Part Fourteen

Day 33 – Friday July 25th 2002

We've left Boston now and are on our way back towards Roswell. It's over 2000 miles away, so it's not like we're gonna be home tomorrow or anything, but I'm already starting to feel nostalgic about leaving all this and our trip behind.

My period decided to arrive yesterday, which unfortunately rules out any chance for things to progress with Max just now (you know what I mean), but usually they only last 3 or 4 days so it shouldn't be long before we can go back to normal again. Max has been really great about it though. I woke up in total agony yesterday morning, but he was really sweet and took care of me until I felt better. Thankfully, the cramps have passed now so all I have to do is wait it out.

Despite all that, I couldn't be happier today. We're driving down the freeway, back towards New York City, with the top down. My hair is blowing in the wind and the heat from the sun is warming my skin. Unfortunately, this journal may end up flying out of my hands at any moment, so I think I'd better stop now…

I close the journal carefully, trying not to crease the pages in the wind. I slip my sunglasses down over my eyes from where they were resting on top of my head, and lean back against the headrest, my feet propped up on the dashboard. I sigh luxuriously at the feel of the sun on my face and Max's hand caressing my bare leg (thank goodness I shaved this morning). I turn my head to watch him as he drives, my eyes hidden behind the dark glasses. He's concentrating on the road, his serious expression shows that he is focused completely on driving and I realise that the movement of his hand on my leg is purely instinct on his part – he doesn't seem to realise he's doing it.

I take this time, while he's off in his own little world, to study his profile. It's strange; suddenly, I'm struck with a moment of clarity and it almost feels like this past week and a half have been a dream. It's as if, right now, I'm simply sitting in the car with my best friend and none of the relationship stuff has happened between us. But then I drop my eyes to his upper arm, the muscles peeking out from the short sleeves of his T-shirt, flexing as his arm moves and my thoughts take a turn. My feelings change from friendly to lusty in a matter of seconds and a grin spreads across my face.

I wonder if it will always be like this – if in the future, Max and I will be able to revert this easily between being friends and being lovers when necessary. I just know that there will be times when I'll need his opinion as a friend and not just my boyfriend and vice versa. But I also don't want us to stop talking about the things we used to discuss when we were just friends; although I don't know if that will be possible anymore; maybe there's like this unwritten rule or something that I don't know about, which states that once you enter a relationship with your best friend, some topics of conversation are just off limits.

"What are you thinking about?" Max's voice startles me from my musings.

I raise my eyes to his face to find him watching me out of the corner of his eye. He's lost that intense look of concentration now, but his fingers are still moving up and down my leg.

"Not much," I shrug with a grin and he smiles.

"That's a pretty serious expression for someone who's not thinking about much," he teases, before glancing at the road again.

I shrug (not that he can see me anyway) but don't offer anything else. For now, I'm just happy to keep my thoughts to myself. Instead, I change the subject to something more interesting.

"So, how do you think everyone's going to react when we get home?" I ask.

"React?"

"To our new-found relationship," I clarify.

"Oh," he says in understanding. "You know, I haven't really thought about it yet," he admits. "I've had other things on my mind," he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively and I have to bite my lips to prevent myself from giggling girlishly. God, what this man can do to me with just one look!

"You know what? I bet some people won't be surprised though," I say then, remembering San Francisco.

"Oh?"

"Well, you already told me what Isabel said. So, there's her, for one," I point out.

"Yeah, that's true. But she's in San Francisco, not Roswell," he corrects.

"Ah, but your forgetting the other person that was there too," I remind him.

"What, Alex?" he asks incredulously. "Why wouldn't Alex be surprised?"

"Well, see there's this thing I didn't tell you about before," I start, a little embarrassed that I'm actually telling him this.

"Oh?" he repeats, intrigued this time.

"When we first met them and you were talking to Isabel, Alex and I sat down to talk and he asked me…" I trail off, almost losing my nerve. "He asked me if you and I had quote unquote 'got it on yet?'"

Max's mouth falls open in surprise. "My god! Where did he get that idea from?" he wonders. "What did you say?"

"Well, of course I completely denied that anything would ever happen between us and then I told him, in no uncertain terms, to drop it."

"You did?" he looks almost offended.

"Well, what else was I going to say? 'Why yes, Alex. In fact, I've been having all these fuzzy, warm feelings for him these past few days and all I can think about right now is how much I want to boink him.' I'm sure that would have gone down well!"

