|
Title: The
Only Way
Author: Luv
Ratings: PG-13. Tess/Liz
Disclaimer: Spoilers up to Four Aliens and a Baby. This
story is in place of the finale. Webmistress note: Horizontal lines
denote original divisions into parts.
It was a day for victory. Trombones and parades and
little girls in flowered party dresses waving from the
sides of moving floats. Champagne flowing freely from the
rivers snaked down the parched throats of the crowd. Men
wearing top hats yelling into mega phones, ding
dong the wicked witch is dead. That is until she
opened the car door and slinked back into the seat.
Liz had witnessed the explosion. Her feet had felt the
ground shift as the car shuddered when the seismic fire
rocked the foundation. Yet Tess was here beside her not
even one smudge on her face. How? Liz sighed. Mind warp.
So much for martyrdom.
Liz, this was the only way.
Destruction and deception was her way, reckless murder
her signature. It didnt matter who lost their life
as long as Tess still had hers. This had been her chance
for redemption but a leopard doesnt change its
spots and neither does Tess. Her hair had lost its curls
but her selfish heart could not be ironed out. Liz had
given her the benefit of the doubt by voting not to turn
her into the police. Had that been a mistake? To turn her
back on a chameleon thatll soak up into the
background with pointed knife gleaming.
I was going to do it like we planned. Its
what I deserve for causing so much pain. I just couldnt
leave again Liz. Max-.
It always comes back to Max. Those three letters out of
Tesss mouth grated on Liz like fingernails
scratching a chalkboard. The fight over Max is never
going to end, ever. Liz was tired of it. Didnt Tess
realize, it stopped being about Max a long time
ago.
Max would raise Zan to hate me.
Pools of water welled up in shallow dishes, then spilled
over the sides and down Tesss porcelain cheeks. Liz
had no idea how to react. One part of her was happy to
see the other girls emotional release while the
other part was confused and angry by her behavior. Tess
made voluntary decisions and now that she had remained
alive, should suck it up and live with their
consequences. So why was Liz feeling sympathy for her
arch-nemesis?
Tess, listen to me. Max wouldnt do that. I
wouldnt let him.
Love and hate really arent as different as everyone
thinks. Both are strong emotions from the heart that
cloud the mind and blind the eyes. Although technically
they are on opposite ends of the like
spectrum, both have the uncanny ability to make people
angry and crazy and stupid and passionate.
You wouldnt? Why, Liz?
Isnt it obvious, Tess? You dont have to be a
scientist with a microscope to formulate a conclusion in
this experiment. Look at the horrified expression on her
face, the beads of sweat materializing on her palms, the
glassy wetness in her eyes staring back at yours. While
someone consumed by hate would drive an hour in the dark
to deliver her enemy to the hands of death, only someone
equally consumed by love would cry if she returned
unscathed.
Because, Tess.
It would be so easy for Liz to lift her hand and blast
Tess to Hades. She can picture it clearly, kneeling
beside Tesss petite frame, running a cold hand over
her flaxen hair, whispering softly in her bleeding ear,
I really should have learned how to share.
Her fingers itch from the cackling power surging within
but no power on earth or above would make her act on any
latent inklings. How then is she supposed to treat this
girl she loves to hate yet hates to love, who makes her
tick like no other?
Liz knows what has to happen. She isnt going to
treat her like anything, she cant. The almighty
alien queen will become a non-persona. Shell have
daydreams and nightmares about blonde hair and soft lips
but during the waking hours there is no allowance for a
plausible outlet. Not yet, or maybe not ever. There isnt
even anyone she can tell, anyone who would understand.
Liz knows how to push her away, pull the cats tail
and shell hiss and bite back. Tess will remain at
arms length and Liz can safely gravitate back into
Maxs orbit. Isnt that how its always been.
Isnt that the only way?
No one gets to
hurt you but me.
I feel her body writhing
on top of mine and listen with daydreaming ears to her
cries when we fuck in the bushes. Instead of tears she
sheds gut twisting words that smite the place inside of
you where butterflies sprout wings and unicorns prance,
screaming into my mouth vile scum, no one gets to
hurt you but me. No one can hurt me like you, Liz,
isnt that what you meant that day in the car when
you grew balls and threw the acid at my hollow chest? The
laughter is all mine though see the heart is long gone,
if it was ever there at all. No metal detector will find
it buried like treasure. Yeah, its gone for good.
The sad part is I say all that but Id still take
you back. Come crawling on your knees, youll see, Ill
be down on the ground so fast the earth will quake a 5.0.
I need your nutrients to feed my soil I cant grow
tall without chocolate eyes and strawberry lips and a
cherry tongue. Its why you and I stand so short, Im
sure of it. My roots need your moisture but youve
told the clouds to take a vacation and I want to know
why.
It cant be you feel nothing for me otherwise you
wouldnt be trying so hard to push me away. My
mission impossible is to make you scream the words you
have nightmares about. I love you Tess. I will drop to my
knees the moment you work up the nerve to say it,
preferably in the busy diner in front of the entire
I-know-an-alien club, and Ill be
sporting a smug smile that lets each and every one of
those hypocrites know I always get what I want. That is
no mind warp.
I never thought you would be this transparent, though. Its
amusing to watch you watch me. First, you pretend to look
angry in case someone is looking. Then, you get this far
away stare on your face and I have this feeling youre
picturing me naked but dont ask me to prove that.
You get all flustered then, like what - there is a mind
reading alien among us who will tell Max and company that
you dont actually want to string me from the
nearest pole and practice your rifling skills on me. I
highly doubt it baby, but if it gets you through the day.
Lastly, and this is what kills me, you transform into a
sad clown, smiling on the outside, obviously pained on
the inside with this secret you just have to keep hidden.
Let it out then let me in. You just might be happy.
There was a reason you answered no during my
trial and probable execution, so dont keep
pretending you didnt and expect me to forget it
ever happened. Every near kiss, slight touch and
mesmerizing look is locked in my mind. I wonder what
would happen if I made the first move. Youd shove
me away, right, or would you surprise me and suck on my
tongue till it bleeds? I bet all the emotions you keep
locked in your Fort Knox heart would oil spill out and
youd shiver in my arms as I rub circles on the
small of your back. Youd say you never expected it,
you sure as hell didnt want it, but it has happened
nonetheless and Id push you against the bricks and
youd kiss me so hard that the next time your mouth
touches mine itll have to be for CPR.
One day Liz, I wont just have fantasies. One day, I
will have you, and win this foolish game. I think Id
like a trophy wife.
|