~*~POV~*~
[b]MAX [/b]
Have you ever had a moment where you dread what's going to happen next with an icy foreboding?
Have you ever had a moment where you eagerly anticipate what's going to happen next with a fervent excitement?
Mesh those two moments together, and Wha-la.
In a molded concoction, I present to you the first day of senior year..
And the first day of the rest of my life.
I can't wait for today. Today I am finally going to show the world that "HA! Yes, Evans does in fact walk among you, and he is going to conquer the world, one frickin step at a time, by first obtaining the affection of Tess Harding!" Victory is just in reach. The question is, do I have the balls to grab onto it?
I am also dreading today. For all my pep talk last night about "Yea, go get 'em Evans!" I am quite terrified. What if it doesn't work? What if she laughs at me?
What if she figures out what I am slowly piecing together- the fact that I am turning into a ten-year-old jerk with an unhealthy preoccupation?
Hmm. Perhaps this LAST day of the rest of my life. For in order for the day to begin off nicely, you first have to.wake up.
Why is it that nothing ever goes according my handy dandy little planner agenda book thingy (the one with the cutesy little Warner Bros. Cartoons on the cover.What? The Roswell Supply Shop has poor selection. It was either that or one with Pokemon on the cover.gotta catch em all. Good God, how do I know this stuff. I'm so thrilled that I have this useless information stored in my brain. Not.)?
Have you ever had a moment where you were paralyzed, where horror stole your breath? A moment where you could only say, in the most blatant of senses."Oh SHIT!"
Yes, well welcome to my world.
~*~Part Two~*~ [A/N I apologize in advance for this first bit.it had to come out..]
Blonde hair curling around his fingers. Clear blue eyes gazing suggestively into his own amber ones. Red ruby lips curving up and pouting.so close to his own.they open slightly to murmur softly to him.he eagerly leaned forward in attempts to hold onto her every word (well and that, and to get a bit CLOSER.)
"Wake up Max," she said in extreme irritation.
Max wrinkled his brow in confusion. Huh? That wasn't the sound of Tess's voice. No, it sounded more like.
"Max! I am not going to wait around for your lazy ass to get up. Isabel left all ready with Alex and Kyle, so if you want a ride, GET GOING,"
All of a sudden the golden beauty that had been in front of him morphed into a more petite, brown haired.
Liz?
What the hell was Liz doing in his Tess fantasy?
Wait a minute. What was HE doing in his Tess fantasy? Shouldn't he be out making that dream a reality? And more importantly, for his Tess fantasy to be a Tess fantasy.where was TESS?
"MAX!"
Max jerked awake, twisting in his sheets, as a loud frustrated voice penetrated through his sleepy thoughts, effectively snapping him out of his dream-ridden state. Unfortunately, in his shock, Max jerked a little too far, promptly flailing forward to land with a loud THUD on his hardwood floor. He laid there for a minute, absorbing the fall, as his face smooshed into the ground.
Owwww.
Well la-de-da. You knew it was going to be a bad day when the first thing that you did was fall flat on your ass. Splendid. What an uncanny way to start off the day.
For the love of God, now he was RYHMING.
As Liz spoke, he could clearly hear the smirk in her voice. "Smooth Maxwell, real graceful."
Max groaned loudly, throwing off the blue hued sheet, which had followed him down on his fall. He shivered slightly at the loss of warmth, rubbing his bare arms, and pounding on his naked chest as if to correct whatever damage he had received from the clumsy fall off of his bed. He heard Liz's sharp intake of breath and whirled around to face her. She appeared to be clenching her jaw, looking at her sandal clad feet. He thought her heard her soft cursing.something about damn feelings?
Huh?
Max yawned. He must not be fully awake yet.
Max rubbed his eyes as if to remove the cloudy fuzzy sleepy thoughts and to bring the present into a bit more focus. "Hey. What's wrong?" he asked, thoroughly concerned. Liz didn't look so good.
Liz took a deep breath and merely pointed at the clock, still refusing to look at him. He wondered briefly at her strange behavior..
And then followed her hand and cursed loudly.
"SHIT!"
He had less than five minutes to be out the door if he and Liz wanted to be there on time.
Liz waltzed out of his room. "I'll be waiting outside. If you're not out there in exactly four minutes, I'm leaving, and your walking."
Psh.
Empty threat.
Still, Max immediately scrambled around his room, scouring it closely for a shirt and pants. God DAMNIT, why didn't he own anything CLEAN! Argh, Isabel was right, it was high time he learned how to do his own laundry. Although last time his lousy attempts had been a complete disaster. Three Words.
TOO
MUCH
SOAP
= BAD
Ahh, the lessons in life.
One of those lessons being punctuality.
Shit, Shit, shit, shit, shit.
He rapidly threw on a shirt, tugged some pants on over his boxers, while tripping over his accordion.
Yes, you heard right.
Accordion.
Not a soul knew except for Isabel, Michael and Liz, all of which were loyally sworn to secrecy.
Urm, well, he DID have to do the dishes for a month to keep Isabel's mouth shut, and he WAS down twenty bucks thanks to Michael's insisting blackmail..
Yea, he needed new friends.
But Liz.
Liz LIKED it. Thought it was."cute." She always sighed in contentment when his mom told her the story of how Phillip Evans would always play "Melt With You," softly, sweetly.until Diane forgave him for whatever crap he pulled.
Well, that's what the accordion was used for NOW. Back in the day (i.e. A million years ago.) when Philip and Diane were, ick, HIS age, his dad would serenade his mom. THAT'S what got Liz all 'sigh-y.'
To tell the truth, Max kind of LIKED playing it too. It was slightly.calming.plus it made him feel more connected to his father.the same father with whom Max had never had a steady relationship with since he was five. Yea, that guy.
Max sighed. Now was so NOT the time to go down memory lane.
Time. TIME. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit..
Grabbing his backpack and slinging it over his broad shoulder, he quickly thrust a comb through his hair, causing his hair to fall slightly over his eyes, in what Isabel liked to call, his "innocent yet alluring" look.
Girls.
Max raced for the door, but stopped outside the bathroom. He quickly brushed his teeth, and turned to go.and then turned back. Hesitating, he quickly contemplated his options. Should he put on cologne? Or was that a bit much?
"TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN."
Max rolled his eyes and continued on his trek for the door, his decision made for him. Making his way to the car in rapid timing, he slammed the door to Liz's VW Rabbit, and turned to face her.
"Let's roll, we're gonna be late,"
Liz snorted and backed out of the Evan's driveway. "Indeed, Mr. High and Mighty! Never mind the fact that YOU'RE the reason that we're going to be late." She picked up her coffee and slurped noisily.
Max nodded indolently at her. "Jeez calm down. Its not like you've never overslept before; get your panties out of their bunch."
Liz sputtered into her coffee, trying hard not to spit it out all over the dashboard (because God knows it was a bitch to get sugary liquid out of your car.). In her efforts to contain the liquid, she became subject to a major choking fit.
Alarmed, Max hastily took the cup from her, and rubbed her back gently. "You ok?" he asked softly.
Tears were in Liz's eyes, results of her lack of air and massive choking spaz. "Just peachy," she managed to gasp out, her body returning to normal, now that her trachea was free of the intruding liquid. "Damn epiglottis, why did God give us them if they don't work?"
Max grinned. Oh, yea, she was fine if she was complaining using Biology terms. "Hmm, perhaps I should drive then." He asked innocuously.
Liz narrowed her brown eyes. "Nuh nuh, Evans. Don't even think about it. Don't think I forgot about the LAST time I handed over my keys."
Max grumbled good-naturedly. "A little run in with Mr. Garbage Can. Nothing to flip out about...You'd think you'd let it go already."
Liz mock glared at him, taking a rapid glance from off the road. "LITTLE? As I recall, the bumper was completely unhinged! And needless to say," Liz pretended to sniffle, "Mr. Garbage Can no longer walks among us."
Max laughed. "As [I] I[/I] recall, Mr. Garbage Can never walked in the first place."
Liz turned towards him slightly, her eyes serious. "That's what you think," she deadpanned.
It took a minute, and both burst out laughing.
