Part Fifty-Five

The next week passes extremely quickly and before I know it, it's Thursday morning and I'm sitting in Max's room, waiting for him to collect his degree results from the History department. I wanted to go up to campus with him to get them, but he insisted I stay in bed while he went by himself. He told me it was because I deserved a lie-in, but secretly I think it's because he was scared of what would be in that envelope and didn't want me to see him open it.

While I wait for him to return, I find myself wandering around the bedroom, browsing through his extensive DVD collection and smiling at the collection of photos he has pinned to the notice board on the wall. A smile lights up my face as I finger the latest edition to the board – a picture of Max and I at the university's Summer Ball last weekend, arms wrapped around each other as we smile into the camera. We had a blast that night, dancing until the early hours of the morning in the Great Hall, playing poker as the casino tables, taking rides on the dodgems and spinner rides in the fairground section and finally staying up for the Survivor's Photo at six a.m. on Sunday morning. Maria and Michael made it all through the night too and just before the Survivor's Photo was taken, Maria snapped his particular shot of Max and I together.

This past week, we've spent as much time together as we could and I have to admit that I'm getting used to going to bed with him every night and waking up next to him every morning. But now the end of term is approaching very fast – my parents are coming to pick me up tomorrow afternoon – and there's definitely been something of an anxious atmosphere between us the last day or so as the end of the week has been getting nearer and nearer.

With a wistful sigh, I turn from the photograph and move over to Max's CD player. Flicking through the jumbled pile of homemade CDs on top of it, I reach for one and slide it into the player. The sounds of Leona Lewis' version of Run filter through the speakers, I let myself sink down onto the bed, a smile drifting onto my face as I let the strains of the music swirl through me. I can't believe Max actually has this on CD – it's not really his kind of music. It was one of the songs we danced to at the ball last weekend and as we swayed together on the dance floor, I told him how much I loved it and how I thought it was a beautiful rendition. After that night, he must have downloaded it and burned it onto a CD.

However, barely halfway through the song, I hear the front door slam closed downstairs, and I immediately sit up, my smile widening into a grin as I wait for Max to climb the stairs; I know it's Max and not one of his housemates because we're the only ones here today – the others have either gone home for a while or gone away for a long weekend. After what seems like forever, the bedroom door finally opens and he walks in, his expression unreadable.

"So?" I ask eagerly, crossing my legs beneath me as I sit in the middle of the bed. "What did you get?"

"Well…" he starts, his expression still not giving anything away. "It's not what I was expecting…"

"It's bad?" I ask hesitantly, fearing the worst.

"Here," he thrusts the folded piece of paper into my hands.

With a slight frown, I take it from him and unfold it, quickly scanning the words before me. But then I stop, my eyes widening in shock as I take in the result printed in the centre of the page. My head snaps up to meet his eyes.

"Oh my God, Max!" I gasp. "You got seventy-eight percent! That's a First!"

Suddenly, he breaks into a grin, "I know."

"Wow," I breathe, before springing up from the bed and flinging my arms around him. "Congratulations!"

His arms come around me, hugging me tight as I jump up and down excitedly, my arms tight around his neck, before I pull back and press my lips against his eagerly.

"I'm… so… proud… of you," I tell him between enthusiastic kisses. "You got a First!"

I feel him grin against my lips as his arms tighten around my back, pressing my body into his and suddenly the excited energy in the room becomes something else entirely. I pull back and look up into his eyes to find him staring down at me intently, his pupils dark and boring into mine.

"Liz…" he murmurs throatily.

And that's all it takes. We fall to the bed in a tangle of limbs, mouths devouring each other, hands everywhere. Max tugs and pulls at my clothes impatiently as I fumble with his belt, my fingers unable to grasp the leather properly because my hands are shaking with anticipation. Eventually, I manage to get it undone and we undress each other frantically, desperate to be as close as possible right now. I run my hands up over his torso, my fingers tracing each ridge of his stomach carefully as I revel in the feel of his hot, hard skin against mine. With deep, ardent kisses and eager, exploring hands, we make love passionately, as the beautiful voice of Leona Lewis continues to play in the background.


"Mmm, this is good," I murmur with a contented smile as I sink back into the couch two hours later, licking Mint Choc Chip ice cream off my spoon before eagerly dipping into the tub for more.

Beside me, Max shakes his head, glancing down at the tub of Cookie Dough in his hand, before smirking at me, "Nope, mine's better."

