Sorry bella! hang in there...Cuz heres the next chapter Throws chapter in and runs away
Chapter 31
Max hadn’t been at school all day, he didn’t turn up to our secret place under the bleachers for lunch, he wasn’t in Chem. Class and Michael didn’t know where he was either.
Worry plagued me all day as the lingering thought in the back of my mind screamed that something terrible had happened. It started out as such a beautiful day, like ‘the sun shining and the birds singing sweet songs’ kinda day but ever since Alex said he didn’t show up for a meeting with his team I had been on slight edge for the whole day.
Max had his phone switched off and leaving messages wasn’t making him pick up either. I must have left ten text messages and voicemails on his phone but still no reply. After school I had checked out the likely places he could be: his work, the gym, the mall. I even strode into the boys’ locker rooms at school, which gave the showering jocks a surprise.
And now here I stood at the last place I could think of, the place I avoided coming too. The Evans household. I have been here plenty of times but this time it felt daunting to be hovering at the front door. Several times now I’ve held my hand up to knock on the door, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. When Max had told me that Mr. Evans was willing to somehow get rid of me just so Max wouldn’t have anything left, it made me avoid this house like the black plague.
The wind started to pick up and made the chimes on the front porch tingle slightly with the soft breeze. When I finally gathered the courage to knock, the door swung wide open and I jumped in back in panic.
“Liz?” Isabel smiled at me as I froze in place barely registering that is was Isabel.
“Hey Izzy.” I stammered, feeling my nerves calm down at Isabel’s warm smile. I hadn’t seen her in months, she looked slimmer and had had her hair cut to her shoulders. But that signature, bouncing blond hair was still there.
We both stepped forward for a hug giggling at the slight difference in each other, I wasn’t sure if she knew I was pregnant or not. But judging from Max it seemed that Phillip Evans would announce his fury to the whole world.
“You look great, Iz.” I commented with a smile of relief.
“Thanks, you too. Come inside.” She gestured for me to enter the house and I quickly hurried in. “Is Max here?”
“No, I haven’t seen him since this morning. I figured he was with you.” I shook my head at Isabel trying to pass off as calm and decided to at least talk to her and catch up on things.
“How was the whole all girls boarding school business experience? I mean I never got to chat with you about any of it last time I saw you.” I asked as we sat in the living room. I felt a little uncomfortable being in a house that I’m probably prohibited from.
“Yeah, it was great to get away you know. I joined a Law Club and became president because I was such a high achiever in it. And I really got back on track with schoolwork. But even being a great student and president of the Law Club still didn’t get my father's attention.” Isabel chuckled with hidden sorrow.
Isabel had gone a bit wild about a year ago, partying way too much and drinking so she was shipped off to boarding school for better discipline. But it never occurred to her parents that it was a cry for attention. Max had told me that because he was constantly being hassled into being a better son and the heir to his father’s business, it came across to Isabel that she was being pushed to the back so she did what she could to get her parents attention, the good and the bad.
“So Max told me about…” She gestured to my stomach hesitantly; obviously she was breaking some rule by talking to me about it.
“Yeah, I’m a little over four months now.” I weakly smiled as she nodded her head with a puzzled glance. Something was obviously going through her mind.
“I’m so sorry about everything, Liz. I mean my brother can be such a dick sometimes especially with something like this.” It didn’t need to be said that she was referring to Jeremy her other brother
“And now you're living with Michael? Gee, good luck with that.” She dryly commented which made me smile. While everyone thought Michael lived like a pig, they hadn’t seen me yet. Michael was now picking up after me sometimes.
“It’s not so bad, Michael been working that graveyard shift at Metachem so it’s pretty quiet around his apartment sometimes. He’s glad to have someone to come home too.”
“We’re you planning to leave home indefinitely now?” Isabel’s question stirred up thoughts I had been having ever since I left home. While I have much appreciated the space and not having my parents hang over my head, I was still pregnant and needed as much support as I could get. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my parents and their motives…but I have lingering fears that if I ever forgive them, that that won't be enough to ensure that things would be ever be good between us.
