Part 1
September 2002 - Manhattan University, New York, New York
~Max~
I am rubbing the back of my neck wearily as the elevator doors open. I am just returning to my dorm after spending the afternoon helping Isabel to rearrange all the furniture in her own room at Columbia on the other side of the city. I am not in the best of moods either, being as this is the third time in two days that my sister has somehow managed to trick me into doing this. The first time was a freebie, but she knew the second and third were going to need serious planning and included concerns about being homesick and then concerns about a phone call she had received from Michael. They were both bald-faced lies to get me to rush over there, but I deserve it. I'm a sucker. You'd think that after twelve years of living with this girl I'd be onto her.
Anyway, I knew there was a reason I shouldn't go to school in the same state, let alone city, as Isabel. She has the tendency to abuse her sibling privileges. But the pros of having her so close certainly outweigh the cons. I cannot deny that I would have missed my sister a lot had she come up here by herself.
So, at this point, you may be wondering exactly how and why I'm living in New York. Sometimes I still ask myself the same question, even though the decision was made more than a month ago now. The answer, in the end, is really quite simple. It is also quite embarrassing and is not going to do much to convince you that I am not a stalker.
Liz Parker goes to Manhattan University. Not Harvard, but right here - to the same school Isabel was so mad at me for not accepting. While this all might sound a little creepy - the fact that I ended up here - it cannot entirely be blamed on me. There were many other factors at work.
Okay, well there was one factor. My sister. But it's a factor. Give a guy a break please.
Coming here meant that Isabel was rendered practically speechless with joy. Of course, she was going to New York anyway. After talking to my parents, and after my dad called in a few favors so that she could still go, Columbia was back on for my sister. She was thrilled and scared out of her mind at the same time. I wish I could say that I approached my parents about Manhattan and whether we could swing it right then. I am ashamed to say that I did not. It still did not occur to me at all that maybe something could be arranged where the money was concerned. After all, Manhattan did offer me a partial scholarship.
But, here's the thing. I have absolutely no clue what the hell I want to study or what I want to be someday. I really, truly have no idea if I'm going to be on this planet long enough to figure it out. And asking my parents to spend so much money to send me to New York just because my sister thought, for some weird reason, that she needed me.(I mean, when has Isabel ever really needed me?) well, it just seemed wrong.
Until Maria called me at the end of July to inform me that Liz had decided that she hated Harvard, was leaving her summer program there and was moving to New York to work until she started at Manhattan University in the fall.
At first, I was so shocked that Maria Deluca had actually called me on the phone, what she was telling me didn't quite register. "What?" was all I managed to stutter into the receiver.
Since I am not publicly well known for my eloquence anyway, this did not faze Maria at all. "You heard me Max. This is destiny. I know for a fact that you've been accepted there too. Isabel told me."
Strangely, my sister and Maria struck up something of a friendship over the summer. Izzy started hanging out at the Crashdown more, mainly because Michael got a job there so that he could save up for when he and I moved to Las Cruces together. I think my sister really likes Maria though, mainly because Liz's best friend doesn't seem at all scared of her. It just goes to show what a secure person Maria is. The thing is, she was lonely too, what with Liz gone to Harvard and Alex at computer camp. And, thus, the odd couple was born.
So, I was not shocked that my sister had been telling tales out of school about me. "Why isn't Liz staying at Harvard?" I asked, instead of focusing on the fact that I had indeed been accepted to Manhattan. Because, in the end, Liz's motives interested me more. I remembered what Liz had once told me - that she didn't really want to be a doctor, but a writer. She had tried to pass it off as just casual conversation, but I had seen the bright expression on her face at the time. She had really meant it.
"Apparently she signed up for a creative writing course to balance all that science." I could almost hear Maria's nose turning up in disdain at the thought of all those science courses. "The teacher was a guest lecturer from Manhattan, Liz fell in love." My heart dropped. "And is following her back to New York."
Her. The best word in the English language. Yes, I am a loser. Moving on.
"Well, that's interesting," was all I managed to say, although my mind was already racing as I'm sure Maria was fully expecting.
"Interesting?" Maria screeched, forcing me to hold the phone away from my ear. "This is more than interesting, Max. My best friend has broken with all expectation and has decided to grab onto what she wants with both hands. I'd say it's about time for you to do the same. I read what she wrote in your yearbook girlfriend. Get your ass in gear and get into that school."
My eyes narrowed. "You read my yearbook?" I demanded. Isabel was so dead. Her definition of privacy differed entirely too much from mine.
"Liz showed it to me before she gave it to you," Maria replied hastily, as though sensing my anger. I still have a feeling that this was not entirely true, that she was protecting my sister, but I chose to accept it at the time. "C'mon, Max. You know how this is supposed to play out. Up until now, you didn't have any options, but fate has stepped in."
"What do you mean fate has stepped in?"
"Max, it's just like on Felicity!" she exclaimed in frustration. "You have to go."
"I am not Felicity, Maria."
"Yes, you are," Maria snapped. "And Liz is Ben. You so know it. You two are meant to be together. He wrote something amazing in her yearbook and she followed him to New York and they got together. Now it's your turn."
"You're leaving out about four seasons of angst there," I said, although I could feel my heart starting to beat more quickly. Could I really do this? Could I really follow Liz to New York, based solely on what she had written in my yearbook?
