Snapshot · (Roswell Fanfiction) · √

36. A White Knight in Disguise

A/N: So sorry for my absence. Life's been hectic. But I'm uploading 3 chapters today, trying to make up for it :-)

Michael's birthday
The Crashdown
(2002) Max is 17, Liz is 16

Max grinned as Michael looked at him with a grim expression, specifically telling Max that Michael was going to kill his best friend for this.

"Hi Max," someone said quietly at his side and Max looked down into the dark blue eyes of Lindsey, a girl in his class.

He smiled at her. Since their surnames started with the same letter they had been put together on more than one group assignment. Max liked Lindsey. She was a really sweet girl. She was endearingly shy but the few words that came out of her mouth told of a sharp brain.

"Hey Linds," Max said. "Enjoying yourself?"

"This is great," she smiled. "Michael doesn't look too happy though."

Her eyes twinkled at him in amusement and he nodded, his words those of mock nonchalance. "No, he hates surprises."

She laughed softly. "Then why did you throw him a surprise party?"

Max gleamed at her mischievously. "Why not?"

Amused, she shook her head. "For what it's worth, you did a good job."

"I had help," Max said.

She nodded and he failed to notice as her eyes stopped glittering. She donned an easy-going expression while her smile tightened ever so slightly. "Oh. Liz helped you?"

"Yeah, it was her idea," Max said.

Her smile softened. "I'm having troubles believing that."

He laughed quietly. "I can't fool you, Linds."

She smiled at him shyly and docked her head slightly. "Don't you forget it."

"Have you gotten something to eat?" Max asked and pointed towards the buffet that was being ravaged by ravished teenage boys. "If not, I suggest you hurry."

"Good idea," Lindsey agreed and turned her body slightly away from his. "See you around, Max."

"Yeah," Max smiled, his smile turning distracted as he caught an eyeful of familiar brown hair on the other side of the glass door.

Lindsey noticed his attention waver and a longing of the unattainable kind poured into her eyes as she turned towards the busy buffet table.

Max had his hand on the door, about to push it open, when Liz took a step to the side and revealed that she was not alone.

Billy.

Billy was Liz Parker's first boyfriend. She wouldn't call him that yet, but she had been on several dates with the guy and just a week earlier Liz Parker had, in her first drunken daze, revealed that Billy wanted to take their relationship to the next level.

They say that ignorance is bliss, and Max had fully realized this as Liz had let him in on this fact. Because prior to Liz deciding to share her fears of losing her virginity, he was able to happily tell himself that his little Lizzie wasn't even considering doing anything as grown-up as having sex. He kept telling himself that he just didn't want her to enter a world he had been part of for about two years already because he would never admit to himself that there might be another reason to him not wanting her to enter that part of the adult world.

He pulled slightly backwards, into the shadows, as a discussion mute to him unfolded between the couple.

Billy moved closer to Liz as she discreetly moved backwards; his arms searching for contact with her body as she subtly dodged his hands.