Title: Christmas misgivings
Disclaimer: Basically, I own nothing. I don’t own anything to do with roswell or its characters (they belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended). The idea for this story is from a movie, which is called undercover Christmas.
Pairings/Couples/Category: completely CC, specifically Max and Liz.
Rating: probably MATURE but may go into ADULT if I can write it… cough, cough… umm, other than that, basically just watch out for swearing… also, there’s probably going to be sexual innuendo or such…
Summary: Okay basically it is you Max = cop story where he’s supposed to “protect” her. Of course they fall in love but, of course, trouble ensues… read on….
Author's Note: I am trying to write this Liz very different. She’s going to (hopefully) be feisty and opinionated and is definitely in need of style makeover. This is kind of the Cinderella type story with the whole transformation, but I’m hoping to convey that this change isn’t needed… the character is strong willed, smart and sassy and I don’t want her becoming whiney or just another girl who needs a guy to rescue her or save her from herself or whatever.
CHAPTER ONE:
“Hey, could we get some service back here?”
Groaning inwardly, Liz Parker made her way through the room and towards the booth in the back. God, she hated being a waitress sometimes. Fruitlessly she tried to pull the skirt of her uniform down further as she walked over, but her smile never wavered once.
As she reached the table, all conversation ceased and Liz turned to Sal for the orders. Sal was a particularly disgusting middle-aged man who believed that wearing his pants around his huge stomach and wearing extra-tight belts could disguise the fact that he was a “larger figured man”. Hopefully neither he or his friends would give her trouble tonight.
They’d been trouble before… but that was before.
Surely they knew better by now.
She was taken. Very taken. Tommy would kick their asses if they stepped out of line again.
“What’ll it be boys?” Liz sighed as she awaited some kind of crude comment about her tits or her ass… or what they could do to her if she gave them fifteen minutes after her shift.
“’Nuther round of beers, ‘kay sweet cheeks?” Sweet cheeks? She could live with sweet cheeks. Turning to leave, Liz had barely taken a step before she felt his pudgy hand land on her behind. Now that she could not live with.
“Sal, I say remove it before I cut it off and shove it down your throat.” Liz swore, not even bothering to turn around.
‘Shit, Liz. You’re no fun now that Tommy’s around. I swear, just give me fifteen minutes…”
So predictable. “Tommy’s been around for three years boys. And I wouldn‘t let him hear you talkin’ about him like that. The man’s still your boss.” She smirked as she looked over her shoulder as Sal laughed goodnaturedly.”
“Yeah, yeah, just get us the beers.”
Shaking her head, Liz just kept walking away. Three hours and her shift was finished. She Just couldn’t wait to get out of this outfit… well, what there was of it anyway. Liz was definitely not Shopping mall Mrs Claus material in this outfit.
*************************************************************
“Okay, I am out of here.” Liz joyously declared as she grabbed her coat and headed for the front door of the bar.
“Liz…Lizzie, do me a favour?” Christine, one of the other girls begged.
“What?” Liz sighed as she prayed that whatever it was didn’t involve extra shifts or working on Christmas eve.
“Take out the trash for me? My feet are killing me and Jess called in sick and I have like, four tables still to…”
“Okay, okay. But then I’m out of here.”
Grabbing the large bag of rubbish, Liz headed out into the alley. Opening the heavy metal door, she was surprised to hear voices.
“I’m sorry… I… I swear I didn’t do nothin’.”
Good old Sal, Liz thought to herself. Finally chatted up the wrong girl and got stuck with the wrong girl’s boyfriend. Serves him right she smiled to herself.
“Tommy please…”
Wait. Tommy wasn’t in town. He was supposed to be in California somewhere for business. Wait. There was more than just one Tommy in the world.
“You’ve been stealin’ from me Sal. Did you really think I didn’t know?”
Okay, that was her Tommy. Peaking out from behind the big garbage bin near the door, Liz watched, as if in slow motion as Tommy pulled out a gun and fired one single shot. The gun barely made a noise, and for a moment it didn’t even look real. But then Sal slumped forward, landing on his knees. And he looked at her. Looked right at her as if to wonder why she was just standing there… hiding there and watching him slowly die.
Another shot from Tommy’s gun and Sal’s body wilted onto the dirty alley floor.
“Get him.” Tommy commanded to the walls around the alley, and suddenly Liz saw the others. They were all there. Tony, Pete, Sam, Dale, Vince, Tommy… Tommy.
Suddenly, Liz realised that she had no idea what to do. Rubbing furiously at her cheeks, Liz tried to wipe away the tears that had started to run down them. Tears she hadn’t even noticed before. Turning, as if on auto pilot, she slowly, cautiously opened up the back door and went back in side. Rushing past the other Liz got out of the building as fast as she could. What the hell was she supposed to do now?
***********************************************************
“I need to speak to someone…anyone.” Liz demanded as the officer behind the desk looked at her with silent disdain.
“I’ll have an officer from vice down here in a minute.”
He thought she was a prostitute?!?
“I’m no prostitute okay asshole.”
“Watch the language, missy… and it’s the middle of winter… If you didn’t want to be mistaken for a pro, ya shouldn’t be wearin’ clothes like that out in public.”
Looking down at her open jacket, Liz realised that she was still wearing her work uniform. Clutching at the lapels, Liz drew them closed tight around her body.
“Look, I need someone from homicide… I saw a… there was a… I saw someone die tonight.” Liz finished in a small voice.
“Oh…”
********************************************************
TBC.....
Christmas misgivings (CC, M/L) CH.9 5th Feb [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
Christmas misgivings (CC, M/L) CH.9 5th Feb [WIP]
Last edited by Kylie the control freak on Sat Feb 05, 2005 4:15 am, edited 11 times in total.
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
CHAPTER TWO:
Glancing around the room at anything but the man in front of him Officer Stephen Larke tried to pinpoint exactly what made him so nervous around this man. Sure, he’d never worked with the FBI before and this was a really big break in a really big case, but there was something else. It was the way that he looked at him… as if his next few words could save him or something. It was like they could make or break him.
“She says she saw Tommy Montola kill someone tonight… but there’s a problem… she’s… well…”
Finally, Agent Maxwell Evans thought to himself. Finally, after years and years of waiting for the guy to slip up, he just did… what a Christmas present he thought to himself. Tucking wayward strands of his long hair behind one protruding ear, Max waited for the officer to continue. He seemed hesitant. That wasn’t good.
“She’s what?” He bit out, his words harsher than he had intended.
“She’s his girlfriend.”
Fuck. That actually kinda was a problem, he thought to himself. What if this was just some ploy to screw up the case on Montola’s part? What if she was just PMSing or pissed off at him for doing some asinine thing? What if this ruined everything?
“She’s pretty shaken up sir… if someone could talk to her…” but Larke’s words fell on deaf ears. Max had stopped listening; already retreating into his mind to try and figure out a way that this could work for him.
“Someone will be along soon for Ms. O’Neill.” Max stated calmly, his words coated thickly in ice. He hated this woman already. At the startled look on officer what’s-his-name’s face, Max couldn’t help but be suspicious.
“Did I say something?”
Looking down at his notes quickly to double check, Larke lifted his eyes; looking the agent in the eyes for the first time that night.
“The woman’s name is Parker … a Miss Elizabeth Maree Parker, specifically.”
Well, that was interesting.
*************************************************************
After spending almost two hours, alone, on one of the cold, hard chairs in the questioning room at the police station, Liz was more than fed up. Standing up to inspect her butt, Liz was both pleased and annoyed to discover that she had been right. The pattern from the chair was most definitely imprinted not only on the back of her legs but also on her ass. Leaning back against the table, she made a little jump in the air to land on the cool, smooth surface. That was better. By now, Liz’s mind was a hundred miles away from Tommy and all his… business. Her mind had taken a permanent vacation after the first hour and a half in this crappy little room. Right now the only thing she let herself think about was whether there was really someone on the other side of that mirror.
*************************************************************
Max Evans had been in lots of interrogation rooms… had watched countless interrogations from this side of the mirror… but the way that she was looking at the mirror… no, at him. And before he could even think about what he was saying, his mouth just opened and sound came out.
“She can’t see me, right?”
God, he was such a dumb ass. Of course she cant see me, Max mentally chided himself. I know that… But there was something about the way she looked at that mirror. It was as if she really was trying to see through it. Through him.
Get a grip, she’s not that pretty, Max tried to rationalise. She was all big hair and make-up, like some kind of compact Fran Drescher and yet he could tell that if she took it all off, the make-up he mentally elucidated, he could tell that she would be beautiful. And as for that outfit… Max recognised it straight away. The short, deep red velvet skirt that had barely covered her ass when she had practically bared it to him and any other officer who may have been walking past at the time. And that top… matching the skirt and no more than a scrap of material, it wrapped around her body, reaching just below her… oh yes, he recognised the uniform. It was the Christmas get up that Montola had insisted his waitresses wear during the festive season. It really was something else… but that didn’t matter and neither did the fact that when she had perched herself on the table, it had rode dangerously high up her thigh.
Coughing quickly to cover his thoughts, Max strode over to the door and into the interrogation room.
*************************************************************
Liz had moved on from the wonder of the window and was trying to contemplate the mess that was her life. She had no money, nowhere to go, no one to run away to. She was alone. You could always go back, that little voice inside suggested in an attempt to be helpful. But could she do that? Just forget what she had seen?
“Miss… miss Parker?”
“What?” Liz snapped as she turned to face whatever pesky, idiot cop had been sent to try and placate her for another two hours. Okay, so not that pesky. He was cute, Liz noticed, and beneath all that hair she imagined that he could probably pass for handsome even. In that traditional, heart throb, good looking kind of way anyway.
“I’m agent Evans. I was told that you have some information to share regarding a crime you witnessed.”
This was it, Liz realised. This was one of those annoying moments when she had to make one of those really big choices. If this was happening on a tv show and not to her, it would have been the moment when the music would get really loud and powerful and that keep flicking between people’s faces to see their reactions…
“Anytime soon would be good for me, Miss Parker.”
She hated him already.
Glancing around the room at anything but the man in front of him Officer Stephen Larke tried to pinpoint exactly what made him so nervous around this man. Sure, he’d never worked with the FBI before and this was a really big break in a really big case, but there was something else. It was the way that he looked at him… as if his next few words could save him or something. It was like they could make or break him.
“She says she saw Tommy Montola kill someone tonight… but there’s a problem… she’s… well…”
Finally, Agent Maxwell Evans thought to himself. Finally, after years and years of waiting for the guy to slip up, he just did… what a Christmas present he thought to himself. Tucking wayward strands of his long hair behind one protruding ear, Max waited for the officer to continue. He seemed hesitant. That wasn’t good.
“She’s what?” He bit out, his words harsher than he had intended.
“She’s his girlfriend.”
Fuck. That actually kinda was a problem, he thought to himself. What if this was just some ploy to screw up the case on Montola’s part? What if she was just PMSing or pissed off at him for doing some asinine thing? What if this ruined everything?
“She’s pretty shaken up sir… if someone could talk to her…” but Larke’s words fell on deaf ears. Max had stopped listening; already retreating into his mind to try and figure out a way that this could work for him.
“Someone will be along soon for Ms. O’Neill.” Max stated calmly, his words coated thickly in ice. He hated this woman already. At the startled look on officer what’s-his-name’s face, Max couldn’t help but be suspicious.
“Did I say something?”
Looking down at his notes quickly to double check, Larke lifted his eyes; looking the agent in the eyes for the first time that night.
“The woman’s name is Parker … a Miss Elizabeth Maree Parker, specifically.”
Well, that was interesting.
*************************************************************
After spending almost two hours, alone, on one of the cold, hard chairs in the questioning room at the police station, Liz was more than fed up. Standing up to inspect her butt, Liz was both pleased and annoyed to discover that she had been right. The pattern from the chair was most definitely imprinted not only on the back of her legs but also on her ass. Leaning back against the table, she made a little jump in the air to land on the cool, smooth surface. That was better. By now, Liz’s mind was a hundred miles away from Tommy and all his… business. Her mind had taken a permanent vacation after the first hour and a half in this crappy little room. Right now the only thing she let herself think about was whether there was really someone on the other side of that mirror.
