[u]Part 6[/u]
Alex went back to school. He didn't quite know what else to do after Liz's little blow-up and so he simply went to class, pretended that nothing had happened.
He thought about finding Maria, thought about telling his other best friend what had happened, what Liz had said, but he knew that it would only upset Maria. And, somehow, he knew that Liz had not meant it, that she would apologize as soon as she calmed down.
There was now no question that she was hiding something though - and it worried him, big time. He remembered how difficult it had been for her to keep Max's secret from him last fall. By the time she had finally told him the truth, when they had both been in jail after the bust at the rave, she had been practically hysterical. It was not a part of Liz Parker's nature to lie.
And now she was lying to [I]everyone[/I] she had always depended on. At least that last time she had had Maria to confide in, and Max. Now she had absolutely no one. Which made Alex even more suspicious of this Will character. He knew that he had not imagined the possessiveness on that other guy's face during their brief interaction at the Crashdown. There was something just [I]off[/I] with that guy. Was he trying to take advantage of an obviously needy girl? It sure seemed that way to Alex.
So why did Alex not seek out Maria, or even Max and the others? Why was he keeping this to himself?
He had absolutely no idea, which was the most upsetting part of all. Had that guy done something to [I]him[/I] as well? Was Maria right? Was he a mind-warping maniac and was he already sucking Alex's brains out, slowly but surely? He knew it was a paranoid thought, but he had heard all about the disintegrating aliens in Copper Summit from Maria only the night before on the phone. Brain-suckers didn't seem quite so farfetched any longer.
Which was why he was currently staring at the algebra equations on the overhead at the front of the class, completely lost, and also trying to decide if he [I]felt[/I] like his brains had been sucked. Despite his preoccupation, it had not escaped his notice that the only other member of their group who was in this math section with him - Isabel - was absent. He wondered briefly where she was. It wasn't like her to miss school.
"Er, I don't suppose you have an extra pencil?"
Alex blinked, turned to stare at the blond kid sitting next to him in surprise. He blinked again when he realized that he'd never seen the guy before in his life, which was a rare occurrence in Roswell. "Huh?"
"Pencil? Mine just broke." The kid held up his writing instrument and indeed the lead at the end was merely hanging on by a thread.
Alex stared at him. "Oh, yeah, sure." He reached into his back-pack, pulled out a pencil for his neighbour.
"Thanks." The kid sighed in relief. "I didn't really want to go up to the front to sharpen it. Everyone's staring at me enough today.you know, being new and all."
"Right." Another new kid? What the hell? And, yet, it went against Alex's nature to be deliberately rude. It was extremely unlikely that every new face he encountered was an alien after all. He still had no proof that Will was an alien either! "I'm Alex by the way. Welcome to Roswell."
"Thanks." The other boy met his gaze squarely. "I'm Jack. It's nice to meet you." He grimaced. "Can I just tell you, you're the first person to actually [I]speak[/I] to me today? Thanks for that."
"Oh, well." Alex shrugged. This kid was kind of weird. What normal guy went around thanking others for being nice? But, then, Alex wasn't exactly your typical teenager either, so he wouldn't hold it against Jack. "Where are you from?" He decided he could afford to be a little friendly. It would keep his mind off the Liz dilemma, at least for the moment.
"Arizona," Jack replied. "Not too far away, but if feels like a million miles."
"Well, I've lived in Roswell all my life and you're not the first person to feel like they've beamed into another planet," Alex told him wryly. "It can get a little creepy around here, with all the UFO tourists and stuff."
"I'd guess so," Jack grinned. "So, do you know any aliens?"
Alex did his best not to snort. "Sometimes I think so," he replied non- committally. [I]Sometimes I wish I didn't[/I] was what he was [I]really[/I] thinking.
He shook his head, pushing the disloyal thought aside. In spite of the regular havoc wreaked on his life by is plunge into the alien abyss, he had to admit to himself that he wouldn't trade the knowledge he had now for anything in the world. An image of Isabel, in all her glacial beauty, flashed through his mind, distracting him. It made him tired to even think about her though. Things were so far from where he wanted them.
