Couples
Disclaimer: These characters belong to the folks at Regency, Fox etc… No infringement intended.
Summary: This takes place the day after The Balance – my solution to Max and Liz’s “step back”.
Category: Various couples.
Spoilers: Through The Balance.
Rating: PG
* * * * *
Isabel sat and watched Max across the kitchen table as they ate breakfast. Or, to be more accurate, as she ate breakfast. Max seemed more interested in pushing his scrambled eggs around his plate with his toast than in actually eating anything, though he was already on his third cup of coffee, something he rarely drank. Their parents had left a half-hour earlier to play tennis, so Isabel alone was witness to her brother’s brooding and she was starting to worry. They had arrived home late the night before after dropping off Alex, Liz, Maria, and Michael. The stress and fear caused by Michael’s illness and healing at the cave had left them all drained. But, despite the hour, Max had brought Isabel home and then taken off again alone. She hadn’t heard him come home, but this morning he had dark circles under his eyes and he had lapsed into a quiet she found unnerving.
“Max? What’s going on?”
Max glanced up at Isabel, but said nothing. Instead he reached for his coffee mug and drained the remaining contents, then rose and headed for the pot on the stove.
“You’re scaring me, Max. Please say something. You can tell me.”
“I know, Iz,” Max said quietly, his back still turned toward her. “But I just don’t think I can talk about it right now, okay?”
Isabel got up and went to stand next to Max. “Is it about Michael? I was scared too, Max. But it’s okay now. We’re all okay.”
Max shook his head. “No, it isn’t about Michael. Not really.” He turned and faced his sister, staring down at the mug cradled in his hands. “Don’t worry about it. Please. This is just about me right now.” He took a swallow of coffee, grimaced, and set the cup in the sink. “Look, I’ve got to get to work. I’ll see you later.” He started to leave, but Isabel caught his arm.
“Max, look at me,” Isabel demanded.
Max sighed and looked up.
“Oh God, Max,” Isabel said softly, reacting to the pain she saw in his eyes. “Where did you go last night? Did something happen with Liz?”
“Leave it alone, Isabel. Please.” Max gently pulled his arm away from his sister and turned and walked away.
* * * * *
The Crashdown was filled with the usual Sunday morning crowd and Liz wished desperately that she could make them all disappear. She tried to smile at the customers as she took orders for Martian muffins and Pluto pancakes, but she was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open and her heart hurt so badly she could barely breathe. She was vaguely aware of the worried looks Maria was sending in her direction, but the café was too busy for them to have time to talk and Liz wasn’t sure what she would tell Maria even if the opportunity presented itself.
She had spent the entire night tossing and turning, analyzing every minute of her relationship with Max Evans, every word and gesture since the day he had saved her life, trying to find some way to convince him they were meant to be together. And she had cried. For what seemed like the entire night. She hadn’t known it was possible to cry that way, for so long. Just the thought of telling Maria what had happened, of having to repeat what Max had said to her, made her eyes fill with tears.
Liz slipped quickly into the break room at the back of the café and pulled a tissue from her apron pocket. Peering into the mirror, she carefully dabbed at her eyes, trying not to smudge the eyeliner she had used to try to cover signs of crying. “What’s the use,” she sighed, staring at the bags under her eyes. “I’m not fooling anyone.”
“No, you’re not,” agreed Maria from where she stood watching Liz.
Liz jumped and turned toward her friend. “God, Maria, you scared me.”
“And you’re scaring me. Liz, you look like death. What’s going on? First you act all weird at the cave last night and now you look like the world’s about to end. What happened?”
“I’m fine,” Liz insisted. “I just didn’t get enough sleep last night and I have this killer headache…”
“That’s a load of hooey. Oh, I’m sure you didn’t sleep and that your head hurts, but hon, you look ready to burst into tears if you breathe the wrong way. Now sit,” Maria ordered, pushing her friend toward the couch. “There’s only ten minutes left to the shift anyway. I can handle it. You stay here.” Maria gave Liz a hard shove, forcing her to sit, and glared at her. “I’ll be back.”
Liz watched Maria disappear through the swinging door into the café. It took her a minute to realize that there were tears streaming down her cheeks, but somehow she didn’t care. Now that she was sitting still, she felt cold all the way to her bones. Slowly she pulled her feet up under her and tugged a woven Mexican throw over her shoulders. She tugged the headpiece to her uniform out of her hair and tossed it aside, the antennas continuing to quiver for a minute as she watched. “Stupid thing,” she mumbled as her eyes drifted closed and she curled onto her side.
* * * * *
Isabel pulled her mother’s car into a space a half block from the Crashdown, then sat quietly for a moment, staring at the big flying saucer hanging above the entrance. Not for the first time, she wondered what her life would have been like if she had never come here, if she had just stayed on whatever planet it was she came from and lived the life she had been meant to live. Would things have been better? Or would life have been just as confusing, just as complicated, only in different ways? She climbed from the car with a sigh and headed toward the café, hoping that Liz would be there. If Max wasn’t going to tell Isabel what happened, maybe Liz would. Remembering the pain in her brother’s face, Isabel lengthened her stride and prayed that Liz was not responsible.
