EYA Part 101
Sunday Night
“So when does Max start working at the UFO Center again?” Maria asked curiously. Alex got up to put his ice cream dish in the sink. “Here, Alex. Take mine too,” Maria requested before he got too far.
“How ‘bout you, Liz. Almost done there?” Alex waited patiently for other friend to finish.
Liz licked the last of the ice cream off her spoon with relish before handing over her bowl to Alex and answering Maria’s question with a small frown. “Um, day after tomorrow. Right after the first day of school.”
Maria groaned sympathetically. At least she and Michael got to work together, and they were nowhere near as joined at the hip, literally, as Max and Liz.
“What are you gonna do about…you know.” Maria grinned and made a gesture with her hands to indicate Max and Liz getting together.
“Maria!” Liz rolled over onto her back on the nest of sleeping bags and pillows they had made in the middle of her apartment floor. She stared at the ceiling, not really seeing it and smiled faintly. “Same thing we did tonight…Max is gonna make sure I’m…stocked up, if you know what I mean,” she giggled finally.
“Uhg! Liz! My virgin ears!” Alex clapped his hands over his ears and collapsed comically into a pile of pillows.
Maria lay down beside her best friend, shoulder to shoulder, and laughed. “I know what you mean!”
“You would! How is it now with you and Michael?”
“Good. Extra good now that he’s not up here babysitting you two!” Maria laughed as Liz playfully hit her shoulder. “I think we’re going through our honeymoon phase, if you get my meaning!”
“Ah! The honeymoon phase. I miss that,” Liz teased, barely containing a laugh.
“Whatever! You and Max are gonna still be in your honeymoon phase long after we’ve all retired!”
Liz just giggled again not denying it.
Maria rolled up on her side, propping her head up on her elbow to look at her friend. “Thank you.”
Liz looked up at her quizzically. “For this, I mean.” Maria gestured at the sea of blankets and pillows they were all nested in.
Liz rolled over too and pulled a pillow under her chin. “We always do this. It’s a tradition.” She was hanging onto everything that was familiar to her. It was comforting somehow. Since school always started the Tuesday after Labor Day the three of them had gathered every year, practically as far back as she could remember, to spend one of the last free nights of the summer together.
“I just wasn’t sure this year. I mean…with Max and all. You guys haven’t ever spent the night apart since you’ve been married and all so…”
“He’ll be fine. He’s just downstairs at his parents place, and I’m sure Michael, Isabel, and Serena will keep him company.”
“Well, I’m just glad to still be one of the girls,” Alex quipped to lighten the moment, sighing dramatically with one arm thrown over his forehead.
“Yeah, we’ll see how glad you are when we get to the hair and nails portion of this evening’s entertainment,” Liz laughed.
“Um, you know. Maybe it’s not too late to find out what Max and Michael are up to tonight…” Alex pretended to lunge for the door, laughing when Maria and Liz each grabbed one of his legs, dragging him back down with them.
“Oh no you don’t, mister. You can’t escape us,” Maria giggled, leaning over to tickle his sensitive sides mercilessly.
“Ah! Enough! Mercy! Uncle!” Alex lay on the blankets, unable to stop laughing hysterically as the girls piled on and continued their torment until the buzzer dinged on the oven.
“Pizza!” Maria and Liz exclaimed together, jumping up and scrambling to get to the oven.
Alex watched them as he tried to catch his breath. He smiled at their antics. “Just like old times,” he whispered to himself.
< < < < < < < <
“How you doin’, Max?” Michael flopped down beside Max on the sofa in the Evans’ living room, handing him a can of Dr. Pepper and a small bottle of Tabasco.
“Fine. It’s just weird, I guess, like I’m not all here.” He uncapped the Tabasco and poured it liberally into his drink, taking a test sip and sighing in satisfaction before he handed the small bottle over to Michael so he could do the same.
“Bein’ away from Liz you mean?” Michael was sympathetic, having been the person closest to Max and Liz throughout their ordeal and having witnessed first-hand how closely they were tied together these days.
“Yeah,” Max rolled his head on the back of the couch. “But, it’s a good idea to see if we can do it. I mean, we shouldn’t spend every waking moment within sight of each other, because that wouldn’t be healthy. Right?” Max looked to Michael for agreement.
“With just about anyone else I’d have to agree with that statement. But sometimes, with you two, the regular rules don’t apply.”
“Thank God. I thought I was the only one who thought that!”
“Thought what?” Isabel and Serena joined them, setting a large bowl of popcorn on the table between them as Michael moved to start the movie they’d rented.
“Nothing.” Max didn’t want to get into the intricacies of his co-dependent relationship just then. He sprinkled Tabasco liberally over the bowl of popcorn and took a large handful. “Mmm, that is so good. I’ve missed this.”
Serena took a handful as well, popping it into her mouth before Max could warn her, and chewing thoughtfully. “That is good. I’ve never had it this way.” She took a sip of her soda, not quite used to that level of spice, before she took another handful and sat back to enjoy it.
Michael, Max, and Isabel exchanged curious glances. Serena was a constant surprise.
“How’d it go with Liz’s parents today?” Isabel asked curiously.
Max shook his head. “Not well. I don’t know what it’ll take to make Jeff come around, but he’s really putting the pressure on Liz. She doesn’t need that right now.”
“He’s still being a prick about you being in Liz’s life?” Michael was indignant.
“Yeah, I don’t know what else to do. He told her he’d give her the money she’s earned waitressing at the Crash for all those years if she agreed to move back in with them until the baby’s born.”
Michael and Serena snorted at the same time and glanced at each other before Serena spoke up. “Like that’s ever going to happen. Isn’t there some way you could tell them what you two are? Maybe if he understood…”
Max was already holding up his hand, shaking his head. “No. No way. He’d be the first one to have me carted away for experimentation.”
“Surely he would see that Liz is special, just like you,” Serena persisted.
“Not just like me, Serena.” Max wanted to make her understand. “You should know that better than anyone.”
Serena winced at the reminder and turned to watch the movie that was now playing. Maybe she didn’t know enough about the dynamics at work here to say anything, but she was learning.
< < < < < < < <
“So…you never told me what your dad said about you getting a car,” Alex mumbled around a large bite of pizza, huffing out a breath and waving a hand in front of his mouth because it was still too hot.
Liz rolled her eyes and took a bite of her own slice after blowing on it a bit. “He’s being a jerk. It looks like Max and I will be working extra hours if we want to get a family car anytime soon.”
“What?” Maria exclaimed indignantly. “He can’t do that! You earned that money! Why don’t you just go to the bank and withdraw it?”
“I can’t,” Liz explained as patiently as she could. “The account is in his name and I’m listed as a minor, maybe they’ll have to release it after I’m eighteen…”
“Which is almost two months away…” Alex added.
“But even then, his name’s on the account. I don’t know if I can get into it.” Liz dropped back and pulled a pillow over her face. Her friends watched as she screamed into the fabric, the muffled sounds of frustration making them wince in sympathy.
Liz tossed the pillow aside and sat back up. “Okay. Episode over. Let’s not talk about how much my dad sucks right now and…” she glanced back and forth between her waiting friends, “…we can talk about Alex and Serena!”
The girls laughed while Alex’s fair complexion slowly turned rosy. “Uh uh. I’m not that interesting! Trust me!”
“Come on, Alex! Spill it! You know we’re just gonna pry it outta you anyway, don’t you?” The girls both moved in on either side of their unfortunate friend. “Now. Are we gonna do this the easy way…” they moved fractionally closer, “or the fun way?” Maria was secretly voting for the fun way.
< < < < < < <
“What’s the smile for, Max?” Michael nudged his friends side with his elbow. The movie they were watching wasn’t funny.
Max looked up, startled out of his reverie. “Oh. I was just…Let’s just say you should be glad you’re not Alex right now.” Max laughed at the image Liz had projected to him and turned his attention back to the movie they were watching.
< < < < < < <
“I hope you know I’m going to be emotionally scarred for life now,” Alex moaned comically.
“Don’t blink, Alex, or you’ll be blind for life too,” Maria warned as she closed in on him with the mascara brush.
“Wait! Stop! Not the mascara! I’ll spill already, geesh! Now will you untie my hands?”
Liz and Maria glanced at each other, measuring Alex’s sincerity, before they each moved to untie the scarves that had secured Alex to the kitchen chair.
“Okay, but you have to promise not to wash it all off until you’ve given it a chance. Deal?” Liz finally relented.
Alex rolled his eyes. “Deal.” He shook his arms and rubbed his wrists while he stared at his newly black fingernails. Truly he could have gotten free any time he wanted, but he liked to play along with his friends sometimes. He stood up and stretched, his new tight black t-shirt riding up his abs.
The girls stood back and nodded appreciatively. “You look really hot, Alex. Come take a look.” They took his arms and led Alex into the bathroom. Alex stared at his reflection and blinked slowly, thinking he was seeing wrong. Nope. Still there. Hmm. He tilted his head and looked again.
The girls had dressed him entirely in black, gelled his hair into soft dark spikes, powdered his face lightly to lighten and even his skin tones, darkened his lips a tad, and applied eye liner liberally to achieve what they liked to call the Goth Alex look that he was currently sporting.
“I feel like we should find a goth club and take him out for a whirl. What do you think, Maria?” Liz was smiling non-stop, and that alone was worth the entire experience for Alex. But still…
“No! No way I’m going out in public like this! I’m not ready to be the belle of the ball yet and besides, I think there’re laws against willful displays of reluctant goth’s who…”
“Okay, okay…” Maria pulled Alex back into the living area, plopping down beside him on the couch with Liz on his opposite side. “We’ll let you off the hook. But first…you’ve gotta dish on what’s going on with you and the brainiac girl!”
Alex put his head in his hands, rubbing at his temples while he reminded himself firmly that these were his best friends. “Fine! I’ll tell…”
There was a sudden startlingly loud knock on Liz’s apartment door, surprising the three occupants. Alex slumped back in relief, saved by the interruption.
Liz rose uncertainly to her feet, rubbing her palms over her cotton pajama bottoms and staring at the door. “Who do we know that actually knocks?” She laughed nervously, and her friends could tell.
Maria hauled Alex back to his feet. “C’mon, Goth Boy. Answer the door and show off your new look!” She laughed and pushed a reluctant Alex toward the door, knowing he would answer it to save Liz the trepidation.
Alex stuck his tongue out over his shoulder at the two girls and then turned to swing the door open.
“Mr. Parker!” To say Alex was surprised was a vast understatement.
“Um, Alex?” Jeff looked the boy up and down and determined he needed to hang out with the guys more often.
Alex flushed red and stepped back to let the older man into the room. “Um, yeah. We’re doing our annual get together before school starts and the girls got a little…”
“Carried away?” Jeff offered helpfully.
“Well, I was going to go with ‘enthusiastic’, but yours works too,” Alex smiled and gestured to the two girls standing by the sofa with their arms crossed.
Jeff turned and saw the closed look on his daughter’s face. He could see the slow flush of anger color her normally pale complexion. He sighed heavily and walked toward her. “Liz, honey. Your mom and I had a long talk and I just wanted to say…”
Liz held up a hand. “Save it, Dad. You’re interrupting our evening, and I can’t imagine anything you can say that would make up for how you obviously feel about Max and me so…”
“I was going to say that I’m sorry. I just really have had a hard time with losing you. Especially to that b…Max.” He stumbled at the fire still in Liz’s eyes. “I really am sorry. I don’t want to lose you.”
Liz shook her head and stared at the floor before looking back up at her contrite father. She could feel the heat of her anger still sweeping through her. “When are you going to understand that just because I have Max in my life now doesn’t mean you’re going to lose me? Everyone else seems to get it but you!”
“Liz, please…” Jeff took her arms in his hands so she would look up at him, surprised at the heat he felt there before Liz yanked herself away. “Are you…”
“Did you change your mind? About my money, I mean?” Liz took another deliberate step back and stared at him with suddenly glazed eyes. Jeff was getting increasingly worried. Was Liz sick?
“No. I…” he mumbled, trying to reach out again.
“Get out,” Liz whispered desperately, her fevered eyes staring at the door.
“I think you need to leave,” Maria interrupted, pulling on one of Jeff’s arms. She’d seen that look before from Liz and knew what was coming.
“I’m not ready to leave,” Jeff pulled his arm away and turned back to face his daughter. She looked ill.
“Mr. Parker. I think Liz has had enough,” Alex put in anxiously. He could already hear Max pounding up the stairs. This wouldn’t be good.
“She looks ill. Something’s not right…” Jeff looked from Maria to Alex. Couldn’t they see it?
Maria and Alex each took one of Mr. Parker’s arms and led him firmly to the door. “Max will take care of her,” Maria told him reassuringly.
“Max? He’s not even here!” Jeff insisted, trying to resist the two pulling him to the door.
Just then the door burst open and Max appeared, flushed and out of breath. “Liz?”
Jeff watched Liz rush over to Max’s side as he pulled her firmly to him. Their mouths met in a kiss filled with hunger and need. Jeff’s jaw dropped open that they would do that in front of them all. He doubted Max had even noticed anyone else in the room, the way he was acting. “What the hell is going on here?” Jeff demanded as Maria and Alex finally succeeded in pulling him out the door and down the first couple steps away from the apartment. He flinched as he heard a loud thump against the opposite side of the door, followed by what sounded like a groan. “What…?”
“Mr. Parker!” Michael’s surprised voice startled Jeff away from his speculation for a moment. “We didn’t know you were here!”
“Michael? Do you know what’s going on up there? Liz looks ill. Has she seen a doctor?”
Isabel took Jeff’s arm and steered him away. “Max knows all about it. She’s fine. Max is taking care of her right now.”
“I saw the way he was ‘taking care’ of her! What the hell…”
Serena walked toward Alex where he still stood on the steps watching Isabel walk away with Jeff. “You look hot,” she blurted out before blushing profusely. Alex stared back at her blankly before remembering his makeover and blushing himself. He stared daggers at Maria, sure it had been her original idea. He could feel the heat of Max and Liz’s joining and remembered suddenly that he was probably standing too close to the fire. He hurried down the rest of the steps, feeling the spark of desire jolt through his hand when he grabbed Serena and steered her after the others.
Maria smiled from the safety of Michael’s arm and mouthed ‘Hot!’ before she laughed and walked away with Michael to assist Isabel with damage control.
< < < < < < < <
“Gotta feel you,” Max murmured into the tender skin of her neck. He kissed and licked a frantic trail down to her collar bone, impatiently pushing the fabric of her tank top aside. He could feel her frenzied pulse under his tongue. Impatiently, he pushed up the hem of her top, leaning back just long enough to pull it over her head as she struggled to do the same for him.
She pulled him back against her, sighing at the satisfaction of skin-on-skin as their torsos met and slid, sweat-slick, together as she tangled the fingers of one hand into the back of his hair and angled his mouth back down to meet hers. Her other hand worked to unbutton and unzip his jeans, and she growled in frustration at her slow progress. Max finally batted Liz’s hands away and made short work of his jeans, pushing them along with his boxers down to his knees before grabbing the hem of Liz’s light cotton pants and pulling them down as far as he could.
Liz wiggled her hips and the pants pooled at her ankles, dropping to the floor when Max picked her up. Her smoothly muscled legs wrapped around his hips as she hissed in a breath at the contact that was so close to what she really wanted. Her arms wrapped over his shoulders and she massaged frantically over his neck and back, trying in vain to pull him even closer as her body strained to join with his.
Max turned around with her held firmly in his arms, one hand over the middle of her back, the other cupping her seat. “Gotta be inside you. Now!” Her back hit the door with a loud thump as he dipped his knees to achieve a proper angle for penetration and surged up to enter her eager body.
They each let out a loud moan as their bodies slid together. “Max! Max…Yes! You feel so…uh, uh,” her groans of pleasure overtook her as her head rolled back against the hard surface of the door. Max took the opportunity to suck a trail down the sensitive skin at her throat, pausing to enjoy the sweet spot just under her ear. “…perfect,” she sighed out at last. Their bodies thumped lightly against the door, making the rhythmic sounds of their joining echo through the room as they strained together for completion.
TBC
Tell me what you think! I'm hard at work on the next section!
Everything You Are (CC,M/L, Mature) AN PG 15 5/3/07 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
EYA Part 102
I had this all ready to post at 9:30 tonight and right exactly when I went to post it, my computer froze and ate the whole part. I tried everything to get it back, but nothing worked. Words were said...things were thrown...my husband's a saint, lol...anyway, I gave up and spent the last four hours trying to reconstruct it. It's not as good as it was, but PLEASE leave me some feedback! I could definately use the encouragement...Now, it's after 2 a.m. on a work night, so I'm going to bed and hopefully forget about this!
EYA Part 102
Knock, knock, knock!
“Open up, Maxwell,” Michael shouted through the door, standing back and crossing his arms over his chest as he waited impatiently. He avoided looking at Maria who had warned him that it was too soon to come up and disturb the couple.
“Maybe they’re not…,” Maria started.
“Oh, they’re done,” Michael interrupted rudely. He thought he heard a faint shuffling on the other side of the door.
Maria put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot, quickly losing all patience with her stubborn boyfriend. “And exactly how do you know that, Michael?”
“We’re standing right outside their door and I’m not jumping you right now am I?” Michael returned smugly, enjoying the red flush that was suddenly staining Maria’s face at the reminder of the flood of lust that overcame anyone within a certain radius of Max and Liz’s coupling.
Michael raised his hand to bang on the door again when he heard a distinct thump and a muffled curse right on the other side of it.
The door suddenly opened a crack and Max appeared, leaning heavily against the doorjamb, bare to the waist with his jeans zipped but not buttoned, his sweat slick chest still heaving from his recent exertions. Michael had knocked while Max and Liz were still huddled on the floor against the other side of the door, arms and legs tangled together while they tried to catch their breath. The knock had startled them and they had scrambled to stand, Max almost tripping with his jeans and boxers still bunched at his knees. He’d hauled them up quickly, pulling on the zipper while Liz stumbled across to their bedroom to find new clothes to wear.
“What do you want, Michael?” Max questioned testily, holding the door mostly closed to be sure Liz had a chance to make it to the bedroom and shut the door.
“What do I…Oh, you did not just say that, Maxwell,” Michael returned, equally as annoyed. He tried to peer past Max into the room, but Max intentionally blocked his view with his body. “Can we come in?” He pushed at the door, but Max held it firm.
“How you know we’re even done here, Michael?”
“I’m standing less than two feet away from you and my dick isn’t hard,” Michael grated out crudely, staring challengingly at Max until he heard Maria snickering beside him. He reviewed the way that last sentence had come out and turned to glare at Maria. “Not one word,” he warned her sternly, before turning his attention back to Max.
“What’s going on that you couldn’t give us a half hour or so to get ourselves together?”
“What’s going on is that I thought you’d like to know how we stopped Mr. Parker from throwing your sorry ass in jail for molesting his sick child.”
“Molest…what the hell, Michael? I never…” Max stopped and swallowed hard as the rest of Michael’s words registered with a sick lurch in his stomach. “Mr. Parker was here?”
“Well, maybe molest is too strong a term,” Michael amended, rethinking his outburst. “but we’re gonna have to do damage control and you’ve got to back us up. It was kinda hard to explain to him why you charged into the room and tried to swallow his sick daughter’s tongue down your throat. You’re just lucky you have a sister who loves you and knows how to tell a decent lie.”
“Do you think we can come in now?” Maria asked hesitantly.
Max just pushed the door open and stood slumped against the door frame allowing it to prop him up, and leaning his forehead against it wearily.
Maria darted by him into the small apartment. She felt her jaw dropping and her blush rising at the discarded clothing now scattered throughout the room and glanced guiltily over to Max, hoping he hadn’t seen her reaction. She gasped out loud when she saw the state of the skin on his back and shoulders.
“Max! You’re hurt!” She exclaimed, closing the short distance between them and reaching out a hand, stopping just short of touching his shredded skin. It had to be extremely painful.
Max inhaled a quick breath and closed his eyes, raising his face briefly toward heaven. He had a feeling his prayers would go unanswered. Again. He leaned back, away from Maria’s outstretched hand.
“Don’t touch me,” he warned harshly. “It’s nothing,” he insisted, willing her to ignore him, his eyes searching the floor for his shirt. Why had he opened the door?
“That’s not nothing, Max. You’re dripping blood,” Maria insisted, completely worried for her friend.
“I said it’s nothing!” Max shouted. “Now just drop it, Maria!”
Maria backed up a step and stared at the ground, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she tried not to cry. She wasn’t used to Max’s ire being directed at her. She waited a moment and them asked hesitantly, “Would it be okay if…Can I go see Liz now?”
Max nodded without looking at her. “Just knock, okay?”
Maria nodded and picked her way across the mess to the bedroom.
Max sighed, feeling bad for hurting her feelings, but angry for their interference at the same time. It was one thing that all their friends knew what they were doing together, but it was quite another to have the evidence of how utterly the rush of their passion consumed them be displayed so blatantly on Max’s flesh in front of them. It was private. He took several staggering steps into the room and leaned down painfully to scoop up his hastily discarded shirt. He fought with it for a moment to get it right-side-out again and finally pulled it over his head, heedless of the blood that would inevitably stain the soft cotton.
He moved to sit in the living room chair and propped his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, trying to regain his sense of calm. He looked up when the bedroom door opened and Liz walked out dressed in soft flannel shorts and a t-shirt. He scooted back in the chair to give her more room, ignoring the pain in his back as it settled against the chair. The pain was nothing. Liz was here.
Max held her tenderly and stroked his hand through her hair, nuzzling her neck. He placed tender kisses over her jaw and rubbed his hands down her back soothingly. She moved closer into his embrace and a soft sound of contentment escaped her lips. She was right where she wanted to be.
“Let’s try to stay on track here, Max,” Michael warned, not unkindly. They had interrupted them too early. The bond was still strong and they weren’t ready to be two again yet.
Max startled visibly at the interruption, but Michael could see he was struggling to comply. Liz cuddled into his chest, her arms slipping around his sides as he shifted to make her more comfortable on his lap. He nuzzled the tender spot by her ear and murmured, “Your dad was here?”
He held her closer when her entire body stiffened in his arms. “Oh no, no, no,” Liz chanted in panic, the rush of memories settling in. “How could I have forgotten?” Liz’s eyes were large and tears trembled on her lashes. “I…I told him to get out. I could feel it coming and I knew he had to leave or…He was trying to apologize for the way he spoke to me. He didn’t change his mind about the money but he came over to try and…I…” Liz felt a tear slip down and buried her face in Max’s chest. She’d lost a chance to make amends with her father, and after what he must have witnessed…she inhaled sharply and faced Maria. Too afraid to ask.
“What did he see?” Max asked for her, not knowing if he really wanted to hear the answer.
“Alex and I hauled him outta here pretty quick, so it wasn’t too bad, considering. He was really worried about you though, because your skin was so hot when he touched you, so he was looking back the whole time we were pulling him out of here, so he did see Max come charging in and your whole intense lip lock thing…, nice tongue action, by the way, but your shirts were still mostly on when we closed the door, so all in all…”
Liz moaned against his t-shirt and Max lay his head back and closed his eyes. Jeff would never accept him now. He slumped down further into the chair and Liz tried to crawl into his skin.
Michael and Maria sat together on the couch and tried not to watch while their friends pulled themselves back together. “Shh, it’s gonna be okay,” Max murmured reassuringly. He framed her face in his hands and pulled her gently back to look at him. “We’ll be okay.” Liz nodded, tears trembling on her eyelashes that she refused to let fall. She took a deep breath and allowed his touch to comfort her.
“What if he never accepts you now?” she sat up and questioned him anxiously.
Max took his time and answered thoughtfully. “He has to eventually. We’re a family now. We’re forever.” Liz nodded and let him hold her again, thinking of ways they could try to make this right.
“What did you tell him?” Liz finally asked, after pulling herself together.
“It was pretty clever actually. Isabel explained to him that they were all playing a game of Truth or Dare downstairs and that they’d dared Max to come charging up here and lay one on you like never before right in front of Alex and me. She reassured him that Max would realize that you were sick when he felt the heat and feel rotten about attacking you on sight, and that he would take the absolute best care of you because he really does love you and blah, blah, blah…You get the gist. She got him to go home. Just be sure to back her up.”
Max was nodding. The story might actually work. It was just the kind of immature behavior Jeff would expect of their age group. Of him. He nuzzled his mouth against Liz’s neck, feeling mentally for how she was doing. The bond closed its circle around them again as they puzzled through what to do.
A knock startled Michael and Maria and Michael glanced up to find their friends lost again in their connection. He got up to answer the door, deciding to give them a few extra minutes to get themselves together. He pulled it open to find Alex, Serena, and Isabel standing anxiously on the other side.
“We thought, since they let you guys in, that it might be okay to come up and see…,” Isabel explained.
Michael pushed the door open the rest of the way and gestured them inside. The three made their way over to the couch and Maria moved over to give them more room. Alex sat beside Maria with Serena cuddled close to his side and Isabel settled in next to Serena. Michael made his way back across the room slowly and perched on the arm of the couch by Maria. They all turned to stare at the oblivious couple across from them.
“What are they doing?” Serena whispered at last, entranced by their intimate pose. The two acted as one, shifting and caressing each other with fluid grace.
“Bonding,” Michael answered shortly.
When it looked like the two were becoming more aware Isabel seized the opportunity and spoke up. “What do you think is causing the unpredictable feedings?”
Max looked up, startled to find the others now in the room with them. His eyes widened when they landed on Alex.
“What did you let the girls do to you?” He questioned incredulously, his full lips turning up in an almost smile.
Alex rolled his eyes and answered, “Apparently, anything they wanted.”
Serena snuggled in closer to his side. “Well, I really like it,” she reassured him again. Alex grinned at her goofily and hugged her to his side.
“Max? What’s causing it?” Michael restated, to get him back on track.
“I don’t really know. It’s just been a few times, but…” He tilted Liz’s face up so she could meet his eyes and gave her a small smile of encouragement. “What do you think, Liz? You must have some kind of theory.” He’d seen her carefully filling in the charts they’d made in the beginning and knew she’d been thinking about it a lot lately.
“I guess I have a couple theories. The first one is that maybe Zan is going through a growth spurt, or developing a complex new power and needs the extra energy. The second…” Liz hesitated. “When I get upset, it tends to trigger a reaction. I’ve noticed it a few times.”
“It makes sense,” Serena nodded. “Liz uses a great deal of her own energy to sustain the pregnancy, and that still has to be regularly supplemented by Max’s alien contribution. If Liz gets extremely stressed for some reason, then the energy that is normally used to maintain the baby is redirected to herself.” Everyone nodded, agreeing that it sounded plausible.
“So the solution is simple then,” Maria stated happily. “We just make sure that Liz doesn’t get stressed out again until after the baby is born.”
Michael snorted a laugh beside her. “What?” She demanded hotly, smacking his arm for good measure.
Michael swept a hand out to indicate the disarray of the room and the emotionally exhausted couple in the chair across from them. “Do you live in the same world as the rest of us, Maria? Our lives are nothing but stressful!”
“Well, we can try, can’t we?” She grated out.
Max nodded. He’d like nothing better than to save Liz any new stress.
“What are you two gonna do once school starts again? And when Max has to go back to work?” Isabel asked them curiously.
Liz looked up, appearing startled by the question. “I…I’m not sure. I can’t believe that I haven’t really even thought about it too much. I don’t think that…it shouldn’t really come up at school too much because we only have three classes each, first thing in the morning. So…we should be okay there and...”
“…and when I have to go to work, if Liz needs me, Brody will let me go. I can take a long break, blame it on Post Traumatic Stress or something,” Max finished unconvincingly. He wondered how long he could maintain his position at the UFO Center if he had too many unplanned absences. Brody was pretty understanding, but it could easily get excessive at the rate they were going lately.
“Or maybe,” Serena paused as they all turned to look at her. “I could, if you want me to, I mean, I could get the stuff together so that you guys could stock up and Liz could take care of it herself without Max having to be there. I could get some plastic syringes and…”
“No!” Max and Liz shouted together, shocking the other occupants of the room who had thought it sounded like a reasonable way out of their dilemma.
Liz could feel Max’s arm begin to tremble under her fingertips and could feel the old familiar fear rising up to pull him under. She leveled a heated glare at Serena, who huddled closer into Alex’s side. “How dare you even suggest such a thing after…you know what they made us do! You were there! After what your fa…Dr. Clark did to us…” Serena flinched visibly under the verbal assault. She couldn’t believe how stupid she was to forget…even for a second…what had happened to this couple at the hands of her and her colleagues.
Never again! Max’s terror and panic were threatening to overwhelm Liz too and she huddled in closer to him to give him her strength, mentally reassuring him of his safety. “Max needs me. Please…just…leave us alone now…”
She could hear the shuffle of their feet on the floor as the gang made their way to the door. The door opened before she remembered, suddenly, something she’d wanted to say. “Alex, Maria?” The two came back over to stand by her chair and she looked up at them sadly, still holding Max. “I’m sorry…about tonight. I really did want to spend the night together. Like when we were kids.”
Alex leaned down and gently took her chin in his hands, tilting her head up to see him. “We’re not kids anymore, Liz. You have a family to take care of now, so you do what you need to do and we’ll be here when you’re ready for us.”
Maria was nodding beside him. She reached out and brushed a tear off Liz’s cheek. “You take care of Max, honey, and we’ll try this again another time. We love you.”
Liz nodded, loving her two friends more than she ever had before. How did she get so lucky? She turned back to soothe Max and barely heard the door close behind them.
TBC
More soon!
EYA Part 102
Knock, knock, knock!
“Open up, Maxwell,” Michael shouted through the door, standing back and crossing his arms over his chest as he waited impatiently. He avoided looking at Maria who had warned him that it was too soon to come up and disturb the couple.
“Maybe they’re not…,” Maria started.
“Oh, they’re done,” Michael interrupted rudely. He thought he heard a faint shuffling on the other side of the door.
Maria put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot, quickly losing all patience with her stubborn boyfriend. “And exactly how do you know that, Michael?”
“We’re standing right outside their door and I’m not jumping you right now am I?” Michael returned smugly, enjoying the red flush that was suddenly staining Maria’s face at the reminder of the flood of lust that overcame anyone within a certain radius of Max and Liz’s coupling.
Michael raised his hand to bang on the door again when he heard a distinct thump and a muffled curse right on the other side of it.
The door suddenly opened a crack and Max appeared, leaning heavily against the doorjamb, bare to the waist with his jeans zipped but not buttoned, his sweat slick chest still heaving from his recent exertions. Michael had knocked while Max and Liz were still huddled on the floor against the other side of the door, arms and legs tangled together while they tried to catch their breath. The knock had startled them and they had scrambled to stand, Max almost tripping with his jeans and boxers still bunched at his knees. He’d hauled them up quickly, pulling on the zipper while Liz stumbled across to their bedroom to find new clothes to wear.
“What do you want, Michael?” Max questioned testily, holding the door mostly closed to be sure Liz had a chance to make it to the bedroom and shut the door.
“What do I…Oh, you did not just say that, Maxwell,” Michael returned, equally as annoyed. He tried to peer past Max into the room, but Max intentionally blocked his view with his body. “Can we come in?” He pushed at the door, but Max held it firm.
“How you know we’re even done here, Michael?”
“I’m standing less than two feet away from you and my dick isn’t hard,” Michael grated out crudely, staring challengingly at Max until he heard Maria snickering beside him. He reviewed the way that last sentence had come out and turned to glare at Maria. “Not one word,” he warned her sternly, before turning his attention back to Max.
“What’s going on that you couldn’t give us a half hour or so to get ourselves together?”
“What’s going on is that I thought you’d like to know how we stopped Mr. Parker from throwing your sorry ass in jail for molesting his sick child.”
“Molest…what the hell, Michael? I never…” Max stopped and swallowed hard as the rest of Michael’s words registered with a sick lurch in his stomach. “Mr. Parker was here?”
“Well, maybe molest is too strong a term,” Michael amended, rethinking his outburst. “but we’re gonna have to do damage control and you’ve got to back us up. It was kinda hard to explain to him why you charged into the room and tried to swallow his sick daughter’s tongue down your throat. You’re just lucky you have a sister who loves you and knows how to tell a decent lie.”
“Do you think we can come in now?” Maria asked hesitantly.
Max just pushed the door open and stood slumped against the door frame allowing it to prop him up, and leaning his forehead against it wearily.
Maria darted by him into the small apartment. She felt her jaw dropping and her blush rising at the discarded clothing now scattered throughout the room and glanced guiltily over to Max, hoping he hadn’t seen her reaction. She gasped out loud when she saw the state of the skin on his back and shoulders.
“Max! You’re hurt!” She exclaimed, closing the short distance between them and reaching out a hand, stopping just short of touching his shredded skin. It had to be extremely painful.
Max inhaled a quick breath and closed his eyes, raising his face briefly toward heaven. He had a feeling his prayers would go unanswered. Again. He leaned back, away from Maria’s outstretched hand.
“Don’t touch me,” he warned harshly. “It’s nothing,” he insisted, willing her to ignore him, his eyes searching the floor for his shirt. Why had he opened the door?
“That’s not nothing, Max. You’re dripping blood,” Maria insisted, completely worried for her friend.
“I said it’s nothing!” Max shouted. “Now just drop it, Maria!”
Maria backed up a step and stared at the ground, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she tried not to cry. She wasn’t used to Max’s ire being directed at her. She waited a moment and them asked hesitantly, “Would it be okay if…Can I go see Liz now?”
Max nodded without looking at her. “Just knock, okay?”
Maria nodded and picked her way across the mess to the bedroom.
Max sighed, feeling bad for hurting her feelings, but angry for their interference at the same time. It was one thing that all their friends knew what they were doing together, but it was quite another to have the evidence of how utterly the rush of their passion consumed them be displayed so blatantly on Max’s flesh in front of them. It was private. He took several staggering steps into the room and leaned down painfully to scoop up his hastily discarded shirt. He fought with it for a moment to get it right-side-out again and finally pulled it over his head, heedless of the blood that would inevitably stain the soft cotton.
He moved to sit in the living room chair and propped his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands, trying to regain his sense of calm. He looked up when the bedroom door opened and Liz walked out dressed in soft flannel shorts and a t-shirt. He scooted back in the chair to give her more room, ignoring the pain in his back as it settled against the chair. The pain was nothing. Liz was here.
Max held her tenderly and stroked his hand through her hair, nuzzling her neck. He placed tender kisses over her jaw and rubbed his hands down her back soothingly. She moved closer into his embrace and a soft sound of contentment escaped her lips. She was right where she wanted to be.
“Let’s try to stay on track here, Max,” Michael warned, not unkindly. They had interrupted them too early. The bond was still strong and they weren’t ready to be two again yet.
Max startled visibly at the interruption, but Michael could see he was struggling to comply. Liz cuddled into his chest, her arms slipping around his sides as he shifted to make her more comfortable on his lap. He nuzzled the tender spot by her ear and murmured, “Your dad was here?”
