Love Lost…Love Found
By StormyBear29

E-Mail: StormyBear29@cox.net
Couple: Michael and Liz
Rating: NC-17…eventually
Summary: For years Michael and his band of street punks have been wreaking havoc on one Liz Parker…due in part to her once secret romance with one of their own. When Max is killed…try as she might to move past the pain of losing her love…Liz finds that the leader of this gang refuses to allow this…and thus begins the nightmare of her life that has become the norm. Just when she thinks that she will never find love or happiness again…she finds it in the most unexpected of places.
Dedication: This is my first attempt at a Polar fic…and I know from the beginning chapters that it doesn’t seem like it…but bare with me…it gets better. :P I am dedicating this fic to my very good friend…SpinkyMinky. She has been after me to write a Polar fic for months now. She has already told me what she would like to see in this fic. So…Spinky this one is for you. Hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything pertaining to Roswell or related companies. 

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Chapter One

“Do you think that this will really work” Liz Parker asks her highly pissed off father as he fumbles with the security camera that he has been trying to install for the last two hours. “I mean…we’ve tried everything else and nothing has worked”

“Don’t you worry Lizzie…if it is the last thing that I do I am going to catch these little bast…I mean…punks in the act and send them exactly where it is they belong. Plus…it gives me some sense for security that you will be safe once I leave for the restaurateurs convention next week” The truth was that Liz didn’t think that this latest gadget of her fathers was going to put an end to the nightmare that had become her life for the last few years.

Almost from the first day that she had moved to Roswell she had been terrorized night and day by a local street gang known as “The Antarians” From the very beginning they…or more so he had pegged her as a target and her life had been a living hell ever since.

Her father and she had moved to Roswell after her mother had been killed in an automobile accident. Before her death her parents had owned a trendy little bistro in Los Angeles…where Liz worked full time as a waitress. Liz loved living in California and when she wasn’t working or going to school…she could be found worshipping the sun on California’s sandy beaches. She was a beach bunny to the fullest extent and was extremely popular with the surfer dudes. She had a perfect life with a perfect family and perfect friends…and in an instant the perfectness that was her life vanished forever.

Several days after the funeral of her beloved mother…Liz received the alarming news that she and her father were leaving California. Moving from the home and familiarity of all she had ever known to move to some small hick town in Roswell New Mexico. When she asked him why Roswell…he simply stated that it was a place where nothing bad could ever happen. Liz never quite knew what that meant…all she knew was that he life was about to take a change in direction. A direction that was going to lead her to temporary happiness and then lead her into complete and utter devastation.

At first she had blamed herself for the torture…she was the one that had started a secret relationship with one of “The Antarians” founding members…even after Maria…her best friend had warned her that she was making the biggest mistake of her life. If she would have known how true those words of warning were to become she would have taken Maria’s advice in a heartbeat. However…fate it had other ideas. Looking back on all that had transpired in the last few years…Liz finds that she no longer only blames her self for what has been happening to her and the circumstances that have lead to her hellish life. She now blames only one other person…and that person was the leader of “The Antarians”…that person was the one that brought unbearable fear and pain to her heart…that person had taken the love she felt for another trying to turn it into something cold and meaningless…that person was the one and only…Michael Guerin.

From the first day that she had met Michael she knew that he was trouble and someone to stay away from and she held every intention of staying away from him and his gang of merry thugs…that was until she had met Max. The moment that she laid eyes on Max Evans…she knew that she was in love with him. He was a Greek god in appearance…from his finely chiseled face and body to his penetrating hazel flecked eyes…eyes that bore into her very soul. She had worshipped him from afar for months before he even noticed her…and once he did…she knew that her life would never be the same again.

Max was a bad boy to the core and Liz knew that it was one of the main reason that she was attracted to him…but there was a softer side…a passionate side that others weren’t privy to. It was a side that only she had been lucky enough to witness as their secret relationship had begun to blossom. Liz knew that the relationship was doomed from the start as her and Max were different as night and day. He was a punk…as her father liked to call him…from the other side of the tracks…and she was a upper middle class spoiled rotten daddy’s girl…as Michael used to call her. None of that mattered at the time…all that mattered was that she had felt that she had met the man of her dreams. Met the one that all women waited on bated breath to breeze into their lives and love them completely without condition. She never cared what others thought of her love of Max…she knew that he was the one that she was going to spend the rest of her life with. However…She just had no idea how wrong she was…for it was made crystal clear on what had begun as any normal school day.

Worry filled her as she glanced at her watch for what felt like the millionth time as she had waited for Max to meet her in the one place that they had met daily before the start of morning classes. No one was still the wiser that these two were star-crossed lovers were together…meeting in secret whenever they could to spend precious few minutes together. Liz loved this time spent locked inside the erasure room with Max. Her and Max would arrive separately to school…only to end up coming together in the dust and darkness. Neither caring about anything else but the way that they felt as they clung desperately to each other…only to be brutally forced apart at the ringing of the schools bell. That day seemed to be the exception as the bell blared in her ear signalling the start of a new day of learning…and with still no Max in sight.

Reluctantly she attempted to leave the room that held so many cherished memories of make out sessions and words of love expressed by Max. Opening the door…she had come face to face with a member of The Antarians…but she found that it wasn’t the one that she was expecting. “Michael” she screamed startled as she gazed into the blazing dark eyes. “I…I was just…”

“Just waiting for Max,” he growled as he pushed a terrified Liz unwillingly back into the shadows of the erasure room…slamming the door behind him. “Don’t think that I don’t know about your secret rendezvous with Max…because I know it all. Max and I are close…just like brothers and he tells me everything”

Terrified…but unwilling to allow Michael to intimidate her…Liz found her voice and began to speak. “Michael…we…we just didn’t know how everyone would react to seeing the two of us together” she said…regretting her words instantly as a look of pure unadulterated hate crossed over his face.

“Right…right…I see. So let me get this straight…you were worried about how people would react to seeing the two of you as a couple. Or…maybe it is more like you were more afraid of what people would be thinking about YOU…if they saw you together with someone from the slums of this great city of Roswell. Do I have that right Miss Parker…” he mocked Liz…shoving his face in front of her own for emphasis…so close that she felt the warmth of his breath heavy upon her already heated face. “DO I”

“No…I…I…”

“NO” he continued to mock her…placing his hands forcefully upon her shoulders knocking her roughly against the wall. “I think that I am correct. I also think that I am correct in the notion that you also are the reason that Max was arrested last night…and now rots in juvenile detention for the next eight months”

“What…No…I…detention.” Liz stammered…tears rolling from her eyes at the full extent of Michael’s words.

“Save it bitch…I don’t give a @#%$ what you have to say. Just know this…payback is a bitch…and you are so that bitch”

“Michael…No…wait” Liz cried after the retreating figure of Michael…grabbing his arm in an attempt to stop him. “Please…tell me…is he ok.”

“Don’t you ever @#%$ touch me. What the @#%$ do you care if he is ok or not…since you’re the @#%$ reason that he is there in the first place” Michael hissed as once again he slammed a distressed Liz into the flat dusty surface of the wall. “I don’t know what you game is bitch…but I will find out and you will @#%$ suffer…guaranteed” With another shove of her body into the hard wall…Michael left Liz alone with her thoughts as her tears turned into heart wrenching sob of pain.

It wasn’t until later that afternoon that she had found out the whole story behind Max’s incarceration. She could only listen half-heartedly as her best friend Maria gushed excitedly about the newest bit of news to spread through the small town of Roswell. Max had been arrested for attempted robbery of the local jewelry store. This had been his third offense in the last year and the judge…fed up with the terror that “The Antarians” placated on the small town…was determined to prosecute Max to the fullest degree of the law. Due to the fact that this was his third offense and he was just barely seventeen…he had been transferred to the juvenile detention center in Dexter to serve his time until his eightieth birthday. Liz was racked with grief as she knew why it was that Max had attempted to rob that store and what it was exactly that he was trying to steal.

It was just a few nights earlier that the two lovers had been walking the deserted streets of Roswell in the early morning hours of the day. It was a time where they could come out of the hiding of the erasure room and be free to walk out in the open…so to speak. It was that very night as they were browsing the windows of the local shops that Liz had pointed out to Max her hearts desire…a diamond encrusted heart shaped ring. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen and she had gushed about it for hours afterwards…never once fathoming that he would attempt to steal it to ensure her happiness.

TBC


Chapter Two

Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and she had still not heard any word from or about Max. Liz knew whom it was that she had to go to for information…and that thought alone terrified her beyond belief. On several occasions she had attempted to speak to Michael to get any news of the well being of her love…and yet with each attempt she would let her fear engulf her and she would lose her nerve and slink back into the void that had become her life without Max.

Evenings seemed to be that worst…as it was then that she and Max had spent most of their time together. Now…they were spent crying her self to sleep each night as thoughts of Max invaded her heart and soul. Days were spent in a zombie like state…floating from class to class with no real direction as to what she was doing or where she was going. Unable to eat…she looked thin and almost emancipated. She no longer cared about her appearance…and eventually the few friends that she had made her short time in Roswell diminished down to one…Maria.

Maria had been the only one to know of the love affair between Max and Liz…and had sworn a secret vow that she would take it to the grave. She knew that Liz loved Max…but she still tried like hell to make Liz see that the relationship was doomed and she should move on. However…Maria knew that Liz’s world was falling apart without Max. She also knew of her great fear of the only man that could bring some bit of happiness back into her dismal life. So she had made the decision to speak to him on Liz’s behalf. Maria was just as petrified of Michael as Liz was…but she knew that any shred of news about Max would ease some of her friend’s pain and suffering.

For twenty horrendous minutes Maria had been taunted…teased and threatened…with still no news of Max Evans. Tremors of fear swathed her as tears coursed down her face while she replayed the events of her encounter with Michael to Liz. Pissed off and fed up with Michael and his superior ways…Liz set out to find the man that had shaken up her friend so badly that it had required two large doses of her mothers tranquilizers to ease her wrangled nerves. It didn’t take a genius to find him…as he was a creature of habit and each night he and his gang could be found verbally abusing the patrons of the town’s only pool hall.

True to form “The Antarians” were right where Liz expected to find them…but something was different…something was wrong. She felt it weighing heavily in the air as she made her way into the smoky room of the pool hall. Fear encased her as she made her way to the man that she knew could ease some of the tightness that had surrounded her heart since Max had been arrested. Taking several deep breaths…she began the trek to the table surrounded with her greatest enemies. She could feel her heart hammering wildly in her chest and she knew that if she didn’t get it over with soon…in a matter of minutes it was going to explode from her heaving chest. Minutes seemed to hang in the air for an eternity as she attempted to work her quivering legs as step by agonizing step she continued her way to where they sat. Her rapidly beating heart quickly slowed to a frozen mass as she approached the table and found “The Antarians” each in a world of their own. Something was wrong…she knew that this wasn’t right. They should have been torturing and taunting the patrons of the hall…and yet they continued to sit oblivious to all that surrounded them…including her. She knew before they uttered a word that something had in fact gone horribly wrong…and it had to do with her Max.

Taking a shuttering breath she laid her hand upon the mans shoulder that had been causing her at the time the greatest grief of her life. Little did she know that from that night on…what she thought was torture was about to get worse…so much worse.

“Michael” she croaked, jumping back startled as he flinched from her touch as if it had burned him…and yet he continued to stare at her blindly “Max…I need to know how Max is” she asked frantically as Michael continued to gaze blindly upon her pleading eyes. She was so wrapped up in the intense sadness and pain that shown from them that she never heard the animalistic scream that echoed throughout the tiny hall…only felt the floor beneath her as something or someone slammed brutally into her unsuspecting body.

“YOU @#%$ BITCH…I WILL @#%$ KILL YOU” she heard a female voice scream crazed as blow after blow was administered upon her. Liz had no clue as to who or what was attacking her as she fought like hell to protect herself from the blows that they were inflicting as they continually pummelled her face and head into the hard linoleum floor. “HE’S DEAD…YOU KILLED HIM…YOU @#%$ KILLED HIM” Her would at that point began to spin wildly around her…but it wasn’t from the beating that she was receiving from the still unknown assailant…but from the words that ricocheted through her ears. He was dead…she didn’t have to ask to know who he was…for she had already known. She had known from the moment that she had entered their hangout and seen the looks on their frozen faces. He was dead…her love…her man…her Max was dead.

Unwilling to defend her self any longer…she welcomed the bashing that she had been receiving. Her world had ended the moment that those treacherous words had been uttered. She didn’t want to live in a world without Max…didn’t want to live in a world without his love. Death at that time was the only option to her…and she welcomed it with open arms. What happened next was still a blur to her. She no longer had felt the welcoming jolts of pain that plagued her emotionally racked body…only heard muffled screams of anger and pain around her. She didn’t know where it was coming from or who it was coming from and she didn’t’ care…all she wanted was the blackness to over take her and relieve her of the pain that had inhabited her…physically as well as emotionally since those devastating words were uttered.

