Thea - Babe you know I love you and the nookie...it's coming give it time. And since it looks like this story is turning out a lot longer than I originally expected there will be even more nookie so no worries
Mia - Yes I am going to Philly and I am most def going to see you there!
Thank you all so much for the feedback really keeps these fingers typing
Chapter 10
“Why?” Liz was pacing the living room, she couldn’t believe they were doing this to her now.
“Liz, we can’t get a flight back, we are snowed in.” Nancy tried to calm her daughter down; she knew Liz would be upset that they would be missing her award ceremony.
“This is important and I worked so hard for it and you don’t even care!” Liz shouted into the phone. She was trying to stay calm and act like she didn’t care that her parents weren’t coming home; but she did care.
Max had just closed the door behind him; he was tired and hungry after a long day at work. He put his things down and saw Liz standing in the corner of the room with the phone attached to her ear. He only heard half the conversation as he made his way into the kitchen to grab something to eat.
“Fine! Yes mother! Bye!” Liz slammed the phone down and started to cry.
“Liz, what’s wrong?” Max walked back into the living room after he heard how Liz hung up the phone with her mother.
“My parents aren’t coming. I worked so hard and I won for nothing.” Liz sighed in defeat and made her way towards Max.
“It was not for nothing, Liz.” Max tried to console her but he knew that she was beyond upset that her parents would be missing out on tomorrow’s ceremony. He knew that she had worked so hard and hoped that she would be making her parents proud of her with this.
“It is, Max. I have to show up all alone. I mean how pathetic am I?” She said as she wiped the tears that slide down her cheeks. Max couldn’t resist consoling her, so he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“You aren’t going alone, Liz…I’m going with you.” Max whispered out to her. He hoped she would accept his offer and not look at it as pity; he really wanted to be there. Max knew that Liz’s parents were proud of her; he just wanted her to know that he was just as proud.
“Really?” Liz pulled back slightly to look at him.
“Yes, I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.” Max smiled and Liz couldn’t help but smile back at him. He just had a way to make her feel better instantly and she loved it.
“Thank you, Max.”
“Welcome.” Max leaned in and kissed her cheek softly before pulling away.
“I have to go take a shower and study for tomorrow’s test.”
“Wait. Did you eat anything, Max?” He shook his head.
“Then I’ll make you something and then I’ll help you study.” Liz wanted to help him, but if she was completely honest she wanted to spend time with him as well.
“Thanks. Meet me in my room in twenty.” She wanted to meet him in his room in ten, that way she might catch a glimpse of him again. It was killing her and she decided that it was time to tell him how she felt.
****
She was a coward, they had been lying on his bed for over an hour and nothing had left her mouth about how she felt.
“What time is the ceremony tomorrow?”
“Oh it’s at seven.”
“So I need to get something nice to wear right?” Max turned to her, he wasn’t happy at the thought of shopping, especially with Liz. He knew her lack of self-control tendencies would wreak havoc on his day.
“Yes.”
“How about after school you take me shopping Ms. Parker?”
“Will do.” They finished studying and shortly thereafter both retired to their rooms for bed.
****
“Liz, we only have two hours before we have to leave the house, can you please pick out a dress already?” Max was whining and he knew it, but they had been in just about every store and Liz had yet to find something she liked.
“I know that, but I gave you time to pick something out for yourself to wear, the least you could do is give me that time.” Liz said as she scrunched up her nose at yet another dress. Max sighed heavily and decided that he needed to start helping her, that way they could cover more ground.
“I am giving you time Liz, but it only took me twenty minutes.”
“Yeah well all of us can’t be born gorgeous you know? Some of us have to take time to not look like the living dead.”
“You don’t look like the living dead.” Max said honestly, did she really think that little of herself, he thought.
Wait!
Did she say she thought he was gorgeous? Damn the day was getting better and he hadn’t even gotten to his surprise yet.
He was flipping through the racks of dresses and found a yellow satin dress, and was just about to ask Liz about it when she ripped it from his fingers.
“Oh my God! Max, this is it! It’s perfect! Thank you!” Liz leaned up and kissed his lips softly. Not realizing what she had just done, she walked away to try the dress on. Max however knew exactly what she just did, she kissed him and now he was standing in the middle of the store like a fool. He should have told her, he had plenty of opportunities to tell her, but he was afraid of what it would mean. He lived with her parents, what would they think? He couldn’t think about that now.
“I’m ready.” Liz said as she exited the dressing room and made her way to the counter to pay for the dress.
Max was still trying to get himself under control; he hoped he lasted the night.
****
“Liz, you look amazing.” Max was utterly speechless, he couldn’t think of a better word at that point. When he saw Liz open her bedroom door wearing the yellow dress he had picked out he was completely enthralled.
“Thank you. Max, you look so good.” Liz smiled despite the fact that she was embarrassed as hell. Max was looking at her differently, and she liked it. Maybe she was wrong, maybe all the kissing they were doing wasn’t just fun, maybe it was something more. At that thought she felt her heartbeat speed up. She knew she needed to get herself together, after all she would be spending the evening with Max and that would be hard enough without those kinds of thoughts floating around in her head.
