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.

Authors Note: I'm not very happy with the way the excerpt from the destiny book came out. It will probably be rewritten very very soon. But, as bad as it is, I think I managed to convey my point.

Rating: PG-13 – possibly to R

Chapter Twenty-Six Who Saw THAT Coming?

Liz Parker walked down the halls of West Roswell High, a secretive smile playing on her lips. She felt as if she could conquer the world. She looked around the students streaming through the halls, looking for any of her friends. Further down the hall, she spied Max, and her smile grew brighter, until she realized that he had his arm around Tess. Her pace slowed a little as she observed them from a distance. To the casual observer, they looked like such a happy couple, but Liz could tell by the rigid way that Max held his shoulders that he abhorred what he was doing.

I love you Max, Liz thought to herself, as she watched the walk farther down the hall. Max stopped, and turned around, his gazing seeking her out unerringly.
I love you too, Liz,. She heard the words as clearly as if Max were standing next to her. She looked around, and tried to figure out where the voice had come from.
I so did not hear that, she thought to herself.
Yes, Liz, you did, echoed Max's voice in her head.

Liz began to push through the crowd, trying to get closer to Max. She needed to talk to him, to make sense of what she had heard. As she drew closer, she saw Tess tug on Max's arm, and drag him down the hall, away from Liz. Liz turned abruptly, and she walked down the hall in the other direction. Her eyes stared blankly ahead as she broke into a run. Gone were the all the feelings of conquering the world. Instead, she felt as if she had been conquered. She turned a corner, and collided with something the consistency of a brick wall.

"Ooph," said Liz as she fell to the floor.
"Liz, Jesus, are you alright," a voice asked as a hand reached down to help her up.
"Michael. I-I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Going?" asked Michael, as he pulled her to her feet. You didn't look like you were going anywhere. It looked like you were escaping to me."
"I was going to class," said Liz, as the bell rang.
"Class for you is in the other direction," said Michael. "Now come on, tell me what's really wrong."
"I can't, Michael. Not here anyhow."

Michael looked around, and grabbed Liz by the hand, and led her up a flight of stairs, and down a now deserted hallway. He looked around again to make sure they weren't observed, pulled open a door, and shoved Liz inside.
"The eraser room?" she asked as she looked around.
"Yeah, I happen to know that Pam Troy and Karl Watson broke up, so they won't be using it this period. Now spill, what has you so worked up that you, Liz Parker the uber student, were leaving school. Was it something with Tess?"
"Yes, no, not really," said Liz.
"Well, that really cleared that up," said Michael. "Come on Liz, don't talk like Maria. I get enough of that from her. Now start at the beginning, and tell me everything."

Liz explained about her feelings of euphoria, followed by the realization that she and Max could now communicate non-verbally. As she spoke, she felt a wave of panic wash over her, and she began to cry. Michael gathered Liz in his arms, and held her tightly, while she cried as if her heart would break. Finally, her tears subsided, and she gave a watery sniff and used her hands to wipe the tears from her face.
"I'm sorry," she hiccupped. "I don't know what came over me."
"Me either," said Michael, but we'll figure it out, together." He pulled Liz into his arms for another comforting hug. "The one thing you don't have to worry about is Maxwell. That guy is so in love with you, that it makes me sick." He was about to say more when the door to the eraser room burst open.
"Oh, sorry Guerin," Liz heard a voice say. "I didn't know you and Maria were in here."

"Bobby, come on," Liz heard a voice on the other side of the door. "I want to be alone with you."
"Sorry, Pam. Guerin's in here with Maria."
"That's not possible. I saw her in class when we were in the hall. Let me in, I want to see who he's in there with." Liz cringed when she realized the strident voice belonged to none other than Pam Troy.
"Liz Parker?" Pam asked in amazement. "I can't believe you're in here with you supposed best friend's boyfriend. You are such a slut. I always knew you were too good to be true. I can't wait to tell, well, EVERYBODY!"

Pam turned and pushed past the now forgotten Bobby and rushed out the door as the bell rang.
"Sorry, man," he said to Michael.
"Yeah, well, what are ya gonna do?" said Michael, shrugging his shoulders as Bobby left the room.
"Michael!" said Liz, swatting him on the arm. "Why didn't you tell him the truth? Now they're going to think we were in here together."
"Tell him what, Liz. That you were in here having a meltdown because you can hear your alien boyfriend's voice in your head. Okay sure, I'll go tell them that right now."

"Your right," said Liz as she leaned against the door with a sigh.
"I know I'm right," said Michael. "But I'll do it if you really want me to," he said, making a motion towards the door. Liz began to laugh.
"Good, you're laughing again," said Michael. "I want to try something, if you're willing."
"Michael," said Liz, laughing some more. "Contrary to what Pam Troy thinks, I am not a slut!"
"Slut, no, manic, maybe," said Michael, under his breath. "Come on Liz, focus for a second. I want you to try and talk to me."
"Michael, we have been talking."
"With your mind, Liz" Michael said, patiently.
"Oh, right, sorry," said Liz, clearly unrepentant. She stared intently at Michael for a minute and exploded into laughter again. "Well, did you get anything?"
"Nothing. God, Liz, what's with you. A minute ago, you were in tears, and now you can't stop laughing. I mean, I'm glad you're not upset anymore, but this is ridiculous."

"I'm sorry," she said. "I don't know what's wrong with me today.
"Don't worry about it," said Michael. "Look, it's almost lunch time, lets get out of here and meet the others. We should let them know what's going on."
"Great," said Liz, opening the door. "I'm starving anyhow. I feel like I could eat a horse or something."
"I'll tell Max to take you out for horse tonight, but for the time being, you're going to settle for West Roswell High cafeteria cuisine."

Liz and Michael grabbed some food from the cafeteria and went outside to find the others. Michael scanned the crowed and grabbed Liz's arm.
"There they are," he said. "I see Alex, Isabelle and Kyle, over by that tree." The two made their way across the crowded lawn towards their friends. Liz tried to juggle her books and her tray, when she felt someone grab her arm.
"You vicious bitch," she heard, just before she felt the stinging slap on her face. "You can't keep your own man, so you try to steal mine?" Liz shook her head, to try and clear the ringing she heard in here ears.
"Maria!" she cried. "It wasn't like that, you have to believe me."
"Believe you?" Maria yelled. "How can I ever believe you again? You were my best friend, I trusted you, and this is how you repay me? I don't ever want to speak to you again!" Maria released Liz's arm, and stormed off across the lawn. Michael looked helplessly at Liz for a moment before he took off after Maria. Liz walked slowly towards Isabelle and the others, never once noticing Tess, sitting on a nearby bench, a feral smile on her face.