Between the Lines chapter 2

Disclaimer: Not mine. Roswell belongs to Katims and Metz. DA belongs to Fox and Cameron and Eglee.

Chapter 2


Max Evans gave a nervous twitch of his shoulders, his 'deep, soulful eyes' to quote Liz, were anxiously scanning the passing scenery. It was the same streets and houses and businesses he passed by on any given day, but tonight, everything seemed a blur and matched the growing knot of apprehension –or anticipation-in his gut as he and his family drew near the Parker residence.

Sitting beside him in their parents' vehicle, his sister Isabel gave a disdainful snort and rolled her eyes at her brother's obvious pathetic behavior. Her long, straight flowing blond hair was tossed casually over one shoulder left bare from her sleeveless tee, partially pulled up and showing the darker roots beneath.

She was frankly gorgeous, with dark brows perfectly arched and shaped, fastidiously maintained, and smooth skin that had acquired the wonderful golden hue from hours in the Roswell sun and tanning bed. Her slacks were a light bone colored khaki, the latest in 'safari wear', a light cargo-ish pant that was making a comeback in the fashion world. Everything about her screamed class and well-to-do, the finest that their parents could afford for their children.

"Are we there yet, Mom?"

To anyone else, Isabel's pointed question would have been delivered in a sarcastic, biting, and condescending way, but the normal tone was lost when directed to her beloved and much adored mother. The sarcasm was there in mild doses, but Mrs. Diane Evans had caught the look sister gave brother, and had suspected there might be something more to the question than Isabel said aloud.

"You know we almost are," Mrs. Evans chided gently, catching her daughter's gaze in the mirror, and smiling warmly. Isabel's usually stoic heart and perimeter defenses were practically non-existent where her mother was concerned, and smiled back, for once free of the 'cool girl' image she bore day in and day out.

"Yep, just another couple blocks," Mr. Evans agreed, shooting a glance at his son, sitting behind his mother, and sharing a look with his wife.

Both parents knew from bits and pieces of conversations and observations that Max was probably worried about a certain teenaged, brunette Parker with whom he'd been in love with since they first met in the school year of 2009. It amused them to watch the stirrings of young love, and they were not above teasing him, lovingly of course.

"I mean it's not like there is anyone important at the Parkers," Mrs. Evans commented slyly, and Isabel fought a snicker that wanted to come out.

The top of Max's ears flushed in tandem with that rising on his neck, and he averted his gaze so he wouldn't catch any of his family's looks.

Great, he groaned inwardly. This is going to be a long night.

All too soon they pulled out onto the street in front of the Crashdown Café, and the four Evans' piled on out. It took Max a second or two longer than the others, trying desperately to get his thoughts and emotions under control, but Liz Parker and her damningly beautiful chocolate orbs had the annoying habit of robbing him of whatever calm and control he ever possessed. It had been that way ever since he had first heard her laugh all those years ago, a day he remembered and would for the rest of his life.


The little dark haired boy dressed in a plaid flannel button up shirt and tan cargo britches, now called Max, clutched at the hand of the one constant he had in his short existence. That of his sister Isabel, who was as fair of hair as he was dark, and he couldn't recall exactly much of anything before the Evans, now 'mom' and 'dad', had picked them up naked on a deserted stretch of forsaken desert road at night.

But what he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that Isabel was his sister, how he didn't know, he just knew that she was his, as he was hers, and that her presence and touch was vital and calming to his continued peace of mind.

Mom and Dad had adopted them three years prior, and that time had been a real blessing to the two amnesiac orphans, who were desperate for a safe place to be together. The Evans' had given them that. They now had a home, a life, a school, friends, and names.

Today was the first day of school after summer vacation, and though he had made some friends, he preferred his sister's company and reassurance to anything. The bus stopped in the school bus loading/ unloading zone and the two siblings made their way into the aisle and off the bus.

He had been following behind Isabel and one of her friends, and they had been laughing and talking, gesturing wildly to one another of their summer adventures. His neck had suddenly seemed to crawl as every hair on his body stood at attention, and his head was searching for its source even before he registered what had made him take notice.

His eyes seemed to zero in on autopilot and beheld one of the most startling creatures he'd ever encountered. Her dark hair was cut about chin length, as if she'd only recently grown it out, and her eyes. Those darkened iris' that seemed to have flecks of blue-gray, green or even gold in their depths if you looked long or deep enough utterly captured him. Then her small mouth turned upwards and the sound that poured out of her mouth was the very thing that had drawn him to her in the first place.

It was a startled laugh, a genuine life, as if she'd truly found whatever it was funny, but until that moment never had had the opportunity to express it. In fact, the sound even felt surprised that she could laugh at all.

He must have stared at her for what was an eternity to him, and if it could be re-enacted, Max was sure that that was when his heart had been ripped still beating out of his chest and given to the little brunette who seemed to be only recently discovering how to laugh.

She held a power, a strength, and seemed to call to him, resonating with something buried deep inside that he didn't understand at that moment. It was the day he fell in love.


"Max!"

Abruptly brought down to present day Earth, Max shook his head to clear it of memories, and gave his scowling sister a weak grin and followed his parents, who were sending amused looks his way, wishing that a UFO would crash right into him at that moment and bring him out of his misery.

Really.

Max swallowed as he walked a familiar path, eyes automatically roving to the metal stairway on the side of the café establishment that led to the second story apartment where the Parkers lived. From this side of the building he couldn't see Liz's window, not in sight as her bedroom was toward the back.

The nervousness and anxiety combined with the apprehension and excitement to send his stomach doing all sorts of acrobatic feats that would have made any contortionist or circus performer turn green and roaring mad with envy. He was sure if they had trophies for these sort of things, he would have received the largest and most prestigious for the efforts his stomach was performing, as well as breaking and setting some new records to boot.

"Relax, Max," Isabel hissed in his ear, standing by his side.

"Easy for you to say," he muttered back, ignoring her pointed look.

The door opened at his father's knock, and Max's mouth suddenly went as dry as the surrounding Roswellian desert.