DISTORTED REALITIES (contains stories #1 and #2) [COMPLETE]

[dreamangel]

Part Five: The Kissing Game

The party was doing moderately okay, the new girl wouldn’t make it onto West Roswell’s top ten popular list, but she wouldn’t be snubbed. Something was just missing to make it perfectly scandalous. There were no fights, no horribly loud break-ups, no nothing… Just pleasant talking and assorted eating from the well-furnished snack table.

Liz was perched on the arm of a couch, her legs in Max’s lap. Maria was on the other side, with Alex at her feet. Michael was hovering a few inches away, glaring hatefully at everyone. Isabel and Tish were grouped with the cheerleader and the jocks, including Kyle Valenti, and were discussing the new girl’s potential as lackey.

“Okay everyone!” Attention turned to Pam Troy, who was standing in the middle of the room, holding two bowls. “Time for a little fun. I have here boy’s names and girl’s names in these bowls, and we’re going to play ‘Seven Minutes in Heaven’, so, let’s let our lovely hostess have the first pick.

“Tish Okabe and Tim Watanabe,” she read in a sugary little voice. Everyone groaned as the couple (five years running) headed for the closet. There was no suspense as to the outcome of that little tête-à-tête.

“Now,” Pam said, locking the closet door, “Someone start timing. The rules are simple. You’re locked in a closet for seven minutes with the picked partner, what you do inside is your business, but everyone’s going to find out anyway. So have fun!”

Seven minutes passed and Tish and Tim came out, clothes awry and make-up smudged. “Next,” Pam picked, “Isabel Evans and Alex Whitman.” Liz and Max joined in the catcalls as Izzy got up regally and stalked to the closet, Alex followed, blushing red as a tomato, and Pam locked them in.

Another seven minutes went by and they were let out, Isabel walked out as serenely as she’d gone in, and Alex came out, looking slightly dazed and staring at Isabel as if she were a deity. Liz and Max exchanged glances, giggling.

“Michael Guerin, and…” She concentrated on picking out a girl name. Liz watched, lips twisting as Michael glowered at the female populace and crossed his arms. “Drum roll please,” Pam asked, smirking as she finally pulled out a name. Jocks obliged her and Pam waved the piece of paper, holding back laughter. “Maria DeLuca!”

There was absolute silence.

Michael and Maria stared at each other in shock, then started yelling. “No way!” Maria shrieked, “No way on earth I’m getting into a closet with him!”

“Same here Blondie, I didn’t even sign on for this game, I’m outta here.” He started walking away, but Pam placed on well-manicured hand on his chest.

“Hold it, Guerin, rules state that once a game is started there is no backing out.”

“C’mon, Michael,” Max called, “Don’t be a wuss.” Michael turned his fearsome glare on his friend, but Max just smiled at him.

“Fine,” he grumbled, walking into the closet, “Ya comin’ Cheesehead?”

Maria was trembling with rage and she turned pleading eyes to Liz. She slid off the arm and went to Maria. “It’s okay, Maria, you don’t have to do anything.” Green eyes regarded her seriously and she nodded.

Straightening she stalked to the closet, “Of course I’m coming Dorkbutt, keep you pants on. Please,” she added.

Everyone watched with apprehension as the door was locked. There was peace for about one second and then muffled screams and raised voices erupted from the interior. Knowing grins were exchanged and everyone settled down for a good Michael/Maria argument (highly entertaining). It was just getting good when suddenly…nothing.

Complete nothing.

Four minutes later Pam cautiously approached the door. “If they killed each other, I assume no responsibility,” she informed them, hand on the knob.

“Just open it!” everyone hissed. She took a deep breath and flung the door open, everyone peered anxiously inside, but was shocked at what they saw.

Michael’s hand came out the door, obviously seeking for support, but, finding none, he tumbled to the floor, Maria beneath him. There was a breathless pause and Liz asked, “Maria?”

She swiped blond hair out of her face and pushed Michael off of her. They both got up, blushing, lips swollen, Maria with a dark patch on her neck. She looked around and responded to everyone’s stunned gazes, “What?”

The hushed crowd didn’t reply.

“Who’s next?” she continued.

“Oh, um…” Pam dazedly pulled the next two names, “Kyle Valenti and Liz Parker.”
<><><><>

There was quiet amid there little group. Alex was still gazing adoredly at Isabel, Michael and Maria wouldn’t look at each other, and Max’s focus was on the closet door. The barrier that held his best friend trapped with his arch nemesis.

He really, really wanted to march over there and rip it open and then tear Valenti to shreds. He knew what that pervert thought about Liz, always smiling at her and asking her questions about her day…The bastard.

He glanced at his watch. Thank God. “Time’s up,” he called.

“No,” Pam said, “Nikolas has to call it.”

“I said, ‘time’s up’,” he repeated, “Open the door now."

She blanched at his stony tone and hurriedly opened the door. Kyle and Liz walked calmly out, smiled at each other, and went to their respective groups. Max watched Valenti closely, noticing the way his gaze lingered on Liz’s hips. He also noticed a smudge on Valenti’s cheek about the same color as Liz’s lipstick.

“Max Evans and…” He snapped his attention to Pam, who was grinning coyly at him. She pulled the name out of the bowl and pouted. “Tess Harding,” she finished, disappointment evident in her voice.

He reluctantly got up as Liz sat down. “Good luck,” she told him cheekily.

“Yeah,” he muttered, staring at her intently, not making a move to leave.

“Max, you have to go,” she told him.

“What happened with you and Kyle?”

“Oh,” she rolled her eyes at him, “We talked, Dad, that’s it. Okay, now get going, you have a bimbo panting for you.”

“Liz,” he whined.

“Shoo, oh god of men.” This time it was he rolling his eyes and she grinned. He walked to the closet and winced as it shut behind him.

Max looked at the girl he was stuck with and gave her a small smile. “So, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced, you being new and all. I’m Max Evans.” He held out his hand.

“I know who you are,” she told him, laughing, “Everyone knows the star of the basketball team.”

He blushed, “I’m not really the star.”

“Don’t be so modest, I saw the last game. You were awesome.”

“Oh, thanks…Tess.”

“So,” he said.

“So,” she echoed, stepping closer to him. He was up against the door and had nowhere to go. “Aren’t you going to kiss me, Max?”

He studied her. She was cute, blue eyes, bleached blonde hair, big pink lips. Her skin was white like porcelain and she was nicely shaped, a little taller than Liz. He guessed one kiss couldn’t hurt.

Slowly he leaned forward, just brushing his lips over hers. She tilted her chin up, and instigated the second kiss. He responded on instinct, not having a lot of experience, and kissed her back, gently letting his tongue explore her mouth. She giggled and ran her hands up the back of his shirt.

The door opened and Max spun around. Everyone applauded as they took in his disheveled state and lipstick smeared face. Tess wiped her lips and then sucked the lip stuff off his face. More cheering and a chant of “Evans!” from his teammates. He blushed and gave Tess one last glance before going back to his friends.

Alex and Michael were giving him hell and Liz just looked at him, something in her eyes dead. He ignored the boys and sat down beside her. “What’s wrong?” he asked worriedly, “Were you lying to me before about Valenti, because if he did something, Liz-”

“You have lipstick on your ear, Max,” she interrupted, rubbing it away. He blushed again.

“Yeah, Tess went kinda suck-crazy back there.”

“Didn’t look like you minded,” she said coolly. He gave her a strange look and was about to ask her what her problem was when Michael started talking to him.

“Man, she manhandled you worse than Maria did to me.”

“Excuse me!” Maria cried, “I believe I was the one being manhandled you caveman!”

“Oh, yeah right, I only kissed you to shut you up, after that it was all you!”

“Not even!” she shrieked, and went for him. Michael bounded away and Max grabbed Maria before she could get to him.

“Guys!” he shouted, “Quit the schoolyard flirting and just admit you’re hot for each other.” Maria gasped and hit him, Michael gave him a dirty look. They both tread to opposite ends of the room, where Maria started batting her eyelashes at some random guy and Michael glowered at them.

He sighed and flopped back down beside Liz. He glanced between the two and then at Alex, who was still openly staring at his sister. “Aren’t you glad we don’t have that type of problem,” he asked Liz.

“I think you’re about to get one,” she enlightened him, pointing to Tess, who winked at him and licked her lips. He flushed and looked at Liz. Her brown eyes were back to normal, sparkling amusedly.

“Jebus freezus,” he muttered, “Can’t a guy get a break?”

“Not if he looks like you, Max, there’s no chance in hell.” He frowned at her and she just smiled at him, ruffling his hair. “You’re such a sex fiend!” she teased.

“Liz!”
<><><><>

Isabel got her books out of her locker, complaining about her homework load to Tish and Tess, who they had decided to adopt.

“Hey, Isabel!” Alex said, walking by.

“Hi Alex,” she called after him. The girls watched him walk away.

“He’s got it so bad for you,” Tess told her.

“He’s sweet,” Isabel said, looking at Tish, who was staring down the hall, on the prowl for Tim. She turned her attention back to Tess.

“Sweet as in nice guy, or sweet as in potential love connection?”

Isabel shrugged, “Sweet as in I don’t know. What about you? You’ve been here for a couple of weeks, you must have somebody on your radar.”

“Still soaking it all in. Although, I have to admit, I’m a little bummed about your brother being unavailable. I’m sort of into those serious mooded guys.”

“He’s not unavailable.”

“But, what about Liz Parker? They’re always together.”

“They’re just friends,” she told her airily, “They’ve been best friends since they were eight, but it’s nothing more than that.

“So, he’s up for grabs?”

“Most definitely.”

“Good.”
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Six: Kiss and Tell

Liz grabbed her backpack from her locker and started filling it. She had a Science Club meeting in ten minutes and she couldn’t be late.

“Hey, Liz.”

She glanced up and smiled. “Hi Kyle.” They had hung out a few times recently, and Liz considered him a good friend. “What’s up?”

“Actually,” he shuffled his feet, “I was wondering if you were busy tonight. Are you?”

“Nope,” she replied, looking at him curiously, “Why?”

“Liz, we’ve been hanging out, and we’ve had fun right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, the thing is…I like you Liz, in a more than friends sort of way, and I wanted to know if you would go to the movies with me tonight, and maybe another night…Like a girlfriend/boyfriend thing.”

She was stunned and looked into his hopeful blue eyes, and she couldn’t bring herself to day no. “Sure,” she said.

“Really?” he asked, eyes lighting up.

“Really,” she said, smiling at him. He grinned widely and kissed her lightly on the lips, when he pulled back his grin was even broader.

“Well, I have to get to practice, I’ll pick you up at eight?”

“I’ll be ready,” she told him. And he kissed her again and walked away. She sighed and turned back to her locker. She could do this, it wasn’t like she hated him, and he was a good kisser. She could be his girlfriend. It’s not like there were guys lined up the block for her, she thought wistfully.

“Hey Liz!” Her head shot up again and was faced with her best friend, basketball shoes slung over his shoulder.

“Hi Max,” she responded, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu.

“You wanna hang out tonight?”

“Can’t, I have plans.”

“Plans?” he repeated, sounding skeptical.

“Yup.”

“And these plans are more important than hanging out with me, your bestest friend in the whole world?”

“Yup,” she teased, grinning at him.

“Well, fine,” he huffed and walked away. Liz stared after him, a little shocked at his attitude. But then shook her head, he was probably PMSing or something. Guys were so weird sometimes, Max most of all.

Shit! She needed to go or she’d be late.
<><><><>

Max parked his Jeep in the driveway and climbed out. He had just got home from a make-out session at Tess’. He hadn’t had anything else to do since Liz had ‘plans’. He snorted. What could possibly be more important than her best friend? He shook his head and was about to go in the house when a red Mustang came ripping down the street.