Peering through the window, Isabel saw the café was virtually empty, the breakfast rush apparently over. Although there was no sign of Liz, Isabel went inside and, just as the door closed behind her, caught site of Maria heading into the back room. Isabel hurried across the café and followed Maria through the swinging door, nearly crashing into her on the other side.
“Maria, have you…”
“Shhh,” Maria cut her off quickly, gesturing toward where Liz dozed on the sofa. “She didn’t get any sleep last night,” she whispered. Maria motioned for Isabel to follow her and started to tiptoe up the stairs to Liz’s apartment.
Isabel looked at Liz curled on the couch and briefly considered the possibility of waking her up to ask her about Max. But the site of her pale, tear-stained face changed her mind. It was pretty obvious that whatever had happened between Max and Liz was tearing them both apart. Frowning, Isabel turned and quietly followed Maria upstairs.
Maria closed the door behind them. “It’s okay. Her parents are gone until tonight. So, do you have any idea what the deal is? Liz has been in tears pretty much all morning.”
Isabel dropped onto the sofa and rested her face in her hands for a moment, then sat up and shook her head. “Max looks just as bad, but he wouldn’t tell me anything. All I know is he took off again after we got home last night and, as far as I could tell, was gone until morning. He obviously hasn’t slept and he…”
“Oh my God!” Maria broke in, her eyes wide. “You don’t suppose he came here and they…”
“No! Max wouldn’t… I mean…” Isabel stopped mid-sentence, her thoughts too confused for her to sort through while speaking. Then she took a deep breath. “I don’t think so,” she continued calmly. “I don’t think either of them would be so irresponsible. I mean, we have no idea what could happen if we… you know… with humans.”
Maria sat down next to Isabel, but continued to bite on her bottom lip. “Okay,” she said, not sounding completely convinced. “What else could have happened? I mean, Liz was really freaked out by Michael being sick, and I know she was worrying about Max, but they’re both fine, so what else could it be?”
“I don’t know. But we have to find out.” Isabel stood abruptly.
“What are you going to do?”
Isabel eyed Maria for a moment. “Remember when I visited you in your dreams that time? When you were thinking about going to Valenti?”
“Of course I remember. You terrified me,” Maria added.
“Well…”
“Is that what you’re going to do?” Maria jumped up and followed Isabel as she headed for the stairs. “You’re going to pry into Liz’s dreams to see what happened? Isn’t she upset enough as it is?”
“I’m not going to upset her. I’ll just observe. She’ll never even know I was there.” Isabel turned to Maria at the door. “Stay up here,” she whispered. “We can’t wake her up. I’ll be back.”
Maria’s eyes narrowed, but she stayed where she was as Isabel slipped through the door and started quietly down the steps to the café.
* * * * *
Alex wasn’t sure what to do with himself. His first instinct was to go find Isabel, but he wasn’t sure what kind of reception he could expect. She had seemed grateful the night before when he helped Michael during the healing at the cave, but he didn’t know if that meant she had forgiven him for his blurted comment at the UFO Center. He couldn’t blame her for being angry. He still couldn’t believe he had been so stupid.
By noon he still could not make up his mind, so he headed over to the Crashdown. If anyone could give him advice regarding Isabel, it would be Liz and Maria. He was disappointed to discover neither of them was working, but slid into a booth anyway, figuring he might as well eat. Maybe they would show up by the time he was done.
He was halfway through his Saturn rings when someone approached his table. “Mind if I sit with you?” Michael asked, sliding into the booth across from Alex.
“No, no, please do.” Alex paused. He hadn’t really spoken with Michael since learning he was an alien. Not that they had really talked much before either. “Uh… so… uh, how’re you doing today?”
“I’m fine.”
Alex studied Michael for a moment. “Yeah, you sure look a lot better.”
Michael raised an eyebrow. “You don’t like the cobweb look?”
Alex laughed. “No, can’t say that one is going to catch on. Though I’m hardly a fashion trend setter, as DeLuca is constantly informing me.”
“You too, huh?” Michael scanned the café. “They’re not working today?”
“Liz and Maria? Doesn’t look like. But I figured I’d hang out anyway. Maybe they’ll show.” Alex pushed his plate toward Michael. “Wanna ring?”
Michael eyed the food. “Thanks. But I guess I might as well hang out and get my own.”
* * * * *
When Liz opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Isabel, perched on the steps watching her, a look of concern on her face. Liz sat up abruptly. “Isabel, hey.” She pushed back a strand of hair that had escaped her hair clip. “Uh… what are you doing here? Where’s Maria?”
Isabel stood and came over to sit next to Liz. “Maria’s upstairs. I just came by to talk to you.”
Liz rubbed her face, feeling blurry, trying to clear her mind of the last remnants of sleep. Then everything came flooding back, everything that had happened with Max, her restless, miserable night, everything. She looked at Isabel. “Uh, what did you want to talk to me about?”
Isabel just looked at her. “What do you think?”
“Oh,” Liz said, looking down. She traced the design of her apron with one trembling finger. “Max told you what happened.”
“Let’s just say I know. Look Liz, I don’t know if this helps, but Max is just as upset as you are. I can’t say I understand what there is between you two, but… well, I think Max is wrong.”
