Author: Martina G
Disclaimer: Same.
Chapter: 3 ACT 2
FLASHBACK CONTINUED:
"You didn't have to talk for me," Liz argued. "I can speak for myself." Now that they were driving home in Maria's car, the shock was beginning to wear off.
"Yeah? Because it looked to me like you were giving your best imitation of a mute," Maria said acidly, as the windshield wipers on her Jetta worked overtime. "Never thought I'd see the day you'd be kissing an Evans." Maria was well aware of their history.
"How was I supposed to know who he was? For that matter, how did you?" Liz looked to Maria for clarification.
"I've seen him around," Maria shrugged.
"Why haven't I?" Liz looked puzzled.
"Cause you don't look at guys! Lord, but I nearly lost it when I saw you kissing Max Evans."
"God!" Liz exclaimed tensely. "What am I gonna do?"
Maria arched a blonde brow. "How is it that you two never exchanged names? That's what I'd like to know."
Liz flushed guiltyly. "So we didn't spend all of our time talking."
"I bet."
"Mariaaa! You're not exactly helping here."
"Sorry. But the look on his face was classic." Maria shook her head in wry amusement.
Liz was far from being amused. Max had looked staggered. Like he'd been smacked by a two by four. Her own expression had to have mirrored the same. The only reason she'd been able to save face was because Maria had hustled out of there, while shouting to Michael that she would hook up with him later. What was she to do? Liz wondered. There was no way in hell her family would ever condone she and Max having a relationship. Not when they blamed the Evans' for the downfall of all they held sacred.
"So what are you gonna do?"
Liz gave a tight lipped shrug.
"What if he calls?" Maria gave a mock shudder.
"He won't."
"What if he does?"
"He won't!" Liz stubbornly denied. "After all I'm a Parker."
"Yeah, and denial is just a river," Maria scoffed. "I'm no expert, but that kisshardly seemed casual."
"Would you please just drop it?"
"Fine. But tell me this. Does he know where you live?"
"I don't think so," Liz said, though failed to mentionthat she had told Max where she worked.
"Let's hope not. I'd hate to be a fly on the wall if he and Tyler ever met," Maria's shudder was real this time.
Twenty minutes later Liz arrived home. Glancing at her wristwatch, she noted that it was only slightly after ten, and rushed straight up to her bedroom. The last thing in the world she needed was an inquisition from her parent's about why she was home so early on a Friday night. Her usual curfew was midnight on weekends. Flopping back onto her bed with a sigh, Liz went over the in her head the various obstacles that stood in the path of she and Max having a relationship.
There was her family to consider. Her hard working father who worked ten to twelve hour days as the Manager of a fertilizer factory, because his college degree in agriculture had been rendered useless. And her mother…her mother who seemed worried all time, though she tried her best to hide it. But worst of all was her brother Tyler, who was five years her senior and a serious malcontent.
Nothing was ever good enough for him. Not the college he had dropped out of, nor the small but neat house they lived in, or the job their father had gotten him at the factory. He spent all his time dwelling on the life he should have had, instead of the life he did. When he wasn't out drinking that is. And hanging with a crowd that was in Liz's opinion unfit for human society. As she drifted off to sleep, Liz agreed with Maria on one thing. Tyler and Max must never meet.
-&-
Traipsing across wet grass, Max veered from the family home and headed in the direction of the guesthouse. He needed some alone time to clear his head. Entering the house quietly, Max threw his keys on the hallway table and made his way towards the living room. Once there, he tossed his leather jacket onto a chair and dropped down onto one of the chintz sofas. What a night! He thought. The first interesting girl he'd meet in like forever, and she was a Parker.
Max's family had a history with the Parker's that was well documented. And even though he had never crossed paths with any of them, he knew the story well. Supposedly, his father and Jeff Parker had been friends in college. Several years later, Jeff Parker had come to his father for help. Breaking his number one rule of never mixing business with friends, Phillip had loaned Jeff Parker the much needed funding he sought. Little more than a year later Jeff Parker had fallen behind in his payments, and the Evans Bank and Trust was forced to foreclose. From that day forward, Jeff Parker had made it his life's work to slander their family's good name. Thus the reason for Max's current conundrum.
What in the hell was he going to do? Max's father would flip his wig literally, if he ever got wind of tonight's events. And then there was the added problem of Max being four years older than Liz. Can you say jailbait? Max's brother Steven, who was older by a year, would laugh himself silly at Max's current situation. Then again maybe he wouldn't. Steven had changed since breaking up with his college sweetheart last year. He now considered all women to be good for nothing gold digging bitches. Max could just imagine what he'd think of Liz. Something had to give, was Max's last thought as he fell into a dreamless sleep.
-&-
"Welcome to Burger Barn. May I take your order?" Liz asked, as she worked the cash register the following Saturday afternoon. She'd been working since about 10 am that morning, and as itquickly neared the end of her four hour shift, she was hot, irritated, and just plain wanted to go home.
"Does a chocolate chip cookie come with the kid's meal?"
"No, it doesn't," Liz answered the heavyset woman patiently and watched as she frowned.
"Why not?"
"It just doesn't."
"Would you like to order one separately?"
"How much extra does it cost?" The woman asked, peering at Liz suspiciously.
"They're seventy-five cents a piece."
"That's freaking highway robbery. McDonalds sells them two for a dollar," the woman huffed.
Then maybe you should go to McDonald's lardass! Liz thought, and was instantly contrite. But hell, the woman didn't even have a child with her. For all Liz knew she wanted the kids meal and cookie for herself. It wouldn't be the first time.
"Mame?"
"Fine."
Quickly ringing up the order, Liz got rid of the woman as fast as she could. Just ten more minutes and she could close her drawer and ring-out for the day.
"May I help you?" Liz asked the next customer while staring at the register distractedly.
"Yeah. I'll have two super burger combo's to go," said the sexy male voice.
Liz's head's flew up so quickly she nearly got whiplash. "Max!" Her voice rang with giddy surprise.
A/N: Hope this chapter wasn't too boring. It was more transitional than anything. So keep reading, cause things are about to get very interesting. And very angsty. Btw, thanks a million for all the reviews. They only serve to make me write faster. So you guys know what to do. LOL.
