Cocking/Caulking (Lizfic) ADULT COMPLETE 3/30/06

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker and life is okay.

Max winced around a mouthful of burger. Then again. After he swallowed and winced again. "That hurts."

"Then quit moving." Liz chided him even as he snuck another fry into his mouth. She had to practically climb into his lap to see to his wounds. "How did this happen again?"

"A green plastic alien fell off the display and right onto my head." Max winced again. "Milton gave me the rest of the day off and money for lunch. I think he's afraid of a lawsuit."

"Lucky for you it doesn't pick up in here until later. Dad's fogies show up at around eight." Liz set aside her cotton ball and carefully placed a Band-Aid over the cut. A kiss to the forehead and she was on her own feet again, gathering her trash. "All better?"

"Thanks." Max flashed her a smile.

"Nurse, I have a pain." The voice came out of nowhere. Liz looked to the door to find a tall guy in a leather jacket nodding towards her. "Parker, all grown up. I like." Liz tilted her head. She knew she should know him but no names were coming up. "Come on Liz, it hasn't been that long, has it?"

"I…" Liz huffed slightly.

"Where's Maria? Aunt Amy said she'd be here." He said at last.

Liz couldn't help the gasp. "Sean DeLuca? Is that you?" It took a moment for her to collect herself. "Um, Maria's running an errand."

"She gonna be back soon?"

"Yeah, any minute." Liz finally realized she still had trash in her hands and turned to toss it in a trashcan. "Have a seat." She quickly washed her hands and wiped down the spot she had used to clean up Max's cut. "Can I get you something?"

"Just a coke or something." Sean waved her off.

Sean DeLuca is home from Juvvie. He… looks good.

Max waited for 15 minutes before Liz remembered he was there and waiting for his check. She was so flustered, she undercharged him. He almost let it slide. "Liz?"

"Huh?" Her head had spun around so fast, he could tell she hadn't really been paying attention.

"Come here." Max motioned her over and held the ticket up in front of her face. "Something's wrong here."

"What?" She stared at the ticket and then looked at the cash out price. "Omigod… Max… I…"

"I'm going to pay for my ticket but I need the correct price so that my tip doesn't go to cover the difference in the till."

"I'm sorry." Liz winced and went to work correcting it. "Thanks for being honest."

"When have I ever been less than honest?"

She nodded and set the correct ticket in front of him. "Sorry. Hope your head is okay."

"I'll be fine." Max cleared his throat as he stood. "You gonna want company tonight?"

"No, I'll be alright. Just me, my dad and the old people until 10." She scrunched up her face and took his money. It never ceased to amaze her that he always had correct change and left a tip.

"Say the word and Alex and I will be here to face the geriatrics with you."

"I'll tell you what. If you're that desperate… you and Alex can show up at 10 and help me clean." She flashed him a smile and he backed down. "See you later."

"Later Liz." Max finally shuffled out the door. Pocketing the tip, she moved to the register to ring up his ticket. Just then Maria burst into the restaurant with a huge grin. "Lizzie, my god. You should have seen the guy at the bulk store."

"Did you get a date for tonight?"

"No, tomorrow night." Maria glanced around and did a double take. "When the hell did you get out?"

"Yesterday. Got a ride out this morning." Sean leaned on the counter with his coke. "Nice greeting."

"What are you doing here, Sean? Don't think you're staying with us." Maria threw off her jacket and stormed into the back room.

"Actually, Aunt Amy already gave it the thumbs up."

"Oh great." Maria turned to find Liz listening at the door but pretending she was filling sugars. "Mom was always a sucker for you. You can't just show up, Sean."

"And where am I supposed to go?" Sean threw his hands out. "I was locked up for four years. I don't have a job or money and my parents are who knows where. Where was I supposed to go?" Maria relented with a huge sigh. Sean gave her a tight hug and pressed a noisy kiss to her forehead. "I knew you missed me."

"Ugh! Get off you freak." Maria shoved him off. "Get out of here."

"Love ya, M." Sean slugged her shoulder and made his way out front to grab his jacket. "Later Parker."

Maria turned to her friend. "'Later Parker'? How long was he here?"

"A while." Liz shook her head as she started in on the sugar jars.

"How long?"

"Since five minutes before you were supposed to be here."

"Did we have a nice chat with the criminal?"

"Maria. What did you want me to do? Ignore him until you could come and make him feel like shit?"

"What?!" Maria gasped in shock.

"Yes. Did you not catch how little you made him feel?" Liz paused and turned to her friend. "You and your mom are the only real family he's got left. I noticed you didn't tell him his dad was in jail or that his mom ran off. He came because he thought he'd be welcome while he gets on his feet."

"Whoa." Maria held out her hands and blinked rapidly. "Where the hell did that come from?"

"At least you have family that needs you. My family is across the country doing just fine, so fine that we don't see them unless someone dies."

"Liz… He's…. I hate him. He brings us all down."

"No he doesn't. " Liz shook her head. "Come on, Maria. You've got what… four cousins you know about. Be nice to them. New Years resolution or something."

"Fine. Why so concerned?"

"He stayed here for an hour to something waiting for you."

"He did…" Maria noticed the light blush in Liz's face but didn't any anything. "Okay. I'll be nice."

Sean's a nice guy. Always has been. I guess sometimes you do things because of your friends… and that's when you find out who your real friends are. Sean's been gone something like four years and since he's been gone… people have been going on with their lives and nothing is like he remembered. His parents aren't even here anymore. It's bad enough when you leave for the summer and you have to catch up on three months of your friends' lives but four years. Four teen years. That's an eternity.

Liz smiled at the people surrounding her and suddenly missed her grandmother. Her smile faltered as they were celebrating New Year's early by two hours. When the last person got on the bus to take them back to the Desert Sun Retirement community, she rushed to the back room and burst into tears. She registered the shoulder before she realized someone was holding her. When she quieted, he cleared his throat. "What's wrong Liz?"

"I miss my grandma." Liz sniffed.

"I'll bet. I guess you weren't prepared for it this year."

"Last year I was fine but this year, wham!"

"Well." He cleared his throat. "The gang is here to party. When last I checked, there were two ex-boyfriends, two best friends and an ex-con out there helping to clean while you're back here bawling your eyes out."

"Two exes?" Liz looked up at Alex.

"Max brought Michael and Maria told me you tried to kiss him." Alex sighed. "I consider my gal-pal's potential interests as exes."

"Don't tell Maria but he did actually kiss me last year." Liz laughed.

"Then I really consider him an ex. Come on. Let's go clean up so we can have some fun." He squeezed her once more and reached for a towel to dry her eyes. "New Year's resolution is not to let anyone or anything get you down."

"You're right. Grandma Claudia wouldn't want me crying my eyes out. We should be having fun… but since everyone showed up… we'll have a little party here."

"That's the spirit. Let's go. If Sean calls me Alice one more time, I swear I'm gonna deck him. We need Peacekeeper-Parker out there."

It always seems to me that when things are going okay, it's easier to tell who your real friends are. When things are okay, you can look on bad things in a different light and the rocks are right there and the fair-weather has come and gone. Alex is so great. He's got his own little faults but thick and thin, he's been there. It's gotten harder to keep him as a best friend but I think we've survived puberty. New Year's has been fun so far. When I wake up, hopefully none of the magic will have faded.

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker and I'm dumbfounded.

"That's two alien blasts, three baskets of fries, a diet Sprite and a whole Men in Blackberry pie." Liz confirmed with the table. She got three solemn nods. "Okay. I'll be right back with the Sprite."

