You've Got To Hold On AU/M.L. ch: 17 & Epil. 12/7/09
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 1:32 pm
12/7: Happy birthday Shiri!!!
I downloaded the tornado and lightning picture from the internet…I have no idea who the photographer is so I don’t know who to give the credit to but it inspired this short little fic. I hope you enjoy it. Ginger
(Sorry Destiny...no steam on this one.
)
Banner by: Me
Title: You’ve got to Hold on.
Genre: A/U: M/L teen
Author: Ginger
Disclaimer: I own nothing Roswell, I have borrowed the names of the characters simply because I like them.
Summary: Max is a wildcatter on one of his own rigs…Liz works at the local diner nights and is a senior at UT during the day. The picture tells the story.
*~*~*
Chapter: 1
Max
“Hey Max, can’t you find someplace else to stop besides this coffee shop? You know she’ll never give in, why do you keep trying?
The guys went through this same routine every night after our shift…ragging on me, Max Evans their boss, who was quite taken with one of the waitresses at the all night diner. Why don’t they give up already? I know they would much rather have a beer than coffee but I really don’t care, if they want to ride with me then they will have to settle for coffee until Liz Parker has a night off. Then, and only then, will we stop for a beer before heading home.
I just smile, take the keys from the ignition and open the door to the cab of the truck. Everyone piles out and that’s when I notice Michael, my best friend, brushing off his jacket and running his hands through his tousled hair before heading into the diner. I have to grin to myself as I think ‘Maria must be working tonight’ and then, without giving it a second thought, I reach over to the center of the seat, take out my Stetson and put it on my head. I don’t know why I bother, no one knows why I bother actually, because I’ll remove it the minute I enter the diner anyway. It’s just something I do…no good reason… just a habit… that and you shouldn’t wear a hat while eating. My mother taught me that! I smile again, ’way to go mom!’ I tell myself… she’s great, my mom, you’ll meet her later.
We are all pretty tired as we pile into the diner and find our usual booth. We set our jackets on the bench seats and all four of us head to the men’s room to wash up before settling in for some relaxation after another hard day in the Texas sun. Sometimes I don’t think the work is as hard as the sun is to deal with. It takes a certain type of man to be able to deal with the heat from the sun all day long and then there’s the sidewinders and those damned red ants, they’re no fun either. Of course there’s a lot to be said when the crew you work with are your best friends, friends since childhood. So the grumbling and good natured chiding in the men’s room at my expense is all in good fun and I don’t mind because I know that they would have my back, always, without a doubt.
When we return to our seats our coffee has been poured for us, as usual, and menu’s are at each place setting there on the table waiting for us.
Liz caught my eye as she headed back to the pick up window just now and she gave me one of her killer smiles before she turned her back on us and as usual my heart took a leap in my chest. I have no idea why I react to her this way but it happens every time I see her. I don’t know how I will ever convince her to go out with me, God knows I’ve tried every time we’ve come in but she never gives an inch. Maybe I need to come in without the rest of the crew and sit until she has a break and we can talk and get to know each other better. I’ve been coming in here every night she’s worked for the past three and a half years and she always smiles and chats pleasantly with all of us but she never once acts like she’s heard my question… “Will you have dinner with me?” She just smiles, ignores me and goes on about her work as though I’m not even there.
A few of the other male customers have come on strong to her a few times and she’s made short work of them in no time flat so I really don’t want to push her and get her angry with me but I would definitely like to get the chance to know her better. There is just something about the petite little brunette that intrigues me, I don’t know what it is but I can’t help the gnawing that is present when she’s around.
*
Liz
Maria comes up behind me and whispers in my ear again…
“Liz, when are you going to give that man a break and go out with him?”
I look at her, smile and say as I put an order up on the wheel…
“Maria, he doesn’t want to go out with me. It’s just a line…just like all the other guys that come in here with their cocky attitudes. It’s nothing more than that although he is more polite than some of them. And besides, I really don’t have the time to go out. This is my senior year Maria and I only have one more semester before I graduate. I need to focus on that if I want to continue with graduate study on scholarships. It isn’t easy to get a doctorate on scholarships and I need to focus really hard. Between working and school I don’t have a lot of time to be socializing. Besides, why waste my time and his, it can’t go anywhere.”
