A/N: Thanks for the reviews sorry this took so long! Please forgive me!
Oh, and Queentruelove: Your wish is my command…
Ch. 9
Mother Dearest
Okay so Liz didn't usually handle things very well without violence –and sense violence is the last resort in this case. She was screwed. Oh god. Bad choice of words.
Now Liz was NOT the type of girl to pity herself. No way. She was the type to just suck it up and move on. But today, this minute of this hour… She felt she had hit rock bottom.
For instance:
Her mother had been dead for exactly 3 months today.
Max had dumped her (well… kinda)
She had cheated on Max (well… kinda)
She fell for the guy she kinda cheated on Max with.
She and Michael had had a fight.
She had missed her only chance to speak with the love of her life. (Max that is)
Her father and her stepmother were currently having a GIGANTIC fight in their room next door to Liz's. Over god knew what this time.
Bella still wasn't here.
Liz was about to loose her friends…
The list went on but yet she STILL refused to admit that things were bad. So fuckin what. She had brought this on herself and now that Michael knew that she didn't want to give into him anymore he decides that it's time to play faithful boyfriend?
"I just can't stand this anymore Jeff!" Nancy Parker screamed, causing Liz to jump.
"Well what do you want ME to DO about her Nancy?!" Jess yelled back.
Liz perked up from her slouch on the bed.
HER?
Were they possibly talking about Liz? Liz had asked them about Bella and she had been working EXTRA hours in the CrashDown!
"She's hoeing around these parts like a cheap tramp! She's giving us a bad name Jeffery! I'm sick of it! I'm not going to want her around when she gets pregnant! You have GOT to do something about that girl!" Nancy shrieked.
"Aren't you being a bit DRAMATIC bout this Nancy?" Jeff said.
"I'm not joking Jeff! I want something done or out she is! I mean it! I'll call someone to come and remove her!" Nancy was irritated and boiling.
"I will Nance… I will." Jeff was heard soothing his wife.
Fuck.
Liz was about to be kicked out.
SHIT!
How the hell had Nancy found out about Michael? And accusing Liz of "hoeing around"? Well that as just plain insulting! Liz had not slept with anyone but Michael Guerin! And even though he DID in fact have a girlfriend and Liz was just something of a secret that didn't mean…
Oh God.
It did.
She WAS just a cheap tramp.
Liz heard her father's reluctant footsteps coming down the hallway towards Liz's room.
She couldn't deal with this right now.
Liz fled through her window –to where? She had no clue.
*
"Liz?" Michael's eyebrows rose in complete and utter surprise.
"I… I-I can't g-go home." Liz stuttered through her tears.
Michael nodded and immediately grabbed Liz into a tight embrace as he led her into his home.
Liz went straight to his room the moment he let her free. She went in and slammed the door shut. She didn't lock it though, she wasn't THAT rude. It was his house. But she just had to slam SOMETHING! She was upset that she could not control the damn tears from falling down her cheeks, she was angry that she had let anyone –especially Michael– she her this way. He had already seen her cry yesterday when they were screaming at each other. But she did NOT want him to she her so weak again.
She flung herself into his bed and enjoyed the smell of men's cologne mixed with Irish Spring soap and the boyish smell that Michael carried with him.
She loved this.
She missed this.
She wanted this.
Why did things have to be so damn complicated?
"Liz?" Michael was standing cautiously in the doorway of his bedroom, as if to ask permission to enter.
"It's your room." Liz said inside his pillow.
He came in and sat at the end of the bed. Then he lay down beside her.
"You wanna tell me what this is about?" He whispered next to her without touching her.
"Uh uh." She denied him.
He sighed deep, rustling Liz's peaceful comfort zone in his bed. "Liz, listen. I'm sorry about yesterday. I was a complete jerk. But I didn't know that you and Iz were friends, I don't hang with her and her crew because I can't stand Maria. So me and Iz have this system where every other day she leaves to have lunch with me." He blurt.
"Isabel has nothing to do with this." I muttered.
"Doesn't it?" He asked moving closer to her.
"No. I had a fight with my dad and he kicked me out for the time being." Liz lied.
"Oh." Michael said feeling stupid.
"But we DO have to talk about… This." I turned over to face him without eye contact.
"I know. But Liz, this isn't easy for me." He said hurt, finally establishing physical contact by talking her hand in his and squeezing it tight.
"How could you not have known we were friends? How I could I not know?!" Liz shouted.
"Liz, I don't ever see Isabel at school, except maybe 2 times a day, and we're together every other lunch…" Michael trailed off running his hands threw his hair.
"I didn't want this." Liz whimpered.
Damn it! No tears!
"Me either." Michael whispered.
"I didn't want to fall for you." Liz admitted catching Michael off guard.
Michael was speechless.