"Diet." Isabel corrected without looking up.

"Right, with the diet Sprite." Liz slipped her pen back into her pocket, accepting the apologetic glance from Max. She had no problems tacking the order to the cook's turnstile but after she had filled Isabel's drink, she walked around the counter almost into Sean. "Oh! Sorry, Sean." She glanced around quickly. "Um, go ahead and sit at the counter. I'll be there in just a minute."

"I'll be waiting." Sean took his seat at the counter only to be greeted with a stern Maria. "What's your problem?"

"'I'll be waiting.' Could you be any more obvious?" Maria scoffed at him. "Liz is in no condition to pursue a… fling with you."

"A fling?"

"Liz needs stability and you can't give her that so don't even try." She glanced around and leaned forward. "I saw you staring at her the other night. Don't even think about it."

"So now you're psychic? You know what I'm thinking?" Sean shook his head. "I don't see you over there with that Evans' guy telling him to back off."

"Liz and Max are just friends now. He knows better."

"I don't think he does because he was staring at her twice as hard as I was."

"That's different."

"Why?"

"It just is."

"Right." Shaking his head, he turned away from her.

"Sorry, Sean." Liz stopped by and reached for her order pad. Just then another customer flagged her down. "Sorry. Maria, can you get his order? Thanks."

Maria cornered me in the break room and asked me if I was getting back together with Max. I couldn't even speak. I haven't even thought about that. Then she asks me what's going on with Sean. I didn't know there was something going on with Sean.

"He's like… so panting like a puppy. He doesn't take his eyes off of you if you're in the room." Maria hugged and brushed her hair out of her face.

"Really?" Liz glanced out the break room window. "Sean?"

"Liz. Listen to me. Don't do it."

"Don't do what?" She turned to her friend. "I hadn't thought about it, really. I mean… did he say something?"

"Erg!!!" Maria threw her hands up in the air and stomped out into the dining room.

She's been acting really bizarre lately.

Maria sank into the booth with Alex. "Will you look at her? Now she's flirting with him."

Alex shook his head and waited until Maria looked at him. "You know, I talked to Liz last night."

"And?"

"And she wasn't even thinking about it until you put it in her head."

"That…" She pointed to Liz laughing at something Sean said. "That isn't my fault."

"Yes, it is."

"Then why didn't you tell her something?"

"Like what?" His blue eyes looked tired. "Look. I listen. That's my job. If I try to tell her what to do… I'd be you."

"What?"

"You… do this thing where you expect her to be perfect and she's not. You tell her that she needs to date but then you have to tell her which guys to date and which ones not to date." He sipped his orange soda. "My stand is always the same. I want you guys to be happy. Granted, I don't like the idea of Liz and Sean getting together but what am I going to do? Forbid her. She's smart. She can make her own decisions." Maria couldn't answer. All she could do was sit with her arms crossed. "I didn't stop you from dating that guy after New Year's evening though I knew he was a jerk."

"Why didn't you stop me?"

"Because, if I had tried, you would have ignored me and then avoided me after the date just so I couldn't tell you 'I told you so.' Your friendship is important to me but I'm not your guardian angel." Alex squeezed his eyes shut. "You girls give me headaches sometimes but I'm letting you know. Come prom. I'm nobody's safety-date."

"Alex…"

"No, I'm serious. Either I get a date or I don't go. I'm not going to play platonic friend on a night that's for actual couples… you can forget Valentine's Day too."

Although, Sean did ask me to a car show. I don't think I'll go but it was nice of him to ask. Sure, he's immature but I think an outing is a sure good time. He asked me about Max and again, it surprised me until I noticed Max's clipped behavior lately. I can't wait for school to start back up, maybe things will get back to normal then.

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker and I caved. I went out with Sean DeLuca. It was fun. Turns out that he's got a passion for vintage cars, or wait, not vintage, CLASSIC. He is just as immature as I thought but he's just as fun too. He wanted to go bowling after dinner but it was late and school's tomorrow. Any minute Maria's going to call and she'll be all huffy… I wonder if I can fall asleep before she does…

Chemistry flew by way faster than Liz would have liked. Max was moody, Maria was bitchy and Alex was himself. Biding farewell to Maria, the other three trudged their way to the library for the ongoing poem project assigned by the brand new advanced English teacher. They had to check in and get to work. "Why can't everyone be as good as Frost?"

The guys looked at her. Then Alex spoke up. "Where were you going with that?"

"I like Frost. I understand Frost. Frost is easy. My life isn't dark enough to relate to Poe." Liz sighed and plopped down.

"Fortunately, my glass is dark." Max muttered and opened his book. "I'll get you through it."

"Byron's my friend." Alex admitted.

"So, who do I do?" Liz looked over the list for the thousandth time.

Max debated with himself for a bit. "Thomas."

"Thomas."

"Dylan Thomas. You already know one line from his most famous poem. Read his other stuff." Max shifted his eyes back to his book, open to Shelley. "And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

"You do Thomas." Liz pleaded.

"I'm doing Poe. You do Thomas. Elegy's a good one. I see the Boys of Summer… you can do it." Max reached over and opened her book. "Get to work."

"Can't I go back to Chemistry? I'm good at that."

"You're good at this." Alex pointed to her book. "You're just all high on formaldehyde."

"I am not."

"Parker, Whitman, Evans. Keep it down."

--

The three of them gathered at the Crashdown to work. Liz was captivated. When she had stopped griping for more than a minute in a row, Max and Alex looked up to find her reading, her lips moving as she read. Alex had to be the brave one. "Did we fall in love?"

"Maya Angelou." Liz whispered in awe. "She's smart, she's beautiful and so damn sexy. This is great. I love it. This is what I'm doing."

"Which poem?" Max tried to peer over but she was still reading.

"Seven Women's Blessed Assurance." Liz bit her lip and didn't notice Alex's head shake as he turned in his own book to find the poem.

"Are you little and low, Liz?" Alex finally managed.

"Yes."

"Hit the nail right on the head with lines three and four."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Alex."

"I didn't say anything."

I like this place we're in but… I want more. Not from Alex or Max or Sean but from someone. I'm pathetic. I do not need someone. I can get along without someone but I do get lonely. I see Kyle and his girlfriend out and I want that. Not him. That connection. That feeling that there is someone out there who understands you and you understand. I'm pathetic is what I am.

After five minutes of silence, Sean pursed his lips. "Did I do something wrong?"

"What?" Liz picked her head up.

"Sorry if I'm a boring date."

"No." She shook her head. "I was just thinking."

"Thinking?" He nudged her lightly. "What about, Parker?"

"Nothing, really… that was kind of the point." Her eyes dropped down to their feet as they walked.

"I'm low on cash, okay? I can't really afford a movie or a meal… but I wanted to hang out."

"No, that's fine, Sean. Really. It's not any of that." Dark had fallen at some time during their walk. The street lights seemed far and few between but in a way it comforted. "This is nice." She reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers. "Really." She let out a sigh. "Guess I've got stuff on my mind, though."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Just stuff. School stuff. Friend stuff. The eternal debate on whether I'm really better off without a guy stuff." She glanced up at him. "It's just stuff."

"Just stuff." He nodded. "What's up with you and that guy?"

"What guy?"

"That… Max guy."

"Max? Nothing. I mean… we used to date but… it didn't work out. He's a much better friend than a boyfriend." She pulled down into the park. "How about you? You've been in town a while. Any prospects?"

"One." He nodded. "Everyone tells me she's out of my league."

"How's that?" Liz stared up at him as they walked.

