"Oh, please," Maria shot back. "How could he not be interested? You look like some kind of Spanish princess or something with your long black hair and your amazing cheekbones. And let's not talk about your skin. Do you even know the word zit? Plus you're smart and-"
Liz held up both hands. "Stop!"
Maria was the most loyal person Liz knew. If you were her friend, she stuck by you no matter what. And Liz and Maria had been friends since the second grade, when they bonded over a hurt baby bird.
"Okay, I'll stop," Maria answered. "But believe me, Max Evans is more than interested. He probably has the words Property of Liz Ortecho tattooed on his chest. Max-"
"Hi, Michael!" Liz said loudly as Michael walked up to the counter. She hoped he hadn't heard any of their conversation.
"Hey." Michael raked his fingers through his jet black hair, making the top even more spiky. "I was wondering if you had a job application I could fill out."
It was hard for Liz to picture Michael working in the cafe, busing tables and making change and stuff. It seemed too normal, too ordinary for Michael. He should have a job as a Navy SEAL or something like that. Michael was always joking around, but there was a definite edge to him.
Liz reached under the counter and pulled out a pad of forms. "We don't have any openings right now. But I'll talk to my father, and as soon as something comes up I'll have him call you."
"Oh, I think you're going to be having some openings real fast," Michael answered in a serious tone. "Unless your dad likes waitresses who stand around gossiping instead of waiting on tables." He winked.
Maria threw her dish towel at him. Michael cracked up.
"I'll go," Maria said. She picked up two menus and followed Michael over to his booth.
Liz shot a quick glance over at Max-and found herself staring directly into his bright blue eyes. They were such an unusual shade, strange and beautiful. Not the blue of the sky or of the ocean.
Max held Liz's gaze for a second, then he looked away.
Maria wasn't right about Max-was she? Liz had known Max since third grade. He had been her lab partner since they were sophomores. But they never hung out outside of class. And Liz hadn't picked up on any vibe signaling that Max wanted to be more than friends.
Liz grabbed the nearest napkin holder and restocked it. What would it be like to go out with Max? He wasn't really her type. He was quiet. And kind of a loner.
He saw the world in a different way from most people. He said things that made Liz stop and think. Like when those scientists in Scotland cloned that sheep. A lot of people talked about who they would clone if they could-scientists or athletes or movie stars. But Max was more interested in whether or not the soul could be cloned-and if it couldn't, what that meant. Spending time with Max definitely wasn't boring.
Liz wiped a drop of milk off the counter. She moved the ketchup bottle up a fraction of an inch so it was exactly even with the mustard bottle. Then she stole another peek at Max.
No one could say the boy was homely, that was for sure. If there were a beefcake calendar of Ulysses F. Olsen High hotties, Max would be in it. Tall, blond, buff, with those blue, blue eyes…
Liz felt her face get hot. It was weird thinking of Max that way. Most of the time she forgot he was certifiably gorgeous. Max was just Max. She couldn't-
"I don't want the money tomorrow. I want it now!"
The angry voice interrupted Liz's thoughts. She jerked her head up and saw everyone in the cafe staring at the men in the booth by the door. The beefy man clenched and unclenched his fists as he glared at the muscular man.
I'd better go get Papa out of the office, she thought. Their argument looks like it's about to get ugly.
Liz turned toward the door marked Employees Only.
"He's got a gun!" Maria screeched.
Liz spun back toward the dining room. Her heart slammed against her ribs. No. Oh no. That's all she could think. Over and over.
The muscular man held a gun to the beefy man's head. "You won't need any money if you're dead," he said. His voice was calm. Calm and cold.
Click.
The muscular man cocked the gun.
Liz wanted to run, she wanted to scream for help, but she was paralyzed. Her mouth refused to open. Her legs refused to move.
The beefy man gave a howl of fury. He launched himself across the table at the muscular man.
An eardrum-shattering explosion rocked the room.
Liz flew off her feet. She hit the wall behind her, then slumped to the ground.
She felt something warm and wet gushing across her stomach, soaking into her uniform.
"There's so much blood," Liz heard Maria cry.
But she sounded so far away.
So far…
Max sprang up from his seat in the booth. Instantly Michael grabbed him by the arm and jerked him back into his seat.
"Let go of me," Max cried. "Liz could be dying. What are you doing?"
"No, what are you doing?" Michael tightened his grip on Max's arm. "Are you planning to heal her in the middle of a restaurant? Why not just send the government an invitation-hi, I'm here, why don't you come on over and get me?"
Michael was right. Healing Liz would attract attention-a lot of attention. But if he let Liz die when he knew he could save her…
That was just not an option.
"I'm willing to risk it," he told Michael.
"You're willing to risk it. But what about me? What about Isabel?" Michael demanded.
Max stared down at the table. He didn't answer. He couldn't answer. He would risk his own life for Liz. But how could he risk the lives of his sister and his best friend?
"If the government has proof that one of us exists, they'll know there are more. They won't stop searching until they find us-all of us," Michael continued.
"I can't stop the bleeding!" Maria screamed from behind the counter.
Max's heart slammed against his ribs. Liz was dying! He bolted to his feet. "I'll think of something. I promise," he said in a rush.
Before Michael could stop him, Max raced to the counter and vaulted over it. Pain filled his heart as he stared down at Liz. He swallowed hard.
Maria held a thick towel over Liz's stomach. But nothing could stop the blood pouring from the gunshot wound.
Max heard Liz's father on the kitchen phone, giving the cafe's address to the ambulance. They're going to be too late, Max thought. He knew it. He could see it.
The halo of color surrounding Liz was usually a warm, rich amber that made Max wish he could wrap himself up in it. But now her aura had turned a dull, muddy brown. And it was growing darker by the second.
Darker and darker as her life force drained out of her.
Every person's aura was different, as unique as a fingerprint. But the only time anyone's aura turned black was at the moment of death.
Max pulled Maria out of the way, trying to ignore the tremors of fear racing through her body. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn't have one second to spare.
He knelt beside Liz and placed his hands over her wound. In an instant his fingers were slick with blood.
I love her. The thought exploded in his mind. It was true. He'd been keeping it a secret, even from himself. Loving a human wasn't smart. It wasn't safe. But he couldn't help it. He loved Liz, and he would not let her die.
"Let me through!" he heard Liz's father yell from behind him. "Let me see her!"
Max didn't move. He didn't answer. He had to focus on Liz now. Liz was the only thing that mattered.
He closed his eyes and began drawing deep, even breaths. Trying to make the connection.
Think about Liz, he ordered himself. Anything about her.
The way her hair always smelled of jasmine. The way a dimple appeared in her left cheek when she smiled. The way she loved to tell stupid alien jokes. The way she listened with total concentration when he talked to her.
Ahhh. He almost had it. He almost had the connection. He just needed to get a little closer.…