Roswell Elementary Theme Song: Yesterday (by Vega)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

Yesterday
(Roswell Elementary Theme)
By Vega

Yesterday, by The Beatles

The night sky glitters with countless tiny points of light above the desert near Roswell, New Mexico. There is no moon tonight, and the only other light in the darkness comes from a small fire where six figures are huddled together. It is not the first time that Max and Isabel Evans and their friend Michael Guerin have decided to spend a night watching the stars. Somehow their monthly excursions help them feel closer to home. But it is the first time they have been back since an incident at the Crashdown Café changed all their lives and the lives of three others. Now that Liz Parker, Maria De Luca, and Alex Whitman share their secret, it is only fitting that they share this monthly ritual as well.

Though he is supposed to be watching the stars Max can’t help stealing a glance at Liz instead. His mind wanders back to a night years ago, a night like this one when they were together under the stars. Liz feels his eyes on her and turns to meet his gaze, and from the wistful smile in her eyes Max knows she remembers it too...

Yesterday

A younger Max and Liz stand together on the roof of the Crashdown, discussing plans for a Science Fair project that will redeem them after the embarrassment of the radish fiasco...

All my troubles seemed so far away

Max is elated to discover that Liz shares his interest in the stars, feeling the familiar thrill of connection with her as their hands brush while they examine her telescope. In that moment he thinks maybe one day that connection will be strong enough to overcome the differences that stand between them...

Now it seems as though they're here to stay

But now the older Max and Liz stand together on the Crashdown roof, and this time there is only distance growing between them. A tearful Liz watches Max climb back down the ladder after denying that they belong together, that the connection he feels with her is real...

Oh, I believe in yesterday

The image wavers, replaced by the earlier scene of the children with the telescope. Is it just coincidence that young Max finds the words 'Ex Astra' inscribed in the wall? Looking back, the older Max starts to wonder...

Suddenly

Max’s thoughts shift back to that fateful day at the Crashdown, the best and worst day of his life. He had finally made a true connection with Liz, but that brief moment had also turned his world upside-down...

I'm not half the man I used to be

It used to be so much simpler before, when he was just shy little Max Evans who kept to himself and nobody really noticed. Max smiles sadly at the memories that come flooding back. Mr. Raddish ordering a triumphant Max to take Kyle’s place next to Liz on the first day of fifth grade. Liz’s face flushing with delight at the sight of the wildflower bouquets that graced her desk each Wednesday. Liz holding Max’s hand as they wandered around the Science Fair together. Liz sharing an amused smile with him as they walk to class, leaving Michael and Maria fighting in the hallway behind them. Liz, Liz, Liz...

There's a shadow hanging over me

Max shakes his head to clear it. All of his memories were of Liz. She was the only person who could make him feel truly happy, and now he couldn’t be with her because of the constant threat of Sheriff Valenti and the FBI. It just wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t his life ever have a fairytale ending? Probably the closest he would ever get to that was getting to kiss Liz in their fifth grade class’s rendition of 'Snow White'...

On, yesterday came suddenly

Again, Max’s thoughts turn back to that day, that single moment that changed everything. If only things had happened differently. But he knows he couldn’t have done anything else. Max looks at Liz across the fire. It was her...

Beside Liz, Alex is lost in his own thoughts as well. And as always, those thoughts are about Isabel. All the time he has known her she has given him brief glimpses into another part of her personality, a part she kept hidden from everyone else. Now that Alex shared her secret he saw that side of her more and more often, but she still couldn’t seem to let him in completely, and he had to admit she confused him as much as ever. He remembers one of the first times he ever saw Isabel’s sweeter, more vulnerable side...

Why she had to go

A younger Alex stares after Isabel’s retreating back as she hurries to join her friend and partner for the fifth grade Science Fair...

I don't know

He is hurt and confused by Isabel’s sudden change of attitude. One minute she was playing with his mice and the next it was like he didn’t even exist...

She wouldn't say

But he remembers the apologetic look she flashed him before she left, and wonders...

I said something wrong,

Alex turns back to his project with a disappointed sigh. He must have done something to upset her, or otherwise she wouldn’t have acted like that. Not the real Isabel, the one he knew was hidden underneath that beautiful exterior...

Now I long

The real Isabel was the one who sometimes dazzled him with her special smile, especially after she got another letter from her secret admirer. The one who appreciated it when Alex tried to defend her against that bully Kyle Valenti. Alex sighs again. If only...

For yesterday

If only Isabel would smile at him again the way she had that day Kyle tried to steal her letter...

Michael isn’t watching the stars either. He is staring into the flames of their small blaze, thinking. Something about the fire reminds him of Maria. The way it is always flickering and changing, full of life and spark. The way he feels drawn to its warmth, even though he knows it is dangerous to get too close. Maria has always had that effect on him, he remembers...

Oh, yesterday

Michael and Maria stand facing each other on the playground in fifth grade, arms crossed and glaring defiantly. *I hate you, you stupid cheesebreath!* *Shut up, chickenbutt!* The insults fly, but Michael still can’t resist pulling one of Maria’s silky golden curls...

