Chapter 5

Liz's POV

When I turned to go back to the Crash, I half expected to still see him walking but he was gone. I the walk back was short but all I could think about was him. He was at least a head taller than I was; with long dirty blonde hair that just begged to have fingers running through it. Then there's his body. He had on black jeans that were tight in all the right places, a tight black shirt, a leather jacket, and some black boots.

Just looking at him you knew he had a good body, but I felt it, and let me tell you those clothes don't do him justice. I haven't even touched on his eyes. Honey is the only way I can describe them. If you look long enough you can drown in that honey. In the seconds I felt like he saw into me and I did the same to him.

"Are you going to come in or do you want to eat outside tonight?" Sarah's voice broke my thoughts. I hadn't even realized I was back until then.

"No, I was just thinking and didn't realize where I was." I said was we started inside.

"Are you okay, because I know we've been though a lot lately? Please tell me you're not cracking now."

"What are you talking about?" I was so confused.

"Well, the way you've been acting. You have hardly said a word to anyone today, then when we got here, you went straight to bed for 3 hours. Liz you never take naps, ever. Last but not least, you just got up, left, then stood outside the Crash for 15 minutes, and didn't come in. All this is completely not like you."

"I know I've been acting funny but I'm just trying to get my head around everything, okay? Plus I ran into this -" I didn't get to finish because Grandpa told us dinner was ready and to go sit at the table. After everyone was served Grandma started asking questions.

"So Liz, how are Max and Maria? I know you were close. Nancy said you were devastated to leave them." I stopped mid bite.

"I broke up with Max, and Maria and I are not talking."

"Oh well, I guess it would be hard since you're in different states."

"Um, that's not why. I found out the they were together while we were dating." Everyone was quiet. Grandma looked very embarrassed.

"I'll just shut up now."

"No, it's okay you didn't know." We ate in silence for a while.

"Well, then this can be a new beginning, a fresh start for you. Tomorrow I"ll introduce you to some of our staff. A couple of them go to your school, Michael and Serena. They're also friends with Faith Whitman's son Alex; so he's in here a lot. Faith is our manager."

"Mom said they went to school together." Sarah said.

"Yeah I never understood it. When they were younger, they were inseparable. Then in 6th grade, they stopped talking altogether and Nancy started talking to Kim Williams. Faith started to work for us when she was 17 and hasn't left. Sometimes I don't know what we'd do without her." Mom had never told us that. The was Mom acted Faith was just someone she passed in school. Of course Mom hardly ever said anything about their past, unless it was to complain about it.

"Oh, all Mom told us was that they went to school together. She didn't even mention Kim."

"Kim married Richard Rawlings about a year after your Mom left. He runs and owns the local newspaper for Roswell. Serena is one of their daughters. They also have Isabel, she should be in your grade as well."

"Oh they're twins?" I asked

"No Serena is adopted." We made small talk after that. After dinner, I went back into my room and looked around. It was smaller then my old room but I liked it. It even had a balcony with a ladder. It was perfect for writing under the stars. I had a full size bed, desk, mirror, and a dresser. Grandma said we were going shopping sometime in the next week so we could personalize our rooms. She also told me this one used to be Moms.

I started to unpack my clothes. I had tons of designers: Calvin, Vera, Prada, you name it I have it. As I started to them up, I realized something. Not once since I ran into my Mystery Man had I thought about Max. That is until Grandma talked about him. I fell onto my bed. I had wanted Max since I knew what cute was. Sure, we were friends, and hung out in the same circle, but we really didn't know each other. Until the rumor started and he was there for me.

I laughed at that, he wasn't there for anyone but himself. I loved him though and I think that's what hurts most. I truly loved him. Now I'm not saying that I saw marriage and babies. Hey, we're 17 but I did see some kind of future. He always told me that I was special and we were soul mates. Maria was really the one that started the whole soul mate thing. She said that she saw it coming, the glances, and looks. That we were perfect for each other.

We were so perfect for each other that he had to sleep around. When we first started dating, I told him that I was saving myself for the one. The one I'm meant to be with and until then I wanted to wait. He said then he'd just have to prove that he was the one. You'd think I'd wise up and realize that even after a year I still didn't feel that comfortable enough to make love and that in it's self was proof he wasn't the one. You want to know the sad thing. I had convinced myself that I'd sleep with him the night of my party. I knew I still wasn't completely ready but had decided that I just never would be.

As I was going over all this, I realized I'd been living for everyone else. I was perfect for Dad and did anything for him, I changed to suit Max's needs and wants, and let Maria run right over me. Right then I decided that maybe Grandma was right, this could be a fresh start. I could be myself and now I just needed to figure out who I was. The next morning I got up at 7 out of habit.

