Roswell Fanatics

Title: Spin Me

Author: Alison

Genre: M/L, but all CC and that does include K/T

Summary: A party. Max and Liz. Spin the Bottle. Fluff.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don’t sue.

Rating: Uh, Teen?

A/N: Just a short fluff piece from me. Got bored, finished off one that I started some time last year. That’s why I believe it improves as we get into the later parts. Will post every week till finished, scout’s honour.

Thanks to Steph, my wonderful beta!
I sink into the seat next to Maria at a table as drunken people mill around chattering loudly. She’s sitting around a round table with a group of about twenty or so, I don’t really take any notice of who’s seated around the table. My focus is mainly on Maria.

“Maria, I need to talk to y-”

I’m interrupted by Jane who sees fit to inform me of what I already knew.

“Liz, do you know what Alex is doing right now? You might want to go rescue him before he does anything really stupid.”

I nod, concealing my annoyance and gesture to Maria, “Just getting reinforcements. Alex is a little too much for me to handle on my own.”

“Fair enough. Considering some of the moves he’s been pulling I’d say you’d need some extra help.”

I roll my eyes. “I’d say that he’s the one who needs help.”

She laughs and heads off and I turn back to the table where everyone is looking at me. My eyes flick around the table in confusion before settling on Maria.

“What?”

“Uh, babe-” I follow Maria’s eyes to the table where I finally notice the empty bottle pointing at me.

Oh, please don’t tell me-

“Spin the bottle. And you have been selected.”

My mouth drops open and I almost groan with annoyance.

“But I wasn’t even playing! I just sat down to tell you something and got distracted. Surely I don’t have to-”

“Sorry babe. The bottle was spun after you sat down and by joining the table you joined the game. You have to perform.”

My eyes close in frustration and I take a deep breath.

“Fine.” I grunt out. “But after this we have to rescue Alex. He’s drunk and that means that he’s making a fool out of himself over a girl. I don’t have to tell you which one.”

It’s a well known fact that Alex has an enormous crush on Isabel Evans. Personally myself, I cannot see the attraction. Yes, you have the big breasts, long legs and blonde hair, but you also have the soul that reminds you of the reincarnation of the devil.

“So, let’s get this over with.” I pause as I take in the fact that I have to kiss some strange guy. “Who actually spun the bottle?”

My question sounds stupid even to my own ears. I’ve obviously never done this before because it wasn’t my first thought to ask who I had to kiss. I’ve kissed guys before but I’ve never played spin the bottle before. Usually the guys aren’t appealing or I’m just too shy to actually try it.

“Max Evans.”

I’m certain that my mouth has dropped open and I’m staring at Maria in horror. There is no way that I am going to kiss Max Evans.

It’s not that I don’t want to kiss him, but I’m terrified that I won’t meet his expectations. He’s the hottest guy in school, almost every girl has an enormous crush on him and they expect me to kiss him with an audience?

I am going to make the biggest idiot out of myself.

“M-max?” I stutter and Maria nods with dancing eyes.

“Yes. Max,” she answers glibly like a female Morpheus. I turn to the table where Max is sitting looking at me with an unreadable expression on his perfect features.

Why me? Oh, this is so intimidating. Why couldn’t I have gotten Michael or one of the other guys at the table?

Actually, on second viewing, the other guys at the table are all fairly rank. But there’s still a large gathering of pretty girls on the table. They were probably hoping to score Michael or Max and from the jealous glares that I’m receiving, I surmise that I’m correct in my assessment.

“Right.” I pull myself together and put some steel in my backbone. Max doesn’t need to know how intimidated he makes me feel. He’s already far too cocky for his own good. The guy has arrogant down to an art form. I say this but that doesn’t stop me from fantasising about kissing him. He may be an ass, but I’ll be damned if I’m not extremely attracted to him.

Me and about five hundred other girls.

“Well. I’d better get this over with then so we can rescue Alex.”

Good enough reasoning to make this quick and hopefully painless. Poor Max. His face gives nothing away, but he’s probably dreading this more than I am for completely different reasons. Imagine, he has the pick of a bunch of blonde, sexually active bimbos to spin from and by some horrible twist of fate, he gets stuck with mousy, inexperienced Liz Parker.

Guess he’ll have to wait till his next turn to pick up some random blonde.

I rise from the table and head over to him, my heart beating in my mouth and my whole body tingling. He hasn’t said a word to me yet and I find his silence unsettling. He could at least attempt to make me feel better about this by laughing it off as a joke. But no, he has to be completely silent, like he’s awaiting a death sentence.

Right Liz, here’s the plan. Quick peck to the lips and under no circumstance do you let yourself get carried away and try to take the kiss further. Everyone knows that you’re not drunk and it would be mortifying to go back to school with everyone knowing how Liz Parker tried to stick her tongue down Max Evans’s throat and got rejected.

Just think about mud.

I hear whispering and sniggers as I walk and I curse Maria mentally. Damn her for embarrassing me like this! Why was she here anyway? I’ll have to put that thought aside and ponder that later because I’ve reached Max.

God that table is long.

Focus, Liz! Stay on task, for the love of everything holy! Do not mess this up.

I slide to a stop in front of Max and he turns to face me in his seat. At least he’s making it easier for me.

The seats are high swivel chairs and he doesn’t get up. God, why do I have to be the one who has to make the first move? He spun the bottle; shouldn’t he be kissing me instead of the other way round? Of course not. Not even in a game of spin the bottle would Max Evans make the first move. All women come to him. It’s the way of the world. Max is so perfect that he doesn’t pursue women, they pursue him.

Funnily enough he rejects a lot of them. He must be very picky. Or gay.

I hope he’s not gay. Not that it makes a difference to me. He’s still too far out of my league for him to even consider me, but I’d like to think that the one guy who really gets me hot under the collar doesn’t like other men. Although he does spend an inordinate amount of time with Michael. Hmm…

He’s looking at me expectantly, along with all the other members of the table and I blink out my musings.

“Right, well. I’m just gonna…”

I tuck my hair over my shoulder so it doesn’t get in the way (I’m a thinker!) and bend down to him haltingly. God just do it, Liz! It’s like ripping off a Band-Aid. The quicker you do it, the less it hurts.

Oh dear lord. I can’t breathe. I am an inch away from Max Evans’s face and I can’t breathe.

Mud. Think about mud and just do it. With a burst of resolution I push past the extra inch and kiss Max Freakin’ Evans.

My body is on fire as his lips hit mine. A bolt seems to sear through me and my knees feel like jelly. My mind still manages to function though and I go to pull away after kissing him for long enough. I realise I can’t as I’ve caught my jacket on something and it’s holding me there.

