Way Away

Author: Sarah

Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is just roswell the way i want it to be, etc etc
Summary: AU C/C fic. Mainly M/L. This is a re-write of the entire Roswell story told mainly from the points of view of Max and Liz. I hope you like it!
Authors note: Please do not take this fic and post it else where without asking me first!

Chapter 1

Liz' POV

Roswell, New Mexico, Small town USA. Yes my Roswell! There's restaurants, shops, houses and a high school…

Ahhh, high school! You know how in all the films there are an elite few who rule the school, and then there are the geeks and the rest don't seem to feature? Well all I can say is Welcome to West Roswell High!

This is just your stereotypical high school. The cheerleaders and jocks take control, most of the geek snort when they laugh, and the rest of us just seem to fade into the wall paper! Sickening huh?

So meet me, Liz Parker. Nothing special, just Liz. I live in Roswell, New Mexico. I'm just your normal small town girl. I go to a normal high school, have normal friends, eat normal food, everything about me is normal. I have normal long, straight, dark hair, one nose, two eyes and a mouth! Again nothing special, except, perhaps, for my eyes. It's strange that in a girl so normal as me, two amazing eyes have been placed. I mean really, if I didn't have these eyes I would kill to get them! They're big and dark and they just seem to go on forever! They're my best feature, my only exciting feature…

Whoops, sorry, where was I? Oh that was it, so have normal parents, live in a normal apartment, well, apart from the fact that it's above an alien themed restaurant, but more about that later. I have a normal status in school, really I should be a geek cos I get straight A's, but there are a few certain factors that a pulled me away from the world of geekdom. My best friend Alex is one of those factors, he's lead guitarist of the most popular band in school, 'The Whits', it's even named after him, Alex Whitman! Kyle Valenti is another factor, he's captain of the football team, most sought after guy in school, with drop dead gorgeous looks and he's my boyfriend. Please don't ask me how that happened! Cos really I have no idea!! One day at school he just walked up to me and asked me out, I didn't listen at first because when you're one of the nameless and the stud of the school walks up to you and asks you out you're bound to be suspicious! But I gave way in the end and it turned out he really did like me! We've been dating for a year now…

I guess the only reason Kyle ever looked at me was my eyes! I know I sound obsessive but really they're the only interesting part of me! Everything else you could sum up in just a few words,

NORMAL, Nothing special, average, the norm!

Yup that's me, NORMAL! God, I hate that word! And my life well that's just scintillating. I have two best friends, Alex, the one from before, and Maria, crazed hippy chick! We're inseparable, always have been, even since before we were born! Our moms went to birthing classes together, we were practically born on the same day! We hang out everyday, at school and at my parents restaurant.

Like I said before, it's alien themed on the crash in '47. What? You've never heard of the crash? Wow! Some one didn't listen too well in their history lessons! OK so here's a quick run down to the history of Roswell:

1946: Roswell, New Mexico, a small town no one had ever heard of. Population 500, main attraction the local farm ball that took place once a year, oh, and the eraser room at school, you all know what that was for! No one had a clue what was on it's way to rip the cosy little town apart.

1947: A UFO falls from the sky crashing just outside Roswell in Polhman Ranch. The town becomes a honey pot for TV shows, the FBI and Sci-fi freaks. Loads of people moved away, they just couldn't take the constant attention. Even after the government declared the object from the sky an air balloon, trekkies from all over the globe flocked to see us. Some people rose to the idea completely, one was my grandfather, he got the idea of setting up a restaurant and theming it after the crash! Another was some nutter who set up the UFO center just across the road from us, it's like a UFO museum. Most of it is rubbish but it seems to please the tourists!

So that's Liz Parker's 'A history of Roswell'. It's nothing that exciting, and me, well I think most of it's bull! I mean why would the government bother to cover up something like that? I'm not a big one for government conspiracies any way but aliens, well that's just taking a flying leap off the edge of sanity! Really! And I stick to what I believe, I stand up for it! I did once in biology when we some how got onto the subject of aliens, I leaned over to my lab partner and told him exactly what I thought! His name's Max Evans, I'll tell you more about him later, I promise. He didn't say much in answer to my comments, he just seemed to ignore them…

So like I was saying before you got me sidetracked, I live above an alien themed restaurant. I'm the third generation of Parkers to live in that crazy place and that's basically where my life revolves around. It's called the Crashdown, cheesy huh! I waitress there with Maria and Alex flips burgers. You wouldn't believe the uniform my dad makes us wear! Get this, Short, fitted, turquoise mini dress with and alien apron and antennae! But I'm not complaining, it adds some spice to my other wise NORMAL life!

And that's my life! Chilling with Alex and Maria, waitressing, going to school, going out with Kyle, oh and reading! I love it, I live for it! See my inner geek showing it's true colours! But really I love books, they take me away from this dull life and off to another place. I sit out on my balcony at night and read. I have candles all around me and star light above me, so I sit there and leave this world for a while, and travel to distant lands, lands where my soul mate hides… I like the classics the best, timeless tales of loves that will never die! Just like I want…

Sometimes when I'm done reading I stare up at the stars. They're mine, just like my books, my personal dream lands that no one else can touch! There live my Romeos and my Juliettes, my Jane Eyers and my Mr Rochesters, my Elizabeth Bennets and my Mr Darcys. I dream about someone like that, someone for me… Why do you need that, you ask, When you have Kyle? I guess you could say I love Kyle, but I'm not IN love with him. He's not my soul mate, he's not THE ONE, the one that the second you see them bonds with your soul. No, that's not Kyle, he's sweet and funny and I care about him a lot, really I do. I'm not heartless, but I think he feels the same way, he doesn't love me and really I'm not right for him. We have a laugh, we're good friends, but beyond that there could be nothing!

And so I watch the stars and I wait. Waiting for the love that should come… My love!

Chapter 2

Max' POV

So I'm Max Evans. I'm 17, in the athletics team, I'm bright but not a straight A student, and I'm a loner. See that's my life, simple? Everything about me laid before you in a few words. Yeah, like that could ever happen! Just so happens I missed out the tiny point that I am in fact an alien!

Weren't expecting that now were we? No siree! Welcome to my twisted little world, the world of Max Evans, your local alien. Actually, would it put you more at ease to call me Mr Alien-Hybrid? That's the scientific term for me, personally I prefer the term 'Not of this earth'. Ha, I can just feel you cowering there, waiting for me to pop on over there and abduct you. Well sorry folks not tonight, I have too much homework!

I know you're thinking, But he's an alien, why does he have homework?? Well here's another thing to add to the long list of ironies in my life, no one knows about me! Almost no one anyway, there are Michael and Isabel, they know, they'd have to know, they're aliens too! Isabel's my sister, and Michael is my best friend. Gasp! Three aliens! They're gonna take over our world and make us their slaves! I wish! That would be a hell of a lot more simple! In reality we live in a web of lies and secrets! Fun!?!

And to make it even harder, we don't have a clue why we're here! Yes I know most teens go through a stage of questioning their existence, but they aren't on a completely different planet than their meant to be! Really we have absolutely no clue as to who we are, to put it bluntly, we know squat, jack-shit, rien! Actually, no, I lied, we do know something, we knows Isabel is my sister. Way hey! Bring us the general knowledge prize! Give the little aliens a cheer!