Still chucking softly a few seconds later, Max thought of something. "So I was thinking about something, and I'm not sure if I should talk to Tess before classes, or wait until lunch."
Liz ceased laughing immediately, a slight frown on her face. She stared at the red light like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Max furrowed his brow a bit. "Liz?" he asked. "Did you hear m.."
"Yea," Liz cut him off. "I heard you," she turned towards him again, a strained smile on her face. "Umm, you should probably." She bit her lip. "Uhh, it would probably be best if you.if you.you know what, I suck at this sort of thing. Maybe you should wait and ask Michael or Kyle and Alex when we get to hell-er school." She focused her attention back on the road.
Max shook his head. "Nuh uh. Last time I did what they thought I should do, I ended up down fifty bucks and a large yak at the door, much to the pleasure and confusion of my delightful parents,"
Liz smirked. "That will teach you guys from ordering something from a foreign shopping network again,"
Max rolled his eyes. "I still don't get how the guy got "yak" from "baseball bat,"
Liz pursed her lips together. "Another one of life's many mysteries." She trailed off, seeming to contemplate other mysteries, not necessarily ones that revolved around beasts and sports.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. It was similar to the comfortable silences that they were used to, but this time.
This time it seemed.charged with something different.
Max shook his head and disregarded it as apprehension of what he was about to do.
~*~
"Another dream about Tess Harding, huh man?" Kyle Valenti slung his arm haphazardly around Max, as Max filled them in on his senior "plan."
Max threw Kyle an annoyed look. "NO, that's not why I decided to do this," he paused. "But yea, another one this morning."
Liz tossed Max a disgusted look. "Is THAT why you were late?" Oh god, she SO did not want to think about that. Eww, he had been dreaming about Tess while she had been in his room. While she had been fantasizing about his quite bare (and quite sculpted) chest, he had been drooling over Tess in his dreams. That would be what you called, severely messed up. Ick, it was bad enough that he had to drool over her in the daytime, but at night too?
'Stop it, stop it. You don't care remember?'
Liz blinked hard to shut out her thoughts and focused her attention back to the gang.
Alex Whitman whistled loudly. "Whoo doggie!" He winked and nudged Max's side suggestively. "Tell me everything man. Was I in this one?"
Isabel Evans rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. "Something must be seriously wrong with you if you WANT to be in my poor misguided brothers sex fantasies..eww my brother has sex fantasies.oh god, new topic please!" Isabel looked quite revolted.
Alex grinned and pulled his girlfriend closer to him. "No worries, the only person's dream I want to be in is yours," He pulled her in for a sloppy kiss.
Michael Guerin grimaced. "Yuck, someone save us from the blatant display of PDA"
Maria Deluca smacked her boyfriend playfully. Urm, well it SEEMED playfully. The wince that Michael gave off proved it was not. Well, that and everyone present knew that when you pissed off Maria, you ran not walked, to the nearest exit, not looking back. "What you SHOULD be doing is taking some notes on how to treat your girlfriend properly," she huffed before turning her attention on Max.
Maria pierced Liz with a rapid glance before beginning. Liz was a bit taken aback. What was that for?
"I just don't know what you see in her, Max!" Maria went on. "I mean, sure, she's got a great body."
Kyle smirked. "Whoa ho ho! Maria wants Tess Harding's bod-y!" He wiggled his eyebrow up and down suggestively. He and Alex burst out laughing, both unfortunately for the rest of the group sharing the same quirky humor. They were silenced; only by the murderous look that Michael flashed their way (well that, and the death glare coming off of Maria wasn't too shabby either.).
"What I MEAN is," Maria continued irritatingly, "is that.Max, well, you could do so much better."
At her words the whole entire group sobered, and to Liz's great incredulity, Alex and Kyle proceeded to give her the same concerned look.
'What the hell..?
What was their problem?
Oh, god.
They didn't.
They couldn't.
I mean, NO ONE knew. not even Liz HERSELF fully knew.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.'
"Yea, Max," Isabel was saying. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"You're asking to get hurt for this one." Michael added.
Max's shoulders slumped, as did Liz's heart. God, she HATED seeing him like this. It was just.WRONG. She sighed. She knew what she was about to do was stupid, and potentially self mutilating.
Max looked at her with a pleading look. The wounded puppy dog helpless look that got her every damn time..
But she had to do it. It was her.DUTY, for lack of better words, to her best friend.
"Max's thought about it. He.likes her. He deserves to get what he.wants.and we should at least stand out of his way if we're not going to help him," Liz forced out. She ignored the disbelieving looks that Isabel, Alex, Kyle, Maria and Michael were all throwing her way, and instead focused on the look of undying gratitude that Max was favoring upon her. She smiled weakly back and looked down at her shoes, cursing the drop in her stomach that she felt at Max's gaze.
Wonderful job on her part. She managed to spit it out and sound halfway sincere. Not that Max noticed. He was just smiling again, as Isabel, Michael, and Kyle all mumbled apologies and halfhearted encouragements. Max was now dragging them away and pumping Isabel, who had held the sickening position of best friend and co-captain of the cheerleading squad last year for one nauseating month to Tess during a fallout between her and Alex (which thankfully didn't last long), for advice on how to proceed. Kyle was providing his perverted advice ("Go to the mall and have her model for you in Victoria's Secret, Max. It's a great first date kind of place") and Michael was just shaking his head in disbelief at Kyle.
Alex and Maria however, came closer to Liz. "Hey chica, how you holding up over here?"
Liz blinked. "I'm fine," She said defensively. What was WITH them today? God, was she dishing out her feelings on a platter here? Or what?
No, she wasn't. For in order to dish out these feelings, she first had to HAVE feelings in the first place.
And she didn't. No siree, no feelings over here.
Alex touched her arm sympathetically. "Are you sure?"
Liz jerked away. "YES. Why? Is there something you guys aren't telling me?" Don't tell me you know, don't tell me you know, don't tell me you know.
Maria grimaced slightly, pity in her olive eyes. "I think there's something you're not telling US," she stated cryptically.
Alex nodded, "About what you REALLY feel about this whole Tess thing."
Liz shrugged. "Its fine. Its what he wants. Its fine." Its fine. A wholly vat of fun. A grand ole idea. Just peachy.
Maria raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Oh really. So you don't have any feelings what so ever for Max anymore, and that this ISN"T hurting you?"
Damn it! Did she not just plead silently in an unending maxim for them NOT to say that? And what did Maria mean, ANYMORE?
"NO!" Liz burst out angrily. "God, Maria, go sniff some cedar oil. You're loosing it." Liz forced out a laugh, but it came out harsh, like she was barking or something. She took a quick glance in Max's direction to make sure he wasn't hearing this particularly EMBARRASSING conversation, but what she saw made her wish she hadn't. She quickly turned away.
But not quickly enough. For she had just enough time to watch Max go up to Tess, the half smile that turned Liz's knees to jell-o for some weird reason, tugging at the recesses of his mouth as he stuck up a conversation with her.
And that's when Liz realized that she was the biggest freakin liar on the planet. Because, quite frankly, it DID hurt.
More than she would have ever thought possible.
~*~POV~*~
[b] Liz [/b]
Have you ever had one of those days where you just wanted to throw your pillow at the alarm clock and never get up?
Have you ever had one of those days where you're thinking all this stuff, and all you really want to do is stop?
This would be the story of my life.
Perhaps that is a bit melodramatic.
Ok, fine, it's the story of day so far. And with the way things are going, I think it would have been a REALLY good idea to just stay in bed for the duration of it.
There are a lot of things I'd rather not think about. Things that I wish never reared their ugly heads inside my mind in the first place. Things I'd rather never happened, so I wouldn't have to waste my time on it.
I really like to just forget about the day when my mom left my dad and I for good.
I really don't want to think about the lovely sack lunch that I packed this morning, only to leave it on the kitchen counter.
I really don't want to think about the icky cafeteria food that will be awaiting me 3rd hour.
