"Hello, sir. My name is Matt, this is Marcus, Belle, Beth, Mary and Kyle." Max said casually, trying hard to remember everyone's new name. Earlier in the van, everyone had agreed to change their name, to something easy to remember, but different, thus Isabelle was Belle, Liz was Beth, Max was Matt, Michael was Marcus, and Maria was Mary. When presented with this new idea, Kyle refused to change his name.

"Look, guys, I just can't do it. I'll forget my new name, I'll just give us away. Let me stay Kyle. Please."

Max agreed, but told him if anything happened it would be his end that would receive a can of whoop-ass.

With the slight wave of a hand, their driver's licenses sported a new name, address, and year. Everyone was 2 years older. They were now 20 years old, Isabelle now 21.

The owner of the apartment complex eyed them suspiciously. What were a group of fresh-out-of-highschool teenagers doing in Raynolds, Canada. They spoke with a slight American twang, the drawl of a southerner. It was so slight he only caught a whisp of it.

"So, you'll be renting one apartment, or two?" The man asked, eyebrows slightly arched.

"Two." Max said confidently. As much as he loved his buddies, living in the van the last 6 days was a tough task. By the end he almost threw Michael's Metallica CD's out the window, Maria's lipgloss in a cornfield, and Kyle's buddha statue in a dumpster.

Max figured the girls could live in one, and the guys in another. He figured it could be like that tv show, Friends, where everyone walked into either apartment whenever they wanted, not a big deal.

Max quickly paid the first and last month's rent for both apartments. The man gasped slightly when he realized he paid in all cash. This was a little odd to him. Six teenagers, obviously from the US, paying with solid cash for a payment of over $3,000?

As they entered their new apartments, Liz shuddered with the weight of it all. This wasn't a dream anymore. She was really living on her own. In an apartment. With Max just next door. This wasn't a romantic novel, where she escaped into on rainy nights. This was her life now. She couldn't just close the book and come back down to earth. This was scary. This was real. College bound since the sixth grade, Liz couldn't believe it when she finally realized she wouldn't be attending any certain school this upcomming fall. June was around the corner, and that meant acceptance letters were received and kids we're packing up getting ready for the next month or so when they would be moving their new dorms. Liz wouldn't be among them. Instead, she was living with aliens.

--------- Meanwhile, in Roswell, NM ---------

Mr. Parker, his face red and blotchy, stained with tears, woke up. It was early, and the summer heat had already set in. It was dry and hot, and he figured had to start opening the Crashdown once again. It had been eight days. Eight days since he had last heard from his daughter, Liz. He quickly got dressed and climbed downstairs.

His wife was already awake. She had attempted to sleep last night, but unfortunetely she just couldn't fal asleep. She had a bewilered facial expression, her hair greasy and ratty, and in her pocket lay a note of only a few words.

Mom and Dad ---

Please don't worry. I've just got to go. I can't explain.

I love you with all my being.

-Liz

The note was well creased and stained with tears. At first, they thought it was just a joke, a simple jest that Liz would do. But after she didn't turn up the next morning, received no phone call, they worried to no end. After calling her cell, they realized she had left in her room. It was strown with carelessness on her bed. However, her diary was missing, her few favorite sweaters and books. Her photographs: of her, Maria and Alex. Of her and Max. Of her and her father. Of her and her family. All were missing.

Immediately, they called the police. They received an unsatisfactory answer: "I'm sorry, but if she ran away, there isn't much we can do. She's eighteen and left willingly."

But the Parker's weren't satisfied. They looked in her room for clues. Was it drugs? Was she involved in the mob? What was going on?

Mr. Parker went out to the mailbox that morning. Surprised, there were a few bills and a large package. Jasper, TX? How odd. He didn't know anyone in Texas.

He returned to the kitchen and tore the paper off; Mrs. Parker leined in expectantely.

Then two simultaneous things happened at once. Mr. Parker gasped, and Mrs. Parker burst into tears. For they both gazed upon a very welcome sight. Liz's personal diary. She had kept in all throughout highschool. From her first real boyfriend, Kyle Valenti, to her first heartbreak, Max Evans.

A small post-it was on the diary. Scrawled in little squashy handwriting, and no doubt it was Liz's, it said: "Mom and Dad, this will explain everything. After you read this, give this to Maria's parents please burn it. If it ever fell into the wrong hands we would all be in danger. I love you so very much. Liz."

"My name is Liz Parker…….. and five days ago I died….."

The diary was devoured by the Parkers' eyes. Not once, twice but four times they read the diary. The words never changed. So there was something odd about the Evans' they were aliens. That explained so much. The late night dissapearences, the cuts on Liz, the long quiet talks Liz and maria would have for hours. It was all explained. This was the best present they could ever receive.

Even though it took them days to finally accept that there actually were aliens in the universe, and that their daughter was in love with one, they could finally come to terms with everythign that was going on. All they could do now was hope and pray that someday Liz could come back to New Mexico, and they could be a family once again.