Love was such an easy game to play

Michael and Maria are racing around the school gym in the middle of the fifth grade Science Fair, pelting each other with M&Ms and calling each other the worst names they can think of, and secretly enjoying every minute of it...

Now I need a place to hide away

The grown Michael sighs at the memories. A small part of him wishes he could just run away, just disappear somewhere to hide from all the changes in his life that seemed to be spiraling out of control. That would be safer for everyone involved. But another part of him knows where he and Maria have been headed since the first time he pulled her hair, and thinks he might actually like to get there. No more running...

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

The young Michael and Maria are sitting together under a tree near the playground, for once not fighting or arguing but just sitting in companionable silence. Michael feels himself starting to lean towards her. Maybe getting burned wouldn’t be so bad...

I believe in yesterday.

Out in the desert, six friends watch the stars and remember a simpler time. And each one silently makes the same wish. Maybe one day it will come true...

The End

Songfic: The Rainbow Connection (by Kara)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

The Rainbow Connection
(A Songfic set between Crazy and Tess, Lies, and Videotape)
By Kara

Author's Note: The song "Rainbow Connection" belongs to the guy who wrote it for the Muppets movie, and the idea came from Lindsey (thanks for emailing me!) And this is dedicated to Emily, my dovey, because I stole her idea for "Somewhere Out There" from American Tail. :)

They sat curled up together for a while on his brown couch, not talking. Just...being. Michael was honestly surprised that Maria could stay silent for that long. It was almost like the day of their first kiss, in the tree grove, back in fifth grade--the kiss that had lasted for a whole ten seconds. He never thought that five years would lead him back to the very same spot, though. It's almost as if it was full circle.

He looked down at her, still cuddled close against his chest. And wonder of wonders, she was sleeping. In her sleep, Maria DeLuca looked like the kind of person who would wear Kermit patches on her shoes and watch the Muppet Movie over and over again. In her sleep, she looked like the Maria who was, back in fifth grade...the one who'd first caught his heart. The Maria who shone in his life like a rainbow, and he couldn't wait to discover what pot of gold lay on the other side. Maybe he'd actually find it now. Maybe...

And as he sat there with her, the years slipped back, and he remembered...

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
Michael stares up at the sky in wonder, walking home from school, a rainbow arcing over the trailer park.
And what's on the other side?
Michael peering into the Evans' kitchen window, watching them eat dinner together and laughing.
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions
Maria dancing in her room at night, her golden curls whirling, hiding her tears from Michael outside her window.
And rainbows have nothing to hide
Maria pounces on Kyle Valenti with glee, jumping into any fight that threatens one of her friends.
So we've been told, and some choose to believe it
A defiant fourth grader with blond curls sits on top of Kyle Valenti's chest, daring him to say there's no Santa Claus.
I know they're wrong; wait and see
Michael watches Maria dancing around the field on Halloween, throwing sparkling glitter in everyone's face.
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
Michael sits next to Maria on her front porch, waiting for her mom to come home. "Do you like Coconuts?"
The lovers, the dreamers, and me
Six children walking hand in hand on Halloween, almost too old to believe, but still refusing to grow up.

Who said that ev'ry wish would be heard and answered
Michael staring up at the night sky at midnight, defiant tears running down his face.
When wished on the morning star?
"I just can't--"
And Maria's hand slipping into his. "...reach them."
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it
Sparkly alien heads stapled to the wall outside 5A at Roswell Elementary: "If anything comes from the stars, it has to be pretty and bright and sparkly and just...perfect."
Look what it's done so far.
Maria grabbing Michael for a rough hug, a sparkly silver pencil clutched tight in her small fist
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
Three and three looking up at the night sky at their separate slumber parties, each wishing on a shooting star in an age old ritual.
And what do we think we might see?
Michael standing outside the Crashdown, watching the Parkers and the DeLucas laughing and being a family on the first night of school.
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
Michael and Maria, covered in colored marker everywhere, drawing little golden stars on each other's ankles.
The lovers, the dreamers, and me
A rainbow of M&Ms dumping over Maria's head, her mouth wide with shock and delight. "You cheesehead!"
All of us under its spell; A lonesome Wolverine leaning against the wall, watching a pixie with the most beautiful glittery wings, and all he could think was...wow.
We know that it's probably magic
Michael standing close to Maria, their matching jesters' bells jingling as he touched her eye to make it feel better. "Let me see. Don't be such a dorkbutt. I'll do a magic trick and fix it."

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
That brief feeling of love and despair Michael felt in his pod after the crash, before it thumped to the ground.
I've heard them calling my name
Staring out his tiny window, looking up at the stars, wondering who stared back on the other side.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors
Michael looking at Maria's wings, wishing he could use them to fly him and her as far away from Roswell as possible.
I know it's one and the same
Their eyes meeting in shared sympathy, Maria jingling the bells on his jester's cap with her wand, "Families suck."
"Yeah. They always end up leaving anyway. We're luckier."
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
His lips pressed up against Maria's, neither of them ignoring the sparks they both definitely felt.
It's something that I'm s'posed to be
There was something right about her small hand slipping into his.
Someday we'll find it,
Six faces turned heavenward, each with a secret wish.
The Rainbow Connection
Six year old Michael chasing after the rainbowed trail headlights left, on a lonely full-moon night in the desert.
The lovers,
Max and Liz staring shyly at each other over a telescope on the roof of the Crashdown.
the dreamers,
Alex and Isabel walking hand in hand to the ice cream place in the mall, smiling a little.
and me.
Michael watching Maria run through a spray of water after their marker fight, a thousand rainbow colors dripping down her body--a living rainbow.

