Roswell Fanatics

Title: In Love Again
Author: Me again. sweetbrowneyes a.k.a Tiffany
Disclaimer: I again own nothing
Rating: MATURE to be on the safe side.
Summary: Max is stuck with a baby at the age of seventeen. This story takes place three years later. Well except for the first chapter. Max's POV
A/N: I promise this isn't as angesty as All his Fault. Don't be fooled by the first part.



Chapter 1

Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me but I could've sworn
That the kiss that was meant truly for me is leaving me torn
How could love be so kind and so gentle and turn and be so cold
Why must my arms feel so empty for what my heart still holds?

I lie awake, my hands clutching the golden engagement ring tight. My eyes are wide as I stare at the ceiling. My bare chest is exposed to the cool night breeze flowing in through the open window, but I don’t care. I could care less that I froze to death. I wouldn’t mind the cold. Why should I when my heart is already frozen.

Mary how could you go
Around and hurt me so
I've tried so hard to please you baby
But I just can't seem to baby

I sit up and throw my legs over the side of the bed and stare out the window. The stars were bright and the moon was full, it was a gorgeous night. But that did nothing to stop the hope from bleeding from my heart.

And I stare.

I hope that she’ll appear. I hope that she’ll climb through that window like she always had and take me into her arms. I hope that she’ll tell me that this past week had all been a sick joke and that she wasn’t really gone. I hope.

And I stare.

Mary how could you go
Around and hurt me so
I've tried so hard to please you baby
But I just can't seem to baby

But as I continue to stare, I know that it’s pointless. She wasn’t coming back. And I felt a sharp pain in my heart because on some level, I know that this is my fault. I knew that something was wrong. I should have pushed her harder for answers. I should have demanded that she told me what was wrong. I should have been better.

But I wasn’t.

So now I’m stuck with more responsibilities than any other seventeen year old boy should have.

Was there something I could've done to change this outcome here?
As if I blinked my eyes and suddenly she up and disappeared
How can love escape your grasp without you ever letting go
And until she returns to my arms I may never know

I’ll probably never get to kiss her sweet lips again. I’ll never get to run my fingers through her long hair, or lose myself in her eyes again. We’ll never walk down that aisle as husband and wife in three weeks like we were supposed to. We wouldn’t move into our new apartment on Sunset Ave. We would never argue over the bills only to make up again later. Everything was lost now. She was gone and she wasn’t coming back.

Mary how could you go
Around and hurt me so
I've tried so hard to please you baby
But I just can't seem to baby

A small cry breaks through my dark thoughts and I turn to the pink, lacy bassinet sitting on the other side of the room. I let the corners of my mouth lift as I start towards it. And my dark mood diminishes quickly as I gaze down at the bundle of joy before me.

Jasmine Evans. Born on May 10, 2001, one week ago.

I pick her up, cradling her in my arms as I rock her gently. She coos, her tiny fist beating against my chest as she stares wide eyed at me.

Mary how could you go
Around and hurt me so
I've tried so hard to please you baby
But I just can't seem to baby

It hurts that she left me - left us. But as I stare down at my sweet daughter, her eyes slowly drooping closed as she snuggles into my chest, I realize that I have to be here for her. She is a blessing that my ex-fiancée failed to see. But I see it. And I’ll never leave her.

M,A,R,Y,H,O,W,C,O,U,L,D,Y,O,U,B,E,S,O,C,R,U,E,L,T,O,M,E,M,Y
Love
M,A,R,Y,H,O,W,C,O,U,L,D,Y,O,U,B,E,S,O,C,R,U,E,L,T,O,M,E,M,Y
Love

I press my lips to the new, soft skin of her forehead and gently lay her back in her bassinet. I watch her sleep, my heart swelling with love and fierce protection over this small, innocent baby.

I’ll never leave her. It’s just us now.

I walk over to my dresser and pull out a shirt. I pull it over my head as I make my way over to the window to close it. I’m done being cold. I have to live my life.

Jasmine and I.

Mary how could you go
Around and hurt me so
I've tried so hard to please you baby
But I just can't seem to baby
Mary how could you go
Around and hurt me so
I've tried so hard to please you baby
But I just can't seem to baby

TBC……… Shall I continue?

Musiq ‘Mary Go Round’

Hey guys I've come baring a new part. Thanks to..

linliz68
Behrsgirl77
roswellchick03
kay_b
g7silvers
MilesToGo99
roswellluver
Alien614
EvansParker03
Lurkers

I hope you guys enjoy.

Chapter 2

3 years later

Beeeeppp!!

I groan as some idiot comes shooting out of a parking lot to cut in front of me. I honk my horn and keep going, muttering obscenities under my breath.

I have lived in Roswell for all of my short nineteen years and I never could figure out why the busiest street in the city was so damn narrow. Wouldn’t people think that since this is where all the stores and jobs are that people might want to be out here often? Wouldn’t you widen the street to accommodate more people?

No. Because people don’t think and now I’m stuck behind a two thousand year old man driving at 2mph in a drop top convertible.

And I ask myself, not for the first time, why I didn’t just walk to where I needed to go. Roswell Memorial Hospital, where I work, isn’t even far from where I want to go. In fact, everything here in Roswell is within walking distance, but being it Monday, I just have to make my day even more stressful than it already is.

I finally pull into the parking lot of the M&M Café and hop out of my black Explorer. The bell at the door jingles as I push it open and it seems as if everyone in the room looks to see who had just entered. They see that it’s just me and resume doing whatever the hell they were doing.

I make my way to my regular booth and slide in. I don’t bother with the menu, seeing as I come in here everyday and I know it like the back of my hand. My friends, Michael and Maria, own this place and have managed to make a pretty good living with it so far. Their business is good, especially during this time around lunch. They’re the power couple of our little group and I’m proud to say that I had a hand in bringing them together. I was the one to introduce them. Yeah me!

Insert sarcasm here.

See, this is how our little came to be known and it all started last year. Isabel, who is Maria’s older sister, met and secretly fell in love with Alex while working as a receptionist at the hospital. (She won’t admit she likes him, but Isabel will be Isabel.) Isabel introduced Alex to me and then Alex introduced Michael to me. I, being the incredible match maker that I am, introduced Michael and Maria. They got together and have been inseparable ever since. Later, I met Kyle who’s a RN at the hospital. We bonded over drinks and our want to find that special someone. Neither of us have found it yet, but we keep hope alive.

“Hey Max.” I look up to see Maria walking towards me, her smile wide and her eyes bright. I silently curse her for having a good day when I’m not.

I’ve known Maria since I was in first grade, but we didn’t become friends until I got into high school. I’m a year younger than she is and she went from being the irritating older sister of my best friend, to helping me get used to life in high school and then again in college. I consider Maria to be my closest friend of them all. It’s probably because she’s the only one who doesn’t tease me because I’m the youngest in our group. But, she’s been right there beside me. She had been there for me when my ex – which is her sister and my former best friend – left Jasmine and I. Maria called us cope buddies and that was just what we did together… We coped.

“Hi Maria. Where’s everyone?” I ask as she slides in the seat across from me. Every weekday my friends and I make an effort to meet here for lunch. And everyday they’re late. I don’t know how considering that I’m always on time and we all work at the same hospital.

“Michael is in the back doing only God knows what,” she rolls her eyes in mock annoyance. “And everyone else is probably caught in traffic.” As if they had rehearsed it, Michael came barging out of the backroom just as Isabel, Alex and Kyle came walking in through the front door. They all head towards Maria and I, and slide in next to us.

“Hey guys,” Maria greets them. I simply wave my hand.

“Where’s Jas?” Kyle asks me.

“Yeah, you said that you were bringing her today,” Isabel pouts.

“She’s with my mom. They’re supposed to go to the zoo today,” I answer. Isabel slouches back in her seat, her disappointment evident. “But, she wants to stay the night with you. I was going to ask you if it was alright if she came tonight.”

Her face lights up and the smile returns. I can just see the wheels turning in her head on more ways to spoil my daughter. “That’s great. Bring her around eight.” I nod, rolling my eyes, knowing that my child will be on a sugar high all night.

We all sat around talking about nothing in general. And I played a very active part in the conversation, that is, until the bell above the door jingled and she walked in.

Today she wore short black shorts and a white tank top. Her long brown tresses were pulled up in a messy bun, exposing the tender flesh of her neck and a beauty mark just under her ear.

She was gorgeous.

I stare as she walks toward the counter, smiling sweetly at the person seated next to her before giving her order to the girl working the counter.

I’ve been watching her for weeks now and she comes in everyday at the same time, sitting in that same stool. She’s usually by herself, but sometimes comes in with an older woman, which I’m assuming is her mom. She’s the first girl I’ve been attracted to in three years. And the feeling is new to me again. I’ve only been attracted to one other girl, but she left me in the cold.

I’m forced out of my thoughts as I feel something being shoved into my hand. “Wipe your face, you’re drooling,” Maria says with a knowing smirk as she closes my hand around the napkin she’d placed there.

“I am not!!” I protest harshly, but wipe my mouth just to make sure.

“So, Kyle, when are you moving into the new place?” Alex asks.

“Next weekend. You guys are helping me right?” We all nod, but my eyes wander back to the beautiful brunette sitting at the counter.

“Go talk to her,” Maria whispers in my ear.

I snap out of my trance and regard Maria with an innocent look. “Who?”

“Godzilla,” she mutters sarcastically. “Who do you think?”

I shake my head, once again staring at the beauty before turning away fully. “I can’t. I can’t get tied down right now.” I know that was the stupidest excuse, but I’m not in the mood to get shot down at this moment.

Maria was in the process of pushing out of the booth when Michael cleared his throat, gaining my attention. “Hey, Maxwell,” he calls, eyeing me strangely. “Could you come in the back and help me move some boxes?” he asks with a slight jerk of his head.

“What? Those huge, heavy boxes?” Alex comments. Michael nodded, again jerking his head in the direction of the backroom. “We moved those two da…” Kyle’s elbow into his ribs cut him off and he slumped forward in his seat, clutching his stomach in pain.

I roll my eyes and get up to follow Michael into the backroom. “So, what’s going on?” I ask once we are safely out of earshot.

“Well, I um I sorta kinda wanna… askMariatomarryme.”

What? “What?”

He sighs and starts pacing the space in front of me. “I want to propose to Maria. I’ve wanted to do it for a while now, but I just needed to get my head together first and make sure this is what I really want.” Wow! I’m blown away. I’ve never heard Michael talk like this before. “And I’m sure. I want to live the rest of my life with her.”

I used to feel that way. Now I know better. Love is a deadly feeling. It can crush you, leaving you weak and torn. Throwing you into the fiery depths of hell before spitting you back out and then crushing you some more…..Okay, I’m being a tad bit on the dramatic side?

“Congrats Michael. But what do you need me for?”

“Well, I need you to come with me to help me pick out a ring. You’re… um… you’re more in touch with your sensitive side and my chances of picking out something she’d like are greater.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment? I heard that pause. You were going to say that I’m more feminine than you,” I accuse.

He sputtered as if he had no idea what I was talking about. “No I wasn’t. I just mean that you’re more likely to cry than I am.”

“What? When was the last time I’ve cried?”

“I don’t know. I don’t keep tally on the times you get all weepy eyed and emotional.”

“I’m not emotional,” I deny fiercely. “I’m as manly as they come. I do watch wrestling, thank you very much,” I say as if that’s supposed to somehow prove my manliness. “And how is this relevant to you proposing to Maria?”

“I was getting to that before you got all offended,” he says with a roll of his eyes. “I was saying that Maria talks to you about all those things and you might know what kind of ring she likes.”

“When do you want to go?” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“This afternoon. And please don’t tell Isabel. You know she’ll squeal the first chance she gets.”
********

Later that afternoon, Michael, Alex, Jasmine and I hit the mall in search of Maria’s ring. We’ve been in and out every jewelry store in the mall at least five times already and I’m really ready to quit for the day.

“What ‘bout dis one daddy?” Jasmine says from my arms as we lean over the glass that holds the many sparkling diamonds.

“Jas, that’s the same one you’ve been pointing to all day.”

She smiles brilliantly and my heart swells with love. “Dats ‘cause its pwetty. Can I half one too daddy? I wanna half a wing jus like Auntie Wia,” she says as she brings her arms around my neck and pecks me lightly on my cheek. “Pweety peas, with sugar on top.” She flutters her lashes and I swear I don’t know where she got her skills from. I’m almost tempted to buy it for her. She’s way too persuasive for a three year old.

“Pumpkin, you have to get engaged first,” I explain gently.

“What’s emgaged?” she asks innocently.

“Engaged is when two people love each other very much and they decide to get married. Usually, a man asks a woman to marry him and if she accepts, they get engaged.”

“Oh.” She frowns and I can’t help but wonder wants going on in that little head of hers. “Daddy will you mawry me?”

“Jas, I can’t marry you. I’m your father,” I chuckle.

“But I wove you,” she whines.

“I love you too, but you’re not supposed to marry your father,” I tell her as I tweak her nose.

“Oh.” Again she frowns. She squirms in my arms and I let her down. “Stay close Jas.” She nods in understanding and walks a few feet away to gaze at the jewelry.

“Hey. Come look at this one,” Michael calls.

“What are we looking at?” Alex asks as we peer through the glass.

“That band right there,” he says as he points to a small gold band.

“Um… I hope you’re planning on getting that as a wedding band because Maria’s gonna want something bigger for an engagement ring,” I tell him.

“Huh… no. This is it.” I look at it again. It looks like a piece of shiny gold string that had been tied into a circle with silver dots painted on top. “What? Why are you looking like that? It’s cheap and fashionable. Any girl would kill for a ring like this,” he defends.

Alex and I exchange a look and we both know that if Maria sees that ring, she’ll go crazy.

Just then, Jasmine walks over and tugs on Alex’s pant leg. “Uncle Alex, I wove you,” she says, looking up at him with her big amber eyes.

He smiles and kneels down to face her. “I love you too Jas,” Alex says. He gives her a big kiss on her cheek and she giggles with delight.

“Will you mawry me?” she asks him.

Alex laughs. “Of course. I’d be honored to have you as my lovely bride.”

She turns to me and claps excitedly. “Daddy, I’m emgaged now. Can I half a wing?” she beams excitedly.

