Part 22

Liz stood in front of the Muni station tapping her foot in frustration. Max was late meeting her…and Max was never late. It was driving her crazy with worry, as she checked her watch for the hundredth time.

Not only was she worried, but her body was buzzing in agony. It had been nine long, torturous hours now since she had gotten her goodbye kiss from Max that morning, and she wanted more Max and she wanted him now!

God…she was a Max-addict!

"Miss Parker?"

Liz whirled around to see Adam West jogging towards her, an apologetic look on his face.

"Hey Adam, how’s it going?"

"Ugh…my class just ran over. I’m sorry for leaving you waiting. Max sent me to meet you for him. He said that he had a few errands to run and to head on home without him…he’ll be there as soon as possible."

"Oh." Liz blinked in surprise, wondering what kind of errands could possibly be so important. "Okay…thanks Adam."

"Miss Parker?" Adam asked with an amused grin, calling Liz back as she had already started to walk away, desperate to get home to Max. "I just have to ask…you didn’t even think twice about Max meeting you at home…did Max move in with you?"

Liz dropped her eyes and smiled shyly at the question. "Um…yeah."

As weird as it was to her to be admitting that to a student, it also gave her a secret thrill. Max lived with her. She and Max shared an apartment. The mere thought of it all made her want to break out in a Snoopy dance.

Adam just chuckled under his breath at her admission. "Just curious…see you on Monday Miss Parker. Have a great weekend."

"Yeah, you too Adam."

Liz sighed sadly as she hopped the next train home. It wasn’t like Max to prolong their separation more than necessary. Suddenly, she found her concern slipping over her emotions, clouding her perspective from anything else. Everything wasn’t okay, was it? What if something went wrong? What errands were so urgent? Did he get contacted by his home again? Was he going to be leaving her? He swore he wouldn’t leave her…ever again, but was he certain, or was that just his hope speaking?

Terror…all Liz could feel was overwhelming terror as she hurried up the stairs in the Muni station, and ran through the crowded streets towards their apartment. Taking the steps two at a time, Liz’s breathing was labored by the time she reached the door to the apartment and began fumbling with her keys. Her hands were trembling, shaking so much that she couldn’t even separate her keys, let alone get the key into the lock.

Liz wanted nothing more than to be able open the door with a touch at that moment.

Looking up from her shaking hands for the first time, Liz noticed a folded piece of paper taped to the door with her name scrawled on the front…in Max’s handwriting. Pulling it off the door quickly, Liz took a deep breath and began to read.

Liz breathed a deep sigh of relief, calmed by his assurances, and finally was able to steady her hand and get the key in the lock, letting herself in to the apartment.

"Max?" Liz called out curiously, but silence met her as she closed the door to the apartment.

All of her fear now calmed, Liz found herself suspicious and curious. What was he up to, anyway? Another surprise for her like before? If so, it obviously wasn’t waiting for her in the dark, empty living room.

Humming the Mission Impossible theme song under her breath, Liz made her way back to the bedroom. Suddenly feeling playful, Liz stuck her fingers up into the motion of a fake gun and leaped into the bedroom, hoping to take Max by surprise.

Instead, Liz was met by the empty room, void of anything out of the ordinary, except for a silky cranberry colored dress that was laid out onto the bed for her, with another note.

Smiling happily to herself, now knowing that her suspicions were true…whatever Max was up to, it was all for her…Liz slipped out of her school clothes and clad herself into the beautiful new dress Max had bought her. It fit her perfectly…which pleased Liz to know that Max knew her that well. Heading back to the bathroom, Liz grinned at the sight of another strategically placed note waiting for her. Quickly she applied her makeup, and did her hair up, finishing getting dressed before unfolding the next note.

Liz’s heart pounded in anticipation and she could hardly contain herself as she grabbed her purse and went rushing out of the apartment as quickly as she had arrived.