This was written in response to the Departure Debacle contest/challenge at Majik's World of Fan Fic. My submission is just for fun, since I couldn't pass up the chance to make it all better lol.

Disclaimer: You know the drill…the characters aren't mine. A lot of stuff in the beginning is taken from End of the World. God knows THAT'S not mine. Anything that makes sense and makes it all better, now that's mine. Seriously, Roswell and all characters belong to Jason Katims, 20th Century Fox etc. I'm just borrowing them.

Rating: PG-13 – possibly to R

Love Changes Everything

Chapter Two – A Plan Set in Motion

Liz walked down the halls of West Roswell High, and ignored the shouts that filled the air. She stopped at her locker and changed books. She looked around carefully, to make sure she was unobserved. Once she was certain nobody was watching her, she pulled a sheaf of papers from a folder and slipped them into a notebook.
"Liz, great, there you are," said Maria breathlessly. "I lost my English notebook. Did I leave it in your locker?"
"Here it is Maria," said Liz, shoving it at her. "You left it at my house. I found your homework in it; your essay on Czechoslovakia had a few mistakes in it. You may want to reread it before you hand it in." She stared intently at Maria and then down at the folder.
"Oh," said Maria, "The Czechoslovakian essay. Thanks girlfriend, I would have been so screwed if I didn't turn that in. I was in total freak mode when I couldn't find it."
"Well, it's all found, so why don't you go proof read it again, I circled your mistakes in green."
"Thanks again, Liz," said Maria, as she hugged her friend. "I'll see you at lunch, okay?"
"Yeah, maybe," said Liz, distractedly. "Look, I've got to go, I don't want to be late for class.

Liz took off down the hall before Maria could say anything. Maria held onto the notebook tightly, and made her way to the library. She found an empty table in the back of the room, and opened the notebook and pulled out her essay and began to read whatever had Liz so upset.
Maria,

I don't care if you read this, but you have to get it to Max as soon as possible. Something really weird happened last night, and he needs to know about it right away.

Liz

Maria flipped through the rest of the papers, skimming them quickly. Her face grew white as she read what Liz had written. Slamming the notebook shut, she stood up and walked quickly out of the library. She pulled the hall pass that Isabelle had made for her, courtesy of her powers, just in case she got stopped. She walked swiftly down the hall peering in the different classrooms, looking for Max Evans. When she finally located him, she stood outside the classroom door, gesturing frantically, trying to get his attention. After about five minutes of alien aerobics, Max managed to escape out into the hallway.

"Maria," he said. "What's wrong?
"A lot is wrong," she answered. "Liz was in total weird mode, and gave me this to give to you. Max, you need to read this right away. I think we are in serious trouble," she babbled.
"Maria, calm down. What did it say?"
"What do you mean, what did it say? Are you implying that I would read a personal note from Liz to you?" she asked indignantly.
"Maria?"
"Okay, okay, I read it, but it's way to weird for me to try and explain. You need to read it for yourself."
"Come on," he said, grabbing her by the hand and pulling her down the hallway.
"Where are we going?"
"To the eraser room."
"Wait a second Max. You may be a space boy, but you aren't MY Space Boy!"

Max said nothing, but turned and glared at Maria, who quickly shut up and followed Max upstairs and down the hall to the eraser room. Once they were inside, Max used his powers to lock the door behind them.
"Okay, before I start reading, is Liz alright?" he asked Maria.
"Physically, she's okay, but emotionally, she's a basket case," said Maria.
"Tell me everything that happened!" he demanded.
"Well, there isn't much to tell, I was missing my English notebook. I was looking all over the place for it, but I couldn't find it anywhere. I saw Liz, so I stopped to ask her about it. Luckily for me she had it. Wait a second," said Maria, with a frown. "How did she get my notebook? I'm sure it was in my locker. Max, she broke into my locker!"
"Maria, focus here, would you?" asked Max.
"Oh, right, sorry. Well anyhow, Liz was going on about proof reading my English essay on Czechoslovakia, and telling me I needed to read it right away."

"Maria, you're losing it again. What does Czechoslovakia have to do with anything?" asked Max in exasperation.
"Everything, nitwit," she said, slapping his shoulder. "Czechoslovakian was what we call you when we are talking about you and Michael and Isabelle when we are in public," said Maria, proudly.
"You call us Czechoslovakian?" asked Max weakly. "I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that it was your idea."
"Yeah, how'd you know?" asked Maria. "Anyhow, I skimmed through my so called essay, and went into panic mode and found you right away."
"Thanks Maria," said Max. "You are a good friend."

Max unfolded the papers Maria had given him and began to read. After several minutes, he put them down and looked at Maria.
"What does it mean, Max?"
"I'm not sure yet, but we need to get everyone together. Maria can you get a hold of Michael and the others and tell them we'll meet tonight. Damn, where can we meet?"
"How about in the back room of my mom's store? She's closing early tonight, anyhow. Inventory starts tomorrow. Just how I wanted to spend my Saturday, counting little alien antenna toppers."
"Maria, you're doing it again…don't you have any cedar oil to sniff or something," groused Max. I really need you to focus right now."
"Sorry," said Maria, fumbling in her pocket for a vial of cedar oil.
"Fine, now tell everyone we'll meet at your mom's store around 6:00."
"Let's see, I'll tell Michael next period," planned Maria. "I can tell Alex at lunch, he can get in touch with Isabelle." She looked at Max to see if he agreed with her plans. When he nodded she continued. "Tess is going to be the hardest person for me to get a hold of. I don't have any classes with her. I suppose Isabelle…."
"NO!" shouted Max. "Not Tess. We have to keep Tess out of this, but we can't let her know something is up. This has to be a secret!"

Maria backed away from Max, shocked by the anger in his voice.
"Okay Max, if you say so."
"Maria, just how well did you read what Liz wrote?"
"Not very," she admitted. "I just skimmed it briefly, and then came to find you. There was something about an alien who looked like you coming from the future, and Michael and Isabelle dying. As soon as I saw that, I came looking for you."
"It's bad, Maria, really bad. I have to find Liz. We are so screwed right now."