A/N: The reviews for the last few chapters have been incredible. I hope I continue to meet everyone's expectations.
Disclaimer: The usual.
Chapter: 15 You're Still Here
Liz crossed her arms defensively at her waist as she stared blankly at Max. What more could they possible have to say to each other? Why couldn't Max face the fact that their relationship had been doomed from the start? Better yet, why couldn't she. Liz had told herself that it was over, that she and Max could never be. Yet, her heart had leapt at the sight of him when she opened the door. Liz gave a low humorless laugh at the impossibility of it all.
"This is a really bad idea," she stated and then stood aside to let him in.
"Duly noted," Max said with a half-hearted smile before stepping inside the room. He looked around questioningly, "Are we alone?" he asked noting Maria's absence.
"Yes. But she'll be back soon," Liz lied without shame. There was no way her heart could withstand a scene like the other day.
"Let's get out of here then. Go for a walk," Max suggested.
Liz stared at him like he was crazy. "You do realize that it's December."
"That's why coats were invented," he drawled. "Besides, it not that cold."
Liz gave him an exasperated look.
"We can stop at Campus Coffee and get something hot to drink," Max said persuasively, blinking innocently.
"Fine, but you can stop with the innocent looks. You haven't been innocent since the womb."
Max chuckled then winked, and Liz had to catch her breath.
"I just need to um…grab a coat from the closet," she stammered.
"Some shoes might be nice," Max glanced pointedly at her sock covered feet.
Liz looked down at her feet and blushed. "Right," she shook her head, and then headed for the closet.
"Let's go," she said a few minutes later wearing a black pea-coat and red vans.
"I've never seen those before," Max said alluding to the brightly colored sneakers on Liz's feet.
"Yeah well, you've never seen me naked either," Liz said flippantly, brushing past Max as she headed for the door. Glancing back, she noted the stunned look on his face and it made her smirk. "You coming or what?" She asked with wide-eyed innocence.
They walked silently across the campus. It was like neither of them knew where to begin. Or if they did know, they were too afraid of upsetting their unspoken truce. Liz knew this wouldn't last for long.
She was right.
"Liz…" Max turned to face her, his voice was intense and his expression sincere. "If I want to be with you, and you want to be with me. Then nothing and no one can stand in the way of that. Nothing else matters."
"Max—"
"—No. Just listen to me for seconds. I know I said we were too different to be together. But I was wrong. I've been wrong about a lot of things lately. Who to trust. Who my real friends are. But not about you. Not about this. Not about us." Max's amber colored eyes pleaded with Liz to believe him
"Those are just words Max," Liz cried. No matter how much she wanted to believe them. "It's not that simple. It never was." She blinked rapidly to stop tears from falling. "Have you forgotten your speech from the other day? Cause I was there, and I haven't, and I know you meant every single word." Liz didn't want Max to change his beliefs for me. She was't worth it.
Max ran a frustrated hand through his hair; this was not going as planned. Glancing around, he spotted a bench under a huge Magnolia tree less than five feet away. He took Liz gently by the hand and led her over to it, and the two of them sat down.
"You're right," He began without preamble, "I did mean every word I said the other day."
Liz felt her heart plummet.
"But that speech was written before I knew about your abortion—before I knew—how I really felt about you." Max held Liz's hands cupped within his own.
Liz's eyes were huge and shadowed as she shook her head. "That doesn't erase the contents, Max."
"But it does the context. Please—just let me explain," Max begged when Liz opened her mouth to object. "See, I didn't really get it myself until I spoke with my mother earlier today. She clarified a few things for me."
Liz stared a Max skeptically. What could Diane Evans clarify for anyone?The woman had not exactly impressed upon their one and only meeting. Maybe she had some redeeming qualities, but Liz doubted that. Any mother who sat idly by while her husband tried to brow beat their son into submission, was unworthy in Liz's book. And maybe she was a harsh judge of character, but after everything she'd been through, could anyone blame her.
Max noticed the look on Liz's face and he knew exactly what she was thinking. He was angry for about a second, and then he shrugged it away. Because his anger was unjustified. He had felt the same way about his mother, before really talking to her. But afterwards, he'd gained a brand new outlook, a brand new insight on—everything. He only hoped that he and Liz could benefit from it.
"All my life I thought my mom was just this…mindless robot. Some brain-dead politician's wife." He continued, even when Liz flushed guiltily. "But I was wrong."
"What does any of that have to do with us Max?" Liz asked confusedly.
"Everything." He stared off into space as leaves wrested at their feet. Turning to face Liz he said, "It made me realize something about myself. I always thought that I was the type of person who saw things five steps ahead." Max shrugged ruefully. "Instead, I'm really, really, shortsighted. I get so caught up in wanting things to be the way I think they ought to be, that I lose sight of anyone else's view point. I guess I'm just like my dad after all," he said hollowly.
"That's not true Max." Liz jumped instantly to his defense. "You are nothing like your father. Pardon me, but your dad is a self righteous prick. And that's not the only difference between the two of you, Max. You are one of the most honest people I know, where as your father likes to play mind games. Besides that, you genuinely care about people, about their feelings." And Liz seriously doubted Phillip Evans ever cared about anyone. "You—"
Max held up his hand in a shushing manner. "I appreciate what you're trying to do but—"
"I meant every word," Liz said softly.
"I know you did," Max said just as softly. The wind blew a strand of hair across Liz's face and Max reached out to tuck it behind her ear.
"You had a…" Max began
"Hair thing," Liz completed and then they both laughed.
"Déjà vu," Liz said and Max nodded in agreement.
"It's getting kind of cold. You want to finish this somewhere else?" Max asked.
"Campus Coffee," Liz suggested then gave a startled yelp when Max grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to her feet. The two of them walked hand and hand along the tree lined pathway, heading in the direction of the coffee house. Nothing of any real consequence had been discussed or even resolved, and yet Liz felt an unmistakable certainty that could not be shaken. She knew, somehow, that it would all work out.
"So," Liz said playing with the tab on her coffee cup lid.
"So," Max echoed eyeing her with a huge smile.
Liz took a sip of her coffee then asked in a rush, "Are we really going to do this Max?"
"Looks like," He answered casually and then took a sip from his own cup.
Liz giggled when Max frowned. "Bad choice?"
"The worst," Max he said with a smile. In the past hour, he and Liz had discussed choices, good and bad, perceived vs. unperceived, and what it meant to compromise. Surprisingly enough, he and Liz shared a lot of the same views.
Liz smiled as she watched Max attempt drinking a banana latte. She'd argued that some things just weren't compatible. But had he listened? No. But that was the weird thing about relationships, Liz was learning. No one was always right and no one was always wrong. The truth often lay somewhere in the middle. And while she and Max would never agree when it came to the subject of abortion, the two had agreed to let bygones be bygones. Besides that topic, she and Max had plenty in common, and they would build on that.
"So what's your take on Stem Cell research?" Liz asked glancing over at Max.
He smiled wryly. "Is this a relationship or a political debate? Because I don't do politics."
"Oh?" Liz blinked innocently. "And just what do you do?"
"Why Ms. Parker, I'm shocked and appalled. I thought you were a feminist.
"I am," she smiled mysteriously, before leaning over to plant an aggressive kiss on Max's lips.
You see everything, you see every part
You see all my light and you love my dark
You dig everything of which I'm ashamed
There's not anything which you can't relate
And you're still here...
