Authors Note: For Ernie.;)
There's going to be a couple of parts coming up in a little while (that is
if I can get my arse in gear) where there won't be POV's. Fear not, it
won't last long. But enjoy them while you can. Also, both POV's are next
to each in this part, and yes, I did that on purpose. Urm, be kind with
this part. I somewhat despise it. But it needed to pave way for the next
parts, and its been a while (coughunderstatementcough) so I'll let it go
finally.
[b]"Sometimes Ignorance Rings True"[/b]
~*~POV~*~
[b] LIZ [/b]
Ask anyone to describe me pre-inane-infatuation period and they would scoff at you.
"Pu-leeze. Gimme a hard one next time," they would say and proceed to ramble dutifully how I am calm, and in complete control of my emotions. That I'm smart, and able to smell a scheme a mile away.
Though I do need to know.what exactly does a scheme reek of?
Don't answer that. (Kyle's gym socks? Unlikely. But plausible.)
Ironic isn't it? That Max is somehow turning me into a different person.
I used to be calm; now I'm frantic.
I used to be in complete control of my emotions; (do I really need to say it? I think you could just leave it at that and the past experiences to speak for themselves. But redundancy is life so I shall continue anyways. Who knows, maybe its good therapy. Or perhaps there are a few dim among you out there, I don't know.) and now I am well.not.
You could say that that was the understatement of the millennia.
And if I'm so smart, than why the hell cant I figure out a way to get on with my life, to push through this blah period filled with mishaps and miseries? Why cant I figure out a way to flatten these 'feelings'?
But one thing's for sure. I can still smell a scheme a mile away. Or so I would like to think (denial's nifty like that).
However, NOW ask anyone today to describe me and they would probably have to stop and consider the idea.
My father would blather on the above-mentioned typical statement, only because he's oblivious as of now as to how my life is taking a crash collision course (zoooom, screeetch! And CRASH).
Maria, Alex, Isabel and Michael would say I'm an obsessed lovesick best friend who needs to get over herself and go for it. They'd probably throw in dense too, as they think I'm not on to them (suckers.).
Kyle would most likely say I'm a petite brunette with perky breasts and (insert crude statement that is probably more true than I would like to admit) ass. Ahh, good ole Kyle. The one congruency.
And Max.? I'm not sure if he knows me at all lately.
On the way home that day he asked me what was wrong. (Break out the gold star. He notices something other than what Tess was wearing today). When I gave my usual response of "nothing," he said I've been weird all month.
Loser. I have NOT been weird. At all. Nada. Ziltch. Absolutely spiffing thank you.
God I'm good at lying.especially to myself.
Except in one respect. But you could have told me that.
[b]MAX[/b]
Trust is an interesting concept. There are some people of whom are instantaneously likeable. The type of people who are dependable, who you confide in without a second's doubt and entrust them to have pure resolves. The kind of people you think 'hey, I could really trust this guy.'
And then there are guys like Sean.
I don't trust this Sean guy any farther than I can throw him.
And considering the fact that he is 170 pounds of football jock, I wouldn't be throwing him very far. I'm not exactly 'Mighty Max.'
Ooo, Mighty Max. I like that. Saving the world's best friends from slimy not-so-good-intentional jocks everywhere. Complete with a manly man looking costume.
Except I cant really see myself in one of those get ups.
The dashing cape? Possibly.
The clinging tights? Not so much.
Now that I've had a chance to think about the whole exchange (between me and Sean, not between capes and tights), I have to wonder.what if Sean's being sincere?
I know, I know. Sean Williams, your resident jack ass? Sincere? HIM?
As incredulous as that sounds, I can't help but wonder. What if he's just like me? Pining after someone who would never in their right mind give you the time of day. Finally growing the balls to try and do something about that. And confusing the hell out of yourself along the way. What if?
[I]What if[/I] Those seemingly insignificant words started this whole thing this year. I didn't want to wake up ten years from now and contemplate those two words. But what I didn't realize is that I would be facing that phrase *now* on my way to getting to confident assurance. \
But it's SEAN. How could he possibly be genuine? Should I even bother myself about it? Why do I care so much?
Because. I unexplainably do. When Liz gets involved, it just happens.
But really. Why bother about if it wouldn't change the sad look in Liz's eyes, that look I see sometimes, the poignant glint that makes her eyes dull and makes me want to scream, makes me want to make it better? She hates the guy's guts anyways. Right?
Again, I have to ask myself why the hell I got my brain all twisted around over some weird tête-à-tête with Sean. And also why my stomach molds into a knot when I even think of Sean touching Liz.
Sometimes I have to ask myself if it's really worth it. Sometimes I have to ask myself if my priorities are really all that straight. Sometimes my brain feels like its about to implode with all the spinning.
Sometimes I get so weird I even freak myself out.
[b]~*~Part Six~*~[/b]
"So, um, are you going to this thing tonight at Maria's?" Liz asked cautiously, her eyes staring at the dusty road ahead of her. For one thing, when you were driving it was usually a good idea to look where you were going. Usually. And for another thing, looking out the windshield protected Liz from the confusing, heartrending task of looking at Max Evans.
He had been acting strange the whole car ride. He wasn't the most talkative person she knew, but he had always been able to talk about [I]something[/I] to her. But now he was broodingly silent. She didn't know what to make of it. But then, her mind wasn't exactly a sound place to be these days. So maybe she was just projecting. She didn't know, and quite frankly she was tired of trying to find out. Tired of trying to find out where the jumpy, heart rushing feeling came from whenever she looked at Max, tired of trying to find out WHY Max was talking to Sean of all people, tired of trying to find out why Sean was seemingly interested anyways, and to find out what exactly Maria and Company were up to.
Bah. To hell with questions right now. Right now all Liz wanted to do was get home as fast as possible, and bury her qualms where they belonged - smashed into her pillow.
Max had been looking pensively out the window the entire time, but at Liz's question he started. Not for the first time, Liz's mind flooded with a barrage of inquiries.
*No. No, no, no Parker. These questions don't exist, remember?*
Max eyed her questioningly. "What thing?"
Liz forced her eyes to face the road again. "Um, the movie night. She didn't tell you?"
Max shook his head slowly. "Nope." He returned to his perusal of the desert flying by. "She actually hasn't had much to say to me lately, except how idiotic I am for wanting Tess."
Liz tried not to flinch. Really she did. But as expected, her body was not hers to control anymore. She was possessed with some cruel, unwavering spirit - one that was apparently intent of driving her insane with painful wrenches of the heart.
