Winner - Round 7
Winner - Round 6
The time has come, the walrus said,
To talk of many things,
Of ships--- and shoes--- and sealing wax,
Of Cabbages and Kings,
And why the sea is boiling hot,
And whether pigs have wings.
Disclaimer: I, in no way, am associated with the actors, writers, producers, etc. of Roswell. The rights to the show belong to 20th Century Fox, Jason Katims, the WB, Melinda Metz, UPN, etc. Which is probably why there was no Season 4.
Where used, and where possible, songs are attributed to the artist. I have no idea who owns the rights to them.Authors Note: I will try to post weekly, but won't promise it. There will also be some short chapters, but I hope the quality will make up for it. There will also be long chapters, so it should all even up in the end.
Summary: Everything happens up to Max's proposal in 'Graduation'. Things progress a little differently from there when Liz finds her friends' reaction not what she'd have hoped for.
Category: Uhmm....
Rating: Some ADULT - I'll give advanced warning so if you don't want to read it, skipp over to the end of it. I'll put a START and END marker
http://www.olde.worlde.btinternet.co.uk/images/ocak.jpg
Dream a Little Dream Of Me.
The Mamas The Papas
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Part 1
With an almost religious reverence, Max carefully folded some blankets together and laid them out on the sun lounger, resting in the middle of Liz's balcony. If they were going to spend the evening wrapped in each other's arms, why not make it as comfortable as his lady deserved? Liz stood to one side of her romantic haven, lighting an array of candles sheltered in deep, glass pots, whose soft flickering lights would add to the ambience already formed by the chains of tiny colored lights. She looked up at Max and frowned at the serious expression that had appeared on his face.
"Liz, I've been thinking about what happened, before," he looked up at her at last. "We saved that woman's life."
"I know," she smiled, returning her attention to the candle.
"I just...," he shrugged. "I have this weird feeling about it."
"Oh, what do you mean?" Liz turned back to Max.
"I've just been feeling like... I have no path, you know?" He sounded lost. "Maybe that's why I've been put here. To help people. Maybe that's what I should do with my life after I leave Roswell.
"Like Tom Jode in Grapes of Wrath," she smiled and stepped beside him. "Doing good deeds and avoiding the law."
"Thing is," a hopeful expression appeared on his face. "I can't do that without you."
Liz's face lit up. Her heart soared. She had waited for so long to hear him admit that.
"I would do anything if it means being with you." She meant it, too. All of their differences had been resolved. She had accepted him, accepted his love, warts and all. There was no person in all of creation that she would rather be with.
Max studied Liz for a moment with a small smile of almost disbelief, like he had only imagined her saying those words in his best dreams. He stepped to the small barbecue and reached towards its cold contents. He picked up a piece of charcoal and held it in his closed fist.
"Trick I learned from Superman," he grinned. "Let's see if it works."
Liz watched as his hand started to glow. Her eyes widened with amazement as she understood what he was doing.
"Oh... my... G..."
"Liz," he turned to look at her, "they're taking our homes from us... and they might..." Max crossed to stand before her. "But when I look in your eyes, I don't feel angry or... deprived. I feel like the luckiest half human on the planet. You're pure, you're true and... you're real. Right now, that seems like the only thing that's important. I want to be with you, Liz. Forever."
"Forever might only be twelve days." Tears shone in her eyes, mixed with the emotion of regret in her voice. Sometimes, life could be so unfair.
"Then we'll take those twelve days and we'll live twelve lifetimes." Max smiled as he placed a pure, bright diamond into her hand, and closed her fingers over it. Liz Parker, will you marry me?"
"Yes," she pulled him into a fierce embrace. There was no hesitation, no doubt. She would marry Max, and live whatever life she had left, happy in his arms. Many had tried, but no one could take their love away. Not then, not now, not ever.
"After graduation," Max chuckled.
The kiss had started out as normal. They nibbled and sucked at each others lips while they gently probed one another with their tongues. At last, their romantic clinch grew in passion, burning with their love and their hope, illuminated by the pure romance that existed between them. They stumbled back toward the lounger until their legs bumped against it. Their next step was inevitable. It had been a long time coming, and they had endured so much to find themselves in this moment. No two lovers in all the cosmos had ever endured what these two had, and yet still they emerged from the forges of doubt with their love intact. Still, they were apprehensive. In spite of their deeply intensive love for each other, in spite of their promise to remain together forever and regardless of all the events that had shaped and molded them, they were both still nervous teenagers. They sat together on the edge of her sun lounger holding hands timidly, looking into the well of one another's eyes. Considering how well they knew each other's souls, how they had seen the other's deepest desires, their shyness seemed out of place, yet so totally in character for the two young spiritual lovers. Soon, their love would finally reach the physical plane where it would doubtless burn as brightly as on any other.
