Title: "Sometimes Ignorance Rings True"
Author: Kitcat26
Summary: Liz Parker and Max Evans have been best friends forever. But one bet, and one chance for Max to finally obtain the person of his dreams backfires on him and leads them places he never thought he'd be. Slightly based upon the movie, "Whatever It Takes" (Shane West is sooo cute!) but I promise to be original as possible. And urm, don't kill me, but Max is slightly obsessed with Tess in the beginning. ::ducks as bottles and tomatoes get chucked at her head:: But that will QUICKLY change. ::watches as grumbling readers lower rotten fruit slowly:: Thank you.
Rating/Pairings: PG-13-R. M/L of course (in the end, I swear it will be!) Perhaps I shall drag up other CC as I see fit.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Actually, whose is it right now, in light of the (vedy vedy stupid) cancellation? It's debatable. Nonetheless, this is purely for my own enjoyment, and hopefully yours as well.
Authors Note: ((Groan)) She's starting ANOTHER fic?? Good God, WHY? Well, two reasons actually. I am finally in the home stretch for my first story (Arabian Nights) and decided since that form of stress is about to be alleviated, I might as well find a replacement. Plus summers almost upon us, so why the hell not? I warn you now, dear readers, I am HORRID with prompt updates (I see my SOF and HBU fans nodding their heads in profuse agreement. Oh and TON fans are probably right along their with them.) so bare with me for these next two and ½ weeks while I am still held hostage…errr still attending school. All righty? Yes well, do get on reading. Oh and the title comes from the Switchfoot song, "You," posted below.
There's always something in the way
There's always something getting through
But it's not me
It's you
Sometimes ignorance rings true
But hope is not what I know
Not in me
In you
It's all I know
I find peace when I'm confused
I find hope when I'm let down
Not in me
But in you
It's in you
I hope to lose myself for good
I hope to find it in the end
Not in me
In you
It's all I know
[b]"Sometimes Ignorance Rings True" [/b]
~*~ POV~*~
[b]MAX[/b]
Slacking off.
The ultimate power of possessing the rights of the lusted after position of being an "upper classmen."
Older.
(For some of us; the minority at least) Wiser.
But most of all, oh yeah, most of all it is…
Changes.
Ah, yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly introduce to you, the beginning of the much debated, yet legendary senior year. Where the infamous little pest, the senior-ittis bug, has already been very busy infecting people. Hell, some of them aren't even seniors.
This is the year where everything is going to be different, where everything is going to…change…to modify its very existence. This is the year where something is going to go MY way for once. This is the year I am finally going to get Tess Harding, West Roswell's IT girl, the center of every crowd, the life of every party, to notice me, Max Evans, current nameless face in the crowd, whose only achievements worth noticing is the fact that I am best friend to this year's salutatorian/valedictorian candidate, Liz Parker. And even that is barely worth the effort, as intellectually talented people don't compare to the athletically or beautifully talented people who happen to rule the school. Tess being one of them.
Not that I am snubbing Liz or anything. On the contrary, it's an outstanding and well-deserved reward for all the things Liz has done to get there. It's just the sad, sad truth, that to many, that just doesn't matter if you don't retain relation with the royal court of West Roswell's popular court.
Umm, anyways. The point is that I am going to win Tess over by Prom Time, even though I have yet to figure out how. I just know that I am going to do it, damnit!
And why not? After this it's over. My last chance to do anything about my "unhealthy obsession," as Liz likes to call it. But then again, I never asked Ms. Cynic what she thought about it. Nevertheless, she was oh too happy to spout off freely just EXACTLY what she thinks about Tess, and everything she stands for with the "in-crowd." Not that I disagree with anything Liz has to say about the quote un quote "populars" that rule the school in a disgusting hierarchy of whose got the newest, coolest brand of whatsit on their back, but Tess…she isn't like that. At least, I don't think so. What Liz thinks is a different story.
As you might already be able to tell, Liz and I have never been in the inner circle. Never wanted to. That is, I never wanted to until Tess moved here sophmore year. Before, I was all too happy to crack remarks with my best friend about Whatsherface's cheating boyfriend, who got in a cat fight with who on the quad, and how much it must suck to live among the fake and phony. Actually, I STILL am content to complain about the anarchy of society with Liz.
But I digress.
If I don't do something about Tess this year, than I'll end up at an elderly mad house, with prunes dribbling down my chin as I incoherently babble and moan about lost opportunities.
