Roswell Fanatics

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Author: RebeccaBehrEvans

Title: Not who they think.

Category: M/L, M/T (don't worry, I most definitely won't be too graphic about those two, but just thought that you should know they're going to be together, at least at the beginning.). AU. No aliens.

Rating: ADULT (so be warned)

Disclaimer: Do you really think that Tess Harding would have set foot in the show if I had owned it?? uh-huh… not a chance, so nope, Roswell and all that goes with it is not mine!

Summary: I'm not very good at that but I'm gonna try:
Some unexpected situation leads to irreversible consequences and changes Max and Liz's lives forever. How well will they deal with them?

AN: I don't have much to say, except welcome and I hope you're going to like this

Just a few info though… Max and Michael are both 19 and both a year late in school in this story both for different reasons, the other characters are 18. Takes place during their Senior year. And there's a little twist to the Roswell we know… Liz is the one who had been in love with Max since meeting him. That and Max and Isabel, are not adopted and have a little brother. Oh, and yeah, Liz is usually called Beth not Liz, you'll see why I decided this as the story progresses.

Here is only part of the prologue but I should have the rest (I actually had to cut it since it was too long otherwise) by tomorrow hopefully. I guess it's gonna be chapter one finally … at least if you like what you read first.

To the French Roswellians, take good note that I manage to tear my eyes away from the TV long enough to post this. But now I'm going back to it, and to that hot tape of JB I just received. (thank you babylisou and Frenchkiss70 )

As always, Feedbacks are highly appreciated even if it's only one word

And if you have any comment on the banner, go ahead, but be gentle please, it's actually the first one I made all by myself

05/03/04: just stopping by to add this song Gaby7tvm wrote me for this fic... it's kind of an adaptation of Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground... and it's definitely one of the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me... I so love it... thank U again Gaby

Being there
just in the cafe
watching you from afar
sitting there with desire
in my eyes
like a double cherry pie
there you were
with your sinful lips

I smell sex and candy here
Who's smiling at me from the distant
Who's that casting devious stares
in my direction
Mama this in no right
yeah mama this surely is wrong

Hangin' around Crashdown being me
and I had so much time
waiting tables and staring at you
and there you were
being your old self
and there you were
like Adonis on your throne

I smell sex and candy here
who's hold the secret of my heart
I am casting devious stares
in your direction
I can't help it I'm in love
yeah
I'm helpless in love
with you
yeah
Mama this surely is a dream

I smell sex and candy here
Who's that casting devious stares
I am casting devious stares
in your direction
I can't help it I'm in love
yeah
I'm helpless in love with you
yeah
mama this surely is so right
yeah
mama this must be my dream


Prologue

There wasn't much to do in old little Roswell, New Mexico on a Saturday afternoon when you were 18. Most people were either out with their friends or were hanging out at the Crashdown Café, the local restaurant. If you were looking for the place where all the teenagers usually gathered to have a drink or a snack and spend a good time with their friends the Crashdown was it, but it certainly lost all its appeal when you were the owners' daughter and you had to work or spend almost your entire life there.

Sometimes it sucked big time to be Elizabeth Parker. Beth, for most people or simply Liz, for those who really knew her, which actually consisted in only two people, her two best friends: Alex Whitman and Maria Deluca. The same Maria who she was now patiently waiting for behind that damned counter she had had to see everyday, way to closely, since she had been of an age to serve patrons.

Luckily today she didn't work, or at least not any longer. Her shift had ended over an hour ago, but Maria who hadn't been as lucky as she had been with her working hours unfortunately -insert sarcasm here- was still at it.

Liz would gladly have been anywhere else at that moment but the two girls had made a pact a long time ago and she couldn't very well do otherwise now: whenever a girl finished before the other, as long as it wasn't more than a two hours difference and she had nothing else or particular to do, she stayed and waited for the other one. Kind of like for moral support, which was sometimes very much needed when you saw some of the stupid people who could come by the restaurant.

All in all, today hadn't been the worst of the days, but waiting was slowly killing Liz nonetheless.

She had thought about taking her school books with her since she had an exam coming the next week but that didn't stop her from getting bored. Spending your time perched on a bar stool behind an old counter wasn't exactly her idea of fun. She would rather hit the Mall or prepare herself for Serena Anderson's party, the one most of the town would be at tonight. But Maria had promised they would do just that once her shift would be over and that she would even help Liz select the best outfit possible. Which with the Deluca's decoder meant that Liz was going to be changing from one to another until Maria would be completely satisfied. Yippee! She couldn't wait. Could you see her rolling her eyes?

But that was for much later anyway.

Right now though, the only distraction Liz had found to get her through the hour was the hunk of a guy who was currently sitting a few booths away from where she was. And what a distraction he was.

Max Evans.

Roswell High most attractive specimen in her book, and many others'. A body and a smile to die for, lips that made you want to find a way to attach yours to them for the rest of your life, and eyes that could just suck you in if you weren't careful enough and made the mistake of staring into them for too long.

He was gorgeous, sexy as hell, one of the most clever senior students she had met and one of the best athletes of the school, too. What more could one ask for?

Sure enough there would be a lot more Liz could say about Max Evans, and yet, people please don't laugh… she didn't know him. At least not as much as she would have liked.

She knew what he liked to have for lunch or for dinner due to his many visits to the Crashdown, Maria even often suggested that they should rent the guy the booth he always seated at since he practically lived there. She knew what car he drove or what was his favorite movie, even if it was only because it was the same one as his best friend Michael Guerin, who conveniently happened to be Maria's boyfriend. She could even tell what his favorite color was, the many and different dark blue clothes he usually wore being a serious giveaway, but in general most of the things she knew about him were unfortunately only deductions or information she had gathered around from people who actually really knew him.

Yes, to Elizabeth Parker Max Evans remained an almost complete mystery and yet she was in love with him.

She guessed she had been ever since his parents, his sister and him had moved into town when she was only a twelve-year-old little girl who didn't know the first thing about love.

She was too young back then to really understand the feeling and yet when Max Evans had stepped out of that yellow school bus and his eyes had met hers, something had happened to her and she hadn't been able to look at a boy the same way after that.

Growing up, whenever someone of the opposite sex talked to her or did something nice for her, which could be the most insignificant things honestly, she couldn't help comparing him to Max or wishing it were Max who had said the words.

With time her feelings had grown stronger and Liz finally had to admit to herself that she had fallen in love with a boy who had never as much as said hello to her in the six years she had known him. It was quite ridiculous in fact if you came to think about it but even if she had tried to fight it, she couldn't help the way she felt.

It didn't mean that she had lived like a nun during those years she had been admiring him from afar, she herself had had her share of boyfriends, the last actually being Kyle Valenti, one of Max's closest friends, but no one had ever been able to hold a candle to him unfortunately.

Of course it surely didn't help either that Max seemed to have taken up residence in her restaurant, but even if he hadn't, Liz honestly didn't think it would have changed a thing.

She was drawn to him, had been since the very first time she had gazed up into those amazing amber eyes of his, and she was powerless to stop the strange pull that always seemed to drag her back to him.

In a way she was well aware that what she felt for him was quite insane, moreover when he didn't seem to share her feelings at all, but sadly it didn't stop her from wishing that one day Max Evans would look at her and really see her.

Yeah, she knew, she was totally hopeless. But what could she say, even if Max didn't give her the time of day, he had become a part of her and she wasn't sure she would know the day when she would be able to live without loving him, even if it was only from a distance. Loving him was like breathing to her. Innate, instinctive. Something she didn't think about doing but couldn't live without.

Fortunately no one knew of her irrational feelings for him, not even Maria, her best friend since diapers even if Liz was sure she suspected. How could she not, it took all of Liz's willpower to not drool all over herself whenever Max just as much as looked in her direction -which according to Maria he strangely did quite often- but Liz had never confirmed it. The more she had actually said about Max was that she found him 'cute'. A poor description of what she really felt if you asked her.

Of course it wasn't that she didn't trust Maria to keep her secret if she ever told her, but Liz felt quite self-conscious admitting out loud that she was totally crazy about someone she had never even really talked to.

It wasn't that she had lacked opportunities either, she could have spoken to him a million times already, she just lacked enough courage to do it. He just seemed to be so unapproachable sometimes that she had never dared ask him more than what he would have for lunch when he came to eat and she had to attend to him.

She realized herself that she was being ridiculous since she knew that behind this maybe cold and distant exterior he wasn't at all what people thought he was. She knew that there was more to Max than met the eye. He could look indifferent and detached to many people but Liz could see past his façade. She saw the little details the others didn't. The way he was always smiling and so at ease when he was with his close friends or how he was always the first to stand up for them if there was any problem, the way he had to always look after his younger sister Isabel even if he always tried to be discreet to not embarrass her, but most of all she saw how his behavior completely changed when he was with Jordan, his two years old brother.

Someone who could be so affectionate and caring with a little child that he nearly brought tears to her eyes whenever she saw them together couldn't have an ounce of malice in him, or be the self-centered, full-of-himself, ass that some depicted, she was sure of that. (No need to add of course that those who had made him that reputation were mostly guys, who obviously were jealous, and girls who had been rejected more than once despite their efforts.)

Anyway, the only thing that comforted Liz in fact was precisely knowing that his aloof behavior wasn't something he specifically saved for her. Max was like that: he rarely talked at all, or at least he didn't talk much, willingly, to people he didn't already know, hence that wrong image of him some could have.

When he had moved to Roswell he had only befriended a small group of persons and had been part of that tight circle of friends ever since -the same ones who for most of them were currently downing one soda after another with him, or were always hanging around him- but that was pretty much it. They hardly ever let anyone else in, except maybe the different girlfriends who came and went into their lives. Which in a way should have given Liz the perfect opportunity to come closer to him but her relationship with Kyle hadn't lasted long enough for her to be really able to approach him. Besides Kyle was a really nice guy and it just hadn't felt right to use him to get to Max.

Above and beyond, Liz had also to remind herself that she would have to take a ticket and stand in line behind the numerous girls from West Roswell -one more beautiful than the other should she add- who would do about anything to just have Max smile at them before she could even get a chance to talk to him or hope she could interest him in any way.

Max Evans could certainly fill a whole phone book with only the names of the girls who were after him, even if he didn't seem to pay it any attention in the least. This made Liz often wonder if the guy even realized what a gorgeous man he was or that most of the female population of this town had to fantasize about him. Or even if he knew how many brokenhearted were wandering about Roswell ever since he had found himself a new girlfriend.

Oh, yeah. That hadn't been mentioned yet, had it?

Max Evans and Teresa Harding -Tess for those who were willing to know her more intimately or were close to her, which definitely wasn't her case- had been an item for almost three months now. Two months, twenty days and… something like eighteen hours if you wanted to be accurate, Liz thought as she looked at her watch.

Yep, she had been there when it had happened, witnessing the whole thing and feeling her heart breaking a little more with each kiss they exchanged on Stacey Burnett's dance floor, but she hadn't even flinched, externally at least. Definitely potential Teflon material Maria would have said at that instant.

Of course she didn't have any masochistic tendencies, she had just thought that maybe seeing him with someone else would help her to bury deep inside herself those feelings who obstinately refused to diminish, but like all the other many times she had seen him with a girl, it hadn't accomplished any kind of miracle.

If anything, she had even gotten the impression that she loved him more after that. What was it they often said about wanting something even more when you perfectly knew you couldn't have it, well the saying had obviously been proven right in her case.

Now if she could only understand why, out of all the girls who would have killed to be with him, he had to go and choose that 'fake-boobed, two cents worth bleached blonde' like Maria called her, maybe it would help her feel better.

She didn't want to be mean in any way, but there was no doubt in her mind that Max could do so much better than that girl. And believe it, she had spent many nights turning around the same question and the answer was never satisfying enough. In the end she had set for Maria's explanation which wasn't worst than any other. Maybe Max was going out with Tess because she had been the only one to go and outright ask him at that time.

Duh, couldn't have someone told her that it was as easy as that, huh?

Granted, it didn't mean she would have done anything but at least she could have thought about it and ponder it, which was usually the first step that actually led you to act, right?.

Anyway, why was she torturing herself again, huh?

The main point was: Max Evans was so totally out of her league. She could bet he didn't even know her name anyway, so why bother any longer with 'what ifs' and 'if only I had known'?

Again the same reason, the same three words. SHE. LOVED. HIM. Even if she knew it would never happen.

He was popular despite his aloofness when she was absolutely not. He was appreciated by the whole school, if not the whole town, when people were almost afraid to come near her and called her names like 'The Brainiac', 'The Science Geek' or 'Triple Brains'. What would they look like together, huh? The Beauty and the Freak?

Strangely it was good enough and even well thought of for Max to be one of the smartest students in school, but not for her. Where was the logic?

Answer: there wasn't any. It was wrong, it was unfair and that was what life was all about.

Welcome to the world, Liz.


End of the prologue.

Author: RebeccaBehrEvans

Title: Not who they think.

Disclaimer: Do you really think that Tess Harding would have set foot in the show if I had owned it?? uh-huh… not a chance, so nope, Roswell and all that goes with it is not mine!

Chapter 1

Ten minutes later Liz was still totally engrossed in her thoughts and oblivious to the rest of the world, therefore it was little wonder she didn't see what was coming to her.

"You know sweetie, 'A' is the highest grade someone can have!" Maria sneaked up behind her friend all of a sudden, obviously surprising her more than she ever thought possible, and exploded in a fit of laughter when she saw her face.

Boy, someone was far gone, wasn't she?

"God, Maria!… you scared me!" Liz yelled when she felt the other girl's breath on her neck and inadvertently dropped the open book she had in hands. "Can't you come up front like any normal person?" she added as she bent down to retrieve it, lowering her voice some more as she spoke this time, and then she did her best to not turn to Max or his friends who she was sure must have looked up when she had screamed.

She should kill Maria for always embarrassing her whenever he was near. She didn't know if she did it on purpose or not but damn, if it were her intention she was doing a pretty good job at it.

"I thought it would be more fun this way!" Maria answered matter-of-factly and leaned forwards to see what her friend was 'pretending' to be studying. Biology, yeah right!

Maria had no doubts that Liz had been way too much absorbed by whatever her thoughts had been to be able to notice anything else and least of all focus on some biology lessons, and somehow she was sure that she could bet and put a 'name' on them and win without much problem. They seemed to all revolve around the same thing, or should she rather say the same person anyway, even if Liz thought she was not that obvious.

"Yeah, dying of a heart attack sounds like a lot of fun to me, too!" Liz retorted sarcastically as she put her book back on the counter and tried to find the right page again.

Not that she had read so much of what she was supposed to anyway, but she wasn't about to let Maria know what exactly she was doing and why she had had so much difficulties concentrating on the text in front of her.

"Aww, what is it? Did I interrupt your usual daydreaming?" Maria asked, clearly showing Liz that she wasn't fooled by her attitude.

A blind person would have seen where her gaze kept drifting to, and that wasn't to her book but to the guy who right this instant was arm wrestling with Kyle Valenti, while Michael did the same with Paulie Newton, probably to determine once more who would drink at the party tonight, and who would not in order to take everyone else safely at home. The game was stupid, moreover when the winners were almost always the same, but the concept wasn't that bad, even if technically none of them were old enough to drink.

Like they really cared anyway, but yeah, she could perfectly see why Liz hadn't been able to take her eyes off him. All those muscles bulging underneath that shirt could drive anyone nuts, herself included, if she weren't of course so or way more, interested in that sexy friend of his sitting more on his right and who had just beaten Paulie hollow. You go Michael!

"You didn't interrupt anything beside me trying to study for my next biology exam!" Liz stated as confidently as she could and quickly checked the chapter just in case Maria would ask her what it was about.

"Yeah, sure, whatever… anyway, I just wanted to tell you that I'm almost finished… your dad wants me to bring up the sugar refills before I leave and then I'm all yours!" Maria informed her since she knew that Liz was always eager to leave this place. Or at least she was sure she had been, until Max Evans and Co had made an appearance at the restaurant.

"Great! Where is he by the way?… I still haven't asked him for tonight. " Liz demanded, reminding herself that she couldn't postpone the moment any longer now.

You know the old line parents love so much, the 'when you're 18, you'll do as you want'? Well it was all a lie!

When she turned 18, which was only a month ago but that was beside the point, the refrain changed but the tune didn't. Now instead of the previous statement, what she often heard was 'as long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say!', what was the difference? Could you see it? she couldn't.

All in all it was the same, she still had to ask her parents permission for almost everything she wanted to do, and she was just lucky enough that they weren't as strict as they could look, otherwise she would never go anywhere, but honestly they surely were too much 'caring' sometimes. She didn't know if it was due to the fact that she was their only daughter, but there were times when she was really on the verge of exploding with their overprotective attentions.

Of course she knew her father wouldn't say no, if anything he would question her a little and act as if he had to think about it, and then give her his agreement, but it really sucked to have to go through the usual 'daddy, could I…'over and over again.

Maybe her parents thought that having her still asking for their consent for things as trivial as staying at her best friend's house for the night - which she did anyway at least once a week- ensured them still some power over their growing daughter but she personally found it more and more ridiculous. She was an adult now, and what could happen to her in freaking little Roswell anyway, huh?

Sometimes she would give anything to be like Maria and be able to throw a 'hey Mom, will be spending the night out, don't wait up for me!' over her shoulder on her way out and get away with it, just like that, but she guessed she would have to wish for it at least a million times a day before she could actually see it happening.

Amy Deluca was the bomb when it came to those things, besides she trusted her daughter so completely that she wouldn't -and actually didn't- even bat an eyelash. But her mother, yeah sure, she would certainly run after her and drag her back to the house first, even by the hair if she had to, before letting her go anywhere without submitting her to a whole interrogation, and in due form please.

"Well, he was coming behind me… he should be here any minute now… so, just ask him and then we're out of here baby!" Maria eagerly responded, clearly happy to finally see the end of her shift.

She hated working on Saturdays even if they weren't the worst since M. Parker never gave them the closing shift on those days, but right now she couldn't wait to be out of there and that ridiculous uniform, take a shower to get rid of that greasy smell that seemed to pursue her wherever she went and for days afterwards, and finally do something normal for an eighteen-year-old girl. Who in their right mind would want to spend even only one minute more than necessary waiting tables in this restaurant anyway, huh? Honestly, she wouldn't repeat it often enough, but if it weren't for Liz, she would never have applied for the job to begin with.

"Sure, I'm gonna put that aside first and then we'll go change!" Liz indicated as she finally closed her book, realizing that she wouldn't learn anything else today. Why had she even bothered, the moment Max had passed the Crashdown doors, she hadn't seen anything else anyway.

Lowering herself from her barstool, Liz was ready to exit the room when she saw her father entering it, but that wasn't what stopped her in her tracks. 'Evil Maria' did, when she did a sudden u-turn, came back near her again and with the most mischievous smile she could muster, dropped her bomb.

"Okay… oh, and by the way… Max Evans is staring at you again!" she whispered to her friend as she had once more caught the mysterious dark-haired guy looking their way.

Not so mysterious to her actually since she was dating his best friend and therefore knew a lot more about the elusive Max Evans than many others did, even if they didn't generally exchange more than a few hellos and byes, but she knew that that was how most of the people saw him, Liz included.

Of course she had more than once offered Liz to hang out with her when she was herself hanging with Michael and the whole group so that she could solve the mystery once and for all, but she had always refused, stating that she didn't belong there. But where did she belong if it weren't near the guy Maria knew she loved, huh?

"Ria, please… this is really getting old! Give it a rest!" Liz instantly dismissed, cheeks flaming red, but despite all her good resolutions to not mind Maria's stupid comments anymore, she couldn't not chance a glance in his direction, hoping to see herself the truth of the statement nonetheless.

Unfortunately, like any other time she had, she couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed when he turned the other way and totally ignored her. She would just like him to hold her gaze, just once if he really was looking at her as often as Maria claimed he did or even if he did look at all, that wasn't much to ask, was it?, but he never granted her her wish. The only times it actually happened was when she was the first to look at him and he caught her unexpectedly. But then their eyes would only connect for a few ridiculous seconds before he would look somewhere else and go on with his life like she had never been there, dying for him to give her a sign.

Yeah, Max Evans staring at her was so in Maria's imagination.

Or so she thought.

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Max couldn't help it, whenever she was around he just had to look at her.

It was a strange thing really, wanting, needing to see someone so much, feeling such an attraction to someone you had barely exchanged two words with in all the years you had known them, but that was how it felt. Like somehow even without words he was strangely, strongly connected to her. Like sometimes he literally needed her to get him through the day. She intrigued him, fascinated him, made his pulse race whenever he got closer and yet at the same time she soothed him, calmed him down somehow, even if he couldn't understand the feeling or what she had, what she did to him that others didn't.

He couldn't explain it, didn't even feel the need to actually, it just seemed so natural, so normal that he just had gotten used to it with the time, preferring to conclude that she just had to be one of those people who even involuntarily, unconsciously sent you good vibes that made you feel better and more relaxed whenever they were near, than really taking the time to analyze what else it could be, what it could really mean.

He couldn't explain either why, when he knew that what he felt for her was certainly different from what he had felt for anyone else nonetheless, he had never taken the plunge and gone and talked to her but now he just had to live with it he guessed. Not that he didn't want to or had never thought about it before today, but he just supposed that it would be too awkward to suddenly go and start a conversation with her now when they had kept exchanging glances during the last six years without any of them taking the first step.

Yes, he had seen her change from the little girl with the big brown eyes that seemed to pull him directly into her soul whenever she looked at him, to that beautiful and incredibly attractive young woman who sometimes totally drove him crazy without even trying to, and he hadn't moved, hadn't even attempted to act on his attraction, merely contenting himself with a few stolen looks at her here and there, but that was pretty much it.

He had developed quite a technique with time though, and somehow he almost always managed to advert his gaze in time whenever she looked back at him. Which was a good thing if you asked him, otherwise she would certainly think he was crazy, or at least a little stupid. Who in their right mind would spend so much time staring at someone and never make a move, huh?

Then, on the other hand, if even all the time he spent here eating or just simply observing her hadn't been enough to have any of them make up their mind yet, the only conclusion he could come to was that it certainly wasn't meant to be to begin with anyway.

In the end it was quite frustrating to say the least, since it wasn't exactly like him to pin over a girl and his attitude with this one in particular, or even hers, often threw him off balance, if it didn't downright confused him entirely. Usually he didn't have any problem with women, on the contrary actually. More often than not all he had to do was open his mouth and they fell directly into his arms so to say, but with her it was a different story completely.

Most of the girls here were quite open with what they thought of him or what they expected from him -he couldn't even count anymore how many times he had been proposed a 'private and guided' tour of their rooms- but, though he had caught her looking at him more than once, she was one of the very few who didn't seem to be interested in him more than that. The best proof was that she had never, ever tried to even just befriend him, unlike a good half of the population of this town, which she would have certainly done if there were more to her looks.

Maybe he was just not her type. Or maybe he was the problem.

He knew he wasn't always very attainable or open at first sight, Isabel had criticized him more than once on that point -yeah, look who's talking, huh? sometimes she could put an iceberg to shame with her frosty attitude so who was she kidding?- but it was just some kind of defensive mechanism he had developed with time, having long learned that people didn't always had the best intentions in mind or weren't always completely disinterested. Being popular came with some consequences, he knew that now. That was why he only gave his trust to very few people and put up a façade for the others. Then maybe she was one of those who thought that he was a self-absorbed, egoistical moron like he had heard it on a few occasions, or maybe she just thought that he would reject her if she ever came to talk to him. If only she knew.

In any case, why was he giving it so much thought again, huh?

It wasn't as if he could really say that what he felt for her was love either, he didn't think so, since he hadn't really felt jealous whenever he had seen her with another guy, which should have been the case if he was in love, right?

At best it was hardly some insane infatuation with a girl he didn't know much more about than her name. LIZ.

Yeah, well, no one surely knew that that was how he called her sometimes in his dreams, but he couldn't bring himself to call her anything else. Elizabeth wasn't personal enough for him, even if it was actually her name, and Beth was used by too many others so in the end he had settled for Liz, learning later that it was actually the nickname her two best friends used for her.

Okay, he knew how that sounded, wanting to give her a diminutive, something that made what he called her more particular and intimate, but honestly that was just a detail. A simple detail, nothing more.

The thing he wouldn't deny though was that physically, he found her totally 'hot', even if he was sure that she wasn't aware of it, or that many others would say he had lost it if they heard him voice his thoughts out loud. But if they did it was only because they didn't see beyond what they knew or had heard about her, therefore they didn't see her at all.

For them she was just that big science geek -god, how he hated when people called her that- who didn't seem to be interested in anything else beside school and having the best grades, and of course you didn't fantasize about geeks. That wasn't in.

Well, he did. And more often than not. He couldn't even count how many wet dreams she had already starred in for him, and honestly just the thought of some of them now was enough to provoke some very uncomfortable, and also very embarrassing if they were discovered, reactions.

Come to think of it, that was one of the main changes he had actually experienced concerning his feelings for her, whatever they were before. For a long time he had only stared for his own comfort, feeling strangely safe when he looked at her, precisely because she never seemed to be expecting anything from him, or for all the other reasons that had already been mentioned, but lately those thoughts tended to fade and become less and less innocent unfortunately.

Maybe it was just a simple stage he was going through, or just his hormones going crazy, he was 19 after all and hadn't gotten some in a while now, if you got his drift, but he would lie if he said that the lust and desire he felt for her at times didn't scare even himself. Sometimes it was just too much to control and he often felt like he would never be satisfied again until he would have her, possess her, love her and know what it was like to finally give in to the passion she caused him to feel. But whatever the reasons were, as for the rest, he knew he wouldn't act on it, not as long as it would be humanly possible for him to stay away from her at least, he couldn't. He wasn't even sure she wouldn't report him if she just knew how twisted his thoughts could be at times, he could only imagine how she would react if he suddenly jumped her bones.

There was another point he couldn't deny either: maybe he was also scared to talk to her for an all different reason. Even if it could sound stupid, sometimes he was also afraid to be disappointed if he finally plucked up the courage to do it and she didn't turn out at all like he pictured her.

