Disclaimer: The usual.

Chapter: 9 Hanging By A Moment

Desperate for changing

Starving for truth

I'm closer to where I started

Chasing after you~

Max angrily slammed his computer closed. He'd been trying to write for more than an hour with little to no success. In a fit of frustration, he shifted his Mac book carelessly to the floor. He then flopped back onto his bed with his arms folded behind his head, not unlike an irate child, he was in full sulk mode.

Get over it Max, he silently berated himself.

Writing came naturally to him, second only to debating. Lately, he sucked at both. In fact, he and Liz had lost their most recent debate against Washington State. And it was his fault entirely. When Charlie called him into his office about the defeat, Max could offer no excuses. No one expected them to win every single debate, least of all Charlie, but even he could see that Max was distracted.

And it was all Liz's fault.

Three weeks had pasted since the Halloween party, and their relationship had progressed with the pace of a snail. Max knew he should find satisfaction in the fact that it had progressed at all, but like a spoiled child he wanted to have his cake and eat it too. But seriously, was it so unreasonable of him to require some sort of tangible proof that their relationship had changed? Hell, did they even have a relationship?

Max could have sworn he's felt a significant shift between the two of them that night. He could have sworn that Liz had felt it too. Yet, here they stood stuck in some weird-assed limbo, neither friends nor a couple.

Max was tired of all the indecisiveness. He was tired of hanging by a moment. Max wanted more, and he'd thought that Liz had understood that.

He wanted more than a friend he could wax philosophical with. Hell, he had Charlie for that. Max needed more than a buddy to banter and crack jokes with. He had Michael for that. He needed the embodiment of all these things and more. He needed Liz to be his friend and lover.


Liz paused outside of Max's room as she mentally prepared herself to knock. This was so unlike her. She wasn't the type of girl who showed up uninvited to a guy's dorm room, so naturally she was feeling a bit off kilter. The intense scrutiny and loud whispers from the other residents on the floor didn't exactly help either. She had received several knowing winks as she made her way to Max's room. It was no more than what she'd expected, but ugh, why were guys such asshats?

Still, Liz refused to be deterred. She and Max really needed to talk. She needed to make good on the promise she'd made to herself that night at the party. She'd tried being more open, and less distant. She had even gone to a few parties, and hung out with Maria and several other debate team members. Surely that meant she'd made progress right? Not really, especially when it came to Max. Intentionally or unintentionally, she'd kind of left him…hanging.

Liz knew Max wanted more, deserved more. She'd known this from the very beginning. That's why she'd fought so hard against their growing attraction. Because sooner than later he would want more than she was willing to give. And not just sex either, things like trust and faith and even love. The type of things someone stuck living a half-life would never be able to provide. Still, that stubborn part of Liz's psyche had to try. Gathering her resolve, she took a deep breath and knocked on Max's door.

"It's open," he yelled.

Liz turned the knob and stepped quickly into the room before she had a chance to change her mind. She let the door close behind her with a quiet snick before glancing around. She was surprised to see Max lying across his bed. It was such a beautiful Sunday afternoon, though for some reason, Max looked lost in thought or maybe even depressed. Though upon seeing her, he scrambled into a sitting position.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in surprise.

Liz sighed, and then nervously brushed a strand of loose hair behind her left ear. "I thought we should talk."

"Oh really?"

How did he manage to make even the most innocent statement sound so salacious? "Not that kind of talk asshat!"

"Fine, fine," he said with laughing amber eyes. "Have a seat then." He gestured towards his computer chair.

Liz took the offered seat then stared at the carpet for a few seconds before asking, "Did I come at a bad time?"

"There is never a bad time to come."

"Maaax." Liz said in exasperation a flush tinting the color of her skin from face to neck.

"Sorry," he said not sorry at all, her very presence had just turned his whole day around. "So, back to my original question. What are you doing here? You said you wanted to talk?

Liz went mute. Now that they were face to face she didn't know where to start.

"How about I say what's on my mind first, and then we go from there," Max suggested.

Liz nodded. And Max just stared at her, his gaze was penetrating, bordering on intense. Finally he blurted, "Look Liz, you know I like you, right?" Way to go moron! He was Max Evans, captain of the debate team, and here he sat sounding like some pre-pubescent science geek.

"I like you too Max," Liz parroted back and he immediately copped an attitude.

"Can we be serious for once?" he asked impatiently. Here he was on the verge of pouring his heart out, and she was turning it into a joke.

"That's like the pot calling the kettle black," Liz retorted, slipping swiftly into defensive mode.

Max said nothing at all for several seconds. He allowed his reproachful stare to do the talking.

Liz sighed. She was angry, at herself, she was totally botching this. "Yes Max," she finally said, "I know you like me. I like you too." She hadn't wanted to do it this way. She'd wanted to ease her way into this conversation. Why did Max always, always, have to push? More importantly, why did she have to push back?

Max heard the resentment in her voice and his eyes usually bright eyes grew somber. "I'm not the enemy here Liz. And I'm not playing games, seriously. So I like you ok, in a non-friendship, at least not exclusively, type of way. Where's the crime? I mean hey, if you don't feel the same way that's fine. Well not really," he shook his head ruefully, "but that would be my problem. All I'm saying is we need to settle this one way or another. Today. Because that whole will they won't scenario was tired back in 2003, along with Dawson's Creek."

"Wow. Way to rant. And I thought I was the girl here," Liz said smiling softly. "I guess men really do possess a few female hormones after all."

"Yeah, well, I attended Lilith Fair 97," Max winked, "Don't tell anyone."

Liz gave a sputtering laugh. "You did not."

"Did too."

Liz snickered. "Sing me one of the songs."

"I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother, I'm a sinner, I'm a saint," Max sang in near perfect rendition.

Liz nearly fell from the chair she was laughing so hard. "Are you sure you aren't gay?" She managed in between wheezes.

Max smiled. "We could always put it to the test."

"Um, no thanks. I mean not right now." Liz babbled awkwardly, once again on shaky ground. "What I meant was, I like you Max, I really do."

"Then I don't see a problem."

"I've been burned in the past," Liz stared off into the ether. "More like eviscerated," she whispered.

Max moved to kneel in front of Liz. "We've all been hurt before Liz," he said quietly. Ok, so maybe he was speaking from a hypothetical view point, but now was not the time to point that out.

Liz shook her head sadly, "Not like me."

Max wanted to deny her claim. But what did he know? "You wanna talk about it," he asked instead.

"No," Liz said softly.

"So where does this leave us?"

Liz stared at Max and wanted to say I don't know, but the earnest look in his eyes stopped her.

"Can we just…take it slow?"

Max leered. "Depends on how slow you want it."

Liz gave a slight smile. "You're going to make me regret this aren't you?"

Max smirked. "Probably."

Liz shook her head in exasperation.

"So, is a hug to fast for you?" Max lightly teased.

"A hug sounds great…"

Liz barely got the words out before she was enfolded in Max's warm embrace. Maybe, just maybe, things will work out this time, Liz thought as she rested her head on Max's shoulder.

A/N: I know this is rated teen, so I apologize if the suggestive language in this chapter offended anyone.