And then I think to myself with a bit of smile, ‘If only he WAS serious I might be willing to donate some time but he’s just another good looking flirt trying to impress his friends.’ And so I keep this thought to myself just as I do with all of my thoughts and continue to work. I pick up an order and head to another table to drop it off before going back to Max and his buddies to take their orders.
“Good evening gentlemen.” I say, smiling down at the four of them. ”What will it be this evening?”
‘The bigger the smile the bigger the tips’ I think to myself.
“Well, I don’t know about the rest but I’m still hoping for a date Ms. Parker.” Max says with a smile as he sits back and scans me with an approving eye. He is up to his usual tricks…and wow, is he easy on the eye I think to myself as a chill runs up my spine.
His eyes look like autumn leaves, every color of gold, honey and orange imaginable and they seem to sparkle and dance with every word he speaks. He’s a real charmer, that’s for sure, and I love it. I didn’t just think that, NO, I won’t think things like that I scold myself, seriously Liz, get a grip!
“Oh, Ms. Parker is it? Well Mr. Evans, as usual, the answer is the same sir…no thanks.” I tease back at him nonchalantly, but I’m anything but…
I have to giggle when I see a look pass over his face…is that disappointment? Oh well, it disappeared as fast as I thought I saw it, I just give him another big smile.
“Well, if the answer is the same then I guess I’ll have my usual. How about the rest of you, the usual?” Max asks his friends as he hands me his menu, places his hands on the table in front of him, laces his fingers together and gives me a crooked little grin. God is he gorgeous! Wow! SHIT!@! There I go again…I have to stop thinking like that.
*
Michael
Kyle, Alex and I all grinned and nodded our assents at Max’s question, we’ll have our usual as usual and then I look up from my menu… I just have to ask, I’ve watched this dance long enough and it was time to get some answers…my friend deserves as much.
“Liz, do you ever date anyone?” I just have to know, hell…Max has to know. Max has been playing this same game for over three years now and we really didn’t know a whole lot about her or Maria for that matter. Kyle and Alex are both married but Max and I really are interested in these two waitresses. We razz Max about Liz all the time but truth be known I’m just as interested in that Maria girl as he is in Liz.
Liz looks over at me and obviously sees the seriousness of my expression and smiles at me as she shakes her head no,
“No Michael, as a matter of fact I don’t. I attend UT during the day and then homework, after that I come to work here from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. By the time I get home and get to bed it’s 3:00 a.m. and my first class starts at 10:00 a.m. so there isn’t a whole lot of time left in the day for anything else.” Liz’s expression takes on a seriousness that I have never seen on her before and I’m shocked at her response.
Max’s head jerked up and looked at Liz with a new found admiration and I could see the lights begin to blink off and on in his head. I could tell he had to know more and then he asks,
“What are you studying Liz?” I could tell he was shocked at her confession…the realization was written all over his face.
“Oh, I’m studying molecular biology. If I keep my 4.0 GPA I will be able to attend Harvard in the fall for graduate study on a full scholarship and then on toward my doctorate. I really want to study under Dr. Laura Holt so I’ve got to stay pretty focused if I want to achieve my goals.”
Liz smiled as she took our menu’s from our hands and wrote our orders down on her pad as we watched her, all of us slack jawed by her remark.
To say that we are impressed is an understatement. Here we thought we were dealing with a waitress at a diner all of these years. Not that we mind that she is a waitress but to learn the underlying depth of the waitress is a real shock.
“Wow, that is really impressive Liz. How far are you in your studies?” Alex asked, sounding a little awestruck.
“Well, I graduate with my Bachelor’s degree in May and I have been accepted to Harvard for the Fall semester so all I have to do now is keep up my grades, find a place to live, find a job and get myself moved before August. I attend UT because they offered me the best deal, otherwise I would have attended Harvard or Yale. Why spend that kind of money when another school is willing to educate for simply having a good GPA? Anyway, I guess Harvard wanted to make sure the incoming students are serious about their education before giving out the really good STUFF huh?” She answers with that gorgeous smile she has for everyone, I know Max would like to think that smile belongs to only him but she treats everyone the same.
I also know that Max is listening and watching her like a hawk looking for it’s next meal. We had no idea her life was so full and regimented. I know Max actually feels sorry for her right now, I have known him long enough to recognize the expressions change as thoughts run through his head.
