"So…you wanted to meet me?" Max starts.

"Yeah, um…why don't we go upstairs and talk?" Meeting his eyes she notices a look of slight nervousness in his stare.

Was he afraid of being alone with her? Maybe he wouldn't need as much persuading as she'd originally thought.

Silently thrilled at that thought, she suddenly realizes that she should probably say something to put him more at ease. "It's a little distracting down here…not the greatest place to talk you know?" she finally adds by way of an explanation.

Nodding his agreement, he follows her lead through the kitchen and up the back stairs. When finally they enter her apartment, she motions him to follow her through the hallway as she leads them to her bedroom.

Realizing her intended destination, Max suddenly isn't so sure he should follow her.

Could he be alone with her in her bedroom and still somehow hide the yearning he was barely managing to suppress. As it was, he honestly wasn't sure how he'd managed this long without pulling her into his arms and kissing her breathless…

"Uh, Liz? Are you sure your parents won't mind us, you know…"

Quickly dispelling his fears she answers, "Oh, no don't worry. They're in Santa Fe visiting some relatives. They won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."

Oh God. Somehow that doesn't make me feel any more comfortable with this! His mind screams.

This REALLY wasn't doing anything for his self-control.

Okay. You can handle this Max. She probably just needs help on homework or something…

But then again he couldn't rationalize why she'd need help with anything! This was Liz Parker he was talking to…Roswell High's greatest student EVER!

His eyes follow her as she grabs a change of clothes from atop her bed. Motioning to her uniform she tells him, "I've got to get out of this uniform. I'll be right back. Just make yourself comfortable."

Nodding his understanding, he watches mutely as she disappears into the bathroom.

Okay. Great! Now I'm ALONE in Liz Parker's bedroom. When will the torture stop?

Shoving his hands nervously into his front jeans pockets, he slowly paces the floor looking for something to keep his mind in check.

Slowly walking about the room he smiles at the simplicity of the décor. He'd never been up in her bedroom before, but he never doubted how clean and organized it would be.

She definitely had it together

Making his way over to her dresser, he reaches out and thumbs a framed picture of her and Maria.

Friends to the end those two…he thinks with a grin.

To the right of that was another picture of Liz, Maria and Alex all huddled together smiling. This one he recognized; it was from last years Homecoming Dance. Smiling fondly he recalls why that night still lingers in his mind.

He'd only gone to the dance because Isabel had dragged him and Michael there with threats to dream walk them both for weeks if they didn't. He immediately agreed after that.

He wasn't too comfortable with the idea of his sister walking around in his subconscious when most of his waking and sleeping moments were filled with images of Liz…

He and Michael were so uncomfortable at the gathering that they'd stuck to the sidelines all night. But from his spot against the wall…Max had a perfect view of Liz. He'd never forget the way she looked that night…she glowed in her deep burgundy colored slip dress. And even though he couldn't count the times he'd almost asked her to dance that night…he'd always lost his nerve.

Still smiling at the memory he turns around lazily and continues to move about her room. Stopping in front of Liz's desk, Max is caught off guard when he catches a glimpse of another photograph lying across an open book. The photo had obviously been looked at a lot; the once smooth surface was slightly worn.

Gingerly lifting it up to get a better look at it, his gaze immediately changes to one of tender surprise when he realizes what he's found. His look quickly softens at the image of him and Liz as children out on a playground. While he didn't remember this photograph or that day, he definitely recognized the little boy sitting across from her as himself.

The little girl beside him wore a dark blue dress covered in tiny white polka dots. She stood slightly bent over as she reached to hand the little boy sitting in front of her a single handpicked daisy. The little boy extends his arm to accept the gift, his eyes trained on her bright smile.

Who'd taken this photograph? How could he not remember this?

It was so beautiful to him…and important! The image of the two of them together, even as kids in the grass was…incredible. He absentmindedly traces the flower between the children with his finger.

This was a memory he desperately wanted! They couldn't have been more than nine or ten here…

"I'll be out in just one second Max!" he suddenly hears Liz call from the other side of the bathroom door.

Roughly torn from his reverie, his head jerks up in surprise at her words. Desperately trying to find his voice he slightly manages a soft answer, "Sure Liz. No rush."

Sighing, he lifts his hand and rubs it through his hair absently as he moves to return the photo he's holding. Carefully replacing the precious memento, his gaze is quickly drawn to a crumpled sheet of paper sticking out of one of her books on the desk.

Taking the rumpled object in his hand, he carefully slides it out of the book.

His breath catches in his throat as he realizes what Liz has had in her possession all of these years…


Guesses anyone:oP