Rating: ADULT
Category: AU M/L
Disclaimer: I own nada!
Summary: Max and Liz met when they were younger and were then torn apart. So what happens when they meet again years down the road?
Author's Note: Okay folks, Forever Your Love is next on my long list of fics to be completed. Considering it's the second one I ever posted, I'd say it's beyond time to get back to it, eh? Well, I will be reposting the existing parts over the next few weeks, to get us back in the groove and also to allow new readers to become familiar with the story. As I look back, I'm finding many things I want to revise, so even if you have read this before, take a minute to read it again. With that said, I hope you'll join me on this romantic adventure of youthful love restored...
<center>Prologue: Summer of ‘97</center>
“I’ll never forget you, Lizzie! How could I? You’re my bestest friend in the whole world!”
Liz Parker smiled brightly, even though her ten year-old heart was breaking. “You’re my bestest friend, too, Max. I’m going to miss you so much!”
Max Evans frowned as he saw her lower lip quiver and her big brown eyes tear up. “Oh… please don’t cry, Lizzie. I’m going to miss you, too!”
Liz nodded her understanding, trying hard to be brave like Max had said she would need to be.
It was the last night of the summer session at Camp Canyon Creek, one of the most prestigious kids camps in the nation, and Max still couldn’t believe how much of a blast he’d ended up having, especially since he hadn’t wanted to come in the first place.
However, his twin sister Isabel had wanted to come, and since she pretty much got everything she wanted, his parent’s had signed her up for the session. Then they had decided that it would be fun for Max to go along, and he had reluctantly agreed, only after being persuaded by Isabel, who always got what she wanted.
A faint smile crossed his lips as he remembered his first day at the camp…
“Come on, Max! Let’s go find out which cabin we’re in!” Isabel squealed, practically dragging her brother by the arm.
“Ow, slow down Izzy! You’re gonna tear my arm off!”
Isabel turned and pouted her lips. “Don’t be such a poop, Max! This is supposed to be fun! Maybe if you got out more instead of playing Ninja in the backyard with Michael all the time…”
“And what exactly is wrong with Ninjas?” Max asked, annoyed.
Isabel rolled her pretty brown eyes. “Puh-lease! You think tying black t-shirts around your face and hanging from tree limbs is cool?”
Max’s face flushed. “Oh, and I suppose I should be playing Barbie-prom-fashion show with you?”
Isabel stuck out her tongue in retort.
Just then, Max caught sight of a dark-haired girl sitting by herself next to a huge suitcase. He couldn’t tell from where he was standing, but he thought she might be crying.
He didn’t know why, but he felt drawn to the petite girl, and felt himself walking over to her.
“Are you okay?”
Liz looked up when she heard a soft voice speak to her and found herself staring into a pair of warm amber eyes.
Max sucked in his breath as the girl lifted her head and he caught sight of her tear-stained face. Her eyes were a deep chocolate, like the soft tresses that spilled over her shoulders.
Liz wiped a hand across her eyes and sniffled. “I… I guess so. This is my first time away from home,” she explained in response to Max’s question.
Max nodded and tentatively took a seat next to her. “Me too. This wasn’t my idea, my sister wanted to come so I got stuck coming, too.”
Liz gave a small smile, and Max felt his heart leap. She was certainly very pretty…
“My name is Liz,” the girl said shyly, pushing a few strands of hair behind her ear.
“It’s nice to meet you Liz. I'm Max,” Max smiled back, reaching his hand out to her.
Liz smiled broadly. “It’s nice to meet you, too…”
Max sighed as he remembered the day he met this special person. Liz was like no one else he had ever known. Even though she was a girl, she still liked to play with the boys and had proven she was quite good at it, too.
He grinned, remembering the way Liz had stuck up for herself when being teased about playing football during recreation time. She had ended up playing better than some of the guys.
“Max, will you write me?” Liz asked hopefully, her sweet voice breaking Max out of his daze.
“Of course I will, Lizzie. How could I forget my girl?” Max said, without thinking about how that sounded.
Liz’s eyes shone at the comment. “I’m… your girl?” she asked in awe.
Max gulped as he looked down at her pretty face. “Um… I mean… well… yeah. I guess. I mean, if you want to be…?”