She didn’t know how it was that she had ended up in her bed the next morning…and truth be told she didn’t care. She was to busy trying to convince herself that everything was fine as her first thoughts were that of the events from the previous night. It had to be some sort of surreal dream…and yet deep within her heart she knew that it was no dream…that in fact the first love of her life was in deed dead.



Chapter Three
Present Day


“Honey…are you sure that you don’t want to come with me. I can call your teachers and explain to them why you won’t be in school for the next week” Jeff Parkers pleads with his daughter as she helps him pack for his impending trip.

“I will be fine daddy” Liz answers sounding surer then she actually feels. “I have my mid-terms coming up and I just can’t afford to miss any classes right now. The new security camera is up and running and the new alarm will be installed tomorrow morning. Don’t worry I will be fine. I am staying with Maria tonight and then once the new system is installed I will be completely safe”

“Lizzie…I just don’t like the idea of leaving you here alone…even with the new security equipment”

“Daddy…you’re going to miss your flight if you don’t leave now. I love you daddy and I will be safe. I will call you ever night and Maria and her mother are just a phone call away if I need them” Liz says with a smile as she places a suit case in her fathers hands…pushing him out the door of his bedroom.

“Liz…I…” Jeff stammers as he pulls his only daughter into his embrace. “I want you to make sure that you lock the door behind me…and have Maria’s mother pick you tonight. I don’t want you walking alone at night…and you call me every night…without fail. I logged the sheriff’s station phone number into all the phones…just press memory one and it will ring directly to them. Don’t forget…”

“Go…Now” Liz laughs as she continues to push her father out of the Crash down and towards his car. I’ll be fine. Now…you drive safe to the airport and call me once you get there. Be careful once you get to Vegas…remember there are a lot of swindlers there and we all know what a softy you can be”

“Now who’s the parent here…you or me” He laughs as he pulls Liz into his arms once again. “I love you Lizzie”

“Love you too daddy…now get going”

Liz waves as her father pulls out of the alley and disappears down the main street of Roswell. She is unaware that she is being observed by three street punks with grins upon all their faces…all except for one that is.

“Looks like daddy dear is leaving for a little trip” Isabel pans as she continues to watch the one person that she hates more then she thought it was possible to hate anyone. In her mind she and she alone is the sole reason that her beloved brother is dead. Anger coats her as she recalls the night that they found out that Max had been murdered. They were all in shock and each was trying to deal with the news in their own way. It was that night that little Lizzie Parker had decided to enter their domain inquiring about the man that she claimed to love…it was the night that Isabel could have killed her with her bare hands…and would have…if not stopped by one of her own. She looks to Michael and finds him staring intently at the woman she longs to hurt like she has never hurt anyone before. Her anger intensifies as he continues to gape at her…never once breaking the lock that his eyes hold on her. “What the @#%$ is your problem Mickey” she yells as she backhands him across the head. “You ain’t taken your eyes of her the whole time…you act like you’re in love with her or something”

“You @#%$ touch me like that again…and I will break that damn hand of yours…permanently” Michael roars as he pushes Isabel’s hand away as she goes in for another slap. Jumping up from the ground from which he was squatting he turns to face Isabel and Kyle. “You better keep your women in check…or I will have to…got it. And…if you call me @#%$ Mickey again…you will so live to regret it”

“Michael…just chill…she didn’t mean it” Kyle says trying to relieve some of the tension that has built up around them. The tension level between Isabel and Michael had been increasing dramatically since Max’s death…and Kyle liked to think that the only reason that either was still alive was due to him and his calming ways. “Buddha tells us that…”

“Shut up Kyle” Isabel snaps walking up to where Michael now stood. “I meant every word that I said. I mean look at you…you get this puppy dog look on your face every @#%$ time you see her. It’s like your forgot that she is the reason that my brother…your best friend was murdered in cold blood…or did you forget that. Did you forget that we made a pact to torture her ass for what she did to Max…did you forget…”

“I haven’t forgotten @#%$” he screams as he grabs Isabel’s face between his hands…squeezing it for emphasis. I know that she is the reason that Max was killed…I relieve that night every single day of my life. But you remember this…I am the leader of this gang…me…and me alone. So you better get your ass in check…or you won’t have to worry about the pact that we made…cause it will be your ass and not hers getting paid back”

“Michael…stop” Kyle yells as he pulls Isabel from the grasp that he holds on his girlfriend. “Dammit you two…I am so sick and tired of this power trip the two of you always seem to be on. I think that we have done enough to this girl…she has suffered enough at our hands. Jesus…Max died two years ago and you both seem to forget that he loved her very much. How happy do you think he is that we have made her life a living hell ever since that night. I think that it is time to move on and leave her in peace…we owe her at least that for all the @#%$ that we have done to her” Kyle can’t help but flinch at the look of pure hatred that is directed at him from the woman that he loves with all his heart and soul.

“WHAT THE @#%$ ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT” Isabel screams as she lunges for him…only to be stopped my Michael this time. “SHE @#%$ KILLED MAX…MY BABY BROTHER IS DEAD AND IT IS ALL DUE TO THAT BITCH”

“NO…ISABEL” Kyle scream back as he jumps back from the flailing arms of the now crazed Isabel. He hated it when she got like this…since Max’s death these bouts of craziness had become more frequent…and truth was he was frightened of her when she got like this…but he continues anyway. “She isn’t the reason that Max is dead… and you both know it. A cold-blooded killer killed Max in his sleep. She had nothing to do with his death…NOTHING. Michael…please tell her…this has gone on long enough”

Michael looks deep into Kyle’s eyes and for the briefest of seconds and Kyle thinks that he has finally gotten through to him. He can see the confliction in his dark eyes…and yet just as quickly as he sees it…it vanishes without a trace. He can feel his disappointment grow as he hears the words of his best friend and leader echo through his ears.

“We are doing this…end of story. She and she alone are the only reason that Max ended up in that hole. Max would be @#%$ turning over in his grave if we didn’t get her back for him losing his life. Now…you get her crazy ass home and calm her down…I have a few things that I have to take care of before tonight. Oh…and Valenti…you better be there…if you know what’s good for you” Michael hisses as he storms off leaving Isabel and Kyle is his wake.

“You’ve gone @#%$ soft” Isabel states nastily as she pushes Kyle against the back of the wall and brutally attacks his lips with her own. He finds that as usual he is unable to put up much of a fight as her hands hungrily roam his body…ripping his tight t-shirt in an attempt to remove it. “I want you to @#%$ me…right here…right now” she growls angrily against his ear as she rubs her lower body roughly over his hardened @#%$. Without hesitation…Kyle reverses the roles as he slams her hard into the wall…helping her remove the barrier of clothes that stops him from his only destination.

There is no need for foreplay…no need to words of love and wanting for she never liked it much anyway. The only sex that Isabel liked was rough…hard…and very public. “@#%$ ME NOW” he hears her scream out in frustration as he fumbles with the zipper of her jeans. “NOW…KYLE…NOW” Successfully he lowers the zipper…then fighting with his own zipper…as her animalistic moans continue. Within seconds he removes his own jeans and thrust without hesitation into her molten core…pumping into her so fast that he quickly loses his breath…and yet he knows that he cannot stop. She is the lifeblood that flows through his veins…she is his only reason for living…and although he longed for a more loving sex life…@#%$ her any way that he could…anywhere that he could was enough for him. “I love you Isabel” he screams into the heavy heat of the day as with one finial thrust he brings them both over the edge into their much-needed orgasm.

“Right” she replies as finally catches her breath…dressing herself quickly as she pushes Kyle off her fully over heated body. “Lets go…we have to get ready for tonight”

“Um…yeah…tonight” Kyle replies disappointed as he quickly pulls on his jeans attempting to catch up with a disappearing Isabel. In the four years that they had been together…Isabel had never once spoken the words that Kyle longed to hear…words that would prove to him that she did in fact love him and not just using him as a sex toy…and yet not once had she uttered these words. Kyle knew that any hot-blooded American male would kill for a relationship where there were no words of love expressed…only fantastic sex…but he isn’t most man. Praying to Buddha daily…he hopes that one-day before he dies to hear the words from her beautiful lips…and yet he knows deep within his very soul that this day may never come.


Chapter Four

Images of her face continually occupy his mind as he makes his way down Main Street…completely unaware of the pedestrians around him moving away as quickly as their feet can carry them…fear clearly upon their faces. Usually Michael enjoyed this kind of intimidation…but today she was the only thing that he could think of. For years he had blamed her for the death of Max…but lately he finds that he can’t stop thinking about her…and how much his hatred of her has diminished. He didn’t understand his changing feelings for the one that he had agonized since Max’s death…and it pissed him off to no end that Isabel on more then one occasion had called him out on it. The truth was that he no longer blamed Liz for the death of his friend and her first true love…and truthfully he knows that he never really did. No…this game of torture and pain was due to his extreme jealousy at her loving Max and him loving her back.

Michael had been smitten with the raven haired beauty from the first moment he had laid eyes on her…and as much as he hated to use the word love…he knew from the moment that he had seen her that it was love at first sight. She was absolutely beautiful in his eyes…from her angelic face to her dark chocolate eyes…but what he loved most about her…and still did to this day was her striking personality. Despite the hell that he and his band of thugs had put her through and the comatose state she had suffered through right after Max’s death…her compassionate side was still able to emerge through it all.

Checking his watch…he quickens his pace for he has just mere minutes to get where it was he was going. It was the same routine that he followed each and every day for the last year…it was something that helped him get through each long and tormented day. “@#%$” he murmurs aloud as he throws himself against the brink of the wall as he hides from view in a deserted ally. “Way to go Guerin” he scolds himself as he peeks around the corner to make sure that he wasn’t seen. Releasing the breath that he didn’t even realize he was holding, he sprints across the street…not seeing the car until the horn blares loudly in his ear jerking him back into reality. “WATCH WHERE THE @#%$ YOUR GOING” he screams slamming his fists into the hood of the car…leaving a two fisted dent. Pulling his death glare from the visibly trembling passenger…he scans the area locking eyes with her. The look of pure terror causes his heart to break just a little…if it was possible for his ice-cold heart to break. He watches as she runs into the building of her intent…slamming the door behind her in fear as she does. His fist clash with the hood of the car once more as he jets the rest of the way across the street and down the now all to familiar ally.

Gingerly he climbs the rusted metal steps…leading him to the roof of the hardware store. Settling into the torn and faded lawn chair…he pulls his sketchpad from the knap sack he always carries with him. Flipping through the filled pages…he quickly finds a blank page and begins to sketch the image forever burned into his mind. He has no control of his hands as they fly over the page filling it with the black smudges from his drawing pencil. As usual the world around him disappears as his complete concentration focus on the task at hand. It was always the same each day. He would make his way to this very spot and draw to his hearts content the object of his desire. This was his alone time…time where he could get away from the pressures of being the leader of Kyle and Isabel…time to get away to clear his always muddled head. Time to focus on her…and the way that just the sight of her always made him feel.

His fingers are a blur as he brings the picture in his head to life on the canvas of his notebook. He feels a dull ache in his heart as reality comes back into view as he for the first time sees what it is that he has drawn. It was her…it was always her…but the look of pure fear so readable in her beautiful eyes was almost more then he could bear…for he knows that it was there for only one reason…because of him. He had been sketching her from afar for well over a year now…he knew every line and shape of her splendorous body…but he longed for more. He longed to run his hands over that very same body…doing things to her that he could only dream about in his wildest fantasies.

Pulling his gaze from the image of her…he focuses his attention on Liz Parker as she works with her kick boxer instructor across the street. Guilt pours over him…for he knows that it is he and “The Antarians” fault that she feels the needs to learn to defend herself.

When they had made this pact to make her life as miserable as possible…it had been the day of Max’s funeral. He…Kyle and Isabel could only sit in stunned silence as Liz made her presence known at his funeral. Could only watch as she cried tears of loss and pain for the man that he considered to be his best friend in the whole world. It pissed him off more then he though possible that she had the nerve to be there…when in truth she had every right to be there. Max loved her…as he had confided to Michael on more then one occasion…and was even planning on leaving “The Antarians” Michael was pissed when Max had told him that…so pissed that he had physically attacked Max due to it. Max had told him that he wanted to be more then some street punk from Roswell New Mexico…he wanted more out of life then bullying and doing the juvenile things that they always did. He wanted all the things that life had to offer…but most important he wanted more for Liz.

