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Daisy, Cheri and Patty!! Thank you so much for leaving feedback...it's what keeps me posting!!
[b]Chapter 7[/b]
Maria suspiciously followed Liz around the CrashDown with her eyes. There were something different about her friend. She had a certain glow about her. She had been difficult to contact all day. Either she was standing with a far away look in her eyes or she was cleaning something (not so dreamy) with a dreamy smile on her face. The only time she had come alive had been when she seconds before Max entered the restaurant (like she knew that he was coming, Maria had noticed) had turned towards the doors to see him enter. Maria narrowed her eyes when she saw Liz's whole face shine up with a glow that seemed to originate from her inside.
Since Max had made his appearance in the restaurant, Liz and Max had not lost eye-contact for more than one minute apart. Maria caught Liz by the elbow when she returned to place her order.
"You did something!" she accused.
"That's none of your business," Liz said. "Okay, she's still angry with me," Maria thought.
"I'm just worried about you, Liz!"
"Don't! I'm okay. You know Max. He would never intentionally hurt me."
"Keyword here; [i]intentionally[/i]. No, I don't think he would intentionally hurt you. But listen to me Liz. Fact one: Max didn't want to be with you in the beginning because he thought he was putting you in danger. He wanted to protect you from getting hurt - but you was hurt anyway. Fact two: When Max and you finally crossed that line and got together, he broke up with you before you even got started. Once again - because he was afraid he was going to hurt you. And, guess what? He hurt you even more because of it." Liz opened her mouth to protest but Maria put up a finger in front of Liz's face silencing her. "Fact three: You two got together again, but Max kissed Tess and he hurt you. You see a pattern here, Liz?" Before Liz had a chance to answer Maria continued.
"Fact four: You found out that Max had a whole other destiny - with his alien bitch Tess. You left him - and you were both hurting. Fact five: Max went on Liz Parker-chase - wanting you back and when you were sort of given the green flag by Madame Vivian a Max from the future decides to drop in and announce to you that your love meant the end of the world in all its pomp and circumstance, something which you probably haven't told Max yet." Maria watched a guilty expression flash over Liz's face, "Fact six: You make Max believe that you slept with Kyle - hurting him tremendously. Fact seven-"
"Is there a point to all this?" Liz asked, her good mood starting to disappear.
"I'll get to it," Maria said. "As I was saying. Fact seven. You to get together again and this is where we are at the present. You two are once again completely lost in each other - perhaps now more than ever. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I'm afraid that you'll get hurt again. You are way into deep this time and I don't feel like picking up the pieces of your broken heart, when Max decides to do something else to 'protect' you!"
Liz stepped up to Maria and enveloped her in a big hug. "Thank you," Liz whispered in Maria's ear. To say that Maria was surprised would be an understatement. She had expected Liz to give her the silence treatment, or even yell at her - but she had never for the world expected this. Liz pulled back and Maria could see that she had tears in her eyes.
"Are you ok-" Maria started, afraid that in her efforts to proving her point to Liz had hurt her feelings.
"Maria," Liz interrupted, ignoring Maria's question. "Thank you...for, you know, looking out for me. And you're actually right - we have hurt each other. A lot. I don't expect you to pick up the pieces of my broken heart. But for perhaps the first time in my life I'm following my heart. Grandma Claudia told me that - did I tell you that?" Maria shook her head. "I promised her to follow my heart. I have a feeling that it's a good advice...and my heart tells me that I should be with Max. I don't expect not to be hurt - Grandma told me that that's how you know he's your soulmate. 'If it's not complicated - then he's probably not your soulmate' she said."
"And it sure is complicated," Maria said.
"Maria," Liz said and took Maria's hand in both of hers. "I appreciate that you are looking out for me - and I don't want you to stop doing that - but you need to let me make my own decisions, make my own mistakes."
"Right, gottcha," Maria said and brushed away a single tear that had slid down Liz's cheek. "And don't cry - you don't want to get me started."
"Deal," Liz said and smiled.
"So, what do you say about renting a real chick flick and stuffing ourselves full with unhealthy stuff," Maria said.
"Oh, Max and I..."