I can't be with any human. Why on Earth would I do this?
Because this isn't just any human, a small voice in the back of my head reminded me. It's Liz.
That night I asked my parents if there was any possible way they might be able to send both Izzy and I to New York. I swear, I am [I]not[/I] Felicity. As I mentioned above, there were other factors involved in why I might have changed my mind.
But, being completely honest, there weren't. I am Felicity. But I will never admit it to Maria.
Mom and Dad were actually a little mad when they heard that maybe the only reason that I had not accepted Manhattan was because I thought they couldn't afford it. It wasn't of course - I had fully intended all along to go to UNM and live with Michael - but they didn't need to know that. What can I say? After so many years of keeping my big secret, I'm a really good liar. I'm not proud of it, but there it is.
I admit it. I played the "I can't take it anymore. I'm giving up my dreams out of guilt. Please help me Mom and Dad" card. I'm a jerk. I offer up no excuses, other than that you still don't know what Liz wrote in my yearbook.
"We're the parents here, Max," my dad informed me. "You don't need to try and protect us. That's our job. If you wanted to go to Manhattan, you should have told us. It may be too late, son. They'll have set their freshman class based on who accepted already."
"I know," I said. And I did know. This was a crap-shoot at best. "But can we at least try? I'll get a job and you can have all the money from the UFO Center."
Isn't that irony? I really did work there though - at the local Crash of '47 Museum. I was there all through high school and I continued there full time all through the summer. My boss Milton even told me I could come back next summer. I guess aliens make good employees. Not that he knows I'm an alien. He would be ecstatic with joy if he ever found out. But, I digress.
"We can try," my mom said reassuringly, sending my dad a warning look. My mom understands me better than my dad. I'm pretty sure she thinks that I have never fully accepted that their love comes unconditionally. I haven't actually. I have a feeling that if my parents know that Iz and I are aliens, the limits of parental love would be seriously tested. Mom thinks it stems from the fact that we were abandoned at such a young age though. I hate playing on her emotions like I did, making her feel that maybe I had chosen UNM because I hadn't wanted to feel any more beholden to them. I still feel terrible about it.
But they are my parents. If I couldn't turn to them, where else could I turn?
So Dad called up an old law school buddy of his, who happens to be dean of the law school at Manhattan now, to see if there was anything he could do. Even though I am certainly not planning on law school, the guy managed to pull a few strings and that's why I am now entering Reddit Hall, a dorm at Manhattan University, heading towards my room.
As I mentioned before, I've been here for two days, although I've barely spent any of it at my own college. Isabel has monopolized my time, not only through excuses, but also through guilt. She knows that I didn't come to New York for her (Maria - again. She is my curse it would seem.), isn't really that mad about it, but is certainly using it to her advantage. In the end, she is really glad I'm here, so it will all work out.
Now, at this point, you may be wondering what happened to Michael. He was the one person I was worried about in this whole scenario. I was his ticket out of Roswell after all. So, when I told him what I was planning, I was a bit worried about how he might take it.
Strangely, he didn't seem at all pissed off - not even disappointed. "That's okay, Maxwell. I'll just keep working at the Crashdown. I can move out here on my own. It'll be cheaper than Las Cruces anyway."
I was so relieved, I didn't even question it at the time. However, Isabel then told me on the plane that she had the feeling that maybe Michael had his own reasons for not necessarily being in any great hurry to leave Roswell.
"You can't mean Maria?" I asked, disbelieving, although I too had witnessed the advancement of their relationship over the summer. I mean, it wasn't much of a progression, but he could be counted to speak to her on occasion without having to be kicked under the table first. For Michael, that's practically a marriage proposal.
"I do mean Maria," Isabel replied, satisfied. "With her around, Michael will never be lonely."
For the first time, I realized that a large part of Isabel's reluctance to leave Michael and I hadn't been about her own fear, although that had certainly played into it. She had really, truly been worried about both of us.
And, yet.Michael and Maria?
"Isabel, you know we can't."
She interrupted me. "And why exactly can't we, Max? You know what I finally realized, once I just admitted to myself that I really wanted to go to Columbia?"
"What?" I stared at her, unsure who this new calm, confident Isabel was. I mean, she was showing me the person the rest of the world saw all the time.
"We need to start living as if we're here for the long-haul. We have no idea if anyone's ever coming back for us. As far as we know, everyone at home thinks we're all dead. Earth has to be our home now. We need to make a future for ourselves." She looked at me, her dark eyes piercing. "And I think you've come to exactly the same conclusion. Admit it. That's why you're coming to New York."
I didn't reply at the time, but I know she's right. I followed Liz Parker to New York because what she wrote in my yearbook had given me hope that maybe she wasn't as oblivious to me over the four years we spent as lab partners as I thought she was. And, really, why would I do that unless I thought that maybe something could happen between us?
I want a future here just as much as Isabel. Even Michael seems to be accepting that maybe it's time to let go of what came before the crash. Maybe that's what coming to New York is about for me too, in the end. Yes, Liz was the impetus. But I think this is going to be good for me in other ways too. It's time to really live my life on this planet. That I can now do it with the seeming support of my sister and best friend makes it all the more liberating.
And terrifying. Because, in the end, hiding for all these years really has been kind of easy. Not putting myself on the line, just existing, hiding behind the tree.None of it has been very difficult, nor frightening.