Max’s lips begin to move against mine and the butterflies in my stomach turn into giant birds of prey. I don’t remember this being part of the plan. The plan was to peck and leave, not to have the most sexual moment of my life in front of an audience.

I’ve been with guys and been around the second and third base area but none of that ever made me this tingly and turned on. I feel dizzy as we kiss and so I reach out to brace myself against Max’s chest. Not a wise idea considering how freaking cut he is.

The pace of our kiss is so slow and sensuous and I can’t believe that Max Evans could be this gentle. We’re still kissing and I think we’ve really surpassed the length of time that you’re meant to kiss for when you play spin the bottle.

But I don’t care. This has to be the best moment of my life. Which is supremely sad; because now the best moment of my life was when Max Evans was forced to kiss me after playing spin the bottle.

Whatever’s caught my jacket increases the tension until I step forward into Max who puts his left arm around my back as my hands run up from his chest to the top of his shoulders curling around them. The pace increases slightly and I shiver when Max’s right arm runs its way up along my arm, up my neck to cup my cheek. I can’t believe this is happening.

I especially can’t believe it when Max’s tongue seeks entrance into my mouth.

‘He’s Max Evans, who am I to deny him?’ I reason as I open my mouth and slide my tongue across his.

Christ, I can feel this in my fucking toes.

I can feel absolutely everything about this moment. It’s all imprinted in my brain.
Every inch of our bodies pressed together, my breasts pushing against his chest as I lean over him, his hand gripping the material of my jacket across my back, the exact location of his fingers in my hair. Everything.

And suddenly the magic is broken when someone coughs.

I break away and pull out of Max’s grip, blinking, trying desperately to get my bearings. I glance back at Max who is looking at me oddly.

I search desperately for a reason to leave when I look around the table. Everyone is looking at me with their mouths hanging open and I call out to Maria, trying to remember why I wanted her before.

“Uh, Maria, we need to…Um….”

“-Rescue Alex?” Maria suggests casually and I have never loved her more.

“Yeah.” I respond and turn towards the door, I’m nearly jogging I’m walking that fast.

Maria catches up with me once we’re in the hall and she asks as we walk towards the living room of the Evans’s house.

“Oh my Lord, Liz! That was not a spin the bottle kiss! That looked so frickin’ intense! You have to tell me what that was like.”

I shake my head and rub my eyes while I walk. How did I let that happen? Now Max was going to know that I’m attracted to him. Friggin fantastic.

“I’m amazed that you think there are actual words to describe that.” She exhales in amazement and I say more to myself, “Just how in the world did I let that happen?”

“You didn’t let it happen, Liz. It just happened. You can’t control everything.”

“But I had a plan!” I cry, somewhat petulantly. Next I’ll be stamping my feet. “I was going to give him a quick peck and then flee. If only I hadn’t caught my jacket on whatever that thing was…”

I pause and think about that. I had assumed that I’d caught it on the chair but my jacket wasn’t caught when I pulled away. Now that I think about it-

“Honey, that ‘thing’ that had your jacket was Max. He was holding you there.” She explains whilst looking at me strangely and I feel stunned.

Just what was he doing that for?

Maybe he was looking for some fun. How to toy with the brainy, plain, science chick by making her reveal to an audience how attracted she is to the school hunk.

What a fucking asshole!

I am never, ever going to go near Max Evans ever again! Great. Only two more years of going to school with him. And I’ll bet we have a bunch of classes together and he’ll sit there smirking and laughing with his brain dead friends.

My dazedness has certainly worn off now as I stomp down the hall.

Why me? God, it’s not like I’m a complete social outcast. I have many friends, none of them are in the ruling class of the real popular people, but I’m pretty popular throughout our year and our school. Why did he feel the need to humiliate me like that?

Maria looks at me with concern as I mutter angrily to myself.

I groan when we enter the living room. Alex is dancing on the table a la Olive from Little Miss Sunshine. Next he’ll be crawling across the table growling.

“Oh, jeez.”

I think Maria summed it up nicely. Don’t you?

We reach the table as Crooklyn Clan’s ‘Be Faithful’ comes on. Alex attempts to pull me onto the table to dance with him but overbalances and falls off, creating large amounts of cheering and clapping from the witnesses.

Maria and I pull him up and sling his arms over our shoulders and drag him out of the living room much to the anger of the crowd, who boo us for our efforts.

“Oh Lizzy, it’sh terr’bul. Izzy dudn’t wanna be wi me.”

I roll my eyes as Alex, Maria and I wobble our way to the car.

“You’ll be ok Alex. You don’t need her.”

“Yesh I do. She’sh tha most wunnerfull girl in tha whole world.” He slurs with a dreamy quality to his voice.

I smile at Alex, despite my anger at both the Evans twins and then curse as I trip over a sprinkler that was left carelessly on the lawn. What is it about the Evans family? Even their property’s out to get me.

“Well she obviously doesn’t deserve you Alex. Wait for a girl who’s worth it and who wants you back.”

Alex shakes his head as he falls into the backseat of Maria’s jetta.

“She is worf it. I jusht have ta prove that she doesh need me! I’ll prove myshelf to her!”

Alex goes to rise but I push him back down into the seat.

“Tomorrow Alex. You don’t want to seem too eager now, do you?”

Alex ponders my words and as he does he falls asleep, much to my relief.

I get in the passenger side of the car as Maria waits behind the wheel. I slam the door shut as I catch a glimpse of Max Evans in the front yard. Maria starts to drive and then looks at me with curiosity.

“You look royally pissed, Liz. What’s going on in that little head of yours?”

“Max Evans is an asshole.”

Maria seems surprised by my anger. “Ok, well I wouldn’t have thought so from the way you were kissing him five minutes ago.”

“He completely humiliated me in front of many people! He made me openly reveal how attracted I am to him and now I just know that he’s gonna be gloating with his moron friends about how he fooled Liz Parker into acting like a slut.”

Maria turns her head and looks at me with wide eyes. “You’re attracted to him? Well, that’s not so hard to grasp now, but before that kiss I would never have guessed that you felt that way about Max. Honey, how would he have known that you felt that way if I, your best friend, didn’t know? I don’t think that was a set up.”

I’m not letting him off that easy. I’m certain that Max is an arrogant pig and I’m still angry. Mostly at myself for losing control like that, but I’ll take it out on Max.

“He’s probably so arrogant that he assumes every girl secretly pines for him. Ugh, I can’t believe that I have to go back to school and see him on Monday! Is it too late to transfer?”