"Decent girl from a good family. Only person who treats me like a person since I've been back." Sean stopped her. "What do you think?"

"If you like her, go for it. Don't worry what anybody else says." Liz couldn't say another word because Sean DeLuca was kissing her.

I'm Liz Parker and I'm still in shock. I knew but I didn't. I don't know if I wanted to know. Was it wrong to kiss Sean back? I'm not sure if I like him like that. I can't talk to Maria about this and I know Alex doesn't like Sean. I need a big metal hammer to hit myself over the head with. What that wrong? Should I not have done that?

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker. Why does my best friend have to be so nosy? Maria is so out of control. I didn't answer my phone last night and she spent all day hounding me about Sean. It makes my head hurt and the only people I can turn to are guys. I can tell that Alex is reserving judgment… and Max doesn't like it. At least they don't say anything. It's bad enough that I'm trying to deal with the kiss… I don't need her trying to tell me what to do. Her choices in guys have never been much better.

"Give me a C!"

Liz ducked below the bleachers to find some alone time. To her surprise, Max was already reclining in her favorite spot.

"Give me an O!"

"Give me a break." Max muttered and scooted over to let her sit. "Didn't feel like joining in either?"

"Not today." She slid onto the concrete support and turned her gaze to the backpacks and feet hanging above her. "Maybe you can help me."

"What with?"

"This Sean thing."

"Oh."

"It's just… I know that Michael and Isabel gave you a hard time about me. How did you get them to back off?" She turned to look at him.

"I didn't. Not really. I just kind of let everything roll off my back. Eventually they got over it." After a moment, Max met her gaze. "Do you like him?"

"I don't know. I mean… maybe I could but there's all this pressure. I don't want to do anything stupid but Maria is on my case and Alex hates Sean…" She leaned her head back on the support. "He kissed me… and I kind of kissed him back. It… was good… I don't know how much it means. I've had plenty of time to think. I couldn't do a lot of the stuff I wanted to do if I went out with him and… assuming it lasted longer than a month."

"Like?"

"Junior Prom. Games. He can't come within 1,000 feet of the school."

"Why are you thinking about all of that if you don't even know if you like him?"

"I'm thinking I don't like to be alone on the special events. Valentine's isn't that far off…" After a silent moment, she sighed. "My other prospects aren't that great either. Tony has expressed an interest."

"Anthony Najera?" Max sat up. "He asked you out?"

"No. He made it clear that should I… um… find it appealing, he would."

"Anyone else?"

"Just Tony… and Steve."

"Steve? Who's Steve? Do we have classes with a Steve?" Max ransacked his brain.

"He's a senior." Liz laughed. "He mistook me for someone else and then proceeded to preach the benefits of dating an older guy." She laughed again. "Don't worry, he's not an option."

"How about you don't rush anything?" Max reached over to take her arm. "If… we are both free on either of those nights… I promise you won't feel like you need someone. Okay?"

"And what if you finally notice the way that Laura Brennan has been mooning over you?" Liz flicked at one of the fingers on his arm. "Huh? What if you get a date and I don't?"

"I promised. No matter what. You'll have fun."

"You know, even Alex isn't doing pity dates this year."

"Yeah, I know. I'm pathetic. Laura's really been mooning?"

"If she tried any harder, she'd be sitting in your lap at lunch."

"You like her?"

"She's nice… she's also got stalker potential but I'm not sure if it's geeky or malicious."

"Let me know when you find out." He sighed and brushed dirt off his face from the constant movement over his head.

"Why? You interested?" She nudged him and he shook his head. "Come on, Max… I tell you everything."

"Not sure if I'd like Laura but… I don't want to be a monk either."

"Is that what Michael said? He's one to talk."

I should really just talk to Sean but I've been conveniently busy whenever he calls or stops by. I get along with him and he's fun but…

… Maria's relentless. She says that Sean's taken over her mother. Like Amy DeLuca could be taken over by anyone. She's the strongest woman I know.

Liz cursed to herself as she filled the sugar jars. Sean had seen her and there was no escaping him now. She managed a smile when he sat across from her. "Hey Parker."

"Hi Sean."

He sat without saying a word for a long time. "You know… if I was off-base the other night, just say something."

"You, um, you caught me by surprise."

"You kissed me back."

"I… yeah, I did…" She brushed her hair out of her eyes. "And it was good but… it didn't feel right." Setting down her spoon and the sugar bag, she leaned on the counter. "I've been thinking and it's not fair to anyone to push something that's not there now. Who knows though… maybe later on… I'm not in a good place."

"That's what Maria said."

"Well, Maria doesn't know the half of it… and between you and me… most of her advice is unsolicited and unwanted."

"Alright, I'll leave you alone."

"No." She managed to stop him before he left. "Don't leave me alone. I had a lot of fun with you the other night. I'm not opposed to hanging out. I'm just not good for the romance right now."

"Hey, I don't have to be romant—" Liz clamped down on his hands.

"Don't finish that. I'd hate to have to kick you to the curb."

"Yeah, I was just trying to be jerky."

"You almost succeeded." Straightening, she pointed to the door. "I have to get back to work and we're closing in five."

"Later."

"Out. Ex-con. Out." Maria gave Sean a shove toward the door. "Liz, you will never guess who just asked me out."

Then again, unless Maria has something going on in her life, everyone else is priority one. I know I complain about her but her redeeming qualities far outweigh the ones that irk me. I'm comfortable with her and we have fun. She's just quirky enough to offset how serious I tend to get when left to my own devices.

Liz looked up and burst out laughing. Maria was seriously shaking it, oblivious to the guys stopping occasionally outside the restaurant. Who knew? Maybe she did know they were looking and just didn't care. With a shock, Liz realized Maria had hemmed her uniform. "Maria! My dad is going to kill you when he sees what you've done with the uniform."

"Like he notices, but my tips have increased over the past week and a half."

"What does Freddy think about it?"

"Freddy has no right to tell me what to wear." Maria beamed when she finally sat across from Liz at the counter. "Date four is tomorrow night."

"Wow, four dates in two weeks." The brunette nodded her appreciation. "Freddy's sticking around then?"

"He better. One week until Valentine's… which is one week to find you a man."

"Maria, no…" Liz whined and collapsed at a table.

But I do tend to forget about that nagging match-making quirk. I told Maria what Max and I talked about. "Well, fine. If you're going to be all responsible and reasonable about it." She makes me laugh… but I know she'll be talking to Tony and telling him that I'm interested even though I'm not really. Gotta love your friends.

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker. It's Spring Break and I'm stuck in Roswell. Maria, Sean and Amy all went to Albuquerque to find the meaning of family or something. Sean gave me the impression that he might not be coming back. I made him promise to drop a line if he didn't. Alex and his dad went on a bonding trip to Silicon Valley. I think Mr. Whitman is pushing Alex closer to the computer and closer to government work. Michael hopped on his bike with his paycheck and no one has heard from him. Max says that he'll be back before the week is out… because Max has Michael's favorite Metallica CD hidden away somewhere. Max and Isabel have gone to their grandparents for the weekend. I'm on my own until Monday evening.

Sometimes there was a rush during Spring Break. Alien enthusiasts came out of the wood work to spend a little time pondering at the closest they could get to ground zero. Careful only to use her warped baby doll picture when her father wasn't on shift, she raked in the tips and mentally tallied what was going to be used for new clothes and what was going in the college fund.

