Roswell Fanatics

Title: Against the Tide

Disclaimer: The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended.

Couples/Category: M/L, AU

Rating: TEEN

Summary: Max and Liz meet on a plane and start talking. What will happen after they land?

Author's Note: I know, I know, the summary sucks. So I suggest you just read it and find out where I'm going with this. I wrote this story last year (I think) but never got around to finishing it. So as I've only written half the story, the regularity of the posts will gradually slow down. I hope you enjoy it. The first chapter is based a lot on personal experience (after you read it you'll realise that is not a good thing!) and conversations I've had while travelling. Let me know what you think.


1

She hated to fly. Loved to travel, but hated to fly. It wasn’t the thought of plummeting to the ground from 30,000 feet, because let’s face it; you have a greater chance of being killed in a motor vehicle accident than a plane crash. No, she hated to fly because she had a weak stomach. Car sickness, boat sickness, air sickness, even the Ferris wheel at the show grounds made her queasy. Thinking of the fourteen hour plane flight from Sydney to Los Angeles almost prevented her from ever leaving Australia, but she did it. She managed to pick up the courage, and with the help of some travel sickness tablets and sleeping pills, she managed to get on a plane to follow her dream.

That was over four years ago, and now she found herself, yet again, sitting on a plane bound for Los Angeles. She had an aisle seat, which helped make her feel less claustrophobic, and there was a seat between her and the passenger in the window seat. ‘Thank you,’ she breathed inwardly, ‘there is a God’. There is nothing on earth worse than being airsick, sitting in economy class stuck in the middle seat between two 420 pound men on either side. It had happened once, and she had seriously considered that tossing open the escape hatch and throwing herself out of the plane was a more appealing option.

Having watched the safety procedures, she now braced herself for the take off. If she could make it though the take off, she knew there was a very high chance of getting through the flight without embarrassing herself with having to use the sick bag. She checked that her seat was well stocked just in case.

The plane started to move, and she held on to the armrests as though they were her lifesaver, clutching them until her knuckles went white. ‘It’s not too late to get off and catch a boat instead’ she thought to herself, but the idea of being stuck on the ocean for months was not that appealing either. ‘What I need is one of those Teleporters from Star Trek. Where I could beam myself from one side of the world to the other in a split second.’ She mused to herself. Adjusting the airflow to maximum, and then manoeuvring the spare air jet from the empty seat next to her also towards her direction for good measure, she sat back, eyes closed and waited for the next ten minutes to be over.

Luckily, for once it was an amazing clear day in London, and the takeoff was not as bumpy as it could have been. She actually felt not too bad for once, so as the plane plateaued, she pried her hands from the armrests, put on the headphones, and grabbed the magazine she had picked up at the newsagency on the way in. Flipping through the first few pages, she found the suns raze was glaring in her eyes.

“Excuse me.” She said to the man next to her, taking off her headphones. “Could you close the blind please?”

“Yeah sure.” He said in an American accent, pulling the blind down but not making eye contact with her. Instead he seemed to pull the baseball cap further over his face.

“Hey, do I know you?” She asked.

She almost thought she heard him groan at the question, as though he had heard it a hundred times before. “I don’t think so.” He replied.

“Oh, you just have a familiar face, that’s all.” She said apologetically.

“Yeah I get that a lot.” He said, sounding annoyed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you.” She said, returning to her magazine.

“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.” He said, obviously feeling bad for snapping.

“It’s okay. I mean, you don’t know me, I don’t know you. I could be psychotic for all you know.”

“Are you?” He asked.

“No … are you?”

“No … at least, I don’t think so.” He smiled.

“Well, I’m glad that’s settled.” She said, flipping the page of her magazine.

“I’m Max by the way.” He said, extending his hand.

“Liz.” She said, shaking his hand.

“So, you’re English?” Max asked, noting her accent.

“No, I’m Australian.” Liz replied, feigning offence.

“Sorry, I just assumed since we were leaving London …”

“That’s okay. So you’re what? Canadian?”

“Clever, no, I’m American. I take your point.” Max conceded. “So you’re a long way from home then.”

“Yeah, although LA is my home at the moment.”

“How long have you been there?” Max asked.

“Two years and two months.”

“And how many days?” Max laughed.

“Twenty four.” Liz replied.

“You wouldn’t be home sick by any chance would you?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because you know exactly how long you have been away from home, like you’re missing it.”

“No, just keeping track of when my Visa is going to expire.”

“And when’s that?”

“Nine months and six days.” Liz replied.

“So you don’t miss home?”
“Sometimes.”

“What do you miss?”

“My friends and family. My pet dog Sam. The weather. The accent. I couldn’t tell you the last time I heard another Australian speak. Oh wait, yes I can. Three months ago I was in a Subway store, talking on my mobile, and the guy in the booth behind me leaned over and said that it was so nice to hear another Australian. I could totally relate.”

“C’mon, the Australians are dominating the movies, not to mention winning all the awards at the Oscars.”

“Yeah, but they all put on American accents.” I said, holding up my magazine that had a picture of Nicole Kidman. “When was the last time you heard Nicole say ‘How’s it goin’ mate’ to her leading man?”

“I take your point.” Max replied, before pointing to the magazine. “So you read all the gossip mag’s?”

“It’s a tradition. I always buy a magazine for plane trips and camping holidays.”

“Why then?”

“Because that’s the only time I have absolutely nothing to do that could be remotely more productive.” Liz said turning the page.

“Can I have a look at it?” Max said, practically snatching it from her.

“Uh, sure. Knock yourself out.” Liz said, somewhat shocked by his abruptness.

“Yeah I can see how this couldn’t be productive.” Max said, quickly flipping through the magazine. “Oh, look at this, J Lo is getting married for what … the sixth time?”

“Yeah I know. It’s all a load of crap.”

“Well then, we’ll have to give you something more productive to do.” He said, tucking the magazine back into the seat in front of him.

“What did you have in mind?”

“We could try rolling Malteasers down the aisle.”

“And how would that be productive?”

“I didn’t say it was brilliant, only that it is better than reading trashy magazines.” Max shrugged.

“How about we just continue a friendly conversation.”

“Okay, deal. Why did you move to LA?”

“It was kind of an accident. I had just finished a diploma in hospitality, and decided that if I wanted to be a great chef then I should travel the world and learn cooking from the best. You see, Australia is very multicultural, and you are more likely to eat pasta than traditional Australian food. So I figured, if I wanted to cook pasta, then I should learn from Italians, or if I wanted to cook Thai, I should learn from Thai people.”

“So tell me, what is traditional Australian food?”

“There’s not much. Lamingtons and Pavlova are traditional desserts, and then there’s Vegemite...”

“I’ve heard about that. You guys must have stomachs made of steel.”

“Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Besides, the trick is to spread it about ten times thinner than you Americans tend to. It’s great with butter and cheese on toast.”

“Okay, so what else?”

“Well I guess the only other food that wasn’t brought over by immigrants or convicts are Kangaroos and Emus.”

“Wait a minute, you actually eat Kangaroo and Emu?”

“Personally no, but some people do. I just can’t bring myself to eat something that is our national emblem. They’re on the fifty cent coin.”

“It would be like us eating Bald Eagle.” Max shuddered. “Okay, so you left Australia to begin your world culinary tour, how did you wind up in LA? It’s not really known for its cuisine.”

“I did make it to Europe. I worked in restaurants around Italy, France, Spain and Greece. I had an ‘Around the World’ plane ticket, so on the way home I stopped in LA. I wasn’t planning on working but I thought I would just take a week or two taking in the sights. Anyway, I was in Santa Monica, and saw a small restaurant by the pier that looked nice. Inside the place was chaotic. It seemed that the chef hadn’t turned up, and the owner had a restaurant full of people waiting for their meals. She seemed a little stressed, to put it mildly, so I offered to help out. By the end of the day she had offered me a job. I’ve been there ever since.”

“Wow. So what did the chef think of that?”

“Turns out he had been arrested the night before on a drugs charge and is currently spending some time in the state penitentiary.”

“So what’s the restaurant called? Maybe I’ve been there?”

“Café Blu. And you probably haven’t, it’s not very well known.”

“Café Blu … I’ll have to keep that in mind. What kind of food do you do?”

“A bit of everything. Amy let me introduce a lot of the things I learnt from my trip to Europe, so mainly Mediterranean food.”

“So what were you doing in London? Thinking about adding Bangers and Mash to the menu?”

“No.” Liz laughed, picturing Amy’s reaction at the mere suggestion. “I went to a friend’s wedding. We went to school together. After school she went to London to work, she had one of those working-holiday Visas. Anyway, she met her husband there, so she moved there permanently.”

“So why is everyone trying to get out of Australia? It’s supposed to be the lucky country.” Max asked.

“It is. When you leave you realize just how good it is. But it is so far away from the rest of the world that there are just more exciting travel and work opportunities overseas. Imagine having to commute thirty hours by plane to get to a meeting in Germany.”

“There are more important things in the world than work though.”

“That’s why the population in Australia is aging. All the young people are heading overseas for exciting opportunities, while all the retired English people are moving to Australia for the warmer climate. Plus, the pay is so much better in London.”

“So you have stayed in LA. Surely the work is not that different to restaurants in Australia?”

“Yeah, I guess I have made some friends in LA and so that is where I want to stay for the moment. I’m not ready to go home yet.” Liz said, looking a little uncomfortable, and wanting to change the subject. “So, enough about me. What about you? What do you do?”

“I … uh well, I’m a writer.”

“A writer? Really? What kind of things do you write?”

“At the moment I am working on a play.”

“What’s it about?”

“Well, it’s not finished, but I intend for it to be about a woman who’s like nighty-two years old in a wheelchair, recounting her life through a series of flashbacks.”

“What kind of life did she lead?”

“Um … well, she was a chef, who was attacked by a psychopathic killer who had just been released from jail to find someone had stolen his job.”

“Very funny. Fine, don’t tell me. But let me know when it opens so I can go and see it.”

“Okay, it’s a deal.”

At that moment the stewardess interrupted to pass them their meals.

“Urgh, yuck, how do people eat this food?” Max said, screwing up his nose. “You know what they are eating in first class don’t you? They’re sipping on champagne and eating caviar.”

“Still with a plastic knife though …”

“True, but at least they get a real fork.”

“So I take it you don’t travel economy class very often.” Liz said, seeing the way he was playing with his food, like it was poison.

“I try to avoid it when possible.”

“I’ve never flown Business or First class so I wouldn’t know any different.”

“It’s the only way to fly.”

“So why are you back here?” Liz asked confused.

“I was desperate to get back and First and Business class were full.”

“What was the hurry?”

“Uh … family emergency.” Max replied vaguely.

Not wanting to pry when he obviously didn’t want to talk about it to a complete stranger, she simply replied “I’m sorry. I hope everything works out okay.”

“Me too.” Max said, looking distracted for a moment before turning his attention back to Liz. “You’re not eating either?”

“I don’t eat on planes. I get airsick.”

“Stewardess! Can I change seats?” Max pretended to get up. “Just kidding. Well, if you are not going to eat, at least take the chocolate for later. You’re a woman - you can’t waste free chocolate.”

“I tried that once, put it in my pocket. Do you realise how fast it takes for chocolate to melt in your pocket? By the time we landed I had a nice little puddle forming. It wasn’t pretty.”

“Thanks for the tip. I guess you’ll just have to leave it here then. It’s a shame.”

“I’ll survive.”

The stewardess came and cleared away the food trays as the captain announced the in-flight movie was about to start and they would be dimming the lights for those who wanted to sleep.

“We should probably try and get some sleep. The flight is another ten hours and jet-lag isn’t pretty.” Max suggested.

“That’s probably a good idea. I think my sleeping tablets are starting to kick in.”

“I don’t know how anyone can sleep in these seats though.” He said, trying to get comfortable.

“There’s an art to it.”

“Which is?”

“Manage to get on a half empty plane and find a spot with three empty seats to lay down on.”

“Well no such luck. We have three seats between two.”

“So what’s your solution?”

“Well, as the gentleman I am, you can take the seats and I’ll take the floor.”

“Oh, no, I can’t let you do that.” Liz said embarrassed.

“It’s either that or we share the seats?”

Liz pictured the proximity they would be in by sharing the seats, and quickly dismissed the idea. “Okay, you take the floor, but wake me in a few hours and we’ll swap. Deal?”

“Deal.” Max said, folding up the arm rests to make room for Liz to lie down, and moving down to the floor.”

“Ooo gross.” He said, talking a look around him.

“What?”

“You wouldn’t believe the amount of chewing gum people have stuck under these chairs. Hasn’t anyone ever heard of using a bin?”

“People can be so lazy.” Liz said trying to disguise a yawn.

“Well, goodnight.” Max said, not even remotely tired, and feeling very tempted to bribe a stewardess to find him a first class seat, somewhere, anywhere.

“Goodnight.” Liz said, closing her eyes and trying to block out the sound of the aircraft engines.

Liz woke later to find the cabin stirring again as the stewardesses were bringing breakfast. Max was still on the floor looking up at her.

“Morning.” He said smiling, although looking a little dishevelled.

“Morning. How long did I sleep?”

“About eight hours sleeping beauty.”

“Eight hours? Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You looked so peaceful. Besides, there was no way I was letting you sleep down here. It’s not that sanitary.”

“Well, to repay you for your chivalry, next time you are down at Santa Monica, breakfast is on the house.” Liz said, returning to her seat to make room for Max to get up off the floor.

“I might just take you up on that.” He replied, eyeing the artificial looking muck the stewardess was handing out.

The next few hours were spent discussing random topics, their childhoods, Arnie’s election victory, how the LA Lakers were doing in the playoffs. Max discovered that Liz was an only child, her parents owned a restaurant (hence the career in hospitality) and was the goal shooter in her netball team in high school. Liz learned that Max had one sister who also lived in LA, and when he left school he had wanted to be an astronaut.

“Can I ask you something?” Liz asked.

“Sure.” Max shrugged.

“Why are you still wearing that baseball cap? You have kept it on all night. It’s not as though you need it for sun protection.”

“Well, it’s because … I have hat hair. I had the cap on all day before I got on the plane, and I knew if I took it off I would look a mess.”

“Fair enough. Although, I don’t know anyone who gets off an eleven hour flight and not look a mess.”

“You don’t look too bad.” Max complimented.

“That’s because someone gave up their seat so I could get a good night’s sleep. Thanks again for that.”

“No problem.” Max smiled.

Before they knew it the captain announced that they were about to commence their descent and that the cabin crew should return to their seats.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t talk to you again until after we land. I’m not too good with descents. I have to concentrate on not being sick.”

