An Ordinary Life

by Amouse16

M/L AU fic. No aliens, folks. Still Roswell and the basic breakdown of characters. LONG fic, but worth your time. R&R. New chapter will be added every few days. SO keep checking back!!!

3. The Party

CHAPTER 3: THE PARTY

Maria and Liz were pushing tables together in "Eat, Drink and be Merry" the café that the DeLuca's owned and was connected to the WaterSide bookstore, which was owned by the Parkers, when Liz asked "So, who's coming tonight? Just you me and" she stuck her tongue out "Michael?"

Maria swatted her softly, "Thanks, Parker! Yea, you me and Michael and Isabel."

"Ok, cool. But won't there be very bad estrogen to testosterone ratio?"

"Is that your way of saying girlie? Because, yes, it will be girlie--"

"Michael is gonna have a fit."

"That is why I told Isabel to invite Alex and Max."

"Maria!" Liz whined.

"What? What did I do wrong? I invited Isabel, and she said she would love to, but she felt bad because she and Max always go out for a big ice cream sundae after the first day of school."

"You, of course, mentioned that the party wasn't till 7:30 and school ends at 3:30?"

"Well, I told her about the party, but I forgot to tell her what time it was. By the time she called to find out she had already agreed to come. Anyway, how could we let poor Max get ice cream by himself? So I assured his loving sister there would be ice cream and Max was welcome to eat it. And Alex was just a plus. Max needs an ally."

"You are so full of bull!"

Maria smiled "Yea, I know."

Liz rolled her eyes. "Maria, I know you hold some delusion that Max and I will hook up. But we won't, OK? Please stop trying to set us up, it isn't going to work."

"You're serious aren't you?"

"Yes!"

Maria, sincerely, "All right, I'll stop. You two would make such a great couple!"

"Even if I was interested that doesn't mean Max is! Just because you and Isabel think he's in love with me really doesn't mean anything."

Maria looked at her friend seriously. "Liz, say he's ugly. Say that you wouldn't date him if he were the last man on Earth. Say you wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole. But please don't say it's because he's not interested. Because, believe me, Max Evans is more than interested!"

Just then the door chime sounded. Maria grimaced "I'll get that." Liz was saved from responding, but Maria noticed the small smile of satisfaction that formed on Liz's lips.

Michael walked in and gave Maria a kiss. "Hey, Maria." Liz smiled and shook her head. Maria was so completely in love with Michael. Before they closed the door Alex, Isabel and Max come inside.

"Hey everyone!" Isabel cried.

"Hello all!" Alex said.

"Hi!" Liz replied, running up to greet her friends. "I'm so glad you could all come."

"Yea, thanks for inviting us." Max said, handing Liz a bag.

"What's this?" She opened it to find whipped cream. "Hot plans for later?" Everyone laughed but Max's faced turned bright pink.

"No, um, for the ice cream. Isabel and I love whipped cream-" He was interrupted by more laughter, but he continued explaining, "Anyway, we always finish a can and I thought you could use extra."

"Thanks, Max." He looked kind of embarrassed, but Liz couldn't help one more little jab. "I'll put this in a safe place!"

"Let's get this party started!" Maria cried. She turned on the radio and cranked the volume up. "All right! Now we're getting somewhere!" Maria and Michael immediately started grinding, up close and personal. Isabel and Liz were dancing and Alex was behind Isabel, trying to break his way in between the two. They finally let him in the middle and danced around him. He was smiling and laughing and trying to coax them into grinding, which they laughed off. Max sat on the counter smiling and watching his friends. They were all good dancers, especially Liz. He wasn't a great dancer. An OK one, but he lacked confidence. Anyway, he was happy to relax and watch his friends.

After a few songs he made his way back to the kitchen to get a soda. While he was looking through the fridge he heard someone come in. He turned around to see Liz, flushed and a little sweaty, grinning at him. "Hey." She said happily.

"Hi." He responded "Got tired?"