Liz looked up, started. “You do? I mean, I thought you and Michael wanted him to stay away from me?”
Isabel shrugged. “We were upset too, Liz.” She rose and started pacing back and forth. “You have to understand. The three of us, well, it’s just been the three of us for a long time. We made a set of rules to keep ourselves safe and we stuck to them. But if anyone broke them, it was just in little ways, like using our powers for silly things, safe things. And it was always me or Michael doing it. Never Max. Max was always so in control, so aware of what we needed to do to keep our secret.”
“And then he used his power to save me,” Liz said softly.
“Exactly. Not only did he use his powers, he did it in public, on a human. And not just any human, Liz. You. Little Miss Scientist, with your need to know everything and your relentless ambitions. If anyone was going to ask questions, it was going to be you.” Isabel sighed. “I’m not saying he should have let you die. That’s not what I mean. It’s just that, he didn’t stop to think, didn’t hesitate. He lost all control, broke the rules in a way none of us ever dreamed of doing, putting us all in danger. That isn’t Max, it’s not the way he works. And Liz, he just hasn’t been the same since.”
“I know. That’s what he said last night. That he’s lost sight of everything else.” Liz felt her eyes grow damp and took a deep breath.
Isabel sat down again. “Look, Liz. We made those rules a long time ago, when we were just kids. I’m not saying they’re bad rules, but I guess part of growing up is learning how to adjust to a situation. We couldn’t know then that there would be humans who might understand us. Might like us anyway. That we could trust. Max was so sure we could trust you and he was right.”
“But I told Maria and Alex after I promised I wouldn’t. How can you say that?”
“You had to tell Maria. She basically saw the whole thing. And you were right to trust Alex, too. I knew it at the hospital when he was willing to give us his blood for Max and not give us away, even though he was angry that you weren’t giving him an explanation. He’s loyal to you Liz. Like I’m loyal to Michael. It’s the same. I see that now.”
“Thank you, Isabel. Really.”
Isabel smiled. “It’ll work out, Liz. You and Max, I mean. I guess you were right, that night on the road, that I was a little afraid of you taking Max away from me. I could already see it happening. And I think we were all afraid, Max too, of what that would mean. We’ve all avoided relationships our entire lives. Even with our parents, Max and I haven’t been honest. We vowed never to get close to anyone, partly because we were afraid that would mean we would want to reveal too much, or else the other person would discover our secret and then what? We were scared, Liz. But, you guys, you already know about us.”
“I guess, maybe, that makes it even more scary, doesn’t it?” Liz asked, suddenly seeing a little more clearly. “You don’t have the excuse to hold you back anymore.”
“I guess so. We just each deal with it a little differently.”
“You think so, huh?” Liz asked, standing up. “Seems to me that what you all do is run away.”
“What was it Michael told us last night in the cave?” Isabel asked. “No more running.”
“Well, we’ll just have to see. I mean, it is understandable, I guess. After all, we humans run away too, sometimes.” She turned to Isabel and smiled. “Thanks. I mean it.”
“You’re welcome.” Isabel glanced at her watch. “I better get going.”
“I better go up and see what Maria’s doing. See ya later,” Liz added, and headed upstairs.
* * * * *
The minute Isabel walked through the swinging door into the café, she spotted Michael and Alex sitting together in the far booth. Michael, who was shaking Tabasco sauce into his soda, saw her and motioned for her to come over. Alex turned and caught her eye and offered a tentative smile. Isabel walked over and stood at the end of the table, taking in the two empty plates, splatters of ketchup on one and Tabasco on the other. “My, my. Isn’t this cozy,” she smiled. “You two having a good time?”
“Actually, we were,” Michael offered, causing Isabel’s eyebrows to raise a notch. “What are you doing coming in the back? You moonlighting as a waitress again?”
“No, I was talking to Liz,” she stated, sliding in next to Alex and stealing a sip of his soda, causing him to stare at her and Michael to frown. “You okay?” she asked Michael.
“Terrific. Even better if you would all stop asking me that.” He drained half of his glass. “Was Liz alone back there?”
Isabel sighed, knowing exactly what Michael was really asking. “They’re both upstairs in Liz’s apartment. But I don’t think this is a good time, Michael. Liz is not doing too well. Apparently, Romeo told fair Juliet they needed some time apart last night.”
“He what?”
“Excuse me,” Alex broke in. “I’m a little confused. Didn’t Max and Liz just hook up?”
Isabel shrugged. “Technically, yes.”
“He’s been mooning over her for years,” Michael added. “So, why break it off now? I thought this is what he wanted?”
“Liz was pretty freaked out by you getting sick. I guess it made her think, which made him think. I don’t know. Neither one of them is exactly volunteering information.”
Michael looked at Isabel. “Which means you…?”
“Yeah, well. Anyway, the point is, I talked to Liz and I think she’s a little better, but she’s upstairs with Maria right now, so I would just stay away. Okay, Michael?”
“Right.” Michael stood and fished some money out of his pocket. “Where’s Max today?”
“Working. Michael, don’t push him. I’ve never seen him like this.”