*************************************************************
Max Evans had been in lots of interrogation rooms… had watched countless interrogations from this side of the mirror… but the way that she was looking at the mirror… no, at him. And before he could even think about what he was saying, his mouth just opened and sound came out.
“She can’t see me, right?”
God, he was such a dumb ass. Of course she cant see me, Max mentally chided himself. I know that… But there was something about the way she looked at that mirror. It was as if she really was trying to see through it. Through him.
Get a grip, she’s not that pretty, Max tried to rationalise. She was all big hair and make-up, like some kind of compact Fran Drescher and yet he could tell that if she took it all off, the make-up he mentally elucidated, he could tell that she would be beautiful. And as for that outfit… Max recognised it straight away. The short, deep red velvet skirt that had barely covered her ass when she had practically bared it to him and any other officer who may have been walking past at the time. And that top… matching the skirt and no more than a scrap of material, it wrapped around her body, reaching just below her… oh yes, he recognised the uniform. It was the Christmas get up that Montola had insisted his waitresses wear during the festive season. It really was something else… but that didn’t matter and neither did the fact that when she had perched herself on the table, it had rode dangerously high up her thigh.
Coughing quickly to cover his thoughts, Max strode over to the door and into the interrogation room.
*************************************************************
Liz had moved on from the wonder of the window and was trying to contemplate the mess that was her life. She had no money, nowhere to go, no one to run away to. She was alone. You could always go back, that little voice inside suggested in an attempt to be helpful. But could she do that? Just forget what she had seen?
“Miss… miss Parker?”
“What?” Liz snapped as she turned to face whatever pesky, idiot cop had been sent to try and placate her for another two hours. Okay, so not that pesky. He was cute, Liz noticed, and beneath all that hair she imagined that he could probably pass for handsome even. In that traditional, heart throb, good looking kind of way anyway.
“I’m agent Evans. I was told that you have some information to share regarding a crime you witnessed.”
This was it, Liz realised. This was one of those annoying moments when she had to make one of those really big choices. If this was happening on a tv show and not to her, it would have been the moment when the music would get really loud and powerful and that keep flicking between people’s faces to see their reactions…
“Anytime soon would be good for me, Miss Parker.”
She hated him already.
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
CHAPTER THREE:
After his inital meeting with Elizabeth Parker, Max wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep for a week, she was that tiring. Firstly, however, he had to take her in to the office. Some kind of emergency meeting. Max couldn’t wait to get rid of her. After four hours with Parker, Max welcomed any work and/or hardened criminals they could throw his way.
Anything would be better than Parker… there was just something about her that frustrated the hell out of him. She was just so… strong-minded, not that there was anything wrong with that; God knew he had grown up with enough ‘strong-minded’ women, but Max got the feeling that she was being extra disagreeable just for him and he had no idea why.
He at least hadn’t been that one to accuse her of being a hooker. Oh, had Max laughed when he'd heard that one. all that had served to accomplish was piss her off more. luckily for him she had decided to punish him by refusing to speak or even look at him, bar the occasional glare. Max was in heaven. She was bareable, almost agreeable when she didn’t speak. It was a welcome change.
Parking his car, Max quickly ushered them through security before leaving her in a waiting room and rushing into the main office that he was stationed in. All seven of his colleagues on the Montola case were there so it had to be something fairly important.
“What is it guys?” he asked straight away, watching as their heated conversation ceased as soon as they noticed him.
“Evans…finally. We,” his superior, Agent Danner paused, gesturing to the congregated men, “have something to discuss with you.”
Leaning against they edge of his desk as the men; agents Holt, Charles, Keirns, Taylor, Smith, Phillips, and Danner milled around, Max had the strangest feeling that they were about to gang up on him. Something was up.
Danner, a tall slender man in his mid-forties, still considered quite handsome even with a rapidly receding hairline, cleared his throat and began to speak.
“You may not have realised Max, what with all the work you do, but in three days it’s doing to be Christmas day.”
This was definitely something bad, Max realised.
“And, while crime does not stop or shut down over Christmas… we do… at least until the 27th.”
“Guys, where is this going? Just spit it out already.” Max sighed. Couldn’t they just get it out already so he could say no to whatever it was and be done with it?
“Okay Max, we’ll cut to the chase,” Keirns said, suddenly joining in the conversation. “Montola knows about Parker. I don’t know how… but he does.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. “Shit!” this was great. Absofuckinlutley perfect.
“I know. And the problem is, is that we can’t arrange anything or anywhere for her to go. She can’t stay in the city and all the government protection agencies are closed for the holidays.”
Oh no. “What does this have to do with me?” Max asked warily. Please don’t say you want me to…
“We want you to look after her.” Sensing his opposition to the idea, Keirns continued quickly. “You know Montola best and well, the thing is, you don’t have…”
“A family,” Max cut in. “That’s what this is about.”
“Well, yeah. Sorry man, but Rosie said she’d flay me alive if I miss another holiday.”
A chorus of yeahs, me toos and a couple of ‘my wife said no sex if I’m not there’, were heard from the surrounding men.
Looking around at the guys Max realised that he really was the only option. All the others had wives and kids… families. He didn’t. it’d be pretty selfish of him if he didn’t agree.
“Okay, I’ll do it. It couldn’t be that hard,” Max said, tried desperately to assure the others as well as himself. He’d take her a bit out of town, find some cosy little backwater hotel, get two rooms and just camp out for a few days and then he could return her. No harm, no foul. It’d be easy… as long as she didn’t speak.
****************************************************************
The trip was hell already. After explaining to her what was happening, Max had taken her back to his place to grab some of his stuff quickly and she hadn’t shut up yet.
“This place is pretty big just for you.” Liz called out to him as she waited in the lounge room. The apartment was a huge two storey loft with a guest room and bathroom downstairs, with from what she could tell, a large room and ensuite upstairs.
“How do you know it’s just me?” He called out, his tone slightly snarky.
Liz couldn’t help but smile. “You’re stuck with me remember. If you had someone, someone else would have gotten the pleasure pf my company.”
She heard his snort but chose to ignore it. She’d been right at least. Walking around the room, Liz looked at all his stuff. Decorations were sparse, but there were photographs everywhere. Maxwell with what she assumed were his parents, with a blonde girl and a spikey haired guy, same blonde different hair with another man and a baby. Spikey with a blonde. They were everywhere. Photos of babies and birthdays and parties. It would be nice, Liz imagined, living in place surrounded by so many of your memories. Looking around her,
Upstairs, max was running around frantically trying to pack his stuff, when suddenly the phone rang. Running down the stairs, Max wasn’t even half way down when he heard Liz pick it up and greet whoever was on the other end.
“Oh, Hi… yes, he’s here… I’m Liz… I’m well, Maxwell’s…I’m his girlfriend.”
Holy shit, Max thought. Snatching the phone out of Liz’s hand, Max quickly said hello, hoping against hope that it wasn’t his mother on the phone.
“Hi Mom… it’s new… I’m sorry…” Walking back upstairs to get his bag, Max lowered his voice. “ No, I’m not going to be able to make it… no Liz wouldn’t want to… Mom… please… what?… no, Mom, I am a grown man… I can’t… I have to work… okay, fine… yes… I said yes didn’t I?. I love you too.”
Walking over to the banister, Max glared accusingly down at Liz. “Why did you have to say you were my girlfriend?”
“I’m sorry. Look, I didn’t know what to say to her, and then she sort of came out of nowhere about how she thought she knew you better than to invite strange women into your apartment and...” Liz quickly defended herself.
“It’s alright“ Max sighed, “I know exactly what my mother is capable of making people say.”
“Oh, okay. Good then.” Liz said, slightly deflated after preparing for more of a fight.
“So what did she want from you?” Liz asked as she watched Max heading down the stairs with his bag.
“Me to come home for Christmas. Bring you with me.”
“Oh, must have been a letdown for her, huh?” Liz laughed.
“Yeah,” he answered sarcastically.
“So were are we going?” Liz asked, suddenly all chipper.
“Home.” He stated, looking pointedly at her.
“Oh.”
After his inital meeting with Elizabeth Parker, Max wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep for a week, she was that tiring. Firstly, however, he had to take her in to the office. Some kind of emergency meeting. Max couldn’t wait to get rid of her. After four hours with Parker, Max welcomed any work and/or hardened criminals they could throw his way.
Anything would be better than Parker… there was just something about her that frustrated the hell out of him. She was just so… strong-minded, not that there was anything wrong with that; God knew he had grown up with enough ‘strong-minded’ women, but Max got the feeling that she was being extra disagreeable just for him and he had no idea why.
He at least hadn’t been that one to accuse her of being a hooker. Oh, had Max laughed when he'd heard that one. all that had served to accomplish was piss her off more. luckily for him she had decided to punish him by refusing to speak or even look at him, bar the occasional glare. Max was in heaven. She was bareable, almost agreeable when she didn’t speak. It was a welcome change.
Parking his car, Max quickly ushered them through security before leaving her in a waiting room and rushing into the main office that he was stationed in. All seven of his colleagues on the Montola case were there so it had to be something fairly important.
“What is it guys?” he asked straight away, watching as their heated conversation ceased as soon as they noticed him.
“Evans…finally. We,” his superior, Agent Danner paused, gesturing to the congregated men, “have something to discuss with you.”
Leaning against they edge of his desk as the men; agents Holt, Charles, Keirns, Taylor, Smith, Phillips, and Danner milled around, Max had the strangest feeling that they were about to gang up on him. Something was up.
Danner, a tall slender man in his mid-forties, still considered quite handsome even with a rapidly receding hairline, cleared his throat and began to speak.
“You may not have realised Max, what with all the work you do, but in three days it’s doing to be Christmas day.”
This was definitely something bad, Max realised.
“And, while crime does not stop or shut down over Christmas… we do… at least until the 27th.”
“Guys, where is this going? Just spit it out already.” Max sighed. Couldn’t they just get it out already so he could say no to whatever it was and be done with it?
“Okay Max, we’ll cut to the chase,” Keirns said, suddenly joining in the conversation. “Montola knows about Parker. I don’t know how… but he does.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. “Shit!” this was great. Absofuckinlutley perfect.
“I know. And the problem is, is that we can’t arrange anything or anywhere for her to go. She can’t stay in the city and all the government protection agencies are closed for the holidays.”
Oh no. “What does this have to do with me?” Max asked warily. Please don’t say you want me to…
“We want you to look after her.” Sensing his opposition to the idea, Keirns continued quickly. “You know Montola best and well, the thing is, you don’t have…”
“A family,” Max cut in. “That’s what this is about.”
“Well, yeah. Sorry man, but Rosie said she’d flay me alive if I miss another holiday.”
A chorus of yeahs, me toos and a couple of ‘my wife said no sex if I’m not there’, were heard from the surrounding men.
Looking around at the guys Max realised that he really was the only option. All the others had wives and kids… families. He didn’t. it’d be pretty selfish of him if he didn’t agree.
“Okay, I’ll do it. It couldn’t be that hard,” Max said, tried desperately to assure the others as well as himself. He’d take her a bit out of town, find some cosy little backwater hotel, get two rooms and just camp out for a few days and then he could return her. No harm, no foul. It’d be easy… as long as she didn’t speak.
****************************************************************
The trip was hell already. After explaining to her what was happening, Max had taken her back to his place to grab some of his stuff quickly and she hadn’t shut up yet.
“This place is pretty big just for you.” Liz called out to him as she waited in the lounge room. The apartment was a huge two storey loft with a guest room and bathroom downstairs, with from what she could tell, a large room and ensuite upstairs.
“How do you know it’s just me?” He called out, his tone slightly snarky.
Liz couldn’t help but smile. “You’re stuck with me remember. If you had someone, someone else would have gotten the pleasure pf my company.”
