Author: sweetbrowneyes a.k.a Tiffany
Disclaimer: I still own nothing though I wish I did.
Rating: MATURE
Summary: Liz Parker is the loner in her school. She has never had any friends, her home life sucks and she has some trust issues. What happens a few weeks before high school graduation when her crush, Max Evans, starts to pursue her? Liz's POV
A/N: Special thanks to Tanya for giving me the courage and confidence to post this. Here goes nothing...
Lovely banner made by Traitor. Thanks!
<center>Chapter 1</center>
We walk into yet another crappy motel, cringing at the rank smell as our bags are tossed into the corner. He gives me a tender kiss and chucks the underside of my chin lightly, throwing me that smirk that makes my knees weak. He must know that my legs are now jelly because he sweeps me into his strong arms and carries me towards the bathroom.
I’m too caught up in the feel of his muscles moving underneath his shirt to concentrate of the stale smell until he deposits me on top of the counter. Despite the smell, the room actually looks like the cleanest of the many bathrooms I’ve seen in the week we’ve been on the road.
I watch him move as he bends over and turns on the faucets in the tub.
His ass is so juicy!!
I watch him leave the room only to return seconds later with my favorite bottle of bubble bath. The sweet scent of strawberries fills the air as he pours a nice amount into the tub.
Kneeling down before me and removes my shoes and socks. He kisses my ankles before running his hands up my legs and over my thighs as he rises to his feet. His large hands caress my smaller ones as he leans forward and takes my lips in a slow deliberate kiss. His warm breath tickling my skin, I giggle as he playfully nips at my neck.
“Max, I smell. I don’t think I taste too good right now,” I breathe.
“You taste perfect to me,” he murmurs gruffly. He leans in for one last kiss before lifting his hands, taking mine with them as my fingers were still intertwined with his. Letting my hands go, he trails his down the length of my arms and I try my hardest not to shiver with his touch. When he reaches the hem of my shirt, he pulls it over my head and carelessly tosses it aside. His eyes are fixed on my bra covered breasts and with skilled hands, he reaches around me and unsnaps the lacy material letting it drop between us as my breasts spill into his hands.
“You’re perfect,” he whispers softly. Although we haven’t made love yet, we’ve seen each other naked before, and every time we do, he says the same thing. It warms my heart to know that he cherishes me that much and it just makes me fall even harder for this man.
He grips my waist and sets me on my feet. In one smooth move, he removes my jeans and panties, leaving me exposed before him. Even though he’s seen all of me before, I can’t help but get nervous and I cross my arms in from of my chest.
Just as I expected, he tells me, “Don’t hide yourself Sugar.” He adds a reassuring kiss before undressing himself, turning off the water and stepping into the now filled tub. I climb in after him and settle into his chest.
Four weeks ago I never would have thought I’d be here right now. Four weeks ago, I was the weird girl that no one noticed. I trusted no one and I wanted to be on my own, though I was this scared little girl who knew nothing about making decisions on my own. But then Max came and quickly changed everything, showing me what it felt like to be loved. He makes me feel special and cherished and I’ve never felt that way before.
I snuggle into his chest and close my eyes as his arms wrap around my waist tightly. Never would I have thought that I could fall so quickly, but once again, Max came in a changed everything.
And it stared that night at the swings…
**************
<center>Three Weeks Earlier</center>
I’m Liz Parker and in a couple of weeks I’ll be a high school graduate.
It’s kind of weird. I’m really glad I’ll be leaving the hell that is high school. After four years of being the outsider, the girl that was always there but no one noticed, the loner; it’s over in less than a month. And I’ll be thrown out into the real world. I’ll no longer be protected by the halls of West Roswell High. I’ll become an adult, living and making decisions on my own. But as I think about it, accomplishing that is kind of hard since I have no plans for college. And I guess that’s the reason why I’m scared shitless. I know nothing about the world and what I want to do with my life. So I’m guessing that I’ll be stuck here in this hell hole for a little while longer. Fucking great.
I’m not a people person. And I don’t trust easily. Ever since my father left when I was two, I vowed that I would never get hurt like that again. I stuck to that vow and that’s the way I live my life. I never fit in. I was always the weird quiet girl. But that was fine with me. I was content to linger in the background. Why go where you’re not wanted...
I hear a loud bang coming from outside and close my journal and crawl across my bed to peer out the window.