“I’m on top of it.” Michael dropped a five-dollar bill on the table and nodded toward Isabel and Alex. “See you guys later.”
* * * * *
Max had spent most of his morning at work shelving books on unexplained phenomena and sulking. He knew he was doing it, hated himself for doing it, but he just couldn’t seem to stop. His boss had eyed him when he had arrived and sent him to work in the back room without a word, which had been fine with Max. He didn’t feel particularly inclined to deal with the public’s endless questions about aliens today.
But now it was nearly two o’clock, and despite his mood, he was starting to get hungry. He just didn’t know what to do about it. Normally he would have gone around the corner to the Crashdown at least an hour ago for a burger and a glimpse of Liz, but after last night he didn’t think he could handle it. Just the sight of her would be enough to make him back down right now. He needed a little more time away from her, time to strengthen his resolve. Because he knew he was right. Being with Liz, well, it was just going to lead to pain for both of them. Not just at the end, but every step of the way.
“Evans? You taking lunch today?”
Max looked up and found Milton standing three feet away, watching him. He hadn’t even heard him approach. He was really losing it. “Uh, yeah, I guess I’ll go now, if that’s okay.”
“Something wrong, Evans? That friend of yours all right? The one with the migraine?”
“Oh, yeah, thanks. Michael’s fine now.”
“Good. You know, can’t be too careful about your health these days. Never know what might set you off. People have strange reactions to all sorts of things – foods, plants, even other people. Gotta take care of yourself.”
Max nodded. “Right. Thanks. Guess I’ll go grab lunch.” He turned and walked away, wondering what exactly his boss was talking about.
* * * * *
Maria was sitting on Liz’s bed staring into space when Liz walked into the room. “Hey,” Liz said softly.
Jumping slightly, Maria smiled at Liz. “You look a little better, now that you caught some sleep.” She shifted to one side, making a space for Liz to sit next to her on the bed. “How do you feel?”
Liz shrugged. “I don’t know. My brain is all fuzzy right now. Did Isabel tell you what happened?”
“Uh… not really. Just that Max was acting weird and so she had come to talk to you. What did happen, Liz? You guys seemed to really be, you know, moving things forward.”
“Yeah, we were,” Liz sighed. “It’s all my fault, Maria. I got so scared when I saw Michael so sick. All I could think was, What if this were Max? What would I do? How could I stand to see him that way and not know how to help him?”
“I know,” Maria said softly.
“Oh, Maria, I’m so sorry,” Liz said quickly, clutching her friend’s hand. “I know it was hard for you to see Michael that way.”
Maria shook her head. “It isn’t the same. Michael and me, well, it isn’t the same as you and Max. It never will be.”
Liz studied her friend’s face, seeing the slight shadows beneath her eyes. “Don’t say that. You never know what might happen. If these past months have taught me anything, it’s not to assume we know what is really going on out there, cuz the world is much stranger and more mysterious than I thought possible. I used to think that by learning everything I could about science and math, you know, things that are so grounded in reality, I’d be able to control my environment.” Liz laughed. “What a joke that turned out to be. All I’ve learned is how little I really know. How little anyone knows. So don’t give up on Michael, Maria. He’s more likely to surprise you than to do what you expect.” She sighed. “Kind of like Max.”
“Liz, what happened with Max? He wasn’t mad at you, was he?”
“No. He wasn’t mad. He was scared. He told me he’s just as scared as I am. And he said those fears we had, well, they just proved that we don’t belong together, because one day he will be the one in jeopardy and he can’t pretend that it’s any other way.” Liz wrapped her arms around herself as her eyes filled with tears. “I know part of him believes that we belong together. In his heart. But he just keeps letting his head get in the way. He can’t see past our differences.”
“Oh Liz,” Maria sighed. “Those differences, well, they are pretty major. He isn’t human.”
“I am well aware of that, Maria,” Liz said curtly, pulling herself together with a little shake. “I know everything he’s worried about. Valenti and the FBI. Putting me in danger. Putting Michael and Isabel in danger because of me. The chance that one day he might have the chance to leave and how would he make that choice if he had to take me into account. I’ve thought of it all.” Liz stood and paced the length of her bedroom. “But, Maria, what about right now? We’ve all been in danger from the moment Max dissolved that bullet and saved me. There’s no going back. How can staying apart make it less dangerous? And as for the rest, well, I don’t care. I’ll deal with it when and if I have to.”
“God, you’ve got it bad, girl,” Maria said softly, but she smiled at her friend. “And Max is in just as deep as you are. You can tell by the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is looking. He’s looked at you that way for a long time, Liz. It’ll work out.”
“That’s just what Isabel said. I hope you’re both right.”
“Just give him some time. He’ll come around.” Maria glanced at her watch. “Listen, are you going to be okay? I really need to get my mom’s car back to her, but I’ll come back if you want.”
Liz shook her head. “I’m okay. Thanks. You go on. My parents are going to be home in a few hours, and I have all this homework that I’ve pretty much been ignoring all weekend, so….”
Maria grinned. “Yeah, it was kind of an eventful couple of days. I’ve got some stuff to do too. But I could bring it over with me and…”
“No way, Maria. We never get any work done when we study together. I’ll be fine.” Liz gave her friend a quick hug. “Thanks. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“’K. Later.” Maria hugged Liz back and left.