And, yet, it didn't hurt nearly as much as it had only yesterday. He wondered why, frowned slightly when he realized that, apart from his worry about Liz, he had also been thinking about that mysterious girl from this morning - the one he had almost tripped over.
Interesting..
It took him a moment to realize that Jack was still talking. "See that chick?" He said quietly, discreetly nodding in the direction of the girl at the front of the class. "She's in two of my classes and if she's [I]not[/I] an alien, I don't know who is."
Alex [I]did[/I] snort this time. "That's Pam Troy," he replied in an undertone. "And you know how to pick them buddy."
They passed the rest of the class in a very enjoyable game of making fun of the rest of the students around them. It wasn't Alex's usual style, but Jack had a wicked sense of humour that brought out his devilish side. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun.
When the bell finally rang, Alex realized that he had wasted the entire period. Not only did he have no idea what he was supposed to do for homework, but he still hadn't figured out what he was going to do about Liz. He felt a bit guilty about it, but didn't regret the fact that he had made a new kid a little more comfortable.
Of course, the concern all came pouring back when he found Liz waiting for him in the hallway, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other. Alex met her gaze, raised an eyebrow questioningly. Liz's eyes filled with tears, causing Alex's heart to break.
".headed off to the caf. Do you have lunch this period?" Jack was saying beside him. He seemed to notice that he had lost Alex's attention though and stopped talking, following his gaze.
"I have to go," Alex told him quietly. "See you tomorrow Jack. It was nice to meet you." He walked right over to Liz, took her hand and led her into the Eraser Room, which happened to be right across the hall.
The instant the door shut behind them, Liz threw her arms around him and started to sob. "I'm so sorry Alex." At least he thought that was what she said. It was a little hard to tell with all the hiccuping.
He pulled her against him, stroked her hair soothingly. "It's okay Lizzie. It's okay." After several moments, when he felt her finally calming down, Alex stepped back, placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. "Okay, are you ready to tell me what the hell's going on with you?"
Liz sniffled, her eyes still shining. "Yes. I can't keep this to myself any longer. I just [I]can't[/I]." He could see her spine straightening, even as she said it. "But you have to promise me you won't tell [I]anyone[/I]."
Alex frowned. "Can you guarantee me that your life isn't in danger? Because if you can't, then I cannot promise. Max and Michael and the others are better equipped to protect you than I am. Even Valenti's better equipped." He could not get the image of Will Spencer's eyes out of his brain, which was why he asked. That proprietary air Alex had seen when it came to Liz.It sent a shiver down Alex's spine even now.
Liz scowled at him. "Max is the [I]last[/I] person who can know!" She exclaimed. "And if you don't promise me Alex, I'm not going to tell you."
"Liz."
"Alex!" She moved towards the door, clearly ready to leave. He knew that it was the last thing he could allow.
"Fine," he sighed, knowing it was a mistake, but also knowing that she knew him too well. He had promised and now the ball was in her court. They were playing this Liz's way.
Liz closed her eyes, sagged against the door in relief. "Thank you," she whispered. "Alex, I swear, I don't think I'm in any [I]physical[/I] danger." And he could see from the expression on her face that she truly didn't. He breathed easier.
But wait a minute. There were other kinds of danger.mental, emotional.
"Is this about that Will guy?" Alex demanded.
Liz stared at him. "Well, yes, sort of. How did you know?"
"I didn't like him. He creeped me out," Alex told her truthfully. "They way he was acting around you."
"It was like he [I]knew[/I] me," Liz finished for him, looking distant again.
"Well, that's not exactly what I was going to say," Alex replied. "He looked like he thought he [I]owned[/I] you."
Liz frowned. "What? Really?" She sounded disbelieving.
Alex folded his arms. "Yes, [I]really[/I]."
"Weird." Liz was pensive for a moment and then she said, "He connected with me."