At first he had been angry as hell. Angry at Max for even considering leaving “The Antarians”…angry for wanting to leave him. He was also angry at her…she was the one that was taking his best friend away…taking the only person that knew the real Michael…and the fact that he was going to lose that scared the hell out of him. Most of all he was angry at himself…because he knew that Max’s words were words of truth. He…like Max longed for more then what was his life…the difference was that Max had the guts to make that first step…he however did not. So…he allowed his angry at his life…the words that Max spoke…and the love that he felt for his forbidden angle to grow. So much so that he no longer knew…nor cared where the anger ended or began…who was to blame and who was not…all he knew was that due to his misplaced anger he had lost his best friend…even before his death…and caused her life to turn into the shambled living hell that it was to this day.

It was so easy to blame her…easy to ignore the fact that Max…like all of them was a punk who did what ever he wanted…whenever he wanted. Not once in the two years since his death had he even considered that he…Michael Guerin might have been at fault for Max’s Death. He knew what it was that Max was planning on doing that night. He knew that there was a high probability that Max would get caught…and yet he did nothing to stop him. The truth of that matter was…and it was a truth that haunted him till this very day…but the truth of that matter was…he wanted Max to get caught.

He watches as she nervously makes her way out of the kick boxing studio…watches as she runs like the wind…always looking behind her as she makes her way back to the sanctuary of her home. Once again guilt descends upon him…as he gathers his art supplies and makes his way off the dilapidated roof. He knows what he has to do…for as Kyle had stated earlier…this had gone on long enough…she had suffered long enough at their hands. It was time to end her nightmare and allow peace to enter her life. He also knew that it was time for him to be the man that Max once was and take that first step away from his old life and into what he hoped would be his new life.

Tears of fear and frustration stream down her face as she runs like she has never ran before in an attempt to reach the safety of her home before his onslaught of terror could begin again. She had seen him as a car had almost hit him earlier…and she had to admit that she had hoped that in fact the car would have hit him. Hoped like hell that it had flattened him like a pancake…and in doing so would have ended the nightmarish life at the hands of him and his gang. She knew that he had been following her…he always seemed to know just where she was every moment of the day. It was getting to the point that she was absolutely petrified to leave the house…but she refused to allow them to take away anymore of her life then they already had. Reaching the security of her home…she quickly unlocks the door…locking it just as quickly behind her once she enters. Attempting to catch her failing breath…she finally allows the full capacity of her fear and pain to wash over her as she slumps against the wall and falls to the floor below.

The shrill ring of the phone forces her from her trance like state as she quickly retrieves the phone and answers it. “Hell…Hello” she stammers into the receiver…her heart beating furiously against her heaving chest. Her first instinct was to not answer it…but she knew that her father was going to call her once he arrived at the restaurateur’s convention.

“Liz…damn I am so glad that I caught you before you headed over her. I hate to do this to you…but I am going to have to cancel tonight” Maria states animatedly. “You will not believe it…but my father called. He is coming into town for only one night…and tonight would be that night. I am so sorry Liz…but this will probably be a once in a life time opportunity…and I so can not miss it” Cold fear runs through her heart and lungs as the realization of Maria’s words hit fully upon her. Maria was cancelling their sleepover…but that wasn’t the fearful part. No…the fact that she was going to have to spend the night alone in this apartment…with no security or protection frightened her to the very core. “Liz…Liz…are you there” she hears Maria scream through the receiver. “Please Liz…you have to understand…I haven’t seen my father since I was three and we have so much that we have to discuss. Tell me that you understand”

“I…I understand Maria” Liz stammers yet again. “It’s ok…I know that you have been waiting for this night for such a long time” She answers automatically as any best friend would do.

“Oh…Lizzie you’re the best. I knew that you would understand. Ok…I have to get off her and get ready. OMG…what do you wear to meet a father you haven’t seen in fourteen years” she screeches, causing Liz to hold the phone away from her ear to avoid the full impact of it. “Ok…I really have to go now…this could take hours. Love you Lizzie” and with that said and the blaring dial tone she was gone. Placing the phone on the front counter…she heads into the kitchen to make herself a quick sandwich before heading upstairs to a night filled with fear…as well as studying for her finals in advanced calculus.



Chapter Five

For what felt like the millionth time…she checked and recheck all the locks on every window and door found in her home as well as the Crash down. To say that she was afraid was an understatement for she was petrified to her very soul. Each and every sound that reached her super sensitive ears caused her to jump even more out of her skin. With a final sweep of the kitchen she turns the overhead light off and begins to make her way to the apartment above. As she ventures into the break room she notices a white sheet of paper dangling from the row of lockers against the wall. Her heart begins pounding frantically in her chest…so much so that she finds she can no longer receive enough air into her panicked lungs. Slowly she makes her way to the note…trying desperately to remember if it had been there before. Try as she might she is unable to recall as she nervously removes it with her shaking hands and opens it. A small uneasy giggle erupts from her throat as she sits on the old couch besides her and begins reading it.

Liz…
I am so sorry to do this by letter…but it was all that I could think of. I am having to tender my resignation effective immediately until future notice. My sister in Phoenix is pregnant and some complications have arisen…and since I am the only family that she has I must go to her. Please forgive me for leaving you with such short notice. I have placed a call with a temporary agency to find you a replacement…you should hear word on Monday. Again I am sorry for the short notice…but I was unable to get in touch with you or your father.
Sincerely Jose

“Just great” Liz speaks aloud to the empty room. “Now what the hell am I going to do” Crumpling the letter in her hand…she tosses it into a nearby wastepaper basket as she climbs the steps leading to her apartment. Once inside she locks and triple bolts the door…before plopping down on the couch as she tries to figure out how she is going to run a restaurant without a cook. She knew that she could handle some of the kitchen work…but she would be the first to admit that she couldn’t cook very well at all. There was always Maria…but with her father in town…she knew that it would be useless to call her for her mind would be on that and not on the task at hand. Flipping onto her stomach she closes her eyes for the briefest of moments only to have them fly open just as quickly at the sound of breaking glass in the restaurant below.


Earlier that Evening

“WHAT THE @#%$ DO YOU MEAN WE AIN’T DOING IT TONIGHT” Isabel screams crazily as in a similar scene from earlier that day Kyle holds her back from Michael as he stands his ground before her.

“I said that we are not doing it tonight. Enough is enough and I am tired of doing the same @#%$ to the same person. It’s been played out…and it is time to move on to someone else” he lies covering the real reason for not wanting to hit the Crash Down tonight.

“Oh…you have grown tired of doing the same @#%$ to the same person” she mimics him as she pushes her way past him brutally. “Well…I ain’t grown tired of it Mikey G…in fact thanks to you my interests have been greatly increased. You may not want to torture her skinny ass anymore…but I do…and I will. KYLE…get you ass in gear we have some terror to strike in wittle Ms. Parkers life”

Obediently Kyle follows his lover out into the cool night…purposely avoiding looking into Michael’s eyes as he does. Frantically Michael allows the wheels of his brain to spin as he attempts to come up with an idea to warn Liz of her upcoming visitors…and quick.

“Hold the @#%$ up” he growls nastily as he run behind a storming Isabel…spinning her around upon reaching her. “I’ve told you this once before…and I am only going to tell you this one more time before I beat the @#%$ out of you. I am the leader of this gang…ME…and I make the decisions” With a quickness he snakes his leg around Isabel’s ankle and drops her to the ground below…hovering mere inches above her face as he stares into her fear filled eyes. “I will go to the Crash Down…I will put our plan in action and…YOU and your chicken @#%$ boyfriend will come when I…call you. You got that Isabel” he snides madly as he slams her head into the pavement again and again…unable to control the madness that is rolling over him at the thought of Isabel laying one finger on Liz Parker.

“MICHAEL STOP” Kyle screams as he attempts to pull him off of Isabel’s stunned body. “YOUR GOING TO HURT HER” reality begins to set in again as the full extent of what just happened set in. “Jesus Christ will this @#%$ between you two ever stop” he continues as he helps a silent Isabel off the ground and dusts the loose pavement off her backside. “Isabel…your not the leader…Michael is. Please…you have to stop questioning his authority. He would never steer us wrong…he has never in the past…and he won’t now. Kyle looks to Michael and feels his heart squeeze a little for his friend and leader. Michael had never said word one about his feeling for Liz Parker…but the evidence was so clearly written on his face and seen so lucidly in his expressive eyes. It was blatantly obvious when Max was alive that even then he held feelings for Liz…but Liz only had eyes for Max. None of them really knew that Max was dating Liz until three months into their relationship when he and Michael were arguing over who it was that they were going to torture that night…and Liz’s name had been the first to come up. Kyle’s remembers the look of absolute insanity that crossed Max’s normally calm face at the mention of Liz’s name.

Flash Back

“You lay one @#%$ hand on Liz Parker and I will make sure that you never lay another hand on another living soul” Max screamed at his best friend and second in command Michael Guerin as he grabbed him by the front of his shirt…yanking him off the dilapidated couch from which he was seated. “You got me…leave her the @#%$ alone”

For the briefest of seconds Michael could only stand before his best friend in stunned silence as he tried to comprehend the words that he had just spoken. Confusion flooded him at the anger flashing off of Max’s face…and the fact that it was all due to the mere mention of one Liz Parker. He could feel his own anger begin to bubble as Max continued his rant…and with each word spoken he tightened the grip that he held on his shirt. “GET THE @#%$ OFF ME” he screamed as he pushed Max’s hands off of him…fighting to regain his balance at the releases of his shirt. “I don’t know what your problem is Maxwell…but you are acting like your in love with her or something” He could feel his anger begin to churn even more as he stared into Max’s hate filled eyes. “Tell me that you’re not in love with her”

“I need some air” Max retorted angrily as he pushed past Michael and headed for the front door of the apartment that they all shared…as three pairs of eyes followed his every move in stunned silence.

“No…there is no way that my little brother is in love with Mrs. @#%$ Good Two Shoes. You need to talk to him Michael…do something” Isabel whines as she stood before him with her hands on her hips…a joint dangling from her lips. “Go talk to him…NOW”

“You know you keep smoking that @#%$ and your going to die a slow and tortuous death because this @#%$ ate away at your brain” he stated pissed as he grabbed the joint from her mouth and tossed it into a discarded beer can. “Now get the hell out of my way…and stop smoking that @#%$ in my apartment….you know that I don’t’ want drugs in my place”

“Maxwell” he called out into the night air as he slammed the front door of his apartment behind him. “Maxwell…where the hell are you”

I’m not discussing this with you Michael” he heard a voice answer loudly from the shadows of the apartment building. Following the voice he found Max sitting on the steps leading into the laundry room…beer in hand. “So…you can just go back inside and tell my sister and Kyle that you spoke to me and it is @#%$ over…OK” Michael could see that Max was agitated and this only intensified his own anger.

“NO…I don’t think that this is over Maxwell” he growled back as he stood defiantly before the man that was his best friend and sworn leader. “I think that you have some explaining to do…because if you think that you can just start dating Liz Parker…you better think again”

“For one thing…you better remember who the hell you are talking to Guerin…and for another thing I will see whom ever the @#%$ I want…whenever I want” Max countered shoving Michael aside as he climbed off the steps. “I am the @#%$ leader…not you…or Isabel…or even Kyle…Me…and I am sick and tired of putting my ass on the line for all of you…and yet I get nothing but bitching and complaining in return. I am sick of this @#%$…sick of everything”

“Oh…so that how this is going to go down. I see…you fall in love with that Bitch Liz Parker and now all of a sudden your punking out on your family” Michael screamed as he grabbed Max by the arm as he attempted to jump on his motorcycle.

“DON’T YOU EVER TALK ABOUT HER LIKE THAT” Max screamed like a mad man as he lunged at Michael knocking them both to the ground as a fight ensued. Michael didn’t know if he was fighting the man that he loves like a brother due to his impending departure from “The Antarians” or the fact that Max Evan’s was in love with the woman that he had loved from afar from the first time he had ever laid eyes on her.

Punches were thrown and words of insult and pain were uttered and in a matter of minutes both men were lying exhausted on the ground each grunting and gasping from the pain that the other had inflicted upon them. “You…you can’t date her Man” Michael groaned as he continues to pull much needed air into his lungs.

“I can…and I will…and either you except it or you find another best friend” Max retorted painfully as he pulled himself off the ground and once again made his way towards his bike. “I love her…and I will do anything I have to make sure that she never leaves me”

His anger quickly turned to one of sadness and deepened hurt as he watched Max speed off…already knowing where it was he is going. Into the arms of the one that he longed to be with…into the waiting arms of Liz Parker.

