Play to Win (AU,M/L,ADULT) Pt 5 - 07/02/04 [WIP]

[Allie1031]

Title: Play to Win
Rating: ADULT
Category: This is a Max and Liz Alternate Universe Piece.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, etc.
Summary: Max and Liz are both at college at Harvard. Max is a player who has a thing for Liz, but Liz will hardly give him the time of day. More than anything, Max wants to sleep with Liz. In a poker game, thinking she can't lose, Max manipulates Liz into betting her virginity. And you can guess who wins...

NOTE: THIS FIC WAS BEGUN UNDER THE NAME ShEErAmbIVaLeNce. That is an alias of mine. I didn't plagiarize my own story...



The prologue just sets the stage. I think I am going to alternate POV between Max and Liz in the following parts.


Prologue

He prudently watched her lithe form across the room, digesting her every mannerism, memorizing the contorts of her face, straining to pick up her every word through the commotion of the surrounding party, soaking up her very being. He watched her, as he had done many times before, never drawing attention to him self, never letting her know that she was the object of his respectful gaze.

Her melodious laugh prickled his ears, and he breathed a heavy sigh.

She was so beautiful when she smiled, so radiant, and her laugh was music to his ears. He loved to concentrate on her luscious, red lips as they danced, occasionally twisting upward when she grinned to bear her wonderfully white teeth.

Oh how he coveted that perfect mouth!

And her eyes... her striking brown eyes... Many a time had he gotten lost in the dark pools, drowning himself over and over. He often studied their telltale expressions and now thought he knew them all by heart. Most of all, he wordlessly appreciated the light laugh lines that graced the corners of eyes, a testament to her true nature.

He slowly sipped his drink, observing her further.

As his eyes traced over her flawless body, across her unblemished, supple skin, from her vulnerable neck, to her perky breasts, to her flat stomach, to her swaying hips, to her firm ass, to her incredibly long legs, he felt himself begin to become aroused.

She didn’t have an outrageously curvy figure, but her preferred her slender form and admired her all the more for it. She wasn’t some blonde bombshell, but then, despite his numerous couplings with them, blondes were never really his ideal type. He only fucked them because they were an easy lay. Her shiny, flowing, chocolate mane appealed to him much more, and he could hardly resist the urge to run his fingers through it.

There was always just something about her that got to him. In his mind, there wasn’t sexier woman to be found on Earth.

He wanted her so bad. He had wanted her since the first time he meet her. He wanted to fuck her brains out mercilessly.

That, however, seemed to be an impossible task, indefinitely eluding the entire male sex.

Liz Parker, in all her divine glory, remained the most infamous virgin in the history Harvard University. There wasn’t a male on campus that didn’t desire her, didn’t want to be the lucky bastard to finally deflower her. Her attractiveness was entirely painful for most.

She was just so damn hot. It drove him and every other guy mad. Her teasingly tight clothes, her flirting friendliness, her seductive smile, her playful personality, her innocent nature; it was all enough to drive a good guy crazy.

Worst of all were the rumors. Liz might have been a virgin, but couldn’t exactly be described as completely virginal. It was a well-known fact that Liz Parker gives the absolute best head you would ever receive in your entire life. The lucky few that she had bestowed such a favor on couldn’t even begin to find the words to describe the heavenly experience. His mind, however, had no trouble filling in the blanks.

He didn’t want the best blow job of his life though. He wanted to fuck her, to stick his hard cock in her tight pussy, plain and simple. And he was determined to have his way with her. And he was sure that he could win her over with his charm if he could just get the chance.

The problem was, that Liz Parker always quite unreasonably seemed to have something against him.

Perhaps it was his reputation which somehow always manage to precede him.

Max Evans was a player, in every sense of the term. He was a womanizer, a virtual man-whore. He seduced girls, promised them whatever it took, fucked them once or twice, and left them heartbroken when he almost immediately lost interest after getting them in the sack. It was a hobby for him, a game to see how many girls he could go through as fast as possible.

Max had discovered at a surprisingly young age that for some reason the female sex always unrealistically seemed to believe that they could somehow change the guy that they were attracted to. All he had to do was arouse their interest, and it didn’t matter what his reputation was, because the girl always thought that they would be the one who could “change” him, that she was “different,” that what they had was “special.” Every girl wants to believe she is special; all he ever had to do was nurture the thoughts that were already there.

Amusingly though, at least to him, despite his inevitable tendency to walk out on the women once they were entirely infatuated with him, he had developed the reputation as only the most caring and considerate of lovers. In fact, it was because of his skill in bed that women seemed to believe long after he deserted him that he was still “the one,” and would most certainly come back to them. The great sex only served to perpetuate their conviction in him even after he had long moved on to greener pastures.

Of course there were occasionally those girls that came across his path that were just looking for a good time like him, but for the most part, he found women to be entirely all too pathetic and easily manipulated.

But not Liz Parker. She seemed to be immune to his most effective advances. In fact, whenever Max tried to get in her pants, he often found that she rolled her eyes at him.

Sometimes, he would forget his main objective though, and it was at those times that they would have the most interesting conversations. She was so smart and easy-going that it amazed him. And of course it would come to his attention once again how attracted to her he was and how much he wanted to fuck her brains out, and then he would make some suave or suggestive comment that would usually cause girls to swoon but only annoy Liz.

It was very perplexing to him.

One of his best friends, Kyle Valenti, had dated Liz Parker and he was very much not smooth in any way, shape, or form when it came to the ladies. Hell, good old Kyle was a fucking Buddhist and talked about Buddha this, or Buddha that nonstop.

So besides an obsession with his religion, Max Evans couldn’t help but wonder what Kyle Valenti had that he didn’t.

Truth be told, Liz Parker was strangely selective and all too random about the guys she dated. And she only dated them. A nice girl like Liz, you would think she would be looking for something long-term. But that was the beauty of her though; she refused to be exclusive. She always claimed not to want to limit herself. Secretly, Max Evans suspected that she was a closet commitmaphobic.

And suddenly, as if sensing he was watching her and thinking about her, Liz glanced in Max’s direction. Max quickly averted his gaze.

“I told you Max Evans was looking at you again,” Maria DeLuca, Liz’s closest friend, proclaimed triumphantly. “He’s always looking at you, girl. And it’s making about a billion other girls jealous.”

“Oh stop it, Maria. I highly doubt he was looking at me. He was probably checking YOU out. You know how he has that thing for blondes. You better be careful,” Liz warned.

“Ha,” Maria laughed dryly. “That boy has a serious thing for you, chica. YOU better watch out.”

“Please, Maria, you know I find it revolting the way he treats women. He has no respect for them and no respect for himself. I can’t even stand to talk to him. Every time I do, I think I am having such a wonderful time talking to him, and then, out of the blue, he always goes and makes some jackass remark,” Liz scowled.

“He used to girls falling at his feet,” Maria shrugged. “You have to admit, though, he’s really got that tall, dark, and handsome thing going for him. He’s probably the sexiest guy on campus.”

“He’s also the biggest jerk,” Liz insisted. “I don’t care how good-looking he is. He’s an asshole. And he needs to stop going around and pretending that he is God’s gift to women. I've had puddles on my bathroom floor that are deeper than he is.”

“Who are we talking about?” Kyle Valenti wondered, approaching Liz and Maria.

“No one,” Liz answered quickly.

“Max Evans,” Maria admitted defiantly.

“Ah,” Kyle nodded. “You know, he’s not as bad or as shallow as he seems at first glance. He really is a nice guy and a good friend once you get to know him.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re a guy,” Liz retorted sourly. "He doesn't try to get into your pants."

Kyle shrugged. Liz must really not like Max. He'd never heard her speak so harshly of anyone before.

“Oh, hey, we’re short a guy for our big poker game tomorrow night. It’s Tommy’s one year anniversary with his girlfriend, and he definitely can’t get out of spending the night with her. You wanna take his spot, Liz?” Kyle asked her, hopefully.

He really needed to fill Tommy's chair, and he adored any time he spent in the company of Liz.

“Heck, yes,” Liz answered eagerly. “I love playing cards.”

“I know; that’s why I asked you first,” Kyle smiled at Liz the special smile that he reserved only for her.

Liz smiled back.

“I have to warn you, though, the stakes can get pretty high sometimes. These guys don’t like to mess around,” Kyle said.

“My dear Kyle, that is not a problem because I only play to win,” Liz smirked.

“And to your credit, dear Liz, you most often do,” Kyle grinned back. “Just don’t leave us all too broke or we’ll never let you come back.”

“Alright,” Liz promised.

On the other side of the room, Max Evans was growing increasing jealous of his good friend. He envied Kyle’s friendship with Liz, how they always hung out together, even after they stopped dating.

Damnit, he was going to have Liz Parker if it was the last thing he did. Somehow, he’d find a way. He’d show her how charming he could be. He’d show her. He’d make her want him like he wanted her. And then he’d make love to her and prove to her how great he could be.

He loved a challenge. Liz Parker was a challenge.

[Allie1031]

Part 1

"Max, wait up!" Sean called out.

Max Evans turned back to see his friend Sean DeLuca moving quickly to catch up with him. It was Sunday afternoon and Max was at the library looking up some books for a research paper.

"Hey, Sean, what's up? The poker game is still on tonight, right?" Max asked smiling.

"Yup," Sean nodded. "Did you go to that party last night, dude? It was kickin'."

"Yeah, I was there. Liz Parker looked fucking hot as hell. That red tank top she was wearing will forever haunt my wet dreams," Max declared giddily.

Sean laughed at his friend, shaking his head lightly.

"I didn't see you there, though. Did you leave early?" Max smirked.

"Maybe," Sean grinned.

"Good for you, dude," Max congratulated his buddy. "Who's the lucky girl?"

"Blonde Tiffany, from the third floor. You remember her, don't you?" Sean asked.

"Mmmmm. Yes," Max smiled in reminiscence of Tiffany's long legs wrapped tightly around his waste.

He'd fucked her once in a handicapped bathroom stall. Ahhhh. Tiffany, Tiffany, Tiffany... Max sighed.

"So you're still obsessed with Liz, huh?" Sean inquired sharply breaking into Max's enchanting trip down memory lane. "Dude, when are you going to get over her? You know you don't stand a chance with her. You've been denied so many times it is starting to get pathetic."

"Shut up! I just haven't found the right approach yet. But I will," Max asserted.

"I'm sure," Sean rolled his eyes.

"I will," Max insisted.

"Okay," Sean said not buying it.

"I'm going sleep with Liz Parker before the end of the year," Max stated agitated. "I'm going to pop her cherry, and you are all going to be jealous as hell."

"Alright, put your money where your mouth is then. I'll bet you two thousand dollars that Liz never gives you a second glance. She isn't that kind of girl, dude," Sean shook his head.

"I'll take that bet," Max nodded confidently. "But make it four thousand. Every girl is attainable, Sean. You just have to find out what makes her tick first, which buttons to push, and that's your ticket into her pants. I'll find out what makes Liz tick."

"Yeah, right, whatever. Four thousand dollars if you don't by the end of the semester," Sean shrugged. "Good luck, buddy. You are going to need it!"

"Who needs luck when I've got skill. I always win," Max retorted, sure of himself.

Sean just shook his head again and the two friends parted ways to attend their respective agendas.

********************

To say that finding Liz Parker sitting in Tommy Stuart's chair upon arriving at Kyle's apartment for his usually, friendly, Sunday night game of poker pleasantly surprised Max Evans was an understatement.

Max was elated.