But most of all, I certainly don't want to think about Max's bare chest this morning, and how for the briefest of moments, I was envious of the blue sheet that covered him. (GAH! How is a girl supposed to function after seeing something like that?) Or about Tess, her perfect hair, perfect body; perfect everything, and the smile that Max was throwing her way. Neither about the inane feelings that choked my throat when I saw all three things.
What am I going to do? I wont survive senior year like this. Especially not with all the sympathetic looks from Maria and Alex, and the oblivious ones from Max.
About Maria and Alex. Damn them, they are just too perceptive for their own good. I must have a talk with them later about keeping their mouths shut.
Its time for adaptations. Its time for a coping mechanism.or is that defensive mechamism.?
Anyhoo, I know what I have to do. I have to kill these feelings. Die, suckers, die.
Question though.
What exactly DOES exterminate icky feelings? I doubt that putting arsenic in their food is going to suffice.it would be handy.but nope, I'm not sure that's going to work. First of all because feelings don't eat in the first place.
Great. Maxwell Mother-Freaking Evans has me being slowly reduced to a worthless pile of God knows what, babbling about 'feelings' eating habits. I am so glad I am wasting my time on this.
Hmm, I think I know what will get rid of these sentiments.
Another question though. I am going to have the stomach to handle it?
That doesn't matter. I have to do whatever it takes to banish this feelings, and fall back in to the comfortable role of Max Evan's best friend.
Whatever it takes. I'm beginning to hate those three words. And yet, if they succeed in getting rid of these emotions than they might just end up being my favorite.
~*~POV~*~
[b] LIZ [/b]
Operation "Help Max Get His Dream Girl," Take One.
Yup. That's my big plan. Catchy title, huh. Well I thought so anyways. Yea, I creative like that. Go Parker.
But in a nutshell, that's what I got to do. Maybe helping him with this will make these damn feelings go away. Banish them. Ku-put. Adios. Hasta la vista. Buh-bye. And then life can go back to normal.
Well as normal as life with Tess can be.
Ha, well there's an oxymoron for you.
Truth be told, Tess Harding is anything but normal. She cool, she's popular, she's pretty (in a fake, plastic, silicon Brittany Spears kind of way. Which is not.), she's West Roswell's IT girl, the center of everything.
She's also disgusting. No really. She's bubbly, nasty, superficial, and WHINY. I hate whiny people. Its like unstuck your pacifier from your mouth and GROW UP.
But of course, in order to HELP Max and to murder the weird butterflies that jump around in my stomach when I'm with him, I need to stop thinking like that. I need to (gag me) be FRIENDLY to Tess.
Excuse me while I induce projectile vomiting.
No. Bad Liz. Think friendly. Think NICE. Think.
Think of Max. Because he's the only reason you would even consider this.
I know what most of you are thinking. "Screw Tess! Go for him yourself!" And believe me, that does sound like a more preferable idea.
But I can't be selfish. For feelings.they're fleeting. They've always been. Whatever weird love/lust/like/toleration of their presence I have ever felt for a guy has come and gone. And I don't want it to with Max. Well, wait. Yes I do. But not like in the past, where I never even speak to the guys after the messy break up. And besides. Max deserves to be with the one he wants. And that's Tess. Not me. Never me. So why should I even try?
Because it's not that I am afraid of being with Max.
It's that I'm afraid of breaking up with him.
Yes, I know. It's a screwed up world in which we live.
Sigh. I guess I can TRY to be friendly to Tess. I'm going to have to be if I want to get her and Max together. Tie on my wings, give me my bow and arrow and call me Cupid.
Question though. How come Cupid never gets to do his own matchmaking? Wouldn't it kind of suck to watch everyone else's happiness and never get to experience your own?
Scratch that. I guess I can try to be CIVIL to Mistress High and Mighty, Queen of the Gerbils (I honestly have never been so callous before now. You believe me right? Lord, look what Max Evans is doing to me. He's making me bitter). Because that's about as far as I am going to get.
~*~Part Three~*~
Max sucked in his breath. Here goes nothing. Lets pump. This baby up. Pump, pump it up. Inwardly, Max scowled at his feeble attempts to psyche himself up. Lord, the months were Isabel was a cheerleader was still seeping into his brain. He was so delighted that this rubbish still held residence in his brain.
NOT.
That was not good. Though he probably could use a little more peppiness in his life. Maybe that's what he needed to win Tess over. Rah rah, sis cum bah.
Yes Ladies and Gentleman. Bravo. Max Evans was indeed stalling. Enough though. Time to do or die.
He walked up to Tess slowly, like Isabel suggested, so that he wouldn't seem too eager.
Cause god knows if he looked too eager, it was all over.
K Maxwell this is it. Be calm. Collected. COOL. Be irresistible...be...aw hell, be anything, just do SOMETHING!
He tried to grin impishly at her, but it came out in kind of a half tiny smile. "Hey Tess," he said suavely.
Or rather, he tried to have it come out suavely. And it would have worked too, had he not tripped in the exact moment that Tess turned around.
Max's chin jutted out sharply as he staggered forward. Luckily he caught himself before he fell flat on his face, steadying himself on a nearby object.
However, unfortunately, the nearby object that broke his fall was the adjacent garbage can.
CRASH!
And out cascaded the morning's rubbish all over Tess's and her friend Pam's shoes.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
God, oh many times could a person think "Shit" in a day? Max was probably going for a record here. He felt his face enflame, and his eyes bulge at the sight of the clumsy mess he created. He then closed his eyes momentarily as horror washed over him. Oh boy.
Tess shrieked loudly, and Pam threw Max a dirty (hahaha.pun intended) look. "Watch it you FREAK!" She yelled.
Tess tossed Max a similar withering look, scoffed and stalked off. Max watched her retreating form, a look of utter disbelief on his face.
Well. No one could say that he didn't make a first impression. Too bad it wasn't exactly one that he wanted her to remember. He could still feel his ears turning red.
Max sighed. Could he have been anymore stupid? He stepped forward.
And right into a pile of squishy trash. People around him who had gaped at the spectacular display between him and Tess sniggered.
Possibly he can (get more stupid that is). Wonderful. Just freaking perfect. A brilliant way to start off the year. He swallowed hard and dared to look up at his friends.
Kyle was of course, laughing, holding onto Michael for support, who gave Kyle a disgusted look and shoved him off before shrugging at Max. Isabel looked remorse, and somewhat disgusted at the garbage on his shoes, Maria and Alex looked.smug??
He must of read that one wrong.
Max steeled himself for what Liz's expression would be. When he finally looked up into her eyes, he was taken aback for a minute. He thought he saw.well compassion for one thing. He knew Liz would never do anything to deliberately make him feel like shit.but what was the something else he saw in her eyes.?
The mood was broken by Kyle's never ending guffawing. He came up to Max, followed by the others and slapped him on the back.
"Oh my Gawd!" Kyle managed to get out between gales of laughter. "That was fucking HILARIOUS man! Ha! I haven't laughed so hard since yesterday when Maria pushed Michael into the pool." Kyle dissolved into another fit of laughter. "Real graceful Maxwell. Ohh, Tess so wants you now!" More laughing and then, "OW!"
Max smiled. Isabel had just hit him. His smile was fleeting though, as Kyle's words sank in. He was an idiot. Thank you very much Kyle. At least now everyone had that cleared up.
Max rubbed his hands over his face. "Well that went well," he said flatly, sending Kyle into another snorting fit.
Maria rolled her eyes at Kyle and turned to Max. "Max. Are you still so sure about this? Think about it. I'm not so positive that she is the one for you. You deserve someone BETTER, someone who actually knows the real you, and who loves you for it."
Alex nodded his head. "I'm with Ria. Max. Think long and hard about this buddy"
Max was taken aback for a second, so taken aback that he missed the gasp of outrage that Liz emitted, and the furious look that she pierced Alex and Maria went. He wavered for an instant.
What if they were right? Come to think of it, Tess didn't know really, WHO he was, other than the dork who spilled garbage all over here, and who was in her class.
But really, wasn't that the point? The point was to GET her to know him, to get her to see past the stereotype. Wasn't that what this was all about?