She laughed, "Yea! I love dancing but I can't go for that long. Maria turned the music down and told me to get some drinks."

Just then they heard Maria call from the restaurant "Turn it up! That's my jam!"

Max and Liz smiled at each other. "Ok," Liz said, "Screw that plan."

Max handed her a Snapple, which she accepted gratefully. "How about we crack open that whipped cream?" Liz offered, winking at him.

Max blushed slightly, but didn't let it faze him. "Are you having a good time laughing at my expense, Liz?"

She pretended to think it over then grinned "Yes, lots of fun! Besides, I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing near you."

"Oh, that makes me feel better."

"Good." She tossed him the whipped cream and pointed to a row of drawers. "Silverware is in the top right drawer. Make yourself useful!" Max obediently grabbed two spoons and hunted until he found some bowls. Liz was busy getting chocolate syrup, cherries and sprinkles. "Max? Do you prefer vanilla or chocolate?"

"Um, vanilla."

"All right! I love vanilla. I adore vanilla. Vanilla and I have a relationship."

"That's, um, nice?"

"Not really. It's torture hanging out here, Maria is always making sundaes on break. She can eat anything, but I have to exercise to eat what she makes me."

"Ok."

Liz laughed. "I'm way too used to girls!"

"Um, what?"

"With girlfriends, at least my girlfriends, we all have contests about who can talk about themselves the most. I mean, not actual contests, but we all just do our own thing. Isabel will say something about herself, and I'll say something about myself, then she'll go back to her. Usually, we can get the gist of the stories that we're both telling. That's just how we are. With guys it's different. And today I noticed that when I was talking about me, you were listening. You can't do that. You have to jump in about you."

"That's really sick, Liz."

"I know. But if you don't put in some Max time, we'll never get to you!"

"Fine, but I'm not promising anything."

"Fine." As they talked they created their sundaes. Finally, they sat back to admire them. "A good sundae is a work of art. Notice the thick covering of chocolate, the perfect spiral of whipped cream, and see how the cherry is in the very center of the creation. Perfection." She paused for a minute and admired it with a small grin. Then she grabbed the spoon, took a giant chunk out and devoured it. "Mmmm," she said through a full mouth "This is so good."

Max laughed "That's just great, Liz."

"Augh!" She suddenly cried.

"What? What is it?"

"Brain freeze!" She moaned, holding her head. "I hate brain freeze."

"Poor Liz," Max said sarcastically.

"Hey! This hurts!" She flung a small spoonful of ice cream at him. It landed right on his forehead. He looked at her in shock for a moment before getting ice cream on his own spoon. "Max, buddy, you wouldn't get ice cream on my shirt, would you?" He lowered the spoon.

"No, I guess not."

"Ok, good." She took another, smaller, bite of ice cream.

Max took a spoonful and raised it to his mouth. Before he ate it he looked up at Liz. "Liz?"

"Yea?"

"I lied!" Then he flung ice cream on her. She half laughed, half screamed.

"Oh, it's on!" She grabbed the chocolate syrup and sprayed it all over his shirt.

"That's crossing the line!" He grabbed the whipped cream and sprayed it in her hair. She cried out in protest and threw more ice cream at him. They continued their food fight for about 5 more minutes before their friends barged into the kitchen.

"What," Alex demanded, "is going on?"

Max and Liz both froze, Liz with a spoon full of ice cream raised and the bowl cradled protectively in her other hand. Max was armed with the bottle of syrup pointed in Liz's direction. They both looked so ridiculous, hair matted from the ice cream, clothes beyond gross and faces streaked with toppings that Isabel, Michael, Alex and Maria burst out laughing. Liz and Max looked at each other and cracked up, too. Liz punched Max in the arm and giggled, "It's his fault."

"My fault?" Max demanded

"Yea, it all started when he sprayed me with syrup for throwing ice cream at him. . ."

Isabel laughed "Yea, I'm on your side, Max is such a trouble maker!"

"Yea," Maria agreed "All you have to do is irritate him and he goes and fights back."