Apart from our great fountain of knowledge the only other really cool thing about us is our powers. Me, I can heal people and animals, I don't know how well but I healed this bird once, and I can make this really cool force-field thing. Issy can dream-walk, that's like going into people's dreams, it's kinda a twisted version of real life TV, and she can manipulate molecular structure, stuff like turning Ketchup into Mustard, she saves a fortune on make-up that way! And Michael, well he's got an … interesting power, he can blow things up, he doesn't have any control over what he can blow up, but he blows things up very successfully!

Sounds like fun, you say. Uh, yeah right. Believe me, I am not a major loner at school because I want to be! I'm a loner cos I have to be. We can't let anyone in, so Michael and I hang out, we have the ultimate loner thing going on, and Issy, she's a member of the school's elite! Yup that's right, Isabel Evans, sister of a loner, is one of the most popular girls in school, and you want to know why? Because she hates them all! If they get hurt she won't mind as much.

Yup that's my life! And the thing that sucks biggest is that we have no idea where we're from! I go to school each day and learn a little more about this town where our ship crashed but I never get to find out anything about home, my home! Seriously I know every possible fact about the crash but the only thing I know about me is that Isabel and I were found wandering the desert by our parents at the age of 5! We were just wandering around naked, Michael was with us for a while but he got left behind. Before he found us he got passed around the country from home to home. We found each other again when we all turned up in Roswell a month before fourth grade, we've found each other and we refuse to be separated. We're sticking together cos we don't want to be alone. Do you have any idea what it's like to feel like you're the only one of your kind on the planet? Like you're a freak? Well there's three of us now and we are not freaks!

Still, I hate my life! I would give anything to be normal! Kyle Valenti, what I wouldn't give to be him! He is the essence of normal! He's captain for the football team, he's popular, he has looks that get every girl in the school to their knees and his car rocks! But even if he didn't have that I would kill to be him. Why? Well he has Liz Parker! Roswell's most amazing angel. I've loved her since I first saw her! She's beautiful, not pretty, not nice, but beautiful, all other words are wasted on her. She just radiates beauty, but it comes from the inside too. She's the kind of person that stops in the street just to talk to little kids when they look sad. Like I said, she's an angel, she has the heart of one, she just radiates goodness. Michael would tell me I'm going soft, he'd go on about how I sound like a mommy's boy, but you know what? I don't care! I love Liz Parker and I'd shout it from the roof tops! Well, I would if my life wasn't so damn complicated! If I even get close to her she'll probably end up on an FBI operating table!

God I hate my life! What I wouldn't give for normal!

Chapter 3

Liz' POV

Like I said earlier, I live above the Crashdown. It's just a little apartment that's home. I've lived here since I was born, no where else could ever seem like home. There are four main rooms, a kitchen-sitting room, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. I have my own bedroom with an adjoining bathroom, I even have my own balcony. I love it, my little sanctuary.

The first thing that you see when you enter my room is my book case. It's huge! It has to be, I have a mini library of books! What? I told you, I'm a geek! But you know the really sad thing? They're all love stories!! Ha! I really am SO sad aren't I? But I really couldn't care less what all of you think! These stories contain everything I've ever wanted! The characters don't have normal lives, they don't have a life like mine that is completely predictable! No, they have a life of excitement with the person they love, their soul mate. And even if the story is a tragedy then the character has died, or moved on, at least knowing that they have had true love, even if it was only for a while! They have all had the life I want and a part of me resides in each book but there's one book that tells it all. You want to know what it is?

A Love that Spanned a Lifetime, by Claudia Parker

Yup, That's right, my Grandmother. And you know why it's so special? Because she wrote it for me! Just me, no one else has ever read it, it was never published. It's the most beautiful love story ever! It was the first book I ever read and it's magic, pure magic!

It tells the story of a love in a different time, on a different planet. The characters are Zan and Liara. To most people I guess it would be a tragedy but personally, to me it's something different. Sure, they both die at the end but there's something about the story that suggests that they don't really die, that something lives on. Grandma Claudia never really explained it to me, the one time I asked she did something really strange. I asked her why she had never written a sequel, her reply was, 'I can't write a sequel, child, for that is yet to happen'. And then she handed me a journal and told me to write my life in it. And as I was only five I just accepted it. A part of me wishes now that I could ask that question again but I'll never get the chance… She died two years ago, and part of me seemed to die with her. She seemed different, special.

And now all I have of her is my book and my journal. I've faithfully written in my journal ever since that day, well not that particular journal as I filled that up years ago, I get a new one every year. Mom and Dad normally order an identical one for me for each Christmas. And the book? Well, the pages are worn and dog-eared and the cover is faded from where I used to smooth it, but the front cover is clean and clear as if it were new, even thought it is possibly the most read page of them all. When Grandma gave it to me she wrote a message to me in the front, one I've never understood but one I've always kept close to my heart;

'My dearest Lizzie,

I wanted you to have this book now because I believe you are ready for the responsibility that accompanies it. This book belongs to you, and only you, no one can take it from you and no one can ever destroy the story it holds. It is yours in more ways than you can comprehend, maybe one day you will see it's significance.

By writing this and passing it on I am fulfilling a promise I made so many years ago to a person so very far away. That woman loved you very much too and she would have done so much to be able to give this to you herself but that chance was cruelly ripped away from her. And although you have never really met her she holds your memory close to her heart. She longed to apologize for all she took away from you and all she made you miss but she hoped that by sending you this story through me that you may once again find that which you sought.

This book contains the story of an amazing love, a love so pure, so innocent that it escaped the jaws of time and lived on. That love was your love my Lizzie and despite the fact that you may never understand what I am telling you that love will never leave you. Even if you never find the receiver of your love, it will be with you when you sleep, when you wake, and every time you take breath. Just as I shall.

One day I hope you will understand this message but until that day, read this book, love it, cherish it, live it!

I love you Elizabeth, no matter what happens or where life takes you, I will always love you.

Grandma Claudia Parker'





Chapter 4

Max' POV

'Max! Isabel, honey, breakfast!'

That would be my mom, Diane Evans. She and Dad were driving through the desert when they found us. They were on their way back from a conference in Las Cruses at about noon when Issy and I just walked out into the middle of the road in front of them. Mom nearly had a heart attack and dad? Well, him being the man of quick reflexes that he is, swerved the car and nearly crashed into a cactus!

As soon as the car stopped, Dad jumped out and came to see if we were OK, leaving Mom in the car hyperventilating. Really, if I had been old enough to realise what was going on I would have been laughing so hard! But at the time, Issy and I just felt so scared that half a dozen clowns would probably have just made us cry! But anyway, Dad came over and tried to talk to us. Now we're aliens, just hatched out to pod things, can you really expect us to know the English language? Sure we did look as though we were about four years old, but when Dad came over and started jabbering at us in some weird language we turned and ran! We thought we were freaks!?! But apparently Dad chased after us and took us to the car. Only the thing was that he didn't realise Michael was crouching behind a cactus about five feet away and so he just got left there, alone in the desert to die!

Well, to cu a long story short, Mom and Dad adopted us and took us to live with them in Albuquerque. At the end of third grade we moved here to Roswell. Something about Roswell seemed to welcome us, it felt like home, like where we were supposed to be. About half way through the summer we went to the park, and that was where we found Michael. There was a connection between us right away and we all knew that we were the same!