* * * * *
After Michael left, Isabel had moved to his side of the booth so that she faced Alex. She ordered fries and continued to take sips of Alex’s soda while she doused her fries with Tabasco and slowly ate them one by one. “So,” she said, smiling as she slid his glass back toward his side of the table, “what did you and Michael find to talk about? More quizzes on alien behavior?”
Alex blushed and looked down at the empty plate resting before him. “I’m really sorry about that, Isabel. I didn’t mean to give you the third degree the other night. It’s just that…”
“It’s okay, Alex. I understand. It’s natural for you to have questions. Liz and Maria do too. They just didn’t ask them all at once.” Isabel laughed. “Well, actually, I guess Liz did pretty much quiz Max the same way. He told me she cornered him with a list at one point. She actually wrote down everything she wanted to know.”
Alex grinned. “Sounds like Liz. She’s always been pretty methodical.”
“Makes us sound like a science project,” Isabel muttered.
“God, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Alex sighed. “I don’t think of you that way, Isabel. Not like some strange, different… you know. It’s just, well, I guess I can’t help but be curious. But, um, about what I said yesterday. At the UFO Center.”
Isabel nodded. “I know. I’m sorry I got so upset. You just have to be more careful, Alex,” she said softly. “Our lives depend on it. There are people watching us. Looking for us. It’s dangerous.” She sighed. “It’s part of the reason Max didn’t want Liz to tell you. He didn’t want to put you in more danger.”
Alex looked grim. “He actually told me that one day. After the thing at the hospital. That he was trying to protect me. I thought he wanted to intimidate me into keeping quiet.”
Isabel laughed. “Max? Intimidate you? My brother? I’m sorry, you just don’t know how funny that sounds to me. Max would never hurt anyone. The only time I’ve seen him raise a hand to anyone, it was Kyle Valenti, and that was because he was trying to force Liz to leave with him. And it’s not like he hit him or anything. If anyone wanted to intimidate you, it would have been Michael.”
“Yeah, that I could see.”
“Don’t worry. It looked to me like you two have bonded.” Isabel wiped her hands on a paper napkin. “Listen, Alex, I need to get going. You need a ride home?”
Alex slid out of the booth. “Thanks, yeah. I’d like that. And Isabel?”
“What?”
“Thank you. For trusting me.”
“No, Alex,” Isabel said quietly. “Thank you.”
* * * * *
Michael was not thrilled at the prospect of running into Max’s boss, seeing how during their previous encounters Michael had broken into the UFO Center looking for information, and had collapsed on the floor in uncontrollable spasms. With a little luck, Michael could get in, find Max, and convince him to take a break or something so they could talk. The center seemed pretty busy, so there was a chance that he wouldn’t be noticed.
“Michael Guerin, isn’t it?”
Michael froze. He knew that voice. So much for luck. “Uh, yeah.” He turned to face Max’s employer. “Hey. How’s it going?”
“I hope you’re here to see Evans. Something definitely going on there. I’d say he could use a friend right now.” The man eyed Michael up and down. “He’s in the back on his lunch break. Never brought lunch back here before. Go talk to him.” He waved Michael toward to the back room, turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Michael stood for a moment, staring after the man. Then he shook his head went looking for Max. Opening the heavy door to the back room, he peered around the corner and saw him sitting on a bunch of crates, staring into the air. The majority of a sandwich sat on a box in front of him with an unopened can of soda and a bottle of Tabasco sauce. “Hey,” Michael said, letting the door close behind him.
Max looked up, clearly startled, then shook his head. “Hey, Michael. What are you doing here?”
“Your boss told me you were back here.” Michael pulled up a crate and sat. “That is one weird guy you work for, Maxwell.”
Max shrugged. “Yeah. I’ve noticed. But that doesn’t answer my question. Why are you here? Did Isabel put you up to this?”
“No. My own brilliant idea.”
Max smiled ruefully. “We all know how well those generally go over. How you feeling, by the way?”
Michael groaned. “Not you too. I’m fine. I thought we established that last night.”
“Right. Sorry.” Max picked up his sandwich, then put it back down. “You hungry?”
“I ate. Listen, Max, I know this is none of my business, but since that never stops you…”
“Great. Listen, Michael, I don’t know what Iz told you, but I really don’t feel like talking about this, so just say you tried and failed and leave it at that.”
“She told me she had never seen you like this. That you wouldn’t talk to her. So she talked to Liz.”
Max looked up. “What did Liz tell her?”
“Relax. I don’t get the impression she was much up to talking, what with the crying and the falling asleep in back of the café because she didn’t sleep last night. Not that that stopped Isabel.”
“Oh, hell.” Max sighed. “I should have known Isabel would take matters into her own hands. Look, I knew Liz was upset when I left last night, Michael. But it’s for the best. Eventually, she’ll see that and go back to her life before.”
“Right, Max. No biggie. Just pick up and move on. Believe that if you want.” Michael shook his head, clearly believing his friend had lost his mind, then stood and started looking around the cramped room, picking up various alien-themed items and turning them over before returning them to their shelves and boxes. “But what about you, Max?”