"The bastard." Alex said.

Max laughed it off, "Right, it's all my fault. Because between me and Liz we all know I'm the most likely to start trouble."

"Oh, he has you there, Liz" Maria agreed.

"Fine, Maria take his side! I'll just sit back here in the unloved section and eat my ice cream."

"Fine, you do that. But don't sit on anything," Michael warned "You're very dirty."

Liz looked down at herself for the first time. "Oh, gross. I have, like, layers of junk. I need a shower and a change of clothes." She said a silent thank-you to whatever possessed her to change out of her school clothes before the impromptu party.

"Yea," Isabel agreed, "Max, we better get home before that stuff dries. If we put it in the wash right away we can probably wash away the three foot wall of chocolate that is covering your clothes."

"No," Liz protested, "How are you gonna get home like that? You can't drive 20 minutes in the car like that. Look, I'll throw everything in the wash. We have a bunch of old clothes lying around for occasions just like this one.. I'll shower quickly and change into some junk clothes so I'll be prepared if," she looked at Max, "any more trouble come up."

"That sounds like a plan," Isabel agreed.

"It's a plan, but maybe we should make a different one. I'd like to just get home." Max protested.

"Come on, Max, you can't tell me you would rather ride home in that mess." Isabel coaxed.

"No, it'll be better. Really."

"Ok, Max," Liz said "But it really isn't any trouble."

"Come on, bro, stop being silly. It's not a problem." Isabel said. She knew exactly why Max was uncomfortable. Really, everyone but Liz knew why he was uncomfortable. But she was sure this was a good idea.

"Well, ok, I guess. If it isn't any trouble."

"Good, it's settled."

Michael decided to take off, they had both promised their parents to be home early. Isabel, Maria and Alex stayed downstairs and talked and looked over some magazines. Liz and Max were in the apartment above the store that the Parker's lived in. It was really very big. It had a master bedroom and bath, Liz had a spacious bedroom that led into a bathroom, and there was a kitchen and a living room. It was all decorated in earthy tones with some Native American decorations that were very common in New Mexico.

"You've never been up here, huh?" Liz asked, leading Max to her room, but stopping at a closet to dig up some clothes.

"Just once, I came to pick up Isabel and I had to come up here to get her."

"Oh, yea, that's right." She opened the door to her room. "You can have this bathroom," She offered, gesturing to the one connected to her bedroom. "I'll take my parents bath."

"I don't want to take your—"

"No, no, don't worry about it! I have some of my stuff in there, I'll be fine."

"Ok, if you're sure."

"Yea, no problem." She pointed at his clothes "If you get out of those I'll put them in the wash with my stuff."

"Sounds good."

"Great. Why don't you go in the bathroom and I'll wait here and you can, um, undress and I'll get your clothes. There are clean towels in there."

"Um, ok." Max said uncomfortably. He grabbed a pair of raggedy jeans and an old t-shirt out of the closet and went into the bathroom. He undressed quickly and wrapped a towel around himself. He shyly opened the door to Liz and handed her the dirty clothes. She looked at him, eyes wide. "I didn't want to put the clothes on till I showered." He explained.

"No, no it's Ok. I'll just put these in the wash." They stood there a minute more before Max smiled and closed the door.

"Wow." Liz breathed softly. She knew Max was cute, but she had never seen him with his shirt off. He was lean, but very muscular. She had never really thought of Max in that way before that moment. Her stomach tightened a little and she was amazed that Max could have an affect on her. "Wow." She took his clothes and went to put them in the small washing machine while smiling to herself.

