Chapter Fourty-One

Sorry, it took me a long time to write a new chapter, and its short...sorry :(

This day Liz(zie) parker couldn't help but act like any other normal teenage girl in school, bored out of her mind by the last class. She sat on the middle roll, her chin supported by her left palm while the pen in her right hand carelessly and repeatedly hit against the corner of her desk. She sighed and glanced at the watch just above the teacher's head in the front wall. She shook er head, the second hand just moved backwars instead of forward. It wasn't her imagination. That would explain just how slow the day was going considering that this was Liz. The girl who normally enjoyed all of her classes. Especially English class, where else could you get such fabulous books of literature by geniuses like William Shakespeare, Sophicles, and George Orwell. Okay, 1984 was a scary book but such genius. And then there was Math, that was a class sure never to dissapoint. The answer was always the same. 1+12, 2+24, 4+48. Noone could convience her otherwise. 1+1 could never equal 3, 2+2 could never equal 5, and 4+4 could never equal 9. It was simple. And then there was history, whoever claims history is meaningless does not understand the value of the past. Without the lessons of the past, history was sure to repeat itself. It was important to know your past, so the future will look clear. But for Liz, nothing beat sciene. In science, everything was a question to be answered. Why is the sky blue? Why does it Rain? Why is Max's DNA not human looking? Wonderful question with sure answers. The sky is blue because..., It rained because...,Max's DNA is differen because... Normally school would be a breeze, an exciting endevour. So one might wonder what could more important to Liz than school...no, not MAX. Maria was being released fromt he hospital that day. After a week of constant test after test, and strange questions about Maria's recovery. The doctors had declared a miracle from God, of course that might be more Maria's fault for claiming that an angel had saved her. In either case, Liz wanted to go home and begin to get ready for a welcoming party at the crashdown. Maria had been only slighly comatose for three days and been in the hospital for a week and three days but for Liz that time had felt like eternity. It may be selffish but Liz was glad that she hadn't lost another friend. Since Liz was who she was, it surprised everyone by being the first to jump up her seat and run to the door as soon as the last bell rang. She just wanted to make a quick get away. From the school, prying eyes, and of course, you guesses it Mac. She had been avoiding him for an entire week. It was different course of action that inticed conflicting emotions. She had used this tactic once before and it hadn't felt quite as liberating as is had that week. It proved soemthing to her though, maybe she could survive without Max. Liz stopped at the corncer and quickly glanced aroung the wall. Crap, Max was standing at her locker. Dang, he was there again. What was it with this guy, he breaks up with her and he still has to be in her face all the time. What a flipflapping way to live one's life. Liz backed away, forget the locker, she turned and quickly dashed out of the building. An unwelcomed smile showed on her face when she spotted a red mustang at the coner. Everyday that car had been her saving grace, it was more the driver than the car. Like having a personal driver. The smile disappeared when she realized something. Eric was leaning lazing against the car, looking delicious in tight leather pants and black shirt that left his muscler shoulders a view that was delightful. Which girl could help but take notice, probably why he wasn't alone at that moment. Two blonds flung at either side, obviously flirting, and the callous way they did it disgusted Liz. Mary and Cherry, biggest sluts there ever was. Liz wasn't jealous, this wasn't Max, but as a concerned citezen it was her civic duty to save the poor guy.

Liz stalked to the three, ignored the two and focused her attention on Eric, "Hey, lets go"

Eric raised his eyebrows at the obviously hidden undertone of her voice and his smile widened a bit, his dimples popping out. Mary and Cherrry glanced at each other, they weren't at all swayed by the rude interuption. Shit, there were there first.

"Heya, Liz" Cherry greated Liz with fake cheerfullness, "Whats up?"

Liz looked right on throught Cherry and spoke, "You were waiting for me, weren't you? so lets go"

"Hello" Mary interupted with a little bit of attitude, "Cherry just greated you, shouldn't you be polite back"

"No, its okay" Cherry suprisingly sounded sincere, "Liz obviously knows Eric and she is obviously jealous"

"Excuse me" Liz drew out, the nerve. Liz was in noway filled with the green eyed monster. Just because she strode over there to the three, impolited ignored the other two didn't mean she was jealous. It could mean a whole lot of other this.