Liz, upon Max joining them, couldn't help but cringe slightly, which did not go unnoticed by Sean and in fact pleased him very much. He was sure Max didn't stand a chance.

Liz had forgotten that Max Evans lived here with Kyle Valenti and Michael Guerrin. Of course he would be here. She should have known to expect his vulgar presence. She could already tell he was undressing her with his eyes. Liz shuddered.

Still, it was really no matter to Liz that Max was there when you really got down to it. She wouldn't mind taking the arrogant bastard for all he was worth one bit.

In fact, she wouldn't mind taking any one of these boys' money. Max Evans, Kyle Valenti, Michael Guerrin, Sean DeLuca, and Alex Wittman all came from very prominent families with lots of money. And in her mind, anyone who could throw money around as carelessly as they did deserved to be robbed by her. Kyle had told her once that he had lost almost $10,000 in one really heated hand once. Lucky for her, she only played to win.

The boys could be brutal when it came to betting, and for sure they were obsessed with it. They were always making casual wagers between themselves, most of them barbaric and chauvinistic.

Kyle once bet Michael that he couldn't swallow a whole cup of night-crawlers. He did, but puked up the worms not more than a couple minutes later. Still, it counted as a win for Michael because Kyle only specified that he had to swallow the whole cup, not keep it down. And so, because he lost, Kyle had to sing 'Yankee Doodle,' at the top of his lungs, buck naked, wearing only a cowboy hat, while standing on diving board of the Tri-Delta pool, and pissing into the pool. Let’s just say that Kyle had quite a bit of explaining to do when campus security arrived.

Liz once heard that Sean had bet Max that he couldn't have a threesome with two twins. She never heard who won that bet, but there was one week last fall when Sean shaved his legs, slapped on some make-up, and wore short skits and halter tops for an entire week. Liz heard a rumor that Sean didn't wear any "panties," but she just took other people's word for it. Sean was supposed to dress like a trashy ho until someone asked him out. He went through almost a week of humiliation before Missy Boele took pity on Sean. The idea was that Sean was supposed to get a guy to ask him out but apparently that condition was never entirely specified, and thus Missy's request for a date qualified. I think she got more than she bargained for, though, when Sean showed up at the movie theater in a lacy teddy and silk stockings.

Liz didn't have a lot of money to lose, which was the main reason Kyle had never invited her to play with them before. Liz came from a hard working, middle class family and was at Harvard on scholarship. If she planned on making any big bets tonight, she'd first have to win quite a bit. Her checking account wasn't very padded at the moment, and in fact, she needed that money to pay rent this month. So really, she couldn't afford to lose anything at all.

But Liz planned on cleaning up that night. In fact she hoped to make enough to pay the next few months rent. She was very good at cards, any card game, having discovered her obsession with them at a very young age. Her skill at making the statically correct judgments was uncanny.

Except Liz was slightly disturbed by Max's goofy grin focused on her, and as a result, her concentration was shaken. She lost the first few hands because she wasn't paying attention. She cursed Max Evans repeatedly under her breath.

After the fifth hand though, Liz was able to pull herself into the game and began to win the majority of the hands with ease.

This aggravated Max. He usually was the one who came out on top most of the time. In fact he had a rather steady income from the poker games alone. Who did Liz Parker think she was, raining on his parade, stealing his glory? Max hated losing, especially to a girl, and especially to Liz. But tonight he was having the worst luck of his life, acquiring entirely useless cards. It was horribly frustrating.

And to make matters worse, Liz's winning smile was all too sexy. And the way her long chocolate hair cascaded onto the table as Liz reached over to scoot the chips she just won into her growing pile. And the excellent view of her delicious cleavage as she bent down….

Hmmmmm. Losing wasn't all bad. But Max Evans was determined not to let Liz get the best of him just because she had boobs. He'd seen many boobs in his lifetime and hers simply couldn't be as special as he was making them.

"That's it, I'm tired of losing!" Max announced exasperated. "Parker, you're going down. I'm going to win the next hand for a change."

"You don't even have your cards yet," Liz frowned. "How can you say that?"

"I just have this feeling," Max smirked.

"To be fair, he usually tends to win when he gets theses 'feelings' of his," Michael Guerrin shrugged.

"True," Alex Whittman nodded in agreement.

Sean shook his head with contempt.

"The only reason Max wins when he gets a 'feeling' is because he acts so damn confident when he announces that he has a 'feeling,' and we all get intimidated like pussies, and then none of us ever go up against his bluff," Sean pointed out.

Kyle just dealt the cards, whistling 'Yankee Doodle' softly to himself.

What a dork, Liz smiled softly at Kyle. This smile did not go unnoticed by Max.

What the hell does Kyle have that I don't? Max wondered to himself.

Max picked up the cards in front of him. Another crappy hand. Max decided to save the queen and ten of spades, only because they were spades, and discard the rest.

Liz picked up her cards to find, much to her pleasure, three kings. What luck! Max Evans was going down. She discarded her other two meaningless cards.

Kyle dealt again around the table, leaving two cards in front of Liz and three in front of Max.

When Max picked up the three cards in front of him, he couldn't help the big grin plastered across his face.

When Liz picked up her two cards, she couldn't help the smirk that formed on her lips.

Sean frowed, Alex furrowed his brow pensively, Michael yawned, and Kyle mumbled something to himself that sounded like 'Praise Buddha.'

"Let's not mess around. I'll start the betting at a thousand," Max carelessly tossed a few chips in the pot.

"A thousand??! We usually start at fifty! Two, three, maybe four hundred dollars tops!" Alex went wide-eyed.

"I'll see that bet," Liz threw in her chips.

"Me too," said Kyle.

Michael silently set his chips down in the middle of the table.

"Alright," Alex sighed, putting in his chips.

"I'm out," Sean winced. "I know you're bluffing Max, but Valenti and Guerrin, maybe even Liz, might be up to something. I got too crappy of cards to force your bluff but I'm sure they don't."

"Anybody going to raise the pot?" Max wondered.

"I'll raise you five-hundred," Liz stated with a sweet smile.

"That's the best you can do?" Max asked. "You are playing with men, Liz. You have to at least pretend like you have balls."

"Sorry, I was more inclined to think I'm playing with boys who have little better to do than waste their parent's money. But if this is about you trying to assert your dwindling manliness, I'll raise you another thousand," Liz retorted.

"I'll see that thousand and raise you two-thousand!" Max growled, slightly peeved at Liz's insults.

He was a nice guy. He'd never been rude or mean to her. And she was nothing but a smart-ass. With a nice ass. That he could hardly stop himself from giving a good squeeze.

What was wrong with Max? Why was he such an arrogant bastard? Did he think he can bluff his way through life? Liz couldn't help but wonder these things to her self. There was no possible way he could have a hand to beat hers. It was so statistically unlikely that Liz could help but chuckle to her self at the moron sitting across from her. She would teach him a lesson that he wouldn't forget for sure.

"I'll raise you four thousand!" Liz declared quickly, caught up in the moment.

"WHOA, slow down, kiddies," Alex jumped in. "We are suddenly up to eight thousand?!! I hate it when we play like this because I always lose. I'm out. I was out at two thousand. I know I'm a macho man. I don't need to prove it by losing all my money."

"Kyle, you still in?" Liz questioned aggressively, determined to have a show down with Max.

"Yeah," Kyle placed his chips down but with slight reluctance.

"Mikey?" Max raised an eyebrow in Michael direction.

Michael wordlessly added his chips to the pot.

Shit, that was a lot of money sitting in front of Liz Parker. A lot of money that was going to be all hers in a few minutes. She could finally buy herself a car that didn't stall at every stoplight. She could finally pay off all her backed up bills. She could have her telephone hooked up again. She could finally make rent on time and not have to beg her perverted landlord, Mr. Fritz, for an extension.

"I'll raise the pot another thousand dollars," Kyle states.

"I'll see that," Liz smiled.

More money for her.

"I'll see that and raise you another thousand," Max retorted.

Michael shrugged uneasily. It didn't look like anyone was going to be backing down anytime soon.

"I'm out. This is getting too rich for my blood," Michael announced. "We never let a pot go over ten thousand before, and I don’t want to be in when this gets messy."

"Kyle, you're still kicking right?" Max wondered.

"I think so," Kyle responded hesitantly, squinting intently at the cards before him as if they might be able to provide him with some sort of answer.

Liz wasn't worried about losing. She was however, beginning to get anxious that she would run out of money to keep up with Max's bets. Thus far, she had only been betting the money that she had already won in earlier hands. Lucky for her, she had been quite successful as of yet. She only had around two thousand dollars left to bet, though, and that was with her checking account figured in.

The apprehensive look on Liz's face did not go unnoticed by Max. Man, was he going to get her good.

"Well, I'm going to raise the pot two thousand and you two can decide if you are going to see that or not," Max shrugged.

"I'll see that bet," Liz responded, hopeful that Max would call on the next round and not insist on betting through the outrageous ten rounds that these boys sometimes let their betting go through.

They liked to make the stakes big and multiply the pot, so ten rounds became their agreed upon limit unless a majority voted on calling earlier. They believed it made the game more interesting to bet more. Liz couldn't understand why at least half of them weren't as broke as she was.

"Kyle?" Max asked.

Kyle was sitting with his eyes closed, humming.

"Kyle?" Max questioned again.

"Hold on! I'm consulting Buddha," Kyle retorted impatiently.

Max sighed and threw his arms up in exasperation. Why did Kyle insist on being so weird?

Finally, Kyle broke from his meditative deliberation.

"Buddha says to cut my losses and get out now," Kyle informed everyone.

"Really? Buddha actually said that to you? To cut your losses?" Alex inquired intrigued.

"Actually Buddha told me that desire, such as greed, leads to evil, and that one of the six ways that one dissipates one's wealth is gambling," Kyle replied.

"Fascinating," Alex breathed, enthralled.

"Kyle, you gamble all the time," Sean pointed out, rolling his eyes.

"And as Buddha says, I am dissipating my wealth," Kyle repeated, shaking his head at Sean because he just wasn't enlightened.

"Whatever," Sean looked wearily at Kyle.

"So are you in or not?" Max asked, wanting a straight answer, somewhat confused by all the Buddha talk.

"No, I am not in," Kyle answered Max as if his question was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

"Alright, I guess it's just me and you then, Parker," Max shrugged off Kyle's weirdness. "You going to raise the pot?"

Liz knew she should have tried to align with Kyle and make Max show in the last round, but she had wanted to milk him for the extra two-thousand dollars. Kyle seemed to have the right idea about greed.

"I can't, I'm out of money to bet with," Liz admitted with discomfort.

"Good," Max let out a sigh of relief. "My checkbook is pretty much empty, too. I've already lost a lot today."

Liz hadn't been keeping track, but when she thought about she realized Max had already lost an insanely outrageous amount of money. She almost felt bad that she would be taking more from him.

Max thought for a moment. The wheels in his head began turning.

Liz thought she was home free until Max spoke up again.

"I'll bet my car, though," Max added surely.

Liz froze. Max's car was a brand new Mercedes-Benz convertible. Liz didn't need to know how much the car was worth to know that she would never see that kind of money in her lifetime. She wanted that car. She wanted it bad. But she didn't have anything that she could possible wager against it.

"That's not fair, Max, and you know it. Liz doesn't have anything to put up against a bet like that," Kyle frowned.

"Yeah, Max, what are you thinking?!" Sean threw in his two cents worth. "That's SO unfair of you.

