Learning to Breathe, M/L, Ch. 13, 7/8/05, MATURE [WIP]

[IluvMaxEvans]

Author: IluvMaxEvans
Title: Learning to Breathe
Category: M/L, C/C
Rating: MATURE, for language, some sensuality, might venture into NC-17 but I'll let ya'll know if it does
Disclaimer: I own nothing at all, I wish I owned Roswell, but sadly I don't.
Summary: Future Max comes to Liz, but she doesn't want to lose Max. She tells him and he starts a charade going to keep Tess around...well Liz starts to feel, unloved, and angry, so yeah...I'm bad at summaries, very angsty
Author's Note: Hey all, this is my first really C/C fic, so yeah...I hope you guys like it ok, justa let you know, this first chapter was actually 2 when i started this story a LOONG time ago...my writing style was also different back then...but it picks up in chapter 4 or 3...depends on whether or not I join chapters 3 and 4 together...anyways taht's where I recently picked this story up, after a 2 month absense, lol, justa let you know, regualr posting days from now on will be Tuesday and Friday



Thanks to Crashdown_51 for the awesome banner!!


Chapter 1


Liz stood at the Crashdown's counter, her chin resting on her hand as she gazed at Max Evans. Sighing in frustration, she turned away as Tess Harding walked in and took the empty seat across from him.

Ever since that...that...vixen came into town claiming her "destiny" with Max, she had been all over him. Max tried as hard as possible to avoid her, he loved Liz...but Liz didn't make it very easy, not at all.

Ever since Future Max came, Liz had been trying incessantly to push Max away, at least to Tess that's what it seemed like. After they had their first meeting, Liz convinced Future Max to let her tell Max. She told Max about this "Future Max" and he agreed to help her make Tess believe that she was pushing Max away.

Even though it wasn't for real, sometimes Max and she had to exchange such hurtful comments...it sure felt real, but Max was always there later to help make her feel better, promising that it would all be over soon.

Lately though…well, let’s just say it hadn’t been very peachy lately at all. Lately she had considered breaking it off for real. She wasn’t happy anymore…there were a rare few minutes when she was alone with Max that she was happy…but other than that…she was miserable.

"Liz! Or should I call you space cadet, your order has been up for the last 2 minutes!" Maria exclaimed, snapping Liz out of it.

"Oh, yeah," Liz said absently, picking up her order and taking it over
to table 5, "here you go, sorry for the delay," she apologized. The two old ladies at the table nodded and Liz headed back to the kitchen, taking off her apron as she went.

"Hey Chica, where are you going?" Maria called from a table by the front door where she was taking an order.

"I'm taking the rest of my shift off, I only have half an hour...can you cover it for me please? Thanks, I owe you one!" Liz exclaimed without waiting for an answer. They often did this, cover for each other, it really was nothing.

She went up to her bedroom and shut the door, sighing. At least in the privacy of her bedroom, she couldn't be bothered...she couldn't see Max with Tess...pretending to love her. Kicking her shoes off, she headed over to her bed, taking off article after article of clothing, exhausted from the busy Saturday crowd.

By the time she was tucked under her covers and trying to fall asleep, Liz was only in her bra and panties. She sighed and closed her eyes, hoping to get a relaxing afternoon nap.

"You know...you really need to close your window before stripping down like that, there could be some stalker out here watching you, like me," Max said from her balcony, grinning mischievously.

Liz shrieked in fright before it turned into nervous giggles. Pulling her bed sheet closer to herself, she patted her bed, inviting Max to sit down. He crawled through the window and plopped down next to her, looking almost as exhausted as Liz.

"Have a rough day?" Liz asked, stroking his hair. He closed his eyes and sighed, then groaned, rolling on his side to face Liz.

"Hell yeah, Tess following me around like a lost puppy all day...ugh..."Max said in an exasperated tone. Liz laughed as Max then stared up at the ceiling.

"Do you want to go out tonight? I have a date with Tess, but it should be over by around 10, I dunno, we could have some fun for once since this mess has started "Max asked, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Sure, why not, I’m always up for some fun these days, now, I'm going to take a nap, otherwise I'll fall asleep in the middle of our date,"
Liz said, giving him a quick kiss before shooing him out with her hand. Max smiled at her before leaving the same way he came in.

~The next day~

“Why do I put up with him…why?” Maria asked Liz the next day as they were serving out orders. Liz sighed. Maria and Michael had yet another argument…about what? Who knew? One minute they were making out in the back room, the next they would be screaming their heads off at each other.

“You put up with him because you love him Maria,” Liz replied, glancing over at her.

“But do I really…I mean he can just be so…so…infuriating sometimes! Speak of the devil,” she mumbled, stacking up her plates and storming to the back.

“What’s with her?” Michael asked, walking up to Liz, hands in his jacket pockets. Liz rolled her eyes and motioned for Michael to follow her to the kitchen, where she quickly dumped the dishes, then turned to Michael, hands on her hips.

“You guys got in ANOTHER fight? I can’t believe you two really…” Liz said, Michael gave her a look of sheer ignorance and Liz couldn’t help busting out laughing. Maria walked in the room and looked at her like she was insane.

“Chica…you all right?” Maria asked taking a step towards her, lately it was an odd sight to see Liz laughing, she had been taking the Max Tess thing pretty roughly.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Liz asked, her laughter subsiding a little bit. Maria rolled her eyes, and then glared over at Michael, who was getting ready for his shift.

“Maria…get over there and TALK TO HIM,” Liz whispered, pushing Maria in that direction before walking off.

“Um…Michael…?” Maria asked, walking up to him nervously.

“Before you start…what were we fighting about in the first place?” Michael asked while starting up the grill. Maria put her hand on her chin, making it look like she was in deep thought.

“I have absolutely no clue,” she mumbled. Michael let out a chuckle and Maria smiled along, “let’s just forget it…this time, next time…your out of luck mister.”

“Sure,” Michael said, grinning, and getting him a playful slap on the arm, “when’s your shift end?”

“6:00, then Liz and I are going to spy on Max and the evil Vixen called Tess, care to join?” Maria asked.

“I’ll think about it, but I’m sure Alex will, he loves doing stuff like that…now if you’ll excuse me, I got to fry me up some burgers!” Michael said, placing some burger patties on the grill. Maria leaned in and kissed him before going back out to clean a table.

“Max! Psssst! Max! C’mere!” Liz quietly exclaimed from the storage room of the Crashdown. Max was sitting by himself at a booth, obviously waiting for Tess. He glanced secretly back at her, then got
up and walked quickly towards her.

“This is risky, Tess will be here any second,” Max said, walking into the room and kissing her deeply.

“Who cares? I had to see you,” Liz said, her voice breathy, kissing Max back.

“I miss being away from you so long, hanging out with Tess all the time, but I know that she’ll probably hurt you if she sees us together, and your safety means the world to me Liz,” Max said, stroking her hair and gazing her in the eyes.

“Max…I’m a big girl…I’ll be fine,” Liz said smiling, then kissing Max before pulling away from him, “now go before Tess is here.”

“I love you,” Max said, before leaving the storage room. Liz watched him sit back down in the booth, and a second later, watched Tess sit down with him. Sighing, she fixed her apron and wiped the tear from the corner of her eye that had obviously just appeared, before stepping out and walking out to the kitchen where Maria and Michael were sharing a steamy kiss.

“I see you two made up,” Liz said bitterly, picking up her orders.

“What’s the matter…oooooh…Tess is here, do you want me wait their table?” Maria asked.

“No, actually, I will, but would you mind taking these to table 3? Thank you Maria,” Liz said as Maria took the plates.

“Be careful,” Maria warned, as she went to serve the food. Liz took a deep breath and walked out to Max and Tess’ table.

“Hey guys, can I take your orders?” Liz asked the two, glancing
bitterly from Tess, to discreetly, lovingly at Max.

“I’ll take the usual, Will Smith and Saturn rings,” Max said, looking at Liz, but his voice sounding irritated. Tess glared at Liz from her seat.

“Same here,” she said, taking Max’s hand in her own from across the table. Max looked at Tess and smiled at her warmly, which Liz knew in her mind was all an act, but it just seemed so real from here she was standing that she couldn’t help but feel jealous. She nodded her head and walked back to the kitchen, sighing in frustration the second she was out of earshot.

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Note: Thans for the replies guys! This is the last chapter that I wrote a while ago, after this they are more recent, and I like them alot better I hope you will too

Chapter 2


“Hey Alex! Iz!” Liz exclaimed from back of the kitchen as the two walked in. Alex looked up when he heard his name being called and smiled, leading Isabel towards Liz, and glanced over at Max and Tess on the way, sending Max a look of sympathy and Tess an unnoticed look of scorn.

“I feel for you Liz…I won’t blame you if you go up to her this instant and knock her lights out, matter of fact, I’d like to join you…but I’ll restrain, being the gentleman that I am” Alex said, smiling.

Isabel shook her head, but couldn’t hold back the smile that escaped from her mouth. Though they weren’t exactly dating…there was undeniable chemistry between the two.

“Maybe…but right now isn’t the time…right now I have to take their food out to them” Liz said, picking up the two plates that appeared and walking out to their booth. She gazed down at the floor, making a beeline for their booth. She silently readied herself for Tess’ snide comments or remarks, but wasn’t ready for something else.

Right as she was about to look up and set down their plates Tess stuck her foot out, tripping Liz.

She let out a shriek as she tumbled to the floor face first with a loud thud, and the trays crashing and spilling all over the place, their contents with them. Max instantaneously jumped out of his seat and leaned down to help Liz up, grasping her hand, and when she was fully standing she turned bout face and glared viciously at Tess.

“You did that on purpose,” Liz seethed. She balled her fists up to keep from attacking Tess right then and there. Every fiber in her body was telling her to lunge for the bitch and tear her hair out, but her brain was telling her to be calm. Everyone was looking at the 3 of them, and Liz started to become irritated, sending a few of the people irritated glances.

“Why would I ever do something like that?” Tess asked with false innocence, her hand resting on her chin.