Kyle had witnessed the whole scene from the window of the tiny apartment. He watched as Max roared off into the darkness of the night…and he watched as Michael continued to lie on the cold ground…watched as he punched the ground with such anger and frustration that he lost count how many times his fists hit the ground…watched as he finally heaved himself off the ground and watched as he wiped quickly at his eyes. Kyle never knew for sure if Michael was wiping away tears from his fight with his best friend…or if it was because of his best friends love of the girl he loved.


Chapter Six

Kyle knows that Michael is stalling for time…and he has to admit that he is relieved that he was beginning to see the light. He knows what he has to do…he has to get Isabel’s mind off of hurting Liz…and he knows just what it was that he has to do. He hates having to revert to sex to distract her…but if it gave Michael enough time to get to the Crash Down and warn Liz then it was well worth it…and if he got to have fantastic angry sex with the love of his life…then it was all good. “Lets get the hell over there and do what we planned to do” Kyle yells at Michael in mock anger…grabbing his shirt for emphasis as he spins him around and away from the prying eyes of Isabel for he can feel the madness rolling off her body in waves with each passing minute. “Don’t @#%$ this up Michael…were not going to get another chance like tonight” his screams echo throughout the grassy knoll of the apartment complex…sending out a vibe to all that hear his words the depths of his anger at whomever it is he is screaming at…but his face…his face tells a completely different tale. “I am telling you Michael once again…don’t @#%$ screw this one up”

He knows that his deception is working as the madness that once surrounded her…is now replaced with pure unadulterated lust. He can feel her want of him…can feel her need for him and he eagerly waits for whatever it is that his love has in store for him. He doesn’t have to wait long as Isabel rips him from the hold that he held on Michael and attacks his mouth with such fury that it catches him off guard…and they both plummet to the ground below.

“I want you to @#%$ me now” he hears Isabel roar as he watches her and Kyle roll on the ground before him. Michael never did understand Isabel’s need to @#%$ Kyle in very open…very public places…and the truth is that he doesn’t have time to ponder it as he takes the opportunity that Kyle has offered to him on a silver platter and makes his way to the Crash Down…makes his way to her. He knows that he will never have a chance with the woman that he has grown to love more and more with each passing day…but he hopes that in warning her of her impending visitors that it might hopefully relieve some of the guilt and pain that has attached itself to his barely beating heart.

His heart feels as if it may burst right out of his chest…his lungs no longer want to produce the much needed air that is required to breath…as he hides in the shadows of the alley behind the Crash Down. “Get a grip on your self Guerin” he scolds himself as he slaps his own face in an attempt to get his emotions that are spiralling crazily under some sort of control. He knows that the reason for this is that in just a few short minutes he will come face to face with his true love. He longs to speak the words of love and lust that inhabit his body when ever she is around…but he knows that he has to play it cool…know that she can never know that true extent of what he feels for her. He knows that it is that he has to do…and in a precious few moments too. Trying the back door of the Crash Down…he finds it locked and so with a thrust of his elbow…he as quietly as is possible shatters the window besides it.


Absolute terror surrounds Liz as the sound of shattering glass jerks her from her slumber. She is paralysed…speechless…for it is her worst nightmare come to light. She already knows who it is down stairs breaking noisily into the Crash Down…already knows what it is they are here for…as she continues to stand before the couch completely numb and rigid. WHY…she screams out silently in her head…why are they doing this to me. Tears of utter fear stream down her face as she tries to gain some semblance of rationality. Scanning the living room for the cordless phone so she can alert the police her terror intensifies at the realization that she has left the phone down stairs on the main counter of the Crash Down after her conversation with Maria. “Get a hold of yourself Parker” she mentally screams at herself as she shakes her head to clear out the fear that is consuming her. “You can take care of them…you are a kick boxing champion” she lies to trying to ready her self up for the inevitable confrontation.

The truth was that Liz had only been taking kickboxing lessons for less then a year and she was less then a champion. She had only agreed to take the classes because Maria had been so insistent that she know how to protect herself with all that was happening in her life. Plus the fact that Maria’s cute cousin Sean was the instructor and willing to teach Liz at an extremely reduced rate didn’t hurt. Liz knew that Sean had a crush on her…Maria had only told her a million and a half times…but the truth was that she may have thought he was very good looking…but he just wasn’t what Liz was looking for. Since Max she didn’t think that she would ever find another man to make her feel that he did whenever they were together. She had pretty much accepted the fact that Max was the one great love of her life and now that he was gone…there was never going to be another.

“Sean…what I wouldn’t give to have you here at this very moment” she whispers into the empty room as she focuses her breathing as he had instructed her to do when confronting her target…or in this case…her enemy. After several deep penetrating breathes she takes the first step towards her impending doom. She really doesn’t know what she is going to do once she confronts them…but she had no choice as the only working phone is downstairs where they are. With forced steps she makes her way quietly out the small apartment and down the stairs leading to the backroom of the Crash Down. Noiselessly she crosses the darkened room entering the kitchen. Cautiously she peeks through the order window and scans the dining area. Her heart is beating so loudly in her chest that she just knows that it will only be a matter of seconds before they locate her and begin whatever torture they have planned for her. With one final breath she scans the area once again…spotting the elusive phone lying on the counter not more then ten feet in front of her. She can’t stop the small chuckle that omits from her throat as she one final time inspects the dining area…finding it utterly and completely empty. Sinking to the floor…she allows her laughter to peel throughout the kitchen. “Way to scare your self Liz” she scolds herself as she continues to laugh at her blunder.

“You always talk to yourself like that” he says a bit louder then he had intended as he watches her sitting on the floor…the color draining from her face. Her mouth is agape and yet no words flow from them as he knows that his appearance has rendered her speechless yet again. Guilt and pain pour over his frozen heart once again…but he knows that he must move on for time is limited. “Look…I don’t have time to go into all the details…but I need you to get upstairs now…lock you doors and call the police and don’t come back until they arrive” Michael didn’t know what it was that Isabel was capable of…but in the last year her bouts of craziness were worsening each and every day and he wasn’t about to find out just what she was capable of when it came to Liz.


Chapter Seven

Once again the paralyzing fear that engulfed her before inhabits her body. He was here…standing before her…and it wasn’t her mind that was playing tricks on her. It was her greatest fears come to life and she was more then petrified at the outcome. So she just sits…sits and waits for what is to be. She can only stare into the depths of his dark eyes and await the outcome of what it is he might do to her. She knows that Kyle and Isabel have to be near as the three of them have been inseparable since the first time that she ever laid eyes on them. She can hear him speaking…but her fear enables her to understand the words and she would rather not hear them anyway. She had heard them all…heard every mean and dirty word that they had screamed…yelled and branded her with for the last two years…and finds that he can no longer hear another one.

She can feel him approaching as his feet tread heavy on the greasy linoleum floor…feel him as he grabs her by the arms and lifts her from that same floor until she is level with those eyes of his. She knows that she should look away…knows that she should kick…scream…run…do everything in her power to get as far away from this man as possible…but she finds that those eyes…his eyes have her transfixed. Curiosity mixed with outright fear…and yet she doesn’t even attempt to escape. His eyes they were different then anything she had ever seen before. They were softer…less hate filled…and she knows that here eyes are playing tricks on her…but she could swear that she saw something else…something softer…kinder…something loving.

He was transfixed…caught up in the velvety softness of her chocolate eyes and unable to pull away from the hold that they held on him. Never in the several years that he had loved her from afar had he been this close to her…not even that day in the erasure room…and he finds that it is a place that he longs to be each and every day of the rest of his life. Her scent was enticing…it entered through his nostrils and inhabited his very soul. The warmth radiating from her body was exhilarating…and he knows that if given the chance it could easily melt his solidly frozen heart into a puddle of nothingness…but he knows that this can never happen…will never happen…as he forces reality to resume play with the screeching of tires and the revving of an engine. Isabel and Kyle are here and time is now non-existent as he tightens the hold that he has on the softness that is her arms and shacks her with all that he is. “LISTEN TO ME” he growls angrily on whispered breath…as the love that he feels for her retreats and in it’s place the cold hearted man that Liz has know for the last three years returns. Releasing her grip momentarily he runs for the phone atop the counter and makes his way back towards her…dialing 911 in the process. “Take this…call 911 and let them know that you are being robbed…tell them anything…just get them here…NOW”

Her body slumps against the roughness of the food preparing table as he releases his grip on her rigid body. Confusion clouds her mind…along with the fear that dwell within her as well…as she attempts to make some sense out of what she has just seen in his eyes…and yet just as soon as she had seen it…it had disappeared. Pulling her self-upright she takes a step forward to flee the room before his return only to come face to face with him as she does. Confusion forgotten…fear wins over as she watches as his arms race forward and before she can comprehend what it is that he is trying to do…the will to survive kicks in the form of two swift kicks…one to the face and the other to the abdomen.

She watches in astonished fear as he crumples to the floor writing in total agony…and yet he utters not a word. Her wildly pumping adrenalin begins to subside as the reality of what just happens hits her full on. She had done it…she had defended herself against her enemies…and she had won. Looking victoriously at the man at her feet she can’t help the small grin of pride that has adhered itself to her face…but as quickly as it appeared it fades as the seriousness of the situation comes into view. He wasn’t moving…and she is praying that her eyes are once again playing tricks on her…for he doesn’t seem to be breathing either.

“MICHAEL” she screams as she plummets to the floor beside him shaking him uncontrollably with renewed energy. “Michael…Michael…” she wails as she continues to shake the man lying before her in hopes of some sign of life. “Michael…please”

Sensible Liz takes control as she assesses the situation and places him as gently as possible back upon the floor. Checking for a pulse she finds none. Her heart beats feverously against her chest as she try’s to lay her head quickly upon his chest in an attempt to listen to his heart…and yet before she has a chance…she feels two hands wrap tightly around her own head…feels him draw her face towards his own…feels him hurriedly place his lips upon her quivering ones…hears him utter words that both confuse her…and for some strange reason thrill her to her very core. “I’m sorry Liz…for everything…and I…I love you” Before she has a chance to respond…before she has a chance to comprehend all that has happened…his hands fall from her head as he allows the unconsciousness to envelope him.

“FREEZE” she hears someone yell in the distance as she continues to stare at the man unconscious before her…unconscious by her own hands. A flurry of activity surrounds her as she feels a pair of hands gently pull her from the floor. Unable to remove her eyes from him…she watches as they quickly examine the man that she had hurt…the man that had hurt her for the last two years…and she knows that she should feel some sort of vengeance and yet she feels nothing but complete and utter confusion.

“Miss Parker” she hears a man with a slight southern drawl speaks…pulling her from her whirling thoughts. “I will need you to come down to the station and make a formal report. It doesn’t look like he stole anything…but we can charge him with breaking and entering. It should be enough to put him away for a very long time”

“Put him away” she repeats as she stares blindly at the sheriff’s deputy standing before her. “What will happen to him now” she asks…as she absentmindedly runs her finger across her lips…her mind still wheeling from his words…and the feel and taste of his lips.

“Yes…put him away. He has been terrorizing this town for long enough…and with your statement it should be enough to send him to the Juvenal Detention Center in Dexter” he replies as he assists Liz off of the chair that she is sitting on and leads her towards the door. “Don’t you worry Miss Parker…with your testimony…Michael Guerin won’t be bothering you anytime soon”

Without resistance she allows him to lead her into the police car and sits in silence as the deputy and another officer sit in the front seat talking amongst them selves. It was all happening so fast…her nightmare was coming to an end…she hoped. There was still Kyle and Isabel to deal with…but she prayed that without Michael to lead them they would grow bored and leave her alone. She listens half-heartedly to their mindless chatter as they pull in front of the sheriff’s station…she could care less about what they have to say. All she can think about is writing her testimony and starting her life anew. She longs to forget about the pain of the past and move onto the future…a future without Michael Guerin and his hellish tortures. A lightness begins to fill her heart as she turns her attention back to the conversation at hand…and just as quickly as the lightness appears…as usual it disappears as the words of the deputy echo’s continuously through her mind.

“Lets just hope that this one meets the same fate as that other little @#%$…Max Evan’s”

Chapter Eight


“Ok Miss. Parker…we are ready for your statement” The Deputy says to Liz as he leads her numbly into a tiny room filled only with a row of chairs and a double-sided mirror. “Now we already know that Michael Guerin was the one that broke into the Crash Down…but protocol forces me to have you physically identify him as well. Indicating for her to sit…she does without question as she watches another deputy shove Michael quickly into the room on the opposite side of the mirror…handcuffing him to the table located in the middle of it. Her eyes never leave him as he without much of a fight he follows the directions that the deputy yells angrily at him.

