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Okay we only have one or two more parts to go.
And hopefully I can get that out before 2010 
Anyway I hope this doesn't suck too bad. And the dialogue in italics at the beginning are voicemails. So enjoy!
Part 41
She emitted a tired moan as she awoke early in the morning. Rolling on her back, she naturally moved toward the warm body next to her. He was still asleep, hair wildly tousled, one bicep pillowing her head and his other resting over his stomach.
His lashes resting peacefully on his cheeks, she watched him, feeling a deep ache in the pit of her stomach because she knew this wouldn’t last. None of her relationships survived. And especially since Max and Liz were two completely different people, their interests on opposite sides of the spectrum, she was worried that this one would go the same route.
Her hand flittered over his naked chest, to cup his cheek. He didn’t stir as she smoothed her thumb over his lips, feeling their soft plumpness. He was such a deep sleeper and it took a great deal of noise to wake him. She figured that it was why he was so damn chipper in the morning while she, who could be woken by the slightest twitch, was a grouch before noon.
She knew she needed to leave now when he wasn’t able to stop her, not that she knew he would. Contrary to this she settled down in the crook of his arm, her nose pressed against his skin. He smelled like sex. And when he stirred, rolling toward her, his free arm coming to rest softly on her bare hip she buried her face in his neck, deciding to stay a little longer. She wasn’t ready to leave.
**********
Hey, Liz. It’s me. Uh… About last night, we did a horrible job of taking things slow. We have a tendency to go from zero to sixty in no time flat. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or, whatever. Um I know that you’re probably mad and to be honest, I am too. But…. we need to talk. Call me.
**************
I realize that you probably don’t want to talk to me right now considering some of the things I said to you, but you have to know it was out of anger, Liz. You said some pretty harsh things too…
***************
Hey, it’s me again. We didn’t use any protection and you’d think we learned our lesson after last time but uh… yeah. I just came from your apartment and I guess you’re not there. It’s been a couple of days and I don’t know whether to be worried or angry that I haven’t heard from you. Call me when you get this, Liz. We really need to talk.
****************
Maria said she just talked to you so I know you’re not so busy that you can’t answer your phone. Liz, we seriously need to talk.
**************
I really can’t believe you’re acting like this. You’re not going to even talk to me? Looks like you haven’t changed at all because this is really childish. But this isn’t high school. You can’t just walk away and expect me to watch you leave. I’m not letting this go, Liz. Are you?
****************
Liz, would you answer your fucking phone?
*************
I’m done. I told myself I would fight for you but I can’t do it on my own. And I’ve tried to make this right. If you don’t want this, then that’s fine… it’s not fine, but… it’s on you now.
*************
She was there, getting out of a black BMW when he locked up the diner after another long, hectic day. She waved at the driver as he pulled away from the curb and plowed through the snow.
Max didn’t have to ask who the driver was to know who it was.
The wind was blowing and it had started to snow earlier in the evening. There were very few cars and people out and about, everyone preparing for the approaching storm. The streets were covered in a white layer and as she began to walk toward him, he looked passed her to see her faint footprints along the sidewalk already filling in with snow. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest and her hair whipped and flailed in the wind, covering her face. She lifted one gloved hand to remove her tresses, only to have them blown back in her face.
Burying his hands deep in his pockets, he trekked across the dimly lit parking lot to his tattered jeep, the lone car in the lot.
“Wait!” she called, hurrying after him. She had hoped that he would still be inside and wouldn’t see Chase dropping her off, knowing he was jump to the wrong conclusions. But since he saw, it was time for damage control. “Max, wait a second. I need to talk to you.”
He suddenly stopped, whirled around to face her. His features set in stone but his eyes burning like fire.
“Like I needed to talk to you the five days you decided to avoid me? And now you suddenly decide you want to talk and I’m supposed to stop everything I’m doing and listen?”
“I needed time to think.”
He scuffed and again started toward his jeep. But he only took a few steps before turning around to ask with defeat, “So he’s why you wouldn’t return my calls?”
She tried to take deep breaths to control her rising anger. “How many times do I have to tell you that there’s nothing going on between us? If you’d stop being so dense…”
“I’m being dense?” he said with a humorless laugh as he gestured to himself. “Why would you continue to bring him around when you and I are on such bad terms because of him?”
“This has nothing to do with him!”
“It has everything to do with him!” he yelled, his voice echoing in the silent night.
