AN: Yes, I know! Back already!
I'm going to wind up spoiling you guys again. Big kudos to Mmcherron for helping me through this one. I was pulling my hair out for a little while, but she coached me through it as she always does. Thanx!
Now, I don't think there were any questions for this one, so, on with the next chapter.
CHAPTER 8
Max led Liz into the hotel room. “This is familiar,” he smirked.
“Yeah, almost like a rerun of our lives in hotel rooms.” They smiled at each other. “I always liked your house better,” Liz remembered.
“It was just as much yours as it was mine. You and my mother pretty much took the place over when you moved in.” They laughed together as they remembered when she had first gotten there. Their laughter soon dissipated and they found themselves gazing at each other longingly.
“Stop it,” Liz scolded lightly.
“Stop what?”
“Looking at me like you’re starved for me.”
“How do you know that’s what I feel?” Max challenged.
“Because you would always give me that look before you would attack me,” Liz chided.
“I can’t help it. I’ve missed you so much.”
“Yeah, you might have already mentioned that once or twice.”
“Third time’s a charm?” He gave her that childish smile and she smiled back.
“It’s always nice to hear it. Romantic nuances have been few and far between for me.”
“I wish I could make it up to you.”
Liz wanted to wipe away his sadness. “Well, you’re doing a pretty good job so far. Keep it up.” He smiled widely and Liz was glad to see it. “I’m gonna get a shower before you take me to dinner.”
“Dinner?” Liz just smiled as she sauntered past him into the bathroom.
**********
“Are we all going to eat together?” Maria asked Max when her and Michael made it to the room.
“I guess,” Max answered, unsure.
Just then, Liz came out of the bathroom in a plush, white robe, a stark white towel wrapped around her head. “Where do you wanna go eat, Liz?” Maria asked as she plopped down on the bed. Liz just shrugged her shoulders and looked at Max.
Michael could see that Max didn’t have an answer either so he suggested, “How bout we hit the Hard Rock?”
“Ooohhh...” Maria bounced on the bed. “I haven’t been there in ages!” Everyone agreed on the Hard Rock Café and got ready to go.
“Actually, you guys,” Liz interrupted, “I’d like to be alone with Max for a little while if you don’t mind.”
Maria gave Liz a look of wonderment, but then conceded. “Sure. Michael and I will go out to eat, and meet up with you guys back here in a few hours, k?”
Liz nodded, and Michael and Maria left the room. “What was that about?” Max asked.
“I just want to be alone with you for a little while.”
“Not that I’m complaining,” he said with a smile, “but, why?”
“I just want to talk to you. I feel like I haven’t talked to you in so long.”
Max took her little hand in his, and smiled. “I would love that.”
***********
“Think Max and Liz are gonna have a little tryst while we’re gone?”
Maria slapped Michael across the head. “Yeah, right. Knowing Liz, they will spend the night talking about this and that, before falling into a comfortable silence, and then we will show up to interrupt that silence.”
“We do have a knack for interrupting,” Michael smiled. Mari leaned up for a quick kiss and they walked hand in hand out to the street.
**************
Max and Liz sat at a small corner booth in the Hard Rock Café, their meals half-finished. “So, you still want to be a lawyer?” Max asked as he bit into his hamburger.
“Yeah. That hasn’t changed since you. It’s just that now it’s going to take me a little longer since I started later.”
“That’s my fault, isn’t it?” Liz could already see Max mentally kicking his own ass.
“Max, it was
not your fault. I’m the one who decided that school could wait while I played house with you and basically forgot about my responsibilities.”
“Yeah, but if it hadn’t been for
me, that would have never happened.” Max hated that he was the reason her dreams had been put on hold.
“But, Max, I don’t blame you for that. Being with you, when things were good, anyway, were the best times of my life. I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.” Liz didn’t want Max to think it was all his fault. A lot of decisions had been her own.
“And the bad times?”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “Lessons learned.”
“So, you’re saying that if you could back...”
Liz looked right into his eyes as she took his hand across the table. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” They smiled softly at each other and went back to their dinner, feeling a small weight lift from their shoulders.
**************
That night, after the gang all agreed that Maria and Michael would take the room adjacent to Max and Liz’s, they all began to part ways, but Maria had to check with Liz first. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, babe? Because I have no problem kicking Michael’s ass out and you can sleep with me.”
Liz nodded slowly with a smile. “Yeah. Max and I have been talking and, I’m sure this will be fine.”
“You still love him, don’t you?” Maria asked sympathetically. Liz just gave her a look, not wanting to answer her. But her somber expression was enough for Maria to know the truth. “Well, in that case, are you
sure you want to sleep with him tonight?”
“He’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
“How do you know?”