"I love you," Liz breathed in a tentative, trembling voice. She felt that he would need this encouragement. She knew how Max would, even now, fear for her safety. She leaned in for his reaction.
Max was still looking at his feet but he gave a wide grin.
"I love you too," he muttered glancing up at her. "You do know that, right?"
She could see the amusement dancing in his eyes. She was already aware of the true depth of his feelings for her, just as she was aware that he knew the depth of hers for him. He looked deeply into her eyes. The smile disappeared as he searched her for a sign of what she wanted. She hoped that he could see the love and desire that had been building up since they had met those many years ago. True, they had endured obstacles such as none have ever seen before, but they stood triumphant against the forces of darkness and anti-love and had emerged triumphant, as much in love today as they had fallen so deeply that night in the café when Max shared with her his soul. He knew what he wanted now and he knew that she wanted it too. It was time to collect their reward.
Max leaned toward her suddenly and kissed her, swallowing her lips in his, his tongue finding hers. She felt mild surprise as her tongue tickled the roof of his mouth, then her teeth gently closed onto his lower lip. Their passion, when together had never been in doubt. Both knew that once this dam had been unblocked, there would be no closing it. Their love would know no bounds; it would be all or nothing. Their arms tangled in an embrace that grew tighter with each second. Slowly he lowered her to the sun bed next to him. He turned to lean over her and with one hand caressing her hair, he kissed a line down her throat, down into the concave spot at the base of her neck. His hand slid from her hair, leaving a glowing trail where his fingers brushed her velveteen skin along her cheek, her neck, down her arm to her hand, where his fingers meshed with hers. Still nibbling and kissing her neck, he moved his other hand, resting on her stomach, up to the valley between her breasts. Breaking from kissing her neck, he held himself up with his other arm. He trailed his fingertips over her curves and his lips moved back to hers. She moved her hands on his neck and hip, starting to grip him with firm pressure.
She stopped him for a second to sit up and pulled her shirt from her, slowly, wanting to torment him. Her eyes sparkled with merriment. His own, dark yet burning eyes followed her every graceful movement. With her eyes glued to his, she leaned forward. He eagerly accepted her unspoken invitation and reached behind her where he unclasped the back of her delicate, white bra. Teasing and seductive, she slid it off with the grace of an accomplished stripper, covering her now bare breasts with flushed arms. His eyes widened for a moment and moved over her naked, yet hidden breasts. She leaned back to the bed arching her back and stretching. He stared momentarily at her, his mouth watering, his desire burning. Her arms left their protective stance and wrapped around his neck as she pulled him to kiss her again.
"You are so beautiful," he groaned into her lips.
They were the first words spoken, but there was no need for words between them. She could see what he thought of her. He could never hide his feelings where she was concerned. They shared another long, languid kiss but temptation soon took hold of him and he pulled back to move to her breasts. His lips brushed all around her nipples, now erect with exposure to the cool night air and her own excitement, leaving little butterfly kisses to help torment her. He took one of her firm nipples into his mouth and sucked on it, gently. The feelings that swept through her were incredible. She closed her eyes and sighed, pushing herself at Max, offering herself for him to do as he pleased. He moved his hand over to her other breast and he massaged it with a delicate, gentle brushing of his hand. Max took his mouth from her nipple and leaned back a little bit, need visual confirmation that he was pleasing her. Not so much glowing any more, Liz was on fire.
He smiled when she looked up at him. She knew that he could see that she liked it. She knew that he could feel her pleasure. His hands roamed down to her jeans. He cupped his hand over her inner thigh and rubbed gently through the thick denim fabric.
"I'm sorry I didn't wear something more... romantic," she sighed, giving her approval at his touch.
"They're just clothes, darling Liz," his eyes drooped to half-mast. His voice was low, thick with emotion. "Underneath you're still you. Beautiful, wonderful... true. I love you, whatever you wear."
