A/N- Although reviews were very scarce on the last chapter (as in, one review- thank you, Trickster-jz), I'm continuing on. I really enjoy writing this story, and I just hope that some of you are enjoying reading it. Review please (good or bad)... it really, really helps me get ideas and inspiration. Thank you. By the way, I don't know the highway systems or anything, so Route 486 is purely a made up name.

The bright sun shone down on me as I leaned my body against the tree, sitting cross-legged on the grass. I looked around the quad and saw the remains of my group scattered around the grassy area. Isabel sat with Trent by a tree across the way. He said something and she smiled, tilting her head to the side and closing her eyes. I could still see the sadness and fatigue in her features. She'd tried to hide her surprise at my accusations the night before, but I knew. I spotted Tess at a table by the door, sipping a Diet Coke and reading a book. Tess had few friends; mainly it had just been the six of us. That was before. Now she stood alone, clinging to our past and hoping for our future. I looked toward the parking lot where I saw Maria and Kyle leaning up against his car. He stood laughing at something she'd said. His laughter rang across the courtyard, loud and joyous, as she stood with a half smile on her lips and a distant look in her eye.

"Maxwell," the voice greeted me as Michael dropped his body on the grass next to me. I looked over as he unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite. His eyes looked at me questioningly, "what's up?" He asked, his mouth half full of food.

"Nothing…" my voice trailed off as I took a bite of the sandwich in my hands.

Michael shook his head, taking another bite and wiping his mouth. "Don't give me that; you have that look in your eye. Come on, what's up?"

I sighed, bringing my eyes toward him. "I've just been thinking that's all." I said, shaking my head and looking down at my hands. "I've been dreaming of Liz."

Michael stopped, considering his words. "Max, you used to always dream of Liz after... the accident. It's probably no different."

I shook my head, looking back up at him. "That's the thing, Michael. I used to dream of that night, but I never dreamed of Liz. Never. She's been coming to me in my dreams. It's like she needs me to know something. It's almost as if-"

Michael cut me off. "Look Maxwell, we've been over this. I don't mean to sound harsh, but Liz and Alex are dead. We investigated it after they died. They were in a car accident and they both died. There's nothing we can do to change it and go back into the past... what's done is done." He finished softly, looking at me with sad but kind eyes. I knew he felt sad for me because he knew I still held onto her.

I sighed, looking away. He was right, but I wasn't ready to give up on the small glimmer of hope that had begun to shine in my heart. "That's the thing Michael; we really didn't investigate. We were all so upset... I think we kind of let it slide. I think we should look into it a little more."

"I'm sorry, Max, but I disagree." Michael said, shaking his head. "We have to just let this slide. Don't investigate. No matter what you do, just don't get Maria into this." He looked toward the parking lot where he instinctively knew she'd be. "She's been through enough. We don't need to give her any more hope, just to have it shattered again."

That night

I knew that Michael's words were sensible, but something inside of me couldn't let go of the thought that there was still something we hadn't uncovered after the accident. We'd all been so devastated. Liz and Alex were dead. It was impossible for us to fathom, and so our investigation had been quick and sloppy. The sheriff and I had found the car at a run down garbage pile over the boarder, ready to be smashed and recycled. It had been so badly burned and mangled that I'd gotten sick at the sight of it. We'd looked into the police records that we could get a hold of. They'd drifted into the wrong lane on the highway. The driver of the semi truck couldn't avoid them so he slammed on the break and blared the horn. They'd veered to the left, flying off the cliff and tumbling down the hill. The fire had killed them.

Remembering the details of the police reports made my heart hurt as I sat in my room that night. Slowly I kneeled down on the floor and pulled the box out from under my bed. I gingerly took off the top and rummaged through the photos and papers, pulling out the newspaper clipping.

"Local Teens Dead after Wednesday Accident" the headline read. Underneath there was a blurry picture of the demolished car and beside it a snapshot of Liz, Alex, and Maria taken sophomore year. I smiled slightly down at her face, so alive and real. They all had their arms wrapped around each other, laughing at some unknown joke now lost in the creases of time.

I ran my finger over her features and tasted the salty tears as they fell slowly down my cheek. I didn't let myself remember how much I missed her. I quickly wiped the tears away and focused on the words, reading them over for the millionth time.

ROSWELL- Late Wednesday night, Roswell police were called to the sight of an accident outside of Roswell. The accident took place at approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday heading South, away from Roswell, on Route 486. A VW Rabbit drifted into the left lane into oncoming traffic. A semi truck attempted to swerve around, but the car veered to the left and off the cliff, where it started on fire. The two passengers of the Rabbit, Alex Whitman and Liz Parker, died instantly. The driver of the truck was unharmed.

The article went on to talk about Alex and Liz, but I stopped, reading the first paragraph again. "Heading south, away from Roswell." I stopped and shook my head, looking up and staring into space. What were they doing heading south? It had always seemed odd to me that Liz was with Alex at all. She was scheduled to work at the Crashdown a half hour before the supposed time of the crash. Nothing added up. Where were Liz and Alex going that night, heading south? What were they thinking?

I placed the article back into the box and picked up the lid. Before I could place it back on the box, I stopped, taking out a picture that lay toward the top. I looked down at our smiling faces. Michael, Maria, Alex, Isabel, Sheriff Valenti, Amy DeLuca, Tess, Kyle, Liz, and me. We all looked so happy. It was prom and we were euphoric at the idea of the upcoming freedoms of summer and our futures, yet still clinging so diligently to the past and those around us.

I knew that it was foolish, just as Michael said. I knew that I should finally let go of the past and let Liz's memory lay to rest. However, I also knew deep down in my heart that I couldn't rest until my questions were answered. It was becoming more and more impossible to extinguish the small flame of hope that was growing inside my heart.