Valenti, Max thought, hands clenching. What was he doing on Max’s street?

The Mustang pulled into the Parker’s driveway, and Max watched slack-jawed as Kyle got out and then went to the passenger side door, opening it. His jaw dropped farther when Liz appeared and walked hand-in-hand with Kyle to her front door.

With growing anger he watched as Valenti touched Liz’s face and kissed her. Kissed Liz! His Liz!

What the hell was she thinking letting Valenti maul her like that?!

The next day after school he confronted her at her locker. “Kyle Valenti?” he demanded, incensed.

“What?”

“Kyle Valenti was more important than me?”

“Max, I went on a date, it’s no big deal.” She shrugged her shoulders and he just snapped, not comprehending how she could brush off such a huge deal.

“It’s Valenti, Liz, Kyle Valenti. You remember, the boy who gave you that scar in elementary school!” He pointed to the mar above her brow.

“That was an accident Max, and we were like ten years old, get over it. Besides,” she continued, “You have no right to talk, what with Ms. Vapid and Shallow…”

“Tess is not vapid,” he protested.

“Right, Max, keep telling yourself that.” She rolled her eyes, and he threw up his hands, frustrated with her obtuseness.

“Liz, you can’t go out with Valenti.”

“And why not, Max?” she inquired, and he heard the anger in her voice, but pressed on anyway.

“Because I don’t like him,” he told her. She rounded on him, eyes wide.

“I don’t like Tess,” she said. He frowned, not expecting that.

“What does that have to do with anything?”
<><><><>

Max lay silently on his bed, pondering the disturbing events of this afternoon. Events that were roiling around in his mind nonstop, events that could change everything he’d ever known for the past nine years.

He had kissed Liz Parker.

He had kissed his best friend!

Max groaned and rolled over onto his back. He glanced to the side to stare at his nightstand, and grabbed the picture resting on it. The image of Liz and himself was all he saw, and he realized, quite suddenly, that they looked good together.

No!

He put the picture back, facedown, and chewed his bottom lip. He had to stop thinking these thoughts. Had to stop thinking about how soft her lips had been, and how perfectly her body had melted against his.

He needed to talk to someone, and since his best friend would only compound the problem, he dialed the number of the only other person he could trust with a crisis like this.

“Hello?”

“Have you ever though about kissing Maria?”

“What? Max is that you?”

“Yes, Alex, it’s me, now have you?”

“Of course not, what kind of question is that?” Alex sounded disturbed. “Besides, Michael would kill me if I even looked at her funny.”

“Alex!” he cried, aggravated, “I didn’t ask if you would, I asked if you’d ever thought about it.”

“Well,” he paused, “I guess, when we were younger, I wondered. I mean, she really has great lips, and she was the only girl who paid attention to me…” he cleared his throat, “Why?”
<><><><>

Isabel grabbed the portable phone, needing to call Tish to find out what she was wearing to Fling, and turned it on. She brought it up to her ear to check the dial tone, and froze as he brother’s voice came over the line.

“I kissed Liz!”

“What?!” That was Alex Whitman.

“I kissed her,” Max repeated, “Just today, after school. We were arguing and I just kissed her.”

“What did she do?”

“Kissed me back-”

Isabel turned the phone off and placed it on the end table, looking at it as if it were a snake set to bite her. She thought of Tess’ obsessive behavior with Max, Liz and Max’s sappy relationship, and then remembered that Tess was one of her best friends.

“I so did not just hear that,” she told herself.
<><><><>

“Max kissed me,” Liz stated quietly.

“WHAT?!” Maria screeched.

“He kissed me Maria, on the lips, with tongue and everything.”

“You are so not serious.” Liz just looked at her, serious as could be. She didn’t blame Maria’s reaction. She could barely believe it her self.

Max Evans had kissed her.

It was wrong, best friends kissing was just wrong, especially when said best friends both had a significant other. It was wrong…

But it hadn’t felt wrong. If anything, it had felt right. Right like nothing in her life had felt right before…

She stared at the strip of pictures stuck in the frame of her dresser mirror. It was from her sweet sixteenth. Max had escorted her around the school carnival. Just him and her.

Maria had followed her gaze and she stood up and took the pictures from the mirror, then walked back to Liz’s bed, studying it. “Well chica,” she said, placing them in Liz’s hands, I always thought you two made a picture perfect couple.”

Liz didn’t answer, she just stared down at the picture in her hand. Stared at the laughing couple (or what looked like a couple, but was really two best friends hanging out), who looked like they were on a date.

She sighed, remembering how content she felt that night, and how safe she had been with Max. Then she remembered the kiss that afternoon and her sigh grew deeper. She had felt just as safe and content then, even with all the sizzling emotions that the kiss had stirred up.

Liz just had to face it. She had a mega-huge crush on Max Evans, her best friend in the world. And that was just impossible.
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Seven: The Kissing Booth

The sun was shining brightly, and the wind that swept through offset it so that the people of Roswell were at a stable temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. It was the perfect day for a carnival.

West Roswell High had joined up with the annual carnival that came to Roswell, and were advertising clubs and raising money at provided booths throughout the regular carnival. Liz was stationed at the Science Club’s booth, and Max made his way there without distraction from the amusements.

He spotted her and Alex sitting at their booth, Maria dancing around behind with cotton candy in her hand. He hurried over and ducked into the booth, signaling to Maria to be quiet he slipped his hands over Liz’s eyes. “Guess who?”

She laughed and pretended to think hard. “I have no idea, could it be my bestest friend, Max?”

“Got it in one,” he exclaimed leaning on the booth counter, “Alex told you, didn’t he?” He looked accusingly at Alex.

“Not me, man,” Alex said innocently, turning to his newest customer.

“How’s business?” Max asked, watching as Alex was drawn into a serious lip-lock with some freshman girl.

“Pretty good, we’ve raised a lot of money to fund our field trip to UNM.”

“Great!” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, “Then let’s go birthday girl, I‘ve got a fun-filled day all mapped out.”

“Max,” she laughed, “I’m not done yet, I’ve still got one more kiss to fill my quota.”

“You have a kissing quota?” he demanded, incredulous.

“Uh-huh,” she nodded, “And I have one more kiss to give before Maria takes over.”

“Where’s Alex’s replacement?” He looked at his friend, who shrugged.

“Don’t have one,” the boy said sadly, “Unfortunately, I’m the only male member of the Science Club kiss worthy.” He sighed and then drew himself up, “It’s a hard burden to bear, but I can handle it.”

“I’ll just bet you can,” he teased, smiling. He turned back to Liz, “C’mon Liz, it’s just one kiss, no one will ever know. Maria and Alex won’t tattle on you, I promise.”

“I'll know, Max, and I refuse to shirk my duties. In case you have forgotten, I am club president!”

“Fine,” he muttered, staring out over the crowd. He started randomly calling to guys to come get a kiss, but they just looked at him funny. He realized they must think he meant from him. He made a face and glared at his laughing friends. “It’s not funny,” he whined.

“Yes it is,” Liz giggled, “Just be patient Max, okay, we’ll be out of here in next to no time.” He nodded acquiescence and leaned against the booth again, idly scanning the crowd. He caught sight of Kyle Valenti striding forcefully through the crowds of people, his eyes on Liz, who was utterly oblivious.

Max frowned and glanced at Liz, and then back at the fast approaching Kyle. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a dollar. “Here,” he said, slamming it down on the counter. Then he pulled Liz up and brushed her lips against his, ignoring the tingling sensation her body caused in his. “Let’s go, kissing quota is reached, tally-ho and all that…” He babbled some more as he pulled her away from the booth as fast as her short legs could go.

Ha glanced back as they stood in line for the Gravitron, and smirked as Kyle looked wildly around, befuddled. Score, he thought, Liz was safe for another day. Valenti had been showing way too much interest in her doings lately, and Max didn’t like it.

He didn’t like it one little bit.
<><><><>

Isabel approached the Science Club’s kissing booth with her usual air of self-importance. She wasn’t sure what was had possessed her, but she was headed there with the intent to kiss Alex Whitman. She was making up suitable excuses for the behavior in her head, the main one was that she was supporting her brother’s best friend’s extracurricular activities.

So lame, she thought, but she didn’t have time to come up with another one as she was standing in front of the booth already.

She fidgeted, waiting for someone to take notice of her. Alex’s attention was on Maria, who was yelling at Michael Guerin. Michael was blocking her side of the booth from customers, glowering at any boy who dared try to make an approach.

“Michael! You dorkbutt! Move! We need the money!” Michael didn’t even look at her, just crossed his arms as Doug Sahn made to walk around him. “Michael!”

“It’s for your own good, Cheesehead,” he finally grumbled in that low voice of his, “You wouldn’t want all the boys to think you were easy, would you?”

Maria turned a brilliant tint of red and tried to leap over the booth counter. “You jerk!” she shouted, reaching for him again, “You take that back now, Guerin! Or else…”

“Or else what?” he taunted.

“Hello Michael.”

He blanched and turned around. “Hi, Mrs. DeLuca,” he squeaked, “I was just…um…going. Bye Maria!” And he ran off.

Isabel could no longer contain her laughter and let it go, peels echoing across the fairgrounds. “Isabel?” She looked into Alex’s surprised face.

“One please,” she said, handing him a dollar. He looked at it and then her, shocked. Then he gulped loudly.

“You want a kiss?” he inquired, as if he couldn’t quite believe it. She giggled some more and fluttered her eyelashes at him flirtingly.

“In the name of science an all,” she told him, glad she had come up with a better excuse.

“Oh…right.” He blushed and leaned forward, lightly teasing her lips with his own, then he found a good position and deepened it slightly. Isabel let him too, in fact, she let the kiss go on longer than she had thought she would let it.

His lips were soft and pliant, not too wet or sloppy either, just kinda perfect. She stepped back slowly, releasing his lips a bit at a time. She smiled at him approvingly and licked her lips. He blushed and rubbed the back of his head, grinning at her goofily.

“Bye Alex,” she whispered, before sauntering away.

“Thank you for your contribution!” he yelled after her. She turned back and he blushed again. She laughed happily and continued on her way.

“What’s so funny?” Tish asked, as she and Tess met up with Isabel.

“Science,” she responded cryptically, and headed toward the lemonade stand. Tess and Tish exchanged glances, shrugged, and followed their leader to cool refreshments and shade.
<><><><>

It was getting late, Max and Liz had done practically every ride in the whole carnival. They were saving the Ferris Wheel for last, as per tradition. Right now Liz was eating a Pronto Pup and following Max as they weaved through the games.

He bypassed the darts and squirt guns, the baseball and football, and headed straight to the basketball game, where he, and she, knew he ruled.

The guy at the booth handed Max three balls, explaining to him the rules as Max adjusted his grip on the unfamiliar equipment. He glanced at Liz, grinned, sized up the distance to the basket, rebound factors, and whatever other sport-type stuff that went though a guy’s mind, and shot.

He sunk one after the other, nothing but net, and grinned at the guy. Then he turned to Liz, “Well, birthday girl, pick your prize.”

She deliberated over all the prizes and Max got bored, so he paid and got another three shots. Again, swoosh, there it was. “Pick a bigger one,” he told her.

She smiled and pointed to the medium-sized prize she had been eyeing and now could get. The carnie handed it to her and she smiled happily, holding the plush toy close. “Thank you, Max!” she exclaimed, hooking her arm into his, “He’s perfect!”

They headed to the Ferris Wheel arm in arm and got on in relatively no time, because it was getting late and the crowds were going home. They settled in comfortably and the ride started. They went around one rotation and were at the top again, when the ride stalled.

Sighing heavily, Liz wrapped her arms around her gift and stared up at the sky. “Why does this happen every year?” she asked.

Max shrugged, “Tradition.”