“I’ll be okay. I just need some time.”
“Max, you have been connected to that girl for a long time. Much longer that just since you healed her.”
Max reached out and took a rubber alien mask from Michael and tossed it into a box. “I know that Michael. You think this is easy for me? But it’s for the best. Isn’t that what you are always warning me about? Keeping our distance, so it’ll be easier to leave if we have to? Why are you suddenly on the other side?”
“Maybe I was wrong, Max. Maybe going it alone isn’t the only answer. Liz already knows the truth, and she doesn’t care. She isn’t running. What about you?”
“What do you mean, what about me?”
“Are you protecting her? Or are you just protecting yourself? Running away has never been your style, Maximillian.”
“You’re one to talk. What about Maria?”
Michael nodded. “You’re right. I have been running. But no more. I said it last night, and I meant it. It stands for you and Isabel, too. Running isn’t going to get us anywhere, whether we’re running toward something or away from it.” Michael ran his hands through his hair, causing it to spike even more wildly. “Sure, I want answers, Max. But last night I almost died. And I realized that I’ve been wasting a lot of time wondering about another life, instead of living this one. It’s just a matter of deciding which things are worth taking a risk. Think about it.”
Max didn’t say anything, just watched as Michael looked him pointedly in the eye, then turned and left him standing there alone.
* * * * *
Maria sat on her bed, books spread around her, and stared out the window where the night sky was filling with stars. She couldn’t imagine how it felt for Max and Isabel and Michael to stare up at that sky and not know where they came from, to not know which star was theirs. With a sigh, she made a pile of her books and dropped them onto the floor, then reached for the phone on her nightstand and automatically dialed Liz’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me,” Maria said. “How’s the studying going?”
“Uh, okay,” Liz replied.
“Right. I know what that means. Star gazing?”
Liz laughed. “Maybe a little.” She sighed. “I just can’t seem to concentrate. I got my geometry homework done, and part of the bio, but…”
“I know. You have both of those classes with Max, so you just couldn’t help but wonder if he’d done the assignments, and then you wanted to call him, but you couldn’t.”
“Maria!”
“Am I right?”
“Well, yeah, but…” Liz laughed again. “You know me so well. I’m fine, Maria. Really. But thanks for checking up on me.”
“No problem. Go on. Go sit on the roof and write it all down. Just take a box of tissues with you.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Right. ‘Night Maria.”
“’Night Lizzie.” Maria hung up the phone, then jumped when she saw a shadow fall across the window.
“Liz okay?” Michael asked as he climbed through the window.
“What? Oh, yeah. She’s, uh… doing better. What are you doing here?” Maria slid to the edge of her bed and stood up nervously.
“I wanted to talk to you.” Michael came across the room and stood in front of Maria. “But I heard you on the phone and so I waited ‘til you were done.”
“That’s a first,” Maria mumbled. “So, I guess Isabel told you what’s going on.”
“Yeah. So, Liz is better?”
Maria shrugged, then sat on the end of the bed. “She’s still pretty upset, but she isn’t hysterical or anything. I think she’ll sleep tonight, at least.” She looked up at Michael. “You can sit down, you know. I mean, if you want.”
Michael sat down on the bed next to her and looked down at his hands. “Listen, I wanted to thank you. For yesterday.”
Maria looked embarrassed. “Well, you know, I couldn’t just stand there and…”
“Let me die?” Michael looked up. “Yes, you could have. Or rather, I would have understood if you had.”
Maria’s eyes grew wide. “You really think I could have done that? Just done nothing while you slipped away in front of me? Is that what you think I’m like?”
“No. I mean, I guess I hadn’t really given it much thought before now. But after what I did, what I said to you… well, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t wanted to help me.”
Maria’s eyes filled with tears. “There is nothing that you have said or done, nothing you could say or do, that would make me want you dead. Not ever.” She turned away, brushing at the tears that fell on her cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to thank you. And also to tell you I’m sorry for that night at the old soap factory. I wasn’t fair to you that night.” Michael put his hand on Maria’s shoulder, felt her tremble, and pulled back. “Look, I’ll go.”
Maria spun back toward Michael. “Wait.” She brushed the last of her tears away. “I’m okay. Really. Don’t go.”
Michael sat back down slowly. “You sure?”
“Yeah. I’m sure,” Maria nodded. “What did you want to say?”
Michael looked at Maria for a moment, at her big green eyes, her damp eye lashes, her pouty lips. “What I said that night, about being alone. Well, that’s only partly true.” He stood and walked to the window and stared out into the night. “I’ve always been alone. No family. Max and Isabel were the closest I had, but they have each other and their parents. They want to know where we all come from, but they’re basically happy here. So, in a way, I’m still separate from them. But in a way, I also made a choice to stay alone, to not let anyone get close. I always told myself that it was my way of making it easy to leave when the time came. No attachments, you know?” He turned to look at Maria and was amazed at the sad expression on her face as she watched him.
“Go on,” she nodded.
“Right. Well, I guess part of me has always been afraid. Afraid that I don’t fit in here. That I couldn’t even if I tried. That there isn’t anyone here who would want to be close to me.” He looked down, avoiding Maria’s steady gaze. “It was just easier to hold myself back. Safer.”