Liz gave him another heart-stopping smile and nodded. “Yeah! I wanna be your girl!”
Max smiled back, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets. “So… if you’re my girl, then that would mean we have to, like, make it official.”
Liz frowned. “What, like shake hands or somethin’?”
Max shook his head. “Nah, in movies when a guy and a girl make it official, they usually… kiss…”
He glanced at Liz carefully from under his lashes, trying to determine her reaction to his words. To his relief and delight, her smile brightened.
“Okay… so what? We have to kiss?”
“Yeah… I mean, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure, after all, I’m your girl and everything,” Liz said innocently.
They stood there staring at each other. Max coughed and Liz nervously tucked her hair behind her ear.
“So…” Liz began.
“So…” Max answered.
They leaned forward and closed their eyes as their tiny lips met in the sweetest of tiny kisses.
A second later, a noise broke them apart.
“Ewww!!!!! They’re kissing! Max and Liz sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!”
Max scowled at the figure. “Aw, shut up, Craig!”
Craig Miller laughed. “Man, that was gross! Why you kissing Parker, Max?”
“Knock it off, Craig!” Liz frowned. “Leave us alone!”
“Yeah, well, you two lovebirds had better get back to the cabins or else you’re gonna miss curfew!” Craig sang as he bounded away.
Max turned back to Liz, meeting her eyes shyly. “Sorry about Craig… he’s a real jerk sometimes.”
Liz nodded, smiling at Max. “S’okay.”
They stood there for another minute, each of them a little nervous. Finally Max broke the silence.
“Well, I guess we’d better go…”
“Yeah,” Liz said sadly. She wished she didn’t have to leave tomorrow. She wanted to stay with Max forever. But their camp session was ending and all the parents would be there tomorrow to take the kids back to their respective homes.
Max’s expression echoed Liz’s sentiments. He was surprised that he actually felt himself wanting to stay at the camp, when he had not wanted to come in the first place.
Silently, he took Liz’s tiny hand in his and walked her back to her cabin. As they stood on the porch, he gently pushed her hair behind her ear.
“You had a, uh…”
“Hair thing?” Liz replied breathlessly.
Max nodded. Then he kissed her lightly on the cheek and smiled before turning to head to his own cabin.
Liz watched as he left, her hand touching the spot where his lips had touched her. She sighed, turning and walking into the cabin.
Somehow, she knew she would never forget this night.
<center>Chapter 1: Present Day, 2004</center>
Liz Parker stared out the window of her parents’ car, lost in thought as she watched the sunny California landscape flash by.
She thought of her old room, her old house. She thought of her friends that she had spent seventeen years of her life with.
She was leaving it all behind to start a new life in some small town out in the middle of the desert.
When her parents had come to tell her the news that Liz’s grandmother had passed away from a stroke, she had been saddened over the knowledge but since she had never really known her grandmother, she couldn’t be as upset as she supposed she should have been.
That’s when they had lowered the boom on her.
Apparently, Liz’s grandma had owned a small café/apartment in her town of Roswell, New Mexico. And upon her death, she had left it to her son Jeff Parker and his family.
Jeff explained to Liz that in order to receive the benefits that came with owning the café, they would have to live close enough to control what was going on.
Thus, the move from her comfortable home in Calabasa to some desert town where they worshipped aliens.
Although Liz was a little upset at her parents for deciding to uproot her in the middle of her junior year in high school, she couldn’t help but feel a tiny glimmer of hope.
He lived in New Mexico.
Liz sighed and leaned her forehead against the cool glass, her eyes closing as memories of the past filled her mind. She could still feel the touch of his lips against hers all those years ago…
After returning to California from camp that summer, Liz and Max had begun to write each other frequently. Liz’s parents had assumed it was a harmless penpalship, however, Liz considered it more of a long-term relationship.
But as the months went on, Max’s letters came less frequently and were shorter in length. Liz began to wonder if he was forgetting about her.
The next summer, Liz begged her parents to let her go back to Camp Canyon Creek on the slim chance that Max might be there.
But her parents couldn’t afford the cost, so she had ended up staying in California, pining away while thinking of Max.