She chose not to say anything. Thick, heavy silence hung in the air above them and threatened to crush down upon them. Liz gave an involuntary, long sigh. Immediately, she regretted doing so when she noticed Max dart a concerned glance over at her.
"Liz, is everything ok?" Max's liquid brown eyes sought out her own. She instantly skirted his gaze and concern.
She forced a laugh to tear out her throat and attempted to paste a smile on her face. Except what came out was closer to a grimace. "I'm fine, Max." She shot a quick glance at him and this time successfully flashed her thousand-watt smile. "Why?" She kept the suspicion out of her voice, but secretly her nerves her crusting into steel. She swore to God, if Maria had said ANYTHING to Max about.ARGH.best friend or no best friend, Maria was going to get her ass kicked.
Liz's concerns were assuaged when Max just emitted a sigh of his own. "I don't know. You just seem.different lately. Sadder."
Well, so much for alleviation, Liz thought.
"Sadder?" She echoed. Was she really that unhappy that Max had noticed? MAX of all people. The one she was doing her best to dupe. The one who she made SURE knew nothing of the inward turmoil she was facing.
And besides, it wasn't like it was the end of the world or anything. So she had some sort of weird.pull towards Max lately, pull that threatened everything normal, every thing ordinary in such a way that forced her to keep it to herself. So what? It wasn't like she hadn't kept things secret before. It wasn't like she had lost his presence in her life for good or anything. It wasn't as if they weren't still friends.was it? Had she really changed [I] that[/I] much?
The thing was though, she had never really kept anything of this magnitude from Max before. But there was a point to it. If she didn't keep these feelings downtrodden, there was a definite chance that she would lose him forever. Their easy friendship would be ruined for good. There would be no going back, no do-over, no hit delete and try and again. And she didn't think she could live with that. She couldn't not have Max in her life. Any way was better than none, and if she let him in on how she was really starting to feel, than he would most definitely run screaming in the other direction. And that.that she wouldn't be able to handle. Which was why she was doing this.
Knowing all the reasons, however, did not make the days go by any easier. And it wouldn't make sitting next to him in the dark tonight any easier either.
"Yes. Sadder," Max was reiterating. Liz blinked hard and returned her attention to the real Max - not just her psycho thoughts about him, about a fantasy that could never be.
"I'm [I]fine[/I]," she repeated. She could practically feel Max hesitate.
"Well, ok then. If you're sure?" His voice rose an octave, his last statement coming out interrogative.
"Positive."
"Ok."
"Yup."
"Great."
"Fantastic."
"I think that's enough adjectives for now."
"Agreed."
~*~
"Busty Biker Babes: The Movie? Busty Biker Babes: The Movie TWO!?" Maria stared incredulously at the two videotapes in her hands and subsequently pierced Kyle with a malicious glare.
"What?" Kyle asked innocuously as he leaned back into the plush gray couch of the Deluca home. "You said we needed something to get Max all hard up."
Maria groaned in exasperation, and just barely resisted whacking herself (and Kyle for that matter) over the head with the revolting, demoralizing tapes. "Kyle, that was NOT what I meant and you know it. This idea wasn't just an excuse for you to go out and rent porn!" She felt like screaming in vexation. So far her idea looked like it was going to be a bust, and then she, Auntie Maria, knower of all, would look insanely ridiculous. Not to mention that it wouldn't help Max and Liz any, and the two would be stuck back in the big vat of mishaps and igorance that kept growing larger with everyday.
"I don't think Kyle ever really needs an excuse to go out and get porn." Isabel rolled her eyes, stood up from the rocking chair and joined Maria in glaring at the man in question.
Michael leaned over the couch closer to Kyle. "How DID you get it Valenti?" He asked, in slight awe that Kyle had managed to not get carded.
Kyle smirked. "I know a guy."
Alex snorted. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Because it's Kyle." Isabel supplied.
Kyle gave a shout of indignation. "Hey! I'm not THAT predictable. I think other things.like.cars.and.pranks.and.uhm."
Maria gave Michael a pained look. "Make him stop." Then her green eyes glittered with fury. "And what exactly did you mean 'how did Kyle get it.' Are you thinking of going out and polluting your brain with this.this." She brandished the videos. "Trash?"
Michael winced and scanned the room for a possible distraction. "Umm, no, you see.Oh My God!"
Maria's perfectly sculpted eyebrow shot up in skepticism. "Don't think I don't see right through your attempt to just." Her eyes skittered around to follow where Michael was currently gazing with horror and she gasped.
"Oh My God!" She echoed Michael. "No! Argh! You guys are just so typical. We're LATE! Max and Liz are going to be here any second!" Trying not to panic, Maria dumped the rest of the videos on the table. When no one had showed up on time (Maria included) Michael, Kyle, and Isabel had been in charge of getting possible movie choices while Maria and Alex prepared the house. Maria silently fumed. This whole night was already off to a wrong start. Why did nothing ever go as meticulously planned? All right, so this whole thing was rather just thrown together at the last minute, but still. Even last minute preparation took some thought. Or at least SHE had given it some thought. The others thinking processes (or lack of) had yet to be determined.
Suddenly, Maria was afraid. Very, very afraid. If Kyle's choices had been any indication about what else was about to pop out of the bag, she should be running shrieking to the nearest exit. Tentatively, she flipped the videos over so the labels showed.
Scoffing, she picked up the one on top and turned to Michael with a dismayed expression marring her usually open face. "American Pie?"
"What?" Michael's hands shot up to typify his exclamation. "Hey, its better than what SHE got," he muttered as he nodded at Isabel, who scowled back.
Maria rubbed her fingers into her scalp. No wonder this evening was going to suck, with fellow conspirators like these. She held up the other two and faced Isabel. "Casablanca? A Walk To Remember? Are we trying to make them MORE depressed than they already are?"
Isabel opened her mouth furiously to object. "They're great movies!"
"Yea, when you're looking for a good cry."
Isabel arched her eyebrow. "I don't know.I thought maybe Liz sniffling.Max comforting her.you know." She suddenly looked quite uncomfortable.
Alex laughed. "Come on Isabel. I wanna hear you say it."
She flicked her blonde curls over her shoulder and bestowed Alex with a particular murderous look, and he became immediately contrite.
Maria shot another concerned look at the treacherous clock. She could have sworn that it was working against them. Damn those moving hands. "What are we going to do? They'll be here any minute and all we have are the horn ball movies from hell!"
Kyle grabbed his tapes and clutched them to his chest. "Hey!"