She blinked away the tear that formed in the corner of her eye and slid her hands down to the bottom of his shirt. He was so wonderful. She reached inside and pressed her cool hands on his torso, smiling to hear his almost silent groan. In an easy, fluid movement, she lifted his shirt over his head, regretting the brief loss of touch from his hands. He paused to remove it completely for her. She felt the heat rising in him as well as herself, and he reached down to fumble with her button and unzip her pants. She raised her hips from the bed and he helped her wriggle out of her jeans. Aware of the location of his gaze, she sat up unbuttoned his jeans. He stood up to pull them off. She couldn't help stare. His manhood was already well on its way to a full erection.
"Max," she mouthed, but no sound came out.
"I love you," his silent mouth replied.
She stood up next to him, both of them only in underwear, and pressed her body against his, her naked breasts pressing against him, her erect nipples boring into him. He wrapped his arms around her in a close, protective hug. She knew that he would allow nothing to come between them ever again.
She hugged him, then slid her hands down and hooked her thumbs in his boxer's waistband. She disrobed him in silence, then wordlessly sat him on the edge of the bed. She knelt at his legs, eagerly pawing his thighs open wider so she could lean between his knees. She looked up and found him staring down at her with a somber look of love and desire.
"Are you sure?" he asked. "Liz, you don't..."
"Shhh," she reached her finger to his lips. "I love you, Max. Let me show you how much."
With his eyes showing what he wanted, Max just nodded when she pulled her fingers back.
She smiled a little and raised herself to kiss his lips before reaching in to handle his manhood. She looked with curiosity at his fully hard manliness and gave it a gentle stroke with her innocent hands, feeling the tip, running her finger around the smooth, pliant head. She felt Max shudder beneath her gentle grasp. Holding him in her hand, she kissed his stomach, then, with butterflies fluttering in her stomach, closed her eyes and lovingly touched her lips to the head. She felt his whole body tense when her hot breath teased him. She placed a gentle hand under his testicles, cupping them lightly and then her tongue brushed between her lips and onto his cock. His whole body jumped. Liz had complete and total control of Max and she doubted that he cared one little bit.
Slowly, her mouth enveloped his silken dome, and her tongue swirled over it and around in her mouth.
"Oh, god, Liz," he moaned in a low, husky tone. "That feels so... incredible. You don't know what that is doing to me."
She took him out of her mouth and smiled at him. She grasped him and licked down to the base of his shaft and began kissing and sucking not only on his erect ridge, but alternating onto his taught flesh at the top of his thighs. As she returned her attention to his manhood, he felt himself getting close to his release. He placed his hand to the side of her head as a warning.
"Liz," he warned in an almost guttural plea. "Aahhh"
He stroked her head before suddenly reaching back down and grabbing a handful of blanket. She didn't want to stop, however. She wanted to pay him this ultimate of compliments.
Having had no previous experience, she pulled away when she felt the first of his ejaculations. His fluids landed in her hair. She jumped slightly, then reached up and touched it. She brought her finger to her lips and tasted him. He looked at her with amazement and pure, unadulterated love. Liz looked up with a sheepish smile and he lifted her chin and kissed her. He pulled her to a standing position and still sitting on the bed, kissed directly below her navel as he pulled her against him. She giggled when Max stood up and passed his hand over her head, cleaning her of the mess he had left on her.
They kissed again as he turned her to lay her back on the bed. It was her turn to be loved now. She lay back against the pillows and closed her eyes as Max crawled above her. He kissed her breasts again, nibbling gently on her nipples, sending spasms of burning desire through her. He trailed his kisses to the top of her panties and grabbed them by the sides. She lifted her hips in response and was soon rid of her last piece of clothing. Then there was nothing. It was almost as if Max had gone, though she still felt his presence, and his love for her. She opened her eyes to see him looking into her feminine core, shaking his head slowly.
"You are so beautiful Liz. From the inside out. I love you so much. No matter where or when our souls meet, I will always love and treasure you."
"I know, Max," she gasped as a feeling of warmth swept through her.
His lips resumed where they left off, kissing just above where her panty line had been and continued kissing down onto her mound. She couldn't help the surprised squeak that escaped her. Through half closed eyes, she looked at him gazing at her swollen, parted charms and her pink button peeking out at him. He began sliding his tongue out onto her lower lips. Sensation such that she had never felt before swept through her. Her hands clasped the blanket and her cries echoed off the wall of her balcony. His tongue worked at her, mixing his saliva with her own nectar as it slid inside her, pushing her to her first of many minor climaxes. He slid out and to the far edge and pushed inside. He dragged his tongue up the whole length of her silken folds and onto the hard nub of her female flower that cried for attention. Her whole body went into spasms of glorious delights as she peaked, again and again crying Max's name, giving little care for who heard her. He tried it again and again, and every time his tongue reached her button she jolted as if shocked as she experienced another orgasm. Her leg muscles flexed with every charge.