Emotions unlike she has ever experienced before assault her thoroughly confused body. The time was now…it was all coming to an end…once and for all she would be free of Michael Guerin…and yet her confusion intensifies. She knows that she should be ecstatic…knows that this should be a time of jubilation…a chance for her to move on with her life and forget about her hellish past…except she finds none of this as she continues to stare through the dingy and smudged glass before her. He looks different to her…somehow smaller as he fumbles with a cigarette that he has bummed off the deputy. She knows that once again her eyes have to be playing tricks on her…for she could swear that Michael Guerin tough guy of Roswell New Mexico was shivering with fear.

Images of her once great love replace the outside world as internally she fights a bitter battle as to what she should do next. Did she feed Michael to the wolves so to speak…always wondering if he truly would meet the fate that Max had…or did she allow herself to forgive the man that petrifies to her very core. Tears glisten in her eyes as she replays the numerous stories as to what really happened the night Max was killed fill her mind. Some said that he was stabbed in the throat with a make shift knife over a bad game of cards…others said that he died of an overdose of cocaine…and yet others said he was killed by his jealous lover. The truth of that matter was she didn’t know how he died…only one person did and that person was sitting before her with a look of complete and utter fear etched upon his face.

“What happens if I don’t press charges” she queries…avoiding the shocked look that she knows is covering the Deputy’s face.

“Miss Parker…please think about what you are saying. Michael Guerin is nothing but a two-bit thug. He has brought torture to yourself as well as numerous Roswellians over the years…and your testimony will end this vicious cycle. As I told you before you will have nothing to worry about once you sign this statement” he states earnestly as he hold a piece of paper before her. “Signing this will ensure your future. He will be in Juvenile lock up till his eighteenth birthday and by then you will have graduated high school and can begin a new life for yourself. Trust me when I tell you this…not signing this statement will be the biggest mistake of your life”

“And just what do you get out of this” she questions angrily…not sure if she is angrier for allowing herself to defend Michael or for the way that the Deputy is trying to intimidate her.

“I beg your pardon” he repeats shocked.

“I said what do you get out of this Deputy Hanson. Do you get the satisfaction that you have done a good deed by removing this two-bit thug as you so graciously called him…from Roswell. Or…does it mean something else…maybe a promotion of sorts”

“I don’t have to listen to this Miss Parker…I am not the one that is on trail her. You have a decision to make…and by god I hope that you make the correct one…for your sake as well as the sake of others. I will give you some time to think about your decision. Excuse me”

Liz watches as the deputy excuses himself and leaves her alone in the room with her thoughts and the vision of Michael before her. Absentmindedly she runs her fingers along the contours of her lips as she makes her way to stand before the mirrored wall. How was it that this man who had hurt and frightened her for most of the time she had lived in Roswell was now causing such conflicted emotions to run through her. Placing her hand upon the glass she traces the outline of the frightened boy sitting before her…as the battle within her continues to consume her.


“Are you sure that you don’t want me to call someone to come over and stay with you” the Deputy asks crossly as he walks Liz through the ally behind the Crash Down and up to her door.

“No thank you Deputy Hanson…I will be perfectly fine” she replies irritably as she fumbles through her purse for her keys. Irritation turns to aggravation as she empties the contents of her purse onto the ground still searching for the elusive keys. “Dammit” she mutters under her breath as she quickly finds it…stuffing her things back into her bag. “I will be perfectly fine…thank you for the ride home…and good night” Slamming the door behind her she quickly locks it. Her laughter can be heard throughout the Crash Down as she carefully picks up a broken piece of glass and tosses it in the trashcan behind her. Why the hell bother…she thinks to herself as she surveys the extent of the damage to the broken window. If they wanted to come back…no lock was going to stop them anyway. Turning from the shards of shattered glass at her feet she runs up the stairs leading to her apartment with only two things on her mind…showering and sleep. She no longer cares about what might happen…or what could happen…all she cares about is that she has done the right thing. She has done what her conscience had told her to do…and now she knows that she will have to live with the aftermath.



Chapter Nine


“Dammit” she mutters out loud as she opens the coffee can only to find it completely empty. Begrudgedly she makes her way down the stairs and into the kitchen of the Crash Down in an attempt to track down something…anything containing large doses of caffeine. The truth of the matter was she hadn’t slept very well the night before as images of Michael plagued her constantly during her restless slumber. She was starting to have doubts as to if her decision had been the right one…but almost six hours later…she knows that the decision that she has made is irreversible.

Two cups of strong black coffee later…Liz makes her way back towards the back to clean up the broken glass from the night before. As she does the phone rings sending her heart rate souring out into the stratosphere. “Hello” she answers cautiously…expecting the worst.

“Hello…this is Debby Parkes calling from Out of this world temp agency…and I was returning a call that was left on my voice mail. Seems your looking for a short order cook. Well…I hate to inform you…but unfortunately I don’t have any short order cooks available”

“What about chefs…anything that can cook hamburgers and fries. Please… I am desperate” Liz begs the stranger on the other end of the line. “I will take anyone as long as they can slap a burger on some bread”

“I’m sorry Miss…but I have nothing available. Try back in a few weeks and maybe we will have someone by then”

“Gee…thanks for nothing” Liz replies nastily…ending the conversation before the woman has a chance to utter another word. “Just freaking great” she screams out into the empty room…completely unaware that the room is not as empty as she thinks it is.

“You always talk to yourself like that” he pans in a scene similar to last night.

Spinning around Liz finds herself face to face with the man whose fate she had held in the balance just hours before. “What the hell are you doing here” she spits not feelings as self-assured as she hopes he looks on the outside as she stands defiantly before him.

“I…um…I…I came to thank you for last night” he stammers…unable to look into her eyes for her knows that if he does he will lose what little composer he has left.

“I didn’t do it for you…I did if for him…for Max” she growls…fists clenched into balls of utter hate. “Now get the hell out of my restaurant”

“Liz…please I just want to talk to you”

Fury engulfs her as she continues to stand before him as he continues to avoid eye contact. “Talk to me” she screams madly. “Talk to me…what could you possible have to talk to me about. Oh… let me see…could it be the last two years of hell that you and your gang of followers have put me through. NO…ok…how about the fact that you took what I felt for Max and turned it into to something dirty and forbidden. Still not it…how about how you ruined my life for no reason what so ever. Is that what you want to talk about Michael…because if it is…you wasted your time coming her today. “I HATE YOU” her screams continue as fists of hate over take her in the form of an uncontrollable bashing upon his chest. “I HATE YOU SO MUCH…HATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MAX AND I…HATE YOU FOR DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU DID TO ME AND MY FAMILY…AND FOR WHAT…NOTHING. GET OUT…GET OUT…AND DON’T EVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN…OR I WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU END UP WHERE YOU TRULY BELONG”

At first he doesn’t resist as he allows her fists of fury to rain down on his fastly bruising chest. He knows that he deserves it…hell…he knows that he deserves far worse. “I hate you Michael Guerin…I hate you…I hate you” her anguished cries echo throughout his frozen heart. He knows that he should leave…knows that he should exit out the door from which he has entered…and out of her life forever. But he can’t…he knows he can’t…and in truth he knows that he never will as with each blow dealt upon his severely sensitive chest…he finds that he loves her even more.

Thoroughly spent…Liz falls to the couch besides her as tears of confusion…tears of pain and tears of out right want flow from her eyes. “Why are you here” she whispers through these tears as she glimpse into his dark green eyes. His eyes they call out to her unlike any pair of eyes have ever done before. She can feel herself being drawn into their depths and what she finds their shocks her…confuses her…and appeals to her all at the same time.

“I…I…” he stammers nervously…shifting from one foot to the next as he finds that the use of even the simplest of words is impossible.

“Please Michael…haven’t I endured enough from you. I gave you your freedom…now all I ask is that you give me mine. Just please leave me alone. I am begging you…please just leave me alone”


Complete devastation descends upon his semi thawing heart as he continues to watch the tears cascade gently down her cheeks. He fights the urge to wipe these tears from her face…longs to shout out for all to hear just how sorry he was for all the pain that he has brought into her life…and that until his dying day he will do everything and anything that it takes to ensure that she never cries a single anguished tear again.

Kneeling before her…he tenderly engulfs her hands within his own. His own tears threaten to spill as she rips them from his…jolting off the couch in total panic as if his touch has scared her for life. A shriek of tortured fear echoing throughout the silent confines of the room. In her attempt to flee from him…she crashes brutally into the tiled surface of the floor…slicing the tender skin of her hand on the broken glass she has yet to clean up.

“@#%$…LIZ” he cries out in panic as she rushes to her side to access the damage…causing his heart to stop beating in his chest at the amount of blood splattered along the floor and along the front of her shirt. Clear thought no longer an option…he rips the shirt from his body and wraps it tightly around the gushing wound. “We have to get you to a hospital” he replies gently as he as lovingly as possible lifts her from the floor and into his arms…cradling her against the broadness of his chest.

“I’m ok” she whispers meekly as she finds herself once again drawn into the darkest depths of his eyes. She can’t explain the feelings that are surging though her veins. She tries to fight it…tries to pull away…but she finds that she can’t…or maybe she doesn’t want to. Slowly their lips begin to incline as the world around them quickly disappears. Closer and closer they move…until she can feel his ragged breathes whisper heavily against her needing lips. So close…that the peppermint gum that he has been chewing fills her nostrils. Inch by agonizing inch…they continue their incline. She can feel the slightest touch of softness as his lips descend tenderly upon hers…and then it is gone in an instant as he jerks away…placing her gently on the floor before him. “Come on…lets get you to the hospital…your ruining a perfectly good shirt”

Chapter Ten

“It’s a pretty deep wound…so we are going to have to suture it” the doctor announces to Michael and Liz as he continues to examine Liz’s sliced hand.

“Is that going to hurt” Liz ask frightened at the aspect of having stitches.

“We will give you a local…all you will feel is a slight pulling sensation. There shouldn’t be any pain what so ever. Give me a second to find the nurse and we can get started”

They both watch as the doctor walks out of the room…closing the door behind him…leaving them completely alone. Michael can see that Liz is frightened at the way she clutches white knuckled onto the examination table. “Hey…stitches are nothing to worry about” he says trying to calm her obviously frazzled nerves. “I have had so many stitches placed throughout my body that you could call me Frankenstein. “This one” he states pointing at a small zigzagged scar on his right forearm…was given to me by Isabel. She got mad a Kyle one night and threw a chair at him. Kyle ducked…I didn’t…and I ended up with twelve of those suckers. This one…this one was given when Max and I broke into a 7-11…” He regrets his last sentence immediately as she now sits before him wide eyed…tears glistening in her eyes. “Liz…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

She can only sit in stunned silence at the mere mention of Max’s name…and the fact that Michael had spoken it made it all the more upsetting. Tears threaten to fall from her eyes…but she angrily forces them away for she was not about to give Michael Guerin the satisfaction of seeing her cry ever again.

“Liz…I…” Michael attempts to speak…only to have Liz turn her back to him.

“Ok Miss Parker…lets get you sutured up” the Doctor says interrupting Michael as he re enters the room…oblivious to the mounting tensions between the two teens”

All upset over Max and Michael vanish as complete fear engulfs her as she watches the nurse hand the Doctor the syringe that will administer the local anaesthesia. She has always hated hospitals…but she hates needles even more. She can feel her entire body stiffen up as the needle moves closer and closer to its intended destination. She feels the world around her grow fuzzy as it begins to spin at an alarming rate…and then just as quickly as it had appeared…it is gone as she feels warmth begin to travel up her arm and into the rest of her body. It was warmth unlike any she has ever experienced before as she turns to face the person who has administered this warmth.

“Just hold my hand” he whispers as he squeezes the hand that he now holds warmly within his own…tenderly rubbing the length of her arm with his free hand. Once again their eyes lock…all thoughts of Max…hospitals…anything other then each other vanish in an instant.

“There we go…all done” the Doctor announces proudly as he admires his work. “Now that wasn’t so bad…was it” he can’t stop a grin from spreading across his lips as he notices for the first time that neither teen is even aware that he is in the room…much less that the sutures have been applied. “Miss Parker” he says…tapping her on the shoulder…pulling her out of the hold that Michaels gaze hold on her. “You and your boyfriend are free to go. I just need you to pick up this prescription at the pharmacy…and make an appointment with the receptionist for a recheck in ten days”

“Um…he…he isn’t my boyfriend” she stammers as she quickly pulls her hand free from his grasp…tucking a strand of hair nervously behind his ear.