Sean wanted to see Max go down like none other. He was tired of Max Evans always winning, always getting whatever he wanted. He also wanted to get in on Liz's good side.

Max tried to look pensive. He sighed thoughtfully for good measure.

"Geez, guys, you're right. It is pretty distasteful of me to bet my car," Max relented. "I guess we'll just have to call at twelve thousand…although….there is one thing I can think of that I would have accepted from Liz as a wager equal to my car…"

Sean knew Max was up to something and it bothered him immensely.

"What?" Liz demanded, her face hopeful.

"Well…" Max proceeded hesitantly.

"For real, what the hell has she got that is worth your car?" Alex asked curiously. "No offense, Liz."

"None taken," Liz patted Alex's arm reassuringly.

She was thinking the same exact thing. She wished Max would just tell her what she could bet so she could do it and get this game over with. She was ready to collect her winnings.

"I mean… if you really wanted to… you could… bet…." Max trailed off.

"Oh, for the love of Buddha, say it already! We're not getting any younger!" Kyle rolled his eyes.

Max was only half certain that Liz would take him up on this. However, he shook off his doubt and laid it out on the table.

"You could bet your virginity," Max finished dramatically.

Liz's shocked eyes immediately locked with Max's. He glimpsed the desperation there, and he saw her confidence. He knew immediately that she would make the bet.

"THAT'S SICK EVANS!" Sean objected vehemently.

No way was Max going to win their bet like that. Sean was beginning to wonder if Max might really have the winning cards.

"No, no, no, I simply will not allow it! It's wrong on so many levels. Liz you cannot make a bet like that!" Kyle stated.

Kyle leaned over to glance at her cards. His eyes went wide.

"OH. It's a good thing I dropped out. Heh. Heh. Well I guess, I mean, if you really wanted to wager…" Kyle swallowed hard. "It's up to you Liz. Whatever you think."

Liz nodded, still dazed.

"LIZ, YOU CANNOT MAKE THAT BET!" Sean ordered.

"Be sure you know what you are doing, Liz," Michael advised. "Max can be a real slippery bastard."

Max frowned at Michael.

"Liz, you don't have to make this bet. Even if you have the cards, you've already won a whole stinking lot," Alex pointed out.

"He's right Liz," Kyle agreed. "You don't really need Max's car."

But Liz wanted to break Max Evans. She wanted to crush his arrogance. Money meant nothing to him. But she knew how fond he was of his car and how much it would irk him to see her drive away in it.

"DON'T DO IT LIZ!" Sean warned.

Max elbowed Sean hard in the ribs.

"Liz?" Max questioned softly, creating the tender effect he was going for. "Listen, let's just forget about it okay? I wouldn't want you to do anything that you're going to regret. We'll just show our cards and keep the pot at-"

"No," Liz asserted. "I'll take that bet. I bet my virginity against your car."

She could hardly believe she just did that. She wouldn't have, except that she was so sure that she would win.

"Alright," Max shrugged like he didn't care either way. "If you really want to…"

"Max, don't jerk me around. Let's just get this game over with," Liz sighed, tired of playing his games.

And with that, they laid down their cards.

*********************************

[Allie1031]

Part 2

"You bet WHAT?" Maria questioned in disbelief.

"Ummm…." Liz swallowed hard.

"YOU BET WHAT?!!!" Maria proclaimed in a high-pitched screech. "LIZ, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!!!"

"Look, Maria, I know it was a bad idea, no the worst idea, okay. I know that. NOW. I just, well, I really wanted to stick it to Max good, you know? Knock him down a few levels," Liz tried to explained to her best friend why she took the actions she did.

Truth be told, she didn't really know how she could have been so stupid.

"Yeah, well, now Max is going to stick it IN you good, you know?" Maria replied sarcastically. "I just can't believe that bastard tricked you like this. It's not fair! You go tell him that you won't do it because it's not fair!"

"The thing is Maria, it was perfectly fair. Well, as fair as something like that can be. I mean Max didn't really trick me. I knew the stakes. I really thought I couldn't lose. I just wanted to win so much; I really wanted to beat Max, and I got carried away…and now…" Liz couldn't hold it in anymore so she just let the tears flow.

Maria hugged Liz close, trying to comfort her, and because she was such a faithful friend, it wasn't long before she had tears in her eyes as well.

"This is the worst thing I've ever done!" Liz sobbed.

"Liz, Liz, Liz. Chica, we'll get through this, okay. Everybody makes a big mistake every now and then. Somehow, we'll get through this," Maria tried to reassure her.

The two friends cried together, and Maria tried to bring Liz some comfort. She just couldn't understand how Liz had gotten into this mess. Liz was smart and bright and it was unusual for her to be conned like this. She hated seeing Liz so distraught, and it was all that damned Max Evan's fault! She knew he'd be trouble for Liz just by the way he looked at her.

"So tell me how this happened again?" Maria asked. "You said you were playing poker, and you made a bet with Max, and you said that you ran out of money so he told you that you could bet you virginity…."

"Yeah," Liz sniffled. "He said I could bet my virginity against his car."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, his CAR? That’s quite a large sum of money to exchange for sex. I mean not that I don't think you would be worth it….I mean, I'm just….I'm not trying to make it sound like you are some high priced hooker or anything….I mean….okay, I'm going to shut up now," Maria states flabbergasted.

"It's okay, Maria," Liz patted Maria's arm, knowing what her friend was trying to get at.

"So you just bet your virginity and Max won?" Maria frowns slightly.

It didn't sound like something the Liz she knew would even consider in a million years.

"See, what you have to understand is I didn't think I COULD lose. I had the hand of a lifetime. I had four kings, Maria! FOUR KINGS! FOUR. The chances of ever getting a hand like that are virtual nonexistent. Practically nothing beats four kings!" Liz shook her head, still in disbelief that she hadn't won.

Maria didn't know anything about poker, but she knew Liz would never make a bet like that if she wasn't sure that she would win.

"Something did though…"Maria trailed off.

"Yeah," Liz nodded solemnly. "Max had a straight flush. The queen, jack, ten, nine, and eight of spades. Now the chances of getting a hand like that really don't exist. It's almost the best hand you can get! At first I accused Max of cheating. I mean no one gets a hand like that. But in reality, I don't see how he could have cheated. I mean Kyle dealt the cards, and Max's hands were on the table the whole time. He was just one lucky bastard."

"Even if he didn't cheat, he still took advantage of you if he knew he had a great hand like that," Maria scowled.

"I let him take advantage of me," Liz frowned. "Geez, I was so stupid. It was my own greed, my own arrogance that blinded me. I just wanted to beat him so bad!"

"It's understandable. He's a pig!" Maria declared.

"The worst part of the whole thing was having to look at the stupid smirk on Max's face when he won. I wanted punch him in the mouth. I tried to too, but Kyle held me back," Liz admitted. "I told Max he was a dirty, lying, sneaky cheat. And then he told me I had to pay up because I would have made him give me his car and I knew it, and that no one forced me to make the bet. And then I asked him what he was going to do if I didn't, rape me? And he said if that's what it came down to, and then Kyle punched him in the mouth for me."

"Damn, I wish I was there to see that! Good for Kyle," Maria mused.

"After that I wrote a check for the money I owed and left. I told Max we could work out the rest of the bet later, after I calmed down and he stopped being such a prick, but I told him that I doubted that would ever happen for him," Liz sighed.

"True Dat," Maria nods.

"Don't try to be hip Maria," Liz giggled. "You just sound like a dork."

Maria shrugged grinning. At least she had gotten a smile out of Liz.

Suddenly Maria and Liz heard a knock at the door of the apartment they shared.

"It's almost 2 in the morning, who on earth could that be?" Maria grumbled, getting up off the couch to answer the door. "At this hour somebody better be dying!"

Maria opened the door to Max Evans.

"Oh, it's you," Maria frowned before slamming the door shut in his face.

"Maria!" Liz looked at her friend shocked, having not seen who was at the door from her perch on the couch.

Maria shrugged. Liz got up and rushed to the door to apologize for Maria's actions. Liz opened the door to find Max Evans standing somewhat dumbfounded outside. Even though he was standing in the dark, Liz could tell his jaw was slightly swollen on the right side of his face and his cheek was a deep purple.

"Oh, it's you," Liz scowled and moved to slam the door shut following Maria's example.

Except Max stuck his foot in the door before she could get it completely closed.

Max winced as Liz smashed his foot. She was a lot stronger than she looked.

"Liz, wait, just let me talk to you," Max gasped desperately. "Please, just give me five minutes…"

Liz sighed. She backed off from grinding the door into Max's foot.

"Just five minutes, you understand? I'm going to be timing you!" Liz informed him, opening the door as little as possible.

"Me too, you bastard! And if you try anything, I swear…" Maria trailed off threateningly.

Max nodded vehemently to show that he understood.

"Can I come in?" He asked hopefully.

"No," Liz crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.

"Okay," Max sighed. "Maria, could you, ummm, maybe give us a little privacy?"

"So you can privately sexually assault Liz? I don't think so! Dream on. If you want your privacy go home," Maria sneered.

Max grimaced. He had used that terrible word and now he was definitely paying for it. He had to find a way out of this mess he made with his overacting.

"I'm not going to touch Liz, I promise. I just think it would be better, more productive, if we worked out a solution just the two of us…" He pleaded to Liz with his eyes.

Liz rolled her eyes, and he knew she had caved.

"Maria, could you just go sit in your room, please?" Liz asked her friend politely. "You don't even have to close the door. Max, here, is a pussy and has stage fright."

"Alright," Maria narrowed her eyes very scarily at Max. "But I'm warning you, I'm going to be sitting on my bed with a baseball bat in one hand and the phone in my other hand with my finger ready to speed-dial the police. So you just better watch yourself!"

Liz watched Maria slink into her room before turning back to Max.

Truthfully, Max was just glad she was willing to talk to him after his poor performance earlier. Max wasn't surprised by the cold treatment he was receiving from Liz. He had been a real jerk earlier and said a lot of awful things. He'd gotten horribly wrapped up in the game and his part, and gone a little over the top. He hadn't been expecting Kyle to deck him like that, though. He should have toned it down a notch or two and now had the sore jaw to remind him of his mistake. He hoped he hadn't gone too far. Well, he guessed he would find out.

He had wanted to come over tonight because he knew Liz would be desperate. And that's exactly how he wanted her. Tomorrow might be too late, but tonight, if he'd planned it right…

Max studied Liz. She was wearing pajama pants and a sweatshirt. Her face was hard. Her eyes looked puffy and her cheeks glistened with the remnants of tears. Tears HE caused. He felt a strange, uncomfortable pang in his chest. He knew he messed up big time and he had to fix this quick. Damn, even now, all teary-eyed and grumpy, in baggy clothes, she was beautiful. He wanted desperately to reach out and brush the tears off her cheeks.

Liz sniffled and shifted uncomfortably under Max's gaze. Why was he staring at her like that?

"Are you going to tell me what you came here to or waste your five minutes standing there looking at me? Personally, it doesn't matter to me, but I mean it when I say you only get five minutes so when that's up, I'm going to bed," declared Liz.

"Oh, yeah, um, listen Liz, would you believe me if I told you I was sorry?" Max asked sincerely.

Liz snorted.

"Well I am," Max continued. "It was a really stupid bet, Liz. I shouldn't have suggested it. I tricked you into it and I never should have let you take that bet. I feel absolutely awful about it, and I just couldn't let you go to bed feeling the awful too. So let's just forget about the whole thing, okay? I'll return your money to you and go home and you can go to bed and we can forget any of this ever happened."