It had always been Maria. And it always would be. Even if he forgot it occasionally.

Michael kissed the top of her golden head again and repositioned them more comfortably on the couch. Maybe it wasn't his destiny to spend his life in her arms, but he would enjoy embracing his rainbow for a little while.

"I love you."

And her sleepy reply. "I love you too, cheesehead."

The End

Prequel: Strangers in a Strange Land (by Kara)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

Strangers in a Strange Land (Prequel to RE)
By Kara

Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own any of this. Property of: WB, Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, Pocket Books, and Michael belongs to Maria. *g* Oh, and the title alludes to Heinlein, but he's dead, so maybe he won't sue me.
Spoilers: None, really, though seeing "Balance" helps...
Notes: This is a prequel to "Roswell Elementary," based on what Max described in "The Balance." Enjoy!

It was their second year at Roswell Elementary. Momma and Dad were proud of the progress they made. Max didn't ask about going home anymore, but sometimes they wondered why he liked to look in his telescope so much. Izzy still cried at night, for the boy, but she didn't wake Momma and Dad up. She just crawled in with Max, and let him rock her back to sleep.

He wondered what happened to the boy sometimes. It had been three years. The adoption went through, and all the social people finally stopped wondering where he and his sister had come from. They didn't remember. They tried to remember, but Izzy was already starting to think of this place as home. She was starting to care about what others thought of her, and to notice how people looked. She tried to blend in with everyone else during the day. But at night, she still cried for the boy they lost. If only Max had grabbed his hand, and held it tighter. Then they wouldn't be so alone.

They stepped off the bus. Izzy still held on to his hand when they went someplace new. He knew that she didn't want to lose him too. He could always find her by following her feelings back. And over the summer, she discovered that she could come visit him in his dreams. She didn't like it when he dreamed about the pretty girl, with all the dark hair. That made her cry too. Because she thought he might love someone more than her.

They felt the boy's feelings sometimes. Mostly anger, sometimes fear. Sometimes, when he laid in bed at night, Max could almost feel the other boy's tears. He wondered what made the boy cry so much. If only he hadn't let go.

As they stepped off the bus, he saw the dark-haired girl. She was jumping around and laughing with her blond friend that always reminded Max of TinkerBell, or the Energizer Bunny, without the drum. Izzy tugged at his hand and glared at him, trying to make him stop paying attention to his dream girl. But the girl filled his heart with warmth, right down to where Momma said his stomach was. The girl made him feel like he belonged here, instead of to the place before his memories.

And then he felt a sudden pang of recognition. From the way Izzy pulled on him, she did too. And then the boy was there, his dark eyes wide and scared. He looked around like that deer Dad's car had caught in the headlights. Like he didn't know what to expect. Like he was a stranger, all alone.

The blond girl noticed him too, and looked up from her hand game with the dark girl. She smiled shyly at him, and held out a hand. The boy glared at her, so she stuck her tongue out at him. The boy's face crumpled a little, and he ran his hands through his messy brown hair. Maybe that's why it stuck up so much, like the porcupine that lived under the rock in the backyard.

And then the boy opened his mouth.

"Cheesehead."

The girl tossed her blond curls. "Big Ugly Buttface." And she turned back to the dark haired girl, but still sneaking looks at the boy.

Izzy pulled him over to the boy, and when their hands touched, it felt like a shock, like the time he stuck the paper clip in the electric socket to see what would happen. Izzy took the boy's other hand, and they stood in a circle. The fear that he felt from the boy calmed, and something missing inside his chest filled. They were together. They weren't alone.

"What did they name you?" Izzy's voice was soft. The boy had tears in his eyes, and she used the hem of her dress to wipe them away. "Momma named me Isabel, and him Max. Momma and Dad are the Evanses. They're nice."

The boy squirmed a little before mumbling. "Hank doesn't like my name. He calls me Mickey, like the stupid mouse. But the ladies at the house with all the kids--they called me Michael. I'm sposed to be a bringer of glory or something stupid like that. Michael Guerin."

Izzy smiled. "Michael Guerin."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Izzy Evans. Izzy Lizard breath." But the smile was real. And the feelings Max felt from him were happy ones.

"I'm glad we found you. We were worried. Are you okay?" Max felt something choking in his throat, the feeling that Momma said was tears. But it wasn't okay to cry all the time. That's what Dad said, because boys don't cry. Izzy could though, because she was a girl.

Michael nodded. "We're together now. I'll be okay." And their clasped hands tightened. And softly, they began to glow.

"Do you know who we are?" His voice sounded small again, alone. The light of their hands wavered a little bit.

Izzy shook her head. "But Max can put things back together again with his hands. And I can visit people's dreams sometimes."