This particular table had an unusual mix of cuties, babes and geeks and had been there for more than two hours. They had been teasing her since they had taken their seats and she just prayed they wouldn't stiff her on the tip. Delivering the third dessert, the designated leader flashed her a dazzling smile. "So, Liz, how about dinner tonight?"

"Well, I'm having it and I'm sure you will be too." She set the last of the Men in Blackberry slices on the table. "Will this be all for you guys?"

"Come on, Liz. I’m a good looking guy. I'm loaded, give me a chance."

"I have a strict no-tourist dating policy." She shook her head and wrote out the ticket. "As with all parties larger than five, I've written a suggested congruity which you are, of course, welcome to adjust yourselves. Thank you for visiting the Crashdown." When she entered the break room, Michael was uprooting the couch cushion. "Can I help you with something?"

"I was here last week, right?"

"Yeah, you and Max were fighting about something… again." Liz watched him for a minute. "You're not going to find it."

Michael froze and straightened before turning. "Where is it? I want it."

"Max hid it. I don't know where it is. He comes back tonight though." She stopped him before he stormed out. "Hey, fix the couch." He fixed it, with a lot of attitude. "How'd you get back here anyway?"

"Picked the lock. Don't worry, I don't share my secrets."

"Good." She was about to head back out when she spotted her table. "Can you do me a favor?"

… I got Michael to play the jealous boyfriend. It was kinda funny to see those geeks squirm.

"Come on, Liz. Give me a chance." The leader pleaded.

Liz gave a nervous shift and leaned forward with a little fear in her eyes. "Did you see the guy that followed in from the back? That's my ex-boyfriend… he just got out of prison and he's of the opinion we're still dating. If he thinks you're hitting on me, he's going to snap and if he violates his parole this time, I don't know what's going to happen."

"Um… What did he get put away for?" The leader looked to his buddies.

"This table didn't tip me after they made me completely miserable. It was awful. Four counts of assault and battery."

"Jesus… should we call someone?"

"Doesn't do any good. He hasn't threatened anyone and he hasn't done anything… yet." She paused for effect.

"Hey Babe! Those guys bothering you?" Michael called over from the counter.

"Nope." Liz shook her head rapidly. "Just asking about the sights."

I had to split the tip with him but it was worth it to pull one over on a bunch of jerks. But I did get a date. Jeremy Oaks and I are finally getting our chance to see if it could work…

Liz had to smile when Jeremy Oaks slid onto a seat at the counter. "Hi, Jeremy."

"Hey Liz." He clasped his hands together and glanced around. "How's it going?"

"Alright, what can I get you?"

"A coke and some of your time."

She had to look at him twice before turning to get the coke. When she set it down in front of him, she leaned on the counter. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I've liked you for a long time and I think you liked me and we just never were at the same place at the same time."

"I guess we weren't."

"How about a movie tomorrow night?"

"I have to work… but the night afterward I'm free."

"So, you're interested?"

"I guess I am." She smiled shyly at him. "I mean… I was bummed last year when I got roped into that whole… blind date thing and you started seeing what's-her-name… I didn't think we'd… I kinda figured that opportunity was gone."

"I did, too… I was outside… watching you… and I couldn't not try." Jeremy stirred his straw around. "There's a documentary on Madam Curie coming on in a couple of days. Maybe we could order in and hang out to watch it."

"I'd really like that…"

"But…"

"It's a little intimate for hanging out… you know… for the first time."

"I'll call a friend, you'll call a friend and we'll be hanging out watching the greatest woman scientist ever."

"Sounds great."

"Call you tomorrow?"

"You better."

… The second Max got in, I called him and demanded his presence. Now I'll just have to make sure that Jeremy's friend is a girl. I'm excited. I can't explain it. I first met him in Science Club. It was the oddest thing because I had never seen him pick up a book, he told me once that he hated books but he is so smart. He absorbs lectures like a sponge. He's cute and he's smart and he's athletic. He's got a wonderful sense of humor with an intelligence baseline equivalent to honors classes. I haven't told Max all the details but I'm sure he'll go along with it. Jeremy Oaks!

Jeremy stepped aside and let the duo into the apartment. "Let me give you the tour. Kitchen, living room, bedroom, bedroom, bathroom. That concludes the tour. Max, Liz, I'm sure you know Valerie from our Bio class last year."

"Hi, Val." Liz waved and set her jacket down on a chair.

"Hey." Max nodded and shifted uneasily on his feet.

"Hey guys." Val nodded. "So, we were about to order food. We were thinking Chinese."

"Sounds good." Liz turned to Jeremy with a smile. "But if we do, we'll miss the show."

"Buddy I have, will deliver if we tip well." He winked at her. "Come on in, sit." He nudged Val off the love seat and took a seat with Liz. "We were just talking about who was cuter; Jane Lapotaire or Kate Trotter."

"I still say Jane's a better Marie." Val shook her head crookedly at Jeremy.

Max tossed Liz a look, who shrugged and mouthed, 'I didn't know.'

… So… I didn't know that Valerie was gay. The really funny thing was that Jeremy and Valerie had both assumed that Max was.

Max glanced back at the couple every once in a while and they were always busy peeking at each other when the other wasn't looking… and smiling broadly when either was caught. They teased each other and stole food from each other's cartons with their chopsticks. Just when he thought he was going to gag, he looked over at Val, who did making a gagging face at him. It was all he could do not to laugh.

When he and Val returned from a soda run, the door opened to Liz and Jeremy putting too much space between their bodies to overcompensate for the lack of space while their friends were gone. Max shook his head at them and turned to Val. "Can you believe the two of them? Madame is dying and they're making out."

"I know. The nerve. This brilliant woman is dying because of her discovery and they're going at it like a couple of dogs in heat…" Val trailed off when she felt the presence behind her. The entire apartment got quiet. "Hi, Mrs. Oaks."

"Valerie…" Mrs. Oaks stepped inside with a bag of groceries. "Jeremy, who are your new friends? Especially the pretty one blushing."

So, meeting his mom happened much sooner than anyone anticipated and it was a little embarrassing. I mean, I was making out with him, then everyone just walks in. I'm not even sure how we got from talking to kissing.

The two walked out to the Jeep in silence. When they got there, they paused and Max had to get it all out. "You really like that guy?"

"Yeah. I do." Liz nodded. "He's great, huh."

Max shrugged and toed the bolts on his front wheel. "I… I think I'm gonna call April Jackson."

"Who?" Liz blinked at him.

"I was talking to Valerie when we went for the drinks. She said that Laura was psychotic but that April Jackson likes me… that I ought to give her a chance." Max shrugged again and looked up to catch her expression. "It was a thought."

"If you like her, call her… Just don't do it because you're bored though."

"She's nice. I've had a few classes with her and she's a little quiet… but nice."

"But you don't have to date someone just because they show an interest."

"But I have an interest myself."

"Can you take me home?"

"Yeah, I was going to." Max blinked at her and motioned for her to get in. They rode in silence for a while before he had to break it. "So, why not April?"

"She's too quiet, Max. You're going to overwhelm the poor girl."

"How?"

"You're intense, Max. She's dated like… one guy ever. You're fast and furious and she needs slow and easy."

"So, maybe I don't feel intense. Maybe going slow and easy is just what I need." Max found himself in a raised tone and immediately brought it back down as he pulled in front of the Crashdown. "Night, Liz."

"Night." Liz barely let herself reach the ground before she was moving toward the door. Max glared at her back for a moment before he threw the Jeep into reverse and sped away. Women.

I really don't know what Max's problem is. I was just trying to help. I do want him to be happy but April Jackson is such a pushover. Nothing good can come out of dating each other. My heat hurts and I have a long shift tomorrow. Here's to waiting for Jeremy to call.