Max starts laughing then, but the sound dies down quickly when he realises what I've just said. "Wait. You wanted to 'boink' me?"

"Well, I uh," I look down, embarrassed. "I guess that was a bad choice of words there, but basically, yeah," I admit. "Or at least, do something with you."

He exhales with a low whistle, "Well, then I think it's a good thing that Isabel made us go out to dinner that night, because seeing you in that dress – wow!" He pauses for a moment before saying anything more. "You know, I spent that whole evening trying desperately to keep my hands off you; and then when we got back to the hotel, I just couldn't not kiss you."

His hand stills on my leg and I have to turn my head for a second so that he doesn't see the blush that has risen on my cheeks at his softly spoken words. When I've finally gotten my hormones under control, I turn back to him.

"You know, that night, when we were at the restaurant, I felt so comfortable. I had two of my best friends around me, laughing and joking; and then there was you. You kept sending me these cute glances and smiles and the whole atmosphere of the evening just filled me with warmth and happiness. I was so content then, but when you kissed me afterwards, well that just made my day." I smile fondly at the memory. My gaze catches Max's and our eyes lock for a second before Max has to turn back to watch the road.

I lean my head back against the seat again, but my relaxation is short-lived, when a couple of minutes later, Max spots an exit and pulls off the freeway. Parking outside a small waffle house at the side of the road, he turns to me, one hand still stroking my leg tenderly as the other reaches up and cups my neck, pulling me to him for a passionate kiss.

After a crappy couple of days, this has been the perfect morning.

Day 34 – Saturday July 25th 2002

After our little detour off the freeway yesterday and a rather large brunch of waffles, bacon and eggs, we switched places and I drove for a while. We managed to make it just south of Washington DC before we had to turn in for the night. Max apologised that we didn't get to see any of the capital city, but since we've spent nearly all our money now, we really can't afford to stay any more nights than necessary, especially in expensive towns like Washington. It doesn't really matter though, I'm sure we'll be able to visit DC at least once over the next 4 years that I'm living on this side of the country.

Who knows, maybe I'll be able to surprise Max with a trip here or something on a future anniversary of ours (I'm living in hope here).

Anyway, we found a pretty nice motel to stay in last night. It was really cheap, but not skanky and gross like a couple of the others we stayed in one the way out here. Max and I spent the evening talking and laughing just like we always used to before this trip – anything to keep our minds off other things we could be doing if it weren't for my frustrating, annoying menstrual cycle!

Today we're heading down to the Interstate 81, which will take us down to Tennessee and then from there we'll get on the I40 and eventually arrive back in Albuquerque. I know that neither of us is in a rush to get back, so we're going to see how far our money will stretch and try to visit some of the south as we go. We've decided to alternate with the driving so that we don't get too tired. Max is starting off this morning and then I'll take over again around midday – kinda of like we did yesterday…

"Hey, Liz. You about ready to go?" Max asks as he emerges from the motel bathroom, stopping to groan at me sitting on the bed, journal in hand. "You're not writing in that thing again are you?" he questions in mock annoyance.

"Oh, shut up, you," I scold playfully. "You're just jealous because I still won't let you read it. Never gonna happen, by the way," I add before he has time to open his mouth and beg. "No matter how much closer we get."

"But – " he tries, but I cut him off with a glare and he rolls his eyes. "Fine, but don't try to get me to spill any secrets to you in the future, cos my lips will be sealed."

"Really? Is that a challenge?" I ask, my eyes lighting up with the possibilities. "Cos, you know, I bet I could get them out of you eventually."

He laughs. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah," I nod confidently.

"And how exactly would you go about extracting that top secret information," he asks smoothly, sauntering slowly towards the bed.

"Oh, I have my ways," I inform him slyly.

He licks his lips, moving in towards me. "Do tell," he invites. His eyes begin to drift closed and I take the opportunity to slip off the bed and grab my bags from the floor.

"Not on your life," I smirk. "So, are we leaving now, then?"

I turn on my heel and head out of the door, not giving him the opportunity to respond.

"Hey, Lizzie, no fair!" I hear him shout as I swing the bags into the back seat of the jeep and I try, unsuccessfully I might add, to look innocent as he appears in the open doorway of the motel room.

Max is so easy to wind up!

Day 35 – Sunday July 27th 2002

It's taken us almost two days, but we've now arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. It's pretty late and we have been travelling all day, but tomorrow we're off to Graceland. Cheesy, I know, but we can't go to Memphis and not visit the home of the King!