But the one day that will stand in my memory for ever as the beginning of my life, was the first day of fourth grade…

'"Max! Hurry up!" yelled Isabel. "The bus is here!!"

"I'm coming Issy," Max almost fell down the stairs as he rushed towards his sister.

"Come on! I don't want to be late!"

Isabel dragged Max out the door and onto the bus.

"Issy, Max!" yelled a small blond boy from the back.

"Hey Michael!" replied Isabel.

"What took you so long? Was Issy putting her make up on?" snickered Michael.

Isabel pouted, "Actually Max was!"

"I was not putting on make-up!" scowled Max. "So are you nervous?" he asked turning to Michael.

"Why should I be? I've been to this school before! It's you that new!" replied Michael.

"Oh…" said Max, frowning as he contemplated the thought.

"I miss Suzie!" wailed Isabel. "Why'd we have to leave Albuquerque? I liked school there!"

"We wouldn't have met Michael if we hadn't left. Don't cry Issybear!" soothed Max as he pulled his sister into a hug. "I'm sure Suzzie misses you too, but you'll make loads of new friends here."

"But I don't want new friends! I want Suzzie!"

"Fine Isabel, then you won't make any new friends here and you'll be all alone!" sneered Michael causing a tear to roll down Isabel's cheek.

"I hate you Michael! And I hate Roswell!"

"Issy, I didn't mean it! I'm sure you'll make lots of friends! And you'll always have us!" murmured Michael instantly sorry for his out burst. "Come on, we're here!"

Max looked up, it was true they were here, school. It didn't look much different from the one they had used to go to but it felt different, he could feel a pull just like the one he had felt when they first met Michael. "Come on Issy," he said, pulling Isabel to her feet. "Let's go and look around.'

Max walked boldly to the front of the bus, he felt anything but bold but somehow he felt it was his duty to set an example. He climbed down the steps very gently and stopped at the bottom. Looking around he saw the usual kids laying kickball, older kids chatting, the cheerleaders practicing their chants an then…

The world stopped, everything else vanished except for the beautiful girl standing in front of him. Her long dark hair was blowing in the wind and her dark, soulful eyes turned towards him and caught his gaze. A smile graced her lips as she looked at him and his soul reached out to her.

"Maxwell! Will you move your butt out of the way!"

Max jumped in surprise at the sound of Michael's voice. He swiftly stepped forward away from the door of the bus but when he turned his eyes back to the girl, she was gone.'

So that was the first time I ever saw her and the last time I ever had a chance with Liz Parker.





CHAPTER 5

Liz' POV

Every morning it's the same routine, watch.

5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

'Liz, sweetie, time to get up!'

Cue the groan and roll out of bed. Walk to the cupboard, throw on the clothes I picked out yesterday, run into the bathroom. Oh I forgot, switch on the radio… Throw on some make-up...


I don't know why you care
He doesn't even know you're there
'Cause he don't love your eyes
And he don't love your smile
Girl, you know that ain't fair

The middle of the night, is he gonna be by your side
Or will he run and hide
You don't know, 'cause things ain't clear
And baby when you cry, is he gonna stand by your side
Does the man even know you're alive
I got an idea ...

Why don't you be my girlfriend
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend, I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl you should be my girlfriend

Does he know what you feel
Are you sure that it's real
Does he ease your mind
Or does he break your stride
Did you know that love could be a shield

The middle of the night, is he gonna be by your side
Or will he run and hide
You don't know, 'cause things ain't clear
Any baby when you cry, is he gonna stand by your side
Does the man even know you're alive
I got an idea ...

Why don't you be my girlfriend
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend, I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl you should be my girlfriend

Ever since I saw your face, nothing in my life has been the same
I walk around just saying your name
Without you my world would end
I looked around this whole damn place and everything says you were meant to be
My girlfriend

Why don't you be my girlfriend
I'll treat you good
I know you hear your friends when they say you should
'Cause if you were my girlfriend, I'd be your shining star
The one to show you where you are
Girl you should be my girlfriend

I always seem to end up singing along to the radio in the morning, even though my voice sounds like a dying cat at this time of the day. And just out of interest, have you ever tried to put lip gloss on while singing to the radio? Well it's damn hard, let me tell you! But it only really takes a second cos well I don't wanna wear too much make-up now do I? The thing that takes the longest is putting my contact lenses in. Oh, did I forget to tell you that? Well, I wear contacts, I was told I needed glasses about two years ago, I got contacts straight away. Little Geeky Liz Parker did not need glasses to make her look any worse! It would be ridding my lovely eyes, my only good feature, of their freedom! Now they only have to have me prodding them twice a day.

Right, so by now I'm out in the kitchen getting my breakfast, an apple! Wooo yeah! I think I have a right to display fake excitement, this has been the routine for the last, I don't know, seven years?? See my life is just so annoyingly predictable! Nothing exciting ever happens to me! Except for once when I was eating an orange, I swallowed a pip and nearly choked to death. It seems kind of funny looking back on it, but it wasn't at the time! Having to live on nothing but yogurt for days!!!! Believe me when I say that I've never had a yogurt since!

So, after shoveling breakfast down, without choking I might add, I shove my trainers on and run down to the café. Grab my bag from the back room where I dumped it last night and run out the back door. Mom and Dad are probably out the front helping the first few people get their breakfast and setting up for the lunch time rush.

For once this morning I have no reason to hurry. I walk to school, always have done. Catching the bus would just be so, like, un-cool! Yeah, like that would ever be my motive! Actually it's because the first time I tried to catch the bus I missed it completely and ended up walking anyway. It's nice, I don't mind, it wakes me up, gives me a chance to psyche myself up to another day of being normal little Liz Parker!

It's strange how important walking to school has become to me over the years. It helps me to relive the most amazing experience of my life. The only time when I ever felt special!

It was on the first day of fourth grade. Maria and I had both walked to school, getting there quite early. We were standing out in front of the school with all these people milling around us. Alex, of course, was late! Men! OK so he was only 6 years old, but I'm still not letting it go! Any way, Maria was going on and on about these cypress oils things that her mom had let her try. She was babbling on about something to do with the calming effects of the forest and singing mountain streams. What?!? But I was listening, when you've been around Maria for a while you sort of develop a Maria filter and kind of just tune her out. My mind was buzzing along all by itself thank you very much.

I was jittery and nervous. Here we were at the beginning of a new school year, just another year of trying to be perfect, attempting to make my parents happy. Don't get me wrong my parents were great, they never really asked anything of me, I just couldn't see that at the time. All I could see were these wonderful people who had cared for me through absolutely everything and I didn't want to lose them, so I tried to be perfect. I did everything, I got overworked, a ten minute homework took me two hours! I used to creep back up after my parents had put me to bed, go onto my balcony and keep going with my homework. Then I began to skip lunches etc, until one day I collapsed in the middle of PE. My parents gave me a talk to find out what was wrong. I still try to be perfect but maybe just not so much…

So all the time Maria was talking I was thinking about being perfect, until a noise jolted me out of my stupor. I thought at first that it was Maria, but no, she was still going like a hurricane with out any clue as to what I was doing. So I turned round looking for the noise that had so rudely awakened me. It was the arrival of the school bus, not that interesting, but just as I was about to turn round someone got off the bus.