Which is another reason that what Liz wrote in my yearbook impressed me so much. She put herself out there. The least I could do was meet her halfway.
Okay, so I'm guessing that by now that you're a little curious about exactly what it was that Liz wrote. Unfortunately, I am going to be forced to keep you in suspense a while longer. Because, while I was fully intending to return to my room to reread it for the three thousandth time, I am now standing in front of my door, staring at the "Do Not Disturb" sign my room-mate has plastered there.
For the third time in two days, Sean has brought a girl back to the dorm and is expecting me to find somewhere else to hang out in the mean-time. Since I've only been here for two nights, this is pretty impressive. And, also, extremely annoying.
Now, as stated above, I haven't spent much time in my dorm. But this is not all entirely due to my sister. My room-mate has also proven to be extremely.Well, I'll politely say that he seems to be very popular with the ladies. I should have had a clue that this was coming on the day we met, being as the first thing he suggested was that we set some ground rules about girls and "private time," as he termed it.
I just thought he was being polite. I have been proven wrong over the past forty-eight hours. Apparently Sean has the intention of sleeping with every girl on campus before the end of our first month here. Since I know that he intends to rush a fraternity, I'm hoping that soon he'll be able to take his extracurricular activities elsewhere.
Of course, this doesn't help me at the moment, when all I really want to do is flop down on my bed, stare at my ceiling and wonder for the ten thousandth time what Liz is going to say when we finally cross each other's path. I'm nervous about it, needless to say. I think she knows I'm here - there is no way that Maria will not have told her at least that - but what is she thinking about it? After all, she is the one who wrote what she wrote in my yearbook.
Sighing, I turn and head down the hall towards the common room. There are a few people sprawled around on the couches, watching The Simpsons. It's really amazing how people have already settled into a routine and we all just got here. But the same crowd is here every night. At least they're watching something I like at the moment. Last night it was three straight hours of Cops. Since the entire goal of my life up to this point has been to stay off the authorities' radar at all costs, you can understand why I'm not particularly fond of that one.
Anyway, I don't even really get a chance to settle in, because as soon as I plunk myself down into a dingy easy chair, I hear someone say my name. "Max!"
I look over to the door in surprise. Alex Whitman is standing there, a huge grin on his face. He is coming towards me quickly, as though he's really pleased to see me. "I found you," he says as he throws himself down in the chair next to mine.
I don't know Alex very well. All I know about him I've learned through his association with Liz and my ability to absorb information about people through her. I know that he's very smart, a huge computer nut, but also plays bass in a band back in Roswell. We have talked a couple of times over the years, mostly just "hi's" in the hallway at school, but I've always liked him. This is, partly, due to the fact that anyone Liz is so close to must be a great person and so I was bound to like him by default (Hey! I never said I didn't like Kyle. I was jealous of him, but I didn't not like him..Okay, fine. I hate him. But he is the exception.) But Alex is a nice guy. I probably would have liked him anyway.
I knew that he was going to be here - Maria told Isabel of course, who passed the information onto me - but I never expected to run into him so soon. But I am not displeased. Not at all.
"I saw your name on one of the mailboxes downstairs," Alex continues. "So you live here too huh? I can't believe we're on the same floor. What are the odds?"
"Yeah," is all I say. It is kind of weird, but is it wrong that all I want to ask Alex at the moment is, "So, have you seen Liz?"
It's wrong. But let's call a spade a spade. He has the information I want.
Alex seems oblivious to my abrupt response however. He is still talking and is - bless him - actually proceeding to tell me exactly what I want to know. "Liz lives here too. She's on the tenth floor."
"Really?" My heart leaps for joy at the news that I am likely going to see Liz all the time. Luck is on my side apparently.
Now if I can only work up the courage to talk to her. Since I am having trouble talking to Alex at the moment, this does not bode well for my future. I determine that I should make more of an effort.
He looks around. "It's kind of weird that you haven't run into her. She came to find you. I had to go to the Admin building and see about my scholarship and she came back here. We both moved in today, which is why we haven't tried to find you sooner. Liz was staying at her aunt's apartment and I went to stay with her for a couple of days, until my stuff got here. I shipped it up."
This last part completely escapes my attention however. Because I have stopped listening after "She came to find you."
She came to find me? My heart is pounding against my rib-cage in a way that is not entirely comfortable.
"I just got back," I say, struggling to stay focused on the conversation, since Alex is starting to eye me in concern. I wonder if I look as weird as I feel. "I was helping Isabel move some furniture."
I blink when Alex's face lights up. "Ah, yes. The lovely Isabel. How is your sister? How's Columbia?" He sounds kind of strangely breathless by the end of it.
"She's fine," I reply, wondering at the expression on his face. "She's coming over for dinner tomorrow night." I tilt my head, examining him curiously. Well, there's only one way to confirm my present suspicion. "You could come." And, then, because I'm an ass. "You and Liz, I mean."
Alex's eyes widen slightly at the invitation. Why do I have the feeling that his heart is beating as quickly at the mention of my sister as mine was at the mention of Liz only moments ago?
Well, I know that look. I've seen it in my mirror and in all reflective surfaces over the past twelve years anytime I've had any sort of encounter with Liz Parker. If anyone understands a crush, it's me.
So Alex has a thing for my sister. While inherently grossed out, I can't say that I'm upset about this. I'm just surprised that I never noticed before. Maria's thing for Michael was so obvious.Maybe I missed Alex completely because of it?