"I still love the person I was with but we aren't together anymore. But you ARE still with Isabel. I am supposed to be FRIENDS with Isabel! And now that I know who the "other" woman is… I can't take part in the destruction of what you two are. I feel so-so…" Dear god here came the water works.
"Liz, please don't cry…"
Liz still cried.
"Liz…"
More tears.
"Liz I love you too."
What the fucking fuck?!
"Wha?" Liz was sniffing big time now.
Shit.
"You can't! No you can't! Take that back Michael take it back please!" Liz cried out loud now.
"I can't lie to you Liz! I do! But at the same time I love Isabel too! I don't know what to do! My mind is racing my heart says one this and it says another then my mind keeps fucking with me and we have such chemistry and attraction to each other that its so HARD to avoid not wanting you –but I can't help but love you Liz Ortecho… I can't." His voice broke.
Liz was now in his arms and holding him as tight as he held her.
"But you HAVE to." Liz whispered.
"Why?"
"Because you have to do what's right…" She said.
"Do I ever do what's right?" He answered in her hair.
"No. But just one of the reasons I'm stuck on you." Liz smiled; they had to discuss this another time. Not now.
"Good." He grinned, kissing her temple.
"Shut up."
"If you kiss my lips shut I will."
Liz rolled her eyes and snuggled into him.
Silence, nothing but the sound if their erythematic breathing.
"My mother died exactly three moths ago today." Liz said of nowhere.
"I'm sorry."
"But I wasn't. I was angry. I was angry because she killed herself. She was the reason I had to leave what I loved most. She was the reason I had to live with a father who neglected me for 3 years and re-married with the woman he had an affair with on my mother… I hated him for that and look what I'm doing now…" Liz was trembling, Michael just held her.
"It's not anyone's fault that love is hard."
"Hard love. It sucks the big one." Liz snorted pushing from his arms to regain her comfort spot in his bed. He let her rest and then he re-wrapped himself over her.
"How come you never talk about your mother?" Michael gently kissed her cheek.
"What's there to talk about? She's dead." Liz pushed him away again and turned to face him.
"Well that's one way of putting it." Michael rolled his eyes.
"I hated her even when she was alive. She was just this secret that I had to hide. I had to do everything, I had to balance the checks or we'd be without food, electricity, without a house, without a car, I mean I was the mom and she was the irresponsible teenager." Liz's true feeling shined through.
Michael listened to her as if she were telling him the secret of immortality.
"Do you know what its like to watch your mother deteriorate before your very eyes?" Liz asked.
"I never knew my mother." Michael answered softly.
"You've always lived here by yourself?" Liz raised an eyebrow curious.
"No," He shook his head, "Hank. He was uh… my foster dad. I never knew my REAL parents. And Hank, well he was a loser who just kept me around for the monthly checks. He used to hit me, really bad." Michael rubbed his brow.
"I'm sorry." Liz whispered, "My mom used to call me names… She said I was the reason my father left. She said that I was a slut and that I was stupid. Come to think of it my mom never held me and told me she loved me. So I guess you could say that I never had a mother either." Liz shrugged. "I was just recently brought back into my fathers life and look what happened… He kicked me out. I mean I don't deserve this shit. I was the highest grade point average in my class back home. I was the smartest yet I was… The easiest too." Liz bowed her head in shame. The memories of trying to be smart, beautiful, and popular starting all over again.
"Liz." Michael said breaking her trance.
"I hated her so much… So why does it hurt so bad?" Liz whimpered.
"Because she was your mother. No matter what she did, no matter how bad she made you feel… She was your mom." Michael touched her cheek.
Liz shook her head, "BUT I HATED HER! The last words to my own mother were I hate you! Do you have any idea how HORRIBLE I felt when I found out that I was never going to get to apologize for how terrible I had been that morning? Do you know what its like to fall apart in front of the whole school? No –you don't!" Liz yelled.
"Tell me then." Michael took her hands in his…
*****
"Do you have any idea what's its like to wake up and wish you were never born?" Liz's mother complained for the third time in the 10 minutes Liz had been awake that morning.
"No. I don't, but keep talking and I'll tell you." Liz sneered, bundling her clothes up to take with her to the shower.
"You going to where that?" Her mother groped.
Liz looked down into her hands. A blank tank top and bootleg faded jeans from EXPRESS was her ensemble. Nothing wrong with it right?
"What's wrong with it?" Liz asked serious.
"Don't talk back to me!" Liz's mother slapped her across the face.
Liz was momentarily shocked, but it passed quickly, "Leave me alone."
"You and that hottie still together?" Her mother coughed.
"Huh?" Liz asked.
"You're a bigger sssslut thannnnn that bitch of a wwwwwwoman your ffffffffather left mmmmme ffffor." Liz's mother slurred.