The boy glared down at the ground. "I can break things. And then Hank gets mad at me." So that was part of the fear. He tightened his grip on Michael's hand.

"We're together now. We'll figure it all out someday." And they smiled at each other. Secret smiles. Smiles of best friends who found each other.

They were strangers in a strange land, but they weren't alone anymore.

The End

Prequel: Strangers in a Strange Land (by Kara)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

Strangers in a Strange Land (Prequel to RE)
By Kara

Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own any of this. Property of: WB, Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, Pocket Books, and Michael belongs to Maria. *g* Oh, and the title alludes to Heinlein, but he's dead, so maybe he won't sue me.
Spoilers: None, really, though seeing "Balance" helps...
Notes: This is a prequel to "Roswell Elementary," based on what Max described in "The Balance." Enjoy!

It was their second year at Roswell Elementary. Momma and Dad were proud of the progress they made. Max didn't ask about going home anymore, but sometimes they wondered why he liked to look in his telescope so much. Izzy still cried at night, for the boy, but she didn't wake Momma and Dad up. She just crawled in with Max, and let him rock her back to sleep.

He wondered what happened to the boy sometimes. It had been three years. The adoption went through, and all the social people finally stopped wondering where he and his sister had come from. They didn't remember. They tried to remember, but Izzy was already starting to think of this place as home. She was starting to care about what others thought of her, and to notice how people looked. She tried to blend in with everyone else during the day. But at night, she still cried for the boy they lost. If only Max had grabbed his hand, and held it tighter. Then they wouldn't be so alone.

They stepped off the bus. Izzy still held on to his hand when they went someplace new. He knew that she didn't want to lose him too. He could always find her by following her feelings back. And over the summer, she discovered that she could come visit him in his dreams. She didn't like it when he dreamed about the pretty girl, with all the dark hair. That made her cry too. Because she thought he might love someone more than her.

They felt the boy's feelings sometimes. Mostly anger, sometimes fear. Sometimes, when he laid in bed at night, Max could almost feel the other boy's tears. He wondered what made the boy cry so much. If only he hadn't let go.

As they stepped off the bus, he saw the dark-haired girl. She was jumping around and laughing with her blond friend that always reminded Max of TinkerBell, or the Energizer Bunny, without the drum. Izzy tugged at his hand and glared at him, trying to make him stop paying attention to his dream girl. But the girl filled his heart with warmth, right down to where Momma said his stomach was. The girl made him feel like he belonged here, instead of to the place before his memories.

And then he felt a sudden pang of recognition. From the way Izzy pulled on him, she did too. And then the boy was there, his dark eyes wide and scared. He looked around like that deer Dad's car had caught in the headlights. Like he didn't know what to expect. Like he was a stranger, all alone.

The blond girl noticed him too, and looked up from her hand game with the dark girl. She smiled shyly at him, and held out a hand. The boy glared at her, so she stuck her tongue out at him. The boy's face crumpled a little, and he ran his hands through his messy brown hair. Maybe that's why it stuck up so much, like the porcupine that lived under the rock in the backyard.

And then the boy opened his mouth.

"Cheesehead."

The girl tossed her blond curls. "Big Ugly Buttface." And she turned back to the dark haired girl, but still sneaking looks at the boy.

Izzy pulled him over to the boy, and when their hands touched, it felt like a shock, like the time he stuck the paper clip in the electric socket to see what would happen. Izzy took the boy's other hand, and they stood in a circle. The fear that he felt from the boy calmed, and something missing inside his chest filled. They were together. They weren't alone.

"What did they name you?" Izzy's voice was soft. The boy had tears in his eyes, and she used the hem of her dress to wipe them away. "Momma named me Isabel, and him Max. Momma and Dad are the Evanses. They're nice."

The boy squirmed a little before mumbling. "Hank doesn't like my name. He calls me Mickey, like the stupid mouse. But the ladies at the house with all the kids--they called me Michael. I'm sposed to be a bringer of glory or something stupid like that. Michael Guerin."

Izzy smiled. "Michael Guerin."

He gave her a lopsided grin. "Izzy Evans. Izzy Lizard breath." But the smile was real. And the feelings Max felt from him were happy ones.

"I'm glad we found you. We were worried. Are you okay?" Max felt something choking in his throat, the feeling that Momma said was tears. But it wasn't okay to cry all the time. That's what Dad said, because boys don't cry. Izzy could though, because she was a girl.

Michael nodded. "We're together now. I'll be okay." And their clasped hands tightened. And softly, they began to glow.

"Do you know who we are?" His voice sounded small again, alone. The light of their hands wavered a little bit.

Izzy shook her head. "But Max can put things back together again with his hands. And I can visit people's dreams sometimes."

The boy glared down at the ground. "I can break things. And then Hank gets mad at me." So that was part of the fear. He tightened his grip on Michael's hand.

"We're together now. We'll figure it all out someday." And they smiled at each other. Secret smiles. Smiles of best friends who found each other.

They were strangers in a strange land, but they weren't alone anymore.