He had idealized her so much over the years, putting her on that pedestal where she was that flawless girl who could do no wrong in his eyes, he wasn't sure he would be able to stand it if she were to suddenly fall from up there. Until now, Liz represented his feminine ideal in a way, the one he imagined when he was younger and would think about his dream girl or what she should look like, amazingly beautiful, kind, delicate, caring and of course very smart, and believe it Liz Parker was Harvard-Smart, that much he knew, but what if she were just that in fact. A dream?

As long as he didn't talk to her, he could still keep in mind only the image of what he wanted her to be, of that perfection she represented, but when or if he did, all his illusions could be shattered in an instant and he wasn't sure he was ready for that.

In the end he could certainly torture himself for hours, but he didn't think he would find all the responses. Actually it would probably only raise more questions he guessed. It already had, one of them being: if Liz Parker was really what he ultimately desired, what was he doing with Tess, huh?

Well, as soon as he would find the answer to that one, he would make sure to let the world know. Right now though he had no freaking idea anymore.

The only thing he knew for sure was that he was pretty damn confused.

<center>* * *</center>

Oblivious to all that was going on in Max's head, Liz closed the distance between her and her father and with her best little girl's voice, she took the plunge.

"Dad, would it be okay if I stayed at Maria's after the party?"

"Let me guess… you wouldn't want to stay there so we can't hear how late you go home, would you?" Jeff Parker observed his daughter and accused light-heartedly, knowing how much she didn't like it when he discussed her motives. Like there was any doubt in his mind that he had hit the mark with his assumption anyway.

"Dad, come on!" Liz whined with a brief roll of her eyes, as if her father had said the stupidest thing in the world, when in reality they both knew that he had figured her out. But what did he expect, huh? Amy never bothered with curfew or things like that, therefore she would be a fool to not try to make the most of the situation, wouldn't she?

"Where is that party at again?" Jeff demanded despite Liz's obvious attempt to play it cool.

"I already told you twice… the Andersons… and Maria's house is the nearest from their place, that's why we thought it was better this way!"

"Will the parents be there?" Jeff continued with the question he was sure any father would ask.

"I don't know… dad, we already talked about it… I'm not asking to go to the party… you already agreed… it's about staying at Maria's! … besides… if it makes you feel better, I'm sure that Michael will walk us there… and Amy will be home if you want to know!" Liz developed clearly getting impatient.

He wasn't going to question her going to the party right? No way, Maria and Liz had been talking almost non-stop about it since Serena had invited them, he wouldn't dare spoil their fun now, would he?

"Fine… but be careful, and stay all together, okay!" Jeff relented at last, somewhat relieved at knowing that Michael would be there with them, too, and would surely make sure they got home safe.

The young man worked for him, too, and Jeff knew him quite well and trusted him completely, even if he had had some doubts at the beginning when he had hired him. But in the end, Michael Guerin turned out to be a very responsible guy who only had had, unfortunately, to deal as well as he could with the hand he had been given. Surprisingly he wasn't doing badly for someone who after having gone from one foster house to another had been emancipated at 16 and been living on his own ever since then. Knowing that he would be there, too, surely helped to appease his fears.

"Thank you!" Liz all but jumped and tightly hugged her father in thanks, while Maria just shrieked in usual Deluca's style. That was so totally cool. No way they would be home before dawn now.

"Sure LizzieBear." Jeff hugged her back and affectionately kissed her forehead.

He loved his daughter so much and would really do anything for her, even if he was sure that sometimes their love had to feel a little overwhelming to her.

Of course she didn't know all the reasons behind their extreme protectiveness, Nancy's mostly actually, Liz having never really questioned it openly, but he knew the day would come when she would have enough of it and would want more freedom, he wasn't sure though if Nancy would be ready for it herself when it would happen.

"Dad!" Liz groaned when he once more used the nickname she hated so much. Beth was not bad, Liz suited her just fine, even if only two people in this world used it, but LizzieBear, come on, she wasn't six years old anymore, when would her parents get that through their thick heads?

Right on cue she heard her father chuckle as he left her, obviously aware of what that name did to her, but the sound was drown out by the voice of the little boy who had just entered the Crashdown and screamed at the top of his lungs as soon as he had spotted who he had been looking for.

"MACSHH!"


End of chapter 1

Author: RebeccaBehr

Title: Not who they think.

Disclaimer: Do you really think that Tess Harding would have set foot in the show if I had owned it?? uh-huh… not a chance, so nope, Roswell and all that goes with it is not mine!


Chapter 2

Already knowing who it was, Max turned around at the sound of his mispronounced name and a brilliant smile instantly crept upon his lips when he indeed saw his little brother trying to make his way to him without bumping into any customers or waitresses who certainly had to look like giants to him.

He was quite surprised to see him here to say the least, since he thought his mother would have him in bed by now, but obviously the little man had had other plans otherwise he was sure he and Isabel wouldn't be there. His sister setting foot in the Crashdown and mixing with the lower class could only be Jordan's doing. Isabel, though he loved her dearly, could be a little bit haughty sometimes and you would rather see her 'Chez Pierre' than at this poor and tacky restaurant. Her comment not his of course, he loved it here.

Which brought the inevitable question: what were they doing here? Had something happened? Max wondered as he opened his arms to catch the little boy who was running directly to him.

His parents were leaving for Clovis later this afternoon for the weekend, and though Max had had every intention to be back by the time they would be ready to leave, he hadn't thought he would see Jordan so soon, least of all here, and at this hour.

Jordan was the cutest brother one could wish for, but a real handful whenever you locked him up for too long in a car, and the trip to Clovis was definitely way too long to his liking. That was why his mother always preferred to have him taking a short nap before leaving since he was always less fretful after them. At least that way she knew he would hop in the car without much a fuss, and if he still slept a little more on the way, well all the better of course.

It didn't happen so often that Jordan was a little hard to handle fortunately though, which was certainly a good thing with his past condition. He was alright now, only being maybe a little weaker and smaller than any normal two-year-old should be, but his mother's pregnancy hadn't been a walk in the park to say the least and it could surely have been even worse all facts considered.

She was only a little more than 28 weeks pregnant and had suffered many complications already when she had given birth to Jordan and therefore the months following the delivery had been really horrible for the Evans family, the doctors not being able to tell them if their son and brother was going to survive or not, or even if he wouldn't suffer aftereffects afterwards if he made it.

During interminable weeks then, the only contact with Jordan they could have, had been through the glass of that incubator he had been in, all wired up and looking so skinny, and as the days went by it had been harder and harder for everyone, their only comfort being each other and the time they spent praying together. In the end everything had gone right fortunately, but Max really didn't wish any family to go through this.

Of course at first, convinced that all had been her fault and that she had brought that upon her son, Diane had blamed herself to no end for not having interrupted her pregnancy like her doctor had recommended it initially, thinking it would be too risky for her or the baby considering that she had been quite old when he had been conceived or at least older than most mothers usually were, but Max was sure that she could never bring herself to regret it now when she could see Jordan so full of life, so animated. Picturing a life without him now, without the joy he brought to their family, was simply impossible.

"Sorry, this little monster runs too fast even for me!… Hey guys!" Isabel appeared not far behind her little brother and apologized for having let him go like that, before she smiled and greeted Max's friends.

Of course she didn't really know them that much, not exactly sharing the same circle of friends but they were always nice to her and respected her, maybe only because they knew Max would kick their asses if they didn't, but she appreciated it and always tried to drop her 'Ice Queen's Attitude' like Max called it when she was in front of them. At least they were not like many others who only had one thing in mind, and she guessed she could be grateful for that. Having to spurn all her suitors was one thing but if she had to fight her brother's friends, who sometimes looked like they were living at her house, too, she would certainly go crazy in no time.

"Hey Lil'Man, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be napping?" Max picked his brother up and asked, his voice much softer than the one he usually used with anyone else.

If they hadn't witnessed this scene so many times already, the guys would certainly have laughed at Max or even called him a wussie, going all mushy over the little child like he did, but they all knew how much Jordan meant to Max and they were used by now to the change of attitude. How could they blame him anyway, it was really hard to not fall in love with the kid, and he wasn't even family. That little boy just stole your heart in a second if you lowered your guard, believe it.

"Uh-huh… I wanded see you!" Jordan answered with a little pout that had his brother frowning.

"Really? What's up?" Max said before turning questioning eyes to his sister.

"He refused to take his nap… not before he could say bye-bye to 'Macshh'…" she informed him with an exaggerated roll of her eyes before continuing. " And since Mom didn't know if you'd be back before they left… well, here we are!".

It was that or having Jordan throwing a tantrum until he would see Max back home. Boy if he had it bad with his 'Macsh'.

Isabel knew she loved Jordan just as much as Max did, but the relationship those two shared was way more profound than her own with the kid. She didn't really know what it was due to but it had always been like that. Even when he was still a little baby and Jordan was upset or crying, Max's mere presence was often enough to instantly calm him down.

At first she had been a little jealous of their relationship of course, feeling a little left out of their particular bond, but with time she had understood that Max didn't mean to exclude her in any way. It was just the way he was, more expressive, more demonstrative with him, and maybe Jordan felt the difference. Besides she knew that Max had never really gotten over the fact that they could have lost him, and she could only guess that all the attention he showered Jordan with was his way of coping, or making the most of his time with the boy now that he could have it.

Occasionally Isabel even wondered if Max hadn't promised himself to never let their brother out of his sight if he made it out of that hospital. It wouldn't surprise her, because behind that sometimes tough appearance Max showed the world, she knew he was way more sensitive than what he let people know or even sometimes more than she could be.

Look at them, she thought as she observed them together, sometimes it was really hard to distinguish the man from the child.

"Do you really think I would have let my favorite brother leave without saying goodbye to him first, huh?" Understanding the problem right away, Max addressed his young brother again and started to tickle him senseless when he just shrugged his small shoulders, stopping only when Jordan giggled and squirmed a little too much and nearly knocked over the different glasses Max and his friends had on their table.

The same friends Jordan had ignored until now, but as he calmed some down he finally took in their presence and naturally offered them a toothy smile.

His brother's friends were really funny, Jordan thought. 'Lyle' with his games, 'Mak'l' with his odd hair and 'Pouli' with... his strange face. Yeah, very funny.

"Hey, Kiddo… give me five!" Kyle almost immediately asked when Jordan finally turned to look at him.

Complying willingly to the request, Jordan reached out to Kyle and they both started to clap and shake hands like they always did when they saw each other, Jordan's little fingers finally completely disappearing under Kyle's much bigger which no one knew why, was enough to make him giggle all over again.

See, what was he saying. Lyle was always ready to play with him and Jordan liked that very much. Almost as much as when he read his mind.

"Do you want something to drink?" Kyle asked as he saw him eyeing the drink he had in front of him.

Of course Jordan liked the curious color of that one, bright orange, almost fluorescent, and thinking that he was going to have the same one, he eagerly nodded.

"But first… you know what you have to say!" Kyle demanded, remembering how many times he had heard Max telling him the same thing.

"Pliiizzz Lyle!" Jordan replied, proud that he hadn't forgotten.

"That's my boy!" Kyle beamed not bothering to correct the name Jordan always got wrong, and instead turned to Max's sister. "Isabel? Do you want anything ?"

"No, I'm fine, we're not staying long anyway! Thank you!" she answered as she pulled a chair next to their table nonetheless and reached to take Jordan back from where he was now in Max's arms, but the boy obstinately refused to let go of him. She tried to coax him by extending her arms to him and calling his name then, but all he did was smile playfully at her and snuggle even more into Max's lap.

God, those two made quite the pair. Unbelievable.

"You're welcome… so an orange juice for the lil' one it is!" Kyle stated as he moved to the counter, only to stop short when he heard Max's voice again.

"Uh, Kyle… I'm not sure giving him orange juice just before his nap is such a great idea!" Max remarked with a frown, wondering if Kyle really pretended to bring Jordan the same thing he was having.

"Man, it's not coffee… I don't think it will have any effect on his sleep you know!" Kyle protested with a brief roll of his eyes, thinking that Max was exaggerating some here. Granted orange juice supposedly contained a lot of vitamin but what would it do to this kid? Certainly not change him into the Energizer Bunny!

"Maybe… but I'd rather have you bringing him some milk!… Please!" Max insisted, knowing what was better for his brother. At least milk was still a sane product, not like those juices who weren't 100% natural anymore and were cut with who knew how many colorants or whatever else it was they added in there.

"Milk?" Kyle parroted looking at Jordan's sudden grimacing face.

Obviously the kid didn't like milk any more than he did and he would certainly have brought him an orange juice despite his brother's reluctance if it weren't for Max's dead serious expression. "Fine, milk… I'm sure he's gonna looove it!" he couldn't help adding sarcastically nonetheless once he was out of earshot.


Maria had long left to finish he job when Kyle came to be served, but when she was supposed to go to her locker like she had told her friend she would, Liz had been unable to move from her spot once Jordan had entered the picture. Her eyes had been riveted on Max and his brother the whole time, taking in every apparently insignificant detail, every small gesture, every little word, and she just knew that she would never tire of looking at them together, no, that was simply impossible.

She could see so much emotion in Max's eyes whenever he looked down at his brother or Jordan gave him one of those cute little smiles he had the secret, that she couldn't bring herself to regret what she felt for him. Those were the moments when she knew Max Evans was so worth of her love, even if some would say she was only wasting her time, pinning over a guy who didn't even know she existed. But yes, if Max could someday look at her that way, even only for a millisecond, it would be enough for her. It would all be worth the wait, even if she was also well aware that the chances it could happen were infinitesimal.

"Hey, Beth… could I have a glass of milk, please?" Kyle asked as he approached the only waitress he saw in the room at that moment.

Wasn't she supposed to have finished her shift an hour ago? he briefly wondered. Well, this was her restaurant, she could do as pleased her after all.

"Didn't know you still needed the calcium Kyle!" Liz teased before offering him a broad smile, knowing perfectly it wasn't for him he was asking. What could she say? she liked ribbing him.

It was kind of funny though, out of all the guys she had gone out with, Kyle Valenti was certainly the one who at first sight looked the more 'macho' and yet he was certainly the only one who still spoke to her like nothing wrong had happened between them and with whom she had remained good friends. Maybe it was because they hadn't really shared any love feelings and therefore the separation hadn't been so hurtful but whatever the reasons were, she was glad they had been able to preserve that friendship.

"I'd give you calcium!" Kyle threatened playfully before moving behind the counter with her and starting to tickle her, Liz's loud giggles and pleads to him to let her go echoing through the restaurant and immediately making a few heads raise. A certain dark haired guy who instantly recognized her laugh being the first of course.

"Spike it with some banana flavor or whatever it is you have behind this counter… I'm not sure the kid is a big fan of milk!" Kyle then murmured conspiratorially when he stopped, and Liz couldn't help but laugh at his silliness.

The guy talked like he wanted her to make him an highly alcoholic beverage without anyone knowing. Could that sound any more stupid? Spike the milk… yeah sure!

"Why don't you bring him something else then? We have orange juice, apple juice even or maybe…" Liz questioned and was ready to give him a list of all they had that could perfectly suit a child of Jordan's age instead, but Kyle interrupted her before she could get any further.

"I know what you have Beth, it's just that Big Bro over there didn't seem to agree!" Kyle replied motioning behind him to Max who was now playing with Jordan and seemingly not paying any attention to them.

Liz looked in his direction again and smiled at the picture the both Evans's sons made. Yeah, she was sure there wasn't anything in this world that could be cuter than those two together or that could top it. Jordan was like a miniature version of Max, with the same big amber eyes and dark black hair that slightly curled on end, just like she was sure Max's would if he let it grow a little longer. If people didn't know better they could certainly pass for father and son but the whole town had been too surprised with Diane Evans's late pregnancy to not remember it or have any doubts about who the parents were.

Their relationship though was evidently closer than any other siblings, moreover when there was such an age difference between the two, but whoever saw them together couldn't deny how much they loved each other. The way Jordan clung to Max or refused to leave his side whenever he was near, or the way Max himself seemed to forget about anything else and focus solely on his brother as soon as he caught sight of him, like he was the most important being in this world to him, was unmistakable even for the most skeptic. Whoever was lucky enough to witness that wouldn't believe it was the same Max Evans who walked Roswell High halls looking all tough and unattainable. He was simply amazing with Jordan and only made Liz love him more when she saw him like that. Not that she really needed that to be crazy about him, but she couldn't deny that this was one of the sides of him she loved the more.

"Oh… well, he's right… after all Jordan is just a kid, he needs all the calcium he can get!" Liz conceded finally as she managed to tear her eyes away from the object of her affection, and poured a glass a milk that she didn't forget to spike with a little of strawberry cordial. Kids generally loved strawberry better anyway.

"Yeah… when is Evans ever wrong, huh?" Kyle mumbled under his breath knowing that that was the only answer he could have gotten from another obvious fan of Max Evans.

He loved the man really, he was fun to be around when you knew him and was truly one of those great guys you could count on for anything and at any time, but sometimes it was just so frustrating to see how the girls seemed to swoon over him or take everything he said as gospel truth, when he didn't even ask for it or even worse didn't even care. Couldn't they see it was totally useless?

He would also be a little stupid if he didn't acknowledge just how much Beth seemed to admire the guy, it was a wonder she wasn't already near him singing his praises, but admitting it didn't really bring back good memories to say the least. That actually only reminded him when he was going out with her and she always seemed to be more distant whenever Max was near them, like she was almost embarrassed he could see them together -which was stupid on her part since the guy had eyes and knew about them anyway- her strange behavior having led him to conclude that maybe Beth had a thing for Max even if she obviously wasn't ready to admit it.

Yep, he would really have to be blind not to notice. But that was a long time ago anyway. It had been a little hard at first, but he was over her now. Or at least he thought so.

"Thank you!" Kyle finally smiled again, quickly pulling himself out of those thoughts and left, grinning at the little boy who was waiting for him.

"You're welcome!" Liz replied sincerely but wondered nonetheless what Kyle could have said just before thanking her. Suddenly he seemed to close off and she couldn't help but wonder if she had done or said something wrong.

Well, Kyle was kind of weird sometimes, maybe it was just one of those moments, she thought as she herself left just behind him and went to finally put her things in that locker.

"Here comes your milk buddy!" Max announced when he saw Kyle approaching them again, but Jordan suddenly became very restless, having obviously caught sight of something else behind his friend, and actually totally ignored him.

"Zibeth!" Jordan cried and much to Max's surprise, instantly tried to crawl down from his arms.

Generally when he was on his brother's lap or arm,s there was nothing that could make him budge from that place expect maybe his mother and sometimes his father. But right now he almost looked like he would throw himself in the air just to go after whatever it was he was talking about or whatever had caught his attention.

"What? What's zibeth?" Max wondered, raising an eyebrow at Kyle who just shrugged as he put the glass on the table and sat down, not understanding the kid more than Max did at that moment.

"I think he's talking about The Braini-oooww!" Paulie, who until then had been talking with Michael, started when he saw where the child was looking to but the word died on his lips when Kyle elbowed him in the ribs and Max kicked him in the shin under the table.

"I told you to not call her that!" Max warned him, trying to keep his voice low enough to not alarm or scare Jordan, but there was no way Paulie could miss how serious he was about that.

It wasn't the first time he had cracked silly jokes, or called people names in front of him and usually Max didn't mind that much, but when it came to Elizabeth Parker, Paulie should have known better than even think about it. Only once more he had forgotten.

He didn't quite understand why he almost always felt the need to come to her defense, at least Kyle's reaction could be explained, he had been with her at some point, but the only thing Max said was always that first, they didn't know her and therefore couldn't judge her in any way, and secondly that he could be given the same nicknames if the problem was only her incredible and immoderate love for sciences and school, and he knew firsthand that he wouldn't appreciate it himself. The only difference between him and the girl actually being that no one would even think about call him anything else but his name, least of all dare do it.

Paulie of course suspected that there was some other reason behind Max's behavior concerning her but whenever one of them teased him about it, Max always denied it, stating again that after all he didn't know her and had even never tried to. Why would he have any interest in her then?

Whatever. Trying to figure Max out was too complicated for him apparently, so finally Paulie wordlessly rubbed his left shin, trying to soothe the pain Max had inflicted him there, and decided to go on with his conversation with Michael, who at that moment looked like he was going to wet his pants.

What was so funny, huh? Everyone could have a moment of distraction, couldn't they? At least the bruise that he was sure was going to mark his leg for a moment, would certainly help him remember to think first before speaking next time he would have anything to say about Elizabeth Parker.

Once sure that his friend had understood he had meant business with that look he had been giving him, Max dismissed him and turned to his brother once more, his gaze instantly softening as he met his eyes.

Was Jordan really talking about Liz? Was it her who had caused such a reaction in his brother? He wouldn't even be surprised, obviously that girl could turn the head of more than one Evans.

"Who is Zibeth, Jordan?" Max asked him just to have confirmation, but almost laughed out loud when the little boy gave him some kind of duh look that seemed to scream 'How can you not know who is Zibeth?', just before he pointed his little finger to Liz and repeated her name as he saw her leave through the back doors.

"Don't point at her Jord'… uh… how do you know her?" Max continued, wondering if there was a story behind the suddenly very happy face his brother had made when he had caught sight of Liz. As far as he remembered Jordan had never talked about her before this instant, even if he had often taken him with him to the Crashdown where he could then have seen her before.

"She show mishake to me y'staday!" Jordan answered with a big smile, remembering how the pretty girl had shown him that funny machine the other day and then had let him taste a little of each flavor of the 'mishake'.

"Mom and Dad were here yesterday evening, discussing some juridical matters with the Parkers I think… and Elizabeth offered to watch Jordan meanwhile!… She showed him how they prepared the milk-shakes!" Isabel intervened and elucidated when she saw the confused look Max was giving their brother, like he didn't really understand what he could be talking about.

Jordan had a way to explain things sometimes that wasn't always clear for everyone, which wasn't surprising since he was barely two years old, but her mother had told her how much fun he had had with Elizabeth the day before, therefore she wasn't as much in the dark as Max seemed to be.

It was really time he got all the names right though, she reflected as an afterthought.

"So she's your friend now, huh?" Max concluded, perfectly seeing why his sibling could have taken an instant liking to Liz. Knowing her, or the little he had observed about her, she certainly had been all smiles, caring and attentive to him and his every needs and that was all Jordan asked for.

"Yes!" Jordan confirmed eagerly as he started to play with the pink straw in front of him.

"Well… I'm sure Elizabeth would be very proud of you if you drank aaall this milk, don't you think?" Max remembered the glass when he saw what was distracting Jordan now and tried to use that new knowledge, hoping that it would be enough to convince him to drink the milk. Not that he wanted to force him to if really he didn't want it but Jordan definitely didn't drink enough milk, at least in his opinion. His mother didn't seem overly concerned about that though, but if he could help a little, why not.

"Um-huh… but no now!" was Jordan's short answer.

"Why not?" Max turned him more to him and gently questioned, only to smile brightly when Jordan encircled his neck with his tiny arms and like he was about to reveal some big extraordinary secret, whispered in his ear the reason why he couldn't drink all that whole glass of milk just right now.

"Oh, I see… and are you going alone, or do you want me to take you?" Max asked knowing full well what the answer would be.

"You with me!" Jordan responded as he tightened his grip around Max's neck.

"Okay!" Max said as he lifted him easily with one arm and took the direction of the bathroom.

However, he hadn't even taken two steps that his brother's small voice resonated again and Max couldn't help but laugh at his childish exuberance.

"Like Supaman! Pliiizz Macsh!" Jordan all of a sudden begged and kicked his legs in the air when he remembered how much he liked it when Max made him fly like that hero from one of his favorite cartoons.

"But of course… like Superman, yes!" was all Max said before he secured a hand under Jordan's belly, and as the other maintained his feet together lifted him up high in the air.

His fists now extended in front of him, Jordan instantly started to giggle and make little funny sounds with his mouth, obviously enjoying the trip.

"Make room ladies and gentlemen… make room… here comes Superman!" Max started almost singing and swirled around with the boy in his arms, totally oblivious to the amused or clearly more tender looks they were receiving, and even more oblivious to what was just in front of him when he finally stopped spinning.

"Oh, god… sorry!" he was quick to apologize when he involuntarily bumped into the person who was just coming through the backroom doors, but he nearly lost it when he realized that said person was none other than Liz Parker. "I'm sorry… I…" he trailed off not knowing what more to add, but clearly embarrassed.

However, he wasn't able to take his eyes off her for all that, and for once he actually openly stared at her, his mouth gaping, only realizing afterwards how stupid he had to look at that instant. But that was certainly the closest he must have come to her, and boy she was even more beautiful up close if that was possible.

What the hell was happening to him now?

"It-It's okay! N-No harm done!" Liz stuttered just as self-consciously and without thinking bit her lower lip, a clear sign of just how nervous she was.

Idiot, she berated herself almost immediately when she noticed how strangled the words had come out. Why didn't she go around with a big flashing sign stating 'I love you Max Evans' while she was at it. If he hadn't already before, he certainly thought she was a dork now, not even able to line up two words correctly or without stammering.

Fortunately her self-depreciation party was short-lived since it was interrupted by Jordan's strident and enthusiastic cry, which miraculously also managed to pull Max out of his trance.

"Zibeth, Zibeth!"

"Hey Jordan!" Liz greeted and softly caressed the hand he was extending to her, deciding to focus on the little brother rather than on the taller version of him.

She was glad he hadn't forgotten her, at least now one Evans knew who she was, she thought, her gloomy reflections coming back full force. She hadn't been sure he wouldn't, after all she had only spent a short moment with him the previous night but that had to mean that she had made a good impression on him, right?

If only he could say a word about her to his brother now, that would be great, wouldn't it?

"Uh… later boy… first things first!" Max broke their moment and nearly flew through the back doors - suddenly very eager to see his brother having that wee-wee he was needing so much before - but then almost immediately stepped back again when he realized that the bathroom wasn't exactly this way. Actually he had passed the door when he was playing 'Superman' with Jordan earlier.

Yeah, what a super hero he made himself, not even able to stand less than two feet from that girl he claimed to be barely infatuated with without chickening out or running away. Could you say pa-the-tic?