"Have you been drinking?" Liz spat, throwing her clothes down on the floor.
"What of it?" She laughed.
Liz backed away at the smell of her mother's alcoholic breath.
"Mom you promised." Liz said softly.
"Oh shut up bitch." Her mother threw the rest of her Vodka in Liz's face.
Liz didn't even flinch at her mother's reaction. Liz was used to this kind of behavior from her mother. It's just that her mother never started so early before. Liz blinked away the excess liquid from her eyes, feeling the burn and scrubbed her face with a napkin from the kitchen. Then she walked to the bathroom for her shower.
"Where do you think you are going? You got a hot date again?" Her mother snickered, "Knowing you he'll be verrrrrrry sssatified!"
"I hate you." Liz whispered when the pain hit her inside her heart.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Liz shouted over her shoulder.
Liz slammed her bathroom door shut and took her shower. Crying was not an option because for the past 10 years her mother had been the same since Liz's father left when Liz was a child. For as long as Liz remembered her mother had always been the way she was. The tears had run dry after the first couple years. Then she met Max. Max was her reason for going on, he was one of the reasons why she stayed where she was, Her father had not spoken to her in 3 years except for sending child support checks her mothered screamed from him.
"Max. That's his name, hey he's a yummy boy, why don't you send him my way for a coupla nights huh?" Her mother leaned against the bathroom door.
"You are such a loser mother." Liz grimaced dressing from her fresh shower.
"Excuse me?"
"You head me." Liz snapped, she was sick of this shit and when Max was brought into the conversation Liz had hit the roof.
"Why you ungrateful-"
"UNGREATFUL?! I do EVERYTHING around here! I do the bills I have the job I clean the house after you dump your shit all around here AND I still maintain the A fucking plus average! –Christ mother I even have trophies and certificates and ceremonies in my name for my extracurricular activities and sports and grades and you never once appeared at ONE event!" Liz shouted. "Ungrateful? You must be really be a nutcase if you really believe that. I'm a better person than you ever were and you HATE me for it. I'm sorry mother but I'm the way I am NO thanks to you." Liz brushed her hair quickly and went to the kitchen.
Her mother followed, "You are the reason I'm the way I am, you ruined EVERYTHING!" Her mothered cried, "You made Jeffery leave, you made me lose my scholarship to Harvard! You just popped up out of nowhere and you ruined my whole life!"
Liz turned to face her mother and locked eyes with her, "I ruined NOTHING, you brought it all on yourself, you could have finished school after I was born, you could have still had a life but you didn't. You were lazy and your ruined your own life. So don't EVEN try and blame you mistakes in me, and as for dad, if you were anything like you are now –then, than I don't blame dad for leaving your sorry ass." Liz grabbed her backpack and walked out the door.
"Come back here you little brat! I'm not threw talking to you!" Her mother pulled Liz by the hair and dragged her back inside the house.
"Let go!" Liz swung around and punched her mother in the nose. "Oh my god." Liz said when she realized what she had done.
Her mother's nose bleed, dark red drops hit the white carpet finalizing their hex on her mothers last morning alive. "I want you out, I'm sick of looking at you everyday." Her mother held her nose in her hands.
"Fine."
"Leave, get out before I call the authorities." Her mother screamed.
"I did nothing!" Liz screamed back.
"GET OUT!"
"I HATE YOU!" Liz cried out slamming the front screen door and running out into the street.
"I wish you were never born you fucking bitch!" her mother screamed from the door to Liz down the street; causing a scene for the neighbors.
Her mother continued to scream obscene comments at Liz until she was out of sight.
-
When Liz had finally made it to school she was puffy faced from crying and her hair was a mess. Max had taken one look at her and knew exactly what happened.
"Baby, c'mere." He had said, "You know I love you –but I'll tell you again, I love you baby." He had coed her and held her and kissed her wet cheeks.
"I just don't know how much more I can take Max." Liz cried into his chest.
She explained everything that had gone down that morning in her house, word for word–action for action. He sat with her in his lap and didn't budge when the firs period bell rang.
"I need to get to class." Liz had said.
So Max walked her to class and kissed her and told her he'd be right there when the bell rang. She nodded and went on like nothing had happened.
It worked all the way until 3rd period when Principal Williams stepped into her Art class and asked for a moment of her time.
Just the look on his face gave it all away. Liz got as far as the door when she demanded he tell her right then and there.
"It's more of a private matter Ms. Ortecho." He had cleared his throat.
Liz frowned, "Its nothing they won't know by the end of the day anyways Mr. Williams, these people are like vultures waiting for a dying animal."
"Very well at least step out here." He moved so she could exit.
Liz stepped around him to get outside the door.
Mr. Williams shut the door quietly and looked at Liz. He took a deep breath and began, "I'm sorry Ms. Ortecho, Liz. But I'm afraid I have some bad news for you." He looked away.
