Part 7

Back to Michael’s Apartment…

They settled back into the couch, after finding no way of escaping their confines. Stinging silence invaded the room, infecting all of them. The only noise was the deep breathing Liz was making. Through the speaker, they heard her yawn.

“I’m getting tired now,” Liz stated, her voice sounding far away and weak.

“There’s one last thing I would like to ask you Max,” she paused, “can you do me a favor?”

*A favor? I’ll jump off a three-story high roof at the drop of a pin for you!* Max fought the comment down. “Sure, what is it?” His voice was steady, that was good.

“Promise me to love Tess the way you loved me. Can you do that for me?” Liz’s sweet voice was now barely above a whisper. Max had to strain to hear her, and when he did, he could tell that there was an unmistakably a large amount of pleading in her eyes.

*Loved? I still love you Liz! I will always love you, only you and no one else!*

“Anything you say Liz,” his voice cracked as he furiously wiped the swelling tears from his eyes. There was something in her voice that told him that this was the last time he would hear from her, ever.

“Come here,” whispered Isabel, hugging the sobbing Max in her arms. Her face was streaked with tears also, as was everyone in the room listening to Liz. Liz tried to stifle another yawn.

“Tess, remember what I said. You promised, don’t break that promise.”

“I won’t Liz. I won’t.”

Max shot Tess a look from the side of his eyes. *What did they say?*

“Maria, Alex,” Liz addressed her two best friends, “we’ll always be the Three Musketeers, no matter what. I’ll be waiting for you guys up there.”

“Up where?” Alex asked.

“You know where,” her quiet calm voice laced with tremors. “I think I should-”

“Don’t go!” Maria screamed this, afraid that if Liz continued on, she would lose her best friend.

Alex grabbed onto Maria’s hands, trying to give her comfort through their physical contact. Michael was stroking Maria’s hair, drying her tears with his soft kisses, and whispering words into her ear. Tess was crying openly to Kyle, and he was hugging her close, closer than friends should be.

“I’m sorry Maria, but I have to. I’m so sorry!”

Max’s heart dropped to the floor and shattered when Liz said no more and hung up. He banged on the door, desperately wanting out.

“Michael! Isabel! Tess! Help me!” Max screamed out.

They combined their powers and did everything in their will to reach Liz. 2 hours later, they were all exhausted to the bone, their efforts done in vain.

“We should call our parents,” Kyle spoke up, sinking his fingers into Tess’ blonde soft curls.

“And what do we tell them?” Alex asked. “That we’re stuck in Michael’s apartment because some god-know-who aliens locked us in here?”

“No idiot,” replied Kyle, “we tell them that we’re sleeping over and won’t get home until tomorrow morning or afternoon.”

“You know what Kyle?” Maria said.

“What?” He expected to her another smart-ass comment coming from her mouth.

“That’s a great idea. Who wants to go first?”

Kyle was mildly surprised at his friend’s willingness to his idea. He volunteered to go first, calling his father and of course telling him what really happened since he was already admitted into the “I Know Aliens” club. Maria went second, followed by Alex, and Isabel and Max went last.

“What do we do now?” Michael asked Max, scowling a bit.

It was often that he had company over, and if he did, they didn’t stay that long. This was quite uncomfortable for him.

“We wait.”

<<   Home   >>