| Part 39 Rated: PG-13 ***************** Monday Morning. West Roswell High School Alex pulled up into a parking space, cutting the engine before turning to Liz. �So, you took Max and Noah to the falls.� Alex watched as the light in Liz�s eyes sparkled. The smile on her lips had been permanently attached to her face ever since she had come home on Saturday. Alex couldn�t keep the slight twitch from his lips. He was so happy for Liz. In the lifetime that he had known her, he had never seen her this happy. There was a glow about her, that made her even more beautiful than usual. Liz grabbed Alex�s hand. �Oh, Alex, it was absolutely perfect. We had the best time. And Noah, he had so much fun. I think we wore him out.� Liz�s soft chuckle was contagious, causing Alex to join her. �So, how is the little guy?� Liz�s eyes danced around with excitement as she remembered. �Oh, he�s great. I�m going to see him this afternoon. You wanna come?� Alex nodded. �Since you�re going over there this afternoon, I think it�s safe to assume that dinner went well on Friday?� �A lot better than I thought it would. Max�s parents are so supportive. I can see where Max and Isabel get their personalities from.� Alex cleared his throat. There was something he had been wanted to ask Liz, but he didn�t want to stick his nose where it wasn�t wanted. �Speaking of which, have you told your parents about Max?� Alex watched as Liz hung her head low. She began fidgeting, refusing to meet his eyes. �No, I haven�t told them yet.� Liz felt the guilt gnawing at her stomach. She was such a coward. The main reason she hadn�t told her parents about Max, was because she wanted them to get to know him first before just dropping this on them like a bomb. She didn�t want her parents to judge Max, before they really knew who he was. And besides, with her burgeoning relationship with Max, she had forgotten everything else. But she knew that wasn�t an excuse. �You haven�t?� Alex paused for a second, before continuing. �Look, Liz, I know this is really none of my business, but don�t you think it�s time to tell them, before they find out from somebody else? I mean nothing against Max, because I really like the guy, but I don�t think Jeff and Nancy are gonna roll out the welcome wagon when they find out.� Liz pushed her hair behind her ears. �Look, I know that. I just need to find the right time, ok?� Alex swallowed back a snort. �Well when were you planning on telling them Liz? After the wedding?� Liz�s eyes stung with tears at Alex�s words, making him instantly regret what he had just said. �I�m sorry Liz. That didn�t come out right.� He reached over and grabbed her hand in his. �I�m just saying that maybe you should be upfront with your parents about Max. You and I both know they aren�t just going to welcome him into the family. I mean your parents are great, but when it comes to you, they get a little over protective. I don�t want some stupid thing to get between you and Max.� Liz swallowed back the salty tears, understanding where Alex was coming from. �I know. You�re absolutely right.� She grabbed a tissue from her bag and wiped her nose. She gave Alex a curious look. �What?� �Why do you even care? I mean, why are you worried about my relationship with Max?� Liz watched as different emotions passed through Alex�s eyes. Alex shrugged his shoulders. �I don�t know. Max is a really good guy, and from what I�ve seen, he�s a devoted father too. I�ve seen the way he looks at you, and the way you look at him. It isn�t just your average teenage hormones there.� He tilted his head to the side. �I�ve seen the way he tucks the hair behind your ear, and the way his hand just automatically finds yours. If I knew what love was, I�d say that was it. And I know for a fact that this isn�t just any other relationship for you either.� �In the short time that we�ve known Max, I�d like to say that he�s become my friend. I don�t want either of you to get hurt over something that can�t be taken care of.� Alex finished his little speech, a slight blush tinting his cheeks. Liz leaned across the middle console, giving Alex a hug. �Thank you, Alex. I love you.� Alex ran his hand down Liz�s hair. �Love you too, Parker.� He pulled back and gave her a mock frown. �No don�t you go telling people that we had this little talk. I don�t want my bad boy reputation ruined.� He shook his finger in her face to emphasize his point. Liz�s small frame shook with laughter. She crossed her finger across her heart. �Cross my heart and hope to die.� Alex shook his head and got out of the car. He went around the other side, linking his arm through Liz�s. As the two of them made their way down the halls, whispers and stares were directed their way. As discreetly as he could, Alex whispered into Liz�s ear. �Parker, is it just me, or are people staring at us?