“Don’t you dare! You will stick it out if only for my sake! Don’t leave me here with only Alex.”

A thought flashes through my head and I follow it up. “Maria, what were you doing playing spin the bottle anyway?”

It might just be my imagination but Maria seems to flush. I can’t tell properly in the dark.

“I got dared to,” is her answer and when she doesn’t add anything I’m forced to ask, “By whom did you get dared?”

“Michael.”

“Michael? Michael Guerin?”

She nods.

“Michael Guerin dared you to play spin the bottle?”

“Yep.”

A monosyllabic Maria means that something is definitely up. Usually she’ll talk a mile a minute, underwater, with a hundred marbles in her mouth. I’m getting to the bottom of this.

“Why?”

“He said that I should take a chance. Whatever that means.”

Ok… this day keeps on getting weirder and weirder.

“Well. Sounds like a certain someone wants a slice of Maria pie.”

The tension in our car is broken as we both laugh loudly, waking Alex up.

“Wassamatter?”

Maria pulls up outside Alex’s house and we help him into his room. Thank God he’s a light guy. Maria and I aren’t particularly strong and if he wasn’t lanky we would have had some trouble.

Maria drops us off at my place because we both have work here tomorrow and it’s more convenient for her to stay overnight. We both fall into silent contemplation as we climb into bed, Maria thinking about Michael and me angrily reflecting on that kiss.

I can’t deny that it still gives me chills whenever I think about it. Thinking about it makes me even angrier. He’s obviously had a lot of practice kissing like that and it probably meant far more to me than to him. I hate him so much right now.

Why did I have to sit down? Why did that bottle have to point to me? Why did he have to kiss me like that? Why did he make me care for him when he can’t like me back? Tears are streaming down my face now from anger, pain and desperation.

It’s going to take a long time before I get over this.

A/N: Due to harassment from an unnamed source, I’ve decided to give you this part now because it’s short and I like updating. I have it and you all seem to be busting for it, so here it is! I’m not sure if I like this part, but you can judge for yourself. I like the part after this better.
Wow, thanks for the great response guys! Be aware that there are only four parts in total to this fic, so there won’t be much drawn out drama. I said short and I meant short. Even if I have been told by a certain someone that it’s an offence punishable by law. *cough*Laira*cough*
But if you’re all good kids and eat your vegetables, I might be persuaded into giving you a sequel. I have an idea for one now, but it might be a long time coming.

Heavenli24
Strawberry88
DayDreamer23
OrangeSky- Thanks Alli, I love that you’re being sneaky in your attempts to smack Liz. If I distract her, you can sneak up behind her and *WHAM*! Then we’ll run opposite directions giggling maniacally. Sound like a good plan?
Eve
Alien_Friend– Flattery will get you everywhere, Novolette.
Pookie76
Spray- Aw Spray, you’re so nice! Alli and I have a plan to smack Liz, so we’re taking care of that. You know what? I do want to do updates twice a week. How lucky for you.
Tinie38
Lauren
ShatteredDreamer- Sorry, this is just Liz’s point of view. Glad you liked it!
Linliz68- In answer to your question, yes they are. Michael, Tess and Isabel have only very minor roles in this one though. Kyle, Maria and Alex are slightly more involved.
Veronica
Emz80m
LairaBehr4- I’m so good to you. Maybe I’ll get a reduced sentence because of this.
Anonymousarfan
Blink1lit
Carolina_Moon- I came back five days earlier than I originally planned to. Am I still mean?
Steph
Flyawaraven
What the fudge is he doing here? In my section, no less? Does he have a death wish? He comes into my home and my place of work to gloat over how he fooled me the day after it happens? Luckily I have no sharp implements on me.

“I suppose you want me to take booth five?” Maria asks with a knowing glance towards me.

“Would you?”

“It’ll cost you.”

I sigh. “What do you want?”

“You take the annoying couple who sit in my section everyday to have lunch and complain about the service.”

“Deal.” I can deal with angry, annoying customers. Max Evans is a completely different story.

I head to the counter to clean the milkshake machine. I listen while I clean, keeping my eyes averted elsewhere, only taking small glances when I think I can risk it.

He opens the menu and I can’t believe he bothers to read it. He and his cronies come here a lot after school and he must have that thing almost as memorised as I do. And besides, he orders the same thing every time anyway. It’s just plain idiotic.

Maria heads over and I keep my eyes down, concentrating on actually cleaning the friggin’ machine instead of just pretending to.

“What can I get you?”

You gotta admire Maria’s stoicism. Michael’s on that table too and she sounds both bored and unaffected. Admirable effort.

“Doesn’t Liz usually work this section?”

I knew it! That bastard wanted to gloat while I served him. Too bad buddy!

“Yep. So what can I get you?”

I laugh silently under my breath at Maria’s response. She’s fantastic.

“I’ll have an order of Saturn rings and a cherry coke,” says Michael handing his menu to her and she waits for Max’s order.

I don’t stick around to hear anymore, Maria obviously has everything under control. I grab my order booklet and head to the table opposite them to take orders.

I take their fairly simple orders and stiffen as a gruff voice behind me asks, “So are you on the menu, sweet buns? How much for a little sumthin sumthin?”

I turn to completely ream this asshole of a guy, but squeal as I see who it is.

“Kyle!” I throw my arms around his neck and he spins me around before dropping me.

“Hey dizzy Lizzy! You got a spare table for me?”

“Sure!” I answer bemusedly. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Albuquerque preparing for the school year and planning which girls you’re going to have your wicked way with?”

Kyle smiles at me flirtatiously and my heart skips a beat. He may be one of my best friends, but I’ll be damned if he isn’t extremely sexy.

“There’s only one girl for me, Lizzy.” He flicks his eyebrows up and I giggle. “Actually, Mine Papa got the Sheriff position here, so we’re back.”

I gasp and ask slowly, unable to grasp it, “So you’ve moved back and you’re-”

“-going to be attending West Roswell with my favourite girl.”

I can’t help it, I squeal and hug him again. I don’t care if I look like a hysterical idiot, I’m too happy to care.

“Kyle? Oh my God!”

Maria runs over to us and I let Kyle go so he can receive a DeLuca embrace. He’s nearly knocked over by her. I head to the kitchen and place my orders while Kyle explains to Maria what he’s doing here. I can tell when he’s finished because she squeals and jumps on him again. I laugh and glance around the restaurant, completely forgetting why that’s a bad idea.

I find myself looking straight into the eyes of Max Evans. His gaze is burning into mine and I’m forced to look away. There’s a hard edge in his eyes which I can’t account for.