"Oh, come on Liz. We need this. I'm telling you. You will soon suffer testosterone overload if you don't watch out."
"Okay, okay," Liz said, laughing.
"Great, my place - sevenish?"
"It's a date," Liz said.
---------------------------------------------------------------.
Liz was feeling weird and it was not due to what had transpired between her and Max the other night. It was not even due to the fact that Max and she had crossed several levels the other night and she still hadn't told him the truth about Kyle. No, it was something different today - she was feeling jumpy - paranoid - like something was going to happen, soon. For about the hundredth time that day Liz made her way over to the booth where Max had spent most of his day already. She had a need to see him - or more correctly - to touch him. He followed her approach with his eyes. Liz sat down on his lap and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"That's all?" Max murmured, burying his fingers in her soft long hair.
"You want something else?" Liz asked.
"Uh hu," Max said, using the hand buried in her hair to pull her face closer to his. Their lips locked and the surroundings were immediately forgotten.
They were broken apart by someone clearing his throat and Max was shocked to see Mr. Parker standing there, staring them (or Max more precisely) down.
"Oh, hi Dad," Liz said.
"Hi Lizzie," Mr. Parker said. "Max."
"Hi, Mr. Parker," Max said, his face now a crimson red.
"Honey, I think you're on the clock - customers are waiting to order," Mr. Parker said, his voice dangerously calm.
Liz looked around the CrashDown - finding no new customers. However, she got the message loud and clear.
"Of course, Dad," she said, and slipped off Max's lap.
It was about then that the door jingled - announcing a new customer. Kyle stepped in, with Tess by his side. Liz's emotions went skyrocket. She eyed Tess suspiciously. Tess was her normal (fake) self - laughing and joking with Kyle.
"Hi Liz," Kyle greeted and seated himself across from Max. "Hi Max."
"Hi Max," Tess said softly as she positioned herself next to Kyle. "Still flirting," Liz thought. Tess's eyes left Max and drifted to the girl standing next to him. A surge of jealousy floated through her. Liz was standing far too close to Max. Looking at them more closely they actually looked [i]very[/i] comfortable around each other.
"Oh, hi Liz," Tess said, finally taking notice of her.
"Hi, Tess," Liz answered, not missing the coldness Tess's voice was laced with.
Through their connection, Max could feel the change in Liz's emotions. He resisted the need to look at her. He felt that it would be the wrong thing to do - under Tess's prying looks.
"So, what are you up to?" Kyle asked.
"Just hanging out," Max answered.
"Can I get you guys anything," Liz asked.
"Just a coke for me," Kyle said.
"Cherry coke," Tess said.
"I'll help you," Max said, stood up and followed Liz towards the counter. When they were out of earshot, Max slipped his hand inside of Liz's - hiding his actions for whoever might be looking (in other words; Tess) with his body.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice.
"I have had this feeling all day - that something is going to happen," Liz said, automatically feeling her desire awakening at Max's innocent touch. She got the sudden urge to attack him (even if they were in the middle of a restaurant with several people around - eating) and to rip off his clothes and make things to him that-
"Liz?" Max asked, his face masked with concern.
"Let's get out of here," Liz said.
"But your father..." Max said.
"He'll be fine," Liz said.
"That's not exactly what I meant."
"I know what you meant, now come here." She tugged on his hand and they went out into the employers only area. When the swinging doors closed behind them Liz practically jumped Max.
Max could sense her desperation through the connection and wondered for a brief second what was wrong. But as Liz's tongue found its way inside his mouth, seeking out all its hidden corners, his desire for her took over. He could feel the possessiveness in her kisses, claiming him as hers and that possessiveness awoke something primal inside of him - a need to protect her against everything. While kissing him fiercely Liz pressed her body up against his, pushing him backwards in the process. Soon Max found himself with his back against the lockers. After last night their connection had grown stronger. When they were touching now they could somehow 'sense' the other's thoughts. The connection flared open and images assailed them. Images of their moments together, mixed with Liz's and Max's thoughts and feelings at the moment.