“Stop playing the dumb blonde (sorry to all my readers that are blond…I used to be blonde so yea…lol) and admit it, your leg didn’t just happen to stick out at that exact second, you were just being a bitch,” Liz exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Tess.

“Fine, I admit it…but you asked for it bitch. Max told me about you pulling him in that closet and kissing him, and I don’t quite frankly like you trying to make moves on MY man!” Tess said venomously. Liz looked wide-eyed at Max, ‘he told?!?!?’ she thought, but he glared her down. In her mind she thought there must be a good reason, but the hurt extended over the rest.

Feeling tears forming in her eyes, and not knowing why, she turned on her heels, not bothering to clean up her mess and fled up to her room, away from everyone. Tess grinned triumphantly up at Max before grabbing a hold of his hand and dragging him out of the Crashdown.

“That bitch!” Maria and Alex exclaimed at once, rushing upstairs to make sure Liz was alright, while Isabel glanced over at Michael and shook her head.

“Agnes, can you clean that up please?” Michael asked. She grunted a yes and Michael turned his attention back to the food, sighing before flipping the burgers, “I hope Maxwell knows what he has gotten himself trapped in to.”

“Yeah, me too,” Isabel said, a far out look in her eyes, she was visibly worried about Max, but wouldn’t admit it to anyone. She sighed and went out to get a table and wait for Alex, Maria, and Liz.

“Liz! Liz! Open up!” Maria exclaimed, banging on Liz’s bedroom door, which she had locked and refused to open.

“Liz…we just want to help you!” Alex pleaded, with his voice full of compassion.

“J…just go away and leave me alone!” Liz exclaimed, not really wanting anyone in the same room with her right now, she was a mess, and didn’t want to be seen in the state she was in.

“Liz…don’t make me get Isabel up here,” Alex said in a threatening tone, meaning if she didn’t open up, he’d have Isabel magically open the door, he probably wouldn’t have stooped to that level, but he knew

Liz didn’t want to take any chances. She didn’t say anything, but they heard her feet shuffle across the room and then the door clicked and she threw it open. Maria took one look at her, disheveled and puffy eyed, and she embraced her.

“Shhhh…..Shhhh….it’s okay Chica…it’s ok…Max didn’t mean it…just remember that…he had to tell her, he didn’t mean to hurt you,” Maria said soothingly, stroking Liz’s hair while they embraced.

“I know…but sometimes it just…gets sooooo hard!” Liz exclaimed, a few more tears falling out of her eyes and splashing on the floor.

“Liz…it may be hard…well, it probably WILL be hard, but just remember, we’re here for you…Max is here for you…just not when he’s with that evil bitch,” Alex said, putting a hand on his friend’s shoulder comfortingly.

“I love you guys…really; I love you more than my family sometimes,” Liz said, “I know that sounds awful, but it’s true, you don’t ground me for not doing my chores.” She laughed a bit, trying to shake off the way she really felt. It helped a little and Maria pulled back from the embrace, smiling at her attempt to make a joke.

“At least we know you’re back to normal…back to your corny jokes,” Maria said, laughing. Liz smiled and then sighed.

“I’m going to fix myself up before I show my face downstairs again…is…did they leave?” Liz asked tentatively.

“Yes, we did, but I had to see how you were,” Max said, startling Liz. She turned towards his voice and saw that he had snuck in through her balcony, “I’m sooooo sorry Liz.”

“We’ll be downstairs,” Alex said, giving Liz a small smile before leaving the room and going downstairs with Maria to meet up with Isabel.

“Max…I can’t do this anymore…it’s too hard, and now that you told her that lie…she’s going to keep constant 24-7 watch on you, and she’s going to get more vicious than ever,” Liz said, shutting her door behind Maria and Alex.

“I am going to do everything in my power to keep you safe, and to keep
her from harming you again…you don’t know how hard it was for me to see you fall and not be able to check and see if you were all right, helping you up was the only thing I could do…” Max said, “by the way, are you alright?”

“Yes, just scraped my knee up a bit,” Liz said, lifting her dress a smidge to show him, Max came over to her automatically and put his hand over it, removing it a second later, healed and scrape-less. Liz smiled at him before continuing “thanks Max…so, how’d you get rid of Tess?”

“I told her I had to meet my father for something, she bought it, I dropped her off, and came back here,” Max said. Liz nodded in understanding and sat on her bed, looking down at her feet.

“When is this all gonna end?” she asked, looking up at him with questioning eyes.

“Soon…hopefully soon. I can’t promise you anything right now…but soon
she’ll give up, and go somewhere else…I know that Future Max said I needed her or there would be a big war and stuff, but I don’t much care about that…all I care about it you,” Max said. Liz smiled up at him, and pulled him down for a kiss.

“I miss you so much sometimes,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“The feeling is returned, I have to go now, but I’ll see you tomorrow at school,” Max said, standing up. Liz stood up with him and gave him one last lingering kiss before letting him go home.

“I love you,” she said quietly to him right as he was about to retreat down the ladder.

“God knows I love you too,” he said, blowing her a kiss and quickly sliding down her ladder.

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Roswell

Author's Note: Thanks to all the readers, this is the start of the new chapters, so they aren't combined anymore, and they get a little angstier


Chapter 3

Liz walked down the highway of West Roswell High, scanning the crowds of students. The different cliques. None of which included her. Did she care? No.

She had never been a clique kinda girl, she stuck to one or two friends…which in her case were Maria and Alex, until Max came along.

Max had helped her open up to more people. Max had helped her become a better person. Max…was walking with his arm around Tess down the hallway.

Liz froze and eyed them as they passed, pretending to wait for the space in front of her locker to clear. Tess gave her a smug smile and Max just gazed at her, his eyes cold. Liz knew he couldn’t show emotion for her around Tess…but she couldn’t help the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes as she opened her locker.

Finally lunch came along. Max had warned her that this wouldn’t be easy on her…and so far he was correct, but somehow today was the worst so far. So bad that during History she just wanted to stand up and run home…just get away from Tess…get the sight of Max with his arm around her out of her head.

That should be HER. Max should be walking down the halls with his arm around HER. Liz Parker. The only thing that truly kept her going was the little re-assuring talks with Maria and Alex.

She walked to her normal table in the quad and plopped herself down, taking out a book that she was currently reading. She was so engrossed in it that she didn’t even notice when someone sat down next to her.

“Earth to Liz Parker!” Came Maria’s irritated voice.

“What’s up Ria?” Liz asked; book marking her page and setting the book down, now paying attention to the apple in her hand.

“What’s up? Apparently gossip about a certain best friend of mine started by one blonde haired, fake boobed bitch!” Maria exclaimed, gaining the stares of a few people in the surrounding area.

“Ooooo, gossip, spill,” Alex said, taking the other seat next to Liz.

“Tess spread a rumor around that Liz was a man stealing whore, trying to get herself into Max’s pants!” Maria exclaimed once again, but this time her tone was a bit more hushed.

“First part is totally wrong! The whole thing is totally wrong! She might as well have been describing herself…though Liz…I’m sure the second thing isn’t that far from your mind…” Alex said with a grin on his face.

“Oh my god Alex I can’t believe you just said that! Oh my god…Maria can I hide under the table?” Liz groaned, nodding in the direction of the door. Max and Tess were coming out, hand in hand, Michael and Isabel following, and disgusted looks on their faces.

“Feel free to…but it might be sorta dirty,” Maria said, “wait, just stay, they’ve already seen you…and here they come…hey space boy! Come here!”

Michael let a half smile emerge on his face and he sat down next to Maria, kissing her quickly.

“Hey Isabel!” Alex said shyly. Isabel smiled in reply and took a seat next to Michael. There was just enough room for Max and Tess, who sat down across from Liz. Tess had her usual fake smile pasted on and it made Liz want to barf.

“Ria, Alex, I just remembered that I have a major project due in one of my classes, so I’m going to go to the library to get some research done,” Liz said, getting up quickly and grabbing her books. She didn’t even wait for them to reply before she made her way to the library.

“She’s so weird,” Tess mumbled.

“Yeah, I know,” Max replied, his eyes following Liz out. He waited as long as humanly possible before speaking up again, “Tess, I have to see Mr. Seligman about some class work I missed last week, I’ll see you next block.” She nodded and leaned in to kiss him, but Max slightly moved his face so that it hit his cheek.

He was out of the quad faster than you could have thought possible and on his way to the library. Once inside he looked around for Liz and found her in a shadowed corner, her face in her palms, sobbing.

“Liz,” he said quietly, approaching the table. She sniffed and looked up at him.

“How foolish of me huh? Crying over you like I have lost you or something…I…I don't know Max…I can’t deal with this…I try…really, you gotta believe me, but I just…can’t anymore!” Liz cried out. Max took a chair and pulled it up next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.

“Liz…please just try…please, summer break is only 1 month…then I won’t have to see her as much, please Liz, just don't give up,” Max said soothingly as Liz sobbed into his chest.

“It’s just so hard…so tiring, it breaks my heart every time you ignore me in the hallways…every time you have to pretend like I’m not there…and did you hear the rumor? Now I’m a man stealing whore who just wants to get in your pants!” Liz exclaimed. Max sighed and hugged her closer.

“Yeah I heard that…trust me…when I did, I wanted to blast her to next month right then and there, but I’m doing this all for you Liz, completely 100 for you…I don’t want her hurting you,” Max replied.

“But she is…more than you think, she’s hurting me possibly even more than if she were to kick me silly…because she’s not aiming anywhere on the outside…she’s aiming here,” she held her hand to her heart, “and she has perfect aim Max…over and over….stabbing me in the heart…it’s like I’m slowly dying Max…inch by inch…if I have to see her with you again…I’ll crack Max, I will crack!”

Max felt the tears rolling down his cheeks but decided to ignore them. Liz needed her right now…he hated himself. He was hurting her more than he thought he was, and now it was obvious.

The library door opened and he turned his head to see a frantic Isabel jogging towards them.