Oblivious to his thoughts, Liz saw him entering the restroom and sighed, confronted once more with the fact that Max Evans couldn't care less about her or about what she could feel for him.


End of chapter 2

Author: RebeccaBehr

Title: Not who they think.

Disclaimer: Do you really think that Tess Harding would have set foot in the show if I had owned it?? uh-huh… not a chance, so nope, Roswell and all that goes with it is not mine!

Chapter 3a


"Oops, oops… oh boy!" Maria first exclaimed at the scene in front of her, but then almost immediately clamped a hand over her mouth to prevent being heard or interrupting the moment.

Well, that was interesting, she thought as she saw Max Evans, with a squirming Jordan on his hip, staring at her best friend in awe.

The voice of reason told her to mind her own business of course, but being always a little too curious for her own good, she couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't going to miss something important and so she took a tentative step forward hoping to hear what they were saying, but being careful to keep out of sight nonetheless.

When had Max and Liz ever talked, huh?

As far as she knew the more they had exchanged were a few polite words when Max came here and Liz attended him but beside that, and beside devouring each other with lovesick eyes of course even if obviously none of them seemed to notice or pay attention to the other one's looks, she could certainly say that the answer was never. Therefore when it actually finally happened it was all the more reasons to eavesdrop on their conversation, wasn't it?

Well, okay maybe, but apparently except looking at each other they weren't really doing anything at all, they weren't talking, Maria quickly noticed with a frown. What was all this about? Had time frozen for those two or what, because if they kept this up, tomorrow would come and they would still not have said a word to each other.

On the other hand, she guessed that was what happened when you found yourself in front of the man or woman of your life to whom you had yet to declare your love. You kind of forgot how to speak. But was it really that hard for them to just admit they had feelings for each other and have it all out in the open once and for all?

Duh, obviously it was if their respective reactions were any indication.

God, sometimes she really felt like slapping some sense into them both, or maybe just grabbing them and banging their heads together, maybe then they would get a clue.

Come on, like the way Max was looking at Liz now wasn't anything but innocent or disinterested. What was wrong with her friend, was she so sure that she didn't deserve Max Evans that she couldn't even use her brain anymore and see what was just in front of her? For heaven's sake, the guy looked like he had just been struck by lightning and was seeing clearly for the very first time, what else did she need to see that herself?

And she was sure that Liz wasn't doing any better. She could bet on it: though she couldn't see her friend's face, she could perfectly picture her blushing and biting her lip like she usually did when she was nervous -and she would have certainly already pulled her hair behind her ears a thousand times if it hadn't been tied back- but she was sure that it certainly wasn't preventing her from admiring that guy she claimed to find only cute.

Yeah, cute her ass. Cute was Jordan who apparently was trying to get Liz's attention, but Max, uh-huh! No freaking way! Not to Liz at least. And yet it was doubtful he was really noticing the way Maria knew Liz had to look at him. They were both so blind!

As she kept observing them a moment longer, she suddenly saw Max nearly running into the swinging doors and she barely had time to back up before he saw her. That would really not speak for her if she was caught now, and Liz would certainly not take very well the fact that she had been spying on them. But fortunately, wherever Max was meaning to go was obviously not here, and so she eventually sighed, relieved when she saw him turning around again and taking the bathroom direction.

Wow, that was a close call, she thought as she once more peered through the diamond-shaped window and saw Liz all alone now.

Time to go and get some information out of her friend. At least that was what she was hoping for, until she saw how Liz was welcoming her. Oops, it looked like this would have to wait.


"Where were you?" Liz nearly 'attacked' her as soon as she saw her passing the door, not even realizing how harsh she could sound.

Where was Maria when she needed her, huh? Nowhere in sight of course. Yet she wouldn't have made such a fool of herself if she hadn't been alone, Liz thought incoherently and immediately took her anger out on Maria, when the only one responsible here was herself.

"What?… Did something happen in the two minutes I left you alone?" Maria teased and raised her eyebrows suggestively, deciding to act like she hadn't seen Max and Liz together just a minute ago, but probing for a few details nonetheless.

"What could have happened, beside me humiliating myself more than the usual, huh?" Liz snorted and lowered her head dejectedly, inwardly cursing herself for her own stupidity.

Why hadn't she looked through the door window like she usually always did, huh?

If she had she would have seen Max coming and she would have waited before exiting the room herself, and spare herself the embarrassment. Now she could only imagine that whatever the opinion of her Max had had before, it hadn't been improved. The guy wouldn't have looked more eager to leave if she had told him she had the plague or some other contagious disease. For god's sake, he had practically thrown himself through the doors just to escape her, what better proof than that could he have given her? This man was so not interested in her in any way. If she still had had any more doubts, they had just been dispelled. Maria couldn't be more wrong about him.

"What are you talking about?" Maria quickly sobered up and questioned, not understanding the distraught face or the sudden attitude. Liz looked like she had just lost her best friend, which she couldn't have since she was here, right?

Surely her 'encounter' with Max couldn't have been that bad either. As far as she had seen none of them had even talked at all, which was nothing new or unusual. Just looking had always been their thing anyway, so that couldn't have put her friend in such a state, because she had to be used to it by now.

"Nothing… forget it… so are you finished yet? Can we go?" Liz dismissed with a sigh after a brief moment. She didn't really feel like explaining herself anyway or even less waiting for Max to come back from the bathroom. The sooner she was out of there now, the better. One humiliation a day was enough, if you asked her.

"Yeah… but if you don't mind I'm just going to see Michael a minute!" Maria replied, deciding to let it pass. She knew Liz and she would talk to her when she would be ready, and right now it was so obvious that she was not ready.

"Sure… what's a minute more in my own private hell, huh?" Liz mumbled and grimaced. Great, just what she needed.

"Liz?… Is there something wrong?" Maria inquired now concerned when she heard Liz continuing to be so negative. She had missed something, there was no more doubt now, but what?

"No… no… don't worry!" Liz denied at last, realizing just how unfair she was being right now. Whatever happened or not between Max and her wasn't anyone's fault but hers, and certainly not Maria's. "I'm just a little… grumpy today I guess… I'm sorry… go, I'll be waiting." she apologized and smiled at her friend when Maria gave her an 'are you sure?' look.

No, this was not Maria's fault at all. She was sure that she would find her ridiculous anyway, getting so worked up for something so insignificant in the end, but she couldn't deny that it was becoming harder and harder to see Max ignoring her constantly. But what was she expecting, really? That he would suddenly have an epiphany, some unexpected flash of inspiration and realize that she existed or what a fantastic and cute couple they could make if he decided to just give it a try? Yeah, sure. When pigs would fly.

Nope, so not going to happen, she thought as she followed Maria's moves.

Just as her friend was reaching Michael's booth, she then heard the bathroom door being unlocked and her first reflex was to squat down behind the counter and do her best to look busy, but by doing so she unfortunately missed Max searching her with his eyes.

Where had she gone? he wondered. Wasn't she coming back into the restaurant when he had bumped into her?

Jordan had been almost restless in the bathroom, repeating that he had to hurry to go and see 'Zibeth' and Max had understood what a mistake it had been to tell him he would see her 'later'. He should have known better. With Jordan every word was a promise, and he wouldn't stop asking about it until he would have what he wanted.

And right this moment what he wanted was Liz. Only Max didn't know if he would be able to be close to her and not humiliate himself again.

He scanned the room briefly, hoping to see her somewhere, but finally moved back to his booth when he couldn't find her anywhere. Jordan wasn't going to like this, Max thought as he saw him looking all around, too.

As he approached his friends he saw Maria sitting where he had been before, obviously in deep *conversation* with Michael, and he grimaced slightly. That was how the two communicated. Either they were making out wherever and whenever they could, or they were fighting. And yet against all expectations, their relationship seemed to work just fine.

He didn't usually mind but right now though, he wasn't sure that having Jordan witnessing their public display of affection was a very good thing, and so he couldn't help but cough.

"Child here!" he just told them when they both turned to him and saw him with Jordan still in his arms.

"Sorry… do you want your seat back! I was leaving anyway!" Maria immediately apologized and after quickly pecking Michael's lips once more she stood up.

She hadn't meant to get so carried away here, but after telling Michael that she and Liz were finally ready to leave and go to the Mall she couldn't help herself. She needed her dose of 'Michael's kisses' to get her through the hours until their next meeting, which would certainly be only just before heading to the party as things were developing. She needed to have a little conversation with her best friend, and for Liz to open up to her she just knew that she would need a lot of time and patience.

"It's okay… you don't have to!" Max intervened, thinking that he was the one making her leave.

"No, really Evans… it's okay, I was just telling Michael goodbye!" Maria insisted and as he sat down she immediately turned her attention to his little brother.

Aww, she could just eat him alive.

"Hey, Jordan!" she greeted and tried to pinch his chubby cheeks but failed when he leaned back some more against Max's chest. She heard Max telling him to say hi and her smile grew brighter for a moment, until Jordan shook his head and giggled playfully.

"Ooh, come on… say hi… say my name Sweetie!… you know who I am, right?" she coaxed, trying to have the kid paying a little more attention to her and less to his brother's torso.

It wasn't the first time Max had taken him to the Crash when he had come with Michael, and since she almost always served them when they were together she wasn't a stranger to Jordan anymore, but today it seemed that he couldn't care less.

" 'Ria!" Jordan exclaimed after a moment, perfectly remembering the girl who was almost always sitting on Mak'l 's lap when he saw them together. But wasn't she a little too big to do like him? She surely looked big to him.

"Yes! That's my precious little boy!" Maria beamed like having Jordan remembering her name and saying it was the invention of millennium.

No wonder Michael and everyone else around her were looking at her like she had suddenly gone crazy.

Everyone but Jordan, that is, since he all of a sudden seemed more interested by the girl he was seeing behind Maria now.

Ah, here she was, he was starting to wonder where she had gone without him.

"Zibeth!" he screamed once more as soon as he saw Liz getting up from where she had been before, not noticing how his brother's breath caught in his throat when he heard him utter her name again.

"Oh, do you want to go and see Elizabeth?" Maria asked him, seeing as his whole face seemed to have come to life when he had seen her friend. Well, obviously this little boy had made a choice here, and it was certainly not her.

"YES!" Jordan nodded and answered enthusiastically, already moving to crawl down from his brother's lap.

At least someone understood what he wanted here, he thought, wondering why Max hadn't taken him to her first thing after they had exited the bathroom.

"Can I?" Maria turned to Max and couldn't help but ask when she saw how he was suddenly eyeing his brother.

"Uh… y-yeah!" Max stammered, sure that somehow Jordan would find a way to go to her anyway even if he said no. Beside, he was sure that he would throw a fit if someone didn't take him to his precious new friend right this instant, and all things considered it was better this way. Jordan would have what he wanted if Maria took him to Liz and he wouldn't have to go and talk to her. Everyone would be satisfied, or at least his brother would. He would have to wait for a better opportunity if he wanted to talk to Liz someday.

Yeah, sure, like that was going to happen now.

As soon as the word was out of his mouth Maria grabbed Jordan and the very next second they were both behind Liz, who now had her back turned to them since she had been keeping her act up and had obstinately refused to look in Max's direction, even after she had been sure that he had returned to his seat and wasn't anywhere near her anymore.

"Liz… I think someone wants to see you!" Maria called to get her friend's attention.

Well, if her face was any indication, Max was obviously not the only Evans who could elicit strong and unexpected reactions from her friend, Maria thought when she saw her expression. That smile could certainly light up the whole restaurant.

Then how would Liz have reacted if Maria had brought her the big brother? Maybe she should really try some day, it could be really fun, she reflected at first but then decided to forget about it, at least for a little while, when she remembered how Liz had reacted a few minutes ago.

"Hey, precious!" Liz greeted right away when she saw Jordan and really didn't waste any time to take him from Maria's arms. Even if he was almost the spitting image of Max, he was certainly also all she needed to pull her out of her dark thoughts.

"How are you today?" she then added since she hadn't really had time to tell him anything but hi before this moment. It was already a wonder Max was letting him come anywhere near her with the way he had reacted to her not ten minutes ago, but she wasn't going to think about that anymore. No, not now. She would have all the time in the world to feel sorry for herself later. Right now her priority was this little boy who apparently was just as happy to see her as she was to see him, and she had every intention to make the most of her time with him.

"Fffine!… Hi!" Jordan answered, growing suddenly a little shy.

He liked Zibeth very much, but why were she and her friend looking at him that way now? They looked like him when he received a new toy. And that was strange.

"My, my, what have we here?… don't you look handsome … is this a new shirt Jordan?" Liz put him down on the countertop and asked, briefly nodding at Maria when she heard her telling her that she had to go and ask something to her father and that she was leaving him with her.

"Yes!"

"Who bought it to you?" Liz probed next, if only to have him talking a little more and making him feel at ease with her.

She remembered that when she was little she liked it when people paid attention to her and asked her all kind of questions. It gave her the impression that what she could think was important to them. Maybe Jordan, though of course he was younger, liked that, too.

"Mommy and Macsh!" Jordan replied before looking down himself at his shirt and smiling brightly.

He loved it when his mommy bought him new things, although of course if he had a say in it she would only buy him toys and 'Spidaman jammies.'

Liz looked at him as he inspected his shirt and couldn't help but smile, though she couldn't really see why he had said that Max had bought him the shirt with his mother. But she guessed that Max had been the one to take them to the Mall or to wherever they had found it, and therefore Jordan had felt like including him. This boy really loved his brother, there was no doubt about that. But who would blame him, huh? Certainly not her!

"Oh, that's great… are you going somewhere?… you're all dressed up today, aren't you?" she continued never departing herself from her smile.

"Yes… we doing a long… long… twip!" Jordan informed her and stretched out his arms as far as he could to show Liz just how long that trip was going to be.

He had gone to see his grandparents several times and each time it had felt like they were never going to arrive. He didn't like road trips, but he liked seeing his grandparents so it was okay in the end.

As he brought his arms back down on his lap, the rubber bands at the end of Liz's breads caught his attention and he couldn't help reaching out to touch them. The color was almost the same than her uniform only brighter and Jordan liked bright colors.

Momentarily distracted by his move Liz looked down and saw what he was staring at.

"What? … what is it Jordan?… Do you want this?" she demanded as she took the band off and gave it to him when he nodded to her. She had tons of them and she only tied her hair back like that to work anyway, so she wouldn't mind at all if he wanted to keep it.

Almost right away she took off the second one, too, and undid her breads, letting her hair flow all around her, not realizing how sensual that simple gesture could look like for an external eye.

But if she had paid more attention, she would have certainly noticed how Max nearly fainted when he saw her freeing those silky tresses he loved so much. He even had to clench his fits on his sides to stop himself from joining her and running his fingers through them. Boy, he was going to agonize here, he just knew it.

"So you're going for a long trip you said? Do you know where you're going?" Liz questioned afterwards as she watched Jordan play with her band.

Kids didn't need lot to have fun apparently, she pondered briefly before thinking about something totally different and wondering then if Max and Isabel where leaving, too.

No, she reflected as an afterthought, remembering that Maria had told her that they were both invited to Serena's party and that they had apparently both said they were going.

Anyway she doubted that Max would miss one of Serena's parties, considering their history together. But that was beside the point now, wasn't it?

Not conscious of where her thoughts had led her, Jordan stopped a moment and briefly looked behind to Max, as if he wanted him to come and give him the answer, but finally he looked back to Liz and after obviously thinking hard if the frown of concentration on his forehead was any indication, his whole face suddenly seemed to light up and Liz could only guess that he had found the name.

"Colvis!" Jordan blurted out the word and smiled, very proud that he had remembered where they were going all alone and without anyone else's help.

"You mean Clovis?!" Liz corrected gently, surely not expecting Jordan's next reaction.

"That what I say!" he replied, and the weird look he gave Liz with his statement made her chuckle openly. Jordan was now staring at her like he was suddenly wondering if something was wrong with her, or maybe if she was a little stupid, deaf, or simply didn't understand English.

"Oh, baby… aren't you the cutest thing ever, huh?… yes you are!"

Liz couldn't resist him anymore and giggling herself she started to tickle him until Jordan found himself nearly lying on the counter. And not a second did she realize what effect that simple action could have on the man who from the corner of his eye had been constantly observing her with his brother.

Oh, to be a little boy again!

God, what was wrong with him?

Max gritted his teeth and wished himself to calm down but it seemed to be an impossible task. He would leave this place feet first if she didn't stop immediately, or if he didn't reign on his hormones very fast.

Okay, he could do it, he thought as he tried to concentrate on his breathing. All he had to do was take deep, long breaths. In and out. That wasn't so difficult finally, was it? Nope, not difficult at all.

Proud of himself, he almost jumped in victory once he got his respiration back to normal, but when Jordan writhed so much that his shirt hitched up a little and Liz started to drop noisy kisses on his now exposed belly, all his efforts went right through the window.

That was the last straw for Max.

"Shit!" he expelled the curse in an almost suffering pant.

What was she trying to do now? Kill him?

If she kept that up, they would have to restrain him to not have him go and lay himself on that counter top. And if all he needed to do was to expose his belly to have her kissing it, too, so be it! What did he risk, beside making a fool out of himself of course?

Oh, god. Oh, god. Oh, god. Dammit, would she just stop!!!

"What?" Isabel turned questioning eyes to his brother as soon as she heard him.

What was it? And why was Max suddenly looking so flushed?

It wasn't that hot here, but he really looked like he could use a cold shower in the minute.

"Nothing… could you… just go and take Jordan back? I think it's time to take him home!" Max rushed out in one breath as he searched for his wallet and pulled a five out.

He would go himself but in the state he was in right this instant, the chances that he would grab Liz and just take her on that countertop were too great for him to risk it.

God, this was totally insane. And he was becoming totally out of control.

This had never happened before. Not like this. Sure he had wanted her, but the pull he felt right now was something that surprised even himself. It was chemical, strong, undeniable and he wasn't sure how much longer he was going to be able to resist it. To resist her. At the rate things were developing, she wouldn't know what hit her the next time he would see her. To say that it wouldn't be pretty would be an understatement. And he wouldn't care in the least that she certainly didn't even know his damn name.

"Why don't you go yourself?" Isabel inquired, wondering why she had to go when he had feet himself. It wasn't as if he couldn't go and say, 'hey girl give me my brother back, we're leaving', was it?

Why did he always need to be so weird about the easiest things?

"Isabel!" Max just uttered the word, but the tone of his voice was definitely too serious and stern to be ignored. Besides, Max only used her full name when he meant business, and when he did, boy, you better not discuss with him.

"Fine!" she sighed, finally moving but really not understanding what was the big deal.

What was wrong with him anyway? she thought.

Ever since Maria had taken Jordan to Beth, Max seemed to be on the edge. Like he was waiting for a bomb to drop or some disaster to happen. At least that was the conclusion she had come to.

She knew Max didn't really like to leave Jordan with strangers, but come on here, it wasn't as if they didn't know her at all. She hadn't appeared out of nowhere all of a sudden, they had seen her grow with them, what could Beth do to Jordan now, huh? As far as she was concerned he was in good hands with her, and so had thought her parents apparently, otherwise they wouldn't have left him with her yesterday.

But how could Isabel have understood that that was precisely the matter?

How could she have figured what torture it was being for Max to see Jordan in Liz's arms when he would have given anything at this instant to be in his brother's shoes. Just a few seconds even. Just to know how it felt.

Maybe he could ask Jordan later what it was like.

Oh, god, that was it! He was really losing it. Like Jordan would understand such a question. The boy would only see it for what it was. An innocent and without any particular significance gesture.

Max wanted more. He wanted to know if her skin felt as smooth and silky as he imagined it, if her touch was as tender and yet electrifying as he wanted it to be, if her body pressed against his would feel as right as he suspected it would.

Holy shit. What was he thinking?

He really needed to get out of here. NOW.

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"Hey Beth!" Isabel greeted the other girl with a little smile. They weren't exactly friends that was for sure, but she shared a few classes with the girl and despite all she could have heard about her, she liked her, though she would probably not admit this in front of her either.

"Hey Isabel!" Liz smiled back.

"Sorry but this little man needs to sleep a little before he hits the road so… let's go Jord'! " Isabel informed gently but almost right away had to give her brother one of those looks that told him there was no room for discussion when she saw him start to pout slightly.

"Okay… bye Jordan!" Liz whispered and smiled at him, tenderly caressing his cheeks.

"Bye-bye!" Jordan answered, and smiled back at Liz when she took him into her arms to lower him from the countertop.

"Hey, can I have a goodbye kiss at least, precious?" she couldn't help but demand as she held him a few more seconds before giving him to his sister.

Eagerly complying, Jordan's smile grew bigger and after awkwardly cupping Liz's face with his tiny hands he soundly smacked her lips, sending Liz into a fit of giggles.

"Wow, that was some kiss! Thank you!" she remarked still laughing as she let Isabel take him.

Almost simultaneously they all heard a loud crash coming from behind them and both girls turned around just in time to see a beet red Max apologizing to Agnes for almost knocking her down, too, with the dirty dishes she was carrying -dishes that were now scattered on the floor- and then after he helped her to pick them up, they heard him saying goodbye to his friends and to Isabel that he was waiting for them outside.

Liz briefly wondered why he suddenly seemed to be in such a hurry, but soon forgot about it as she found herself laughing again when she heard Isabel telling her younger brother that he was big enough to walk and didn't need to be carried every time they had to go somewhere, or that Beth and Max were really giving him bad habits. Jordan's face as he took the hand Isabel offered him instead of the arms he had obviously been waiting for, was simply priceless.

In the end Liz waved at him as he left, and nothing could have wiped the smile from her lips when she saw him keeping waving back until he couldn't see her anymore.

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End of Chapter 3a

Warning : Be careful… Can cause permanent cerebral damages Max-Shower-Dropped Towel… Fragile hearts avoid at all costs (Am I the only one picturing his ass as I read this )

Chapter 3b


Eyes closed and hands against the tiled wall in front of him, Max let the water pour over his body, sighing at the temporarily blissful sensation and hoping that it would be enough to wash away his frustration.

Ever since coming back home he had been in hell, and this warm shower had been the only thing he could think about to help him relax a little bit. Nothing else so far had been enough. Not the short nap he had taken with Jordan, not his games later with him, and not even the short jog he had gone for when his parents had finally left.

Liz Parker was there, everywhere, and she refused to leave him.

Why now? Why today? he wondered for the millionth time this day.

Maybe it was seeing her with Jordan that had affected him so much. Or maybe it was just because for the first time he had seen her really up close, had lost himself in the depth of her incredible doe eyes, he didn't know, but ever since leaving the Crashdown he hadn't been able to get her out of his head.

What was new some would say? Well, usually he was at least able to reign on his thoughts, that was. She often occupied them but usually he was able to concentrate on something else nonetheless and he actually only lost himself in them when she was really near, when he was staring at her.

Today though, whenever he closed his eyes he kept seeing her face, her smile. He heard her voice greeting Jordan, her sweet laugh when she was playing with him. But most of all he saw her lips on his brother's and it was driving him totally crazy.

If he had thought that he couldn't do worse than when he had bumped into her, the incident with Agnes had proved him just how wrong he was. But god, how was he supposed to react when his own brother's lips, the lips that pecked him almost every day, had tasted the treasure he himself lusted after so much. He was only human, and then it shouldn't be that surprising that he had tripped on his own feet and nearly taken the Crashdown waitress with him in his fall.

More surprising was that he had been able to control the urge he had felt at that moment because if he hadn't been sure that no one would have understood his suddenly crazy behavior, he would have certainly gone and implored Liz to give him a goodbye kiss, too. Oh no, it wouldn't have taken him much to fall on his hands and knees and cry 'me, too… me, too, pretty please!', believe it. He had been that far gone back then.

Which led to the one million dollars question: what had happened in that restaurant today? And why was he feeling so differently now? Like he was going to be literally and physically sick if he couldn't see her again, if he couldn't be near her again very soon.

Unfortunately, he didn't know the answer but he sure knew that that wasn't normal. Not normal at all.

Why couldn't he fight her presence in his head anymore, huh?

Why was he having all those crazy and incoherent thoughts now when he had done just fine all those years and until now?

Yes, something was obviously different now even if he was certainly too much of a coward to really analyze what was happening to him.

But the seriousness of his situation had hit him square in the face this afternoon, when he less expected it, nearly knocking the air out of him at the moment, and now he just couldn't do like nothing had happened. She wouldn't let him anyway.

Groaning loudly he banged his head a few times against the wall, like that trivial and stupid act could be enough to clear his thoughts, but try as he wanted they were still there when he opened up his eyes again. Taunting him, mocking him, the earlier events still so fresh in his mind it was as reliving everything over and over.

Why? God, why?

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A few hours earlier.


"Mommy… moooommy… " Jordan left screaming and running to the kitchen as soon as he and Max passed the front door, sure that that would be where he would find his mother.

Max chuckled as his brother's antics despite himself, not surprised in the least by his reaction. When he was with his mother and Max wasn't there he wanted to see him, and then when he was with Max and his mother wasn't there, he wanted to see her. Children!

He tried to keep the smile on his face as he followed Jordan into the room, but failed miserably unfortunately. There was just so much a man could take after all and he had reached his limits.

All the way to their house Jordan hadn't stopped ranting about Zibeth. It was Zibeth here, Zibeth there, Zibeth this, Zibeth that and if it weren't because he loved his brother dearly and was sure that the poor kid wouldn't understand his reaction, Max would certainly have begged him to just 'shut up'. Yet since he couldn't say anything, he had had to hear about every single details of his time with her and Max felt like exploding.

Having his brother meeting Liz and getting so attached was definitely not a good thing. Not for him at least. But that didn't mean he didn't understand his interest or didn't envy him for all that.

Jordan was one lucky kid now: not only had he 'kissed' Liz but she had even given him one of her rubber bands. A rubber band that had to smell just like her, Max was sure of it, and he would have tried to confirm his suspicion if he could just have come anywhere near it of course, but that little monster of his brother knew how to taunt him with his new treasure alright, but he didn't obviously know how to share.