“Oh come on, landing’s the best bit.” Max said, lifting up the blind to reveal the sprawling city beneath them. “Look at all the other planes circling. There must be twenty other planes all landing within minutes of each other.”

“Once, someone I know flew all the way from Adelaide to Melbourne only to find they didn’t have enough fuel to keep circling the Melbourne airport waiting for the fog to clear, so they flew back to Adelaide. It’s crazy.”

“And can you see the hills over there, with the Hollywood sign?” Max said pointing.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen it from the plane before.” Liz said, fixated.

“It’s how I know I am home. I just have to watch for the sign. And over there, you can see Century City and Beverley Hills.”

Liz was practically leaning over Max to see out the window. When she realised how close they were she blushed and apologised before leaning back in her seat. Just as she did, she felt the tyres of the plane hit the tarmac.

“Have we landed already?” She asked. She hadn’t felt sick at all.

“Yep.” Max said, pretty pleased with himself. “That wasn’t so bad was it?”

“No, it wasn’t.” She smiled. It was the first time she didn’t feel the need to climb across passengers, desperate to get off the plane for some fresh air. Although, after 10 hours in the air, that option was still appealing.

The other people on the plane jumped up to grab their luggage before the seatbelt sign had been turned off. But Max and Liz just sat and waited.

“Does it normally take this long?” Max asked, watching everyone waiting in the aisles for the doors to open.

“Yep. All of us in cattle class have to wait for first class passengers to get off the plane.”

“I’ll have to make sure I don’t take my time in future. It’s amazing there isn’t more ‘air rage’ than there is. You could all outnumber us is first class and stage a rebellion.”

“I’ll have to remember that for next time.” Liz smiled.

The passengers started to move down the aisle so Liz got to her feet to retrieve her overhead luggage.

“You don’t have any luggage?” She asked Max, noticing that there were no other bags left in the compartment.

“No, I’m travelling light this time.”

“I wish I could travel lighter. But I guess I suffer from what every other woman on this earth suffers from.”

“And what’s that?” Max asked curiously.

“Too many shoes.”

They finally made their way off the plane and eventually made their way through customs. As they made their way up to the arrivals lounge they began their goodbyes.

“It was nice meeting you.” Liz said. “And thanks again for giving up your seat.”

“It was nice to meet you too. I’ll be sure to send you the chiropractor’s bill.”

“Well, bring it in person and I’ll give you that free breakfast.” Liz smiled.

“I’ll do that.” Max smiled in return.

Standing just inside the doorway, they looked awkwardly at each other.

“Well, goodbye.” Max said, sticking out his hand for her to shake.

“Goodbye. Good luck with your play.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you ‘round.”

“See ya.” Liz replied.

They stepped through the doors and Liz immediately searched out her best friend in the crowd. Luckily the crowd wasn’t that big, being about four o’clock in the morning.

“Hey girlfriend!” Serena said, wrapping her arms around Liz.
“Hey yourself.”

“Did you have a good trip? You don’t look too green around the gills.”

“The flight was good. Smooth landing.”

“That’s good. I brought your juice just in case.”

“Thanks Serena.” Liz said, taking a sip of the juice. Serena knew that Liz always craved freshly squeezed juice when she got off the plane, as though her body needed to be eased into eating again after so long not eating before and during a plane flight. The sugar fix wasn’t too bad either.

“Let’s go and get your bags, hey isn’t that Max Evans?” She said pointing towards the arrivals gate.

Liz turned to see where Serena was pointing. There was Max, bending down talking to a little boy and signing a piece of paper.

“Max Evans? No, it can’t be.” Liz said. She would have recognised him, wouldn’t she?

“I’m telling you it is.” Serena said as she grabbed the magazine Liz had tucked under my arm. “See?” She said pointing to the two page spread about Max and his latest girlfriend holidaying in Cannes.

Liz grabbed the magazine out of her hands. “It can’t be.” Liz said in disbelief.

“Man, Max Evans was on the same plane as you. How freaky is that?”

“You wanna know what’s more freaky? I sat next to him.” Liz said, and watched as the look on Serena’s face turned to shock.

“You’re kidding me! You sat next to Max Evans? I didn’t think you were flying first class.”

“I didn’t. He was in economy. He said that first class was sold out.”

“Wow. Well, did you get an autograph?”

“Ididn’trecognisehim.” Liz blurted out.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I didn’t recognise him.” Liz said slower.

“How could you not have recognised him? We’ve seen his movie ‘Against the Tide’ like twelve times!”

“He looks a lot different in person.” Liz reasoned.

“Well, did you at least talk to him?” Serena asked.

“Yeah, we talked quite a lot actually.”

“And it never came up that he is a movie star who makes 10 million dollars per movie?”

“He told me he was a writer.”

“Bastard.” Serena swore.

“No, he was really nice. He gave up his seat so I could sleep.”

“And where did he sleep?”

“On the floor.”

“So let me get this straight. You slept like two foot away from this guy?”

“Yeah.” Liz hesitated.

“That is so cool!” Serena practically screamed.

Liz scanned the room to see if Max was still in hearing range, but he must have left, the lounge now virtually empty.

“Let’s go.” Liz said. “I really need a long hot bath to get rid of that airplane feeling.”

Back at their apartment, she ran a steaming hot bath, grabbed my magazine and slowly lowered herself into the water. Lying back beneath the bubbles, she flipped the magazine open to the story about Max. This was obviously why he had grabbed the magazine from her in such a hurry - he hadn’t wanted her to recognise him.

‘Max Evans was seen in Cannes cavorting with his latest co-star Tess Harding. From our exclusive pictures you can see the onscreen passion from their movie ‘The Special Two’ has spilled into real life…’

The article didn’t seem to have much more to say than that, and simply repeated the last alleged girlfriends and scandals Max Evans had ever been involved with. Liz threw the magazine aside. So Max Evans had a girlfriend. Why was she not surprised? But why was she so disappointed? It wasn’t as though they were ever going to see each other again…

Thanks everyone. I'm glad you enjoyed the first instalment.

Wench on a Leash - I don't think I can take credit for that bit. I seem to recall it happening on a 'Friends' episode once (either that or it was a conversation I had on my travels to Canada and the US six years ago - it's so long ago it is such a blur!)


2

A couple of hours later, Liz was sitting at the kitchen table biting into her toast when a headline on the morning TV show caught her attention.

“Max Evans cancelled the rest of publicity tour in Europe for his latest movie ‘Shinning Star’ and mysteriously returned to Los Angeles yesterday. Max could not be reached for comment, but his publicist has cited a ‘family emergency’ as being the reason for his sudden return. We’ll have more news as it happens…”

“Family emergency huh?” Serena said as she walked into the room, wrapping her wet hair in a towel before pouring herself a glass of juice.

“Yeah, that’s what he told me too.”

“Any idea what it is?” Serena asked.

“Are you asking as general conversation, or are you asking for a story?” Liz asked.

“I am shocked you would even think that of me?” Serena said feigning offence at what Liz was implying.

“Two words – Jamie Oliver.”

“Oh c’mon, that was different.”

“How?” Liz raised her eyebrow.

“My editor was on my back for a story.”

“Well you can tell your editor that I do not have anything on Max that the world would be interested to hear.” Liz said, putting her dirty plate in the dishwasher. “Now I am off to work. I’ll see you tonight.”

* * * * *

Liz had been back almost a week and had returned to her usual routine – double shifts at the restaurant and going out with Serena. Part of Serena’s job was to review local bands so they generally spent their weekends hanging out at different clubs checking out the live bands. It was a good gig, as they never had to line up for clubs, or pay for entry. The bartenders got to know them really well too so they could usually score themselves free drinks.

It was Friday night and Liz was halfway through the dinner shift. It was busier than usual as the experienced kitchen-hand had called in sick, and the new guy wasn’t yet up to speed. Liz spent half the night teaching him how to grill the chicken without making it too tough, or how to cook the steak so it was still red but not raw.

“Liz, VIP customer at table nine.” Amy said, putting in the order.

VIP customers were generally either celebrities, sports stars, politicians or food critics. Liz generally only got nervous when it was the latter. She felt the rest could eat food that was good enough for the rest of the population. Amy did care though, and always made Liz take extra care with VIP orders. They were given priority and had to be well presented. The kitchen staff would try to get info out of the waitresses as to who was in the restaurant, and sneak a peak if it was anyone really famous. Tonight no one had time to sneak out as it was so busy.

A couple of hours later, when the restaurant had died down, and there were only a few hangers-on finishing their desserts, Amy came into the kitchen.

“Liz. Table nine is asking to meet the chef.”

Now that was either a good or bad thing. It was usually either to complement the chef or to complain. Usually the complaints were handled by Amy, so Liz was hoping for the former. Also, the smile on Amy’s face was a dead give-away. Liz removed her cap and her apron and made her way out to the dining room floor. Spotting table nine she knew immediately why she was summoned. Sitting there watching her walk towards him was Max Evans. Liz blushed a little, not prepared to run into him again. She suddenly felt self-conscious, until she noticed the blonde woman sitting with him. He was obviously on a date and Liz chastised herself for worrying about what impression she was making. ‘He’s just a friend.’ She told herself. ‘You don’t get nervous around your friends’.

“Hey.” Max said as Liz approached.

“Hey yourself.” Liz replied.

“Liz, this is my sister Isabel. Isabel, this is Liz. We met on my flight back from London.” Max introduced them.

Liz’s stomach dropped. It wasn’t a date. Now she was nervous.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Isabel said, holding out her hand.

“You too.” Liz replied, shaking her hand. “I hope you both enjoyed your meals.”

“We did, although a little disappointed that Bangers and Mash wasn’t on the menu.” Max smiled.

“I’ll try to remember to add it to the specials board.” Liz smiled in return.

“Max has just been dying to come here since he got back last week.” Isabel said. Liz turned to Max and couldn’t help but raise her eyebrow. “It’s a lovely little restaurant.”

“Thank you.” Liz replied.

“You’re a great cook.” Max complimented. “Do you do parties?”

“Sorry?” Liz asked, a little shocked by the question.

“I’m throwing a party for my sister’s thirtieth. I wondered if you would like to cater it?”

“That’s a great idea Max!” Isabel exclaimed.

“I, uh … I would have to check my schedule.”

“Well, here’s my card. Give me a call and let me know.” He said, handing her his business card.

“Thanks, I’ll think about it.” Liz said taking the card. “It was nice to meet you Isabel. Hopefully we’ll see you back here soon.”

“Definitely.” Max replied for her. “Besides, you owe me a breakfast.”

“I do. I’ll see you later.” Liz said, making her exit as they stood up to grab their coats and pay the bill. Once she was safely back in the kitchen she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘So much for not seeing him again’. She thought to herself. Liz looked at the business card. The front had is business number, fax, email and publicists phone number. ‘This is definitely just a business arrangement’ she thought to herself. She then flipped the card over and found a handwritten note with his home number. ‘Or maybe not…’.

* * * * *

‘To call or not to call …’ Liz thought to herself as she held Max’s business card in her hand.

“You have been looking at that card all morning. Just ring him already!” Serena exclaimed.

“I’ve never catered a party before. I wouldn’t want to stuff it up.” Liz argued.

“You would do a great job. And besides, that’s not the reason you’re stalling. If it was any other job you would take it. It’s the fact that it is Max Evans and you have a thing for him.”

“I do not!” Liz exclaimed.

“Then why did you watch ‘Against the Tide’ for the thirteenth time when you got home last night?”

“Because … I’m a huge fan of Heath Ledger?”

“Whose character dies in the first five minutes of the movie…”

“What’s your point?”

“That you argument has flaws. Just call him. Take a chance.”

“Maybe tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to seem too keen.” Liz said, putting the card away. Maybe she would call him - just not today.

Later that night Liz and Serena were dressed up to the hilt ready to hit another club.

“So who are we seeing tonight?” Liz asked as she put on her favourite earrings.

“ ‘Spiderweb’ or ‘Spiderfish’ or something like that.” Serena called out from the bathroom. “They’re supposed to be the next ‘Greenday’.”

“Not with a name like ‘Spiderfish’ they won’t be.”

“Can I quote you for my article?”

“Only if I can be an ‘anonymous source’.” Liz replied.

“Deal. Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” Liz said, taking one final look in the mirror.

The line for the club went right around the corner of the block and Liz felt bad for walking straight past all of these people that had been waiting for so long.

“Hey Mike.” Serena said to the bouncer. “Good to see you again.”

“You too Serena. You ladies have a nice night.” He said waving them through.

Inside the club, they made their way upstairs to the balcony that overlooked the stage. Two seats had been reserved for them by the manager, and they were soon armed with their drinks of choice. They usually got special treatment from management, knowing that Serena would treat them well with publicity in her article. Waiting for the show to start, many of the regulars would come over to chat, and soon a little group had formed around them like bees to honey. Liz had lost count of the number of times she had been propositioned in clubs, so having this group of friends to hang with made the prowlers stay away.

Halfway through the set she really needed a drink of water, and not being able to catch a friendly busboy in the eye, Liz decided to brave the jungle by making her way alone to the bar. She had only been at the bar less than five seconds before she heard her first really bad pick up line.

“Hey, don’t I know you? You have a really familiar face.” The prowler asked.

Bracing herself to reject yet another drunken, she turned to see the prowler was … Max Evans.

“I don’t think so… hey, it’s you.”

“It’s me.”

“The writer...” Liz couldn’t help but dig.

“Yeah, about that …” Max began to apologise.

“No need to explain. I get it. You must have thought it was pretty funny.”

“No, I actually found it refreshing. To be able to have a normal conversation with somebody without having to worry whether I was living up to any preconceived opinions they had of me.”

“Why would you worry about that?”

“I hate to disappoint people. They are so excited to meet you, so you feel this incredible pressure to live up to their expectations. I am in the business of entertaining after all.”

“It shouldn’t have to be a full time job though.” Liz argued.

“I wish it wasn’t. But that’s the price you pay for success.”

“Well I’m glad I was able to give you a reprieve. But I have to ask – that moment of gallantry when you offered to sleep on the floor, was that because you were genuinely being chivalrous, or were you living up to an expectation you thought I had?”

“Neither. That was for publicity of course. Could you imagine the headline? ‘Max Evans gallantly gives up seat for beautiful stranger on airplane’. Pity the paparazzi missed the flight. I need a new publicist.” Max joked.

“Well, I am happy to give you a direct quote for the article if you need one.” Liz smiled.

“I’ll get my publicist to call you.” Max smiled in return.

“So, how do you find the crowds at these things? Don’t you get recognised all the time.”

“Surprisingly not as often as you think. I guess in clubs like this particular establishment, most people are here for the band, not star spotting. It’s surprising what people don’t see when they are not expecting it. Kind of like airplanes...” Max joked.