She heard his snort but chose to ignore it. She’d been right at least. Walking around the room, Liz looked at all his stuff. Decorations were sparse, but there were photographs everywhere. Maxwell with what she assumed were his parents, with a blonde girl and a spikey haired guy, same blonde different hair with another man and a baby. Spikey with a blonde. They were everywhere. Photos of babies and birthdays and parties. It would be nice, Liz imagined, living in place surrounded by so many of your memories. Looking around her,
Upstairs, max was running around frantically trying to pack his stuff, when suddenly the phone rang. Running down the stairs, Max wasn’t even half way down when he heard Liz pick it up and greet whoever was on the other end.
“Oh, Hi… yes, he’s here… I’m Liz… I’m well, Maxwell’s…I’m his girlfriend.”
Holy shit, Max thought. Snatching the phone out of Liz’s hand, Max quickly said hello, hoping against hope that it wasn’t his mother on the phone.
“Hi Mom… it’s new… I’m sorry…” Walking back upstairs to get his bag, Max lowered his voice. “ No, I’m not going to be able to make it… no Liz wouldn’t want to… Mom… please… what?… no, Mom, I am a grown man… I can’t… I have to work… okay, fine… yes… I said yes didn’t I?. I love you too.”
Walking over to the banister, Max glared accusingly down at Liz. “Why did you have to say you were my girlfriend?”
“I’m sorry. Look, I didn’t know what to say to her, and then she sort of came out of nowhere about how she thought she knew you better than to invite strange women into your apartment and...” Liz quickly defended herself.
“It’s alright“ Max sighed, “I know exactly what my mother is capable of making people say.”
“Oh, okay. Good then.” Liz said, slightly deflated after preparing for more of a fight.
“So what did she want from you?” Liz asked as she watched Max heading down the stairs with his bag.
“Me to come home for Christmas. Bring you with me.”
“Oh, must have been a letdown for her, huh?” Liz laughed.
“Yeah,” he answered sarcastically.
“So were are we going?” Liz asked, suddenly all chipper.
“Home.” He stated, looking pointedly at her.
“Oh.”
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
hey everyone, MERRY CHRSITMAS!!!!! i am so blown away by response to this story. this is the last chapter l'll be able to post till at least the 8-9th of january as my family is going away. hopefully l'll be inspired (between spending time with my psychotic, melodramatic family, doing school work and reading 6-7 novels and plays for school) to write and will come back with a nice JUICY chapter for you guys!!!!!!!
oh, and the title is not an appropriation of the movie title. i wanted something different and i didn't want to give the story away before anyone even read it.
CHAPTER FOUR:
“I thought we were going ‘home’?” Liz frowned, when they suddenly stopped at a little shopping mall two hours after departing from Max’s.
“I have some stuff to do here first.” Max stated simply.
“What if someone sees me?” Liz asked, suddenly nervous.
“Here?” Max said, gesturing around at the backwater town and raising his eyebrows.
“Point taken.” Liz grumbled as she got out of the car.
“Can I at least borrow your coat? mine’s too hot for inside.” she whined, eyeing his sensible black knee-length coat.
Passing it over to her and watching her drag off her mammoth purple coat and replace it with his sensible knee-length black one, Max was reminded that problems could possibly be raised in the Evans household with such an outfit. His coat looked more suitable yet entirely ridiculous. It reached almost to her ankles and the cuffs on the arms had to be folded up. It looked disturbingly, disgustingly sexy. At least to him.
“Anyway,” Max called after her as she began to walk away, “you’ll definitely need some clothes.”
*************************************************************
After receiving a lecture to ‘buy sensible, warm clothes, that covered more than an eighth of her body’, Max gave Liz free reign over the store and his credit card, before running off to do God knows whatever he had to do.
Walking around the racks, Liz brushed her finger tips along the clothes on the rack. They were nice; dresses, sparkly tops, shawls, elegant black, brown and white coats, but not of it felt like her. Despite her current attire, Liz actually preferred more laid back clothes. She was definitely a jeans kind of girl.
Entering the next store, Liz was surprised to find that it was completely different to all the ones she had forced herself to walk through.
Quickly grabbing several items, Liz headed into the change rooms. This was more like it.
*************************************************************
After grabbing her purchases, Liz decided to sit down and wait for Max. glancing around out of boredom, she spotted a man talking on the phone about thirty metres from where she was sitting. She could only see him from behind, but what a nice behind it was. Cocking her head to the side, Liz blatantly checked out the guy. He was tall with hair short enough to be neat and easy, but with a few centimetres on the top allowing for it to spike up. His plain shirt was rolled up at the cuffs. He was gorgeous. And she hadn’t even seen a face yet. He’d probably be ugly, she sighed. Hot body… he had to have an ugly face.
Turning away, Liz concentrated on looking for Max.
*************************************************************
After finishing all his little jobs, Max looked around for Liz. On his first glance around the central court he didn’t see her, but on the second, after catching a glimpse of big hair out of the corner of his eye, he saw her. Taking in the change in her clothing Max was surprised by what she was wearing. A pair of jeans, red sweater and his jacket. He liked it even more than the santa outfit… well, almost.
*************************************************************
“There you are.”
Liz quickly whipped her head around at the sound of his voice, and on seeing him, she almost fell of the chair. Holy Jesus Christ! Hot, juicy butt guy was…
“What the hell did you do to your hair?” Liz practically yelled.
Initially taken aback by her reaction, Max just stood there before replying.
“My mother would have killed me if I’d arrived home with my hair the way it had been… she’s convinced I’m neglecting myself. Anyway, it’s none of your business.” He said in one breath, with a somewhat defensive tone, before adding a “does it look bad?”
“NO! it’s just a shock… you looked like some kind of… of a really tall hobbit before, and now…” you look hot, you look hot, you look hot, “you don’t,” she ended lamely, sure that he had noticed the prolonged pauses in her words.
“Oh… well, thanks?” Max answered questioningly, not sure if she had just complimented him or insulted him. Or if she’d managed to do both. An awkward silence ensued.
“Um… well, we should probably get back on the road, we’ve got a few more hours to go.” Max told her before heading out of the mall and towards his car.
Liz followed mindlessly, watching his arm muscles straining to carry all her bags. She was utterly confused. First of all, Max! was hot, juicy butt guy. In all the time that she’d spent with him that day, she had never once checked out his body. Sure, she’d recognised that having to look at his face wasn’t exactly a punishment or a particularly hard job, but with hi hair long and curling and flicking, he’d been more “aww,” than “oooh”. If that made sense. Before he’d looked like a guy, a boy but now, he was all man.
“Liz! Liz! Can you get in the freakin’ car already? It’s freezing and I’d like to get on the road before I turn into a human popsicle.”
Damn, why did he have to speak? He always looked less appealing when he decided to be an ass.
***********************************************************
oh, and the title is not an appropriation of the movie title. i wanted something different and i didn't want to give the story away before anyone even read it.
CHAPTER FOUR:
“I thought we were going ‘home’?” Liz frowned, when they suddenly stopped at a little shopping mall two hours after departing from Max’s.
“I have some stuff to do here first.” Max stated simply.
“What if someone sees me?” Liz asked, suddenly nervous.
“Here?” Max said, gesturing around at the backwater town and raising his eyebrows.
“Point taken.” Liz grumbled as she got out of the car.
“Can I at least borrow your coat? mine’s too hot for inside.” she whined, eyeing his sensible black knee-length coat.
Passing it over to her and watching her drag off her mammoth purple coat and replace it with his sensible knee-length black one, Max was reminded that problems could possibly be raised in the Evans household with such an outfit. His coat looked more suitable yet entirely ridiculous. It reached almost to her ankles and the cuffs on the arms had to be folded up. It looked disturbingly, disgustingly sexy. At least to him.
“Anyway,” Max called after her as she began to walk away, “you’ll definitely need some clothes.”
*************************************************************
After receiving a lecture to ‘buy sensible, warm clothes, that covered more than an eighth of her body’, Max gave Liz free reign over the store and his credit card, before running off to do God knows whatever he had to do.
Walking around the racks, Liz brushed her finger tips along the clothes on the rack. They were nice; dresses, sparkly tops, shawls, elegant black, brown and white coats, but not of it felt like her. Despite her current attire, Liz actually preferred more laid back clothes. She was definitely a jeans kind of girl.
Entering the next store, Liz was surprised to find that it was completely different to all the ones she had forced herself to walk through.
Quickly grabbing several items, Liz headed into the change rooms. This was more like it.
*************************************************************
After grabbing her purchases, Liz decided to sit down and wait for Max. glancing around out of boredom, she spotted a man talking on the phone about thirty metres from where she was sitting. She could only see him from behind, but what a nice behind it was. Cocking her head to the side, Liz blatantly checked out the guy. He was tall with hair short enough to be neat and easy, but with a few centimetres on the top allowing for it to spike up. His plain shirt was rolled up at the cuffs. He was gorgeous. And she hadn’t even seen a face yet. He’d probably be ugly, she sighed. Hot body… he had to have an ugly face.
Turning away, Liz concentrated on looking for Max.
*************************************************************
After finishing all his little jobs, Max looked around for Liz. On his first glance around the central court he didn’t see her, but on the second, after catching a glimpse of big hair out of the corner of his eye, he saw her. Taking in the change in her clothing Max was surprised by what she was wearing. A pair of jeans, red sweater and his jacket. He liked it even more than the santa outfit… well, almost.
*************************************************************
“There you are.”
Liz quickly whipped her head around at the sound of his voice, and on seeing him, she almost fell of the chair. Holy Jesus Christ! Hot, juicy butt guy was…
“What the hell did you do to your hair?” Liz practically yelled.
Initially taken aback by her reaction, Max just stood there before replying.
“My mother would have killed me if I’d arrived home with my hair the way it had been… she’s convinced I’m neglecting myself. Anyway, it’s none of your business.” He said in one breath, with a somewhat defensive tone, before adding a “does it look bad?”
“NO! it’s just a shock… you looked like some kind of… of a really tall hobbit before, and now…” you look hot, you look hot, you look hot, “you don’t,” she ended lamely, sure that he had noticed the prolonged pauses in her words.
“Oh… well, thanks?” Max answered questioningly, not sure if she had just complimented him or insulted him. Or if she’d managed to do both. An awkward silence ensued.
“Um… well, we should probably get back on the road, we’ve got a few more hours to go.” Max told her before heading out of the mall and towards his car.
Liz followed mindlessly, watching his arm muscles straining to carry all her bags. She was utterly confused. First of all, Max! was hot, juicy butt guy. In all the time that she’d spent with him that day, she had never once checked out his body. Sure, she’d recognised that having to look at his face wasn’t exactly a punishment or a particularly hard job, but with hi hair long and curling and flicking, he’d been more “aww,” than “oooh”. If that made sense. Before he’d looked like a guy, a boy but now, he was all man.
“Liz! Liz! Can you get in the freakin’ car already? It’s freezing and I’d like to get on the road before I turn into a human popsicle.”
Damn, why did he have to speak? He always looked less appealing when he decided to be an ass.
***********************************************************
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
CHAPTER FIVE:
Ten minutes into the car ride and against all better judgement, Max felt the overwhelming and irrational need to end the silence that had settled over them. Somewhere along the way, he’d come to the conclusion that this might just work out for him. His family, no his mother and sister, had spent the better part of the last decade entirely preoccupied with his love-life. And now he was finally bringing a girl home for them… and they were going to hate her. Liz was big; larger than life; teeming with vitality. She was brazen and opinionated and feisty. These weren’t bad qualities to have in a woman, but they were definitely not ones that his family was used to. The Evans’ were by no means snobs, but Max knew that a girl like Liz Parker would definitely not fit into his family’s ordered, settled, structured life. Under different circumstances, it could have almost been a pity… almost.
“I suppose I should tell you about my family… you know, if we’re going to pull this whole thing off.”
Oh, he’d definitely gotten her interest now. He could tell.
“Definitely.”