He held her closer when her entire body stiffened in his arms. “Oh no, no, no,” Liz chanted in panic, the rush of memories settling in. “How could I have forgotten?” Liz’s eyes were large and tears trembled on her lashes. “I…I told him to get out. I could feel it coming and I knew he had to leave or…He was trying to apologize for the way he spoke to me. He didn’t change his mind about the money but he came over to try and…I…” Liz felt a tear slip down and buried her face in Max’s chest. She’d lost a chance to make amends with her father, and after what he must have witnessed…she inhaled sharply and faced Maria. Too afraid to ask.
“What did he see?” Max asked for her, not knowing if he really wanted to hear the answer.
“Alex and I hauled him outta here pretty quick, so it wasn’t too bad, considering. He was really worried about you though, because your skin was so hot when he touched you, so he was looking back the whole time we were pulling him out of here, so he did see Max come charging in and your whole intense lip lock thing…, nice tongue action, by the way, but your shirts were still mostly on when we closed the door, so all in all…”
Liz moaned against his t-shirt and Max lay his head back and closed his eyes. Jeff would never accept him now. He slumped down further into the chair and Liz tried to crawl into his skin.
Michael and Maria sat together on the couch and tried not to watch while their friends pulled themselves back together. “Shh, it’s gonna be okay,” Max murmured reassuringly. He framed her face in his hands and pulled her gently back to look at him. “We’ll be okay.” Liz nodded, tears trembling on her eyelashes that she refused to let fall. She took a deep breath and allowed his touch to comfort her.
“What if he never accepts you now?” she sat up and questioned him anxiously.
Max took his time and answered thoughtfully. “He has to eventually. We’re a family now. We’re forever.” Liz nodded and let him hold her again, thinking of ways they could try to make this right.
“What did you tell him?” Liz finally asked, after pulling herself together.
“It was pretty clever actually. Isabel explained to him that they were all playing a game of Truth or Dare downstairs and that they’d dared Max to come charging up here and lay one on you like never before right in front of Alex and me. She reassured him that Max would realize that you were sick when he felt the heat and feel rotten about attacking you on sight, and that he would take the absolute best care of you because he really does love you and blah, blah, blah…You get the gist. She got him to go home. Just be sure to back her up.”
Max was nodding. The story might actually work. It was just the kind of immature behavior Jeff would expect of their age group. Of him. He nuzzled his mouth against Liz’s neck, feeling mentally for how she was doing. The bond closed its circle around them again as they puzzled through what to do.
A knock startled Michael and Maria and Michael glanced up to find their friends lost again in their connection. He got up to answer the door, deciding to give them a few extra minutes to get themselves together. He pulled it open to find Alex, Serena, and Isabel standing anxiously on the other side.
“We thought, since they let you guys in, that it might be okay to come up and see…,” Isabel explained.
Michael pushed the door open the rest of the way and gestured them inside. The three made their way over to the couch and Maria moved over to give them more room. Alex sat beside Maria with Serena cuddled close to his side and Isabel settled in next to Serena. Michael made his way back across the room slowly and perched on the arm of the couch by Maria. They all turned to stare at the oblivious couple across from them.
“What are they doing?” Serena whispered at last, entranced by their intimate pose. The two acted as one, shifting and caressing each other with fluid grace.
“Bonding,” Michael answered shortly.
When it looked like the two were becoming more aware Isabel seized the opportunity and spoke up. “What do you think is causing the unpredictable feedings?”
Max looked up, startled to find the others now in the room with them. His eyes widened when they landed on Alex.
“What did you let the girls do to you?” He questioned incredulously, his full lips turning up in an almost smile.
Alex rolled his eyes and answered, “Apparently, anything they wanted.”
Serena snuggled in closer to his side. “Well, I really like it,” she reassured him again. Alex grinned at her goofily and hugged her to his side.
“Max? What’s causing it?” Michael restated, to get him back on track.
“I don’t really know. It’s just been a few times, but…” He tilted Liz’s face up so she could meet his eyes and gave her a small smile of encouragement. “What do you think, Liz? You must have some kind of theory.” He’d seen her carefully filling in the charts they’d made in the beginning and knew she’d been thinking about it a lot lately.
“I guess I have a couple theories. The first one is that maybe Zan is going through a growth spurt, or developing a complex new power and needs the extra energy. The second…” Liz hesitated. “When I get upset, it tends to trigger a reaction. I’ve noticed it a few times.”
“It makes sense,” Serena nodded. “Liz uses a great deal of her own energy to sustain the pregnancy, and that still has to be regularly supplemented by Max’s alien contribution. If Liz gets extremely stressed for some reason, then the energy that is normally used to maintain the baby is redirected to herself.” Everyone nodded, agreeing that it sounded plausible.
“So the solution is simple then,” Maria stated happily. “We just make sure that Liz doesn’t get stressed out again until after the baby is born.”
Michael snorted a laugh beside her. “What?” She demanded hotly, smacking his arm for good measure.
Michael swept a hand out to indicate the disarray of the room and the emotionally exhausted couple in the chair across from them. “Do you live in the same world as the rest of us, Maria? Our lives are nothing but stressful!”
“Well, we can try, can’t we?” She grated out.
Max nodded. He’d like nothing better than to save Liz any new stress.
“What are you two gonna do once school starts again? And when Max has to go back to work?” Isabel asked them curiously.
Liz looked up, appearing startled by the question. “I…I’m not sure. I can’t believe that I haven’t really even thought about it too much. I don’t think that…it shouldn’t really come up at school too much because we only have three classes each, first thing in the morning. So…we should be okay there and...”
“…and when I have to go to work, if Liz needs me, Brody will let me go. I can take a long break, blame it on Post Traumatic Stress or something,” Max finished unconvincingly. He wondered how long he could maintain his position at the UFO Center if he had too many unplanned absences. Brody was pretty understanding, but it could easily get excessive at the rate they were going lately.
“Or maybe,” Serena paused as they all turned to look at her. “I could, if you want me to, I mean, I could get the stuff together so that you guys could stock up and Liz could take care of it herself without Max having to be there. I could get some plastic syringes and…”
“No!” Max and Liz shouted together, shocking the other occupants of the room who had thought it sounded like a reasonable way out of their dilemma.
Liz could feel Max’s arm begin to tremble under her fingertips and could feel the old familiar fear rising up to pull him under. She leveled a heated glare at Serena, who huddled closer into Alex’s side. “How dare you even suggest such a thing after…you know what they made us do! You were there! After what your fa…Dr. Clark did to us…” Serena flinched visibly under the verbal assault. She couldn’t believe how stupid she was to forget…even for a second…what had happened to this couple at the hands of her and her colleagues.
Never again! Max’s terror and panic were threatening to overwhelm Liz too and she huddled in closer to him to give him her strength, mentally reassuring him of his safety. “Max needs me. Please…just…leave us alone now…”
She could hear the shuffle of their feet on the floor as the gang made their way to the door. The door opened before she remembered, suddenly, something she’d wanted to say. “Alex, Maria?” The two came back over to stand by her chair and she looked up at them sadly, still holding Max. “I’m sorry…about tonight. I really did want to spend the night together. Like when we were kids.”
Alex leaned down and gently took her chin in his hands, tilting her head up to see him. “We’re not kids anymore, Liz. You have a family to take care of now, so you do what you need to do and we’ll be here when you’re ready for us.”
Maria was nodding beside him. She reached out and brushed a tear off Liz’s cheek. “You take care of Max, honey, and we’ll try this again another time. We love you.”
Liz nodded, loving her two friends more than she ever had before. How did she get so lucky? She turned back to soothe Max and barely heard the door close behind them.
TBC
More soon!
Last edited by javagin on Wed May 28, 2003 9:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
AH!! You guys remind me of why I LOVE this board! All these fabulous feedbackers make my day…EVERY DAY!! Thank you so much!
I did not intend to wait so long between postings, and hopefully won't have to wait again, but things beyond my control prevented it until now!
2crzy4roswell: Um…Welcome back! Thanks for reading again again, if you know what I mean! Let me know what you think of the changes, you should have a really good insight from just having read the old version too!
Gigo: Yep. Liz is working for Diane, so she won’t have to see Jeff every day! What a relief for her I’m sure!
Mukumataru: Thank you! I’m not exactly sure how long it’s going to be yet. It seems I can’t move the story forward very fast because I get stuck on the day they’re in and want to make sure everyone knows what’s going on with them and how everyone feels about it all, lol! It could get loooonnng!
Now, to clarify a couple things that seem to come up understandably quite a bit: Liz has just finished her 6th month of pregnancy and has four more months to go. She’ll start showing gradually, but become really obvious at the start of her 8th month.
I can’t clarify the paternity of Tess’ baby yet, but it’ll be a shocker…
Jeff is being an ass, but he’s a dad who loves his daughter. All he can see is that his baby’s been hurt and he wants to be there for her himself. It’s very difficult for him to see that Max is the only one allowed to even touch her at this point in time. A whole lotta resentment for Max, who he views as an immature, hormonal, teenage boy who has hurt his daughter in the past. So. Patience, lol!
I’m glad everyone in enjoying, and I love hearing that you are taking the time to re-read with the revisions. Let me know what you think!
And now: (Drumroll) A HUGE thank you to mrsjbehr! She made be the most fabulous picture for this story and told me how to post it!
Thank you!!
EYA Part 103
Liz watched the steady rise and fall of Max’s smoothly muscled chest and sighed. How can you be so beautiful? He looked young and innocent, almost peaceful again as he slept. She eased her fingertips over his brow, erasing the lines of worry that were trying to invade his dreams. Her heart ached for his pain. She was relieved that he was finally resting easily. Serena’s earlier suggestion had thrown him back into a hell he should never have had to revisit. The violations that had been imposed on his body and mind were too recent, and he’d lived through the entire experience perfectly aware of what was being done to him throughout the ordeal. Liz was both grateful and, at the same time, vaguely horrified by the thought that she had escaped within her own mind after she was taken, seeming to cocoon herself from the worst of it. Not that she wasn’t having trouble coping, but who wouldn’t?
Leaning close, she kissed his forehead softly and, not able to look away from him yet, she carefully began to maneuver her way out of their bed so she wouldn’t disturb his rest. There was something she had to do. Max reached a hand out toward her and murmured her name, sensing her retreat. She froze, one foot on the floor, and quickly sent him a reassuring thought that she was still close. In one decisive move she grabbed the clothes she had hastily discarded earlier that night and made her way to the door. She paused on shaky legs right outside the door to their bedroom and swiftly redressed, grateful that, for once, no one was hovering solicitously in their apartment, asking too many questions and invading their privacy.
She shook off the uncharitable thought. She knew she was lucky that her friends cared so much, hell, that they had friends at all after all that had happened was something of a miracle in her opinion. They’d put everyone through a lot lately. Her hand hovered over the door knob to their room, the temptation to just crawl back into Max’s arms was strong. Her mind touched on his, and found him dreaming peacefully for the moment, so she tightened her resolve and deliberately made herself walk across the room and out the front door.
> > > > > > >
Diane looked up from her magazine, startled, when she heard a light tapping on the kitchen door. She went to open it quickly when she saw Liz through the glass.
“You don’t need to knock, honey. Just come right in.” She suddenly realized that Max wasn’t with her. “What is it? Is something wrong with Max? I…”
Liz reached out toward her mother-in-law, stopping just short of actual contact, but quick to reassure. “He’s okay, for now. He’s sleeping. I…” Liz looked around the empty kitchen, letting her arm drop back to her side, suddenly realizing she didn’t know what time it was. “Where is everyone? It’s not…How late is it?”
Diane was relieved to hear that Max was okay. She had been concerned since Alex had escorted a teary eyed Serena through the kitchen earlier. Michael and Maria had filled her in. “Come on inside, honey. It’s only 10:30 or so. Maria went home with Michael, Isabel is out somewhere…I’m sure she’ll be back soon, and Alex and Serena are talking in her room. Did you want to speak to anyone in particular?” She knew it was unusual that Liz would venture away from Max voluntarily.
“I…” Liz looked uncomfortable. “I said something to Serena earlier, and I just wanted to talk to her again.” She couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting toward the kitchen door. Toward Max. Diane noticed, but said only, “Do you want me to go up and sit with him until you get back?”
Liz turned to her mother-in-law gratefully. “Would you mind? That would be so great. I had to ease up on the link so he wouldn’t wake up when I left and…I mean…he’ll be fine. He is fine. I just…I don’t like to leave his side so soon after…”
“I understand,” Diane reassured her, wanting to. Wishing she did. “I’ll go up now. Take whatever time you need.”
Liz nodded again and went to see Serena.
> > > > > > >
“Serena?” Liz called softly through the door, not wanting to disturb the girl if she was sleeping. The door was open a couple inches, so when she didn’t get a response she eased it open far enough to peek in and see if Serena was even still there. Maybe she had gone out with Alex…
Her eyes widened and she pulled the door almost shut again. Serena and Alex? Yeah, she’d teased him along with Maria earlier, but she hadn’t really thought anything was…Wow! The way they’d been kissing…It looked serious. She turned and started to walk swiftly back down the hallway.
“Liz?”
She froze in place and turned slowly back to the door at the sound of her name. Alex stood there, looking slightly flushed, but also concerned for her. He stepped out into the hall to meet her. “I thought I heard something. Are you alright? Where’s Max?”
She almost winced. It was pretty obvious that all her friends and family were well aware of Liz and Max’s co-dependency. Seeing one without the other was cause for instant alarm.
“He’s…sleeping. Finally. I just…I was going to talk to Serena, but I can come back at a better time…It’s no trouble.” Liz continued to back away down the hall.
“No. Liz, come on in. Now’s a good time.” Alex followed her and took her arm, leading her back into the bedroom. Liz looked around Max’s old room and noticed all the changes. Her perusal stopped as her gaze fell on Serena, sitting on the edge of the bed. She felt awkward again, and wished she’d given in to her impulse to stay with Max.
“Hi, Liz,” Serena started tentatively. She took a deep breath, sure she was going to get chewed out again. “I should tell you I’m sorry again. Because I am. Sorry, I mean. What I said…it was so thoughtless. I truly wasn’t thinking about anything but trying to help, and…”
Liz held up a hand to forestall any further confessions. “I know.” She almost smiled at Serena’s shocked look. “I actually came to apologize myself. And explain.”
Serena stood up, shaking her head. “You don’t have to explain anything. It was all my fault. I should never have said…”
“Don’t, Serena. Please. I just…I’ve been thinking about this and I really need to just say it and get back to Max, so…”
Serena’s eyes widened. “Where’s Max? Is he okay?”
Liz really did wince this time. Even Serena thought they couldn’t move independently of each other. “He’s fine. He’s sleeping, actually. Which is why I wanted to come and talk to you now. Can we just sit down?”
Serena moved back and sat down on the edge of the bed again, letting Liz sit in the recliner that now occupied a corner of the room.
Alex had been hovering near the doorway, tense until he had realized that Liz was there to patch things up. Knowing they needed some private time to sort it all out he excused himself quickly by offering to get them all a drink.
Liz knew Alex would be gone for several minutes, and was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Serena alone. “We need to get a few things straight, Serena.” Liz shifted in her seat and tried to meet Serena’s eyes, realizing that they hadn’t had any kind of extended one-on-one conversation since the rescue. “We aren’t friends.” Liz was looking at her hands and didn’t see the look of hurt that briefly flashed across Serena’s delicate features. “And that’s my fault. I’ve been really wrapped up in everything that’s been going on with me and Max and I haven’t taken the time to let you in.” She looked up at a soft sound from Serena, surprised to see her close to tears.
“You…You actually want to be my friend?” There was no mistaking the longing in Serena’s voice.
Liz was surprised. “I…Yes, of course we do,” she answered finally. She realized that she should have taken Serena aside a lot sooner. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but I had a visitation from a future version of Max a while back and he told me that you would be a friend of ours one day. That’s how Max knew to trust you right before we all escaped. I don’t blame you for what your father did, Serena. I think that as soon as you realized that what you were doing was wrong you did everything you could to correct it. I don’t think we could have escaped without you. So, yeah. We’re really grateful for what you’ve done and we do want to be your friends. It’s just…we’re still reeling a little from everything, and we’re maybe a little over-sensitive when it comes to some things…”
“It was me! I was so thoughtless to even suggest…” Serena interrupted, feeling a terrible guilt.
“No,” Liz stated firmly, holding out a hand to stop her. “Let’s not do this, okay? I don’t have the energy to hash out whose fault is what, so let’s just start fresh from right now, okay?”
Serena nodded mutely, tears in her eyes, but a smile on her lips.
Liz leaned back in her chair. “So…Tell me about you and Alex,” she prompted with a wicked smile.
Serena flushed hotly and covered her face with her hands. “I…We…”
She was saved from having to explain her infatuation by raised voices in the hallway.
“…if the Roswell PD wasn’t so damned incompetent! This is unreal!”
Liz and Serena raced to the door to find out what had Isabel so upset.
“Isabel? What’s going on?” Liz asked, worried for her friend. She wasn’t used to seeing Isabel so emotionally wrought.
Isabel raked her perfectly manicured fingers through her hair and turned to face Liz. “I just got back from seeing Kyle and guess why he wasn’t at registration with the rest of you guys?”
Liz shook her head. “I thought he had to work…”
Isabel nodded bitterly. “He’s working all right. He’s working two damn jobs now because his dad can’t seem to pull himself out of his funk and Kyle thinks they’re going to lose the house! He’s dropping out!” Tears shimmered in Isabel’s eyes at the thought of Kyle’s future going down the drain like that.
“No!” Liz felt sick. “He can’t do that! It’s our fault his dad got fired! He came looking for us…he got us out of there and instead of getting a hero’s welcome all he got was a pink slip! We have to do something.”
Isabel leaned back against the wall in the hallway, suddenly weary. “What can we do? We’re a bunch of kids.” She looked around, realizing someone was missing. “Where’s Max? Is he okay?”
Liz sighed. Et tu, Brute? “He’s fine. He’s sl…” her eyes widened suddenly and she took off down the hall. “Later, guys!” she called over her shoulder so they wouldn’t all come chasing after her.
> > > > > > > >
Diane had peeked into the bedroom to check on Max, leaving the door cracked open in case he needed her before she turned back to the kitchen to wrap up the remains of a pizza and scrub the bowls that were nested in the sink. She hummed lightly under her breath as the familiar chore comforted her.
“No!” The faint sound barely reached her over the sound of running water.
Diane shut off the water and turned from the kitchen sink toward Max’s room to listen again. She was sure she had heard…
“I said, NO!”
Knowing she had heard it this time Diane almost ran across the small apartment and opened the door to Max and Liz’s room. She almost gasped out loud when she saw her son thrashing on the bed, golden skin beaded with sweat, legs and lower body bound up and struggling against the tangled sheet. His head twisted from side to side in denial of what he was experiencing and she could see his eyes rolling under the closed lids. His brow furrowed as if in pain. “Nonono…Don’t hurt her! I’ll…I’ll do it! Leave her…God! Just leave her alone, I…”
She couldn’t take anymore of her son’s pain. Diane moved to the side of the bed and crawled across to reach him. She reached out a trembling hand to smooth over his tense face murmuring, “Max, it’s okay. Wake up now, baby. You’re safe. Liz is safe.” She could feel the exact moment he woke up. His whole body froze, suddenly shockingly still, and he’d stopped breathing, knowing only that it wasn’t Liz touching him.
Before she knew what was happening Max had flung her arm away rearing back in the bed as he sat up and clutched the sheet tightly to his nearly exposed body. “Don’t touch me!” His breath finally came back with a harsh rasp and his eyes were still unfocused. Diane tried not to let her pain show, her son obviously was carrying the nightmare over into reality and hadn’t realized who she was yet. That she meant him no harm.
She scrambled back off the bed backed away from it awkwardly, not wanting her son to feel trapped. She turned toward the noise gratefully when she hear the front door slam open followed by swiftly moving footsteps. She watched as Liz ran across the bedroom and crawled right up on the bed, pulling Max close to her chest. “I’m here, Max. I’ve got you. We’re safe now, baby.” She watched with an odd fascination as Liz rocked her husband in her arms and Max immediately calmed down, sighing in relief that Liz was there. His arms clutched her tightly to him and she could barely make out his imploring whisper, “Closer. Please. I need you closer...” Liz nodded and shifted minutely away to help Max as he pulled at the hem of her shirt. Diane shook herself out of her reverie, realizing that the moment was getting too intimate to be shared and that the children weren’t aware of her presence.
She backed out of the room and shut the door firmly behind her. She felt tears pricking her eyes and blinked them back stubbornly. Frustrated that there was nothing she could do, she wracked her brain for possible solutions. Max should be getting over the nightmares, letting people touch him again…he’d been through so much, there had to be a way she could help.
TBC
I did not intend to wait so long between postings, and hopefully won't have to wait again, but things beyond my control prevented it until now!
2crzy4roswell: Um…Welcome back! Thanks for reading again again, if you know what I mean! Let me know what you think of the changes, you should have a really good insight from just having read the old version too!
Gigo: Yep. Liz is working for Diane, so she won’t have to see Jeff every day! What a relief for her I’m sure!
Mukumataru: Thank you! I’m not exactly sure how long it’s going to be yet. It seems I can’t move the story forward very fast because I get stuck on the day they’re in and want to make sure everyone knows what’s going on with them and how everyone feels about it all, lol! It could get loooonnng!
Now, to clarify a couple things that seem to come up understandably quite a bit: Liz has just finished her 6th month of pregnancy and has four more months to go. She’ll start showing gradually, but become really obvious at the start of her 8th month.
I can’t clarify the paternity of Tess’ baby yet, but it’ll be a shocker…
Jeff is being an ass, but he’s a dad who loves his daughter. All he can see is that his baby’s been hurt and he wants to be there for her himself. It’s very difficult for him to see that Max is the only one allowed to even touch her at this point in time. A whole lotta resentment for Max, who he views as an immature, hormonal, teenage boy who has hurt his daughter in the past. So. Patience, lol!
I’m glad everyone in enjoying, and I love hearing that you are taking the time to re-read with the revisions. Let me know what you think!
And now: (Drumroll) A HUGE thank you to mrsjbehr! She made be the most fabulous picture for this story and told me how to post it!
Thank you!!
EYA Part 103
Liz watched the steady rise and fall of Max’s smoothly muscled chest and sighed. How can you be so beautiful? He looked young and innocent, almost peaceful again as he slept. She eased her fingertips over his brow, erasing the lines of worry that were trying to invade his dreams. Her heart ached for his pain. She was relieved that he was finally resting easily. Serena’s earlier suggestion had thrown him back into a hell he should never have had to revisit. The violations that had been imposed on his body and mind were too recent, and he’d lived through the entire experience perfectly aware of what was being done to him throughout the ordeal. Liz was both grateful and, at the same time, vaguely horrified by the thought that she had escaped within her own mind after she was taken, seeming to cocoon herself from the worst of it. Not that she wasn’t having trouble coping, but who wouldn’t?
Leaning close, she kissed his forehead softly and, not able to look away from him yet, she carefully began to maneuver her way out of their bed so she wouldn’t disturb his rest. There was something she had to do. Max reached a hand out toward her and murmured her name, sensing her retreat. She froze, one foot on the floor, and quickly sent him a reassuring thought that she was still close. In one decisive move she grabbed the clothes she had hastily discarded earlier that night and made her way to the door. She paused on shaky legs right outside the door to their bedroom and swiftly redressed, grateful that, for once, no one was hovering solicitously in their apartment, asking too many questions and invading their privacy.
She shook off the uncharitable thought. She knew she was lucky that her friends cared so much, hell, that they had friends at all after all that had happened was something of a miracle in her opinion. They’d put everyone through a lot lately. Her hand hovered over the door knob to their room, the temptation to just crawl back into Max’s arms was strong. Her mind touched on his, and found him dreaming peacefully for the moment, so she tightened her resolve and deliberately made herself walk across the room and out the front door.
> > > > > > >
Diane looked up from her magazine, startled, when she heard a light tapping on the kitchen door. She went to open it quickly when she saw Liz through the glass.
“You don’t need to knock, honey. Just come right in.” She suddenly realized that Max wasn’t with her. “What is it? Is something wrong with Max? I…”
Liz reached out toward her mother-in-law, stopping just short of actual contact, but quick to reassure. “He’s okay, for now. He’s sleeping. I…” Liz looked around the empty kitchen, letting her arm drop back to her side, suddenly realizing she didn’t know what time it was. “Where is everyone? It’s not…How late is it?”
Diane was relieved to hear that Max was okay. She had been concerned since Alex had escorted a teary eyed Serena through the kitchen earlier. Michael and Maria had filled her in. “Come on inside, honey. It’s only 10:30 or so. Maria went home with Michael, Isabel is out somewhere…I’m sure she’ll be back soon, and Alex and Serena are talking in her room. Did you want to speak to anyone in particular?” She knew it was unusual that Liz would venture away from Max voluntarily.
“I…” Liz looked uncomfortable. “I said something to Serena earlier, and I just wanted to talk to her again.” She couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting toward the kitchen door. Toward Max. Diane noticed, but said only, “Do you want me to go up and sit with him until you get back?”
Liz turned to her mother-in-law gratefully. “Would you mind? That would be so great. I had to ease up on the link so he wouldn’t wake up when I left and…I mean…he’ll be fine. He is fine. I just…I don’t like to leave his side so soon after…”
“I understand,” Diane reassured her, wanting to. Wishing she did. “I’ll go up now. Take whatever time you need.”
Liz nodded again and went to see Serena.
> > > > > > >
“Serena?” Liz called softly through the door, not wanting to disturb the girl if she was sleeping. The door was open a couple inches, so when she didn’t get a response she eased it open far enough to peek in and see if Serena was even still there. Maybe she had gone out with Alex…
Her eyes widened and she pulled the door almost shut again. Serena and Alex? Yeah, she’d teased him along with Maria earlier, but she hadn’t really thought anything was…Wow! The way they’d been kissing…It looked serious. She turned and started to walk swiftly back down the hallway.
“Liz?”
She froze in place and turned slowly back to the door at the sound of her name. Alex stood there, looking slightly flushed, but also concerned for her. He stepped out into the hall to meet her. “I thought I heard something. Are you alright? Where’s Max?”
She almost winced. It was pretty obvious that all her friends and family were well aware of Liz and Max’s co-dependency. Seeing one without the other was cause for instant alarm.
“He’s…sleeping. Finally. I just…I was going to talk to Serena, but I can come back at a better time…It’s no trouble.” Liz continued to back away down the hall.
“No. Liz, come on in. Now’s a good time.” Alex followed her and took her arm, leading her back into the bedroom. Liz looked around Max’s old room and noticed all the changes. Her perusal stopped as her gaze fell on Serena, sitting on the edge of the bed. She felt awkward again, and wished she’d given in to her impulse to stay with Max.
“Hi, Liz,” Serena started tentatively. She took a deep breath, sure she was going to get chewed out again. “I should tell you I’m sorry again. Because I am. Sorry, I mean. What I said…it was so thoughtless. I truly wasn’t thinking about anything but trying to help, and…”
Liz held up a hand to forestall any further confessions. “I know.” She almost smiled at Serena’s shocked look. “I actually came to apologize myself. And explain.”
Serena stood up, shaking her head. “You don’t have to explain anything. It was all my fault. I should never have said…”
“Don’t, Serena. Please. I just…I’ve been thinking about this and I really need to just say it and get back to Max, so…”
Serena’s eyes widened. “Where’s Max? Is he okay?”
Liz really did wince this time. Even Serena thought they couldn’t move independently of each other. “He’s fine. He’s sleeping, actually. Which is why I wanted to come and talk to you now. Can we just sit down?”
Serena moved back and sat down on the edge of the bed again, letting Liz sit in the recliner that now occupied a corner of the room.
Alex had been hovering near the doorway, tense until he had realized that Liz was there to patch things up. Knowing they needed some private time to sort it all out he excused himself quickly by offering to get them all a drink.
Liz knew Alex would be gone for several minutes, and was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Serena alone. “We need to get a few things straight, Serena.” Liz shifted in her seat and tried to meet Serena’s eyes, realizing that they hadn’t had any kind of extended one-on-one conversation since the rescue. “We aren’t friends.” Liz was looking at her hands and didn’t see the look of hurt that briefly flashed across Serena’s delicate features. “And that’s my fault. I’ve been really wrapped up in everything that’s been going on with me and Max and I haven’t taken the time to let you in.” She looked up at a soft sound from Serena, surprised to see her close to tears.
“You…You actually want to be my friend?” There was no mistaking the longing in Serena’s voice.
Liz was surprised. “I…Yes, of course we do,” she answered finally. She realized that she should have taken Serena aside a lot sooner. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but I had a visitation from a future version of Max a while back and he told me that you would be a friend of ours one day. That’s how Max knew to trust you right before we all escaped. I don’t blame you for what your father did, Serena. I think that as soon as you realized that what you were doing was wrong you did everything you could to correct it. I don’t think we could have escaped without you. So, yeah. We’re really grateful for what you’ve done and we do want to be your friends. It’s just…we’re still reeling a little from everything, and we’re maybe a little over-sensitive when it comes to some things…”
“It was me! I was so thoughtless to even suggest…” Serena interrupted, feeling a terrible guilt.
“No,” Liz stated firmly, holding out a hand to stop her. “Let’s not do this, okay? I don’t have the energy to hash out whose fault is what, so let’s just start fresh from right now, okay?”
Serena nodded mutely, tears in her eyes, but a smile on her lips.
Liz leaned back in her chair. “So…Tell me about you and Alex,” she prompted with a wicked smile.
Serena flushed hotly and covered her face with her hands. “I…We…”
She was saved from having to explain her infatuation by raised voices in the hallway.
“…if the Roswell PD wasn’t so damned incompetent! This is unreal!”
Liz and Serena raced to the door to find out what had Isabel so upset.
“Isabel? What’s going on?” Liz asked, worried for her friend. She wasn’t used to seeing Isabel so emotionally wrought.
Isabel raked her perfectly manicured fingers through her hair and turned to face Liz. “I just got back from seeing Kyle and guess why he wasn’t at registration with the rest of you guys?”
Liz shook her head. “I thought he had to work…”
Isabel nodded bitterly. “He’s working all right. He’s working two damn jobs now because his dad can’t seem to pull himself out of his funk and Kyle thinks they’re going to lose the house! He’s dropping out!” Tears shimmered in Isabel’s eyes at the thought of Kyle’s future going down the drain like that.
“No!” Liz felt sick. “He can’t do that! It’s our fault his dad got fired! He came looking for us…he got us out of there and instead of getting a hero’s welcome all he got was a pink slip! We have to do something.”
Isabel leaned back against the wall in the hallway, suddenly weary. “What can we do? We’re a bunch of kids.” She looked around, realizing someone was missing. “Where’s Max? Is he okay?”
Liz sighed. Et tu, Brute? “He’s fine. He’s sl…” her eyes widened suddenly and she took off down the hall. “Later, guys!” she called over her shoulder so they wouldn’t all come chasing after her.
> > > > > > > >
Diane had peeked into the bedroom to check on Max, leaving the door cracked open in case he needed her before she turned back to the kitchen to wrap up the remains of a pizza and scrub the bowls that were nested in the sink. She hummed lightly under her breath as the familiar chore comforted her.
“No!” The faint sound barely reached her over the sound of running water.
Diane shut off the water and turned from the kitchen sink toward Max’s room to listen again. She was sure she had heard…
“I said, NO!”
Knowing she had heard it this time Diane almost ran across the small apartment and opened the door to Max and Liz’s room. She almost gasped out loud when she saw her son thrashing on the bed, golden skin beaded with sweat, legs and lower body bound up and struggling against the tangled sheet. His head twisted from side to side in denial of what he was experiencing and she could see his eyes rolling under the closed lids. His brow furrowed as if in pain. “Nonono…Don’t hurt her! I’ll…I’ll do it! Leave her…God! Just leave her alone, I…”
She couldn’t take anymore of her son’s pain. Diane moved to the side of the bed and crawled across to reach him. She reached out a trembling hand to smooth over his tense face murmuring, “Max, it’s okay. Wake up now, baby. You’re safe. Liz is safe.” She could feel the exact moment he woke up. His whole body froze, suddenly shockingly still, and he’d stopped breathing, knowing only that it wasn’t Liz touching him.
Before she knew what was happening Max had flung her arm away rearing back in the bed as he sat up and clutched the sheet tightly to his nearly exposed body. “Don’t touch me!” His breath finally came back with a harsh rasp and his eyes were still unfocused. Diane tried not to let her pain show, her son obviously was carrying the nightmare over into reality and hadn’t realized who she was yet. That she meant him no harm.
She scrambled back off the bed backed away from it awkwardly, not wanting her son to feel trapped. She turned toward the noise gratefully when she hear the front door slam open followed by swiftly moving footsteps. She watched as Liz ran across the bedroom and crawled right up on the bed, pulling Max close to her chest. “I’m here, Max. I’ve got you. We’re safe now, baby.” She watched with an odd fascination as Liz rocked her husband in her arms and Max immediately calmed down, sighing in relief that Liz was there. His arms clutched her tightly to him and she could barely make out his imploring whisper, “Closer. Please. I need you closer...” Liz nodded and shifted minutely away to help Max as he pulled at the hem of her shirt. Diane shook herself out of her reverie, realizing that the moment was getting too intimate to be shared and that the children weren’t aware of her presence.
She backed out of the room and shut the door firmly behind her. She felt tears pricking her eyes and blinked them back stubbornly. Frustrated that there was nothing she could do, she wracked her brain for possible solutions. Max should be getting over the nightmares, letting people touch him again…he’d been through so much, there had to be a way she could help.
TBC
Last edited by javagin on Mon Jun 09, 2003 8:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.
EYA Part 104
Hello! Yes, I’ve been incommunicado for lot’s of very good reasons! I’ve had a short business trip intermixed with 8 trips to the doctor/lab/and or hospital for various not-fun tests, and the results are coming back not good, so I’ve been distracted!
Thank you so much for the fabulous feedback! My favorite kind is when someone tells me their favorite quotes etc, so if anyone wants to make me extremely happy, just find the parts that you liked or that really affected you and let me know, lol! On that note: a HUGE thanks to 2crzy4roswell on the Roswell Fanatics Board for completely making my day! That was some of the most satisfying feedback I’ve ever received…Please don’t worry about the length, lol…and if you feel compelled to do more…I’d no doubt jump up and down happily again!
Thank you all so much for the positive feedback, I love all the speculation about where it’s going, but it’s going to be a bit of a mystery for awhile longer, lol. It seems the story is destined to go on for quite some time!
EYA Part 104
He felt drawn to her. Again. Well, always really, but again this morning. He almost groaned out loud at the effort it was taking to pull away. They had somewhere to be…
Her hands were soothing over his shoulders. Pulling him in. Pulling him closer and he was breathing her scent. Sharing her air as her small hands pulled his lips down to meet hers. He did groan when her tongue lapped out to caress his lips. Mouth opening, inviting him in. He couldn’t resist. Didn’t even want to try. His fingers clenched over the soft material that covered her hips, one hand rising to push up the hem of her shirt, touching smooth skin, feeling it shiver in anticipation. When had she gotten dressed? His need spiraled as his tongue lapped over her teeth, tasting, testing as he pulled her closer, closer.