“Tess saw you in here from the quad…she’s on her way!” Isabel exclaimed. Liz looked at Max, fear in her eyes and he pulled her up.

“Isabel, get her out of here, I’ll deal with Tess,” Max said firmly. Isabel nodded and took Liz’s arm. She yanked it free, running to Max and kissing him one last time before quickly exiting the library, leaving Max alone to face Tess.

TBC.....Friday

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: i own nothing
Author's Note: I know this is sorta getting mixed reviews, lol, when i first started writing it, i had no clue where I was going with this story, thus why I stopped writing it for about 2 months, but it's not going to be so weird...i think that's the word, lol, anyways, thanks for the reviews, hope you enjoy


Chapter 4

“Isabel what is he going to do?” Liz asked as they rushed into the Eraser Room, Isabel magically locking the door.

“Max is a big boy…he’ll figure something out, don't worry Liz,” Isabel said, though her eyes revealed that she was just as scared as Liz, “what was going on when I got in there anyways, you looked pretty upset.”

Liz diverted her eyes and remembered the speech she had said to Max…she didn’t mean it to come out the way it did…she didn’t want it to seem like she was blaming him much…but it did.

“But she is…more than you think, she’s hurting me possibly even more than if she were to kick me silly…because she’s not aiming anywhere on the outside…she’s aiming here,” she held her hand to her heart, “and she has perfect aim Max…over and over…stabbing me in the heart…it’s like I’m slowly dying Max…inch by inch…if I have to see her with you again…I’ll crack Max, I will crack!”

“Um…I was just telling Max that…that I um couldn’t take this anymore…It’s harder than you think Iz,” Liz said, trying with all her might not to let tears spill out of her eyes. Isabel sensed her discomfort and opened her arms for Liz.

Liz hesitated, this was uncommon for Isabel, sure they got along, but Isabel had never really been the person to soothe other people. Liz stepped into her embrace and cried into her shoulder, not caring anymore.

“Thanks for being a friend,” she whispered a minute later as the tears slowly subsided.

“Not a problem…not a problem at all,” Isabel said quietly.

Max took a deep breath as he saw the library door open. He decided at the last second to sit down, and he had a book in his hands.

“MAX!” Tess exclaimed, getting a glare from the librarian as she did. Max looked up from his book and pasted on a fake semi-smile.

“Tess, what brings you here? I was just reading up on something for that missing assignment,” he lied expertly. Max had learned to lie so that his voice didn’t crack, and he pretty much had down the technique of hiding his emotions in his eyes.

“Tell me what I just saw wasn’t true!” she said in a quiet exclamation.

“What did you see?” Max asked slowly, setting the book down.

“You were embracing LIZ PARKER! I thought WE were going out! I thought you HATED HER!” Tess shrieked.

“Yeah…you saw right…I was helping her through a hard time Tess…look, I got my assignment and came in here, she was a wreck, so I came over to check it out, her Grandma, on her mom’s side, just died, and she wasn’t taking it well, that’s why she acted weird at lunch today,” Max lied, saying the first thing that popped to his mind.

“Oh…well you didn’t have to hug her…remember Max, I’m your destiny…not her,” Tess said with a haughty smile. Max smiled back and accepted the kiss she gave him, trying not to gag when she subtly snaked her tongue in his mouth.

“We should get going, bell’s gonna ring any second now, walk me to class?” Tess asked, lacing her fingers with Max’s, making him shiver with disgust, but she mistook it for lust.

“I always do,” he replied. They slowly walked out of the library and down the hall towards Tess’ next class.

“He should be done by now, let’s go Liz,” Isabel said, unlocking the door and heading out. Bad move. No sooner had the 2 of them left the eraser room and started to walk down the hall did Max and Tess round the corner, hand in hand, Tess’ smirk bigger than usual.

“Liz, I’m sooooo sorry about you grandma’s death, and I’m glad my BOYFRIEND here could help you with it, but next time, back off and get one of your loser friends to help you,” she said, sickly sweet at first, but then the last part coming out in a sneer.

“Tess, thank you so much, but Max is a big boy, and I’m sure he doesn’t need you telling him what to do, or whom to help,” Isabel said crossly, glaring at the girl. Liz took this time to gaze up at Max. He met her eyes and could tell that she was hurt still and he mouthed sorry to her before directing his vision back to Tess.

“Let’s go, we’re going to be late,” he said as the bell rang. She smiled up at him and pulled him closer to her by his arm as they walked away.

Liz glanced over her shoulder at the two of them quickly moving to their next class.

“Take me home please Isabel,” Liz whispered, her bottom lip quivering. Isabel understood completely and led Liz quickly to the Jeep. Max could walk home for all she cared. He needed to find a way to fix this. Now. Or he was going to be one sorry man when Liz broke it off permanently with him.

“Are you sure you don’t need anything Liz?” Isabel asked as they sat in the Jeep, in front of the Crashdown.

“Yeah…actually, could you tell Alex and Maria that I wasn’t feeling well…just so they won’t worry,” Liz said, smiling at Isabel.

“Absolutely, now, go on and rest…throw some darts at a picture of Tess…relax,” Isabel said, her face lighting up when Liz laughed at the second comment. It was so rare that Liz laughed nowadays.

Liz waved goodbye and ran to the alley, quickly climbing up the ladder and onto her balcony. She knew exactly what she wanted….had to do. She went over to a small box and took a pen and a sheet of stationary out of it before sitting on her lounge chair outside.

Dear Max,

As you read this letter please remember that I love you…and I tried…really Max. I need you to respect my wishes…and please just don't question me about this. Now…this is the hard part of the letter, so I’m just going to get straight through it. Max I think we should…I think we should take a break…you know…see other people.

Obviously you have Tess…and well, I think I just want to be single for a while…I want to have stress free days, and nights. I don't want to have to walk through school and see you and Tess and feel jealous…my heart breaks in 2 every single time I have to see you holding her hand…see you kissing her…I can only wish that it were me, only wish that I was the one you were kissing…but it can’t be, not as long as she’s around. Not as long as you play around with this charade.

Max this may not seem like a good idea to you…but PLEASE just respect my wishes. I wish I could say we can still be friends…but we can’t Max. It would just be too hard…and it’s not healthy for me.

Do you know that I’ve lost 7 pounds since you started this charade with Tess? If I lose anymore weight it could get serious…Maria has noticed, and it’s only a matter of time until my parents do.

Realize how painstakingly hard this is for me to write. Please realize though, that I wouldn’t write it if I didn’t mean every single word.

I love you Max…believe me when I say that. But I need space.

Liz

She carefully creased the letter and slipped it into an envelope, sealing it. She put it in her lap and gazed down at it, and only when a tear fell onto it did she realize she had been crying the whole time, and there was most likely tear stains on the letter.

Breaking it off with Max had been the farthest thing from her mind about 2 months ago…but now she realized it was in her best interest…and eventually Max would see that it was in his best interest as well. Both of them would be better off, not to mention safer without leading this double life.

She slowly got up and went back down the ladder, looking around for a car. She saw Agnes go out to her car and rushed to her.

“Agnes…can you take me to school please? I just have to drop something off, and then we can come back, please Agnes…” Liz pleaded to the older woman. Her face stayed hard for a minute but then it softened and she nodded.

Liz smiled and got in the passengers seat. Agnes started to engine and they made their way quickly to West Roswell High.

“I’ll be right back,” Liz said, running into the school and to Max’s locker. He would have to come back here at least once more. She slipped the letter in the opening and quickly made her way out of the school, just as the end of the day bell rang.

“Liz! Liz!” she heard Maria call, but she ignored her, running out to the car.

“Hit it Agnes,” she said, quickly buckling up. She nodded and they quickly drove back to the Crashdown, where Liz once again thanked her, and made her way to her room.

3 hours later

The sun was finally setting and Liz closed her last text book, finished with all her studying and homework. Several times her phone rang and several times Maria and Alex left messages on the phone, both saying how concerned they were. One was even from Max, who had read the letter and was panicking on the phone pretty much.

“Liz, what’s this about? Please tell me it’s a joke…a sick joke…Liz pick up!” his voice rang through her head. Tired of the incessant calls she finally pulled the phone out of the wall and threw it to the ground.

She knew she was shutting everyone out, but she couldn’t help it. She wanted nothing to do with anyone right now.

After putting the books away she went into her bathroom and took a long bubble bath, which helped soothe her minimally before memories of Max flooded into her mind. She changed into a tank top and shorts and lay down on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Rap rap rap!

She jolted up and looked over to her window, only to have her heartbeat accelerate when she saw Max there, his eyes puffy and begging her to let him in.

He had been crying. It was obvious. But she didn’t care…she had cried too much in these past few months.

She got up and walked over to the window, opening it up halfway.

“Max, why are you here?” she said, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.

“Liz please reconsider…you don’t mean this!” he exclaimed, taking the letter out of his pocket.

“There is nothing to reconsider Max…I meant everything in that letter...every single word…every single feeling,” Liz proclaimed.

“I told you it’s only a month before summer…we can go away somewhere…she won’t suspect anything…please Liz…I don’t love her! I love you and I’m doing this for YOU!” Max said, his eyes becoming glassy from tears.

“G…goodbye Max,” Liz whispered, shutting the window and locking it. She could hear Max calling her name and banging on the window, but she simply blocked it out as she walked into her bathroom and shut the door and locked it, sinking down to the floor in tears once she was in.

Max watched as Liz walked into her bathroom, shutting the door…shutting him out. Sure he could open the window with his powers, but that would just make things worse.

He had gone to his locker after the last class of the day, Tess trailing behind, and found 2 notes, one from Isabel explaining that he would have to get a ride form Tess, and a blank white envelope.

Opening it quickly he recognized Liz’s handwriting and pushed the letter back in.

“Tess, I’ll see you tomorrow…I have to do some stuff alone,” he said to her. She pouted, but walked away none the less after a kiss to the cheek.

He decided to walk home and took out the letter. After reading it through 3 times to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating he folded it up carefully and raced to the nearest phone, calling Liz’s number.