“Yeah Max, where’s our rings. You’re the father of the bride. It’s your job to pay for the wedding,” Alex declares as he lifts Jasmine into his arms.

“I’m sorry Alex, but did you ask me for my daughter’s hand in marriage?” I say, crossing my arms across my chest in that intimidating, fatherly stance.

“Max, may I marry your daughter?”

“No.”

“What?” he shrieks. To my surprise, he really looks hurt that I said no. I struggle to hide my chuckle. “Are you saying that I’m not good enough for your daughter?”

“Um… yes. I think that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

He scowls at me before turning to Jasmine. “Jas, your father says I’m not good enough for you, so I guess that means that we can’t get married.”

“Dats okay Uncle Alex. I jus wan ta mawry you for da wing,” she explains and I’m laughing at Alex’s surprised look.

“Jas, I’m hurt that you would marry me just for material things. I thought you loved me for me,” he pouts.

She kisses him on the cheek. “I still wove you Uncle Alex.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Your cute and innocent act won’t work on me. I get half of your toys missy. You signed the prenuptial agreement.” He leans into me to whisper in my ear. “I got her to agree while she was on a candy high. Worked like a charm.”

“You have issues Alex,” I say.

We stay in the store for another hour, arguing over which ring to buy. Michael, of course, was being cheap and refused to buy anything over eighty bucks. Once we finally found something within his price range, we argued over the number of diamonds on the band and the color of the stone.

“Daddy! Come here!” Jasmine yells as we were about to embark on yet another argument. I make my way over to her. She has her nose smashed up against the glass; her breath fogs it up as she breaths in and out. “Dis one is pweety.”

I squat next to her and pull her back so that I can wipe the glass clean. “That is gorgeous,” I say. I call Michael and Alex over and they stare at the ring in awe. It was a diamond ring with a gold band, set with one round diamond in the middle and two smaller ones on either side.

“Michael, that’s perfect for her,” Alex says.

“And, it’s cheap,” he adds. “I’ll take it.” He waves over the saleswoman.

“I did good daddy!!” Jasmine beams proudly, holding her arms out for me to pick her up. I swing her into my arms as she giggles happily.

“Yes you did. My baby’s a genius. I say you deserve an ice cream cone,” I laugh as her eyes light up and she wiggles happily in my arms. “What size are you going to get, pumpkin?”

“I want a jumbo cone with sprinkles,” Alex answers instead, licking his lips with a glazed look in his eye.

“Is your name pumpkin?” I say.

“No,” he pouted. “I just wanted to feel special.” I roll my eyes and we head out of the store, headed toward the ice cream shop.

TBC……… Let me know what you think.

Tiffany

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm not saying that the girl in the cafe is Liz and I'm not saying it's not. You won't find out until the next chapter. Yeah I know I'm evil.

babylisou: Yes you got it right, Maria, Isabel and Jasmine's mother are sisters.

I'm going to try and update this every Monday with the way my muse is running rapid for this story. So be on the look out. I hope you guys enjoy.

Chapter 3

“Damn Kyle. How many bags of clothes do you have? I swear you’re worse than Isabel,” Michael groans as he lugs yet another box of clothes into Kyle’s new apartment.

All day, we’ve all been busy moving Kyle’s things from his apartment over on Monroe Ave. to his new place on Lawson Street. Well, I should say that Michael, Kyle and I have been moving Kyle’s things to the new apartment. Maria, Isabel and Alex have barely lifted a finger, all claiming that they had to stay and keep Jasmine “company.” But that’s a load of bullshit. Give her a Barbie doll and a toy brush and she’s set for at least three hours. I have no idea how I got such lazy friends.

“Is that the last of it?” I ask as I collapse onto the couch.

“I think that’s it,” Kyle answers as he eyes his new apartment with an approving nod. “This place is nice huh?” He drops next to me, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “I’m loving it…” He looks around the room, his head still bobbing in a nod. “I’m liking it…” His head slows as he scrunches up his face in disgust. “I’m hating it. Why the hell did I move in the first place? This place is so… not me.”

“It’d better be you. Because I sure as hell ain’t moving nothing else,” Michael grumbles as he plops on the recliner across from us. “Maxwell, hook up the tube will you? I think the game’s about to come on.”

I frown. “Why do I have to do it?”

“Because I’m older and I could kick your ass if I wanted too,” he smirks. I flip him off.

“It’s Valenti’s place. Hook up the TV Kyle, entertain your guests.”

“It wouldn’t make a difference. That game is on cable and I won’t get my cable until Tuesday,” Kyle explains.

Michael and I gasp in unison as if we never have heard of such lunacy in our lives. “Two days without cable? What kind of man are you?” Michael questions dramatically. “Don’t you know that you’re supposed to call ahead so that when you move in the cable is already set up? I don’t know how you’ll be able to survive.”

To my surprise, Kyle actually looks horrified. God forbid he has to find something else to do for two days instead of sitting in front of the TV, hogging down a box of dry cereal and beer. But he recovers quickly.

“That’s okay. I can crash at Max’s. Right Evans?”

“Um… I’ve seen what you look like when you get up in the morning and I really don’t want my daughter subjected to that kind of horror,” I say sarcastically, but I’m really telling the truth. Kyle may look like a pretty boy during the day, but in the morning… God help his mirror.

I can tell he’s about to retort with some smart comment, but is cut off when there’s a knock at the door. He gets up to answer it, but not before pointing a menacing finger in my direction.

“Daddy!” Jasmine calls as she runs up to me. “Can I half some ice cweam. Pwease daddy,” she says, sticking out her lip in a pout as she looks up at me from under her lashes.

I really hate that she knows I’ll cave when she looks like this. “It’s okay with me pumpkin,” I say as I smooth back her hair. “Just not too much kay?”

She nods vigorously and runs as fast as her little legs can carry her back into the kitchen. She comes back a few moments later, carrying a huge bowl full of ice cream. I laugh as I watch her toddle towards me, raising the bowl above her head so she can watch her step and weave through the boxes littering the floor.

“Jas,” I scold as I take the bowl from her and pull her into my lap. “Why did you get so much?”

She smiles up at me before dipping her spoon into the mountain of vanilla and bringing it to her mouth. “Dis not a lot daddy. I can eat it all.” I know she can eat it all. It’s how hyper she gets after she eats it that I’m nervous about.

“Hey guys,” Kyle calls as he walks back into the living room. Behind him is a short lady with bouncy, blond curls and icy blue eyes. I notice Kyle staring, surely making her uncomfortable. Michael picks up a roll of tape from the floor and throws it at him, knocking him out of his trance. “Oh… um… I’d like you to meet my future wife… I-I mean neighbor, Tess Harding.” He blushed, ducking his head as Tess made her way towards me.

“Hi, I’m Max,” I say as I shake her hand.

Michael simply waves. “Michael.”

“And who’s this cute little girl?” Tess coos as she spots Jasmine sitting in my lap. “What’s your name?”

“Jasmine,” she says shyly as she swallows a mouthful of ice cream.

“That’s a pretty name. Do you know what that means?” Jasmine shakes her head, a gleam of interest appearing in her eyes. “It’s Persian and it comes from the name Yasmin. Yasmin is the name of plants that have scented flowers, which people use to make perfume.”

“Daddy!! I‘m a flower!” she exclaims excitedly.

“And a beautiful flower at that,” I say as I lean down to kiss her forehead.

“Hey, what going on?” Maria questions as she, Isabel and Alex file out of the kitchen.

“Tess, this is Maria, Isabel and Alex,” Kyle says as Tess moves to shakes their hands before taking a seat next to me. “She’s my new neighbor,” he grins gladly. While Tess’ back is turned, he mouths, “She’s hot” and blows her a kiss. But she turns around and catches him and being as smooth as Kyle is, he plays it off as he were fanning himself.

“Whew. It’s hot in here. Is anybody else hot?” he says dramatically. We all just ignore him, knowing that he’d been caught.

“So Tess, what do you do?” Isabel says as she and Alex move to sit on the love seat. I’ve noticed those two have been a little clingy lately. There might be something going on with all the stolen glances and whatnot.

“I’m a masseuse. I have my own shop not a few blocks from here. I’m also into astrology and fortune telling. There’s this carnival in Carlsbad for Memorial Day and its there for two weeks, so I’m working there part time. You know, just to bring in a little extra money.”

“Cool, are you into aromatherapy?” Maria asks.

“Yeah. Sometimes I’ll make candles, incense and bath beads and bubbles stuff like that.”

“Oh my God,” Maria squeals. “You are my new best friend chica.”

“Why don’t you come over sometime and I’ll show you how to make them?” Tess offers and I cover Jasmine’s ears for the high pitched squeal that I knew was coming. I swear one day she’ll break glass doing that.

“Can we go ta da carval daddy? I wanna get on da wides,” Jasmine exclaims as she bounces excitedly on my lap, her ice cream forgotten.

“Yeah, let’s go. It’s not that far,” Alex says, looking just as excited as Jasmine. “We could all use a little break especially with finals around the corner.”

“Look what you’ve started,” I tease Tess. She smiles and shrugs innocently. “Alright,” I agree, getting a little eager myself. I haven’t been to a carnival in years. Ever since Jasmine was born, I’ve been too busy with working, school and taking care of her. “How about we all go next weekend?” Everyone agrees and Jasmine shrieks animatedly.

We sit around and talk for awhile before Tess says, “I’m sorry to leave like this, but I have some errands to do. It was nice meeting all of you.”

“Let me walk you to the door,” Kyle insists as they make their way to the front of the apartment.

“Is Uncle Kyle gonna marwy Tess?” Jasmine asks suddenly.

“From the way he was drooling over her, I’d say that’s it’s not far from Kyle’s thoughts,” Michael comments.

Kyle returns with a huge grin plastered on his face. “Wasn’t she the most gorgeous woman you’ve ever seen? This place is so me.”
***********

A few days later, I come home from wok completely exhausted. Who would’ve thought filing papers and doing inventory could be so tiring. But at least I have the night to myself. Jasmine is staying the night with my mom and I just want to take a hot shower and laze around.

I shuffle over to the couch and collapse onto my side. But as soon as I get comfortable, there’s a knock at the front door. I groan into the cushions, deciding that I’d let whoever it is think that the place is empty.

“Max, I know your lazy ass is in there! Open up!” Maria yells through the door.

“Go away! I’m not here!” Not the best excuse, I know, but I’m so tired I figured it’d work.

“If you don’t open up, I’ll break this door down and you know I will!” I scramble off the couch, my mind flashing back to the time she broke down my bedroom door when I was upset about my ex leaving. Somehow, she’d actually broken down the door and then made me pay for it.

“What is it?” I say as I fling open the door.

She pushes past me and I close the door behind her. “You have a date. Get ready, you have to be at the café in an hour,” She says as she makes herself comfortable on the sofa.

“Um… okay why wasn’t I aware of this date you speak of?”

“Because I didn’t tell you.”

“Oh,” I frown as I slump next to her, my heavy eyelids drooping closed. “Would you please enlighten me so that I can kick you out and get some sleep?”

She turns towards me, a proud smirk gracing her pretty face. “It’s simple. I knew you wouldn’t go on this date that I so graciously set up for you, so I waited until the day of and since I know you wouldn’t stand anyone up, you’d have to go.”

Damn. She’s right. My stupid heart is too big to stand someone up. Sometimes I just wish I could be a coldhearted bastard. But I’m not so I have to resort to whining. “Maria, I don’t wanna go. I’m too tired and my feet hurt and I just wanna rest and enjoy a nice movie.” I lay my head on her shoulder and add a small pout for effect. And I think it’s actually working. I’ve been taking notes from Jasmine and I think I finally got it down pat.

“Awww,” she coos. “I’m sorry Max.” I add a yawn thinking that I had her wrapped around my finger. Being in control is fun. “But, not sorry enough. Get up and take a shower while I get your clothes. Oh and wear that cologne that Isabel gave you for Christmas. It makes girls go wild. And please do something with that hair.” She suddenly stands and head towards my bedroom, causing me to drop onto the couch without her shoulder for support. She disappears around the corner and I can hear her rummaging through my things.

I close my eyes for a few seconds, hoping to gain a little energy before I try, even though I know I’ll fail miserably, to get out of this date. So why waste my breath trying to get out of it when I know I’ll lose? Well, it’s called false hope. Hope that one day, I’ll be able to win an argument against Maria and prevent myself from getting tangled in her affairs.

“Max!! Get up!” I open my eyes to see a horrifying image of Maria looming over me. Her hands are fisted and resting on her hips and her foot is tapping impatiently against the carpet. Her brow is creased in a frown and her eyes are squinted into hazardous slits. Freddy Krueger has nothing on her.

“I just closed my eyes for a few seconds,” I explain desperately as I cower away from her.

“A few second turned into an half an hour,” she mutters. Wow! I’ve been asleep for thirty minutes and I still feel like I’m about to drop. “Max, get ready. I swear you’ll be thanking me when you see who I set you up with,” she promises, her features softening.

“Ha!” I huff as I make my way the bathroom. “Thank you? I wouldn’t be surprised if you set me up with a drag queen.”

TBC……

Thanks for the awsome feedback guys.

linliz68: Welcome back Liz I can assure you that Tess will keep her hands off of Max.

Don't hate me after you guys read this.

Chapter 4

I arrive at the café fifteen minutes later, wearing a dark green shirt with black dress pants that obviously Maria picked out. If I had had it my way, I’d be wearing blue jeans and I tee-shirt.

Now I’m waiting inside the café for my date. I suppose I’m anxious to see who Maria has set me up with this time. There had been several other occasions where she’s tried to hook me up with “the one” but have failed horribly. I love her dearly for thinking about me and wanting me to be happy, but does she really expect me to find “the one” when she pairs me up with 250 pound women who are former weight lifting champions.

I think not.

“Max,” Maria calls as she walks out of the backroom. “Your date just called and she said that she was on her way,” she says excitedly as she takes a seat across from me.

“Who is this mystery person and why do you look like you’ve just found the cure for the common cold?”

“I’m not going to tell you.” I pout as soon as she says this, but she doesn’t give in. “But I will say that you’ll worship me when you see who I’ve set you up with,” she reveals.

