Author's Notes: Hi all! I'm a bit reluctant about posting this part. I wasn't sure about some of the scenes. Especially the one in the beginning. It was meant as comic relief before the big dramatic scene. I'm so sorry if it's stupid. Silly ol' me was just trying to be funny.
**Crash and Burn belongs to Savage Garden**
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Chapter 9: Crash and Burn
**MAY WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?**
It's that time again ladies and gents! The Annual Survivor Bash! You survived the first week of school, so what do you do? Celebrate 'cause summer isn't over just yet! So pack up those books and pull out the sun gear because you're in for one hell of a party!
When: Saturday, Noon
Where: The Old Reservoir behind Buckley's Point
There will be refreshments and live music provided by our very own little band, 'The Whits'! Everyone is invited so bring your swimsuits, bikinis, etc. and expect to party till you drop!!! Come out and join in on the fun, and we'll see who the real par-tay guy or gal is!!!
~ MV, IE, TH, LP, MP, ME, AW, & KV
Sean looked down at the flyer in his hand and then back at the person who had given it to him and down at the flyer again and that back at her.
Liz raised an eyebrow at him, and smirked when she realized that he was trying to contain his amusement.
"What?" She finally asked when he looked at her again.
"Annual Survivor Bash?" He asked, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest. Liz shrugged, giggling herself, "Hey, don't look at me, I wasn't the one made up that one."
Sean cracked a smile and looked at her questioningly, "Maria?"
Liz laughed and sarcastically replied with a roll of her eyes, "How'd you guess?"
"Was she on an cedar high?"
"When isn't she on a cedar high? I swear, aromatherapy should be considered illegal for Ria. But yea, she was on a cedar high. We wanted to start a tradition that last years to come, and so we decided to have a party down at the Reservoir, sort of like a last minute fun before school really gets too tough. Ria insisted on having a name and kept pestering us until we agreed to have one." Liz smiled at the memory and then continued with her narration.
"I swear I never wanted to strangle Maria more than I did that week. Everywhere we went, any of us, Maria was there. I couldn't even escape her when I went to the restroom. I would be washing my hand and all of a sudden I hear this begging from one of the stalls. It was the same with the guys, whenever they exited the restroom; she was on their tail. It wasn't so much that we didn't want a name for it, more like the names she came up with." Liz laughed remembering some of the names Maria had come up with.
"Which were?" Sean prompted, loving the sound of her laughter. Liz smiled before trying to remember the real funny ones.
"Get-Your-Groove-On Shindig…" Tess coming up interrupted Liz and smiled at the pair, "What's so funny?"
"I was just telling Sean some of the names Ria came up for her little shindig." At that Liz giggled and Tess nodded in understanding.
"Ah, you told him about the "Get-Your-Grove-On Shindig"…that was nothing compared to the Parents Free Spree."
"And the Last Thrill You'll Have in a Long Time Bash?" Liz threw in.
"Or the Only Cool Kids Allowed Excluding Spaceboy Party?"
"Or the Ultra Fun Like Whatever Pool Bonanza?"
By that time Liz and Tess were in giggles as they collapsed against each other.
"The funny thing is…those were really some of her suggestions. I think she got aggravated at the end and add her constant cedar oil sniffing, and that's what you get." Tess snorted between giggles.
"Remember her rules?"
"Oh yeah! Now those were even better! Number one, only cute guys with hard abs allowed."
"Number 2, wear appropriate attire. That means guys who shouldn't be wearing Speedos, don't and girls, not all of us can pull off a bikini! *hint**hint*."
"Um…no alcohol allowed since our parents are the ones trusting us with this, but if you happen to "stumble" on some at the side of the road, please do share."
"No drugs allowed, the only thing you can sniff is cedar oil, and I'm not sharing." Tess added in amusement, before Liz began to burst into another round of giggles, "Oh my gosh! Remember when she accidentally spilled her cedar oil on Michael's shirt, and made him give her the shirt because she didn't want to waste good oil on him? It was hilarious! I caught her sniffing the shirt later on, and she told me it was because she ran out of cedar oil in her vial and his shirt was her only source of it. But when she left, I picked it up and it was all fresh and Michael smelling!"
Tess burst into another peal of laughter, her face turning a deep red as she and Liz tried to support themselves, but miserably failing as they fell against the locker with Sean looking on in amusement and a little concern for their mental health. He sheepishly stood in front of the two girls, scratching his head as they tried to regain control of themselves and their laughter. Sean heard someone clear their throat, and turned around to see Max, Michael, Kyle, and Alex standing behind them, all with raised eyebrows at the scene the girls made. Liz and Tess looked over at them and seeing Michael, their laughter intensified.
"I want whatever they're on!" Alex quipped happily; it had been a long time since he had seen Liz really smile, much less laugh. Although, it couldn't be healthy if she and Tess were practically rolling on the floor in tears, now could it? Alex scratched his head in confusion, opting only to smile, as did the others at the site of the two females of their group. Finally, Liz and Tess managed to calm themselves, and the boys looked at them with mild laughter in their eyes.
"Care to share what has gotten my sister and her friend in tears?" Michael asked, happy to see Liz so…happy. He missed the twinkle in her eyes, and it saddened him to once again, not be the one who had put it there. Before Liz could reply, a voice interrupted them.
"Ahem! What are you guys doing standing around?" They all turned around to see Maria holding an armful of the flyers and glaring at them, "You're supposed to be handing out these flyers!"
Maria dumped the armful of flyers into Michael's protesting arms and whipped out her cedar oil, "I swear I'm the only one who works around here! And another thing-"
She was interrupted by the sound of a snicker and she turned her attention back to Liz and Tess who were covering their mouths to hide their amusement, "And what pray tell is so funny?!"