And so for the rest of the trip, Max told her about his family. He told her important stuff, like how his Dad had just made judge after working as a lawyer for over 30 years. He also told her trivial stuff; recounts about his mother’s famous Christmas Eve parties and how his sister had secretly been nicknamed the Christmas nazi because of her fanaticism towards making the perfect Christmas, and he told her about his brother and his wife. He could see how into the story she was when he told her about the summer that Isabel had met Alex Whitman. She laughed as he recounted how 17 year old Isabel had been chased all summer; how Alex had serenaded her, sent her flowers, drew cartoon strips, even performed poetry in an effort to garner her attention until she had relented and gone on a pity date with him. Max actually thought he saw tears when he told her how 21 year old upcoming model and “the next big thing” Isabel Evans quit modelling and married an “unknown”, Alexander Whitman. Max told her how obsessed his brother-in-law was with computers… but chose to leave out that his little obsession had made him a multimillionaire… a couple times over.
And when he told her about Michael he even thought he saw tears in her eyes. Max didn’t go into great detail about his brother‘s childhood, simply choosing to share that Michael Guerin, now Evans, had been adopted by the Evans’ after experiencing a painful childhood in foster care. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Max could see her, clearly torn between laughter and tears when he told her how Michael had met Alex’s best friend at his and Isabel’s wedding; a woman equally eager as Alex to go after something that she really wanted… whether Michael was willing or not, and how they had married a year later in a quiet, little ceremony.
The car once again fell into silence as he thought about his family. Talking about them made him realise just how much he had missed seeing them. His mother, father, Alex, Isabel, his nieces Ebony and Georgie, Michael and Maria. His sister-in-law... Maria… Maria Deluca- Evans. Now she was a real spitfire… and suddenly Max realised that he was royally screwed.
His family wasn’t going to like Liz.
They were going to love her.
***************************************************************************
Pulling up in front of the large, snow-covered house, Liz didn’t know what to feel. She was ridiculously nervous, and she was also so unbelievably sad. But she was excited too. For the first time in ages, she wasn’t going to alone at Christmas. For the past several years, Liz had spent almost every Christmas by herself. Sure, Tommy had been there… for a little while… sometimes, but it wasn’t the same. This year, even if it was fake, even if she was pretending, even if it was only going to last a little while, she was going to be part of something. She was going to be with a real, bona-fide family… and she hadn’t been around one of those in a long time.
As her thoughts inevitably drifted to her own family, or at least, the one that she had had once, Liz’s eyes welled with tears. She always missed them the most at Christmas. Quickly getting out of the car before he saw her tears, Liz pawed at her eyes hastily, wiping away any stray tears. Despite all the cold winters that she had braved, Liz was, however, unprepared for the cold breeze that hit her like a brick in the face. Her eyes once again began to water, and Liz was glad to have an excuse for her tears.
*************************************************************************
“Max!”
Max had barely made it halfway up the driveway before he was inundated with his family… well, make that his mother, Isabel and Maria, as they threw their arms around him and attempted to squeeze all the air out of him.
“Mum, Izzie, Ria, please let up… I can’t breath.” Max weezed as they simply laughed and focused all their attention on Liz.
“Can we at least take this inside?” Max asked before they were able to start on Liz.
Once inside and after a quick hello from his Dad, Michael and Alex who were holed up and refused to leave said sanctuary, Max realised that he had officially become invisible.
“It’s so nice to meet you Liz. I’m Diane… Max’s mother.”
“Hello. It‘s great to finally meet you” Liz smiled, surprised that as she went to shake Diane’s hand she was suddenly enveloped in her arms.
“Hi. I’m Isabel.” Liz smiled at the tall brunette as Diane let her go. Liz recognised her as one of the blondes in the pictures in Max’s apartment. Her hair was short now but she was very beautiful. It was easily to see that Isabel could have been exceptionally famous if she had pursued modelling.
“And I’m Maria.” The little blonde waved. She had long hair and Liz recognised her too from the pictures in Max’s apartment.
“What’s all the fuss about? It’s just Max… Wait, who are you?”
Turning in the direction of the voice, Liz was surprised to see three men standing completely still in the hallway.
“Michael! Geez, rude much?”
Liz couldn’t help but smile. So this was Michael.
“This is Liz… I told you Max was bringing someone.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes I did… oh, wait, that’s right! I tried to tell you, but you kept interrupting me and told me to get out of the way of the T.V. ‘cause you were watching hockey.”
Ouch! Liz grimaced. He really walked into that one. Liz watched as the other men looked at each other and smirked. Catching the look exchanged between their respective partners, Diane and Isabel moved to stand facing them next to Maria. Each had their hands on the hips. They were in full Amazon warrior pose. It was hilarious and Liz could see Max trying not to smile too.
“In fact,” Diane spoke up, “you were all told. You, Phillip ignored me. When I asked if you heard what I said, you said yes and asked for a beer.”
“Alex asked for pretzels.” Isabel piped up.
“Well…” Max spoke, in an attempt to save his fellow combatants, “let’s eat. I’m starving.”
That’s all it took to break the short silence as Diane started herding them into the dining room and towards a very delicious smell.
Hey dude,” Michael suddenly asked. “What’s with the chick? We thought you were gay?’
Liz couldn’t hold back her laughter and unfortunately paid the price as she missed the step leading up into the dining room. She emitted a slight yelp as she began to fall forward but luckily she was saved.
“It wasn’t that funny.”
His tone was slightly defensive, but she could see the slight glimmer of a smile in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth. She’d never seen him fully smile before. She wondered what his teeth looked like. But then she looked straight into his eyes and all thought of teeth flew out of her head. Before, all his hair had partially covered his eyes. Now they were completely unobstructed… and giving her an entirely unsettling feeling. It wasn’t a bad one… but it definitely wasn’t good… or appropriate.
“Yes, it was.” Liz said, looking him straight in the eyes as she straightened up and stepped into the room.
TBC
Ten minutes into the car ride and against all better judgement, Max felt the overwhelming and irrational need to end the silence that had settled over them. Somewhere along the way, he’d come to the conclusion that this might just work out for him. His family, no his mother and sister, had spent the better part of the last decade entirely preoccupied with his love-life. And now he was finally bringing a girl home for them… and they were going to hate her. Liz was big; larger than life; teeming with vitality. She was brazen and opinionated and feisty. These weren’t bad qualities to have in a woman, but they were definitely not ones that his family was used to. The Evans’ were by no means snobs, but Max knew that a girl like Liz Parker would definitely not fit into his family’s ordered, settled, structured life. Under different circumstances, it could have almost been a pity… almost.
“I suppose I should tell you about my family… you know, if we’re going to pull this whole thing off.”
Oh, he’d definitely gotten her interest now. He could tell.
“Definitely.”
And so for the rest of the trip, Max told her about his family. He told her important stuff, like how his Dad had just made judge after working as a lawyer for over 30 years. He also told her trivial stuff; recounts about his mother’s famous Christmas Eve parties and how his sister had secretly been nicknamed the Christmas nazi because of her fanaticism towards making the perfect Christmas, and he told her about his brother and his wife. He could see how into the story she was when he told her about the summer that Isabel had met Alex Whitman. She laughed as he recounted how 17 year old Isabel had been chased all summer; how Alex had serenaded her, sent her flowers, drew cartoon strips, even performed poetry in an effort to garner her attention until she had relented and gone on a pity date with him. Max actually thought he saw tears when he told her how 21 year old upcoming model and “the next big thing” Isabel Evans quit modelling and married an “unknown”, Alexander Whitman. Max told her how obsessed his brother-in-law was with computers… but chose to leave out that his little obsession had made him a multimillionaire… a couple times over.
And when he told her about Michael he even thought he saw tears in her eyes. Max didn’t go into great detail about his brother‘s childhood, simply choosing to share that Michael Guerin, now Evans, had been adopted by the Evans’ after experiencing a painful childhood in foster care. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Max could see her, clearly torn between laughter and tears when he told her how Michael had met Alex’s best friend at his and Isabel’s wedding; a woman equally eager as Alex to go after something that she really wanted… whether Michael was willing or not, and how they had married a year later in a quiet, little ceremony.
The car once again fell into silence as he thought about his family. Talking about them made him realise just how much he had missed seeing them. His mother, father, Alex, Isabel, his nieces Ebony and Georgie, Michael and Maria. His sister-in-law... Maria… Maria Deluca- Evans. Now she was a real spitfire… and suddenly Max realised that he was royally screwed.
His family wasn’t going to like Liz.
They were going to love her.
***************************************************************************
Pulling up in front of the large, snow-covered house, Liz didn’t know what to feel. She was ridiculously nervous, and she was also so unbelievably sad. But she was excited too. For the first time in ages, she wasn’t going to alone at Christmas. For the past several years, Liz had spent almost every Christmas by herself. Sure, Tommy had been there… for a little while… sometimes, but it wasn’t the same. This year, even if it was fake, even if she was pretending, even if it was only going to last a little while, she was going to be part of something. She was going to be with a real, bona-fide family… and she hadn’t been around one of those in a long time.
As her thoughts inevitably drifted to her own family, or at least, the one that she had had once, Liz’s eyes welled with tears. She always missed them the most at Christmas. Quickly getting out of the car before he saw her tears, Liz pawed at her eyes hastily, wiping away any stray tears. Despite all the cold winters that she had braved, Liz was, however, unprepared for the cold breeze that hit her like a brick in the face. Her eyes once again began to water, and Liz was glad to have an excuse for her tears.
*************************************************************************
“Max!”
Max had barely made it halfway up the driveway before he was inundated with his family… well, make that his mother, Isabel and Maria, as they threw their arms around him and attempted to squeeze all the air out of him.
“Mum, Izzie, Ria, please let up… I can’t breath.” Max weezed as they simply laughed and focused all their attention on Liz.
“Can we at least take this inside?” Max asked before they were able to start on Liz.
Once inside and after a quick hello from his Dad, Michael and Alex who were holed up and refused to leave said sanctuary, Max realised that he had officially become invisible.
“It’s so nice to meet you Liz. I’m Diane… Max’s mother.”
“Hello. It‘s great to finally meet you” Liz smiled, surprised that as she went to shake Diane’s hand she was suddenly enveloped in her arms.
“Hi. I’m Isabel.” Liz smiled at the tall brunette as Diane let her go. Liz recognised her as one of the blondes in the pictures in Max’s apartment. Her hair was short now but she was very beautiful. It was easily to see that Isabel could have been exceptionally famous if she had pursued modelling.
“And I’m Maria.” The little blonde waved. She had long hair and Liz recognised her too from the pictures in Max’s apartment.
“What’s all the fuss about? It’s just Max… Wait, who are you?”
Turning in the direction of the voice, Liz was surprised to see three men standing completely still in the hallway.
“Michael! Geez, rude much?”
Liz couldn’t help but smile. So this was Michael.
“This is Liz… I told you Max was bringing someone.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Yes I did… oh, wait, that’s right! I tried to tell you, but you kept interrupting me and told me to get out of the way of the T.V. ‘cause you were watching hockey.”
Ouch! Liz grimaced. He really walked into that one. Liz watched as the other men looked at each other and smirked. Catching the look exchanged between their respective partners, Diane and Isabel moved to stand facing them next to Maria. Each had their hands on the hips. They were in full Amazon warrior pose. It was hilarious and Liz could see Max trying not to smile too.
“In fact,” Diane spoke up, “you were all told. You, Phillip ignored me. When I asked if you heard what I said, you said yes and asked for a beer.”
“Alex asked for pretzels.” Isabel piped up.
“Well…” Max spoke, in an attempt to save his fellow combatants, “let’s eat. I’m starving.”
That’s all it took to break the short silence as Diane started herding them into the dining room and towards a very delicious smell.
Hey dude,” Michael suddenly asked. “What’s with the chick? We thought you were gay?’
Liz couldn’t hold back her laughter and unfortunately paid the price as she missed the step leading up into the dining room. She emitted a slight yelp as she began to fall forward but luckily she was saved.
“It wasn’t that funny.”
His tone was slightly defensive, but she could see the slight glimmer of a smile in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth. She’d never seen him fully smile before. She wondered what his teeth looked like. But then she looked straight into his eyes and all thought of teeth flew out of her head. Before, all his hair had partially covered his eyes. Now they were completely unobstructed… and giving her an entirely unsettling feeling. It wasn’t a bad one… but it definitely wasn’t good… or appropriate.