Isabel sighed and thought for a minute. "Why don't we use the movies you own? Do you have any that will fit "your" requirements?" It was apparent that she was still a bit miffed about Maria's curt dismissal of the movie's she picked out.
Maria's eyes widened and sparkled once more. "Oh yeah!" She rushed for the polished wooden cabinet standing next to the large screened television set. She ripped open the doors and began strewing cassettes and DVD's left and right. There had to be some in here.her mother was obsessed with movies. Well, so was she for that matter (there was just something about loosing yourself in another world for an hour or two.) but.
"How about this?" She yelled, waving one in the air. Isabel wandered over to help out, while Kyle and Michael sat back down on the couch to stuff their face full of the popcorn that was in front of them. Alex peered at them with an amused look.
"Isn't that for when Max and Liz get here?"
Kyle shrugged, his mouth full of popcorn.
Michael, however, had no qualms with speaking with his jaws crammed with mashed food particles. "Hoo cars?" He mumbled, his words almost completely incomprehensible.
"That's lovely, Michael, real lovely" Alex commented, torn between laughing maniacally at Michael's ridiculously rude behavior or wrinkling his nose in disgust.
Meanwhile, Isabel was evaluating the movie Maria had picked out. She reached over, picked the box up with a perfectly manicured hand and stared at Maria dubiously.
"Are you sure about this one?"
Maria ruffled in annoyance. "Why not? It's an awesome movie, AND it's about a girl coming to terms with feelings for her best friend. It's perfect!"
Isabel took a deep breath. "Um, Ria, you do remember how this one ends, don't you?"
Maria's olive eyes brightened with realization. "Yea, the best friend ends up.oh. Marrying the skanky blonde bimbo." Er, yea. That probably would not help Liz's mood any. And probably go straight over Max's pointy little head. God, he was dense sometimes.
Um, make that most of the time.
Maria shoved My Best Friend's Wedding back where she got it and froze when she heard the doorbell. Oh, great. Just freaking perfect. They were here already and they didn't have a movie to watch, and nothing was in place. She was about ready to abdicate the whole plan and think of something else.
"God, we are so screwed, and we haven't even started! Jeez! If you all hadn't been LATE, maybe this would have went a little more unproblematic."
"Christ Maria! We weren't going to show up a whole HOUR beforehand? We do have lives you know."
"Um, actually Kyle, no. No we don't."
"But still, you do have a point there man. A whole hour wouldn't have made a difference. Maybe a few DAYS."
"Ha, ha, you three are all *really* funny."
Isabel smoothed her hair with her hands and heaved a sigh. "Look, we might as well just put on American Pie," Michael whooped loudly, spraying more popcorn over the couch (and Kyle, who grimaced and shoved him in retribution), "And try and salvage the rest of the night. Besides," Isabel continued. "It's not like their going to figure out everything in one night. This is just going to be the tip of the scale. Did you really think that Max was just going to randomly realize that's his feelings are seriously misplaced? And did you really think he was going to realize that with US in the room and with a cheesy teen flick in the background?"
"Why thank you, Isabel," Maria crossed her eyes. "Dash everything why don't you. Ms. Demolish All Plans And Ideas. You're probably the one who goes around telling little kids that's there's no such thing as Santa Claus, you dream snatcher you."
Alex gasped vociferously in horror and his dark eyes bulged. "What?! What did you just say?" His hand flew up to his chest. "That's blasphemy!"
Michael rolled his eyes. "Alex, anyone who can say the word blasphemy should know better than that."
Kyle glanced at the hallway leading to the front door. "Is anyone going to let Max and Liz in?"
Maria growled in frustration and pounded down to jerk open the door.
Max and Liz were standing awkwardly, as far away from each other as they could possibly be while still standing on the same porch. Maria gulped. This was starting to look all varieties of bad. And oh look! The night had yet to even begin.
Max was staring at Maria a little funny. "What?" She spat out, her nerves already frazzled. At once she felt guilty when Max's eyes widened.
"Um, Maria? Are you okay?" His voice was coated with concern, and Maria softened. It wasn't his fault she was so stressed right now.
No wait. Yes it was. If he would just wake up and smell the coffee in Liz's hand, than this whole thing would be put out of its palpable misery.
"I'm great," she answered finally. "Come on in guys. We're um." She paused as the trio shuffled into the living room and sighed once more. "I guess we're watching American Pie."
Silently, Michael pummeled his fists into the air and Maria pierced him with an annoyed look.
Hoo boy.
Damage control. They needed some MAJOR damage control.
Make that sooner, rather than later.
~*~
Max shifted restlessly as the air in the room grew heavy with tense unease. Was it him, or did everyone just sort of get.quiet all of a sudden?
He shrugged it off. Whatever. It wasn't like his mind was exactly all that concise tonight. He ambled over to the loveseat and sank down into it. God, he was so looking forward to some time alone with his friends - no worries, no confusions.and best of all.no trust issues. Time to veg out in front of some mindless movie and just be MAX. Stress free.
Liz stood stiffly in the same spot in which she had stepped into when she first entered the room five minutes ago. Max frowned.
Okay. So maybe this night wouldn't exactly be as void of confusion as he thought it would be. He still had no idea what was wrong with Liz. No idea of what caused the shadows to mar her usually deep bright brown eyes. And quite frankly, it worried him.
His perplexity grew as he watched Liz go to sit across the room from him in between Alex and Kyle on the couch, and even more so when Isabel quickly darted in front of Liz to plop down next to her boyfriend. Maria simultaneously snatched up the only other remaining seat - other than the one next to Max himself - and perched herself on the chair with Michael. Max's brow furrowed even more at seeing Liz shoot Maria a sour look, and Maria peer up in an innocent yet smug way.
What the hell?
Again, Max shrugged it off and presented Liz with his usual lopsided grin as she hesitantly sat down. "Guess your stuck next to me again," he said, his statement pertaining a subliminal message imploring why Liz seemingly did not want to sit next to him when it was her usual spot. "Don't worry. I don't bite. Hard."
Liz gave a laugh that ended as abruptly as it began and inched as far away from Max as she could.
Okaaay. Something was definitely wrong here. Was she just tired? Or was it something else?
Max cleared his throat, the sound slicing through the solitude. "So um, are we going to put in the movie?"
Alex nodded a little too enthusiastically.
[I]He must have noticed the same discomfiture I did,[/I] thought Max.
"Yes! That we are Maxwell, that we are." Alex picked up the bowl of popcorn that had somehow landed in his lap and went to place it on the table in front of him. Unfortunately, his aim had always left something to be desired, and he accidentally tipped the bowl a little too far as he reached over Isabel to place it down, and greasy popcorn went all over Kyle.