“Cuz I get the feeling he thinks I’m going to clock him at any moment.”
Maria smiled. “Make sure he continues to be aware of that silent threat.” Liz laughed lightly and gave Maria a quick hug before letting her leave the room.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this, Liz?” Max asked her tentatively. “I can sleep on the couch.”
Liz looked him over. He was wearing a t-shirt and a part of sweat pants. Completely innocent attire. So, instead of answering him, Liz climbed into the bed, and threw the covers over the side, leaving a large space open for Max. He took the invitation and hopped in behind her. “Just...”
“What?” Max asked her. “Some things never change and I’d still do anything for you.”
Liz closed her eyes at the sound of his voice. His breath on the back of her neck was making her feel the things she used to enjoy feeling as a young girl. She twisted her head around to look into his eyes. “Just try to stay on your side.” She was teasing him and he knew it.
“Anything for you, Princess.” He laid back against the pillow, his hands behind his head, while Liz lay beside him, curled up on her side, huge smiles on both of their faces.
****************
The next morning, at the warehouse, Alex was sitting at the table, going over his notes, and adding little things here and there. He looked up when he heard the door open and close. “Where are Max and Liz?” he asked when he only saw Michael and Maria come in.
“They’re on their way. They woke up a little late, so they should be here any minute,” Michael provided.
***************
Back in the Hotel Room...
“I can’t believe we woke up so late,” Liz said as she zipped up her jeans.
“I forgot to set the alarm, I’m sorry.” Max searched his bag for a t-shirt he could wear.
Liz turned to see him still shirtless. Her eyes began to wander over those muscles, remembering the way they had felt whenever she would knead them in the heat of a passionate embrace. She got so lost in her thoughts she didn’t even realize that Max was standing there with a new shirt in his hands, watching her eyes cloud over in desire. He decided he would stand there and allow her to look until she realized he was watching her watch him. When he crossed his arms over his broad chest, Liz’s eyes snapped to his smirking face.
“I’m so sorry,” she blushed furiously.
“It’s okay, Liz.” He looked her in the eyes and said, “You’re still allowed to look.”
***************
Max and Liz finally got to the warehouse, where Michael and Maria were entertaining Alex with the story of how they hooked up. Alex looked up while he laughed when he saw them enter. “Welcome!”
“Sorry, we’re late,” Max said sheepishly.
“It’s alright, Michael and Maria were great company. How did you sleep?”
“Good,” they both answered together, a slight blush on their cheeks. Michael looked between them, doing his best to hide his smile. Maria looked a little worried.
Alex looked back over his notes and began. “Okay! What’s say we get right down to business.” He flipped a couple pages of his notebook. Then he did that finger cracking thing again, and said, “Where did we leave off yesterday?”
“Max and I got into a fight after the doctor had left and then we made up,” Liz informed him.
“Right,” Alex said with a smile. “What happened next? What were those reporters talking to you guys about the night before?”
“Oh, they wanted to know about Liz,” Max said. “They were asking who she was and where she was from, and if we were in love,” Max chuckled.
“What did you tell them?”
“I didn’t tell them anything. I knew they’d find out sooner or later exactly who she was and so, I just went about answering the few questions they asked me about my career. Liz just stood by my side and went along with it.”
Alex nodded. “So, how long
did it take them to find out her name?”
Max smiled in remembrance.
****************
June 1998
Banging on the door interrupted Max and Liz’s blissful sleep. Max had his arms wrapped tightly around her, his nose buried in her neck. Liz made a move to get up, but his arms kept her in place. “No,” he groaned.
“Someone’s knocking,” she said.
“Go away!” He yelled out. Michael must have thought Max had said ‘Come in,’ because he did.
“Check this out, buddy!” He threw a tabloid at us. “I’ll bet they are getting a hold of her high school transcripts as we speak.”
Max rubbed the sleepers out of his eyes and he and Liz looked at the paper. “What, do they work through the night?” Liz asked, astonished.
“Pretty much,” Max grumbled. The front page had a photo of Max and Liz the night before at the premiere.
Liz began to read aloud.
“Last night, teen heart throb, Max Evans, showed up at the premiere of his new film, Immortal, with a beautiful young girl. When pressed for the name of his latest vixen, Evans directly avoided any questions about her.
Soon afterward, it was discovered that her name is Liz Parker, and that her and Evans have been dating on and off for a few months.”
“On and off?” Max quoted, wondering where the hell their information had come from.
Liz continued to read.
“Liz Parker is no actress, nor is she up and coming, which is strange for Max Evans. The actor has never been seen with anyone besides young celebrities and debutantes on his arm. Wonder how long this one will last.”