� Liz�s eyes danced around the halls to the people who were obviously staring at them. When her eyes locked with someone else, they started snickering. Her heart sped up a little. �It�s not just you.� They walked to her locker in silence. She pulled it open, sticking her head inside. �Why do you think everyone is staring?� Alex leaned back against the locker next to hers. He noticed as a couple of guys walked by checking out Liz�s behind. He stood up a little straighter. �Hey, where the hell do you think you�re looking?� The guys just looked at each other and snickered before walking off. Alex followed them a little. �If I catch you guys looking where you�re not supposed to, I�ll give you a reason that�ll make sure you can�t look anywhere, but up!� Liz grabbed Alex�s arm. �Alex! What do you think, you�re doing?� she hissed. Alex gave her a frown, making her walk in front of him. �Hey, those guys had wandering eyes.� He pulled of his jacket and wrapped it around her. �What are you doing now?� Liz struggled to walk as Alex hugged her with his heavy jacket. She tried to take it off, but he stopped her from doing so. �I don�t know what the hell is going on, but every guy in this school seems to have developed some sort of interest in you. They keep checking you out from every possible angle they can.� As they rounded the corner, a screech was heard. �Liz! Alex! Wait up!� They turned around to see Maria with Kyle and Michael running towards them. Maria threw her arms around Liz and hugged her. �Lizzie, I just heard. I�m so sorry. But I promise you, we�ll find out who�s spreading those nasty rumors and we�ll make them pay.� Liz pulled away from Maria, her eyebrows knotted in confusion. �Hold on. What�s going on? What rumors?� Maria looked to Alex and Liz. �You mean, you haven�t heard yet?� �Haven�t heard what?� Maria exchanged glances with Kyle and Michael. Alex moved forward. �Does this have anything to do with every freakin� guy checking out Liz this morning?� Maria covered her eyes. �Oh, my God! I didn�t think it had gotten that far.� Paulie and Tommy, who were known to be the biggest jerks at West Roswell, made their way over to the group. Tommy stood close to Liz, touching her hair. �So, Liz, I hear you�ve been getting busy with that Evans guy. I say you ditch him and get with me. I�ll show you what it�s like to be a real man.� Liz flinched at his touch. Paulie came up beside them. �Aw, what�s the matter, Lizzie? We all know that sweet and innocent crap is bullshit, so cut the crap already. Like Tommy said, ditch the loser with the kid.� Before they knew what happened, both Tommy and Paulie felt themselves being pushed to the row of lockers on the other side of the wall. �What the hell?� When the two of them had straightened up, they came to face to face with a very angry Max Evans. Behind him stood Kyle, Alex, and Michael, who were all spoiling for a fight. �Don�t ever touch her again! You hear me? If I see you so much as look at her, or breath the same air as her, I�ll make you wish you guys wish you were never born.� Max gritted the words past his clenched jaw. His hands were balled up into fists, his back straight. The cords in his neck were bulging from anger. When he had walked down the hall and saw the way the two of them were all over Liz, he just about lost it. She looked so scared. He would have pounded their heads in, had it not been for Kyle and Michael throwing them against the lockers. Paulie dusted imaginary dust off of his shirt, laughing. �Well, well, if it isn�t big man on campus. Why don�t you just spread the wealth, or are you gonna knock her up like you did your last girlfriend.� Paulie turned to Tommy to laugh at his pathetic joke, when an iron like fist came into contact with his jaw. Blood, was spewed all over his shirt, falling to the floor. He touched his jaw with his hand, turning angry eyes on Max. �You bastard! I�ll make you pay for that.� Anger flashed through Max�s eyes, causing the amber glow to light up like a fire. �Bring it on!� Both Tommy and Paulie threw themselves at Max, trying to get as many hits as they could. Michael grabbed Paulie, making sure he couldn�t move. Kyle did the same to Tommy, making sure he couldn�t get anymore shots at Max. Alex held onto Max as he started throwing phantom punches at his enemies, but with the vice that Alex had him in, he could only kick and shout. �Let me go, Alex!� Alex held on tighter. �Max, you gotta relax, buddy. It won�t do, if you�re suspended at the beginning of your senior year. Let it go. They�ll get what�s coming to them.