Actually, substitute the prunes for Doritos and the old folks home for high school (both each with their share of deranged psychos) and that's basically the story of my life.
And that, my friends, is about to change.
~*~Part One~*~
Max Evans stepped through his window and onto the little porch to look across the way towards Liz's balcony. He sighed. He couldn't sleep. Again. Tomorrow was the first day of senior year, and he was giddy with excitement with thoughts and plans for the promising year resounding through his humming brain.
Plus that combination of coca-cola and Tabasco sauce he had earlier didn't really do wonders for his lack of exhaustion.
He glanced inside his room at the faintly glowing digital clock and sighed in disgust.
Almost two A.M.
He should probably get to sleep so he didn't scare the crap out of Tess in the morning. He was planning to at least talk to her or something, to warm up the still scattered plans that were hopping around in his mind. He could see it now; blonde curls whirling about as Tess frantically ran, not walked, screaming in the other direction, shrieking expletives about crazy stalkers with miffed hair and baggy eyes.
Max silently groaned. You knew it was time for bed when you were hallucinating worst-case scenarios and becoming more and more anal by the second. For crying out loud, he was a guy. Guys didn't obsess the way he was currently doing. That's what girls did. Like his sister, Isabel, and the way she was with…well everything…from Christmas to her makeup, Izzy was a proud perfectionist. And also, like the way Liz was with her volunteering, and her studies. You were asking to get your hand bit off if you cracked jokes about the nursing home /hospital/orphanage where she worked, or if you interrupted her reading. Max knew this all too well, he thought while looking ruefully at his hand in memory.
And now, Liz and Isabel's nature was rubbing off on him. Lord, he needed to start spending more time with Michael, Alex and Kyle. Yea, get that testosterone pumping.
And yet, being best friends with a girl was…quite refreshing actually. Liz knew him better than he knew himself, and visa versa. You didn't get that same friendship, that same CONNECTION with other guys.
No, what you got where belching contests (Proud two-time winner, Max nodded with satisfaction), and boisterous hockey games (those DAMN FU***** Refs don't know what in the HELL they are talking about! Jeez, are they BLIND?!). Which were okay. Hell, they were great, and fun, and they gave Max the illusion of a semi normal social life (um, right).
But his relationship with Liz gave him something…more. Max couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew without a doubt, that he wouldn't give up his friendship with Liz for anything. It would be like disowning Isabel; only he would feel more remorse. He'd known Liz almost as long as he'd known Isabel, who was a year younger than him. Perhaps longer…at least it FELT like longer…
Max's gaze floated once more to Liz's balcony.
Hmm.
To risk the wrath of Liz Parker, and wake her up?
Or be a good best friend, and let Liz receive her beauty sleep?
Max smirked. He never was a good best friend when it came to annoying Liz.
What?! She was funny when she got all pissed and huffy. Her eyes darkened with fire, and her mouth got all thin…
Max chuckled silently with malice before picking up his dependable flashlight (which was always on the bench on his veranda, especially for occasions such as these. Memories of past whispered conversations into the night flitted through Max's brain for an instant), and flipped it on, shinning it blatantly through the darkened glass.
"Come on," Max muttered under his breath. Liz was never a light sleeper when you wanted her to be. Like the time, when was it…six or seven years ago, Max had intents to smear shaving cream all over Liz's hands and then to tickle her face with a feather…nope then she had to wake up at every little stimuli, eventually catching Max red handed, with the shaving cream poised up high and ready, and then afterwards promptly proceeded to throttle him severely… (With friends like these…).
Of course tonight, when he actually wanted to use that irritating quality for his favor, she had to sleep like a fricking log. A log. Hmm, that phrase didn't exactly make sense. Log's didn't sleep, so therefore, how could a person sleep like a log…just exactly who…
Max growled in frustration. This was bad. Being left alone with his sleep deprived thoughts couldn't possibly be considered healthy. He needed some human interaction, and he needed it NOW before his brain was effectively turned into mush. And right before the beginning of senior year, too. Yup, someone up there REALLY had it in for Max.
Just as he was about to contemplate the possibility of jumping from his balcony to hers (what!? It was only a few feet…well a few five feet anyways…), a light came on in Liz's bedroom. Max whooped silently, simultaneously praying that that it was JUST Liz that he awoke, and not her single father. Jeff Parker would rip off Max's head and eat it for breakfast (though perhaps at this hour, it would be a midnight snack…) if he caught Max annoying Lizzie at some God-awful hour again.