Liz cocked an eyebrow at Max. “What do you want me to say?” he defended. “
I didn’t write it.”
“Wonder how long this one will last?” Liz quoted, suddenly angry.
“Give me that!” Max made a grab for it and Liz hid it behind her back.
Michael could see their flirtation and suddenly felt like an intruder. He silently let himself out. “Wait, Max,” Liz said, keeping it behind her while they rolled around on the bed together.
“Well, what? Let me tear it up for you!”
“But...” He finally stopped and watched Liz put the paper back in front of her, looking at it in awe. “My picture is in here.” He smiled as he realized this was all new for her, and he was glad she was taking it so well. “It’s like the first picture we’ve ever taken together.”
Max leaned over to give her a kiss, and she leaned back, allowing him to take control. “There will be many more. Trust me.” They went in for another kiss.
****************
“I have to leave already, don’t I?” Liz was bummed out. She had to get downstairs where the limo was waiting to take her and Maria back to Roswell. Back to her boring life without Max. Max walked her down to the lobby, just as bummed as she was.
Max took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Babygirl...you know we’ll see each other again.” Liz knew, but she still hated leaving. “I’ll call you all the time.
This time.” They smiled at their little private joke. He cupped her cheeks in his palms for another sweet kiss, their hands lingering until she finally left for real. Max stood in the lobby of the hotel, watching the limo pull away with Liz and Maria safely inside.
**************
“Lizzie!” Liz’s mom called from the kitchen.
Liz came barreling down the stairs. “What’s up, Mom?”
“Look what I picked up at the grocery store.” She handed Liz a tabloid. The opened page showed a picture of Max and Liz kissing, and then another picture of Max’s forlorn expression as he watched her limo drive away that day. The headline read:
They’re In Love! When Liz remained silent, Nancy asked, “Well...anything you want to tell me?”
“Mom, this is a tabloid.”
“So you’re saying it’s not true?”
Liz hesitated before saying, “This is a tabloid!”
Nancy took the paper back. “They know your name. They know where your from, Liz!”
“What do you want me to do about it?” Liz was at a loss. She couldn’t stop them from printing her picture. Nancy just shook her head and left the room. Liz smiled behind her back and took the paper to her room.
****************
“Hey, Mom,” Max said as he hugged her.
“I’ve missed you, Max. You never come home anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Mom, I’ve just been busy is all.”
“With Liz Parker?” Max gave her a questioning look. “A mother knows everything, Max.” He smiled. “And it’s been in every tabloid for the past week.” Max laughed openly then.
“Love what you’ve done with the place,” Max said while he looked around. She had turned the three story mansion into a vision of perfection. Max had bought it for her just a year ago, and she was absolutely in love with it.
As a mother and son sat at the dinner table that night, going over their past, and hoping that the future would be much brighter.
****************
“Oh my gosh, you called!” Liz screeched into the phone.
“I promised you I would,” Max smiled.
“The tabloids are having a field day with us.”
“More like a field
week,” Max laughed. “Are you okay with it?”
“Well, I’ve been saving every clipping I can find.” They laughed together. “Where are you?”
“I’m in Minnesota with my mom.”
“How is she?”
“She’s good. She wants to meet you.”
“I would love to meet her, too. My mom wants you for dinner,” Liz mumbled.
“To eat?” Max joked.
“If you’re lucky,” Liz joked back.
“You tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Liz smiled. “Okay. When are you going back to L.A.?”
“Tonight, actually. I have some business to take care of.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s perfect. I’ve gotta go though, Michael’s waiting.”
“Aww,” Liz sighed.
“Don’t pout. I’ll call you back as soon as I get another chance.”
“Okay. I’ll miss you.”
“I miss you already, Princess.” Max hung up the phone and went outside, where Michael was honking the horn.
“Let’s go already!” Max hopped in the car and headed to the airport, where he would catch a quick flight back to L.A., where he planned to meet up with a blonde-headed son-of-a-bitch.
*****************
“You are
not backing out on me. You promised!” Maria shouted outside Liz’s bathroom door.
“Chill, Maria!” Liz said as she emerged from the bathroom. “I am not backing out.” Liz came out, turned around so that Maria could zip up her dress.
“Damn, girl, you look hot! West Roswell will not know what hit them!” Maria whistled at Liz’s short, red dress, the diamond heart around her neck, and the bracelet around her wrist.
“Remember, I’m there for
you, and no other reason.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Maria said as she dragged Liz out of her house and to the latest party.
**************
AN: I pop back and forth between Max and Liz here and I didn’t use the asterisks because the song is in the middle of all of it, so I hope I don’t confuse anyone.