The End

Prequel: From the Start (by Emily)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

From the Start
(a RE prequel)
By Emily

That weird boy with the icky hair was standing up by Mrs. Donaldson's desk, scowling at everybody. Maria DeLuca's head kept popping up from the cursive paper they were supposed to be doing so she could keep her eye on him. She wouldn't put it past him to do something slimy and boylike when she least expected it.

The boy's name was Michael Something-or-Other-That-She-Didn't-Bother-to-Remember, and it was his first day ever at Roswell Elementary. So Mrs. Donaldson made him get up and mumble a few words to the class. Yeah, that's exactly what he did. He mumbled and he kept his spiky head ducked way down like he didn't even want to look anybody in the eye. She couldn't even understand him hardly at all when he talked. Not that she wanted to. Although he might've had something interesting to say. You never know. Stranger things had happened before.

She was all depressed and distressed because Lizzie wasn't in her class this year. How could the teachers do this to her? Separate her from her bestest friend and she would surely die a slow agonizing death in captivity. Didn't they know that? She growled to herself in disgust as she picked up her boring yellow pencil and began to copy from the board again. Someday she'd have a whole collection of cool pencils with crazy animal print designs printed on them and stuff. Or sparkly ones, like those wicked cool ones at the drugstore. But Mom always bought her the yellow ones, because they were cheaper. She sighed. Picking a few cents of extra money over style was just a sad, sad thing.

"Maria DeLuca," Mrs. Donaldson chose that moment to say.

Her head popped up again. "Huh?"

Innocent look. Give Mrs. Donaldson an innocent look and hope for the best. The last thing she needed was to start her very first day of fourth grade hanging out with Principal Anderson. She wasn't even doing anything wrong this time. Unless Mrs. Donaldson could read her mind with magic psychic powers like all those fat weirdly-dressed ladies with gobs of makeup on their faces that were in the ads during late-night tv. Late-night tv sucked, especially when you were all alone in the house the entire night and huddled in your afghan just waiting for your mom to come home from a date to make sure she was okay and she wasn't gonna leave like some people Maria could name.

"Would you show Michael here to the bathroom, please?" Mrs. Donaldson asked.

"Uh huh." She nodded with relief, her blonde curls bouncing all over the place. Tommy Hilligan was sitting behind her this year. And if he knew what was good for him, he wouldn't pull her hair. She never ever let anybody get away with touching her hair. But he didn't. Good.

She got up and pranced down the aisle. Her feet just always had this crazy urge to dance with an inner grace whenever she moved, and she couldn't control it. She stared at the boy waiting for her at the end of the aisle. He was glaring hostilely at her with his arms crossed. Was she supposed to be scared or something? She giggled. Hurricane DeLuca always called a bluff when she saw one.

"You must be pretty dumb if you can't even find your way to the bathroom by yourself, y'know," she began as they walked out of the classroom together. Well, okay, if you wanted to be more exact, he shuffled, and she bounced. "It's not like Roswell Elementary is just so big and huge that you could get lost or something like that."

"I didn't ask for some stupid tour guide. It was the teacher's cheeseheaded idea." His voice was low and kinda gravelly-sounding. It gave her weird shivers to hear it so clearly, without all that mumble-jumble from before.

"Yeah, well, you look like the kinda boy who needs a map just to find your fat butt."

"What do you know anyway? You're just a weird girl."

"Well, you're just a creepy boy."

"I hate you!" he exclaimed, glaring at her.

"Ditto," she replied calmly, with a toss of her curls to show her complete lack of caring for this spiky-haired rebel boy who needed a personality transplant on top of his probably already scheduled hair transplant.

They reached the Boy's Room then. He violently shoved the door open and stalked inside. "I hope you drown in the toilet bowl!" she joyously called in after him before the door slammed right in her face.

Hmmph. What kind of rude icky boy was he anyway? She was now officially sorry she had ever tried to be nice to him this morning. Except this morning he'd looked lost and scared and all alone in the world. Like he needed somebody to come along and give him a little bit of golden sunshine. Heck, he needed a whole year's worth of golden sunshine before he'd be even remotely worthy of her time and company. She'd work on him this year maybe. Wear him down a little. He could be her next project or something.

Then he was barging out of the door again. His eyes looked a little funny. They were a little watery and red and puffy. But maybe he just had allergies. Yeah. Probably that was it.

"You're lucky you're not sitting near me," she piped up as they walked back to the classroom together.

"Yeah, why's that?" he asked.

"Because then I could get you every hour of every day."

"Next year maybe."

"Yeah." She smiled at the thought. "Then I can have a whole extra year to plan out my strategy." Brilliant.

"Next year, I'll be ready for you too," he decided, giving her a shove and glaring at her. "Stupid cheeseheaded girl."

"Dumb ugly dorkbutt boy." She smiled sweetly at him and shoved him back.

His big rough hand found its way into her curls and he stopped walking to stare into her eyes. His eyes were dark angry thunderheaded clouds that made her feel all dizzy and weak inside. She forgot about the nobody-touching-her-hair rule in an instant as he smirked at her. And his stormy eyes cleared for just a tiny little blink-and-you-miss-it second. He gave the curl he was still holding a gleeful yank and turned on his heel, slinking into the classroom without a backwards glance. She grinned and followed after him. She could still just barely feel where his hand had been.