Since Max keeps complaining about me writing in this diary, I sent him out for food so that I could write in peace. He'll probably be back soon though, so I'd better make this quick – I'm starving! Driving all day is tiring and I'd forgotten how humid it is down here in the South. In New Mexico, its dry, desert heat, but here it's almost 100% humidity. It's like walking into a steam room every time you go outside!

It seems crazy, but now we're getting closer to home, I find myself getting teary eyed a lot more often at the thought of our trip coming to an end. It's funny, because I've never really thought of myself as a person who gets emotional about these kinds of things, but suddenly the thought of not spending all day, every day with Max is making me depressed.

Wow, that sounds kind of morbid, doesn't it?

Maybe I haven't quite got over the whole PMS thing just yet…

Not really in the mood to write a long, in-depth journal entry tonight, I close the book and stick it back in my bag. With nothing else to do but wait for Max to return, I reach for the novel that I've been trying to read over the last couple of weeks, although I have to admit that I've barely picked it up since Max and I got together. For once, real life has been much more interesting than anything written in a book.

I don't have to occupy myself with the book for long thought, because a few minutes later, Max returns to the room with two fast food bags. He sends me a smile as he closes the door behind him and shrugs apologetically,

"Sorry, fried chicken was all I could find," he indicates to the paper bags in his hand. "Hope you don't mind."

He so looks cute with his contrite expression that I can't resist teasing him.

"Max!" I put on my whiniest voice. "What were you thinking? I can't eat fried food; it'll go straight to my hips! Didn't they have a salad or something else less fattening?"

I have to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from laughing as his expression falls and he looks down at the food in dismay.

"Liz," he starts; his voice is showing signs of tiredness. "Look, it was either this or nothing. I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to just deal with it tonight, okay?"

That's it. I know it only lasted a few seconds, but I can't keep it up anymore. The corners of my mouth lift in an uncontrollable smirk and I slap my hand to my face to smother the giggle that erupts from my throat.

Max's mouth drops open and he looks confused for a moment, but then I think he realises that I'm messing with him, because he rolls his eyes. "Liz!"

"Sorry," I manage, trying to catch my breath, "couldn't help it."

Shaking his head somewhat incredulously, he moves towards the bed, tossing one of the paper bags to me before placing the other on the bedside table. I can't help following his movements with my eyes, taking in the way his muscles flex beneath his (fairly tight) T-shirt. You know, he's never really worn tight T-shirts before. I wonder, does the reason he's wearing one now have anything to do with me?

Impulsively, I shift on the bed and reach out to touch his arm. Slightly startled, his head comes up to face me and before he can react further, I pull him to me and slide my lips over his. The kiss is sweet and gentle and a shiver passes down my spine at the feelings it invokes in me.

"Huh," Max breathes several seconds later as we part. "That was, um…" he manages, his eyes still closed.

I take a moment to study his gorgeous features whilst he is unaware of my gaze and I can't help the grin that appears on my lips.

I lean in, whispering in his ear, "I love you."

He pushes me away from him slightly, so that I can look his into his eyes. "You know, I never thought I could ever be this happy or this in love," he confesses and suddenly I feel a lump in my throat. "When I was a kid, I always hoped that when I was grown up I would meet someone, get married and have kids; but as I got older and learned about life, I wasn't sure if it would really ever happen. But you've given me hope Liz, hope that maybe one day, we'll get to experience all of that and be happy."

"Oh, Max," I practically swoon (Swoon? My God, what century are we living in here?).

A small scoff escapes from his lips and he rolls his eyes, "I just heard that as you must have done, and it was just so cheesy and kind of ahead of myself, wasn't it?"

"Maybe," I concede, tracing the pattern on his shirt, "but I'm a girl; we like all that romantic, cheesy crap," I tell him. "So feel free to keep on saying it; I'm not gonna complain."

"Although, I'm probably going to have to get used to not saying cheesy things to you when we get back home because if I carry on like this, the others are going to think I've lost my mind!"

"Aww," I mock, with a pout, "your bad boy reputation will be ruined!" I roll my eyes. "Suck it up, Evans. You're in a real relationship now and you're gonna have to deal with the fact that our friends will probably teases us mercilessly when we tell them."

"I know," he agrees, "doesn't mean I have to like it, though."

