Tess, Lies and Letters

Author: Siobhan

Category: Max/Liz

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Secrets and lies revealed. Set not long after End of the World. Need I say any more?

Authors note: this is my first ever fan fic, so please send me feedback to let me know how I did!

Liz woke with a start, shaking and breathing heavily. She glanced at the clock. It was 7 am. Again, as usual, she had been woken by the same nightmare. She was reliving the visit from future max and the moment she betrayed her one true love Max. Her heart ripped apart every time she saw the look of utter despair on his face, as it would remain in her mind forever. Liz got up and had a long shower as though she was trying to wash away the memories.

‘Yeh like that could ever happen’ she thought sadly.

She got out of the shower and glanced in the mirror. What had happened to the girl who was so in love and happy on a few weeks ago? Her skin had acquired a slight greyish tone, and there were large bags under her eyes. Her lies were destroying herself, but she had to keep going. For Max, Michael and Isabel. Even though she was dying on the inside, they would not find out the truth. Liz sighed and got ready for school

Across town, Max was contemplating getting out of bed. If he got out, he would see Liz, and he would see her in bed with Kyle. But if her didn’t get out of bed, he wouldn’t see Liz. His stomach growled but he ignored it, he couldn’t face eating.

Ever since he had seen his Liz in bed with Kyle, he didn’t want to believe it. Why would Liz want to hurt him so much? They loved each other, they were soulmates. In the back of his mind he knew why Liz did it, to make him accept his destiny with Tess. Didn’t she know he could love no one else? No one else could ever replace her, the beautiful smile, the silky hair and the loving caring person she was. There was a knock on his door

“Come in” he said, not meaning it one bit.

“Are you going to school?” Isabel said to him

“Yeh give me a minute”

“Ok…Max? Are you alright? Every since you came back from Liz’s you’ve just sat in your room. What happened?”

“Liz…Liz slept with Kyle” Max’s voice cracked.

“Wh-what?”

“I saw them in bed the other night”

“Are you sure? You didn’t get it wrong?”

“I asked her about it when we were in Whittaker’s town”

“Oh my god Max, I’m so sorry. I ant believe it, why would she do that to you?”

“Im guessing she wanted me to accept me destiny” Max couldn’t stop the tears rolling down his face now. Isabel walked out of his room, stunned and angry. What was Liz playing at? She knew that Max would never accept his destiny.

“Liz, babe, no offence but you aren’t looking too good” Maria commented ass they walked to their lockers.

“Oh, er…I haven’t been sleeping well”

“Guess Max keeps you on your toes, even at night!”

‘If only you knew’ Liz thought sadly.

Liz was dreading going to science. The thought of facing Max made her want to curl up and die.

Max was dreading going to science. Seeing Liz would bring back all the hurt. He braved his way in and was surprised to see that Liz wasn’t there. He sat down and waited. Liz walked into the classroom and looked to where Max was sitting. The butterflies were going crazy in her stomach and her head was spinning as she looked at him. She loved him so much. It wasn’t fair that she had to give him up to Tess, but she had to, future Max had insisted. She took a breath and sat down next to Max. Max had noticed her come in. His stomach always flipped with excitement when he saw her, or even thought about her, but this time it was out of dread and hurt.

She gave him a small nervous smile and stared straight-ahead, avoiding eye contact. Wordlessly they set up their experiment. Liz and Max’s thoughts were on each other and neither of them were paying much attention to what they were doing. All of a sudden Max accidentally tipped the acid over onto the desk, just as Liz put her hand in the same spot. Liz let out a scream and Max gasped in shock at what he had done to her. Her smooth skin was bright red, and she was bravely trying to fight off the tears as she put water on the burn. Max stood in shock, mortified at what he had done, until Liz’s whimpers stirred him into action. He gently took her hand and gazed into her red shining eyes. He made the connection with her and concentrated on healing her hand. All at once the images came. Liz reciting her wedding vows in front of a mirror, an older version of himself with long hair talking to her, and her crying her eyes out as she listened to his words. The connection broke and Max looked at Liz questioningly. Her mouth gaped open as she realise what he had seen. She took her hand and held it close to her chest.

“Liz? Wh-what was that?”

“Max…I-I...”

“Liz are you ok? Is there a problem?” Mrs Shaffer asked

“I-I got acid on my hand”

“Let me see. Well it looks ok but you better go clean it in the toilets.” The teacher walked away. Liz unable to take her eyes of Max backed up and ran out of the class.