I head back to the two of them and seat Kyle at a table just as Alex walks in holding his head and wincing. Uh oh. Max came with his sister and she looks extremely annoyed to see Alex. Which is fair enough in a way because before his table dancing episode, Alex had been serenading her with ‘It’s Not Unusual’ by Tom Jones.

I don’t think Isabel was tempted to throw her underwear at Alex after his rendition though.

Luckily, Alex is distracted by Kyle and manages a level of excitement that his hangover should forbid. The entirety of Max’s table is looking at us all with interest, wondering who on earth this new guy was.

Tess looks especially interested. Hmm, the plot thickens. I always thought she had a thing for Max but she can’t be that serious if she can openly check another guy out in front of him.

Or maybe it’s a tactic to get him jealous.

Or maybe I’m paranoid.

Michael seems extremely pissed watching Maria and Kyle flirt. I’d like to walk over and tell him that when Kyle flirts with you it’s impossible not to flirt back. And he is a massive flirt, he doesn’t mean anything by it, I think it’s just in his nature.

Not that any of them would know that. We all went to different schools to one another. I’m not sure where any of them went to, but Kyle, Maria, Alex and I grew up together going to the same schools until Kyle’s dad, who was deputy here at the time, got a Sheriff’s position up in Albuquerque right before we started high school.

I thought that I’d never stop crying when he left. He was the guy I told all my closest secrets to, because Maria had a big mouth and while I love Alex like a brother, there are some things I just can’t tell him.

Like who I had a crush on and if my parents were fighting. Kyle was always there for me and he was my rock when my Grandpa died when I was thirteen. Both Alex and Maria had no idea what to do or what to say but Kyle just pushed past all the “I don’t want to talk” bullshit and hugged me till I started to cry.

I don’t think I could have made it without him. Which is why I’m so stoked that he’s back.

I glance over at Isabel and she looks confused and a little pissed off as Alex’s attention is completely focused on Kyle, Maria and I.

Ha! I see what’s going on here. Alex is too free with his time. Usually he’d head over to Izzy straight away and try to talk to her, but today she’s completely forgotten and Miss Evans does not like to be forgotten about! Alex and I are going to have a little chat when we’re alone. I’m going to teach him the fine art of ‘playing it cool’; if only so he can piss Isabel off more.

As you can tell, I’m a little bitter towards that family right now. And besides, Alex does need some more dignity. He’s frighteningly obsessed, which means logical thought and normal behaviour fly out of the window whenever she’s around. I wish she could see him as he normally is around us. I’m sure she’d like him more.

I spend the next hour avoiding Max, talking with Kyle and trying rather unsuccessfully to do my job. But I’m so happy to see Kyle that I really don’t care that I have to handle the cranky couple that Maria usually gets. I don’t know why they come here if all they want to do is criticize it and us. I guess they must like complaining.

Maria and I finally finish our shifts and we head upstairs to get changed. We come back down and Kyle throws me over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift and slaps my rear when I yell at him to put me down.

“There’ll be another one like that if I hear anymore bitching.”

I laugh at the feigned authority in his voice, but wisely stop my complaining. Kyle’s hand is heavier than he realises and I don’t want red marks all over my butt. Not that anyone will see them, but I’ll know they’re there.

Kyle puts me down in the backseat of his car and he and Alex jump in the front. Kyle gets very excited when he hears that there’ll be another going back to school party at Pam Troy’s place tonight and demands that we take him to introduce him to everyone.

We groan but agree. Alex claims that he won’t drink and I tell him of my theory about the one Miss Evans. He seems very excited by it and Maria, Kyle and I spend a good hour giving him tips and advice on how and when to approach her and all that jazz.

“Right. Ok. I think that I have enough tips now to last me at least this party. Oh, speaking of, I forgot to ask you girls. Did anything happen at this party that I should know about? Any good gossip?”

Maria snorts and glances at me smothering her laughter. I give her the finger.

“O-kay, what did Alex miss?”

“Nothing.” I grunt out and both he and Kyle give me disbelieving looks.

“Maria?”

I beg her silently not to respond to Kyle’s question but she doesn’t take any notice of me.

“Lizzy had a great time playing spin the bottle, didn’t you Lizzy?”

“You played spin the bottle?” I’m a little hurt by the sceptical tone in Kyle’s voice. Hey, I’m not that boring and predictable! I can play spin the bottle!

“I didn’t mean to! I sat down to talk to Maria and got distracted and before I knew it the bottle was pointing at me. I didn’t even realise that they had been playing spin the bottle when I got there.”

Alex looks at me with interest. “So who’d you get your smooch on with?”

Smooch? What is Alex on?

Maria coughs, “Max Evans” and Alex looks at me dumbfounded.

“You kissed Max Evans?”

I roll my eyes and look out the window. Make it stop, I beg you.

“Originally Liz did start the kiss, but from where I was sitting it looked like Max was kissing her. Especially when he held her there by her jacket and then pulled her into his body. That was hot.”

“Maria!” I’m disturbed by that last admission. “You think that watching your best friend getting mauled by a guy is hot? You dirty voyeur!”

“Liz, it was hot. You could practically feel the lust. When he slipped the tongue in, I felt like we should leave the room it was getting that charged.”

“Ooh, tongue! Do tell Liz, what was it like kissing an Evans?” Alex asks excitedly, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

“Alex, you really need to get past your obsession. Please. For all of our sakes.” I plead and Alex frowns at me.

“So, what happened after this kiss?” Asks Kyle and Maria answers for me once again.

“Well, someone coughed and Liz sprang away and basically fled the room. Then we rescued Alex from himself and she avoided him all of her shift while he was in the CrashDown.”

Kyle looks at me like I’m crazy. Until yesterday he was the only one who knew about my crush on Max Evans.

“The guy you like kissed you like that in front of everyone and you avoid him?”

“Exactly! In front of everyone! Ooh, there’s that nerd Liz, let’s publicly humiliate her by making her look like a sexually charged tramp.”

Everyone speaks at once after this.

“You like Max Evans?” asks Alex, shock written across his face.
“Liz, it was sexy, not slutty,” is Maria’s unwanted input. Her opinion doesn’t count.
“Have you ever considered the possibility that Max likes you back?” Kyle’s question makes me laugh and Maria and Alex join in as well.

“Max Evans likes only himself. He uses girls to get his own pleasure and then abandons them. I’m pretty sure he has no feelings.”

Kyle frowns at this and Alex asks again, “You like Max Evans?”

“Alex, try to keep up.”

He turns to Maria and asks, “Did you know about this?”