"You're excused" Cherry spat back, then placed a hand on her hip looking at Liz intently that for a moment Liz felt a little shaken up, "No offense but I never pegged you to be the cheating type"

Cherry turned to Eric and handed him a slip of paper, "Call us and rember we a kissing best friends"

Mary blew a kiss at Eric as she and Cherry skipped away. Leaving a very satisfied Eric who was feeling luckier than anyone and a frozen Liz. It had taken her a few seconds to register Cherry's words. People still thought she and Max were togehter. That was just perfect. Liz shook her head, snatched the paper from Eric's hand, and with fever ripped the number into peices.

"Hey" The smile on Eric's face vanished faster than the speed of light.

Liz almost laughed at Eric's face but worked on a straight face, "What?" She asked innocently then shrugged her shoulder, "I'm doing you a favor"

"Kissing friends" Eric drew out slowly staring at the small papers on the ground. It was as if that stament would explain everything.

Liz rolled her eyes as she got in the car, "sluts" she said as if that would explain everything.

"Kissing best friends" Eric said, adding the "best" as if it should be clearer than anything.

"Bimbos, Eric" Liz said with a sigh, "They give blonds a bad name"

Eric got into the care and turned to Liz, looking at her credulously, "Kissing best..."

"Oh for God's sake" Liz snapped furiously, "Do you want me to run after them and ask for that number again? Regardless of the fact that it would make you seem like a pig an therefore make all men into pigs? Do you want to be a pathetic human being who lives his life in a callous way, getting it on with sluts that have nothing in their head? Because if it is, I will get out of this car, run after them and get that number for you"

Eric blinked staring at Liz as she finished her rant, then smiled producing a pen and paper, "would you?"

Liz glared at Eric for a moment and shook her head, "No!"

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Tess sat on the couch, bitting her fingernails frivolously, nerviously.

She was a natural, she knew that, and that was her greatest gift.

She could make anyone believe anything that she wished them too, it wasn't hard when she worked on what they wanted to believe all along. Thats why she showed Max what happened to Alex so that he could make his own judgements. He acted just as she thought he would, she thought she could change his mind but he was adamant about what to do next. And considering that it was almost time up for her plan to be put in motion, she agreed with his decision. It was her own fault really, she always aloud her emotions to get the better of her.

Flashback

"I am not telling them anything" Tess declared confidently.

"And I am telling you, you don't have a choice" Max was just as confident that he would get his way.

"I don't have a choice" Tess almost smiled at that point, did he think that he could force her hand at all, it wasn't like he was that powerful anyway?

"No, you don't" Max shook his head and shrugged, "not anymore you don't, because you seem to have a struggle doing what is right"

"You think what I did was wrong?" Tess asked staring at his eyes which revealed nothing at all, "But I was trying to save his life"

"A lot of good that did" He said coldly, "and then, as a bonus lied about everything"

"Yes" Tess sighed and sat down, absolutely tired but was not about to back down from defending her decision to keep Alex's death a secret "and I know I shouldn't have lied to you, Max, but I thought I was doing the right thing, making a decision something you have never been comfortable of doing and beside I am being honest now aren't I? I am telling you the truth and I want you to trust me agian"

"Well tough" Max snapped, then shook his head, turning away from Tess, "this isn't about you, this is about the people that are still reiling over you betrayal, Michael, Kyle, Jim, Maria, Isabel, and Liz..."

"Good old Liz" Tess interupted, using a sacastic voice then gave a small laugh "It all comes back to Liz?"

Max looked back at Tess then away when she looked at him pointly, "Because she is a factor like it or not Liz was Alex's best friend and what is ironic about the entire situation is that she was right. An alien was responsible for Alex's death and everyone refused to believe her, I turned my back on her"

Tess stood up and walked towards him, "my intentions were good, doesn't that count?"
"Yeah, it does" Max turned around and smiled a little, "I guess, I just feel bad because I am partially responsible"

"Max" Tess took his hand and led him to the couch, "It wasn't your fault"

Max gave a nod, sitting down beside Tess, "so why do we do now?"