Yeah, she liked Michael right from the start.

The End

Prequel: Completely Whipped (by Emily)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

Completely Whipped
(A Roswell Elementary Prequel)
By Emily

Oh man, just his luck he had to get stuck with that crazy girl from before school in his class. The small, laughing hyena one, with the daisies in her hair and the angry green eyes. There she was, sitting towards the back with those blonde curls taunting him and saying, "You can't have me, nyah." Not that he wanted to touch her stupid curls anyway. Not like his fingers were just itching to reach out and grab one when he walked down the aisle to ask their teacher where the heck the stupid bathroom was.

She wasn't paying attention to him anyway. She had her head down doing some stupid lamo work assignment. He hated school already 'cause they were already making him do work and he hated work. He'd rather be back in the orphanage all angry and wanting to burn something 'cause nobody wanted him than here. Even though *they* were here. The ones from before. Max. Isabel.

They were the ones he belonged with, not a little blonde girl who looked like that Tinkberbell fairy from when he'd watched the Disney Peter Pan video at the orphanage one night with all of the other annoying, smelly kids. So how come he couldn't stop glaring at her while he waited for the teacher lady to stop writing in her little gradebook thing and look up? How come it made him feel all swirly inside when her eyes slid from the cursive she was supposed to be copying from the board over to him every once in a while? Dammit. He was supposed to be watching *them*, not her. What was the matter with him? Maybe she had some weird Tinkerbell girl magic or something. That was what was making him feel all funny.

Finally the Donaldson teacher lady person looked up harshly from her little gradebook and rasped, "Yes, Michael?"

Amazing she knew his name already. This wasn't a good sign. Not good at all. He stared at her dumbly, his mouth stammering. "I need the bathroom," he finally said in a harsh voice.

"Hmm," Mrs. Donaldson considered, peering over the tops of her glasses at him.

What the heck was that supposed to mean? he wondered. Man, did he already mess up? Maybe he wasn't supposed to ask about going to the bathroom or something? It was only his first day. She could give him a break here, come on. It wasn't his fault he didn't know where the bathroom was, right?

"Hmm," Mrs. Donaldson said again, taking out her attendence book and flipping through it idly. She ran her fingers down one of the pages, the one with the listing of all the kids in the class he guessed, and then her fingers finally came to a rest on... "Maria DeLuca."

DeLuca DePukeah DeSpookah De-- oh. *Her* head popped up. That girl. That... Maria girl. "Huh?" she asked.

He smirked. She was such an airbrain. He could tell already. Complete and total fizz inside of that empty little head. Fizz to go with those soft frizzy curls. Fizz and frizz. Not that he knew her curls were soft.

Yet.

"Would you show Michael to the bathroom please?" Mrs. Donaldson requested.

"Uh huh." And she nodded, making those curls boing around everywhere like springs. Man, if it was him sitting behind her like that, he would've yanked them like there was no tomorrow. But the kid sitting behind her now, some stupid jock-in-the-making from the look of it, looked too scared to.

Yeah right. What was so scary about her? She was just some little itty bitty harmless cheesecurl girl. He could beat her up with both hands tied behind his back. And blindfolded.

She was walking towards him now. It was like dancing was the way she walked, with her feet bobbing up and down all over the place and those curls bouncing along behind her. He glared at her again, and she actually had the nerve to giggle at him.

That's it. He wasn't even going to look at her anymore after that. He just shuffled along behind her with his head down, following after her like some stupid sheep who'd get lost without her around to lead. She pranced out the door and turned left, walking down the long, wide hallway.

"You must be pretty dumb if you can't even find your way to the bathroom by yourself, y'know," she finally said. Her voice was all soft and low and comforting. Sweet and musical. "It's not like Roswell Elementary is just so big and huge that you could get lost or something like that."

He groaned. He should've known she couldn't keep those big full pouty lips of hers shut. "I didn't ask for some stupid tour guide," he informed her. "It was the teacher's cheeseheaded idea."

Then she said something he'd never expect in a billion years. She turned and looked at him, her eyes blazing angrily with a fire he'd never seen burn quite so hot in anybody else's eyes. "Yeah, well, you look like the kinda boy who needs a map just to find your fat butt."

"What do you know anyway? You're just a weird girl." He was gonna brush her off. It was the only thing to do. She shouldn't mess with him. Didn't she know that? He was mean, and tough from his years of being on his own with nobody else to count on except for himself, and he didn't let anybody into his heart without permission. Then how come this, this small human *girl* was already worming her way in?

"Well, you're just a creepy boy," she fired back, all bold and sassy.

He gaped at her for a minute, outraged that she just wouldn't let it go. "I hate you!" he exclaimed in a fit of passion.

She only tossed her curls in a self-congratulatory way. Like she knew that getting him to explode like that meant that she'd won in whatever weird little game they were playing. Damn her. "Ditto," she replied calmly, with none of her earlier anger.

Then the Boys Room materialized in front of them. Relieved, he shoved the door open. He had to get away from her. And fast.