“Oh God,” I moan. “You have set me up with a drag queen,” I accuse as jump up from my seat. “Maria, I don’t know what you’re doing, but this is not my idea of a fun time. Where is it written that you must hook me up with these… these people? How hard is it to find a nice coffee shop and pick out a nice, normal woman?”

“Max, those women were nice. You’re just being picky.”

Picky? I want to strangle her right now. “I still haven’t forgotten about the time you set me up with that magician,” I huff as I slouch back into my seat.

“What was wrong with Ester?” she asks defensively.

“You mean Ester the Exceptional? Maria, the woman tried to saw me in half with the butter knife at dinner.” I hear her snicker behind her hand and I shoot her an evil glare. I really believe she does this for her own enjoyment. And it being that I have nothing better to do and I have no willpower, I’m the one she chooses to pick on.

“Oh,” she suddenly squeals. “I think that’s her pulling into the parking lot. I know you’ll like her. Break a leg,” she says as she backs into the backroom.

“I’ll break yours if you set me up with another circus freak,” I grumble. It really sucks that I’m not kidding when I say circus freak. Ever heard of the bearded lady, well I’ve dated her… twice.

The bell above the door chimes and I look up. My eyes are frozen to the sight standing at the door.

It’s her. The girl I’ve been hopelessly staring at for the past couple of weeks and it suddenly gets hotter in the room. She couldn’t possibly be my date, could she?

I look to the door leading to the backroom and Maria is standing there, with her head poked out, nodding with a proud gleam in her eye. I suddenly want to run and kiss her senseless. I settle for blowing her a kiss before I gather my nerves and walk up to my date.

I stare, taking in her beauty. She’s wearing a simple short black dress with thin spaghetti strips holding it to her attractive form. Her feet are clad in a pair of simple black high heel sandals. Her hair falls around her shoulders in tight curls and it makes me wonder if her hair is naturally curly.

“Hi,” she says. I just stare. I’m in a trance, captivated by her sparkling green eyes. She’s stunning and I think I’m drooling.

She gives me a funny look and I snap out of my daze and wipe my mouth… just in case.

“Hi,” I say, as I offer her my hand. “I’m Max. Max Evans.”

She graciously takes my hand and I lift hers to my lips. I marvel at how soft her skin is. “I’m Serena Sampson,” she says. She smiles and I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Finally?”

She nods, her features reddening in a blush. “Yeah, I’ve noticed you in here with your friends, but I was always too shy to come up to you,” she explains.

I smile. “I’ve wanted to come up to you too, but you know… fear of being rejected by a beautiful woman can hold a man back.”

She smiles bashfully and twirls one of her curls around her finger. There is a short silence between us, and it takes me awhile to get over the fact that I’m actually here with her. She’s even more beautiful close up.

“So, did you have a place where you wanted to go in mind, or do you just want to stay here?” I ask.

“Here is fine,” she answers with a nod. I escort her over to a table and pull out her chair for her. I get a whiff of her hair and I have to stop my eyes from rolling into the back of my head in pleasure. She smiles appreciatively at me and I stand there, unable to move.

“Aren’t you going to sit down?” she asks with a giggle.

I give myself a shake when I notice she’s was waiting for an answer. “Huh? Oh yeah… I was just um…” Sniffing your hair like a madman? Yeah, that’ll get her into my arms.

“Are you okay?” she questions and I’m suddenly horrified at the fact that I might have said that out loud.

I play it off as if I don’t know what she’s talking about. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?” I’m surprised at how causal and calm I sound, when in truth, I’m a nervous wreck.

“Well, you were just kind of standing there, staring off to space. It this a good time? Maybe we should do this another night,” she suggests and she’s already grabbing her purse and about to stand.

“No!” I shout. She frowns at my sudden outburst and I affectively grab the attention of the few customers in the café. “I mean… I’m just nervous. I’m sorry if I seem somewhere else tonight.” She nods in understanding and settles back down in her seat.

“So, how old are you Max?” she says, trying to make conversation.

“I’m nineteen, twenty in August. I’d ask how old you are, but I’ve been belittled and beaten up by enough women who say that you’re never supposed to ask a woman her age or weight,” I answer and she laughs. It’s like music. “So if you want to tell me, that’s cool, if not, I didn’t ask.”

“I’m twenty. I’ll be twenty one in July,” she giggles.

“Ahh, so, I’m dating an older woman,” I nod approvingly and she laughs again. I feel her bare leg brush up against my pant clad leg and I surpass the urge to groan. I want so much to just reach down and run my fingers over her delicate skin. But when my hand is halfway there, I realize what I’m doing and I clasp my hands on the top of the table. “So, tell me about yourself Serena Sampson,” I say, trying to direct my mind away from her leg.

“Well, um there’s not much to tell. I’m your average American citizen, who works at a hotel,” she states.

“Which one?”

“Star Hotel,” she responds. “My dad owns it and I work there part time, you know, just to get a few extra dollars for school. Once I get my degree in business, he’s going to let me run the place.”

“That’s a nice hotel. I’ve only been in there a couple of times.” I wondered about her mother, but he didn’t want to seem like I was prying.

“Yeah, we make a pretty decent living.”

I can’t get the thought of her leg out of my mind and I scoot up closer to the table. I feel the outline of her leg pressed against mine. I think she notices too, because she glances up at me and smiles flirtatiously.

“So, what about you Max? Who is Max Evans and why hasn’t some girl already snatched you up?” She flashes a charming smile and I swear my heart skips a beat.

“Well, it’s probably because I’m too busy with work, school and staring at you,” I say as I reach across the table and gently touch her hand.

“Oh… looks like I have a charmer on my hands,” she says and that gorgeous smile of hers forms across her lips again. I’m melting. But before I turn into a puddle of goop, I straighten up and pull my hand away from hers. I realize that I’m getting in too deep, too fast and I’m reminded that she has no idea that I have a daughter. Serena is too good to be true and there has to be a catch. And that catch is probably that she might not be able to accept the fact that I have a daughter. Most women I’ve dated can’t.

Serena senses the change in my mood and she frowns because of it. “What’s wrong? I didn’t say something wrong did I?” she questions, and I can tell that she’s genuinely worried that she did something wrong.

“No,” I quickly reassure her. “Serena, I have something to tell you and its best that I tell you now before we… um go any farther,” I explain.

“Oh God.” Her eyes widen and she reaches forward to grab my hand gently. “Are you dying? Do you have some terminal disease?” she asks and I have to laugh at that. It was so far from what I was about to say.

“No. I’m not dying. But I do have a three year old daughter,” I pause to gauge her reaction. Her face is blank, so I continue. “I’d understand if you didn’t want to continue this, I-I just wanted you to know…” I drop my eyes, waiting for her to make up some excuse and run for the hills. But she does the exact opposite. She pushes her leg further against mine and my eyes shoot up to hers. Her green eyes sparkle and again, I’m caught in a trance.

“Do you have a picture of her?” she asks.

My eyes bug out of my head at the thought that she is accepting it and still wanting to try this thing we have out. “Um… yeah,” I stutter as I pull out my wallet and show her a small picture of Jasmine.

“Oh… she’s a gorgeous little thing. What’s her name?”

I’m still in shock and I sit there like a dope with my mouth hanging open. “Oh… mmm J-Jasmine. She just turned three in May,” I tell her as she hands back my wallet.

Suddenly, her smile disappears and she looks up at me in question. “So that means that there’s another woman involved here,” she concludes.

I’m abruptly overcome with emotion, anger and pain washing over me as I think about the woman who left Jasmine and I three years ago. “She’s not around anymore. She left us right after Jas was born,” I say.

Again, she reaches her hand across the table to grab mine and I feel myself relax. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

I shake my head and offer her a small smile. “It’s okay. We’ve gotten by pretty good so far. She’s just tall enough now to climb onto my bed, so she’s learned how to jump on Daddy’s stomach to wake him up at two in the morning,” I laugh.

She laughs and I resume my melting process. “She sounds like a ball of fun. I’d love to meet her someday,” she suggests.

I’m beaming now, my smile extending the length of my face. And I think I’ve just meet a real angel.
********

The night air is warm and breezy and the sky is clear. Serena and I have been walking through the park for about an hour now, talking about anything that came to mind.

“So, I haven’t seen you around the UNM campus. I’m guessing you’re transferring this year,” I say as we make our way to a bench along side the cemented path.

She nods as she curls her arm around mine and she threads her fingers through mine. My heart is doing double summersaults and I can’t keep the grin off my face. “Well, my parents were divorced and I had been staying out in Chicago with my mom ever since I was twelve. She died of pneumonia when I turned eighteen,” she reveals.

“I’m sorry,” I mummer. She smiles in gratitude.

“I was already going to CSU so I didn’t want to come home. But my dad started to get sick so I transferred to UNM so that I could help him out.”

“So who’s that woman that sometimes comes into the café with you?”

“My aunt.”

I’m about to reply when my cell phone rings. I mumble an apology to Serena before I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone.

“Hello?”

“Max, thank God I caught you,” My mom voices on the other end of the line.

I’m immediately worried when I can hear Jasmine crying in the background. “Mom, what’s wrong? Is Jasmine okay?”

“She had a nightmare and she’s crying for you. Phillip and I tried to calm her down, but she wants you,” Mom explains.

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Tell Jas I’ll be right over,” I say before I hang up. I turn to Serena and I can tell she knows that our date will have to be cut short. “I’m sorry, Jas had a nightmare and it freaked her out. I’m sorry to…” She cuts me off with a gentle finger to my lips.

“You have to do what you have to do. We can do this another time,” she replies and it was then that I realize that we’ve drifted closer, our faces mere inches apart. She smells so good and I can’t help but bring my hand up to her cheek and then move to bury my fingers in her bouncy curls. Her gaze travels lower as she leans forward to brush a soft kiss against my lips.

The kiss was quick and simple, but I felt it all the way to my toes. I pull back, not wanting to go, but knowing I had too. We walk in silence back to the café and I lean in again, this time, gently caressing her lips with my own.

“Maria has my number,” she whispers to me. “Don’t hesitate to call.” She walks away and disappears into her car. I watch as she pulls out of the parking lot before I head to my own SUV. I have a mind to go up to Michael and Maria’s apartment above the café to thank her, but I really have to get to Jasmine.

I reach my parent’s house a few minutes later. And as soon as I walk through the door, I feel a small body attaching itself to my leg. Once I pry her fingers away from my leg, I lift her into my arms.

“What’s the matter pumpkin?” I ask as I rub her back.

Mom gives me a towel to wipe her face and once Jasmine calms down enough, she stutters out what happened. “I saw da monster, Daddy. It was big and gween and it scared me,” she cries.

“Did you have Beanie with you?”

She nods and holds up the brown teddy bear. “He saw it too, but he wasn’t ‘fwaid ‘cause he’s bwave like you, Daddy,” she states as she buries her face in my neck.

“It’s okay pumpkin. I’m here now,” I whisper to her.

“I wanna go home wif you Daddy,” she declares against my neck. I look to my Mom and she already has her bags packed.

“I figured she’d want to go home with you,” she explains. “So, how was your date?”

“Was I the only one who didn’t know I had a date tonight?”

She smiles and I know the answer. “Why do you think I was so eager to keep Jas tonight?”

I roll my eyes and shift Jasmine higher on my hip and realize she’s already half asleep. “I’d better get her home. I’ll tell you later.” We say our goodbyes and Jasmine and I head home.

TBC……….

You probably have already figured out who Jasmine's mother is. I'm giving out Dreamer insurance right now. I swear this will be fixed by the end of the story. I won't torture you guys too much.

Tiffany

Jadeling wrote:You know I just thought of another possibility which would make me happy, but I doubt you're going in this direction, but Serena really is Liz, but Liz had to change her name because she wants to forget something in her past as well. Just a thought.

I had a lot of people pming me about this same theory. But Liz is Liz and Serena is Serena. They aren't related at all and they don't know each other. But don't worry, Liz will be here soon.

A/N: I posted this right before the site shut down. And I had to re-write because I forgot to save it. If you read this part before the site went down, then it's almost exactly the same as the part that got deleted.

Thanks for the feedback guys. And I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 5

I awake to the sound of my bedroom door opening and the patter of little feet running against the floor. I feel a slight draft as the sheets are lifted and a small body wiggles itself underneath my arm.

“Daddy,” Jasmine whispers loudly as she shakes my shoulder. “Daddy, it time ta get up now.”

I nuzzle deeper into my pillow as I cling onto the last remnants of sleep. “What are you doing up Jas?” I ask even as I tighten my arm around her. I’m almost asleep when she places a hand on either side of my face and squeezes so that my lips are puckered out.

“Daddy, it time ta go to da carval now,” she whines when she realizes I’m drifting off again.

I raise my head and glance at the clock beside my bed. I snuggle deeper into my pillow when I realize the time. “Pumpkin it’s four in the morning. We’re not leaving until nine,” I wearily explain.

Her lip quivers and I melt as usual. I swear if she asked me to fly to the moon I’d try my hardest to do so right now. “But we can go now so dat we can be first in da lines,” she suggests, her eyes wide with innocence.

“The carnival isn’t even open yet pumpkin. We wouldn’t be able to get in anyway.” She nods, accepting my answer and my heart breaks as the eagerness dims in her eyes. “It’s time to sleep now.”

“’K Daddy.”

I settle into the sheets with Jasmine cuddled against my chest. It doesn’t take long before I feel myself drifting off. But before I can fall into sleep, I feel two tiny hands on either side of my face, pushing my cheeks just like earlier. I don’t know why, but this is Jasmine’s way of waking me up. I open one sleepy eye to regard her. “May I help you?”

“Is it time ta wake up now?” she asks.

“It’s time to sleep now Jas.”

She pouts, her big amber eyes wide as she stares up at me. “But I too cited ta sleep.”

I sigh and prop myself up on my elbow. “Listen, why don’t we go back to sleep for a few more hours and when we wake up, we can have a big breakfast and then go to the carnival and get on all the rides. How does that sound?” I say, adding as much enthusiasm in my voice as I can at this time of the morning.

“”K. But you half ta pwomise not ta snore,” she says seriously.

I let out a sleepy chuckle. “What? I do not snore.”

