Disclaimer: Roswell, and it's characters do not
belong to me. Melinda Metz, Jason Katims and 20th Century Fox have that particular
pleasure. I'm simply borrowing them until the Season 2 DVD's get released.
Tomorrows Yet to Come
Rating: PG – R
Chapter 1 – A
New Beginning
Max found us an apartment today. Our parents
weren't too thrilled at the thought of us living together, but since they
aren't paying for school, they really don't have a say in the matter. We both
received scholarships, not that we needed them. We still have all the money we
won in Las Vegas. How long ago it all seems. We were so young, and so happy. I
don't feel young anymore. I don't feel anything except for despair. I don't
want to feel this way.
Classes start next week. I'm sure it will be interesting. God, two years
ago, the thought of college was so exciting. I couldn't wait to leave West
Roswell High, and learn. Now, even learning things isn't a challenge. Like Max,
and Isabelle, I can read a book once, and get it. No more struggling to
comprehend obscure equations, it's all so simple.
I'm really going to make an effort to at least appear interested. It isn't
fair to Max if I act this way.
"Liz, are you ready?" Max called from the bathroom. "I want you to see the
apartment, and then we can go pick out some furniture."
Liz slipped her pen into her journal to mark her space, and closed the book.
She looked around the impersonal hotel they had checked into while Max looked
for an apartment. It will be nice to get out of
here, she thought to herself.
"I'm ready," she called to Max. "Listen, I was thinking about furniture. We
probably shouldn't get anything great. It's probably just going to get ruined,
you know, from parties and stuff."
"What?" Max yelled from the bathroom. He wiped the steam away from the mirror
and stared at the expression of joy that appeared on his face. Liz was showing
an interest in something!
Play it cool, he
thought to himself.
"Yeah, that makes sense," he called back to her. "Any ideas about where to go
and such?"
"Um, maybe," said Liz, reaching for the phone book. She thumbed through it,
while Max joined her on the bed. "We could try Good Will, or the Salvation Army
or something," she said.
"That's a good idea," said Max. "And besides getting ruined, we don't want to
look like we're rich spoiled kids who's parents are giving them everything."
"Instead, we're aliens and humans who have beat the system in Las Vegas," joked
Liz half-heartedly.
"We should probably think about getting you a car of your own, too," said Max.
"No, I don't think so," said Liz. "We're close enough to the campus for me to
walk, right?"
"Yeah, and besides, we have pretty much all the same classes," he admitted.
"At the same time, I'll bet," said Liz, raising her eyebrow.
"Well, yeah, actually. Freshman year, it's all pretty much general education
requirements, so I figured we might as well stick together. That way I can
chase away any guys that start chasing after you."
"Like that's going to happen," said Liz, playing along. "Hey, lets get out of
here and go see this wonderful apartment you found."
Max drove them through the campus, and showed Liz the what buildings housed
their different classrooms."
"Great, what about the apartment?" said Liz.
"Well, actually, that's kind of a surprise," said Max. He drove into the
parking lot tall building, located on the campus. "Freshmen are eligible for
married student housing this year. I figured it might be more fun for us to
live on campus. This way, we'll be in the thick of things."
"Max, really?" said Liz, a bit of excitement coloring her voice.
"Yeah, and as residence, we're eligible for meal plans, so we can eat in the
dining hall if we want to."
"Not that we'd want to very much," said Liz. "If all the rumors about school
food is true. Can we see it now?"
"We can move in today if we want," said Max. "Official move in day for students
is tomorrow, but I talked the Resident Director and told him we were staying in
a hotel, and he said it was no big deal if we moved in tonight."
He shut the car off, and got out of the car, and ran around the side and opened
Liz's door. "Right this way, Mrs. Evans," he said with a bow.
Together they walked up the asphalt walkway and into the cool interior of the
building.
"Max, hi, how's it going? Is this your wife?" asked a heavyset man with glasses
and a beard.
"Hey, Fred, thanks for letting us move in today. That hotel was getting pretty
confining." He turned to Liz. "Liz, this is Fred, he's the Resident Director
for Wilson Hall. Fred, this is my wife, Liz Evans."
"Hi," said Liz. "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you to, Liz," said Fred, reaching to shake her hand. "Max, did
you bring that paperwork? I just need confirmation that you two kids are all
official before I give you your keys."
"Yeah, I got it right here," said Max. He reached into the back pocket of his
well-worn jeans and pulled out several folded pieces of paper. Here is a copy
of our marriage license, and our class registrations."
"Great," said Fred, taking the papers from Max. "I'll just make a copy of these
and get them right back to you. Vegas wedding huh? How was it?"
"Pretty cool, actually," said Liz. "It was kind of a group thing."
Fred led them over to his office, which was situated off the main lobby, and
quickly made copies of their documents.
"Here you go," he said, handing the documents back to Max. "So, any preference
about what floor you want to live on?"
"What do you suggest, Fred?" asked Max. "Seems to me that you know all the ins
and outs of this place."
"Well, the first floor is pretty great as far as getting in and out pretty
quick, but you have a much better view the higher up you go, " mused Fred.
"Liz, what do you think?" asked Max.
"What? Oh, um, well, where are the laundry facilities?" asked Liz.
"There are washers and dryers on each floor," Fred said, proudly.
"Oh, well, in that case, I guess the first floor would be best," said Liz.
"Sure, the first floor would be great," agreed Max. Secretly, he was
disappointed, he had wanted the top floor, but if Liz was showing an interest
in something, he wasn't going to discourage it in any way.
"Well, great, let me see," said Fred, checking his clipboard. "I can give you,
oh perfect, how about 285?"
"2? 85," asked Max. "I thought you said it was the first floor?"
"It is," said Fred, rolling his eyes. "The idiot who designed this building put
a dining hall, and a recreation room in the basement, as well as a few offices
and such."
"Let me guess," said Max. "Those are the rooms in the hundreds?"
"Exactly," agreed Fred. "Let me see, I'll just grab the keys and show you where
to go. 285 is on the south side of the building, so you'll get a lot of
sunlight during the day."
"285 south?" Liz asked incredulously. "No way, you're not kidding?"
"No, why?" asked Fred, curiously.
"Oh, no reason," said Liz, pulling at the hem of her tank top. Some friends and
I took a road trip done 285 south one time. It was just funny coincidence." She
shot Max a wry look, and followed Fred down the hallway.
"Well, here it is, folks. If you need anything, or have any questions, just
give a shout. If I'm not in class, I'm here. I, I –uh don't get out much," Fred
added, bashfully.
"Thanks Fred," said Max, taking the keys from him. "We'll catch you later,
okay?"
"Oh, yeah, sure, okay," said Fred, clearly disappointed.
"Hey, Fred," Liz said, suddenly. "We're going to go do some shopping and stuff,
and bring back a pizza. Did you want to eat with us tonight?"
"Sure, great," said Fred, brightening visibly. "That would be great."
"We should be back around six," said Liz. "Do you like pepperoni?"
"Yeah! And I'll pick up some tonic and stuff, okay?"
"Great, we'll see you later."
Liz and Max watched while Fred walked down the hall, whistling. After he turned
a corner and disappeared from view, Max turned to Liz.
"What did you do that for?" he asked. "It's our first night in our first home!"
"Well, he seemed so lonely," said Liz. "And after all, he is doing us a favor,
letting us move in early."
"You're right," said Max. "I just wanted you all to myself." He inserted the
key in the lock and opened the door. Before Liz could take a step, he swung her
up into his arms, and carried her over the threshold to their new home.
Liz wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him passionately, while a video
camera, hidden behind an air conditioning vent in their new living room, filmed
the event.
