"My salmon is delicious. How's your filet?" Doug, my mistery date brings me out of my annoyance with Michael.
I paste a fake smile on my face and answer, "Oh, it's um...really tender." He's actually kinda cute and he seems nice enough. But I still don't want to be here, having a date while all of Roswell listens, is not my idea of fun.
"Would you mind passing the salt?"
"Sure." He passes it to me and everything I do is being repeated by the annoying DJ behind us. *Michael where are you?* He said he had something to do with Isabel about an hour ago. I hope he's finished.
"Thank you. Um...you know, maybe we shouldn't talk."
Doug looks at the DJ and smiles at me. He has a nice smile and I kinda feel bad that I'm going to ditch him in a few minutes. "I understand. I'm sorry. I just wanted to have a normal date."
*CRAP* "You did?"
I can hear the DJ whispering into his mike. I'm going to have Michael do something to him. I bite on my tongue and listen to Doug's response on the girls in the archeology department being too serious. And somewhere in that one sentence I let myself relax and tell him I wanted to have a normal date myself.
As I arrive to The Crashdown with Doug, curse Michael in my head again for not arriving at the restaurant. Doug wants to talk so I'll give him that. And I know now that he's a genuinely nice guy but I can't allow this date to lead to any others. My life is not easy at this point in time.
I was enjoying myself when Doug and I saw the DJ and camera crew running along the street. I didn't think I just grabbed his sleeve and ran towards the back. I knew we couldn't hide in the back so I continued running upstairs to my room. Once he was in behind me, I closed my bedroom door.
"Um, Liz." Doug dropped my hand and pointed to the opposite side of my room. I turned and was shocked to find Michael at my window.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?!" He was supposed to be getting me out of this mess.
But there was a calm that took over me when I looked into Michael's eyes. He wasn't in a good mood. He looked pissed.
"What are you?" Was all he spoke, never looking at Doug.
I was confused. This was MY room.
"Michael, where have you been?" I was angry but I didn't let it show because I new Michael could lose it and he always had a reason for showing up late. Everyone took it as he didn't care but he did.
"I told you I had something to do with Isabel. I lost track of time. Doesn't matter though. It looks like you're having fun." His eyes finally wondered to Doug.
"And how could you know?" My voice sounded a little on the defense side. "You haven't been around tonight."
He shook his head. "Doesn't mean I don't know where this is going. Made it to her room on the first night. Wow, I'm impressed. Usually little Lizzy Parker likes to act the virginal part. She's either really into you or really horny. Mad that you couldn't get in Max's pants, Liz?"
My blood boiled. How dare he talk to me like that?
Doug must have been confused with the whole situation and finally spoke. "I'm sorry....who are you?"
I felt tears of anger mixed with pain in my eyes. Michael did this on purpose to push people away, to defend himself but that was no excuse. "How dare you even insinuate that I'm a common slut. You more than anyone should know that. I don't know what has your panties in a knot but I don't appreciate you taking your anger out on me Michael.'
Micheal's eyes flickered but in a blink of an eye it was gone and I knew he wasn't going to let up. "Doug, this is my friend Michael. He tends to be an asshole when he's in a bad mood."
I stared at Michael daring him to say something else to me. When I saw him lean against my wall, I sat on the bed.
"Doug." Michael acknowledged him but he didn't hide the dislike for Doug in the way he spoke his name or looked at him.
"Um..well, Michael...Liz and I are in the middle of a date..." Doug seemed uncomfortable but didn't seem scared of Michael.
"We were hiding form all the cameras and that DJ." I threw my explanation at Michael.
"I told you, I lost track of time. I was with Izzy, we were...well it was important. I couldn't find you in the restaurant. I came here to see if you'd gotten away. I didn't expect you to walk in with a guy. You caught me off guard." This was Michael's way of apologizing.
"I don't care Michael. That was uncalled for. I can't--"
"I know, Liz." He pinched the bridge of his nose when he saw all I wanted was to hear the words. "I'm not known to say them."
I nod. "I know."
"Are you guys like dating?" Doug asked but we weren't paying attention.
"I'm waiting."
"God, you're annoying."
"I'm annoying?!" I almost laughed.
"I'm sorry. You happy?"
I smiled. I enjoyed making Michael feel uncomfortable. "Yes."
"Listen, neither of you know me but I don't enjoy watching my date flirt or whatever it is you guys are doing, with someone else." Doug was now over the situation. "You her boyfriend or something?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Michael and I turned to each other. I almost laughed at Michael's expression.
"Oh, come on honey. I know I was wrong for not calling you but going out with this guy isn't going to get me jealous." Michael turned to Doug and gave him a once over.
I bit down my laugh. *Poor Doug.* "Michael, don't be mean. Doug's been nice to me tonight." I turn to Doug. I meant what I had just said. "I'm sorry, Doug. My best friend Maria doesn't like Michael and when she found out I was angry at him she put my name in that contest."
That's when we all heard something coming from the hall and I could hear the DJ's voice.
I was flying down out the window and down the fire escape with Michael leading the way before the DJ even made it inside my room.
"You are such an ass. He really was nice to me all night."
"He looked like he wanted to get in your pants."
He watches me while I shake my head and roll my eyes at him.
"Are we going to watch Alex and Maria or are we going to stand here until you're done being angry at me?" He's handing me his helmet as he gets on his bike.
I take the helmet as I growl at him. "We'll talk about it later."
He gives me one nod and we're off.
Don't ask me how but Kyle and Max are hanging out at the concert, having a good time. Alex and Maria do great and Michael and I dance a couple of times before I force him to tell me what he and Isabel were doing before he came to find me. When he tells me, I ask him to take me to the library. At first he didn't want to take me but I convinced him otherwise.
I stood on the spot he told me he'd lit up the symbol. I looked at the symbol and translation he'd written down on paper. I know how much this meant to Michael and I could see the pain in his eyes now. The pain and fear he had that he didn't belong to anyone or any place. My heart hurt for him.
"If there's someone out there, Michael they'll come." I feared if anyone DID come. This alien Michael was searching for scared me. I felt he was a killer but if Michael had to meet him then it'd be something I'd have to face with him.
"He won't come. Nobody ever comes for me."
"Shut up, Michael. I'll come. I'll be here." I took his hand in mine. I had to make him see that I wasn't lying.
He hid his emotions well. "Yea? Well that makes two of you. Isabel said the same thing to me."
I give him a small smile. "So, you see, someone would come. We love you Michael."
He looked down at me and after some time, he decided to let it go.
As we left, I could feel someone watching us. I scanned the grounds and could see no one. I walked faster to Michael's bike and put the thought of someone watching in the back of my mind.