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 Sixty-Two Undertow
"I can't do it," wailed Liz. "No matter how hard I try, I can't to it."
"Just relax, Liz," Ava said. "You're trying to hard. Think for a second. When
you use your powers, what are you doing? How are you feeling?"
"That's just it, I don't know," Liz cried, her voice filled with exasperation.
I just do it."
"And you can just mind warp, we just have to find the trigger that will wake up
your ability."
"Ava?"
"Liz?"
"Are you upset about tonight?" Liz asked, referring to the Prom.
"Maybe a little, but I get why Kyle has to take her. I may not like it, but I
get it."
"How would you like to come with us?" Liz asked, her eyes shining with a
mischievous light.
"How?" asked Ava.
"Well, I was talking with Alex, and he got his parents to help. We came up with
a story about how Kyle asked Tess because nobody else had, and he felt sorry
for her, but then he met you," said Liz.
"And, this is going to get me to the Prom, how?" queried Ava.
"Well, anyhow, Alex explained all this to his parents, and said how Kyle didn't
want to hurt Tess by breaking the date, but how he really wanted to have you
there and dance with you and stuff. Ava, Alex was incredible. He told this sad
story about how you and Kyle met at a basketball game this winter, and you were
a cheerleader for the opposing team."
"Me, a cheerleader. I so think not," snorted Ava. "I'm not the rah rah sis boom
bah type."
"Shut up, you will be tonight," laughed Liz. "Anyhow, he made it all sound so
sad and romantic. His mother came up with a suggestion. You are going to be her
niece, visiting from out of town."
"I guess I'm missing the big picture, here," said Ava.
"Yeah, I guess," said Liz. "You are going to accompany Alex and Isabelle to the
prom, and sit with all of us, and we'll figure out some way for you and Kyle to
dance together."
"There is one problem with all of this," said Ava. "Aren't you and Kyle
supposed to be together? Remember, we had her convinced of that."
"Yeah, but he told her I dumped him right after we got back from Vegas. That's
how he got her to go to the Prom with him. That and the fact that Max told her
he and I were going together as friends."
"You are really devious, Liz Parker, did you know that? If you weren't my
friend, I'd be really afraid of you," Ava said.
"I always knew you were smart," joked Liz. "Now, we have to find you something
to wear. Maria sent over a bunch of stuff, and I've got some stuff, and if we
can't find anything here, we can still go shopping. There are a couple of hours
left before we have to get ready."
Ava reached out and hugged Liz. "Thank you," she said. "I only wish you could
get the prom night you deserve."
"Don't worry about me," Liz said, bravely, her words doing little to hide the
pain that was in her eyes. "Max and I have the rest of our lives to spend
together, and, we have a part of this prom as well."
"Come on, everybody, squeeze together," Amy DeLuca cried. "I want to get a
picture. You too Michael," she called.
The group squeezed together in their prom finery and smiled. Michael came out
of the kitchen of the CrashDown into the main eating area.
"This is stupid," he said, his voice sullen.
"Move closer to Maria," Amy directed. Michael moved closer, and surreptitiously
squeezed her arm.
"There, that's perfect," said Amy.
"Wait!" shouted Alex. "We forgot my cousin. Emma, come on over here."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Amy said. "Of course, squeeze right in there."
"Actually, Mrs. Deluca, I think it would look more balanced if she stood on the
other side of Kyle," Isabelle directed.
"You are right, Isabelle," agreed Amy. "You have such a good eye for those
things. Okay, ready everybody? Say 'Cheese'."
The flash from the camera filled the room with light. "One more," said Amy.
"For luck." She took another picture, and smiled. "Thanks kids, that's it. Go
have a wonderful night, but not too wonderful. Remember, Jim and I are
chaperoning."
They all laughed, and gathered up their belongings and headed for the door.
"Alex, Kyle and I have a surprise for all of you," said Max, as he opened the
door to the CrashDown. "Look."
Outside the restaurant stood a black limo. The back door was opened, and the
liveried driver stood beside the car.
"Good evening," he said. "I am Charles, your driver for this evening."
"Oh wow," whispered Isabelle to Liz. "Am I crazy, or does that guy look like…?"
"Che'koth," Liz whispered back. "No, you're not crazy." Both girls turned to
look at Max, who nodded his head slightly.
"Charles just opened a new limo service here in town," Max explained. "He was
sponsoring a contest to get his company known around town, and I won."
"I don't think we're all going to fit in there," said Tess, her voice
belligerent. "Maybe Kyle and I should just take our own car."
"Relax Tess," said Kyle. "We'll all fit, come on."
One by one, they climbed into the car, until only Kyle and Ava, masquerading as
Emma were left standing outside.
"There's only room for one more," Tess said. "See, I told you. Alex's cousin is
going to have to ride up front."
"No way," said Kyle. "Watch this." He climbed into the limo, next to Tess and
held out his hand to Ava. Come on, there is plenty of room on my lap." He
winked at Ava, and she climbed in and snuggled on his lap.
"There," he said in a satisfied voice. "Everything is perfect. To the Prom,
Charles."
Everyone laughed as the car started and drove down the street to the school.
The prom itself was something of an anticlimax. Liz and Max spent the early
part of the evening together, dancing and talking.
"What is Che'koth doing here?" she whispered to him.
"He was worried about us, and the bejginm," said Max. "So he came down to keep
an eye on us."
"Can they do that?" Liz asked.
"Well, not easily," explained Max. "The Granolith is a way to transfer beings
back and forth, but it uses up a lot of energy to use it. Che'koth estimates
that it will be out of commission for a couple of weeks, anyhow, but since we
weren't planning on leaving anytime soon, it's no big."
"Oh, well, I," began Liz. She stopped speaking, and looked past Max, to see
Michael standing in the doorway of the gym. "Michael's here," she said,
regretfully. "It's time to start."
"Liz, we don't have to go through with this," said Max.
"Yes, we do," Liz said, firmly. "We agreed, and I'm not backing out."
"Then, just remember, I love you," Max said. He made sure Tess was nowhere in
site, and quickly kissed Liz, and wiped the tear that slid down her cheek.
"It will be fine," he said.
"I know," Liz agreed. "Just go do it," she urged. "Lets get this thing
started."
Max walked off the dance floor, and nodded to Michael, and Kyle. Liz crossed
the dance floor and tapped Alex on the shoulder.
"It's time," she said. "Michael's here, and Kyle just got Tess out into the
hall. Max is going out there now.
Maria, Michael and Ava walked across the gym floor together, to join Alex,
Isabelle and Liz.
"Everybody ready?" Michael asked, unnecessarily.
"Yeah, Let's bury the bitch," said Liz.