What? So yes, he had tried to get it out of his brother's hand, but it was only for his own protection and security. Imagine what could have happened to him if he had suddenly decided to chew on it and then had… choked on it. Max couldn't take the risk, now could he? But when Max had tried to approach him with the idea that it would be better if he kept it for him, Jordan had refused right away and had claimed that it was his 'Zibeth givt' and not Macsh and that he couldn't touch it.

Well, Jordan would see if he couldn't touch it, once he would be asleep. Max would take it, and smell it, and rub it on his face all he wanted, nah. He also could act like a selfish little brat if he wanted, what did he think?

"In here!" Diane yelled from where she was, cooking for Isabel and Max since she was once more leaving them alone for the weekend.

It wasn't a first of course, but even though she was sure that they could perfectly manage without her for two little days, she always took the time to prepare them a few meals, wanting to make sure they wouldn't eat everything and anything during her absence and dismiss the healthy repasts to stuff themselves with junk food instead. She knew her kids too well and though Isabel was less inclined to do so, Max would be the first to neglect his diet. It was a wonder he wasn't all fat with the way he ate sometimes. Burgers, greasy fries and coke wasn't exactly her idea of a balanced meal, but her Max, he could kill for that.

"Hey, sweetie… oh, god!" Diane turned around and squatted down to greet her son as soon as she heard him entering the kitchen, but she nearly lost her balance when Jordan all but threw himself at her.

Someone was obviously very happy to see her again.

Not like her eldest son who obviously had something else on his mind if the strange face he was making was any indication, she almost immediately noticed.

Was there something wrong? And where was Isabel by the way?

"Hey Max!… Where's Izzy?"

"Mom!" Max tried to smile again when he saw his mother eyeing him suspiciously and then pecked her cheek. She could read him like an open book and she would know something was off if he wasn't careful enough, and he really didn't feel like telling her anything about his mood right now. "I dropped her at Shauna's… she said she wouldn't be long!"

"Oh, okay!" she just answered, her eyes still focused on him, like she was hoping to find whatever truth she was searching for, in his tone or his reactions.

"I w's with Macsh and Is'bel at the Clash-… the Clash-…" Jordan interrupted his mother and brother's staring contest and tried to inform his mother about his earlier activities, like she hadn't already known where he had been all this time.

"The Crashdown, honey!" she provided for him, sure that he wouldn't find the name alone. This kid and the names. She wondered if he soon would be able to tell them correctly.

"Yeah… and I see Mak'l and Lyle and 'Ria and Ziiibeth!" he told his mother excitedly, counting on his fingers how many different persons he had seen today. Wow, there was a lot.

"Really… you did… all those people, huh?!"

"Um-huh… and Lyle and Zibeth play with me!" Jordan continued just as joyfully.

"Oh, they did?… did you have fun sweetie?" she asked and ruffled his hair tenderly, glad that her son seemed to have enjoyed himself so much.

"A looot!" he confirmed with the biggest smile he could muster just before he reiterated his previous statement. "And Zibeth she play with me!"

"So you just told me!… I think you've found yourself a new friend, haven't you?!" Diane acknowledged, not surprised that Jordan had liked Elizabeth so much. She liked her, too, she was a sweet girl and always ready to offer her help from what she had seen the previous evening.

"Yes!" he nodded and replied, but then the very next second he seemed to have almost forgotten all about what he had been talking about, preferring to hug his mother very tightly instead.

Hey, he had missed his mommy. Very much.

"That's great… I'm sure you couldn't have chosen better… don't you agree Max?" Diane caressed his back affectionately and turned to Max again.

At first she only wanted to have him participating into the conversation since she found him awfully quite today, at least more than the usual, but when she saw his startled look she couldn't help wondering if she hadn't hit a nerve. Okay, what was happening here? What had she said?

Oh, god, could Elizabeth Parker be responsible for her two sons' moods and not only Jordan's? she immediately thought as realization dawned on her.

She was a very beautiful girl indeed, and very smart from what she had been told, but she had never heard Max talk about her before. Not that he talked so much about his love life anyway, it was even only because of her daughter that she knew he was currently dating Teresa Harding, but at least he had never looked that way, almost like a deer caught in headlights, before when they had talked about a girl.

Oh, yes, her mother instincts were kicking in suddenly and she just knew that her son was hiding something from her here. This could be interesting.

Could her Max have a secret crush on someone else, huh?

"W-What?" Max stammered, not believing that above all the rest this was happening to him now, too.

If his mother just only suspected that he could be interested in Liz in any way, he wouldn't see the end of it. And that was certainly the last thing in the world he needed right now.

"Elizabeth… Parker… you know her, don't you Max?" Diane insisted, deciding to dig a little more.

Of course he was bound to know the girl anyway, she reasoned, since he had practically made of the Crashdown his second home. And now that she thought about it, maybe she had just found the answer to that mystery.

Why did Max spend so much time over there? Granted her cooking wasn't always worthy of a Chef, but that couldn't explain everything even if she had believed so until now. But maybe there was another reason behind his behavior, and maybe this reason was the Parker girl.

"No, I-I don't… not at all!" Max blurted out making his mother raise an eyebrow skeptically at him, which only made him blush even more in return.

Now, if that wasn't all the proof she needed, Diane thought, she didn't know what it was. She was sure Max wouldn't have looked more guilty if she had caught him having sex with his girlfriend under her roof. And God forbid, that was really something she didn't want to witness. Max could be nineteen all he wanted, sure, but he was still her baby nonetheless. He was her first born after all, and she didn't want to see him growing up too fast. She wasn't stupid enough to really think that he was still a virgin of course, but as far as she was concerned, she would rather look the other way than acknowledge that simple fact.

Anyway, why was she thinking about that now?

Oh, yeah. Max. Guilty look. That was what was important right now.

"Oh-kay… well, she seems to be a nice girl!" Seeing how embarrassed he seemed to be, she unexpectedly decided to take another road to glean some information hoping he would open up to her if she showed him that she appreciated Elizabeth, but Max didn't react at all like she expected him to. Actually, he couldn't look more eager to leave her there with her questions all of a sudden.

Well, it looked like she wouldn't have her answers this time, she realized as she saw him reach for his brother.

"I'm sure she is!… Yeah…" Max hastily commented, doing his best to not look affected at all, and then just as quickly took Jordan from his mother's arms. "Let's go Jord'… it's time for that nap!"

"O-Okay… bye honey! Sleep tight!" Diane hesitated a little at first but then she kissed her son's cheek and hugged him once more before giving Max a look that told him he was off the hook for now because Jordan indeed needed to rest but that this conversation was far from being over.

Smiling awkwardly at his mother's expression, he exited the kitchen and after taking his brother to his own room, Max started to undress him while Jordan bounced impatiently on the bed, his earlier excitation not having yet worn off completely.

"So you really had fun this afternoon?" Max asked after a moment and once he had Jordan in his T-shirt and underwear. Like he really needed to ask. Jordan was still so hyper it would be a miracle if he closed an eye.

"Yeah!"

"You liked it, huh? You like going to the Crashdown." Max probed some more, smiling at his enthusiasm, and then proceeded to tickle his little brother.

Surely not the best way to calm him down of course, but what could he say, he loved hearing Jordan laugh and so he couldn't resist.

"Yes… and… I luuv… Zibeth!" Jordan nodded and exclaimed between fits of giggles.

"Yeah, I know… I lov-" Max began but before he could expel all the words, he abruptly stopped, his mouth and eyes wide open, involuntarily startling Jordan who could only wonder what was suddenly wrong with his brother. Had he done something wrong? Was Macsh upset with him now?

Oh god. OH, GOD, Max thought already panicking. He so wasn't going to say what he thought he was, right? Right?

He loved her, too? He loved her, too??? Where the hell had this come from? And when had that happened? And for God's sake, why had no one taken the time to inform him, huh?

No, god, what was he thinking?

No, he didn't love her!

He liked her, true.

A lot even but that was it, wasn't it?

He couldn't be in love with her and not have realized it himself!

What kind of moron would be in love with a girl and not know it himself?

He would know if he was in love with her, and he sooo was NOT.

Uh-huh… no way he could have let that happen!

No freaking way!

Fuck, those thoughts were coming too fast even for himself, he was going to keel over if he didn't stop this right now.

Okay, breathe. IN. OUT. In and out.


"O-Okay… uh… Jord' it's really time for that nap… come here!" Trying to stop thinking about what had just happened and what that could mean, Max concentrated again on his brother and pulling the sheets aside, he laid him down gently.

"Do you want me to stay with you… until you fall asleep!" he then asked Jordan knowing anyway that the answer would certainly be yes. He smiled as he saw Jordan nodding his head and settling more comfortably against his pillow, before putting his thumb into his mouth and starting to lightly suck on it.

Glad to see that Jordan wasn't going to cause any problem contrary to what he could have thought, Max lay down next to him and closed his eyes himself, trying to get a certain brunette out of his mind and ignore the nagging feeling that told him that things were about to change, and not necessarily for the best.

If he could just fall asleep for a few minutes himself, maybe he would be able to find some peace and forget all about this nonsense.

Maybe he would forget about her altogether.

<center>*</center>

Unfortunately several hours later nothing had changed. He still hadn't found the answers to all the questions that were running through his head, and he still had no idea either about what he would do if it were indeed really true that his feelings for Liz were deeper than what he had always assumed.

The truth was that he was really not prepared for all the complications it would bring to his life if he was really in love with Liz Parker. How was he supposed to deal with that, huh? Being in love with someone he didn't actually even know! That sounded so stupid! And so improbable, more over coming from him.

Okay, he just had to stop. Why was he even thinking about it so much, it didn't make any sense. At all. Whatever was happening to him, it just couldn't be that. Period. That was what he had to tell himself and everything would be alright.

Beside, he had Tess, right? He wouldn't be dating her if he was in love with someone else, would he? No, only an idiot or a complete jerk would do something like that and he wasn't any of that.

Maybe he should just try to go and see his gilrfriend before going to Serena's. Maybe it would help him feel better and banish Liz Parker from his memory.

Nah, she would certainly pick up on his mood the minute he would cross her door and talk and rant until he would tell her what was wrong, and he surely didn't need a fit of jealousy on top of everything else.


Turning the water off after having spend a good fifteen minutes under the spray, he got out of the shower and paused a moment, looking at his reflection through the bathroom mirror.

Yep, he was hopeless, he sighed at the man who was looking back at him. Lately he didn't even recognize himself anymore. What with the puppy dog eyes and the desperate and tortured looks. This was just not him. But it was all Liz Parker's doing, that was one thing he was sure of though.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he reached for his razor and gave himself a close shave. Then he took some time to dry and comb his hair and then fixed it like he wanted it with some gel. For once though he only fought with his bangs for a few minutes before finally giving up. He was in no mood to do more today.

This would have to do, he thought as he inspected the final result. Why did he care anyway, it wasn't as if he was trying to impress anyone. Or was he?

Exiting his bathroom he moved to his wardrobe and after a brief moment eventually decided on what he would wear for the night. He loosened the tie of the towel and let it drop to the floor then grabbed a pair of clean boxers and socks, his favorite jeans and a dark gray shirt and started dressing.

All in all he had taken him no more than two minutes to solve his dilemma. If everything could be as easy for him as picking up clothes, he would certainly be the happiest man on Earth. But sadly, he knew that his situation would only get even worse with time if he himself didn't take the matter at hands, and soon. The only problem was that he had absolutely no idea of what he could do.

<center>*</center>

Despite all his protests, half and an hour later and after having made a detour by Michael's apartment, Max was back at the Crashdown, seated at the same old booth, sipping the same usual cherry cola. Yeah, he knew, he certainly needed a radical change of life, but what could he say, bad habits died hard, right?

For now though he had a valid excuse, he was there for Michael. Since he didn't have a car himself and he couldn't very well pick up Maria with his motorcycle, Max had agreed to go and get him and bring him here so that Maria, Michael and Liz could all leave together to the party in Maria's Jetta. Of course if he could he would have done otherwise but since he had promised Michael to be his ride before all this craziness had started, he couldn't very well let him down then.

And no, that was all his job for the night, he wouldn't stay with them but would go to Kyle's just after his coke, since as far as he was concerned, he was supposed to meet everyone else there for a few drinks before they would all head to the party in one and only car: Paulie's, as he was actually the one who had been designed as 'Sober Driver' this time after he had lost their usual game against Kyle in the end.

So, see, for once his presence here had nothing to do with Liz, which was a good point. He would be out of there before she even came downstairs to meet with his friend anyway. Or so he hoped.

But unfortunately, God didn't seem to be on his side tonight.

No sooner had he made the wish that Maria passed the swinging doors with Liz in tow and the very next second Max's world came to an abrupt stop.

Choking on his coke, he unexpectedly spat a mouthful of liquid just in front of him, missing Michael's face by only an inch, and started to cough painfully. His eyes started to water, his throat to sting and his nose to prickle but for the life of him, he couldn't advert his gaze from her for all that.

"Man… what's your problem?" Michael yelped having barely had time to back up before the sticky substance touched him.

What the hell was wrong with him? he cursed as he inspected his shirt to make sure it hadn't been stained. If it were, Max could just go and search for another shirt for him because there was no way he would make the trip back to his apartment just because of him.

But Max at that moment couldn't care less about Michael's preoccupations, he had his own problems to deal with. Meaning, remembering how to think, how to breathe or trying to bring his heart rate back to normal again. Preventing a certain part from his anatomy to stir to life would be a good thought, too, but some things were more vital than others of course and his poor brain couldn't take care of all at the same time obviously.

He had barely paid any attention to Maria, but Liz, god, could anyone look more beautiful, sexy, tempting and fucking hot?

She was wearing a black mini-skirt that revealed her perfectly shaped legs to his suddenly very hungry eyes, a dark pink sleeveless top that hugged her breasts just enough to have his imagination running wild, a matching cardigan, though she held it in her hand for the moment, and what Kyle not so delicately but usually called 'fuck-me' boots, and Michael was wondering what was his problem? Wasn't it obvious?

SHE was his problem! She was trying to drive him nuts, trying to make him lose his last shred of sanity. He just knew it. She was doing it on purpose. There was no other explanation for it. But you know the worst. It was working. It was fucking damn well working.

Add to that that she was made-up like a top model, the brown eye-shadow and lip-gloss only accentuating the perfection of two of her most beautiful features in his eyes, and that she had let her hair completely loose like he liked it so much, and it was really no wonder he was a second away from losing it now.

God help him, this was going to be the end, he thought as he stood up and after apologizing to Michael and telling him that they would meet at Serena's, he left as quickly as he could, not even bothering to clean up his mess.

Oh yes, he really needed some help. This was going to be one long and hellish night.

And yet as he inwardly uttered the words, Max had still no idea of the truthfulness of his statement or just how long it was indeed going to be.



End of chapter 3b

TBC...

Author: RebeccaBehrEvans

Title: Not who they think

Rating : ADULT

Disclaimer: Do you really think that Tess Harding would have set foot in the show if I had owned it?? uh-huh… not a chance, so nope, Roswell and all that goes with it is not mine!

AN: Hey everyone… I know some of you have been waiting a long time for this so I won't bother you with a long AN, I just wanted to thank you all for being so patient with me and not giving up on me. I know it sucks to have to wait so long between two updates but believe me when I say I wish I wasn't such a bad updater … I'm gonna try to not let you hang on there so long next time

I want to particularly thank Angie for helping me with THE song, because I don't think I'd have been able to find just the right one without her. I'm sure you didn't think you'd see the day I'd use it it's been so long since you suggested it … But anyway, I'm now making you Honorary Member of my fan club, just like promised (private joke guys, don't worry )

And now this:

This morning I came back to it, reread a bit..and still just sat here totally entranced by your writing.
I've been coming to this board since it opened… I've left 3000+ feedbacks, and I think by now I am a qualified judge of what a great Roswell story line consists of whether it's cc-au-aa etc. You are true to the characters that we know and love, and it's such a delight to read a well written Max and Liz story.

Thank you so so much. You don't know how much this warmed my heart. You had me near tears when I read this, because that's the Max and Liz I love, too, and sometimes I wonder if anyone still sees them, wants them like that. I mean I couldn't write them any other way, but I'm glad to see that there is still people out there that remember them like I do and don't want to see them change. They maybe weren't the best like they were, but that's Roswell for me, and this is the kind of things that still makes it worth it to write about them.

As for Jordan… I don't want to reveal too much, but yeah, he's definitely going to help his big brother

With that said… on with the story (Note that the end of this part deals with some violent and difficult situation, so I guess I must warn you… don't know if this requires R-rating or not then… but well, just in case, I'm gonna say it does . )

Posted in three due to length.

Previously on chapter 3b:

He had barely paid any attention to Maria, but Liz, god, could anyone look more beautiful, sexy, tempting and fucking hot?
She was wearing a black mini-skirt that revealed her perfectly shaped legs to his suddenly very hungry eyes, a dark pink sleeveless top that hugged her breasts just enough to have his imagination running wild, a matching cardigan, though she held it in her hand for the moment, and what Kyle not so delicately but usually called 'fuck-me' boots, and Michael was wondering what was his problem? Wasn't it obvious?
she was his problem! She was trying to drive him nuts, trying to make him lose his last shred of sanity. He just knew it. She was doing it on purpose. There was no other explanation for it. But you know the worst. It was working. It was fucking damn well working.
Add to that that she was made-up like a top model, the brown eye-shadow and lip-gloss only accentuating the perfection of two of her most beautiful features in his eyes, and that she had let her hair completely loose like he liked it so much, and it was really no wonder he was a second away from losing it now.

God help him, this was going to be the end, he thought as he stood up and after apologizing to Michael and telling him that they would meet at Serena's, he left as quickly as he could, not even bothering to clean up his mess .
Oh yes, he really needed some help. This was going to be one long and hellish night.

And yet as he inwardly uttered the words, Max had still no idea of the truthfulness of his statement or just how long it was indeed going to be.

Chapter four

Out of the corner of her eyes Liz saw Max exiting the restaurant and her heart dropped to her shoes in reaction. She had thought that since he was here they would all go to Serena's party together but he obviously had plans of his own and none of them apparently included staying anywhere near her.

She didn't know what she had been excepting, really. That he would want to spend the night with her, and that they could maybe play the perfect couple since his dear girlfriend wouldn't be attending the party tonight? Yeah, obviously even if she had not wanted to admit that to herself, considering how disappointed she was to see him leave, it must have been something along those lines. Maybe she had just hoped that since Maria and Michael would probably be all over each other, if Max came with them, he wouldn't have any other choice but to talk to her, and they would finally get to know each other. She couldn't even deny that she had been pleased when Maria had told her that Tess wouldn't be coming tonight, something about her mother being in town and consequently having to spend the weekend with her, but even that wouldn't work for her in the end.

Now she realized that it had only been wishful thinking on her part because it seemed so evident to her that Max didn't, and would never, see her as anything more than the local waitress that sometimes tended to him when he came to the Crashdown.

Yet it wasn't for lacking opportunities, she just had to look back to this afternoon to know that. He could have talked to her, if only because of Jordan, but it was obvious to her now that the farther he was from her, the better Max seemed to be. His brother had not even gotten to drink his milk, so eager Max had visibly been to leave, so if that didn't give her clue already she didn't know what could. And no matter how much she had tried to overlook that possibility, chances were that after today he had finally understood that she felt more than some friendly interest towards him and that was his response to that.

But she wouldn't let that wear her down, she decided, knowing that if she did, she would probably spend the rest of the evening depressing over everything that seemed wrong to her right now, and consequently ruin everyone else's night as well. No, tonight she swore, she would have fun and momentarily forget that she was miserable without Max Evans.

Liz was actually not the only one to be concerned by Max's quick retreat but contrary to her, he understood his real motives. He had long suspected that Max was quite attracted to Beth Parker even if he was certainly not ready to admit that out loud just yet, but his sudden outburst was all Michael needed to have it confirmed. He just had had to take a look behind him and see her there with her father, see what she was wearing to know she had been the reason Max had nearly given him a cola bath, and he had a feeling that tonight would be a real test for his dear friend. Considering how fast he had gotten out of there, Michael could already predict that Max was not very far from losing it, and consequently would probably do his best to stay as far away from Beth as he could, but the real question was, how long would he really be able to do that and fight the pull he was sure he had to be feeling. Contrary to what he certainly still wanted to believe, it would only grow stronger the more he tried to struggle, until he would have no other choice but to submit to it and let it guide him.

He knew how it worked. It had started just like this with Maria as well. At first she had just been a fleeting thought that entered his mind from time to time, but all too soon it had lingered there, asking to be heard, consuming him, and there had been nothing else to do but go with the feeling. Not that he regretted it, Maria had been the best thing that could have happened to him, and no matter how confusing it had been to him at first since he wasn't used to need someone so much, he couldn't picture his life without her now, no matter how hard he tried to act all tough and in control most of times.

The only difference between him and Max in fact, was that his best friend was even more stubborn than he could be sometimes if that was possible, moreover when it came to matters of the heart, and he would probably refuse to see what was just in front of him until he wouldn't be able to do otherwise, and in the meantime, the risk was that he would hurt Beth without even realizing it. He was not one to stick his nose where he had no business into, and he would never say a thing about that to anyone, but he would have to be blind to not notice that obviously the attraction between Max and Beth was completely mutual and reciprocated. Even when she tried to play it off, he had caught her looking at his friend one too many times to not understand what was going on in there.

But still, Max was with Tess right now and while he knew that Max was definitely one of those great guys who would do his best to make any girl happy and therefore he definitely couldn't wish for a better boyfriend for her, he didn't want him to start anything with Beth as long as that was not taken care of.

"Michael Guerin, you're such a… such a…" a piercing shriek pulled him out of his thoughts and as he looked to his side he wasn't even surprised to see Maria near him, looking at him like she was ready to murder him.

"What?" he asked, wondering what he could have done this time to have her this pissed, but when he saw her turning to the next table and grabbing for some napkins, he understood that she was referring to the mess Max had left on the table and he instantly stood up. "Hey, that wasn't me, okay?!" he cried out indignantly, swearing that he would just kill Max if this led to another fight with her because of him. Not that he didn't love his friend but there was no way he was going to pay for him.

"Yeah… then who?" Maria raised a skeptic eyebrow at him and started to wipe at the sticky liquid, all the while cursing men and their inability to eat properly.

"It wasn't me… it was Max, okay! And you don't need to do that… I was going to, even if it's not my mess to clean!" Michael reiterated and yelled at her just a little too forcefully for her liking, and in reaction Maria all but threw the rest of the napkins to his face.

"Be my guest!" she just spat out and Michael had to bite the inside of his cheek to not come up with the angry retort he had in mind.

He knew his girlfriend and knew that the more he would actually reply to her, the more chances he had of spending the night alone and he wasn’t about to let that happening just because his best friend was a jerk. It wasn't every weekend that Maria's mom left them alone with the house, and only to make sure they wouldn't start another endless argument -argument he already knew he wouldn't win anyway- he would hold his tongue if he had to. Even if there was no saying how hard that actually was.

"What's happening?" Liz walked to them almost as soon as she saw them ready to jump at each other's throat, and once more she had to wonder how in the world those two could have made it so long. One day, she was sure they would end up killing each other.

"Max Evans is a pig, that's what!" Maria glared some more at Michael who was now meticulously cleaning the table, before turning to Liz and smiling almost too sweetly at her, like she was expecting her to be outraged she could say such thing and start to defend him.

Uh-huh. That was so not going to happen. She wouldn't fall in her trap so easily.

"Oh!… hmm, right!" Liz stuttered nevertheless, clearly at a lack of words since she didn't know what had brought up such a comment to begin with or why in the hell that would be the cause of another clash between Michael and Maria.

More surprising though was the fact that Michael didn't seem to want to contradict her for once.

"Well, now that that's established, can we get out of here?" he demanded once he was finished, having already waited all he thought was humanly possible for those two. He didn't see the point of discussing Max's manners any longer anyway, but he definitely planned on having a few words with him, and that as soon as he would see him again.

Maria and Liz knew better than to argue with him when he was like this of course, and so after having said goodbye to Mr. Parker and grabbed for their respective purse, they were out and ready to party all night.

<center>*</center>


A couple of hours after the three of them had reached Serena's, Max, Kyle and the others finally decided to make an appearance, much to the womankind's delight. After having downed a bottle of Jim Valenti's finest whisky, they were all more than ready to whip that party into shape and have some real fun. Max, with the exception of Paulie who had to drive, was probably the one who had drunk the least but it didn't stop him from looking just as plastered.

Seeing them entering the party just as a new song started, with the smiles stretched on their faces was a sight to behold and more than one girl swoon in their wakes even if they didn't seem to care. They strode in, almost in perfect tune with the loud beats resonating in the house, looking and walking like they owned the world, and if it could look ridiculous, in the eyes of some they probably could.

Anytime I need to see your face
I just close my eyes
And I am taken to a place where your crystal mind and
Magenta feelings take up shelter in the base of my spine
Sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola

I don't need to try to explain,
I just hold on tight
And If it happens again, I might move so slightly
To the arms and the lips and the face of the human cannonball
That I need to, I want to

Girls and friends approached them as soon as they were in, as if they had been waiting for them to really get started, or like any party wasn't really worth attending as long as they weren't there. Max barely noticed the many people that stepped on his way and greeted him however, having long decided that he would pretty much ignore everyone. He knew all too well what those girls, with their pretty smiles and their sultry voices were expecting of him, and he had definitely no intention to give in.

Closely followed by Kyle, Paulie and the Scott twins, he made his way to the living room, and if it weren't because his feet were suddenly literally glued to the floor he would certainly have turned back the instant he passed the doorframe and run away, because as soon as he did and he saw her on the dance floor he knew he was in deep, deep trouble.

Come Stand a little bit closer
Breathe in and get a bit higher
You'll never know what hit you
When I get to you

Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh, I'd die to find out
Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh I'd die to find out

His friends scattered around quickly, having their own things to do and their own people to meet but Max just stood there for a while, transfixed by the sight in front of him.

The lyrics drifted to his ears and even if he only listened to them distractedly he realized that it actually couldn't be closer to the truth. Tonight he wouldn't let himself worry about a thing or question himself any longer, he was coming for Liz Parker, and no matter what it took, he would learn to know her. Or at least he would try to learn more than what he already knew, because if he wasn’t sure yet if he needed her or not, he sure knew he would go stark crazy if he didn't take the matter into hands.

