I'm dead tired but I tell myself to keep going. Another hour to go before closing time. I blink my eyes fast because they water up. Damn I'm tired.

I look up from my order and see only a handful or people left in the dinner. Liz is bringing up another order.

"Can I get a tossed alien salad and a sea space port." She smiled and I have to admit that when she smiled like that at me I wanna grin back....but I don't.

Just then I'm finished with the grilled mooncheese sandwich and nod at her. "Order up."

She takes the order and is back in less than 1 minute.

"So what're you doing after work tomorrow Michael?"

I shake my head. "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

It scares me, the smile she's giving me. She wants something and know I'm gonna say no. Damn it to hell. Liz had done plenty for us in the short time she'd learned the secret and I didn't want to say no...but i would. I trusted her but I didn't want to get too close. Isabel and Max had to do like me. We couldn't get to close to our new friends...they were more ties to ROSWELL, which we didn't need.

"What do you want Parker?"

"Before you say no, hear me out." She gave me a weary look.

I started on her order and stayed silent letting her know that I was listening.

"Ok, so I need you to bail me out tomorrow." She wasn't looking at me so I knew this was no good.

"From what?"

This next part she rushed, "Ok, so remember that you're my last hope. Maria being the butthead, brilliant friend that she is called a radio station and entered me in a contest. Max is working and Alex is playing a small concert where the party will take place. I can't very well ask Kyle to do it because things are too good with him right now and I don't want him getting the wrong idea. So really you're the last one who can help me."

"Parker catch your breath. What do you want me to do?" I'm annoyed because she knows how to get me to do things I wouldn't normally do.

"Can you show up a little after the date starts and bail me out? The last thing I want to do right now is go out on a date with a perfect stranger." She's begging me with her eyes and makes a face that makes me want to pinch the bridge of my nose.

"What do I have to do?" I'm not gonna hide my frustration. She knows I don't want to do this.

She smiles but doesn't push it. "I just need you to show up and steer me away. I don't care what you say or how you do it."

"Why even go then?" I don't understand her thinking sometimes.

"Ugh. I promised Maria I would go. And they've already interviewed me on my perfect man." She rolls her eyes to this.

"Fine." I don't want to talk about it any more.

"Oh another thing...don't tell Maria."

"Yes, because I go out of my way to speak with her."

"She's not bad you know. You can trust her. AND she's a really great person. You just have to get to know her."

"I'm sure as her best friend you're not biased." I go back to my order.

She laughs quietly. "Thank you , Michael. I really appreciate it. I owe you one."

But she didn't know just how much we owed HER.

"Were you gonna stay after work to relax and hang out or were you going straight home after work?"

I think about the word home and how she just described it to the place where I go to sleep. Hank and that trailer are the farthest place from what I would call home. and with that, i don't care how tired i am, the last thing i want to do is go back there.

"I think I'm gonna stick around tonight." I look at her to watch for any signs that she doesn't want me around. I haven't figured out why she hangs out with me.

All I get from her is a smile. Her eyes shine and I can see she wanted me to stay and hang out. "Awesome. So what do you want to discuss tonight?"

He shrugged. "I think it's your turn."

"Yay." She'd way too excited and I shake my head at her nerdiness. "Global warming?" she suggests.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Please. That's not even a big issue."

She snorts. "Shows how much you know. You're gonna see my side of it at the end of the night."

"That'll be the day.....everything BUT global warming. Please. That's insane. I'll never go for it."

"10 bucks says I convince you otherwise and get you to start recycling."

I laugh a little under my breath. "You're on."

I curse at myself on the way to the trailer park later that night. Damn parker. I owe her 10 bucks. AND now I'm gonna look like a totally imbecile in front of everyone when they find out that I'm going to start to reclycle.