Well, ok, so Max wanted a little "somethin' somethin'" to go along with it but hell. He was a normal teenage guy after all. But that wasn't all of it. Was it? Max glanced up at Isabel and Michael to see their reactions (he could really care less what Kyle had to think, seeing how it was probably predicable anyways). They were nodding in agreement to Maria. He felt like he was being sucker punched. Thanks guys.
Then he glanced at Liz. For a while, they just stared into each others eyes, lost in the emotions they THOUGHT lay in there, and what really WAS there. Finally, Liz looked away, biting her lip. Max asked her softly, "Liz, what do you think?"
She sat there for a good while, gnawing on her lip. Max unintentionally leaned toward her, intent on hearing every last word. He needed this. If he didn't have her support, then he didn't have anything. He ignored the way the air got tense and still, and the sharp, bated intake of breath that came from Isabel, Michael, Alex, Maria and Kyle as they all waited for what Liz had to say.
Blowing out frustrated air, Liz shot a rapid glance and Max, and then at the ground. "I think." she started, faltering slightly as she realized just how close Max was to her. She shifted closer for one shocking moment before bending down tersely to tie her shoe. Straightening up, she finished, "You should go for it. If you want her that badly, then you shouldn't just throw it away because of one silly klutzy Max moment. I mean, if she's going to be your.your.g-girlfriend, then she's going to have to get used to them, right?" She rushed out the last bit, but Max was too busy grinning to notice.
"Yeah, probably," Max laughed. "I mean, YOU got used to them, and you haven't bolted yet!"
Liz's face crumpled slightly before she forced a laugh. "Yeah. Not yet."
Maria and Alex scoffed in protest, but fell silent after the mutinous glare from Liz. Max raised an eyebrow in incredulity, but was distracted by Kyle.
"So anyways, Maxwell, when you get invited to those notorious Tess Harding parties, be sure to slip me an invite, k dude? I have some stuff planned." Kyle wagged his eyebrows up deviously. He was forever known as the practical joker at West Roswell, and it seemed as though he was trying to break an unknown record of sorts, for most times suspended due to pranks.
Max just shook his head. "Yeah sure Kyle. Whatever you say. I'll be sure to include all you guys. Won't forget about my pals just because of becoming Tess Harding's MAIN MAN," He drawled out. Kyle laughed and slapped Max's hand.
Liz pushed away. "I'm just gonna." She jerked her thumb to the building and jetted off. "See ya,"
It was a while before Max remembered that he and Liz usually always walked each other to homeroom during school. He shook off his slight disappointment and trudged to the building, ignoring the points and stares of the rest of the student body. He couldn't help but wonder about Liz. Was something up? But then again, she had defended him TWICE today. Maybe his brain was just turning into cornflakes.
Yea, that was it.
~*~
Liz pushed blindly through the double doors of West Roswell, plowing through the throng of students milling in, scrambling for their lockers, trying in vain to remember the combination that they had just received, and the Populars hanging about, checking their reflection in the mirror.
All in all, just your typical first day of school. Except this time it was different.
First of all, the obvious reason, because she was a senior. And seniors got respect. It was somewhat amusing to see sophomores scamper out of her way, and new freshman gaze up at her in awe.
Yes, Liz is a senior. Hear her roar!
Rar.
She would be more enthusiastic if it weren't for the little thing that had happened outside. She sighed, and leaned against the wall outside her homeroom.
While it had been amusing, to say the least, to watch Max knock over the garbage can (what WAS it with Max and garbage cans?) all over Tess, and then STEP in the shit, it had only furthered Max's determination. For Liz could see it in his eyes. That obstinate look that meant he was NOT going to give up. It was the same look he got when the team he was on was loosing by a few points with minutes to go on the clock. It was the same look he got when something was wrong with Liz, and she wouldn't tell him. Heh, that was a funny one. When Liz finally DID cave under his pestering and that look, he probably wished he had left well enough alone. No boy wants to hear about THAT time of month that plagues young women. Liz smiled faintly at the memory, before crashing to the present.
'Remember your plan. Stick to the plan,' she cajoled herself.
And she was. She sucked it up and told Max what he needed to hear. And now what? Go and talk to Tess? She shuddered. Maybe after Max..
"Hey babe. Miss me?"
Liz looked up and came face to face with Mr. Prom King himself. Sean Williams. She groaned inwardly. She so did not want to deal with his cockiness today. And why was he talking to HER of all people? He knew she hated him.almost as much as she hated Tess. For they both stood for the same revolting things.
RING!
Good. Saved by the bell. Liz nodded curtly at Sean and went to escape into her homeroom.
Only to have Sean cut her off and block the doorway. She sighed. She was not in the mood today. If he kept this up, she would be sure to smack him. HARD.
"Come on Lizzie. Why you got to be so cold?" Sean grinned at her, obviously enjoying the way she was growing more pissed by the second.
"Can you move?" Liz bit out. After he didn't move, she added, "PLEASE."
Sean pointed at the side of his mouth. "You gotta pay the toll darling," He winked.
Revulsion crawled through her. Eww. That was nasty, and totally uncalled for. Then she smiled sweetly at him, her voice dripping with sugary sarcasm. "You want me to kick you in the face?" He had better have gotten the blatant hint.
"I dunno, could you be naked?" Sean wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Or not.
Liz rolled her eyes, and pushed past him. Oh boy. This was going to be a VERY long year, especially with Sean in her homeroom.
And what was with him today? Why the sudden interest? Did he want her to be his next conquest? Liz snorted. As if.
She slumped in her seat, as the teacher droned on about announcement, and her mind wandered waywardly to just how sucky this year was going to be.
~*~POV~*~
[b] MAX [/b]
The Operation?
Get Tess to Notice Me: Take One.
Result?
Complete and utter failure.
It was awful. The kind of moment where you just want to crawl into a nice cave and die. Either that or live there hermit-like for the rest of your life.
Hmm, nope, I'd rather die.
Good God, what is it with me and garbage cans? I mean honestly. This is the second one I have killed in a six-month period. That cant be good for my permanent record. I'm going to have a reputation as a garbage can murderer. And that's just not good for my image.
That is if I had an image. Which I don't. Except for being infamous as a Garbage can killer.
Someone save me from my thoughts. Eh, well this will just add to the appeal of getting Tess. For that will surely fix my image. Not that I really care about it. But still. It would be a lovely perk. Sigh, poor garbage can.
Well, at least this time I didn't damage a car in the process too.
Nope, the only thing broken along with the can is my nonexistent ego. Oh well. Not such a great loss.
But really, now what am I supposed to do? Strip down to my boxers and do the hula in her front yard?
Even I have my limits, don't worry.
But seriously, what next? I am out of ideas, and it's only been the first day. Hmm, perhaps I should get someone to help.
Isabel-She's probably out, as I'm REALLY uncomfortable talking about my love life with her. Plus, anything that I say, can and WILL be used against me, next time I stick her with cleaning the bathroom.
Michael-He's out. The guys got good intentions I guess, but look at the way he's with Maria. Not exactly Mr. Answer Boy for dating.
Alex-Possibly, but the way he was trying to talk me out of it today, I doubt he'll be much help. Hmm, why was that again? Does he have something against Tess? You know, besides the obvious.
Maria-See above, except substitute the male pronouns with female ones.
Kyle- **snort** Nuff said.
Liz- The most likely candidate. She was a HUGE help today. Note to self to thank her later, and ask her about my next move. God, what would I do without her nagging?
And I mean that in the most positive of ways.
She's always been there for me, pushing me to go that extra bit. Kind of like your mom, except without the creepy factor.more friendish like.
Well. That was supposed to make a hell of a lot more sense then it did. Anyhoo, that about covers it. Now all I have to do is survive the first day back and begin planning. After all, I DO have the whole year. What's the rush? I'm not in any particular hurry to commit a repeat of today's.how you say.MEMORABLE performance.
What's that old saying?
One day you look back on this and laugh.
Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.
I just hope when this is all over and I obtain/or don't obtain Tess's affection that I can look back on this and tell myself that it was all worthwhile. If its not going to be, then someone please tell me so the mess can be avoided. Too bad Cupid can't see into the future. That'd be nice, but then again, when has anything is life been simple or easy?