Everyone watched as Liz and Tess's eyes shifted to the vial in Maria's hand then to Michael's shirt, back to Maria's face then back around to Michael's face, and then they shared a look before they collapsed once more in helpless giggles. Literally collapsed, and Kyle and Max made a move to catch their respective girls who were now hiccupping from their laughter, the tears once more streaming down their faces.
Max smiled down at the girl in his arms as he felt her mirth fill his own being, and he chuckled slightly. She was truly beautiful when she laughed. Max stopped at the thought. Beautiful? He had never thought of Liz's looks before, most always seeing her as cute in the tomboyish way, never more. But as he gazed into her dancing eyes filled with glee, her full lips curved beautifully, and not even the tears streaming from her face could take away from the beauty that was Liz Parker. Max smiled at the thought. He was proud of her. She was everything he knew that she could be.
It was at that moment their eyes stayed locked, and for the second time, the same emotion passed through their eyes, as that secret part of their hearts tried to communicate what their mouths couldn't. It was then that it was visibly apparent to the world, and if anyone had bothered to look more into the gaze the two shared, then perhaps they would have also seen the secret longing that the two, themselves could not see. One person however did see, and to this person it meant heartache or bliss, depending on whether Max and Liz would stop being so oblivious to what was obviously there. Cobalt eyes watched as Max helped Liz up, and he prayed that the latter was the case. He wanted nothing more than to be with Liz. It would be pure bliss.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
"Michael!" She tapped her foot impatiently when once again she called up the stairs to her brother. For the sixteenth time in the past ten minutes, Liz glanced at her watch once more in exasperation. When once again, he failed to answer her, Liz huffed and marched up the stairs to their apartment and yanked the door open and saw no one. Liz marched impatiently to Michael's door and threw it open, and was surprised to see him asleep on his bed. Didn't she wake him over an hour ago?
"Michael Andrew Parker get your lazy ass out of bed!!" Liz hissed softly but sternly as not to awaken her parents. Michael shifted in his sleep and waved his hand wildly in the air in a signal that he was awake. In the next minute she heard a soft snoring sound coming from underneath his cover and she sighed.
Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was 5:30 and groaned, "Look Mikey, I had to get out of bed at 4:00 on a Saturday morning, FOUR! If you don't wake up, I won't be responsible for my actions!"
True, Liz wasn't a morning person, she never had been, but she would rather lose hours of sleep than face the wrath of Hurricane Valenti, who herself wasn't a morning person. However not even the three cups of coffee she had drank this morning could give her enough patience to deal with an annoying older brother.
Liz sighed again and with all the strength she could muster, she yanked the covers from the bed. What she didn't expect was for Michael to stumble off the bed too, but he did with a loud thump. He had landed on the other side of his bed away from Liz, and had quickly shot up from the ground.
"W-hah? Where? Who?" The incoherent question stumbled out of his mouth as he tried to regain his bearings and figure out how he had ended up on the floor, that was until he heard the soft giggle from the other side of his bed and turned around to see Liz suddenly freeze up and stuff his comforter behind her back, smiling at him innocently. The innocent expression soon faded as she erupted into fresh bouts of giggles. She couldn't help herself. Michael just looked so ridiculously adorable with the lost little boy expression on his face and his hair sticking up from all corners of his head.
She was too busy laughing and did not notice Michael's pursue of her until it was too late and she let out a muffled shriek before turning around to bolt out the doors, but she wasn't quick enough because his arms wrapped around her, pulling her back as he began to tickle her. Liz wiggled in his arms laughing as quietly as possible as she tried to get away from him.
She finally managed to get away and grabbed one of his pillows and threw it at him. It hit Michael straight on the face and he looked from where the pillow had fallen on the floor and back at her before he pounced. Liz shrieked as Michael began to mercilessly attack her with the pillow with one hand and tickling her with the other.
"M-mi..ichael! Stop!" Liz gasped out between giggles, and Michael once again stopped but did not remove himself from his stance, ready to start attacking her again if she provoked him, and of course she always did. He smirked down at her, "Payback time Lizziebear! Now say you're sorry and Michael is the bestest brother in the whole wide world."
"Never!" Liz gasped her sides hurting from laughing so much. Michael let out a dramatic sigh before shaking his head at Liz disapprovingly, "Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. When will you ever learn?"
With that he began tickling her again and Liz shrieked with laughter. Michael was chuckling himself as he watch the light in his sister eyes brightened somewhat. He sighed it had been a long time since he had seen it there. In fact, that sparkle had left her eyes immediately after the shooting that had taken place two years ago.
"Stop!" Liz begged through her giggles and Michael did stop.
"Last chance Lizzie, if you don't say it, I won't get up." Michael smirked at his sister and was surprised to see a smug smile on her face, "What?"
"Get off me Mikey P." She warned.
"And if I don't?" He challenged, reverting back to their old ways of bickering.
"If you don't, I'll…" Liz paused for the added effect, hoping that Michael would take the bait. He did. Hook, line, and sinker.
"You'll what?"
Liz paused for a few more seconds and watched as the smug look appeared on his face, but before he could say anything, Liz pointed down, "I'll tell Ria and the others that you wear Casper the Friendly Ghost boxers to bed."
Michael froze and looked down at his sister in horror, "You wouldn't."
Liz smirked, "Try me."
Michael gazed at his younger sister for a few moments and then hastily moved off of her, "You're evil."
Liz having gotten up cackled as he suggested, evilly, "You know it. I learn from the best."
Michael, knowing who the best was, narrowed his eyes at her and pointed a finger at her, "No more hanging around Maria."
Liz shrugged noncommittally at him an evil gleam still present in her eyes, "Now get dressed Mikey. We don't want to face the wrath of Hurricane Valenti!"
Michael mumbled something under his breath, and Liz leaned in, "What? What was that Michael? Speak up!"