“So … do you come to this particular establishment often?” Liz asked.

“Yeah sometimes. I like the bands they have here. And the bar staff give me free drinks.”

“Yeah? And I thought they only did that for me and Serena.”

“Oh yeah? What’s your claim to fame?”

“Serena is a journalist and writes reviews of local bands. Of course the club always gets a bit of promotion out of it as well. I guess they like to keep us happy.”

“Or drunk so you can’t remember the bad bits.”

“You know, you might be onto something…” Liz smiled.

“So, you haven’t called yet?” Max said, changing the subject. “You know, about the catering job?”

“Yeah, um, I was going to call you next week. I didn’t want to disturb you on the weekend.”

“I wouldn’t have minded.” Max smiled.

Liz blushed. Was he flirting with her?

“So, let me save you a phone call. What were you going to say when you eventually got around to calling me?”

“I was going to say, very professionally, ‘Why on earth do you want to hire me?’”

“Well, to that I would have replied, ‘Because I like your cooking’.”

“But I’ve never catered anything before. Okay, maybe I once did my nephews first birthday but I really don’t think that counts.”

“Well that depends. What was on the menu?”

“Fairy bread and cupcakes.”

“Sounds good. So we have dessert sorted, what could you do for appetisers?” Max joked.

“Are you serious about this?” Liz asked.

“Deadly.”

“Okay, fine. But I am warning you, that it could turn out to be a disaster.”

“I consider myself warned. So when do you want to come over and sort out the preparations.”

“C-come over?”

“Yeah. The party is at my place, so I thought you would want to check out the kitchen. Then we could go over the menu and what-not.”

“Uh, okay. When were you thinking?” Liz hesitantly agreed.

“When aren’t you working?”

“I’m usually free in the afternoons.”

“Okay, Tuesday afternoon, say two thirty? Here’s the address.” Max said, scribbling his address on the back of another business card.

“Thanks. So can I ask a favour? Feel free to say no or whatever.”

“Go ahead.” Max said, bracing himself.

“Could you come and say a quick hello to Serena. If I told her that you were here and I didn’t introduce you, then I wouldn’t hear the end of it. You would be saving me from a week of living hell…” Liz begged.

“Well, since you put it that way … sure.”

“Thank you so much. I promise this is the only ‘adoring fan’ thing I will ever do.”

“So you’re an ‘adoring fan’?” Max raised his eyebrow.

“I … uh … what was your name again?” Liz eventually managed a comeback that wouldn’t reveal that she had seen his latest movie twelve, no, thirteen times.

“Ouch. C’mon then. Where is the elusive Serena?”

Liz led the way back through the crowd on the dance floor. At one point Max put his hand on the small of her back so they weren’t separated in the crowd and Liz couldn’t help but feel the goose bumps run up her spine. When they finally made it back to Serena and the group, Liz had to nudge her way back in.

“Serena, everyone, I’d like you to meet Max.”

“Hey, has anyone ever told you that you look just like Max Evans, the actor?” Cindy said.

“Yeah, he’s my twin brother.” Max replied.

“Oh.” Cindy said in response. Cindy wasn’t too bright.

“Hi Max, nice to meet you. I’ve heard so little about you.” Serena said, giving Liz a knowing glance. Liz had been tight-lipped about anything she and Max had discussed on the plane.

“Well she has told me a lot about you. You’re a journalist I hear? Not for a tabloid I hope, otherwise I might have to watch what I say.”

“LA Times. I mainly do music and movie reviews, but I would be quite happy if you wanted to give me an exclusive.” Serena flirted.

“Maybe, we’ll see.” Max smiled. “Movie reviews huh? Do you take bribes?”

“You don’t need to. I don’t think I have given any of your movies a bad review yet.”

“So do you drag Liz along to movies as well as gigs like this?” Max asked.

“Yeah, although I have to say, it is never hard to get her to come to a ‘Max Evans’ movie. She practically begs me to take her.”

At this point Liz went bright red, and was eternally thankful that the lighting in the club wasn’t that great. She gave a quick sideways glance at Max to see him grinning like a kid with a new toy.

“Twin brothers both named Max. Wow, that’s weird.” Cindy interrupted.

Thanks for all the fantastic feedback. omwf - glad I could put a smile on your face!

This may be the last of the quick updates. It seems I had written less of this fic than I first thought (and had completely skipped the next chapter altogether in a moment of writer's block). I'll do my best, but am trying to post the last chapter of 'Little Cloud' (finally!) and continue 'Beware of the Phoenix' as well. Feel free to keep bugging me until I come through with the goods.


3

Tuesday came and Liz found herself standing in front of Max Evans’ front door. Taking a deep breath she tried to remind herself that he was just a client - a client she had a little bit of a crush on, but a client all the same. She finally had the guts to ring the bell and stood back to wait for the door to open. A few moments later Max was standing before her, looking slightly surprised and almost a little annoyed.

“Hi. You said two thirty right?” Liz said, assuming from his reaction that she must have had the time wrong.

“Yeah, yeah I did. Come in. Sorry.” He said apologetically. “Can you just wait here for a second I have someone else here.”

Max walked away leaving Liz standing in the hallway. A few minutes later she could hear voices in the next room.

“Look, you have to go now. I have someone here. Can we talk about this later?” Max said.

“Who do you have here? Another girl?” The voice said, storming into the hallway where Liz was waiting awkwardly by the door. The voice belonged to Tess Harding; Liz would have recognised her anywhere. Short, blonde hair, impeccable clothes. She could be a supermodel if she was a little taller and decided to give up acting. Not that she would, with a salary almost matching that of Max’s.

“Who is she? Are you seeing someone behind my back?” Tess screamed at Max who had followed her out of the room.

“I’m not seeing anyone behind your back because we are not together. How many times do I have to tell you that?” Max replied in exasperation.

“Maybe I should just go.” Liz said, walking towards the door.

“No, stay. Tess is just leaving.” Max replied giving Tess a pointed stare.

“Not until you tell me who she is.” Tess replied, standing her ground.

“She is just a caterer. We have an appointment, which you are making me late for.”

Tess eyed Liz suspiciously as if trying to decide whether Max was telling the truth. Liz held up my compendium which contained her notepad and calculator. She had brought it thinking it would make her look more professional, as if she did this kind of thing all the time. Lucky she had, because Tess seemed to find it believable.

“Fine. You can take me to dinner tonight, and we’ll talk more.”

“I can’t. I’m busy. How about I call you later instead?”

“You’d better.” She replied, before leaning in to kiss him on the lips. As she broke away she gave Liz one last glance, trying to catch any kind of jealous reaction that would disprove Max’s ‘caterer’ story.

“It was nice to meet you.” Liz said, giving Tess the sweetest smile possible. In return Tess mumbled something that Liz couldn’t quite make out but it didn’t sound very friendly.

“Sorry about that.” Max said, shutting the door behind Tess. “I didn’t know she was going to come over.”

“That’s okay. She’s just as I had imagined she would be in real life.” Liz replied.

“And what’s that?” Max asked curiously.

“Um … very … short.” Liz replied diplomatically.

Max just smiled. “Can I get you something to drink?” He offered, leading Liz into the living room.

“Yeah sure. Whatever you’re having is fine.” Liz said, taking off her jacket and taking in the surroundings. The living room was very tidy, nothing out of place as if it was on show. The most captivating thing about the room was the view of the ocean. The house was up on the edge of a cliff, looking down onto the sea and the small beach below.

“Nice view huh?” Max said, passing her a drink of water.

“It’s beautiful. It must be so peaceful up here. Lots of privacy.” Liz commented.

“Exactly why I bought it. Do you want to see the rest of the house?” Max asked.

“No, that’s okay. We should probably get started on the menu.” Liz replied, taking a seat and taking out her notepad.

“Straight to business huh? Got somewhere to be?” Max asked curiously.

“No, but I’m sure you want me out of your hair so you can get ready for whatever you have on tonight.”

“I don’t have anything on tonight.”

“But I thought you said …”

“I lied. I just didn’t want to take Tess out to dinner.”

“Very smooth. I believed you.”

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks.” Max smiled. “So you’re sure you don’t want that tour?”

“Why do you want to show me around so much? I’m just the caterer.” Liz replied, using Max’s words from earlier.

“What did you want me to say?” Max replied.

“Nothing. It’s the truth. I don’t know you, you don’t know me. We have had a couple of conversations but we are really nothing more than strangers.”

“Tess Harding is the biggest gossip in the business. You know those photos in your magazine? She arranged for the paparazzi to be there. We were hanging out with some of the cast in one of our only afternoons off on this publicity tour, next thing I know is she is all over me and our photos wind up in the tabloids. Do you think I was going to let Tess think there was anything going on between you and me?”

“You think there’s something going on between us?” Liz asked shocked.

“No.” Max said without hesitation. “I just didn’t want Tess to start jumping to conclusions.”

“Okay, well now that’s settled, can we go over the menu?” Liz said, not meeting Max’s eye. She wasn’t disappointed that Max Evans didn’t think there was anything going on between them, because the fact was that they hardly knew each other - it was the speed of his response, as though he wouldn’t have even considered it. “Were you thinking of having a sit down dinner or a cocktail party?”

Max soon got the hint and sat down in the chair opposite her. “Uh, a sit down dinner.”

“How many guests?”

“Around twenty. What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing. Any ideas of what kind of food you had in mind?”

“No. Are you sure?”

“Positive. Do I need to talk to your sister?”

“Why would you need to talk to my sister?” Max asked confused.

“To ask what her favourite foods are.” Liz replied.

“No, I don’t want to bother her with this at the moment. Just come up with something, I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Then why did you ask me to come here today if you just wanted me to ‘come up with something’ myself?” Liz asked, finally making eye contact with Max.

“Because it was an excuse to be able to see you again.”

“Wh-what?” Liz said shocked.

“I like talking to you.”

“You do? Why me?” Liz asked.

“Because, you talk to me like a normal person, not ‘Max Evans the Movie Star’. It’s nice. And besides … I really love your cooking.”

Liz smiled at his compliment.

“Do you think you could be friends with someone like me?” Max asked.

“You don’t even know if we have anything in common.”

“I’m willing to find out if you are.”

“Okay. Friends… That would be nice.” Liz replied.

“Good. Now can I show you around?” Max said, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind him. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, swimming pool, tennis court and one Jacuzzi later we found ourselves in his kitchen.

“Can you work with this?” Max asked.

“It’ll do.” Liz replied. Truth was, his kitchen was almost bigger than the one at the restaurant, and the appliances were definitely in better condition.

“So I was thinking…” Max began.

Liz waited with baited breath for what he was about to say.

“I was thinking … my sister once said she really liked Spaghetti Bolognese.”

“Spaghetti Bolognese?” Liz said surprised. It wasn’t exactly what she had expected to be cooking for a dinner party.

“Well, she was nine at the time.” Max grinned.

“Okay, Spaghetti Bolognese it is. I can work with that.”

“Good. How would you like to stay for dinner?”

“Tonight? I can’t, I have to work. Downside of being a chef – you work when everyone else eats.”

“Well, maybe I could see you after your shift and bring you dinner?”

“Sure. I’ll never pass up an opportunity not to have to cook for myself.”

“Yeah, I understand. Kind of like being able to enjoy a movie that you didn’t have to spend 6 months filming first. You see - we do have something in common.”

* * * * *

The whole way through Liz’s shift at work, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Max Evans was bringing her dinner that night.

“What’s up with you tonight?” Amy asked. “You have had that silly smile plastered on your face the whole night. Who’s the guy?”

“Why do you automatically assume it has something to do with a guy?” Liz balked at the idea.

“Because, I have never seen you so happy, and I have never seen you with a boyfriend since you moved here. I thought maybe they could both be related.” Amy countered.

“I’m just in a good mood that’s all.”

“Well, keep it up. I have never seen the rest of the staff so happy either. There hasn’t been one terse word said tonight.”

“When am I ever terse?” Liz demanded.

Amy just raised her eyebrow.

“Okay fine. Sometimes I take my job too seriously, but I am only doing it to make you look good in front of your customers. Remember that.”

“I will. By the way, this is the last order for the night.” Amy said, pulling the order from her pad and handing it to Liz. “So you will soon be free to enjoy your night with that non-existent man.” Amy digged at her before turning on her heels and walking back to the dining room floor.

* * * * *

Later that night, Liz finally made it back to her apartment. She dumped her keys and handbag on the hallway table, and took off her shoes. She hated wearing shoes in the house, it was so confining.

“I never thought this night would end.” Liz called out to Serena as she walked up the hallway.

“It ain’t over yet honey, look who brought us dinner.” Serena said, and as Liz walked into the kitchen she saw Serena and Max sitting on the couch together.

“Hey.” Liz said, slightly disappointed that they had spent time together while she wasn’t there. “Have you been here long?”

“About an hour or so.” Max replied. “Sorry, I didn’t know what time you would finish so I took my chances. Serena here has been keeping me company. Now, I hope the food’s not too cold.” He said, getting up and heading towards the kitchen.

“So what did you bring us?” Liz asked, ignoring the last remnants of jealousy that remained.

“Thai. I hope that’s okay.”

“My favourite. Please tell me there’s a Pad Thai in there somewhere.” Liz salivated.

“There is, as well as a Singapore Noodles and a Beef with Blackbean sauce.”

“Oooh, I have dibs on the beef.” Serena said, joining them in the kitchen.

“Forks or chopsticks?” Max said, holding up one of each.

“Chopsticks please.” Both Liz and Serena said. They were both seasoned eaters of Asian food.

The three of them grabbed their boxes of Thai and chopsticks and made their way to the sofa. Max found himself sandwiched between the two girls, and he wasn’t complaining a bit.

“So I brought a movie too. I know what it can be like after a hard days work.” Max said.

“What do you know about a hard day’s work?” Serena teased. “You just have to stand in front of a camera and look pretty.”

“And it takes a lot of hard work to make me look that good.” Max joked.

“You look just fine to me.” Serena replied.

“Serena?” Liz interrupted, attempting to hide the little green monster from rising again. “Stop flirting with him.”

“Afraid of a little competition Lizzy?” Serena teased.

“There’s no competition Serena, I just don’t want you to scare away our guest.” She knew Serena wasn’t being serious. They had an unspoken rule that they would never fight over a guy. Liz had met him first therefore he was off limits to Serena. However Liz also knew that Serena flirted with every guy-friend she had, and she didn’t want Max to get the wrong idea.

“Girls, girls, girls. There’s more than enough of me to go around.” Max joked, putting down his Thai food and putting an arm around each of them.