“Not until yesterday, but it seems she told Kyle about it. I feel hurt, don’t you Alex?”

“Michael Guerin likes Maria!” I blurt out to stop an argument and we discuss that for ten minutes before heading back to get changed for the party. I wonder at the odds of Max not being there. I’d say that they were pretty slim.

Just wonderful.

A/N: Hello there lovely ones! Ready for the next part? I know I am! Thank you for all your great feedback everyone! Just so you know, I wrote the fist half of this late last year and the second half about a month ago, so if you see a distinct change in writing style, there's a reason for that.

Chanks_girl
Flyawayraven
OrangeSky- You. Rule. I’m not sure if there’s anything left to say.
Yayaliens
Eve
Tinie38
Spray- I’m so pleased to be the cause of your smirky grin. Is this soon enough for you?
Natalie36
Ju- Oh come on, Ju! Hit us with another enlightening story about you falling over or doing something equally blush worthy. It’ll make my day.
Raemac
Novolette
Laira-

And by the way, if you post this with only four parts, I'll hunt you down until you write more.

Whoa… sounds sinister. Should I go into hiding? Change my name? How about if I promise to write you a sequel? (Eventually…) Will that calm your blood lust?
Carolina_Moon-

Five days early makes you the best ever!!!

Hear that everyone? I’m the best ever! Three exclamation marks and everything, must be serious.
Veronica
Emz
Steph-

please don't threaten the nice author girl! she may never come back! and then what would we do??

Suffer endlessly, no doubt. Fret not, not even Laira’s threat of harm will prevent me from delivering.
Kay_b-

*sigh* If only he could have seen the way Kyle lifted Liz. Maybe things would have flared up sooner, lol.

We may have had a homicide on our hands
Pandas2001
Stars at Night10- I do that all the time. Seriously. All the time. I think I’ve done something and then wham, I remember that I haven’t. I’m so pleased you like it!
A lot of kids from our elementary and middle school are there, so Kyle is running from person to person being his social butterfly self and I’m left to stand by myself as Maria and Alex dance together.

I refuse to be the third wheel. Dancing in a threesome just isn’t my scene. In fact, dancing in general isn’t really my scene. Unless I’m alone in my room in my pyjamas listening to dodgy 80’s songs. They may be dreadful and cheesy but I love them. Guilty pleasure.

I shiver from the cold as my clingy dress does nothing to block the cold. Damn Maria. She made me wear this stupid thing. Her reasoning? “It’ll make Max drool and you’ll remind him of what he can’t have.”

Who said I wanted that? Ever since Maria’s found out about my little physical attraction she’s been thinking of ways to set us up. God, it’s only a physical attraction (or so I tell myself), I don’t even like him that much as a person. I think he’s arrogant and far too aware of how good looking he is.

Not to mention that he has never treated any of his conquests well and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go there. Too much heartache and pain. I don’t see how any sort of relationship between us would end well.

But I’m jumping the gun. I’m pretty sure that I mean absolutely diddly to Max, so I don’t have to worry about that do I?

“Hey.”

I spin as a deep gravely voice sounds near my ear.

What in the fudge crackers is Max doing talking to me? Shouldn’t he be off getting his freak on with some whore?

Okay, so I’m a little bitter. We have already established this.

“Hey.” I state calmly back and return to watching Maria and Alex dance, all the while congratulating myself on how cool and composed I was. Take that! You can’t affect me, Max Evans! I am Liz the unflappable. She of the self composure. The one who-

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

I didn’t even see him coming but he’s suddenly right in front of me in my personal space.

“W-what?” I stutter as I take a step back into the wall. Max takes another forward and I seriously contemplate a quick shove and run. But in the back of my mind I also consider throwing myself at him. That’d go down well. Just give him some more ammo, Liz.

“You. You’ve been avoiding me. You gave our table to Maria.” I stare at him in amazement as anger builds in his tone. Well, well, it’s a family trait it seems. Neither of the Evans twins can stand not being the centre of attention.

“Why?” he asks and the intensity of his voice scares me. You don’t think he’s packing sharp things, do you? I have no desire to be stabbed.

“I-I didn’t think there was anything to say.” I say finally and his eyes narrow.

“You thought wrong.” He places his hands on either side of my head, locking me against the wall and very nearly causing my hyperventilation.

So very, very not good. I concentrate on what he said last and try to come up with a proper response. Work, damn you brain, work!

“Feel free to talk if that’s what you want.” I manage to push out of my mouth, amazed at how odd my own voice sounds to my ears. This is so surreal.

“Fuck that. I have a better idea.” His gaze travels down my body. My last thought before his lips press against mine, turning my brain to mush, is “Wow, Maria was right. This dress really does work.”

So here I am. Being pressed up against the wall as Max and I make out heatedly. There is absolutely no gentleness in his touch this time. He’s greedy and possessive and frankly, I’m thrilled to my core that he’s here with me. That’s he’s so worked up because of me.

His hand travels up the outside of my thigh, under my dress, pulling the fabric up as he goes while he attacks my neck. A hickey is going to be hard to explain to the mother. And the father, while we’re at it.

I arch into him as his hand reaches my ass and he grasps it.

“Fuck.” He mutters and he returns his attention to my mouth. Oh sweet Jesus, forgive me for the nasty thoughts running through my head. It’s all Max’s fault I swear. He and his magic hands, which are running all over my body right now.

He pulls away with a jerk and I lean against the wall attempting in vain to catch my breath and regain my balance. I get the feeling that this won’t happen anytime soon.

We stand two metres apart, panting slightly, but it feels like he’s further away from me than he’s ever been. Our eyes meet across the distance and there’s a look in his eyes which I can’t decipher.

“Lizzy! My lovely woman, I absolutely demand a dance!”

Fuck, Thank God for Kyle! He’s saved me from the wiles of Max Evans and his wandering hands.

My voice returns slowly until I’m speaking normally as I say, “S-sure. You got it. Any particular tune in mind or are we standing around for nothing?”

He smiles as Michael, Isabel and Tess reach us. “Specific song. I had a word in the DJ’s ear and he seemed up for it.’

The song that had been playing (unnoticed by me) ends and a new one begins that I immediately recognise. As I realise what it is I squeal and laugh into my hand, I couldn’t stop laughing if I tried, I know I should be worried about what the hell this thing between Max and I is, but Goddamn I love Kyle.

“Boom, Boom, Boom by the VengaBoys?” I ask once I’ve calmed down. Kyle and I loved this song when we were ten and had no idea what it meant. We’re slightly wiser now but still as immature.

