Chapter 4

Author's Note: I hope everyone likes this new chapter. I keep getting major writers block. It's sorta like my brain disconnects from my spinal chord… tee hee! Anyhow, I hope everyone likes it. Thanks SO much for the wonderful reviews! You guys are too nice! Oh and just a heads up, I'm already starting chapter 5!

"Another day, even more heartbreak," Liz murmured to herself as she walked into her room, tossing her backpack to the side.

"Long day?" Future Max said from on the balcony. Liz smiled, rolling her eyes. At least she talked to Max everyday and evening, even if it wasn't he Max from her time… She felt like she was able to talk to him about anything. Of coarse she felt that way, he was her Max, only older. She sighed, plunking down on her bed as Future Max crawled through the window, back into the bedroom.

"I'll be glad when things go back to normal," she said, looking up at the ceiling. "I could be going to a Gomez concert in another…" she looked down at her watch, "three hours."

"So why did you say no when I asked you today?" he asked, sitting down on the bed beside her.

She sat up and looked at him. "You already know why," she said.

For the first time since he arrived, a small grin crept onto his handsome face. Liz's cheeks turned red, knowing they were both thinking of what had happened in the other timeline between the two of them. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, unable to look him in the eye.

"Um…things between Tess and I are getting better," she said, quickly changing the subject.

"I know," he told her. There was a pause. "I'm going back," he said after a few moments. Liz looked at him, her expression turned sad.

"Back? When?" she asked, trying to keep the disappointment from her voice.

"Soon," he said simply. "Things seem to be heading in the right direction; there's no longer need for me to be here. Besides…" he smiled once more. "There's only so much a guy can do being hidden away in his wife's room, dodging his in-laws." Liz smiled.

She never thought of it that way. She knew in the future they were married, but she hadn't really considered that the man sleeping beside her bed for the past few nights was actually her husband; she was his wife. It seemed…unreal, and at the same time not…

"Yeah, Maria's coming over later. Were going to have a girls night," she explained. "She and Michael are sorta having problems again."

"Some things never change," he said.

"Do they, you know, have a happy ending like we did?" Liz asked.

"Liz, You know I can't tell you," he said.

"Right," Liz said, forgetting for a second that he couldn't tell her anything she wanted to know about the future. The future that they had already begun to change within the past forty-eight hours.

"Liz," Future Max said suddenly, bringing Liz's attention to him. The color of his had faded, then came back again. She looked up at him, knowing what it meant. It was time.

"Guess it's time for me to go," he said.

"Max," Liz said, suddenly overcome with a wave of sadness. She leaned forward and kissed his lips. Unable to stop himself, Future Max found himself kissing her back. The kiss broke and Liz pulled back, looking into his eyes.

"Goodbye Liz. Good luck," he said. With that, he disappeared before her eyes, leaving her sitting on her bed, alone.

Max lay in his bed, staring up at his ceiling as he threw a green tennis ball up in the air and catching it; one of his CD's playing in the background. He looked over at the digital clock sitting on the end table beside his bed. 9:30PM. He tossed the ball up towards the ceiling once more. They'd already be on the road, headed towards Sane fe for the concert right now… he thought back to the conversation he and Liz had had earlier that day; how she said they needed a break. It was funny; all he wanted was to be close to her and she wanted to be away from him. Would things between them ever go back to normal?

Just then, he heard a soft knock at his door. The door slowly opened, and Isabelle walked into his room, closing the door behind her.

"How's it going?" she asked, taking a seat in Max's chair.

"Just great, Iz. Cause this is my idea of a Friday night; sitting in my bed, listening to Counting Crows while throwing a tennis ball up in the air," Max said as he continued tossing the ball up in the air and catching it.

"I take it she said no about the tickets," Isabelle said, feeling bad for her brother. She knew he had gotten the tickets for them, in hopes of patching things up between the two.

"Twice."

"I'm sorry Max," she said. "I'm sure she'll come around."

"Not anytime soon," Max said. Isabelle sat back in the chair, unsure of what to say to him. The three of them had gone through a lot the past year; Max and Liz as well. She felt bad for them. While Liz wasn't her all time favorite person in the world, she knew how Max felt about her and how happy she made him.

"Well at least she and Tess are finally starting to get along," she noted.

"Yeah," Max said, his thoughts trailing off.

"I'm glad we're doing this," Liz said, sitting down on her bed beside Maria. "You know, the whole 'overnight' thing. Things have been so crazy lately…" she trailed off. "Plus we haven't done this in like, forever."

"Yeah," Maria agreed. "I mean, between your problems with Max and my problems with Michael…" she trailed off. "I tell you, it's not easy dating men that come from another planet."

Liz laughed. "No it is not."

"So answer this for me, the million dollar question; what in the world is going on with you and Max?" Maria asked.

"We're just-"

"Friends. I know; you keep saying that. Liz, this is me your talking to here, okay?" she paused. "Is it because he's 'destined' to be with Tess?" she asked.