“Liz! Wait!” Max called. He started to follow her but was stopped by the teacher. He just sat there in shock.

At the back of the room, Tess had witnessed the whole scene. She knew that Max healed Liz, but she couldn’t figure out what had happened next. Did Max see something? What could possibly make him look as hurt as he did now?

‘ Of course! He must have seen the ‘visit’ from his future self! Oh god I hope he didn’t see that I was there!’ Tess tore her eyes from Max’s devastated face and recalled the night she has found him sitting in the park alone. He told her in between tears how he had found Liz and Kyle. But of course, Tess knew all this because she had created the future Max that Liz had ‘seen’. She needed to find out what Max had seen otherwise it could jeopardise any chance they had of fulfilling their destiny together. He was obviously in no fit state to tell her, so Liz was the next option.

“Mrs Shaffer, can I go check on Liz?”

“Yes of course, but don’t be too long.”

Tess gave a concerned Max a reassuring smile and made her way to the bathroom.

Liz was sitting in shock. Max saw future Max in the flash. This was bad; there was no way he could find out. She gave way to uncontrollable sobbing. She looked up and saw Tess standing there.

“Tess, what are you doing here?” Liz tried to hide her tears.

“I wanted to see if you were ok” she lied

“Im fine”

“I saw Max heal you, what did he see?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well he must have seen something to get you both in a state”

“Nothing, just go back and see if he’s ok”

‘Damn, guess I’ll have to try Max. I think he trusts me now so it shouldn’t be too hard.’

As Tess left, Isabel walked in.

“What are you crying about Parker?”

“Oh, Isabel, erm…nothing, I’m fine.” Liz flashed a fake smile.

“Hmm…could it be your guilty conscience?”

Liz stared at her

“Max told me, how could you do that to my brother?”

“It just happened.”

“That’s crap Liz. If you did this to get him and Tess together, then you are wasting your time. You and you only have his heart”

Liz lost control and started crying again

“I had to save you, Max told me to, I had no choice!” Liz blurted out

“Liz what are you saying?”

A couple of girls walked in and Isabel ushered Liz out and into an empty class where she sealed the door shut.

“Tell me what’s going on now”

“ I cant”

“ You can and you will”

“You wont believe me, you wont want to”

“For gods sake, spill. Does this have anything to do with you sleeping with Kyle?” Isabel spat

“I didn’t sleep with Kyle!”

“What? Max saw you together, you told him you did!”

“Max saw what he thought he saw, and yes that’s what I told him”

“Why would you hurt him like that?”

“He has to go to Tess”

“That destiny stuff is crap!”

“Its not crap! It ensures you survival, Michaels too! I did it because I love him so much!”

“Ok you gotta help me out here”

Liz took a deep breath and told Isabel everything. About future Max, how Michaels and Isabel died, how Tess left, and how Max and Liz were married. By the end, Isabel was pale and speechless, a single tear running down her cheek.

“I’m so sorry, I had no idea! You gave up Max for me, for us. I will never forget that”

“You cannot tell anyone, not even Michael. Maria doesn’t even know”

“Ok, ok I won’t. Not if the future depends on it”

“Thank you. God it feels so good to tell someone, its been killing me. Every time I see Max, I die all over again. I cant bare to see him so hurt, I love him so much”

“It’s killing him too. Is there another way?”

“No, that would mean I would have to tell him the truth and I cant do that. There’s no other way. That bitch Tess wants him”

“Hey Liz, you on tonight?” Maria asked

“Unfortunately, yes”

“Hey what’s wrong? Want me to cover?”

“Im fine, lets go”

They walked into the Crashdown together and Liz’s breath caught in her throat. Max was there in his usual booth.

“Ooh loverboys here!”

“Maria take my tables, I, uh, forgot my apron!” Liz bolted out to the back

“Liz you’re wearing it!” Maria called after her

“Hey Max how’s it going?”

“Where’s Liz?”

“She’s out back, hi to you too. Jeez you look like crap, maybe there’s something in the water.”

Max ignored Maria and ran to the backroom to see Liz. She was sitting with her back to him, with their song, Lifehouse Everything playing in the background. He thought she was crying. His heart melted then quickly shattered at the thought of her and Kyle. Liz wiped her cheeks dry and stood up. She turned round and saw Max standing there.