Looking from the girl in front of him to the guys that brought her in…it is obvious to him that there is more going on then mere friendship…but with teenagers these days who could tell what the hell they were thinking. “Is there anyone that can stay with you tonight since your father is out of town” the Doctor asks…changing the subject back to medicine as he recalls the girl telling him that her father was out of town.

“No…I am…”

“Yes she does…I will stay with her” Michael cuts her off before she can finish her sentence. He knows that he is being bold in his reply…but he doesn’t care. He owes her…owes her big and in more ways then one…and he is going to do what ever he has to do till he has paid her in full…even if he knows already that he will have to do it with her kicking and screaming till the very end.

“NO…NO…he won’t be staying with me” she answers quickly…petrified at the very idea of spending an evening alone with Michael inside her cramped apartment.

“Yes…I will” he replies demandingly…causing both the Doctor and Liz to flinch at the harshness of his words. “Liz…you need someone to stay with you…and I…I…owe you for last night” he speaks more softly. So please…please let me do this for you” he pleads…really feeling the need to do this for her…or was it for him…he didn’t know and he didn’t care.

His eyes begged for her to speak the answer that he longed to hear…she could read it so clearly in them. He needed this…needed to help her. She doesn’t understand what it is that she sees in his eyes for it frightens her beyond belief and she finds that she wants to say no…wants to scream from the top of her lungs that she would rather have a thousand needles poking her throughout her entire body then to spend a night alone with Michael Guerin…but she cant. Those eyes memorize her…and deep down a little voice…hidden deep within her conscience…tells her that she needs this just as much as he does.

“OK…you can stay” she whispers…unable to look into his pleading eyes any longer as a torrent of conflicting emotions assault her utterly mystified body.


Chapter Eleven

“Sit here” Michael says leading a groggy Liz towards the couch of her apartment after their visit to the hospital. The Doctor had said that the prescription he had prescribed was going to make her sleepy…but a Zombie like state was more like it he thinks as he sits her back onto the couch and gently lays her down. Pulling the blanket he finds off the back of the couch…he places it over her now sleeping form as he kneels beside her. He can’t help but smile as she snuggles into the throw pillow situated at her head…a small smile tugging at her lips. He fights the urge to move a wisp of hair off her forehead that has strayed from her ponytail…but loses the battle quickly with his need to touch her. With the softest of caresses he shifts the stray hair…and even though he knows that he shouldn’t he lightly runs his fingers over the contours of her beautiful face.

“I am so sorry Liz…for everything” he whispers as he continues to delicately touch the softness of her face. “I never meant for any of this to get so out of control. He loved you…and I was so jealous…so jealous because I wanted it to be me that you loved in return and not him. Because of my stupidity…I lost him…I lost my best friend because I let what I felt for you get in the way…and in the process I hurt you too. I know that you can’t hear me Liz…but I want you to know that…I love you. I want to admit if openly to you at least once. I love you…and although you won’t remember any of this…know that even though I can’t take any of the pain I have caused you back…I can sure try like hell to see that you never suffer again. I just hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done”

She knows that he must surely hear her heart beating furiously within her chest…as she listens to his words of love and devotion. He loves her…and yet because of her love of another he turned her life into a living hell. Confusion coats her…as she continues to listen to his words…continues to feel the warmth that his fingers are generating across her skin as he continues with his caresses. It has been so long since she had felt the touch of a man…but this wasn’t just any man this was Michael Guerin…her greatest enemy…and yet as he tenderly places a simple kiss upon her heated forehead…she finds that greatest enemy or not…she longs for more.

She continues to lie is silence…eyes closed tight as she continues to feign slumber for several moments after he leaves her side. His words of devotion and regretful ricocheting within her exhausted mind. Cautiously she opens her eyes…finding that Michael has left the room as she gently traces the places upon her face that moments before he had so affectionately caressed. Exhaustion and the effects of the pain medication begin to take full effect…taking her to the tranquillity of slumber with only one person on her mind…Michael.

“I’m going to be out of town for a few days” he whispers…cupping the mouth piece of the phone as he turns and scans the room yet again making sure that she was still asleep. “I need to lay low for awhile after what happened last night”

“What exactly did happen last night” he hears Kyle ask on the other line. “Isabel and I got there and two seconds later so did the cops and they were hauling your ass off to jail. How did you get out…and did you take care of what you had to take care of” he continues to questions as he waits impatiently for an answer.

“It’s a long story Kyle…but I just want to…you know” he stammers trying to find the words to express his gratitude for dealing with Isabel…and giving him enough time to warn Liz. “Thanks”

“You welcome man” Kyle replies happily. “Michael…just don’t expect miracles. She has suffered a lot because of us…just give her time and if it doesn’t work…then leave her be”

“I know” he whispers sadly as the thought that Liz may never forgive him weighs heavily upon him. Hanging up the phone…he walks back into the room and once again kneels before her. “I just hope that you can forgive me Liz…because I don’t know what I will do if you can’t” With another quick kiss upon her head he makes his way to nearest chair and settles in for the night. Grabbing his knap sack from the floor besides him…he yanks the worn sketch book out from its confines and finding the first blank page begins to sketch her sleeping form.
He didn’t think that he could love her anymore then he already did…but as he continues to sketch her…continues to closely examine every nook and cranny of her slender body…he finds that his love for her is reaching a whole other level.



Chapter Twelve

She wakes to the rumbling of her stomach…and a jolt of pain as she attempts to pull herself off the couch…momentarily forgetting about her wounded hand. “Ouch” she cries out in pain as tears threaten to spill from her eyes.

“Liz…” Michael yells panicked as he forces himself from the chair where he had fallen asleep a few hours before. Rushing to her side he as gently as possible sits besides her as he watches her cradle her swollen hand. “I think that it is time for another pain pill” he whispers…not wanting to upset her anymore then she already is. Jerking himself off the couch he runs for his knap sack once again and this time it is a bottle of pain pills that he removes. Let me get you some water for these…I’ll be right back”

She watches as he walks into the kitchen…amazed that this is the same Michael Guerin that she has known and hated for the last few years. She knows that she should never have agreed to let him stay with her in this empty apartment all alone…but the truth of that matter she finds is that she is glad that she did. She can’t put her finger on it…but she can feel that her and Michael are about to embark on something new…something different…and something that neither one of them will ever forget.

“You hungry” he asks as he walks back into the room with a glass of water…jerking her from her random thoughts. “You don’t have @#%$ in your fridge up here…but I bet that I could find something edible down in the kitchen”

The truth was that she was starving…but she didn’t want to put upon Michael too much…since she still testing the waters of whatever this truce…I love you Liz…thing was going on between them. “Um…you really don’t have to do that” she replies shyly as she takes the two pain killers that he holds before her from his hand. She heart begins to beat double time as once again her hand comes in contact with the warmth of his skin…causing her to momentarily close her eyes as she relishes the way that his touch is making her feel. “I’m really not that hungry” she lies...as she quickly places the pills on her tongue…washing them down with the water he had brought also.

“Not hungry huh” he chuckles as the rumbling of her stomach echoes loudly throughout the room.

“Um…yeah” she giggles…her face reddening for the embarrassment of it all. “I guess that I am just a little hungry…but you don’t have to…”

“Ok then…one order of what ever I can find” he continues to chuckle as he takes her empty water glass and walks out of the room with it. “You…” he states determinedly…turning once again to face Liz…a huge smile gracing his rugged face. “Stay on that couch until I get back up here with the food…you got that”

“I got it” she giggles amazed as just how handsome he is when he smiles.

“Ok…good. I will be back in a few minutes. “Remember stay on that couch” She didn’t want to say anything…for fear of embarrassing her self even future…but she realizes that she has to relieve herself something fierce. Disobeying orders she pulls herself painfully off the couch and stumbles down the hallway towards the bathroom. Once inside the confines of the bathroom she attempts to unbutton the top button of her jeans…but quickly regrets it as a bolt of pain rips through her already tender hand. Tears once again threaten her…as try after try prove useless as with each attempt another jolt of pain flashes up her arm each one more painful then the next. Dejected she finally allows the tears that she was holding at bay to cascade angrily down her face. With her back firmly against the wall for support…she slides down the coolness it has to offer…realizing that she will need Michael and his help for even the simplest of things…including using the facilities.

“You gonna stay in there all night” he laughs easily outside the wood door of the bathroom. He had momentarily panicked when he had returned upstairs with two plates of food…only to find the couch…as well as the room completely empty. He can’t stop the grin that covers his face as he realizes what an idiot he was thinking that she had jumped out of the window or something just to get away from him. No…she has had plenty of opportunity to get rid of him…and yet here he still stands. Stands…outside the bathroom door where she could be half naked…and…he didn’t even want to finish those thoughts as images of a very nude Liz enter his mind. “Liz…you ok in there” he asks…now getting concerned as there is still no response from her. “Liz…”

Slowly the door opens as a tear ridden Liz exits…now standing before him unable to look him in the eye. “I need your help” she whispers through her tears…as she locks her eyes on the carpet below their feet. “I…I…can’t unbutton my jeans”

“What…” Michael asks flabbergasted…as he stares at the girl who is avoiding eye contact with in at all costs. “You want me to…”

“Unbutton my jeans” she finishes for him…as she breaks the hold she has on the carpet and looks into his shock filled eyes. “My hand…I…I…” A fresh torrent of tears flow down her flame reddened cheeks.

Pulling him self from his stupor of shock…he quickly pulls her into his embrace…as he allows her tears of frustration and embarrassment to continue. “It’s ok…we can do this with as little embarrassment as possible” he speaks…releasing her from his grip as her tears begin to subside. “I hope…” he laughs nervously…causing a small smile to form on her formally pouting lips. “Come on…lets get this over with”

Together they enter the crowded confines of the bathroom…standing silently before the porcline thrown. “OK…how do you want to do this” he asks breaking the silence as he waits for Liz’s answer.

“UM…you need to close you eyes” she blushes furiously…as she nervously tucks her hair behind her ear with her good hand.

“Right…” he responds…closing his eyes. “Now what…”

“You…you need to unbutton my top button and…and then…lower my zipper”

“Ri…right” he stammers just as nervously as Liz. Reaching out her gropes at the air where he thinks that Liz’s waist is.

She can’t help the giggle that erupts from her throat as he continues to frail his hands everywhere before her…but where they need to be. “This really shouldn’t be this hard” she giggles even louder. Growing boulder she grasps his hands within her own and places them on the waistband of her jeans. “Here” she whispers as her boldness begins to disappear just as quickly as it has appeared.

Hurriedly he unbuttons the little gold button…unzipping the zipper of her jeans. “There…” he shouts louder then he would have liked to…as in a flash he bolts out the door of the bathroom…slamming it fastly behind him. Way to go Guerin…he chews him self out as he looks down at his raging erection that just the slightest touch of her waist has caused. Sucking in air like crazy…he tries to get his over active member under control…finding that he is extremely unsuccessful. “Get a hold of yourself dammit” he whispers angrily at himself. “What the @#%$ is wrong with you”

What the @#%$ is wrong is that your standing outside…the bathroom door of the girl you love more then anything…after you have removed her jeans…he chuckles to himself as his anger begins to subside…along with his now sagging erection.

“Thank you” she whispers…unable to look in his eyes once again as her cheeks redden even more then they already are. “I think that I am going to go and change out of these before we eat” Walking past him…she makes her way towards her bedroom stopping dead in her tracks at what she hears from him next.

“You need any help with that” he questions flirtily…trying like hell not to laugh as he does…but finding it unsuccessful. “Sorry…I couldn’t help myself” he laughs even harder at the look of pure shock that now crosses her face. Go…go change…then we can eat”


Chapter Thirteen


“Good Lord girl…get a hold of your self” she scolds her self out loud as she struggles to get out of her unzipped jeans…leaving them before the door as she does. “Have you forgotten who this is…this is Michael Guerin. The same Michael Guerin that has tortured you for almost three years” she continues as she begins to pace the length of her bedroom…clad only in her white cotton underwear and matching bra. “I mean so what if he looked really adorably as he struggled with the button of your jeans…and so what if when he smiles he whole face lights up making him even cuter then you ever thought possible. This is still Michael Guerin that you’re talking about” Frustrated she throws herself backwards upon her bed…regretting it immediately as another jolt of pain rushes through her. This one worse then the last…causes a scream of absolute pain to omit from her lips…as she cradles the painfully pulsating hand against her chest.

“LIZ” Michael shouts as her shrieks of pain fill his ears. Racing down the hall…he forcefully thrusts the door of her room open…landing full body on top of her as he loses his balance…tripping over her hastily discarded jeans.

All thoughts of her agonizing pain disappear as he lays atop her partially nude body…panting heavily a mere inches from her wanting lips. “Michael” she whispers as their eyes lock in unadulterated need of each other. Slowly their lips meet in the most intimate of kisses…as each begins to fully realize the out right passion…the out right need they have for each other. Tongues duel as the loneliness and need they have each experienced in the last years come forth for the other to see.