After that, the letters had stopped coming and Liz knew that the inevitable had finally happened.
He had forgotten her.
She couldn’t necessarily blame him – he was growing into a teenage boy and had a life of his own.
One that she wasn’t a part of.
And the thought hurt her more than she cared to let on.
So she decided to put the thought of Max Evans behind her and focus on her own blossoming adulthood. And she succeeded in forgetting about her old childhood sweetheart... for awhile.
But when her parents had announced their sudden decision move to Roswell, the first thought in Liz’s mind was of a dark-haired, golden-eyed boy she’d met seven years ago.
She knew he lived out there somewhere, and the idea that she could possibly find him again was … exhilarating.
“Liz, are you okay back there?”
Liz snapped out of her daze when she heard her mother call her name. “What? Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Only a few more hours,” Liz’s father announced happily, and Liz mustered up a smile before turning to look out the window again.
She was leaving her normal, and she hoped that no matter whatever… whoever was out there waiting for her, that she would be ready.
<center>***********************************</center>
Max Evans walked down the hallway of West Roswell High school with the ease of a man who knew he was on top.
He was greeted by everyone he saw and his face began to hurt from smiling so much. It was what was to be expected from the big-man-on-campus. And Max was definitely that.
As a freshman he had won a spot on the varsity football, wrestling, and basketball teams, often leading said teams to victory. As a sophomore, he had already been named to the New Mexico All-American football team – a feat that was not easy to accomplish. And he had started out his junior year with a bang as well – winning the coveted spot of first-string quarterback.
Okay, so he was good at sports. No biggie. That wasn’t all that made him number one in the eyes of the students.
No, the fact that Max Evans was a super-jock only added to his already extroidinary appeal.
Ask any female that attended West Roswell and she could give you a list of Max’s attributes.
Short dark hair that curled at the nape of his neck, rich olive skin, strong defining muscles, full lips that put a woman to shame, and his eyes…
Warm amber with flecks of gold.
The female body positively drooled at the mere mention of Max Evans. And the fact that he was open and friendly made him even more attractive.
Of course, no female dared say this out loud for fear of the Wicked Bitch of the SouthWest, otherwise known as Tess Harding.
Tess was one of the most popular girls at school – blonde curly hair, bright blue eyes, and a body to kill for. She was co-head of the cheerleading squad along with Max’s sister Isabel, and had been dating Max since the end of their sophomore year.
To say she was possessive would have been the understatement of the century. She had a known reputation of ruining the lives of any girl who so much as smiled at Max, and felt no shame in using underhanded tactics to do it.
Just last semester she had caught Max talking after class with Shelley Powell, a cute junior who Tess knew from the swim team. Even though it had turned out that she was Max’s lab partner and he was tutoring her for a biology test, Tess had gone berserk and spread a rumor that Shelley was taking stereoids to help with her swimming.
In the end, Shelley ended up moving to another state, her swimming career over.
Max wasn’t even sure why he put up with Tess anymore. It certainly wasn’t because he wanted to be with her. No, it was more like it was expected.
As he walked by a set of lockers, he smiled at Debbie Mosely, a girl from his English class. She gulped, looking around for any signs of the witch before smiling back.
He headed toward his locker and expertly spun the dial, opening the metal door and reaching inside for his needed materials. A hand clapped down on his back and Max knew who it was before he turned around.
“Hey, Mike. What’s up?” he asked from inside his locker. He frowned as he sifted through the notebooks in search of his Trig book.
“How many times have I told you not to call me Mike, Maxwell?” Michael smirked, adding emphasis on the last word.
“Yeah, well how many times have I told you not to leave your dirty gym stuff in my locker?” Max asked, scowling as he held up a pair of old socks.
Michael scratched his head and feigned innocence. “Gee… how did those get in there?”
Max raised an eyebrow, obviously not buying it. “I swear, Michael. My locker is not your room. Don’t throw your shit in there and expect to find it again.”
Deciding a subject change was needed, Michael asked, “So… what are your plans for the weekend?”
Max sighed, retrieving his books and securing them in his bookbag before shutting his locker and turning to face his best friend. “I don’t know. After the game Friday, there’s that dance… “
Michael scrunched his nose in disgust. “You’re not taking the Wicked Bitch are you?”