� Michael and Kyle made their way to the double doors that led to the quad, both of them struggling with Tommy and Paulie. Both of them let go and pushed them down the steps. �Stay away from Liz! Because if we catch you anywhere near her, we�ll give you guys more than just a fat lip and a black eye.� Tommy was set to lunge forward, but Paulie stopped him. Max had thrown them some pretty good punches, and they weren�t in the best shape right now. If they decided to take this further, Kyle and Michael would be sure to cream them. He pulled Tommy towards the parking lot, choosing not to get hurt any further. ******** Back in the hall, Alex had finally let go of a struggling Max. The first thing he did was run to Liz, running his hands through her hair and down her sides to make sure she wasn�t hurt in any way. �Are you ok? They didn�t hurt you, did they?� Max watched Liz with concern, his heart thumping against his chest. If they had done anything to hurt her, he would..... His train of thought was broken by the sound of her soft voice. �Max, I�m ok.� He took another glance at her, running his hands down her arms. �Are you sure?� Liz was going to say yes, but her attention was drawn to the cut right beside Max�s eyebrow. It was starting to bleed. She looked at his face and noticed that right beside his chin, a fairly nasty bruise was making a home for itself. She gently touched his cheek. �Max, you�re hurt.� Max took a second to realize what Liz was saying. After a second he started feeling the pain from where Tommy and Paulie had hit him. He was so concerned about Liz that his pain hadn�t even registered until Liz had mentioned it to him. She grabbed his hand and led him into the girl�s bathroom. A few shrieks and squeals were heard when they entered. Liz wasn�t in the best of moods right now. When one girl just stood there and gawked at them, she pretty much lost her temper. �What�s the matter? Never seen a guy before?� The girl blushed and made her way to the door, leaving Max and Liz alone. Liz pushed Max against the counter and told him to sit down. She grabbed a few paper towels and wet them. She held them against his cuts, trying to clean them up a little. Max, flinched, moving away from her touch. Liz felt tears sting her eyes. She grabbed his hand to soothe him a little, but he pulled away as if she had burned him. She gave him a questioning look, but she noticed how red his knuckles were. They were still raw from when he had punched Paulie. Liz threw the paper towels in the trash and threw her arms around Max. �Oh, Max.� Her warm tears, trickled down her cheeks, landing on his neck. Max felt his heart constrict, at her tears. He ran his hand down her hair, burying his face in her neck. �I�m so sorry, Liz.� Liz rubbed his back, trying to calm his jangled nerves. �What do you have to be sorry for?� Max gripped Liz in his arms, not wanting to let her go. �For putting you in that position. If it wasn�t for me, these rumors about you wouldn�t be going around the school.� Liz pulled away from Max a little so she could look into his solemn eyes. Her hands flanked the sides of his head, bringing him close to her. �Did you spread those rumors?� Max was a little taken back with her question. He couldn�t find his voice at the moment, so he just shook his head. Liz gave him a sad smile. �Then it�s not your fault Max. Don�t blame yourself for the stupidity of others. The truth is, I don�t care what people think. What matters is that, I love you.� Max froze for a second. Did she just say that she loved him? �You........you love me?� he asked in a small voice. Liz felt her face burn, at his question. She hadn�t meant to say it out loud, but she was a little caught up in the moment. Her eyes darted to the floor. If she had taken a longer look at Max, she would have seen the slight curl in his lips. He pulled her body to his again, whispering in her ear. �I love you too.� The tears started up again, as Liz realized that Max felt the same way about her. In any of the feew relationships she had had over the years, not once had she said the L word, nor had she heard it. But with Max, it just felt so natural, so right. She wiped the tears from her eyes and laughed a little. Max pulled away, smiling when he saw her laugh. �What�s so funny?� Liz looked at their surroundings and shook her head. �Somehow, I never picturesd the girl�s bathroom to be the place I would say I love you, to you for the first time.� Max looked around him as well, and found himself chuckling, right along with her. �Me, either. But it doesn�t make it any less special, or beautiful to me.� Liz stopped to look into his soulful eyes. �Me too.� She leaned in and brushed her lips against his, as if to seal their love. As she tried to deepen the kiss, Max cringed away from her touch. Liz looked at him in confusion, but her eyes grew wide when she realized he still had a fat lip. She covered her mouth with her hand. �Max, I�m so sorry. I completely forgot.