“Yes, it was.” Liz said, looking him straight in the eyes as she straightened up and stepped into the room.
TBC
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
I'm back!
CHAPTER SIX:
On entering the dining room Liz’s attention was firstly caught by the large table in the centre of the room, which was overflowing with food and decorations, before settling on two small figures in the corner of the room. Two little girls… two gorgeous little girls. The older one smiled at Liz and she unconsciously quickly walked over to say hello.
“Hi, I’m Georgie. I’m six.” The older of the two said, greeting Liz without hesitation. She was exceptionally cute with dark, black hair like her father and eyes a similar shade to Max’s but not quite as… golden? They were just slightly different. Liz was shocked to find herself comparing the little girl’s eyes to Max’s. She was clearly not as shy as her little sister her simply gave Liz a little smile before looking back down at her doll. “And this is Ebony… she’s only four.” Ebony was a funny choice of name considering the short crop of curly golden hair that adorned her head, but it was a beautiful name and she was a beautiful little girl. Somehow it suited her.
For the next couple of minutes while the others talked, caught up and made last minute adjustments and additions to the dinner table, Liz continued to sit talking to Georgie and Ebony. Mostly Georgie spoke, but every now and again, Ebony would add something to the conversation. They told Liz about all the Christmas preparations that had been going on at the house and how they were helping their mom with all her Christmas activities. Liz smiled at their excitement as they told her how Santa would be coming in only a few sleep and what they had asked him for. But mostly, they were excited about the Christmas Eve party and the new dresses that had been bought for them.
“Now where are my two beautiful little nieces?” Liz smiled as she watched Max walk over and give each girl a little kiss on the cheek.
“Hi Uncle Maxie.” Both of the girls giggled as their Uncle blew raspberries on their cheeks before turning their full attention back to Liz.
“So… my dress is green with a red bow.” Georgie said, continuing the previous discussion.
“And mine is blue with a gold ribbon.” Ebony smiled.
Max on the other hand, couldn’t believe it. It was like he was invisible! He knew it was irrational… but it wasn’t fair. The girls had barely noticed him… and he was the one related to them!
“Liz? Lunch’s ready.”
Looking from the eager young faces before her and the expectant look on Max’s, Liz quickly stood up, excused herself from the table and went to sit back down in the corner with Georgie and Ebony. Max had no idea what to do.
Despite not sitting at the table, Liz heartily joined in the conversation. Everything was kept fairly light but when the occasional awkward question came up, like how she and Max had met, Liz would umm and ahh until max would tell his family to stop being so darn nosy and finish their dinner.
After everyone had eaten and the men had cleaned the table and stacked the dishes, Liz volunteered to help Isabel, Diane and Maria wash up. She was pleased to discover that they weren’t half as nosy and Max had portrayed them.
“So… how long have you and Max known each other?” the question was slipped in between harmless conversation about the weather, Christmas and the upcoming party.
“Not long…” Liz answered, being as vague as humanly possible.
“So you two met…?” Isabel chimed in, continuing the questioning Maria had instigated.
“At work actually.” it was kind of true. “I’m a waitress.”
“Really? So is this just like a part time thing until you finish college?” the question was harmless but Diane knew by the way that Liz’s face had fallen, that she had said something inappropriate.
“It’s okay… school, isn’t for everyone.” Diane attempted to soothe.
“Oh, no. I loved school… I was actually valedictorian of my graduating class.” Liz blushed.
Diane was intrigued. “So why didn’t you-”
Liz knew that she could lie, make up some little story that wouldn’t hurt like the truth would, but she didn’t feel like it.
“My parents were… they died shortly after graduation. With all the costs of … everything… I couldn’t afford to go away to school or try and study and support myself. It just wouldn’t have been… impractical.”
“I’m so sorry dear.” Liz just smiled at the heartfelt sincerity. There wasn’t any pity in any of their eyes. She couldn’t stand pity.
The moment was slightly awkward before Maria, unable to stand the quiet, quickly changed the topic.
“So do you have your dress for the party?”
“No.”
“We’ll just have to go shopping then." Isabel said looking at Maria. Liz could almost swear that she saw a gleam in her eyes when she talked about shopping.
Watching Liz as Maria and Izzy talked about the party and possible dresses, Diane was quite impressed to say the least. Liz was nice, kind, compassionate and obviously loved children. She was smart and sincere and she could tell that she had a bit of spitfire in her. She was perfect for Max… and now all Diane had to do was Max sure that her son actually fell in love with her now. Diane couldn’t help but smile. Max was so foolish some times… he’d actually thought that he could pull something like this off with her.
CHAPTER SIX:
On entering the dining room Liz’s attention was firstly caught by the large table in the centre of the room, which was overflowing with food and decorations, before settling on two small figures in the corner of the room. Two little girls… two gorgeous little girls. The older one smiled at Liz and she unconsciously quickly walked over to say hello.
“Hi, I’m Georgie. I’m six.” The older of the two said, greeting Liz without hesitation. She was exceptionally cute with dark, black hair like her father and eyes a similar shade to Max’s but not quite as… golden? They were just slightly different. Liz was shocked to find herself comparing the little girl’s eyes to Max’s. She was clearly not as shy as her little sister her simply gave Liz a little smile before looking back down at her doll. “And this is Ebony… she’s only four.” Ebony was a funny choice of name considering the short crop of curly golden hair that adorned her head, but it was a beautiful name and she was a beautiful little girl. Somehow it suited her.
For the next couple of minutes while the others talked, caught up and made last minute adjustments and additions to the dinner table, Liz continued to sit talking to Georgie and Ebony. Mostly Georgie spoke, but every now and again, Ebony would add something to the conversation. They told Liz about all the Christmas preparations that had been going on at the house and how they were helping their mom with all her Christmas activities. Liz smiled at their excitement as they told her how Santa would be coming in only a few sleep and what they had asked him for. But mostly, they were excited about the Christmas Eve party and the new dresses that had been bought for them.
“Now where are my two beautiful little nieces?” Liz smiled as she watched Max walk over and give each girl a little kiss on the cheek.
“Hi Uncle Maxie.” Both of the girls giggled as their Uncle blew raspberries on their cheeks before turning their full attention back to Liz.
“So… my dress is green with a red bow.” Georgie said, continuing the previous discussion.
“And mine is blue with a gold ribbon.” Ebony smiled.
Max on the other hand, couldn’t believe it. It was like he was invisible! He knew it was irrational… but it wasn’t fair. The girls had barely noticed him… and he was the one related to them!
“Liz? Lunch’s ready.”
Looking from the eager young faces before her and the expectant look on Max’s, Liz quickly stood up, excused herself from the table and went to sit back down in the corner with Georgie and Ebony. Max had no idea what to do.
Despite not sitting at the table, Liz heartily joined in the conversation. Everything was kept fairly light but when the occasional awkward question came up, like how she and Max had met, Liz would umm and ahh until max would tell his family to stop being so darn nosy and finish their dinner.
After everyone had eaten and the men had cleaned the table and stacked the dishes, Liz volunteered to help Isabel, Diane and Maria wash up. She was pleased to discover that they weren’t half as nosy and Max had portrayed them.
“So… how long have you and Max known each other?” the question was slipped in between harmless conversation about the weather, Christmas and the upcoming party.
“Not long…” Liz answered, being as vague as humanly possible.
“So you two met…?” Isabel chimed in, continuing the questioning Maria had instigated.
“At work actually.” it was kind of true. “I’m a waitress.”
“Really? So is this just like a part time thing until you finish college?” the question was harmless but Diane knew by the way that Liz’s face had fallen, that she had said something inappropriate.
“It’s okay… school, isn’t for everyone.” Diane attempted to soothe.
“Oh, no. I loved school… I was actually valedictorian of my graduating class.” Liz blushed.
Diane was intrigued. “So why didn’t you-”
Liz knew that she could lie, make up some little story that wouldn’t hurt like the truth would, but she didn’t feel like it.
“My parents were… they died shortly after graduation. With all the costs of … everything… I couldn’t afford to go away to school or try and study and support myself. It just wouldn’t have been… impractical.”
“I’m so sorry dear.” Liz just smiled at the heartfelt sincerity. There wasn’t any pity in any of their eyes. She couldn’t stand pity.
The moment was slightly awkward before Maria, unable to stand the quiet, quickly changed the topic.
“So do you have your dress for the party?”
“No.”
“We’ll just have to go shopping then." Isabel said looking at Maria. Liz could almost swear that she saw a gleam in her eyes when she talked about shopping.
Watching Liz as Maria and Izzy talked about the party and possible dresses, Diane was quite impressed to say the least. Liz was nice, kind, compassionate and obviously loved children. She was smart and sincere and she could tell that she had a bit of spitfire in her. She was perfect for Max… and now all Diane had to do was Max sure that her son actually fell in love with her now. Diane couldn’t help but smile. Max was so foolish some times… he’d actually thought that he could pull something like this off with her.
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
Hi, everyone. i've been working on this chapter for the last couple of days and really hope you like it.
right now i'm in total shock over the responses that i've received... so here's a new chapter. you guys have earned it!!!!!
CHAPTER SEVEN
“And this is yours and Max’s room.”
Liz’s eyes almost bugged out of her head at Diane’s statement. Her and Maxwell were supposed to share? And of course, there was only one bed… he was so sleeping on the floor.
Max too was surprised by his mother’s sleeping arrangements. Isabel and Alex had been forced to sleep in separate rooms during visits until they had gotten married. They had lived together for two years before getting married… and Alex had still been relegated to the spare bedroom.
“Don’t look so surprised Max! You’re 27... It’s okay for you to have a girl in your room. I’m not that naïve to think that you haven’t before.”
Diane almost chuckled at the look on her son’s face; his ears turning the darlingest shade of pink.
“Well, night sweetie,” Diane smiled, giving her son a quick peck on the cheek. “Night Liz…”
Closing the door behind his mother, Max turned to look firstly at his large double bed and secondly at Liz; the look on her face clearly stating that they weren’t going to be sharing the covers any time soon. This whole situation was so… weird. He’d been counting on separate sleeping arrangements.
“Okay, well, you can get changed in here. I’ll get changed in the bathroom.”
Seeing the look on her face and her mouth open as if to object, Max quickly butted in.
“please do not argue… I’m really not in the mood for it, so if we could just skip the tirade and-”
“HEY! What crawled up your butt? I was just going to tell you that I don’t have any pyjamas.”
Shit! “Oh, right. Sorry. Okay… um, I should have some old shirts and stuff in that drawer there. Help yourself.” Max said, thoroughly chastised as he pointed towards the old chest of drawers in the corner before quickly making his exit. It was so weird having a girl in his room. In high school not a single girl had made it up here, despite the fact that so many had tried. And now, he had Liz Parker up here. Liz Parker: a 22 year old waitress/ mobster’s girlfriend/ murder witness.
After getting changed into a pair of long flannel pyjama pants and an old t-shirt Max returned to the room to find Liz looking at his book shelf in just one of his old college sweat shirts. Max cleared his throat to announce his presence and to try and clear his thoughts that were currently pre-occupied by one fact… that the shirt was riding dangerously high on her thigh.
“I love this book.” Liz smiled, noting Max’s presence as she took it down from the shelf.
“You’ve read Steinbeck?”
Well, that was a stupid thing to say, Max thought to himself as he steeled himself for full-on warfare. But surprisingly, she didn’t blow up.
“Right,” Liz smiled sadly as she hopped into bed, a pillow and some blankets from the bed already laid out for Max on the floor. “I’m just some trashy waitress. What would I know about books?”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it that way.” Max defended weakly as he turned off the light and laid down, trying in vain to make himself comfortable.
“Yes you did.” And that hurt Liz. “But it’s okay… Goodnight Maxwell.”
Max didn’t know what to say except “goodnight.”
Both of them just lay there in silence until Max, still dwelling on his earlier conversation with his mother had to ask her the question he’d been dying to ask.