“So what movie did you get?” Liz asked, trying not to obsess too much about Max’s arm draped around her neck.

“An oldie but a goodie.” Max said, reaching for the DVD. “An Affair to Remember.”

“Not that I mind watching a good old chick flick, but I am a little surprised by your choice. I think this is the first time I have ever known a member of the male species to willingly – without any force whatsoever – rent such a girly movie.” Liz teased.

“Hey, I’m a sensitive guy… Besides, they are making a remake and they have offered me the lead. I just thought I might as well do some research while I was here.”

“The truth comes out. You had to watch it and you couldn’t stand the thought of having to watch a chick flick on your own.”

“Pretty much, yeah. Besides, this way I get the female perspective. It really helps when I am trying to portray a character and ninety per cent of the audience watching will be women.”

“Fair enough. Let’s get this show on the road. Serena, could you grab some tissues?” Liz asked.

“Tissues?” Max asked confused. Did she have a cold?

“It’s a chick flick. Chick flick’s make women cry. Especially this one. There is your first lesson on the female psyche.” Liz replied.

“I’ll just put the DVD on shall I?” Max said, walking towards the DVD player. He ejected the disk that was in the player, smiled and held it up to Liz. It was one of his movies.

“Don’t look at me. It’s Serena’s.” Liz blushed. Why hadn’t she thought to take that out of the machine before he got here?

“It may be mine, but Liz has watched it more than I have. What’s the count now? Fifteen?”

Max raised his eyebrows.

“Thirteen…” Liz mumbled.

“What was that? I didn’t quite hear you?” Serena teased.

“Thirteen, okay?” Liz said a little louder, and blushing when she met Max’s eyes. “It was very well written and it has Heath Ledger in it…”

“Heath Ledger huh?” Max teased. “Do you want me to get you an introduction?”

“That won’t be necessary. Will you just start the movie already?”

Max just smiled. He liked seeing Liz squirm, plus he was secretly ecstatic that she had seen his movie so many times. Ten minutes into the movie he was still grinning, and Liz felt it her place to give him a playful punch in the side. Max started tickling her, to which Liz grabbed a cushion and started hitting him with it to fend him off.

“Do I need to separate you two?” Serena asked.

“No.” They both replied in unison, putting down their weapons. Liz snuck one last hit with the pillow, before putting her cushion away.

Max grabbed her foot, and she thought he was going to start tickling her, but instead she found him start to massage the soles of her feet.

“Oooh that’s good.” She said, turning around on the sofa and straightening her leg out to give him a better angle. Max just smiled. He loved massages, and loved giving them. Touch was a very underrated thing in the modern world. People were so caught up in their own lives; they rarely lost sight of some of the most basic, fundamental, beautiful things in life.

The three of them sat watching the movie in silence, with the occasionally moan from Liz when Max hit a sore spot.

Serena made a few more comments about having to separate the two of them, but soon fell asleep on the other end of the sofa.

“So what’s your verdict?” Max asked when the movie had finished and the end credits were rolling.

“That you should definitely quit your day job and become a masseuse.” Liz replied.

“I meant about me doing the movie? And besides, I couldn’t quit my day job; I would disappoint too many adoring fans.”

“They’ll just have to satisfy themselves with a massage from you instead.”

“But if I did massage for a living, then I probably wouldn’t like to do it when I come home, and you wouldn’t get them anymore.”

“I see your point.” Liz replied, and couldn’t help but pick up on his insinuation that he would be coming home to her in the future. “So the movie. I definitely think you should do it. It’s the ultimate love story.”

“You don’t think it’s too cheesy? I mean who meets, falls in love, and then don’t exchange phone numbers?”

“Plenty of people. We met, and we didn’t exchange numbers.”

“Are you saying you’re in love with me?” Max teased.

“No, I just meant … oh never mind.” Liz said, seeing she had been caught out.

“I’m just kidding. I know what you meant. Anyway, we didn’t need to exchange numbers. I knew where you worked.”

“Yeah you did.” Liz smiled. And if he didn’t, they probably never would have met again after that flight.

“So, I’d better be going.” Max said getting up. “You’re probably tired.”

“Yeah, and I have the breakfast shift tomorrow.” Liz said yawning.

“And you let me make you sit through a movie tonight? It’s after 2 am. What time do you have to be at work?”

“Five am. I guess there’s probably not much point going to sleep now huh?” Liz said.

“Why don’t you call in sick?” Max asked.

“I couldn’t do that to Amy. Pete’s off this week, his wife just had a baby, so we are short one chef. It’s okay, I’ll sleep when my shift is finished.”

“Well, do you want me to stay with you, make sure you stay awake and get to work on time?” Max offered.

“Yeah, sure. That’d be nice. I was actually feeling a little restless. Do you feel like going for a walk?”

“At 2am in the morning in Los Angeles?” Max asked doubtfully.

“Sure. I have got a big strong man to protect me. You did play a superhero in one movie you did, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but you do realise that in movies we use stunt actors don’t you?” Max smiled.

“Yeah, but still, they might not know that.” Liz replied, referring to the people on the streets that might think to attack them.

“Okay then. After you.” He said, ushering her to the door.

After all my protestations about not having time to update this fic as often, I'm back again. (That's what happens when you all leave me so much great feedback - I give up a night at the gym to spend sitting at my computer instead!)

And for all of those helpful readers picking up my errors, I have made sure I've checked my 1st & 3rds, so if there are any mistakes this time, I'm going to pack it all in and go back to English 101.

Oh, and for those of you who have also read 'Little Cloud ...' I really don't have it in for Isabel - honest!


4

“Favourite ice cream flavour?” Max asked. He was sitting on a bench in the kitchen at Café Blu, eating the eggs and bacon that Liz had just cooked for the breakfast she owed him.

“Vanilla.” Liz replied.

“C’mon… Really? Nobody’s favourite flavour is vanilla.”

“Haven’t you ever heard the saying ‘the simple things in life are often the best’?” Liz replied. She was used to this type of reaction.

“Yeah, but that was before they invented chocolate-chip, rocky-road, or caramel swirl…”

“Favourite day of the week?” Liz asked.

“Friday.” Max replied. “Everyone always seems to be in such a good mood because it’s almost the weekend.”

“Then why not Saturday or Sunday, when people are happy because it is the weekend?” Liz asked.

“Because Saturday’s usually involve some industry party that I have to go to, and Sunday’s I’m usually recovering from a hangover from the aforementioned party.”

“I know what you mean. Saturday night is our busiest night of the week, so it’s very stressful, and usually means I get home later than normal. And then Sunday morning is busy with all the Sunday brunches, so the morning just drags on. I’d have to go with Fridays as my favourite too. Besides, that’s usually when Serena get to hang out together at the clubs.”

“Favourite actor? Excluding yours truly of course.” Max asked.

“Oh, well in that case …” Liz smiled. “Johnny Depp in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. No wait … Orlando …” Liz breathed, and pretending to stare off into the distance in mid-daydream.

“He’s not that great.” Max mumbled, looking completely jealous.

“Hey, you asked.” Liz replied, but loving the fact that she’d been able to make him squirm.

“Favourite song?” Max asked, wanting to change the subject to safer territory.

“That is a tough one. Can I give you my top 100?” Liz asked. She loved music. She was completely tone deaf herself, but that didn’t stop her singing along to all of her favourite songs. She always had music playing, not able to stand the sound of silence.

“Top 5.” Max compromised.

“Okay … just off the top of my head, and I will probably give you a revised list having laid awake all night tossing and turning over all the songs I should have included in my top 5 instead … U2 ‘All I Want is You’, Robbie Williams ‘If it’s Hurting You’, Coldplay ‘The Scientist’, David Gray ‘This Year’s Love’ and Evanescence ‘My Immortal’”.

“Wow. Not what I would have guessed.” Max replied.

“What were you expecting? Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys?” Liz asked.

“No … just something a little more upbeat. Your list is a little … depressing?”

“Yes, but very thought-provoking.”

“About what exactly? Old boyfriends.” Max asked, but as soon as he had, he wished he hadn’t. Liz’s face dropped immediately.

“No. No old boyfriends.” She replied quietly.

“Hey Liz?” Amy’s voice came from the kitchen door. “First order’s in.”

“Thanks Amy. You know Max here, right?” Liz replied, indicating to where Max was getting off the bench to greet her.

“Hi Max … Evans?” Amy said when she recognised him. She then turned to Liz and gave her a ‘we need to talk about this later’ look.

“Hi Amy.” Max said, shaking her hand. “Sorry, I know I probably shouldn’t be here while Liz is working.”

“Wha- oh, no that’s fine. No problem. You’re welcome here anytime.” Amy replied, a little star-struck.

“Thank you. But I should be going anyway. I have to go and see my sister.” Max replied, turning to Liz. “Thanks for a great night Liz. And the breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.” Liz replied with a smile. “See you next Saturday.”

“Okay. What’s the deal?” Amy asked, once she was sure Max was out of earshot.

“Nothing.” Liz replied, starting to cook the order Amy had brought in.

“Don’t give me that. Max Evans was my kitchen, and thanked you for a great night. You two didn’t …”

“Oh no.” Liz shook her head. “He just came over for dinner and a movie, and then we went for a walk before coming here for breakfast.”

“Okay, I think you need to start from the beginning.” Amy said, taking Max’s place on the kitchen bench.

“Don’t you have customers to serve?” Liz asked, hoping that would give her a reprieve.

“They can wait. This is much more important.” Amy grinned.

5

The following Saturday Liz was in Max’s kitchen, cooking up a storm for his sister’s birthday. Max was in the living room on the phone to his agent, and Liz couldn’t help but overhear Max’s half of the conversation. He was defending himself for his sudden return from his promotional tour in Europe.

“Look, we’ve gone over this. I know I let you down, but I had to come back to LA urgently… I’ve seen the interviews, Tess did just fine on her own… I really don’t think we need to worry about it … Now is not a good time. I need to be in LA at the moment… Fine, okay, I’ll go… Yes … okay … I’ll talk to you then.” Max hung up the phone and wandered into the kitchen.

“You know, I love making movies, but I hate having to promote them. I wish they could just promote themselves.” He sighed, taking a seat at the kitchen bench where Liz was making pasta. He smiled at seeing her with flour on her face and through her hair.

“You don’t like going out and meeting your adoring fans?” Liz asked, while kneading the dough.

“Yeah sure, but having to answer the same questions from one hundred different journalists in one day gets tedious. I need to take a couple of weeks off and they act like it’s the end of the world.”

“So why did you need to come back to LA – badly enough to take an economy flight I might add.” Liz asked curiously. What exactly did he mean by ‘family emergency’?

“My sister has just been diagnosed with cancer. She called while I was in Europe, and I took the first flight back.”

“Isabel? She looked so healthy the other night.”

“Yeah, well she’s not too bad at the moment. But she’s starting chemo next week. That’s why I wanted to throw her this party. She needs some cheering up.”

“Max, I’m sorry.” Liz said, not knowing what she could say that would comfort him.

“Thanks. But anyway, I need to finish putting the decorations up. This theme of yours was such a good idea.” Max said, grabbing the piñata from the bench.

“You’re welcome.” Liz replied. She had decided that if they were going to have Isabel’s favourite childhood food, then they might as well go the whole hog and make a childhood party theme. As promised, there was fairy bread and cupcakes, and she had also baked a birthday cake in the shape of a fairy. Max was hanging the piñata, and they also had ‘pass-the-parcel’ and ‘pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey’.

Max had a few nieces and nephews coming, so even if the adults didn’t join in on the fun, they could all watch the kids knocking around the piñata.

* * * * *

Throughout the night, Liz could hear the festivities going on in the other room. She could hear the kids smacking around the piñata, and then shouts of joy when all the lollies tumbled down. She heard them running around the house, playing hide-and-seek with Max. At one stage he tried hiding in the kitchen, until Liz ordered him out as all the kids burst in looking for him, not wanting to be responsible for them burning themselves on the hot stove.

Hearing the sound of a happy family gathering made her homesick for the first time in a while. It had been years since she had seen her parents, the rest of her family, or even her best friend. She felt jealous that Max seemed to have such a close family with him here in LA, while she was half a world away from hers. They hardly even spoke anymore, which was more her fault than anyone elses.

Max would come into the kitchen throughout the night, always feigning some excuse about wanting to help take out the next course, or checking on how dessert was coming along. Liz couldn’t help but noticed how he lingered longer than he needed to, and she hoped it was because he liked spending time with her.

“Liz?” Isabel said, poking her head into the kitchen.

“Hi!” Liz said, jumping in front of the fairy birthday cake she had just been putting the finishing touches on, not wanting to have the surprise ruined.

“I just wanted to say thank you for helping Max throw this party for me. I feel like I am nine years old again. The food is wonderful. You’re such a good cook.”

“Thanks.” Liz blushed.

“When you’re finished in here, why don’t you come out and join us?” Isabel offered.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your time with your family.”

“You wouldn’t be. And besides, with the amount my brother has been coming in here to see you tonight, we may actually see more of him if you were out there with us!” Isabel joked.

“He was just checking up on the food…” Liz argued.

“That’s not the only thing he was checking up on.” Isabel teased. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and when he’s not with you he can’t stop talking about you.”

“He’s a good friend.” Liz countered.

“Mmmhmm….” Isabel just raised her eyebrows and left the kitchen.

Ten minutes later Liz was carrying the cake into the dining room as Isabel’s family sang happy birthday.

“What did you wish for?” Max asked as Isabel blew out the candles.

“I can’t tell you or else it won’t come true.” Isabel replied, grinning to her brother. “Here, Liz, why don’t you take the seat next to Max?”

Liz began to refuse, but Max was already guiding her to the empty seat.

“So where are you from Liz?” Max’s mother asked, making polite conversation. She was slightly shocked at the fact the caterer was being asked to sit with them. She did not consider herself a snob, but it just wasn’t the ‘done thing’.

“I’m from Australia.”

“Where – Sydney?”

“Uh, no, Adelaide actually.”

“Never heard of it.” Max’s mother replied.

“We try to keep it that way.” Liz smiled, not at all put off by Max’s mother’s aloofness.

“So how did you meet Max?” Max’s father intervened.

“On a plane actually, from London to L.A.”

“And he just asked you to cater his sister’s birthday?” Max’s mother butted back in.

“Uh, something like that.” Liz replied.

“What’s with the twenty questions Ma?” Max interceded.

“I’m just trying to understand your relationship.”

“Liz is a friend of mine, who happens to be a fantastic cook and offered to help me out. Is that okay with you?” Max said, raising his voice a little.

“Of course it is son.” His mother replied, as though she had never insinuated anything else.