“Why?”
He sighed, “Forget it.”
“Max.” she called. He didn’t stop and when he continued to walk away from her, she grew angrier with every step he took.
“Damn it, Max! Wait!” He ignored her and she stopped running after him.
Here she was standing out in the freezing cold in her brand new wool pea coat she’d saved up for and expensive suede boots that had begun to get wet and stained from the snow. And all she could think about was how much it hurt to see him walk away from her.
Max reached the door of his jeep, a little disappointed, frustrated and sad she was letting him walk away from her. But it was up to her now. She always did the walking away in their relationship and now it was his turn. He already knew he could survive without her, maybe even fall in love again. But it wouldn’t the same kind he had with Liz and it was something that he knew he would have to live with if they couldn’t make it work.
He didn’t know how invested she was to their relationship, if she really had deep feelings for him or if he was just another boyfriend to her. But the outcome of this would give him a good idea. It was time to either let go or move forward together because he was tired of going up and down with her. There was too much greatness between them if she wanted it. But it was up to her.
As he was fumbling with his keys, he felt something hit his back with a dull thump. It didn’t hurt, but the shock of the blow caused him to jump with a start. Snow crunched beneath his feet as he turned towards where the object had flown from.
He ducked in time to avoid a ball of white aimed at his head, but wasn’t as lucky as another hit his shoulder, splattering snow over his coat. Another hit his thigh and they seemed to come two at a time now, each thumping against his already chilled body.
He took cover behind his jeep and only when the snowballs stopped, did he peek around to see Liz advancing toward him, arms full of snow.
“What the hell are you doing?” he yelled as another smacked his forehead.
“Asshole!” he heard her cry. A snowball connected with his chest and he faintly heard his keys clang as they fell to the ground when he took cover. “I’m ruining my good boots for you and you won’t even talk to me!”
“Liz, stop it!” Two more struck his back before he could take cover on the other side of his jeep. But she followed him and they engaged in a brief game of ring around the jeep. If he wasn’t constantly being pelted with freezing ice balls then he would have stopped to admire her precise aim. Liz had an arm on her but he couldn’t stop to marvel at this.
He ran out into the open parking lot, knowing he could outrun her and then maybe get far enough away from her to plan retaliation. He could hear the snowballs landing at his heels and he glanced back to see her speed walking in her heels, arm cocked back to launch another ball his way. Startled when it hit the back of his thigh, he lost his footing, the snow giving way underneath his shoes.
She was on him in a second, smashing a handful of snow in his face. Amid his string of profanities, the cold seeped to his bones and a deep shudder flowed through his body. Her heavy panting could be heard as she darted away from him, knowing he wanted pay back.
Her heels hindered her though and he was able to catch her ankle before she got too far away. With a yelp, she fell to a heap and Max’s heavy weight rolled on top of her. She screamed, ordered him to leave her hair alone when he rustled it, leaving it standing on ends. And he ate more snow and was close to being kneed in that area as they wrestled, neither one gaining the upper hand.
“No biting!” he ordered.
“Who says?” she retorted. She let out a soft grunt when she managed to push him on his back and wiggle free of his grip.
He grinned. “I say.” Both of them were on their feet, at a standoff.
She picked up a wad of snow. “Since when do I listen to you,” she teased. Her snowball hit him directly in the chest, but he still charged after her.
She released a bark of laughter when he grabbed her around her waist and pulled her to the ground. He twisted so that he landed first and could cushion her fall. Unfortunately this gave her the upper hand as she was able to straddle him, pinning him.
“Liz, you smush anymore snow in my face and you’re going to get it,” he warned.
“Ooohh. I’m not scared.”
With a growl deep in his throat, he had her on her back, her hands pinned above her head before she could think. And when he leaned in close, his breath warmed her face as he spoke. “Now tell me you’re not scared.”
Her chest heaved as she fought to breath in enough air. She was feeling something, but fear was definitely not it; especially when his eyes locked with her lips and his tongue darted out in just the slightest bit.
Shivering, but not from the cold, she gently pushed him until he shifted most of his weight off her. She knew where it would lead if he kept looking at her the way he was.
Sex was something they always used to fall back on. Whenever things were tense between them, it was where they ended up because it was the one thing they could agree upon. But when it was over they always ended up back where they started, at a standstill. It was where they would end up if he kept looking at her with that gleam in his eyes.