She can feel it all…his loneliness…his fear and even his absolute love for her. His emotions crash over her in a wave of outright want and need as he hungrily caresses her tongue with his own. She feels as if she is drowning…drowning from the excitement of it all…drowning from the confusion…and drowning for her need of him for she realizes that she needs him just as much as he needs her. The whirlwind continues to grow, as does the pressure his touch is building within her tortured and confused body. She has never been kissed this way…rough and yet tender all rolled into one. Not even Max had brought out this side of Liz…it was a side that she can feel trying to tunnel from deep within her…fighting to reach the surface. “Michael” she moans disappointed as he rips his lips from her own…extracting himself fully from her over heated body.

“I’m sorry. I…I…I think that I should leave. I…I will bring you the food I brought up…and then I am going to go”

She watches as he walks from the room…leaving her confused and embarrassed on the bed. Tears once again fill her eyes as she tries like hell to comprehend what it was that just happened here. One minute he is her greatest enemy…then the next he is caring for her…spouting words of love and regret while she pretended to be asleep…and then the next minute they were making out like their lives depended on it…and now…now he was gone with no reason as to why he ended so abruptly what they both so desperately needed.

“Here…this was all that I could find” Michael says holding a plate out to Liz as he fights like hell to avoid eye contact with her. He can feel his heart beating madly in his chest…as he catches a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye as she sits before him stupefied. He can’t even imagine what it is that is running though her mind at this time…but he had to stop it. No matter how hard it was for him to rip himself off her gorgeous body…he knew that he had to. He couldn’t let it get to far out of control…and it wasn’t easy to not lose all control when it come to his Liz. He loves her…and longs for nothing more then to have her in his arms for the rest of his life…but he knows that he can’t…ever.

“Get out” he hears her scream. “Get the hell out of my life. What the hell was I thinking when I allowed you to help me. You…you who have made my life a living nightmare. “I hate you Michael…do you hear me…I HATE YOU. Get the @#%$ out of here before I call the cops and don’t you ever come back”

Reluctantly he places the plate of food on the nightstand besides her and heads for the door. He can literally feel his heart breaking at the thought of never being this close to her again washes over him. Turning to face her one finial time…for he wants to burn the way that she looks tonight in his mind for all eternity. “I’m sorry” he croaks as with one finial look he bolts out of the door and out of her life.

Tears glisten in his eyes and he runs like the wind out of her apartment…out of the Crash Down…out of her life. Angrily he rubs them away as he jumps on his bike and speeds away from what ever it was that has just happened. The wind stings his face as he flies out of the city limits of Roswell without looking back. He has to get away…get away from the small town that will never look upon him more then just an average street punk…away from the woman that he loves desperately with all his heart and soul. But…as much as he loves her with an all consuming love…he knows that he is just as the town believes him to be for he will always be common street trash…someone that is never going to be good enough for the likes of Liz Parker. She deserves more…deserves to live a life of love and happiness…with him completely clear of it all.

He finally allows the tears he has been holding back to flow fastly down his face. Tears of pain and heartache…tears of want and need…but most importantly they were tears of complete and utter devastation as he tries to picture a life without Liz Parker in it. He momentarily considers beginning his routine of torture once again…for it would mean that at least she would be in his life for the briefest of moments…but quickly forces these thoughts away as images of her terrified face cloud his already screwed up mind.

Pulling off to the side of the deserted road…he parks his bike and with no clear though begins to walk at a fast pace out into the Painted Desert. Muddled images blast his brain at such as alarming rate that he finds it almost impossible to keep up with them…and so he runs. Runs like the winds…runs to clear up the images of his great love that continually batter his already battered brain. “STOP IT” he screams out into the great void that surrounds him. “JUST @#%$ STOP IT” his screams continue as he trips over a jutted rock and crashes to the earth below. “She won’t ever love you…she can’t ever love you” he continues to vocalize a bit more softly…a bit more defeated as his tears roll persistently down his cheeks,

She feels that she has cried enough tears in this one night to last a lifetime as her thoroughly befuddled mind replays the night’s events. She can still feel him…can still feel the weight of his body as it pressed firmly atop her…can still feel the fire that his touch blazed across her already searing skin…can still taste the flavor that is only him lingering on her swollen lips. Her want for him is great…but she knows that she can never just forget all that has transpired in the past years. She knows that he loves her…but is love really enough to help her get through the swirling conflict of emotions that fully in habits her body. Plus the fact that he had bolted out of her room like a bat out of hell…was even more confusing then anything else that had taken place today. Unable to figure out the circumstances of his rapid departure…Liz snuggles…mentally exhausted into the warmth of her comforter and allows the peace that slumber offers to swathe over her.


Chapter Fourteen

“OMG…LIZ…YOU HAVE TO GET UP” she hears a familiar voice yell loudly against her ear…ripping her from her semi peaceful slumber as the comforter she was wrapped in is jerked off her body. “LIZ…THIS IS NO TIME TO BE SLEEPING. CALL THE POLICE…HE…HE…IS DOWN THERE”

“Maria…” she grasps groggily…as she attempts to pull the comforter over her shivering body. “Please just leave me alone”

“ALONE…” she bellows…once again wrenching the comforter off her friend. “Liz…YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME. HE IS DOWN THERE…AND HE IS COOKING”

“Who is down there” she asks…her heart pounding madly in her chest at Maria’s possible response.

“MICHAEL” she screams out in reply as she yanks Liz off the bed…jumping back fearfully at the blood curdling scream that omits deafeningly from her lips.

Tears of unmitigated pain cascade angrily down her face as she cradles her rapidly pulsating hand protectively against her heaving chest. She could not believe the excruciating pain that this wound was causing her…as Maria continues to stand dumbfounded before. “Pills…I need my pain pills” she cries out…pointing in the direction of the door. “In the living room”

“LIZ” she hears his voice echo throughout her pain filled mind. Momentarily she forgets about the pain that has engulfed her entire body as she stares deeply into his worry filled eyes…but that moment quickly fades as another bolt of pain engulfs her.

“Mic…Michael” she stammers as she walks past a completely stupefied Maria and into his waiting arms. “It hurts so bad…so bad Michael”

“Shhh…it’s ok. I’m here…were going to get through this remember” he whispers soothingly as he cradles her in his loving arms. “Go downstairs and bring up the black knapsack that is in locker three” he barks at Maria wrenching her from her uncomprehending thoughts at the sight she is witnessing before her. “GO…NOW…and don’t you dare open it…you got it” he threatens frustrated at the slow moving teen.

Nodding…Maria rushes out the room forgetting about her utter confusion as her thoughts turn to one and only one thing…taking care of Liz.

“Michael…you came back” she whispers through her pain filled tears as she clutches desperately to him with her good hand as if to ensure that he won’t leave her again.

“Of course I came back” he replies…closing his eyes as he relishes the feel of her once again in his arms.

“Last night…”

“HERE” Maria screeches as she rushes into the room with the knapsack…cutting Liz off in mid sentence.

Snatching it from her hands he rummages around the bag frustrated in an attempt to find the elusive pill bottle. “Go get her a glass of water” he snarls as he continues to search frantically for bottle. Moments later he finds it as he jerks it out of the bag…pouring two of the pain relievers onto his hand as he awaits Maria return with the glass of water. Upon her return he snatches it uncaringly from her grasp as he turns back to Liz and gently assists her as she drinks the coolness of the water. “Better” he questions as he takes the now empty glass and shoves it back in Maria’s hands…never once taking his eyes off of the woman he holds before him.

“Better” she answers honestly as he continues to clutch at his waist with her one good hand…unable to let go…and in truth not wanting to.

“See…I told you that we would get through this” he whispers reassuringly…a small smile gracing his normally pouty lips. Looking over his shoulder he glares at the confused girl standing behind him with a look of pure shock and confusion gracing her face. It is a look that irritates him beyond belief…a look that he wants to wipe of her tiny pixie face. “Get back downstairs and man the kitchen until I get back” he snaps at Maria…another grin spreading across his face as she flinches from the harshness of his tone.

“Wh...what” she stammers…as she continues to look from Liz to Michael completely baffled as to what it was that has transpired between these two…for it was obvious that something had. Just weeks ago Michael had been spray-painting Liz’s locker with obscene words and phrases…and now Liz was hanging onto him as if her life depended on it. “I’m…I’m not leaving you alone with her” she states defiantly as she continues to stand before him…her only thoughts are of breaking the trance that he seems to hold on Liz.

“GET YOU ASS DOWNSTAIRS…NOW” Michael bellows…appalled at the implications in her voice. Pulling away from Liz…he moves to stand before Maria…grabbing her by the shoulders as he begins to shake her for emphasis. “Now…I said get your ass downstairs and man that grill until I return…you got it”

“Michael…” she hears Liz whisper weakly. She watches as he obediently releases the grip he holds on her already bruising shoulders…and makes his way to where she stands…watches as she once again leans into the arms of the man that not more then a few days ago…she hated and feared beyond all belief. “Maria” she says reassuringly as she glances over Michael’s shoulder. “I will be ok…just go down to the kitchen and keep an eye on things for me. I will be down in just a few minutes to…”

“No…you won’t” Michael cuts in as he gently takes her beautiful face into his hands and forces her to look at him. “You need to rest. I will take care of the kitchen today…in fact I will run the kitchen for as long as you need me”

“Michael…thank you…but you don’t know anything about running a kitchen”

“Ah contraire” he chuckles in his best fake French accent. “You would be wrong about that my dear. I know everything there is to know about running a kitchen…and I can hold my own quite well…”

“Right…” Maria spits nastily…as she gets a rush of braveness as she steps forward and draws Liz out of his grasp. “Liz…please think about who this is that we are talking about. This is Michael Guerin…the same Michael Guerin that has made your life…and mine a living hell. I don’t know what the hell is going on between the two of you…but you have to snap out of it. I don’t trust him…and neither should you. Liz…this is a trap of some sort. Come on girl…this is Michael Guerin for gods sake”

“Maria” she replies gently…trying to set her friends mind to rest. “Something happened between Michael and I last night…and he is just paying me back”

“WHAT…OMG Liz did he…did he do that to you” she questions manically…pointing towards her bandaged hand.

“What…NO” Liz states adamantly as she holds her good hand up in an effort to stop Michael from advancing on Maria. “Maria…please just trust me on this one. He won’t hurt me…I will be just fine” she says becoming serious at the look of pure fear that now clutters her best friends face. “Thank you for defending me…but I will be just fine”

“Liz…I don’t know why I am doing this…but I trust you. If he tries anything at all…I am only a scream away” she states earnestly as she pulls Liz into an embrace. “Just a scream away” she repeats strongly as she turns from her friend and fully faces the man that once petrified her beyond belief. “You hurt her…and it will be you that be tortured beyond belief…YOU GOT THAT” she continues boldly…poking him in the chest as if to prove her point.

“I don’t know who the @#%$…”

“Michael…please” Liz whispers as she drowsily makes her way to the bed…sitting her now exhausted body heavily upon it.

“Got it” he growls under his breath. “Now get the hell out of here”



Chapter Fifteen


“I need to get downstairs and…”

“Were you not listening to me when I told you that you are not working the kitchen today” Michael questions the obviously groggy Liz. “The only thing that you are going to do today is rest. I will take care of the Crash Down…and Maria will help me. Everything will be fine…and when you wake up from your nap you can come downstairs and I will make you something to eat…but for now…rest”

“Michael…I can’t…”

“You can and you will. Now lay back and get some sleep” he replies…not able to stop the grin that he knows is now plastered across his face…a grin that always seems to be present when it comes to Liz Parker. “Sleep”

“Ok…but I will help you once I wake up” she whispers sleepily as she allows Michael to pick her up…placing her once again against strongness of his chest.

“We’ll see” he chuckles softly as he hears the gentle sounds of sleep emanating from her as he lays her on the bed. Pulling the comforter over her…he places a gentle kiss upon her forehead and makes his way out of the room.

