Hey guys! I had a little time over the hoilday and I got the next chapter done. Woohooo!! Thanks for all the wonderful fb.
It makes me feel so loved.
Anyway, so here's the next chapter. Enjoy
Chapter 2B
Wednesday
“Okay chico, spill. What‘s going on with you?” Maria asked as they drove towards Maria’s house.
“Nothing’s wrong as I’ve told you millions of times.”
“And every time you lie.” She said, genuinely concerned for her best friend. “Max, I know you. And you know I know you, so what’s the point in lying? Why can’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Because there’s nothing to tell.” He voice rising a bit.
“Max, you don’t eat, you don’t sleep. You don’t even hang out with me as much as you used to. You and I haven’t even tormented Alex in a while. Now I know there’s something wrong.”
Max cracked a small smile. “Fine. If it’ll make you feel better, we’ll sit down and devise a plan to prank Alex. Okay?”
She smiled, but it didn’t last long. “Be serious Max, what’s going on?” He didn’t answer, his eyes focused on the road. “Don’t make me whine.” She threatened.
His eyes widened at the thought of Maria whining. That was ultimate torture, next to seeing her cry. “Please. Ria, don’t whine.” He begged.
“Maa-aaaaaxxxx!! What’s wroooooonnnnnng?” She said in her best whining voice. She saw Max wince, but made no move to talk.
She sighed. She’d just have to get right to the point. “Does this has with that time you went missing for two weeks at the same time your mom left?”
Max tensed, his knuckles turnings white as he gripped the steering wheel, trying to keep control of the car. “No.” He muttered.
She got her answer. Last year, Max filed for emancipation. His mother had left him to look for Max’s dad; or so he told them and Max went missing for three weeks without telling anyone where he was. When he returned, Max refused to go into foster care and he didn’t want to burden any of his friends either. Whatever was wrong with Max, Maria was sure it had something to do with his mother. Maria had vowed a long time ago that if she ever saw Mrs. Evans again, she was going to give her a major ass kicking for hurting Max.
“Whatever it is, you need to talk to someone Max.”
“I don’t NEED to do anything!!! What the hell is wrong with everybody?!? I lose ONE night of sleep and everybody thinks I’m a fuckin nutcase! Nothing is wrong! Okay?!?” He immediately regretted the words he’d said. He knew Maria was just trying to help. And he’d lost WAY more than one night of sleep. That night he’d shown up at Maria’s house was one of the worst night’s he’d ever had. He’d been so close to hurting himself till it wasn’t even funny. He took a few deep breaths to calm his nerves.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.” He glanced at her and noticed she was staring out the window. “Ria?” She turned to him, her eyes glistening with tears.
“Don’t cry Ria. You know I hate it.”
She sniffled and wiped her eyes. He let out a painful sigh. “Okay there is something wrong. But I just can’t talk about it right now. The best thing you can do is just be there for me. Okay?”
She hesitated then nodded. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.” She said wearily. “I just....I worry about you Max.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you. But I just need time.”
She nodded in understanding. She knew Max would talk when he was ready. But she just hoped that he didn’t do anything drastic. She had an idea of what Max would have done if he hadn’t have came to her that night, two months ago. She still remembered the way he trembled in her arms that night, his face was deathly pale and..... She shivered and blocked the memory.
“So, did you see the way Liz was looking at you. I’d say she has a thang for my chico.” She said, trying to brighten the mood.
He blushed turned his head away from her. “RIA!!”
She laughed at his reaction. “What? I’m just saying.”
*************
Thursday
Max slowly dragged his feet down the hallway toward his first hour. His backpack slung over one slumped shoulder, as he gradually made his way to biology class.
The hall was completely empty. He was late, so late. He’d over slept, which he didn’t know how he had over slept. Considering a person would have to be asleep to over sleep. It had been another night of having nightmares, alcohol being his only way of dealing. He‘d gotten so plastered last night until he couldn‘t even see straight. He wasn’t entirely sure that he wasn’t still drunk.