Max hid the smile on his face, then frowned at the fact that Michael’s statement didn’t bother him. It should, shouldn’t it? After all, he had insulted his girlfriend.
Michael took Max’s silence as a confirmation. “I don’t know what you see in her, man.”
Max sighed and muttered under his breath, “Me either.”
As if on cue, Tess and her band of rodents, as Michael liked to refer to them as, walked down the hallway, their noses up in the air and glaring at anyone who got in their way.
“Let’s get out of here… I’m not in the mood for this right now,” Max said, grabbing Michael’s arm and making an attempt to escape before Tess saw him.
No such luck.
“MAX!!!” a high-pitched voice called out and Max stopped dead in his tracks, plastering a smile on his handsome face before turning around.
“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you,” Tess purred, sidling up to him and linking her arm through his.
“Hey, Tess. What’s up?” Max asked, trying to ignore the disgusted look on Michael’s face.
“What, no good morning kiss?” Tess pouted, and Michael made a gagging noise behind her.
Tess turned around and glared at him as Michael put his hands in his pockets and stared at the ceiling, whistling innocently.
Tess rolled her eyes and turned back to Max. “Anyway… where were we?” she asked, leaning in to kiss Max when the bell rang overhead.
Saved by the bell, Max thought in relief. He pulled away from Tess’s grip and backed away. “Well… can’t be late. I’ll see you later, Tess.”
He grabbed Michael’s arm and headed towards their classroom, leaving Tess behind.
As they entered the classroom, Michael folded his arms and gave Max a look, demanding an explanation.
Max caught the look and sighed, sinking into his chair. “What?” he asked, knowing full well what Michael wanted to know.
“What’s going on with you and Tess? Trouble in paradise?” he joked.
Max gave him a look. “What paradise?” he mumbled.
Michael sighed and took his seat next to Max. “Max, you obviously have no feelings for the girl. Why even bother to pretend?”
Max thought about his words before finally answering. “I guess it’s easier to be with her than not to be. I mean, this is better than before…”
He trailed off, both boys knowing what he was referring to.
Before Max had finally agreed to go out with Tess, she had pursued him relentlessly, showing up in all his classes, his practices, and even at his home. After repeatedly telling her no, Max finally gave up and agreed to go out on a date with her.
“Yeah, well you shouldn’t stay with her just because she may stalk you if you don’t,” Michael replied. Max gave a small smile at his words. Michael had never cared much for Tess, and he had no problem letting everyone know that.
“Yeah, you’re right. I guess I’m just waiting for the right time to break it off with her,” Max answered.
“Well, you better hurry up because for all you know, Miss Perfect is out there waiting but unable to find you because some blonde bimbo, who shall remain nameless, has got her hooks, I mean claws, in you.”
Miss Perfect.
Max’s mind suddenly conjured up the image of a dark haired, doe eyed girl from long ago.
He didn’t know why he was so surprised. He thought about her all the time, but managed to keep it hidden far beneath his football and school and family life.
He hadn’t heard from her in over seven years.
After that one glorious summer, they had started writing each other, but as the weeks went on, Max began doing other things like playing peewee football and hanging out with new friends and hadn’t had as much time to write.
The next summer he had been very excited to return to Camp Canyon Creek, hoping to reconcile with Liz and refresh his memory of her. He had missed her terribly and couldn’t wait to see how much, if any, she had changed.
But she had never shown up. And after feeling his heart break into a million pieces, he realized that Liz had finally forgotten him.
He moved on with his life, but still thought about her off and on whenever he would see a girl with long chocolate hair come running down the street, or when he would catch a whiff of jasmine in the local flower shop.
No, Max Evans had definitely not forgotten about Liz Parker. Which is why he couldn’t understand why he was surprised when her image came to his mind after hearing Michael speak of the perfect girl.
It had been so long ago… but in his mind she still was. Perfect.
He sighed and looked out the window, wondering where she was and what she was doing and if he would ever lay eyes on Elizabeth Parker again.
<center>TBC...</center>
Be back to post more sometime this week! Stay tuned...