After taking a shower and getting dressed in some jeans and a light pink top; I went out to find my grandparents, only to find a note saying to meet them down stairs in the Crash. I walked down the back stairs and into the break area. There was a big Mexican man at the grill and a girl about my age with long brown hair changing. She still had on her black leather pants but instead of a shirt, she had on a waitress' uniform. It was a short dress with alien heads as pockets. She must have heard me because she looked up.

"Hey, you must be Liz, I'm Serena Rawling. I'd say more but I'm going to be late as it is and I don't want Claudia to get in trouble out there. How about on my break we can get to know each other?" She seemed nice so I agreed. I left so she could finish and went out into the restaurant. Grandma was behind the counter pouring some coffee for a couple and Grandpa was giving a guy about 17 his breakfast. I walked over to Grandma.

"Well, good morning honeybear. I figured you'd sleep in."

"My inner clock goes off at 7. Do you need any help?"

"No, Serena should be out in a second and Michael will be here in about an hour. Now what do you want for breakfast and I'll have Jose fix it?" I ordered and had to laugh at the menu. They had gone all out with the alien theme. Men In Blackberry pie had to be my favorite. Plus the walls and decor were great. As I looked around, I noticed they're busier than I thought. There are about 15 customers right now. Serena brought over my food.

"Is it always this busy on Sunday mornings?"

"Yeah, this is the pre-church group. We'll slow down around nine then get busy at eleven or twelve. That's when Faith comes in." Someone needed her so she left. I was starting to like her. She seemed like someone who told it straight, like she would tell you if that dress made you look fat, or stunning, and that was just what I needed right now. I finished my food and chatted with Grandma. After about half an hour, it slowed down long enough for Serena to sit and get some food.

"So, how do you like it so far? Claudia told me you're from California." I was surprised she didn't know who I was.

"Yeah, it's different but I haven't really seen the town. We got in after four yesterday and I as so tired that I slept until seven. I did take a walk last night and from what little I saw this town defiantly has potential." I grinned at the last part, thinking of my mystery guy.

"Okay, what guy did you run into?" She also had a grin.

"What? How do you know it's a guy?"

"Well, this town doesn't really have potential for anything. So you had to run into someone and you don't look like the girl type." She said shrugging her shoulders. I was right, she doesn't bullshit.

"Fine, I did meet someone but I didn't even get his name."

"Come on give me more than that. By the way you're blushing he was hot, describe him, and I might be able to tell you who he is." Just as she finished, a large family came in and she had to go.

"We will finish this later." I nodded and she left. I decided to go up and unpack more. I started into the back and almost ran into someone. Then I heard that voice and my heart went nuts.

"This is an employees only area or can't you read?" I looked up at his face and the only emotion I saw was annoyance.

"Really, is that what that sign said? Well, thank you because I thought this was the VIP area. You know were you get special service?" I said breathlessly as I leaned on the doorjamb. He just looked at me. "Oh well, since I'm going to be living and working here. I get to come back here." I started to walk off.

"Wait, you're going to be working here?"

"God, and you say I need to pay attention more. Yes, I am going to be working here after school." I said slowly so he could understand. "Not that it's any of you're business." Grandma came in and saw us talking.

"Oh good, you've met each other. Michael, Jose needs you, and Liz will you go check on Sarah?" We both looked at each other. Michael looked like he was in shock.

"Th-this is Liz?" He pointed at me and looked like he wanted to run.

"Yes, did you not know that? Oh, well let me introduce you two. Michael Guerin this is Elizabeth my granddaughter. Lizzy this is Michael. He's our night cook but on weekends, he comes in and works early. I'd leave you two to get to know each other but we're swamped so Michael, I need you to help Jose." With that she went back out into the diner. Michael banged his head on his locker and kept muttering stupid, stupid, stupid. Then I heard-

"I can't believe I talked to her like that, I might as well just quit."

"Hey wait a minute; why do you need to quit?" From his reaction, he had forgotten I was still there. He turned to face me and looked scared for all of two seconds then that mask that I noticed earlier came back.

"Like you're not going to run and tell them what I said. I know your type."

"First off, you don't know me. Hell, we haven't even had a conversation unless you count the two times we've met, where all you did was chew me out. If you did know me, you'd know I don't rat out anyone, no matter what a jerk they are. Seeing as we're going to have to work together do you think you could try and take that bus out of your ass before the shifts, because I really don't want to work with a man who can bitch better than I can." With that, I walked up the stairs. I turned around at the top and noticed that he was still standing in the same spot. Score one for Parker.