His breath came in harsh pants and his eyes remained closed as he felt her pull gently but firmly away.
“Max?” Her fingers combed through his hair, but he still didn’t look up. “Max, are you okay? You’re making this really intense sound. You can let me in, Max. It’s okay…”
He’d been making noises? All he’d been aware of was the smell of her skin, fresh from their shower. The soft panting breaths that had escaped from her lips as he licked into her mouth. His eyes opened and he stared down into her incredible gaze. God, I love you, he thought desperately, feeling his need spiral again. But he knew she couldn’t hear him. He forced himself to step back physically, as he already had mentally, and drew in a ragged breath.
“Don’t shut me out, Max. It hurts,” Liz begged.
His eyes widened and he pulled her close again, holding her head against his chest and bowing his head to nuzzle into her hair. “I never meant to…I just need the space if we’re going to be apart today. I can’t hurt you, Liz. I never meant…”
“Shhh, I know, baby.” Liz massaged her hands over his tensed back muscles and kissed the skin she could reach over his bared chest. “Maybe if you could just open to me a little bit…”
She could feel his chest expand under her cheek as he inhaled a deep breath, and felt a keen disappointment when he stepped away, holding her firmly by her shoulders so she couldn’t move closer again.
“I’m sorry, Liz. I…I’m doing the best I can right now. I think I’ll just…” He gestured toward the bathroom, and started walking away in that direction.
“But you’ve already…” Liz was cut short as the phone rang insistently in the room. “…taken two showers today,” she finished softly when she heard the water starting behind the firmly shut door. She sighed and picked up the phone absently.
“Hello?”
“Liz, honey? How are you feeling? I just wanted to make sure…”
“Dad!” Liz was surprised, never having thought that he would be the one calling her so early in the morning.
“I was worried about you, honey. Are you feeling okay? Can I get you anything?”
“I’m…Dad, I’m fine! I wasn’t even sick. I was…”
“Wasn’t sick? I know what I felt, Liz Parker, and I saw how that boy was ‘taking care’ of you! Now you listen to me…”
“No, Dad! You listen to me! It’s Liz Evans now, and try not to forget it! I was having a damn hot flash. Pregnant women have them, you know! And I get them when I’m upset…which I was no thanks to you! It so happens that Max takes extremely good care of me and I couldn’t ask for a better man to be my husband and the sooner you accept that, the better off we’ll all be, so…”
“Liz, I don’t want to fight. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay…”
“Is that why you called, Dad? Because I’m fine. Honestly, the biggest trauma in my life right now is that you don’t accept me for who I am anymore.” Liz felt the tiniest bit guilty for saying it, but it was one of the larger stressors in her life at the moment that she didn’t feel the kind of love and unconditional acceptance from her own family as she did from Max’s.
“I…I’m trying, baby. I am. I just…”
“Why don’t you call me back when you’re done ‘trying’ and let me know how it all comes out, okay? Now, I’ve got to go. It’s the first day of school and I’ve got to get ready, so…”
“I love you,” Jeff told her quickly, afraid she would hang up on him.
Liz sighed, wishing things were different. “I love you too, Dad. That’s why it hurts so much when you…Never mind. I’m going to go now. Bye.” She gently cradled the receiver and sank down to the floor, suddenly exhausted by all the mental energy she had expended that day.
She heard the water shut off in the bathroom and closed her eyes wearily. Max had taken three showers that morning already. She could understand the first two. Maybe. They had stocked up on ‘baby feedings’ in an effort to avoid any embarrassing incidences at school later, but…Max was shutting her out when she knew something was wrong. And it hurt. She moved to get up off the floor, not wanting to add to Max’s worries when he exited the bathroom.
The door opened and Max emerged, fully dressed. He glanced over at her and away, ashamed of his quick escape earlier and his inability to comply with her request and let her back into his mind. Liz should have everything she wanted. No question. It was unnatural to deny her any request he was able to fulfill. It was just…It was for her own good. If she knew what was haunting his mind, she’d run screaming and there was no reason to cause her that stress. But how was he supposed to explain that to Liz, who knew him better than anyone?
“Um, who was on the phone?” He walked over and picked up his backpack, watching Liz move closer to do the same.
“It was my Dad,” she answered softly.
Max’s eyes flew to meet hers, checking for damage. “Is everything…?”
“Yeah,” Liz nodded. “It’s as good as we can make it right now. Nothing’s…nothing’s changed, so…” She shouldered her backpack and turned to the door. “We should go. Maria will be waiting in front of the school, so…”
“Liz,” Max reached out and turned her toward him. “It’s not you…I just. I need to deal with this and we’ve got enough going on with school starting again and me going back to work tonight. I promise I’ll get over it…I just need a little time.” Please understand. Please understand. Please understand…
Liz turned into his body and hugged him closely. “You don’t have to deal with it alone. I just want you to know that I’m here. I’m always here for you. I don’t…It doesn’t feel right when you pull away. I…”
“I know,” Max soothed, tears pricking his eyes. “I do. I’ll deal with it. I’ll get over it, I swear. Please, just a little more time…”
Liz nodded, accepting, and Max sighed in relief. He could deal with it. He could deal with anything as long as he had Liz.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Max held Liz’s hand tightly in his own as they negotiated the steps at the front of the school. It seemed like everyone was staring at them, and he didn’t think it was his imagination. Hell, it had been all over town that he and Liz had been kidnapped at the beginning of the summer, so it was no wonder that everyone was curious about what had happened to them, but still. He was grateful when Liz stepped closer and wrapped her arm around his waist in a show of solidarity. She was, no doubt, feeling the pressure of the stares as well.
They continued down the hall to where their lockers were located side-by side, and Max flinched visibly when a fellow student jostled into him in the crowded hallway.
“Sorry, man,” the kid called out, before continuing his rush down the hall.
Max took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
“Hey, guys.” Maria was suddenly beside him, and Max relaxed when he realized it was her. She was safe.
Maria held her position, having seen Max’s reaction when Toby Jennings accidentally bumped into him. Max was looking kind of shaky, so she decided to distract him. “How’s it goin’? Excited for the first day of classes?” Maria leaned forward to catch Liz’s eyes, knowing her friend would be ecstatic to be back in class again. She became a little more worried about the couple when she saw the tense look in Liz’s eyes.
“Yeah, sure, Maria. I’m always glad when school starts up. It’s just…a little stressful this time, you know?” Liz answered Maria’s question, but didn’t take her eyes off of Max.
“Of course it is. Did you, uh, make sure your school day wouldn’t get unexpectedly interrupted this morning?” Maria asked as delicately as she could. The couple looked too tense to have relieved their stress properly that morning, and now she was worried too.
“Maria! Of course we did…”
“Three times,” Max put in, forcing a small grin for Maria, trying to let her chatter distract him from all the curious stares and from the fact that Liz would shortly be leaving his side for two hours straight before he would see her again in swim class.
“Three times! I’m impressed,” Maria grinned back at Max, glad to see he was trying for normalcy.
They arrived at their lockers and spun the new combinations. Max shoved in his backpack and pulled out the Economics book he’d need for first period before closing the door and turning to lean back against it while he waited for Liz.
Yep. Everyone was still looking at them. He flushed, feeling exposed, and turned to face Liz so he wouldn’t have to see all the people staring.
“Take a picture,” Maria growled out, shooing people away. Max was obviously uncomfortable, and Liz would be too, she knew, if she wasn’t so focused on Max’s discomfort.
“Maria!” Liz scolded, embarrassed by her friend’s obvious rudeness.
“What? You guys are obviously in one piece. You’ve been back for weeks now. They should get over it!”
“I agree,” Michael concurred, slipping up behind Maria and nuzzling a kiss at the nape of her neck. Maria giggled and turned in his arms, leaning up for a quick kiss.
“Okay, I gotta get to Algebra.” Maria made a face and sprinted off down the hall.
“Ready for Econ?” Michael asked Max, ready to steer him toward their class. He knew his friend was going to have a hard time leaving Liz, so he wanted to be there to make sure he made it to their first class of the day.
“I’m…Yeah. I just wanted to walk Liz to her class first.” Max took Liz’s hand and they all started down the hall together toward Liz’s Creative Writing class. They stopped at the door, hands still linked and hesitated before parting.
“You still okay?” Liz questioned softly, wishing desperately that she could just reach inside of him and know.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just down the hall,” Max whispered, stepping back reluctantly. His hand slipped slowly away from hers and he watched her turn into the classroom, meeting Alex and sitting beside him. She looked back to give him a reassuring smile and wave before he turned to leave her there without him.
“You doin’ alright?” Michael questioned his friend. He was worried about Max’s mental state. He didn’t seem all there.
“I’m just stressed out, I guess. Is it me or is everyone really staring?”
“It’s not just you.” Michael clapped a hand over Max’s shoulder. “They act like you returned from the dead or something. Don’t worry, they’ll get over it. It’s just the biggest thing that’s happened in this town in a long time. You’re a superstah!”
“Yeah, I guess.” Max followed Michael into their classroom and settled beside him in a seat in the back.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“…it’s just flippin’ unbelievable! That’s what it is!” Michael ranted. Max just shook his head. “It makes so much sense, now that I know…”
“Know what?” Alex interrupted as he and Liz joined the two.
Liz slipped an arm around Max and leaned into him, garnering comfort from his nearness. She could feel the desperate clench of his fingers at her back and he held her there tightly.
“Alex! My, man! Have you heard of planned obsolescence? It’s the biggest scam you can imagine! And they get away with it! Companies deliberately make things so that they’ll breakdown after a short period of time so that people will have to go out and buy more!” Michael was outraged.
Alex just smiled, having taken Econ the year before. “Yeah, they just don’t make stuff like they used to…”
“Exactly!” Michael agreed. “That’s what I’m sayin’…”
Liz tilted her face up to Max, amusement coloring her features. “All in the first day of class, huh?” She whispered so that Michael wouldn’t hear.
Max smiled back at her. “Yeah. Wait till they tell him about Greenspan…”
Liz shuddered in mock horror of Michael’s future reaction.
“So, girlfriend…You ready for drama class?” Maria slung an arm around Max and smiled sunnily into his face.
“Stop calling me that! And how the hell did I let you talk me into drama?” Max moaned.
“Don’t be a baby, Max! You’re gonna love it! And it was drama or choir, and the choir only had room for a bass, so get over it!”
“Liz!”
“It’ll be okay, baby. You’re gonna love it!” Liz laughed and pushed him down the hall with Maria before turning back to get her Physics books out of her locker.
“You ready?” Michael queried her softly, watching the way her eyes tracked Max’s progress down the hall.
“What?” Liz turned back to face Michael, a worried look lingering in her eyes. “Oh…Yeah. Let’s go, Michael.”
She didn’t think it was an accident that both she and Max shared all of their classes with one friend or another.
“Is…was Max okay in class this morning?” Liz tried to make it sound casual, glancing up at Michael as they walked down the hallway together.
Michael was startled that she had to ask. Shouldn’t she just know? “He was…distracted. He doesn’t like everyone staring, so…”
“No. Me either, I guess, but what can we do. It’ll blow over.”
“Hey, Liz!” Sara Weller stopped her in the hall. “How was your…I mean, are you okay?” Sara leaned in as if to give her a hug and Liz stumbled back into Michael’s chest, grateful when his hands gripped her shoulders to steady her.
“I’m fine, thanks,” Liz mumbled hastily, embarrassed by her reaction. She watched Sara’s eyes flicker speculatively between herself and Michael, looking at her wedding ring and Michael’s hands on her shoulders, and nearly groaned aloud at the new rumors that would no doubt soon be flying all over West Roswell High.
“I thought you and Max…” Sara began, obviously ready to be the first with a scoop for her bestest friend Pam.
“We are…I,” Liz didn’t know what to say, but didn’t want to step away from the comfort of Michael behind her.
“See ya,” Michael barked, staring Sara down until she turned away and left them.
“Michael, she’s gonna…”
“Who cares? We know the truth,” Michael said gruffly. He squeezed her shoulders once before dropping his hands and continuing down the hall to class.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maria followed behind Max closely as they entered the theatre style classroom, making sure he didn’t change his mind and see if it wasn’t too late to join choir.
“Max! What a surprise! I didn’t know you were in the drama course this year,” Pam lied through her teeth, smiling brightly up at Max’s haunted face. He was no doubt devastated by the betrayal of his dear wife with his best friend. She’d almost chuckled in glee when Sara had caught up with her right before drama class with that juicy bit of news.
Max turned abruptly and ran straight into Maria, who grabbed his arms to keep him from fleeing.
“Hey! Don’t worry. We won’t sit by her!” Maria whispered desperately.
“I didn’t know she’d be here, Maria. Maybe I could learn to sing bass in the choir…”
“You are so not a bass and you’re not joining the choir! Now buck up and sit with me!” Maria pushed him gently into an end seat and plunked herself down beside him to ensure that Pam wouldn’t get any ideas.
Pam glared briefly at Maria, but moved to take the seat behind Max, leaning forward and tapping his shoulder. He shuddered at the touch of her hand and Pam smiled again, encouraged by his obvious attraction to her.
“Max! I heard what happened to you this summer! I know you must have been through so much…If you ever want someone to talk to about it, I’m right here!”
Max flushed in anger. As if he’d ever speak to her about what had happened to Liz and him! “Whatever, Pam,” he mumbled finally, wishing himself anywhere else.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Liz!” Max wrapped her up in his arms, wishing he didn’t feel as desperate as he did for the brief contact with her.
“Max, are you okay?” Liz had felt a ripple in the bond earlier, and knew he was upset. Max hadn’t let her see why though, and she’d been worried ever since.
“I’m fine now.” He leaned back and gave her a small smile. “We made it!” He even forced a chuckle. Two classes down, and they shared the swim class together as their last class of the day. He was desperately glad that they’d each accumulated enough extra credits through their academic achievements to only have to take these last few classes before they would be eligible for graduation after this semester was over in December.
“Yeah?” Liz questioned again, searching his eyes for the real answer.
“Yeah,” Max sighed, leaning down to take her lips in a quick kiss.
“Watch the PDA’s,” Michael warned from their side, as he eyed a teacher standing outside his classroom glancing their way.
Max and Liz reluctantly separated and busied themselves at their lockers to shove everything they needed to take home with them into their backpacks to take to swim class before they left for the day.
They held hands as they made their way into the swim room and sat down beside each other.
They’d just been issued their school swimwear when the PA system barked out a message for Max and Liz Evans to go to the main office. Everyone stared at them as they got hastily to their feet, pausing to grab their backpacks before heading out the door.
“What’s going on, Max?” Liz questioned worriedly, biting her lip and clutching his hand in hers.
“I don’t know,” Max answered, trying to mask the mounting tension that was coiling in his gut.
They arrived at the office and entered the room together. At least Sara Weller wasn’t manning the office desk this time. Liz breathed thanks for small favors.
Max approached the student aide that was covering the desk this period. “We were called to the office? Max and Liz Evans?”
The boy glanced up, he knew who they were. He shuffled a couple papers and pulled one from the stack, handing it to Max. “School counselor wanted to meet with you both before you left campus today,” he explained briefly, before turning back to other tasks.
“School counselor?” Liz queried Max, leaning over to see the paper he was holding.
“You can go right in,” the boy told them helpfully. “He’s waiting for you.”
Max and Liz walked over to the door and knocked softly, pushing it open at the soft command to enter.
Peter Morris stood to greet the couple, noting their closed posture and tense expressions. “Hello! I’m Mr. Morris, and you’re Max and Liz, I presume?” Mr. Morris queried, extending a hand to Max.
Max nodded stiffly, ignoring the hand held out to him and helped Liz to sit down, before scooting his chair closer to hers and sitting as well.
“What’s this about, Mr. Morris?” Max’s jaw was starting to hurt, and he tried to relax it.
“Well, I wanted to meet with you because I’ve heard about what happened to the both of you this summer. I wanted to let you know that counseling is available here at the school if you ever feel the need to talk about all the changes that are taking place or about anything that might be troubling you…”
“We’re fine,” Max interrupted rudely. “We don’t need to talk with anyone about it.”
“You’re obviously upset, Max. I’m here to help if you…”
“We don’t need your help, Mr. Morris. No offense, but you wouldn’t understand.”
“I know you think that, Max, but you’d be surprised at what I…”
Max actually barked out a harsh laugh. If this guy only knew what he was supposed to understand… “You sure you wanna try to ‘understand’? I could tell you…”
“Max,” Liz spoke softly, caressing his hand in hers. She could feel him getting hysterical.
Mr. Morris noted the gentling effect Liz had on Max and thought it interesting. They were obviously close. Linked by shared trauma.
“Mr. Morris, we really are doing okay. It’s good to know we have resources available to us if we feel the need, but we have lot’s of people we can talk to about everything and we’re dealing with it the best we can. Max’s family if very supportive and we have a lot of very good friends, so…”
“Friends and family and all well and good. Absolutely necessary, but sometimes it takes someone outside of all that to help you see things objectively.”
“Yes. We understand that,” Liz interrupted softly, moving to stand and pulling Max with her. “Thanks again for your time.” And Mr. Morris understood that they were done with him. He sighed as he watched them leave, hoping that they would come back sometime. They were obviously far from ‘fine’.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“How was school today, kids?” Diane questioned. She’d come home for lunch to see how the kids did on their first day back. Max looked…tired. Liz was practically vibrating with worry for him.
“I’m going to…go upstairs. I think I’ll rest up a bit before work this afternoon,” Max stated, before heading out the kitchen door to go up the stairs to their apartment.
“Liz? How is he, really?” Diane turned to Liz, hoping for a real answer.
“I’m not really sure. He’s not letting me in right now,” Liz answered absently, drifting toward the door without realizing it.
“Liz,” Diane reached out and tentatively touched Liz’s arm, getting her attention. Liz stepped back, but turned her distracted attention to Diane.
“Yes?”
“I’m worried. About Max. He seems really withdrawn and you say he’s not even letting you in…I have an idea, but…”
“An idea? What do you mean, Diane?” Liz shook herself and made herself give Diane her full attention.
“I think…I think that it would be good for Max to see a counselor,” Diane blurted out in a rush.
Liz took another step back. “I don’t know, Diane. He’d just be lying to another stranger about who he is…” She thought about his negative reaction to the school counselor.
“He wouldn’t have to explain why he was taken. He could let it all out though, about what was done to him, how he feels about it…I’m worried that he can’t deal with this all on his own. I know a doctor that is really good at Post Traumatic Stress stuff, I could call him…”
“I…” Liz was torn. She wanted to be enough for Max, but she knew that he needed help. “I’ll talk to him. I don’t know what he’ll say. I’ll…I’ll try,” she promised, knowing it was the best she could do.
Diane sighed in relief, slumping back against the kitchen table. If Liz was willing to try, she could convince Max it was a good idea.
TBC
Thank you so much for the fabulous feedback! My favorite kind is when someone tells me their favorite quotes etc, so if anyone wants to make me extremely happy, just find the parts that you liked or that really affected you and let me know, lol! On that note: a HUGE thanks to 2crzy4roswell on the Roswell Fanatics Board for completely making my day! That was some of the most satisfying feedback I’ve ever received…Please don’t worry about the length, lol…and if you feel compelled to do more…I’d no doubt jump up and down happily again!
Thank you all so much for the positive feedback, I love all the speculation about where it’s going, but it’s going to be a bit of a mystery for awhile longer, lol. It seems the story is destined to go on for quite some time!
EYA Part 104
He felt drawn to her. Again. Well, always really, but again this morning. He almost groaned out loud at the effort it was taking to pull away. They had somewhere to be…
Her hands were soothing over his shoulders. Pulling him in. Pulling him closer and he was breathing her scent. Sharing her air as her small hands pulled his lips down to meet hers. He did groan when her tongue lapped out to caress his lips. Mouth opening, inviting him in. He couldn’t resist. Didn’t even want to try. His fingers clenched over the soft material that covered her hips, one hand rising to push up the hem of her shirt, touching smooth skin, feeling it shiver in anticipation. When had she gotten dressed? His need spiraled as his tongue lapped over her teeth, tasting, testing as he pulled her closer, closer.
His breath came in harsh pants and his eyes remained closed as he felt her pull gently but firmly away.
“Max?” Her fingers combed through his hair, but he still didn’t look up. “Max, are you okay? You’re making this really intense sound. You can let me in, Max. It’s okay…”
He’d been making noises? All he’d been aware of was the smell of her skin, fresh from their shower. The soft panting breaths that had escaped from her lips as he licked into her mouth. His eyes opened and he stared down into her incredible gaze. God, I love you, he thought desperately, feeling his need spiral again. But he knew she couldn’t hear him. He forced himself to step back physically, as he already had mentally, and drew in a ragged breath.
“Don’t shut me out, Max. It hurts,” Liz begged.
His eyes widened and he pulled her close again, holding her head against his chest and bowing his head to nuzzle into her hair. “I never meant to…I just need the space if we’re going to be apart today. I can’t hurt you, Liz. I never meant…”
“Shhh, I know, baby.” Liz massaged her hands over his tensed back muscles and kissed the skin she could reach over his bared chest. “Maybe if you could just open to me a little bit…”
She could feel his chest expand under her cheek as he inhaled a deep breath, and felt a keen disappointment when he stepped away, holding her firmly by her shoulders so she couldn’t move closer again.
“I’m sorry, Liz. I…I’m doing the best I can right now. I think I’ll just…” He gestured toward the bathroom, and started walking away in that direction.
“But you’ve already…” Liz was cut short as the phone rang insistently in the room. “…taken two showers today,” she finished softly when she heard the water starting behind the firmly shut door. She sighed and picked up the phone absently.
“Hello?”
“Liz, honey? How are you feeling? I just wanted to make sure…”
“Dad!” Liz was surprised, never having thought that he would be the one calling her so early in the morning.
“I was worried about you, honey. Are you feeling okay? Can I get you anything?”
“I’m…Dad, I’m fine! I wasn’t even sick. I was…”
“Wasn’t sick? I know what I felt, Liz Parker, and I saw how that boy was ‘taking care’ of you! Now you listen to me…”
“No, Dad! You listen to me! It’s Liz Evans now, and try not to forget it! I was having a damn hot flash. Pregnant women have them, you know! And I get them when I’m upset…which I was no thanks to you! It so happens that Max takes extremely good care of me and I couldn’t ask for a better man to be my husband and the sooner you accept that, the better off we’ll all be, so…”
“Liz, I don’t want to fight. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay…”
“Is that why you called, Dad? Because I’m fine. Honestly, the biggest trauma in my life right now is that you don’t accept me for who I am anymore.” Liz felt the tiniest bit guilty for saying it, but it was one of the larger stressors in her life at the moment that she didn’t feel the kind of love and unconditional acceptance from her own family as she did from Max’s.
“I…I’m trying, baby. I am. I just…”
“Why don’t you call me back when you’re done ‘trying’ and let me know how it all comes out, okay? Now, I’ve got to go. It’s the first day of school and I’ve got to get ready, so…”
“I love you,” Jeff told her quickly, afraid she would hang up on him.
Liz sighed, wishing things were different. “I love you too, Dad. That’s why it hurts so much when you…Never mind. I’m going to go now. Bye.” She gently cradled the receiver and sank down to the floor, suddenly exhausted by all the mental energy she had expended that day.
She heard the water shut off in the bathroom and closed her eyes wearily. Max had taken three showers that morning already. She could understand the first two. Maybe. They had stocked up on ‘baby feedings’ in an effort to avoid any embarrassing incidences at school later, but…Max was shutting her out when she knew something was wrong. And it hurt. She moved to get up off the floor, not wanting to add to Max’s worries when he exited the bathroom.
The door opened and Max emerged, fully dressed. He glanced over at her and away, ashamed of his quick escape earlier and his inability to comply with her request and let her back into his mind. Liz should have everything she wanted. No question. It was unnatural to deny her any request he was able to fulfill. It was just…It was for her own good. If she knew what was haunting his mind, she’d run screaming and there was no reason to cause her that stress. But how was he supposed to explain that to Liz, who knew him better than anyone?
“Um, who was on the phone?” He walked over and picked up his backpack, watching Liz move closer to do the same.
“It was my Dad,” she answered softly.
Max’s eyes flew to meet hers, checking for damage. “Is everything…?”
“Yeah,” Liz nodded. “It’s as good as we can make it right now. Nothing’s…nothing’s changed, so…” She shouldered her backpack and turned to the door. “We should go. Maria will be waiting in front of the school, so…”
“Liz,” Max reached out and turned her toward him. “It’s not you…I just. I need to deal with this and we’ve got enough going on with school starting again and me going back to work tonight. I promise I’ll get over it…I just need a little time.” Please understand. Please understand. Please understand…
Liz turned into his body and hugged him closely. “You don’t have to deal with it alone. I just want you to know that I’m here. I’m always here for you. I don’t…It doesn’t feel right when you pull away. I…”
“I know,” Max soothed, tears pricking his eyes. “I do. I’ll deal with it. I’ll get over it, I swear. Please, just a little more time…”
Liz nodded, accepting, and Max sighed in relief. He could deal with it. He could deal with anything as long as he had Liz.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Max held Liz’s hand tightly in his own as they negotiated the steps at the front of the school. It seemed like everyone was staring at them, and he didn’t think it was his imagination. Hell, it had been all over town that he and Liz had been kidnapped at the beginning of the summer, so it was no wonder that everyone was curious about what had happened to them, but still. He was grateful when Liz stepped closer and wrapped her arm around his waist in a show of solidarity. She was, no doubt, feeling the pressure of the stares as well.
They continued down the hall to where their lockers were located side-by side, and Max flinched visibly when a fellow student jostled into him in the crowded hallway.
“Sorry, man,” the kid called out, before continuing his rush down the hall.
Max took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
“Hey, guys.” Maria was suddenly beside him, and Max relaxed when he realized it was her. She was safe.
Maria held her position, having seen Max’s reaction when Toby Jennings accidentally bumped into him. Max was looking kind of shaky, so she decided to distract him. “How’s it goin’? Excited for the first day of classes?” Maria leaned forward to catch Liz’s eyes, knowing her friend would be ecstatic to be back in class again. She became a little more worried about the couple when she saw the tense look in Liz’s eyes.
“Yeah, sure, Maria. I’m always glad when school starts up. It’s just…a little stressful this time, you know?” Liz answered Maria’s question, but didn’t take her eyes off of Max.
“Of course it is. Did you, uh, make sure your school day wouldn’t get unexpectedly interrupted this morning?” Maria asked as delicately as she could. The couple looked too tense to have relieved their stress properly that morning, and now she was worried too.
“Maria! Of course we did…”
“Three times,” Max put in, forcing a small grin for Maria, trying to let her chatter distract him from all the curious stares and from the fact that Liz would shortly be leaving his side for two hours straight before he would see her again in swim class.
“Three times! I’m impressed,” Maria grinned back at Max, glad to see he was trying for normalcy.
They arrived at their lockers and spun the new combinations. Max shoved in his backpack and pulled out the Economics book he’d need for first period before closing the door and turning to lean back against it while he waited for Liz.
Yep. Everyone was still looking at them. He flushed, feeling exposed, and turned to face Liz so he wouldn’t have to see all the people staring.
“Take a picture,” Maria growled out, shooing people away. Max was obviously uncomfortable, and Liz would be too, she knew, if she wasn’t so focused on Max’s discomfort.
“Maria!” Liz scolded, embarrassed by her friend’s obvious rudeness.
“What? You guys are obviously in one piece. You’ve been back for weeks now. They should get over it!”
“I agree,” Michael concurred, slipping up behind Maria and nuzzling a kiss at the nape of her neck. Maria giggled and turned in his arms, leaning up for a quick kiss.
“Okay, I gotta get to Algebra.” Maria made a face and sprinted off down the hall.
“Ready for Econ?” Michael asked Max, ready to steer him toward their class. He knew his friend was going to have a hard time leaving Liz, so he wanted to be there to make sure he made it to their first class of the day.
“I’m…Yeah. I just wanted to walk Liz to her class first.” Max took Liz’s hand and they all started down the hall together toward Liz’s Creative Writing class. They stopped at the door, hands still linked and hesitated before parting.
“You still okay?” Liz questioned softly, wishing desperately that she could just reach inside of him and know.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just down the hall,” Max whispered, stepping back reluctantly. His hand slipped slowly away from hers and he watched her turn into the classroom, meeting Alex and sitting beside him. She looked back to give him a reassuring smile and wave before he turned to leave her there without him.
“You doin’ alright?” Michael questioned his friend. He was worried about Max’s mental state. He didn’t seem all there.
“I’m just stressed out, I guess. Is it me or is everyone really staring?”
“It’s not just you.” Michael clapped a hand over Max’s shoulder. “They act like you returned from the dead or something. Don’t worry, they’ll get over it. It’s just the biggest thing that’s happened in this town in a long time. You’re a superstah!”
“Yeah, I guess.” Max followed Michael into their classroom and settled beside him in a seat in the back.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“…it’s just flippin’ unbelievable! That’s what it is!” Michael ranted. Max just shook his head. “It makes so much sense, now that I know…”
“Know what?” Alex interrupted as he and Liz joined the two.
Liz slipped an arm around Max and leaned into him, garnering comfort from his nearness. She could feel the desperate clench of his fingers at her back and he held her there tightly.
“Alex! My, man! Have you heard of planned obsolescence? It’s the biggest scam you can imagine! And they get away with it! Companies deliberately make things so that they’ll breakdown after a short period of time so that people will have to go out and buy more!” Michael was outraged.
Alex just smiled, having taken Econ the year before. “Yeah, they just don’t make stuff like they used to…”
“Exactly!” Michael agreed. “That’s what I’m sayin’…”
Liz tilted her face up to Max, amusement coloring her features. “All in the first day of class, huh?” She whispered so that Michael wouldn’t hear.
Max smiled back at her. “Yeah. Wait till they tell him about Greenspan…”
Liz shuddered in mock horror of Michael’s future reaction.
“So, girlfriend…You ready for drama class?” Maria slung an arm around Max and smiled sunnily into his face.
“Stop calling me that! And how the hell did I let you talk me into drama?” Max moaned.
“Don’t be a baby, Max! You’re gonna love it! And it was drama or choir, and the choir only had room for a bass, so get over it!”
“Liz!”
“It’ll be okay, baby. You’re gonna love it!” Liz laughed and pushed him down the hall with Maria before turning back to get her Physics books out of her locker.
“You ready?” Michael queried her softly, watching the way her eyes tracked Max’s progress down the hall.
“What?” Liz turned back to face Michael, a worried look lingering in her eyes. “Oh…Yeah. Let’s go, Michael.”
She didn’t think it was an accident that both she and Max shared all of their classes with one friend or another.
“Is…was Max okay in class this morning?” Liz tried to make it sound casual, glancing up at Michael as they walked down the hallway together.
Michael was startled that she had to ask. Shouldn’t she just know? “He was…distracted. He doesn’t like everyone staring, so…”
“No. Me either, I guess, but what can we do. It’ll blow over.”
“Hey, Liz!” Sara Weller stopped her in the hall. “How was your…I mean, are you okay?” Sara leaned in as if to give her a hug and Liz stumbled back into Michael’s chest, grateful when his hands gripped her shoulders to steady her.
“I’m fine, thanks,” Liz mumbled hastily, embarrassed by her reaction. She watched Sara’s eyes flicker speculatively between herself and Michael, looking at her wedding ring and Michael’s hands on her shoulders, and nearly groaned aloud at the new rumors that would no doubt soon be flying all over West Roswell High.
“I thought you and Max…” Sara began, obviously ready to be the first with a scoop for her bestest friend Pam.
“We are…I,” Liz didn’t know what to say, but didn’t want to step away from the comfort of Michael behind her.
“See ya,” Michael barked, staring Sara down until she turned away and left them.
“Michael, she’s gonna…”
“Who cares? We know the truth,” Michael said gruffly. He squeezed her shoulders once before dropping his hands and continuing down the hall to class.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Maria followed behind Max closely as they entered the theatre style classroom, making sure he didn’t change his mind and see if it wasn’t too late to join choir.
“Max! What a surprise! I didn’t know you were in the drama course this year,” Pam lied through her teeth, smiling brightly up at Max’s haunted face. He was no doubt devastated by the betrayal of his dear wife with his best friend. She’d almost chuckled in glee when Sara had caught up with her right before drama class with that juicy bit of news.
Max turned abruptly and ran straight into Maria, who grabbed his arms to keep him from fleeing.
“Hey! Don’t worry. We won’t sit by her!” Maria whispered desperately.
“I didn’t know she’d be here, Maria. Maybe I could learn to sing bass in the choir…”
“You are so not a bass and you’re not joining the choir! Now buck up and sit with me!” Maria pushed him gently into an end seat and plunked herself down beside him to ensure that Pam wouldn’t get any ideas.
Pam glared briefly at Maria, but moved to take the seat behind Max, leaning forward and tapping his shoulder. He shuddered at the touch of her hand and Pam smiled again, encouraged by his obvious attraction to her.
“Max! I heard what happened to you this summer! I know you must have been through so much…If you ever want someone to talk to about it, I’m right here!”
Max flushed in anger. As if he’d ever speak to her about what had happened to Liz and him! “Whatever, Pam,” he mumbled finally, wishing himself anywhere else.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Liz!” Max wrapped her up in his arms, wishing he didn’t feel as desperate as he did for the brief contact with her.
“Max, are you okay?” Liz had felt a ripple in the bond earlier, and knew he was upset. Max hadn’t let her see why though, and she’d been worried ever since.
“I’m fine now.” He leaned back and gave her a small smile. “We made it!” He even forced a chuckle. Two classes down, and they shared the swim class together as their last class of the day. He was desperately glad that they’d each accumulated enough extra credits through their academic achievements to only have to take these last few classes before they would be eligible for graduation after this semester was over in December.
“Yeah?” Liz questioned again, searching his eyes for the real answer.
“Yeah,” Max sighed, leaning down to take her lips in a quick kiss.
“Watch the PDA’s,” Michael warned from their side, as he eyed a teacher standing outside his classroom glancing their way.
Max and Liz reluctantly separated and busied themselves at their lockers to shove everything they needed to take home with them into their backpacks to take to swim class before they left for the day.
They held hands as they made their way into the swim room and sat down beside each other.
They’d just been issued their school swimwear when the PA system barked out a message for Max and Liz Evans to go to the main office. Everyone stared at them as they got hastily to their feet, pausing to grab their backpacks before heading out the door.
“What’s going on, Max?” Liz questioned worriedly, biting her lip and clutching his hand in hers.
“I don’t know,” Max answered, trying to mask the mounting tension that was coiling in his gut.
They arrived at the office and entered the room together. At least Sara Weller wasn’t manning the office desk this time. Liz breathed thanks for small favors.
Max approached the student aide that was covering the desk this period. “We were called to the office? Max and Liz Evans?”
The boy glanced up, he knew who they were. He shuffled a couple papers and pulled one from the stack, handing it to Max. “School counselor wanted to meet with you both before you left campus today,” he explained briefly, before turning back to other tasks.