“My mother asked me about your family… she told me about everything. ” His words were said quietly but in the silent room and the space that divided them, it felt akin to a yell. Max had no way of knowing whether she was awake or asleep but he continued nevertheless.
“I guess I just wanted to know why you never went back to school, you know, later.”
“Your mother wasn’t suspicious that you didn’t know about it all?”
Max almost smiled. After everything that he’d said, after the way he’d insulted her, she was still concerned about their little act.
“No… you don’t have to answer my question. It’s okay.”
Liz knew that he really would let it go, but lately she just wasn’t in the mood for forgetting or glossing her life over.
“About a year and a half ago, I’d saved up enough money to be able to pay for my first year’s tuition. I wanted to go back to school. I was always a nerd… I missed… learning.”
“So what changed?”
He was going to think she was so stupid. “Tommy… he told me not to waste my money on things like that. Smart girls,” Liz laughed softly, the sound slightly tortured, “Tommy said that guys don’t want smart girls… that I didn’t need to be smart or any of that because I had him… I was such a fool… I honestly thought that he… that he loved me.”
“So… do you, you know, still love him?”
“No. I don’t think I ever did. I guess I just wanted someone to love… after my parents… it was something that I thought I needed… someone to love me… look after me, be with me… forever, I guess. It’s stupid. Forever is stupid. I cant believe that I ever believed in it. There‘s no such thing as forever… that much is crystal clear.”
The bitterness in her voice unsettled Max to his very core. He hadn’t known Liz for very long, but on top of everything else that Montola had done, Max hated him even more for making Liz feel that way.
“Loving someone and wanting to have all that isn’t stupid and it doesn’t make you stupid. It makes Montola a fool for not wanting to be that person for you.”
“He had other girls, didn’t he?” Liz asked, but it was more of a statement than a question. They both knew.
“Does that make you sad?” Even Max was surprised by the questions he was asking but it just felt like in the darkness and isolation of that room, neither of them had to lie or pretend. They could shed their masks in the dark and no one would know.
“No… just sorry that I wasted all that time on him; that I forgot about my dreams just so he could feel comfortable and secure in his pathetic existence.”
Her tone softened. “Thankyou for bringing me here Maxwell… it… goodnight.”
That was one mask she could not shed. Not even in the darkness and especially with him. He didn’t need to know that today with his family was one of the happiest days of her life. He didn’t need to know that tonight; in his childhood home, in his bed, with him sleeping beside her on the floor, that she felt safe for the first time since she was a little girl curled up in her parent’s bed between their sleeping forms. He definitely didn’t need to know that.
“Night Liz.”
right now i'm in total shock over the responses that i've received... so here's a new chapter. you guys have earned it!!!!!
CHAPTER SEVEN
“And this is yours and Max’s room.”
Liz’s eyes almost bugged out of her head at Diane’s statement. Her and Maxwell were supposed to share? And of course, there was only one bed… he was so sleeping on the floor.
Max too was surprised by his mother’s sleeping arrangements. Isabel and Alex had been forced to sleep in separate rooms during visits until they had gotten married. They had lived together for two years before getting married… and Alex had still been relegated to the spare bedroom.
“Don’t look so surprised Max! You’re 27... It’s okay for you to have a girl in your room. I’m not that naïve to think that you haven’t before.”
Diane almost chuckled at the look on her son’s face; his ears turning the darlingest shade of pink.
“Well, night sweetie,” Diane smiled, giving her son a quick peck on the cheek. “Night Liz…”
Closing the door behind his mother, Max turned to look firstly at his large double bed and secondly at Liz; the look on her face clearly stating that they weren’t going to be sharing the covers any time soon. This whole situation was so… weird. He’d been counting on separate sleeping arrangements.
“Okay, well, you can get changed in here. I’ll get changed in the bathroom.”
Seeing the look on her face and her mouth open as if to object, Max quickly butted in.
“please do not argue… I’m really not in the mood for it, so if we could just skip the tirade and-”
“HEY! What crawled up your butt? I was just going to tell you that I don’t have any pyjamas.”
Shit! “Oh, right. Sorry. Okay… um, I should have some old shirts and stuff in that drawer there. Help yourself.” Max said, thoroughly chastised as he pointed towards the old chest of drawers in the corner before quickly making his exit. It was so weird having a girl in his room. In high school not a single girl had made it up here, despite the fact that so many had tried. And now, he had Liz Parker up here. Liz Parker: a 22 year old waitress/ mobster’s girlfriend/ murder witness.
After getting changed into a pair of long flannel pyjama pants and an old t-shirt Max returned to the room to find Liz looking at his book shelf in just one of his old college sweat shirts. Max cleared his throat to announce his presence and to try and clear his thoughts that were currently pre-occupied by one fact… that the shirt was riding dangerously high on her thigh.
“I love this book.” Liz smiled, noting Max’s presence as she took it down from the shelf.
“You’ve read Steinbeck?”
Well, that was a stupid thing to say, Max thought to himself as he steeled himself for full-on warfare. But surprisingly, she didn’t blow up.
“Right,” Liz smiled sadly as she hopped into bed, a pillow and some blankets from the bed already laid out for Max on the floor. “I’m just some trashy waitress. What would I know about books?”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it that way.” Max defended weakly as he turned off the light and laid down, trying in vain to make himself comfortable.
“Yes you did.” And that hurt Liz. “But it’s okay… Goodnight Maxwell.”
Max didn’t know what to say except “goodnight.”
Both of them just lay there in silence until Max, still dwelling on his earlier conversation with his mother had to ask her the question he’d been dying to ask.
“My mother asked me about your family… she told me about everything. ” His words were said quietly but in the silent room and the space that divided them, it felt akin to a yell. Max had no way of knowing whether she was awake or asleep but he continued nevertheless.
“I guess I just wanted to know why you never went back to school, you know, later.”
“Your mother wasn’t suspicious that you didn’t know about it all?”
Max almost smiled. After everything that he’d said, after the way he’d insulted her, she was still concerned about their little act.
“No… you don’t have to answer my question. It’s okay.”
Liz knew that he really would let it go, but lately she just wasn’t in the mood for forgetting or glossing her life over.
“About a year and a half ago, I’d saved up enough money to be able to pay for my first year’s tuition. I wanted to go back to school. I was always a nerd… I missed… learning.”
“So what changed?”
He was going to think she was so stupid. “Tommy… he told me not to waste my money on things like that. Smart girls,” Liz laughed softly, the sound slightly tortured, “Tommy said that guys don’t want smart girls… that I didn’t need to be smart or any of that because I had him… I was such a fool… I honestly thought that he… that he loved me.”
“So… do you, you know, still love him?”
“No. I don’t think I ever did. I guess I just wanted someone to love… after my parents… it was something that I thought I needed… someone to love me… look after me, be with me… forever, I guess. It’s stupid. Forever is stupid. I cant believe that I ever believed in it. There‘s no such thing as forever… that much is crystal clear.”
The bitterness in her voice unsettled Max to his very core. He hadn’t known Liz for very long, but on top of everything else that Montola had done, Max hated him even more for making Liz feel that way.
“Loving someone and wanting to have all that isn’t stupid and it doesn’t make you stupid. It makes Montola a fool for not wanting to be that person for you.”
“He had other girls, didn’t he?” Liz asked, but it was more of a statement than a question. They both knew.
“Does that make you sad?” Even Max was surprised by the questions he was asking but it just felt like in the darkness and isolation of that room, neither of them had to lie or pretend. They could shed their masks in the dark and no one would know.
“No… just sorry that I wasted all that time on him; that I forgot about my dreams just so he could feel comfortable and secure in his pathetic existence.”
Her tone softened. “Thankyou for bringing me here Maxwell… it… goodnight.”
That was one mask she could not shed. Not even in the darkness and especially with him. He didn’t need to know that today with his family was one of the happiest days of her life. He didn’t need to know that tonight; in his childhood home, in his bed, with him sleeping beside her on the floor, that she felt safe for the first time since she was a little girl curled up in her parent’s bed between their sleeping forms. He definitely didn’t need to know that.
“Night Liz.”
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
PREVIOUSLY ON CHRISTMAS MISGIVINGS...
“He had other girls, didn’t he?” Liz asked, but it was more of a statement than a question. They both knew.
“Does that make you sad?” Even Max was surprised by the questions he was asking but it just felt like in the darkness and isolation of that room, neither of them had to lie or pretend. They could shed their masks in the dark and no one would know.
“No… just sorry that I wasted all that time on him; that I forgot about my dreams just so he could feel comfortable and secure in his pathetic existence.”
Her tone softened. “Thankyou for bringing me here Maxwell… it… goodnight.”
That was one mask she could not shed. Not even in the darkness and especially with him. He didn’t need to know that today with his family was one of the happiest days of her life. He didn’t need to know that tonight; in his childhood home, in his bed, with him sleeping beside her on the floor, that she felt safe for the first time since she was a little girl curled up in her parent’s bed between their sleeping forms. He definitely didn’t need to know that.
“Night Liz.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Liz? Liiiz?”
Drawn slightly out of her slumber by the sound of her name and some pretty insistant shaking and poking, Liz cocked one eye open to peek at whoever the hell it was that had decided that the best way to wake someone up was to bruise their kidneys. It was Maria… in pink fluffy pyjamas covered in butterflies and stars. An unusual combination.
“Hi sleepy-head. Breakfast’s ready…" Maria said the words as if Liz was supposed to automatically bound out of bed. She just lay there. "Ya comin’ or what? Max made pancakes!”
By the excitement in her voice Liz could only gather that either Max made really, really good pancakes and hardly ever made them, or that he was really bad at making them and had almost burnt down half the kitchen. Personally, regardless of how funny the latter could potentially be, Liz was hoping for good pancakes. And strangely enough, Liz basically did bound out of bed and headed for the door, only to stop at the look of amusement on Maria’s face.
“What?”
“I know Diane let you stay in here with Max… and believe me that is a miracle. Michael and I were married before she would let us share. And believe me, that was frus-trat-ing! Not about the sex, because God knows I would never think about having sex in this house… okay there was once, but no-one else was here so it really doesn’t cou-”
“MARIA! As fun as hearing about your sex life is… what’s the problem?”
“Oh, right. You’re half naked.” She said it as if it was the most obvious and casual thing to point out to someone who was practically a stranger.
Holy shit. “Umm…” she had nothing else to wear. She was just about to ask what the hell she was supposed to do when Maria turned and bolted out of the room. Leaving her to face this mammoth problem alone. Liz was just about to start rummaging around in the little bag that held her clothes, when a breathless Maria returned to the room.
“God! I really need to work on that lack of fitness… here, put this on.”
It was a dressing gown made out of a familiar pink fluffy material with butterflies and stars on it.
“Thankyou so much!!!”
As Maria smiled at Liz, telling her not to worry about it, her attentions was drawn to the floor. Noticing Maria’s raised eyebrows, Liz followed her gaze.
“Why is there a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor? You guys didn’t… you know!?”
“NO!” Thinking fast on her feet, Liz blurted out, “Max said some… very inconsiderate,” asshole, “things last night and I told him he was sleeping on the floor.”
Luckily Maria bought it. “I understand,” she nodded, half in agreement and half in sympathy. “Michael spent more time on the floor than in bed when we were dating.”
Hmmm, Liz thought… and they were married?
“He was still clinging to that whole Caveman, I rule the roost, no woman gonna hold me down or tell me what to do philosophy. Pssh… like that was ever gonna fly.” Maria smiled as they both burst out laughing before catching a whiff of something that smelled awfully like cooking bacon.
“Bacon,” they said together before quickly making a dash for the door and down the stairs towards the kitchen.
Everyone was sitting up at the table and Liz was pleased to see that everyone else was in their pyjamas too. They all greeted her, except for max who appeared to be far to caught up showing his nieces how magical and wonderful he was because he could flip the pancakes over.
Okay, who’s hungr… what the hell happened to your hair?” Max gaped in astonishment, the half cooked pancake previously in the hair… landing on his foot.
And then everyone erupted at once.
“Language, Max!” That was Isabel.
“What’s wrong with my hair?” Liz bit out, more than slightly defensive.