Whatever. I know that, unfortunately, Isabel probably won't give him the time of day, but I can at least give the guy one night in her exalted presence (can you hear the sarcasm? I pity the poor fool.). Alex seems a little uncertain though, when he says, "I'll ask Liz. But it sounds good," he adds quickly. "If she can't, I'll be there I mean." He looks around again. "I wonder where she got to," he says. "I told her I'd meet her here after she said hi to you. We're going to get our ID pictures." He looks at me. "Do you want to come?"
Do I? "Sure." I already have my ID picture of course, but who cares?
Alex gets up. "Maybe she's downstairs," he suggests. "But I'll call her cell first. Can I use the phone in your room?"
I sigh, climbing to my feet as well. "I'd say yes of course, but my room- mate." I shake my head. "He's got a guest."
Alex snorts. "Nice. Well, at least that's semi-normal. My room-mate is a complete freak. He has an ant colony for God's sake. Who has an ant colony in college?"
"Sean's normal," I acknowledge, "But it also means I haven't been able to get into my room until three in the morning for the past two nights," I tell him as we make our way down the corridor. "Maybe we can ask the R.A. if we can use hers."
Alex nods. "Ah, Tess. Yeah, she'll let us. She's a good egg that one."
"I haven't met her yet," I admit.
"I'm surprised," Alex says. "She came and said hi to me not five minutes after I got here."
I roll my eyes. "You don't have a sister demanding your attention 24/7."
"I almost do," Alex reminds me. He looks at me with something bordering on relief. "Maybe you can move Liz's furniture for her. She doesn't like where her bed is. She asked me, but." He shrugs. "It's heavy."
"I can help," I say quickly. Why does the mere prospect of moving furniture for Liz make me want to pass out with anticipation? I can almost hear Isabel's disgusted snort. I am hopeless.
Well, if I can't talk to her, at least I can do physical labor for her. There's that.
We have stopped in front of a door with a hand-printed sign that says "Resident Advisor." Alex knocks.
I hear a pleasant voice through the door. "Come in."
Alex pushes open the door and sticks his head in. "Hi, Tess. I was wondering if I could use your phone? Mine isn't hooked up yet."
"Sure," says the still faceless voice. The door is pulled open and I am abruptly meeting a pair of the bluest eyes I have ever seen. "Oh." My eyes drop to a pair of pink lips. "Hi."
"This is Max," Alex says offhandedly, already moving past her into the room. "He's in 285."
"Oh," says the pretty blonde before me. I stare at her. Is she blushing? I think she's blushing. How strange. "Hi, Max. I've been trying to find you for the past two days."
"I've been out," I say. "Sorry."
"That's okay," she says. She is definitely blushing. Because her cheeks are now even pinker than they were before. She seems to get a hold of herself though because she puts out her hand. "I'm Tess, your R.A."
"So I've been told," I say. I smile at her. I like her already. You know how some people just have [I]nice[/I] written all over them? Tess is like that. For once, I find that I am not entirely tongue-tied either. Maybe it's because she seems to be the one who is tongue-tied. It puts me at ease. "Where are you from?"
"New York originally," Tess replies, after taking a deep breath. Why is this girl so nervous? I don't get it. It must be Alex. Does she have a thing for him? I look at him. He is talking into the phone, obviously having gotten a hold of Liz. My heart starts to beat more quickly again.
I realize that Tess is still talking. "But my dad and I moved around a lot."
I focus back on her. "I'm from Roswell, New Mexico," I tell her, so that we don't fall into an awkward silence waiting for Alex to finish.
"I know," Tess says. I blink. She quickly adds, "I have stuff about all the people on this floor."
"Oh, well." I shrug.
"So, do you know any aliens?" she asks. I stare at her. She blushes again. "I mean, I've heard about Roswell and everything." She trails off. "Sorry. It was a joke." She looks like she wants to sink into the floor.
I didn't mean to make her feel like crap of course. But she just surprised me by springing the A-word on me like that. I should be used to it by now. I mean, I am from Roswell. It happens all the time. But, for some reason, I still jump every time someone asks that stupid question.
Of course, it's not so stupid. But they all think it is. I told you my life is weird.
"I don't know any aliens," I tell her, hoping to put her at ease. "But I do work at the UFO Museum though. We get some crazy tourists in there that sometimes make me wonder."
Tess laughs, relaxing a bit. I feel relieved. I know better than anyone how it is to feel stupid around someone you like, if she does indeed like Alex. I'm glad that I managed to make her feel better.
Speaking of Alex, he has hung up and is shaking his head.
"What?" I ask, my stomach dropping slightly. Is something wrong with Liz?
"You're never going to believe this," Alex tells me. "Liz has been sitting in your room talking to your room-mate this whole time."
What? What? Liz has been alone with Sean all this time? And Sean has the Do Not Disturb sign on the door. He expressly told me that he would only ever use it if he was making time with a girl.
I turn on my heel and hurry towards my room, just in time to see the door open and Liz come out into the hallway. She is laughing, turns to say something to my now hated room-mate, who is following her out.
I am in earshot within seconds. Just in time to hear, ".tomorrow night at seven then?" coming from my beloved's lips. Directed at Sean! My male slut of a room-mate!
Oh dear God. No!
