Chapter 11: We're Here!
Liz and Riley reached their destination. It was a wood cabin that was surrounded by some trees and in front of the house was the desert. and the most beautiful sunset. It was chilly so Liz unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself. Riley saw what she did and placed his arms around her. She was tense around him to begin with, but with his arms around her and oh no, he just placed a tender kiss on her temple.
"Relax, baby," he whispered in her ear.
"K," Liz said knowing instantly she wouldn't be able to relax. I would be able to relax if it was Max, there I go again with Max. I'm not doing anything wrong. Just boyfriend and girlfriend, but I'm not Buffy. I'll just try to avoid him. Parker, it's going to be hard you're staying in a house TOGETHER. In some ways its like Liz Parker's brain is having a battle. Liz vs. Liz. What the hell am I going to do???????
"Buffy, get the blankets please?" Riley asked carrying two duffel bags into the house.
"Is everyone a psychic here?" Liz muttered to herself grabbing the blankets and a cooler.
Liz trudged into the house and was in awe at the art work. On the ceiling there were constellations and planets painted on. Some of the stars were painted in glow-in-the-dark paint.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Riley said closing the door.
Liz jumped at the sound, trying to be as discreet as possible, "Yeah, look a balcony."
They walked to the balcony, Liz making sure she was at least
2 feet in front of him. Wow I wish I had this view from my
balcony. Her thoughts were interrupted as Riley turned her
around and kissed her. Liz just felt weird.
Chapter 12: Buddha Is Around Us
Maria, Isabel, Kyle, and Michael were in the Crashdown discussing how Liz has changed over the past day.
"I haven't really noticed it," Kyle said taking a bite of his Will Smith burger, Michael had fried up a couple of minutes ago.
"Shut up Kyle, all you notice is how Buddha is around us," Maria said.
"You know, Buddha----"
"I think she has changed in some way," Isabel said saving the conversation. Anymore of the Buddha talk and Maria was going to sneak into the Valenti house and steal all his Buddha books. But that's not good. NOOOOOOOO Buddha Boy got to me. Maria made a face unnoticed by everyone.
"In what way?" Alex said sitting next to Isabel giving her a kiss on the cheek. Isabel blushed. She liked to keep things private when it came to Alex, but sooner or later she would want to publicly display her affection. She didn't want to still have the reputation as the 'Ice Queen'.
"C'mon Liz going to Leather R Us. Right there is a sign of help," Maria said.
"Help? You think she needs help?" Michael asked. He never really got along with Liz or with anyone else. But since Max has been flaunting that blonde he saw the hurt in Liz's eye and whatever animosity was between them vanished. He wanted to get to know her better. And she is Maria's best friend, so it would be nice to get along with her. Especially after the journal fiasco. But that was behind them, hopefully. She forgave him and that was that. They never really conversed before, but he wanted to try.
"You know, I have some great Buddha books on help," Kyle said before ducking his head underneath the table. He knew Maria would hit him.
Buffy was in Liz's room, on the balcony, taking in the view she had. She never had a view like this in her dorm room. The only view she had was of the naked fat guy in the other dorm building.
She leaned against the brick wall and felt something move. She instantly turned around and put her hands on the wall. She felt around for a loose brick. Here we go, she thought as she tugged out the brick. What is Liz Parker hiding? A diary, she thought holding the bound book. Do I read this? It's really personal and I remember when I thought Angel read my diary I flipped. Almost had a jelly-belly. But of course assuming the worst I told Angel everything I felt and boy did I feel like an idiot when he told me my mom moved the diary when she was cleaning. My mom. MY mom, no one else's. I miss her so much. A single tear dropped from her eye and Buffy used the back of her hand to wipe it away. Whenever she thought of her mom, she always got emotional. Buffy put back the diary, finally deciding it was too personal. She took several steps toward the door looked back at the loose brick and ran back.
"Doesn't hurt if I read some of it?" Buffy said grabbing the book and sat on the lawn chair.
Chapter 13: Not The 'A' Word
Liz feeling extremely weird broke the kiss. She was searching for something to say. Hell she didn't even know his name. What is it?? C'mon I have to know it???
"What's wrong Buffy?" Riley asked with concern. What's going on with Buffy? She's not acting like herself.
"Um, its..just...uh...I think we're moving too fast," Liz said matter of factly.
"What do you mean moving too fast?" Riley asked.
"This, the whole staying alone in a house together, alone," Liz said trying to emphasize the word alone.
"But I thought this would be nice. To get away from all the slaying for a little bit," Riley said trying to but his arm around his girlfriend.
"What is it with slaying?? Honestly I don't want to be here. I rather be in Sunnydale," Liz said pushing his arm away from his waist. Not Sunnydale, Roswell. Should I just tell him. Buffy loves him, I'm ruining their relationship. I should tell him.
"Buffy, I just thought you would like it," he said with his eyes to the tree by the table outside.
"I'm sure I would like it, but you know with slaying and all I should be there," Liz said using the vampire excuse. Hey, if they believe in vampires, by all means you insane people believe in them, but let me go home! "We should go back, yeah let's go back. You should call them and let them know we're going back." Liz said proudly. Let him agree, please let him agree.
