A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, but RL has been a real bitch. Hope people are still interested in reading this.

Disclaimer: Same.

ACT 5

Several weeks had passed since Liz begun secretly dating Max Evans. In that short time, she had become quite the proficient liar. Though a necessary evil, she absolutely hated it. Constantly lying weighed heavily on her conscious. But what other choice did she have? Never seeing Max again? Having her parents flip out? Neither was a viable option. So she would keep on lying to her family, and even Maria, whom was used frequently as an alibi without even knowing it.

Liz and Max had gotten into several arguments on the subject. He was tired of sneaking around. They had nothing to be ashamed of he had reasoned. If their families wanted to keep such a silly feud going then that was their issue. Why should the two of them have to suffer for it? He was all for telling their parent's the truth and hoping that the dust settled quickly. Liz knew it was not that simple. She only wished it was. She could never explain to Max the true degree of hatred her family felt for his. And even if she could, he still wouldn't get it. She herself had no comprehension. Until the other night…

Liz entered the house smiling happily after another wonderful, if stolen evening with Max. She was about to head straight for her room when she heard her parents talking the living room. This was unusual given the hour. True it was a Friday night, but her dad often worked Saturdays and went to bed early. Glancing down at her watch Liz noted that it was nearly eleven. Did they know? She wondered blankly. Of course they didn't. She tried to reason. But what if they do? Before Liz even realized what she was doing her feet carried her in the direction of the living room. Indecisiveness be damned.

"Goodnight, mom and dad," she paused in the doorway to say. Her fingers were crossed behind her back. Superstitious or not, she needed all the luck she could get.

"Whose car was that you got out of?" Nancy asked with a curious frown just as Liz was about to leave the room.

Damn! Had her mom seen the kiss? Now what? For about a second Liz went completely blank. But then her newly acquired talent for lying kicked in. "Huh," she asked playing dumb.

"I saw a car pull off after you entered the house. I'm almost sure it wasn't Maria's," Nancy crossed her arms.

"Oh, that was Cynthia from work," Liz said casually, though her heart raced furiously. "She gave me a ride tonight."

Nancy's frown instantly disappeared. Tyler who was home early for once smirked knowingly at Liz but said nothing. That's because he knows nothing. Liz convinced herself. Her dad who had been silent up to that point gave a sudden bitter laugh.

"I guess they've swallowed up so much of Venice it's time to move on," Jeff Parker grumbled, lowering the evening paper. "Good riddance."

"Who, dear?" Nancy asked in puzzlement. Liz was thankful for the distraction until her dad answered.

"Those damned Evans of course!"

"They're moving?" Nancy asked stupidly, while Liz wished she could quietly disappear. The last thing she wanted to hear was another rant about the Evans.

"Apparently, they've gotten so big they're moving their main branch to Los Angeles. They just keep growing and growing like a cancer, swallowing up everything in their path. I'd give my right arm to see them fall!"

"Isn't that a little extreme dad? I mean the feud's old news now. Right? I always thought it was kinda silly myself," Liz said lightly. Unfortunately, her words had the impact of a cruise missile. The living room went eerily silent. Nancy Parker sat wringing her hands anxiously while staring at her father, who stared at Liz.

"You're too young to appreciate what happened back then," Jeff said, offering Liz an out. "But the Evans are destroyers Liz. They take a man's family legacy and grind it into dust."

"But it was such a long time ago, dad. People change. Can't you let it go?" Liz's eyes were huge and imploring, though she didn't know it.

"Don't be stupid Liz!" It was Tyler who answered. "Those Evans stole our land and spat on us. As far as I'm concerned it will never be over! If I could, I'd kill them all," Tyler snarled, his blue eyes gleaming with a vicious light.

"Stop this nonsense right now!" Nancy said sharply, though apprehensively. "The whole thing is plain silly. And Liz is right. It happened a long time ago."

Jeff turned to face his wife. "Silly or not, it's Parker family history, Nancy. And you married into this family for better or worse. So don't go callin it silly," Jeff said with quiet anger. "Cause it's not silly to me."

Liz watched as her mother lower her head submissively. The once congenial atmosphere was now filled with ugly and insidious emotions. Turning on her heels, Liz exited the living room as quickly as she could.

-&-

That was two nights ago, and Liz was more resigned than ever to keep her relationship with Max a secret from her parents. Cause if they ever found out… the fallout would be…well, she did not even want to imagine.

"Let's go to Burger Barn," Liz suggested, seemingly out of nowhere. She and Maria were sitting on her bed painting thier finger nails and watching Dirty Dancing and painting their finger nails.

"What for?" Maria asked distractedly, while blowing on her nails so they would dry quicker. "You don't work on Sundays."

"Your point?"

"And the food there is crap."

"So I've heard," Liz rolled her eyes.

"So what's your motivation?"

When Liz remained silent, Maria's green eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Spill it chica," she said, and watched Liz lower her eyes to the patchwork bedspread.

"I've kinda been seeing Max Evans," Liz mumbled in a guilty rush. She just had to tell to tell someone before she burst. And using Maria as an unwitting alibi just didn't feel right anymore. Not that it ever had.

"Are you crazy?" Maria practically shouted.