From inside the class you see Liz standing across from the principal. Looking flawless as always, looking sophisticated and so well put together. Everybody was jealous, they just couldn't handle the idea that she was going to get out of that town and be –do great things. While they stayed in this town and faded away.
Cool, calm Liz Ortecho.
That was what the students saw from the inside of the classroom. That was what they saw until they saw Liz crack. That was what they saw before Liz broke down crying.
"NOOOO!!!!!!!!" Liz screamed when the news was said. "NO! –Oh GOD no! PLEASE no! I promise I'll be better please no!" Liz screamed clutching the walls, reaching for nothing but her inner strength.
"Ms. Ortecho!" Mrs. Mateo ran out of her Art class and took Liz I her arms, scowling at Mr. Williams for not doing so beforehand.
Everyone from inside the Art room sat frozen in their seats.
Was the girl that was crying hysterically actually Liz Ortecho-Parker? It couldn't be. Where was the quick come back bitch? Where was the take no shit O.P.? Students began to whisper to each other and all that was heard was mumbles and the perfect Liz Ortecho's cries for forgiveness.
The end of 3rd period bell rang crowding the halls with people.
"I'm so sorry Mommy!" Liz cried out, causing a disturbing scene. "It's all my fault! Please forgive me god plea -hease!" She sobbed aloud to the ceiling.
Kids from all around tried to crowd around her before being physically pushed away by teachers trying to calm the hysterical Liz.
"It's all my fault! I killed her! Its all my fault!" Liz repeatedly screamed.
"Hush child you did nothing of the sort." Mrs. Mateo soothed her.
"Liz!" Max's shrill voice roared over the crowds chatter.
Liz poked her head up from Mrs. Mateo's embrace, "Max!" She pushed away free from Mrs. Mateo and into Max's understanding arms. "Oh, Max…She's gone… I killed her… Its all my fault! I'm so sorry…" Liz said between sobs.
Max hollered for answers, "What the FUCK is going on here?"
"Mr. Evans you need to get to class." Mr. Williams tried.
"Hell no I'm not going to class why is my girlfriend crying? What the fuck did you say to her?" Max scowled at the principal while he caressed Liz's back and ran soothing fingers through her hair.
"Let's just take this to my office alright?" The principal urged.
Mr. William and Mrs. Mateo ushered the two distraught teens into the main office where police officers questioned Liz and tried to calm Max down. Max was furious that they were actually asking questions knowing the state Liz was in.
"The questions are mandatory Mr. Evans." Officer Hanes answered Max's shouts of anger. "They are short and few."
"My girlfriend is in no sane state to answer any of you damn MANDATORY questions!" Max barked brutal.
"Evans." Mr. Williams warned.
"What? Are you going to stick me in detention with Queer Muff Mr. Stanley? Go ahead I see that fucker every afternoon anyways." Max snorted.
Liz continued to cry in Max's arms, the more she sobbed the tighter his arms would hold her and the more furious he would get at the teachers and "authority figures" asking too many stupid questions. He was trying his best to remain calm when officer Hanes screwed up by asking Liz something that made her frantic all over again.
"Liz we want to know why Ms. Ortecho's nose was broken, there is just no way that it was done by the person herself. Liz were you aware of the massive heroin dose that was in your mothers system not to mention the amount of alcohol in her to fuel a Buick? Liz did you know where your mother go the .38 caliber handgun?"
"OH GOD!" Liz screamed.
"That's fucking it! I'm taking her home, with me. You fucked up for the last time." Max stood up, pulling Liz up with him.
"Mr. Evans, Ms. Ortecho-" Officer Hanes started.
"You can call later and MAYBE she'll be ready for questioning, and I'LL determine that." Max said taking Liz's frail unstable body in his arms and carrying her to his jeep.
*****
"I didn't know Liz. I'm so sorry." Michael whispered in Liz's ear, he kissed her cheek.
"That was a year ago today." Liz sniffed.
"I'm here for you baby. I'm not going anywhere alright?" Michael assured her.
"Yea," Liz muttered, "That's what Max said."
"Max?" Michael's body tensed in Liz's grasp.
"That was my boyfriend. Max, but he's… not in the picture anymore." Liz mumbled in Michael's chest.
Michael was still silent. Liz felt him gulp nervous.
"What is it?" Liz asked curiously looking up at him.
He shook his head, "N-nothing. Never mind." He gave her a weak smile.
Something was wrong. Liz knew it, but what was it? And why had Michael freaked when Liz said Max's name?
-----------------------------
A/N: How was that???? Ya like that don't ya? I hope you did!!! FEEDBACK PEOPLE!!!! Give me feedback! I need the reviews to sooth my nerves!!! Oh and Bell's coming next chapter!
