Snapshot · (Roswell Fanfiction) · √

28. Happy Birthday Elizabeth

June 22nd, Liz's birthday
(1999) Max is 13 (going on 14), Liz is 13

She was already awake when Gabriela opened the door early on Saturday morning in the middle of June. Like a child on Christmas morning, she had woken up before dawn and hadn't been able to go back to sleep.

Today was Liz's birthday.

She normally didn't care much for birthdays. They were just another day. Being part of a family where objects were used as proof of affection and presents on many occasions could be considered bribery, receiving presents on her birthday was nothing special.

But this birthday was different.

At an age of 10, Liz had asked for a pet. Both of her parents had scrunched their noses in simultaneous disgust, their minds bombarded with various images of dirty dogs running all over their expensive carpets or cats ripping their claws through their specially imported furniture.

Being the stubborn girl she was, Liz had been relentless in her pleas for a pet. There had been a need inside of her for someone to love and look after. Someone that was just hers.

So her parents had promised her that she would get a pet on her thirteenth birthday.

Therefore, it was with a bright smile that she opened her eyes on that Saturday morning as Gabriela opened the blinds and let the sun in.

"Happy birthday, querida," Gabriela said and smiled brightly as she met Liz's shiny eyes.

Liz took a deep breath, feeling the happiness seep into every pore of her body, and quickly pulled the sheet off her body. Today was a new day. Today was the beginning of a happier life.

Before her feet had a chance to touch the floor, her mother burst through the door.

Liz startled, her mouth falling open in muted surprise as she found herself looking up into the almost wild face of her birth mother.

"Elizabeth," Nancy Parker almost screamed. "Why are you still in bed?!"

Getting over her shock, Liz pressed her lips firmly together at the accusative tone of her mother's voice. "Good morning to you too, Mother."

Nancy narrowed her eyes at her daughter's tone before storming over to Liz's walk-in closet and quite efficiently disappearing from Liz's view.

"Why are you not ready yet?" Nancy's voice drifted out from the closet.

"Ready for what, Mother?" Liz asked tersely, silently looking over at Gabriela for answers. But the housekeeper seemed just as lost, as she looked at her employer's daughter apologetically.

Nancy re-appeared and threw a black bikini with pink dots onto the bed. "For your party, dear."

A tremble of fear went through Liz. She hadn't planned a party. She hadn't had a birthday party since she was seven. She hated birthday parties.

"What party?"

Her mother walked around the bed to her side and looked at her as if she was slightly below the average IQ-level. In a sweet, condescending voice that really only her mother could perfect, Nancy said, "It's your birthday, Elizabeth. It requires a party."

Before Liz could announce that her birthday certainly didn't require a party, Nancy grabbed a hold of Liz's tank top and pulled it over her head.

Liz's startled body gasped as the cool air hit her suddenly naked upper body and in raw embarrassment she folded her arms across her budding breasts. "Mom!"

Nancy regarded her quietly and Liz's indignation stuck to her lips as disapproval gradually colored the tense line of her mother's mouth. "You've gained weight."