something from the archives: say goodbye - part 33

so much drama...you can catch up with the story at the links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,  31 and 32

read on for part 33.

Part 33

The morning dawned bright and sunny, although the four teens would have rather stayed in their tents cuddling, they all awoke to partake breakfast and continue onto the caves that lay at the heart of Mission Hill.

They sat around the gas stove as Michael prepared eggs and bacon, talking about plans for the day when Isabel noticed a flash of light reflect off Liz’'s finger.

"“Liz?”"

"“Yeah?"

“"What is that?” "

Liz looked in the direction of where Isabel was pointing and blushed. She hadn’'t taken off the ring Michael gave her that morning not realizing that it might give away their plans. She looked to Michael for help explaining.

Michael read the expression on Liz’'s face. He knew she was worried that he wasn’'t ready to share their commitment to one another with the world. But she was wrong there. And he would prove it.

“"I proposed last night. And she said yes."”

“"Michael! Oh my goodness, Liz!" Isabel was speechless. She wasn’'t upset or angry. She knew Michael and Liz were perfect together, and while she was concerned about the speed in which this all was taking place they seemed happy and they would have enough other people challenging them. She didn't want to be one of them. She wasn't going to stand in the way of love, not ever again.

“"Are you guys crazy? I mean—when are you guys thinking about getting married?”" Kyle blurted out in shock.

“"I—we’'ve thought about it. We want to get married before school starts.”"

"Whoa, really? That's so soon."

“"Yeah. Iz. I can’'t spend another day away from her. We’'ll make it work, we know it won’'t be easy, but if we have each other we’'ll make it work.”"

“"Oh, Michael. I’'m happy for you guys, really I am. I’'m just worried about you. I don’'t want either of you to get hurt. Liz, what will your parents say? And Max? And Maria? What about them?”"

“Liz bit her lip nervously, if this was the reaction they were getting from Isabel and Kyle, they could expect much worse from everyone else. "Isabel, we’'re doing this. With or without their blessings. I need Michael far too much to let him go. Please—"…”

Isabel cut her off with a huge hug. "It's okay guys, I'm not going to stand in your way. You'll have plenty of other people doing that. Besides I know how right you are for each other. I'm not an idiot." Isabel looked at both Michael and Liz and smiled. Even standing apart from each other their stances mimicked one another’s. It was as if there was a special shield, one that kept them separated from the world.

Kyle was shocked. But he knew Liz, he knew Michael, and he knew how determined they were to share each other’'s lives. He wasn’'t about to stand in the middle of that. He pulled Liz into a bear hug and shaking Michael’'s hand said, "You ever hurt her I’'ll fucking kill you. Alien power or no alien power.”"

“"Thanks, guys. This means a lot.”" Liz said through the tears that filled her eyes. No matter what else happened they would always be able to count on Kyle and Isabel for support.

“"So is breakfast ready or what?”" Kyle asked looking around to see if there was a slice of bacon he could snatch up.

“"Hungry, Kyle?”" Michael smirked.

“"Yeah, I worked up an appetite last night.”" Isabel laughed and playfully smacked Kyle in the arm as Liz and Michael groaned.

“"Dude. That was way more than I needed to know.”" Michael complained.

They settled down and ate their breakfast, their spirits high, ready for the day’'s adventure.

*****

Meanwhile back in Roswell… 

Max walked into the Crashdown before his shift started at the UFO Museum. He wanted to talk to Maria about something that had been bothering him lately. And he needed to know if he was just going crazy or if what he thought was real.

“"Hey, girlfriend, what’'s up? You look so serious.”" Maria greeted Max with her usual chatter. Once Michael was away it was easier for her to deal with the remaining Czechoslovakians.

“"Maria. We need to talk.’" Max said seriously.

“"About what? Liz? I’m not going to help you with that. I don’'t see how she’d forgive you for what you did.’’"

Max dragged Maria to the backroom and sat down on a chair in the corner as he watched Maria pace.

“"Do you know if she’'s seeing anyone else?”" he asked.

“"No. She hasn’'t brought that up. Why? Did you see her with someone new? Frankl, I think she’'s been spending all her time with Michael. Don’'t ask me why? Spaceboy barely makes decent company I don’'t see why she wants to sit around with a rude, ill-mannered grump who growls and smirks his way around—“—"

"“Maria, take it easy. Please. Listen, what if the other guy were Michael?"

"“Max, have you lost your friggin’ mind? First of all, that breaks the code. Secondly, why would Liz settle for Michael? At least you started by being the perfect boyfriend. Spaceboy never even got that part right.”"

“"Listen to me, Maria. I think something going on between them. I don’'t know how or why it is I know, but there is something more than friendship.”"

Maria sank down onto the couch. She thought back to before she broke up with Michael, the inordinate amount of time that he and Liz had been spending together. She hated to admit it but what Max was suggesting made sense. And it hurt to think that her best friend would not only betray her like that but also lie to her face about it.

“"Max, was there a science club field trip the other day?”"

“"What?”"

"“A field trip. Liz said that there was some field trip she had to go to for the science club, but when I asked her how it went she acted almost surprised as if she didn’t know what I was talking about." She scrubbed her hands over her face and looked up at him. "Max, what if you’'re right? What do we do? How do we act?”"

Max walked over to sit next to Maria on the couch, only as did so he was struck by images. A rush of emotion so deep so intense. A love so raw so strong it made his heart bleed. A passion that exploded in a blinding flood of sensations. Michael and Liz kissing. Making love. Max gasped and stood up. Shaking, gagging, he ran to the bathroom where he heaved out the contents of the morning’'s breakfast.

“"Max? What happened are you okay?”" Maria asked concerned.

Max rinsed out his mouth. And looked at Maria as he said, “"I saw them. Together. Making love.”"

“"What? When?” Oh my God, you had a vision?"

"Yes. On the couch. God, Maria. How could they do this to us?”"

Maria broke down in Max's arms. How could Liz do this to them? How could Michael?

*****

Back in Mission Hill

The caves were dark and dank. They had gone to the place where Max and Liz had found the message only to find it had disappeared without a trace.

In their eagerness to solve the mystery, Isabel and Michael had gone on ahead, leaving Kyle and Liz to follow at a much slower pace. Liz was fascinated by the different rock formations and kept checking the walls of the cave to make sure that the message hadn’'t been scrawled again on another section of rock.

Suddenly a rumbling echoed throughout the dark recesses of the cave and the sound of walls crumbling and rocks tumbling could be heard.

The sound of screams reverberating through the dark.

One last cry.

"“Michael.”"