They waited in silence for a while, looking at the stars, and then Max made a funny sound in his throat. “What?” she asked.

“I can’t believe you picked an alien, that is so redundant,” he said sarcastically.

“Hey!” she exclaimed, cuddling the stuffed animal closer, “He’s adorable, and I love him, so take it back!”

“Liz, look at it!”

She did. He was soft and snuggly, with neon green fur and big, black, oval eyes in his big head. “He reminds me of you,” she said finally, “I think I’m going to name him Lil’ Max.”

“What?!”

“You heard me,” she said, tossing her head.

“What on earth could remind you of me when looking at that?!”

She glared at him, angry that he was insulting her present. “You both have big heads.”

“I do not!” he exploded, “And I look nothing like that…that mockery of a toy.” He crossed his arms and “harrumphed”. Liz hugged Lil’ Max closer and refused to look at Max.

“I’m not speaking to you until you apologize,” she informed him.

“Apologize for what?”

“For making fun of your namesake.”

He made a sound low in his throat, “Fine, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Liz! It’s a stuffed toy!

“He’s my birthday present,” she said stubbornly, “Now apologize.”

“I’m sorry, Liz. Okay, really, I didn’t know it…he meant so much to you.”

She looked at him seriously and he stared back at her honestly. “Okaay,” she agreed slowly, “Apology accepted.”

“Good.”

“But only if-” she started.

“Oh Jebus freezus, what now?” She giggled at his use of his childhood cry of exasperation.

“You hurt his feelings,” she informed him, “You have to kiss him to make him feel better.”

Max stared at her, “You’re not serious?”

“Do it!” she commanded, holding Lil’ Max up to him. He griped under his breath and leaned forward.

“You tell anyone I did this and you’re a dead woman,” he said, “Remember, I know where you live.”

She giggled some more, “Just do it already!”

He leaned in again, lips puckered, and the ride jerked to a start, causing him to miss the alien completely and graze her cheek. They met each other’s eyes for a surprised instant and then looked away blushing.

When the attendant at the bottom of the ride opened there gate and apologized for the delay, they both had regained their composure and their easy attitudes. “Just warn us next time,” Max told the guy, leading her away.
<><><><>

He led Liz to the parking lot, trying to spot his Jeep. “Max!” and she tugged his hand urgently.

“What now?” he asked, thwarted of his need for a nice, warm bed.

“A picture booth!” she exclaimed, “Let’s go!” He followed her willingly, glad she was having a good time, and put money in the machine. Then he climbed in and pulled the curtain. She maneuvered her way into the tiny booth after him, having to sit on his lap, the alien doll in hers.

A few laughing minutes later they tumbled out and waited for their pictures to develop. The little strip came out and Liz snatched it up happily. “Hey, I paid for them!”

“It’s my birthday,” she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. Then ran giddily to the parking lot, Max following closely behind her.

The ride home was filled with the sounds of their attempts at singing along with the radio and the occasional “remember when” conversations about birthdays and carnivals past.

They clambered out of the Jeep in the Evans’ driveway and Max stuck his hands in his pockets. “You want me to walk you home?” he asked.

“I think I can handle it,” she teased, “Besides, I’ve got Lil’ Max to protect me.”

He made a face and gave the little alien a fierce glare. Tempted to grab him away from Liz and taunt her a little by holding him out of her reach, but he decided to save that for another time. “So you had a good time?”

“My best birthday ever,” she told him, smiling, “Thank you.”

“Hey,” he shrugged, “I’m your best friend, it’s my job.”

“Lizzie!” Mr. Parker called from next door.

“Coming Daddy!” she called, “Bye, Max, see you tomorrow.” And then she went over to her own home.

“Night, Liz!” he shouted before she went inside. They waved again and then she disappeared indoors and Max headed inside himself. Broke, but happy. Man, being friends with a girl was expensive!
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Eight: The Break-Up Kiss

Liz woke up early and just lay in bed for a while, contemplating what she was going to do. She turned over and stared at her clock, Maria would be here in half an hour. She groaned and picked up the phone.

She knew Max wouldn’t be up yet, so she’d just leave him a message saying she had a ride and not to worry about her. It was a diversionary tactic. She knew it, and he would know it. But she couldn’t deal with what had happened yesterday.

True, she had sat up half the night mulling everything over, trying to figure out how it had occurred. So far she got nothing that seemed feasible, just an overemotional outlet. They had been fighting, it was only natural to release that anger in a tangible form, and since kissing was more pleasurable than fisticuffs…That’s what they had done.

But logic had no place when she thought about how his lips had felt on hers…How she had shivered when he had touched her…He had been so gentle, so soft…

NO!

“Max? This is Liz, Maria’s picking me up this morning so don’t wait for me. See ya at school.” Then she hung up and breathed a sigh of relief, glad that that was over.

Slowly making her way out of her bed, she headed to the shower. When she came back out she threw on a pink sundress, a pair of leather sandals, curled her hair, and dabbed on some lip-gloss. Then she packed her book bag, making sure her homework was done, and placed it on her desk table.

Finally she made her bed, smoothing down the lilac sheets and fluffing the matching pillows. Then she grabbed her stuffed alien and positioned him in his place of honor, on top of the pillows, and sighed.

“Well Lil’ Max,” she said, “Wish me luck.” He just stared at her with those black eyes. She smiled, “Thank you.”

Maria was honking in the driveway and Liz seized her backpack, throwing it over her shoulder and running out of her room. She took a strawberry pop-tart from the cabinet, her jean jacket from the coat tree, gave her mom and dad a quick kiss good-bye, and headed out the door to meet Maria.

She caught a glimpse of Max staring at her from his living room window, and then Maria had peeled out of the driveway and was half way down the street, chattering away, and completely unmindful of her friend’s silence.
<><><><>

Max watched her go, not moving a muscle from the window until the Jetta had disappeared completely. Then he sighed and walked to the kitchen, where his mom had made another new breakfast from a recipe out of a Martha Stewart magazine (he could kill Isabel for buying her that subscription).

Luckily, he was oblivious to the disgusting food, and chewed it without thought, his mind on his best friend.

He had played her message this morning and just winced. She was going to avoid the subject, he had guessed that yesterday, but he hadn’t thought she’d completely avoid him. Fortunately, it was impossible to ignore him if he set his mind to making you notice. And Liz was going to have to notice. What had happened yesterday had been…really big.

They had kissed. Not just those little pecks on the cheek, but a full-blown, tongue tangling, tonsil hockey, spit swapping, shivers down your spine, kiss! That’s not something that happened everyday.

Not to best friends, and most definitely not to Max and Liz.

But it had, and he had liked it, a lot.

The conversation with Alex yesterday had made that fact clear to him. He liked kissing Liz. Jebus freezus, he loved kissing her. He loved the way she had sighed, how she had trembled against him, clung to him…

Max sighed and looked up, afraid that if he relived the whole experience he’d need another shower, and he didn’t have time. Time! Shit! He gulped down his orange juice, ran down the hall to his room, grabbed a red and white plaid shirt and threw it on over his white T-shirt. Then he sprinted to the bathroom, gave his teeth a quick brush, the checked his hair. Good.

“Bye, Mom!” he called as he ran for the door.

“Max, wait!” Isabel called, struggling with her backpack and her pom-poms. “Bye, Momma!” And then she pushed past him and jumped in the Jeep.

“Bye, you two,” his mother called from the garage door, “Have a good day at school.”

“We will,” they chorused. And then Max shifted into reverse and they were gone.
<><><><>

She stuffed the blue pom-poms in her lockers, the strands adhering to her hands as she tried to straighten them. Just then Tess came rushing up, the yellow JV pom-poms fluttering at her pace. She came to a stop next to Isabel and opened her locker.

Once she had everything in order she turned to Isabel and sighed heavily. “What’s up?” Izzy asked.

“I called Max last night,” she replied, tugging at the short skirt of her uniform that they had to wear on game day, “And he told me he was too busy to talk, so I just informed him that my Fling dress was going to be black, and what does he do?”

“What?” she inquired, smiling.

“He says, ‘Fling?’ Like I didn’t tell him about it last week! So I said, ‘You know, the dance at school next Friday? The one we’re going to? You said you already had a suit and corsage ordered.’ And then he says, ‘Right, I don’t really want to go to that.’ I tell you Isabel, I just about broke up with him.”

She was laughing at how guy-like Max was sometimes. Most of the time Tess proclaimed him the most romantic boyfriend any girl could ask for, but sporadically…She just ranted. But that last line stopped her giggles, remembering the phone conversation she had overheard yesterday afternoon.

“Izzy? What is it?”

“Nothing, Tess,” she said, but obviously not convincing Tess, who turned concerned blue eyes onto her.

“Isabel, tell me.”

She sighed and bit her lip. “Are you really into my brother?”

Tess gave a laugh, “Of course I am, Izzy, what kind of question is that?” Isabel didn’t say anything, just kinda stared off into space. “Isabel,” Tess sounded anxious, “What happened? Seriously, is Max gonna break up with me? Is that why you’re so quiet?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, “Just…It’s high school, Tess, you know relationships don’t last. If something does happen, just remember it’s not the end of the world. You’re pretty, popular, and sweet, you’ll never be lacking in the guys department.”

“But-“ she paused, tears coming to her eyes, “You mean he is?”

“No, I’m saying I don’t know Tess, but it’s a possibility. I overheard a phone call to Alex yesterday…Just be prepared.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, lost, “Just two days ago everything was fine, we were making out on my couch! And now…It could be over. Oh, wow…I think I need to go to class now.”

“Tess-“

“No, Isabel, I’m fine, thank you.”

“At least talk to him, to know for sure!” she called down the hall. Tess didn’t turn around, but she did nod and wave as she walked away.

Damn it, she shouldn’t have said anything. She should have kept it to herself or forgotten it. Really, Max and Liz? That was so not happening…
<><><><>

The shot arced perfectly through the air, over the reaching hands of the Guffman Rockets Varsity team, and landed on the rim. The crowd watched, suspense building as the balled rolled around the rim three times and dropped gently through the hoop just as the buzzer went off. Therefore, winning the came for the West Roswell Comets by one point.

Screaming Comet fans came pouring down from the bleachers, the team hoisting Max Evans up onto their shoulders, chanting his name, the cheerleaders started cheering, going into their most difficult routines, and the hero of the game was looking from one place to another, trying to find his best friend.

He spotted her with relief, and gave her a wave. Liz smiled and waved back, her little blue and yellow pennant shaking. Max felt incredibly comforted that their kiss had not disrupted their traditions. She had still come to see him play, to support him…

“I’ll meet you outside!” he shouted to her as the team started towards the locker rooms, placing him back on the ground. He glanced back before he got swept away in the crowd, and saw her nod. Thankful that she wasn’t going to evade him any longer, he allowed his teammates to drag him away.

They had to talk.
<><><><>

Liz waited nervously outside the locker room. Max had told her to, and she had relented, and here she was, waiting.

Her stomach was in knots, butterflies were fluttering under every inch of her skin… She couldn’t believe that all this was happening just because she was waiting for Max. This wasn’t good. Her whole ‘logical progression from anger’ theory was not applying at the moment.

She wasn’t angry at him now. She wanted him now. Wanted him pressing her against the lockers, plundering her lips with his, his hands roaming her wildly, hiking up her skirt as he pushed his knee between her thighs…

The noise of hyper, testosterone charged boys dragged her from the fantasy playing out in her mind. She unclenched her fingers from the skirt, smoothing down the pale fabric. She looked timidly at the door, knowing Max would be one of the last ones out. Carefully she fixed her hair, and pulled her jean jacket tighter, feeling vulnerable.

