occurrence. It can be anything you like," Mrs. Crowley's lips sunk slightly in thought, "but no aliens." She flicked her wrists at the class. "Now partner up into twos, and for those who are control freaks and like to work alone tough."

Max watched as everyone as partnered up. For the hundredth time, he wished Isabel had been in the class. At least with her, he always had ready made partner. He had someone to talk for him.

A pink notebook landed on his desk, "I guess it's just you and me." It was Maria.

He studied her carefully. From her pixie blonde hair to her bell bottom jeans, he had always thought she seemed nice. Then there was Michael who thought she was really nice even if he refused to admit it. But this was the first time she had actually said a word to him. He tended to shy away from talking. People scared him.

"You know if you don't want to be partner," she made a wry face, "I could always be with Pam Troy."

"No, it's o.k."

"Fabulous, You don't talk much do you," She scooted into the chair next to him.

"Not really."

"Great. There's very few people in this world that actually listen. And I have a lot of things to say. "
From her pencil box, she pulled out a glitter pen. "Tell me Max. What do you think about mysterious fires?"

"Fires?"

She drew a large heart on top of her paper, "the Crashdown fire to be exact."

"I never really thought of it," he lied trying to hide his fascination. In fact, he had read every newspaper article about it. Its pull over him was great. Every time he passed the building, he always got a small chill. Like something valuable had been lost there. Not a possession but something deeper, a part of him. Isabel told him he was insane.

"My mom says I was friends with the little girl that died."

"Liz you mean? I'm sorry."

"Hey we were only two. It wasn't like were bosom buds or anything." Her voice dropped, "speaking of bosom buddies. You and Michael are tight right?"

"Yes." Max stifled a laugh. Michael and Maria had been mooning over each other since the fifth grade. Of course neither one was willing to make the first move.

She opened her mouth then closed it. "Just asking."

They definitely needed a little shove.

The bell rang.
"Be sure to pick a place outside of school to work on the project," Mrs. Crowley hissed over the noise.

"How about you come over to my house at five?"

"Yeah sure," Maria answered. "Michael won't be there will he?"

"No I promise."

"Ok."

Max waited until Maria had left to uncross his fingers.