Oh, and Queentruelove: Your wish is my command…
Ch. 9
Mother Dearest
Okay so Liz didn't usually handle things very well without violence –and sense violence is the last resort in this case. She was screwed. Oh god. Bad choice of words.
Now Liz was NOT the type of girl to pity herself. No way. She was the type to just suck it up and move on. But today, this minute of this hour… She felt she had hit rock bottom.
For instance:
Her mother had been dead for exactly 3 months today.
Max had dumped her (well… kinda)
She had cheated on Max (well… kinda)
She fell for the guy she kinda cheated on Max with.
She and Michael had had a fight.
She had missed her only chance to speak with the love of her life. (Max that is)
Her father and her stepmother were currently having a GIGANTIC fight in their room next door to Liz's. Over god knew what this time.
Bella still wasn't here.
Liz was about to loose her friends…
The list went on but yet she STILL refused to admit that things were bad. So fuckin what. She had brought this on herself and now that Michael knew that she didn't want to give into him anymore he decides that it's time to play faithful boyfriend?
"I just can't stand this anymore Jeff!" Nancy Parker screamed, causing Liz to jump.
"Well what do you want ME to DO about her Nancy?!" Jess yelled back.
Liz perked up from her slouch on the bed.
HER?
Were they possibly talking about Liz? Liz had asked them about Bella and she had been working EXTRA hours in the CrashDown!
"She's hoeing around these parts like a cheap tramp! She's giving us a bad name Jeffery! I'm sick of it! I'm not going to want her around when she gets pregnant! You have GOT to do something about that girl!" Nancy shrieked.
"Aren't you being a bit DRAMATIC bout this Nancy?" Jeff said.
"I'm not joking Jeff! I want something done or out she is! I mean it! I'll call someone to come and remove her!" Nancy was irritated and boiling.
"I will Nance… I will." Jeff was heard soothing his wife.
Fuck.
Liz was about to be kicked out.
SHIT!
How the hell had Nancy found out about Michael? And accusing Liz of "hoeing around"? Well that as just plain insulting! Liz had not slept with anyone but Michael Guerin! And even though he DID in fact have a girlfriend and Liz was just something of a secret that didn't mean…
Oh God.
It did.
She WAS just a cheap tramp.
Liz heard her father's reluctant footsteps coming down the hallway towards Liz's room.
She couldn't deal with this right now.
Liz fled through her window –to where? She had no clue.
*
"Liz?" Michael's eyebrows rose in complete and utter surprise.
"I… I-I can't g-go home." Liz stuttered through her tears.
Michael nodded and immediately grabbed Liz into a tight embrace as he led her into his home.
Liz went straight to his room the moment he let her free. She went in and slammed the door shut. She didn't lock it though, she wasn't THAT rude. It was his house. But she just had to slam SOMETHING! She was upset that she could not control the damn tears from falling down her cheeks, she was angry that she had let anyone –especially Michael– she her this way. He had already seen her cry yesterday when they were screaming at each other. But she did NOT want him to she her so weak again.
She flung herself into his bed and enjoyed the smell of men's cologne mixed with Irish Spring soap and the boyish smell that Michael carried with him.
She loved this.
She missed this.
She wanted this.
Why did things have to be so damn complicated?
"Liz?" Michael was standing cautiously in the doorway of his bedroom, as if to ask permission to enter.
"It's your room." Liz said inside his pillow.
He came in and sat at the end of the bed. Then he lay down beside her.
"You wanna tell me what this is about?" He whispered next to her without touching her.
"Uh uh." She denied him.
He sighed deep, rustling Liz's peaceful comfort zone in his bed. "Liz, listen. I'm sorry about yesterday. I was a complete jerk. But I didn't know that you and Iz were friends, I don't hang with her and her crew because I can't stand Maria. So me and Iz have this system where every other day she leaves to have lunch with me." He blurt.
"Isabel has nothing to do with this." I muttered.
"Doesn't it?" He asked moving closer to her.
"No. I had a fight with my dad and he kicked me out for the time being." Liz lied.
"Oh." Michael said feeling stupid.
"But we DO have to talk about… This." I turned over to face him without eye contact.
"I know. But Liz, this isn't easy for me." He said hurt, finally establishing physical contact by talking her hand in his and squeezing it tight.
"How could you not have known we were friends? How I could I not know?!" Liz shouted.
"Liz, I don't ever see Isabel at school, except maybe 2 times a day, and we're together every other lunch…" Michael trailed off running his hands threw his hair.
"I didn't want this." Liz whimpered.
Damn it! No tears!
"Me either." Michael whispered.
"I didn't want to fall for you." Liz admitted catching Michael off guard.
Michael was speechless.