She nods vigorously as I shake my head negatively. “Ya huh. Sometimes you sound like dis.” She makes a loud snorting noise and I’m appalled at this new revelation. “It weally loud an I half ta cover my ears.”

“Jas! I can’t believe you would say that about your father,” I tease as I tickle her.

“I sowry Daddy. But it only happens when you get weally tired.”

“I promise to be quiet for you pumpkin.” I rub her back in soothing circles, knowing that it will put her to sleep. It always had. “Just close your eyes and before you know it, it’ll be time to get up.”

“’K Daddy,” she says through a yawn. Moments later she’s asleep. My heart swells with love and fierce protection as I watch my angel sleep. She looks so much like her mother that it hurts to look at her sometimes. I swear Jasmine’s a little clone of her, from her long brown hair to her cute button nose. I thank God that she inherited her mother’s ears instead of mine. She’s perfect, just like I thought her mother was. I can’t help but feel a pang of anger every time I think of her. I haven’t had the heart to tell Jasmine that her mother abandoned us. That she left without a word of goodbye. It hurt my heart when Jasmine came to me and asked me why she didn’t have a mother like all the other kids her age. I couldn’t tell her the truth, not yet at least. I do want her to know who her mother is, but I guess I’m just waiting until she’s old enough to understand what happened.

I’m brought out of my thoughts by Jasmine’s soft snore. And I make a note to tease her about it later as I settle next to her and drift off.
********

I collapse onto the nearest bench as I clutch my stomach. After stupidly eating two hot dogs and a caramel apple, my so called friends forced me onto the Octopus, Chaos, The Screaming Dragon and the Whirlwind of Terror. Now I’m feeling incredibly nauseous while everyone else is eagerly pointing to the next ride they want to get on.

Before I know it, Jasmine hops into my lap, shoving cotton candy in front of my nose. “You wan some Daddy?” she asks as she waves it in front of me.

My stomach churns and I feel as if I could blow chucks any minute. “No thanks Jas. Where did you get that from anyway?”

She takes a huge bite before answering. “Uncle Alex bought it fo me.”

I turn to glare sternly at Alex as he smiles guiltily at me. “I know, I know. I’m spoiling her. But you didn’t see her face Max. She was so cute staring at the cotton candy stand with that cute little pout,” he explains defensively. It’s always the same excuse every time. But I know where he’s coming from. If they got a chance to see the things that Jasmine gets me to do, I’d never live it down. Just the other day she convinced me to play dress up. We even walked to the Wal-Mart down the street to buy some make-up. When she was finished with me, I was made up in red lip stick, with pink blush and fuchsia nails. I don’t even want to get started on what she did to my hair.

After I get my stomach settled, we start moving again. I’m watching Kyle, Tess and Jasmine on the carousel when Michael pulls me aside. “Hey Maxwell, I need to talk to you about something.” He’s fidgeting and I can only guess what he’s all worked up about. “I want to propose to Maria now and I want to do it in the Tunnel of Love. You know she likes that romantic crap.”

I’m surprised. Knowing Michael, I figured that he’d propose in a bar somewhere. In the year that I’ve known him, Michael has always been this big grumbling mass of… hair that only Maria could tame. I guess she hooked him pretty good.

“That’s sound great Michael. I know she’ll love it,” I say as I give him a manly pat on the back for support.

Just as we’re returning to the rest of the group, Jasmine comes running towards me. She bounces excitedly in front of me. “Did ya see me Daddy! I was widin da horsey!” she exclaims.

“I saw you pumpkin. Have fun?” I scoop her up onto my hip when she raises her arms for me to pick her up.

“Yeah an Auntie Tess is mad at Uncle Kyle cause he liked da little mermaid dat he was widin.”

“What?” I laugh. I look to Tess and sure enough she’s glaring at Kyle from the corner of her eye.

“What? I couldn’t help it. The thing had a nice rack,” Kyle explains when all eyes turn on him.

“Hello. Impressionable three year old here,” I say as I cover Jasmine’s ears.

“Which one was it?” Michael asks as he scans the moving ride for the stacked mermaid. “Ohhh. Those are nice. Could you imagine if those were real?” He and Kyle move to slap hands, but Michael stops mid slap when he catches Maria’s death glare. “I mean. Kyle, you pervert! Don’t you have something better to do than to get a hard on from a child’s ride?”

“Hey. There’s still a child present,” I yell once again.

“It okay Daddy. I alweady know what a pervert is,” Jasmine says innocently.

“What?” I’m sure my eyes are bugging out of my head by now.

She points a little finger towards Alex. “Uncle Alex tol…” She’s cut off when Alex jumps forward, covering her mouth with his hand.

“That’s okay Jas, you don’t have to tell him.”

“You are so dead,” I scowl. He cowers away, right into Isabel’s hand as she reaches up to smack him on his head. “What did he tell you?” I ask Jasmine.

“He said dat a pervert is a man dat likes woman and likes ta get nailed. Daddy what’s nailed?”

Alex yelps as Isabel strikes him again. “What’s the matter with you?” she scolds.

He stumbles a moments before actually forcing some words. “I wasn’t… I didn’t… Kyle and I…”

Kyle throws his hands up in surrender. “Hey! Don’t put my name in this. I wasn’t the one who told her.”

Tess stalks up to him and even though she was about a foot shorter than her, he looks intimidated. “You were there and you didn’t stop him!?”

His mouth opens and closes as he tries to come up with an excuse. I figure he can’t come up with a plausible one when he swings an accusing finger towards Michael. “He was there too. He even helped explain what it was,” Kyle tattles.

“Shut it Valenti,” Michael snaps.

“Hey, if I’m going down I’m taking you with me.”

Maria raises her hand a cracks it across the back of Michael’s head. “I can’t believe you Michael!” I smile as Maria, Isabel and Tess tear into their respective other halves.

“Daddy is Uncle Alex an Uncle Mike an Uncle Kyle in twouble?”

“Yes pumpkin.”

“Why?”

I sigh. “Because they’re idiots,” I answer simply. “They shouldn’t have told you that word.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re a little munchkin and I don’t want you knowing words like until you turn forty-five and I let you start dating,” I say seriously.

“’K Daddy.” I smile and kiss her cheek before turning my attention back to my arguing friends. I slyly suggest that the couples head over to the Tunnel of Love, winking surreptitiously at Michael. The girls half heartedly agree while the guys see this as a chance to get out of the dog house. I watch wistfully as Michael and Maria are escorted into their boat before they sail inside the tunnel. Kyle and Tess follow them and I can’t help but feel envious. I know what’s going to happen in there. Michael will propose to Maria and no matter how angry she is with him, she’ll say yes and they’ll live the life I so desperately want. Alex and Isabel opted to skip out, still trying to put up the façade that they aren’t involved. They head off towards the restrooms and I’m sure that something more than steering clear of the dirty toilet seat will be happening.

“Daddy, I dirsty,” Jasmine says, breaking my string of thoughts.

“Thirsty,” I correct.

She blinks in confusion before answering. “Dats what I say, dirsty.”

I laugh as I hoist her higher on my hip. “You want a slurpy?” She nods and begins to babble on about what kind she wants as we walk towards the concession stand. “Tell the nice lady what you want,” I tell her once we finally make it to the front of the line.

“I wanna cocolate ice cweam.”

I frown. “I thought you wanted a slurpy?”

She turns in my arms and says very seriously, “Auntie Wia say dat a woman has a wight ta change her mind.”

The lady at the stand laughs. “You tell’em sweetie. What size you do want?”

“Small,” I answer before Jasmine has time to order the largest thing they could make.

“Thank you Daddy.”

“You’re welcome. Can I have a kiss?” She presses her lips to my cheek and then blows hard, giving me a wet raspberry. “My turn.” I do the same to her only I press my lips to her neck. She squirms as she giggles in my arms.

“You’re good with her.” I whirl around to find the person who that familiar voice belongs to. “Hi Max.”

“Hey Serena.” My heart is pounding in my chest and I’m sure she can hear it. “What are you doing here?” I inwardly applaud myself for sounding so calm.

“My cousin, Kirk, is visiting and he wanted to come,” she says as she gestures over to a man who’s standing in the same line we just left. “He’s a sucker for these kinds of things.” Her gaze travels from me to the little girl in my arms who is currently too occupied with her ice cream to know what’s going on.

“Oh um… Serena, this is my daughter Jasmine and Jas, this is my girl… friend Serena.” I silently curse myself for my slip when I see Serena’s smirk. I feel a deep blush rising and I’m just about to say something when I hear a loud scream followed by splashing water. I just knew who that was and I hurry over to the Tunnel of Love just in time to see Maria and Michael wading in the murky water, their overturned boat floating behind them.

“Max!! Oh my God!” Maria screeches as she swipes at the man who is trying to help her out of the water. When she finally gets on dry ground, she breaks in a dead run towards me. “Max! Michael proposed. I’m getting married!!” she exclaims as she waves her ring clad finger in front of my face.

“What happened?” Alex questions as he and Isabel return. I roll my eyes at his appearance. His hair is rumpled and there are teeth marks along his neck and jaw. Isabel looks just as bad. Can these two be any more obvious?

“Get attacked by a horny vampire Alex?” I smirk.

“Shut it Evans,” he barks, knowing that he’d been caught.

“What happened?” I ask Michael.

“I ask the chick to marry me and first she’s crying and then she’s screaming her head off. And the next thing I know, she throws herself at me and we go sailing over the side of the boat. You try and be romantic and this is the thanks you get.” He scowls and tries his hardest to be mad, but we all know that he’s happy and relieved she said yes.

The park managers give Maria and Michael free sweat pants and shirts to put on and we continue our day with Serena and Kirk joining our group.

“Last ride of the night guys,” Tess calls as we head over to the Ferris Wheel.

“Kirk please get on,” I hear Serena talking with Kirk a few feet behind me. I feel bad for eavesdropping, but I continue to do it anyway.

“I don’t want to Rena. Besides, I think you’ll have more fun if you go up with Max. I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at him… and his daughter and I think you have a crush,” he teases in a sing song tone.

My heart is flying when I hear her telling him to stop, but she doesn’t deny it. There’s no need for me to continue listening as I feel elated. “Max?” I jump at the sound of her voice behind me. And I force myself to calm down before I turn and face her. I’ve noticed that she twirls a strand of her curls around her finger when she gets nervous. I think it’s cute. “Is it okay if I ride up with you guys. Kirk doesn’t want to get on.”

“Yay!! Can see Daddy?” Jasmine exclaims as she pulls on my hand. The few hours that Jasmine has known Serena, they’ve gotten along great. It warmed my heart to see them working together even though they were crashing into me during bumper cars.

I simply nod, but I’m beaming inside. We reach the front of the line and we climb in, with Jasmine settled between us. “Daddy, we can see the whole carval lighted up!” she cries out.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” I whisper, but I’m not looking at the carnival below us. Instead, my gaze is looked on the beautiful woman next to me. I causally throw my arm across the back of our seat and before I know it, I’m crashing my lips against Serena’s. She sighs against my mouth as she responds and I’m about to deepen the kiss when I feel something pushing against my chest.

“Daddy! You smushing me!!” Jasmine yells from in between us. “No kissing in front of da kid. It ‘posed to be done at home or in da potty like Uncle Alex and Auntie Izzy.” she says seriously.

I look at Serena and I see her choking back a laugh. “Jas, where’d you hear that?”

“Uncle Kyle tolded it ta Uncle Mike an Auntie Wia.” I sigh, making a mental note to kill Kyle for not watching what he says around my child.

TBC………

Liz is here!! Well, she makes a guest appearance anyway. Enjoy!

Chapter 6

“Aw hell.” I gaze through the windows of the M&M café and I consider the idea of running in the opposite direction. I take in the huge ‘End of the Year’ and ‘Happy Engagement’ banners strung across the wall and the many balloons that have been scattered across the room. Maria and Michael… Well actually just Maria decided that it would be a good idea to close the café for a day and throw an end of the school year/engagement party. I just know that Isabel is in there, waiting to have me run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

“Come on Max,” Serena says as she tugs on my hand. It’s been a week since that night at the carnival and since then, Serena and I have gotten together whenever we could. Most of the time we’d just hang out at my place, where Serena and Jasmine would join forces and somehow always convince me to put on makeup and act like an idiot. But try as I might, I can’t help but love every second of it. Not that I like to dress up like a woman or anything. I just… God I’ve let these two corrupt my life.

“Auntie Wia say dat I could help her cook cookies!” Jasmine exclaims as we walk through the doors.

“That’s good pum….”

“MAX!” I groan as I see a rush of women coming at me all at once. I begin to pull Serena back through the front doors when Maria takes Jasmine out of my arms as Tess rips Serena from my side before disappearing back into the kitchen, leaving me face to face with Isabel.

“Max, I need you to run to the store and pick up a few things for me,” she says as she shoves a list into my hand.

My jaw drops as I stare at the “few things” she wants me to get. “Isabel, there’s like two million things on here,” I gripe.

She ignores me and turns towards the booth where Michael, Alex and Kyle are seated. “Hey guys, you’re going to the store with Max.” She snaps her fingers and magically, they appear next to me. I really need to learn how to do that. “Now I expect you guys back in thirty minutes. And no goofing off,” she says as she points directly to Alex and Kyle.

“Yes mom,” we all mumble.

She eyes us all before swiveling around and joining the rest of the girls in the kitchen. “Why do we let these women control us?” Kyle asks as we obediently file out of the café.

Alex raises his eyebrows, as he throws his arm around Kyle’s shoulders. “I want you to think back. Back to the 90’s," he starts. "Do you recall hearing about that woman that cut off her husband’s dick?” Kyle winces and Alex continues. “I’d rather kiss the ground they walk on than to have some woman chop off my ding-a-ling. I don’t know about you, but I’m very attached to my mini-me,” he says as he grabs his crotch.

Kyle shrugs out of Alex’s hold and steps away from him. “Never do that while you’re touching me. Thank you.”

I snort out a laugh as Alex blows Kyle a kiss and flutters his eyelashes. “I didn’t know you swung that way Alex. How will you tell Isabel?” Michael quips.

“There is nothing going on between Isabel and I. We’re just good friends,” Alex explains as we all pile into my SUV.

“So you wouldn’t mind if I said that I wouldn’t mind a piece of that ass?” Michael says with an evil smirk.