“I can agree with the fantastic cook part.” Max’s father said, raising his glass. “So, can we taste some of this fantastic looking birthday cake now?”

“Sure can.” Max replied, passing Isabel the knife to cut the cake.

* * * * *

“So … your mum seems to really like me.” Liz said to Max, as she was tidying up the kitchen after Max’s family had left.

“C’mon, she does.” Max replied, catching Liz’s sarcastic tone.

“She practically demanded to know what a girl like me was doing with her son. Does she want you to marry a fellow movie star or something? A princess maybe?”

“Movie star, no. Princess … maybe.”

Liz just raised her eyebrows in response.

“She just looks out for me, that’s all. I don’t think she would consider anyone good enough for her only son.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t ask me to cater any more of your family’s events.” Liz said, still not convinced that his mother’s dislike of her wasn’t personal.

“She’ll warm up to you, I promise. Just use the same methods you used on me.”

“And what was that?” Liz asked curiously.

“I think it was called the Mediteranean Risotto … or something like that. I’ll have to check the menu.” Max grinned.

Liz smacked Max playfully with a tea towel. “Very funny.”

“Well I think you made my sister’s day anyway. I don’t think I have seen her this happy since the news.”

“Well, I’m glad I could help out.”

“I’m glad you could too.” Max replied.

They were silent for a moment, both wanting to say more than they dared to.

“Well I’d better get going. I have the breakfast shift in the morning.” Liz said, grabbing her bag to leave.

“So I probably won’t see you for a couple of weeks. I promised my agent to catch the end of the Asian leg of the publicity tour. He suggested it may be good for my fans that the star actually tries to encourage people to see his movie.”

“I can see his point.” Liz smiled, seeing how un-thrilled Max was at the prospect.

“You don’t feel like taking some time off and joining me in Asia for a couple of weeks?” Max suggested.

“I’d love to, but I have to work. I told you Josie is off on his honeymoon until Friday-week.”

“I could speak to your boss. I have connections, I could pull some strings.” Max winked.

“I’m sure you could,” Liz smiled, “but I would not want to put Amy in that position.”

“Okay, okay. So, I’ll call you while I’m away, okay?”

“That would be nice.”

Max lent over and tucked a strand of hair behind Liz’s ear, and Liz couldn’t help but notice that his hand lingered, cupping the side of her face.

“So I’ll see you soon.” Max said, leaning in to give Liz a kiss on the cheek.

“I hope so.” Liz replied, blushing a little at the contact.

“Goodnight.” Max replied, opening the door for her, and watching her until her car drove away.

* * * * *

“An all expenses paid trip to Asia and you said ‘no’!?” Serena exclaimed after Liz told her of Max’s offer.

“I couldn’t go with him. What would the media say? I wouldn’t want him splashed all over the magazine covers because of me.” ‘Or myself for that matter.’ She silently added.

“I thought you told him you couldn’t get off work?” Serena replied.

“I did, that’s true too …”

“You’re unbelievable. The only girl I know of in the country, if not the entire world, that would pass up the chance to go away on an overseas trip, with Max Evans of all people.”

“What can I say? I’m just kooky like that.” Liz replied. After a few moments seemingly deep in thought, she asked “Do you think he’ll call?”

“Of course he will. The guy probably won’t have even left the airport before he calls you. He’s got it that bad for you.” Serena predicted.

Okay, don't hate me, but if you know anything about my other fics, you know I can't let our happy couple have completely smooth sailing ...



6

Serena was wrong however, because the whole two weeks went by and there had been no phone call from Max. Liz had initially made excuses for him, like the fact he was busy or he didn’t want to come over seeming too keen. They were just friends after all. After seeing his photos splashed all over the gossip magazines in the arms of Tess Harding, Liz stopped making excuses and began feeling sorry for herself. Why didn’t she say yes to going to Asia when she had the chance? Then it could have been her wrapped in those arms, instead of a certain blonde-headed gerbil.

Liz began avoiding the magazine stand, and wouldn’t turn on the news in case they had also picked up the story. She even turned off the TV when it showed an ad for his new movie.

Three weeks passed and Max had supposedly returned to LA, according to Serena who had heard through the grapevine at work. Liz was no longer feeling sorry for herself, - she was mad. It was one thing not to call her while overseas, but he could have had the decency to contact her now that he was back in the country. So maybe they weren’t even just ‘friends’ after all? Maybe they were just acquaintances? She tried not to think about it; tried not to get depressed about it; tried not to obsess about it; but that didn’t stop her thinking about him almost every second of every day.

So when he finally appeared in the restaurant one day, she tried to hide her surprise, and the fact that her heart had just skipped a beat at the sight of him.

“Hey.” He said, as he walked into the kitchen, which was empty because the kitchen staff had not yet arrived for the dinner shift.

“Hey yourself.” Liz replied, returning her attention to the dough she was kneading.

Max just stood there with his hands in his pockets, not saying anything. Liz eventually looked back up at him.

“You didn’t call.” Liz stated.

“I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t get the chance. The schedule …”

“Yeah, your schedule looked very busy. Found time to squeeze in some time by the pool, at the bar, and I think I even saw photos of you at the Singapore Zoo. But no time for a quick phone call?” Liz retorted.

“It was all part of the promotion. They had us working 24/7. By the time I got back to the hotel it was too late to call.”

“You know I wouldn’t have minded what the time was. It would have been better than the alternative.”

“Which was?” Max prompted.

“Seeing you flaunting yourself all over your co-star. Every time I turned on the TV or walked passed a magazine stand …”

“It’s not what you think. It was all for publicity.”

“Including the news that you proposed to her on a romantic moonlit beach?”

“It’s not true.” Max denied.

“But they must have got the idea from somewhere…” Liz grabbed the magazine she had tried not to read earlier, but hadn’t been able to help herself with headlines announcing the proposal. She slapped it open in front of Max. There was a full page spread with a photo, obviously taken with a telephoto lens, of Max on bended knee next to Tess Harding.

Max looked at the photo and then started laughing.

“I was doing up my shoelace! And see there, in the background, are our bodyguards, other cast members and director. Why would I propose in front of all of them? That’s not my style.”

Liz grabbed the magazine off of him and noticed that his shoelace was undone, and there were quite a few people standing around. She blushed, feeling embarrassed for being taken in by the gossipy tabloids she had always tried to avoid for this very reason.

“So am I forgiven?” Max asked, still smiling from being vindicated.

“That still doesn’t change the fact that you didn’t call. You’ve been back for over a week. Schedule still busy?” Liz said sarcastically.

“No … yes… it’s just … Isabel’s been back in the hospital for more chemo so I have been there with her day and night.”

“I’m sorry.” Liz apologised. Now she felt really awful. “How is she?”

“She’s doing okay. She came out of hospital today and will be staying at my place for a few days.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Liz offered.

“That’s actually why I’m here.” Max replied, and Liz visibly flinched as though she’d been slapped. So he was only here because of Isabel, not because he wanted to see her. He hadn’t even bothered to call her for the last week when she could have helped him with his sister, or just be there for him.

“What do you need?” Liz replied, trying to mask her disappointment.

“She’s been eating hospital food for a week, when she’s been well enough to eat anything at all that is, and I thought maybe you could cook her something special. I know how much she enjoyed your cooking on her birthday.”

“Sure. What do you think she’d like? Spaghetti Bolognese again?”

“She was telling me the other day that she had a craving for moussaka?”

“How about something that doesn’t take three hours to cook? We’ve got potato and leek soup on the menu tonight. I can have some ready to go in a couple of minutes.”

“How about you bring some with you when you finish up here? I’m sure Isabel would love to see you.”

“The poor girl won’t be eating until after midnight if that’s the case. How about you just take some now and I’ll see Isabel another time.”

“Okay.” Max agreed, and Liz hoped that it was actually disappointment that she heard in his voice.

Liz checked the soup, which she had made earlier that afternoon. It was steaming hot, ready to go, so she packed some up in a takeaway bowl with a bread roll and handed it to Max.

“Tell Isabel I hope she feels better soon.”

“I will. Thanks for this.” He replied, and looked on the verge of saying something else before Liz turned back to the dough she had been kneading.

“I’ll see you soon?” Max said, but it came out more like a question.

“Yeah, see you later.” Liz replied, barely looking to meet his eye.

* * * * *

“Do you want the good news, or do you want the good news?” Serena said, as she flopped down on the sofa next to Liz.

“Uh … let me think … I think I’ll take the good news.” Liz replied, while putting down the trashy novel she had been reading.

“So the good news is that Max Evans and Tess Harding are not engaged.” Serena announced.

“Yeah, I know.”

“How do you know? The press conference only just finished. Gee, good news really does travel fast…”

“Max came to see me yesterday.” Liz replied.

“What! And you didn’t tell me! Well, what did he say?” Serena interrogated.

“He said that he had been busy, wasn’t engaged, and wanted to pick up some takeaway. That’s it.”

“That’s it? No ‘I missed you and couldn’t wait to come back and see you’?”

“Nope. But that’s okay. I’m over it.”

“You’re over what exactly?” Serena asked inquisitively.

“Being friends with him. I mean, who was I kidding? He’s this huge movie star, and I’m just a meagre chef, who will be leaving this country in less than nine months anyway.”

“You’re not just a meagre chef – you’re a great chef. Anyone would be nuts if they didn’t want to be friends with you, even if it was just for the food …” Serena joked as Liz threw a pillow at her.

“So what was the other good news?” Liz asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Uh … nevermind.” Serena said, walking to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of orange juice.

“C’mon, tell me.”

“It may not seem like such good news now.”

“What is it?” Liz said, knowing it must have something to do with Max.

“I kind of got us tickets to the U.S. premier of Max’s new movie tomorrow night.”

“Oh.”

“I know you probably don’t want to go with me anymore.”

“No, I’ll go.” Liz said hesitantly. “It’s fine.”

“Thanks babe.” Serena said giving Liz a hug. “You won’t even see him there, I’m sure.”

“Not if you don’t count the ninety minutes he will be larger than life on the big screen, romancing that blonde-headed gerbil.” Liz replied.

Yes, sorry, I did mean to post sooner but I've been obsessing over this next instalment. I think I'm happy with it now...


7

“So, apparently Max is going to be taking interviews all day to promote his movie. Do you want me to tag along with the contingent from The LA Times and kick his butt for you?” Serena offered the following morning over breakfast.

“No, but thanks for the offer.” Liz replied, smiling.

“So he’s going to be tied up all day? Where?” Liz asked after thinking it over for a moment.

“The Beverly Hilton. Why?”

“Because that means he’ll be out of the house, and I can go and visit his sister without having to worry about running into him.” Liz said, coming up with a plan.

“Do you need me to spy on him so I can give you a head’s up when he’s heading home? Oooo I could get some dark sunglasses and a walkie talkie and it will be just like in the movies …” Serena began scheming.

“I think you need to cut down on your morning coffee.” Liz replied. “I’d better get going. I’ll be back in time for the premiere tonight.”

“… Or I could let down his tyres – that should buy you a little more time…” Serena continued as if Liz hadn’t said anything

“Goodbye Serena.” Liz said, rolling her eyes. She really hoped Serena didn’t follow through with any of her hair-brain schemes.

* * * * *

Later that day, after Liz had finished her breakfast shift, and had spent a couple of hours slaving over the stove to bake moussaka for Isabel, Liz found herself knocking on Max’s front door. As she heard someone approach to open the door, she prayed that Max hadn’t decided to stay home that day. Luckily the door was opened by a woman, dressed in a nurse’s uniform.

“Hi. I’m here to see Isabel. Is she taking visitors?” Liz asked as the woman looked her up and down.

“I’ll just check for you. Please wait here.” The woman replied, indicating to the foyer.

“Liz! Come in!” Liz heard Isabel’s voice moments later calling from the living room.

Liz went through to the living room to find Isabel with her feet up on the couch, and wrapped up in a blanket. Her face was pale, and she had dark rings around her eyes. She looked so tired, but was smiling just as brightly as she had a few weeks ago.

“This is such a surprise.” Isabel began, making room on the end of the couch for Liz to sit. “Max isn’t here though.”

“That’s okay.” Liz replied. “I actually came to visit you. Max told me that you had a craving for moussaka, so I baked you some. I hope you’re up to eating.”

“My appetite is just starting to come back, so your timing couldn’t be better.” Isabel smiled. “That’s so sweet of you, thank you.”

“It was no trouble at all.” Liz replied, taking a seat. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m doing okay. Last week was tough.” Isabel replied, tears forming in her eyes, but she quickly shook them away. “But I’m feeling a lot better now.”

“When is your next lot of chemo?”

“In about ten days. I need time to recover so I’m well enough for the doctors to make me sick again, it’s crazy. At least I still have my hair.” Isabel replied, running her fingers through her long blonde hair. As she pulled her hands away, some strands of hair came with them. Isabel just stared at the hair in her hands. “Oh, no…”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Liz soothed, moving closer to Isabel to give her a hug.

“My hair is starting to fall out…” Isabel replied, still looking at her hands.

“It’s going to be okay.” Liz replied. “It’ll grow back.”

“I’m going to look like an old lady with a scarf wrapped around her head.” Isabel moaned.

“Or, you could get a wig? You could have a different hairstyle every day.” Liz suggested.

“I could get a pink wig…” Isabel replied, starting to smile.

“Ooo what about black? You could go for the gothic look.”

“I’d love hair like yours.” Isabel said, touching Liz’s long brown hair.

“It’s yours if you want it. I’ll cut it off and we’ll make it into a wig for you.” Liz smiled.

“No wonder my brother likes you so much. You’re so selfless.” Isabel replied seriously.

“I’m not selfless – do you realise how much money I could get for selling my hair?” Liz joked, trying to avoid any more mention of Max by Isabel. It didn’t seem to work however, as Isabel wasn’t to be deterred.

“He told me about your sense of humour too.” Isabel replied.

“Yeah, well …” Liz began to protest, when she was interrupted by the sound of Isabel’s mobile phone ringing to the tune of ‘Ring Ring Ring’ by De La Soul.

“Max… Hi… I’m okay… Really… I’m sure… No, it’s just that I’ve just discovered that my hair is starting to fall out… No, you don’t need to… I’m fine… Yes, besides I’m here with-” at which point she looked up to see Liz desperately motioning for her not to tell Max that she was there, “-with my remote control and there’s a 24 hour marathon of ‘Happy Days’ showing… I’ll be fine… See you later… Okay… Bye.”

Isabel hung up her phone and then looked at Liz for an explanation.

“Thanks for not telling Max I was here.” Liz said.

“No problem, but do you want to tell me why? I thought you and Max were friends?” Isabel asked confused.

“We are … we were … oh, I don’t know any more.”

“What did he do?” Isabel asked immediately.