Please take the bait, Max prayed silently. He tried to look guilt-stricken while Liz stood in thoughtful silence

Liz looked at him pensively for a moment. Then she sighed. She wouldn't let herself think of the money she had gambled away earlier tonight. It was obscene!

"Max, I made that bet of my own free will. I should have known better than to do something so stupid. I never cop out on my bets, even if they are… unconventional. I take pride in keeping my word and I always pay up. I mean, you were right when you said that I would have expected you to really have over your car. So, umm, you can keep the money, it rightfully belongs to you, and… and… I'll…" She became flustered.

She couldn't even say it, it was so awful.

Liz felt sick. Her head started to feel dreadfully hot and suddenly everything seemed so far away. Liz reached for the door and tried to steady herself on it.

"Liz, are you okay?" Max wondered, concerned. "You don't look so good."

She looked unhealthily pale. Max was worried. He hadn't expected that this would affect her this much.

Liz felt strong arms, grasp on to her and hold her up.

"Why don't you step outside for a second and get some fresh air, okay? Do you think that would help?" Max questioned alarmed.

Liz nodded, fanning herself.

Max helped her outside and sat her down on some nearby steps. Her wrists had felt as if they were burning up.

"I'm going to go close your door, so that we don't let any more bugs in than we already did. Is that okay?" Max asked.

"Yes, thank you," Liz said weakly.

Liz breathed deeply. The cool night air was already making her feel a little better.

Max closed the door and came and sat down next to Liz.

"Are you feeling any better?" Max inquired.

"Yes, a little. Can you help me get my sweatshirt off?" Liz started to pull her sweatshirt up.

Max stood and helped her pull it up over her head. He folded it and handed it to her.

Liz had come home from the poker game upset and immediately changed into her pajamas. But she had gotten a little chilly waiting up for Maria to come home from work and had put on a sweatshirt. Liz gratefully took the sweatshirt from Max and placed it in her lap. Why couldn't he be nice like this all the time?

Max gulped as he glanced at the spaghetti strap tank top Liz now had on and sat back down trying not to look at her. Focus, Max! Focus!

"I'm sorry," Liz apologized. "I don't know what came over me. Suddenly it was just a little too warm in there."

"You feel better now, though, right?" Max wondered, truly caring about her health. "You look a little better. You're getting some color back. You face was stark white for a while. But do you feel any better?"

"Yes, I feel a lot better. Thank you," Liz replied.

She stared at the concrete steps she was sitting on trying to think of something to say. She felt stupid for getting all faint like that. She was letting herself get way too worked up over this whole thing.

"Liz," Max pronounced her name softly. "I'm not going to let you give away your virginity to me when you so clearly don't want to. It just wouldn't be right, and I'm not that kind of guy. Your first time should be with someone special because you will remember it for the rest of your life."

Liz looked at him with those big doe eyes, her lips quivering, and tried to smile. Man, she's eating this right up Max mused to himself, pleased.

"I can understand if you won't take your money back even though I wish you'd reconsider because I've never won that much money before in my life, and I certainly don't deserve it. And as for the other wager we made, well I'm sure I can come up with an alternate condition if your hell bent on keeping your word," Max told her.

"What kind of alternate condition?" Liz asked, hopefully.

She wouldn't have to do the nasty with Max Evans! And she wouldn't have to back out of the bet either! It was just a matter of pride for her. Some people would never understand. But Kyle who sang Yankee Doodle in the nude and was permanently banned from the Tri-Delta Sorority house, Sean paraded around in lipstick and fishnet tights, and all the other boys in their little betting club knew that a bet was a bet, and once you agree, you pay up, period.

"Well, I don't know," Max furrowed his brow, trying to look like he was thinking hard. "Hmmm. I guess maybe you could agree to date me or something for a while."

"Date you?" Liz repeated, frowning slightly.

What did THAT mean?

"Couldn't I just do your laundry or wash your car or something? I could even do your homework for you if you'd like," Liz suggested.

"I send my laundry out, and I like to wash my car. It's my baby. Besides I pick up a lot of chicks standing out in the drive holding a hose with my shirt off - err, I mean it's just something I like to do myself," Max responded.

Not that Liz in a wet t-shirt or a bathing suit wouldn't be immensely appealing. It just wasn't as appealing as what he was going for.

"And I'm not as stupid as I might seem. I'm actually quite intelligent, and I already get good grades. Plus, I'm pre-med, and that stuff is pretty complicated," Max stated.

"I know. That you're pre-med. We have a class together. I'm a biochemistry major. That's why I offered," Liz informed him.

He had a class with Liz and hadn't noticed? HOW?

"I didn't know we had a class together," Max said thoughtfully.

He tried to think of what class it could be.

"Biostatistics. It's a good-sized lecture, so it's not surprising you haven't noticed me. I always get there at the last minute because I come from another class, so I usually sit in the back. I only noticed you because you sit with Pamela Troy and she always giggles constantly for the whole hour," Liz shrugged.

"Yeah…" Max trailed off.

Pam was one of those girls that was just looking for a good time, like him. A real man's woman. Maybe that's why he'd kind of stayed friends with her after they had sex together. Pam had specifically told him that she was just wanted to get laid and didn't want him calling her or sending her flowers or anything. He'd been more than fine with that. A week later, though, she'd called him and invited him to a big party she was throwing and having nothing better going on, he'd ended up going. He wasn't close to Pam by any means, but they kept in touch, occasionally using each other as dates when they were desperate. So basically, Pam was just a great back-up. He enjoyed her company for the most part, that woman always had nasty thoughts in her head, but she wasn't anything special.

"Pam's only in that class because she has a thing for the T.A. from Germany. This is the third class she'd had with him, the second class she's taken just because he was the teaching assistant. He was her T.A. in Intro to Bio which she was taking for her gen. ed. requirement. After that, she somehow managed to find the classes he is T.A. for and joined them. She goes in for lots of extra help, but I'm not certain she's actually going to pass Biostats. It doesn't really matter though, because her major is fashion design or interior design or art history or something. She just wants to sleep with the T.A., and is getting damn close too, but the poor fool feels too guilty to give in. She says he takes his job very seriously. I told her she should stop taking his classes so he wouldn't have the ethical obstacle," Max explained.

"I see," Liz nodded. "I'll keep that in mind the next time I think about going to see Hans during his office hours and be sure to knock."

"Oh, you don't have to worry. Pam always makes private appointments because she doesn't like to be interrupted," Max assured her.

"LIZ!" Maria shrieked opening the door to their apartment. "What are you doing outside with the devil? Your time is up Satan! Stop corrupting and go home!"

"It's okay Maria. Really, it's fine. I felt light-headed, and I came outside to breathe in some fresh air. He's really being decent. We're almost done talking, and I'll be right in to bed," Liz told her friend.

"Alright, but you told him five minutes and it has been five minutes, so you better be in soon, or I'm going to get the broom and chase him away," Maria threatened.

Maria slammed the door for effect and went to the closet to dig out the broom. Nobody messes with her chica and gets away with it.

"I think she might actually be serious about the broom," Liz said shaking her head, trying not to smile.

Liz loved Maria.

"In that case, we better agree on another condition fast," Max decided. "I've just been trying to think of something that would be worth my car. Sorry, Liz, but it is a pretty expensive car. It cost me-"

"Don't even tell me," Liz interrupted him. "I don't even want to know. You think going on a date is worth your car though?"

"Well, not A date, I mean, my car is really nice. REALLY NICE. I was thinking, I don't know, we could go a few dates," Max shrugged innocently.

"Like how many dates are we talking about here?" Liz wanted to know.

"I guess I was thinking more like over a period of time," Max pondered, stroking his chin. "We don't have to mess around or kiss or anything like that, I mean, unless you decide you want to. Basically, we just hang out."

"Oh. Okay, that sounds doable. I agree to that," Liz relented, just glad she didn't even have to kiss him, let alone have to have sex with him. "We'd have to come up with a schedule or something. Do you have any arrangements in mind? How long were you thinking we could 'date' for?"

Max saw Maria standing in the window shaking a broom at him and knew he had to close the deal quick before he lost his chance.

"Well it is a GREAT car, and we only have about seven weeks of school left, discounting finals, so I was thinking, the rest of the semester sounds acceptable. I mean you're not dating anyone exclusively, and I'm not dating anyone exclusively, so it doesn't seem like too much to ask for. You can even continue to date whoever comes along on the side if you want, as I may need to once in a while, just as long as it doesn't interfere with our schedule," Max informed Liz. "I thought that I should get at least one night of the weekend, and then one date during the week, as well as at least one additional meal during the week, all of which I will pay for of course, which I think is very reasonable. If we do anything that requires special attire or equipment, it's on me and yours to keep. Hell you want anything at all, it's yours. Our dates may be in the company of friends and other social acquaintances once and a while, but I want you all to myself at least twice a week. If I run into you at a party or at a club, it's not a date unless we came together and are leaving together. If you are ill, that's too bad, I'll bring you soup and we will sit in and watch a movie together. As I said, you are never obligated to kiss me or perform any sexual acts. However, once again, don't ever hesitate if you feel the urge."

All at once everything came together and it suddenly dawned on Liz that he had been setting her up. DAMN HIM! Max Evans made her furious!

"You bastard! You planned this whole thing," Liz accused him.

"What? I did not! I don't know what you are talking about. I'm just trying to help you out," Max insisted defensively.

"You jerk! I can't believe I actually was starting to think you might not be so bad of a person. You're evil! EVIL!" Liz declared shrilly. "The whole time? THE WHOLE TIME?"

"Well, you know, once I got lucky with a good hand…" Max grinned mischievously. "I couldn't have done it without your help though, love. You were great."

"UGHHHH!" Liz clenched her jaw. "HOW did you KNOW? How did you know what I would do, how I would react? How did you know I wouldn't just take my money back and tell you to get lost?"

"Liz, you have more dignity and integrity that any other woman I've ever met. You respect yourself and you respect others, even when they are complete assholes. The hard part was getting you riled up to the point where you would bet your virginity. But you're human just like the rest of us. I knew how much you couldn't stand me and the look in your eyes when I put my car out told me you were a goner. After that I had you in the palm of my hand. Don't feel bad though. I mean, it could have happened to anybody. I'm double majoring in psychology and I can be exceedingly smooth, which really make it all unfair," Max smirked.

She HATED that smirk. Before she could even stop herself she turned and punched him, hard, right in the head.

Max cupped his face cursing. Damn. What a woman! He didn't know any other chicks that could hit like that. The throbbing in his skull was an unbelievable turn on.

"So, pick you up at seven tomorrow night?" Max grunted, coming to his feet.

He tried to open his eye to distinguish where she was, but he only winced at the pain of it.

"Rot in hell, Max Evans!" Liz proclaimed kicking him in the shins.

That was a little bit too girly for him and not at all an arousing pain.

"You said you agreed! I let you off on the virginity and you agreed to date me!" Max reminded her.

There was a short period of silence followed by a door slamming.

Max Evans stumbled home, smiling to the best of his ability with his swollen cheek, knowing that Liz Parker hadn't disputed the fact that their deal still stood.

**********************

[Allie1031]

Part 3

"Whoa, what the hell happened to your eye, man?" Alex asked Max when he sat down next to him in class on Monday morning. "Kyle didn't do that did he? I thought he hit you in the jaw."

Max turned his face to show Alex specifically what was Kyle's bruise.