“Max what are you doing here?”

“I need to speak to you about what happened in class today.”

“Well im working now.”

“Maria’s covering. What was that I saw in the flashes? I know you saw them too.”

“I don’t know, I can’t explain them.”

“I saw me with long hair talking to you. I felt how you felt. I felt your heart break at what he-I was telling you.”

“Look I don’t know hat you’re talking about.”

“Yes you do. We never hide things from each other, what are you not telling me?”

“Im not hiding anything.”

“Did you really sleep with Kyle?”

Liz nodded, not trusting her voice.

“Why? Why do you want to kill me? We love each other.”

“Well some things change Max. I don’t love you anymore. I want a normal life.” Max just stared at her.

“Don’t say that! I love you so much. I don’t care about Kyle, I only care about you, about being with you.”

“Just leave me. Its simple, we don’t belong together.” Liz nearly died at the distraught look on his beautiful face.

“Neither do me and Tess” he said as he walked out.

Max was walking home that night. The conversation with Liz was on a loop around his head. What was going on? Of course she still loved him. Max sighed. This was going to kill him. Did she expect him to just give her up and go to Tess? He felt nothing for her, never would. As if on cue, Tess walked around the corner.

“Max, hi” she said breathlessly.

“Hey”

“Are you alight?” she asked, knowing the answer already.

“No. Liz told me that she didn’t love me and that we didn’t belong together.”

“Oh wow. Why would she say that?”

“That’s what im trying to work out.”

“Come on, come back to mine, we can talk.”

“Err…no thanks, im fine.”

“Don’t be silly, I wont bite you know,” not unless you want me to honey, she silently added.

Tess was happy. It finally it looked like Max was drifting away from Liz and towards her. This was how it was supposed to be. Nasedo would be pleased of her, its what he demanded she should do. Liz must really feel like crap. She gave him up to save the others, including me. She must hate that. But she must really love Max to tell him that she didn’t love him. Tess felt a pang of guilt, but quickly pushed it away concentrating on the task in hand, Max. The thought of him and her together gave her a shiver of delight. She had to have him.

As Max told her everything, she watched his face crumple and fall further into sadness. He was completely messed up by what Tess had done. He loved Liz so much, it was plain to see. This was hurting him so much. More feelings of guilt and remorse were taking over. This was not what she had intended. She never wanted to hurt him by what she had done to Liz. She only wanted him to realise that he had a destiny to fulfil with her. She thought that’s what she had wanted too. Nasedo had drummed it into her head. She had forced herself to believe it. Oh god, I think ive done something really stupid.

Isabel couldn’t sleep. What Liz had told her astounded her. She was slightly suspicious though. Why was Tess talking to her in the bathroom earlier? They couldn’t stand each other. What part did she have to play? Isabel pulled out the yearbook and came to Tess’ picture. She concentrated hard and started to drift off as she dream walked her.

Tess was on Liz’s balcony, talking to her. They seemed to be arguing intensely. Tess left, but stayed on the ladder, out of sight. Isabel could see her concentrating hard. All of a sudden, Liz was sitting down crying her eyes out. Tess was smiling as she crept away. Isabel broke out of the dream walk. She was confused as to what she had just witnessed. Tess was dreaming about something that had happened. Liz would not be crying over a fight with Tess. Isabel’s heart skipped a beat as she realised that was the night in which future Max had visited her. Again Isabel entered her dream. This time Tess was watching Max on Liz's balcony. He had a look of utter hurt and confusion on his face as he walked away. Liz was crying, looking very guilty, while in her bed. Next to her, Kyle was looking very uncomfortable.

Isabel woke up and realised what had happened. Tess had mind warped Liz, making her believe that a future Max had told her to break his heart. Oh my god, what has she done? She has destroyed them both. What am I going to do?

Liz was in her room, writing in her journal. She heard a soft tap on the window, and looked up to see Max there. She gave a small gasp as she got up to open the window. Max had been sitting there for 10 minutes just watching her. He could never let her go, no matter what she did.

“Max”

“We need to talk”

“Please, I don’t want to go through this again. I slept with Kyle, end of story.”

“I don’t believe it. I can’t give you up, even if you did.”

“Don’t you even care what I did? I betrayed you, I hurt you, and you should hate me!”

“I could never hate you. I will always love you, nobody else. Liz I will not let you slip away from me.”