"I still love the person I was with but we aren't together anymore. But you ARE still with Isabel. I am supposed to be FRIENDS with Isabel! And now that I know who the "other" woman is… I can't take part in the destruction of what you two are. I feel so-so…" Dear god here came the water works.
"Liz, please don't cry…"
Liz still cried.
"Liz…"
More tears.
"Liz I love you too."
What the fucking fuck?!
"Wha?" Liz was sniffing big time now.
Shit.
"You can't! No you can't! Take that back Michael take it back please!" Liz cried out loud now.
"I can't lie to you Liz! I do! But at the same time I love Isabel too! I don't know what to do! My mind is racing my heart says one this and it says another then my mind keeps fucking with me and we have such chemistry and attraction to each other that its so HARD to avoid not wanting you –but I can't help but love you Liz Ortecho… I can't." His voice broke.
Liz was now in his arms and holding him as tight as he held her.
"But you HAVE to." Liz whispered.
"Why?"
"Because you have to do what's right…" She said.
"Do I ever do what's right?" He answered in her hair.
"No. But just one of the reasons I'm stuck on you." Liz smiled; they had to discuss this another time. Not now.
"Good." He grinned, kissing her temple.
"Shut up."
"If you kiss my lips shut I will."
Liz rolled her eyes and snuggled into him.
Silence, nothing but the sound if their erythematic breathing.
"My mother died exactly three moths ago today." Liz said of nowhere.
"I'm sorry."
"But I wasn't. I was angry. I was angry because she killed herself. She was the reason I had to leave what I loved most. She was the reason I had to live with a father who neglected me for 3 years and re-married with the woman he had an affair with on my mother… I hated him for that and look what I'm doing now…" Liz was trembling, Michael just held her.
"It's not anyone's fault that love is hard."
"Hard love. It sucks the big one." Liz snorted pushing from his arms to regain her comfort spot in his bed. He let her rest and then he re-wrapped himself over her.
"How come you never talk about your mother?" Michael gently kissed her cheek.
"What's there to talk about? She's dead." Liz pushed him away again and turned to face him.
"Well that's one way of putting it." Michael rolled his eyes.
"I hated her even when she was alive. She was just this secret that I had to hide. I had to do everything, I had to balance the checks or we'd be without food, electricity, without a house, without a car, I mean I was the mom and she was the irresponsible teenager." Liz's true feeling shined through.
Michael listened to her as if she were telling him the secret of immortality.
"Do you know what its like to watch your mother deteriorate before your very eyes?" Liz asked.
"I never knew my mother." Michael answered softly.
"You've always lived here by yourself?" Liz raised an eyebrow curious.
"No," He shook his head, "Hank. He was uh… my foster dad. I never knew my REAL parents. And Hank, well he was a loser who just kept me around for the monthly checks. He used to hit me, really bad." Michael rubbed his brow.
"I'm sorry." Liz whispered, "My mom used to call me names… She said I was the reason my father left. She said that I was a slut and that I was stupid. Come to think of it my mom never held me and told me she loved me. So I guess you could say that I never had a mother either." Liz shrugged. "I was just recently brought back into my fathers life and look what happened… He kicked me out. I mean I don't deserve this shit. I was the highest grade point average in my class back home. I was the smartest yet I was… The easiest too." Liz bowed her head in shame. The memories of trying to be smart, beautiful, and popular starting all over again.
"Liz." Michael said breaking her trance.
"I hated her so much… So why does it hurt so bad?" Liz whimpered.
"Because she was your mother. No matter what she did, no matter how bad she made you feel… She was your mom." Michael touched her cheek.
Liz shook her head, "BUT I HATED HER! The last words to my own mother were I hate you! Do you have any idea how HORRIBLE I felt when I found out that I was never going to get to apologize for how terrible I had been that morning? Do you know what its like to fall apart in front of the whole school? No –you don't!" Liz yelled.
"Tell me then." Michael took her hands in his…
*****
"Do you have any idea what's its like to wake up and wish you were never born?" Liz's mother complained for the third time in the 10 minutes Liz had been awake that morning.
"No. I don't, but keep talking and I'll tell you." Liz sneered, bundling her clothes up to take with her to the shower.
"You going to where that?" Her mother groped.
Liz looked down into her hands. A blank tank top and bootleg faded jeans from EXPRESS was her ensemble. Nothing wrong with it right?
"What's wrong with it?" Liz asked serious.
"Don't talk back to me!" Liz's mother slapped her across the face.
Liz was momentarily shocked, but it passed quickly, "Leave me alone."
"You and that hottie still together?" Her mother coughed.
"Huh?" Liz asked.
"You're a bigger sssslut thannnnn that bitch of a wwwwwwoman your ffffffffather left mmmmme ffffor." Liz's mother slurred.
