*7*

Max...is like an onion.

Sort of.

Well, without the smell and the crying issue.

I'm talking about layers.

He's got these layers that you have to peel through.

I think I just got through the first one. I don't know why, I wasn't even trying to.

We're talking now, and laughing. We're talking about how Dr. Amos is always tapping his pen on something: on the desk, in his hand, and our favorite, on his head.

When Max laughs, it's not really like an outward laugh. He smiles and looks down and pushes some air out through his nose.

It's kind of....

Nevermind.

Anyway, I wonder what is at the bottom of all those layers. A secret perhaps? An alien secret? Thoughts about Tess?

"What's the molar mass of Carbon." He asks.

"12.011"

"Did you memorize the whole periodic table?"

"Pretty much."

"Wow," he raises his eyebrows, "That must be handy."

"Yea."

Not as handy as alien powers, Max.

This is ultra weird, talking to him like this. I mean, when you talk to someone, you have to be thinking about them, right? And I can't believe that thoughts about me are actually occupying is immediate conscious.

"So," he says, "I heard Tess is staying at your house."

Mmmmhmmm, spoke too soon.

"Wow," I say, "Look at the time."

---------------------------------------

Are you going to Tess's party tomorrow night?

Are you going to Tess's party tomorrow night?

Hey, Liz, are you going to Tess's party tomorrow night?

Ever have one of those days that you walk through the school doors and you just know: Today is really gonna suck.

I couldn't possibly have done anything more to hide the fact that Tess is staying at my house.

She was acting different this morning. She looked happy, she was acting like she used to but with one major difference: she was being really nice. And for once in my life, I can't tell if it was her act or if it was real.

"Are you going to Tess's party tomorrow night?" Maria asks me.

Oh no, they got to her too.

"I think so, are you?"

"Yea."

"We should go together."

Maria begins to stutter over her words, "yeah mean...I told Isabel that I would go with her...but like...I can cancel...or like...you could go with us."

Well hello there, wounded ego.

Of course, I can't be mad. I'm glad she's making new friends. She's been really quiet lately, I think Roswell is getting to her too.

"Oh, you know what...." I say in mock realization, "I just remembered...I can get a ride with Tess."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea."

"Okay," she hugs me, "I gotta get to class."

"Are you going to Tess's party?"

I turn around towards the voice as Maria walks off, "Do I know you?"

"Yea....I'm Tara Fisher....we have elective together...I was in the bathroom...the other day?"

Well, Tara Fisher, good thing I don't have alien powers or I would blast you into another solar system.

I walk away because I don't feel like responding. Here's the deal: The party, it's not even at Tess's house. It's not even really her party. But if she goes then there is some secret document that says she automatically has ruling over the guest list. She's invited me and Max and Maria and Isabel, and probably Alex and Michael. So the school is having an aneurysm because Tess has got this new group of friends.

But the new 'happening' person to be around just happens to be me.

Tess is staying at Liz's house. Praise Liz.

I feel someone grab my arm and pull me aside, "Are you going to Tess's party?"

It's Johnny Foo....I mean Kyle. He looks distressed. "Yea, are you?"

He frowns, "I can't, I'm going with my dad to some party at the police station."

"Oh."

He frowns even more, if that's possible, "She planned it this way, she doesn't want me to go."

"What? Kyle that's insane."

He sighs and rubs his eye, he looks really tired, "Just umm...make sure she doesn't....drink too much...or anything.....okay?"

I'm actually really truly feeling sympathetic feelings for Kyle. I regret ever calling him Johnny Football Hero.

"Yea...okay."

"Oh, and Liz? Beware the wrath of Courtney." He gestures behind him before walking away.

Oh great. Courtney is probably having a hissy fit because I'm Tess's new best friend. "How's it goin' Parker." She says forcefully as she approaches.

"Hello Courtney," I say monotonously.

"Hear your goin' to Tess's party."

"Yea."

"Just so you know, Tess is going with me," she says matter-of-factly.

"Good for you."

She gives me her evil look as she walks away. She's probably imagining the many ways in which she could murder me.

I propose to you a question: If you were having troubles at home, would you go to Courtney?

Didn't think so.

"Hey Liz....are you uhh...going to Tess's party?"

GRRRRRRR.

I don't even bother to look at who as talking to me. Instead, I make an announcement to the hall. "I am Liz Parker, and yes, for the love of god, I will be attending Tess's party....any questions?"

Some of the students in the hall look at me like I grew new limbs, some of them nod in satisfaction. "Great," I say as I turn towards the original voice.

Oh god, I am such an idiot. "Oh...hey Max."

"Are you all right?"

"Oh. Umm," I force a smile on my face, "Yea...just umm...you gotta love those high school politics..."

"Yea," he says, "I know what you mean."

Oh, is that so Max? You follow Tess around like a puppy just like everyone else.

"So...are you going?" I ask.

"Yea....I was wondering if you had directions, cause umm...I guess Michael and Isabel are going with other people so...."

Oh, cut the crap, Max. "Do you need a ride?"

"Aren't you going with Tess?"

"No, Tess is probably going with Kyle," I say, lying like a dog.

The twinge of pain that passes through his eyes makes me want to hurl, but yet, gives me an unusual sense of satisfaction.

Am I evil or what.

Another rhetorical question.

"Oh," he says, "Okay...I guess I'll umm...see you tomorrow."

Yea, don't act too excited there, Max.

I wonder if me and Max are going to become friends. I wonder if I'm going to become his path to Tess.

And I have to ask myself, Do I really want that?

No.

Hell no.

Hey, if I had my way, I wouldn't even be his damn lab partner.

You're not exactly a ball of sunshine to be around either, Max Evans.

But I guess...

I guess being his friend wouldn't be that bad. I mean, he is oddly intriguing in that disgusting sort of way.

And I mean, we sort of have some things in common.

And it's not like I actually have any control over my life anyway.

I wonder what he would do if he knew that I knew he was an alien. I wonder if he would be grateful that I didn't tell anybody.

God, I can't wait till Tuesday.

I need Dr. Amos, like now.