The feeling I got was… astounding. No word can describe it! For a second it felt like I was floating, everyone else was gone, all my cares of the moment had disappeared. He was looking at me as though I was beautiful, as though he loved me. My heart was crying out to him but all I could do was smile. It was amazing, but the next second my eye contact was broken with him and Alex dragged me off into school…

You must think I'm crazy, I know we were only nine years old and only just in fourth grade but it really felt real! When I looked into his eyes I really saw love! If there's anything in this world that I've ever been sure of it's that on that day I saw love for the first time. It's been a long time since then though, perhaps what I saw was love, just not MY love. The one I'm searching for, the soul-mate love that I've never found.

In that first week of that year I did everything to try and find out my mysterious boy's name but I had no success until Friday. I just walked into my Biology class and there he was, sitting there with the only free seat in the room, right next to him! We ended up as lab partners after that, but for some reason he never really tried to talk to me after that, he never mentioned that morning. He became more and more distant as time went on, it hurt, yes, it hurt a lot, I couldn't believe what I had felt was one sided, that's why now I don't believe that what I felt was my soul-mate love… It must have been something different, though what I'm not sure.

I'll never forget him though, he'll always have that space in my heart that's saved for the first second you experience love…



CHAPTER 6

Max' POV

Every morning I drive to school with Issy. Our parents got us a jeep for our sixteenth birthday, we share it. Out it this way, it makes a welcome alternative to catching the bus with a load of ten year olds! So ever since we got it, we've used it to get to school, religiously. And of course if it ever brakes down we don't have to take it to a garage, oh no, Max and Isabel Evans Master Mechanics! Just one swipe of the hand and everything is fixed! It's a sure fire way to save money! Buy the Magic Evans twins at a store near you, never fail your MOT again! Wow aren't we the lucky ones! Excuse me while I crack up hysterically.

Michael how ever zooms to school on his motor bike. Yup that's our Mikey Boy, your average Biker dude with an attitude problem. So me, Max Evans, star stuck lover (or at least I would be if Liz would notice me) and Stonewall Guerin! What a pair! Just me and my angry side kick, who needs friends? Who needs happiness? Who needs their dreams to come true?

So this is my normal mental commentary that I get as I stand by Michael's locker every morning. Yes every morning, the only thing that my favourite attitudely challenged alien lacks is an alarm clock, and no matter what you do, he'll always be late. ALWAYS! Which is why, every morning finds me standing, invisible, next to Michael's locker watching the happily oblivious people wonder their way past. Great huh?

I have another lesson of hell next. Biology, with Liz Parker. Now why would that be hell, you ask? Hmmm I wonder, now why could that be, perhaps because I have to sit next to her all lesson, making small talk and knowing I can never have her! And what makes it worse is that I still have the memories we made in fourth grade. We got quite close back then, before I started to freak out about who I was. We used to have a good time but then I pulled away, can you say idiot? And she kind of just moved on and forgot about me. She got more and more popular and I got more and more invisible!

Invisible. Yup that's a good word for me, but the weird thing is that how ever much I hate it, it's actually what I was trying to achieve that time so long ago. Invisible is good, invisible doesn't make people curious as to why your car always seems to miraculously heal its self. But one thing invisible doesn't give you is happiness. Happiness is Liz Parker. That's why I hang around her so much, sure she doesn't notice it but I'm always there, watching in the back ground. It's strange how she never seems to notice how often I sit in the Crashdown, I can just sit there for hours watching her, order in drink after drink for an excuse!

I guess she'll never know how much I love her. It's a sickening thought really that no one will ever really know who Max Evans was when I'm gone, how no one will miss me… Again my mind harks back to my biggest wish, to be normal. Perhaps if I was normal then I would have the courage to go to her and talk, to walk up to her in the corridor and kiss her.

I guess there's some people who would kill to have a secret. To have the 'excitement' and the 'adventure'. Yeah that's really what it is! Muh-uh, that's why Issy, Michael and I have to fear for out lives every day! It's really not everything it's cracked up to be! To have to lie to everyone you love, to never show the world your true self, to be constantly distancing yourself from everyone who really matters. It hurts, yes it hurts like hell! We have to see the pain cross their faces every time we push them away, to feel the guilt stab us in the heart when the misplace their trust in us, and to have to listen to every stupid lie leave our mouths.

People who are normal don't understand, they don't see being different as what it really is, a burden.

CHAPTER 7

LIZ' POV

Looks like Max is late AGAIN! He always seems to be late. Maybe it's that he's trying to avoid me… Yes I know I'm oddly paranoid! But really I guess it's just that Michael is late. It's strange how Michael always manages to be late, no matter what he does, he'll always be late! It's some kind of force of nature that determines that Michael Guerin will be late! It's early morning I'm allowed to babble! God I sound like Maria!! Aggh! Save me! Speaking of Maria though, I think she has a thing abut Mikey-Boy. No seriously I do! When ever she sees him she starts slagging him off, but the thing is that when she does it she's always staring right at him with a sort of dreamy look in her eye. And on the rare occasion that she and Michael talk they always seem to end up having an argument, there's a sort of tension between them that sets off sparks… It's sweet, like candy! I should say that to her, see if she flips out…

Anyway, back to Biology and Max. If he doesn't hurry up he's gonna be really late, even later than Mrs Parrater, our teacher. Fondly named parrot by her adoring students. Adoring? OK maybe that's a bit to strong a word. Perhaps hating, despising, strongly disliking would be slightly closer to the truth. Personally I don't mind her cos I LOVE biology. And I never get in her bad books, but believe me if you do get in her bad books be prepared to lose a limb! She is one scary person when she's angry! She has this really evil looking hawk nose, like a parrot! Get it? And this REALLY annoying habit to spit when she shouts, which is why everyone crowds towards the back of the room! She must be practically the most hated teacher in the whole school! Except for Mr Hardy, girl's PE teacher, spawn of Satan and leering pervert!

Ah, there's Max. Damn! Why does he always have to looks so nice! Grrrr! PARKER!!! Quit it! Think of Kyle, think of Kyle, think of Kyle. Yup that's my normal mantra for any lesson I have with Max. There was one time though that I was having a really hard time so I thought to myself, 'Hey why don't you sing it to a catchy tune in your head, then you won't forget to do it.' Oh yeah, great idea! The next thing I know is the whole class is sniggering and Max is looking at me like I'm a mad woman cos I'm sitting there singing, Think of Kyle, to Kylie Minouge's 'I just can't get you out of my head'! Can you say Embarrassing?

Right, so Kyle. Well I'll probably see him at lunch time. We'll sit down and eat together, and laugh and joke, perhaps throw food at each other… Just like I would with Maria and Alex. See that's how I feel about Kyle, like he's a friend, a really close friend, sure, but nothing more. When we kiss there just isn't that spark that says 'You'll always be mine', there's that spark that says 'Hey this is good fun while it lasts!'. But could I tell Kyle that? Nuh-uh I just don't want to hurt him, yes, he's not really in love with me but all the same it's not exactly good for the most popular guy in the school to be dumped by his geeky girl friend, I mean, it's bad enough to have a geeky girl friend! Anyway, it's fun, and why break a good thing? And I feel fulfilled with what we have……….. Yes I do know that I'm rubbish at lying! But really Kyle is sweet, loyal, caring! NO I AM NOT DESCRIBING A POODLE!! Aghh! You're just like Maria! that's what she said! Kyle is not! like a poodle, well yes he is cute, no, no what am I saying? Kyle is NOT like a poodle! Period! End of discussion!