He quickly turned his thoughts and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and making it to class. Then he thought of Liz. He was so confused when it came to her. It was something about her that made his stomach do flip flops. She had a way of making him forget about everything around him. He unconsciously quickened his pace towards his class.
Liz slumped in her seat, intently watching the door, wishing that Max would walk in any minute. She needed her daily fix of him. All she needed was one look, one glance. She was hooked on Max. Ever since she’d met him, he was on her mind all the time. She stared hard at the door and leaned forward in her seat.
Just then, Max walked through the door and she sighed in satisfaction.
“Why Mr. Evans! Nice of you to join us. Would you kindly explain why you’re late.” Mrs. Anderson said.
He noticed to whole class staring at him, seemingly waiting for an answer. “I over slept. Sorry.” He said simply as he walked back to his table.
“Be sure to get here on time.” Her voice was a little more than annoyed.
“Hey Max.” Liz said, giving him a brilliant smile.
“Hi.” He said shyly. He quickly took out his books and a notebooks and organized them on the table.
“So you’re a neat freak, huh?”
He nodded, putting his pencil in front of him, ready if he needed it.
“You have everything so neat and tidy. I bet your dad loves that.” She smiled, but it disappeared as she saw him tense. “You okay?” She asked turning slightly towards him.
“Um, yeah. I’m fine. Just a little tired is all. Maria kept me up all night.” He lied.
“You sure? You seem a little tense.”
“I’m okay. It’s nothing.” He answered quietly. “What are we supposed to be doing?”
“We’re supposed to look at six different things under the microscope and compare them.” She explained, motioning to the microscope and the empty slides.
“Let’s get started. We have about tem minutes.” They worked in silence for awhile. Both of them stealing glances at each other, turning away before the other could notice.
“Could you hand me the cover slip?” She asked.
“The what?” He scanned the table until he saw a small glass square. “Oh. You mean this glass cover thingy?”
“I see you know your science terms.” She laughed as she took the cover slip from him. Their hands brushed together and she lingered there for while. They held onto each other, both staring into each others eyes, until Max broke contact. “Thank you.” She ducked her head to try and hide her blush.
“Um, you wanna go first?” He asked. He handed her the toothpick and iodine. He dropped a drop of water onto the slide while she scraped on the inside of her cheek.
“Alright. Everyone start packing up. If you‘re not done you’ll have to finish Monday.” Mrs. Anderson spoke up.
“Damn!” Liz muttered. Together they packed up everything and put it away. The bell rang just as they finished packing up.
The whole time, Liz had been thinking on how to ask Max out. Max was so easy to talk to. She had fun hanging out with him the other day, even though he did throw his ice cream at her. She smiled at the memory and turned to ask him, finally working up the courage. But she found that he was gone.
Disappointed, she slowly made her way out of the classroom, but was stopped when she was nearly knocked down by a hard body.
“Watch where you......Oh hey sexy. I guess you didn’t get enough of me the last time we met.” Kyle growled, still holding onto her after he steadied her.
“Um, whatever. You can let go of me now.” She said as she pried his arms off of her. She turned and stomped off.
“Damn. I gotta get a piece of that.” He mumbled to himself. He looked after her, his eyes locked on her backside.
*************
Liz walked happily into lunch searching for Maria. She spotted her walking into the courtyard. She strolled towards her with a huge smile on her face. She’d finally gotten the courage to ask Max out. She was going to do it right after lunch.
“What’s his name?” Maria asked as Liz walked up to her. Maria didn’t know Liz that well, but she knew that smile.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Can’t a girl just be happy.” She said innocently.
“No you can’t. I repeat my question, what’s his name?”
“Max.” She answered quietly.
“Aha!! I was right. Wait! Max? As in Max Evans. ” Liz nodded shyly and stared at the ground. “My best friend, Max Evans? I knew you liked him. What did he do to make you all googlely eyed?”
“What? I am not all googlely eyed. And he did nothing.”
“Yeah, right. Don’t act like you’re not fantasizing about sucking face with him.” She teased.