“Not as long as you wouldn’t mind if I told Maria you said that,” Alex retorts. Michael’s smirk disappears and Alex smiles in triumph. “Yeah. I didn’t think you’d want her chasing you with a machete again.”

Everyone burst out laughing at the memory, except for Michael who’s looking a little lost. “Um, that wasn’t a dream?” I look through the rear view mirror to see Michael frozen in place.

“It was last Halloween and you decided to skip Maria’s Halloween party and get yourself wasted instead,” Kyle explained through his laughter. “When you finally came to the party, she went and got a plastic machete, splashed some ketchup on it and chased you around the café.”

I stop at a red light and lean over the steering wheel, clutching my stomach as I try and breathe and laugh at the same time.

“It’s too bad you don’t remember it all because it was pretty damn funny,” Kyle laughed. “I’ve never heard a guy scream that high in my life. That was classic.”

“Look who’s talking, Nurse Valenti,” Michael retorts as he reaches forward to punch the back of Kyle’s seat.

Oh boy, here we go. Kyle twists in his seat to glare back at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What straight guy becomes a nurse for a living? Men are supposed to do manly things like owning a gun shop, a barber shop or a…. steel factory.”

“Or screaming like a girl?” Kyle smirks as he rights himself in his seat.

“You know what Valenti….”

“Hey! Just cool it guys,” I say, acting as moderator as always. Michael grumbled something under his breath and punches the back of Kyle’s seat. “Hey Guerin, relax. You put a dint in the seat and you pay for it. And as far as I know, we’re all girls if we let them boss us around like they do.”

“Well that’s just fine with me cause if Maria’s mad than Mr. Bigglesworth doesn’t get any attention,” Michael comments.

“Mr. Bigglesworth? I’m not going to even say anything.” I’m really not interested in what type of attention Maria gives to Michael’s… southern region. That’s crossing the line for me.

“What? You haven’t named your Bitch Blaster?” Kyle asks. I shake my head, thinking that only Kyle would name his dick “Bitch Blaster.” But then again, Michael would too. And so would Alex. What wonderful friends I have.

Just as expected, Alex adds fuel to this inane conversation. “I personally prefer Mr. Blow pop myself. Suck it until you get to the cream inside.” I find myself laughing at the absurd choice of conversation as we continue to the store.

Thirty-five perverted, penis euphemisms later, we arrive at the store and we realize that we have no idea what half of this stuff on the list is. Who the hell knows what rolled oats are?

“Michael did you get the milk and the peanut butter?” I ask as I toss what I think is all-purpose flour into the shopping cart.

“I got the milk, but does she want creamy of chucky peanut butter?”

Alex grabs the list from my hands and studies it closely. “They need peanuts too so… get the chucky. You know, kill two birds with one stone. If they need nuts, they can pick them out of the peanut butter.”

“Sounds logical,” Kyle agrees.

Michael nods and I’m forced to agree, knowing that I’ll never win if I go against them.

“What’s gouda? Is that butter or cheese?” Alex asks. I sigh and shake my head. Sometimes I wonder how these people got into college.

“Butter,” Michael answers. He looks so serious and I’m really not sure if he’s joking or not.

Kyle snorts out a laugh. “Gouda is cheese you dimwit.”

“Oh,” Michael mumbles. “I can’t believe it’s not butter.” I laugh as we head over to the check out line.
*********

By some miracle, we return to the café on time. The girls immediately bum rush us, taking the bags out of ours hands then disappearing into the kitchen again. I frown when I only catch sight of Serena’s brown curls before she ducks through the door. While the rest of the guys head over to their normal booth, I quickly greet my parents and Maria and Isabel’s parents before I creep into the backroom. I stop at the entrance to the kitchen and I peek around the corner. Serena is mixing something while she’s talking to Tess. Maria and Isabel are over by the oven, their backs turned to Serena.

“Daddy.” I jump at the little voice and I turn to see Jasmine giggling quietly.

I blow out a shaky breath and turn to see if any one has noticed. When I see that everyone is still working, I kneel down in front of her. “Hey pumpkin. Where are you coming from?” I whisper as I smooth down her hair.

“Da potty,” she practically yells.

“Shhhh.” I peek around the corner and sigh in relief when no one’s noticed. “We have to be quiet or Auntie Maria and Auntie Izzy will make Daddy’s life miserable,” I tell her. She nods. “Why don’t you go and see if Uncle Kyle will give you a dollar.”

She smiles and leans in to give me a kiss on my cheek before scurrying off into the café. I smile and glance back into the kitchen. As soon as Tess moves to join Maria and Isabel, I sneak in, wrapping one around Serena’s waist while the other goes up to cover her mouth.

“Shhh,” I whisper as I pull her from the kitchen. I lead her into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

“Max, what are you doing?” she giggles as I lift her up on the sink and step in between her legs.

“Kidnapping you,” I murmur as I attach my lips to her neck. “You keep quiet… and nobody has gets hurt.”

The smell of roses makes me dizzy and my arms tighten around her waist as I move my lips to her ear. She sighs and wraps her arms around my neck, tilting her head, giving my greater access to her soft skin. I swirl my tongue around her beauty mark under her ear, nibbling and sucking, knowing I’m leaving a mark. She moans which only serves to fuel my desire for her. It’s overwhelming and it increases when I feel her arching into me, her breasts underneath her thin tank top, pressing against my chest.

“You know, if the girls find out what you’re doing, they’ll kill you,” she breathes.

I find her lips, kissing them once before I respond. “At least I’ll die a happy man.” She smiles before slanting her lips against mine. Her lips taste of strawberries and I can’t help but slide my tongue against her lips. She moans and it sends a jolt right to my groin. I know she feels the bulge in my pants because before I know it, she’s wrapping her legs around my waist, our centers meeting as she rocks on top of the sink.

My mind is clogged right now and all I’m aware of is hers lips against mine. She pulls away and I chase after her, meeting her lips again before trailing down her neck. It’s been a long time since I felt this way. I’m being suffocated by her beauty and my need to feel her and I never want this feeling to go away.

“Max,” she moans as she lets her head fall back, exposing more of her tender skin for me to explore. “Max… we um… we have to stop.” Her words barely register to me and it’s not until she starts pushing against my chest that I snap out of my sexual haze.

I’m panting as I regard her with a confused gaze. She smiles and I let my eyes travel to her neck to see the damage that I’ve done. My face heats up as I stare at the marks I left on her neck. “Sorry. I um… I kinda got out of control,” I say as I duck my head in embarrassment.

I’m about to pull away when she tightens her legs around my waist, bringing me closer so that she can whisper in my ear. “I’m not the only one with swollen lips.” I shiver at the feel of her breath puffing into my ear as she talks and that tightening in my groin happens again. This time, I’m successful at pulling away from her and I shuffle as far away from her as I can get in the small room.

“Just give some time to uh… calm down.” I close my eyes and I hear her giggle. It only worsens the situation. Think of clowns… red haired, huge glasses, non sexual clowns. I turn my back to her and stare at the wall… the white, non-sexual wall. I think it’s more of an off white or an egg shell white, but it doesn’t matter. I take a few deep, soothing breaths at a time and I manage to calm myself down enough to a presentable state.

“Better now,” she laughs once I turned around to face her.

“Not funny,” I growl playfully. I offer my hand for her to take and help her off the sink. “You know they’re going to know what we were doing in here,” I say.

She simply smiles and reaches up to her pony tail and pulls out the band. Her hair falls around her face in a wave of bouncy curls, effectively hiding the marks on her neck.

“Problem solved.” She laces her fingers through mine and leads me out of the bathroom. I give her a peck on her lips before letting her go back into the kitchen. I’m surprised that no one realized that we were missing.

“Hey Serena, where’d you go to?” I hear Maria asking.

“The bathroom,” she answers smoothly.

“Didn’t you have your hair in a pony tail?” I roll my eyes and head back into the café. The conversation stops and the guys all look at me with knowing smirks. I know I’ve been caught.

“Shut up.”
***********

Its past midnight and I sigh as I pull into the parking lot of my apartment complex. Isabel found out what Serena and I were doing in the bathroom, thanks to Alex’s big mouth, and made me do most of the cleaning. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I didn’t have to clean up after Michael and Alex, who had decided to start a food fight. After picking spaghetti noodles off of the ceiling, Isabel finally let me go. Serena, Jasmine and I drove around for awhile before stopping at the park. And after prying Jasmine off of the swings, I took Serena home.

I turn off the ignition and glance in the rear view mirror to see Jasmine sound asleep. I can’t help the smile that forms across my lips. I hop out of the car and feel a drop of rain on my forehead. I feel another and another as I venture around to the back door. I gently take Jasmine out of her car seat so as not to wake her and hoist her up on my hip, so that her head rests on my shoulder. I kiss her cheek and I make my way into the building just as the rain starts to pour. I hear a rumble of thunder but I hum a soft tune to drown out the noise, knowing that Jasmine hates thunder.

I press the button on the elevator and the doors open. I step in, shifting Jasmine on my hip so that I could push the 3 on the panel. The doors open at my floor and I step out with a bounce in my step, rounding the corner to my apartment door.

But the humming stops and my smile drops as I spot a figure sitting outside my door. I notice the person is sitting on a suitcase and my heart pounds in my chest as I get closer and I recognize the person sitting there. I stop in front of her and she looks up, her dark brown eyes darting from me to Jasmine. I instinctively pull Jasmine closer to my chest.

I must be dreaming.

She smiles uncertainly and I just stare. “Hi Max,” she says with a slight wave of her hand.

I stumble back, my world spinning as I stare in awe at Liz Parker. A sight I haven’t seen in three years.

TBC…….

Chapter 7

I fear I might pass out and I stumble backwards until my back hits against the wall opposite of my apartment door. I shake my head, making sure that she’s really here and not just some figure of my imagination. I’m so shocked to see her and I don’t know what to do. So many emotions are surging through me right now and it’s hard to differentiate them.

“What are you doing here?” It’s the only thing I can manage to choke out. I’m caught between anger and excitement, I want to cry and laugh at the same time. In just these few seconds, she evokes these feelings inside of me and I want to scream at her.

She steps forward and I refuse to look her in the eyes. “I’ve come back.” Her voice is as soft as I remembered it to be. Liz Parker had always had a certain effect on me. I never could explain it myself, but I always knew. I always knew that she was the one. She was the one I wanted to marry. She was my one true love.

But she shattered that the day she left me… left us. She crushed not only me but the rest of her family. And suddenly, I’m pissed off because I’m feeling these things when I should be devastatingly angry at her.

“You’ve come back for what?” I say, gaining my strength as my anger builds. Jasmine shifts in my arms as ball of thunder sounds. I hold her tighter.

Liz takes another step forward, her arms opening as if to embrace me, but I’m too angry to touch her and I pivot around her. She looks hurt and I feel a strange sense of satisfaction.

“I made a huge mistake Max. I want to be in Jasmine’s life… I want to be in yours.” She says it as if I’m supposed to jump for joy, but it only makes me angrier.

“Like hell you did!! It took you three fucking years to figure that out!!” I shout. I’m about to tell her off when I think better of it. I don’t think my neighbors would appreciate me screaming obscenities in the middle of the night. Instead, I turn around, take my key out of my pocket and open the door. I walk in, leaving the door cracked, letting her decide whether she wants to come in or not. I don’t wait to find out. I just make my way into Jasmine’s room.

I lay my daughter on her bed and take my sweet time changing her into her pajamas. Procrastination is a virtue. That’s my motto for tonight. I tuck her in, place her favorite bear beside her and kiss her goodnight. I even resort to throwing a few items on the floor just to pick them up again. I absolutely dread walking into that living room. I don’t want to see her. I don’t know what to say to her. But I find I have nothing else to do. I flick on Jasmine’s nightlight and slowly make my way out of the room.

I find Liz standing in front of the door, rocking on her heels like she always used to do when she was nervous. The lights dim and flicker as the thunder crackles. I see her jump, her arms wrapping around herself.

She hadn’t noticed me yet and I take the time to look her over. She had lost some weight. She had always been petite, but she looks almost gaunt. Her eyes – her once bright, expressive eyes that I could get lost in for hours – were now sunken in, highlighted by huge, dark circles. Her hair was cut shorter, it barely touched her shoulders and she had dyed it black which only emphasized her pale complexion. My heart twisted in sympathy. But the sympathy is short lived when I realize that she did this to herself. She didn’t have to leave. This was her fault.

I step into the room and her eyes shoot up to meet mine. She tucks a strand of her dark hair behind her ear and I almost snort aloud when I remember when I used to be the one to do that.

I motion to the couch, but she doesn’t move. She had ducked her head, probably seeing the look of disgust in my eyes. “Have a seat,” I say evenly. She moves to the couch and I follow, sitting across from her on the love seat. We were quiet. The only noise was the thunder and the rain pouring outside. The tension between us was thickening with every second and I couldn’t stand it.

“Jasmine’s turning out to be a really beautiful girl,” she unexpectedly starts, ending the deafening silence.

I bite back a smart retort and instead ask, “Why did you come back Liz? What do you want?”

That damn silence starts again and I swear even the thunder and the rain stops until she speaks minutes later. “I… I want my life back. I made a mistake Max. I want to see my daughter grow up. I want to be with you… I want my family back.”

“So, I’m supposed to just drop everything and come crawling back to you?!? You left Liz!! You packed your bags and left the fucking hospital without even a goodbye!!” I was on my feet, pacing the length of the couch. I needed to do something or I would lose it.

“I know and I’m sorry. But I was scared. I…”

“So was I!! We were kids having a kid for fucks sake!! You thought it was all happy times for me!? I asked you Liz. I asked you so many times what was wrong and you chose to keep it to yourself!! You left your child Liz…”

“Don’t you think I know that I fucked up!!? I know it okay!” She leans forward to hold her face in her hands. “I wanted to come back so many times. But I knew you’d hate me for what I did so I kept running.” I hear the tears in her voice but I’m too pissed to care. I thought I buried all of this a long time ago, but the moment I saw her, it all came back with a vengeance.

“We were supposed to be a family Liz, we were supposed to… to move into our new place,” I whisper as I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “We… we were supposed to get married. You were everything to me… you were the love of my life, my best friend and you… you left me. You left our daughter.” I feel the tears stinging the back of my eyes and I blink them away. Besides her abandoning Jasmine, it always hurt to think that she left because she never wanted to marry me. I never understood how we could be so happy one day and then to turn around and have everything going straight to hell the next.