“Shit!” Max swore, the pancake oozing onto and burning his flesh.
“Language!” that was his mother.
Ebony, Georgie, Michael, Alex and Phillip said nothing, choosing rather to look on the funnier side of things.
Eventually everything calmed down and they all sat down at the table, everyone eagerly eyeing the pancakes, bacon and eggs. Liz begrudgingly sat down next to Max.
Normal conversation about shopping and events and jobs began around them and Max took this opportunity to apologise to Liz. Leaning over next to her ear, he whispered his apology, telling her that he hadn’t meant it the way it had sounded.
“And in what way did you mean it?” Still defensive, Max noted.
“I just meant that it looked different… flat. but nice.”
“it doesn’t look nice. I’ll just fix it later, okay? I just didn’t have the time… I only just woke up, you know?”
For some reason they were still whispering.
“What are you talking about? It looks good.” Really good. That’s why he’d been so stunned and had ended up dropping the freakin’ pancake on his foot. All her make-up was gone… something that he hadn’t realised until after he’d upset her and made a total jerk out of himself. He’d just been laying there trying to get to sleep after she had said goodnight and he’d kept on thinking about when he’d first come into the room and how she’d turned, smiling about the book … and everything had just… radiated. He couldn’t think why she would hide that under make-up.
“No, it doesn’t. Straight hair makes me look like a drowned rat, Tommy-”
“You’re going on the word of a murdering criminal who treated you like crap, made you abandon your dreams and who cheated on you? Believe me, he’s wrong. You look beautiful… just as you are.”
Liz was surprised by his words but more surprised by the intensity of his eyes as they bore into hers… the conviction in them when he told her that she was beautiful. She couldn’t help but blush and look away and just like that, the moment was broken.
They didn’t talk for another couple of minutes until Max passed her the butter for her pancakes. She’d looked in his eyes and thanked him and he just knew that she was referring to more than just the butter.
Liz breathed a sigh of relief, glad that no-one else at the table had noticed their little conversation. As conversation turned to the days Christmas shopping, Liz couldn’t help but smile and say yes when the other girls asked her to go shopping with them.
*************************************************************
After breakfast they all ran upstairs, eager to get down to the shops. Just as Liz was laying her clothes for the day out on the bed, Max entered, a sullen look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, genuinely and surprisingly concerned.
“Do you have to go shopping with the others?” Max whined and Liz saw red as she unfortunately jumped to the wrong conclusion.
“You don’t want me to spend time with them?” Her words were calmer and softer than she felt. He always seemed to do this. He’d say something nice or sweet… or tell her she was beautiful and then he’d go and do or say something utterly stupid that only made her cranky at a time when she was starting to like the person that Maxwell Evans was.
“No, I didn’t mean it like that!” He seemed to be saying that a lot lately. “You are under my protection from your murdering, criminal boyfriend and you are going shopping. In public. You don’t think you’d be allowed to go by yourself, do you?”
Liz couldn’t help but feel the overwhelming urge to smile. So she did. “This is all because you don’t want to go shopping with a bunch of women?” Woose.
“Well… yes.” His blush went all the way up to his ears. It was quite endearing… stop right there, Liz mentally chided herself.
“Tough. You’re just gonna have to suck it up.” With that, Liz quickly walked out of the room to shower.
After washing herself and her hair quickly, Liz got out and got dressed, gathering all the stuff that she needed to do her hair, she sat in front of the mirror in Max’s room while he showered. She’d picked all the stuff for her hair up the day before at the mall and as she looked down at the can of mousse, she couldn’t help but remember his words. You look beautiful… just as you are. And just like that she decided to wear he hair straight and out today.
*************************************************************
Fifteen minutes later, Diane, Maria, Isabel and Liz congregated at the front door as they waited for Max. They had all had looks of utter disbelief on their faces when she told them that he was coming, none more than Isabel.
“Max is coming? Really? He hasn’t voluntarily shopped with me since he was 16.” Needless to say, Maria and Isabel were majorly impressed with Liz’s skills with her man. Diane was even more pleased to discover that maybe she wouldn’t have to do that much after all.
Ten minutes later, Max finally made it down stairs. After quickly saying good bye to the guys and Georgie and Ebony, with Max once again defending his sexuality to his brother, “real men do too shop!”, they were ready to go. As they all bustled out in the cold to the car, Liz unconsciously fell in step with Max as she caught a slight smile on his face out of the corner of her eye.
“You wore your hair out straight.”
He said it like as if he personally had invented straight hair. The smug bastard. But for some reason, Liz couldn’t help but smile too.
************************************************************
PS: I'm also considering posting a little teaser tomorrow, so let me know if you like that idea.
“He had other girls, didn’t he?” Liz asked, but it was more of a statement than a question. They both knew.
“Does that make you sad?” Even Max was surprised by the questions he was asking but it just felt like in the darkness and isolation of that room, neither of them had to lie or pretend. They could shed their masks in the dark and no one would know.
“No… just sorry that I wasted all that time on him; that I forgot about my dreams just so he could feel comfortable and secure in his pathetic existence.”
Her tone softened. “Thankyou for bringing me here Maxwell… it… goodnight.”
That was one mask she could not shed. Not even in the darkness and especially with him. He didn’t need to know that today with his family was one of the happiest days of her life. He didn’t need to know that tonight; in his childhood home, in his bed, with him sleeping beside her on the floor, that she felt safe for the first time since she was a little girl curled up in her parent’s bed between their sleeping forms. He definitely didn’t need to know that.
“Night Liz.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Liz? Liiiz?”
Drawn slightly out of her slumber by the sound of her name and some pretty insistant shaking and poking, Liz cocked one eye open to peek at whoever the hell it was that had decided that the best way to wake someone up was to bruise their kidneys. It was Maria… in pink fluffy pyjamas covered in butterflies and stars. An unusual combination.
“Hi sleepy-head. Breakfast’s ready…" Maria said the words as if Liz was supposed to automatically bound out of bed. She just lay there. "Ya comin’ or what? Max made pancakes!”
By the excitement in her voice Liz could only gather that either Max made really, really good pancakes and hardly ever made them, or that he was really bad at making them and had almost burnt down half the kitchen. Personally, regardless of how funny the latter could potentially be, Liz was hoping for good pancakes. And strangely enough, Liz basically did bound out of bed and headed for the door, only to stop at the look of amusement on Maria’s face.
“What?”
“I know Diane let you stay in here with Max… and believe me that is a miracle. Michael and I were married before she would let us share. And believe me, that was frus-trat-ing! Not about the sex, because God knows I would never think about having sex in this house… okay there was once, but no-one else was here so it really doesn’t cou-”
“MARIA! As fun as hearing about your sex life is… what’s the problem?”
“Oh, right. You’re half naked.” She said it as if it was the most obvious and casual thing to point out to someone who was practically a stranger.
Holy shit. “Umm…” she had nothing else to wear. She was just about to ask what the hell she was supposed to do when Maria turned and bolted out of the room. Leaving her to face this mammoth problem alone. Liz was just about to start rummaging around in the little bag that held her clothes, when a breathless Maria returned to the room.
“God! I really need to work on that lack of fitness… here, put this on.”
It was a dressing gown made out of a familiar pink fluffy material with butterflies and stars on it.
“Thankyou so much!!!”
As Maria smiled at Liz, telling her not to worry about it, her attentions was drawn to the floor. Noticing Maria’s raised eyebrows, Liz followed her gaze.
“Why is there a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor? You guys didn’t… you know!?”
“NO!” Thinking fast on her feet, Liz blurted out, “Max said some… very inconsiderate,” asshole, “things last night and I told him he was sleeping on the floor.”
Luckily Maria bought it. “I understand,” she nodded, half in agreement and half in sympathy. “Michael spent more time on the floor than in bed when we were dating.”
Hmmm, Liz thought… and they were married?
“He was still clinging to that whole Caveman, I rule the roost, no woman gonna hold me down or tell me what to do philosophy. Pssh… like that was ever gonna fly.” Maria smiled as they both burst out laughing before catching a whiff of something that smelled awfully like cooking bacon.
“Bacon,” they said together before quickly making a dash for the door and down the stairs towards the kitchen.
Everyone was sitting up at the table and Liz was pleased to see that everyone else was in their pyjamas too. They all greeted her, except for max who appeared to be far to caught up showing his nieces how magical and wonderful he was because he could flip the pancakes over.
Okay, who’s hungr… what the hell happened to your hair?” Max gaped in astonishment, the half cooked pancake previously in the hair… landing on his foot.
And then everyone erupted at once.
“Language, Max!” That was Isabel.
“What’s wrong with my hair?” Liz bit out, more than slightly defensive.
“Shit!” Max swore, the pancake oozing onto and burning his flesh.
“Language!” that was his mother.
Ebony, Georgie, Michael, Alex and Phillip said nothing, choosing rather to look on the funnier side of things.
Eventually everything calmed down and they all sat down at the table, everyone eagerly eyeing the pancakes, bacon and eggs. Liz begrudgingly sat down next to Max.
Normal conversation about shopping and events and jobs began around them and Max took this opportunity to apologise to Liz. Leaning over next to her ear, he whispered his apology, telling her that he hadn’t meant it the way it had sounded.
“And in what way did you mean it?” Still defensive, Max noted.
“I just meant that it looked different… flat. but nice.”
“it doesn’t look nice. I’ll just fix it later, okay? I just didn’t have the time… I only just woke up, you know?”
For some reason they were still whispering.
“What are you talking about? It looks good.” Really good. That’s why he’d been so stunned and had ended up dropping the freakin’ pancake on his foot. All her make-up was gone… something that he hadn’t realised until after he’d upset her and made a total jerk out of himself. He’d just been laying there trying to get to sleep after she had said goodnight and he’d kept on thinking about when he’d first come into the room and how she’d turned, smiling about the book … and everything had just… radiated. He couldn’t think why she would hide that under make-up.
“No, it doesn’t. Straight hair makes me look like a drowned rat, Tommy-”
“You’re going on the word of a murdering criminal who treated you like crap, made you abandon your dreams and who cheated on you? Believe me, he’s wrong. You look beautiful… just as you are.”
Liz was surprised by his words but more surprised by the intensity of his eyes as they bore into hers… the conviction in them when he told her that she was beautiful. She couldn’t help but blush and look away and just like that, the moment was broken.
They didn’t talk for another couple of minutes until Max passed her the butter for her pancakes. She’d looked in his eyes and thanked him and he just knew that she was referring to more than just the butter.
Liz breathed a sigh of relief, glad that no-one else at the table had noticed their little conversation. As conversation turned to the days Christmas shopping, Liz couldn’t help but smile and say yes when the other girls asked her to go shopping with them.
*************************************************************
After breakfast they all ran upstairs, eager to get down to the shops. Just as Liz was laying her clothes for the day out on the bed, Max entered, a sullen look on his face.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, genuinely and surprisingly concerned.
“Do you have to go shopping with the others?” Max whined and Liz saw red as she unfortunately jumped to the wrong conclusion.
“You don’t want me to spend time with them?” Her words were calmer and softer than she felt. He always seemed to do this. He’d say something nice or sweet… or tell her she was beautiful and then he’d go and do or say something utterly stupid that only made her cranky at a time when she was starting to like the person that Maxwell Evans was.
“No, I didn’t mean it like that!” He seemed to be saying that a lot lately. “You are under my protection from your murdering, criminal boyfriend and you are going shopping. In public. You don’t think you’d be allowed to go by yourself, do you?”
Liz couldn’t help but feel the overwhelming urge to smile. So she did. “This is all because you don’t want to go shopping with a bunch of women?” Woose.
“Well… yes.” His blush went all the way up to his ears. It was quite endearing… stop right there, Liz mentally chided herself.
“Tough. You’re just gonna have to suck it up.” With that, Liz quickly walked out of the room to shower.
After washing herself and her hair quickly, Liz got out and got dressed, gathering all the stuff that she needed to do her hair, she sat in front of the mirror in Max’s room while he showered. She’d picked all the stuff for her hair up the day before at the mall and as she looked down at the can of mousse, she couldn’t help but remember his words. You look beautiful… just as you are. And just like that she decided to wear he hair straight and out today.