"I would, but the thing is last time I checked you wanted to be alone with me. So I didn't bring a phone with me and there isn't a phone here because we're far out the telephone wires don't reach out here," Riley said sheeplishy.
"What are you insane? What happened to the if-they-need-help-they'll-call-us????," Liz said panicking," We're out here in the middle of nowhere and you don't bring a phone?"
"They could always beep us," he said.
"Yeah, but how are we supposed to respond?" Liz said getting in his face. She realized that being in Buffy's body gave her not only a new identity but a new attitude. She could be tough, she could be a wise ass, she could be anything she wasn't.
"I'm sorry Buffy," Riley said. He really meant it. If he know Buffy was going to freak out about this, he would have never reserved the house. His army boys were right about her. They would never see their frat boy again. She took all his time. All his energy. His life, his soul. He loved her, but he never got what he wanted. Somewhere in the back of his head, he knew if could never be Angel. He was strong, he was mysterious, he was a vampire. He was everything that Riley wasn't. He was even jealous of Spike. He was strong, had an accent, and was mysterious. Again everything he wasn't. Buffy would never had feelings for Spike, but still. Spike liked Buffy and that thought made Riley ill to the thought. "You know what? I don't know what the hell has gotten up your ass, but if this is about Angel, then you can just forget it" he said bringing his voice up.
Liz jumped with she heard him shout. She was not only shocked, but completely sorry she even wished for this. She hated herself. She ruined 2 lives that were perfectly happy. She was scared about what would happen when Buffy would eventually find out and what Buffy would do to her and Riley. She should tell him. Maybe he would find an understanding, maybe forgive her, maybe still be with Buffy.
"Please, let me explain," Liz said. She figured she was going to tell him. She had to.
"No, Buffy you don't have to explain anything. I understand perfectly well. It's about Angel. Angel, Angel, Angel. I need time to cool off," he stormed out of the house. Keys in hand he got in the car and sped off. Liz tried to catch up with him. Not only to reconcile, but to have him keep the car here. "What did I do???" she said to herself.
Chapter 14: The Entries
Buffy sat on a lawn chair book in hand. She was on page 56. She didn't start from the beginning. She picked the page the number of times she though about Riley. Ok maybe not 56 times, ok maybe 56 times in another way. She grinned at her thought and read the passage.
I'm Liz Parker and today I saw what happened to be the most heartbreaking moment. I saw Max and Tess kissing. I should have known that this was to come, but on Prom Night? Somewhere in my head I thought that he would kiss me after our dance, hold me, be with me. I almost told him about the FM thing. But I can't because them it would end. It's hard to see them happy when I'm here sitting in my room sulking. After I saw them kiss I ran down the hall, threw my corsage in the trash bin. I wish I would have thrown the corsage in Tess's face. I turned to an unlikely person: Sean. We didn't do anything except skate across the lanes. Still I wish I would done something. What would I have done?? In some ways I wish I would have missed the bin and when Max heard the door crash race across to see what happened and stumble across the corsage. He would have figured out it was the one he had given me and told something to Tess. Maybe "I'm sorry. It was a mistake. I need to talk to Liz." After that he would race to the Crashdown not find me there. Go crazy in the thought that something could have happened to me. But in reality Max never found the corsage, he never ran to see me. He never swept me into his strong arms, and he never kissed me.
Buffy didn't want to read the rest of the passage. She sniffled the rest of her tears back in and hoped there would be a happy ending. She turned to page 76.
I'm Liz Parker and again I saw something I wish I never saw. Max came into the Crashdown. His face unreadable. He walked to his booth and met with his Isabel. She has been very supportive. She has been coming over to my house every now and then just to hang out. To Isabel's standards that's like a miracle. She would have never talked to me or Maria if it wasn't for the whole Czech/save thing. Anyway they talked for a couple of moments and I prayed that Maria would walk into the room so that she could cover that area. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't want to look into his eyes. If I did I could easily forgive him and take him back and love him and kiss him, but I can't because I keep forgetting something so important his destiny. Destiny what a horrible word. Maria didn't come and dad keeping pushing me to serve their table. Are parents so oblivious? I got some courage from somewhere and walked up the table. I first asked Isabel what she wanted and she knew that I felt uncomfortable around Max and ordered for him. I mouthed a quick 'thank you' before heading back into the room. That may seem hard, but what was hard was soon to come. I got their orders. Gave some extra fries to Isabel as a thank you. I carried it out and served them. I quickly remember their tabasco thing. I run back and get the sauce. When I come back I see HER kissing Max. Her hand on his hand. He doesn't fight it. He returns the kiss. Normally I would run away and cry my eyes out, but instead I slam the bottle on the table causing the dishes to rattle and all three of them to jump. I put on a fake smile that I've been putting on for days and run back. Max follows me and says he sorry. How I've heard that one to many times. I say its ok. It's your destiny. I feel like he's about to say more when SHE walks in and grabs his hand and leaves. He likes a dog when it comes to here. He talks to his sister like he normally would but then she comes in and everything stops, she's the center of his world. I use to be his center. I used to be his half. But not anymore. If it wasn't for the destiny and for the fact that the world might end I could be with him. We would be happy. We would be married. Everything would be perfect. I hear the phone ringing. Probably Maria complaining about Michael. Write later.