How different his tongue felt from her own knowing fingers surprised her. She had never known anything that electric, or so intimate. He tasted her wetness as it mixed with his saliva, drinking her, devouring her. He stopped the long strokes and started concentrating only on the hard bud of flesh that brought her so much pleasure. She clutched at her pillow beneath her, then at his head, pressing him into her. He plunged two fingers inside her and she crossed her feet over the back of his head. She felt a sudden rush of pure heat shoot from her toes up through her legs, stomach, chest and neck.
After a moment Liz started to descend from the heights Max had taken her to, and she realized that he had stopped his ravening and that he was sitting up and looking from between her legs to her flushed face. She released him from her grasp.
"That was..." she could scarcely breathe. "That was... wow, Max."
"Yeah," he nodded, a little breathless himself. "You are... wow."
He crawled up on top of her, pressing his lips to hers as his hardness nudged her soaking folds. She reached down and felt the effect her orgasms had had on him.
She guided him so that his tip was pressing at her naked core.
"Are you sure, Liz?" his eyes searched her, hoping she would say yes, but prepared to stop is she said no.
"I want this, Max. I want you."
He kissed her again, and she felt his hand slide between them where she knew he would guide himself inside her.
"Max," she called.
"Yeah," he looked back at her, his face filled with concern.
"Go really slow...please?"
"Of course," he nodded, care now filling his face. "I love you."
"I'm just..." she trailed off as she felt him gently ease into her.
She felt it when his swollen flesh met the membrane that marked her as unspoiled. She felt Max tense up too.
"Relax," he soothed in her ear. "I love you, Elizabeth Parker. And by this sign, as claim you as mine for all eternity."
"Take me, Max," she begged. "I'm yours."
She winced as she felt him thrust into her, breaking her maidenhead. The pain was instantly taken away, dissolved not by any alien ability, but by Max's overriding love for her.
"Oh, Max!" she cried as the overwhelming sensation of love and devotion swept through her. She pulled his body tighter to her.
"Did I hurt you?" He looked stricken.
"No," she shook her head. He had healed her pain and hadn't even realized it. "It was... it was... Please, keep going. Make love to me, Max."
He withdrew a little, filling Liz with a sense of loss while he waited for her to give him a sign. She opened her eyes and nodded. He pressed again, a little more into her this time and waited. Again, she allowed her body to adjust to him before she nodded. He pulled out and started over, going a little farther. He repeated his action, allowing the response from her body to guide him. She started moaning her approval as he pushed into her very hot, very wet, velvet cavern. Her cries started low, a murmuring whimper, which gradually grew in volume until she was only dimly aware that she was screaming. She tightened around him each time he got deeper until she felt him fully inside her. He looked into her eyes again and she burrowed her head deeper into the pillow behind her before languidly closing her eyes. He pumped into her, speeding up as he neared his second orgasm. She spread her legs even further and started rising to meet each thrust. He reached down to her engorged button and rubbed frantically. She could not help herself, and it felt that each of his thrusts caused her to climax. Again and again, her body was wracked with minor spasms. Their efforts seemed to double with every loving thrust until at last, she felt an incredible sensation building deep inside her. She felt him tensing, as he too was sharing this feeling. They both cried out as they shared their climax, one that seemed to take their bodies on a roller coaster ride around the world, through the rings of distant planets, through nebulae, across unknown suns and finally back down to the sun lounger on Liz's balcony in Roswell, New Mexico.
Max allowed his body to relax, and with his manliness still embedded in her, he started to rain gentle kisses on her upturned face.
"Reality is so much better than the dream, darling Liz," he gasped. "I love you. I need you. You don't know just how much I need you. Come to me."
"I'm here, Max," Liz smiled, stroking the dark locks from his forehead. "I would love you in any lifetime, in any world. Our souls would find each other across the entire universe. That's why you came here, Max. Not as a last hope for your people, but to find me."
"I love you Liz. Never, ever forget that. As Zan, or as Max, I love you, and we will be together."
"I know," Liz smiled, reveling in their new closeness. "And I love you. Don't ever doubt that. It's like you said. I belong to you, now."
"And I belong to you. I only hope you still feel that way when you wake up."
"I will," she again pressed her finger to his lips, silencing him. She threw him a shy smile. "Since when did you get so talkative?"