“Reject the world before it rejects you,” Maria said softly.
“Something like that.” Michael took a deep breath and came back to sit next to Maria. “But you, well, you seem to have this ability… to understand me. No one has ever done that before, you know? Just listened to what I said and understood it. No judgements. No worrying if I’m going to go do something stupid. But I didn’t know how to deal with that. I was…feeling things I had never felt before, things I’d never expected to feel. I was starting to lose control. It just seemed better to push you away. Safer.”
“What exactly were you afraid of? I guess by now you know I won’t tell anyone about you.”
“It had nothing to do with that. Nothing to do with putting us in danger, or you in danger. I’m not sure I can even really put it into words. You know that day when we were on the road and I was trying to get a vision from Atherton’s key? You made me try again. You believed I could do it. I felt it. No one has ever done that for me before. Not even Max or Isabel. Just believed in me.”
Maria reached across and gently took Michael’s hand and gave it little squeeze. “Why were you so sure you couldn’t do it that day?”
Michael shrugged. “You saw what happened when I tried to fix your car. That’s how it generally works for me. When I most want my powers to work, they backfire.”
Maria smiled. “Maybe you’re just trying too hard. Sometimes things are easier if you just let them happen.”
Michael looked at their intertwined hands, then into Maria’s eyes. “Maybe. I guess what I’m saying is that this, whatever we have, is more to me than just the eraser room. More than making out after hours at the Crashdown. And it scares me because I don’t know how to do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“And you don’t want to get hurt,” she said softly, finishing the thought. “I know, Michael. But that’s always a possibility, isn’t it? For everyone, not just you, Spaceboy.” She smiled. “I wish I could tell you everything will be okay, but I can’t do that. Only you can decide if it’s a risk you’re willing to take.”
Michael slowly leaned forward until their lips met, kissing her softly, but with more emotion than he had allowed himself ever before. When he pulled back, he saw Maria was smiling, her eyes bright with tears. “I guess I’ll chance it if you will.” He leaned forward again and, before their lips met again, whispered softly, “Besides, this is still the only way I’ve found to shut you up.” Then he kissed her laughing mouth and hugged her close as she embraced him in return.
* * * * *
Isabel had been trying to study when Max got home from work. She heard him go into his room, come back out and head down the hall toward her room, then hesitate outside her door. “Come on in, Max,” she said, knowing he would hear her despite her soft tone.
He came in quietly, then shut the door behind him. “Hey.” He came across the room and sat on the corner of the bed. “I’m sorry about this morning.”
“Me too. I didn’t mean to push.”
Max smiled. “Yes. You did. But thanks anyway. Thanks for caring enough to push, and to go see Liz and to talk to Michael and whatever else it is you did.”
“I’m sorry about that, too. About going into Liz’s dream. It was wrong of me to pry, but I was worried about you.”
“Yeah. It was wrong, Iz. You don’t have the right to investigate my private life. It just isn’t… well, don’t do it again. Okay? I understand why you felt you needed to do it, but please. No more.”
Isabel nodded. “I promise. But Max, don’t leave me in the dark like that again. I know you’re entitled to a private life, but so much has been happening lately. You try so hard to protect us, and you keep these secrets from us, and you just can’t do that. We’re in this together.”
“Deal. I won’t hold back the important stuff and you’ll trust that what I hold back is private.”
“So. You okay?’
“I’m… let’s say I’m in transition. Michael gave me a lot to think about.”
“Our Michael? You’re kidding, right?”
Max laughed. “No. I’m serious. Something happened to him last night. Other than the obvious,” he added. “I think we can expect some changes in Michael.” He stood up and put his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “I’ve got some stuff to do. Thanks.”
“Hey. You’re my brother.”
“I don’t just mean for caring about me. I mean for going to see Liz. I know you did more than just pump her for information.”
Isabel squirmed in her seat. “Yeah, well. She was in worse shape than you. I figured I should cut her a break.”
Max looked uncomfortable. “How bad was she?”
“Come on, Max. You don’t want to hear this.” Isabel avoided her brother’s steady gaze. “She was upset. Let’s leave it at that.”
“Okay.” Max started out of the room, then stopped with his hand on the door. “You know, last night, telling her I thought we should take a step back, that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
“I know.”
“I made her cry. I never wanted to hurt her, and I made her cry.”
“Max,” Isabel said, crossing the room and taking his arm. “Don’t beat yourself up for doing what you felt you had to at the time. Liz understands all of your reasons. She just doesn’t agree with them.”
“And you? Do you agree with them?”
“I can’t tell you what to do, Max.”
Max sighed. “I guess that means you don’t.”
“Max, I…”
“No, it’s okay. Look, I’ve got some things to sort out. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night.” Isabel stood in the doorway and watched her brother turn the corner toward his room. Then she went back into her room and closed the door. It took all of her will power to keep from cracking open her window so she could hear if Max slipped out again tonight.