He had graduated four years ago from UT with a degree in business and was being primed to take over the families oil business one day but he still likes working on the rigs more than he likes the office work. He keeps his hands on the internal workings but he has very good hired help to do the daily hum drum office details and besides his dad hasn’t fully retired yet but his dad’s business dealings are mostly on the other end of the oil business. While he attended school Max only worked in the summers and I can tell he truly admires Liz far more than he had before because of her tenacity and her achievements, hell we all do.
Then Liz looks at our somber faces and starts to giggle as she replies…
“Hey guys, this isn’t the end of the world here. Cheer up, do you want anything else?” And she smiles again.
“Only a date…” Max grins. Liz shrugs her shoulders at him and smiles as she turns and walks toward the order wheel. ‘Boy, Max if you only meant it’…she thinks to herself.
“Wow! Who would have thought? I had no idea she was anything but a waitress, and molecular biology…jeeze! That’s got to be some heavy crap.” Kyle says with awe in his voice.
“God, you better believe it. I barely made it through high school biology and those damned dead frogs.” Alex adds. We all laugh at him, he’s such a happy dude.
“Max, what’s got you thinking so hard over there? Aren’t you as shocked as we are?” I ask.
“Well, yes and no. I knew she was intelligent but, yeah, you could have bowled me over with a feather a minute ago. I’m surprised she has time to know where she’s supposed to be at any given minute during the day.”
Max has a very puzzled look on his face.
“Even if she did say yes when would she have time to go to go out on a date?” He asks to no one in particular…then I notice the wheels turning yet again, Max is starting to come up with a plan.
*
Max
I need to find out her schedule from Maria and I need to come in here alone so that I can talk to her by myself. I really need to make sure that I have a chance to get to know her before she moves back east.
So, before we leave the diner I have a chance to corner Maria and ask if Liz ever works week-ends and she tells me that she works every Saturday morning, that’s why she doesn’t work on Friday night. I smile, tip my hat and thank her and with a huge grin on my face I follow the crew out to the truck. I know where I’m going to be this Saturday morning…that’s for sure.
*~*~*
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Image](http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo208/13merryberry/Youvegottoholdon.png?t=1251318295)
I downloaded the tornado and lightning picture from the internet…I have no idea who the photographer is so I don’t know who to give the credit to but it inspired this short little fic. I hope you enjoy it. Ginger
(Sorry Destiny...no steam on this one.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Banner by: Me
Title: You’ve got to Hold on.
Genre: A/U: M/L teen
Author: Ginger
Disclaimer: I own nothing Roswell, I have borrowed the names of the characters simply because I like them.
Summary: Max is a wildcatter on one of his own rigs…Liz works at the local diner nights and is a senior at UT during the day. The picture tells the story.
*~*~*
Chapter: 1
Max
“Hey Max, can’t you find someplace else to stop besides this coffee shop? You know she’ll never give in, why do you keep trying?
The guys went through this same routine every night after our shift…ragging on me, Max Evans their boss, who was quite taken with one of the waitresses at the all night diner. Why don’t they give up already? I know they would much rather have a beer than coffee but I really don’t care, if they want to ride with me then they will have to settle for coffee until Liz Parker has a night off. Then, and only then, will we stop for a beer before heading home.
I just smile, take the keys from the ignition and open the door to the cab of the truck. Everyone piles out and that’s when I notice Michael, my best friend, brushing off his jacket and running his hands through his tousled hair before heading into the diner. I have to grin to myself as I think ‘Maria must be working tonight’ and then, without giving it a second thought, I reach over to the center of the seat, take out my Stetson and put it on my head. I don’t know why I bother, no one knows why I bother actually, because I’ll remove it the minute I enter the diner anyway. It’s just something I do…no good reason… just a habit… that and you shouldn’t wear a hat while eating. My mother taught me that! I smile again, ’way to go mom!’ I tell myself… she’s great, my mom, you’ll meet her later.