Rolling my eyes at the scene before me, I lean out farther to get a better look. I spot my mother, stumbling up the driveway; her head leaning back as she lets out a drunken laugh. An unknown man on her arm helps her up the steps and I’m assuming he’s her boy toy for tonight.
I’m not really sure, but I think normal moms don’t have “boy toys” and normal girls don’t have to stay up all night and listen to her mom’s head board banging against the wall or her mother screaming out in pleasure. But I’m a little ignorant of this since my mom is basically the only person I ever talk to…er scream at.
I still don’t understand how she manages to run her own flower shop when she’s always drunk. I’m surprised her liver hasn’t fallen off by now.
I wait until they stagger through the front door and close it behind them before hiding my journal at the bottom of my underwear drawer, stuffing my feet into my shoes and grabbing a jacket. I turn out the lights and move over to the window. I crawl out onto the roof, climb onto the tree branch next to my window and then shimmy down the tree trunk.
I’m used to doing this so it’s not a problem for me. I stuff my hands in my pockets and start down the street, towards the park like I do every night.
My mom.
Sometimes I wonder if we could ever go a week with saying more that two words to each other. She’s never there. But that’s fine with me because I’m cool all by myself. Anyone would kill for a mother like her. A mother that was more interested in when she could have the house to herself, than what her daughter was doing. It leaves me with a lot of freedom to go and come as I please. If I skipped town, she probably wouldn’t notice. But that’s cool with me because I’m used to being invisible. And I’m content with staying that way.
I make it to the park, but I stop when I see that my usual swing is already taken by a hunched figure. Who else would be out this late at night; sitting on my swing nonetheless?
I creep closer. I step on a twig. It snaps. The figure’s head shoots up.
I’m too far away to see who it was. I step back, ready to flee. “Liz?”
Max? Damn it!! Just fucking great! The only person in the world that doesn’t seem to think that I’m not invisible just happens to be here. What’s he doing here?
I turn to walk away.
“Wait. Don’t go,” he calls out. I stop, unable to defy his soft plea.
Damn it!
“I have to. You’re sitting in my swing,” I say, working up the courage to turn and face him.
“Ah. She speaks,” he quips with a chuckle. I admonish myself when my knees go weak. “You know, all these years that we’ve been neighbors, we’ve barely talked. Why is that Parker?”
I don’t know what to say. I’ve always admired Max from afar. He has all the confidence and ability to speak his mind that I couldn’t even hope to have.
I hate him.
He’s making me admire him on purpose. Although we’ve never talked, he’s always sending me these sweet smiles and cute little winks. And whenever he’s about to walk through a door and someone’s behind him, guess what he does?
He holds it open for them!!
I know crazy right? What the hell is that? He’s a bastard. No other guy is like that from what I’ve observed.
And don’t even get me started on how well he treats his girlfriends. It’s disgusting.
Those bleached blond bitches!
I hate them.
I hate him!
Damn it!
Okay so I have a crush. Just a small one though. I can’t get attached to anyone. You depend on someone to keep your heart safe, but they turn around and crush it. It all leads to pain and I’d just rather not experience it.
“You’re still sitting in my swing,” is all I can think to say.
He laughs. My heart melts. I hate that he makes me feel this way. I hate him. He’s a bastard. I turn to leave when he calls out again. “I’ll give it back if you stay.”
I take him up on his offer even though I think he’s still a bastard. He moves over one swing while I take mine. My feet don’t quite reach the ground. Being short sucks.
We sit in silence. And I’m sure it’s a good twenty minutes before he gets up. I’m afraid he’s going to leave. I don’t want him to. But he stands behind me and grabs onto the chains of my swing and pulls me back.
I’m not that short that I can’t push my own self you bastard!
But damn does he smells good. I get a whiff of his spicy scent as I glide through the air and I close my eyes and let it overwhelm me.
He continues to push me, with only the squeak of the swing breaking the silence. And I know right then that Max Evans will make a huge impact in my life.
TBC…..?
Shall I continue?
Wow!! I'm feeling the pressure now. Thanks for the wonderful comments and I hope you enjoy!
<center>Chapter 2</center>
I watch him from my window as he gets ready to go out. The boy really needs to learn how to close his blinds. Damn him for having a nice body and making me spy on him from my bedroom window.
That bastard!
So it’s been two days since that night at the park and every night since then, I’ve gone back. Not to see Max that is, even though he was “coincidently” there every time I was. I go there every night and just because he was there at the same time I was doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like I sat here and waited until he left his house and then followed him and surprise, surprise! We “accidentally” bump into each other at the swings. No… I would never do that. I’m not a stalker.
