REMEMBRANCE CC M/L mature ch9 23/02/06 [WIP]

[Kylie the control freak]

thanks for sticking with me guys. here is a new chapter (not very long sadly, but you can't be picky), just for you guys.


CHAPTER NINE:

Zan Evans, despite the interest surrounding him, his family and those he knew, led a fairly simple life. While his apartment was undoubtedly in the best part of the city, it was decorated tastefully, and what’s more, it was him. It hadn’t been specially decorated to fit some current trend or expectation. The earthy tones of his furniture exuded an air of comfort and one couldn’t help but smile upon entering his home. After all, Zan did decorate like an eighty year old woman, with nearly every surface and wall adorned with seemingly random knick knacks, mementos and photographs.

All in all, Zan loved the place and was not looking forward to the time when he would have to give it up. But it was necessary: this place had been his for so long that it could never be ‘theirs’. He and Tess needed a place that they could call their own. they were about to become a family- and maybe even start their own, and they couldn't be that in this apartment. Zan couldn't explain his reasoning, but he just knew he was right.

A fresh beginning; a new start, Zan sighed as he relaxed further into his leather recliner as he flicked through the channels. There was nothing on and he was bored out of his mind. Glancing towards the phone, he debated with himself whether to call her. She might already be busy... making up his mind, he strode to the door and got her number out of his pocket. Picking up the cordless phone on the way back to his chair, Zan flopped back down into the chair and began dialling.

She picked up the phone just before it rung out and by her short hello he knew he'd interrupted her. Their conversation was short and centred on talk about the wedding.

"So how is Elizabeth really going, Zan?” Tess asked in exasperation. “I called her earlier to see how things were progressing, only to find out that she had decided to change Arabella's dress!"

Zan already knew about the change from his sister and the reason why it had occurred.

"It wasn't really Elizabeth's fault, Tess,” Zan tried to reason. “The dress didn't suit Bella and she didn't like it so-"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Tess' sarcastic voice cut in, "I thought it was my wedding but obviously Elizabeth and Arabella are the one's in charge. I had better run my wedding dress designs by them soon to make sure it's going to fit in with what they’re planning."

"Well, I must have been mistaken too then, because I was under the impression that it was our wedding," Zan replied with equal force. "Bella is an important part of my family, you know that Tess, and you also know that it's important to me that she's happy with what's going on."

"But what about my happiness?” Tess responded before sighing in exasperation. “You know what? Okay. Whatever," she conceded begrudgingly. "Let's not fight about it."

Zan could hear a voice in the background trying to get Tess’ attention.. “ Just give me a sec, okay?"

Zan waited patiently as he listened to Tess directing whoever had interrupted them. He couldn’t make out what was being said but by the tone of the man’s voice he could tell it wasn’t good news.

He’d called at a really bad time.

"Look, Justin is it? Give me a minute. Sweetie, I’ve got to go okay?” Tess apologised as she turned her attention back towards him. “I’ve got so much to do here... and everyone here is completely inept.” Zan cringed at the tone of her voice and couldn’t help but feel sorry for whatever poor fool had screwed up.

“God!” she continued, “I can’t wait till we get married and I can leave all of this behind! Love you, bye.”

Zan was so caught up by her words that he barely had time to say goodbye before he registered the beeping that indicated Tess was gone.

Easing back into his chair, Zan thought over his future wife’s bombshell. He’d had no idea that she was planning on quitting her job straight after they got married. But then, he probably should have seen it coming; from what he’d deduced from the women Tess kept company with, women of their position only needed to be accomplished and exceptional until they got married.

Thinking back on the entire conversation, Zan couldn’t help his frustration at how things had ended up going. Why couldn’t he ever just stand down?

Why did he let his feelings get the better of him?

*************************************************************

She wouldn’t speak to him. He’d half expected the cold shoulder, but after a while Zan was sure she’d come round.

A couple weeks passed, and she didn’t.

It didn’t help things that they were the talk of the school. It also didn’t help the rumours (or his pride) that Liz just went on fine while he walked around looking like someone had just run over his puppy.

But then, teenagers in highschool really aren’t that perceptive. They would see her look away when he entered a room or walked past, but none of them saw the pain openly displayed in her downcast eyes.

And none of them were there at night when she cried.

When words failed him, he turned to gifts. Shows of affection designed to make her realise how sorry he was. But, not even dozens of white roses had any affect. Neither did chocolate or expensive bracelets.

All in all, it had been three weeks. Sitting up in his room, Max struggled to decide what his next move should be. None of his previous attempts had produced even the tiniest response and he knew he had to lift his game; what he’d done couldn’t be fixed with confectionary. While pride and indignation had blinded him to her pain at first, he had eventually realised that while not being with her hurt him, being around him, hurt her. He could see it on her face every time she looked at him before quickly turning away and the knowledge that he had turned her joy in their love to anguish hurt more than his pride, regret and own sadness put together.

“Max? Can I have a minute?”

Turning to face his mother, he nodded and gestured for her to come in.

Sitting in front of her son, Diane Evans looked at the change the last few weeks had had on him.

“I don’t mean to pry... but honey, I know something’s wrong: we’ve been listening to the Counting Crows for three weeks. Now, I’m not asking to know what happened between you and Liz,” Diane raised her hand for silence as Max began to interject. “But, I don’t like seeing you like this.” Reaching out her hand, Diane gently cupped her son’s face.

“I know you love her and I know you want to fix whatever’s happened, but do you really think she cares about flowers and chocolates? It’s called the big gesture not the expensive gesture, Max. Liz doesn't love you because of your money and she’s not going to forgive you for it either.” Diane explained in a soft voice that betrayed some of her own heartache, before standing up.

“Now dinner’s going to be ready in fifteen okay, and I want to see you at that table,” his mother stated firmly, before smiling slightly at his mock salute.

“Aye, aye, captain,”

“And Max,” Diane said as she stopped at the door, “don’t forget that I’m here if you need me.”

Nodding once again, Max lay back on his bed. He had a lot of thinking to do.

*************************************************************

Dinner was a quiet affair. With Phillip still at the office, it was just Diane and Max and it was in these quiet times that Diane missed her daughter the most. She was used to her husband’s absence, but somehow, when she was with her children, she didn’t seem to feel his gaping absence as keenly.

Slowly walking around her bedroom, Diane readied herself for bed. It was almost eleven and she was just pulling the covers of her bed back when she heard the soft knocking on her door. For a second, hope swelled within her that it was her husband... but Phillip would never knock.

“Come in, Max.”

Diane watched as the door opened slowly to reveal an anxious looking Max.

“You said that if I needed your help, I just had to ask.”

“Whatever you need.” Diane reaffirmed as she bit back a smile at the sight of her son. For the first time in weeks, there was a glint of fire in her son’s eyes.

“I need to find a song.”

While momentarily stunned by his declaration, Diane couldn’t help but smile this time at the determined look on her son’s face.

“Well, let’s get to it.”

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It wasn’t until hours later that Diane finally made it to bed. However, despite being curled up in her soft sheets, she couldn’t sleep. She had just witnessed first hand how much her son loved Liz Parker, and for the first time in a long time, she felt truly jealous of what another woman had.