Author: Jason's Lover
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: Nothing used here is mine.
Category: M/L - Angst
Summary: Max's mother disappeared without a trace when he was fourteen. Now, ten years later, just when his life is in it's prime, with Liz, his girlfriend of four years, he begins to recieve these mysterious letters about his mother and her possible whereabouts, rehashing old wounds.
Author's Note: I know I'll probably regret posting this before the time I intended, but after completing the first part, I couldn't contain my anxiousness. So please, behr with me. I hope you all like it.
Credits to Nicole(Nickimlow) for the awesome banner!
Credits to Bella(Hybrid-Angel) for the fantastic banner!
1.
“Max, this is your very first date. I think a tie would be more appropriate than a sweater vest.” Diane Evans admonished him, her attention riveted on fixing his attire.
He wrinkles his face in displeasure. “But I don’t want to wear a tie. They’re uncomfortable.”
She raises an eyebrow in question. “Don’t you want to make a good first impression?”
Max shrugs indifferently. “Well, yeah. But not because of the way I’m dressed. Olivia’s supposed to like me despite that, right?”
Diane smiles softly. “Of course, but it won’t kill you to look decent. And trust me, you are a sight for sore eyes. You’ll knock her socks right off.”
“Mom…,” He blushes adorably. “You’re not helping.”
“What?” She says innocently. “Can’t I tell you how handsome you are? I am your mother.”
He rolls his eyes with a smile. “I’m getting nervous.” Max admits, tugging at his ear. “What if I make a fool of myself?”
“None of that talk young man.” She warns playfully. “You’re an Evans. The day we make fools of ourselves, your sister is bound to pass up a shopping spree. It’s just impossible.”
Max smiles gratefully. “So, how should I act?”
Cupping his face, she kisses his forehead lightly. “Just be yourself Maxwell. The rest will come naturally. I know Olivia is going to just adore you, I already do.”
“Thanks ma.” He grins, checking his appearances in the mirror. “I’ll see you later.”
“Bye sweetie.” Diane replies, watching with pride as he marches out of his room.
“What are you thinking about?”
Snapping out my reverie, I glance over at Liz, a soft smile on her face as she looks up at me. “Huh?”
“You were smiling about something.” She continues, making her way over to me, maneuvering herself onto my lap.
Wrapping my arms snugly around her waist, I nuzzle her neck. “It was nothing, just a memory.”
“It must be a pleasant one if it’s got you grinning like a fool.” Liz teases, giggling.
“You have me grinning like a fool all the time.” I counter, kissing her shoulder. “Sometimes with you, mostly at you.”
“Funny.” She quips, rolling her eyes. “I would totally storm out of here, if my apartment wasn’t being renovated.”
“Right, sure.” I tease mockingly, twisting her around so she’s straddling me. “Then again, you’re moving out of it so why should you care.”
“You never know.” She replies coyly, her fingers tangled in the length of my hair. “I could get bored with you.”
“I highly doubt that.” I smile, reaching up to cup her cheek. “You love me.”
“I do.” Liz admits grudgingly, her eyes alight with mischief. “But don’t let it go to your head.”
“It already has.” I reply, my expression sincere. “I can’t wait for you to finally move in.”
“Me either.” Liz murmurs, leaning down to brush her lips over mine.
It’s been the best couple of days. Not only did I start a new job, but I asked her to move in with me. After dating for a little over four years now, it was a long time coming. I’d ask for her hand in marriage, but I know Liz. She’s now starting med school and still looking for a job. She thrives on her own independence, despite my reassurances. She’d never agree to marriage without being able to stand on her feet first. It’s just the way she is.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” She asks abruptly, her brown eyes filled with worry. “I mean, I don’t have a job yet and I just started school. I can’t help out with anything, you know, financially. It’s not fair to you.”
“Liz, I didn’t ask you to move in with me because I wanted financial help.” I answer, a small smile on my lips. “I asked you because I love you. Everything else is secondary.”
“But I’m an extra mouth to feed.” Liz persists. “You need some kind of assist---”
Taking her face in my hands, I kiss her into silence. “Baby, stop worrying. We talked about this. We agreed that you’d concentrate on school. If you could fit a job into that, then great. If you can’t, that’s fine too. There’s no need to get all bent out of shape. I can support you Liz. For as long as you need me to.”