"This is Kyle," Max pointed to his swollen cheek. "The shiner on my left eye is the work of the luscious Liz Parker. I went to see her last night after you all went home so we could clear a few things up."

Alex just shook his head, chuckling.

"Liz gave you that bruise?! I wish I had been there to see that. What'd you try to pull on her this time? I thought you would have learned your lesson by now and given up on her. You know, before you really get hurt," Alex mused.

"Alex, my friend, life is good. In fact, I have a date tonight with Liz. You can scoff at my methods all you want, but Liz Parker and I are made for each other," Max proclaimed.

"So now you've blackmailed her into going out with you, huh? Nice, Max," Alex rolled his eyes.

"I'm not blackmailing her! I mean, I'll admit my approach is somewhat unconventional. But I've tried everything Alex! It is time for something drastic," Max stated.

"You're not really going to make her sleep with you are you?" Alex frowned.

"No way. I mean, not until she decides she wants to. I just wanted to get her to bet her virginity so that when I suggested that we date later on she'd agree to it. It's called the door-in-the-face technique. You see, what you do is ask for something really big that you know is going to be turned down. And then when you ask for something else that you really want later, it will seem like you are willing to bargain, and the other person will feel like they should bargain too and be way more likely to concede to what you want," Max explained.

"Yeah, well, maybe you should rename it the fist-in-the-face technique. You know you actually scare me sometimes? No really, you are so scientific about this that it's freaking me out. I don't think they should let people like you major in psychology," Alex responded.

Max just grinned. He couldn't help it if he knew how to get what he wanted.

"So how's your sister doing?" Alex asked, changing the subject off Max and his psycho obsession with Liz Parker.

"Good. Ever since she'd been back from France, she's been going through this stage where she thinks she's an artist. You should seriously call her up, dude. She's been back for two months. She's always asking about you and you are always asking about her. This is really getting ridiculous. Stop being a pansy and just ask her out already. You know she's going to say yes. At least go see her and say 'hi' or something. She lives in the same building as me now, and you're always over at our place. It's not like it would be inconvenient or even hard to stop by and see her," Max pointed out.

"It's not as easy as you would think. I don't know, I just really like your sister," Alex sighed.

"And she really likes you. So what's the problem?" Max wondered.

"Before she went to France things were going really well. REALLY WELL. We were only dating for a little less than two months, but everything was just so good. I know this sounds stupid, but I'm almost more afraid that it will be that good again than I am that it won't work out," Alex admitted.

Max looked at Alex strangely. He didn't completely understand but he knew that Alex and his sister had a very strong bond.

"Alex, buddy, if it was that good, you can't afford not to call her," Max said simply.

******************

Max looked for Liz in statistics, wanting to sit next to her, but she came in just as the professor was beginning to lecture and sat as far away from him as possible. Max would have moved to be by Liz, but Pam had already sat down next to him and was chattering away.

Max tried to catch up with Liz when the class ended, but she left quickly to avoid him. Instead, Max just ended up running into Sean who was exiting a nearby lecture hall.

"Hey, buddy," Sean greeted him.

Sean glanced at Max's face.

"Wow. You look like shit dude," Sean shook his head in disbelief.

"Yeah, thanks for the compliment," Max frowned.

"So about this bet…" Sean trailed off amused. "You know it doesn't count if you force Liz to have sex with you right?"

"Shut up, Sean. I'd never rape anyone and you know it," Max scowled at Sean.

"Okay, well, I'm just saying… You can't bribe her either, or trick her into it. She has to want to have sex with you, dude," Sean stated.

Was he ever going to live that down? The aftermath of Max's stupid comment was still overwhelming him. Kyle wouldn't even talk to him this morning.

"I get it, I get it," Max responded resentfully. "What do you say we raise the stakes?"

"Are you kidding? You haven't got a chance in the world, buddy. I almost feel bad taking your money," Sean scoffed.

"Let's just make it ten thousand, for now, then. I'll come back when I think of some 'special terms' we can apply," Max said.

"Alright, but you are digging your own grave, man," Sean replied.

**************************

At 6:45 Liz was already waiting by the door for Max to show up.

"Maria, you want me to bring you back something to eat, courtesy of Mr. Evans, of course?" Liz asked.

"Hmmmm. I could really go for some Alfredo if you go somewhere Italian. Or maybe some fried wontons, or a bean burrito, or, well, you know what I like…" Maria trailed off thoughtfully.

"Yeah, just about anything. I'll see what exotic cuisine I can scrounge up for you," Liz smiled.

"I still can't believe you're going to do this," Maria shook her head with distaste.

"I'm going to give Max a taste of his own medicine. If he wants to date me, he can date me. He's the one who has to put up with me and be seen with me in public. I bet he'll get tired and back out after tonight," Liz predicted hopefully.

Liz was wearing tacky, purple and pink polka dotted pajama pants that were too short for her, and a horrendously tasteless, brown blouse that her grandma had sent her the previous year for her birthday. Her hair was pulled back into a sloppy side ponytail a la 1980's with a big, puffy, neon, yellow and green scrunchie that Liz had borrowed from the little neighbor girl that lived next door to them. Instead of putting her contacts in, Liz had opted to dig out her awkward, thick rimmed glasses that she had worn in junior high. To complete her ensemble, Liz had put on Maria's flashy, furry snow boots, though there was no snow left on the ground this far into spring.

Liz hadn't showered yet that day. In fact, just to up her grossness factor, she had gone for a run as soon as she had finished with her classes for the day. Liz tried to make herself as unappealing and unattractive as possible, and from the frightened look on Maria's face when she first saw Liz in her get up, Liz had succeeded.

"Liz, you look… hideous. No offense. I'll be amazed if he even makes it through the night. Max is going to be in for a real surprise," Maria laughs.

"I can't wait to see him squirm. Max is so concerned with his image. I just know it will drive him nuts to date me if I'm crude and disgusting," Liz grinned.

There was a knock at the door. Liz picked up the small duffle bag she was using as a purse and answered the door.

"Hey Max!" Liz greeted him unusually cheerfully.

If Max was surprised, he didn't show it. Max smiled warmly at Liz.

"Are you ready?" Max asked politely.

Wow, his face looked pretty messed up. For a moment, Liz felt bad for him. But that moment was over soon enough.

"Yes," Liz answered, wondering why Max hadn't been more shocked at her appearance.

She frowned.

Surely he didn't think she dressed like this all the time, or that her attire was in any way normal. Max had wonderful fashion sense, Liz had noticed, and she'd never seen him date a girl who couldn't dress herself as well.

Truth be told, Max was a little stunned by Liz's choice of apparel and personal hygiene, or lack there of. But Max had known to expect some sort of retaliation from Liz, and refused to show that he was as taken back as he was. He knew it would drive her nuts if he didn't even acknowledge all the work she had clearly put into making herself look so ridiculous. And eventually she would give this charade up if he left her alone about it because it just wasn't her style. Liz was the kind of person who… showered… and liked to look nice. Still, it was very hard for him not to make a crack about the snow boots.

"Where are we going?" Liz questioned as Max opened the door to his fabulous car for her.

He probably brought his car just to rub it in, Liz thought angrily. It hardly occurred to her that it was his only real means of transportation…

"I'm starving," Liz asserted bluntly, before Max could answer. "I want to see some food. You promised me there would be food on these excursions."

"What are you hungry for?" Max wondered, smiling charmingly at her.

Liz frowned back at him as she sat down in his car.

"I want Italian. Good Italian. Real Italian. None of that American-Italian crap," Liz retorted sharply.

Max nodded and closed the car door for her. He walked around to the driver's side to get in.

What was wrong with him? Why didn't he react to her appearance or rudeness? Did he think she was always a sloppy bitch?

It was all Max could do not to chuckle at the disgruntled look on Liz's face when he got into the car. And she was doing this to herself!

Max tried to ask Liz how her classes were going, but she responded that she didn't want to talk about school, and that if she did, she would talk to her professor or teaching assistant, or even her parents, but not him. Max asked her about her job, and she told him it was "none of his damn business." Max tried a few more times after that before he gave up on talking to her, at least for the time being.

Max drove to Antonio's. He knew they had the best authentic Italian in town.

Max pulled up at a restaurant Liz had never been to before. Some place called Antonio's. She hoped no one they knew was inside and would recognize her.

Max hoped someone they knew was inside and gave Liz a hard time about her appearance because he knew he couldn't.

The hostess seated them at a secluded table by a window. To Max's disappointment, and Liz's relief, they didn't run into anyone they knew, though Liz elicited strange looks from the other patrons as well as the staff.

He had to admire her balls. For one, she came out in public dressed like that… And though she seemed hell bent on offending him, to him, she was displaying a certain spunkiness that he highly respected.

And she was funny! Really funny. With her snappy comebacks and witty remarks. It was all he could do not to chuckle.

Their waitress couldn't figure out what the polished, fine, male specimen was doing with such a skuzzy, nasty girl. They made quite a pair. He was dressed like a he was a model, and very well could have been one, and she looked like a hobo, or even worse, trailer trash. He was tremendously courteous and she was overbearingly ill-tempered.

And he merely smiled when she ordered half the menu, most of it to go, and then proceeded to load up a duffel bag, packing it carefully. The waitress caught him gazing at the vulgar girl appreciatively when he thought the girl wasn't looking. What could he possibly see in her?

She must be his sister, the waitress decided. No man, especially one so painfully good-looking, would date a horrid girl like that, let alone appear to actually enjoy her offensive company. There was a certain… intimacy to the pair, despite their obvious differences, that the waitress could only explain by their apparent sibling relation. Clearly, the poor girl had not inherited her brother's good looks or taste and was quite bitter about it.

The waitress had seen him come in before, last week, with an attractive, tall blonde that appeared more his type. She had waited his table then too, and he had winked at her suggestively. That day she caught him checking her out on more than one occasion. Tonight though, his attention remained purely on his sister, and he'd hardly noticed the waitress, while she had been trying to catch his eye all night.

The black eye just made him all the more sexy. She loved a guy who wasn't afraid to fight. The waitress only dreamed he would fight over her!

Perhaps he didn't remember the time that she'd waited on him once before? More likely, he was distracted by his sister's presence, the waitress reasoned. She was quite… distracting… He'd definitely been interested in her before. The waitress had regretted not giving him her number then, especially after he gave her such a great tip, but she wouldn't this time. Carefully, she wrote her name and number down on a scrap of paper and slipped it in with the check.

The waitress smiled at Max seductively as she handed him his bill. Max put down his credit card not even glancing at it.

"Aren't you even going to look and see how much dinner was?" Liz asked him skeptically.

"I have to pay for it all the same," Max shrugged. "And I always tip generously anyways."

Liz knew she had racked up quite a bill. She was curious to see what the check actually was. She had expected Max to see it and become enraged that she had spent so much of his money. But then, Liz knew how careless Max could be when it came to money. She, who had to pinch every penny to make ends meet, would have been fuming if he'd have behaved the way she had and their situations were reversed, but Max could afford to be more laid back than she could.

"Do you mind if I take a peek at it?" Liz wondered.

"Knock yourself out," Max smiled, handing it to her.

Liz turned over the check and gasped. She'd racked up over a hundred dollars in their little dining experience. She usually ate off the 99 cent menu at Wendy's, if she ate out, which was rare. The bill for their one meal was more than she spent on her groceries in a month. Now she felt guilty for being such a rotten brat and ordering so much.

"Sorry," Liz apologized, cringing.

"For what?" Max asked, confused.

"Being…expensive…" Liz bit her lip, regretfully.