He sensed it too because he suddenly got to his feet. “Let’s go home and warm up.”
He helped her to her feet, grinned as he helped her dust off the snow from her coat which was futile due to the falling flakes.
“Shut up,” she said, knowing what he was thinking. She had ruined a perfectly good coat for a snowball fight.
Laughing he said, “Help me find my keys before we freeze to death.”
While they waited for his raggedy jeep to warm up, its motor rumbling loudly in the stillness outside, they watched the snow fall, calm and pristine, smoothing over the places they had just been.
**************
Two scorching hot showers and mugs full of hot chocolate later, they huddled beneath a heavy blanket on his couch, still staring at the falling snow outside his balcony doors.
“I feel like I have to be something that I’m not to make you happy,” he revealed quietly.
She took a moment to gather herself before she answered. “Max I never wanted you to change who you are.”
“But that’s how I feel, Liz. I’m trying so hard to make this different then it was back in high school. And I know I said I was over it but I just can’t let go when we’re back in the same situation. I don’t like feeling like I have to do things I’m uncomfortable with just to be with you. There’s this constant pressure to put on a big production to keep you interested and I feel like someone like Chase can easily sweep in, flash a few diamonds, things I can’t offer, and I lose you again.”
“Do you really have that little faith in me?” she said, shifting away from him a bit.
“Well I don’t know what you want, Liz. You’ve done it before, what’s to stop you from doing it again?”
“What Chase and I had is over and done with. We’re just friends,” she insisted.
“Sometimes it seems more than that.”
Her brows knitting together she pressed on. “So what are you saying?”
“I think you need to choose what you want,” he said, watching her out the corner of his eyes, gauging her reaction.
“How many times do I have to remind you that I’m not that girl anymore? What do I have to do?”
And then accusations and name-calling were precariously thrown about, neither one able to get their point heard and understood. Emotions heightened and the finger pointing increased until he stormed out of the apartment and she was left sobbing in a ball on the couch.
********
Half an hour later, he dragged himself back into the apartment, weary and yielding. She looked like his twin, staring at a spot on the wall, still sitting where he left her.
Gingerly sitting on the cushion next to hers, he released a deep sigh. “Sometimes I think I’m not good enough for you.”
“Max, no…” She shook her head vigorously in protest.
“I think I’m not good enough and then when I suggest we spend the night together, alone, Chase calls and then suddenly everyone gets involved and it’s like you’d rather be with a group of strangers than with me. And I start to resent you because of it and I act like an asshole and refuse to go out. Because the truth is, I would gladly take you out to dinner, or dancing, whatever you want, as long as we got to spend some time together. Seeing each other when I’m going to bed and you’re going out is not working. But when you come home, throwing Chase in my face, purposely making me jealous, I fell like I have to push back.”
“I know I push him in your face and I admit that I’ve tried to make you jealous but I just wanted you to… I don’t know. I wanted to hurt you like you hurt me. I don’t need someone else in my life telling me who I can and can’t be friends with.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be trying to control you like that. But every time you mention him, I think about that night you showed up at the diner, crying and I think maybe he’s not the guy you think he is.”
“I think you need to start trusting me and my decisions. I know I’m new at deciding things for myself, but so far I’ve managed to surround myself with some pretty decent people,” she said, smiling meaningfully at him.
“I know. I don’t want to be the jealous boyfriend. I just never knew how committed you were to this and I kept thinking I was more invested than you were. I kept thinking you were looking for a way out.”
“Do you really think I’d be here right now if you weren’t the one I wanted to be with? I want this to work. I love you.”
His eyes widened, his ears perking up to make sure he’d understood correctly. “What?”
“I’m in love with you.”
Her brown eyes big with sincerity and warmth, he could only manage to mutter out, “Really?”
She nodded with a slight, nervous laugh. It wasn’t everyday that she opened up to someone and expressed her love. “I’ve never been in a serious relationship like this before and give and take isn’t something I’m good at. I know I act like a brat sometimes…” Max let out a loud chuckle to which she glared, effectively shutting him up. She continued, “I act that way because every single person I’ve been with allows me to. But you call me out on my shit. I’ve always been with the same type of person, rich, snobby, and a party animal. It’s not hard to become that after awhile. It’s hard to give that up.”
“Would you?”
She frowned, not understanding. “Would I what?”
“Would you give that up?”