� Max just shook his head and laughed. He stuck his tongue out to nurse his bruise. �Don�t worry about it. I�m fine. I�m more worried about how you are.� Liz sank back on her heels. �What about me?� His fingers played, across her chin. �About the rumors. Are you- Liz put her finger against his lips, effectively silencing him. �It doesn�t bother me. I just, I mean, are you, are you ok with it?� Max shrugged his shoulders. �I mean I wished it would have never have happened, but I�m used to people whispering and staring.� Liz�s eyes clouded with sadness. She brushed the hair away from Max�s forehead. �You shouldn�t have to feel that way, Max. No one should ever have to get used to that.� She placed soft kisses around his wounds. �Better?� He smiled at her, a small dimple forming in his cheek. �Yeah. Thanks.� Liz tugged on his hand, pulling him to the door. He tugged back and stopped her. �Liz?� �Yes?� �Are we, can we make it through this?� Liz flashed him a bright smile. �Yes. We can get through anything, as long as we stick together.� Part 40A *************** Liz sat beside Max in the jeep. He gripped her hand tighter, not wanting to let her go. "You know, I could go up there with you. We can tell them together if you want." She squeezed his hand back, offering him a small smile. Throughout the school day, Max had barely left her side. During lunch, she had told him about talking to her parents about their relationship. She apologized for not having told them sooner, but she figured this afternoon was the best time to tell them, considering the rumors had already spread like wild fire, throughout campus. Liz had half expected Max to be upset with her for not telling her parents right away, but he wasn�t. He even so much as offered to go with her to speak to her parents. She had refused then, and she was refusing now. "I really appreciate that you want to be here for me, but this is something I have to do by myself." She leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. When he still looked reluctant to leave her, she ran her fingers down the side of his face. "Max, really, it�s ok. I�ll be fine." She unlatched her seat belt and opened her door slightly. "Give Noah a kiss for me?" Max just nodded. When Liz turned to leave, he put his hand on her shoulder. "Call me later?" She turned around, a smile on her lips. "Of course." She hopped out of the car and watched as Max drove away. She walked through the back entrance of the Crashdown. She hesitated by the stairs, wiping her suddenly very sweaty palms against her pants. Taking a deep breath, she took the steps two at a time. She placed her key in the lock, turning the knob slowly. She was about to call to her parents, when she noticed them both sitting on the couch, obviously waiting for her. "Elizabeth, you�re home. We need to have a little talk." Nancy sat up from her seat, addressing her daughter. Liz cringed inside. Elizabeth? Her parents only called her that when she was in trouble. She nodded her head and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. **************** Max practically ran into the house to get his son. He knew that Liz said she wanted to talk to her parents by herself, but it wouldn�t hurt if he was just waiting at the Crashdown, just in case she needed his support, right? He dropped his back pack on the floor and walked into the kitchen where he could here his mother playing with Noah. Diane looked up with a smile on her face, expecting to see Max arrive home with Liz. But the moment her eyes landed on Max�s bruised features, her smile instantly disintegrated. She stood up from where she was crouched before Noah. "Max, what happened?" She gently traced the path of his cut above his eye, and his fat lip. Her hand shook a little. Max resisted to shake off his mother�s touch. He loved his mother for caring so much, but right now, the only place he wanted to be was at the Crashdown, where he could be by Liz�s side if she needed him in anyway. It was killing him to be away from her, knowing that the talk she was about to have with her parents would not go smoothly. Max took his mother�s hand in between both of his and gently squeezed. "Mom, it�s ok. I�m fine. You have nothing to worry about." He side stepped her to lift Noah into his arms. He was about to walk past his mom, when she stopped him with a firm hand against his chest. "You can�t just tell me something like that and just leave. I want to know what happened, Max. And I want to know right now." Her tone was demanding, her left eyebrow raised. Max heaved a sigh, and sat on one of the stools. He knew that his mother meant business when she gave him that look. And he loved his mother