He sniffled as he looked at himself in the mirror after he'd peed. He didn't like what he saw. He didn't like this at all. How dare this stupid girl come out of nowhere and get to him like that? He paced around the Boys Room angrily, letting off steam. He almost felt like kicking at something. Or burning something, like that time when he'd made his stupid new foster dad's toast burn in the toaster a couple nights ago after Hank had yelled at him. Sometimes he could burn stuff. Sometimes he could break stuff. When he was mad. And he was mad now. Furious.

I want to go home, he decided to himself, a lone tear running down his face before he could get strong enough to stop it. He slumped down by one of the walls, feeling more sad and alone than he ever had. I want to find home, he thought as he got up and wiped at his eyes. Stupid, weak tears.

He could never let them see him cry. Her either. Especially not her.

She shot him a kinda curious look as he came back out of the bathroom again. Say anything about it and die, he thought moodily. But she was strangely quiet. For a minute anyway. And then, of course she had to open her mouth again and ruin everything.

"You're lucky you're not sitting near me," she crowed self-importantly.

"Yeah, why's that?" he asked tiredly.

"Because then I could get you ever hour of every day."

Hmm... that could be kinda fun. Getting into a war with her. That might make school kinda bearable. Might make life kinda bearable, actually. Just as long as he won more than he lost.

"Next year maybe," he said absently, already planning how he'd attack her later at recess. Those little pebbles on the ground would be just perfect for tossing at her. Just perfect.

"Yeah." And she grinned at him. A bright smile like he'd never seen before. At least not directed at him. He usually got scowls. It felt... nice. Warm. Like the sun. Like a home with a blazing fire inside, waiting for him to come and curl up there and live comfortably for once in his life. "Then I can have a whole extra year to plan out my strategy."

"Next year, I'll be ready for you too." Or maybe just next period, he thought to himself, smirking. He shoved her as they reached the door to the classroom, kinda liking the way his hands felt on her. He didn't do it hard though. Not as hard as he could have. "Stupid cheesehead girl."

She gave him another one of her sweet sunny smiles, startling him. "Dumb ugly dorkbutt boy." And she shoved him back, her hands all light and gentle as he bounced back slightly.

His eyes slid down to her curls. He just had to find out what they felt like. He couldn't resist anymore. His hands snatched at one roughly, awe filling him at how soft they were. He took a peek at her face and she was just standing there, letting him. All of her fight gone. At least for now. He smirked down at her. He quickly got a hold of himself and gave one hard yank. He turned away before she could see the doofy look on his face at getting away with that and walked back into the classroom. His hand still tingled from where he'd touched her.

Defeat was just around the corner. He could feel it. Not even a single day and already he was completely whipped.

Disgusting.

The End

(Original) RE #1: First Day (by Emily)

Please Note: The Roswell Elementary stories are not to be archived anywhere, under any circumstances. Only linking to the stories is permitted.

First Day
(Roswell Elementary #1)
By Emily

Max Evans spread the sleeping bag out on the floor. His best friend Michael Guerin was staying over tonight. It was their last night of freedom. Tomorrow they'd be going back to school. But at least they would finally be at the top of the totem pole. They were in 5th grade at last!

Max brought out the crumpled sheet of paper with their class list printed on it for at least the five thousandth time since he received it a week ago. He stared at Liz Parker's circled name. Last year in 4th grade, he hadn't been in her class. But this year, he could see her for hours every single day. Well, Monday through Friday anyway. Max couldn't think of anything more perfect.

"Are you still looking at that dumb thing?" Michael asked, getting annoyed. He was always on edge lately. It was even worse now that summer was over and he had to return back to school. "I'm gonna tear it up and throw it out the window if you don't quit it!"

"I gotta make it so that she sits next to me," Max said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Michael asked warily.

Max didn't say anything... But he had a look on his face. That stubborn look he got. And Michael started to get worried.

"You're not talking about using your powers, are you?" Michael was shocked.

"Shhh!" Max hushed.

"Max, we don't know how to control them real good," Michael said a little quieter.

"No, you don't know how to control them real good," Max corrected with a smile.

"That's not true!" Michael protested. "You're not that much better than me!"

"Look, I don't want to get in a fight," Max replied. "But I gotta do it, Michael. It's Liz!"

"Yeah, right, it's Liz..." Michael said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "It all makes sense now."

Max tossed a pillow at Michael's head. Michael caught it, shot a long angry glance at Max, and sighed. Max's stupid crush on Liz Parker was going to get them in big trouble. He just knew it.

Liz Parker and her best friend Maria DeLuca huddled together outside of school. Pow-wow time. It was a tradition. They giggled and whispered together, looking around every once in a while to keep up with what was going on around them.

Just then, Maria spotted Alex Whitman. They had grown very close last year when they were in the same class, because Maria had been separated from Liz.

Now she wasn't sure what to do. Could she still be friends with Alex this year now that they were all in the same class? She hoped so. She really wanted Liz to like Alex. She wanted them all to be friends. She was always talking to Liz about how cool Alex was. He better not blow it!

"Alex!" she called. "Over here!"

Alex came running towards them, grinning. He fidgeted uncomfortably in the suit his mom had made him wear. "Maria, hey!" he said happily.

Maria moved back a little so Alex would have room to join them. "Alex, this is Liz," she said proudly, feeling the unity.