“School counselor?” Liz queried Max, leaning over to see the paper he was holding.
“You can go right in,” the boy told them helpfully. “He’s waiting for you.”
Max and Liz walked over to the door and knocked softly, pushing it open at the soft command to enter.
Peter Morris stood to greet the couple, noting their closed posture and tense expressions. “Hello! I’m Mr. Morris, and you’re Max and Liz, I presume?” Mr. Morris queried, extending a hand to Max.
Max nodded stiffly, ignoring the hand held out to him and helped Liz to sit down, before scooting his chair closer to hers and sitting as well.
“What’s this about, Mr. Morris?” Max’s jaw was starting to hurt, and he tried to relax it.
“Well, I wanted to meet with you because I’ve heard about what happened to the both of you this summer. I wanted to let you know that counseling is available here at the school if you ever feel the need to talk about all the changes that are taking place or about anything that might be troubling you…”
“We’re fine,” Max interrupted rudely. “We don’t need to talk with anyone about it.”
“You’re obviously upset, Max. I’m here to help if you…”
“We don’t need your help, Mr. Morris. No offense, but you wouldn’t understand.”
“I know you think that, Max, but you’d be surprised at what I…”
Max actually barked out a harsh laugh. If this guy only knew what he was supposed to understand… “You sure you wanna try to ‘understand’? I could tell you…”
“Max,” Liz spoke softly, caressing his hand in hers. She could feel him getting hysterical.
Mr. Morris noted the gentling effect Liz had on Max and thought it interesting. They were obviously close. Linked by shared trauma.
“Mr. Morris, we really are doing okay. It’s good to know we have resources available to us if we feel the need, but we have lot’s of people we can talk to about everything and we’re dealing with it the best we can. Max’s family if very supportive and we have a lot of very good friends, so…”
“Friends and family and all well and good. Absolutely necessary, but sometimes it takes someone outside of all that to help you see things objectively.”
“Yes. We understand that,” Liz interrupted softly, moving to stand and pulling Max with her. “Thanks again for your time.” And Mr. Morris understood that they were done with him. He sighed as he watched them leave, hoping that they would come back sometime. They were obviously far from ‘fine’.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“How was school today, kids?” Diane questioned. She’d come home for lunch to see how the kids did on their first day back. Max looked…tired. Liz was practically vibrating with worry for him.
“I’m going to…go upstairs. I think I’ll rest up a bit before work this afternoon,” Max stated, before heading out the kitchen door to go up the stairs to their apartment.
“Liz? How is he, really?” Diane turned to Liz, hoping for a real answer.
“I’m not really sure. He’s not letting me in right now,” Liz answered absently, drifting toward the door without realizing it.
“Liz,” Diane reached out and tentatively touched Liz’s arm, getting her attention. Liz stepped back, but turned her distracted attention to Diane.
“Yes?”
“I’m worried. About Max. He seems really withdrawn and you say he’s not even letting you in…I have an idea, but…”
“An idea? What do you mean, Diane?” Liz shook herself and made herself give Diane her full attention.
“I think…I think that it would be good for Max to see a counselor,” Diane blurted out in a rush.
Liz took another step back. “I don’t know, Diane. He’d just be lying to another stranger about who he is…” She thought about his negative reaction to the school counselor.
“He wouldn’t have to explain why he was taken. He could let it all out though, about what was done to him, how he feels about it…I’m worried that he can’t deal with this all on his own. I know a doctor that is really good at Post Traumatic Stress stuff, I could call him…”
“I…” Liz was torn. She wanted to be enough for Max, but she knew that he needed help. “I’ll talk to him. I don’t know what he’ll say. I’ll…I’ll try,” she promised, knowing it was the best she could do.
Diane sighed in relief, slumping back against the kitchen table. If Liz was willing to try, she could convince Max it was a good idea.
TBC
Last edited by javagin on Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
EYA Part 105
I want to thank everyone for your well-wishes and encouragement (and PATIENCE!). Your feedback is excellent and much appreciated! Next part is shorter than most, but it’s transition that needs to happen. Some of you know how I feel about transition, lol. Takes me awhile to get it done! Things are gonna start movin’ and shakin’ pretty soon!
Enjoy!
EYA Part 105
“So tell me, Max. Why do you think you’re here?” Dr. Normand sat back in his chair and stared patiently at the young man in front of him.
Max glanced at the floor nervously and swallowed a lump in his throat before answering hesitantly, “Liz. My wife…she thought it’d be a good idea…”
“Your wife?” The doctor leaned forward, more interested. “You’re very young to be married. Did you knock her up?”
Max’s gaze flew up, shocked, to meet the smiling doctor’s eyes. “Wh…what did you say?”
“Did you knock her up? I mean…there couldn’t be any other reason that a girl like that would want to be with a freak like you. You do realize that…don’t you?” The doctor’s look was one of complete pity. Obviously his young patient hadn’t realized that fact yet.
“A…a freak like me?” Max couldn’t continue to look at the doctor, he was too ashamed. The man had known him all of five minutes and he already knew…
“How’s she gonna react when she finds out that Tess’ baby is yours too? She’ll probably leave you then.”
“What?! It’s not…How do you even…”
“Come on now, Max. Of course I know. I’m the one who handed over your sperm. Deep down inside you’ve gotta know that that new abomination is yours too. I can’t believe you don’t even want to take responsibility for it.”
There was no way…but that voice… Clark?
“Nonononono…” Max had his head in his hands, not believing what he was hearing.
“You can’t deny you’re just a dirty, rotten piece of scum, now can you, Maxie boy.” An evil chuckle froze Max in his place. It couldn’t be…
He looked up.
A scream froze in his throat, choking him helpless.
Pierce gave him a slow, lazy smile and stood up, hand outstretched. “I’ve got so much more to teach you,” he drawled, licking his lips and staring hotly at Max’s trembling form. “Come on, you proved you liked it…”
Max stood abruptly, knocking over his chair and backing up hard into the wall. Where was the door?! The door was gone and he couldn’t go any further. Pierce was still approaching and Clark was laughing evilly in the background tapping a syringe.
Almost touching…
Almost…
“Nonononono….NO!” Max bolted upright in bed, clutching his chest as he struggled for breath.
“Max! What…” Liz reached out for him, but he scooted out the far side of the bed. He couldn’t be touched yet. Not yet.
“I’ll be…” He turned and bolted for the door, running for the bathroom. The nausea rolled through him in sickening waves and he sank to his knees by the toilet just in time to save a messy cleanup.
He sat back at last and leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Absently he ran his hand across his mouth, cleaning his tongue and teeth of the foul residue of his dream.
“Max, please…”
Max looked up, startled. Liz, of course. He felt instantly bad as he stood up and tried to reassure her.
“It’s nothing, Liz. I’m sorry that I woke you. Just a nightmare. That’s all.” He made himself reach out and take her hand and was instantly glad he did. Her mere presence calmed him immensely.
Liz slumped against his side, relieved that he seemed to be getting over whatever it was, but still worried by the fierce reaction he’d had to a nightmare. “Max, that wasn’t just a nightmare, was it?”
“Please, Liz. Don’t…just don’t ask me right now, okay? You’re exhausted. Let’s get you back to bed. You need to rest.”
Liz pushed away. “I’m not a child, Max! You don’t need to protect me from everything and coddle me away to bed so you don’t have to talk about whatever’s going on with you! I have a right to know!”
Max watched Liz, stunned by her anger. “I…I…” He shook his head, not able to say it. “I need to go for a run.” He grabbed his shorts, pulling them on hastily and found his running shoes.
“Max! No…please!”
“I’m sorry. I am. I won’t go far, I promise. I’ll…I’ll be right back.” Max slipped out the door before she could say another word and ran down the steps.
He let out a breath as he settled into his run. He decided to just circle the block for awhile, being careful to check ahead and behind him in the predawn darkness for anyone suspicious or out of place. He wasn’t going to get caught again, but he needed the physical release. He picked up the pace after about twenty minutes. Feeling the sweat dripping off him was almost cleansing and he finally started to think he could deal with facing Liz.
There were things he knew he should tell her. He just needed time to figure out how to say it without hurting her.
“Hey.” Michael stepped out into his path right in front of Max’s house, arms crossed over his chest.
Max jumped back, stumbling over his feet, startled by the interruption of his thoughts.
“What the hell are you doing here, Michael?” He growled out, realizing with relief that he was in no danger.
“I’ll tell you what I’m doing here, Maxwell. You left your wife so distraught that she’s freaking out about where you are right now. I thought I’d come down here at…” he made a show of consulting his watch, “three o’clock in the damn morning to haul your inconsiderate ass back where it belongs.”
Max brushed by Michael on his way back to his apartment. “Stay out of it, Michael. You have no idea what it’s like…”
Michael grabbed Max’s arm and swung him around to face him.
Max felt the harsh touch and instantly drew his arm back, fist raised.
Michael looked startled for a second and then spread out his arms. “Go ahead, Max. I can take it.”
Max dropped his fist, instantly ashamed of his automatic reaction.
“Michael, you don’t understand…”
“Make me, Max! Look, I may just be the ‘back-up plan’, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on.”
“Please, Michael! You have no clue! It’s none of your business…”
“That’s it, Maxwell. That. Is. It! It’s your turn to listen to me! Your problems became my business when you shut Liz out. I don’t know if you even realize that Liz’s and my connection is getting stronger all the time. She was so upset that you left tonight that it woke me up out of a sound sleep because I knew I had to come and get you before she falls apart. You should know that without me having to tell you! Shutting her out is not working. Now deal with your shit and get over it already!”
Michael glared at his shocked friend until Max looked away.
“I…I didn’t know,” he mumbled finally, turning away, shocked at what he had heard from his friend.
“Hey.” Michael stepped closer, pleased that his friend wasn’t pulling away anymore. He pulled Max into a hug. “I’m here, ya know. I can listen and I won’t judge you, I promise. If you need to let it all out, it won’t go any further than that, okay?”
Max nodded against Michael’s shoulder. “Maybe…I’ll let you know, okay?” Max stepped back, scrubbing his face with his hands, ashamed that he’d been so close to tears. “I’ve gotta get back to Liz,” he finished, waving his hand toward his house.
“Stop shutting her out, Max. She can’t take it much longer,” Michael advised, completely serious.
“I’ll try,” Max said softly, before turning and jogging back to his house.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Max! I’m so glad you’re back! I didn’t know where…”
“Shh, it’s okay now. Michael found me,” he reassured her softly, kissing her soft cheeks and massaging the tension from her shoulders. “I’m sorry I left that way.”
“Michael? What was he…oh.” Her embarrassed gaze wouldn’t meet Max’s. “I didn’t realize I was disturbing him like that. Sometimes when I’m upset…he can feel it too.”
Max pulled her closer, ashamed that he was the cause of her stress this time. She had enough other issues to deal with. “It’s okay. Michael explained about your increased connection. I didn’t know.”
“Yeah. I didn’t tell you.”
They both left it unspoken that she wouldn’t have had to tell him if he would have maintained their connection.
“I’ve been distracted.”
“Have you…” Liz hesitated. “Have you thought anymore about what we talked about earlier?”
Max shuddered in her arms. “No, Liz. I just…” the dream threatened to swamp him under again. “I can’t see a counselor. I can’t talk to a stranger about this stuff. Michael offered to listen if I want to talk…maybe…”
“I’m here too, Max,” Liz offered hopefully.
“I know, baby. I do. Maybe I’ll try to work things through with Michael first though. But I promise I’ll be better for you, Liz. You deserve everything I have to give. I’ll tell you everything, but just not right now…”
“It’s okay, Max,” Liz soothed, knowing he was trying. “I’m always gonna be here for you. You do what you have to do and I’ll always be waiting.”
“Thank you,” Max breathed. Gratitude overwhelmed him as he held this most precious of women in his arms. How could he ever deserve her?
Sometimes you just got lucky.
TBC
I know, I know! Kinda short. Next part is longer. Due out soon!
Enjoy!
EYA Part 105
“So tell me, Max. Why do you think you’re here?” Dr. Normand sat back in his chair and stared patiently at the young man in front of him.
Max glanced at the floor nervously and swallowed a lump in his throat before answering hesitantly, “Liz. My wife…she thought it’d be a good idea…”
“Your wife?” The doctor leaned forward, more interested. “You’re very young to be married. Did you knock her up?”
Max’s gaze flew up, shocked, to meet the smiling doctor’s eyes. “Wh…what did you say?”
“Did you knock her up? I mean…there couldn’t be any other reason that a girl like that would want to be with a freak like you. You do realize that…don’t you?” The doctor’s look was one of complete pity. Obviously his young patient hadn’t realized that fact yet.
“A…a freak like me?” Max couldn’t continue to look at the doctor, he was too ashamed. The man had known him all of five minutes and he already knew…
“How’s she gonna react when she finds out that Tess’ baby is yours too? She’ll probably leave you then.”
“What?! It’s not…How do you even…”
“Come on now, Max. Of course I know. I’m the one who handed over your sperm. Deep down inside you’ve gotta know that that new abomination is yours too. I can’t believe you don’t even want to take responsibility for it.”
There was no way…but that voice… Clark?
“Nonononono…” Max had his head in his hands, not believing what he was hearing.
“You can’t deny you’re just a dirty, rotten piece of scum, now can you, Maxie boy.” An evil chuckle froze Max in his place. It couldn’t be…
He looked up.
A scream froze in his throat, choking him helpless.
Pierce gave him a slow, lazy smile and stood up, hand outstretched. “I’ve got so much more to teach you,” he drawled, licking his lips and staring hotly at Max’s trembling form. “Come on, you proved you liked it…”
Max stood abruptly, knocking over his chair and backing up hard into the wall. Where was the door?! The door was gone and he couldn’t go any further. Pierce was still approaching and Clark was laughing evilly in the background tapping a syringe.
Almost touching…
Almost…
“Nonononono….NO!” Max bolted upright in bed, clutching his chest as he struggled for breath.
“Max! What…” Liz reached out for him, but he scooted out the far side of the bed. He couldn’t be touched yet. Not yet.
“I’ll be…” He turned and bolted for the door, running for the bathroom. The nausea rolled through him in sickening waves and he sank to his knees by the toilet just in time to save a messy cleanup.
He sat back at last and leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Absently he ran his hand across his mouth, cleaning his tongue and teeth of the foul residue of his dream.
“Max, please…”
Max looked up, startled. Liz, of course. He felt instantly bad as he stood up and tried to reassure her.
“It’s nothing, Liz. I’m sorry that I woke you. Just a nightmare. That’s all.” He made himself reach out and take her hand and was instantly glad he did. Her mere presence calmed him immensely.
Liz slumped against his side, relieved that he seemed to be getting over whatever it was, but still worried by the fierce reaction he’d had to a nightmare. “Max, that wasn’t just a nightmare, was it?”
“Please, Liz. Don’t…just don’t ask me right now, okay? You’re exhausted. Let’s get you back to bed. You need to rest.”
Liz pushed away. “I’m not a child, Max! You don’t need to protect me from everything and coddle me away to bed so you don’t have to talk about whatever’s going on with you! I have a right to know!”
Max watched Liz, stunned by her anger. “I…I…” He shook his head, not able to say it. “I need to go for a run.” He grabbed his shorts, pulling them on hastily and found his running shoes.
“Max! No…please!”
“I’m sorry. I am. I won’t go far, I promise. I’ll…I’ll be right back.” Max slipped out the door before she could say another word and ran down the steps.
He let out a breath as he settled into his run. He decided to just circle the block for awhile, being careful to check ahead and behind him in the predawn darkness for anyone suspicious or out of place. He wasn’t going to get caught again, but he needed the physical release. He picked up the pace after about twenty minutes. Feeling the sweat dripping off him was almost cleansing and he finally started to think he could deal with facing Liz.
There were things he knew he should tell her. He just needed time to figure out how to say it without hurting her.
“Hey.” Michael stepped out into his path right in front of Max’s house, arms crossed over his chest.
Max jumped back, stumbling over his feet, startled by the interruption of his thoughts.
“What the hell are you doing here, Michael?” He growled out, realizing with relief that he was in no danger.
“I’ll tell you what I’m doing here, Maxwell. You left your wife so distraught that she’s freaking out about where you are right now. I thought I’d come down here at…” he made a show of consulting his watch, “three o’clock in the damn morning to haul your inconsiderate ass back where it belongs.”
Max brushed by Michael on his way back to his apartment. “Stay out of it, Michael. You have no idea what it’s like…”
Michael grabbed Max’s arm and swung him around to face him.
Max felt the harsh touch and instantly drew his arm back, fist raised.
Michael looked startled for a second and then spread out his arms. “Go ahead, Max. I can take it.”
Max dropped his fist, instantly ashamed of his automatic reaction.
“Michael, you don’t understand…”
“Make me, Max! Look, I may just be the ‘back-up plan’, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on.”
“Please, Michael! You have no clue! It’s none of your business…”
“That’s it, Maxwell. That. Is. It! It’s your turn to listen to me! Your problems became my business when you shut Liz out. I don’t know if you even realize that Liz’s and my connection is getting stronger all the time. She was so upset that you left tonight that it woke me up out of a sound sleep because I knew I had to come and get you before she falls apart. You should know that without me having to tell you! Shutting her out is not working. Now deal with your shit and get over it already!”
Michael glared at his shocked friend until Max looked away.
“I…I didn’t know,” he mumbled finally, turning away, shocked at what he had heard from his friend.
“Hey.” Michael stepped closer, pleased that his friend wasn’t pulling away anymore. He pulled Max into a hug. “I’m here, ya know. I can listen and I won’t judge you, I promise. If you need to let it all out, it won’t go any further than that, okay?”
Max nodded against Michael’s shoulder. “Maybe…I’ll let you know, okay?” Max stepped back, scrubbing his face with his hands, ashamed that he’d been so close to tears. “I’ve gotta get back to Liz,” he finished, waving his hand toward his house.
“Stop shutting her out, Max. She can’t take it much longer,” Michael advised, completely serious.
“I’ll try,” Max said softly, before turning and jogging back to his house.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Max! I’m so glad you’re back! I didn’t know where…”
“Shh, it’s okay now. Michael found me,” he reassured her softly, kissing her soft cheeks and massaging the tension from her shoulders. “I’m sorry I left that way.”
“Michael? What was he…oh.” Her embarrassed gaze wouldn’t meet Max’s. “I didn’t realize I was disturbing him like that. Sometimes when I’m upset…he can feel it too.”
Max pulled her closer, ashamed that he was the cause of her stress this time. She had enough other issues to deal with. “It’s okay. Michael explained about your increased connection. I didn’t know.”
“Yeah. I didn’t tell you.”
They both left it unspoken that she wouldn’t have had to tell him if he would have maintained their connection.
“I’ve been distracted.”
“Have you…” Liz hesitated. “Have you thought anymore about what we talked about earlier?”
Max shuddered in her arms. “No, Liz. I just…” the dream threatened to swamp him under again. “I can’t see a counselor. I can’t talk to a stranger about this stuff. Michael offered to listen if I want to talk…maybe…”
“I’m here too, Max,” Liz offered hopefully.
“I know, baby. I do. Maybe I’ll try to work things through with Michael first though. But I promise I’ll be better for you, Liz. You deserve everything I have to give. I’ll tell you everything, but just not right now…”
“It’s okay, Max,” Liz soothed, knowing he was trying. “I’m always gonna be here for you. You do what you have to do and I’ll always be waiting.”
“Thank you,” Max breathed. Gratitude overwhelmed him as he held this most precious of women in his arms. How could he ever deserve her?
Sometimes you just got lucky.
TBC
I know, I know! Kinda short. Next part is longer. Due out soon!
EYA Part 106
I wanted to thank you all again for your wonderfully inspiring feedback! It's so encouraging that you are enjoying the story, and makes me want to get it out to you as fast as I can!
EYA Part 106
Liz woke slowly, wrapped in Max’s warmth. She could feel his heart beating under her cheek and knew by the pattern of his breathing that he was awake. She glanced up and offered him a small smile.
“Morning,” she yawned, taking in his rumpled appearance with dismay. It looked like he hadn’t slept through the night. Again.
Max brushed a lock of hair back from her face and cupped her cheek in his warm palm. “Morning,” he returned softly. He rubbed his thumb softly over her lower lip and she felt her mouth freshened by his touch. She ran her tongue over her newly cleaned teeth and imagined she tasted a hint of mint.
Liz struggled to figure out what he was thinking and was thwarted, once again, by the blocks he was holding up inside himself. She frowned in frustration, moving to sit up and away from him slightly.
“Liz, what…?” Max asked, brows arched in perfect confusion. He sat up as well and slid closer reaching out for her.
Liz leaned into the familiarity of his touch and allowed him to caress his hands over her shoulders and down her back. His touch gradually became more purposeful and bold as his breathing quickened and he lowered them both down onto the jumbled bedding.
Max’s hands traversed the taut planes of her body, stroking where she was most sensitive as his mouth took hers in a passionate kiss. Liz responded eagerly, needing the connection, needing to feel Max close to her. Her mouth widened as she deepened the kiss, moaning into the invasion as Max took over and sucked her tongue into his mouth, nursing on it eagerly.
Max’s fingers worked at a nipple, working the bud into a hard point. Liz arched into the touch, moaning again and Max swept a path with his tongue down her neck, pausing to nibble at her collarbone, before he suckled the hardened peak into his mouth. He tangled one hand in her hair and trailed the other down between her legs, feathering a sure touch over the soft wetness he found there.
“Ma…Max…,” Liz moaned, her hands tugging at his hair. “Max, please…!” Max! Please hear me! Where are you, Max? I need you! Liz tossed her head and waited for an answer inside herself that didn’t come.
Max was hard and ready for her, and hearing her call his name spurred him into action as he moved between her legs and reached down to guide his aching cock inside of her.
“Max, no. Wait…” Liz dropped her hand down to cover his over his cock.
He looked up at her in confusion. “Liz, what? What’s the matter?”
“I need you, Max,” Liz emphasized, begging him to join with her.
“Liz…I…Isn’t that what we’re doing?” He sat back on his heels, scared he knew what she really meant.
“Don’t, Max. Don’t do this to us…” Liz scooted back, unable to touch him anymore, not believing that he didn’t know, couldn’t feel the loss.
“Liz, I’m not doing anything. We need this to get us through the day. Can’t we just…”
“NO!” Liz jumped out of the bed, grabbing her robe to cover her suddenly shivering body. “I won’t do it. I’d rather wait for the fever to hit us than accept half of what we could have when we’re together. You’re holding yourself back from me, and I can’t take it anymore. At least with the fever you might let yourself go to me. I need you! Not your body, not your presence…YOU! What’s inside of you is what’s so precious to me. Our bond together is what I’ve been holding onto since…since…” Liz couldn’t finish. She was gasping for breath, holding onto the bedpost like a life preserver. “Just…just TELL me what’s wrong,” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
“Liz…I…I didn’t know. I didn’t really realize how badly this would hurt you…”
“You should have known, Max. That’s what I’m trying to tell you! I’ve been strong for you, Max, because I know you’re going through something, just like you’ve been strong for me so many times! But I can’t…I can’t do this anymore! It feels like you’re not even there, I don’t feel you, feel your love for me…and…and I can’t live like that. Not after…not after I’ve lived with it, cherished it…for so long, Max. You have to do something, and soon, Max. Talk to me, talk to Michael, whatever…DO something!”
Liz stumbled as her tears blinded her and she made her way out the door, leaving an equally devastated Max behind her. Max could hear the shower starting and just sat there for a moment, numb in disbelief at the pain he was feeling. He’d thought he was protecting her. Shame and guilt over all that had happened to him. Anxiety over the paternity of Tess’ baby, all these things had seemed to build in his head to an insurmountable fear in his head that he wasn’t good enough for Liz. He knew she deserved better, but he was what she had. What she needed. And he had NEVER meant to cause her a heartbeat of grief, only thought to spare her the pain of his own self-doubt and shame.
He shook his head. It was time to be honest with himself at least. It wasn’t only that he’d meant to spare her, but if Liz knew…if she really realized all that was passing through his head, she’d figure out what he already knew and leave him the minute she could. The minute she was freed from his fevered attentions. He tried not to dwell on that. Maybe he was being overly dramatic. Maybe she’d understand…
He got up and walked naked to the bathroom, hesitating outside the door before gathering his resolve and pushing it open.
“Liz,” he called out to warn her. He didn’t want to startle her in the shower.
She jumped anyway, not used to not feeling his presence ahead of time and closed her eyes against the pain of the loss again.
“What, Max?” She picked up the shampoo and drizzled some into her palm.
Max stepped into the shower behind her, reaching up to help her massage the cleanser through the long, dark strands of her hair. He always loved how that felt.
Liz let her hands drop to her sides as she surrendered to her husband’s care, knowing he was trying. She let him tilt her head back into the warm spray of water and rinse the silky mass clean of the shampoo before she turned to face him placing her palm against his chest. She almost gasped aloud at the raw pain in his eyes.
“Liz, I’m going to talk to Michael today. I promise. Let me just get it out to him first before I…I’ll tell you everything, I promise. Just give me a few days to try to work through it all first. Can you do that?” His heart was pounding as he awaited her answer, he felt like he was going to pass out until he saw the slight nod of her head. He knew it wasn’t everything she wanted or needed at the moment, but it was the best he could do. “Thank you,” he breathed out in a heartfelt murmur.
“Thank you.” He leaned down to kiss her soft lips, pleased when she allowed it. “Thank you.” He kissed a trail down the center of her chest, lower and lower, until he was kneeling in front of her. He leaned a cheek against the very slight mound of her belly and closed his eyes, loving her, loving their baby, needing her to accept him, and so unbearably grateful for her patience and strength. “Thank you.”
“Max.”
And then she was kneeling in front of him, taking his mouth in a forceful kiss, twining her arms around him, pulling him closer, needing him…needing whatever he could give her.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Hey, guys. You look….” Michael angled a questioning look at Liz and cut himself off at the slight shake of her head. “…ready for class,” he quickly amended what he had been going to say.
Later. The clear thought from Liz was his only indicator that he might find out what was going on. He could feel her faint unease, the loss in her bond, and he knew the reason they looked like shit this morning undoubtably had something to do with Max still not opening up. It’d been a couple days since their pre-dawn run in, but Max hadn’t taken Michael up on his offer to listen. He’d hoped maybe his friend had smartened up and turned to Liz, but obviously not.
“So, Max. Ready for the exciting world of Economics?”
“Yeah, just a sec, Michael.”
Michael shifted his books to the opposite arm and waited for his friend to finish rooting through his locker. The man only had two classes plus gym, how much stuff did he have in there? He turned to Liz, rolling his eyes. She offered him a half smile, knowing his impatience and the reason why.
“Have you heard from Kyle?” She asked him, to fill the time.
“Did I hear the name ‘Kyle’?” Maria asked as she joined the small group. She bumped arms with Michael affectionately, her hands too full with school books and folders to offer him a real hug.
“Yeah, Maria. Have you heard from him? It seems strange to be here without him and Isabel this year,” Liz explained, hoping her friend knew what was going on.
“Yeah, with Isabel taking classes at the community college until a slot opens up in January at a “real college”,” Maria paused and rolled her eyes, still remembering Isabel’s dismay over her late admissions status. They’d been too preoccupied to get her college applications out in time for her to start with the rest of the class. “…and with Kyle working full time at the garage and part time at the Pizza Pan, delivering pizza, it’s not quite the same old gang anymore, is it?” Maria wrinkled her nose charmingly and wished they could do something for Kyle.
“Kyle’s got two jobs now?” Alex questioned, joining them midway through Maria’s musings.
“I didn’t know that either,” Liz added, dismayed. “What about his dad? Doesn’t he care that Kyle’s dropped out of school?”
Maria shook her head sadly. “I don’t think he knows what’s going on. He’s finally stopped drinking all the time, but he hasn’t become ‘Mr. Motivation’ either. Kyle goes away in the morning and comes back late at night, and Mr. Valenti just assumes he’s gone to school and then to his after school job. Do you think we should tell him? Maybe that’d make him shake himself out of it quicker.”
“No,” Max interjected, to the surprise of all present. “Not until we’ve talked with Kyle first. It’s his call what we should do, but maybe if he can see that we’re all concerned for him and want to support him, he’ll let us all talk to Mr. Valenti together.”
“Good idea, Max,” Alex agreed. “When do you think? After school today?”
“Actually…um, today’s not good for me. Or Michael,” Max added, staring at Liz. Her eyes widened as she tried to stop the fall of impending tears, realizing that he was already taking steps to mend the rift between them.
“Me? What…?” Michael started, only to be steered away by Max.
“Alex? Could you be sure Liz gets to class okay?” Max requested softly as he and Michael walked by.
“Sure, Max. No problem.” Alex watched as Max and Michael disappeared down the hall. “Anyone want to tell me what that was all about?” He turned back to the girls.
>>>>>>>>>>>
“What was that all about, Max? What are we doing after class today?” Michael questioned curiously. Maybe they were finally going to get off their butts and do something about that baby in New York…
“I need to talk to you…take you up on your offer to listen…and not judge.” Max was nervous just asking, and wondered how their talk would go if just the thought of it was causing him this much anxiety.
Michael stopped in the middle of the hall, turning to face Max and not caring about the grumbling students that had to detour around them. “I’ll skip class after third period and you can come over to my place after you drop Liz off. Sound good?”
“You don’t have to skip…”
“I’m here for you first, Max. I can catch up on the classes. Besides, these teachers would think I’d been taken over by aliens if I suddenly started attending ALL my classes, right?”
Max nodded, smiling slightly at Michael’s attempt at humor and immensely relieved that he wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
After third period
“Hey,” Michael greeted Max and Liz, watching as they grabbed their towels and hurriedly dried off as the rest of their class filed into the locker rooms to shower and change. He could feel the other student’s stares assessing the three of them as they stood together watching the rest of them leave before speaking again.
“Hey, Michael. I didn’t expect you here. I thought we were meeting at your place,” Max greeted.
“Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t gonna,” his gaze flickered to Liz, “change your mind, you know?”
“No. I haven’t. I won’t change my mind. We’re just gonna change our clothes real quick and shower at home, but before we leave we wanted to tell Coach about Liz being pregnant. He might need to modify his class for her a bit, you know?”
Michael nodded, feeling Liz’s nervousness at the upcoming talk coming at him in waves. “Hey,” he stepped closer to her, giving her a short hug, “It’s gonna be okay. It’s not like they won’t all figure it out in a couple months anyway, right?” He smiled and playfully patted her tummy, not noticing the rapt gazes of a couple of the girls from the swim class who had come back for their swim caps. The girls swiftly ducked back into the locker room to spread the latest news.
Max tilted his head, upset that he hadn’t known Liz was so nervous, and feeling awkward that Michael had figured it out before him. He knew his talk with Michael was long overdue. He needed his Liz back, and he realized HE was the only one holding himself back anymore.
“Everything okay?” The swim coach was walking around the indoor pool, picking up stray items of clothing and towels.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine, Coach,” Max answered for all of them. He held Liz’s hand as they moved closer to the coach. Michael stepped back to lean against the wall by the door and wait.
“We just wanted to let you know…I mean…We thought it might be important that you know that Liz, my wife,” Max flushed, because of course the coach already knew Liz was his wife. “She’s pregnant,” he finished quickly, figuring he might as well get it out fast and spare them all a long drawn-out agony of babble.
“We thought it might affect the kinds of swim training you had in mind for me,” Liz explained softly, too nervous to meet his eyes. She wasn’t quite ready for the assessing looks and judgement of others yet.
“Oh, well,” the coach stuttered out, surprised by their announcement. “Thanks for letting me know. If I can ask, when are you due, Liz?”
“Um, beginning of January, sir,” Liz answered.
His eyes widened in surprise, quickly calculating that she’d be just starting her sixth month and taking in her still slim figure. “Really? You’re not showing at all!”
“The doctor said everything’s fine,” Max answered for both of them. “The baby’s just in a position that doesn’t show much yet, so…”
“Of course, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that anything was wrong. I was just surprised. I’ll put together a special training plan for you, Liz. Come talk to me after class tomorrow if you have a minute, all right?”
“Yes, of course,” Max answered for them. “We’ll both be there.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Liz said quickly as the coach turned away. She grabbed Max’s hand tighter and took a deep breath, glad the talk had gone so well. She turned to Max, leaning up to kiss him lightly. “I’m gonna go change real quick and meet you in the hall, okay?”
Max nodded and watched her until she disappeared through the locker room door before he headed for the guys locker room on the opposite wall, nodding to Michael on the way.
One talk down, one to go, Max thought grimly. Somehow he knew the second talk would be much harder than the first had been.
Much harder.
TBC
I'll try to get the next part out this weekend! I don't want to leave you hanging too long!
EYA Part 106
Liz woke slowly, wrapped in Max’s warmth. She could feel his heart beating under her cheek and knew by the pattern of his breathing that he was awake. She glanced up and offered him a small smile.
“Morning,” she yawned, taking in his rumpled appearance with dismay. It looked like he hadn’t slept through the night. Again.
Max brushed a lock of hair back from her face and cupped her cheek in his warm palm. “Morning,” he returned softly. He rubbed his thumb softly over her lower lip and she felt her mouth freshened by his touch. She ran her tongue over her newly cleaned teeth and imagined she tasted a hint of mint.
Liz struggled to figure out what he was thinking and was thwarted, once again, by the blocks he was holding up inside himself. She frowned in frustration, moving to sit up and away from him slightly.
“Liz, what…?” Max asked, brows arched in perfect confusion. He sat up as well and slid closer reaching out for her.
Liz leaned into the familiarity of his touch and allowed him to caress his hands over her shoulders and down her back. His touch gradually became more purposeful and bold as his breathing quickened and he lowered them both down onto the jumbled bedding.
Max’s hands traversed the taut planes of her body, stroking where she was most sensitive as his mouth took hers in a passionate kiss. Liz responded eagerly, needing the connection, needing to feel Max close to her. Her mouth widened as she deepened the kiss, moaning into the invasion as Max took over and sucked her tongue into his mouth, nursing on it eagerly.
Max’s fingers worked at a nipple, working the bud into a hard point. Liz arched into the touch, moaning again and Max swept a path with his tongue down her neck, pausing to nibble at her collarbone, before he suckled the hardened peak into his mouth. He tangled one hand in her hair and trailed the other down between her legs, feathering a sure touch over the soft wetness he found there.
“Ma…Max…,” Liz moaned, her hands tugging at his hair. “Max, please…!” Max! Please hear me! Where are you, Max? I need you! Liz tossed her head and waited for an answer inside herself that didn’t come.
Max was hard and ready for her, and hearing her call his name spurred him into action as he moved between her legs and reached down to guide his aching cock inside of her.
“Max, no. Wait…” Liz dropped her hand down to cover his over his cock.
He looked up at her in confusion. “Liz, what? What’s the matter?”
“I need you, Max,” Liz emphasized, begging him to join with her.
“Liz…I…Isn’t that what we’re doing?” He sat back on his heels, scared he knew what she really meant.
“Don’t, Max. Don’t do this to us…” Liz scooted back, unable to touch him anymore, not believing that he didn’t know, couldn’t feel the loss.