"No way," I counter. "Mint Choc Chip is the best flavour ever."

"Is not," he sticks his tongue out at me, before shoving a spoonful of the cold, creamy concoction into his mouth.

"Is too," I counter, digging my spoon into the tub again and then holding it out to him. "Here, try some."

He raises an eyebrow, shooting me another smirk, "Thanks… I'd love to."

He reaches out, wrapping his fingers around my wrist and bringing the spoon to his lips. Our gazes lock and I feel my face heating up at the seductive look in his eyes as his tongue snakes out for a tiny taste of the ice cream. A shiver runs through me as I watch the spoon slide into his mouth and I can't stop the small moan from escaping from my lips in response.

"Actually," he murmurs a moment later, looking up at me mischievously, "It's not all that bad."

"Told you so," I grin triumphantly.

"But, now you have to try mine," he responds, loading up his spoon with the strawberry ice cream and holding it out towards me.

"Fine, if I must," I roll my eyes good-naturedly.

I lean forward, parting my lips at the same time as Max moves the spoon in my direction and we clash, the ice cream missing my mouth and running down my cheek instead.

"Oh!" I gasp in surprise at the feel of the cold substance coming into contact with my warm skin.

"Oops," chuckles Max with a sheepish shrug.

"Thanks a lot," I exclaim with a laugh.

"Let me get that for you," he murmurs, placing the spoon back into the tub as he leans forward, placing his fingers beneath my chin as he leans in and captures the rapidly-melting ice cream with his mouth.

I suck in a sharp breath and then exhale with a sigh as his lips graze my skin over and over, cleaning up the sticky mess. My eyes slide closed as I lose myself in the tingling sensation of his mouth and tongue on my skin, but barely two seconds later, I stiffen, my eyes flying open again as I feel something cold and wet against my neck.

"What?" I exclaim in shock, my wide eyes looking into Max's as he grins wickedly and then lowers his mouth to the curve of my neck, lapping up the trail of melting ice cream that is running down towards my shoulder… and the edge of the T-shirt I'm wearing… his T-shirt. "Max…"

"Sorry, couldn't resist," he murmurs against my skin. "You just looked so delectable."

"Yeah, okay," I reply in amusement, my fingers coming up to bury themselves in the hair at the nape of his neck, the tub of Mint Choc Chip going forgotten in my other hand as I shiver in response to his ministrations.

Without breaking contact, he reaches down over the edge of the sofa to place his ice cream tub on the floor, and then proceeds to slide his hand beneath the T-shirt I'm wearing and across my heated skin.

"Oh!" I exclaim, flinching in surprise as his hand, cold from holding the tub, brushes across my bare breast, causing my nipple to hard in response.

He just grins and reaches out his other hand to take the Mint Choc Chip tub from me, regarding me seriously before demanding, "Take off your shirt."

I raise an eyebrow at the authoritative tone, but I'm so turned on now that I eagerly comply, lifting the T-shirt over my head so that I'm naked before him, apart from my knickers.

"Hmm," he murmurs thoughtfully, as his gaze peruses my bare upper body. "Liz and ice cream, two of my favourite things in the whole world. I wonder how they would taste together."

My eyes widen at the statement, yet my stomach contracts in anticipation and I watch as he dips two fingers into the half-melted ice cream and then, with a wicked grin, brings them to my breast, spreading the cold, sticky liquid across my hot skin.

"Max," I gasp, my back arching slightly in response.

His eyes fixed on mine, he gives a smirk, before leaning in and capturing my nipple between his lips, gently cleaning the ice cream from my skin.

"Oh, God," I murmur, my hand drifting to his neck and holding him there.

"Not so fast, Liz," he tells me, pulling back to smear more of the minty ice cream onto my skin, before leaning in to lap it up with his tongue.

I shudder, letting out a soft moan as I shift on the sofa, sliding down into the cushions so that I'm practically lying beneath him. He adjusts his position too, so that he's half-lying on top of me, supporting himself on his elbows either side of my body.

He continues his ice cream assault on my body, his tongue dipping into my belly button more than once on its journey down towards my knickers, and before long I'm writhing beneath him, gasping for release, yet also in need of something else.

Ah, yes, that's it.