Liz's feelings of despair slammed into him. Liz was scared, Max noted. Afraid of losing him, afraid of losing everything they had been able to build up during these few days. Then he started seeing images from her nightmares. Shocked of seeing himself do those things to her, he tried to pull away only to have Liz's grip tightened on him. He felt his own fear take a hold on him as he witnessed Liz being murdered and he could feel all of her feelings - he could feel her dying, slipping away from him. He cradled her head in his hands, wanting her closer to him to reassure himself that she was okay. He could taste her salty tears. She was whimpering in his mouth - slowly falling apart.
Feeling completely powerless, Max pulled his lips away from hers and cradled her closely to his chest. She was crying openly now and Max could feel his own tears starting to pool in his eyes. Weak from their emotions going overload, they sank to the floor holding on to each other. Max was petrified that he was going to lose her. He had [i]felt[/i] Liz's nightmare and the whole atmosphere of Liz's nightmare was different from ordinary dreams. It felt like it was more than a dream, more like a warning.
Max reached for her through their connection and started sending her reassuring images of people that loved her, that she loved, images of the two of them together, while he gently rocked her sobbing figure in his arms. After a while she started to calm down.
"I'm sorry," she whispered in a thin voice. "I didn't mean to jump you, I just..."
"You needed to," Max said gently, putting two fingers under her chin, forcing her to look up into his eyes.
"I needed [i]you[/i]," Liz said.
Max's heart ached. "God, I can't lose her - she's my whole world, my everything," he thought.
"Don't apologize Liz," Max said softly. "I [i]want[/i] you to come to me when you feel like this. Whatever the problem is, we'll work it out together, okay?"
Liz nodded.
"Okay," Max repeated to himself with a sigh. "You have to be extra careful now, Liz!" Liz didn't even smile as Max's over-protective nature kicked in, the situation was far too serious for that.
"I know," she said, her voice so thin that Max almost didn't hear her.
Max gently started to kiss Liz's tears away, smothering her face with small kisses.
"I guess we should get back out there, before your father decides he wants to punish me with some horrible method for taking his baby girl away from him," Max said, helping Liz up.
"He would never do that." Liz smiled.
"I really don't wanna find out either," Max said.
TBC...
Daisy, Cheri and Patty!! Thank you so much for leaving feedback...it's what keeps me posting!!
[b]Chapter 7[/b]
Maria suspiciously followed Liz around the CrashDown with her eyes. There were something different about her friend. She had a certain glow about her. She had been difficult to contact all day. Either she was standing with a far away look in her eyes or she was cleaning something (not so dreamy) with a dreamy smile on her face. The only time she had come alive had been when she seconds before Max entered the restaurant (like she knew that he was coming, Maria had noticed) had turned towards the doors to see him enter. Maria narrowed her eyes when she saw Liz's whole face shine up with a glow that seemed to originate from her inside.
Since Max had made his appearance in the restaurant, Liz and Max had not lost eye-contact for more than one minute apart. Maria caught Liz by the elbow when she returned to place her order.
"You did something!" she accused.
"That's none of your business," Liz said. "Okay, she's still angry with me," Maria thought.
"I'm just worried about you, Liz!"
"Don't! I'm okay. You know Max. He would never intentionally hurt me."
"Keyword here; [i]intentionally[/i]. No, I don't think he would intentionally hurt you. But listen to me Liz. Fact one: Max didn't want to be with you in the beginning because he thought he was putting you in danger. He wanted to protect you from getting hurt - but you was hurt anyway. Fact two: When Max and you finally crossed that line and got together, he broke up with you before you even got started. Once again - because he was afraid he was going to hurt you. And, guess what? He hurt you even more because of it." Liz opened her mouth to protest but Maria put up a finger in front of Liz's face silencing her. "Fact three: You two got together again, but Max kissed Tess and he hurt you. You see a pattern here, Liz?" Before Liz had a chance to answer Maria continued.
"Fact four: You found out that Max had a whole other destiny - with his alien bitch Tess. You left him - and you were both hurting. Fact five: Max went on Liz Parker-chase - wanting you back and when you were sort of given the green flag by Madame Vivian a Max from the future decides to drop in and announce to you that your love meant the end of the world in all its pomp and circumstance, something which you probably haven't told Max yet." Maria watched a guilty expression flash over Liz's face, "Fact six: You make Max believe that you slept with Kyle - hurting him tremendously. Fact seven-"
"Is there a point to all this?" Liz asked, her good mood starting to disappear.