The white-framed French doors to Liz's room shot open, and a robe clad, sleepy yet irate Liz Parker stepped out onto her balcony. She threw Max a russet hued evil eye, one that was well known for halting unwitting irritators to the point of submission.
Not so for Max, however, who just grinned impishly at the livid expression before him. He noted with glee that he had succeeded in procuring the adorable little wrinkle between Liz's forehead, an act that rarely occurred. 'Score…' Max thought fleetingly.
"What in the name of pantyhose are you doing shinning the God-forsaken BRIGHT light in my eye for?! MAX! Do you have any idea what time it is?" Liz sighed in exasperation. "Tell me, WHAT exactly is so damn important that you can't wait till morning to share with me?" Liz paused for a millisecond, not nearly enough time for Max to blink, let alone reply, before going on. "I swear to God, if you're just doing this to get a rise out of me, I am going to…"
"Too late, I already achieved "getting a rise out of you" status. Your forehead's crinkled," Max grinned again, enjoying the way Liz's normally smooth collected face contorted with anger. Before she could blast him one, balcony or no balcony, Max held up his hands in a truce. "Kidding! Jeez," he laughed at the sour expression on her face.
Liz blew out a breath of aggravated air and then became concerned. "What's up, then? Nothing's wrong, is it, Max?" Her large brown eyes grew round with worry.
Max pretended to muse for a minute before answering in a deadpan, "Well, actually, yes. Lately I have been seriously questioning my sanity, among other things…"
Liz smirked and snorted before replying, "Besides that,"
Max sighed, and looked away for a minute. He had never had trouble in talking to Liz before, but right now, he found he couldn't find the right words to tell her what his plans and anxiety were over. God, he must be more nervous about what he was going to do then he thought…for the life of him, he could not find the right thing to say that would make him sound less pathetic than he actually was…
"Max," Liz broke in, bringing him back to reality and away from his befuddled thoughts. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" She asked in all seriousness.
Max smiled his patented half smile and nodded. "Yeah," he answered. "I know…"
Liz grinned. "Good. Now spit it out before I am forced to vault on over there and beat it out of you."
Max shook his head in surrender. "You know, the only reason I tell you everything is because I know the last statement to be more true than its own good."
Liz laughed. "Very good. Now speak! Its late."
Max lugged in a big breath and quickly filled Liz on his plans and hopes for senior year, and, more importantly, his plotting involving Tess. He finished, looked up, and dared to take in her reaction. He knew it was going to take a while for Liz to get over the fact that he was, in all actuality, SERIOUS about his infatuation with Tess. As he gazed up, he noted a peculiar, unreadable look upon Liz's face. He paused and tilted his head at her, his amber eyes narrowing as he tried to decipher her look. Did she think it was stupid? That HE was stupid? Momentarily, his gut churned and his heart lurched.
"Umm, Liz? You in there?" He asked tentatively. All of a sudden, the strange look disappeared so rapidly that Max wondered briefly if he had imagined it…
"Uhh, yeah…yeah…I just…" Liz stumbled for the correct words. Max shrugged it off, beginning to do some serious backpedaling.
"Yeah, you're probably right. It's a psycho plan. I don't even know why I thought of it. I mean, there's like no way in HELL that someone like Tess would look twice at someone like me. I just gotta…accept it or something…Urgh, I must be in more need of sleep than I thought. Thanks anyway Liz, I'm just gonna…" Max rambled on blinding, not quite sure of what he was saying.
Liz waved her hands in exasperation. "Um, hi! I'm still here you know, not that you need another person to converse with. You lost that necessity five minutes ago."
Max thrust his hands roughly through his already tossed raven hair. "Yea, sorry. I tend to get along quite well with myself," he said, trying to hit his usual light tone, and failing miserably.
Liz tried to hide her smile. "Yeah, um, that's great Max, but…are you ready to hear what I think now instead of jumping the gun and going from zero to sixty seconds in no time flat?"
Max threw her a wry smile and nodded.
Liz stared off into space for a few more minutes. She sighed deeply; one would never have thought that just one person could exhale so much air. She stared hard at Max, and began. "First of all, are SURE that this is a good idea, Max? I mean, no offense, but Tess runs with the elite if you know what I mean, as much as it sickens me to say it…" Liz scowled. Damn high school politics and the shallowness of it all…
Max nodded his head in agreement slowly. "Yeah, I know. It's quite blatant."