Kyle smiles fondly at me and extends his hand, “It’s our song Lizzy!” he cries as I take his hand in mine and he pulls me into the middle of the dance floor practically seething with bodies. Most of these bodies are now wearing varying expressions of confusion, distaste and amusement but Kyle and I are overjoyed.

Kyle pulls me in close to his body and I swear if he wasn’t my best friend, I’d seriously be forced to slap him with how familiar he’s being with me. Hands on hips are fine, but he’s got one hand on my ass and I only really want Max’s hand there.

Wait, no I don’t. I don’t want anyone’s hand there. What is wrong with me? One grope against a wall and he’s all I can think about. Christ this is awful.

“So Lizzy,” yells Kyle into my ear as he grinds his hips into mine shamelessly, “What was I interrupting between you and hunk-o-man?”

I roll my eyes and snort at Kyle’s term. “Nothing. So shut up.”

My blunt dismissal does nothing to deter him from this topic of conversation.

“Ooh, the plot thickens. Liz likes Max, Max likes Liz, she’s in denial, he’s in pursuit, she’s-”

“You’re a freak, you know that?”

Kyle merely laughs and dips me, which is quite a feat in this crowded space. “No, but I am perceptive. And right now, he’s trying to kill me with his eyes and probably coming up with veeeeeerrry creative and veeeeeeerrry painful ways for me to die.”

“What?” I spin Kyle round to look back in Max’s direction and I trip when our eyes make contact. He does look ready to kill. I huff and shrug it off.

“He’s probably not used to having girls kiss him and then avoid him. That’s why he’s pissed.”

Kyle smirks at me condescendingly and pats me on the head as the song comes to a close. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Liz.”

I go to speak but he clamps a hand over my mouth. “By the way, I’d work on what you’re going to say to him when you see him next.”

“Why?” I mumble against his hand, idly wondering just where that hand has been and the last time it was washed.

“Because he’s coming this way.” He releases my mouth and does a tiny bow. “I must bid you adieu, my little Lizzy. I see a blonde over there with my name tattooed between her thighs.”

“Kyle-” I call out in a panic, but he’s already on his way over to Tess who is looking at him approvingly.

I sigh, but before I can finish it, I’m spun around and pulled into a hard body. Max’s arms band around me, his hands pressing me to him, one across my back and one just above my butt. He’s bordering on indecent but I can’t bring myself to care.

“Dance with me.” His demand is almost an inhuman growl. It sends fire straight through me and I struggle for coherency.

“Are you even giving me a choice?” I say as calmly as possible as our bodies press together and sway in time to the slow song that’s just come on.

“No.”

I swallow and try to come up with the rebuff he so sorely deserves. But I can’t think with the combination of the thumping tempo, the suggestive lyrics of the song and Max Evans surrounding me. It’s too much and my body is on sensory overload.

“Ah…” I attempt to push him away from me, to allow my head to clear, but he only holds me tighter.

“Max? What are you doing with her?”

I don’t know whether to hug Pam or kick her right at this point. Despite the fact that her question was exceedingly insulting she may have just provided me with the escape I so desperately need. I think I need it. I did need to escape, didn’t I? But as Max stares at me with those intense eyes and completely ignores Pam, all thoughts of escaping fall to the wayside.

“Max?”

Without even bothering to turn and look at her, Max says, “Fuck off, Pam. Go blow a football player.”

She storms off in a huff and my resolve comes flooding back.

“Do you treat all your ex-girlfriends that way?”

His eyes darken with what appears to be anger. “Why do you care? You hate Pam.”

My eyes flash with defensive anger and I reply, “I care because it reflects on you. You once shared something intimate with her and now you don’t have a civil word to say to her. It shows your total lack of respect for anyone.”

“First off,” his eyes narrow with anger, his face only inches from mine as he spits out his retort to my spiel. “I never shared anything intimate with Pam. The word intimate implies that it’s something special. It’s not special if she was fucking the entire football team. Secondly, we went on one date, where she talked of nothing but herself. She was never my girlfriend. And thirdly, people have to earn my respect. I don’t give it out freely.”

I instantly feel that the last remark was aimed at me. He doesn’t respect me, he only sees me as easy because of the few kisses we shared. Well fuck him, Liz Parker is no slut and she is definitely not going to give her virginity away to this asshole just because he’s horny.

“Thank you for clearing that up.” I bite out acidly, struggling to get out of his arms. “If you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”

“Like what? If you’re referring to your boyfriend, he just disappeared upstairs with Tess; I think he’ll be a while.” His tone is still angry, but he doesn’t let go of me.

“First off,” I reply in mimicry of his previous self righteous spiel, “Kyle is not my boyfriend. He’s my friend. You know, the people who like you for who you are? But I’m guessing you wouldn’t have too many of those. Secondly, what I do is none of your business and thirdly,” I look down at his arms that are effectively clamping me to him. “Would you please let go of me?”

I push at him again to induce him to release me, but he does the total opposite. He kisses me, right in the middle of the dance floor. I don’t hear the startled gasps, I don’t see the pointed fingers as people stare at us in shock, I only hear about them later from Maria. All I am in this moment is a sensation. The anger, the built up sexual tension explodes through the kiss and I can’t seem to get my brain to work.

He pulls away after a length of time and I’m left bereft and craving more, but all I can seem to do is gulp in large quantities of air into my oxygen starved lungs as I stare at him, completely confused. Just what type of game is he playing?

He finally releases me and the chill of before immediately sets into my bones. He doesn’t quite let go of me though. He grasps my elbow and tows me through the gaping crowd who have long since stopped dancing to stare at the spectacle we were making on the dance floor.

He tows me upstairs and into the nearest vacant room, forgoing the first one in which Tess’s breathy moans and Kyle’s grunts could be heard quite clearly.

He shuts the door behind us the silence of the room is almost absolute, allowing the realisation of the situation to come crashing through into my brain.

I’m alone.

In a bedroom.

With Max Evans.

A/N: Ok, last part. I promised Laira a sequel, so when I get some time, I’ll deliver on that. You’ll get a deeper insight into Max and why he is the way that he is, I promise. I honestly thought that not many people would like this and that I wouldn’t have to even think about a sequel because it was just a short fluff piece I wrote when I had writer’s block. So before you complain about it being short, I wrote it before I posted it and saw it ending where it did. Thank you so much for the excellent response, I never would have dreamed people would like it so much!