She looked up as the door opened once again, and everything started going in slow motion. He was walking toward her, his hair wet from the shower, T-shirt clinging to his perfect muscles, and smiling just for her…

She could hardly believe this was her Max. The boy she had grown up with, the boy who had protected her from bullies, kissed her hurts, and took her out for her birthday (making each one more special than anything she’d ever experienced). He had turned into the man of her dreams without her knowledge.

Liz straightened and stepped away from the lockers and towards him. His smile grew and she smiled back shyly, and then a cheerleader came rushing past her and jumped into his arms.

She stood frozen, hurt and confused, as she watched Tess lean up to kiss him deeply. “Liz?”

She looked up, surprised and say Kyle shifting from foot to foot next to her. He must have left the locker room behind Max, but she hadn’t even noticed him. “Hi, Kyle,” she replied, feeling guilty.

“You wanna go for ice cream?” he asked, kicking at invisible dust and peering at her behind his bangs hopefully. She glanced once more at the serious lip action between Max and Tess and smiled.

“Sure.” He grinned back at her and took her hand, leading her away.
<><><><>

Max tried to dislodge himself from Tess’ tight embrace. She backed away, looking at him as if her worst fears had been confirmed. He ignored the look and gazed around, desperately trying to find Liz again.

He caught sight of her back, walking hand-in-hand with Kyle Valenti.

Damn.

“Tess, I can’t talk right now, I need to catch up with someone.” He attempted to move away, but she moved in front of him, blocking his path. “Tess!”

“Is it another girl?”

“What?” he asked, stopped in his tracks.

“Another girl? Max, something is wrong, I know it. I can tell. I mean, you didn’t even kiss me back just a second ago!” she exclaimed, “I want to know if it’s another girl.” He looked at her and she sighed. “When?”

“Yesterday,” he admitted, ashamed he hadn’t told her right away, “It wasn’t planned Tess, it just kinda happened.”

She nodded, tears forming. “So, are we breaking up?”

“I guess,” he said, “Don’t cry, Tess, we both knew this wasn’t going to last forever.”

“I know,” she cried, “I know, I didn’t expect it to be the be all and end all…But I did expect it to last longer.”

“Tess.” He hugged her gently. “You were the first girl I really ever kissed, the first girl I ever dated, the first girl I made out with…” She gave a little giggle and he smiled. “And you were my first girlfriend, that’s never gonna change. But yesterday…I don’t know, she just…She took my soul, Tess, and that’s something I never felt with you…I’m sorry, I should have handled this better, but it’s never happened before and I don’t even know if it’s going to work out with her-“

“Max,” Tess interrupted his babble, “It’s okay, I understand.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” She nodded some more and wiped her eyes. “I’ll cry for a few days, pig out on all things chocolate, and bash you with my friends, but I’ll get over it.”

“That’s the spirit,” he agreed, trying to boost her morale.

“You are going to be a hard act to follow, though,” she insinuated, elbowing him slyly.

“Yeah. I am pretty great.” He smirked at her and she frowned at him mockingly, then slapped him lightly.

“So, we’re breaking up?” she asked, needing closure.

“Yeah, this is it.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, feeling awkward. They stood there for a while longer, people coming and going around them. Finally Tess stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“Good-bye, Max,” she whispered and then walked away.

Max sighed, a little sad, but then he ran to the parking lot doors. His eyes sought out Kyle’s Mustang, Maria’s Jetta, or Alex’s Rabbit, but none of them were there. Feeling dejected he went to his Jeep, knowing he wasn’t going to get the chance to talk Liz tonight. She was out with Kyle.

He frowned and got in beside Isabel, who was doing her nails in the passenger seat, and started the car, trying to figure out a way to get rid of the problem commonly called Kyle.

He really didn’t like Valenti.
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Nine: The Stolen Kiss

Isabel picked up her phone and hit #2 on her speed dial. The phone on the other end rang three times before it was picked up.

“Hello, Harding residence.”

“Hi Mr. Harding, it’s Isabel, is Tess available?”

“One moment, please.” She waited, and rolled her eyes when she heard him call ‘Tessie’, knowing Tess hated that nickname.

“Hello?”

“Hi Tess,” she greeted perkily.

“Oh, hey, Isabel, what’s up?”

“Just wanted to see how you were doing. Do you need anything?”

“No,” Tess replied quietly, “I’m okay. I’ve got comfy sweatpants and my teddy bear, plus chick-flicks, tissues, and chocolate. I’ll be fine by Monday, promise.”

“Monday?” she repeated, “You’re not coming to school today?”

“No, I don’t really want to be the object of gossip and hear it. I’ll lay low for the weekend, that okay?”

“Fine,” Isabel said. “Do you want me and Tish to get your homework?

“Please, we can hang out this weekend too, if you wouldn’t mind…”

“Of course I wouldn’t mind!” she exclaimed, “I’m your best friend, it’s my job to spend girl’s night with you.”

“Thanks, Izzy.”

“So…” Isabel traced the pattern on her comforter. “Have you decided who to ask to Fling now that Max is kinda…”

“I don’t think I’m going to go,” Tess said quickly.

“Oh, come on Tess! You have a dress and a hair appointment, and there are plenty of guys who’d go with you, even this last minute. You can take John Andrews.”

“Isabel, John is your date,” Tess pointed out, giggling.

Izzy smiled, “Don’t worry about it. He’ll be more than willing to go with you…He asked you first if you recall, I was just second best.”

“Isabel…If John wants to go with me, then I guess I’ll go.”

“Good.”

“But what about you?” she inquired curiously.

“I’ve already got it covered,” Isabel assured her.

“Well…”

“Tess!”

“Okay!” she agreed. “I’ll see you tonight?”

“I’ll be there.”

“Cool, bye Izzy.”

“Bye, Tess.” And Isabel hung up her phone. She smiled, now that John was out of the way and Tess was back in the saddle again, she could ask the boy she really wanted to go with. Her smile grew as she predicted his reaction to her question. This was going to be fun!

“Isabel!” Max called from downstairs, “We’re gonna be late!”

“I’m coming!" she shouted back, disgusted with his guy-like impatience.
<><><><>

Max entered the library stealthily (the theme song from Mission Impossible playing in his head), looking around to spot his quarry. Aha! There she was. He stopped behind the card catalog and watched her. She was bent over a book, the French side braids dangling over her shoulders, studying intently.

She was so cute, he thought, and then began to plan his attack. Making his way toward her area of study (ducking behind bookshelves and deftly avoiding civilians), he snuck up behind her, about to surprise her when Kyle Valenti popped up out of nowhere.

What was up with this guy? Did he have some kind of Liz radar or something that let him know when Max was actually going to get a chance to talk to her?! Valenti was such a pain.

“I got a printout from a website, thought it might help.”

“Thank you, Kyle,” Liz whispered, always one to follow library rules. Number 1: Be Quiet, Number 2: No talking, Number 3: No Color Printing, and Number 4: No Food or Drink in the Media Center.

He had always been tempted to see what the book Nazis (commonly called librarians) would do if one of these rules were broken. Sometimes he just wanted to spill some kind of liquid on those keyboards…

But that was off topic. What was on topic was getting Subject A (Liz) away from Subject B (Kyle) permanently, and then get her to hook-up with Subject C (him). Why was he speaking in codes? Jebus freezus, he yelled at his little voice of logic, I’m on a covert operation, that’s why!

“All right.” He observed her through the shelf. She was stacking her note cards together. “I’m going to put this encyclopedia away, I’ll be right back.”

Encyclopedia. Where did they put the encyclopedias? His gaze followed her progress and then his body went along the path of his eyes. Reference section!
<><><><>

Liz crouched down, looking at the row of hardcover books. “A…B…C…D…E…F…”

“G.”

She stood and spun around. “Max!” she gasped.

“Ssh!” one of the librarians hissed at them.

Liz glared at him and smacked his arm, saying ‘Look what you did, you jerk’ with her eyes. He just smiled at her. Her body started tingling, becoming hyperaware of his presence, so close to her own. “What are you doing here Max?” she whispered, clutching her book to her chest like a shield to protect her from these odd feelings he was producing.

“I have free period,” he whispered back, glancing at the librarian, “I came here looking for you. I knew you had independent study.”

“Why were you looking for me?” she asked, frightened of the answer and yet the fact was thrilling her to her very soul. He hadn’t come for her as a best friend, she knew that like she knew the back of her hand.

“Why do you think?” he responded teasingly, then turned serious. “You didn’t wait for me after the game last night.”

“You seemed a little…occupied,” she retorted dryly. She frowned, remembering the hurt she’d felt from watching them together.

He shook his head and braced his arms on either side of her, leaning closer. Liz backed up, into the bookshelf, and looked warily around, but the librarians and Kyle were busy.

“I broke up with Tess.”

Um…What was she supposed to say to that? “I’m sorry,” she offered, her heart soaring.

“Liz…”

“Max.” She gulped as he stepped closer.

“Liz…” he whispered again, breath tickling her skin, his eyes boring into her. She trembled, clutching the encyclopedia harder.

“What Max?”

“When are you breaking up with Kyle?”

“Why should I do that?” she asked, having trouble getting oxygen to her lungs. He smiled, leaning further, his mouth hovering over hers.

“Because you belong with me…” His lips brushed over her softly and she gave a little gasp, shivering yet hot. So hot…

“Max,” she protested, “What, what happened between us Wednesday…It…”

“It what, Liz?” he inquired, his hand tracing her jaw.

“It was a…We were, um, arguing…you know, and…things just escalated…It was just a natural response to high levels of arousal… The theory, not um…bodily, and it…it didn’t mean...anything…” she finished lamely, staring at his lips as they came closer.

Finally they met hers, and she melted, wrapping her arms around him as he devoured her. The book fell from her hands, forgotten as she twined them into his jet-black hair. His tongue caressed hers, and she gave in, loving the feel of him against her.

“Max!” she gasped, wriggling closer to him. He moaned something in response, pulling her harder to him, pressing her back into the bookshelf. His hands wandered up the back of her shirt and she took a quick intake of breath as the coolness met her fevered skin…His mouth drew her back, working her over until she felt as if she’d been turned inside out with need.

When he concluded the kiss, she groaned in frustration, these feelings he invoked in her… She’d never felt anything this intensely before and she realized that was exactly why he had done it, to prove to her she couldn’t just rationalize away their connection.

“Tell me that didn’t mean anything,” he told her, “Tell me and I’ll stop. We’ll just be friends. That’s all. That’s it. Can you live with that?”

She stared at him, knowing the answer was ‘no’. He meant everything to her, he always had. As her best friend, and now…as something else. She didn’t know what yet, but they couldn’t be just friends. Not anymore, not ever again.

He nodded, reading the answer in her eyes, and, smiling, bent down to kiss her again. She stood on tiptoe to meet him, but… “You two!”

Liz started, guiltily as a librarian rounded the corner. “Yes, Ms. Mitshel?”

She scowled at the, “Is that any way to treat library property?” She tapped her foot, glaring at the forgotten encyclopedia.

“No, Ms. Mitshel,” Liz said blushing, “I’m sorry, I’ll pick it right up.”

“Good.” And then she spun on her heel and walked briskly away. Liz picked up the book and bent down to the shelf, placing it between the ‘R’ and the ‘T’.

“There,” she said quietly, “I have to go back to my table.” She blushed, looking up at him.

He smiled, “I should get going too, call you tonight?”

“Around ten,” she agreed. He nodded, brushed a kiss against her forehead, and then disappeared.

She headed back to the table, where Kyle was sitting forlornly, clicking a pen. “Sorry,” she told him as she sat back down.

“It’s okay,” he assured her, “What took so long.”

“The encyclopedias were out of order, Ms. Mitshel asked me to put them back alphabetically.”

“Book Nazi,” he muttered.

“Yeah.”

“So I’ll pick you up at eight for the movie?” She opened her mouth to tell him but the bell rang. “Oh, gotta go. Remedial science class, see ya later!”