“Liz, what’s this about? Please tell me it’s a joke…a sick joke…Liz pick up!” he said frantically into the phone before the robotic voice came on saying that the phone line was temporarily disconnected.

He slammed the phone down and went to Isabel’s room.

“Isabel!” he exclaimed, “read this!” Isabel read it and when she was done, looked incredulously at Max.

“I…I thought she would crack…but not this soon!” she exclaimed, looking at the piece of paper in her hands.

“I’m going to see her,” Max said, pulling his leather jacket on.

“No…that will make it worse,” Isabel said. Max glared at her and stomped off.

After waiting 3 hours he couldn’t wait any longer and he made his way to Liz’s house.

Now, going back to his house he still couldn’t believe this was all happening; he had lost Liz…and in the meanwhile was stuck with Tess.

Prom was coming up and Max knew Tess expected an invitation…one that now would have to be given.


TBC.....Tuesday

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I own nothing at all

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everybody! Here's the next chapter!


Chapter 5

The rest of the night Liz stayed locked up in her room, not answering anyone, not even her parents. Some could say that she was depressed, but really, she was heartbroken. Sure she caused this…but it still didn’t feel any better.

The next morning she decided to start fresh. She plugged her phone back in to find that there were about 30 messages from Max on it, all begging her to reconsider, and all of which she promptly deleted. She showered, shaved and dressed, and then made her way down to the restaurant to eat breakfast.


“Lizzie! Are you alright sweetie? We were so worried about you!” her dad, Jeff Parker, said, walking briskly up to her and hugging her. Liz laughed and hugged him back, her father may have appeared to be tough on the outside, but in reality, he was a big teddy, though a very possessive one.

“I’m fine dad, I just didn’t feel good last night and seeing people would’ve made t worse, I feel absolutely 100 better.” Lie. It was a total lie. She felt awful in reality. In reality she was still as bad as she was the night before…it was just now she was ready to deal with it.

“Well I’m glad sweetie, now why don’t you eat some bacon and eggs and then I’ll drive you to school,” Jeff said, buying her act. Liz smiled and took a seat at the booth as he served her a plate of bacon and eggs, which she age ravishingly, not having eaten since lunch the day before.

She wondered what she was going to do at school. She shared 2 classes with Max, not to mention being his lab partner for AP Biology. She knew for a fact that he wouldn’t just give her up this easily, she also knew that prom was coming up…and she knew that he had planned to ask her.

She had ordered her gown at the beginning of the year, certain that they would still be together…but now they obviously weren’t, and he’d have to ask Tess. But it was better, for the both of them. It was safer for the both of them.

“Yeah right Parker, keep telling yourself that and maybe it’ll come true,” the voice in the back of her head said sarcastically, “Great, now I’m going crazy,” she quietly mumbled.

The chime of the doors brought her attention back to earth and she looked over, only to lock eyes with Max Evans, the object of her just recent thoughts. He made his way towards her and before she could act upon it and make a dash for the exit, he sat down in the empty spot next to her on the booth.

“Max, Tess could walk in any second now!” Liz exclaimed in a hushed voice, staring down at her eggs, suddenly not hungry anymore.

“To tell you the truth Liz, I don’t give a damn WHAT she sees, or WHAT she thinks. I want you back Liz…I’ll break it of right here…right now with her if you just come back to me Liz…I love you,” Max said, reaching out a hand to stroke her cheek.

“Max NO,” Liz replied, moving her head out of his reach, “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you this…it’s over between us and we can’t be together! We just…can’t!”

“You don’t mean that….” Max started to say.

“Let me determine for myself what I do and do not mean Max!” Liz rebutted, pointing her finger at him, “you don’t know what I mean, and you do not know what goes on inside my head Max Evans!”

“I could, Liz, I could if you let me,” Max said softly, his eyes holding her own gaze through his thick lashes. Liz diverted her eyes so that he couldn’t see them anymore…knowing Max he could read through her soul through her eyes or something…which honestly wouldn’t surprise her.

“No Max. Please, if you hold any respect for me at all…just, leave me alone…go to the prom with Tess…take her out on dates…just, leave me alone,” Liz whispered, setting her hands in her lap.

Max leaned forward and grasped her hands in his. He gazed at her until she finally lifted her head to look at him.

“If this is what you really want…then I’ll do it,” he said, making small circles on her hands with his thumbs, “I just want one thing…one last kiss.”

Liz let out a sob at his request and when she closed her eyes a single tear fell down her cheek. She sniffed and wiped it away before reclaiming her hands and getting out of the booth.

“Dad, Max’s gonna drive me, see you later!” Liz called, her voice slightly shaky, to her dad.

“Ok, I’ll see you later sweetie!” Jeff called from the back. Liz grabbed her books and made her way to Max’s car. He helped her in before hopping in himself.

The ride was silent all the way to school and when he parked it was still silent. Liz glanced over at Max to find he was staring at her. She knew what she did now so she readied herself for it.

They both leaned in at the same time, Liz only hesitating once before meeting Max’s lips with her own. Their kiss was filled with all of their anger and frustration, all of their sadness and longing…all of their love for each other.

Max put his hand on the back of her head to pull her closer but she pulled back. They stared each other in the eyes until Max slowly reached in his pocket and took out a small rectangular velvet box.

“I was going to give this to you…at prom…but since I guess we won’t be going together…I want to give it to you now,” Max said, handing it to her.

Liz hesitantly opened the box, uncertain whether or not she should accept a gift from Max right now. What she saw made her gasp and brought tears to her eyes. With a shaky hand she picked up the small, fragile gold bracelet, it was a simple gift, but it meant more than she could imagine.

On the inside “ML 4 EVER” was inscribed and she glanced up at Max.

“I can’t accept this Max…we…we can’t be together,” Liz said, her voice cracking.

“I don't care what you think…I love you and I want you to know that forever,” he replied, putting his hand over the bracelet, causing it to glow for a second before removing his hand. It now read “I love you forever, Max” He smiled at her before helping her clasp it to her wrist, kissing her hand when he was done.

“I should get going…goodbye Max,” Liz whispered. Biting her lip to keep her held back tears at bay Liz scampered out of the car and ran into the school, taking a deep breath and resolving to get through this day without breaking down.

“Max, buddy, what’s up?” Alex asked as he walked past the jeep on his way to the school. He saw Max just sitting there, staring ahead, and when he came face to face with him, his face was emotionless as well. It was very, very, rare that something could affect Max Evans this way.

Alex waited for him to answer, but instead he kept staring off into space, as if he didn’t even know Alex was there, “Earth to alien king!” he said, snapping his fingers, somewhat annoyed. He had a hunch what this was about…but he wanted to make certain. It was most likely about Liz…and he swore if Max did something to screw Liz up, to make her sad, he’d beat the guy up regardless of his physical advantages.

Max seemed to snap out of it and he looked at Alex, startled, “Sorry Alex…I have a lot on my mind…I need to sort through it,” Max mumbled, grabbing his knapsack and hopping out of the jeep.

“No Max…we need to talk, I know this has something to do with Liz…and I know something has been up with you two for a while…she isn’t herself lately, she’s lost weight…and yes, I know, it’s obvious, she’s crankier, she’s pushing everyone out…Max, frankly, I’m scared out of my mind…I’ve never EVER seen her like this before, and I want the old Liz back…I want MY Liz back…the Liz I have grown to know and love like a sister…Max, help me get her back!” Alex pleaded with all of his heart and soul. Max was almost moved to tears by Alex’s statement and he realized what he needed to do finally. He needed to let go of Liz.

But how? Was it even possible to let go of her?

“Alex…that’s up to you now…we’re over, she ended it with me yesterday,” Max said quietly as they made their way to the school’s front doors. Alex’s jaw almost literally dropped to the floor from shock, and he stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“Wow…I guess she really was serious,” he said, catching back up to Max, “she has been thinking about this for a while…dang, I have to find her, she’ll be needing a friend, later Max,” Alex said, walking briskly past Max in search for Liz.

“Max! There you are! I’ve been looking EVERYWHERE for you!” Tess exclaimed, running up from behind and latching her hand in his. Max looked down at her and smiled before looking ahead again, “so…are you going to prom? It’s only a week and a half away you know.”

Max groaned inwardly. She just HAD to bring that didn’t she? Going to the prom with Tess was actually the furthest thing from his mind at the moment…but right now he had no other candidates, unless he went with his mother…which was actually looking a little better at the moment… “Actually, yes I am Tess, and I was meaning to ask you if you wanted to go with me.”

“Oh Max I’d LOVE to! I have the perfect dress and I know the perfect hairstyle, I also got these cute new shoes…” Tess babbled on. Max tuned her out as he saw Liz walking in the opposite direction down the hall.

She didn’t even notice him though, or if she did she did a really good job acting like he wasn’t even there. Did she really mean it when she said she wanted to break up or was it just an impulse to keep him safe, as well as herself?

He didn’t have a chance to finish this thought as Tess interrupted him when they approached her class. She stood on her tip toes and leaned in for a kiss and he closed his eyes, leaning in and quickly pecking her on the lips.

It would definitely take a while to get used to this. Tess could never be Liz. Tess’ kisses could never amount to Liz’s kisses.

“Max did you hear me? You’ve been spacing out an awful lot lately…meet me in the eraser room after lunch?” Tess asked, a devilish look in her eyes.

“I don't know, I can’t afford to miss AP Bio today, major test review, rain check?” Max asked, trying his best to sound sincere, like he really wanted to meet her in there. But he didn’t. The only person he wanted to be in the eraser room with was Liz.

It was always going to be Liz.

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: Sorry I'm late guys, I'm on vaca, so don't expect another chapter until about next saturday, hope you like this one....



Chapter 6

It was always going to be Liz.

It was ALWAYS going to be Liz.

He couldn’t get this out of his head as he walked into Bio. Luckily Liz hadn’t arrived yet, so he had time to ready himself for their encounter. He had to sit next to her for close to an hour and a half and it wouldn’t be easy by any means.