We are all pretty tired as we pile into the diner and find our usual booth. We set our jackets on the bench seats and all four of us head to the men’s room to wash up before settling in for some relaxation after another hard day in the Texas sun. Sometimes I don’t think the work is as hard as the sun is to deal with. It takes a certain type of man to be able to deal with the heat from the sun all day long and then there’s the sidewinders and those damned red ants, they’re no fun either. Of course there’s a lot to be said when the crew you work with are your best friends, friends since childhood. So the grumbling and good natured chiding in the men’s room at my expense is all in good fun and I don’t mind because I know that they would have my back, always, without a doubt.
When we return to our seats our coffee has been poured for us, as usual, and menu’s are at each place setting there on the table waiting for us.
Liz caught my eye as she headed back to the pick up window just now and she gave me one of her killer smiles before she turned her back on us and as usual my heart took a leap in my chest. I have no idea why I react to her this way but it happens every time I see her. I don’t know how I will ever convince her to go out with me, God knows I’ve tried every time we’ve come in but she never gives an inch. Maybe I need to come in without the rest of the crew and sit until she has a break and we can talk and get to know each other better. I’ve been coming in here every night she’s worked for the past three and a half years and she always smiles and chats pleasantly with all of us but she never once acts like she’s heard my question… “Will you have dinner with me?” She just smiles, ignores me and goes on about her work as though I’m not even there.
A few of the other male customers have come on strong to her a few times and she’s made short work of them in no time flat so I really don’t want to push her and get her angry with me but I would definitely like to get the chance to know her better. There is just something about the petite little brunette that intrigues me, I don’t know what it is but I can’t help the gnawing that is present when she’s around.
*
Liz
Maria comes up behind me and whispers in my ear again…
“Liz, when are you going to give that man a break and go out with him?”
I look at her, smile and say as I put an order up on the wheel…
“Maria, he doesn’t want to go out with me. It’s just a line…just like all the other guys that come in here with their cocky attitudes. It’s nothing more than that although he is more polite than some of them. And besides, I really don’t have the time to go out. This is my senior year Maria and I only have one more semester before I graduate. I need to focus on that if I want to continue with graduate study on scholarships. It isn’t easy to get a doctorate on scholarships and I need to focus really hard. Between working and school I don’t have a lot of time to be socializing. Besides, why waste my time and his, it can’t go anywhere.”
And then I think to myself with a bit of smile, ‘If only he WAS serious I might be willing to donate some time but he’s just another good looking flirt trying to impress his friends.’ And so I keep this thought to myself just as I do with all of my thoughts and continue to work. I pick up an order and head to another table to drop it off before going back to Max and his buddies to take their orders.
“Good evening gentlemen.” I say, smiling down at the four of them. ”What will it be this evening?”
‘The bigger the smile the bigger the tips’ I think to myself.
“Well, I don’t know about the rest but I’m still hoping for a date Ms. Parker.” Max says with a smile as he sits back and scans me with an approving eye. He is up to his usual tricks…and wow, is he easy on the eye I think to myself as a chill runs up my spine.
His eyes look like autumn leaves, every color of gold, honey and orange imaginable and they seem to sparkle and dance with every word he speaks. He’s a real charmer, that’s for sure, and I love it. I didn’t just think that, NO, I won’t think things like that I scold myself, seriously Liz, get a grip!
“Oh, Ms. Parker is it? Well Mr. Evans, as usual, the answer is the same sir…no thanks.” I tease back at him nonchalantly, but I’m anything but…
I have to giggle when I see a look pass over his face…is that disappointment? Oh well, it disappeared as fast as I thought I saw it, I just give him another big smile.
“Well, if the answer is the same then I guess I’ll have my usual. How about the rest of you, the usual?” Max asks his friends as he hands me his menu, places his hands on the table in front of him, laces his fingers together and gives me a crooked little grin. God is he gorgeous! Wow! SHIT!@! There I go again…I have to stop thinking like that.
*
Michael
Kyle, Alex and I all grinned and nodded our assents at Max’s question, we’ll have our usual as usual and then I look up from my menu… I just have to ask, I’ve watched this dance long enough and it was time to get some answers…my friend deserves as much.
“Liz, do you ever date anyone?” I just have to know, hell…Max has to know. Max has been playing this same game for over three years now and we really didn’t know a whole lot about her or Maria for that matter. Kyle and Alex are both married but Max and I really are interested in these two waitresses. We razz Max about Liz all the time but truth be known I’m just as interested in that Maria girl as he is in Liz.