Buffy put down the journal. She had enough. She wiped her tears away. It was like reading a novel, but this was someone's life. Just from reading this she so wanted to get Max and Liz together. But as she read there was a price to pay. The world?!? Ok that sounds like my life. And what about the Czech? And FM? What the hell is that? Is there a glossary in here? Cryptic. Smart girl.
Buffy flipped through the journal. She wanted to read the whole thing. It is something private, but its so good. It's like a drama TV show, but real. She was going to start reading another passage when Maria come onto the balcony.
"Honey, chica, what are you doing?" Maria asked viewing Liz's back. Which she seemed to see a lot of literally.
"Reading," Buffy said taking the book and heading back inside.
Maria must have let out the shrill of her life because in a matter of seconds the Podsters were in Liz's room with their mouths gaped open.
Chapter 15: I'm Scared!
Liz went back to the house. She had no idea what to do? Will he come back? How do I explain this to Buffy? What the hell is his name?, she thought with frustration. There is food, so I won't starve to death. I saw wood by the fireplace. But I need a phone. I guess I'll stay here for night and see what happens tomorrow. Maybe the guy will come back. Maybe he cooled off. Who's Angel? Name sounds girly.
Liz walked upstairs and noticed the stars were peaking out and were shining on her. If I make a wish, will it come true? Or this time will it be the opposite? I give up on this wishing business.
She looked through her bag and found some clean sheets of paper, wasn't her journal but anything that she could vent out would do well.
Ok, where do I start? I am no longer Liz Parker I am Buffy
Summers. Buffy who lost her boyfriend because a complete stranger
didn't know what to do and didn't even know his name. Buffy Summers
is stranded in a cabin by herself. It's horrible. I thought I
would like it, get away from Roswell, enjoy life. No I hate being
here.
I wish I was home (ok let's switch words: like to be home). I
realized that I enjoy being Liz Parker. I may not like the fact
that Max is dating Tess, but I like being me. After all Liz Parker
has Alex Whitman and Maria Deluca, two of the greatest people
I have ever known. Being in someone else's body has given me a
new respect for life. I realize I can't have Max I can't always
get what I want. With this experience I will remember the times.
May have not been the greatest, but I like being me. End of story
I like being me. I don't want to be Buffy. She certainly enjoys
herself, but the vampire business (I am still not convinced) I
don't want to deal with. I don't want to deal with those things
that they so believe. Sounds like a cult. But I will know that
Buffy handles herself well. She may not be the greatest in school,
but a good person. That guy really cares for her, I can tell.
The way he looks at her--me. I hope I didn't ruin anything. I
hope she didn't find out about the Czechs. Tired write tomorrow
hopefully in my body. Or if not back in Sunnydale.
Liz thought about other things, she tried to take her mind off the situation that was given to her. She thought about school, but then it was questioned if Buffy did ok on the test she was supposed to take. So that was out. She thought about Maria and Michael. She genuinely hoped they were still doing ok. She very wanted them to be happy. She thought how they are so different but are so good together. They are like a key. One is needed for the other one to work. But the thing that get nagging her was the vampire business. She knew they didn't exist. Vampires don't exist. She kept repeating to herself. Why am I so afraid? I know they don't exist. I know that for a fact. Only aliens, but then again I really didn't think aliens existed, NO Liz THINK STRAIGHT. VAMPS DO NOT EXIST. The house that Riley had rented was one of those old woods houses, so of course it would creak now and then. Liz would jump at the sound of a creak and the sound of anything.
She continued to write her thoughts and her desires on the paper while the song of Linkin Park played in the background.
Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today.
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It's like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(And watches everything)
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
To some extent Liz agreed what the he was saying. She has been paranoid. Granted she was in a house, by herself; made someone lose her boyfriend, can't help but think about Max.
She stopped writing and rested her head on the bed post. She had a long day. She hoped she could fix everything. She promised herself that when she got back to Sunny dale or even to a phone she would tell her story.
When Liz finally succumbed to her desire to go to sleep she heard a tap on the window. Instinctually she thought it was Maria wanting to rant about Michael, but quickly remembered she was in her own hell. She warily crept to the window she heard the noise. She felt like one of those characters that were in those stereotypical slasher movies: heart beating, scared, wished she was under her covers protected from danger. But that wasn't her life. She had been conned by Nasedo, tricked, had her life in danger, but all those times she had someone to rely on: Max. He wasn't here, no one was here to protect her from whatever wanted her harmed.
She peered outside and saw the leaves on the tree sway with the wind. She thought she saw a squirrel or one of those small animals that make people jump because they think its some kind of boogyman. But those people were right. Her eyes widened as she saw the face of a man who's face was distorted, he stepped infront of the window and snarled. Liz screamed in horror and jumped back causing the table to crash into the floor. He continued to pound on the window and say taunting words that she couldn't hear partly because of her screaming. She ran to the front door and put the deadlock in place. She ran to the middle of the room and carried the fallen table to the door. She prayed that what she saw was her mind going overboard and she was imagining it. She crept to the window and she saw him. She clearly knew that this was no dream. It stopped pounding the window and she got a good look at the monster. It was a vampire. It's brow was brought up and looked like a chain of mountains. His face was grayish blue looking, its teeth a horrible yellow, fangs in place, and chipped teeth, eyes glowing a menacing yellow it scared the living daylights out of Liz. Her small body trembled in fear when she heard what the vampire said, "Slayer".