“Mr. Evans, you won’t be partnered with Ms. Parker anymore, she requested that she have a new partner, you will now be partnered with Ms. Deluca back there, and Mr. Whitman will be partnered with Ms. Parker,” Mr. Seligman informed Max after he sat down in his normal seat.

Max was kind of taken aback by this information, but then thought it over and realized it made sense. It would be easier like this anyways. He looked up at the teacher and nodded, picking his knapsack back up and trudging back to the table Maria and Alex normally sat at just as Liz walked into class.

Their eyes locked and time stopped for a second for him. She looked even more beautiful than she did when he saw her in the hall 10 minutes ago if it was even possible. Reality came crashing back as she broke their eye contact, setting her books down on the table.

“Why hello Max,” Maria said in a bittersweet tone as she set her stuff down on the floor next to Max. He barely held back the groan that threatened to leave his mouth. It was bad enough that he had lost Liz, but now Maria would be here everyday blaming him and telling him all the things he did wrong and it was his fault that the plan backfired. This wasn’t news to him, couldn’t everyone understand. He fucked up, and he admitted openly to that. He treated Liz like scum openly, and he honestly couldn’t blame her if she hated him for the rest of her life.

“Hi Maria, and please…just…don’t talk today, I’m not in the best of moods,” Max said, running his fingers through his hair as the tardy bell rang.

“Oh, yeah that’s right I forgot, it’s all about you remember? Don’t worry, I have no intention on talking to you, and think, you may be in a bad mood, but I can assure you, Liz is in an even worse mood,” Maria said matter-of-factly, pointing her pencil at him before letting her breath out in a huff and turning to face the front of the classroom.

Throughout the whole hour and a half he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes from wandering up to the table in the front row. The table Liz was seated at. Why did this whole thing with Tess have to start?

Because of her he lost the love of his life. He lost his will to live. The only thing really keeping him alive at the moment was the possibility that Liz still loved him and that they would find a way to be together once again.

He was determined that if somehow, by some chance, they got back together, he would ask her to marry him, so they would never be separated again…but first he had to get her back. And that was the hardest part.

How could he win back a girl who didn’t want to do anything with him?

Liz sighed silently to herself as she and Alex did an experiment. She could feel Max’s eyes on the back of her head constantly. It was as if he was trying to look into her soul, see if she really meant what she told him.

Even if he was though, he wouldn’t get a clear answer, because frankly, she didn’t know herself. The only thing she wanted to concentrate on at the moment was getting out of this class and getting on with the rest of her day. Unfortunately though, he was in her next class as well, History.

“Hey Alex…do you wanna skip second bell with me?” Liz mumbled to Alex in desperation as she wrote a few notes down.

“Liz, are you crazy? That could ruin your permanent record, and then Harvard will never take you in!” Alex quietly exclaimed, surprised at her new attitude towards school. Before if you had mentioned skipping school to her, she would have set her foot firmly down, not be the one suggesting it.

“Alex you don't understand,” Liz sighed, setting her pencil down and facing her best friend, “every time I have to be around Max it hurts, I know I broke up with him, but still…”

“Liz, you’ll have to learn to just ignore him…you can’t skip everyday, and if you skip today it will become programmed in your brain…you’ll be too scared to go in there…so no Liz, I can’t skip second bell with you…I’m sorry,” Alex said apologetically with a sigh.

“Very well,” Liz sighed, packing up her bags as the clock showed they had one minute left.

“Ok Liz…the venue for tonight…movies, and then we go to my place and pig out on chocolate ice cream until we barf all over the place,” Maria said, linking arms with her best friend.

“You know what…that sounds like fun. I need fun for a change. I deserve to have fun…don’t I?” Liz asked, glancing up at Maria as they made their way to History.

“Liz, out of everyone in this school, you deserve it absolutely the most. You know…I should really talk Alex into asking Iz for a favor…maybe a little prank on Mr. and Mrs. Prick?” Maria suggested, referring to Max and Tess. Liz hesitated with her answer.

“No…I’m not going to sink that low Maria…I’m better than that,” Liz said, smiling over at her, “there she is…standing there at Max’s locker like she owns him. Oh well, he can have her, she can have him, I don’t care! I don’t!”

“Hey, what’s this?” Maria asked, noticing the gold bracelet on Liz wrist as she adjusted her hair. Liz quickly placed her hand back down by her side, cheeks flushing, “No you don’t…what is it?”

“A bracelet,” Liz mumbled, lifting her wrist up for Maria to see the gold bracelet clearly.

“A bracelet…from Max! Liz take this off RIGHT NOW! This is not something you do when you have broken up with a boy!” Maria cried, appalled. Liz immediately covered the bracelet in a protective way.

“Maria no. He wants me to have this knowing we can’t even be friends!” Liz exclaimed, the first thing she thought of coming out of her mouth. Truth was she could never give something up that Max gave her. She was still in love with him and it would be like giving away a piece of her own heart.

“Liz! Please! He wants you so bad it isn’t funny! Michael told me that Max was a wreck all last night, in his words, “moaning and growing, the whole whoa as me thing”. What do I need to do to get you over him?” Maria whined, her shoulders slouching. Liz sighed and shook her head, glancing up and nearly dropping everything in her grasp when she did.

The most gorgeous guy in the world was walking down the hallway. She had never seen him before, so he must have been new, and when she saw him turn into their History class she almost had a heart-attack. Maria noticed this too.

“Get you another man! Why didn’t I think of this before! You know Liz…he was pretty fine…it could work out good,” Maria suggested, wiggling her eyebrows. He was good looking though…short medium brown hair, the front tips spiked up slightly. He had ocean blue eyes and a nice body and an infectious smile that she had caught a glimpse of, when someone said something to him.

Maria pushed her into the room and they walked towards their assigned seats, Liz ignoring Max as she walked past him. She sat down in her seat and a second later, the dude from the hallway sat down in the empty seat next to her.

“Um…hi,” she said tentatively after a few mouthed urges from Maria across the room, “I’m Liz Parker…are you new here?” He glanced up and was met with the most gorgeous pair of blue eyes she had ever seen. She caught from her glimpse in the hallway that he had blue eyes, but now that she was face to face they were hypnotizing, almost an equivalent to Max’s…

“Aaron Behry, nice to meet you Liz,” he said, flashing a smile, “Yeah, I moved here from Florida, today is my first day.”

“Oh really? Has anyone showed you around the school yet? I’m free lunch if you would like me to show you around,” Liz said shyly, amazed at her courage, but out of the corner of her eye she could see Max seething, waiting for Aaron to say anything wrong, just so he could kick his ass.

“No actually, I’ve had a couple of offers, but those girls all seemed fake…I like your personality, your aura is just different, so sure, why not? I’ll meet you outside this classroom before lunch?” Aaron asked, turning in his desk so he could face her.

“That sounds great. You’re going to love it here at West Roswell,” Liz replied, smiling. She liked this guy a lot. He was…normal. For some reason that’s the only thing she wanted at the moment.

“If everyone here is as pretty as you, or as nice for that fact, I’m sure I’ll like it just fine,” he said, smiling. Liz slightly blushed and turned her attention to the teacher as he began to talk.

“Today we’re partnering up, and you will be given a subject to research, you will have 3 days to complete this project, the info is on the paper,” Mrs. Yardley said, looking at her lesson plan, “ok so I have Maria Deluca with…Isabel Evans, Kyle Valenti with Michael Guerin, and Liz Parker with Max Evans…”

At this point Liz’s hand shot up into the air, “Mrs. Yardley, I can’t be partners with Max…” Liz protested to her teacher.

“Ms. Parker, my decision is final,” Mrs. Yardley replied, about to call off names again, but interrupted by Liz.

“No you don’t understand…I can’t!” she exclaimed, standing up, “PLEASE!” Liz nearly had tears in her eyes by now. She knew she could never survive being partners with Max.

“Ms. Parker, sit down, I won’t change my mind!” Mrs. Yardley’s voice commanded. Liz knew there was a reason she never liked the woman. Liz lowered herself slowly to the chair, defeated and embarrassed.

“Now, let’s continue…” she said, her voice droning on, but completely blocked from Liz’s ears. Stupid bitch! Why couldn’t she see that Liz was in pain here? Not to mention she just embarrassed herself in front of Aaron, who probably thought she was majorly lame.

She felt a tap on her right shoulder and she turned around, facing Aaron, he slipped a note on her desk and she slowly opened it.

Anything wrong?

Liz let a small grin form on her face at his concern. She scribbled back, not really, I’ll tell you at lunch.

Mrs. Yardley instructed them to go sit by their partners and Liz put her head down on her desk, waiting for Max to sit in the seat in front of her. She heard the shuffle of feet and a second later, a shift in the desk in front of her. She groaned and lifted up her head, coming face to face with Max.

“Hey,” he said awkwardly. He didn’t want to be here now. He not only knew it would be hard on him, but her as well, and after what just happened he knew she didn’t want to be his partner. He would’ve protested as well if he wasn’t boiling with jealousy at the moment. Who was that jerk anyways?

“Let’s just…get this over so I can get back to my life,” Liz mumbled, reading over the project sheet as Max nodded.

[IluvMaxEvans]

Sorry for the wait everyone, hope you like this chapter...

Disclaimer: Me own nuttin from Roswell

Author’s Note: Thanks for the reviews! I really hope ya’ll don't hate me after that last chapter…lol, anyways, enjoy! And just to reassure you, this will have a dreamer ending, lol. This is my least favorite chapter by the way…not enough dreamer interaction…but don’t worry, it will be fixed, I won’t promise that it will be positive dreamer interaction, but there will be some

Chapter 7

“So, we’re working on the ancient Roman diplomacy system or whatever,” Liz muttered, scribbling something from her textbook onto a sheet of paper after glancing over their project paper, “Max, since obviously we won’t be coming over to one another’s house to work on this for obvious reasons, why don’t you do the research on when it started, etcetera, and I’ll do the rest or vice versa.”