Liz comes to stand in front of me, tears streaking down her pale face. I want things to go back to what they were. I want her to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be okay. It would be so easy to just take her into my arms and forget everything that happened. But I can’t do it. I’m in a relationship now and I know it wouldn’t work. Things would never be the same.

“Max, please just hear me out. I know I hurt you and everyone else for leaving, but I thought what I was doing was for the best.”

“That’s bullshit!!” I snort.

“Please Max, just let me explain,” she whimpers. I watch her through narrowed eyes before I sink into the nearest chair and wait for her to begin. “When I first found out I was pregnant, I was terrified. I didn’t know what to do… so I did what I always did when I was in trouble… I ran to you. You told me that everything was going to be alright and I believed you. But I would still get paranoid sometimes thinking that I wouldn’t be good enough for our baby… and for you. I’d brush it off because I wanted to show you I could do it. But leading up to Jasmine’s birth, that fear that I was hiding just… I couldn’t hold it in. I didn’t think I could be a good mother to Jasmine and give her what she needed. My parents were still angry with me for getting pregnant and pressuring me to find out what I was going to do with my life, I didn’t get into college and suddenly I wasn’t the Liz Parker that I knew anymore. I was this whole other different person that I didn’t recognize. I…”

“Wait a second,” I interrupt. “What do you mean you didn’t get into college? You said you got into UNM.” She ducks her head, trying to hide her tears. But I see them as they fall faster, collecting at her mouth before she licks them away.

“I didn’t get in,” she sobs. “I guess I wasn’t perfect enough.” She snorts out a humorless laugh through her tears. “I just told everyone that I did. Everyone was already so disappointed in me, I couldn’t tell you guys I didn’t get into college. And I couldn’t handle bringing another life into the world and taking care of it when I was confused myself.”

“Liz, why didn’t you come to me? I’ve always been there for you, why didn’t you tell me. God Liz… I wanted to marry you. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Why couldn’t you come to me?” I cry. I let my tears roll free, not caring anymore. “I waited for you every night after you left. I just knew you’d climb through my window and everything would be okay again. Why didn’t you come back?” My tears are blinding me and I swipe at them only to have more take their place. I can make out Liz’s blurry figure walking towards me. She drops before me, burying her head in my lap.

“I’m so sorry Max. Please forgive me, please… I never meant to hurt you. I just needed to get away. I needed time. Can we go back to what we had? Please… I love you.”

I jerk away from her, moving to the far side of the room. “No Liz. I can’t… I have a different life now! You can’t expect me to just drop everything and come back to you! It doesn’t work that way! I… I have a girlfriend now! I can’t trust that you won’t leave again. And I don’t… I … I don’t love you… anymore.” My heart crumbles into millions of pieces and I never thought it was possible for me to fall out of love with Liz. I never knew there could be a day where I didn’t feel that certain way about her. And I didn’t. I didn’t love her anymore. I wasn’t supposed to. I have a girlfriend now and I can’t be in love with another woman. I don’t dare turn my eyes to Liz. I knew what I would find there and I can’t handle that right now. I feel empty when I shouldn’t. It doesn’t make sense.

I had forgotten it was raining until a streak of lightening flashes outside of the window. Thunder booms and the lights go out.

“Daddy!!” Jasmine screams from the other room.

“I’m coming Jas!” I hear her hysterical crying and I quickly wipe my eyes and feel my way into the kitchen. I pull out a flashlight from a drawer, flick it on and make my way into her room.

“Jas?” I enter the pitch blackness of her room and I swiftly move to her bed. “I’m here pumpkin, I’m here,” I tell her as she curls into my arms.

She sniffles and buries her face in my chest. “Dere was a monster Daddy,” she cries. “It was big and loud and it went BOOM!!”

“It’s okay pumpkin. It was just the thunder and lightening. You’re safe,” I whisper to her. Another round of thunder and lightening sounds and Jasmine is practically crawling on top of my head. “It’s okay Jas.”

“I scared Daddy,” she whimpers.

I hold her close, rocking her soothingly. “I’m not going to let anything hurt you.”

“Pwomise?” she sniffles, turning big amber eyes towards me.

I wipe away her tears and kiss her nose. “Promise. Here, you can hold the flashlight and whenever you think you see something that scares you, the light will scare it away.” I hand her the flashlight and she relaxes a little.

“Are monsters fwaid of da light?” she asks as she shines the beam directly into my eyes. I squint and gently push the light away.

“Yeah. See, the light has magical powers and when it hits the monsters, it makes them disappear. So you don’t have to be afraid of them. They see you have this light and they go running in the opposite direction.”

She wiggles the flashlight around causing the beam to crazily bounce around the room. “Take dat you mean monsters,” she growls as she shines the light in a corner of the room.

I hear a noise… a sigh outside of Jasmine’s door. I see shadow moving, followed by the soft thump of retreating steps. I had forgotten all about Liz in the mist of trying to calm Jasmine down. I hear the front door opening and I wait for what seemed like hours before it closes. A bolt of lightening cackles outside and I wonder if she has a place to go. She had brought her suitcase up with her so I’m starting to think that she didn’t even have her car.

I stand, lifting Jasmine onto my hip and make my way into the living room. I open the front door to find Liz no where in sight.

Panic overwhelms me and I’m confused as to why. This should be a good thing that she’s gone. She was just going to leave without saying goodbye again and it’s best that she’s out of my life and Jasmine’s for good. She should just move on… right? I shouldn’t even care. She hurt me, she hurt her family. I don’t care for her.

I hear the door to the stairs close down the hall and my feet hurriedly move toward it on their own accord. The elevator must be out and I couldn’t image her carrying that huge suitcase down three flights of stairs. I catch her just as she starts down the first stair and she pauses mid step, her eyes bouncing from me to Jasmine.

“I… I um didn’t want to intrude… so I thought it’d be best if I just left,” she explains somewhat breathlessly. I know she’s trying not to, but her eyes keep wandering back to Jasmine and each time she does, her eyes glisten with unshed tears.

I fix my gaze on the curious little girl in my arms. “Um… Jas this is… um a friend of mine Liz Parker. Liz this is Jasmine,” I introduce. I’m a little wary of telling Jasmine who Liz really is. I don’t know if she’s planning on leaving abruptly like she did years ago and I want to spare my daughter’s feelings.

As expected, Jasmine hides her face in my neck and whispers a soft, shy “Hi.” Liz’s greeting is just as soft.

“Where are you staying?” I ask Liz. She shakes her head slightly before lowering her eyes. I get the hint. She was just going to wander out in the rain with no place to go.

“You’ll catch your death if you go out there right now. You can stay in the guest room.” I look to Jasmine and she smiles softly. I turn around, not waiting for the protest that I know will come. I open the door and hold it so that she can pull her suitcase through. She hesitates, seemingly weighing out her options. I figure she realizes that my offer weighs out the option to sleep in the rain when she lugs the suitcase through the door and follows me back to the apartment.

We settle down for the night, with Jasmine sleeping in my room because of the storm. I try not to think about what the morning will bring and concentrate on making it through the night.

TBC…….

I'm posting this a day early cause I'm not sure if I'm going to be around long enough to do so tomorrow. So hope you enjoy!!

Chapter 8

The sun seems extra bright this morning as its rays stream through the window and hit my face, forcing me out of a restless sleep. I burrow under the sheets and try to capture the last remnant of sleep. But it’s too late now and I’m wide awake. I peek out from under to sheets and see the clock beside my bed blinking 12 o’clock. The power is back and I reluctantly sit up.

The room swims before me as a heavy wave of exhaustion washes over me. It was impossible for me to sleep knowing that Liz was just down the hall. At one point, I actually got out of bed and sat next to the guest room door just to hear her breathing. I hate that she still affects me this way and I hate that I actually cared enough to let her stay here. I should have kicked her out, making her stay in the rain with no place to go. I should have made her hurt like she hurt me. But I didn’t, because of that damned soft heart of mine and the fact that I do care for her.

So does that mean that I still love her? It’s the question that’s been pestering me all night. I don’t feel it anymore. That… that whatever it was… that strong, overpowering, blinding, and sometimes consuming feeling that I always got when she was near or if I even thought of her is gone. And I’m angry because she took that feeling away. She put this pain in my heart that I thought was buried and gone a long time ago. But I’m still able to care for her.

I snap out of my trance and grab my watch off of the nightstand. It’s only nine and I thank God it’s Saturday and I don’t have to go into work. I gaze down at my daughter who is sleeping peacefully next to me. I smooth back her hair and place a gentle kiss on her forehead before throwing back the sheets, grabbing some clothes out of my drawer and heading towards the bathroom.

I pass by the guest room on my way, but I refuse to even look at the door. If I do, I might be tempted to do something stupid; like actually knocking, forcing me to enter and see her. I feel like I’m just walking in a dream right now. Liz couldn’t be back after three years. Three years of wondering where she was. Three years of wondering if she was happy with someone else. Three years of not knowing whether she was still alive or not and still, no matter what, caring about her.

I shake myself out of my thoughts and close myself into the bathroom. It didn’t matter now, because I’m with Serena. I want to see where this will take me and even if I wasn’t with her, I can’t trust Liz. How do I know if she won’t pick up and leave again? I don’t, and I’m not willing to put my heart out there like that again.

I feel another wave of exhaustion crash over me and I quickly strip and turn on the water in the tub. I adjust the water to my liking, turn on the shower spray and step in. The cold water shocks me awake and I wash up and climb out. After dressing, I proceeded back to my bedroom to see Jasmine sitting up in bed.

“Mornin’ Jas,” I greet as I move towards her.

"Hi Daddy!"

“You ready for your bath?” She nods vigorously, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “How do you wanna go, airplane or piggy back?”

She thinks for a moment, tapping her finger against her mouth before turning bright eyes towards me. “Airplane,” she answers. I nod and pick her up with one hand supporting her chest and the other supporting her legs.

“And Jasmine Airlines takes off, up and over the clouds.” She raises her arms in front of her and makes a shushing noise as I walk her around the room.

“Go plane go!” she giggles as I walk her into the hallway and then into the bathroom.

“Oh no, turbulence! Buckle your seatbelts passengers,” I say as I move my arms up and down to wiggle her. “Emergency landing!” I swing her up once more before setting her down on her feet.

“Do it again Daddy!!” she exclaims as she raises her arms, wanting me to pick her up.

“After your bath pumpkin,” I say as I ruffle her hair affectionately.

I brush my teeth and shave while Jasmine plays in the bath. After soaking my shirt with her splashing and many protests, I finally get her to let me wash her hair. She gets out and I help her get dressed and to brush her teeth. While she rushes off into the living room to watch Dora the Explorer, I change out of my wet shirt and then slowly inch myself towards the guest room.

I hesitate for a few moments before I finally work up the courage to knock on the door. I hear a slight rustling and my heart speeds up as the door knob turns and swings open.

I stand there staring at her for the longest time. I guess I figured that maybe she wouldn’t even still be here. That maybe last night was just a vivid nightmare that I had yet to awaken from. But as I stand here, I know that this is reality, she’s really here… looking at me in concern.

She looks better this morning. She’d regained a little color back into her complexion and the dark circles weren’t as nearly as bad as they were last night. It makes me wonder exactly what has she been through.

“Max, are you okay?” she asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Oh um… yeah. I was just wondering what you wanted for breakfast,” I mumble as I try and regain my composure.

She looks surprised for a moment as if she expected me to be ready to throw her out. “Oh, um… you don’t have to do that Max. I really appreciate you letting me stay here last night. I’ll just get out of your hair now.” She turns back into the room to grabs her things and shoves them into her suitcase.

I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Where are you going to go?”

“I um… I don’t know,” she stutters as she lowers her gaze. I suddenly wonder if she even went to visit Maria, Isabel or her parents yet, and I ask her that much.

“I did. I saw my parents and Isabel and they… they don’t want to have anything to do with me. I don’t know where Maria lives so I couldn’t see her.” She’s close to tears and my heart cries out for her even as it fills with resentment. “I don’t blame them. I’m pretty pissed off at myself for leaving… especially after seeing Jasmine,” she whispers.

“Well how did you find me?” I wonder aloud.

“Your parents.” She answers. “They were the only ones that were civil to me. I went there in hopes that you still lived with them. When I saw that you weren’t, I didn’t think that they would just give me your address so I kind of stole it out of their address book.” Her eyes are still lowered, but I see the tear drop from her eye.

I look back into the living and see Jasmine enthralled in Dora the Explorer before I come fully into the room and close the door behind me. “Liz, how did you get like this? What’s going on?” It was the only thing I could think to say. I’m so… just not in the mood for this right now, but I can’t leave her like this. I have to help her.

I silently curse that damned soft heart of mine.

Her few tears turn into sobs and I find myself desperately wanting to bring her into my arms and comfort her. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I always said to myself that if I ever saw Liz again, that if she ever shows up at my doorstep, then I’ll leave her out in the cold, just like she did me. But I’m doing the complete opposite and I can’t seem to stop myself.

Liz stumbles backward towards the bed and sits down, bringing her hands to cover her face. I’m frozen in place, caught between wanting to sooth her and feeling satisfied that she’s hurting just like I was… just like I am.

Her cries subside and I take a seat in a chair in the corner of the room. “I’m sorry,” she cries as she wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “I just… I don’t know what to do.”

I’m about to respond when I hear Jasmine singing along with the TV in the other room. “Look, we need to talk, but now is not the time. Why don’t you go and get cleaned up and come and have some breakfast. I’ll see if my neighbor, Mrs. Weaver, can keep Jasmine for awhile and then we’ll talk.” She nods her agreement and I get up to leave. But I turn back to her just as I put my hand on the knob. “There are towels in the hall closet and shampoo in the bathroom cabinet. The hair dryer broken so, I can’t help you in that department.” I keep my gaze away from her and I turn to open the door.

“Thank you Max,” I hear her murmur but I don’t stop to acknowledge it. I leave the room and close the door behind me, drawing in a deep breath to reel in my emotions before I go into the living room.

“Daddy, guess what!” Jasmine says excitedly as I come to sit next to her.

