The jeep screeched to a halt in front of the Crashdown. Max darted out from behind the wheel and leapt up the ladder of her balcony.

'Come up to meet you
To tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are'

He felt his knees buckle in front of her window as he saw the mess she had left behind. Or lack of mess, rather. Her room was as neat as a pin, but he knew better. He could tell she had already been there. The others huffed up the ladder as he opened her window and crawled inside. Max walked slowly around the room. He could still smell her Green Tea Shampoo and her jasmine body wash. The picture of her, Alex, and Maria on her nightstand was missing, and her Cool Waters perfume was absent as well. The whole group waited, waited for him to submit before doing so themselves.

'I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I'd set you apart'

He turned his face to the others, tears brimming his eyes. His gaze met Maria's and they walked towards each other. She broke down crying and they hugged each other, Max's own hot tears mixing with hers.
"I'm so sorry, I couldn't tell you. I promised her. She wanted to tell you more than anything else in the world but she was so afraid of the consequences." Maria sobbed and felt him nod against her shoulder, both comforted and confused by her words. She tightened her grip on him to comfort herself as much as to comfort him. She felt horrible about how much she had yelled at him, blaming him for the predicament Liz was force in to. It wasn't Max's fault; she couldn't blame him for loving Liz. Maria took pity on him and turned to Isabel. "Izzy, will you take him home? He shouldn't have to be here." Isabel nodded and took her destroyed brother from Maria's arms, leading him back to the window.

Michael rested his hand on Liz's desk to support himself. *flash* Liz writing frantically at her desk. *flash* Liz sealing an envelope shut, labeled "Pod Squad and Friends" *flash* Liz swinging a duffel bag over her shoulder, knocking the envelope off the desk unknowingly, and bolting out the door. *end flash*

"Wait! I had a flash of Liz." Michael half yelled immediately, causing everyone to turn their heads in shock. He looked Max in the eye and said pointedly, "She left us something." Michael got down on his hands and knees, crawling under the desk. He slid back out, bumping his head on its edge, but produced a thick envelope. Maria quickly snatched it from his grasp as he rubbed the back of his head, wincing. She peeled open the freshly sealed flap and unfolded the letter that was inside it, reading aloud Liz's words.

"I cannot call you my friends, for you all are so much more than that to me. So, to the dearest members of my family I have ever known: I'm sorry. Forgive me for going to such drastic measures- I wish all of this could have been different. I wish that so much. But there are so many things that cannot be changed... and yet, the real problem is that there are so many things that can be. Never doubt that I love all of you. If I didn't, this letter wouldn't exist, I'd be standing next to all of you now, and the world would be as you wish to make it. Unfortunately, things do not always work out as we would like.
Tess—I know you and I have never gotten along during the time we've known each other. I felt like you were trying to take away the best part of me –Max-, and you felt like I never deserved him in the first place. You're right. I never deserved his smile or his admiration, and I never deserved the life he gave back to me when he healed me. The fact is: I love him. I always have; I always will.

'I just want to feel safe in my own skin
I just want to feel happy again
I just want to feel deep in my own world
But I'm so lonely I don't even want to be with myself anymore'

But I have to leave him. He may be broken for a while, then again he may not be. I honestly don't know. Whatever the case, I am entrusting him into your care. Take care of the most important thing in my life: protect him, listen to him, love him. Heal him. If you love him, know that you have my blessing. If I'm to lose him to anyone, I'd want it to be you. You probably think you don't need it: my blessing, that is, but just know that you have it regardless. Promise me you'll show him the real you. You'd be surprised to find out how much easier it is to just be yourself. Guard over him for me. He needs you.
Kyle—you are one of the best friends a girl could ask for. Even when we were going out, you treated me like a person- not just a thing to be owned, but a human being to be respected. Thank you for helping me when I couldn't turn to anyone else, even though you didn't know my motives. I'm sorry for asking it of you, and I'm sorry for forcing you to lie to everyone else on my behalf. But you were there when I needed you, and that's one thing I'm not sorry for.

'While my heart is a shield and I won't let it down
While I am so afraid to fail so I won't even try
Well how can I say I'm alive?'

I want you to know that when we dated that you were a fantastic boyfriend, and you're even more phenomenal now. The girl you fall in love with is the luckiest girl in the world, because she has you. I'll miss your trusting face and your stupid Buddha stories you tell to express your philosophies on life. Take care of yourself.
Isabel—you've matured so much over the course of the past year. You're extraordinary wit and false cynicism have made my days both harder and easier, but it always comforted me to know that if I needed to talk to someone, you were there for me. You've become like a sister to me, in every way that counts.

'Dear Isobel I hope you're well, and what you've done is right
Oh it's been such hell, I wish you well
I hope you're safe tonight
It's been a long day coming and long will it last
When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass
By loving you more'

I know you're worried that Alex no longer cares for you, but he does. He loves you and he would bear any burden in an attempt to lessen the load upon your shoulders. Just take a deep breath and tell him how you really feel about him. He's just as lost without you as you are without him.
Michael—I know underneath that harsh exterior, pretending that you don't care about anyone, is a truly genuine and protective individual. Thank you for never treating me differently, despite what happened. I know you were angry with me and I cannot blame you- I could see the look in your eyes whenever they met with mine, but you never treated me like less than I was.