Liz rolled her at her. “Where is he?” She asked.
“Right over there.” She said pointing towards the table where Max, Michael and Alex sat. “Come on. Let’s go.” She pulled Liz behind her as they made their way across the courtyard.
“Maria, tell them that the classic Looney Tunes are better than all of these new cartoons out today.” Alex whined when he saw Maria coming.
“Alex, you’re 17 years old and you’re still obsessed with cartoons.” Michael said.
“I am not obsessed!” He denied.
“Then why did you get pissed off at Max and I when we taped over your Bugs Bunny movie? Alex you wouldn’t talk to us for a month.” Maria laughed. She sat down next to Michael and kissed him on the cheek.. Liz gladly took the empty seat next to Max, who seemed oblivious to the whole conversation.
“But that was my favorite tape and you guys ruined it.” He whined.
“Most guys keep Playboy or a sports magazine under their bed. Whereas you have every subscription to Nickelodeon Magazine.”
“Hey! But do I do perverted things with MY magazines?” He said, narrowing his eyes at Michael.
“How should we know. Sponge Bob is kinda sexy.” Maria joked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“MAARRRIIIAA!!!!” Liz giggled and Alex glared at her.
“Whatever.” Maria snorted. “Michael did you bring me a salad?” She questioned, while stealing one of Max’s fries, which earned her a warning glare.
“What? No. You didn’t ask me.”
“I did. I asked you in third hour. I told you I was going to be late for lunch. Weren‘t you listening?”
“Um, not really.” He said simply. He sat up and prepared for Maria’s wrath.
“Michael!! I can’t believe you!!” She scolded. Alex snickered but stopped when Maria gave him the death glare. “Do you ever listen when I talk to you?”
“Yeah. But you were rambling so much, I just tuned you out.” He explained.
“What?!? I do not ramble!” She denied angrily.
“Uh, yeah you do.” Alex jumped in. He knew he was risking his health by siding with Michael, but he figured it wouldn’t be that bad if it was two against one. The both of them could handle Maria. Right?
“You know those people that talk really fast at the end of commercials. That’s what you sound like.” He ducked as a fry came flying right at him. Everyone burst out in laughter, except for Maria, who sat there with her mouth wide open and Max, who just sat there staring at the table top, his hands folded neatly in his lap.
Sandwiched between Liz and Alex, Max was in his own world. Liz’s heart went out to him. Even with his best friends right here, he looked so alone. It seemed she was the only one who noticed Max’s lack of participation in the conversation. Or maybe they were just used to it. She tuned back into the conversation, but her thoughts were still on Max.
**********
Max groaned as his tried, for the fifth time, to start up his jeep. He downed the last of his whiskey, then hid the empty bottle under his seat. He turned the key in the ignition, it stuttered for a second then started up.
“Victory at last!” He said in triumph. He put is foot on the brake, and just as he was about to put it in reverse, the jeep cut off. “Damn it. Evil car!!” He shouted shaking his fist in the air.
“Um, I don’t think cars can be evil Max.” Max looked up to see an amused Liz staring right at him.
“Mine is.” He replied, trying to started it up again.
“You want a ride?” She asked hopefully. She hadn’t got a chance to ask him out. He’d left as soon as lunch was over. Maybe this was her chance.
Max wanted to take her up on her offer, but he shook his head anyway. “I don’t want you to go out of your way. I’m sure I can get this thing to start up.” He gestured towards the rusted jeep. “Besides, I need to get to work.”
“It won’t be out of my way. Come on. I‘ll take you to work too.” She gave him a sweet smile.
He stared at her for a minute. He really couldn’t turn her down when she smiled at him. “Okay. Just let me call a tow truck.” He pulled out his cell phone and pressed number 4. His jeep was always breaking down, so he was forced to add the tow company to speed dial.
After a few minutes, Max hung up the phone. “They said that they’ll be here in a few minutes. Thank you for this Liz.”
“No problem. It’ll give me a chance to get to know you better.” Max cringed at the thought of her, or anyone getting to know him. Once they did they’d probably run from him in disgust.
