Chapter 2
Okay Liz. It's now or never!
The lunch bell sounds as masses of Liz's classmates muddle through each other toward the courtyard of Roswell High. Hurriedly searching the large crowd of people in the hall, she scans back and forth looking for Max.
Finally she catches sight of him.
She weaves through a group of her fellow classmates in a hurry to catch him before Michael or Isabel got a hold of him. She might never get a chance to talk to him alone if that happened.
Breathing a sigh of relief when she catches up to him, she grips her books closer to her chest nervously.
"Max!" she calls in anticipation.
Hearing his name in the din of the lunch crowd, Max turns around to face her. Once he notices it's her who's calling his name he stops and shoves his hands in his pockets.
"Hey," he greets with a shy smile.
"Hey."
"What's up Liz? Is everything ok?"
She helplessly struggles for the right words, "Um, yeah. I was just wondering if, uh, you could…
God! This was so much easier in my head!
"Liz?" his voice holds a level of amusement. He'd never seen her so speechless before…not even when he'd told her he was from another planet.
He didn't know what…if anything…was wrong. She certainly sounded unsure of herself. But then that look in her eyes, and the way she seemed to be drinking in his appearance told him something completely different all together. It was something he had trouble describing, almost as if she knew exactly what she wanted, and she was determined to get it.
"Liz?" he asks again with a smile. His voice this time pulls her out of her daze as she brings her eyes up to focus more clearly on his.
"Liz, are you ok?"
"Hmm?" shaking her head sharply to pull her thoughts and her courage together, "Yeah sorry. I was just thinking."
"About what? You were about to ask me something before you zoned out on me," he lightly teases and she laughs in slight embarrassment. Looking back up at him she's rewarded by one of his rare and precious grins. Her gaze softens at the sight and suddenly she becomes surer of herself.
She was determined to see more of those looks from him.
"Max, could we meet up later? I really need to talk to you."
Turning slightly more serious, Max looks at her, "I don't know Liz. I'm not sure that's such a good idea…not with everything that's been going on lately. I mean, I thought we agreed to lay low for awhile."
"Yeah, I know we did. But nothing suspicious has happened, and it's been over a week now since you healed me. I know you're worried Max, but I don't think we'd be risking anything by acting like normal teenagers...do you Max?"
Staring down at her he realizes he's barely heard a word she's said. He'd been completely captivated almost instantly by her eyes, and her lips. He'd imagined thousands of times what it would be like to kiss her. And thousands of times he'd been mesmerized by the way her mouth moved when she talked or smiled. But never before had he been so entranced with her standing right in front of him.
When finally his mind shifts back to the situation at hand, he can't remember why they're standing here. "Please Max?"
Please Max? What is she asking me about again? Oh wait that's right!
Trying to act as casually as possible he nods and agrees, "Ok Liz. Sure."
He feels his chest tighten at the look and sigh of relief she gives.
Whatever this is about, it must be pretty important
"Great! Well my shift tonight is over at 7:30. So, meet me at the Crashdown later?"
"I'll be there."
I'll be anywhere you need me Liz
Drawing her bottom lip up under her teeth, she draws attention over toward the lunch crowd. "Well, I guess I better get going. You know…before Maria sends out the search party."
Max can't help but chuckle a little at the thought of Maria dragging Alex around campus looking for her.
"Yeah, I should go too. Michael and Isabel are probably wondering where I am." Looking around him he realizes that he hadn't even noticed that they were the only two people left in the hallway. Returning his attention to Liz he watches as she slowly starts to leave, "See you later Liz."
"Yeah…later," she smiles excitedly before walking around Max and heading toward the courtyard. Following her with his eyes, Max can't help but watch her as she walks away to meet up with her friends. It seemed like forever ago that he was afraid to do more than watch Liz from a distance. Sometimes it was unbelievable to even him that he was finally able to talk to her about who he really was.
Sure Michael and Isabel were nervous about the ramifications. But Max always knew that he could trust Liz with the truth.
He loved her.
He'd loved her since the 3rd grade. He'd known it instantly. The first time he saw her he'd felt like a part of him that he'd been missing had finally been returned.
But he'd always kept his distance, for her sake mostly.
He was too afraid that being close to her could somehow put her in danger. But now everything was different.
The rules had changed.
And even though they couldn't be together just yet, Max was resolved to do whatever it took to find a way to be with her. Liz Parker was his whole purpose. He didn't know why or how he knew that the first day they met. But it was true just the same.
Liz meant everything to him…
He knew he loved her…
He knew he wanted her…
Michael and Isabel knew it too. That's what scared them most about Liz Parker…that she might care for him as much as he cared for her. It scared them both that she had the power to turn their trusted leader upside-down with just one smile. But what they probably feared most were the possibilities…
And now that Liz knew the truth, things could be different. He'd never been surer of that fact than he was just now…when he'd seen that look in her eyes.
That flickering passion mixed with longing that he'd read in their depths was unmistakable.
She wanted him too…
Thoughts anyone?
