Part 6

Somewhere, on the outskirts of his consciousness, Max heard the chirping of a bird. He felt the silky strands against his cheek, the welcome warmth of someone next to him, filling every space. And he smelled the scent of freshly baked muffins and brewing coffee. Squinting his eyes against the bright sunlight, Max opened his eyes and looked over at Liz next to him. She was peacefully cuddled up next to him, her hand curled in his, her fingers laced with his. Her long hair spilled over his chest and he could feel the steady rise and fall of her breathing next to him. Shaking his head in disbelief, he couldn’t grasp the thought that he’d spent the entire night sleeping with Liz Parker in her bed.

And it had been a peaceful sleep, something he wasn’t accustomed to. He almost always didn’t sleep well, though the nightmares had faded with time. Even Isabel’s previous attempts to walk into his dreams and calm him had been unsuccessful. He always blocked her, protected her from whatever his mind conjured up. And he knew how it pained Isabel to listen to his cries as he slept and his fitful tossing around. He grinned to himself, if only she could see him now.

Max realized very quickly that he needed to leave. If Liz’s parents saw him there, or worse yet, Michael, he’d be lucky to make it out alive. He didn’t want to wake Liz, so he tried to inch away slowly, finding it hard to do with her firm grip on him. He finally disentangled his body from hers and found that he was breathing hard, fighting the desire to lay back down with her. His entire being was screaming for him to rejoin her and never leave.

Taking one last look at her, he couldn’t resist leaning over and kissing her gently on the forehead. What he wasn’t prepared for was her sudden movement so that her lips were a breath away from his. He closed his eyes in bliss at the feeling of her gentle puffs of breath against his mouth. Willing himself to take a step back, retreated to the window. She had such a powerful effect on him, and he had no idea why. Isabel said that maybe their destiny had brought them back to Roswell. He was starting to suspect that Liz was the one who had brought him back.

Liz woke up suddenly as she heard the window shut with a snap. She sat up quickly and tried to place why she suddenly felt so out of place. Her eyes darted around and her hands stretched out on the bed, feeling the warmth on the sheets around her.

"Max . . ."

She knew instantly that Max had just left. The warmth around her body was cooling and she shoved back the covers, pushing them away with her bare feet and quickly climbing out the window to the balcony. She peered over the edge and watched as Max pulled himself into his jeep and turned the ignition. She willed him to look back at her and felt her heart leap when he did. One hand on the steering wheel and the other braced on the back seat as he was about to back away he gave her a wide smile, his white teeth bright in the morning light. She waved to him as he backed away and then kneeled back, knowing that things had changed forever when Max had stayed with her and comforted her. His presence in her life was changing her.

"Ok, Liz, where are you?" Maria asked, slightly exasperated. Liz blinked and her head shot up quickly. They were sitting on the front lawn of the school, class was starting in twenty minutes and she, Maria, Michael and Alex were relaxing on the grass. Liz sat crosslegged, with Alex on his back, propping his head on her lap. His guitar was in his hands and Alex was trying out a few new tunes for them, absentmindedly strumming away. Michael was leaning against a tree and Maria sat back against him.

"Hmm? What?" Liz finally managed to utter. Maria rolled her eyes in amusement.

"Nevermind. Listen, guys, the first dance of the year is only a few short weeks away and we need to start making plans," Maria said, her voice full of authority. Alex spoke up.

"Maria, no matching outfits, I refuse. You can try and convince Michael, but I’m researching other avenues," Alex said. Liz looked down at Alex and jiggled the leg his head was resting on.

"Alex, are you ditching me for Miss Evans?" Liz asked, her eyes twinkling. Usually the four of them went as two couples, Alex and Liz and Maria and Michael. Alex blushed a little.

"Sorry Lizzie, but if she’ll go with me I’m afraid you are on your own," Alex apologized. Liz’s eyes softened at his lack of confidence.

"She’d be a fool not to accept you Alex," Liz said.

"Liz, you can always come with us," Michael rushed to suggest. Maria poked him in the ribs.

"Sweetie, with Max Evans staring at Liz, she will not be hurting for a date," Maria said. Michael looked a little puzzled until realization dawned. Liz almost laughed, her brother could be so dense sometimes. Especially about himself and Maria, she thought, shaking her head. As the conversation drifted back, Liz turned her head to anxiously stare at the parking lot again. She was waiting to catch sight of Max and Isabel arriving.

Even if she couldn’t admit it yet to Maria, she wanted to see Max again. Even though it had only been an hour since he’d left, she already missed him with an odd ache that simply wanted him close. She felt antsy waiting for him, tense and nervous because she couldn’t see him. She didn’t know that they were more than friends, but she couldn’t stop wanting him close. It scared her that her feelings were strong after just meeting Max, but it was like she’d known him longer than she’d known anyone her entire life. Her grandmother would have called them kindred spirits, Liz thought with a smile.