The vampire continued to repeat slayer while staring at Liz. With all her might she wanted to run, but she couldn't leave the house, she couldn't make her feet move, they felt like weights or anchors that kept her feet planted on the ground. The vampire continued to make growling noises and started to grin. He stayed still, he thought the Slayer would come out and fight him fall for the trap, but she didn't. She was smart.
Liz's feet finally cooperated with her and she shut the blinds and ran to her room, grabbing her bags and a bag of groceries she forgot to place in the fridge. She threw them on the bed and a glass she brought up before and placed it carefully on the doorknob. If anyone were to try to open the door the glass would fall and would wake Liz up. But tonight she wouldn't be asleep. She paced around the room. Adrenaline kicking in she didn't know what to believe. She saw a vampire. She thought the Billy Idol guy was nuts, but she believed him. She didn't know anything about vampires, except for the stake and the cross and the garlic. Everything said in a vampire flick. What could she do? She knew they couldn't stay out during the day. So she would only have to survive the hours left of night and then find a way back home. God I wished that guy was here. He could protect her. Wait a second, I remember the guys at the shop say something about asking me--Buffy about what to do about the vampires,so am I a vampire hunter or something? Do I slay vampires? The creepy guy said "slayer" Oh no, I'm a vampire slayer!
Chapter 16: Party Time
"Oh my God, Liz?" Maria said in shock. Her eyes were bugging out. No way was this Liz Parker.
"What is it?" Buffy asked, "What are you guys doing up here?"
"Maria came up to get you so that we can leave and she screamed," Kyle said not resisting to check out his ex-girlfriend. Why didn't she wear that when we were going out?
"Liz, look at you? You look, um, awesome," Isabel said taking Liz into an embrace which left Buffy confused.
Buffy didn't think much of her outfit. This wasn't at all revealing. When she first went to Sunnydale High she would wear the shortest of the short skirts. And no one made a fuss. She had on a black shirt that the top would hang over to near her stomach. She liked it, it had sparkles on it. With that she had on a black leather skirt that was near her knees.
"So are we partying tonight or what," Michael said clapping then rubbing his hands. Alex looked at him that at his best friend, Liz.
"Yes, party, let's go," Buffy said ushering everyone out of Liz's room. She dropped the book under the bed since she was the last one to leave.
Buffy was in the Jetta with Maria and Michael.
"So is Max supposed to be at the party?" Buffy asked.
Maria looked at Michael and he shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Um, I don't know. The last time I went to a party that you didn't want to go to I heard that Max went only because Tess made him, but don't worry about him. With that outfit you'll have every guy drooling over you, chica." Maria said pulling up to the house that was holding the party.
The house reminded Buffy of that time she went to a frat party and Spike was there, of course him not having the chip went after the first person who had nice legs. Correction legs. She being the Slayer after all had to ruin her date with Riley. Even though she said she would have fun and not worry about Riley, she did. The last time she was switched with Faith they did the nasty and that just bothered her that they did that. He couldn't tell that, that was Faith. If she had one of those relationships that didn't require going to bed together then she wouldn't be worried, but she was. Then again Liz Parker was in her body. So Buffy didn't worry that much.
They stepped into the doorway and immediately started to groove to the sound of the music. Buffy loved to dance, but she hasn't been able to go to the Bronze that much. She loved the way her body moved to every beat. She was comfortable in her body and she knew that she made the guys around her sweat. That was Buffy. And now she was in Liz's body. Boy was she going to give a show for the people there.
She poured herself some punch, her head rocking to the beat of 112's "Peaches and Cream". She took a sip and noticed Maria dragging Michael to the dance floor. He had a look of embarrassment, but then he started to laugh at a comment Maria said. Buffy didn't hear what she had said to him, but knew whatever she said worked on the thick-skinned boy.
She saw Isabel plead with Alex to dance with her. He kept nodding no while his arms were crossed against his navy blue shirt. She heard him say, "We can perfectly well have fun here. We don't have to dance" Isabel being Isabel didn't buy it, she pouted and she could tell that Alex's heart melted and he gave in. By the time they reached the dance floor the 112 song ended and Alex made a beeline to the couch, but Train's "Drops Of Jupiter" started to play and she caught his sleeve and he pouted but danced with Isabel. At first Buffy could tell Alex was uncomfortable, but then his body relaxed.
Buffy looked around, trying to see what Kyle was up to, probably making the girls irritated by his Buddha talk. While scanning the room her eyes dropped to a certain Max Evans. Of course a certain blonde walked up behind him. Buffy was going to walk to Max, but someone grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. Great timing. Normally she would be getting her freak on, but kept her eye on Max. He greeted Michael and sat down on a nearby couch. She saw Tess go by Kyle and sit by him. She saw Tess give a cup of something for Kyle. What kind of relationship is that? One goes off and leaves the other one cold. I could warm him up. Think straight. This is simply a mission to get Max for Liz.