"Don't worry about it," Max scoffed. "It's no big deal. I'm sure I deserve to have you empty my pockets anyways."

Liz still felt bad. She flipped the check back over, not wanting to have to look at her overindulgence anymore, and a scrap of paper fluttered out. Liz picked it up and looked at it.

"That bitch!" Liz exclaimed.

Max looked at her shocked by her sudden outburst.

"What is it? What happened?" Max questioned

"Our waitress just tried to pick you up!" Liz showed him the scrap of paper. "I told you she was trying to hit on you! You said she was just friendly! Friendly my ass!"

Max shrugged. He had genuinely thought she was just being friendly. He hadn't really paid the waitress much attention though, to have known for certain.

"What are you getting so worked up over?" Max wondered. "So what if she gave me her number? It happens all the time. What do you care anyways? You clearly don't want to be here and are doing everything in your power to turn me off."

So he had noticed.

"Yes, but still!" Liz protested. "It's entirely disrespectful of her to come on to you when you are clearly here with me! She doesn't know I hate you!"

"I think that when you threw your dinner roll at me it might have been a clue," Max replied, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Or perhaps it was when you completely ignored me and hummed 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' for a good twenty minutes until our food arrived that gave it away."

Liz scowled.

"I don't care. You're here with me. She should respect that. And this is SOOO unprofessional of her! I'm going to give her a piece of my mind!" Liz declared.

"By all means, go right ahead," Max smirked, despite his efforts not to.

This should be entertaining, to say the least. He still wasn't completely sure what Liz was so upset about if she didn't care one way or another about him.

Truth be told, Liz wasn't so sure either, but she knew she wasn't going to let the waitress get away with trying to pick up Max while she was on a date with him, no matter how much she despised Max.

"Excuse me!" Liz addressed the waitress pointedly when she walked by.

The waitress turned around.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Did you need change?" The waitress asked, trying unsuccessfully to hide her displeasure that the scruffy sister was addressing her.

Liz looked the waitress up and down. She was busty, her fake boobs about to pop out of her tight, white, button down shirt. Her blonde streaked hair, obviously fake as well, annoyed Liz, as did her highly unnatural purple eyes.

"Can I get something for you?" The waitress wondered, lightly unnerved that the sister was just staring at her like that.

"He's paying with his credit card, so we'll need to sign a receipt, but before we get to that, I'd like to make a complaint," Liz frowned.

"You didn't find the food satisfactory?" The waitress questioned.

"No…Mystie," Liz read her name off the scrap of paper. "The food was excellent. The service, it turns out, was less than."

"How so?" Mystie raised an eyebrow.

The girl hadn't been impolite to her yet this evening, but the waitress had seen how she treated her brother. Frankly, Mystie was sick of her sour attitude.

"You hit on my boyfriend," Liz accused. "And you slipped him your phone number. It is entirely unethical for a waitress to ask out a customer, regardless of whom they are dining with, but I find it especially disrespectful that you would try to ask him out in my presence."

Wow. Liz was so good at this it was giving Max chills. Her possessiveness at the moment was a major turn-on.

The waitress was sure this was not his girlfriend. Why would he ever put up with her treating him like that if she was?

Well, if she was he girlfriend, he was already cheating on her and in desperate need of an upgrade. Mystie decided to give the foul girl some food for thought.

"If you're his girlfriend, what was he doing in here last week with some tall blonde?" The waitress sneered smugly.

Liz didn't even waver.

"That was his sister, Isabel," Liz asserted. "This is her favorite restaurant. They come here together often."

She was thankful now that, though she had hummed 'The Battle Hymn,' she had still paid attention to what Max had said. He had ignored her right back and gone on having a conversation with her, telling her about his family and his life, while she had pretended not to listen. Liz knew for a fact that his sister was the only other girl he'd ever been here with.

"I know my presentation might be a little alarming, Mystie," Liz emphasized the waitress's name. "I can see how you might wonder why Max would date, well, a grouchy slob. But that's really none of your business. Maybe Max sees what's on the inside, and knows me for who I really am, and that matter's more to him than my petty appearance. Or maybe his girlfriend just got out of the hospital, and this is the first real meal she's had in a week, and unfortunately, her senile, old grandmother was designated to bring her clothes to come home in, and she's just a little bit agitated from not getting enough sleep and the whole ordeal. You just don't really ever know what people's stories are. So how about you take your phone number back and stop trying to hook up with customers. You're lucky I'm not going to report this to your manager. Now please, ring up our check so we can leave."

Liz handed the waitress the bill, the credit card, and the waitresses phone number, which the waitress shoved into her pocket, slightly embarrassed and highly irritated. The waitress quickly hurried off, tight-lipped, to swipe Max's card.

Max looked at Liz in awe.

"What?" Liz wondered why he was looking at her like that.

"That was great," Max breathed. "No really, are you available for social gatherings? There are some people I'd really like to tell off. And family get-togethers? I have some relatives I'd really like to get off my back. Oh, and one of my professors! You were so clever with that bit about the hospital…"

"I actually feel kind of bad about making that up," Liz admitted. "And I was kind of a bitch to her."

Normally, Liz would have thought it was a distasteful gesture on the part of the waitress to have given Liz's date her phone number, but she wouldn't have reacted as flamboyantly as she did tonight. She had been so annoyed with the waitress, especially over her appearance, and Liz wasn't exactly sure why. On any other date, Liz might have even let the whole thing slide or brushed it aside, but Max Evans did something to her that she couldn't explain. He evoked a certain passion in her that was hard to contain.

The waitress brought back their receipt, tossed some mints on the table, and scurried away to make herself busy elsewhere. Max left her a tip, but not as big as the one he would have left her.

"No you were right," Max told Liz as they walked out, his hand falling to her lower back.

Liz didn't even notice, but even if she had, she would have let him get away with the action simply because it confirmed her story to the waitress. Liz did take care, however, to walk slowly and appear feeble on their way out. Liz even accepted when Max offered to carry her duffel bag for her.

"It was very unprofessional. And she didn't have a clue. Plus, it was really none of her business. She tried to rub the fact that I was there with Isabel the week before in your face after you just told her you were my girlfriend," Max pointed out as they exited into the cool night air.

"Yeah, heh. I needed something to go with so I kind of pretended you were my boyfriend," Liz winced. "I'm sorry."

"Liz, you can pretend I'm your boyfriend anytime you want to," Max assured her, winking.

Liz suddenly became aware of his close proximity and frowned, moving away. Max opened the car door for her, not missing her change in mood.

"I have a lot of homework. I need to go home," Liz told Max when he sat down in the driver's seat.

"Okay," Max nodded.

"Can we count this as a date and not just a meal?" Liz asked. "I'm really busy this week. I have to work a few extra shifts."

"Okay," Max replied solemnly, keeping his eyes on the road.

Max drove her home in silence. He didn't even try to talk to Liz. He was too lost in his own thoughts.

And Liz was lost in thoughts of her own.

Max had been a good sport all night. He hadn't made fun of her clothes or even made her go change. He hadn't snapped back at her when she'd insulted him time after time or been incredibly rude. He humored her the entire night and hardly even mentioned her unusually dress and demeanor. It drove her nuts that he ignored her, but at the same time, she was grateful.

She didn't know what had gotten into her. This wasn't her! She wasn't like this. She didn't throw dinner rolls, or order excessively! Liz didn't wear neon scrunchies or furry boots. She wasn't crude. Liz showered. She was polite and well mannered. She was respectful of others.

And he humored her because he knew it. He knew she wouldn't keep this up. It wasn't that it was too much work; though, it was a lot of work. It was that it wasn't her. And he knew that too.

Liz couldn't help but wonder what else he knew.

"Thank you for dinner," Liz stated quietly as they approached her apartment.

"You're welcome," Max responded simply, as he parked his car.

Liz opened the car door for herself, before Max could get out first to open it for her, but she turned back to face Max instead of stepping out.

Max turned his full attention to Liz. His eyes raked over her beautiful face, resting on her dark, auburn eyes that were hidden under hideous, thick rimmed glasses.

His eyes. They did something to her. It didn't matter that one eye was practically swollen shut. When he looked at her like that, he threatened to make her forget everything else, forget herself.

Liz looked away. She sat rigidly, facing the front of the car.

"Can I ask you a question?" Liz wondered, boldly.

"Of course," Max smiled at her faintly.

She dared to glance at him.

"If you hadn't been with me tonight, or if you'd saw the waitresses number before I had and would have been able to just slip into your pocket without me making a fuss, would you have called her?" Liz asked him.

"Maybe," Max didn't bother to lie.

"You found her attractive?" Liz questioned further.

He sighed.

"She was okay. She wasn't anything special," Max said.

"Did you think she was shallow?" Liz inquired.

"Yes, very much so," Max responded.

"But you still would have called her?" Liz needed to know.

"I don't know if I would have called. It would have depended on how busy I was, what I had going on. If I did call her, it wouldn't have been because I wanted to have a conversation with her," Max admitted blatantly. "It wouldn't make a difference in the world to me if I never called her though, if I never even met her."

"Then why would you call her?" Liz asked softly.

"Because it would be easy," Max realized. "Obviously she would be easy, but more than that, it would be easy for me. I wouldn't have to try, or think, or feel. Most of all, I wouldn't have to feel. It would just be easy. Unfortunately, easy gets boring fast. And then I 'd move on, but only to someone else who is easy. It's an endless cycle, but it's easy."

"You wouldn't call the girls you feel for then?" Liz wondered.

"I'd call you," Max answered, softly.

"Why?" Liz questioned, not missing his implication.

"Because you're special," Max stated, his eyes meeting hers.

This was the first time he'd ever said that to a girl and really meant it.

Liz didn't want to know any more. She just couldn't ask. She was afraid of what he might say. Even more, she was afraid of how she might feel about what he might say.

"I have to go," Liz said suddenly, getting out of the car.

Her mind was a blur.

"I know," Max replied.

Liz bent over and stuck her head back into the car.

"Do you want me to write down my phone number for you?" she asked, and then blushed.

Max thought her blush was adorable.

"No, I already have it. Kyle gave it to me," Max told her. "Well, I stole it from Kyle."

She smiled slightly.

"Is he still mad at you?" Liz wondered.

"A little, but he'll get over it," Max shrugged. "Hopefully…"

"Kyle never stays mad for very long," Liz nodded.

"Are you still mad at me?" Max questioned hesitantly.

Liz contemplated.

"I don't know," She shook her head.

Liz stood up straight.

"Goodnight, Max," He heard her say, unable to see her face.

"Goodnight," He responded.

She closed the car door and walked to her apartment, not glancing back. Max would have gotten out to walk her to her door, but he knew she wouldn't want him to. Instead he just watched her from his car to make sure she got inside safely. Then he started his engine and drove home.

Liz watched him drive away through the shade of her darkened front window.

What was wrong with her?! She should hate him, after the way he manipulated her!

But it wasn't that simple. There was more to it than that.

Sure, Max Evans was used to always getting what he wanted. He was used to girls throwing themselves at his feet. And girls threw themselves at his feet. Not just skanky girls like the waitress, but decent, good girls too.

Did he just want her then, because she didn't throw herself at his feet? Was that why he was pursuing her?

Guys always want what they can't have. It sickened her to think of him, and how quickly he would discard her just like all the others if she ever gave in.

Something about Max Evans called to her, asked her to look closer at him, but she hardened her heart.

Liz went into her bedroom and started her homework. She went to bed before Maria came home from work so she would have to tell her friend how it went. She did however leave Maria a note pointing out the bounty of Italian cuisine in the fridge.