Kyle let an outraged cry escape his throat, and he immediately grabbed a handful of the stuff to strike back. However, in his indignation, Kyle missed his target horribly, the flying kernels defaulting to.Isabel. Isabel and her nice, crisp clean shirt. Max chuckled softly as he watched Kyle's face fall at the sight of what had happened, and the fact that Isabel was swelling in anger.
Pretty soon there was popcorn flying all over the room, as Michael and Maria quickly got up to join the fun.
Max let his eyes be amused with the observation of Maria's unsuccessful attempt to cram her mouth shut while Michael shoved popcorn through, Kyle with popcorn somehow in his hair and Isabel shrieking deafeningly as Alex unintentionally (Max was so sure) shoved buttery morsels down her back, before his gaze wandered to the small table beside the loveseat, and the certain object on top of it.
Another bowl of popcorn.
His face cracked into a wicked smirk and he snuck a quick look at Liz. She was staring at the couch where the popcorn fight was currently taking place with a small smile on her face, but her eyes were distant, as if she were lost in thought while surveying Maria, Michael, Kyle, Isabel and Alex.
Wordlessly, Max languidly snaked his hand over and filled his fist with an abundance of the fluffy snack. With Liz still carefully fitted in the corner of his eye, he discreetly moved his hand in position and waited until the last moment to attack.
Regrettably, Liz had always had good reflexes, and she saw Max as he started to pounce on her. She swiftly bolted upwards, causing Max to crash headlong into the armrest on the right side. Grimacing ruefully, he looked up to see Liz standing over him, biting her lip to keep from laughing. For some odd reason, his stomach lurched at that moment.
"Don't think I'm not going to get you for that Parker," Max growled, his bruised forehead and the levity written on Liz's face making him all the more determined to get her back. He scooped up the dropped popcorn and lunged at her again.
Once more, she was too fast, and sidestepped him completely. But Max had been expecting that this time. He maneuvered himself in sync with her, and chucked the popcorn right in her face. Direct hit. Kernels bounced off her perfectly shocked etched face.
[I]Gotcha[/I]
Max smirked and stood there for a minute, admiring his handiwork. Liz's eyes were wide with disbelief, mirth, and a thirst for vindication. He also noted happily that they were almost sparkling in the way they used to - before the shadows and clouded over expression took place. Almost.
Apparently, Max stood there for a little too long and the next thing he knew, he found himself splattered in the face with the popcorn and looking at Liz's pleased expression.
"Oh, you are so going to get it for that!" He bellowed at Liz, who had already taken off running in the opposite direction, giggling as she went. He tore off after her with only one thought in mind and they circled the room a few times breathlessly before he cornered her with only the table separating them. He faked a left, and then charged towards the right, where Liz was dodging too in order to evade him. Grabbing her by the waist, he flung both of them back down onto the loveseat and smashed the light feathery kernels everywhere his hands could find.
All of a sudden, he found himself showered with greasy seeds and pieces of white kernels, and a small tin bowl atop his head, adorning his scalp like a cap. It looked as if Liz had reached behind her to grab the full bowl and subsequently dumped the entire thing on his head. He gazed down at her nonplussed, wondering for a minute where the bowl had come from.
Liz burst out laughing, her giggles ringing sweetly in his ear.
"What?" He queried, lifting the bowl off of him and setting it on the floor.
"Your face!" She gasped out between guffaws. "You look so funny covered with popcorn!" She dissolved into laughter again. She was right of course. The whole couch was sprinkled with fluffy mounds of it, and his hair most likely mirrored it.
Max's eyes narrowed in a mock glare. "Oh yeah?"
Liz grinned and nodded, still chortling.
"Maybe it will be funnier if I do THIS," Max cried, and he maneuvered his self so he was directly on top of her. His fingers wriggled perilously, and then assailed into Liz's rib cage - her most ticklish spot.
"Stop! Max! Ah, STOP," Liz screeched, her words drowned out by her panting giggles as she tried to wrench his hands away from her. Max grinned as she continued to sequel, and if anything he increased the fervor of his attack, ignoring her feeble attempts to make him stop.
Liz tried to dig her fingers into his shoulders and push him off of her, but she only succeeded in moving him an inch or so away. Max smiled; he was obviously the stronger one here. His smile quickly faded, however, at the sensation of Liz's fingernails gnawing into his shoulders instead.
"Hey, no fair! I don't have claws like you. Unfair advantage," Max said, although he didn't lessen his tickle attack on her sides.
Liz scoffed. "Yea, but you weigh, like twice as much as me!"
Their eyes locked, and Max watched as the familiar twinkle, the proverbial spark that had always been in Liz's eyes - save for the past month or so - dimmed slightly, until it faded into.something else. Her eyes darkened considerably and suddenly Max had to wonder why he was so out of breath. Was it really just from the popcorn fight? His fingers stilled on her sides and lingered there for a moment. Liz stopped laughing.
Whoa. He hadn't known her eyes could go dark like that.
Abruptly, Liz's eyes drifted down and gazed at.gazed at his lips?
Why would Liz be looking at his lips? Did he have like, popcorn hanging out them or something?
His stomach chose to do that weird lurch thing again.
"Max," Liz breathed. Her eyes still bore into his own, still darkly beautiful, and she looked on the verge of saying something. He unconsciously drifted closer, so close that their noses were almost touching. And all he could see was brown, deep sweet chocolaty brown filling his vision. He heard Liz draw in a sharp intake of breath. "Max," she gasped again.
It suddenly occurred to Max what was going on here. Boy, was he an idiot.
He quickly got up from atop her, and sat upright. "I'm sorry Liz," he said. "I was crushing you wasn't I?"
Confusion swam in her eyes. "What?"
He grinned wryly at her and joked in their usual manner. "You know, with my little tickle attack? I was cutting off your air supply. Sorry. I tend to forget sometimes that you ingenious people need to breath just like the rest of us."
Liz's face shuttered immediately, and she slowly drew herself up. "Oh. Yea, um" She snorted. "Yea. That was it." She stood up abruptly and glared pointedly at Maria, Michael, Kyle, Isabel and Alex, all who were peering interestedly at Max (or they were. Now their expressions bore exasperated disappointment for some odd reason). "I have to use the restroom," Liz continued. "You can all start the movie without me."
Max frowned. Wait a minute. He thought that he had gotten rid of whatever thing had caused Liz to shut off like that, of whatever thing had clouded her eyes with that gloomy hollow. What happened? And what was really wrong, and why wouldn't she tell him?