TBC

[DMartinez]

AN: Just wanting to get the Jeremy parts out there.

I'm Liz Parker and I don't know why I bother to give Max advice, he never takes it.

"That is the most adorable thing I've ever seen." Maria pointed to where Max had just sat down with a flower for April. "I am so glad he's dating."

"That's all of us." Jeremy muttered and reached for Liz's hand. "How is Operation: Get the Girl going?"

"That's her third flower this week." Liz shrugged. "He calls her every night and they talk for a long time but it's… not obsessive or creepy."

"I wish this were summer, then we'd get to watch the whole thing blossom without school to get in the way." Maria sighed dreamily. "I love to watch the woo."

"I knew they'd pair well." Val popped a fry into her mouth.

I know he's not completely serious about seeing April. I wish I knew why he feels he has something to prove.

Liz rolled her eyes at Alex when Max picked up his phone on the first ring. "Hey… no, I'm not busy."

"You're going to see her at school tomorrow." Liz reminded him but he just threw a pillow at her. "They're sickening."

"You're one to talk." Alex poked her in the side. "Maybe I haven't been here all week but I saw you and Jeremy Oaks drooling all over each other."

"We weren't drooling." Liz protested with a smile.

"Fill me in on this latest turn…"

Surely he knows that he shouldn't hang all over her in public.

"Spring Break should definitely be longer." Maria complained, then suddenly smiled. "Look at them. That is so sweet."

Liz turned from her locker to see Max leaning next to April's locker with his hands shoved in his pockets. April already had the flower in her hand. Shy smiles were exchanged with short pleasantries before Max backed off in the direction of his class with a small wave. Liz snorted and turned back to her locker.

"Come on, Chiquita, it's adorable." Maria steered her in the direction of their first class.

"I just don't understand why they have to be so obvious."

"Ugh. You're grumpy. Where's your man?"

"Around, I guess. He said he might come to first period but he has a doctor's appointment during second, so he might not even come until lunch."

"Ah, so that's why you're cranky."

I didn't want to but Max begged me and we're doubledating.

Liz shed her apron in the backroom after her shift. It had taken a lot of convincing to get off on a Friday night but after she promised Jeremy would stop by before they left, they relented. Max suddenly appeared with two shirts in hand. "Maria's no help. Which one?"

Sighing, she looked them both over. "Max, they're both charcoal and v-neck. What's the difference?"

"That's what Maria said." Max fell onto the couch.

"Well, I've still gotta shower. You figure it out until then."

Max got up and moved to the mirror in the bathroom to examine the shirts. He was a little surprised when Mrs. Parker tapped his shoulder and pointed to the one in his right hand. "She must be some girl."

"She's really nice. This is the first official date." Max set the extra shirt down and moved to close the door to change but Mrs. Parker had that look. "Jeremy?"

"Is he a good boy?"

"Yeah. He's always been good to me. He treats Liz good. He's smart." Max nodded and shrugged. "Last name is Oaks, his mom works at the cheese factory."

Nancy nodded and stepped back to let him change his shirt. When he emerged, Liz was coming down the steps braiding her hair. "So, Oh. You picked a shirt."

"Your mom picked it."

"Well, you look… sharp."

"Thanks. I'll go pick up, April. We'll meet you there."

"Ok."

It went alright I guess but I swear I have a cavity and if he had been drooling more, we would have all drowned. It's sickening.

"So, did you kiss her?" Maria prodded.

"Just once." Max shrugged.

"Was it sweet? I'll bet it was sweet. This was the first kiss, right?"

"Yeah. It was nice."

Jeremy nudged Liz, making her smile when he grabbed her hand under the table. They just listened to Maria and Max hash the details of their date the night before. Both friends turned their eyes on Liz. "What?"

"You could have been nicer to her." Max accused.

"I was nice. I don't know her all that well." Liz protested.

"You were kinda rude." Jeremy sat up to avoid being smacked.

"I was sociable. I was nice. I included her in the conversation." Liz looked around only to find that Max and Jeremy were exchanging a look. "What?"

"You called her Amy, twice." Jeremy pointed out.

"You thought she was friends with Pam Troy." Max added after a moment. He leaned over the table. "I really like her, Liz. I… want to see where this goes but if you don't like her, I'll try to keep her away…"

"Don't do that." Liz shook her head. "I'll apologize."

"Don't." Maria jumped in. "You didn't do it on purpose, right?"

It's not that I don't like April but she and Max are not good for each other. They are so much on opposite sides of the spectrum that it just can't work. I only want Max to be happy.

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker and I'm outraged. The nerve of Jeremy to accuse me of being in love with Max. I haven't even thought of him that way in forever. What is with everyone lately?

Liz let Jeremy lead her into the auditorium. The lights were on the stage but it was lunch and even the drama club took it outside for lunch. "Why are we here?"

"I wanted to talk to you alone." Jeremy shrugged and led her to a door that opened into the sound booth. "No interruptions."

"Well, we didn't have to come in here for that but I'm not complaining." Liz took a seat next to him but he stayed standing to fiddle with some switches. "Jeremy, what's wrong?"

"That's what I want to know. You know... The first date at my place, it was okay to have Max and Val there. It was new and I didn't want it to be uncomfortable. Then when Max started seeing April. That was fine too. It was a first for them and it was more comfortable. But we don't need the two of them on anymore of our dates and they certainly don't need us on anymore of theirs." Slowly, he turned to face her. The surprise was a shock to him. "Right?"

"I just don't want them in over their heads."

"It's not like either of them haven't dated before, Liz. We can take the training wheels off. They're doing fine." He crossed his arms and his green eyes sparkled for a second. "Unless you don't want them doing fine."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know what I mean." He licked his lips and looked at a spot above her head. "Sometimes... I'm not all that convinced that you're dating me. Sometimes it feels like the double-dates are an excuse to keep an eye on Max. Maybe you don't want him dating at all. Maybe sometimes when you're kissing me, you're really kissing him."

Liz blinked at him. "How can you say that?"

"We..." He gestured to the two of them. "Have not had an enjoyable date alone since Max started seeing April. I think that maybe... you've still got it for him and don't want to let him go. Maybe you like having him on the side, waiting and willing to step up the moment you give the word."

Jeremy was way off base. Maria... I don't know what her problem is. Alex... hasn't said a word but I feel like he's judging me.

Alex watched Liz watch Jeremy watch the sky and shook his head. They must have had it out and this was the aftermath. Liz's evening off and instead of having fun, they were sitting at the Crashdown, outside, staring at each other. When Max joined them with a smile on his face, they all glowered at him. "Hey guys." He was in too good a mood to notice that no one else shared his disposition. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." Jeremy bit out and got to his feet. He seemed to want to tell Max something but inside shook his head and sat down again. "Absolutely nothing."

Max shook his head to clear it and turned to Liz. "What do you think? Do I look alright? You think April will like it?"

"I don't think I'm allowed to answer that question, am I, Jeremy?" Liz glared at her boyfriend. "I would say you looked nice and any girl would be lucky to have you but my boyfriend might think I'm hitting on you." She got up and stormed into the Crashdown and up into her room, leaving the three boys in an awkward silence.

"Please tell me I'm wrong." Jeremy pleaded without looking at them.

"Liz hasn't given me the time of day in over a year." Max told him. "I don't know why she's being the way she is."

"Maria's inside. Ask her how you look." Alex told Max and waited until he was inside to turn to Jeremy. "Man... I don't know what's going on, I really don't but... I know Liz and I don't think she's being honest with herself."

