Disclaimer: The usual.

Chapter: 7 Gossip, Secrets, and Lies

"So how was your date last night?" Maria asked with a knowing grin as Liz entered their dorm room the following afternoon.

"What?" The question had her freezing mid-stride.

"A little birdie told me you were seen out on a date with our resident Big Man on campus, last night."

"Yeah, well you and your little birdie both need to mind your own business, because it's not true." Liz angrily tossed her messenger bag onto her computer desk, and then stood with her hands on her hips glaring at Maria.

"My bad," Maria raised her hands in defense. When Liz continued to glare, she added nonchalantly, "dude, chill already. It's not that deep. So the person who told me got it wrong. It's just a little harmless gossip."

Liz closed her eyes and shivered in disgust. She couldn't deal with this, not again, even if it was different this time.

"Liz? Are you ok?" Maria asked.

Liz opened her eyes and said to the blonde, "Maria you've been a really great roommate and friend, and I would like to keep it that way. So, let's just agree to disagree on the subject of gossip."

Maria frowned in confusion. "I don't get you."

Liz shrugged tiredly. "No, I don't imagine you would."

"Can I ask you a question?" Maria crinkled her nose, "Just so that we're on the same page, and so that I don't put my foot in my mouth again, what's the deal between you and Max? I mean he's totally hot, in a vanilla sort of way, and he's totally in to you."

With a sigh, Liz parked herself on the end of her bed, and considered Maria's question carefully before answering. "We're just friends Maria. That's right—just friends. We're not hooking up, we're not friends with benefits, and we're not fuck buddies," she crudely added. "We're just friends, barely even that. I know it's a hard concept to grasp, but please try."

"That's too bad." Maria said jokingly. Then with more seriousness, "You wanna talk about it? I'm actually a good listener."

"Not really." Liz smiled sadly. "But thanks anyway."


Michael entered Max's room after only a brief knock. Max was at his computer desk typing a paper.

"Congrats dude. I knew you had skills, but this time you've amazed even me." He held out his fist for Max to give him a pound.

He really needs to stop watching rap videos, Max thought ironically, before giving Michael's hand the pound he sought.

"What are you yammering about, now?" he asked his friend. "Per usual I'm clueless to your speech patterns. But please, elucidate me."

"Eluci-what? Whatever dude? I'm talking about you melting the iceberg," Michael winked. "The one frozen enough to have sunk the Titanic."

Max looked puzzled and Michael continued speaking. "Several members of the student body saw your argument with Liz Parker last night, closely followed by an intimate conversation at University Coffee. So what's the deal dude?" Michael smirked. "Did you hit that or what?"

Max was angrier than he could ever remember being. He wanted to pound the shit out of somebody, starting with Michael. "People should learn to mind their own fucking business!" He said instead, and prayed the gossip hadn't got back to Liz. Crap like this would erode any progress he'd made with her.

Michael gave a loud whistle at the anger in Max's voice. "Man look—don't shoot the messenger."

Max took several calming breaths as he stared at Michael with angry eyes.

"What's up Maxwell?" Michael was serious now. "I've never seen you act like this over a girl."

Max smiled wryly at his friend. "You wouldn't understand if I told you."

"Try me." Michael parked himself on the edge of Max's bed.


Several hours later the debate team, as well as a class cutting Michael, gathered inside Weston lecture hall, named after one of the schools more successful alumni. Or, just a man with really deep pockets so the rumor went. Professor Nichols stood at the podium discussing the upcoming Supreme Court debate, which was to take place in the spring. It was still several months away, with several debates in-between, yet he went on and on about strategies, dos and don'ts. He was nearly finished covering all the bases, when Maria raised her hand with a question.

"Your have the floor Ms DeLuca," Nichols said.

"I was just wondering. How do you sell abortion to a Catholic Judge?"

"Tell him a story about your mother," Nichols promptly answered.

"I don't get it," said Claire a senior debate team member.

"Then sit back and let me tell you a story." Professor Nichols paused until he had everyone's attention.

Liz shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She wondered where this was going.

"Before the infamous case of Roe vs. Wade, if a young woman found herself in an unfortunate situation," Nichols smiled mockingly at his own words. "She had to resort to drastic measures. Like wire hangers or nasty back alley abortions." He paused as several people winced. "Yes. Incredibly distasteful. I ought to know. My own mother had a back alley abortion in the late 50's."

The gasps following his statement echoed in surround sound. When they died down he continued.

"She was told where to go by a friend of a friend. Some tacky little motel on the wrong side of town. When she got there this creepy little doctor told her to drop her pants and climb onto the bed. My mother being the well brought up girl that she was froze. That's when Dr. Sleaze told her that modesty shouldn't be an issue. That dropping her pants was how she'd gotten into this situation in the first place."

More gasps could be heard as well as a several sickened murmurs and curses. Liz actually tucked her arms around her body and shivered. Nichols let the debate team have at it for a few seconds before raising his hand to silence the room.

"You haven't even heard the best part yet," he said sardonically. "After my mother removed her clothes and climbed onto the dirty mattress, the doctor asked for his thousand dollars up front. Thus forcing my seventeen year old mother to cross the room naked to reach her purse. You can probably guess the rest. After the excruciatingly painful ordeal was over with, my mother caught the bus home where she nearly hemorrhaged to death during the ride."

Debate team members stared at the Professor in shocked horror. "Don't be alarmed. She lived of course, even birthed me a few years later. But she never got over the experience, and she never told a living soul. I only found out by reading her diary after she died. That was a few years ago."

Maria raised her hand again. "I still don't get it. How do you sell abortion to a Catholic Judge?"

"Tell him a story about your mother."

"But my mother never had an abortion," Maria said in confusion.

"Neither did mine." Nichols deadpanned.

For a few seconds there was a stunned silence. Then, as enlightenment dawned, people began to clap, laugh, and whistle.

Everyone except Liz. Max who sat two rows behind her was the only one to notice.


"Liz, wait up," Max called as he tried to catch up with her. She'd gone rushing from the lecture hall as soon as class was over with.

"Hey Max," she said casually when he caught up with her outside the building. "Sorry, but I'm kinda in a hurry."

"So I see." He smiled mockingly. He felt stung by her attempt to avoid him. "Michael, Maria, and I are going over to the pub. Come with?"

Liz glanced at her watch. It was a quarter after five. "Another time—maybe. I have to work tonight." She was going to go to hell for lying.

"And afterwards?" Max knew he was being too pushy. But sometimes you had to be that way with Liz. He could feel her withdrawing from him, both mentally and physically.

"Not tonight. I'm really tired." She knew it was a lame excuse, and by the look in Max's eyes he knew it too. She flinched when Max reached out to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her left ear, there were too many prying eyes. It reminded her of being back in Roswell, all the whispers and knowing smirks.

"You had a hair thing," Max said staring at her curiously.

"Thanks," Liz said ducking her head in , she needed to do was escape this situation. She just wanted to go somewhere where she could fight her demons in private.

"Yo Maxwell," Michael called from a few feet away. "You comin or what?"

"You better go," Liz murmured.

Max gave her a searching glance. This dance was getting old. "Yeah, see you around," he said offhandedly.

Liz looked on with regret as he walked away.