She watched him go helplessly. She’d have to explain the situation to him tonight. Liz felt a mix of remorse and excitement. Her and Max? Who woulda thunk it?
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Ten: The Good-Bye Kiss

Kyle walked her to her front door, and they stood there for a minute. “Well, goodnight,” Liz said, looking anywhere but at him.

“Oh, right, right…Listen Liz, you’ve…You’ve been somewhere else all night,” he told her quietly, shuffling his feet.

“I know,” she agreed, hoping to lead the discussion to what she needed to tell him, “And I’m sorry, really, but Kyle, I need to talk to you-”

“Yes,” he interrupted.

“What?”

“Yes,” he said smiling, “I’ll go to the dance with you. It took you long enough to ask.”

“Oh. OH! Kyle, no, that wasn’t what I was going to say,” she corrected him, starting to feel really guilty.

“It wasn’t?” he asked, confused.

“No, I-”

“But do you want to?” he interrupted again.

“Want to what?” she repeated, feeling that the conversation was getting away from her.

“Go to the dance with me?”

“Kyle…” She bit her lip and looked him in the eye. “I can’t go to the dance with you.”

“Why not? Do you not have a dress or something? ‘Cause I don’t care what you wear, I just-”

“Kyle, no," she said firmly, “I can’t go to the dance with you. I can’t go out with you again. I’m sorry, but this, you and me, it’s not working.”

“What?” He stared at her, blue eyes astonished.

“Kyle we have fun, but…I don’t feel about you the way I should feel about a boyfriend.”

“I don’t understand,” he stuttered.

“I…You’re a good friend Kyle, a really good friend, but we can’t be boyfriend/girlfriend. I just…can’t pretend that I feel that way about you.” She was trying to express that she couldn’t feel for him what Max made her feel, without mentioning Max’s name. Because if Kyle found out…he and Max would get into a fight and Kyle would get hurt.

“So you’re saying we can’t go out?’

“No, we can, just as friends. I don’t want to lose you as a friend, Kyle.”

“Um…I don’t really know what to say,” he said.

“Do you hate me?” she inquired in a small voice.

“No!” he said forcefully, “No, I could never hate you Liz. I’m just processing right now, could you give me a minute?”

“Sure.” She looked around, catching the light from Max’s bedroom. She stared hopefully and finally caught a glimpse of him. He was getting ready for bed.

Heat rose in her cheeks as he stripped off his shirt and pants, leaving him in his boxers. She gulped, following the line of his body with her eyes and starting to feel achy. She tore her eyes away as he starting doing pull-ups on his bar in the doorway.

“Okay.” She looked at Kyle. “So, then no more Kyle and Liz?”

“Right.”

“But we can still hang out?”

“Right.”

He nodded, “I can deal with that.”

She smiled, “Thank you.”

He nodded again. “So this is good-bye?”

“Right.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek before cheerfully unlocking her door and walking in. That hadn’t been so bad.
<><><><>

Max looked up in surprise at the slamming of the doors. Kyle walked up, black of mood, and tense. He jerkily went through the motions of opening his locker and grabbing his uniform and smashing the locker shut again. Then he pounded on the red metal a few times, cursing.

“Whoa!” Max said, holding his arm, “You’re gonna hurt yourself, man.”

“Like you care,” Kyle muttered.

“I care if it screws up my starting line-up,” Max replied, speaking as Captain of the Varsity team. “What’s you’re problem anyway?” he asked as other members of the team started pouring in, sleepy.

“Why do we gotta get up this early?” Tommy Hoag complained.

“Because we want to keep our number one position in Nationals,” Max answered, “And I thought I told everybody to go to bed early last night, play-offs start in two weeks, we can’t let our guard down now.”

Everybody grumbled some more, and Kyle snorted. Max rounded on him, “Look Valenti, I don’t know what happened to you, but leave it outside. I don’t need you bringing down the rest of the team with your bad attitude!”

“Yeah right you don’t know,” Kyle said glaring at him, “She probably called you up the minute she shut the door.”

“She?”

“Liz,” he clarified, “She dumped me last night.”

“She did?” Wow. That was quick, he thought pleased, hiding his smile by opening his locker.

“Yeah, she did,” he said glumly, “She said we could be ‘friends’.”

Max didn’t reply, just kept his head in his locker, trying to muffle his laughter. Turning the boyfriend into the friend and the best friend into the boyfriend. Jebus freezus, life was ironic, wasn’t it?
<><><><>

Isabel joined her fellow cheerleaders in celebrating another victory for the Comets. They were doing great this season, mostly due to her brother’s ability to whip the other players into shape.

Sometimes she thought his leadership abilities made him bossy enough that he thought he was king of the world or something, and other times (like being team captain, or group projects…) where his natural domineering self benefited all involved.

Tess hadn’t come to the game this morning, and Isabel and Tish were heading over to her house afterwards. But she had something to do first. She scanned the crowd of fleeing spectators as the rest of the squad headed toward the girl’s locker room.

Aha!

“ALEX!” she called. He froze and started at her in disbelief. She walked quickly to him, but not fast enough that people watching would think she was hurrying. “Hey,” she said, flashing him a dazzling smile.

“Uh…Hi,” he offered.

“I’ve been trying to reach you,” she told him.

“Why?” he asked, “Not that I mind, but…um, why?"

“Well, it seems as if I’m in need of an escort to the Fling dance this Friday, and I was hoping you could take me.”

“Why?!” he exclaimed.

“Did you not want to go?” she asked, alarmed that he would turn down an invitation from her.

“No, no, I want to. I‘d love to,” he assured her, “But, why me? I mean, there are so many other guys, popular guys-”

“Alex!” she giggled, “I asked you because I want to go with you, not some other guy.”

“Really?” he inquired, looking at her suspiciously.

“Really,” she promised, “I gotta go.” Tish was calling her from the doorway to the locker room. “I’ll talk to you Monday at school, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, grinning and looking a bit confused.

“Bye, Alex.” And she sashayed away, aware that he was watching her.
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Eleven: Secret Kisses

Liz stood in front of the open Eraser Room door. Her eyes scanned the hallway for any sign of Max. He was here, she knew, she had seen him leave this morning. She had had a doctor’s appointment, so she hadn’t been able to tell him about Kyle.

He was near though. She could feel it in the way her body had started to hum. But that didn’t stop her cry of surprise as strong hands grabbed her and pulled her into the Eraser Room.

The door closed behind her and she heard it lock. He was holding her hard against him, and her whole body was tingling with the contact.

“Good morning,” he whispered, voice husky.

“Morning,” she whispered back, breaking his grip to turn and face him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her closer, until her head was resting on his chest. She listened to the even beat noting how it was beginning to pump faster.

She looked up at him and he smiled at her. That tiny, half smile of his. The shy, hesitant, private smile that he’d only ever given her. The smile that was reserved for her. It was a bedroom smile, she realized suddenly, a bedroom smile to go along with those bedroom eyes of his… She blushed and buried her head in his chest.

“I heard you broke up with Kyle,” he said softly, hands running through her hair. She shivered.

“I did.”

“So…”

“So what?” she asked innocently.

“Sew buttons on ice cream and see if they stick, what do you mean ‘so what’?” he rejoined tartly, holding her away to look at her better.

“I don’t actually think they would stick,” she responded calmly, not at all upset by his tone.

“What?”

“Buttons on ice cream. The ice cream would melt and they’d fall off, so it essentially wouldn’t work.” She looked at him seriously and he was looking at her funny. “What?” she asked defensively.

“We weren’t talking about that,” he told her, “We were talking about how you broke up with Valenti.”

“Yes,” she said, “And I told you I did do that.”

“And…” he prompted.

“And…Now I’m a free woman,” she tried hopefully.

“No, you’re not,” he countered, slowly gathering her back into his arms.

“I’m not?” she asked, shivers of happiness running down her spine.

“You’re mine.”

A simple statement. But one that that sent her stomach to her knees, liquidated all her internal organs, and took all the breath out of her lungs. He wasn’t so much claiming possession of her, rather just taking what was his since eternity began.

She was his. She had been since she was eight years old and had caught his eyes across the playground. He had put a force on her and she was finally falling in love, with her best friend.

“Max,” she whimpered, needing him to kiss her like he had in the library last week. He smiled the half smile and reached out, gently touching her cheek. Liz breathed deeply, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to fling herself into his arms and stay there for all time. But she’d wait for him to make the first move, too caught by the way his hand was tracing her features, as if memorizing her.

Finally, she thought, with a rush of giddy excitement as he started leaning down. He tilted her chin up, so that she met his blazing golden eyes. And they were gold at the moment, a liquid molten gold that set her blood boiling.

She felt a blush creep up her skin, the sudden warmth making her shiver. Her heart began beating crazily as he bent closer, his lips just brushing hers. She gave a sigh of frustration and lifted onto her tiptoes, telling him she wanted more.

He laughed, a low, rumbling chuckle that sent lightening to her core, making her wet and achy. “Max, please,” she begged, “don’t tease.”

He laughed again, “I don’t ‘tease’, I foreplay.”

“Foreplay?” she repeated.

“Uh-huh,” he replied, kissing her neck.

“And how often have you done this to label it ‘foreplay’?” she demanded, affecting anger.

“It’s ingrained knowledge,” he assured her.

“Really?” she inquired playfully.

“Oh yeah.” He angled his head to meet her lips and she melted against him. His mouth was warm and soft, tasting of Max and peppermint toothpaste, and she giggled sweetly when he ran his tongue over hers.

He sat her up on the actual eraser cleaner machine and spread her thighs, stepping between them to gain better access. His mouth claimed hers again and his hands began to roam up her back, tracing her spine and making her quiver. Her legs clamped unconsciously around his waist, bringing his arousal close to her heat.

She gasped, breaking the kiss and staring at the bulge in his jeans curiously. “Liz,” he whined, blushing. And then he lifted her face back to his, refusing to let her study him. “Don’t look at me like that,” he told her, “You’ll make me explode.”

“Don’t you want to explode?” she asked, knowing release in males was gratifying. (Reproductive Health had to come in handy on some occasion, right?)

He gave a strained laugh. “Not in my jeans and most definitely not at school.”

School! She had forgotten they were in school. “Oh, Max!” she exclaimed, wriggling against him to reach the door.

“Liz!” She froze, and looked at him, a little hurt by the edge in his voice. “Sorry, but please don’t move.”

She just gazed at him, thinking ‘what?’, and then remembered his problem. “Oh.” She blushed, “Sorry.”

He shook his head. “What’s the matter?”

“We’re gonna be late for A.P. Bio.”

He smiled that smile again and kissed the side of her neck. “Who cares?” he asked. Liz was about to respond that they should, but the things he was doing with his mouth distracted her.

“We could get caught,” she whispered against his lips in a futile last effort. His hands were beginning to discover the buttons of her cardigan, and she wasn’t really caring about academic records anymore.

“Who cares?”
<><><><>

Isabel “accidentally” bumped into Alex as he made his way out of the band room. “Hi!” she exclaimed.

“Hey, Isabel,” he replied, blushing shyly.

“Can we talk?” she asked.

“Oh, um…sure.” He nodded his head to indicate they go back into the band room. “Mr. Pierson has lunch this period, so we’ll be fine in here.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling as she followed him.

He leaned against the band teacher’s desk and looked at her as she stood in front of him. He was frowning a bit, but otherwise inscrutable. Isabel peered at him anxiously, he didn’t seem to want to talk to her, and that surprised her.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“I wanted to talk to you about Fling-“

“Don’t!” he raised his hand and stopped her from continuing. “I know what you’re going to say.”

“You do?” she questioned slowly.

“Yeah, and let me just say I expected better out of you, Isabel. This is just really mean,” he told her self-righteously.