Stop looking at me like that!

Fine I'm going back to Biology now!

Oh Crap! Max has been talking to me all this time… Uh OK, improvise, improvise. Help?!? Please! Oh quit sulking!! Right make a guess what could he have said???

'Yeah…'

Nod and smile Parker, just nod and smile. Why is that bitch Pam Troy laughing at me? What did I say?

'Uh, Liz, were you actually listening to that, cos ummm I don't think what you're doing is yeah…'

He asked me what I was doing! No! I am so dumb! Why couldn't I have thought of that? What am I gonna say in reply? Talking to the voices in my head? Day dreaming about you?

'I was, errrrm, yeah, I was,' Help me! Help me please! 'PLANNING OUR EXPERIMENT!'

Good answer Parker, but you really didn't have to shout it!!!! Oh I'm dying!! I'm going red, bright red, and Pam is still laughing at me. And Max is.. wait a minute! Is that a grin! No! Don't you dare Maxwell Evans! You wouldn't… He is! He's laughing at me! Oh you are so dead Max!

But he looks so cute when he laughs, and laughter is contagious isn't it… I'm going to, I'm gonna laugh! I'm gonna make even more of a fool of myself! I'm gonna sit here laughing like a hyena at myself… I am, I'm laughing. I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe! Great now I'm, gonna died from lack of air Oh my life is just too good for words! Ha! But there is one up point to this laughing! Pam Troy's shut her big fat mouth! And Max is sitting next to me laughing his head off too! Oh life suddenly feels a lot better…

'PARKER! EVANS! Stop acting like animals and start working!'

Oh, great, just great! Parrot! I see bench cleaning duty leering it's way towards me! There goes half my lunch break! And all my pride! Washed away, cos every body's watching us and Pam Troy's gone back onto snickering mode! I'm never gonna hear the end of this now!

CHAPTER 8

Max' POV

At this moment in time there is only one thing I can do. Gawk! Have you ever walked into a room to see an angel sitting before you? Fine, have you ever walked into a biology lab to see an angel sitting before you? Thought not. Well this is just another part of my odd life.

Here I am, standing next to the door looking like a maniac. And why am I just standing here? Because I can't take my eyes of something, someone in the room. And no it's not Pam Troy. If ever the day comes when I look at Pam Troy and think I've gone to heaven, I'll kill myself and make sure I really do go to heaven. Though yes Pam Troy is an interesting sight for a guy's eyes at the moment seeing as she's jut pulled her top down another two inches, any further and it'll really be past the point of no return.

But I'm not the kind of guy to leer at Pam. No honestly I'm not! She just never seems to leave me alone! It can really get to you after FOUR YEARS!!! But my mind is solely occupied with my angel, Liz! Only someone as innocent as her could look so amazingly good just reading a biology book! She's completely engrossed in it, she doesn't even seem to notice what's going on around her, a few strands of hair are hanging in front of her face… Ohhh what I wouldn't do just to push that hair away from her face… I would do anything just to touch her, taste her and… DOWN BOY! Max get your mind out of the gutter!

Right so talking to her… talking to her… breathe Maxwell! Just walk across the room, ignore the weird looks you're getting from people, it's just cos you've been standing at the door for the last five minutes. Walk, ignore Pam pulling her top lower, and smiling at you, focus on Liz, focus on Liz! Shit, that would be a chair! Way to go Max! Fall over a chair! Now everyone's really looking at you! Just keep focusing on Liz…

'Hi Liz!' Damn that stupid teenaged-boy rule that says your voice squeaks when you're nervous. 'So what you doing?' Oh yeah great question Max seeing as she's looking at a book!! Clever guy! Liz is looking at me kinda weird, which isn't really surprising when I asked her what she was doing while she stared at book.

'Yeah…'

Eh? Excuse my lack of words but since when did 'yeah' classify as doing something?? Right now I'm really confused… And I thought my question was bad!!

'Uh, Liz, were you actually listening to that, cos ummm I don't think what you're doing is yeah…'

She looks a little flustered and embarrassed. Hell I don't know why! She wasn't the one who walked into a room, stood by the door for five minutes staring at someone reading, fell over a chair, and asked the person reading what they were doing!

'I was, errrrm, yeah, I was, PLANNING OUR EXPERIMENT!'

Okay, the shouting at me bit was a little over the top… I know it's probably gonna make her feel worse but I can feel my eyebrow raising, I have spent WAY too much time with Michael! Pam Troy's laughing at Liz. She's going red… I know I shouldn't laugh but she just looks so cute when she's embarrassed and really if I don't laugh I'll just do something even more stupid like puke on her or start choking…

Perhaps laughing wasn't such a good idea, she looks ready to strangle me…

She laughing? She's laughing too!! I made her laugh!! Score one for Evans! This boy is on a roll! Bring it on! Evans, Evans he's our man, if he can't do it no one can! Goooo E-V-A-N-S! I apologize for that, Issy got onto the cheerleading team last year…

So Liz and I are laughing, Pam's shut up and I haven't made a complete fool of myself again! Could life get any better?

'PARKER! EVANS! Stop acting like animals and start working!'

Oh perfect, just frickin' wonderful! Game, set, match to Parrot! Damn it! Well there goes that snatched moment of happiness. Not only did I yet again make myself look like a prat but I managed to get Liz into it too! I swear the gods hate me!

Just look at the book, pretend you're working. What ever you do don't get Liz into trouble again… Don't even talk to her, she probably hates you!

And once again I, Max Evans, mess up any chance Liz and I ever had of being close. Isn't life just spiffing?!?

CHAPTER 9

Liz' POV

Finally! The day is over! I don't think I could have faced another second. It's been one of those days where everything that happened just made the idea of suicide VERY appealing. I made a complete fool of myself in front of Max! I mean how could he ever like a Klutz like me? I just feel like stamping my feet and screaming. Could I be any more unlucky? I scared him off completely! He didn't say another word to me for the rest of the lesson! Aghhhhhhh, I'm doomed to be alone!

By lunch time everyone in the whole school had heard about it, even Maria and Alex, and believe me they're always the last ones to know.

And that was my lunch time! Great hey? And now you find me walking home with at least five tons of books. Can you believe how much work they set us for just one weekend? Really! I have ten text books in my arms, my bag over my shoulder, and I'm trying to balance two plastic bags on top of all that!

'Hey! Are you OK there? Do you want a ride?'

Max? Oh joy! 'Uh, yeah sure…'

And so I'm climbing into Max' jeep, he got it for his birthday last year. And how do I know this? Because I stalk him! No, I saw him and Issy driving in it for the first time on their birthday and well, I put two and two together and Voila! Of course Pam is gonna have a field day when she finds out I've been riding around with Max. No I did not say… ewwwwwww, get your minds out of the gutter! I meant getting a ride with Max… damn it why can't I say it right…. ummmm… Traveling home with Max. Yeah that sounds better! So anyway where was I before I started talking about riding Max? Agh! I didn't mean that! Right I'll shut up now….

Stop laughing!