"Make up" Tess suggested with a smile, "then we are going to fight again and make up again, its a cycle"

"I like the making up part" Max admitted, leaning forward to kiss Tess, "Its the best part"

A moment later Tess backed away, smiling contently then nodded her head, "You are right, this isn't about me and they can't hate me more than they do now"

Max smile brightened even more then kissed Tess again.

End Flashback

Tess sat up straighter, this was going to get a little interesting. What a laugh, things were always interesting in Roswell. And for Tess, the coming night was going to be the perfect time.

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Michael snapped the phone shut after his conversion with Max. Apparantly, Max wanted to have a meeting at his apartment at eight sharp and was passing the order along. Max had changed from before, and Michael could no longer denie the obvious. Just the way he carried himself around, his confident strike, the sound of his voice, he still acted like he had the entire world on his shoulders and that was true, and his eyes that had always been wise seemed to have lightened up a bit. A slight improvement, that was Michael's opinion. But it always worried him a bit, Max had changed and Zan seemed to have somewhat taken over. Michael turned away from the hospital, where he was waiting for Maria to be released and looked up at the sky. It was sunny, such a peaceful day. Those past weeks, the days seemed to be in contrast with the events that took place. The sun flashed, and he blinked to a different sight.

Michael was standing near the cave in darkness but the moon shone mildly accompanied by the five silver stars. Those five stars that took the V shape. The air was thick, wind, the clouds dark, and lightening struck a few seconds. Who would want to reside at a place that dark and with that much noise. It was a dream but Michael would prefer to be anywhere else than where ever he was. Maybe prefering to dream about his future with Maria.

"You don't have a future with Maria"

Michael froze for a second then turned around to find a version of Rath sitting on top of the cave. Rath, the person he had been in the past life. The person that he himself wasn't so sure he wanted to be anymore. Rath jump from the top to the ground then walked to Michael, he was confident, steady, and very hypnotic. Michael couldn't help but keep his eyes on him, he didn't know if it was the dangerous way his past self seemed or for some other reason.

"What?" Rath questioned stopping in front of Michael with a small amused smile, "Cat got your tongue?"

"What do you want?" Michael asked in a rather rude tone really. He knew that he was having the same experience that Max had with Zan and already he didn't like the beginning. He had a feeling that this whole mood, the thunder, the lightining, and the windy sky was just a bad omen. How come he didn't get the flowery garden like Max had, was this the only thing he knew how to create? That was a depressing thought.

"From you" Rath stared at Michael for a mili-second then shook his head, "Nothing...yet"

Michael raised his eyebrows at the underlined meaning of Rath's words. He was scared, Michael had always wanted in his entire life to know the truth about who he was. About everything, he still wanted that no doubt, it was just he didn't like that he might have to face consequences for his curiousity. He wanted to know what happened before but not become responsible for that life.

"But you want something from me though" Rath studied Michael with a raised eyebrow and with a judgemental look, "answers that only I can give you"

"Your answers come with a price" Michael said, and the price was too high.

"do you know what I want?" Rath asked

"You want me dead" Michael said coldly, he had already experienced Rath's personality and he wasn't sure that he wanted that forever, "You want me to kill myself willingly"

"No" Rath's eyes softened a little and shook his head, "You were never meant to be"

"Apparantly, I was" Michael shot back, shit if he was not meant to be, he wouldn't be. But this was the work of fate, and fate wanted him to be in Roswell, to be with his friends, and to be with Maria.

"You will die whether you wish it or not" Rath said without hesitation, it was a cold statement but Rath's looked a sorry for it, "This life is passing memory, nothing more and nothing less because...you are meant for great thing"

"I don't want those things, though" Michael said, he was adamant about his situation, he refused to go the first time and he would not go this time.