September 2002 - Manhattan University, New York, New York
~Max~
I am rubbing the back of my neck wearily as the elevator doors open. I am just returning to my dorm after spending the afternoon helping Isabel to rearrange all the furniture in her own room at Columbia on the other side of the city. I am not in the best of moods either, being as this is the third time in two days that my sister has somehow managed to trick me into doing this. The first time was a freebie, but she knew the second and third were going to need serious planning and included concerns about being homesick and then concerns about a phone call she had received from Michael. They were both bald-faced lies to get me to rush over there, but I deserve it. I'm a sucker. You'd think that after twelve years of living with this girl I'd be onto her.
Anyway, I knew there was a reason I shouldn't go to school in the same state, let alone city, as Isabel. She has the tendency to abuse her sibling privileges. But the pros of having her so close certainly outweigh the cons. I cannot deny that I would have missed my sister a lot had she come up here by herself.
So, at this point, you may be wondering exactly how and why I'm living in New York. Sometimes I still ask myself the same question, even though the decision was made more than a month ago now. The answer, in the end, is really quite simple. It is also quite embarrassing and is not going to do much to convince you that I am not a stalker.
Liz Parker goes to Manhattan University. Not Harvard, but right here - to the same school Isabel was so mad at me for not accepting. While this all might sound a little creepy - the fact that I ended up here - it cannot entirely be blamed on me. There were many other factors at work.
Okay, well there was one factor. My sister. But it's a factor. Give a guy a break please.
Coming here meant that Isabel was rendered practically speechless with joy. Of course, she was going to New York anyway. After talking to my parents, and after my dad called in a few favors so that she could still go, Columbia was back on for my sister. She was thrilled and scared out of her mind at the same time. I wish I could say that I approached my parents about Manhattan and whether we could swing it right then. I am ashamed to say that I did not. It still did not occur to me at all that maybe something could be arranged where the money was concerned. After all, Manhattan did offer me a partial scholarship.
But, here's the thing. I have absolutely no clue what the hell I want to study or what I want to be someday. I really, truly have no idea if I'm going to be on this planet long enough to figure it out. And asking my parents to spend so much money to send me to New York just because my sister thought, for some weird reason, that she needed me.(I mean, when has Isabel ever really needed me?) well, it just seemed wrong.
Until Maria called me at the end of July to inform me that Liz had decided that she hated Harvard, was leaving her summer program there and was moving to New York to work until she started at Manhattan University in the fall.
At first, I was so shocked that Maria Deluca had actually called me on the phone, what she was telling me didn't quite register. "What?" was all I managed to stutter into the receiver.
Since I am not publicly well known for my eloquence anyway, this did not faze Maria at all. "You heard me Max. This is destiny. I know for a fact that you've been accepted there too. Isabel told me."
Strangely, my sister and Maria struck up something of a friendship over the summer. Izzy started hanging out at the Crashdown more, mainly because Michael got a job there so that he could save up for when he and I moved to Las Cruces together. I think my sister really likes Maria though, mainly because Liz's best friend doesn't seem at all scared of her. It just goes to show what a secure person Maria is. The thing is, she was lonely too, what with Liz gone to Harvard and Alex at computer camp. And, thus, the odd couple was born.
So, I was not shocked that my sister had been telling tales out of school about me. "Why isn't Liz staying at Harvard?" I asked, instead of focusing on the fact that I had indeed been accepted to Manhattan. Because, in the end, Liz's motives interested me more. I remembered what Liz had once told me - that she didn't really want to be a doctor, but a writer. She had tried to pass it off as just casual conversation, but I had seen the bright expression on her face at the time. She had really meant it.
"Apparently she signed up for a creative writing course to balance all that science." I could almost hear Maria's nose turning up in disdain at the thought of all those science courses. "The teacher was a guest lecturer from Manhattan, Liz fell in love." My heart dropped. "And is following her back to New York."
Her. The best word in the English language. Yes, I am a loser. Moving on.
"Well, that's interesting," was all I managed to say, although my mind was already racing as I'm sure Maria was fully expecting.
"Interesting?" Maria screeched, forcing me to hold the phone away from my ear. "This is more than interesting, Max. My best friend has broken with all expectation and has decided to grab onto what she wants with both hands. I'd say it's about time for you to do the same. I read what she wrote in your yearbook girlfriend. Get your ass in gear and get into that school."
My eyes narrowed. "You read my yearbook?" I demanded. Isabel was so dead. Her definition of privacy differed entirely too much from mine.
"Liz showed it to me before she gave it to you," Maria replied hastily, as though sensing my anger. I still have a feeling that this was not entirely true, that she was protecting my sister, but I chose to accept it at the time. "C'mon, Max. You know how this is supposed to play out. Up until now, you didn't have any options, but fate has stepped in."
"What do you mean fate has stepped in?"
"Max, it's just like on Felicity!" she exclaimed in frustration. "You have to go."
"I am not Felicity, Maria."
"Yes, you are," Maria snapped. "And Liz is Ben. You so know it. You two are meant to be together. He wrote something amazing in her yearbook and she followed him to New York and they got together. Now it's your turn."
"You're leaving out about four seasons of angst there," I said, although I could feel my heart starting to beat more quickly. Could I really do this? Could I really follow Liz to New York, based solely on what she had written in my yearbook?