“Liz, I’m not doing anything. We need this to get us through the day. Can’t we just…”
“NO!” Liz jumped out of the bed, grabbing her robe to cover her suddenly shivering body. “I won’t do it. I’d rather wait for the fever to hit us than accept half of what we could have when we’re together. You’re holding yourself back from me, and I can’t take it anymore. At least with the fever you might let yourself go to me. I need you! Not your body, not your presence…YOU! What’s inside of you is what’s so precious to me. Our bond together is what I’ve been holding onto since…since…” Liz couldn’t finish. She was gasping for breath, holding onto the bedpost like a life preserver. “Just…just TELL me what’s wrong,” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
“Liz…I…I didn’t know. I didn’t really realize how badly this would hurt you…”
“You should have known, Max. That’s what I’m trying to tell you! I’ve been strong for you, Max, because I know you’re going through something, just like you’ve been strong for me so many times! But I can’t…I can’t do this anymore! It feels like you’re not even there, I don’t feel you, feel your love for me…and…and I can’t live like that. Not after…not after I’ve lived with it, cherished it…for so long, Max. You have to do something, and soon, Max. Talk to me, talk to Michael, whatever…DO something!”
Liz stumbled as her tears blinded her and she made her way out the door, leaving an equally devastated Max behind her. Max could hear the shower starting and just sat there for a moment, numb in disbelief at the pain he was feeling. He’d thought he was protecting her. Shame and guilt over all that had happened to him. Anxiety over the paternity of Tess’ baby, all these things had seemed to build in his head to an insurmountable fear in his head that he wasn’t good enough for Liz. He knew she deserved better, but he was what she had. What she needed. And he had NEVER meant to cause her a heartbeat of grief, only thought to spare her the pain of his own self-doubt and shame.
He shook his head. It was time to be honest with himself at least. It wasn’t only that he’d meant to spare her, but if Liz knew…if she really realized all that was passing through his head, she’d figure out what he already knew and leave him the minute she could. The minute she was freed from his fevered attentions. He tried not to dwell on that. Maybe he was being overly dramatic. Maybe she’d understand…
He got up and walked naked to the bathroom, hesitating outside the door before gathering his resolve and pushing it open.
“Liz,” he called out to warn her. He didn’t want to startle her in the shower.
She jumped anyway, not used to not feeling his presence ahead of time and closed her eyes against the pain of the loss again.
“What, Max?” She picked up the shampoo and drizzled some into her palm.
Max stepped into the shower behind her, reaching up to help her massage the cleanser through the long, dark strands of her hair. He always loved how that felt.
Liz let her hands drop to her sides as she surrendered to her husband’s care, knowing he was trying. She let him tilt her head back into the warm spray of water and rinse the silky mass clean of the shampoo before she turned to face him placing her palm against his chest. She almost gasped aloud at the raw pain in his eyes.
“Liz, I’m going to talk to Michael today. I promise. Let me just get it out to him first before I…I’ll tell you everything, I promise. Just give me a few days to try to work through it all first. Can you do that?” His heart was pounding as he awaited her answer, he felt like he was going to pass out until he saw the slight nod of her head. He knew it wasn’t everything she wanted or needed at the moment, but it was the best he could do. “Thank you,” he breathed out in a heartfelt murmur.
“Thank you.” He leaned down to kiss her soft lips, pleased when she allowed it. “Thank you.” He kissed a trail down the center of her chest, lower and lower, until he was kneeling in front of her. He leaned a cheek against the very slight mound of her belly and closed his eyes, loving her, loving their baby, needing her to accept him, and so unbearably grateful for her patience and strength. “Thank you.”
“Max.”
And then she was kneeling in front of him, taking his mouth in a forceful kiss, twining her arms around him, pulling him closer, needing him…needing whatever he could give her.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Hey, guys. You look….” Michael angled a questioning look at Liz and cut himself off at the slight shake of her head. “…ready for class,” he quickly amended what he had been going to say.
Later. The clear thought from Liz was his only indicator that he might find out what was going on. He could feel her faint unease, the loss in her bond, and he knew the reason they looked like shit this morning undoubtably had something to do with Max still not opening up. It’d been a couple days since their pre-dawn run in, but Max hadn’t taken Michael up on his offer to listen. He’d hoped maybe his friend had smartened up and turned to Liz, but obviously not.
“So, Max. Ready for the exciting world of Economics?”
“Yeah, just a sec, Michael.”
Michael shifted his books to the opposite arm and waited for his friend to finish rooting through his locker. The man only had two classes plus gym, how much stuff did he have in there? He turned to Liz, rolling his eyes. She offered him a half smile, knowing his impatience and the reason why.
“Have you heard from Kyle?” She asked him, to fill the time.
“Did I hear the name ‘Kyle’?” Maria asked as she joined the small group. She bumped arms with Michael affectionately, her hands too full with school books and folders to offer him a real hug.
“Yeah, Maria. Have you heard from him? It seems strange to be here without him and Isabel this year,” Liz explained, hoping her friend knew what was going on.
“Yeah, with Isabel taking classes at the community college until a slot opens up in January at a “real college”,” Maria paused and rolled her eyes, still remembering Isabel’s dismay over her late admissions status. They’d been too preoccupied to get her college applications out in time for her to start with the rest of the class. “…and with Kyle working full time at the garage and part time at the Pizza Pan, delivering pizza, it’s not quite the same old gang anymore, is it?” Maria wrinkled her nose charmingly and wished they could do something for Kyle.
“Kyle’s got two jobs now?” Alex questioned, joining them midway through Maria’s musings.
“I didn’t know that either,” Liz added, dismayed. “What about his dad? Doesn’t he care that Kyle’s dropped out of school?”
Maria shook her head sadly. “I don’t think he knows what’s going on. He’s finally stopped drinking all the time, but he hasn’t become ‘Mr. Motivation’ either. Kyle goes away in the morning and comes back late at night, and Mr. Valenti just assumes he’s gone to school and then to his after school job. Do you think we should tell him? Maybe that’d make him shake himself out of it quicker.”
“No,” Max interjected, to the surprise of all present. “Not until we’ve talked with Kyle first. It’s his call what we should do, but maybe if he can see that we’re all concerned for him and want to support him, he’ll let us all talk to Mr. Valenti together.”
“Good idea, Max,” Alex agreed. “When do you think? After school today?”
“Actually…um, today’s not good for me. Or Michael,” Max added, staring at Liz. Her eyes widened as she tried to stop the fall of impending tears, realizing that he was already taking steps to mend the rift between them.
“Me? What…?” Michael started, only to be steered away by Max.
“Alex? Could you be sure Liz gets to class okay?” Max requested softly as he and Michael walked by.
“Sure, Max. No problem.” Alex watched as Max and Michael disappeared down the hall. “Anyone want to tell me what that was all about?” He turned back to the girls.
>>>>>>>>>>>
“What was that all about, Max? What are we doing after class today?” Michael questioned curiously. Maybe they were finally going to get off their butts and do something about that baby in New York…
“I need to talk to you…take you up on your offer to listen…and not judge.” Max was nervous just asking, and wondered how their talk would go if just the thought of it was causing him this much anxiety.
Michael stopped in the middle of the hall, turning to face Max and not caring about the grumbling students that had to detour around them. “I’ll skip class after third period and you can come over to my place after you drop Liz off. Sound good?”
“You don’t have to skip…”
“I’m here for you first, Max. I can catch up on the classes. Besides, these teachers would think I’d been taken over by aliens if I suddenly started attending ALL my classes, right?”
Max nodded, smiling slightly at Michael’s attempt at humor and immensely relieved that he wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
After third period
“Hey,” Michael greeted Max and Liz, watching as they grabbed their towels and hurriedly dried off as the rest of their class filed into the locker rooms to shower and change. He could feel the other student’s stares assessing the three of them as they stood together watching the rest of them leave before speaking again.
“Hey, Michael. I didn’t expect you here. I thought we were meeting at your place,” Max greeted.
“Yeah. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t gonna,” his gaze flickered to Liz, “change your mind, you know?”
“No. I haven’t. I won’t change my mind. We’re just gonna change our clothes real quick and shower at home, but before we leave we wanted to tell Coach about Liz being pregnant. He might need to modify his class for her a bit, you know?”
Michael nodded, feeling Liz’s nervousness at the upcoming talk coming at him in waves. “Hey,” he stepped closer to her, giving her a short hug, “It’s gonna be okay. It’s not like they won’t all figure it out in a couple months anyway, right?” He smiled and playfully patted her tummy, not noticing the rapt gazes of a couple of the girls from the swim class who had come back for their swim caps. The girls swiftly ducked back into the locker room to spread the latest news.
Max tilted his head, upset that he hadn’t known Liz was so nervous, and feeling awkward that Michael had figured it out before him. He knew his talk with Michael was long overdue. He needed his Liz back, and he realized HE was the only one holding himself back anymore.
“Everything okay?” The swim coach was walking around the indoor pool, picking up stray items of clothing and towels.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine, Coach,” Max answered for all of them. He held Liz’s hand as they moved closer to the coach. Michael stepped back to lean against the wall by the door and wait.
“We just wanted to let you know…I mean…We thought it might be important that you know that Liz, my wife,” Max flushed, because of course the coach already knew Liz was his wife. “She’s pregnant,” he finished quickly, figuring he might as well get it out fast and spare them all a long drawn-out agony of babble.
“We thought it might affect the kinds of swim training you had in mind for me,” Liz explained softly, too nervous to meet his eyes. She wasn’t quite ready for the assessing looks and judgement of others yet.
“Oh, well,” the coach stuttered out, surprised by their announcement. “Thanks for letting me know. If I can ask, when are you due, Liz?”
“Um, beginning of January, sir,” Liz answered.
His eyes widened in surprise, quickly calculating that she’d be just starting her sixth month and taking in her still slim figure. “Really? You’re not showing at all!”
“The doctor said everything’s fine,” Max answered for both of them. “The baby’s just in a position that doesn’t show much yet, so…”
“Of course, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that anything was wrong. I was just surprised. I’ll put together a special training plan for you, Liz. Come talk to me after class tomorrow if you have a minute, all right?”
“Yes, of course,” Max answered for them. “We’ll both be there.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Liz said quickly as the coach turned away. She grabbed Max’s hand tighter and took a deep breath, glad the talk had gone so well. She turned to Max, leaning up to kiss him lightly. “I’m gonna go change real quick and meet you in the hall, okay?”
Max nodded and watched her until she disappeared through the locker room door before he headed for the guys locker room on the opposite wall, nodding to Michael on the way.
One talk down, one to go, Max thought grimly. Somehow he knew the second talk would be much harder than the first had been.
Much harder.
TBC
I'll try to get the next part out this weekend! I don't want to leave you hanging too long!
EYA Part 107
Okay, apparently, to me, ‘the weekend’ translates to: anytime before I have to go to work on Monday, lol.
It’s long. One of the longest. Took awhile to write. Hope you like it.
Warnings: Angst. Mention of male/male noncon sexual activity. If you haven’t read the revision of the White Room scenes you might want to go back to chapter 13 and review the changes. That chapter had some of the most significant additions in the revisions.
Tell me what you think…Your continued feedback is absolutely some of the best I've seen! Thank you sooooo much!
EYA Part 107
Michael opened his door in response to Max’s knock. “Hey.” Michael stepped back and Max entered the apartment hesitantly, not really feeling ready for the upcoming conversation anymore.
“So what was up with Liz after class, Max?” Michael interrupted Max’s inner musings, startling him with his perception.
“What? How did you…?” And then it hit him. The connection. The one he and Liz were supposed to share. The one that was now including Michael because, Max surmised, he himself had pulled away. “Never mind. I can guess how you knew she was upset.” Max pulled his fingers through his hair and dropped down to sit on Michael’s worn couch. “It wasn’t anything different than usual. I guess all the girls in the locker room were whispering and giggling, staring at Liz. She kept hearing her name, but they’d stop talking if she got too close.” Max leaned back, closing his eyes and sighing wearily. “More gossip, I guess. She said she’s okay, or I wouldn’t have left her,” Max added defensively, not wanting Michael to think he’d leave her still upset.
Michael nodded, holding out his hands innocently. “Hey, man. I know that, okay? I just felt her being upset and wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything serious.” Michael moved around to sit beside his friend. They sat there in silence for a few moments.
“So,” Michael began awkwardly. “How are you doin’?”
Max quirked a wry smile. “Just peachy, Michael. You?”
“Cut the shit, Max. There’s a reason you’re here, right? Something you wanted to talk about? Well, we’re both here now, so it might be a good use of our time to just get to it, don’t you think?” Michael’s impatience was getting the best of him.
“You know what, Michael? I think this was maybe a bad idea.” Max pushed himself up off the couch moving toward the door. “I won’t waste any more of your time, how’s that?”
“That’s unacceptable. That’s what that is.” Michael stood too, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Max’s rigid back. “Don’t be scared of me, Max,” Michael relented softly, when Max didn’t move to leave right away.
“I’m not sca…” Max turned to face Michael, ready to be pissed off again.
“Like hell you aren’t, Max,” Michael interrupted. “You’re scared shitless to tell me whatever it is that’s been bothering you and you’re ready to run away before you can tell me your secrets and risk getting hurt again.” He paused, staring at Max. “Am I wrong?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Michael,” Max whispered in despair.
“You’d be surprised at what I can understand, Max. Give me a chance.” Michael moved closer and reached out for Max, satisfied that he didn’t flinch away. He wrapped his fingers around Max’s bicep and pulled him back toward the couch. “Sit down and talk to me.”
Max sat, leaning forward, elbows on his knees and head resting in his hands. He contemplated the floor for a moment before sighing and deciding it was now or never.
“I…I have nightmares,” he began hesitantly, still staring at the floor, unable to gauge his friends reactions. “Um, every night again now.” He paused, trying to think how much to tell Michael.
“Again?” Michael prompted, not liking the sound of things already.
Max nodded and leaned back against the couch. “After…after Pierce and what happened last year I…I had nightmares all the time. I couldn’t sleep. I’m not sure how I survived on so little rest, but I’d go running, to distract myself, to…to exhaust myself so I could maybe get some more rest.”
“What happened there, Max? What happened that was so bad you had nightmares every night for a year?”
Max finally glanced at Michael, seeing nothing but a sympathetic friend. He looked away again quickly. “You know what happened, Michael. You were there at the end. You saw…” Max squirmed in his seat, hoping Michael would drop it.
“I think maybe I don’t know. Maybe you should tell me about it. I saw the shape you were in by the time we got there. I knew then that you’d gone through something major, but you never talked about it, and I didn’t want to bring up bad memories. I thought you had enough to go through with Liz leaving and all,” Michael stopped short at a wince from Max at his last statement. Maybe he shouldn’t have reminded his friend of how alone he’d been that summer.
Max closed his eyes, head resting back on the couch. “They, um, they drugged me. I couldn’t use my powers. I…they said they knew who I was, what I was. When I got there, they dumped me off in this room. It was…it was white everywhere. I couldn’t see the doors, it didn’t have any windows. There was no way out, and I tried…I looked for one but there wasn’t any way to…to leave,” Max stopped for a second trying to maintain his calm, stay detached enough to tell the rest.
“And then…and then he came in. Pierce I mean.” Max snarled the name in obvious disgust. “He was all dressed up in this decontamination suit. Like I might infect him or something. And he started talking and I knew he sounded familiar, but I was so scared and out of it from the drugs that I didn’t realize right away who he was, not until…not until later.” Max choked on his words for a second and pulled his feet up on the couch, curling into a tight ball with his arms wrapped around his legs. “He kept talking…kept saying things that weren’t true, and making it sound so logical and…and I just wanted to scream at him to just fucking shut up already, but I couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t.” Max was rocking back and forth a little on the couch now, and Michael didn’t think he even realized he was doing it.
“What couldn’t you stop, Max?” Michael prompted at last. His friend was lost in the memories, and Michael wanted him to let them out.
Max’s body startled slightly at the reminder that he wasn’t alone. He took a deep breath and continued. This was the reason he was here, wasn’t it? “He…he said he needed s…sa…samples,” Max stuttered out with effort. “And he took them.” Max was visibly trembling now and Michael was more concerned than he wanted to let on.
“What samples, Max?” Michael needed to know. They’d all had discussions about what was likely to happen to them if they were discovered. Growing up they’d had elaborate talks about the various tests they’d be subjected to and how they would handle it. It had helped to instill a healthy fear of giving away their secret.
“They…they stripped off all my clothes. I tried to fight them, but there were too many. They strapped me to a table, ankles and wrists. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t…get away. And then he came in all suited up and started talking. He was fucking going on like it was any other day, all calm and satisfied that they’d captured the evil alien. He wouldn’t listen to me. Just told me what he wanted and then…he t…took hair and skin cells, saliva, fingernails, blood, sw…sweat.” Max shuddered at the memory. “He took an electrical prod…God! I was lying there in a pool of my own sweat and he claimed he needed the electrical prod so I’d make some sweat for his sample! My…my legs were spread on the table, ankles strapped to opposite corners and he used the prod on my inner thighs. I was…I was screaming for him to stop, but…but he wouldn’t and when it was finally over…He…he thanked me for pissing myself so he could get a sample of that too!”
Michael moved marginally closer, not wanting to crowd Max, but wanting him to know he was there. He reached out a hand, but Max flinched violently away before he could make contact.
“Don’t! Don’t touch me right now, Michael!” Max ground out between clenched teeth. He felt like he’d fall apart if Michael made him continue, but he knew his friend wouldn’t let it go. He pulled his legs tighter into his body and dropped his head down onto his knees. “He put everything in these little sample containers.” Max huffed a strained laugh. “Sealing them all so tight. So careful. Wouldn’t want to lose a drop of his precious samples, right?”
Michael thought he knew where this was going. He hadn’t really wanted to think about how the samples that had saved Liz and Zan were obtained, but duh! Of course they had to come from somewhere.
“What else did he take, Max?” Michael prompted gently.
Max breathed out on a sob, trying to keep his breathing even. “I was strapped down, Michael. I was drugged. I…I expected the things he’d done already. He was so clinical, you know? Talking and suited up and gloved hands taking what he wanted…but…that wasn’t all he wanted. He left, and I actually thought that maybe he was done! He took the samples he’d stolen from me and went out the door with them. I still didn’t realize who he was, you know? I thought he was just some FBI doctor trying to figure out how the disgusting alien was put together. The straps holding me down were so tight, I…I remember trying to get out of them, but I couldn’t feel my feet and hands anymore and then…and then he came back…and he was different. He was talking all soft and gentle. He said I was going to ‘love’ the next part. Said he needed me clean for the next sample, and he had a washcloth and he started washing my…my private areas and then he…he took off his glove,” Max swallowed a sob and squinched his eyes tightly closed shaking his head in denial. “I…sw…sw…swear, Michael, I swear I said no! I didn’t, I didn’t like it, but he put his bare hand on me and…and started jerking me off, talking all kinds of shit. He said if I didn’t lie down and take it like a good alien he’d call in the other men and let them watch and do it too. I couldn’t let them see…He kept talking…He kept telling me how much I liked it, I mean, why else would my body respond like that, right? And I kept trying to think of other things, separate myself, be he wouldn’t shut up! He shoved his finger up my ass and kept jerking me off and telling me what a slut I was and…and finally he got his damn sample and I just wanted to die,” Max whispered brokenly, feeling all the shame and humiliation wash over him again.
Michael sat back, stunned. He’d had no idea Pierce was such a sick fuck. He couldn’t believe he’d wasted one moment regretting he’d killed the man.
“Max?”
Max physically flinched, waiting for the disgust and rejection he knew would be forthcoming.
“Look at me, Max,” Michael insisted, needing Max to read the truth of his next words. “It’s not your fault, Max. Pierce was a sick perverted motherfucking pig who didn’t deserve to breathe the air that we breathe. Do you hear me, Max? If he was here right now I’d kill him again, but a hell of a lot slower this time, got it?”
Max started at his friend with tear-stained eyes. “You don’t understand, Michael. You don’t. He ca…came back. Two other times and did…did it again and he got three samples, Michael! Three! Do you know what that says about me? I’m disgusting. I was weak. I must have…must have wanted it somehow, right? Why else…He kept saying…and he liked it! He got off on it,” Max stuttered to a stop at the look of rage that was covering Michael’s face.
Michael stood up, fists clenched at his sides. “I understand about fear, Maxwell! Don’t ever tell me I don’t! You were drugged, Max. You were scared to death. You said NO and he raped you anyway! How could I ever think less of you just because you were his victim? Do you think less of me?” Michael demanded, shaking now himself.
“Wh…what are you talking about, Michael?” Max stared at his friend in utter confusion.
“I was never drugged. I don’t even have that excuse, but I kept going back to Hank every night knowing he was going to find some excuse to beat the shit out of me. Do you think that means I was asking for it? That I liked it? Is that why I kept going back every night? Because I could swear all these years that I thought it was because I didn’t have any other choice. Was I wrong?”
“No!” Max exclaimed, horrified. “Michael, that isn’t what I…I didn’t mean that you…”
“Think about that, Max. Your choices were gone. You’re not responsible for your body’s natural reaction to stimulus. It’s. Not. Your. Fault. You were raped. Do you get that?”
“Raped? I was…I…think maybe…maybe I’ll have to think about that,” Max conceded at last, shaken by Michael’s revelations.
“You do that, Max. Now tell me the rest.” Michael sat back down and listened, stone-faced, while Max revealed everything else that had been done to him during his captivity with Pierce, and then later, with Clark.
“Michael, what if…what if Tess’ baby is mine?” Max tone was hushed as if giving voice to one of his greatest fears would make it true. “What if they gave her what Pierce took from me and she made a baby? I can’t…I can’t love it…I can’t do that. I don’t want to have anything to do with it! And I don’t feel anything for it. With Liz…Zan is mine! He’s me and Liz wrapped up together, the best part of both of us. And Liz! She’d never…she’d never look at me the same. How could she? A child with Tess?” He spat out the name and shuddered. “I can’t stand not knowing for sure, but I don’t want to find out…I don’t want to know if…And I’m scared, Michael. God, I’m fucking terrified that Liz is going to realize that I’m no good for her. That she’s gonna leave me when she realizes…”
Michael reached out and took Max’s hands in his, holding tightly when Max automatically began to struggle. “Look at me, Max, and hear what I’m telling you. Liz loves you. Liz already knows most of what’s happened to you and she understands that it’s not your fault. You might think you’re protecting her from all these dark thoughts you’re having, but I think you know that closing yourself off from her is hurting both of you more than letting her deal with your fears would. Let her back in, Max. It might be scary, but you have to remember that Liz was made for you. Destined for you and no one else. She’s incredibly strong and you have to trust that, Max! You have to trust your love and trust Liz to be able to handle whatever you’ve got going on with you. Now repeat after me: I trust Liz.”
Max gave Michael a trembling smile and dutifully repeated, “I trust Liz.”
“Good. Now say: I was raped and it’s not my fault.”
“Michael…”
“Say it.”
“Michael, I can’t…”
“Say it,” Michael insisted sternly.
“I was…” The phone started ringing shrilly startling Max, and Michael waved his hand at it impatiently watching it fly across the room and shatter against the wall.
“Go on, Max. It’s nothing but the truth,” Michael prompted gently, feeling it was imperative that Max acknowledge in words what he knew to be the truth. He was so close.
“I…I was raped and it’s not my fault,” Max whispered finally, tears flowing down his cheeks. Michael pulled his friend close and held him as he sobbed in his arms. He knew it was just a start, but they’d work on it from there.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ring! Ring! Ring!
“Evans residence, Liz speaking,” Liz answered the phone politely. She leaned closer to the computer screen, tucking the phone under her ear and frowned at the words before her.
“Liz! It’s Maria. I tried to call Michael first, but something’s wrong with his phone and I’ve got to tell you what I heard in school this afternoon…”
“Maria! I really can’t talk right now. The other line is ringing in and I’m working for Mrs. Evans, so I’m on the clock. Can you call me later?”
“I’ve gotta take a delivery out for my mom right now. But, Liz…”
“I’ve gotta get the other line,” Liz interrupted, rolling her eyes at her friend. “Call me later!” And Liz hung up, answering the other line.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Later
“Max! What’s wrong?!” Liz rushed to the door of their apartment, pulling Max in and closing it behind him. She tugged him over to the couch and sat him down, seating herself in his lap. His arms wrapped around her automatically as he burrowed his face against her chest and took a deep calming breath.
“I talked to Michael tonight, Liz,” Max told her calmly.
“I know, Max. Is everything okay now?” She was deeply worried, it looked like Max had lived through a tremendous ordeal.
“I haven’t been fair to you, Liz, and I’m so sorry for that,” he whispered slowly, watching her worried expression change to confusion.
“It’s okay, Max. Tell me what’s going on,” she urged him.
“I trust you, Liz. I do,” he insisted emphatically. Liz just nodded her head and waited.
“I talked to Michael about…about a lot of things. About…what happened to me with…with Pierce…and he made me realize…”
“What is it, Max. Just tell me.” Liz used her thumbs to ease the tears away from his skin.
“I’ve been scared…So scared, Liz, that maybe it was my fault that Pierce r…ra…raped me. That maybe he thought I enjoyed it or that I wanted him to do it somehow, and that you’d hate me if it turns out that Tess’ baby is mine and they used what he took from me, and I couldn’t stand that you might ha…hate me for it and…”
“Max!” Liz was horrified at the thoughts that must have been haunting Max’s nightmares since her vision of Tess having the baby. “I could never hate you! And I have never blamed you for what happened with Pierce! He was completely evil! You were under his power completely, you had no control, because he took it away! Is that why…Is this why you’ve been closing yourself off from me?”
Max nodded miserably. “I’m so sorry, Liz. I’m more sorry than I can say that you have to be in the middle of my mess again like this!”
“Don’t say that, Max! Don’t ever say that! I want to be in the middle of everything about you! I insist on it from now on, in fact! Nothing is worth the pain of you shutting me out like that, do you understand me, Max?”
Max gave her the smallest of smiles, enjoying her feisty attitude. “I do, Liz. I do,” he whispered, placing one broad hand behind her neck, under her hair, and pulling her closer to join their mouths in an emotional kiss.
Their lips met and both gasped as Max felt the walls that had held him from her dropping one by one. He could feel her tears dripping down her face as he changed the angle of the kiss and struggled to get closer.
Love you. God, I love you so much!
Missed you. Love you. Don’t ever leave me like that again!
I won’t. I promise, I won’t…I can’t…
Their hands scrabbled between them as they struggled free of their clothing, sighing at last when the last scrap of fabric hit the floor. Liz pushed Max onto his back and licked slowly over his neck and nibbled at his collarbone. She sucked in a hardened nipple and he gasped as his back arched under her. His hands tangled into her hair and he gasped for breath, because he knew…knew! from deep inside of her, that she needed this. Needed to reacquaint herself with him inside and out. The experience of being together had always meant more to them than the physical joining of their bodies, it was a twining of souls, of spirit, and that had been so desperately missing recently.
Her hands and her mouth set his body on fire as she ‘read’ him and knew which touch would make him gasp, which would elicit an uncontrollable moan and arch of his back. His head tossed to the side as she teased him with her tongue, licking up drops of precum from the head of his straining erection before sucking it into her warm mouth. Her tongue teased down the vein at the underside of his cock and his hips rolled under her restraining hands. She stopped just short of his release and slid her body slowly up the length of his allowing every inch of him to feel each trembling inch of her.
Max’s hands dropped to her hips as she rose above him and carefully impaled herself upon him. She threw her head back and groaned aloud when he began to move deeply inside of her. She could feel the sensations he was feeling and knew he could feel hers as well. The intimate connection doubled back on each of them, multiplying the sensations as they moved together, rocked against each other. Liz’s hands clutched at Max’s chest and shoulders, leaving marks as she tried to maintain a hold on reality while Max clenched his fingers over Liz’s hips, guiding her movements as he rocked up into her straining body. Finger shaped bruises would be individually licked and kissed and gently erased later, but for now they let the passion spiral out of control while they reveled in the renewed bond of their love.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The phone rang and went completely unheard.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Ah!” Maria hung up, utterly frustrated. “Why doesn’t anybody answer their phone?”
She didn’t realize that Michael’s phone was a shattered heap in his trash can and Liz and Max were otherwise occupied.
“I’ll just have to meet them before school,” she decided.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Liz! Max!” Maria sprinted up the steps to the school, needing to speak with her friends before they entered. What a day for her alarm not to go off!
Liz turned and smiled at her friend. Her arms were around Max, and he had her pulled tightly to his body. They’d considered cutting class that day, but they were both too responsible to follow through with it.
“I have to talk to you both,” Maria huffed out, completely winded from her mad rush to get ready and get to school before Max and Liz walked in unaware.
“Calm down, Maria!” Liz smiled at her friend, wondering what was so important. She looked past Maria and down the steps to the sidewalk and saw…
“Kyle!” Liz grabbed Max’s hand and they ran past Maria to greet their long-lost friend. “Kyle! We’re so glad to see you! Are you coming back to school?” Liz asked eagerly.
Kyle grinned at his friend’s obvious pleasure in seeing him. “Yep. Back as of today!”
“That is so great, Kyle! Did your dad find a job?” Max asked him next.
Kyle scratched behind his neck and shook his head. “Nooo,” he drawled out, “but it’s the craziest damn thing…”
“Hey, guys,” Michael walked up and joined the group. “Decide you’re not too good to join the ranks of the educated, young budda?” Michael razzed affectionately.
“Yeah, yeah. More like came to keep you all out of trouble!” Kyle retorted, throwing a fake punch just short of Michael’s arm.
“As if,” Michael snorted.
“Tell us the crazy thing,” Maria prompted Kyle again, too curious about what had gone unsaid before Michael had interrupted them.
“Ah, yes. Well, I was bustin’ my hump to make the mortgage payments, and we were past due like over two months, and I went in to make a payment and they told me it was paid off! Not only that, but there’s money in an account from some kind of settlement, I guess, that we didn’t know about. Dad got a letter, I didn’t read it, but apparently the federal government pony’d up some cash for exposing their renegade group and saving Max and Liz, so…here I am!” Kyle smiled happily at his group of friends.
“That is so awesome,” Maria gushed. “I can’t believe the federal government would step up like that!”
“Me either.” Michael caught Max’s suspicious gaze. They both shrugged. They’d have to look into that later.
“So now I got all these classes to catch up on…” Kyle was saying as they all made their way into the school.
They continued talking excitedly as they all made their way down the halls, not noticing all the snickers and hushed conversations as they passed their fellow students.
“I love you,” Max gave Liz a gentle kiss while their friends all watched them indulgently. Something was different about them this morning…
Maria started down the hall to go to Algebra, then abruptly remembered that she hadn’t talked to Max and Liz yet. She turned back around, but all her friends had dispersed. She huffed out an impatient breath. They were going to be so pissed…
>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Hey, Max,” Eric smirked as he turned in his seat to face Max and Michael behind him.
“Hey, Eric,” Max returned absently, turning his book to the chapter they were on and watching the other students file in.
“So…we heard that Liz is pregnant,” Eric continued, trying to hold back a laugh as he turned to his friend Paul beside him.
“Wh…what?!” They now had Max’s full attention. How had they found that out? He looked around and noted all the other student’s were watching their exchange.
Paul tried to look innocent. “Ah, Eric! He didn’t know!” Paul drawled out in fake sympathy.
Eric turned back around to face front. “That’s probably because I heard it’s Michael’s baby,” Eric pseudo whispered to Paul, but everyone could hear.
With Liz…Zan is mine! He’s me and Liz wrapped up together, the best part of both of us.
Michael remembered that part of his conversation with Max the night before, and he was instantly enraged that a rumor would be allowed to circulate regarding the one thing that Max found most precious. The one thing Max held onto as the best part of himself.
“Slut,” came from someone in the back.
“What the…” Max had lost every ounce of color in his face as he stood up slowly, he could feel Liz’s confusion wash over him at his agitation and he tried to calm her, but couldn’t do a very good job as he was too upset himself to focus on it. She made him promise not to hurt anyone. To stay calm no matter what.
Michael was held under no such restriction. His reaction was quick and instinctive. His face suffused with color, as he stood up and grabbed Eric out of his chair by his neck and slammed him against the wall as he shook him.
“That’s a fucking lie. Take it back,” Michael demanded in a deadly tone. Eric was turning reddish purple under his hands.
“Hey!” Paul rushed up to the aid of his friend and was startled when Michael dropped Eric momentarily to turn and plant a right hook in Paul’s jaw. Paul went down without a whimper and Eric was too winded to escape quick enough.
Michael had Eric by the throat again. “Take. It. BACK,” he demanded again. A strange gurgling noise was his only answer.
“Michael! Michael, stop it,” Max demanded behind him, pulling on his arm. Michael shrugged him off, still seeing red.
“Mr. Guerin!” Their teacher’s voice boomed across the room as the excited yelling in his class had prompted him to get to his classroom faster than he would have otherwise. “Release him!”
“Like hell,” Michael muttered, squeezing harder.
“Michael, that’s enough,” Max used his best authoritative tone and Michael found himself complying automatically.
Eric dropped to the floor and started wheezing and gasping for air.
“Mr. Guerin, you will go to the principal’s office immediately!”
Michael turned and sneered at their teacher before grabbing his back pack and exiting the room.
“Um, Mr. Taylor?”
“Yes, Mr. Evans”
“May I be excused please?”
“Fine,” Mr. Taylor waved him out of the room, too preoccupied with the two hurt students to think of a reason to stop him.
Max sprinted off down the hall, meeting Liz halfway to the principal’s office.
“Why’d he do it?” Liz asked, a little winded from her own sprint down the hall.
“Tell ya later,” Max responded quickly as they reached the office.
“We need to see…”
“You’ll have to wait,” they were interrupted by the secretary. “He’s in with a student.”
“We know. We…”
“Please have a seat.” The secretary scowled at them and turned away.
Liz and Max sank into the hard chairs against the back wall and waited impatiently. Max reluctantly filled Liz in on the reason for the outburst.
Michael finally emerged and they both stood up to meet him. He warned them with a look not to interfere in any way.
“Mr. Guerin has been suspended from school for one week for fighting on campus,” the principal instructed the secretary. Michael’s thick school file was already open on her desk and she bent over it to add the latest black mark to it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
That night, the Evans house
“Okay, now that Max and Liz are ‘otherwise occupied’,” Maria made air quotes as she said it and rolled her eyes, “how ‘bout you explain to me just what happened today, Michael?”
Alex and Serena were the only ones left in the room with them, since Kyle and Isabel had snuck off earlier to catch up on their own.
Michael tilted his head toward the ceiling and leaned back against the wall. “I already told you. We heard the rumors. I told the guy to take it back. They sent me to the office, and I got suspended for a week.”
“Did you explain to the principal why you were doing it?” Maria persisted.
“Why bother? My files a mile wide. He already has me pegged as a major fuck-up, why disillusion the poor man now? Besides, I already made plans for my week off,” Michael stated casually, glad that Liz and Max were gone.
“Plans? What plans?” Maria asked him suspiciously.