“Fine with me,” Max sighed, flipping to the index of his book to find the right page for his research. For the next 10 minutes there was an unbearable silence among the two of them and finally Max couldn’t take it any longer, “Liz. We should at least act like civilized human beings, I mean; being civil towards each other won’t kill anyone will it?” Max said, biting his tongue at his choice of words.

“You know what? It COULD kill someone! Like say for instance…ME! Tess makes it clear I am to stay away from you, so for my health and everyone else’s I’m going to! And you better not even ask me about Aaron because it’s none of your business and don’t deny that you were going to. Why shouldn’t I be able to flirt with other guys? Date other guys? You surely flirt and date Tess!” Liz quietly exclaimed pointing a finger at him.

Max opened his mouth, ready to protest, but then thought wisely of it and clamped it shut; turning his attention back to the text book which lay sprawled out before him. Maybe he was being unfair by thinking Liz couldn’t date any other guys; he was dating Tess wasn’t he?

“Not willingly,” a small voice spoke up in the back of his head. He closed his eyes and let out his breath, pausing in writing for a second. He looked up at Liz through his long lashes and found her vigorously scribbling something down, her hair coming out from behind her ear for a second as she was caught up in writing.

He wanted to be able to reach out and tuck it back in place, what he would have normally done. But his life was far from normal. His relationship with Liz was far from normal. She moved it back into place and was about to start writing again when she glanced up at him, their eyes meeting for a second before he diverted his back down, embarrassed that she had caught him staring at her.

Surely she must know that he still loved her? It may not seem clear, but everything he did, he did for her. Maybe sometimes he didn’t think out his plans like he should have, but he still loved her without a doubt and regretted ever hurting her.

The next bell rang and Liz couldn’t have rushed out of the classroom faster, eager to get away from Max and from her old life, though it seemed improbable, she was trying to push as much of it as humanly possible out of her way and out of her life. She walked into the girls’ bathroom and gazed at herself in the mirror.

She looked pretty normal to the average passerby, but she could see the hassle in her eyes, the bags underneath them, everything that happened because of the past few months’ events.

Maria walked into the bathroom, a partially aggravated look on her face. She sighed when she saw Liz looking at her features in the mirror. In truth Liz’s skin had lost much of its shine, and it was more so stretched across her face from the recent loss of weight. It wasn’t good for her, especially since she was stick thin even before she lost weight.

“Liz, here you are! What’s with the Houdini act?” Maria asked, setting her bag down on the floor and fixing her hair before the mirror. When Liz didn’t reply Maria glanced at her through the mirror to see her staring down at the floor, “Liz…I’m sorry…I forgot that you were partners with Max in History…let’s change the subject…hottie…what’s the 411 on him?”

Liz giggled and shook her head, “‘Hottie’ has a name, and its Aaron Behry. I’m showing him around the school during lunch, he has the MOST amazing blue eyes!” Liz said, getting a far off look.

“I knew it! Soon you’re mind will be off that ass hole. Plus, Aaron’s NORMAL Liz, no more alien crap for you! You can just relax, not having to worry about getting blasted into oblivion by some alien predator! I’m such a genius!” Maria said with a laugh. Liz joined her, but her heart was clearly not in it. She would always be involved with the alien business. There was no way out of it. It was almost in a way like the mafia. Once you joined you could never get out. You were in it for life.

Liz sniffed and reached down to pick up her bag, “Let’s get going to class,” she said, making her way out of the bathroom.

Lunch Time

Liz briskly walked back to her History class to meet Aaron. She was running late, which wasn’t a normal thing, but she and Maria had taken a trip to the library during Health to work on a research project and got so caught up that they didn’t hear the bell ring.

“There you are, I thought I had gotten stood up,” Aaron said with that smile of his. Liz shyly smiled back and walked up to him.

“Sorry, I got caught up with Maria in the library, Health assignment,” Liz replied.

“I see, so, where do we start?” Aaron asked. Liz laughed and gestured for him to follow her down the hallway.

“Ok, this is the gym, nothing important in there, and down here are all the science and math classes, I personally love science, I plan on majoring in it,” Liz said as they passed all of the science classes.

“That’s really cool, I plan on majoring in ancient European history, taking art as a minor, I’ve always loved history, and I love to draw as well,” Aaron said.

“Do you take art?” Liz asked as they walked into the cafeteria, Aaron signaled for them to get in the lunch line and Liz followed.

“Actually yes, I have it last period,” he replied, paying for his food.

“Can you draw at all?” Liz asked, she brought her lunch, following him out of the line as they walked out into the quad, Liz realizing her mistake too late.

Aaron, oblivious to what was going on smirked, “Yeah I can draw, I’ll show you sometime, though I could never draw you, your beauty is far too great to be caught on paper, by drawing would shy in comparison,” Aaron shyly commented. Liz looked up at him astonished and bit her lip. He was just so sweet!

“Thanks,” she said, beaming up at him, since he was taller than her.

Max spotted her the second she entered and he felt his jaw clench at the sight of the new guy…Aaron, standing next to her, both of them laughing. Tess was all over him as usual, and Liz definitely couldn’t miss the sight.

“Let’s go over here,” Liz said, walking right past their table. Max saw Maria and Alex’s jaw drop. They ALWAYS sat together; it was like an unspoken rule.

“Liz! We’re right here!” Alex called out, waving his hand. Liz turned around and her body tensed up.

“Hey, those are your friends right? Why don't we sit over there?” Aaron suggested.

“Hey, you know that note you gave me in History…well the reason I acted like that was because of that boy right there, next to the blonde bitch, so I don’t really want to sit there,” Liz whispered anxiously. His eyebrows raised but he nodded in understanding. Liz took his free arm and led him over to an empty table in the corner, not wanting anyone to hear her.

“Oh my god, she did NOT just diss us!” Alex exclaimed, dropping his sandwich on his plate and staring over where Liz sat next to the new kid, talking in hushed tones as they ate.

“Who cares?” Tess said in her usual sarcastic tone, rolling her eyes, turning away from her constant attention to Max for a second.

“WE CARE! God you self centered bitch! Care about someone else for once in your life why don't you? If you haven’t noticed yet, no one thinks your little comments are funny, except maybe Max over there, but he’s an ass, who cares what he thinks?” Maria spat out, relishing the shocked look on Tess’ face.

“God Max I don't’ know WHY we sit with these losers! Let’s go! I can think of some better places to go…” Tess said with a smirk on her face.

“Um, no Tess, they’re my friends ok?” Max replied, refusing to let her run his life. Maria nearly spit out the drink she was drinking when she heard Max tell Tess that they were his friends, maybe he actually had a heart.

“Fine, Max I’ll be in the ladies room ok?” she said more as a statement. Max nodded and grudgingly accepted her kiss, watching as she left, making sure she was out of earshot before speaking.

“Sorry, I know I’m not your guys’ favorite person right now, but I still think of you as close friends, and I hope we can stay that way? Where are Michael and Isabel anyways?” Max asked, glancing around.

“They’re sitting over there, they’re really mad at you Max, you know that they hate Tess, and now they’ll have to hang around her more, so they refuse to eat with you,” Alex said.

“What about you? Why don’t you eat with them too? Seems like everyone’s steering clear of this table nowadays,” Max grumbled, taking a bite from his sandwich.

“Max, we’re not that heartless. Plus we aren’t doing this for you, we’re doing it for Liz, to make sure we keep an eye on Tess,” Maria said with a smirk, “Speaking of Liz, I’m going to see how her and hottie are doing, be right back!”

“So, Florida? I went there this summer, but I’ve never been to St. Augustine,” Liz said, her chin perched on her fist as she listened to Aaron talk. For the past 10 minutes they had been taking turns chatting about each other in between eating their lunches.

It felt good for a change, to talk with a normal person, someone besides Maria and Alex.

“It’s beautiful, I miss it a lot, but I like Roswell so far I guess,” he replied, smiling.

“Well, I’ve lived here all my life, I guess a lot of people would think that I’d want to get far away from it as possible, go to a bigger city, but I don’t…life without Roswell for me if no life at all,” Liz replied, saying the last part quietly. Life without Max was no life at all…but if it meant she would be safe and live a normal life, then it was a life she would have to lead from now on.

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I own nothing that has any reference at all to Roswell

Author’s Note: Sorry for the wait guys, we’ve been having midterms and stuff lately, so I’ve been studying a lot, hope you like this chapter


Chapter 8


“Just a little farther! I can do it! Almost…there…AHHH!!” Liz exclaimed, falling on top of Alex, her face red from laughter. In an attempt to help make Liz feel better and not think about Max, Maria and Alex popped over to the Crashdown with bags of Cheetos and Twister.

“Liz…I love you and all…but you’re kinda sitting on my gut right now and your bony butt is digging into it….” Alex groaned from underneath her. Liz laughed and burrowed her butt deeper into Alex’s gut before getting off.

“I can breathe!” he exclaimed, slowly getting up. Liz playfully shoved him in the chest and turned the music up louder dancing a second before turning back to them.

“Thank you so much you guys! You don’t know what this means to me…” Liz said, wiping the corners of her eyes, “look at me, I’m tearing up…”

“Awww…group hug!” Maria exclaimed, throwing her arms around Alex and Liz and squeezing tight, “from now on…it’s party central everyday, you need to forget that jerk, plus you have that hottie Aaron drooling over you now, and he’s way better.”

“Maria!” Liz exclaimed, blushing. Maria just giggled and pulled Liz into a hug.

“I gotta go girlfriend, I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning, be ready,” Maria said, kissing her cheek before taking her purse and leaving.

“Do you have to go too Alex?” Liz asked, folding up Twister.

“Of course not, I’m here as long as you want me to be here Liz…just as long as you supply a couch and a sleeping bag,” Alex responded, throwing away the paper cups and the empty bags of Cheetos.

“I love you Alex, did you know that? I don't know what I’d do if I ever lost you,” Liz sighed, hugging Alex tightly.