Alex felt his heart start to pound. "Like as in [I]alien[/I] connect? As in what you and Max do?"
A spasm of grief crossed Liz's face before she whispered, "Yes."
"So he's an alien."
"I think so." Liz took his hand pleadingly. "I need you to go and tell Isabel so that she can tell Max. They need to know about this."
Alex raised an eyebrow. So, finally, they were at the crux of the matter. "Why can't you tell Max yourself - or Isabel?"
Liz sighed. "Because I don't think Isabel would believe me, not anymore, but she would believe you." She paused, seemed to take a deep breath. "And Max and I aren't really talking right now. You know." She trailed off, pained.
"Because of the Kyle thing."
Liz swallowed, her face white. "Right. The Kyle thing."
"Are you going to tell me the truth about that?" Alex asked gently, squeezing her hand.
Her voice cracked as she struggled to reply. "I want to.[I]so[/I] badly Alex. But I promised him I wouldn't tell [I]anyone[/I]."
"Who? Kyle?" Alex had been wondering if approaching Kyle was the answer to all of this, but he had put it off, still hoping that Liz would confide in him on her own. Now he was glad that he hadn't spoken to the other guy. Because if Kyle had blown the whole thing off, which it sounded like he had if he wanted Liz to keep it a secret, then Alex could not be held responsible for his actions. If Michael Guerin had been shocked to find himself on the wrong end of Alex's fist the week before, Kyle would not [I]survive[/I] the meeting.
"No, not Kyle," Liz sighed. "Max."
"Max didn't want you to tell anyone that you slept with Kyle?" Alex asked, confused. "I don't get it."
"Not [I]my[/I] Max," Liz explained patiently. "Future Max."
Alex stared at her. "Pardon me?"
Liz was breathing unevenly, had her hands clenched in front of her. "I'm going to tell you Alex, but I need you to promise [I]again[/I] that you won't tell [I]anyone[/I]. Not even Maria."
"Maria's worried about you Liz," Alex said, although he was really thinking about the cryptic statement [I]Future Max[/I]. Was Liz losing her marbles as well as her morals?
"She can't know Alex," Liz told him firmly. "She just [I]can't[/I]. Not until I know everything's okay and I know that Max is doing what he's supposed to do."
"You mean Future Max?"
"No, [I]my[/I] Max!"
The way she said that - [I]my[/I] Max - Alex could hear how much she still loved her ex-boyfriend in that simple pronoun, which only made the whole situation in which they currently found themselves more ludicrous. Which was why he needed to know the truth. So that he could help his best friend and so that she could be happy. Because, without Max, he just knew that she would never [I]be[/I] happy.
Lord knew that he had always had a crush on Isabel, that it had been the best time of his life back in the Spring, when she had decided that she wanted to be with him, but their relationship had [I]never[/I] been like what Max and Liz shared.
Max and Liz.
What they had been to each other had been otherworldly - and, no he was not trying to make a pun. Their love for each other was almost something mystical. And it wasn't just the alien thing either - because Michael and Maria loved each other too, but they certainly were not like Max and Liz. Alex had never been jealous of it though, had never expected that he would find the same thing. It had been, rather, almost gratifying to be a part of it at all, to see two people who were so right for each other come together, to see them make each other come to life like that. Alex loved Liz and he had been happy for her, and it didn't hurt that he actually thought Max was a good guy, even if they didn't know each other very well.
It had made it even clearer to Alex that what he had with Isabel was nowhere near the same thing. And, he suddenly realized, he [I]wanted[/I] what Max and Liz had, even if he was unsure that he [I]could[/I] have it, that maybe a love that [I]burned[/I] like that was only for a lucky few.
For the past few weeks he had been wondering if maybe he could still share something with Isabel, but since she had started dating Grant Sorenson, hope was dwindling. If she could go out with someone like that bohunk, she would never be happy with someone like Alex. He was tired of being second best.