“I’m goin’ to New York to figure out where the dupes are stayin’ and find out what I can about the baby. I’ll leave tomorrow,” he stated resolutely, waiting for Maria’s inevitable explosion.
“Are you crazy?” Maria stepped back and glared at her boyfriend. “Why are you insane today?”
Michael rolled his eyes. “What? Why is going to New York ‘insane’?”
“I mean, come on! It’s not just insane…It’s rude, that’s what it is,” she finished emphatically, looking to her friends for support.
Michael looked to Alex, hoping for an ally. Alex just shrugged. “She’s kinda right you know. It’s not even your turn.” Alex glanced down for Serena’s opinion.
“It’s true,” she concurred, mentally ticking through a list in her head before shaking it solemnly. “It’s not your turn.”
“What the…” Michael leveled his own glare at Maria. “ ‘Turn’? We are not so bad off that we have to start taking turns being insane,” he protested, before holding a warning finger up toward Maria. “NOT that I’m saying I’m insane,” Michael rushed to add.
Maria patted his arm sympathetically. “You keep thinkin’ that, honey,” she reassured him in a mock soothing voice.
Michael grumbled loudly and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go pack.”
“I’ll come with you,” Maria volunteered almost cheerfully, finally bowing gracefully to the inevitability of his leaving. She grabbed her back pack and followed him to the door.
“Are you sure you want to leave with the ‘crazy’ man, Maria?” He bit out sarcastically, waving his fingers in ‘crazy’ gestures around his head.
“I’m sure,” she returned resignedly, trying to sound like a martyr. “Someone needs to make sure you pack appropriately for New York, Michael. I don’t want you to stick out there like some back country tourist and get yourself noticed,” Maria finished sweetly, ignoring his tone as usual and swinging her arm around his waist as she steered him back toward the door.
Michael leaned into her touch as they exited the house, finally giving in to his need to hold her close before he left.
“Maria?” He paused beside her car and tilted her face up so he could see her eyes.
“What, Michael?” Maria unconsciously licked her lips, eyes fixated on Michael’s lips.
He leaned in closer, a whispers breath away, and asked seriously, “This doesn’t really count as my turn, does it?”
Maria stepped back and smacked his arm, laughing in spite of herself. “Of course it does, Michael!” She unlocked her car door and slipped inside, rolling down the window. “But I wouldn’t worry. Have you met our friends? You’ll be gone a few days and I’m sure your turn will roll around again by the time you get back!” She started her car engine and smiled at her boyfriend. “Meet you at your house?”
Michael nodded and grabbed his motorcycle helmet off the handle of his bike, grinning like an idiot.
TBC
Talk to me…Please? Lol. Hope you enjoyed. More to come…
It’s long. One of the longest. Took awhile to write. Hope you like it.
Warnings: Angst. Mention of male/male noncon sexual activity. If you haven’t read the revision of the White Room scenes you might want to go back to chapter 13 and review the changes. That chapter had some of the most significant additions in the revisions.
Tell me what you think…Your continued feedback is absolutely some of the best I've seen! Thank you sooooo much!
EYA Part 107
Michael opened his door in response to Max’s knock. “Hey.” Michael stepped back and Max entered the apartment hesitantly, not really feeling ready for the upcoming conversation anymore.
“So what was up with Liz after class, Max?” Michael interrupted Max’s inner musings, startling him with his perception.
“What? How did you…?” And then it hit him. The connection. The one he and Liz were supposed to share. The one that was now including Michael because, Max surmised, he himself had pulled away. “Never mind. I can guess how you knew she was upset.” Max pulled his fingers through his hair and dropped down to sit on Michael’s worn couch. “It wasn’t anything different than usual. I guess all the girls in the locker room were whispering and giggling, staring at Liz. She kept hearing her name, but they’d stop talking if she got too close.” Max leaned back, closing his eyes and sighing wearily. “More gossip, I guess. She said she’s okay, or I wouldn’t have left her,” Max added defensively, not wanting Michael to think he’d leave her still upset.
Michael nodded, holding out his hands innocently. “Hey, man. I know that, okay? I just felt her being upset and wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything serious.” Michael moved around to sit beside his friend. They sat there in silence for a few moments.
“So,” Michael began awkwardly. “How are you doin’?”
Max quirked a wry smile. “Just peachy, Michael. You?”
“Cut the shit, Max. There’s a reason you’re here, right? Something you wanted to talk about? Well, we’re both here now, so it might be a good use of our time to just get to it, don’t you think?” Michael’s impatience was getting the best of him.
“You know what, Michael? I think this was maybe a bad idea.” Max pushed himself up off the couch moving toward the door. “I won’t waste any more of your time, how’s that?”
“That’s unacceptable. That’s what that is.” Michael stood too, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Max’s rigid back. “Don’t be scared of me, Max,” Michael relented softly, when Max didn’t move to leave right away.
“I’m not sca…” Max turned to face Michael, ready to be pissed off again.
“Like hell you aren’t, Max,” Michael interrupted. “You’re scared shitless to tell me whatever it is that’s been bothering you and you’re ready to run away before you can tell me your secrets and risk getting hurt again.” He paused, staring at Max. “Am I wrong?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Michael,” Max whispered in despair.
“You’d be surprised at what I can understand, Max. Give me a chance.” Michael moved closer and reached out for Max, satisfied that he didn’t flinch away. He wrapped his fingers around Max’s bicep and pulled him back toward the couch. “Sit down and talk to me.”
Max sat, leaning forward, elbows on his knees and head resting in his hands. He contemplated the floor for a moment before sighing and deciding it was now or never.
“I…I have nightmares,” he began hesitantly, still staring at the floor, unable to gauge his friends reactions. “Um, every night again now.” He paused, trying to think how much to tell Michael.
“Again?” Michael prompted, not liking the sound of things already.
Max nodded and leaned back against the couch. “After…after Pierce and what happened last year I…I had nightmares all the time. I couldn’t sleep. I’m not sure how I survived on so little rest, but I’d go running, to distract myself, to…to exhaust myself so I could maybe get some more rest.”
“What happened there, Max? What happened that was so bad you had nightmares every night for a year?”
Max finally glanced at Michael, seeing nothing but a sympathetic friend. He looked away again quickly. “You know what happened, Michael. You were there at the end. You saw…” Max squirmed in his seat, hoping Michael would drop it.
“I think maybe I don’t know. Maybe you should tell me about it. I saw the shape you were in by the time we got there. I knew then that you’d gone through something major, but you never talked about it, and I didn’t want to bring up bad memories. I thought you had enough to go through with Liz leaving and all,” Michael stopped short at a wince from Max at his last statement. Maybe he shouldn’t have reminded his friend of how alone he’d been that summer.
Max closed his eyes, head resting back on the couch. “They, um, they drugged me. I couldn’t use my powers. I…they said they knew who I was, what I was. When I got there, they dumped me off in this room. It was…it was white everywhere. I couldn’t see the doors, it didn’t have any windows. There was no way out, and I tried…I looked for one but there wasn’t any way to…to leave,” Max stopped for a second trying to maintain his calm, stay detached enough to tell the rest.
“And then…and then he came in. Pierce I mean.” Max snarled the name in obvious disgust. “He was all dressed up in this decontamination suit. Like I might infect him or something. And he started talking and I knew he sounded familiar, but I was so scared and out of it from the drugs that I didn’t realize right away who he was, not until…not until later.” Max choked on his words for a second and pulled his feet up on the couch, curling into a tight ball with his arms wrapped around his legs. “He kept talking…kept saying things that weren’t true, and making it sound so logical and…and I just wanted to scream at him to just fucking shut up already, but I couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t.” Max was rocking back and forth a little on the couch now, and Michael didn’t think he even realized he was doing it.
“What couldn’t you stop, Max?” Michael prompted at last. His friend was lost in the memories, and Michael wanted him to let them out.
Max’s body startled slightly at the reminder that he wasn’t alone. He took a deep breath and continued. This was the reason he was here, wasn’t it? “He…he said he needed s…sa…samples,” Max stuttered out with effort. “And he took them.” Max was visibly trembling now and Michael was more concerned than he wanted to let on.
“What samples, Max?” Michael needed to know. They’d all had discussions about what was likely to happen to them if they were discovered. Growing up they’d had elaborate talks about the various tests they’d be subjected to and how they would handle it. It had helped to instill a healthy fear of giving away their secret.
“They…they stripped off all my clothes. I tried to fight them, but there were too many. They strapped me to a table, ankles and wrists. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t…get away. And then he came in all suited up and started talking. He was fucking going on like it was any other day, all calm and satisfied that they’d captured the evil alien. He wouldn’t listen to me. Just told me what he wanted and then…he t…took hair and skin cells, saliva, fingernails, blood, sw…sweat.” Max shuddered at the memory. “He took an electrical prod…God! I was lying there in a pool of my own sweat and he claimed he needed the electrical prod so I’d make some sweat for his sample! My…my legs were spread on the table, ankles strapped to opposite corners and he used the prod on my inner thighs. I was…I was screaming for him to stop, but…but he wouldn’t and when it was finally over…He…he thanked me for pissing myself so he could get a sample of that too!”
Michael moved marginally closer, not wanting to crowd Max, but wanting him to know he was there. He reached out a hand, but Max flinched violently away before he could make contact.
“Don’t! Don’t touch me right now, Michael!” Max ground out between clenched teeth. He felt like he’d fall apart if Michael made him continue, but he knew his friend wouldn’t let it go. He pulled his legs tighter into his body and dropped his head down onto his knees. “He put everything in these little sample containers.” Max huffed a strained laugh. “Sealing them all so tight. So careful. Wouldn’t want to lose a drop of his precious samples, right?”
Michael thought he knew where this was going. He hadn’t really wanted to think about how the samples that had saved Liz and Zan were obtained, but duh! Of course they had to come from somewhere.
“What else did he take, Max?” Michael prompted gently.
Max breathed out on a sob, trying to keep his breathing even. “I was strapped down, Michael. I was drugged. I…I expected the things he’d done already. He was so clinical, you know? Talking and suited up and gloved hands taking what he wanted…but…that wasn’t all he wanted. He left, and I actually thought that maybe he was done! He took the samples he’d stolen from me and went out the door with them. I still didn’t realize who he was, you know? I thought he was just some FBI doctor trying to figure out how the disgusting alien was put together. The straps holding me down were so tight, I…I remember trying to get out of them, but I couldn’t feel my feet and hands anymore and then…and then he came back…and he was different. He was talking all soft and gentle. He said I was going to ‘love’ the next part. Said he needed me clean for the next sample, and he had a washcloth and he started washing my…my private areas and then he…he took off his glove,” Max swallowed a sob and squinched his eyes tightly closed shaking his head in denial. “I…sw…sw…swear, Michael, I swear I said no! I didn’t, I didn’t like it, but he put his bare hand on me and…and started jerking me off, talking all kinds of shit. He said if I didn’t lie down and take it like a good alien he’d call in the other men and let them watch and do it too. I couldn’t let them see…He kept talking…He kept telling me how much I liked it, I mean, why else would my body respond like that, right? And I kept trying to think of other things, separate myself, be he wouldn’t shut up! He shoved his finger up my ass and kept jerking me off and telling me what a slut I was and…and finally he got his damn sample and I just wanted to die,” Max whispered brokenly, feeling all the shame and humiliation wash over him again.
Michael sat back, stunned. He’d had no idea Pierce was such a sick fuck. He couldn’t believe he’d wasted one moment regretting he’d killed the man.
“Max?”
Max physically flinched, waiting for the disgust and rejection he knew would be forthcoming.
“Look at me, Max,” Michael insisted, needing Max to read the truth of his next words. “It’s not your fault, Max. Pierce was a sick perverted motherfucking pig who didn’t deserve to breathe the air that we breathe. Do you hear me, Max? If he was here right now I’d kill him again, but a hell of a lot slower this time, got it?”
Max started at his friend with tear-stained eyes. “You don’t understand, Michael. You don’t. He ca…came back. Two other times and did…did it again and he got three samples, Michael! Three! Do you know what that says about me? I’m disgusting. I was weak. I must have…must have wanted it somehow, right? Why else…He kept saying…and he liked it! He got off on it,” Max stuttered to a stop at the look of rage that was covering Michael’s face.
Michael stood up, fists clenched at his sides. “I understand about fear, Maxwell! Don’t ever tell me I don’t! You were drugged, Max. You were scared to death. You said NO and he raped you anyway! How could I ever think less of you just because you were his victim? Do you think less of me?” Michael demanded, shaking now himself.
“Wh…what are you talking about, Michael?” Max stared at his friend in utter confusion.
“I was never drugged. I don’t even have that excuse, but I kept going back to Hank every night knowing he was going to find some excuse to beat the shit out of me. Do you think that means I was asking for it? That I liked it? Is that why I kept going back every night? Because I could swear all these years that I thought it was because I didn’t have any other choice. Was I wrong?”
“No!” Max exclaimed, horrified. “Michael, that isn’t what I…I didn’t mean that you…”
“Think about that, Max. Your choices were gone. You’re not responsible for your body’s natural reaction to stimulus. It’s. Not. Your. Fault. You were raped. Do you get that?”
“Raped? I was…I…think maybe…maybe I’ll have to think about that,” Max conceded at last, shaken by Michael’s revelations.
“You do that, Max. Now tell me the rest.” Michael sat back down and listened, stone-faced, while Max revealed everything else that had been done to him during his captivity with Pierce, and then later, with Clark.
“Michael, what if…what if Tess’ baby is mine?” Max tone was hushed as if giving voice to one of his greatest fears would make it true. “What if they gave her what Pierce took from me and she made a baby? I can’t…I can’t love it…I can’t do that. I don’t want to have anything to do with it! And I don’t feel anything for it. With Liz…Zan is mine! He’s me and Liz wrapped up together, the best part of both of us. And Liz! She’d never…she’d never look at me the same. How could she? A child with Tess?” He spat out the name and shuddered. “I can’t stand not knowing for sure, but I don’t want to find out…I don’t want to know if…And I’m scared, Michael. God, I’m fucking terrified that Liz is going to realize that I’m no good for her. That she’s gonna leave me when she realizes…”
Michael reached out and took Max’s hands in his, holding tightly when Max automatically began to struggle. “Look at me, Max, and hear what I’m telling you. Liz loves you. Liz already knows most of what’s happened to you and she understands that it’s not your fault. You might think you’re protecting her from all these dark thoughts you’re having, but I think you know that closing yourself off from her is hurting both of you more than letting her deal with your fears would. Let her back in, Max. It might be scary, but you have to remember that Liz was made for you. Destined for you and no one else. She’s incredibly strong and you have to trust that, Max! You have to trust your love and trust Liz to be able to handle whatever you’ve got going on with you. Now repeat after me: I trust Liz.”
Max gave Michael a trembling smile and dutifully repeated, “I trust Liz.”
“Good. Now say: I was raped and it’s not my fault.”
“Michael…”
“Say it.”
“Michael, I can’t…”
“Say it,” Michael insisted sternly.
“I was…” The phone started ringing shrilly startling Max, and Michael waved his hand at it impatiently watching it fly across the room and shatter against the wall.
“Go on, Max. It’s nothing but the truth,” Michael prompted gently, feeling it was imperative that Max acknowledge in words what he knew to be the truth. He was so close.
“I…I was raped and it’s not my fault,” Max whispered finally, tears flowing down his cheeks. Michael pulled his friend close and held him as he sobbed in his arms. He knew it was just a start, but they’d work on it from there.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ring! Ring! Ring!
“Evans residence, Liz speaking,” Liz answered the phone politely. She leaned closer to the computer screen, tucking the phone under her ear and frowned at the words before her.
“Liz! It’s Maria. I tried to call Michael first, but something’s wrong with his phone and I’ve got to tell you what I heard in school this afternoon…”
“Maria! I really can’t talk right now. The other line is ringing in and I’m working for Mrs. Evans, so I’m on the clock. Can you call me later?”
“I’ve gotta take a delivery out for my mom right now. But, Liz…”
“I’ve gotta get the other line,” Liz interrupted, rolling her eyes at her friend. “Call me later!” And Liz hung up, answering the other line.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
Later
“Max! What’s wrong?!” Liz rushed to the door of their apartment, pulling Max in and closing it behind him. She tugged him over to the couch and sat him down, seating herself in his lap. His arms wrapped around her automatically as he burrowed his face against her chest and took a deep calming breath.
“I talked to Michael tonight, Liz,” Max told her calmly.
“I know, Max. Is everything okay now?” She was deeply worried, it looked like Max had lived through a tremendous ordeal.
“I haven’t been fair to you, Liz, and I’m so sorry for that,” he whispered slowly, watching her worried expression change to confusion.
“It’s okay, Max. Tell me what’s going on,” she urged him.
“I trust you, Liz. I do,” he insisted emphatically. Liz just nodded her head and waited.
“I talked to Michael about…about a lot of things. About…what happened to me with…with Pierce…and he made me realize…”
“What is it, Max. Just tell me.” Liz used her thumbs to ease the tears away from his skin.
“I’ve been scared…So scared, Liz, that maybe it was my fault that Pierce r…ra…raped me. That maybe he thought I enjoyed it or that I wanted him to do it somehow, and that you’d hate me if it turns out that Tess’ baby is mine and they used what he took from me, and I couldn’t stand that you might ha…hate me for it and…”
“Max!” Liz was horrified at the thoughts that must have been haunting Max’s nightmares since her vision of Tess having the baby. “I could never hate you! And I have never blamed you for what happened with Pierce! He was completely evil! You were under his power completely, you had no control, because he took it away! Is that why…Is this why you’ve been closing yourself off from me?”
Max nodded miserably. “I’m so sorry, Liz. I’m more sorry than I can say that you have to be in the middle of my mess again like this!”
“Don’t say that, Max! Don’t ever say that! I want to be in the middle of everything about you! I insist on it from now on, in fact! Nothing is worth the pain of you shutting me out like that, do you understand me, Max?”
Max gave her the smallest of smiles, enjoying her feisty attitude. “I do, Liz. I do,” he whispered, placing one broad hand behind her neck, under her hair, and pulling her closer to join their mouths in an emotional kiss.
Their lips met and both gasped as Max felt the walls that had held him from her dropping one by one. He could feel her tears dripping down her face as he changed the angle of the kiss and struggled to get closer.
Love you. God, I love you so much!
Missed you. Love you. Don’t ever leave me like that again!
I won’t. I promise, I won’t…I can’t…
Their hands scrabbled between them as they struggled free of their clothing, sighing at last when the last scrap of fabric hit the floor. Liz pushed Max onto his back and licked slowly over his neck and nibbled at his collarbone. She sucked in a hardened nipple and he gasped as his back arched under her. His hands tangled into her hair and he gasped for breath, because he knew…knew! from deep inside of her, that she needed this. Needed to reacquaint herself with him inside and out. The experience of being together had always meant more to them than the physical joining of their bodies, it was a twining of souls, of spirit, and that had been so desperately missing recently.
Her hands and her mouth set his body on fire as she ‘read’ him and knew which touch would make him gasp, which would elicit an uncontrollable moan and arch of his back. His head tossed to the side as she teased him with her tongue, licking up drops of precum from the head of his straining erection before sucking it into her warm mouth. Her tongue teased down the vein at the underside of his cock and his hips rolled under her restraining hands. She stopped just short of his release and slid her body slowly up the length of his allowing every inch of him to feel each trembling inch of her.
Max’s hands dropped to her hips as she rose above him and carefully impaled herself upon him. She threw her head back and groaned aloud when he began to move deeply inside of her. She could feel the sensations he was feeling and knew he could feel hers as well. The intimate connection doubled back on each of them, multiplying the sensations as they moved together, rocked against each other. Liz’s hands clutched at Max’s chest and shoulders, leaving marks as she tried to maintain a hold on reality while Max clenched his fingers over Liz’s hips, guiding her movements as he rocked up into her straining body. Finger shaped bruises would be individually licked and kissed and gently erased later, but for now they let the passion spiral out of control while they reveled in the renewed bond of their love.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The phone rang and went completely unheard.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Ah!” Maria hung up, utterly frustrated. “Why doesn’t anybody answer their phone?”
She didn’t realize that Michael’s phone was a shattered heap in his trash can and Liz and Max were otherwise occupied.
“I’ll just have to meet them before school,” she decided.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Liz! Max!” Maria sprinted up the steps to the school, needing to speak with her friends before they entered. What a day for her alarm not to go off!
Liz turned and smiled at her friend. Her arms were around Max, and he had her pulled tightly to his body. They’d considered cutting class that day, but they were both too responsible to follow through with it.
“I have to talk to you both,” Maria huffed out, completely winded from her mad rush to get ready and get to school before Max and Liz walked in unaware.
“Calm down, Maria!” Liz smiled at her friend, wondering what was so important. She looked past Maria and down the steps to the sidewalk and saw…
“Kyle!” Liz grabbed Max’s hand and they ran past Maria to greet their long-lost friend. “Kyle! We’re so glad to see you! Are you coming back to school?” Liz asked eagerly.
Kyle grinned at his friend’s obvious pleasure in seeing him. “Yep. Back as of today!”
“That is so great, Kyle! Did your dad find a job?” Max asked him next.
Kyle scratched behind his neck and shook his head. “Nooo,” he drawled out, “but it’s the craziest damn thing…”
“Hey, guys,” Michael walked up and joined the group. “Decide you’re not too good to join the ranks of the educated, young budda?” Michael razzed affectionately.
“Yeah, yeah. More like came to keep you all out of trouble!” Kyle retorted, throwing a fake punch just short of Michael’s arm.
“As if,” Michael snorted.
“Tell us the crazy thing,” Maria prompted Kyle again, too curious about what had gone unsaid before Michael had interrupted them.
“Ah, yes. Well, I was bustin’ my hump to make the mortgage payments, and we were past due like over two months, and I went in to make a payment and they told me it was paid off! Not only that, but there’s money in an account from some kind of settlement, I guess, that we didn’t know about. Dad got a letter, I didn’t read it, but apparently the federal government pony’d up some cash for exposing their renegade group and saving Max and Liz, so…here I am!” Kyle smiled happily at his group of friends.
“That is so awesome,” Maria gushed. “I can’t believe the federal government would step up like that!”
“Me either.” Michael caught Max’s suspicious gaze. They both shrugged. They’d have to look into that later.
“So now I got all these classes to catch up on…” Kyle was saying as they all made their way into the school.
They continued talking excitedly as they all made their way down the halls, not noticing all the snickers and hushed conversations as they passed their fellow students.
“I love you,” Max gave Liz a gentle kiss while their friends all watched them indulgently. Something was different about them this morning…
Maria started down the hall to go to Algebra, then abruptly remembered that she hadn’t talked to Max and Liz yet. She turned back around, but all her friends had dispersed. She huffed out an impatient breath. They were going to be so pissed…
>>>>>>>>>>>>
“Hey, Max,” Eric smirked as he turned in his seat to face Max and Michael behind him.
“Hey, Eric,” Max returned absently, turning his book to the chapter they were on and watching the other students file in.
“So…we heard that Liz is pregnant,” Eric continued, trying to hold back a laugh as he turned to his friend Paul beside him.
“Wh…what?!” They now had Max’s full attention. How had they found that out? He looked around and noted all the other student’s were watching their exchange.
Paul tried to look innocent. “Ah, Eric! He didn’t know!” Paul drawled out in fake sympathy.
Eric turned back around to face front. “That’s probably because I heard it’s Michael’s baby,” Eric pseudo whispered to Paul, but everyone could hear.
With Liz…Zan is mine! He’s me and Liz wrapped up together, the best part of both of us.
Michael remembered that part of his conversation with Max the night before, and he was instantly enraged that a rumor would be allowed to circulate regarding the one thing that Max found most precious. The one thing Max held onto as the best part of himself.
“Slut,” came from someone in the back.
“What the…” Max had lost every ounce of color in his face as he stood up slowly, he could feel Liz’s confusion wash over him at his agitation and he tried to calm her, but couldn’t do a very good job as he was too upset himself to focus on it. She made him promise not to hurt anyone. To stay calm no matter what.
Michael was held under no such restriction. His reaction was quick and instinctive. His face suffused with color, as he stood up and grabbed Eric out of his chair by his neck and slammed him against the wall as he shook him.
“That’s a fucking lie. Take it back,” Michael demanded in a deadly tone. Eric was turning reddish purple under his hands.
“Hey!” Paul rushed up to the aid of his friend and was startled when Michael dropped Eric momentarily to turn and plant a right hook in Paul’s jaw. Paul went down without a whimper and Eric was too winded to escape quick enough.
Michael had Eric by the throat again. “Take. It. BACK,” he demanded again. A strange gurgling noise was his only answer.
“Michael! Michael, stop it,” Max demanded behind him, pulling on his arm. Michael shrugged him off, still seeing red.
“Mr. Guerin!” Their teacher’s voice boomed across the room as the excited yelling in his class had prompted him to get to his classroom faster than he would have otherwise. “Release him!”
“Like hell,” Michael muttered, squeezing harder.
“Michael, that’s enough,” Max used his best authoritative tone and Michael found himself complying automatically.
Eric dropped to the floor and started wheezing and gasping for air.
“Mr. Guerin, you will go to the principal’s office immediately!”
Michael turned and sneered at their teacher before grabbing his back pack and exiting the room.
“Um, Mr. Taylor?”
“Yes, Mr. Evans”
“May I be excused please?”
“Fine,” Mr. Taylor waved him out of the room, too preoccupied with the two hurt students to think of a reason to stop him.
Max sprinted off down the hall, meeting Liz halfway to the principal’s office.
“Why’d he do it?” Liz asked, a little winded from her own sprint down the hall.
“Tell ya later,” Max responded quickly as they reached the office.
“We need to see…”
“You’ll have to wait,” they were interrupted by the secretary. “He’s in with a student.”
“We know. We…”
“Please have a seat.” The secretary scowled at them and turned away.
Liz and Max sank into the hard chairs against the back wall and waited impatiently. Max reluctantly filled Liz in on the reason for the outburst.
Michael finally emerged and they both stood up to meet him. He warned them with a look not to interfere in any way.
“Mr. Guerin has been suspended from school for one week for fighting on campus,” the principal instructed the secretary. Michael’s thick school file was already open on her desk and she bent over it to add the latest black mark to it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
That night, the Evans house
“Okay, now that Max and Liz are ‘otherwise occupied’,” Maria made air quotes as she said it and rolled her eyes, “how ‘bout you explain to me just what happened today, Michael?”
Alex and Serena were the only ones left in the room with them, since Kyle and Isabel had snuck off earlier to catch up on their own.
Michael tilted his head toward the ceiling and leaned back against the wall. “I already told you. We heard the rumors. I told the guy to take it back. They sent me to the office, and I got suspended for a week.”
“Did you explain to the principal why you were doing it?” Maria persisted.
“Why bother? My files a mile wide. He already has me pegged as a major fuck-up, why disillusion the poor man now? Besides, I already made plans for my week off,” Michael stated casually, glad that Liz and Max were gone.
“Plans? What plans?” Maria asked him suspiciously.
“I’m goin’ to New York to figure out where the dupes are stayin’ and find out what I can about the baby. I’ll leave tomorrow,” he stated resolutely, waiting for Maria’s inevitable explosion.
“Are you crazy?” Maria stepped back and glared at her boyfriend. “Why are you insane today?”
Michael rolled his eyes. “What? Why is going to New York ‘insane’?”
“I mean, come on! It’s not just insane…It’s rude, that’s what it is,” she finished emphatically, looking to her friends for support.
Michael looked to Alex, hoping for an ally. Alex just shrugged. “She’s kinda right you know. It’s not even your turn.” Alex glanced down for Serena’s opinion.
“It’s true,” she concurred, mentally ticking through a list in her head before shaking it solemnly. “It’s not your turn.”
“What the…” Michael leveled his own glare at Maria. “ ‘Turn’? We are not so bad off that we have to start taking turns being insane,” he protested, before holding a warning finger up toward Maria. “NOT that I’m saying I’m insane,” Michael rushed to add.
Maria patted his arm sympathetically. “You keep thinkin’ that, honey,” she reassured him in a mock soothing voice.
Michael grumbled loudly and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go pack.”
“I’ll come with you,” Maria volunteered almost cheerfully, finally bowing gracefully to the inevitability of his leaving. She grabbed her back pack and followed him to the door.
“Are you sure you want to leave with the ‘crazy’ man, Maria?” He bit out sarcastically, waving his fingers in ‘crazy’ gestures around his head.
“I’m sure,” she returned resignedly, trying to sound like a martyr. “Someone needs to make sure you pack appropriately for New York, Michael. I don’t want you to stick out there like some back country tourist and get yourself noticed,” Maria finished sweetly, ignoring his tone as usual and swinging her arm around his waist as she steered him back toward the door.
Michael leaned into her touch as they exited the house, finally giving in to his need to hold her close before he left.
“Maria?” He paused beside her car and tilted her face up so he could see her eyes.
“What, Michael?” Maria unconsciously licked her lips, eyes fixated on Michael’s lips.
He leaned in closer, a whispers breath away, and asked seriously, “This doesn’t really count as my turn, does it?”
Maria stepped back and smacked his arm, laughing in spite of herself. “Of course it does, Michael!” She unlocked her car door and slipped inside, rolling down the window. “But I wouldn’t worry. Have you met our friends? You’ll be gone a few days and I’m sure your turn will roll around again by the time you get back!” She started her car engine and smiled at her boyfriend. “Meet you at your house?”
Michael nodded and grabbed his motorcycle helmet off the handle of his bike, grinning like an idiot.
TBC
Talk to me…Please? Lol. Hope you enjoyed. More to come…
EYA Part 108
EYA Part 108
“You’re not going,” Michael said again, barely hanging onto his last thread of patience. “How many times I gotta tell you? It’s too dangerous!”
“Michael…,” Maria protested. Again.
“NO! End of discussion. When you said you were leaving with me I thought you meant to come here to help me pack, not going to New York to stake out the location of our enemies and possibly get yourself killed. You. Are. Not. Going!”
“Killed? Killed? Who said anything about getting killed? Is there something you’re not telling me, Michael? There is no way you are going to New York alone now. You need backup. You need me!”
“Do I have to tie you up and gag you until I’m gone? Because believe me, I’m warming up to that plan right now!” Michael stalked over to the door and yanked it open as an obvious hint that it was time for Maria to go.
“This isn’t over, Michael. I’ll see you in the morning, and I’m bringing my bags!” Maria warned as she swept by him out the door.
“You do that.” Michael rolled his eyes and swung the door shut behind her. He ran a weary hand over his eyes and rubbed at his temples trying to stave off his impending headache. “But I won’t be here,” he muttered softly to the empty room. In two quick strides Michael reached the couch and leaned down to scoop up his newly packed duffel bag. He checked his watch. Just enough time to get to the airport and try to get a standby flight to New York before the gates closed for the night.
A soft knock on the door startled him and his eyes narrowed as he readied for battle. Tossing the duffel bag to the side of the door out of sight he yanked the door back open. “YOU’RE NOT GOING!” he bellowed angrily.
“I…I…,” Serena consciously made herself hold her ground.
“What the hell? What are you doing here?” Michael was startled to find Serena at his doorstep. He didn’t even realize she knew where he lived. He turned away from her and strode back into his apartment, leaving her standing in the open doorway. “I thought you were Maria,” he offered, by way of explanation.
“Oh. I…I’m not Maria,” she stated the obvious before she took a fortifying breath and stepped into Michael’s domain, closing the door behind her. “And I am going,” she added bravely, holding her breath unconsciously as she awaited Michael’s response.
“What the hell?” Michael felt the headache creep into his temples and he dug his fingers into the tender skin by his eyes trying to relieve the pressure. These girls were going to be the death of him, he knew it. “What are you talking about?”
“I want to come with you. I don’t have anywhere else to be, and I can pay our way and make it easier for us to concentrate on getting the job done while we’re there.”
“Let me get this straight. You want to come with me…alone…on a potentially dangerous outing to New York because you’re rich and bored?”
“No! No to everything you just said, Michael! Don’t be ridiculous,” Serena calmly chastised, shaking her head at Michael’s assumptions.
“What? What part did I get wrong? You just said you wanted to come with me to New York, so…What? You and me in New York alone, right? And this is, most definitely, potentially dangerous. You can’t deny that. You’ve got more money than you know what to do with, thanks to dear old dad, more than you could spend in ten lifetimes, so I think I got the rich part right. And the only reason I can think of that you’d remotely want to come to New York with me is that you must have nothing better to do here, so you want to make a break for the Big Apple and live it up for a few days. That about it?”
Serena was shaking her head as she calmly made her way further into the room, seating herself on the couch. She smoothed her damp palms over the soft denim of her jeans and leaned back, trying to look casual. “First off, Michael, I don’t think you and I should go alone. I think we should take Jim Valenti with us too. He’s had experience as a cop, and he could be an invaluable asset helping us to locate the people we’re searching for. It’d give him a sense of purpose again and show him that he’s still good at something. He could be our own PI. Secondly, if we do this right it doesn’t have to be dangerous. We keep our distance, find out what we need to know and come home. And yes. I am rich. I can’t deny that I’ve come into a lot of money recently, but please believe that it’s not what I want. I want to do something good with it. Something that will help make up for…No. That’s not right, I realize that nothing will make up for what was done, but I’d like to at least smooth the path for you guys so that this nightmare can finally be over. Don’t let your pride stand in the way of an offer of help. And please don’t insult me by suggesting that I’d do this because I’m bored! I’m doing this because I need to help. I have to do something, and I’m not good at sitting around.”
She watched as Michael began impatiently pacing the room. She didn’t like the way he was shaking his head and glaring at her. She tilted her chin up proudly, not backing down. “Understand that I’m going whether you come with me or not, Michael. I’m going to be a part of the solution, no matter what it takes.”
“Like you were with the Valenti’s,” Michael shot back on a sudden hunch.
Bingo! Serena’s face flushed scarlet before she could stop herself.
“I don’t know what…,” Serena started to prevaricate.
“Don’t lie to me, Serena. If we’re going to be working together then you give me your complete honesty or we’re done before we even start. Got it?”
Serena nodded slightly, staring at her hands in her lap.
“You paid off the Valenti’s mortgage, didn’t you?” Michael pressed.
“I…”
“Complete honesty,” Michael reminded softly when it appeared that Serena might not go on.
“Yes,” she whispered so softly that Michael had to strain to hear her. “I did pay it off. It wasn’t his fault that he was fired. If anyone’s it was mine,” she confessed.
“No, it was your sick, twisted step-father, but we don’t need to get into that right now, do we? What else?”
Serena shot him a startled glance. “What…else?”
Michael rolled his eyes and plopped down beside her on the worn couch. “Yes, Serena. What. Else?” He spoke slowly and carefully enunciated each word mockingly.
“I guess, maybe I…sort of, sent a fake letter to the Valenti’s with a check saying it was from the government in appreciation of his efforts in thwarting a rogue faction of FBI agents,” Serena informed him in a swift rush of words, carefully not looking at him.
Michael sighed and sat back, staring at Serena. Seeing her in a new light. “Who knows?”