Chanks_girl
Ms_Capeside
Laira- Sorry, but Real Life is stinking at the moment. In fact the only reason I posted this was because I had it finished. The sequel might have to wait awhile.
Steph- Happy Birthday to you hun!
Raemac- I’m glad you took a chance, and look, I have completed it, so no worries there.
Spray- I do have a theory about that actually. Here it is: You have weird friends. My word is in context and actually makes sense, refer to Laira’s post to see what your friend is doing. Although I guess I can’t talk, my friend used ‘flock’ instead of the four letter ‘F’ word for a while there.
Maya
Eve
Novolette
Tinie38
Natalie36- Yes, I had to stop there. I just had to. If only to leave you hanging.
DayDreamer23- Ummm, the updates actually stop here. I should be doing a sequel though.
Alien614
ShatteredDreamer- Yeah I’m pretty sure I am finishing it now. Do you think I could finish it at the end of this part if Max was only in lust with her? Fear not, Max is a good guy in this fic. He’s just a little intense.
Emz80m- I love it too.
Veronica
Ju- I’m so glad I have balance. Seriously, my parents ought to be commended for letting me have horse riding lessons, I have super balance now. I think if I had to pick, I’d choose the university/rainy day story. That one has muddy bum written all over it.
Kay_b- Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying it so much. I was pretty happy with the M/L conversation in the previous part, so I’m really pleased you liked it too.
Addicted2AmberEyes
anonymousarfan
Dreamerforever88
Carolina_moon
Berhlyliz
Blink1lit

“What are you doing?” I whisper, as he turns to face me. “Why are we here?”

“I wanted to talk to you. Downstairs didn’t seem very conducive to conversations.”

Did Max Evans just use the word conducive in a perfectly legitimate sentence? Maybe he isn’t such a meathead.

“What did you want to talk about?” I ask warily, eying the bed as if it’s going to leap out and grab me. I don’t trust him and I don’t trust this situation. It just shouts wrong to me.

He shakes his head and frowns at me in confusion.

“Why do you always look at me as if I’m going to attack you? I’m not going to hurt you, Liz.”

“Aren’t you?” I whisper, wrapping my arms around me to ward off the cold that has seeped into me now that Max is no longer touching me.

“No. I just want to talk. We need to talk about what’s going on between us.”

I open my mouth to refute that claim, but he beats me to it. “And don’t tell me that nothing’s going on. We kissed.”

He moves in closer and my head does that fuzzy thing again that occurs whenever he’s near. I shake it to clear it and move out of the radius of his warmth. He’s too intoxicating, too drugging for my system to cope with. So I say the first thing that springs into my head, the issue that’s been messing with my head ever since Max Evans backed me up against the wall and kissed me.

“I’m not a slut. I’m not going to sleep with you tonight.”

It’s like I can see the moment my words sink in for him, his eyes glaze over with rage and his fists tighten. He steps towards me and this time, the only emotion I feel is fear. There is no underlying awareness that he might kiss me. What I’m feeling is pure terror, because Max Evans is completely and utterly pissed off.

“Is that what you think of me?” he asks, his voice hoarse and low. “Is it?!”

I flinch as he yells the last part and step away from him. He spins away from me and runs his hands through his hair in aggravation.

“Jesus…” he finally mutters after a moment of completely awkward silence. I’ve never wanted to be anywhere else so badly before in my life. He turns and pins me with his gaze and my heart leaps into my throat.

“I may be a lot of things, Liz, but I have never slept with anyone casually. Hell, I’ve never slept with anyone… period.”

I blink in surprise and then my eyes narrow in suspicions and distrust. “Don’t fucking lie to me! I’ve heard Pam talking in the locker room about how good you are in bed.” I stop and look around me in disbelief and disgust. “Christ, if my mother ever finds out I was up here with you, she’d kill me. You know what? Fuck this, I’m leaving.” I turn and walk towards the door, but as I turn the handle, Max grasps my arm and pulls me back into him and crushes his mouth onto mine.

Despite myself, I moan and clutch his shoulders as he pushes me against the door and ravishes my mouth. My hands can’t seem to stay still as he presses himself into me. I run my hand over his back, clench them on his shoulders and trail my finger through his hair.

He pulls back with a self satisfied smirk. “At least I know how to shut you up.”

My rage comes back with a swift vengeance and I shove him off of me. “Fuck you, Max, you asshole.”

He holds me steady and pushes me back against the door. “No, you know what, Liz? Fuck you. You’re so ready to jump on your high horse and assume the worst about me. Too high and precious to even consider being with someone like me. Well you know what? You kissed me tonight. More than once.”

I gape at him and try to comprehend what he just said to me. None of it makes sense, so I grasp onto the only part that I can logically argue right now.

“I didn’t kiss you, you kissed me.”

There is a long dreadful pause and I automatically regret my words as he seems to freeze up on me.

Max’s eyes go dull and flat and he sighs despondently. “I tell you all that and the only thing you have to say in return is about fucking semantics.”

He shakes his head slowly and his lips form a tight line. He releases his grip on me and steps away as I stare on in confusion, my head still reeling from what he’d said previously.

“Jesus Christ…” he turns from me and after a moment he speaks again, his voice devoid of any emotion. “You can leave now.”

I hesitate, and then turn to the door. As my hand reaches the door handle, I stop, needing to know one thing before I leave. “Max… what did you mean… you know, when you said that I was too precious to be with someone like you?”

He turns back to and his eyes hold a deep seated frustration and need that shocks me. “Just what I said. You assume the worst about me based on rumours and lies. You think I use all those girls? They want to be used Liz. But I don’t. I don’t use them. They’re vapid. Shallow. Ignorant. None of them can hold a candle to you. But you wouldn’t care if I died tomorrow, I’m that low in your eyes.”

My eyes must be as wide as saucers at this moment. I desperately want to stop him, stop him and reassure him that I do care. I just pretend that I don’t because it hurts too much to care when he’s constantly being connected to countless bimbos and bitches who practically throw themselves at him.

“You don’t know how much I prayed for that bottle to land on you. I thought I was dreaming when it did. It had to be too good to be true. But when you kissed me… I just had to milk it for all it was worth. I had to keep it going for as long as I could. I might never have got another chance. You have no idea what it felt like to share that kiss with you,” he pauses and I blink under the powerful assault of his eyes. “And for you to feel absolutely nothing. You avoided me. I thought I could make you feel something, I came to this party with that intention, but I was obviously wrong.”

He stops and my heart is about to burst. I’ve never been more touched or saddened by somebody’s words. I step forward and he raises his hand to me and shakes his head. “I don’t need your pity, alright? Just… do us both a favour and get out of here.”

“You may be many things Max, but pitiful is not one of them.” I say, echoing his previous words as I walk towards him.