And, yet, even now that he was beginning to understand that Izzy would never see him as more than a good friend, he wasn't too choked up about it. It was disappointing, but he knew that he could move on eventually. He was ready to crawl out of the alien abyss, once and for all. He could be a part of the secret without having it make every decision for him, without having to build his life around it.It made his heart jump a bit to think about the possibility.
But as long as Liz was miserable, he was stuck. Because he could not leave her like this. And, so, he was going to have to understand exactly what the hell "Future Max" meant and why his best friend seemed to be losing her mind, because the whole sleeping with Kyle angle seemed to indicate that even more strongly than the babble about Future Maxes.
Alex sighed wearily. He [I]wanted[/I] out. He had never seen it more clearly than he did in that instant. And it made him sad. But it was time to move on with his life - because as long as he was attached to the aliens, he would forever be linked with Isabel. It was just the way the cookie crumbled in their little band. Alien with human. Max with Liz. Michael with Maria. Even Tess and Kyle were becoming synonymous in his mind.
Which left [I]Alex and Isabel[/I]. Which also gave the explanation for why he had performed that humiliating striptease at her birthday weeks before. He had thought that if he reminded her how he could make her laugh, how he would do [I]anything[/I] for her, she would wake up and realize that they should be together.
But she hadn't. As far as he knew, she was still dating Grant, and he was tired of doing all the work. There were plenty of fish in the sea! In fact, hadn't a new goddess almost tripped over him just that morning?
He remembered that girl easily, with her long curly hair and her cryptic statements. She had reminded him of Isabel, had [I]definitely[/I] been his type. Maybe [I]she[/I]would turn out to be [I]his[/I] soulmate.
The thought of soul mates snapped him back to reality with a crash. What the hell was he doing, worrying about his love life, when his best friend needed him? Even now she was looking at him in concern, wondering where he had disappeared to on her.
"Sorry," he muttered. "All of these mentions of Maxes are frying my brain."
Liz frowned. "Alex, I know it sounds weird, but I need you to focus here. I [I]need[/I] you."
He folded his arms firmly. "I'm all ears. Now [I]tell[/I] me. What the hell is going on?"
Alex went back to school. He didn't quite know what else to do after Liz's little blow-up and so he simply went to class, pretended that nothing had happened.
He thought about finding Maria, thought about telling his other best friend what had happened, what Liz had said, but he knew that it would only upset Maria. And, somehow, he knew that Liz had not meant it, that she would apologize as soon as she calmed down.
There was now no question that she was hiding something though - and it worried him, big time. He remembered how difficult it had been for her to keep Max's secret from him last fall. By the time she had finally told him the truth, when they had both been in jail after the bust at the rave, she had been practically hysterical. It was not a part of Liz Parker's nature to lie.
And now she was lying to [I]everyone[/I] she had always depended on. At least that last time she had had Maria to confide in, and Max. Now she had absolutely no one. Which made Alex even more suspicious of this Will character. He knew that he had not imagined the possessiveness on that other guy's face during their brief interaction at the Crashdown. There was something just [I]off[/I] with that guy. Was he trying to take advantage of an obviously needy girl? It sure seemed that way to Alex.
So why did Alex not seek out Maria, or even Max and the others? Why was he keeping this to himself?
He had absolutely no idea, which was the most upsetting part of all. Had that guy done something to [I]him[/I] as well? Was Maria right? Was he a mind-warping maniac and was he already sucking Alex's brains out, slowly but surely? He knew it was a paranoid thought, but he had heard all about the disintegrating aliens in Copper Summit from Maria only the night before on the phone. Brain-suckers didn't seem quite so farfetched any longer.
Which was why he was currently staring at the algebra equations on the overhead at the front of the class, completely lost, and also trying to decide if he [I]felt[/I] like his brains had been sucked. Despite his preoccupation, it had not escaped his notice that the only other member of their group who was in this math section with him - Isabel - was absent. He wondered briefly where she was. It wasn't like her to miss school.
"Er, I don't suppose you have an extra pencil?"