I can't be with any human. Why on Earth would I do this?
Because this isn't just any human, a small voice in the back of my head reminded me. It's Liz.
That night I asked my parents if there was any possible way they might be able to send both Izzy and I to New York. I swear, I am [I]not[/I] Felicity. As I mentioned above, there were other factors involved in why I might have changed my mind.
But, being completely honest, there weren't. I am Felicity. But I will never admit it to Maria.
Mom and Dad were actually a little mad when they heard that maybe the only reason that I had not accepted Manhattan was because I thought they couldn't afford it. It wasn't of course - I had fully intended all along to go to UNM and live with Michael - but they didn't need to know that. What can I say? After so many years of keeping my big secret, I'm a really good liar. I'm not proud of it, but there it is.
I admit it. I played the "I can't take it anymore. I'm giving up my dreams out of guilt. Please help me Mom and Dad" card. I'm a jerk. I offer up no excuses, other than that you still don't know what Liz wrote in my yearbook.
"We're the parents here, Max," my dad informed me. "You don't need to try and protect us. That's our job. If you wanted to go to Manhattan, you should have told us. It may be too late, son. They'll have set their freshman class based on who accepted already."
"I know," I said. And I did know. This was a crap-shoot at best. "But can we at least try? I'll get a job and you can have all the money from the UFO Center."
Isn't that irony? I really did work there though - at the local Crash of '47 Museum. I was there all through high school and I continued there full time all through the summer. My boss Milton even told me I could come back next summer. I guess aliens make good employees. Not that he knows I'm an alien. He would be ecstatic with joy if he ever found out. But, I digress.
"We can try," my mom said reassuringly, sending my dad a warning look. My mom understands me better than my dad. I'm pretty sure she thinks that I have never fully accepted that their love comes unconditionally. I haven't actually. I have a feeling that if my parents know that Iz and I are aliens, the limits of parental love would be seriously tested. Mom thinks it stems from the fact that we were abandoned at such a young age though. I hate playing on her emotions like I did, making her feel that maybe I had chosen UNM because I hadn't wanted to feel any more beholden to them. I still feel terrible about it.
But they are my parents. If I couldn't turn to them, where else could I turn?
So Dad called up an old law school buddy of his, who happens to be dean of the law school at Manhattan now, to see if there was anything he could do. Even though I am certainly not planning on law school, the guy managed to pull a few strings and that's why I am now entering Reddit Hall, a dorm at Manhattan University, heading towards my room.
As I mentioned before, I've been here for two days, although I've barely spent any of it at my own college. Isabel has monopolized my time, not only through excuses, but also through guilt. She knows that I didn't come to New York for her (Maria - again. She is my curse it would seem.), isn't really that mad about it, but is certainly using it to her advantage. In the end, she is really glad I'm here, so it will all work out.
Now, at this point, you may be wondering what happened to Michael. He was the one person I was worried about in this whole scenario. I was his ticket out of Roswell after all. So, when I told him what I was planning, I was a bit worried about how he might take it.
Strangely, he didn't seem at all pissed off - not even disappointed. "That's okay, Maxwell. I'll just keep working at the Crashdown. I can move out here on my own. It'll be cheaper than Las Cruces anyway."
I was so relieved, I didn't even question it at the time. However, Isabel then told me on the plane that she had the feeling that maybe Michael had his own reasons for not necessarily being in any great hurry to leave Roswell.
"You can't mean Maria?" I asked, disbelieving, although I too had witnessed the advancement of their relationship over the summer. I mean, it wasn't much of a progression, but he could be counted to speak to her on occasion without having to be kicked under the table first. For Michael, that's practically a marriage proposal.
"I do mean Maria," Isabel replied, satisfied. "With her around, Michael will never be lonely."
For the first time, I realized that a large part of Isabel's reluctance to leave Michael and I hadn't been about her own fear, although that had certainly played into it. She had really, truly been worried about both of us.
And, yet.Michael and Maria?
"Isabel, you know we can't."
She interrupted me. "And why exactly can't we, Max? You know what I finally realized, once I just admitted to myself that I really wanted to go to Columbia?"
"What?" I stared at her, unsure who this new calm, confident Isabel was. I mean, she was showing me the person the rest of the world saw all the time.
"We need to start living as if we're here for the long-haul. We have no idea if anyone's ever coming back for us. As far as we know, everyone at home thinks we're all dead. Earth has to be our home now. We need to make a future for ourselves." She looked at me, her dark eyes piercing. "And I think you've come to exactly the same conclusion. Admit it. That's why you're coming to New York."
I didn't reply at the time, but I know she's right. I followed Liz Parker to New York because what she wrote in my yearbook had given me hope that maybe she wasn't as oblivious to me over the four years we spent as lab partners as I thought she was. And, really, why would I do that unless I thought that maybe something could happen between us?
I want a future here just as much as Isabel. Even Michael seems to be accepting that maybe it's time to let go of what came before the crash. Maybe that's what coming to New York is about for me too, in the end. Yes, Liz was the impetus. But I think this is going to be good for me in other ways too. It's time to really live my life on this planet. That I can now do it with the seeming support of my sister and best friend makes it all the more liberating.
And terrifying. Because, in the end, hiding for all these years really has been kind of easy. Not putting myself on the line, just existing, hiding behind the tree.None of it has been very difficult, nor frightening.