"Nothing!" Michael smiled "sweetly" at his younger sister. Liz smiled in return, and left walked out of the room to leave him to get ready, "I thought so."
Michael trudged around his room, and threw his blanket and pillows back onto his bed muttering about evil manipulative sisters.
"I heard that!" Liz's voice trailed down the hall to his ears as her laughter followed. Michael let out a frustrated sigh, before a smile crossed his lips. It was good to have his Lizzie home.
In the room down the hall, two people were thinking the same thing as they listened to their children's bickering. Yes it was good to have everyone together again.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Liz bounded into the Evans' home with renewed energy as excitement for the day started to seep in. The Evanses' parents were gone for the weekend so everyone agreed to meet there before they would go out and prepare things for the party. Usually Michael and her would have slept over, but with everything that was going on and the distance between herself and Isabel, a sleepover was ruled out. Liz tried not to frown at that, but her heart was aching for her best friend again.
"Hello? Ria? Tessa?" Liz bounded into the living room, her steps still lively, but she stopped dead in her tracks upon coming face to face with none other than Isabel Evans.
She felt the air leave her lungs as Isabel's face hardened and the look she cast Liz's way was enough for her heart to ache. She whispered fearfully, taking tentative steps towards her best friend, sister. "Isabel."
Isabel flinched away and turned to walk out of the room, but Liz was faster, and everything in her was shouting for her to let Isabel go. She wasn't ready for another confrontation, wasn't strong enough yet. Not when her heart was open and unprotected, but she ignored the warnings, and was across the room in an instant, her hand firmly holding on to Isabel's arm, preventing any further movement.
The two stood there for a moment as time seemed to slow gently, finally coming to a stop. Liz was looking at Isabel's back and Isabel was in turn, staring at the hand on her arm. Finally Isabel's head snapped up and stared straight ahead of her as time suddenly started again, and Liz released the breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"Let go." Liz flinched away from the icy tone, but she refused to back down. Isabel's friendship meant so much to her, and she wasn't going to lose it now. Not after being friends for seventeen years. Her voice was just as firm as she whispered, "No."
Isabel's eyes widened and Liz continued, "I'm not going to let go you leave until we talk about this. I want to know what's wrong."
Isabel spun around and Liz once again nearly flinched when she saw the iciness in Isabel's eyes. "Let go of me."
"No! Bel tell me what's wrong!" Liz was desperate as she used her childhood nickname for Isabel. The taller girl's eyes softened for just a little moment, just a little moment, and Liz once again saw her best friend through those eyes, but the moment was lost when Isabel tore her arm away, "Don't call me that."
Isabel was trembling as all the pent up anger, frustration, pain, and lastly sorrow burst forward.
"You have no right to call me that!" She hissed walking backwards on unsteady legs, obviously trying to put as much distant in between the two of them. "
When you feel all alone,
And the world has turned its back on you
Liz looked at her desolately, "Why not? I always called you Bel."
"You have no right!" Isabel repeated, "You lost the right when you left!"
Give me a moment please, to tame your wild wild heart,
"Iz…I." Liz began but Isabel put her hand up, stopping her words. Now that she was finally letting it out, everything poured forward and she was letting her heart open once more. "Don't. It's my turn to talk."
Liz watched as Isabel began to pace back and forth, her hands wringing in the air, an obvious sign that she was aggravated or nervous.
"It's not only because you left Liz. It started before then. After the shooting, you were never the same. You hid things from me, kept to yourself, and even avoided me! Do you know how much that hurt?"
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you,
It's hard to find relief,
Tears were streaming down Isabel's cheeks and her icy voice was now laced with anguish, "I couldn't understand it at the time and I still can't understand it now, but all of a sudden you stopped coming over and every time I saw you at school you would run off in the other direction! I thought I had done something wrong. I had upset you and that upset me. I never wanted to intentionally hurt you, and I tried to talk to you, but you never gave me a chance to."
Isabel let out a bitter laugh, "Oh God. I sound so clingy. It's the truth though. I thought you hated me." Isabel raised her hand once more to cut off Liz's words. "No! Don't even say it. I don't want to hear it. Not now. I tried to remember what I could have done because I didn't want Beth to be mad at me. I didn't want my sister to hate me, and it began to suffocate me. I was beginning to feel like I deserved the way you treated me. I deserved it because I'm a horrible person."
And people can be so cold.
When darkness is upon your door
And you feel like you can't take anymore…
Liz's own tears were streaming down her cheeks as she listened to her best friend.Oh God. What have I done? Bel... In the aftermath of discovering her feelings for Max, Liz had selfishly cut off everything that had to do with Max, in hopes of ridding herself of the feelings, but in the process she never even thought that she was hurting Isabel. She hadn't gone over to Isabel's house in fear that she would run into Max with one of his girls. She had known then that her heart wouldn't have been able to take it. She hadn't called in fear that Max would answer the phone. It had gotten to the point where she was too far into her depression that she began to care less about the world around her. To the point of keeping herself away from the world itself.
Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
"And then…then you were gone. You left us all without saying goodbye. Then when you were away, you wouldn't even return my calls or emails. You never bothered to contact us. That's when I became angry. I didn't want to be in a friendship where I had to be the only one trying. I just couldn't, but it hurt. After so many years of friendship, I didn't want it to end that way."
Isabel began to choke on her sobs, and it was at that moment she realized that she had been crying. The tears seem to disappear at the moment of realization and she continued, her voice with that same edge.
"I remembered thinking that we could work it out, that you would open up to me just like the old days. I was waiting for your return with a new hope. Then came the phone call. I don't think you know how much you scared and hurt us all with that phone call! I remember crying, thinking that my best friend was dead, that my Beth had left the world with our friendship in shambles. Then when I looked at Max a few days later and when I watched Michael, my heart broke all the more and I became angry. How selfish of you. How selfish was it for you to call out of the blue to only say your last goodbye." Isabel choked back a sob and continued her voice wavering as she continued, and Liz could only weep softly as she watched at her best friend.