“Shall we?” Max reached out his hand to her leading her down the staircase. Once inside the car they were driven to their destination.
After Liz accepted her award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, they had a nice dinner and headed home.
Liz had just taken off her shoes and was grabbing two sodas to bring upstairs to Max’s bedroom, where he was currently getting undressed.
She had just reached the first step when the telephone rang. She quickly ran to it and already knew who it was going to be.
“Hi Daddy.” Liz tried to smile past the tears in her throat.
“Liz honey, I’m sorry we missed it. But we wanted to call you and tell you how proud we are of you. We love you Liz…yes honey we do love you.” Nancy cut her husband off briefly.
“I…I know you do. I just really wanted you both to be there.” Liz let the tears fall freely.
“We know, and we wish we could have been there. Did you go alone sweetheart?” Liz’s mother asked.
“No, Max went with me.” Liz smiled a little, thinking how happy she was to have him in her life.
“Good. We don’t want to keep you up, but our flight should be on schedule tomorrow.” After their goodbyes, Liz let the tears fall and ran up the stairs to Max’s open bedroom door.
Max was sitting at the edge of his bed trying to go over what exactly he was going to say to Liz, when he heard her footsteps running up the stairs. He turned towards the door and what he saw there broke his heart. She was in tears; he had no doubt that the callers a few minutes ago were her parents. He stood up and reached out his arms to her.
Liz crumbled in his embrace. She wished she didn’t let it get to her, but it just hurt so badly sometimes. She reviled in the feel of Max’s warm arms around her, she never wanted him to let her go.
Max pulled away slowly and waited for her to regain some composure. “Liz?” He asked swiping away the tears from her eyes and cheeks.
“Yeah, Max?” Liz tilted her head up at him, what she saw there was a seriousness she had never seen before.
“I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you.”
“You are?” Liz was a little surprised by his words. It’s not that she didn’t think he cared but to actually be proud of something that she accomplished, meant so much to her.
“Yes. And I got you a present. It’s nothing fancy or anything, but I knew you would enjoy them and that they would make you smile.” Max pulled away slightly to grab the long red box from his bed and handed it to Liz.
“What’s inside?” Liz’s face lit up when she saw that Max had a present for her. It wasn’t that she was being greedy and expected gifts from him, it was the exact opposite. She never expected anything from Max so when he did such sweet things it made her appreciate him all the more.
“Just open the box, Liz. Don’t make it a science project you need to dissect.” Max rolled his eyes playfully at her. He loved the small giggle that escaped past her lips and the feel of her tiny palm pressed against his chest.
Liz looked at the box; it looked familiar but waited to see if she was right until she opened the box. When she did she smiled knowingly at Max and leaned up on her tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips.
“I love them!” Liz said pulling back slightly. Max wanted to tell her once again, but decided to wait. He knew she had a lot on her mind and he didn’t want to bombard her with more information. He wanted to be there for her, however she wanted him.
“Let’s eat!” Liz grabbed the two cans of soda she had placed on the dresser when she first entered his room, along with her box of chocolate covered strawberries.
“First,” Max pulled her towards the bed and they took a seat facing one another. Liz waited intently for Max to begin speaking.
“Don’t eat the whole box, Liz. We have school tomorrow and your parents won’t be happy if you miss it because I let you eat the entire box.”
“Hey! I’m not a child. I know my limitations.” Liz pouted and poked Max gently in the chest. Max only gave her a pointed look before they both started laughing at the truth in his words.
Liz quickly flipped the top off the box and handed Max a strawberry. She then proceeded to eat two strawberries very quickly. “Liz, you need to slow down. I love taking care of you, but it’s been a long day.” Max joked with her, which earned him a pillow in his face.
“That wasn’t very nice to do. After I went through the trouble to get your favorite snack, I want an apology.” Max crossed his arms over his chest awaiting her response.
Liz was busy shoving another strawberry in her mouth when she looked up at Max. She decided to pop the whole thing in and give him her apology.
“Imf sofrey.” Liz said with her mouth full. “That’s really attractive Liz, really I mean how can I guy not fall head over heels in love with you?” Liz finished chewing and said, “Don’t be jealous cause I’m cuter than you.” Liz said just as she popped another strawberry into her mouth.
Max was trying to hold himself together; he wanted to lick the juice of the strawberry from her lips and before he knew it he leaned over the bed and pulled her to him. He sealed their lips together and he practically moaned at the taste of her. Strawberries, chocolate and Liz, nothing would ever taste better, he thought.
Liz couldn’t believe it, it was so sudden but she loved the feeling of his lips on hers. She crawled closer to him and settled in his lap. She ran her hands through his hair and allowed him to devour her lips greedily.
