A/N: Here it is the next chapter! Back by popular demand! I know you guys miss Max and I am truly sorry that I have this whole plot line mapped out but don't worry he is coming back I promise! I'm writing him back in right now! Well, not right now because I'm writing this right now but you get what I mean. This next chapter might be a little hard to take for some of you but please stick it out and keep reading because I am going to give you what you want. You just have to wait a little. Well without further ado I give you....

BEECHWOOD PARK

She reached her home to find that her parents had gone out, she stripped off her clothes which had been sealed to her body through a mixture of blood, sweat, and dust from the desert. She stepped into the shower and for the first time was happy that the furnace had turned off and the water was ice cold.

She washed the grime from her body and looked at her bruised stomach, despite the damage the scar from that night was still easy to spot and she ran her hand across it remembering a more innocent time.

She stepped out of the shower and into some clean clothes before going onto her balcony she sat there and stared up at the sun now directly above her, it shone in her eyes and hurt but she welcomed the burning sensation in her eyes knowing that the gentler stars would have hurt more.

She climbed down her ladder and stepped into the alley and walked out onto the street and wandered around town for several hours, she remembered that Graduation was tonight and she thought of how miniscule a thing it seemed compared to everything.

She went back to her home and fell asleep on her bed for the first time sleeping soundly but that was not as rewarding as she had expected it to be, she fell into a dreamless sleep which was a disturbing experience. The thought that she would have preferred her nightmares to no dreams at all surprised her and the fact that she woke up more tired and disoriented then when she had laid her head down was very confusing. She got up and noticed that the sun had set, hearing her parents downstairs she walked out onto her balcony and slid down the ladder walking towards the school.

She stepped inside the school and was surrounded by an eerie feeling; the halls were silent except for the distant echo of a speech being made at graduation. She walked towards the auditorium and opened the doors to see her class mates sitting in their seats on the stage and all the happy parents, some cameras flashed as the valedictorian finished her speech.

She saw Maria and Michael holding hands and Isabel, Tess, and Kyle sitting on either side of them. She stood at the back of the auditorium and watched as her friends sat smiling in front of their families and peers. She swallowed hard and drew her brows together thinking of all the mistakes she had made this year and she ran from the school too overwhelmed to watch anymore.

She ran until she reached the Deluca residence, she knocked on the door and when Sean answered the door she reached for him and kissed him passionately on the lips as she pushed him towards his bedroom. They got inside his room and she pulled away to shut the door before reaching for his shirt.

"Whoa! Liz wait a second what's going on here?"

"Don't you like me," she said unemotionally "Don't you find me attractive?" she asked him.

"Yes but what are you doing? Liz this isn't like you." He said holding her an arms distance away.

"Isn't it?" She asked as he shook his head "Well, people change. Relationships change," she said kissing him again backing him on to the bed, he sat down on the bed and she sat on top of him kissing him passionately and pulling at his shirt.

"Liz!" He said pushing her away for a moment "What's going on, what happened?

"Oh I forgot, something tragic has to happen for me to do anything," she said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

"No it's just..." he trailed off

"Perfect?" she asked raising one eyebrow "Listen Sean this is me, Liz Parker. I'm not under the influence, I'm not grieving, and I'm not vulnerable isn't this what you wanted." She asked tilting her head slightly a smirk crossing her face.

"Yes," he said honestly

"Then surrender," she whispered in his ear before nibbling it, she pulled his shirt over his head and they tumbled on to the bed as the moonlight shone through the window sill onto their bodies.

Sean lay asleep on the bed as Liz sat on the edge of the bed naked, her bruised body illuminated by the moonlight. She reached down and touched the scar on her stomach a sick feeling rising in her throat. She got up and put her clothes on, gathered all her things and walked towards the door.

"Liz?" Sean's sleepy voice rose from the bed.

"Shhh, go back to sleep" She hushed him

"Where are you going?" He asked sitting propped up on his elbows

"Out," she whispered

"Liz? Are you ok, I mean how are you feeling after...?" He trailed off and she cringed after he asked her that, she felt gross and dirty his words made her feel violated and uneasy.

"I'm fine," she said too quickly trying to get him to leave her alone "I'm just going back to my place my parents must be worried," she made up the excuse hoping he would believe it.

"Oh ok," he paused thinking "I'll see you later then, tomorrow?"

"Sure, we can go out or something" she feigned excitement and managed to flash a smile before turning her back to him and leaving.

As soon as she left the house she ran as fast as she could, not stopping for anything. It was around midnight and the dark was almost impenetrable but she knew where she was going too well.