* * *
"Liz!" she heard her best friend, Maria DeLuca calling. She could feel her friend's hand on her shoulder, shaking her from her deep slumber. "Liz! Wake up, babe."
"Maria," Liz groaned. "What are you doing here?"
"Shaking your ass awake," Maria smirked. "Heavy night last night?"
A contented, dreamy smile spread across Liz's sleep filled face as she stretched her lithe body.
"Mmm Hmm," she agreed. A knowing smile spread across her face. "You could say that." Her eyes popped open. "Where'd he go? He was right here when we fell asleep. Hey! How did I get into my bed?" She broke into a smile again. "He must have put me here. Before he left."
"Liz!" Maria's eyes flew wide and her mouth dropped open. "No! You didn't! I mean... Oh my God! Liz? Did you like, go... beyond?"
"Oh my God, Maria," Liz's eyes grew distant as she pulled her blankets to her breast. Her smile was wide, and bright. "Beyond doesn't even begin to describe where we went. I saw stars, Maria. I mean, real stars. I don't mean figuratively. It was just like our first real kiss, you know? Like that time, when things got so out of hand. Our real kiss. I saw real stars, you know? Maria? He took me to heaven and back."
"Wow," was all Maria could murmur. "I'd never of guessed... I mean, who'd a thought..." Maria shook her head, though the disapproving look remained. "Liz? Great as it sounds, are you sure you were ready for that step? I mean..."
"How can you ask me that, Maria?" Liz glared at her friend. There was more than a hint of annoyance in her voice. "After everything we've been through. You know that we were ready. More than ready, I'd say. In fact, long overdue."
"Well, I gotta tell you, Chica," Maria was shaking her head. "I'm surprised. Disappointed and surprised. Disappointed that you did it at all, and surprised that it was as good as you say it was."
"Yeah," Liz smiled again. She knew Maria would get over her shock. It wasn't as though it was something Maria hadn't already experienced. "It was... It was incredible. And you know what? It's all been worth it. Everything. All of those terrible things I had to live through? Those things I had to do? It was all worth it. Oh, and Maria? He asked me to marry him."
"What?" Maria shrieked. Her face fell. "Liz? I hope you said no. Tell me you turned him down."
"Of course not," Liz snapped, her eyes blazing for a moment. "Of course I said yes."
"Who are you?" Maria demanded. "What are you thinking? I mean, Liz? Are you sure? Like, come on. What about all of your plans? Your dreams?"
"My dream is to always be in his arms, now, Maria."
"Wow," Maria shook her head with dismay. "This is worse than I thought."
"Maria?" Liz looked at her friend, her eyes narrowed in confusion. "When did you cut your hair?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your hair. When did you cut it short again? It looked better before. Long hair suits you. This way makes you look younger, though."
"Uh huh," Maria backed toward the door. "Look, Liz? Happy as I am that you've taken that next step in your relationship... not, are you going to haul yourself out of that bed and get your ass downstairs? We have got hungry masses downstairs demanding alien themed fats and carbohydrates, and I refuse to face them alone."
"We're working today?"
"That would be, yeah," Maria rolled her eyes.
"Okay, Maria. Can you give me ten? I need to shower and dress."
* * *
"Hi, my name's Liz and I'll be your waitress this morning," she delivered her memorized greeting to the old man sitting in one of her booths.
"You have quite a selection here," the man kept studying the menu. "What can you recommend?"
"Well," Liz turned the page for him. "The burgers are all pretty good, if you like them, that is. But I know that our heavenly hash special is popular."
"I think that's more my style than a burger," he nodded. "Especially for breakfast."
"Okay," she wrote his order down on her pad. "Can I get you anything else with that? Coke? Smoothie?" She looked around the room, wondering where Max might be. When she was working the early shift, he always came in for breakfast. She hoped he wouldn't be too long. After what they had shared last night, her heart, no her soul wanted to see him again.
"Just a coffee, please," the man handed her his menu. "Black. No sugar."
"Sure," Liz nodded. "I'll be right back with your coffee. Your meal will be a little longer, I'm afraid."
"Michael not working this morning?" Liz asked as she clipped her order to the carousel.
"Just Jose," Maria shook her head. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her friend. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"It's just..."
"I wonder where he is?" Liz looked toward the front door.
"Who? Romeo? Relax. He'll be here. He probably met up with the guys. You know. Bragging. About last night."
"What?" Liz turned and faced her friend. "You know he would never..."