********************

[Allie1031]

********************

PART 4


On Tuesday, Liz managed to evade Max again in Biostatistics. This time he had been standing in the back of the room waiting for her to come in, but she walked right past him, completely ignored him, and sat down between two people already seated.

On Wednesday, Liz took too long to arrive, and Max sat down with out her. Liz came in over ten minutes late and sat in the very back.

On Thursday, Max sat down by himself, figuring that if Liz avoided him for the rest of the week, according to their little arrangement, he would get to see her twice over the weekend. Much to his surprise though, Liz arrived unusually early and sat down in the seat next to him.

When she handed him a peanut-butter and pickle sandwich, he should have been suspicious. Instead he thought she must have finally decided she wasn't mad anymore.

"I know it's your favorite," Liz grinned at him. "I called Kyle and asked."

"Thanks, Liz," Max had replied smiling like a moron, eagerly eating. "I haven't had lunch yet."

"I know," she smirked.

Liz took out her own tuna salad sandwich and took a bite. She opened a Snapple for him and he took a sip.

The professor came in and began to get ready to lecture. Normally, you weren't supposed to eat in lecture halls, but everyone always did anyways.

"Does it taste okay?" Liz asked him.

"It's great," Max replied, his mouth full, the peanut butter causing his tongue to stick to the roof of his mouth slightly.

"Good, because this is my lunch too, so I guess that makes this a meal together," Liz pointed out slyly.

Liz stood up, kissed his cheek teasingly, and moved to the back of the room, leaving him shocked and dismayed at her cunningness.

The professor began to lecture, just as Max turned back glare at her, his jaw still dropped.

Max ate the rest of his bittersweet sandwich sulking. He couldn't believe that she had pulled that past him. And on top of everything, she took the Snapple with her! He had to suffer a dry throat and sticky mouth for the rest of the hour.

****************************************

"Mr. Fritz, I promise, I'll have the money at the end of next week!" Liz pleaded.

She had lost her rent money in that stupid poker game, and now the landlord was at her door looking for it. She'd already begged him for so many extensions and had just barely been able to pay off last month's rent recently.

"You always promise, but you never pay. I've let your late rent slide in the past because you're nice to look at Miss Parker, but now I got people lined up who actually have money and are eager for a place to rent," Mr. Fritz sneered. "Frankly, the view isn't worth what it's costing me anymore."

"That's sexual harassment! She could sue you!" Kyle informed Mr. Fritz furiously.

"Yeah, and what would she pay her lawyer in? Bread crumbs? I could sue her for backed rent and unpaid utilities! I got the utility company on my ass because one of my tenants hasn't paid her bill in three months. They said that if I don't shut her power off and leave it off, they'll cut the juice to this whole place. They're billing me now for all those times you sneak down in the basement and flip the fuse back on. Well I'm not going to pay, I tell ya! I'm going to do myself a favor and finally evict you Miss Parker!" Mr. Fritz proclaimed. "I hate to see Miss DeLuca go, she's always paid her half of the bill on time and even bailed you out when she can, but you, Miss Parker, have been nothing but a thorn in my side! I want you out of here by tomorrow. I don't care if you miraculously win the lottery tonight, I want you gone! Miss DeLuca can stay, if she can pay up all your bills, but I doubt that she has that kind of funds. You are dead weight even to your friends. And I expect your money by the end of next week, or I'll find myself a lawyer!"

Mr. Fritz left Liz shaken. She'd just come home from class with Kyle when Mr. Fritz had bombarded into her apartment.

"Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do now?" Liz wondered, her lower lip quivering. "I lost all my rent money in that awful poker game."

Tears rolled down Liz's cheeks and Kyle hugged her to him, trying to give her some comfort.

"I can loan you the money Liz," Kyle told her softly.

"I won't take your money, Kyle. And even if I did, it wouldn't help because Maria I still have to find another place to rent! Overnight! I feel awful that I have dragged her down too!" Liz cried.

At that moment, Maria walked in the door.

"Liz, you won't believe the scum I ran into hanging around outside our door- Liz! What happened?! What's wrong?!!!" Maria asked alarmed to find Liz crying in Kyle's arms.

Max burst in after Maria, worried and alert.

"What is Max doing here?" Kyle frowned.

"I was wondering the same thing myself," Maria glared.

"I came to talk to Liz," Max explained wearily. "What happened?"

"None of your business! Get out of here!" Maria ordered, pointing at the door.

"No, it's okay," Liz sniffled. "I'm sure he'll find out sooner or later so he might at well hear the story now."

Liz and Kyle told them about Mr. Fritz's visit.

"He can't do that!" Maria protested.

"I'm afraid he can and is," Liz replied somberly. "I owe him too much money for him to let me stay, and I'm never able to make rent on time. I should be surprised that he hasn't kicked me out sooner. I'm really sorry, Maria!"

"Listen, babe, don't worry about it. We'll figure something out," Maria pledged, hugging Liz. "We always do. As long as we stick together it will be okay."

Liz nodded, wiping her tears, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"I think I might have a solution," Max offered gently.

"No one cares!" Maria snapped at him. "Why haven't you left yet?"

"Maria!" Liz scolded her friend. "He's just trying to help."

Maria muttered something unintelligible under her breath.

"What's your idea Max?" Liz asked politely. "You must know that I'm not going to take your money, right?"

"Yeah," Max nodded. "But that's not what I was thinking, not really anyways. You said you should have enough money to pay off Mr. Fritz by the end of next week, so really, your big problem is finding somewhere to move in to right away. Well, my sister, Isabel, has been looking for a roommate all semester, so I'm sure one of you can move in with her. And well, we live just three doors down, and the other one of you is welcome to stay with us. Our place is four bedrooms, and there are only three of us living there."

"Max, if someone moves in, what you going to use for your darkro-" Kyle started.

"Of course," Max interrupted him. "I am storing some stuff in the spare bedroom now, but all that can easily be moved."

"It can?" Kyle questioned skeptically.

"Yes," Max assured him pointedly.

They exchanged a long look.

"Whatever, man. It's your stuff," Kyle shrugged.

"Lovely. I'll move in with you boys, and Liz can shack up with Isabel. Problem solved. Let's get packing," Maria stated, still frowning slightly.

"Well, actually, umm… I was thinking…" Max started.

"Oh I know this going to be good," Maria cried exasperated, already having her fill of Max Evans for one day.

"Well, you should probably room with my sister Maria, instead of Liz, because you can, umm… pay the rent, and Isabel's biggest pet peeve is, like, people who don't pay the rent on time… I've already paid the rent for my room and the spare bedroom in the apartment up through the end of the semester so Liz can just pay me back when she has the money…" Max explained.

"Did you orchestrate this whole thing, Max Evans? Because I swear we never had a single problem until you showed up! Is this some big elaborate plan to get with Liz? Because I know that she is never going to give you the time of day, no matter what you do!" Maria exclaimed. "If you even try to touch her or sneak a peak at her while she's getting dressed or anything perverted like that I will break your dick in two, Max, do you hear me?!"

"Maria, calm down," Liz told her. "Obviously Max has nothing to do with my unpaid bills. Max is just trying to be helpful. Don't bite his head off… yet. Don't forget that if Max tries to bother me, Kyle's in the next room."

Maria stared Max down with narrowed eyes. Max actually looked quite disturbed.

"Alright," Maria finally relented. "But I'm counting on you, Kyle, to make sure there is no funny business from Max."

"Don't worry," Kyle said. "If Max knows what is good for him, he will behave himself."

Max nodded innocently.

"Well, kids, now that we've all made our threats, we've got some packing to do," Liz stated.

Max was on cloud nine. This was better than anything Max could have ever hoped for. Things were definitely going his way. He'd have this bet in the bag in no time. No woman was impenetrable to the 24/7 charm of Max Evans.

**************************************

Max made a quick call to Isabel, and with some of Max's most intricate persuasion, she agreed to Maria living with her. Max then called Michael and asked him to come over with his truck to help Kyle and the girls. Max himself had to clean all of his stuff out of the spare bedroom to make room for Liz.

He wasn't exactly sure what to do with all his darkroom equipment, so he just packed it all up and put it in his storage locker in the apartment building basement. He didn't really need his own darkroom, he told himself. It was just a luxury. He supposed he could wait in line like everyone else to use the university dark room. Sure, it was a huge inconvenience to use the university darkroom, but in exchange for living with Liz Parker, it was nothing.

Kyle and Michael arrived shortly in their vehicles with the first load of Maria and Liz's stuff. Max helped the two unload as they tried to recall which boxes belonged to which girls. Max sent them back to get more boxes as he took the girls' stuff to their respective apartments. Isabel frowned when he showed up at her door with boxes.

"Max you owe me big time for this," Isabel declared disapprovingly.

"Iz, you have been looking for a roommate all semester, and you constantly complain about having to pay all of the rent when you don't ever even go into the second bedroom," Max reminded her.

"Yeah, but I barely know this Maria girl. And from what I do know of her, she is kind of rude and just a little bit crazy," Isabel stated flatly.

Max couldn't wholly disagree.

"Well, I'm sure that once you live with her for a while and get to know her a bit, you two will be good friends," Max said hopefully.

"Yeah, fucking bosom buddies, I'm sure..." Isabel replied dryly.

"She's good friends with Alex. I'm certain that he will be inclined to come by every once and a while…" Max pointed out.

"Like I would care…" Isabel huffed indignantly.

"Please, I know you have a thing for him. You're in love! Admit it!" Max laughed.

"Like you have any idea what being in love implies," Isabel scoffed. "And anyways, even if I did want to see Alex, I wouldn't need some stupid Maria DeLuca to move in to get him over here. I happen to have lots of appealing assets, Max."

"So my friends have been telling me since junior high, but I hold tightly to the idea that you are a turdbrain," Max replied.

"You are so lame," Isabel rolled her eyes.

"Uh huh. I know. Anyways, I've got to get going. Lots of things to do today…" Max trailed off.

"So when can I expect this Maria girl to move in? And why doesn't she bring over her own damn boxes?" Isabel asked.

"I happened to be over there, and I told her I wouldn't mind bringing the first of her stuff over if she had it ready. She'll be moving in… soon…" Max trailed off hesitantly.

"How soon is soon?" Isabel demanded.

Max glanced out the window. Michael had just pulled in the parking lot with Kyle in tow, both of their vehicles full, and Liz and Maria appeared shortly after with their cars loaded as well. Max watched as Liz got out of her car and started unloading things out of the back seat. God, she was gorgeous. Her ass looked so good in those jeans when she bent over to pull things out of her car…

"Max?" Isabel questioned, snapping her fingers to recall his attention.

"Uh, yeah, about that…" Max chuckled with slight nervousness.

He had conveniently failed to mention when said Maria needed a place to live as soon as possible that it meant today.

"Max, when is she moving in?" Isabel asked again, not amused.

"I would think that within the next five minutes is a highly plausible guess," Max answered nonchalantly.

"WHAT?!" Isabel screeched.

"Calm down," Max told her as he opened her front door for Michael who had his arms full of Maria's things.

"You could have at least given me some warning!" Isabel hissed. "Suddenly some stranger is just moving into my apartment! The next thing you know, you will have me housing chickens for you!"

"Just take it right into the bedroom Mikey. Thanks," Max said to Michael.

Michael grunted.

"Isabel, darling sister of mine, I told you, Maria is a perfectly nice girl. I'm sure you two are going to hit it off," Max reassured her, patting her shoulder.