I'm the kind of person who endorses a deep commitment
Getting comfy getting perfect is what I live for
But a look, and then a smell of perfume
It's like I'm down on the floor
And I Don't know what I'm in for

Conversation has a time and place
In the interaction of a lover and a mate,
But the time of talking, using symbols, using words
Can be likened to a deep sea diver who is swimming with a raincoat

His eyes still fixed on her, he moved to the makeshift bar, hoping to find some strength in his next drink, only to realize that this was actually worse since he now had a direct and perfect view of her ass.

Grabbing for a beer, he downed half of it in nearly one gulp but all too soon understood that he would need something stronger if he wanted it to be of any help.

How in the hell had he found himself in this situation? he wondered as he kept observing her, dancing and acting so carefree for once. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. He wasn't supposed to feel anything for her. And yet here he was, unable to not think about her, unable to take his eyes off her. No matter how many women he could see surrounding her, one more sexy and attractive than the other, she was the only one he really noticed, the only one that caused that all too familiar now stirring in his loins. Oh, yeah, she was clearly the most beautiful of all of them and he wanted her bad, no matter how hard he tried to fight the feeling.

It shouldn't be so complicated. In fact, come to think of it, it wasn't. Either he forgot completely about her, or he grew some balls and went for the kill. There weren't so many solutions. But this had to stop one way or another, otherwise he would do something he would clearly regret afterwards because really he didn't know how much more he could take.

Come stand a little bit closer
Breathe in and get a bit higher
You'll never know what hit you
When I get to you

Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh, I'd die to find out
Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh I'd die to find out

Right now, it was only because she was clearly 'protected' that he wasn't already near her in fact, even if he didn't have the slightest idea of what he would tell her or even just do if he garnered up the courage to go to her. Still, as much as he liked Maria and usually got along with her, dealing with her right now was definitely not something he was looking forward to.

Yeah, he would just wait to catch her up alone, it seemed like a better plan. Maria would have to leave her side sooner or later anyway, if only to go and spend some time with her dear boyfriend, and then he would make his move, he thought as he saw Maria looking his way and winking at him playfully. He smiled back of course but couldn't help wondering how she would take it if he told her how much he wanted her gone right now.

Anytime I need to see your face
I just close my eyes
And I am taken to a place where your crystal mind and
Magenta feelings take up shelter in the base of my spine
Sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola

Oh, man, that boy was such a goner, even if he didn't know it yet, Maria thought as her eyes briefly met Max's. She wasn't even surprised to see that she wasn't able to hold his interest more than a mere few seconds. He obviously only had eyes for her friend, not that that was anything new.

"Shake that ass of yours, baby… Max Evans has just arrived and he's literally devouring you with his eyes!" she pointed out to Liz over the music, and she nearly laughed out loud when she noticed Liz's smile fade slightly. And she said that she didn't care one way or another about Max. Right, it was (i]soo[/i] clearly written on her face. Uh, not.

Nevertheless, she was pleased to see that Liz seemed to take up her advice and moved even more sensually. She wasn't sure if it was conscious or not, but it was certainly having quite an effect on Max.

As she cast a quick look at him, she saw him taking off his jacket and then pressing what she supposed was a cold beer against his neck and this time she was unable to hold back her laughter. It definitely was getting too hot in there for him, and yet this was only the beginning.

I don't need to try to explain,
I just hold on tight
And If it happens again, I might move so slightly
To the arms and the lips and the face of the human cannonball
That I need to, I want to

Max saw him approaching her probably even before she could even feel him close herself and he instantly tensed, wondering what exactly he planned to do.

Whatever it was anyway, it couldn't be good. If Kyle was sometimes barely able to behave when he was sober, he had hardly any control when he was drunk, even if just slightly, and Max knew how much he had already gotten. Of course, he wouldn't hurt Liz in any way or anything like that, but he could definitely embarrass her.

He almost wished that could happen in fact when he saw Kyle come up directly behind Liz and after having placed his hands on her hips, he started to sway with her, his body dangerously close, because when Liz turned around slightly and smiled at him, for the first time in his life, Max really felt like killing one of his best friends. At least if he had been there to embarrass her, she wouldn't have been so cozy with him and would have probably told him to get lost instead.

His reaction was so totally irrational since it wouldn't be the first time he saw them together, he even had seen them doing much worse than what they were doing right now, and yet he felt his blood boiling in his veins.

Maybe it was finally realizing that he indeed had feelings for her that made him react so illogically, he didn't know, but he sure was jealous now, no doubt about that. Now that he could contemplate himself the fact that he could love her, just the thought of someone else touching her before he could sort out all that was going on in his head, before he could take a decision and make a move or not, was just killing him.

Beside Kyle had had his chance with her, so what the hell did he think he was doing now? He had no right to dance so closely to her. He had no right to approach her even- and less to touch her like he currently was- like she was still his.

Still, the worst part was actually to see Liz let him touch her. She didn't seem to mind at all in fact and he really didn't know what to make of that. As far as he knew their breakup had been more or less mutual, but what if that hadn't been what she wanted?. For someone who wasn't with the guy any longer, they sure were still awfully close, and all too comfortable for his liking.

Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh, I'd die to find out
Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh I'd die to find out

So can we find out?

Watching them dance like they were still together was pure torture for Max but fortunately it didn't last long.

Kyle was obviously too intoxicated already to keep with Liz's rhythm and he soon gave up and turned to one of the girls Max recognized from their math class, but just couldn't remember the name right now. Not that he cared anyway, as long as Kyle kept his paws as far away from Liz as possible, he could dance with whoever he wanted.

Not long after Kyle had moved, Alex came to stand in front of Liz and Max nearly laughed out loud this time when he saw the lanky guy trying to dance on the now mixed music. Yet all laughter died on his lips when the music slowed down to a more sensuous tune and Liz suddenly started to move languorously to match it, her legs slightly spread as she moved up and down in front of her friend. At one moment she was nearly on the floor and Max had a very clear view of her ass swaying as she supported herself on her toes and descended as far as she could go without losing her balance.

Then as the music gained speed again she pulled herself up slowly, all along shaking that cute ass of hers for all to see. And boy if he saw it. At some point he was even having some hallucinations. It was calling him. Her ass was calling him. He could see it as clearly as if it had been printed on it and in bold characters 'Max Evans, come and touch me, baby, I'm yours!', and he knew that that could definitely not be good. He seriously needed to get out of there, and now.

Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh, I'd die to find out
Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh I'd die to find out

Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you
But, ooh, I'd die to find out (I'd die to find out)
Ooh, I want you
I don't know if I need you (ooh can we find out)
But, ooh I'd die to find out

[I want you (Cherry-cola song) ~ Copyright© Savage Garden]

Knowing that it wouldn’t take much more of this for him to lose it completely, Max decided that the safest thing to do was actually to leave and that as fast as he could. He had yet to see Michael anyway, but knowing his friend he was pretty much sure of where he would find him.

Glancing one last time at Liz who still seemed to be having a blast on the dance floor, he made his way to the basement, hoping that kicking Michael's ass at the pool would help him feel at least a little bit better. The chances were slim of course, but maybe he would be able to concentrate on something else than Liz Parker for a little while and gather his wits.

Since his back was now turned to the main room, he didn’t see Liz's eyes following him or the way they lost some of the spark they had held not a minute ago.

God, why was it so hard to see him now? she wondered as he walked down the few steps that led to what she assumed were underground rooms and soon disappeared from her sight.

She should be enjoying herself, not caring about him or where he was going. It wasn't that she wasn't having fun, because she surely was so far, even despite how much she was actually hurting inside, but ever since Maria had mentioned his arrival, she had not been able to control her heart or the way it thumped into her chest. It was actually a wonder it hadn't already jumped out of her ribcage and ended down at his feet.

Yeah, he had been checking her out, Maria had said, sure, like he cared one way or another. She wasn't stupid enough to believe her, no matter what she said and she would definitely not get her hopes up. It would hurt too much in the end if she let herself believe, even if only for a few seconds that she could have a chance with him. She had had enough deceptions to last her a lifetime.

"There's a pool table downstairs." Maria all but screamed into her ear as she saw her following Max with her eyes, but still it took Liz a moment to just understand the words.

"What?" she asked when she did, yet wondering what that had to do with anything or why she thought that information could be of any interest to her.

"In the basement, there's a pool table… that's probably where he's going!" Maria continued, knowing that as much as Liz would try to deny it, she had wanted to know.

"I don't know what you're talking about!… I'm gonna get myself a drink… do you want anything?" Liz proposed instead of really commenting on what Maria had told her, effectively confirming her friend's suspicions.

No, she didn't care where he was going or what he was going to do, she repeated to herself. It wasn't as if he had to answer to her for his actions, he could do what pleased him.

It wasn't as if it changed anything anyway either, or like he would suddenly have an epiphany tonight and notice her, even if Tess was not there to distract him for once.

He wouldn't lack attention though, because she didn't doubt that more than one girl would try to take advantage of the situation and try to get him alone. It had always happened like this before as far as she knew, even if she hadn't attended many of these parties. The only reason it had slowed down lately was because everyone knew of his relationship with Tess and no one was crazy enough to try anything while she was around.

But today was different and Liz could already predict that by the end of the night, she would have seen more girls throwing themselves at Max than at all the other guys put together. She just had to see how many had already followed in his footsteps when he had gone down to know that. They were certainly not interested in the pool game, or seeing who would win.

Moving to the bar once Maria told her that she was good, she grabbed her third beer of the night, even if she knew that she couldn't usually hold the alcohol, and as soon as she had it, she took a huge gulp, not caring in the least what effect it would or could have on her. Maybe if she got herself completely drunk, she would forget how much she loved Max Evans and how it could hurt to have him not love her back.

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After a few games where he had literally humiliated about every guy present, Max had had enough and decided to take a break. They all needed another drink anyway and he knew that if he waited for anyone else to go back up and take care of that, they would all die of thirst first before any of the other guys moved their asses.

The first thing he did when coming upstairs was of course to seek Liz out, but when he spotted her, he couldn't help but frown at her state. Not that she was completely smashed, but by the way she danced and couldn’t help giggling at the same time, he didn't doubt that she had made a few trips to the bar herself while he was downstairs. And if he had still any reservations, the fact that she smiled almost dreamingly at him when their gazes collided, confirmed all of his suspicions.

When had Liz Parker ever smiled at him that way, or even just so blatantly looked at him? Never, or not that he remembered it.

It didn't last long enough for him to get past the shock and react however, one of the many guys that surrounded her quickly grabbing her attention and putting a stop to their staring contest. They probably thought that they would have their chance with her now, if her mind was clouded enough for her to not realize what she was doing or remember it later, and it instantly made Max want to go and strangle them all.

Fortunately, he could see that Alex was not far and by the way Maria was talking with one of them he knew that none of them would really get the opportunity to approach Liz more than that or try anything as long as she would be there, watching over her friend.

Taking a cherry coke for himself this time, Max was ready to reach for a pack of beers for the others when he nearly collided into one of the school all too famous jocks and stopped dead on his tracks.

"Oh boy… I don't care what they say about her… I'm going to have a piece of that!" he heard just above the music and turned just in time to see Brad Mitchell smirking as his eyes roamed suggestively over Liz's body.

Call it the effect of the little alcohol he had had, reflex, instinct, jealousy or whatever, but the poor guy didn't know what happened to him when he tried to move to her and the very next second found himself lying face down, flat on the floor and nose bleeding from the unexpected contact.

"What the fuck?" he yelled as he picked his humiliated ass up from the ground, touched his nose and saw his hand coming back covered in blood. His blood.

Who was the fucking bastard who had tripped him up? He was so dead.

Like he had read his thoughts and knew he was searching for him, Max appeared near him and with the most innocent expression he could plaster on his face, he apologized.

"Sorry, man… I didn't see you move… are you alright?… here, use this!" he immediately gave him some napkins and said, trying of course to sound sincere when inwardly he was laughing himself silly at seeing what the guy looked like now.

Yeah, with the potato-like nose he was going to have in a minute, he could go and try to seduce Liz. Go ahead, he thought, she's going to greet you with open arms, you charmer.

Of course he should certainly feel sorry for the other guy, and probably a little ashamed with his actions, but for the life of him he couldn't bring himself to feel any of it.

He knew of Brad's reputation with girls, had heard a lot about him, the 'screw 'em and dump 'em' being like a motto for the man, and there was simply no way he would let him come too close to Liz knowing what the kind of ideas he could have in that stupid head of his could be. All facts considered what he had just done was a good deed, he was only protecting Liz and all the other women Brad could have wanted to approach tonight.

"It-It's okay… but fuck… that hurts!" was Brad's only answer when he realized who had made him fall.

If it had been anyone else, the guy would already be biting the dust and begging for his mercy, but everyone knew better than to mess with Max Evans.

Not only was he quite impressive physically, and therefore Brad knew he wouldn't stand a chance in a fight with him, but he had also heard some of the stories people told about him. Aside from those you heard about his own reputation with the opposite sex, there was a bunch of them that could creep even the toughest guys.

And though most of them were actually certainly just all made up, like that one about the guy he had pulled the teeth out, one by one, because he had been stupid enough to just dare glare at his sister, honestly Brad really didn't feel like finding out tonight and by himself if there was any truth to them or not.

"Yeah… I can imagine… sorry again, man… really!" Max continued, his smile being more and more difficult to hide though. "Maybe you should put some ice on it!" he suggested then, thinking that otherwise his nose would double in size in no time.

"Yeah… I'm gonna do just that! That's certainly a good idea." Brad replied at last when he realized himself the wisdom of the advice, and therefore he was ready to head to the kitchen and see if he could find some ice cubes when he was stopped by Max's voice again.

"Oh… and while we're at it… you should just forget about her as well, you know! Would be a good idea, too!" Max warned cryptically and finally smiled openly at the other guy.

Or at least it was still cryptic for Brad.

"What?" he turned around and asked, not understanding right away who Evans was talking about.

"Parker!" Max just enunciated and almost laughed out loud when he saw Brad's sudden shocked face. Boy, it took him long enough to realize his fall hadn't been accidental. But like it was going to change a thing now. "She's not for you, man!"

"You bastard!" Brad cursed and advanced back to Max, looking really pissed now.

Forgotten was the ice, Max Evans would need it, too, now and there wouldn't be enough for the two of them in the whole damned town once he'd be finished with him.

Who did he think he was? Maybe he was going to beat him to death in the end, but he was going to receive a few good punches, too.

"No, I mean, I'm telling you this for your own good…" Max threw his hands up in defense and informed him innocently again, having suddenly decided to mess with the guy's head. What an idiot! Did he really think he was impressing him? Yeah, sure.

"What would it do to your reputation if people heard that Brad Mitchell himself was going after a girl who is not into… you know…" Max rolled his eyes for good measure and went on enigmatically.

To say that Max was clearly not intimidated by him was a real understatement which of course only fueled Brad's anger. He was so going to kick his ass.

"What the hell are you talking about Evans?" he hissed a few inches from Max's face. What did Elizabeth Parker have to do with what Max Evans had just done to him, or with his reputation or whatsoever? And what the heck was she not into?

Wow, the guy was in serious need of some peppermint, Max thought as he smelled his breath. What had he been drinking? Ammoniac. That stank, boy.

All the more reason to not let that mouth get anywhere near Liz. Ever.

"Guys… she's not into guys… not anymore at least!" Max revealed like it was no big deal or like everyone should have known about it by now. "How could you not notice? Huh?"

"Are you nuts?" Brad retorted incredulously, not knowing what to think about him anymore.

What was this guy's problem anyway and what was he trying to insinuate here? It couldn't be what he thought it was, could it?

"Oh boy… you didn't, did you?" Max mocked and dissolved into a fit of exaggerated laughter, holding his sides as if realizing that the guy in front of him could not know whatever it was he should have known about that Parker girl was just too much for him. Then after what seemed like eternity to a dumbfounded Brad, he faked to wipe away invisible tears and went on.

"Brady, Brady, you're losing the touch man… this can't be good for you!" Max teased, shaking his head in a disappointed and disapproving manner.

"Are you telling me that she's…" Brad tried to speak when he finally found his voice again, however Max interrupted him before he could say the word.

But was Max really trying to tell him that Elizabeth Parker was… what? A lesbian? Was that some kind of stupid joke?

"Exactly… look at her… come on man… a blind man would see it!" Max persisted and with a light movement of his head, pointed to Liz who was now dancing quite suggestively with Maria in front of her. Come to think of it, maybe he should outright go and thank her, because she was definitely making this easier for him.

Max paused then and let Brad draw his own conclusion, knowing full well what it would be. Well, at least he hadn't said the word, what he thought then was his problem, right? since what he had exactly told the guy could mean a lot. Yeah, Liz could not be into guys like right now, because she had no one in sight and wasn't interested in starting a relationship… and as for looking at her and seeing what she was or not, well Max could give him a few adjectives. Gorgeous, alluring, hot, incredibly sexy, you just go and pick your word.

"Shit!"

"Yep, did that to me the first time, too…" Max shrugged and expelled a heavy sigh, as if to learn about it had been quite a shock and a deception for him as well. Boy, he should have been an actor. After that he was sure he could make anyone believe anything. " But hey, don't go around and tell anyone… I mean, she would probably say you tried to hit on her and made this up when she rejected you…you know how girls can be sometimes!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure!" Brad answered still looking quite puzzled by the information. Not knowing anymore if finally Max had made him fall purposely or not, and not even caring in the least any longer either, he eventually moved again in the direction of the kitchen in search of that ice he needed to relieve his pain. He had only taken a few step though when he turned around and much to Max's surprise addressed him again. "Hey… thank you man!"

Now at least he understood why the guys never tried anything with her after Kyle. It wasn't because of her geek or goody-goody reputation but because they had to know anyway that she wouldn't even give them the time of day, he thought, not seeing how Max was nearly dying from laughter behind him.

Was he totally dumb or what? Max wondered, when he heard the guy thanking him. Thanking. Him. For heaven's sake. Was that man even for real?

"You're very much welcome!" Max whispered as he moved away, too, happy to know that at least Brad Mitchell wouldn't come anywhere near Liz from now on.

If he could now also take care of all the other guys who were still checking her out, that would be even better. But all weren't as stupid as Brad, and the story he had told him would certainly not work twice.

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Not an hour later and many comings and goings between the basement and the living room, Max was ready to tear himself apart or crawl up the walls. After having brought down a few drinks to the guys downstairs, he had had the good idea to settle on one of the stools he found near the bar and had been going through hell ever since then.

Liz Parker was slowly pulling on the last shreds of his sanity and the worst part was that he didn't seem to be able to do a thing to stop her. He was letting her work her way so completely into his head, into his heart, but though he was well aware of that now, he wasn't sure he still wanted to fight her. He didn't know if he even could actually.

It was reaching the point where he was totally oblivious to anything but her, and though he knew that more than once some of his friends had tried to get his attention , he wouldn't be able to repeat what he had been asked or even tell who exactly had talked to him. He had no doubt that they had to wonder what was wrong with him tonight but he couldn't care less. Even if he knew he definitely should, he couldn't bring himself to move.

He couldn't even tell how long he had been there, enjoying the view, but it had to be a while considering how many songs he had already heard. At some point, he even wondered if all this night wasn't some kind of joke, or if the deejay wasn't somehow reading his mind or just trying to tell him something, because it definitely felt like each freaking song had some kind of hidden meaning. This just looked too 'Twilight Zone' to him.

I feel it in my fingers
I feel it in my toes
Love is all around me
And so the feeling grows
It's written on the wind
It's everywhere I go, oh yes it is
So if you really love me
Come on and let it show

You know I love you, I always will
My mind's made up by the way that I feel
there's no beginning, there'll be no end
'cause on my love you can depend

Yeah, he could definitely see that 'love was all around him', too ,considering how many couples moved to slow dance as soon as the new song started, and that actually made him smile, but the very next second he couldn't help but cringe when he saw that Kyle, once more, was reaching for Liz before she could even have a chance to leave and soon had her in his arms again.

This sucked big time! Why couldn't it be so easy for him? After all, what was a dance? And why couldn’t he just go to her and do what Kyle had just done himself?! It wouldn’t be the first time he would dance with someone he barely knew, it happened a lot in fact, and that was what those parties were for anyway. To meet new people, to have fun, and even to 'score' sometimes.

Oh, of course he knew that that wouldn't happen here since he couldn't very well ignore the fact that he already had a girlfriend, even if he was honest he had to admit that he had barely thought about her at all till this instant, but tonight he just wanted a chance to get close enough to Liz Parker. It wasn't too much to ask for, was it? And maybe if he discovered that she was nothing at all like he pictured her, it would dim his sudden obsession with her.

I see your face before me
as I lay on my bed
I kinda get to thinking
of all the things you said, oh yes I did
You gave your promise to me
and I gave mine to you
I need someone beside me
in everything I do, oh yes I do

Out of nowhere Vicky Delaney appeared near him and it took him a few seconds to just hear what she was telling him. In fact, at any other moment he would have just told her that he was absolutely not interested in whatever she had to offer, but when he understood that she was actually asking him to dance, he realized that this was probably the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Of course she was one of the last persons in the world he wanted to get too comfy with, but for once he would make an exception and grant her exactly what she wanted because it was the only thing he could think of that would allow him to approach Liz without looking too obvious.

Trying his best to match the one million watts smile she gave him when he accepted, he let her guide him willingly to the dance floor at first, but when she stopped in the middle of the many other couples that were already wrapped into each other's arms and swaying to the music, he couldn't help but drag her further to the right, that way strategically placing himself very close to Liz and Kyle.

You know I love you, I always will,
my mind's made up by the way that I feel
there's no beginning, there'll be no end
'cause on my love you can depend
Got to keep it moving

If she hadn't been so blinded by the fact that she was dancing with Max Evans and was most certainly the envy of half the girls around, Vicky would have probably noticed that Max was just dancing on auto-pilot and was absolutely not paying attention to her or whatever she was whispering to his ear, but as it was she was just too happy to question his behavior or his lack of answer.

The strange thing actually was that no one else noticed just how weird he was acting, because the least that could be said was that the way he was dancing was not very conventional. His movements were slow as long as he had Liz in his line of vision, but as soon as she disappeared from his sight, he couldn't be quick enough to turn them around so he could follow Liz's every move, and it was a wonder he wasn't making Vicky lightheaded.

His hold on her tightened when he saw Kyle dip Liz backwards only a few feet from him, which consequently gave him a very perfect view of her cleavage, but she convinced herself that it was only because he was just as enthralled by the situation and their current closeness as she could be herself.

If she only knew.

At this stage, it was taking everything Max had inside to not just throw Vicky at Kyle and gather Liz into his arms instead. She would certainly be shocked if he did just that, but it went without saying just how much more appealing the thought of changing partners was actually to him, even if he wasn't sure Kyle would appreciate that much himself. Not that Vicky Delaney wasn't attractive, but he definitely would have to be a fool to want to trade when he had already one of the most beautiful women he could wish for in his arms.

Oh It's written in the wind
oh everywhere I go, yeah, oh well
so if you really love me, love me, love me
come on and let it show
come on and let it show
come on and let it
come on and let it (come and let it show, baby)
come on, come on, come on let it show baby
come on and let it show
come on and let it show, baby
come on and let it show

[Love is all around ~ Copyright© Wet Wet Wet (From the "Four Weddings and a Funeral" Movie Soundtrack)]

As the song ended, Max couldn't help but frown when he noticed that Kyle had yet to release Liz but it got only worse when Vicky continued to cling to him almost desperately. As gently as he could, he unwrapped her arms from around his neck and did his best to smile at her when he thanked her for the dance. He didn't mean to be rude, but really he didn't think he could go through another one with her trying to press her body as close to his as she could, while he tried to do just the opposite.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Much to Max's irritation, Liz kept on dancing with Kyle, but even as he got rid of Vicky, he still refused to move from where he was, hoping for some new development that would somehow work for him. He didn't know what he had been expecting really, but what was sure was that he had to exert superhuman control to not grab Kyle and shove him off Liz once and for all.

Liz, unaware of what he was thinking, moved even closer to Kyle and all but grinded herself against him, nearly making Max blow a fuse a few steps away. Of course she wouldn't be so daring with anyone else, but with Kyle she knew it was safe. Not only had they already gotten past the stage where he could believe that it could be anything but what it really was, that is a simple dance, but she knew she wouldn't have any problem telling off if he tried anything.

Hands on his hips now, she giggled when he tried to match her moves but failed miserably, but the distraction at least helped somewhat to forget that Max had been dancing not two feet away from her with that idiot of Vicky Delaney. What did she have that she didn't, beside her fake boobs, huh? Nothing, right? And she could definitely teach that brainless bimbo a thing or two about dancing.

Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely and complete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now…

As the music gained momentum, she turned around and her back now to Kyle's front, she swayed her hips sensually, not really caring if her ex-boyfriend was able to follow or not. This wasn't about him anyway, but about her and how that song could make her feel. His hands went briefly to her hips before he whispered something into her ear she didn't get, and the next second he let go of her.

It didn't take him long to come back though, but when he touched her again, she was already in a world of her own and she didn't really pay him much attention. Caught up into the music, she let herself completely go and imagined for a brief moment that she was dancing with the man she really wanted instead of Kyle.

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and I'm not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

It wasn't so hard considering how much she wished it could indeed be true, and soon there was nothing else that mattered but the feel of his arm around her middle. In a bold move his hand caressed her midriff, and she instinctively followed, lacing her fingers with his over her flat abdomen.

She didn't object either when he cradled her closer to him, and instead rolled her hips into his, marveling not only at how perfectly her hand fitted in his, but at how impeccably his body molded hers as well. Just like they had been made for each other.

There's nothing left to lose
Nothing left to find
There is nothing in the world, that can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else…
There is nothing else…

Her eyes collided with many surprised faces, but she quickly forgot about that when she felt his other hand come and rest on her thigh and tighten around the material of her short skirt, barely grazing her skin there in the process. She could only imagine how they had to look, but it definitely felt too good to stop.

His breath stirred along her exposed neck, making shivers run down her spine, and as the song slowed down, she unconsciously rocked harder against him, wanting to feel his body wrap itself completely around her.