“For you?” she asked. When he nodded she murmured, “yes,” because she knew that this was for real. Max wasn’t just a random guy to her.
“Me too,” he admitted, grinning.
“This isn’t a one sided thing,” she added. “It never was. And I’m sorry if I made you feel like it was. I know I’m making mistakes, but I’m new at this. I just don’t want you to feel like you need to be something other than yourself around me because I know how that feels. And I kinda like you the way you are.”
“Even though I’m boring as you put it?” he teased.
“I’m sorry I said that. You’re anything but boring and I said what I knew would get to you. You don’t have to go a club to have fun. I’m really starting to realize that people just have to be themselves in order to be happy.”
*************
It was well past one in morning and they both had to get up in the morning for work. But as Max stretched out on the couch, his head resting in her lap, they both decided that they would call off. This was their priority now.
Liz mindlessly twirled a lock of his hair around her finger. “How is it that as friends we work so well together and as soon as we become a couple we can’t get along? I mean we spent everyday together before we became us, you know?”
“Well we clearly have all this baggage that we’re carrying around and I think it was easy to ignore it when we were just friends but it doesn’t work now. And we kinda suck at communication so everything we pushed aside as friends just… exploded?”
“That’s a good word for it.”
“I mean, how is it that we haven’t talked about last Thanksgiving yet? We honestly thought we could just ignore that? We could’ve been parents by now if… you know.”
“Speaking of which… the other night…” They didn’t use protection.
“I know.”
Looking down at him with a mixture of fear and doubt she asked, “What are we going to do?”
He sat up and pulled her into his arms, seeing that she was about to panic. “First let’s see if anything happens. And if so then…”
“Then…”
“We’ll deal with it.” He kissed the top of her head, held her close. “Together.”
**********
“I kind of have a confession,” she whispered as if there were others as well as them in the room. They lay in his bed on opposite sides, Max at the foot, Liz at the head. His fingers worked soothingly slow over the soles of her feet.
“What?”
“Sometimes I feel like I’m not good enough too.”
He looked up from her pink painted toes. “Not enough for who? Cause you’re certainly enough for me.”
She shrugged, a bit ashamed. “Just everyone I guess. I feel a bit…” She paused to search for the right word.
He provided it for her. “Inadequate?”
“Yeah. So I have to overcompensate. I’m not able to just be.” He released her foot and crawled beside her. “None of this probably would have happened. My friends were the ones who pushed me to lead you on in high school. And like a dumbass, my reputation overrode my common sense telling me that it was wrong.”
They were silent for awhile, him caressing the length of her arm. They were finally getting this out in the open and it felt good. They could start moving on.
“I remember our first time?” she asked suddenly. When he nodded she continued. “We were so, just… I’m really glad it was with you. But still I remember I wouldn’t even let you take my shirt off because I was ashamed I wouldn’t look good enough for you.”
“Don’t ever be ashamed, Liz. You’re beautiful. You’ve got effortless beauty that a lot of people dream of, inside and out.” She raised her brow in disbelief. She’d spent years being less the beautiful on the inside.
“I’m serious!” he insisted. “I saw it in you when we were twelve years old when we went camping and I found you with a broken ankle in that cave. I wanted to protect you, I still do. Though sometimes I’m the one that hurts you.” He laughed ruefully and tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. “God, I think I fell in love with you then because you had this innocence and sweet way about you. I remember I used to catch your eye in the hall or at lunch you had the most beautiful, genuine smile for me. You were the only one out of your group who did that.”
She blushed and averted her eyes from his because she could feel the tears welling up. She asked shakily, “You think this is fate? I mean after all these years, we’re back here again.”
“Yeah. Maybe it worked out like this for a reason. I was so dependent on whether you liked me, I didn’t care about anything else. I have a thicker skin now. And you needed to see how bad your friends were for you and grow on your own. I mean, look how far you’ve come since.”
“I am pretty awesome now aren’t I?”
“I take it back. You’re getting cocky,” he said, pushing away from her playfully. “I take it back!”
************
At 4:15 a.m. they were finally starting to drift off when he murmured into the silent room, “I love you.” She was suddenly wide awake and the way her eyes lit up was enough to make him forget everything else but her.
“I love you too.”
He chuckled quietly. “I can’t believe you started a snowball fight and ruined your boots. For me. You must really love me.”
“Not anymore.”
“Liar.”
TBC………..
So i hope this part doesn't suck as much as I think it does lol