[b]MAX [/b]
Have you ever had a moment where you dread what's going to happen next with an icy foreboding?
Have you ever had a moment where you eagerly anticipate what's going to happen next with a fervent excitement?
Mesh those two moments together, and Wha-la.
In a molded concoction, I present to you the first day of senior year..
And the first day of the rest of my life.
I can't wait for today. Today I am finally going to show the world that "HA! Yes, Evans does in fact walk among you, and he is going to conquer the world, one frickin step at a time, by first obtaining the affection of Tess Harding!" Victory is just in reach. The question is, do I have the balls to grab onto it?
I am also dreading today. For all my pep talk last night about "Yea, go get 'em Evans!" I am quite terrified. What if it doesn't work? What if she laughs at me?
What if she figures out what I am slowly piecing together- the fact that I am turning into a ten-year-old jerk with an unhealthy preoccupation?
Hmm. Perhaps this LAST day of the rest of my life. For in order for the day to begin off nicely, you first have to.wake up.
Why is it that nothing ever goes according my handy dandy little planner agenda book thingy (the one with the cutesy little Warner Bros. Cartoons on the cover.What? The Roswell Supply Shop has poor selection. It was either that or one with Pokemon on the cover.gotta catch em all. Good God, how do I know this stuff. I'm so thrilled that I have this useless information stored in my brain. Not.)?
Have you ever had a moment where you were paralyzed, where horror stole your breath? A moment where you could only say, in the most blatant of senses."Oh SHIT!"
Yes, well welcome to my world.
~*~Part Two~*~ [A/N I apologize in advance for this first bit.it had to come out..]
Blonde hair curling around his fingers. Clear blue eyes gazing suggestively into his own amber ones. Red ruby lips curving up and pouting.so close to his own.they open slightly to murmur softly to him.he eagerly leaned forward in attempts to hold onto her every word (well and that, and to get a bit CLOSER.)
"Wake up Max," she said in extreme irritation.
Max wrinkled his brow in confusion. Huh? That wasn't the sound of Tess's voice. No, it sounded more like.
"Max! I am not going to wait around for your lazy ass to get up. Isabel left all ready with Alex and Kyle, so if you want a ride, GET GOING,"
All of a sudden the golden beauty that had been in front of him morphed into a more petite, brown haired.
Liz?
What the hell was Liz doing in his Tess fantasy?
Wait a minute. What was HE doing in his Tess fantasy? Shouldn't he be out making that dream a reality? And more importantly, for his Tess fantasy to be a Tess fantasy.where was TESS?
"MAX!"
Max jerked awake, twisting in his sheets, as a loud frustrated voice penetrated through his sleepy thoughts, effectively snapping him out of his dream-ridden state. Unfortunately, in his shock, Max jerked a little too far, promptly flailing forward to land with a loud THUD on his hardwood floor. He laid there for a minute, absorbing the fall, as his face smooshed into the ground.
Owwww.
Well la-de-da. You knew it was going to be a bad day when the first thing that you did was fall flat on your ass. Splendid. What an uncanny way to start off the day.
For the love of God, now he was RYHMING.
As Liz spoke, he could clearly hear the smirk in her voice. "Smooth Maxwell, real graceful."
Max groaned loudly, throwing off the blue hued sheet, which had followed him down on his fall. He shivered slightly at the loss of warmth, rubbing his bare arms, and pounding on his naked chest as if to correct whatever damage he had received from the clumsy fall off of his bed. He heard Liz's sharp intake of breath and whirled around to face her. She appeared to be clenching her jaw, looking at her sandal clad feet. He thought her heard her soft cursing.something about damn feelings?
Huh?
Max yawned. He must not be fully awake yet.
Max rubbed his eyes as if to remove the cloudy fuzzy sleepy thoughts and to bring the present into a bit more focus. "Hey. What's wrong?" he asked, thoroughly concerned. Liz didn't look so good.
Liz took a deep breath and merely pointed at the clock, still refusing to look at him. He wondered briefly at her strange behavior..
And then followed her hand and cursed loudly.
"SHIT!"
He had less than five minutes to be out the door if he and Liz wanted to be there on time.
Liz waltzed out of his room. "I'll be waiting outside. If you're not out there in exactly four minutes, I'm leaving, and your walking."
Psh.
Empty threat.
Still, Max immediately scrambled around his room, scouring it closely for a shirt and pants. God DAMNIT, why didn't he own anything CLEAN! Argh, Isabel was right, it was high time he learned how to do his own laundry. Although last time his lousy attempts had been a complete disaster. Three Words.
TOO
MUCH
SOAP
= BAD
Ahh, the lessons in life.
One of those lessons being punctuality.
Shit, Shit, shit, shit, shit.
He rapidly threw on a shirt, tugged some pants on over his boxers, while tripping over his accordion.
Yes, you heard right.
Accordion.
Not a soul knew except for Isabel, Michael and Liz, all of which were loyally sworn to secrecy.
Urm, well, he DID have to do the dishes for a month to keep Isabel's mouth shut, and he WAS down twenty bucks thanks to Michael's insisting blackmail..
Yea, he needed new friends.
But Liz.
Liz LIKED it. Thought it was."cute." She always sighed in contentment when his mom told her the story of how Phillip Evans would always play "Melt With You," softly, sweetly.until Diane forgave him for whatever crap he pulled.
Well, that's what the accordion was used for NOW. Back in the day (i.e. A million years ago.) when Philip and Diane were, ick, HIS age, his dad would serenade his mom. THAT'S what got Liz all 'sigh-y.'
To tell the truth, Max kind of LIKED playing it too. It was slightly.calming.plus it made him feel more connected to his father.the same father with whom Max had never had a steady relationship with since he was five. Yea, that guy.
Max sighed. Now was so NOT the time to go down memory lane.
Time. TIME. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit..
Grabbing his backpack and slinging it over his broad shoulder, he quickly thrust a comb through his hair, causing his hair to fall slightly over his eyes, in what Isabel liked to call, his "innocent yet alluring" look.
Girls.
Max raced for the door, but stopped outside the bathroom. He quickly brushed his teeth, and turned to go.and then turned back. Hesitating, he quickly contemplated his options. Should he put on cologne? Or was that a bit much?
"TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN."
Max rolled his eyes and continued on his trek for the door, his decision made for him. Making his way to the car in rapid timing, he slammed the door to Liz's VW Rabbit, and turned to face her.
"Let's roll, we're gonna be late,"
Liz snorted and backed out of the Evan's driveway. "Indeed, Mr. High and Mighty! Never mind the fact that YOU'RE the reason that we're going to be late." She picked up her coffee and slurped noisily.
Max nodded indolently at her. "Jeez calm down. Its not like you've never overslept before; get your panties out of their bunch."
Liz sputtered into her coffee, trying hard not to spit it out all over the dashboard (because God knows it was a bitch to get sugary liquid out of your car.). In her efforts to contain the liquid, she became subject to a major choking fit.
Alarmed, Max hastily took the cup from her, and rubbed her back gently. "You ok?" he asked softly.
Tears were in Liz's eyes, results of her lack of air and massive choking spaz. "Just peachy," she managed to gasp out, her body returning to normal, now that her trachea was free of the intruding liquid. "Damn epiglottis, why did God give us them if they don't work?"
Max grinned. Oh, yea, she was fine if she was complaining using Biology terms. "Hmm, perhaps I should drive then." He asked innocuously.
Liz narrowed her brown eyes. "Nuh nuh, Evans. Don't even think about it. Don't think I forgot about the LAST time I handed over my keys."
Max grumbled good-naturedly. "A little run in with Mr. Garbage Can. Nothing to flip out about...You'd think you'd let it go already."
Liz mock glared at him, taking a rapid glance from off the road. "LITTLE? As I recall, the bumper was completely unhinged! And needless to say," Liz pretended to sniffle, "Mr. Garbage Can no longer walks among us."
Max laughed. "As [I] I[/I] recall, Mr. Garbage Can never walked in the first place."
Liz turned towards him slightly, her eyes serious. "That's what you think," she deadpanned.
It took a minute, and both burst out laughing.