"You ok?" asked the guy she was dancing with.
Buffy brought her gaze to him. "Yeah fine," she said smiling at him. Buffy didn't care that the guy she was dancing with was a Brad Pitt look alike. He was drop dead gorgeous. They continued to dance and Buffy kept her eyes on Max. She never saw Max smile. She wondered why. The dancing got more heated up and she could tell Max was looking at her. She decided that this was her time to make her mark. She got closer to the guy and really started to move her body.
"So Evans, still wish you had Liz, huh?" Kyle said sitting down.
"Shut up Kyle," he said not looking at him.
"Looks like it to me. Why don't you do both of us a favor. Get back together with Liz. I don't want seconds, but I would like to ask Tess out," Kyle said.
"Liz doesn't want to be with me. She made it perfectly
clear when she slept with you," Max said with some sadness
in his voice.
Kyle coughed and Max moved back, "Are you drunk?"
"No, I'm not drunk just had a couple of drinks. I thought I would have some fun, then tomorrow worry about Buddha," Kyle said, "But back to Liz, do you wanna know a secret?"
Chapter 17: In Hiding
I'm Liz Parker and at this moment the house is being attacked. I don't know when this will stop. I just hope that guy will come back and help me. Ok, I learned I'm Slayer, or that Buffy is one, so that makes me her, so I'm one. I wanna go home. I hear the vampire throwing things. I'm trying to think of Anne Rice's books and what she said about vampires. Why couldn't I be back in Roswell, where the only thing I would worry about was aliens. If Max were hear then he could help me get out of this. You know I find it funny that I completely blocked out the existence of vampires. I am- was-am in love with an alien. So why would I not believe in vampires. This is insane. Vampires, aliens, probably demons. I wonder if the boogey man exists???
Liz jumped at the sound of something on the roof. She was convinced there was more than 1 vampire. She was hiding underneath the table. Lights off she grabbed a flashlight that was running low on energy. The pen she was holding fell from her hand as she screamed. She looked at her watch, she had a couple of more hours left till sunlight. She wished she was home, back with her friends.
Meanwhile outside the head vampire Mike was planning to bombard the house, if only he had been invited.
"What do we do now, Mike, the Slayer should have came out," the other vampire said.
"We wait."
Chapter 18: With You
"You're drunk, Kyle," Max said trying to have his voice heard over the loud music.
"So, I can still think right," Kyle said relaxing on the couch.
"No you can't. You're drunk," Max said reliving the time he got drunk with Kyle. He didn't really remember it, but sometimes at the weirdest times flashes of it would come back to him. But he never remembered the whole thing. What kind of secret does Kyle know? He knows nothing, he's drunk.
"Thanks for the dance," Buffy told the guy she was dancing with. Before he got a word out, Buffy left to see what Maria was doing. As eccentric as that girl was she grew on Buffy, even though she's known her for a short time.
When she saw Maria, Michael was handing her a cup of soda. How sweet!
"Hey, Maria," Buffy said. Michael handed her a cup too, Buffy accepted.
"Liz, you better take advantage, Michael is acting nice," Maria said with a laugh. She looked at Michael and made a face.
"Nice time over ladies, I'm going over to Max," he said. He left Maria, but gave her a quick kiss on her temple. He went over to Max and sat next to him.
"I think you spoke to soon," Buffy told Maria.
"Yeah I did, but its ok. He's still my number 1 space boy," Maria said glancing at Michael then at Liz.
"You've got it bad," Buffy said. Space boy? Must be the Roswell thing.
"Me?!? What about that guy you were dancing with? And may I say WOAH! I have never seen you dance like that before" Maria said.
"Right, I wanted to, you know, be someone else for a moment," Buffy said eyeing Maria to see what she would say next.
"Well that worked. You know I really like that outfit you have on. In this lighting you really don't see anything," Maria said taking notice of Liz's new persona.
"Thank you," Buffy said nodding her head.
"Ok I know this is completely going against the rules...."
Maria started.
"Uh, huh"
".....BUT I think you should ask Max to dance with you," Maria was expecting the "No, I can't you know the whole destiny thing. The Future Max and destruction of the world" but instead got a "Sure" from Buffy, which left Maria trying to get Liz back, but lost her in the crowd.
"Hey Max," Buffy said sitting next to him,"Oh Michael, Maria is looking for you and Kyle Tess wants to dance with you so go" she said pushing them away.
Both Michael and Kyle went away. "I'll tell you later, Evans" Kyle said before going to his object of affection.
"Liz," Max said not knowing what to say. "You look nice tonight."
"Thanks Max you too," she told him. She could see
that Max wasn't looking at her so she decided to make the next
move.
"Do you wanna dance?" Buffy asked before she stood up.
"Um I don't know....."
"Look its platonic. We just dance," Buffy said, she added the pout, which won him over. She grabbed his hand and they went to the dance floor. They didn't realize they had spectators.