“Well you’re going to have to. Please don’t make this any harder.”

Max kissed her. A heart-searing kiss full of all the love and passion he had for her. At first she resisted, but she realised that she couldn’t, and gave in, kissing him back. She missed him so much. But her head caught up with her heart and she managed to pull away.

“No Max, please just leave me.”

“I will be back Liz, I love you no matter what.” He gave her one last kiss and walked away. His eyes never left her as he climbed down the ladder.

Outside Liz’s bedroom, Tess was listening. She had heard everything. She knew she should be angry but she wasn’t. She was so consumed by guilt that she had gone to Liz’s to tell her everything. She wasn’t sure if she even felt anything for Max anymore. After hearing their encounter, how could she possibly tell Liz? Tess could feel her hurt, love and guilt, just as she could feel Max’s. They were dying inside, and it was her fault. They would probably kill her for this. Tess ran off.

“Im leaving” Liz declared to Maria and Alex.

“Vacation?” Alex asked

“Long term. Im moving to Florida to live with my aunt.”

“When?”
”Why?”

“What??” Maria and Alex both had their own questions.

“As soon as possible. Tomorrow in fact. Why? I can only tell you that I hurt someone I love more than life itself, and I cannot deal with that. You can ask Isabel once I’m gone if that doesn’t satisfy you.”

“Isabel? Liz, babe, im your best friend!”

“Hey, me too” Alex declared.

“I love you both so much. But I am too ashamed over what I did to tell anyone.”

“We’re not just anyone. You told Isabel.”

“I didn’t, she found out and I had to tell her the rest!”

“Right.” Maria was pissed.

“Liz, I don’t understand why you are doing this, but it’s important to you, so I will stand by you.”

“Oh Alex you’re so great!” Liz hugged him, missing him already.

“Maria, I love you, you’re the sister I never wanted!” Maria’s pout turned into a smile.

“Oh god come here!” She squeezed Liz hard.

“Promise me one thing you two, take care of Max. He means everything to me. Which is why im leaving.” Silence washed over them. They all hugged each other tight, not wanting to let go.

Liz was packing while Maria was working. Isabel entered the Crashdown.

“Hey Isabel”
”Where’s Liz?”

“God, does no one ever come here to see me?”

“Maria! This is really important”

“Okay! She’s upstairs packing”

“Where’s she going?”

“You better ask her yourself”
Isabel flew up the stairs. Liz’s room was a mess. There were boxes everywhere.

“Liz you cannot leave. Not over this situation. How do you think Max will feel?”

“He will have to get over it. It will bring him closer to her if im not here.”

“Please forget about this destiny/future Max/end of the world thing.”

“I cant! Im doing this to save your ass!

“This stuff is crap Liz. It’s not true. Tess-“

“Isabel please! Its not crap, so just get out!”

“Liz-“

“No! Go take care of Max.” Isabel left. She knew there was only one person who could sort this out.

Tess was waiting in Max’s bedroom, waiting for him to come home. She had to tell him everything,”

Isabel knocked frantically on Tess’ door. Kyle answered and she pushed past him to Tess’ room. No one was there. She was really mad now.

“Come on in Iz” Kyle muttered.

“Where’s Tess?” Isabel asked.

“Dunno. She muttered something about telling Max the truth.”

“Shit!” Isabel kicked a box across the room. Everything tumbled out of it, including a white sealed envelope. It was addressed to Tess in Nasedo’s writing. Isabel tore it open. As she read the letter her jaw dropped, and her eyes bulged. Wordlessly she ran out of the room, clutching the letter.

“What is God’s name did it say?” Kyle said to himself.

Max climbed through his window to find Tess sitting there. He groaned, he did not want to be talking to her.

“Max, please, don’t say anything, I have to tell you something.” She pleaded.

“Go ahead”

“Ive done something really stupid. I warped-“ the door flew open and Isabel burst in.

“Don’t even think about it Tess!” She yelled.

“What’s going on?”

“I could ask the same, “Tess yelled. This was delaying her.

“Yeh me too, “ Mrs Evans said.

“Mom!”

“What’s going on here?” Its 2.30 in the morning. Tess what are you doing here?”

“We were just talking mom, “Isabel explained, frustrated.

“Yelling more like it. Tess I think you should go home.”

“No! Mom-“

“ I don’t want to hear it Isabel, get to bed.” Tess and Isabel were annoyed. This would have to wait until morning. Max was just confused.