Alex blinked, turned to stare at the blond kid sitting next to him in surprise. He blinked again when he realized that he'd never seen the guy before in his life, which was a rare occurrence in Roswell. "Huh?"
"Pencil? Mine just broke." The kid held up his writing instrument and indeed the lead at the end was merely hanging on by a thread.
Alex stared at him. "Oh, yeah, sure." He reached into his back-pack, pulled out a pencil for his neighbour.
"Thanks." The kid sighed in relief. "I didn't really want to go up to the front to sharpen it. Everyone's staring at me enough today.you know, being new and all."
"Right." Another new kid? What the hell? And, yet, it went against Alex's nature to be deliberately rude. It was extremely unlikely that every new face he encountered was an alien after all. He still had no proof that Will was an alien either! "I'm Alex by the way. Welcome to Roswell."
"Thanks." The other boy met his gaze squarely. "I'm Jack. It's nice to meet you." He grimaced. "Can I just tell you, you're the first person to actually [I]speak[/I] to me today? Thanks for that."
"Oh, well." Alex shrugged. This kid was kind of weird. What normal guy went around thanking others for being nice? But, then, Alex wasn't exactly your typical teenager either, so he wouldn't hold it against Jack. "Where are you from?" He decided he could afford to be a little friendly. It would keep his mind off the Liz dilemma, at least for the moment.
"Arizona," Jack replied. "Not too far away, but if feels like a million miles."
"Well, I've lived in Roswell all my life and you're not the first person to feel like they've beamed into another planet," Alex told him wryly. "It can get a little creepy around here, with all the UFO tourists and stuff."
"I'd guess so," Jack grinned. "So, do you know any aliens?"
Alex did his best not to snort. "Sometimes I think so," he replied non- committally. [I]Sometimes I wish I didn't[/I] was what he was [I]really[/I] thinking.
He shook his head, pushing the disloyal thought aside. In spite of the regular havoc wreaked on his life by is plunge into the alien abyss, he had to admit to himself that he wouldn't trade the knowledge he had now for anything in the world. An image of Isabel, in all her glacial beauty, flashed through his mind, distracting him. It made him tired to even think about her though. Things were so far from where he wanted them.
And, yet, it didn't hurt nearly as much as it had only yesterday. He wondered why, frowned slightly when he realized that, apart from his worry about Liz, he had also been thinking about that mysterious girl from this morning - the one he had almost tripped over.
Interesting..
It took him a moment to realize that Jack was still talking. "See that chick?" He said quietly, discreetly nodding in the direction of the girl at the front of the class. "She's in two of my classes and if she's [I]not[/I] an alien, I don't know who is."
Alex [I]did[/I] snort this time. "That's Pam Troy," he replied in an undertone. "And you know how to pick them buddy."
They passed the rest of the class in a very enjoyable game of making fun of the rest of the students around them. It wasn't Alex's usual style, but Jack had a wicked sense of humour that brought out his devilish side. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun.
When the bell finally rang, Alex realized that he had wasted the entire period. Not only did he have no idea what he was supposed to do for homework, but he still hadn't figured out what he was going to do about Liz. He felt a bit guilty about it, but didn't regret the fact that he had made a new kid a little more comfortable.
Of course, the concern all came pouring back when he found Liz waiting for him in the hallway, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other. Alex met her gaze, raised an eyebrow questioningly. Liz's eyes filled with tears, causing Alex's heart to break.
".headed off to the caf. Do you have lunch this period?" Jack was saying beside him. He seemed to notice that he had lost Alex's attention though and stopped talking, following his gaze.
"I have to go," Alex told him quietly. "See you tomorrow Jack. It was nice to meet you." He walked right over to Liz, took her hand and led her into the Eraser Room, which happened to be right across the hall.
The instant the door shut behind them, Liz threw her arms around him and started to sob. "I'm so sorry Alex." At least he thought that was what she said. It was a little hard to tell with all the hiccuping.
He pulled her against him, stroked her hair soothingly. "It's okay Lizzie. It's okay." After several moments, when he felt her finally calming down, Alex stepped back, placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. "Okay, are you ready to tell me what the hell's going on with you?"