“What?”

“Guess,” she insists as she stands in my lap, placing one foot on each of my thighs. I grab her hands to keep her from falling as she leans back as far as her short arms will let her.

“Okay, umm you’re moving into a castle to become princess of the land?”

She laughs. “No, guess ‘gain.”

“Umm, Little Bo Peep lost her sheep again?”

“No,” she giggles. “Silly Daddy.”

“Well what?” I laugh.

“I can count ta tree in Spanish. See, uno, dos um..” She creases her brow in concentration as she tries to think of the next number. “tres. See, I can count in Spanish just like Dora. I smart.”

“Yes you are pumpkin. And you know what you get for being so smart?” She shakes her head and I continue. “You get a raspberry!” I press my lips against her cheek and blow, making her squirm in my arms as she laughs out loud. I swing her in the air before lifting up her shirt and giving her a long, wet raspberry on her stomach.

“Daddy!!” she screeches as I set her on top of my shoulders and rise to walk into the kitchen.

“What do you want for breakfast?”

“Um… seereal and naners and pancakes and waffles and toast and eggs and bacon and…”

I chuckle as I set her down in her seat. “You’re going to eat all of that?” I ask as I tickle her sides.

‘“K. How ‘bout pancakes and nanners and apple juice.”

“Bananas, pancakes and apple juice,” I clarify. “Coming right up miss.” I bow before her and I turn just in time to see Liz walking in, her hair still wet from her shower.

She offers an unsure smile and a soft “Hi” before I motion for her to take a seat at the table. “Morning Jasmine.”

“Hola Liz,” Jasmine greets happily.

Liz turns to me, her brow raised in question. “Um… She’s been watching Dora the Explorer,” I explain.

Liz takes a seat across from her. “So, you like Spanish Jasmine?”

Jasmine nods vigorously. “Daddy say dat I bilinger. Right Daddy!”

I smile at her enthusiasm and kiss her forehead as I place her apple juice in front of her. “That’s right. And it’s bilingual pumpkin,” I say with a chuckle.

Jasmine turns confused eyes towards me. “Dats what I say, bilinger.”

“Adoro español también. ¿Querría usted mí enseñarlo más?” Liz says.

“Hola and rojo,” Jasmine answers, having no idea what Liz just said.

“When did you learn to speak Spanish?” I ask Liz as I flip the pancakes.

She shrugs. “I had to do something while I was away,” she says, her guilt filled gaze lingering on mine a little longer than necessary.

“What did you say Liz?” Jasmine asks.

Liz turns back to Jasmine, a small smile adoring her features. “I said, “I love Spanish too. Would you like me to teach you more?””

I wait for the squeal that I know is coming. “Yay!! You will?” Jasmine hops from her seat and clings onto to my leg as she bounces animatedly. “Pwease Daddy can she teach me?!! Can she, can she, can she!?”

I lift her into my arms as I turn off the stove and swivel to face Liz. “You see what you’ve started?” I tease. Liz smiles shyly and I turn my attention towards the eager little girl in my arms. “It’s okay with me.”

“Yay!!” she shouts. I sit her back in her seat and ruffle her hair. “Liz, we halfing nanners and pancakes and apple juice. You can half some too, if ya want” Jasmine says. “Den we can start Spanish.”

Liz smiles, her eyes glistening as she stares at Jasmine. “Um… cereal, bacon, eggs and waffles are about the only things I know how to cook without burning up the place, so the breakfast menu is sorta limited,” I say, trying to lighten the tension just for Jasmine’s sake.

Liz lets out a small laugh and I chastise myself for relishing the sound that I haven’t heard in years. “Pancakes are fine,” she says.

I fix us all a plate. The conversation is kept light, mostly of Jasmine asking Liz questions. I see her taking a liking to Liz and I’m not sure whether I like that or not.

TBC…….

Chapter 9

After breakfast, I drop Jasmine off at Mrs. Weaver’s. She has a three year old daughter, Madison, and when she and Jasmine get together, it’s hard to separate them.

That’s much how Liz and I used to be. Back in high school and even in junior high, elementary and preschool, we were inseparable. We were best friends till the end. She knew everything about me and I knew everything about her. How many guys can say that they know where their girlfriend gets her scrunches or what type of feminine products she used? It made me cringe to know all of it, but at the same time I cherished it because no one else knew her so thoroughly, not even her sisters.

We were each other’s firsts. She was my first kiss, my first girlfriend and the first and only girl I’ve made love to. She was what I thought my first and only love, but just when I thought that she loved me just as much as I loved her, she leaves me. I couldn’t understand how she could just leave all that behind.

I return to the apartment and find Liz sitting in the living room, her gaze fixed blankly towards the wall. I clear my throat and her eyes bounce to mine.

“So um… we need to talk about this,” I say, gesturing between the two of us.

She waits until I take a seat before she begins. “Max I know you’re angry with me, and you have every right to be, but I just need you to understand. I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t think that I could give Jasmine what she needed at the time and I got scared. I was only eighteen and I had no idea what I was going to do with my future. But you were right. I should’ve come to you Max. I made a huge mistake and I just want to be back in Jasmine’s and… in your in life.”

I shake my head in immediate protest. “Liz I…”

“No wait,” she exclaims as she comes to kneel in front of me. “Please Max. Just give me another chance. I love you so much and I want to prove to you that I can do this. We’re soulmates Max. We always used to say that and I still believe it’s true. I just got a little off course… But if you give me another chance I swear to you Max, I’ll be better.” She’s crying and before I can stop myself, I’m grabbing her around her waist and pulling her into my lap, holding her close. She’s got a death like grip on me as she cries into my chest. But all I can do is stroke her hair, hating that I’m about to break her heart even more.

I wipe away her tears when her cries subside. “Liz, I really wish that things could be different. I wish that you hadn’t left. I wish that we had gotten married and we would be living together in our apartment, raising Jasmine together. But you obviously weren’t ready for that and you left. You left you’re newborn daughter.” Her tears return as she shakes her head against my chest. But I press forward. She needs to hear this and I need to say it. “I can’t just forget that that happened. You lied to me Liz… we never used to lie to each other. I can’t go back to that and I can’t trust you not to hurt me or Jasmine again.”

“Max, I know I screwed up and hurt you, but I can’t take it back and all I can give you is my word that I won’t do it again,” she cries. She looks straight into my eyes, but I have to look away. I can’t be with her again.

“You may give me your word Liz, but it’s not enough. I can’t trust you. How do I know you’re not going to suddenly disappear tomorrow? That’s why I didn’t tell Jasmine who you really were. I want to protect her from as much hurt that I can and if that’s from you, then so be it. I’m sorry Liz, but I can’t go back.” My heart breaks and I’m sure hers is crumbling too by the way she’s crying against me. But what am I supposed to do? For one, I’m in a relationship and it wouldn’t be fair if I just dumped Serena just because Liz suddenly decided to pop up. I’m not even sure if I sill feel for Liz like I used to. But Serena is a sure thing. I know I like her and she hasn’t broken my heart.

Even if I wasn’t with Serena, I don’t think I could still deal with this. Liz has hurt me too much and it’ll be a while before I can really get past it. I thought that I had put everything behind me, but I guess I was wrong.

Liz wipes her eyes with the back of her hand and turns her weary gaze to mine. “Max, have you really gotten over me to be in love with another woman? Have I really hurt you that much that I just shattered all the love you had for me? Max, I love you. I love you… just please say you love me back. Please…”

I don’t know how to answer, because I don’t know what I’m feeling. I don’t feel that love that I used to feel for her anymore and I’m still pissed at her for doing what she did. But here I am, letting her cry on my shoulder, and it hurts to think that she may leave again.

“Liz I…” I’m cut off by the phone ringing and I have half a mind to just ignore it. And I do, but it keeps ringing and I reach over to grab it.

“Hello?”

“Max, where were you last night? I was calling like every five seconds. Didn’t you get my messages?” Isabel exclaims over the line. Liz seems to know who I’m talking too because she climbs off of my lap and moves to the far end of the couch.

“We went to the park after we left the café. When I got home it was raining and I didn’t check the answering machine before the power went out,” I explain.

“Max, don’t freak out but…”

“I already know Isabel,” I sigh wearily.

“What? You know that Liz is back?” she shrieked.

I get up and wander into the kitchen to gain a little bit of privacy. “She’s here. She came over last night and I let her stay over.”

“You WHAT?” I cringed at the intensity in her voice and I know she’s beyond pissed. I hear her talking to someone in the background and I assume its Maria. “Max, I know how you used to get around Liz. Do not let her get to you. She left you Max, how can you just let her in after everything?”

“Isabel, it was storming last night. She didn’t have anywhere else to go. I couldn’t just throw her out into the street like you obviously did. I do have a heart you know?” I know I was being harsh, but I couldn’t help it. This whole situation was giving me a migraine and that hour of sleep I got last night was wearing off.

“I don’t trust her Max.”

“She’s your sister,” I retort. “She knows she made a mistake and she’s here to try and make things right.” Whoa! Where the hell did that come from? I’m defending her now? A few hours ago I was yelling at her about how much she screwed up and now I’m defending her? I’m really confused now.

“Max, stop making excuses for her,” she growls.

“I’m not making excuses for her. I’m just as pissed as you are, but I’m not going to just ignore her. She is the mother of my child,” I hiss, glancing into the living room.

“What did you tell Jasmine? Does she know?”

I shake my head. “No. I told her that Liz was just a friend. She’s over Mrs. Weaver’s while Liz and I talk.”

I hear her sighing and I know she’s fed up, but I’m not going to let her talk me out of this even though I don’t know what this is. “What’s there to talk about? She left the hospital the night she gave birth. No one knew where she went or if she was even still alive. And then three years later she just pops back up wanting us to just forgive and forget? What the hell is that?!”

“Look Isabel, I’m not going to do this with you right now. You need to talk to her. She’s your sister and you can’t just push her aside.”

“But that’s what she did to us,” she whispers.

I groan, knowing she’s about to cry. I end the conversation before anything else is said. “I’ll talk to you later Isabel. Bye.” I don’t wait for her reply and I hang up. Running a weary hand through my hair, I busy myself with making a pot of coffee.

I pour the freshly made coffee into two mugs. I add lots of cream and a dash of sugar into Liz’s. I remember that’s how she liked her coffee. Funny how I still know these things about Liz Parker, but I feel like she’s a completely different person.

I walk into the living room and hand Liz’s coffee to her. She smiles gratefully and I move to sit across from her on the recliner.

“They hate me, don’t they?” Liz murmurs. She sits her mug down on the coffee table and curls her legs under her. She looks so fragile and alone right now and I’m itching to comfort her. Liz was the only person that could make my heart soft as cotton regardless of whatever she did and it seems that nothing has changed.

“They don’t hate you, Liz. They’re just hurt. And so am I. It’s going to take some time for us all to heal and start trusting you again. You can’t just jump back into my life and then expect me to want to start our relationship again. As I said, I wish things were different, but you did this Liz.”

She nods, her features forlorn. “I understand. I just want my family back… I want you back. I guess I already knew that things wouldn’t be so easy that I could just waltz back into your life and be accepted with open arms. But… is there any chance… that you could forgive me one day? That maybe… you and I… we could go back to what we had?” she asks hopefully.

I shake my head sadly. “I don’t know Liz. I’m involved with someone and I don’t know where that’s going to go.”

She nods, accepting my answer, but the pain is still etched in her features.

“So where have you been these last three years,” I ask. I’m not sure I really want to know, but maybe it’ll help hearing about how she’s regretted her decision all these years.

She sighs and pulls her legs up to he chest. “Well, when I first left, I just drove across the country for two years and I even came back to Roswell, but I was afraid to see everyone. So I left and I settled in California. I’ve always wanted to see the ocean and I thought that by doing something that I’ve always wanted, it would help get my head screwed on straight. After awhile I started running low on money, so I sold my car for some quick cash. But it didn’t last long and only by sheer luck did I meet up with a friend from high school who was vacationing in California at the time and he took me back to his home in Florida.”

I don’t know why it makes me sick to think that Liz stayed with another man while she was gone. I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t have these feelings.

“I stayed with him for about a year. But then I decided it was time to come home. I missed my family… I missed you and Jasmine. I just missed home. So I took the last money that I had and hopped on a bus and here I am.” She offers a small smile, but it doesn’t seem genuine. There’s something she’s not telling me, but it’s not really my business so I don’t push her.

I take a sip of my coffee and stare out the window before addressing her. “So, you don’t have any money?” She shakes her head and my heart breaks for her. “You can stay here, you know until you get on your feet,” I offer out of nowhere. I really have no idea what’s going on in my head right now. One minute I’m angry at her and then the next, I pity her and invite her into my home. She doesn’t have anywhere else to go with no money. I can’t just throw her out in the streets. I know Maria, Isabel and her parents are too angry to take her and Kyle and Alex probably wouldn’t appreciate me sending a stranger to live with either one of them.

“Max you don’t have to do this. I’ll find some way to survive.”

“Do you have somewhere else to go?” She shakes her head slightly and I get my answer. “You can stay here.” I don’t know why I choose to torture myself this way, but as usual, Liz has a certain affect on me and I could never turn her away. And that hurts, because somehow she did.

“Thank you, Max. I can get a job and help out with the rent,” she says, her eyes glowing. I nod and we sit in silence for awhile before she speaks up again. “Max, could you tell me about Jasmine? I mean… you know like when she first walked and her first word?”

“Well, she first crawled at eight months but she kind of walked and said her first words at the same time,” I smile wistfully, thinking about the first words Jasmine had uttered. “It was the day we moved into this apartment and Jas had just turned eleven months old. We were all in the living room taking a break from moving and I had a box of donuts in my lap. Somehow, Jas got out of her play pen, walked over to me and said ‘Donut dada, donut’” Liz moves to sit next to me, a small smile etched on her features. “She wouldn’t let anyone pick her up for awhile cause she wanted to walk by herself,” I laugh.

Liz smiles wistfully. “What’s her favorite color, her favorite thing to do? I want to know everything about her.”

My smile suddenly fades and I realize that she would know if she would have stuck around long enough to find out. She would’ve known that Jasmine’s favorite color is purple and her favorite show is Dora the Explorer. Liz would have known that she likes to come in my room in the morning and jump on my bed. She would have known everything, but she chose to leave and because of that, her own daughter is a stranger to her. And I tell her that much.