Her eyes now closed, she shook her hips from left to right in perfect tune with the music and though this was simply driving him crazy he did his best to match her moves.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I Started
Chasing after you

"God, Liz," he breathed out achingly, but even with their closed proximity she didn't hear him.

Didn't she realize what this was doing to him? She was just killing him slowly and it was taking all of his willpower to not turn her around and just ravish her right there, right then.

As the rhythm become even more sensuous, she leaned completely over him, making her bottom grind into his crotch and he knew there was no way she could not feel his arousal. He wanted her so much it was a miracle he hadn't already blown his load into his pants. He didn't even know it was possible to be this hard and still be standing until that second, but despite how uncomfortable it actually was, there was no way he could let go of her now.

I'm falling even more in love with you
letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and I'm not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into

People kept staring at them, mouth hanging open, most of them utterly shocked since they didn't even know those two knew each other, while the couple was totally oblivious to the looks they were receiving or the hushed whispers that their performance was causing. They were both lost in the music, lost into each other's arms, as if the rest of the world around had ceased to exist to them.

Still, no matter how stunned they could be, no one could deny just how in tune they both were or the incredible chemistry that oozed of them. They looked like a couple used to dance together and more than one wondered how they could make such a song that basically was quite rhythmic look at the same time so sensual and sexy.

Or at least most people there seemed to think so, but the angry brown eyes that followed their every moves told a different story. While nursing on his umpteenth beer, he kept observing them and all but snapped the bottle in two at the rage that filled him at the sight.

So it was alright for her to dance with that Patrick-Swayze-wannabe but not with him, huh? Well, he wondered how he would look to her if he just went and bashed his face and made him lose some of his charm.

He shouldn't even feel jealous anymore since he had seen her dance with many guys tonight already, but she had never worn that expression on her face before, like she was just where she had always wanted to be, or like he had been the one she had been waiting for all along, and that was definitely something he just couldn't stand. She had rejected him for that… Well, he would show her. She just had to wait for that.

Just hanging by a moment here with you
Just hanging by a moment
Hanging by a moment… hanging by a moment... hanging by a moment here with you

[Hanging by a moment ~ Copyright© Lifehouse]

Letting go of the hand that was still stroking her stomach, Liz wrapped her right arm around his neck and moaned softly when he took the opportunity to thread his fingers under her top and bury his face into the crook of her neck. Her heady scent was making his head spin with desire and her skin was so soft there was nothing he wanted more at that instant than to explore every inch of it. He was so going to die if he couldn't have her.

His nose nuzzled her shoulder, and though he barely touched her at all, she could swear she felt the soft caress all the way down to her toes. Or maybe it was the way his hand kept descending dangerously close to her most intimate part that caused that fire in the pit of her stomach, she wasn't sure, but what she knew was that she would just come apart in his arms if he went on.

All too soon though their song came to an end, but as it blended with the next slow one, they kept swaying ever so slowly, still relishing in the amazing feeling, until Liz finally came back down to reality and turned around in his arms.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do
I will be strong I will be faithful
'cause I'm counting on

"Kyle… when did you learn to… move like this?" Liz asked teasingly and she was ready to wrap her arms around his neck, when she caught sight of the gray shirt that clearly didn't belong to Kyle and her voice trailed off shakily. "Oh, my god!" she all but shrieked the second her eyes drifted to his face and connected with his.

Sure enough, like she had already suspected, Max Evans stared down at her and instantly her breath caught in her throat. In fact, she felt like she couldn't breathe at all anymore and suddenly his hands on the small of her back seemed to be burning her skin.

A new beginning
A reason for living
A deeper meaning

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

His mouth opened and closed like he was trying to tell her something himself, but no sound came out. Considering how she was looking at him he didn't know what to say to her anyway. 'Sorry, I saw an opportunity and just took the chance, even if you were obviously not expecting me!' That would not fly with her, would it? Clearly not, given that he was sure she wouldn't have looked more disgusted if he had told her he was an alien sent here to take over the Earth.

And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish and lead to heaven and make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the pleasure in the certainty
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of

The highest powers
In lonely hours
And the tears devour you

"I'm… oh, my… I-I'm sorry… " she stuttered and stumbled backwards, totally horrified when she understood what she had just done and realized that if it had felt this real it was only because she had indeed been dancing with Max Evans. Then, before Max could even tell her that it was alright, she turned around and scurried away, like being this close to him suddenly was more than she could take.

"Liz!" Max called out almost desperately but with the music she obviously didn't hear him, and he was just about to follow her when Serena stepped just in front of him and stopped him from doing so.

He loved Serena dearly, really he did, and she would always be important to him, for so many reasons, but right now he really wished she could just forget about him.

"Hey, handsome… you're just the one I was looking for!" she stated simply and before he could even react she had her arms around his neck and he found himself with no other choice but to dance with her.

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like it is forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cause it's standing right before you
All that you need will surely come

His eyes briefly scanned the room to see where Liz had gone nonetheless, but when he couldn't find her, he tried his best to concentrate on Serena. He realized then that it would have been stupid going after her anyway. Considering the way she had reacted, it was all too obvious that she didn't want to have anything to do with him and that she would have probably not let him come so close to her if she had really known who had been behind her. Apparently it was alright when she thought it was Kyle, but he was another story, and as much as he tried to deny it, it hurt.

It really hurt.

I'll be your dream I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope I'll be your love
Be everything that you need
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly, madly, deeply do

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I want to live like this forever

[Truly, Madly Deeply ~ Copyright © Savage Garden]

On unsteady feet Liz hurried downstairs, praying with all her might that she would be able to find Maria without much difficulties or she would just break down and cry. She didn't think she would be able to stand much longer how everyone suddenly seemed to be looking at her after she had just made a complete fool out of herself. She could probably not have done worse if she had wanted to, but she wouldn't let herself think about that right now. No, what she really needed at that instant was to get out of there and that as soon as possible.

Reaching one of the basement rooms, she quickly scanned the place and frowned when she didn't see her friend or even Michael anywhere. In fact, she had to go through two other ones before spotting them heavily making out on a couch, but when she did, she didn't hesitate. Maria would most certainly want to kill her for interrupting them, but she would worry about that later.

"Maria!" she called out softly at first, hating to have to do this but knowing she didn't have much choice.

Like she had already anticipated, she had to call her various times of course before Maria heard anything but when she did and turned around, Liz couldn't help but blush at the sight. Maria looked positively ravished and she wasn't even surprised to see she needed to straighten out her shirt before being able to look at her.

"Oh… hey, Liz!" Maria greeted her simply, like her friend had not just caught her only a few minutes away from totally embarrassing herself right there on that couch, with she didn't know how many people around. Talk about getting carried away, when she started she definitely didn't know how to stop. But who could really blame her, huh?

"I'm sorry… I just wanted to let you know that I'm leaving!" Liz informed her after having apologized first of course.

Catching Maria with Michael in such compromising position was nothing new to her of course, it happened quite frequently in fact, but no matter what, it always made her feel just as uncomfortable.

"What?" Maria suddenly seemed to be completely pulled out of her Michael-induced haze and almost immediately sprung off of her boyfriend. "What are you talking about? What happened?"

"Nothing… just what I said, I'm leaving…" Liz repeated uncomfortably and she even started to fidget on her feet when not only Maria but Michael as well now started to stare at her like she had lost her mind.

"Why? What's wrong? Did something happen? Are you alright?" Maria pulled her aside and then fired questions at her in typical DeLuca's mode, but still Liz refused to meet her eyes, knowing very well that Maria wouldn't leave her alone if she just suspected that something had indeed occured.

"Nothing happened, Maria… and I'm fine… just tired and… I-I mean… I don't feel like staying any longer…" Liz answered all too vaguely for Maria's liking.

She was looking everywhere but at her in fact and that was never a good thing, but Liz knew for sure that if she could just see how much she was affected, she would probably conclude that it had something to do with the guy she always refused to talk about. Liz wasn't naïve enough to not realize that Maria had noticed her obsession with Max but as long as she didn't force her to admit it, it was alright by her. Yet she didn’t even know herself how she was still able to keep it together for now, so she wasn't sure she would be able to hold on much longer if Maria wanted to press the matter and started to question her about Max.

"Liz? You sure you're okay?" Maria insisted, now clearly concerned by Liz's sudden need to leave.

Last time she had seen her upstairs she seemed to be okay, just maybe a little drunker than what she was used to, but nothing really abnormal. Now however, and even if she could see she was trying to hide it as best as she could, she looked like she would burst into tears any second if she just pushed her a little too much. And she didn't even really need to ask to guess who could have put Liz in such a state. Only one man could and Maria swore she would just kill him if he had done or said anything to hurt her friend.

"Yeah, you don't have to worry… and it's okay, I mean, you can stay, it's no problem… I just wanted to let you know I was going home." Liz explained, trying her best to keep her voice normal and smile at her friend.

"What? Home? No, I mean… you were supposed to sleep at my house, and I can't let you leave alone anyway!" Maria gasped sure that she had heard her wrong because clearly Liz couldn't suggest that she would just go on and party when she could clearly see that she was obviously not fine.

"Maria, it's gonna be okay… and it wouldn't be the first time anyway!… you stay with Michael, I'll see you tomorrow!" Liz countered more firmly and then couldn't help but throw a quick look at Michael who was now talking with some of Max's friends. "I… I just need to be alone, Maria." she admitted eventually but reluctantly when she saw that even the prospect of staying alone with Michael tonight was not convincing enough for Maria.

"You sure, Liz? I mean, I could come with you… It's not a problem!" Maria still hesitated, thinking that if something had indeed happened because of or with Max, Liz would probably need a shoulder to cry. And maybe she would even finally admit, at least out loud and to someone else for once because Maria didn't even need to have it confirmed to know, that she was completely crazy about the guy.

As far as she was concerned there was absolutely nothing wrong with that, moreover when everything pointed out to the fact that it was clearly not only one-sided but getting Liz to open up about that was another story.

"Or you could at least ask Michael to take you home!" Maria found herself adding when she noticed Liz ready to object once more. Truth was that though she knew that it was nothing unusual for Liz to react that way lately and to want to have some 'space' on her own, it just didn't feel right to picture her walking home alone and in her state. Not that she was completely intoxicated or anything, far from it, but still Maria knew that Liz had been drinking and that it usually didn't really agree with her.

She was already ready to call Michael, who was clearly the most sober of them for once, and give him her car keys when she was stopped in her tracks.

"Maria, no!… you guys enjoy yourselves… and I promise to talk to you tomorrow, okay?!" Liz retorted stubbornly but with a pleading look nonetheless and Maria was forced to admit that there wouldn't be any way to change her mind.

This was Liz after all and when she set her mind on something, there was nothing you could do but to follow what she said. Beside, she was right, it wouldn't be the first time she walked back home from a party even if Maria had hoped that this time would be different, and she had never had any problem. This was Roswell after all, what could happen to her anyway? Moreover when half the town was actually here.

"Okay… but you call me as soon as you're home!" Maria relented at last but still she wanted to make sure Liz made it home safely.

"Sure, bye 'Ria!" Liz answered and quickly pulled her friend into a tight hug, too glad that she wouldn't fight her on this any longer.

She knew her reprieve would only be short-lived because as soon as Maria would have sobered up, she would corner her out and demand that she answered all of her questions, but thankfully that wouldn't happen until tomorrow and by then she would have found something to tell her that could somehow justify her behavior. Right now she was more concerned about what she would tell her parents once she would be home. Chances were that by the time she arrived, they would have barely gotten there themselves from their movie night or their stargazing, or whatever it was they had been doing this time, and they would certainly wonder what had made her leave so soon and actually come to her bed when she had insisted on sleeping at Maria's this same afternoon. She would deal with that when she crossed that bridge though, because at that moment what was really primordial was getting out of there before Maria changed her mind and came running after her.

As she walked back up, she quickly considered going in search of Alex and informing him of her departure as well, but she soon renounced when after a quick look around the room she couldn't see him anywhere. Beside Alex could be worse than Maria sometimes and she didn't doubt that if he caught her like this now, he would prevent her from leaving until she would have laid her heart out to him and told him exactly what was bothering her, and she definitely couldn't let that happen. Not now at least.

If she didn't spot Alex, she saw Max however and that was all she needed to decide that the faster she left, the better she would feel. Quick steps led her to the front door then and she all but expelled a sigh of relief when she finally passed the threshold, yet she missed the two sets of eyes that for very different reasons followed her on her way out.

<center>* * *</center>

She kept walking as fast as she could, not even sure herself of where she was going or if she was taking the right direction. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, one more confusing than the former one, and she could swear that her head would just explode if she didn't stop thinking.

Still, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't help wondering what the hell had just happened to her. How could she have ended up dancing with Max Evans without even realizing it? How could she have missed that? She should have understood something was wrong the instant she had noticed the way people were staring at her, or rather at them, but at the time she had just taken what could have clearly only been shock, she realized now, for curiosity. She had just thought that they had been wondering if she and Kyle -since even if she was clearly far gone, she hadn't consciously really believed it wasn't him- had decided to give it another try and were together again, and it hadn't bothered her more than that. She didn't care one way or another what they could think or how they could speculate about her life, as long as they never discovered the truth, but this was surely different.

She could afford to dance with Kyle as sensually or provocatively as she wanted, it wouldn't have any consequences, but dancing with Max Evans of all people, was something you didn't do without having the whole school talking about it for weeks on end, and that was never a good thing.

She knew all too well how it worked and how much people could exaggerate when relating a fact and she didn't even want to know how it would be transformed or what a big deal they would make of this. She wouldn't even be surprised if by first period Monday morning the whole student body already knew about this dance, and were already conjecturing about what it meant.

Knowing them, chances were that before she even arrived she would have been accused of having tried to seduce Max or whatever crazy shit like that. Or maybe they would just assume that it had only been some bet because who would be daring enough to dance with the Science Geek for any other reason, least of all Max Evans? Yeah, they could definitely come up with everything and anything about that, and she should better be prepared to face the craziest rumors, even if she had only herself to blame for that. She should have known better and stopped before it went too far, before given them anything to talk about. The instant he had touched her, she should have understood that it couldn't be Kyle, because no matter how hard he could have tried, Kyle had never been able to make her feel anything remotely close to what Max had made her feel with the simplest touch.

He had set all her nerve endings on fire, had made her body tremble with desire, there was no was way she could deny that, and yet, it had all been perfectly innocent if you looked at it, and it definitely didn't have to mean a thing. Not that she didn't want it to mean something, whatever that was, but it wouldn't make any sense or do her any good to let herself believe that.

Max had probably been too drunk to realize what he was doing, and if he wasn't, there had to be something else, some sort of reason for all of this, because she couldn't comprehend otherwise how he would have willingly danced with her, when he had barely ever talked to her before.

The only conclusion she could come to in fact was that Max had had no idea of who he was dancing with. Or rather, he didn't know it wasn't the one he thought it was. The more she thought about it the more she was convinced that he had mistaken her with someone else, her guess being with Serena. After all they were both brunettes with quite long hair, not very tall and were both wearing a black mini-skirt tonight. And well, everyone knew how close Serena and Max had been at some point, though now they pretended they were just very good friends. The way he had danced with her wouldn't be surprising then if he had thought he was dancing with his ex.

It seemed even more logical since she had caught a glimpse of them, tightly wrapped into each other's arms just before she had left and she could only deduce that he had finally found the one he had been really looking for. Now that Tess was not there, why would he stop himself from dancing with someone who he was obviously still attracted to. And well, Serena was not exactly known for her inhibitions, or at least she didn't seem to be the type to care if a guy was already taken or not as long as she liked him.

She didn't know what hurt the most though, realizing that she had only been a poor substitute for whom Max had really wanted to be with, or to know how much this moment with Max had meant to her and how much she would cherish it even despite the circumstances, when it was probably only a big mistake for him, one he would surely quickly cast aside like it had not even ever happened.

She wished she could do that to, but she knew all too well that it would be an impossibility. How would she be able to forget how right it had felt to be in his arms, if even for a few minutes? How right he had felt pressed against her? How incredible it had been to have him so close that there had been nothing else but the two of them? No, she knew that this dance would be imprinted in her mind forever, and not only because she was very well aware that it would be the only contact she would ever have with him, and she would definitely never listen to Lifehouse and that song in particular the same way again, or just without thinking of him.

She was so caught up in her thoughts and different theories that at first she didn't even hear the footfalls in the distance. It was only when the person behind her stumbled and kicked in some empty cans on their way that she really realized she was being followed.

Her first reaction was of course to speed up even more, hoping that she was just being paranoid and that whoever it was, they were just going home themselves or wherever else, and that as soon as she would have turned herself on Garden Avenue, they would keep on their own way, but it didn't take her long to understand that at this hour, it couldn't be good in any way to have someone else out there, nearly breathing down her neck.

As she rounded a corner she took the time to look back quickly and her heart stopped in mid-beat when she recognized the guy who she was sure now was clearly after her. Of all the people she could have met on her way, why did it have to be Sean Walsh, the last man in the world she wanted to have anything to do with? And if she had somehow still hoped that he wasn’t there for her, that the fact that he had been at the same party she had been herself minutes ago and was now wandering the street of Roswell alone as well, was only pure coincidence, seeing him running her way as soon as he met her eyes and he obviously understood that she had spotted him and would certainly run for her life now, surely dispelled any ounce of doubt she could have left.

Even if they were definitely not friends or even acquaintances, she knew Sean Walsh more than she wished she did, everyone in Roswell knew him in fact, and nothing she had heard about him was good.

She tried to outrun him of course, even when she knew it would be no use, but in a matter of seconds he was on her, and even if she had been paid for it she wouldn't have been able to stifle the sharp cry that escaped her lips.

If it weren't just for the fact that he was a well-known drug addict, his violent reputation was already enough to make her tremble in fear, no matter how much she knew he would actually enjoy knowing how scared she could be of him.

Till now fortunately she had never had to face him alone and even less drugged, but now she just needed to take a look at his bloodshot eyes to understand that it wasn't only tobacco he had been smoking, and that she had run out of luck. It seemed that tonight when he had come to her and tried to dance with her, she had rejected him one too many times and now she was going to pay for it.

The instant she had seen him at Serena's in fact, she should have known that he was just trouble waiting to happen, moreover when she didn't know who would have been crazy enough to invite him or just even let him in, but she had not really cared about his presence there back then to give him too much thought. Sean and how much he suddenly seemed to be obsessed with her had actually been the furthest thing from her mind. She had felt safe among the crowd, protected with all those people around her, but if she had thought, even for a mere second that he could follow her and catch her alone, she would have never ventured outside on her own.

It was too late to think about that now and regret her own imprudence however, because before she could react, Sean's hand closed tightly around her arm and the only thing she could do was to yelp in pain.

"Sean?… What are you doing?" she cried out as he tightened his grasp on her when she immediately tried to free herself and move away from him.

"What? You didn't really think you could escape so easily, Elizabeth?" Sean just said, chuckling drunkenly when she used her other hand to try and pry his fingers away. Like she was any match to him, considering he had a good fifty pounds on her, even if his inebriated state she wouldn’t be able to stop him from getting exactly what he wanted this time.

"Sean… Sean… what are you… stop!" Liz screamed when he took hold of her elbow now and dragged her behind the old disused theater where he was sure no one would hear her or see what was happening. The alley was a dead-end anyway, and at this hour he was sure no one would pass by here. Or so he hoped.

The instant they were out of sight, Liz found herself plastered to a wall, Sean blocking her way, and she couldn't have any doubt about what her fate would be if she didn't find a way to sidestep him and run out of there.

"You know, you're a pretty hot number, Beth… you walk around, all pure and innocent… but I'm sure there is more under these clothes, isn't there?" Sean drawled, the way his eyes trailed suggestively over her body being enough to make Liz feel nauseous.

"Sean… let me go! Now!" she ordered and tried to push him away but Sean pushed her back, making her wince in pain when her body slammed against the wall behind her.

"No… not before you give me what I want… and you don’t know how long I've been wanting to taste this!" he purred smugly into her ear and Liz had to fight her gag reflex. Yet the task became nearly impossible when the next second his lips descended on hers, kissing her forcefully while his hands pinned her arms to her sides and stopped her from defending herself against his attack.

"Please… NO!" Liz shrieked as soon as Sean pulled apart just long enough to breathe in some air, and then she started to weep openly when she felt his dirty hands trying to pull at her top.

She struggled as best as she could considering her position, even actually tearing her top apart as she tried to free herself from his grip, but he was stronger and soon his lips, his hands, were on her again.

Liz felt like vomiting, never having felt so disgusted before. He was groping her, mauling her shamelessly and she felt totally helpless. He was going to rape her, she was sure of that, and there wasn't a thing she could do, not when he was so strong, his body tightly pressed against hers preventing her escape.

They said when your life is about to end - and there was no doubt in Liz's mind that she was going to die after that, if not at Sean's hands now at least from humiliation, guilt for having put herself in this situation, and sorrow later- you saw it flash entirely before your eyes, but it wasn't true. She didn't remember all she had lived, all she had been through until now, she just saw a few snippets of moments she had experienced not so long ago, and mostly faces of people she loved. Faces she perhaps wouldn't see ever again now.

She saw her parents who thought she still was their levelheaded and so responsible daughter and who were going to be so disappointed once they would know about this, having repeated her countless number of times that she had to be more careful. But had she listened to them? No, of course not. She had ventured out all alone, at this hour of the night despite all their numerous advice and lectures and now she was going to pay for her carelessness.

She also saw Maria who certainly was going to feel guilty for having let her go all alone and wouldn't forgive herself for that. Alex, who first would not understand how someone could have done something like that to another human being and then regret immensely not having been there for her when she needed him the most.

And she saw Max.

Max and that smile, those eyes that could light up a room whenever he entered somewhere. Max who had never had the slightest idea of what exactly he meant to her, of how much she could love him.

And Max who would never look at her ever again, once he would know that she had been used that way, that she was now ruined to any man.

No, no, god, he would never think that, he couldn't, not Max.

An image of Jordan with him flashed through her mind and Liz knew that Max wouldn't look at her any differently, if he had ever looked at her at all before of course. If anything, if she ever gazed up into his eyes again, she knew she would only find compassion, kindness and concern, because even if he didn't know her, Max would never wish that to happen to anyone, and the only disgust she would see there wouldn't be directed at her but at the sick bastard who could have done such a thing to her.

But the others. The others would say that she had brought it upon herself, maybe even asked for it and liked it, and just that thought was enough to make her feel sick to the core all over again.

No way. They would say what pleased them, but she would not let them think that she could have appreciated, even during a mere, single, little second the torture Sean Walsh was putting her through. She would fight him, to her last breath if she had to but he wouldn't have her easily or willing. Not now, not ever.

And then, as if a sudden force had been put on her, Liz's survival instincts took over and Sean never had enough time to understand what was happening to him, least of all react quickly enough. She kicked and punched, pushed and scratched with all the strength she could muster, and as a last resort viciously bit him when he still refused to budge or let her go, and that did it, even if it kind of made things worse for her, too.

"You bitch!" Sean yelped as he jumped away from her and instinctively reached out to his now quite profusely bleeding bottom lip. "You're going to pay for that!" he then yelled in rage and without a second thought backhanded her, making her stumble and collapse on the floor where he proceeded to kick her mercilessly.

The first contact of his foot with her ribcage literally knocked the air out of Liz but it didn't stop her from reacting instinctively and before she could comprehend herself what she had just done, she was pushing his leg away with a strength she didn't even know she possessed, and Sean tripped and fell down near her.

But obviously that hadn't helped him calming down, Liz found the time to think ironically -the crazy things you could think about in a moment like that, huh?- since she almost instantly felt his hand pulling at her hair and heard him calling her all the names in the book.

"No… please… please, Sean stop… please! I'm sorry!" Liz coughed and cried, trying to move him to pity just long enough for her to recover from his blows, while inwardly she swore that she would just do it all over again, whatever the consequences, if he just dared approach those sickening lips of his to hers or any part of her body again.

"Oh, you can plead all you want, you fucking whore… but no one's gonna hear your prayers!" Sean hissed, tightly gripping her chin and forcing her to look at his suddenly full of hatred face.

He was going to show her now. She wanted it the hard way? he was going to give her just what she had asked for. And when he finished with her, no one on this Earth would ever want to approach her, least of all just look at her. If he didn't directly kill her for having resisted him so much of course.

"I think someone just did!" a very angry voice resonated from behind them all of a sudden and they both froze: Liz, momentarily relieved that Sean had stopped and released her, but fearing for her life nonetheless since she couldn't clearly see the man who just like that had appeared out of nowhere, and therefore didn't know if he wouldn't do worse to her once he would have gotten rid of Sean. And Sean, startled that someone had caught him and trying to think as quickly as he could to find something that could justify what he was doing here.

Maybe he could make this pass for a fight between him and his girlfriend. A private fight, yeah.

Or he could just kick the guy's ass for daring intervene. That sounded better, he thought, not even recognizing him from before.

If only he had known who was behind him then he would have thought better of course, but at that moment he still obviously didn't understand that he didn't stand a chance.

This guy wasn't anyone, and he wasn't a poor defenseless girl either. He was one of the best athletes of this town and a mighty pissed one at that right now, all thanks to him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here? This doesn't concern…" feeling very brave despite the situation, Sean turned around and immediately started to yell at the man who had interrupted him, but his sentence was cut short when he felt himself being almost lifted off the ground where he was still squatting near Liz, and thrown roughly against the nearest trashcan.

Once Sean was out of her way Liz looked up, still a little fearful and quite surprised by the unexpected change of situation, but when she did, she instantly felt her heart skipping a beat as she finally saw her savior's face and found herself suddenly gazing into the beautiful eyes of the last person she expected to come to her rescue tonight.

End of chapter four


TBC…
'Superman' has arrived guys
Let me know what you think okay?

Author: RebeccaBehrEvans

Title: Not who they think

Disclaimer: Do you really think that Tess Harding would have set foot in the show if I had owned it?? uh-huh… not a chance, so nope, Roswell and all that goes with it is not mine!