"Have you been drinking?" Liz spat, throwing her clothes down on the floor.
"What of it?" She laughed.
Liz backed away at the smell of her mother's alcoholic breath.
"Mom you promised." Liz said softly.
"Oh shut up bitch." Her mother threw the rest of her Vodka in Liz's face.
Liz didn't even flinch at her mother's reaction. Liz was used to this kind of behavior from her mother. It's just that her mother never started so early before. Liz blinked away the excess liquid from her eyes, feeling the burn and scrubbed her face with a napkin from the kitchen. Then she walked to the bathroom for her shower.
"Where do you think you are going? You got a hot date again?" Her mother snickered, "Knowing you he'll be verrrrrrry sssatified!"
"I hate you." Liz whispered when the pain hit her inside her heart.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Liz shouted over her shoulder.
Liz slammed her bathroom door shut and took her shower. Crying was not an option because for the past 10 years her mother had been the same since Liz's father left when Liz was a child. For as long as Liz remembered her mother had always been the way she was. The tears had run dry after the first couple years. Then she met Max. Max was her reason for going on, he was one of the reasons why she stayed where she was, Her father had not spoken to her in 3 years except for sending child support checks her mothered screamed from him.
"Max. That's his name, hey he's a yummy boy, why don't you send him my way for a coupla nights huh?" Her mother leaned against the bathroom door.
"You are such a loser mother." Liz grimaced dressing from her fresh shower.
"Excuse me?"
"You head me." Liz snapped, she was sick of this shit and when Max was brought into the conversation Liz had hit the roof.
"Why you ungrateful-"
"UNGREATFUL?! I do EVERYTHING around here! I do the bills I have the job I clean the house after you dump your shit all around here AND I still maintain the A fucking plus average! –Christ mother I even have trophies and certificates and ceremonies in my name for my extracurricular activities and sports and grades and you never once appeared at ONE event!" Liz shouted. "Ungrateful? You must be really be a nutcase if you really believe that. I'm a better person than you ever were and you HATE me for it. I'm sorry mother but I'm the way I am NO thanks to you." Liz brushed her hair quickly and went to the kitchen.
Her mother followed, "You are the reason I'm the way I am, you ruined EVERYTHING!" Her mothered cried, "You made Jeffery leave, you made me lose my scholarship to Harvard! You just popped up out of nowhere and you ruined my whole life!"
Liz turned to face her mother and locked eyes with her, "I ruined NOTHING, you brought it all on yourself, you could have finished school after I was born, you could have still had a life but you didn't. You were lazy and your ruined your own life. So don't EVEN try and blame you mistakes in me, and as for dad, if you were anything like you are now –then, than I don't blame dad for leaving your sorry ass." Liz grabbed her backpack and walked out the door.
"Come back here you little brat! I'm not threw talking to you!" Her mother pulled Liz by the hair and dragged her back inside the house.
"Let go!" Liz swung around and punched her mother in the nose. "Oh my god." Liz said when she realized what she had done.
Her mother's nose bleed, dark red drops hit the white carpet finalizing their hex on her mothers last morning alive. "I want you out, I'm sick of looking at you everyday." Her mother held her nose in her hands.
"Fine."
"Leave, get out before I call the authorities." Her mother screamed.
"I did nothing!" Liz screamed back.
"GET OUT!"
"I HATE YOU!" Liz cried out slamming the front screen door and running out into the street.
"I wish you were never born you fucking bitch!" her mother screamed from the door to Liz down the street; causing a scene for the neighbors.
Her mother continued to scream obscene comments at Liz until she was out of sight.
-
When Liz had finally made it to school she was puffy faced from crying and her hair was a mess. Max had taken one look at her and knew exactly what happened.
"Baby, c'mere." He had said, "You know I love you –but I'll tell you again, I love you baby." He had coed her and held her and kissed her wet cheeks.
"I just don't know how much more I can take Max." Liz cried into his chest.
She explained everything that had gone down that morning in her house, word for word–action for action. He sat with her in his lap and didn't budge when the firs period bell rang.
"I need to get to class." Liz had said.
So Max walked her to class and kissed her and told her he'd be right there when the bell rang. She nodded and went on like nothing had happened.
It worked all the way until 3rd period when Principal Williams stepped into her Art class and asked for a moment of her time.
Just the look on his face gave it all away. Liz got as far as the door when she demanded he tell her right then and there.
"It's more of a private matter Ms. Ortecho." He had cleared his throat.
Liz frowned, "Its nothing they won't know by the end of the day anyways Mr. Williams, these people are like vultures waiting for a dying animal."
"Very well at least step out here." He moved so she could exit.
Liz stepped around him to get outside the door.
Mr. Williams shut the door quietly and looked at Liz. He took a deep breath and began, "I'm sorry Ms. Ortecho, Liz. But I'm afraid I have some bad news for you." He looked away.