Max knew he should just get in the shower, but he couldn't help exploring the bathroom a little bit. There was a small pile of laundry on the floor and hairclips and makeup all over the large sink. She had a picture of her and Maria stuck in the corner of her mirror. He felt guilty, but kept up the little exploration. There was nothing interesting in the drawer. A few cheap necklaces, some change and a small bottle of sunscreen. The medicine cabinet held face cream and another bottle of sun block and a few scattered compacts. Max started the water and stepped into the shower when it was the right temperature. There was a big bottle of shampoo/conditioner on the corner of the shower, and a smaller bottle of body wash with a sponge leaning against it. There was a razor stuck to the corner of the shower on some holder, which he touched softly. He couldn't believe he was in Liz Parker's shower. If anyone told him he would end up here today he wouldn't have believed it. It was almost like seeing into her soul. He was standing where she stood every day. Her personal belongings surrounded him, it was amazing.

He showered slowly, picturing Liz standing where he was. There was a light tapping on the door and he was thrown back into reality, and instantly felt guilty for his thoughts. "Max?" Liz asked

"Yea?" he asked uncomfortably.

"Are you almost finished?"

"Uh-huh, I'll be right out." He quickly rinsed the shampoo out of his hair, loving that his hair would smell like Liz's, as a reminder of the day. He stepped out of the shower and slipped into the clothes. He opened the door and found Liz on the other side, clean and wet from her shower. She was wearing blue pajama pants that hung low on her hips showing off her flat stomach and a tank top that rode up just enough to see a small expanse of her perfect, tan skin. He hoped she couldn't tell what he was thinking. He was nervous and said the first thing that came to mind "You shower really fast."

Liz just laughed, "Yea, well, I get up about 20 minutes before the bus, I have to be fast!"

"I get up really early, so I can take my time. I'm not a morning person, but at least I don't have to rush."

"Now you're getting the hang of it! You completely changed the topic to you. I'm proud of you."

Max laughed, more comfortable, reassured that Liz couldn't read his thoughts. "Yea, I'm getting the hang of it, Liz!"

As they walked downstairs they chatted, "We should all get together more. I like hanging out with my friends."

"We're all friends now?" Max asked. He said it jokingly, but with a hint of truth, Liz knew he was wondering where he stood with her,

"We shared a shower, I think you earned the title of friend." When he smiled slightly she realized how that come out. "No, that's not what I mean! What I mean is—"

He forced his mind away from what her first statement implied. It wasn't fair to her to think of her that way. Though he had to admit, he thought about her that way quite a bit. Especially with an outfit like that. But he reassured her, "It's Ok, I know what you mean, Liz." They both blushed slightly. There was something between them…

"Um, we better head downstairs." Liz said, since they had stopped at the door. "We've kept them waiting long enough."

"Right! Let's go." Max led the way downstairs. Liz noted with satisfaction how he kept turning slightly to stare at her. She had felt dumb about being affected by his beautiful upper body, she felt good that she drove him a little crazy, too. She liked having that ability.

Isabel, Max and Alex left soon after that. Maria and Liz gabbed for an hour, talking about everything and nothing. Maria asked if Liz had 'snuck a peek' and Max. She denied it. And was surprised at herself. She was even more surprised when later that night she went to the pile of Max's clothes she had folded neatly on a chair and pulled his freshly washed shirt out and put it over her head. She liked how she looked in his worn t-shirt. It hung loosely on her and she swore it still smelled slightly of Max. She ran her fingers through her hair and smiled at her reflection before climbing into bed.

The next day Liz and Max were a little shy around each other. They reassured themselves that the other could not read their thoughts or know what the other was thinking about the night before, but they were still feeling a little guilty about their impure thoughts. They sat next to each other in classes because they had to, but they didn't talk beyond a quick hello.

Maria noticed the mutual pact of silence because at lunch she questioned Liz "So, what's up with you and Max? You seemed pretty cozy last night, but today it's like he's just some guy."

Liz shrugged noncommittally. "No big thing. We did have a blast last night, but that doesn't mean everything's suddenly changed.

"Um, Liz? Yea it does."

"Come on, Maria! One night does not a lifelong friendship make."

"Liz, it wasn't one night! That was the end result of the past 2 or 3 years. Maybe it doesn't change everything, but something happened last night- between all six of us. Suddenly everything got bigger. You can't throw that away, Liz. Great things like that don't happen everyday."

