Disclaimer: i do not own any of the character although the plot is mine.

Summary: Future Max turned to himself to help instead of Liz to tell the future. Max had broken up with Liz and spending more time with Tess so Liz would hate him. Max had told Tess that he couldn't be with Liz because if he did it'll be the end of the world but that's all. Tess is trying to work out how he knows this and why it'll be the end of the world. Alex is also still alive.

Feedback To Reviews:

thanks 2 MadRoswellFan for reviewin! xoxo.here are some answers 2 some questions/queries:

crazylittlecandygirl & Grace52373: there are no couples at this moment but there could be some later. The goss on Michael and Isabel is that they are NOT a couple and I made them make out to cause some problems (eg. Maria flipping out). they do make me cringe too. And thanks for reviewing! lots of luv!

CHAPTER THREE

Pleasure. Softness. Sweetness. It was all Michael was conscious of before he heard a strangled gasp.

Not caring about anything else but the delight he was getting, Michael ignored it and tightened his arms around the girl.

He groaned as his lips lost contact with hers.

"Max…" Isabel stammered.

Isabel. Isabel. Michael blinked and realised he had been kissing Isabel. Isabel Evans!

His throat suddenly turning into sandpaper, Michael backed away and couldn't meet his best friend's eyes.

"I'm sorry for…for interrupting," Max said with a slight coldness in his voice. "But do you have my MP3?"

Isabel scurried shakily, picked it up and handed it to him without meeting his gaze.

"Thanks," Max said, left, then closed the door.

Fear. Michael finally felt fear. He had felt fear before in his life but this time the fear was so strong his knees nearly buckled. He feared what Maria would do when she found out. He feared what Isabel now expected him to do. But most of all he feared that he might like Isabel more than a friend.

"Well…" he started running his hand through his hair. What was he suppose to do? He wanted to run away but that was rude.

"Well…" Isabel echoed hastily pushing away the strands that had fallen across her face. Michael had this wild impulse to reach out and brush it away from her.

Scared of his own thoughts, Michael backed away till he was at the door.

"I…I have to go," Michael said hurriedly and left her room without glancing back.

(Isabel after Michael left)

Isabel stared at her doorway as if expecting Michael to return. Disbelief spread through her whole body. Was Michael going to pretend that nothing happened?

Frustrated tears trailed down her face. What was wrong with her? She was always so capable of controlling herself yet she managed to fell prey to Michael. It was obvious he was confused about his feelings towards Maria.

But still….that kiss. Isabel felt her lips, the sweetness of his lips still lingering on hers. No one had kissed her with so much passion, no one had held her as possessively, no one had made her feel so…so. There were no words to describe the happiness that cursed through her body.

"Iz," came a male voice through the door. Isabel quickly wiped at her face. It was only her brother and she didn't feel like talking to him right now.

"C-c-come in," she stammered nervously. She hoped it wasn't the older-brother-looking-out-for-his-sister speech.

Max walked in his face set out in a grim line. He silently walked to her bed and sat down.

"I saw what happened," Max started quietly.

Isabel felt like pulling out her hair. She wasn't in the mood to listen! It was already obvious that Michael regretted kissing her. Was she really that bad of a kisser?

"Isabel," Max said firmly that Isabel had to meet his gaze. "Does Maria know about this?"

Unsure if she could even utter a word, Isabel shook her head. Well she was sure Maria didn't know.

"Isabel," Max said only this time in a harsher tone that she flinched. "What has Maria done to you? You're kissing her boyfriend!"

Isabel couldn't take it anymore. Who was Max to give a lecture when he was breaking hearts too?

"Maxwell!" Isabel growled ignoring the tears that had started to form again. "You dumped Liz to save the world and now you're hanging 24/7 with Tess. You can't talk to me when you're breaking Liz's heart. What has she ever done to you? God, she loves you, she'd die for you and you dump her! Then you come to me and say I'm like this little player and don't talk to this about Michael at all. How come you tell me off but not Michael? Liz—"

Isabel had plenty more to say but Max had already strode over and towered over her.

"Don't you dare talk about her again," he hissed down dangerously. Isabel felt fright but she wasn't going to back off that easy.

"Why not? You dumped her, you—," Isabel stopped as she saw Max raise an arm.

Isabel gasped and shrunk back. Was Max, Max the Saint, going to hit her? She closed her eyes and when nothing happened she open them. Max had walked away his fists clenched at his sides. She had never seen Max so angry.

"I…" she trailed off as Max turned around and shook his head at her. Venom was written all over his face.

"I'm not forbidden you to be with Michael. I'm just saying that Maria should know this," Max said and then left.

Isabel gulped and grabbed the nearest chair. Max had finally gone but not before she saw the anger on his face.

(Liz in her car on the way to Max's)

"Why did you break up with me? I know it wasn't for my safety…"

Liz shook her head. She couldn't say that. That sounded too demanding.