way too much to blow her off like that. Diane watched the weary look in her son�s eyes and her heart just broke. She took a seat across from him and gave his hand a pat. "Max, honey, you know you can tell me anything. Please, just tell me what happened." "I sort of got into a fight this morning." "Sort of? What does that mean? You either got into a fight or you didn�t. And from the looks of you, I�m guessing that you did. The real question is, why you were in fighting in the first place." Diane observed as Max�s jaw clenched, anger flaring up in his eyes. In all of the years he spent growing up, not once had he gotten into a fight. Not even when the kids at his old school treated him like a pariah. She had never seen him this angry before, and it frightened her. Max thought about his words carefully. He didn�t want to say something that he would regret later. Just because the memory of this morning still boiled his blood, he didn�t need to take out that anger and frustration out now. "I.........There were these two guys harassing Liz this morning. They wouldn�t leave her alone. And they were, they were........." Max closed his eyes and fought to remain calm. He clasped and un clasped his fist against his side to release all the pent up energy inside him, but every time he saw those two jerks all over Liz, he just wanted to........ He opened his eyes again to the feel of his mother�s hand in his. She gave him a teary smile. "So, you got into a fight because you were protecting Liz." Max just nodded, knowing that if he spoke right now, that his voice would give out on him. Diane stood up from her chair and hugged Max to her chest. She gave his dark head a soft kiss before she pulled back. "Max, what you did, honey, that was sweet of you to watch out for Liz like that, but violence isn�t the answer. You can�t just go getting into fights. It�s dangerous. I don�t want you getting hurt." Max looked up at his mother. "I know, mom. I just," his thoughts returned to Liz, not that they had really strayed away from her. He stood up and collected Noah in his arms. "Mom, I really have to go. I need to be there for Liz. I, can we talk about this when we get home?" Max gave Diane a pleading look. Diane let out a heavy sigh. She hated when Max gave her that look. She nodded her head and let him walk by, but not before saying something. "You can go now, but this conversation isn�t over, Max. We�ll continue it when your father gets home." Max gave his mom a brief nod of his head and went out the door. As he strapped Noah into his car seat, Noah reached over to touch the cut beside Max�s eyebrow. "Boo boo?" Noah�s little voice asked. Max managed a small smile, for his son. "Yeah, pal. Daddy, got a boo boo today." Noah reached forward and placed a kiss on his dad�s cut, a smile on his lips when he pulled back. Max�s eyes grew wide with shock as he realized what just happened. Noah had given his cut a kiss to make it better. Max always did that to Noah�s bumps and bruises. "Da da!" Max felt tears sting his eyes at his son�s simple action. Noah probably didn�t understand how significant that little gesture was, that�s why it made it more special for Max. Max brushed a soft kiss against Noah�s soft baby hair. "I love you, Noah." Part 40B ************** Liz sat across from her parents, waiting for them to say something. Nancy exchanged a look with Jeff before speaking. �Well, you must be wondering why we wanted to talk to you.� Liz nodded her head slowly, trying to gauge her parents� facial expressions, but they were giving nothing away. Liz�s mind frantically thought of why they wanted to talk to her. Surely the rumors hadn�t reached them yet, right? Jeff moved to sit on the coffee table in front of his daughter. �We know, Liz.� Liz gave him a blank look. �You guys know what?� Nancy stood up, heaving a frustrated sigh. �Don�t play dumb with us young lady. We know about you and that Evans boy who has a kid.� Liz tried to swallow a few times. It had hurt the way her mother referred to Max and Noah as the Evans boy with the kid. �Who told you?� Liz tried to remain calm and keep her emotions in check. Jeff gave his daughter a forced smile. �A friend of yours, from school. I believe her name was Pamela? Pamela Troy. She stopped by and said that she was a little worried about you getting involved with this young man, him having had a past and all.� Liz closed her eyes and fought to remain in control. So it had been Pam who had spread the rumors. The nerve of that girl, and to go as far as to talk to her parents and feed them some lame story......... Liz never really understood why Pam was always picking on her. Ever since they were little, Pam went out of her way to make sure that Liz was humiliated in some way. She had never done anything to Pam Troy. Liz rubbed her eyes. �Look, he has a name. His name is Max. And I�d appreciate it if you called him that.