A wicked smile crosses my lips as I reach down for Max's discarded tub of Strawberry ice cream and dip my fingers in the gooey substance. I shiver as Max's tongue hits a particularly sensitive spot just above my hipbone, but I will not be deterred from my mission. With a grin, I lower my hand and brush my ice cream covered fingertips across his bare chest. He starts in surprise, his head snapping up to look at me, but I just shrug and smirk down at him. He shifts upwards slightly as I lower my head and suddenly the tables are turned; I'm the one seducing him now. It's not long before our bodies are tangled together in a sticky mess of limbs as I urge his sweatpants down over his hips and he pulls off my knickers, and suddenly I'm very glad that we're the only ones home today.


"Okay, I think we're almost done," I announce tiredly, as I close the last box and then sink down onto the edge of my now-bare bed. "Just have to pack up the stereo and then I think I'm good to go."

"I can't believe you have so much stuff here," says Max then, looking around the disaster zone that is my room.

Maria already left for the summer this morning and now, in the process of packing, my stuff seems to have migrated over to her side of the room too.

"It's not that much stuff," I defend, glancing over at the four cardboard boxes, two suitcases, two backpacks and three big shopping bags of my belongings.

Max shoots me an incredulous glance, "Not that much? Liz, when I moved out of halls, I left with two boxes and two cases."

I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously, "You did?"

"Yep."

"I don't believe you."

"It's true," he insists, although his expression is just a little too wide and innocent for my liking and I continue to stare him down with a disbelieving look, until he shifts under my gaze and gives a shrug. "Okay, so maybe it's not quite true."

"I knew it," I grin.

"But I did leave with two boxes and two cases… it's just that I'd moved the rest of my stuff into the house the day before," he admits then.

"Well, in that case, you have no right to criticise me," I retort with a smirk.

He sighs, "No, I guess I don't."

I get up from the bed and move towards my desk.

"Can you help me with this stereo?" I ask. He nods and joins me at the desk. "My parents will be here soon and I want to have everything ready to go."

"Are you really that eager to leave?" he asks playfully, although his voice holds a hint of something else.

"What?" my head comes up to observe him as I fiddle with the wires at the back of the stereo. "No, of course not. I'm just trying to be organised so we can pack everything into the car easily."

We pack up the stereo and place it on top of one of the boxes, before I turn to look out of the window for any sign of my dad's car. Suddenly Max's arms slip around me from behind as he rests his chin on my shoulder.

"You know, the offer's still open for you to stay with me," he murmurs softly, his palms flattening against my waist as he nuzzles my neck. "It wouldn't be a problem at all."

"I know," I sigh, "And I wish I could, but you know I can't."

"I know," he says. "But it was worth a try, I guess. I'm gonna miss you."

"I'll miss you too," I reply, turning in his arms to face him. "So much."

"It's only two weeks until Graduation," he reminds me then. "You'll be coming back down then."

"Yeah, I will," I smile up at him, leaning up and pressing my lips to his for a moment. "I can't wait."

He grins and brings his mouth down to mine as we kiss again, this time more thoroughly; but just as I start to lose myself in it, he pulls back.

"What time are your parents coming?"

I look down at my watch, "Any minute now."

"Will it be both of them?" he asks, sounding slightly worried.

"Yeah, I think so," I nod, before narrowing my eyes in suspicion. "Why? You're not scared to meet them, are you?"

"No, of course not," he scoffs, shrugging off the question, but I can see the apprehension in his eyes.

"Max, there's nothing to be scared of, okay?" I assure him. "They're very nice people."

"I dunno," he mutters. "It's 'meeting my girlfriend's parents', you know? What if they don't like me… what if I say or do something stupid?"

"Relax," I tell him with a smile. "You'll be fine. They're looking forward to meeting you."

As if on cue, my mobile rings and I reach for it. It's Mum, informing me that she and Dad are five minutes away.

"They're almost here," I tell Max, when the conversation has ended. I place a hand on his arm, before moving to get the last of my things ready, "It's gonna be fine."

Exactly five minutes later, my parents' car pulls into the small car park and, giving Max a quick reassuring kiss, I head downstairs to greet them. They've barely stepped out of the car when I practically run across the car park and wrap my arms around them both at the same time, unbelievably happy to see them again after almost three months away. Barely thirty seconds later, I find myself chatting away enthusiastically about the things I've been doing this term and filling them in on the news, and I don't even notice that Max has appeared behind me, carrying a box in his arms, until my dad clears his throat awkwardly.