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart,
If you need to crash then crash and burn you're not alone.
"The last straw was when you didn't come back, even after I sent you that email begging for you to come back. I needed you there with me! I needed my rock to support me. We were always there for each other and it was like you were there but then you suddenly wasn't. When school came by, I had to deal with all the stares, with all the little comments, and the rumors about why you stayed away. With you gone, Pam attacked me instead, and she damaged me pretty badly because it had been true. Everything she said was true, and I just couldn't take it anymore. I stopped caring. I stopped feeling. I didn't want to hurt anymore." Isabel cried out as she suddenly stopped pacing and looked at Liz. "In the end…"
When you feel all alone,
And a loyal friend is hard to find,
The two stared at each other as time passed and neither made a move. At last, Isabel's shoulders straightened as she looked away. "In the end… I found myself turning into you. I was shutting everyone away, and the only person I can blame is you. I was lucky to have Alex. He helped me through it as did Michael and Max, everyone. I learned to trust again, and I found new support, but I still didn't have my rock. She was somewhere in Florida, happy with her new friends while I was here miserable. It was hard, but I didn't want to become like you Liz. I couldn't let myself become the one thing that had destroyed our friendship."
"Isabel…" Liz tried once more but was silenced again, "No. Don't say anything Liz. Don't say anything at all. You have nothing to say that I want to hear. Goodbye Liz Parker."
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head.
With that Isabel walked away leaving a weeping Liz in her wakes, and it wasn't until Isabel was out the front door, did she allow herself to let the tears flow. She felt emotionally drained and weak as she slid against the house, and she wasn't even halfway down before she found herself encased in warm arms and her startled gaze met that of the warm and compassionate brown eyes of Alex Whitman. In his arms she began to sob for herself, for Liz, and the future of their friendship.
When hopes and dreams are far away
And you feel like you can't face the day…
Inside, Liz had remained motionless as tears streamed down unseeing eyes. Her heart was aching anew for her best friend. Guilt, regret, pain, sorrow. The emotions were crashing around in her body and she felt like she was falling again. Too deep in her anguish, Liz didn't notice the person standing in the doorway, the person who had seen and heard it all. The one person who could ever catch her when she fell.
Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall
"Liz." Max hesitantly walked towards the petite girl, his voice gentle as he crept closer. When he reached her side, he still received no response from her.
"Liz?" He turned her to him, and his heart broke at the lost look in her eyes, and for the first time he saw just a fraction of the pain Liz was harboring inside of her. His heart continued to tear in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Liz, "Oh Liz."
"M-max?" Her tiny voice reached him as her eyes suddenly connected with his.
"I'm so sorry Max."
"You have nothing to be sorry for Liz. Nothing at all." Max stated firmly, holding her as she continued to weep, her scent filling his senses.
"It's all true though. I never thought of any of you. I'm so selfish. I never did think." Liz continued in her babbling, "I am a horrible person. I wish…wish that I hadn't survived. Then maybe everyone wouldn't be in so much pain because of me."
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night,
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart,
Her words cut through him, sharper than any weapon in the world, dealing more damage then any ever could. "No! Never think that Liz! You're a beautiful, wonderful, and caring person! If anything, you deserved to live."
Before Liz could protest, he pressed a finger to her lips, mildly thinking about how soft they were. "I lost a part of myself when I thought you were dead. It had hurt so much; I never felt pain that real before. Not even when I took that bullet for you."
If you need to crash then crash and burn
you're not alone
"The thought of losing you was too much to bear, and I knew I wouldn't have been able to. Michael, Isabel, and I…you complete us. Izzy is just hurt. Give her time." Max continued in his passionate speech, only wanting to take the pain away from his Liz. He willed her to feel his love for her, and a part of his mind flashed back to the dream about his soulmate, for a minute he could have sworn he had seen her eyes. Beautiful doe eyes that portrayed all emotions hidden inside the inner soul without any doubt.
When you feel all alone,
And the world has turned its back on you,
Liz leaned into Max, wanting to be as close to him as possible. And just like that. They were transported back to the days when they held each other for comfort; just the thought that the other was there could soothe all their pain and fears. It was the same. Even after all this time, his arms were still warm and welcoming and to Liz, it felt like home.
Give me a moment please,
To tame your wild wild heart…
"I'd die without you here Liz. I can't imagine a world without Liz Parker, nor do I ever want to." Max finished his speech with a passion as he held onto Liz, afraid that if he let her go, that she would disappear. He felt a strange stirring in his heart as he looked down into Liz's eyes. He saw the fatigue in them, and in a matter of minutes, she was asleep in his arms. Clearly exhausted after her emotional breakdown.
Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night,
Max smiled and held her to his heart, never wanting to let go. His Lizbit was finally home, and he wasn't about to let her leave again. Because he truly couldn't imagine a world where Liz wasn't there. It was just…wrong.
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart,
Liz's even breathing began to lull Max to sleep. He glanced at the clock over the fireplace and noticed that they still had an hour before Maria would get there. A quick nap couldn't hurt.
As he found himself beginning to fall asleep, he used the last of his energy to kiss Liz's forehead and whispered, "I love you Lizbit."
And his eyes closed, and somewhere in her sleep induced mind, Liz's answering reply carried a different and deeper meaning, after all the love she felt for him was different, but nonetheless the words were whispered in reply, "I love you Max."
If you need to crash then crash and burn you're not alone....
tbc…
A/N: Was that bad?? I mean was the scene between Isabel and Liz too unbelievable? Ah, I tried my best. Next up is the party and a Max/Sean/Michael confrontation where Max manages to stick his foot in his mouth with Liz not too far away.