Liz felt a laugh bubbling in her throat. She tossed Max an amused glance. "Whoo, someone's found a friend in the thesaurus." She quipped.
Max's mouth curved upwards. "No, actually. Who needs a thesaurus when I have a walking talking Einstein living next door…?"
Liz rolled her doe eyes. "Why thank you. I'm touched…I think…"
"Anytime. Anyways, you were saying…"
Liz bit her lip, and paused for a few more. "Its just…I-I don't want to see you get hurt…and that's a real possibility here. I'd give you the mathematical ratio but its two A.M…."
Max sighed loudly. "I know. I know, I know. But I've thought about this. I don't want to waste my last year at West Roswell, and then be haunted by 'what if's'. I WANT this, Liz. You have no idea how much…"
Max thought he saw a flash of pain rush across Liz's features, but he disregarded it when she started to speak, her face normal once again. "Well, if you really want it…" She broke off, gazing up at the night sky, a sheen of black, dotted with bright stars, before finishing. "Then…go for it, Max. If anyone deserves something to go their way, its you." She smiled tightly.
A grin broke out across Max's face. "You think so?" he asked happily.
Liz nodded and then looked pointed at her bedroom. "Yea. Listen Max are you good now? Because if I am going to drive you tomorrow, I need my rest. I don't need to run off the road, and bash us into a mailbox, or even better, into the principal's car again…" She trailed off, grimacing as she remembered junior year.
Max jumped up. "Oh, yea, I good now. I'll let you get your much needed beauty sleep," he teased gently. Liz rolled her eyes, giving a halfhearted "haha" before turning towards her room. Max too went to enter his room again, when he turned back suddenly. "Hey Liz…" he called out softly.
Liz spun slightly, her hand coming to rest on the edge of the double French doors. "Yea Max…?" She asked in a tired tone.
Max smiled slightly, his eyes soft. "Thanks," he said humbly, trying to say so much with one look. "I don't know where'd I'd be with out my best friend."
Liz nodded curtly. "Yea. No problem. Now, if you don't mind…" She stifled a yawn.
"Sure, sure. Good night Liz. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Night, Max." Liz closed the doors, quietly, yet firmly.
Max collapsed upon his bed, smiling to himself as he fell into a deep sleep, his dreams full of promise…
~*~POV~*~
[b]LIZ[/b]
Regrets.
The unfathomable 'what ifs' of everyday life.
The unavoidable compunction that rears its head at the most inopportune of times.
The cursing of life's cruel attempts at a joke. (Not funny, might I add).
Ah, yes. Welcome to my glorious life.
I thought I was over the foolish 'feelings' that rose up last year. I thought I had gotten over whatever stupid sentimentality woke up within me whenever I had the thought of my best friend come within a few feet of my thoughts.
'I did! I did!' I try desperately to convince myself, a ploy that worked in the past.
Question is, is it working now?
That would be a negative.
WHY. Why, why, why, why? Why did this have to come up now? Its senior year. Next year I'll be attending Stanford, and Max is most likely on his way to UCLA, or, if his dad gets his way, Berkley. This is it. My last chance to vanquish these demons, or do something about them, hence the 'most inopportune times' comment.
This quite literally, for lack of better terms, sucks big.
I mean, why Tess? Why the poster girl for everything that is wrong with society today? (Ok so I am a bit harsh and melodramatic, but it IS two A.M. so just deal. That's what I'm doing. Or trying to anyways). It couldn't be anyone else, could it. No, that would be too easy on me. Lord knows that it would be ludicrous if Liz Parker's life resembled just a smidgeon of normalcy. I worked my ass off to become a candidate for salutatorian/valedictorian, I volunteered an insane amount of hours, I help my dad deal with Mom's long since departure, and I oh so generously give out advice to my friends-especially to Max. Even when it hurts me to say it, that I'd rather someone take out their keys and stab me with them.
Morbid much? Why, yes thank you. My violent tendencies rise to the surface whilst I lay awake, unable to sleep though its two A.M.
The point is (Yes, I would actually have a point. But am I getting to it…) this was supposed to be the year where nothing changed. Everything had been going my way. I had come out on top, my future looking bright for the duration of senior year. I had finally found a solid existence. I had been ready to cost on through, ready to taste the rewards for my arduous work. I had liked my life the way it was before these icky feelings, before Max decided to grow a spine, before everything went down the big vat of a poo hole. I liked it better when I was ignorant and unknowing.
Can I crawl back into my little black hole of ambiguity? Please?