� Nancy walked closer to Liz, her hands on her hips. �That�s beside the point Elizabeth. I want you to put a stop to this.� Liz turned wide eyes to her mom. She found herself standing, facing against her mom. �Put a stop to this? You haven�t even given me a chance to explain, and you�re demanding that I put a stop to this? No, mother. I won�t.� �How dare you take that tone with me?� Nancy flashed angry eyes at her daughter, then turned to Jeff for support. Jeff was torn. He wanted to listen to what Liz had to say, and at the same time, he understood where his wife was coming from. Nancy only wanted to protect Liz from getting hurt and making mistakes that she might regret later. Liz was about to retort, when Jeff stood in between the two of them. �Alright, now both of you just stop!� When both Liz and Nancy opened their mouths to speak again, Jeff raised his hands. �I don�t want to hear about it. We�re all adults here, and I think we can talk about this rationally, without having to raise our voices.� He raised his eyebrows, challenging both women to disagree. Liz huffed and returned to her seat. Nancy remained standing, her arms crossed in front of her. Jeff nodded his head, breathing a silent sigh of relief. There nothing that hurt more than watching the people he loved most in the world fighting. He returned to sit in front of Liz. He placed a hand on her knee and gave her an encouraging smile. �Liz, why don�t you tell us what�s going on?� �I don�t think she should be able to say anything at this point. She�s too young to be getting involved in a relationship like this- Jeff gave Nancy a stern look. �Nancy, please. Let Liz have her chance to talk.� Skulking, Nancy sat on the couch, opposite them. Jeff looked back to Liz. �Go, on. We�re listening.� Liz took a deep breath, preparing herself to tell her parents everything. ********* Max took the back booth at the Crashdown, with Noah in tow. Maria stopped by, sitting across from him. �Hey, Max.� Max gave her a small smile. Maria motioned to his eyebrow. �How�s the cut?� Max�s smile broadened as he remembered Noah kissing his cut better. �Good. I can hardly feel it.� Maria just nodded. �Can I get you guys something?� �Just a cherry coke for me, and a glass of milk for the little guy.� Smiling, Maria stood up, walking towards the counter, but stopped. She turned back around, planting a friendly kiss on Max�s cheek. �Thank you for taking care of Liz.� With that, she went to retrieve their orders. Max sat there a little stunned. He hadn�t expected that. It made him happy to know that Liz had such wonderful friends that cared so much for her. As Max busied himself helping Noah drink his milk, someone made themselves comfortable across from him. He looked up, a little startled to see a girl he recognized from school. Flashing him a fake smile, Pam reached forward under the ruse of shaking Max�s hand, but with the intention of giving Max an eyeful of her low cut shirt. �Hi, Max!� she said in a fake sugary sweet voice. Max had to fight to keep himself from visibly cringing at the sound of her voice. He didn�t know what it was about her, but she gave him the creeps. �Do I-do I know you?� Max tried to be polite, but it was getting to be very difficult. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about Liz, and Noah was just being a handful. He began fussing, kicking his little legs. �Pam. Pam Troy. We have fifth period English together.� *************** �Max and I, we�ve, we�re dating.� Liz decided to be as straight forward with her parents as she could. And she couldn�t be more blunt than that. Jeff waited for Liz to continue, but it seemed as if she wasn�t going to share anything else. �Is that....... there�s nothing else you�d like to tell us about Max?� Liz shrugged her shoulders. �Well, what do you want to know? His family is from California. They moved into the old Delanie house. His parents are both lawyers. His twin sister is Isabel- Liz would have rambled on with insignificant facts about Max, but her mother stopped her. �Just stop it Liz!� Nancy stood back up and began pacing the length of the living room rug. �Don�t you see what she�s doing, Jeff? She�s making a joke out of this.� Her angry eyes flashed with a fire that was just roaring to life. �I�m saying this, I�m only going to say it once Elizabeth. You are not to see that boy. I don�t care what you say, you will have no say in this. You may think you�re all grown up, and can make your own decisions, but I will not have you ruin your life with this, this- Liz jumped of the couch, tears streaming down her face. �You can�t tell me what to do! You can�t make assumptions based on some pathetic lie Pam Troy has fed you. She�s not even my friend. She�s just doing this to hurt me.