“You may have Liz fooled” Maria screeches as Michael enters the kitchen to find a frenzied mess before him. Burgers were burning on the grill…and the order wheel was over flowing with numerous order slips. “But…you haven’t fooled me. I don’t know what the hell your up to Guerin…but you can best bet that I will find out and when I do…whatever this hold you have over Liz is…will be broken and she will see you once again for the common street garbage that you are”

“You listen to me…and you listen to me good little girl” Michael growls heatedly as he once again grabs the tender shoulders of the girl before him…drawing her closer until he can feel her terrified breath upon his face. “You…get your @#%$ ass out there and waitress those tables. You will be kind and courteous and you will NOT tell Liz anything…cause if you do…well you already know that I am capable of” he continues his rant as he shakes her swiftly for emphasis. Quickly he releases her as she nods her head fearfully…her eyes as wide a saucers. “Good…now that we have that all cleared up…get busy”

“It is so hard to find good help these days,” he mutters to himself as he goes about cleaning up the mess that in a matter of minutes she had created. Fifteen minutes later he has the kitchen in proper running order as he begins making the orders that have continuously been stacking up. Thankfully none of the staff members have decided to challenge him…making the day pass along for the most part pretty smoothly.

“You seem to have everything under control,” she states in awe as she watches the flurry of activity revolving around Michael and his grill. She only planned to sleep for a couple of hours…but four hours later she had expected to come downstairs and find total and utter chaos. Instead she found everything was running smoothly…in fact even better then when Jose was manning things.

“Evening sleepyhead” he chuckles happily…realizing that he now has an audience. “See…I told you that I could run a kitchen all by myself”

“That you did…that you did” she replies…clearly impressed at what she sees before her. “So…how about a burger and fries for a crippled girl”

“One Will Smith burger…and an order of space fries for the beautiful crippled girl” he quips…winking flirtily at the furiously blushing girl.

“Can I help” she blurts out…trying to change the subject quickly for she knows that she is as red as a beet thanks to his compliment.

“Actually you can. I want you to sit here and hold this stool down” his chuckles continue as he guides her to an empty stool located at the side of the prep table. “Damn thing has been jumping all over the kitchen all day”

“Oh my…it has been a very naughty stool then” she flirts back as she allows him to lift her up…placing her gently on the stool. She knows that she sounds corny…but she can’t help it. It had been years since she had openly flirted with a man…and the fact that this man looked sexy as hell in an apron made it all the more worth while.

“Very naughty…” he replies…gazing deep into her chocolate eyes.

“And what do you suppose we do about it” she murmurs…finding herself drowning in a pool a greenness…as she stares longingly into his expressive eyes. She can feel her heart literally pounding within her chest…for she knows that he is once again going to kiss her and with each agonizing second she finds it more unbearable to handle the wait. Pulling herself from the hold his eyes have on her…she allows her own to travel the contours of his chiseled face…until she reaches the perfect poutiness of his lips. Seconds seem like an eternity as closer and closer those lips incline before her…causing her to involuntarily wet her own from the sheer anticipation.

“Um…one Will Smith Burger and a side of space fries coming right up” he splutters…jerking himself away from Liz and what it was they were about to do. He hurriedly makes up her order…avoiding eye contact as he places the plate on the table in front of her. “Maybe you should eat this upstairs. I mean…you will probably be more comfortable upstairs and you are about due for your pain medicine soon and you know how that makes you…”

“Um…actually I am feeling a lot better” she responds disappointed…as she attempts to make eye contact and fails miserably. “Maybe I will just eat down her and keep you company”

“Right…sure…keep me company” he repeats…extremely irritated with himself the he has almost broken the deal he made with himself earlier in the desert.

Confusion once again coats her as she hungrily bites into the burger…causing all thoughts of disappointment and her absolute need for him to disappear at just how delicious this simple hamburger is. “OMG Michael…this is unquestionably the best hamburger that I have ever eaten”

“Really…thanks” he answers…beaming at the fact that she was enjoying the meal he had created for her.

“I’ve eaten a million burgers here…and none of them have ever tasted this good. What is your secret” she queries as she takes another huge bite from the succulent burger.

“Sorry dear…privileged information” he jokes placing another burger onto the now empty plate before her. “I take this recipe to the grave”

“Well for this recipe…that can be arranged” she teases as she greedily consumes the second burger.


Chapter Sixteen


The week was passing pretty quickly…so quickly in fact that Liz was wishing that the convention that he father was attending would be extended for another week. The truth was she missed her father desperately…but the idea of not having Michael close to her was terrifying beyond anything that made sense. It was as if the two years of torture he had inflicted on her had vanished in an instant…and in it’s place something that she never expected to find after Max’s death…love. Yes…she loves him and she knows that he loves her for he had spouted his words of love so plainly to her as she faked sleeping that night…but since his return that day he has been hard pressed to show anything other then out right friendship. She doesn’t want friendship…she longs for more and she is running out of ideas as to what she could do to make him see that she was more then ready. She had tried it all…tried every womanly wild that she could think of…other then flat out admittael…that she was willing forget all the pain of the past and ready to move on with what ever this thing that they have is. But each time she makes an attempt she is brutally rebuffed…causing her frustration level to grow by leaps and bounds each and every day they are together.

He had decided to stay in the spare guestroom of her apartment…so close to her and yet so far. He could have lived on the other side of the world for all it mattered…causing her to come up with every excuse in the book as to why she was in his room. She wasn’t ashamed to admit that she had fibbed to him several times…but it was worth it to just be near him. Her hand was healing quite nicely and the pain like before was almost non-existent…but as far as Michael knew some nights the pain was so excruciating that the only thing that would ease it was for him to hold her as tightly as possible.

What she didn’t know was that Michael knew exactly what she was doing…and it was almost to much for him to bear some nights as he held her closely against his wanting body. His need for her most times was so great that he could barely control the urge to rip her clothes off and make love to her right then and there…but he had made a promise to himself that he would be there for her as long as she needed him…or until her father returned from wherever it was that he was…and it was a promise for all intents and purposes that he intended to keep. There is no denying that he loves her…but she could do better then him…and he was determined that she would find some one better then him.

Anger coats him as the thought of Liz with anyone but him enters his jealous mind…but he quickly scolds himself for thinking such things. She deserved better…she deserved to be with someone that could give her the finer things in life…she deserves someone that will be there for her emotional as well as physically. So he reaffirms his earlier vow to keep things between them as innocent as possible…but little does he know that Liz has completely opposite plans for him.


She has come to realize very quickly that she is tired of this game of cat and mouse that they always seem to be playing. One minute it is as if Michael is coming around…and then the next he is as cold and stiff as a polar iceberg. She is tired of the frustration that always seems to be present whenever they are together and maybe just a bit fearful that if she doesn’t do something now…that they may lose whatever chance they may have…permanently. So she has come up with a semblance of a plan…and although she knows that it may fail and she could lose what she already has with Michael…it is something that she has to try no matter what the costs.

A small mischievous grin covers her face as she watches her prey scurry around the kitchen at the end of an extremely busy day at the Crash Down. Since Michael had started working the cliental had increased dramatically. Once word got out about his delicious burgers the population of Roswell came in droves to get a taste of the latest buzz…but it wasn’t just the burgers it was everything that he served. Liz knows that hiring Michael was one of the best decisions that she has ever made…and not for just his excellent cooking skills and she hopes that once her father returns from his trip that…like she has been able too…he will be willing to look past everything that has transpired in the past and allow him to continue to work at the Crash Down.

“Hey…you need some help” she questions…as she steps up behind Michael…getting as close as possible without throwing her longing body into his strong arms. Operation get Michael was about to go into full swing…causing her determination factor to raise another notice higher as she relishes the possible out come…waking up tomorrow morning in his loving embrace.

“Um…nah…actually I have it pretty much wrapped up” he responds quickly…fighting like hell to hinder the urge to grab her from where she stands behind him and throw her on top of the prep table…@#%$ her till she screams his name frantically from the top of her lungs.

“You sure…” she coos taking another step closer to him.

“Yep…really sure…all done” Is his reply as he throws the towel he was using on the table and moves as far away as possible from Liz. Without thinking he yanks the apron that he was wearing off his over heated body…and without realizing it causes Liz’s determination factor to rise yet another notch.

She can literally feel her breath catch in her throat as she watches him remove the apron that was covering the top half of his delicious body. She already knew that he was built…she had felt it each time that he held her in his arms this past week…but the tight sleeveless t-shirt that he was wearing really emphasized his buffness. Working her eyes over the chiseled muscles of his arms…she for the first time notices the tattoos littered throughout both arms. Before tonight she has never thought that tattoos could be so sexy…but tonight she has to fight like hell not to run her tongue over each and every square inch of them.

“Liz…Liz…” he calls out to her yet again…as she continues to stand before him with a look covering her face that he can’t quite decipher. “Hey…you ok”

“Um…yeah…sorry” she blushes as she nervously moves her hair behind her ears. “I was just looking at your tattoos. I hadn’t realized that you had any”

‘My tats…” he states proudly as he run his hand over his left tattooed covered arm. “I’ve had them for years now. I had my first tattoo when I was sixteen”

“Sixteen…” she responds shocked…as she moves forward and continues to gawk at the beauty of the colorful ink.

“Yeah…I was drunk and Kyle dared me to get this one” he says pointing to the one that Liz is still looking at. “It hurt like hell…and I ended up puking all over the guys shirt…but after I sobered up and saw how beautiful it was…I was hooked. I’ve got three now…and still looking to add a few more”

“It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen” she whispers in awe as she gently traces the outline of the snarling German Shepherd tattoo with the words “Mad Dawg” in black ink at the bottom. “Why…Mad Dawg” she questions…looking from the tattoo and into his eyes.

“Um…that was…is…my nick name” he blushes…feeling really stupid at the childlessness of his given nickname.

“Mad Dawg huh…” she giggles as she moves to his other arm to inspect the ink there. “And this one…”

“Celtic crosses…the very rage these days don’t you know” he pans…trying not to notice the way that Liz’s touch is causing a fire to spark within him.

“I see two…so where is the other one”

“Um…someplace where you can’t see it” he returns rudely as he pulls away from her and makes his way for the kitchen door.

“Why…why can’t I see it” she runs after him…finding her self extremely excited at the prospect of where his final tattoo is.

“Because you can’t…”

“But I want to see it” she pouts…running ahead of him…crossing her arms defiantly across her chest.

“Liz…I…”

“Please Michael…please let me see it” she begs…giving him the saddest puppy dog eyes that she can muster.

“I…fine” he gushes…unable to deny her request. “But…I have to take off my shirt”

“Michael…you’ve seen me in my underwear and bra. I think that I can handle you shirtless”

“Right…”

Once again her heart catches in her chest as he quickly removes his shirt…clearly revealing the rippling muscles of his chest. “Oh my…” she sighs as she draws her eyes over the god that is standing before her. “I mean…it’s beautiful” And it really is beautiful…she thinks as she moves in for a closer look. She can not express the emotions that this simple bleeding heart with a twine of thorns woven tightly around it is causing her…it was the saddest thing that she had ever seen…and yet at the same time she knows that this tattoo has some significance as to the life that Michael has lead.

She hears him suck in his breath at the mere touch of her fingers upon his ink-covered pec. She knows that he touch is affecting him…as she feels it against her body as she moves even closer to the now heavily breathing man. Slowly she traces the outline of the heart…placing a soft butterfly kiss upon it. “Liz…” she hears him moan as she continues with her bout of sudden boldness…working her mouth lazily over his chiseled chest. “Please…stop” his moans persist unconvincingly as he winds his hands within her hair and pulls her roughly against his fully hardened manhood…viciously attacking her mouth with his own demanding one.

She can’t even begin to explain the tangled web of emotions that are spiralling thought out her frenzied body. Michael was kissing her with such velocity that she feels that she may no longer be able to stand on her own two feet…and yet at the same time she is returning the gesture with her own rapidity. Closer and closer their bodies gravitate into one another…until neither knows where one begins and the other ends and then in an instant the coldness of distance weighs heavily upon her as Michael rips him self from the embrace that was shared between the two of them…leaving her gasping for breath.

“I have to go” he gasps quickly as he also fights for much needed air…leaving a stunned Liz in his wake.

“Leave…” she screams running after the retreating figure of Michael and he bolts for the door. “Where are you going…Michael please”

“Look…we knew that this day was coming. Your father will be back on Friday and there is really no reason for me to stay here anymore. The Crash Down is closed tomorrow…so I think that the best thing to happen is for me to move back into my own place. I think that I have paid you back in full…so why don’t we just say that we are even and call it a day”

“NO…” she screams running after Michael once again. “Michael…please don’t do this…don’t leave me. I don’t want to be alone…please”

“You know what Liz…we all have to deal with loneliness in our life time…so get over it…and the sooner that you realize that…the happier you will be” he growls in mock anger…his heart feeling as if it is literally being ripped out of his chest at the sight of her tears that he is causing her…and yet he knows that time has come to end this charade that they have been playing. “Oh…and by the way…you don’t have to worry about me @#%$ with you anymore. Goodbye Liz…have a nice life”

“Michael…NO” she screams as he jets out the front door of the Crash Down leaving her d