Title: Listen To Me

Category: AU M/L as well as M/M and a brief appearance by A/I.

Summary: Liz Parker is a bright new student at a prestigious University. Max Evans is the schools complex superstar. Not as clichéd as it sounds, so give it a try.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters associated with the television show Roswell.

From inside the yellow cab, Liz Parker glanced around the campus of Kenmont University with excited brown eyes. She felt a little like Felicity, only she hadn't followed a boy, the exact opposite in fact. The private D.C. school was far enough away from Roswell to offer her the namelessness she sought, as much as one could remain nameless on a Debate Team scholarship.

Stepping from the cab, Liz eyed her new home for the next four years. She breathed in the ambiance of the beautifully designed buildings and the tree lined courtyards. Liz could have gone anywhere; her SAT scores were just that good. But she had chosen Kenmont, to her parent's disbelief. But Liz had her reasons. And although small, Kenmont was well known for its high profile alumni. Kenmont's graduates ranged from a political analyst for CNN, to the current Governor of D.C. So contrary to what her parents believed, Liz had not done badly at all by choosing the arguably, 'small' Washington D.C. University.

Max Evans pulled into the student parking area of Kenmont University. Killing the engine of his black BMW, he leaned back into the seat with a weary sigh. He savored these last few minutes to himself, before gearing up for another year of bullshit. He knew the moment anyone spotted him he'd mobbed by his stalker like fan club. Because as much as Max hated it, he was popular. Really popular. In the wake of reality shows like The Osbourn's, and the Simple Life, instant though unworthy, celebrity was common.

So Max was popular for nothing more than being Captain of the Debate Team, and Junior Class President. Oh yeah, it didn't hurt either that his father, Phillip Evans, was Governor of D.C.

Usually Max took the whole popularity thing in stride, but not today. Today he just wasn't up to putting on a happy face for the masses. He and his father, the esteemed Phillip Evans, had argued over the weekend, and Max was still angered by it. Max had told his father countless times that he would not be following in his footsteps that politics weren't for him. But did he listen? No. And it little helped Max's case that he was such a great debater. He'd spearheaded his school into winning back to back championships, over the last two years. Since then, his father had been turning up the heat, but Max refused to give in.

"Hey Brooke, there's Max," a voice babbled from across the quad and Max sighed.

"Damn!" He cursed softly before pasting on a smile.

Liz entered her assigned dorm room and immediately noticed her blonde roommate. She was pretty hard to miss with her bohemian styled clothing, and right leg brace.

"Hi, I'm Maria," the blonde chirped, offering Liz a near blinding smile, "you must be Elizabeth."

"Liz," she corrected, dragging in her rolling suitcase and carryall. She briefly wondered what she had done to offend the Gods, or if her life was just one big cosmic joke. Seriously? Had they really roomed her with Suzy Sunshine, who dressed like it was the 60's?

"Wow. Is that all you have?" The blonde asked eyeing Liz's meager possessions. "My mom had to like rent a u-haul."

I bet. Liz barely bit back. Instead she glanced around the disorganized room. Her new roommate's things were everywhere. "My parents are going to ship my winter clothes later." She finally answered.

"Oh, ok," the blonde said with a shrug. Then she limped forward and held out her hand, "Maria DeLuca."

"Elizabeth Parker," Liz said shaking her hand. "But call me Liz."

Maria nodded. "So , what side of this palace would you like to call your own?"

Liz smiled at her whit. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. Liz would have to reevaluate her first impression. "It doesn't matter to me. Besides, you were here first." She said casually, and was shocked at the speed in which Maria's smile disappeared. Her green eyes flashed angrily and Liz was totally lost.

"Don't be nice to me because of this," Maria gestured towards her noticeably disfigured leg. "I don't capitalize on it ever! So I'll ask again: what side of the room would you like?"

Liz smiled again. She was really starting to like this girl. "Since you put it so kindly, I would prefer the right side. That window offers a better view of the campus."

Maria smiled returned instantly. "See, that wasn't so hard. Was it?"

Liz shook her head. "I guess not."

Maria smirked. "Let's make a pact. If you don't treat me like special needs girl, I won't treat you like you have a stick up your ass."

Liz gave a shocked gasp, quickly followed by laughter. When she finally regained her composure, she said to Maria, "Deal."

In a building just across the quad, Max was being pestered by his best friend Michael Guerin.

"So give me the down-low Maxwell," Michael said from his perch on Max's computer desk.

Max paused to stare at Michael in confusion. He'd been in the process of putting his things away in the closet. "And what down-low would that be exactly?" Max asked before returning to his task.

"Come on dude. You know what I'm talkin bout."

"As much as I love a good debate," Max stepped from the closet, "I'm really not in the mood today."

"Chilax dude," Michael threw his hands up in mock defense. "I was just askin' how you spent your summer vacation."

Max was forced into smiling. Michael with his California attitude, and surfer boy speech patterns, was often a source of amusement to Max. Most people took one look at him and totally discounted his IQ. They believed he'd gotten into Kenmont based solely on the fact that his father was a high powered Celebrity Lawyer and former alumnus. Max, who had shared a dorm room with him both their freshmen and sophomore years knew differently. Michael however, political science major that he was, loved to play on people's assumptions.

"Let's just say that my summer was very productive," Max finally answered.

Michael snorted. "Since when is hookin' up with babes a secret."

Max frowned. "Who said anything about hooking up?"

"Don't tell me you're finally coming out of the closet, literally." He gestured to where Max was standing, "I always did find it strange that your groupies contained just as many guys as girls," Michael mocked.

Max's rebuttal was quick. "But aren't you included in that same group of guys? Have you been trying to tell me something the last few years? Because sorry to disappoint you, but I don't bat for your team. I do know of a friend of a friend that I could hook you up with."

"Fuck you." Michael sputtered.

"No thanks." Max keeled over in laughter.

"Just for that, I'm tellin' Professor Nichols you were the one who stole his lucky hat last semester." Michael threatened and then made a hasty retreat.

Max was still smiling long after he was gone.