So maybe this night wasn't as stress and worry free as he believed it would be.
It was then that he realized he hadn't really thought about Tess tonight. At all.
Huh.
He stared down towards the door where Liz had disappeared into, despite the facts that the previews started up.
Huh.
[b]"Sometimes Ignorance Rings True"[/b]
~*~POV~*~
[b] LIZ [/b]
Ask anyone to describe me pre-inane-infatuation period and they would scoff at you.
"Pu-leeze. Gimme a hard one next time," they would say and proceed to ramble dutifully how I am calm, and in complete control of my emotions. That I'm smart, and able to smell a scheme a mile away.
Though I do need to know.what exactly does a scheme reek of?
Don't answer that. (Kyle's gym socks? Unlikely. But plausible.)
Ironic isn't it? That Max is somehow turning me into a different person.
I used to be calm; now I'm frantic.
I used to be in complete control of my emotions; (do I really need to say it? I think you could just leave it at that and the past experiences to speak for themselves. But redundancy is life so I shall continue anyways. Who knows, maybe its good therapy. Or perhaps there are a few dim among you out there, I don't know.) and now I am well.not.
You could say that that was the understatement of the millennia.
And if I'm so smart, than why the hell cant I figure out a way to get on with my life, to push through this blah period filled with mishaps and miseries? Why cant I figure out a way to flatten these 'feelings'?
But one thing's for sure. I can still smell a scheme a mile away. Or so I would like to think (denial's nifty like that).
However, NOW ask anyone today to describe me and they would probably have to stop and consider the idea.
My father would blather on the above-mentioned typical statement, only because he's oblivious as of now as to how my life is taking a crash collision course (zoooom, screeetch! And CRASH).
Maria, Alex, Isabel and Michael would say I'm an obsessed lovesick best friend who needs to get over herself and go for it. They'd probably throw in dense too, as they think I'm not on to them (suckers.).
Kyle would most likely say I'm a petite brunette with perky breasts and (insert crude statement that is probably more true than I would like to admit) ass. Ahh, good ole Kyle. The one congruency.
And Max.? I'm not sure if he knows me at all lately.
On the way home that day he asked me what was wrong. (Break out the gold star. He notices something other than what Tess was wearing today). When I gave my usual response of "nothing," he said I've been weird all month.
Loser. I have NOT been weird. At all. Nada. Ziltch. Absolutely spiffing thank you.
God I'm good at lying.especially to myself.
Except in one respect. But you could have told me that.
[b]MAX[/b]
Trust is an interesting concept. There are some people of whom are instantaneously likeable. The type of people who are dependable, who you confide in without a second's doubt and entrust them to have pure resolves. The kind of people you think 'hey, I could really trust this guy.'
And then there are guys like Sean.
I don't trust this Sean guy any farther than I can throw him.
And considering the fact that he is 170 pounds of football jock, I wouldn't be throwing him very far. I'm not exactly 'Mighty Max.'
Ooo, Mighty Max. I like that. Saving the world's best friends from slimy not-so-good-intentional jocks everywhere. Complete with a manly man looking costume.
Except I cant really see myself in one of those get ups.
The dashing cape? Possibly.
The clinging tights? Not so much.
Now that I've had a chance to think about the whole exchange (between me and Sean, not between capes and tights), I have to wonder.what if Sean's being sincere?
I know, I know. Sean Williams, your resident jack ass? Sincere? HIM?
As incredulous as that sounds, I can't help but wonder. What if he's just like me? Pining after someone who would never in their right mind give you the time of day. Finally growing the balls to try and do something about that. And confusing the hell out of yourself along the way. What if?
[I]What if[/I] Those seemingly insignificant words started this whole thing this year. I didn't want to wake up ten years from now and contemplate those two words. But what I didn't realize is that I would be facing that phrase *now* on my way to getting to confident assurance. \
But it's SEAN. How could he possibly be genuine? Should I even bother myself about it? Why do I care so much?
Because. I unexplainably do. When Liz gets involved, it just happens.
But really. Why bother about if it wouldn't change the sad look in Liz's eyes, that look I see sometimes, the poignant glint that makes her eyes dull and makes me want to scream, makes me want to make it better? She hates the guy's guts anyways. Right?
Again, I have to ask myself why the hell I got my brain all twisted around over some weird tête-à-tête with Sean. And also why my stomach molds into a knot when I even think of Sean touching Liz.
Sometimes I have to ask myself if it's really worth it. Sometimes I have to ask myself if my priorities are really all that straight. Sometimes my brain feels like its about to implode with all the spinning.
Sometimes I get so weird I even freak myself out.
[b]~*~Part Six~*~[/b]
"So, um, are you going to this thing tonight at Maria's?" Liz asked cautiously, her eyes staring at the dusty road ahead of her. For one thing, when you were driving it was usually a good idea to look where you were going. Usually. And for another thing, looking out the windshield protected Liz from the confusing, heartrending task of looking at Max Evans.
He had been acting strange the whole car ride. He wasn't the most talkative person she knew, but he had always been able to talk about [I]something[/I] to her. But now he was broodingly silent. She didn't know what to make of it. But then, her mind wasn't exactly a sound place to be these days. So maybe she was just projecting. She didn't know, and quite frankly she was tired of trying to find out. Tired of trying to find out where the jumpy, heart rushing feeling came from whenever she looked at Max, tired of trying to find out WHY Max was talking to Sean of all people, tired of trying to find out why Sean was seemingly interested anyways, and to find out what exactly Maria and Company were up to.
Bah. To hell with questions right now. Right now all Liz wanted to do was get home as fast as possible, and bury her qualms where they belonged - smashed into her pillow.
Max had been looking pensively out the window the entire time, but at Liz's question he started. Not for the first time, Liz's mind flooded with a barrage of inquiries.
*No. No, no, no Parker. These questions don't exist, remember?*
Max eyed her questioningly. "What thing?"
Liz forced her eyes to face the road again. "Um, the movie night. She didn't tell you?"
Max shook his head slowly. "Nope." He returned to his perusal of the desert flying by. "She actually hasn't had much to say to me lately, except how idiotic I am for wanting Tess."
Liz tried not to flinch. Really she did. But as expected, her body was not hers to control anymore. She was possessed with some cruel, unwavering spirit - one that was apparently intent of driving her insane with painful wrenches of the heart.
She chose not to say anything. Thick, heavy silence hung in the air above them and threatened to crush down upon them. Liz gave an involuntary, long sigh. Immediately, she regretted doing so when she noticed Max dart a concerned glance over at her.