� �This has nothing to do with what this Pam Troy has said, or hasn�t said. But this has everything to do with Max.� Nancy�s eyes flickered with sadness. �He�s a teenager with a son, Liz. Do you even have any idea how difficult it is to raise a child as an adult, but to have to do that when you�re a child yourself....� Nancy took a deep breath, walking to stand in front of Liz. �I�m not saying these things to be mean, Liz. I just want you to open your eyes and look at the reality, face on. How can you even consider a serious relationship with a boy who has nothing in common with you.� Liz angrily wiped away her tears. �You don�t even know Max, and you�re ready to lump him as just another statistic.� Nancy reached out to run her hand down Liz�s hair to comfort her, but Liz shrugged her mother�s touch away. �That�s not true, Liz. I�m just looking out for you. I want what�s best for you.� Stifling back a sob, Liz turned her sad doe eyes to her mother. �If you really wanted what was best for me, you�d know that Max is what�s best for me. In the short time that he�s known me, he�s given me more reasons to be happy. He�s been the one encouraging me to pursue my dreams. He�s the one that�s believed in me.� Nancy was speechless for a second. All she could do was exchange looks with her husband. �If you knew Max at all, you�d know that he was the kindest, most gentlest person. He�s the most devoted father to his little boy. He cares about me so much, that he defended me against these two guys who were giving me a hard time because my good friend Pam started spreading these nasty rumors about me. Max was willing to risk suspension to protect me.� Liz couldn�t hold back the sobs that made it�s way past her lips. Her shoulders shook, with all of the pent up emotion she was holding in. �I don�t care what you guys think. I�m in love with Max. I�m not going to stop seeing him just because you guys don�t think he�s good for me.� Liz walked past her parents and quickly made her way down the back steps of the apartment that led to the Crashdown. �Liz! Liz!� When she didn�t turn around, Nancy faced her husband. �What are we going to do, Jeff?� Jeff stood up, shrugging his shoulders. �I don�t know what to tell you, Nan. But Lizzie�s a big girl. Maybe we should trust her to make her own decisions.� The tears flowed down Nancy�s cheeks. �How can you say that? She�s your little girl, Jeff. How can you be so ready to let her grow up, with a teenaged father no less.� Jeff bit down on his frustration, his teeth grinding against each other. �I can�t say I�m happy that Liz is involved with Max. Hell, I�ll probably start learning how to use a shot gun if this relationship continues, but I trust Liz. I trust that she�s smart enough to know what�s she getting herself into.� He wiped away the tears from his wife�s eyes. �She�s never given us a reason to make her doubt her decisions before. I don�t think now is the time to start doubting her.� ********* Max had stood up, gently bouncing Noah in his arms. After Pam had gone on to talk about nonsense, Noah had started to cry. Max had done everything he could to calm him down, but nothing would work. Pam stood up beside Max. She reached forward to take Noah in her arms. �Aw, why don�t you let me. I�m great with kids.� Max shook his head. �I don�t think that�s a good idea, Pam. He�s not real good with strangers.� Pam refused to listen to Max�s request. She reached forward, pulling Noah from Max�s embrace. Noah just cried harder, turning to look back at his father, pleading with him to take him from Pam. �Aren�t you, sweet?� Pam had no idea what she was doing. She had never been around kids too much, but she was doing her best to impress Max. She tried to remember what it was that Max was doing to try and calm the baby down. A smile touched her lips and she began bouncing him against her. Max reached forward to take back his son, but Pam pulled away. �Stop worrying, Max. I�ve got everything under control.� She put her face in Noah�s line of vision, and smiled. �Isn�t that right?� All of a sudden, warm liquid with chunks hit her in the face. Disgusted, Pam held Noah out to Max. �Ugh, get that little brat away from me!� She reached for a napkin to wipe off the mess that Noah had made. Max frowned at her. �He�s not a brat. And would you relax, he�s just a baby. He can�t control everything he does.� Max started cleaning up Noah, kissing the side of his temple. Pam flashed angry eyes at Max. �What? That�s it? You�re just going to give him a kiss and forget that he spit up all over me?