“Hey, don’t think that way, I’m not going anywhere and I never will, it’s the 3 of us forever, get used to it,” Alex said quietly. Liz smiled at him and pulled out a sleeping bag for him.

“You can sleep in the couch in my room, your parents know I assume?” Liz asked as they went upstairs.

“Yes they do, actually they encouraged me to be here, you need all the friends you can get right now,” Alex replied. Liz let a small smile form on her face before going into the bathroom and changing into her night clothes.

By the time she got back in the room Alex was fast asleep on the couch with the sleeping bag tucked up to his chin.

“Good night Alex,” Liz whispered, getting under her covers. She glanced over at her friend and sighed before switching her lamp off and going to sleep.


*********************


“Liz…Liz! Liiiiiiizzz!” Aaron exclaimed in the hallway the next morning. Liz looked up from her locker and smiled apologetically.

“I’m sorry, I was spacing out, how long have you been calling me?” she asked.

“Um….a minute?” Aaron replied, “Don't worry about it. I was just wondering…maybe you wanted to…you know, go out with me? Before you say anything, I know we don't really know each other that well yet I think we would really click you know…so how bout it? Make a guy happier than he’s been in a long time?”

“Awww that’s so sweet! How about this…movies Friday and after that we’ll see about making it more permanent?” Liz queried. A brilliant smiled lit up on Aaron’s face and Liz returned it just as eagerly.

“That being said, may I escort you to History?” Aaron asked, holding his hand out. Liz smiled and tentatively took his hand, interlacing his fingers with hers.

Liz looked down at their hands and then back up at Aaron and smiled. They walked silently in the busy halls towards their History class.

“Ugh,” Liz groaned once she sat down.

“What is it?” Aaron asked, turning in his seat to face her. Liz opened her mouth to speak but shut it quickly when Max entered the room, Tess no where near his side as he walked in.

After a second Liz realized she was staring at Max, and he was staring right back at her. Embarrassed she looked back at Aaron.

“Sorry, I thought I saw someone out there,” she lied, “we have to go tot the library during class today don't we? For our project,” Liz groaned. Great now she’d have to spend the class sitting next to Max while they looked up History crap.

This teacher was so not on the top of her list of favorite teachers right now.

“Yeah, so do you want to meet up for lunch again?” Aaron asked, noting the sour look on Liz’s face.

“Of course, I want you to meet my 2 best friends, Maria and Alex,” Liz said perkily, “they are the best and I know that you will all get along so well.”

“If they’re anything like you I’m sure I will,” he said. Liz blushed and turned forward when the teacher came in.

“Ok, get together with your respective partners and lets get moving people, we have exactly an hour!” she exclaimed. Liz rolled her eyes and looked over to Aaron.

“See you at lunch,” she said, squeezing his hand before picking up her bag and waiting for Max to come up to her. He did so a second later, hands stuffed in his pockets.

“Hey Liz,” he said a small smile on his face. This day had been majorly awkward and strange so far. First Maria had called him and started yelling at him for no reason. Above that, Tess clung to him like super glue right up until the bell rang, when he had told her he had some stuff to do, he’d say anything to get her away from him. Now he had to sit next to Liz, whom he still loved no matter what she thought, all through class.

“Max,” she acknowledged with a curt nod of her head, “let’s get going before she yells at us for loitering.” They walked silently to the library, but this silence wasn’t like the silence she experienced with Aaron just a few minutes ago as they walked to class…this was more of an awkward silence.

Liz wasn’t paying attention to anything, just where she was going and suddenly Max grabbed her arm and pulled her into the Eraser Room with him, locking the door magically so she couldn’t get out.

“We need to talk Liz…I mean for real this time. I want you to hear me out,” Max said, turning around and facing her.

“Max. Let me out or I will scream, don’t think that I’m bluffing, I will scream!” Liz exclaimed, poking her finger at Max’s chest.

“Go ahead, scream, it won’t solve any of our problems Liz…please just…listen,” Max implored. Liz didn’t say anything; she simply crossed her arms across her chest and sat down on a chair in the corner.

“Fine, talk, let’s get this over with,” she said, a stony expression on her face.

“Liz, when Future Max came to you, you came straight to me, even thought you knew there could be consequences. You and I came up with this plan together, KNOWING what would have to happen…Liz please don't leave me now…I don’t want to be with her, and you knew that soon that we were going to set the main plan in action,” Max said, pacing around the room, stopping once or twice to gaze at her.

Liz’s cold expression soften slightly, but not much, “Max, you could have done many things differently, and I know I could have also…when I agreed to this in the beginning I had no idea it would mean you being rude to my face and happening to be with Tess every time I was in the room! From now on, I’m not taking the past into account, I’m living in the present now Max, you need to too,” Liz whispered, standing up.

“Fine,” Max said, staring her directly in the eyes, “There’s just one problem though…my past, present, and future, all include you Liz.”

“Then why don’t you just….break up with her??? Why did you let me go through all of that! You just let me go Max! You didn’t even try that hard to get me to stay with you! Not once did you mention breaking it off with Tess!” Liz cried.

“Liz, breaking it off with her meant you could be in danger…I couldn’t risk
that!” Max replied, trying to keep calm.

“Oh but now you can?” Liz demanded.

“Liz…” Max warned. Liz didn’t say anything else, but her nostrils flared and
her breathing came in very deep.

Max took a step closer and placed his hand on her cheek, Liz’s eyes trailing it, then gong back to his face.

His hazel eyes were gazing down at her intently through his dark, thick lashes and Liz almost let herself fall back in love with him. The electricity
between the two from being so close was overwhelming and it made Liz
weak in the knees.

Slowly his head descended as he placed his other hand on her other cheek. Still holding eye contact he was mere centimeters away from her
lips when he stopped.

“PARKER! EVANS! I know you’re in there! Get out NOW before I have to get someone with a key! You won’t like me very much if I have to do that!” Mrs. Yardley’s strict voice commanded.

Liz hastily fixed her appearance and waited for Max to let them out.

“Max!” Liz exclaimed when he just continued to look at her. He sighed and unlocked the door, opening it.

“YOU TWO ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE! OFFICE NOW!” she exclaimed, pointing in the direction of the office.

“Ladies first,” Max said to Liz, gesturing for her to go out first. She glared at him and made her way to the office stiffly.

Looks like she wouldn’t be meeting Aaron for lunch after all.

TBC......

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything that has to do with Roswell, all of that belongs to Jason Katims

Author’s Note: Thanks for your replies guys! I’m trying to get in one chap a week, and so far so good I guess…LOL I’m not going to have them getting yelled at too much in this chapter…just a little bit, I mainly want how they feel afterwards ,and you finally learnt he truth about Aaron... Hope you enjoy this one!


Chapter 9


There goes college, her perfect record, spotless…her image…her parents’ respect…her SELF respect…everything that mattered to her…all because of Max Evans. She glared over at him to find him gazing at her.

She rolled her eyes and looked down at her neatly folded hands in her lap. They sat in the waiting room while the principal was finishing up with their parents whom had been called, and gave them “how could you” looks as they briefly saw each other before the principal took them in.

The door opened a minute later and Liz’s head popped up, her eyes widening when she saw her parents walk out of the principal’s office, Max’s mom right behind.

“You young lady, are coming home with us NOW,” Jeff boomed, crossing his arms as he waited for her to grab her bag. With one last accusatory glare at Max she trudged out of the office following her not so happy looking parents.

“Max, what were you thinking? I’m very disappointed in you,” Diane Evans said, shaking her head as she walked out of the building with her son. His father was on a business trip and couldn’t make it, much to Max’s
relief.

“Mom I am really not in the mood to be lectured,” Max grumbled. He got into his jeep and gazed down at Diane, “I’m sorry ok; I wasn’t thinking…I just needed to talk to her and that was the only way I could think of.”

“Max…think next time, luckily they let you off with only a few detentions because you are such a good student…but it could have been worse…I love you honey, I’ll see you at home,” Diane said, smiling up at Max. It was hard for her to stay mad at him, because most of the time he was such a good kid.

“Bye mom, I just have to run a few errands and then I’ll be home,’ Max said with a small smile. He started the jeep and took off towards the Crashdown.

**************************

“Stop treating me like a kid!” Liz exclaimed once they were outside of the school and heading to their car. She opened the backseat door and slammed it shut behind her.

“Young lady you will NOT speak to your parents that way! You ARE a child, only 16 years old! By making that stupid mistake of going into the…
the eraser room with that boy, you could have permanently ruined your future!” Jeff exclaimed as he drove off.

“DAD! This was my FIRST time ever getting in trouble!” Liz shrieked.

“Keep your voice down,” Nancy hissed as they drove. Liz seethed at her mom and crossed her arms over her chest, staring out the window. She tuned out the rest of the things her father was yelling at her until they got to the Crashdown where she stomped up to her room and slammed the door shut, locking it behind her.

She walked over to her bed and fell back onto it, punching the flashing answering machine on.

“Hey its Aaron…where were you? I though you dropped out on me but then Maria told me she hadn’t seen you either…she introduced herself to me by the way, she’s nice and I can see why you guys get along, well, I gotta go…call me back, bye,” Liz saved the message and continued the stream of messages.

One from Alex, 5 from Maria, of course she was panicked the second she found out they got in trouble, and one from the school, calling to remind her of her detentions.

Having nothing better to do she sat up and lazily dialed Aaron’s phone number, not expecting him to answer since school was still in session.

“Liz? Hi!” he said into the phone.

“Sorry, I forgot school was still in…did I bother you?” Liz asked apologetically.

“No, I’m in study hall, nothing important…what happened? There’s a rumor gong around that you and Max Evans were caught in the eraser room….” Aaron started to say.

“Actually, yeah we were…” Liz started to say. Silence filled the other end of the line and Liz nervously chewed her bottom lip. She was gong to tell him the truth, but first she wanted to see if he could trust her.

“What…were you doing?” he slowly asked. Liz sighed and cradled the phone against her ear.

“Nothing, exactly nothing…I wanted to see if you could trust me…you passed the test,” Liz said smiling. She could tell Aaron was smiling as well.