*************************************************************
Fifteen minutes later, Diane, Maria, Isabel and Liz congregated at the front door as they waited for Max. They had all had looks of utter disbelief on their faces when she told them that he was coming, none more than Isabel.
“Max is coming? Really? He hasn’t voluntarily shopped with me since he was 16.” Needless to say, Maria and Isabel were majorly impressed with Liz’s skills with her man. Diane was even more pleased to discover that maybe she wouldn’t have to do that much after all.
Ten minutes later, Max finally made it down stairs. After quickly saying good bye to the guys and Georgie and Ebony, with Max once again defending his sexuality to his brother, “real men do too shop!”, they were ready to go. As they all bustled out in the cold to the car, Liz unconsciously fell in step with Max as she caught a slight smile on his face out of the corner of her eye.
“You wore your hair out straight.”
He said it like as if he personally had invented straight hair. The smug bastard. But for some reason, Liz couldn’t help but smile too.
************************************************************
PS: I'm also considering posting a little teaser tomorrow, so let me know if you like that idea.
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
-
Kylie the control freak
- Enthusiastic Roswellian
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2003 1:33 am
- Location: anywhere with jason behr (i wish)
glad to hear you guys liked my teaser. that part is a long way off and you're just gonna have to wait and see just who's saying those horrible words to Liz. But maybe they aren't that horrible after all? you'll just have to wait and see!!!!
well, on with the show....
PREVIOUSLY
“Max is coming? Really? He hasn’t voluntarily shopped with me since he was 16.” Needless to say, Maria and Isabel were majorly impressed with Liz’s skills with her man. Diane was even more pleased to discover that maybe she wouldn’t have to do that much after all.
Ten minutes later, Max finally made it down stairs. After quickly saying good bye to the guys and Georgie and Ebony, with Max once again defending his sexuality to his brother, “real men do too shop!”, they were ready to go. As they all bustled out in the cold to the car, Liz unconsciously fell in step with Max as she caught a slight smile on his face out of the corner of her eye.
“You wore your hair out straight.”
He said it like as if he personally had invented straight hair. The smug bastard. But for some reason, Liz couldn’t help but smile too.
CHAPTER NINE
“Can you guys just pick something so we can get out of here?”
“Max, YOU were the one who said he wanted to come and YOU are the one who promised that he would not complain about what shops we went into or how long we chose to stay in them.” Isabel said, silencing her brother’s whinging. Unable to say anything more, Max decided just to spend his time glowering at Liz, the person responsible for his current hell.
Liz on the other hand, was completely oblivious to Max’s temper tantrum as she walked around the store looking at the beautiful decorations. Coming to a halt, Liz slowly rifled through the dainty ornaments, her breath hitching when she caught sight of a small crystal angel. Picking it up ever so slightly, Liz couldn’t help but be reminded of the little angel that her mother had bought her years before. Liz had only been eight or nine then, and her mother had taken her shopping to buy her father a present for Christmas. They’d been walking past this little store when Liz had seen the prettiest little angel in the window. It was the most beautiful thing her young self had ever seen, and seeing its smile had made Liz smile. Liz had begged her parents for it for weeks and on Christmas day she had opened one of her presents to find the little angel inside. It had been Liz’s favourite gift that year and the memory of opening the little red box that housed it, was one of her happiest memories. She knew that she still had the ornament at home, packed away with the other decorations but she had never celebrated Christmas since her parents had died and she had never dared to look at the little angel.
This angel was different though, instead of a radiant smile, a look not unlike sadness adorned its delicate face.
“It used to be part of a set.” Shocked out of her thoughts, Liz turned to face the elderly lady that had spoken. “the other little angel was beautiful too… but not as sad as this little one.”
“What happened to the other one?”
“When it was bought, the lady gave this one back because she didn’t want it. She only wanted the happy one.”
Just as Liz was about to reply, the lady, apparently the store owner was called away by one of the other employees. She couldn’t believe how sad that story was and she couldn’t help but wonder just how long the angel had been here for.
“Are you going to buy that? Cause Isabel has finally decided that she’s ready to go.” Max piped up, interrupting her thoughts. That seemed to be happening a lot to her lately, Liz thought to herself.
Giving the angel one last look, Liz shook her head as she slowly placed it back down on the table and headed out the front to where Diane, Isabel and Maria stood.
*************************************************************
“Okay, last but not least… we have to get Liz a dress for the party!”
Shit, the party Max thought. Every year his parent’s invited a few of their good friends and a lot of their pompous acquaintances over for a party on Christmas Eve and every year he spent the entire night trying to hide from the daughters of the pompous acquaintances. Last year, one of them, a particularly heinous fake-breasted blonde had actually felt him up while he was pouring himself a glass of punch. Max could only hope that Alyssa Harding’s family had not been invited this year. He doubted that even having Liz here as his ‘girlfriend’ would be enough to deter the desperate women that threw themselves at him every year… only to be turned down every year. It they hadn’t have been pursuing him, Max was almost sure that he would have been impressed with their persistence. But seeing as it literally was his ass (and more) on the line here, Max despised every single one of them with unadulterated revulsion.
“Okay, you can go now Max.” Isabel said, quickly dismissing him as the other women handed over their shopping bags to him. There had to be at least twenty of them, all of varying sizes and weights. His arms were killing him.
“No. I should stay with Liz.”
“Max… if you do not leave right now-”
“I’ll be fine, Maxwell.” Liz cut in. she nodded as he cast a dubious look at her. “Really.”
“Okay. But promise you won’t be too long.”
*************************************************************
“How come when I promise something I have to follow it under pain of death and with you guys it means nothing?”
“Max. You’re a man… your word is you bond. We,” Maria slowly enunciated, gesturing between her and the others, “are women. We’re… volatile.” She said, as if she had just shared some infinite wisdom with him, a mere lowly male.
“No, Maria… you’re two hours and fifteen minutes late. You said you’d be half an hour tops.”
“Once again… we’re volatile.”
“I was waiting in the car-”
“Did we tell you to wait in the car?”
“No-”
“Well, discussion’s over.”
And just like that, it was. While the others spent the rest of the drive discussing what they had bought, Max remained silent, still fuming. Arriving at the house, each of the girls grabbed their bags, heading inside to put them away. Following Liz up the drive way, Max stopped her.
“So you found a dress?” He knew she had and he knew that she knew that he knew that she had bought a dress, but Max thought it was a proper thing to ask.
“Yep… and it only took us half an hour.” Liz grinned.
“Half an hour?” Max practically yelled, caught somewhere between frustration and irritation.
“Then what the hell took so long?” Max called out to her as she continued to walk away.
“We stopped for lattes.”
*************************************************************
well, on with the show....
PREVIOUSLY
“Max is coming? Really? He hasn’t voluntarily shopped with me since he was 16.” Needless to say, Maria and Isabel were majorly impressed with Liz’s skills with her man. Diane was even more pleased to discover that maybe she wouldn’t have to do that much after all.
Ten minutes later, Max finally made it down stairs. After quickly saying good bye to the guys and Georgie and Ebony, with Max once again defending his sexuality to his brother, “real men do too shop!”, they were ready to go. As they all bustled out in the cold to the car, Liz unconsciously fell in step with Max as she caught a slight smile on his face out of the corner of her eye.
“You wore your hair out straight.”
He said it like as if he personally had invented straight hair. The smug bastard. But for some reason, Liz couldn’t help but smile too.
CHAPTER NINE
“Can you guys just pick something so we can get out of here?”
“Max, YOU were the one who said he wanted to come and YOU are the one who promised that he would not complain about what shops we went into or how long we chose to stay in them.” Isabel said, silencing her brother’s whinging. Unable to say anything more, Max decided just to spend his time glowering at Liz, the person responsible for his current hell.
Liz on the other hand, was completely oblivious to Max’s temper tantrum as she walked around the store looking at the beautiful decorations. Coming to a halt, Liz slowly rifled through the dainty ornaments, her breath hitching when she caught sight of a small crystal angel. Picking it up ever so slightly, Liz couldn’t help but be reminded of the little angel that her mother had bought her years before. Liz had only been eight or nine then, and her mother had taken her shopping to buy her father a present for Christmas. They’d been walking past this little store when Liz had seen the prettiest little angel in the window. It was the most beautiful thing her young self had ever seen, and seeing its smile had made Liz smile. Liz had begged her parents for it for weeks and on Christmas day she had opened one of her presents to find the little angel inside. It had been Liz’s favourite gift that year and the memory of opening the little red box that housed it, was one of her happiest memories. She knew that she still had the ornament at home, packed away with the other decorations but she had never celebrated Christmas since her parents had died and she had never dared to look at the little angel.
This angel was different though, instead of a radiant smile, a look not unlike sadness adorned its delicate face.
“It used to be part of a set.” Shocked out of her thoughts, Liz turned to face the elderly lady that had spoken. “the other little angel was beautiful too… but not as sad as this little one.”
“What happened to the other one?”
“When it was bought, the lady gave this one back because she didn’t want it. She only wanted the happy one.”
Just as Liz was about to reply, the lady, apparently the store owner was called away by one of the other employees. She couldn’t believe how sad that story was and she couldn’t help but wonder just how long the angel had been here for.
“Are you going to buy that? Cause Isabel has finally decided that she’s ready to go.” Max piped up, interrupting her thoughts. That seemed to be happening a lot to her lately, Liz thought to herself.
Giving the angel one last look, Liz shook her head as she slowly placed it back down on the table and headed out the front to where Diane, Isabel and Maria stood.
*************************************************************
“Okay, last but not least… we have to get Liz a dress for the party!”
Shit, the party Max thought. Every year his parent’s invited a few of their good friends and a lot of their pompous acquaintances over for a party on Christmas Eve and every year he spent the entire night trying to hide from the daughters of the pompous acquaintances. Last year, one of them, a particularly heinous fake-breasted blonde had actually felt him up while he was pouring himself a glass of punch. Max could only hope that Alyssa Harding’s family had not been invited this year. He doubted that even having Liz here as his ‘girlfriend’ would be enough to deter the desperate women that threw themselves at him every year… only to be turned down every year. It they hadn’t have been pursuing him, Max was almost sure that he would have been impressed with their persistence. But seeing as it literally was his ass (and more) on the line here, Max despised every single one of them with unadulterated revulsion.
“Okay, you can go now Max.” Isabel said, quickly dismissing him as the other women handed over their shopping bags to him. There had to be at least twenty of them, all of varying sizes and weights. His arms were killing him.
“No. I should stay with Liz.”
“Max… if you do not leave right now-”
“I’ll be fine, Maxwell.” Liz cut in. she nodded as he cast a dubious look at her. “Really.”
“Okay. But promise you won’t be too long.”
*************************************************************
“How come when I promise something I have to follow it under pain of death and with you guys it means nothing?”
“Max. You’re a man… your word is you bond. We,” Maria slowly enunciated, gesturing between her and the others, “are women. We’re… volatile.” She said, as if she had just shared some infinite wisdom with him, a mere lowly male.
“No, Maria… you’re two hours and fifteen minutes late. You said you’d be half an hour tops.”
“Once again… we’re volatile.”
“I was waiting in the car-”
“Did we tell you to wait in the car?”
“No-”
“Well, discussion’s over.”
And just like that, it was. While the others spent the rest of the drive discussing what they had bought, Max remained silent, still fuming. Arriving at the house, each of the girls grabbed their bags, heading inside to put them away. Following Liz up the drive way, Max stopped her.
“So you found a dress?” He knew she had and he knew that she knew that he knew that she had bought a dress, but Max thought it was a proper thing to ask.
“Yep… and it only took us half an hour.” Liz grinned.
“Half an hour?” Max practically yelled, caught somewhere between frustration and irritation.
“Then what the hell took so long?” Max called out to her as she continued to walk away.
“We stopped for lattes.”
*************************************************************
"MAYBE THIS WORLD IS ANOTHER PLANET'S HELL." - Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)