"I'll get to it," Maria said. "As I was saying. Fact seven. You to get together again and this is where we are at the present. You two are once again completely lost in each other - perhaps now more than ever. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I'm afraid that you'll get hurt again. You are way into deep this time and I don't feel like picking up the pieces of your broken heart, when Max decides to do something else to 'protect' you!"
Liz stepped up to Maria and enveloped her in a big hug. "Thank you," Liz whispered in Maria's ear. To say that Maria was surprised would be an understatement. She had expected Liz to give her the silence treatment, or even yell at her - but she had never for the world expected this. Liz pulled back and Maria could see that she had tears in her eyes.
"Are you ok-" Maria started, afraid that in her efforts to proving her point to Liz had hurt her feelings.
"Maria," Liz interrupted, ignoring Maria's question. "Thank you...for, you know, looking out for me. And you're actually right - we have hurt each other. A lot. I don't expect you to pick up the pieces of my broken heart. But for perhaps the first time in my life I'm following my heart. Grandma Claudia told me that - did I tell you that?" Maria shook her head. "I promised her to follow my heart. I have a feeling that it's a good advice...and my heart tells me that I should be with Max. I don't expect not to be hurt - Grandma told me that that's how you know he's your soulmate. 'If it's not complicated - then he's probably not your soulmate' she said."
"And it sure is complicated," Maria said.
"Maria," Liz said and took Maria's hand in both of hers. "I appreciate that you are looking out for me - and I don't want you to stop doing that - but you need to let me make my own decisions, make my own mistakes."
"Right, gottcha," Maria said and brushed away a single tear that had slid down Liz's cheek. "And don't cry - you don't want to get me started."
"Deal," Liz said and smiled.
"So, what do you say about renting a real chick flick and stuffing ourselves full with unhealthy stuff," Maria said.
"Oh, Max and I..."
"Oh, come on Liz. We need this. I'm telling you. You will soon suffer testosterone overload if you don't watch out."
"Okay, okay," Liz said, laughing.
"Great, my place - sevenish?"
"It's a date," Liz said.
---------------------------------------------------------------.
Liz was feeling weird and it was not due to what had transpired between her and Max the other night. It was not even due to the fact that Max and she had crossed several levels the other night and she still hadn't told him the truth about Kyle. No, it was something different today - she was feeling jumpy - paranoid - like something was going to happen, soon. For about the hundredth time that day Liz made her way over to the booth where Max had spent most of his day already. She had a need to see him - or more correctly - to touch him. He followed her approach with his eyes. Liz sat down on his lap and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"That's all?" Max murmured, burying his fingers in her soft long hair.
"You want something else?" Liz asked.
"Uh hu," Max said, using the hand buried in her hair to pull her face closer to his. Their lips locked and the surroundings were immediately forgotten.
They were broken apart by someone clearing his throat and Max was shocked to see Mr. Parker standing there, staring them (or Max more precisely) down.
"Oh, hi Dad," Liz said.
"Hi Lizzie," Mr. Parker said. "Max."
"Hi, Mr. Parker," Max said, his face now a crimson red.
"Honey, I think you're on the clock - customers are waiting to order," Mr. Parker said, his voice dangerously calm.
Liz looked around the CrashDown - finding no new customers. However, she got the message loud and clear.
"Of course, Dad," she said, and slipped off Max's lap.
It was about then that the door jingled - announcing a new customer. Kyle stepped in, with Tess by his side. Liz's emotions went skyrocket. She eyed Tess suspiciously. Tess was her normal (fake) self - laughing and joking with Kyle.
"Hi Liz," Kyle greeted and seated himself across from Max. "Hi Max."
"Hi Max," Tess said softly as she positioned herself next to Kyle. "Still flirting," Liz thought. Tess's eyes left Max and drifted to the girl standing next to him. A surge of jealousy floated through her. Liz was standing far too close to Max. Looking at them more closely they actually looked [i]very[/i] comfortable around each other.