'Look Liz I'm really sorry about earlier and everything…'

Huh? He's apologizing to me? Why the hell is he apologizing to me? Wait a second… Whoooooooooo I didn't scare him off!! Do the happy dance! OK perhaps not now, but later…

Now smile and talk, and make sense! 'It's OK, really you have nothing to say sorry about.'

'Ok, but all the same, I'm really sorry.'

Awkward pause! Awkward pause! Say something Liz!

'Mushrooms…'

MUSHROOMS?!?!? Why the hell did I say that? What on earth made my say that? Help! Please Help! I'm dying here!

'What?'

God, he looks scared to death which is hardly surprising seeing as you just randomly brought up the topic of Mushrooms!!!

'I was just asking where Isabel is.' That was OK, I can understand how where's your sister could come out as mushrooms… NOT!!

'Oh she's at the match, Pam asked her along.'

He took it? He believed that was what I was saying? Whooooooo! Good save Parker! Now breathe, breathe… And try and say something coherent this time!

'The match? Oh yeah, Kyle's playing…'

Uh, real smooth Liz! Great just great, you just had to bring Kyle into this didn't you?

Well he brought Pam into it!

She's not his girlfriend!

Right stop arguing with yourself and get out of the damn car. We're at the Crashdown…

'Thanks Max. See you!'

'Bye Liz!'

Aghhh, he's so gorgeous and I'm such an idiot!! Why me??

CHAPTER 10

Max' POV

You would not believe the day I've had! Having to dodge all the jocks, cheerleaders AND your own sister! I don't know what's worse, a quick death by jocks and cheerleaders or a slow and painful death by your alien sister! What a great life I lead! Ha!

But against all the odds Max has succeeded! My tactical dives into class rooms, avoiding Liz and well timed disappearances obviously paid off. I think I have now earned the title of superhero! I think I'll be called Alien man! Will my green cape and fake big black eyes! Michael can be my side-kick we can call him Why-the-hell-bother-saving-the-world-I'd-rather-watch-the-hockey boy! And he can wear pants over tights! Wouldn't that be fun?

Yes, the long day is finally beginning to rub off on my sanity! I even had to skip lunch to stay alive! So now I'm driving home, alone, my sister will be home later! I just need to psyche myself up for the big alien show down! Michael, Is and I have an alien power meeting (Don't you just love the name! Michael thought it up all by himself! Clever boy!) tonight to practice our powers! So we can be ready to fight evil and save the world! The terrific alien trio! Fighting for a better universe against all evil!! In actual fact it's cos we used to get so bored on Friday nights we knew we had to do something!

Wait a second, is that… is that Liz? Whoa! How many books can she carry? But I'm not gonna stop… it's really not a good idea, I'll just get us into more trouble… What the-? Why are we slowing down? Hell, why won't my feet listen to my brain?

'Hey! Are you OK there? Do you want a ride?'

Could I sound anymore cliché?

'Uh, yeah sure…'

Oh god! Liz Parker is in the car next to me! Say something Max, say something!

Really? You actually want me to say 'something'? Whoa, OK I get the picture, jut put the rocks down…

What do I say? I mean I don't want to stuff it up like I did this morning… Ah, this morning.

'Look Liz I'm really sorry about earlier and everything…'

Pause! Pause! What's with the pause? Perhaps she doesn't want to forgive me…

'It's OK, really you have nothing to say sorry about.'

I don't? Oh just getting you into trouble, embarrassing you, and giving Pam food for rumors. Oh of course! Nothing to apologize for!?!

'Ok, but all the same, I'm really sorry.'

Well I'm glad that's over… Oh not the silence again! What do I say? HELP!

'Mushrooms…'

What?!? OK Liz not exactly the conversation starter I would have picked, but whatever suits your tastes.

'What?'

'I was just asking where Isabel is.'

You were? Well that's a new way of asking… Maybe I'll try it sometime.

Right so that was a good sign, she's interested in your family. 'Oh she's at the match, Pam asked her along.'

Oh good going idiot! Mention Liz' arch nemesis! Clever boy!

'The match? Oh yeah, Kyle's playing…'

Ah.. Kyle. Right. I'll take that as a hint. So I guess you can see how much she loves him, she must think about him all the time. I suppose it's hopeless for me unless I become a Kyle Valenti clone, and I really don't see that happening anytime soon! I should just try and move on from Liz, it's never gonna happen. She's already taken, heart, mind and soul!

CHAPTER 11

Maria and Alex POV

Alex would you please just shut up and introduce us!

Oh for God's sake! Who ever thought of putting us together was definitely crazy! Right lets make this short and to the point, we have more important things to worry about! I would be Maria DeLuca, all singing, all dancing, wonderful friend… SHUT YOUR MOUTH ALEX! And Liz' number one best friend.

Shut your mouth! Loud mouth over there is Alex Whitman, mad tour guide impersonator and number two best friend. *Sticks out tongue*

Hey if your head got any bigger it would finally explode and all the jello stored in there would finally go to feeding that third world country that so desperately needs it!

Oh yeah?

We'll just see about that Alexander Charles Clancy Whitman!

Well, did I call you 'that? Ha! Never mess with Hurricane DeLuca!

Awww, quit your sulking! You used my middle name!

Aww come on, Clancy is a lovely name, it's the sort of thing I'd name my female goldfish!

Fine! I'm sorry Alex C.C.W! Better? Quit glaring at me! Can we please just get back to Lizzie?

As Alex was about to say, I'm going to be doing most of the talking, isn't that right Alex?

ALEX!

Thank you Alex! You can shut up now! OK First things first, here's a quick tour of Liz' Life…

21^st January 1983 11:38am Alexander Charles Cl- *Alex clears his throat* Fine, fine, Alex Charles Whitman is born. 21^st January 1983 10pm Maria Joelle DeLuca, me, is born. 22^nd January 1983 12:05am Elizabeth Claudia May Parker is born.

On the 7^th September 1986 Liz Parker starts school along with Alex and myself, her trial for perfection begins.

Liz Parker sees Max Evans for the first time on the first day of fourth grade, 9^th September 1992.

On the 21^st June 1993 Liz Parker collapses from exhaustion in the middle of gym class, she spends the next three weeks off school. Max Evans looks like he might go mad.

December 25^th 1997, Claudia Parker, Liz' grandmother, dies. Liz is devastated, Alex and I spend the next week at her house trying to make her feel better. We learn about the book.

Many years pass without much event until 5^th April 1998 Kyle Valenti approaches Liz in the corridor and asks her out. 20^th April Kyle and Liz go on their first date and share their first kiss, Lizzie is ecstatic, and goes on about it for hours, but the last time she mentions it she says, 'I can't believe I got my first kiss from Max Evans!'

January 10^th 1999, Liz Parker makes an idiot out of herself in Biology and the whole school begins to talk.

So that's your quick guide to our Lizzie's life. And not I'm sure you have a hell of a lot of questions flying through your mind so I'm gonna let Alex answer them!

We stayed up all night talking about her and then Liz got out a book that Claudia had written for her. She read it to us so we could all have something solid to remember Grandma by. It was amazing that book, the way it was written made the people in it more than just characters, they were actual people! And although that's physically impossible it seemed like that. The other weird thing about it was that each of the main characters seemed to be written to resemble us. Liara was Liz, Mariane was Maria, light blonde hair, flighty, slightly odd, ring a bell? *Maria hits him* Ow! And Aldran was me, dashing, handsom… OK so he was their bestfriend and he was scrawny.