“Where do you work?”
“UFO Center.”
“Cool right across the street from where I live.” She said as they walked to a nearby bench. “So, do you have any siblings?” She asked.
He hesitated a bit then shook his head and stared at the ground. “Can we just talk about something else?” He said so quietly that Liz barely heard him. She knew she had hit a nerve. She didn’t want to push him.
“Sure. You play any sports?” He must did something. His body was flawless. And it was tanned just right.
“Nope. What about you?”
“I’m a tennis freak. I even broke an ankle and a wrist playing.” She said blushing a little in embarrassment.
“That’s better than getting hit on the leg with a baseball bat, getting smacked in the face with a baseball, and then running into a tree trying to catch the baseball. My gym teacher made me play. I told him I was bad but he didn‘t believe me.” He confessed showing a small smile.
Liz was blown away by his smile. He had perfect white teeth, which sat happily behind luscious lips. Even though it was a small smile it was still glorious.
They were silent until the tow truck arrived five minutes later. They hopped in Liz’s dark purple Ford Focus and headed off of school grounds.
“Where do you live?” She asked as she pulled out of the parking lot.
“Murray Lane. Blue Square Apartments. You know where it’s at?”
“Yeah. That’s across town, right?” Max nodded. “You were going to drive your ‘evil car’ all the way there?”
“I was going to try.” He chuckled. “I probably would have made it.”
“How could you be so sure? You couldn’t even get it to start.”
“Hey! There’s a special bond between me and Bob. He could’ve made it.” He joked.
“Bob? You named your jeep Bob? Men!” She laughed.
“What? Bob’s a nice name. It sort of suits him. Don’t you think?”
“Whatever you say Max.” She shook her head at his silliness. “Sooooo. Max, do you have a girlfriend?”
“Um, n-no.” He glanced over at her then blushed. “Y-You have a boyfriend?”
“No.” She looked over at Max’s shocked face and giggled. “Why so surprised?”
“Um....c-cause....well, you...um,” He scratched behind his ear nervously. He turned his face to the window, to embarrassed to look at her.
“Thank you. I think.” Liz smiled to herself as she pulled into the parking lot of the small apartment complex.
“You can come up if you want. I don‘t have to be at work for another hour.” Max offered as they came to a stop in front of the small apartment complex.
“Okay.” She said as she killed the engine.
They silently walked up the sidewalk and entered the small apartment building. They walked up a flight of unsteady stairs and down a narrow hallway. The carpet was a pale green and the walls were a dirty white. The ceiling had small cracks along the corners and around the light fixtures. They came to a stop at the last door of the hallway. Max unlocked the door and stepped back so Liz could walk in, he followed close behind.
“You live here alone?” She asked glancing the incredibly small apartment. The apartment had a living room which was connected to an open area which she guessed was supposed to be the kitchen. On the left of the kitchen was a short hallway.
The apartment was so bland. There were no pictures hanging on the wall, the furniture looked dull and worn out, it was lifeless. It made her shudder to think about living in a place like this.
“Yeah. Ever since last year.” He tossed his back pack onto a nearby chair and motioned for her to sit. “You want anything to drink.”
“No thank you.” Why would he be living on his own? There was definitely something up.
“I’m gonna go change. I’ll be right out.” He said as he backed out of the room and into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Liz got up from the couch and examined the room more closely. She walked over to a small book case. It held only a few books and one photo. She picked up the picture and studied it. It was of Max, Michael, Alex, and Maria. It looked like they were at the park. Michael sat on a blanket with his back against a tree. He was smiling down at Maria who was sitting in between his legs, returning the smile. Alex sat next to them, giving the thumbs up sign. Next there was Max. He sat next to Alex with is knees pulled up to his chest, his arms loosely around his legs. He was smiling but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Liz heard shuffling sounds coming from the other room and she quickly set the picture down and rushed back to the couch. She wasn’t sure how Max would act if he saw her snooping around his place. Just then Max came out, wearing some worn out blue jeans and a green and purple vest. Even with the vest he looked good enough to eat.