I stand in front of him and he glances down at me warily. “What are you doing?”

I run my hand lightly up his chest and then clasp the back of his neck pulling his head down close to mine. “Proving it to you,” I whisper before closing the distance between us and kissing him.

He doesn’t move for a terrifying moment, and I wonder if I’ve just made an enormous fool out of myself.

But then his arms come around me, where they belong, and he begins to respond to me.

This time when we kiss, there’s none of the anger that seemed to fuel our earlier kisses. It’s like the spin the bottle kiss, but so much better because I know Max is actually doing because he feels for me, not because some stupid beer bottle told him to.

We break apart after a moment and I glance up at him, hesitant as to how I’ll be received. But for the first time since this entire… thing started, Max smiles at me. I mean, really smiles at me. And it takes my breath away.

But there’s a touch of confusion in his face as he looks at me. He raises his hand gently and traces my face with the knuckles of his fingers. “Liz…”

Whatever he’s about to say next is completely forgotten as the door bursts open behind us and Maria and Michael appear together at the door.

“Whoops, this room is obviously already taken,” mutters Michael with a faint blush that I find strangely endearing. I look down to Maria’s and Michael’s hands which are clasped together and then take in Michael’s mussed hair and the familiar shade of lipstick he’s currently sporting and raise my eyebrow at Maria. She in turn flicks her gaze to the bed situated in the middle of the room and then at me and Max and raises her eyebrow in turn. I love silent best friend communication.

“Right, well… we’ll just be going. Now. Seeya.”

Michael slams the door shut and Max and I turn to look at each other, the silence awkward and absolute.

“Uh…” I falter. I have no idea what to do now. None. What on earth do I say after putting myself out there like that? ‘Well, that was fun, see you tomorrow at school?’

My gaze drops to the floor and I wrack my brain for something to say. Talking about the weather seems a tad inane at this point in time.

My musings are cut short as I feel a finger slowly tilt my head up. I keep my gaze lowered, unable to even look at him. I feel a thumb slowly rub against my cheek and I involuntarily shudder and flick my eyes upward to look into his piercing gaze.

As if my reaction is a cue, he brings his face closer and slowly presses his lips to mine. The sweetness and gentle nature of the kiss has my knees buckling. The sexual desire that’s usually at the forefront of all of our kisses is a distant pang in the background right now. For the first time since this whole messy business started, since I sat down at the table, I really do believe that Max Evans and I could possibly work as a couple. This kiss isn’t about sex; it isn’t about the simmering chemistry that sparks between us. It’s about him trying to prove to me that he cares about me, that what he wants from me isn’t just physical. Max wants something deeper from me and he’s telling me the best way he knows how. Words can often be misleading, but this type of sincerity is hard to fake.

The moment is once again ruined by Maria who burst through the door with a hand clapped over her eyes. Geez, what did she think we were doing in here? Going at it like wild monkeys? You’d think she’d know me better than that.

“Sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this,” she cringes, her hand still clapped over her eyes.

I exchange glances with Max who is obviously as amused as I am by Maria’s obstinate refusal to look. We wait a moment in silence before I alert Maria to the fact that we weren’t doing anything.

“Uh, Maria… you can look if you want.” I remark glibly.

She cautiously peeks through her fingers at us before quickly whipping her hand to her side when she realises that we’re both fully clothed and decent.

“Good. I… I, uh was just making sure,” she replies in an attempt at casualness while we both repress our laughter.

“I’ll bet. Now what did you want to show us?”

“Oh! Right! Follow me.”

We both follow her in states of curiosity as she leads us out of the room. Max clasps my hand in his and I smile at him as we walk towards the railing where Maria has joined Michael.

“Look. There.”

We both gaze down at the scene before us. The landing overlooks the living room which is full to the brim with heaving, sweaty, dancing bodies, so it takes us a while to locate what we’re looking for.

We both spot it at the same time. I squeal in amazement and horror while Max scoffs in disbelief.

“Is that…” I trail off.

“Couldn’t be…” remarks Max, obviously dumbstruck at the sight.

“It is,” states Michael, his voice full of suppressed amusement. “Isabel Evans and Alex Whitman are dirty dancing together.”

I watch Alex grind with Isabel before turning my back on the ungodly scene and shuddering in repulsion.

“Oh Alex. How the mighty have fallen.”

Max looks at me strangely and shakes his head. “You know, Isabel’s not that bad. You’d be surprised.”

I turn my head to rebuff his claim, and then pull up short as I consider everything that’s happened in the past few days. If I could be so wrong about one Evans, surely I could be wrong about the other, too?

I smile at Max and nod my head. “You know what, Max? You may just be right about that.”

“I’m always right. Now c’mere.” He grins in arrogance and pulls me to him, lining my body up against his.

I go to reject his egotistical advances and push him off me, but the protest dies on my lips when he kisses me swiftly. I moan as his tongue delves into my mouth and the hands that I had planned to push him off with, suddenly clutch his jacket and pull him closer to me. I gasp when one of his hands cups my butt and presses my hips into his. His boldness only causes me to kiss him harder.

I almost forget that we're not alone until I hear in the back of my foggy brain, Maria’s voice telling me that she’s “going to have to have a talk” with me later. I pull away from Max abruptly and hide my face in his jacket when the people around us start to applaud. Ok, maybe we got a little too carried away there. I cringe further when I hear Kyle’s voice cry out over the noise, “Woohoo! Lizzy’s gettin’ some!” Obviously his tryst with Tess Harding is over and done with if he’s emerged from his love cave.

I feel Max’s chuckle vibrate through my chest and I raise my head to look up at him. “Liz Parker, you wanna go on a date sometime?” he asks when our eyes connect.

I laugh – which was probably not the response he was looking for- then remark on the absurd nature of how we got together. “We really did do this ass backwards, Max.”

“Who wants to be conventional anyway?” he asks with a teasing grin as he gently tugs on a strand of hair that has fallen into my face. He sweeps it back behind my ear and it’s this motion that sets my pulse racing. Why is it that his considerate and gentle actions bring out the animal in me? The things I wanna do to this man…

“Definitely not me,” I whisper before going back in for the kill again. I really do like having this freedom to kiss Max whenever I want to. I’m pretty sure he likes it too given the way he’s been responding to it.

I can vaguely hear Maria exclaim, “Ugh, they’re at it again!” as Max and I kiss. I smile briefly before giving Max my full attention. I can tell that that statement is going to be used again and again whenever Max and I are together.

The last coherent thought that floats through my brain is, that if I knew a game of spin the bottle could have led to this, I’d have played years ago.