From inside the class you see Liz standing across from the principal. Looking flawless as always, looking sophisticated and so well put together. Everybody was jealous, they just couldn't handle the idea that she was going to get out of that town and be –do great things. While they stayed in this town and faded away.
Cool, calm Liz Ortecho.
That was what the students saw from the inside of the classroom. That was what they saw until they saw Liz crack. That was what they saw before Liz broke down crying.
"NOOOO!!!!!!!!" Liz screamed when the news was said. "NO! –Oh GOD no! PLEASE no! I promise I'll be better please no!" Liz screamed clutching the walls, reaching for nothing but her inner strength.
"Ms. Ortecho!" Mrs. Mateo ran out of her Art class and took Liz I her arms, scowling at Mr. Williams for not doing so beforehand.
Everyone from inside the Art room sat frozen in their seats.
Was the girl that was crying hysterically actually Liz Ortecho-Parker? It couldn't be. Where was the quick come back bitch? Where was the take no shit O.P.? Students began to whisper to each other and all that was heard was mumbles and the perfect Liz Ortecho's cries for forgiveness.
The end of 3rd period bell rang crowding the halls with people.
"I'm so sorry Mommy!" Liz cried out, causing a disturbing scene. "It's all my fault! Please forgive me god plea -hease!" She sobbed aloud to the ceiling.
Kids from all around tried to crowd around her before being physically pushed away by teachers trying to calm the hysterical Liz.
"It's all my fault! I killed her! Its all my fault!" Liz repeatedly screamed.
"Hush child you did nothing of the sort." Mrs. Mateo soothed her.
"Liz!" Max's shrill voice roared over the crowds chatter.
Liz poked her head up from Mrs. Mateo's embrace, "Max!" She pushed away free from Mrs. Mateo and into Max's understanding arms. "Oh, Max…She's gone… I killed her… Its all my fault! I'm so sorry…" Liz said between sobs.
Max hollered for answers, "What the FUCK is going on here?"
"Mr. Evans you need to get to class." Mr. Williams tried.
"Hell no I'm not going to class why is my girlfriend crying? What the fuck did you say to her?" Max scowled at the principal while he caressed Liz's back and ran soothing fingers through her hair.
"Let's just take this to my office alright?" The principal urged.
Mr. William and Mrs. Mateo ushered the two distraught teens into the main office where police officers questioned Liz and tried to calm Max down. Max was furious that they were actually asking questions knowing the state Liz was in.
"The questions are mandatory Mr. Evans." Officer Hanes answered Max's shouts of anger. "They are short and few."
"My girlfriend is in no sane state to answer any of you damn MANDATORY questions!" Max barked brutal.
"Evans." Mr. Williams warned.
"What? Are you going to stick me in detention with Queer Muff Mr. Stanley? Go ahead I see that fucker every afternoon anyways." Max snorted.
Liz continued to cry in Max's arms, the more she sobbed the tighter his arms would hold her and the more furious he would get at the teachers and "authority figures" asking too many stupid questions. He was trying his best to remain calm when officer Hanes screwed up by asking Liz something that made her frantic all over again.
"Liz we want to know why Ms. Ortecho's nose was broken, there is just no way that it was done by the person herself. Liz were you aware of the massive heroin dose that was in your mothers system not to mention the amount of alcohol in her to fuel a Buick? Liz did you know where your mother go the .38 caliber handgun?"
"OH GOD!" Liz screamed.
"That's fucking it! I'm taking her home, with me. You fucked up for the last time." Max stood up, pulling Liz up with him.
"Mr. Evans, Ms. Ortecho-" Officer Hanes started.
"You can call later and MAYBE she'll be ready for questioning, and I'LL determine that." Max said taking Liz's frail unstable body in his arms and carrying her to his jeep.
*****
"I didn't know Liz. I'm so sorry." Michael whispered in Liz's ear, he kissed her cheek.
"That was a year ago today." Liz sniffed.
"I'm here for you baby. I'm not going anywhere alright?" Michael assured her.
"Yea," Liz muttered, "That's what Max said."
"Max?" Michael's body tensed in Liz's grasp.
"That was my boyfriend. Max, but he's… not in the picture anymore." Liz mumbled in Michael's chest.
Michael was still silent. Liz felt him gulp nervous.
"What is it?" Liz asked curiously looking up at him.
He shook his head, "N-nothing. Never mind." He gave her a weak smile.
Something was wrong. Liz knew it, but what was it? And why had Michael freaked when Liz said Max's name?
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A/N: How was that???? Ya like that don't ya? I hope you did!!! FEEDBACK PEOPLE!!!! Give me feedback! I need the reviews to sooth my nerves!!! Oh and Bell's coming next chapter!