Liz sniffled, her eyes still shining. "Yes. I can't keep this to myself any longer. I just [I]can't[/I]." He could see her spine straightening, even as she said it. "But you have to promise me you won't tell [I]anyone[/I]."
Alex frowned. "Can you guarantee me that your life isn't in danger? Because if you can't, then I cannot promise. Max and Michael and the others are better equipped to protect you than I am. Even Valenti's better equipped." He could not get the image of Will Spencer's eyes out of his brain, which was why he asked. That proprietary air Alex had seen when it came to Liz.It sent a shiver down Alex's spine even now.
Liz scowled at him. "Max is the [I]last[/I] person who can know!" She exclaimed. "And if you don't promise me Alex, I'm not going to tell you."
"Liz."
"Alex!" She moved towards the door, clearly ready to leave. He knew that it was the last thing he could allow.
"Fine," he sighed, knowing it was a mistake, but also knowing that she knew him too well. He had promised and now the ball was in her court. They were playing this Liz's way.
Liz closed her eyes, sagged against the door in relief. "Thank you," she whispered. "Alex, I swear, I don't think I'm in any [I]physical[/I] danger." And he could see from the expression on her face that she truly didn't. He breathed easier.
But wait a minute. There were other kinds of danger.mental, emotional.
"Is this about that Will guy?" Alex demanded.
Liz stared at him. "Well, yes, sort of. How did you know?"
"I didn't like him. He creeped me out," Alex told her truthfully. "They way he was acting around you."
"It was like he [I]knew[/I] me," Liz finished for him, looking distant again.
"Well, that's not exactly what I was going to say," Alex replied. "He looked like he thought he [I]owned[/I] you."
Liz frowned. "What? Really?" She sounded disbelieving.
Alex folded his arms. "Yes, [I]really[/I]."
"Weird." Liz was pensive for a moment and then she said, "He connected with me."
Alex felt his heart start to pound. "Like as in [I]alien[/I] connect? As in what you and Max do?"
A spasm of grief crossed Liz's face before she whispered, "Yes."
"So he's an alien."
"I think so." Liz took his hand pleadingly. "I need you to go and tell Isabel so that she can tell Max. They need to know about this."
Alex raised an eyebrow. So, finally, they were at the crux of the matter. "Why can't you tell Max yourself - or Isabel?"
Liz sighed. "Because I don't think Isabel would believe me, not anymore, but she would believe you." She paused, seemed to take a deep breath. "And Max and I aren't really talking right now. You know." She trailed off, pained.
"Because of the Kyle thing."
Liz swallowed, her face white. "Right. The Kyle thing."
"Are you going to tell me the truth about that?" Alex asked gently, squeezing her hand.
Her voice cracked as she struggled to reply. "I want to.[I]so[/I] badly Alex. But I promised him I wouldn't tell [I]anyone[/I]."
"Who? Kyle?" Alex had been wondering if approaching Kyle was the answer to all of this, but he had put it off, still hoping that Liz would confide in him on her own. Now he was glad that he hadn't spoken to the other guy. Because if Kyle had blown the whole thing off, which it sounded like he had if he wanted Liz to keep it a secret, then Alex could not be held responsible for his actions. If Michael Guerin had been shocked to find himself on the wrong end of Alex's fist the week before, Kyle would not [I]survive[/I] the meeting.
"No, not Kyle," Liz sighed. "Max."
"Max didn't want you to tell anyone that you slept with Kyle?" Alex asked, confused. "I don't get it."
"Not [I]my[/I] Max," Liz explained patiently. "Future Max."
Alex stared at her. "Pardon me?"
Liz was breathing unevenly, had her hands clenched in front of her. "I'm going to tell you Alex, but I need you to promise [I]again[/I] that you won't tell [I]anyone[/I]. Not even Maria."
"Maria's worried about you Liz," Alex said, although he was really thinking about the cryptic statement [I]Future Max[/I]. Was Liz losing her marbles as well as her morals?