I still haven't worked up the courage to speak to him though. Yeah, I can stalk him, but when given the chance, I can't even speak to him.
I turn my attention back to Max. He’s got his back to me and he’s bent over as if he’s picking up something. He has a nice ass, not to mention his powerful thighs. Damn! I wonder if he workouts.
His father enters his room and I see Max stiffening. I wonder what that’s about. Max glances this way and I quickly duck down.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Now he’s going to think I’m some crazy, weird girl who has nothing better to do than to sit here and watch him all night.
Even though I am, I don’t need him thinking that.
I sneak a peek through the window and I find that he’s gone.
That sneaky bastard!
He’s probably gone to hang out with his friends like a normal eighteen year old would on a Saturday night. I hear a car horn outside and I notice Max walking out of his front door before hopping into the car and speeding off into the night.
I sigh and turn away from the window and prepare myself for another lonely night at home.
*********
Okay, so sitting in a dark house all night is too boring even for me. It’s a little past midnight and I sneak pass my mother who’s passed out on the couch and make my way out the front door.
It’s warm out tonight, but there’s a nice breeze and I shove my hands into my back pockets as I walk down the street.
I find myself at the park. (Like there was any other place for me to go.) I kick off my shoes and settle myself on my swing. I don’t really know why this is my swing. I just always sit in this one when I come out here. I have officially dubbed the swing next to mine as the ‘Bastard Swing.’ That one is specifically reserved for Max.
I wish he were here right now.
NO!!
No I don’t. He should stay wherever he is. I didn’t mean that last wish.
Just as that last thought crosses my mind, I see a dark figure stumbling its way toward me. My first instinct is to run like the wind.
You know, I never could understand that saying, because how can you run like the wind? The wind doesn’t run. It just kind of breezes through at a fast pace. Whoever made up that saying must have been smoking something.
I snap myself out of my wind theory and again turn my gaze to the approaching figure. Oh God! What if he’s a rapist? What if he’s like one of those people who kidnaps other people and then uses their skin for his own use like from Silence of the Lambs!?
I wonder why the hell I’m still sitting in this freaking swing until the figure staggers under a lamp and I notice it’s Max.
A very hot looking Max.
A very drunk Max.
Damn he’s hot when he’s drunk. He’s totally plastered and he’s muttering curses, but hey, I take what I can get!
“Dere she iz! Da mostest boo-te-full girl in da world,” he slurs as he sways dangerously towards me. He takes a mouthful from his beer bottle I just noticed he was holding.
I look around me, making sure he was talking to me and not someone behind me. It happens a lot. Sure enough, there was no one and I feel my cheeks burning with his drunken statement.
“I waz hoping you’d be here,” he says dreamily as he steps even closer to me. Before I know it, he’s towering over me. Seriously, my knees are pressed against his thighs and I take that moment to quickly sniff him.
Yeah I’m weird, but what’s a world without us weirdoes.
He smells like liquor and some spicy cologne that sends my head spinning.
“Um… how ya doing?” His close proximity has my brain all mushy and it was all I could think to say. I have to lean all the way back to look up at him because of how close he is. I must have leaned back too far because I slide completely off the swing and into the sand.
“My Lizzie,” he clicks. “You’re so adorable,” he says in a sing song voice. He moves to the ‘Bastard Swing’ and mimics my move. He sits down, but slides off of it moments later, unable to keep his balance. Landing with a soft thump in the sand, he spills his liquor all over his shirt. He rolls over on his side, laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
He is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Um… Max, maybe you should get home,” I suggest as he starts to sing ‘You are so Beautiful’ in a drunken melody.
His words are slurred together and his voice is a little out of tune, but it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s like… well it’s like music to my ears.
“You are so boo-te-full…. to me!! Can’t you see!!!” he belts. Okay, maybe it’s not like music to my ears. I sit up and try and dust as much of the sand out of my hair as possible.
His eyes follow me as I grab his beer bottle and toss it in the trash a few feet away.
“You’re ever’ thing I hoped for… you’re ever thing I neeeeeeed!!”
“Max, come on. You have to get home.” I slide on my shoes and stand behind him so I can push him up.
“No.” He protests with a pout. “I don’t wanna go home.” He mumbles immaturely.
“Max…”
“No. We should run way together My Lizzie. Sometimes I wish I waz invisible. They’re always ‘pectin me ta be perfect, but I’m not.”