**Crash and Burn belongs to Savage Garden**
~+~+~+~+~+~
Chapter 9: Crash and Burn
**MAY WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?**
It's that time again ladies and gents! The Annual Survivor Bash! You survived the first week of school, so what do you do? Celebrate 'cause summer isn't over just yet! So pack up those books and pull out the sun gear because you're in for one hell of a party!
When: Saturday, Noon
Where: The Old Reservoir behind Buckley's Point
There will be refreshments and live music provided by our very own little band, 'The Whits'! Everyone is invited so bring your swimsuits, bikinis, etc. and expect to party till you drop!!! Come out and join in on the fun, and we'll see who the real par-tay guy or gal is!!!
~ MV, IE, TH, LP, MP, ME, AW, & KV
Sean looked down at the flyer in his hand and then back at the person who had given it to him and down at the flyer again and that back at her.
Liz raised an eyebrow at him, and smirked when she realized that he was trying to contain his amusement.
"What?" She finally asked when he looked at her again.
"Annual Survivor Bash?" He asked, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest. Liz shrugged, giggling herself, "Hey, don't look at me, I wasn't the one made up that one."
Sean cracked a smile and looked at her questioningly, "Maria?"
Liz laughed and sarcastically replied with a roll of her eyes, "How'd you guess?"
"Was she on an cedar high?"
"When isn't she on a cedar high? I swear, aromatherapy should be considered illegal for Ria. But yea, she was on a cedar high. We wanted to start a tradition that last years to come, and so we decided to have a party down at the Reservoir, sort of like a last minute fun before school really gets too tough. Ria insisted on having a name and kept pestering us until we agreed to have one." Liz smiled at the memory and then continued with her narration.
"I swear I never wanted to strangle Maria more than I did that week. Everywhere we went, any of us, Maria was there. I couldn't even escape her when I went to the restroom. I would be washing my hand and all of a sudden I hear this begging from one of the stalls. It was the same with the guys, whenever they exited the restroom; she was on their tail. It wasn't so much that we didn't want a name for it, more like the names she came up with." Liz laughed remembering some of the names Maria had come up with.
"Which were?" Sean prompted, loving the sound of her laughter. Liz smiled before trying to remember the real funny ones.
"Get-Your-Groove-On Shindig…" Tess coming up interrupted Liz and smiled at the pair, "What's so funny?"
"I was just telling Sean some of the names Ria came up for her little shindig." At that Liz giggled and Tess nodded in understanding.
"Ah, you told him about the "Get-Your-Grove-On Shindig"…that was nothing compared to the Parents Free Spree."
"And the Last Thrill You'll Have in a Long Time Bash?" Liz threw in.
"Or the Only Cool Kids Allowed Excluding Spaceboy Party?"
"Or the Ultra Fun Like Whatever Pool Bonanza?"
By that time Liz and Tess were in giggles as they collapsed against each other.
"The funny thing is…those were really some of her suggestions. I think she got aggravated at the end and add her constant cedar oil sniffing, and that's what you get." Tess snorted between giggles.
"Remember her rules?"
"Oh yeah! Now those were even better! Number one, only cute guys with hard abs allowed."
"Number 2, wear appropriate attire. That means guys who shouldn't be wearing Speedos, don't and girls, not all of us can pull off a bikini! *hint**hint*."
"Um…no alcohol allowed since our parents are the ones trusting us with this, but if you happen to "stumble" on some at the side of the road, please do share."
"No drugs allowed, the only thing you can sniff is cedar oil, and I'm not sharing." Tess added in amusement, before Liz began to burst into another round of giggles, "Oh my gosh! Remember when she accidentally spilled her cedar oil on Michael's shirt, and made him give her the shirt because she didn't want to waste good oil on him? It was hilarious! I caught her sniffing the shirt later on, and she told me it was because she ran out of cedar oil in her vial and his shirt was her only source of it. But when she left, I picked it up and it was all fresh and Michael smelling!"
Tess burst into another peal of laughter, her face turning a deep red as she and Liz tried to support themselves, but miserably failing as they fell against the locker with Sean looking on in amusement and a little concern for their mental health. He sheepishly stood in front of the two girls, scratching his head as they tried to regain control of themselves and their laughter. Sean heard someone clear their throat, and turned around to see Max, Michael, Kyle, and Alex standing behind them, all with raised eyebrows at the scene the girls made. Liz and Tess looked over at them and seeing Michael, their laughter intensified.
"I want whatever they're on!" Alex quipped happily; it had been a long time since he had seen Liz really smile, much less laugh. Although, it couldn't be healthy if she and Tess were practically rolling on the floor in tears, now could it? Alex scratched his head in confusion, opting only to smile, as did the others at the site of the two females of their group. Finally, Liz and Tess managed to calm themselves, and the boys looked at them with mild laughter in their eyes.
"Care to share what has gotten my sister and her friend in tears?" Michael asked, happy to see Liz so…happy. He missed the twinkle in her eyes, and it saddened him to once again, not be the one who had put it there. Before Liz could reply, a voice interrupted them.
"Ahem! What are you guys doing standing around?" They all turned around to see Maria holding an armful of the flyers and glaring at them, "You're supposed to be handing out these flyers!"
Maria dumped the armful of flyers into Michael's protesting arms and whipped out her cedar oil, "I swear I'm the only one who works around here! And another thing-"
She was interrupted by the sound of a snicker and she turned her attention back to Liz and Tess who were covering their mouths to hide their amusement, "And what pray tell is so funny?!"
Everyone watched as Liz and Tess's eyes shifted to the vial in Maria's hand then to Michael's shirt, back to Maria's face then back around to Michael's face, and then they shared a look before they collapsed once more in helpless giggles. Literally collapsed, and Kyle and Max made a move to catch their respective girls who were now hiccupping from their laughter, the tears once more streaming down their faces.