I liked it better in there…
Author: Kitcat26
Summary: Liz Parker and Max Evans have been best friends forever. But one bet, and one chance for Max to finally obtain the person of his dreams backfires on him and leads them places he never thought he'd be. Slightly based upon the movie, "Whatever It Takes" (Shane West is sooo cute!) but I promise to be original as possible. And urm, don't kill me, but Max is slightly obsessed with Tess in the beginning. ::ducks as bottles and tomatoes get chucked at her head:: But that will QUICKLY change. ::watches as grumbling readers lower rotten fruit slowly:: Thank you.
Rating/Pairings: PG-13-R. M/L of course (in the end, I swear it will be!) Perhaps I shall drag up other CC as I see fit.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Actually, whose is it right now, in light of the (vedy vedy stupid) cancellation? It's debatable. Nonetheless, this is purely for my own enjoyment, and hopefully yours as well.
Authors Note: ((Groan)) She's starting ANOTHER fic?? Good God, WHY? Well, two reasons actually. I am finally in the home stretch for my first story (Arabian Nights) and decided since that form of stress is about to be alleviated, I might as well find a replacement. Plus summers almost upon us, so why the hell not? I warn you now, dear readers, I am HORRID with prompt updates (I see my SOF and HBU fans nodding their heads in profuse agreement. Oh and TON fans are probably right along their with them.) so bare with me for these next two and ½ weeks while I am still held hostage…errr still attending school. All righty? Yes well, do get on reading. Oh and the title comes from the Switchfoot song, "You," posted below.
There's always something in the way
There's always something getting through
But it's not me
It's you
Sometimes ignorance rings true
But hope is not what I know
Not in me
In you
It's all I know
I find peace when I'm confused
I find hope when I'm let down
Not in me
But in you
It's in you
I hope to lose myself for good
I hope to find it in the end
Not in me
In you
It's all I know
[b]"Sometimes Ignorance Rings True" [/b]
~*~ POV~*~
[b]MAX[/b]
Slacking off.
The ultimate power of possessing the rights of the lusted after position of being an "upper classmen."
Older.
(For some of us; the minority at least) Wiser.
But most of all, oh yeah, most of all it is…
Changes.
Ah, yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I proudly introduce to you, the beginning of the much debated, yet legendary senior year. Where the infamous little pest, the senior-ittis bug, has already been very busy infecting people. Hell, some of them aren't even seniors.
This is the year where everything is going to be different, where everything is going to…change…to modify its very existence. This is the year where something is going to go MY way for once. This is the year I am finally going to get Tess Harding, West Roswell's IT girl, the center of every crowd, the life of every party, to notice me, Max Evans, current nameless face in the crowd, whose only achievements worth noticing is the fact that I am best friend to this year's salutatorian/valedictorian candidate, Liz Parker. And even that is barely worth the effort, as intellectually talented people don't compare to the athletically or beautifully talented people who happen to rule the school. Tess being one of them.
Not that I am snubbing Liz or anything. On the contrary, it's an outstanding and well-deserved reward for all the things Liz has done to get there. It's just the sad, sad truth, that to many, that just doesn't matter if you don't retain relation with the royal court of West Roswell's popular court.
Umm, anyways. The point is that I am going to win Tess over by Prom Time, even though I have yet to figure out how. I just know that I am going to do it, damnit!
And why not? After this it's over. My last chance to do anything about my "unhealthy obsession," as Liz likes to call it. But then again, I never asked Ms. Cynic what she thought about it. Nevertheless, she was oh too happy to spout off freely just EXACTLY what she thinks about Tess, and everything she stands for with the "in-crowd." Not that I disagree with anything Liz has to say about the quote un quote "populars" that rule the school in a disgusting hierarchy of whose got the newest, coolest brand of whatsit on their back, but Tess…she isn't like that. At least, I don't think so. What Liz thinks is a different story.
As you might already be able to tell, Liz and I have never been in the inner circle. Never wanted to. That is, I never wanted to until Tess moved here sophmore year. Before, I was all too happy to crack remarks with my best friend about Whatsherface's cheating boyfriend, who got in a cat fight with who on the quad, and how much it must suck to live among the fake and phony. Actually, I STILL am content to complain about the anarchy of society with Liz.
But I digress.
If I don't do something about Tess this year, than I'll end up at an elderly mad house, with prunes dribbling down my chin as I incoherently babble and moan about lost opportunities.