* * * * *
Liz had waited until she was sure her parents were asleep before slipping out onto the roof with her journal. Fortunately, they had been too exhausted from their camping trip to stay up late, or even to notice how quiet and pale she was. Now, wrapped in a blanket, Liz sat curled up on her old lawn chair and wrote beneath the stars. She felt calmer than she had earlier in the day. Both Isabel and Maria had helped her put things into perspective, and although she still felt as if a part of her had been wrenched away, she knew that she couldn’t allow herself to simply fall apart. Max was just as entitled to his feelings and fears as she was, and if she truly cared for him, she would have to respect that while letting him know she was there for him. She needed to believe that, eventually, he would find his way back to her.
“Hey.”
At the sound of Max’s voice, Liz looked up with a start. He was sitting on the top of the ladder, quietly watching her. “Hey,” she said softly.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Uh, you didn’t. I mean, not really. I guess I’ve been a little out of it today. It hasn’t been too hard to creep up on me.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
Liz watched Max for a moment in silence, as neither moved to close the gap between them. “Are you just going to stay over there?” she finally asked.
“Oh,” he said, looking down as if he’d forgotten where he was. Swinging his legs over the wall, he walked over and sat at the foot of Liz’s chair, careful not to touch her. “Guess not,” he told her with a half smile.
“We have to be quiet. My parents are asleep,” Liz said.
“Right. I guess it is kind of late.”
“It’s okay,” Liz told him, when he looked like he was getting ready to stand up and go. “We just have to keep it low. They won’t hear us.”
“Okay. Uh, Liz…”
“It’s okay, Max. I’m okay.”
“It isn’t okay. I thought I knew what I wanted to say to you, but now I can’t remember a single thing.” He ran one hand through his hair, frowning in frustration.
“Would it help if I told you that I think I understand a little better why you felt we needed to take a step back for a while?” Liz set her journal aside and untangled herself from her blanket so she could slide up and sit next to Max. “Max, I know that all of this has been a really big change for you, too. So much has happened in just a few months.” She reached out and took his hand, the gesture more comforting than romantic. “You put all of this pressure on yourself to keep Isabel and Michael safe, and now Maria, Alex, and me. For the first time you’re trusting your secret to outsiders. Then there’s the Sheriff and Miss Topolsky and God knows who else. And finally discovering things about who you are.” Liz squeezed his hand gently. “That’s a lot to take in, Max.”
Max looked at their joined hands for a moment and nodded. “You’re right. It is a lot. All of it. But Liz, it isn’t just happening to me. I think part of what I’m scared of is how much I’ve drawn you into my life in just a short time. And I worry that if we get closer, I’m just going keep pulling you in until I won’t be able to let you go.”
“You think that if, one day, you have the chance to leave here, to go home, you won’t be able to take it.”
Max allowed himself to look into her eyes. “Yes. Liz, today was the hardest day I’ve spent since that day I healed you at the café. I spent that day wondering what you might say, what you would think of me if I told you the truth. And today, not seeing you, making conscious choices to avoid seeing you…”
“Hurt,” she finished quietly, her eyes filling with tears. “Max, I know someday you might need to leave. But that may be a long time from now. It may never even happen. Isn’t it worth the risk in the meantime?”
He closed his eyes for a moment to shut out the site of her beautiful brown eyes, so filled with pain and love. “Liz, it isn’t just someday. I have to be able to focus on all of these other things that are happening. We’re all in danger.”
“We’re in danger anyway, Max. Whether or not you and I are together, we are all in danger. And we’ve all accepted that, except for you.”
Max stood abruptly and paced across the roof. “Because of me,” he said in a loud whisper. “You’re all in danger because of what I did.”
“If you hadn’t done what you did, Max, I wouldn’t be here,” Liz reminded him.
“I know that,” he said, coming back and crouching in front of her. “I would do the same exact thing tomorrow. But that is what makes it my responsibility to keep a clear head and to protect all of you.” He raised one hand to her cheek and wiped away a tear that had escaped and fallen on her cheek. “Liz, I want to be with you. I do. But I’m afraid to let myself get too wrapped up in you.”
“Oh, Max,” she sighed softly, taking his hand and drawing it away from her face. “You’re just afraid to lose control. But that’s what love is. A loss of control. Except it isn’t that you’re losing it. You’re just giving a part of it away. The six of us, together, that’s what will keep us safe, Max. Not you standing guard over us alone.”
“If anything happened to you, to any of you…”
“It won’t. And even if it does, Max, it won’t be your fault.”
Max reached out and pulled Liz into his arms, holding her close. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, her fingers slipping up into his hair as she returned his embrace. “Liz…” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. Then he traced one finger gently over her lips, feeling her smile and kiss the tip of his finger. He stared at her for a long moment, as if struggling to make a final decision then leaned forward and kissed her softly.
“Oh, Max,” she breathed, then deepened the kiss slowly. She could feel waves of emotion pouring from Max to herself and back again; love, fear, relief, desire. Suddenly he stood, scooping her off the chair so he could sit back down with her cradled on his lap, never breaking the kiss for a moment. Liz cuddled closer to Max, her arms enveloping him, and allowed herself to simply enjoy the sensation of kissing the man she loved under the twinkling night sky. Time enough to worry about the rest of it when the sun came up.
***
END