“Being invisible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” I mumble. I manage to get him on his feet and moving towards the park exit.
“You’re da only one I can be myself around even dough we’ve never talked much. I feel comportable ‘round you. Well you and my brother, but he’s dead now.”
Max’s twin brother, Josh died of cancer a couple of months ago. From what I could tell, Max took it pretty hard considering that they were so close.
“Let’s run way My Lizzie,” he declares passionately.
“Um… I can’t I have homework.” Okay, that wasn’t the best excuse, but he’s drunk, he wouldn’t notice.
“Kay.” He seems to forget it and I wonder what the hell he was talking about. I want to ask him, but he goes back to singing his song.
Once we finally make it to his house, he squirms as I dig around in his pockets for his keys, laughing loudly and uncontrollably. “Are you gettin’ fresh with me Lizzie?”
“Max stay still,” I say as I continue to search his pockets. I am not enjoying this by the way. I am in no way excited that my hand is now a few inches away from Max’s…
“Lizzie you’re tryin ta seduce me.”
“I’m not Max,” I say even though I’m starting to think that would be a good idea. We could just head into the bushes and no one would see us. “Where are your keys?”
He ignores me. “I think I might wanna be seduced.” I really don’t like the look he’s giving me.
I choose to take no notice of it. “Max, where are your keys?” I ask again.
He smirks. “Give me a kiss an I’ll tell you.” His eyes drop to my lips and he leans forward as if he’s going to kiss me. Sweet Jesus, my dreams are coming true.
But I don’t really get to experience my dream because before I know it, he’s falling off the porch and into the bushes.
My hands fly to my mouth and I just stand there, watching him stumble drunkenly to his knees. I’m thinking that I should probably help him; especially now that he’s vomiting into the dirt.
“There really should be a railing there,” he mumbles.
I help him to get on his feet and onto the porch. “Max, could you please tell me where your keys are?”
“I don’t have any. Mawia took dem cause she didn’t want me ta drink home drunk.”
Does that make sense? It takes me awhile before I figure out he’s trying to say drive home drunk.
Great. All that and he doesn’t even have the damn keys. “But deres a spare under da mat.” I roll my eyes and he smiles goofily. “Welcome to my humble abode Lizzie!”
“Shhh,” I hiss as I drag him through the door. “Which way is your room?” It’s too dark to see anything and I don’t want to turn on a light for fear of waking his parents.
“My Lizzie!! I like your hair.” He leans down, causing me to stumble sideways as he sniffs my hair. Okay, maybe I’m not the only crazy person who does that. “It’s so pretty and soft. I’ve always wanted to run my fingers through it,” he declares.
I don’t take much of what he’s saying to heart, even though my pulse is racing right now as he stares down at me with shining eyes with an emotion I can’t quite distinguish. I’ll just ignore that for right now.
He continues to babble loudly to himself until I find the stairs and I have to practically drag him up each step. He falls a few times and we’re making so much noise it’s a wonder that his parents haven’t woken up and caught us yet.
“My Lizzie,” he slurs when I finally find his room. I dump him on his bed and I try to run to his window for my quick get away, but his arm snakes out to catch my wrist before I can move away.
“Max, let go. I have to go!” I whisper frantically.
“No. Stay with me. Please. I want you here with me,” he pouts, his voice muffled by his pillow. “Please…”
I’d be an idiot if I didn’t take him up on his offer. He’s so cute staring up at me with his pleading brown eyes. I’m almost tempted to crawl into bed with him when his tight grip around my wrist loosens and his hand slips away. I realize he’s passed out cold and I take the opportunity and make my get away.
**********
I walk into the quad and head towards my tree at the far corner. It’s pretty peaceful back here. I can watch all the drama at lunch, but I’m still far away enough so that no one will bother me.
I plop down in the shade and lean against the tree. I’m just about to open my lunch when I spot Max walking into the quad with his friends. He looks so good today.
I haven’t gone back to the park since Saturday night. I didn’t want to take a chance and run into Max again. I don’t even want to think about that night. All the things he said to me… it was just because he was drunk. I really wish it were true, but he had no idea what he was doing. Why would he want to hang out with someone like me?
But a girl can fantasize right?
Knowing me, I would say something weird or do something weird or maybe a combination of both and the relationship would be over before it started.
I chance another glance at Max and I gasp when I find him looking straight at me. He smiles and winks before slapping hands with that hair guy and that Buddhist jock. He heads towards me and I do believe that I’m about to hyperventilate.