“I love you.” She whispers, resting her forehead against mine. “So much.”
“I love you too.” I return, tucking her hair behind her ears. “I love you so much, that I need a huge favor.”
Leaning back, she looks at my face expectantly. “What is it?”
“Could you maybe, start dinner for me?” I ask sheepishly, noting her incredulous expression. “I kind of promised Micheal I’d meet him at the gym.”
“You want me to cook?” Liz queries in surprise, gesturing to herself. “I thought you abdicated me of that right when I attempted to make thanksgiving dinner last year?”
“I did.” I nod, smirking at her. “Now I’m giving it back.”
“Are you sure?” She asks skeptically, biting her bottom lip. “I don’t want to make you sick again.”
“You won’t.” I reply, kissing her nose tenderly before lifting her up and sitting her down in my vacated seat. “I trust you won’t lather the food with onions again, seeing as I’m allergic and all.”
Her face goes white in remembrance. “I don’t think I should do this.”
I laugh at her disposition. “I’m kidding baby.” Stripping off my work shirt and tossing it on the bed, I walk over to the closet for my gym attire.
“Well, what should I make?” Liz queries, looking up at me.
“Whatever you want.” I answer, slipping into a pair of sweats. “As long as it’s edible.”
“Keep teasing me Max.” She warns lightly, getting up from her seat. “I’ll make sure you swallow an onion.”
“You’re not that cruel.” I chuckle, lacing up my sneakers. “Did you check the messages today babe?”
“Yep.” Liz answered, clearing up her books from the bed. “Some old ones. A recent one from your dad though.”
“Oh?” I query, my tone serious, much to Liz’s notice.
I wonder what he wants. We haven’t spoken in nearly a year now, not that I’m complaining. It’s on my behalf after all. Ever since he remarried two years ago, I’ve made it a point to keep my distance from him and his new wife. I can’t bear to see him.
“Yeah, it’s um, his birthday next week.” She answers. “He and Charlene are having a little get together on the weekend. He wants you to be there.”
“Right.” I murmur stonily, throwing on a wife beater. “I suppose Isabel’s going.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Liz shrugs, watching me intently. “Should I book a flight out to Roswell this weekend?”
“No.” I reply curtly. “I can’t travel right now. I just started a new job, you with school. That’s more important than a birthday party.”
She sighs heavily. “Max, he sounded really excited about it. Can’t you make this one exception?”
“Can we talk about this later?” I counter, gathering up my gym bag. “I’m late.”
“Fine, whatever.” She replies indifferently, shaking her head. “Have a good workout.”
“Liz…,” I whisper, quickly grabbing her around the waist before she left the room. “Come on, don’t be upset.”
“I’m not.” She denies, glancing up at my disbelieving smirk. “You make me sick.”
I grin down at her. “I promise you, we’ll talk when I get back.” I reply, gazing into her eyes. “Okay?”
“Okay.”
Leaning down, I capture her lips in a slow, gentle kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Liz murmurs, her eyes glazed over. “Don’t stay out for too long. Micheal’s been seeing a lot more of you than I have for the past week. I’m beginning to think there’s some affair going on between you two.”
“No affair baby.” I say with a smile, peppering kisses all over her face, down the column of her throat. “You’re the only woman I want, straight or otherwise.”
“You’d better.” She grins. “Go. Before I keep you here.”
“I’m going.” I laugh, kissing her one last time. “Don’t burn down the kitchen.”
“Shut up.”
***
“You’re the weakest piece of shit that ever lived, you know that?”
“Fuck you Maxwell.” Micheal pants, lifting the sixty pound weights that I’m precariously balancing for him. “This shit is heavy.”
“Heavy?” I scoff, an incredulous smile on my lips. “I just did two sets of eighty.”
“Fuck, I’m out of shape. You happy now?” He exclaims, sitting up from the bench as I place the weights back on the beams. “Between work and Maria, I can barely get in an hour anymore.”