Liz looks over at me and obviously sees the seriousness of my expression and smiles at me as she shakes her head no,
“No Michael, as a matter of fact I don’t. I attend UT during the day and then homework, after that I come to work here from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. By the time I get home and get to bed it’s 3:00 a.m. and my first class starts at 10:00 a.m. so there isn’t a whole lot of time left in the day for anything else.” Liz’s expression takes on a seriousness that I have never seen on her before and I’m shocked at her response.
Max’s head jerked up and looked at Liz with a new found admiration and I could see the lights begin to blink off and on in his head. I could tell he had to know more and then he asks,
“What are you studying Liz?” I could tell he was shocked at her confession…the realization was written all over his face.
“Oh, I’m studying molecular biology. If I keep my 4.0 GPA I will be able to attend Harvard in the fall for graduate study on a full scholarship and then on toward my doctorate. I really want to study under Dr. Laura Holt so I’ve got to stay pretty focused if I want to achieve my goals.”
Liz smiled as she took our menu’s from our hands and wrote our orders down on her pad as we watched her, all of us slack jawed by her remark.
To say that we are impressed is an understatement. Here we thought we were dealing with a waitress at a diner all of these years. Not that we mind that she is a waitress but to learn the underlying depth of the waitress is a real shock.
“Wow, that is really impressive Liz. How far are you in your studies?” Alex asked, sounding a little awestruck.
“Well, I graduate with my Bachelor’s degree in May and I have been accepted to Harvard for the Fall semester so all I have to do now is keep up my grades, find a place to live, find a job and get myself moved before August. I attend UT because they offered me the best deal, otherwise I would have attended Harvard or Yale. Why spend that kind of money when another school is willing to educate for simply having a good GPA? Anyway, I guess Harvard wanted to make sure the incoming students are serious about their education before giving out the really good STUFF huh?” She answers with that gorgeous smile she has for everyone, I know Max would like to think that smile belongs to only him but she treats everyone the same.
I also know that Max is listening and watching her like a hawk looking for it’s next meal. We had no idea her life was so full and regimented. I know Max actually feels sorry for her right now, I have known him long enough to recognize the expressions change as thoughts run through his head.
He had graduated four years ago from UT with a degree in business and was being primed to take over the families oil business one day but he still likes working on the rigs more than he likes the office work. He keeps his hands on the internal workings but he has very good hired help to do the daily hum drum office details and besides his dad hasn’t fully retired yet but his dad’s business dealings are mostly on the other end of the oil business. While he attended school Max only worked in the summers and I can tell he truly admires Liz far more than he had before because of her tenacity and her achievements, hell we all do.
Then Liz looks at our somber faces and starts to giggle as she replies…
“Hey guys, this isn’t the end of the world here. Cheer up, do you want anything else?” And she smiles again.
“Only a date…” Max grins. Liz shrugs her shoulders at him and smiles as she turns and walks toward the order wheel. ‘Boy, Max if you only meant it’…she thinks to herself.
“Wow! Who would have thought? I had no idea she was anything but a waitress, and molecular biology…jeeze! That’s got to be some heavy crap.” Kyle says with awe in his voice.
“God, you better believe it. I barely made it through high school biology and those damned dead frogs.” Alex adds. We all laugh at him, he’s such a happy dude.
“Max, what’s got you thinking so hard over there? Aren’t you as shocked as we are?” I ask.
“Well, yes and no. I knew she was intelligent but, yeah, you could have bowled me over with a feather a minute ago. I’m surprised she has time to know where she’s supposed to be at any given minute during the day.”
Max has a very puzzled look on his face.
“Even if she did say yes when would she have time to go to go out on a date?” He asks to no one in particular…then I notice the wheels turning yet again, Max is starting to come up with a plan.
*
Max
I need to find out her schedule from Maria and I need to come in here alone so that I can talk to her by myself. I really need to make sure that I have a chance to get to know her before she moves back east.
So, before we leave the diner I have a chance to corner Maria and ask if Liz ever works week-ends and she tells me that she works every Saturday morning, that’s why she doesn’t work on Friday night. I smile, tip my hat and thank her and with a huge grin on my face I follow the crew out to the truck. I know where I’m going to be this Saturday morning…that’s for sure.
*~*~*