Still chucking softly a few seconds later, Max thought of something. "So I was thinking about something, and I'm not sure if I should talk to Tess before classes, or wait until lunch."
Liz ceased laughing immediately, a slight frown on her face. She stared at the red light like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Max furrowed his brow a bit. "Liz?" he asked. "Did you hear m.."
"Yea," Liz cut him off. "I heard you," she turned towards him again, a strained smile on her face. "Umm, you should probably." She bit her lip. "Uhh, it would probably be best if you.if you.you know what, I suck at this sort of thing. Maybe you should wait and ask Michael or Kyle and Alex when we get to hell-er school." She focused her attention back on the road.
Max shook his head. "Nuh uh. Last time I did what they thought I should do, I ended up down fifty bucks and a large yak at the door, much to the pleasure and confusion of my delightful parents,"
Liz smirked. "That will teach you guys from ordering something from a foreign shopping network again,"
Max rolled his eyes. "I still don't get how the guy got "yak" from "baseball bat,"
Liz pursed her lips together. "Another one of life's many mysteries." She trailed off, seeming to contemplate other mysteries, not necessarily ones that revolved around beasts and sports.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. It was similar to the comfortable silences that they were used to, but this time.
This time it seemed.charged with something different.
Max shook his head and disregarded it as apprehension of what he was about to do.
~*~
"Another dream about Tess Harding, huh man?" Kyle Valenti slung his arm haphazardly around Max, as Max filled them in on his senior "plan."
Max threw Kyle an annoyed look. "NO, that's not why I decided to do this," he paused. "But yea, another one this morning."
Liz tossed Max a disgusted look. "Is THAT why you were late?" Oh god, she SO did not want to think about that. Eww, he had been dreaming about Tess while she had been in his room. While she had been fantasizing about his quite bare (and quite sculpted) chest, he had been drooling over Tess in his dreams. That would be what you called, severely messed up. Ick, it was bad enough that he had to drool over her in the daytime, but at night too?
'Stop it, stop it. You don't care remember?'
Liz blinked hard to shut out her thoughts and focused her attention back to the gang.
Alex Whitman whistled loudly. "Whoo doggie!" He winked and nudged Max's side suggestively. "Tell me everything man. Was I in this one?"
Isabel Evans rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. "Something must be seriously wrong with you if you WANT to be in my poor misguided brothers sex fantasies..eww my brother has sex fantasies.oh god, new topic please!" Isabel looked quite revolted.
Alex grinned and pulled his girlfriend closer to him. "No worries, the only person's dream I want to be in is yours," He pulled her in for a sloppy kiss.
Michael Guerin grimaced. "Yuck, someone save us from the blatant display of PDA"
Maria Deluca smacked her boyfriend playfully. Urm, well it SEEMED playfully. The wince that Michael gave off proved it was not. Well, that and everyone present knew that when you pissed off Maria, you ran not walked, to the nearest exit, not looking back. "What you SHOULD be doing is taking some notes on how to treat your girlfriend properly," she huffed before turning her attention on Max.
Maria pierced Liz with a rapid glance before beginning. Liz was a bit taken aback. What was that for?
"I just don't know what you see in her, Max!" Maria went on. "I mean, sure, she's got a great body."
Kyle smirked. "Whoa ho ho! Maria wants Tess Harding's bod-y!" He wiggled his eyebrow up and down suggestively. He and Alex burst out laughing, both unfortunately for the rest of the group sharing the same quirky humor. They were silenced; only by the murderous look that Michael flashed their way (well that, and the death glare coming off of Maria wasn't too shabby either.).
"What I MEAN is," Maria continued irritatingly, "is that.Max, well, you could do so much better."
At her words the whole entire group sobered, and to Liz's great incredulity, Alex and Kyle proceeded to give her the same concerned look.
'What the hell..?
What was their problem?
Oh, god.
They didn't.
They couldn't.
I mean, NO ONE knew. not even Liz HERSELF fully knew.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.'
"Yea, Max," Isabel was saying. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"You're asking to get hurt for this one." Michael added.
Max's shoulders slumped, as did Liz's heart. God, she HATED seeing him like this. It was just.WRONG. She sighed. She knew what she was about to do was stupid, and potentially self mutilating.
Max looked at her with a pleading look. The wounded puppy dog helpless look that got her every damn time..
But she had to do it. It was her.DUTY, for lack of better words, to her best friend.
"Max's thought about it. He.likes her. He deserves to get what he.wants.and we should at least stand out of his way if we're not going to help him," Liz forced out. She ignored the disbelieving looks that Isabel, Alex, Kyle, Maria and Michael were all throwing her way, and instead focused on the look of undying gratitude that Max was favoring upon her. She smiled weakly back and looked down at her shoes, cursing the drop in her stomach that she felt at Max's gaze.
Wonderful job on her part. She managed to spit it out and sound halfway sincere. Not that Max noticed. He was just smiling again, as Isabel, Michael, and Kyle all mumbled apologies and halfhearted encouragements. Max was now dragging them away and pumping Isabel, who had held the sickening position of best friend and co-captain of the cheerleading squad last year for one nauseating month to Tess during a fallout between her and Alex (which thankfully didn't last long), for advice on how to proceed. Kyle was providing his perverted advice ("Go to the mall and have her model for you in Victoria's Secret, Max. It's a great first date kind of place") and Michael was just shaking his head in disbelief at Kyle.
Alex and Maria however, came closer to Liz. "Hey chica, how you holding up over here?"
Liz blinked. "I'm fine," She said defensively. What was WITH them today? God, was she dishing out her feelings on a platter here? Or what?
No, she wasn't. For in order to dish out these feelings, she first had to HAVE feelings in the first place.
And she didn't. No siree, no feelings over here.
Alex touched her arm sympathetically. "Are you sure?"
Liz jerked away. "YES. Why? Is there something you guys aren't telling me?" Don't tell me you know, don't tell me you know, don't tell me you know.
Maria grimaced slightly, pity in her olive eyes. "I think there's something you're not telling US," she stated cryptically.
Alex nodded, "About what you REALLY feel about this whole Tess thing."
Liz shrugged. "Its fine. Its what he wants. Its fine." Its fine. A wholly vat of fun. A grand ole idea. Just peachy.
Maria raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Oh really. So you don't have any feelings what so ever for Max anymore, and that this ISN"T hurting you?"
Damn it! Did she not just plead silently in an unending maxim for them NOT to say that? And what did Maria mean, ANYMORE?
"NO!" Liz burst out angrily. "God, Maria, go sniff some cedar oil. You're loosing it." Liz forced out a laugh, but it came out harsh, like she was barking or something. She took a quick glance in Max's direction to make sure he wasn't hearing this particularly EMBARRASSING conversation, but what she saw made her wish she hadn't. She quickly turned away.
But not quickly enough. For she had just enough time to watch Max go up to Tess, the half smile that turned Liz's knees to jell-o for some weird reason, tugging at the recesses of his mouth as he stuck up a conversation with her.
And that's when Liz realized that she was the biggest freakin liar on the planet. Because, quite frankly, it DID hurt.
More than she would have ever thought possible.
~*~POV~*~
[b] Liz [/b]
Have you ever had one of those days where you just wanted to throw your pillow at the alarm clock and never get up?
Have you ever had one of those days where you're thinking all this stuff, and all you really want to do is stop?
This would be the story of my life.
Perhaps that is a bit melodramatic.
Ok, fine, it's the story of day so far. And with the way things are going, I think it would have been a REALLY good idea to just stay in bed for the duration of it.
There are a lot of things I'd rather not think about. Things that I wish never reared their ugly heads inside my mind in the first place. Things I'd rather never happened, so I wouldn't have to waste my time on it.
I really like to just forget about the day when my mom left my dad and I for good.
I really don't want to think about the lovely sack lunch that I packed this morning, only to leave it on the kitchen counter.
I really don't want to think about the icky cafeteria food that will be awaiting me 3rd hour.