Serena was startled into looking up at Michael briefly, surprised to find his face reflecting only simple curiosity. “Knows? No one knows, Michael. And no one will,” she added fiercely, knowing she could do very little to stop him if he decided to share his newfound revelations.
Michael pushed his palms against his knees and stood up, staring at Serena. “Well, I guess that’s it. You’d better get going.”
“Michael! Please don’t let pride get in the way of my offer of help! I don’t even have to be around that much if…”
“Whoa, Serena. Slow the hell down. You’re making an awful lot of assumptions here. I’m not too proud to make use of Clark’s money, believe me. I’m more than happy to accept it as a final ‘fuck you’ to the not-so-dearly departed doc. I’m sure he’s spinning in hell right now at the thought that he’s helping our cause from the grave! And as for being around…I haven’t made up my mind about you yet, Serena. You need to understand that. But…what you did for the Valenti’s? That was pretty decent. I’ve gotta respect that, if nothing else. You can come, and I think it’d be good if Jim came too, for all the reasons you said, and…he’s a friend. A friend I know will watch my back when the chips are down, and you can’t have too many of those,” Michael finished finally, staring at Serena. “So I’ll say again…You better get going. You’ve got a lot of packing to do if we’re gonna leave before first light.”
Michael almost smirked at the comical look of shock that had spread across Serena’s face.
“I…I…” she stuttered out softly before catching her breath and starting again. “Thank you, Michael. I trust you mean that. My stuff is in the car, we can leave the car at the airport, pick Jim up on the way.” She smiled finally, for the first time since she’d entered Michael’s apartment.
Michael smiled back tentatively as he followed her to the door, leaning down to pick up his duffel again. He opened the door and smiled again, wider this time. “So…New York, here we come!” He swept his arm out to wave you out the door in front of him.
“What the hell?”
Michael’s smile dropped right off his face as his head swung around at the sound of his girlfriend’s voice. He barely restrained himself from groaning out loud as he leaned his forehead against the doorframe and slowly counted to ten.
Six. Seven… “Maria, what the hell are you doing back here?” Michael ground out through gritted teeth. Fuck counting to ten. This girl would try the patience of a saint, and he was far from that!
“Apparently, I’m interrupting your little rendezvous with Serena in New York, Michael! Would you care to explain why it’s okay for her to go with you when I can’t?” Maria glared at her boyfriend and waited for whatever lame excuse he was going to try to cook up on the spot.
“Maria, you misunderstand what’s going on here,” Serena inserted swiftly, needing to fill the ugly silence that was hovering in the air around them.
“Yeah? Why don’t you enlighten me?”
“I came over to offer to come along with Michael and bank roll the trip for him. I needed to find a way to use some of my…some of the money I got, to do good things. I don’t currently have a job, so I thought I’d also offer whatever assistance I can while he’s there. We’re going to see if Jim Valenti will come with us also. He’s had experience in investigations, missing persons, that kind of thing, and I thought he could help speed up the process of finding the people we’re looking for if he came along. That’s it,” Serena finished on a rush, hoping her new friend wouldn’t stay mad at her.
“That’s it?”
Serena nodded again warily.
“Okay,” Maria sighed and began digging through her purse.
“That’s it?” Michael echoed Maria’s last statement. “You’re not gonna argue or anything?” It was too good to be true!
“Please, Michael,” Maria looked up briefly and blew a stray hair out of her eyes, hands still digging into her bag. “I’m a reasonable woman. What were you expecting?” She had to look down quickly to hide the smirk that was covering her face because of the comical confusion that was overtaking Michael. “That’s it. I was actually just coming back because I wanted you to have this.” Maria had found what she was looking for in her purse and held it out to him triumphantly.
“What’s this?” Michael asked dubiously.
“It’s this new fangled invention called a cell phone, Michael. I thought it’d be handy for you to take with you to New York in case you need to call one of us and let us know what’s going on,” Maria stated calmly.
“You’re letting me take your cell phone?” He clarified in disbelief. He shook his head. She must really love him a lot if she was going to entrust him with her precious phone.
“Yeah, Michael, you can borrow my phone. Just remember, anything happens to it…By which I mean ANYTHING and you’re toast. Deal?”
Michael smiled and reached out for the phone in Maria’s hand, taking the opportunity to pull her fully up against his body. He leaned down and brushed his lips lightly against hers.
“Deal.”
TBC
Okay, I meant it to be longer, but the next part is New York, and stuff’s going to start happening that will heat things up clear to the end, so it needs its own part, lol!
Plus, my new medicine is kickin’ my butt and I need to get some sleep!
Night, night. Let me know what you think!
“You’re not going,” Michael said again, barely hanging onto his last thread of patience. “How many times I gotta tell you? It’s too dangerous!”
“Michael…,” Maria protested. Again.
“NO! End of discussion. When you said you were leaving with me I thought you meant to come here to help me pack, not going to New York to stake out the location of our enemies and possibly get yourself killed. You. Are. Not. Going!”
“Killed? Killed? Who said anything about getting killed? Is there something you’re not telling me, Michael? There is no way you are going to New York alone now. You need backup. You need me!”
“Do I have to tie you up and gag you until I’m gone? Because believe me, I’m warming up to that plan right now!” Michael stalked over to the door and yanked it open as an obvious hint that it was time for Maria to go.
“This isn’t over, Michael. I’ll see you in the morning, and I’m bringing my bags!” Maria warned as she swept by him out the door.
“You do that.” Michael rolled his eyes and swung the door shut behind her. He ran a weary hand over his eyes and rubbed at his temples trying to stave off his impending headache. “But I won’t be here,” he muttered softly to the empty room. In two quick strides Michael reached the couch and leaned down to scoop up his newly packed duffel bag. He checked his watch. Just enough time to get to the airport and try to get a standby flight to New York before the gates closed for the night.
A soft knock on the door startled him and his eyes narrowed as he readied for battle. Tossing the duffel bag to the side of the door out of sight he yanked the door back open. “YOU’RE NOT GOING!” he bellowed angrily.
“I…I…,” Serena consciously made herself hold her ground.
“What the hell? What are you doing here?” Michael was startled to find Serena at his doorstep. He didn’t even realize she knew where he lived. He turned away from her and strode back into his apartment, leaving her standing in the open doorway. “I thought you were Maria,” he offered, by way of explanation.
“Oh. I…I’m not Maria,” she stated the obvious before she took a fortifying breath and stepped into Michael’s domain, closing the door behind her. “And I am going,” she added bravely, holding her breath unconsciously as she awaited Michael’s response.
“What the hell?” Michael felt the headache creep into his temples and he dug his fingers into the tender skin by his eyes trying to relieve the pressure. These girls were going to be the death of him, he knew it. “What are you talking about?”
“I want to come with you. I don’t have anywhere else to be, and I can pay our way and make it easier for us to concentrate on getting the job done while we’re there.”
“Let me get this straight. You want to come with me…alone…on a potentially dangerous outing to New York because you’re rich and bored?”
“No! No to everything you just said, Michael! Don’t be ridiculous,” Serena calmly chastised, shaking her head at Michael’s assumptions.
“What? What part did I get wrong? You just said you wanted to come with me to New York, so…What? You and me in New York alone, right? And this is, most definitely, potentially dangerous. You can’t deny that. You’ve got more money than you know what to do with, thanks to dear old dad, more than you could spend in ten lifetimes, so I think I got the rich part right. And the only reason I can think of that you’d remotely want to come to New York with me is that you must have nothing better to do here, so you want to make a break for the Big Apple and live it up for a few days. That about it?”
Serena was shaking her head as she calmly made her way further into the room, seating herself on the couch. She smoothed her damp palms over the soft denim of her jeans and leaned back, trying to look casual. “First off, Michael, I don’t think you and I should go alone. I think we should take Jim Valenti with us too. He’s had experience as a cop, and he could be an invaluable asset helping us to locate the people we’re searching for. It’d give him a sense of purpose again and show him that he’s still good at something. He could be our own PI. Secondly, if we do this right it doesn’t have to be dangerous. We keep our distance, find out what we need to know and come home. And yes. I am rich. I can’t deny that I’ve come into a lot of money recently, but please believe that it’s not what I want. I want to do something good with it. Something that will help make up for…No. That’s not right, I realize that nothing will make up for what was done, but I’d like to at least smooth the path for you guys so that this nightmare can finally be over. Don’t let your pride stand in the way of an offer of help. And please don’t insult me by suggesting that I’d do this because I’m bored! I’m doing this because I need to help. I have to do something, and I’m not good at sitting around.”
She watched as Michael began impatiently pacing the room. She didn’t like the way he was shaking his head and glaring at her. She tilted her chin up proudly, not backing down. “Understand that I’m going whether you come with me or not, Michael. I’m going to be a part of the solution, no matter what it takes.”
“Like you were with the Valenti’s,” Michael shot back on a sudden hunch.
Bingo! Serena’s face flushed scarlet before she could stop herself.
“I don’t know what…,” Serena started to prevaricate.
“Don’t lie to me, Serena. If we’re going to be working together then you give me your complete honesty or we’re done before we even start. Got it?”
Serena nodded slightly, staring at her hands in her lap.
“You paid off the Valenti’s mortgage, didn’t you?” Michael pressed.
“I…”
“Complete honesty,” Michael reminded softly when it appeared that Serena might not go on.
“Yes,” she whispered so softly that Michael had to strain to hear her. “I did pay it off. It wasn’t his fault that he was fired. If anyone’s it was mine,” she confessed.
“No, it was your sick, twisted step-father, but we don’t need to get into that right now, do we? What else?”
Serena shot him a startled glance. “What…else?”
Michael rolled his eyes and plopped down beside her on the worn couch. “Yes, Serena. What. Else?” He spoke slowly and carefully enunciated each word mockingly.
“I guess, maybe I…sort of, sent a fake letter to the Valenti’s with a check saying it was from the government in appreciation of his efforts in thwarting a rogue faction of FBI agents,” Serena informed him in a swift rush of words, carefully not looking at him.
Michael sighed and sat back, staring at Serena. Seeing her in a new light. “Who knows?”
Serena was startled into looking up at Michael briefly, surprised to find his face reflecting only simple curiosity. “Knows? No one knows, Michael. And no one will,” she added fiercely, knowing she could do very little to stop him if he decided to share his newfound revelations.
Michael pushed his palms against his knees and stood up, staring at Serena. “Well, I guess that’s it. You’d better get going.”
“Michael! Please don’t let pride get in the way of my offer of help! I don’t even have to be around that much if…”
“Whoa, Serena. Slow the hell down. You’re making an awful lot of assumptions here. I’m not too proud to make use of Clark’s money, believe me. I’m more than happy to accept it as a final ‘fuck you’ to the not-so-dearly departed doc. I’m sure he’s spinning in hell right now at the thought that he’s helping our cause from the grave! And as for being around…I haven’t made up my mind about you yet, Serena. You need to understand that. But…what you did for the Valenti’s? That was pretty decent. I’ve gotta respect that, if nothing else. You can come, and I think it’d be good if Jim came too, for all the reasons you said, and…he’s a friend. A friend I know will watch my back when the chips are down, and you can’t have too many of those,” Michael finished finally, staring at Serena. “So I’ll say again…You better get going. You’ve got a lot of packing to do if we’re gonna leave before first light.”
Michael almost smirked at the comical look of shock that had spread across Serena’s face.
“I…I…” she stuttered out softly before catching her breath and starting again. “Thank you, Michael. I trust you mean that. My stuff is in the car, we can leave the car at the airport, pick Jim up on the way.” She smiled finally, for the first time since she’d entered Michael’s apartment.
Michael smiled back tentatively as he followed her to the door, leaning down to pick up his duffel again. He opened the door and smiled again, wider this time. “So…New York, here we come!” He swept his arm out to wave you out the door in front of him.
“What the hell?”
Michael’s smile dropped right off his face as his head swung around at the sound of his girlfriend’s voice. He barely restrained himself from groaning out loud as he leaned his forehead against the doorframe and slowly counted to ten.
Six. Seven… “Maria, what the hell are you doing back here?” Michael ground out through gritted teeth. Fuck counting to ten. This girl would try the patience of a saint, and he was far from that!
“Apparently, I’m interrupting your little rendezvous with Serena in New York, Michael! Would you care to explain why it’s okay for her to go with you when I can’t?” Maria glared at her boyfriend and waited for whatever lame excuse he was going to try to cook up on the spot.
“Maria, you misunderstand what’s going on here,” Serena inserted swiftly, needing to fill the ugly silence that was hovering in the air around them.
“Yeah? Why don’t you enlighten me?”
“I came over to offer to come along with Michael and bank roll the trip for him. I needed to find a way to use some of my…some of the money I got, to do good things. I don’t currently have a job, so I thought I’d also offer whatever assistance I can while he’s there. We’re going to see if Jim Valenti will come with us also. He’s had experience in investigations, missing persons, that kind of thing, and I thought he could help speed up the process of finding the people we’re looking for if he came along. That’s it,” Serena finished on a rush, hoping her new friend wouldn’t stay mad at her.
“That’s it?”
Serena nodded again warily.
“Okay,” Maria sighed and began digging through her purse.
“That’s it?” Michael echoed Maria’s last statement. “You’re not gonna argue or anything?” It was too good to be true!
“Please, Michael,” Maria looked up briefly and blew a stray hair out of her eyes, hands still digging into her bag. “I’m a reasonable woman. What were you expecting?” She had to look down quickly to hide the smirk that was covering her face because of the comical confusion that was overtaking Michael. “That’s it. I was actually just coming back because I wanted you to have this.” Maria had found what she was looking for in her purse and held it out to him triumphantly.
“What’s this?” Michael asked dubiously.
“It’s this new fangled invention called a cell phone, Michael. I thought it’d be handy for you to take with you to New York in case you need to call one of us and let us know what’s going on,” Maria stated calmly.
“You’re letting me take your cell phone?” He clarified in disbelief. He shook his head. She must really love him a lot if she was going to entrust him with her precious phone.
“Yeah, Michael, you can borrow my phone. Just remember, anything happens to it…By which I mean ANYTHING and you’re toast. Deal?”
Michael smiled and reached out for the phone in Maria’s hand, taking the opportunity to pull her fully up against his body. He leaned down and brushed his lips lightly against hers.
“Deal.”
TBC
Okay, I meant it to be longer, but the next part is New York, and stuff’s going to start happening that will heat things up clear to the end, so it needs its own part, lol!
Plus, my new medicine is kickin’ my butt and I need to get some sleep!
Night, night. Let me know what you think!
EYA Part 109
Hello! I’m back! I’m feeling much better and I wanted to thank you all for your well wishes and patience while I’ve gone through an extremely difficult illness. I’ve really missed writing this story and hopefully I’ll be able to post at least weekly until it is done. I’ve recently started back to work and things are getting back to normal, so that shouldn’t be too difficult of a goal as long as my health continues to hold up!
I wanted to especially thank Gabe and Nora for all of your personal emails and encouragement and especially Candi (Isis) for bumping the board and keeping everyone updated on what’s going on as events dragged on.
This is the first thing I’ve written in months so I hope you don’t find it too disappointing, lol. I was almost scared to start because it’s been so long…
EYA Part 109
“I don’t like it,” Max grumbled again. “Why couldn’t he just wait like any normal person and tell us his plans?”
Maria restrained herself from rolling her eyes, wishing again that she wasn’t the one who’d gotten elected to share Michael’s plans with Max and Liz. “I think we both know that Michael isn’t just any ‘normal’ person,” she stated, making air quotes. “He gets an idea in his head and runs with it.”
Max raked a hand through his already messy hair and shot a glance at Liz, who was watching him intently. He couldn’t leave her here, and he couldn’t take her with him to New York. He sighed inwardly, hating how Michael had taken the danger on himself and left for New York with no real plan or strategy. “Ahh! I hate this,” he exclaimed again. “Why would he just take off with no backup? No plan?”
Maria raised her eyebrows at his outburst and realized that she hadn’t told him everything yet. “He does have backup. Sort of. Serena went with him to bank roll the trip, and they took Jim Valenti along for his tracking skills,” Maria reassured him.
Max sat down on the couch and Liz moved to his side to sit on the arm beside him, taking his offered hand and rubbing her fingers over his soothingly. She could feel his irritation and worry building up in increasing waves.
Max leaned his head back and tried to think what they could do. “That’s better. I feel better if Valenti is with him. Still…I just wish I could talk to him. I mean, if he’d just told me what he was planning I could have given him directions to Rath and Lonnie’s place. I even remember where the warehouse is that they used as a meeting place to test me before I sat in on the summit meeting. I would have told him…”
Maria shook her head and crouched down on the floor in front of Max. “You would have told him not to go,” she interrupted assuredly.
“No. I…”
“Yes, Max. You would have made him stay,” she interrupted again.
“No, really, Maria, I could have helped…”
“Max,” Liz said suddenly, instantly turning his attention to her. She quirked an eyebrow and gave him The Look.
Max slumped back down in defeat. “I would have made him stay,” he confessed, unable to deceive himself in the face of his wife’s knowing glance. “But I could still help him now, if only he would call me.” He turned to Maria quickly. “If he calls you will you make sure he’ll talk to me? I need to tell him where to start looking.”
Maria looked smug. “We can call him, if you want. I thought ahead and gave him my cell phone.”
Liz sat up and stared at her friend in disbelief. “You must love him a lot,” she breathed in awe. “You gave him your cell phone?” She repeated in shock.
Maria squirmed uncomfortably. “I didn’t give it to him, I loaned it to him. There’s a difference,” she insisted. “It’s not like I didn’t threaten him with bodily harm if he let something happen to it,” she defended hotly.
“Oh, you looove him! You love him soooo much!” Max sing-songed, happy for the break in the tension her original announcement had created.
Maria smacked him on the leg. “I don’t need that from you, Max!” Smiling despite herself. She got up and walked around the coffee table in the middle of the apartment before plopping down in the chair across from the couple. She looked worried suddenly. “We should call him. I need to make sure he remembered to plug the phone into the charger.” She stood up and went into their kitchen to retrieve their cordless phone.
Max rolled his eyes, sharing a glance with Liz. “Hey, Maria, do you think when you’re done threatening…humph! Hey!” He gave Liz an injured glance and rubbed the spot on his side that her elbow had sharply contacted. Liz arched her brow again and Max abruptly changed his sentence, “…when you’re done speaking with Michael that maybe I can talk to him for a minute? You know, let him know where the hell to start looking and make his job about a million times easier and less dangerous while he’s there?” Max added sarcastically.
Maria waved a hand at him while she dialed with the other. “Sure. Sure, whatever, Max,” she said distractedly, while she pictured her phone’s precious battery dying a slow death if Michael was neglecting to plug it in. He could be so thoughtless…What had her phone ever done to him?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“I don’t like it,” Michael stated emphatically. Again. Jim rolled his eyes and kept typing into the state-of-the-art computer at the antique walnut desk in front of him. He’d heard it all already. Twice.
“Get over it, Michael,” Jim warned him wearily. “I think it’s an excellent setup. What are you actually griping about here?” Jim rolled his neck around to avoid the impending cramp and leaned back in the leather computer chair while swiveling to face Michael. It was time to get it all out and shut the boy up once and for all. “Is it the fact that we were able to make it here in record time because of the private jet Serena arranged? Or maybe you’re griping about staying in Serena’s huge three story apartment here in New York instead of working out of a crappy hotel room, is that it? Oh! Oh! Or maybe you just have a problem with the fact that we’ve got all the latest equipment and unlimited resources right here at our fingertips to get this job done with a minimum of danger, instead of the way we usually operate on just our wits and a piece of chewy bubble gum? Is that it?” Jim finished sarcastically.
Michael glared at Valenti, arms crossed in front of him. “What I don’t like is the fact that we’ve been here for six hours and we haven’t seen Serena since we walked in the door. What’s so top secret that she can’t let us in there to see? I don’t trust her.”
Jim rubbed his fingers over his eyes and turned back to the computer. “She has a right to get reacquainted with her old house. She lived here most of her life. There’ve got to be a million memories she’s trying to reconcile with the reality of what’s happened. She’s lost both her parents now. Give her some time.” Jim peered closely at Michael to see if he was even paying attention and continued staring until Michael looked him in the eye. “You’re going to have to make a decision to trust her, Michael. She’s done nothing but try to help us all since she realized what her step-dad was really like. All of us, Michael.”
Michael stopped pacing and shot a quick look at Jim, just as the other man turned back to the computer. Did he know what Serena had done for he and Kyle? Michael shook his head. He wouldn’t put it past Valenti to have figured it out. There was a reason they were using him as their own PI. He moved closer to peer over Valenti’s shoulder. “Any progress there? What are you looking up?”
“Nothing yet. I’m trying to find out if they’ve tried to register at any of the hotel’s in the area or show up on any leases in the last year. We should really call Max to find out if he remembers anything about where they went when he was here last year with Tess.”
“No. No way.” Michael shook his head. “All he’s gonna do is yell at us to come back, and we’re not doing that until we find something,” Michael stated emphatically.
“It would save us a lot of time, Michael. Just let me call him…”
They were interrupted by the abrupt noise of the cell phone belting out the tune of “Genie in a Bottle”. Michael rolled his eyes and patted his pockets until he located the offending phone. “Nice ringer,” he answered rudely, knowing that Maria is the only one who would be calling him.
“Shut up, Michael, I’ve been meaning to update it. There’s a new Britney song that I’m thinking about so don’t do anything to mess it up,” she answered back sassily. “Did you remember to plug in the charger?”
“Did I…Of course I did!” Michael’s cast his eyes around the room frantically searching for his duffel bag as the ominous red blink of the low battery warning started flashing on the phone. He crouched down and quickly searched through the bag until he found the charger. He spun back to face the room, searching for outlets. “How could you think I could forget that after you threatened my life…not to mention my manhood…if I forgot?” Michael was getting frantic. Where was a damn outlet? Was the red blinking getting faster?
Jim casually pointed to the wall on his left, still searching away on his computer. Michael dove for the outlet, plugging in the charger and trying to think of a way to get off the phone before it died in his hand and gave him away.
“Well, forgive me for not trusting you, Michael,” Maria still sounded slightly skeptical, but she was willing to let it pass. For now. “So how’s everything going out there? I assume you’ve found a place to stay?”
Michael rolling his eyes to the ceiling. “Yeah. Serena’s parent’s old apartment where they used to live in New York. It’s practically a mansion.”
Maria stopped pacing for a second and processed the information. “Serena has a mansion in New York?”
“It’s a penthouse. Three stories tall. Look, I’ll give you the number here and you can call me back on a land line so that the phone can keep charging,” Michael interrupted, almost desperate as he noticed the crackle in the line and that the blinking had stopped and was now a solid red light. There was no way that was a good sign. He quickly rapped out the number and flipped the phone closed before Maria could object, and placed it carefully on the charger.
“She calling back here?” Jim inquired casually. “I really could use a chat with Max, you know,” he finished hopefully.
“I don’t even know if he knows we’re gone yet,” Michael answered absently, staring at the cordless phone on the antique end table by the tasteful sofa. “Three, two, one…”
Ring!
Michael smiled and snatched up the phone. “Perfect timing,” he smiled into the phone.
“Depends on who you ask,” Max growled back at Michael, still irritated that he had taken off without a plan.
Michael fumbled the phone until it almost dropped to the floor, narrowly saving it from a second crash before he held the phone toward Jim. “It’s for you,” he croaked, pushing it into Jim’s surprised hands and backing quickly away, shaking his head.
“Coward,” Jim whispered with a smirk before lifting the phone to his ear. “Max, I presume? Hey, what can you tell me about Lonnie and Rath’s last known location?” He swiveled back around to face the computer as Michael backed up and sat down heavily on the sofa, knowing he only had a temporary reprieve. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t know about it either until they told me to pack a bag and get on the plane…”
“I don’t like this,” Michael muttered again.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Serena sank to the floor of what used to be her mother’s office, suddenly boneless. She stared at the safe she had just closed and shuddered again. It couldn’t be true, but inside she knew that it was.
“All these years…” she whispered. But it made sense. In a twisted, sick sort of way. “You were playing a dangerous game, Mother,” she muttered in low tones. “If Father ever found out…” she couldn’t stop the shaking. “I have to know…I have to know if it’s true.” She got up and brushed herself off, stumbling toward the door to her father’s old lab. One way to find out…
She turned on the fluorescent lights that illuminated the long, open room. She blinked in the brightness and breathed in the lab smell that had come to mean ‘home’ to her over the years of her escape in studies. I had come so easily to her. It made so much more sense now. She walked into the room slowly, for once almost reluctant to begin an experiment, the results of which would confirm or deny the words that had been hidden in the back of her mother’s safe until she had received the combination in a letter from her late mother upon her step-father’s death at the reading of the will. The letter her adopted father never knew about. The letter that would have condemned her to death or worse had he found it before her.
Her hands steadied as the familiar motions of gathering her instruments and clearing her workspace centered her on the task she had before her. She carefully swabbed a spot in the crook of her elbow and barely blinked as she smoothly inserted the needle into a vein and drew a sample.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“We’ve got a place to start,” Jim stated with satisfaction, hanging up the phone. “Are you ready to go?”
Michael stood up quickly, more than ready to spring into action. He grabbed his black leather vest and shrugged into it as he moved toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“We should leave a note or something for Serena,” Jim stated, already searching the desk for paper.
“Why? She won’t even know we’re gone. We haven’t seen her in hours,” Michael complained.
“Common courtesy, Michael. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” Jim shook his head and started the note.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Serena asked, surprising both men.
“We’ve got a place to start looking,” Michael answered tersely. “We’ll see you when we get back.”
“I want to come with you,” Serena retorted quickly, seeing that Michael was going to take off without her.
“Uh, uh. No way. You wait here where you won’t get in the way and we’ll see you later,” Michael retorted rudely. He couldn’t imagine how this prissy little girl could think she would be of any help.
“Michael, I could…”
“I think you should wait here, too,” Jim interrupted her before they could get in a fight about it. “We’re gonna be moving quickly and more people would just be a hindrance.”
“I…well, okay,” Serena sighed, defeated. “Are you planning on bringing the baby back with you?”
“NO!” Michael answered definitively.
“Fine!“ Serena barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. “Just asking. If you find where they’re staying, try to get a sample of the baby’s DNA. I’ll need a hair, preferably with the follicle still attached, or skin cells, saliva maybe…” she turned back, distracted by her thoughts. “I’ll get you a sample container. She paused in the door, turning back to stare Michael down. “Don’t leave until I come back and show you how to obtain and preserve the sample,” she warned him sternly.
“Fine,” Michael relented. “Hurry,” he couldn’t resist adding in irritation at the delay.
Serena hurried and was back quickly, showing them what they needed to do.
“What are we gonna do with the samples?” Jim asked curiously. “Is there a lab nearby or do we have to take it back with us?”
“There’s a lab in the house here. I know how to run the tests,” Serena answered.
“Good,” Jim nodded, “That’ll save a lot of time.”
Michael quirked an eyebrow, suddenly curious. “Is that where you’ve been all this time?”
Serena felt her face infuse with color before she could stop it. “Yes. For part of the time,” she confessed. “The lab is ready,” she finished, hoping he’d think that it had taken awhile to set it up for the tests they’d be taking. “If you can get me the sample I can find out if the baby is Max’s.”
Michael stared at her for a moment longer and grabbed the sample containers before heading for the door.
“Don’t forget your phone, Michael.” Serena moved to hand him the phone.
“Leave it,” Michael warned her. “It’s charging. The battery’s dead.”
Serena smirked, remembering Maria’s strict list of instructions regarding her phone. “Dead, huh?“
Michael held up a hand. “Not another word,” he cautioned her before quickly exiting the apartment.
Serena smiled for the first time in hours.
TBC
Feedback would be greatly appreciated so that I’ll know who’s still reading!
I wanted to especially thank Gabe and Nora for all of your personal emails and encouragement and especially Candi (Isis) for bumping the board and keeping everyone updated on what’s going on as events dragged on.
This is the first thing I’ve written in months so I hope you don’t find it too disappointing, lol. I was almost scared to start because it’s been so long…
EYA Part 109
“I don’t like it,” Max grumbled again. “Why couldn’t he just wait like any normal person and tell us his plans?”
Maria restrained herself from rolling her eyes, wishing again that she wasn’t the one who’d gotten elected to share Michael’s plans with Max and Liz. “I think we both know that Michael isn’t just any ‘normal’ person,” she stated, making air quotes. “He gets an idea in his head and runs with it.”
Max raked a hand through his already messy hair and shot a glance at Liz, who was watching him intently. He couldn’t leave her here, and he couldn’t take her with him to New York. He sighed inwardly, hating how Michael had taken the danger on himself and left for New York with no real plan or strategy. “Ahh! I hate this,” he exclaimed again. “Why would he just take off with no backup? No plan?”
Maria raised her eyebrows at his outburst and realized that she hadn’t told him everything yet. “He does have backup. Sort of. Serena went with him to bank roll the trip, and they took Jim Valenti along for his tracking skills,” Maria reassured him.
Max sat down on the couch and Liz moved to his side to sit on the arm beside him, taking his offered hand and rubbing her fingers over his soothingly. She could feel his irritation and worry building up in increasing waves.
Max leaned his head back and tried to think what they could do. “That’s better. I feel better if Valenti is with him. Still…I just wish I could talk to him. I mean, if he’d just told me what he was planning I could have given him directions to Rath and Lonnie’s place. I even remember where the warehouse is that they used as a meeting place to test me before I sat in on the summit meeting. I would have told him…”
Maria shook her head and crouched down on the floor in front of Max. “You would have told him not to go,” she interrupted assuredly.
“No. I…”
“Yes, Max. You would have made him stay,” she interrupted again.
“No, really, Maria, I could have helped…”
“Max,” Liz said suddenly, instantly turning his attention to her. She quirked an eyebrow and gave him The Look.
Max slumped back down in defeat. “I would have made him stay,” he confessed, unable to deceive himself in the face of his wife’s knowing glance. “But I could still help him now, if only he would call me.” He turned to Maria quickly. “If he calls you will you make sure he’ll talk to me? I need to tell him where to start looking.”
Maria looked smug. “We can call him, if you want. I thought ahead and gave him my cell phone.”
Liz sat up and stared at her friend in disbelief. “You must love him a lot,” she breathed in awe. “You gave him your cell phone?” She repeated in shock.
Maria squirmed uncomfortably. “I didn’t give it to him, I loaned it to him. There’s a difference,” she insisted. “It’s not like I didn’t threaten him with bodily harm if he let something happen to it,” she defended hotly.
“Oh, you looove him! You love him soooo much!” Max sing-songed, happy for the break in the tension her original announcement had created.
Maria smacked him on the leg. “I don’t need that from you, Max!” Smiling despite herself. She got up and walked around the coffee table in the middle of the apartment before plopping down in the chair across from the couple. She looked worried suddenly. “We should call him. I need to make sure he remembered to plug the phone into the charger.” She stood up and went into their kitchen to retrieve their cordless phone.
Max rolled his eyes, sharing a glance with Liz. “Hey, Maria, do you think when you’re done threatening…humph! Hey!” He gave Liz an injured glance and rubbed the spot on his side that her elbow had sharply contacted. Liz arched her brow again and Max abruptly changed his sentence, “…when you’re done speaking with Michael that maybe I can talk to him for a minute? You know, let him know where the hell to start looking and make his job about a million times easier and less dangerous while he’s there?” Max added sarcastically.
Maria waved a hand at him while she dialed with the other. “Sure. Sure, whatever, Max,” she said distractedly, while she pictured her phone’s precious battery dying a slow death if Michael was neglecting to plug it in. He could be so thoughtless…What had her phone ever done to him?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“I don’t like it,” Michael stated emphatically. Again. Jim rolled his eyes and kept typing into the state-of-the-art computer at the antique walnut desk in front of him. He’d heard it all already. Twice.
“Get over it, Michael,” Jim warned him wearily. “I think it’s an excellent setup. What are you actually griping about here?” Jim rolled his neck around to avoid the impending cramp and leaned back in the leather computer chair while swiveling to face Michael. It was time to get it all out and shut the boy up once and for all. “Is it the fact that we were able to make it here in record time because of the private jet Serena arranged? Or maybe you’re griping about staying in Serena’s huge three story apartment here in New York instead of working out of a crappy hotel room, is that it? Oh! Oh! Or maybe you just have a problem with the fact that we’ve got all the latest equipment and unlimited resources right here at our fingertips to get this job done with a minimum of danger, instead of the way we usually operate on just our wits and a piece of chewy bubble gum? Is that it?” Jim finished sarcastically.
Michael glared at Valenti, arms crossed in front of him. “What I don’t like is the fact that we’ve been here for six hours and we haven’t seen Serena since we walked in the door. What’s so top secret that she can’t let us in there to see? I don’t trust her.”
Jim rubbed his fingers over his eyes and turned back to the computer. “She has a right to get reacquainted with her old house. She lived here most of her life. There’ve got to be a million memories she’s trying to reconcile with the reality of what’s happened. She’s lost both her parents now. Give her some time.” Jim peered closely at Michael to see if he was even paying attention and continued staring until Michael looked him in the eye. “You’re going to have to make a decision to trust her, Michael. She’s done nothing but try to help us all since she realized what her step-dad was really like. All of us, Michael.”
Michael stopped pacing and shot a quick look at Jim, just as the other man turned back to the computer. Did he know what Serena had done for he and Kyle? Michael shook his head. He wouldn’t put it past Valenti to have figured it out. There was a reason they were using him as their own PI. He moved closer to peer over Valenti’s shoulder. “Any progress there? What are you looking up?”
“Nothing yet. I’m trying to find out if they’ve tried to register at any of the hotel’s in the area or show up on any leases in the last year. We should really call Max to find out if he remembers anything about where they went when he was here last year with Tess.”
“No. No way.” Michael shook his head. “All he’s gonna do is yell at us to come back, and we’re not doing that until we find something,” Michael stated emphatically.
“It would save us a lot of time, Michael. Just let me call him…”
They were interrupted by the abrupt noise of the cell phone belting out the tune of “Genie in a Bottle”. Michael rolled his eyes and patted his pockets until he located the offending phone. “Nice ringer,” he answered rudely, knowing that Maria is the only one who would be calling him.
“Shut up, Michael, I’ve been meaning to update it. There’s a new Britney song that I’m thinking about so don’t do anything to mess it up,” she answered back sassily. “Did you remember to plug in the charger?”
“Did I…Of course I did!” Michael’s cast his eyes around the room frantically searching for his duffel bag as the ominous red blink of the low battery warning started flashing on the phone. He crouched down and quickly searched through the bag until he found the charger. He spun back to face the room, searching for outlets. “How could you think I could forget that after you threatened my life…not to mention my manhood…if I forgot?” Michael was getting frantic. Where was a damn outlet? Was the red blinking getting faster?
Jim casually pointed to the wall on his left, still searching away on his computer. Michael dove for the outlet, plugging in the charger and trying to think of a way to get off the phone before it died in his hand and gave him away.
“Well, forgive me for not trusting you, Michael,” Maria still sounded slightly skeptical, but she was willing to let it pass. For now. “So how’s everything going out there? I assume you’ve found a place to stay?”