Early that morning, Isabel was at the Valenti’s. She knocked hard, and a sleepy Kyle answered. She would have laughed at his appearance if it were the right time. Again, she walked past him to Tess’ room.

“What is wrong with everyone? Do I smell or something? No ‘hi Kyle’ or nothing.”

Isabel walked into Tess’ room.

Tess was up and dressed, going over what she would say to Max. Her thoughts were disrupted when Isabel barged in carrying a piece of paper.

“Isabel, what do you want?”

“I know what you did to Liz. How could you?! Are you so desperate to get your claws into Max and get jiggy with him that you don’t care who you hurt in the process? You’re such a bitch!”

“I can explain”

“This should be good,” Isabel muttered.

“When Nasedo first told me about my destiny I was apprehensive. I mean who wants to get it on with a complete stranger? Anyway he drummed it into my head how important it is for our race and he made me believe that I wanted Max. I only wanted Nasedo to be proud of me. But now I know just how wrong I am, I don’t feel anything for Max.”

“So you did this all for Nasedo”

“And for our race. He told me endlessly how important it is”

“Well im afraid that aint the case,” she handed Tess the piece of paper. As Tess read, her face paled, and she was gob smacked. When she finished she burst out crying.

“What have I done?!”

Isabel had never seen Tess show any kind of emotion like this before. She was becoming more human, allowing her feelings to play a part of who she was.

“Tess, fix this,” Isabel ordered. And with that, she left. She called over her shoulder as she was leaving, “Liz is leaving town. Her flight leaves at 10.”

Tess couldn’t believe what was in the letter. She was going to fix this. They would hate her, but at least they could all be happy again. Clutching the letter, she headed off to Max’s.

Liz put the last load of books in the last box, and looked around her near empty room. So many memories were created in here. Her and Max’s first kiss, down to her ‘betrayal’ to Max.

“Liz honey, shall I put that in the car? Is that it?” her dad asked.

“Yeh dad. Thanks.”

“You know you can always come back.”

“Dad…” Liz whined.

“I know, I know. You want to go to college in Florida. Im so proud of you putting your education first.” Mr Parker hugged his only daughter, and took the box down to the car. Liz stepper out onto the balcony, and left an envelope on the chair next to a lit candle. It was labelled ‘Max’. She glanced at the ‘M.E. + L.P.’ graffiti heart on her wall that Max had put there, and tears stung her eyes. Fighting them back, she climbed back in to her room and made her way to the door, pausing before she closed the door. She whispered, “Goodbye Max, I love you.” She walked out.

Max was angry. No, he was totally pissed. Angry at Tess. He figured he could quite easily kill the weeping blond girl in front of him. She had warped his precious Liz’s mind. She tore her heart in pieces, and made her do the same to him.

“You let her believe that Michael and Isabel were going to die? That’s so sadistic Tess! You destroyed us!”

“I thought I wanted you, I know I was wrong because-“

“You made her sleep with Kyle!” More anger surfaced as he remembered.

“Well, no. She didn’t sleep with Kyle! She set it up so that it looked like it when you came by. She thought she had to!” Tess declared.

“I don’t believe you Tess! You let us both go through the heartache just to please Nasedo? Well he’s dead now! God, I thought you had changed. I thought you weren’t the manipulative person you used to be. I was so wrong. Destiny is crap ok? Get it into your head, I belong with Liz, not you!”

“Destiny is what I thought it was. I believed in it.” She gave him the letter to read. There were countless emotions going through his face and he read, shock, despair, hope and heartache.

“Is…is this true?”

“Evidently.”

“Jesus Christ. I need to find Liz.”

“She’s gone Max.”

“What? Where?”

“She’s going to live in Florida. Her flight leaves at 10 this morning.”

“That’s like in an hour! No, I can’t let her leave!”

“C’mon, we can still stop her, don’t worry.”

“Damn right I will. You’ve really screwed up bad. I don’t know if any one will be able to forgive you. We’ll talk later,” he growled.

“I’m coming with you. You may need me, my powers.”

“Fine, get in the car.” Max was raging now. Tess had never seen him like this before.

“Why is she leaving?”

“I guess she can’t face the lies and the guilt, I don’t blame her, its tearing her apart.”

“That’s the difference between you two. You can face lying to everyone.” Tess kept quiet, Max was frantic. She felt so ashamed.