"You think it's over?"

"I don't know. I know that Liz likes you, a lot. Proven by how mad she got. She never got this mad over Kyle... ever. She's only been this worked up a few times. Does she still have a thing for Max? Maybe. I think so but she swears she wouldn't put herself through that again."

Jeremy laid his head down on the table and covered his head with his hands. "I just wish I knew what was going on. I asked her to leave Max and April alone and she started spouting all that shit about how he's not ready to date on his own."

"Believe me, I don't have a clue. Maybe you're right but Liz will never tell you the truth to your face."

Why can't anyone believe me when I tell them the truth?

TBC

[DMartinez]

AN: This is the last one tonight.

I'm Liz Parker and I'm never leaving the house again. I'll get my diploma by mail and I'll get a whole bunch of cats to keep me company.

"She hasn't gotten out of bed all weekend." Maria told the guys where they waited on the staircase that led into the apartment. "I don't know what happened with Jeremy last night but he's not answering his phone, either."

"Wasn't she supposed to work this morning?" Max prodded.

"She told her dad she had cramps and he told her to stay in bed all she wanted. I don’t know where Mrs. Parker is.” She sagged against the railing. “She won’t even talk to me.

I just don’t know what I’m doing anymore.

“I heard you haven’t been out of your room since last night… and here it is afternoon. You’ve got to be hungry or something.”

Nothing makes sense and nothing is right and no one cares what’s really going on with me… like I even know myself.

“Don’t feel bad… I think he’s the love ‘em and leave ‘em type, anyway… Liz? You in there?”

I don’t want to get out of bed and I don’t want to talk.

“I’m just trying to be your friend… like you’ve been for me… I’m a lot stronger than I used to be thanks to you… Less afraid, I guess.”

People don’t know what they’re talking about.

“I got intense over you and it was scary, that place, because I opened up immediately and then it was gone because… I stopped being intense. I relaxed a little too much and acted stupid. You’re right I guess. I’m an intense person and probably only over one thing at a time. Isabel says all men are single-minded. We haven’t been close, Isabel and me, since you and I were dating… but you and I haven’t been close since I started dating April.”

No one has a clue.

“I never used to think I’d be happy. Never. Then you looked at me and I figured you’d be the only way I could be. I thought I’d die without you. You, uh… have that effect on people. I had to change. When you kissed Michael, I knew, and especially after that night we don’t talk about. April… I was curious and then we had fun. We’re both kinda quiet and she gets me. We spend hours just… sitting in silence and looking into each other. You said she wasn’t intense but she is… and when I kiss her, I can feel all of her just waiting for someone to get her.”

Not a damn clue.

“I’m happy even though I know it won’t last.”

Not really anyway.

“April’s dad got a transfer. She’s moving in two months and there’s no one else I can talk to… but you’re not in much of a talking mood. Maybe you’ll listen though.”

Maybe someone.

“I know you’re hurting, Liz, and you want to be alone but maybe you shouldn’t be. Jeremy might have been nice but… there’s someone better for you. Maybe he’s in Roswell or maybe he’s in Cambridge… waiting for you to show up and be the brilliant biologist that I know you’re going to be.”

Maybe I can stop and be unselfish.

Liz opened the door to find Max sitting in the hallway. “Is she really leaving?” He nodded as she sat next to him. “It’ll be okay.”

“Probably.” He nodded again. “But it’ll be a couple of months. You’re the one that’s hurting right now.”

“Wallowing is more like it.” She accepted his hug and suddenly clung to his warmth as the tears came. “Why, Max?”

“I don’t know.”

“Jeremy thought… I never even thought of being with someone else and he accused me of playing him. I have never done that to anyone.”

“I know.” Max let her cry in his arms. “But it’s not the end of the world.”

“Couldn’t you tell I cared about him? I thought it was obvious.”

“It was. Maybe he’s just stupid.” He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back. “I know, Liz. I know. You cared a lot. He hurt you by saying what he did.”

“Do you know?” She sat up to look him in the eye.

Max shook his head and pulled a Kleenex out of his pocket. “No… but I can guess. There have been a lot of awkward silences lately.” She waited as he turned things over in his mind. “Jealous. Yes. Romantically, no.”

Sometimes someone you least expect will just get it.

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker and I'm healing. Jeremy left a hole when he broke up with me. A big gaping gunshot wound that I figured wouldn't ever close. It's awkward when we run into each other at school. Maria doesn't say much but I can feel her accusing me with her eyes. Alex doesn't judge but I know he's holding back an opinion or two. And Max… well, poor Max doesn't know what to do. April's leaving and he's upset. They've got a couple of weeks left and it's tearing him apart. I just wish there was something I could do.

“So, the choices are minimal. It’s Friday night in Roswell.” Maria prompted them. “Prom is in two weeks and I am dateless. There is however, a plan.”

“Is anyone else very afraid of her next words?” Alex raised his hand plaintively.

Liz barely looked up from her order pad that she was pretending to take their orders on. “I’m very afraid.”

“We are, too.” Max kissed April’s head and tuned his ears into the conversation.

“Where are all the guys on Friday nights in Roswell? They are at the baseball game.” Maria informed them, ignoring their jibes at her plan making. “That’s where Freddy spends his Friday nights.”

“No.” Alex told her.

“What? You haven’t heard the plan yet.”

“I don’t need to.” He sipped his orange soda and turned to Max for help. “They drifted apart. No explanation, see. Just faded away from each other’s memory after they had used each other for lollipops for three weeks. She wants to go hang out and flirt at the baseball field so she can a) make Freddy jealous, that is, if he’s even still interested, b) put herself officially on the market for prom, which, I think, is a tad desperate at this point and c) snag a date for the annual mating ritual, which, I am proud to announce that I will be attending with a date.”

“What?” Liz had started to wander back to the counter but nearly jumped in Alex’s lap to demand details. “Who are you going with? You didn’t even tell us you were thinking of asking anyone.”

“Well, as we all know, the Suzy Jacobs thing is of the past but apparently word has gotten out that I am a decent and loveable guy.” Alex straightened in his seat. “I have a date with the very lovely Tiffany Smith.”

“The cheerleader?” Maria’s mouth hung open and turned to Max. “Isn’t she one of the Queen’s tagalongs?”

“Yes, actually.” Max sat up without creating any distance between himself and April. “One of the snottier tagalongs if I recall.”

“Max, behave.” April chided softly and squeezed his hand.

“Oh, I did believe for about two hours that it was a cruel and unusual type of joke until I got the scoop from the Queen herself. She rolled her eyes at me, Mr. Alexander Charles Whitman, and asked if Max had asked the lovely Miss April to the prom. I, of course, spilled the beans.” Alex winked at the couple and continued his account of the day. “Then the lovely Queen of Hearts scoffed and rolled her eyes once more before surveying all of the manliness that is yours truly. She drew in a breath and made the most irritated face. ‘So, Tiffany said she’d go with you to the prom, right?’ and I assured her that she had. She shrugged so chicly and turned to go, spouting out a single sentence over her shoulder as her man-posse arrived to whisk her away. ‘The girl could do worse.’ Not the compliment I would have liked but the Queen has lowered to view me as a male of the species and I, Alexander Charles Whitman, will remember today as the day that not one, but two of West Roswell High’s social elite looked at Alexander Charles Whitman and saw not a geek but a man to be dated.”

