********
There you are
In a darkened room
And you're all alone
Looking out the window
Your heart is cold and lost the will to love
Like a broken arrow
"Tess?"
Tess looked up from her seat on the bed. Her eyes were sad.
"Um... how was your date?" Kyle asked nervously.
Tess sighed. "It wasn't a date, Kyle."
"You wanted it to be."
Tess closed her textbook. It wasn't getting any use, anyhow. "It takes two people to make it a date, and Max's heart doesn't belong to me. Not anymore," she added in a whisper.
"I... I'm sorry." But he wasn't. Not really. It hurt him to see Tess with Max. Hurt even more than seeing Liz with Max.
Here I stand in the shadows
Come to me, Come to me
Can't you see that
"No, it's okay. I still remember our previous lives, when Max loved me, but we aren't living those lives anymore."
"You love him."
Tess sighed again. "I did love him. Maybe I'm too connected to our past. The others have moved on. It's time for me to move on, too."
Nobody wants to be lonely
Nobody wants to cry
My body's longing to hold you
so bad it hurts inside
Time is precious and it's slipping away
and I've been waiting for you all of my life
Nobody wants to be lonely so why
Why don't you let me love you
"Will you be all right?"
"I think so. I've always been alone. Why should I have expected Roswell to be any different?"
Kyle shifted his feet uncomfortably. "You're not alone. I'm here for you."
Tess smiled. "Thanks, Kyle," she said, wishing he didn't sound quite so brotherly.
Can you hear my voice
Do you hear my song
It's a serenade
So your heart can find me
And suddenly you're flying down the stairs
Into my arms, baby
"I guess you've taught me not all aliens are bad."
"Even if I leave my bra hanging in the shower?"
Kyle laughed. "Even then."
"Well, you've taught me not all humans are bad."
The two stood there for a while, just staring at each other, each trying to find the courage to say what lay in their hearts.
Before I start going crazy
Run to me, Run to me
Cause I'm dying
"Kyle... Tess...." Their words overlapped each other.
"You go first," Kyle told Tess.
"I...um...," Tess took a deep breath. "You're still my favorite human," she burst out.
"And you're still my favorite Martian."
It wasn't quite what they wanted to say, but they were getting closer.
Nobody wants to be lonely
Nobody wants to cry
My body's longing to hold you
so bad it hurts inside
Time is precious and it's slipping away
and I've been waiting for you all of my life
Nobody wants to be lonely so why
Why don't you let me love you
"I guess I should let you do your homework," Kyle said.
Tess shrugged. "It's alright. With all that's been going on, I don't think my grades could get any worse."
"Yeah, same here. At least Dad understands."
Tess nodded. "Why don't you study with me? Maybe we can raise our grades if we study together." She patted the spot on the bed next to her.
"It can't hurt," Kyle said, with a grin, moving to sit next to her.
They sat on the bed for a while, eyes moving over the text, but their minds refused to comprehend the information.
I want to feel you deeply
Just like the air you're breathing
I need you here in my life
Don't walk away, don't walk away
don't walk away, don't walk away
No, no, no, no
"I don't think this is working," Kyle admitted.
"Me, either," Tess said, as she closed the book and threw it on the floor. She leaned back on the bed. "So what's new in the world of jocks?"
Kyle grimaced. "That stuff seems so shallow now, after everything that's happened."
"At least it gives you something to occupy your mind."
"Tess--" Kyle said suddenly, than stopped.
Tess sat up, hearing an unfamiliar tone in his voice. "What is it?"
"I keep losing my courage. I didn't come in here to talk about sports or study."
Tess' face looked hopeful. "What did you come in here for?"
"I... I just wanted to say... uh... how's Max?" Kyle immediately felt like kicking himself. Another lost opportunity.
Tess sighed. "He's great," she said, her voice suddenly flat. "Just great."
"Oh. That's good."
Nobody wants to be lonely
Nobody wants to cry
Nobody wants to be lonely
I don't want to be lonely
Nobody wants to cry
I don't want to cry
My body's longing to hold you
I'm longing to hold you
so bad it hurts inside
Time is precious and it's slipping away
and I've been waiting for you all of my life
Nobody wants to be lonely so why
Why don't you let me love you
Why don't you let me love you
Why, oh why, why, why, why, why
"Tess...." Kyle began one more time.
"Just say it," she whispered, placing a hand on his knee.
"I love you."
Tess smiled, her eyes full of tears. "I love you, too, Kyle."
"Really?"
Tess nodded, no longer able to speak. Kyle carefully put an arm around her, and brought her lips to his, as they finally met in a sweet kiss.
Nobody wants to be lonely
I don't want to cry
Nobody wants to cry
My body's longing to hold you
so bad it hurts inside
Nobody wants to be lonely
I don't want to be lonely
Nobody wants to cry.
A couple of minutes later, Jim Valenti got up from the couch. He hadn't seen Kyle or Tess for a while. He peeked into Tess' bedroom, and smiled at what he found there; his son locked in an embrace with the girl who had been placed under his care. They had finally found the happiness they so richly deserved. Jim closed the door, still smiling, and went to the phone to call Amy. If his son got a girl, so did he.
End