Michael rolling his eyes to the ceiling. “Yeah. Serena’s parent’s old apartment where they used to live in New York. It’s practically a mansion.”
Maria stopped pacing for a second and processed the information. “Serena has a mansion in New York?”
“It’s a penthouse. Three stories tall. Look, I’ll give you the number here and you can call me back on a land line so that the phone can keep charging,” Michael interrupted, almost desperate as he noticed the crackle in the line and that the blinking had stopped and was now a solid red light. There was no way that was a good sign. He quickly rapped out the number and flipped the phone closed before Maria could object, and placed it carefully on the charger.
“She calling back here?” Jim inquired casually. “I really could use a chat with Max, you know,” he finished hopefully.
“I don’t even know if he knows we’re gone yet,” Michael answered absently, staring at the cordless phone on the antique end table by the tasteful sofa. “Three, two, one…”
Ring!
Michael smiled and snatched up the phone. “Perfect timing,” he smiled into the phone.
“Depends on who you ask,” Max growled back at Michael, still irritated that he had taken off without a plan.
Michael fumbled the phone until it almost dropped to the floor, narrowly saving it from a second crash before he held the phone toward Jim. “It’s for you,” he croaked, pushing it into Jim’s surprised hands and backing quickly away, shaking his head.
“Coward,” Jim whispered with a smirk before lifting the phone to his ear. “Max, I presume? Hey, what can you tell me about Lonnie and Rath’s last known location?” He swiveled back around to face the computer as Michael backed up and sat down heavily on the sofa, knowing he only had a temporary reprieve. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t know about it either until they told me to pack a bag and get on the plane…”
“I don’t like this,” Michael muttered again.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Serena sank to the floor of what used to be her mother’s office, suddenly boneless. She stared at the safe she had just closed and shuddered again. It couldn’t be true, but inside she knew that it was.
“All these years…” she whispered. But it made sense. In a twisted, sick sort of way. “You were playing a dangerous game, Mother,” she muttered in low tones. “If Father ever found out…” she couldn’t stop the shaking. “I have to know…I have to know if it’s true.” She got up and brushed herself off, stumbling toward the door to her father’s old lab. One way to find out…
She turned on the fluorescent lights that illuminated the long, open room. She blinked in the brightness and breathed in the lab smell that had come to mean ‘home’ to her over the years of her escape in studies. I had come so easily to her. It made so much more sense now. She walked into the room slowly, for once almost reluctant to begin an experiment, the results of which would confirm or deny the words that had been hidden in the back of her mother’s safe until she had received the combination in a letter from her late mother upon her step-father’s death at the reading of the will. The letter her adopted father never knew about. The letter that would have condemned her to death or worse had he found it before her.
Her hands steadied as the familiar motions of gathering her instruments and clearing her workspace centered her on the task she had before her. She carefully swabbed a spot in the crook of her elbow and barely blinked as she smoothly inserted the needle into a vein and drew a sample.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“We’ve got a place to start,” Jim stated with satisfaction, hanging up the phone. “Are you ready to go?”
Michael stood up quickly, more than ready to spring into action. He grabbed his black leather vest and shrugged into it as he moved toward the door. “Let’s go.”
“We should leave a note or something for Serena,” Jim stated, already searching the desk for paper.
“Why? She won’t even know we’re gone. We haven’t seen her in hours,” Michael complained.
“Common courtesy, Michael. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” Jim shook his head and started the note.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Serena asked, surprising both men.
“We’ve got a place to start looking,” Michael answered tersely. “We’ll see you when we get back.”
“I want to come with you,” Serena retorted quickly, seeing that Michael was going to take off without her.
“Uh, uh. No way. You wait here where you won’t get in the way and we’ll see you later,” Michael retorted rudely. He couldn’t imagine how this prissy little girl could think she would be of any help.
“Michael, I could…”
“I think you should wait here, too,” Jim interrupted her before they could get in a fight about it. “We’re gonna be moving quickly and more people would just be a hindrance.”
“I…well, okay,” Serena sighed, defeated. “Are you planning on bringing the baby back with you?”
“NO!” Michael answered definitively.
“Fine!“ Serena barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. “Just asking. If you find where they’re staying, try to get a sample of the baby’s DNA. I’ll need a hair, preferably with the follicle still attached, or skin cells, saliva maybe…” she turned back, distracted by her thoughts. “I’ll get you a sample container. She paused in the door, turning back to stare Michael down. “Don’t leave until I come back and show you how to obtain and preserve the sample,” she warned him sternly.
“Fine,” Michael relented. “Hurry,” he couldn’t resist adding in irritation at the delay.
Serena hurried and was back quickly, showing them what they needed to do.
“What are we gonna do with the samples?” Jim asked curiously. “Is there a lab nearby or do we have to take it back with us?”
“There’s a lab in the house here. I know how to run the tests,” Serena answered.
“Good,” Jim nodded, “That’ll save a lot of time.”
Michael quirked an eyebrow, suddenly curious. “Is that where you’ve been all this time?”
Serena felt her face infuse with color before she could stop it. “Yes. For part of the time,” she confessed. “The lab is ready,” she finished, hoping he’d think that it had taken awhile to set it up for the tests they’d be taking. “If you can get me the sample I can find out if the baby is Max’s.”
Michael stared at her for a moment longer and grabbed the sample containers before heading for the door.
“Don’t forget your phone, Michael.” Serena moved to hand him the phone.
“Leave it,” Michael warned her. “It’s charging. The battery’s dead.”
Serena smirked, remembering Maria’s strict list of instructions regarding her phone. “Dead, huh?“
Michael held up a hand. “Not another word,” he cautioned her before quickly exiting the apartment.
Serena smiled for the first time in hours.
TBC
Feedback would be greatly appreciated so that I’ll know who’s still reading!
Last edited by javagin on Wed Dec 10, 2003 8:48 pm, edited 2 times in total.
EYA 110
What? Can this be? TWO new chapters in less than a week? lol
You've all made me feel very welcome coming back, so I'm posting a new chapter for Thanksgiving. NC17 of course, lol, because it's been too long!
Enjoy!
EYA Part 110 (AKA: The Turkey Baster revisited, lol)
“Okay, we’re close enough.” Jim held out a warning hand and Michael stopped immediately, placing his back against the brick wall and looking both ways up and down the junk filled alley.
“Do you think we’ve got the right place?” Michael questioned dubiously. “This place is a trash heap.”
“This is where Max said. And look,” Jim raised his hand to indicate the alien-themed graffiti that was adorning the brick a little closer to the place they thought should be the entrance to Rath and Lonnie’s place. “Hang on just a second while I…” Jim dug around in a small bag he’d stocked carefully from the secret room Serena had revealed to him at the penthouse. “Here, put this in your left ear.” Jim handed Michael an impossibly tiny ear piece.
Michael shrugged and fitted it carefully to his ear. “What’s this gonna do?”
Jim’s eyes lit up. “It works with this.” Jim handed Michael a tiny mobile microphone on a clip. “Clip that behind the neckline of your shirt so it’s hidden from view.
Michael pulled out the neck of his T-shirt and carefully clipped the microphone jiggling it slightly to make sure it was secure. He watched Jim outfit himself the same way.
Jim held up a finger to indicate Michel should stay put while he slowly and silently made his way to the end of the alley.
“Testing one, two, three…”
Michael barely restrained himself from jumping in surprise. It sounded like Jim was whispering right in his ear, but he could clearly see him grinning at him from thirty feet away.
“Shit!” Michael whispered with a grin of his own. “Can you hear me too?”
“Yep,” Jim answered softly as he made his way back to Michael’s side.
“That’s awesome,” Michael whispered again when Jim reached his side.
“Like that, do ya?” Jim smiled back. “Wait ‘til you see these.”
Jim opened his hand and revealed four flat disks, approximately one centimeter in diameter each.
“What are those?”
“Bugs,” Jim answered shortly. “You’ve got to get inside and place them where they won’t be seen. Try to put them in the rooms they’ll be talking in the most, and place them under chairs or tables. Maybe under a lamp, if they have one. You get the idea.” Jim flipped one over showing Michael the adhesive on the back. “Press it down firmly to lock it in place. That also activates the bug. I’ve got this.” Jim opened his left hand and revealed a small controller. “It’ll let me hear all the bugs or just one at a time, and, for right now, you too. I won’t turn yours off until you’re safely out of there. If you can, try to whisper something after planting each one and I’ll let you know if I can hear you. Any questions?” Jim paused , watching Michael expectantly.
“Yeah. When do I go in?” Michael was eager to get it done, holding out his hand so Jim could give him the tiny disks.
“Good man, Michael!” Jim capped his companion on the back. “You’ll go in as soon as we determine who’s actually in there right now, and that’ll be my job. Wait right here.” Jim started to slip off toward the entrance, digging in his supply pack again.
“But…”
“Shh. I’ll be right back.”
Michael shut up and waited while he scanned up and down the alley continuously. He was extremely grateful that Serena had thought to bring Jim along. His technical skills were exactly what they were going to need to reduce the risk of exposing themselves to their enemies.
A movement at the end of the alley caught his eye, making Michael catch his breath and flatten himself against the cold brick.
“End of the alley. Stay down,” Michael warned softly, knowing Jim would follow his direction. He didn’t look back to check that he had been obeyed, moving instead to assess the danger. There was a low growl and then a stray dog loped away. “Just a dog,” Michael stated, still watching the alley to make sure that’s all it really was. “All clear.”
He watched as Jim made his way back to his side several moments later.
“Done.”
Michael raised an eyebrow in silent question.
“I planted the fifth one on the door. If it’s working properly, then I can say there are no signs of movement inside right now. We’ll wait another ten minutes and then you should try to go in. I’ll maintain watch while you go.”
Michael nodded and grinned.
Time for action!
>>>>>>>>>>>
“Michael?”
“Um, no…”
“Is this Serena? What are you doing answering my phone?” Maria sounded testy. “Let me talk to Michael.”
“Well,” Serena hesitated. “He’s not exactly here right…”
“Not there? What does that mean, exactly? Why did he take off without the phone I specifically sent with him for emergencies?”
“Is this an emergency? I reminded him to take it, but it’d just started charging when they left this morning so…”
“Wait, wait, wait…just started charging?! That deceitful little…I can’t believe him! No. Wait. I can believe him! And no. It’s not an actual emergency. This time! But how would he know that, huh? He didn’t charge the phone! Of all the irresponsible…”
Serena held the phone slightly away from her ear until Maria calmed down somewhat.
“…this calls for payback,” Maria finally decided. “Can you cook, Serena?”
Serena was startled by the apparent, swift change of subject.
“Um, yes, of course. What does that…”
“Do you own a turkey baster?” Maria continued relentlessly, already grinning wickedly at the glow the payback would provide.
“I…um, I think so, yes, but…I don’t understand what…?”
“Alex hasn’t told you the turkey baster story yet?” Maria laughed wickedly. “I’m sure he’ll forgive me for telling you first…”
By the time Maria was done Serena was laughing hysterically.
“I’m totally in, Maria,” she snorted out between laughs. “I need to go so that I can buy the steaks and check the barbeque. I’ll be sure to tell you how it goes.”
“Crap! I’ve got to get to class, I’m already late as it is. I wish I could see his face! Pictures would be ideal, but if you can’t manage that, then I need a play by play description of his reaction. I’m serious! Don’t leave anything out!”
“Don’t worry, Maria.” Serena ended the call, chuckling softly and wondering if Michael and Jim would be home in time for lunch or if Maria’s payback would have to wait until dinner.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The tiny smile on Max’s lips was the first outward sign that Maria later wished she hadn’t taken for granted. It was followed shortly by rolling waves of heat that had her catching her breath and leaning into him without conscious thought. She shook her head to help free herself from the haze of sexual heat he was generating and tried to think straight. The middle of drama class wasn’t the best place for an orgy. Probably.
She shook her head again. No. Definitely not. She caught sight of Pam Troy, seated right behind Max, with her eyes glazed over, her face a slack-jawed mask of lust.
“Uh, Max?” Maria tried to gain Max’s attention quietly. “Hey, sweetie?”
Still no response.
She took a deep breath and braced herself for contact.
Pam beat her to it.
“Oh, Max,” Pam purred throatily, sliding her fingers down his arm and firmly gripping his bicep as she leaned forward so she could see his face. “We should go somewhere. You’ve got to be feeling this too.”
Max shuddered under her unwelcome touch and stood up quickly to get away.
“Mr. Evans?” Their drama teacher raised a brow and stared at Max. “Is there something I can do for you?”
Max flushed and sat back down quickly. “Uh…I…No. Thank you, sir,” he finally muttered out, sinking low in his chair.
Maria shot a warning glare at Pam before leaning in toward Max and hissing, “What the hell are you doing, Max?”
Max looked startled, almost dazed. “What? What’s happening, Maria?”
“You’re generating-heat, Max,” She raised her eyebrows expressively waiting for comprehension to dawn. “You know what kinda heat I’m referring to here, Max. Right?”
Max nodded mutely.
“Well knock it off or Miss Troy back there is gonna crawl over these chairs and start humping your leg,” Maria scolded, way more than half serious.
Max looked properly horrified by the possibility and shot his hand into the air to gain the teacher’s immediate attention.
“What is it now, Mr. Evans?” he queried, tired of the interruptions.
Max stood again, feeling hunted when Pam leaned up close behind him, her breath hot at his neck.
“May I be excused please, sir? I’m not feeling well…”
Mr. Nelson stared at Max for a moment before relenting. “Yes , of course. You do look rather flushed…”
Pam stood quickly behind him. “Me too, sir!”
The teacher raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “One at a time, I think, Ms. Troy,” he answered, ignoring the look of acute disappointment that she shot at him.
Max was out the door before he could change his mind.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Liz pushed Max forcefully back against the wall of the small storage room. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt in her hand and raised it up until it was bunched at his neck. She was desperate with the heat that came at her in waves off of Max and filled her to overflowing. Liz dropped to her knees in front of him, her hands scrabbling to pop the button on his jeans and lower the zipper.
“Oh, uh…yeah…Liz!” Max was incoherent as she reached inside the open folds of his well-worn jeans and yanked them down around his hips, wasting no time in taking firm control of her prize. His head cracked back against the unforgiving concrete with a dull thud as he threw it back. He barely noticed. His breath sped up until his chest was heaving.
“I need…I need to taste you,” Liz panted out, leaning in to suit action to words. Her mouth watered and she swallowed him down as far as she could take him.
“Guh! Liz…that’s, uh,” Max was moaning, almost to the edge of his endurance. He struggled with the sleeves of his t-shirt, cursing softly when he almost couldn’t get it off. The shirt hit the ground with a soft whisper of sound and his hands immediately threaded through Liz’s long, silky hair, pulling her closer, trying to remember not to buck uncontrollably into her mouth.
Liz pulled back so that only the head of his erection was in her mouth and dragged her tongue firmly around the underside of the cap as she gripped the base of his shaft firmly and stroked up toward her mouth, letting him know it was okay to buck his hips a little.
Max groaned at the sensations that crashed over him at the touch of her lips and hands, and the immediate understanding of his need to move. He hips snapped forward several inches and Liz was ready, moaning and stroking as he built an unsteady rhythm.
“Liz…Liz, I can’t…I need…” Max panted breathlessly, knowing he was too close, and that she needed him too.
Liz let her lips slip from him wetly as she gripped her hands over his hips and stood slowly as she dragged her tongue and teeth across the exposed skin of his hip and over his ribs to finally suck in his firmly budded nipple until he squirmed and worked frantically between their bodies to yank open her shorts. The button went flying across the cemented floor unnoticed as he pushed his hands into the shorts and dragged them down as he gripped her ass and pulled her closer so their hips could grind together providing a bare second of relief that they were no longer separated by air.
Max used one hand to push the offending material down until it pooled at her ankles and she could step out of it. He pulled her up against his body and his arm muscles bunched and contracted while he effortlessly lifted her up, moving his legs forward while he leaned his shoulders back against the wall behind him. Her legs had just enough room to wrap around behind him when he arched his hips upward.
Liz wrapped her arms around the strong column of his neck and pulled herself up as he held her one-handed while he reached between their bodies to guide himself inside of her. Feeling the wet tip teasing at her entrance, Liz allowed her body to drop down abruptly, startling a gasp of surprised pleasure from Max’s panting lips. Liz licked out her tongue and took control of Max’s mouth, stroking his teeth and tongue, making him push back and take her mouth too. She growled low in her throat, unable to get enough of the taste, the feel of Max, frustrated at her inability to fully control the motion of his hips into hers.
Max made an incoherent sound of mindless need and bucked up harshly into her, their hips making loud smacking sounds every time they came together. He increased the speed and ferocity of his strokes as her nails raked over his neck and shoulders, marking him as hers while her mouth pulled and sucked over his jaw line and down his throat, lapping delicately over the newly scored flesh, greedy for the taste of him.
Finger shaped red marks darkened into faint bruises over Liz’s ass and upper thighs as his fingers tightened reflexively over her skin. Impossible to be close enough…not enough…not enough….
Liz arched back abruptly, squeezing Max tightly in the vice-grip of her climax as he continued to pound inside of her, letting her ecstasy wash over him. He could feel the slick, wet heat of her passion dripping down over his balls and slicking his thighs as he pounded into her rhythmically. He kissed her, mouths open and wet. Kissed her again and again.
Her hand moved up over his jaw angling him the way she wanted him to be, sliding her tongue against his over and over tasting and sucking as the incredible sensations built inside her again. She knew he was close, could hear him keening his desperation and need into her mouth until he bucked a final time and pulled her more deeply into him and held her there as the pulsing jets of his cum released them slowly from the grip of the fever.
Their bodies stilled, the room abruptly silent except for the harsh panting as they tried to catch their breath. Liz slowly untangled her legs from behind Max and let her legs slip to the floor as his cock slipped from her wet lips. Liz sighed a protest at the loss of contact and Max turned them so that Liz could lean back into the wall for support as he sank to his knees in front of her. He nuzzled his lips over her abdomen, licking the sweat from her heated skin and kissing a trail lower and lower until he was lapping over the core of her arousal.
Liz gasped and moaned, not knowing if she was protesting the over-stimulation or encouraging him to never, ever stop. Max wrapped an arm firmly around her still-slender waist and pulled her closer down onto his mouth and savored the mingled juices until he had licked her clean and left her trembling and satisfied from the firm application of his tongue.
Vague noise from outside the room started to filter in through the door, and with startled surprise, they both realized where they were and how much danger of discovery they might have put themselves in. They scrambled apart, staring at each other in apprehension before turning to find their clothes and pull them back on. Max repaired the button on Liz’s shorts and checked to make sure there were no obvious marks on her body while Liz smoothed her hands down his crumpled shirt trying uselessly to reduce the wrinkles.
“You’ve got…” her voice trailed off as her fingers traced the bloody tracks at his neck, her tongue unconsciously licking over her lower lip at the remembered taste of the welted skin.
Max reached up and dragged his palm over the shredded flesh, staring into Liz’s eyes as he healed it, knowing what it was doing to her.
“Max…” she rasped out, reaching again.
“We can’t, Liz. Later,” he promised, unable to resist one final taste of her bruised lips.
They opened the door slowly, not knowing what to expect on the other side. They let it swing all the way open as they stood there in surprise, never expecting what they found on the other side. Both sides of the hallway for fifteen feet in each direction was filled with eager teens making out against the walls, lockers, and doors. Every available surface was occupied by lustful couples, unable to shake the haze of passion Max and Liz had projected outward.
They stumbled out into the hall hand in hand, anxious to make their escape while everyone else was otherwise occupied as the couples around them started to break apart in confusion.
Max pointed, snickering to himself and sharing the joke with Liz silently. Liz grinned broadly and nodded at the girl who was staring at them from the arms of the president of the math club.
“Pam,” Max smirked in her direction as he tightened his arm around Liz’s shoulders, pulling her in closer to his side. “I didn’t realize you and Duane were an item. Good for you.” He gave Duane a thumbs up and continued walking past them.
“But I…we…ahhh!” Pam shook off Duane’s sweaty grip and stared longingly after Max. The haze of lust was dissipating fast and she realized what she had done. She turned back to the skinny, dark-haired boy in front of her trying to remember why she had been licking him like candy just seconds before. He licked his lips slowly and watched her cautiously. She shook her head and tried to remember that it was Max that she really wanted. Max.
TBC
Muahahaha! Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving day treat, lol! Please let me know if you liked it...
In the next installment: Maria’s payback is revealed, Michael and Jim make startling discoveries, and Liz has a vision! Stay tuned!
You've all made me feel very welcome coming back, so I'm posting a new chapter for Thanksgiving. NC17 of course, lol, because it's been too long!
Enjoy!
EYA Part 110 (AKA: The Turkey Baster revisited, lol)
“Okay, we’re close enough.” Jim held out a warning hand and Michael stopped immediately, placing his back against the brick wall and looking both ways up and down the junk filled alley.
“Do you think we’ve got the right place?” Michael questioned dubiously. “This place is a trash heap.”
“This is where Max said. And look,” Jim raised his hand to indicate the alien-themed graffiti that was adorning the brick a little closer to the place they thought should be the entrance to Rath and Lonnie’s place. “Hang on just a second while I…” Jim dug around in a small bag he’d stocked carefully from the secret room Serena had revealed to him at the penthouse. “Here, put this in your left ear.” Jim handed Michael an impossibly tiny ear piece.
Michael shrugged and fitted it carefully to his ear. “What’s this gonna do?”
Jim’s eyes lit up. “It works with this.” Jim handed Michael a tiny mobile microphone on a clip. “Clip that behind the neckline of your shirt so it’s hidden from view.
Michael pulled out the neck of his T-shirt and carefully clipped the microphone jiggling it slightly to make sure it was secure. He watched Jim outfit himself the same way.
Jim held up a finger to indicate Michel should stay put while he slowly and silently made his way to the end of the alley.
“Testing one, two, three…”
Michael barely restrained himself from jumping in surprise. It sounded like Jim was whispering right in his ear, but he could clearly see him grinning at him from thirty feet away.
“Shit!” Michael whispered with a grin of his own. “Can you hear me too?”
“Yep,” Jim answered softly as he made his way back to Michael’s side.
“That’s awesome,” Michael whispered again when Jim reached his side.
“Like that, do ya?” Jim smiled back. “Wait ‘til you see these.”
Jim opened his hand and revealed four flat disks, approximately one centimeter in diameter each.
“What are those?”
“Bugs,” Jim answered shortly. “You’ve got to get inside and place them where they won’t be seen. Try to put them in the rooms they’ll be talking in the most, and place them under chairs or tables. Maybe under a lamp, if they have one. You get the idea.” Jim flipped one over showing Michael the adhesive on the back. “Press it down firmly to lock it in place. That also activates the bug. I’ve got this.” Jim opened his left hand and revealed a small controller. “It’ll let me hear all the bugs or just one at a time, and, for right now, you too. I won’t turn yours off until you’re safely out of there. If you can, try to whisper something after planting each one and I’ll let you know if I can hear you. Any questions?” Jim paused , watching Michael expectantly.
“Yeah. When do I go in?” Michael was eager to get it done, holding out his hand so Jim could give him the tiny disks.
“Good man, Michael!” Jim capped his companion on the back. “You’ll go in as soon as we determine who’s actually in there right now, and that’ll be my job. Wait right here.” Jim started to slip off toward the entrance, digging in his supply pack again.
“But…”
“Shh. I’ll be right back.”
Michael shut up and waited while he scanned up and down the alley continuously. He was extremely grateful that Serena had thought to bring Jim along. His technical skills were exactly what they were going to need to reduce the risk of exposing themselves to their enemies.
A movement at the end of the alley caught his eye, making Michael catch his breath and flatten himself against the cold brick.
“End of the alley. Stay down,” Michael warned softly, knowing Jim would follow his direction. He didn’t look back to check that he had been obeyed, moving instead to assess the danger. There was a low growl and then a stray dog loped away. “Just a dog,” Michael stated, still watching the alley to make sure that’s all it really was. “All clear.”
He watched as Jim made his way back to his side several moments later.
“Done.”
Michael raised an eyebrow in silent question.
“I planted the fifth one on the door. If it’s working properly, then I can say there are no signs of movement inside right now. We’ll wait another ten minutes and then you should try to go in. I’ll maintain watch while you go.”
Michael nodded and grinned.
Time for action!
>>>>>>>>>>>
“Michael?”
“Um, no…”
“Is this Serena? What are you doing answering my phone?” Maria sounded testy. “Let me talk to Michael.”
“Well,” Serena hesitated. “He’s not exactly here right…”
“Not there? What does that mean, exactly? Why did he take off without the phone I specifically sent with him for emergencies?”
“Is this an emergency? I reminded him to take it, but it’d just started charging when they left this morning so…”
“Wait, wait, wait…just started charging?! That deceitful little…I can’t believe him! No. Wait. I can believe him! And no. It’s not an actual emergency. This time! But how would he know that, huh? He didn’t charge the phone! Of all the irresponsible…”
Serena held the phone slightly away from her ear until Maria calmed down somewhat.
“…this calls for payback,” Maria finally decided. “Can you cook, Serena?”
Serena was startled by the apparent, swift change of subject.
“Um, yes, of course. What does that…”
“Do you own a turkey baster?” Maria continued relentlessly, already grinning wickedly at the glow the payback would provide.
“I…um, I think so, yes, but…I don’t understand what…?”
“Alex hasn’t told you the turkey baster story yet?” Maria laughed wickedly. “I’m sure he’ll forgive me for telling you first…”
By the time Maria was done Serena was laughing hysterically.
“I’m totally in, Maria,” she snorted out between laughs. “I need to go so that I can buy the steaks and check the barbeque. I’ll be sure to tell you how it goes.”
“Crap! I’ve got to get to class, I’m already late as it is. I wish I could see his face! Pictures would be ideal, but if you can’t manage that, then I need a play by play description of his reaction. I’m serious! Don’t leave anything out!”
“Don’t worry, Maria.” Serena ended the call, chuckling softly and wondering if Michael and Jim would be home in time for lunch or if Maria’s payback would have to wait until dinner.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The tiny smile on Max’s lips was the first outward sign that Maria later wished she hadn’t taken for granted. It was followed shortly by rolling waves of heat that had her catching her breath and leaning into him without conscious thought. She shook her head to help free herself from the haze of sexual heat he was generating and tried to think straight. The middle of drama class wasn’t the best place for an orgy. Probably.
She shook her head again. No. Definitely not. She caught sight of Pam Troy, seated right behind Max, with her eyes glazed over, her face a slack-jawed mask of lust.
“Uh, Max?” Maria tried to gain Max’s attention quietly. “Hey, sweetie?”
Still no response.
She took a deep breath and braced herself for contact.
Pam beat her to it.
“Oh, Max,” Pam purred throatily, sliding her fingers down his arm and firmly gripping his bicep as she leaned forward so she could see his face. “We should go somewhere. You’ve got to be feeling this too.”
Max shuddered under her unwelcome touch and stood up quickly to get away.
“Mr. Evans?” Their drama teacher raised a brow and stared at Max. “Is there something I can do for you?”
Max flushed and sat back down quickly. “Uh…I…No. Thank you, sir,” he finally muttered out, sinking low in his chair.
Maria shot a warning glare at Pam before leaning in toward Max and hissing, “What the hell are you doing, Max?”
Max looked startled, almost dazed. “What? What’s happening, Maria?”
“You’re generating-heat, Max,” She raised her eyebrows expressively waiting for comprehension to dawn. “You know what kinda heat I’m referring to here, Max. Right?”
Max nodded mutely.
“Well knock it off or Miss Troy back there is gonna crawl over these chairs and start humping your leg,” Maria scolded, way more than half serious.
Max looked properly horrified by the possibility and shot his hand into the air to gain the teacher’s immediate attention.
“What is it now, Mr. Evans?” he queried, tired of the interruptions.
Max stood again, feeling hunted when Pam leaned up close behind him, her breath hot at his neck.
“May I be excused please, sir? I’m not feeling well…”
Mr. Nelson stared at Max for a moment before relenting. “Yes , of course. You do look rather flushed…”
Pam stood quickly behind him. “Me too, sir!”
The teacher raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “One at a time, I think, Ms. Troy,” he answered, ignoring the look of acute disappointment that she shot at him.
Max was out the door before he could change his mind.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Liz pushed Max forcefully back against the wall of the small storage room. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt in her hand and raised it up until it was bunched at his neck. She was desperate with the heat that came at her in waves off of Max and filled her to overflowing. Liz dropped to her knees in front of him, her hands scrabbling to pop the button on his jeans and lower the zipper.
“Oh, uh…yeah…Liz!” Max was incoherent as she reached inside the open folds of his well-worn jeans and yanked them down around his hips, wasting no time in taking firm control of her prize. His head cracked back against the unforgiving concrete with a dull thud as he threw it back. He barely noticed. His breath sped up until his chest was heaving.
“I need…I need to taste you,” Liz panted out, leaning in to suit action to words. Her mouth watered and she swallowed him down as far as she could take him.
“Guh! Liz…that’s, uh,” Max was moaning, almost to the edge of his endurance. He struggled with the sleeves of his t-shirt, cursing softly when he almost couldn’t get it off. The shirt hit the ground with a soft whisper of sound and his hands immediately threaded through Liz’s long, silky hair, pulling her closer, trying to remember not to buck uncontrollably into her mouth.
Liz pulled back so that only the head of his erection was in her mouth and dragged her tongue firmly around the underside of the cap as she gripped the base of his shaft firmly and stroked up toward her mouth, letting him know it was okay to buck his hips a little.
Max groaned at the sensations that crashed over him at the touch of her lips and hands, and the immediate understanding of his need to move. He hips snapped forward several inches and Liz was ready, moaning and stroking as he built an unsteady rhythm.
“Liz…Liz, I can’t…I need…” Max panted breathlessly, knowing he was too close, and that she needed him too.
Liz let her lips slip from him wetly as she gripped her hands over his hips and stood slowly as she dragged her tongue and teeth across the exposed skin of his hip and over his ribs to finally suck in his firmly budded nipple until he squirmed and worked frantically between their bodies to yank open her shorts. The button went flying across the cemented floor unnoticed as he pushed his hands into the shorts and dragged them down as he gripped her ass and pulled her closer so their hips could grind together providing a bare second of relief that they were no longer separated by air.
Max used one hand to push the offending material down until it pooled at her ankles and she could step out of it. He pulled her up against his body and his arm muscles bunched and contracted while he effortlessly lifted her up, moving his legs forward while he leaned his shoulders back against the wall behind him. Her legs had just enough room to wrap around behind him when he arched his hips upward.
Liz wrapped her arms around the strong column of his neck and pulled herself up as he held her one-handed while he reached between their bodies to guide himself inside of her. Feeling the wet tip teasing at her entrance, Liz allowed her body to drop down abruptly, startling a gasp of surprised pleasure from Max’s panting lips. Liz licked out her tongue and took control of Max’s mouth, stroking his teeth and tongue, making him push back and take her mouth too. She growled low in her throat, unable to get enough of the taste, the feel of Max, frustrated at her inability to fully control the motion of his hips into hers.
Max made an incoherent sound of mindless need and bucked up harshly into her, their hips making loud smacking sounds every time they came together. He increased the speed and ferocity of his strokes as her nails raked over his neck and shoulders, marking him as hers while her mouth pulled and sucked over his jaw line and down his throat, lapping delicately over the newly scored flesh, greedy for the taste of him.
Finger shaped red marks darkened into faint bruises over Liz’s ass and upper thighs as his fingers tightened reflexively over her skin. Impossible to be close enough…not enough…not enough….
Liz arched back abruptly, squeezing Max tightly in the vice-grip of her climax as he continued to pound inside of her, letting her ecstasy wash over him. He could feel the slick, wet heat of her passion dripping down over his balls and slicking his thighs as he pounded into her rhythmically. He kissed her, mouths open and wet. Kissed her again and again.
Her hand moved up over his jaw angling him the way she wanted him to be, sliding her tongue against his over and over tasting and sucking as the incredible sensations built inside her again. She knew he was close, could hear him keening his desperation and need into her mouth until he bucked a final time and pulled her more deeply into him and held her there as the pulsing jets of his cum released them slowly from the grip of the fever.
Their bodies stilled, the room abruptly silent except for the harsh panting as they tried to catch their breath. Liz slowly untangled her legs from behind Max and let her legs slip to the floor as his cock slipped from her wet lips. Liz sighed a protest at the loss of contact and Max turned them so that Liz could lean back into the wall for support as he sank to his knees in front of her. He nuzzled his lips over her abdomen, licking the sweat from her heated skin and kissing a trail lower and lower until he was lapping over the core of her arousal.
Liz gasped and moaned, not knowing if she was protesting the over-stimulation or encouraging him to never, ever stop. Max wrapped an arm firmly around her still-slender waist and pulled her closer down onto his mouth and savored the mingled juices until he had licked her clean and left her trembling and satisfied from the firm application of his tongue.
Vague noise from outside the room started to filter in through the door, and with startled surprise, they both realized where they were and how much danger of discovery they might have put themselves in. They scrambled apart, staring at each other in apprehension before turning to find their clothes and pull them back on. Max repaired the button on Liz’s shorts and checked to make sure there were no obvious marks on her body while Liz smoothed her hands down his crumpled shirt trying uselessly to reduce the wrinkles.
“You’ve got…” her voice trailed off as her fingers traced the bloody tracks at his neck, her tongue unconsciously licking over her lower lip at the remembered taste of the welted skin.
Max reached up and dragged his palm over the shredded flesh, staring into Liz’s eyes as he healed it, knowing what it was doing to her.
“Max…” she rasped out, reaching again.
“We can’t, Liz. Later,” he promised, unable to resist one final taste of her bruised lips.
They opened the door slowly, not knowing what to expect on the other side. They let it swing all the way open as they stood there in surprise, never expecting what they found on the other side. Both sides of the hallway for fifteen feet in each direction was filled with eager teens making out against the walls, lockers, and doors. Every available surface was occupied by lustful couples, unable to shake the haze of passion Max and Liz had projected outward.
They stumbled out into the hall hand in hand, anxious to make their escape while everyone else was otherwise occupied as the couples around them started to break apart in confusion.
Max pointed, snickering to himself and sharing the joke with Liz silently. Liz grinned broadly and nodded at the girl who was staring at them from the arms of the president of the math club.
“Pam,” Max smirked in her direction as he tightened his arm around Liz’s shoulders, pulling her in closer to his side. “I didn’t realize you and Duane were an item. Good for you.” He gave Duane a thumbs up and continued walking past them.
“But I…we…ahhh!” Pam shook off Duane’s sweaty grip and stared longingly after Max. The haze of lust was dissipating fast and she realized what she had done. She turned back to the skinny, dark-haired boy in front of her trying to remember why she had been licking him like candy just seconds before. He licked his lips slowly and watched her cautiously. She shook her head and tried to remember that it was Max that she really wanted. Max.
TBC
Muahahaha! Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving day treat, lol! Please let me know if you liked it...
In the next installment: Maria’s payback is revealed, Michael and Jim make startling discoveries, and Liz has a vision! Stay tuned!