But most of all, I certainly don't want to think about Max's bare chest this morning, and how for the briefest of moments, I was envious of the blue sheet that covered him. (GAH! How is a girl supposed to function after seeing something like that?) Or about Tess, her perfect hair, perfect body; perfect everything, and the smile that Max was throwing her way. Neither about the inane feelings that choked my throat when I saw all three things.
What am I going to do? I wont survive senior year like this. Especially not with all the sympathetic looks from Maria and Alex, and the oblivious ones from Max.
About Maria and Alex. Damn them, they are just too perceptive for their own good. I must have a talk with them later about keeping their mouths shut.
Its time for adaptations. Its time for a coping mechanism.or is that defensive mechamism.?
Anyhoo, I know what I have to do. I have to kill these feelings. Die, suckers, die.
Question though.
What exactly DOES exterminate icky feelings? I doubt that putting arsenic in their food is going to suffice.it would be handy.but nope, I'm not sure that's going to work. First of all because feelings don't eat in the first place.
Great. Maxwell Mother-Freaking Evans has me being slowly reduced to a worthless pile of God knows what, babbling about 'feelings' eating habits. I am so glad I am wasting my time on this.
Hmm, I think I know what will get rid of these sentiments.
Another question though. I am going to have the stomach to handle it?
That doesn't matter. I have to do whatever it takes to banish this feelings, and fall back in to the comfortable role of Max Evan's best friend.
Whatever it takes. I'm beginning to hate those three words. And yet, if they succeed in getting rid of these emotions than they might just end up being my favorite.
~*~POV~*~
[b] LIZ [/b]
Operation "Help Max Get His Dream Girl," Take One.
Yup. That's my big plan. Catchy title, huh. Well I thought so anyways. Yea, I creative like that. Go Parker.
But in a nutshell, that's what I got to do. Maybe helping him with this will make these damn feelings go away. Banish them. Ku-put. Adios. Hasta la vista. Buh-bye. And then life can go back to normal.
Well as normal as life with Tess can be.
Ha, well there's an oxymoron for you.
Truth be told, Tess Harding is anything but normal. She cool, she's popular, she's pretty (in a fake, plastic, silicon Brittany Spears kind of way. Which is not.), she's West Roswell's IT girl, the center of everything.
She's also disgusting. No really. She's bubbly, nasty, superficial, and WHINY. I hate whiny people. Its like unstuck your pacifier from your mouth and GROW UP.
But of course, in order to HELP Max and to murder the weird butterflies that jump around in my stomach when I'm with him, I need to stop thinking like that. I need to (gag me) be FRIENDLY to Tess.
Excuse me while I induce projectile vomiting.
No. Bad Liz. Think friendly. Think NICE. Think.
Think of Max. Because he's the only reason you would even consider this.
I know what most of you are thinking. "Screw Tess! Go for him yourself!" And believe me, that does sound like a more preferable idea.
But I can't be selfish. For feelings.they're fleeting. They've always been. Whatever weird love/lust/like/toleration of their presence I have ever felt for a guy has come and gone. And I don't want it to with Max. Well, wait. Yes I do. But not like in the past, where I never even speak to the guys after the messy break up. And besides. Max deserves to be with the one he wants. And that's Tess. Not me. Never me. So why should I even try?
Because it's not that I am afraid of being with Max.
It's that I'm afraid of breaking up with him.
Yes, I know. It's a screwed up world in which we live.
Sigh. I guess I can TRY to be friendly to Tess. I'm going to have to be if I want to get her and Max together. Tie on my wings, give me my bow and arrow and call me Cupid.
Question though. How come Cupid never gets to do his own matchmaking? Wouldn't it kind of suck to watch everyone else's happiness and never get to experience your own?
Scratch that. I guess I can try to be CIVIL to Mistress High and Mighty, Queen of the Gerbils (I honestly have never been so callous before now. You believe me right? Lord, look what Max Evans is doing to me. He's making me bitter). Because that's about as far as I am going to get.
~*~Part Three~*~
Max sucked in his breath. Here goes nothing. Lets pump. This baby up. Pump, pump it up. Inwardly, Max scowled at his feeble attempts to psyche himself up. Lord, the months were Isabel was a cheerleader was still seeping into his brain. He was so delighted that this rubbish still held residence in his brain.
NOT.
That was not good. Though he probably could use a little more peppiness in his life. Maybe that's what he needed to win Tess over. Rah rah, sis cum bah.
Yes Ladies and Gentleman. Bravo. Max Evans was indeed stalling. Enough though. Time to do or die.
He walked up to Tess slowly, like Isabel suggested, so that he wouldn't seem too eager.
Cause god knows if he looked too eager, it was all over.
K Maxwell this is it. Be calm. Collected. COOL. Be irresistible...be...aw hell, be anything, just do SOMETHING!
He tried to grin impishly at her, but it came out in kind of a half tiny smile. "Hey Tess," he said suavely.
Or rather, he tried to have it come out suavely. And it would have worked too, had he not tripped in the exact moment that Tess turned around.
Max's chin jutted out sharply as he staggered forward. Luckily he caught himself before he fell flat on his face, steadying himself on a nearby object.
However, unfortunately, the nearby object that broke his fall was the adjacent garbage can.
CRASH!
And out cascaded the morning's rubbish all over Tess's and her friend Pam's shoes.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
God, oh many times could a person think "Shit" in a day? Max was probably going for a record here. He felt his face enflame, and his eyes bulge at the sight of the clumsy mess he created. He then closed his eyes momentarily as horror washed over him. Oh boy.
Tess shrieked loudly, and Pam threw Max a dirty (hahaha.pun intended) look. "Watch it you FREAK!" She yelled.
Tess tossed Max a similar withering look, scoffed and stalked off. Max watched her retreating form, a look of utter disbelief on his face.
Well. No one could say that he didn't make a first impression. Too bad it wasn't exactly one that he wanted her to remember. He could still feel his ears turning red.
Max sighed. Could he have been anymore stupid? He stepped forward.
And right into a pile of squishy trash. People around him who had gaped at the spectacular display between him and Tess sniggered.
Possibly he can (get more stupid that is). Wonderful. Just freaking perfect. A brilliant way to start off the year. He swallowed hard and dared to look up at his friends.
Kyle was of course, laughing, holding onto Michael for support, who gave Kyle a disgusted look and shoved him off before shrugging at Max. Isabel looked remorse, and somewhat disgusted at the garbage on his shoes, Maria and Alex looked.smug??
He must of read that one wrong.
Max steeled himself for what Liz's expression would be. When he finally looked up into her eyes, he was taken aback for a minute. He thought he saw.well compassion for one thing. He knew Liz would never do anything to deliberately make him feel like shit.but what was the something else he saw in her eyes.?
The mood was broken by Kyle's never ending guffawing. He came up to Max, followed by the others and slapped him on the back.
"Oh my Gawd!" Kyle managed to get out between gales of laughter. "That was fucking HILARIOUS man! Ha! I haven't laughed so hard since yesterday when Maria pushed Michael into the pool." Kyle dissolved into another fit of laughter. "Real graceful Maxwell. Ohh, Tess so wants you now!" More laughing and then, "OW!"
Max smiled. Isabel had just hit him. His smile was fleeting though, as Kyle's words sank in. He was an idiot. Thank you very much Kyle. At least now everyone had that cleared up.
Max rubbed his hands over his face. "Well that went well," he said flatly, sending Kyle into another snorting fit.
Maria rolled her eyes at Kyle and turned to Max. "Max. Are you still so sure about this? Think about it. I'm not so positive that she is the one for you. You deserve someone BETTER, someone who actually knows the real you, and who loves you for it."
Alex nodded his head. "I'm with Ria. Max. Think long and hard about this buddy"
Max was taken aback for a second, so taken aback that he missed the gasp of outrage that Liz emitted, and the furious look that she pierced Alex and Maria went. He wavered for an instant.
What if they were right? Come to think of it, Tess didn't know really, WHO he was, other than the dork who spilled garbage all over here, and who was in her class.
But really, wasn't that the point? The point was to GET her to know him, to get her to see past the stereotype. Wasn't that what this was all about?