Thank you Alex!

Plus when that happens Alex might finally get to talk to Isabel Evans, Max' sister who he's had a crush on almost as long as Liz has liked Max!

I do not like Michael! That guy has serious attitude problems! He's the most rude, arrogant pig that walks this earth.

God! You are impossible Alex!

But then came lunch time…

Yup, he just had to stick his nose in and ruin everything! I mean everything! He just walks up to us in lunch and drags her off! And she doesn't even resist! I mean who does he think he is? Prince of England? Not that being the Prince of England is bad, cos personally I think William is actually quite attractive in a sort of donkeyish sort of way, and Harry, well he's a bit young for me, but he's cute. And…

Oh, yeah.

So tomorrow is another day, Saturday and Liz and I are waiting tables together. It's a well known fact that Max Evans will come in for lunch and sit in Liz' section so Alex and I will be there to bring Liz' attention to it! Make sure she realizes what a babe he really is!

HEY!

I thought we settled on team DeLuca!

DELUCA!

Right that's it! I'm gonna carry out my threat!

Hehehe, run you wimp run! Well I'll come by and talk to you as soon as we get a new development! Bye!

CHAPTER 12

Liz' POV

It's 12:30pm and here I am just sitting on my balcony, staring at the stars. There's this one constllation that I've always loved, ever since I was a child. It's eight stars in the shape of a V, it looks kinda like this,

* *

* *

* *

**

It's stunning though, the two stars at the bottom stand out the most. They're so close that you can barely tell them part, just like they're one star. It's almost as though they're bonded together, if one were to disappear then the other one would too!

It was Grandma Claudia that first showed me that constellation, when I was about five…

Speaking of Grandma, I've just finished reading my favourite passage in her book. Here read it.

'Liara stood beneath the golden draperies of the great hall, her heart pounding in her chest. Before she had left Drasen all her family had gathered, telling her how wonderful she looked, how fine and how handsome… But now, standing here among all these great, rich people, she felt her blossom faded and wilting. The deep, old, red of her gown could not compare to the vibrant blues and greens that flashed past her. Her mouth was dry and her posture portrayed her frightened interior.

The girl that stood next to Liara was the complete opposite, her blonde curls framed her radiant and comfortable smile, the dress of rich silk blended perfectly with the finery of the party. None would guess that she was in any way related to the mousy girl that huddled uncomfortable by her side.

'Liara, try to relax, you're scaring all my admirers off! It's not long till it shall be revealed who the head royal adviser is to be and I wish to dance before then!'

'I'm sorry, dear Ava. I should not have come, I do not belong here, my status is too…'

Her face faded out of existence as she notice the man who had come to a stop beside her.

'Liara?' he gasped with obvious discomfort.

'Zan? I had no idea you would be here, I mean, that you would be attending…' Liara squeaked in reply.

Now she knew she should never have come. It was mortifying for Zan to have even glimpsed her next to Ava's beauty, but for him to linger with them! Liara attempted to choke the maddening fears that surfaced in her brain. He would fall in love with Ava of course, everyone always did, and he would forget what they had once felt for that split second so many years ago…

Zan swallowed nervously. How could he have been so stupid? He should have know she would be there tonight, she would find out his secret, the secret that had pulled him away from her for so long. She would be angry, she would take even less notice of him than she already did!

He couldn't believe how truly radiant she looked, all these other women with their fake finery and false charm. But she stood their, humble among the others but beautiful beyond reason. Her cheeks glowing with the warmth of the room, her eyes sparkling from the silver light, and her dress showing her superiority over these women. All others had come dressed in the royal blues and greens but Liara stood among them, a rose among the common flowers, her spirit lighting the room!

He could tell her now, it wasn't too late, he could tell her and all would be right. They could be together, they could be happy! But she wouldn't be happy would she? No one could be happy with the life he was about to lead, the life that had been pre-destined for him. Even he did not want it and he had not been sheltered from it all his life, she would be plunged into a world she did not understand and did not know. No he couldn't do that, not to her, not to the woman he loved. He must move on and leave his heart and soul behind him.

Zan turned to Ava and swallowed his pride, 'Would you care to dance?'

This was it, this was the moment he took a step on and let her live, this was the final separation.

Liara watched in horror and Zan lead Ava off to the floor. Yes, it had happened, just like it always happened. She was Liara, just plain Liara, nothing special. And once again Ava had stolen the show, once again Ava had stolen her happiness. She had thought Zan was different, not like the other fickle beings that surrounded her everyday, but true, an old soul like her.

Tears rushed to her eyes and Liara turned to flee the room. She would go back to Drasen and pick up her life, go back to being poor little Liara, carer of her parents and just another of the poor citizens. She would return to her black and white life and leave the only speck of colour behind her in that room.

Everything seemed blank to Liara as she ran from the room, she only registered that there was no cry for her and no other running foot steps. Why should there be? The only person who had really ever cared was dancing with Ava…

Zan saw out of the corner of the room and Liara fled the room. Her swallowed and buried his head into the blonde girl's hair, it was done, she would be happy, she would be free…'

I cry every time I read that. I can't understand why, but I can feel myself as Liara there. She lives so simply, and she cares for everyone around her, but none can really see who she really is. Except for Zan, he saw her, but then he got this crazy idea that she wouldn't want him if she found out his secret, and so he pushed her away!

Some people are just so crazy, Liara couldn't live without him, why would a secret make a difference? He should have told her, she would have understood, somehow I know it…

***

It was 2:30 by the time I got to bed last night! 2:30!!! Can you say stupid? No well then say it with me, S-T-U-P-I-D! I am literally dead on my feet! Remind me next time I even consider staying up that late, please, please, shoot me! My head is killing me and my eyes would be so much happier if they were closed. And yet, dedicated little me is walking round the Crashdown waiting tables! Great way to spend your Saturday! Uh… right?

So, it's midday now and I've been at this now for three hours… SINGLE HANDED! Apparently our waitress Agnes had a death wish and decided not to show up for work! Really you think she'd be a bit more concerned for her health, because the next time I see her all hell will break loose! Luckily Maria did decide to show up and she start working five minutes ago. Well, I say luckily, but her and Alex are up to something, and I have a nasty feeling it evolves them annoying me…

So now there's another waitress surely it's time for me to have a break. Oh yeah, like that would ever happen! I still have the lunch rush to get through! Isn't my life just super? I warn you, NEVER let your parents buy a restaurant! Well, unless you like waking up at the crack of dawn and slaving your butt off until no ones hungry any more, and believe me that NEVER happens, there'll always be someone who needs something!

Right, here's a tour of who's in the Crash at the moment. We have a mad tourist couple, made up of a sci-fi freak with brown hair and a ditsy blonde that I swear is an alien reincarnate! But they're harmless and kinda sweet. They're the sort of people who are kind to waitresses and aren't demanding, and as far as I'm concerned, right now, that makes them angels! Then we have two, big, burley men who look like they've been pulled off the streets of New York. I can truthfully say, they're the oddest, (and rudest!) thing Roswell has seen in years! Then we have Max and Michael sitting in their usual booth, and Alex… He's been watching me like a hawk since he came in and Maria keeps whispering to him! I swear it's gonna drive me mad soon!