Before I know it, he’s standing in front of me and everyone in the quad gasps in surprise. Literally. I was not joking when I said I was a loner and talked to no one.
“Hey Liz,” he says in that soft, sexy voice of his.
“Umm…. uh… H-Hi.” Wow!! Smooth like butter. They should call me Ms. Cool. Not!!
“I waited for you at the park on Sunday. Where were you?” He waited for me? Awww that’s so sweet.
He settles next to me. Not that I mind or anything. Another collective gasp from our audience is ignited.
“Um… I had a lot of homework.” I suck at lying and by the way he’s looking at me, I know he’s thinking the same thing.
I bet he’s going to make a fool out of me in front of the whole school. That bastard! Oh well, at least I got to sniff him a few times before he completely humiliates me.
Damn it!
“Liz I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me Saturday.” Awww he’s so adorable when he blushes.
“It was no problem,” I say shyly.
He laughs a little and places his hand on top of mine. Oh God!! He’s touching me!
“My dad would have killed me if he found out how wasted I was. I didn’t make a fool out of myself did I?”
“Um… well, I did enjoy your rendition of “You are so Beautiful”” I say.
He blushes as he rubs the back of his neck. He’s really making it hard for me to hate him. “Um… yeah I kind of remember that. I didn’t hurt your ears with my voice did I?” He laughs and I let my lips twitch into a small smile.
He smells so good.
“So um… my friends and I hang out at the Roswellian Realm everyday after school. You should come. You know if you want to,” he offers with that smile that melts my heart.
Is this a joke? Things like this don’t happen to me.
I look around to the large crowd that’s still staring at us and I suddenly feel very uncomfortable. I don’t like this at all. I can’t stand all these eyes on me and in a panic I start to pack up my things.
“Liz, wait!” He grabs my arm before I can walk away and whirls me around to face him. “What’s wrong? Did I say something?”
“N-No. It’s just… everyone’s watching us Max.” I gesture towards our large audience. Max looks like he didn’t even notice them. Hmmm, strange.
He moves forward. And oh my lanta if he kisses me, I’ll die!
No, I think I’ll make out with him for awhile and then I’ll die. Just so I can say I at least had my first kiss before I keel over.
He turns his head to whisper in my ear. He’s a bastard for getting my hopes like that. He’s so doing it on purpose just to get me all hot and bothered. I mean, not that I am.
“They are watching us aren’t they?” he says with a sly smile. “Then let’s give them something to talk about.”
I frown. “What?”
“Baby, it’s not my fault!! I was drunk!!” he suddenly yells.
Did he just call me baby? “Max, what are you doing?” I hiss.
He quickly winks at me before stepping back. “Liz, I’m sorry, I never meant to sleep with her. It just happened.” He says loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Max…” Is he still drunk?
“Baby, what can I say? I’m sorry, I never meant for it to happen.” he continues.
I take a quick look around the quad and I see everyone engrossed in our little “fight.” Oh well, I’m graduating in a few weeks. I’m never going to see these people again anyway. Why not make a fool out of myself? I’m already weird, why not be weird with someone else?
“You bastard! How could you do this to me?! I thought you loved me!” I shout trying to sound as angry as I can.
“I do. It was a mistake. Baby she means nothing to me,” Max cries. He reaches out to touch my shoulder, but I jerk away. Damn! I’m a good actress. I should be on Broadway. Jazz hands!!
“Obviously she meant enough for you to fuck her brains out!” Another collective gasp is heard from the quad and I try and hide my satisfied smile. Score!
“I’m telling you, I was drunk! Please. Give me another chance.” he pleads. I get so caught up in everything, I raise my hand and before I know it, I’m slapping Max across the face.
There goes that damn gasp again.
I did not just slap Max Evans, the sweetest guy in the world. Oh my God! Just send me to hell right now.
He lifts his hand to his face. “Liz…” he whimpers. I’m not sure if he’s still acting or not.
I feel like an idiot and I grab my things, preparing myself to leave. As I walk pass Max, I feel his fingers brushing against mine. To any spectator, it looks like an accident, but for one quick second, he holds on before letting me go.
As I walk away, I glance back at him and I see the faint makings of a smile on his lips as his head dips slightly in a nod.
I almost stumble because of it. He must know how to make me weak in the knees.
I manage to wait until I reach the girl’s bathroom before I melt into a puddle of Liz goop.
TBC……..
Yes, the fact that he fainted has something to do with his brother and you’ll find out what in this chapter. 