"Oh, hi Liz," Tess said, finally taking notice of her.
"Hi, Tess," Liz answered, not missing the coldness Tess's voice was laced with.
Through their connection, Max could feel the change in Liz's emotions. He resisted the need to look at her. He felt that it would be the wrong thing to do - under Tess's prying looks.
"So, what are you up to?" Kyle asked.
"Just hanging out," Max answered.
"Can I get you guys anything," Liz asked.
"Just a coke for me," Kyle said.
"Cherry coke," Tess said.
"I'll help you," Max said, stood up and followed Liz towards the counter. When they were out of earshot, Max slipped his hand inside of Liz's - hiding his actions for whoever might be looking (in other words; Tess) with his body.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice.
"I have had this feeling all day - that something is going to happen," Liz said, automatically feeling her desire awakening at Max's innocent touch. She got the sudden urge to attack him (even if they were in the middle of a restaurant with several people around - eating) and to rip off his clothes and make things to him that-
"Liz?" Max asked, his face masked with concern.
"Let's get out of here," Liz said.
"But your father..." Max said.
"He'll be fine," Liz said.
"That's not exactly what I meant."
"I know what you meant, now come here." She tugged on his hand and they went out into the employers only area. When the swinging doors closed behind them Liz practically jumped Max.
Max could sense her desperation through the connection and wondered for a brief second what was wrong. But as Liz's tongue found its way inside his mouth, seeking out all its hidden corners, his desire for her took over. He could feel the possessiveness in her kisses, claiming him as hers and that possessiveness awoke something primal inside of him - a need to protect her against everything. While kissing him fiercely Liz pressed her body up against his, pushing him backwards in the process. Soon Max found himself with his back against the lockers. After last night their connection had grown stronger. When they were touching now they could somehow 'sense' the other's thoughts. The connection flared open and images assailed them. Images of their moments together, mixed with Liz's and Max's thoughts and feelings at the moment.
Liz's feelings of despair slammed into him. Liz was scared, Max noted. Afraid of losing him, afraid of losing everything they had been able to build up during these few days. Then he started seeing images from her nightmares. Shocked of seeing himself do those things to her, he tried to pull away only to have Liz's grip tightened on him. He felt his own fear take a hold on him as he witnessed Liz being murdered and he could feel all of her feelings - he could feel her dying, slipping away from him. He cradled her head in his hands, wanting her closer to him to reassure himself that she was okay. He could taste her salty tears. She was whimpering in his mouth - slowly falling apart.
Feeling completely powerless, Max pulled his lips away from hers and cradled her closely to his chest. She was crying openly now and Max could feel his own tears starting to pool in his eyes. Weak from their emotions going overload, they sank to the floor holding on to each other. Max was petrified that he was going to lose her. He had [i]felt[/i] Liz's nightmare and the whole atmosphere of Liz's nightmare was different from ordinary dreams. It felt like it was more than a dream, more like a warning.
Max reached for her through their connection and started sending her reassuring images of people that loved her, that she loved, images of the two of them together, while he gently rocked her sobbing figure in his arms. After a while she started to calm down.
"I'm sorry," she whispered in a thin voice. "I didn't mean to jump you, I just..."
"You needed to," Max said gently, putting two fingers under her chin, forcing her to look up into his eyes.
"I needed [i]you[/i]," Liz said.
Max's heart ached. "God, I can't lose her - she's my whole world, my everything," he thought.
"Don't apologize Liz," Max said softly. "I [i]want[/i] you to come to me when you feel like this. Whatever the problem is, we'll work it out together, okay?"
Liz nodded.
"Okay," Max repeated to himself with a sigh. "You have to be extra careful now, Liz!" Liz didn't even smile as Max's over-protective nature kicked in, the situation was far too serious for that.
"I know," she said, her voice so thin that Max almost didn't hear her.
Max gently started to kiss Liz's tears away, smothering her face with small kisses.
"I guess we should get back out there, before your father decides he wants to punish me with some horrible method for taking his baby girl away from him," Max said, helping Liz up.
"He would never do that." Liz smiled.
"I really don't wanna find out either," Max said.
TBC...