Which is another reason that what Liz wrote in my yearbook impressed me so much. She put herself out there. The least I could do was meet her halfway.
Okay, so I'm guessing that by now that you're a little curious about exactly what it was that Liz wrote. Unfortunately, I am going to be forced to keep you in suspense a while longer. Because, while I was fully intending to return to my room to reread it for the three thousandth time, I am now standing in front of my door, staring at the "Do Not Disturb" sign my room-mate has plastered there.
For the third time in two days, Sean has brought a girl back to the dorm and is expecting me to find somewhere else to hang out in the mean-time. Since I've only been here for two nights, this is pretty impressive. And, also, extremely annoying.
Now, as stated above, I haven't spent much time in my dorm. But this is not all entirely due to my sister. My room-mate has also proven to be extremely.Well, I'll politely say that he seems to be very popular with the ladies. I should have had a clue that this was coming on the day we met, being as the first thing he suggested was that we set some ground rules about girls and "private time," as he termed it.
I just thought he was being polite. I have been proven wrong over the past forty-eight hours. Apparently Sean has the intention of sleeping with every girl on campus before the end of our first month here. Since I know that he intends to rush a fraternity, I'm hoping that soon he'll be able to take his extracurricular activities elsewhere.
Of course, this doesn't help me at the moment, when all I really want to do is flop down on my bed, stare at my ceiling and wonder for the ten thousandth time what Liz is going to say when we finally cross each other's path. I'm nervous about it, needless to say. I think she knows I'm here - there is no way that Maria will not have told her at least that - but what is she thinking about it? After all, she is the one who wrote what she wrote in my yearbook.
Sighing, I turn and head down the hall towards the common room. There are a few people sprawled around on the couches, watching The Simpsons. It's really amazing how people have already settled into a routine and we all just got here. But the same crowd is here every night. At least they're watching something I like at the moment. Last night it was three straight hours of Cops. Since the entire goal of my life up to this point has been to stay off the authorities' radar at all costs, you can understand why I'm not particularly fond of that one.
Anyway, I don't even really get a chance to settle in, because as soon as I plunk myself down into a dingy easy chair, I hear someone say my name. "Max!"
I look over to the door in surprise. Alex Whitman is standing there, a huge grin on his face. He is coming towards me quickly, as though he's really pleased to see me. "I found you," he says as he throws himself down in the chair next to mine.
I don't know Alex very well. All I know about him I've learned through his association with Liz and my ability to absorb information about people through her. I know that he's very smart, a huge computer nut, but also plays bass in a band back in Roswell. We have talked a couple of times over the years, mostly just "hi's" in the hallway at school, but I've always liked him. This is, partly, due to the fact that anyone Liz is so close to must be a great person and so I was bound to like him by default (Hey! I never said I didn't like Kyle. I was jealous of him, but I didn't not like him..Okay, fine. I hate him. But he is the exception.) But Alex is a nice guy. I probably would have liked him anyway.
I knew that he was going to be here - Maria told Isabel of course, who passed the information onto me - but I never expected to run into him so soon. But I am not displeased. Not at all.
"I saw your name on one of the mailboxes downstairs," Alex continues. "So you live here too huh? I can't believe we're on the same floor. What are the odds?"
"Yeah," is all I say. It is kind of weird, but is it wrong that all I want to ask Alex at the moment is, "So, have you seen Liz?"
It's wrong. But let's call a spade a spade. He has the information I want.
Alex seems oblivious to my abrupt response however. He is still talking and is - bless him - actually proceeding to tell me exactly what I want to know. "Liz lives here too. She's on the tenth floor."
"Really?" My heart leaps for joy at the news that I am likely going to see Liz all the time. Luck is on my side apparently.
Now if I can only work up the courage to talk to her. Since I am having trouble talking to Alex at the moment, this does not bode well for my future. I determine that I should make more of an effort.
He looks around. "It's kind of weird that you haven't run into her. She came to find you. I had to go to the Admin building and see about my scholarship and she came back here. We both moved in today, which is why we haven't tried to find you sooner. Liz was staying at her aunt's apartment and I went to stay with her for a couple of days, until my stuff got here. I shipped it up."
This last part completely escapes my attention however. Because I have stopped listening after "She came to find you."
She came to find me? My heart is pounding against my rib-cage in a way that is not entirely comfortable.
"I just got back," I say, struggling to stay focused on the conversation, since Alex is starting to eye me in concern. I wonder if I look as weird as I feel. "I was helping Isabel move some furniture."
I blink when Alex's face lights up. "Ah, yes. The lovely Isabel. How is your sister? How's Columbia?" He sounds kind of strangely breathless by the end of it.
"She's fine," I reply, wondering at the expression on his face. "She's coming over for dinner tomorrow night." I tilt my head, examining him curiously. Well, there's only one way to confirm my present suspicion. "You could come." And, then, because I'm an ass. "You and Liz, I mean."
Alex's eyes widen slightly at the invitation. Why do I have the feeling that his heart is beating as quickly at the mention of my sister as mine was at the mention of Liz only moments ago?
Well, I know that look. I've seen it in my mirror and in all reflective surfaces over the past twelve years anytime I've had any sort of encounter with Liz Parker. If anyone understands a crush, it's me.
So Alex has a thing for my sister. While inherently grossed out, I can't say that I'm upset about this. I'm just surprised that I never noticed before. Maria's thing for Michael was so obvious.Maybe I missed Alex completely because of it?