Yes I realise that sounds like a pathetic lunch rush but in Roswell everything is a little backwards, so the lunch rush won't be starting for another ten minutes at least!

'Hey Lizzie, Max and Michael have been waiting for like ever! Why don't you go serve them?'

Since when has Maria been concerned about Michael's hunger?? I smell a rat!

'Why don't you go and serve them, I've got to serve that couple, Larry and Jenny!'

Haha, get round that one DeLuca!

'Oh that's OK Liz, I'll get them, they're practically in my section anyway. You get Max and Michael. I don't think I could face the arrogant pig at the moment.'

Damn it! 'What Max is now an arrogant pig?'

'LIZZIE! You know full well I meant Michael! Now off you go!'

So here I go, off to make a fool of myself in front of Max once again. But this time Michael can be a witness!

'Maria! Good going, you know you're meant to make Max look good…'

WHAT?!? Alex just whispered that to Maria. What the hell are they up to???

Crap! I've been standing in front of Max and Michael's table not doing anything… Say something! Say something!

'Hi welcome to the Crashdown, I'm Liz and I'll be your waitress today. What can I get you?'

Oh God! Not this again! Liz Parker's ability to speak just left the building! So now Michael's raising his eyebrow and looking at me like I've grown a third ear and Max looks confused! Great Parker, you've done it again. You have officially scared the living day-lights out of Max and convinced him that you are truly strange! All that in under a minute! Wow! That must be a record!

'Uh Liz, it's us. You know, Max and Michael? From Roswell, New Mexico.'

Aghhh, someone kill me now! If the ground was capable of swallowing people up then I would now officially be six feet under!

'Uh, yeah, sorry, I'm just pretty tired…' *giggle*

I'm giggling? I'M GIGGLING?!? Help!!!!

'Right well we'll have the usual! Bye bye now!'

OK, does Michael take rude lessons or something?

'Look Pig-boy, waitress service is presently a little thin on the ground. So either you play nice or we'll just have to see what you look like in one of these outfit. OK sugarplum?'

Whoa, I didn't even realise Maria was behind me! That is priceless, seriously this is what they call a Kodak moment! You should see Michael's face! He looks scared out of his mind! And Maria's just standing there with her arms crossed, tapping her foot!

'Uh please Liz, we would very much appreciate our usual,' and with a quick glance at Maria, 'If it's not too much trouble, that is…'

I would pay just to hear that again! That was amazing! Michael has never even talked to me properly, let alone been polite! Maria is incredible! And Max? He looks like he's gonna burst if he doesn't laugh soon…

'Sure Michael! I'll be right back with that!'

I walk off, but I'm feeling dangerous so there go the hips! Yes that's right, shy little Liz Parker is shaking her booty across the restaurant! Look at me!

'You see Michael! Being polite can make everyone very happy!'

Maria's still taunting Michael, there is some serious tension between them, and I don't mean the bad kind!

'Oh my! Well! Is that Little Lizzie Parker strutting her stuff in public? I thought you only did that at our girlie sleep-overs and when Kyle ain't feeling too good!'

'Ha ha funny Alex!'

'You know Alex, I think she's trying to impress someone.'

'Shit, Maria! Quit sneaking up on me! You scared the hell out of me!'

'She's right, Maria, you have some kind of sneaking complex. But while you have that abnormality you are extremely apt with your observations! I do believe our Lizzie is trying to impress someone!'

'I am not!'

'Hmmm… you're right Alex, except for that abnormal part! Now who could she be trying to impress? M… M… now what was his name? Max was it? Yes that's it MAX EVANS!'

'WHAT? Do you really have to shout Ria?'

'OH WAS I SHOUTING?'

'Ow Ria!' Haha that's right Maria, shout in Alex's ears some more then perhaps he'll attack you and you'll kill each other!

'JUST SHUT UP! Right, now! First things first, I was not shaking my booty!' Right you shut up! They don't have to know about it! 'Secondly I have Kyle so why would I want Max?' Again shut up!

'You do realise you're killing him! And he's looking again!'

'He is so not looking!'

I will not sound excited, I will not sound excited! This is just another of Maria and Alex' missions to get Max and me together…

'Yes he is! Isn't he Alex?'

'Yup Lizziebear. I think it's time you accepted, you have a stalker!'

'Fine! I'll look! See, turning round… See not looking!'

No he did not just look away!

'When will you two guys get it? What I felt in fourth grade, only I felt! Max doesn't like me and I've moved on! I have Kyle!'

'Kyle?!? Give me a break! Since when did a dumb jock turn you on?'

'ALEX!'

Someone please help me! These two are never gonna shut up! Where's my knight in shining armor to save me? Brad Pitt perhaps? But I'll settle for Max… did I just say that? I did not mean that! So any way…

'LOOK BUDDY JUST GIVE ME THE MONEY! NO MORE TIME! I'VE ALREADY WAITED LONG ENOUGH! JUST HAND IT OVER!'

THANK YOU GOD! OK so an angry brawler wasn't exactly what I had expected, but it'll do! Anything to get Hurricane DeLuca and Typhoon Whitman off my case!

'Sorry guys! It looks like an angry brawler calls my name! You carry on this conversation between you!'

Hahaha! I got away!

'I'll come with you chica!'

OK so maybe I didn't, it looks like this hurricane's got homing powers and it's heading for me!

'Excuse me sir, is everything alright?'

That was to the shouting man, the other one looks just plain scared so I figure that if I talk to the big one then it won't anger the situation any more!

'NO I AM NOT ******* ALRIGHT, ***** SLUT!'

Righttttttt, okey dokey, looks like this is gonna get interesting.

'I'm sorry sir, but you're causing alarm, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'

We were taught how to take care of awkward customers, but this is a little beyond awkward! Perhaps if I just stay calm!

'YOU KNOW WHAT, WITCH, YOU CALL THIS ALARM, WELL HOW ABOUT THIS?'

BANG! Oh my god! He just shot the other guy! This wasn't mentioned in the training! What do I do now?

'LIZ!'

That was Maria squealing at me, you want to know why? Well…

'No one move or alien girl here gets it!'

Mmmm-hmmm, yes I'm now standing here in the arms of the truckie with a gun pressed to my stomach!

'Liz, don't move! It's OK.'

That's Alex, calm as always but who the hell is he kidding… OK??? THIS IS NOT OK! I have a gun pressed to my stomach and I'm standing in a murderer's arms! How does this classify as OK?

'Let her go!'

'Max…'

'Shut up all of you!' He's pressing the gun further into my stomach. Is he paying any attention to how much this hurts? No thought not!

Well, one thing I probably should have told you earlier is that I get VERY claustrophobic at times when I'm tense, and tense would definitely describe me right now!

'Lizzie, just breathe, sweets, it's OK.'

'Maria…' Yes I've resorted to whimpering!

'I SAID QUIET!'

Breathing is not so easy right now… I can't breathe, I need space! I have to get out of his arms! Just to be free…

'LET ME GO!' I choke and push him away.

'LIZ!' That was Max…

'YOU BITCH!' That was gunman…

'OH MY GOD!' That was Maria…

SMASH! That was a ketchup bottle Maria was holding…

'Shit!' That was Michael…

BANG! That was the gun…

SMACK! That was me hitting the cold tiles of the floor, hey it was nice meeting you guys…