Actually, substitute the prunes for Doritos and the old folks home for high school (both each with their share of deranged psychos) and that's basically the story of my life.
And that, my friends, is about to change.
~*~Part One~*~
Max Evans stepped through his window and onto the little porch to look across the way towards Liz's balcony. He sighed. He couldn't sleep. Again. Tomorrow was the first day of senior year, and he was giddy with excitement with thoughts and plans for the promising year resounding through his humming brain.
Plus that combination of coca-cola and Tabasco sauce he had earlier didn't really do wonders for his lack of exhaustion.
He glanced inside his room at the faintly glowing digital clock and sighed in disgust.
Almost two A.M.
He should probably get to sleep so he didn't scare the crap out of Tess in the morning. He was planning to at least talk to her or something, to warm up the still scattered plans that were hopping around in his mind. He could see it now; blonde curls whirling about as Tess frantically ran, not walked, screaming in the other direction, shrieking expletives about crazy stalkers with miffed hair and baggy eyes.
Max silently groaned. You knew it was time for bed when you were hallucinating worst-case scenarios and becoming more and more anal by the second. For crying out loud, he was a guy. Guys didn't obsess the way he was currently doing. That's what girls did. Like his sister, Isabel, and the way she was with…well everything…from Christmas to her makeup, Izzy was a proud perfectionist. And also, like the way Liz was with her volunteering, and her studies. You were asking to get your hand bit off if you cracked jokes about the nursing home /hospital/orphanage where she worked, or if you interrupted her reading. Max knew this all too well, he thought while looking ruefully at his hand in memory.
And now, Liz and Isabel's nature was rubbing off on him. Lord, he needed to start spending more time with Michael, Alex and Kyle. Yea, get that testosterone pumping.
And yet, being best friends with a girl was…quite refreshing actually. Liz knew him better than he knew himself, and visa versa. You didn't get that same friendship, that same CONNECTION with other guys.
No, what you got where belching contests (Proud two-time winner, Max nodded with satisfaction), and boisterous hockey games (those DAMN FU***** Refs don't know what in the HELL they are talking about! Jeez, are they BLIND?!). Which were okay. Hell, they were great, and fun, and they gave Max the illusion of a semi normal social life (um, right).
But his relationship with Liz gave him something…more. Max couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew without a doubt, that he wouldn't give up his friendship with Liz for anything. It would be like disowning Isabel; only he would feel more remorse. He'd known Liz almost as long as he'd known Isabel, who was a year younger than him. Perhaps longer…at least it FELT like longer…
Max's gaze floated once more to Liz's balcony.
Hmm.
To risk the wrath of Liz Parker, and wake her up?
Or be a good best friend, and let Liz receive her beauty sleep?
Max smirked. He never was a good best friend when it came to annoying Liz.
What?! She was funny when she got all pissed and huffy. Her eyes darkened with fire, and her mouth got all thin…
Max chuckled silently with malice before picking up his dependable flashlight (which was always on the bench on his veranda, especially for occasions such as these. Memories of past whispered conversations into the night flitted through Max's brain for an instant), and flipped it on, shinning it blatantly through the darkened glass.
"Come on," Max muttered under his breath. Liz was never a light sleeper when you wanted her to be. Like the time, when was it…six or seven years ago, Max had intents to smear shaving cream all over Liz's hands and then to tickle her face with a feather…nope then she had to wake up at every little stimuli, eventually catching Max red handed, with the shaving cream poised up high and ready, and then afterwards promptly proceeded to throttle him severely… (With friends like these…).
Of course tonight, when he actually wanted to use that irritating quality for his favor, she had to sleep like a fricking log. A log. Hmm, that phrase didn't exactly make sense. Log's didn't sleep, so therefore, how could a person sleep like a log…just exactly who…
Max growled in frustration. This was bad. Being left alone with his sleep deprived thoughts couldn't possibly be considered healthy. He needed some human interaction, and he needed it NOW before his brain was effectively turned into mush. And right before the beginning of senior year, too. Yup, someone up there REALLY had it in for Max.
Just as he was about to contemplate the possibility of jumping from his balcony to hers (what!? It was only a few feet…well a few five feet anyways…), a light came on in Liz's bedroom. Max whooped silently, simultaneously praying that that it was JUST Liz that he awoke, and not her single father. Jeff Parker would rip off Max's head and eat it for breakfast (though perhaps at this hour, it would be a midnight snack…) if he caught Max annoying Lizzie at some God-awful hour again.