Max smiled down at the girl in his arms as he felt her mirth fill his own being, and he chuckled slightly. She was truly beautiful when she laughed. Max stopped at the thought. Beautiful? He had never thought of Liz's looks before, most always seeing her as cute in the tomboyish way, never more. But as he gazed into her dancing eyes filled with glee, her full lips curved beautifully, and not even the tears streaming from her face could take away from the beauty that was Liz Parker. Max smiled at the thought. He was proud of her. She was everything he knew that she could be.
It was at that moment their eyes stayed locked, and for the second time, the same emotion passed through their eyes, as that secret part of their hearts tried to communicate what their mouths couldn't. It was then that it was visibly apparent to the world, and if anyone had bothered to look more into the gaze the two shared, then perhaps they would have also seen the secret longing that the two, themselves could not see. One person however did see, and to this person it meant heartache or bliss, depending on whether Max and Liz would stop being so oblivious to what was obviously there. Cobalt eyes watched as Max helped Liz up, and he prayed that the latter was the case. He wanted nothing more than to be with Liz. It would be pure bliss.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
"Michael!" She tapped her foot impatiently when once again she called up the stairs to her brother. For the sixteenth time in the past ten minutes, Liz glanced at her watch once more in exasperation. When once again, he failed to answer her, Liz huffed and marched up the stairs to their apartment and yanked the door open and saw no one. Liz marched impatiently to Michael's door and threw it open, and was surprised to see him asleep on his bed. Didn't she wake him over an hour ago?
"Michael Andrew Parker get your lazy ass out of bed!!" Liz hissed softly but sternly as not to awaken her parents. Michael shifted in his sleep and waved his hand wildly in the air in a signal that he was awake. In the next minute she heard a soft snoring sound coming from underneath his cover and she sighed.
Glancing at the clock, she saw that it was 5:30 and groaned, "Look Mikey, I had to get out of bed at 4:00 on a Saturday morning, FOUR! If you don't wake up, I won't be responsible for my actions!"
True, Liz wasn't a morning person, she never had been, but she would rather lose hours of sleep than face the wrath of Hurricane Valenti, who herself wasn't a morning person. However not even the three cups of coffee she had drank this morning could give her enough patience to deal with an annoying older brother.
Liz sighed again and with all the strength she could muster, she yanked the covers from the bed. What she didn't expect was for Michael to stumble off the bed too, but he did with a loud thump. He had landed on the other side of his bed away from Liz, and had quickly shot up from the ground.
"W-hah? Where? Who?" The incoherent question stumbled out of his mouth as he tried to regain his bearings and figure out how he had ended up on the floor, that was until he heard the soft giggle from the other side of his bed and turned around to see Liz suddenly freeze up and stuff his comforter behind her back, smiling at him innocently. The innocent expression soon faded as she erupted into fresh bouts of giggles. She couldn't help herself. Michael just looked so ridiculously adorable with the lost little boy expression on his face and his hair sticking up from all corners of his head.
She was too busy laughing and did not notice Michael's pursue of her until it was too late and she let out a muffled shriek before turning around to bolt out the doors, but she wasn't quick enough because his arms wrapped around her, pulling her back as he began to tickle her. Liz wiggled in his arms laughing as quietly as possible as she tried to get away from him.
She finally managed to get away and grabbed one of his pillows and threw it at him. It hit Michael straight on the face and he looked from where the pillow had fallen on the floor and back at her before he pounced. Liz shrieked as Michael began to mercilessly attack her with the pillow with one hand and tickling her with the other.
"M-mi..ichael! Stop!" Liz gasped out between giggles, and Michael once again stopped but did not remove himself from his stance, ready to start attacking her again if she provoked him, and of course she always did. He smirked down at her, "Payback time Lizziebear! Now say you're sorry and Michael is the bestest brother in the whole wide world."
"Never!" Liz gasped her sides hurting from laughing so much. Michael let out a dramatic sigh before shaking his head at Liz disapprovingly, "Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. When will you ever learn?"
With that he began tickling her again and Liz shrieked with laughter. Michael was chuckling himself as he watch the light in his sister eyes brightened somewhat. He sighed it had been a long time since he had seen it there. In fact, that sparkle had left her eyes immediately after the shooting that had taken place two years ago.
"Stop!" Liz begged through her giggles and Michael did stop.
"Last chance Lizzie, if you don't say it, I won't get up." Michael smirked at his sister and was surprised to see a smug smile on her face, "What?"
"Get off me Mikey P." She warned.
"And if I don't?" He challenged, reverting back to their old ways of bickering.
"If you don't, I'll…" Liz paused for the added effect, hoping that Michael would take the bait. He did. Hook, line, and sinker.
"You'll what?"
Liz paused for a few more seconds and watched as the smug look appeared on his face, but before he could say anything, Liz pointed down, "I'll tell Ria and the others that you wear Casper the Friendly Ghost boxers to bed."
Michael froze and looked down at his sister in horror, "You wouldn't."
Liz smirked, "Try me."
Michael gazed at his younger sister for a few moments and then hastily moved off of her, "You're evil."
Liz having gotten up cackled as he suggested, evilly, "You know it. I learn from the best."
Michael, knowing who the best was, narrowed his eyes at her and pointed a finger at her, "No more hanging around Maria."
Liz shrugged noncommittally at him an evil gleam still present in her eyes, "Now get dressed Mikey. We don't want to face the wrath of Hurricane Valenti!"
Michael mumbled something under his breath, and Liz leaned in, "What? What was that Michael? Speak up!"
"Nothing!" Michael smiled "sweetly" at his younger sister. Liz smiled in return, and left walked out of the room to leave him to get ready, "I thought so."