"Possibly," Liz sighed.

"Or just crazy in love," Maria muttered. Beyonce's song was right on the money. Her best friend looked dazed and confused.

"So will you drive me there? Be my alibi?" Liz asked. Her parents only owned one car, which her father drove exclusively. Tyler owned an old used truck, but Liz would rather burn in hell than ride in his "ho mobile". "Please, Maria," Liz shook her friend's shoulders in desperation. "I'm supposed to meet him there at four o'clock."

"Maria sighed in exasperation. "I'll take you, but just for the record I think it's a bad idea."

"Must you sound so fatalistic?" Liz was smiling happily now that she had gotten her way.

"I'm all for adventure. But this is just…let's just go before I change my mind," Maria shook her head. She was no psychic, but even she saw deep waters ahead.

Ten minutes later, the two strode down the stairs heading for the front door. They were brought short by Nancy Parker's voice calling from the living room. "Are you going out, Liz?"

"Yeah mom," she yelled back.

"But I thought you and Maria were going to spend the day watching 80's movies," Nancy said as she stepped into the hallway, her blue eyes frowning.

"We were," Liz said. "But Stuart called and asked if I could fill in at Burger Barn for a couple of hours. Cynthia called in sick. I figured why not. I could use the money," Liz shrugged innocently.

"Ok," Nancy said trustingly, and Maria snorted.

"Sinuses," she said as Liz shot her a pointed look.

"I was just hoping we could all have dinner together," Nancy said in disappointment. "It's so rare these days."

"I'll try mom. But I can't make any promises." Liz reached for the door knob feeling somewhat ashamed.

"It doesn't matter," Nancy sighed tiredly. "Your dad got called away to the factory, and God only knows where Tyler is. Just make sure you're home by nine at the latest. Tomorrow's a school day," Nancy reminded her as the two exited the door.

-&-

"How long do we have?" Max asked Liz as soon as she climbed into the car. He'd been waiting across the street from Burger Barn when Maria dropped her off.

"A couple of hours at least," Liz said, sounding giddy from both anticipation and fear. Anticipation because she hadn't seen Max for two days, and fear of being discovered. They had been getting pretty sloppy lately. And Maria's grim faced warnings on the way over hadn't helped either.

"What's wrong?" Max asked, noting the dip in her voice at the end.

"Nothing." Liz shook her head while staring down at her newly colored fingernails.

Max sighed, but said nothing as he continued to drive. He was quickly losing patience with the whole situation. There was only so much a guy could take. In a few weeks he would be graduating from college, officially a man. And here he was participating in juvenile behavior. Sneaking around and lying. That's what you get for falling in love with a high school student. Max's inner voice mocked him. As if he had had a choice in the matter.

The two were quiet for the remainder of the ride. It was only after Max parked at the lake the two of them begun to relax. The soothing atmosphere went a long way in erasing the tension that had sprung up between the two.

"So what do you wanna do for your birthday next week?" Max asked, turning to face Liz. The light from the moon lent her face a luminous angelic like appearance, and in that moment Max felt a surge of love so strong it made all of their problems worthwhile.

"I don't really care. As long as I get to spend it with you."

"You think it'll be possible. I mean it's your eighteenth birthday. Haven't you parents made plans?"

"Not really." Liz shrugged. "We're not real big on celebrations. I'm sure my mom will bake a cake and fix my favorite for dinner. But that's about it."

"Then it's up to me to add the festivities," Max smiled wickedly.

"And just what did you have in mind?" Liz graced him with a wicked smile of her own.

"Well, since you need specifics," Max leaned forward to cup her face. "It will begin something like this—"

And then he was kissing her. No, more like devouring her. Flicking his tongue in and out of her mouth imitating a mating ritual as old as time itself. There was a shift in positions, and Liz found herself straddling Max's lap as she returned his kisses with equal fervor. The friction of his jeans clad legs rubbed sensuously against her bare thighs as her skirt rode up.

Max was quickly losing control of the situation as Liz thighs begin to clinch around his hips. What started out as a preview was quickly turning into the main event. And Max wasn't prepared to go there. At least not yet. He and Liz had discussed this before hand and had decided to wait until she was eighteen before they made love. The last thing in the world Max wanted to do was provide the Parkers with more ammunition against the Evans family. He could easily imagine them having him charged with statutory rape if they ever found out.

"Liz…we need to stop," Max whispered harshly as his lips broke from hers.

"Uh, huh," she mumbled breathlessly as her lips began to navigate the side of his neck, licking and biting along the way.

"Liz…"

"Max…"

Unable to stand another second, Max physically separated their bodies by lifting Liz off of his lap.

"Killjoy," Liz pouted prettily in the darkened car.

Max smiled wryly before discretely adjusting himself. When he was done, he wrapped his arm around Liz's shoulders hugging her to his side.

"Max," Liz whispered into his shoulder as they sat in quiet contemplation.

"Hmm?"

"I love you so much."

"I love you too," Max whispered, laying a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Tbc

A/N: This chapter has been done for about a week now, but I kept tweaking do to dissatisfaction. I'm still not satisfied but here it is. I know I've been saying this for a few chapters now, but the shit is about to hit the fan very soon. So stay tuned and review.