'If you should stop for a while, you will find me standing by
Over here, at the side of your life
I'd like to hold you still, remind you of you've missed
If you have a little time, if you have a little time that is'

Try not to harp Max too much because he's the 'leader.' I assure you, if he could give it up, he would. Maria is one of the luckiest girls in the universe, and I need you to promise to always take care of her. I can't be there anymore to help smooth things out between the two of you, so try to look at things from her perspective occasionally. Don't be afraid to let her in. I saw a glimpse of the real you and it was beautiful. Trust your judgment.
Alex—I'm sorry for lying to you. I know that you said you understood, but I promised you I would never lie to you again in that jail cell when you first found out about Max, Michael, and Isabel. But there were extenuating circumstances that were out of my control. It's not an excuse, what I did was wrong and I know that, but it is a fact- one I cannot escape no matter how hard I try.

'If you gave me just a coin for every time we said goodbye
Well I'd be rich beyond my dreams, I'm sorry for my weary life
I know I'm not perfect but I can smile
And I hope that you see this heart behind my tired eyes'

I know you love Isabel, and she loves you too. I can feel it coming off her in waves. You and Maria have been my best friends since we first met. Before we met the others, the three of us were already together. Maria used to swear that we only existed to make each other laugh. I believe that. You're my brother Alex, thank you always making me laugh.
Maria—I could have never continued on without you. You've kept me sane; you've kept me here longer than I would have stayed were you not here for me. Don't be so hard on Max because of me, it's not his fault. I need to ask one more favor of you- keep them from resorting to panic.

'From behind these walls I hear your song, oh sweet words
The music that you play lights up my world
The sweetest that I've heard
Could it be that I've been touched and turned, oh lord please
Finally, finally things are changing'

I'm giving you my job in the group: being the listener. Use logic, experiences, and your heart to help the others when they're not sure what to do any longer. As for Michael- you know he loves you. He tells you with every look, every touch, and every smile. Have faith in that. His mouth may not say it, but his heart does. I've left my songs for you. They're in my top desk drawer. Play with them at your leisure. Sing them for me. Perform them for me, and remember that I'm with you, chica. Always.
Max—God, I love you. I do. I'll proclaim it to the damn mountains if you want, but it won't make any difference. You see, it's because I know you loved me too. The night of Gomez would have been a turning point in our relationship- a positive one had Kyle not been there. I would have succumbed to you.

'So leave your taxi waiting
And turn and close my door
And sit back down where you were sitting, a little closer than before
When you look that serious, it just makes me want you more'

But that couldn't happen, can't happen- even now. I could see how much you loved me, and while it made my heart leap with joy, that was part of the problem. You and I can't live a life where the world could be destroyed around us and we wouldn't notice anything but each other. We both know that's how it would have been if you and I had stayed as we were. You need to put your family first, always. You can't focus on them if you're worrying about me all the time. Do you see that it can't be that way? Things were going downhill before my eyes: the harder Tess pushed your destiny, the more bitter you be came towards her. She would leave Max, and you need her- whether or not you're willing to admit it. She's a part of your unit, your four square, and without her you will be weaker. There's your truth- as much of it as I can give you. I'm sorry I had to make the decision for you. I'm glad that you're moving on with her- you deserve to be happy more than anyone.

'And I've been meaning to tell you
The closer you get the better I feel
The closer you are the more I see
Why everyone says that I look happier
When you're around the closer you get the better I feel'

Forgive me. I wish I could hug you, kiss you, take comfort in your embrace- just once more. But that would only make it harder to leave. I've left you my journal. Remember when you asked to read it? You asked why you couldn't when I said no. But you understood, even then. It was because of how much of an influence you were in it. I can think of nothing else to leave you with but this. Read it when you've lost your way, when you can't see the dividing lines between your enemies and friends any longer. Michael knows its location. I love you- with every breath and every heartbeat. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life for so long. Thank you for living.
This letter is my goodbye to all of you- you will never see me again. I will never set foot back in Roswell, and please don't look for me. Even though I've hurt all of you, I'm asking you for mercy. Please don't make it harder for me than it has to be. I don't know how much more I can take. I love you all. You're the best group of people I will ever know, and no one will ever take your places in my heart. I feel I can't say it enough so I'll say it again one last time: I'm sorry.
Always, Liz"

There was nothing to say. Everyone was thinking the same thing as they wiped away their tears: they had to stop Liz. Denial of the seriousness of the situation kept them from turning to hysteria. A motor cut through the silence like a chainsaw, and they bolted out the door as they saw Liz speed away. The sole chance they needed had presented itself.
The jeep chased the woman along the highway leading out of town but Max couldn't keep up with her. She was pushing 100mph, and swerving dangerously out of control- seemingly determined to escape the love of her life and her closest companions. Max could only stare in horror when she slowly lifted her hands from the bike's handles, spreading them out evenly with her shoulder blades as though she were trying to fly. Liz raised her head in offering.
The turn came too fast.
She didn't lower her arms an inch.
Max slammed on the brakes as he watched Liz collide with the rail, the bike exploding on impact. Max screamed.