I realised that I still hadn’t answered Isabel’s question when she watched me with concern. “Oh, I don’t really know. I miss my room, but I’m not sure if I can be in that house knowing everything I know now.”
“Knowing what?” Isabel finally asked, and it dawned on me that she had been outta the loop for so long now. I’m forgetting that some people aren’t aware of the endless dramas I’m going through.
“Long story.” I mumbled, looking down at my fingers. I didn’t really want to delve into my family issues and Isabel could see that. It’s not that I don’t want to tell her, I just don’t want to rehash it.
“Well I was just going to make some tea, did you want some?” Isabel sprang up from her seat across from me, pointing her thumb toward the kitchen.
“No, I’m fine thanks. I'd better be off anyway.” I jumped up from the sofa and headed towards the door. As much as I wanted to talk to Isabel, I couldn’t sit in this house for another moment.
“Oh, okay. Well I found this letter in my room that’s addressed to you. I think Max left it in there.” Isabel quickly fetched the envelope and handed it too me.
“Thanks Izzy. I’ll catch up with you soon.” I said with a hug.
“Great seeing you again, Liz. I’ll tell Max you dropped by.” Isabel said as she opened to door.
“See ya.” I finally waved back at her as I walked down the dark driveway. When I got into my car I quickly opened the letter and turned the inside car light on so I could read it.
Tumbleweed Inn, Room 9. I have a surprise waiting for you.
Max.
Relief flooded my entire body as I smiled at the letter. He must have been planning something for us this entire day. First it was the ring and now this. But why not at least check in with me so I knew he was okay. Maybe then I probably wouldn’t have found the note.
With a growing smile I revved the car to life and took off in the direction of the Roswell's Tumbleweed Inn. Max always had a way of making me smile, even when he wasn’t here. But I still wasn’t too happy about this, he scared the hell outta me today and I have to tell him. I just hope I’ll have enough strength to resist what he's been up too.
As I flow down the main strip I saw my father getting out of his car and walking into the Crashdown. I didn’t even recognize him at first, he looked haggard, old. More grey could be seen in his once jet black hair.
His appearance caught me off guard, as I hadn’t prepared myself to see him look so shattered. It almost made me want to stop the car and examine him closer just to make sure it was him. I expected him to look angry or stone cold. Not old and miserable. Within minutes I realised I was just a couple of meters from the Inn and way passed the Crashdown. I placed what I saw behind me and looked forward to seeing Max to beat him to death for scaring the crap outta me today.
I chuckled slightly knowing that I’d pretty much cave as soon as I saw his innocent face. The Inn was just at the entrance of town to pick up travelers who might pass by or truckers who need a place to rest. Relying on this only made the place pretty dead.
I rolled the car into the open car park that surrounded the Motel rooms. The car lights flashed the numbers on the doors and I saw Room nine out the corner of my eye. I parked out front of it observing that Max’s jeep was nowhere to be seen.
I didn’t think much of it as I knocked on the door because I knew there was another car park around the back. I knocked a second time. After I few more moments I jiggled the doorknob and it open softly with a creak.
“Max?” I called out into the dark room.
The room was musky and dank, and was in some serious need of renovation. The room was fashioned in a 70’s way, with sickly yellow and green colours.
Stepping into the room I closed the door behind me making all light disappear from the room. I waited for my eyes to adjust before I crept into the room to wait for Max’s appearance.
“Oh Max, where are you?” I chanted in a sing-song voice venturing further into the room and trying desperately to find a lamp.
“Max c’mon. You’ve scared the shit outta me all day the least you could do is come out from hiding.
Suddenly a light flicked on from the other side of the room near the double bed. I spun around to the direction of the light my smile quickly fading when I saw who it was.
“Mr. Evans?” my voice trembled, I had just stupidly walked into his trap.
“Hello, Elizabeth. Long time no see.” He spoke all too calmly while sitting in a chair by the lamp, his legs crossed and his finger pressed together in an arch.
“Where’s Max?” I murmured stepping back towards the door.
“In Boston looking for an apartment.” He said again too calmly like Max was supposed to be there.