“Hi” He said shyly.
“Hey.” She replied.
“Um, you want some cake? Maria’s mom made it.” He said backing into the kitchen.
“Yeah.” She followed him into the kitchen.
“Maria sneaks a couple for me every now and again.” He grabbed two plastic plates and set them on what looked like a card table. “I’m out of plastic utensils. You have to eat with your hands.”
“No problem. Taste better that way.” Max cut them each a huge piece of the cake.
“So how do you like Roswell so far?” He asked while he grabbed a handful of cake and pushed it into his mouth. He looked like a little boy eating his birthday cake.
Liz giggled at him. “It’s okay. Any aliens around here?” She took her own handful of cake.
“Not that I know of. Although Michael’s hair looks a little like antennas sometimes.” He joked.
“I’m glad that I’m not the only one who noticed that.” She laughed. She looked up at Max and laughed even harder.
“What?” He didn’t know what she was laughing at, but he didn’t care. He loved the sound of her laughing. He loved to see her happy.
“You.....cake.....all over...” She choked out.
“What?”
Liz gave up on trying to form a coherent sentence. She scrunched her nose and pointed to it. Tears fell from her eyes as she gripped her stomach.
He mimicked her move. “What was that supposed to mean? What’s so funny?”
She composed her self a little and sat up. “You have cake smeared all over your face.” She explained in between giggles. “Especially your nose.”
“Well, what was this?” He asked. He scrunched his nose and pointed to it.
“Max everyone knows what that means. That’s the international sign for ‘there’s something on your nose.’”
“The international sign?” He shook his head and took another bite of his cake. She burst out laughing again. “This is funny to you isn’t it?”
“Very.” She choked out. She continued to laugh, but stopped abruptly when she saw Max reaching over for the whipped cream and pointing it at her.
“What are you doing?” She asked nervously as she backed out of her chair and away from Max.
“I don’t think it’s fair for you to be the only one who’s having a good laugh.” He advanced towards her with a mischievous smile.
“Max, I wasn’t really laughing at you.” She lied with a nervous laugh. “I was laughing with you.”
“Liar!” He lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. She reached next to her and grabbed her half eaten piece of cake.
“Spray me, and you die.” She threatened. She saw that he wasn’t at all threatened.
It was then she noticed how close they were standing. She let her eyes drift down to his lips. They were so....so.....kissable. All she had to do was lean up and.....
“Um.....we’d better go. I don’t want to be late for work.” Max said as he backed away from her. He obviously noticed how close they were too by the looks of his flushed cheeks.
“Yeah. Uh, let’s go.” Her voice was etched with disappointment. Together they walked out of the apartment and to the car. They hopped in and drove to the UFO Center, silent the whole way.
“Hey Liz?” He asked once she pulled to a stop in front of the Crashdown.
“Yeah?”
“Would you go out with me this weekend?” He blurted out. He bit his tongue as soon as the words came flying out of his mouth. He hadn’t meant to say that. He only wanted to say thanks. Why was he always doing this to himself? Setting himself up for rejection.
Liz eyes went wide at his question. “Yes!!!” She said a little to loudly. “I mean... that’s fine.”
He was stunned that she actually agreed. “Okay.”
“Yeah.”
“How about Saturday. Do you have to work?” He asked while fidgeting with the buttons on his vest.
“Yeah but I get off at 2:30. So we could go later around 6. I-I mean if that’s okay with you.” She said whiled wiping off nonexistent dust on the steering wheel.
“Yeah, that’s okay.”
“Good.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.” She nodded her head. “So you’d better,” She tilted her head towards the UFO Center. “go.”
“Yeah. So I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye Max.” She sighed dreamily and watched him walk into the Center.
Tbc....
I know this chapter was long but I just couldn't help myself
Seriously though, this first part may not be easy to read so I’m just warning you in advance.
Anyway, I got a chance to finish the next chapter so thanks for the fb and enjoy! 
But here you go.