"I love you Max. I don't care about anything else so can't we just forget about my safety?"

Nah. That was too beggish.

Liz sighed irritated when she reached the Evans' house. She still hadn't thought of anything good to say. Maybe she should just turn the car around…

Liz groaned as she saw Max step out of the house. She couldn't leave now, he would've seen her and she didn't want to look like she was stalking him.

She saw Max froze in track then casually made his way over to her. Liz felt her heart hammering faster and she stepped out to.

"Hi," she said nervously.

"Hi."

A pause.

"How are you?" Max asked.

"Good," Liz lied. "You?"

"Okay."

Another pause.

"Wheeler let you off," Max said quietly.

Liz looked away so he couldn't see her blink away the tears. She had left because she saw Max and Tess together. And now there were so many awkward silences. Back when they were together, there was never a problem to come up with a conversation.

Liz tried to pull herself together. After all, she had decided that she came here to discuss about Tess.

"Do you like Tess?" Liz whispered looking at her feet. She didn't know what the response was that she was expecting. But she had to know.

"Yes," Max said and Liz felt her heart shrivel in pain and jealousy.

"Are you two dating?" Liz asked before she could stop herself. Liz squeezed her eyes shut as soon as the words left her mouth. Don't say yes! Don't!

"No," Max said and Liz felt her body relax just the slightest.

Liz gulped and forced herself to look up. His warm, chocolate brown eyes stared back. What she would do so he could touch her again…

"How come you're friends with Tess when you don't talk to me anymore?" Liz asked resisting the urge to run away.

"How tense would it be if we talked?" Max asked and Liz felt the sobs erupting.

She shook her head and wiped under her eyes.

"Liz…don't. This is better for the both of us," Max said in a thick voice. He started to walk away but Liz grabbed his arm.

"Why did you break up with me?" she demanded between sobs.

"Because the closer we are the more dangerous your life would be," he said in a strangled voice.

"You're lying!" Liz sobbed as she shook his arm. "I can see it in your face you're lying. Isabel said you said if we were together it would be the end of the world. You never told me that!"

Max tried to pull his arm away and this time Liz let him. She collapsed onto the ground crying into her hands.

"Liz…" Max said helplessly as he placed a warm hand on her shaking shoulder. One part of her didn't want him to touch her while the other part wanted him to so she would feel safe.

"Go away!" she snivelled. "Please. I promise I would never talk to you again so there won't be any 'tension'."

"Liz," Max said gently and he kneed in front of her. Liz didn't look at him.

"You have to know that this is killing me too. This is worse for me," Max murmured.

"Worse?" Liz exploded unbelieving her ears. As if this was harder for him! "How is this worse for you? I'm the one with the broken heart and doesn't know why my boyfriend dumped me."

Max growled and grabbed her shoulders. Liz let out a gasp of shock and her eyes immediately searched his. In there pain, anger and love was reflecting back.

"It's worse for me because I broke your heart and I can't stand watching you in pain. It's worse for me because the reason I broke up with you is stupid. It's worse for me because I don't have anyone to talk to about why I broke up with you," Max said firmly.

"Why did you break up with me?" Liz demanded.

"What Iz said. It'll be the end of the world if we're together," Max said a little too quickly.

"How do you know it'll be the end of the world?" Liz pressed.

"I…I can't tell you but trust me on this," Max said with pleading eyes.

"Do you that once you're out of my life it'll be the end of my world?" Liz asked.

Max winced but said, "Liz, don't be like that. The end of the world means everyone living on this planet. Would it be fair if we're happy but the whole world dies because of it?"

Liz shook her head trying not to cry all over again. She did trust Max when he said it'll be the end of the world but why didn't he tell her how he knew?

"I'm not leaving till you tell me how you know," Liz said firmly.

"Liz," Max groaned. "Don't do this. We can't be together, okay! And I can't tell you how I know either."

"I love you Max," Liz said surprised at how easy the words left her mouth. "And I'm sure you love me too so why can't we be together? Who said?"

"I DON'T LOVE YOU!"

Liz gasped and she pulled away from his hands. She looked at him unbelieving the words he just said. He didn't love her. No way. No bloody way.

"I…I said I was concerned for you but did I ever say I loved you?" Max asked harshly.

"Go away!" Liz sobbed as she walked past him and headed for her car. Max didn't love her. What else mattered?

(Max watching Liz drive away)

Max watched with a broken heart as Liz sped away.

I love you Liz! His mind screamed but he could never tell her that again. It'll be the end of the world.

Liz was so close. She was so close to finding out the truth but the future version of himself said that Liz should never know. Max couldn't think of any other way to make her leave.

Max mutely walked back into his house and into his room.

"I love you Liz," he whispered before falling onto his bed to cry. Since when did love become so hard?