“You know, those of us who have to live with Isabel, however lovely she may be, would appreciate it if people wouldn’t feed into her delusion that she is somehow better and more deserving of attention than everyone else.” Max commented with a shake of his head.

“Last night, she hung up on me because she wanted Max to get off the phone.” April whispered in what the group found to be her manner. Even if no one could hear a word she said, Max did and that was all that mattered.

“Sounds like Miss Isabel.” Liz rolled her eyes and got moving before her father could yell at her.

“So, April, where is it that you’re moving to? And how much more glamorous than Roswell is it?” Maria demanded to know as she draped herself over the table to hear the girl’s small voice.

“Charleston, Virginia.” She looked to Max, who had fixed his eyes on the napkin holder. “I’ve lived there before and normally I would have liked to go back…”

“Oh but you and Max are in puppy love and it’s heart-breaking.” Maria sighed dreamily.

“Yeah, it is actually.” Max warned her not so gently to drop the subject.

“Note taken, wow.” Maria sat back. “If we can’t talk about you, we’ll have to talk about me and getting me a date to the junior prom.” She pleaded with them and pulled a magazine out of her purse. “This is the dress I’m aiming for and if I don’t find a guy that will look good next to it, I’m just not going to go.” Suddenly, Maria went still. Alex followed her gaze and tilted his head. Max turned and froze. “Is that Tony?”



Liz was caught somewhere between a smile and shock. Her hand shook as she took the rose from his hand. Anthony Najera had stridden into the restaurant, knelt before her and presented her with a rose without saying a word. “Thank you?”

“Oh my lovely, thy wounds are raw still, abandoned by him who didn’t fit the bill. I ask just once on bended knee, Would you just come with me. A fortnight hence is a dance and I hope you would give me a chance. To have fun and dance a while, a few hours to make you smile. I asked around and it would appear, my lady is a fan of Shakespeare. I’ve doodled at school and at home, to make a go at a poem. If my words fail I do fear, you’ll find me anything but sincere. So I wait, I won’t even guess. I hope your answer is yes.”

It was the most embarrassing and yet the sweetest thing that anyone’s ever done for or to me. I had about given up on going just because I’ve been depressed about Jeremy and there was Tony. He’s cute but that’s about the only thing I really know about him. I’ve had a few classes with him but I’ve never worked with him and I just don’t know.

“I thought you were supposed to prevent this.” Maria hissed to Max between clenched teeth.

“I thought I did.” He hiss back.

“What are you two grinding your teeth about?” Alex narrowed his eyes at them.

“Tony’s been sniffing after Liz for months.” Maria explained quickly. “She’s totally out of his league. He’s a complete loser.”

“He’s always been cool with me.” Alex defended the poor guy who had obviously gotten on Maria’s bad side.

“That’s the only setting he has.” April whispered, agreeing with Max and Maria. “He hangs out with my brother.” That didn’t seem to satisfy Alex’s curiosity so she went on. “They hang out behind the field.”

“Behind the… yeah.” Alex winced and looked to where Liz was still in shock. “Are you sure?”

“Almost positive. Almost.” The quiet girl admitted. “I could be wrong though.”

“Let’s hope you are, for Liz’s sake.” Alex nodded when it looked like Liz had agreed to the date.




Liz nodded and motioned for him to get to his feet. “I, uh, I have to get back to work but maybe… later… we could talk.”

“I will call you tonight? After close?” Tony began to back away with a slight smile on his face.

“11:30.” She nodded.

“11:30 it is.” He nodded and bowed before letting himself out of the restaurant.

Liz was barely able to wait on a few tables before she could sit with her friends for a moment. “Was that not the craziest thing ever?”

“Wild, man.” Maria shook her head. “You said yes?”

“Well, yeah, he obviously went to a lot of trouble to ask me out.” Liz felt a dopey grin slip onto her face. “Besides, I should go to prom. Just because… Jeremy and I… I should still go and have fun and I could probably have fun with Tony.”

“Yeah, okay.” Maria backed down and looked to Max, who looked to April, who shrugged.

“We should make it a group thing.” He suggested. “We’ll all go together. The six of…” He winced without looking at Maria. “Eight of us if… When. When some lucky guy asks Maria.”

“You are not suave, Mr. Evans.” Maria growled at him. “And I will. I WILL get a date to prom. Just you watch me.” She sat and from her huge purse pulled the yearbook. “You and me, girlfriend. We’ll weed out my victim. He will be seduced and he will ask me to prom. We just have to find him.”

I think the gang is trying to talk to me but I don’t know what about. Everyone’s been acting funny all night. I’m gonna go to prom with Tony, have fun and that will be that. It’s part of the healing process. Moving on. I wouldn’t doubt if Jeremy had asked someone before the week is up. He was off-base and I can prove it. Max and April don’t bother me anymore. She’s sweet, quiet, girl and we get along… now.

“Max?” Liz slid out onto her balcony after hanging up with Tony. It was late and there should be no reason for anyone to be hanging out on her roof.

“I… I need some advice.” He sat straddling the edge. “I talked to Michael but he was no help. I would talk to Isabel but this is a… sensitive subject and I… I don’t think I can talk to Alex about it.”

“Max, what is it?” Liz pulled a chair near to him so she could listen.

“It’s just that.” He looked to the sky. “We’re juniors, you know. I just turned 18.”

“Max?”

“Well, think about it.” He tapped his foot nervously. “I talked to Maria some and she told me that she would die before she went to college a virgin. That most girls would.”

“Maria doesn’t have to worry. She’s got a year.” Liz shook her head. “Why are you worried about Maria’s virginity?”

“Well, it’s not Maria’s exactly. April and I were talking and… Well, we’re juniors.”

“Max, say it. I know we’re juniors.” Liz swallowed thickly. This didn’t sound like a good conversation. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, Maria’s got a year to find the guy, you know? Probably someone she’s liked since she was four, they’ll hit it off and she’ll have fulfilled her agenda, you know? April’s of the same mind… but she’ll be a senior at a new school. Even if she fits in right away, it’ll only be a few months, she says.”

“A few months?”

“She says that, um, getting over me will take the summer and then a few months. Then fitting in will take some time leaving only a month or two at the end of the year to find someone.”

“You’re not making sense.”

“Liz, she wants to… have sex… with me… before she goes to Virginia and I… I don’t know what to do.” Max got the words out slowly but in a rush and he kept tapping his foot incessantly. “It’s not that I don’t want to but I’m thinking that if she’s leaving in two weeks. The night after prom that I don’t want to do that to myself or to her.”

Liz sat in shock and blinked rapidly. “What did Michael say?”

“He says it’s not safe.” Max cleared his throat. “Diseases, which is stupid if we’re both virgins. He says, why get attached if… not everyone is sticking around… but then he says that if I follow my… energy source and do it, he wants details.”

“Typical guy.” Liz muttered and for a moment found herself bewildered that she had kissed the guy, twice.

“I don’t know what to do.” He buried his face in his hands. “We agreed that when she leaves, we’re over because it’s too far and we still have to get through high school and college… and we’re just not serious enough to attempt the distance, physically and over time.”

“Max, if the two of you don’t want to… attempt the distance… why get this close?” Liz forced the words out. For the first time in months she was ready to acknowledge that the bile boiling in her gut was jealousy. “Why do something so intimate with someone you’re not going to know next year?” She made him look at her. “That doesn’t sound like you. Why are you thinking so hard about this?”

“I don’t want to break up before prom.” He shrugged and looked away. “I want things to be good for the next two weeks.”

