Part 20

"I love coming out here so much!" Liz cried out happily, before taking another bite of her turkey sandwich.

Max had brought her out to Buckley Point once again, this time with a blanket and a picnic lunch. Now they were lounging around together under a tree, a short walk away from the jeep, talking and enjoying their meal.

"Yeah, it’s really pretty out here this time of year." Max commented as he looked up at the beautiful trees, shading them from the hot autumn sun.

"It is pretty." Liz agreed. "But that wasn’t what I was talking about."

"What do you mean?" Max asked curiously, putting down his sandwich, and focusing his attention completely on her.

She paused a moment before continuing. "It just seems like our lives have become so crazy back at home. We’re always dealing with some crisis or another, but when we come out here…it’s like leaving all of the troubles of the world behind us. When we’re out here, I’m just Liz Parker, and you’re just Max Evans, and we’re just two crazy kids in love."

"Yeah." Max agreed. "You know, Liz. It IS awfully quiet out here…and we ARE awfully alone…" He grinned mischievously at her, pushing their lunch to the side, and turning to face his love.

Max reached over and cupped her face in his hand, stroking her cheek gently, as he stared deeply in her eyes. They shines brightly back at his, slightly glazed from unshed tears of love. His eyes dropped to her lips, and she licked them in anticipation of their impending kiss.

Max groaned softly at the sight of her little pink tongue running over the flesh that he so desperately wanted to taste. His lunch now forgotten, Max was just hungry for Liz.

Their eyes met one last time, and Max spoke the three words that brought Liz a sense of ecstasy like no other words could.

"I love you."

And Max finally brought his lips down on hers.

They kissed leisurely, wanting to savor every moment, every sensation, every feeling that surged through them, knowing that they had the rest of their lives and more to love each other so completely. Their kisses were slow, but hungry. They were drowning in each other’s touch, and neither of them wanted to be saved.

"Well isn’t that the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!" A snide voice called out, breaking the moment, and causing Max and Liz to jump apart like they were burned.

Max’s eyes darkened angrily, as they fell on the owner of the voice that had so rudely interrupted them.

"Tess." Max growled.

"Oh Max, when you say my name like that it just turns me on." Tess shot back, attempting a seductive smile that just made Max’s blood boil in hatred.

She slowly began to pace closer to them, and Max inched closer to Liz with every step the monster took, desperate to protect her from the horrible creature standing before them.

"What do you want?" Liz asked cautiously.

"Well isn’t it obvious?" Tess laughed evilly. "I want Max to be mine to control, and I want you dead."

"I won’t let you hurt her!" Max insisted, clutching Liz closer to him.

Tess just laughed again.

"Oh Max, you’re so naïve. What makes you so sure that you can protect her from me? How do you know that I’m not mind warping you right now. I could be killing her as we speak, and you wouldn’t even know that the thing you’re clutching onto so desperately is just a figment of my mind, misleading you."

Max turned to Liz wildly, realizing that Tess was capable of everything she said.

"Don’t listen to her, Max. It’s the real me."

"I know!" Max promised her. "Tess may be capable of recreating the image of you, but she can’t mirror the feelings that I can only feel with the real you."

"Oh, that’s so sweet I think I might shed a tear. Now shut up!" Tess screeched at them.

Tess smirked evilly at the couple, and held out her hand as it began to glow.

"I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time." She cried out, pointing her hand towards Liz. "So much for destiny!"

Max began to gather his own power, ready to protect Liz at all costs. It would be difficult. Tess was raised alien, unlike him. He knew, without a doubt, that she was stronger than him. But he had the potential to destroy her effortlessly, he just needed to find the ability deep within himself.

Before he had a chance, though, Tess flew to the side, as if hit by a blast of powerful energy…that didn’t come from Max. She crumpled to the ground a few feet away, lying lifelessly in the dirt and leaves.

Max sat there in shock, staring at Tess’s still body, waiting fearfully for her to leap up and strike at them again.

She remained still.

Liz searched around for where the blast came from. She assumed it was Michael…he probably followed them out here on his bike, wondering what they were up to. Energy blasts did seem to be his strongest power.

Her jaw dropped in surprise at the site of who was standing a few feet away.

It was the two new kids at school, Alyssa and Matthew.

And Matthew’s hand was glowing.