Suddenly, Liz heard the loud grumble of the jeep as it pulled in and she sprang up, barely noticing as Alex yelped in protest when his head hit the ground. She yelled an apology back and tried not to run to where Max and Isabel were getting out of the jeep. Liz and Isabel exchanged hellos and hugs before Isabel joined the group and Liz faced Max, her eyes shining as she stepped as close as possible. One hand under the strap of his backpack, Max unconsciously leaned forward so that Liz’s body just barely brushed against his.

"Max, I never got to thank you, for staying with me last night. I’ve never felt more protected and safe," she admitted. Max felt a lump forming in his throat.

"That’s all I ever wanted, for you to feel safe," he replied honestly. She nodded as though she’d already known the answer before he’d uttered it and her hand drifted down his arm to find his hand. She laced her fingers with his and squeezed gently.

"Thank you Max," she whispered. Before he could respond, Liz let go of his hand and was backing away. Max tried to speak, but couldn’t. He wanted to thank her for helping him sleep peacefully for the first time in years, for letting him wake up to her beautiful face in the morning, for the way he felt complete holding her, being next to her. Somehow, words didn’t seem like enough and Max resolved to find a way to make her understand what an impact she had made on his life.

She’d made him forget what he was, and for a flash, Max thought about telling her. He thought she would understand, that she wouldn’t see him as anything different than what she knew, but he wasn’t sure. He looked over at Isabel, lying next to Alex on the grass, gazing up at him as he played his guitar and he felt a stab of jealousy. How was it so easy for Isabel, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that they still didn’t belong?

What was her secret? She’d slipped into Liz and Michael’s group of friends so easily. He could tell she really liked Alex and he knew the feelings were returned. And he knew that the same offer of friendship and something more was being held out to him in the form of Liz Parker. He just didn’t know if he’d have the ability to take it. Because he still couldn’t get past the fact that he was different from her, and that because of that they belonged apart. But she made him almost forget, and for the first time he truly wanted to forget forever.

Max followed Isabel into the Pizza Pan restaurant, his eyes glancing around warily. It was Wednesday night, the infamous Karaeoke Night that Liz and Maria had been talking about on the first day of school. Max found the restaurant surprisingly busy, though he did notice that the section of tables and a small stage where a large banner announcing the weekly sing-a-long was mysteriously empty except for Maria, Alex and Michael.

Instantly he looked around for Liz and tried to squelch his disappointment when he didn’t see her nearby. Isabel joined the others, sitting next to Alex at the table and Max looked around, his eyes lighting up when he saw Liz over at the counter, leaning over to speak to an older man, Max presumed the owner. He walked over to her unnoticed, grinning at the sight of her shirt, rising above her skirt to allow a glimpse of soft skin, as she leaned over the counter, grabbing a few straws just out of her reach.

"If you and your friends remain the only Karaeoke customers we might need to rethink this theme," the man grumbled. Liz flashed him a bright smile.

"Mr. Elmer, you know how much you love hearing us sing here on a weekly basis. It’ll catch on, really," Liz reassured him. Mr. Elmer raised an eyebrow.

"Liz, honey, it’s been a year," he said, sliding the pizza towards Liz. She tried to smile and just ended up shrugging, not really having a defense. Max laughed softly behind her and she whipped around, causing him to back away quickly or risk pepperoni pizza on his shirt.

"Max! I didn’t know you were here!" Liz stammered, her heart suddenly racing at the sight of Max, wearing a black shirt and jeans looking delicious and lean, standing in front of her.

"Isabel and I just got here. I thought I’d see if you need any help?" he asked. Liz pointed to the glasses and plates.

"Can you grab those?" she asked. Max nodded and picked up the utensils and followed Liz over to the table, enjoying the swinging of her long brown hair, the barest hint of a sway in her hips. Max, Michael and Alex dug into the pizza while the girls huddled around a list of available songs for them to sing along to. Max polished off his first piece and turned to Michael.

"So, how does this whole thing work?" Max asked, gesturing to the girls. Michael swallowed before answering.

"It’s sort of a requirement that we each sing at least one song by ourselves and then we pair up. An unspoken rule, but sacred in Karaeoke edicate. Alex and I have been known to bring down the house with a little Tom Petty and Maria and Liz usually lean towards the oldies. They tried "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" last week," Michael replied. Alex’s head shot up at the last sentence.

"Nobody within a ten block radius was sleeping that night," Alex joked. Liz shot him a look.

"Since you’re so confident of your singing skills, you, Michael and Max can go first," Liz proclaimed. Alex groaned and Michael took it in stride, walking over to the machine and looking for a song to play. Max got up warily and followed Alex over, trying to drown out the whistles and catcalls from the girls. He was nervous enough already.

"Um, I should warn you guys, I’m not a very good singer," Max whispered. Michael shrugged.

"Oh, none of us are. Except Maria, but don’t tell her I said that. Believe it or not Maxwell, this can be fun," Michael replied, putting his arms around both guy’s shoulders and showing them the song they’d be singing. Alex rolled his eyes.

"Pure cheese Michael. But they’ll love it," he grinned, agreeing to the choice. Max nodded, not having a reason to disagree and Michael hit the button to play the song, handing them each a microphone.