Whatever. I know that, unfortunately, Isabel probably won't give him the time of day, but I can at least give the guy one night in her exalted presence (can you hear the sarcasm? I pity the poor fool.). Alex seems a little uncertain though, when he says, "I'll ask Liz. But it sounds good," he adds quickly. "If she can't, I'll be there I mean." He looks around again. "I wonder where she got to," he says. "I told her I'd meet her here after she said hi to you. We're going to get our ID pictures." He looks at me. "Do you want to come?"
Do I? "Sure." I already have my ID picture of course, but who cares?
Alex gets up. "Maybe she's downstairs," he suggests. "But I'll call her cell first. Can I use the phone in your room?"
I sigh, climbing to my feet as well. "I'd say yes of course, but my room- mate." I shake my head. "He's got a guest."
Alex snorts. "Nice. Well, at least that's semi-normal. My room-mate is a complete freak. He has an ant colony for God's sake. Who has an ant colony in college?"
"Sean's normal," I acknowledge, "But it also means I haven't been able to get into my room until three in the morning for the past two nights," I tell him as we make our way down the corridor. "Maybe we can ask the R.A. if we can use hers."
Alex nods. "Ah, Tess. Yeah, she'll let us. She's a good egg that one."
"I haven't met her yet," I admit.
"I'm surprised," Alex says. "She came and said hi to me not five minutes after I got here."
I roll my eyes. "You don't have a sister demanding your attention 24/7."
"I almost do," Alex reminds me. He looks at me with something bordering on relief. "Maybe you can move Liz's furniture for her. She doesn't like where her bed is. She asked me, but." He shrugs. "It's heavy."
"I can help," I say quickly. Why does the mere prospect of moving furniture for Liz make me want to pass out with anticipation? I can almost hear Isabel's disgusted snort. I am hopeless.
Well, if I can't talk to her, at least I can do physical labor for her. There's that.
We have stopped in front of a door with a hand-printed sign that says "Resident Advisor." Alex knocks.
I hear a pleasant voice through the door. "Come in."
Alex pushes open the door and sticks his head in. "Hi, Tess. I was wondering if I could use your phone? Mine isn't hooked up yet."
"Sure," says the still faceless voice. The door is pulled open and I am abruptly meeting a pair of the bluest eyes I have ever seen. "Oh." My eyes drop to a pair of pink lips. "Hi."
"This is Max," Alex says offhandedly, already moving past her into the room. "He's in 285."
"Oh," says the pretty blonde before me. I stare at her. Is she blushing? I think she's blushing. How strange. "Hi, Max. I've been trying to find you for the past two days."
"I've been out," I say. "Sorry."
"That's okay," she says. She is definitely blushing. Because her cheeks are now even pinker than they were before. She seems to get a hold of herself though because she puts out her hand. "I'm Tess, your R.A."
"So I've been told," I say. I smile at her. I like her already. You know how some people just have [I]nice[/I] written all over them? Tess is like that. For once, I find that I am not entirely tongue-tied either. Maybe it's because she seems to be the one who is tongue-tied. It puts me at ease. "Where are you from?"
"New York originally," Tess replies, after taking a deep breath. Why is this girl so nervous? I don't get it. It must be Alex. Does she have a thing for him? I look at him. He is talking into the phone, obviously having gotten a hold of Liz. My heart starts to beat more quickly again.
I realize that Tess is still talking. "But my dad and I moved around a lot."
I focus back on her. "I'm from Roswell, New Mexico," I tell her, so that we don't fall into an awkward silence waiting for Alex to finish.
"I know," Tess says. I blink. She quickly adds, "I have stuff about all the people on this floor."
"Oh, well." I shrug.
"So, do you know any aliens?" she asks. I stare at her. She blushes again. "I mean, I've heard about Roswell and everything." She trails off. "Sorry. It was a joke." She looks like she wants to sink into the floor.
I didn't mean to make her feel like crap of course. But she just surprised me by springing the A-word on me like that. I should be used to it by now. I mean, I am from Roswell. It happens all the time. But, for some reason, I still jump every time someone asks that stupid question.
Of course, it's not so stupid. But they all think it is. I told you my life is weird.
"I don't know any aliens," I tell her, hoping to put her at ease. "But I do work at the UFO Museum though. We get some crazy tourists in there that sometimes make me wonder."
Tess laughs, relaxing a bit. I feel relieved. I know better than anyone how it is to feel stupid around someone you like, if she does indeed like Alex. I'm glad that I managed to make her feel better.
Speaking of Alex, he has hung up and is shaking his head.
"What?" I ask, my stomach dropping slightly. Is something wrong with Liz?
"You're never going to believe this," Alex tells me. "Liz has been sitting in your room talking to your room-mate this whole time."
What? What? Liz has been alone with Sean all this time? And Sean has the Do Not Disturb sign on the door. He expressly told me that he would only ever use it if he was making time with a girl.
I turn on my heel and hurry towards my room, just in time to see the door open and Liz come out into the hallway. She is laughing, turns to say something to my now hated room-mate, who is following her out.
I am in earshot within seconds. Just in time to hear, ".tomorrow night at seven then?" coming from my beloved's lips. Directed at Sean! My male slut of a room-mate!
Oh dear God. No!