“Max, if you are uncomfortable with the idea, tell her. Maybe she’s just scared. Maybe she thinks you want this and is scared that you’ll be mad at her if you don’t. Talk to her, really talk to her before you do anything stupid.” Liz rubbed her stomach. It was roiling and screaming at her to say something but she couldn’t really say what she wanted.

I’ll just wait and see how things go. Maybe it won’t be all that bad.

TBC

[DMartinez]

I'm Liz Parker and my friends are conspiring against my dating. It's one date. I didn't say I'd marry Tony and they've been looking at each other. Giving each other these looks and they give me these looks and I have no clue what's going on. I do like Tony, when I’m with him, I feel like the only girl on the face of the Earth. I feel special and I don’t think I’ve really felt like that in a long time.

"This one is supposed to give you strength and this one keeps you healthy and this one… well, I forget what this one does but my mother makes me carry it around." Tony placed each crystal in Liz's hands for her inspection. She watched him clench his bare toes in the grass.

She held it up to the light and none of them were perfect but seemed to have been split naturally. "Ok, why do you have this one, the health one, on a necklace?"

"Well." He took it back and hung it around his neck. "You wear it so that… it lays right over your heart, where it's needed the most. For the best results, you wear it under your shirt." He held up the other two. "I'm supposed to keep this one under my hat but let me tell you, it's hard to keep it in there and this one… I keep in my pocket. You know? Sometimes when I'm nervous, I stick my hand in my pocket it and rub it a little for luck."

"So do you believe that these things work?" Liz shifted against the tree she sat near.

"Well, I don't really but I got so used to carrying them around that I feel a little lost without them." His deep brown eyes hid behind his heavy eyelashes for a moment. "It makes my mom happy if I go along with it, you know?"

"Yeah, I do the same with my mom." Liz slipped her feet out of her sandals to feel the grass beneath her toes.

"Yeah? I thought… you know, that parents of nerds were different." He scooted closer to her.

"No. My parents… they tell me all these things that I'm going to do and I nod and smile and say 'yes sir' but half the time I'm not even really listening because I know what I want to do… and don't think I didn't just hear you call me a nerd. There will be retribution for that." Liz poked him in the arm.

"Retribution. Not 'payback' and not 'revenge'. Retribution." Tony nodded to himself. "Retribution. I like that word."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Ask away." His little toe brushed hers.

"Why did you ask me out?"

"Well…" He focused his vision on her toenails. "I've been wanting to ask you out all semester but I'm a chicken. I talked to Max and he's the one that told me you were this hopeless romantic and it would take a grand gesture to get your attention."

"What?" Liz straightened. "He didn't tell me he talked to you."

"Maybe he was jealous." Tony shrugged. "This was before he started seeing Gary's little sister, mind you. Then you were seeing that guy and when I saw the opportunity, I took it."

"Well, I am not actually a hopeless romantic. I do like Shakespeare but I've never expected anyone to write me a poem."

"I think I screwed it up, anyway."

"Well, it did get my attention." Liz nudged him. They turned their heads to each other at the same time and smashed foreheads. "Ow."

"Yeah, me too." Tony rubbed his head and then hers. "You okay?"

"I'll live." The warmth of his hand on her forehead sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. His hand was replaced by his lips. When she tried to make her move, her nose smashed into his chin.

"Oh crap." Tony muttered and gently rubbed her nose. "This isn't working too well, is it?"

"What's that they say? Third time's the charm." Liz pulled his hand away.

"Okay. Game plan. You stay still and I'll kiss you and when I do, then you can kiss me back."

"Alright." Liz giggled a little and shut her eyes. "Tony?" When she opened her eyes, he was trying not to laugh and that made her laugh. "You okay?"

"It's just that every time I lean in, I think about the pain in my head and then about your nose and I can't help it."

"You stay still and I'll kiss you."

Then they both burst out laughing. "I don't think we should attempt any kisses right now, we may hurt each other permanently."

"Okay. We'll forget about it for now." Liz agreed and turned to gather her shoes. When she turned back, his lips were on hers. And the kiss was amazing.

I didn't think I'd have this much fun with someone I barely know but Tony is so unbelievably cool that it's hard not to. We're going to hang out a couple of more times before prom and I hope the guys can get over what ever it is they have against Tony. For once I don’t feel like a miniature adult, I feel like a teenager and that is a wonderful feeling with all this PSAT and PACT crap going around.

Liz tapped her English book for ten minutes straight and Max didn’t look up once. It was Monday night at the Crashdown. Study night. English night and he was pretending he didn’t hear her doing the one thing that he hated most. “Max.”

“Huh?”

She kicked his book. She really shouldn’t have her feet on the table but her Dad wasn’t working. “Why didn’t you tell me you talked to Tony back before Valentine’s?”

“You were agonizing about Sean.” He shrugged and still wouldn’t look up from his book.

“You told him that I was a hopeless romantic.” Liz narrowed her eyes at him. “I think you were trying to scare him off.”

“I was.” He finally looked up. “And not for any selfish reasons. Tony’s a druggie, Liz.”

“He is not.”

“April’s brother is a coke-head. They hang out together all the time.” Max told her. “She’s the one that told me. When I first told him all that stuff, I was just plain jealous. Okay? I admit it. When I started dating April, she’d tell me things. Gary and Tony are like blood brothers.”

“Just because Gary’s doped up, doesn’t mean that Tony is too.” Liz bit out.

“Liz.” Max sighed heavily and gathered his books. He knew her too well. There would be no communication though there would be much arguing and absolutely no studying would get done. “Let’s not fight. I was just trying to protect you… we all were. Ask him.”

“Maybe I will.”

Tony on drugs? I think Max is the one on drugs. I mean, he’s a cool guy but that doesn’t mean he’s hooked on something. Right? They could hang out and not do drugs. Not everyone is guilty by association. Surely Max knows that.

“My brother’s lending me his car.”

“Really?”

“It’s really sweet. He’s doctor and man, does he get paid.”

“Cool.”

“Liz?”

“Yeah?”

“You alright?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just… Max was telling me some things that April said about her brother.” Liz tapped her knee nervously but felt naked even over the phone.

“Really.” His tone changed. “Like what?”

“That he goes behind the field to do coke.”

“Well, yeah.”

“Oh.”

“Liz, the real reason that they’re moving, is to get Gary help. They got him into this rehab center over there and then he’s going straight to boot camp when he gets out. The Major has his life all planned out for him.” Tony inhaled harshly and let it out loudly. “I’ll bet even April doesn’t know about the boot camp thing. Gary wants to get straightened out… we… we didn’t know he had a problem until he told us they were moving.” Silence stretched on the line. “Ask me, Liz.”

“Do you?”

“Have a problem with drugs? No. Have I on occasion partaken in some milder things? Yeah. I drink and smoke when I party but I didn’t ask you to a party. I asked you to prom.” He sniffed a little. “If you don’t want to go anymore, I understand. Let me know.”

“Can I get back to you on that?”

“Just… make an informed decision. I would never ask you to do anything you don’t want to do and I wouldn’t put your life in danger. I mean, we’re taking my brother’s car. I’d have to be insane to mess that up by even chancing an accident, right?” When Liz didn’t laugh, he sighed. “I’ll just wait for you to get back to me.”

And maybe he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me but I have to think and I can’t have my friends breathing down my neck about it… although some advice would be really nice about now. There are too many factors. Kyle drank and sometimes when he was driving me places. It bothered me but I knew Kyle forever. I guess I trusted him because our parents are friends and we dated for a whole summer. I just ‘met’ Tony. I like him but… I guess I don’t know if I trust him.

TBC