Chapter 2

Author's Note: Wow, I'm so glad everyone liked the first chapter! Hopefully the next chapter will be liked just as much :) I'll only continue writing this story if people want it! Again, feedback is very much wanted! Thanks so much to my friend Brandi, who gave me the basis idea for this fic, as well as reading the chapters and giving me her input before I post! If anyone wants to talk to me directly, you can Im me on my AIM sn (Naskt601). Enjoy!

The following evening, Liz stood in the CrashDown, deep in thought with the events of the previous evening while Maria chatted on, obviously unaware Liz wasn't listening. She looked over at where Tess was sitting by herself, quietly reading a book.

She was supposed to be with Max, not Tess. Things between the two of them were fine before she came along.

But the truth was, no matter how much Liz wanted to deny it, if it wasn't for her 'destined' to be with Max, Liz probably would already be friends with Tess. Maybe she isn't so bad after all, she said to herself. I just never gave her a chance…

"Planet earth to Liz," Maria said, realizing Liz wasn't even listening to her.

"What?" Liz said, realigning she had been deep in thought.

"Are you even listening?" Maria asked, her hands on her hips.

"Uh, I'll be right back," she said, heading over towards the table Tess was sitting at.

Tess looked up as Liz sat down at the table.

"Hey Tess," Liz said, smiling.

"Uh, hi Liz," Tess said, obviously surprised. A few seconds of silence passed. "Was there something you wanted Liz?" she asked a few seconds later.

"How's Kyle?" she asked, unsure of what to say. Maybe I should start with something we have in common -besides Max- that we could talk about, she thought to herself.

"He's fine…" Tess said, confused.

"That's great. And um, the sheriff? How's he doing?" she asked.

"They're both fine, Liz," Tess said. A beat. "Are you sure there wasn't something you wanted?"

"Actually, I thought that maybe we could talk," she said.

"Alright. What about?" Tess asked.

"I don't know, clothes, make-up, anything," Liz said lamely, feeling like an idiot trying to make a genuine effort to be her friend.

"Well I'm not real into bonding with people who hate me, so.." she told her.

"I don't hate you, Tess," Liz told her. "I know I may have acted like I did, but really I don't…"

Just then, Isabel walked through the front doors, shocked by the sight of Tess and Liz sitting together at the same table. She, as well as everyone, knew Liz didn't like Tess; mainly because Tess was 'destined' to be with the love of her life..

"Have I walked into some sort of alternate reality?" Isabelle said to Maria as she sat down at the counter. "Liz hates Tess. They get along we well as water and oil do."

"I know. I have no idea what's going on," Maria admitted, her gaze focused on Liz and Tess as well.

"…It was unfair to judge you without actually taking time to get to know you. So I was kinda hoping I could get to do that," Liz finished.

"And your just coming to this?" Tess asked.

"Better late than never, right?" She laughed uneasily.

"Uh huh," Tess said, setting her book down. "How stupid do you think I am, Liz? I know you can't stand me because of the whole Max thing. So why bother trying to talk to me now?" she asked.

"I'm trying here, okay Tess? I just thought we could maybe get all of this resolved between us. I see no reason why we can't be friends." Whether or not she and Max ever got together, deep down she wanted to get to know Tess; who she really was.

Tess was silent for a few moments, thinking about it all. Like she had just told Liz; she knew she wasn't Liz's favorite person ever since, well… the beginning. But she couldn't blame her; if some girl arrived in town saying the guy she was madly in love with was really meant to be with her, she'd be a bit defensive too. "I-I don't know what to say right now, Liz. I'll have to think about it," she told her, wanting a bit more time to decide whether or not to trust Liz. She had never really been one to instantly trust someone.

"Good. Thinking about it is good," Liz said quickly, happy Tess wasn't saying no all together.

"Well, I gotta get back to work. See you later," Liz said.

"Bye," Tess said. Liz gave a small smile before getting up from the booth, getting back to work. Liz walked back over to a stunned Maria and equally stunned Isabelle. She grabbed an empty tray and began towards the kitchen when Maria caught her by the arm on her way past her.

"Liz, um… Isabelle and I were talking and, well… what the hell was that?!" Maria said, overacting as she normally did. Liz rolled her eyes.

Isabelle gave Maria a look. "What we mean is, it just caught us off guard looking over there seeing you and Tess talking when we both sorta know that the two of you don't get along on account of my brother," Isabelle explained.