"Liz, is everything ok?" Max's liquid brown eyes sought out her own. She instantly skirted his gaze and concern.
She forced a laugh to tear out her throat and attempted to paste a smile on her face. Except what came out was closer to a grimace. "I'm fine, Max." She shot a quick glance at him and this time successfully flashed her thousand-watt smile. "Why?" She kept the suspicion out of her voice, but secretly her nerves her crusting into steel. She swore to God, if Maria had said ANYTHING to Max about.ARGH.best friend or no best friend, Maria was going to get her ass kicked.
Liz's concerns were assuaged when Max just emitted a sigh of his own. "I don't know. You just seem.different lately. Sadder."
Well, so much for alleviation, Liz thought.
"Sadder?" She echoed. Was she really that unhappy that Max had noticed? MAX of all people. The one she was doing her best to dupe. The one who she made SURE knew nothing of the inward turmoil she was facing.
And besides, it wasn't like it was the end of the world or anything. So she had some sort of weird.pull towards Max lately, pull that threatened everything normal, every thing ordinary in such a way that forced her to keep it to herself. So what? It wasn't like she hadn't kept things secret before. It wasn't like she had lost his presence in her life for good or anything. It wasn't as if they weren't still friends.was it? Had she really changed [I] that[/I] much?
The thing was though, she had never really kept anything of this magnitude from Max before. But there was a point to it. If she didn't keep these feelings downtrodden, there was a definite chance that she would lose him forever. Their easy friendship would be ruined for good. There would be no going back, no do-over, no hit delete and try and again. And she didn't think she could live with that. She couldn't not have Max in her life. Any way was better than none, and if she let him in on how she was really starting to feel, than he would most definitely run screaming in the other direction. And that.that she wouldn't be able to handle. Which was why she was doing this.
Knowing all the reasons, however, did not make the days go by any easier. And it wouldn't make sitting next to him in the dark tonight any easier either.
"Yes. Sadder," Max was reiterating. Liz blinked hard and returned her attention to the real Max - not just her psycho thoughts about him, about a fantasy that could never be.
"I'm [I]fine[/I]," she repeated. She could practically feel Max hesitate.
"Well, ok then. If you're sure?" His voice rose an octave, his last statement coming out interrogative.
"Positive."
"Ok."
"Yup."
"Great."
"Fantastic."
"I think that's enough adjectives for now."
"Agreed."
~*~
"Busty Biker Babes: The Movie? Busty Biker Babes: The Movie TWO!?" Maria stared incredulously at the two videotapes in her hands and subsequently pierced Kyle with a malicious glare.
"What?" Kyle asked innocuously as he leaned back into the plush gray couch of the Deluca home. "You said we needed something to get Max all hard up."
Maria groaned in exasperation, and just barely resisted whacking herself (and Kyle for that matter) over the head with the revolting, demoralizing tapes. "Kyle, that was NOT what I meant and you know it. This idea wasn't just an excuse for you to go out and rent porn!" She felt like screaming in vexation. So far her idea looked like it was going to be a bust, and then she, Auntie Maria, knower of all, would look insanely ridiculous. Not to mention that it wouldn't help Max and Liz any, and the two would be stuck back in the big vat of mishaps and igorance that kept growing larger with everyday.
"I don't think Kyle ever really needs an excuse to go out and get porn." Isabel rolled her eyes, stood up from the rocking chair and joined Maria in glaring at the man in question.
Michael leaned over the couch closer to Kyle. "How DID you get it Valenti?" He asked, in slight awe that Kyle had managed to not get carded.
Kyle smirked. "I know a guy."
Alex snorted. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Because it's Kyle." Isabel supplied.
Kyle gave a shout of indignation. "Hey! I'm not THAT predictable. I think other things.like.cars.and.pranks.and.uhm."
Maria gave Michael a pained look. "Make him stop." Then her green eyes glittered with fury. "And what exactly did you mean 'how did Kyle get it.' Are you thinking of going out and polluting your brain with this.this." She brandished the videos. "Trash?"
Michael winced and scanned the room for a possible distraction. "Umm, no, you see.Oh My God!"
Maria's perfectly sculpted eyebrow shot up in skepticism. "Don't think I don't see right through your attempt to just." Her eyes skittered around to follow where Michael was currently gazing with horror and she gasped.
"Oh My God!" She echoed Michael. "No! Argh! You guys are just so typical. We're LATE! Max and Liz are going to be here any second!" Trying not to panic, Maria dumped the rest of the videos on the table. When no one had showed up on time (Maria included) Michael, Kyle, and Isabel had been in charge of getting possible movie choices while Maria and Alex prepared the house. Maria silently fumed. This whole night was already off to a wrong start. Why did nothing ever go as meticulously planned? All right, so this whole thing was rather just thrown together at the last minute, but still. Even last minute preparation took some thought. Or at least SHE had given it some thought. The others thinking processes (or lack of) had yet to be determined.
Suddenly, Maria was afraid. Very, very afraid. If Kyle's choices had been any indication about what else was about to pop out of the bag, she should be running shrieking to the nearest exit. Tentatively, she flipped the videos over so the labels showed.
Scoffing, she picked up the one on top and turned to Michael with a dismayed expression marring her usually open face. "American Pie?"
"What?" Michael's hands shot up to typify his exclamation. "Hey, its better than what SHE got," he muttered as he nodded at Isabel, who scowled back.
Maria rubbed her fingers into her scalp. No wonder this evening was going to suck, with fellow conspirators like these. She held up the other two and faced Isabel. "Casablanca? A Walk To Remember? Are we trying to make them MORE depressed than they already are?"
Isabel opened her mouth furiously to object. "They're great movies!"
"Yea, when you're looking for a good cry."
Isabel arched her eyebrow. "I don't know.I thought maybe Liz sniffling.Max comforting her.you know." She suddenly looked quite uncomfortable.
Alex laughed. "Come on Isabel. I wanna hear you say it."
She flicked her blonde curls over her shoulder and bestowed Alex with a particular murderous look, and he became immediately contrite.
Maria shot another concerned look at the treacherous clock. She could have sworn that it was working against them. Damn those moving hands. "What are we going to do? They'll be here any minute and all we have are the horn ball movies from hell!"
Kyle grabbed his tapes and clutched them to his chest. "Hey!"
Isabel sighed and thought for a minute. "Why don't we use the movies you own? Do you have any that will fit "your" requirements?" It was apparent that she was still a bit miffed about Maria's curt dismissal of the movie's she picked out.