"Alex, look Max and Liz are dancing," Isabel told Alex. They just finished dancing about a zillion songs according to Alex which left him exhausted. He pleaded with his princess to stop and take a break, but she wouldn't. Finally he dragged her off the dance floor and plopped her on the couch.
"Yes, something we won't be doing for another 20 years," Alex said.
"Hey Tess wanna dance," Kyle asked Tess.
"Um I was about to go to Max, but if you want to sure. I guess its ok," Tess said. They went off dancing at the opposite section that Liz and Max were.
"See Max, nothing scary," Buffy said told him.
It's true
The way I feel
Was promised by your face
The sound of your voice
Painted on my memories
Even if you're not with me
I'm with you
You
Now I see
Keeping everything inside
You
Now I see
Even when I close my eyes
I hit you and you hit me back
We fall to the floor, the rest of the day stands still
Fine line between this and that
When things go wrong I pretend the past isn't real
Now I'm trapped in this memory
And I'm left in the wake of the mistake, slow to react
Even though you're close to me
You're still so distant, and I can't bring you back
"With You"--Linkin Park off of "Hybrid Theory"
Chapter 19: A New Arrival
A mini van raced down the highway of the desert outside of Sunnydale. It wasn't that he hated Sunnydale, but he preferred not to be there. He left to get away from it, but then again he couldn't get away from it. Every three nights it would occur and he couldn't stop it. As much mediation he did and as calm as he tried to be it would escape. The inner animal came out and all those who were in its path would have an untimely death. He tried to resist the kill, but he couldn't.
He stopped the van half or so mile away from a house. He needed to collect his thoughts. He would be seeing people that may not want to see him. He rested his head on the steering wheel when someone knocked on the window.
"Hey man, do you wanna buy some stuff to calm your nerves?" the man said.
"Um, no, I'm good," he said.
"Why not? I have some really good stuff in the house over there. You can just go inside and I'll give the stuff," Mike said.
"Well that house is kinda creepy, so no" he said. He put his hands on the wheel and drove away.
"Damn" was all the vampire said with the occasional jump of frustration.
Liz warily walked over to the window. She didn't see any vampires, but she still didn't put her guard down. She saw a van that was coming towards the house. She grabbed the flashlight from the floor and prayed it had some juice left in it. She turned it on, then off, on, then off in a SOS manner. She prayed the driver would see her.
He put on the radio, trying to drown out his thoughts. He kept his attention forward, but he saw something blinking. He stopped the car and noticed the house lights were off. Normally he would keep on driving, but ever since he met this girl in Sunnydale he couldn't ignore someone's distress signal.
The blinking stopped, but he saw something move behind the trees. It looked like that druggie he saw before, but then he noticed the fangs. He immediately locked the doors and went into the back and searched for his flashlight. He had it just in case he had a flat again. He turned it on and tried to mock what he saw.
"Oh my God, he saw me," Liz said. She started to pound on the windows, screaming for help.
"Wait that can't be Buffy could it?" he asked himself.
Liz's nerved were calmed down when she saw him point his fingers down. She only prayed he wasn't one of them. There wasn't a way, or was there?
He fired up the engine and sped to the house. Even though he knew Buffy could take care of herself, she could use the help.
So what do I do? Park infront?? Or run there? The vamps will be waiting. What time is it? An hour till sunrise. From what I know they should be retreating, which seems like they are. Ok now or never.
He parked the car, grabbed a couple of stakes, and looked outside. He didn't see any vamps lurking. He decided to make his move. He opened the door in a swift motion and ran to the front door. He pounded on it once, when Buffy opened the door.
Liz ran downstairs, ripped off the cross necklace she had on. When she opened the door, she grabbed the guys wrist and pressed the cross into his chest. When she didn't hear him screaming she let him go and was clearly relieved.
"Buffy, why did you do that for?" he said surprised. Did Willow talk that bad about me?
"Do I know you?" Liz asked closing the door before taking a peek outside.
"Buffy, it me, Oz"
Chapter 20: The Chop Stick
"So Kyle how have you been?" Tess asked Kyle, "We haven't talked or hung out as often as I would have liked."
"Well, you being with Evans, I didn't want to intrude on anything," Kyle said spinning her around.
"You wouldn't be intruding. Kyle I have to tell you something and I hope you will be happy"
Max and Buffy continued to dance. And as always when Max would look at Liz and she would like back at him, he would not face her, and Buffy would giggle.
The song finished and Buffy and Max stepped away from each other.
"Do you want to go sit down?" Max asked.
"Sure, lead away."
They found a couch and sat down, Buffy would occassionally check out the pass byers. Of course they had spectators.
"Michael, Michael, look little Lizzie is so going to get back Max," Maria said breaking the kiss.
Michael groaned, "Maria, what they do is their business and no one else's. Now c'mon," he said moving in for the kiss.
"Yeah, whatever spaceboy. I still love ya," she said.
Isabel must of had the dancing bug because she really wanted to dance. She terrorized Alex before, so she went off by herself and danced. She noticed what Liz and Max were doing and ran to Alex so they can watch.
"So should I get popcorn or something?" Alex told her.
