Author: Sweetbrowneyes a.k.a Tiffany
Disclaimer: The only Roswell stuff I own is the box set of season 1 and a bunch of JB pics.
Rating: MATURE
Summary: Max and Liz live two different lives. He’s poor, living in a trailer park. While Liz is the only child of a weel-known jeweler who has more money than they know what to do with. What happens when these two worlds collide and they fall in love?
A/N: Just warning you... get the tissues ready. There will be some angst if you haven't figure it out already.
Beautiful banner by lizard_queen
<center>Chapter 1</center>
Liz slipped into the kitchen for a moment of privacy, having mingled herself out. Her father was hosting yet another one of his searches for a business opportunity in the guise of a party. The ballroom was full of arrogant men and women with dollar signs twinkling in their eyes.
She slid the double doors closed and sighed in relief that no one had spotted her.
“Finally, we’re alone.” A startled Liz whirled around at the sudden sound of the husky voice.
“David,” she breathed, pressing a hand to her chest, hoping to calm her racing heart. “You frightened me.”
He set his champagne glass aside and stepped around the counter. He had been waiting for this all night; a moment alone with Elizabeth Parker. “I certainly didn’t mean to do that,” he replied. He slithered toward her with a certain gleam in his eyes. “So, we’re finally alone.”
Unnerved by the way he looked at her; by him in general, Liz gracefully dodged his advance, putting as much distance between them as possible.
“I’ve been waiting to talk to you all night Ms. Parker.”
“Oh? Well, maybe we should just join everyone else in the ball room and we can talk there,” she said with a gracious smile. Her mother always taught her that one must always be polite and ladylike even in the presence of those less deserving of such respect. “I’m sure my father is wondering of my whereabouts.”
Her heels clicked to the double doors, and she nearly made it when she felt his rough hands on her arm, pulling her against him.
She tensed in his embrace; his lips hovered too close to hers. “What are you doing? Let me go.”
“Relax,” he murmured as he gently ran the back of his hand over her cheek. “You know you’re very beautiful Elizabeth. What would it take for a guy like me to be with a girl like you?”
As she yanked herself from his grip, she flicked her free hand to strike him across his face. He cursed as he brought his hand up to his throbbing cheek.
“You’re a feisty one aren’t you?” His smirk sent chills down her spine and she quickly hurried to the double doors and down the corridor to the ball room.
She stopped just before she entered to get her bearings together. Her father would blow a gasket if she walked in looking any less than perfect.
Her father pulled her to his side as soon as she stepped into the room. “There you are Elizabeth,” he said as he dragged her toward a group of stocky men in their late fifties. “I want you to meet a few people.”
Liz nearly snorted, but stopped herself when she remember that it wouldn’t be “proper.”
It happened when she was three. Her father’s small jewelry shop off Citrus and Avondale had hit it big and soon he had multiple locations throughout New Mexico and they were buying the most expensive house in the Gamut, which is this huge stretch of land where the wealthier families of Roswell resided.
Now, her father owned the most exclusive jewelry stores in New Mexico and was now looking to expand his business all over the U.S and Mexico. His biggest target was David Palmer, owner of Palmer’s Jewels and his son David Palmer Jr. Liz’s father was looking to merge the two and for Liz to get acquainted with the owner’s heir.
After being displayed like some prized trophy, Liz was finally dubbed “off duty” and she retired to her room for the night.
Breakfast the next morning wasn’t the best part of the day. Though the pancakes she was eating couldn’t taste any better, it was her father’s disappointed look he shot her every once in a while from across the table that made her squirm in her seat.
“Could you pass the syrup please?” Liz asked Alex who was currently wolfing down his second plate of pancakes. Alex easily slid the bottle across the table with one hand while he ate with the other. Liz marveled at her cousin, wondering exactly how he could eat so much and stay as lanky as he was. He was like a vacuum when it came to food and it was really fascinating to watch.
Alex’s parents lived in Albuquerque and they sent him to live with the Parkers so he could get a better education at West Roswell Academy with Liz.
“Thanks.”