“Why is he in Boston looking for any apartment?” I whispered stepping back once more feeling very uncomfortable.
“He was accepted to do Law at Harvard. He needs to start making plans for his next move in life away from Roswell. And you.” I gulped loudly at his last words. The bastard had obviously flown Max to Boston to push him into looking for an apartment. I didn’t know Max had applied for Harvard.
“He didn’t even apply for Harvard.” I retorted feeling my temper rise slightly.
“No but I did for him. I don’t want him to miss out on getting into the best school. It’ll be his best achievement.”
“Don’t you mean yours? Max hates law.” I quickly spat back, stupidly standing over my ground with Phillip.
“I think a father knows what’s best for his children. He’ll thank me one day.”
“So are you here to kill me?” I questioned in anger and growing fear. Mr. Evans merely laughed and stood up as he did.
“Kill you? Why would I do that? That’s not how I go about my business, Elizabeth.” I hate the way he says my full name, like I’m just a thing. He says it to belittle me and it does. He advanced on me and I pressed myself against the door trying to appear fearless when really I’m shaking down to the bone.
“I actually brought you here about Max.” He hissed, his eyes burning into me and me looking up at him.
“What about him?” My voice wavered again, and I kicked myself for sounding so frightened.
“I want you to leave him alone and never talk to him again. I don’t want some obligation standing in the way and ruining his plans for the future.”
“I love him, I can’t just leave him because you say so. You’re a fucked up, greedy man who sees his own son as money builder you!” I spat out now feeling my temper wager between fear and anger. I’m not an obligation to Max, he is!
“I will not have my business crumble just because he knocked up some slut like you!” Mr. Evans roared at me losing all his control.
“So either you get rid of that baby and Max or deal with me. And I promise it won’t be pretty for you or your family or even Max.” The threat brought tears to my eyes and made my hold my stomach protectively. My heart pounded and I started to feeling my body shake uncontrollably. I had never felt so frightened in my life.
“If you decide to stay with Max and have that baby because you believe in love, well believe me love will not get you through what I’m prepared to do.” Mr. Evan’s coldly glared at me pointing his finger in my face.
“You’re willing to destroy your son’s life just because he chose me and his baby over your crappy future business.” I asked in down right horror and distress. This man was completely cold blooded.
“In a heart beat.” He answered quickly in a cold harsh whisper. How could he do it in a heart beat when he didn’t have a heart?
“You bastard, how can you do this to your own son!” I growled out under my breath tears rolling down my cheek.
“I know what’s best for him and what he wants. And I definitely know he didn’t want this baby and he just is with you out of duty.”
“You're lying! He loves me and this baby, nothing will change that.” I screamed at him, he could see he was making me break down.
“Oh really? Then why did he sleep with that lovely girl Tess Harding!” He had succeeded in breaking me I was now a blubbering mess. I was a child being cornered and screamed at.
“When he finally got a taste of someone better it was simple responsibility and sympathy that made him come crawling back to you.”
“Shut up!” I cried out. He was lying! I know he was lying…but why was it hurting so much. I’ve never really touched completely on the night Max was with Tess. He says he doesn’t remember much but…..Stop! NO! this isn’t true Max loves me and it was a mistake being with her.
“It’s a good thing he finally chose someone that was going somewhere in life. Tess will be attending Harvard too, so you may as well just give up, Elizabeth.”
I was a total wreck I couldn’t get any control over my emotions, I felt so beaten and belittled. I couldn’t even see straight. Mr. Evans continued to hover over me screaming endless threats.
“So if I see or hear about you even being near Max, I will destroy you and him… and that baby.” He whispered coldly glaring deep into my eyes before I realised just how close he was.
I quickly turned to the door knob feeling my fears double over and over with the minutes I spent near this man I have no respect for. As I ran out to my car I didn’t even realise that the rain had started to fall. I fumbled with my keys as I ran through the mud.
Suddenly I slipped over onto my hands and knees in the muddy car park the rain pelting down so hard it was impossible to hear my cries of pain and trepidation. I staggered to get up still crying endlessly when I felt something.
I gasped and held my stomach “Oh my god.”
TBC
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