Michael trudged around his room, and threw his blanket and pillows back onto his bed muttering about evil manipulative sisters.
"I heard that!" Liz's voice trailed down the hall to his ears as her laughter followed. Michael let out a frustrated sigh, before a smile crossed his lips. It was good to have his Lizzie home.
In the room down the hall, two people were thinking the same thing as they listened to their children's bickering. Yes it was good to have everyone together again.
~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Liz bounded into the Evans' home with renewed energy as excitement for the day started to seep in. The Evanses' parents were gone for the weekend so everyone agreed to meet there before they would go out and prepare things for the party. Usually Michael and her would have slept over, but with everything that was going on and the distance between herself and Isabel, a sleepover was ruled out. Liz tried not to frown at that, but her heart was aching for her best friend again.
"Hello? Ria? Tessa?" Liz bounded into the living room, her steps still lively, but she stopped dead in her tracks upon coming face to face with none other than Isabel Evans.
She felt the air leave her lungs as Isabel's face hardened and the look she cast Liz's way was enough for her heart to ache. She whispered fearfully, taking tentative steps towards her best friend, sister. "Isabel."
Isabel flinched away and turned to walk out of the room, but Liz was faster, and everything in her was shouting for her to let Isabel go. She wasn't ready for another confrontation, wasn't strong enough yet. Not when her heart was open and unprotected, but she ignored the warnings, and was across the room in an instant, her hand firmly holding on to Isabel's arm, preventing any further movement.
The two stood there for a moment as time seemed to slow gently, finally coming to a stop. Liz was looking at Isabel's back and Isabel was in turn, staring at the hand on her arm. Finally Isabel's head snapped up and stared straight ahead of her as time suddenly started again, and Liz released the breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"Let go." Liz flinched away from the icy tone, but she refused to back down. Isabel's friendship meant so much to her, and she wasn't going to lose it now. Not after being friends for seventeen years. Her voice was just as firm as she whispered, "No."
Isabel's eyes widened and Liz continued, "I'm not going to let go you leave until we talk about this. I want to know what's wrong."
Isabel spun around and Liz once again nearly flinched when she saw the iciness in Isabel's eyes. "Let go of me."
"No! Bel tell me what's wrong!" Liz was desperate as she used her childhood nickname for Isabel. The taller girl's eyes softened for just a little moment, just a little moment, and Liz once again saw her best friend through those eyes, but the moment was lost when Isabel tore her arm away, "Don't call me that."
Isabel was trembling as all the pent up anger, frustration, pain, and lastly sorrow burst forward.
"You have no right to call me that!" She hissed walking backwards on unsteady legs, obviously trying to put as much distant in between the two of them. "
When you feel all alone,
And the world has turned its back on you
Liz looked at her desolately, "Why not? I always called you Bel."
"You have no right!" Isabel repeated, "You lost the right when you left!"
Give me a moment please, to tame your wild wild heart,
"Iz…I." Liz began but Isabel put her hand up, stopping her words. Now that she was finally letting it out, everything poured forward and she was letting her heart open once more. "Don't. It's my turn to talk."
Liz watched as Isabel began to pace back and forth, her hands wringing in the air, an obvious sign that she was aggravated or nervous.
"It's not only because you left Liz. It started before then. After the shooting, you were never the same. You hid things from me, kept to yourself, and even avoided me! Do you know how much that hurt?"
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you,
It's hard to find relief,
Tears were streaming down Isabel's cheeks and her icy voice was now laced with anguish, "I couldn't understand it at the time and I still can't understand it now, but all of a sudden you stopped coming over and every time I saw you at school you would run off in the other direction! I thought I had done something wrong. I had upset you and that upset me. I never wanted to intentionally hurt you, and I tried to talk to you, but you never gave me a chance to."
Isabel let out a bitter laugh, "Oh God. I sound so clingy. It's the truth though. I thought you hated me." Isabel raised her hand once more to cut off Liz's words. "No! Don't even say it. I don't want to hear it. Not now. I tried to remember what I could have done because I didn't want Beth to be mad at me. I didn't want my sister to hate me, and it began to suffocate me. I was beginning to feel like I deserved the way you treated me. I deserved it because I'm a horrible person."
And people can be so cold.
When darkness is upon your door
And you feel like you can't take anymore…
Liz's own tears were streaming down her cheeks as she listened to her best friend.Oh God. What have I done? Bel... In the aftermath of discovering her feelings for Max, Liz had selfishly cut off everything that had to do with Max, in hopes of ridding herself of the feelings, but in the process she never even thought that she was hurting Isabel. She hadn't gone over to Isabel's house in fear that she would run into Max with one of his girls. She had known then that her heart wouldn't have been able to take it. She hadn't called in fear that Max would answer the phone. It had gotten to the point where she was too far into her depression that she began to care less about the world around her. To the point of keeping herself away from the world itself.
Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall,
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night.
"And then…then you were gone. You left us all without saying goodbye. Then when you were away, you wouldn't even return my calls or emails. You never bothered to contact us. That's when I became angry. I didn't want to be in a friendship where I had to be the only one trying. I just couldn't, but it hurt. After so many years of friendship, I didn't want it to end that way."
Isabel began to choke on her sobs, and it was at that moment she realized that she had been crying. The tears seem to disappear at the moment of realization and she continued, her voice with that same edge.
"I remembered thinking that we could work it out, that you would open up to me just like the old days. I was waiting for your return with a new hope. Then came the phone call. I don't think you know how much you scared and hurt us all with that phone call! I remember crying, thinking that my best friend was dead, that my Beth had left the world with our friendship in shambles. Then when I looked at Max a few days later and when I watched Michael, my heart broke all the more and I became angry. How selfish of you. How selfish was it for you to call out of the blue to only say your last goodbye." Isabel choked back a sob and continued her voice wavering as she continued, and Liz could only weep softly as she watched at her best friend.