"Wait. On second thoughts, maybe we shouldn't tell everybody."

His brow furrows. "What do you mean?"

"Well, how do you think my mother is going to react when she finds out we're in a relationship? The fact that she let us travel the length of the country together; alone," I stress. "And that we've been sharing a room for the past month, is not going to go down well."

"Oh shit!" he exclaims, running a hand through his hair and sitting back on the bed. "I didn't think of that."

"We'll be lucky if we ever get any time to ourselves before college," I say regretfully.

Max looks lost for a moment, but then a determined look, along with a sly smile, appears on his face. "Well, then, I'm just going to have to make the most of these last few days with you then, aren't I?"

"Yeah, I guess you are," I virtually purr as I lean in for another kiss, before we tuck into our fast food dinner.

"Isn't this place cool?"

"It's certainly different," I say, gazing around the former home of Elvis Presley. There are several themed rooms and an entire section dedicated to his music with every award he ever won. Outside, there are marble gravestones, covered with flowers; one for each member of the family that has died.

After we finish viewing the house, the tour takes us over to Elvis' private jet and then to the car museum, which has all of the vehicles that he owned on display. The whole experience of Graceland is pretty cool, but kind of strange at the same time.

We leave Graceland and make our way down towards the Mississippi river. Max spots an advertisement for Steamboat Tours on the river and insists on paying for us to go on one of them.

"This is nice," I comment as the steamboat passes under a bridge that marks the state line between Arkansas and Tennessee.

"It is, isn't it?" he agrees from his seat beside me. We are lounging in white chairs on the upper deck, with our feet propped up on another chair in front of us. It's too hot and humid to sit in the sun, but luckily, we've found a spot to relax under the canopy.

"Max?"

"Hmm?"

"Tell me a secret."

"What?" he smiles.

"Tell me a secret," I repeat. "Something you've never told anyone before."

"A secret, huh?" he muses. "What, like you want me to tell you how I've been secretly pining for you since the day we met?"

"Have you?"

"Well, um – "

"Don't worry, Max, you don't have to answer that."

"Okay, so something I've never told anyone…you do remember that you know practically everything about me?" he says, but manages to think of something anyway. "Right, here we go…promise you won't laugh?"

I nod. "I promise."

"I, um…I once questioned my sexuality."

Huh.

Well, at least I manage to suppress the giggle that threatens to spill from my lips as he turns bright red.

"You what?!" I'm shocked. See, Max is known around Roswell for being a guy's guy; and he's dated some of the most pretty and popular girls in school. I can't imagine him being anything else but heterosexual.

"It was when I was about fourteen and had a somewhat unhealthy obsession with Tom Cruise movies. He was basically my idol. I wanted to be like him so much and I really wanted to meet him. It got to the point that I had no idea if I simply admired the guy or if it was something more. I was so freaked out that I refused to let Michael sleep over for a whole month. My parents thought we'd had a fight or something!"

Despite the seriousness of the topic of conversation, I can't help but chuckle at that last part.

"So, what made you realise that you weren't, you know, gay or anything?"

He turns to me in all seriousness, but with a twinkle in his eye. "Nothing, didn't you know? I'm bisexual."

"You are so not, Max Evans!" I shove him playfully. "Quit playing around."

"You're right, I'm not," he admits, but then frowns. "But, if I were, you wouldn't think differently of me, would you?"

"Of course not, Max. You're one of the most important people in my life. I don't think I could."

He flashes me a smile. "Thanks. Well, anyway, eventually I managed to pluck up my courage to talk to my mom about my worries and she told me that it was perfectly normal to be confused. Then she asked me if I'd ever felt anything other than friendship for any of the guys I knew, and that's when I realised that I wasn't gay. See, I knew that I found girls attractive I had never thought of any other guys in that way before."

"I suppose that must have been a relief," I say.

"Yeah, it was. My mom said that even if I was, she and Dad would still love me and support my decisions, but it was still good to know that I fancied girls and not guys," he admits. "So, anyway, that's my secret; now you have to tell me one of yours," he grins.

"Yeah, I guess I do, but you won't be hearing it today," I tell him smugly and he looks offended. "A girl's gotta have some mystery, you know." I lean in close to him and whisper, "But I promise you'll get to hear a secret from me before we get back to Roswell. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to visit the bathroom."

I get up off the chair and saunter off down the steps to the lower level, leaving Max to stare after me in both annoyance and disbelief.

TBC…