“Wait.” She waved her hand, not understanding him. “How is telling you what color my dress is, mean?”

“It- What?”

“My dress. The color. You know, so you can get me a corsage,” she elaborated.

“Oh. You mean you’re not gonna tell me it was a joke and you would never in a million years actually go out with me?”

“No!” she cried, “I can’t believe you think I would do that!

“Sorry,” he said apologetically, “I just couldn’t believe you actually asked me to the dance.” He looked down at his feet. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to go now.”

Isabel rolled her eyes and started to leave. She paused in the doorway and turned to look at him. He appeared so dismal, that she stifled a giggle. “It’s red,” she called back to him.

“What?” he asked, staring at her with surprise.

“My dress is red.”

He grinned, “You look good in red.”

She smiled back. “I know.” Then she tossed her hair, blew him a kiss, and was gone.
<><><><>

Max slipped through the hedge separating their houses and ran to the side of the house and up the stairs leading to Liz’s balcony.

“Liz!” he cried, pounding on her sliding glass door. No answer, he cupped his hands around his face and pressed against the glass, peering in. She wasn’t there.

Well, darn, where was she? Really, she was gone all weekend visiting Grandma Claudia, it’s not like she had anywhere else to be. And why was the slider locked? It was the middle of the afternoon, and Max was in ‘Romeo-come-to-the-window-and-serenade’ mode. She should be there, Juliet had been there when Romeo came a’callin’ after all. She-

“Liz!”

She jumped in surprise and dropped the towel she had been drying her hair with. “Max!” she exclaimed. She hurried to the door, the gap in her robe showing certain parts of her, and opened it. “What are you doing here?” she asked, not letting him in.

“I had an idea,” he told her, a little distracted by the fact that she had grown into the butterfly robe nicely, and the fact that she was very likely naked underneath it.

“What’s your idea?” she queried coyly.

“We should go on a date.”

“A date,” she repeated, a slow smile coming to her face.

“Uh-huh.” He slipped his hands down to her waist, toying with the belt that was preventing him from ravishing her. It would be so easy to just-

“Where would we go?”

“Probably dinner, movies…bowling…whatever.”

“Whatever?”

“Well…” he blushed, “We have fun no matter what Liz, I’m just saying we should do more things as a couple than as best friends.”

“So… You’re saying we do everything we’ve done before, but this time kissing is involved?”

“Exactly.”

She smiled, “I can live with that.”

“So, test date Wednesday, and then Fling Friday?”

“I’m game.”

“Cool.” He paused, eyeing her puppy-doggily. She laughed and leaned up to kiss him.

“Go home, Max,” she whispered when they broke apart, “I have to get dressed.”

Jebus freezus! Mental picture…very nice… “I…um,” he gulped, “I could stay and help?”

“Thanks for the offer, but no. Now go.” She waved him off, laughing. And he went, though reluctantly, and contented himself with the knowledge that at least he had some self-control when it came to Liz Parker.

Not a lot, but she didn’t know that…
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Twelve: The Good-Night Kiss

The movie theater was crowded, but Max and Liz found two seats in the back row. They settled down next to each other, laughing as they tried to juggle their two jumbo-sized popcorns, large cherry cokes, Liz’s Raisinets, and Max’s Reese’s Pieces.

Luckily they had made it to the movie in time for previews (Max’s favorite part), despite the debating at the concession stands and the half-hour they had spent playing air hockey in the game room. Now, Liz’s attention was locked on the screen as the son of Count Mondago appeared on screen.

“Ooh,” she breathed, “He’s cute.” Max frowned at glared at the screen. Cute? He was scrawny with funny hair and funny outfits and really funny blue eyes. And Liz thought this guy was cute?

He grabbed some popcorn and pouted, feeling ignored. He glanced at Liz out of the corner of his eye, but she was watching the movie with rapt concentration, studying each move of the guy made.

Max didn’t care about this Albert fellow. His mom was pretty hot though… Not as hot as Liz… He glanced at her again, to find her practically drooling. He looked down into his popcorn, and then back up at her, and smiled evilly.
<><><><>

“MAX!” she shrieked and grabbed some of her own popcorn, chucking it at him as he tried to leap over seats. “Evans, you get back here now!”

“No chance Lizzie, if you want me, you have to come get me!”

She grinned happily and danced to the aisle of the empty theater. She tore after him as he ran to the front, throwing popcorn behind him at her pursuing figure. They faced each other across the room, the screen playing D3: The Mighty Ducks ignored.

It was her fifteenth birthday and Max had brought her to the movies. It had been a stroke of luck that they were the only two people who decided to see this particular movie at this time. They had the whole theater to themselves.

“We’re gonna get in trouble,” she whispered to him.

He just shrugged, grinning at her. Then he tossed a few kernels at her. “The ushers need something to do.”

She ran across the front of the theater and then up to him. “What if they kick us out?” He looked at her in disbelief and then wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“That's what you’re worried about?” he demanded, “That we’ll, oh-no, get kicked out? Liz we’re paying customers. We paid like twelve dollars to see this movie, we should get to do whatever we darn well please!”

“But-”

“Besides,” he interrupted, “You should be worried that I’m going to dump this bucket of popcorn on your head…”

“Max!” she cried again, and tried to get away, but he held fast, and down came the jumbo-sized popcorn container onto her beautiful brown hair. She stood, bucket over her eyes, butter dripping down onto her new shirt. For a minute she thought she was going to cry, but then she looked up into Max’s smug face and got an idea. “I can’t believe you just did that!” she said, not feigning the upset tone of her voice.

The smirk left his face and he tilted the bucket up to stare into her flashing eyes. “Jebus freezus,” he breathed, “You really are mad.”

“Max,” she exclaimed mockingly, “You should know by now; I don’t get mad…I get even.” That being said, she poured her soda over his head.

He blinked for a moment, mouthing wordlessly, his expression one of shocked disbelief. Liz giggled, feeling a lot better. Max glared at her. “You think this funny?” he asked with mock indignation.

She nodded, “Yes.”

“Well…” He reached for her and grabbed her before she could get away. “You’re going down Parker!” And then he began tickling her. Liz shrieked some more, and struggled, unable to get up a formidable defense to his onslaught.

A throat clearing paused them in their actions and they stared up at the new source of light. A cute usher stood in the aisle way near the door, looking at them bemusedly. Liz blushed, knowing what a sight they were, an interesting, funny, if slightly frightening tableau. “Um…Hi?” she offered.

“Hi,” he said back, smiling.

“Can we help you?” Max asked the older boy, picking her up off the ground. He stood to his full height, pulling his wet T-shirt away from his body, and trying to look manly. Liz giggled.

“Actually, the management has asked me to intervene and to request, ever so politely, that you exit the premises.”

“We’ll go,” Liz said quickly, blushing, “We’re sorry.”

“I’m not,” Max stated, defiantly staring at the usher.

“Max, the movie’s over anyway, and I need a shower.” She started walking away, got past the usher, and then turned at looked at him impatiently, tapping her foot. He sighed and followed her, dropping the macho act. Liz sent the usher one last smile and then exited.

“Normally I have to worry about teens making out, not having a food fight.” She heard him whisper before the door swung closed. She giggled a bit, thinking how funny it would be to make out with Max. He was her best friend for Pete’s sake!
<><><><>

“Don’t even think about it,” she hissed.

Max froze, arm in mid-toss, and looked at her, surprised she had seen him. “What?” he asked innocently.

“I can see you, you know, don’t give me that crap,” she whispered, “You were gonna chuck popcorn at me!”

“I’m shocked you stopped drooling long enough to acknowledge my existence, and it was only one piece, I swear!” He looked forward, watching the swordfight, pretending he didn’t see her glaring in the dim light.

“I was not drooling!” she said loudly, “And you have a lot of nerve pulling that stunt, Max, we got kicked out last time, remember?”

“Ssh!” the guy beside her shushed.

He grinned, knowing she was blushing, and lowered his voice to talk. “Well,” he said, shrugging, “I had to do something, I mean it’s not like we can make out with all these people around.”

“Max!”

“Ssh!” all the people around them yelled.

Liz slapped him across the chest and then slumped down in her seat, obviously pouting and ignoring him. “I hate you,” she muttered rebelliously.

His grin grew, and he slumped down too, and leaned over her. “No you don’t,” he said, whispering against her ear. He felt her shiver and he turned her head slightly, eyes soft and shy.

“No, I don’t,” she agreed quietly, smiling. He kissed her cheek gently and sat fully into his own seat, taking her hand as he did so, and for the rest of the movie, Liz’s attention was fixated wholly on him.
<><><><>

She was completely elated. For some reason the thought that Max was jealous of a guy she’d never meet, would never even think about after tonight, made her giggle. So she decided to play with him a little. “Wait,” she told him as he began to grab their coats.

“What? Why? The movie’s over,” he said, confused, gesturing to the credits playing on screen.

“We should wait until the crowd thins out a little,” she suggested plausibly. He looked at the blockage of the aisles and she could tell he was picturing the parking lot in his head. Finally he nodded and sat back down next to her, an arm draped proprietarily over the back of her chair, and glaring at some freshman boy who was in Science Club with her. She smiled and leaned closer to him, eyes on the screen.

Presently she said, “Okay, we can go now.”

Max looked at her, confused again. “It’s been less than a minute since you said we should wait, the crowds are still gonna be there.”

She shrugged and walked around his legs, taking her coat and bundling into it. He got up behind her and grabbed his own coat. “Sometimes, Parker, I just don’t get you.”

“You’re a boy, Evans,” she replied, “I’m a girl. You’re not supposed to get me.”

“Well at least I’m doing something right,” he said glumly. She smiled and took his hand, pulling him into the aisle beside her.

“Wasn’t Henry the cutest?” she asked, hiding her smile.

“Who’s Henry?” he demanded, looking around as if to ward off any cute guys.

“The guy in the movie,” she informed him airily.

“I thought his name was Albert!” Max exclaimed, stopping at the door. She rolled her eyes and left him there, tossing her garbage in the can and picking up a mint from the bowl held by an usher. “Liz!” he called, coming after her.

“In the movie it is,” she explained, “But in real life, it’s Henry Cavill.” She sighed dreamily and batted her eyelashes at Max. He frowned, grumbled, and started walking faster. “Max!” she cried, and had to run to catch up (due to the fact that his legs were way longer than hers), “I was just playing with you. He’s not anywhere near your hotness.”

He smirked at her over his shoulder, “I know.”

“You are so egotistical,” she notified him, “I don’t know why I put up with you.” But she belied her words by linking her arm into his and walking closer as they headed to the Jeep. He opened her door for her and she climbed in.

“It’s because you love me,” he said as he shut the door. Liz sat back, knowing he was right, she did love him, and because of that, she’d put up with him. She looked at him as he clambered into driver’s seat.

“You’re right, I do.”

He looked at her and smiled that little half-smile. “Good,” he said infuriatingly.

“Max!”

“What?” he asked, putting the car into gear, “You already know I love you too, what’s the point in saying it again?” Liz sighed and said nothing.

“Liz?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

She smiled and placed her hand over his on the stick shift. “Good.”
<><><><>

Isabel placed the clean clothes on Max’s dresser and switched the phone to her other ear. She glanced out his window and sighed, “Oh God.”

“What?” Tish asked on the other side of the phone.

“Max and Liz just got back from their date.”

“Date?”

“Uh-huh,” she said, walking to the window and pulling the curtains. “An actual date.”

“A boyfriend/girlfriend date?”

“Exactly,” she said, “They’ve finally evolved from the ‘just friends’ stage.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Tish commented.

Isabel nodded (even though Tish couldn’t see her), and examined her nails as she headed back to her room. “Me either.”

“Does Tess know?”