Author's note: Hey guys,

I'm pretty sure that this wasn't the story you were expecting to see updated next, but well with the crazy life I'm having lately it was the easiest one to finish since the chapter was almost done… beside, I just didn't like to see it in the Dead and Buried … Now don't worry, I'm going back to Before it's too late and Family Lies just after this

Thanks once more for your incredible support … See you again soon.

Tiph, LMAO, so it's been a year since you first read these dialogues, huh? Have a hard time believing it's been so long , but hey, I hope it was worth the wait nonetheless … see how good I am… read and you'll see that I've changed one the little things you didn't like about Max … is he more perfect and romantic for you this way?? ROFL

Posted in two due to length.

Previously in chapter four.

"Oh, you can plead all you want, you fucking whore… but no one's gonna hear your prayers!" Sean hissed, tightly gripping her chin and forcing her to look at his suddenly full of hatred face.

He was going to show her now. She wanted it the hard way? he was going to give her just what she had asked for. And when he finished with her, no one on this Earth would ever want to approach her, least of all just look at her. If he didn't directly kill her for having resisted him so much of course.

"I think someone just did!" a very angry voice resonated from behind them all of a sudden and they both froze: Liz, momentarily relieved that Sean had stopped and released her, but fearing for her life nonetheless since she couldn't clearly see the man who just like that had appeared out of nowhere, and therefore didn't know if he wouldn't do worse to her once he would have gotten rid of Sean. And Sean, startled that someone had caught him and trying to think as quickly as he could to find something that could justify what he was doing here.

Maybe he could make this pass for a fight between him and his girlfriend. A private fight, yeah.

Or he could just kick the guy's ass for daring intervene. That sounded better, he thought, not even recognizing him from before.

If only he had known who was behind him then he would have thought better of course, but at that moment he still obviously didn't understand that he didn't stand a chance.

This guy wasn't anyone, and he wasn't a poor defenseless girl either. He was one of the best athletes of this town and a mighty pissed one at that right now, all thanks to him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here? This doesn't concern…" feeling very brave despite the situation, Sean turned around and immediately started to yell at the man who had interrupted him, but his sentence was cut short when he felt himself being almost lifted off the ground where he was still squatting near Liz, and thrown roughly against the nearest trashcan.

Once Sean was out of her way Liz looked up, still a little fearful and quite surprised by the unexpected change of situation, but when she did, she instantly felt her heart skipping a beat as she finally saw her savior's face and found herself suddenly gazing into the beautiful eyes of the last person she expected to come to her rescue tonight.

Chapter five


There are moments in time that you know are just meant to be. Moments you just can't ignore or avoid, no matter how much you want to or how hard you try, and as Liz gazed up into the pools of amber that were staring right back at her, she knew that this was just one of them.

She had done her best to avoid Max, had run from him so that she wouldn't have to face what she had foolishly done or the consequences of her actions, and yet here he was nonetheless, like fate had somehow compelled him to follow her and not let things end like she had wanted them to.

She still should be horrified with her behavior right now, ashamed maybe even to have humiliated herself in front of him in such a way, but none of it mattered then because the only thing she could think about at that instant was that she had surely never been happier to see Max Evans in her whole life, even if she had certainly not thought that possible a short while ago.

For a moment she could even have forgotten what had been going on before she had seem him appear in front of her if it weren't for the pain she was still feeling and the fact that Max looked to be positively seething with rage.

In all the years she had spent looking at him from afar, she didn't think she had ever seen him so angry in fact, and despite how much she hated Sean and what he had done to her, she felt almost sorry for what she was sure was coming to him.

She only had a few seconds then to wonder what Max was really doing there since the last time she had seen him he had been very busy with his ex, but all thoughts of Serena and their dance left her mind when she saw him take a menacing step to where Sean was still lying.

Of course Liz had no way to know that but Max had left shortly after her, and not because he had decided to follow her or anything, but more because he had just not felt at ease there anymore, staying at Serena's house after what she had tried. He had well known, even before that, that she wouldn't mind getting back together, she had hinted on that more than once since they had broken up, but he had never thought that she would go as far as trying to kiss him, in front of everyone and when she knew well that he had a girlfriend now.

He was ashamed to admit nonetheless, that for a few seconds, it had almost felt right, almost, but he had quickly pulled off of her when he had realized that at that moment it had been Liz Parker he had been conjuring up in his mind. Liz, he had wanted to be dancing so closely with, like they were the only two people in the world. Liz, who he had desperately wanted to hold and kiss.

He had been confused, more so even because he couldn't understand how he could still have wanted her so much when she had all but run away from him, like his mere touch had scalded her, but even with how frustrated he had been, he had known that he couldn't give Serena any false hopes.

Being with her had not been what he wanted or even less needed, and no matter how easy it would have been to follow her upstairs and lose himself into her willing body in a foolish attempt to forget all about Liz Parker and whatever the hell it was he was feeling whenever she was around, he just couldn't do that to Serena. It wouldn't be fair to any of them in fact, and it would only make him feel worse in the morning. Beside, something told him that it wouldn’t have worked anyway and that he would have been just as obsessed with Liz once they would have finished. He would have just felt like scum on top of everything else.

Now trying to make Serena understand that had been easier said than done, and as a last resort he had just left without another word, leaving her standing there probably a little hurt and confused, but he had known that it was the only thing to do and that in the end she would understand that he was right as well.

At first he had just meant to go back to his friends and see what they planned to do or how long they were still going to stay, but an expected run in with a cup of sticky cola had finally changed his plans. He hadn't been far from breaking the neck of the guy who had spilled his drink on the front of his shirt actually, but in the end he had just cursed colorfully at the poor scared guy, before marching straight to the door and stepping into the cool night.

The fresh air had done little to calm him down, but he had been glad for the change of ambiance nonetheless, the silence of the night at least helping him to sort out his thoughts. At least until he had passed near the old theater and a frightful cry had pierced its stillness.

To say that he had been ill prepared to the scene in front of him would have been an understatement, but he didn't let himself be disturbed by it for too long. Before he could even consider himself what he was doing, he was grabbing at the man who had obviously been hurting Liz and throwing him away with a strength he didn't even know he possessed.

His eyes settled briefly on Liz, immediately catching up on her tears-streaked cheeks and her devastated expression, but he was forced to focus on Sean again before he had any time to go to her first.

"Get out of here, Walsh!" moving to him Max growled angrily, barely controlling the rage that pulsed through him, yet knowing that if he didn't he would certainly do something they wouldn't be able to repair later.

He should have known though that the other guy wouldn't relent so easily and that he would seek for more trouble, but he was more ready than he had ever been for that.

The instant he had heard the woman's cries and seen with his eyes that some guy was molesting her, he had seen red and had already been ready to kick the crap out of the bastard, but when he had recognized Liz as being the one being attacked by that prick, all rational thoughts had left his mind.

He wasn't utterly surprised to realize who the man was however, after all just like Liz did, he knew of his reputation, Sean Walsh was definitely no saint and it was most likely not the first time that ass had tried to force himself on some poor defenseless girl, but this time he had really chosen the wrong one to harass and the wrong moment to do so.

Max didn't even want to think about what he could have done to Liz if he hadn't arrived in time to stop him, but what was sure was that Sean would never have any other opportunity to try anything on her. Ever again. He would certainly not let him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Sean grunted as he crawled up to his knees, bringing a hand to his eyebrow and noticing the small bleeding gash there, obviously caused by his recent encounter with the trashcan.

He felt a little disoriented at first, but as he recognized himself the man who had been dancing so intimately with Beth, his own anger only increased. It figured that that idiot would come and protect his little girlfriend, ruining all his fun in the process. But he had another thing coming if he thought that he would just leave like that. He had been dying to bash his face earlier and it looked like the occasion had just presented itself.

It didn't seem to matter to him then that he was in no state to be any match to Max, but Max himself didn't doubt that this was a battle he was going to win. He wasn't exactly used to this, fighting not really being one of his habits, but at that moment, he couldn't see past what Sean had done to Liz and that was all the incentive he needed.

He was so infuriated in fact that he could barely see straight anymore and therefore it was little wonder if he was already on Sean before the other guy had had any real time to stand up and steady himself.

"I said, get. Out. Of. Here!" Max enunciated through gritted teeth, grabbing him by the collar and punching his face between each word.

From behind him he vaguely heard Liz gasp and mutter a few 'oh, god', but at that instant he paid it no heed, his focus solely on the man who had dared touch her, hurt her, the man who obviously even now didn't know who he was dealing with.

"You're getting out of here this second or you won't live long enough to regret it… " he warned menacingly when the other man tried to push him off him, the hand that was now around his throat tightening without him even realizing it. "… and Sean, I don't think you want to mess with me… so just know that if I just as much as see you looking at her ever again… or even hear that you came anywhere near her… you're as good as dead! Are we clear?" he gritted then, noticing how Sean struggled to breathe but not caring in the least.

"F-Fuck you, man…" Sean spew out, coughing the words as he desperately fought for air, and the second Max made the mistake of loosening his grip on him, he immediately retaliated, hitting him just below the ribs.

Fortunately for Max, the impact wasn't that hard, but it caused him to momentarily let go of Sean nonetheless, just long enough at least to have him try to swing another one at him, and though he missed this time, it only served to enrage Max more than he already was.

"Are you stupid or what?" Max groaned as his fist connected with Sean's face once more. "I think I didn't hear you right! Are we clear?" he reiterated, pinning the shorter guy against the wall behind him, and this time he was very much aware of the fact that the pressure of his forearm against Sean's windpipe was clearly and dangerously cutting his air supply.

Sean caught the murderous gleam in his eyes and this time he obviously realized that whoever the guy was, he was apparently very serious about that Parker slut, and he knew better than to insist. At least for now. But the second he would have the opportunity, he swore to have his revenge on both of them, and that day they would both regret having crossed his path.

"Okay… o-okay… keep the bitch if y-you want… see if I care!" he spat out, using the little strength he still had to push Max away, and before Max could grab for him again, he was out of reach and running like he couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Liz was obviously still in shock over the turn of events because it took her a moment to realize that it was over and that Sean wouldn't be able to hurt her any longer, at least for now, and just as much to finally find the strength to try to move from where she had been rooted on her spot on the ground.

Max was still furious, if the way his whole body seemed to heave with each breath he took was any indication, and Liz was almost afraid to see him turn to her, even knowing that she had no reason to. Yet as he eventually did, his expression immediately softened as he saw her struggling to stand up, and she all but felt herself tear up again. She just wasn't prepared for the way he looked at her.

In a second he was by her side, and she barely had time to move to her feet that he was already helping her up, one arm supporting her around the waist, while the other hand held firmly on to her upper arm.

"Are you alright?" he questioned softly, Liz's heart skipping another beat as she noticed the evident concern in his voice, thing that she wouldn't have thought she would ever hear a few hours ago.

"Y-Yeah… yeah, I-I think!" she answered somewhat hesitantly, sniffling and wiping away the few tears that still rolled down her cheeks despite her obvious effort to control herself.

"But… y-you're bleeding!" Max pointed out, the sight of the blood on her lips and chin making him cringe and curse Sean Walsh once more.

"What?" Liz asked confused before understanding what he was referring to and trying to reassure him. "Oh, no… no, I bit him… it's-it's his blood!" she stammered, still a little disoriented with all that had happened in a few minutes, but feeling the need to elaborate for him.

"Oh…" Max just said, obviously relieved from what she could tell, and the next second he surprised her even more by gently grabbing her chin and reaching into his pocket for an handkerchief. "Here, let me help!" he whispered so quietly that Liz didn't understand what he meant to do until she felt him wipe the blood away.

Her breath itched in her throat at the first contact, his touch so tender, his voice so soft she felt her knees go weak and her eyes mist all over again, the delicateness with which he touched her so different from what Sean's rough and disgusting hands were capable of.

"Thank you!" she breathed out softly when he finished and suddenly regarded her with a shy expression, still in awe herself that Max Evans could be there with her and actually be touching her.

She felt like pinching herself any second now just to make sure this was really happening.

"You're welcome… uh…" he replied, trailing off awkwardly as his eyes remained a second too long fixed on her perfect and full lips. He knew he shouldn't have those thoughts but at that moment he felt the urgent need to just kiss her pain away.

No, not a good thought at all in fact, considering the situation and what had happened between them earlier. She would probably run away from him again, and that was definitely not something he wanted.

"Elizabeth, Beth… it's… Beth!" misinterpreting what had made him stop so strangely, Liz uttered her name quite miserably, and she couldn't help the disappointment that laced her words.

She had obviously been right all those times when she had thought that Max couldn't care less about her. He didn't even know her freaking name.

Or so she thought for a fraction of seconds, until Max shocked the hell out of her with his next sentence.

"I know who you are, Liz!" he admitted before he could stop himself, and couldn't help but blush ever so slightly right afterwards when he realized what he had said.

Of course he knew her name and who she was, how could she believe he didn't, but it was pretty clear that hearing him use the diminutive only her two best friends used from what he knew, had thrown her for a loop if the evident surprise on her face was any indication.

Yet in reality, surprised wasn't exactly how Liz was feeling at that instant, she was more like positively astounded. Never in her wildest dreams would she have ever dared think that she would one day really hear Max Evans speak her name and much less that way. No matter how many times she could have heard Maria or Alex call her 'Liz', she couldn't help thinking that it just didn't sound the same when it was coming out from Max's lips.

She knew she probably had to look stupid, standing there looking at him like he was an alien and what's more with her mouth agape, but at that moment she thought that she had every right to react that way. And though she couldn't tell what he was thinking himself, it seemed obvious, or at least she wanted to see it that way, that Max was quite affected by whatever was happening between them then as well.

In fact Liz could swear that they would have probably stayed there, just lost into each other's eyes and for a very long time if it hadn't been for the clattering sound suddenly coming from very close to them.

For a second Liz feared that Sean had come back to hurt her again, or worse in her book to hurt Max, and she couldn't help but expel a sigh of relief when she realized it was only a cat apparently trying to find something to eat and moving cans around in its search.

She shouldn't have needed to worry however because though she didn't notice the second he had heard the noise himself, Max had already, and all too naturally in fact, stepped in front of her, positioning himself between her and the 'intruder', swearing inwardly that he would die first before he would let anything happen to her or anyone touch her again.

The intensity of what he felt at that instant was shocking and even a little bit scaring, even to himself, but he decided to not dwell on that for now, knowing that analyzing that feeling would only bring up questions he wasn't sure he would find answers to.

"I was just… uh…" he turned to Liz again and tried to pick up where he had left before, but the truth was that he had no idea anymore of what he had wanted to say, and therefore he ended up cutting himself mid-sentence once more. He didn't think he could tell her what he had really been thinking anyway. It would certainly not do to say something like 'I was just lost in your eyes' or less 'I was just wondering if you would mind if I kissed you senseless now, even when you've been attacked not ten minutes ago'. Beside, it was hard concentrating on words when all he could think about was how close she was to him and how good she smelled. "… forget it… come on… I'm taking you home!"

It seemed like the only thing to do then, and yet Liz would have probably not reacted worse if he had just told her that he was going to drag her away and hand her over to some psychopath who would use her for his own pleasure. No, she wouldn't have looked more scared if those had been his words.

"What?" she shrieked, causing Max to look at her like she had finally lost it. "Oh, god, no… no, I-I can't… I mean, I can't go home like this… my mom… she-she's gonna freak if she sees me like this now!… and she will know… I… she will… I-I can't… " she rushed out panicked, her head shaking as she looked down at her torn top, now marred with few yet visible droplets of blood.

She looked like she was going to cry all over again and Max felt his heart go out to her once more. She was working herself up into a frenzy, like she had done something wrong, when none of this was her fault and he ached to see her like this.

"Okay… okay… calm down… we're not going home, alright… but what do you want to do then?" he stilled her hands so she would stop wiping frantically at the stains on her top like that would help in any way, and asked softly, ready to do anything she wanted as long as it would help her calm down.

"I-I don't know… I was supposed to sleep at Maria's but n-now…I just… I-I don't know…" her eyes brimming with tears again, she stuttered hoarsely, making Max briefly wonder why if she was supposed to go there and spend the night at her friend's, she had left the party alone and obviously with the intention to go home after all.

He couldn't understand either why in the hell Maria and Michael had let her leave on her own, and swore to have a word with his friend as soon as he could, the images of what could have happened to her had he not left himself coming to haunt him again and making his stomach churn.

He would concentrate on that and how to deal with Michael later though, he thought as he felt Liz's hands trembling in his own, instantly alarming him again.

For a brief instant he thought that she was still in shock or something, until he realized that she was only wearing her top and her matching cardigan, and that though it could be considered a warm night given the season, she was probably cold now.

"Shh… it's okay… here…" he soothed gently before taking off his leather jacket and draping it over her shoulders.

He frowned slightly when he saw how surprised she seemed to be by the gesture, like she hadn't thought he was capable of such a 'chivalrous' act, but then smiled encouragingly when she seemed to accept the warmth the garment now provided and burrowed her arms into the sleeves.

Before she could take care of that herself then, he helped her disentangle her hair from the collar, shyly lowering his eyes himself when she whispered a barely audible 'thanks' as she finished. The movement caused her to wince in pain however and he automatically reached out to her again.

"God, what did he do to you?" he cringed and growled, wondering how much he could have missed since he had not witnessed the whole scene.

When he had arrived, she had been on the ground and Sean had been pulling at her hair while he insulted her, and that was all he had needed to see to intervene. Yet by the way she had reacted just now, he guessed that Sean had had time to do even more damage than what he had already suspected, and he felt his blood boil again and cursed himself for the way he had handled this.

He should really have beaten him to a pulp, torn him to shred, instead of letting him leave and get away with it so easily, but the only thing he had really thought about at that moment was actually getting him away from Liz the sooner possible and making sure she was alright.

"My side hurts." Liz provided for all explanation, not really wanting to go into details about what had really happened, and even less think about what could have if it hadn't been for Max's opportune intervention.

Fortunately he seemed to understand her reluctance to talk about it, and she simply saw him grimace in obvious distress, like he couldn't bear the thought of seeing her in pain. Then the next second his thumb traced her now bruised cheek and collected the few tears that still managed to escape her eyes, and Liz was struck once more with how gentle and caring Max could be.

She knew he had no reason to comfort her, no reason to want to help her, they didn't know each other, and they certainly weren't friends, and yet he was doing just that, proving to her that she had been right about him all along.

"Can you walk?" Max demanded as he saw her holding her side and then noticed the few scratches down her leg, put there from her forced contact with the ground.

"Yeah… I think so!" Liz answered quite confidently, her main concern and discomfort being actually with her ribs. She had scrapped one of her knees when she had fallen, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. At least she didn't think so.

"Do you… do you want me to take you to the police station? Do you want to report him? Or… or maybe just go to the hospital first?" Max suggested, knowing that if she wanted to press charges, they probably should do this as soon as possible.

Not that he wanted to decide for her or tell her what she should do, but he would lie if he said that he didn't want Sean to pay for this.

Only once more Liz's reaction caught him off guard.

"NO!" she all but cried out before she could stop herself, but almost immediately afterwards her voice softened to a mere whisper and he realized what her problem was. "No, I…I'm fine… I j-just want to forget about this… f-forget it happened!"

The last thing she wanted in fact was for anyone to hear about what had happened to her tonight and when Max didn’t seem as convinced as she was herself that this was the thing to do, she couldn't help uttering a soft but insistent 'Please!'

"If you're sure!" Max relented after a while when he understood that this was really what she needed and that she wouldn't change her mind, and then the next second he came to a split decision.

"Look… if-if you want… you can come with me… I mean my parents are not home so… there will be no questions asked." he offered out of the blue, wondering himself how he had managed to utter the whole sentence without stuttering considering what he was proposing to her.

Even as he spoke the words he realized well what he was getting himself into and what it would mean if she accepted his offer. Given that even if it was a fairly large house his parents had, with three kids at home having their own rooms, it didn't leave them with a spare guestroom, it could only mean that for one night he would have to share his room with Liz Parker.

"Oh, no… no, I can't… I…I mean… I don't want to be a problem to anyone!" Liz refused almost right away, knowing that this was her mess and that she had to deal with it. She really didn't want to be an inconvenience to anyone, and least of all to him, just because she had been stupid enough to think she could wander the streets of Roswell all alone and be safe nonetheless.

"Hey, it's okay… I know you don't really know me, and after what just happened to you and all… I understand… but really if you're okay with it, I don't mind… and there is no hidden motives, I promise… you can't stay out there all night anyway!" Max was quick to reassure her, understanding completely why she wouldn't want to follow someone who had barely said two words to her in her life, but if she didn't want to go home because she was afraid of what her parents' reaction would be, there was no way he was leaving her there. "C'mon!" he insisted when he saw her still hesitating, and extended his hand to her.

For what seemed like eternity to him then, Liz looked at it like she wasn't sure it would be a wise thing to take it, and though he couldn't tell what she could be thinking, he could clearly see the wheels turning in her head.

The truth was that Liz was torn. Part of her knew that she couldn't very well stay out all night, but the rest wasn't convinced following Max would be such a good thing. She knew he wouldn't hurt her in any way of course, no, that wasn't what scared her at that moment, it was more what she felt for him and what she knew spending a night with him at his house, even if nothing would happen between them, would do to her.

She was already crazy about the guy, if she spent time with him and discovered that he was all she had always pictured him to be, she was almost sure she would never be able to forget about him then, even knowing that that was the only thing to do.

Yet as she thought about refusing once more, she couldn't help but eye the palm that was offered to her and remember that this was the hand that had brushed her tears away so gently not a minute ago. Those were the arms that held Jordan so lovingly and protected him. But most of all this was the man she loved and even if she couldn't say she knew him, she knew she trusted him with her life and that she would be safer with him than anywhere else, and that seemed to be the only important thing at that moment.

That and the way he was looking at her like he would be truly crushed if she didn't accept his offer now, and that was what prompted her to slide her hand into his in the end.

Their eyes locked almost instantly as they both felt the jolt of electricity that coursed through their fingers at the first contact, but none of them commented on it, or tried to analyze what it meant. Max just gave her hand a gentle squeeze, almost like he was trying to reassure her and thank her for having made the right choice, and then tugged on it as he started walking, Liz following behind even if her knees felt like jello at that instant.

It was a miracle she managed to take a step with the way her legs were shaking and her heart thundering in her chest in fact. Her mind just couldn't wrap itself around the fact that she was holding hands with Max Evans and that he was taking her home. To his home actually. It just seemed so surreal, she was almost convinced that she was dreaming the moment and that any second now she would just wake up. And yet the warmth of his touch, the way his fingers had so naturally laced with hers, belied her doubts.

Max himself was having similar thoughts and though he tried to control himself, he wondered if Liz could tell just how nervous he was. Holding her hand while they walked seemed like the most natural thing in the world, and yet he couldn't stop his own heart from beating wildly against his ribcage.

This was the girl he could admit now, at least to himself, he had some major crush on, and he was on the way to taking her to his house, to his bedroom, when before tonight they had never had a real conversation, and even less been in the same room alone. There had always been someone else with them, someone to stop him from acting on his feelings and his most basic instincts, so though Max swore to himself that he wouldn't try anything with her and that no matter how much he actually wanted to, he was lucid enough to know that the amount of willpower and restraint he had had to exert until now to not do something he might regret afterwards, would be nothing compared to what he would need now to get himself through this night.

He couldn't regret his decision however, because if he had to choose between leaving Liz outside, scared and alone, and spending a night awake, while trying to control his raging hormones, he didn't even need to think about it twice. But it didn't mean that it had to be easy, right?

Not many words were spoken between them after that, except for the few times Max kept making sure that Liz was okay and that she didn’t mind the long walk, but no matter how hard they tried they just couldn't help exchanging shy but meaningful stares.

Max wished more than once that he had taken his car then, they wouldn't have taken so long to go to his house if he had and Liz would have certainly been more comfortable, because though she kept telling him that she was fine, he could tell that she had a hard time walking. However his car was still in front of Kyle's house and going to get it would probably take them as long as going directly home. That was why he hadn't gone to Kyle first and just decided to get it back in the morning, but when he thought of what had happened, and what he had been able to stop because he had chosen to walk home, he was mighty grateful for his decision.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked once more after a long while when he noticed that Liz's pace had slowed down considerably. Despite her continual reassurances, he wondered if she was still hurting, and therefore when he saw that she was still going to deny it, he cut her off before she had the chance. "Is there something wrong?"

It was the gentle way he spoke to her that finally convinced Liz that it would be okay to admit that she was feeling terribly tired of walking, even if she was sure that there wouldn't be much he would be able to do this time. They could probably call a cab, even at this hour, but Max had already done so much for her, she didn't want to have to tell him that she didn't have anything to pay for it.

Though she had taken her purse tonight, she had left it in Maria's car, along with her jacket, like they always did when they went partying, and she had been in such a hurry to leave that she hadn't even stopped to think about getting her things. Another thing on the long list of stupid things she had done tonight.

"I… my feet hurt… new boots, you know…" she revealed with a shrug like it was no big deal when Max kept looking at her speculatively, but the truth was that her feet were killing her.

She had already been in a bit of discomfort earlier when she had been dancing, even if it had still been perfectly bearable then, but walking in them through half of town was something she would have definitely done without. Max's house was definitely much farther than the Crashdown would have been.

"Why haven't you said so before?" Max stopped and inquired, knowing by experience with his sister that no matter how pretty they could be, new boots could be a bitch, too.

Too often Isabel had pranced around like nothing at all, only to cry her eyes out at the end of the day, while he laughed his ass off at her own stubbornness. Only this time it was Liz and strangely he really didn't feel like laughing.

Liz didn't really answer this time, already embarrassed that he had noticed something was indeed wrong, but Max wouldn't have any of it.

"Come here!" in a bold move, he drew her closer to him and ignoring her gasp of surprise, he let go of the hand he had been holding only to wrap her arm around his neck instead, and before Liz could even think about protesting he had scooped her up into his strong arms.

"Oh… what… what are y-you doing?" she squealed out, her flushed face only an inch from his now, even if Max didn't seem to mind or even notice their sudden closeness.

"It's still a good ten minutes to my house… and you're hurting…" he said for all explanation, like this was a normal occurrence for him, and though Liz appreciated his concern, she just couldn't let him do that.