“God she couldn’t even face me anymore! She was ready to leave my life forever because of this. She was so nearly out of my grasp! If she gets away, I will kill you Tess.”

“You really love her huh?”

“She’s everything. She’s all I want, all I need. Everything. My life started the day I healed her. I cant bare to not be around her, to love her.” He momentarily forgot his anger as he thought about her. Tess left him with his thoughts.

Liz was in the departures lounge. She knew people were looking, but she couldn’t stop crying. She may never see him again. Or worse, she may see him with Her, so in love the way they once were.

“Flight number 2086A to Florida, now boarding. Please proceed to your gate.”

Liz picked up her bag and carried it towards her gate. Her father had decided to have her belongings sent to her in a couple of days. She joined the queue for her flight.

Max ran through the crowds, scanning all the faces for any signs of Liz. She should be in departures now. How the heck was he supposed to get through to there? Security was tight nowadays.

“Tess, the guards,” he commanded.

“Got it” she focused on the guards in front of her, mindwarping them. Max ran past, leaving her in control of them. He searched the gates as he ran past. He found the gate to Florida empty.

“No….” he whispered.

“Can I help you Sir?” A flight attendant asked.

“Is this flight to Florida?”

“Yes, just gone. Did you miss your flight?”

“Something like that.” He felt totally annihilated. He had let her go, broken his promise to never let her go. Liz was gone, Liz was gone, Liz was gone. He collapsed to the floor, clutching his head in his hands. He looked up and his breath caught in his throat. It was Liz, standing at the opposite gate. What was going on? Had Tess lied about her going to Florida?

“What’s that gate over there?” He asked the attendant.

“That’s another flight to Florida Sir,” she replied. Liz was nearly at the entrance now.

“Liz! Wait!” He called out to her. She turned around. Her eyes were red, and when they focused on him, they went wide. His heart skipped a beat, she was so beautiful. Liz gave her ticket to the steward, and mouthed ‘I love you’ to Max. She turned back round and boarded the plane.

“No! Wait!” he ran after her, past the steward.

“Sir! Where’s your ticket?” She called out after him. He ran onto the plane, and looked around for her. She was in an aisle seat crying. She looked up and saw him.

“What are you doing here??”

“I told you I wouldn’t let you go.”

“And I told you we don’t belong together.”

“But we do!”

“No we don’t! Don’t do this to me Max! You have a destiny and it doesn’t include me,” she hissed, not wanting the other passengers to hear.

“You are my destiny,” he gave her Nasedo’s letter. She read it, and her face crumpled. She started crying again. She was very pale.

“Is…is this true?” she whispered.

“Yes. Before he died, Nasedo wrote this to Tess, telling her the truth. The book was made up, he made the whole destiny stuff up! Tess didn’t know about it, and he made her believe it was true!”

“So you have no destiny with Her?” Liz felt hopeful for the first time in a long while.

“Only with you.”

“Oh God! Max I didn’t sleep with Kyle, I just pretended to so that you and Tess could get together. The future depended on it.”

“I know, Tess told me.”

“How does she-hold on. If there’s no destiny, then what was future Max talking about?”

“Tess mind warped you. There was no future me. Michael and Isabel do not die from our enemies.”

“The bitch! She put me through hell! She made me put you through hell!”

“I know. I love you so much Liz”

“Can you forgive me Max? I said such horrible things to you. I didn’t mean any of it. I would die for you any time.”

“It doesn’t matter. You did what you did for me, and im thankful for that.”

“So we can be together?”

“Does this answer your question?” he leaned in and kissed her.

“Oh my God!” she breathed. They could finally be happy together. They held onto each other.

“How about we get you off this plane?”

“Please! I never really liked Florida anyway.” She laughed. He held her hand and took her bag and led her off the plane.

Tess left the airport, thinking that she shouldn’t be around if they reconciled. When she got home, Isabel was waiting.

“Well?”

“I told him everything. Its fine. I think we got to the airport on time.”

“You still have a lot of explaining to do.”

“I told you everything.”

“Not me. Michael, Maria, Alex and Kyle. This all affected them in some way.”

“Ok, I’ll tell everyone. Lets all meet at the pods in an hour.”

“I’ll call them.” Isabel got up to leave.

“I am really sorry about all this you know.”