� Max glared at Pam. �Well I�m not going to yell at him if that�s what you�d like me to do. It�s not his fault that he spit up on you! You should have listened to me when I told you he wasn�t good with strangers.� Max couldn�t keep himself from being angry. He was already tense with what was going with Liz and her parents at that moment, but to have the added stress of Pam calling his son a brat, he was just about ready to explode. Pam threw up her hands in frustration. �This is so, not worth it!� She absently tied up her hair, mumbling to herself. �At least that rumor put Liz in her place. That�s good enough for me.� She tried to walk out the front door, to escape any more humiliation that might come her way, but was stopped by Max�s hand gripping her arm tightly. �What did you just say?� Pam tried to weasel herself away from Max�s grip. �I-I didn�t say anything.� Max got in her face. �I heard you. You were the one that started those rumors about Liz.� Pam shook her head. �No, it wasn�t, it wasn�t me.� Max looked at her, disgust showing in his every feature. �I want you to stay away from Liz. If I hear that you even say so much as a little lie about her, you�ll have to answer to me.� He dropped her arm, causing her to stumble back a little. �She really must be a good lay for you to be wanting to stay with her.� Pam walked backwards, a smirk on her lips. After the humiliation she received right now, she was going to have the last laugh. �That�s it!� Maria ran forward from where she was watching the exchange between Pam and Max. Her fist came up, coming into contact with Pam�s jaw. Pam fell back with the force of Maria�s right hook. Touching her lip and seeing the blood, Pam gave Maria a deathly stare. �You little, bitch!� She was ready to get up and start a fight with Maria, but Kyle picked her up off of the floor and lead her to the front door. �Stay away from here, Pam. You�re not welcome here.� She looked over his shoulder, shouting at Maria. �You�re not going to get away with this De Luca!� Maria was going to run forward, but Michael held her back. �Easy there, spitfire.� Maria tried to give Michael an annoyed look, but with the smile he was giving her, she found it impossible. She turned around, shouting back at Pam. �Anytime, Pam!� Pam was going to say something else, but Kyle pushed her out the door. �Nobody, calls my sister a bitch, you got that?� Pam opened her mouth to say something else, but Kyle pulled the door closed. He turned back around to assess the damage in the cafe and noticed that a majority of students from school were there. He smiled to himself, glad that so many people had witnessed Pam�s downfall. He clapped his dish rag across his palm. �Back to work, everyone!� He made sure to give Maria a pointed look. She just laughed and hit him with her order pad. �Thanks, Kyle.� Kyle blushed and waved off Maria�s thanks. �It�s, not, no problem.� He hurried away and began clearing tables. He�d had enough mushiness for today. Maria just laughed and went to Max to make sure he was ok. �You guys ok?� Max hoisted Noah higher against his chest. �Yeah, I just wished that I could see Liz. I�m worried about her.� Maria looked over his shoulder, a smile lighting her lips. �Well, you can go ahead and see for yourself. She�s right behind you.� Max turned to see that Liz was standing by the open doorway that led to the kitchen. He ran to her, running his hands down the side of her face. �You, didn�t happen to see that, did you?� Liz offered him a sad smile, her head bobbing in response. �I wish you didn�t have to see that,� Max was running his fingers through her hair, about to continue, when he noticed how quiet Liz was. �Liz, what�s wrong?� When she refused to meet his eyes, Max placed his fingers under her chin, tilting it up so he could look into her eyes. �Have you been crying?� Max� heart broke at the stricken look on Liz�s face. He hugged her close to his body, trying to find some way to comfort her. Liz let her tears fall again, snuggling closer into Max�s chest. �Take me away Max. Just take me away from here.� With his chin sitting on the top of his head, Max nodded. He kissed the top of her dark shiny head. �Sure. I�ll take you anywhere you wanna go.� His hand reached down, his fingers entwining with hers. Max led the three of them out of the Crashdown, their destination yet unknown. ********* Nancy watched quietly as the scene had unfolded in front of her eyes. She had gripped Jeff�s hand as she witnessed first hand how gentle and caring Max was towards his son, and to her daughter. Turning around to look at Jeff who was standing one step above her, she sighed. �How am I supposed to convince myself that Max isn�t what Liz needs?� Jeff leaned down and brushed a kiss on her forehead. �I don�t know.� Back Next |
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