“Nothing. That’s the point. Everything was going really well, and then I didn’t hear from him for three weeks.”

“What did he say when he saw you a couple of days ago?”

“That he was too busy. That he didn’t want to call me so late.”

“Well if I know my brother, I would bet anything that more than once he picked up the phone, but just couldn’t go through with dialling the last number.”

“Why? Why was it so hard to call?” Liz asked, confused.

“Because he likes you so much.” Isabel replied. “You see, my brother doesn’t have a very high opinion of his own self worth. That’s why he hates these promotional tours so much – he just doesn’t see why everybody is making such a big deal about him. And any time he actually finds himself falling in love with a girl, he starts doubting whether he is good enough for her. He sabotages the relationship before it can even begin.”

“Has he always been like that?” Liz asked.

“Yeah, he has. Do you know how he got into acting in the first place?” Isabel asked Liz, who shook her head in the negative. “He was really shy in school, and one of his teachers decided that forcing him to perform the lead role in the drama production at school would help build his confidence. Turns out, he was a natural on the stage – he had the ability to become a completely different person. He got his first movie role at the age of sixteen and has never looked back since. But that shy little boy is still inside him somewhere, and occasionally he comes back to take away any confidence Max has managed to build up.”

“So, you’re saying that if I’m going to be friends with Max, I’m going to have to deal with these insecurities on a regular basis?” Liz asked.

“Maybe, or maybe you’re just the thing to help him get over it for good.” Isabel suggested.

“That’s if I haven’t already blown it.” Liz replied. “I didn’t exactly give him a warm welcome two days ago. I wouldn’t be surprised if I never see him again. I think I overreacted. I mean, he’s ‘Max Evans’ and who am I? We barely know each other and I’m getting upset over a phone call? I haven’t called my best friend in four years, so who am I to talk?”

“Anyone who has seen the two of you together could see how much you are attracted to each other, and how well you both just seem to fit. Of course you would be upset if for a moment you believed that Max didn’t feel the same way about you as you feel for him.”

“I think I’m falling in love with him.” Liz stated. “But I can’t. I shouldn’t. We’re too different.”

“Take away all the fame, and Max is just a normal boy. Never believe you’re not good enough for him. He obviously doesn’t think so.” Isabel counselled.


8

So it was an hour before the red carpet was to begin, two hours before the movie, and Liz was still having trouble finding something appropriate to wear. Serena came into Liz’s room, took one look at the pile of clothes on Liz’s bed, and made a bee-line for Liz’s half empty wardrobe.

“I know just the thing.” Serena said, rummaging through the wardrobe. “Here it is!”

Serena held up a short black dress and dug around for Liz’s strappy sandals that she had bought to wear the one time she had gone out on a date in this country.

“Makes you look gorgeous without shouting for attention.” Serena said as she placed the clothes on the bed. “Now hurry up and get ready, otherwise we’ll still be sitting in traffic when the credits are rolling.”

Liz quickly obeyed, and once her hair was done and makeup applied, she decided that Serena had picked the perfect outfit for the occasion. If she ever gave up journalism she should become a personal shopper.

As they drove past the theatre they saw the usual crowd had gathered around the red carpet. Movie star groupies and journalists lining the entrance in the hope of getting a photo, or even a few words from their beloved stars.

“It’s showtime.” Serena said as she eventually found a car park. “Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’m ever going to be.” Liz replied, taking a deep breath. She couldn’t decide whether she wanted to avoid Max because she was still hurt, or because she was embarrassed about the way she had reacted.

Liz looked at the queue to get into the theatre. If they pushed their way through, they could sneak in before Max arrived and hide up in the back. He would never know she was there.

Unfortunately she didn’t have that luck. As she was walking up the red carpet, she saw Max and Tess holding up the line by talking to some journalists. Liz knew Max hadn’t seen her yet, but Tess had, and had given her a look that could kill.

“We’ll just squeeze past.” Serena said, making a path past the two stars.

Liz had almost passed Max when she had heard him talking about the recent non-engagement.

“… I’m mean, who wouldn’t want to be married to this adorable woman …” Liz overheard Max say to the cameras. While distracted by what Max had said, Liz walked straight into Serena in front of her who had been unable to clear a path any further. Max turned his head at the commotion, and his eyes locked with Liz’s for a moment. She saw his eyes darken slightly before turning back to the cameras and continuing the interview.

“So you guys had a great on-screen chemistry in your previous movie ‘The Waiting Game’, should we expect the same in your latest movie?” The interviewer asked, sticking the microphone in front of Tess.

“Let’s just say you won’t be disappointed.” Tess replied before glaring in Liz’s direction. Liz didn’t hear much more before the line in front began moving again and she was able to hide herself amongst the crowd in the foyer.

‘So much for not bumping into him tonight.’ She thought, berating herself for even thinking of coming here tonight.

“Let’s grab some seats.” Serena said, leading Liz away from the foyer entrance and into the theatre. Unfortunately they hadn’t arrived early enough to be able to sneak up the back, and had to settle for about ten rows from the front. Liz had hoped that the cast was sitting up the very front, so she wouldn’t feel Max’s eyes on her during the whole movie, but unfortunately the back section had been roped off for the cast and VIP’s. Liz slunk down in her seat, hoping that she could disappear amongst the other moviegoers.

Eventually the red carpet was cleared, and the theatre darkened to begin the opening credits. Liz hadn’t seen Max come in, but refused to turn around to look for him. Soon the movie had her so engrossed that she almost forgot that it was Max on the screen. Almost. She cringed every time Max and Tess were in the same scene, and every time Max would give Tess the kind of look Liz secretly wished he would give her. The type of look that makes you feel like you could melt due to the amount of heat that is emanating from it.

About halfway through the movie, the story turned darker, and they came to a scene in which Tess is almost raped by the bad guy. Naturally Max comes in just in time to save her. Liz was frozen in her seat. She had not expected the movie to contain this type of content. ‘They had advertised it as a romance hadn’t they?’ She thought to herself. Gradually she pried her white knuckles from the arm rest, before getting up and excusing herself past half a dozen people. She made the quickest exit possible, wanting to get out of the darkened theatre and back into the safe light of the foyer. Closing the door behind her, she made her way quickly to the ladies room, where she splashed cold water on her face. She felt like she was going to be sick. Leaning over the basin she watched her face as her mascara ran down her cheeks.

After what seemed like forever, she cleaned herself up, and took one last look at herself in the mirror before heading out of the ladies room. As she opened up the door she Max, standing there waiting.

“Are you okay?” He asked, concerned.

“I’m fine.” Liz replied, a little embarrassed that he had obviously noticed her exit. “You’re missing your movie.”

“I know.” Max replied. “I don’t need to see it.”

“Have you been out here all this time?” Liz asked, realising the time. It was almost over.

“Yes. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.” Liz said again, and she didn’t even convince herself this time.

“Look, I’m sorry about before, on the red carpet.”

“What are sorry for? Saying you would love to marry Tess, or sorry that I was there to here it?”

“Both. I’m sorry that we haven’t talked much in the last month. I’m sorry that I hurt you. I’m sorry that I didn’t bring you here with me tonight.”

“What?” Liz was a bit shocked by the last comment.

“I almost asked if you wanted to come with me … as my date. But I wanted to keep you away from the cameras. And then the studio wanted me to bring Tess … for more publicity. But I wish I had told them to go to hell.”

“I don’t. You’re here with Tess where you belong. It was nice trying the friends-thing, but we are too different. We come from completely different worlds.”

“Don’t say that.” Max said, grabbing Liz’s hand. “We can make it work. I need you in my life.”

“Why?” Liz asked, still not sure why he had picked her to be his friend.

“Because you don’t treat me like a movie star. Because you won’t let me get away with shit. Because I’ve been around the world and seen a lot of things, but the best moments in my life have been with you. And … you’re a really great cook.” Max said, trying to get Liz to smile at the last comment. It worked.

“Serena said that you only wanted me for my cooking.” Liz smiled, not able to ignore the previous comment about the best moments of his life being with her.

“A man’s gotta eat.” Max smiled back. “So are we okay? Are we still friends?”

“Yeah, we’re still friends.” Liz replied, unable to stay mad at him for long, especially since the ‘old Max’ seemed to be returning.

“So, friend … you look like you could do with a hug.” Max offered with his arms outstretched.

Liz complied and stepped into his arms. It was so nice to be back in his close proximity. It was so warm in his arms. That was until he quickly broke away at the sound of a camera flash.

“Shit.” He swore, as he tried to hide Liz from the cameras that were still clicking.

“Who’s your girlfriend?” The reporter asked Max.

“She’s just a friend. There’s no story here folks.” He replied, leading Liz away from the cameras.

“That’s exactly what I had wanted to avoid. I’m sorry.” He said, turning to Liz.

“It’s okay.”

“You won’t be saying that when the reporters track down your name, address, where you work, and splash you all over the magazines covers.”

Liz gulped. Now she was in trouble.

Thanks everyone. Glad you are all still enjoying it.

Walking Contradiction - you are too intuitive for your own good!

Behrluv32 - you have my word, I promise not to!


9

It had been a week since the papers had run the story. On the morning after the preview one paper was declaring that Max Evans had been seen with a ‘mystery woman’, and plastered the photo of the two of them in an embrace all over the front cover of their magazine. By day two, an astute television editor found the footage of Max and Liz locking eyes on the red carpet during Max’s interview, and it was replayed over and over on ever channel. Another couple of magazines had picked up on the story, and had managed to track down her name and address. She now had to battle through the paparazzi at her front door, and then again when she arrived at work.

Liz hadn’t seen Max since the story broke, but they had talked on the phone. Max had given a statement to the media that they were just friends, but that didn’t stop the photographers from rummaging through her trash.

At work, she managed to get some peace, as Amy had offered the kitchenhand’s bonuses for acting as bouncers to ensure no one came into the kitchen when Liz was working. Liz knew that Amy was secretly loving the publicity, as the restaurant had never been so busy. Everyone wanted to eat the food prepared by Max’s ‘girlfriend’.

Things began to quiet down by the end of the week. Luckily Michael Jackson was back in court again, diverting the attention from Max and his ‘mystery woman’. Max had finally agreed it was safe to come over to Liz’s apartment again, so when the doorbell rang, Liz expected to see Max’s face when she opened the door. Instead she was greeted by a face from the past - one she wasn’t sure she was ready to see yet.

“Maria?” Liz said, shocked to see her best friend standing in front of her.

“Liz! It’s so good to see you again.” Maria said, pulling Liz into a huge hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Liz replied, hoping Maria couldn’t hear the fear in her voice.

“So, aren’t you going to invite me in?” Maria asked, picking up her suitcase.

“Of course, come in.” Liz replied, holding the door open to let her pass.

“So, how did you find me?” Liz asked, as they were sitting down for a cup of tea.

“With your face splashed all over the papers, it wasn’t hard.”

“That story made it down under? I didn’t realise it was such a big deal.” Liz said shocked.

“You know how Australian’s love to make a big deal out of one of their own doing well in Hollywood – they’re already hinting at wedding bells.”

“So you got on a plane to find me?” Liz asked incredulously.

“I have been waiting for four years to hear anything from you, and no, the occasional postcard doesn’t count. I wasn’t going to let the opportunity disappear. So, I sold my car and used the money to buy a ticket to LA.”

“Did you tell anyone where you were going?” Liz asked, trying to disguise her nervousness.

“Just my parents. Why?” Maria asked.

“So your brother doesn’t know you’re here?”

“I doubt it. He doesn’t talk to my parents that much these days. Why do you want to know?”

“No reason.” Liz replied, a little too quickly.

“You know… I still remember the last time I saw you. We were lying on my back lawn, on a rug, looking up at the stars… We were celebrating graduation and getting into the courses we wanted. You were going to do hospitality at TAFE and I was going to study music at Adelaide Uni… We had been drinking champagne, a little too much, and I went inside to grab us something to eat. I saw my brother in the kitchen and told him to go outside and keep you company… When I came out twenty minutes later, you were gone. A couple of days later I get a message from your parents that you have gone to London… Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Maria demanded.

Liz stood up, and started pacing.

“Do we have to do this right now?” She asked, trying to buy some time to get her thoughts together. She knew she would have to have this discussion one day, but she thought it would be when she returned to Australia, and she had a fourteen hour plane ride to think about what she was going to say.

“I’ve waited four years for an explanation.” Maria replied.

“I know … I’m sorry … don’t you think I wanted to tell you what happened? So many times I have picked up the phone to call you, but I just couldn’t do it.”

“Why not?”

“Because he threatened to hurt you if I said anything to you … to anybody.”

“Who threatened you?” Maria asked confused.

“Who do you think?” Liz retorted.

“Sean…”

“While you were getting something to eat, he came out to keep me company, just like you asked him to. I had had a little too much to drink, and we may have flirted a little, I can’t remember. Next thing I know he is straddling me… I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t, and I wasn’t strong enough. He had his hand over my mouth so I couldn’t call out for help …” Maria began to interrupt but Liz continued. “When he had finished he told me that if I went to the police, told my parents, or said anything to you, that he would come after me … and he would hurt you.”

“Lizzy … I’m so sorry … I didn’t know …” Maria went to put her arms around Liz but she flinched away from her touch.

“I took off … I knew that if I saw you I would break down and tell you everything, and I didn’t want to put you in danger. I was young and scared, and didn’t have the guts to go to the police, or tell my parents what had happened. I convinced myself that if I just disappeared, he wouldn’t hurt you, or me, ever again. So, the next day I convinced my parents that I needed a European trip to celebrate the end of school. They could tell I wasn’t going to take no for an answer, so they gave in. That was four years ago, and I have barely spoken to them since, because every time I call them, they beg to know where I am and when I’m coming home. Something I’m not ready to do just yet. I sent you the postcards, just so you would know that I was okay.”

“I wish you had said something sooner … so much could have been prevented.”
“What do you mean?” Liz asked.

“About a year after you left, Sean was arrested for raping another girl. He got out after two years for good behaviour, but has been in and out ever since for other crimes – drugs, theft, vandalism. I haven’t seen him in three years, and my parents only hear from him when he needs money.”

Liz was stunned. She thought she was saving herself and her best friend by keeping quiet, but another girl paid for her silence. As she stood their, digesting everything, they were interrupted by the sound of someone walking through the front door.

“Guess who I found lurking at the front door …” Serena announced causing Liz to look up in a panic. As Serena stepped out of the way she saw Max closing the front door behind him and coming up the corridor.

“Oh my goodness … it’s really you …” Maria said, staring at Max with her mouth gapping open.