Liz stared at the gawky, skinny, dark-haired boy with the infectious smile. Her own smile appeared before too long. She was immediately taken with him. "Hi, Alex," she said warmly.

Alex's grin spread even wider, if that was even possible. Maria was absolutely tickled. They liked each other! She excitedly grabbed both of their hands. She looked at Liz for a moment, silently asking permission. Liz nodded.

"Alex," Maria said. "We like to do this little pow-wow thing before school starts..."

When they walked into the classroom a few minutes later, quite a few kids were already there. They all stared at each other guardedly. Liz nervously chose a desk. Maria immediately took the one next to hers. And Alex decided to sit behind Liz.

The room began to fill up as more and more kids trickled in. Nobody really said much. That's the way it always went on the first day of school. But that would quickly change as they grew more used to each other. Maria looked around, wondering if any of these strange kids would one day become a future friend.

Just then, the door squeaked open once again. Michael Guerin, Max Evans, and his sister Isabel Evans stepped through the doorway. Those three always traveled in a pack. Maria thought it was really weird how they always managed to get into the same classroom. Some kids had all the luck.

Maria blinked as the class collectively drew in a gasp. She squinted. Was that really Isabel? She was positively scrawny last year. But now she looked so... so... grown-up! Her eyes widened as she turned to Liz in surprise.

A giggle escaped from them both. They turned to look at Alex, wanting to include him in their amusement. But he was just staring at Isabel in stunned disbelief.

Maria looked around. In fact, nearly every boy in class was looking at Isabel in the same way. And all the other girls were giving Isabel dirty looks. Maria didn't really understand what was going on with everybody.

Then that disgusting troublemaker Michael Guerin picked her to sit behind. Just her luck. Maybe their teacher would move his seat somewhere else. She hoped so.

Michael glared distrustfully at the back of Maria DeLuca's head. She was always chattering away like a brainless little bird. She would be really fun to torture this year.

Isabel and Max sat in the back together. Max gazed longily up where Liz was sitting. Kyle Valenti was sitting in the seat that would soon be Max's, taking a load off his cowboy boots. But not for long! Max smiled to himself.

Just then, a man entered the classroom. His purposeful stride and stern mannerisms made everybody want to face forward and pay attention. It was Mr. Raddish, their teacher.

Liz sighed as she stared at him. He was handsome!

Mr. Raddish adjusted his bow-tie, pushed his glasses up his nose, and began to speak. "Good morning, class," he began. "Welcome to 5th grade. I am your teacher, Mr. Raddish. We're going to be learning a lot about science this year. It's a great fascination of mine. And I hope to pass my passion on to you..."

Michael's head swam as Mr. Raddish's voice droned on and on. It was all the same to him. It didn't matter what he did. Every year, without fail, his teachers wound up hating him. He had a 'reputation'.

Alex grinned in spite of himself. Was it just him or did that Mr. Raddish have a really big round head? Just like a radish. He immediately dubbed him Mr. Radish-Head. He couldn't wait to share that with Maria and Liz.

He turned his head slightly so he would have a view of Isabel Evans. She had grown amazingly beautiful over the summer. And what a body! She was really smart too. And just as pretty on the inside as she was on the outside. He could tell. Someday... he thought to himself. Someday.

And Liz sat up as straight as she could. She was probably the only one in the entire classroom that was absolutely fascinated by Mr. Raddish's introductory speech. So he liked science... She vowed that she would become the best scientist in the class just for him.

Still speaking, Mr. Raddish walked down the aisle that would take him right by Kyle Valenti's desk. Max smiled. Now was his chance. He briefly closed his eyes, willing Kyle's pencil to roll softly off the desk and right into Mr. Raddish's path.

It happened an instant later. Mr. Raddish slid awkwardly across the floor while the class erupted into laughter. Mr. Raddish indignantly reached down to pick up the pencil that had caused this little escapade. He turned and looked accusingly at Kyle Valenti. Everybody knew who Kyle was, because he was the Sheriff's son.

"Mr. Valenti," Mr. Raddish began. "You have some explaining to do."

Kyle was confused. "But, but... I didn't--"

"Save it, Mr. Valenti. Pick up your things. I'm moving you to the back." Mr. Raddish looked around, trying to figure out where to put Kyle. His eyes landed on Max. "You," he said, pointing to Max. "What's your name?"

"Uhh, Max Evans, sir," Max managed to squeak out. He could feel everybody staring at him.

"Okay... Kyle, Max. Switch desks. Immediately."

Isabel looked frantically at Max. She didn't want to be stuck next to Kyle. He was such a jerk. And those cheesy cowboy boots were a definite fashion no-no.

But Max didn't notice. He was too busy privately celebrating his victory. He gathered up all his things and practically ran over to take his place at the desk next to Liz's.

She surprised him by giving him a welcoming smile. He just looked shyly down at his desk. He could sense Michael's objection radiating out from somewhere behind him. But he didn't care. He had what he wanted. He was sitting here, next to the most beautiful, most perfect, most wonderful girl in the world. Even if she didn't talk to him, or even look at him for the rest of the year, that smile made it all worth it.

The End