"Dude, that Maria chick is crazy!" Michael hollered from the bedroom. "She thinks I'm her personal slave or something. What a piece of work!"

"See! Even Michael thinks she is crazy!" Isabel exclaimed.

"Michael doesn't count. He has the hots for Maria," Max stated matter-of-factly.

"I do not!" Michael refuted coming back into the living room where Max and Isabel were.

"He does too. He claims he can't stand her, but he always gets all worked up and blushes whenever he talks to her," Max argued to Isabel. "And anyways, I wouldn't dream of housing chickens here. Pam has a big backyard that is perfect for keeping farm animals."

"Max, you are unbelievable!" Isabel threw her arms up in frustration.

Max spotted Alex's car pulling in the parking lot.

"Hey, look! It's Alex. He's come to help Maria move in," Max winked at his sister.

Isabel just glared at Max.

"Hey, you better turn that frown upside down before he comes up here," Max advised her. "Your face looks freaky when it's all scrunched up like that. I think I see a wrinkle-"

"MAX!" Isabel shrieked.

"I'm gonna go help Maria," Michael exited quickly through the open door.

"Uh… me too…" Max decided quickly.

Isabel was fuming. Max hadn't seen Isabel this mad since he buried Mister Puffy, her beloved teddy bear, in the backyard when they were eleven.

"Thank you, Iz," Max said and kissed her cheek before dodging out the door after Michael.

Isabel sighed and went to make room in her apartment for Maria. This was so typical of Max! Her brother was always up to something, trying to pull something over on someone. She should have known better when he called her asking for a favor.

**************************************

"And this will be your room, Liz," Max stated opening the door to the spare bedroom that he had just cleared out.

Liz and Maria walked past him into the room, checking it out. Max followed and Kyle wandered in after them with a box of Liz's stuff.

"Wow, this is nice," Liz said, clearly impressed by the spacious room. "And I even have my own sink in here!"

"All of the rooms are equipped with either a sink or a half bathroom. And of course the apartment has two full bathrooms," Max told her

"What's with the intense blackout curtains?" Maria wondered.

"The previous renters were vampires," Max joked.

The girls stared at the strange window fixtures.

Kyle set the box down in the corner. He spotted one of Max's photographs that Max had absently left behind in the rushed move and picked it up to look at it.

"That," Kyle emphasized, "is a really nice rack-"

Max elbowed him hard in the gut with a frown and snatched the photo of a nude girl out of Kyle's grip. Max quickly crumpled the picture and shoved it in his pocket.

"What?" Liz looked over her shoulder at them and asked in confusion, not sure she heard Kyle correctly.

"He said that there are really nice racks in the closet. You should take a look," Max implored her.

He knocked Kyle upside the head when the two girls turned their backs to check out the closet. Kyle scowled.

"Keep your mouth shut and I'll let you see my portfolio," Max whispered to him.

Kyle pursed his lips. He didn't like Max hiding things from Liz, and he didn't understand what the big deal about Max being into photography was anyways. He couldn't believe that Max had just given up his private photography studio in the drop of a hat.

Liz opened the closet door and stared in shock.

"Maria, just look at this closet!" Liz exclaimed. "It's almost as big as my last bedroom!"

"Wow!" Maria agreed, peeking over Liz's shoulder. "It's the closet of my dreams! Liz, I think your shoes have finally come to the promise land."

"I've never had a walk-in closet," Liz sighed dreamily.

"I think this is the biggest closet in the whole complex," Max smiled at Liz's happiness. "This room is in a weird corner of the building so I guess the architects just decided to build the closet abnormally large."

"Or your dad called the contractors and told them to," Kyle muttered, shaking his head.

"What was that, Kyle?" Liz questioned, unable to hear what he was mumbling.

"My dad owns this building," Max confessed, glaring at Kyle.

"No shit?" Maria gawked at him. "What does your dad do?"

"He's a lawyer. But he likes to dabble in real estate here and there," Max shrugged absently.

Kyle coughed.

"How does that work with the rent then?" Maria wondered.

"Dad still makes Isabel and I pay just like everyone else, even if it is with the allowance he gives us, because he wants us to get used to the responsibility," Max stated, eyeing Kyle wearily. "I guess we should start unloading stuff. We probably need to bring the beds in first."

"Yeah," Liz nodded. "Michael still has to go back and get our desks and dressers. We have a couch too, but there isn't really room for it anywhere."

"We'll put it in storage," Max assured her.

"That wouldn't be too much trouble? Are you sure you have room?" Liz asked.

"Don't worry about it, Liz. I've got it all covered," Max said. "Now come on, let's go get your bed."

*********************************

Max, Liz, Maria, and Isabel stood around in Maria's room. They had finished moving in the majority of the girls' stuff.

"I have to admit, I never would have believed it would be possible to move out of our apartment on ten minutes notice. I must say, I'm thoroughly impressed by what you've managed to pull together, Max," Maria looked around at her abruptly thrown together room. "Though, I'm not sure that I'll see half the stuff I own for two weeks because this has to be the most disorganized move ever, even if it was the quickest."

"Yeah, in most of the boxes I just threw in whatever was within reach," Liz admitted.

"Thanks, though, Max, for doing this for us," Maria said genuinely.

Her opinion of Max had somewhat morphed as he had systematically had solved every problem that had arisen for them.

"Yes, it would really nice of you to help us out," Liz added. "We'll never be able to repay you for all that you've done. Thank you so much."

"No problem," Max smiled charmingly. "It was my pleasure. I'm always ready to do what I can."

Isabel rolled her eyes, but no one noticed. She had suddenly understood Max's motivation for this whole shenanigan when she saw that Liz would be moving into her brother's apartment. Her brother was so hopeless. Isabel didn't doubt that if Liz jumped off a cliff her brother would follow without hesitation. She sighed. Her brother had been obsessed with Liz for years, which was highly unusual for him. Maybe Liz would be good for Max though, Isabel reasoned. Perhaps Liz would influence Max to clean up his act and settle down a bit. After all, as far as Isabel could recall, Liz was the only person Max had been interested in for more than a few hours.

"Hey, Maria," Alex said, coming into the room carrying a floor length mirror. "Where do you want this?"

"That's Liz's mirror," Maria told him. "Hers is the red one. Mine is pink."

"Oh, okay," Alex nodded. "Liz, where do you want this?"

"Umm… Can you hang it up behind my door?" Liz asked thoughtfully.

"Sure, do you have a hammer and nails?" Alex asked.

Liz shook her head.

"I do," Max responded. "They are in my apartment. I'll get them for you."

"You better come too, Liz, so you can tell me exactly where to put this," Alex said.

The three of them left to hang up Liz's mirror.

"I'm going to go find Michael. He's supposed to help me hang up all my clothes after he wadded them all up and shoved them in a giant trash bag. I mean honestly, that boy has no common sense. Now I'm going to look like a raison wearing wrinkly clothes for the next month," Maria shook her head.

"I have a clothes steamer. If you want to put it in your closet when you are done hanging everything up, it should take most of the wrinkles out," Isabel offered.

"That would be fantastic," Maria replied with a smile.

Maria went searching for Michael and finally located him in Liz's room, hooking up the tiny television that had been in their living room.

"Are you sure you don't want the T.V. in your room, Maria?" Liz asked as Maria came in. "I don't watch it very often."

"No, you can have it," Maria responded. "I watch television even less often than you do."

"See Liz, I told you that Maria said to put it in here. I wouldn't hook this up if there was a possibility of Maria shrieking at me to move it right away," Michael stated.

Maria frowned at him.

"Hurry up, Michael. You still have to help me hang up all my clothes," Maria ordered.

Michael groaned.

"You are the one that shoved them in the trash bag, mister," Maria pointed out.

Max smirked at them. Michael was so going to be Maria's personal bitch within a week. Max couldn't wait to give him shit about it.

Alex placed Liz's mirror against the wall behind her door, as she tried to decide where to hang it.

"A little to the left," Liz motioned.

Alex scooted the mirror left.

"No, I guess I meant right," Liz corrected.

Alex slid the mirror right.

"Now it's just a little crooked. Can you get it a bit straighter than that?" Liz questioned.

Alex tried to straighten it, though it looked straight enough to him.

"Ummmm…." Liz squinted at the mirror thoughtfully for a while.

"Liz, today please," Alex reminded her.

"That looks good," Liz said quickly, not wanting Alex's patience to expire.

"Alright, hand me the hammer and nails. Max, can you hold on to this for me?" Alex asked.

"Sure," Max reached out to hold the mirror.

Alex took the hammer and nails from Liz.

"Okay, hold it steady," Alex told Max.

Alex was just about to nail the mirror into the wall when Kyle opened the door and knocked it into them. Alex missed the nail and hit his thumb with the hammer. Max dropped the mirror. He tried to catch it, but he was too late and it broke, one of the shards slashing Max's hand open.

"Anyone want to order Pizza?" Kyle wondered.

Liz and Maria stared at him in shock.

"You moron," Michael shook his head.

"Yew idiote," Alex cursed from behind the door as he sucked on his thumb.

Kyle looked behind the door, just noticing Max and Alex.

"Oh," Kyle grimaced, noticing their injuries. "Sorry."

"Just go get me a towel," Max commanded.

His hand was gushing blood all over the place. He tried to contain the bleeding in his t-shirt, but it was quickly becoming soaked with blood. Kyle hurried off to find a towel.

"Let me see, Max," Liz implored.

Max brought his wound over and showed it to her. Blood was squirting out everywhere. Liz frowned as she examined him.

"It's a really deep cut," Liz stated. "You're going to need stitches."

Maria glanced over Liz's shoulder at Max's hand.

"Oh my!" Maria exclaimed, her face turning white as a ghost.

Maria promptly fainted, but luckily Michael was behind her to catch her. He laid Maria out over Liz's bed and fanned her.

Kyle returned with a towel, and Max wrapped his hand in it, his face skewing in pain.

"That really doesn't look too good, man," Kyle pointed out.

"You think?" Max glared at him accusingly.

"Kyle, go start your car. We are going to take Max to the emergency room," Liz said.

Kyle wandered off to find his keys.

"Alex, get some ice on your thumb, and then let Isabel know what happened," Max told him.

Alex nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Liz looked over at Michael who was still fanning at Maria as he placed a pillow under her feet.

"So much blood…" Maria crooned, coming back around.

"She'll be fine," Liz assured Michael. "She just doesn't do well with lots of blood. There are some smelling salts in her purse that may help."

Michael nodded.

"Don't worry about cleaning up," Michael said. "I'll take care of it. You guys just go."

"Okay, thanks," Liz smiled.

"We'll be back soon," Max promised.

"Do you want anything special on your pizza? It's on me!" Kyle shouted from the next room.

Liz rolled her eyes.

"How about some blood?" Max muttered.

"I'm going to order four larges, and we can pick them up on the way home!" Kyle yelled to them excitedly. "Hurry up you guys!"

"I'm going to hurt him soon," Max pledged.

"Come on," Liz took Max by his good arm. "Let's get your hand taken care of before Kyle starts gnawing at his own hand in hunger."

Liz looked up into Max's eyes encouragingly and gave his arm a comforting squeeze. And at that moment, with Liz at his side, Max couldn't have cared less if he bled to death right then and there.

*********************************

Like, oh my gosh, I updated!

I'm working on a 'Dreams' update as well. I've got to finsih writing the end of a scene before I can post on that. I'm going to try to move to 'Normal' sometime soon but who knows.

Thanks to all you readers who have stuck it out with me over the years.