“Max, are you sure you want to do this? Especially in the guy’s home?” Michael wasn’t so sure about this plan. Max and he were in front of Curtis’s house, and Max looked ready to explode, and it wasn’t because of the summer heat.
“If we do it here, it’ll be a while before anyone finds him, and I want him in as much pain as possible for as long as possible.” Max cracked his knuckles as he hopped out of his Porsche, without using the door, smashing the empty tequila bottle on the ground, and Michael reluctantly followed.
Hot summer streets and the pavements are burning
I sit around
Trying to smile, but the air is so heavy and dry
Strange voices are saying (Ah, what did they say)
Things I can’t understand
It’s too close for comfort
This heat has got right out of hand
The party was in full swing when Liz and Maria showed up. People were dancing in the living room and there was a keg in the kitchen. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and Maria planned on having one, too. She pulled Liz over to the kitchen, right for the keg.
It’s a cruel (cruel)
Cruel summer
Leaving me here on my own
It’s a cruel (cruel)
Cruel summer
Now you’re gone
Max knocked on Curtis’s door, waiting not so patiently for it to open. Luckily, Curtis was the one to answer. “Max! What are you...” He didn’t have time to finish the sentence before Max had thrown a right hook to his jaw.
Michael looked behind them to make sure no one was around, and closed the door quickly before anyone passing by would see what was happening. When Michael came back, Max had Curtis on the shiny floor of the hallway, the kid’s blood splattering the walls. Michael stood back, allowing Max to take his rage out.
The city is crowded, my friends are away and I'm on my own
It's too hot to handle, so I gotta get up and go, and go
It's a cruel, (cruel) cruel summer
Leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer
Now you're gone
You're not the only one
Liz was actually having some fun. She was sitting on the sofa with a wine cooler tightly in hand, remembering quite vividly why she would never again leave her drink unattended.
Then again, she thought to herself,
if Max is present... She smiled at the thought.
Kyle Valenti, captain of the West Roswell High football and basketball teams, sat down next to Liz then, draping his arm over her shoulder. “Must be a good daydream. Was it about me?”
“Could you
be any cockier?” Liz asked as she carefully removed his arm from around her.
“So sorry, sweetheart,” he smiled his million dollar smile at her. “It’s just that I heard this rumor and I had to come and find out for myself.”
It's a cruel, cruel summer (leaving me)
Leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer
Now you're gone
You're not the only one
Liz knew what rumor he had heard. The school had been buzzing about it the entire week, but no one had yet to approach her about it. “What rumor would that be Kyle? Maybe I can help you validate it.” She smiled at him sweetly.
“Rumor has it that you and Max Evans are dating.”
“It’s true,” she said quickly, taking another sip of her drink.
Kyle continued as if she hadn’t said a word. “Now, I said that’s bull. It must be some other guy, a
real guy, named Max Evans, right? It’s a popular name, right?”
Now don't you leave me
Now don't you leave me
Well don't you leave me
Come on, come on
Now don't you leave me
Now don't you leave me
Well don't you leave me
Come on, come on
It's a cruel, cruel summer (leaving me)
Leaving me here on my own
Liz decided that words were overrated, so she slipped into her purse and pulled out a small folded up piece of paper, and handed it to Kyle. She watched his eyes go wide when he opened it up and saw the picture in the tabloid Liz had been toting around with her. It was the one of her and Max kissing, with the
They’re In Love! headline. Kyle just nodded, trying to be cool all of a sudden, handed her back the paper, and made his way back to his friends with his tail between his legs. Liz smiled triumphantly as she watched him go.
When Kyle got back to his friends, they began to heckle him for being shot down, and Kyle just looked back over at Liz, who was now joined by Maria, determination etched on his face, and said, “It’s not over, yet, sweetheart.”
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer
Now you're goneYou're not the only one
Max wiped the blood off his knuckles on his jeans as he stared down at the lifeless body of his last co-star. Michael had just pulled him off, knowing Max probably would have killed him. Max leaned down, close to Curtis’s head, and whispered, “If you ever go near her again, I won’t bring Michael next time.”
It's a cruel, cruel summer (leaving me)
Leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer
Now you're gone
You're not the only one
Max left the guy on the floor and went back to the car. Michael looked back at Curtis and thought that if he was left there too long, he wouldn’t make it. The guy was laying face first in a pool of his own blood and it looked like a massacre had just taken place. His face was beaten so badly, nobody off the street would even recognize the young star. He ran to the phone and called 911. The operator picked up and Michael simply said, “Help.”
It's a cruel, cruel summer
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer
It's a cruel, cruel summer (leaving me)
It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer
It's a cruel summer
Ace of Base- Cruel Summer
He ran out the door and got in the car, speeding off with Max, silently hoping the police would get there soon.
TBC...