"Oh!" I exclaim in surprise, spinning round to find Max grinning at me, his nervousness from earlier apparently gone now. I turn back to face my parents again, "Mum, Dad, this is Max. My boyfriend."

"Oh, Max, it's lovely to finally meet you," says Mum, stepping forward and holding out her hand.

Max looks around sheepishly before placing the box down on the ground and reaching out to shake her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Parker."

"Oh, please, call me Nancy," she smiles warmly, before gesturing to my father. "And this is Jeff."

"Good to meet you, Max," smiles Dad, as he steps forward to shake Max's hand too.

"So, Liz tells me you study History, Max," pipes up Mum then.

"Yes, I do," he nods. "Well, actually, as of yesterday, I don't technically study it anymore."

I smile, "Max got his final results yesterday. He's going to be graduating with a First in a couple of weeks."

"Wow," my mum's eyes widen. "A First – you must be very bright, Max."

"Well," Max shrugs modestly, "I try my best."

"He's amazing," I tell her proudly, although it earns me an eye-roll from Max.

"You're one to talk, Liz," he returns with a grin. "I'm not the only one who can get a First."

"You got your results, Liz?" asks Mum.

"Yep, this morning," I nod in reply. "I just scraped a First this year with seventy-one percent."

"That's excellent, sweetie," she exclaims happily. "Congratulations."

"Very well done, Lizzie," agrees Dad. "I think this calls for a celebration. How about, after we've got the car all packed up, we take you and Max out for dinner to celebrate your results?"

"Really? Wow, thanks, Dad. That would be great – right, Max?"

"Yeah," he smiles, although he looks a bit nervous at the prospect. "It would. Thanks, Mr. Parker."

"Okay, then, that's settled," he agrees. "So, how about we start getting this car loaded up?"

We spend the next half an hour shuttling boxes and bags from my room into the car and by the time we're done, it's after six p.m. Due to the car being so full and also because the evening is nice and warm, my parents suggest we leave the car at the hall and walk into town for dinner.

As we head off campus, I turn to Max and ask quietly, "Are you sure you're okay with having dinner with us? It's been a long day for families."

He shakes his head, "I'm fine, Liz. It's fine."

I nod, although I have to admit that I'm starting to get tired myself. The day has been long, starting with heading up to campus to get my results first thing this morning, before returning to the hall to do some packing. Then around lunchtime, Max's parents came to pick up Isabel and somehow we both got invited for lunch with the family… which was, shall we say, an interesting affair. And now, after an afternoon of packing, lifting and moving things, we're going out to eat with my family.

When we arrive in the city centre, we decide to eat at a small Italian restaurant on the Cathedral Green and thankfully dinner is a rather laidback, enjoyable affair. Max seems to get on really well with my parents and there's very little awkwardness in the conversation – apart from when the subject of Max's family came up, causing things to get a little uncomfortable for us all, but other than that, it goes all very well.

But, now, as I'm standing with Max back in the hall car park, my parents patiently waiting in the car for me as we say our goodbyes, I begin to feel tears welling up in my eyes. I can't believe the whole first year is over – this is it now; I have to leave. I don't want to though – it don't want it to end. As stupid as it sounds, part of me wants to keep being in first year forever… just everything continuing on as it is instead of changing like it will as soon as I leave Max's arms and step into that car.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," I murmur, my breath hitching in my throat as I try not to cry. "I don't wanna go."

"You have to," Max looks resigned. "Your parents are waiting."

"You'll call me, right?" I ask, my voice coming out uncertain, even though we've already arranged that we'll talk on the phone whenever possible.

"Of course I will," he smiles down at me softly. "I promise."

I nod, unable to speak for a moment.

"C'mere," he mutters then, pulling my body tightly against his.

I bury my face in his chest, my arms coming around his torso as I breathe in his masculine scent.

"I love you," I mumble against his chest.

"I love you too," I hear his voice murmur from above my head.

I pull back to look up at him and our gazes lock, staring into each other's eyes for a long moment, before the distance between us closes and then we're kissing like there's no tomorrow. It's with a heavy heart that I finally, reluctantly let go of him and make my way towards the car.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" I tell him, forcing a smile onto my face.

"See you for Graduation," he nods.

And that's it – I'm in the car and we're pulling out of the car park. I watch him through the window until we turn the corner and he's out of sight. With a sigh, I turn back to face the front of the car. Only twelve more days until I see him again. That's not too long. I can get through twelve days without seeing him… right?

TBC