Maria's eyes widened and sparkled once more. "Oh yeah!" She rushed for the polished wooden cabinet standing next to the large screened television set. She ripped open the doors and began strewing cassettes and DVD's left and right. There had to be some in here.her mother was obsessed with movies. Well, so was she for that matter (there was just something about loosing yourself in another world for an hour or two.) but.
"How about this?" She yelled, waving one in the air. Isabel wandered over to help out, while Kyle and Michael sat back down on the couch to stuff their face full of the popcorn that was in front of them. Alex peered at them with an amused look.
"Isn't that for when Max and Liz get here?"
Kyle shrugged, his mouth full of popcorn.
Michael, however, had no qualms with speaking with his jaws crammed with mashed food particles. "Hoo cars?" He mumbled, his words almost completely incomprehensible.
"That's lovely, Michael, real lovely" Alex commented, torn between laughing maniacally at Michael's ridiculously rude behavior or wrinkling his nose in disgust.
Meanwhile, Isabel was evaluating the movie Maria had picked out. She reached over, picked the box up with a perfectly manicured hand and stared at Maria dubiously.
"Are you sure about this one?"
Maria ruffled in annoyance. "Why not? It's an awesome movie, AND it's about a girl coming to terms with feelings for her best friend. It's perfect!"
Isabel took a deep breath. "Um, Ria, you do remember how this one ends, don't you?"
Maria's olive eyes brightened with realization. "Yea, the best friend ends up.oh. Marrying the skanky blonde bimbo." Er, yea. That probably would not help Liz's mood any. And probably go straight over Max's pointy little head. God, he was dense sometimes.
Um, make that most of the time.
Maria shoved My Best Friend's Wedding back where she got it and froze when she heard the doorbell. Oh, great. Just freaking perfect. They were here already and they didn't have a movie to watch, and nothing was in place. She was about ready to abdicate the whole plan and think of something else.
"God, we are so screwed, and we haven't even started! Jeez! If you all hadn't been LATE, maybe this would have went a little more unproblematic."
"Christ Maria! We weren't going to show up a whole HOUR beforehand? We do have lives you know."
"Um, actually Kyle, no. No we don't."
"But still, you do have a point there man. A whole hour wouldn't have made a difference. Maybe a few DAYS."
"Ha, ha, you three are all *really* funny."
Isabel smoothed her hair with her hands and heaved a sigh. "Look, we might as well just put on American Pie," Michael whooped loudly, spraying more popcorn over the couch (and Kyle, who grimaced and shoved him in retribution), "And try and salvage the rest of the night. Besides," Isabel continued. "It's not like their going to figure out everything in one night. This is just going to be the tip of the scale. Did you really think that Max was just going to randomly realize that's his feelings are seriously misplaced? And did you really think he was going to realize that with US in the room and with a cheesy teen flick in the background?"
"Why thank you, Isabel," Maria crossed her eyes. "Dash everything why don't you. Ms. Demolish All Plans And Ideas. You're probably the one who goes around telling little kids that's there's no such thing as Santa Claus, you dream snatcher you."
Alex gasped vociferously in horror and his dark eyes bulged. "What?! What did you just say?" His hand flew up to his chest. "That's blasphemy!"
Michael rolled his eyes. "Alex, anyone who can say the word blasphemy should know better than that."
Kyle glanced at the hallway leading to the front door. "Is anyone going to let Max and Liz in?"
Maria growled in frustration and pounded down to jerk open the door.
Max and Liz were standing awkwardly, as far away from each other as they could possibly be while still standing on the same porch. Maria gulped. This was starting to look all varieties of bad. And oh look! The night had yet to even begin.
Max was staring at Maria a little funny. "What?" She spat out, her nerves already frazzled. At once she felt guilty when Max's eyes widened.
"Um, Maria? Are you okay?" His voice was coated with concern, and Maria softened. It wasn't his fault she was so stressed right now.
No wait. Yes it was. If he would just wake up and smell the coffee in Liz's hand, than this whole thing would be put out of its palpable misery.
"I'm great," she answered finally. "Come on in guys. We're um." She paused as the trio shuffled into the living room and sighed once more. "I guess we're watching American Pie."
Silently, Michael pummeled his fists into the air and Maria pierced him with an annoyed look.
Hoo boy.
Damage control. They needed some MAJOR damage control.
Make that sooner, rather than later.
~*~
Max shifted restlessly as the air in the room grew heavy with tense unease. Was it him, or did everyone just sort of get.quiet all of a sudden?
He shrugged it off. Whatever. It wasn't like his mind was exactly all that concise tonight. He ambled over to the loveseat and sank down into it. God, he was so looking forward to some time alone with his friends - no worries, no confusions.and best of all.no trust issues. Time to veg out in front of some mindless movie and just be MAX. Stress free.
Liz stood stiffly in the same spot in which she had stepped into when she first entered the room five minutes ago. Max frowned.
Okay. So maybe this night wouldn't exactly be as void of confusion as he thought it would be. He still had no idea what was wrong with Liz. No idea of what caused the shadows to mar her usually deep bright brown eyes. And quite frankly, it worried him.
His perplexity grew as he watched Liz go to sit across the room from him in between Alex and Kyle on the couch, and even more so when Isabel quickly darted in front of Liz to plop down next to her boyfriend. Maria simultaneously snatched up the only other remaining seat - other than the one next to Max himself - and perched herself on the chair with Michael. Max's brow furrowed even more at seeing Liz shoot Maria a sour look, and Maria peer up in an innocent yet smug way.
What the hell?
Again, Max shrugged it off and presented Liz with his usual lopsided grin as she hesitantly sat down. "Guess your stuck next to me again," he said, his statement pertaining a subliminal message imploring why Liz seemingly did not want to sit next to him when it was her usual spot. "Don't worry. I don't bite. Hard."
Liz gave a laugh that ended as abruptly as it began and inched as far away from Max as she could.
Okaaay. Something was definitely wrong here. Was she just tired? Or was it something else?
Max cleared his throat, the sound slicing through the solitude. "So um, are we going to put in the movie?"
Alex nodded a little too enthusiastically.
[I]He must have noticed the same discomfiture I did,[/I] thought Max.
"Yes! That we are Maxwell, that we are." Alex picked up the bowl of popcorn that had somehow landed in his lap and went to place it on the table in front of him. Unfortunately, his aim had always left something to be desired, and he accidentally tipped the bowl a little too far as he reached over Isabel to place it down, and greasy popcorn went all over Kyle.
Kyle let an outraged cry escape his throat, and he immediately grabbed a handful of the stuff to strike back. However, in his indignation, Kyle missed his target horribly, the flying kernels defaulting to.Isabel. Isabel and her nice, crisp clean shirt. Max chuckled softly as he watched Kyle's face fall at the sight of what had happened, and the fact that Isabel was swelling in anger.