“It’s really me.” Max replied, a little taken aback by receiving such a reaction in Liz’s house. He was used to fans staring at him like when they met him on the street, but he came to think of Liz’s house as being a refuge from that.

“And who are you?” Serena asked, realising Liz wasn’t going to do an introduction.

“Maria, Maria Deluca. An old friend of Lizzy’s.”

“Funny … she’s never mentioned you.” Serena replied, giving a sideways glance at Liz, who seemed close to breaking down. “Are you okay Liz?”

Liz looked up at Serena, and then to Max, with tears in her eyes. Without replying, she bolted from the room and locked herself in the bathroom. She needed time to digest what Maria had said; to cope with the emotions that were forcing their way to the surface; the memory of what happened on that night that had changed her life forever; and the fact that her actions had caused another person to get hurt.

* * * * *

“Liz?” Serena said, as she tapped lightly on the bathroom door a couple of hours later. “Are you okay?”

She was received with silence.

“Max has gone. He said he would call you later... I’ve made up a bed for Maria on the sofa… Is there anything I can get you?” Serena asked.

The door creaked open and Serena walked into the bathroom, to see Liz splashing cold water on her face, attempting to hide the fact that she had spent the last two hours crying.

“I’m sorry to freak out on you.” Liz apologised. “You’re probably wondering what’s going on.”

“I must say I’m a little curious. A ‘friend’ turns up out of the blue, from that mysterious past of yours, and you have a mini meltdown.” When she saw Liz attempt to interrupt, she put her hand up to silence her and continued. “But I know that if you had wanted to talk about it, you would have, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to explain it to me now. Just know that I am here if you need someone to talk to. Okay?”

“Okay.” Liz nodded, grateful for the reprieve. She wondered if Max would be just as accommodating.

“Ready to come out? We sent out for Thai.”

“I’m always ready for Thai.” Liz smiled.

“That’s my girl.” Serena said, putting her arm around Liz’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

* * * * *

“So that was really Max Evans …” Maria said, in between mouthfuls of Pad Thai.

“In the flesh.” Liz replied.

“I had no idea you knew him that well.”

“You saw the photos in the tabloids – what exactly were you expecting?” Liz asked. She hadn’t considered that Maria would be that surprised to find Max in her apartment.

“I thought it was all hype - typical paparazzi style, trying to make a story out of nothing.” Maria replied.

“How exactly were they going to fabricate a public embrace?” Serena asked quizzically.

“Well … I thought maybe she had tripped, and he had caught her.” Maria replied, now feeling slightly embarrassed at her own naivety.

“Should I tell the Max and Liz story, or would you like to?” Serena asked Liz.

“Go right ahead. I would love to hear your take on the whole thing.” Liz replied, bracing herself from what Serena was about to reveal.

“Liz first met Max on a flight from London to LA. He was flying economy. Why? Basically because he needs to get himself a decent assistant who can actually pull some strings in this town. The man could get a private jet for goodness sake. Anyway, it was fate, because he was seated next to Liz here, and the two got talking over bad airline food and broken headsets.”

“Oh please …” Liz rolled her eyes.

“Be quiet you – you had your chance, this is my story. Anyway, little Miss ‘I’ve seen ‘Against the Tide’ sixteen-million times’ didn’t recognise the poor guy. Spent 10 hours two feet away from him, and didn’t know who on earth he was. So anyway, they get talking, turns out she makes such an impression on him that he offers to let her sleep across his seat while he sleeps on the floor. The guy is probably used to Egyptian cotton sheets, yet he is willing to lie on a grubby floor where the smelly feet of other economy class passengers have been...”

Liz looked at Serena incredulously, wondering if she was even going to stop talking to take a breath, but Serena kept rambling on.

“So, a couple of days later, he rocks up at her restaurant – seems he can’t get enough of her. He asks her to cater a function for his family and then proceeds to ask her to sit with them to meet the folks…”

“Enough!” Liz says, as she stomps out into the kitchen. “I think she gets the point.”

“Sorry Liz,” Serena said grinning, “but we mere mortals have to indulge in every opportunity we have to wonder what it’s like to actually meet your handsome prince.”

“There’s nothing going on between me and Max.” Liz defended herself.

“That’s not what it looked like before.” Maria said, piping up. “He was awfully concerned about you.”

“He’s a good friend, that’s all.”

Serena and Maria just grinned at each other. Liz was so clueless.

This part is dedicated to LairaBehr4. If it wasn't for her expectation for a daily post, I probably would have gone to bed hours ago! But, since I'm going up to Queensland for the weekend to get some sun (and see my husband), and hence won't be posting until next Tuesday at the earliest, I thought I'd better post what I can.

This is only half of the scene that I envisaged, so you'll have to stay tuned for the continuation. I had it half written yesterday, but a little thing like walking into a music store and buying a new CD managed to convince me to change the whole dynamic of this scene and I had to rewrite it.

Thanks to all the great feedback.

Alien_Friend - Glad to have you join us. It's good to know someone enjoys my sense of humour!

Walking Contradiction - Either (a) you are reading my mind, (b) I'm just that predictable, or (c) you're hacking my computer, because you always seem to know where this story is going!

Oh, and I thought I'd just mention, talk about 'art imitating life', but I ran into my childhood best friend yesterday who I haven't seen in almost 8 years. Talk about a blast from the past.

I should probably mention the songs in this fic are Ben Folds 'Adelaide' and George 'Breathe in now'.

Ok, that's all I promise. On with the show...



10

“So what is there to do in this town?” Maria asked the following day, while flipping through the newspaper.

“Well, you could do the usual tourist trail – the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood Boulevard, Universal Studios, Disneyland.” Liz offered.

“What about the night life?” Maria asked.

“Liz and I are going to see a band tonight.” Serena jumped in. “You could tag along if you like.”

“Who are we seeing this time?” Liz asked.

“George. Heard of him?” Serena replied, knowing full well George was a band, not a guy named George, and that Liz loved their music.

Liz just rolled her eyes at Serena.

“I love George!” Maria exclaimed. “You know they’re Australian right?”

“Wow, so you have real music down under? Not just didgeridoos.” Serena teased. She always liked to get Liz riled up about coming from a country so far removed from the rest of civilisation, so she thought she’d see if Maria would also take the bait.

“Of course we do.” Liz quickly replied before Maria could say anything, hoping Maria wouldn’t take offence since she wasn’t yet used to Serena’s interesting sense of humour. “Besides, if Adelaide is good enough for Ben Folds, it can’t be that bad.”

Liz and Maria just looked at each other, and on cue began singing at the top of their lungs.

“Adelaide on a plane
Far from the United States of LA
Dropping in from outer space takes a day
Now I see the bogans at the motor race
Here you know the world can turn or crash and burn
And you would never know it
Going where the air is clear
There’s better beer
in Adelaide.”

By the end they were rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter. Serena watched them for a moment before excusing herself to go to the kitchen. She was obviously not in on this private joke. It wasn’t the first time that day she had felt like she was being pushed aside as Liz’s best friend. When she went to take Liz a morning coffee, she found Maria curled up on Liz’s bed next to her. She found out later that Maria woke during the night to the sound of Liz having a terrible nightmare, so she had stayed with her to comfort her. Maria knew what was going on with Liz, and knew all the right things to say, while Serena had no choice by to stand by and look on helplessly.

“C’mon Serena. Where’d you go?” Liz asked, noticing Serena had not made her usual sarcastic comments about her bad singing like she normally would.

“Far, far away.” Serena replied.

“Please come back. We’ll do a song you know so you can join in.” Liz batted her eyelids.

“No, please God – no more.” Serena said, holding her hands to her ears.

“C’mon Serena. What you call singing out of tune, I call harmonising.” Liz smiled, knowing full well that she was completely tone deaf, but always loved an opportunity to torture Serena by singing around the house at the top of her voice. “When Maria goes on tour, I’m going to sing back up for her.”

“When’s Maria going on tour?” Serena asked. This was the first she had heard anything about Maria’s background.

“When I finally get my big break and get paid millions of dollars just to get out of bed in the morning.” Maria replied, still clinging onto the hope that she’ll become a famous musician one day.

“Maria just finished her Bachelor of Music at the University of Adelaide, majoring in voice and guitar. She’s going to be the next Jewel.” Liz butted in.

“I was going more for Alanis, but that’ll do.” Maria replied.

“Well, while Maria is here, maybe you should avail yourself of her services and get some singing lessons. My ears will thank you forever.” Serena said before excusing herself the room.

* * * * *

“Hey Mike.” Serena said, as they walked through the doors to the club.

“Hey Serena. Who’s your friend?” Michael asked, looking Maria up and down.

“Maria – Mike. Mike - Maria.” Serena did the introductions.

“Nice to meet you.” Michael smiled.

“You too.” Maria smiled back, while Liz and Serena dragged her through the doors. “I’ll see you ‘round.”

“He’s hot!” Maria exclaimed. “I like this town already.”

Serena and Liz headed for their usual spot on the balcony, followed closely by Maria. When they got there they found Max already there waiting.

“Hey.” Max said, standing up as soon as he saw Liz approach, and giving her a kiss on the cheek. “How are you?”

“I’m good.” Liz replied shyly. They had spoken on the phone after Liz’s ‘meltdown’, but she still felt embarrassed that Max had been there to witness it.

“Good.” Max said, studying her closely to see if he could see any hint that she wasn’t okay.

“I think we need some drinks up here.” Liz said, feeling Max’s intense gaze on her.

Before she even had time to turn around to head to the bar, one of the staff was already by her shoulder with a tray of drinks – the benefit of being regulars.

Liz grabbed her cosmopolitan and downed it like it was a shot of tequila. She then grabbed Serena’s and did the same.

“Liz…” Serena said, looking at her friend concerned. “Are you okay?”

“Great.” Liz said, before grabbing the attention of a bus boy that was walking past. “We need some more drinks up here.”

“Make it a water.” Serena said to the bus boy.

“Make it another Cosmo.” Liz interjected.

“Make that two.” Maria said before the bus boy was out of earshot.

“Don’t you think you should slow it down a bit?” Serena said to Liz. “We only just got here.”

“Yes mum.” Liz replied, standing up and walking towards the balcony rail to watch for the first signs of the band coming on stage. Maria joined her while Serena sat back and watched the two of them giggling together.

Max got up and moved to sit next to Serena.

After a moment’s silence, Serena turned to Max.

“So where do you think it came from?” She asked him.

“Where what came from?” Max asked confused.

“The alien that is obviously currently inhabiting Liz’s body.” Serena replied, turning back to study Liz. “The girl in front of us is not the Liz we know.”

“Has she told you anything about what happened last night?” Max asked. He had tried to get Liz to talk to him when he had called her, but she had changed the subject more than once to avoid the topic.

“No.” Serena replied, and Max could sense the hurt in her voice. “What ever it is, it’s causing her to have nightmares.”

“She’ll come around.” Max said, but as he said it, it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself as well.

“Soon I hope.” Serena replied.

The lights dimmed and the crowd erupted in applause to welcome the band onto the stage. Liz and Maria were both jumping up and down and clapping.

“I’m going to the bar.” Serena said, getting up and leaving Max alone with the two girls.

Max watched Liz for a moment, his eyes drawn to the sight of her hips swaying to the music. She was so captivating, that he just wanted to be surrounded by her. No matter what Serena said, the Liz he knew was still in there somewhere. He slowly got up from his seat, just as the haunting sounds of the next song started, and moved to the empty place by her side.

I see love and beauty all around
I also see the sadness that’s embedded in your frown
I wonder why you choose not to talk to those who surround
I sense a fear of lifting heavy feet
higher than you want to
I just want to believe your truth

Max turned to look at Liz. Her face was bathed in yellow light from the stage, but the brightness could not conceal the frown on her face, and the sadness behind her eyes. There was something really troubling her at the moment, but she wasn’t opening up to him, or to Serena.

You stand there but you do not cast a shadow
You walk away with every word you choose not to say
I suppose that moving on paints a new colour for each day
I don’t like to see dreams put on the shelf
to deal with on that one day
I just want to be happy for you

He wished there was something he could do to let her know that he was there for her when she needed him. He didn’t want to pressure her to talk to him, but he wanted to be able to help her through whatever she was dealing with, whatever was giving her the nightmares, and causing her to want to drink so she could be free of them.

Cause I only have one second, this minute today
I can’t press rewind and turn it back and call it now ohhh
and so this moment
I just have to sing out loud
and say I love, I like and breathe in now ohh
and say I love, I live and breathe in now

Tentatively, he moved his hand towards where hers was resting on the rail of the balcony. Stretching out his little finger, he lightly touched her hand. Liz looked up at him, taken by surprise, but made no move to take her hand away. That was all the encouragement Max needed to place his hand over hers and give it a reassuring squeeze.

I move on holding on to what I learn
it's time to let go of the notion that the whole world's against me
break free of the shackles that formed young
time free in now and now I know
it's not all up to me
I can count on another
so move on lighter and be free

Max wondered whether something had happened to Liz while he had been away in Asia. He knew he had messed up by not calling her, for letting his insecurities get the better of him. He spent the whole two weeks away wanting to call her and tell her that he was falling in love with her, only to convince himself that telling her would only ruin the friendship they had recently built; that there was no way she could possibly love him too. So he didn’t call. Now he regretted it. Their relationship had been different since he had been back, and even Serena was noticing a change in her.

Cause I only have one second, this minute today
I can’t press rewind and turn it back and call it now ohhh
and so this moment
I just have to sing out loud
and say I love, I like and breathe in now ohh
and say I love, I live and breathe in now

He wished he could go back. Called her every second of every day, or better yet, not have gone away at all. He wished he could have taken her to the premiere, he wished he could have comforted her without the cameras around, and he wished so much that he had told her that he loved her.

I believe in for today
I just wanna know that you’re okay
Cause I believe in breathing just for today
I just wanna know that your okay
ooh oo ooo

But it wasn’t the right time. Liz needed a friend right now, so today that is what he would be. He would make sure that she was okay, and that he was there for her when she needed him.

Cause I only have one second, this minute today
I can’t press rewind and turn it back and call it now ohhh
and so this moment
I just have to sing out loud
and say I love, I like and breathe in now ohh
and say I love, I live and breathe in now
and say I love, I live and breathe in now

As the song finished, Liz went to move her hand from under Max’s, but instead of pulling away, she turned her palm around and laced her fingers between his. Looking up she gave him a small smile, and he knew that somehow, she was going to get through this and be okay.

LairaBehr4 and Morning Dreamgirl - do I have to seperate you two?? Play nice!

Everyone else - and the lurkers who have come out of hiding - thanks for the feedback. I hope this makes up for my little absence. I was thinking about this next part the whole time I was away. (Okay, maybe not the whole time, there was a moment or two I was too busy enjoying myself swimming at the beach on the Sunshine Coast - in the middle of winter and the water was just as warm as it is in Adelaide in summer!)