"She can't know Alex," Liz told him firmly. "She just [I]can't[/I]. Not until I know everything's okay and I know that Max is doing what he's supposed to do."
"You mean Future Max?"
"No, [I]my[/I] Max!"
The way she said that - [I]my[/I] Max - Alex could hear how much she still loved her ex-boyfriend in that simple pronoun, which only made the whole situation in which they currently found themselves more ludicrous. Which was why he needed to know the truth. So that he could help his best friend and so that she could be happy. Because, without Max, he just knew that she would never [I]be[/I] happy.
Lord knew that he had always had a crush on Isabel, that it had been the best time of his life back in the Spring, when she had decided that she wanted to be with him, but their relationship had [I]never[/I] been like what Max and Liz shared.
Max and Liz.
What they had been to each other had been otherworldly - and, no he was not trying to make a pun. Their love for each other was almost something mystical. And it wasn't just the alien thing either - because Michael and Maria loved each other too, but they certainly were not like Max and Liz. Alex had never been jealous of it though, had never expected that he would find the same thing. It had been, rather, almost gratifying to be a part of it at all, to see two people who were so right for each other come together, to see them make each other come to life like that. Alex loved Liz and he had been happy for her, and it didn't hurt that he actually thought Max was a good guy, even if they didn't know each other very well.
It had made it even clearer to Alex that what he had with Isabel was nowhere near the same thing. And, he suddenly realized, he [I]wanted[/I] what Max and Liz had, even if he was unsure that he [I]could[/I] have it, that maybe a love that [I]burned[/I] like that was only for a lucky few.
For the past few weeks he had been wondering if maybe he could still share something with Isabel, but since she had started dating Grant Sorenson, hope was dwindling. If she could go out with someone like that bohunk, she would never be happy with someone like Alex. He was tired of being second best.
And, yet, even now that he was beginning to understand that Izzy would never see him as more than a good friend, he wasn't too choked up about it. It was disappointing, but he knew that he could move on eventually. He was ready to crawl out of the alien abyss, once and for all. He could be a part of the secret without having it make every decision for him, without having to build his life around it.It made his heart jump a bit to think about the possibility.
But as long as Liz was miserable, he was stuck. Because he could not leave her like this. And, so, he was going to have to understand exactly what the hell "Future Max" meant and why his best friend seemed to be losing her mind, because the whole sleeping with Kyle angle seemed to indicate that even more strongly than the babble about Future Maxes.
Alex sighed wearily. He [I]wanted[/I] out. He had never seen it more clearly than he did in that instant. And it made him sad. But it was time to move on with his life - because as long as he was attached to the aliens, he would forever be linked with Isabel. It was just the way the cookie crumbled in their little band. Alien with human. Max with Liz. Michael with Maria. Even Tess and Kyle were becoming synonymous in his mind.
Which left [I]Alex and Isabel[/I]. Which also gave the explanation for why he had performed that humiliating striptease at her birthday weeks before. He had thought that if he reminded her how he could make her laugh, how he would do [I]anything[/I] for her, she would wake up and realize that they should be together.
But she hadn't. As far as he knew, she was still dating Grant, and he was tired of doing all the work. There were plenty of fish in the sea! In fact, hadn't a new goddess almost tripped over him just that morning?
He remembered that girl easily, with her long curly hair and her cryptic statements. She had reminded him of Isabel, had [I]definitely[/I] been his type. Maybe [I]she[/I]would turn out to be [I]his[/I] soulmate.
The thought of soul mates snapped him back to reality with a crash. What the hell was he doing, worrying about his love life, when his best friend needed him? Even now she was looking at him in concern, wondering where he had disappeared to on her.
"Sorry," he muttered. "All of these mentions of Maxes are frying my brain."
Liz frowned. "Alex, I know it sounds weird, but I need you to focus here. I [I]need[/I] you."
He folded his arms firmly. "I'm all ears. Now [I]tell[/I] me. What the hell is going on?"