"No… I… p-put me down… you don't have to do this…" she tried to say and force him to put her back down, but Max wouldn't hear of it.

"It's okay… it's nothing… but stop moving or I'll drop you!… Relax, okay!" Max replied, an amused smile tugging at his lips. It wasn't like it would be a problem for him to carry her all the way to his house considering that she weighed nothing in his arms. He was more preoccupied about what all her fidgeting could do to him or how badly he could react to having her this close, his spontaneous reaction having definitely not quell his desire for her. On the contrary. "Is this okay?… I'm not hurting your side, am I?" he couldn't help wondering nonetheless, even if he was doing his best to hold her to him as gently as he could.

"No… it's… i-it's fine…" Liz stuttered, having probably forgotten all about the pain she had been in the second she had felt his arms around her. The only thing she could still feel now was how his muscles rippled under that shirt, and how strong he was.

"Good!" Max breathed out and just like that their argument seemed to be settled, bringing their conversation to an end, at least for then.

It took her quite a while, but gradually Liz indeed felt herself relax, to the point where she was finally comfortable enough to just lay her head against his shoulder and just hold him tight while he carried her, and Max almost wished they had still more to walk when they rounded the corner of his street. She felt so right in his arms, cradled protectively against his chest, he didn't want to ever let go, even if that was clearly not a possibility.

The sound of a car approaching them startled them both, and as Max stepped on the sidewalk to avoid being hit, he felt Liz burrowing her head in the crook of his neck, the move and most particularly the warmth of her breath directly on his skin nearly making him drop her for real this time.

The driver honked as he passed them by and as Max heard the passenger yell a sly 'Evans, you're the man!', he couldn't help chuckling softly, recognizing one of the school jokes who lived a few streets down. Obviously, even if he was pretty sure that they hadn't seen who the girl in his arms was, they had had no difficulties identifying him, and he didn't doubt that he would hear some of their comments back at school on Monday morning.

"It's okay… they didn't have time to really see you!" Max whispered reassuringly as he felt Liz tense in his arms, sure that the last thing she would want was for some rumors to be spread about her and what she could have been doing at his house at this hour. Actually he didn't want everyone to start speculating about what was happening between them either. He knew all too well how people tended to deform the truth.

Liz just nodded then, and she didn't have time to say more that they were already in front of his door and he was helping her back to her feet. Only he visibly miscalculated his move and deposited her too close to the edge of the step, and before Liz could even gasp she stumbled forward and found herself in his embrace again.

Her arms were still around his neck but in an attempt to catch her before she could fall, Max's had moved just over her ribcage, dangerously close to her breasts, and what was worse than anything else, under his jacket.

Holding her breath, Liz briefly met his eyes as he uttered a soft 'sorry', but then the look on his face made her forget all about why he was even apologizing. All she could see was the way he was staring at her lips now, all she could feel was his hands as they slid down her sides and finally settled on her hips.

Max was so close. Oh, so close to kissing her then, he wanted so much to taste her lips and discover if they felt as sweet and soft as he had always dreamed them, but at the last second he seemed to snap out of it and the moment was lost once more. This was so not the place, nor the time for that.

Liz barely stifled a moan however when she saw him lick his very dry lips, and she felt her stomach momentarily tighten in desire as she sensed him run his thumbs just under the hem of her top, but unfortunately the spell was broken when he spoke again.

"Keys!" he murmured, his eyes closing briefly as if he was trying to control himself, or stop himself from doing something he shouldn’t.

"What?" Liz swallowed hard as his hands descended even lower, barely grazing her thighs, until she felt him reach into the pockets of his jacket and she suddenly felt utterly stupid for thinking that Max Evans could have been trying to seduce her or actually been wanting the same thing she did herself.

"Oh, right!" she muttered in understanding when he came up with a bunch of keys and quickly proceeded to open the door behind her, all the while avoiding to look at her.

Liz knew that she shouldn't feel disappointed, after all Max had never offered more than shelter for the night to her, yet it wasn't so easy to convince her heart and her head of that.

"Come in!" Max encouraged when his breathing had more or less come back to normal, and as he saw her staying rooted on her spot on the steps, he reached for her hand again.

God, something was really wrong with him! He had to pull it together or he would truly lose it. And he could definitely not afford to kiss her, no matter how much he could actually want to, because he doubted that he would be able to stop at that if he got only a taste of her.

Quite uncomfortably, he led her into the living room and they both stopped short before the huge couch at the center of it, not really knowing what to do now, but even less wanting to comment on what had almost happened between them not a minute ago.

Darting a quick look around her, Liz scanned the room, taking in the expensive furniture and their perfect setting out, finding the place cozy and just as she had always imagined it, but she didn't dare say a word or compliment his parents in their obvious good state, even if that would have certainly been the right thing to do. Her mind had yet such a hard time processing the fact that she was actually here, glimpsing into what was part of Max Evans' everyday life, that the rest seemed secondary.

An awkward silence settled around them, until Max decided that they couldn’t very well stay there, looking at each other all night, no matter how appealing that thought was actually to him.

"Wait here… I'm sure my mom has one of those ice bags somewhere… I'll be back, okay!" he told Liz as he caught sight of the bruise on her cheek again, and he was on his way out before Liz could tell him that it wasn't necessary.

"I… Could I use your cell phone?" she called out after him before he was out of reach, thinking that she better contact Maria and tell her that she was alright. She wouldn't give her details of where she was of course, but at least that way Maria wouldn't panic or much worse, suspect that she wasn't home.

"In my pocket." Max replied and then as an afterthought, asked her who she wanted to call exactly.

"Maria." Liz answered, wondering if he would mind. Not that she had any intention to reveal to her friend that she was actually at his house, but maybe that was what he was thinking, or worse, fearing.

"Maybe you should… you know…" Max stammered, not wanting her to think that Maria knowing that she was with him could embarrass him in any way, but not wanting her to think either that she had to tell her anything if she didn't want to, and Maria seeing the caller ID would certainly raise questions.

"Thanks!" Liz whispered as he took the phone from her hands and obviously changed his settings so that it wouldn't show who was calling.

Max smiled gently at her then, and the next instant he was out, leaving her to her conversation with Maria.

It didn't take Liz long actually to reassure her friend, and when she finished, she found herself alone and irremediably drawn to the mantelpiece, where various family pictures laid there for all to see.

She smiled fondly as she took in the ones of Jordan, his toothless grin flashing at the camera in some, but it was those with Max that really turned her insides to mush.

On one of them he was holding Jordan still a baby then, and Liz could see just how proud he was to be a big brother again. Another one showed him with Isabel, both of them holding one of Jordan's little hands and obviously swaying him between them when the shot had been taken. They were all laughing and she found herself smiling broadly at the sight.

The last one was the most beautiful to her however, maybe because it seemed to have been taken quite recently. Max had Jordan on his shoulders, holding his brother's legs so he wouldn't fall off, while Jordan himself apparently held on the first thing he had found, Max's ears in this case. She was sure that that one had to have been the cause of many ribbings from everyone who would enter the Evanses' living room, and yet the fact that Max apparently didn't mind having it there, proved to her that hearing people talk about his slightly protruding ears hadn't damaged his sense of humor, contrary to some could think. She remembered all too well Maria telling her that Max hadn't always been comfortable with that particular trait.

Here he had evidently known what Jordan was doing and how that would look on the picture, but nonetheless his smile was all teeth, matching perfectly the one of his brother, enhancing once more just how alike they looked. Yeah, there were absolutely no doubts they were siblings.

"Here." Liz heard coming from behind her, and as she turned around she wondered just how long Max had been standing there.

She saw him scratch the back of his neck as he noticed which picture had held her attention so much that she hadn't even heard him entering the room again, and she couldn't help blushing slightly herself at having been caught.

"Just… put it on your cheek a few minutes… it won't swell so much!" Max added when she took the ice bag he had found from his hands, but since he lowered his gaze almost immediately, he missed how Liz literally gaped at the sight of him.

He had opened his shirt while he was out, taking the time to clean the sticky substance that had seeped through it, and though Liz didn't know about that detail, the reason seemed to be totally irrelevant at that moment because the only thing she could see was that she was about to have a heart attack and would most likely have to run that ice all over her body if she hoped to calm herself back down after such sight. Being built like that should be registered as a crime, and god, didn't he realize what he was doing to her?

"You okay?" Max asked her once she put the ice on her cheekbone like he had instructed, apparently completely oblivious to the effect he was having on her.

Why wouldn't I be, I can see your freaking bare chest! Liz wanted to scream… or simply hit him for being so clueless.

"S-Sure!" she stuttered all too quickly, causing Max to cock a curious eyebrow at her, before he simply decided to drop the matter.

The last thing he wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable now that she was here, and for that he knew that he had to act as naturally as possible himself. Or at least that had been part of the pep-talk he had been giving himself not five minutes ago when he had stopped in the bathroom. Liz Parker was here, sure, but this was his house, his safe haven, and he had no reason to feel nervous. He just had to be himself and everything would go alright. He had no reason to panic at all or act any differently than he would have if it had been any other girl. And who cared if the only other one he had ever let into his bedroom had actually only been his sister? He could do this, it couldn't be that hard, even if the only thing he could actually think about was how much he wanted to jump Liz and have his way with her.

Oblivious to what was going through Max's mind, Liz followed him dutifully after he considered that she had used the ice long enough, but she couldn't control the way her body trembled when they eventually stopped in front of the last door down the hallway and she saw him open it.

"Okay, this is my room!" Max announced almost shyly once they were in, picking a few toys of Jordan on his way as he realized that he hadn't tidied the place earlier, and Liz smiled tenderly as she imagined Max playing with his brother in this same room.

"Uh, nice room!" Liz answered just as softly, her eyes settling briefly on the bed, before she concentrated on the book that lay on it, anything to not think about Max laying there every night, rumpled sheets barely concealing that hard tanned body. "Nice bedtime stories, too!" she added with a small smile as she caught on the title, hoping that Max would not notice her sudden nervousness.

"Uh… it's my brother's book!… he likes it when I read him a story before… I mean, it helps him get to sleep!" Max clarified and then blushed himself when he saw Liz looking at him intently, and eyebrow raised.

"That doesn't explain what this is doing on your bed, does it?" she teased him good-naturedly and Max found himself smiling along with her this time.

"Actually… Jordan often falls asleep here with me and then I take him back to his room!" Max elaborated some more, and Liz could just picture them both, Max with his little brother safely cradled in his arms, reading and waiting for him to fall asleep before letting go of him.

"You two are really close, aren't you?" she couldn’t help asking as she settled down on the bed, missing as Max gulped as he saw her do so.

Oh, God, help him, Liz Parker was actually sitting on his bed, and if that was already enough to nearly make him pop a vein, he so knew he wouldn't last the night.

"Yes… we are… " he trailed off awkwardly as she now took off his jacket, but if Liz noticed how difficult it had suddenly become for him to talk, she didn't let it on.

He didn't mind her questions though, it just seemed a little strange to him to be talking to her about her relationship with his brother, or at least to start with that. It seemed to be something so personal to begin with, and he would probably have been more comfortable if they had started with the basics, like what were his favorite movies, or TV shows, or whatever along those lines.

"Yeah… I guess it must be really great to have siblings… I wouldn't know, I mean… I'm an only child!" Liz pursued and though this was no new information to Max, he couldn't miss the slight edge of sadness her tone held.

"It can't be very hard, too, don't think… you wouldn't want to share a bathroom with my sister, believe me!" he joked back in hopes that she would realize that sometimes being an only child could be a good thing, too, even if there was no saying that he wouldn't trade Jordan or Isabel for anything in the world.

Liz couldn't help herself then and laughed along with him when he did, having no problem picturing what Max could go through every day if he indeed had to share his bedroom with Isabel Evans. When she remembered just how perfectly put his sister always was, she imagined easily how much time she could spend to prepare herself and reach such perfection.

A short moment of uncomfortable silence followed again soon after, Max having been completely entranced by the sound of her rich laughter, and only when he saw Liz squirm under his intense stare, did her realize what he had been doing.

Leaping into action before it turned even more awkward, he moved to the side of the bed, and after having pulled a sleeping bag from under it, he unrolled it on the floor, not too far from where Liz would be sleeping.

"Okay… uh… you take the bed… I'll take the floor!" he told her, that repartition looking like the most logical thing to do.

"NO! I mean… you don't have to do that, you know! I can sleep on the floor, I don't mind!" Liz protested right away, the last thing she wanted being to rob him of his bed, moreover with all he had already done for her.

Truth be told, she hadn't even really given any thought to their sleeping arrangements until that second, even if she realized now that it was kind of stupid not having done so. That should have been the first thing she should have thought about when Max had suggested she followed him in fact, but her brain had most likely been already too saturated with everything that had already happened to manage to process the information.

"No way… no girl will sleep on my floor if I can offer her my bed! Here… you can slip this on if you want… " Max was being as stubborn as she could be herself, and this was not a point he was going to discuss with her, he swore as he reached for one of his Roswell High tee-shirts and held it out to her. But Liz still didn't seem convince and he felt compelled to add. " Don't worry… I'll be fine… unless…"

"Unless what?" Liz continued where he trailed off, holding the garment in her trembling hands and doing her best to not bring it to her nose so she could get a whiff of Max's scent. She would have enough time for that anyway, she thought as she realized that this was what she would sleep in tonight.

"Unless you want to share the bed!" Max teased out of nowhere, raising his eyebrows suggestively, and he could have bet that Liz's incredulous gasp could have been heard all way across town. In fact, he was sure that her jaw had to have hit the floor, and even if he didn't know himself from where he had suddenly garner up the courage to suggest such a thing to her, he couldn't help but chuckle at the expression on her face. "Kidding… c'mon, I'm sure you're just as tired as I am!"

Even as he spoke the words, Liz kept looking at him like he had suddenly babbled some foreign language, and it wasn't until she finally saw him move near his desk, shed his shirt and kick off his shoes that she seemed to get a hold of herself again.

Moving to the other side of the bed, she stood there awkwardly, her eyes strained on his broad back, and she couldn't help but swallow thickly as she took in the sight of him half naked now.

"Won't you… put something… uh on?!" she stammered hoarsely when she noticed that he had apparently not only not picked up a tee-shirt for himself, but was on his way to unbuttoning his pants, right there, like he didn't even care that she was in the room and could actually see him do so.

"Well… I could but… I happen to like sleeping naked!" Max retorted, biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself from grinning like he so wanted to.

So okay, that wasn't the entire truth, since he had absolutely no intention to sleep naked when Liz Parker was in the same room, who knew what embarrassing accident could happen if he did, but she didn't need to know that right away, did she?

"Wait… you're not going to… I mean… not… you… " Liz was sure that her sentence was supposed to make more sense than that, but for the life of her she just couldn’t put the words together.

Surely he couldn't be serious, right? Because if he was, she wasn't sure she would survive the night. Actually, no, she knew without the shadow of a doubt that she wouldn't get through the night knowing that Max Evans was sleeping stark naked three feet from her.

"What, Parker?… you don't think you can handle it?" he challenged cheekily, Liz barely registering his words since he chose precisely that moment to turn slightly to her and she caught a glimpse of the dark boxers he was wearing and the scarce trail of hair that led directly to them.

"S-Sure I can… I… oh, god… okay… could you just… turn around?" deciding that this conversation wouldn't lead her anywhere expect to maybe further embarrass herself, Liz chose to drop the matter, but obviously Max himself considered that it would be more fun to make it difficult for her.

"Why?" he uttered questioningly, even when he knew perfectly well that she was just asking for some privacy. It wasn't a question he needed an answer to, he was just discovering that he loved to see her all flustered and therefore couldn't help himself.

"Because I'd like to get out of these clothes, that's why!" Liz all but squealed out outrageously, not believing that he could just even ask.

"You know… it's nothing I haven't seen before!" Max shrugged like it wouldn't be such a big deal for him to see her drop all her clothes just in front of him, but inwardly he was already going out of his mind at the thought that she could actually do such thing.

"I don't remember you seeing me almost naked before, so… turn around now please!" Liz insisted, piercing him with a meaningful glare until he finally relented and faced away from her.

God, someone please tell her that this was not really happening.

"That's what you think!" Max murmured as his eyes were naturally drawn to his full length mirror and he witnessed how she wiggled out of her skirt through it.

Man, he had fantasized about seeing her in her birth suit more often than he could remember, but what was more than obvious to him now that he spied on Liz Parker only in her lacy underwear, was that his fantasies of her didn't do any justice to the real thing.

She was certainly one of the sexiest girls he had been given to see, and it was little wonder so if he found himself groaning at the sight of her before he could even stop himself. Even seeing her clad in one of his tee-shirts was enough in fact to make him lose his mind and the little sanity he had left.

"What was tha-…?" Liz started, thinking that he had talked to her, but then stopped short when she realized he was standing there, his back fortunately still turned to her, but in nothing more now than his boxers. Very tight boxers she should add since they seemed to fit him like a second skin. "Oh, goodness!" she moaned out, her breath suddenly coming out in pants as her eyes stopped at what seemed to be a very firm butt.

Unfortunately for her, Max heard and saw her reaction and couldn't stop himself from taunting her some more, even if he would certainly wonder afterwards what was wrong with him, and how he could feel so at ease with her all of a sudden, when he had almost been scared shitless all the way here. Maybe there was still some residue of alcohol in his blood that was suddenly kicking in and making him do crazy things, but whatever it was, it was definitely worth it if only to see that look on her face.

"Do you like?"

"What?" Liz uttered as she snapped out of her trance and made eye contact with him through his mirror, her cheeks flaming when she understood that he had been watching her while she was checking him out.

"Do you like what you're seeing?" Max asked her quite boldly as he turned around now, strangely not the least ashamed to be there standing almost naked in front of Liz Parker. On the contrary, if her awed and dreamy expression a second ago was any indication, he already knew the answer to his question and was quite proud to finally elicit a reaction out of her. Apparently all those hours of working out were finally paying off.

Shocked beyond belief, Liz could only gape at him, wondering what had happened to the guy who could barely look at her not half an hour ago, but then she noticed the corner of his mouth twist into a smile and she just knew he was doing it on purpose.

Who would have thought that Max Evans could be such a tease, huh? Certainly not her. But what was sure was that he had another thing coming if he truly thought that she would admit to him just how much she indeed found him to her liking.

"You're so full of yourself, Evans!" she accused before throwing a pillow at him, and boy she couldn't believe that she was actually thinking that but he was definitely full in more way than one.

She willed her eyes to not look down at him, but clearly that would have been like asking her to suddenly stop being interested in everything that was just Max, and when her gaze snapped back up to his face, she blushed ten shades of red in mortification, understanding from his smug smile that he apparently knew exactly were her thoughts had gone a second ago.

At that instant, more than ever in fact, Liz wished that the floor would just open up and swallow her whole, and she had probably never been more relieved than she was when Max didn't comment on it.

Instead, he just picked up the pillow he had easily dodged, and dropped it by the head of his sleeping bag.

"Thank you, I needed one!" he thanked her like nothing had happened, but Liz could see that he was doing his best to not crack up and smile. Then as she pulled the sheets down and slid into his bed, she heard his teasing voice again. "Are you sure you don't want to share the bed?… Here is your last chance!… And you know… many would kill to hear such an offer!"

Yeah, like she didn't know that! But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction to know himself just as much she wanted to take him up on that.

"Over my dead body!" Liz retorted with a sweet sugary smile that would have certainly chilled Max all over if he hadn't already been prepared for something like that.

"Sorry, I'm not into that kind of things anymore." he quipped almost too seriously and then lost it completely, laughing throatily when he saw Liz's shocked expression. "Kidding… I was kidding, I swear!" he held up his hands in defense as she threw the second pillow in his direction, missing his head by only an inch, and Liz really felt like going after him and wrecking his neck when he threw it back and she saw him disappear under the bed, obviously still laughing his ass off at her expense.

During interminable minutes, Liz had to bear with the muffling sounds that were coming from below, Max having visibly a hard time containing himself, and when she just couldn't control herself any longer, she turned off the light and muttered into the darkness. "You're a jerk, you know that?"

"I-I'm sorry… but… you really should have seen your face…" came the amused answer again, and even as part of her felt like telling him to go to hell, she couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at her own lips.

It felt good to hear Max laugh so easily, even if she didn't know if she should feel that glad that he found some humor in making fun of her.

"Har-Har… yeah, so funny…" she threw back, her tone forced and disapproving, even if Max could hear that she wasn't really angry with him.

"Okay… I'm really sorry… is that better?… I am… " he reiterated his apology, mirth still coating his voice and he took him yet a few more minutes before he could sober up and continue more seriously. "Now seriously… don't worry… I'm not planning on taking advantage of the situation… you can sleep peacefully."

"Yeah…uh… goodnight then. " Liz answered simply, even when all she actually wanted was to yell at him that he was an idiot and that she wanted him to take advantage of the situation, if only he wouldn't be so blind and see it.

"Goodnight, Liz!" Max breathed out, and Liz wondered if he knew just how husky his voice sounded when he whispered her name. It made her want to beg him to repeat it over and over again, until she would have memorized the sound and had enough to last her a lifetime.

A few minutes passed after that while none of them felt the need to say anything, until Liz realized that there was still something she needed to do, something she should have done the second he had invited her into his house in fact.

"Hey?" she whispered softly, sure that he wasn't asleep yet but not wanting to startle him.

"Yeah?"

"I just… Thank you… for everything!" her voice was low and barely audible, but Max couldn't not notice how much the little he had been able to do had meant to her, and how grateful she could be for his help and his kindness.

"You're welcome!" he replied easily, rolling on his side at that moment with probably the hugest smile he had ever had on his face.

Too bad Liz couldn't see him then, she would most likely have understood that everything that had happened between them tonight, however insignificant that might have been, meant just as much to him.

For a long time, though they kept quiet then, they were both acutely aware of the other's presence, and more than once Max wondered if he would really be able to find some sleep, knowing that Liz was so close to him and that he could probably join her in bed if he had the nerve to do so and wasn't actually so afraid that she would reject him if he did so.

Every creaking sound his bed made as she turned around restlessly seemed to be amplified tenfold and he wondered if it had always been this loud, or if he was only noticing it now because it was Liz Parker, half naked between his sheets, who was doing the tossing.

On the bed, Liz herself was having as much a hard time finding sleep as he was, no matter how tired she could actually be. She just couldn't ignore the fact that Max Evans, the man she had been in love with for as long as she could remember, was lying practically at her feet.

She kept her eyes obstinately closed, hoping to block the sound of his heavy breathing and every movement he could make, but her mind just wouldn't let her forget.

It took her a while to find a comfortable position herself, and when she finally settled down on her right side, a hand tucked under her head, she prayed with all her might that sleep would claim her at last, or she was sure that she would end up crying out in frustration. Not really something she was willing to do in front of Max.

Unfortunately for her, nearly an hour later she was still wide awake, even if apparently Max had eventually lost the battle, and before she could stop herself she was leaning over the bed in an attempt to see where he was exactly, only to nearly gasp aloud when she realized that he had obviously moved his sleeping bag from its original position and was way much closer now than what she had been expecting.

His position mirrored hers a few minutes ago and when her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she got a good look at his quiet form lying on the floor, she barely prevented a moan from escaping her suddenly dry lips, the sleeping bag only covering part of his body and leaving little to the imagination.

God, she couldn't even believe it herself. Here she was, in Max Evans' bedroom, in Max Evans' bed, with his scent and all those things that were just him surrounding her, while he slept peacefully a few feet from her, oblivious to her thoughts or the things he did to her. Oblivious to the power he had over her.

He looked so at peace then, so innocent and yet so sexy, she wondered how that was even possible. No man should be allowed to look this good, it was just not fair to women.

As her eyes drank their fill of him, she felt her fingers itching with the sudden need to touch him, and before she could even comprehend herself what she was doing, she was reaching out to caress his cheek. She was just pushing his bangs aside, marveling once more at his perfect and beautiful features when all of a sudden Max captured her hand in his own, almost making her fall from where she was on her knees on the bed now, and she had to bite her lips nearly to the blood to stop herself from crying out at the scare it gave her.

For a moment she expected to see him staring back at her and hear him asking her what the hell she thought she was doing, and she barely relaxed at all when nothing happened and she understood that Max was still very much asleep.

Still, it didn't stop her from cursing herself for her own stupidity. With her ass up in the air now, she had to look completely ridiculous, but it made no doubt to her that she would look even more so if he suddenly woke up and found her in such grotesque position.

God, she would just die on the spot if that happened, she cringed as she tried to pry her hand out of his grasp, but he seemed to know exactly what she was doing and only held her tighter.

Closing her eyes in disbelief, she wondered how she would get herself out of this one, but then they snapped right back open when a breathy murmur drifted to her ears, something that sounded awfully like her name. But it couldn't be, could it?

Why would Max be almost… moaning… her name? It didn't make any sense, at least not in the real world. In her fantasies though, that was a constant occurrence. She couldn't even remember how many times that had occurred actually, or what she had been doing to him to see that happen.

But she was digressing, what she really needed now was not to be picturing Max Evans crying out in the throes of passion, but rather find a way to get her hand back before this turned to be really embarrassing for her.

Much to her relief, the next time she tried to tug on her hand however, Max turned on his back with a soft groan, but at least let go of her and Liz couldn't be quick enough to crawl back under the covers.

For interminable seconds, she could do nothing more but hold her breath, sure that she was going to see Max poking his head from below and ask her what she was doing, and only when she was positive that she was safe, did she dare release it.

Coaxing herself into sleep after that seemed to be even more difficult than it had been earlier and she wasn't even surprised to see how many times she tossed and turned before she eventually tired herself out. By then, she had worked herself up so much that she felt like she was burning up and had no choice but to take off the tee-shirt she had borrowed from Max. She could only hope that she would wake up before he had any time to see anything, though she suspected that it was already too late for her to feel shy about it.

Max Evans had certainly seen more of her in one night than any other guy in her whole life. That and what he could think of what he had most likely already seen was actually Liz's last thought before she drifted off, Max's steady breathing eventually lulling her into sleep. And for once her fantasies and the reality didn't seem so far away. Her dreams didn't look so out of reach.


End of chapter five.

TBC…