Here is the next part as promised. Do I deliver, or do I deliver!?

And I almost made it before Wednesday too. It's 12:12am central time.

Sorry for any mistakes, but I haven't read over it too much. I hope it all makes sense. Enjoy ...


11


“I’ve got two cosmopolitans”. The waiter said, putting them down on the table while collecting the empty glasses.

“Oooo mine.” Liz said, letting go of Max’s hand and grabbing one of the cosmos.

Max immediately felt the loss of the warmth of her hand, and wondered how he would ever survive if he could never feel it again. He watched as Liz drank the contents of the glass as though she had been stuck on an island for a week without water. It seemed to hit the spot, but wasn’t enough to remove the sadness from her eyes.

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” Serena asked, appearing in the space the waiter just left.

“Not even close.” Liz replied.

“Why are you doing this?” Serena asked, knowing it wasn’t the best time for a confrontation, but desperately wanting to do anything to get through to Liz and make her stop. “This isn’t you.”

“No. This is me. This is me trying to forget the kind of person I am.” Liz replied.

“And what kind of person is that?” Serena demanded.

“The selfish and spoilt kind. The damaged kind.” Liz replied.

“The Liz I know is none of the above. She is the most selfless, caring person I know.”

“Yeah, well, maybe you don’t know her as well as you thought you did.” Liz replied before storming off in the direction of the bar, with Maria following closely behind.

Max watched he go, desperately wanting to try and reach out to her, and tell her that she wasn’t damaged, not to him. But he had just seen Serena get her head bitten off for pushing Liz, and he knew no good would come of his interference. He wanted to be there as a friend, not push her into treating him as the enemy.

Serena walked over to where Max stood at the balcony, and they both watched Liz walk towards the bar, and after having another drink, head to the dance floor with Maria. Serena was never much of a dancer, and Liz had never shown any inclination to dance at these clubs herself, yet here she was, looking like she was having the time of her life with her old-new best friend.

“She’ll come around, you know.” Max said, half to Serena, and half to himself.

“Hopefully before it’s too late.” Serena replied, watching a couple of guys approach Liz and Maria for a dance.

Max watched as well, and began to get concerned about how ‘touchy-feely’ the guys were getting. Liz seemed to be encouraging it with her sexy dance moves.

“I think I’d better go and rescue Liz.” Max said, excusing himself to Serena.

“I’ll come with. I think it’s time we got Liz home.” Serena replied, watching the way Liz was dancing. She’d never see Liz let herself go like this. She was always the one to stand back and watch the party go on around her, rather than be the centre of attention. Now she seemed to enjoy turning these guys on with her seductive moves.

By the time Max and Serena pushed their way through the crowd to the place on the dance floor they had last seen Liz, both she and Maria were gone.

“You check the bar. I’ll check the ladies room.” Serena suggested, before heading off in the direction of the toilets.

Max scoured the bar, but there was no sign of her. The barmen hadn’t seen her for the last ten minutes. He then headed outside in case she had gone to get some fresh air, or worse, decided to try and walk home.

As he made his way outside, he found Maria, but no Liz to be found.

“Maria. Where’s Liz?” Max asked, trying to hide the panic in his voice. This wasn’t good. He hadn’t been as concerned when he thought Liz was with Maria at least. Now, she was alone, and completely drunk.

“I needed to get some air.” Maria said, blushing and looking sideways at Michael. “When I left she was still on the dance floor.”

“Well, she’s not there now.” Max replied angrily. What was Maria thinking leaving Liz alone in the condition she was in?

Max immediately rushed back inside, with Maria and Michael following closely behind, and headed in the direction of the ladies room to see if Serena had had any luck.

“There’s no sign of her.” Serena said, exiting the ladies room.

“She’s got to be here somewhere.” Max said desperately.

As they were deciding where to look next, their attention was caught by the flash of a camera, coming from where a crowd had gathered in the back corner. Max pushed his way through the crowd to find Liz sitting on the floor, with her arms wrapped around her legs, trying to shield her face from the bright light.

Max immediately grabbed the camera, removed the film, and threw the camera to the ground, stomping on the broken pieces. Michael grabbed the cameraman from behind and restrained him from trying to save his precious film.

“Max Evans. Any comment on your girlfriend’s behaviour tonight?” The cameraman asked, wanting the scoop, but also trying to rile Max up so he could get more fuel for the story.

“Get out of here before I do more than break your camera.” Max replied, holding his fist up as a threat. This guy had danced with Liz and lured her into a darkened corner. Max found it hard to resist the urged to pummel this guy to the ground.

Another couple of bouncers joined Michael and they escorted the cameraman from the building, while Max bent down to where Liz was still seated on the floor.

“Are you okay?” He asked, pulling her hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

“I want to go home.” Liz replied softly, looking terrified.

“I’ll bring the car around.” Serena offered. “I’ll meet you out front in five.”

“Can you stand?” Max asked Liz, helping her up to her feet.

Liz grabbed her head, attempting to stop the room from spinning. Max supported her so she wouldn’t lose her balance, and gradually he was able to walk her out of the club, with Maria clearing a path for them.

They eventually made it outside to the waiting car, and Max helped Liz into the Max seat.

“Thanks for your help Mike.” Max said, shaking Michael’s hand.

“Any time. Don’t worry, that guy won’t be coming back again.” Michael promised.

“Unfortunately there are a lot more where he came from.” Max replied, knowing full well what it was like to be at the receiving end of the spotlight.

* * * * *

Back at Liz’s apartment, Max carried Liz from the car where she had fallen asleep, and laid her down on her bed. He helped Serena remove her shoes, and place her beneath her blankets.

“Do you mind if I stay?” Max asked Serena.

“Unfortunately the couch is already taken.” Serena replied, indicating through the doorway to where Maria’s mess was beginning to take over their living room. “Besides, I think we’ve got it covered. You should probably get home.”

“Okay.” Max agreed reluctantly. He didn’t want to overstep whatever boundaries existed in his relationship with Liz, and with Serena in her role as Liz’s friend.

“I’ll keep you posted on how she is.” Serena offered, as she walked Max out.

“Thanks.” Max replied, taking one last look at Liz’s sleeping form.

* * * * *

In the morning, Liz woke with a raging headache to find Serena standing over her with a glass of water, aspirin and the morning paper. She tried to sit up, but immediately thought twice about it as her head began to throb ten times more.

“Morning.” Serena smiled, handing Liz the aspirin and the water.

“Could you say that a little quieter next time?” Liz asked, wincing at the loudness of Serena’s voice. Why was she yelling at her?

“What happened last night?” Liz asked, not remembering much past her fourth cosmopolitan.

“This happened.” Serena replied, dropping the tabloid on Liz’s lap. The photographer must have had more than one role of film, and Liz’s face was plastered all over the front page. It wasn’t the most flattering of photos, and came with the caption ‘Max Evans takes out the trash’.

“Oh no …” Liz groaned.

“Oh yes …”

“I can’t believe I drank so much last night …” Liz said.

“Neither can I.” Serena replied. “What were you running from?”

“My past…” Liz said.

“What happened?” Serena asked gently, taking a seat at the end of Liz’s bed. “You said you had been selfish, that you were damaged. What did you do?”

“Because of something I did, another girl’s life was ruined.” Liz said cryptically, and Serena couldn’t help but pick up on the inference that Liz believed her own life had been ruined.

“What could you have possibly done?” Serena asked. She knew Liz could never do anything to deliberately hurt another living soul.

“Four years ago, I was … I was r-raped.” Liz began.

“Oh Liz …” Serena interjected, leaning in to give Liz a hug, but Liz pulled away.

“… and I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t tell my parents, or Maria, or the police. I was a coward and ran. No one knew, so he was free to hurt someone else. If I had been braver, I could have stopped him. But I wasn’t, and now I have to live with that for the rest of my life…” Liz sobbed, this time not resisting when Serena lent in to comfort her.

“Oh Liz …” Serena said, not knowing what to say to make everything better. There wasn’t anything she could say, but she could be there as a shoulder to cry on.

“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I’m sorry for being horrible to you last night. I’m really sorry for not letting you help me.” Liz apologised.

“It’s okay.” Serena replied. “I’m just glad you have let me now.”

“Thanks for not hating me.” Liz said gratefully. Serena had every right to be mad at her, but instead she was comforting her.

“I could never hate you. You’re my best friend.” Serena replied, but immediately felt a pang that although Liz was hers, perhaps she wasn’t Liz’s anymore.

“Thanks Serena.” Liz replied, giving her a tighter hug.

“And your life isn’t ruined.” Serena offered. “If you had never needed to leave Australia, you would have never met me. Just think how meaningless your life would be.”

And it worked. Amongst all the tears, Serena actually managed to get a smile out of Liz.

Well LairaBehr4 - now you'll have two parts to read at work! I'm too good to you (don't get used to it though. I feel another weekend sojourn coming on...)

Elci - Can I get an Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi? No, guess not. Thanks for leaving feedback (and for reading my other stories too!)

Alien_Friend, Maya and Sprayadhesive - I was so close to making him stay, but really wanted the Serena/Liz interlude in the morning. Hopefully this part makes up for it somewhat.

Thanks everyone else for the overwhelming feedback.


12

Later that morning, after Liz had recovered from her hangover just enough to roll out of bed into the closest items of clothing she could find on her bedroom floor, she left her apartment and began to walk to Max’s house. She needed to see him to attempt to smooth things over, if that was even possible at that point. Since seeing the tabloid article that morning, she couldn’t get out of her mind what Max must think of her now. Since meeting him she had done nothing but get him in trouble with the tabloids, or snap at him for something as little as not making a phone call. She deserved much worse for the trouble she had now caused him.

She rang the bell of Max’s front door, which was quickly opened by Isabel.

“Hi Liz!” Isabel said, seeming honestly happy to see her. “Come in, come in.”

“Is Max here?” Liz asked tentatively, not sure if she was quite ready to see him yet.

“He’s just gone out for a minute. He should be back soon.” Isabel replied. “Come in and wait for a while.”

Liz followed Isabel into the lounge room, which was strewn with letters.

“What’s all this?” Liz asked, taking a seat next to Isabel, after clearing a space.

“I try to sort through Max’s fan mail occasionally. I ditch the abusive and threatening mail, and show him the really sweet mail. We send signed photos back to the legitimate fans.” Isabel explained. “Do you wanna help?”

“Sure.” Liz agreed.

“I should warn you though. After the photos of you and Max were in the paper last week, your name has been appearing quite a few times in the letters.”

“Good or bad?” Liz asked hesitantly. She had no idea that her existence would induce people to write letters about her, and she hated to think what they would say about her now.

“Here’s one… ‘Dear Max, I really love your movies and I think you’re a spunk. Please ditch your new girlfriend and marry me! Love Cynthia’.” Isabel read.

“Okay, I’ve got one … ‘Dear Max, I really love your new movie. I have already seen it twelve times. I can’t wait to see your next movie. Love Sylvia. PS – I think you should dump Tess Harding and marry your new girlfriend, she’s pretty.’” Liz read.

“So, you’re one-for-two. This one says … ‘Dear Max, I want to have your baby. Please call me on-’ Okay, I don’t think we need to write back to this one…” Isabel said, screwing up the letter.

“Isabel? Can I ask you something?” Liz asked, putting down the pile of letters she was holding.

“Sure.” Isabel replied, looking up at Liz, and then frowning when she saw the worry on Liz’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you seen the Los Angeles Examiner this morning?”

“No, why?” Isabel asked.

“Has Max?” Liz asked.

“I doubt it. He doesn’t really pay much attention to the tabloids. They rarely have anything nice to say.”

“Today they definitely don’t.” Liz replied, passing a copy of the paper to Isabel to read.

“Oh, Liz… I’m so sorry.” Isabel apologised.

“What are you sorry for? I did this to myself.” Liz stated.

“No you didn’t. They did. The people out there who thrive off making other people miserable. Those who want to justify their existence by bringing other people down. You deserve to be able to go out with your friends and have a good time without having your photo splashed all over the newspapers and called horrible names.” Isabel counselled, giving Liz a hug. “Everyone will have forgotten about it by tomorrow, you’ll see.”

“But I won’t have.” Liz admitted. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Don’t say that.” Max’s voice came from the doorway. He was holding a bunch of flowers. “I went to your apartment to see how you are. These are for you.”

“Thank you.” Liz replied, taking the flowers from him, and smelling them. White roses were her favourites. She didn’t deserve for him to be so sweet to her.

“I’m so sorry Max.” Liz sobbed.

“Hey, shush…” Max said, taking Liz into his arms. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who should be apologising. They’re trying to get to me, not you.” Max said, referring the morning paper which Serena had told him all about.

“I should have been more careful. I shouldn’t have let myself get drunk like that.” Liz continued to apologise.

“You’ve had about a week to get used to the spotlight. It took me years before I learnt that I had to be careful what I said or did in public. It’s my fault for not keeping a closer eye on you. I should have protected you from that.”

“I don’t remember what happened, but I’m sure I probably didn’t make it too easy for you to do that. I didn’t … I didn’t say anything embarrassing last night did I?” Liz asked, running through all the possibilities of what she could have said to Max when she had no control over herself.

“No you didn’t.” Max smiled gently to reassure her. “I think Serena took the brunt of your emotions last night. But she told me that you had talked it out this morning.”

“Yeah, although I think I have a lot more apologising to do.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You have the right to let yourself go every once in a while. The worst thing that should come from it is a bad hangover, not this.” Max said holding up the newspaper, before screwing it up.

“So you don’t hate me?” Liz asked, looking up at Max.

“Of course not.” Max replied sincerely. “I could never hate you.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“It’s the truth. I know that you are going through something right now…” Max began, and put his hand up to silence Liz when she tried to interrupt. “… and you don’t have to tell me what it is. Just know that I’ll always be here for you when you need me.”

“Thanks Max.” Liz said, eventually stepping out of Max’s embrace, but letting her hand linger in his.

“So anyway … I see you’ve been sorting my mail. How many marriage proposals have I had this week?”

“Only five so far, but we’ve only just started.” Isabel replied.

“I must be losing my touch.” Max smiled at Liz.

“Not from where I’m standing.” Liz replied, before blushing when she realised that she had actually said that out loud.

Max led Liz by the hand to one of the armchairs, while he sat on the floor next to her and helped Isabel open the mail. Within minutes Liz was asleep and Max found a blanket to wrap her up in. He found he couldn’t concentrate on helping Isabel anymore, not when the alternative was to sit and watch Liz sleep peacefully next to him.