"Maybe. And I stress maybe."

"Liz?" Maria asked softly "Did something happen last night?"

"He didn't try anything, Maria."

"Duh! Of course not!" Maria's tone made Liz smile "But did anything happen?" Liz paused. "Spill, Liz!"

"No," Liz answered quickly, "Nothing happened."

"Okay," Maria said doubtfully.

"Really," Liz insisted. "Nothing happened."

"Ok." Maria smiled and picked up the sandwich her mom had made her and took a big bite. "So are you working this weekend?"

"Yea, at t he café, actually."

"Really? Your parents are letting you out in the sunlight? After the everything you pulled earlier this summer?"

"I didn't pull anything, Miss Holier-than-thou. I just took a very liberal break schedule." Maria snorted loudly. "Gee, that's an attractive sound!"

"A liberal break schedule? That's what you're calling it? Hun, you were on break more than you worked."

"That is a lie! I just took my share of breaks-"

"Ha!"

"Plus your share of breaks." They both laughed. Work was hard, but they had fun when they could hang out together. And the fact that they got paid no matter how hard they worked was a total plus. It was nice to have family in high places. "Anyway, yes, I'm working tonight. But I bet you anything I'm stuck in the back making coffee or something."

"Probably not. Brenda, the counter girl, is sick. So we're taking who we can get. You'll probably be the center of attention."

"Goody! You know how I'm uncomfortable anywhere but the spotlight."

"Yea, whatever." The bell signaling the end of lunch rang before Liz could respond. Maria and Liz ate the last few bites of their food, picked up their book bags and went to class. They just left the cafeteria when Isabel stopped them.

"Guess what!" Isabel cried happily.

"Aliens have landed?" Maria offered dryly.

"Do they have Pam Troy?" Liz asked eagerly.

"You are both pure evil."

"Tell me something I don't know." Liz laughed.

"Fine. They welcome back dance is in two and a half weeks?"

"Those bastards!" Maria said, "They subject us as something as horrible as school and then they think they can make it all better by throwing us a lame dance!"

"Shut up, Maria!" Liz ordered. "Dances are fun!"

"Yea, they are." Maria admitted. "Wait, the welcome back dances are only for seniors. The sophomores and juniors get the fall formal and the freshman get the lame get to know you dance. Why are you excited, Isabel?"

"Alex said he'd take me," Isabel said, trying to sound casual.

"Oh! So that's why you're so excited! Sounds like things are really heating up!" Liz said, happily.

"No, it's not like that," Isabel admitted. "I'm in student council so I found out this morning. They're going to tell everyone tomorrow morning. But everyone knows it's coming. Anyway, I told Alex all about it in math today and I told him how I didn't know who I was going with. He said since both of us didn't have dates maybe we should go together."

"Yea, that sounds innocent and all. But let's face it, you and Alex are both popular and gorgeous. You will both have plenty of options, he chose you."

"Yea, you're right. Alex wants me." And they all laughed. "Ok, I love you guys, but if I am late Mr. Lipman will tear off my head and keep it on his desk."

"Disturbing image. Fine, go." Maria said.

Isabel started to leave, then turned back, "One more thing, Liz."

"What?"

"Max wants to take you."

Liz made her way to 5^th period slowly. Max wanted to take her? No, maybe he said he would like to hang out with her, or take her as a friend thing. There might be a little spark between them but could Max be seriously interested. No, Liz told herself. Isabel has been teasing me for years. Why would I choose now to believe her? "Don't get ahead of yourself, girl" She mumbled under her breath. Max was reading a flyer stapled to the bulletin board in the corner of the room when she walked in. She sat down at her seat and started pulling out supplies for class. She hoped he wouldn't say anything to her, at least not yet, she wanted to figure out what she would say if he asked her. The teacher came in a few moments later and Max made his way to his desk. He stopped at her desk on the way, smiled softly and said hello in a low voice. Liz was very annoyed to find that a little wave of excitement washed through her at his husky voice. What is wrong with me? She wondered.