“I’m glad…just don’t scare me like that anymore…am I definitely going to see you at school tomorrow?” Aaron asked with a playful tone to his voice.

“Yeah, but I have detention after school tomorrow, and then Monday and Tuesday,” Liz said, groaning, “detention with Max, so much fun!”

“You’ll be alright,” Aaron replied into the phone.

“See you tomorrow” Liz said, glad she took Aaron before anyone else could.

~*~*~*~

Aaron looked over at where his father sat on the couch pretending to read the newspaper, but really listening to Aaron’s conversation.

“You’re taking too long boy…if we are going to get this done in time you need her to open up to you…now,” his voice boomed.

“Dad, I’m dong this as quickly as possible, it’s not easy, getting her to open up you know…you expect her to just up and tell me that Max Evans is an alien just like that? And what if he really isn’t an alien? Then we will have come to Roswell for nothing but your silly notion,” Aaron exclaimed

Ever since he was a little boy they had moved from town to town, chasing after aliens…his father after all was an alien hunter. He hated having to cheat people into telling him things…but his father made him; the few times he had refused he went to school the next day with a black eye, and once even a broken wrist.

His father recently got a call that told him there were suspected aliens attending West Roswell High, so they packed their bags and came right over where Aaron met Liz.

It may sound silly, but he didn’t want to hurt her. Out of all the girls, and guys, he had hurt, she was different…he felt connected to her some how and now he had to use her.

“Don’t even think like that, now go do your homework,” his father growled, sending him a glare that dared him to oppose. Aaron rolled his eyes and stomped off to his room, thoughts of Liz spiraling in his mind.

~*~*~*~

She hung up the phone and lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling as she tried to figure out what went so wrong with her life.

Oh yeah that’s right…Max Evans. But she couldn’t completely blame him…there was Tess Harding also…and herself…she had been in on the deal and she was the one who broke it…

Her thoughts were interrupted as a tapping was heard at her window. Without bothering to look and see who it was, she knew it was Max; she called out for them to come in. Her window was locked, so she knew it was definitely Max when the window lock clicked open and slid up.

“Liz,” he whispered. She sat up, leaning on her elbows for support. Max was drenched from the rain that had all of a sudden poured out of the sky, and he being the person driving his car couldn’t exactly put up the hood, one disadvantage of having a Jeep.

“Max, you’re soaking wet, let’s get you in some dry clothes,” Liz said, hopping off her bed and walking over to Max quickly. She may be mad as hell at him right now, but that didn’t mean she wanted him to die from hypothermia.

Liz walked over to her dresser and pulled out a large t-shirt that she had and ran quickly into her father’s room to get a pair of sweatpants.

When she came back in her room Max was sitting on her bed in nothing but his boxers. Liz’s breath hitched at the glorious sight, but she quickly diverted her attention, not wanting him to know he affected her this way, and locked the door.

Max walked over to her and stopped when he was a mere 2 inches away from her. She gazed up at him, with his hair dripping and matted to his forehead. She pushed away a few of the locks and handed him the clothes.

Instead of moving though he stayed put and dropped the clothes to the ground, using his hands to encircle her face. Liz’s heartbeat accelerated and her mind screamed for her to push back, but her heart was telling her to stay put…let Max kiss her.

In the end she decided to listen to her heart. Max closed the small gap between them and in a second his lips had attached to hers. Liz immediately melted into his embrace, missing this familiar feeling.

Her body leaned into him as his arms snaked around her waist, slowly making their way up the back of her shirt. Liz moaned as she felt his hot, wet, skin make contact with her now goose bump covered skin.

His lips moved down to her neck and he nibbled at the sensitive flesh on the side of her neck where he knew she loved it.

“Maaaaax,” Liz quietly moaned out as his hands moved to the front of her body, finding her bra covered breasts under her shirt. They massaged her breasts through the bra and she almost lost control.

“I want to make love to you so bad right now to show you I still love you,” Max huskily whispered. That’s when Liz snapped back into reality.

“No…no Max y…you need to go, we shouldn’t have done this…I’m with Aaron now…you’re with Tess,” Liz said frantically, pushing Max away and walking over to her window.

“Liz…I broke up with her earlier…right after I got out of school I went home and thought, and as soon as school was released I went to her house and broke up with her…se wasn’t happy at all, but she’ll get over it…” Max said like it would change everything.

“Just because you broke up doesn’t mean we can get together!” Liz said, “Please Max….there is no us! I let my guard down a second ago and I shouldn’t have, I’m sorry you need to go.”

“Liz…” Max pleaded, it was like de ja vu.

“No Max! Just…GO!” Liz cried out. Max looked at her with a hurt expression. He took the dry clothes she gave him and quickly slipped them on before leaving.

He thought he had her back…it felt so RIGHT to have her there in his arms, to be kissing her…but obviously not to her.

At least so he thought.

[IluvMaxEvans]

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Note: Ya'll are the bomb for being so patient with my muse, lol, it has a mind of its own , I'll sit down, ready to write and complete nonsense comes out, and me being a perfectionist wont settle for anything less than perfect to me, this chapter will probably be shorter, but I'm trying to actually finish a story for a change, and now that school's almost over, it will be so much easier for me to write, again, thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy this chapter, we're skipping ahead a few days or so to Liz's date with Aaron, please forgive me if I've skipped or mixed up somethings, I'll have to re-read some of these chaps to refresh my memory, lol, and bear with me here, Liz's going through a rough time, she's confused, I mean she still loves Max, but she knows she can't be with him, and yet she still maybe wants to, but she'll set her mind soon, don't worry, lol, anyways...hope you like, sorry if it seems sorta out there, but my mind keeps wandering, so yeah, lol


Chapter 10


Liz pulled her hair down in frustration, sticking a few bobby pins in her mouth as she tried to get the perfect hairstyle. Tonight was her first date with Aaron and she wanted to look her best.

Her parents were more than happy that she was seeing other boys and getting out more, they had never been to fond of Max, and they sort of suspected that he was the cause of her depressed state lately.

Finally getting her hair up perfectly she adjusted her strapless bra and slipped on the black strapless dress, after that slipping a light blue jean jacket over it.

"Lizzie! Aaron's here!" her mom called from the bottom of the stairs. Liz took a deep breath and slipped her blue flip flops on and walked downstairs.

"Hey," Liz said, smiling when she saw Aaron sitting at a booth across from her mom and dad.

"Hey Liz!" he greeted, getting up and walking over to her, handing her a single rose. Liz kissed his cheek and smiled. It may not have been a white rose, but it was still beautiful, it was probably better that it was red and not white, because Max had always given her white roses.

"You guys have fun, Liz we want you back by midnight ok young lady?" Her father asked.

"Ok Dad, bye!" She practically pulled Aaron out of the Crashdown and over to his car, "They didn't say anything embarassing...did they?"

"Not too embarassing," he replied with a grin. Liz chuckled as they made their way to the movies.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"So...are we...you know...going out now?" Aaron asked later that night as they walked through the park, hand in hand.

"Yeah...I guess we are," she replied, smiling sweetly. This was one of those nights where everything was perfect, it was the perfect temperature, and the sky was clear, the crickets chirping lightly...it made a wave of nostalgia flow over her from all the times she would just lay down here and watch the stars.

Aaron suddenly stopped walking and turned towards her. Slowly he leaned down and took her lips in his, unsurely at first, but when she responded more eagerly he gained confidence.

Liz moaned as he tilted his head and deepend the kiss by slipping his tongue gently into her mouth. A minute later they pulled back both smiling goofily and out of breath.

"Wow," Aaron said, laughing when Liz giggled, "I never knew you were such a great kisser."

"The best," Liz replied smirking. She leaned back up and kissed him again before they walked back to the car and got in, it was 11:30 so she needed to get back.

"I'll see you Monday, call me ok?" Liz said as they sat in the car in front of The Crashdown. Aaron leaned over and gave her one last searing kiss before pulling back and pushing her hair behind her ear.

"I will, bye Liz," he said. Liz hopped out of the car and walked inside, waving goodbye to him once more before locking the door.

She snuck quietly upstairs and into her bedroom, careful not to wake her parents as she did so. They tended to be cranky if she woke them up, which she couldn't really blame them for, because she was exactly the same way.

Shutting her door behind herself she stripped down to her birthday suit and walked into her bathroom, quickly hopping in the shower and turning it as hot as it would get.

That's how she always took her showers, steaming hot. Closing her eyes she let her thoughts wander as she shampooed her hair.

Wander to Aaron....to Max...

Even thought Aaron was an excellent kisser there wasn't a spark like there was with Max, there wasn't the searing pleasure, the urgency and passion and need to be with each other.

She shook her head to clear her mind of those images, but they wouldn't go away. She knew they had to, she was officially with Aaron now.

Turning off the faucet Liz stepped out of the shower and toweled herself dry, wrapping it around herself before stepping out of the bathroom.

She shivered at the change in temperature and walked over to her window and out with only the towel on. She walked to the edge of the balcony and glanced down at the empty alleyway.

It seemed like just yesterday Max would come climbing up this very ladder and they would have their few minutes together up here on her balcony, but those few minutes were filled with so much love that it was enough.

With one last glance down into the empty alleyway Liz walked back inside, leaving her window open to let in a breeze for the night.

She slipped on a cami and a pair of panties and combed her hair out before slipping under the cool sheets of her bed and staring up at the ceiling.

She lay in her bed for at least an hour awake, not able to clear her mind of Max, it didn't help that he wore the shirt that he knew drew her crazy today.

Finally sighing in frustration she sat up and reached for her phone.

"Hello?" he mumbled groggily on the other end of the phone.

"Get over here....we need to talk," Liz whispered, hanging up before he had word in edgewise. She had no clue what she just did...but she knew she needed to clear a few things up.


*again sorry if it sucked, but i needed to get this chapter out of me, after this it'll come more fluently for me...hopefully, lol, im in the process of moving, so the next chap prob wont be up till next saturday....maybe sooner*