The white-framed French doors to Liz's room shot open, and a robe clad, sleepy yet irate Liz Parker stepped out onto her balcony. She threw Max a russet hued evil eye, one that was well known for halting unwitting irritators to the point of submission.
Not so for Max, however, who just grinned impishly at the livid expression before him. He noted with glee that he had succeeded in procuring the adorable little wrinkle between Liz's forehead, an act that rarely occurred. 'Score…' Max thought fleetingly.
"What in the name of pantyhose are you doing shinning the God-forsaken BRIGHT light in my eye for?! MAX! Do you have any idea what time it is?" Liz sighed in exasperation. "Tell me, WHAT exactly is so damn important that you can't wait till morning to share with me?" Liz paused for a millisecond, not nearly enough time for Max to blink, let alone reply, before going on. "I swear to God, if you're just doing this to get a rise out of me, I am going to…"
"Too late, I already achieved "getting a rise out of you" status. Your forehead's crinkled," Max grinned again, enjoying the way Liz's normally smooth collected face contorted with anger. Before she could blast him one, balcony or no balcony, Max held up his hands in a truce. "Kidding! Jeez," he laughed at the sour expression on her face.
Liz blew out a breath of aggravated air and then became concerned. "What's up, then? Nothing's wrong, is it, Max?" Her large brown eyes grew round with worry.
Max pretended to muse for a minute before answering in a deadpan, "Well, actually, yes. Lately I have been seriously questioning my sanity, among other things…"
Liz smirked and snorted before replying, "Besides that,"
Max sighed, and looked away for a minute. He had never had trouble in talking to Liz before, but right now, he found he couldn't find the right words to tell her what his plans and anxiety were over. God, he must be more nervous about what he was going to do then he thought…for the life of him, he could not find the right thing to say that would make him sound less pathetic than he actually was…
"Max," Liz broke in, bringing him back to reality and away from his befuddled thoughts. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" She asked in all seriousness.
Max smiled his patented half smile and nodded. "Yeah," he answered. "I know…"
Liz grinned. "Good. Now spit it out before I am forced to vault on over there and beat it out of you."
Max shook his head in surrender. "You know, the only reason I tell you everything is because I know the last statement to be more true than its own good."
Liz laughed. "Very good. Now speak! Its late."
Max lugged in a big breath and quickly filled Liz on his plans and hopes for senior year, and, more importantly, his plotting involving Tess. He finished, looked up, and dared to take in her reaction. He knew it was going to take a while for Liz to get over the fact that he was, in all actuality, SERIOUS about his infatuation with Tess. As he gazed up, he noted a peculiar, unreadable look upon Liz's face. He paused and tilted his head at her, his amber eyes narrowing as he tried to decipher her look. Did she think it was stupid? That HE was stupid? Momentarily, his gut churned and his heart lurched.
"Umm, Liz? You in there?" He asked tentatively. All of a sudden, the strange look disappeared so rapidly that Max wondered briefly if he had imagined it…
"Uhh, yeah…yeah…I just…" Liz stumbled for the correct words. Max shrugged it off, beginning to do some serious backpedaling.
"Yeah, you're probably right. It's a psycho plan. I don't even know why I thought of it. I mean, there's like no way in HELL that someone like Tess would look twice at someone like me. I just gotta…accept it or something…Urgh, I must be in more need of sleep than I thought. Thanks anyway Liz, I'm just gonna…" Max rambled on blinding, not quite sure of what he was saying.
Liz waved her hands in exasperation. "Um, hi! I'm still here you know, not that you need another person to converse with. You lost that necessity five minutes ago."
Max thrust his hands roughly through his already tossed raven hair. "Yea, sorry. I tend to get along quite well with myself," he said, trying to hit his usual light tone, and failing miserably.
Liz tried to hide her smile. "Yeah, um, that's great Max, but…are you ready to hear what I think now instead of jumping the gun and going from zero to sixty seconds in no time flat?"
Max threw her a wry smile and nodded.
Liz stared off into space for a few more minutes. She sighed deeply; one would never have thought that just one person could exhale so much air. She stared hard at Max, and began. "First of all, are SURE that this is a good idea, Max? I mean, no offense, but Tess runs with the elite if you know what I mean, as much as it sickens me to say it…" Liz scowled. Damn high school politics and the shallowness of it all…
Max nodded his head in agreement slowly. "Yeah, I know. It's quite blatant."