“Im not mad at you for the destiny stuff, you didn’t know about it. But im mad at the way you hurt Liz and my brother. You deceived all of us, and manipulated us. Im not sure if everyone can be forgiving.”

Max wouldn’t let go of Liz’s hand. He wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off her if it weren’t for the fact that he was driving.

“Max? How did you feel when you saw me and Kyle together?”

“I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think I ever really did. I knew there had to be a reason as to why you did what you did, and said what you said.”
”You know I didn’t mean any of it right? I would die for you. I want children with you, I do want to spend the rest of my life with you. I could never give myself to anyone else, ever.”

“Ditto”

“I missed you so much.”

“It’s been torture not having you in my arms.” Max was interrupted by his cell ringing.

“Hello?”

“Max? Is everything alright?” asked Isabel.

“Its great”

“Good. Look, meet us at the pods. Liz too, Tess has some explaining to do.”

“On my way. Thank you Isabel.”

“Welcome, glad to see you back to your soppy ways.” She hung up.

“Looks like were making a detour to the caves.”

“This should be interesting.” Liz said.

Everyone except Max and Liz were at the caves. Tess had told them all about what she had done, and what Nasedo had said in the letter.

“How could you do this to Liz?”

“Im sorry! I only wanted to fulfil the prophecy. I didn’t know that it wasn’t true”

“You know, I never did trust you,” Michaels stated.

“Here here,” Alex replied.

“How far were you planning to go Tess? Were you going to do my mind next? And Isabel’s?!” Michael shouted.

“No I didn’t think about you tow, only Max, I swear!”

“Do you have any idea what you did to Max? You messed my brother up so badly!”

“Not forgetting Liz,” Maria piped up.

“Why would Nasedo make all of this up?” asked Isabel

“I don’t know. I think that he thought that being with another alien, and not a human would mean that you take your duties more seriously.”

“I hate you Tess! You just breezed into our lives, spouting this shit, and messed up all our lives! If it weren’t for you, Liz and Max would be fine all along, Isabel wouldn’t have had those pregnancy dreams about Michael…” Maria shuddered at the thought,”… and I wouldn’t spend every night worrying that Michael would wake up and realise that he belongs with Isabel!” Maria was close to tears now. Michael hugged her closer and kissed the top of her head. There was scuffling and Liz and Max climbed into the cave. Their hands were bound tightly. Liz took one look at Tess and hatred filled her eyes.

“You bitch!” she screamed, running towards her. Max grabbed her and held her back.

“Im sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you so much. I don’t know what else to say!”

“You were not only satisfied with breaking my heart but you had to go make me break Max’s! Do you have any idea what that did to me?”

“You lived in my house, I took you in just like that. This is how you repay me? My dad?” Kyle yelled. This was not good, Tess thought. She looked around the group and could only see hatred directed at her.

“You’re right. I’ll leave. Ill pack up and leave straight away,” Tess stated. She started to walk off. Liz blocked her path and shoved her roughly.

“Oh no, you’re not getting away so easily,” she said. She pushed her again and walked towards her. Tess, slightly afraid, backed up towards to wall.

“You came into MY life. You tried to take MY boyfriend. You lie to everyone, all of those I love. You caused us all grief. You are NOT going to leave your mess behind!” Liz was shouting now, her face bright red. No one, not even Maria or Alex had ever seen her like this before. Liz was really hot. It felt as though her blood was actually boiling. All she could feel was rage towards Her. Something took over. Something she had never felt or experienced before. She felt her arm rise, and her palm faced Tess. Her brain was no longer connected to her muscles. Something inside was controlling her. Liz felt a hot burst of energy jolt through her arm, and a white flash blinded all of them. Tess flew across the cave, and smacked into the wall hard. When the whiteness disappeared, the all looked at Tess. She was in a heap on the floor, not moving. They all turned their eyes to Liz. She was staring at her hand, unsure of what she had just done.

“I killed her,” she whispered.

Alex walked over to Tess, and checked her pulse. “Its weak, very weak. There’s not much time.”

“What do we do? Do we heal her or leave her?” Maria asked

Liz didn’t answer. She had no idea what she had done. Did she want Tess out of her life? Could she let her die, and be her killer?

“Liz?” Max asked gently, “its up to you. Do you want me to heal Tess?”

They all looked at Liz waiting for her response. There was an agonising silence. Finally, Liz opened her mouth to give them her answer.

THE END