Pretty soon there was popcorn flying all over the room, as Michael and Maria quickly got up to join the fun.
Max let his eyes be amused with the observation of Maria's unsuccessful attempt to cram her mouth shut while Michael shoved popcorn through, Kyle with popcorn somehow in his hair and Isabel shrieking deafeningly as Alex unintentionally (Max was so sure) shoved buttery morsels down her back, before his gaze wandered to the small table beside the loveseat, and the certain object on top of it.
Another bowl of popcorn.
His face cracked into a wicked smirk and he snuck a quick look at Liz. She was staring at the couch where the popcorn fight was currently taking place with a small smile on her face, but her eyes were distant, as if she were lost in thought while surveying Maria, Michael, Kyle, Isabel and Alex.
Wordlessly, Max languidly snaked his hand over and filled his fist with an abundance of the fluffy snack. With Liz still carefully fitted in the corner of his eye, he discreetly moved his hand in position and waited until the last moment to attack.
Regrettably, Liz had always had good reflexes, and she saw Max as he started to pounce on her. She swiftly bolted upwards, causing Max to crash headlong into the armrest on the right side. Grimacing ruefully, he looked up to see Liz standing over him, biting her lip to keep from laughing. For some odd reason, his stomach lurched at that moment.
"Don't think I'm not going to get you for that Parker," Max growled, his bruised forehead and the levity written on Liz's face making him all the more determined to get her back. He scooped up the dropped popcorn and lunged at her again.
Once more, she was too fast, and sidestepped him completely. But Max had been expecting that this time. He maneuvered himself in sync with her, and chucked the popcorn right in her face. Direct hit. Kernels bounced off her perfectly shocked etched face.
[I]Gotcha[/I]
Max smirked and stood there for a minute, admiring his handiwork. Liz's eyes were wide with disbelief, mirth, and a thirst for vindication. He also noted happily that they were almost sparkling in the way they used to - before the shadows and clouded over expression took place. Almost.
Apparently, Max stood there for a little too long and the next thing he knew, he found himself splattered in the face with the popcorn and looking at Liz's pleased expression.
"Oh, you are so going to get it for that!" He bellowed at Liz, who had already taken off running in the opposite direction, giggling as she went. He tore off after her with only one thought in mind and they circled the room a few times breathlessly before he cornered her with only the table separating them. He faked a left, and then charged towards the right, where Liz was dodging too in order to evade him. Grabbing her by the waist, he flung both of them back down onto the loveseat and smashed the light feathery kernels everywhere his hands could find.
All of a sudden, he found himself showered with greasy seeds and pieces of white kernels, and a small tin bowl atop his head, adorning his scalp like a cap. It looked as if Liz had reached behind her to grab the full bowl and subsequently dumped the entire thing on his head. He gazed down at her nonplussed, wondering for a minute where the bowl had come from.
Liz burst out laughing, her giggles ringing sweetly in his ear.
"What?" He queried, lifting the bowl off of him and setting it on the floor.
"Your face!" She gasped out between guffaws. "You look so funny covered with popcorn!" She dissolved into laughter again. She was right of course. The whole couch was sprinkled with fluffy mounds of it, and his hair most likely mirrored it.
Max's eyes narrowed in a mock glare. "Oh yeah?"
Liz grinned and nodded, still chortling.
"Maybe it will be funnier if I do THIS," Max cried, and he maneuvered his self so he was directly on top of her. His fingers wriggled perilously, and then assailed into Liz's rib cage - her most ticklish spot.
"Stop! Max! Ah, STOP," Liz screeched, her words drowned out by her panting giggles as she tried to wrench his hands away from her. Max grinned as she continued to sequel, and if anything he increased the fervor of his attack, ignoring her feeble attempts to make him stop.
Liz tried to dig her fingers into his shoulders and push him off of her, but she only succeeded in moving him an inch or so away. Max smiled; he was obviously the stronger one here. His smile quickly faded, however, at the sensation of Liz's fingernails gnawing into his shoulders instead.
"Hey, no fair! I don't have claws like you. Unfair advantage," Max said, although he didn't lessen his tickle attack on her sides.
Liz scoffed. "Yea, but you weigh, like twice as much as me!"
Their eyes locked, and Max watched as the familiar twinkle, the proverbial spark that had always been in Liz's eyes - save for the past month or so - dimmed slightly, until it faded into.something else. Her eyes darkened considerably and suddenly Max had to wonder why he was so out of breath. Was it really just from the popcorn fight? His fingers stilled on her sides and lingered there for a moment. Liz stopped laughing.
Whoa. He hadn't known her eyes could go dark like that.
Abruptly, Liz's eyes drifted down and gazed at.gazed at his lips?
Why would Liz be looking at his lips? Did he have like, popcorn hanging out them or something?
His stomach chose to do that weird lurch thing again.
"Max," Liz breathed. Her eyes still bore into his own, still darkly beautiful, and she looked on the verge of saying something. He unconsciously drifted closer, so close that their noses were almost touching. And all he could see was brown, deep sweet chocolaty brown filling his vision. He heard Liz draw in a sharp intake of breath. "Max," she gasped again.
It suddenly occurred to Max what was going on here. Boy, was he an idiot.
He quickly got up from atop her, and sat upright. "I'm sorry Liz," he said. "I was crushing you wasn't I?"
Confusion swam in her eyes. "What?"
He grinned wryly at her and joked in their usual manner. "You know, with my little tickle attack? I was cutting off your air supply. Sorry. I tend to forget sometimes that you ingenious people need to breath just like the rest of us."
Liz's face shuttered immediately, and she slowly drew herself up. "Oh. Yea, um" She snorted. "Yea. That was it." She stood up abruptly and glared pointedly at Maria, Michael, Kyle, Isabel and Alex, all who were peering interestedly at Max (or they were. Now their expressions bore exasperated disappointment for some odd reason). "I have to use the restroom," Liz continued. "You can all start the movie without me."
Max frowned. Wait a minute. He thought that he had gotten rid of whatever thing had caused Liz to shut off like that, of whatever thing had clouded her eyes with that gloomy hollow. What happened? And what was really wrong, and why wouldn't she tell him?
So maybe this night wasn't as stress and worry free as he believed it would be.
It was then that he realized he hadn't really thought about Tess tonight. At all.
Huh.
He stared down towards the door where Liz had disappeared into, despite the facts that the previews started up.
Huh.