"No," Liz said. "I just… I need a break. I love Max with all my heart, but there is a lot going on right now, and right now he needs to concentrate on these things," she explained.

"Wait, what do you mean 'these things'? I mean, granted he's still adjusting to the news that he's this all important king on the home planet…" she paused. "…unless there's something I don't know about?" she asked.

For a brief instant the thought of telling Maria about Future Max's visit crossed her mind. She then thought about the situation, realizing it'd probably be best if she didn't tell anyone. "No, there's nothing else."

"Liz you really should give him another chance. The boy's infatuated with you," Maria said smiling. With Liz spending the summer in Florida, having no one else to hang out with, Maria was glad to have gotten to spend time with Max. She had learned more about Max Evans than before; including just how much he loved Liz.

Liz smiled. "He is, isn't he?" Maria grinned and nodded. The two girls started laughing.

"Okay, so enough about my troubled relationship. What about you and Michael?" she asked.

"Me and Michael," she repeated. "Lord knows where we are. One minute were acting like a normal couple -well, as normal as it can be dating an alien; next thing you know, I find him at another chicks house."

"He was only there to get information on Courtney to prove she's a skin. You know that."

"You should see the looks she gives him, Liz," Maria said. "And…I mean it's not like Michael's protesting against any of it. I-I think he has feelings for her-"

"No. Maria…"

"I just couldn't believe he was there at her house. And the best part was that she was standing there in a towel," Maria said.

"You know that's crazy. I mean, Michael may be a lot of things, but that's not him,' she said. "he'd never do anything like that to hurt you."

"I just wish I was as sure of that as you are," Maria said. Liz sat there, feeing bad for Maria. And she thought she and Max had it rough… At least Max wasn't throwing her to the side every time she turned around. Her gaze moved around her room, onto the clock hanging on the wall. Already it was past ten. She couldn't help but think of what might have been happening between her and Max at that very moment if she and Future Max hadn't changed things. She thought back to earlier that day, when she had turned Max down once more; his expression saddening before walking off….

She looked over at Maria, who's own face was colored with sadness. Why did everything have to change? Would any of them ever find happiness? Liz snapped out of her melancholy state, bound and determined that she nor Maria spend the evening feeling bad about past relationships.

"That's it," Liz said, getting up from the bed, thankful both girls hadn't changed into their night wear. "We're going out."

"Out? Out where?" Maria asked as she watched Liz tug her sneakers on.

"I don't know; the park, the movies, anywhere. We're not going to sit around and feel bad about this stuff." She tossed Maria her shoes.

"Yeah, but Liz, it's almost ten," Maria pointed out.

"Yeah, so?" Liz said. "We can catch that new movie playing at the theater; it starts at ten."

Maria sighed. "Alright, I'm just saying…"

By the time the two arrived at the theater, paid for the tickets and junk food and found seats, the movie was about to begin. Liz put a smile on her face as she and Maria sat down in their seats. At least they weren't back in her room, moping about their alien hybrid ex's. And Liz wasn't wondering every few seconds what would have been between her and Max, or what would someday be…

Just then, the lights on the theater dimmed, indicating the movie was about to begin. Liz made herself confortable in her seat, looking in Maria's direction as the previews began.

A little over an hour later, the two girls came out of the theater with smiles on their faces, feeling a lot better.

"See, I told you this would be fun," Maria said as they threw away their trash.

"Yeah right, I'm the one that suggested, no dragged, the two of us here," Liz said, smiling.

"Regardless," Maria said. Liz rolled her eyes. Just then something caught her attention. Behind her, Kyle was walking out of one of the theater rooms, and he wasn't alone; Tess was by his side, the two hand-in-hand.

"What?" Maria asked, noticing Liz starring at something behind her. She turned around, her eyes going wide as she saw what Liz had seen. Just then, Tess looked up and noticed Maria and Liz. She smiled, tugging at Kyle's hand before heading in their direction.

"Hey Tess, hey Kyle," Liz said, her voice upbeat. "I didn't know you two would be here."

Tess smiled. "Guess we could say the same about you two." She looked at Maria and gave her a smile. "Hey Maria."

"Hey," Maria said simply.

"So… what brings the two of you out here?" Kyle asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Well, Maria and I were sitting around the house with nothing to do, so we decided to catch a late night movie," she explained.

"Oh. Cool," Tess said. The four of them stood in silence, facing each other.

"Well we should be going. Great seeing the two of you," Maria said, nudging Liz.

"Bye guys," Liz said.

"See ya!" Kyle and Tess both said at the same time.

"Wow, was that awkward or what?" Maria said on their way home from the theatre. "I so didn't see that one comin'." Liz shrugged.

"C'mon Maria. Kyle and Tess have had this weird vibe between the two since she showed up. Now they're living together under the same roof. You can't say this is a total surprise."

"As long as she stays far away from Max," Maria said. Liz gave her a look. "Hey, I'm just looking out for you, chicka."

Liz rolled her eyes. "Your lucky you're my best friend."