"Table eight wants you," Maria nodded at the heavyset man waving in their direction.
"I can't believe you would say such a thing," Liz picked up the coffeepot, a spare mug and turned toward the man attracting her attention.
"What can I say," Maria shrugged her shoulders at her retreating friend. "He's a guy."
* * *
The elderly gentleman attracted Liz's attention. She saw that he had eaten his meal.
"Either he wants desert, or the bill," Liz shrugged.
"Or a refill," Maria nodded.
"Yes, sir?" Liz stepped up next to his table. "Can I get you anything else?"
"No, thank you, Liz. Just the bill."
"Okay," Liz pulled out her pad and picked through the pages to his order. "So that was the Heavenly Hash special and a cup of coffee." She scribbled the figures she knew by heart onto the bill, and tore it from her pad, handing it to the man.
"Excuse me, miss?" the man called as Liz turned away. "Uhm, Liz? You've got the price wrong."
"I have?" Liz turned back with a frown.
"Yeah," he nodded and pointed to the board. "It says five ninety nine up there, but you've written six forty nine."
Liz looked from her written bill to the board and back again.
"I'm sorry," she shook her head, taking the bill back. She corrected the figures and handed him the corrected figures.
"I guess you were daydreaming, huh?"
"Yeah," Liz smiled. "I do apologize, sir."
"That's okay," the man placed a ten dollar bill on the table. "Time gets away from me, too, sometimes. I'm always finding myself in a strange dream."
"Right," Liz nodded with a frown.
"Thank you for the recommendation, Liz. The meal was lovely. My compliments to the chef."
"Of course," Liz picked up the money. "I'll just..."
"That's okay. You can keep it." He placed his hat on his head.
"Thank you," Liz smiled. "Please come again."
"Of course," the man tapped his fingers to the brim of his hat. "I hope to see you soon, Elizabeth."
* * *
Liz sat by the counter with her chin propped up by her hand.
"What's up babe?" Maria asked. "I thought you'd still be floating after your journey through outer space last night."
"Can you say that a little louder," Liz clapped her hand over Maria's mouth and looked to the other end of the counter where her father was pouring some coffee. "I don't think my dad quite heard you."
"Relax," Maria shook her complaint away. "He never heard, okay? So what's up?"
"He hasn't been in yet."
"Liz, get a grip. Okay? He's probably met up with some friends."
"What friends?" Liz stared at her friend. "Maria, there's only two places he would be. And you know that when I'm working, he's always here."
"Well, relax, Chica," Maria smirked. "Here he comes now."
Liz turned to the door, her heart beating wildly.
Kyle entered the café, and started walking toward them with a smile on his face. Liz looked behind him, expecting to see Max but there was no sign of him. Kyle stepped up next to Liz and pulled her into an embrace, trying to capture her lips.
"Kyle!" Liz started to push him away when he tried to kiss her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm trying to kiss my girlfriend," he frowned at her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Girlfriend?" Liz spluttered. "What are you talking about, Kyle?"
"Uh, Liz?" Kyle looked confused. He glanced at Maria and then back at Liz. "Has something happened since last night?"
"Liz," Maria put her arm around her. "Are you okay?"
"What is up with you two?" Liz demanded. "First, Maria gets all weird on me because Max and I finally took that next step in our relationship. Then she flips 'cause I told her that he asked me to marry him. And now Kyle pretends were still together."
"Who's Max?" Kyle glared at Liz, his face flushed with anger.
"What?" Liz blinked.
"Yeah, Liz?" Maria narrowed her eyes. Her face broke into a pout. "When you said, beyond, and marriage, I assumed you meant with Kyle. Who's this Max guy, and how long have you been holding out on me?"
"Wait," Kyle snapped. "What do you mean, beyond? Marriage? What the fuck's going on?"
"She told me that the two of you did the wild thing last night."
"Not with me, she didn't," Kyle glared at Liz. "I've never even got past first base. Are you trying to tell me you stayed all virginal with me but you put out for some guy none of us even knows?"
"Max," she grabbed Maria's sleeve. "You know, Max Evans. My soul mate. The guy we've lived through two years of hell for. Max Max."
"Who the hell is Max Evans?" Maria and Kyle asked, looking at each other.
The bell above the door rang out. Liz turned to the door hoping to see Max come in and her friends all shout surprise at her, or something. It was a surprise all right. Through the door, with a stupid grin on his face, walked Alex Whitman. The world went black as the floor raced up to meet Liz's head.
* * *