"Maybe I don't want that to be the case anymore," Liz said simply. Maria stood there, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Well I, for one, am glad to see you guys getting along," Isabelle said, feeling unusually happy. "I know it's not easy, but Tess is a pretty decent person, and so aren't you." She shrugged. "It can only get better, right?"

"Hopefully," Liz said.

Liz was more than happy to see the rest of the night fly by; when her shift was over and she was able to lock up and head upstairs to her house. Liz sighed, walking into her room and tossing her small bag on the bed. She began unbuttoning her uniform, wanting nothing more than to get her pajamas on when she heard a noise from behind her. She whipped around.

"Sorry if I startled you," Future Max apologized, now standing behind her.

"Oh, um, it's fine; you didn't," she lied. "I sorta thought you'd be gone by now," she explained. She forgot he couldn't go back to his own time until things began to change; until then, he slept on the floor beside Liz's bed.

"I told you I can't leave until I'm sure things will be safe.." he trailed off.

"Yeah, I know." The two stood there in an awkward silence. Liz sill was unable to believe the future version of her Max was, for the time being, residing in her room; sleeping on the floor beside her bed. She averted her gaze from him, as she found herself doing more and more. The Max in front of her had the same good looks as the present time Max did, but there were certain features that were more…developed. As Liz's thoughts trailed off into places they shouldn't be heading, she felt warmth creep into her cheeks.

"I uh, I gotta go get changed-" she said, feeling the need to put some distance between her and Max. It was bad enough that for the time being, she had to keep the present time Max at arms reach.

"I can wait outside," Future Max offered.

"Oh, no it's okay. I'll go change in the bathroom," she said. She grabbed a clean pair of pajamas and disappeared into the bathroom. A few minutes later, she came back out only to find Future Max missing. She frowned.

"Max?" she called out quietly, so that her parents didn't hear her.

"Out here," he replied from the balcony. Liz looked out the window. Sure enough, Future Max was standing outside, looking up at the stars. She smiled, crawling out to join him.

"Beautiful night, huh?" she said, trying to make conversation that didn't involve the sentence 'end of the world.'

Max looked at her and smiled. "I was just thinking about the past; your future."

"Oh," she said, sitting down in her chair.

"Have you talked to Tess yet?" he asked after a few moments of silence, his gaze still locked on the heavens above.

"Yeah, I did. A little while ago actually; she was in the diner," she explained.

"And? How'd it go?"

"Well, she was a bit hesitant, but at least she didn't get up and walk away," she said. "That's good, right?"

"For now," Future Max said. "Have you thought of what your going to do when I ask you again about going to the concert Friday?" he asked, taking his gaze off of the nights sky, looking over at her. The question had been on his mind most of the day, as well as other things. She very well knew what the night of the concert meant for the future of their relationship; would that repeat in this timeline as well?

"I'm going to say no," she told him after a few moments. "We both know what happens the night of the Gomez concert, and right now…with everything going on… I'm not sure it'd be a good idea," she explained. "If I'm going to try and be friends with Tess, I don't think it's a good idea to be getting closer with you; for right now at least."

"I understand," Future Max said, feeling a bit disappointed. She only knew of the night of the Gomez concert, he had the memories of it. It was a night he'd never forget.

"Oh, um, I brought you up a plate to eat. I'm sure your hungry," Liz said, getting up. She had managed to sneak him a plate before heading off to school; she was sure he was pretty hungry about now.

Max looked up. "What about your parents?"

"They were on their way out when I got home," she explained. "So it's safe to walk around the house for a bit. I'm sure having to keep quiet in my room all day wasn't anything exciting." She had thought about him the whole day, feeling bad. Luckily her parents were usually tending to the café while she was at school.

Max smiled. "I didn't mind. It brought back memories," he explained. Liz smiled back at him shyly before leading them into the kitchen. She took the plate of food out of the fridge, putting it in front of him.

"I know it isn't much; I'm sure your starving. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge," she told him, feeing bad for keeping him locked up in her room all day.

"Thank you," he said.

"And um, let me know if you need anything else," she said, motioning to the other room.

"Your leaving?" he asked, trying not to sound disappointed.

"Oh, uh, I've got some biology homework to work on before tomorrow," she explained.

"Unless you want some company; I can always work out here," she offered.

"No, it, it's fine," he assured her quickly. Getting closer to the present time Liz would only complicate things should her plan fail. He was here on a mission after all, not to spend time with the younger version of his wife.

"Alright, well, G'night," Liz said before disappearing into her room.

"Night," Future Max whispered to the empty room.