“Understandable.” I shrug, handing him a towel. “I’m surprised she let you out at all tonight.”
“That’s cause she’s not home.” Micheal replies, wiping the sweat from his face. “As a matter of fact, we’ve got an hour left before I have to dip. Let’s not waste it.”
“God, you’re whipped.” I chuckle.
He gives me the finger. “When you and Liz finally tie the knot, we’ll see how much freedom you’ll have.”
I roll my eyes. “Liz isn’t like that.” I tell him, stretching my muscles. “My woman’s practical, realistic. She’d never have me on lockdown.”
“Yeah, you keep believing that.” Micheal quips, reaching into his pocket before tossing me a black box.
My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “What’s this?”
“The engagement ring you asked me to hold onto.” He answers. “I figured you’d want it back since Liz is moving in with you.”
“Are you crazy?” I retort, tossing it back to him. “She’ll find it.”
Micheal looks at me in bewilderment. “Isn’t that the point?”
I shake my head. “Liz isn’t ready for marriage. She’d kill me if she found that.”
He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “She tell you that?”
“Not directly.”
“So how do you know?”
“I just do.” I answer, not missing his exaggerated sigh. “Look, I know Liz alright. I know how she thinks. She’s bussing her ass with school and looking for a job, marriage is the farthest thing from her mind at this point.”
Micheal looks pensive. “Is that what you want? I mean, you already bought the ring Max. It’s obvious what your intentions are.”
“I just want to make her happy.” I reply. “If she needs time, then I’ll give it to her.”
“And I’m whipped.” He mumbles underneath his breathe. I heard him none the less.
“So…,” I begin, continuing my warm up. “I hear you’re the best damn sports writer the Boston Globe‘s ever had in the last decade. How’d that happen?”
“You got me.” Micheal smirks, a modest smile on his lips. “That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”
“You don’t say.” I tease, clapping his shoulder. “It’s well deserved man. Truth is truth. You’re good at what you do. There’s no room for exaggeration.”
“Thanks.” He replies, nodding his head. “I guess the props should be reciprocated. I heard about the new job. Managerial position at the firm, that’s pretty impressive. I bet the pay is too.”
“It’s not bad.” I agree, grinning. “But, I owe a lot to Jesse. If he didn’t pull as many strings as he did, I doubt I’d be as lucky.”
“Man, fuck this.” Micheal grumbles, dropping the weights to the floor. “I’m beat. Let’s get the hell outta here.”
“I thought we had an hour?” I query in surprise.
“That hour dwindled down to forty minutes in the midst of our conversation.” He answers, packing up his things. “Now I’m hungry.”
I follow suit. “And you wonder why you’re out of shape?”
His glare is unmistakable. “You’re just a barrel of jokes today.”
“I try.” I snort, wiping the excess sweat from my arms and chest. “Let me get my stuff from the locker.”
“Hurry up.”
Jogging into the back room, I quickly scramble for my locker and put in the combination. Pulling my bag out from it’s confinement, a piece of paper falls to my feet.
Where’d that come from?
Bending down to retrieve it, I see my name imprinted on the front in big bold lettering, the script completely unrecognizable.
Flipping open the paper, I squint to read the fine print.
Max,
I knew you’d be beautiful. She said as much. I’ve always heard the most about your eyes. About how they glow like speckles of gold behind a sheath of brown. I have yet to see them for myself. There’s no doubt in my mind that she was right. She loved you even then.
Take care,
M.R.
M.R.? Who the hell is that?
“I thought I told you to hurry up.” Micheal’s voice penetrates my senses.
“I-I was.” I answer, trying to clear my head. “I’m coming.”
“What’s that?” He asks, his eyes gesturing to the note in my hand.
“I don’t know.” I reply truthfully, glancing at it again. “It just fell out of my locker when I opened it.”
Micheal narrows his eyes. “Let me see.”
Passing it over, he browses the note before a smile breaks out on his face. “It looks like you have an admirer.”
“Who?” I whisper, glancing around the gym for any prying eyes. “I mean, why put it in my locker instead of giving it to me?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Maybe she’s shy. It’s not a big deal Max.”
“I guess not.” I murmur, wishing I believed it.
TBC…