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart,
If you need to crash then crash and burn you're not alone.
"The last straw was when you didn't come back, even after I sent you that email begging for you to come back. I needed you there with me! I needed my rock to support me. We were always there for each other and it was like you were there but then you suddenly wasn't. When school came by, I had to deal with all the stares, with all the little comments, and the rumors about why you stayed away. With you gone, Pam attacked me instead, and she damaged me pretty badly because it had been true. Everything she said was true, and I just couldn't take it anymore. I stopped caring. I stopped feeling. I didn't want to hurt anymore." Isabel cried out as she suddenly stopped pacing and looked at Liz. "In the end…"
When you feel all alone,
And a loyal friend is hard to find,
The two stared at each other as time passed and neither made a move. At last, Isabel's shoulders straightened as she looked away. "In the end… I found myself turning into you. I was shutting everyone away, and the only person I can blame is you. I was lucky to have Alex. He helped me through it as did Michael and Max, everyone. I learned to trust again, and I found new support, but I still didn't have my rock. She was somewhere in Florida, happy with her new friends while I was here miserable. It was hard, but I didn't want to become like you Liz. I couldn't let myself become the one thing that had destroyed our friendship."
"Isabel…" Liz tried once more but was silenced again, "No. Don't say anything Liz. Don't say anything at all. You have nothing to say that I want to hear. Goodbye Liz Parker."
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head.
With that Isabel walked away leaving a weeping Liz in her wakes, and it wasn't until Isabel was out the front door, did she allow herself to let the tears flow. She felt emotionally drained and weak as she slid against the house, and she wasn't even halfway down before she found herself encased in warm arms and her startled gaze met that of the warm and compassionate brown eyes of Alex Whitman. In his arms she began to sob for herself, for Liz, and the future of their friendship.
When hopes and dreams are far away
And you feel like you can't face the day…
Inside, Liz had remained motionless as tears streamed down unseeing eyes. Her heart was aching anew for her best friend. Guilt, regret, pain, sorrow. The emotions were crashing around in her body and she felt like she was falling again. Too deep in her anguish, Liz didn't notice the person standing in the doorway, the person who had seen and heard it all. The one person who could ever catch her when she fell.
Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall
"Liz." Max hesitantly walked towards the petite girl, his voice gentle as he crept closer. When he reached her side, he still received no response from her.
"Liz?" He turned her to him, and his heart broke at the lost look in her eyes, and for the first time he saw just a fraction of the pain Liz was harboring inside of her. His heart continued to tear in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Liz, "Oh Liz."
"M-max?" Her tiny voice reached him as her eyes suddenly connected with his.
"I'm so sorry Max."
"You have nothing to be sorry for Liz. Nothing at all." Max stated firmly, holding her as she continued to weep, her scent filling his senses.
"It's all true though. I never thought of any of you. I'm so selfish. I never did think." Liz continued in her babbling, "I am a horrible person. I wish…wish that I hadn't survived. Then maybe everyone wouldn't be in so much pain because of me."
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night,
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart,
Her words cut through him, sharper than any weapon in the world, dealing more damage then any ever could. "No! Never think that Liz! You're a beautiful, wonderful, and caring person! If anything, you deserved to live."
Before Liz could protest, he pressed a finger to her lips, mildly thinking about how soft they were. "I lost a part of myself when I thought you were dead. It had hurt so much; I never felt pain that real before. Not even when I took that bullet for you."
If you need to crash then crash and burn
you're not alone
"The thought of losing you was too much to bear, and I knew I wouldn't have been able to. Michael, Isabel, and I…you complete us. Izzy is just hurt. Give her time." Max continued in his passionate speech, only wanting to take the pain away from his Liz. He willed her to feel his love for her, and a part of his mind flashed back to the dream about his soulmate, for a minute he could have sworn he had seen her eyes. Beautiful doe eyes that portrayed all emotions hidden inside the inner soul without any doubt.
When you feel all alone,
And the world has turned its back on you,
Liz leaned into Max, wanting to be as close to him as possible. And just like that. They were transported back to the days when they held each other for comfort; just the thought that the other was there could soothe all their pain and fears. It was the same. Even after all this time, his arms were still warm and welcoming and to Liz, it felt like home.
Give me a moment please,
To tame your wild wild heart…
"I'd die without you here Liz. I can't imagine a world without Liz Parker, nor do I ever want to." Max finished his speech with a passion as he held onto Liz, afraid that if he let her go, that she would disappear. He felt a strange stirring in his heart as he looked down into Liz's eyes. He saw the fatigue in them, and in a matter of minutes, she was asleep in his arms. Clearly exhausted after her emotional breakdown.
Let me be the one you call, if you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night,
Max smiled and held her to his heart, never wanting to let go. His Lizbit was finally home, and he wasn't about to let her leave again. Because he truly couldn't imagine a world where Liz wasn't there. It was just…wrong.
If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart,
Liz's even breathing began to lull Max to sleep. He glanced at the clock over the fireplace and noticed that they still had an hour before Maria would get there. A quick nap couldn't hurt.
As he found himself beginning to fall asleep, he used the last of his energy to kiss Liz's forehead and whispered, "I love you Lizbit."
And his eyes closed, and somewhere in her sleep induced mind, Liz's answering reply carried a different and deeper meaning, after all the love she felt for him was different, but nonetheless the words were whispered in reply, "I love you Max."
If you need to crash then crash and burn you're not alone....
tbc…
A/N: Was that bad?? I mean was the scene between Isabel and Liz too unbelievable? Ah, I tried my best. Next up is the party and a Max/Sean/Michael confrontation where Max manages to stick his foot in his mouth with Liz not too far away.