"What? Oh, if you want," she said. She was really excited for her brother. Maybe a little to excited, "But you're going to miss out on all the action."
"So....Max" Buffy said. She, for once, didn't know what to say.
"Liz, um Kyle, before, um said something about a secret. And you know I really want us to remain friends. So if there anything I should know?", Max said who was really really nervous.
"Um, no, I don't think so. I feel peachy, what about you? I hear the punch is good, ok me rambling on" Buffy said blushing.
"Oh, its just Kyle, is uh, drunk, and I knew I shouldn't have listened to him, but he just got to me," Max said feeling like an idiot.
With all the words being said they didn't realize that someone was looking at then, the one who was planning Liz's death.
"So I figured, if we catch her on surprise then, she'll be our for the taking," the female vampire said who was like a Harmony wannabe.
"When will we go in?" her sidekick asked.
"I think I'm going to go in first, see if I can bring Max out here. Once he comes out hold him, then I'm bring Liz out. I want her to see Max being turned into a vampire, then I'll kill her."
"So what do we do now?" Buffy asked Max.
"Um, I don't know. If you want I can walk you home." he said.
"Sure that will be great," she said. Great great great, since I don't know how to get back. "I'm going to let Maria know I'm going home with you, I'll be right back," she said getting up. She smiled and Max and for the first time since she has known Max, she saw him smile.
"Ok, I'll wait for you here."
Buffy got up and found Maria and Michael making out. She didn't want to bother them, but Maria must have sensed her and stopped. Michael was clearly annoyed, but it was Liz so he didn't care. If it would have been Buddha boy wanting to convert him then his alien powers would have been useful in getting rid of him. Maria got up and linked her arm with Liz's arm, "So what's going on with you and Max?"
"Nothing, he's going to walk me home, so I just wanted to let you know,"
"See chica, I told you would work it out. Even if ::whispers:: Future Max told you it would destroy the world. Listen go with me, maybe you can invite him up...." Maria started.
"MARIA, what thing about Future Max?" Buffy asked, she wasn't sure if she heard right. She remembered reading about FM, so that had to be about Future Max.
"Listen, chica, I can go on and on about Future Max with all you told me, but I got a antsy space boy here and you know how we fight and then we make up, so this is the making up part where we make out, so go home and call me later," she said pushing Liz towards the doorway.
"But, but, what about, I give up," she said in defeat. She would have to do some more investigating later.
She went back to the couch and didn't see Max, so she figured he was outside. She bumped into someone on her way out, which wore a bright pimp shirt, with a furry white thinga-ma-jig, which looked liked a dead animal. Clearly this was a fashion victim who was a vampire. "God, this is Roswell, you really like aliens don't you?" Buffy said to it, noticing the alien socks. "And you couldn't have chosen a more perfect time, huh?" she said pushing it towards the kitchen. "No, you have to choose now, when I'm going to get Liz her dream guy," she said getting frustrated. The vamp just went along with her ramblings, he didn't argue back probably because he couldn't get a word out. "It's bad enough I'm stuck in someone's body, but now I have to fight, why can't I get a break?" Buffy said unconciously pounding her closed fist on the cutting board.
"Hey, where are you?" Buffy asked turning around, then facing the open door. "Now, I have to chase you, vampires suck." She opened the draw closest to her and found a pair of chop sticks, "What a way to go, not be a stake, but a measly chop stick," she said exiting the house.
Max had his hands in his pockets standing about. He was nervous. He was bringing Liz Parker home. Granted he would do that a bunch of times, but tonight was special, he really wanted to get back together with Liz. He was with Tess Oh, crap Tess! Max jogged back to the house and went searching for Tess.
"C'mon don't make me search for you. Just step out," Buffy said to the open backyard. "I know you're there, probably trying to make up your defense, but really its just annoying me. You vampires really need to color cordinate, the alien socks and the dead animal doesn't suit your nasty skin tone," Buffy said sitting on the porch. She didn't need to be in the middle of the yard, preparing for a fight, this was no fight, just a bad dressed vampire, that's when she saw it. She saw the alien sock in the bushes. This is so comical. She grabbed the ankle, which made the vampire jump in fright and growl. "See wasn't so hard was it, now its just time to make you dust, " she said grabbing the chop stick.
"Girl you talk to much," he said.
"Yeah I know and you really smell," she said before plunging the chop stick in its black heart. She let go and ashes filled the night sky. "That was easy."
"What was easy?" Max asked.
Buffy turned around and said, "Oh, my earring, dropped it before. Ready to go?"
"Yeah" he said.
"Ok lets go."
Chapter 21: Sunnydale Here We Come!
"So you're telling me you made a wish on a star and you switched bodies with Buffy?" Oz said reaffirming everything he heard from the girl sitting beside him in his car.
As soon as Oz came in Liz grabbed her entries and bolted for the door, there were two attacks, but when Liz was younger she was good at playing dodge ball, so she was able to get away from them, while Oz took a few hits, but managed to kill 2 of them.
"Yes and we need to go find Buffy," Liz said relived she was in a car.
"And we need to go to Roswell?" Oz asked, the man of many words.
"Yes I have friends that can help us," Liz said facing Oz.