Max couldn’t get enough he wanted to crawl into her body, he wanted to taste every inch of her, he wanted to know what it felt like to share himself with someone. It was too soon, too much and he knew it. So he broke the kiss abruptly. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings but he also knew how easy it would be to get carried away.
“Max…” Liz was out of breath she couldn’t help but gasp for the air that was missing from her lungs. That kiss was amazing, she thought. But why did Max pull away from her so abruptly. As if she had burnt him?
“Liz, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…” Max was trying to get not only his breathing under control but also his raging hormones. He felt like he was going to explode, being with Liz, just kissing her did that to him.
“Oh, it’s…it’s okay. You just got caught up in the moment or whatever.” Liz finished softly and extracted herself from his lap. She was a fool. He didn’t feel that way about her, she needed to just stop trying to get his attention. They were friends and they would never be…
“No, Liz. Look that’s not what I meant. I just got carried away and I shouldn’t have kissed you, I mean…I wanted to kiss you, but I don’t know if you wanted me to kiss you.” Max rushed out and realized that he sounded like an idiot. He groaned inwardly because he knew that he hurt Liz’s feelings, which was the last thing he wanted to do.
Liz’s ears perked up at Max’s confessions. He wasn’t sorry that he kissed her, he just didn’t know if she wanted him to. She felt the urgent need to ease his worries. “I wanted you to kiss me, Max.” Liz smiled and took a bite out of another strawberry.
Max’s eyes snapped to hers and he sighed in relief. And then he groaned, she was eating another strawberry. He needed to make a mental note to stay away from the strawberries at least for a few days otherwise he would surely attack Liz.
****
The night was winding down and Max could tell that Liz was exhausted. But he could also tell she had something on her mind. “I’ll be right back Max, I just need to change.” Max watched her leave the room. After their kiss she grew somewhat quite, they still joked around but the mood was different. He decided while she was gone to clean off the bed and change as well.
He threw on a pair of basketball shorts and pulled out a gray t-shirt. Since his back was turned when Liz entered the room she stood perfectly still. She loved his body, the way his muscles moved when he barely did anything at all. She wondered what they would feel like while running her hands over them, not in the friendly let me feel your muscles kind of way. No, she wanted to know what it felt like to have his weight over her, pressing her into…
“Liz?” Max said somewhat surprised. When he turned around he found Liz standing staring at him in a somewhat dazed state.
“Oh Max, sorry I should have told you I came back.” Max just nodded and asked her to take a seat on his bed. He wanted to finally get what he’d been holding in for so long out.
“What’s wrong, Max?” Liz was worried. Did he see her watching him? She should have been more careful.
“Nothings wrong, Liz. But I wanted to ask you if you were okay? I mean you seem distant. Did I do something to make you feel uncomfortable or…”
Liz just shook her head. She didn’t want to break down in front of Max. He was probably so tired of seeing her cry. She was pathetic already.
“Tell me, Liz.” Max pleaded with her gently. He saw the tears slip down the corners of her closed eyes and he took a seat beside her.
“It’s like no matter what I do they don’t see me Max, they don’t see how hard I’m trying to get their attention you know? I’m trying to do everything right, I’m trying to be a good daughter.” Liz let out angrily. Max quickly swiped the tears from her eyes.
“You are, Liz.” Max tried to soothe her, but could tell she was beyond upset. She was hurt and he knew it.
“They don’t see it, and sometimes I feel like nobody even loves me.” She shrugged and he quickly pulls her into his lap.
“That’s not true Liz, your parents love you. Trust me if they didn’t they wouldn’t work as hard as they did besides, there is no way that no one couldn't love you.” Tears continued to slip down her cheeks and Max brushed them away while caressing her cheeks softly with the pad of his thumbs.
“Yeah?” Liz sniffled out. Their eyes locked. At that moment she wanted to tell him that she loved him but she was scared he didn’t feel the same way.
“Yes.” Max watched her intently. He would not tear his eyes away from her at that moment for anything in the world. He wanted her to see the truth. How he really felt.
“I just don’t feel like it.”
“I’m sorry, Liz.” This time Max framed her teary eyed face between his hands.
“Not your fault.” Liz mumbled out. She couldn’t take the intense stare from Max much longer.
“Yes it is, because I should have told you.”
“Told me what?” Liz whispered out and licked her suddenly dry lips.
This was it, the moment of truth, he thought. “That I love you.” He waited for her reaction, something. But all he received was a look of confusion, and then it changed into something more.
Liz closed her eyes and leaned in pressing her lips against Max’s. This time she let the tears fall freely, they were not tears of sadness. No, for the first time in Liz Parker’s life they were tears of happiness. They pulled away and rested their foreheads against one another. Max still wasn’t sure how she felt. He was about to ask her when he heard it, clear as day.
“I love you too, Max. So much.” Liz wrapped her arms around him and brought him into another sweet kiss.
This is what heaven is like, they both thought.
TBC…
Oh and lots of pics no worries. 
) *MUAH*
And one last HELLO to all the lurkers, hope your enjoying!