Liz felt a laugh bubbling in her throat. She tossed Max an amused glance. "Whoo, someone's found a friend in the thesaurus." She quipped.
Max's mouth curved upwards. "No, actually. Who needs a thesaurus when I have a walking talking Einstein living next door…?"
Liz rolled her doe eyes. "Why thank you. I'm touched…I think…"
"Anytime. Anyways, you were saying…"
Liz bit her lip, and paused for a few more. "Its just…I-I don't want to see you get hurt…and that's a real possibility here. I'd give you the mathematical ratio but its two A.M…."
Max sighed loudly. "I know. I know, I know. But I've thought about this. I don't want to waste my last year at West Roswell, and then be haunted by 'what if's'. I WANT this, Liz. You have no idea how much…"
Max thought he saw a flash of pain rush across Liz's features, but he disregarded it when she started to speak, her face normal once again. "Well, if you really want it…" She broke off, gazing up at the night sky, a sheen of black, dotted with bright stars, before finishing. "Then…go for it, Max. If anyone deserves something to go their way, its you." She smiled tightly.
A grin broke out across Max's face. "You think so?" he asked happily.
Liz nodded and then looked pointed at her bedroom. "Yea. Listen Max are you good now? Because if I am going to drive you tomorrow, I need my rest. I don't need to run off the road, and bash us into a mailbox, or even better, into the principal's car again…" She trailed off, grimacing as she remembered junior year.
Max jumped up. "Oh, yea, I good now. I'll let you get your much needed beauty sleep," he teased gently. Liz rolled her eyes, giving a halfhearted "haha" before turning towards her room. Max too went to enter his room again, when he turned back suddenly. "Hey Liz…" he called out softly.
Liz spun slightly, her hand coming to rest on the edge of the double French doors. "Yea Max…?" She asked in a tired tone.
Max smiled slightly, his eyes soft. "Thanks," he said humbly, trying to say so much with one look. "I don't know where'd I'd be with out my best friend."
Liz nodded curtly. "Yea. No problem. Now, if you don't mind…" She stifled a yawn.
"Sure, sure. Good night Liz. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. Night, Max." Liz closed the doors, quietly, yet firmly.
Max collapsed upon his bed, smiling to himself as he fell into a deep sleep, his dreams full of promise…
~*~POV~*~
[b]LIZ[/b]
Regrets.
The unfathomable 'what ifs' of everyday life.
The unavoidable compunction that rears its head at the most inopportune of times.
The cursing of life's cruel attempts at a joke. (Not funny, might I add).
Ah, yes. Welcome to my glorious life.
I thought I was over the foolish 'feelings' that rose up last year. I thought I had gotten over whatever stupid sentimentality woke up within me whenever I had the thought of my best friend come within a few feet of my thoughts.
'I did! I did!' I try desperately to convince myself, a ploy that worked in the past.
Question is, is it working now?
That would be a negative.
WHY. Why, why, why, why? Why did this have to come up now? Its senior year. Next year I'll be attending Stanford, and Max is most likely on his way to UCLA, or, if his dad gets his way, Berkley. This is it. My last chance to vanquish these demons, or do something about them, hence the 'most inopportune times' comment.
This quite literally, for lack of better terms, sucks big.
I mean, why Tess? Why the poster girl for everything that is wrong with society today? (Ok so I am a bit harsh and melodramatic, but it IS two A.M. so just deal. That's what I'm doing. Or trying to anyways). It couldn't be anyone else, could it. No, that would be too easy on me. Lord knows that it would be ludicrous if Liz Parker's life resembled just a smidgeon of normalcy. I worked my ass off to become a candidate for salutatorian/valedictorian, I volunteered an insane amount of hours, I help my dad deal with Mom's long since departure, and I oh so generously give out advice to my friends-especially to Max. Even when it hurts me to say it, that I'd rather someone take out their keys and stab me with them.
Morbid much? Why, yes thank you. My violent tendencies rise to the surface whilst I lay awake, unable to sleep though its two A.M.
The point is (Yes, I would actually have a point. But am I getting to it…) this was supposed to be the year where nothing changed. Everything had been going my way. I had come out on top, my future looking bright for the duration of senior year. I had finally found a solid existence. I had been ready to cost on through, ready to taste the rewards for my arduous work. I had liked my life the way it was before these icky feelings, before Max decided to grow a spine, before everything went down the big vat of a poo hole. I liked it better when I was ignorant and unknowing.
Can I crawl back into my little black hole of ambiguity? Please?
I liked it better in there…