“Max, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what else to say,” she whispers, her eyes glittering with guilt.

“There’s not point in holding on to a grudge. What’s done is done and there’s nothing we can do to change that.” But that still doesn’t stop is from hurting.

She grabs her mug and takes a sip of her coffee. The corner of her mouth twitches with just a hint of a smile. “You remembered,” she says quietly.

“I’ll always remember.” I say before getting up and heading into my room.

TBC…….

See you guys next week.

Tiffany

Chapter 10

I breathe in the warm New Mexico air as I exit Roswell Memorial Hospital for my lunch break. I decide to walk to the M&M café today, just because I need to get rid of this restless feeling.

It’s been two days since Liz has popped back into my life and ever since then, I’ve been on edge. I’m waiting for the moment when I turn around and she’s gone again. It still doesn’t seem real that’s she sleeps in the room down the hall from me or that she’s that close after three years.

Her parents, Maria and Isabel still refuse to talk to her. I know they’re angry, but shouldn’t I be the one who’s treating her like shit. Why the hell am I giving her a nice, warm bed to sleep in with breakfast in the morning and dinner at night? Why can’t I refuse her like everyone else? Shouldn’t I be the angriest? She left our baby. She left me and everything we had. Why can’t I be completely cold hearted to her?

“Max?” I jump at the soft voice behind me and I swivel around to see Serena smiling cheerfully. It seems like she’s only bright thing in my life right now, besides Jasmine.

“Hey,” I greet her as I lean in to peck her soft lips. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugs. “I just thought I’d come by and surprise you and maybe take you out to lunch?” she says hopefully.

I smile as I lace my fingers with hers. “Well I’m surprised, but I’m about to meet up with the gang at the café, you know, it’s a ritual.” She looks disappointed and mumbles a soft “Oh.”

“Why don’t you join us? You’re part of the group now.” Her eyes lit up as she nods in agreement. I smile as I tug hand and we walk through the hospital parking lot and onto the sidewalk.

I haven’t quite got around to telling Serena about Liz yet. During the weekend, I did my best to avoid it. Serena and I only talked on the phone during the whole weekend and I didn’t think it would be appropriate for us to discuss something like this over the phone. I’m going to have to tell her eventually. She might notice if she came over and saw another woman living in the apartment. I just hope that when I do tell her, she doesn’t go running for the hills.

“Max? You okay?” she asks as we stop at a crosswalk. “You seem a little distant.”

Well, there was no time like the present to tell her. “I have to talk to you about something… and I’m afraid of how you’ll react,” I say cautiously.

She gives my hand a gently squeeze and says, “You can tell me anything. I’m a strong chick. I can handle it.” I smile. The traffic light turns red and we proceed across the street. There is a bench in front of Party Pizza Parlor and I lead Serena over to it.

“Okay… um… remember how I told you that Jas’s mother left us three years ago?” When I see her nod, I continue. “Well, Friday night, when we had that party at the café, she kinda came back…”

Her eyes grow wide and I prepared myself for the explosion. “What!! Max…”

I dip my head, knowing I screwed up by not telling her. “And she has no money or anything and her family is too pissed at her to take her in so… she’s staying with me… in my guest room.” I feel like a little boy about to get in trouble for throwing a baseball through the window. It’s not about whether she approves of the situation or not, because regardless of what anyone tells me, for some reason, I’m determined to be here to help Liz out. No matter how much she’s hurt me. She’s still the mother of my child. And hopefully we can salvage what is left of our friendship that I miss so much.

Serena’s hand is tense in mine and the last thing I want to do is hurt her. But she hasn’t pulled her hand away so that should be a good sign right? I really don’t know how she’s going to react, but I don’t want to lose her.

We sit in silence for awhile. I hear her take a deep breath before she lets it out slowly. I jump in surprise when she finally speaks. “I’m not mad if that’s what you’re thinking,” she assures me quietly.

“Good, cause I would have told you, but I thought that maybe it would’ve been better if I told you in person… you know? And I was trying to get used to having her back after three years so…” I trail off, figuring she gets the point. I breathe a sigh of relief with she squeezes my hand and I know she accepts it. She understands what’s going on and she doesn’t question me. I can’t explain how that makes me feel to have someone supporting me like she is. Liz used to do the same thing. But that was so long ago.

“So what’s going to happen to us? I don’t what you to have to choose,” she says uneasily.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m with you now Serena,” I assure her. I lean in and press my lips to hers. She smiles as I pull away and I pull her close to my chest.

“So, tell me about her. What’s she like?” she asks. “Tell me how one captures Max Evan’s heart.”

I can’t believe she really wants to know, but I tell her anyway. “Oh… um… well, Liz is … was my best friend since we were like three. The first time I meet her, we were in the same class at preschool and I knocked down her blocks by mistake, she’ll try and say I did it on purpose.” I smile thinking about the first time little Lizzie Parker first turned my world upside down. “She called me a boogerface and then I called her frog breath and we’ve been best friends ever since.”

She laughs. “So if I called you a booger face, would you become my best friend and fall madly in love with me?” she teases.

I laugh as she smiles up at me. “I guess it only works if you’re three years old. But there are other ways you can make it happen though,” I whisper huskily into her ear.

“Max! We’re on a public street for God sakes,” she scolds, but her laughter diminishes any sign of a rebuke. She pushes against me, but I only tighten my grip.

“Then let’s put on a show,” I reply, making her quiver and give in to me. She sags against me, her back to my chest as I nibble down her neck. Just as I loosen my grip, she jumps away. “Get back here woman!” I demand as she skirts out of my grasp, giggling as she starts down the street. I run to catch up with her and I wrap my arm around her shoulders when I do.

We get to the café a few minutes later and I wave to Maria who is behind the counter. She eyes Serena with raised eyebrows before looking my way again. She looks surprised to see her, I’m not sure why.

As usual nobody’s made it here yet and I guide Serena to my usual corner booth.

“Hey guys,” Maria greets brightly as she plops down across from us.

“Are you okay Maria?” I say as I narrow my eyes suspiciously. She’s grinning like a Cheshire cat and I’m a little disturbed by it right now. There’s either one of two things going with her right now. One, she’s gotten high off of those “cypress oils” again that she claims that calm her or two, she has some sort of demented plan brewing in her mind to make my life miserable as usual. I decide to go with the former.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” she says. Her tone is too cheerful and I know that something is up.

“What have you done?” I ask suspiciously. “Why are you grinning like that?”

“No reason. I’m just thinking that you too look cute together. You look cozy.” She turns to Serena. “You know, Max would drool all over himself whenever you would come in here.”

Serena blushes and I groan in mortification. “Maria!!”

“What? I’m just telling the truth. Once you came in the room, there was no grabbing his attention away from you,” she reveals.

“Maria, you can shut up now!” I mutter through gritted teeth.

“Awww. Max, that’s sweet,” Serena coos. I feel her hand on my thigh and I fight to control myself as I feel it inching higher up my leg. She throws me a mischievous smirk and I’m not sure I’m going to make it through this whole lunch without exploding.

Soon after I’ve calmed down, Serena excuses herself to go to the bathroom. “Good job Max,” Maria says as soon as Serena is out of sight.

“What?”

“I was afraid you’d leave a perfectly good girl for Liz.” Her once bright grin falls to a grimace and I know she’s upset with me for letting Liz stay with me. “I know how hopeless you used to get when you were around her and I don’t want you getting like that and falling in her trap.”

“Maria would you stop it!” I snap. “Liz is your sister and instead of acting like a bitch you should be trying to talk to her and working out whatever this thing is between you two.”

“This thing between us is the fact that she left her fiancée and her newborn baby and didn’t even bother to say a word of goodbye. She could’ve at least called once in the three years that she was gone, but she didn’t. No one even knew if she was still alive or not. How do you know that she’s not going to pick up and go again,” she rants in a fierce whisper so as not to disturb her other customers. “What do you want me to say? You of all people should be the most pissed off!”

“I never said that I wasn’t angry with her. But I’m not going to just let her roam the streets with no place to go.” I shoot back just as fiercely. “Is that what you want me to do?” She’s silent and I blow out a breath to calm myself. “Look Maria, I’m not trying to make excuses for her and my trust for her certainly hasn’t rebuilt itself over night, but I’m at least hearing her out and willing to at least be civil to her. Do you even know why she left?” When she shakes her head, I blow out a sigh of frustration. When she finds out Liz’s reasons for leaving, she’s going to be livid. And I really don’t want to be around when she finds out.

Just when I think this could get any more worse, Isabel walks into the café followed by Alex and Kyle. She takes one look at Maria and I before her face falls into a frown.

Fortunately, Kyle’s big mouth saves me from whatever string of disapprovals Isabel was about to throw my way. “Hey hot stuff,” Kyle says as Serena returns from the bathroom with Michael following behind her. “Wanna ditch this pop stand and head to my place?” he croons as he takes her into his arms and kisses her cheek.

“Hey Valenti, you like your face right?”

Kyle turns to me and nods undoubtedly. “My manly features with a mix boyish good looks please me. Why?”

“Well keep your hands off my woman and I won’t tear it off,” I snarl as I pull Serena down next to me and throw a possessive arm around her shoulders.

“Ha! Manly features my ass,” Michael snickers.

Kyle throws him a fierce glare. “Can it Guerin. I’ll take your ass down and you know I can,” Kyle retorts heatedly.

“I’d like to see you try,” Michael challenges. Soon, both men are staring the other down, and loads of testosterone tension builds between them. I swear I don’t know what it is between these two. One minute they’re the best of friends then the next, they’re at each other’s throat. I roll my eyes heavenward when Michael challenges Kyle to an arm wrestling match. The other customers in the café turn our way as our little group is turned into a screaming fest as Michael and Kyle strain to defeat the other with Alex cheering them on, pounding his fists against the table in excitement. Maria is busy smacking Michael on his head, telling him how barbaric he’s acting while Isabel’s busy with Alex, chewing his head off for egging them on.

I sigh, sit back, happy that the attention has been diverted from my situation, and watch the madness with my girl snuggled against my chest. “Are they always like this?” Serena asks.

“Mostly. You’ll get used to it,” I say. Just as fast as all the yelling came, it stopped as the bell above the door jingles and a petite shadow falls over the booth. Everyone freezes in place and gapes at the woman standing before us.

I clear my throat, the first to snap out of the shock. “Hey Liz.”

She looks so nervous and alone and I can only image how she feels right now. Before she has the chance to speak her greeting, Maria storms out of the room, her heavy retreating steps up the stairs to her apartment reverberating throughout the café. Isabel throws a furious glare at Liz before she runs after Maria. I see the tears welling in Liz’s eyes before she too runs, headed for the exit.

I gesture for Serena to let me out of the booth and I quickly run after Liz. “Liz! Wait! Liz!” I call as I push open the doors. She stops when she hears me. I catch her rubbing her eyes before she turns to face me.

“I’m sorry Max. I just wanted to talk to them,” she explains, keeping her eyes trained on the sidewalk below her. “I don’t want them to hate me forever.”

I step closer and reach out to wipe away her tears. “I know Liz. I know…” I embrace her, and she weeps against my shoulder. Her cries are drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the busy streets. I’m fucking powerless against her. No matter how much she’s hurt me, no matter how angry I’m supposed to be at her, she always seems to pull something inside of me and I always come back.

“I’m sorry. I… You should get back to your lunch.” Before I can say anything else, she disappears among the crowd.
********

“Daddy!!!” Jasmine shouts as I enter my parents’ house. She charges full speed at me and I catch her and swing her into my arms.

“Hey pumpkin,” I greet before kissing her cheek. “Where are grandma and grandpa?”

“Right here,” Dad answers as he skids around the corner to meet us. He’s breathing heavily and I raise my eyebrows in amusement. “For someone so little, you sure can pick up some speed,” he tells Jasmine. He ruffles her hair playfully and makes his way into the living room.

“Daddy look what I made fo you! I finger painted,” she says as she hands me a piece of paper which had numerous prints of her tiny hands in different colors. “Grandpa say dat I da next Mikey Langelo,” she says excitedly.

“You sure are pumpkin! This is way too good to hang on the fringe. How about we get a frame and hang it up in the living room?”

Her face beams and she throws her arms around my neck. “Can we Daddy?”

“Of course. We can get one on the way home.”

“Yay!” she squeals.

“Hi honey,” Mom greets as she walks in from the kitchen. “Jas, go get your things sweetie.” I let Jasmine down, watching as she scurries down the hall before following my Mom into the living room. “So how are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” I answer as I flop down on the couch.

“And about your current situation…” Dad starts, giving me a curious look. “I’m guessing you haven’t told Jas that Liz is her mother yet.”

I shake my head, relieved that I have my parents to talk to about this and they won’t be biased and try and talk me out of any decisions that I make. “I’m afraid to. I don’t know if Liz is here to stay. I don’t trust her and I don’t want Jas getting hurt if Liz decides to leave again,” I explain.

“What does Liz have to say about it?” Mom asks.

I sigh and drag a hand down my face. “She’s told me that she’s here to stay, but…”

“You don’t believe her,” Dad finishes for me. I nod and he gives me a sympathetic smile. “Max, you have to tell Jas. She deserves to know her mother. And you can’t deprive Liz of that.”

“I know. I’ll tell her… I just need to find the right time,” I say dejectedly. I don’t want to, but it’s unfair to Liz and Jasmine. It’s not right to keep Jasmine from knowing that Liz is her mother and keeping Liz from hearing Jasmine call her “mom.”

“We know you’ve been dating someone that we haven’t seemed to have met yet…” Mom gives me the eye and I groan inwardly and surmount the urge to whine. “What are you doing about that?”

“Nothing. I’m confused to be honest. I mean I like Serena… a lot. We have fun together and I want to see where our relationship goes, but Liz and I have a child together and so much history. I don’t know which way to turn or which way is right,” I explain miserably.

“You’ll figure it out Max. Just always follow your heart,” Mom advises.

Better said than done I think. But there’s one thing I don’t understand; how am I supposed to follow my heart when even it’s confused?

TBC………

Until next week. Hope you enjoyed.

Tiffany