The Outsider is the first book in the Roswell High book series written by Melinda Metz.
Summary
In chapter 1, Liz Ortecho and Maria DeLuca are waiting tables at the Crashdown Cafe when Max Evans and Michael Guerin enter and take a table. Two patrons at another table get into a fight and one pulls a gun and shoots Liz in the stomach. Despite Michael's protests, Max heals Liz's wound. He then breaks a ketchup bottle and covers her in ketchup, asking her to lie that she just spilled ketchup on herself. Stunned, Liz does so.
In chapter 2, the paramedics tend to Liz but she says she's okay. Max and Michael slip away. Sheriff Valenti arrives and asks questions, but Liz and Maria uphold the lie. Liz goes to the bathroom with Maria to clean up and talk about what happened. Meanwhile, Isabel Evans is panicking at home because she felt Max use his powers. Max comes home with Michael and they tell her about the shooting, and they're all worried that Sheriff Valenti will come for them as a car pulls up.
In chapter 3, it's Liz who's arrived for answers. She and Max talk privately in his bedroom. She shows him his hand prints on her stomach from the healing, and he tells her that he's an alien. He melts her bracelet in demonstration. Liz doesn't take it well and leaves. She drives to Maria's and tells her, and they work through their disbelief.
In chapter 4, Michael is at home and about to leave with Max when his foster father, Mr. Hughes, gives him last-minute chores as a power trip to prevent him from leaving. Michael leaves with Max anyway, and they do another search out in the desert for signs of the ship from the 1947 crash, which Max does once a week with Michael. The search turns up nothing and Michael asks Max to drop him off at the cave instead of taking him home. Meanwhile, Isabel prepares for homecoming and visits Alex Manes's dreams.
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Characters
Students:
- Liz Ortecho
- Maria DeLuca
- Max Evans
- Michael Guerin
- Isabel Evans
- Alex Manes
- Kyle Valenti, son of Sheriff Valenti
Other characters:
- Sheriff Valenti
- Mr. and Mrs. Ortecho, Liz's parents
- Rosa Ortecho (mentioned), Liz's sister who previously died of an overdose
- Mr. and Mrs. Evans, the couple who adopted Max and Isabel
- Mr. Hughes, Michael's foster father
- Mr. Caddihy (mentioned), Michael's social worker
Images
The Outsider
September 1998