“No,” Izzy said, flopping onto her bed, “No one knows except them, our parents, me, and now you.”

She heard Tish’s intake of breath through the line. “How do you think she’s going to take it?”

“I don’t know,” Isabel said, “I mean, she’s been pretty okay about the whole thing. She came over yesterday and she and Max joked around like nothing ever happened between them…”

“How do you think Kyle’s going to take it? He’s been hung up on Liz for awhile…And I heard he was pretty pissed off when Liz dumped him.”

“Who cares? Max is more than capable of dealing with Kyle.” She rolled over so that she was on her back. “Remember when we were in sixth grade?”

“Oh…” Tish giggled, “That was about the biggest thing to happen that year. Max became so popular.”

“It was ridiculous,” Isabel scoffed, “I mean, really, he got in a fight… How immature is that?"

“Izzy,” she laughed, “He was 11, we were 12, and we were immature.”
<><><><>

Max and Liz paused outside Liz’s front door and looked at each other under the porch light. He smiled at her, his girlfriend, his best friend, and leaned down.

“I don’t normally kiss on the first date,” Liz murmured as his lips first came into contact hers.

He kissed her anyway, deeply, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and drawing her up against him. She gave a little sigh, and opened her mouth to his, letting him access her deepest corners. Slowly, requiring oxygen, he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers.

She was looking up at him, on tiptoe, eyes wide and star-filled, gaze rapt. Max drew in a breath and began to lean down again, needing her…

“But…” Kiss. “I guess…” Kiss. “I could…” Kiss. “Make…” Kiss. “An…” Kiss. “Exception…” Lllooooonnnngggger kiss.

Her small hands worked their way up his chest, finally circling his neck, he tilted his head, lifting her off the ground to get a better angle, delving into her sweetness as if it were everything…

He distantly heard a door open, and a throat clear. Breaking the kiss, he looked up and saw Mr. Parker standing in the doorway, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.

“Hi, Mr. Parker,” he said, putting Liz down lightly.

“Max.”

“Hi, Daddy.”

He smiled, “Hi sweetie. How about you say good-night, now, okay?”

“Okay,” she said amiably, “Good-night Max.”

“’Night, Liz.” He gave Jeff a glance and then leaned down quickly and gave her a peck on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She gave a little wave as he backed down the porch, and then slipped past her father into the house.

“Good-night, Max,” Mr. Parker called after him.

“Good-night Mr. Parker!” he responded, heading for his Jeep. Man, that had not been good. What if Jeff didn’t let him see Liz anymore? Panic swept over him, followed by his logical voice. His logical voice said Jeff couldn't do that. After all, it had only been one date, a simple good night kiss. It wasn’t like Mr. Parker was going to hold that against nine years of friendship.

Right?
<><><><>

[dreamangel]

Part Thirteen: Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice...

Max loped up the porch steps and rang the Parker’s doorbell. It was immediately opened by Mr. Parker. He took one look at Jeff’s expression and began to fidget. “Hi, Mr. Parker,” he said squeakily.

“Come in, Max, we need to have a little chat.” He followed Jeff (nervously) into the family room just off the hall. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but Mr. Parker hadn’t said anything yesterday about forbidding Liz to see him.

“What’s up Mr. P?”

“Max, we’ve been neighbors for nine years, and you’ve been my daughter’s best friend for the same amount of time, right?”

“Right,” Max agreed instantaneously.

“And from what I observed on the front porch two nights ago, it’s turned into a more than just friends thing, right?”

“Right,” Max said again, and then he blushed, remembering the kiss Jeff had interrupted.

“I need to know that you’re sure of this working out Max,” Jeff told him.

“What working out?” he inquired, mystified.

“You and Liz.” Max was about to speak, to assure him that he had no doubts about where the relationship was going, but Mr. Parker continued. “You two have been best friends for a long time Max, you’re the person she runs to whenever she has a problem, and I don’t want that taken away from her if you two have a fight and break up. Because that would break her heart Max, and I don’t want to see that happen.”

“I won’t hurt Liz, Mr. Parker, I promise.”

They stared at each other for a moment, Max earnest and willing Jeff to see his sincerity, Jeff measuring the boy who had kept his daughter’s heart for nine years. Finally (to Max it was an eternity), Jeff smiled and offered him his hand. Max took it with relief, and grinned back.

“Daddy? Is Max here? I saw the limo out front…” Max looked up and gulped, eyes glued to the angel descending the steps.

Liz looked fantastic. She was wearing a pink dress, a full skirt, and a bodice that cut sideways over the skirt. Flowers were embroidered in darker and lighter shades of the color, growing up from the hem of both pieces a little ways. The light from the top of the stairs illuminated her from behind, glittering off the pink stones in her upswept hair.

“You…You look…really, really beautiful, Liz,” he finally managed to tell her. She came up next to him, smiling and blushing.

“Thank you. You look very handsome yourself.” She giggled and fingered his tux. He blushed, heat rushing to his ears, and he tugged on the stifling collar. He looked down at her, and she looked up at him.

They stared at each other for a while, eyes soft and loving, until Mr. Parker clapped his hands and told them he needed to take pictures for Nancy and Diane, and they needed to get to the dance before it was over.

Max and Liz rushed into action, he placed the corsage on her slender wrist, they posed, and pictures were snapped. (Max about had a heart attack when he saw Liz’s top was held on by three thin ties.) And they were out the door, Mr. Parker calling after them to behave and he reminding Liz that he and Nancy were going to Clovis later that night, so she needed to lock the house down.

“I thought we were never going to escape,” Liz sighed as they got into the limo. She snuggled up next to him on the seat. “I can’t believe you rented a limo,” she teased, “It’s only Fling.”

“It was Michael’s idea,” Max admitted, “He wanted to show Maria he wasn’t a totally bad boyfriend, but he couldn’t afford it on his own. We have to pick them up, by the way.” She shrugged and kissed his cheek.

“And here I thought you were just trying to sweep me off my feet.”

He grinned and kissed her deeply. “No, that happens later, when we’re not expecting company.” She shivered at his husky tone and leaned forward again for another kiss.
<><><><>

Isabel laughed as Alex twirled her around the gym, not caring if they bumped into other couples. She was having such a good time, and she didn’t care if people were sending them weird looks.

Okay, yes, it was a little odd for the head cheerleader to come to a dance with the head of the Computer Club, but it wasn’t as if Godzilla was attacking Tokyo or anything. People would get over it, accept it, forget it…

Alex dipped her without warning, and they crashed to the floor, tangled up in each other. “Are you all right?” he demanded, looking as if the sky had fallen. She just laughed and laughed, letting him pull her up.

“Isabel!”

The couple glanced up as Tess and Tish hurried over, black and white dresses flying, dates trailing behind, trying to keep up. “Hi guys!” she exclaimed, glowing. They exchanged looks and then turned back to her.

“Are you okay?” Tess asked, “That was a pretty nasty fall.”

“I’m fine,” she told them, “And Alex broke my fall.”

“Luckily I’m very flexible,” Alex piped up. Her friends just smiled and nodded. Just then a slow song came on and Tim asked Tish to dance, and John took Tess away. Izzy looked shyly at Alex, who grinned and took her hand.

She rested her head on his shoulder as they swayed slowly to the music. His hands traced the low back of her dress and she started to relax, feeling very content, and wondering what else he could do with those amazing hands of his…
<><><><>

Max leaned against the drink table and watched Liz. She was really into the music, gyrating her hips and swaying seductively. He took a long drink of his punch, never-taking his eyes of her.

Occasionally she’d glance towards him and smile, blowing him a kiss. He wanted to join her, but he was sweating to much already in this stupid tux. (He couldn’t believe his mom had made him wear it.) And he was more than happy to just watch her, even though it was doing interesting things to his libido.

“Hey…”

He looked away from Liz and into blue eyes. “Hey Tess,” he replied, smiling at her, “Having fun?”

She nodded, “Yeah…John’s really nice. I like him a lot.”

“That’s good.” He trailed off, feeling kinda awkward. “So…”

“So…” she repeated. They turned their attention to the dance floor, well, Max turned his attention to Liz, and Tess followed his eyes. “Liz, huh?”

“Yeah. Liz,” he said, sighing softly. Then, suddenly aware of who he was talking to, “It just kinda happened…”

She shrugged, expression kind of sad. “It’s okay, Max,” she reassured him, “I understand.”

“Tess!” John Andrews came walking up to them. He took Tess’s hand possessively, glaring at Max. “Evans.”

“Andrews.” Max nodded unconcernedly, “How’s it going?”

“Fine,” the other boy said, tone slightly less jealous, but he was still eyeing Max suspiciously.

“Well, it was great talking to you two,” Max said, throwing his cup into a garbage can fifteen feet away. “I’m gonna go find my girl before Valenti gets up the nerve to try and steal her back.”
<><><><>

Liz felt his hands on her, and she moved against him, grinding her lower body into his. She heard his groan and smiled, turning to cuddle into his arms. “You’re gonna be the death of me,” he whispered as she put her arms around his neck.

“But what a way to go,” she teased, her hands toying with the hair at the base of his neck. She gave her own little moan when his large hands crept beneath the strings of her top, tugging the bows. “Max!” she hissed.

He chuckled and pulled her up and closer, so that she was flush up against his body, dancing on tiptoe. She gave a little gasp as she felt his arousal press into her softness. “Don’t tease me right now, Liz,” he growled in her ear, “I might do something drastic.” She shivered against him, his gravel in velvet voice sending frissons of electricity throughout her.

“Max…” she breathed.

“Can I cut in?” a voice asked sharply.

They paused and looked at the intruder. “Hi, Kyle,” she offered weakly, not really liking the look in his eyes. He held out his hand for her to take, and she glanced from him to Max uncertainly. The decision was taken from her however, when Max moved in front of her, blocking Kyle’s advancement.

“We were dancing Valenti. Why don’t you go find your own date?” Max said mockingly. Liz closed her eyes and wished he didn’t have to be such a guy sometimes. She pulled on his jacket sleeve, trying to get him to pay attention to her. Finally he looked back at her and she shook her head.

Max rolled his eyes, but relaxed his stance. “C’mon Valenti, we need to talk.” He started walking and Kyle followed, fists clenched. Liz watched them go anxiously, Maria and Michael behind her.

“Where’d Kyle go?” Vicky DeLaney walked up, punch glasses clutched in her hands. “He said he was going to talk to you for a second.” Liz looked up at the tall, willowy blond, and smiled gently.

“He went to the bathroom, Vicky, he should be back in just a minute.”

Blue eyes looked at her closely, and finally she nodded. “Okay.”
<><><><>

“What did you say to Kyle?” Liz asked him as soon as Michael got out of the limo. Max sighed, knowing she wasn’t going to let it go. She had been too curious when he and Kyle had come back to her and Vicky.

“I just explained to him that it wasn’t anything personal, on either side, and that it just kind of happened.”

“Just kind of?” she mocked, eyebrows raised.

“In a nine years coming kind of way.”

“Oh, that way,” she said sarcastically.

“Liz…” He twirled a strand of hair around his finger, and she looked at him, brown eyes laughing. “I told him I loved you, and you loved me, and nothing he could do was going to change that.” Then there had been a swinging of fists and ducking and then a chokehold in order to get Kyle calmed down enough to listen to his rationale. “He pretty much just accepted that.”

“Really?”

Her tone indicated disbelief. “He wants you to be happy, Liz. And if you’re happy with me, or with him, you’re still happy, and that’s what matters.”

“Max…” She had tears in her eyes, which indicated she knew he had made that last part up. She undid her seatbelt and slid closer to him, kissing his mouth gently. “I’m happiest with you.”

He smiled and pulled her onto his lap so that she was straddled over him. Their mouths fused, and soon he was out of his seat and so was she, and they were lying on the floor of the limo, minutes away from their houses, Max between her thighs, his hands untying the bows of her top, her hands working frantically at the tie and buttons of his shirt.