“No prob cuz,” he said with a mouth full of food. Liz smiled at him, but refused to bring her eyes to her father.
“Alex could you excuse us for a moment?” he said, smiling politely at Alex. He always treated Alex as if he was royalty, but she couldn’t get an ounce of respect and she was his own daughter.
Alex shot Liz a sympathetic smile as he stood and exited the room.
Liz and her father sat in a tense silence and she knew he was very upset with her. “Liz, I’m very disappointed in you,” her father spoke up.
“What did I do?” she queried though she knew actually want she’d did, or better yet, what she didn’t do.
“Liz you know exactly what you did. I gave you specific directions….”
“Dad, I am not going to flirt with some jerk who only wants to get in my pants just so you can land some business deal!”
“Liz, stop being such a snob!” he yelled. “You’ve never even given him a chance. How do you know whether he’s a jerk or not?”
“Because he came on to me last night when I didn’t want him too. You’re my father, why are you treating me like some prostitute?”
“That’s enough Elizabeth!” he roared, jumping up from his seat. “I will not have you talking back to me that way! Now get your things and get ready for school!”
Without another word, Liz stomped out of the room, brushing pass Alex who had been eavesdropping in the hall.
“Two more years,” she mumbled to herself. Eighteen, her key to freedom, was close, but she felt as if she would never get out of her father’s hold.
******
“Max! Hurry up, you’ll miss the bus!”
Max blew out a deep breath as he checked himself in the mirror once more, picking at the plain navy blue and white uniform. He scrunched his face in disgust, but he couldn’t complain. He was just excited to get the opportunity to go to West Roswell Academy. It was unheard of for someone of Max Evans’ status to attend the prestigious school.
His family didn’t have enough money to pay for even half the cost to go there. They lived in the slums on the outskirts of Roswell, making just enough to be above the poverty threshold, but not enough to get out of hardship.
It came as a shock to the family when they received a letter in the mail, offering Max a full scholarship to West Roswell, which was formerly an all girl’s school, but had just turned co-ed. They were looking for the brightest boys in the city to attend the school and Max was one of the ones chosen.
His father, a janitor at a local elementary school, smiled proudly at him as he read the acceptance letter.
“Your mother would be proud,” he had told him as he pulled his son into a hug.
“Max!”
“I’m coming Dad!” he called back. He grabbed his back pack and headed out of the room.
“Well look at you.” Roy smiled at his son as he entered the living room. “You look like you belong at West Roswell. Nervous?”
“Yeah.
Maria snorted. “You look like a nerd.”
Max glared at his little sister as he slid in his chair at the table. “Aren’t you supposed to be learning the alphabet instead of annoying me?”
“You’re not funny.”
“I wasn’t trying to be,” he said as he flicked his eggs at her with his fork.
“Daddy! Tell Max to stop,” she whined.
“Enough you two. Minnie, leave your brother alone. You should be proud that he got accepted to that school and Max, Minnie did a fine job making breakfast so don’t waste it.”
“Yes Max, don’t waste it,” Maria said as she fluttered her eyelashes.
Max gave his sister a funny look while she stuck her tongue out at him. “Are you working at the diner today Max?”
“Yeah,” Max answered as he swallowed the half burnt eggs and downed the small glass of orange juice.
“What time do you go in? I’m working late tonight and I don’t want Minnie here by herself after school.”
“Da-ad,” Maria whined. “I’m almost thirteen. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can Minnie, but still I don’t like you being home alone. There’re too many weirdoes running around here,” Roy said as he ruffled his only daughter’s hair.
Max slid out of his seat and shouldered his backpack. “Yeah Squirt. And I don’t want to have to hurt somebody over you. Cause you know I will.” Max added. Maria smiled as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I don’t go in until late tonight Dad. I’ll be home.”
“Okay. Have fun.”
Max blew out a deep breath as he stepped out of their trailer. He walked down the street to the bus stop. The city bus arrived minutes later and Max hopped on. The bus dropped him off about a half of mile away from the school and Max set off for the ten minute walk to school.
TBC……?
To be continued or not to be continued... that is the question.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