"Damn it" The thunder increased ten fold, Rath was obviously angry as the wind picked up as well, "You will go, people have died for your life, people are dying because...you can't stop this"

"I am not leaving Maria" Michael shouted back, refusing to back down, "I love her"

"tough" Rath said then smiled, "She is you angel, your guiding light but you have to sacrifice what you value the most, thats always the price of honor"

"You sound as if this has happened before" Michael observed loudly.

Rath was silent for a moment, his smile slipping and sighed, "You won't died really, I will become part of you"

"Is that right?" Michael asked, then shook his head, "I will be a part of you, just a small part"

Rath took Michael's shoulders, squeezing them softly, "You can't stop what must be, you must accept this"

Never, Michael thought, he would never accept it.

"it is a beautiful day isn't it?"
Michael blinked and turned around to find Maria standing behind him, looking up at the sky as well. She was beautiful, standing in the sunlight that covered her, elluminating her into the angel that she represented in Michael's mind. She really was the one thing in this planet that had been a beacon of light for him to focus on as he struggled with his alien heritage. She was annoyed at best, but she was the only person to ever expect more from him, thought that he was worth it.

"Michael" Maria smiled, putting her arms around him, "Can we go to my surprise party now?"

Michael brought his arms around her waist, trying for a sense of nomalcy, "No offense, if you know we planted a party for you, its not a surprise"

"What about your mom?" Michael asked with raised eyebrows, "Is she okay with letting you out of her sight, yet?"

"She had to go to work" Maria said, "But she wanted me to tell you not to try anything or else"

Michael smiled at the underlined threat, "Well, actually I have to tell you something"

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Isabel was laid down on Michael's couch.

Waiting for the night to be over already. A week had passed since her dream about Alex. Thankfully, she hadn't had a nightmare like that since but the dreams had yet to stop. It was as if Alex was hunting her, urging her to do the unthinkable, urging her to provide justice in the misery that presented itself. She was tired of being miserable, of thinking such hateful thoughts about torturing and killing someone.

It was so unlike her, sure when Alex was alife, she enjoyed her reputation as the stone-cold bitch but she had never been psycho who wanted to rip someone's heart with her bare hands. Well, Tess should be congratulated for Isabel's transformation. So here she was, she had broken into Michael's apartment. It was her safe haven afterall. And the good thing was, she was there first. She could relax, and release her fastraution alone.

Isabel shook her head when the bell rang.

Why was it that the opposite always seemed to happen to her and not what she wanted. So much for her idea, Isabel thought as she stalked to the door.

"Hi" Kyle greated Isabel with hesitation considering that she didn't look happy to see him.

"What are you doing here?" Isabel asked with a sigh as Kyle walked in.

He shrugged his shoulders carelessly, "Max called"

Isabel raised her eyebrows, "Its not eight yet"

"I was bored" Kyle said walking to the fridge and taking a bottle of water, "So I came earlier, you know what he wants?"

"No" Isabel said, and she didn't care, she just wanted this night to be over and done with. She wanted everything to be over and done with. The bell rang again, and Isabel went to answer the door, this time it was Liz and Eric.

"Hi" Liz greated her as she and Eric come in, "I don't mean to sound rude but I still want to have the party so Max better get on with it quick"

"And you are telling me because?" Isabel left the question mark hanging while staring at Eric, regarding him with suspicion. He was afterall Tess's friend.

Eric wasn't put off by the anger coming from Isabel and smiled politely, "Hi, we haven't met yet but I can see that you are just as beautiful as I thought you would be"

Isabel raised her eye brows while Liz rolled her eyes in disgust. Liz wished to say something, to tell Eric that he couldn't flirt with anyone in a skirt but at that moment, Maria and Michael walked into the door. Liz rushed to hug her friend. It was a happy moment, with Isabel, Kyle and Eric both welcoming Maria back into the world. It was an exciting moment but all of them felt a awareness of change.

"Oh good" Max's voice come from the doorway, everyone turned to see Max there along with Tess who was in form, "you are all here, early"

"This is going to go fast right" Liz was the first to speak, the silence was killing her, "We still have a party to attend to"

Max and Tess exchanged glanced before Max answered, "We will see"

okay, I know its crappy but I need this to introduce the next chapter so read and review anyway