"Well I have friends too who deal with all sorts of things like this, so we should go to them," Oz said.
"You mean the people in the Magic shop?" she asked.
"They have a shop?" he asked himself, "Yeah them, they should be able to help you."
"Ok, I really hope so, I really thought I would enjoy this, I had no idea what I would be getting into, and when I saw those vampires, I freaked, I so freaked, I've had weird things happen to me, but they were just out there, waiting for me to leave and a slayer..." Liz continued.
"Yeah when I found out about vampires, I was more like 'Woah' none of the freaking out, " Oz said.
"Woah and a bigger woah" Liz said, "Oz right?"
"The one and only," he said.
"Um, do you mind if I close my eyes, I'm really tired," Liz asked, kind of bashful.
"Oh yeah, sure, I usually drive with music on, is it cool if its low?" Oz said as he continued to drive to Sunnydale.
"Sure, music would be good now," Liz said smiling. Finally this will be over.
What do I do to ignore them behind me?
Do I follow my instincts blindly?
Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams
And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?
Do I sit here and try to stand it?
Or do I try to catch them red-handed?
Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness,
Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?
Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin
I make the right moves but I'm lost within
I put on my daily façade but then
I just end up getting hurt again
By myself (Myself)
How do you think I've lost so much
I'm so afraid, I'm out of touch
How do you expect I will know what to do
When all I know is what you tell me to
Don't you know
I can't tell you how to make it go
No matter what I do, how hard I try
I can't seem to convince myself why
I'm stuck on the outside
"By Myself" by Linkin Park off of "Hybrid
Theory"
Chapter 22a: You Idiot!
Max and 'Liz' walked to her home. Max purposely took the long way so that they could talk some more. He knew she knew they were taking the long way, since she didn't protest, but something struck him odd about her. She has been distant ever since she began seeing Tess. He really didn't know why he began seeing her. Maybe the sleeping with Kyle, but even through that he still loved Liz. No matter what she did or what she said, he always loved her. Make that word in the present tense. A couple of days after Prom, Tess had suggested they work on their mental skills. They were able to connect to their past lives. Something that Max wasn't able to do alone. He understood that all four of them were needed to complete the unit that was them. And he understood that he needed Tess to help him understand Zan better. When they connected he felt such a desire for Ava. He felt what Zan felt. He loved Ava. He loved Tess and in one brief moment, he didn't love Liz. He was brought back to earth and reality hit him, he still loved Liz. He felt like his feelings were changing. Maybe he was in denial. Maybe afterall, he could love Tess, but she could never replace Liz. He remembered the passion they felt when they were in the desert. When she was able to see constellations of where he came from. He really didn't understand why Liz didn't want to be with him, after he denounced Tess. After he denounced his destiny. But he was being selfish, his human emotions of being selfish made him want Liz all to himself. He knew she loved him, but then something struck his memory. Flashes of Pierce, he wanted to hurt Liz to get more information. Nasedo who would have done anything to protect the Royal 4, even if that meant hurting Liz and Maria and Alex. She would always be in danger if she was with him, but he knew that if she was with him, he would always protect him. Sometimes he was tempted to ask her to runaway with him. No one would know where they were, or who they were and they could be together, nothing could stop them, but that was a dream far away.
He remembered that moment. He was listening to a cd Isabel made him listen to. He wasn't into ska music, but Isabel made him listen to it. She said she would make him deformed. So there he was listening to "Running" and he got the idea to run away with Liz.
Run
Running all the time
Running to the future
with you right by my side
Me
I'm the one you chose
out of all the people
you wanted me the most
I'm so sorry that I've fallen
help me up, lets keep on running
don't let me fall out of love
running, running
as fast as we can
I really hope you make it
(do you think we'll make it?)
we're running
keep holding my hand
it's so we don't get separated
Be
be the one I need
be the one I trust most
don't stop inspiring me
sometimes it's hard to keep on running
we work so much to keep it going
don't make me want to give up
No Doubt, "Running" off of "Rock Steady"
"So here we are," Max said motioning towards the ladder that lead up to the balcony.
"That we are, I think I'm working tomorrow, if you want stop by," 'Liz' said, not knowing that Max was already there. He and the rest of the Pod Squad owned a booth in the Crashdown.
"Actually I planned to go to Tess's so that we can work on some memory retrieval tricks. I would blow if off, but I've been doing that lately," Max said. I shouldn't have said that. God you're so stupid. You want to win her back, but you blow off the perfect opportunity to be with her, even if its just hanging out.
Buffy just looked like him. Maybe beer did this to him. Beer foamy...beer good...beer...beer...beer BAD! She got out of her beer phase. The last time she had beer, it was being made by a jerk who decided to make all the drinkers into stone-age cavemen people. And Buffy didn't plan on being B.C. Buffy again, no she liked present-age Buffy.
"Um ok, go work on that, um its getting late, don't want to upset the 'rents," Buffy said looking for the door, "right, the ladder, almost forgot," she said in a half giggle.
Max smiled. He did plan on going to the Crashdown even if that meant sitting at the kiddie table. He was going to see Liz no matter what. So why did he have the urge to see Tess?