Well, ok, so Max wanted a little "somethin' somethin'" to go along with it but hell. He was a normal teenage guy after all. But that wasn't all of it. Was it? Max glanced up at Isabel and Michael to see their reactions (he could really care less what Kyle had to think, seeing how it was probably predicable anyways). They were nodding in agreement to Maria. He felt like he was being sucker punched. Thanks guys.
Then he glanced at Liz. For a while, they just stared into each others eyes, lost in the emotions they THOUGHT lay in there, and what really WAS there. Finally, Liz looked away, biting her lip. Max asked her softly, "Liz, what do you think?"
She sat there for a good while, gnawing on her lip. Max unintentionally leaned toward her, intent on hearing every last word. He needed this. If he didn't have her support, then he didn't have anything. He ignored the way the air got tense and still, and the sharp, bated intake of breath that came from Isabel, Michael, Alex, Maria and Kyle as they all waited for what Liz had to say.
Blowing out frustrated air, Liz shot a rapid glance and Max, and then at the ground. "I think." she started, faltering slightly as she realized just how close Max was to her. She shifted closer for one shocking moment before bending down tersely to tie her shoe. Straightening up, she finished, "You should go for it. If you want her that badly, then you shouldn't just throw it away because of one silly klutzy Max moment. I mean, if she's going to be your.your.g-girlfriend, then she's going to have to get used to them, right?" She rushed out the last bit, but Max was too busy grinning to notice.
"Yeah, probably," Max laughed. "I mean, YOU got used to them, and you haven't bolted yet!"
Liz's face crumpled slightly before she forced a laugh. "Yeah. Not yet."
Maria and Alex scoffed in protest, but fell silent after the mutinous glare from Liz. Max raised an eyebrow in incredulity, but was distracted by Kyle.
"So anyways, Maxwell, when you get invited to those notorious Tess Harding parties, be sure to slip me an invite, k dude? I have some stuff planned." Kyle wagged his eyebrows up deviously. He was forever known as the practical joker at West Roswell, and it seemed as though he was trying to break an unknown record of sorts, for most times suspended due to pranks.
Max just shook his head. "Yeah sure Kyle. Whatever you say. I'll be sure to include all you guys. Won't forget about my pals just because of becoming Tess Harding's MAIN MAN," He drawled out. Kyle laughed and slapped Max's hand.
Liz pushed away. "I'm just gonna." She jerked her thumb to the building and jetted off. "See ya,"
It was a while before Max remembered that he and Liz usually always walked each other to homeroom during school. He shook off his slight disappointment and trudged to the building, ignoring the points and stares of the rest of the student body. He couldn't help but wonder about Liz. Was something up? But then again, she had defended him TWICE today. Maybe his brain was just turning into cornflakes.
Yea, that was it.
~*~
Liz pushed blindly through the double doors of West Roswell, plowing through the throng of students milling in, scrambling for their lockers, trying in vain to remember the combination that they had just received, and the Populars hanging about, checking their reflection in the mirror.
All in all, just your typical first day of school. Except this time it was different.
First of all, the obvious reason, because she was a senior. And seniors got respect. It was somewhat amusing to see sophomores scamper out of her way, and new freshman gaze up at her in awe.
Yes, Liz is a senior. Hear her roar!
Rar.
She would be more enthusiastic if it weren't for the little thing that had happened outside. She sighed, and leaned against the wall outside her homeroom.
While it had been amusing, to say the least, to watch Max knock over the garbage can (what WAS it with Max and garbage cans?) all over Tess, and then STEP in the shit, it had only furthered Max's determination. For Liz could see it in his eyes. That obstinate look that meant he was NOT going to give up. It was the same look he got when the team he was on was loosing by a few points with minutes to go on the clock. It was the same look he got when something was wrong with Liz, and she wouldn't tell him. Heh, that was a funny one. When Liz finally DID cave under his pestering and that look, he probably wished he had left well enough alone. No boy wants to hear about THAT time of month that plagues young women. Liz smiled faintly at the memory, before crashing to the present.
'Remember your plan. Stick to the plan,' she cajoled herself.
And she was. She sucked it up and told Max what he needed to hear. And now what? Go and talk to Tess? She shuddered. Maybe after Max..
"Hey babe. Miss me?"
Liz looked up and came face to face with Mr. Prom King himself. Sean Williams. She groaned inwardly. She so did not want to deal with his cockiness today. And why was he talking to HER of all people? He knew she hated him.almost as much as she hated Tess. For they both stood for the same revolting things.
RING!
Good. Saved by the bell. Liz nodded curtly at Sean and went to escape into her homeroom.
Only to have Sean cut her off and block the doorway. She sighed. She was not in the mood today. If he kept this up, she would be sure to smack him. HARD.
"Come on Lizzie. Why you got to be so cold?" Sean grinned at her, obviously enjoying the way she was growing more pissed by the second.
"Can you move?" Liz bit out. After he didn't move, she added, "PLEASE."
Sean pointed at the side of his mouth. "You gotta pay the toll darling," He winked.
Revulsion crawled through her. Eww. That was nasty, and totally uncalled for. Then she smiled sweetly at him, her voice dripping with sugary sarcasm. "You want me to kick you in the face?" He had better have gotten the blatant hint.
"I dunno, could you be naked?" Sean wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Or not.
Liz rolled her eyes, and pushed past him. Oh boy. This was going to be a VERY long year, especially with Sean in her homeroom.
And what was with him today? Why the sudden interest? Did he want her to be his next conquest? Liz snorted. As if.
She slumped in her seat, as the teacher droned on about announcement, and her mind wandered waywardly to just how sucky this year was going to be.
~*~POV~*~
[b] MAX [/b]
The Operation?
Get Tess to Notice Me: Take One.
Result?
Complete and utter failure.
It was awful. The kind of moment where you just want to crawl into a nice cave and die. Either that or live there hermit-like for the rest of your life.
Hmm, nope, I'd rather die.
Good God, what is it with me and garbage cans? I mean honestly. This is the second one I have killed in a six-month period. That cant be good for my permanent record. I'm going to have a reputation as a garbage can murderer. And that's just not good for my image.
That is if I had an image. Which I don't. Except for being infamous as a Garbage can killer.
Someone save me from my thoughts. Eh, well this will just add to the appeal of getting Tess. For that will surely fix my image. Not that I really care about it. But still. It would be a lovely perk. Sigh, poor garbage can.
Well, at least this time I didn't damage a car in the process too.
Nope, the only thing broken along with the can is my nonexistent ego. Oh well. Not such a great loss.
But really, now what am I supposed to do? Strip down to my boxers and do the hula in her front yard?
Even I have my limits, don't worry.
But seriously, what next? I am out of ideas, and it's only been the first day. Hmm, perhaps I should get someone to help.
Isabel-She's probably out, as I'm REALLY uncomfortable talking about my love life with her. Plus, anything that I say, can and WILL be used against me, next time I stick her with cleaning the bathroom.
Michael-He's out. The guys got good intentions I guess, but look at the way he's with Maria. Not exactly Mr. Answer Boy for dating.
Alex-Possibly, but the way he was trying to talk me out of it today, I doubt he'll be much help. Hmm, why was that again? Does he have something against Tess? You know, besides the obvious.
Maria-See above, except substitute the male pronouns with female ones.
Kyle- **snort** Nuff said.
Liz- The most likely candidate. She was a HUGE help today. Note to self to thank her later, and ask her about my next move. God, what would I do without her nagging?
And I mean that in the most positive of ways.
She's always been there for me, pushing me to go that extra bit. Kind of like your mom, except without the creepy factor.more friendish like.
Well. That was supposed to make a hell of a lot more sense then it did. Anyhoo, that about covers it. Now all I have to do is survive the first day back and begin planning. After all, I DO have the whole year. What's the rush? I'm not in any particular hurry to commit a repeat of today's.how you say.MEMORABLE performance.
What's that old saying?
One day you look back on this and laugh.
Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.
I just hope when this is all over and I obtain/or don't obtain Tess's affection that I can look back on this and tell myself that it was all worthwhile. If its not going to be, then someone please tell me so the mess can be avoided. Too bad Cupid can't see into the future. That'd be nice, but then again, when has anything is life been simple or easy?