“Max…” she pleaded, wiggling upward. He sucked in a breath and captured her lips. She shuddered against him, hands caressing his now bare chest. “Should we be doing this?” she asked when they broke apart, “I mean…” she trailed of, groaning as his mouth worked slowly down her throat, “We’ve only been going out for what? Five days? We’ve only had one date… We probably shouldn’t be leaping into this…”

“Liz,” he said, leaning up on his elbows and staring down at her, “We don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“But I do want to,” she admitted, tracing his abs. He dropped a kiss on her lips, marveling at the softness of her.

“I want to too,” he told her.

“But it’s not right to. I mean…” She flushed, and he waited, knowing she was trying to organize her thoughts. “We just started this relationship. Getting physical this early isn’t the best way to establish life-long bonds…” Her eyes widened as she realized what she had said. “Not that I’m expecting that type of commitment, I just meant I don’t want to break up this weekend or…something…”

He shook his head and kissed her tenderly again. “Liz,” he said, “I know what you mean. But think of it this way; We’ve been friends for nine years. Best friends. We tell each other everything, we’re perfectly comfortable with the other’s little personality quirks, and we can be together forever and not run out of things to talk about, or we can sit in silence and not feel awkward. If you think about it, we’ve basically been dating for nine years, and we’ve achieved what even most married couples can’t. We know each other Liz, inside. And all we’re doing now is finishing that. We’re memorizing the outside.”

He let her think on that, as he lay above her, kinda pleased with his logic. All of which was completely true. They knew each other’s heart, mind, and soul. They just hadn’t bothered getting to know each other’s bodies.

The limo stopped and they looked at each other. Max slowly got off of her, helping her up. He slid his jacket around her shoulders and worked on getting his shirt buttoned. Tiny hands suddenly appeared, making quick work of the task, and then smoothed down the white material.

He trapped her hands in his own and met her eyes as they knelt on the floor. She shifted her hand so that it took his, and then she pulled him toward the door. They stood outside and the limo took off. He looked at her curiously as she stepped closer to him, kissing his cheek. Then she gave him a shy smile.

“My parents aren’t coming home tonight.”
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[dreamangel]

Part Fourteen: Kissing the Night Away

Liz washed the make-up off her face and then stared at herself in the mirror. She let down her hair, taking the jeweled bobby pins out carefully, and then brushed out the curls until they shone in the light.

She pretended Max wasn’t in the other room (her bedroom!), waiting for her to come out of the bathroom so that he could make love to her. She pretended this was just her, and she wasn’t nervous, or shivering in anticipation, or wondering what Max looked like naked, what he’d feel like…

She shook her head and focused on herself again. She wanted to surprise him. She wanted to be sexy, not plain little Lizzie Parker.

She had discarded Max’s suit jacket on the chair in front of her desk and then left Max there, in her room, to get ready. Well, as ready as she could be. She had retied her top, undid her hair, and washed her face. Now what?

She bit her bottom lip, dabbed some strawberry lip-gloss on, and slipped off her full skirt. She folded it and lay it on the toilet seat, then looked in the full-length mirror on the back of the door, judging her reflection.

What she saw didn’t impress her. A small, brown-haired girl, with big eyes, glossy lips, and an underdeveloped body was what she saw. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. She wasn’t going to grow anymore. She was stuck with a B-cup for life.

But Max doesn’t care, she reminded herself. He’s known you forever, and he’s never cared about your looks. He just cared about Liz.

She squared her shoulders and decided she didn’t care. This was who she was. She was Liz Parker, with all her mousy looks and innocent pink panties, and Max was just going to have to deal.

She took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door, walking out to confront Max in her four-inch pink FMPs (fuck-me-pumps, as Maria had dubbed them earlier at the dance). He was staring out her sliding glass door, his white shirt unbuttoned, and the moonlight was streaming in, caressing his perfect abs and making his eyes shine like stars.

She sighed a little with the thought that this was her best friend, the man she loved. The man who loved her.

Her sigh drew his attention and he turned to her. “Jebus freezus…” he whispered, jaw hanging open. She blushed and twisted her hands together behind her back, unaware that the act made her chest protrude.

His eyes ran over her body in a way that made her tingle, and suddenly it was obvious that all her fears in the bathroom had no substance. He wanted her. She could read it in his beautiful eyes.

“Say something,” she pleaded, voice no louder than his had been.
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Say something? What was he supposed to say? She was a freaking goddess for Jebus’s sake!

He couldn’t really get his vocal cords to work at the moment though. He just stood there, drinking her in. She was still wearing her heels, which laced up her shapely legs, and his gaze traveled further, skimming the line of her panties (he smiled when he saw the cute embroidered flowers), and up to where the curve of her breasts showed from above her bodice, and finally up to her face. She tucked her soft hair back behind her ear and licked her kissable lips, glancing at him shyly.

Max groaned. “Liz…” he rasped, “I can’t…I don’t have…the words…” He shook his head and strode over to her, showing her with his lips and hands what he couldn’t say with his voice.

“Max…”

“You’re perfect,” he told her, finally finding the right words. She gave a little laugh and ran her fingers up the opening in his shirt and moved them up to his shoulders, pushing it off. Her eyes asked for permission and he took one of her hands and kissed it, telling her it was all right to touch him.

Her hands ran along his abs and up his chest, her touch so light it was almost like a feather caressing him. They trailed along his shoulder blades and down his arms, squeezing gently on his lean muscles. When she reached his hands he clasped them, keeping her near him.

“Should we be worried about your parents?” she asked, eyes flicking to the sliding door. He shook his head, leaning down to kiss her.

“Dad’s in Marathon for a case, Izzy’s staying over at Tish’s, and I told Mom not to wait up for me.”

“Did you know you were getting lucky tonight?” she teased.

He smiled, “I told her I’d either get home really late or I’d crash at Michael’s house.”

“Sneaky,” she commented.

He wiggled his eyebrows up and down, hands roaming her body, “Very.”

“Max?” she asked as he directed her toward her bed, placing soft kisses on her lips with every step.

“Hmm?”

“Did…um…” He could feel her blush under his hands.

“What is it, Liz?”

“Did you bring protection?” she blurted out, then clapped a hand over her mouth, staring at him as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just said.

He took his wallet out and pulled out a condom, “It’s covered.”

“Oh…” her attention was now on the thing in his hand. “Do you normally carry that around?” She sounded a little hurt.

“My dad gave it to me after my first date with Tess, I told him I didn’t need it, but he told me to keep it handy, just in case.” They’d both been redder during that conversation than during the sex talk.

“Is it the same one?” she inquired suspiciously.

He rolled his eyes. “No, it’s the fifth,” he said sarcastically. She looked up, alarmed, and he gave her a disbelieving grin. “Of course it’s the same one silly,” he scolded her teasingly, “I’d never make love to a girl I didn't love. You know me better than that.”

She gave him a smack on the arm and bounced backward onto her bed, so that she was looking up at him, her head level with his…um…cough…manhood…Which was doing some very interesting things to said part of body, and he knelt before her before she could see.

“Liz-”

“I thought you were going to make love to me,” she interrupted.

“I am!” he exclaimed, surprised.

“Then why aren’t you!” she retorted, smiling at him.

“Ugh! You are so impossible woman!” She giggled and kissed him, her lips pliant against his. He took control of the kiss, tilting her head to open her mouth. She let him slip his tongue into her mouth, meeting it with her own.

He moaned, wondering that if her mouth were this warm and sweet and welcoming, what would her body be like. Would the rest of her respond like this to him? Max wasn’t sure he could wait to find out. He broke the kiss and met her eyes. Her lips were swollen and even more tempting, but he’d get there soon enough.

Max reached down, taking her tiny foot in his hand. God, she was so small, all of her, she seemed so incredibly fragile…
<><><><>

Liz held her breath as his big hands held her foot gently, as if it were something precious. Then he moved, as if reaching a decision, and unbuckled her shoes, tossing them away. She trembled as he slowly worked his way up her legs, over her knees, to her thighs, and finally, his hands came to rest on the junction where her panty hem met skin.

He rose, towering over her, but not in an overwhelming sense, more like he was protecting her. She reached out and undid the zipper on his pants, and waited while he got out of them. When he came back to her he was wearing only a pair of black boxers and a half-smile.

God, he was huge! She reached out, running a hand over him, eliciting a groan from him. She suddenly found herself hauled up into his arms, wrapped tightly against his body, his mouth devouring her…

And just as quickly his hands were at her back and then her top was gone, and his mouth was on her. She gave a little shriek of surprise and then melted against him, spearing his hair with her fingers and dragging him up to her mouth.

She was aching, as she had been in the Eraser Room and the limo, aching for him, his touch on her. She wanted him in her most intimate places, and she wanted him there now! She leaned back, forcing him to let them fall on the bed, never breaking their lip-lock. His hands moved over her body, making her feel as if fire were tracing over her skin.

“Max!” She wriggled against his hard body, needing the barrier of cloth between them gone. She felt him nod against her neck and he reached down, ripping her panties off. They broke apart, panting, and stared at the scrap of material.

“Sorry,” he apologized, blushing. She took them from him and tossed them to the ground, instead focusing on getting his boxers off of him and him into her. She was feeling a little surprised at her need, at the intensity of it, but most of her didn’t care. She loved him, he loved her, it was all right.
<><><><>

Max’s body had created its own rhythm as he stroked in and out of her tight body, which matched him in every move he made. They had had a few fumbling starts, neither one knowing what they were doing, but they had laughed their way through it and now seemed to have got the situation under control.

Liz’s legs were wrapped around his waist, her lower body thrusting upward as his thrust down, her arms were moving up and down his back in a restless motion, occasionally they’d meet in a kiss, but mostly…

Well, mostly her lips were on his neck and his were on her breasts. He couldn’t get over how sweet they were, and how perfectly they fit in his hands. How perfectly her whole body fit against his.

Their hearts were lined up, and he could hear hers pounding (or was that his…). He could barely tell the difference anymore, whether it was his or hers. They were one right now, one person, one soul…

He felt her walls beginning to clamp down on him, and she whispered his name. He took her lips in his and let his hand wander between them, rubbing her swollen clit until she shuddered against him and screamed his name.

“Liz!” he echoed her cry of ecstasy as he felt his own release come upon him.
<><><><>

They hadn’t talked a lot during the actual act, and they weren’t talking a lot now, but she was perfectly content. She was spooned against his body, his fingers trailing patterns over her arms as the cuddled under the covers together.

“I like this,” she told him quietly, grasping his wandering hand. He chuckled and sat up a little, kissing her cheek.

“I like this too,” he replied. They smiled at each other softly, and the blanket of comfortable silence descended again, letting them soak in each other without distraction.

“It’s three o’clock in the morning,” she told him, feeling sleepy.

“Yeah…” he agreed, “I should probably go home…” he sounded reluctant, and hugged her body closer.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” she asked hopefully.

“Today,” he corrected her, a smile in his tone.

She smiled too, “Today then.”

He gave a deep sigh and moved away from her. She turned over, watching him possessively as he dressed. “You gotta stop staring at me, Liz,” he told her, “Otherwise I’m not going to be able to zipper my pants.”

She blushed and sat up, holding the lilac-colored sheets to her chest. “Sorry…”

He smiled at her and shrugged into his suit jacket. Then he came over to her and kissed her deeply, tongues tangling, and then he was gone.

She got up, the sheets wrapped around her naked body, and followed his progress through the hedges to his window. He turned at the sill and looked toward her sliding glass door, blowing her a kiss. She blushed and blew him one back, waving until he disappeared completely from her view.

Then she sighed and crawled back into bed, physically exhausted and loving it.
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